Other than my fashionista sister's hand me downs, about 98% of the remaining clothes in my closet came from my favourite charity thrift shop. It's not that I HAVE to shop second hand, I actually prefer it.... and here is why:
#1 It feels good. The thrill of the hunt is exciting when there is only a 1ft long rack of shirts, and on that rack could be every colour, size and style from the last few decades! The mall just doesn't have that same feeling of victory when the "perfect" shirt shows up, AND the colour is great, AND the fabric is nice quality AND it even fits! The mall's endless stores with endless sizing is depressing to me somehow. I can't put my finger on it, but mall shopping leaves me feeling quite literally sick after a couple hours. Choice burn-out maybe?
#2 It feels good in another way too. By shopping at my favourite charity thrift store I am supporting their cause. It's nice to know my fashion choices are helping local causes.
#3 It feels good (again). That is to say, my "new" top did not use any extra resources to make, and it didn't need to get shipped either. I diverted this chunk of cotton (natural yes, but pesticide intensive to grow) from the landfill, and the more wear an item gets the less impact the original growth of that product equals per wear. I have to honest that I don't think about my cotton clothes' source terrible often, but when I do, I am happy that my thrift store gives me the chance to take my own environmental stance.
#4 My wallet feels good too. Finding that perfect shirt is always fun. Finding it at the thrift shop is always affordable - sometimes ridiculously cheap if there is a "sale" on. Name brands even! My wardrobe gets a lift and my wallet doesn't cry.
#5 I can walk away. Sometimes I DON'T find anything (wrong size, wrong material, bad fit, faded, whatever). And that's just fine. If that one rack doesn't have anything that day. Oh well. Maybe next time. The hunt is over and I didn't waste all day at it.
#6 I know what to expect. One of my pet peeves with buying new garments is that I am afraid what will happen when I wash them. Buying 2nd hand is a preview. Since they have already been washed, I know what the shape really will be. I also know if it will be prone to pilling, whether the buttons will stay on, if the seams are going to stand up and whether the zipper will continue working.
#7 If something happens, it's no big deal. Dog prints... cat claws... food stains... every article faces the risks if I'm wearing them. I do try to prevent these mishaps (because who wants to replace that hard-to-find item!) but when they happen I know I haven't wasted a ton of money on them.
#8 My inner minimalist is satisfied. I rarely get "attached" to the clothes (maybe because they are cheap and used to be someone else's?). Even my wedding dress I bought at a consignment shop (I thought it was romantic that another bride had been wed in it) and I consigned it at that same shop less that 6 months later (again I thought it would be romantic that someone else would have a special day in it). I can give up clothes easily! Those pants that no longer fit, that shirt that I no longer love, the dress that isn't my cup of tea anymore and I feel just fine about it. Bags head off to the same charity thrift shop.
I feel like I make a donation when I buy it and then make another donation when I drop the clothes off. Meanwhile I got the fun perk of having choices in my wardrobe. I can change size, cahnge styles, change favourite colurs and not have environmental (or financial) guilt about it. How cool is that?!
There are probably more subtle reasons to add too. Uniqueness of fashion, against the trend shopping, mall-anxiety avoidance, laziness (the charity thrift shop is by far the closest clothing retailer to where I live and right next to my bank and grocery store)... but those are the top 8 reasons.
9.27.2012
9.26.2012
Density
Still swamped in boxes - 2 months after the move.
What is in all these carboard space-suckers?!
As I make the hard decisions about what will stay and what will be moving on, I find that the density of my stuff is increasing.
My husband put it perfectly, "The house is getting more homey but less roomy".
There has to be a way that we can keep the homey AND the roomy! With every item that is kept, there is a sacrifice of space and the time it takes to clean and maintain that item.
There is progress being made! Stuff is going out by the boxful every weekend. It just doesn't seem fast enough somehow. As this mighty mountain of boxes indicates.
How much of it is sentimental? Have I attached a moment of my life to the object that I am afraid to lose?
How much of it is habit? Am I keeping it because I've always had it?
How much of it is aspirational? Am I keeping it because I think I will read/play with/use it someday? Or that owning it fulfills some wish I had once?
What is certain is that the density of the stuff is getting too much. The spaces between the spaces is getting smaller with every unpacked box and I don't want that. I REALLY DON'T WANT THAT!
Enough is enough. I am drawing the line in the sand.
_______________________
What is in all these carboard space-suckers?!
As I make the hard decisions about what will stay and what will be moving on, I find that the density of my stuff is increasing.
My husband put it perfectly, "The house is getting more homey but less roomy".
There has to be a way that we can keep the homey AND the roomy! With every item that is kept, there is a sacrifice of space and the time it takes to clean and maintain that item.
There is progress being made! Stuff is going out by the boxful every weekend. It just doesn't seem fast enough somehow. As this mighty mountain of boxes indicates.
How much of it is sentimental? Have I attached a moment of my life to the object that I am afraid to lose?
How much of it is habit? Am I keeping it because I've always had it?
How much of it is aspirational? Am I keeping it because I think I will read/play with/use it someday? Or that owning it fulfills some wish I had once?
What is certain is that the density of the stuff is getting too much. The spaces between the spaces is getting smaller with every unpacked box and I don't want that. I REALLY DON'T WANT THAT!
Enough is enough. I am drawing the line in the sand.
_______________________
9.19.2012
Finding my feet
Moving has been a challenge.
Staging, packing, selling, more packing, moving, NOT unpacking because of renovating! But this delay in unpacking has been a blessing in disguise.
It has been more than 2 months now since we got possession of this house. And many more months since decluttering for staging of the old house.
That extended time without so much of my stuff has given me lots of time to reflect on my priorities.
So much of what I am clinging to in these countless boxes adds no really value to my day to day life. In fact it is a distraction from what I truly love!
With that in mind, my culling efforts have really picked up steam. The things that were crammed mercilessly into the old house do not belong in this home we are putting together here. Out of every box I am unpacking this last little while, about 1/2 is going straight into the "donate" pile. I have taken many more boxes to charity and bags of clothes too. (When I got here I was giddy about the walk in closet until it got too full to slide the hangers around... now they move freely, and giving each garment spece, shows more respect for the things I chose to keep.
I have not won the war yet, but I feel like each battle brings me closer to success. At this rate I will be able to get a much smaller bookcase than I first thought I needed... and more importantly, my neat freak husband may actually be able to find peace in the living room soon!
9.06.2012
Always a learning experience.
Moving is hard.
At least it is when there are 4 creative, active people that are attached to all their cool stuff!
We have been in our new home for more than a month and there have been speedbumps, potholes and fire-breathing dragons hindering our settling in (renovating hiccups and health stuff). There are still loads of boxes that are not unpacked! In my defense there are still areas of the home that aren't "done". Plumbing that needs moving, trim that needs adding, closets needing doors, so I can't put everything away yet and it's driving me nuts. Especially when I KNOW if I had less stuff it wouldn't be this hard so it's very much self inflicted!
I love this house and I want to stay here a very long time.
This is great news for decluttering, because I love the house more than anyof the stuff in it! So it's less difficult to make decisions... if it doesn't fit then it must be removed.
"When in doubt, cut it out!"
My mom says this used to be the policy for surgery in the 70's but I think it translates wonderfully for this situation.
There are many decorative items that I still like very much that went wonderfully in the old place, but just don't work here... I have already pared down quite a few with no regrets. If something pretty doesn't look pretty in the space then it just isn't doing it's job now is it?!
Primary Problem Areas: TOYS + BOOKS
(not all the toys are the kids, and not all the books are mine)
Books: without bookshelves I'm not sure I want to open those boxes. But if I can live over a month without these books... can I take the plunge and NOT open the boxes? Just let them go?
Toys: are just plain out of control. It will take extreme measures to hack at that mess, but then again I don't want to be insensitive to the amount of stress the move put on the kids already without stripping them of their things too. I will stage the rest of the home to the clutterless level I want and hopefully they will want to follow... with gentle encouragement and the tools they need.
At least it is when there are 4 creative, active people that are attached to all their cool stuff!
We have been in our new home for more than a month and there have been speedbumps, potholes and fire-breathing dragons hindering our settling in (renovating hiccups and health stuff). There are still loads of boxes that are not unpacked! In my defense there are still areas of the home that aren't "done". Plumbing that needs moving, trim that needs adding, closets needing doors, so I can't put everything away yet and it's driving me nuts. Especially when I KNOW if I had less stuff it wouldn't be this hard so it's very much self inflicted!
I love this house and I want to stay here a very long time.
This is great news for decluttering, because I love the house more than anyof the stuff in it! So it's less difficult to make decisions... if it doesn't fit then it must be removed.
"When in doubt, cut it out!"
My mom says this used to be the policy for surgery in the 70's but I think it translates wonderfully for this situation.
There are many decorative items that I still like very much that went wonderfully in the old place, but just don't work here... I have already pared down quite a few with no regrets. If something pretty doesn't look pretty in the space then it just isn't doing it's job now is it?!
Primary Problem Areas: TOYS + BOOKS
(not all the toys are the kids, and not all the books are mine)
Books: without bookshelves I'm not sure I want to open those boxes. But if I can live over a month without these books... can I take the plunge and NOT open the boxes? Just let them go?
Toys: are just plain out of control. It will take extreme measures to hack at that mess, but then again I don't want to be insensitive to the amount of stress the move put on the kids already without stripping them of their things too. I will stage the rest of the home to the clutterless level I want and hopefully they will want to follow... with gentle encouragement and the tools they need.
8.27.2012
buh-bye
The new fridge came last week so this one has been languishing.
My mom tried to talk me into keeping it as a overflow fridge in the garage!
Nope mom. I'm not keeping a gigantic, empty, hydro-sucking container "just in case".
Not a bad fridge really. Probably the best appliance that came with the house.
I put the ad on-line and within hours I had several request for views. The first person that showed up bought it and now it's out of my house! Victory!
8.16.2012
One Month Anniversary
It has been over a month since we bought this house.
Renovating Progress Report:
(It seemed reasonable to me that 2 weeks was enough time to paint and replace flooring. I thought with that nice 2 weeks we'd have a place to put furniture before we had to give up the other house. Defective flooring botched that plan. And delayed every other step)
What has been learned in the last month:
* It turns out that very little equipment is needed to make hearty meals every day. Sure I can't use the same spectrum of recipes I usually do, but I am getting by with one burner and the grille on the BBQ, a hose for water, a table as the prep surface (not ideal), 4 pots, and the trailer's sink for washing up (we were washing up outside but it was too hot). There is a plastic tote of necessities like cutting board, knife, can opener, grater, etc... and a cup, plate, bowl, and utensils for 4 people. Basic camping kitchen really. And I've been cooking that way now for 3 weeks. Sure we've ordered in a few times, but mostly it's all here.
It's amazing to me that anybody would want to do this renovating thing more than once.
+++++++++++++++++
Decluttering progress:
I called the "ReStore" (an non profit charity store that takes used building materials) and they hauled away a huge amount of the old kitchen! I also bribed them to come with the old washing machine, dryer and gas range (all in working order). I suppose we could have sold them, but that money would have easily been eaten up in the tipping fees at the dump getting rid of the other kitchen materials.
My brother in law took the dishwasher home with him
Large box of misc items no longer loved as I unpacked clothes into my new closet.
(I still have to find a bookshelf so I can unpack/cull the books)
Renovating Progress Report:
- Walls painted (and some trim)
- Most switches and plugs are replaced
- Half the light fixtures are replaced
- Floors are 100% redone
- Furniture is now in the proper rooms
- Kitchen is still not in, but at least most of the cabinets are assembled!
- Hotwater tank died rather quickly emergency plumbing was required
(It seemed reasonable to me that 2 weeks was enough time to paint and replace flooring. I thought with that nice 2 weeks we'd have a place to put furniture before we had to give up the other house. Defective flooring botched that plan. And delayed every other step)
What has been learned in the last month:
- Renovating takes lots and lots and then MORE money
- Never under-estimate the pervasive, destructive power of nicotine staining
- Anything that can be delayed will be delayed
- Just because something is new and expensive does not guarantee that it will be complete or without defects.
- It will take so very much longer than you imagined.
- Kitchen sinks are the single most under appreciated element of a kitchen.
- I don't need nearly as much gear as I thought to cook*
- Living out of a suitcase of clothes doesn't work when the weather changes
- Things you need are never in the first box you look in
* It turns out that very little equipment is needed to make hearty meals every day. Sure I can't use the same spectrum of recipes I usually do, but I am getting by with one burner and the grille on the BBQ, a hose for water, a table as the prep surface (not ideal), 4 pots, and the trailer's sink for washing up (we were washing up outside but it was too hot). There is a plastic tote of necessities like cutting board, knife, can opener, grater, etc... and a cup, plate, bowl, and utensils for 4 people. Basic camping kitchen really. And I've been cooking that way now for 3 weeks. Sure we've ordered in a few times, but mostly it's all here.
It's amazing to me that anybody would want to do this renovating thing more than once.
+++++++++++++++++
Decluttering progress:
I called the "ReStore" (an non profit charity store that takes used building materials) and they hauled away a huge amount of the old kitchen! I also bribed them to come with the old washing machine, dryer and gas range (all in working order). I suppose we could have sold them, but that money would have easily been eaten up in the tipping fees at the dump getting rid of the other kitchen materials.
My brother in law took the dishwasher home with him
Large box of misc items no longer loved as I unpacked clothes into my new closet.
(I still have to find a bookshelf so I can unpack/cull the books)
7.30.2012
We are in!
What a mess.... we are "in" the new house, but one delay after another has us still as squatters in the backyard.
Kitchen (but there is the BBQ and a hose outside)
Working complete bathroom (today the toilets go in, so we will have one bathroom that is 100% usable! ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO!)
Floors (the worst part because we can't really use the house until the floors happen. We HAD a couple pallets of bamboo strand, it was supposed to be installed last Monday, but it was defective in the clic part. THEN we had some maple, but they sent 2 different manufactureres that weren't compatable. As I type this a third attempt is being delivered.... if this doesn't work, I will be at my wit's end. On the bright side, finally as of this morning we have vinyl in the washrooms, and the cork in the bedrooms went down fast and easy.Moving the beds into the house was a real treat. Yay for floors!)
Window trim and baseboards (no foreseeable timeline for the finishing work.... oh well)
As for decluttering, I have been living as an extreme minimalist since the 25th.
Outside kitchen... kind of fun for the summer, I have to admit. In fact, I am tempted to cook like this every summer. A couple boxes of vital kitchen stuff, BBQ, microwave, kettle, hose and fridge. Hey, that' pretty civilized really!
Clothing is still the stuff in the suitcases that I packed the day before we moved. Like travelling, it's a hand-wash-then-hang situation until the washer and dryer get hooked up.
OH WAIT! Now the 20 year old hot water tank is leaking! Surprise! I guess that is another thing to add to the list.
Books. Sorry, they are all packed.
TV. Nope, it's not plugged in, I think it's in the garage, but not totally sure. Strangely, I'm not missing it thanks to the laptop and internet connection.
This experience has been valuable for identifying the difference between a want and a need.
As for decluttering, I have been living as an extreme minimalist since the 25th.
Outside kitchen... kind of fun for the summer, I have to admit. In fact, I am tempted to cook like this every summer. A couple boxes of vital kitchen stuff, BBQ, microwave, kettle, hose and fridge. Hey, that' pretty civilized really!
Clothing is still the stuff in the suitcases that I packed the day before we moved. Like travelling, it's a hand-wash-then-hang situation until the washer and dryer get hooked up.
OH WAIT! Now the 20 year old hot water tank is leaking! Surprise! I guess that is another thing to add to the list.
Books. Sorry, they are all packed.
TV. Nope, it's not plugged in, I think it's in the garage, but not totally sure. Strangely, I'm not missing it thanks to the laptop and internet connection.
This experience has been valuable for identifying the difference between a want and a need.
7.18.2012
Not quite the plan, but not bad either
I have been decluttering in a way I didn't expect. One of the big sheds out in the new backyard was crammed FULL of boxes that didn't belong to us. That is an 8x10x6 foot storage shed!
While the painters were slaving away inside the house, I made it my job to clear out that shed.
It seems the person who filled the shed had a crafting "problem". It looks like she may have been in the Christmas craft fair circuit because she had bins and bins of new, still-in-the-package notions and beeds and glittery things and glue guns/sticks.... many pounds of them! Since I have no desire to start up these hobbies, I got to emptying the bins into sturdy boxes to take to charity. Along with many boxes of books and clothing and other season craft supplies, I took THREE truck loads of donations to charity!
There is also a box full of family photos that I will be delivering to the seller's realtor.
Unfortunately there is at least 3 full-sized garbage cans of undonatable trash too.... I feel bad about the ruined books most of all.
What did I get for my efforts?
a very nice large lead crystal vase.
12 (now empty) gigantic heavy duty totes (they will come in handy for the move)
some of the cuter craft supplies for my neices (limited to one box)
some good quality christmas items that I actually like
2 evening dresses that are going to be fun as halloween costumes
a pair of cowboy boots that are AWESOME, unique and fit great
a pair of dress shoes that have a special something-something and fit great.
a big bag of rags for the garage
I could have kept more stuff that had potential... but I wanted to be brutal and I was!
Now the shed is ready to be used as a transtion space for my family's belongings while we wait for our house to be done. After that, it will be my oldest boy's workshop!
While the painters were slaving away inside the house, I made it my job to clear out that shed.
It seems the person who filled the shed had a crafting "problem". It looks like she may have been in the Christmas craft fair circuit because she had bins and bins of new, still-in-the-package notions and beeds and glittery things and glue guns/sticks.... many pounds of them! Since I have no desire to start up these hobbies, I got to emptying the bins into sturdy boxes to take to charity. Along with many boxes of books and clothing and other season craft supplies, I took THREE truck loads of donations to charity!
There is also a box full of family photos that I will be delivering to the seller's realtor.
Unfortunately there is at least 3 full-sized garbage cans of undonatable trash too.... I feel bad about the ruined books most of all.
What did I get for my efforts?
a very nice large lead crystal vase.
12 (now empty) gigantic heavy duty totes (they will come in handy for the move)
some of the cuter craft supplies for my neices (limited to one box)
some good quality christmas items that I actually like
2 evening dresses that are going to be fun as halloween costumes
a pair of cowboy boots that are AWESOME, unique and fit great
a pair of dress shoes that have a special something-something and fit great.
a big bag of rags for the garage
I could have kept more stuff that had potential... but I wanted to be brutal and I was!
Now the shed is ready to be used as a transtion space for my family's belongings while we wait for our house to be done. After that, it will be my oldest boy's workshop!
7.07.2012
Goal #21 More stuff that I can let go
I just realized something!
This house that we are moving to (being one level) will need less of the supplies that our current multi-level house does!
For 13 years I have required nail clippers, a brush, scissors, hammer, screwdrivers, tape, and miscellanous other hardware and personal grooming supplies on each floor. Sheer laziness on my part but effective at preventing procrastination by having these things on-hand.
How liberating it will be to only have ONE place for these things!
Goal #21 Let go of redundant items
I will need to go through the junk drawers and baskets to gather the handy tools together and choose only the BEST to take with me to the new house.
This house that we are moving to (being one level) will need less of the supplies that our current multi-level house does!
For 13 years I have required nail clippers, a brush, scissors, hammer, screwdrivers, tape, and miscellanous other hardware and personal grooming supplies on each floor. Sheer laziness on my part but effective at preventing procrastination by having these things on-hand.
How liberating it will be to only have ONE place for these things!
Goal #21 Let go of redundant items
I will need to go through the junk drawers and baskets to gather the handy tools together and choose only the BEST to take with me to the new house.
7.02.2012
It's REALLY happening!
We have SOLD the house!
Now we have exactly 24 days to pack up and move out.
LET THE CRITCAL PURGING BEGIN!!!!!
I am determined NOT to move anything that won't fit in the new place.
I vow to NOT bring anything I have outgrown literally or figuritively.
I will NOT to move anything that I do not find useful or beautiful.
(the other family members may have a different plan, but I will lead by example here)
Now we have exactly 24 days to pack up and move out.
LET THE CRITCAL PURGING BEGIN!!!!!
I am determined NOT to move anything that won't fit in the new place.
I vow to NOT bring anything I have outgrown literally or figuritively.
I will NOT to move anything that I do not find useful or beautiful.
(the other family members may have a different plan, but I will lead by example here)
6.24.2012
Put Your Mind to It
I felt inspired this weekend to re-find my decluttering mo-jo.
The results speak for themselves....
12 pairs of socks - removed from the sock drawer
3 wheelbarrow loads of trimmings and weeds - taken off the property
And for serious progress... I was driving along and saw a bunch of furniture with a FREE sign on the side of a rural road. I had to check it out. Ugly coffee table, particle board dresser, a country style side board (pine maybe) and 2 FREE solid oak chest of drawers. They had tremendous potential - a little water damage and someone had shortened the legs but the style was pleasing and the brass keyholes and dovetail joining made me weak. Yes I stopped and considered them carefully, but - I left by the side of the road... so that counts as preemptive-strike decluttering!
I put my mind to it and got results. Hoorah!
The results speak for themselves....
12 pairs of socks - removed from the sock drawer
3 wheelbarrow loads of trimmings and weeds - taken off the property
And for serious progress... I was driving along and saw a bunch of furniture with a FREE sign on the side of a rural road. I had to check it out. Ugly coffee table, particle board dresser, a country style side board (pine maybe) and 2 FREE solid oak chest of drawers. They had tremendous potential - a little water damage and someone had shortened the legs but the style was pleasing and the brass keyholes and dovetail joining made me weak. Yes I stopped and considered them carefully, but - I left by the side of the road... so that counts as preemptive-strike decluttering!
I put my mind to it and got results. Hoorah!
6.22.2012
Out the Window
Goals, decluttering... all that good stuff is out the window right now.
There is no room for it with the trying to sell our house.
Okay that's not TOTALLY honest. I have moved out about 10 pounds of books to donate to the elementary school library and a couple bags of clothes that I no longer love or the kids have outgrown.
So the one and only goal is SELL THE HOUSE.
I feel hog tied with this goal though... the house is prepped, primped and priced to sell.... but I can force no one to view or make an offer or give me their money. Strangely the market has suddenly been FLOODED with listings driving the prices waaaaay down compared to even last year. My poor sister is feeling like a sucker for buying a home just 12 months ago (similar to mine) for $50G MORE than it would be worth today. But hey the pickings were really slim 12 months ago in this neighbourhood and she does LOVE her house, so it's no use having regrets about something so out of her control.
Out of control.... yes that's exactly what it is and it's a feeling I'm not comfortable with.
After all, this house is staged, it's bright, a great neighbourhood, quite new and has all the storage one could want in a family home. The inability to make people come see is devistating to my sense of self somehow.
But I digress.
This blog is about finding a minimalism that fits for me.
I will look again at my closet and remove the tattered, ill fitting and ugly.
I will look again at my books and decide which ones I can live without, or that can easily be put on my e-reader instead of taking up physical space.
I will find more DVDs to cull, I have the library to get them from now anyways.
I will go through the "just in case" supplies and remove the ones that only go with this house that we are living anyways.
I will streamline my digital photos to a better quality standard.
And that will have to do for now.
Until I move.
There is no room for it with the trying to sell our house.
Okay that's not TOTALLY honest. I have moved out about 10 pounds of books to donate to the elementary school library and a couple bags of clothes that I no longer love or the kids have outgrown.
So the one and only goal is SELL THE HOUSE.
I feel hog tied with this goal though... the house is prepped, primped and priced to sell.... but I can force no one to view or make an offer or give me their money. Strangely the market has suddenly been FLOODED with listings driving the prices waaaaay down compared to even last year. My poor sister is feeling like a sucker for buying a home just 12 months ago (similar to mine) for $50G MORE than it would be worth today. But hey the pickings were really slim 12 months ago in this neighbourhood and she does LOVE her house, so it's no use having regrets about something so out of her control.
Out of control.... yes that's exactly what it is and it's a feeling I'm not comfortable with.
After all, this house is staged, it's bright, a great neighbourhood, quite new and has all the storage one could want in a family home. The inability to make people come see is devistating to my sense of self somehow.
But I digress.
This blog is about finding a minimalism that fits for me.
I will look again at my closet and remove the tattered, ill fitting and ugly.
I will look again at my books and decide which ones I can live without, or that can easily be put on my e-reader instead of taking up physical space.
I will find more DVDs to cull, I have the library to get them from now anyways.
I will go through the "just in case" supplies and remove the ones that only go with this house that we are living anyways.
I will streamline my digital photos to a better quality standard.
And that will have to do for now.
Until I move.
5.29.2012
A 1000 Mile Journey
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
-by Confucius
If listing my home was the first step... the rest is surely a thousand mile journey.
Showing after showing... teasing us with repeat viewings and promises of wanting to buy (when they sell their own place).
Good news, the house is very clean and perfectly balanced with belongings (aka clutterless).
Bad news is that I am so stressed out about what we are committed to (and still no offers).
There is still time I have to repeat over and over, "there is still time" to keep from panicking.
So universe, hear my call: "One safe, bright, friendly home needs a new family to enjoy it, ASAP."
And once this call has been answered I can focus on the next leg of my journey, renovating.
If listing my home was the first step... the rest is surely a thousand mile journey.
Showing after showing... teasing us with repeat viewings and promises of wanting to buy (when they sell their own place).
Good news, the house is very clean and perfectly balanced with belongings (aka clutterless).
Bad news is that I am so stressed out about what we are committed to (and still no offers).
There is still time I have to repeat over and over, "there is still time" to keep from panicking.
So universe, hear my call: "One safe, bright, friendly home needs a new family to enjoy it, ASAP."
And once this call has been answered I can focus on the next leg of my journey, renovating.
5.12.2012
Packing Perils
There is an interesting development around this packing thing.... As I pack I am deciding if an item is worth bringing along... completely predictable. Very similar to all the other times when I am decluttering (asking if it's worth the space it takes up) only a bit deeper because it involves the physical effort of finding a home for it in the new location.
The unexpected twist is that as I am wrapping things to put in boxes I am wondering... "If this breaks during the move will I want to replace it?"
huh?
You'd think because I want to bring it with me that it would be valuable enough to want to replace, but strangely there is very little that I would shed tears over if it broke! Maybe a temporary pang of waste, but not real remorse.
Wow. I've come a LOOOOONG way in my relationship with my stuff!
The unexpected twist is that as I am wrapping things to put in boxes I am wondering... "If this breaks during the move will I want to replace it?"
huh?
You'd think because I want to bring it with me that it would be valuable enough to want to replace, but strangely there is very little that I would shed tears over if it broke! Maybe a temporary pang of waste, but not real remorse.
Wow. I've come a LOOOOONG way in my relationship with my stuff!
Goal #20 No shopping
Decluttering isn't just about getting rid of the stuff you have, it's also about resisting the temptation to bring more home.
Goal #20 No shopping for the rest of this month (except immediately usable consumables)
I have enough "stuff" to last me a while. Shoes, Clothes, Kitchen items, Linens. I have enough drygoods and freezer foods to last a while too. So this goal should be easy.
Goal #20 No shopping for the rest of this month (except immediately usable consumables)
I have enough "stuff" to last me a while. Shoes, Clothes, Kitchen items, Linens. I have enough drygoods and freezer foods to last a while too. So this goal should be easy.
5.09.2012
Shifting to High Gear
Be careful what you wish for.
Now that the moving idea is a solid, undeniable reality I am scared.
After obsessive decluttering and scrubbling, our house echos in it's clean, clutter-free staging -- that part is really nice, SO easy to sweep, dust and mop!
But we know with each echo of this pretty sun-filled home, that it MUST sell, and not soon enough!
We are moving.
Now that the moving idea is a solid, undeniable reality I am scared.
After obsessive decluttering and scrubbling, our house echos in it's clean, clutter-free staging -- that part is really nice, SO easy to sweep, dust and mop!
But we know with each echo of this pretty sun-filled home, that it MUST sell, and not soon enough!
We are moving.
5.03.2012
Goal #19 One Day at a Time
"What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours..." I love that song
Goal #19 is to take a step back from the stress.
Calm, center and count my blessings.
Background: With the excitement of putting an offer on that other house and listing mine, I have been literally run off my feet (they are so sore right now) gathering boxes, filling boxes, moving boxes to storage (oh how I abore the need for storage). Up the stairs, down the stairs, down the driveway, into the truck, drive the truck, unload the truck .... repeat. And yet the house still looks turned upside down!!! I've been flustered all day and it isn't helping anything.
So I need this goal to declutter my emotions.
Process: Breathe in breathe out, take a decadently looooong shower and eat a bit of chocolate while sipping some red wine. Sit quietly with the kids and the hubby and just talk about sweet nothings (ignoring the boxes). Tomorrow will be another hectic day: the home stager - compliments of my realtor - will be showing up in the morning, and the afternoon is reserved for a client meeting.
---------------------------
Verdict: I feel soooo much better equipped to handle this now. Whether you are moving or just finding your to-do list is never getting caught up, I recommend everyone make a version of this goal very very soon. :)
Goal #19 is to take a step back from the stress.
Calm, center and count my blessings.
Background: With the excitement of putting an offer on that other house and listing mine, I have been literally run off my feet (they are so sore right now) gathering boxes, filling boxes, moving boxes to storage (oh how I abore the need for storage). Up the stairs, down the stairs, down the driveway, into the truck, drive the truck, unload the truck .... repeat. And yet the house still looks turned upside down!!! I've been flustered all day and it isn't helping anything.
So I need this goal to declutter my emotions.
Process: Breathe in breathe out, take a decadently looooong shower and eat a bit of chocolate while sipping some red wine. Sit quietly with the kids and the hubby and just talk about sweet nothings (ignoring the boxes). Tomorrow will be another hectic day: the home stager - compliments of my realtor - will be showing up in the morning, and the afternoon is reserved for a client meeting.
---------------------------
Verdict: I feel soooo much better equipped to handle this now. Whether you are moving or just finding your to-do list is never getting caught up, I recommend everyone make a version of this goal very very soon. :)
4.29.2012
Imagination exercise
New development!
We put an offer on another house - for real!
It's a great floor plan with a nice yard and a shop... but of course with all those perks there are compromises... Specifically the house hasn't seen paint or decor since 1984 and has been smoked in all that time. (can you say "stinky"?). I think they may have been trying to reduce the overwhelming nicotine smell when they ripped out the carpets in most of the rooms... but it just left it looking shabby and still smelly.
The other compromise is the location. It's not terrible, it is still our preferred neighborhood and backs onto a park but the road is noisy-busy. (We really thought we wouldn't move unless it was to a rural spot. The thing is rural with a decent house and shop is WAAAAAAY over budget for us.)
So the imagination exercise is back! I will be decluttering to list our house immediately and preparing to move (if our offer is accepted of course). I will be trying to actually purge the extra stuff intead of storing it. Not sure if that's possible with the personal stuff (family pictures for example), but I'll try.
Even if the deal falls through (and they do tend to do that with us), I want to make the house list-ready as an exercise in clutter-discipline. It's so easy to get complacent with clutter and let the "lived-in" look expand into the "can't have anyone over because it's messy" look.
I have to face facts, though my home is cozy and can be pretty, our family hobbies are not suited to a steep driveway, in-house garage or loads of stairs. The hobbies look like they are hear to stay (and that's wonderful) so it's not an unreasonable thing to want a property that can make the hobbies easier. Not to mention all the stairs are brutal on my mother-in-law (her M.S. has her subjected to being CARRIED up the stairs when she wants to visit us). A rancher would be much more friendly to her as well as us.
Of course I am scared of the work of moving, change is never easy. It will strain my husband terribly (he is very sensitive to change more than most) and it's not a move-in ready house so the short term (if the deal goes through) will be costly and difficult. But I wouldn't risk all this upheaval on a whim. I truly think the other property could suit us into old age like it did with the previous owner.... if we can live with the road noise.
Wish us luck!!!!
PS the house is no bigger than the one we have now, but it has less rooms so each room is bigger, I think that will be nice (if the deal goes through)
We put an offer on another house - for real!
It's a great floor plan with a nice yard and a shop... but of course with all those perks there are compromises... Specifically the house hasn't seen paint or decor since 1984 and has been smoked in all that time. (can you say "stinky"?). I think they may have been trying to reduce the overwhelming nicotine smell when they ripped out the carpets in most of the rooms... but it just left it looking shabby and still smelly.
The other compromise is the location. It's not terrible, it is still our preferred neighborhood and backs onto a park but the road is noisy-busy. (We really thought we wouldn't move unless it was to a rural spot. The thing is rural with a decent house and shop is WAAAAAAY over budget for us.)
So the imagination exercise is back! I will be decluttering to list our house immediately and preparing to move (if our offer is accepted of course). I will be trying to actually purge the extra stuff intead of storing it. Not sure if that's possible with the personal stuff (family pictures for example), but I'll try.
Even if the deal falls through (and they do tend to do that with us), I want to make the house list-ready as an exercise in clutter-discipline. It's so easy to get complacent with clutter and let the "lived-in" look expand into the "can't have anyone over because it's messy" look.
I have to face facts, though my home is cozy and can be pretty, our family hobbies are not suited to a steep driveway, in-house garage or loads of stairs. The hobbies look like they are hear to stay (and that's wonderful) so it's not an unreasonable thing to want a property that can make the hobbies easier. Not to mention all the stairs are brutal on my mother-in-law (her M.S. has her subjected to being CARRIED up the stairs when she wants to visit us). A rancher would be much more friendly to her as well as us.
Of course I am scared of the work of moving, change is never easy. It will strain my husband terribly (he is very sensitive to change more than most) and it's not a move-in ready house so the short term (if the deal goes through) will be costly and difficult. But I wouldn't risk all this upheaval on a whim. I truly think the other property could suit us into old age like it did with the previous owner.... if we can live with the road noise.
Wish us luck!!!!
PS the house is no bigger than the one we have now, but it has less rooms so each room is bigger, I think that will be nice (if the deal goes through)
4.26.2012
Goal #18 Fashion Slave
Process: Pull everything out of the closet and pack away Winter favourites, and bring out the Spring hopefuls. A great time to cull the worn out, out of fashion, wrong size, and the pieces that were ignored to be donated to charity or turned to rags.
Goal #18: Put away heavy winter clothes for the season
FUN TIMES!
I was really into it this time, and ruthless about both the winter stuff I chose to store AND about the spring stuff I put back into circulation. Honesty is such a help when doing this chore. Super comfy, sure, but yikes it's faded (rags). So very very cute but I didn't wear it all season (donate). It used to fit very nicely, but is getting unflatteringly snug (this is where honesty hurts the most - donate so I don't feel guilty about it anymore).
Verdict: Over fifteen articles of clothing outta here! So easy!
With all the recent purge items I was able to fill the trunk and head to the charity thrift shop. They were happy and I can't change my mind about any of it. Win Win.
Goal #18: Put away heavy winter clothes for the season
FUN TIMES!
I was really into it this time, and ruthless about both the winter stuff I chose to store AND about the spring stuff I put back into circulation. Honesty is such a help when doing this chore. Super comfy, sure, but yikes it's faded (rags). So very very cute but I didn't wear it all season (donate). It used to fit very nicely, but is getting unflatteringly snug (this is where honesty hurts the most - donate so I don't feel guilty about it anymore).
Verdict: Over fifteen articles of clothing outta here! So easy!
With all the recent purge items I was able to fill the trunk and head to the charity thrift shop. They were happy and I can't change my mind about any of it. Win Win.
4.19.2012
Goal #17 Making my Bed
Time to tackle to bedspreads.
There was a time when I needed more bedspreads, sheets and pillowcases (and mattress protectors too). But that phase is thankfully behind us in this household, so it is time to see what can go!
The beds look best with clean, simple coverings: these rooms aren't big enough to pull off the luxury look of layers and tonnes of pillows.
GOAL #17 per Bed: 1 lightweight cover for Summer, 1 fluffy, warm one for Winter plus two sheet sets per bed is more than enough really (even when we have company).
Starting Point:
6 Twin fitted sheets
4 Twin flat sheets
6 Twin Comforters/blankets
8 Pillows
17 Pillowcases
3 Queen sheet sets (flat, fitted and 2 pillowcases)
5 Decorative Throw Pillows
1 Queen Feather Duvet
1 Queen Duvet Cover
4 Queen Bedspreads
9 Throw blankets (for couches)
Less is Better: Now....
I kept the best quality ones to meet the goal.
4 Twin fitted sheets (-2)
2 Twin flat sheets (-2)
4 Twin Comforters/blankets (-2)
6 Pillows (-2)
8 Pillowcases (-7)
2 Queen sheet sets (-1)
3 Decorative Throw Pillows (-2)
1 Queen Feather Duvet
1 Queen Duvet Cover
2 Queen Bedspreads (-2)
6 Throw blankets (for couches) (-3)
There was a time when I needed more bedspreads, sheets and pillowcases (and mattress protectors too). But that phase is thankfully behind us in this household, so it is time to see what can go!
The beds look best with clean, simple coverings: these rooms aren't big enough to pull off the luxury look of layers and tonnes of pillows.
GOAL #17 per Bed: 1 lightweight cover for Summer, 1 fluffy, warm one for Winter plus two sheet sets per bed is more than enough really (even when we have company).
Starting Point:
6 Twin fitted sheets
4 Twin flat sheets
6 Twin Comforters/blankets
8 Pillows
17 Pillowcases
3 Queen sheet sets (flat, fitted and 2 pillowcases)
5 Decorative Throw Pillows
1 Queen Feather Duvet
1 Queen Duvet Cover
4 Queen Bedspreads
9 Throw blankets (for couches)
Less is Better: Now....
I kept the best quality ones to meet the goal.
4 Twin fitted sheets (-2)
2 Twin flat sheets (-2)
4 Twin Comforters/blankets (-2)
6 Pillows (-2)
8 Pillowcases (-7)
2 Queen sheet sets (-1)
3 Decorative Throw Pillows (-2)
1 Queen Feather Duvet
1 Queen Duvet Cover
2 Queen Bedspreads (-2)
6 Throw blankets (for couches) (-3)
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