So, I haven't posted in a few days, not because I haven't been busy, but because I am doing much of the same thing everyday. Today, I bagged up 2 garbage bags full of MY clothes that I am donating to charity. In the last few days, I have sorted through ALL of the baby clothes I have in the house. I am preparing them for a consignment sale in mid-September. Yes, we are planning on having another baby...
So, my sorting of baby clothes has gone something like this: sort spring/summer vs fall/winter, sort out everything with any stains or noticeable wear (goes straight to my donation pile), sort what I want to send to my sister (she has a new baby girl), then, sort by size. Hang. Make Tags. Tag. I am still working through this, not quite halfway now.
I also have a huge box of baby toys ready to go. And all of the baby gear, except the crib and the Moses basket. And the jogging stroller. Everything else, out it goes. Ben and I decided when we have another baby, regardless of whether it is another girl, I will want new stuff. Good point. Out it goes. I also listed all of my fabric for sale. I'm not using it. I don't need it. We need the money.
I've listed several items on ebay. I'm making progress. Slowly, surely, effectively.
Did I also mention that we have basically emptied our savings account because our paychecks have been so small lately. We haven't been able to buy groceries all week. It's amazing how much food you can find in the house when the fridge is empty! Hooray for Costco sized boxes of Bisquick. We've actually eaten remarkably well. Just had to actually cook from scratch. Which we should be doing anyway. I looked up a recipe to make "homemade bisquick" today. With whole wheat flour. Yes, we will use it from now on. Well, once the box we have is emptied.
So, the purging continues, and once I have finished prepping everything for the sale, i will be sure to share pictures! You will be amazed, especially if you know me!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Intro, this is me...
I have come to the realization that I have too much STUFF. Yes, its been hounding me for years, but I've finally realized that it is time to do something about it. We waste too much. Too much money, too much time, too much food, etc...,
My husband doesn't like to keep stuff. We have moved over 15 times in the 11 years we have been married. I always have a hard time getting rid of things. He could literally leave everything behind and start fresh every time. After spending 6 weeks visiting family this summer, living out of a single suitcase... and feeling nothing but FREE... relieved, and able to breathe... Nothing set on a schedule, living day to day with no big plans... I decided it was time to make a big change.
Everyone is talking about how we over schedule our kids, and just create more stress for ourselves and them in the long run. Kids don't have the chance to just play. Just build blanket forts, and get muddy. They are busy running to Tae Kwon Do, Piano lessons, ballet, swim team, etc..., We are busy carting them from place to place... all in the name of building well rounded kids and young adults. After all, we need to have activities to write in those college applications, don't we?!
I am no exception to the rule. I have tried to keep my kids occupied and enrolled in activities: gynmastics, swim lessons, piano lessons, baking classes... you name it. I myself am not to be excused. When we first moved to Virginia, i signed up for Zumba, pottery, Fit Moms, boot camp, etc..., I was tired. I loved the days where I didn't need to leave the house, at all.
Growing up, my mom always kept everything because, "I might need it someday". The house was cluttered, the cabinets are messy and disorganized. So when we "might need it", often we couldn't find it anyway. Mom is very sentimental, and it brushed off on me. Mom is attached to "stuff".
My dad was the complete opposite. He tossed and tossed and never kept anything. Granted, he never threw anything of mine away, though there were threats if I left it in his space... He would often get frustrated with a mess that had been around for too long, and just grab a garbage can... and deal with it. My dad is not sentimental. He has nothing from his childhood... and from what I can tell, 1 prized possession, an original copy of the Tarzan book.
So... here I embark on this journey... to simplify my family's life in an attempt to make us all enjoy every moment, waste nothing, grow into individuals that are happy and healthy. To date, several have inspired me, and the list is growing. There will be more, I will share them as they come!
Find more information here:
Fly Lady
http://flylady.net/
Organized Simplicity, by Tsh Oxenreider
http://www.amazon.com/Organized-Simplicity-Clutter-Free-Approach-Intentional/dp/1440302634
My husband doesn't like to keep stuff. We have moved over 15 times in the 11 years we have been married. I always have a hard time getting rid of things. He could literally leave everything behind and start fresh every time. After spending 6 weeks visiting family this summer, living out of a single suitcase... and feeling nothing but FREE... relieved, and able to breathe... Nothing set on a schedule, living day to day with no big plans... I decided it was time to make a big change.
Everyone is talking about how we over schedule our kids, and just create more stress for ourselves and them in the long run. Kids don't have the chance to just play. Just build blanket forts, and get muddy. They are busy running to Tae Kwon Do, Piano lessons, ballet, swim team, etc..., We are busy carting them from place to place... all in the name of building well rounded kids and young adults. After all, we need to have activities to write in those college applications, don't we?!
I am no exception to the rule. I have tried to keep my kids occupied and enrolled in activities: gynmastics, swim lessons, piano lessons, baking classes... you name it. I myself am not to be excused. When we first moved to Virginia, i signed up for Zumba, pottery, Fit Moms, boot camp, etc..., I was tired. I loved the days where I didn't need to leave the house, at all.
Growing up, my mom always kept everything because, "I might need it someday". The house was cluttered, the cabinets are messy and disorganized. So when we "might need it", often we couldn't find it anyway. Mom is very sentimental, and it brushed off on me. Mom is attached to "stuff".
My dad was the complete opposite. He tossed and tossed and never kept anything. Granted, he never threw anything of mine away, though there were threats if I left it in his space... He would often get frustrated with a mess that had been around for too long, and just grab a garbage can... and deal with it. My dad is not sentimental. He has nothing from his childhood... and from what I can tell, 1 prized possession, an original copy of the Tarzan book.
So... here I embark on this journey... to simplify my family's life in an attempt to make us all enjoy every moment, waste nothing, grow into individuals that are happy and healthy. To date, several have inspired me, and the list is growing. There will be more, I will share them as they come!
Find more information here:
Fly Lady
http://flylady.net/
Organized Simplicity, by Tsh Oxenreider
http://www.amazon.com/Organized-Simplicity-Clutter-Free-Approach-Intentional/dp/1440302634
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