Picture Letters
With a friend I took some pictures of letters at a local University. I then had them printed in black and white at walmart, and put them in dollar store frames.
Downsizing My Life
Downsizing My Life
I was a college graduate that
went straight into the workforce. My husband and I lived in a small
apartment until we decided we wanted a house to have children in. All my
life I dreamed of a large “model” home. The kind you see in Home Alone.
Big spacious rooms. Maybe even a wrapping paper room. I then moved
into an newer 1100 square foot house where I wanted to start my family. I
tried to organize on the weekend but until I was a stay-at-home Mom, I realized
that all my priorities were wrong.
I created this plan to clean a
different part of the house every day. I created a spreadsheet, I put
everything on there, then did it for about two weekend. Why would I want
to spend almost every day of my waking life thinking about how I have to clean
or cleaning?
While I love the tiny house
trend, I think this house is a perfect size for us. I will need to do
some creating thinking, and get away from commercialization but I think I can
do it and I know you can too.
My goal is to get my house where
I want it so I can spend time on the things most important to me.
Relationships and experiences. That is where I hope to spend my time and
money in the future. Stop buying stuff, stop cleaning stuff, stop
organizing stuff and live your life!
Guests- While relationships are a
priority, living your life with an extra room you don’t use, or things that may
be used by a guest for three out of 365 days of the year is a waste. I am
not saying you should not have people over. They can stay at a hotel if they
want a hotel quality room, or borrow your things. Cost to stay at a hotel
for 3 days a year. $300. Cost to have a room that you will need to
heat and cool, furnish, and clean for 365… probably more.
Bedroom
· One Nice Set of Sheets- You
only need one pair of quality sheets. When they get dirty wash
them. Just buy what is most comfortable to you. You can spend a
little more on good quality because you only need one. When you are done
with them donate them and buy yourself once nice set of sheets.
· Once Nice Comforter- Do people still really
change their comforter for the seasons? Then you would have to store this
comforter. Get one that you can use all year.
· Queen Size Bed- Who
needs a king? I like to feel the warmth of my husband under the
blankets.
· Two Towels Per Person- I
had a stack of towels that were falling over in the closet. Every time I
would do wash I would have to stuff them in to where the pile would fall
over. A person needs a clean towel and a dirty one. When the towel
gets dirty, clean it.
Kitchen
·
Cook
Books- You don’t need them. Find
the recipes online and bookmark them.
They are taking up space.
· Organize Plastic ware- Don’t have a cabinet of
take-out containers with the containers and lids thrown about. For about
$15 you can buy a Handy Gourmet Swirl Around Food Storage Containers.
This will take up 1 foot by 1 foot of your home. I know you want to save
those other containers, but even though they were free, storing them is
expensive. Recycle them.
· Start a Compost- Get a plastic container for outside.
Poke some holes in it. Add dirt until about 1/8 or more full.
Get a plastic container inside that seals so your kitchen does not
smell. Put that one under your sink. Add contents to the container
in the kitchen. If you are unsure what to add check online. This
has helped me be more aware of what I eat.
· Start a Recycle System- Once you start to have a system to put your
paper, plastic, and cardboard, you won’t even think about doing it.
· Call Trash Company- Now that you are composting and recycling,
you probably have less trash. Call the company to see if your billed can
be lowered. Many companies charge by the bag per week.
Cleaning
Set-Up House for Easy Clearing- My goal
is to clean my house only one day a Month. That is 12 days a year, not
365! This is a challenge but mostly forward thinking. People may
judge me, and our family may live in their own filth, but I will not be
spending hours of my life doing something I don’t like to do. I
even set up a day or organize a closet or drawer in each week. What a
waste of time. If I don’t have the stuff to organize, I can spend my time
elsewhere.
Closet
Don’t Buy the Walmart Special- I walk into Walmart, and I
see the $1 rack. A shirt for a dollar, what a deal! I can’t wait to
see if there is something in my size. I go over to the rack and get
excited. Let’s talk about my closet a home. The small closet is
overfull with clothes. I wear about 20% of them most of the time. I
don’t need anything else. But the dollar rack! There is a shirt
that may fit me but for a dollar why even bother trying it on. The shirt
is a tee shirt that is just ok, but it is only a dollar. So I would
usually buy this shirt, and get a little high from scoring a good deal.
Then I would have to carry the unwanted shirt out of the store, carry the
bag in my house, and remember to put the shirt away. I would have to put the
bag away and receipt somwhere. Then stuff the steal in the full closet where it
will get hidden, and I will have another shirt to organize in the future.
WHY?
Decide What You Really Need in
Your Closet- Let’s say you are going on a trip for a week to a place that has
the same climate where you live. What would you pack? Only what you
really needed so you don’t have to carry to much in your small suitcase.
This is what should be in your closet. Doesn’t it feel great when you go
into a hotel room. You know the drawers are empty. Organizing your
suitcase in these drawers is easy and freeing.
Breaking Connections to Stuff- Imagine if you got the
opportunity to move to Hawaii. What would go though your mind. How
would I get my stuff there? This should not be your first question.
I would like to know I could move anywhere without worrying about things.
I hope to think were would my relationships and experiences be better for my
family and I? Not about moving my clothes, dishes, and flat screen
tv’s.
Take Pictures of Things you Don’t
Want to Part With- Many people have collections. I had a sand
collection. While I enjoyed collecting sand, I had not place to put the
bottles. So I took a picture of them, and threw them away. You can
do this too!
Get Rid of Gifts that are not
Being Used- We created a wedding registry but people strayed from the
list. We got 5 picture frames for wedding pictures. We did not need
these frames but they were expensive. So I kept all 5 and used one.
The others are sitting in a drawer. What is the point. I should
just donate them to someone who can use them. Returning them is also an
option.
Montessori Images
I love the Montessori way of teaching children! I started today by printing some animal, structural, and art pictures to add to Maria's room. I took these images in different travels. I have seen the art pieces, but found the pictures online because they were better than my own. I liked the idea of having pictures that were actually taken by someone because they are more realistic. If she sees these things on her own some day, I don't want her to say... that is not what I thought it would look like. Please print and share them if you like. I also found this great printable map site. Print to the size you like!
I got his idea from this post that was shared with me.