The Big Kahuna
This weekend was kind of a blur. We went shopping on Saturday and I found some good deals for the kids. I want to have a few Christmas gifts with us, just in case the moving company fails to deliver on time.While we were out it appears as though the post attempted to deliver Ethan’s passport. That is only a week and a day, since we applied! There is no way the Canadian route would have been settled this quickly. We will be hitting the Post Office today, I am so excited to see it!
Wow. I am in awe that the month of October is almost over. Only one more month until we return to Canada!! In honour of our return, I have had mini giveaways all month. Celebrating with you all has been so much fun! Once we are all settled in I so want to host more contests. I really enjoyed sharing a piece of our lives with you. The last of the Great White North contests a Grand Prize of a Flickr Pro Account, has arrived.In order to qualify for the big kahuna, I would like you to share with me this:
Name five things you could give up in order to simplify your life.
Since we have moved a lot over the years, I try to keep things simple. However, lately I have been eager to minimize even more, to achieve a more zen like life. De-clutter, keeping only essentials. It is hard though. One grows sentimental and attached to stuff.You have until Halloween to share with me your five things. Everyone that shares will be entered then a name will be randomly drawn. Thanks again for joining me on this journey. It would not have been the same without you.
Wow! Time is really flying by! It seems like just yesterday J was going off for the interview. And baby Ethan’s getting his very own passport… mini world traveller. How cute is that?
I’ve actually been thinking about this a lot lately. We still have a few more years stuck in CA but I can’t help but dream about the next move. We’re going to try really, really hard to go back overseas. If we do, I’d like to get rid of my husband’s car. It’s a cute car but it’s just not Euro-friendly and it would be nice to get him something that doesn’t suck up so much gas. Plus, it’s so old it’s practically vintage and replacement parts are expensive.
So yeah, I guess his car would be the first item to go. Second, I’d like to get rid of some of our books. We have way too many that have gone unread or are just sitting there collecting dust because “it was so good, I might re-read it someday!” but we know we won’t.
Third, clothes. We have a ton of stuff we don’t wear or have forgotten about. I’m sure there are people out there that could use some of this stuff but when it comes time to sort thru it all, we get attached or fall in love with it all over again. I have a coat that I have never worn but it’s soooo soft and pretty. I bought it for a trip to Munich that never happened and now I can’t bear to part with it. It’s big and heavy and I’ll probably never wear it in So Cal. I really hope I’m not carting it off to the next duty station tho.
Fourth… cords, cables and out-dated gadgetry. Where to old iPaq’s go to die?? MY CLOSET. Seriously, I have a tub of phone cords, cat5, and old PDAs and cell phones in my closet that I wish I could toss out already. But, every time I get close to dumping it, I wonder what I’d do if our DSL went down and I didn’t have the means to connect wirelessly to an open connection. (Like that would ever happen!) OR what if we go somewhere on vacation and need to use an old cell phone?? So I save this crap, just in case.
Last, but not least, old holiday decorations. When Beetle and I got married, we had nothing so we bought stuff we wouldn’t normally buy just to keep our tree or home from being totally naked. Now that we’ve grown up and we’ve actually bought things because we LIKE them, not because they were cheap, it’s time for the old stuff to go… but ahh, the memories! We’ll pull out our tubs of stuff and just sit around saying “Remember when we got this? Remember when we got that?” How can I throw those memories away? *sigh*
I really would like to have less crap tho.
Hmm, 5 things to give up to simplify my life… I would probably have to say my old clothes that don’t fit anymore and probably won’t ever again (if I’m being realistic), old craft supplies for any project that I haven’t worked on in over a year (which probably means most of them), every toy in the house that’s missing more than 2 pieces or hasn’t been played with in the last 6 months, hubby’s collections of movies and tv shows on vhs tape (you didn’t say they had to only be my things!), and all of the rocks under our back deck as well as the sand in our sandbox that we want to tear out. Yes, that would definitely help to simplify things.
I have actually been making progress in this area. Now, when we moved, after living in one house for 11 years, we got rid of - shock - 3 pick up truck worth of stuff. And that doesn’t count what we threw away.
Now, to be fair, I will only say my stuff. Not Jamie’s or Darren’s, who are the true pack, if not, yarn, rats in the house.
1. Shoes and clothes. I have hung onto my shoes and clothes from when I worked. I have a not counted but probably 20 pairs of shoes and I wear 2. I need 3. The 2 I wear and a 3rd nice pair just in case I ever go smoe place nice. Snort.
2. Scrapbooking supplies. I’ve decided to go digital.
3. Bargain gift closet stuff. I’ve got to stop buying, distribute, spend more (or make) and have them be hearfelt and only give to people meaningful (note: only gifts for kids are in the gift closet but still).
4. CDs. I’m always after Darren to get rid of his cds. Maybe if I set the example.
5. Cleaning supplies. I use mostly baking soda and vinegar, plus some wicked strong chemicals for the toilet. The rest should go.
6. (I’m on a roll) Towels, sheets, blankets, how many does one family of 3 need?
Darren gets scared when I’m in a mood like this, because “we might need it someday.” Sigh.
Oh man…..5 things. Hmmmm
1. Buying store bought presents. Homemade is better.
2. Eating out. Homemade is better.
3. Un-used toys. Currently have two heaping piles that need to be given away.
4. Un-used *anything* but I keep ‘just in case’. It’s only cluttering my daily life.
5. Quit looking on Craigslist for free stuff. Why do I think I need it just becuase its free? Sheesh.
This is a bit of a toughie. I think I could live with out my book collection since there is the library. I think that a lot of my craft stuff needs to go (except for my yarn and knitting needles of course). I could stand to get rid of my CDs since they are all on my iPod. I am thinking of giving up our land line next time we move, it would be so much easier to just keep the cell phone. I think we could also stand to really cut back on the kid’s toys, they have so many and often end up playing with things that are not even toys.
Five things I could give up to simplify my life?
1. My blog. Sad but true.
2. My morning makeup routine. But I’m not going to.
3. Television. Again, not going to.
4. Uh…. I dunno, magazines?
5. That’s it. I already have a pretty simple life.
(don’t enter me in the contest, though - my photos don’t warrent the terrific prize!)
Hurray for the speedy passport! Are you familiar with http://www.mastermindtoys.ca? You can order in Canadian or American funds and have them shipped right to your new address.
When we moved here a couple of years ago I took that chance to go through everything we owned. We ended up donating two mini van loads to Goodwill and throwing away even more. I think I do a good job of keeping the clutter down but our house doesn’t have great storage so I feel like it’s a constant battle!
1 - Clothes. I still have tshirts from college 7+ years ago. And I still wear them. They hang next to the not-t-shirts in my closet.
2 - Scrapbooking supplies here too. I make cards but also have scrap supplies. I have gotten rid of probably half of what I had but for some reason haven’t been able to let go of the other half.
3 - VHS movies. Sure we have a combo dvd/vhs player but we never watch them. Ever. One of those times where I love the movie and don’t want to let it go.
4 - Some kids toys. I do a great job keeping them contained but can’t let go of other things like Little People. Never mind that neither of my kids play with them, I’ve merely packed them up to save.
5 - Whatever is hiding in the garage. Half of the garage is well organized, holiday things are in labeled boxes, etc. I’m convinced the other half has taken it upon itself to recreate garage junk. I know we have thrown stuff away or donated it and it just doesn’t seem to go away! LOL
Oh man.
That’s actually a tough question…
Really, all I want is to get and stay organized. An organized home is my ideal. If I could do anything to simplify my home, I’d want to be organized. If my home was simplified, my head would be too….
(But I’m not playing….I already won a great prize…let someone else win)
I could give up:
1. My “Color Me Badd” CD from the 80’s (remember I wanna sex you up?)
2. A bottle of “Big Sexy Hair” brand Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse someone gave me three years ago and I never used.
3. The book: Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution
4. The cotton, floral print granny gown I’ve been wearing to bed lately.
5. Tampons (this is hypothetical, right?)
I can’t believe Oct is almost over either!
Oh I’m such a pack rat and everytime we move I try to get rid of things! So let’s see what I still have I could give up:
1. My sticker book collection from when I was around 10! yes I still have these and have been carrying them around with me. Why? I don’t know, nostalgia. I carry around a lot of things because of the memories they hold.
2. My box full of cards and letters. I don’t really need to save every card from birthdays and holidays do I? Think of all the room it takes up! But I still have most of them.
3. Porcelin clown masks and clowns. I used to collect these, but no longer do and they aren’t even up around the house anymore, just in boxes. I’m actually planning on giving these away at some point.
4. All of Kayla’s old baby clothes. Since we’re not finding out what we’re having I’ve been hanging on to them until our next child, just in case we have another girl
5. The computer! Ok I probably couldn’t really do without this, but it sure would make life simpler!
Holy crap that’s fast for a passport!
What could I live without (but don’t really want to…)?
1. Bins of clothes in the garage
1. TONS of toys
3. Exercise equipment that’s never been used
4. All (0kay - most) of our CD’s & DVD’s once they’ve been ripped but I don’t have any say in this one apparently.
5, Clothes that don’t fit my fatness but I keep hoping!
Since moving across the continent with only suitcases, I’ve let alot of material things go…we too just use baking soda and nasty toilet bowl cleaner, have few towels, but let me see what’s unique about us…
)
1. I only buy canned tomatoes then puree or dice or whatever I need (purchase no tomato sauce, paste, soup, etc.)
2. I cut the family’s hair which is easier time wise and on the pocket book.
3. New shopping habits which include browsing (I’ll only convince myself that I need something that I don’t)…if I don’t need it today, I don’t buy it (with the exception of groceries of course)…I used to like to stock up on useless cheap stuff (I’m also trying to avoid cheap imports-except canadian made of course!)
4. The tv goes off at 10pm no matter what’s coming on (and I’ve never regretted it in the morning
5. Downsize the stuff and increase the time…for Christmas and birthdays and anniversaries, Adam and I give each other dinner and dates (usually homemade speghetti -in honour of our first date- or delivery pizza) and an evening of attention…
Hi Chelle!
I haven’t posted here in a while and I just wanted to stop through and take a gander at your beautiful babies… you are wonderful and the site looks great.
Monica
I’m not entering for this great prize - I’m happy with what I’ve won already and it would be just plain greedy!
My wise friend compared simplifying life to pruning back a rose bush - getting rid of the dead, ugly brunches so that it can grow back healthier and more beautiful. I’ve given a lot of thought to it - clearing the schedule - out mornings and at home in the afternoons. No rushing around to here, there and everywhere just to please the masses and then to burn out myself!! If the mood fits and we’re up to it, we’ll make it or catch up with others. Get rid of stuff that your heart is not in - those things that you do because you feel you “have to”. Once you’ve pruned back those dead, ugly branches, let new stuff in - stuff that energises you!
In terms of material stuff - if it hasn’t been used in the last 6 months, ditch it! Have a large, lidded box for “keepsakes” for each kid and the rest can go! Nothing like a de-cluttered house to make you feel FABULOUS!
[...] a big move and she’s been having giveaways all month long to celebrate - today she asks what five things you could give up to simplify your life. One of my answers is my scrapbooking [...]
1. Get rid of all the stuff my ex left in our house that he probably does not remember that is there.
2. Books and toys that Brendan has out-grown.
3. Clothes, coats, and shoes that I do not wear anymore.
4. Nic-naks around the house that are so out-dated.
5. Some of my old CD’s and DVD’s that I never watch anymore!
1. Clothes that don’t fit
2. Old sheets
3. Old boxes with stuff I don’t even know anymore what’s in there.
4. Old pots and pans
5. Out dated decorations that I’ve kept in case they came back in style.
I could go on but you only asked for 5.
Do dustbunnies count? I can’t believe the move is happening so soon! Yeah.
I was coming over to see if you were done moving yet. I didn’t realize it was still a month away. So, since I am here. I’ll join your contest.
1- The boxes of stuff in my garage that have been there since we moved in 1 1/2 years ago. (If I haven’t needed it by now, then I probably don’t.)
2- TV! If I gave that up I’d have lots of time to organize everything else. (Notice I didn’t give up the laptop? I’m not crazy after all!)
3- My old pots and pans that I keep around just in case.
4- My china cabinet and all of it’s contents that I never use. It really just causes for extra cleaning and dusting.
5- My desktop computer- It’s a big monster and always has chaos around it. That stuff doesn’t ever happen with my laptop.
I hope I win, and I have a contest on mine until Saturday if you want to join in too!
Gosh the kids are so big. Becca looks like a kid in that picture… where did the toddler face go?!
Hmmm, 5 things?
1. Our van. I’d love to have a simple 4 door car that gets fantastic gas.
2. My shoe collection. Gasp. I said that out loud, didn’t I?
3. My WAHM job. I actually will be giving it up after the first of the year. I am hoping to simplify my life.
4. My ridiculously large collection of pajama pants. Seriously, who needs 11 pairs?
5. Books. I have so many that I have read, or that I don’t use. I think that will be my next task.
Happy Halloween to all!
I was trying to explain how tough this season is to those abroad, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then the holidays, plus a couple of birthdays in December, makes the whole thing a marathon. I don’t think anyone really understood the pressures though.
Cheers