Simplifying Life - Mark II

ginnyknit

:icotbaske:EasterBunOk promise not to use the 'c' word till well past Easter:rotfl:

Carolyntia

Evening

Well I've managed to post out another 15 parcels for ebay today....so that makes my wardrobe a whole lot easier to deal with. I might be losing my job in the next couple of months so I'm looking to stock up on a few things and increase the nsd

maryb

Of course, using the soap for washing out of said mouths will have to come out of the stock set aside for prezzies to be given sometime in December

Nargleblast

Naturally - being very MSE you would use something you already had in stock. Then get down to making up another batch for the festival that shall not be mentioned until well after Easter.

Talking of soaps, got a lovely library book out last week all about how to make your own soaps etc, some recipes sound lovely and are really easy so I might root around in my stock of essential oils and have a go. Long live the public library!

maryb

I want to have a go at making lavender soap. Frugal Queen's blog shows her using Cookeen and olive oil for soap making. I might have a go at that before I shell out on expensive ingredients like cocoa butter and/or coconut oil. I'm popping into the pound shop today so I'll have a look for a cheap silicone cooking mould. I don't like them for cooking, but I think it would be great to use as a soap mould

I've recently terrified myself by reading "What's in this Stuff?" which analyses everyday products and tells you what all the ingredients really are. So I started looking at labels and realised that even plain common or garden soap is more than just sodium tallowate/sodium palmate - there's several other things listed as well, although they're probably not as nasty as the parabens/sodium laurel sulphate/sodium laureth sulphate type additives.

I'd already started using a lot less in the way of chemical cleaners but this has pushed me even more in that direction. You do have to keep on top of the cleaning, I find. Bicarb and borax is OK for cleaning the sink if it's not too bad but if you let it get away from you then it just doesn't work as well as Cif cream cleaner. And I have to confess, I sometimes miss Mr Muscle for cleaning the bathroom. But Ecover bathroom spray does work on soap scum, you just have to apply it twice. Ideally, of course, I would do a Flylady swish and swipe every day.

[Deleted User]

Busy weekend so far- did the car boot sale, made £100 to pay off debts so really pleased. OH wasnt so pleased at put left-overs from car boot up loft- I will try again in another few months.
So making headway into the debt, slowly but surely and most importantly not running up any more debt.
Next stage of simpler life is to have a clutter-free house, I want to feel relaxed in a nice, clean, clutter-free house, although (usually) my house looks clean and tidy, its a con, the spare room and the cupboards are filled to bursting point with god knows what.
So today I am starting!! Have got a load of washing on the line, have cleaned the freezer and now I can actually see whats in there. Just having a cuppa whilst I catch up on the forum then its on to the fridge.
Once I have given the kitchen and downstairs a good clear out and a clean I am going to attack my bedroom.
One poster on here pointed me towards flylady- what an inspiration.
Also the missminimalist blog has been an inspiration, could quite go that far though.
So, here we go, have a nice day everyone!!!

GreyQueen

A thousand thank-yous to whomever posted a set of links to 4 minimalist blogs inc missminimalist....I'm hooked, totally hooked.

Been doing some serious de-junking in and amongst various other things such as gardening and doing stuff like minuting committees nd laminating posters and am just about to run out the door to spend the afternoon and evening with the mates. Can't recommend her blog highly enough, so glad someone told us about it.

:idea: I had a complete lightbulb moment when I realised that a large section of my stuff was things which other people had de-junked from their homes to me. Fair dos, I gladly accepted it, it's all good practical stuff, just far in excess of domestic requirements.

So, I'm binding and gagging my Inner Pauper and busily re-homing the excess in sure and certain knowledge that most of it will be loitering in cupboards for the next 30 years before I use up what I already have. Plus, it might "die in storage" before I get to it then I will have committed the cardinal sin of Waste and deprived someone else of the benefit.

I'm on a roll. I'll never make the cut as a minimalist but I can use their ethos to make my life better immediately and in the long term.

(Blimey, got some teenage nitwits doing PARKOUR on the outside of my flat right now! Gonna kick some butt!))

[Deleted User]

Hi All, I know its been ages since anyones posted on here, but my mission for a more simple lifestyle continues...... Just wondered how everybody else is doing?
I am currently hooked on Elizabeth West's Hovel in the Hills book, its a real inspiration, many thanks to whomever recommended it many posts ago.
De-cluttering continues here, really need to start on the wardrobe, so many clothes in different sizes, yet I wear the same clothes day in day out.
I have really found out who my true friends are in recent months, cause my quest to tackle my debts has led me to the forums, initially the debt forums, then onto the old-style forums. I have changed my thinking and my lifestyle, some friends who are very materialistic (and also up to their necks in debt also) have fallen by the wayside now I can no longer afford to meet for coffee, lunch, or shopping trips. In fairness to them, they still keep in touch with the odd phonecall, have had invitations for their new 'come dine with me' phase, but it seems to me to be a huge competition on who can spend the most on posh food, who has the nicest home or the latest gadget. I am so relieved not to have that pressure, six months ago I would have been sucked into it and would be so stressed by now.
DH and I are enjoying long walks with the dog, using the library and trying new recipes at home.
Life is much better and I plan to continue simplyifying things further so any tips or advice gratefully recieved, plus I love hearing about everyone elses journey.
Good luck to everyone trying to get a simplier life x

betony

lilykins wrote: »

...DH and I are enjoying long walks with the dog, using the library and trying new recipes at home.
Life is much better and I plan to continue simplyifying things further so any tips or advice gratefully recieved, plus I love hearing about everyone elses journey.
Good luck to everyone trying to get a simplier life x

:T

What a lovely post! Yes, it's so surprising to find that having LESS money rather than MORE can give you a much more satisfying, less stressful life. I hope you are always content in your new lifestyle. :beer: X

[Deleted User]

Just spent last hour sorting out costume jewellery, didnt know I had so much- lots of it tarnished (bin), no longer wear lots (ready for charity shop) and my favourite bits I have kept, five long-length necklaces, two bangles and two pairs of hoop earrings.
So hopefully will no longer have to hunt through the pile of knotted necklaces to find the ones I wear most days- I am determined not to buy anymore, just replace when needed.
I've done the same with handbags and shoes in recent months, cant believe how liberating it is not to have so much 'stuff'. Havent missed anything (plus I managed to make a bit of money on the bags on e-bay).
Need to do the same with clothes, usual story, bulging wardrobe, wear only few items in it- putting it off cause I dont want to regret sending stuff to CS.
I really feel that having just what I NEED rather than several variations on bags, shoes etc makes life feel tidier and simpler.
Have been spending evenings making a patchwork quilt ready for winter (going to try to use central heating less and reduce direct debit).
Off to have another look at the minimalism sites for more inspiration..........