A simpler life 2019

A_Simple_Home

I originally started the Simpler Life 2018 thread as SimpleLiving, but my father became seriously ill and died recently. So I kind of abandoned my online presence and only lurked occasionally. Now I am trying to get my life back on track but I can't remember my password or email that I used to set up my profile:( so have set up another one and will be following this thread with interest.:)

Am currently sorting through clothes for the charity bag.

bexster1975

Hello A Simple Home

So sorry to hear about your dad.

It's great to see you back here. You inspired a lot of people with your original thread.

Bexster

RainbowHippie

I would love to join you this year. I read along last year but i find it hard to keep up with posting, will try to do better this year!

I really overstretched myself this Christmas, trying to do lots of gifts for friends and their children in a nice OS way (lots of sewing, crochet and baking), but there are so many children now :rotfl: it ended up being quite exhausting. Culminating in me swearing and laughing hysterically at myself while stuffing bean bags for our nieces at silly o'clock on Christmas morning (luckily we weren't hosting lol) resulting in our very own 'white christmas' all over the living room floor:rotfl:
Coupled with the nature of my and OH's work (we are both self employed and work comes in peaks and troughs, we had a peak just before Christmas which is yet to recede) and the amount of work i've been trying to do on our home, we both ended up having a very busy and stressful time, OH was left feeling abandoned as i didn't feel i had any time to relax with him, and neither of us enjoyed the festive period much or felt at all festive.

So. I have decided to do things a bit differently next year. I can't control our work flow, but i can choose to spend more time with family and friends (and poor OH!) instead of putting pressure on myself to craft best-of-my-ability gifts for everyone and his dog! I am not sure yet whether i will do no gifts outside family, or start a system where i pick one or two people per year and try to make or buy them something truly special. Either way i will ensure i let people know well in advance of christmas so hopefully nobody will be offended at their lack of gift!
Anyway, christmas simplifying aside, we will be simplifying quite dramatically in some ways next year. We are planning to sell our home (hence all the work i've been doing, and much still to do in January) and travel around the UK and possibly further afield. We are both able to work from home and don't yet have children, so want to take advantage of being able to move freely and explore while we can! It has been very liberating to divest ourselves of lots of 'stuff' over the last few months, and we will be doing even more in the next few weeks. We will be moving around with only a car-full of 'stuff' which must allow us to live, work, socialise etc comfortably, so we will need to simplify our routines a little. On the other hand, there will be the added (hopefully pleasant) complexities in our lives of finding accommodation, learning about new places, and meeting new people as we travel around. It will be interesting finding a balance and trying to keep our daily necessities simple enough to allow us plenty of time for the 'slow travel' and exploring we want to do.

Anyway, sorry for the essay! i tend to post rarely but am not good at writing short posts lol. I know from last year's thread that i will very much enjoy reading everyone's ideas about their own personal ways of simplifying, however different each of our circumstances are. I look forward to accompanying you all on your simplifying journeys in 2019! xx

RainbowHippie

Simple Home nice to 'see' you again, and sorry to hear about your dad.



Grunnie sorry to hear you have been so poorly, i hope you will be on the mend soon and that your back is feeling better.


I am another one who would love to knit some socks. I've only very recently learned to knit and am really enjoying it, i've crocheted for years and can do it with my eyes closed, but knitting is so absorbing as i really have to pay attention. Very therapeutic! If anyone comes across a nice simple sock pattern that works for them i would be very grateful for recommendations I have never knitted in the round before but would love to give it a go! xx

Towser

I have been procrastinating for three years now. I think it would be easier to ask man with a van to send it all to the charity shop.

Puffinbertha

RainbowHippie wrote: »

Simple Home nice to 'see' you again, and sorry to hear about your dad.



Grunnie sorry to hear you have been so poorly, i hope you will be on the mend soon and that your back is feeling better.


I am another one who would love to knit some socks. I've only very recently learned to knit and am really enjoying it, i've crocheted for years and can do it with my eyes closed, but knitting is so absorbing as i really have to pay attention. Very therapeutic! If anyone comes across a nice simple sock pattern that works for them i would be very grateful for recommendations I have never knitted in the round before but would love to give it a go! xx

I love knitting socks, they are a lot easier to knit than they seem. If you google "Vanilla sock pattern" you will find links to several free patterns.

Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com is brilliant, free to join and there are many free patterns available).

I understand Winwick Mum's tutorials and free patterns are beginner friendly. https://www.winwickmum.co.uk/p/sockalong.html

If you prefer visual learning You Tube is your friend. HTH

apricity

I'd love to join you too.
My main focuses ;
* Declutter all rooms
* Donate all things stacked in outside storage cupboard
* Buy less ''material" stuff & more on memories -and/or-
* spend more time connecting with my fiance by 'free / cheap' activities
* Make healthier choices once better / slim down for wedding
* Be more aware of finances
* Organise space better

We've been living in our 1 bedroom house for almost 2 years now and we've got a ton of stuff to sort out and now i'm finding it overwhelming due to the amount of stuff (Mainly my stuff) we have. We live in a small house so that's another factor.

I want to use 2019 as a year to declutter each room & organise things better so it doesn't get too overwhelming again.

Me & my fiance did quite a bit of work today (we both took today off as we were both ill...was sick a lot last night).

* We both tidied the bedroom - more of his hard work than mine
* Changed the bed
* purchased a new mattress protector so we can alternate between them whilst washing them
* Decluttered most of the bedside unit
* Hoovered the room & down the side of the bed
* I washed up all the dirty dishes that's been stacked for 3 days (Both been ill & i powered on through work for 2 long days)
* Both sorted our christmas presents and got 95% of our living room back
* almost done all clothes washing but do need to put the clothes away
* Purchased converters for our light fixtures so we can Finally have normal/rainbow lighting in our bed room tomorrow

__________________
A Simple Home,
I'm sorry to hear about your dad also.
I hope things become a little easier for you and that you keep yourself well during this time.
All hugs for you and take it easy by doing small things at a time. Don't over do it both emotionally and physically.

MrsLottie

I want to use 2019 as a year to get outside and do more walking with my two little dogs . I live in a small town with plenty of countryside around us and I know I should enjoy my surroundings more.i know getting out would help me health wise and increase my peace of mind so from tomorrow I shall aim for a half hour every morning and every afternoon .Think the dogs will be very happy with that ! .

apricity

that sounds like a great plan - mrslottie!

This morning I;
* Put the christmas tree away
* Put some washing away
* The converters for our new hue lightbulbs came and placed one in our bedroom ; we actually have proper light now!!

Have asked my fiance if we could go to the pound stretcher store to get myself another draw of 4 ,
for my wardrobe. my wardrobe is cluttered . We're over that way anyway as I need to pick up my B/C

Next on my list is to finish putting all washing away & to sort my desk out.
Then it's onto the living room

CAFCGirl

On I'm in for definite!

Currently in the process of a huge declutter. Aiming for 40 bags out the house by my 35th in March. I'm doing well with it so far. Have Freecycle and already donated clothing and linens. Books, dvd,and CD next.

My goals are to live as a human being, not a human doing. Experiences over owning the gs, learning skills and basically living slower with greater presence in all we do, time outside, wholesome time...