Simplifying Life

ceridwen

do_it_today! wrote: »

The lovely cream boots that are scuffed and havent been worn. :T

...just a thought....maybe you could dye those boots? I dyed a pair of black shoes to navy....looks pretty okay to me.

ceridwen

meanmarie wrote: »

Hi all,

One day I will declutter and make my life simple! My first step is that I no longer buy things unless I really have to...underwear is pretty shot and will definitely need replacement before I head off to Australia in May!

Marie

Guess we've all done the special matching underwear set, then another special matching underwear set.............etc etc and nylons.

A simplified underwear setup that I go in for now is multipacks of basic black pants and selection of black bras - then its not sets, but it all goes together (oh ....and a couple of waist slips in black). Just wish I'd thought more before I chucked the nylons. Chucked them first - then thought "damn, they could be just the thing to tie my soapnuts in before throwing them in the washing machine" - hastily rescued a couple of pairs for that.

Aril

Hello virtual friends!
Decluttering today is going to defrosting the freezer [who knows what treasure I might unearth in there:D ] and finishing my mending jobs. There won't be any more tidying or sorting done as such but my next hotspot is the kitchen. We're currently redoing it [in small steps due to both of us working fulltime] but it's going to have to be organised as part of the process. One of the first thing I did was to allocate a shelf to OS in the larder as soon as it was finished and I now have all my books there [erm except all my OS notes which are bunged in a big red A4 folder that is stuffed under my bedside cabinet using the out of sight out of mind principle:o This only sees the light of day when I haul it out to fling yet more notes in it. Seems I've still got some way to go in this decluttering lark!!!
Another gem from Maya Angelou:
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.[My husband would call this "pass the monkey" ie passing a problem back that isn't yours to those whose responsibility it is to sort it]
And a last one for today
First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
Thomas A Kempis.
Aril

ceridwen

A present for you...whatever you do or dont believe...then there should be something here for you:

http://video.beliefnet.com/index/index_207.html

Rowan9

Rhonda Jean - what a wonderfully inspiring post - I'd be interested in knowing more about how you choose to live and how you got there, if you want to post it! Sounds my kind of life by my dear OH is techno man and loves to buy the newest and latest in 'stuff'. He has been away working for over 3 weeks and I've got this blimmin' 40" HD telly on stand by and whizzing away all the time as I'm not sure if I'll do harm by just pulling the plug. Ah well, we do what we can within the limits of our family. He gives up other things for me (I'll just have a cup of tea and think what they are!!) But he is a real sweetheart to us all.
Earth - the simplifying of emotional stuff is hard isn't it? I'm on another 'batch' of it at the moment so haven't been giving myself a hard time about decluttering the physical objects. It's just chipping away at it and I'll get there. I feel much more positive about that today and I think that is partly due to your post about the Zen habits, Ceridwen, so thanks for that.
However, 2 things are going out of this house - I sold 2 books through Amazon yesterday - yippee. I listed about 6 so hope the others go as well.

Hope everyone has a good day

W

do_it_today!

ceridwen wrote: »

...just a thought....maybe you could dye those boots? I dyed a pair of black shoes to navy....looks pretty okay to me.

Thanks Ceridwen,
I will give it ago - I think they are still on DH's Van for disposal. guess what last night DH returns from walking the dog and what does he have with him? an abondoned yellow Netto shopping basket!!! which he has placed in the loft but promises he will use faithfully for lugging is tools and small bits for work :rotfl: so we shall see

keep going everyone :j

ceridwen

...re boots...saw hint re using toothpaste buffed up after with a cloth on marks on pale footwear....might work?

do_it_today!

Hi Ceridwen,
the boots are not real leather and as well as the scuffs some of the covering has scrapped away at the front so its 50/50.

my cream sequined wedding shoes on the other hand were dull with dirt I took a chance and slung them in a net bag in the washing machine and they have survived so one success story at least.

back to the simplifying process another thing I have realised our lives can become cluttered when I procrastinate - dont make a decision or make a choice about things. Lots of unfinished business, many people say when you are clear and in the present you are happiest.... I really like the quote about having only one catching mit and I probably need to practise my passing the monkey back skills!

mary43

Aril - love the quote............brilliant.

Do it today - what you've said is so true. I must spend hours dithering about what to do/chuck out etc. and not actually getting round to doing it. I put it back until 'tomorrow' which we all know never comes.

I start off with all good intentions till it actually comes to the 'doing' part

System

I struggle with the 'people' related issues more than i do with other simplified areas of my life. This i presume is because i can control many of the elements in my life, but not my family and they are the biggest drain on my physical and emotional wellbeing.

Things were simple when my kids were all at school but now they are at work and college i dont get much time for myself any more. Picking a spot in the day when i can clean my kitchen floor or vaccuum the house without falling over people is getting harder and harder. Picking a time when i can give my kitchen a good clean without someone coming in and messing it as fast as i am cleaning it is difficult too. Sometimes i just feel like giving up......... but i dont, i moan instead.