Anyone want to join me in a minimalist journey?

[lucysnowe]

I've been reading a load of minimalist mum blogs and have been brainwashed inspired . We are undergoing some building work at the mo and the amount of stuff everywhere is absolutely doing me head in. Once it is finished I want to have a ginormous sort and throw out. We are getting a tumble dryer and I plan to start culling clothes, sheets, towels etc, with the aim of getting ALL washing done each week and not have massive full up bins cluttering up the place. Next: toys, ornaments, and random bits of paper. Anyone fancy doing the same for the New Year?

Also on the subject of resolutions, I never make them and am not really a fan. But it's everywhere at the moment so it's been ticking away at the back of my mind. It all sounds like hard work and just more stuff to do. Last night I thought (after a few pints...) that what I want for 2013 is less.

I want less stuff both materially and virtually, I want less on my to do list, I want to watch less TV and I want to worry about work less. Then I want more time with DP and DD, more reading, more yoga and more simplicity.

Believe me, it all made perfect sense last night!

Ah yes, couldn't figure it out.

I did like the Dr. Bronner's but it is soap, and after 20 years of using shower gel, it was a bit strange.

Thanks Remus, I'd still like to try the Dr Bronner's, might try to get a sample from somewhere.
Funny you mention Muji, I was just looking on their site. I'm tempted to go out and buy lots of baskets and drawers and lovely storage but I remember reading on one of the minimalist blogs that you should dejunk first otherwise you could be just organising your clutter! Sounds like you've already pared right down though :)

Sorry, yes, a Make Up Artist! I'm also a teacher though and make up is very much a sideline or as DH calls it, a very expensive hobby.

Happy New Year all!

I was out rather late last night and DD was up rather early so not really got anything done today.

I love reading about the work everyone else is doing as it gives me ideas of what to tackle next. As I was getting ready to go out last night I started to think about tackling toiletries and make up next. I like little projects like that feel so satisfying when done. I have loads of makeup I never wear, and some is probably older than it should be too.

In fact I may tackle my make up drawer now as it is a small enough job with a hangover. Wow this is a powerful thread.

I'm finding the Banish Clutter Forever book really interesting and thought-provoking. And although I haven't stared the exercises/rooms, it's been making me pick up and sort through stuff at a much smaller level (eg clearing and sorting stuff on my computer desk, and on the shelves beside me).

A dilemma though - what do you so with stuff which you like, and makes you happy to look at, but doesn't fit in with your current house? I have a tapestry I made years ago, which is framed and is lovely, but is dark colours with a heavy frame, and curretly my stuff (and desired look) is much lighter. It won't suit a lighter frame, and ideally needs my not-yet-achieved dream house (big Georgian pile ), but that's not likely to happen at all any time soon. So what should I do with my tapestry? Gut feeling says to put it in the loft in a box, but isn't that just postponing making a decision?

I also have a beautiful soapstone chess set, which does fit in with my aspirational style, and I do have somewhere it could go. But, it will need dusting, and moving to dust around it, and I am really lazy about dusting and moving stuff. Do I accept that it's just not going to work for me, and get rid? Or work out if I love it enough to make me want to keep it clean?

I think if you love something, you should put it up anyway - I don't like houses where everything is too matchy matchy. Could the tapestry go up in your bedroom maybe?

Chess set - agree that it's just a dust trap. And they take a lot of space up.

Just decluttered the medicine box, not too much to chuck as I do it at least once a year, but satisfying nonetheless.

IShall, I agree with Remus, I like an eclectic style so that things go up that I love regardless of whether they match and also it's less tempting to buy something just because it goes. If you can put something with it that bridges the style, so a cushion or throw that goes with the current style, but also goes with the tapestry might work.
If you play chess a few times a week, then set it up, if not, you know the drill.

Antoinette, I used to love doing make-up, that must be fun. A lot of stuff though.

may have found somewhere else to hang the tapestry - I'm going to prop it up for a few days to make sure I like it there first though. That's not putting off the decision, honestly, it's not knocking holes in the wall without being sure .

I've found some similar chess sets on ebay, but not any which have sold. I'm an ebay selling virgin, so am a bit unsure if this is the best thing to be starting off with. or Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway (and if it does't sell, off to the charity shop it goes).

Following 'Banish Clutter Forever's prompt, I've organised the bathrom stuff by activity so all the hair stuff is together- brush, styling gunk, etc., teeth - brush, paste, mouthwash, floss together.
One area is morning/evening skincare and everyday make up. I'm now using the face scrub which I love but inexplicably kept ignoring.

All duplicates and evening make up is stored away in a cupboard. Small, once a week stuff- nail scissors, tweezers, tea tree oil in a small pot.

Have ditched all pre holiday body scrub, moisturizers, etc. I am not that sort of woman and having it getting dusty on a shelf won't change that.

I agree with suggestions to lose the chess set. And see how the tapestry settles in.

I've sold two things for £20 each on ebay so feeling motivated to list more. We've also taken Xmas decs and cards down which makes the house feel fresher, too.

My make up bag is very spartan: No 7 tinted moisturiser, Max factor brown mascara, concealer, 3 lipsticks (2 of which I need to bin - a NARS one which lasts a couple of minutes, but am reluctant to throw as was £££, and a house of colour one, which also doesn't last. The best is a cheapie Rimmel one. I also have a Smashbox eye shadow trio - I love the colours, the formula, but it was expensive and has sentimental value as I bought it for my wedding. It is over 2 years old [skanky] and I need to replace it. Any suggestions for good (but cheap) replacement?

Ok, I really need to start de cluttering, the trouble is we have 7 children so even having just 2 sets of bed sheets each works out 16 sets of bed sheets and the same with towels, so do I keep one towel per person or two? I love, love, love shoes all styles all colours and now have 49 pairs and different outfits to go with different shoes e.g I have a denim skirt (only worn once last year) that only looks good with a certain pair of brown boots so do I get rid of the skirt and boots? Really need to start with loft or kitchen tomorrow......I think......

Reea, just don't go mad and start decluttering the children ....

Peppa, thanks for the answer re the wedding dress. I have also NC'ed for the NY, used to be WWSD.

Welcome all the new minimalists/minimalist wannabes.

Happy New Clear! :)

Love this thread! Can't wait to get started again tomorrow.

Happy new clear to you all

Hello, I'm still catching up with the rest of the thread but getting lots of good ideas and plenty of inspiration.

DP is not quite as enthusiastic though. I was just trying to gently suggest that maybe we could get rid of the CDs, as he could upload them to itunes to put on his ipod, but he pointed out that if the laptop crashed, he'd lose the music for good. I suggested backing up onto a data stick or something, but he said if it was in the machine when it crashed, it might get corrupted or wiped. We can't afford to buy an external drive just now. Maybe I will box them up, and then the CD tower that DD is so drawn to could go. I wouldn't want him to lose that "Best of The Bangles" album that he has probably not listened to in 20 years.

I would like to get rid of some clothes, but am struggling. I am pg but not showing yet, so I have clothes I don't wear right now but will need in a couple of months' time. I also have plenty that are almost ready for the bin, but if I bin them I won't have warm enough clothes when it gets PROPERLY cold. Actually, I think I have just shopped really badly in the past. It feels like it's pointless doing anything with my clothes at this stage, but it also feels like an obstacle to decluttering. I have bagged up some items for the charity shop but would prefer to get rid of some more.

Boffinmum

If I de cluttered the kids my house would be spotless

Mrs you can get an external passport hardrive (which is same size as a passport hence the name) for about £70 if that helps and it holds a lot!

Might try that myself!

Morning all Mrs I haven't spoken to dh but I knw he wil be the same about cds, even though he NEVER listen to music, not even in the car.

I keep finding myself wanting to make lists of all the things I want to declutter, as I love lists. So far I am resisting as I feel it will look overwhelming. I am enjoying just finding small projects that make me feel better atm.

Somebody upthread, sorry on phone so difficult to scroll back, said that even knowing a cupboard was tidy behind the door made them feel better. I find that too. My bedroom is usually a real mess. It is tidier atm but I also cleared out under the bed and feel so much calmer knowing it is tidy under there, even though I can't see it.

Lemon I started out with a giant, depressing and honestly rather terrifying list. Then I read 'Banish Clutter Forever' and decided to go through the list and look at when was a sensible time to actually do everything on it, so making sure things are done in the right order and at times when we have plenty of time to finish them. I went through the diary and wrote when everything's going to be done on the right day, making sure there's never more than one big job per day. As I did that I ticked things off the master list.

Now I feel light and clear as I know everything's going to get done over the next couple of months and I don't feel overwhelmed by a giant to do list!

Worth a try anyway :)

Working on the "launch pads" today

Hi guys

Finding it hard to keep up with this thread :) do we need to minimise it but have done a good job of decluttering over the last few days. About ten bags of rubbish and three bags to charity (the ratio of rubbish to charity-worth items a bit disquieting!). House still in an uproar but eventually all bedrooms with have only beds, chest of drawers, (foldable) laundry baskets, and hopefully that will be about it. But still have issues with paperwork, books, launch pad (I like that term!) and photos/art. but we are getting there. One revelation I have had is that collapsible storage is soo much better than hefty plastic stuff. I have discovered that this kind of thing makes a perfectly acceptable washing basket for eg. I wish I could make everything collapsible! NB read through Simplicity Parenting - although I don't agree with everything in it, I really like the idea - recommended.

I've been out to meet a friend for lunch and dumped a huge bag of good clothes at nearby charity shop. Have also decluttered my underwear drawer into the rubbish bin. I feel good!

Approx 40 books sorted out to take to local hospice (either for jumble or for staff and residents to use) may get those in the car and deliver them tonight once traffic eases off. (it's St Josephs Hospice in Hackney if anyone is local - they have at least two huge jumble / attic sales a year and grateful for donations, you can drop off at the Reception) Their last sale made over £22,000 thanks to declutterers like us (and presumably a large number of re-clutterers!)

Happy minimising!

Another big box of stuff gone today. I found out that a family of mice had been nesting in it Nothing like mouse shit over everything to rid you of sentimentality.

Hellon a friend of mine died in St Joseph's in 2006. The staff were incredible. A very worthy cause