The minimalist quiche

[educatingarti]

This is a new thread to replace the minimalist journey one which is nearly full!

I grew up with the mantras of "keeping stuff for best" and "it will be useful one day".

Slowly over the last few years I've taught myself everyday can be 'best' - I still feel incredibly decadent if I wear my fav expensive perfume to work or during the day!! But I hardly go out at night now so when else am I going to wear it!!

As for "it will be useful one day" that is now known as the HOARDERS MANTRA and I now question it every time I 'hear' it (many times daily). Slowly it's changing so when I hear "it will be useful one day" in my head, it is nearly always followed by a silent shout of BIN IT and into the bin the tat goes (the hoarder inside me still winces but the "pain" gets less each time). I celebrate each tiny victory.

thank you for all your welcomes!!

" I will also take a picture of my cupboard in the kitchen before I properly sort it." I wish I had done this!!!

BeCool's kitchen thread sounds interesting, could someone link please?

Oh - and, welcome, BeCool! Do excuse my shocking manners

I also grew up with keeping things for "best" and the It Might Come in Handy Someday syndrome shudders and in fact things are coming very handing for the people we're giving our vast excess of just about everything to

here you go MrsP

Thanks BeCool

I forgot to mention, I had a minor victory on Wednesday when I went into town with MIL, she wanted to buy a 99p soft toy for DD, just because DD had spotted them and said "zebra!" I managed to dissaude her, as DD had lost interest and dropped the thing within 10 seconds. Felt quite pleased that I'd managed to avoid another bit of rubbish coming into the house.

I don't know if anyone remembers me fretting over a lamp a while back, it was one that wasn't in use but I was struggling to part with it, as it reminded me of a nice time in my life. (I had bought it when I was feeling newly liberated, in a lovely new flat, after a relationship break-up.) I knew I was being daft when I posted about it, but last week I kind of came to terms with it, and listed it for sale. SIL saw the listing (local fb selling page) and asked about it, she has just decorated her lounge and it matches beautifully, so I gave it to her. Everybody's happy :) Now I just feel a bit foolish for having been so attached to a lamp!

good work MrsP

I am foolishly attached to a lamp I don't need too. I'll get there soon and channel you :)

Welcome BeCool! Great thread on your kitchen - so motivating!

Our worktops went in this week and the kitchen should be finished early next week (finally!). I realise I've made some mistakes with our kitchen and pan storage is going to be tricky (I went for drawers, but they are not very deep!). I'm already going to need new pans due to getting an induction hob, I'm also looking to reduce our other cookware down to what we will actually use! I need to add some pyrex with lids for freezing / storage. I also need to find something to replace our very handy, but starting to fall apart plastic food storage. Anyone have recommendations for me? I'm thinking of moving over to glass for storing at home, but need some plastic for packed lunches for DH and DS1.

Today DH and tackle the new 'library'. I'm so excited to unpack the boxes we've been moving around since November! I'm dreading the space struggles we're going to encounter as DH tries to fill every cm of shelf with his junk treasures and I fight for my right to have an equal amount of space to leave empty!

I have various glass oven proof freezer proof dishes with plastic lids. Small ones for storing leftovers then microwaving, DH also uses them for making individual shepherds pies etc to take to work and we use bigger ones for home made ready meals eg lasagne. I also use them for dishes we don't get through in one go eg coleslaw and for the sort of events where you take food as they are good for presentation and the lids make transporting easy.

Furniture went today - yay 1 dining table with 6 chairs, 2 over large leather arm chairs and a matching foot stall/storage thing gone , as of by magic and OH told PILs on his recent trip that the old dreary frankly depressing and huge rug they palmed off on us a few years ago is sadly threadbare. This means we don't have to keep it, as they won't expect it to have pride of place in our house when we move .

We also took another car boot full, to the gunnels, of recycling into town today.

BeCool I love your enthusiasm! Can I be your new best friend? I've been obsessed loved decluttering for about two and a half years now. The buzz doesn't go away by the way! It is a new way of living/being etc it all filters down to a simpler way of living etc

Sorry I've not been around much lately. Sterling work being done by everyone here though. Dh has a week off work and we all know how that can go...

But I have got him to sort out some of his clothes. He's sent them to his dad to try (I've told them to charity shop if they don't fit).

Since all the dc are home I've done very little apart from sort out the twins outgrown clothes. All bagged up and ready to go. Today's mission is the shed as I want to mow the lawn, but can't get to the lawn mower as stuff has literally been dumped all over. And I'm going to get the bigger dc to tidy their Wendy house.

Bit more removed today, boxed up a few bits -books and board games - to get rid of a cabinet in the study. Most of the stuff in the cabinet is genuinely usefull, printer ink and tools -which should have been in the garage, dumbells which OH will use- just not in a bloody great cabinet taking up lot's of space in the study. What isn't needed has been bagged for recycling.

Sokmonsta I have twins too, 11yrs old now (where did those 11 years go )

Oops, forgot to say, DDs sorted out clothes/footwear they've outgrown too.

Been very busy so big catch up with thread due (plus to remotivate me!)

I have a week off now so I aim to achieve some decluttering every day, as well as doing things with the children. Busy,busy,busy!!!

Ooh, did go through dd's summer clothes yesterday
And sort out outfits and made a list of exactly what they need whereas usually would wander Round buying pretty things that don't match and they would have a wardrobe full of unnecessary clothes!

Tallulah - I need to do that as well. DS2 is outgrowing his clothes and I need to unpack the growing into clothes. I'm sure they both need a few bits new - just need to figure out what!

I've been chipping away here. Have unpacked the books / bought new filing cabinet to fit new space in the 'library'. I've also had a re-organisation of the playroom. I bought 3 Billy bookcases to house toys / resources and need to get another as well. The plan is to organise art supplies so that they are accessible, but behind doors so they aren't out all the time and can be used under supervision. It is turning out really nicely and the kids seem to quite like it. I still have 2 boxes of 'sensory box' stuff to unpack / store. I'm not quite sure how to best store it so that I remember it and use it, but still off the kids' radar so they don't pester me about it (so that it retains it's novelty).

On the decluttering front I took a car filled to the roof to the recycling centre this weekend, another trip this morning and I have a pile started for the next one. Mostly packaging and building rubble / waste. I also took 3 bags to the charity shop today including a lovely tea kettle that I've used twice as it takes ages to heat up on the stove. I've had it nearly 10 years and have never parted with it as it is pretty. I decided enough was enough, I'm never going to use it - it isn't very functional and I'm not going to display it.

Minimalist - I'm telling everyone about the towel thing. You've started a movement.

Becool - what is the towel thing?
:)

oh it might be from the other thread. The TOWEL thing, as per MinimalistMommi is two towels per person, couple for guests - the rest are clutter - out they go!

Hi everyone! Really not much progress still on decluttering . I think I'm struggling just to try and deal with everyday clutter that comes in/gets messy (eg mail, washing drying ironing putting clothes away, tidying kitchen surfaces etc)!

Still I am going to have a 10 min tidy of the work surfaces in my workroom before I start on work proper today. I feel like I am really struggling to focus very well at all though!

Hey educatingarti - here is a Blog article on reviving your Minimalist Mojo

I'm finding lots of nice Minimalist/decluttering blogs - many of which I'm finding encouraging & inspiring.

Ohh a new BFF!!! Hey MinimalistMommi I love that you're still going after 2.5 years. I feel like I'm making permanent changes in our lives & I want to keep this as a movement throughout my life.

BeCool you should link them here.