Page 19 | Moving Forward With Minimalism

MinimalistMommi · 2013-08-18T16:23:41+00:00

This is a new thread following on from the previous 'm' thread on Good Housekeeping! All Minimalists or aspiring minimalists welcome!

delasi · 03/10/2013 09:33

shining Yay to everything! especially justifying my massive bed ambition

Did the router yesterday but still have some wires and cables to tidy/tape down. Cleaned the kitchen before leaving for work this morning I'm becoming my mum...

TortillasAndChocolate · 03/10/2013 10:08

Hi all. Marking my place on this brilliant thread I just stumbled across!

Being a single parent now, money is tighter and I'm about to downsize my house. I've just had a big clear out of DS's toys, many of which he doesn't play with - and others that he gets so much use out of that I'm glad we got them for him.

Anyway, now inspired to do more decluttering...I've put a few small things on EBay so will see how that goes.

BeCool · 03/10/2013 10:27

Here's an inspiring article by Joshua Becker (Becoming Minimalist blog) on Owning Fewer Clothes

clearsommespace · 03/10/2013 11:41

Hello TortillasandChocolate

Minimalist birthdays anyone? I had my first consciously minimalist birthday recently. Here's what I was given:

bulbs for the garden
voucher to buy a trellis and a honeysuckle for the garden
luxury moisturiser
subscription to the local arts centre (so I can get reduced price tickets for theatre, dance, concerts)

BeCool · 03/10/2013 11:51

It's my birthday on Sunday.

I think the DD's have brought me some very nice earrings (they young so I enlisted the help of a friend). I'm hoping not to get any other gifts.

A cake with the DD's and a lunch with friends is all I'm wanting/needing.

Most friends know I've gone all minimalist lately and we aren't huge gift givers in my circle anyway (I've actively discouraged it for years now).

With Xmas coming up, I have booked places to take some dear friends on an experience close to Xmas - we will visit Dennis Severs House together. It's lovely to A) have it sorted already and B) be sharing an experience together as a gift.

IorekByrnisonsArmour · 03/10/2013 11:59

BeCool thanks for the article. It couldn't have come at a better time as we are changing from victorian built in wardrobes to modern ones.

We will have more space but I think fewer things going in.

delasi do you ever sit still ??

I have been inspired to get an oil burner

buildingmycorestrength · 03/10/2013 12:50

I have also been inspired to get out my oil burner. I have about a dozen lovely oils that I've collected over the years so very glad to be using them.

BeCool · 03/10/2013 13:03

I love burning oils though I switched to an aroma stone when I had babies as I didn't like burning candles around them (fumes). I still have a bunch of tea lights - I wonder if I still have a burner? I think it might have gone in "the" clear out???

My fav blend for night is a heady mix of ylang ylang/geranium/patchouli or ylang ylang/geranium/manuka.

When I'm cleaning I like to burn grapefruit - invigorating and fresh.

I have an oil burner in the car that plugs into the ciggie lighter and I keep mandarin in the glove box - wonderful.

BeCool · 03/10/2013 13:06

Have you ever made your own essential oil room freshener?

It's very easy - you need a small spray bottle (mine is 150mls from Muji).

Add 10 drops of oil of your choice and a couple of drops of washing up liquid (which helps to emulsify and disperse the oils - you don't smell this). Fill with water. Shake and spray as required. It is fantastic!!! Lasts forever, holds the scent well and no nasty chemicals.

delasi · 03/10/2013 13:54

Thanks for the article BeCool - I am reminded of how my approach to shopping has changed because of my job. I work in fashion-type stuff (I'll keep it vague, trust me when I say it's not the glamourous/exciting side). I go to a lot of trade shows for work and I've learned not only how much stuff typically costs to produce, but the typical mark ups (and what's more, the extortionate ones - think circa 400% ). As a result I can't bring myself to part with my money for something I know is poor quality, or good but massively overpriced. Hence I hang out for all manner of sales, cash back offers, vouchers etc (SIL thinks this is hilarious, but she's carefree and doesn't realise yet ) or buy second hand or from designer-makers, like on Etsy. It means I end up holding out for better quality or really lovely - the minimalism drive has helped me concrete this so I feel good about having less.

The oil tips are great! I'm definitely going to make a spray once I get some oil, I have a small empty bottle at home that will be perfect.

Iorek I think you've stumbled on one of the few occasions where I get all revved up! Hoping to make it last long enough to finish the major stuff as work is really starting to pile on

And welcome Tortillas

shiningcadence · 03/10/2013 20:14

BeCool Thank you for that link, that's exactly what I'm aiming for with my wardrobe. Today I treated myself to some clothes and I honestly think it was the first time I've ever paid full price for something . I normally go bananas for sales and often don't even try stuff on before I get home . Today I spent aaaages browsing and trying clothes on. I love my new clothes and will really enjoy wearing them - think it's the first time I've ever felt that way too :)

BeCool · 04/10/2013 00:13

It's so cool when all this decluttering and sorting and cleaning and chucking out, starts to be about making powerful new decisions about life - when you shop differently, with new focus and priorities then you really start to feel the changes that are being made in life go well beyond a big clear out.

It's bloody marvellous!

delasi · 04/10/2013 02:18

BeCool Yes! Going along with the oil burner topic... I don't have one yet, normally I would just opt for the cheapest thing that serves the purpose. However this time I actually looked around for something I really liked - I realised, I'm going to look at this every day, it's in my bedroom! I just ordered it this evening and I think it looks cool and nice, different from other oil burners I've seen.

Got rid of my final charity clothes today but that's all. Tomorrow the journey continues, have some random bags to sort through. However I've decided a new approach, I'm going to do some crazy fishing through the bags, pull out what I need/want (I already know some of what's in there for keeping), and leave the rest in the bags as they'll be going straight into the rubbish. It's all random bits and bobs, no significant things that could be sold or given away, so I just want it done and dusted.

clearsommespace · 04/10/2013 06:42

Yesterday used a local giveaway site (for people who prefer to give rather than throw away) to rehome a sofa throw which we had worn a hole in and a sleeping bag with a bust zip. I assume the recipient is good with a needle and will mend/recycle.

I gave away my oil burner earlier this year, it hadn't been used for about 15 years!

fuzzpig · 04/10/2013 09:37

I had two oil burners. One smiley face one which I got as a teen :o and a nice gold one which came with all the Xmas decorations my parents brought up from their attic when they sold the house (I now have ALL the family decorations). I already chazzered (yes, it's a verb now too :o) the smiley one but am keeping the gold. It's very festive but will be fine to use all year round.

Does anyone know what essential oils are good for Xmas type smells?

I love the spray bottle idea. I think my mum did that once. I'm sure you can get empty spray bottles in boots too (in the travel bit) so I'll give that a go too.

If you get a carrier oil, you can make lovely massage oils too

fuzzpig · 04/10/2013 09:39

Forgot to say welcome tortillas! really want nachos now

I'm not up to much lately as I'm ill AGAIN but wanted to update that my amazon wish list is now down to exactly 400 items. Believe it or not, that's progress!

BeCool · 04/10/2013 10:03

what is it with Xmas today?

I checked MN in bed this morning (I know I know) and the first thread I saw was about Xmas.
I got up and DD1 is writing her Xmas list.
DD2 is asking lots of questions about this Father Xmas chap and we ended up singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph!
I get to school gates and you know what the Mums are talking about!

Fuzzpig I've never done a special Xmas essential oil blend and I'm not too bothered about the Xmas scents personally - but I guess orange, clove, pine? I know you can buy oil blends.

delasi · 04/10/2013 12:10

fuzzpig Lots of for you, celebration and feel better all in one

BeCool They talk about these things at the school gates? I have no idea what I'm heading for, do I...

Apparently, Zoflora do a Christmas spiced blend. I think it's a funny notion that the disinfectant gets 'festive'.

Did the laundry this morning but I don't think that really counts towards my minimalism, just more of a necessity! I suppose I should tackle those bags soon. Coffee first and MN .

erikab922 · 04/10/2013 16:39

I've been reading loads of your messages and one in particular from BeCool really struck a chord with me. It had to do with eBaying vs donating. My DD is 18 months old and I still have all of her clothing. It wasn't an enormous problem but we've recently moved house with three weeks notice (long story!) so I didn't have time to declutter prior to moving and everything had to come with us.

We don't have as much storage in the new house so decluttering is becoming a priority. Part of me thinks 'I paid good money for this so why should someone else benefit off of me being lazy and not having time to eBay it?'. But every day these things are in the house, my stress levels go up and up. My husband rightly said to me 'If you made 60 quid off of all of this stuff, isn't your time in having to take pics etc worth more than that?'. So we found a local children's hospice with charity shops and I'm going to make a huge clothing donation this weekend, and lots more ktichenalia to come after that.

When I buy things for my daughter I'm always thinking 'I can resell it after she grows out of it' but I'm coming to terms with thinking of everything as a non-recoverable/sunk cost. Reading everyone else's stories/ideas/notions is really, really helpful so thank to everyone who has posted.

BeCool · 04/10/2013 17:12

erika you've sourced a fantastic charity who will really benefit from the good quality goods you are donating to them, as will the people who buy the clothes/toys etc for their own children. This is a fantastic move - and as you are figuring out it is not a waste at all - it's a charitable donation and will help many people. And you are valuing your time also, and as your husband pointed out, what is the value of less stress in your life. What is the value of a diminished 'to-do' list? Ebaying, for many of us can become a blockage and a burden and it can undermine so much of what we are trying to do - sounds like you've cracked this blockage.

I think you will feel amazing after you've dropped everything off tomorrow. Not only have you done a good deed, but you will have cleared space in your own life and even better (this was the best bit for me) you will have relieved yourself of a burden (the burden "to ebay" or "to carboot").

You might even find that you start to buy less for your little one moving forward as these new principles start to manifest in other areas of your life. As slowly slowly they do. It's brilliant isn't it?

buildingmycorestrength · 04/10/2013 18:52

fuzz cinnamon! nutmeg! cloves! ginger! orange! and frankincense is truly gorgeous.

delasi · 04/10/2013 21:24

building That was read by my mind with a cheerleader's voice shouting out each word...

I now want mulled wine

starfishmummy · 04/10/2013 21:57

Fuzz sending the frankinsense, spicy and orange scents for xmas.
I get my oils at Holland and Barrett - they sometimes have offers on there.

starfishmummy · 04/10/2013 21:59

That should be seconding

fuzzpig · 05/10/2013 09:17

Thanks for all the suggestions - looking forward to trying these!