I have begun to look at a lot of things in my home through a filter of “does it bug meâ€? It’s kind of the opposite of “does it spark joyâ€. Like the embellished sweatshirt that I had loved for years. One day I just realized out of the blue that things about it were bugging me! So I took it off and threw it in the trash bin. There is a pair of slippers that, while wearable and don’t look too ratty, I don’t especially enjoy wearing because they are hard to keep on my feet. So they are in my sights… Recently I found a half empty jar of jam in the fridge. It didn’t … [Read more...]
Change of season
Well it's that time again, another change of season. Although Spring has sprung in the south and Autumn changing the colours in the North it is only this week the I have really started to delve into my more summery clothes. So I am going to assume these changes are happening for most of us to one degree or another. So now is the time to reassess clothing from both seasons. Declutter clothes that were ignore during the season just gone or you persevered with as the season was ending but are too shabby to keep for next year. And as you bring forward those clothes for the upcoming or current … [Read more...]
Fourth Thursdays with Deb J ~ Can you say overkill?
 Herbs and spices! How many do you have? Do you use them often? How old are they? As you can see we have way more than we need. The majority of these are seldom used and some never used. They have been around way too long in my book. It drives me nuts but this is another place where Mom has her ideas and she isn’t going to change. I’ve tried. Some of these moved with us 5 years ago. Yes, that’s right! Five years ago!! I wish it would all disappear. I think we would be much better off if we tossed it all and just bought things as we use them and then in small … [Read more...]
Find a way to use it up
After waking this morning to my husband's goodbye kiss, I lay in my warm cosy bed trying to decide if a cup of tea was worth getting out into the cold for. My mind began to wander to the question of what will I have for breakfast. Deliberately, my pantry provides ingredients for a limited choice, rolled oat porridge or toast. Granted the accompaniments to these basic choices vary, so it isn't as boring as it sounds. This morning, however, I felt like something different. So I got to thinking about what else I could throw together from my fridge, freezer or pantry. This lead me to the train of … [Read more...]
Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom ~ Making Do
Cindy's Weekly Wisdom Advertising or a trip to The Container Store may convince you that there is a perfect, purchasable solution for every one of your problems, needs, and desires. But before you rush out and make a purchase, stretch your brain to think: do I already have something that will serve my purpose? The following are some things in my house that we have made do with very satisfactorily, no special purchase necessary. Stuff A cardboard box with a few large and small holes cut out of it for the cats to play in. They love their cardboard box, and it certainly works as well as … [Read more...]
Mini Mission Monday ~ Perishables
Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and "fun" for you to achieve some quick decluttering. This week the mini missions are based around things that perish when not used for a long time. So even if you think you "might need these things someday" it may turn out the someday is too far away and the items will only be good for the garbage can by the time you get around to using them. Best … [Read more...]
Mini Mission Monday ~ 10 Sep 2012
Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and "fun" for you to achieve some quick decluttering. I have been doing a bit of visiting lately and during that time I have been observing areas of clutter that seem to be familiar to nearly all homes no matter what level of stuff or tidiness therein. So this weeks mini missions will reflect those observation and consist of common clutter. I hope … [Read more...]
From the archives ~ Key #6 to simple decluttering in 100 words or less
key #6 – Don’t over think it Sometimes when we are faced with what seems like a mammoth task we tend to over think the situation. For my decluttering effort each day I just walk into a room take a look around, peek in a cupboard or too and just find something to declutter. Or I might just spy something on my daily meandering throughout the house. Over thinking can cause procrastination or worse scare you off the task altogether. If you find yourself hyperventilating at the mere thought of decluttering, STOP, and take 5 slow deep breaths clear your mind and start over the easy … [Read more...]
Why Your Pantry Needs Decluttering
Cindy's Weekly Wisdom My mother is more tidy and more decluttered than I am, by far. Yet one day when she saw me tidying my pantry, she kind of laughed at me and said, "Are you straightening up in there again?" Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I am. And you should too. Why does your pantry need decluttering? Two main reasons Unless you live alone, it gets rummaged through more than any other cupboard or drawer in your entire house and There's surely something (probably more than one something) lurking in there that needs to be eaten, thrown away, or shared. The pantry is the … [Read more...]
Toiletries ~ My solution
My Bathroom Cabinet. You will notice two tubes of toothpaste ~ I am not sure how that happened. There are two deodorants for me but that is because one is almost empty. When I asked readers to write in about topics they wanted me to discuss here at 365 Less Things Shirls sent in this request... What to do with the dozens of body lotions and shower creams people keep giving me as gifts or that I’ve bought myself. My skin has become super sensitive in my old age and these products irritate rather than soothe. Trouble is, having opened them I can’t regift them or donate to the charity shop. … [Read more...]