Clearing the Way to Simplicty

Our adventures into simplifying our surroundings seems to be going quite well.

Today I had 2 freecyclers come by to pick up stuff. A few hours later my parents came by and picked up even more stuff. We're left 25 items lighter (not to mention some other re-freecycled stuff that I did not count) and it feels nice.

This Weeks List:

1-5 5 teen purses
6 pig bank
7 stuffed bear key chain
8 belt
9 gorilla
10 pooh purse
11 Game of Life
12 Battleship
13 Pottery Wheel
14 Pefection Game
15 Visible Man
16 Bopit
17 big bear
18 popison chair
19 large sticker
20-22 3 sets of beads
23 mini blinds
24-25 rugs
26 books
27 Compaq CD
28 7 Coupons (Nicoderm)
29-30 2 magazines
31 Sunshine Felt
32 pair of sweat pants
33 sweatshirt
34 Bag style purse
35-36 2 candles
37-40 3 candles (angel)
41 teddy statue
42 little lamb
43-44 Crystal S & P shakers
45 pin
46-48 3 wire statues
49 clip on sunglasses
50 Journal Jar
51 star box
52-55 3 coats


I'm not finding it hard to get rid of 7 things each week. It seems pretty simple now but I can just see us counting out 7 toothpicks by next November!! Seriously though, since December 1st, we're down 314 items. This is a great thing right??

I was thrilled to find a card reader (new) on Freecycle this week. This means I can upload photos soon so stay tuned!

Project 55 Week Fling is Underway!

I have my items for this week all gathered up. Funny how you can't just stop at 7 items.


1. Set of lantern style lights
2 - 6. 5 small picture frames
7. New Drink koozie
8. New set of markers
9 - 12. 4 dragon statues
13 - 14. 2 dragon frames
15. Dream Kit (a new item purchased a while ago. will be used as a gift
16 - 17. 2 bunny pot hangers

So 17 items out of the house this week. I call that a successful week. Photos coming as soon as I locate the camera cord.

It Is Just Stuff - Project 55 Week Fling

The Shopping Sherpa left a comment on my blog telling me about The Seven Things Spring & Summer that they are doing. It is based upon the The Original Seven Things Project but took into account the items that are being brought into the home.

This is a great project and one that we definitely want to undertake. That being said, I guess I should start with some personal guidelines. Please note that if you decide to play along, you should make your own guidelines to fit your family.

1. Items will be sold, bartered, or given away. Only as a last resort will items be sent to a landfill. The only exceptions to this are items such as shredded paperwork or personal clothing items (panties, bras, etc).
   
2. I will track my weekly progress in my blog and will add photos or information about the items if I have any attachment to them whatsoever.
   
3. If something new comes into our home that is meant as a replacement for an existing item, the original item needs to leave the home ASAP.
   
4. If something new comes into our home as an addition, other items may or may not be removed at the family's digression.
5. Gift items coming in to our house do not necessitate removal of an item.
   

My plan starts this week (December 15, 2007) and will end on December 27, 2008.

Ridding My Life of Stuff

Hubby thought my idea of removing 2,008 items from 12/1/07 - 12/31/08 was too lofty of a goal. He thought a more realistic goal of 208 items may be better. I agreed, knowing that if surpassed, the goal could be adjusted.

And with that, we began December and I started purging.

Here we are, 12 days into the month and already I've met the goal. In fact, I have surpassed it. I will be honest here and say that I was clearing out a room and got rid of a lot of items that the children had outgrown or had never used. I thought it was important for another child to have a happy holiday season and donated items to both a friend of my mom's and to families on our local freecycle board.

Without further adieu, I give you my list.

Item Number	Description	To
15	Elmo Collection	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
4	Clown pics	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	Baker's Rack	Freecycle
1	Stationery Kit	Freecycle
1	monkey beaded curtain	Freecycle
1	Yamaha Recorder	Freecycle
1	Kid toy	Freecycle
1	Spinning circle disk	Freecycle
1	Sunglasses	Freecycle
1	Sunglass cord	Freecycle
1	Perfume	Freecycle
1	passie	Freecycle
20	baby clothes	Freecycle
1	Lunch Bag	Freecycle
1	Set of Checkers	Freecycle
3	Books on CD	Freecycle
1	log for internet	Freecycle
1	key chain	Freecycle
1	kid toy keychain	Freecycle
2	small jewerly box	Freecycle
1	travel alarm clock	Freecycle
1	butterfly necklace	Freecycle
2	toe ring	Freecycle
1	digital organizer	Freecycle
1	Reading glasses	Freecycle
1	Glasses Case	Freecycle
1	Sunglasses	Freecycle
1	Bug massager	Freecycle
1	heart lock	Freecycle
1	monkey beaded curtain	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	frog beaded curtain	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	jacobs ladder	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	mokey full of hair bands	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	gel pen jounal	Freecycle
1	set of kids paints	Freecycle
1	Ello Kids Set	Mom's Friend Nora's Gkids
1	Set of fuzzy dice	Freecycle
1	LOTR Collector Set	Freecycle
1	candle & holder	Freecycle
1	candle & holder	Freecycle
1	picture frame	Freecycle
1	black paper notepad	Freecycle
1	set of headphones	Kit
1	FLUKE multimeter	Freecycle
1	27" TV	Shamron
3	puffie tail pieces	Kit
1	box of mini dolls	Kit
1	small bag of beads, etc	Kit
1	Roly Kit	Freecycle
1	Stuffed Raccoon	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	Gift Box	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	ottoman (air filled)	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	Cabbage Patch Kid	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	wine glass w/candle	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	bath products	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	large batch of hair ties	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	posters	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	stuffed animals	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
3	books	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	paintable drums	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
4	hat	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	misc dolls	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	set of hair clips	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	heart box	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
1	set of baby doll clothes	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
2	Coloring posters	Bobbie Sue - Freecycle
6	sweatshirts	Russ & Beth
5	Nice Sweaters	Freecycle
6	pairs of shoes	Freecycle
1	Scientific Calculator	Freecycle
50	Books (or more)	Kayla
1	Mushroom Chair	Kit
6	pairs of pants	Cheryl - Freecycle
3	pairs of capris	Cheryl - Freecycle
4	pairs of shorts	Cheryl - Freecycle
1	skirt	Cheryl - Freecycle
14	Shirts	Cheryl - Freecycle

This totals 218 items!!!

I found, via a reader, the "7 Things" Project. I am going to be looking into that today. It may be a nicer way to go about this. Who knows, perhaps I could start my own project - "The Ten Things Project" because I love a challenge!

December!

Wow, we are already 5 days into December! I have had a busy couple of days helping friends move. We've also done some rearranging around here as well.

My friend gifted me with a nice armoire. We are going to use it in the "Whimsy Room" (what I call the bedroom that I use as an office and artspace where the children also sleep while visiting here) to hold the girls' clothing. They had a long buffet in there that I purchased for $30 back in June. I was able to re-sell it for the same $30 to another friend of ours.

As some people are thinking about holidays and spending tons of money, I am trying my hardest to have a lean December. My husband's family has decided to have a gift exchange where we draw names. The gift should be in the $10 price range. I am going to put together a small basket for the girl whose name I have (my nephew's 17 year old girlfriend). Jack has to get a gift for his nephew and I'm unsure what we can do for him. If you have any ideas for a 17 year old boy, please let me know.

My family is pretty simple. I buy for my mom & dad. Dad already has his gift - a TomTom. My mom? I think she is going to get something hand made by me. I may draw something for her and frame it nicely.

My goals for December - Spend as little as possible on gifts. Remember that it is the THOUGHT behind the gift, not the gift itself. Get my finances back on track. Cook meals at home every night. Plan life and make it wonderful!