More Stuff Gone

Yesterday's Items: 2 adult's black Keds, 2 kid's black soccer cleats, 1 lonely b&w kid's Keds, Sharif purse, 2 brand new Naturalizer pumps, 3 NWT sports tops, Lululemon capri bottoms, 2 Stride Rite boys shoes, Poor Poet's Cookbook, 5 items kid's: duckie costume, OshKosh navy sweatpants, multi-blue striped top, lightweight khakis, New toddler undies and dk/lt. blue striped leggings, 2 Russian blocks, bag of 40 hair bands, 2 math workbooks,  [64]

Lightening Up

 Ahhh, it's that time again: spring cleaning.  I like to be prepared, so I'm starting my spring cleaning early.  Or else really, really late. Or else, the real story: I started this project in spring and am still working on it.

"Use it up, Wear it out, Make do, and Do without"
That's the motto of my upbringing.  Over the years, especially after moving into a large house, I've accumulated way too much stuff, and not just the 20 extra twisty-ties-because-they're-ever-so-useful.  It's time to simplify our lives by lightening the load, jettisoning items we really don't need.  

I started with bulky items that take up a lot of visual space.  I didn't photograph the extra chairs, rockers, side tables, shelves and housing supplies I donated first.  It was 3 pickup truck loads, each packed full.

Here's the first set of photos of the smaller items.

Many brand new shirts here.

While a numeric goal for jettisoning -- such as 100 items a day for 100 days -- holds great appeal to the numbers-oriented me, I couldn't sustain it after the first 10 days.  

100 items per day for 100 days = 10,000 items.
700 items per week, for 14 weeks (and 2+ days).
3 months and a week.

I could aim for 100 items each weekend day plus 50 items each weekday.  450 items per week, for 22 weeks (and 2 days).  5 months plus a bit.

It's like a 15-year mortgage vs a 30-yr mortgage: one finishes faster, in exchange for higher upfront costs/time.


100 items for 100 days sounds so much better!

Even so, jettisoning 450 items a week is still stretching my comfort zone, but stretching our comfort zone is how we grow, right?  I'd like to recoup some of the money I spent on these things, but getting it out of the house fast is more important.  I want to move into a much smaller place within walking distance of stores, work, school, etc.  To live a simpler life.  I'll be donating most of the stuff since it's in good condition and can easily be used by someone who needs it.  Yes, I could list it on eBay, but I want it out of the house the same day I decide it's "extra".  I'm happy to have the space and happy to provide some other entrepreneur with stock to resell on eBay / wherever.

Share the wealth, share the joy!

Thanks for creating smiles!

Thanks for being there when I needed you. Bye bye.

This was a good start.

Planning versus Doing: an updated post

OK, I last posted about the great motivational images available on the website Tumblr.com.  Yes, apparently I'm embarrassingly late to the whole Tumblr thing. 

I found an even more motivational post, unfortunately titled "Are You Collecting a Mountain of Underpants?", from Steve on the Nerd Fitness website.  Summarized into one line, he says this: "Spend 10% on planning, and 90% on doing."

If and when you do this, you will be in the vast minority -- like walking on an almost-deserted beach -- yet this is how you will achieve your dreams.
Or at least LIVE your life rather than merely existing.

To put it another way:   If you never fail, then you aren't pushing yourself hard enough.  This is something I have to remind myself of on a regular basis.  Like most people, I HATE failing at something.  Yet ** failing occasionally while striving to be great at something new far surpasses remaining mediocre at the same old thing.**  At least that's how I feel. 

Here's the complete posting from Steve:
http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/04/05/underpants-gnomes/


So, I paused in my endless planning for the yard and garden and I PLANTED.  If any plants struggle where I put them, then I'll move them elsewhere next spring.  If the apple tree affected by cedar rust doesn't produce edible fruit this year, I'm cutting it down and planting a highly resistant variety in its place. Less fretting about the perfect or even The Best location and more doing - growing in a Fine location.

I paused in my health and fitness training and signed up to compete in a triathlon next month.

What are you going to accomplish today?

[Update: March 29, 2014:  I did cut down that apple tree last summer, though I won't be planting a replacement.  I planted 20-some other trees instead - some fruit, some deciduous, some evergreen.  I love the way the yard looks and the birds are happier than ever.]

Tumblr Provides Beautiful and Honest Motivation

I recently stumbled upon Tumblr, thanks to Amber.  The site (the parts I've been to, anyway) provides visual motivation (and sometimes written) for all sorts of things.

This photo is riske for an American audience, but the accompanying phrase is perfect. Perhaps if Americans weren't so uptight about displaying a beautiful body, there wouldn't be so many overweight ones there!  Thanks to LanaLaVie for the picture.

The wrap and Baby Bjorn worked so well that I never got around to making or buying a Mei Tai baby carrier.  I did make some organic cloth diapers that worked well enough, but the ones I've purchased work better. Now I'm going to support the moms who have excellent diaper sewing skills and save my limited skills for tutoring math and science.  It's much easier to do cloth diapers when using liners and especially when using EC.  More on EC in a future post.

Wool covers and pants are wonderful for any baby or toddler, especially if using cloth diapers.  I bought these woolies pictured below and loved them so much that I'm knitting more to spread the love. 

BabyWearing

For the past few weeks I've been researching various ways to keep a baby happy without having to hold her in-arms all day.  My first-born loved the Baby Bjorn so naturally I assumed the next one would, too.  Those of you with multiple children are laughing right now, knowing how completely different two babies can be.  I discovered that babywearing is considered a given in most of the world and is, thankfully, gaining popularity in the US.  While Baby Bjorn makes truly wonderful, high-quality products, there's an entire world of other carriers out there.

Our second wants to be held absolutely always.  Like any parent, I can't spend all day holding the baby; I have way too much to do, yet my sweet baby screams and screams if put down for more than 5 minutes (severe reflux).  With my once-tiny baby already clocking in at 7 kilos / 15.4 pounds, my shoulders and back are always sore.

I've narrowed it down to a wrap AND a Mei Tai.  Paying US$45 to $180 for a simple piece of fabric (wrap) is too steep for me particularly since I already own natural fiber fabric and love being resourceful.  I found a wonderful thread on making DIY wraps (without dropping major dough) at The BabyWearer.  They discus which fabrics work well and which may cause binding or pinching; they also mention that you can even use a bedsheet.

Jokes paralleling real life

My best friend recalled today a famous musician's joke whose refrain pertains to so many things:
A man steps into a cab in New York City and asks the driver, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The cabbie replies, "Practice, practice, pratice!"

Tomorrow, when I try to retell the joke, it'll probably come out something like this:
A man hails a cab in New York City and tells the driver, "To Carnegie Hall."  The cabbie replies, "Practice, practice, practice!"  As the passenger stares, the cabbie adds, "Hey man, did you know that Carnegie was related to Lizzie Borden? I heard it on TED."
(Here's the video:)