We're in the middle of our biennial ice storm here in North Texas, which leaves those of us with 2-wheel drive vehicles stuck at home for a day or two with Netflix and baking supplies beckoning. Let's use this unexpected at-home time for our 40 Bags in 40 Days burst! You may have to skip one or two of these days anyway, because you forget or you're on a cruise to Bermuda for spring break and you have no bags in your cruise cabin. We understand. So now is the time!
Today, let's start with something simple and not too painful: your junk drawer. You know you have one. Or three. It's ok. We all need a place to store our household scissors. Just not thirty binder clips and rusty keys that haven't fit anything since you lost your third grade diary.
Empty out the drawer. The WHOLE drawer. Remove any organizers/dividers. Be honest with yourself here. If you cannot IDENTIFY what is in your hand, toss it. You don't need it, and it is officially clutter. Old keys, pens that don't work, cables and cords to Lord-knows-what, coupons that are expired from restaurants that closed two years ago. And presto! You have already filled your bag for today!
Remember, only a few pens, one functional sharpie, and some paper clips are needed. You'll be more joyful when you open your tidy drawer and always remove a pen that works, and you don't have to play scribble-me-working to find one to sign your kid's permission slip.
Best of luck with today's decrapifying! And stay warm, Minimalists!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Minimalist Ranch
Here's a view of my minimalist abode. We built it in 2007 with the idea of freedom to roam, but not filling the open spaces with gobs of accumulated stuff.
Welcome to the Cowtown Minimalist!
Greetings from the Cowtown Minimalist! Here at CM, we hope to promote and encourage the concept of minimalism and paring down to life's finest assets. For you, this may be travel, financial freedom, or perhaps downsizing to a more manageable abode. In any case, we discuss how to reduce and minimize the pulls on your freedom and peace. No granola crunching here, just good tips and anecdotes on how I have tried to embrace the concept and how you can, too!
In a nod to the Lenten season of 40 days of giving up something, we at CM subscribe to the "40 Bags in 40 Days" habit. The lovely folks at whitehouseblackshutters.com were my inspiration for this. 40 bags in 40 days can be an actual bag, which you fill with your unneeded belongings that you will donate or sell, or it can just be a drawer, that you empty and organize. Remember, the idea is to minimize, not just organize. This does NOT mean head to Target and spend MORE money on drawers organizers and matching storage boxes. It means throw out the iffy socks that you stuff in the back, the 30 pencils that say "Happy 100th day of School", and the myriad food storage containers with MIA lids. Get the idea?
Good luck on your one bag today, and please subscribe for future updates!
In a nod to the Lenten season of 40 days of giving up something, we at CM subscribe to the "40 Bags in 40 Days" habit. The lovely folks at whitehouseblackshutters.com were my inspiration for this. 40 bags in 40 days can be an actual bag, which you fill with your unneeded belongings that you will donate or sell, or it can just be a drawer, that you empty and organize. Remember, the idea is to minimize, not just organize. This does NOT mean head to Target and spend MORE money on drawers organizers and matching storage boxes. It means throw out the iffy socks that you stuff in the back, the 30 pencils that say "Happy 100th day of School", and the myriad food storage containers with MIA lids. Get the idea?
Good luck on your one bag today, and please subscribe for future updates!
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