Minimalist Lifestyle?

An interesting thing has happened since I have been working on decluttering my house.  I have started to really think a lot more about my purchases and what I truly need to buy.  I have had bouts in my past of "retail therapy".  In fact, it was one of the ways I managed to stay in a bad marriage years ago.  While I am not nearly that bad these days, I still buy too much. And as I have been getting rid of things, I really don't want to fill the spaces back up.  I've started to learn that there are always going to be things to buy.  But in order to get something new, I have to get rid of or use up what I am purchasing.  Clothing has been especially bad for me in the past.  Not only clothing for myself but also my girls.  I love dressing them up in cute things and I love shopping for those cute things.  Or at least I used to. Bags are another one I have a problem with although I have done a lot better this last year.  I am still carrying a Fossil bag that I bought over a year ago and still think it is the best bag I have ever owned.  I know the reward now of taking my time to select the just right bag.

I have found the last couple of years, I enjoy shopping a whole lot less.  I also enjoy cleaning and organizing a whole lot less.  Perhaps that is because the two go hand in hand. I'm starting to really want to think through a purchase even if it is small and determine if I really need it and will use it.  There are things I've purchased in the past because I thought they were cool or I wanted to be like that thing but in reality, my interest once I got the item home began to disappear.  You know it isn't good when you don't even want to remove it from the bag. I also used to buy things because I could surely find a use for it or had good intentions for it one day.  One day never came over and over and over. I was also horrible at returning items... they just sat forever in my house gathering dust.  I have been so wasteful.

So my mind has been drifting towards a lifestyle change.  Nothing immediately drastic but a slow migration over time.  I'm more successful with this approach anyway, I've learned.  I really do want to continue to pare down my belongings and only own what I truly need and use.  My collectable hoarding family may revolt against me but this feels right to me.  I really only want to own things that I love and use.  I don't want too full shelves or cabinets.  I don't want to hold onto 10 different bottles of lotion when I only really love one.  I expect this migration to be a continuous pare down of items, continuous passes that I make in the house to remove items that are not being used.  As items continue to dwindle down, the more at peace I expect to feel. 

Shopping smarter is a component of this plan as well.  Today I have made major improvements to my necessity shopping like groceries.  I only buy for a week and I buy things that I know I will eat vs. complicated ingredients that I have good intentions to use but never quite get around to it.  I've noticed that the more space I have in my fridge and cabinets, the more likely I am to make something from my fridge or cabinets.  As far as clothing goes, I plan to get my clothing down to about 25% of what I currently own.  This is happening a bit on it's own because as I have lost weight, things that are too big have been let go.  I am hesitant to replace much because I feel like the weight loss will continue and I don't want to spend the money only to have to replace the clothing a month later.  I did save quite a bit as I had gained weight so I have been able to dip into the back of the closet and pull out things that are smaller and now fit.  I have bought a few basic things to get me through like plain t's but for the most part, the spending has been pretty low on clothing.  I have also stopped buying all the kids clothes.  This was harder than buying clothing for myself!  We have gotten down to reasonable wardrobes for both the girls that I can supplement each season with a few new items.  Makeup shopping is coming to a halt for awhile.  I may also cancel my ipsy bag here soon.  I like the surprise of each month but I don't try half the things they send me so they sit in drawer collecting dust.  One thing I do want to change about makeup and health items is what I purchase going forward.  I have a real desire to buy eco-friendly, no animal testing products.  I plan to use up what I currently own but brands that aren't kind to the environment will not be repurchased after they are gone.  Crafting supplies will be reduced as well.  I actually don't buy much these days anyway but when I do, it has to be because I am doing the project that day.  Not in two weeks or a month.  The same goes for supplies for house projects.  I have stopped purchasing physical copies of books and music for the most part which has really cut down the on growth. (Although I do need to get my music all saved to our family shared drive and go through books that I will never read or read again). 

I have been spending a lot of time researching minimalism.  There are some great blogs and youtube channels out there that are helping me to change my mindset.  I can't picture myself a minimalist just yet but am looking forward to the transformation and the positive impacts it will have on my life.

Meeting Augusten Burroughs

I discovered the author, Augusten Burroughs, several years ago.  It started with the release of his memoir, Running With Scissors.  I enjoyed the book and his writing style which I find to be very unapologetic and direct so I went out and found other books of his, some of which I liked even better!  Magical Thinking, Dry, and This is How.  Magical Thinking is still my favorite full of true short stories from his life which left me cracking up.  In fact, on my first date with my husband we went to Borders bookstore and hung out.  I introduced him to Burroughs on that date and he loved Magical Thinking as well.  By the way, Running with Scissors was made into a movie which is crazy and good but as per usual, not nearly as good as the book.  When I learned that Burroughs would be coming through Wichita promoting his latest book, Lust and Wonder, I had to go.  I saw Elizabeth Gilbert a few months ago and loved it.  The local bookstore here, Watermark, is my favorite and I love that they bring authors to Wichita. I hope they continue!  So my husband and I armed with our copies of Lust and Wonder went to meet him and it was great.  I enjoyed listening to him talk about his life and writing.  We were able to meet him and get his autograph.  My only regret is not bringing our copy of Magical Thinking for autograph as well.  Ironically, I ran into a couple of people I knew who love Burroughs as much as me.  If you haven't read Burroughs and aren't easily offended, I highly recommend checking him out.

Sweet & Spicy Tofu Stir fry -- Keto Friendly

I am always interested to find new things to eat and realized I hadn't done much tofu since I started keto.  I do the noodles on occasion but not the firm tofu, so I pulled together this little stir fry inspired by niece who likes to make stir fry tofu.

Sweet & Spicy Tofu Stir Fry
1 package of extra firm tofu  chopped into bite size pieces
2 Tbs. Soy Sauce
1 Tbs. Sukrin Gold Brown Sugar Alternative (love this stuff!)
Cabbage sliced
Mushrooms sliced
Green Pepper sliced
Onion sliced
2 Tbs. Water
1 Tbs. Sriracha
1 Tbs. Coconut oil

Mix soy sauce, sukrin, Sriracha, and water together in a bowl large enough to marinate tofu.  Marinate for 5 minutes.  Heat coconut oil in the skillet.  Add tofu and vegetables (as many as you want) and cook until desired.  I like to char my food quite a bit so I let it cook until it was well done. My husband wasn't crazy about it but the daughters seemed to like it.  Enjoy!

Toes

Painting my nails and toes has been a really great stress reliever over the years.  I love taking my time to get my nails just right and I love to create designs.  I saw a feather on Pinterest the other day and thought I would give it a try.  I am pretty pleased with my results.  It is fairly simple using a base polish, black striper, and silver striper.  Next time, I think I will turn it into a peacock feathers... because I do love me some peacock feathers.

Dill Pickle Cashews

Just a quick share on a new snack that I have discovered and LOVE.  I mean really LOVE. 

Emerald Dill Pickle Cashews are awesome.  I like that they come in the 100 calorie packs too so I don't overeat.  If you love pickle flavor, you will definitely want to pick these up. I find mine at Target in the grocery section.  They are a little higher in carbs compared to other nuts but still works for keto.  Excuse while I go find all the other things in life that are dill pickle flavored.

Nervous Energy

My motivation lately has been really high, especially at home.  I find myself with a lot more nervous energy.  Nervous?  I'm not sure why (It could be that I have been in two separate car wrecks in the last 2 months that were someone else's fault and has now made me paranoid of those around me) but I definitely feel more on edge so I have been trying to turn that energy into progress and have gotten some fun projects accomplished out of it. 

First, I deep cleaned the younger daughter's bedroom.  Inside drawers, closets, under bed, you name it.  I pulled four trash bags of "stuff" from her room.  She has the lovely job of going through the bags and determining what she wants to keep and what she can let go of.

Next, I moved onto the front door.  Our front door has irked me since we moved it.  Our house is beige and a mauvey red door created a very dated look.  So I painted it black.  I keep joking, " I saw a red door and I wanted to paint it black..." like the song lyrics.  I sanded down the door where there were scratches and bumps from the prior bad paint job and then took a nice flat black paint to it.  It took many many coats but looks so much nicer. 

 

** This is Hermann, he supervised while I painted the front door

Then I moved onto a little greenhouse that I had gotten from Ikea a couple of years ago.  I had never even opened the box but knew I wanted to put succulents in it to bring in some more green in the house.  So I assembled the thing and then found four great succulents to add.  I planted them in glass containers I found at the dollar store and love how the whole thing came together.  It now sits in my kitchen for me to admire as I walk by.

I suppose the nervous energy is what has kept me from blogging as regularly as I was. I'm trying to remedy that.

Egg Salad

I love good ole plain egg salad.  It is convenient to make and keeps me full for hours.  Friday evening I was struggling to find something that sounded good so I went back to egg salad and whipped up a quick batch. 

Nothing Fancy Egg Salad

6 Hard Boiled Eggs roughly chopped
2 Tbs. Real Mayo
1 Tbs. Mustard
Salt & Pepper to taste