Monday, September 28, 2015

A Minimalist - Make a Schedule


I know by now you probably have read it a million times about " How to organize your Clutter" by doing the piles and boxes and what not. 

Then as most of you do,  I think " When?!" since I work and I have the entire of load everything on my shoulders, with no help.

This occurred to me while I was organizing the deep freezer so that I would know what food I have and what I need to buy. 

I needed a schedule to get rid of clutter and organize! I made a couple lists, one weekly and one monthly and I schedule time for each list.


That is when things began to really happen in my home. I made a list of things I NEED to get done and a list of things I WANT to get done. I hang both lists on the fridge door.

Weekly - I need to get done list :

Washing clothes - This seems to be most peoples problem area, clothing. I thought about it and I decided that twice a week I would do laundry so that it would not pile up and mildew. I picked Wednesday evening and Sunday evening. I can wash, dry and put away clothes on those two days. I also have two laundry baskets, one for clothing and one for wet towels etc.

Pick another day when you can manage an hour to vacuum/ sweep the floors of the home. 

Next a day to dust , reserve one hour.

On Saturday evenings I refill the pill boxes with the medication that is taken daily in this household. That takes maybe fifteen minutes max.

Sunday Night is clip coupon night.

Pick a day that you can spare an hour and do yard work.

You would not believe how easy it is to stick to those days.

Next is the Monthly list:

Make a day to call in all medications needed for a month.

On the first of each month I change the a/c filter.

On the Third of each month I apply the flea and tick treatment to the dogs.

On or between the first to the third of each month I paid all of my rent/utility bills.

I WANT to get done list: 

Donate- Things I no longer want that goes to the donation box and is driven right away to the donation box .Pick a day --- Do a quick run through the house tossing things into the box as you are headed to the grocery store or work and drop off those things that day.

Redoing the closets - I have to pick an entire day off for this job!

Cleaning out kitchen cabinets- I pick one section at a time if I don`t have time to do them all, I make it my day off if I go for them all.

Now that you have an idea of how to manage to get things done and work I bet you can do more than you thought ever possible.

Time management is one key to a clean and uncluttered home.


By Andria Perry








Friday, September 25, 2015

Feng Shui And A Good Feeling

Since I have started my journey I have applied more that just minimalism to my life and I am somewhat practicing Feng Shui and by no means am I specialist, I have much to learn but I will share what I have learned and how I apply it to my life.

When I say somewhat, I will do a little and then get all caught up in life and forget what I was doing and then I go back when I notice that things are ... Off.

Let me explain "off", everyone knows that a clean home is healthier because there is not as much dust, hidden dust on or under stuff. That means less allergies on my part.

Having " junk " is another thing because its clutter and if you have a bunch of clutter that is stuff you plan to repair piled up that's bad energy.

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This week has been one hectic week but I am doing a little everyday to help my chi flow better. Being a minimalist and buying can be a hard thing for me so I do not wait one week if I want something I wait two weeks and if I still want it I will buy this item, then I will try my best to get rid of something in its place. I do things this way to curb the urge to buy and keep stuff.



I got a new bedroom suit as part of an inheritance and it came with a very, very nice comforter , Pillow shams and bed skirt. My old bedroom comforter set and curtains { homemade curtains } were black and white. The new set is a burnt orange/ maroon color with a gold pattern and gold trim. I did not have any curtains to match this so I waited to buy any and used the black curtains I already had.

Well this room felt off, so I sold a bunch of stuff on Ebay and saved that money for new curtains. I got rid of stuff and will bring it stuff, see the balance?

A couple days ago I bought a new set of curtains BUT I did not put them in the bedroom to balance this room, this is what I did, I had a nice set of curtains in the dining room that would match the golden colors in the comforter so I took those down and washed them. I bought new curtains for the dining room and they are a white satin with a blue and dark yellow pattern that compliments the dining room.

Now I have created a better flow of chi in two rooms.

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When I heard that company was coming I did a quick wipe down of the kitchen cabinets and cleaned the floors . I had been canning and cooking for weeks and had splatters everywhere.

I than made sure that nothing [ paper work and coupons] were on the dining area because its an open room concept and can be seen from the living room.

I wiped down the bathroom sink and toilet. 

I put out new air fresheners and washed the smelly laundry.

Now I am ready for these guest.

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I have seemed to have concentrated all the clutter to my office once again! This is part of my money sector so out this goes. But where should I put these things? Most of it is for work. I will try to make it a little more tidier. 


How have you managed with your home?

By Andria Perry
 
 




Sunday, September 20, 2015

A Minimalist - Goals and Accomplishments


First I want to say that I have been super busy with life and making changes in my life. I am not just a minimalist but I am also trying my best to change for good. Leave the old behind and look forward to the new that comes my way in this life.

Seems God continues to bless me in the business world and I am working on new deals now.

Although I have been working for money and doing what I do with the garden I have been keeping up with the home and life. As for my home I have cleaned it up and got it back under my control, The life part is getting better and better every day as I meet new people and toss the toxic crowd to the side.

I learned many, many years ago about Feng shui and I lost my way for a while but I am back. I got my chi back and things are changing , faster than I would have thought.

Instead of just using color and placement keeping those areas clean also counts for a good flow of chi. I much continue to keep that in mind when someone asked me if I want something or anything that will clog up my way in the house.

This past week I have removed many thing from my home that was brought in this year. I thought I liked it but after a little while I discovered its not really me and it has to go. I am parking it at an empty rental to have a yard sale soon.

I have noticed that I feel so much better when the house is clean and well kept. I do not think that its because its clean but because I can move around freely and be proud if I have a guest come in.
I still have stuff to get rid of and a couple rooms to clean throughly but getting back on track feels soooo good.

Next clean up and clean out is the garage. Its setting in a part of my money sector.

By Andria Perry
 



Friday, September 18, 2015

A Minimalist - It is Doable


Letting go even without the time to think.  Giving it away is becoming so much more easier today than yesterday.

I am often getting caught up in the business world and I have to leave thoughts of home behind. On some days that is a blessing but on others not so much because I cannot clean my house as good as I want it to be cleaned.

As I begin a new part of my life in this September of 2015 I am loading and removing things out of this house as I go. When I say as I go I mean I am taking things to the car and each day when I go to work or coming from work, I drop it off at someones house or a donation box.

This week I began to gut a house, meaning taking down some sheet rock and removing carpet, etc. This was my old home place and yes it does still have a little furniture and junk. 

I had one of my all time favorite black and white comforter sets there and I loaded it up and took it to a needy family, with pillows. Tony did not even look at stuff and put it in trash bags to get rid of.

Yesterday, When I left home to take someone to the doctor I loaded some of that inheritance up, a trunk load, and took it out to that old home place, a yard sale brewing in the back of my mind, if it don`t sell its closer to the donation box or Salvation Army thrift store donation center.

When I clean out the stockroom here at home, I have more food to go that I no longer eat, yes I have gave up some of the processed foods like canned soup. When I have a little more fresh vegetables I give them away as I did yesterday to an elderly lady and my sister.

Removing any hoarded item helps, even one a day. Although I like my home and my stuff sometimes to much is just to much, especially when its hard to clean. Since I am over the clothing hoard I am moving to another place to thin out. I even have all my shoes neatly organized and dust free.
 
 
 

How about you? have you tossed some hoarded things lately?

By Andria Perry
Photo`s By Andria Perry

Monday, September 14, 2015

A Minimalist - Minimalism Monday


Becoming a minimalist is not an easy way of life to accomplish, it takes time and self control. Both are sparse at times but we are human and known to make errors in life.

I can say honestly that this Summer had been waves of ups and downs for me . I have hoarded and I have gave away but I am about to open up a new job and I know it`ll take more self control that I have ever had to use. I want to empty the space and start from scratch, if possible. No its not my living quarters and I will explain when I begin the process. 

But for today I will pat my self on the back for a few jobs done around my space that I am proud of getting done.

First is the biggest, I cleaned out the deep freezers and I took stock of things I do NOT need to buy anymore. I loaded the car with an entire freezer of food and I gave it away. Not because I could not use it, its because I am restocking with fresh foods I have grown , most was prepackaged that I got with coupons for free .

Next is I am still selling on ebay but I have decided to give that up completely. I have taken down some items and I gave those away.

Now for the " I need to kick myself in the butt " stuff. 

I have not cleaned my own home at all! I mean I feel like I am living in filth with exception to the kitchen, seems I am spending all  my time in that one room.

I get the clothes washed and dried but it can take days before I get them folded and put away.

I will not even get into the dust, the bathrooms and mopping . 

BUT the days are looking better, Summer is ending as well as fall harvest. Rest time means cleaning the house for me. I don`t find it hard to keep the house clean I just do not have enough time to get everything done in one day that HAS to be done. I have had to give up some time for the walking of dogs and myself, doctors orders.

What good did you accomplish last week? 

By Andria Perry

Sunday, September 6, 2015

A Minimalist - Off With The .....


Okay I am not going to behead anyone but I swear sometimes I want to take a walk with a backpack and never look back .

I am so regretting the inheritance ! I cannot seem to get everything in a place because its to much ...... junk . I have been giving more stuff away that came from that huge mess . Right at this minute if I were to move it would take a twenty foot U-haul and it would be packed, thats no good for me .

I took out a couple things and put them in the trunk of the car so when I go back into the neighborhood of my rentals I am giving to those I know can use the stuff  . 

I am almost to the point of tossing out the frames for the paintings because I have no where to put them . 

A couple days ago I took my sister 12 plastic clothes hangers and I am taking her more clothes this coming week . I have cereal and soup to give to the poor .

I need to make a run to the nursing home and get rid of the shampoo, deodorants and body wash that I have been saving up for the trip up the mountain that I do a few times a year for Tony`s niece that lives there .

So how do I get myself in these predicaments ? I have been good about saying no to stuff and only buying things that will make life better or I can get rid of something old when I bring in a new item. 

I think I need to redo a few things I have organized and toss more of it .

I need to remind myself and practice what I preach, so I went back to what I wrote and read it over again . 


By Andria Perry