My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution End Of Year Check In

Wow! A month already gone but that is life, we have to make the best of the time we have because before you know it, time has slipped passed us. Don`t put off what we can do today till tomorrow.

I make four resolutions, or goals, to accomplish each year. Some years I make it with all of them, some years I do not. Usually two are easy and two are hard.

I make a word, or phrase, of how I plan to be for the year and this year I have chosen " Dream it, Do It." I chose this because I am making my dreams come true a little at a time, the time to get them finished is now, year 2019!

Here are my 2019 resolutions :

1 - Reduce Spending By Half

For December that is a yes, While I did spend money the things I bought are used to make money for Sunshine`s. A 100% accomplishment

As for the year I have to say that I did well, Compared to other years I did great. But there is still room to improve, for the year I will say I got this one 75% of the time. That`s not to bad.

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

Yes, yes and yes! this month I got it done! I cleaned out the yard, here on the homestead and at the old home place. So its a 100% accomplishment!

For the year, YES! a 100% accomplishment! I cleaned out the old home place and I got this house back under control.

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

Nope I did not make it :( 

However, I have learned so much more this year and I have so much more stock ready for when it does get set up.

100% failed.

I do still have the online store, so check it out at : Sunshine`s homestead Creations

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

To begin with, at least the first 6 months I did nothing to lower my blood sugar except walking. But that was not good enough.

The heard head me listened to the doctor and counted calories, I seen what I was eating and how many calories was keeping me down.

I have to say that in December my morning blood sugar has been within or close to normal. I am still taking the pills but I think I can get off those in 2020. 

I have lost 15 pounds and I am walking twice as much.

I will give this a 75% for the month if December and the year because I can do better.

So, that is how I did with my 2019 resolutions, how are you doing with yours? Did you accomplish any?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Pixabay

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Its That Time Of The Year

No I am not talking about Christmas time, although it is that time of the year, but clean up and clean out time of the year.

While so many people are out enjoying shopping I am requesting no gifts at all, however, I will accept labor as a gift but that is a huge doubt of anyone offering their time and effort as a gift. The old saying comes around to me"Nothing is free." 

Anyways, many of you will be getting more stuff, so now is a good time to clean out the hoard. Donate what you can and trash can the rest.

Last week I worked at the old home place, I loaded the truck with carpets, large rugs and kitchen cabinets that were no good and took it to the dump.

This past weekend I took a day and did a clean up but not so much with things but with overgrown trees and bushes. I spent several hours cutting down trees with the electric saw and pulling them down to the empty lot to rot. I raked leaves and piled those into the flower beds. Making the place look nicer.

I filled the trash can with old buckets that the bottoms had rusted out and things that could not be recycled.

Monday I got the front door scrubbed down and a few branches picked up the wind blew down.

Back at home, I went through several drawer and donated all the stuff, it was Tony`s clothing. I have intentions of giving his best clothing to family members, the donations were stuff I knew no one could wear because it was not their size.

Since Tony had been sick for a long time he had slowly gotten rid of his things so I would not be overwhelmed with his stuff, I do thank God for that. Mostly all of his things are good and can be used.

I went through one of the "flower" tubs and I had enough flowers to cover the three graves I will decorate for Christmas. I will no longer buy and hoard any graveyard flowers. This tub will be empty, YAY!

Slowly but surely getting that one resolution accomplished, reduce things by half. 

How about you? Do you do a good clean out this time of the year?

By Andria Perry

Photo by Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution - November Check In

Wow! A month already gone but that is life, we have to make the best of the time we have because before you know it, time has slipped passed us. Don`t put off what we can do today till tomorrow.

I make four resolutions, or goals, to accomplish each year. Some years I make it with all of them, some years I do not. Usually two are easy and two are hard.

I make a word, or phrase, of how I plan to be for the year and this year I have chosen " Dream it, Do It." I chose this because I am making my dreams come true a little at a time, the time to get them finished is now, year 2019!

Here are my 2019 resolutions :

1 - Reduce Spending By Half

So far no impulse buys, but I did buy a new outfit for a funeral.

I have cut back on eating out as well.

75% accomplishment.

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

This is a "Yeah Baby!"

I have cleared out more of the junk here at this place and its just a matter of a little more time and more will be gone.

Things are moving faster now but I have one more month of the year to get`er done.

100% accomplishment.

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

My store?!

No not yet but as I said before things are moving fast now and it is possible to have the building in a matter of weeks.

Will it be open before the years end? Not likely but maybe stocked.

I have added many more men`s products to the online store and stocking stuffers, new gift sets and body spray scents. check me out online at  Sunshine`s Homestead Creations 

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

This seems to be a yo-yo, back and forth. However, I am making progress.

Last weigh in was around the 23rd. and I was down to 140 pounds. Not the 20 pounds I wanted to lose but better than none at all.

Yesterday I gave away all the sweets in the house, with Tony passing away I don`t need those here anymore. I didn`t eat them but they were a temptation. 

This year I also skipped the huge Thanksgiving meal.

I am still on a good walking routine.

75% accomplishment. 

So, that is how I am doing with my 2019 new year resolutions, how are you doing with yours?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - November Clean Out

Saturday the 2nd.  

I walked into the pantry for tissue and I noticed how things had.... had... relaxed in this room and I had to move something from the floor to reach the top shelf where the tissue lives. 

Time to clean it out!

And that is what I did! I went to work moving things out into the laundry room and kitchen. I swept and mopped the floor and put the shelves back in, not all of them but just what I need, one, besides what is already up the wall.

What I had noticed was that there were items in there that did not belong, tools for one. None of those items came back to the pantry, it was just a place to dump things. This is for food only! with the exception of toilet paper, paper towel, napkins and kleenx that lives on the tip top shelf that I need a chair to reach. I also keep the small tubs of vegetable seed, that is food too just not made yet.

I ended up with a trash can full of items that were no longer needed and a few that had expired. Tools and car items organized neatly in their own space.

I now have a nice, clean pantry.

Saturday the 9th. 

I had ordered a futon, click clack sofa, for the living room. Did I need this? Not really but I got it for a reason I won`t share at this time.

I wanted to rearrange the room and make it work, So I moved the sofa and vacuumed first and I went from there. Before I knew it I had cleaned under everything in the living room and placed the small futon.

This was another huge clean up. The older I get the harder it is for me to move these big pieces of furniture. Down sizing has become appealing. Smaller everything. 

Have you accomplished any clean ups and clean outs?

By Andria Perry

Photo By Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution - October Check In

Wow! A month already gone but that is life, we have to make the best of the time we have because before you know it, time has slipped passed us. Don`t put off what we can do today till tomorrow.

I make four resolutions, or goals, to accomplish each year. Some years I make it with all of them, some years I do not. Usually two are easy and two are hard.

I make a word, or phrase, of how I plan to be for the year and this year I have chosen " Dream it, Do It." I chose this because I am making my dreams come true a little at a time, the time to get them finished is now, year 2019!

Here are my 2019 resolutions :

1 - Reduce Spending By Half

After losing a few pounds I did have to buy a couple new items, but the good part of being a hoarder, yes the only good part, is that I do have a few smaller clothes I can wear, in the wintertime switch out tub.

Other than buying materials for the online store 'Sunshine`s Homestead Creations' I am doing great, with no impulse buys. 

75% Accomplishment

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

This is a "Hell Yes!"

I have cleared out half of the junk here at this place. 

I have cleaned out the old home place. It is down to bare bones so I can get the work done on it, so much easier than there is no stuff in the way.

I have ditched/ trashed more clothing.

I am eating from the deep freezer and the home canned foods.

I still have to go through the shed but its yard sale junk for the most part.

100% accomplishment.

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

Nope, not there just yet. However, I got a call just last night and it was good news about the building.

Fingers crossed!

I did work more on the book, that will be part of the new store. I am also adding more than just body products to the online store. I have hand made salves from organic plants harvested here on the homestead.

Things are moving along.

The online store is open and ready for your business "Sunshine`s Homestead Creations"

75% accomplishment

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

I went back to the doctor, they have a new one at the clinic and I was disappointed because I want the other doctor to know my progress and that I did follow the best I could a 1200 calorie a day diet.

I have not got my A1C numbers back but I am sure it is down and I will call today.

Total weight loss is in for this four month check up: 

I began with a weight of 154 back at the end of June. 

Now at the end of October I weigh in at 141, a 13 pound loss. I do intend to lose those last 7 pounds this year.

I have to say that I do feel better on this 1200 calorie a day diet, as long as I eat more vegetables. If I eat 1200 calories of junk food I feel blah and tired.

I know I can do better so this is just 75% accomplishment.

So, that is how I am doing with my 2019 new year resolutions, how are you doing with yours?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry