My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution - August 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

I actually had to stop and think, I mean really think about spending in August!

I cannot recall buying anything except food, medication and gas for the car the whole month.

I am sure I am passed that urge to impulse buy. I don`t feel the need to have more.

100% accomplished.

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

I have worked on this one for sure! For one, I might be moving soon and I`m not taking a bunch of junk with me that I do not need. 

I have worked through most of the what not`s and gave them away or sold them, however, I did keep a few of my favorites.

One closet is done with only pillows,blankets and Christmas decor.

I have a couple tubs left in the garage and I know its all going into the trash can so I will take the trash bags, fill them and haul it off to the dump.

As slow as this process feels, I am making it happen. 

100% accomplished.

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

While this resolution is one of the harder ones, it is still doable.

I began working on this one in the winter and where I had thought I wanted everything placed it was all wrong, I now know where and how. No I have not began the actual grade off for the building, it is settled, I do have a space.

I have started with safety and alarm systems first, as told to me by the attorney to do, so I am working on this one and I "see" it and that is a huge plus for me. To see it will come together.

Beginning September I will add a new line of products to the online store that I have tested over the summer. Check out what I have to offer at the online store : Sunshine`s Homestead Creations

 100% accomplished.

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

After month two of the new 1200 calorie a day diet, well, its not really a diet I can eat what I want just keep it to 1200 calories and exercise more, I am doing better.

The first month I lost 3 and 1/2 pounds, when I was supposed to have lost 4, a pound a week.

Now that another month has passed I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. For month two I lost 5 and 1/2 pounds, making the total of 9 pounds gone.

While I did not get to walk or exercise everyday I did as many days as I could. I am still having a problem wanting sweets but I walk away from them more now than I give in.

Still 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

My Minimal Hoarding Life - A Little At A Time

Busy little bee! That is what I can call myself this year.

While I may be on the go a lot, or having to stay at home and work, I have not been idle in no shape or form.

I have been told to slow down and not worry about the little things, I have done that before and all the little things pile up, then its a huge mess to worry about, so I will keep up with the little things and life can and will stay full but easier to maintain. 

How Is Life? 

I manage to keep the house clean for the most part, and always neat, even though I am working so much at the "pay the bills" job.

I keep the grass mowed and the lawn as neat as I can, usually weekly, bi weekly if I can get by with it.

How Is The Clutter?

The garage is coming together, once again, it seems to be the "dump it here till later place" and that is one habit I do intend to break. Last month I hauled off a truck load of junk, and trash, and last week I gathered up another truck load of "I no longer need stuff" and took it to the trash can at the old home place. I still have several tubs to empty and I am sure its all trash or grave yard flowers/decor that I will throw away.

Inside the house I am getting better about not allowing clutter, I am not 100% on this and I can get rid of more. Seems the more I get rid of the more I have to get rid of. 

 To Use It What I Have Saved

I am a problem solver, I will buy the stuff I need and set it aside. Not everything is just clutter although it feels that way.

Sometimes I buy one item at a time as I can afford it, and it looks like so much clutter and I will feel overwhelmed with the mess and think " Why did I buy all this stuff?" But when I take it out and put it to use as one and I see what the point was, I  actually see it was easier to to it the way I did. 

For instance, because I did not have much money left over one month due to a bill, I bought one part of the gate, laid it aside, next month I bought the posts and last, this month, I bought the cement, paint and hinges. This weekend I put the hate together and its in use. But... I felt like it was just a mess laying in the garage for that long. 

We just have to wait and see the big picture at the end, but the main thing is making whatever in the end is and not continue to wait, when you have all the parts, make it. That is when the free feeling sets in, free from clutter!

How is you life? Have you accomplished "the great clean out" this summer?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution - July 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

I really worked at this resolution this month. When I wanted to shop, you know that urge to go buy something because you need it, but I didn't, I waited another day and then another and before I knew it that item was no longer on sale so I passed.

I did treat myself to three new ladies t-shirts, they were $8 and on sale for $3, a gift to me for my birthday and I am down 4 daily t-shirts, they are now work shirts and worn thin. Did I toss them? No way, I get into paint and all types of messes, they still have use.

Also, I had car issues so that took most all of my savings to make repairs so no extra for shopping.

This is 75% accomplishment because I can do better.

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

This will take a while and that is okay, I`m not in a hurry. However, I am working toward this resolution.

I did another sweep through the junk at the old home place, what I thought I wanted six months ago I didn`t so I tossed it. I also took out carpet and even the old kitchen cabinets. New clean start.

I went through more clothing and got rid of a few more pieces.

I began cleaning the garage again and I tossed an entire truck load, old vacuum and graveyard flowers that I wont use, cardboard boxes that had collapsed. Bags of recyclable plastic.

With the lumber I had stored I built the gate that I had planned months ago.

So yes working on this one 100%

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

My online store is one year old, Yay! While I have natural stuff, most all has no added preservatives  and always no dyes, I am working on other things for the physical store, plus I am writing a book that will help many people on their journey to be as natural as possible. 

So another 100% accomplishment for working on this one for July.

Check out what I have to offer now at the online store : Sunshine`s Homestead Creations 

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

After a month of the new 1200 calorie a day diet, well its not really a diet, I can eat what I want just keep it to 1200 calories. The doctor told me I should lose a pound a week and I lost 3 1/2 pounds for 4 weeks, so not great but better than nothing. Many days I went over or under the calorie count.

I am learning to use fruit once again as my sweets, although I do cheat, at times, I am not wanting sweets as much.

So I am on my way, I know I am trying.

50/50 on this one for July. 

Want to see the difference, click June for last months to compare. 

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