Sentimental Items

I’m starting to get rid of sentimental items…

It’s a little tough. Not because I want to hold onto something that’s special, but because I want to pitch so many things that were given to me. Last night I took a good first step. On my first Fathers Day in 2000 I was given a stuffed Tigger and accompanying  coffee mug by my wife and new daughter (she was 18 months old) and I was awaiting the birth of my son. This was a great gift and I loved that my wife got it for me. After almost 10 years the mug has gotten tarnished by our stupid water. (sulphur) and the stuffed Tigger is getting a little old. So last night as I was reviewing our current batch of Goodwill donations with my wife I brought out the mug. I was getting rid of a half dozen coffee mugs and it was one I chose. Thinking that she’d give an ”awww” to my idea of getting rid of it I was quite surprised that she said she wouldn’t mind if I got rid of the stuffed Tigger as well and that I didn’t have to keep stuff just because she gave it to me!

What a great wife. Lesson here is to not be afraid to broach the subject of getting rid of something with my honey.    :)

2010
02/01
CATEGORY
Get Rid of Clutter
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Zac Brown Band: Chicken Fried

The song “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band sings the praises of a simple life.

With lyrics like:

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well I’ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman’s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother’s love

And its funny how it’s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind; this I’ve come to know

What a great song :)

2010
01/29
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
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George Carlin Talks About “Stuff”


I think every blog about simplicity or minimalism needs to have a link to this video. It’s great.

2010
01/29
CATEGORY
Consumerism
Video
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Watch!

Nothing really to “watch” here, this is about an actual watch.

For the last 10 or years (or more) I’ve always been a watch junkie. Always had it on at work, sometimes wore it in the shower, wore it no matter the temperature even when I was working in a warehouse during the hot and humid Ohio summers.

And then…

I took it off.

When I started getting more hard core in my decluttering and minimalistic tendencies I realized I didn’t need to wear a watch. I always have my mobile phone with me and it obviously has a clock so I’m all set. The first day it was just on a lark wondering if it’d feel weird to go watchless. Then the next day I purposely did it again. Now, about two weeks later, I don’t miss it at all!

It wasn’t an expensive watch, it was given to me, and it’s still sitting on my dresser (the only thing on the dresser by the way.) But I can’t imagine when I’ll be putting it on again.

2010
01/29
CATEGORY
Get Rid of Clutter
Simple
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Postcards

I encountered a nice opportunity to get rid of a few postcards this evening. I met a gentleman who has a collection of about 40,000 postcards. He and 2 others wrote a book about the history of Toledo, Ohio using postcards as the basis. I have a few older cards from the 40’s-60’s featuring places in Toledo and Detroit and since I don’t feel like trying to find someone to buy them I’m going to send them to this gentleman who can either add them to his collection (which he has arranged to be archived properly somewhere) or he can make a few bucks selling them to fellow postcard fans.

Either way, once these 8 babies hit the mailbox I can count it as one more step towards minimalism.

2010
01/14
CATEGORY
Get Rid of Clutter
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Simply Walmart

*Walmart (previously known as Wal*Mart) has redesigned their store brand products. I like that the labels now sport a simple, minimal design versus the picture design they used to use. While this syrup bottle does look good with the new white label the design loses some effect when used on a larger object like a cereal box…just too much white, and frankly too simple. Oh well, it’s a start.

2009
12/07
CATEGORY
Design
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Electronic Catch Phrase

I played a game today that certainly fits into the minimalist lifestyle, Electronic Catch Phrase.

It’s the size of a personal CD player and requires no parts, pieces, cards, tokens, dice or anything else besides batteries. You could easily store it in a drawer or put it in a backpack and take it camping or anywhere that you will have at least 4 people to play the game.

Addictive, very fun and no pieces to lose either! Better for adults, not a mixed age group. There is a junior edition tho.

2009
11/26
CATEGORY
Simple
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Black Friday…Ugh.

Black Friday represents a difficult time for me to maintain my minimalist outlook. I’ve been one of “those people” in the past that arrived at stores in the wee hours of the morning just to stand around for almost an hour until the “deals” were unveiled.

Now? all I want to do is stay in bed Friday morning. I hope that my wife doesn’t have a different idea. She’s working early, early Friday morning so if there’s something she sees in the ads, and I can’t talk her out of it, there’s a chance I might have to brave the throngs of bargain shoppers.

I’m pretty sure I’ve broken my bargain habit. I’ve looked through the Walmart, Target, Best Buy and a few other ads from major stores and haven’t seen a single thing that I want so bad that I need to be shopping at 5am…even if it might help me become more minimalist by replacing one or more other non-minimalist things.

Oh, and congratulations to Oprah for ending the materialistic tradition she had of rewarding her audience members with extravagant gifts on her Favorite Things episode.

2009
11/25
CATEGORY
Consumerism
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