Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Starting Small


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Picture Taken by Rebecca Waits-Time to Simplify
Several months ago I came across a blog about living a minimalist life.  Becoming Minimalist is the blog and it has changed my way of thinking about the things I have and the world around me.  I had heard of living this way before but had never really taken the time to read about someone actually doing it.  Joshua Becker is the author of this blog inspiring people to live a more intentional life with less.  He shares about how he and his family started this journey and are continuing it today.  It is  a wonderful blog to read and I highly recommend it if you are looking at living a minimalist life.

So, I started looking at the things in our home and realizing we were living with so many material things that just didn’t have any real value in our lives.  I am not one of those people that can just wake up and decide to get rid of everything in our home that doesn’t work for us.  I decided to start small.  One space at a time.  One box at a time.  One closet at a time.  You get the point.  The box above is just one of those small starts.  It contained letters, cards, pins and many other things I have collected over the years and was hanging onto.  Why?  Because I felt that if I got rid of a card someone gave, I was taking something away from the person as well.  Does this way of thinking make any sense?  No!  I still love and care about that person with or without hanging onto that piece of paper.  Did I get rid of everything in the box at one time?  No!  But I did get rid of a lot.  I plan on going back through the box in a few months and letting go of more.  Starting Small!  Some of us need to go baby steps but at least we are going forward in a new direction of thinking. 

So, if you are thinking of starting on the road to a minimalist or simple lifestyle remember to take it at pace that is comfortable for you and if you need help, ask for it. Go online and search for blogs or sites that can lead and inspire you.

As a side note, I have changed the name of my blog from Time to Organize to Time to Simplify.  I will talk about that in the next post!  Until then, take some Time to Simplify and have a great day!

Here is a link to:
Becoming Minimalist

Monday, January 6, 2014

Trimming the Fat. So to Speak.


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Happy New Year! 

2013 went by in such a blur I can hardly believe it!  I have not blogged since October and really needed the break and time to think about how I wanted to move ahead with my blogging.  I have decided to stay but there will be some changes coming in the next few months, so be on the lookout.

No for some “fat trimming”.  I have been on a new path in life along with my family to live a more simple life.  For anyone who has done or is working on this type of lifestyle, you will understand that it can be a challenge.  We have made small changes here at home like clearing out things that were no longer needed to making a new household budget.  Over the next few weeks, I will share how we have been implementing a more simple lifestyle.

  I hope you will join me and I am happy to be here to blog in what I know will be an amazing 2014!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Organizing Tip Tuesday-Target Dollar Bins

 

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Do you love Target?  Well, I do.  Big Time!  I make a trip once a week by myself and enjoy time on my own, plus some good deals here and there.

At the front of the store are the Dollar Bins.  You can find some pretty good deals here and hey, everything is under $5 bucks.  Now, as someone who is new to living a more simplified lifestyle, this space at Target could be bad.  However, I am learning to shop for only things I need and I am more than prepared to walk away from this section empty handed.  I have been teaching myself over the past weeks to go into a store and only buy things that are needed in our home or for my family.  It is really not that hard once you get it into your mindset.  I promise.

So, I was in this section of Target and came across this utensil holder for $1.  It is small and narrow.  This would do just fine for our drawer and silverware.  That was all I picked up in the Dollar Bins.  I walked away very happy and not feeling at all that I needed any more stuff.  I have gone to Target lately and walked around the store leaving without a single item.  For me, this has been a good technique to use to get into that mindset of buying what is only a necessity. 

So my tip for this week is to check out those Dollar Bins at your local Target but only get what you can truly use. 

Have a great week and take some Time to Organize.