Monday yielded some big outcomes as far as the being bit by the declutter bug. Shelves got moved, furniture rearranged, lots of old toys boxed up to go to St. Vincent De Paul on Sunday, boxes and plastic to be recycled, etc. Tackling odd drawers and closets and feeling generally lighter and more satisfied with an organized life. And I should add that I purged some Christmas decorations (knick-knacks that represented nothing sentimental other than I wanted them, and purchased them at the resale store). Those went with my mom who has a soft spot for cast off Christmas decorations (even though their third generation now).
Until yesterday, when I went to Hobby Lobby for a simple craft for son's birthday party tonight. And I walked through the Christmas decoration aisle after aisle, wanting to buy more. The cute little gingerbread themed decorations, stuffed and otherwise, and elves and birds and trees and lights and wreaths and ... I didn't buy anything, but the fact that I wanted to and almost tried to justify a purchase made me annoyed with myself.
From this exercise I took away:
1) Don't slip back to bad patterns, where six years from now I'll be purging potential items thinking "Now why exactly did I buy this?"
2) I think I'll stick to buying one inexpensive ornament per child to put in their stocking - my children do love to reminisce about their ornaments when we decorate the tree, so it may be a meaningful purchase in future years.
Back to more cleaning because there's going to be a party here tonight and major soccer tournament this weekend with at least six games and potentially ten if the teams perform well.
What is the matter with me? Oh, almost so weak ...
October 18th, 2013 at 04:29 pm
October 18th, 2013 at 04:34 pm 1382110463
October 18th, 2013 at 04:56 pm 1382111785
October 18th, 2013 at 05:12 pm 1382112754
I think I need a new mantra "only what I need, only what I need".
I think I will be surprised that I really don't need much. And I'm even considering a simpler Christmas Season: one large tree in the living room with all the sentimental ornaments. The living room usually has the fancy tree with the glass ornaments; purpose of it? I'm not sure. I've whittled the Christmas card list down to 15 (bad, I know, but these are really the only people we care to keep in touch with who are out of state) and I'm paying $14.95 for one box of card designed by my third grader.
OK, enough ramble
October 18th, 2013 at 05:33 pm 1382114031
As someone who works in retail, it is so tempting to buy stuff, especially for Christmas. I find a desire to get home from work keeps me from browsing... most of the time.
October 19th, 2013 at 04:58 pm 1382198322