100 Things in 100 Days Challenge!

Whelp, I have been bitten by the Minimalist Bug! I secretly imagine this bug to be very svelte, very leggy, very teethy and very pale green... kind of a mix between a praying mantis and stick bug if you will.

I have been playing with the idea of minimalism for about a year and half now. Several months ago, after my then-boyfriend moved in with all his stuff and a dog, it really sunk in just how much crap I have accumulated in my less than 30 years! I started to feel claustrophobic and stuffed... Literally STUFFED with STUFF in my tiny one bedroom apartment.

So, I did what any normal gal does, I Googled my issue and found some great information on Minimalism. I researched, read some inspiring blogs and printed out a new mantra:

A Minimalist’s Train of Thought

Less money spent means more money saved

More money saved means the longer you can live in financial peace and security

Financial peace and security comes from owning less

Less stuff owned means less to carry around, move or have to travel with

Less responsibility for your stuff also means less maintenance and more time

The more time you have, the more relaxed you will feel

The more relaxed you are, the less you will care about stuff

If you care less about stuff, it means you’ll care less about image

If you care less about image, you will care more about experiences and memories

If you care more about experiences and memories, you will be happier with less

If you are happier with less, you’ll never want or need for more

The less you want or need for more, the more you will feel free!

I started having daydreams of living out of a suitcase, being able to travel at the drop of a dime, paying down all my debt and just living simply with only the items I truly needed to survive. Then reality hit me as my cat jumped in my lap, showing me just how not mobile I really am.

But, I was motivated and did my due diligence by cleaning out junk drawers, closets and cupboards. I got rid of bags of clothes, boxes of books (and their bookshelves), and many household items.
I felt so satisfied afterwards.... really accomplished and happy. I had LESS to manage, LESS to worry about and LESS to clean... it was freedom! FREEDOM I tell you!

Then, CRASH... the freedom high wore off and I was grounded once again to my earthly possessions. Which by the way, seemed to multiply before I knew it... I have a sneaking suspicion that house elves are to blame.

I honestly gave up at the end of last year. I just felt I wasn't a"True Minimalist", one who can have less than 100 items and just pick up and go whenever the wind changed. But due to recent life events -- a rubber band break up, the resigning of my lease to my small apartment and a new view on debt vs. value-- I have been on a rampage emptying my apartment and have now accepted the

100 THINGS IN 100 DAYS CHALLENGE!!

I am vowing to sell, donate or trash 100 items in 100 days!

You better act like you know!

Items Lost Since 3/7/13: 39

• Shirt - Donated
• Sweatshirt - Donated
• Hanging Lantern - Given to my very best friend, Bia B.
• Light bulb - Given to Bia B.
• Outside table - Sold to Bia B.
• Gas Grill - Sold to my very good friend, K-Killa.
• Present Wrapping Bows (3) - Donated
• Anne Klein Pumps - Donated (and counting as 2 things, hehe)
• 24 Pens and markers - Most were dry... Trash!
• Big, dumb bureau cabinet that took 3 men to move - SOLD!
• Fish Tank stuff - who was I kidding?!? Donated.
• Duck Tape dispenser - Donated
• Cat sweater - Donated... The cat hated it anyways

I will keep y'all posted on the next round and have some pictures up shortly! Until then here is my favorite minimalist blog where my quote came from above....http://www.everydayminimalist.com/


Take Care!