tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63578005559286009012024-03-10T15:13:27.709-04:00The Humble MinimalistA woman's journey towards minimalism, simple living, and happiness.mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-34060154504356891702017-04-08T16:20:00.002-04:002018-06-06T08:40:12.772-04:00Is your quest for minimalism and a better life throwing you off track?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN_bkBwcx6FrjTPDquSYYU0wuwggFqSdmlyISPGB2_VP9b5-o2aXN8U_6Jo2ueujZeB5Qw4DyeZDDP-rk1Vfm0kRWRtK1RjU6nJ2knzJaEE5CeYy4jrrpjnKWTMiZCj-CM7D9ScU-o-hh/s1600/road-caption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqN_bkBwcx6FrjTPDquSYYU0wuwggFqSdmlyISPGB2_VP9b5-o2aXN8U_6Jo2ueujZeB5Qw4DyeZDDP-rk1Vfm0kRWRtK1RjU6nJ2knzJaEE5CeYy4jrrpjnKWTMiZCj-CM7D9ScU-o-hh/s400/road-caption.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Recently I have been wondering how minimalism can really help me achieve my goal of living a better life. If you think about it, the time you spend thinking about minimalism or searching for ways to downsize your belongings might just be time you do not spend living your life to the fullest.<br />
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A lot of blogs on minimalism or decluttering will<br />
<a name='more'></a>have titles like "5 ways to declutter your life" or "3 ways to downsize and enjoy life" or even "8 ways to become minimalist with children".<br />
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A lot of authors like <a href="https://amzn.to/2LoKIRG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marie Kondo</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2Jfh30C" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Miss Minimalist</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2xLLNkp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joshua Fields Millburn</a> and many others give great advice about ridding yourself of your possessions and why it with lighten your load if you do; but at the end of the day, if you are really not attached to anything at all, does it really matter that those things are present in your home? Do they really drain your energy or are you making it up for some reason? Is it your things or you that is in the way of living a more meaningful life?<br />
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Did you declutter and feel better afterwards or was your life exactly the same just with fewer items? Please share your experience in the comments section below, I would love to hear from you!<br />
<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-66286917283806248852017-03-21T09:39:00.001-04:002018-06-06T08:42:10.595-04:00Carrying stuff and letting it go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9mrNH6VTBCYzYn3kzxuBTjKcJ6DvZADngbb-UP4KfKuTrV4fw-hjnYsd8AgdaDxukC8qugi-orkC84S1-h-YI3BWjD6X4lzFYlKXwSnTZH8r1iyM_DFWL7GaynrAbpjikZS2lDD-Sp4X/s1600/sky-caption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9mrNH6VTBCYzYn3kzxuBTjKcJ6DvZADngbb-UP4KfKuTrV4fw-hjnYsd8AgdaDxukC8qugi-orkC84S1-h-YI3BWjD6X4lzFYlKXwSnTZH8r1iyM_DFWL7GaynrAbpjikZS2lDD-Sp4X/s400/sky-caption.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently, as I moved into my new room, I figured I couldn't put up with so much junk being out in the open without a "home" to reside in. The plan is to free up as much space as possible, and have clear surfaces in the bedroom, so I can relax and enjoy white space. Since I have an unused room, I have decided to turn it into my official attic room and dumped all the stuff overflow up there. I have donated a lot of things over the years but I still own a lot. I can tell you that boxing and carrying all that stuff upstairs made me want to reconsider owning so much.<br />
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I felt the same when I <br />
<a name='more'></a>moved into my new house almost two years ago. We had so much to carry, it was more difficult than heavy lifting for two hours at the gym! That goes to show that actually carrying your things, feeling their weight, might help decide if they are worth owning.<br />
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One book that really helped me acquire a new perspective on decluttering and minimalism was Marie Kondo's <a href="https://amzn.to/2LoKIRG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The life-changing magic of tidying up</a>. As she explains that you should only keep objects that bring you joy, I figured that I should probably let go of the ones that were weighing me down.<br />
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Also, I think the Japanese love white space, which I am starting to create around the house for more visual appeal.<br />
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Another book that helped me tremendously was <a href="https://amzn.to/2xNFxbR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clutter busting your life</a>, by Brook Palmer. On top of the rehashed arguments in favor of tossing old junk, he mentioned something that really struck a chord. He said that objects were like food in the fridge: they serve their purpose at a given moment in time, but when they are done, we need to move on, in the same way I wouldn't want to hold on to spoiled milk. That made so much sense! It really helped me let go of some sentimental items for which I had no use or space, although I was feeling too guilty to let them go.<br />
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With that in mind when I left the apartment to move into a house, and doing the move myself, I really reconsidered some of the items that I had at home. Mostly, I didn't want to have to pack, carry things over, and then unpack them, so I figured letting go was a good option.<br />
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How about you, does having to move help with decluttering? Does carrying your belongings make you rethink their value in your life? Let me know in the comments below!<br />
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<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-31909280195428511192016-07-25T10:52:00.000-04:002018-06-06T08:59:06.188-04:00Minimalism and idle time?Hi guys,<br />
<br />
I haven't posted in such a long time! Today I would like to talk about how my search for minimalism (and somewhat of a higher purpose) is going a few years on.<br />
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I came to the realization that --at least for me-- minimalism was another way to prep for the future. Less stuff means less to carry when you move. Lighter means freer. But what struck me the most is<br />
<a name='more'></a>this: I started ice-skating last year and have been going at least 6-10 hours a week all winter. Not once did I think of minimalism. I was feeling fine on all fronts, my fatigue levels were down, my energy levels were up, and all things considered, life was good. Not once did I have an urge to purge my closet or worry about what things I had in the house.<br />
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Then came summer... DUN DUN DUN! I haven't found a sport that I love as much as ice skating, so for the time being, although I make do with other physical activity, I am waiting for the rink to reopen. It turns out that 10 hours a week is a lot of time to kill when you don't have a passion to pursue, and without realizing it, I have started looking up information about minimalism again. Even came across <a href="https://amzn.to/2kPWIjQ" target="_blank">this incredible book</a> by Japanese author Fumio Sasaki. Guess I have a lot of time left to read the book over twice then declutter some more!!<br />
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So my question is this: is minimalism the way to happiness, or is it the other way around? Or are we just day-dreaming because we have some idle time to kill?<br />
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Let me know in the comments section!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-27729976742286853762013-01-19T06:53:00.002-05:002018-06-06T08:47:45.588-04:00minimalism: the idea of oneI was reading <a href="http://www.becomingminimalist.com/a-practical-guide-to-owning-fewer-clothes/comment-page-2/" target="_blank">this interesting page</a> just the other day about minimalist closets and paring down your clothes. And I really love the fact that when you try to own less stuff, you should "embrace the idea of one". To sum up what the article said, it's all about owning only one coat, only one pair of black shoes, only one black belt, etc.<br />
<br />
Then I figured...<br />
<a name='more'></a>if this applies to items of clothing, why not apply it to clothing containers? That is how I ended up posting a comment on that page, which I will paste below:<br />
<br />
The idea of one can also apply to a closet or wardrobe. I know a lot of people who need more than a regular (dorm size or Ikea size) closet for clothes, but if you decide that 'one' should be all that you need, then you have to work with only that space, and anything that won't fit in there shouldn't have to fit in your life.<br />
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In case you are interested, Joshua Becker has a lot to say on the matter, he has even written a few <a href="https://amzn.to/2Jxdp1b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">books</a> you might want to check out!<br />
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What do you think of applying the idea of ONE to containers/furniture?mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-38853448295099742292013-01-17T10:31:00.003-05:002018-06-06T08:54:30.844-04:00New Year, Fresh StartI haven't posted in so long, we are now in 2013, so I would like to wish you all a happy new year!<br />
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Every new year is like being born a little, it's a new opportunity to start fresh and improve oneself. This year, I have several things in mind. First of all, <br />
<a name='more'></a>I would like to be calmer, <a href="https://amzn.to/2M57Vcr" target="_blank">less stressed out</a>, which means taking a deep breath and letting go. That's hard for me to do but it is my goal this year. Secondly, I would like to declutter my home a bit more, and find <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-much-clutter-is-too-much-clutter.html" target="_blank">balance</a> as far as stuff is concerned. <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/decluttering-few-tips.html" target="_blank">Letting go of sentimental items</a> is hard, yet doable.<br />
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Finally, I would like to find <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/11/its-little-things.html" target="_blank">true happiness</a>, serenity and <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/be-content-with-what-you-have.html" target="_blank">contentment</a>. That, I think, is a life-long journey, but I will try my best to get a bit closer each day!<br />
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What are your new year's resolutions?mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-33751418051906768962012-11-13T16:01:00.004-05:002018-06-06T09:41:43.354-04:00It's the little things<a href="https://amzn.to/2JiG0YT" target="_blank">Living with less</a> isn't about how many things you own or how big or small your home is. Living with less is about being more mindful of what truly matters. It is about enjoying the little things, so that when you look back on your life, you<br />
<a name='more'></a>think "ahh, those were the times" or "I wish time would have stopped then".<br />
This is the beginning of my third year as an expat, second in the same country, and I am already looking back thinking that last year was golden, when really I also had to face difficult times. But I guess all the lovely memories make it worthwhile.<br />
<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-4747991270198526062012-10-22T07:57:00.000-04:002018-06-06T09:06:59.668-04:00Minimalist halloween costume?It's that time of year again: Halloween, the time when pumpkin carving and costume parties happen all around town.<br />
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For me, buying a costume is usually synonymous with wasted space in my closet right after the party. Last year I tried to make a costume with clothes I already had in my closet and ended up with<br />
<a name='more'></a>a goth-like theme. All black, with lace and dark make up. It was pretty convincing.<br />
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This year however, I was bored of the same old thing so after thinking a lot and finding nothing great in my closet, I decided to give in and buy a costume. Of course, it's nothing huge with a lot of plastic plates, masks or hats. It a simple flapper dress with small accessories, similar to <a href="https://amzn.to/2sKOtsP" target="_blank">this one</a>.<br />
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The main conundrums for me when shopping for a costume are: will I be able to wear it again in my everyday life? Will I enjoy using it again as a costume next year? Won't I get bored of the costume and want to choose a different one next time? Etc etc. The only consolation (on top of having fun at the party, of course!) is that once folded the dress is so small that it's not really taking any space at all.<br />
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The year before, I tried to do the same and not use anything too big. I ended up buying a few accessories and impersonating Lady Gaga. It was kind of easy: <a href="https://amzn.to/2JrAYJ5" target="_blank">red cocktail dress</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2xN0VxN" target="_blank">blonde wig</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2sKGNXE" target="_blank">fake mic</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2JyCBVb" target="_blank">viking helmet</a>, etc. Weirdness was good enough with the blonde wig. Then I moved overseas and threw it away, and now I am so, so sad I did, because I would've sure wanted to put on that helmet and stuff again! I still have the dress of course, but no accessories. The stuff I found here to recreate it wasn't that great, that's why I ended up buying a different costume altogether.<br />
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Bottom line: even though I might want to minimize as much as possible, maybe getting rid of things too quickly isn't such a great idea!<br />
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What are you doing for Halloween? Any simple costume ideas? Share in the comments!! mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-28894671450570229202012-10-13T18:56:00.005-04:002018-06-06T09:19:47.962-04:00DownsizingI think one of the most drastic ways to get rid of extra junk is to downsize the place where you put it. When I first moved to Belgium, the apartment was rather small compared to my US house, and there were NO CLOSETS! That meant that I had to figure out how to fit everything I owned into this apartment, and of course I wanted it to be clean and not full of junk all the time.<br />
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That is how I started to<br />
<a name='more'></a>look at what I had and to get rid of some stuff that I didn't want or need anymore.<br />
<br />
Of course, the point is not to get rid of stuff for the sake of getting rid of stuff. However, if that stuff is more of a burden than anything else, then maybe it is time to let it go.<br />
<br />
Now that I am tackling my closet to have more of a simple, minimalist wardrobe, I am thinking that no matter how much I count and sort my clothes, until I have nowhere to put extra stuff, the clutter will still most likely crawl back in.<br />
<br />
The other problem with downsizing however, is that if you downsize, say, your closet, and you therefore have less stuff in it, it'll still look full from being smaller. So the question is: do you want to own less stuff, or simply to have a nice-looking, organized closet?<br />
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I also realized this: if you stopped worrying about emptying your closet and actually started living your life, maybe the stress that comes with clutter would just disappear!<br />
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So good luck organizing, but most importantly, happy living!!<br />
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PS: if like me you need help decluttering your closet, you might want to check out these books:<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2JA24gU" target="_blank">The curated closet</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2M2um2b" target="_blank">Spark joy</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2M5KEar" target="_blank">The happy closet</a><br />
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<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-60558404605195540302012-10-07T05:02:00.000-04:002018-06-06T09:23:46.562-04:00Minimalist Fashion?I think the first thing people tend to tackle as minimalists is probably their wardrobe. (In my case, we are talking about a <a href="https://amzn.to/2sIja1O" target="_blank">huge wardrobe</a> filled to the brim!) I guess it's kind of easy to get a feeling of accomplishment after sorting your clothes, and at the same time it's a relief not to have to schlep around so much stuff. Unlike other items in the house, I think that clothes are<br />
<a name='more'></a>the one thing that is more noticeable in terms of accomplishment for minimalists. I, myself, have been tackling my wardrobe these days - I already gave away over 2 bags of clothes. I am left with some things that I need to go through but it's not as much of an emergency as before, because I got rid of the things that I knew for sure that I didn't want or need any more. The rest is stuff that I still wear nearly 10 years on, but I am thinking of getting different clothes now, as I am not the same person I was when I was in college - yes, I know I keep clothes a long time.<br />
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The back-to-school season usually goes together with a new wardrobe for most girls... If you guys are like me, you probably went shopping for new back-to-school outfits every year until the end of college!<br />
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So my question is: how do you address this push and pull between wanting less and wanting something different. Wanting less and wanting more at the same time. Wanting to be your professional self as well as your casual self.<br />
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This song by Whitney Houston says "I'm every woman", well how can you be every woman when you are trying to go for less clothes but your tastes are a bit fickle and change with the seasons?<br />
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What I try to do is go for timeless pieces and wonder how I could dress it up or down to make each piece very versatile, but sometimes I will admit that I do get bored and wish I had different things.<br />
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How do you go about it? Let me know in the comments section!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-49084492373776692602012-09-30T15:41:00.002-04:002018-06-06T09:39:24.732-04:00Simplify your kitchen with Tenugui!A while ago, I posted about how you can <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/decluttering-your-bag-wardrobe-with.html" target="_blank">declutter your bag wardrobe</a> with Furoshiki. Well, in the same vein, you can declutter your kitchen cloths and such with Tenugui.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Tenugui is a very thin cotton cloth used by the Japanese in ancient times as washcloths, or towels, wraps, headbands, etc. Tenugui is very versatile and can be used in a number of settings. I really like the fact that it is so thin and pretty, too. It comes in all sorts of prints and patterns.<br />
<br />
In my kitchen drawer at the moment, I have a number of cloths that I use to dry the dishes or my hands, or others that I use to soak up spills. The kitchen wasn't made by someone who cooks it seems like, because we don't even have a proper silverware drawer. So in the only drawer in the whole kitchen we put cloths, so they are readily accessible in case of spillage.<br />
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The problem is, try to fit several of them in the tiny drawer, and the pile grows and you can't close the drawer anymore. But with Tenugui, it's a breeze, because the fabric is so thin. I have been using Tenugui in <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-minimalist-kitchen.html" target="_blank">my minimalist kitchen</a>, and I love it!<br />
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On top of being used as a cloth, Tenugui has many other uses. Here is a picture of a number of things you can do with Tenugui.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD-yn9gQz7EOKsGv9nBqU2Q8hXVybzYKzhCIhGx8ejLl4nNS8_Kyj20b6VCm8e5cKd16mi2I1ychlk7LFMBIaXtHBUW_X_FCeWywTKjbM9gpU_foRdvOQQf0PstuJLK7dZppESapz3EwM/s1600/tenugui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD-yn9gQz7EOKsGv9nBqU2Q8hXVybzYKzhCIhGx8ejLl4nNS8_Kyj20b6VCm8e5cKd16mi2I1ychlk7LFMBIaXtHBUW_X_FCeWywTKjbM9gpU_foRdvOQQf0PstuJLK7dZppESapz3EwM/s640/tenugui.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you want more information about Tenugui, here are a few cool books where you can learn how to use it!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/TENUGUI-Japanese-Hand-Towels-Free-Wrench-ebook/dp/B00JO5SOQE/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528291571&sr=1-1&keywords=tenugui&linkCode=li2&tag=marie132m08-20&linkId=12f67a3a718bef69002dd58c91ca7054" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00JO5SOQE&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=marie132m08-20" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=marie132m08-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B00JO5SOQE" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stylish-cloth-Tenugui-Japanese-culture-ebook/dp/B009Y2W45E/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528291571&sr=1-3&keywords=tenugui&linkCode=li2&tag=marie132m08-20&linkId=e8050cba70453134ee70efb2f364de57" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B009Y2W45E&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=marie132m08-20" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=marie132m08-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B009Y2W45E" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Tenugui-Chusen/dp/4902930021/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528291571&sr=1-5&keywords=tenugui&linkCode=li2&tag=marie132m08-20&linkId=f93f8de9d8d647bfabb8e4057b92015d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=4902930021&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=marie132m08-20" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=marie132m08-20&l=li2&o=1&a=4902930021" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-39652551275022464772012-09-25T18:40:00.003-04:002012-10-02T01:32:58.178-04:00Milestones 2Just a few days ago, I wrote a <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.be/2012/09/milestones.html" target="_blank">post</a> about a number of milestones in my life, as this blog got 500 page views.<br />
<br />
Today, I just got to a new one: this blog passed the 1000 page view mark. This is very nice because I used to hate blogging, thinking I had nothing interesting to say, but since I have kept at it since August, I have had the opportunity to see the blog grow.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I am still struggling with a number of things, like my closet and so on. As I was talking with my husband, he pointed out that maybe I was overthinking it, and that maybe things were fine the way they are... Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong. All I know is that I sure don't feel like I am there yet. I want to live a more satisfactory, fulfilling and simple life, but right now I feel like decluttering some more - i.e. tossing more things - would be painful, so maybe it is time for me to wait it out a little?<br />
<br />
I find that sometimes, going through things once and then waiting a couple of days/weeks, then going through things again helps take a step back and distance oneself from the sentimental value of the items.<br />
<br />
In any case, I would be very interested to know what minimalist objectives you guys set for yourselves, and how you are getting there.<br />
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Let me know in the comments section!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-82966004502326225882012-09-16T17:39:00.002-04:002018-06-06T10:02:34.399-04:00Minimalist grooming part 2The other day I posted about <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/minimalist-grooming.html" target="_blank">minimalist grooming</a>. Well, I am reporting that I just cut my hair and my husband's tonight, and it was fun, an interesting activity to kill boredom, and FREE! (Well, free once you own a pair of <a href="https://amzn.to/2Jl2VPe">scissors</a> and/or <a href="https://amzn.to/2LtFTqd">clippers</a>!)<br />
It's always a good idea when trying to declutter your life, to also declutter your schedule. If you learn to be independent and do a lot of things yourself, you don't have to worry about making an appointment at the salon for instance, and taking time off or making it during lunch.<br />
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That's mostly why I started cutting my own hair - that and the barber always cut my hair too short, in spite of what I said I wanted, and also I didn't have money as a student, so doing it myself was free.<br />
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It's also nice not having a specific schedule and just doing things when you want to. For instance, tonight I was doing a wash and since I didn't wanna put up with the noise, I decided it was a good time to go do my hair. It worked out perfectly, because I finished at the same time as the wash.<br />
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I knew it was coming: I couldn't really put off cutting my hair, as it was getting difficult to style - not that I style it much anyway, but still, it started looking messy. It had been stressing me out because as the days passed by I kept forgetting to do it. I usually do it after I shower. But today I was like: "forget it I'm doing it now, since I am bored and have nothing else to do anyway".<br />
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So I turned a boring evening into a useful one, where I felt so good and stress-free after accomplishing something!! I guess I should called this post "decluttering your hair" or "decluttering your head" but that might have been taking it a bit too far!!<br />
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OK now I am off to walk my cat, another <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/simple-pleasures.html" target="_blank">simple pleasure</a> that makes me feel serene.<br />
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Wishing you all a wonderful, serene evening.mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-31363445867182497362012-09-13T16:46:00.001-04:002018-06-06T10:03:16.572-04:00minimalist funThe other day I posted about <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/simple-pleasures.html" target="_blank">simple pleasures</a>. Today I would like to share with you a very simple pleasure that will most likely cheer you up if you're sad, or just make you smile.<br />
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This is something that I am sure most of you are familiar with, but every so often it is nice to be reminded of such great things. It is called "checking out pics of cute baby animals online!!!" Oh, and trust me, if you do get through this <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/can-you-get-through-this-post-without-squealing?fb_ref=recbar" target="_blank">page</a> without squealing, you have a problem!<br />
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Enjoy! <br />
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<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-47221633421896089522012-09-10T17:19:00.002-04:002016-07-26T06:07:49.229-04:00Only you can make you happyAs I was reading an <a href="http://www.theminimalists.com/location/" target="_blank">article</a> about location on Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus's blog I stumbled across a very interesting sentence: Only you can make you happy.<br />
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That is so true and yet so difficult to attain.<br />
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I was always fascinated with minimalism, I probably already talked about that to an extent when I said that for me, <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/about-minimalism.html" target="_blank">minimalism represents freedom</a>. As a child I was already struck by how freeing those magazine photos look. If my life was like that, I thought, I could pick up and go whenever I feel like it.<br />
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Maybe I already wanted to travel back then.<br />
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One thing is for sure, after living in four different countries, and moving even more times, I had to schlep around a massive amount of stuff. Of course, my mom gave me back everything I owned, so I can't simply live the fabulous travel lifestyle and pretend that I am a minimalist just because 90% of my possessions are at my mom's place.<br />
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They are not!<br />
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I have here with me everything that I want to keep. The rest has been donated or thrown away. Some books have been returned to my mom as they belong to the family, but really if she doesn't want them anymore, she may dispose of them as she pleases.<br />
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So why minimalism again? Because I just can't stand schlepping around stuff. I broke my back (almost literally) carrying everything up three flights of stairs and then from room to room in the rental I was living in, and in the end, over 5 boxes of stuff ended up in the trash. And when I say stuff, I mean sentimental stuff. The hardcore-stuff-you-can-never-throw-away-because-you-had-it-when-you-were-a-baby-and-want-to-give-it-to-your-first-child-type-of-stuff!<br />
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Of course, I kept some things, like my favorite plushies; they are in a box and I am keeping them for now. But the rest, omg, I took pictures and reminisced and cried so much. The worst part was that the trash didn't get picked up till the week after so everyday I passed by it I could still see my stuff. It was pretty sad.<br />
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Then I put more stuff in storage, moved around the world, and when I came back I was happy to find my old childhood bed and take it out of storage. (I found an unfurnished apartment, and was sooo happy to have that bed!)<br />
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Now, nearly two years on, I don't regret getting rid of it all. If I had to do it again, I would do it in a heartbeat, because in the end, seeing those things wasn't making me happy: it was making me sad by reminding me of the past I was no longer living, and was preventing me from moving on with my life, by holding me down.<br />
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When I was living in England, I used to stare out the window, just like I did at home, wondering how I could "get out of here and go do something nice". I wasn't happy, even though it was supposed to be a fantastic experience.<br />
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So what was wrong? I wasn't focusing on the right things.<br />
Now I have a much more fulfilling life. Looking back, I feel like I wasted so much time wanting it instead of living it!<br />
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Stuff weighed me down, and I wasn't focusing on what matters the most.<br />
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Now I am mostly free of stuff (well... I do own a lot more than 100 things, but still!) and I am happier, focusing on the <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/simple-pleasures.html" target="_blank">small things</a>.<br />
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It is all working out because only me can lake me haopy by adopting a <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/be-content-with-what-you-have.html" target="_blank">positive attitude</a>. It has been yielding results in the most unexpected ways, and I am thrilled and ever so thankful that I get to experience those <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/milestones.html" target="_blank">positive feelings</a> now.mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-16576407419610390192012-09-10T13:06:00.002-04:002012-09-13T12:00:27.851-04:00milestonesI am happy to report that today, I passed the 500 page-view mark! I am so happy! It means that my blog is finally taking off and I can (maybe) make a difference and inspire people to lean more towards minimalism.<br />
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I am also happy to report that since I started this journey towards happiness, my lifestyle has changed and so has my body image. For the longest time, when I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a fat, disgusting monster, and today as I was changing, I noticed that I just saw a person. For the first time in my life, I just saw a normal-looking person in the mirror.<br />
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I am not saying that minimalism fixed everything or that I dropped 300 lbs because of it (I might have dropped 5 lbs tops, but I have never been over 150lbs in my life to begin with anyway).<br />
What I am trying to say is that when I started this journey towards a more balanced, simpler life, I started focusing on the small things, to find contentment in my everyday life.<br />
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I am happier now than when I started, and although my house is nowhere near empty, it is empty enough that I feel serene when I come home.<br />
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It might not be much, but it is one small step to rejoice about!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-72064709350027456162012-09-08T19:08:00.003-04:002012-09-13T12:00:12.204-04:00minimalist outing: going purse-freeI was reading a blog post about this girl that goes purse-free, but I am still not sure it is doable for us girls, especially with pocket-less skirts and dresses. Yet, I am interested in going bag-free for a while because at the end of the day I get really tired carrying a purse: after a few hours it just feels really heavy.<br />
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For now, the only solution I have found is to go out with a <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/decluttering-your-bag-wardrobe-with.html" target="_blank">furoshiki</a> because it weighs virtually nothing, but I am not 100% satisfied, because I still have to take stuff in and out of it and schlep things around and I can't really go out free from luggage.<br />
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Do you guys have a few simple tips to lighten my load and help me go bag-free? Any minimalist ideas maybe to simplify my weekend outings? (Of course, for work, I would still need a bag, it goes with the suit when you work in a corporate environment, you can't really show up without one, but for the evening or weekend I don't "need" one!)<br />
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Please leave a comment with your tips!!<br />
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Thanks for reading!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-65376058150180127132012-09-05T18:02:00.001-04:002012-09-07T12:11:17.111-04:00simple pleasures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-M9dggmzNGs-ZM9zrSCjN-WRUat6Phlv5sZM6HPQiQQnDnLo-R-uycQulTjqjgNX9GpoI-qZOL_y3TBIyQEJSWrwDAjhtP6qVraKWlzfhYkZTl_LSmQTBAmBBLxR2oMSS_h083q0SdxC/s1600/DSCF6217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-M9dggmzNGs-ZM9zrSCjN-WRUat6Phlv5sZM6HPQiQQnDnLo-R-uycQulTjqjgNX9GpoI-qZOL_y3TBIyQEJSWrwDAjhtP6qVraKWlzfhYkZTl_LSmQTBAmBBLxR2oMSS_h083q0SdxC/s320/DSCF6217.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Nothing feels greater than enjoying simple pleasures!<br />
Today, at 10:30pm, with my husband we
<br />
<a name='more'></a>baked a cake (which we didn't do for his birthday a few days ago as we were out instead) and it is now midnight and we are enjoying warm chocolate cake! <br />
Best evening ever!<br />
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Special thanks to Louisa for the recipe!!<br />
<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-23877186216148190372012-09-04T16:52:00.001-04:002012-09-10T16:27:36.551-04:00Be content with what you have<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>One thing that my mom repeated to me quite often when my little unsatisfied self was growing up is: "you need to learn to appreciate what you have".</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Many years on, I think she was right: no matter how hard you try, how many dresses you buy, you are always you, there is no running away from yourself. So instead of </b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>fleeing, embrace who you are, and live by a few simple rules... </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn to love your face and show your brightest smile to the world.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn to <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/09/milestones.html" target="_blank">love your body</a>: it might not be perfect, but it breathes and lives and gets you places and lets you feel so many things, that for what it does it is perfection already.</b></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn to find joy in the smallest things instead of boredom in grander ones.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hope for tomorrow but live today.</b></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Free yourself from want / jealousy.</span> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dream big, then take action.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Happiness is just a step away.</span></span></b></div>
mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-60471674781074876662012-09-04T16:31:00.001-04:002012-09-07T15:47:33.083-04:00minimalist student lifestyleAs I was revisiting this <a href="http://www.minimalstudent.com/minimalism-isnt-simple/" target="_blank">blog</a>, I reminisced how nice it was as a student to sit and daydream about the future. I was thinking about how I would have a great job and would go on a lot of adventures with my then wonderful boyfriend (he is now my husband!!)<br />
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And then...life happened. I became an adult, grew out of dreaming because<br />
<a name='more'></a> hell, you gotta go to work you don't have time for dreaming, the future is NOW!<br />
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And then I came across minimalism. As I tried to shift my focus from clutter and stress to what truly matters, I realized I was longing for something: a group of friends I could call up and laugh with like we are 10 years old again.<br />
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That, to me, is the ultimate moment of happiness anybody could possibly wish for.<br />
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Sure, I have a lot of friends, or should I say acquaintances; but true friends, who share your tastes and dreams and day-to-day boredom and routine and challenges, not so many.<br />
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I am now rich and "fulfilled" according society's definition, but I still don't feel complete: I was happier as a kid than I am now, although I got what I had hoped for: A wonderful husband that I am so thankful for everyday of my life, a great career, etc. So what is wrong? Why does it suck so much? Why don't I feel free and elated and on top of the world when I have the wind in my sails? <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>BECAUSE NOTHING MATTERS</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>IF YOU DON'T HAVE</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u><b>SOMEONE</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>TO SHARE IT WITH!</b></span></div>
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So as I pare down and turn to a more fulfilling, </div>
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simpler life,</div>
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I am going to try and remember </div>
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what it was that made </div>
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life so special</div>
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when I was 18...</div>
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make some <span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">good friends who like a good laugh</span>, <br />
and take it from there.</div>
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<br />mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-58163105172045356902012-09-04T15:08:00.002-04:002012-09-10T16:26:42.773-04:00How much clutter is too much clutter?When sizing down, people only think of one thing: getting rid of things! The less things, the better: we have too much clutter, and we need to size down, sell, donate, or throw out stuff, and finally -phew!- take a break because we've earned it!<br />
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But in all this frenzy of simplifying and downsizing to a<br />
<a name='more'></a>more <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/declutter-your-life-with-this-simple-tip.html" target="_blank">minimalistic ideal</a>, how much is enough? How much clutter is too much? How much stuff is just right?<br />
Isn't it difficult to find a balance?<br />
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I find myself in this very situation at the moment. I am excited about sizing down an already pretty clear home, but I am thinking that maybe I don't need to... Everything is in its right place, not much is out on the table or someplace it doesn't belong - mostly the occasional couple of letters that will eventually end up where they need to be.<br />
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So am I already there volume-wise? Do I still need to pare down?<br />
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What are your thoughts on how much is enough? Drop a comment to let me know!<br />
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If you liked this post, please subscribe, and share on Facebook! Thanks for reading!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-62621223250556928342012-09-02T15:03:00.005-04:002012-09-07T15:47:03.009-04:00Decluttering: baby stepsToday I started feeling stressed out because I knew I had so much to sort through in order to declutter the house. I said, when I started this blog that I wanted to give minimalism a try and I am pretty serious about it, even though I still have a lot of sentimental items. I was at a loss where to start, because although I have a lot of clutter or unnecessary items here, I am sure it's not as much as the average American home. Or is it...?<br />
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Anyway, I decided to sort through my underwear drawer first, because I had a lot of old socks, and torn pantyhose that I kept, thinking "I can wear that with boots, nobody will see the pilling on the side of this pantyhose" and so on. But every time I opened the drawer, it was hell getting everything back down to close it again.<br />
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I ended up throwing away<br />
<a name='more'></a> (into a donation bag) a lot of items I didn't wear because they were at the bottom of the drawer and were not easily accessible, or because they had pilled (OK in boots but not with a business suit and pumps), or simply because, well, I didn't like them anymore, like for instance my white tights. They have a tendency to look really transparent at the knee and really white at the ankle, so they would probably look better on somebody skinnier. I also donated perfectly new socks that I felt were a bit too tight for me.<br />
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The problem when decluttering your wardrobe is that you might have different activities for which the dress code changes. Three years ago, I was working as a freelancer in Paris, and had a lot of time off, so I had to wear "business" for work and could still wear nearly all my casual clothes for fun.<br />
Then I moved to CT where I was a stay at home wife for a while - before I could start my client base - and wore only casual outfits.<br />
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Then I moved to Belgium where I work five days a week at a place where the dress code is business, so I really don't get to wear my casual clothes a lot. After I got here, I had to go and buy work clothes for at least a week's worth. It was very time consuming, because I didn't know the city well, and had no idea where to buy women's suits. Online wasn't an option because a lot of times, the cut isn't quite right, or it needs tailoring.<br />
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But I can't really let go of all my casual clothes for several reasons:<br />
1) I like them and I don't want to have to buy them again later.<br />
2) I don't know where I'll be in 2 years, I might need "a lot" of casual clothes again then. <br />
3) I have a lot of vacation time, during which I still enjoy wearing my casual clothes.<br />
4) I never wear casual clothes to work and vice versa (except for just a few pieces)<br />
5) I can never wear the same piece twice because at the end of the day it smells bad: it therefore needs washing. I don't have a drier here, just a drying rack, so I need enough clothes to wear until the next load of laundry dries. <br />
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Sure, I could pare down some, and I am going to try to make it happen, but my other problem is: I get really cold and really hot within seconds, and that's always been a problem for me. Especially when you live in the city, if you're out a lot you can't enjoy the nice inside temperature.<br />
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So basically, when I see other minimalists with just 10 shirts and 3 pairs of pants and they own like, 2 or 3 sweaters, that's great, and I would wish to get to that result, but:<br />
1) it's more difficult for girls than for guys (nobody notices if a man dresses the same two days in a row, unlike women, I think)<br />
2) I sweat (incidentally I bike to work, but that's for another post), so I need to change clothes often, and I don't do a wash every 3 or 4 days, I wait longer.<br />
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If you have any tips that you would like to share on your minimalist wardrobe, please do so in th ecomments section. In the mean time, don't forget to subscribe, and share on Facebook!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-17310193525026566262012-09-02T06:42:00.004-04:002018-06-06T10:27:46.637-04:00Decluttering: a few tipsHere are some links that I think are really inspiring. When trying to declutter a room or a home, it can become overwhelming very quickly. So I suggest that you read those links and start decluttering a little bit at a time. That's what I do too!!<br />
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<a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/17/instructions-for-decluttering-your-home-in-less-than-500-words/" target="_blank">The unclutterer</a><br />
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<a href="http://zenhabits.net/18-five-minute-decluttering-tips-to-start-conquering-your-mess/" target="_blank">Zen Habits</a><br />
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I find that the hardest part when parting with belongings is<br />
<a name='more'></a>the emotional attachment that one feels towards those objects. Those two articles should help you declutter and simplify your life - at least you can free up some space in the most cluttered areas of the house, and then pat yourself on the back because you are one step closer to a simple life!<br />
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Also, for help with emotional attachment, here is <a href="https://amzn.to/2xNFxbR" target="_blank">the book</a> that helped me declutter the most by changing my perspective on personal items!<br />
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Let me know how it went in the comments section!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-11389172252042250022012-09-01T19:01:00.003-04:002018-06-06T10:27:05.164-04:00minimalism: spontaneity is the new blackMost people get caught up in weekly chores. Let's face it, we've all spent countless hours on Saturday afternoons shopping for food, clothes, you name it.<br />
Although shopping for clothes is nice when there are people around, I find it terribly tiring to wait in line for over a half hour to try on that skirt that I don't even know if it'll fit. So if I want to shop for something special, I try to go off-peak.<br />
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It's even more true for grocery-shopping. Elbowing your way around the super market during rush hour is not only exhausting, it wastes precious hours of your life you could put to better use: you could learn something, hang out with your family and friends, or simply rest.<br />
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That is why, when I need to go shopping for food or to do chores, instead of dedicating hours to those activities, I try to go at random moments, very spontaneously. It actually makes a lot more sense to me, since I am ready at that moment, and so I really want to get it done. Unlike Saturdays, when I knew I had to go but sooo didn't want to.<br />
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Incidentally, I will start a wash randomly also, mostly when I know I won't have to put up with it, like the short cycle while I go take a shower or the longer cycle when I bike to the supermarket and back.<br />
By doing so, I ensure that I never have to "put up" with the chores and I can get them done in the least amount of time possible.<br />
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Typical laundry moment:<br />
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Me: hey it's time for a shower, why don't I get rid of the laundry by the same token? *pops the clothes in the washer, sets the cycle to "short", then goes to either watch TV, or read or to take a shower*<br />
30 minutes later, while I am done getting dressed, the wash is done, takes no more than 5-10 minutes to hang everything to dry (I don't own a drier).<br />
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Bonus: by the window, the sun helps dry stuff faster, so I can put the clothes and rack away the next day.<br />
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How simple is that? Spontaneity is the new black because it helps declutter and simplify your schedule. <br />
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If you liked this post, please subscribe and share on Facebook. Thanks for reading!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-9961993408285463882012-09-01T18:26:00.002-04:002018-06-06T09:56:41.467-04:00minimalist groomingOne day I was walking in a DC mall with a friend when a girl stopped me to ask me how long it took me to style my hair in the morning. That was the first step towards selling me hair styling products or equipment, I forget which. I told her point blank: "I don't style my hair in the morning, too much of a hassle, I just can't be bothered, I just brush it and leave". She stared at me in disbelief: "I'm sorry, what???"<br />
To which I replied: <br />
<a name='more'></a>"Well, I can't be bothered, so I just don't style my hair". She still couldn't believe her ears.<br />
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It's true, all of it is true, I am too lazy to bother styling my hair, plus it's not how I was raised. So I just brush it, and leave. To some it might seem unimaginable, but I guess if you take a look around, not everyone looks like they are right out of the salon, and in my opinion, that's fine.<br />
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I also go make-up-less a lot, like on weekends, when I go out with my husband and friends, I don't wear any make-up. That's mostly because when we get home late at night I want to hop right into bed without spending extra time removing all my make-up. It's just so simple, I can even rub my eyes outside without worrying that my make up is going to get messed up.<br />
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Bonus: when I do use make-up I feel prettier, and when I wear none, I just feel normal. But if I wore make-up every single time, I would just feel normal with it on, and uglier without it.<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><b>And let me be outrageous here, I don't go to salons anymore, I cut my own hair. After checking out a number of videos on Youtube, I realized it was very easy, and FREE, that I'm just not interested in getting a haircut anymore! I do it better myself!</b></span><br />
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I also don't get my nails done, never have. I might, some day, but every time I have nail polish on, I am just so stressed out that I am going to damage it, that I can't put up with it more than just a few days. (Yes, and also I cook a lot, so I tend to damage it faster).<br />
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So in other words, my minimalist grooming equipment consists of: soap, shampoo, conditioner, alum stone (instead of deodorant), scissors or razor to cut my own hair, perfume, and sometimes makeup. You can check out my minimalist bathroom <a href="http://thehumbleminimalist.blogspot.com/2012/08/declutter-your-life-with-this-simple-tip.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Kinda sounds like what Dominique Loreau suggests in <a href="https://amzn.to/2xMvRhU" target="_blank">L'art de la simplicité (How to live more with less)</a>, doesn't it?<br />
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What is your minimalist grooming equipment? Let me know in the comments section! <br />
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If you liked this post, please subscribe and share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest! Thanks for reading!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6357800555928600901.post-90674682366775320632012-09-01T16:19:00.000-04:002018-06-06T10:18:09.848-04:00Simplify your life: handkerchiefsHave you noticed how these days, people are reverting back to habits from another time? A lot of people will go buy food in bulk, make their own clothes, and so on, in an attempt either to simplify their lives or to pay less for the same items.<br />
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One of the things that our parents and grandparents used to have, that I think is genius, is <a href="https://amzn.to/2JduLRq" target="_blank">handkerchiefs</a>. I know some of you might think<br />
<a name='more'></a>that it's disgusting, and you have to spend time washing them, and it's wasting water/electricity, but really, let me talk about the upside of having a few handkerchiefs at home.<br />
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- You never have to go buy tissues again<br />
- You wash your hanky with the rest of the clothes, so no need for an extra load (it takes virtually no space at all)<br />
- It dries on the line in just a few hours<br />
- It is really cheap to buy<br />
- It'll last a lifetime (more or less)<br />
- You don't have to spend time/money buying tissues that you throw away immediately after using them<br />
- You don't need to clutter your cabinets/space storing up tissues <br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>But most importantly, and that is what did it for me: IT WON'T MAKE YOUR NOSE SORE! When you are sick, you can blow your nose as much as you want, it won't irritate your skin.</b></span><br />
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Tissues on the other hand... In the winter I always get sick. After using 5 tissues an hour, my nose started to hurt. At 10, my skin started to peel off. After that, it would burn at night. Then, out of curiosity, I tried handkerchiefs: I never needed to apply cream on my sore, peeling nose ever again.<br />
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And after the first couple of bucks, the hanky is free forever! If it helps, my husband, who comes from a germophobic household, tried them and LOVED THEM. He would never revert back to tissues! Hankies make your life simple, less complicated!<br />
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Try using <a href="https://amzn.to/2JduLRq" target="_blank">handkerchiefs</a> and tell me what you think in the comments! <br />
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If you liked this post, please subscribe and share on Facebook! Thanks for reading!mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09631704271558302973noreply@blogger.com0