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Simple Living Mamas Tribe! - Page 12

post #221 of 239
11/26/08 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chanibell View Post
Right now, we are planning on giving my son a " big boy bed" and decorating his room in a Spider Man theme. My husband is a cartoonist so he's going to draw on the walls. I'm going to make the curtains and probably sell a bunch of things on eBay to pay for sheets and a blanket.
Very cool! I have been slowly transitioning DS's room from babyhood to toddlerhood. I painted animals and framed them for his baby room and it had a "safari" sort of theme.

Right now he is into "planes, trains, and automobiles", so I plan to paint clouds on the light blue walls and hang kites and airplanes from the ceiling (I haven't done it yet, but I have all the supplies to do it soon). I have made some new artwork. I can't paint cars, but I painted scenery, then carefully cut out photos of his grandparents kayaking, DH on his motorcycle, and his other grandparents off-roading in their Jeep and added them to the painting. I think the result is really cool and DS was excited when I framed them (I'll try to add a photo link when I get a chance). I sewed shear curtains with fabric that is a blue sky with puffy white clouds. I also found some "cloud" sheets at the thrift store for a couple bucks. Eventually we will convert his toddler bed into a full-size bed...but this may be a couple months away. I've got to save up for a mattress first.
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post #222 of 239
11/28/08 at 1:08am
We never buy anything new (except for underwear and socks). However, we have everything we need and then some. We need to stop going to the thrift store to see what bargains we can find. Just because something is second-hand and a great deal doesn't mean we should get it. It's become entertainment for us to go there. So we need to stop that and finish going through what we already have. Next year we will have a food garden. We are also trying to be aware of everything we do-as to whether it's wasteful. Wasting our time, energy, money, earths resouces, etc....I think living simply is an ongoing journey and constant battle at times.
post #223 of 239
11/28/08 at 8:03pm
Subbing! Great thread!
post #224 of 239
11/29/08 at 11:57am
I'm subbing now and slowly, slowly making my way through this thread (not much time these days!).

We are a family of almost 6 (babe #4 should be earth-side very, very soon). At around 1300 sq ft, our house is HUGE compared to what we were living in just a year ago. With the extra size, we also seem to have accumulated a lot of random little things that I don't necessarily want about. Where does it come from anyway?!? I'm nesting these days and trying to par down, reorganize and generally make things more home-y.

I think that we live very mindfully in general. Due to circumstances, we are really, really strapped financially right now and needing to be even more creative with repurposing things and making due with what we have. It's a little scary, but also kind of exciting in an odd way. It's kind of a thrill to be able to create and care for ourselves with little means.
post #225 of 239
11/29/08 at 9:37pm
Thread Starter 
I've asked before (somewhere around here) but I want to throw this out there again- is anyone interested in starting a Simple Living/Voluntary Simplicity blogring?
Blogs so inspire me and having a blogring with all the SL mamas would just rock!
post #226 of 239
12/9/08 at 3:38pm
subbing --- and continuing to live in intentionally-simple ways...
post #227 of 239
12/9/08 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 
What's everyone's plans for the holidays?
post #228 of 239
12/9/08 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by magstphil View Post
I've asked before (somewhere around here) but I want to throw this out there again- is anyone interested in starting a Simple Living/Voluntary Simplicity blogring?
Blogs so inspire me and having a blogring with all the SL mamas would just rock!
Yes!
post #229 of 239
12/9/08 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by magstphil View Post
What's everyone's plans for the holidays?
Finances are really tight this year, so I'm looking forward to a reasonable Christmas with no presents charged to credit cards! Usually we have way too big an influx of STUFF, and I'm hoping that will be less of an issue this year. (A benefit of the economic downturn?)

I don't like rolling out and cutting sugar cookies, so we bought some break apart cookie dough and made round cookies that ds decorated. We're also going to try something new and make a gingerbread house from a kit.

We're going to look at Christmas lights this week--2 weeks before Christmas--instead of close to Christmas when everyone is out looking at lights. Less traffic stress.

I love turning off all the lights and watching the Christmas tree lights at night. It's a peaceful, happy ritual for me.
post #230 of 239
12/10/08 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by magstphil View Post
I've asked before (somewhere around here) but I want to throw this out there again- is anyone interested in starting a Simple Living/Voluntary Simplicity blogring?
Blogs so inspire me and having a blogring with all the SL mamas would just rock!
I'll start a thread to see if there's enough interest.
post #231 of 239
12/10/08 at 9:51pm
I'm going to have to come back here and read everything on this this thread shortly.

I'm pretty new to the core ideals of simplicity. That doesn't mean I'm new to frugality or being environmentally friendly, per say, but that I think I'm finally ready to take things to another level. It started out because I realized just how much I need to get my financial issues together-I'm someone that can nickel and dime herself into a serious hole if I'm not careful and do the thrift/spend cycle like there's no tomorrow. Then ontop of that I read the book Affluenza, which I highly recommend. I realized that while I thought I was doing really well, there are some things that could definitely use improving and I'd be a lot happier and healthier in the long run if I made some changes. I've been going through my house and making a big purge (at the same time I want to stop this, I'm pretty good at not being a hoarder, but I want to stop the buying just to get rid of it cycle all together). I'm doing a compact year with a group on another forum I frequent. I also recently donated a lot of cosmetics so that when I use up the last of these ones I really enjoy I'll be able to buy all earth friendly and hopefully local products (I'm also hoping to have my mom teach me to make soaps as well). It's getting easier to stay out of stores, and easier to spend my time crafting and reading, and cooking.

I came up with an ideal budget for my family, which actually includes charity donations and savings! I'll be having our first child any time now, and I really want to make these changes and improvements so that I can be a better model for our daughter.
post #232 of 239
12/11/08 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeldabee View Post
Subbing.
what does this mean? thanks!
post #233 of 239
12/11/08 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommabeehilly View Post
what does this mean? thanks!
Subscribing to the thread.
post #234 of 239
12/11/08 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boogiemonster View Post
Subscribing to the thread.
ooh thanks. yeah, me too.... subbing!

want to learn more about simplifying. i found a great book but it's huge. seemed sort of silly to buy a big book on simplifying . oh the irony.

can't wait to learn more!

do folks have some resolutions regarding simplifying? i'd love to hear what they are.
post #235 of 239
12/12/08 at 9:19am
I do have some resolutions, but basically it's about embracing simplicity and a more sustainable life, financially and environmentally. My resolutions include sticking to our ideal budget and hopefully even improving on it, buying only local our secondhand products (within reason, of course, but buying the most environmentally friendly at all times), learning to be more self sufficient, and doing volunteer work (I think that getting your mind in the right place greatly helps kill that affluenza bug, kwim?)
post #236 of 239
12/12/08 at 2:31pm
I have been working this whole year on decluttering our house. It really all started because life was so complicated and frustrating. I am so much happier now that I can actually live in my house comfortably. I still have some final touches to do and I am striving to do that before we go to my parents for Christmas. I need to get rid of some of the girls toys, a few more unused clothes, and I think that I am going to completely redo my kitchen storage and get rid of some stuff that we really do no use and will not use.

I really felt good a few weeks ago when a neighbor came over and complimented how cleaned and organized my house was. The girls still had toys on the floor that they were playing with and my house was not spotless, but it looked and feels good because because we had simplified and gotten rid of so many things.

I just can't wait until I feel like I am more in maintenance mode.
post #237 of 239
12/13/08 at 5:41am
I got a lot of organizing done today, and I didn't even set out to! I have a short list on things I want to accomplish before baby makes three-basically some much needed housekeeping, nothing major. One thing on my list was to put up the laundry. Well, it turned into me doing a major purge and reorganization. I put a lot of pre pregnancy clothes up (since baby dropped I can fit into most of my old clothes-yay for that!) and then it turned into generally looking at my wardrobe, etc. I got rid of a huge box of clothes-I'm letting my family look through it and then it goes to the mission. I also ended up giving up my drawer in our dresser to put all of my clothes neatly in the closet-now I see exactly what I have and hubs has some more room for his stuff.

I also managed to get rid of a few other odds and ends I saw in the closet, go through my craft and recipes folders (they were in the closet, but now are moved to more proper places-eventually I want to find a more suitable organization of them, but getting rid of tons of unneeded paper was a great feeling!) and address the Christmas cards I'm doing a swap with. I feel really good about my day! Now I'll probably head to bed and read some more about simplicity and getting back to basics!
post #238 of 239
12/15/08 at 8:40pm
Thread Starter 
My resolution is to focus on simplicity and keep thinking I need to buy xyz and more importantly QUIT BUYING IT!!!!! It will mostly be an exercise of will power.
post #239 of 239
12/16/08 at 11:25am
*subbing*