We own what??? Confessions of a "collector"

I like to collect things...or rather, when something comes into the house, there is a pretty good chance it has found a permanent home. To be fair, I am not an "A and E Special" type of collector.  Once I get a hobby...I do not know half measures.  I started card making and ended up being considered a
retailer when I sent in an order to Chatterbox. I love to "collect" but then I hate to use.  The same goes for fabric and yarn.  I have been reading many blogs on minimalism and simplifying.  I have reached that point that I want to, or rather, I NEED to purge.  I just woke up today and said enough READING about it just DO IT.  It is not rocket science folks.    I have a TINY kitchen.  We live in a log cabin (pretty romantic idea isn't it?) that was originally built as a hunting camp.  The kitchen has not changed except I have painted the plywood cupboards (green), the logs (white) and have brought in a hoosier cabinet for storage.  I designed an island for the center for....you guessed it...more storage.  My goal? I wanted to get rid of 100 items.  I achieved that in the first hour.  I had no idea that I had a candy thermometer and a battery operated drink mixer.  We also had a battery operated steak tester.  Really? We have not used any of them and I was oblivious to the fact that they were taking up valuable real estate in a very limited market.  They were bringing no joy to my life. They added nothing except frustration that they had been there all of this time and we DID NOT KNOW. They will begetting a new home soon as they ended up in a box labelled "donations".  They will be headed to our island home this weekend and will be on a table at the church rummage sale.  I am sure it will end up in the back of a drawer again. 

The nice thing about goals is that they can be revised, nothing is set in stone.  Looking at the garbage can and the donations box, I think 300 is doable. Unlabelled bags of spices from Bulk Barn, recipes ripped out of magazines (I now take pictures with my IPad), random keys, Christmas lights....banished!

Do you have a room that has become your nemesis?  If not a room, a drawer....bedside table?  Start small.  Don't make goals so large and all encompassing that you set yourself up to fail.

Just start!

Amateur Hour

I have been reading blogs for a number of years....mainly on living simply, getting finances in order, life hacks, decorating, fitness and food.  Many of the bloggers do it professionally and that just did not ring true to me.  Most of us are working everyday jobs....have family commitments, try to fit in a work out....screw up and start again the next day....no sponsors....writing is a side passion, not our job.  I have been sharing financial tips, decorating tips and simple living goals with my co workers for years - it is something that I love to do. 

I am a teacher, a wife, a friend, and a student of life.  With my husband we have purchased two island homes and renovated them.....not the make overs that you see in magazines....no architect....no decorator....it was a LOT of sweat equity, imagination and not a lot of money.  I want to share those ideas as well. 

Do my goals include having a million dollars in the bank by the time I retire....ummm NO!  That is just not realistic. I don't want to have to have to worry about money when I retire.   I budget...I track all of our money.  I contribute a token amount to an RRSP each month and I have a pension but I am not a financial expert...we owe on mortgages and lines of credit.  The important thing is that we work on it.

So, please join me in this quest for "perfection" in all areas of life.  I know that at 48 I have learned a lot and have a lot left to learn.  I am task oriented....must be the teacher in me.  I need accountability and that is where the blog comes in.

I have been doing a lot of soul searching this summer and have taken stock of my life.  I have plans and goals, both short and long term....the hardest part is to just start....