Day 287: The Pantry

I am blessed to have a closet-like pantry in my kitchen. It is deep, so the items in the back are WAY back. Today I am going to venture into those recesses and see what is lurking back there that doesn't need to stay. I did already find a packaged Hickory Farms cheese spread from last Christmas and threw that away today.

Day 286: Purses, Handbags

As with mugs, how many purses or handbags does a person need? It used to be a major faux paux back in the 50's and 60's if your bag didn't match your shoes. Now, not so much. Purses are definitely marketed to have a different one to go with various outfits, but usually as a contrast. It's a cute idea, but they take up a lot of space and the transferring of "stuff" between purses is bothersome.

I'm getting rid of one purse today. The zipper keeps stripping, so it doesn't stay shut and I really want to keep my money safe (all $2.35) :)

Think about your collection. Can you get rid of any? Any old wallets while we're at it?

Day 285: Camping Gear

At a time in our lives, we were camping enthusiasts. The open air and Appalachian trails called to us. After a few experiences in campgrounds where drunk neighbors hooked up their VCR to an electrical outlet and watched loud movies 15 feet from our tent, college students played bongo drums well into the night, etc., camping didn't hold the same allure for me.

My husband took my son and his friend to a hike-in camping place last weekend. To get the gear, they dove into the closet-under-the-stairs I had organized so carefully last winter. They were able to find all they needed and some dispensible items . We threw away some things that were well past their prime, and thus simplified the camping gear.

They had a great time. Maybe beer cases or drums are too heavy to carry while hiking and this will be a spot I can happily camp now.

Day 284: One Per Day

My aunt just made great use of 1-800-GOTJUNK in her quest to ready their home for selling/moving. She simplified in a big way in one day. Sometimes, that is definitely the way to go!

Other times, it's the habit we are establishing to get rid of one thing per day (at least!) that also helps us simplify. Today two shirts of my husband's went into the give away bin.

Day 283: Spices

I realize that I am returning to spots in the house, but 365 days is a long time and things get overlooked the first pass-through. In digging through my spices, I found coriander...quite a large jar. I don't think I have used it in years; in fact, I can't even remember a recipe that calls for it. So, to be fair, I'll look up "Recipes using coriander" on the Internet. If nothing looks appealing, out it goes. I also threw out some very old colored sugar used for decorating cookies.

Day 282: Closets

Once again, I took quite a few clothes to Goodwill from my daughter's closet (with her permission.) It's amazing how many items a person doesn't want when he/she has time to go through closets. If you have kids at home still, encourage a closet purge sometime soon. If there is a husband, carefully encourage the same thing!

Day 281: Files

It's a day for purging more files. I couldn't bring myself to throw away my dog's file for awhile after he died, but it's OK now. My fond memories of him are not tied up in his veterinary records. My daughter's high school information, code of conduct, etc. can be tossed now that she's in college. It's sometimes a little bittersweet to purge, but I know that releasing unneeded stuff helps me live in the 'now' and look forward to new opportunities in the future.