Minimalist Bathroom

You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff I have in the bathroom. And I'm not a girly, cream, make-up sort of person!! It scares me how much you can accumulate in a short period of time. I have been in this house a couple of months and I thought I decluttered a lot of stuff when I moved.

Really, what do I need?

cleanser & moisturiser
sunscreen
soap
toothpaste & toothbrush & floss
shampoo & conditioner
a little bit of make-up (I am, after all, over 30!!)

Instead, I have:
(see picture)

I really have to do something about this insane amount of stuff in the bathroom.

Keep It Simple!!

Things You Can Borrow

I was going to put up on Facebook recently all the pictures of dresses I currently own and title it, "Things you can borrow". The idea of owning 27 dresses because we go to a wedding twice a year is ludicrous and wasteful to me.

We all own about 6 (or more!!) and if we pooled our resources, we don't have to keep buying! Just share.

Things you can borrow from me:

1. Dresses - I have a few nice black ones, and a bright blue chong-sam. I'm size 10.

2. Books - lots of parenting books. 19.

3. Toys - actually you can take some. Please.

4. Interior magazines - I think I will donate these soon to a dentist friend at church. For his reception.

5. Coats - dark green, leather, houndstooth, black, camel, and grey. For winter weddings, to go with the dresses. As you can see, I still have a lot of decluttering to do.

You* are more than welcome to BORROW. If I am helping someone to consume less, spend less, and store less stuff...and my stuff gets used instead, I will be a very happy person indeed!

*You: meaning we are friends, and I know you, and your phone no. and you will probably return my things!

Slow Down

This story is from zen habits by Leo Babauta. I don't know how it relates to Minimalism exactly...but I like this idea. Thinking about others. Minimising stress and constant hurried-ness, I guess...

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn’t say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, “Do you have a fixed parking space? I’ve noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot.” To which he replied, “Since we’re here early we’ll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don’t you think? Imagine my face.

My Husband does not want me to talk to you!

...is what a friend told me this morning at church!!! HAHAHAHA

Ladies, PLEASE ask your husband's permission first before you throw/recycle/donate anything! I understand that his gross, disgusting, holey shirt back from uni days needs to go (not even worth using as a rag) but still, it's his property! :)

Some tips if you are married to a non-minimalist:

1. Give him a one in one out rule. My wise mother-in-law applies this with boats. My Good Husband has applied this to himself. Now he is donating his spare bike to his dad. And just keeping one. (A very good, expensive, good-looking one).

2. Designate a room/corner/garage where he can keep his mess. I'm not going to bother you there!

3. Kindly offer to declutter for him :)

4. Space is limited. Explain the logic - you can't just keep adding to your socks drawer, the space doesn't magically expand with more purchasing - again Rule #1 applies here. You've got some new socks, throw some old ones out!

5. Give him a limit and ask him to stick to it. He likes jeans? Please keep it to 8 pairs. (Really, 1 is good, but I guess you can't expect him to become a Minimalist overnight). He likes suits? He can probably get by with 6. My husband has a growing t shirt collection. He has about 28. But he only wears his favourite four or five. Now how do I encourage him to ditch the rest?!

6. Practise what you preach - I'm talking to myself here. I can't nag Husband about his clutter if I haven't done anything about my piles of books and papers. Get sorted, Glorya!

Cleaning out your undies drawer

I cleaned out my Bedside table. Boy, it was good!!!!

I threw out all the socks with holes in them. And the too-stretched ones. I threw out all the undies that I no longer wear (uncomfortable, hole-y). Now I only own big, cotton, very attractive, granny undies. 8.

My bedside table is now very Neat and Tidy. It definitely appeals to my slight OCD streak... everything is folded and in their little corner. I love it.

I do however own about 88 hankies. But I think at this stage of my life (little kiddies), I need every single one of them. I tell myself, this is instead of buying boxes of tissues (wasteful and un-green).

So I will make room in my heart to store the 88 hankies for now.

The more you throw out, the easier it gets...

I am finding that it is getting easier to Let Go of Stuff.

The pair of jeans I've been holding on just in case I get down a size...the silk pjs I got for Mother's Day but never wore...

It's hard to throw it out when you start thinking too much about it. I bought those jeans on ebay for $$, the pjs were a present for me...etc etc

I can think up all sorts of reasons why I should hold onto them. But the reality is, if I am not using them, I'm just storing them! And...someone else can use them.

The more I throw out, the easier it gets.

And after a few weeks, I can't remember them or think to miss them! All I'm enjoying now, is the extra clean space in my wardrobe. Clutter free!

You do get better at it - try it, and become ruthless :)

Most Precious Item

Besides grabbing the kids and the cat* if there's a fire in the house, I would grab these: my moleskins.

I have written in these since E was born (five years ago), all the funny things he has said, all the different stages of growing up, all the things we have done together as a Family. I have continued the tradition with M, now two.

These are precious. And what I would save from the fire.

All the other things, I can walk away from. Sure I will miss my shoes...and my books...and my 1950s furniture. But those can be replaced.

This is, I feel, one big benefit of Minimalism: I don't have huge dilemmas about Stuff. I don't feel like I have a big attachment to Things.

This is part of my Christian worldview too - I look forward to a new Heaven and a new earth. I don't want to live for Stuff. And spend time worrying about Stuff.

Jesus says, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

From the book of Matthew. Chapter 6.

*This is assuming Husband is either at work, or can save himself! I would grab him too if I needed to :)