Too much Storage

My kitchen at my new place is huge. It's approximately four times the size of my previous kitchen.

There is too much storage. And too much storage is a Minimalist's nightmare!

It's all too easy to put away things, and forget about it...all the things I never use.

I have 8 (yes, seriously!) overhead kitchen cabinets, not to mention the storage underneath the benchtops. What do we need and what do we own, that we need so much storage?
Popcorn machine?
Juicer?
Deep fryer?

I have some beautiful handmade teacups that I am "Storing". I bought them from a small art gallery in Congo down the NSW coast. They are very beautiful. I am "storing" them because I can't actually use them. The teacups get too hot with tea in them. Go figure.

So what do I do with them?

This is what I mean by too much storage.

Simple & Beautiful

Simple decoration for my Home. Roses from the Garden.

What the Kids said...

From the Black Book of Quotes. May.

Ethan: Mum, so when you turn 38, will you be going to a Nursing Home?
Mum: ????

Ethan: I am 6, Maddie is 3, and Sam is 0. Not old enough to be a Pest.
Mum: (I never call my children pests!!) : /

Sammy wearing a lovely blue & white striped Bonds Wondersuit.
Ethan: Mum, why is Sam in a tea towel?

Mum: Maddie, go and put some socks on please.
Maddie: But Mum, there's only 1, 1, 1, 1, 1... (meaning no pairs, only 1 of each sock in drawer).

I need to do something about the Play Room

We have a Play Room which is sort of a Living Room as well as a thoroughfare. It's hard to keep this space tidy as I don't have any storage facility except three bookcases.

I've edited and edited but to no avail.

I've come to the conclusion that the only solution is to buy a small low-line white storage cupboard. Or credenza, or sideboard. I would like to HIDE everything in them...books, toys, craft materials, pencils, puzzles, paper, tins, marbles, games etc.

I can't keep the bookshelves tidy and looking good, so they can all go into the cupboard and I can just CLOSE the doors.

Now, where do I source these white storage cupboards? If they can cost under $4000 and be hand-made in Finland, in oak, and of modernist design, that would be perfect. :p

One Room At a Time

I am trying not to feel overwhelmed and trying to maintain motivation with the Decluttering process. I really am not good at Stuff Management.

One room at a time...

This is Maddie's room. My lovely middle child and my only daughter. I bought some Chinese paper lanterns for some simple decorating.

The Cambridge Satchel Company

I have bought myself a lovely pink Cambridge satchel bag.

I know this blog is about Minimising Things...but I have a few foibles...

It was time to upgrade from my $7.70 brown leather op-shop shoulder satchel, to a pink, leather, hand-made, made in England Absolute Beauty.

Thank you strong Aussie $!!

Max It Out at Three

Three Cameras.

Three Telephones.

Three Tea Tins.

Mini collections I started before I embraced Minimalism. But that's where the Collection Ends. Maxing it out at Three.

While the cats are away...

While the kids are away, Mummy gets to play and donate boxes to the Op-shop.

I know the ideal situation is to go through each toy box with them and use it as a teaching opportunity to donate things, blah blah blah.

QUICK. In the box.

Gone!!!

Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

I'm not a great cook.

Unfortunately for me, I was a lazy child and never learnt from my Mum when I lived in home.

 Here are four ingredients you need for a simple soup:

:: fish sauce
:: yummy pink salt
:: soy sauce (specifically made for soups)
:: cracked pepper

 With some garlic and chicken thigh, you can make a quick Chicken Noodle Soup in half an hour. 

Recipe from my great-cook-friend Grace.

Ingredients: 
4 cloves of garlic
2-3 pieces of chicken (I use thigh, but you can also use drumsticks)
Lots of water
Dried noodle sticks (udon)
Fish sauce
Soy sauce
Salt & Pepper
Shallots sliced (optional)

Method:
1. Boil garlic and chicken in a big pot of water. Until chicken is cooked.
2. Remove the chicken from the water. Rip into strips.
3. Add a bit of fish sauce, soy sauce and salt & pepper. To taste.
4. Cook noodles in the above soup. Until al dente.
5. Serve noodles in a bowl with soup. Add shredded chicken. 
6. If you have shallots, sprinkle on top.

 Voila!!