Poster:	sweetcharity
Date:	2008-01-29 10:53
Subject:	Guiding Rule: Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper

Henry David Thoreau
~Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify! ... Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.~

This of course is one of my top priorities this year. It ties in nicely with the Buy Nothing New plan.
The thing is I'm a Libran.
We like to surround ourselves with beautiful things. Books, art, framed photos of family and friends, beautiful gifts that have been handmade just for us. My house is full of these things. I am also a very visual person. I have to be able to see these things. They lift my spirits.



~To keep a house clean with minimal effort, the guiding rule is to simplify as much as possible. The less you have, the less you have to keep clean and put away.~

So the first step in a minimalist cleaning routine is the hardest: declutter as much as possible, so that you only have the things you use often and love to death, and no more. For me, that's still a lot.

 clut·ter
1.a disorderly heap or assemblage; litter: a jumble:
2.a state or condition of confusion

They are not clutter. They were purposely placed. A place for everything and everything in it's place. If I were to pack them away I could not enjoy them. These are all things that bring me great joy.

This really isn't a problem as keeping house is now my job and my hobby. Perhaps if I was still working outside the home I would feel differently or even if my children were still young.

~Our life is frittered away by detail. ~


~Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; ........ instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.~ (forgive me, I chopped this quote up in order to use what most pertains to this post)

Okay now this I can and have done. At one time I only allowed 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 cup per person .That was back when I was working full time and raising a family. Since then my cupboards have once again become full with excess. I will be working on that this week.

~An uncluttered room, with only furniture on the floor, is extremely easy to clean.~

Yeah, And it is also cold and boring. It's never going to happen around here. I can skip this one ;) 

Fewer clothes means you have fewer things to put away and to wash. Sure,if you have lots of clothes, you can go longer without having to wash, letting the clothes pile up into a huge Fuji-like mountain. But who wants to face that mountain when you run out of clothes to wear?

Poster:	kittenspeaks
Date:	2007-12-27 04:14
Subject:	Home make over?
Security:	Public

Best decor and dwelling advice ever? Let someone else do the work and fund it for you. I found the perfect contest and sadly, I can't enter and it is killing me. I would love to see this won by someone really creative and colorful. Besides, who couldn’t use a 50,000.00 home make over.

This is a contest with The Style Network and Niecy Nash. It is the search for The Messiest Home in America. They ran this last year and only redid one room. This year they are doing the whole house. (And yes, I am hating it that I can’t enter.) It’s super easy to enter. You make a video of your home and family that is 1-5 min. Mail it or upload it along with sending in the entry form. Wahllah!

Here is the video that was submitted by last year’s winner.

Last year there were only 50 entries. My last update (just before Christmas) was that there were only about 5 entries so far for this year so you stand a REALLY GOOD chance of winning.

Anyway, check out some of the videos and then enter on your own. Clear some clutter and support your habit.
Happy Holidays every one.
Oh, and if anyone wins I want to move in with you after it is done. ;-)

Poster:	honeybunch2
Date:	2007-01-01 13:32
Subject:	Kitchen Chair covers...
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious

I am desperately looking for a simple pattern to make nice chair covers for our diningroom set. Not too formal. But something that will cover the seats and the back. We just got a new diningroom set and the seat covers are WHITE! I have 2 kids - ages 5 and 18 months...white seats will not work.
Any ideas?

Poster:	redruby77
Date:	2006-10-01 09:35
Subject:
Security:	Public

Ok, so stupidly i offered to make thankgiving dinner for my pickey inlaws...
BUt i have no idea what to do.
my hubby can make the turkey but i am looking for different ideas for other stuff.
or just different ideas. (they think i am a moron...)

Thx guys!!

Poster:	write_a_way
Date:	2006-05-23 00:49
Subject:	clutter and organization
Security:	Public

I wrote a 3-part series on clutter & organization if anyone is curious. I have them posted in a new website that I am writing for. The info and links are posted in my Lj: http://write-a-way.livejournal.com/578.html
Hope it motivates you to cut your clutter and free up space in your place! :)

Poster:	johannab
Date:	2005-10-12 15:33
Subject:	I apologize
Security:	Public

Hello everyone -

I just wanted to make an apology. I misspoke in my first post - referring to everyone as "ladies". I'm sincerely sorry. I also did not mean to come across as a spammer. I am new to posting - I was just trying to introduce myself - but when I read my post again - it does sound like commercial! So I will try again: I am a candle designer and I do have a live journal named: livejournal/users/johannab I started this journal to talk about creative candle designs and to let people share their ideas with me and if you ever need any tips about caring for your candles, burning tips, etc. I will be happy to share with you any knowledge I may have on the subject.

Best wishes,
Johanna

Poster:	novemberstorms
Date:	2005-07-27 22:18
Subject:	question on glass shower doors!
Security:	Public

Question:
My friend cannot get her glass shower doors clean. Can I just say the doors are really gross! There is such a build up of scum on them. I guess she has tried several bath tub cleaners with no luck. This is why I am asking: we are buying the house ...and we are really grossed out by this shower. The best part of this bathroom is we have a huge corner jacuzzi tub for two!
Anyone have any suggestions in how to remove it?

Thanks!

Poster:	crinklenose
Date:	2005-07-22 23:43
Subject:	Cooking for one
Security:	Public

Does anyone know any good recipe books/recipes/ways to find recipes and recipe books for cooking for one?

Poster:	novemberstorms
Date:	2005-07-16 23:44
Subject:	question on painting and Earth Elements-type paint
Security:	Public

Has anyone seen the Earth Elements interior paint at Lowes? They have a gold granite crystals you can add to your paint.

So my question is I am looking for a type of interior paint that has the same effect but with silver sparkles/crystals:

Does anyone know of a technique or type of paint I can buy? We are painting my daughter's room a light periwinkle and stenciling silver metallic dragonflies on it. I am looking for something to add to the periwinkle paint.

Thanks!

Poster:	apeiron_gaia
Date:	2005-04-14 10:45
Subject:
Security:	Public

I want to paint in gold the japanese tree with blossom kind of pattern on my intertainment center. Does anyone have any clue what I am talking about?

Does anyone know where I can find it online as a reference?

Thanks.

Poster:	redruby77
Date:	2005-04-11 06:40
Subject:	This isn't INSIDE the house but still its decorating!
Security:	Public
Mood:	drained

This is my front porch. HORRIBLE isn't it? That is what i see outside my door. i would LOVE for it to look amazing....What can I do to clean it up? to make it nicer?? anyone? (i'm under a huge deck so its dark...)

( Read more...Collapse )

Poster:	onepickylady
Date:	2005-02-11 14:17
Subject:	Mali Flex futon
Security:	Public

I am looking for an inexpensive futon to replace the couch in my studio apartment. I have seen (online only) the Mali Flex Futon (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3371999) but can not find any reviews. Does anyone have it or has seen it? Sat on it? Is it comfortable and sturdy? I am always wary of metal futons...

Poster:	impdujour
Date:	2005-01-19 13:43
Subject:	Help Really Regretting my retro look
Security:	Public

Hi,
I have a black and white tiled floor in my kitchen. I am sort of in the phase WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! Because it is hard to keep clean especially now that its winter and the dogs track in mud. I cant seem to train them to wipe their feet before coming in so I am wondering if there is a product out there that I can put on the tiles to make cleaning easier so that it just wipes off?
Any clue?

Poster:	kaolinfire
Date:	2004-12-22 15:04
Subject:	simple animal patterns for free
Security:	Public

http://rockmage.com/ has a bunch of (2d) animal patterns you can use as a basis for toys/gifts/stencils/etc. Thought I'd share :)

sample, downsized:



There are also sample images on the site of the patterns cut out in plastic, wood, and rock.

I figure there's a million and one things a community like this can do with them... :)

Poster:	sweetcharity
Date:	2004-11-18 10:21
Subject:	Painted Jars
Security:	Public

If anyone is looking for a simple craft idea for xmas, these jars are easy to make, inexpensive (I just rinse out old food jars instead of throwing them away) and can be used for a variety of things.


Clean and remove the glue (nail polish remover works great!) from each jar.

Paint two coats of brown paint on the jar and lid. Let dry over night.

Lightly trace the face and paint in the facial features with black and white paints.

Paint cheeks with watered down pink paint.

Seal with an acrylic spray.





*cross posted to myhappyhome

( More painted jar ideasCollapse )

Poster:	bettierocksit
Date:	2004-11-12 10:49
Subject:	Christmas Shopping??
Security:	Public

You might want to consider helping out the Grand Valley State University's Russian Circle WHILE you are Christmas shopping.

All you have to do is go to www.4myfundraiser.com and click on the huge red icon. Our code is 494357.

Then you can shop the online fundraising catalog for hundreds of interesting products including holiday items, candles, foods, Campbell's and Hershey's cookbooks, gift wrap, etc.

Shipping is FREE and the Russian Circle will benefit from every single purchase that you make.

(once you enter the website, you have no obligation to purchase anything whatsoever so go visit it and enter in our code just to browse. you might find something unexpected. I bought my brother a Spongebob Squarepants alarm clock...)

Thanks!

Poster:	knight_rider
Date:	2004-10-21 18:56
Subject:	Hard Boiled Eggs
Security:	Public
Mood:	full

Does anyone know how long hard boiled eggs stay good for? I'm throwing a Bridal Shower this Saturday and have decided to make Deviled Eggs (I bought a cool Tupperware container for them that I want to show off). But I want to have them ready to slice/mix/scoop and sprinkle with paprika on Saturday. But I don't want a bunch of bad eggs two hours before the shower. So can I boil them tonight to save until Saturday? Please Help!