My closet overfloweth

After reading the book The 100 Thing Challenge and reading about Lina's 200 thing challenge I decided it was high time I tackled more of my stuff. I have already donated and given away much of my things during my last purge but I feel the need to clear out even more.

I vary from the norm of most young adults as my life dreams don't involve a large house or even an average house (about 2,300 square feet in the U.S.) and I don't have much desire to buy things. My generation seems to follow in the footsteps of the one before us by focusing on stuff. I have peers who go shopping every weekend but I can hardly remember the last time I bought something while shopping. I think it was at our farmer's market where I bought a baseball shirt with a tractor on it from the info booth. I'd been coveting that shirt since last spring when they ran out of my size.

Needless to say, I'm very picky about what I buy now. I didn't used to be, especially in middle school. But, I've grown to know my style and better be able to predict whether I'll actually wear something before I buy it. As a result, my wardrobe has reduced way down in size. Last weekend I did an official count and (counting socks and underwear as one each) found that I have 201 things just in my wardrobe. That sure sounds like a lot to me, especially when people are living with just 100 things by choice and often much less by necessity.

Here is my clothing breakdown:

• Undergarments- 11 items
• Accessories (not including jewelry)- 42
• Dresses (including formal)- 13
• Tops- 45
• Pants- 7
• Shorts- 6
• Skirts- 5
• Exercise clothes- 14
• Sweaters- 12
• Outer wear- 7
• Pajama- 11
• Swim wear- 8
• Shoes- 22

A few notes on the list above: I counted my exercise and regular black socks as one total item, but my knee socks as individual items because they are more like accessories. I did not count the amazing jacket that I "borrow" from my mom to bike in because it does belong to her and I'm "not allowed" to take it to college. I also did not count the sweater and sweatshirt that I have been long-term "borrowing" from my significant mister since they also do not truly belong to me and will be begrudgingly returned before I leave for college. 

So basically, I have too much. Who needs 45 tops or 12 sweaters or 21 pairs of shoes? I'm pretty sure I don't. Stay with me as I attempt to significantly pare down this list. It should be exciting. Anyone in the market for some clothes? I definitely  have enough to share. 

Enjoy today,

Addie

*Update: read about my first box of clothes out the door here

Feeling the love

As you know, a few weekends ago I visited Portland for a weekend of tiny house dreaming, scheming, and learning. There, I met lots of wonderful people who shared my passion for living tiny. One of those people is Lina, a graduate student in Portland who lived in the same tiny house that I visited and now lives in a yurt as she prepares to start her build.

I think Lina is super cool and she'll for sure be invited to the grand reveal of my tiny home in the future. She even has a blog (like me!) where she writes about living tiny. Visit it at This Is The Little Life for some great writing and inspiration!

While in Portland, Lina admired my etched mason jar that I use as a to-go drink container. I sent her one as a thank-you for the wonderful weekend and she wrote this glowing review of her new jar (and me too)! I'm definitely feeling the tiny house community love. She also wrote this post about the Portland workshop (I'm hiding in the back of the group picture!).

Lina's new jar!

I strongly recommend that you check out Lina's blog here, as it has become an instant favorite of mine. Also, if you would like to check out my jars (and maybe help fund my tiny house dreams!) visit my Etsy site here.

My jar at fancy hotel for my good friend's birthday. Making tea with the in-room coffee pot and using my jar cozy is one of my favorite things to do when away from home!

Lina also inspired me with her 200 things challenge to continue to tackle my stuff. I decided to start with my closet and discovered that I have 200 things just in my wardrobe (socks and underwear count as one each). Uh oh. Read more about my journey to pare down my wardrobe... coming soon! *Update: read about my great closet overhaul here

Enjoy today,
Addie

DIY: Cord station

Everyone has it. That big, unruly tangle of chargers and cords and headphones that never finds a proper home. It's almost impossible to organize a tangled clump of electronics. I came up with this simple project and completed it within a few hours- problem solved.

                    

What you need

• Thin wood (found near 2x4s and such, I think labeled as craft wood)
• Screw gun and a screw
• Small nails
• Vinyl decals (I made my own with my scrapbook craft cutter, but you could find them online or draw/paint something onto the wood)

What you do:

• Coil all of the cords you want to organize and lay them along the wood. Mark with a pencil where the nails are going to go
• Put your decals on the wood, about an inch below each nail spot (so that they center within the cord loop)
• Gently hammer in the nails at an upward facing angle (so they hold the cords)
• Find a stud, and screw it into the wall at the top (I got the screw started on a flat surface and then held it against the wall)
  
  
  
  And that's it! A easy, quick, and functional DIY project. 
  
  
  Enjoy today,
  Addie