Stuff and too much of it

Lately, I've come across several posts from different folks in the blogsphere about decluttering and making more from less. Timely for me, as I try to cram all our old stuff into our new house.

The Nester talks here about editing your stuff.
And this is a great post about reminding yourself that there will always be another bargain around.

One of the challenges of our new house is storage. We've got a few main categories of storage--Christmas, outgrown kid clothing (hey, I have 3 little stair steps; it makes sense to pass down clothes), Mike's camouflage (as long as he doesn't mention my craft stash, I won't mention the fact that he hasn't hunted in 10 years), and some childhood memorabilia. We have some definite editing to do (especially in the area of the memorabilia--sob!), but these are the things that need a home, even if they are edited down to the minimums.

So, we opened the attic. And, y'all!!!! We found someone else's junk. I suppose they just forgot it when they moved. Quite inspiring in an anti-hoarders sort of way to throw out someone else's stuff. Stuff that was important at one time. At least important enough to save in the attic. But, in the end, not even important enough to drag back out and move with them. We go it all cleared out, a bulk trash pickup scheduled, and now we have room for our junk.

But, we are definitely motivated to make sure that we are storing the bare minimum of all that stuff (camouflage excepted, of course....I do love that husband, and I really love his non-meddling ways when it comes to my fabric/craft stash).

That's where we are. Still with piles everywhere, still deciding about what to do with various things and do I really need that doll from the 3rd grade? (and the answer to some of them is yes, yes, I do) But, hopefully, the answer to many more is no, you really don't. Bless someone else.

So, I'm off to Goodwill with yet another donation. And, hopefully, yet another reminder that stuff is stuff, and in the end, I'll keep what makes me happy and let go of the rest.

Meal Plan

In the move, we ate up almost our entire pantry and freezer. And, then... We moved to a house with a seriously small pantry. So much so that I'm having to rethink my entire food procurement ideas. I've been one that keeps a large variety of food around, and now, I don't really have the storage for that. Until I get this figured out, I think that we'll be the "buy one snack food, eat it until it's gone" sort of people. This week, it's apples and popcorn. Eat up, my peeps!

The other problem with eating up my freezer is that I'm out of a variety in my freezer, too. Usually, when a meat goes on sale, I stock up with several weeks worth. So, each week, I tend to buy one or maybe two varieties of meat, and I have lots to choose from. Since that's not working right now, I'm slowly rebuilding my stock, and I'm relying on the old faithful frugal meals. Which means we're eating lots of beans, dairy, and whole chickens. Thankfully, we love those meals, and it's all good.

Fri-Honey baked turkey, macaroni and cheese, rolls, broccoli salad (used the last of a Honey Baked ham gift card that Mike won last Christmas in a fabulous work promotion)

Saturday-leftovers (lunch), fettucini alfredo, tomato basil salad (supper)

Sunday-out (lunch), breakfast scramble (supper)

Monday-red beans and rice

Tuesday-tortilla soup

Wednesday-stuffed shells, salad

Thursday-chicken tikka masala, rice, curried potatoes and spinach

Meal Plan

So, the move is complete. And here we are...with the tiniest pantry you've ever seen, the most beautifully clean freezer and fridge, and a new kitchen to cook in. It's been fun!



Friday--fair food (lunch), homemade pizza (supper)

Saturday--leftovers (lunch), crab cakes, baked potatoes, salad (supper)

Sunday--the most horrific Mexican food ever (lunch), Willy's burritos (supper)

Monday--curried red beans, basmati rice, raita, roasted cauliflower

Tuesday--chicken pot pie, salad

Wednesday--meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Thursday--spaghetti



As always, I'm linked up to orgjunkie's Monday Menu Plans.

Five Years

There are times when five years feels like nothing. When I look over at my sweet firstborn, I'm in shock that he is 4 years old. It feels like yesterday that I got that positive pregnancy test.

And, yet, the couple that bought a house five years ago feel like complete strangers to us. Somehow, those two childless, double career folks turned into huge family people. We traded the Civic for a Suburban (!). We had three little boys in that time period. And, we went through a huge financial shift as we went from two careers to one career in building materials. In a record breaking recession. That hit building worst. Oy. So, somehow along the way the house that seemed perfectly appropriate for us turned into too much house. Too much payment. Too much money on maintenance. Just too much. And the choice seemed to be having me go back to work or to downsize our house.

That couple of five years ago might have chosen two careers again. That couple today? We are completely and totally committed to having one of us at home. And that meant that we chose to downsize.

What a choice. What a decision. What an opportunity to put feet on what we believe. It's been hard, and it's been a struggle; I won't lie. But, necessary and, in the end, we think a good decision. We prayed and we prayed. Then, we prayed some more.

And, so. We downsized. Into the most wonderful house. Next door to a park. With a flat, shady back yard for my three little boys to play in. This move has been life changing in so many ways. I feel very blessed that God has seen fit to bless us in the middle of lots of bad financial choices.

But what a lot of work! I'm so not the spring chicken that used to move every 18 months and think nothing of it. We've collected soo. much. stuff over the last five years. Stuff that we're going through and donating and thinning out. Stuff that we like, sure, but stuff that we are very sure is just stuff. Stuff is transient. Those little boys are forever. And, I'm glad we made this very hard choice. It's a good thing.