Comments on: Satisfaction and simplicity http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/simple-living/satisfaction-and-simplicity/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:39:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Cindy http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/simple-living/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1343 Cindy Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:03:43 +0000 http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/housekeeping/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1343 Sunny- I can relate to this- we moved from a 7 bedroom house to a 3 bedroom 9 years ago. Our kids were growing up and leaving home and we just could not justify buying a bigger home. We were a bit crowded for a couple of years but now there's just one left to home and we have plenty of room for the three of us. Moving to such a much smaller house meant getting rid of a lot of stuff, but you know, I've never missed it. They say that if you haven't used it in a year to get rid of it. For the most part, it's pretty good advice. Thanks for stopping by the other day. I'll still blog now and then, but I've given up feeling "obligated" to post everyday. It's a hobby, or should be anyway- not a ball and chain. I'm actually enjoying my new found "freedom"! Sunny- I can relate to this- we moved from a 7 bedroom house to a 3 bedroom 9 years ago. Our kids were growing up and leaving home and we just could not justify buying a bigger home. We were a bit crowded for a couple of years but now there’s just one left to home and we have plenty of room for the three of us. Moving to such a much smaller house meant getting rid of a lot of stuff, but you know, I’ve never missed it. They say that if you haven’t used it in a year to get rid of it. For the most part, it’s pretty good advice. Thanks for stopping by the other day. I’ll still blog now and then, but I’ve given up feeling “obligated” to post everyday. It’s a hobby, or should be anyway- not a ball and chain. I’m actually enjoying my new found “freedom”!

]]> By: Sunnydaydreame http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/simple-living/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1339 Sunnydaydreame Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:03:05 +0000 http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/housekeeping/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1339 Claudia, I know about stuff accumulating over time. There must be some theory about wherever there is an empty space humans will buy something to fill it. I have done some garage sale shopping, and I have to be so careful to only buy the things I really want (as in have wanted for a while) or that I really do need. Another interesting thing I have found is that the first few things to give away were really hard, but the more I give away, the easier it is to let the stuff go. Decluttering is kind of like exercising I guess. SMM--I've actually forced myself to not read a lot of the parenting magazines because they are basically one advertisement for baby stuff after another. We have basically decided that (at least at first) we will make sure we have the actual necessities for a baby (crib/co-sleeper, car seat, etc) and then for toys and extras use what we get as gifts or borrow from someone else. I figure we will have better idea of what will really be useful (for the baby and for our lifestyle) after we have lived with the baby for a while. My theory is that baby will be much happier, better developed, and better adjusted with parents who can love him/her and have time to interact rather than always maintaining stuff (baby and otherwise). Thanks so much for the reminder and affirmation that we are doing the right thing. Claudia, I know about stuff accumulating over time. There must be some theory about wherever there is an empty space humans will buy something to fill it. I have done some garage sale shopping, and I have to be so careful to only buy the things I really want (as in have wanted for a while) or that I really do need.

Another interesting thing I have found is that the first few things to give away were really hard, but the more I give away, the easier it is to let the stuff go. Decluttering is kind of like exercising I guess.

SMM–I’ve actually forced myself to not read a lot of the parenting magazines because they are basically one advertisement for baby stuff after another. We have basically decided that (at least at first) we will make sure we have the actual necessities for a baby (crib/co-sleeper, car seat, etc) and then for toys and extras use what we get as gifts or borrow from someone else. I figure we will have better idea of what will really be useful (for the baby and for our lifestyle) after we have lived with the baby for a while.

My theory is that baby will be much happier, better developed, and better adjusted with parents who can love him/her and have time to interact rather than always maintaining stuff (baby and otherwise). Thanks so much for the reminder and affirmation that we are doing the right thing.

]]> By: Stretch Mark Mama http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/simple-living/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1336 Stretch Mark Mama Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:14:37 +0000 http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/housekeeping/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1336 I agree! And make sure you keep living the same principles as baby comes along. Many people think they need a lot of STUFF to keep baby happy. Nonsense. I have three kids and not a one of them has enjoyed "toys," (yet they play quite creatively and happily). A stroller is a necessity but a closet-full of clothes is not. And as for big things like the exersaucer and all its cousins...they are handy but you will end up using them for a relatively short time. My recommendation there is to borrow, borrow, and borrow. Look for a mom with kids and she'd be glad to let YOU store it in YOUR house while you need it. :) I agree! And make sure you keep living the same principles as baby comes along. Many people think they need a lot of STUFF to keep baby happy. Nonsense. I have three kids and not a one of them has enjoyed “toys,” (yet they play quite creatively and happily). A stroller is a necessity but a closet-full of clothes is not. And as for big things like the exersaucer and all its cousins…they are handy but you will end up using them for a relatively short time. My recommendation there is to borrow, borrow, and borrow. Look for a mom with kids and she’d be glad to let YOU store it in YOUR house while you need it. :)

]]> By: Claudia http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/simple-living/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1335 Claudia Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:37:57 +0000 http://dandelionsanddaydreams.com/housekeeping/satisfaction-and-simplicity/#comment-1335 What a good idea and post. Get rid of all the excess. It's a really hard thing to do though, unless you make yourself. We've lived in the same house for almost 30 years and, as you may know, more stuff just appears and accumulates over time. I've had a rule about clothes, that if I get something new, then I have to give away something. I need to have that rule about everything. But, even beyond that, start gathering things for our church bazaar. Lots of things. What a good idea and post. Get rid of all the excess. It’s a really hard thing to do though, unless you make yourself. We’ve lived in the same house for almost 30 years and, as you may know, more stuff just appears and accumulates over time. I’ve had a rule about clothes, that if I get something new, then I have to give away something. I need to have that rule about everything. But, even beyond that, start gathering things for our church bazaar. Lots of things.

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