Category Archives: General Musings

KonMari Method Part 1

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Last weekend I decided to embark on putting the KonMari method to practice.

I am still working through the clothes category, but I decided to learn how to feel my “Joy Spark” with dresses since it’s probably my smallest category clothes wise.

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Admittedly, dresses are my most frivolous purchase. They make me feel beautiful and I like having a new dress to commemorate an extra special occasion. This year I had a wedding to attend, two graduations, and other functions and yes, I let myself buy a new one for each one. That’s probably how I ended up with 51 dresses total. Which, I’ll admit, is more than I ever needed! I whittled the collection down to 34 which still seems a bit large but does include extra dressy ones and ones I do rotate into my work wear. I don’t currently like how tunics look on my body right now as I’m heavier than when I purchased many of them (some of these items are a decade old) so it was easy to say goodbye to them.

Next, I did my bras, underwear, tights, and slips. I’ve always folded my undies as I think they look better that way but I did use a few shoeboxes to keep things compartmentalized and it made a huge difference! I wear a large cup and band size for bras so I think I will be moving my bras out of the drawer where they are being crumpled and jammed and put them in my closet.

And then, the madness of shirts and pants and tank tops. Oh my…that took up the rest of my day and I still have pants to work on as I mostly did shirts.

I’ll admit, getting things to stand and folding them KonMari style was more frustrating than I first thought. Because I am plus size, my clothes are wider and longer. This makes larger and longer rectangles that don’t stand as easily. I decided for pants to fold in the crotch area to bring the size down a little and for sweaters, to overlap a bit of shoulder to make them more compact. Despite frustration, the neat looking piles and streamlined look kept me motivated.

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I’m not a big shoe buyer so I reached out on freecycle for some clean shoeboxes and supplemented what I could find at the dollar store and Daiso. See how kempt everything is starting to look? Ahhh…

Remember how I said I’m plus size so my folded clothes are wider? I own a cheapie chest of drawers to begin with so it is not very deep or tall. My solution was to lay the clothes vertically. I was able to fit most of my folded tees into one drawer, where before it was a few drawers and then some. This was the most rewarding part of my day.

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I’m making progress! There’s much more to do this weekend. I also have a good amount of clothes to launder so I’m getting that out of the way so I’ll be ready to tackle part two.

From mostly tops alone, I filled two trash bags to donate. The dresses I plan to sell or give to someone (truly) in need of some.

Eleven Greeting Cards

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The Breakdown:

Mother’s Day card: 1
You’re Just like a Mom to Me card: 1
Graduation cards: 3
Wedding shower card: 1
Wedding card: 1
Birthday Cards: 3
I’m Praying, Keep Being Strong card: 1
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May events with cards : 11
The Feels: Priceless

I’ve got a lot happening very soon. I’m sorry if I fall off the blogging radar for a while! My brother (who is one of the graduates) is getting married this month and that is one of the apexes of the month (who am I kidding, year!) The other really awesome event is what I’ve dubbed “friend christmas”. I have a bestie that most years can make a trip out to our hometown and it’s like Christmas day waiting for our annual get together! She’ll be at the wedding and then we have a girlfriend trip which I’m really looking forward to.

Friends and bloggers that pray, please keep my friend and her family in prayer. They’ve dealt with a lot the last few years including a big move states away. After finding a place of their own last year, they found a horrible mold issue that gave the family respiratory issues. The complex they are at denies their proof and because of their “pestering” they’ve denied them the option to renew their lease. The family of 5 need to be out by the end of their month. They are only able to afford a 2 bedroom apartment but most places will not make an exception of more than 2 to a room, even if they are little children. They need to find a place willing to work with them on pricing for a 3 bedroom or that will allow the boys to bunk all together in one room. She’s beyond stressed by hopeful that God’s got the details. She’s my keep being strong card.

How about you? Any fun things happening this month?

Purging Update

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This is taking much more effort than I thought. I think I like “stuff” too much.

Clothes given to friends: 5
Clothes in a box to be donated: 37
Bags of trash: 3

I still have a lot to do. I’m finding I’m a hoarder. I find safety in numbers and buy things in BOGO sales and hardly find myself using products until the bottle is empty. Take for example the Victoria Secret sprays I’ve had since college….why are they still around? And when did I truly need to buy 5 all at once? Makeup too…if I’m honest I only rotate through 10 items and have a lot of junk I never use. That’s going to go. Office supplies? Art Supplies? Those items are dangerous. I’ve got a problem with having too much but conversely, buying those items on sale is crucial otherwise they can cost me significantly more.

Goals for this week:

1. Clear the laundry baskets that are perpetually full of folded clothes. I either have space to hang them or they’re not worth keeping.

2. Organize my office and art supplies so they can be kept in one area neatly in sterilite drawers.

3. Weed out accessories. Yeah Claires earrings with animals, I’m talking about you. Yeah green tinted cheap stuff I shouldn’t be wearing around my neck or putting in my ears, I’m talking to you.

4. Work on putting things away immediately.

Taking time today to finish my Lysa TerKeurst book! Review coming soon.

Paint Night Out!

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Has anyone done a paint event? It’s usually paired with wine or spirits to make it…um…more “upbeat.” I went to my first one this week and LOVED IT! I like the relaxed environment and how people who wouldn’t necessarily be up to making art are open to these events because they are an activity, not a class. I’m all about sharing the love of creating things and having fun.

My friend and I had a blast. There were a few ladies in the group that had quite a bit to drink and were free entertainment! We heard everything from hearty belly laughs to one mother’s rendition of “Elmo’s World”, which got funnier when other people joined her. Lots of people joked that we were doing an emo painting or work for Tim Burton as the majority of the night, we worked in monochrome. My friend had a coke and a glass of wine (I like her style…why not both!) and I had a virgin blended margarita that was very yummy. I might try wine or something next time, but this event was not in town and I prefer a DD if I’ve had anything whatsoever to drink.

I’ll definitely sign up for another one soon. What other girls night out events do you like to do?

Different Strokes – Open writing

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“Different Strokes”

Soft:
Too willing
Too open
Too conforming
Too emotional
Too compliant
Too humble

Hard:
Too critical
Too conscious
Too demanding
Too prideful
Too stern
Too convicted

“Women are too soft.”
They say and wag their fingers.
Yet when they are hard, the same finger wags.
So, combine both, form a spectrum
And pay no attention to waving fingers.
Being dimensional is human.
Having character is human.
Not feminine, not masculine: human.
Paint yourself not to their desires,
But as the masterpiece you are.

Room for Improvement

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Back when Borders Book Stores (RIP 😥 ) were around I couldn’t understand why the self help and improvement area stretched so far. What kind of people need business help and personal improvement and are so desperate they need to buy other people’s advice?

Well, tack on a decade of maturity and some humble pie and that person now includes me! I WANT to consider others’ advice, and I WANT to better myself. I recently started reading Lysa Terkeurst’s book “The Best Yes” because one of my resolutions this year is to be more purposeful with my time and commitments.

Book review coming soon!

Have you delved into the world of self-improvement books? I’d love recommendations.

Millennials…are we lazy?

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You’ve probably heard it out of someone’s mouth (if not your parent’s or grandparent’s.) We’re a “lazy” and “entitled” bunch. We’re slow to establish ourselves as adults and in our careers. We are bombarded with complaints and comparisons of “back in my day…” Continue reading →

The Renaissance of Life after 25

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“You’re not squirrel-y like other kids your age. You’re a sweet girl who is collected and wise for her age.”

My mom and I were chatting with an employee at Jo-Anns when I received that strange compliment at the age of ten. As a preteen, I assumed I knew what life would throw at me. I’d be dorming at a quaint college (dorming never happened, and I chose to go the economic route for school choice), work hard and graduate, get an awesome job right out of college (haha…you’re hilarious, kid), and things would just snowball into a happily ever after of sorts. Well, life is happy, but does not go according to plan.

I was wise enough to know I shouldn’t place ALL my eggs in one basket, but I did empty out most into a basket called education. As an awkward kid, at least I could be proud of my academic accomplishments and be respected for that. So, at 10, and for many years after, life revolved around being level-headed, pleasant, book smart, and scheming my awesome life as an adult.

I did very well, graduated with flying Magna Cum Laude colors, and found myself in the very difficult job market of the recession. After a summer full of attempts, I settled for a job not even in my field. Even there, I persisted to try to shine and ended with a small cinderella story of entry level sucky-ness to becoming a marketing director. Even with that beautiful transformation story, I found myself unhappy, and settled for a smaller more humble job but where I felt better.

When I turned 25, it hit me like a brick. Why am I pretending life is like clockwork? What else is there, and what is more? All those eggs I had placed in academia longed for more life application and other aspects of life. I couldn’t hide behind “school” anymore, and I realized hiding behind a career wouldn’t make me happy either.

Becoming a quarter-lifer changed my world view – it challenged me to see all the aspects of me and my purpose for being on this earth. Why do I feel certain ways? Why do I trust what I trust? Why do I do what I do? How can I be the best me?

It’s all these musings that leave the older generations scratching our head at us. We don’t just do things because it’s expected of us, we question why. We were told we could be anything we want and so we crave that – fulfillment to the best of our ability.

Reaching a quarter of a century is our rebirth. In the first two decades we learned about the world around us, and how to go out into that world. This new milestone we reach further and wonder how we affect the world, and how we represent ourselves and change it.

So, here is my blog dedicated to my musings as a 20-something gal. Still figuring herself out, and enjoying life while scratching her head at times.