The Simple Life

I'm still alive. I've been hard at work, nursing and changing diapers and being spit up on, and kissing squishy baby cheeks, and facilitating the learning of history, and and and, and attending the Wisconsin Parent's Association homeschooling conference.

This was my second year, and it was even better than last. I'll write in more detail soon, but for now I wanted to talk about the Living Simply workshop that I attended on the first night of the conference.

Rick and I have been in the process of paring down our lives to the essentials for the last few years. I have always been a person who enjoyed paring down and getting rid of clutter, but being in dire financial straights (things are finally improving) certainly lights a fire under one's de-cluttering ass.

The woman who led the workshop opened with a quote, which I will misquote for you. It went something like, you don't get demerits for buying a new pair of shoes and you don't win bonus points for planting a garden. I wanted to throw that in there because I don't want to come off preachy and holier-than-thou when I talk about how I've simplified my life. It's a lifestyle choice, and it is what works for me, and what gives me peace. If a pair of designer shoes works for you and gives you peace, that is totally fine by me. Not that my opinion should stop you from buying a pair of designer shoes. Just keep in mind that the value of stuff or things or crap, or whatever you call your possessions, comes from you. Stuff has no inherent value without an owner.

Before beginning our discussion, the workshop presenter also added that simple doesn't always mean easy. Amen to that. Although the choices I have made have certainly simplified my life in many ways, some of them were very difficult to make and execute. As the cliche goes, making the right choice is more difficult than making the wrong choice, or some variation on that theme. So here's what I do to make my life simpler, and sometimes more difficult.

1. Avoid wasting food. Sounds simple enough, but it often involves some planning ahead. I used to make weekly menus, which really simplified grocery shopping and cooking, and I need to get back to that. However, we still buy almost all of our groceries with meals in mind. That not only cuts down on buying random items that can't really be cooked into a meal, but it also cuts down on throwing food away. we also shop sales and I plan our meals accordingly. 
2. Use every little last bit of everything. I use old t-shirts to make dust clothes, and underwear. I've also used clothes that we no longer wear, or have worn out at the seams, to make clothes for Charlotte or Penelope. I recycle zippers and buttons, and old sheets. 
3. Shop rummage/garage sales and thrift stores. I have found so many great items; tons of clothes, some brand new with tags still attached, books, fabric, sewing patterns, etc. There's nothing more "green" than buying used instead of new. Not only are you saving something from going to the dump, but you're also saving the entire manufacturing process/packaging/etc. of buying something new. However, when you buy something new, you give all sorts of people all sorts of jobs. Hey, I'm just giving you information. Make up your own damned mind.
4. Minimize your grooming. I'm not talking about switching to a monthly bathing schedule. I love a hot shower, especially when no one is poking their head into the bathroom to tell me that there's a spider on the ceiling or that they have too many boogers or that the dog just threw up or that the babyiscryingandshehasgunkonherandI'mhungryandwhyisitrainingandcanwegotothepark...I'm talking about taking a look at your daily grooming routine and the products that it requires and asking yourself "do I really need all of this shit?" My answer was no. I stopped using hair products a long time ago, too long to remember. I rarely wear make-up, so I finally threw all of mine away. I have also stopped shaving, which not only saves money (no need to buy those obnoxious pink razors) but also gives me a few more minutes to relax in the shower instead of nicking myself with a crappy expensive razor. I use five products on a regular basis, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and deodorant. Talk about easy.
5. Make your own cleaning products. We use vinegar, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol to make most of our cleaning solutions. I don't make my own laundry detergent because I've heard mixed reviews about making your own, and I don't want to leave my washer all gunky. We do buy Method toilet bowl cleaner, because the toilet gets pooped in, and we also buy dishwasher detergent and dish soap. You'll be amazed at how much you spend on things like Windex, floor cleaners, and other cleaning products that you use on a daily basis. It's also nice to know that any surfaces that the kids touch are cleaned with things that are non-toxic.
6.  Just say no. This one is really hard. Sometimes we have to de-clutter our personal lives, and remove "toxic" people from it. I really hate that term, but I'm way too tired to come up with something original and witty. When you have someone in your life who makes you sad, angry, anxious, depressed, annoyed, or homicidal, you need to sit down and have a little chat with yourself. Ask, "is this person worth all of the bullshit they put me through?". Sometimes the answer will be yes, and in that case I suggest venting about this person to a close friend, who will keep your horrible secrets. If the answer is no, then do yourself a favor and avoid spending time with that person. You'd be amazed at how much peace of mind and free time you gain (to do more important things, like sewing underwear out of old t-shirts) when you're not dealing with someone else's crap. You deserve better.

OK, so that was not exactly a complete list of everything I do to simplify my life, but that covers a good chunk of it. Now I'm off to bed, which Rick built when our crappy IKEA one broke. Simplifying tip #7, marry someone handy, so that they can build an economical, sturdy, cool looking bed frame, when your cheap, mass produced one breaks.