share your stuff

our brownie troop has teamed up
with the elementary school
to collect shoes for
share your soles.

m has a bag of 7 pairs of shoes,
g has a bag of 4 pairs of shoes,
and k has a bag of 10 pairs of shoes,
to share.

this weekend we focused on the girls' room.
and since i missed sunday confession,
here's one for ya* -
m is much better at getting rid of things
than i am.

we had conversations like this...
"i don't need these shoes anymore."
"are you sure? maybe for church or something?"
"i never use these hair bands."
"but you might someday, right?"
"i'm done with these art projects."
"uh, really? but you worked so hard on them."
and so on.

i didn't know whether to be proud or horrified.

she easily dumped over 50 items...
tickets, old lip gloss, candy, broken earrings,
stretched out hair bands, socks, and
the list goes on and on.
i'll be conservative and stick with 50.

also...
10 backpacks
seriously, 10, wtf?
and i totally cried over the blues clues backpack.
8 purses
and i totally cried over the dora purse.
2 cloth shopping bags

and from k's dresser...
13 pairs of tights
good lord.
12 pairs of pants
27 shirts!
most of these are hand-me-downs
that will go live with e in wv.

total for this week = 143
grand total = 143+50 = 193

and we're on our way.
next up - g's room.
lots more k clothes in there.

*i ate long john silvers fish on friday, texas roadhouse country fried steak on saturday, and leftovers on sunday. oh, and i found out that the chicken chipotle sandwich i ate at panera last week is on the worst sandwiches in america list. 56. grams. of. fat.
i may need a nutrition intervention.

hoard much?

ok, i have made a start.
infinitely more difficult than expected.
i may or may not be a hoarder.
seriously.

these items have made the trash so far.
yes, the trash, they were that old.
not even worth donating.
that is SO sad.

1 pair of slippers
(my only pair)
2 tank tops
(?)
1 pair of shorts
(my only pair)
1 extremely uncomfortable undergarment
(so over looking "smooth")
9 t-shirts
(don't worry, i still have plenty)
1 pair of hideous socks
(which i loved at one time)
2 toxic bath and body items
1 loofah
1 soap shaped like a pumpkin
4 pairs of shoes
(don't worry, i still have plenty)

grand total = 25 items.
it's going to be a long way to 1000.

and some things that should have made the list,
but i just couldn't. let. go.

black leather coat
(may or may not still be in style)
olive green suit i wore to my first interview
(10+ years ago)
london hard rock cafe jean jacket
(will. never. let. go.)
sheep sweater
(pretty sure this was never in style)

hmm.
maybe i will have more luck
in the kids' rooms.

1000 things

i recently read this article -
how to live with just 100 things

i am very intrigued.

i want to be this way too.
but i have too much stuff.
and i do like my stuff.

this part got me thinking though,
"once their purpose is over,
they just keep you stagnant."

agreed.

and while i don't think i can live with just 100 things,
i do have THREE kids, people,
i want to do something.

so here is my plan.
i don't even know if it is possible.
but i am going to try.

i am going to
GET RID OF 1000 THINGS.
little things, big things, broken things, etc.

and i'll keep you posted.
with a list, i think.
anyone else up to the challenge?