Jamin and I had a metal trashcan. An older model than the ones pictured below. I scored one right after we were hitched. On discount, as it had a small, discreet dent. Being the bed bath and beyond savvy kinda I-worked-there-one-summer-in-college-so-I-know-how-you-peeps-roll-kinda-gal, I knew to ask for one. With the discount, it was still out-the-wazoo expensive. But I was working a “real” job {that term is still up for debate as it was one level above slave labor} but we had no children. So we could afford such a lush purchase. Who wants to drop 130 smacks on something that holds your trash? not me.
For the entire 7 (of 9) years of marriage that we possessed said trash can, we absolutely despised it. I mean, resisting-the-urge-to-throw-it-out-the-window despised it. The bag would never hold properly in the liner. So it always fell annoyingly to the bottom, and nasties like banana peels crusted to the liner. The little flap door would get stuck so you would have to pry it open with your hands. It showed every single finger print imaginable. Not a week went by without making a disdainful comment to the trashcan.We were all, “you’re useless, trash can.” “we hate you.” Along side other, perhaps unmentionable, phrases. That trash can withstood more verbal than physical abuse.
But over christmas, our all out hate relationship abruptly ended, and it totally bit the dust, when Jamin “accidentally” broke the foot part thingy. And after debating over several models to replace our formerly hated yet ever so essential trash can, we settled on the simple. I was tired of the overrated complex and way too expensive, so we scored a cheapo-with-a-lid rubbermaid from walmart and stashed it in our pantry.
And you know what? We’ve never been happier.
Sometimes, its the simple things that can make a huge difference.
Sometimes, that means clearing out the unnecessary.
And I rambled on for three paragraphs to tell you all, that in the moment that we disposed of that complicated scape goat of a now overly-illustrated junky trash can, I felt symbolically, this was my life. I look around, and everything has become complicated. I don’t know about the rest of you in shoes like me, but life is crazy as a mother of three, and this year I need things to be a bit easier. I have lots of goals this year, in my personal life as a wife and mother, and my business one, as well. But in the household realm, I need to take hold of the reigns and make things a little more basic. Because simple is always better.
Here’s three simple things I’ve done to stop the clutter in our home.
1. We made a preemptive strike on the mass, overly produced chaos that is Christmas. As our children get older, we will make more of a point to help them understand the real meaning. Right now, I still think they’re too young to fully grasp it all, even though we do talk about it. But when it comes down to it, my children don’t need a thing. And yet they receive so much, they don’t even know what they got for Christmas. Whenever I want to make a purchase, Jamin asks me if we need it. I then promptly ask him to define need. “Need,” as in “American need?” or “need” as in third world country need? Because “need” is all relative, and when it comes down to it, I don’t really need to have my hair highlighted ever again. Lots of people survive every day with root rot. And yet I tend to throw that word out…too much, actually.
So, literally three days before Christmas, Jamin and I took the day to clean out the house. I looked around and saw “stuff” everywhere, only days away from receiving more “stuff”. We cleaned out 14 trash bags of donate and trash. REALLY? How did this happen? Who am I? I wrote, just a few short months ago, on the systematic purge. We can now up that personal occurance to once a month. I’m determined to whittle it down in order to avoid the chaotic crazies.
I purchased some more baskets and we actually took the time to reorganize our toys. Note that I no longer wish to have play dates at my home so that my toys may actually stay organized. Is that tacky? Probably. Just sayin.
we even took the toy storage out to the veranda, and used certain baskets for certain areas. There’s a little people basket. And a lego basket. And a princess basket. (Yeah. I know.) And a tinkertoys basket…
At night, the kids love to draw the curtains closed and play with glow bracelets and flashlights. So they now have a drawer for just that. I feel like we’ve actually found a system that’s working for us. And I am ever so excited. This may seem like a “der” factor for some of you. But I think I’m just proud of myself for being proactive about it this time around. Christmas was much more relaxing this year, with not only the toys organized and cleared, but the pantry cleaned. And the papers thrown out…and the bathroom organized…
While we’re on the subject of toys, I feel like it’s never too early to start my kids on some chores for their level. So stay tuned for a chore chart from me. I may even turn it into a pdf if some of you think its applicable to your own homes.
2. The DVD’s were out of control.
we have a dresser that we refinished in our living room, and its drawers house all things entertainment. This may look organized, but the cars dvd was wedged somewhere in the tinkerbell dvd holder, and the cards dvd holder housed a refugee of veggie tales…and beyond that neatly appearing little row, were movies we couldn’t even see…
I had already seen a few friends do this, and thought it was ingenious. But Jamin came up with this on his own the other day, and brought it home.
It’s something I’d never thought of before, but we’re now alphabetized. And I don’t have to open twelve dvd cases to find Monsters, Inc.
3. I’m simplifying the visual
Areas in the open were looking a bit cluttered with Christmas, and are getting a redesign- a breath of fresh air. I’m thinking of taking some doors off my cabinets if I paint them in my kitchen, and that will require some discipline to maintain their spaces and keep them clutter free.
I’m still in the process of tweaking, and taking more away. I need space. I need room. I need the simple. And I think this idea may just catch on with me for the rest of the year…
What are some of the simple things you’re doing to clear out the clutter in your lives this year?
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