Monday 27 July 2015

Travel Motel Goodies

So although I'm loving this new minimalish-kind of-me I am still big on the consumable freebies!

This week I'm travelling with work and I've intended to get the best kind of freebies that can be used up and don't take up space.

First we have the classic toiletries:


Check them out! Bath salts AND one had a quick read and they appear good for the environment, the best kind.

Next we have the tea and coffee haul, a classic. Along with cookies and a cereal bar from the airplane, a bonus. I only take what I will use (I.e coffee and hot chocolate - if I haven't drank them first!):


Finally we have a bonus motel special. a CARTON OF MILK AND MAGAZINES. I'm new to the milk and magazines but I'm loving it!!! Milk will be drunk with the coffee but in saving the magazines for the plane!!!


Got to take the small wins when we get them!

Xoxo

Monday 20 July 2015

I feel it

 
As I build yet another pile of stuff to be vacated from our tiny apartment, I realise I am starting to feel it.



Don't worry I'm not going all philosophical on you. So let's just say it = better.

When I first did my massive purge, I felt nothing. I didn't feel less stressed or less anxiety. But now I THINK I'm starting to feel it. I can't be sure, it could have been the elastic snapping on my knickers, but I'm definitely starting to feel better.

I'm currently working through jewellery and assessories. This was harder than the shoes. I have got round this by getting lots of my old sentimental jewellery melted into bracelets. Two to be precise, one for me and one for my sister. 
 
Minimalist yet keeping all my jewellery, I'm a fucking genius.

Xoxo

Saturday 18 July 2015

How much is too much nail varnish? The minimalism quest continues...

Part of my purge was donating some brand spanking new nail varnishes. You would think this would have left me with an average number of nail varnishes. You would be wrong.

Here is what the charity got. 21 brand new nail varnishes. This broke my heart. I was so tempted just to open one or two colours but the charity couldn't them sell them if i did, and as you will see below I have plenty opened nail varnishes!!!


So I then started going through my opened nail varnishes.

Here was what I was left with, still a ridiculous amount but that was all I was ready to get rid of at the minute! Remember I'm an ex hoarder folks. Getting rid of a paper clip is difficult for me.


Some are going to a lady Ruth in the charity shop who said she would take them as she works with the disabled and they do nails. Some are being donated to my friends daughter, along with some eyeshadow dusts:


I put it into a little bag I was going to bin for my friend:


And after my purge I sat and did my nails, I need some hand cream though..


Outing a layer of the pink, blue and purple glitter onto my wedding ring finger. Just because.


Wednesday 15 July 2015

The slouchy boots that sneaked through


Well my wardrobe clear out has had the desired effect. I’ve been dressed much smarter for work this week. When you now only own 4 skirts it makes you start to wear other items!!

This morning I was in that mood where I wanted comfortable clothes, but I had donated all the scabby baggy clothes so I threw on a little black work dress and my slouchy boots and a blazer, the boots are one of the few things left that I own that SHOULD have got donated/recylced, BUT they managed to sneak through the cull. I think this is because:

1) They also help dress down my outfits at the minute!
2) I got them resoled, so there still is some life in them, even though it might not look it. 
3) They are comfortable.

Slouchy winter boots in action:


The shadow/shine makes them look like they are different colours or severely faded at one end, but they are not, I promise!!

Lastly I thought I would post a picture of some of the cull underway, this is about a quarter of what got culled. ONE QUARTER.

Sunday 12 July 2015

When minimalism meets a hoarder

I've been reassessing things recently.

Keeping up with everything often seems like a struggle. I get stresses/anxious about this. Some people don't, but I do. I feel like I am the only one but the world of YouTube has confirmed I am not.

I will admit that I'm a mild hoarder. My debt did not help this, I then became obsessed with not spending money, therefore, would never throw anything out and anything that was free/cheap would get adopted aka hoarded.

My focus for so long was just clearing the debt. Even when I was up to my eyeballs in debt it never occurred to me that having so much "stuff" could be causing emotions such as stress and anxiety. I've looked into tumble dryers, cleaners, dish washers and whilst these things have helped me cope, when you have so much stuff it will always be a vicious cycle of getting by.

This week I had my *Oh sh*t* moment when I stumbled across an article about Matilda Kahl who wears a uniform to work (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3034250/I-wanted-simplify-morning-struggle-Meet-woman-worn-exact-outfit-work-day-THREE-years.html). That lead me to finding Project333 and then onto minimalism. Then onto a girl called Melissa Alexandria on YouTube. I love her. She is just so nice! I know there are many more Icons such as Kondo etc on this subject but these are my people.

I then spent about 3 days reading blogs and watching YouTube videos. Some focused on only having 200 items in your house. Some no limits, just less. Some on cleansing your life to the bare minimal. I just wanted to remove the anxiety my stuff seems to be giving me, live more freely and spend my time, effort and emotions where it matters and not on stuff.

I was out late the 3 nights from reading the article. I literally could not wait to get home on Friday night to start de-cluttering.

I'm currently working through clothes (the largest amount of clutter in our house) and I've previously mentioned that some of my friends colleagues that I stalk/admire are the ones who have (or seem to have) a smaller wardrobe and wear the same clothes and accessorise them to make them look different. They switch them up with accessories or they just wear the outfit I have one friend who i kind-of-want-to-be and she wears the same dresses, shorts, tops etc. I went back facebook pictures that she has been tagged in (I kind of became obsessed this week) and she's been wearing the same clothes for the like the last 5 years.  She's had the same Marc Jacob sunglasses for about 5 years. The same striped vest worn on its own or under a white t-shirt. She is so well kept and a keen athlete and works and she is just all over things. Why do I need 8 pairs of sunglasses? 20 dresses. Even then I only wear about 5 of them. I can't find anything. Ever. I might find the dress, but where is that belt that goes with it? Or that cool bag? Or earrings? 

Anyway, I've did my first clear out in about 10 years, HUGE. I found dresses that I forgot I even had. I emptied 6 Cath Kidston sweater storage bags that were rammed full. I cleared drawers.

I had so much brand new clothes (with labels) it was heartbreaking. I have a problem. I had brand new french connection dresses once i remember costing me £110. Tag. Still. On.

I was adamant I was selling it. Think of how much money I can get back for all this stuff? But what I couldn't shake was the thought of how much money I could get a charity, or someone using it that actually needs/wants it. So I donated it all. Tags and All. 17 brand new nail varnishes unopened. New lip glosses, unopened. Brand new clutch bag. Brand new, never been worn, nine west wedding shoes. Worn once Kurt Geiger wedges, All Saints dress, French Connection dress, Autograph dress, Ted Baker toiletry bag, Dune bag, Carvella shoes, Leather Jacket, Leather skirt. You get the jist. A lot of brand spanking new clothes or items that had been worn once. I think I'm more annoyed at the items that are worn once, as the charity will likely get less money for them.

The charity shop thanked me greatly. They were so kind. They also told me I was not allowed to shop for the next year. Noted love, noted. She also told me she will take my opened, barely used makeup as she has a little charity group she goes to that uses that stuff. So that is my project for this week.

I've came home and I'm not finished. The throw on my bed, gone. The throw on my couch, gone. I don't like them - why do I have them?!

I feel awesome about the thought I may help my charity and I feel lighter, but I don't feel better about my anxiety/stress? Does that make sense? I think my house is still lightly in disarray which may be why I've not got better feelings about my purge.

I'll start putting up pictures of some of my purge! Just wanted to get the words down today!

xoxo

Saturday 20 June 2015

Upcycle: Coffee and Tea Jars

Okay, this is not technically DIY. More an upcycle?

When Mr Mars and I moved we got rid of most of our kitchen stuff. My old rusty IKEA tins got the bin (imagine these in Orange black and white: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80188927/). I then begrudged paying cold hard cash or warm plastic credit for something to go rusty again.

Then I had a brainwave... hold the applause... and I decided to use the old Douwe Egberts coffee jars that I kept my buttons and stuff in. I only had two of these, so I then went to the supermarket and bought another (we needed coffee anyway and Douwe Egberts is one of my preferred instant brands) it is expensive (compared to other instant brands) but if you wait until a special or offer you can get some good bargains.

I then had 3 big jars. Filled them with tea, grinded coffee and sugar, photo below. I also love loose tea as I got a cracking gift of a tea pot (I'll post another time) meant for fires and wood burners but I put it on my retro cooker hob, so I bought another small Douwe Egberts next time and filled that with my red bush tea leaves. Got another that I'm hoing to fill with my coconut chia tea leaves - it is lush, but it has caffeine in it, so is not my ideal pre bedtime drink.


I love them! They will go with any style of kitchen AND won't go rusty like metal containers!

When ready to re-use soak in hot soapy water and take the labels off, you may need to scrub/rub the glue.

 

Coconut Chia Tea waiting to be out into the jar (once it's emptied!)


Anyone got any other uses for their old coffee jars?

xoxo


DIY: Re-vamped penny jar

I thought I had posted this. I had not.
My "DIY" has subsided as we have settled into our new life (along with the blogging ;). We also purged most of our junk/old stuff/used items therefore not much to up-cycle/revamp. To be clear I like to up cycle as much as I can as it's better for the environment AND no-one else is likely to have it AND it usually saves a bit of cash :)
On the note of Purged, I watched the film The Purge last night. Scary.

Back to DIY. I am a fan of saving pennies/coppers/change. I did my wedding scramble from saving the change and have made payments to debt with change! We smashed a couple of our jars that were wedding/engagement gifts before we left the UK (photo below) but this one opens (no need for smashing). Unfortunately it is clearly styled for a 5 year old boy – I think it belongs to Mr Mars from his youth (oops!).  So I decided to take what I had and try and revamp it to blend into the Lodge House living room black/grey/white styling.

Jars in the first 'Life at the Lodge House". RIP Lodge House.
 



Equipment (including cup of tea):




I purchased some fine glitter (£5 GBP) and I already had modge podge, so off I went. Layer of glue, layer of glitter, layer of glue, layer of glitter. GOD it took forever to cover those bl**dy blue stripes!!!


First layer of glue...

 

First layer of glitter...

 




Another layer of glue and glitter...

 

FINALLY!!! After 100 layers of glue and glitter (an exaggeration, more like 3 or 4)...

I dried it using my pepper shaker baby cactus (cool mug from SPCA charity shop).

But I did it. With black glitter EVERYWHERE. Mr Mars was NOT happy. When I empty my purse of the coppers (and steal from Mr Mars’ pockets!) they will be stored here! Then banked at a later date. Small but effective way to gather some savings!

That's all folks

xoxo

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Oh, hello weekends away :)

Whilst we are still trying to save. I truely believe in living life whilst you can - you cannot take it with you. It is all about balance. So I have been very fortunate to have had some nice non camping weekends away! Fret not, one was super cheap. The other, eh, not so much.

One away with the girls and one away with Mr Mars to watch a race! I don’t get out often, so I take pictures of my hotel rooms…and food…sorry. But I'm not sorry.

Hotel room with the girls – was very nice and SUPER cheap! And we had a free BBQ on the Saturday night! I got the fold out bed cause I was last to sign up but I turned out I was better than the bedrooms (which I got the next night as one of the girls left a night early):


My bedroom...


The bathroom was rather nice, but this picture does not quite capture it...


Other bedrooms...



Hotel room with Mr Mars – double the price and not as nice, but was very comfortable bed and great little kitchen with it!




Brekkie the Sunday am with the girls. This is how every Sunday should begin...


Funny sign... ;-)




Glamorising my suitcase, not quite Louis Vuitton, but my pink scarf is ehhh cheap? :-)

Thursday 30 April 2015

Win Tomorrow - The Tale of The Forgotten Lunch Box

I’m following the Win Tomorrow program.

It’s not actually a program, just a thing where you prepare and get ready for the next day in order to have a successful day. I.e. pack lunches, exercise clothes etc. etc. It’s meant for weight loss but I also use it to try and built some organisation into my life. Less clutter and more organisation are my 2015 goals.


So last night, having been to the shops and I had already went my run at lunch time meant I had the ENTIRE evening to “win tomorrow”. After dinner with Mr Mars,  I cook some buckwheat and cajun mixed beans, add it to a nice spinach salad. Get my running clothes ready, get my evening clothes for a dinner with the girls ready (my mate is moving away) and get my work clothes ready. 8.30pm is the target to have it all ready so I can sit down and watch the super cheesy teenage movie called Pitch Perfect (think Glee, but a movie).

My bag won’t close but I meet my target. So feet up and I watch my movie with a cuppa and a bit of raspberry sponge cake and all is right in the world. Tomorrow, I have won.

As I drive to work today all seems to have went seamlessly to plan, until I think of my beautiful lunch. Still sitting in the fridge. My Cajun bean concoction. WHAT A WASTE. Waste of my time AND my money. 

Here is what it looked like:



Tomorrow - 1 
Veronica Mars - 0

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Afternoon delights

A cheeky little afternoon tea at my work today! We tend to have afternoon tea 3-4 times a week. Any excuse. Someone's 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, Baby, Anniversary, Birthday, New Dog...you get the idea. We have them. A lot. But hey, it's free food, so I ain't complaining.

So I thought I'd start picturing my treats from said Afternoon Teas. 1, 2, 3...Yehhhhhhh! Pictures of food, but this isn't a food blog, is it?!?! I don't know what it is, but what it isn't, is a food blog. Still following? Which is just as well as I'll be taking pictures of other people's cooking. Not mine.

Today I snaffled a gingerbread man and a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. For the record, I could taste no difference between the gluten free cookie and a normal cookie, it's all cookie to me.



We also did a shop, I lay my food out so then I can allocate it a home, I also took this opportunity to take a picture of some more food. Quite a few treats for us this week. Not sure why, just more carp than normal managed to sneak into the trolly.



An lastly, my dinner. Falafel and some salad. Yum.



Man, this is really starting to seem like a food blog...

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Day trip and some pocket money

Sorry I tried to get back into my blogging again, I’m just so bad at it! Really trying to be more organised. I feel organisation is the key. Get organised, save the world and all that.

This week Mr Mars and I have…

Been at the rugby! Sorry no picture. It is our new date night - ohh how things have changed!

Went on a day trip! Mr Mars and went to Akoroa for the day. I lovely French themed town. We were super frugal and shared a fish and chips and coke! Just as well as it was HUGE!!! Total cost $11.50 (£5.75). We MUST try and do this more often as we ALWAYS have food leftover and it is just such a waste of food and money! The coke cost more than the chips or the fish – but it is the small things, guys!


We have still been saving for a house deposit and still working our “Pocket Money”. Don’t believe we even have a 10% deposit never mind a 20% deposit, but getting there. Must buy fewer bottles of coke!

Trying NOT to buy stuff with my pocket money, I have far too much stuff. Buying stuff can also mask underlying issues, like, not feeling comfortable with some weight gain (current issue). Anyway, I HAVE made a couple of purchases. It's stuff - I'm sorry. But full disclosure here! Pocket money purchases:

This hat. Tried to act like a cowgirl - Failed.



This super cool, totally in love with, necklace:


Check it out it’s made with the inside of a watch – did you hear me? THE INSIDE OF A WATCH. How unique, cool and random is that?

That's all folks! 


Keep swimming little fishes:

Thursday 19 March 2015

Anniversary time!

So like members of a family who have had a fight and are now going to pretend we haven’t…I am going to slip back into my blog posting without explaining my absence or giving an apology…

No DIY in this post, I have some very first attempts at DIY cardmaking for you to laugh at look at but I will save them for another post and keep this one for le anniversary.

Incase you had not guessed, Mr Mars and I recently celebrated our Anniversary! Being the SUPER romantic couple we are we did NOTHING! Only kidding, we went camping, and to the cricket. Yes, camping and cricket! Camping involved a 5 hour solid hike and over 3,000ft of climbing added in. It was actually really good fun and in the most amazing settings. Cricket involved 5 hours of solid drinking and in glorious sunshine. 

Cricket...


Hiking view from the bottom...


Weather was brilliant and as you can see both were amazing with the added bonus of a bouquet of flowers, a book and some fancy tea (I told you we are super romantic), it was just a lush day!


Close up...




We also got some super cool Scottish coasters, with a card to match off Mr Mars parents:


Nicely wrapped as well...


I thought I had a picture of my book and tea, but I don't so I will leave that up to your imagination :)

xoxo