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1. I never make New Year's resolutions, but instead, I pick one word that signifies what I will concentrate on in the coming year. It took a while this year, but it has come to me.
My word for 2014 is "simplify"; facilitate, streamline, disentangle, to make less complicated, clearer, or easier.
I'm going to identify what’s most important to me, and eliminate or downsize everything else.
2. I'm starting the process by de-cluttering my computer hard drive. Do I really need 2 copies of every photograph I have taken over the past 4 or 5 years? And how about that "favorites" bookmark list...mine seems endless. Then there is all of the unopened email, that would take at least 6 months to read, if I ever got around to it!
3. Next comes the wardrobe. I have clothes that I haven't worn in ages, and will never wear again. Some of them are out of style, some are just plain old and ugly, and a lot of them have somehow "shrunk" over the years while sitting in the closet.
4. Oh, and housework. That definitely has to be streamlined. I think I will call a truce with the dust bunnies until it's time for Spring Cleaning, let the laundry collect for a least a week before I throw it into the wonder washer, and stop cleaning the windows, I'll open them, rather than shoot through them to take photographs!
5. Cook less, eat out more. I love to cook, but after 40 years of it, the thrill is starting to wear off. We rarely eat out because most restaurants simply do not serve good food. But, I just found a great little organic food café in the city, that looks promising. A sweet pepper chicken melt panini, with a bowl of carrot ginger soup, and a side of cilantro lentil sprout salad, sounds absolutely yummy, and would make an excellent Friday night supper! Oh, and I just looked at their desert menu - I think one two or two three of those fresh baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, might just have my name on them!
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I am doing the same thing with photos on the computer. AND I have the same shrinking clothes. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI keep archive files of all of my photos on my computer because I never know when I will need something that I may have felt was insignificant at one time. Hard drives are so huge nowadays, we don't have to worry about running out of storage space like we used to.
ReplyDeleteEmails, though, are another subject. I am pretty good about emptying my deleted messages, but I tend to let my inbox fill up with stuff. I'm in denial, and I will deal with this later.
Simplify is my life's goal. It's on a sign in my kitchen, and I try every day to do at least one thing to work toward it. I hope to eliminate one item from our house for every day of the year in 2014. I'm keeping up so far.
With clothes, I have an extra hamper in my closet that I drop clothes and things into when I decide that they need to go. No stressful ordeal of cleaning out the closet at once ... just one item at a time until the hamper is full. Painless.
Have a great weekend.
Connie
You have just described my life. I have spent the whole month of January doing exactly what you have done - computer - clothes - decluttering. We are definitely on the same wave length.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I love the single flower! I do so enjoy your blog and photos, Karen, and I look forward to getting back to blogging soon, but in the meantime, I will continue to visit yours -- always uplifts my day!!
ReplyDeleteI rather clean at the end of the year instead of the beginning but I guess there is an advantage at the beginning of the year, your mind is less clutter, that's what I think. good luck with the simplifying.
ReplyDeletehave a great day.
I hope as you simplify you find FREEDOM!
ReplyDeletelove your image and the canvas effect you gave it.
ReplyDeletei live a very 'simple' life. some would say too simple. my house is full of doggie footprints and the dust settles comfortably. my closet has hardly anything in it - to the point that if i had to dress nicely, i'd be in trouble. :)
I could have written this...in fact I think I have, many times. De-clutter, what fun to de-clutter!
ReplyDeletei'm with you on the cooking and the photograph culling is an endless task have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a similar thing with photos and that is trying to narrow down a select few from a shoot. Not easy, but I'm getting better at trashing. I really like your word and the following ideas that support it. :)
ReplyDeleteYour list is impressive! I think I may do a little of the same!
ReplyDeleteWonderful start to the year, I need to do all of your "5", and the eating out is super. Cheers from Jean.
ReplyDeleteI Love the word simplicity! I am trying or wanting to declutter our house....I dont need all this stuff
ReplyDeleteI love the flower photo and the way it looks like a painting! I was going to try to choose a word, also, but have yet to decide... Simplify is a good one. I've been trying to downsize so much of our stuff! I got a chuckle out of the "thrill" of cooking wearing off after 40 years - thrill is not a word I ever would have used for cooking, but I wish I did!
ReplyDeleteI like your word for the year . . . I am into doing some of the same. Eliminating one of the two sets of photos on my lap top sounds like a plan for me too!
ReplyDeleteFirst - I LOVE that yellow flower photo . . . it's a wowzer!
ReplyDeleteThen, I'm with you on the Simplify Movement . . . I suspect we have lots of company in the process . .
I love that word, simplify. It's what I need more of in my life, too. I have the same problem with clothes shrinking in my closet--what is it about the closet that does that? :-) I really do need to go through them and say goodbye to the things I don't wear/will never wear. I'm going through my books now and rearranging and reorganizing them. It's a good feeling to look at shelves that actually look neat and clean.
ReplyDeletenow "simplify" is a great word to work on & live by. goose bumps!! i have been working on my wardrobe too ... it takes time ... but you will feel so much better once it is over & done with. wish you well. ( :
ReplyDeleteLovely image! I like your words for the year... I have just started with my wardrobe ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely image and beautifully edited. - I hear you about needed to de-clutter a few things in my life too. We hope to do a good spring cleaning and yard sale this year to help out with that problem.
ReplyDeleteLovely flower and image! Simplify is a great word. Talk about de-clutter..My closet could use some help. We are trying to do the opposite eat out less and save money.. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteoh you reminded me about the computer hard drive thing that I need to do too! :)
ReplyDeleteYour non-resolution is wonderful! A perfect word for me too.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on weeding my picture files too... the joy and sorrow of a digital camera is being able to take a million pictures!
And may I go to dinner with you please?
I am doing the same thing with photos on my computer. I don't think I can ever finish :-)
ReplyDeleteSimplicity is a great word!
I love your photo to go with your theme of simplifying. I've been going through photos on my computer and deleting them too. Way too many. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the Simplify. I have been going through my photos too. I love cooking too, would be nice to get out twice a month for a meal. The organic place you mentioned sounds yummy. My kind of place. Love the daisy image.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at cook less -eat out more...I can relate to that. I have been in the midst of cleaning out my closets and drawers...every season I get rid of more and more and buy less and less.
ReplyDeleteSimplify is such a beautiful word. ;))
ReplyDeleteI wish I learned to do that.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful pic for the concept.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI like your sunflower picture and beautiful edit.
Your idea to simplify is awesome. We all get caught up in our everyday busy lives and need to step back and look at the big picture.
I am not a fan of clutter either. Have fun with the process.
With the exception of choosing a word, I could have written each of these!!
ReplyDeleteI especially love the cook less, eat out more!! :-)
Have a fantastic weekend, Karen.
I liked reading about your goals Karen -- many of them I need to adopt, with the exception of eating out. Just not in the budget for us -- but as we age, perhaps more of that will enter into our routine.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful weekend dear!
A great list of 'not resolutions'. I have some similar ones on my list of intentions. Have I started? No. I do love your photo. The color is brilliant but the simplicity is calming. I'm striving for simplicity in everything in my life this year.
ReplyDeleteSimplify, good idea. Streamline the housework, great idea! Love the flower photo(painting).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo. Thank you for the tips on the tea tree oil. I did know that and since she does not have them, I will not need it yet. it is all about prevention so putting products in her hair, braiding it, putting it up or putting braids in it before putting it up will all help.
ReplyDeleteMy clothes are shrinking in my closet , too! I have tried to keep up with cleaning out the email )learning the art of unsubscribing truly helps). I am still learning how photos get from point A to point B on the computer. I doubt I will ever master the difference between Google+k, Picasa, and Picasa webviewer.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed my visit. thank you so much for sharing the beautiful photos. I long to take pictures like that!
Oh yes decluttering is so good. There is no point in wearing clothes that you don't feel good in. It took me 45 years to learn that, but it sure helped shrink my closet.
ReplyDelete