Today & Storing

Today was no different than last week. I had no time for myself it also didn't really helped that the weather sucks when I wanted to go home. I had to stick for about two hours in an apartment without anything that's mine and a slow netbook from my sister. FYI the hard disks was full. Okay, I could watch tv but that will result in watching shopping channels because around noon that's all on.

The little light points was feeding the babies. It took awhile but it was nice to feed my nephews. They are cute and don't talk back. They just eat, drink, sleep and leave dirty diapers for us to clean. I am so happy because I can play with kids but don't need to take them with me home.

Eventually I left after I made myself some lunch/high tea food because after all that riding bike I got tired. Today, I hadn't got the time to do anything for myself or the house. In the weekend I made a mess in the attic. Frantically looking for matching yarn to finish the basket. I took what I needed but didn't put everything back. So bad.

People say the trick is putting everything back asap but when I was crocheting I only thought about finishing it. I was purely focused on finishing it and visualizing how it would look on my shelve. So hitting the attic after a day full of babies. It was easy to put everything back where it belongs. I think it's one of those perks of being a minimalist that I know where to put what.

Not needing to think where to put what is so relieving and fun. Yes, having fun while putting it back where it belongs. In the past I had so much stuff I couldn't and didn't want to start but now, the game is on. I know where it fits and where not. It's becoming an easy pie.

I was worrying and busy

19 September, last week  I was in the hospital, accompanying my sister. At the same time, we got the message that she was going to stay overnight. Most time you would not enjoy being in a hospital but for my then unborn nephews it was necessary. So the whole week I have been using my spare time to visit her.

Until this Thursday, I got to meet my sweet little nephews and little they were and still are. I also picked up my needle to crochet. I made a sweet basket because I was working on the minimalistic bedroom. I still had some daily basics that I want to keep but it wasn't really handy in just a confinement without a bottom. I made this sweet basket not according to the design because I want it to be multi-functional. I can use it as an small purse for just my wallet and phone but mainly as a container.

Have anyone seen the prices on those crochet or knitted basket, it's freaking expensive but making it is quite easy. Finding the right design with instruction is easy on the internet. Within clicks I even find other possible project for in the future.

I just had other things to do this week. That's why I didn't got to write and the minimalist life is about putting things that really matters to you first. Don't forget minimalism doesn't make my day worse by obligating myself to do things for others but myself. In the end I should be happy and I hope you too.

Something Funny

In the weekend something funny happened. The neighbors kids came around ringing our bell. They were looking for their ball. So I was looking for it in the back yard and couldn't find their ball. Because our yard consist of a lot of vegetables growing in buckets I had to look carefully. I couldn't find it and it was not in our back yard.

The kids didn't believe it and they want to see for themselves. My elder sister told them to go back to the yards gate to look for it. They saw how it looked liked our garden and I even asked how their ball looked liked to find it. After they got satisfied looking in our garden, I went with them to find their ball.

I eventually picked them up to look over the wall in my neighbor home. After picking one kid up the other want to go up too. Kids are really incredible and never scared. The ball was at different house and returned to them.

Funny isn't it. That kids can be fun to be around for just a limited time.

Diner out

Yesterday I went to a house warming party. I decided not to go and already had packed up a present for others to take with. But the abruptly check in to the hospital from my sibling made me the babysitter for my nephew. I am the only aunt that he listen to. So, I was kinda forced to go to take care of the baby. 

The BBQ at the house warming was nice. Eating things I would eat when out. I usually make easy things that are fast and nutritious. I had a blast and listened to the conversations and ate a lot. It was fun but also tiring because babysitting a kid ain't that fun as you may think. 

It was a new environment which my nephew isn't accustomed to and a chef walking from and to the BBQ. Him walking around and finding the diner table with bread on it. Begging for food, sitting in different chairs and blowing kisses to anyone after getting bread. 

While it was fun and all the participants we're talking about doing this again. I thought there is a reason why it doesn't happened frequently. I know it and all of them know it to. It's a little bit of a hassle and there are more things to do in life accept gathering in others houses. 

But for a change it was fun.

Priority

It's a shame I couldn't put the pictures up from yesterday's post. My pc has an integrated card reader but sometimes it just doesn't want to recognize my sd-card. Even the usb card reader didn't do the trick. That's why having variation of working methods is so important. Knowing that my pc will recognize the card after a reboot but postponing the task is also a possibility. I choose the last route, postponing it to today. Sometimes after a reboot the pc still doesn't recognize it and that small defect will infect my day negatively, especially when I just want to post something just before shutting down the pc and wanting to go to bed.

That's why I choose to postpone it to today. Why? I can work on my laptop and till now it hasn't let me down when it comes to card readers. The pictures where nice but was it essential to get the message across, I don't think so. And though a blog is like a diary, a day late isn't a big deal.

I have learned that decisions in life can influence a persons negatively or positively. Why not choose something positively if you can choose. Lately I haven't put up deadlines for myself but I wanted to write at least 4 to 5 post in a week. So sometimes it's good to postpone small thing as long it doesn't effect your schedule ahead.

Huge Change

Next step towards a minimalistic lifestyle. I already made the place I spent the most time on already minimalistic. Only the basic of basics but I could still do something about it. First on my list is the fleece blanket which has been laying around on the shelve. I thought of removing one of my planks on the L-trail system but it's nice to have empty space.

Still the amount is more than 100. I think it's time to change it dramatically with nothing but the things I really use. It's scary because I already have a feeling it's not much. If I start with just putting everything up to the attic. I know I only need two basic things. My day and night cream. How about just doing that.

I even decide to clean out my bottle car zone and put my remaining rose water in it. I think I am slowly reaching the point that I let my earthly belonging slip away and be happy with the things I really want and most important need.

Also the DIY project cutting glass made me remove all those plastic containers. Glass is nice because I can clean it up easily and if it breaks I can make a new one. I really like the tings like a bedroom without anything but my bed and night stand.

Magazines

When I didn't know how to search on the web fast, I would buy magazines to get inspiration or information. I still love to have a real paper magazine in hand than an e-version. The feeling is just different. But considering the price, weight and nature, I do read e-version.

I still have those magazine in my bookcase so it's time to do something about it. It's just a small batch. I just write down the interesting stuff like home network through the power line. All these things are nice but without knowledge I wouldn't be able to find it online. 

So today, I will be finishing 5 magazines and write down the useful stuff for my pc. Yes, I am entering a new age of digital but on my own pace. 

Annoying Things

It's the first time in my life that I just threw a pair of socks away. I can't remember when and I don't think I ever threw a pair of socks that doesn't has a hole in it. Never! Even when those socks were losing it's elasticity I kept using them.

Today I wore a pair of footsies that didn't keep in place not even when I just pulled them right. In one hour I had to take of my shoe several times just to adjust it. So when I got home, I just pulled them off and threw it in the trash bin. 

I used to let things like this annoy me and then I start to nag. Now I realize it's just stuff, if it doesn't work get rid of it. This little thing shouldn't have a huge impact on my day. It shouldn't make me feel embarrassed and if it does I should fix it. And this time it means eliminating the problem for good. 

There are a lot of annoying thing around the house I dislike but sometimes I still need that specific item but when it comes to things that I have in a bunch, there is no other way, except the way to the trash bin. 

Small relevation of a minimalist

Since I became a minimalist it came to my attention that my trash bin has been so empty. Every week I collect two plastic bags with almost nothing in it. Serious, the trash bin in the living room is so empty that I only trow it once in two weeks. Luckily the bathroom trash is full because I use those small bags but considering that the bag is for two floors it's considerable small.

The trash bag has been sitting in the bucket for three days but still it's not full. I think it's a downside to being a minimalist. Not having the stuff to throw away. But on the sunny side doesn't it mean I don't throw money away in the bin?

The saying about 'someone's else it trash is another treasure'. I think it's true. But as I said, there isn't a lot of things I buy anymore. I buy stuff for others which is also fullfilling. Still, throwing the bag has been a ritual, after a day of work. It also make room for another day, it became symbolic and that's something I did since I was a teenager. It's strange that nowadays, the bag stays empty for days.

In away being a minimalist means breaking with 'bad' habits but I also lost a daily ritual.

Opruimen & Wassen

Misschien is het raar maar ik plan altijd de vuilste klusjes op de dag van mijn haar routine. Als ik fysiek klusjes moet doen dan plan ik het op mijn was dag. Zo blijft het zweet niet voor een lange tijd op mijn hoofdhuid. Het is fijn want ik was mijn haar maar twee keer in de week en soms één keer. Het ligt er net aan waar ik ben geweest en wat ik gedaan heb.

Zo ben ik vandaag wel toe aan een wasbeurt alleen vanavond ga ik uit eten. Vaak is de sfeer wel lekker maar ook wel rokerig. Ik let er wel altijd op dat ik nooit mijn wasbeurt van te voren doe. Het is gewoon zonde want al dat rook in de haar is gewoon niet fijn.

Ik heb in de ochtend meteen boodschappen gedaan waardoor ik al mijn 30 min. bewegen al heb meegenomen. Het is heerlijk om al eventjes te zweten. Zo zijn mijn spieren lekker los en zit ik geheel ontspannen achter de monitor.

Wel moet ik nog wat opruimen maar dat moet bijna altijd want opruimen & wassen gaan altijd samen, hand in hand. Producten die ik onder de douch gebruik is alleen een scrubhandschoen en een scrubdoek met een beetje Sanex in een pompflacon.

Haar wassen gebeurd bij mij altijd eerst bij de wastafel en daarna het uitspoelen en douchen in de douch. Duh. Maar doordat ik mijn haar was bij de wastafel gebruik ik veel minder water en let ik ook beter op. Ik hoef niet op te letten of het water te warm of te koud is. Ik ben alleen bezig om de shampoo in mijn haar te masseren. En heel af en toe gebruik ik een haarmasker.

Tja, jezelf wassen na het opruimen is al een beloning.

Keys & Small Stuff

The list of belongings is getting shorter and shorter. The stuff I have in house is getting less by the day. It's not only because of the 1 in 2 out rule. I actively select my stuff and now I have those boxes with small stuff. I am gradually giving it away and donating it. The biggest obstacle isn't huge in size but small.

I really think that the small stuff are so incredible, it just fill up one box after another. So the trick is reducing it slowly. I have to sort it out and get rid of that I won't use. It's not my favorite thing to do but it's needed. 

Yesterday when I opened up the cabinet where the hifi-system is on, I found a box with keys. So many keys and all of them aren't named. The first I recognized is the key to my bike, I recognize the shape because I use it all the time. Next three identical keys were the front door key of our old home. I threw it away because I have one complete set of keys of the old house. 

Today I went into the garage and find the lock to which key it belong. Honestly, I hate my siblings for having two back up key but never putting it together on a key ring. I did that and in the end I threw half of the keys away. 

It's going slow but one step forward is better than one step backwards!

Package Recycle

A collection for the none plastic things but still a container. Yes, milk containers. On a weekly basis my household consume two liter of milk, which is two carton containers. It's great because I use it as an exercise with my nephew. It takes just two minutes by myself but my nephew isn't as fast, about twenty minutes.

The thing is that milk packages took a lot of space but now it doesn't. I just stick it between the washing machine and the wall. So whenever I walk out the garden door, it's there and ready to take away. It's kinda pathetic because there are no other carton's I use because I rarely buy juice or any other beverage in box. I do buy soup but only in a bag.

So package recycle doesn't go further than dumping the milk container in the packaging recycle container.

Heaven

There must be someone that has the answers to all the worlds question. Who, who knows the secrets of life. The quick fix to make the world better and bring peace. It's funny that all kind of religions are talking about heaven or Utopia. But why, we think about this life as our human life. Perhaps this is our after life, we have to make it worth living.

We have been given a world that may not be Utopia but could be. Perhaps it's our task to make it a heaven, an Utopia. Isn't it time to make this world a better place? Why can't we live in peace. Why can't we respect and accept each other.

From experience and communicating with all different people about their religion, I have learned that none of them preach death and sorrow. Conflicts are sometimes needed to find the real problem that's not on the surface but a feeling inside, built up frustration etc. We need  good mediators in a war, a person that's not afraid to put hers or his interest aside and get the conversation moving. After pointing the fingers here and there, and conclusions made, it's time to choose a path. Walking hand in hand together or apart and never look back.

Heaven is possible on earth.

Makkelijk hergebruik

Soms zijn de makkelijkst en de meest voor de hand liggende oplossingen, het fijnst. Zo opende ik onlangs een zakjes snoep. Deze ontzettend lekker snoepjes zijn een souvenir meegenomen uit Groot-Brittannië. Het bevat 25% fruitsap dus minder suiker. Ze smaken zeer aangenaam, niet te zoet en te synthetisch. 

Na het openen van de zak, heb ik het dicht gedaan met een wasknijper. Helaas was de scheur te groot en moest ik iets anders zoeken. Eerst zocht ik plastic bakjes zoals de huzaren bakjes maar die zijn te groot voor in mijn tas. Dus de oude diele bakje gebruik ik nu voor snoepjes en het ziet er geweldig uit. Dit bakje heb ik schoongemaakt en in de kast gezet voor de volgende pak snoep want het is toch wel erg handig. Het duurt wel even voordat het gebruikt wordt want ik koop heel weinig snoep. Ik krijg het vaak as cadeau of krijg het gewoon. Toch is zo'n bakje handiger dan gedacht. 

Bakjes of ander zakjes zijn altijd handig om nogmaals te gebruiken. Zo heb ik onlangs een zak wasknijpers gekocht die in de aanbieding was, deze in een ziplock tasje gedaan om de verpakking materiaal te verminderen in mijn huis. Ik heb namelijk geen reclame nodig voor wasknijpers in mijn kast die als reserve dienen. De plastic om de wasknijpers heen was dun, dus ging het regelrecht de recycle bak in. Ik hoef nu de kast te openen en kan de wasknijpers vinden. Ziplock tasjes zijn wel mijn favoriet want het houdt alles bij elkaar en door de plastic kan ik alles netjes zien. Ik heb thuis dan ook een verzameling met ziplock zakjes om van alles erin te doen. 

Nice Feeling

Yippi, hurray a full card for a thermos cup for €2,-. I think I will add that amount to get something usefull instead of cups that I have enough. Also some older thermos cup can leave the house if I buy it. The nice thing is within one week I just bought  for €3,- two lip balm and got this card full. Of course I was buying for someone else and got three stickers and asked the lady in front of me, if I could get her stickers. I heard the cashier asking her if she collected those and she said 'no' and that's when I asked her if I could have her stickers. I thanked and told her that my card is almost full. 

Coming back home and getting all the stickers on the card, I am glad that it's full. The beeswax lip balm is for my throat. The skin around the throat area is prone to eczema and before I used Vaseline which is cheap and nice. The only downside is it sticks so much. 

I have heard that beewax is great because like you have pollen allergies you should get honey of your local beekeeper. You get kinda resistant like getting your vaccination shots which contains a small fragment of the bacteria that get us infected. So I thought I could try it and it was also in sale 1+1 free.

And if it doesn't work I have extra lip balm and could use it for those dry spots. It's also great for traveling because it's so small and cute. 

Supermarkt trouw

Er zijn mensen die alleen maar bij een winkel de boodschappen doen. Er zijn genoeg redenen waarom; mobiliteitsproblemen of maar een winkel in de dorp, gratis parkeren enz. Er zijn genoeg supermarktketen in Nederland en dat is maar goed ook. De onderlinge concurrentie zorgt voor wat lagere prijzen en in economische tijden is goedkoper, beter.

Ikzelf heb maar enkele klantenkaart in de portomonee en dat is de ah bonuskaart en kruidvat kaart. Voor andere supermarkten heb ik geen kaart nodig om korting te krijgen of punten te sparen (airmiles is gekoppeld aan ahold bedrijven). De aldi, lidl, nettorama en emte hebben gelukkig geen kaart want korting krijgt iedereen. Helaas zijn de bas, dirk en digros zijn niet te bekennen in mijn omgeving.

De boodschappen die ik in de mandje doe zijn vaak actieproducten. Vooral A-merken zijn vrij duur en bevatten vaak meer zout/suiker. Een product waarvoor ik wel de volle pond betaal is melk. Vanwege een bodycheck by een specialist blijkt dat mijn moeder minder zout hoort te eten en meer calcium moet innemen.

Hiervoor koop ik momenteel melk met extra calcium en te dure Milner kaas. Als de kaas in de aanbieding is sla ik vaak in. Omdat het toch om versproduct gaat sla ik nooit te veel in en de kaas gaat snel in de aanbieding in een ander keten dus hoef ik zelfs nog minder in voorraad te hebben.

Met snacks gaat het ook zo. Ik sla geen snacks meer in. Allereerst, wil ik het vaak meteen opeten en het neemt kostbare plek in beslag in de kast. Dus is het in de aanbieding dan koop ik het. Ten tweede snacks zijn niet de gezondste tussendoortjes en ik als een volwassene kan niet meer schuilen achter de woorden 'maar het is zo lekker'.

Verschillende supermarkten afgaan is ook een sport dus mij zal je niet snel in maar één supermarkt te vinden.

Freaking Tired

Who ever said that being a stay at home mom isn't a full time job has never walked one mile in their shoes. I just spent 3 hours with two kids, aged one and two. Even after a few hour rest, I still feel tired from their excitement and their play style. Yes, I am healthy but keeping up with toddlers is a different sport than just running. 

Chasing and being chased is such fun but a tiring activity. Please, don't even mention lunch with them. To make sure everyone eats, there was bread. So both the adults and kids could eat together. It became a mess afterwards but at least everyone left the table with a full stomach. 

I did some groceries with my nephew which is also difficult because he just learned to walk and isn't always stable. So I still had to pick him up to cross the street and in the parking zone. And at that activity my bag got ripped a little. 

It means, it doesn't really look nice anymore. Not because from one small rip that can't be repaired but it was the third rip on that bag. The bag was a gift from my sister, a Majestic Buddy Bag (two bags for the price of one( €29,95), the other was given to our older sibling) which I use with pleasure for a couple of years. But the flap of the bag that gets it's form from a plastic tube is showing and the leather around is losing it's color even after smearing shoe wax. So it's time to say goodbye to this bag. 

So after a tiring afternoon I came home and also forgot the milk at the kids place and I still have to look through my bunch of bags to replace the Majestic Buddy Bag. Yes, I am freaking tired!

It's strange

When I read my own blog, I find it funny that I keep trowing or donating things away. Like, hello you have been a minimalist for a whole year and still you have things to trow away. Are you a minimalist or are you fake? To put it blunt, that would be my reaction while reading my own blog.

To explain it, minimalism is a way of living and I, a person with emotion and stuff find this ideology fitting in my life. It means minimalism is a method that I use but the fun or difficult part is 'I'. The person with emotion and stuff has to change to achieve the kind of living minimalism gives to a person.

People do not change overnight, I don't change overnight or in one year. Instead I try to make small changes that together has a huge impact on my life. Just like one dollar is made up by 100 cents. By making few steps towards minimalism I try to identify my bad habits and try to change it. I could trow everything away and then buy anything I need but that would defy the whole purpose and I would be producing more garbage then lessening it.

The thing is minimalism is a way of living and living continues, so it's a process continuously changing and adapting to the current trend.

Sometimes it's good to stop, take a step back an look at the situation at a different point of view before making a conclusion.

Enough Toilet Paper

It's funny how things fall right on it's place. This weekend I was thinking up about a post of my toilet and what I have in abundant. It's a coincidence, I read about Japans government advised their people to stock up on toilet paper in case of emergency. 

Something I find ridicules expensive is toilet paper. I can remember when I went to middle school, I was always sent out to do groceries and at that time, recycled toilet paper cost 1 Dutch gulden for eight rolls. Nowadays recycled paper cost even more than the regular white paper which cost in sale €1,67 for eight rolls.                                                                                                                                                         That's why I always stock up when a great deal appears. It's also one of the reasons why my toilet looks like this. Except toilet paper there is also hygienic napkins and other cleaning supplies. The toilet is one of the places which is full but doesn't feel like it. There is almost nothing on the floor, except for a toilet brush. It's also one of the coolest places in the house. 

Of course I have more than what is in the toilet. In the garage there is an other bag with another batch of cheap toilet paper. I think that I don't have to buy any more for this year but when there is a great deal, I'll consider it. 

Enough about the toilet!

Cheat Milkshake

I love drinks in regular but when outside, I find myself hungering for something ice cold like a frappe or an milkshake. The thing about drinking outdoors is the price for just a small cup. So instead of a frappe, I changed my habit in brewing cold coffee but milkshake is something I recently still buy but not anymore.

When I was little my mom mixed milk with cream soda (the brand Schwepper) and I loved it. I also heard from some friends who mixed ice cream with coke, that it is delicious. I never tried that combination cause I never liked coke that much. A few weeks ago I remembered that I have a container with pistachio ice cream and carbonated water.

I spooned some of it in a long glass and add carbonated water. I did had to mix it very well for the flavor to blend with the water. It turned out delicious, nice for a quick drink in the evening. Of course it's not really a milkshake but it has a lot of aspect like cold, creamy and tasty.

I advise to those with a weak stomach to refrain yourself not to try it. Someone I know with a weak stomach who tried this had to sit on the toilet for a long time. Yes, it takes some courage to try something like this. Fortunately, my stomach is used to the crazy things I eat. It has build up some stamina and endurance.


Step 1: get the ingredients together

• ice cream
• a cup
• a straw
• carbonated water

Step 2: Put the ice cream in a cup and pour some carbonated water. At first you will see white foam appearing on the surface. 

Step 3: Mix it

Step 4: Please enjoy this cheat milkshake recipe.