Just 15 minutes

This week I have been babysitting almost every single day. But it didn't made me forget minimalism, the things babies need are humongous. It's so much stuff and I can barely understand how my sister can find a place for everything. For example last night the twins were at our place. Within a hour the living room was like a mess.

Tonight when they left, it took less than 15 minutes to get it nice as I like. It's beautiful the stuff that goes back into their homes. Sometimes I forget how creepy empty it can be but on the other hand I really love how it is. The feeling that I have now is proud and calm.

Of course it also makes it easier for myself to clean everything up. I really made sure that everything in the living room is needed. Something I already have done and maintain. The maintaining part is the most difficult because the living is a shared space and I have to respect others wishes.

But it's really nice that the living is clean within 15 minutes.

Inspirationless

It's been a while that I wrote something, I am out of juice. Not because I haven't done nothing but I didn't found the inspiration and the will to do something. I wanted to sit down for a while but lately I just didn't or wouldn't make time free for writing. Now after a whole week of nothing I thought about minimalism and it's long time effect.

This week I went to a trip to my siblings apartment before they left for their holiday. My mom and I went and spent in two days on food and things less than €20,-. Amazing isn't, even my mom find it crazy the amount we spent.

Correct me if I am wrong but I already once wrote about how my lifestyle is rubbing off on my mom. She tried on three items but bought none. Even she was proud of our spending. But the most funny thing is trying something new.

My mom never have eaten doner kebab. So we were at the station and I found it's time for her to try something new. It was also on sale because it was recently reopened. It took my mom a whole bus ride to finish it off.

So do try new things, try travel on a low budget and have fun.

Nice Weekend

Last weekend I had a blast because I was entertained. My siblings were at home and they love eating out but I don't. My sister was craving for sushi. I love sushi but it's expensive if we are going to eat out, per person it would cost around €25. Multiply it by four and the bill will come around €100.
So we decided to call take out sushi and spent around 60 bucks and we are all full. I brew a pot of tea to enjoy while eating.

Afterwards we went to visit our twins nephew. They are so adorable, I could eat them up. We were supposed to spend our diner at their house but because they were so out of it we went to a fast-food restaurant.

It was nice because we also bought a lot of things. My sis bought again a bunch of stuff for her hair. If you compared her hair rituals and things she use on her body it so excess. Like a oil can make your hair nicer and you pay €4 euro for a bottle of 75ml (it was in sale normal price €10,-). I could buy a whole bottle of coconut oil to use it as a hair mask or body lotion.

We also managed to buy some diapers for half price and my sister got pissed at a cashier for being a racist for "all Chinese buy up milk powder to export it to China" he also thought we would do that with diapers.

Nonetheless my weekend was nice and I wouldn't change a thing.

Looking Way Better

Honestly, these few weeks I didn't really had time for myself and with relatives coming it's even worse. I mean I like them and all but the time that I have to make free ain't that simple. Especially when I want to make my life more minimalism. But it's normal making time for those close to you even when it's not convenient at the moment, I know I'll cherish the memories.

I love how fast I am capable to change something negative to something positive. It's that little switch in me that have helped me in my life to adjust and see things in a different perspective. One I really happy to made my own.

For example I wished I could do a packing party but knowing myself it's not possible. I am so jealous of those who can. Still I found my own pace in this minimalism lifestyle. I went on a long journey from a bedroom full of stuff to just the basics.

The attic was full of stuff never organized but now it looks decent. This week I have donated again some clothing without buying new stuff. Mind you the 1in2out still applies even now. I even made extra space in my clothing closet, 50% extra. I even hanged some shirts in it.

Reviewing clothing has helped me to give that extra push to make it nicer for myself. My shelves aren't as full and visually very appealing. I am proud of how it became and it's nice.

Reviewing Clothing

I don't like to iron my clothing but I still do it every time. It just looks nicer and a ironed and folded shirts looks way better than not ironed. Still, last two weeks I haven't pulled out the iron. Today, was just perfect. The sun is shining a bit and I just washed a new basket of clothing. Time to review my own clothing.

It wasn't much that I had to review just a few T-shirts and a pair of pants. I started of with looking at all my clothing and asked myself 'do I really need this?' To be fair, I didn't need everything but some casual clothing just are cozy enough and I want to keep it. Besides, yesterday I decided to donate my old winter coat. That is more than enough donation for this week.

The Netherlands isn't known for it's quality summer weather but I still like to own a few of T-shirt for when it's so hot and I need a new shirt every day. 2014 happened to be a hot summer season cause that did happened and on holiday I need more than just two.

What I did was cutting away all the labels in the clothing because it didn't help the ironing process and it always leave a mark when I iron on it. So cutting it all, it was an easy task. Reviewing the clothing made me again aware of what I own and what I don't really need.

In the meanwhile I was thinking about a too small undershirt that I can donate after washing it. It's all about the process and thinking about what I can do later. This reviewing made me open up my mind to do other things.

Brands & Manufactures

This is my new cutting board and why would I make a picture of it. It's the all known Swedish company but not made in Sweden. Funny, isn't it. As you can see it's made in Romania. Probably because of the labor prices.

This board is my backup board because the one I am using is tarting to fall apart. I do hope this one is getting the job done. Not like the one I bought last year or was it the start of 2014. I love to see this board in action. It's small and I can hang it up.

Just like this 'brand' a lot of other well known brand have their production line in countries with lower labor prices. I think it's funny when Chinese products are made a joke but their beloved mobiles are also made and assembled by Chinese. The thing is you pay for quality and with stuff it's the same but a lot of stuff on the market are overpriced and it's up to us to decide to pay or not.

That's why I decide what is a reasonable price before I go looking for products. I am not going to pay if the price isn't right. Knowing what the production and logistic cost are makes it so much easier for myself.

It's one of the reason I don't support a brand but certain product of a line that I personally use. Like the Sennheiser earphones MX270, love those and it still works after years. So knowing that a brand doesn't always guarantee safe production process I can never really stand behind something like that.

Progress...

Today I started again in the attic where I have my stuff laying around. Two weeks ago I made an adorable round basket for my bedroom and I started to make a crochet a square one but I haven't got enough yarn so I decided to make it a rectangle basket. So the first thing that jumps insight at the attic is this beautiful box.

A long time ago, I bought this box and used it to store huge items. Now it's my yarn box. As you can see, the lid didn't fit but after reorganizing everything it looks nice and the lid fits on top. This box has a home space on top of my wardrobe. 

And that's not all. I also got rid of a packet of used paper, from ten years ago. Things I won't look twice in it. I trow it all in the paper recycle bin and made some space in my bookcase. 

The special thing I want to make out of my yarn is winter item. Something cozy to keep me warm but not blanket. It will take some time cause I need to finish the rectangle basket first.