I am a habitual auditor. Not because I find it exciting. But out of necessity. If I made a not so wise decision in the past, I don’t want to be anchored to the mistake. In my book, periodically auditing habits, finances, diet, exercise plans, reading list, facebook friends, instagram follows, blog subscriptions, bad books, shoes, … is good exercise. Spring cleaning a closet isn’t an excuse to throw out stuff that is old and look for potential upgrades but to evaluate its current contents. I wont ask myself if I own the right version of am item. I refuse to slip into the loop of cull and buy. But I will take measures to make the most out of what I already own.
My closet audits usually reveal my mistakes. I would have bought more than needed. And I cant let stuff sit there and gather dust. This year, its different. I had to let go of things because they are worn out or no longer fit. I have to do this exercise twice a year. Partly because it gets messy in there. I would like to blame the cat, but my laziness has a lot to do with it. I like to wipe it down and re-organize everything. Seeing all the beautiful things I own and touching the wonderful fabrics kills the desire to add more. It also gives me a chance to evaluate the current state of affairs. My process :
0. Start with the Body
Winter messes with my routine. Its cold out. I don’t exercise but eat hearty food. By the end of it, I became skinny fat – the condition where I stay the same clothing size but have a body with declined muscle tone and higher fat percentage. I am currently not fit enough to hike all the trails we have bookmarked for Spring. We are attempting a 20 mile backpacking trip to a remote hot spring in Big Sur, California. I need to clean up my body first. Things I am doing :
Been doing some yoga, 4 times a week. Will add a HITT workout in the form of uphill bike rides this month.
Start the day with a shot of apple cider vinegar. Been drinking green tea and increased my intake of greens.
I tried switching to brown rice but I could not palette it. Been replacing the starches in a few meals with steamed sweet potatoes.
Body brushing.
1. Closet : Think before addition. Think before subtraction
Its a new season. I dont know how they come up with these stats but rumor has it that 6 tons of clothing gets thrown out every 10 minutes. What ! Hoarding unused stuff is not good either. I don’t know if I can put this across without being a hypocrite. But let the cleaning session be a chance to mend and make do. Let it be a chance to revel in good choices already made.
2. Stained, worn out, repair
My red dress had a food stain that I couldn’t wash out. I had to enlist the help of the toxic petro-chemical-soup dry cleaners. Oh well !
Condition shoes : I am happy to announce that California has been having good rain and they might even lift a few drought restrictions if the water table recovers. But my shoes on the other hand have been soaking too much water. I sprayed them down with protectant. I got in a few more shoe trees and all my 14 pairs are well stuffed. I need to visit the cobbler to get rubber sole put on a few shoes.
Bees wax + cotton shell = trench coat :
My everlane swing trench is not long enough to keep the rain out or appropriate to be layered over coats. I have an old cotton shell from Zara that I rubbed with wax. Makes it water resistant, not water proof. Not the same as gabardine but will do.
Let go of the worn out lingerie ( this is so damn hard for me ) .
A worn out tshirt became kitchen rags.
The rest stays.
3. Sell
Pinstripe shorts : Not in university campus anymore.
NDC made by hand black oxfords. The silhouette of my burgundy oxfords is what I want for my black loafers. I am going to get them dyed black.
NDC hiking boots. They have been giving me blisters every single time.
Mail out my Madewell blue dress. My little sister saw me wear it and asked if she could have them. I love that dress and did not want to give it away but she is my little sister. I couldnt say no.
4. Re-evaluate multiples
I have a pair of black ballet flats in the storage for back up. I will need them by the end of the year and it was a great price – keep !
Mascara samples – keep !
Back up lipstick from Sephora’s thanksgiving sale. Keep !
5. Archive pieces
The winter coats, boots and thick shawls go into storage.
6. Identify the neglected. Find ways to pair them. Shop your closet.
Belts, jewellry, scarves : I own a lot of accessories. And realistically, I cant wear them all. But they are much needed since my clothing choices are rather sober and safe. Making a mental note of them helps me reach for them more often. Instead of reaching for the easiest choice – the gray scarf everyday, I want to force myself to find a colorful scarf to wear.
7. Holes in the closet : NONE !
“Having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.” — Spock
There is so much I want ( block heels, black structured bag, trench coat, Everlane loafers, … ). But nothing I need. I declare my closet built. Its good to say this to myself. If I chant it often enough, I might even believe it. My spring cleaning is more for my mind. Forget that wish list for as long as possible and just be.
Are you a habitual auditor ? Do you have a lot of stuff moving around when you do ? I had nothing going on really but somehow managed to write such a long blog post.
All these amazing closet photos come from this Pinterest board. My closet looks nothing like any of them. Mine is a hole in a basement.
Today’s tune on repeat : City of Stars, La La Land.
Amazing as ever! I have the exact same procedure as you do. Doing updates twice a year, before spring and before autumn. Until now, it has often been an excuse for me to shop a lot for the new season. I am working on me to want less and be more content with what I already own. And to reduce mispurchases. Your blog has been a very great inspiration for me to achieve that. Currently, I have a relatively small shopping list (things I don’t have enough of – to secure I have something to wear while other clothes are being washed). I really adore your style! You encourage me to be more confindent of my own style and to be more radical about my shopping choices.
Thank you Melanie. You guys inspire me to keep up with these standards I want to set for myself. And to blog about it. I wasnt going to write a post this week. And sat down Friday evening to write this. I write for the comments.
I was thinking about your trench coat/jacket and remembered a post you had a while back – perhaps autumn with you in that coat and a blue dress on a beach somewhere. You looked so free and happy.
I don’t know if I audit as much as I should. I do feel happy lately though, and I’ve found that the happier I am, the less I seem to want to buy anything (which doesn’t stop me looking or creating wish lists). I used to get confused by my appreciation of other women’s style, buy their choices and then not wear them. As I accept my own favorites I’m much happier. For me the balance seems to be about appreciating what others can do or that many things can be beautiful while understanding that I don’t need to. In some ways it’s a wonderful relief!
Oh yea, I quite like my everlane trench. But its more a summer appropriate thing perhaps ? An added layer of warmth for cold summer nights. I dont like cardigans. I use that trench indoors when cold for layering. I always wear it when I play with the dog or give him a bath. Else my real clothes get stained very quickly. It is still very loved and used. But I dont think its a real rain coat. A rain jacket layered on a winter coat looks silly. And its been raining hard out here. A longer rain coat makes more sense. I am using my zara shell more than the short trench for now. Thank you for remembering that post. I love that cost side location and that picture.
I buy less when I am busier or fully involved in a project. I buy less when I dont read blogs. I buy less when I am happier too. I used to buy a lot when I was in my long distance marriage – something to lessen the misery and loneliness. Lavanya ( she comments here often ) told me yoga helped her shop less and changed her perspective on things. I am a strong believer in finding ‘sustainable happiness’ – from community and work.
Same here with reasons for buying less, especially “reading blogs”. That’s why I love your blog, it’s about style (not “fashion”!) – that’s what makes the difference for me. It’s one of the very rare blogs that encourage me to shop less.
My mum was reading my blog. And was telling me about how this “shop less” is a phase. And that I have always loved clothes and will relapse to a casual shopper again. Mums are usually right but I hope she isnt about this aspect. I am really using the blog to keep track of myself more than anything. The outfit posts make me realize how good I have it already. I do add a few links to the products because I have to credit the artists who make my clothing but I am hoping the terrible pictures I take of myself shoo people away from clicking on them. Oh well !
Well, with the level of consumerism being normalized all around us, the relentless marketing, the convenience that keeps people stay ignorant, it’s going to be a long process. One of my teachers told me, ‘Anything above need is greed’ and while I try to adhere to that advise, it’s challenging.
DONT DYE THOSE SHOES!!! DONT DO IT!! I mean its your life and you can do what you want, but just don’t. LOL! ;P
I’m an auditor, I’ve been in purge mode (selling, donating, trashing, downgrading, giving to friends) so there has been a lot moving around lately: clothes, makeup, accessories.
I saw this coming !
Not doing it this year. Lets discuss it again next spring.
I dont enjoy cleaning but that is what I am doing. Wiping, dusting, folding, … ah, chores. Even if I romanticize them, they are still chores. Even if it involves organizing silk dresses, its still chores.
This year I’m gonna jump on the bandwagon with wardrobe revision. I decided to do so after reading this post and realizing that before buying those spring dresses I’m craving, I should rather examine my closet. I have partly lost an overview of what I own actually (yikes). There’s gonna be some culling for sure as I’m anything but habitual when it comes to clothing.
Starting with body is a great idea. I think that all of us struggle with too much comfort foods and cuddling up in blanket rather than exercising in winter. It’s natural; our bodily needs change with every season. When the air started to smell more like spring and I felt first sunshine warming up my skin, something happened in me and now I’m full of energy, eager to eat healthier and go outside as much as possible. I hope you’re not too harsh on yourself.
Please do write a post on it if you do. I love reading your wisdom on wardrobe building.
Are you a list maker ? I actually have evernote list of everything I own, closet or otherwise. I know its obsessive but I like list making. It gives me clarity.
I think the extra fat was helpful in the winter. I have low tolerance to cold by default. I needed the extra layers to survive it.
The thing is, after my eye surgery, they asked me to not exercise for a month. I was in India and ate all that food that I wont get in America. Stuffed myself like it was the end of time. Need to detox it off. We went skiing two weeks ago and I was holding the group back because of my lack of fitness.
I am viewing my upcoming hike as training for a marathon. made a workout plan and am slowly building the tempo. Dont worry, I am a lazy person and never push myself too much.
Looking forward to that spring thought. Went to the farmers market and they had nothing but oranges and potatoes and meat. Cant wait to get my hands on some fresh veggies and to bike without the cold hair freezing my face.
I find letting go of clothing to be difficult when sentiment, memory, and thrift collide. A dress that fits well and is in perfect condition, but is in colors I can’t match and a cut I no longer wear; it took an extra five years to release that one. The aqua Agnes B cardigan with cool thumb hole sleeves that I wore fifteen (!) years ago; ditto.
I have started putting winter clothes away, but I should edit out as I go.
Pencil skirts, I have at least five. Impeccably cut and in great shape, but I can’t ride a bike in them. Thinking about it, I haven’t worn them in years and it’s not like I anticipate major lifestyle changes, they should go!
I spent a lot of years trying to fill in holes and build a workable wardrobe. Managing that wardrobe is a bit trickier I find.
All of my white t shirts are too big. I am going to try to shrink them before I resort to donating and replacing.
I dyed a pair of taupe shoes black and they are now wardrobe staples.
My shopping list for spring/summer is small: a new white sun hat, khaki shorts from Patagonia because mine are too big, and two sports bras.
I find my recent shopping has all been second hand, which I feel fine about. I still enjoy shopping, have room in my closet, and the money goes to god charities.
If I I really lose the last ten pounds I need to lose, it will necessitate a LOT more rethinking and donating.
Loved this post and I look forward to reading everyone’s comments.
That should have been “good” charities!
So my experience with letting go :
My mother was one of the 10 siblings and cousins who grew up together in one household. They were taught to share and give when the other asks without being selfish. And she is really good at it. She gives away not her useless stuff, but her prized possessions away to family members all the time.
We are a joint family. They tried teaching us sister to be like that. My oldest sister is the model citizen. She will give without thinking of herself and is often exploited by relatives and at work. The altruism did not trickle down to me. My mother used to force me to part with things when I was younger to give to my cousins and friends. I am not nice like my mother or sister. I would cry about my dolls being given away and complain about her when I was younger.
Coming from that background, the idea of giving unused things to someone who might have a need doesnt sound that bad. I can’t part with shoes. I am a bargain hunter when it comes to second hand deals on items I want. I find it hard to let go lingerie that isnt in its prime. I tell myself ” 10 more wears and I will replace it”.
One caveat that works in my favor : I am a photography enthusiast. Sentimental items : I am okay with photographs instead of actual items. They were pulling down my great-grand-mothers house since it was in ruins. I rushed there and shot videos instead of crying about the house being gone for ever. I am okay with digital artifacts.
my spring list has block heels on it. I only seem to have masculine shoes and ballet flats. I am attending weddings, cocktail parties and black-tie events. Can use a pair of heels.
I spent the last two years spending more than I should have, building a closet. Perhaps that is why I was able to write this post with lesser emphasis on decluttering and more about actual cleaning. If i get pregnant or put on weight, I suspect a lot needs to change. But we wont go there now.
thank you !
I really like cardigans. I probably have seven of them. It’s kind of Grandma chic but I cannot help it.
I usually do annual cleaning, before Chinese New Year. It’s tradition. When I was little, my Mum would utilize my brother and I for deep cleaning exercise on everything. Mow the lawn, wash the windows, mop the floor, wax the wooden furniture, and yes, sort the stuff, including the clothes. This becomes habit until adulthood.
I also move around a lot so having too much stuff is just bothersome.
One small pet peeve of mine is how can they put outdoor shoes inside their bedrooms like that? I am talking about the Pinterest pics you use for this post. I don’t know if this is just a Western thing or what. I am Chinese and my family have a big shoe rack near the door, you have to put your outdoor shoes there and change into house slippers before you get inside. The same with my current apartment. I mean you don’t know what sort of crap that sticks on your outdoor shoes/sandals.
How do you wear them ? The cardigans? I find them hard to slip on top of the shirts I wear. Unless it’s really oversized, it felt uncomfy when I tried.
Oh it’s a pet peeve of mine too. We Indians don’t stomp in the house with shoes. When I have guests over, I cringe! Cringe hard when I see them wear their sneakers. Some folks even seem to sit on the couch with the legs up ! I protest when I see that. But I currently have an outdoor cat living with us. He sleeps on me in the night in our bed. Relaxed a little about these things. But a cat doing it is not the same as humans doing it.
My mother did that too! And used us kids. She would delegate the least fun and more chore like tasks since she didn’t trust me with the skillful tasks.
I want to do a real deep clean but been lazy. If I take everything out, it’s going to take an entire day’s work. I am more the 3 hour cleaner.
You have to buy oversized ones, girl, otherwise they’re too tight. Usually I get one or two sizes bigger.
Haha, yes, I remember watching this American sitcom and one of the kids just wears his sneakers into his bedroom and he lies on the bed without taking them off. The cringe. That’s so unhygienic.
It’s considered rude in my country if you wear your outdoor shoes indoor when visiting someone. Unless your host tells you it’s okay, it’s assumed you have to take your shoes off. Barefoot or house slippers, take your pick.
To be honest, I don’t really do deep cleaning anymore, at least not all at once. It takes a lot of time and to my Mum, it’s about superstition too. Before New Year, your house has to be clean, it’s a symbol of getting rid of old baggage and getting ready to welcome prosperity and better things in the new year.
I also love cardigans, “grandma chic” puts it best, that’s exactly what I like about it. But I also know what you mean, I don’t like cardigans over T-shirts, too. I almost only wear sleeveless stuff and that works fine with cardigans. What do you put on to add an extra layer when it’s not yet T-shirt-only-weather?
Once upon a time (5-6 years ago), I used to wear my exercise jacket on top. Then bought a cotton tailored jacket that I no longer own. I then transitioned to a leather jacket. When indoors, I wrap a shawl around myself a lot ( adopted this style from my grandpa ). After I bought my everlane trench, its been doing the job of a cardigan. This picture influenced me into making that decision :
She is wearing it non chalantly and like a shell. It hides the body underneath and the garment doesnt skim the body. I quite like that for myself.
“It’s considered rude in my country if you wear your outdoor shoes indoor when visiting someone.”
Same in Norway (and Scandinavia, I think), so I guess it’s not Western per definition. I also thought it was so weird watching American sit-coms and shoe-wearing characters inside – I thought it was a tv thing until we had an American exchange student living with us who commented on the Norwegian shoes-in-the-hallway rule!
I still don’t get it. All the extra cleaning is not something I want to take on. I see bloggers and tv characters wear them on the couch and on beds. It’s cringe worthy. The sad part : the Indian immigrants who are my peers who seem to do it after the move. And I stress out about these things at gatherings.
Nice said-habitual auditor! Yes I am the one ,too. Books,finances,lists,than more lists (they make me think more clearly),wardrobe…
I clean my closets twice a year (and sometimes in-between. In summer I use to take my clothes to the balcony,to sunbath and in freezing winter days to take some fresh air :-)). I started with handwashing my cashmere turtlenecks (but am afraid that it is not final,I’ll wear them more this spring. We have at least one month more for wintercoats)
My closet is built-last item purchased : Mephisto sensible and comfortable ballet flats (sort of). Mental note to me:stop buying scarfs(for a while)! I wear them all the time,it’s my favourite accessory-that’s the way I add colour or change the outfit completely
Don’t dye your burgundy shoes-they are beautiful
If you need black oxfords-buy one pair when you’ll find the perfect one,it is a wardrobe staple,you’ll not making a mistake
Open markets here are full of spring vegetables and I’m enjoying salads and steamed vegetables,it was a long winter and I couldn’t wait to change my diet
I didn’t comment Sabyasachi-he has some wonderful pieces.
You could enjoy and admire,just the way I am,from the distance,beautiful colours and embroidery of indian clothes-because they are amazing-,and have completely different style. If you have to wear something to the indian code there,choose one (or two) outfits and your wedding saree for festivities and don’t worry too much
Dottoressa
Not dying the shoes. Not this year anyways. They are so beautiful and I am afraid to mess with them.
I have a good scarf collection. It’s my way of adding colors that I find too colorful to wear in my everyday life. I need to stop buying more too since I can hardly do justice to what I already own. I bought a shawl to do a giveaway on the blog. And ended up spilling food all over it when some package explored in my check in luggage. It’s stained. So I guess I have one more now. And the dupattas from my India clothing from my childhood – I want to use them as scarves during summer. Inspite of all these options, I reach for my gray scarf everyday !
We are bridal shopping for my cousin who is getting married. And all of us cousins are coordinating what we are wearing. It’s been fun looking through catalogs and bonding over clothes. I will be wearing my wedding clothes for the event.
Please dont die yiur burgundy shoes, the colour is great and goes beautifully with navy
Those shoes have a protest group of their own ! Okay okay, I give in.
I am a bit jealous of you already doing this. We shall have to be patient for at least one more month, before winter boots, coats and thick jumpers can be cleaned and safely stored away. The winters here often trick you into believing spring has come and then you end up dry-cleaning all your winter coats at once exactly when the snow decides to make a last comeback. It is my favorite seasonal ritual though. The same process gets repeated in late autumn and it makes me giddy for winter, cold weather and the winter holidays. Now I just long for days of going barefoot and the sun to shine so I can start working on my balcony garden.
Agree that auditing is good. For the past two years I have kept concise lists of every single clothing item or accessory purchased and going back over those lists is an eye opener. So many mistakes and so many bad habits to unlearn! But I think I’m recovering. The past months have taught me to be more frugal and sensible about not merely buying things, but about wanting. There is little point in planning outfits and carefully put together wishlists when expecting. I’ve decided to not buy a single pregnancy dress, t shirt, jeans, anything really, unless I have literally nothing to wear. I’ve asked for pregnancy tights for Christmas and managed to make do with my knit & t shirt dresses and wide fitting tunics up to this point. Two months to go yet, but I expect I will manage just fine. Same goes for post-pregnancy: it is pointless to plan and want, when there is no telling what my body weight and shape will be. Sigh, if only someone could talk me out of wanting to buy this handbag I’ve been ogling for the past two months… The “it won’t fit afterwards” mantra is not working in this case.
I am a bit jealous of you already doing this. We shall have to be patient for at least one more month, before winter boots, coats and thick jumpers can be cleaned and safely stored away. The winters here often trick you into believing spring has come and then you end up dry-cleaning all your winter coats at once exactly when the snow decides to make a last comeback. It is my favorite seasonal ritual though. The same process gets repeated in late autumn and it makes me giddy for winter, cold weather and the winter holidays. Now I just long for days of going barefoot and the sun to shine so I can start working on my balcony garden.
Agree that auditing is great. For the past two years I have kept concise lists of every single clothing item or accessory purchased and going back over those lists is an eye opener. So many mistakes and so many bad habits to unlearn! But I think I’m recovering. The past months have taught me to be even more frugal and sensible about not merely buying things, but about wanting: there is little point in planning outfits and carefully put together wishlists when expecting. I’ve decided to not buy a single pregnancy dress, t shirt, jeans, anything really, unless I have literally nothing to wear. I’ve asked for pregnancy tights for Christmas and managed to make do with my knit & t shirt dresses and wide fitting tunics up to this point. Two months to go yet, but I expect I will manage just fine. Same goes for post-pregnancy: it is pointless to plan and want, when there is no telling what my body weight and shape will be. Sigh, if only someone could talk me out of wanting to buy this handbag I’ve been ogling for the past two months, because the “it won’t fit afterwards” mantra is not working in this case.
I always get ahead of myself and do it on a weekend when we are staying in and have the time to. And the weather gods change their mind to tease us about our actions.
But been wearing cashmere sweaters and scarves on most days …. seem to get away without a coat.
Me too. I keep a list. My 2016 list was infact published on the blog.
Woah, you are pregnant ! Congratulations. I am amazed at your resolve to not buy special clothing. Curious : wont the seams of the clothing get effected because you make do in spite of the size increase ? I have always wondered about it. Or do your clothes have enough stretch in them ? jeans especially. Mimi Thorisson ( a style muse of mine ) says she squeezes herself into any dress of hers that she fits into.
( Dont tell my husband this. But if I ever get preggo, I plan to make him buy/make myself buy me some jewellry and a handbag I always wanted. No point investing in clothes because of the size variation. But accessories – yes please. I cant talk you out of these things, sorry ! )
I dont have anyone to talk me out of my wish lists. My girl friends always play enablers. My sisters encourage me to buy because they love shopping. My mum/aunts offer to buy it for me if I discuss it with them. My husband probably is the only one who actively holds me back from spending and how I need him for that ! Also, since I show my purchases on this blog, I have shamed myself into not buying what ever I want when ever I want.
Push presents. lol! A small price for him to pay for 9 months of your life 😉
Thank you 🙂
Well, I was never a big fan of jeans to begin with, so I haven’t bought or worn a pair in years and can’t comment on that but Mimi Thorisson is spot on. Since I dislike tight clothing, am used to buy everything in the bigger size it might explain how I get away with this. My winter dresses are slightly on the baggy size anyway (someone might say “shapeless”), most of them knit, some are A-shaped, so they work just fine and the material doesn’t suffer. The tailored ones are stored away, but I wore some of them at the start.
Or I wear a black stretchy pencil skirt, essentially a tube, bought ages ago from H&M. I am bent on wearing it to rags, before I get rid of it, as it’s possibly the last thing I got there, but the damn thing jumps back into shape after every washing 🙂 So I wear whatever loose blouse, tunic, t shirt or jumper I can fit on top. There isn’t much variation, but I’m not wearing the same thing every day either. If I get much bigger still (in the remaining two+ months) I will resort to my partners older shirts, but that is unlikely.
So that is how you get away with not buying preg. clothes, aside from tights and perhaps bras. And also- the selection of maternity wear here is atrocious and does put one off very fast. Not to mention you can only buy em from well known fast fashion retailers, so no thanks to that. Same goes for baby clothes. Will try & get as much as possible second hand, because there is nothing more pointless than buying overpriced and unethically made baby clothes that will fit for a few weeks tops.
Will see about the bag. It would be the first designer item purchased at full price, so a dangerous precedent in itself. But seeing as I’ve been working 2 and a half jobs for the past year… Oh I don’t know. I think I am my own worst enabler in the end.
You amaze me with your clarity of though, Silvia. I am afraid I am more frivolous and please don’t let me be a bad influence through the blog. I show my artificial needs and buy stuff all the time !
I have an old black tshirt from Victoria Secret. Its thick in a way I dont find most tshirts in todays market. It was something I bought as soon as I landed in America 9 years ago for 10$. Its still going strong and I was wearing it yesterday. I am a strong believer that you can find quality at every price point but it may not be ethically made. But that tshirt – is indestructible. Not even my fav brand Cuyana can match up to its quality ( sadly ). Also, when ever I want to “wear something out”, it doesnt wear out and in turn – surprises me with its resilience. #murphysLaws !
“unethically made baby clothes” – those words just dont belong next to each other. My older sister has a boy and a girl. She has saved the best of their clothing for me and refuses to let them go. She says I have to put my future kids in them. Love that she does this for me.
When my husband proposed to me, we were both in gradschool. He bought me a diamond ring that we couldnt frankly afford. And I made him return it for a day when I deserve a jewel and as a rain check for the future. I plan to cash in on the rain check at the appropriate moment.
Actually, you inspired me a lot and still do. If anything, you are a good influence, don’t be too harsh on yourself. The diamond ring thing shows incredible restraint and strength of character on your part. I certainly wouldn’t have been as sensible, especially when I was that age. Today? I am still not sure. Especially if it were old, because I adore vintage and antique jewelry. But then again I’d like to think it is the age and the history of a piece that appeals to me, not the stone really…
It’s lovely to have your sister put away baby clothes for you. I want do the same for my brother for when he has children.
This is a great post. Since finding your blog i have felt more content with the items i own – i did some small editing and donated/sold things. It felt great. I moved recently and quite a lot of my clothing is still in boxes and i am doing fine without it! This inspires me to sort through them critically once the boxes are opened.
I need to get fitter/slim down a bit and i know my wardrobe will be even more versatile then. I cycle to work 5 days a week and try to power walk daily. I want to get back to yoga and swimming but im not sure how to fit them in….and the chlorine in the pool is awful.
Anyway i love your blog and your considered posts. You are a really practical and thoughtful person, you have inspired me to take stock of what i have.
Amie,
Thank you. I am going to make my husband read this comment. He thinks I over share and over analyze everything.
My policy for spring cleaning has been : “how can you appreciate something that gets worn once a year?” After the years and multiple moves which lead me to downsizing, I dont have that much that goes unused. But since I add things every year, some things just go stale and unused. Been absolving myself of the guilt and letting it go.
Me too. About getting fitter. I do some exercise and biking, but not as much as I used to or want. My dog is growing old and he is unable to walk like he used to. We both have become ‘aged’ in some sense. Thats one reason I think HIIT maybe the solution for me. Limited time but lot of exertion. I used to attend a few spin classes in university and they helped with my fitness. Lets see.
And thank you again. I am happy to be helpful.