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Minimalism and Multipurpose
6 CommentsWhile the nature of some tasks require a specific tool or space to complete the job, many things do not.
The first thing that comes to mind are the plethora of single-task appliances which seem to take up residence in many kitchens. You know the ones – waffle makers, ice-cream makers, popcorn makers, juicers, breadmakers and so on. I admit to having a breadmaker – The Duke makes all of our bread and has done for many years, although he is playing with the idea of artisan-style bread baked in the oven and successfully made a loaf the other day. We also have a juicer which could be used more.
However, today I want to take the concept of multipurpose away from appliances. When we had our kitchen re-modelled a few years ago we created a large amount of bench space, including this breakfast bar.
We use this space for eating meals, serving food and general food preparation so it does not always look like this. Once I have finished using the bench, it is cleared and we try not to use it as a ‘dumping ground’.
By having a clean, clear bench I am able to use it for other purposes.
I can pull the chairs back out of the way and I have a cutting table and workbench for when I am sewing. It is the perfect height and totally stable. I am also able to access it from almost any direction. My sewing machine is in the closest bedroom (a few steps along the hallway) but this is the perfect solution for me.
So, which comes first minimalism or multipurposing? If I had more stuff the bench would probably not be clear to use. If I could not use the bench would I acquire a suitable table and contribute to more stuff?
This is a winning solution whichever way I look at it.
Prepared
13 CommentsThe wild weather we experienced 3 weeks ago is back, although not quite so dramatic. Parts of the Sunshine Coast and hinterland, where I live, have received well in excess of 200mm since the rain began on Thursday. The majority of it fell overnight on Sunday and all day yesterday.
The rain has eased for the moment and the forecast is that we have seen the worst of it so any flooding should only be minor to moderate. The lake in our backyard is nowhere near as extensive as it was last month or on many other occasions.
Gale force winds are being forecast for the next 2 to 3 days and of all the extreme weather conditions, it is wind that actually poses the greatest risk to us and therefore the need to be prepared. While there is a small chance of structural damage, either directly or from falling trees, loss of power is our major potential problem.
Electricity is integral to almost everything we do in the 21st century so we have done all that we can to make sure that we can function for up to 3 days without it. Before I left for work today I made put containers of water in the portable fridge/freezer (set to ‘freeze’) so that we will have plenty of ice available to keep foodstuffs cool if we lose power for more than 24 hours. We also have 20 litres of drinking water immediately available. The cooktop is gas and we have solar hot water (if the sun happens to be shining!)
A less obvious piece of planning was my choice of clothes to wear to work. I had previously decided to wear a skirt, blouse, stockings and heels but instead opted for lightweight jeans, fitted ¾ sleeve top and lace-up shoes and socks. If we arrive home this evening (after dark) and there is no power I do not need to be stumbling around in my fancy work clothes.
I hope my preparation is not required, however, since it is only 3 weeks since we lost power for more than 3 days the inconvenience is very fresh in my memory. I wonder if others have taken heed as a result of the previous storm or if they have quickly slipped back to the complacent attitude of expecting that there will always be power whenever they flick a switch?
Making Way
6 CommentsAs many of you would be aware, I have been streamlining my wardrobe for nearly 12 months. My goal is to have a modest selection of good quality clothes that I love and are flattering to wear.
The Duke generally keeps his selection of shirts under control but after our shopping spree in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago it became obvious that he had too many pairs of trousers that he rarely wore. So, this evening we went through them and culled 3 pairs of trousers as well as the suit he had replaced. I have also put 3 skirts into the op shop bag. I am planning on refashioning 2 other skirts but the these do not fit with the clothes I need and love. All of the items we are letting go of are good quality and in excellent condition so I hope someone can use them.
In the back of my mind I keep thinking of the money that we have spent on these (and clothes) over the years but I know that I cannot use that as a reason to hang onto them for ever. That is no way to recoup the money spent. However, it is a timely reminder to be very thoughtful about what you spend you money on, whether it be clothes or something else entirely.
It is far better to someone else the opportunity to gain some use from the items that are no longer wanted or required.
Finally, a warm welcome to all of the new readers and followers. I hope you find something of interest in my blog and thank you for joining in.
Sew Quick and Easy
11 CommentsYesterday I finally picked up my sewing machine from having it serviced, so today I decided to spend some time sewing. Some of it has been quite challenging, a pleated skirt which is now too big for me. I have completely disassembled it and am in the process of re-making the skirt but in the meantime it was good to start and finish a couple of simple projects.
First was a pair of boxer shorts for summer pyjamas for me. These were from some material kindly given to me by a friend.
I teamed them with an existing tank top to make this set.
She also gave me a piece of flannelette with a cute teddy bear pattern that was just begging to become winter pyjama bottoms.
I did some mending, too. This pair of shorts is about 12 years old and I wear them when painting or gardening. The fabric is in good condition but the elastic had given way so I unpicked the waist and old elastic, replacing it with 2 rows of new 6mm elastic.
The shirt which was waiting to have the buttonholes done is also finished.
I will keep you updated on the progress of the skirt.
In the meantime, don’t forget to comment on this post and follow my blog for a chance to go in the draw for the mystery giveaway.
Fabulous 500
34 CommentsWhen I published my post yesterday I was surprised to see on the sidebar that it was my 500th post.
500 times I have written something important to me, hit ‘publish’ and you, dear reader, have to taken the time to not only read it but often ‘like’ the post or add your comments.
It is a good time to reflect on what I have written and trawl through the archives. Here are 5 posts that seem to have touched a chord for whatever reason.
Friday Favourites – Mango & Avocado Salad
To celebrate the milestone of 500 posts I would like to offer a giveaway to a lucky reader. It will be a surprise but if you would like to enter you will need to be a follower of this blog and leave a comment on this post.
To follow just click on the ‘Sign Me Up’ button on the right-hand side of the blog. Entries are open to both Australian and international readers.
Entries will close at midnight Friday 22nd February (Brisbane time). Once the winner has been drawn you will be contacted via email and/or a blog post to arrange delivery of your prize.
Good Luck!!
Transformed
8 CommentsWhat a difference 75 minutes can make! Yesterday I showed you my small bit of organising. I had sorted the tangle of unironed clothes from earlier in the week into piles of shirts, skirts, t-shirts and so on.
This morning I caught the slightly later train so I decided to get as much of the ironing done as possible. There is no doubt that, not only am I a ‘fowl’ (morning person), I do perform better when I am working to a deadline. I knew that I had a window of 75 minutes, so naturally the challenge (in my head) was on to get as much done in the allotted time as possible. Here is the result.
All I have left to do are the 3 pairs of trousers for The Duke which are on the left-hand end of the ironing board in the photo.
Because I use a steam iron and we live in an area of high humidity, I always hang the ironed clothes to air and dry thoroughly before putting them in the wardrobe. Ironing seems to be a universally hated task, however, I actually do not mind it – especially once I get started. I find a great deal of satisfaction in having crisp, clean clothes hanging in the cupboard ready to wear. I know many people choose not to iron most of their clothes and some do not even own an iron. That is not an option for me as both The Duke and I work in a corporate environment and almost all of our clothes are either 100% or primarily cotton/linen. There are stories of people who iron everything – including underwear and bed linen. I think that may well be from a time when clothes dryers were not commonplace and it was a way of ensuring that everything was totally dry. I do iron handkerchiefs, pillowcases, tablecloths , serviettes and teatowels which some would regard as extreme but I guess it is a matter of each to his own. What is your ironing story?
Small Steps
2 CommentsDuring the week I do not have much time to do housework but some of the smallest things can make a difference.
I have managed to do 2 loads of washing since we arrived home on Sunday evening. The folding is done and put away but I have not got near the clothes that need to be ironed.
Last night I quickly sorted out the pile which had been upended on the single bed in my sewing/ironing room into piles of similar items – The Duke’s business shirts in one pile, my skirts in another etc. It now looks much more manageable and I plan to do at least some it tomorrow morning before I catch the slightly later train in the morning.
Do you have any tips and tricks that make a task seem less daunting (and look more organised in the meantime)?
Stop the Sabotage
15 CommentsIt occurred to me recently that many people are constantly sabotaging their own decluttering efforts.
They are hauling garbags of ‘stuff’ to the op shop, filling the rubbish bin each week and trying to find time list items on eBay in a vain attempt to claw back some of the money they have spent on unwanted items. Yet, these same people are often using every strategy possible to score a good deal on clothes, shoes, bedding, magazines, cosmetics and anything else that comes their way. It is only a bargain if you truly need it.
I feel that cheap or bargain-priced items are the nemesis of decluttering and minimalism. If you need to outlay a significant amount of money on an item you are more likely to stop and think twice about whether it is really worthy of a place in your home.
So, how do you resist the plethora of bargains?
- Unsubscribe from all of the emails from shops and shopping sites – this is a continuous process and you need to be vigilant
- Make sure you have a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox
- Do not buy magazines
- Do not buy newspapers
- Limit viewing of commercial television
- Deactivate your eBay account
- Set financial goals that require you to limit your discretionary spending in order to achieve them
- Remember that shopping malls are not entertainment venues
- Take things to the op shop – do not bring more stuff home
- Shop with a list (and stick to it)
- Send someone else to do your essential shopping
- Buy 1 or 2 good quality items instead of 10 cheap versions – t-shirts are a perfect example
Do you have any other ideas for keeping the clutter at bay and the money in the wallet?
The Important Stuff
6 CommentsA decluttered house? Meals planned? Clothes washed?
Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of what is really important in our lives. While it is great to be able to meet physical achievements the things that matter most to me are relationships – my friends and family. This has been brought to the forefront of my consciousness recently.
We were able to spend the weekend with Missy in Melbourne which was wonderful. Yesterday I listened while Micky shared some of the challenges she is facing at work. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ or so the saying goes.
Finally, tonight the telephone rang as I was about to begin preparing dinner. The sound of the voice of an old friend ensured that dinner was the last thing on my mind for the next 30 minutes while we chatted and the time spent apart just fell away. When I hung up and walked back to the kitchen I realised how refreshed I felt.
I am thankful for the close and meaningful relationships I have with friends and family and cherish them everyday.
organised castle 