For the month of September I plan to document daily steps I have taken towards a chic, elegant and healthy life. My goal is to keep uppermost in my mind the kind of life I want to live. I will be focusing on all the small things I do each day that lead me towards my goal, rather than away from it.
Here are today’s mini-chic accomplishments:
Played opera on the iPod whilst tidying up the house. It made me feel so Italian and cultured!
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Had a booking with my French facial lady today. Oh the bliss. My skin feels like velvet now.
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Started reading new library book Shoe String Chic by Kerrie Hess on the recommendation of Vicki at French Essence. Also swooned at the latest French Essence 'de-cluttering the wardrobe' post. So inspiring.
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Took advantage of the blustery wind and hung washing out to dry as well as opening windows and airing the house.
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Curing myself of ‘it might be useful some day’ by getting creative with my declutter donating. I rung around a few places today and will be doing drop-offs soon.
A large amount of acrylic yarn, all brand new (from my grandmother-in-law when she moved into a home), to the SPCA for their crew of knitters who make dog jackets for chilly homeless canines, and a cat charity which is definitely not as big as the SPCA but the woman whose number is on the website knits cat coats for needy cats and also makes beanies, catnip mice, booties etc which she sells to raise money for their cat shelter. There are such lovely people around it makes my eyes prick!
Next I rung the Womans Refuge to see if they would like my overflowing collection of (new) hotel mini-items and assorted toiletries that I have gathered. It will be nice to think of them being used.
I’m not saying all this to toot my own horn, but that I care about where stuff goes. I am a bit of a hoarder in that way I suppose. I could never throw anything useful out. I would feel disrespectful. So I find out the places where it can be used by the people that need it. Moving is a good incentive to do it now.
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Dropped off today a single-size wardrobe worth of my husband’s clothing. It was all quite expensive stuff, mostly from the 90s. He’d kept hold of it even though he knew he wouldn’t wear any of it again simply because it cost him so much and he still loved the styles (in a sentimental way). There were also some items from the 2000s which he just doesn’t wear anymore having lost a bit of weight (at least 10kg, over 20 pounds). I guess he’s been inspired by my streamlining, because last week he flicked through the hangers, and took out everything apart from two items. He asked if I would drop them off at the op shop.
I’d told him about a man our age in the Red Cross shop when I was there last week. He had a baby in a small buggy and was trying on a suit. When he came out of the dressing room he was asking the woman at the counter if she thought the pants could be let down successfully. My husband said not to tell him anymore because it made him too sad. Maybe that man made him ok about clearing out clothing he will no longer wear.
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If you feel like you want to make September a chic month for you as well, please join me. You are welcome to share your mini-chic accomplishments for the day (or the previous day if you read in the morning) in the comments section. It would be lovely to have you along for the ride!
How chic of you to be so thoughtful about the most appropriate places to donate your unwanted things, and so inspirational. So often my decluttering involves throwing everything willy nilly in a carrier bag and dropping it all in a heap at the nearest Goodwill store. Much chicer to make sure your 'clutter' gets to the people who need it the most.
ReplyDeleteI need to put more thought into where I donate things. I always take items to Goodwill but a woman's shelter is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteFunny about your hubby...2 winters ago I MADE my husband go through all of his clothes--dating well back to the 90s (early). It was such a painful experience for him (et pour moi). But we ended up giving all the "good" stuff to a family in need with 2 growing boys. It was a good thing. Men.
Have you ever read "Style on a Shoestring"? Pretty good one too.
xxBliss
Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying your chic days of September! So full of inspiration and ideas. I'm also very excited about your new house purchase!! It will be lovely to hear about your decorating and organizing in your new home. I do hope you'll share.
Haha...last night when I was walking to yoga, I was listening to Andrea Bocelli on my ipod...not exactly opera..but I LOVE the way Italian sounds. ;)
ReplyDeleteMade a salad for dinner last night! ;) For the past couple days, I've had strawberries for breakfast, with oatmeal (w/ a dollop of Greek yogurt).
Fell asleep listening to Mireille Guiliano audiobook. ;) Actually took the time to put on a little make-up before class...sometimes I don't wake up early enough...I'm trying to switch over to going to bed earlier...and waking up a couple hours earlier to study so I'm not so frazzled and rushed in the morning. It feels like I'm doing myself a disservice when I have to rush through breakfast and half-sprint to class, increasing my stress level before my day has even begun.
Unfortunately, no decluttering or tidying up until after Monday's exam. ;( You've had quite a productive day! Looks like you're staying on top of things in preparation for the big move! Congrats again and good luck! ;)
Thank you for inspiring me to write a post about how I try to make my days more chic!
ReplyDeleteI find that it gives me such a lift, as if all is right with the world when I can give my donations to people who I know need it . In a small way it seems like I am paying my good fortune forward.
ReplyDeleteDear Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of de-cluttering my room and making a sweep of my closet and finding clothes to donate. I have a bunch of old running shirts (too many, really) and some old sweatshirts that I don't wear anymore, but they all have high school emblems and most of it is high school paraphernalia/collected from track meets and sports events. Do you think these are still donate-able?
my mini-chic accomplishments for today were to step away from the laptop, take some time on the exercise bike, stretch, and spend a good solid couple of hours on the piano. it felt so nice to go back to doing the things that i love that i lost along the way :)
KBG, willy nilly into a carrier bag and donated is still donated. But since I had larger quantities of some things I thought it would be a good idea to investigate. Plus with charity shops being businesses these days, I thought I would cut out the middle man. I saw a bag with a big skein of knitting wool in it recently that had a price on it more than the original price, which was still on the wool inside the bag. Madness.
ReplyDeleteBliss, I can imagine you pushing your husband into the wardrobe with a cattle prod saying 'get it out!' Good that you had someone to give it directly to. I don't think I've seen the book you mention, I will look it up thanks.
Charlene, why thank you! You may regret asking, I will probably bore you silly with all my organising and decor on a budget.
Ani, I love Andrea Bocelli too, I don't care if purists may scoff. Your meals sound tres chic and will have to get Miss G's audio book out of the library. I've only just discovered them and wonder where they've been all my life.
Blue, I read your post. Good job! Your ideas are inspiring.
Aspen, I think if they are in good condition you could donate them. Maybe ask at the place you're dropping them off at. I often check with staff there if they actually want the stuff I'm offering. I even donated a houseplant the other day. It's healthy enough but could I get it to flower? The man behind the counter who looked to be about 90 was thrilled with it. It's probably covered in blooms by now. I just don't have the knack.
How wonderful that you take the time to play your piano. So stylish and cultured!
Fiona - what a great post. I love the story about the man in the thrift shop. It's so much easier to give something up if you think someone else might really need it or even really enjoy it. I so hate waste, as well. I think the women's refuge is a brilliant idea! Never met a cat who needed a knitted coat...but they do breed naked animals these days - I think it's a form of viscious cruelty, myself. Thanks for the uncluttering inspiration!
ReplyDeleteShelley, the man in the op shop has really stayed with me, and he will be my 'vision' to help me let go of items that I really don't need but still keep.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think cats wore coats either but I saw one on a cat shelter website when I was researching where I could donate the yarn to.
I feel very disrespectful if I waste things so I can only throw something away if it is broken and unusuable. I could never throw away anything that someone else could use so I then have to find out where to take it.