8: The KonMari Method, Apple Pie and Spinach Calzones

"Can you truthfully say that you treasure something buried so 

deeply in a closet or drawer that you have forgotten its existence? 

If things had feelings, they would certainly not be happy." 

~ Marie Kondo

It's day eight and I've fallen head over heels for the KonMari Method. The book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo is wonderful, engaging and utterly endearing. 

Ahem, ahem.

No! I did NOT purchase a book! I utilized the library! 

Nyaaaahhh!

Back to our previously scheduled program: 

I have just finished sorting through every stitch and scrap of clothing I own in the entire house. 

There was a lot. 

I pulled them out from crevices, closets, bags, boxes, and even a piece here or there that was probably stuck out in Narnia somehow. I unearthed things I never even knew I had. 

Oh, my. Like the shirt with so many stripes that just looking at it may have given me permanent psychological damage. I encountered the unimaginable when I beheld it. But let us not blog about that. Even the sheer forbidden knowledge of its existence results in nightmares and a subsequent sanity loss. 

Shudder.

Anyway, questionable fashion choices aside, I then dumped the whole lot onto my bed and sorted carefully with the constant question of, "Does this spark joy?" 

I even asked my socks. My undies. My pajama pants. Nothing was able to slip by the Joy Test. 

Three donation bags later (two in large paper sacks, the other in a tall trash bag) and I'm considerably less in the clothing department. So much so, in fact, that all of my clothes fit into two large dresser drawers with a handful of dress clothes folded and stored away elsewhere. 

It took me more time to cautiously fold each and every item per the KonMari Method. And guess what? I totally loved it. It was relaxing and refreshing to be taking mindful care of the items I had chosen to keep. 

That's the point - the focus is on the keeping as opposed to tossing. Asking yourself what you want to keep as opposed to what you're willing to get rid of is much easier. 

Additionally, it's really hard to find myself yearning to go to the store to buy more, more, more when I already have so much that I'm able to discard three bags full! 

I am delirious (partially from madness, the rest from tidy glee). 

Even my closets are delirious. 

No, really. Let me explain.  

Only one apparently anthropomorphic closet is housing clothes. That means I have another entirely empty closet. Compared that to the crammed full mess that was in there before. I can darn near guarantee that these closets have keeled over and gone to closet heaven (after four years in purgatory) 

I even got my husband to do likewise with his. Believe it or not, we are now so organized with our clothes that we (for those in the audience that may be sensitive, please cover your eyes) share a single closet now. 

Holy -bleep-

Now it's time for a spinach calzone dinner followed by apple pie. From scratch. Made by the same husband that just spent an hour sorting his socks. 

Am I lucky or what? 

Pay Up Time!
What did I buy on day 8 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• Nothing! 

This comes to a whopping total of: 0.00 USD!

WOOOO!

7: Bodyweight Training, the Subsequent Jelly Arms from Pushups, and Doggie Guilt Trips

"Pets are humanizing. 

They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility

to preserve and nurture and care for all life." 

~ James Cromwell

It's amazing the amount of exercises that are available utilizing only one's own body. 

For example, the rather unfortunately named Burpee exercise. 

Take any man or woman and have them bend down in a squat, leap back to plank, do a push up, hop back to a squat, then leap into the air for several reps and they'll be transformed - at first into limp noodles resembling human beings. Eventually, or so the theory goes, into toned bodies with the endurance of a god(dess). 

I hope I manage to make it past the linguini phase. 

Bodyweight exercises utilize your own body as opposed to instruments at a gym. The beauty of this is that it helps save monthly dues and equipment costs. The downside is that you can't exactly use the "Oh darn, the weather is too poor to drive to the gym tonight. I guess I'll skip a day" excuse. 

After pummeling my noodly appendages into submission I nearly ended today as the second in a row whereupon I did not venture into any store and purchase a single thing. 

Until I realized the cats were out of litter. 

And then my dog insisted that if he didn't have a bone Right That Minute then he would surely keel over and suffer a most painful, guilt inducing demise. 

You think I jest, but when an old sly German Shepherd has had ten years to learn the tricks of manipulating your heart you too will cave in to his demands. 

If you don't then maybe it's just because I'm easily manipulated. 

Drat. 

I'll forewarn you on the bill upcoming that I purchase cat litter in bulk. It's just simply easier in the long run with two cats in the house. Cats are full of it (and not just ego, if you catch my drift)

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on day 7 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• 20lbs of cat litter (x4 boxes = 80lbs total)
• 1 bag of chips (it was barbecue, non-gmo, really tasty Kettle Chips. Don't judge me! munch, crunch)
• 1 bag of dog bones (5 medium-sized bones in the bag)

This comes to a whopping total of: 41.30 USD (erk! Cough, cough)

6: Glorious Nature, Mutant Ducks, and the Sad Fate of a Lunch Unattended

"In all things of nature 

there is something of the marvelous." 

~Aristotle

Normally Mondays are to be dreaded. Or so Garfield tells us. 

He probably would have said the same thing especially since the majority of my afternoon was spent traipsing about out of doors enjoying some rare (though in truth not quite rare this year) winter sunshine.

There is nothing quite so satisfying as walking for miles. 

Unless it's raining, your car has broken down, the only person you recognize in the city has just driven past your frantically waving arms without noticing you and you're forced to traipse several miles home in dress shoes and clothes. Without an umbrella. 

Not that I'm speaking from experience. 

. . . which I am. 

Luckily, today was a planned venture into nature sans rain and with proper footwear. And it was glorious. 

Oh, yes, come here. Let me whisper a secret. 

It was also FREE. 

There's just something about walking around lakes and beneath large trees (even if in this particular case it was atop a paved pathway) that makes me think big, giant, expansive, existential thoughts.  

 Today though I most tried to figure out why exactly I tended to have a bad hair day every time I was supposed to meet up with a friend that seems to always experience glorious days of luscious thick locks, perfectly styled even in gale force winds. 

I also thought about the fact that I accidentally left my lunch on the counter and that by the time I returned home it would be unsuitable for eating. It was a really nice lunch too. Alas.

And, well, okay, yes, I also thought that there were some mighty strange looking ducks on this lake. Had some mad scientist snuck down to the shore at night and performed illicit duck/blobfish hybridizations? 

4 and three quarter miles later, I traipsed back to my car none the wiser spiritually, but calorically drained and with the sneaking suspicion that the duck-blobs had heard my ill thoughts and were, at that very moment (and probably at this very moment, also) planning revenge. 

Excuse me, I have to go make sure the doors and windows are locked. 

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on day 6 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• A big fat box of NOTHING!

This comes to a whopping total of: 0.00 USD!

QUACK! 

Uh . . . I mean . . . Woohoo! 

5: Budgets, Groceries, Peanut Butter Cookies & a Fantastic Bean Soup

"A budget tells us what we can't afford,

but it doesn't keep us from buying it." 

~ William Feather

Day 5 is Sunday and my normal grocery shopping day. As you may notice I've been picking up a few things here and there throughout the week. This is because I Have A Plan. 

No, really, I do. 

Don't you believe me? 

H-Hello? 

Anyway, our grocery budget is way over inflated. In fact, the term 'budget' is a joke when it comes to our grocery bill expenditures. 

I'll start out with a list of planned meals for the week along with the ingredients required in order to make them. Then I arrive at the store with a self-satisfied and ever so smug glow about me. It's nearly palpable. It radiates off of me in waves. 

"Look at this list! Look at it! Glorious list. I am a budgeting queen. I have got this shit together," it says. 

That glow lies. 

It lies more than an Ikea instruction manual that swears those shelves are going to be easily assembled with all parts fitting snugly together just so without swearing, soul selling, teeth gnashing effort. 

I have paved not a gold brick walkway, but a multinational highway with my good intentions for meal planning. Then it's time to hot trot to the store throughout the week for nickel and diming excursions even after a jaw dropping initial $200.00 haul not once, but generally twice in a month. 

Oh. My. God. 

Seriously? 

This has got to stop. 

So I started something new at the same time as this blog. I've only been hightailing it to the store for items as I need them. I'm forcing myself to stick with that list (Butter only, dammit, woman! Grab it and run for your wallet's life!)

Luckily I'm surrounded on all sides by grocery stores. They're easy to walk, bike and drive to reach. Preferably the first two so as to avoid using gasoline!

Thus far, I've already noticed not only a savings in dollars, but an entirely different way of acting with the food already in the house - I'm using it all. Carefully. Cautiously. 

Too much rice was cooked? Pop it into a bag and freeze it for use later on in the week. 

Leftover mouthfuls of salad? Stick that sucker onto some bread with a slice of tomato and call it a sandwich. 

I already started to make my own chicken, vegetable, and bone broths from leftover scraps in December. Let me tell you that is some of the most tasty, easiest ways of using up every bit of food in the house in addition to saving a pretty darn penny along the way!

A month from now I'll be comparing the amount spent on my new system versus that of my previous system. Thirty days to thirty days of side-by-side totals. Keep those fingers crossed that this will be a glorious, tasty, wallet fattening success!

Speaking of tastes, here's what's on the table for tonight's dinner: 

Black bean soup with leftover rice, homemade chicken broth, onion, tomato, garlic and a ton of spices to punch it up! A side salad with greens, chickpeas, homemade candied walnuts with maple syrup, green apple slices and topped with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. 

Dessert? Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies. Mmmhmmm, yes!

Uh, can you tell yet that I really like to cook (horrid presentations aside)? 

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on day 5 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• 3lbs of Organic Gala Apples
• 3lbs of Organic Potatoes
• 2 containers of Organic Peanut Butter
• 4 Organic Tomatoes
• 1 Loaf of Bread
• 1lb of Organic Spring Salad Mix
• 16oz of Organic Butter (sorry, but my god, do I like butter)

This comes to a whopping total of: 38.23 USD

And let me just say that this was my big shopping trip for the week! Already absurdly less spent on this sucker than I could have imagined and with healthy food out the whazzoo! 

Huzzah!

4: Needs, D&D, and Coffee Cake

"If you have a garden and a library,

you have everything you need."

~ Cicero

Day 4 was packed with activities and none of them involved spending a dime. 

Not even a nickel. 

Not. A. Single. Cent. 

Hot diggity. 

Ah, Cicero. There's a man with a handle on some things. Especially regarding libraries. Kindle, anyone? Three shelves of physical books? Yup, I'm set. Not to mention I have the glorious public library right down the street for a quick car commute, reasonable cycle distance, and a bit longer (huff, puff, are we friggin' there yet?) walking distance.

Since I don't own any land I don't exactly have a garden outdoors. I do, however, have plenty of container plants. Some might say too many. 

Those people are crazy. Don't listen to them. 

But there are two other things I definitely need for happiness. My imagination and my friends. Both of which combine gloriously when we all come together for a fabulous tabletop game of Dungeons and Dragons. Or Vampire the Masquerade, Star Wars, Shadowrun . . . take your pick, really.

Hours of fun, camaraderie and utter silliness. Yes, please. All of it free. 

Ahem. 

Well, alright, yes. Perhaps it is free now that I have purchased all the (cough, expensive, cough, god I've spent so much on these) books over the many previous years. Sunk costs, dang it and worth it. 

Let us add to such a Saturday a delicious, glorious, ever so tasty coffee cake from scratch that not only was fabulous upon the tastebuds, but also tantalizing to the eye! 

Clearly this was not something that I baked. Alas. 

Day 4 concluded with a trip to the pet store with a friend who has just adopted his very first dog. He was in dire need for supplies before his four legged gal's arrival tomorrow afternoon. 

Now I'm back home, the sun has set and it's time to just crawl into my jammies and boot up the computer. This girl is settling down for a night of Skyrim in comfy pants. What more to life is there than that?

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on day 4 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• NOTHING!
• That's right. 
• Nothing.
• Zero.
• Zilch.
• Nada.
• Aha!
• Neenar neenar!

For the sake of full disclosure, I report that on the night of day 3 I zipped out late to the store for: 

• Red Mill Flour
• Pasture Free Happy Chicky Eggs

This comes to a whopping total of: 12.22 USD!

If you had tasted that glorious blackberry coffee cake my husband baked, you too would have justified the second trip to the market!

3: Complexity and Biscuits

"Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, 

and the labors of life reduce themselves." 

~ Edwin Way Teale

Ah, yes. Day 3 has rolled around. It's also a Friday and the weekend looms with all of it's money spending possibilities.

Movies? Dinner? Drinks with friends? Yarg!

Actually, this can all be done in the house so it need not be cut out from my social circle. Phew. Instead it'll just involve my cooking (you poor sods).

Speaking of which: I craved biscuits last night and utilized my handy dandy "I can do it!" attitude to glop something somewhat biscuit shaped and made-from-scratch-thank-you-very-much onto a pan.

Just so you know, I can do it so long as presentation is not an issue - more often than not the results of my baking look like the ravages of war. Luckily, however, appearances are not generally indicative of taste in this case.

Biscuits are a want! Making them from scratch is complex! (Some of you may be saying . . . are you? Or am I hearing voices? Hello? Anybody?)

Anyway, yes, it was a few more extra steps to make the biscuits and I did so crave them (with jam and oh-so-much butter. I do love butter), but it's a sight better than buying the iPad I've been yearning for. One click shopping, why do you taunt me so?

Biscuits it was. They're far more inexpensive and within my allowed purchasing diet. If this keeps up then maybe in 362 days I'll find my cooking greatly improved!

. . . or I'll have gone mad and you'll find me in a corner, eating raw potatoes and drooling over a sale catalog.

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on day 3 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• 8 oz Kerrygold Irish Butter (3x) 
• 100% Organic Grass-fed Whole Milk

This comes to a whopping total of: 17.30 USD!

Just so you know, I'm listing the things I purchase in the shops only and totaling them up. I shall not be adding the mortgage, HOA (horrid things), or utilities yet as my current focus for this blog is stopping my shop spending first!

1 & 2: Simplify, Simplify

"Our life is frittered away by detail . . . simplify, simplify." ~ Henry David Thoreau

I have so much in my home. Books, blankets, clothing galore. I am blessed, but I always want more, more, more.

How about not?

So here I am on day two of my purchasing No More Galore challenge for the next 365 days. It's time to kickstart myself onto a new sustainable (for the planet and for my wallet) way of living. Only necessities are allowed on this monetary diet. Mortgage? Of course! Electric bill? Yes, please. Groceries? Most definitely.

DVDs? Video games? Shoes? Clothes? That most divine set of decorative mirrors? No, no, no, no, and definitely not.

What in the world is wrong with you, woman? (Or so I imagine some of you may be asking)

I'm glad you asked. Let me tell you!

Since I can't be happy purchasing things for more than a few days before that newness vibe rubs off and I'm champing at the bit to do it all over again, I'm treating this like an addiction. Cold turkey, baby.

I tried this before last year. To say I failed miserably is a tad bit harsh, but probably true. I started off well enough. Soon, however, I found myself not only falling off the wagon, but leaping headfirst to the road screaming like a newly paid banshee at a 50% off extravaganza.

In other words . . . I bought a bunch of crud that I utterly did not need and it felt great. For about five minutes. Then it felt like yucky, crummy, crusty failure. Think old milk. Not tasty at all.

So let's try this again, shall we?

This time I've booted up a blog to charter my path and hopefully keep me straight and honest while I kick this consumer habit to the curb, once and for all.

Pay Up Time!

What did I buy on days 1 & 2 of my 365 days of No Buy, No Way, No How?

I am proud to report that I have purchased only:

• 2 packages of organic chicken, 
• 1 giant (non-organic, sniffle) avocado, 
• 1 container of organic spring salad mix. 

This comes to a whopping total of 23.98 USD.

Boo-yah!