simplifying...

i've lately been feeling the urge to simplify things at home. we are two young, busy adults with two very active cats living in an 850 sq. ft. 3 bedroom house, and things just barely fit. we're also always looking for ways to save money. we have some lofty financial goals that we want to meet before we have kids, and in general, we just want to improve our financial health.

so, we're paring down. we're getting rid of the things we've carted around, the clothes that don't fit, the shoes we don't wear, the dishes we don't use, the scrapbook supplies (GASP!) that we don't need. it's quite a project, but i am continually reminding myself that if i can find a new home for it now, we won't have to move it later - and moving is one of our lofty pre-kid goals, and i hate moving.

i've also come to the realization that i just don't need *things*. life is so good as it is, i don't need every color of Prima flowers, i don't need excessive quantities of ribbon, i don't need two pieces of *every* print that chatterbox makes, i don't need every stamp set on my Stampin' Up! wishlist just because it's cute - i probably won't use it anyway. i don't need 6 sets of bedsheets for one queen bed, i don't need CDs i haven't listened to in 5 years, i don't need books that i'll never read again or movies that i'll never watch again. simplification. purging.

if we can't use it, lose it. (well, sell it or give it away.)

and so far, i'm loving the results. it helps that i have a husband that is so committed to this that he'll make as many donation runs to value village as i want him to make, and parents that will gladly lend us their big ol' SUV for hauling purposes.

and the end product is fewer boxes, fewer messes, fewer cluttered closets. more space, more coziness, more cleanliness and tidiness. we just don't need all these *things*. *stuff* as our pastor calls it. the *stuff* you get wrapped up in, striving for it. a big house, a big boat, a big car, lots of *stuff*.

but my treasures are in heaven. well, ok, i have a few in my art studio too. ;)