The end of simplicity?

Its been a good year getting together and chatting about simplicity.  Thanks for sharing all your wisdom!

want my stuff? can i have yours?

Well, I’m certainly posting a lot lately. It’s not that I suddenly have more time on my hands … it’s just that this is what I’m suddenly choosing to do with my time.

I have some stuff I’m going to get rid of soon and I thought I’d first let you ladies have a crack at them in case they fit your needs.

i need to get rid of:

one twin mattress and box ______ (what is the word that we say after box?) and frame.

a very simple black swivel desk chair.

an almost new toaster oven (i never use it).

a couple plastic drawer organizer things.

some clothes … anyone up for another ladies clothing exchange?

 

Now, i’m looking for a lot of things at all times, so I’ll tell you what they are in case you have what i need just laying around and want to get rid of it. I’m willing to trade or buy!

I need:

1. bike U lock (preferrably the smaller size)

2. fine mesh strainer

3. funnel for kitchen use

4. long curtain rod (i forget the measurements)

5. down comforter

6. 1 G flash drive

7.  really small amber-colored light bulb

8. big CD organizer book (i’m trying to make my own but i’m having difficulties)

Whew! that’s a long list and if I could only remember what else i need/want i’d surely write more.  oh yes, and,

9. snow boots (as previously mentioned)

Well, let me know if you want something i have or have something i want! Thanks!

art supplies and consignment shops

Hello again,

I went to a store called Art Scraps yesterday that I’ve been meaning to check out for awhile. Have any of you been there? It’s pretty great. I know I just said in the last post that i’m not very crafty, but sometimes i still like to try. Anyway, i highly recommend this shop for scraps of art supplies! it’s at 1459 St. Clair Ave. in st. paul–just a few blocks east of snelling. it’s only open 10-5 M-F and 10-4 Sat. not everything there is used, but everything is donated–all stuff that would otherwise be thrown away. they also have a website about other services they offer: www.artstart.org they are having some kind of neat-looking party on oct. 11.

Then i found my way to two consignment shops I wanted to tell you about. one is called Elite Repeat (Men’s and women’s clothing–mostly women’s) and then next door is Bella Galleria, which is consignment household stuff. Both shops have really nice stuff so both are a little pricey, but they’re definitely worth an occasional perusal. They’re at randolph and hamline in st. paul–across from the copper dome.

my recent thoughts …

Hello ladies,

Well, i have a confession. i almost gave up on this group. i was crackin’, y’all, crackin’. But then, for no reason, out of the blue, i decided to finally get around to watching this video jon white told me about, like, a year ago. this video: http://www.storyofstuff.com/ Have you seen it? Despite the fact that the woman talks like she’s talking to little kids, the whole thing really convinced me that we do, indeed, need to stop consuming so much stuff.

So, rather than give up on the group, i will confess my difficulties and the one or two new items i have decided to let myself buy soon. i will also tell you how i’m going to amend my plan and then try to follow it for the rest of my life!

I have determined that i need a new pair of dankso clogs. my old ones are not completely worn out (that will probably never happen), but they’re too worn out to get by wearing to work anymore. buying dansko clogs is a good move, i think, because for one, they are the most comfortable shoes i’ve ever owned, and two, they may never truly wear out.

i also might buy a new pair of snow boots. i don’t own any snow boots and i walk to work every day. i also am a lot more sane when i can get out for walks. last winter it was really hard to go for walks on the snowy days and it was hard to walk to work on those days too. i need snow boots. i am very willing to buy them used, i just have to find them. if anyone finds decent used snow boots for sale, let me know. i’m a size 7.5.

While i’m confessing I might as well tell you all i also bought a new bra (mine were all worn out) and a stainless steel water bottle (which I determined I needed after smashing my third glass bottle).

So, now for my new plan. actually, it’s not very different from our plan, but it’s a little less strict on the whole nothing new thing (since i’m talking about the rest of my life here). when i do buy new things, i’m going to try to only buy the best quality, and i’d like to try to figure out how to buy mostly things that are produced locally as well as sold by independent merchants. that’s tough and it won’t always be possible, but i’m going to at least look into it and try to find the things that are produced closer to home and with the best environmental and worker conditions possible. (i don’t think i’ve truly considered the full ramifications of this idea and how hard this will be yet. for example, i just realized that this means i probably shouldn’t have gotten my bra from victoria’s secret. does this mean i’ll have to buy all my bras and underwear at that birch store? probably. i don’t know. i have a lot of research to do i guess.)

So, for christmas this year, since i am not too crafty and trying to make things will certainly not make my life more simple (and i have to have gifts for everyone in my family–that’s how we do it), i am going to commit to buying gifts that are sold in independent, local shops and ideally those that are produced as close to home as possible. i’m going to try to opt for gifts of food, tickets to events, and gift certificates to restaurants or salon/spas when possible so as not to contribute to my relatives’ amounts of “stuff” in their lives.

i don’t know what to ask for from my family though. they love stuff. i get mostly things i never wanted and will never use, which is why i actually give them a list usually (it really helps reduce the “crap”). but i can’t ask them for only local gifts or gift certificates to stores i approve of as they don’t live around here. i’d love to just ask for cash. maybe i can ask them to all go in on one bigger thing i’ve been wanting … i’ve got to think about it more …

alright, that’s it for my thoughts for now.

peace,

Sarah

in case you need a little nudge of motivation for what we’re doing …

Hi Ladies,
I was listening to MPR recently and I heard a professor from Boston College (holla, Casie) say the following:

“Per capita, we’re purchasing almost twice as many clothes as we did in 1991. The volume of furniture, measured in pounds, has more than doubled in just seven years. In fact, households are buying almost everything at rates far higher than a decade ago, from food to glassware to sporting goods. And all those products put carbon in the atmosphere as they are produced, shipped, used and discarded. Counting on technology to overcome the surge in what industrial ecologists call “material throughput” requires magical thinking. It may go over well in economics textbooks but falters in the real world.”

Now, i’m sure you all at least assumed the above was true or you woudln’t have joined our little group. But to be honest, I’ve been struggling with temptation to buy new things, and hearing this gave me a little extra surge of certainty that we’re doing the right thing here! In case you want to read the whole thing (it’s not very long at all), here’s the link: http://marketplace.publicradio.org//display/web/2008/07/04/volume_commentary/?refid=0

I hope you’re finding simple pleasures in non-things all around this summer …

sarah

Micro-loans

Tim Lyles was telling me about this really interesting website called kiva.org.  Basically, it is an organization that selects people around the world to apply for micro-loans for their small business.  Then people can go on the website and search through all the people applying for loans, and give out a loan.  The money is all paid back usually within 6 months to a year.  It seems like a really cool concept…just thought you all may be interested.

He also mentioned that PBS did a story about it.  Here is a link: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/

(i haven’t actually watched it, so i hope that’s the right one!)

Extra Nalgene bottle, anyone?

Our one nalgene bottle busted and we are looking for a replacement.  Does anyone have one that they are not using anymore?  Prefer the liter size but would take something smaller.

pots for tomatoes

I am search of some pots to plant my tomato plants in.  I could use as many as 6, and they need to be large, as the plants will be getting big.  If anyone has anything laying around, let me know.  I might have to break my rules to keep the tomatoes alive otherwise

CD Player

I am looking for a small CD player that I can have in our bedroom for Alice while she’s trying to get to sleep. Anyone have one lying around that they don’t use anymore?

Bloomington curbside cleanup

So Bob and I have done this for the past 3 years… scavenging Bloomington Curbside cleanup.  I know you are thinking, I can’t believe this but really it’s a kick. The overall experience is quite a spectacle.

Here’s the story:  The city of Bloomington allows it’s residents once a year to put ANYTHING on their front yard, and the city will pick it up for $20.  They have to set it out on Friday nite for an early Saturday morning pickup.  Some people put out a teeny bit, others fill their whole front yard at the street… with anything an everything. And it is happening this weekend, through the middle of May.

So, we go out after happy hour on Friday nites in April (along with MANY others) and check to see if we can find any treasures.  I have found in fair or good condition… sleds, children’s bikes, patio furniture, hose (to patch ours), wheelbarrel tires, shutters for my house, etc.  If you are looking for odds and ends, and like an adventure, then this is for you.

It’s also a hoot because the residents of Bloomington, love watching the scene of the people scrambling over their junk.  People sit out on their lawns with their neighbors, grilling out, and place bets on what will go first… I overheard one guy won $2 on the fact that I picked up their shutters from the junk pile.

The divide the city by streets, check out the city’s website for the dates and areas:   http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/pubworks/mainten/garbage/curbside/curbside.htm

And lastly, Bob’s recommendations of proper adventure gear include: flashlight, tool box, bungy cords and a blankets for the dirty stuff.