{live simply}

That is all I really want to do.

Live simply.

But how can I teach our kids to do that when the is a constant flood of toys into our home?

I used to have a very bad shopping addiction, I still like to shop but now I try to really evaluate what I'm buying. Does it have a purpose? Will I want to take it with us when we move? Where will I put it? And with clothes I just don't buy them unless I need them. I don't really see any needs coming up anytime soon. We decided at the beginning of the year we would only buy things second hand unless we really needed it. We haven't stuck to that 100% but I do much better then I used to and that is the goal... To try.

If you have been in my home you have probably noticed that I have clutter.

The stuff you own ends up owning you.

Toys.
The boys have so many toys that they no longer value them or take care of them. If I threaten to throw them away they say fine. We put almost all of the toys in the basement last week except for the zoo animals and they haven't even noticed. They don't care about toys.

Paper.
I have SO MUCH paper. Old bills, coupons, junk mail, insurance paperwork, car paperwork, taxes, pet paperwork, I-might-need-this-someday paperwork... It makes me crazy. I have a tub of things to sort in my room. It owns me.

Crafts.
Everything can be used two or three or more times. Everything. So I tend to save everything that could possibly have another use which is better then throwing it away... But now it owns me. I have tubs and shelves and baskets full of things to repurpose.

Clothes.
I have enough clothes to go weeks without doing laundry. That is not ok.

Pinterest.
Yes there is even clutter here. I can't find the really importient pins that help make life simpler because I have created so many boards and I have too many things pinned.

So my goal here is to challenge myself to really take care of these problems. I will probably handle clothes and paper first. It may take me all year but I am going to try.