#Day7-9: More Goodbyes...to Stuff

If you were one of the many who were skeptical about this so-called #minimalistproject after reading my #day1 post with the elimination of a single pencil from my life....then rest assured that the pencil I threw away as "my 1 item " on the first day was merely a symbolic gesture representing where I was starting from, namely ground zero.
And while working from ground zero means it's hard to find a starting point (and seems totally overwhelming!), the positive is that I can only improve.

So with days 1 through 6 behind my, I'd like to make way for a compilation of #NoClutterNovember from days 7-9.

Right to it...

November 7th, my 7 things:

Who doesn't have a collection of half-used paint from the color palette of the rooms that make up your house?
...My other question is, who has actually taken the opportunity to ever use any of their leftover paints? Seriously. I'm curious.

I may have attempted to use one can for a touch-up once, but the lid was so glued on with dried paint from the rim that it was virtually impossible to have "re-use" as a realistic option. So when I searched my house for #day7's items, I figured any paint 2 years or older had to go!

(Now I'm just trying to figure out the environmentally responsible protocol for trashing these bad boys....so for now they are sitting outside of my house awaiting their demise.)

*(Update since I wrote that last sentence: Since sitting outside my house for the past 2 days, every last can of paint is magically gone... taken by who knows who....but maybe the guy from yesterday's post?! Did I mention that I live right outside the Bermuda Triangle?!)

So, "Goodbye, rainbow of toxicity. Perhaps your grays and whites and greens and browns can be used to freshen up someone else's home... or garage... or miscellaneous projects made of wood. Every time I pass a paintbrush I will think of you (total lie. I will never remember your name and probably the only time I will ever regard you is when I am considering getting rid of excess paint from a future paint job)."

Moving on. To...

November 8th, my 8 things:

7 boardgames & (not pictured) an incomplete deck of cards (thrown away!)

#Day8

Speaking of games...Has anyone heard of the Toy Library in Rochester?!
Please go! It's awesome. (Or if your kids are grown...Volunteer!)
Kids can play with toys while you're visiting ...AND you can even borrow games and toys with your library card. 

This place was made for #theminimalistproject because it has inspired me to get rid of the games that are played about once a year.
[I'm not talking the regulars like Sorry or Farkle or Wits and Wagers:Family; just the randoms such as the zhu-zhu pet game (?), etc)]
And if you're worried about my investment in "family game night" getting the raw end of the deal, don't!
These games....I can donate them to the Toy Library where myself and any other library patron in our county can borrow them whenever they want, to be enjoyed at Family Game Nights "all over the city!"
Perfect solution for difficult goodbyes.
I can still "visit them" and "see them" whenever I want, and bonus....I don't have to find a place to store them or organize them in my house!  

"Goodbye, boardgames. ...Oh, boardgames! How I love playing most of you! I just can't keep you to myself. It will be better for everyone if I share you with the world Monroe County!"

...Now if only I could find a Toy Library like that, but for all the books I have....wait! What?! There is a place like that?! Oh, it's called "the library?!" Nice...(segue to day 9...)

November 9th, my 9 things:

#Day9

I love books (almost as much as games)! But I go through and weed out my book collection a few times a year to keep it fresh and progressive. (If my husband had it his way, each child in our family would pick 3 books to keep on the shelf and the rest would be gone....I'm not exaggerating, We had a fight discussion about this very thing!)
While I'm getting better at releasing some books that are falling apart or rarely read, it is harder to give up something that was read to my little one ...or read by my little ones for the first time. The problem is, if I kept every book I ever read to my kids or my kids ever read to me, we would need to rent a couple storage units. (...yes! My kids ARE THAT smart! ;)

So "Goodbye, fun and educational materials for the babes! Don't worry, this isn't the end for you...you are just spreading the wealth to another fun and literate family who I'm sure will turn your pages with much less aggression than baby Sadie! Don't worry about us, We have enough material left to continue the kids' preparation for college in the next 10-17 years."




and that leads us to day 10....which, please don't ask if I'm prepared, because this process is literally taking one day at a time...just like any effective 12-step program....only with a lot more public sharing of baggage/clutter pics.