Swiftly Simplify

10/01/2024

Rabbit ~ Rabbit ~ Rabbit

October Arrives.
The month of Nature in her most colorful.
Oranges, deep reds, russet greens, and a bit of pink. Then the increasing darkness, day by day - till the hauntings of Halloween on Oct. 31st.
Boo!! 🎃🎃🎃

03/02/2023

When you think you can take it with you....

Egyptian Tutankhamun's tomb, 1922
Colorized photograph

12/09/2021

What was worth keeping……

https://www.elledecor.com/shopping/g28037102/antique-appraisals-what-is-it-worth/?utm_source=facebook_arb&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=arb_fb_eld_m_ios_g28037102&fbclid=IwAR3ERA2kPo-zz9Xm0OIoCNgFPz9EqqC2cievLO2AASfq-EIhHvCkPIaVTYw_aem_AdpqDlwleVCsiEN9EqUqwu7sxGI3A9dAQEuZ114sFSJfj_lZ-ukFYUdhNJZjTX4KlBg56WXpxh8Dm285Cn4ckwRQUwPKqmGhLL0OoApPwxf23OS400NjRSm1BGoySt1BR_0

Do you have any of these valuable items hiding in your attic?

06/18/2021

A place for everything and everything in it’s place. Organization is key!

06/08/2021

The Elephant in the Room

You know when you have too much stuff - when you can hide an elephant in the house and not even see it.

02/16/2021

Great Idea - 40 Bags in 40 Days. You know you need to do this.

Discover more about the challenge here: bit.ly/2TsV5vj

11/18/2020

The Distraction of Stuff
Downsizing is about finding what’s best for you.
Try asking yourself first before you buy -- Do I really need to buy this? Then, ask again before you give it away. It is mindfully choosing to spend your time and money on the things that matter most to you, and in turn, eliminate the distraction of stuff.

To help with your decision, here are 5 questions to ask yourself when it is time to let something go.

1. How long has "the thing" gone unused?
When it comes to material stuff, we tend to hold onto things after they’ve served their purpose. Generally, if something hasn’t been used in 6 months, it will probably not be needed again. There are some exceptions for seasonal items, but this is a good spot to start.

2. Does "the thing" create stress?
It might not be possible to eliminate all stress from our lives, but letting go of certain things can really reduce your stress levels. Do you keep banging your leg on the coffee table, then, let it go? If the thought of cleaning out your basement causes you angst and anxiety, then it probably means you need to start clearing out of the space.

3. Would your life be simpler without "the thing"?
Everything we own costs money to keep and takes up our time and space. Life is much simpler with less. So be really honest with yourself. You might find that you are better off by letting go of things that hinder your checkbook, your space, and your time.

4. Are you holding onto "the thing" just because you think you should or would feel guilty by letting it go?
We often keep sentimental items because we think we have to. Things from family members and loved ones. There are times that we need to put ourselves first. Let "the thing" continue its journey in the world on its own.

5. Could someone else use "the thing" more than you?
You need to go thru your belongings a couple times a year. When you find things that you no longer need, please consider that there are others that are in need of the item. If you know someone personally, ask them. Otherwise, donate your things to a local charity. This helps you to declutter your life and you help others at the same time.

10/29/2020

The Lifecycle of Your Home

An attractive chart on the life of your appliances and structure parts of your home and how long they will be approximately helpful to your house.

Good to keep in mind that when you replace an appliance or flooring. Do not keep the original. It's is of little value to anyone. It will become useless clutter in your garage or barn.

10/26/2020

Fibber McGee's Closet

I was listening to Radio Classics on Sirus the other day and heard an episode of Fibber McGee & Molly's radio show from the 1940s and their famous cluttered closet.

One of the show's more memorable running jokes was the overstuffed hall closet in Fibber McGee & Molly's house at 79 Whistful Vista. The joke involved the McGee's frequently opening the hall closet, filled to capacity with bric-a-brac and non-useful things, only to have the closet's contents come clattering out, often over McGee's or Molly's heads.

"I gotta get that closet cleaned out one of these days" was what McGee usually said, once the closet contents had stopped falling out. Naturally, "one of these days" never arrives. In the 1940s, "Fibber McGee's Closet" entered American slang as a catchphrase synonymous with household clutter.

Many of us have a hall closet like Fibber & Molly. Stuffed to the gills, filled with things that we hope we will use one day. We pass the closet every day, knowing that we should take some time and declutter it before it becomes a clutter landmine of destructive forces.

Maybe today is the day - to just tackle the hall closet. Take everything out, create 3 piles (Keep, Discard, & Donate), Only put back what you are going to keep and really, really going to use. Your closet will thank you and anyone else who might open the closet door and be engulfed by the detritus. Closet Clearing!!! Yeah!

Fibber McGee & Molly Radio Show
Cleaning the Closet - March 5, 1940
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3rC7_qeYzM

09/04/2020

07/20/2020

What do you call a home sale of getting rid of things?