On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

This comment form Spendwisemom just goes to prove that Christmas can have a different format to drowning your children in gifts and still be great for both you and the kids.

This week Sara added her voice to the group and wow is she doing her bit for the environment. You can read about it here if you missed her comment on Wednesday.

Perhaps we have a Kindle convert in Martha @ minimalistinthemaking.blogspot.com. although I don’t think we will wean her off real books altogether I think she is finding that digital isn’t so bad after all. Read her comment here.

In this comment Debbie tells us about what great declutter buddies her and Sabine have been for each other.

I enjoyed this comment from Jessiejack because she seems to have found the balance between her love of reading and the need to own the books themselves. 

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

www.dailymail.co.uk ~ Clutter-makes-fat-If-house-mess-chances-eating-habits-says-new-book

It is hard to avoid extra shopping during the holiday season but it really isn’t that hard to avoid plastic bags. I found this website this week dedicated to going bagless ~ baglessnu.wordpress.com ~ check it out.

If you love to give gifts from the heart but feel the need for there to be a tangible item passed from the giver to the recipient then here is a wonderful solution.  It is a better option to buying gifts that end up as clutter in peoples home and can also then be passed on from one recipient to the another creating a history as it goes. In fact the tangible part of this gift could be returned to the giver when the actual kindness has been carried out and then passed on to another. I know I would like someone to wash my car, cook a meal or take me out for a treat instead of giving me a gift I most likely didn’t even want. “What am I talking about?”, you ask, well check this out and see for yourself ~ me-do-dat.com

Here is a simple little blog post that says a lot from ~ simplesavvy.wordpress.com ~Most Valuable Possession, or A Load of Claptrap 

This link highlights some basic pre-holiday organising tips ~ kijiji.com ~ Holiday decluttering tips

Today’s Declutter Item

At long last the end of the Coca Cola collection. Sometimes it takes a little perseverance to sell things on ebay. Luckily I have no shortage of determination and finally I sold these off to once again make a little pocket money for my son. I am just glad to see the back of them.

The last of my son's Coca Cola collection sold on eBay

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Just sitting around chatting. It is good to be able to spend hours in the company of others and do nothing but chat about whatever subject comes up.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

Ideealistin makes a good point here in a follow up comment to a question posted by Lynn who had asked for some helpful ideas on toy storage.

Everyone congratulate Felicity on a job well done. She shares her garage sale success story in this comment from Saturday.

Here is a great refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle story shared by Ann in this comment. Well done Ann you have certainly undergone a full reform from your cluttering days.

This comment from Carol certainly brings home the impact “hoarding” stuff can have on your children. The good news is it is never too late to turn this situation around.

I really enjoyed this comment from Becky about her minimal Christmas.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Like everything else this week, today’s five will have a holiday season theme.

www.statesman.com ~ Make this the year kids are really thankful

Thank you to Stacia for this link about pet safe holiday decorating. www.aspca.org ~ Pet care tips/Holiday safety 

Talk about breaking with tradition check out these groovy trees. www.work-killer.com ~ Creative christmas tree designs 

I think I have found my new Christmas tree or I will if I scour the neighbourhood and beg some one to let me cut a branch off their tree. Check this out www.apartmenttherapy.com ~ The modern minimalists christmas tree 

And last but by no means least I stumbled upon this link while trying to find minimalist Christmas post for you and what a gem this is. When we’re at home ~ Minimalist Christmas

Today’s Declutter Item

In keeping with today’s mini mission here are my recycled and/or handmade Christmas cards for the year. How is this decluttering you ask? I use the fronts of last years cards and a stash of card samples and craft supply that are cluttering up my craft room/office to construct this years cards. Once they are mailed that will be another small fraction of the overabundant craft supplies gone from my home for good.

Christmas cards sent = Less craft clutter

Something I Am Grateful For Today

My new organic Christmas tree (pictures for you tomorrow), lunch with a good friend, more rain and getting a head start on next weeks posts so I have more time to spend with my parents while they are visiting. Thanks Dizzy for your contribution.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

Actually I couldn’t stop at five so there are six this week. Hee hee, it’s my blog and I’ll break the rules if I want to. 

This comment from Amy in NY holds a number of good points when it come to clutter.

Here is a comment with some good advice about keepsake clutter form Minhus.

I loved this comment from Jane, it so nails what hobbies are for a lot of people. The key is to only invest in supplies you need NOW and then you will not get bogged down in aspiration clutter when the novelty wears off.

And this comment from Jo is the flip side to Janes comment. Both are correct of course because Jane has come to her realisation that it is purely aspiration while Jo will bide her time decluttering other stuff until she is ready to let go or not.

This comment from Lena and all the wonderful comments like it that I get from other readers and even knowing their are people out there benefiting from what I write that I never hear from is why I am still blogging about this subject after all this time. Helping people is a beautiful thing.

This comment from Sharron confirms that I was on the right path with my Crash diet or lifestyle change post from Thursday.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Amy in NY wanted to share this link with you on what and where you can donation used items. It is American based so some readers may not find it so useful or prefer to donate more locally. ~ missminimalist.com ~ Where to donate your stuff 101 places your clutter can do good 

Hear is a great clothes clutter article that Cindy brought to my attention.  The Happiness Project ~ Will clearing your clothes clutter make you happy? Oh yes!

Lynn asked yesterday for some helpful ideas on toy storage and here is a site that I thought had some good advice ~ internetarticlesdb.com ~ How-to-Choose-Toy-Storage-Bins.html I personally love this plastic storge bin idea.

Here is some good basic advice on decluttering from ~ womansday.ninemsn.com.au ~ Declutter-your-home-declutter-your-life

And last but not least here are some great ideas for decluttering your kitchen www.domesticguru.com ~ Declutter-the-kitchen

Today’s Declutter Item

This item has been taking up valuable space in the bottom of my wardrobe forever. I bought it when I was in the enthusiastic period of my scrapbooking days. My intention was to use it when attending scrapbooking retreats and classes to which I never went. It was such a handy bag or at least it will be to the lady who bought it from me for $51 on ebay.

Rolling Scrapbook Tote

Something I Am Grateful For Today

The beautiful breeze that wafted into town tonight is what I am grateful for today. We have had a very hot few days and this breeze is so refreshing. I hate being weak by turning on the airconditioner but it is imposible to sleep upstairs in our bedroom without it on hot nights. And I need my beauty sleep.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments.

Enjoy Amy in NY did a great tips round up in this comment of all the points from many of the comments on my post What are you leaving to your family. It is never too soon to get all your ducks in a row and be ready for the inevitable.

This comment from Becky @ Decluttering Diva says it all about how much better a decluttered, simpler Christmas can be. It may not be for everyone, some people don’t find Christmas stressful but for it it sounded perfect.

Here is a comment/request from Raesha regarding keepsakes clutter and family history. Perhaps more readers could give her their opinions, that way she will have a balanced view.

Annabelle came to her own correct conclusion at the end of this comment. Please anyone who is willing back her up on her decision. Cheap clutter is still clutter.

I loved Ideealistin’s way to get rid of awkward stuff in this comment and make sure you read on to her followup on what she managed to get rid of on Freecycle.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

This website has some good little articles on going green ~ secondact.com including ~ Five ways to eliminate plastic from your life   How many other ways can you think of and instigate in your home.

This one can be a little confronting but then it is designed to get you thinking about doing the right thing ~ The Story of Stuff

Here is a little more advice on decluttering and organizing your keepsakes from Organize Me ~ Just clutter or a keepsake collection?

WARNING WARNING:  “This is what you should not do so let that be a lesson to you!” ~ Dr Suess. While googling clutter to find some good items to share with you today I found this absurdity. Please read and absorb until you get to the part where it says ~  The most obvious solution to this problem is finding more space to put stuff – purchasing a cheap self storage at Merthyr selfstorage.co.uk ~ Solve your clutter problem the benefits of cheap self storage.

Unitasker Wednesday over at unclutterer.com is always good for a laugh. The thing is, it is only funny until you start thinking about all the resources that go into making these next to useless objects.

Today’s Declutter Item

Here is some more greeting cards declutterd, this time from my 21st birthday. Oh the freedom I am feeling as the keepsake clutter disappears. 20+ years those things have been taking up space in my home waiting for the day I die so someone else has to sort through them and possibly feel guilty about throwing them away. Well I have solved that problem.

More Keepsake Clutter Eliminated

Something I Am Grateful For Today

My mother-in-law came through her operation this week and was feeling good yesterday. It has been quite a difficult twelve months for her. Hopefully the next twelve months will be good to her and she can take it easy for a while.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

I loved this comment from Dizzy last week, she must surely be a proud mum. And no I didn’t pick this comment because Dizzy said I had beautiful red hair. 😉

Cindy recommended I highlight this comment from Ideealistin and what a beauty it is. I am glad Cindy pointed it our because it had snuck under my radar while I was away on the weekend of the the 15th.

Here is a great tip sent to us in a comment from Sabine. If you are having trouble decluttering your wardrobe maybe this tip will be the plan you were looking for.

Jane left this comment in response to Cindy’s column this week ~ How can you have MORE to declutter? Never be deterred by thinking will I ever be done decluttering. You are only finding more because you are continually getting better at it. Just keep pealing back those layers.

I have brought this comment to the forefront in case anyone has some advice for Leah. My advice was to go cold turkey and put them in the recycling. We spend far too much mental energy over stuff that doesn’t really deserve our attention.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Saving Advice ~ Use up, wear out, make do, do without. I just loved the motto to this blog.

The Non-consumer Advocate ~ Use it up-wear it out-make it do-or do without-challenge And here is more of the same.

The Zero Waste Home ~ A word on heirloom guilt  This great post from Bea at The Zero Waste Home just goes to prove that getting rid of sentimental/heirloom clutter doesn’t make you a heartless person. It just makes you sensible. The memories are still there every day and many ways without the clutter to back it up.

MiniMum ~ Top clutter – Paper-rules I loved Jess’s take on paper clutter in this post. One can never read enough blog posts on paper clutter until you are finally convinced you that you don’t need most of it.

This blog post from Willow, one of my long time regular readers, just goes to prove that the good things in life don’t come in packages.

Today’s Declutter Item

Freecycled last weekend were these 14 Coca Cola bottles. Needless to say there were many keen requests to take them off my hands. I am sure the new owner is pleased to have them in their collection. I know I was pleased to have them out of my garage.

Coca Cola Bottle Collection

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Some days just feel good and today was one of those days. Nothing special about it, it just went smoothly. I am grateful for that.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

We have been graced with the presence of many new reader/commenters over the last week or so and I decided that today I would feature a selection of them in the favourite five. I am curious to know how you all found my blog but I am glad that you did. We have a great community going here and your shared wisdom is an asset to my blog. Thank you!

 Geeta tells us about the wonderful way she has found to donate her unneeded items in this comment. She really gets to savour the full joy of her generosity.

Gail had some good advice in her comment to discourage unnecessary purchaseds while out shopping.

Will everyone welcome Leah on her journey to declutter. She has a long road ahead but every journey begins at the starting line and Leah tells us about her’s in this comment.  Good luck Leah and bon voyage we are with are with you all the way.

Eileen found the perfect way to spend precious time with her siblings and to make the most out of and sorting old family photos. Read about it in her comment.

Sanna hasn’t been with us long either but it’s obvious she is a fast learner judging by the insight she gives in this comment regarding photos.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

In keeping with the reader/commenter theme I am only including blogs this week from my readers. I hope you enjoy them.

 Low Income Lady

Minimalist in the Making  by Martha

Decluttering Diva  by Becky

Notes to Self  by Alliandre ~ You will have to translate this one because Alliandre is Italian but google should be able to take care of that for you. If this link doesn’t work cut and paste http://ippe.blogspot.com/ into your search line.

My Year(s) of Spending Less and Living More (Musings from a Midlife Mom)  by Sharon

Today’s Declutter Item

These three pillowcases (slips, shams whatever you want to call them) were excess to my needs. The pink one matches nothing and the others are king size and I don’t have king size pillows. Off to the thrift shop with all your other clutter buddies you go.

 

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Today my gratitude item is not a difficult one to remember. On this day last year at about 10:10 at night I received a phone call that I never will forget. The call was from the hospital telling me my son had been involved in an accident. When I asked if he was OK the response was “No, I’m sorry, he has sustained a serious brain injury and is in an induced coma and is undergoing test before we move him to ICU. I dropped that phone so fast, got dressed and was at the hospital before you could blink. My darling boy celebrates the first anniversary of the rest of his life today and my gratitude to God for his amazing recovering knows no bounds. My gratitude for the wonderful support not only from Cindy who stood in for me in my time of need but from all my wonderful readers whose prayers and well wishes buoyed my heart and gave me strength through the weeks that followed knows no bounds. I am also grateful that my husband was able to take a whole month of work so we could be together and give each other the strength to watch the scary recovery process. There were times when we thought our boy would never be the same but by the time my husband’s leave was up our boy was home and doing well. Every day I am grateful that we still have our darling boy to love and watch grow and hopefully this will be the one and only big scare we every have in our lives. 

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

I have been consistently having weeks lately where there are so many great comments that it is hard to keep up with them all never mind narrow them down to just five for Friday. I am loving all the great feedback and shared wisdom and I feel sorry for those readers who just don’t have the time to read them all. So here are five that I wouldn’t want you to forget or miss.

Not only did Sharron write us a great post last weekend and share photos of her lovely decluttered home but she also left this piece of great advice for Creative Me.

Everyone who has clutter at home and especially clutter in a paid storage unit needs to read this comment for Creative me.

Ideealistin also makes some great points about clutter stored too long in this comment

I know I am focsuing very much on the storage unit issue in my fave five this week but really people need to read this stuff and not all readers read these very important lesson learning comments. So here is another amazing story from Dizzy.

I have great respect for Chelle for leaving this comment. She put herself on the line to make a point and set an example of why overindulging our children is not wise. Good for you Chelle and thank you.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Here a two great links brought to my attention by Annie. Thank you Annie the more we drive the futility of this phenomonin the better. N Y Times.com ~ The Self-storage Self  &  Slate.com ~ Selfstorage Nation

Minimalist Lifestyle ~ A minimalist lifestyle has to start somewhere

This web item has nothing to do with decluttering I just like it. It does have a definite environmental message though so there we have a connection. abc.net.au ~ Confession: I’m one of those [expletive] cyclists  

And last but not least this post from one of my long time readers Cat’s Meow just goes to prove that the simple things in life are often the best. Life Should Be The Cat’s Meow ~ Birthdays and animal days and other simple joyful things I love right now

Today’s Declutter Item

We still have the CDs but they take up a lot less room when not in the cases so these will go to the thrift store for someone who feels the need to have the cases but may have broken a few.

CD Cases

Something I Am Grateful For Today

My very good friend just became a grandma for the third time today. This is her middle daughters first baby and bub and mum are doing well. Things didn’t go well with her first pregnancy so I am extra grateful that everything turned out well this time.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

Wow what a week it has been, so many great conversations going on in comments. Choosing five has been tricky but five it has to be so here goes.

Cindy has chosen this comment form Annabelle in response to her Wednesday Wisdom.

I enjoyed this comment from Lesley even though at first glance it would seem we had opposing idea but in fact I think we actually agree on this topic.

I also enjoyed this exuberant comment from Dizzy a new reader/commenter. I hope she stays involved as she seems to be full of energy and I am sure has plenty to add to our daily conversations.

This comment from Creative Me contains just one of the scenarios I was expecting to elicit when I wrote Tuesdays Post. I knew someone out there would have saved items to hand down to their child and ended up not have the child to match the items. I fully expected that someone might write in with the sad story of not being able to have children at all. Imagine how heart wrenching that would be when you have all those nice things you intended to pass on to them.

And I couldn’t let this comment from Jo slide into obscurity without it being noticed. It is true what she says which is evident from this post I wrote back in march, even though at times I probably come off as the clutter Nazi. Contrary to popular belief I am not a minimalist I just like to encourage people to declutter their excesses, shop responsible and recycle/rehouse what they can.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Lena thought we might all enjoy this link ~ The Burninghouse 

This post from Miss Minimalist ~ One less thing fashion trends shows the fashion industry in a certain light that some may not have given much thought to.

This is just a short post from Happy Shiny Me ~ Handing over reins . I like the strategy she is going deploy to try to break her attachment to some of her clutter. It is not a new strategy but I like how she is enlisting her sister’s help to pull it off.

I loved this simple post for Bea at Zero Waste Home ~ Happy Spooning . I would love my local favourite curry takeout joint to give their customers the option to purchase Tiffin Carriers to collect their curry orders home in rather than waste plastic every time we eat there.

www.abc.net.au ~ Anti-consumerism is the new democracy

Today’s Declutter Item

These declutter items would have been appropriate for yesterday’s post. They were stray hand towels left over from bath towel sets gone by. I bet Deb J would like to get her hands on them, literally. I donated them to the thrift store for someone to get use out of because it could be another ten years before I ever needed them.

Excess Hand Towels

Something I Am Grateful For Today

I got to have a furry friend accompany me on my walk today. I was pet sitting a friends dog for the day because he had a little incident over the weekend and she just wanted me to make sure he was OK throughout the day while she was at work. I know she is probably more grateful than me but he is such good company I just had to take him for a walk. He seemed pretty grateful too. One favour, three happy individuals.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds on the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy! 

Top of my list this week is this comment for Elaine. I am sure you will all agree what a generous, thoughtful soul she is.

I particularly enjoyed responding to this comment from Lena. She is taking the time to read back through my archives and I’ve got to respect her for that. She leaves some very thought provoking comments and when it comes to the subject of books I have received a lot of those in the time I have been writing my blog and hers carries the same passion many do.

I couldn’t let the week go by without drawing attention to this response from Katharine to all the well wishes she received for her wedding day from our caring readers.

We have another new reader, Tanya Bosch, who left this comment of how my blog is already starting to help in her quest to recognise and resist her clutter weaknesses.

Loretta was kind enough to share her before and after home photos in a link in this comment.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

For more on visual clutter ~www.ionpsych.com ~ Visual clutter it’s worse than you think 

This next blog is one I had not heard of before The writter Naveen was kind enough to link to my blog as one of his top 20 simplicity/minimalist blogs on the web. There are lots a other great blogs as well that you may or may not have heard of on this list. So take a look and see what Naveen has to say on the minimalist subject as well. Planet Naveen ~ 20 best blogs on simplicity and minimalism

Here is a little tidbit on procrastination from a blogger that recently nominated me for a Versatile Bloggers Award. I had to decline due to the fact that I don’t have enough time lately to discover and pass the award on to 15 new to me blog discoveries. I nonetheless appreciate the gesture. ms.mouse cleans house ~ Procrastination nation

I love this post by missminimalist ~ The minsumer movement-A quiet revolution. I think it is so well written and discribes how I feel about turning my back on rampant consumerism so well. I feel like I am waging a peaceful  silent battle.

Here is the blog of a reader, Sarah-Mae who has recently discovered 365 Less Things.~ Eat Run Knit

Today’s Declutter Item

Slowly but surely our bookcase is becoming the home of only our most treasured books rather than a holding space for wasted potential. That is books that could be enjoyed by someone else rather than sitting read and discarded on display like trophies. I donated these three to the library on my husbands behalf. 

A few more books decluttered

Something I Am Grateful For Today

I had a lovely afternoon with a local social group. Mostly mums with young bubs. It is fun to interact with the little ones and talk about their progression while reminiscing about when my children were that little. It doesn’t seem that long ago but at the same time it feels like a lifetime.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my five favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my five favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

But before we begin

Today is a very special day for one of our readers. Katharine is getting married today. Congratulations Katharine and partner, I hope you have a beautiful day and a wonderful life together. Clutter free of course. After all you have him almost trained already. 😉

Fave Five Comments. Enjoy!

In this comment from Eve you will read some words of wisdom gathered through experience when it comes to moving.

I enjoyed this comment from Deb J which I think is a more common occurrence than the opposite situation.

This comment from Felicity has a little regret twist at the end of it but I am betting that if she had those items she mentions she would declutter them with the rest of the stuff.

Diane, who is new to my blog, is learning to let go of some sentimental clutter in this comment.

Sharron and I couldn’t be more opposite when it comes to our feelings about the usefulness (or not) of drawers. As she said in a later comment ~ One man’s meat is another mans poison. In this comment she also talks about the problem she has with some obligation clutter in her home. Perhaps you have a suggestion to help her find a solution.

Fave Five Web Finds. Happy reading!

Every now an again when reading comments from new readers I miss the fact they they have there own blogs. Lena in Philly has a novel way of getting rid of her clutter by offering it up on her blog ~ www.garbaj.com

Then there is this blog from another Lena, which is in Swedish so you will have to have your computer translate it for you ~ Less is more

Now this is impressive and it really gives me hope the the world is heading in the right direction. Lets hope other countries get on board this initiative. Good News Network.org ~ Patagonia Common Threads Launch

Here is a lovely feel good story from Australia that Cindy found. Although I am not keen about all the product involved I really do love the gensture. ~ Goodnewsnetwork.org ~ 30 gifts to 30 Aussie strangers

This blogger discovered my blog this week through another blog and in turn I have now been introduced to her blog. I hope you will enjoy this post I chose to share with you while checking out her blog and also welcome Megyn to 365 Less Things. ~ Minimalist Mommi ~Letting go. 

Today’s Declutter Item

Just another ill-chosen item of clothing that is now gone to the thrift shop. It doesn’t pay to go clothes shopping either ~ on a whim, without assessing what you really need, in desperation when your wardrobe is depleted and you need something in a hurry. You are also setting yourself up for bad choices when your main prerequisite is low prices. Although it is great to get a bargain on something you really want shopping with only low prices in mind has you settling for those “make do” items which will soon end up in the “never wear” end of your closet.

Hubby's Shirt

Something I Am Grateful For Today

A fine day yesterday to dry my washing the low impact way, on the clothesline that is. My son is off to visit his sister interstate today and he needed things clean to pack. It was a beautiful day of which I took full advantage. I went for a walk, did that washing, sat on the patio to have my lunch and opened the doors and windows to freshen up the house. 

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow