Once again there has been some great comments this week elaborating on the topics at hand. Here are this weeks favourite five.

It is clear from this comment from Ornela that she has her shopping strategies all worked out. With a plan like this in place there should be no more fear of clutter building up in her home. ~ I am slowly learning to shop by list only… Read more

This comment from Melissa is a good example why it is important to sort and label your photo collection.

This is the comment chosen by Cindy from the responses to her Weekly Wisdom this week, it is from Ideealistin who clearly understood the concept Cindy was putting forward. Read the comment here.

Eve tells us how she found her target audience in this comment. Well done Eve this is a great example of how easy it can be to find homes for your unwanted items where they will be appreciated all over again.

With the added difficulty of living in the country, Wendy has still managed to find a way to be as resourceful as she can when it comes to getting rid of her decluttered items. Read all about one of her rehousing efforts here.

Now for the five posts/articles from the web that I found interesting or inspiring this week.

Exconsumer ~ When time is an investment in personal happiness

Marc and Angel hack Life ~ 20-ways to make today unforgettable

Minimalist Packrat ~ A guide to instant simplifying

My Zero Waste ~ A saving for me at a cost to the environment

One less ~ The bus? But wheres your car?

Today’s Declutter Item

I bought these canisters to refill my butane burner for silver soldering but they did not have the right fitting for that purpose. They sat in the shed for years so I put them on Freecycle and they were gone by the end of the day. The lesson was ~ do your homework before buying stuff you don’t know about.

Butane Gas Cans

My Gratitude List

• Something that made me laugh ~ Liam acting the fool. He has it down to a fine art I must say. I suppose I would have to take at lease 75% credit for the generic imprint.
• Something Awesome ~ Winter, because it is so nice to be able to snuggle up with my hubby and fall asleep. It is too hot for that in the summer although it has it’s advantages too.
• Something to be grateful for ~ The good old recipes handed down to me by my mother. She taught us the stills to cook as well and I often take that for granted until I help my own kids with cooking and remember there is more to the skill than meets the eye. Learning why the steps are necessary is just as important as doing them. Thanks Mum and thanks also Mrs Lawson my old Home Economics teacher.
• Something that made me happy ~ Giving credit where credit was due. It gave the receiver a boost of confidence and I felt good doing it.
• Something I had fun with ~ I discovered an Air Supply album on my iphone and am listening to it while I write this. I haven’t heard this album for years.

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

Once again it was a strong week for insightful comments and here are the five I selected for you not to miss.

I loved the words of wisdom at the end of this comment from Kelley ~ Having done quite a bit of decluttering this year it’s clear to me how much better I feel with less stuff around… Read the entire comment here.

If you read no other comment this week make sure you read this one by Deb J it is a perfect example of what slow and steady decluttering is all about ~ Oh how I know what you mean about “interesting” papers… Read more

I have received several comments from Chelle this week, a new reader who was becoming overwhelmed with her decluttering efforts. ~ Thank you for these words. I have been working frenetically and it’s overwhelming… Read more. You can read her three comments that lead to this point here, here and here.

I had to add this comment even though it was by me but once you read it I think you will understand why I wanted to include it ~ Congratulations Cindy…Read more

And finally, I really liked this comment from Cindy giving her take on declutter regrets. I think it says it all about how the memories are more important than the stuff.

* * * * * *

I had some good input this week from readers comments that helped me find some great links for you to digest and here are my favourite five.

Unclutterer ~ Ask unclutterer – dreaded filing

www.pbs.org ~ World balance – Material world by Peter Menzel This link was inspired by Becky’s comment and you just have to love how easy Google makes it to find stuff on the internet.

You have more than you think ~ What’s your gazingus pin Yet another link inspired by a readers comment ~ Thanks Delores

I didn’t have to go much further than my comments section to find this little gem either from one of our fellow readers/commenters/bloggers *pol ~ Once was a Crow ~ Another decluttering epiphany

And I couldn’t resist throwing this one into the mix which is also from *pol at Once was a Crow ~Today I am David What a great effort don’t you think?

Today’s Declutter Item

I have dragged this around with me since I was a child and I have to admit I have rarely looked at it. Someone might find it at the thrift shop and think it is great. I hope so anyway because that is where it went.

My Old Stamp Album

My Gratitude List

• Something that made me laugh ~ Liam making fun of me because I can get a little scatter-brained at times. I believe it is a good quality to be able to laugh at yourself and I have had a lot of practice.
• Something Awesome ~ Warm towels straight out of the dryer.
• Something to be grateful for ~My husband arrived home safe and sound again and I have my bed warmer back.
• Something that made me happy ~More sunshine ~ I have opened up all the blinds in order to do some natural heating of the house while it lasts.
• Something I found fascinating ~ This video that I added to a comment response to Willow. Even though I have seen the full series over and over again I still find it fascinating. The method used to cut the exact notch for the posts to fit together captivated me from wo to go.

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

So much great wisdom always surfacing from our readers. Once again it was hard to narrow it down to only five.

1. Natalie in response to The pervasive effect or clutter on peace of mind ~  “There is the burden of guilt for spending money on the now unused stuff.” That is me… Read more.
2. Jess @ miniMum had this suggestion in response to  Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? ~ This problem is why some minimalists recommend the tabula rasa method of decluttering… Read more.
3. I had to add this one to today’s favourite five as it was a big achievement fro Andréia although in the end not that much effort ~ Hi! I cleaned my wardrobe yesterday. I spent about 1 hour and 30 minutes doing it, at most… Read more.
4. Bethany from Type A minimalist had these words of personal experience wisdom to share with us ~ I completely agree with your assessment that your stuff just weighs you down… Read more.
5. Sarah had this to say about “Useful Gifts” ~ In a year I visited about 3-4 medical congresses… Read more.

My five blog picks for the week ~ I didn’t have time to read many more than these five because I was so busy. Luckily I found five good ones quickly

1. Get off this wheel ~ The new term – Mediumism
2. Type A Minimalist ~ What we’re watching – Waste-land
3. Make it Happen ~ Born to win
4. Unclutterer ~ Collections trash or treasure
5. Exconsumer ~ Cheap minimalist birthday party for kids

Today’s Declutter Item

I think I have mentioned before that I wasn’t going to declutter my bread maker even though I don’t use it all the often unless it died on me. Well it died on me so out it goes. I put it on the footpath hoping someone would claim it for parts but I am not sure if that happend because the pick up happened so fast I didn’t get a chance to see of the bread maker was claimed or not.

Bread Maker

My Gratitude List

• Something that made me laugh ~ My friend Amber telling me I didn’t need stuff at the antique store today. I think she was echoing back to me what I am always telling her. (Mrs Pot)
• Something Awesome ~ Checking out all the stuff at the antique shop and then happily leaving with nothing
• Something to be grateful for ~ Friends who do nice things for one another that don’t generate clutter.
• Something that made me happy ~ Enjoying a day with few commitments.
• Something I found fascinating ~ The stuff at the antique shop, it brings back happy memories of my childhood and reminds me loved ones long gone. I could look around in there all day.

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

This week’s favorite five have been chosen by Cindy because Colleen is away on vacation

Favorite Five comments

From Cat’s Meow in response to Do You Shop to Fill a Void? She shares the control she’d taken over her money and her spending. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=1208#comment-7633

Also from the same post, Delores talks about feeling out of synch with friends who still want to shop, shop, shop. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=1208#comment-7624

Ornela loved my post on honesty, and encouraged me to let the girls go wild on my remaining scrapbook supplies. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=1241#comment-7658

Deb J reflected on honesty and decided that she would change the way she manages her scrapbook materials. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=1241#comment-7672

In response to He’s At It Again, Loretta praised Liam’s decluttering and told of a clever trade her husband made, exchanging what he did not value for things that he did. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=1288#comment-7675

Favorite five blog post or  web sites I found this week : Many of you probably know that I don’t follow any blogs but this one, so Friday’s Favorite Five is an adventure on the Internet for me.

My first lucky winner is from Tanja at The Minimalist Packrat, who has written a lengthy and deeply honest history of her pack rat lifestyle, her motivation for reducing her belongings, and the painful process of letting go.

Next, I went to The Happiness Project to see what Gretchen Rubin had to say about decluttering myths. (Tip number 1: purchasing containers is not the first step to decluttering.)

I found this primer on Zen Habits. I think it’s particularly valuable for beginning declutterers or those who are stalled.

This guest post from Becoming Minimalist inspired me to think about the larger rewards of decluttering and simplifying. What will you do with your money, your free time? Author Richard Dahlstrom won me over when he suggested getting to know your neighbors better. I can name everyone on my (long) block except the renters, and I regularly host neighborhood pot lucks at my house: Neighborhood food for the soul.

The book Your Money or Your Life was important to me, and I am glad to see that it’s still in print and was interested that two commenters mentioned it this week after I had selected it to be a Friday Favorite. I love it when ideas converge. The books talks about trading your life for money and suggests how you can reduce your expenses based on your own values in order to increase your life satisfaction.

Today’s Declutter Item

I was keeping these in a futile attempt to use them up but I am making little headway so I am donating them to the school down the street instead. I dare say they will use them up much faster than I will.

My Gratitude List

• Something that makes me laugh ~ Watching a little of piglets squabbling for the best feeding position.
• Something Awesome ~ Fresh baked crusty bread still warm out of the oven.
• Something to be grateful for ~ Aeroplanes ~ I would happily never drive a car again in order to save the fuel for flight if I had to. Every other country is a long boat ride from Australia.
• Something that makes me happy ~ See how much my children love each other. It is obvious.
• Something I find fascinating ~ I watched a children’s educational program once abouts who seeds are spread. Some explode out of their pods, some act like helicopters, some attach them selves to animals, some are eaten by animals and them pooped somewhere else… Now if that isn’t fascinating I don’t know what is.

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

Here are this weeks favourite five comments…

Jess@minimalistmum in response to Simple Saturday ~ Key mini mission ~ I think you’ve found the key! Read more

Cindy in response to Simple Saturday ~ Key mini mission ~ When I find unknown keys… Read more

Juhli in response to Thoughts on the use it up challenge ~ I really laughed when I read the 8 month saga of using up soap… Read more

Liina in response to a comment from Snosie ~ Snosie – I’m not sure if I’m understanding your predicament exactly, but… Read more

Paola in response to My Stumbling Block ~ My decluttering stumbling block is my mother… Read more

And here are this weeks favourite five posts…

Small Notebook ~ Real solutions

One Less ~ How not to have less

The zero waste home ~ Does decluttering help environment.

My zero waste ~ 5 ways to recycle spectacles

Becoming Minimalist ~ Reasons to become minimalist from ADL 8th graders If 8th graders can figure this out I think us adults should be able to also.

Today’s Declutter Item

Yes, I know, where does it all come from?

My Gratitude List

• Something that made me laugh ~ Liam sending his dad text messages in German. Neither of them speak German of course but the boy does love his iPhone aps.
• Something Awesome ~ Finding a cafe that makes consistently good coffee. And it’s even better when it is only two blocks from your house.
• Something to be grateful for ~ The sun shining on my back patio. I am sitting there as I write this soaking up some vitamin D.
• Something that made me happy ~ Going for a walk at lunch time, the sun was shining the birds were singing and I managed to knock over a few errands while I was at it.
• Something I found fascinating ~ Dreaming ~ how our minds can run little movies in our heads as we sleep.

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

There is so much to be learned from your fellow readers at 365lessthings. There are as many great tips and ideas and encouragement that goes on in the comments section as there is in the posts themselves. But if you don’t have the time to read them all every Friday I am happy to choose five that I would want you to miss. Here are this week’s five…

Andreia in response to Becky’s comment on My stumbling block ~  Hi Becky! Don’t save the clothes… Read more

Deb J ~ We recently had a craft and craft supply sale here in our community…Read more

Eve in response to Your responses to Tuesday’s post ~ Thanks for compressing the many responses into this post… Read more

Ideealistin in response to Hiring a professional ~ Thanks, Cindy, for making it so clear… Read more

Annabelle in response to  Hiring a professional and Mini Mission Monday and bringing her recently regular European weather report ~ How lucky we are to even have folks who would WANT to come in to our houses and help… Read more

My five post picks for the week. This week I have chosen five blogs at random via google search. I was quite impressed with what I found.

Rogue Priest ~ The-fallout-of-minimalism

Pearl ~ The Stuff Diaries-Moving-frugality-and minimalism

MiniMOMism ~ Eco-friendly minimalism

The Minimalists ~ Giving is living

Donation Town blog ~ Another good USA/Canadian source for having your donations picked up at your door.

Today’s Declutter Item

It’s déjà vu all over again. More baseball clutter out the door. This one had a run in with a three year old and the only place for it was in the bin

My Gratitude List

• Something that made me laugh ~ The silly things my friend Amber and I come out with at times.
• Something Awesome ~ Fast food coupons – I enjoyed a free coffee and a free sub today.
• Something to be grateful for ~ Feeling a whole lot better today than I did the two days before ~ headache all gone.
• Something that made me happy ~ Mariners 10 ~ Detroit 1
• Something I found fascinating ~ How as you get older time seems to pass quicker.

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

Once again there were plenty of great comments to choose from this week I could easily have chosen ten or more but five it is…

okgirl in response to Repeating the same action… ~ Thanks for the kick in the pants! I love *reading* about decluttering…Read more

Di in response to The Mysterious Case of the Tottering Stalagmites ~ Katherine, what a great and timely post… Read more

Liina in reaponse to Mini Mission Monday – Give yourself permission ~ Great stuff this week! I had a lot of success last week… Read more

okgirl in response to Mini Mission Monday… ~ Overcast and cool here in Oklahoma, USA  Thanks so much for this… Read more

Andréia in response to The one minute rule ~ Hi Cindy! I am doing the one minute rule without noticing it… Read more

Wow! I had to cram in some serious blog reading over the last couple of days to come up with these five. It has been a busy week and I didn’t have much time for reading but here they are…

Zen Habits ~ How-to-simplify-your-filing-system-or-why-stacking-just-doesnt-work

A guy named dave ~ A-goal-of-simple-living

Life should be the cats meow ~ Tiny-homes

Defrag my life ~ Point-for-the-kid

Not easy to be green ~ The-impact-of-freebies-an-earth-day-post

I hope you enjoy today’s selection and have a great weekend

Today’s Declutter Item

Today’s mini mission was a gift item but the one I have in mind is also an ebay item I haven’t listed yet so that will have to wait for another day. Saturday’s item is make-up and I have that well under control to so instead I have Sunday’s item this old bra that sits weird on the edges. It has had its day and I have got my money’s worth out of it so in the bin it goes.

My Gratitude List

• Something that made be smile ~ Watching adults let their guards down an get excited like little children.
• Something Awesome ~ Easter comes with a five day long weekend for my husband so we can relax and enjoy having the family around.
• Something to be grateful for ~ My life in general, I sometimes forget how good I have it or at least am oblivious to how tough others’ lives are. Even when my son was so ill last year things turned out better than we could possibly have dared hoped.
• Something that made me happy ~ The constant appearance of new commenters here at 365lessthings and also the faithful that keep coming back.
• Something I found fascinating ~ Sitting having a coffee and watching the world go by. There are so many folks of all sorts of ethnicity out there, the world surely is a melting pot these day and that is a good thing in my book. Maybe the more we mix the more we will start to get along.

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

Here are the five comments I singled out for favouritism this week…

Andréia in response to Andréia’s declutter story ~ Stuff in our lives is very relative… Read more

Ideealistin in response to Eliminate clutter without even trying ~ You asked for the readers’ ways of decluttering without even trying… Read more

Mrs Green in response to Eliminate clutter without even trying ~ …think I would add DVD rental to your list… Read the full comment

Cindy in response to Eliminate clutter without even trying ~ Ideealistin’s comment reminded me of another category of clutter that can be eliminated… Read more

Jennifer in response to Eliminate clutter without even trying ~ I am often surprised by the intersections between different movements… Read more

The five blog posts/web articles I most enjoyed this week

Listen Feel Breathe ~ The bridge builder

Be More With Less ~ Calm down mini mission

Organised living solutions.com ~ Tips-on-getting-organised

Upcycled Love ~ Ask-yourself-to-buy-less-crap

Search.earth911.com ~ Where to recycle almost anything if you live in the USA

Today’s Declutter Item

Getting more and more ruthless with the cookbooks. There aren’t too many left now. Mostly ones I need to copy a few recipes out of that I actually regularly before I declutter them. These have gone to the thrift store.

Cookbooks

My Grateful List

• Something that made be laugh ~ This from Fail Blog – Tip Math Fail – I don’t think that person could English either.
• Something awesome ~ Freshly baked chocolate chip muffins. Even better with a little whipped crean and a few juicy ripe strawberries.
• Something to be grateful for ~ The tiler finally came to start on finishing the balcony repairs.
• Something that made me happy ~ My daughter calling to tell me how much better she is at saving these days and that she hasn’t gone over on her phone plan for three months. Hope springs eternal!
• Something I found fascinating ~ Deep sea nature shows.

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

Once again it was a very busy week for comments and it was very hard to narrow my choices down. Here are the five a chose…

Rebecca in response to How Many is too much ~ I know this post is from a week ago, but I just got time to catch up… Read more

Di in response to Mini Mission Monday – Declutter Kids Stuff ~ This is very good advice, Colleen. When my son was growing up… Read more

Ideealistin in response to Children’s clothing ~ I usually so agree with you and your take on the whole clutter issue… Read more

Jill in response to Children and alternative gift giving ~ Ever since my now 5 year old was about 3 he has loved to help bake… Read more

Nurchamiel in response to Is shopping the new religion ~ I totally agree. Although I have never lived in the US… Read more

I have hardly had a minute to bless myself this week but I have gathered together  a quick selection of blog posts for you to check out and here they are…

Simply Being Mommy ~ Using-charts-to-simplify-daily-activities-and-goals

Be More With Less ~ Choose-to-be-happy-with-enough

Becoming Minimalist ~ Why-becoming-minimalist-is-still-appropriately-titled

Marc and Angel Hack Life ~ 10-commandments-for-a-good-life

My Zero Waste ~ The-best-mothers-day-present-ever

Today's Declutter Item

Don’t you just love it when visitors leave with more than they came with. That was the case with my mum and dad’s visit this week. My mum took this set of Bamix accessories with her when she went because she didn’t have a stand for hers. I didn’t need it because my Bamix died a few weeks a ago. Now my visitors have gone and some clutter has left with them. And that is not all they took so stay tuned for more installments.

Things that made me happy, made me laugh, made me feel grateful, fascinated me or I thought were just plain awesome.

• Catching up with the things neglected when visitors leave.
• Selling a piece of furniture that we have been trying to declutter for some time.
• Automatic washing machines ~ I know I have said it before but you have to love a chore that pretty much does itself. I know I still have to hang it out and fold it when it’s dry but nevertheless the hard part is done without any effort.
• Scratching up enough food for dinner when I don’t want to go to the store.
• Always managing to find just the right box in the garage to mail out eBay sales. ~ I love a good bit of recycling.

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

Andreia in response to Friday’s Favourite Five ~ …“United we stand, divided we fall.”… Read more

Cat’s Meow in response to Ahhh the good old days ~ …I always think it’s backwards when people think… Read more

Jo in response to How many is too much ~ For me, Colleen, this piece exemplifies everything I love about your blog… Read more. This choice was cheer self-indulgence but hey its my blog and I’ll indulge if I want to.

Lynn in response to Landscape Clutter ~ This is another one that pictures help with for me… Read more

Ideealistin in response to Why Bother? ~ As I has almost caught up with the blog I think I can dare to comment… Read more

Five more great post I linked to this week

Simple Kids ~ Evening-prep

Marc And Angel Hack Life ~ 50-things-you-need-to-give-up-today

ExConsumer ~ Decluttering-and-making-money

My Zero Waste ~ Clean-your-home-without-the-waste

Be More With Less ~ The-power-of-one

Today’s Declutter Item

More papercraft adhesive. The variety I once had of adhesive alone in my craft supply stash amazes even me.

Things that made me happy, made me laugh, made me feel grateful, fascinated me or I thought were just plain awesome.

• I had a full body massage yesterday ~ if that isn’t something to be grateful for I don’t know what is. And it didn’t cost me anything because it was a gift from friends.
• Enjoying having my parents visiting. ~ Laughing with my mum is always a treat.
• My husband received a promotion at work ~ Yay for him, that should help his job satisfaction no end for a while.
• Watching some shows on television that I normally wouldn’t watch when hubby is home.
• Today would have been my grandmother’s 105th birthday were she still alive ~ happy birthday Mamma. Fond wishes and fond memories.

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