Adult hot December Thirty-First. - lookmybody - lookmybody

I am ringing in the New Year alone.

I just finished reading Andrea Gibson’s The Panic Button Collector for the 429 091 123th time.

I am burning scented candles, and the air smells like caramel.

I am sitting within arm’s reach of the six plants I have managed to keep alive for the past 2 seasons.

My curly red ‘fro is tickling my forehead.

I am wrapped in a blanket and drinking a cup of warm peppermint tea.

I am building a home for these words that I have held onto for so long.

In the next room, my mother snores, and I can hear the rustling of my dad and brother.

So actually, no.  I am not ringing in the New Year alone.

- J

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Adult hot Stop Buying for the Life You Don't Have. #MinimalismMonday - lookmybody - lookmybody

I'm guilty of doing this all the time.  I buy a dress to wear for a wedding "just in case" I have to go to one.  I pick up some makeup from the store "just in case" I want to wear it.  A new jacket "just in case" the other two I have don't match my outfit.  Just in case, just in case, just in case.  And with today being Boxing Day in Canada, I need to remind myself of this more than ever.

For most people, once they reach a certain age or stage in life, their lifestyle sort of becomes regular, and they get more familiar with their personal likes and dislikes.  For me, after graduating from school and getting a full time job, I know what my regular life looks like.  I also know who my friends are and what we like to do when we hang out, so certain things (like party dresses) are not necessary for me to own.  I also know what I like to do in my spare time, how I like to dress, what my decor style is ... Bottom line is I know who I am.  And while there are some parts of myself or my life that I might like to change, I cannot shop for the life I don't have.  Which means I need to learn to stop buying things that don't fit into my current life.

Perfect example - I wanted to decorate my room with a certain theme.  Instead of planning ahead and thinking about the practicality of the items I wanted to use, I just went with it and bought any and everything that fit that theme.  Now I have been getting rid of several gently used (expensive) items that not only add no value to my life, but also don't work with the theme or even the space I purchased them for.  Bottom line?  If I had shopped for the space I had instead of the space I wanted, I wouldn't have wasted money and time buying junk.

If you're not a party girl, don't buy club wear unless you actually need it.  If you're not moving into your own space, don't shop for housewares.  If anything you should be SAVING for the life you want, instead of shopping for it.  That way, if that life doesn't become a reality for you, at least you have your savings, with which you could pursue a new goal.

Take it from me guys - stop buying for the life you don't have.

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Winter. - lookmybody - lookmybody

Every year I hope that this one will be different.
But then the bad days start happening.
Closer and closer together
Until it's like one long day.  Or night.
Something that doesn't end.

Winter Solstice.
Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year.

Now I hope things will be exactly the same.
I hope I survive this one too.

J.

Adult hot Tips for Selling Clothing! - lookmybody - lookmybody

Selling clothing to consignment stores is something that I've grown to love.  There's nothing more rewarding than doing a huge closet purge, and getting paid for it!  To be quite honest, it is what motivates me to get rid of items that I struggle to let go of.  I often make a deal with myself - if it sells, then I will let it go.  If it doesn't sell, I might allow myself to keep it.

Anyways, here are my top tips for selling clothing to consignment stores.

1. Locate several consignment stores in your area.
Chances are, if one store doesn't take all of your items, another might.  I have located two consignment stores in my area (both are Plato's Closet).  I have sold at each store several times, so I am familiar with what each store will take.  One store is pickier and prefers to take items that are in pristine condition, so I let them have the first pick of my items.  After that first store goes through my items, I head on over to the second store, who will gladly accept more worn items that the other store rejected.  Only after going to both stores will I donate the remaining items to the thrift store.

2. Choose your items carefully.
There are some things that consignment stores will not take.  I know that Plato's Closet is not into buying vintage items, "mature" styles (pretty much anything that fits my current business-casual style), or items that are too casual, such as sweats and plain t-shirts.  So when I choose items to sell to Plato's, I usually will avoid including these items.   That way I don't waste anyone's time, including mine.

3. Pay attention to the season.
If you've ever worked in retail, you know that stores start bringing out clothing for the next season at least 2 months in advance.  Some consignment stores will do the same.  So when choosing items to sell, try to avoid selecting out of season items, or items that are just going out of season.  For example, avoid bringing in your heavy winter sweaters at the end of March, when spring is just around the corner.  Instead, try re-evaluating your need for these items halfway through the season.  If you haven't worn the item in 1.5-2 months, chances are you won't be picking it up for the rest of the season, so pass it on to your local consignment store!

4. Be persistent, ask questions.
If something doesn't sell once, don't be afraid to try again if you think the item has real value!  Stores may not purchase items for a variety of reasons.  Don't be afraid to ask why they didn't choose your item(s), or what you could do to ensure they buy it next time.

5. Follow their social media pages.
The two Plato's I go to both have Instagram pages.  This is perfect for me to get a sense of what items they want, which helps me tailor my selection of items to suit their tastes.  Plus there's always a thrill associated with seeing your items featured on their page!

6. Time your visits.
Following social media pages or signing up for mailing lists can help you figure out when a consignment store needs items.  It's also a good idea to time your selling trips both before and after major sale events such as Black Friday, pre-Christmas shopping, Boxing Day, etc. This way you know stores are in need of items, and more likely to accept your items.

That's it for today my friends!

Cheers to making money off the items we purge!

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot How Minimalism Changed My Mind - lookmybody - lookmybody

When I first began my minimalism journey, you/d be surprised how easy it was for me to spend money wastefully.  I would get rid of bags and bags of items, only to bring in bags and bags of more items that I was convinced I needed.

Recently I did another purge, after only doing one about a month ago during Canadian Thanksgiving.  I was very surprised at the fact that I was able to get rid of one whole garbage bag full of donations, plus two garbage bags full of clothes, shoes (which I never thought I would get rid of), purses (another surprise), belts, and random household items.  Three garbage bags of stuff?  That's a lot.

A lot of those items were things I had purchased within the last year that still had tags on it.  That was a HUGE wake up call for me.  The fact that I had purchased items that had mo meaning or value to my life within the last year was disappointing.  After all, this year was supposed to be the year of minimalism ... I felt a little bit like a failure.  Especially after receiving only about $70.00 for those items a the consignment store.  I knew it was time to make a change.

Only, I was surprised to realize that I was already making a change.  Without realizing it, I had been able to change the way I thought about purchasing items.  I no longer grabbed items aimlessly, I put some thought into shopping around the store.  Instead of grabbing items in colours or styles I liked, I walked around the store with the item, to see if I liked it after the initial excitement wore off.  I almost unconsciously ask myself if this items really makes me happy, or if I could walk out of the store and never think of this item again.  Usually, it's the latter.  I avoid salespeople so their constant pestering doesn't influence my decision to buy.  And I don't even go into a store if I don't need anything from there to begin with.

After a year or so of really trying to be a minimalist, I'm breaking old habits and learning to shop more consciously.  It's working folks!  I'm on my way :).

Cheers to a new minimalist mind!

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Declutter Every Day in December Day 6 - Your Phone - lookmybody - lookmybody

Hello again!  Yesterday we decluttered our technology, and got rid of the items that no longer added value to our lives.  For the next couple of days we are going to look a little closer at some of those items, and get rid of the things they hold that are no longer useful to us.

Today we are taking a closer look at our phones.  How much stuff is stored on your phone that you don't need?  How many apps do you not use?  How many pictures do you have that could be deleted? (I mean how many selfies from the same day do you need to keep?  You've posted one already ... get rid of the rest!)  Are you perhaps on too many social media sites?  Maybe you could downsize your music collection?  There have to be a few contacts that you no longer need to have saved in your phone.

Now, not all of the files you are deleting need to be permanently deleted.  Grab one of those USB keys or hard drives you uncovered yesterday, and transfer those items!  Some things can be kept in a safe place, freeing up your phone's memory to capture new memories, or download new songs, or try new apps.

Isn't it surprising how much we store on our phones that we don't need?  Today I managed to clear out about 1 GB of space on my phone, including contacts, pictures, videos, and 1 app.  I'm even going through my apps like Spotify to delete songs from my phone to make room.  Is it weird that my phone kind of feels lighter?  I actually plan to continue to declutter my phone and transfer photos and videos from over a year ago to my external hard drive, so I can take lots of pictures this holiday season.

How did your phone declutter go?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Minimalism & The Holidays - Gift Giving - lookmybody - lookmybody

I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate being given gifts that I don't want/need.  Nobody likes those generic bath and body products that break out your skin, or that itchy sweater two sizes two small, or that really ugly room decor item that you are now forced to display for the next year.

On the flip side, nobody likes knowing that they're giving someone stuff that they would hate.  (Unless you're a Scrooge, which you might be).  So, how do you avoid giving people gifts that add no joy or value to their life?

1. Straight up ask them what they want.  People are often willing to at least hint at the items that they need, or would really like to receive for Christmas.

2. Pay attention to what people talk about.  Some people unintentionally (or maybe intentionally) drop hints about what they would like to receive as gifts.  I have a friend who talks non-stop about how much she loves my blanket scarves, so I grabbed her one as a gift.  When I go shopping with a friend, I pay attention to the items they say they love, but never pick up.  Those are great hints for what you could get a person for a gift!

3. Take them shopping with you!  Sometimes it's nice to make a day of things.  Take your gift recipient out on a nice lunch or dinner, and allow them to choose an item for you to purchase.  It makes the gift giving process more inclusive and enjoyable.

4. Gift Cards!  I know gift cards have gotten a bad rep as being impersonable, but they really aren't a bad option!  I have a friend who loves to shop at a particular store, and I'd hate to get her something she's already bought.  So I give her a gift card for said store, and now she's able to pick something out, on me!

5. Give the gift you know they need.  Gas cards, socks & underwear, grocery cards .... these may not be fun or exciting, but it definitely would be appreciated by someone who appreciates the value of the necessities.   

6. Gift receipts are your best friend.  If all else fails, ensure that they can return the gift if they so choose.  I know some people are wary of their friend/family member knowing how much they spent on a gift.  But if you're like me and you really don't care, pop that gift receipt in there so they can exchange it if they wish!

Those are just some tips for gift giving with a minimalist mindset.  I know there are more out there, so please do share if you have any ideas!

Cheers to keeping the clutter out of everyone's homes this holiday season!

xoxo, Jayy!

Adult hot Declutter Every Day in December Day 5 - Technology - lookmybody - lookmybody

Hello and happy Monday my friends!

Today we are decluttering our technology.  And at first I know this will seem odd, but hear me out.

How many extra/back up pairs of headphones do you have?  Or how many pairs do you have that are half working?
How many of your old phones are sitting in a drawer somewhere?
How many extra cords and cables do you own that you don't even use?
What about old batteries?
Do you still hang on to old cases for laptops, phones etc.?
Do you own several USBs?  Do you even know what's on them?

Were you surprised by your answers to those questions?  I know I was.  I own  a lot of random technology items that I don't need, use, or even remember that I own.  So, it's time to pull it all out, and re-evaluate.

After you have set up your pile of technology items (including cameras, phones, laptops, tablets, cords, cables, house phones, DVD players and even your TV!) it's time to get started.  Now for this one, I don't recommend throwing all of your items on the floor, especially something as big as  TV.  Just make sure you don't forget to re-evaluate each item's usefulness in your life, even if you aren't physically moving it.

Okay here we go with the questions!  Only 5 today, but I think they make their point:

• When was the last time you used this item?  Do you enjoy using it?
• Do you know what this item is for?
• Does this item function properly? (If not, maybe you could use some of the money you make during this challenge to replace it!)
• Do you own multiples of this item?  Do you need to?
• Could you do without this item? (For example, if you usually use your cellphone, do you need your home phone?  If you usually watch shows online, could you perhaps do without a DVD player?)

Once you have sorted your items into their respective piles (keep, sell, trash, donate), put your keep pile away.  For the items you are giving away or selling, make sure to wipe items clean of personal data before sending them on their way.

And my friends, you have decluttered your technology items.  Congrats!  As we head into day 6 of this challenge, how are you feeling?  I hope that this challenge is making a positive impact on the way you view your posessions 😀.

Cheers to a new outlook!

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Declutter Every Day in December Day 4 - Belts, Watches, Jewelry, Scarves & Miscellaneous Accessories - lookmybody - lookmybody

It's day 4, and today we are getting rid of the rest of the unnecessary accessories in our closets!  Let's pull out those belts, watches, jewelry, scarves, hats, brooches ... if it's an accessory, pull it out!

This is so similar to the other 3 posts so I will spare you the commentary.  You know what to do.  Don't keep items that don't add value to your life.  Make your 4 piles - keep, donate, sell, trash.  Items that are damaged, worn, too big/too small, and don't fit your current style all need to go.  That belt that only accentuates the features you don't like?  BYE!  That scarf that has a big hole in it?  BYE!  That watch that you don't even like?  BYE!  That item you have 3 of "just in case" one breaks?  BYE!

Add your items to the piles from the first 3 days.  I recommend taking items out of the home on this day, just because at this point you should have a fairly large amount of items to get rid of.  Also, this is a nice way to start your work week (if you work Monday-Friday) - clutter free!

Today's post was short and boring, I know.  I apologize.  Tomorrow will be a little more exciting, I think.

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Declutter Every Day in December Day 3 - Bags - lookmybody - lookmybody

We're back at it again, and this time you've definitely got this one in the bag!

Hehe.

Today we are decluttering bags.  Notice I didn't say purses/handbags.  I mean every single type of bag you can imagine.  I think you might be surprised at just how many bags you can accumulate!  You know the drill by now ... pull those bags out onto the floor!  Here's a list of bags you should be including in today's declutter:

• Purses/Handbags
• Satchels
• Backpacks
• Laptop/Camera/Equipment Bags
• Makeup Bags
• Travel Bags
• Suitcases/Carry-on Bags
• Beach Bags
• Wallets/Wristlets/Clutches
• Plastic Bags (I know I'm not the only one with a bag of bags ...)
• Paper Bags
• Reusable Bags (you'd be surprised how these pile up!)
• Garbage Bags 
• Any other type of bag you can think of 😀

I wish I had taken pictures of this, but I did this at 2:00 in the morning, and wasn't thinking too clearly.  But as I'm sure you can imagine, I had a lot of bags.

And again, you know the drill.  Create your keep, donate, sell, and trash piles, and begin to sort.  If it's broken or damaged beyond repair, let it go.  If you have duplicates, let them go.  You know you don't need that many makeup bags!  If you haven't used it in over a year, let it go.  If you think it's ugly or childish, let it go.  If it does not add value to your life, let it go.

Image Source

Now in regards to the plastic/garbage/paper/reusable bags - Even if you have excess of these items, I recommend hanging onto them.  You will always need these items in some capacity.  Just store them all in an accessible place, and avoid purchasing more of these bags until you have used up your excess.

And like before, put your items away, and distribute your giveaway items accordingly.  And you're done!  If you haven't already sold/given away your items yet, I recommend holding out for one more day!   Tomorrow's declutter will wrap up the clothing/accessories portion of this challenge, so be sure to check back to see what we're doing!

Cheers to letting it all go!

xoxo, Jayy

Adult hot Declutter Every Day In December (DEDD) Day 2 - Shoes - lookmybody - lookmybody

Welcome to Declutter Every Day in December, day 2!  Today we move past the clothes in our closets to something a bit more difficult to get rid of ... shoes!

Shoes are considered an essential item - we need them for practical reasons as well as for fashion.  So to get rid of something so essential can be really difficult. 

Like yesterday, we are going to pull all our shoes out from the places where we store them.  Take those shoes out of the closets, under the bed, out of your car ... pull them all out!

That was my pile, so there's no need to feel guilty about yours!

Anyways, now the fun begins!  Go through each pair of shoes and decide if it adds value to your life.  If you can answer yes to any one of the following questions, then those shoes need to go!

• Does it hurt? 
• Does it cause blisters?
• Is it generally uncomfortable/unsafe?
• Are these shoes damaged beyond repair?
• If shoes are damaged and reparable, make sure you will actually repair them within the next 6 months, or it's time for those to go as well.
• Do I have to purchase clothing that matches these shoes?
• Have I outgrown this style of shoe?
• Do I have multiples of this shoe? (I answered yes to this one more than once ...)
• Do I have many shoes in this particular style/colour? (Who needs 4 pairs of black pumps, or 3 pairs of brown booties??)

Additionally, ask yourself when you last wore those shoes.  If it's been over a year, chances are you won't be reaching for that shoe again.

Likes yesterday, we will sort our shoes into 4 piles - keep, donate, sell, and trash.  Go ahead and put your keep pile back in their appropriate storage spaces, and distribute the giveaway piles accordingly.

And there you have it.  DEDD day 2 is complete!  Do you feel lighter yet?

See you on day 3!

XOXO, Jayy

Adult hot Declutter Every Day in December (DEDD) - Day 1 (Clothing) - lookmybody - lookmybody

Welcome to DEDD my friends!  Today we start off with the easy task of decluttering a different set of items each day for the rest of the month.  The goal?  To enter into the New Year with only the items that add value and meaning to your life.

Let's get into the easier stuff - clothing.

If you've never gotten rid of clothing before, this is going to be a difficult task.  For the newbies, I recommend setting one or two extra days aside to complete this task.  I also recommend checking out a few YouTube videos to see how other people got rid of their excess stuff.  Here's one of mine for reference:

Here are the steps we are all going to follow:

1. Take ALL of your clothes out of closets, drawers, boxes, bags, etc.  If you have too much clothes, either do this over several days, or go by category (tops, bottoms, dresses/rompers, etc.)  However ideally you will do all your clothes at one time, so you can see exactly how much stuff you have.

2. Go through each item, and consider if it adds value to your life.  (Hint - the item you haven't worn in 2 years doesn't add value.  Nor does the item that gives you blisters.  That item that is falling apart at the seams needs to go!)

3. Sort the items you are giving away into 3 piles - Sell, Donate, Trash.

4. Store the items you are keeping in their proper storage areas, and marvel at the items you have kept!

5. Make sure the giveaway items are removed from your home within 7 days of completing this process.  For this challenge, it's okay to wait a couple of days before getting rid of items, or else you would be selling/donating items every day!  Just make sure to keep them stored away and ready to be taken out of your living space, so as to avoid having items creep back into your closet.

And that's it!  We have completed day one!

Cheers to decluttering our clothes!

xoxo, Jayy