A Glimpse Into My Kitchen

February 19, 2015 36 Comments

I mentioned in passing that I might post some pictures of my kitchen, post minimalism coming through (though to be fair, not much has changed). A few people wanted to see, and I LOVE looking at kitchens!

We just got our house in summer 2014, after looking for quite a while. We really wanted an open floor plan and an island. J was lusting after quartz counters. We found it all! My favorite part is that the quartz has silver sparkles in it- it feels like a party.

table and chairs– Crate and Barrel

sideboard (bar)– Dania

stools– Dania

rug– Amazon (affiliate link- if you buy this I will get a small percentage of the sale)

What’s your favorite part about your kitchen?

Jillian

kitchenislanddining roominside cupboardscrazy panaroma

Filed Under: Minimalism Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Simplify Sunday- Closets and Extra Rooms

January 25, 2015 10 Comments

closet afterI went a little bit purging crazy this week. I wanted to start off my list and get some unnecessary stuff hauled out of the house. I started with my closets. This is the main closet with my clothes in it (after is at the top, before below). I still want a scarf hanger, but I’m happy with how my closet is looking! However, I’m pretty sure I have more cardigans than actual shirts.

 

 

 
 

closet beforeI also did two closets that we’re using for storage, and one of our linen closets. I went through a few bookshelves, the guest room, my bathroom, and our game room. This included going through my box of memory stuff- letters, journals, and such. I really recycled a lot from this box, which I feel great about. Total I am donating six bags and one box of things that we don’t need. The dollar value for our taxes will be $222. How great is that? I also got rid of my juicer by giving it to a friend. That was a hard one, I have held on to it way too long and literally never use it. Juicers take up a ton of space and I’m hoping that my friend will get good use out of it.

 
 

linen closet and bookshelf afterSome other things I have been putting off getting rid of: extra pillows that we no longer use for our couch (we got new ones in different colors), my wedding dress (I would love to have someone else use it!), and several pieces of clothing that are too small or stained.

I don’t love how attached I get to random things. I recycled a bunch of old monologues and headshots from when I used to act. It feels like a lifetime ago, and it made me a little sad to get rid of them. Then I realized I’m just feeling introspective about how much life has changed since those days. I can still get back that feeling of taking risks and putting myself out there- just in a way that fits my life as it is now.

I am feeling much lighter with all of those things gone. In addition to the seven bundles taken to donate (and the juicer), I recycled a full container of papers. Anyone else purging junk this week?

Jillian

 

Filed Under: Minimalism, Simplify Sunday Tagged With: , , , , , ,

35 Goals to Meet Before I Turn 35

January 16, 2015 36 Comments

birthdayI decided to join Alex’s project! Alex has started a list of 35 things that she wants to accomplish while she is 35. Click here to check out her site and see her list– she is updating as she goes. I adore bucket lists and I turned 34 today. I think that 35 things before 35 is a super fun idea! She wants to get 100 people, so you should think about joining the party as well.

I thought I would provide the adorable picture of Kuma the Shiba Inu’s eighth birthday for motivation. How can you not want to better yourself when you see that face?

My list of goals to accomplish is below. Many of them are ongoing, so the challenge will be pretty intense. I will update on this page when I accomplish a goal or find it needs to be modified. Let me know if you have any great ideas or want to join in the fun!

The list has been edited to show what I accomplished. Italicized items were completed. Some things were partially completed, and the number following will show how much.

Health (1-8):

  1. lose 50 pounds
  2. work out four times per week 2/52
  3. Use my Happy Herbivore meal plans for at least a month (June/July)
  4. lower dose or go off cholesterol medication
  5. do two cleanses (2nd done 7/6/15)
  6. create shopping schedule (7/13/15 combining with Happy Herbivore)
  7. practice yoga at least once a week (can be at home) 23/52
  8. Try a month of Muay Thai

House (9-19)

  1. minimalism: bathrooms (1/18/15)
  2. minimalism: closet/clothes (1/17/15 did main clothes closet and dresser, 1/18/15 did guest room and bedroom closets)
  3. minimalism: guest room (1/18/15)
  4. minimalism: game room (1/18/15)
  5. minimalism: kitchen (2/14/15)
  6. minimalism: living room (2/14/15)
  7. minimalism: garage (4/17/15)
  8. minimalism: linen closets (1/16/15 did main floor linen closet, 2/7/15 did downstairs closet)
  9. minimalism: bedroom (2/28/15)
  10. minimalism: car (smashed car and got free detail with repair, 1/28- unintentionally part way there//finished 6/8/15)
  11. minimalism: shed (4/17/15)

Friends and Family (20-22):

  1. meet up with a friend once a week 42/52
  2. visit at least one grandparent once a month 12/12
  3. send someone a card or letter once a week (thank you cards do not count!) 22/52

Personal (23- 30):

  1. get a new tattoo- possibly a white Shiba on my right wrist
  2. Work harder at planning cute outfits to look put together 
  3. find cuter things to wear at home so my husband doesn’t always see me looking like a slob (4/17/15)
  4. wash face every day and stop using disposable cleaning cloths (used up the last of the disposable cloths, replaced with a stack of colorful washcloths 1/27/15)
  5.  Pay off student loan (12/15)
  6. Budget for Vermont trip (taken and paid off May 2015)
  7. stay strong- do not chop off hair
  8. Take puppy to training and help her graduate (4/27/15. She also finished her second class in September.)
  9. Stick with therapy until I feel confident (7/27/15)

Work and Blog (31- 34):

  1. get blog posts on a dependable schedule (1/18/15- posting every day at 7:00 EST, by 11:00 EST on Wednesdays)
  2. After getting on a schedule, I abandoned the blog. Decided that pressuring myself would make for a bad blog. I’m now  trying to do once a week. 
  3. build blog to 500 followers
  4. Meet annual work goals

Does anyone else want to join me, Alex, and Chloe?

Jillian

Filed Under: Annual Goals, Beauty, Health and Fitness, Minimalism Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

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