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June Intake

Hello! I’ve been writing down all the items that have been entering my life each month, which is allowing me to keep better tabs on the things I own. My goal is to bring in no more than ten items each month.

Here are my items I acquired in June.

1. Menstrual Cup - this will replace all of my disposable feminine products that cost more money in the long run and contribute to the waste on this planet.

2. Turntable - it was a gift from my step grandpa. I don’t think I will ever be able to say no to this man, but I do genuinely like this gift!

3. iPhone X - my poor old iPhone took a turn for the worst, and I had to replace it.

4. Reusable Starbucks Cup - a lot of my purchases aim towards the ultimate goal of producing less waste.

5. Tarte stick blush - to replace my previous powder blush.

6. Shampoo/Conditioner - restocking.

7. 5sos Youngblood CD - I have no excuse for this one because I have Spotify. I just like having physical CD copies of my favorite artists’ albums!

8. Swimsuit bottoms - I got rid of all of my uncomfortable and unflattering swimsuit bottoms and bought one comfortable black bottom that works with both my tops.

9. Five pairs of underwear - I have a dog who loves to chew. I needed to restock.

I am very pleased with the purchases I’ve made this June, as it’s certainly less than I usually end up acquiring. I definitely think that the “one in, one out” rule is a necessity to keep myself clutter free, and I will be trying that method for the next month.

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May: In/Out

This post is inspired by the wonderful in/out posts from @less-mess 

My goal while I am downsizing is to bring in 10 or less items a month, and discard at least 100 items.

In: 5

Out: 516

Since my first year of college came to a close this month, I discarded a lot of unnecessary items that I acquired throughout the school year. I donated various t-shirts, jewelry, and electronics. I got rid of all the things I received as an incoming student and kept “just in case.” (Side note: Never keep anything “just in case”). I discarded even more when I got home and realized I had way too much stuff.

Items In:

1. Giraffe slippers. My boyfriend gifted these to me for my birthday!

2. Pink dress. My friend was giving away some clothes to her friends, so I grabbed this from the pile. I have always wanted to shop her closet.

3. Mindfulness - Tessa Watt. My step grandpa got two books for me that he thought I would like. This is the first.

4. The Science of Success - Wallace D. Wattles. This is the second book.

5. New Bedding Set. I have had the same bedding since I was 13. My bunny ripped through the comforter about five years ago. It was definitely time to go. So I discarded the old bedding set and replaced it with one from Herbergers (which is closing, so I got it for $50 instead of $100!!!).

Overall, I have bought 1 item and have been gifted 4. It is easier for me to say no to things when I am buying them for myself, but I struggle to say no to gift, which is why the majority of these items were gifted items.

I highly suggest that you write down the items that you are taking in as I did. It really helps to know what is being brought into my life and allows for me to decide whether or not these things are items I actually want to have. 

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surviving.

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I had over 100 lipsticks this time last year. Today I have 16. I’m going to try to downsize even more.

I am going to wear a different shade each day for the next couple of weeks and see which ones I don’t actually love.

(Side note: I am aware that some of these brands are not cruelty free, and I no longer buy from them. I am currently using up the products that I have and like, but they will not be replaced).

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Went through my makeup again today! I’m feeling pretty proud of myself for ridding of things I don’t like, things I like but just don’t wear anymore, or things that have expired (oops). 33 items. Oreo helped. ✨

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Goal: At the end of the summer, I want all of my clothing to fit into my suitcase.

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I am watching a bunch of minimalist wardrobe videos on YouTube today to inspire me for my Spring cleaning, but I’ve come to realize that I can never have as little clothes as some of these YouTubers. I live in North Dakota. We have all four seasons at extremes. I need a wardrobe that reflects the seasons (or else I would freeze or overheat), and the winter clothes are bulky and take up so much room in my closet! Does anyone else struggle with the same thing?

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As the school year is coming to a close, I’m reflecting back on additions to my bullet journal. Creating a separate page for assignment due dates saved my life. It was such a simple solution to my overflowing to-do lists.

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tip for math class...

Do your homework the day that it is assigned! Even if it is not due until the test or the end of term, you do not want to be up all night doing over twenty assignments. It only leads to pain and tears. One assignment a day is annoying but will help you out!

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15 Things I Learned My First Year at College

1. Feeding myself is hard. I oftentimes was so busy or so tired that I forgot to eat. It would sometimes be 5:00 and I still hadn’t eaten anything. I did not eat as much as I should have this year, and it has immensely affected my energy levels.

2. Home-sickness is REAL. I never thought that I would be struggling to get through my day simply because of my geographical location. I was not prepared for the amount of pain I would feel from being apart from my family, my boyfriend, my pets, my hometown, and my job.

3. Lofted beds are only good in theory. Sure, it was nice having the extra space for my desk and a cozy chair, but there was nothing worse than crawling into bed only to realize that I had forgotten to lock the door. 

4. Making friends is not as easy as it used to be. I realize now that it is just important to put yourself out there and talk to people. It sucks, and sometimes it is hard, but most people are willing to talk or study or hang out.

5. To-do lists can only be so long. I used to pack my to-do lists so full that I could not complete them all in a given day. I would become excessively stressed noticing all the items that I still had on the list and that I needed to move to the next day. I realized the best thing for me was to create weekly to-do lists. I gave each day in the week 2-3 assignments to work on (as to not get overwhelmed). For bigger projects or papers, I would allow for multiple days.

6. Scheduling makes things easier. I even find it relaxing to sit down and plan my day and week. 

7. No one cares about appearances. Makeup or no makeup. Dress pants or sweatpants. Color or monochromatic. Honestly, no one cares, and no one is judging. It made getting ready in the morning a lot less stressful.

8. Missing class in college is worse than missing class in high school. I used to think that college would be so much better because I could choose when I wanted to go to class. I was wrong. Most of my classes took attendance or had in-class assignments. 

9. I can barely get through the day without a nap. I don’t know how I managed to wake up before 7am every morning, go to eight straight classes, go to theatre rehearsal, go to work, and then come home late at night to do my homework. In college, I have a maximum of two classes a day, and I am exhausted! I need these naps. 

10. Plans and passions change. I thought that I was 100% going to be a journalist. I ended up changing my major to Elementary Education.

11. To enjoy a frat party, you either have to be drunk or single. I was neither. 

12. It is important to leave the dorm. I spent way too many days locked up in my room. I wish I would have gone for more walks, spent more time exploring campus, and studied in a coffee shop instead. 

13. Long distance is hard. The right person will make it easier, but it’s still hard not seeing the person you love for more than a month. 

14. Studying is hard. Different teachers want you to know different things for the tests. Some take questions straight from the text, some only use what was discussed in lecture, and some appear to be doing neither. The first exam of any class will always be difficult to adequately study for. 

15. The things that mattered to me became clear. It wasn’t until I was on my own that I realized what I truly cared about. I discovered my true friends, reestablished my goals, and understood myself more clearly. 

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wish list.

I feel a bit complicated because I am attempting to live a more minimalist lifestyle, yet here I am wishing for more items. I don’t know exactly where the balance is, but I do know that it is not about how much or how little I have. It is about the joy that I experience in life; loving what I own is an important part of that. 

My current wish list consists of items that I have been eyeing for a while now. The reason I have not purchased these already is because they are not urgent or necessary.

1. Typewriter. I write poetry and can’t stop thinking about how beautiful and relaxing it would be to write my poems using this device.

2. HP Sprocket Photo Printer. My current roommate has one of these, and I am obsessed! The pictures are the perfect size to place in my bullet journal, and I think the printer itself is just so dang cute!

The list is not very long, but the items are pretty pricey, so I am waiting for the right time to buy them myself. I may even put them on my Christmas List and slip it under my parents’ door. Either way, maintaining a wish list helps me keep my spending under control!