nearing the end of a great challenge

Other than last night, I haven't written in a while. We were on holidays. I am helping at a VBS. I have been busy in the kitchen since we got home. The kids need me. The garden needs me. It's been busy adjusting back to life.


I am less than a month away from ending my no spending challenge. I am over half done my 30 for 30 clothing challenge. It's SOOOO good. It really hasn't been hard. I have hardly noticed the size of my wardrobe. Being on holidays was kind of like cheating- I only packed a certain number of things and wore them over and over. It was nice to come home to some more variety - but all that I had left behind was 2 dresses, 2 sweaters, a skirt, a shirt and a pair of capris. I don't even know if I will wear everything before August 15th. I have definatly learned to be more satisfied with what I have. I have learned the art of mixing and matching. I have learned to look at what I have in different lenses and how to add accessories to change things up. I have let go some of my pride, I have let go of my insecurities, I have let go of the time it can take to choose an outfit, and sort through the garbage to find what I want.  Its been fun.


I did break my no- spending rule on holidays. We bought the kids ice cream several times- YUM!!! We also bought the boys some books (my weakness) and some toys at a thrift shop. I bought myself one top and 2 silk scarves. I plan on using the scarves as part of a sewing project someday. Confession over- other than that $10, I have not spent anything on myself or the kids. Awesome eh! Again, I have learned to make due with what we have- to repurpose things we own.


I have mentioned that due to the no-spending rule, I have become more interested in the art of couponing. I am not like 'those' people you are thinking of, but I am learning to use the coupons that are out there. My husband was skeptical at first, thinking I was going to be buying things we didn't need just to use the coupon. To his joy I have easily passed over coupons for products that are not on my shopping list already. The last trip I took to Superstore, I did spend a lot of money. Original total was about $290, but I had $21 in coupons, and then $35 in store coupons and markdowns. And on top of that.... I scored a $25 gift card for Superstore. I was so excited!!!

When we got home from holidays I opened the mail to find all kinds of great coupons, and lots of bad ones too--- but this is another way that I will be learning to serve my family.

the difference a few days can make

a couple weeks ago, I embarked on a challenge. Not the kind of 'challenge' my kids talk about and play knights with, but still a very interesting challenge.

This closet extends up and both to the right and left of what the picture shows. And it was previously FULL and spewing out onto the floor. The thing is that I had TOO much stuff, I couldn't see what I had, wanted or needed. Even though I purge regularily, I still lived in the land of the excessively excessive. So I decided to challenge myself to make some changes in my closet and my life. Am I up to the Challenge?

Well this is my closet now

Look back to the first picture and do you see that little section to the right of the mirror, that's all my clothes. I have some jeans above on the shelf but that is it! And I'll tell you something- I am reallllllllly enjoying it. I am actually happier, more satified, and overall enjoying my clothes more. I can find what I want in no time at all, and there is no spillage to sort through in the morning. Laundry and putting cloths away is a snap too! I haven't even really found myself yearning for things that I have put away. Interesting, right?

Another part of my challenge was that I would repurpose or make a piece of clothing. My friend over at sonneblomstudio  lent me this book :



"New From Old" by Jayne Emerson



And I have been SO inspired. I am looking all over my house and seeing things I already have in a new light. In typical me fashion, I went all crazy and started pulling things out and visualized half a dozen projects. When am I going to do all  this?!!

first project- a hand-me down sweater that I do like, but it is a bit tight. An idea in the book is to cut it down the middle and make it a bolero or cardigan. I'll attenpt it and see what happens. I may end up dyeing this too because it is yellowing.

This is a giant pile of nearly a dozen yellowing while t-shirts. Our country water isn't very kind to the whites, but DUH, I could dye these shirts and give them a new life!

Random items with beads on them. While being distracted the other day, I tried on my wedding dress and found extra beads in a baggy, and the little princess tiara that I wore. I decided to use the beads to do something timeless and pretty.

Garage sale find a while back- this table cloth was $0.25 and I loved the pattern and colors. I have no idea what I will make out of it.

Closer up pic of what the beading loks like on the tiara.

SO we had a pretty relaxed day yesterday. We got the brothers to our kitties so now we have 3 kitties and the boys were busy taking care of them. And they were making daddy father's day cards, looking through all of my scrapbooks (so cute!), and generally taking care of themselves. It was wonderful. I sat at my desk in the craft room and played. I love it!! This is what I've come up with so far.

A bracelet made from beads of an old broken necklace.

necklace made from old tiara beads. I really like this! I made earrings to go with it too

closer up of the tiara necklace

Sweater, nearly done I sliced it down the middle, and since it natuarally wanted to go together at the top middle, I ended up (not shown in picture) adding a huge brown button in the center. I LOVE IT. I think I will wear this lots this summer. I am going to wear it today, thats for sure.

                                             nice finished product picture taken by a 4 year old

I am inspired and challenged to do less shopping, and more recycling and repurposing. I am going to go find some good clothing dye and get to work on the pile of whites. I also love the feeling of being creative. It makes me feel alive and giddy with excitement. I am NOT a prefectionist so nothing is ever perfect, but I have fun doing it and I don't mind the imperfections. None of this is hard, but I normally don't think about it.

I wonder what else I am missing because I am not looking or am too busy?