On Minimalism: If I had to move today...

...what would I take?

Borrowing from mnmlist.com, I took time to ask myself this very question, going from room to room in my house. I came up with these items:

1. One week of clothing + coat
2. Three pair shoes (work heels, running shoes, flip-flops)
3. Instruments
4. Antique books
5. Computer/external monitor/office chair
6. Television (my husband's after all)
7. One set of sheets
8. Three blankets (throw, wool layer, quilt)
9. Two towels
10. My recliner
11. Bed
12. Best yarns in my stash, or those with planned projects only
13. Area rug
14. Suitcases
15. Hygiene stuff
16. Treadmill
17. Yoga mat
18. Holiday decorations (in one tote)
19. Cleaning supplies
20. SCA gear

It's interesting in looking over the list, just how much I don't need. I've started cleaning out the garage--took a whole load of stuff to Goodwill--and another pile will go to trash in the morning (whatever wasn't usable). I'll keep tackling a room of the house each week until I am truly down to the very minimal amount necessary. 

As to my 333 challenge, this is what I have to date. It is by no means complete, but it's a start in versatility.

Minimalist Fashion Project 333 Begins

via Be More With Less:

Original rules

• When: October 1 – December 31 (It’s never too late to start so join in anytime!)
• What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.
• What not: these items are not counted as part of the 33 items – wedding ring, underwear, sleep, in-home lounge wear,  and workout clothing (you can only wear your workout clothing to workout)
• How: over the next two months, outline your 33 items, by the 1st of October, box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape and put it out of site.
• What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. If you purchase items for project 333, stick with the one in, two out approach. Consider the essentials and stick to 33.

I've been wanting to clean out everything I own, I look around and feel like I'm swimming in books and clothes. While, in reality, I don't have a TON of stuff, moving it every year for the last ten years or so has gotten old. Time to pare down! While this exercise focuses on wardrobe, I'm going to apply the same one in, two out approach to my house, and make weekly Goodwill trips. 

The wardrobe: 

1 pair jeans

3 pair dress slacks

5 work shirts

3 sweaters 

4 casual shirts

3 sweatshirt

4 cardigans

1 pair heels

1 pair espedrilles

1 pair boots 

1 closed-toe work shoe

3 dresses

2 skirts

1 coat

I'm not going to count jewelry in this mix, because I only wear a few pieces at a time (usually two rings, a bracelet, and my fitbit, along with a necklace, three sets of earrings that never come out, and my industrial that never comes out). I also have some jewelry from my grandmother that still has sentimental value, regardless that it's costume. I've already trimmed through it and given 70% to a neighbor for her granddaughter, so it all fits in one tidy box. I don't feel like it's a pain point compared to my wardrobe that shifts among seasonal totes. I also have two purses - one black, one brown.

Workout/lounge gear -- I know it's not included, but I still want to focus:

3 pair pants

2 capri

1 running skirt

1 pair running shoes

3 tanks

2 longsleeve shirts

1 cold weather/rain pants

1 cold weather/rain hoodie

1 hat

My sweatshirts from above can double for warmth here, e.g., hoodies. 

Right now I'm in a period of transition, in that I'm losing weight. A lot of weight. So far, thirty pounds in two months kind of weight. This means it'll be all the easier to get rid of things, since they no longer fit, but I'll have to be selective in what I buy until I get down to my ultimate size. That, or buy things I really like now, and then re-engineer them into a smaller size when that day comes...Unless more cute stuff is available by then.