Do you swap?

I am planning a Sip n' Swap party again this year and I am waaaay excited. 

Last year we had 10 ladies get together and do a clothing swap in the spring for summer fashions. What a hit! A few of my girlfriends even held their own swaps after that for fall they were so inspired!

This year, I am giving lots of notice (to beat people's urge to purge and garage sale season) to all my ladies so they can start to declutter and build their pile of items to swap. This year it is Home Decor.

I am sending the invite over 5 months in advance to allow them the time to glean through their homes, investigate closets, dig in basements etc. and create a pile of decor / home items (pictures, mirrors, drapes, pillow covers, rugs, art, lamps, clean bedding, small tables/ chairs, coffee table books, knick knacks, paddywhacks - whatever they can carry) to bring to the.....

"Friendsgiving Home Decor Sip n' Swap in July"!!!

If they have a larger piece of furniture, they can bring pictures and we will consider it added to the pile, the donor and the new owner can arrange pick ups smile emoticon

So far I have about 10 pictures, 2 lamps, unused kitchenware, small decorative shelves, a rug or two, decorative boxes, vases, draperies, barstools, outdoor hangers for plants....you would be amazed once you start your pile!!! So if they were thinking garage sale....I say don't do it! 

I am reminding everyone that it is important to be able to truly let go of the items they bring and not to be hurt if the pieces don't have a new home by the end of the evening. Any and all leftover items will be packed up, carted away and donated lovingly to a local Children's Assistance Program for their new store on (where Boy#2 volunteers)

Redecorating your home with new-to-you pieces can and should be inspiring. What's more inspiring than girl time???

Thanks for diving in with me - Dharma

Create More....Spend Less

Hi there. Been awhile huh?

Sorry for the interruption but you know....life.

2016 - When the hell did that happen?

So, to start off a new year, I am resolving to do something new too. I have decided to put my wallet on a diet. No carbs for that beaotch! Let me explain.

Greg and I make a nice living. We have little to no debt other than our mortgage. We own our cars. We have savings. We can afford to do or buy what we want but lately *want* has been a slippery word.

We had a major windstorm prior to Christmas which prompted an insurance claim for roof damage (they sweetly only offered 25% of the cost - ugh!) and we can swing a replacement in cash if we are careful. Bummer that we had plans to renovate the downstairs bathroom with that money but hey, life. Again. Need vs Want!

That said, I am feeling the crush of clutter, the real pressing of *things* in our home that we do not use, don't like, have no use for due to life changes, boys growing up and out of things...so rather than getting freaked out and going out to BUY ALL THE THINGS that would make me giddy (for a while), I have decided to concentrate on getting RID OF ALL THE CRAP.

This seems to be a theme for a lot of people in January judging by blogs and Pinterest lol

Greg and I started taking pics of or posting items for sale or for free on local Facebook sites or on Kijiji and most of it is flying out of the garage :) That is happiness I tell you.
Any funds received will go into those roof repairs. It won't be much but it will help.

In the meantime, I am on a no-spend spree. I got so serious I started unsubscribing from all my fave shopping sites and flash sale emails from sites I like to shop from, cutting the temptation is huge for me. No more THIS IS A GREAT DEAL Dharma....spend, spend, spend!

It will be a journey. I know this. But it is a bit of a relief too. Focusing on what we CAN afford in cash after we do the roof, making room for reducing the mortgage in real time and not at a snail's pace and *buying* experiences rather than STUFF is where I see this headed.

Are you doing anything drastic this year?

Thanks for diving back in the deep end with me.

Dharma

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