Simplified life and sustainable living.

These are two of the dreams that keep me thinking about change and how much of it I would like to do.  So in essence these are my goals; some are daily some are yearly and some are decade orientated.  

First of all, I want to get rid of all the clutter around my house.  There is paper galore mostly from oldest's schooling but that has lessened a lot seance she started Easy Peasy.  I need to get rid of a bunch of books and find a better way to store blankets and stuffed animals.  Then it's time to go through my kitchen and toss all my unused dishes and gadgets.  I need to ask my husband to try to get rid of a few of the movies he's collected (about 300+).

Now for the sustainable living: well that's a bit more complicated.  I would love to get rid of my power bill and put solar panels on the house.  But that's going to cost a pretty penny.  I really need to put up drapes to keep the heat and cold out along with a screen door ($15 @ target).  I'm looking at making my own soaps and growing my own vegetable garden & fruit trees.  I want to clean up our garage and organize it with the tubs ($80) then start canning for winter and emergencies. 

hum... baby fussing more later...

Ok lets put that into list format so it's easier to follow.  

Simplify the stuff

1. All paper needed filled
2. All paper not needed recycled
3. All books needed find a shelf
4. All books not needed find a new home (garage sale, craigslist ect.)
5. Bean bag storage for mass stuffys 
6. Closet all blankets not in immediate use.
7. Box all extra dishes and gagets if not used in 12 months give them away
8. Store all dvd,cd,games ect away, or get rid of some.

What clutters up your house, make a list of it and find out why. Then find it a proper home either in your house or someone else's.  

Sustainable living 

What do you use and how can you avoid buying it in the future or at least buying less. What can you make or grow yourself.  People did it years ago we can do it again.

We use electricity that's a given not something I want to go without right now, maybe when the kids are grown :) 

1. Solar Panels would cost $6-10K after rebates. 
2. Rain barrels for watering gardens $108 40 gallon or make your own thehomesteadsurvival.com
3. Heavy Drapes for all windows
4. Screen Doors ($15)
5. Make your own shampoo, dish soap, detergent ect. wellnessmama.com/ sustaincreateandflow.com/
6. Grow your own vegie and fruit garden ( see what you eat and try to grow it or try to eat what you can grow)
7. Can your own home grow foods for late use.

Yes there is so much more to this list but the idea is starting with what you see and gaining some control over it.

The screen curtains could probably be made from regular screening material that you get from the hardware store and a hot glue gun and some magnets. 

Then there's the washing, yes it could be done by hand but I really like this little guy.  The laundry pod.  Would not want to do this for a house full of people but when it's just us (my husband and I) would like or even just to have in case of emergencys.