Shoo Fly…

I have become a woman possessed. Possessed with keeping these frigging flies out of my house.

Last year, there were hundreds of them.  I kid you not.  There is no exaggeration.  Unfortunately, I had a three year old and a 3 month old and I had no ability, energy, or desire to battle the flies.  Now, however, my kids are older, and I am on a rampage. Swatting, spraying, and cutting off their food sources.  And you want to know which of these three things is working best?  Cutting off the food source.

Last week I decided that there would be no more food in the trash.  None.  I put everything in the disposal (this is a great time for people to rave about composting, but I’m almost unable to keep up with throwing things into my sink, so it’s just not the right time, or the right blog).  I have even been rinsing out food wrappers and food covered paper towels.  Not only are there no more flies racing towards my face every time I open the garbage can, but there is also no terrible garbage smell.  Seriously, it’s a win-win.

Are there still flies? Yes, of course.  It’s summer in North Carolina…. but compared to the hundreds from last year, this year has a max of 15 at a time, and those get swatted.  Then I spray their filthy black poop dots that cover my window sills with vinegar and go about my day.  It’s kind of exhausting, but earlier this summer I was having to put a paper towel with a hairband around it around my cups so that the flies wouldn’t dive in and drown in my drink.  Inside my house.  Yes, it was that bad.

So, shoo fly, don’t bother me, or i’mma gonna have to swat ya.

Throw Away All The Things?

I’ve always been what my family would refer to as a “minimalist.”  I always considered it to mean that I don’t like collecting knickknacks or wanting to own every DVD for every movie I’ve ever enjoyed.  This is how my parents live, and when you live in a single wide trailer with four people, it gets a little ridiculous.  So I hate having things everywhere.  I may have one neat little knickknack here and there, but I try to make it something that can stay there all year.  My mother in law completely redecorates her front entrance for each month of the year.  Yes, 12 different boxes of decorations.  I mean, it just gives me a panic attack even thinking about that amount of clutter.

This is not really what a minimalist is though.  A minimalist is someone who has just what she needs.  She has one set of dishes, just the right amount of clothes to do the job, enough crafting supplies to make a craft or two.  I, on the other hand, have three sets of dishes, more clothes than I could wear in a month (or wear ever, as I hold on to clothes that do not fit even a little bit), and I currently own enough yarn to circle the earth about 12 times.  I am not a minimalist… but I want to be.

Today I cleaned out my dresser.  It is five drawers.  I got rid of a hamper full of clothing.  Not a small, carry on your hip type of hamper, but a big, standing hamper that comes up to my thigh when I stand beside it.  I was, to be honest, shocked and embarrassed about the amount of pajamas, old bras, and workout clothes I had in there that I either didn’t wear, or don’t fit into.  (Ratio is about 5% don’t wear to 95% don’t fit into, although I can’t wear what I don’t fit into, so… yea).

I desire to be a true minimalist, and I am so ready to start the process and really go all out.  I need to get my life together, make it easier, and relax a little.  I think about how happy I’ll be when I have less things to look at, organize, clean… oh, i’m so excited to begin.  Now, if I can only find the energy to tackle this project.

For now… i’m going to bed, that dresser wore me out!

Love,

Me – Minimalist In The Making