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jody's blog

random thoughts, ideas and chaos

back to school… supplies & demand lessons

Yes, it's time to start preparing for back-to-school.  My kids are in denial that they're going back soon.  I'm in denial that I have to spend a lot of money on school supplies.  Of all the challenges a year of no retail shopping posed on our lives, school supplies...

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painters drop cloth tape [minimalist challenge item #168]

[item] 3M painter's drop cloth tape [purchase info] Purchased new [time in my possession] Approximately 12 years [last used] Some never, a little bit over 10 years ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] I still paint...

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floating floor spacers [minimalist challenge item #167]

[item] Laminant floating floor spacers [purchase info] Purchased new at Lowe's [time in my possession] Approximately 2 years [last used] 2 years ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] I used these to install my flooring....

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rethinking good in frisco style magazine

Thanks so much to Frisco Style Magazine for rethinking good in their August 2011 arts issue.  No retail shopping for one year has proven to be a great way to rethink no only shopping, but the way we live life.  Here's a few of the blog posts related to the article if...

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paintbrush comb [minimalist challenge item #165]

[item] Purdy paintbrush comb [purchase info] Purchased new at Home Depot [time in my possession] Approximately 5 years [last used] Several months ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] I have two of these.  Still getting rid...

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old washcloths and towels [minimalist challenge item #164]

[item] A huge lot of old bath towels and washcloths [purchase info] Purchased mostly new and discount stores [time in my possession] From 3 to 10 years [last used] Today [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store or freecycle [info] I used...

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hand vacuum [minimalist challenge item #163]

[item] Dirt Devil hand vac [purchase info] Purchased new at Walmart [time in my possession] Approximately 3 years [last used] Rarely used, about once every 3 months [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium [destination] Thrift store [info] This is handy to have...

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gracie rockin’ the guitar [daily good photo]

[like... a lot]  Once a month on Thursdays, we go to the nursing home across the street to hang out and sing with the residents.  I love to hear their stories, like Flo who was an incredible artist and painter or Ethel, 99 years old that was a biker chick in her...

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stainless water bottle [minimalist challenge item #162]

[item] Stainless steel water bottle [purchase info] Purchased new at a discount store [time in my possession] Approximately 2.5 years? [last used] A couple of weeks ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium [destination] Trash [info] I love these "green"...

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mismatched socks [minimalist challenge item #161]

[item] Lots of mismatched socks [purchase info] Purchased at different times, mostly on sale [time in my possession] A few months up to years [last used] Who really knows... [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium, I think [destination] I'm going to use these...

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broken GFCI switch [minimalist challenge item #160]

[item] Broken GFCI plug for a hot tub [purchase info] Came with the hot tub [time in my possession] Approximately 10 months [last used] 5 months ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Trash [info] I'm not quite sure why I kept this.  It's the...

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shoe laces [minimalist challenge item #159]

[item] White shoe laces - new [purchase info] I have no idea where these came from. [time in my possession] Good question... [last used] Never, they're new [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] I don't need these, nor do my...

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a not-so-edible mini challenge

My new mini-challenge... no fast food through the end of the year and no eating out for a month.  (one exception: my friend's birthday dinner)  It pains me to see all of the paper waste from eating fast food.  Not doing the fast food thing through the end of the year...

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small cookbook [minimalist challenge item #158]

[item] Tennessee Pride cookbook [purchase info] Free at the grocery store [time in my possession] Approximately 2 months [last used] Never [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Shannon wants it. [info] I took this because a nice man at the grocery...

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bracelet [minimalist challenge item #157]

[item] Beaded bracelet [purchase info] Given to me as a gift [time in my possession] Approximately 5 months [last used] 5 months ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Medium [destination] Thrift store [info] I received this from one of the sweet girls at Casa...

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coffee travel cup [minimalist challenge item #156]

[item] Ceramic latte travel cup [purchase info] Purchased at a thrift store for $.99 [time in my possession] Approximately 6 months [last used] Last month [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] This is just too small for my...

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crock pot [minimalist challenge item #155]

[item] Old crock pot [purchase info] Given to me as a gift [time in my possession] Approximately 18 years [last used] Over a year ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] I don't use this very often and my Le Creuset does the...

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iphone 3gs case [minimalist challenge item #154]

[item] Black iPhone 3gs case [purchase info] Purchased new at Walmart [time in my possession] Approximately 2.5 years [last used] A few months ago [difficulty level in getting rid of it] Easy [destination] Thrift store [info] This case served us well, but it's...

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