Packing Party Update

I had originally planned on doing only clothes and accessories, however I decided to just go ahead and take about 95% of everything in my bonus room (Daniel and I each have one but we obviously share the master bedroom) and put it in the master. These days I really feel like all I've been doing is moving most of my belongings back and forth between the two rooms. Anyway, I just went ahead and bagged everything up besides the things that I knew I definitely wanted to keep. So far, it's working out pretty well. I'm actually pretty amazed at how little I've pulled out of the bags. Wearing a work uniform definitely helps. When I get home from work, I basically put on pajamas. Unless, we go out somewhere. Even though, when I walk in our bedroom I see basically everything I own, I still feel less stressed out. When I go in to my bonus room, there's almost nothing. The closet is basically bare. I do have my make up in there, as well as a few pieces of clothes I know I want. I also have my record player and records in there. I don't think there's much besides that.

In other news, I've been working my ass off, and Daniel's been helping, on my perennial/butterfly/bee garden. It started off as a bunch of plants that I've accumulated in pots. I decided I wanted to take the next step and actually put them in the ground. Daniel came up with the idea of doing a semi circle with the vegetable/herb garden in the center. So, that's what we did. Today, I finished the bulk of it. Everything is done except the finishing details. We need to add mulch and add a border. I'm beyond excited. There are a few annuals in there, as well as a perennials. There's one though that unfortunately isn't doing that great. I really hope it makes a come back. But basically, I want to see what will come back next year, and replace whatever doesn't come back with a bee or butterfly plant. With how unpredictable and mild our winters have been, you really don't know whats an annual or perennial anymore.

When I initially bought the plants, I just bought them because I thought they were cool looking, but I really want to make the entire garden a pollinator garden. Live and learn I guess. Some stuff that I bought said that it attracted butterflies, but it doesn't. I'm honestly convinced that butterflies are very rare. It makes me sad beyond belief. I haven't seen any butterflies or hummingbirds in large quantities in a few years. Fuck you climate change. On top of that I've seen so many trees being demolished for road expansions lately. It makes me so fucking sad. I'll admit that I'm a tree hugger.

I'm wondering if people are slowly starting to realize that bigger isn't always better. I feel like you don't hear about people being in debt as often as you did a few years ago. I hope this is the case. I feel like our economy won't start growing again until all these debt gaps are filled.

Alright, well have had enough intoxicated writing for tonight.

:D

So guess what Daniel bought me? Well, I showed it to him and he ordered it, lol. Anyway, this is what I'll be anxiously awaiting for.

It's a crappy picture, but it's a night light thing that's supposed to look like an aurora borealis. I'm really stoked. It was only $23! We have Amazon Prime, so that helps. I'm just picturing chilling on the floor with my essential oil diffuser, listening to some Boards of Canada. It'll be heavenly.

Eventually I would like to buy this :

It's a home planetarium. You can buy different disks for it too. It's quite expensive, but I know it would be worth it for me. I also would REALLY like to get a telescope.

These aren't very "minimal" things, but it's all about what makes you happy. I know I would use the shit out of any of these things.

Soo..

I'm super happy, because I was asked to stay past seasonal at work! I was one of only two cashiers. The other girl is in high school, but will soon be out for the summer. So really there's only going to be like 3 cashiers. I'm so, so happy. Hard work is worth it. The other girl that's staying is interested in horticulture as well. However, she wants to go to school for floral design. In a way I'm a little jealous, because I wish I would've known what I wanted to do in high school. Well, I guess I kind of knew. For most of my high school career, I thought I wanted to do graphic design. Until I took a graphic design class. I didn't hate it, but I could tell I probably didn't want to take that career path.

So Daniel and I had a to heart to heart yesterday. Our plan has been to open a home brew supply store. Although really, it was more his dream than mine. Don't get me wrong, I love beer, but I feel like I've kind of lost my passion for it a little bit. I still absolutely love it, but it isn't the healthiest. Especially to make a career out of it. I expressed to him that it's his dream, but not necessarily mine. So it's possible I may go back to school for horticulture. There's a technical school basically down the street from me. It's funny it's the same school I was going to go to for hair, but got talked out of. Anyway, since I've already taken all my core classes (when I went for business) I would be able to transfer a lot of classes and finish very quickly. I should still have my HOPE scholarship too. I already have Daniel's blessing that he actually gave me pretty quickly. I want to do more research and be sure I'll actually be able to find a job in this field paying well enough before I pursue it. I'm just happy that I have my foot in the door at a very big and reputable nursery.

Also, I had the idea of selling terrariums in an Etsy store on the side. Start up wouldn't cost too much. I would just need to be able to find someone who will sell plants in bulk to someone that isn't a nursery. I've done very light research on it as far as finding suppliers. But I think it would be a cool way to put my hobby into making money. It's everything I love: plants, design, small spaces. Who knows if I'll actually do it or not, but I definitely like the idea.

Oh yeah I'm happy to report that I actually have been trying to get my health under control. I've lost 15 pounds from my heaviest. My heaviest being 150. I just weighed myself and I'm 135.2 I'm not even entirely sure how I did it. I guess working full time, lifting stuff, and working in the yard has to do with it. Also, I've been trying to eat better. Not snack as much or if I do, it'll be a healthier snack. Also, I've been trying not eat super late. I try not to eat anything else after dinner. My goal weight is 120. Or my ultimate goal weight being 115. I would accept higher if I have muscle. I'm just happy my weight has finally started moving down. For the longest time it wouldn't budge.

I got my hair cut yesterday by the girl who's work I really love. I used to go to her before I started hair school. She does such a good job. I asked for a long bob with lots of layers, but I wasn't really able to do it since I'm still working on growing out a giant chunk of hair. But she still managed to do exactly what I wanted. My layers were wayy too long and heavy.

"Packing Party"

So this an idea first coined by one of the writers over at "The Minimalists." The idea is pack up all your belongings, as if you're moving, and only pull out what you need. That way you can see what you really need and use. I'm going to try this, but not with all my belongings. Mainly clothes, shoes, accessories. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it with anything else yet or not. I've started the process, but I'm using trash bags instead since it's a little easier and I don't have any boxes. My clothes are where I have my hardest time being minimal.

I really don't know how I can "feel" like a minimalist, but have so much stuff. I know there's people who aren't minimalists that have less than I do without even trying. I think it's because I'm such a design oriented person. It doesn't help that I also get tired of stuff very easily. It's definitely a struggle. Although, I guess I've been better about buying things lately (well not plant related anyway). It's mostly just stuff I've accumulated while in hair school. By the way, it's amazing how much less laundry I have now. It's decreased by like 75%.

I think my goal is to get down to having a little more than I might have in a tiny house. There's no point in getting quite low enough to live in a tiny house, because I'm not going to live in one. I would love to though. Maybe not one on a trailer, but a little bigger.

stale and stagnant

That's kind of my feeling on life right now. I've felt very bored lately and can't seem to entertain myself. I'm working close to full time and still feel bored somehow. When I come home I really don't do much besides drink and sit outside. Nothing's been interesting lately. In one of my favorite songs, the lyrics are, "we must turn our boredom to gratitude." I should be trying, but it's hard! I'm the kind of person that needs to be stimulated. I need adventure. I don't know where to get that anymore.

On another note, I think it would be nice to live in a tiny house on some land in the mountains. It's kind of funny, because I feel like even though I own more stuff now than I used to when I was "super minimal," I'm more on board for living in a tiny house. I could make it work. I'm just tired of dealing with all the extra work associated with a house. Mold, leaks, edging, dealing with non-carpet floors.

Sometimes I feel like I see through people. Like I can tell who they are just by listening to them talk. Who knows if I'm accurate, but I feel like I have a pretty good idea. I kind of wish I didn't though. I like the mystery.

Well, I think it's pretty obvious that I've had too many to drink. It's a Friday night though, so at least I've got an excuse.