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Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Living with less
Hill's happiness grew once he got rid of unnecessary stuff—and the stressors that came with it. We're actually planning a big cleanse this weekend to prepare for the new baby—organizing closets, donating clothes that don't fit well, recycling old magazines—and I'm going to keep his words in mind. Getting rid of things is such a satisfying feeling, don't you think?
P.S. He reminds me of this guy:)
(Illustration by Maxwell Holyoke-Hirsch)
103 comments:
- Chloe Moon said...
I live in a one bedroom studio and I'm trying to purge so I can feel that happiness with less! Having more sometimes is so stressful!!
Ergo - Blog - 3:36 PM
- brooklynash said...
no joke, my boyfriend's apartment is NOT EVEN 400 sq ft. can you believe that!? somehow he manages to fit several bicycles and a drafting table into the mix. good thing he's a minimalist architect. :)
- Julia said...
such a good message, and i completely agree it feels good to purge and limit purchases of unnecessary STUFF, but i thought this was an interesting response: http://gawker.com/5989989/it-would-be-great-if-millionaires-would-not-lecture-us-on-living-with-less
- Lady Grey said...
that' very inspiring (not sure I could go that extreme though)..... but a good house cleanse is always a good idea this time of year. We all own way too much stuff (except maybe this guy!).
xo - 3:42 PM
- The Cyclists Wife said...
Here's an alternative (and funny) take on that article. http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-future-wednesday-and-it-sucks.html
- Janika R. said...
I believe in the same principle too. good post.
http://lovelybusybee.blogspot.com/ - 3:44 PM
- Sara said...
Thanks for sharing - I love this. One of the things I struggle with in reading all these lovely blogs is the focus on consumerism. Seeing all the latest fashions/home decor makes you want to buy so much stuff. I've actually cut back on my blog reading because I think it influenced my buying habits and made me feel like I needed all this stuff.
- Shelley said...
I love getting rid of things! It really is the absolute best feeling. I donate clothes all the time and I still can't believe how much I'm left with.
- Mariana said...
Three years ago, my partner and I started a blog with the aim of throwing away one thing every day and document it. We still have to approach the 365th entry (now we're at 305) and it's still a satisfying feeling to get rid of something. I once read that people in western Europe own 10'000 things on average. Our blog is called "calendar of waste disposal" – unfortunately it's only in German: www.entsorgungskalender.wordpress.com/ I highly recommend starting a project like this, it makes you feel better and it's so much fun!
- Monica said...
Thanks for sharing! My husband and I have recently decided to live a minimalist lifestyle too. I recently wrote a post about it here: http://mmweissfamily.blogspot.com/2013/02/living-light.html
Such a great way to cleanse from stress and stuff. - 3:54 PM
- thehumblegourmet said...
Two years ago, my husband and I moved in with my parents while we saved to buy a home. This involved a MASSIVE purge of things. When we finally bought our home in July, we did another purge from our storage unit, things we didn't even want to bring into the new home. It felt so great! So while we have bought some new things, our lives just feel so much cleaner and less cluttered. It's great for the mind as well; a clean, relaxing space to live in can so easily transfer to clean, relaxing mental state.
- Meredith said...
Bahaha, that's awesome! I have a friend who is always tying to do what this guy is doing. She is kind-of condescending about it (and makes comments about me being too much of a consumer, etc). Right now she's humble bragging about becoming a zero waste household and I'd like to send this to her :)
- Leslie said...
I love that feeling too!
It's like those families that live in those tiny homes that can fit onto a parking spot. 300ft I think. Totally fascinating.
I wrote a blog about it here:
http://scrumpybumpy.blogspot.com/2013/01/tiny-homes.html - 3:59 PM
- Mariam said...
Here's the video showing his apartment! It's amazing! http://vimeo.com/55389782#
- Laurel Hammond said...
I have a great tip for this. We recently did a HUGE house "cleanse" and the hardest part is just starting. My tip - start with the pens and pencils in your house. I was amazed at the seriously hundreds of pens we had collected. I just gave them all the a cafe (waiters always need pens.) We now have two drawers in the whole hose that have pens and we have 10 pens in total.
It seems silly BUT it gets you started!!! - 4:02 PM
- Ellies Wonder said...
YES!! So good! I follow a facebook minimalist page called 'Becoming Minimalist' and it reminds me everyday to live a simple life. Since moving to the Bay Area 3 months ago, my husband and I have started to implement a minimalist lifestyle and we are loving it! I plan on writing a blog post about useful tips that have helped us so far. Thanks for sharing the article!
{ Ellies Wonder }
- dot said...
I just bought a house and I move in in a month. I try to plan everything and I see now how many unnecessary things I have...
it's not the easiest thing to do, but I will have to get rid of some of them, wish me luck :)
http://belikedot.blogspot.co.uk/ - 4:12 PM
- Lauren said...
I live in a pretty small apartment with my boyfriend and I love it. I've gotten rid of so much clutter and broken my habit of impulse shopping and hoarding knickknacks. It's really amazing how having a small space forces you to only keep things that you need or love, and how much that changes about how you feel about your home.
The only downside is that whenever my boyfriend's mother comes over she can't get over how small our place is (it's small but not shocking) and it's giving me a complex! - 4:22 PM
- Natalia said...
So true! I didn't realise how many things we can stash in our apartment until we had to move to even smaller one. Right now I think twice before I buy something. I always have in mind that I will have to bring it with me to the next apartment - visualising boxes in the moving truck usually helps ;)
- Anne [A Squared] said...
I always a keep an open shopping bag in my closet so it's conveniently located for those times that I put on a shirt and realize I don't love it anymore. I can just drop it in the bag to donate and be done! Our dry cleaners downstairs collect donations for their church and there is no greater feeling than filling a bag, getting it out of my place, and dropping it off!
- Meadow said...
I can kinda relate. I used to be a big pack rat but I definitely feel happy when I clean my closet out especially. Getting rid of clothes I don't like/don't wear is good, and I try to do it regularly. I'm also more careful about what I buy. I really don't like clutter and I feel calmer when I know that I don't have a lot of unnecessary stuff all over the place. I wouldn't want my apartment to be any smaller, though... I guess I just like to have a place for everything, everything in its place, and nothing around that I totally dislike and/or find useless.
- Rachel Weaver said...
I want less so much more. But it's hard for me to balance that desire with my love of beautiful things. What do you do with cherished gifts and meaningful souvenirs? I want minimalism but I also want to be surrounded with memories of people and places that I love.
- littlekitchie said...
I have been putting off my spring clean out of my closet for a few days now... this was just the boost I needed! Getting to work now!
- Judy said...
I agree! I really need some of this in my life. The clutter in my very small apartment is really getting to me lately. I'm also expecting a baby, my first, and we could really use the extra space and breathing room.
- tastesdelicious said...
Thank you for inspiration! the newsletter from goop that i got today was dedicated to spring cleaning and closet reorganizing too. Some really good tips there.
- Gabriella said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Gabriella said...
I have a lot of admiration for this project, though it seems to me there's a danger of becoming obsessive to the other extreme (or at least, I've strayed in that direction) and sort of fetishizing a certain idea of simplicity. There's real pleasure to be had from objects, and the discipline I would like to cultivate is to have things that I like around me (my collection of books, most crucially) but not become overly attached to or fixated by them.
- Love me if ya dare said...
It is true that the things you own end up owning you, and I know it's better to get rid of stuff, such a good feeling, but I never want to toss things because I'm thinking I could use it for something, a new diy... though I rarely do :(
- katilda said...
I l-o-v-e the sentiment of a more simple lifestyle. I feel like an apartment cleanse and trip to Goodwill is in order!
- Bea said...
This is amazing. I love the idea of living with less - in my 20's the only significant things I owned were a bed and a bike and there is something so freeing about that, you can send everything to Goodwill and leave on a new adventure whenever you want! Now I have so much more than what I need - where did all of this stuff in my house come from?!
He reminds me of No Impact Man, love that documentary.
http://www.thegoogleyear.blogspot.com.au/ - 5:16 PM
- crushedredvelvet said...
Did you see this on sweet fine day? I don't know how anyone can even imagine living minimally if they have kids lol, Kids main function is to want. I think I'm a wannabe minimalist but one thing I could never switch over is from books to digital books. I need to hold a paperback or hardcover book in my hands. There is a collection truck coming around my neighborhood tomorrow and I actually have a box of stuff to put out this time though!
- jkkjacks said...
While not nearly this extreme, in order to move out of the burbs, we moved from a 2800 sq. ft. home to an 1800 sq. ft. home with one child. And, honestly, we do not miss the extra space! In fact, we love our home so much more now!
- karina said...
Take lovely photos. Perhaps with comments from the givers. Or About the givers.
- Stephanie said...
Sounds like a good idea to me! I wish I'd done more of it before I'd had my baby, but I'm still hoping to get some seriously spring cleaning done this month, especially when it comes to my closet!!
- Erika said...
well- i live in a tiny house by the beach on the california coast - the cost of living here is really expensive in my little beach town - but i love it so we live minimally - i have three kids, a BIG dog, a cat, a husband...and we all fit together like a puzzle in our little beach shack. I was in a fire many years ago and lost all my possessions (every last one) - and so I know what it's like to start over and what it's like to live with a lot less. It's amazing how little you need - I wrote a blog post about how I got rid of ALL of my kids' toys- and they were never happier...
urthmama.com - 6:45 PM
- Gold Muse said...
Ah the simple life...I definitely agree, clutter can be stressful. I always ask myself, will I use this today? If not, it ends up in my garage for now...I have a bunch of things piled up there that I need to give away and get rid of but even that takes time and effort.
- Nina Leung said...
I read this article on Sunday and was so inspired! I liked the part about how Mom's feel most stress when they faced with all the things in the house. I so agree. I've decided to do a major purge of everything in the house. I've already started with the office, next is the boys room. I also plan to be more careful with what we buy and bring into the house.
It's a great way to free oneself, I believe. Feels great! Thanks for the reminder! Great post! - 7:12 PM
- Sarah Clark said...
i love this! one of my favorite oprah episodes was about where happy people live. they interviewed a family from denmark and they said "less space, less things, more life". it really stuck with me! love it!!
- Kristian said...
I think this is really interesting idea and have always enjoyed the (many) books and articles on minimalist living, but thought this specific article was a rather odd on on the topic. I could be wrong, but I don't think he is the only person to have ever lived in small, tight spaces (look at dorm rooms for one thing). I think it would have been interesting to hear more about what he did to his apartment because that doesn't look like a typical fold-down bed type space to me.
- vicki archer said...
I am going to have a spring clean of my wardrobe next weekend...I think it's good to do every few months...I definitely agree with Graham...I personally find getting rid of unnecessary things liberating...xv
http://vickiarcher.com - 8:46 PM
- Jessica said...
I like this blog a lot, but I feel like there's a bit of a disconnect between recent posts and this one. Much of the content on here is about *stuff* (and much of that is sponsored), and I find it a bit uncomfortable to suddenly be told how "satisfying, don't you think?" it is to clean out your house and live with less, right after what are essentially ads for expensive maternity clothes, the latest nail polish, and canvas shoes that fall apart in one season (cute though they are!).
- Jessica said...
I ADORE throwing out unnecessary items! It feels so good and oh so relieving! It's my favorite. Just go with your first instinct and don't second guess yourself. I always second guess myself on clothes that "might fit" or make me feel like I have the "right" wardrobe, but just be honest with yourself. A year after I kept something I should I have thrown out, it always ends up in the donate bin anyway.
- LRB said...
Like this, very inspiring. It's good to purge material items to make room for good things to enter.
http://www.littleredbook-thatshaute.blogspot.com - 9:19 PM
- lost in travels said...
i completely agree with this. when we moved to korea, we went from a 700 sq ft apartment (which felt TINY) to a 550 square foot apartment that by the end of it felt spacious to us! it's crazy how we can grow accustomed to smaller spaces and less 'stuff'
lostintravelsblog.blogspot.com - 9:58 PM
- Haley said...
I love reading these stories and marvelling at how lovely it would be to magically get rid of about half of my family's "stuff" - but on the flip side my Dutch blood loves a cozy house with photos and books and a touch of happy, industrious clutter (I have three littles)
- Faye Larsen said...
Well articulated. I was thinking the same thing but struggling to put it into words.
- Nicole Carrington said...
I love this. I want to try it this weekend.
- marian rose said...
Where I live in Colorado many people are homesteaders and farmers. The less stuff you have, the more time you have for other things (though I will say that hot running water has increased my efficiency exponentially). Plus, we're all so po' living a simple life is necessary.
Have you ever heard of the Man Who Quit Money- Daniel Suelo? - 10:59 PM
- Monica L. Shulman said...
YES. THIS. good for you! it's so hard to purge.
I've been cleaning out drawers and getting rid of papers too. I'm going to tackle all the closets in a couple of weeks. And don't even get me started on the books. I love our books and I can't bear the thought of storing them, giving them away but they just take up SO MUCH ROOM. And we just don't have the space anymore...especially with another baby on the way:) - 11:12 PM
- jm said...
I had to get rid of lots of stuff once when I moved into a tiny place. I just kept the things I loved and i remember that small spare place with such fondness.
- Stella Dobry said...
I read this yesterday too. I love to get rid of stuff, but I know there is still so much crap I hold onto for sentimental reasons... still trying to have the courage to get rid of all of that too!
- haylie said...
This made me smile. My husband, cat and I live in 380 square feet, and we're perfectly happy. It doesn't even feel cramped. I'm a little amused by the "ohmygoshcanyoubelieveit?" quality of this article.
- Marcia said...
Scanning your replies here I see lots of info for you to read up on.
Apartment Therapy always has good information on organization and living in small spaces.
But have you heard of the blog http://www.theminimalists.com/? They talk about the whole lifestyle of living with less stuff.
I hope the cleanse goes well. Only keep what you love! - 12:44 AM
- Unknown said...
It's true. I gave about 60% of my belongings away during my last move. I'm sure part of it was I was lazy/sick of "stuff," but I don't miss any of it. It just feels lighter.
- mle jean said...
Yes, I totally agree. I had a house twice the size that I do now. I cried when I moved, but after thinning everything out and not having the option of buying much else I find that I am so much happier. I have more money to invest in quality. My mind is so much clearer and motivated with out all the fluff!
- Sandra Carson said...
I agree with it...It will only give you happiness and relief from tension and worries..simple living..better living...
- McKenzie said...
Yes!! I love throwing away things! haha weird but clean-outs feel so good, and it is very true that a clean/clear room means a clear mind too (at least for me! haha) I like the idea of this, don't know if i'd always be able to do it though! x
http://currentlylovingblog.blogspot.com/ - 2:04 AM
- mamun rikil said...
- mamun rikil said...
- mamun rikil said...
- Jen | Our Happy Family said...
I just read this article yesterday too! I loved it especially since we are a family of 6 currently living in a 420 sq ft quest apartment! It took us an entire year to purge our lives of things and it's so much simpler now. For us, downsizing has become such a great experience that even when we eventually move we want to stick to our minimal lifestyle.
- bindin Gorgia said...
Very nice post. I like it. Thank you for sharing. It will be helpful to Study and doing Thesis or Research on this topic
- Catherine Masi said...
I completely agree. Still in the process here, myself. It feels SO good.
- megan said...
Yes. Entering your home should give you a sense of relief and a calmness and for me that only comes with less clutter, fewer things and an inviting space. I can get really aggressive with the purging of unnecessary stuff, but I need to rip it off like a band-aid. I need it out of the house within 24 hours, it can't sit there in the corner because it'll start to taunt me with doubt... you might need that thing! But if it's out the door I forget about it and instantly feel better.
- Beauty Fashion Skin Care Blog - Girlie Blog Seattle said...
I like this idea. However, with a toddler and a baby, it's hard to live less. Before kids though, my husband and I shared a tiny space, with most of our stuff in storage. We were certainly happier with a simpler life.
Girlie Blog Seattle | Casual Chic Fashion - 5:09 AM
- Caitlyn said...
It's funny, my fiance and I are doing the same thing this weekend. We just got our small apartment really, really clean and it hit us that if we want to keep it that way - we HAVE to purge. So this weekend we are going nuts getting rid of things - and then finding a "home" for everything we keep. My high-school self would have never believed how happy/excited this makes me :)
- My name is Anna said...
I totally agree Sara. It's not healthy to constantly be thinking about what you don't have and the next thing you think you need - that's what a lot of blogs are about. I'm trying to keep this in mind while we're going through the process of buying a house. I see friends who have really big houses and think that it's just way too much (too much space, too much to take care of, too much money). However, society looks at that as success. It's hard not to get sucked into the cycle of consumerism but it's nice to hear other people say that they don't want to be a part of it.
- Sydney said...
I like the living with less approach but a studio with a child sounds very trying; however, I'm sure it's been done many times before and they'll figure out how to make it work.
- Megan said...
I read the post differently, and I disagree, perhaps because I am a regular reader...
Like everything else you write, Joanna, I feel like this is a little peek into what inspires or interests you, or what you're up to lately. So, maternity clothes makes for an obvious post, as does fun nail polish colors to brighten up a blah winter day. And of course, anyone who is pregnant with their second child, living in an apartment in NYC (as awesome as it might be) is bound to get to the 'oh-my-gosh-what-to-do-with-our-little-nest' reaction, especially if they're not planning on moving anytime soon. Most NYC apartments are not big!
Like many other blogs, we're given the opportunity to read and reflect and make decisions on what we're being presented. We can choose to buy or not buy whatever we want--Joanna is just giving us insights on things she sees/hears/reads/etc. I love that the internet has given me access to inspiring people and places I ordinarily wouldn't have (I live in IL) but I strive to balance what makes sense for me, my family and my budget.
Don't get me wrong, either, the act of living minimally is a constant challenge, it doesn't matter how much money you have or how big your house is. 'Do I really need this' is something I ask myself a lot when shopping. Most of the time the answer is no. When it is not, I have a one-in-one-out rule and donate something to achieve balance.
- laurenfoode.com said...
My excuse is always, "I live in New York, I don't have the space to own too much stuff." But truthfully I have a hard time letting go of things. My live-in boyfriend is the complete opposite so I think we have a nice balance: my ancient pine-filled tea cozy that reminds me of the Adirondacks and a cardigan for every color outfit, and his bare-bones dresser drawers only half-filled with wardrobe staples.
- Taylor said...
I live in a 450 square foot apartment (with walls) and I have a real bed big enough for two, two big dogs, many books, and plenty of clothes.
I love getting rid of stuff but I feel like I have an average amount of "things" and live quite comfortable in a place this small (I can dance, do yoga, hula hoop, play fetch) so don't pat this guy on the back too much. - 9:39 AM
- Paulina said...
I watched the video of a tour of his apartment which someone posted above. It reminds me of a travel trailer/RV camper. The wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling cabinets, fold out tables and hidden appliances. My parents are avid campers and my mom always says she wishes her house could have the features of a camper because everything has its place and there isn't room to have clutter or dust collecting knickknacks.
- Mary Kate said...
My boyfriend and I are moving in together next month, so am just now having to go through everything I've acquired in the past 5 years of NYC single life, and while it can be difficult (Oh, but I bought this shirt in France, I'll never wear it again, but the MEMORIES!!) it does feel really satisfying to look in my closet and see only clothes I wear on a regular basis.
One thing I have to disagree with is getting rid of books. I love books, will never buy a kindle, and in my opinion it's impossible to have too many books. - 9:59 AM
- Chez Denise et Laudalino said...
We use to live in a small studio apartment and really learned how to downsize. Especially when we moved in together, and ran two jobs from there. It is amazing how creative one can get with space, and how you really do not need all the things you think you do. As well I like to know that we only have 8 boxes in storage ... easier to move when we decide to take that overseas plunge!
We bought a live/work loft a year ago - 10 xs more space but we are keeping the same mentality about living small. Last night we actually decided that it was time to purge again, since we hadn't done so since moving in. I find it liberating! - 10:00 AM
- Mary Kate said...
Agreed! Books are good for the soul, and digital ones are not the same.
- Boston mama said...
Great post. I grew up with three siblings in tiny little apartments in the city. My mom was extremely good at decluttering and maximizing storage space but as a child and teen I was miserable feeling always cramped and asphyxiated in our small quarters. We couldn't save anything (i.e. craft projects were tossed, toys were ruthlessly edited out, could not bring friends for a sleep overs, etc). I believe that people need some space to breathe, and decompress from external stress sources… but, finding a balance between the stuff we think we need and buy, and a reasonable living space is important too.
- asiajane said...
I LOVE the feeling of getting rid of things. Growing up with parents who kept a lot of clutter (and have suffered for it... too much stuff to move every time they do!) I am of the mind that "less is more." Always.
- Laura said...
I am seriously planning to do this exact same thing this weekend! It's the perfect way to start this Spring out..feeling lighter and less "heavy" (though..the winter weight gain is still an issue...)
- Jess said...
When I moved overseas selling pretty much everything I owned was an amazing experience. It really, truly does make you feel good.
- David Friedlander said...
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for the shout-out. I work with Graham on the LifeEdited project ( http://www.lifeedited.com ) and helped Graham put the Op-Ed together. Glad this was such great fodder for discussion. A big theme here seems to be about the feasibility of families doing this (a subject near and dear to my heart as my wife and I have an 8 month old). I wrote a bit of a response to that, and other, common sentiments about doing more with less here: http://www.lifeedited.com/lets-talk-about-stuff-baby/
And Joanna, drop me a line if you want a tour of the space!
David (@lifeedited) - 10:29 AM
- Elizabeth said...
I'm all for getting rid of unnecessary stuff, but I don't find it satisfying to live without things I find beautiful and/or useful (thank you, William Morris) just because someone else does. We live in a small house with a lovely yard and garden, in a little rural community. Our concept of living simply is clearly very different from this fellow's.
- Elizabeth said...
I'm all for getting rid of unnecessary stuff, but I don't find it satisfying to live without things I find beautiful and/or useful (thank you, William Morris) just because someone else does. We live in a small house with a lovely yard and garden, in a little rural community. Our concept of living simply is clearly very different from this fellow's.
- lizzie bee said...
Such a great piece! My relationship with things has really changed since moving to New York. Space is really limited in NYC, so I think about every object I bring into my apartment, its usefulness and how much space it takes up. Also, my budget is tight, so my shopping habit pretty much died upon moving here! But in the end I've found it really freeing to live a minimalist lifestyle and its one of the reasons I love city dwelling!
- Katie said...
Kristian, Here's the video! It's super cool! http://vimeo.com/55389782#
- girlseeksplace said...
I'm a huge fan of living with less. Lately, I've been feeling like there's too much stuff in my space that I simply don't use. The books, the dvds, the craft supplies, etc. The cds went by the wayside a long time ago. That's what Spotify is for and before that itunes and discs from the library. I listen to the same 25 or so songs all the time anyway.
- Mandee said...
My studio is about this size and I have everything I need. My bed is a normal bed, I have a couch, tv, and full kitchen with a table and plenty of dishes. I basically have everything I had when I had a one bedroom. I think 420 square feet is bigger than people think. It's like a very large bedroom with a kitchen and bathroom attached. I don't think its strange or like "can you believe it!?" if you think about it, you spend most all your time in your bedroom or the kitchen or in front of the tv anyway.....
- Emily said...
here is a little article which does not think so highly of this article. While slightly redundant at times, the sentiment is clear: Hill is a super rich guy and of course it is easy to 'live simply' when you have a padded bank account to fall back on
http://gawker.com/5989989/it-would-be-great-if-millionaires-would-not-lecture-us-on-living-with-less - 11:44 AM
- rêve de l'amérique said...
I totally didn't agree with the article.
Firstly I think there was a thinly veiled judgmental tone to it... a critique of those who choose to live in 4 bedroom houses and possess gadgets.
I don't believe that there is any evidence that someone who possesses a lot of "things" is any less happy than someone who doesn't.
Not having much stuff seems an incredibly easy path to virtue. Has anyone checked to see how many iPods Bin Laden had? How many iPods does Karl Lagerfeld have? HMMM. interesting...
Sometimes our possessions are of great significance to us, and they would not be considered so by others. Since the beginning of human history, people have treasured talismans and relics.
The underlying point of the article is, of course, that one's objects should not determine one's personal happiness. And I don't believe that they do, and I don't think anyone is delusional enough to believe that they do. My husband and I just moved into our first 2 bedroom apartment and we have had to furnish a whole extra room.
Just because I love the armoire we bought to hold our clothes doesn't mean I love my husband less. Just because I treasure the diamond my mother gave me when I got married, and moved far away, doesn't mean I don't talk to her anymore, or I don't care about my friends. Just because I just bought a pretty dress for a wedding this summer doesn't mean I am not impatiently waiting for our little girl who is to be born in April...
What a lot of bunk that article is! - 12:43 PM
- Natalie - The Senses Five said...
I haven't read the article yet, but I love a good possession purge. With the move and the upcoming babe, we (mostly I) have been filling up bags of junk left and right. I love it. My theory for this move is "take what you love" even if I need a coffee table and don't have a new one yet, I hate my old one, so it's not coming!
- Carmella said...
More is not always more. Every yes to one thing is a no to another. Our family decided to say yes to more time, more relationship, more interaction. We chose to say yes to less space (665 sq ft for our family of five!) and far fewer things. We chose to say no to hours of housework, to the stress of debt, to the expense of maintaining an over-full life schedule. Sharing this life isn't a dictate to humankind, but the opening of a view from a different perspective. I'm always grateful that I can see another person's journey, such as this article, and take what inspires.
- Patricia O'Shaughnessy said...
Carmella, beautifully said. Very inspiring. Thanks for your perspective.
- The Bebebirds said...
Getting rid of stuff is the BEST feeling. We have made it a practice to regularly get rid of things and cycle out stuff. It's very cathartic in some ways. Less is more, baby!
Brooke - 11:20 PM
- natt_ said...
Let my share my experience: even though I live in a developing (and at the moment really struggling) Eastern European country (Baltics) where our DGP per capita is around 12,5 k US dollars and during the autumn-winter-late spring period of the year (about 6 months altogether) for most of people paying for their homes/apartments, utilities bills and heating bills take up sometimes more than 50% of our monthly income and a lot of people have to compromise on food, as our food prices for some reason tend to be higher than in some of the rich Western European countries, and where having a baby (unless one of the parents work as a banker or in some of the top earning spheres) almost automatically puts you between the poorest population, we still somehow manage to live more or less happily.
I personally live in a 42m2 apartment that I inherited from my mother together with my boyfriend and two cats and although we both work as freelancers (I work as a translator and my boyfriend is an IT guy) and don't have steady income, we still have managed to make the most of what we have, renovated our apartment to meet our minimalistic/Scandinavian inspired needs and we have also managed to travel a lot around Europe both for fun and for visiting our friends that have fled our country for better life prospects. We shop at the local markets and tend to avoid bigbox shops, during the summer use our bikes to go around the city.. go out with our friends for delicious beer on weekdays, well nothing out of the ordinary really :)
Anyway what my point with this story was that even though I consider myself among those people for whom this minimalistic way of living (or downshifting or whatever this trend is called) is a necessity not a lifestyle choice, I still love what this guy has done. And I personally from my experience can say that choosing to work less/trading your unearned salary for my free time hasn't made us unhappier and not being able to buy some stuff because of that - I perceive it as a gain, because I can escape these 'cleansing' tours that most of you have mentioned above :)
And, off course, living this way is not always all rainbows and unicorns or whatever, I still think it is so much better for our mental lives and for the planet :)
And thank you Jo, for the post, I am an avid reader of your blog :) - 3:20 AM
- natt_ said...
And one more thing: regarding those criticizing posts in other blogs that some of you mentioned in your comments where some people find it annoying and unfair that his guy is preaching simple living despite being rich..
So what? What difference does it make? He has money to fall back on in case of an emergency - I certainly can agree with that. But other than that, to my mind anyone who has chosen to live small, will have less difficulty coping with many hardships in life (apart from medical emergencies and alike, but these aren't part of this topic anyway).
To my mind it is those people who live small that in a way have the advantage. Like in case of, God forbid, a fire. A person who has used to living in small space with less possessions will recoupe and rebuild his/her previous quality of life much faster and with less efforts than a person who has used to live in a huge house owning piles of stuff and will need much more money, time and needless efforts to rebuild his/her life. Also wouldn't you rather be glad that you had invested your time and money in yourself, your family, having more money to spend on self-education, really good food and alike rather than watch your hard earned money turn into smoke? I certainly would, but as I sad for me this lifestyle is a necessity, not a choice.
Natt - 4:54 AM
- natt_ said...
And sorry for spelling & grammar mistakes, when I'm passionate about something, those things are the last thing that I think about :)
- janinejackson said...
I love the idea of living like a monk. I think it's important that we all buy less to begin with rather than accumulating and then having massive chuck outs.That's not good for our planet.
- Living Notes from NYC said...
Here are some of my thoughts :
I love the idea and the minimalistic design Graham Hill created from his small NYC apartment. Truly do. I think that this is the ONLY way one can live SANELY in tiny Manhattan apartments. He has everything he needs, yet it is out of the way until he must use it. Everything is awesome.
That being said, I do NOT think that he has a minimalistic life style - just to make this apartment be what it is, he had to spend the minimum of $70,000 - but more likely over $100,000. Plus the high tech appliances , etc. The fact that he has 10 dress shirts, etc - well, I don't find it surprising at all. he is a single guy in a city - I don't think how one would need more? he stores what he wears, and tosses items he does not need. In a city one cannot afford to take up the space by unneeded things. That is from my experience. I was extremely "light" to move when I lived in Manhattan - kind of , comes with the territory. :) I think, and it is my personal opinion only , is that while Graham Hill is a GREAT example of efficiency, he is not necessarily falls under category of "less consumerism", "simple living", etc. Minimalistic life style costs just as much money if not more. :)
As far as books go - I absolutely agree that nothing is like reading a book cover to cover, and e-books will never compare, BUT in a city small space you don't have that luxury of storing them. That is what a LIBRARY is for :) You can read what your soul desires and more and don't have to spend money on it :) ( unless absolutely want to have it in your personal possession :) )
- lauralcharles said...
If only this were easy to do... Within the last 2 weeks I have taken 3 bags of *stuff* to the charity shop. But I still have got loads! I'm on a mission to get organised but I know that the real problem is that we have too much *stuff*
- Schenck cath said...
I think I should throw away half of my belongings, but I had to clean and to put things away. I'm messy!
However, if less is more, I don't want to overdo it. My father in law threw away all his sons' childhood things and it really made my husband sad when he in turn became a dad. He won't buy books, and I'm sorry, a house without books or a little clutter is more than boring.
The people I know who have few things (well fewer stuff than us) do it because they want to have a CLEAN house. And it just makes me sad.
When people come to my house, I want them to see how full of life it all is. I hate emptiness. I admire lovely homes on magazines, with everything white and few decorations, but I wouldn't live in them.
I like old houses with lots of heavy bookshelves and memories and interesting things to look at. - 2:42 AM
- cass said...
I wish I could call 400 sq ft tiny. For where I live that would be a HUGE apartment. Right now I'm in 100 sqft. 400 sqft is almost the same size of a two bedroom apartment I looked at.
Every time I go home I'm amazed at how large my friends placers are or the size of the houses they're buying. Do you really need a massive, expensive 5 bedroom house?
And a house isn't "full of life" because of all the stuff in it. That's ridiculous. It's full of life because of the people living there. - 8:21 AM
- Kat said...
I admit, getting rid of things feels good. But, getting new things also feels good too. I have gotten rid of an incredible amount of things, after my dad suddenly passed away 2 years ago, when I was 24 years old, and a senior in college. Every room in the house was packed with his things and my things, granted that he was still minimal in his belongings. I am still getting rid of things to this day.
Living minimally doesn't happen over night. I'm still working on selling things on ebay and such, and donating. While I buy less than I used to, things still creep back up. In the end it's not really about getting rid of an x amount of items, it's about what happens on the inside. I live without television, health insurance, an ipad, and am using my 7 yr old computer until it dies (it's getting there!), or until I can pay for it when I get a job making more than $100 a week. Declutting starts on the inside in how we think and behave. - 9:03 PM
- Kat said...
Here is a story on my challenge with clutter
http://ex-scapes.com/2012/02/17/featured-article-on-bemorewithless-the-clutterfat-challenge/ - 9:07 PM
- Stephanie Anderson said...
I used to feel like I couldn't get rid of things...what if I need it one day? And then I moved last fall and was amazed at the amount of junk I had accumulated. I sold, donated, and threw away, over 50% of my things as I packed boxes. And then I did the same thing again as I unpacked and got rid of a ton more. It has been incredibly freeing and I have found that not once have I missed all of those "things" that I was holding onto!


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Obstacles facing cops who need counseling: The ugly shrink
by Hal Brown, MSW
There have been a number of stories about area police officers in trouble in the news lately. For example "West Bridgewater cop fired by town" and "Fired Haverhill police officer seeks job back." I can only speculate whether some of the problems police officers get into could have been avoided if they sought professional counseling at the first sign they were have difficulties.
Police officers and therapists are often at odds with each other. There are many reasons for this. For starters, members of both professions profess to have special, or even "secret" knowledge and understanding about human nature and deviant behavior. Each feels that their approach and the philosophy behind it are correct and the other's is wrong. I've been on both sides, as a therapist who had many cops as clients, and a reserve police officer, and heard the comments.
"Therapists are gullible, bleeding hearts, snobs, stuck-up, and worse,defense attorney's hired guns who may get criminals off."�Many therapists tend to view the police as unsophisticated, authoritarian and lacking in empathy. So on the one hand you have the cops seeing the shrinks as ignorant stuffed shirts, and on the other you have the shrinks seeing the cops in the worst stereotypical fashion.


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About Barbados
USAID's Eastern Caribbean program supports economic growth and health development activities in Barbados and six eastern Caribbean states--St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda.
The ecomomic growth program, funded in part through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, assists youth to lead productive lives through workforce development training and linkages with the marketplace. The program also supports reforms to the region's juvenile justice sector as well as measures to adapt to climate change through freshwater and coastal/marine zone management.
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"Listen," my sister said, leaning close to my ear munching a crispy chunk of fried cod at the Anchor Café in Port au Choix, Newfoundland, "that's what fish and chips should sound like." For someone who's worked for 36 years at an iconic West Vancouver fish and chippery, that's a mighty big stamp of approval.
St. John's of Newfoundland
22 May 2013The most impressive aspect of this charming city is its architecture. St. John's has a distinct style from that of the rest of Canada, and its major buildings are remnants of its history as one of the first British colonial capitals. Starting as a fishing outpost for European fishermen, it consisted mostly of the homes of fishermen, sheds, storage shacks, and wharves constructed out of wood.
Welcome to the mindbending Rock, where otherworldly geology is the backdrop for a heady mix of words + music during the Writers at Woody Point.
Happily stranded in Rigolet
8 May 2013It's shortly after 6 p.m. early in September. I'm walking on a 4.4 km (2.6 mi.) boardwalk along the coast in Rigolet, the oldest Inuit community in Labrador. This region is part of Nunatsiavut—"our beautiful land"—and is only accessible by ship or plane (dog sled and skidoos in the winter.)
The surge and surface current slosh me around like laundry in a spin cycle. I'm scuba diving on Gadd's Wall, a precipitous dive site in Bonne Bay, in Western Newfoundland's Gros Morne National Park, that just may be one of the top dives on the Rock.
Travelers seeking unspoiled places and culturally authentic experiences now have a valuable new resource in a comprehensive "Geotourism MapGuide" and website for Canada's Eastern Newfoundland region. The landmark project has taken two years to plan and execute and is a historically significant asset for everyone who visits or lives in the region.
From fabulous food to trendy hotels and jaw-dropping scenery, Travel Editor Jim Byers' offers up great things to do in St. John's, Newfoundland.
What to feed a hungry angler... Fish, perhaps?
15 Apr 2013Trevor Pilgrim of Mayflower Adventures in Roddickton, NL, believes in giving his guests a hearty breakfast before he takes them out salmon fishing. One of his favourite haunts is Beaver Brook and its world-famous limestone cave, known as the Underground Salmon Pool.
The perfect place to stay for this western Newfoundland golf adventure is the Humber Valley Resort, and perhaps the best golf to be played on this side of the island is the River Course at the resort. The resort offers both an inn and chalets with seasonal rates. The chalets offer options to house large or small groups with all the comforts of a world-class golf destination.
Forget the Rockies. Winter blahs melt away as you hit the gas on a snowmobile and blast along ancient mountain ridges or wander through pristine woodlands in Newfoundland and Labrador.
A vast network of trails sprawls across more than 5,000 kilometres of natural beauty. It spans the former Canadian National Railway route, follows the foothills of the Long Range Mountains to a glacier-cut fjord in Gros Morne National Park, and crisscrosses Labrador's rolling tundra.
Aviation Preservation
28 Feb 2013In the 1950s, Canada's Department of Transport commissioned a modernist makeover for a tiny international air hub in Newfoundland, a design that has proven as timeless as it was trendsetting.
The Labrador Winter Games began in 1983 and has grown to become a sporting event, and a family event that every Labradorian wants a ticket to. Communities come together as one and select their finest athletes to represent them in what is also known as the 'friendship games.'
Cod tongue in cheek
28 Feb 2013When I ask the owner of a very local diner in tiny Port au Choix where the moose came from for the delicious moose burger I've just wolfed down, she tells me she hunted it herself. I clearly realize that dining in Newfoundland is not like anyplace else I've travelled before.
Head over heels in Newfoundland
7 Feb 2013The perception most of us have of Newfoundland is of a scenic wonder filled with rocky cliffs, green terrain and quaint seaside villages. It is not known as a haven for winter activity, but a visit to Western Newfoundland will obliterate any notion that Newfoundlanders are not just as much fun in the cold as in the sun. Even the province's jewel, Gros Morne National Park, offers visitors spectacular beauty when the temperature falls below freezing.
It's that exciting time of the year again. Time to launch two brand new Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism TV ads. The two new chapters of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism story, Most Easterly Point and Conversation, highlight the compelling differences that make this province the ideal destination.
CONCHE, Newfoundland - I'm preparing to be drawn and quartered by my friends as we drive a long gravel road on the northeast tip of Newfoundland's rugged Great Northern Peninsula with no idea how far it is to the French Shore tapestries in Conche, an outport of 200 that had no road connection with the rest of the island until 1970.
Chef's Recipe: Jeremy Charles' Moose Ravioli
3 Jan 2013For an east coast edition of Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag, we visited Newfoundland and tried moose for the first time. Our guest chef on the episode was Jeremy Charles and he shared his restaurant's signature moose ravioli dish with us. Such friendly folks, those Newfoundlanders!
If you have only a week to travel in Newfoundland, you must explore the Viking Trail.
(What I'm really thinking: Silly you. Why go all the way to Newfoundland and only stay a week?)
Fast forward to 2012. I find myself in the rugged Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, at the historic town of Bonavista frantically trying to channel the vague memories of my salad days on the banks of Berkshire.
Trinity: A true Newfoundland treasure
10 Dec 2012On more than one occasion, a day-tripper to Trinity has asked Marieke Gow where her home really is. It's incomprehensible for some that Trinity — with its heritage buildings, utterly charming stores and residents so friendly it's easy to assume they might be paid to behave that way — could be anything but a manufactured tourist attraction.


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Tigers aim to grow division lead with Tribe in town
Detroit tabs Porcello to oppose McAllister in opener of pivotal set
For most of Thursday afternoon, it appeared that the Indians would face the Tigers this weekend with Detroit coming off a punishing four-game sweep at the hands of the Oakland A's at Comerica Park.
The Tigers dropped the first three games of the series and trailed by five runs after five innings in the finale. But they added a pair of runs in the sixth and four more in the ninth, which culminated with Torii Hunter's walk-off, three-run homer to complete the comeback and avert the sweep.
A dramatic, momentum-building victory for their nemesis was the last thing the Indians needed before opening up a three-game set in Detroit on Friday.
"We got Cleveland coming tomorrow," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said following Thursday's win. "We're fortunate we didn't get swept, because [the A's] beat us up good, to their credit. ... I tip my cap to them, but we got that one game. It was an important game, but now we've got to zero in on Cleveland coming in."
There are just 6 1/2 games separating the Tigers and Indians in the American League Central standings, and Detroit has won 13 of 16 meetings in the season series. Most recently, the Tigers swept a four-game series at Progressive Field that ended with the image of Indians utility player Ryan Raburn making a relief appearance in the ninth inning of a blowout.
This weekend represents Cleveland's last chance to redeem itself against the division leader, unless the teams meet in the postseason. The Tribe will tab right-hander Zach McAllister (7-7, 3.51 ERA) in Friday's series opener at Comerica Park, opposite Tigers righty Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.49 ERA).
Many thought the Indians were done following the Tigers' devastating sweep earlier this month. Leyland was not one of them.
"They're not going to go away. They're too good," Leyland said after the sweep. "I can't dictate what anybody else thinks. I know better than that. I'm not a fool. There's a lot of baseball left. We had a very good series against a very good team. I know what I know, and I know that they're not going anywhere."
As the season's final stretch rolls around, the Indians are still in contention. Despite coming off a sweep by the Braves, they remain within four games out of the second AL Wild Card berth.
Indians: Pitchers largely unable to tame Tigers
• Tribe pitchers have been charged with 95 earned runs across 147 innings against Detroit this season, which gives the staff a 5.82 ERA over 16 meetings.
• Mike Aviles hit his eighth home run on Wednesday night, becoming the 11th Indians hitter to go deep at least eight times this season (including Mark Reynolds, who was released earlier this month). That figure gives Cleveland the most hitters with at least eight home runs in baseball and breaks the franchise record, which previously belonged to the 2009 club.
• The Indians reinstated right-hander Brett Myers from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday and released the veteran from his contract. Myers -- who signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Cleveland in January -- was limited to just four appearances this season because of elbow problems. He went 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA.
Tigers: Abdominal discomfort forces Miggy's exit
Miguel Cabrera came out of Thursday's game after the fifth inning when he aggravated his left abdominal wall strain while sliding into second base as he tried to stretch a single into a double. Cabrera took his time in standing up and eventually limped off the field without assistance.
Cabrera said afterward that his abdominal strain was OK and he would be in the lineup to face the Indians. In explaining his desire to play, Cabrera said: "Cleveland, bro."
Cabrera has dealt with an abdominal wall strain for more than a month. He also had a sore left knee and a bruised left shin after fouling two balls off his leg during an at-bat on Aug. 9. He is batting .359 with 43 home runs and 130 RBIs, numbers that put him in a favorable position to win the Triple Crown and Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season.
Worth noting
• The Tigers have outscored Cleveland 103-59 this season.
• The Indians own a 20-18 record since the All-Star break. In the same span, Detroit is 26-14.
Mark Emery is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Mobile nation
The economic and social impacts of mobile technology
A Deloitte Access Economics report on the economic, business and social impacts of the Australian mobile telecommunications industry.
The mobile has become the dominant form of telecommunications technology and has become critical to business, while growing investments in 4G networks and the National Broadband Network promise to drive this technology even more deeply through our economy and society.
Against this backdrop, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to report on the economic, business and social impacts of the Australian mobile telecommunications industry.
To gain a greater understanding of the impact of mobile technology, download the report and brochure now.
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The report found that:
- Mobile broadband traffic growth is expected to grow strongly. In 2011, an average of 8.8 petabytes per month were used, with this anticipated to grow to 119.3 petabytes per month by 2016 – a 14-fold increase
- Convergence in devices will be complemented by increased integration between networks, with mobile and fixed networks, including the NBN, being complementary and increasingly interdependent
- The structure of the mobile industry is changing from a simple supply chain to an emerging ecosystem of mobile businesses that encompasses mobile web, apps, mobile commerce (m-commerce) and more
- The most critical issue for the mobile sector is policy and regulation with regard to spectrum allocation and licensing. Significant investments in spectrum and other infrastructure required to support the deployment of mobile networks have delivered significant productivity to Australia
- Mobile telecommunications industry revenue was $22.0 billion in 2011-12, down 1.5% on the 2010-11 total, in contrast to the historic trend of high growth in industry revenue
- The mobile industry is forecast to be stagnant in 2012-13. After a modest recovery, it will grow to $25.9 billion by 2016-17 (by 18%). The total economic contribution of the industry was $14.1 billion in 2011-12, supporting 56,970 full-time-equivalent employees
- The current wave of mobile technology is driving labour efficiency with 'productivity apps' and use of 'down time'; it is also increasing capital productivity: with estimated economic productivity benefits of $11.8 billion over the next decade
- Mobile is moving from a device for individuals to a platform for all of business' ICT needs: email, software, cloud, big data, and m-commerce
- Driven by customers and employees, mobile has significantly changed how marketing, HR and IT functions operate.
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Top Definition
Refers a random person. Hence the similarity between Random and Randy. The "jay" portion of the word is put there to act as the last name. In and of it self "jay" is meaning less.
Lately Randy Jays have been asking me to hang out. (lately random ppl have been asking me to hang out)
автор: Ralfinho
14 марта 2010


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We met Teya at an ice cream parlor. She was looking sexy licking on a vanilla cone so Sergio and I decided to try to pick her up and see what else she would be willing to lick. She turned out to be a real freak and fucked Sergio hard and fast. Her ass almost seemed to be two magical orbs gyrating and hypnotizing us. Im not even sure if I kept the camera focused the whole time because the ass just distracted me so much. One kiss had Sergio thinking he had a chance. The second kiss got him hard and was the open sesame to her pussy. The third one was the kiss off once we were done with her. The third time truly is the charm.
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New for Spring: Cotton Lawn Ultra!
I am pretty darn new to Spoonflower, but I really think this is a fun place to be. Not a lot for sale yet, because I'm still setting up! Things to look forward to are cats, tattoos, and space adventures! Also creepy crawly things. And food! And fun!


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Episode 1
A building collapses and the ER team is pushed to the limit.
Rent, buy and watch the latest movies and TV shows online
A building collapses and the ER team is pushed to the limit.
Day One
Dr. Ross works up the nerve to visit Carol after her attempted suicide.
Going Home
Lewis is confronted by a physician concerning her risky treatment of a patient.
Hit and Run
Carter contacts the wrong parents to inform them that their son is dead.
Into That Good Night
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Chicago Heat
Dr. Ross and Dr. Greene treat a 5-year-old girl who swallowed cocaine.
Another Perfect Day
A drunk Chloe shows up in the hospital and Carol and Doug share a kiss.
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Stress, sickness and fellowships.
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Carter and Benton treat a suicidal transvestite.
Hathaway announces her engagement to Taglieri.
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Luck Of The Draw
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Feb 5th, '95
Morgenstein offers Greene a position as attending physician.
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Deb unknowingly eats LSD-laced chocolates.
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Carol wants to adopt Tatiana, but Taglieri doesn't.
Sleepless In Chicago
Jennifer informs Mark that she wants a divorce.
Love's Labour Lost
Mark misdiagnoses a pregnant woman, who returns to the ER shortly afterward.
Full Moon, Saturday Night
Hathaway's patient believes that he is a werewolf.
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Ross pursues a relationship with Diane Leeds.
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Lewis tries to help her pregnant sister find a place to live.
Love Among the Ruins
Peter finds himself attracted to Jeanie although she's married.
Ross sees an old lover again, jeopardizing his relationship with Diane.
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Greene is sued for malpractice and Benton offers Carter a surgical internship.


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The Orthaheel Vionic Atlas is a sporty women's thong sandal.
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Bond Girls through the years
POSTED: 08:49 AM PDT Jun 03, 2011
UPDATED: 11:00 PM PDT Mar 18, 2013
With Ursula Andress, the original Bond Girl from 1962's "Dr. No," celebrating her 77th birthday March 19, join us for a look back at some of the memorable women in 007's life over the years.
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Researchers gear up for efficacy trials of experimental Ebola vaccines in Africa.
Researchers gear up for efficacy trials of experimental Ebola vaccines in Africa.
What researchers are learning as they sequence, map, and decode species' genomes
Researchers make more progress toward growing human intestines in mice, paving the way for better models of intestinal function and failure.
A genetic analysis of ancient and modern maize clarifies the crop's checkered domestication history.
Maryland-based Vtesse will work with the US National Institutes of Health to advance treatments for Niemann-Pick Type C disease and other lysosomal storage disorders.
Researchers have isolated a new kind of antibiotic from a previously unknown and uncultured bacterial genus.
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San Francisco-based biotech wants to see its technology applied for inventing new organisms.
Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Age: 39
The ongoing Ebola epidemic in West Africa is drawing more money to study the virus, but what about funding for African science in general?


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Top Definition
A phone prank when you get someone to do things on a public netcam somewhere in the world with them not knowing their being watched by 100's of people from around the world LIVE.
That hooker had no idea we could see her on that netcam in New York City. When she got mad about being stood up and threw that fit it was so funny. We all had a good LaughGasim.
by CromwellsWorld
December 29, 2011
2 more definitions
when you laugh so hard it causes you to have an orgasim
Her boyfriend was tickiling her so hard, she had a laughgasim
by theowner44
July 28, 2011
A word invented by a group of three brothers, when someone laughs so hard they either literally ROFL or Laugh their ass off.
That just gave me a Laughgasim bro.
January 11, 2011


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Nicolas Keramidas
Artist Nicolas Keramidas
Available series in store category "Comic books"
Nicolas Kéramidas in the
"Nicolas Kéramidas studied animation in Paris. He joined the Walt Disney Studios in Montreuil, where he worked for nine years. At the same time, he took on commercial jobs for the city of Grenoble. For Golem magazine, he created the comic 'Butch'. He then joined Soleil publishers, where..." [ Read more ]


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Sport-Tek® Youth Colorblock Raglan Jersey. YT200
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WASHINGTON – For the 26th year in a row, Santa and his elves will leave Rudolph in the North Pole and spread cheer to local children on motorcycles.
The Fairfax County Police Department motorcycle squad and other departments throughout the Northern Virginia area are collecting and distributing toys for sick children and local charities.
Those interested in donating a toy, game or book to the annual event can drop off contributions at any Fairfax County Police station, or at any of the locations listed below, before Monday, Dec. 10.
The collection ride will take place on Dec. 11, and gifts will be distributed at Inova Fairfax Hospital on Dec. 12 and Georgetown Hospital on Dec. 13.
Other collection sites for Santa's Ride include:
WTOP's Kristi King contributed to this report. Follow @KingWTOP and


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$99 - Our Best Rate
Fall Savings! Enjoy last minute deals and stay just steps from the sand.
Book NowSave up to 10% on your summer escape to the oceanfront when you book early.
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*Please note that we will be renovating from January 1-March 31 on floors 2-5. The remainder of our hotel will be open and available for guests. We hope you pardon any inconvenience in advance.
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First, I will start with what I saw this week. This was my favorite moment.
Another photo. If you are familiar with Humans of New York, the book and website by Brandon Stanton, then I know you can relate. If not, I know you can relate.
Children dress so fabulously and so beautifully because they have not yet learned that other people are judging their choices. They wear what they like. I want to wear what I like but I feel childish. How old will I grow before I truly understand that being childish is the truest way to be?
And, one more photo.
And now, for what I heard.
1. I erroneously asked a child how she was enjoying her Kindergarten year at MSGL. She responded, "I'm not IN Kindergarten. That's why I'm HERE!"
2. "That's a small story."
3. A friend was reading me a note from his lunch box. "Look! Look it! It says I'm going to my grandma's house. And I think I'm gonna get a Spiderman hat when we go to the store."
4. "Yeah. Let's do our maps."
5. "Where's the damn lizard?"
Rest easy. That darned lizard was found.
Somdatta and Felicia of the Canoe Birch Class and Cathy and Mary of the All-Day Program invited the children to tell who and what they are thankful for and then wrote their answers on leaves. Each class has a paper tree by the door displaying the children's gratitude. As this Thanksgiving Day draws to a close I thought it would be nice to share the gratitude of these 3, 4, and 5-year-olds with all of you.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
"The only language men ever speak perfectly is the one they learn in babyhood, when no one can teach them anything!" - Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The Spinosaurus
Perhaps you like listening to and collecting phrases like I do. Our Montessori classrooms are great theaters for listening. Three, four, and five-year-olds are intensely thoughtful and they tell us so much about themselves just by talking with their friends.
This week I had the pleasure of working in the Willow, River Birch, and Canoe Birch classes and I collected as many fabulous phrases from the children as I could. The words are theirs, the spelling is mine.
On being the first to arrive... "The only time I'm not first is when Mommy brings me. Daddy is faster than Mommy."
"Frogs lay eggs, right? Butterflies lay eggs, right?"
"I had my birthday before my brother's."
"Our grandpa makes a Donald Duck sound."
While drawing dinosaurs with friends... "It's a Spinosaurus. It's the biggest carnivore on land and it's name means lizard. It reaches in the water just a little bit and snatches a fish with it's crocodile long snout."
"A drobeosaurus has toe claws and it goes 25 miles an hour."
A different dinosaur friend... "It runs 100 and 90 hours. He has a bunch of blood in his body. It's called Spinadoctora Hundreds."
"At my house I have five lipsticks. No, six."
A child was looking for a bike to ride on the playground. I asked, "I see that blue bike is available. Would you like to ride that one?" "No! he said. "I just fell off that one."
"I'm trying to sing Let it Go, in German, but it's too hard." (The children in one class burst into singing "Let it Go" from the movie Frozen at least six times in one morning:)
"Being in the sun is so much fun."
"Will you do something interesting?"
I like to listen to teachers, as well. I overheard a few of them talking about the possibility of having a couple of chickens at school and which type might be best suited to be Montessori chickens.
"They're good egg layers, the Wyandotte's. "And they're peaceful."
"I am concerned about them getting upset and flying up into the pine tree."
"There is a 100% chance of them getting upset."
Wyandotte chick
May all your chickens be peaceful as you enjoy some fun in the sun this holiday weekend.
~ Heather
..and this was its steeple.
When we remodeled the former Calvary Baptist Church in 2000-2001 to become our Montessori school, we had to replace a few fixtures. The steeple was detached from the roof and lowered by crane to the parking lot below.
What do you do with a second-hand steeple? We gave it to a church down the road.
The demolition crew also removed the fiberglas baptistry by cutting it into pieces. All of the beautiful wood pews were sold. You can see one being used today in the school office. The colored windows were eventually replaced with clear glass.
This is what Building B looks like today.
Have a great Wednesday!
I should mention that there ARE other ducks in the toolbox. They are small ducks that fit in Harriet's pocket when she carries her camera and tripod to the classrooms to take group photos. But The Duck only works the main room. There is also a rubber frog that sometimes gets called up on the rare occasion that The Duck can't get a child to laugh. Harriet's experience tells her which toy to try.
She also encourages parents to let their children wear something comfortable on picture day. "Don't overdress them because children don't act the same way if they are overdressed," Harriet suggests.
It was great to spend picture day with Harriet and get answers to all of my (and your) questions about The Duck. But I had to confess that up until a few years ago, I didn't even know she had a first name. I had always known her, as we all do, as "The Ducky Lady." That seems to be how she likes it. But she was willing to share just a few personal details. Although The Duck doesn't spend much time in the water outside of his daily bath, Harriet enjoys being outdoors when she's not behind a camera. "I go kayaking and hiking. I belong to a kayaking group. That's what I do when I don't photograph," she says. A few years ago, our school director Suman invited Harriet and some friends from school on a trip to India. For Harriet, that was a dream come true. One favorite memory is of riding on an elephant with her friend Beth. "That was nice," she says, smiling. "India was my dream country. That's where I always wanted to go. I wanted to go there before they lose their saris and all the colors and become jeans people." At the end of picture day as Harriet packed up The Duck to leave MSGL, Lena and Anita made sure she got one of our tie-dyed school t-shirts. The shirt made Harriet really happy and I asked her why. "It's yellow and orange," she exclaimed. "My favorite colors!"
We're really reaching back here for Halloween gold - all the way back to 1989. Back in the day, the whole school had a costume parade in the Morton Center gymnasium. It was a big year for bunnies, clowns, and superheroes.
Grace's first day of Montessori preschool, 1997.
Last summer, my 19-year-old daughter was getting ready to move into her first apartment. I was excited for her to have the chance to live on her own and had been setting aside household items that I thought she could use. One day, after admiring the "steal" of a chair I had found at Goodwill, she asked me, "Aren't you sad that I won't live here anymore?"
"Well, honey," I said, "I always imagined that you would grow up and move out of the house. That was our goal all along for you to be an independent, self-sufficient person."
"I know," she said. "But I'm kind of sad that I won't be sleeping here anymore."
I reminded her that she had hardly slept at home at all since she started college last year. She lived in the dorm, four hours away from home and we often didn't hear from her for days.
"Yeah, but this is different. I just can't believe this won't be my home address anymore. Are you going to change the garage door code?"
A-ha! Then I figured it out. She was worried about cutting the cord from the house where she grew up. I had been concerning myself with making sure she was comfortable "out there" and she was worried she would no longer be welcome back at home.
It occurred to me that not much has changed between that day and the day sixteen years ago when we were preparing to send her to preschool here at the Montessori School of Greater Lafayette. Back then we were so excited to help our "baby" pick out a new lunch box and indoor shoes but we had little idea what to do to help prepare her (or ourselves) emotionally for this new chapter. She sailed through preschool and is now working through nursing school just fine, but we have learned a lot since then. Today I am sharing some tips and advice gathered from teachers and parents here at MSGL to help you and your child prepare for the first days of preschool.
Talk about school - mindfully. Talk with your child about preschool when he is in the mood. Maybe he will bring it up or you can start the conversation, just don't push too hard. If your child seems "done" with the conversation or is becoming anxious, let the topic drop until later. And be honest about your feelings when you do talk about school. Some children worry that their parents will be sad or lonely when they are gone. When you say, "I am going to miss being with you in the morning, but it makes me happy to know you will be enjoying yourself at school," it lets him know that you will miss him but you are confident that school is a good place for him to be.
Check out the new environment. MSGL's Parent Work Day is Saturday, August 16th. This is a great time to get familiar with the school and classroom environments and to be part of the school community. Children are encouraged to help clean lockers, pull weeds, and load and unload wheelbarrows full of mulch right alongside their parents and new classmates. And, each family member's time counts towards your volunteer hours requirement.
You will have another opportunity to get familiar with the school when your child attends her New Student Orientation visit on Monday, August 18th. This is her first opportunity to see her teachers and classmates in her new classroom. She can put her indoor shoes in her locker, locate her cubby and extra clothes box, and see where the bathroom is. The whole family can attend the Parent Orientation later that evening and maybe your child can give a tour of her new classroom.
Make new friends. You will receive a class list via email in August. Consider contacting a few families on the list to set up a playdate before school starts. Even if you can't get together with any other families, you and your child can look over the names on the list together. You may discover that one of his classmates lives on your street or maybe someone has the same name as a sibling or a friend.
Help her dress for success. Our Montessori classrooms are prepared to encourage your child's independence and you can help by providing your child with shoes and clothing that she can put on and take off by herself. Belts, suspenders, and jumpsuits look smart but they can be difficult for your child to use successfully. Provide your child a choice of clothing that allows her complete independence in her self-care routines. And please remember that preschool is a time to jump in and explore. Paint, snack, sand, and dirt from the garden can stain your child's clothing, so please send her to school in clothes that can stand to get dirty.
Plan a morning routine. Now is a good time to do a mental run-through of your morning routine. Consider how much time your child needs to wake up, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Allow time for packing lunches, finding coats and shoes, and getting on the bike or in the car. Then add a few extra minutes. Parents and children who are not in a rush tend to have much better experiences at drop-off. Some families even do a few "practice runs" in the summer to see if they can get to school and work on time.
Create a goodbye routine. Discuss with your child how you each want to say goodbye at drop-off. Some families say, "After you put on your inside shoes and put away your lunch box, we will walk to the classroom and I will give you three hugs and two kisses before I go to work." Some children like to wave to dad out the window and some parents leave their children with specific plans for what they will do after school. "Sonia is picking you up today" or "we are going to the Farmer's Market on our bikes after school today." Children have so little control over their daily lives that they appreciate at least knowing what is happening and when.
And while we're talking about goodbyes, let's take just a moment to consider the specter of separation anxiety.
What if my child cries when I walk away? Separating from your child that first time can be heart-breaking, but remember - it's only for a few moments. The majority of children who are sad when they separate from their parents are able to calm themselves and choose an activity within a few minutes. If you have gone through the goodbye routine and are finding it hard to turn around and walk away, ask your teacher for help. Sometimes parents say, "Please help me. I need to leave." That is the teacher's sign that she needs to hold your child's hand or pick her up so that you can walk away. Teachers don't want to step in before you are ready to go but they are happy to help when you ask them.
The best thing you can do for your child at drop-off is to be consistent and walk away when you say you will. Lingering tends to just prolong the heartache for the parent and the child. The first few times you drop your child off may be difficult, but trust that with consistent repetition you and your child will develop a peaceful good-bye routine.
Talk with the teachers. Talk with your child's teachers about how the adjustment period is going. The teachers help dozens of children adjust to school every year but this may be your first time. They expect you will have questions and concerns. Email is a great way to communicate with your child's teachers and all of the contact information is available on the classroom web page at Msgl.org.
Help your child talk about his day. If this is the first time your child has been away from home you will no doubt be very eager to know what he did all day. Unfortunately, preschoolers often say they "did nothing" or "just played." A lot of things happened between the time you dropped him off that morning and when you picked him up several hours later, but he might not yet be able to give a sequential list of his activities. Here are some ideas to help your child tell you about his day.
Take care of yourself! The best thing you can do during these last few weeks of summer is to give you and your child the gift of a regular bedtime that allows enough sleep to wake up refreshed and ready for the big days ahead. Fill up with a good breakfast each morning and be extra patient with your child and especially with yourself. Parenting preschoolers, like college students, is hard work and there is no right way to do it. Follow your heart and follow your child, and in sixteen years, or so, you will be very proud of the people you have both become.
Cheers HH! Who was it who couldn't find the lizard? Thanks especially for the photo of Onyx's smiling face:) X