Live simply so others may simply live.

Not my quote but it's a good one.

What have I learned?

I should find ways other than shopping to socialize with my sisters.
If we shop it should be window shopping only.
If I find something I want to purchase, I should think about this blog.
Beach combing is a great past time but I shouldn't save everything I find.
I can live with a minimal amount of clothing.
I shouldn't buy fitness equipment.
I should stay away from KMart!

The aftermath

Here's the stack of 100. These items were in my office, my bedroom and the basement. I had to ask permission of Dave to get rid of a few objects but the majority were mine. We're having a garage sale on April 30th. What doesn't sell will be donated or discarded.

Dave: I'm throwing down the gauntlet. Do you have 100 items you can live without? I'll be glad to help you find them....

Item 100: An area rug

Drum roll, fanfare here it is......the last item!

A beach themed area rug. I bought this at Brave New World in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

When I was a teenager, back in the 70's, Brave New World was a little surf shop located in a tiny space on a side street. It was a hip little place. The guy who owned it was the epitome of a surf bum: tall, tan, long blonde hair and quite a hunk. I forget his first name but his last name was Murray. There were quite a few Murrays in our town at that time. They were all beautiful people. They definitely have good genes.

Back in the day we bought our itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny bikinis at this shop. But it, like us, grew up over the years. Mr. Murray it appears not only had good genes but a brain too. He turned out to be quite a successful business owner. Today the shop is enormous compared to its early days. It's at the same location but he has taken over the entire building/block. The early shop would likely fit inside the current dressing room. They still sell surfboards and swimsuits but you better hold onto your wallet when you go in there. In addition to the surf gear they sell clothing for all seasons. It's designer clothing. Name brands that I suppose some people have heard of. The only one I recognize is Tommy Bahama. Nothing is inexpensive here and certainly no true beach bum could ever afford to step foot in the place.

I hadn't bought anything at Brave New World in nearly thirty years. But five to seven years ago, while in town on one of my annual pilgrimages to my old haunts, I stopped in at Brave New World with my sisters. I found this rug and it was reasonably priced. It has been in my beach room which as you know is now being dismantled.

Item 99: Candles

In a previous post I believe I mentioned we don't burn candles very often. These are some candles we had in our fireplace.

Dave's cousin Patsy makes candles every year and gives them as Christmas gifts. The candle on the left in the rear is one she made for us. It's at least ten years old. We burned it a few times but as you can see it's fairly faded and not particularly attractive. The other larger candles are in the same boat (burned and unattractive).

The two small candles are brand new and still in their wrappers. Guess where they're from? KMart! I found these candles at KMart! I bought these and several others to use with centerpieces on the dining room table. I went a little overboard and bought more than I needed. I have five others that have been used a few times. They may last the rest of our lives so I think I can safely get rid of the two that are unopened.

I want to clarify something: I don't spend a lot of time at KMart although several of my posts may give you that impression. I'm not a shopper. I spend as little time as possible in stores. There's a problem with that though: when I need something I don't know where to get it. So inevitably I go to KMart which is only a few miles from my house. They're building a Target about a mile from my house. It's supposed to open later this year. Perhaps Target will become my new nemesis.

Item 98: Another beach chair

This chair is no longer used by us. It's one of those that sits very low in the sand. Actually, by the time you settle the chair into the sand and get it situated evenly, you're sitting on the sand. It's better than no chair at all but not by much. Notice the seat? It's pushed way back on the frame. That is one of the annoying things about this chair. The seat is always slipping back on the frame. You have to struggle with the fabric to get it back in place. The other annoying thing about it is you're sitting in the sand. The purpose of a beach chair is to allow you to sit somewhere other than in the sand. This chair doesn't succeed at that purpose.

Item 97: Curtain panels and clips

When Mimi moved from her dungeon-like apartment at the Personal Care Home to her new, bright and cheery apartment at the Personal Care Home, there weren't any curtains or blinds on the french doors.

There's a KMart near her facility. (Yes, another attempt to buy something at KMart.) My sister and I drove over there to find some basic curtains for the doors.

My shopping experiences at KMart are living proof that their just in time delivery system is out of whack. As is usually my luck at that store (doesn't matter which location), they didn't have much in stock. So my sister and I stood in the curtain department for ten minutes willing curtains to appear. Nothing happened. We settled for these three panels and clips.

The three of us jerry-rigged them onto the rods and they were acceptable and at least provided some privacy for her. We're not sure when it occurred but sometime within the first week, the people at the Home took our panels and clips down and hung sheer panels and drapes. Apparently they had them out to be cleaned but didn't tell us. Ten minutes of agony at KMart, the drive there and back, the time to hang these panels up and the time spent convincing Mimi they looked nice were all for naught.

Item 96: A resistance band

I think that is what this object is called. Obviously it's not something I've used since I don't even know the correct label for it or its intended use. I think this came in a kit with the Reebok Stepper or maybe with my ab ball. It's a dust collector.

Item 95: Cookie tins and boxes

Over the years I've collected quite a few cookie tins. When we were younger, and when the kids were at home, we baked quite a variety of cookies for the Christmas holidays. Now that we're older, we can't afford to eat the cookies like we used to (too many calories). The kids are out on their own and not here to help us eat them. As a result, I have many tins and boxes that haven't been used in quite some time. Some of them are sort of tarnished/worn so they'll likely be discarded but others are in good shape so perhaps someone else can use them.

Item 94: A pasta bowl

We're in the home stretch!

I've been fairly busy and out of town 5 of the last 14 days so I didn't have items lined up for these last seven posts. I was a little worried about being able to find seven items that I don't want or use but my worries were unfounded. In less than 15 minutes I had rounded up the last handful of items.

This bowl is one of them. My ex-husband and I received this bowl as a wedding gift nearly 31 years ago. I'm fairly certain I could count on one hand the number of times it has been used. I like this bowl and I know I used it once for its intended purpose. That was over 20 years ago. I may have used it once or twice for something else but I don't remember what or when. I plan to donate this, along with the items of clothing, to a local non-profit, consignment shop.

Item 93: Cat Scratchers

The problem: a cat with all of his claws who lives indoors.

Solution #1: a hanging cat scratch object. I don't know if he ever touched this.

Solution #2: an inclined/climbable cat scratch object. He touched this; once.

Solution #3: a cardboard box. He LOVES this cat scratch object!
It's a simple cardboard box stuffed with newspaper. He tears up one side. I flip it over. He tears up the other side. I find a new box, stuff it and he goes at it again.
Ta da! Lands' End, LL Bean, Amazon etc. They all 'sell' this product. Find a box, stuff it and soon you'll have a happy household!

Item 92: Hand knitted scarves and a hat

About four years ago when I started knitting again, I made scarves for about a year. Then I decided it was time to branch out because how long can you knit long rectangular items? For another year I made hats. These scarves and this hat are from those early years. They're going to Goodwill.