Project 333 is a challenge which is different than the De-cluttering Challenge which I am doing in September. Geeesh…..there are a lot of challenges going on recently. Really...I'm not making this stuff up. :-)

Project 333 is a minimalist wardrobe challenge where for 3 months you only use 33 items. It is created by Courtney Carver.  It is a way to live with less, which is my goal. The people who do this give rave reviews of feeling liberated, freer and lighter. Once they try it, they don't go back. It sounds great, to me. 

If you already live with less - then I applaud you! I, however, am a collector (hoarder maybe?) of clothing … it just accumulates over the years … and that is what I am working on eliminating.

I already do switch out my clothes every 3 months. I know that some people change out clothes just twice a year, or not at all, but for me, living in such a transition climate, I find in about three months, I am ready to switch colors, fabrics, and textures. 

If you know me well, you know I have a plan. September 1st is the day when I begin my De-cluttering challenge, I am really looking forward to that. September is also when I am going to ease into the 'new' wardrobe for the months of Sept., Oct., Nov.  I say 'new' in quotes, because it isn't like I'm unveiling a brand-spanking-new wardrobe. These are the same pieces I've had from seasons and years ago, some I've been currently using, some have been packed away for the summer months.

I've been playing around with numbers and options, on paper...I am getting close to 333.  Well, kind-of, sort-of. This might be my 338 Challenge. I know that to have a limited wardrobe work, it's best to have a simple color scheme, or pieces that mix and match well. My plan is to have one neutral (I use camel/khaki) and then have a accent color or two. For me the camel/khaki is year round, then for 3 months I switch out my accent colors.

This season, rather than jump to Fall colors, I am keeping the nautical favorites but transitioning them into cooler months. I have my camel/khaki as my neutral, and the other colors I am using are navy and ecru (off-white). So I pulled a few warm weather and cool weather pieces that coordinate together and I'll wear these everyday for 3 months. By Nov. I'll be sick of them (you probably will tire of looking at them too) or they'll be too ratty, and I'll be ready to haul out my 'new' selection. My plan is that in Nov., I'll keep the neutral camel/khaki, and put away the navy and my new accent colors will be gray and Robin's Egg Blue/teal. I'm looking forward to those colors already.

So that's my plan! I am going to tweak it a bit. The traditional 333 Challenge numbers include EVERYTHING except undergarments. It includes coat, jacket, sunglasses, tights, t-shirts, scarves, shoes, boots, accessories - everything - only 33 items. [Check out an awesome site here.] For that to work, it's like 3 pair of pants, 2 skirts or dresses, 4 shirts, 2 sweaters, 2 purses, and so on. My situation is needing some business clothes for work, and some casual clothes for home and play. I also need a few pair of socks, tights for skirts, and then boots or booties to go with them. So I think I need a few more accessories, realistically. I am reducing it to what I think I can pull off. There is a person that does a site called UNFANCY. I like her realistic advice. She shoots for 37 pieces not including accessories and jewelry. Regardless of the exact number. I'm shooting for far less stuffed in my closet than I would have had before, and that is the spirit of the challenge. My closet and drawers feel less cramped. It feels better. Bring on the new month!

I'm working on it!

Is it just me or do you, too, feel a bit annoyed at having to use up the last of a product before you can start on a new and improved one? What do you do? Keep using it or toss it out?

Let's say you've been using a products for awhile and you decide it isn't working like you had hoped anymore. Or maybe you've found another, better product that promises to be even more effective (for some reason - any reason). So you purchase the new and improved product to have on hand before you run out of the other. Now what do you do?

Why do I think it is a chore to have to use up the rest of the product when I've made the decision that something else is much better? Whether it is a new toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, or make-up, I feel the same way - I just can't wait to jump in and use the new one. I feel like I have to suffer through the last quarter of the old product (when at one time THAT was the new and improved product).

Isn't that interesting? Is that our human nature - wanting to look forward to the next best thing? I've been trying to analyze that and realized that 'out with the old, in with the new' attitude sometimes gets applied toward cars, houses, relationships, and marriages, too. 

About the using up of an old product, some people I ask tell me that they throw the old product away. It makes sense that once the product is inferior, why use it? But that seems to go against the wish to be frugal. What do you?

I have a difficult time being content with the 'old' product when the new seems to be calling my name. I've been trying to change the way I feel about it. I found a quote on Pinterest that I like and printed it out so that I see it regularly.   It is:  Use it up, Wear it out, make it do, or do without.

I'm working on it.


About the image. I had done this sketch as colored pencil cross hatching. When it was scanned, it seems to blend together as blobs of color. I can't seem to crisp it up. Maybe I'll keep working on it in Photoshop.

I'm doing it! I'm looking forward to purging some accumulated stuff. Do you want to do the challenge as well (only at your house)?

Cate R. knows my mission to downsize and, thoughtfully, sent me a link about someone who was describing a de-cluttering challenge. It inspired me. It feels right to me at this time. I am going to start Sept. 1st (a 30-day month). I'm giving you a little head start to feel inspired.

There are other 30-day challenges, but this one is to eliminate ONE item on day one; eliminate TWO items on day two, and so on. That goes on every through day thirty. When you get to day thirty, you will have eliminated 465 items. I would like to be 465 items lighter! It doesn't matter what you do with the items: trash, give away, sell, resale, goodwill. I'm excited and looking forward to it.

It is in my nature to want to change things up, so to me, it makes sense to do it in reverse. It seems more logical to give away 30 things on day one, 29 things on day two, 28 things on day three, and so on. I imagine that at the beginning I'll be more psyched to make big changes, and by the end of the challenge, I'll be struggling to find things to eliminate…maybe.

I've already been thinking about what kinds of categories of things to eliminate, and making a list. I think I'll do the Tupperware/storage cupboard one day, and sock drawer another day, my linen closet one day, and my magazine bin another. Those are chores I've been wanting to do for a long time.

So…I'm doing it!  I'll be working on it. Are you in?  Anybody……anybody?

Do you add things to your home or wardrobe haphazardly? Are you unsure about what colors to choose? Do you have a favorite or treasured item that serves as a style 'inspiration'? Maybe you do and don't even realize it yet.

It is a useful practice of Interior Designers, to ask a client to see their favorite personal 'item' to use that for style ideas. Let's say you have a favorite rug or scarf. If you love the feel and colors of the item, then use THAT as your palette to design your home. [If you've ever watched the TV series Dress My Nest, you'll know what I'm talking about. That show was a favorite of mine.]

Pick an item (or two) of yours which is special to you (mine are shown above). Your favorite item can be a piece of jewelry, a painting or print, a vase, basket, a plate or china pattern, or a piece of clothing like a scarf or print. Choose something that just brings you joy to see it. How would you describe the style? Is it classic, clean lines, modern, antique, nautical, rustic, art deco, romantic, etc.? Are the colors neutral, intense, pastel, vibrant, earth tones, or high contrast? Just look at the item's colors and style and use those in your environment. For instance if you have a favorite picture, is the frame wood or metal? Use the same wood or metal in your home. 

If your item is a print, poster, painting, or scarf, all the colors probably already work harmoniously together. Then, you'll know the colors will work well together in your home. Pick the neutral color as a basic neutral in larger spaces like furniture or carpeting. Choose one or more other colors from the item to use as an accent color in your home for smaller space like an accent wall, pillows, throw rugs, curtains etc. If you love the item, you'll love the feel of your home or environment.  

The same principle works for your wardrobe as well. Figure out what it is that is pleasing about your style  item and use it to add similar colors and style to what you wear. I have a set of china which I love.* I cherish it. Each time I use it, or see it for that matter, it makes me feel so happy. I have a plate hanging on my wall as decoration. I use the colors in my wardrobe. I use the cream, ecru, mint, and khaki as my neutrals. Then I use the yellow, teal, or red rose as accent colors. Once I realized I was using that as my style inspiration and color palette, it made me more choosy about what to add to my closet or home. If I only add the colors that are in my inspirational item, than I know they all work well together, and I can mix and match with ease. It simplifies things….and that is one my goals.

I'm working on it.

* Shown above are MY style inspirational items. I have a small purse I found at a resale shop, a silk scarf which goes with so much, and my china set which I found at a Garage Sale while scouring Northern Michigan with my sister Diane.  These are things I treasure. I love all the colors in these items and am happy to have them and their colors around me.