Week 30

The items: A giant box full of stuff. Lampshades, ceiling light, mixing bowls, tree stand, shower curtains, vases, and more!
The backstory: I'd tried unsuccessfully to sell some of the items online, and other items had just been hanging out in the basement. My folks were planning a garage sale, and we hoped on the bandwagon.
Method of expulsion: A few items sold in the garage sale, the items that didn't were donated or went back in the basement.
Monetary impact: $25.25
YTD monetary impact: $419.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

Photos by James Ransom

This week on Food52, I wrote about 3 things to pick up at the market and figs.

How a password changed my life. Smart.

Totes amazeballs.

A new to me berry.

The first Weird Al song I've really enjoyed.

21 things you didn't know your iPhone could do.

We tell kids to "Go to Sleep!" We need to tell them why.

Uh, this cooler is the coolest. via Shutterbean

Emoji Nation via Shutterbean

10 tricks to appear smart during meetings. Bwahaha. via Shutterbean

Week 29

The items: Clothes!
The backstory: I'm trying to be very conscious every time I look in my closet, and ask myself if every item I'm looking at is something I'm really wearing; or if I'm not wearing it, figuring out which one of 3 spots it needs to be moved to -- my "work clothes" storage bin, my "not-currently-in-style-but-will-probably-come-back-around" storage bin, or the donation pile. Lately, brutal assessments of items that will never be good on my body type have filled up another bag ready to be donated.
Method of expulsion: Donated -- but I recently learned about the app Vinted (thanks Brittany!), so my next closet purge might net me a profit.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 28

The items: A small box full of stuff. More lights, outlet covers, curtain hooks, etc.
The backstory: This is all stuff that was in the house that got swapped out at some point, and has -- you guessed it -- been hanging out in the basement for years. 
Method of expulsion: Donated to a re-use center
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Tuesday Things

Stunning Truths Your Facebook 'Likes' Really Reveal About You.

Not too long ago was National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. In America, one out of three homes with children has a gun, and nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun. Every year thousands of kids are killed and injured as a result. Those statistics stunned me, and personal accounts never cease to take my breath away. The ASK Campaign promotes a simple idea with the potential to help keep kids safe. It encourages parents to ASK if there are unlocked guns in the homes where their children play.

Vegetables can hear themselves being bitten. 

Aw man. Don't spray sunscreen on kids. via Design Mom

Parenting (extroverted children) as an introvert. A lot of this resonated with me. Being "on" all of the time can be hard for me, and most of the time, "off" time actually means work time, not recharge time, which means I'm not doing a great job of prioritizing. Or scheduling. Or something. (Does it feel like the topic of being an introvert/extrovert is having a bit of a moment? I don't mind, as I find it interesting, but I wonder, are you sick of it?)

Is this all too much of a downer this week? How about the idea of having one adventure a month?

The importance of kindness in a relationship. via Design Mom

Amanda Hesser's final meal. Well played.

ASK TOOLKIT 2014

WWW.ASKINGSAVESKIDS.ORG

Week 27

The items: A big box full of stuff. Lights, kitchen tools, etc.
The backstory: Mike was lobbying for this to be saved for a garage sale, but since most of it has been sitting in the basement for 4 years, and isn't worth all that much anyway, donating seemed like the better option.
Method of expulsion: Donated to a re-use center
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.