Outside the Cocoon

Is less really more? (I think maybe it is :-)

Recently I have grown more and more intrigued by the idea of living more simply.  I am not quite ready to live in a tiny space or take the 100 things challenge but I am increasingly aware that the more things you have the more clutter you have and this clutter cultivates a distance from the items often resulting in our becoming unaware of them at all.  Still we are the caretakers of our "things" and we feel their collective burden without being able to really appreciate each item individually.

I read a fascinating article on Happiness this morning.  It is rather long but worth reading and thinking about. 

I am not quite sure what direction this will lead me but for now I am committed to being on a continual look-out for things that I can get rid of and to thinking at least twice before I bring something new into my life.

Learning To Live (Love) Frugal

If you are really going to embrace the bootstrapping solopreneur thing, and part of your entrepreneurial endeavors are upcycling and recycling, it seems only natural that you would also have a good dose of frugalista coursing through your veins.  Over the last couple of years I have become more aware of the prices at my local grocery stores.  I have started using more coupons.  I try to keep myself on a budget.  The pennies really do count. 

Believe it or not I actually enjoy living more frugally.  If you have read my about me page you are already aware of a certain kookiness in my nature.  I like the concept that "things" can have many facets and uses far beyond their manufacture's intended use.  The ability to find a second use for something or to re-purpose it into something new allows us the opportunity to gain a new appreciation for the small and seemingly insignificant item.  And if we allow ourselves to notice the new value in that "thing" we were about to throw away how much more can we appreciate all theT"things" we have in our lives. 

Anyway it seems like a very natural extension for this blog to contain some money saving tips as I come across them.

Yesterday after slipping down the internet rabbit hole I stumbled onto Bankrate.com's frugal sense tips.  They sponsor a monthly contest for the best money saving tips.  The prize is $100.00 see contest rules here. 

These were my favorites Dustbusters, Weedkiller and Coffee Filters

DIY Do It Yourself - Gypsy Party

I volunteered to host Mothers Day this year since I am the only non-mom in the family.  My wonderful SO (significant other) offered to do all the cooking.  He actually likes that kind of stuff, imagine!  This was fine by me as my specialty is frozen pizza and sometimes even that seems like too much trouble.   You might be thinking this left me with nothing to do but bask in the glory of faux hostess but you would be wrong.  With no cooking responsibilities to worry about I turned my attention to decorating and as sometimes happens in my life the party took on a life of its own.

My family asked me how I came up with the idea.  I don't really know.  One minute I was trying to think of some fun decorations for kids and adults and the next I was planning a full on Gypsy Mother's Day!! 

Come see for yourself!!  It was easy and fun.

It started with a lot of fabric.

Fabric for curtain's.  Fabric for room dividers and fabric to cover the couch.

For the "Crystal Ball"  I bought a round globe for a lamp for $5.00 at Lowe's.  A thrift store table for $3.99 that SO cut a hole in for me and the fun part was the bulb.  It was blue which you can't really tell from this picture.

Next came some thrift store nick knacks.

And dried flower bouquets.

 
A lot of candles.

 
and whole bunch of necklaces.

The table was a little tricky since I needed place settings for 11.  I had to round up ever available table and chair we had.  And I needed what else but more fabric.

The place settings were fun to do.  I pulled out all my dishes and glasses and mixed them up all over the table so nothing matched, added a couple of wine bottles and some bouquets in jelly jar vases.

Do you believe in serendipity?  I do.  Once I had decided on the Gypsy theme I was thrift store shopping to find some more fabric pieces and other odds and ends when what did I discover?  Not one but two doorway curtains!  One was beaded and one was fringe.  I couldn't have been more delighted.

 
I thought about warning all the guest that we were having a Gypsy Mother's Day but I decided I wanted it to be a surprise.  And since you can't have a Gypsy party without Gypsy costumes once again the thrift store saved the day.  I found all sorts of fun and colorful vests and sashes for the men and scarfs and skirts for the women.  

 
I put the costumes on the backs of the chairs and some jewelry on the place settings.

 
Here are a couple of the costumes.

 
What Gypsy Party would be complete without Gypsy Music?  (Gypsy Groove by Putumayo Presents and Gypsy Fire were the 2 Cd's that I found.  You can give them a listen at Amazon.com.