I've been thinking a lot about excess. When is enough stuff, enough? I often feel like I spend my day as a slave to my things. Moving them from one place to another. I know there is a better way to live. I know that if I can live more simply, I'll have more room, time and energy to focus on the things that really matter. (I laugh at myself. I get so Zen when I talk about my home.)
I wasn't planning on doing this today. I was busy cleaning the kitchen when I tried to throw something away under my sink and realized that the cabinet door wasn't closing. I pulled the trash can out to see what was back there and found nine vases! Nine vases! When am I ever going to use NINE vases?
I'm not going to go crazy. I'm not going to throw all of them out, but definitely most of them have to go. Then I am going to find a new home for them other than under my kitchen sink.
I'll keep the red and green vases. And the vase with the wrought iron base. I'm also going to keep the clear, square vase, because it's from Aubrey and I love her. The other generic clear vases are going to go away.
How many vases do you have? Do you save them? Do you use them? Where do you store them? Do you have any creative ideas for their use besides holding fresh flowers?
Oh the collection of vases! I think I have singlehandly filled the shelf at DI!
ReplyDeleteI have 3 vases under my sink right now. Each one saved, was given to me by some one special. Some day I will share a story about the vases.
ReplyDeleteRemember I told you I was a florist? Those vases that surround the red one (except the awesome looking Square Audrey one and the pretty, retro green one)are worth a collective $5. At least that's what the florist paid for them, before marking them up for sale. So at that price, I don't feel awful about just giving them away. When you go VTing, fill one full of Jelly Beans and tie a bow around it; for a sick friend, fill one with flowers from your garden. Or use one as a coin catcher, with the collected $ going towards a family vacation or mission fund. I once collected $87 in one in just 7 months. Who knew our 13 cents change at the gas station for a soda and candy bar could yeild so much? And it's a good way to teach the kids about saving, since they can litterally see their savings grow because it's all in a clear container!
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I like the candy idea. I typically throw away almost all vases (the unique ones I keep in the litle cupboard above my fridge). The clear glass ones are fun to use for holiday candy because you can see through them, so they're versatile. Here's how, get various bags of holiday candy (m & m's, skittles, jelly beans, etc) and then layer them. They look cute, and voila..u have a use for them! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, after the holidays, I feel the urge to purge--my house. So many duplicate items, it seems ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteMy vases are on top of my kitchen cupboards. Some are glass, some are ceramic. And I'm not really attached to any of them. For a couple of months now, every time I see them I think,"This is crazy! I need to get rid of them!" I like the aforementioned ideas.
Under the kitchen sink just like you. Vases are one thing I have no problem getting rid of. I think I have 3 or 4 or right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm in a purging mood lately too, just can't stand the clutter.
After reading all these good ideas, I wish I still had a spare vase. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have collected a few fancy or fun vases over time and I put them up on top of my kitchen cupboards along with a few other decorative things. One is filled with fake (although very real looking!) cherries, another has roses (also fake but I still like them), and the rest are empty but have some pattern or swirl to them. I think they're fun and if I ever get real flowers (ha!) I will be prepared! :0)
ReplyDeleteI got rid of most of my vases when I moved. Like Millie,now I wish I had them so I could use these cute ideas! ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of layering the candy. I have some clear glass cannisters that I LOVE but they are all too often empty.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have zero vases. I used to save them, above the fridge in that little cabinet, but I gave them all to Good Will when I reduced my life to 19 totes and moved. :) Now I'm very clutter free.
ReplyDeleteYou could also serve trifles (dessert)out of the wider mouthed vases you have. It's pretty and unexpected.
Have a happy day!
I re-use the generic clear vases for giving flower arrangements to others. An inexpensive bouquet from the grocery store looks great and a LOT more expensive when arranged in one of those vases! :)
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