Allie in the South of Spain

Last weekend I mentioned that Jose and I were headed to the state-mandated sales to try to find some work clothes that desperately needed replacing. We live pretty close to an outlet mall so we figured we would be able to take advantage of some great prices. Unfortunately this was not the case. We were quite disappointed in both the selection of clothing being offered as well as the discounts. Needless to say, we didn't end up leaving with much (I bought a pair of pants and a skirt for a whopping total of 12 euro). It was a bust. View of the outdoor market Since Jose still needed some new work wear we decided to try our luck at one of Seville's big outdoor markets that are set up on the weekends. I wrote about one trip we took there to do some Christmas shopping  here . These markets are not for the faint of heart. They are loud, crowded, sometimes smelly (mostly thanks to people smoking). This particular market is located on a big open parking lot. Vendors arrive early ...

The latest pile ready for donation The 2-4-1 principle is an easy idea that helps to simplify things in your home. The plan is that for every new item you bring in, you should get rid of 2 (hence the 2-4-1). We don't follow this principle too strictly in terms of regular items, we aren't pack rats and don't have an apartment overflowing with stuff. Instead, I use this practice with our clothes, when something new comes in it is more than likely that 2 will go out. We always have a basket with clothes/household stuff to be donated. When it gets full, it is taken to our local drug abuse rehab center. I first wrote about the 2-4-1 principle  here  and have been trying to apply it (especially) to Jose and my clothing purchases since. We donate quite a lot of clothes every season but honestly haven't been buying much to replace them. In fact, besides some work-out gear and new jammies that were gifted to me for Christmas,  I haven't bought/received any new clothes...

Counting on nice weather Jose and I leave tomorrow EARLY in the morning to begin our day-long journey from Sevilla to Michigan. We have connections in both Madrid and Chicago but this time it seems as if we have enough time between flights to 1)not get too bored in the airport and 2)not have to sprint across the airport trying to make it to our gate before they close the cabin doors (both of which have happened in the past). Today we have been packing and cleaning our apartment since it will be a while before we are back again. This summer we have decided to bring just one big suitcase between the two of us along with our standard carry-on items. Not only does this make traveling more comfortable but it also leaves us room for the inevitable things we buy at home (see crockpot, I really want one!). Luckily since we have international flights we get our one free checked back each but we have chosen to cut back since summer at the lake never requires all the clothing we have brought...

Deep down I think I have always been somewhat of a minimalist. It is something I have been reading up on lately, playing around with the idea and I think I fit in with this movement, though I am certainly not as extreme as some folks who live out of a backpack and own nothing more than a toothbrush and the clothes on their backs. Minimalists are made up a whole spectrum of people with the overall philosophy being that you can (and most of the time) should live with less. It is good for your finances, good for your home, good for your time and good for your sanity.  I have mentioned before in this blog about moving a lot over the last 8 years and of having to quickly reduce my belongings to those that fit in suitcases. Overall it hasn´t been that difficult of a process for me most of the time. Things don´t hold a lot of sentimental value for me normally, nor do I feel a lot of anxiety getting rid of them. In fact quite often the opposite is true, I get anxious the more things are...

It´s been about a week since my last post and though not a lot has been going on around here, I figured I would write a quick summary of the more "interesting" things that have occurred. To begin on a high note, we got our first set of curtains put up (and all the rods as well). My mother-in-law is currently sewing the rest of what we will be hanging so hopefully within the next few weeks we should be finished. That leaves only a few more lamps and we will be pretty much done!  This has been a very long process and I am happy that people can´t see in to our living room anymore. P.s. I hate the way my wall color was photographed here, in real life it is a lot more gray. Bad lighting, whoops We also had our shower stall doors installed in our guest bathroom. It´s all set up now for people who are wishing to visit : ) Needs a lamp  Plus we closed off our small inside balcony where we have our washing machine (which is also relatively new) with opaque windows. T...

My in-laws recently converted their old study into a big, beautiful walk-in closet. I have mentioned it before but built in closets aren´t incredibly common here in Spain; there is not one in our new apartment. Let´s just say that I am envious that they have this awesome space with enough room to hang things and actually not have them wrinkle right away. Sigh. Now they can really see the clothes that they own (which is a lot).  My mother-in-law is a good shopper in that she knows how to find a barg. She has tons of shoes, dresses, pants, tops, handbags etc and she always looks very put together. She has been accumulating her collection of clothes for years. As she was organizing things in her new closet she even showed me a pair of boots that she had bought when my husband was very young. Over the years she had forgotten about them but planned on wearing them now that they were out of storage. I am sure there were more of these re-discoveries as she pulled stuff out of cupboards...