tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61141437274521424982012-02-16T09:03:40.223-08:00happyathomenoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6114143727452142498.post-49488060711271529382011-12-12T20:29:00.000-08:002011-12-12T20:29:20.527-08:00I was talking to my Mother about the upcoming holiday season, and she asked me what I thought my husband would want for Christmas.I told her,"nothing,but thank-you anyways..He does not want a thing." There was this long pause on her end of the telephone line,and she responded with an absolutely <i>incredulous</i> tone. Mom then asked what<i> I </i>wanted, and I told her that we both have everything that we<b> need</b>. We are trying to DE-clutter, and do not want to wind up with Christmas presents that we will have to find a place for in our little cottage.I have been on a journey to becoming a minimalist for about a year now and love to walk into a room that is void of anything extraneous.(I say,<i><b> </b>I,</i> because yours truly is still attempting to convince Hubby that he doesn't need an expensive blender, or a second TV to be happy). We do live pretty simply; our bedroom has a bed and two nightstands.Our living room has two chairs and a reading lamp in front of the wood stove. Our dining table has four chairs, and room for two extra people for dinner.Our television room(yes,we like to watch some TV),consists of a sofa, and another reading- lounge chaise. That is IT(and we still feel like we can get rid of more things).<br />As I write this blog, I am being bombarded by commercials on our TV;for holiday room fresheners,mixers and Diamond rings.Now don't get me wrong...I like my kitchen to smell like gingerbread too,but what is wrong with baking some gingerbread cookies together as a family? Why does the smell have to come from a chemical laden candle? There are recipes that only require a wooden spoon ,so why do we need a three-hundred dollar mixer? Are men really that clueless that they need a reminder to propose to their girlfriend? Not the men that I know!(Well, maybe <i>some</i> of them...) Not to mention, how do we, as consumers, know that the Diamonds that we are buying are truly cruelty-free?And who came up with the two months worth of salary as a parameter on what one should spend? Who are we trying to impress anyways? Oh yes, I forgot...those darn Jones'.<br />We need to fight the commercialism surrounding the holidays,because it is not about what we get that will just be re-gifted,but about what we can give; our time; our love, our altruistic behavior,and don't forget... some fresh baked Gingerbread...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6114143727452142498-4948806071127152938?l=effortless-simplicity.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>happyathomenoreply@blogger.com0