Living with More Intention: Decluttering and Repurposing

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Decluttering anD repurposing

Have you ever wished you could do more to adopt a greener lifestyle? Households now actively separate and/or discard plastic containers, glass, and cardboard, and delve into marketplaces to purchase viable second-hand furnishings and clothing. The impact of minimalizing, whether you have relocated to a smaller house or chosen other aspects of the philosophy, has led many to a simpler lifestyle.

HOW TO DECLUTTER

Do you have drawers and closets that you struggle to close? Are there moments when you wonder where to put items without enough space? Start thinking about reducing your possessions. Eliminating the clutter promotes organization, reduces stress, and provides more financial freedom! The question may be, “How do I get started?” Take five to ten minutes a day to tackle one shelf or drawer. Label three bags with “trash,” “donate,” or “relocate.” In the bag-method, you have a defined purpose for each item.

• MUDROOM: Hooks and boxes can identify a place for the many items everyone needs within the household; therefore, find a way to organize bags and backpacks, jackets and shoes, leashes and keys, and purses. • MAIL AND PAPER: It takes just seconds to extract needed statements and letters and discard the rest. The next time you access each account, request to go paperless and save on the paper clutter!

• DONATE CLOTHES NO LONGER WORN:

Pull out the bottom third of your stacks of

T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and jeans. Extract the apparel that is too small, faded, full of holes, or outdated! Then, go through your hangers and do the same! • READ BOOKS: Public libraries and schools will gladly take books in good condition. If you only intended to read it once, pass it on to someone who will enjoy it!

• BATHROOM CLOSET: Start tossing expired medications and old beauty products.

• LINEN CLOSETS: Go through pillowcases and sheets to check for holes, tears, or stains. Perhaps it’s time to repurpose the old linens! • KITCHENS: Consider selling or donating extra pans, casserole dishes, and baking pans. Either way, you can pass along items to someone who needs them.

Remember, every item costs you time and money to clean, dust, polish, or wash!

EXPANDING THE DEFINITION

Living with intention requires a promise to make shopping habits simpler. Why bring home more plastic bags when you can shop with durable, recyclable bags? It’s an effort that takes remembering. • Rather than use expensive, commercial cleaning products, switch to natural options, such as baking soda, Castile soap, lemon juice, and white vinegar.

Each one effectively cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects.

• Plan nutritious weekly meals to eliminate overspending, and eat seasonal foods. • Stop using items that serve one use, such as sandwich bags or food coverings; instead, use dishwasher-safe lids

• Switch to a stainless steel or aluminum water bottle!

HOW TO REPURPOSE In our fast-paced instant need for gratification, we often don’t consider how to repurpose or upcycle our broken or damaged items. We quickly trade out the new refrigerator and bring in a replacement. Why not use it for storage either in a garage, basement, or exterior building, or bury it underground to serve as a root cellar?

• Old mugs, bowls, storage jars, teapots, and galvanized tubs require a hole drilled in the bottom center to make planters.

Don’t forget to add a handful of gravel before planting to help with drainage! • Learn about the process of composting to recycle plant-based goods back to the earth for decomposition. In the daily effort, you’ll have mineral-enriched soil to use!

• Save mayonnaise and pickle jars to hold rubber bands, pencils, or coins!

• Use mugs, Mason jars, or ceramic teacups as a container to hold used candle wax.

• Damaged woolen sweaters can line hanging flower baskets.

• Transition old wine crates to shelving for books or canned goods. • Use old CD cases to organize and store cables.

• Reuse cardboard boxes with an opening, such as Kleenex boxes, to store plastic bags.

• Take an old shoe rack to organize a pantry.

Reflecting on our shopping habits and wants, we will find that living with more intention embraces the idea of “less is more.”

iHeart

In & About in Winston-Salem BY HEATHER SPIVEY finding out what people have been up to during the pandemic

It’s the start of the New Year and we are still in pandemic mode. Vaccines are on the horizon but safety still remains of the utmost importance to control the spread of COVID 19. I thought it would be fun to see what some folks (my friends) throughout Forsyth County have been doing to keep themselves busy during these months. There could be some ideas or things that you haven’t thought of that might inspire you. I personally wish I could share something exciting that my family has been up to or new tradition or hobby that we have implemented. Unfortunately, in August I broke my foot, shattering it, requiring emergency surgery, a multitude of hardware and 4 different casts – now my big outing is to physical therapy 2x a week and I’ve graduated to an ankle brace and am quite excited about the slow progress. This injury has reminded me what a wonderful family I have, helping me with all of the details of daily living. I have wonderful friends and neighbors that have brought food, helped get our son to and from school, and my sister who has become my personal chauffer and our ‘laundry lady’ deserves a big shout out. I love you Whitney & thank you.

Here are the questions they were asked…enjoy and I hope you and your families continue to stay safe and enjoy your newly gifted time together.

1st question - What is something new you have done during COVID that you might otherwise not have done with this new time you’ve been given at home? (And it doesn’t necessarily have to be done at home). 2nd question - What will you look forward to most post COVID?

1. We have been able to focus on some long overdue house projects and I have been enjoying doing some needlepoint! 2. I look forward to getting back to the craziness of church, school pick-ups, homework, car pools and school athletic events. Our students are missing out on so much! Laura Neelon Wife, Busy mom of 3, Whitaker PTA President ‘18-’19, RJR PTSA Vice President ‘20-’21 Lucy 16 RJR High School Alice 13 Wiley Middle Evelyn 9 Whitaker Elementary 1. Worked at my dining table from late March to late

May. But since returning to the office in late May, I have been adding more to my tips at restaurants – even for takeout – knowing that wait staff has suffered from fewer customers. 2. Seeing people face-to-face. Whether it be visiting with friends, or teaching my class at Wake Forest, it will be nice to see people up close and personal again, without masks!! Dave Goren Husband, Active dad of 2, Professor at Wake Forest University, Executive Director at National Sports Media Association, Sideline Reporter for WFU Football / Wake Forest Sports Properties

1. In April, I started walking around the neighborhood with my husband.

With more people at home with Shelter in Place orders, there was less traffic, and the weather was nice. We’ve continued to walk even as it is getting colder and it has been fun to see the seasons change, with the leaves turning and now the holiday decorations. 2. I miss Kernersville’s town festivals and I look forward to being able to attend community events like the Honeybee Festival, Spring Folly, and

Car Shows. Dawn Morgan Wife, and Busy mom of 3, Mayor of Kernersville

1. I’ve attended virtually, through Zoom, some of the arts and nonprofit events. I think the organizations have adapted well in this new technology, and hope will continue after the pandemic is over because they have been able to reach new audiences. 2. Being an extrovert, just able to meet live people in the community in person is what I’ve missed. That is what I do. People contact would be the most. Jeffrey L. Smith SCNTriad Event Communications, Inc. Smitty’s Notes, SmittysNotes.com, SCNTriad Special Events

1. Once we realized our children would have classes online, high school for our daughter and college for our son, we wanted to spend time together traveling. Our family has always enjoyed visiting other countries and states, so we bought a travel trailer, a hot spot and hit the road. Since late in the summer of 2020 we have been to the NC mountains for a week, the NC coast for one month and over 2000 miles throughout Florida. Without the changes to online classes for our kids because of

COVID we would not have been able to spend so much time together making new family memories. 2. When COVID passes our family is looking forward to continue exploring new places together in our travel trailer, but also getting back to flying and visiting other parts of the world again, too. Tonya & Scott Craver Busy parents to Reynolds & Charlotte, active in church and community

1. We have enjoyed neighborhood walks and even venturing all the way downtown for a change of scenery and added exercise. We have also enjoyed more family meals at home; home cooked and takeout.

With 2 teenagers, it has almost been nice having an early curfew that isn’t imposed by us or our fault. 2. Gathering again with our family and friends is what we are most excited to return to normal! We will never take gatherings or traveling for granted again! Dr. R. Morris & Colleen Friedman Busy parents of 2 daughters, Urologist 1. COVID has turned me into an online creature. Ordering Chick-fil-a, Christmas shopping, conducting mediations & arbitrations, attending church or school related meetings, cheering on NC State and the FCDS Furies at athletic events, receiving continuing education – all of these online in COVID world. The silver lining is that I’ve saved all that commuting time which I now have at home with my family. That has been a rare, good thing about our current circumstances.

I’ve also discovered that I don’t recognize people I know at the grocery store when they are wearing a mask. My internal facial recognition systems don’t work well in the

COVID mask environment. 2. I look forward to trips with family and friends, tailgating and attending ballgames, social events, meeting with colleagues, sitting down in a restaurant instead of driving the food home to reheat it. IN other words – the freedom of movement and association as we knew it before COVID. Ron Spivey Husband, active dad to Jackson, Retired Superior Court Judge, Mediator & Arbitrator

1. A developing bridge player, I have resorted to playing online bridge, which gives me the opportunity to improve my skills with friends, near and far.

Meanwhile, Andy finally had the time to load his entire CD collection onto a hard drive for easier access. 2. Post-COVID, Andy looks forward to performing magic shows once again before a live audience while I can’t wait to travel to see our adult children. Nancy Schneider Wife, mom of 2 grown sons, lawyer, owner of Arbor Road Academy