So, I've been thinking lately about how much stuff we have (and I like it all- well, most of it) and then hypothesizing if I had to downsize for some reason what I would keep and what I would get rid of. Just a fun little game in my head. I can think of tons of toys I'd toss... Seriously, how did we accumulate so many? Please don't give us any more!
We've lived in 4 places in the last 6 years. The first was a 500 sq. ft. apartment that was so conveniently (ha!) situated on 2 floors with a narrow metal winding ladder stair case in the middle. Next we moved to a seemingly enormous 2 bedroom condo where we lived for a short while before moving out west. The place we had in Seattle was in a great location but terribly laid out for children so we moved, yet again. This time to a giant (compared to our previous dwelling places) house, in the suburbs, with a yard. Ahhh... space. There are so many benefits to this that I am not sure I can name them all. For starters, we have enough space that our living area doesn't have to be taken over with toys. We have a garden, and fruit trees. We live on a culd-a-sack where a dozen neighbor kids play every afternoon. I'll write about the drawbacks of THAT another time. The girls' bedroom is on the same floor as ours. We have a laundry room. And, we have a nice big kitchen with enough cabinet space for all my junk.
So I've been hypothesizing about what would happen if we had to move back into one of those old places (trying not to think about the complete inconvenience of it all) but focusing on what I'd keep and what I'd get rid of. Amy Karol at Angry Chicken posted her favorite kitchen gadgets list and that got me thinking about what is really cool to have, and what can be done without. Like her, I love the apple peeler/corer, the tongs, cookie scoop, grill press, whip creamer, salad spinner, and a ton of other things. What do I really need though?
If I had to put it all in a couple cupboards this is what I'd bring;
1. Correll dishes (I don't have these but would have to get rid of all my heavy, large, pottery style dishes to make room for other things and Correll are awesome for being lightweight and space saving.
2. My melamine mixing bowl set. I don't have a link for these but they are nesting and have a rubber grip on the bottom which makes them awesome. They are really the only bowls I use anymore.
3. My silverware.
4. A set of glasses. We have some from Ikea that stack nicely. I need to get some more.
5. Our Take and Toss sippy cups. They stack nicely as well and are made from a #5 plastic.
6. Little stackable plastic bowls and plates from Ikea for the kids.
7. My onion chopper/slicer. Can't live without it. Cutting onions kills me. I've had other types of choppers before but this is definitely the best. Chops any veggie. I can dice an onion in a minute or two, which is priceless.
8. My silicone flippers. love them. Have them in multiple sizes.
9. My metal flipper. A must have as well for cookies and other times.
10. Tongs
11. My spoonula.
12. A wooden spoon or two.
13. A silicone wisk.
14. My Vita-Mix
14. My food processor
15. My toaster
16. Knives, though I'd buy a new, sharp set, where they all fit in the block.
17. My Kitchenaid mixer if I had enough space. If not I'll keep my hand mixer.
18. My new Anchor Hocking glass storage containers. I got them at Walmart.
19. Some stackable measuring cups and spoons.
20. My large glass measuring cups.
21. I love my cast iron griddle and press. I also have a large double grill that basically stays on my stove at all times. If I had the space I'd want them both, along with all my pots and pans.
22. As far as bakeware all I really need is a 9x13 baking dish, an 8x8 baking dish, muffin tin, cake pan, bread pans, a couple cookie sheets, my pizza stone, and a pie plate. All the other stuff is great but I really don't make cheese cakes that often and I rarely make anything that requires all the other shaped pans.
23. I have a bunch of serving platters and bowls. I'd need a few of those, along with a pitcher. I'd leave my wine glasses and milk shake glasses behind. They are cool but we don't use them much and if we need them the drinks will work fine in my Ikea glasses ;)
24. I'll need a juice pitcher.
25. The salad spinner can stay if it fits as well.
26. I'd love to keep my tortilla warmer.
27. I'll need a cheese grater. I have an electric one but my simple one from Ikea will do.
28. A couple wooden cutting boards.
29. My new $3 citrus juicer would be nice to keep.
30. I'd need to keep all my bulk food storage containers... hopefully they'll fit!
31. I can't forget my dutch oven and a couple casseroles as well.
UPDATE: I need my Zyliss ice cream scoop, my pizza cutter and my carrot peeler.
OK, I think that might be it! Did I leave out something vital?
What do you think? Which room in your house would be hardest to "downsize"? What would you keep and what would you give to people who actually need your excess? My poor neighbor (a sixty something widow) is trying to move into his house and has a few rooms less than he had before but can't seem to get rid of anything. Now, I understand the sentimental value of everything, don't get me wrong... BUT... he can't live with boxes stacked to the ceiling forever, and neither can you in your new 500 sq. ft. apartment. What will you get rid of?
Feel free to comment here or just post on your blog and put a link in your comments.
Something to dwell on...
”If you have two coats, give one away... do the same with your food.” Luke 3:10-11
