Essentialism

Weniger aber besser

Or, in English, less is better.

I like that.

For years, I was calling myself a minimalist or practicing minimalism when asked what was this lifestyle I chose. But, as I mentioned before I could not identify properly with the label. It felt negative. It felt like I had to deprive myself. The word did, not how I saw it and lived it. However, when asked to explain, I found most people where uncomfortable with the word. No matter how I explained it and for how long, many walked away with a feeling of doing with less, getting rid of what they loved, depriving themselves... and there was not much I can do. It was "common knowledge" that minimalist had nothing. And don't get me started with the word frugal.

I get the words and I understand that they are just that: words. But, uncomfortable, bearing a negative connotation in our society of always more, always faster, always better.

I do believe that this lifestyle could save our Mother Earth. In order to do so, more people need to embrace it. For that to happen, the word used should feel more positive.

I stumbled upon a book at my library called "Essentialism - The Discipline Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown.

Love the book which I am not quite done reading and absolutely fell in love with the word "essentialism".
Isn't it lovely? More positive? Feels like you have all you need?

Essentially how I live... claiming that less is better, choosing quality over quantity in everything: relationships, work, what you own, activities...

Who needs quantity in this world? We need quality... more than ever. We need meaning. We need depth.

Quantity has proven it doesn't work in so many ways. It makes us stress, sick, it depletes natural resources, rids us of time...

Quality is everything. Who needs a circle of 25 friends who barely have time for you when you can have 2 who will absolutely show up because they also value quality? Who needs a big house full of stuff if you are hardly ever there to use it? A wardrobe with all the latest fashion finds when it changes every month and they probably don't even reflect who you are... An agenda fill with things to do but no space to catch your breath? We all need to breathe...

Obviously, it implies making choices. It requires trade-off.
You can't have it all!

But more on that later.

For now, look at quality in your life.
Keep that. Focus on it.

I will help you with the rest in the upcoming weeks.

I find fall to be a wonderful time to let go.
Just like trees let go if their "old leaves" that will not serve them well comes winter, you can let go if what will not serve you well in the next season of your life.

Meditate on this.

If you liked this, please share.
Chloe 💜&✌

Why I don't like labels

"We must never allow other people's limited perception define us" Virginia Satir

I used to define myself as a minimalist vegan yogi.
I no longer do...
Let me explain...

I used those labels as I was trying to figure out who I was. I needed to belong to a group in order to exist. I became different then how I was raised and all my knowledge of who I was or who I should be was shaken up... I was rejected by so many... I needed like minded people and groups of strangers with similar beliefs was the closest thing I could get.

Those labels, those strangers were giving me a feeling of belonging. Guidelines to follow.

They made me realize who I truly was.
If you give me guidelines, I will give my 200% to follow them and be the best at it. Or at least I used to.

Then I realized that guidelines easily become rules for extremists... and then you loose me.  When people push to much, I question more...

Let's look at each of my old labels.

Minimalist.

Most minimalists will say that there are no rules to be one. But social media, can be wonderful but also the worse thing tbat was ever invented! Dig a little and you will find classes of minimalists. Those who own less than a 100 items, those who dress with 33 items of clothing, those who live out of a backpack and travel the world owning nothing,  those who own nothing physically but everything digitally and I could go on and on... There is nothing wrong with that in itself... as long as they are happy that way! What is wrong is the judgement between the different minimalists. They are apparently not all created equals. In the end it made me feel like no matter what I did, I could never be "minimalist enough"... so I came up with what works for me!
I don't own very much because I like to move and it makes it easy... I have 7 cupboards in my kitchen and everything fits in there including food... I own 7 books and 5 cd's and most of the time I live without home internet! But I have many clothes and jewelry! Not even close to what I use to have but more then some... and that's ok! I LOVE CLOTHES! Very little furniture  and all 18 years or older... because I don't care for furniture... but that is what works for ME!

Vegan.

I was vegetarian but then became vegan to be "closer to perfection" so I thought. I was a strict vegan for 4 years. But here again, go figure, you can be "not vegan enough"! I would have starved or be naked instead of eating/wearing anything that may have touched an animal! But it was not emough as I was not an animal activist or owned a shelter... It was really hard! Anyone who says the opposite is lying! I wanted to travel more... and being so restrictive with food makes it hard! And I don't always feel like making all my food all the time! So, I started allowing stuff... I would eat a muffin even if it was most likely made with dairy, I would get store bought cookies every now and then... but no dairy as stand alone! and then added back eggs! If there is caramel M&M I WILL eat some! This summer, while camping, I had marshmallow on the camp fire and I absolutely loved it! I am definitely no longer vegan but not vegetarian either as I don't eat cheese ever... and that's ok! I eat what I want and what works for me... and it will change over time. Because this is what humans do: change, adapt, evolve!

Yogi.

Same thing here... I do a simple yoga practice that focuses more on basic asanas, meditation and pranayama. I also follow the yamas and nayamas as well as dietary guidelines because they work for me. It makes me feel good and healthy! I don't follow yoga trends... I do yoga in my pj's, at home, never post a picture of me in a yoga pose... it is more of a spiritual practice and how can you capture spirituality in a picture!? In my opinion, developing my spiritual self means letting go of my ego self... so there can't be no pictures of me showing off in a head stand or arm balance...

Therefore, honestly, use any words to describe me you want to but I will never fit perfectly... I don't do rules. I don't want to anymore. I don't need to. I am happy and busy enough being me. I do what works for me. And so should you. But you need to figure that out... so try stuff! Experiment! Try labels and then own them... make them yours -your way! Nothing can be one size fits all! We are complex beings... at the very least, I know I am! Very complex... and proud of it!

Chloe 💜&✌

Home sweet home

I have mentioned before that in a few years, my husband and I will pack everything and move into a RV for as many years as we wish for...

Then why would I title a post "home sweet home"? It seems contradictory for someone who wishes to pick up and go, just wander from one place to another, to think home sweet home! Right?

Wrong!

But first, we had to define: what is home?

Some people define home as the place they grew up, others, as the place with all their family and/or belongings... where their familiar food is to be found... and I could go on and on... when we sold our house and moved into an apartment, it took me a year to feel home...I felt like I was missing out on so much -the extra space, the basement, the backyard, the pool! Then, I changed the way I was thinking and started looking at what I had gained: less cleaning and maintenance hence more time, cheaper and as a result more money to do things I loved... more time to spend with my young son... and from there I started changing the way I saw my life and started to look at my priorities differently.  It was at that time that I started my journey into yoga and minimalism.

I started to look inside of me, trying to figure out who I was, who I wanted to be. I digged deep... and when I thought I had reach the bottom I digged some more, only to realize that at 35 years old, I was nothing like I had picture myself as a grown up... I was too self-centered, way too materialist, unbelievably stressed and tired, focused on all the wrong things with a bigger then nature ego! I had became everything I despised while growing up! Everything I swear I would never be. I hated myself... therefore I could only see one option: change.  And I took it! Slowly but surely I started changing to who I was deep down, who I always wanted to be before I started listening to people telling me who I should be...

In 16 years together my husband and I have lived in 8 different places (including 6 different cities in 2 provinces). We have moved so often... every time bringing less and less stuff with us... and over time we learned to make it feel like home almost as soon as we got there...

Now, basically, I wash the floors, put my bed up, burn some insence and bring my food - then, I can call it home! Home is easily achieve for us now...

After spending a few week ends travelling in other provinces this summer, I came to realize that I don't care where I'm at during the day... as long as I have my book, I can spend the day anywhere, but preferably closer to nature then a city, as long as I have somewhere to go to at night - ideally, a place I can call home! What I miss most when travelling is my own bed, my own food and a familiar smell.

This is probably why I like camping more then a hotel...while camping, my familiar smell is definitely there as I bring my equipment, it is kind of my own bed and I can pick the food I bring with me and eat!

Can you imagine in a RV? Where basically your home is with you at all time? It would be my bed, my whole space would be infused by my insence, I would have a small fridge and stove for all my essentials, I could park it in the woods close to a lake... and perhaps, as a bonus but not essential, even have my own shower! Alleluia!!!

The purpose of this summer wandering was for my husband and I to identify what we like or not and what we want in the near future... we changed so much over the last couple of years that we had to prove to ourselves the work we had done was successful - and it is, we no longer like to do the things we used to do even on vacation!  Well the RV life from National Park to National Park is what seems to be best for us... and by realizing that we really no longer care for cities, shopping, restaurants and those tourists traps we used to love,  we have revised the cost of living in our RV and it will just be simpler and cheaper then we expected... I just can't wait!

Home sweet home! 🚙 🌳

What defines home to you? Do you really know who you are? Did you dig deep inside of you to find who you are? Are you happy with the adult you became?

Chloe 💜&✌

Life is though... 😉

The biggest life change since I stopped blogging almost two years ago is that I retired!

You read this right.... at the young age of 45, my last day of work was February 7th, 2018! My husband and I had been planning this for 4 years! I had been all my life...

Despite what I made myself believe for years I never was much into work... that is work traded in for money! I am not lazy... I am always busy, doing something! I just don't like rules, being told what to do when and dress codes! I loved most job I had but the most rewarding ones were the least well paid ones... and despite me being quite a feminist (but that is not the subject of this blog), I am happiest at home taking care of my loved ones! Confusing? For sure...  but I am a walking paparadoxe.

It took hard work as a couple to get to that point. Anyone who read me before knows that my husband and I had quite a few problems in our lives... and that I was a shopaholic! We had debts... went through many layoffs... and had a challenging financial situation for a very long time. But we worked on it... the psychological issues and the finances. Over the years we  decreased our family income almost three fold. We went from not making enough to having extra! Yes, you read that right - with almost 3x less money, we now have more then enough... are happier less stress and I could afford to retire!

Now, don't get me wrong... it hasn't been easy.  We had choices to make, decisions to take, healing to do... we had ups and down... and some fights... but we always had the same goal in mind! This is what made us succeed!

Now, you may wander why in 2018, we decided to live like it is 1918? Well for values mostly.  Call us old fashioned but I love to cook, clean and do laundry for my husband and son. They don't value me any less for it... they appreciate it. I am less tired and in a much better mood all the time... I laugh more!  We all have more time to sit down with each other and enjoy ourselves... it puts less strain on each one of us! We all are better people for it.

The decisions we made were to live in a smaller and older apartment but in the end, it feels more like home because I have time to take care of it and make it better... we also lowered the groceries budget (we still eat healthy food no worries), but having more time to cook and shop for food we have less waste and that is great in do many ways! Also by addressing my menu, I have chosen a few healthy and cheaper recipes that we eat over and over again - for someone's who's favorite hobby/chores is NOT cooking, that is perfect! We cut home internet (that was the subject of a previous blog) and that is one of the most freeing thing we have ever done - along with going back to flip phone! And last but not least, our "coffee" budget was decrease by half! We go as often except we've let go of the fancy, too high in sugar, drinks in favor or simpler coffees and teas! Less expensive and healthier!

As a result, we both have more energy, time, money to be out and about on week ends... I can still shop enough to satisfy my fashion sense... and I am no longer a shopaholic ( although well aware that once an addict always an addict)

I have all the time I need (or should I say want?), to read,  write, knit, sow,  do some art, crafts, practice my yoga/meditation, walk, enjoy nature, do my bird watching, sky observation, plant identification... I have time to fill myself up so that I can be of help to people around me. Isn't that what life is all about? What fun is it to always be tired and stress out?

It works very well for us... after 6 months, we all are happier... so why not? Who cares what people say or think?

Everyone has to find their winning combination!
It rarely is the obvious one.
Dig deep... meditate... listen to your inner self and then DARE TO BE YOU!!!

THE REAL YOU

THE YOU YOU WERE BEFORE THEY TOLD YOU WHO YOU SHOULD BE.

UNFUCK YOURSELF.

Chloe 💜&✌

Living without home internet

For years now I haven't had cables... I would use Netflix. Of course it doesn't have everything so I had to come at peace with not knowing how some of the shows I was watching ended. But really, I can't even remember what those shows were!!!
 
And a few years back I gave up my smart phone for a flip phone with no internet access... That was a bigger shock! I felt completely disconnected... like life was happening without me! I even had a phase where I did not wanted to go out as much as I was unreachable in case of an emergency! Really? Who gets in touch with someone for an emergency over FB or IG? You use a phone!!! I got over this... in time...

I would access internet from my computer (which eventually died) and then an old iPod. As nothing last forever, nor for very long either anymore, that too died in May... so I bought a tablet -an android, not very expensive but it does what I need it to do!

Going to a flip phone decreased the time I was on line by a great deal! I couldn't check everything all the time anymore! And I slowly started enjoying being "away" from that 24/7 connection... So I would leave my home to get that feeling of being free, independent, not connected...

When I bought my tablet in May, I had this crazy idea of going without home internet - at least give it a try for the summer! I could check social mecias, emails and do my banking when I do to my daily coffe shop date with my husband - we go there to read/talk and stay a couple hours...  use the library to get movies, tv series... this would mean giving up YouTube for music but I could invest in a few CDs... or get some from the library... or just enjoy the silence!

It also meant I couldn't be able to look up random stuff on  the internet just for fun... But I wasn't doing it that much right?

Well, I have been internet free for 6 weeks now. I was using it much more then I thought! I was posting more then I realised and checking my "like" way too frequently... I was also watching more tv then I wished for... and the number of time I found myself wanting to check something on internet? Unbelievable... Things I might want or need, recipes I might do, videos I might watch... what happened to this star/personality, what is the outcome of a show... CRAZY!!! For me anyway....

After 6 weeks, I can say that besides when I write this blog, I spend maximum 30-45 minutes on the internet daily for everything! Then I get fed up... Check my 2 social media accounts and email daily, do my banking once a week, check library site once a week, read an article or look something up once in a blue moon...

What do I do with the extra 2-3 hours daily? I read more... even more! I picked up Sudoku, started knitting again and I am working on a couple secret projects... you guys will be the first to know when the time comes.

The best outcome of all this? My morning routine! I can't check internet/socia, media's upon rising... therefore my yoga/meditation practice as gain a lot from that! I am now getting close to an hour practice of meditation, breathing, asanas... and my whole body-mind-spirit is thanking me for it! I also find myself sitting down in silence for a short breathing/meditation session in the afternoon and at night!

I can see more clearly... enjoy my life as I can't compare to that of others as much... I am more present... and way more creative!!!

I would highly recommend to everyone to try some sort of letting go of the constant connection... there are many ways to do so... look it up! Try it! Who knows who you might find behind that phone!?!

Chloe 💜&✌

Less then a month to go...

Well, well, well... time flies!!!  There is less then a month to go for my shopping ban that started last year! You can read about it here.

Next black Friday in November 25th...  please BUY NOTHING!!! I know I won't!!!

During this year, I have learned that no matter how much you THINK you NEED something... wait it out and it will pass...  almost always...  with a few exceptions! I mean, it is reasonable to assume that eventually all our clothes will worn out...  and especially socks, underwear and footwear... even more so when you don't have a car!  In your home, what you have now is OK... you don't need more... and probably could do with less...  only buy to replace something that no longer is usable.

Use it up. Wear it our. Make it do. Do without.

It has been my mantra for the last year and will remain so for the rest of my life...

My biggest issue, just like most women, was clothes...  and I realized that clothes are really just covering your body (Sweet November movie)... of course they should make you feel good... but play around with what you have... modify your clothes to your liking ( scissors are my best friend)...  get second-hand and make them fit your lifestyle and style!  Be creative... life should be FUN! And getting dress too! It's easy to hem something or just cut it without hemming...  add patches to elbows... or change the buttons... you can also dye something you like but no longer care for the color...  Look into the men's section of your favorite thrift store...

Next biggest spending would be kitchen... who needs 25 pots and pans? A set of dishes for every occasion? A set of dishes and silverware for guests? No one really... sorry to break it to you! Every day is a special occasion...  everyone eating at your table is a guest... plus older dish wear were actually sturdier and last longer...  I have dishes that date back to the 50`s and 60's found in an antique store... and they don't even match because when you buy random items that are not a "set" it is MUCH cheaper!  Plus it gives you the chance to select the plate for each guest to your table!  As for pots and pans, just refine the way you eat, re-organize your cooking schedule and you'll be able to do with much much less!!! And you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more with you family and/or guests!  It's a win-win!

As for music, film and books, you can legally (and this really matters to me - everyone deserves to be paid for their work and creativity) download, borrow from a friend or the library, or buy used and sell back after...

And it goes on and on... there is so much second-hand stuff available that you really do not need to buy anything new anymore... or hardly!

Think about it... and if you still choose to buy new, and I know I do sometimes, make sure you'll use it up or wear it out.

Thanks for boycotting this coming Black Friday.

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

10 down... 2 to go....

I am almost done with my shopping ban...  or am I?  After everything that happened this year, I am pretty sure the shopping ban will be a permanent lifestyle change!!! But more on that at the actual end of my shopping ban.

Right now, I would like to go into details about one of the rules I had set for myself in this shopping ban... the one rule that was really difficult for me to follow...

The one about buying 2nd hand first!

Where I come from... I was, unfortunately, thought that 2nd hand clothes.... or 2nd hand anything were for poor people....  it was not really hygienic to wear second hand clothes... and that stayed in my head for the longest time!!!! I am ashamed to say it today... but as I am always honest with you guy, I must admit it...

Later, much later in life, I met this awesome, always very well dress, and quite wealthy woman who confined in me that most of her clothes were second hand... and that revelation changed the way I saw things...  she was doing it to avoid using "new resources" from the earth and THAT I loved!

At that point, I tried going into thrift stores... but I could not bring myself to buy anything...  but at least, I would walk into them....  that was a start. As I have a tendency to not give up, I continued going into them...  but always by myself with my pre-conceived notion in the back of my head...  Eventually, I moved to Moncton and this other woman I met told me that ALL her clothes (OK maybe 98% of them) came from the thrift stores or were hand-me-down... because she did not wanted to spend money on clothes... and she could not "afford" it only because her priorities were travelling! That was another eye-opener to me...

I knew I took a HUGE pay cut working in a coffee shop part-time compared to a big full time corporate job...  I also knew I was MUCH happier and at peace living this life...and I enjoy having free time maybe even more so then shopping excessively... but I LOVE clothes...  no matter how much I try telling myself that it was an addiction and everything, I realize that it is more of a passion then an addiction... I can stop whenever I want (would it be a true addiction, I could not)... as I proved over the years by several shopping bans...  BUT, I don't want to... I love buying clothes... and I love wearing them... What changed over the years it that I now know what I really love and I have refined my style. I no longer follow trends and that is a huge money savior! I am willing to save money by living in a smaller apartment, not owning too much furniture (and it is ALL second hand - except for the rocking chair I got when my son was born), I save money by not buying music or books... or expensive jewelry... or a crazy amount of foot wear... but the clothes have to stay...

Once I realized all that, and watched "The true cost" I asked my friend to bring me with her... and with all I had been thinking about... and the beginning of this shopping ban, I went into a thrift store and made my first buy...  and it felt OK... not great!  I am not going to lie... but as I was wearing my findings and people were complimenting, it helped... and the more people I met here in Moncton, the more woman I met with awesome style that were doing the thrift store thing!  So I kept on doing it...  I did make a few rookie mistakes... I bought stained pyjamas, a pair of short that thorn a few wear later...  but I am learning and now I take more time to actually examine the clothes before I buy them.  Here is what I currently own, that is second hand in my wardrobe on top of the bag at the beginning of the post.

I do wear all those clothes.... quite a lot... As you can see they are mostly skirts... 2 jackets, a big bulky men sweater and a scarf... I have only one top!  My next objective is to go beyond the fact there was "arm-pit contact" and start looking into buying more tops! Hahaha! I'll get to it...

Now I would like to know what you think about 2nd hand shopping.  Do you do it? Where do you go?  What are your tips and tricks?

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

My reading marathon

Beginning of 2016, I had given myself a challenge: read 42 books in a year.  This, was A LOT for me... I was not such an avid reader... I was always kind of an on-and-off reader. I could read 3 books in a row and then nothing for months...  If I wanted to read 42 books in a year, I could not afford to do that...

I had set a few rules/directions for myself

1) I could read in English or French
2) I could read anything... as long as it interested me... novel, science, psychology, biographies...
3) Books that were more then 500 pages were equivalent to 2 books, more then 600 pages, 3 books and more then 900 pages 4 books.  I have only read 2 books that fitted in those categories, they were respectively 530 pages and 639 pages...
4) I'd have to read books that are currently in my home - whether they belong to my son, husband or myself  - or get them from the library or borrow from a friend (After all, I am right in the middle of my 367 days shopping ban, I did not wanted to use this as an excuse to buy stuff).
5) No need to keep track of the actual list of books I read... only the number. (I wanted to see what would stick to my mind naturally)

I had no idea on how I would find those 42 books.. which ones would I read and why... I had no list of books I wanted to read before hand - Now, I have a list of 60 books!!!

So here's what I did: I started with a book taken from the library... I honestly can't remember which one but I am pretty sure it was from Alexandre Jardin.  Then, I let my reading, and trips to the library, guide me to more books! I would write down books from an author I was reading, I would take note of authors or titles mentionned in a book I was reading (not listed as "in the same collection" or "by the same author" but actual books the characters were referring too in a novel - that THEY were reading)... I would note down the title of a book someone was reading in a coffee shop if they seemed "similar" to me... In the library, I would always check the section "New books" and "Books you may have forgotten" ... If I discovered a new author, I would note another book title they wrote... And last but not least, I would take down suggestions friends made to me. I also noted down a few books that inspired movies or TV shows.

Therefore, one thing to another, I ended up with always more then enough books to read.... way more!

Why would I do that challenge?  Not sure...  but I remember, Jan 2014, I wanted to train to run a marathon - an actual one.  My body, which is in pretty good shape overall, does not like me getting to "warm" - it has to do with MS.  This really disappointed me...  and for some reason, this year, I had already been reading 5-6 books by the end of January, I decided to do a reading marathon...  Which, I was sure then, would be challenging enough... in another manner but challenging.

I had not idea what to expect... but here's what happened...

And you might think I am crazy for that...  but it is REALLY what happened...

With no pre-established list of books to read... and with the method I had to select books, believe it or not... it seemed like one book would flow into the next...  And I am not sure I can explain this well here...  but it seemed as though each book would prepare me for the next one AND each book would find a way to answers "questions" and/or "concerns" I had at the time of reading it... I would read really anything... in NO specific orders... sometimes a classic followed by a very recent novel and then a philosophical assay and then a more scientific one and somehow they would "melt" into one bigger thing in my brain! Links would create themselves from one book to another... I would see things more clearly... Life seemed more "understandable" - if it can be.

I think this will be a lasting effect... my life will never be the same...  after reading some 10k pages (assuming books averaged 250 pages) in only 9 months, it is as though I have become another version of myself...  They say you remember on average 10% of what you read... This means, that somehow, I have created my own 1000 page book... in my mind... it cannot not have an effect on one's life.

It also made me realize what type of books I like to read... I like to read things about psychology, sociology, anthropology, some personal development stuff, nutritions (but with a science base), novels (but not any type - I am now better at knowing that books I will love or not) and some biographies (but then again not systematically all of them).

And this is why, I will take up another challenge a friend of mine gave me:  to keep on reading, in the same manner, at the same pace, with the same "rules" another 108 books - apparently, once you get to 150 books something happens...  I am up for it!  I have already seen such a huge difference in my life those 42 books have made, I can't wait to see what another 108 added to that will do! It's a good thing I have a list now... but I am afraid that list will keep on growing... because the more I read, the more references I see, the more new authors I discover, the more I'll go to the library and leave with books that were not on my list to read and the more people will give me suggestions...  Is this ever gona end? It doesn't really matter... I have many more years to enjoy reading... now that I can afford to work part-time!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Less then 3 months left to my shopping ban!

As you might know, last November I started a 367 days shopping ban... and you can read more by looking for the "367 days shopping ban" label.

I thought it would be much harder then it actually was...
Did I respect ALL the rules ALL the time?  Of course not... but a challenge is not necessarily about respecting rules...  in the sense that all I really wanted to do is CHALLENGE my shopping habit and I did!!!

I did update you on a few occasions about where I was going with this... I think that, as this is getting close to an end, I can make an extra effort on following my established rules AND update you on what happen in the last month or so...

Last update I made, was after 7 months and I have now completed 9...  Therefore during the course of the summer, here's what I got:

1) a bike - but I did not spend a penny for it!!!  Someone surprised me with it...  they were cleaning out their place and remembered mine got stolen and gave me their extra one!  And it's purple!!!

2) a summer dress - OK I did not need that one... but it was not from a "regular" store and it is made in India - supposedly fair trade!

3)  went to the Salvation Army because a friend of mine had a 10$ off a 25$ purchase coupon...  we split the discount and for 15$, I go 2 skirts that can easily be worn year round, fit with many things I already own and are really "ME" skirts... and I also got a men's knitted grey sweater - I have been wanting THAT for a long time!!!

4) got a pair of Converse shoes - mine are falling apart - therefore, it is a one in/one out type thing

5) a a peace Lilly - a plant I have been wanting for a few years now (as pictured above)


Now, for the 3 months remaining, I am reminding myself of the rules I had first set up when I started this shopping ban...  here they are:


1)  I can only buy personal stuff if I need to replace something. One-in-one-out kind of!

   Try to find locally, second hand or fair trade items...

I have actually not been too bad at this...  but I must say that some stores are still quite a challenge and fall will be difficult as I love fall season for clothing...  perhaps I should stay clear of stores but it is not always possible... and how would I know how I am doing with my addiction if I don't tempt myself?

2) I will accept gifts...  but strongly suggest to people wanting to offer me something that it'd be something that I can use up (food, tea, candles, incense...), something that is local... or second hand. Or a plant!

Just like the bike I got!!!

3) If I want to give something to someone, I will gravitate toward the same thing as in 2)...  or something I made! And do not thing this is me being cheap... I need to do this for a year!  You will survive if I can!

4) If I run out of books.... or want to read something different... there is always the public library!

I have actually been very good with the public library!  It is now one of my best friend! I did not buy one book since that challenge started!  This is great new for me as book were usually my "go to" when I would do such a shopping ban - I never included them in shopping bans before knowing I could buy that it hte urge came!

5) Obviously, magazine are out the window...  because their only purpose really is just to make you wanna buy stuff... The only exceptions would be a National Geographic or Scientific America type magazine... and then again, only if there is something in there really interesting me.

Here again, no magazine at all - not even Scientific ones...
I now even think they are basically a waste of paper also... and they repeat themselves all the time!

Conclusion:

As I am getting close to the end of this shopping ban, I realize that it has been easier then I thought it would be.  I am assuming that this as to do with my reading marathon (goal is to read 42 books before the end of the year) which is keeping me busy and away from temptation...  I also think that my increased mediation/yoga practise of the last couple of months has something to do with it...

I know I am not completely out of the woods with fall coming up...

But I am now certain that this shopping ban will have change for ever the way I shop or not!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Peace... finally...

This morning I felt like writing... but not quite sure what to write about...

I realized that I write a lot more when I am tormented by something, when I want to create to new goals or objectives, when I need to clarify what is in my head... not so much when all is good...

It has been years that  I am working toward feeling like I feel today...  It took time and was not easy... you can look into that by reading my pasts blog posts... I do not feel like repeating myself again! 

I know they say that happiness is not a destination but a journey...  but really, at some points in my life, I felt like that was a big fat lie!!!   I was not completely unhappy but there was always something not quite right... and I was working toward achieving a certain state of peacefulness in my life and felt like there was always something not quite right or something missing... After years of working on myself and my surrounding, I finally am where I wish I could be... and that feeling is awesome! 

I created a life for myself, with the help of my son and husband who have been, during those years, the only two constants.  Everything else was a variable... projects, goals, objective, jobs relationships... they all came and go but those two were always there for me! I owe them a lot... a lot more then I could ever repay them probably!!! And I love them to the moon and back... a million times over!!! 

However, at this point, I can say that we are now officially debt free... one of our biggest concern! 

We are both working at jobs we love...  I mean really... waking up Monday morning is nothing special!!! 

My shopping addiction is well under control and I only buy what I really care for when I have the money...
I have established a more regular yoga/meditation practise...
And refine my home so that it is my temple...
I have re-discovered the joy of reading...
And found a new passion in nature, hiking and camping...
My health is perfect despite MS - as well control by diet and lifestyle

If you'd ask me today, there is seriously not one thing I would change in my life and I can honestly say that I was never at this point before - not even close!!!

I am pretty sure that my following posts will be quite different from the ones before...
In a sense, I think there is much less to say, or write about, but at the same time, I feel like I must continue sharing to help as many people as I can...  and I actually love doing it!!! I feel like this new episode that is starting will be an amazing adventure where you will get to see who I have become after years of fighting for it...

Could I have done it faster? better? differently?  Perhaps.... but it was my way and it gave me the results that I was looking for... isn't that all that really matter?

Well, this will be it for today... a short but, I think, important one to  write as it sets new grounds for what is coming!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

7 months down... 5 to go...

It's been 7 months already...

This post is less about what I bought or not...  Although I have to admit that I did buy a few tops - new and in regular stores...  :-(
but I could not find what I needed in thrift stores or in any "sweat shop free stores"...
made me realize that we do not have very many options...  here, where I live anyway... and no longer having a credit card poses a problem to buying on-line...  I was told that I should look into getting a pre-paid credit card for on-line shopping...  maybe I'll look into that before I buy something next time...

besides that, I have been doing good...  I really do not feel like shopping...  maybe the fact that there really isn't that much close to me that I love helps... but still...  it's progress...

as I mentioned before I have rediscover the joy of reading and I am now up to 27 completed books in my reading marathon! halfway through the year and I already have more then half my objective of 42 books completed...

I still need to work on more yoga and meditation... my problem is that I have a hard time finding a consistent time of the day to do it...  my schedule changes too much from day to day... but I will get there...

what I really wanted this post to be about is what those last few months made me discover about myself... what matters more to me but also what matters less...

1) where I live is important - rather pay more on rent and live in a clean well maintained apartment

2) what is in my apartment matters much much less... as a matter of fact, I sold my couch and put my bed frame up for sale... love to sit on the floor and can put my mattress directly on the floor which makes my tiny bedroom look more decent in size - actually, anyone would come in here and would assume young adults just starting off in life are living here! and I don't care!!!

3) my kitchen table is too big - will put it for sale soon and get a smaller round one...

4) following my whole food plant based diet is the most important thing BUT what I eat is not... I can very well eat the same thing all week and be fine with it! I realize that even though I love eating this way, more then I ever loved eating in my life before, food is not that important to me.. it's a mean to end... the end being staying alive and healthy

5) while I am on the food subject... I love to cook...  BUT love it more when it can be all done in a day or so for the week...  I mean I love doing it because it provides me and my family with real food but if I can, I'd rather be reading, having tea, walking outside or doing some yoga...

6) books, music, movies, etc... I don't care for them... I have a grand total of 7 CD of music... and 37 books...  and I am not planning on getting anymore anytime soon...and I do not own any movies/tv series... I listen to music on youtube, take books from the public library and this way I save ton of money and clutter in my home! movies? tv series?  Netflix...  much cheaper then cable!

7) I care about clothes... at one point in my life it was an addiction.... I had to buy them... whether I had the money or not... and most time I did not have the money because I'd spend it all... well, on my clothes.... lol
therefore I used credit... and got into some pretty serious trouble...  that I am still paying for today - but in 12 months I'll be all right.
today, I still love clothes... and just as I realize, at the beginning of my minimalist journey, that having tea in a coffee shop is something I will never let go off, buying clothes is something I will never let go off either.. not because I can't!  because I don't want to!!! I will be smarter about it...  I pay cash now...  no more credit... I try to go into thrift shops...  and locally own store or local seamstress... I will buy fair trade as much as I can...  and I have develop my own style so I am no longer a victim to trends that come and go every month or so... I now know what I love and wear my clothes until they "die" on me but I will keep on buying them...  after all I keep saying minimalism is not about deprivation but choice... well I choose to have less in my home (less furniture, less books, less music, etc) but more in my wardrobe...  just because...  I can choose!!! I just want to be smarter about it now!

all in all... those months have made me realize that I can be very happy with very little stuff as long as I have a nice wardrobe, cheap healthy food, my yoga practice and a public library close by...

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Hurtful maybe.... but in the end helpful!

Almost two years ago, one of the people I had always respected and cared for in my life told me something that was very hurtful.  Something that actually broke the care and respect I had for her... If she told me that, she obviously never even tried understanding me and she certainly had no respect for who I had became.  It hurt... and I thought about it for a LONG time...  and I thought it was resolve....  until I came across this article two weeks, or just about, ago.  Then it resurfaced...  and forced me to figure it out... And I did... and this is why today, I am ready to write about it.

What this person had told me was that I should have more "ambition".  Now, it referred to the fact that I work part time in a coffee shop...  I live in a small town in a apartment, I have no car... and own very little furniture...  and I am, in no way, ever, aiming to get back to that place in my life where I was very unhappy and sick but... I had a house (not a home), two new cars, travelled twice a year,  had lots of furniture and Nick-knack...  way too much clothes and jewelry...  picture frames every where... books and more books.... CDs...  DVD... my kitchen cupboards were filled with stuff... so was my pantry and fridge even thus I ate out most of the time....  I spent time shopping and eating out... or cleaning... but mostly working to make enough money to buy all that...crap!

This person, considered who I was before as someone who had a successful life as is expected once you obtain a bachelor degree...  I know I hurt her when I chose a different life... slowly but surely I went from that unhealthy stressful (but deemed successful) life to something much more healthy, peaceful and sustainable...  for my husband and son.... and actually the whole planet!

I am now eating a whole food plant-based diet...  I own very little and only stuff I really need/use/like!  I no longer shop... rarely eat out... I do not own anything I cannot bring with me in a suitcase/moving truck... My mean of transportation are my legs as they carry me, at no cost, where ever I want... I am at a point in my life where I could grab a suitcase, choose what I want to bring along and leave the rest behind...  no regrets!
I don't even have credit or a line of credit anymore -adios credit cards, personal loans and line of credit.... if I don't have the money, I go without!

Now, I understand why this may seem like not having enough ambition - to some...  but if you think it through, living this way in today's society is not that easy... and to me ambition does not mean an easy fight!

And what is ambition anyway? Destroying the planet by our over-consumerism way of life? Following what everyone does? Getting a high end paying job to buy stuff you do not need to impress people you do not like?

What is your definition of ambition?

What if ambition was living a healthy peaceful life? What if ambition was taking the best possible care of yourself to be able to care for your family?  What if ambition was learning to cook healthy whole food plant-base meals? What if ambition was to share your acquired knowledge? What if ambition had nothing to do with you self-centered need but was greater then that?

My definition of ambition is attaining a healthy, peaceful life despite what most of our capitalist society thinks... it means doing more with less... it means not hurting my body, mind, soul by acting according to beliefs that I was brainwashed with all while I grew up... It means taking care of myself to the best of my knowledge... continuously improving the way I do so by looking for more information, obtaining more accurate knowledge... it means staying clear of masses because you know what other word is included in masses...

What if ambition was define this way in today's society?  Wouldn't it be a better place to live? Wouldn't it assure our kids and grand-kids a planet and food for them?

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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3 months done and feeling fantastic!!!

As you may remember, on Nov 29th of 2015, the most exiting shopping day of the Year (Black Friday), I started a shopping ban for 367 days! Let's talk about going against the main flow...

Well yesterday on Feb 29th, I had gone 3 months without shopping/buying anything for myself...  or did I???

Well....... I kind of did!  Here's what happen:

Books:

I read 6 from the library since the beginning of the year...
And I did buy 2 books... that I know I will read over and over again...  They were both about 10$ each.

Actually, not shopping physically or on line allowed me much more time to read and in the first 2 months of the year, I actually read 8 books and started another more intense one that I will need to read slowly...

This is AWESOME as I love to read but never had "time" to do so!

I did not "not have time"... my priorities were in the wrong place!

Clothes:

My worse nightmare... or is it still???

Well... not at ALL! Not anymore anyway...

I am OK with not shopping for clothes... and actually I don't even feel like doing it!
The fashion/clothing industry is so detrimental to our planet and it's people that I just can't do it for now and when I have to, it makes me so sad...

I remember one sentence in the movie "Sweet November" said by Charlize Theron that was something like "well it is just clothes, it is meant to cover your body so who cares"... or something close to that...  It helps me a lot lately!

For example, I had to buy underwear.... I was long overdue...  and I did buy them... but this is one of the things (along with footwear) that I refuse to buy use... and I couldn't find sustainably made where I live... Also, as it is a replacement of something I own and is no longer usable, it doesn't break the rules per say.

So I did buy my underwear... and spend 48$.  I should be good for the next year.... or perhaps a little longer!

I also bought harem pants from a site on line...  they are lovely and cost me 31$.  This, quite frankly, I had no real need for it... but a friend wanted to buy without having to pay for shipping and I really LOVE harem pants and wear hem more and more during summer!  They are the perfect fit between a skirt and shorts!!! Also they do not come from a sweat shop so that could be OK if I don't over do it!

Other stuff:

Aside from food...  I only bought filters for my water filtering system... 5 of them should last me a year and they were just about 20$.

What do I expect over the next few months?

Well I know I will definitely need footwear as all I own is falling into pieces....  and we are planning to start hiking this summer so I need shoes for that definitely!

I will have to look into getting a new bicycle as mine was stolen last fall when I put it away for winter.... That I am definitely getting second hand!

Aside from that, all my money is going into "buying experiences" instead of stuff!
Buying time by allowing myself to work less since I "need" less money...
I will soon be debt free and hence able to enjoy life more!  And the good news is , by not over spending on stuff I do not need that could destroy the planet and take the lives of poor people we are abusing to produce them , I will not go into debt again!!!  Both other times where I got debt free, I soon after got back into it!!! I needed to get the stuff!!!  What could I have expected?

But  now, all this is behind me...  I am free...  free from over consumption...
I am not a slave to advertising companies!
I am not a slave to our capitalist system who makes us believe buying stuff will buy us happiness...  friends... love and so much more!  When in fact, it does the exact opposite! They want us to believe it because if enough people start believing what I do believe in and live like I live, well the economy will crash and all those rich people will not be making millions anymore by abusing us as workers and spenders! By getting us into debt...  by enslaving us to jobs we do because they give us big money... and hence allow us to buy stuff we do not need to impress people we do not really like... and never get out of the destructive pattern!

Quite frankly, when I started this 367 days shopping ban I was terrified... as I tried this type of challenge before and inevitably failed.... I was not ready for it...  I didn't know if that time I was!  Although I had been shopping less and less over the last year, sometimes all I need is an interdiction to do something to want to do it more! But I also knew that I completely turned around the way I eat so I could do that to! There was/is hope!

I think all the documentaries I have watched did help me....  here are links to 2 of them...
Have a look and you can choose if they are for you or not at this point in your life...

The true cost 

Zeitgeist In total there a 3 documentaries to watch called Zeitgeist.  All great!

These were real eye openers for me... as I hope they will be for you...

In the meantime, I will keep on "not shopping" and do other stuff instead...
I did address my desire to read more... In the next few months, I will be working on my desire to spend more time doing yoga/meditation and find a way to create time, by addressing priorities, to do just that!

I will get back to you soon on my 367 days shopping ban as spring is really one of my weakest time when it comes to shopping!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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Real food found in my kitchen...

Beginning of the year I had decided to  simplify what is in my kitchen and the way I eat if you remember...

I did cut down the number of recipes I do on a regular basis... and kept the simpler ones!

I did change the way I had breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday...

Of course, if I did not have a growing teenage boy in my home and a loving husband who's job it to move around roughly 3000 lb of stuff daily I might be able to simplify furthermore...  And this is why, in this post, I will address only the way I eat... because unless you are a kid/teenager or a very overly physical active adult, they way I eat can fit you.... and the calories restriction is actually good for you!

I want to start this series of post by telling you what is in my kitchen cupboard, fridge and freezer that I eat on a regular basis... It is of course, based on a whole food, plant base diet with little or no added oil/fat. After years of research and having a scientific background, I came to the conclusion that the McDougall way of eating is one of the simplest, cheapest and more complete one... and after years of using this program as a Dr, he has enough significant data to prove that it can guarantee you a healthy and long life...

I am not saying that everything I have in my home is perfect... and I am still working on improving it but for now, I think it is good enough!  Of course if you have any tips, do not hesitate to share!

In my freezer:

Cooked chick peas and black beans - always ready to be used...
A few mason jar of left over home made meals for those days where I don't feel like cooking!
Homemade hummus -  I make a big batch at once and freeze in small mason jar for weekly use portion
Flax seeds - whole
Whole grain bread - locally made
Frozen raspberries, blueberries, pineapple, peaches, strawberries
Frozen corn, green peas, spinach, green beans, broccoli

In my fridge:

Walnuts, pecans, almonds all raw... and in mason jars... a mason jar last anywhere from 2-3 months
Apple sauce
Homemade local raspberries and blueberries jams
Vegan margarine
Nutritional yeast
Salsa
Fat free Italian dressing
Teryaki sauce
Soy sauce
Lemon juice
Organic peanut butter
Maple syrup
Maple butter (which is just concentrated maple syrup and has no fat for my foreign readers)
Pickled beets (homemade and local)
Sun dried tomatoes
Roasted red bell peppers
Olives
Grounded flax seeds
Organic tofu (firm)
Organic unsweetened soy milk
Perrier water - to mix with ice tea...  very yummy and much better then soft drinks!
Variety of fruits and veggies: carrots, celery, cucumbers, green onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, apples, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, avocado... mostly those!
And of course a variety of cooked rice, beans, hummus, left overs depending on when you look in it!

In my pantry:

Whole grain low fat cereals with no sugar added mostly...
Whole wheat or multi grains bread
Rye bread
Whole wheat or multi grains tortillas
Oat
Barley
Brown rice
White navy beans (dry)
Black beans (dry and one can of organic non-pba lined)
Chick peas (dry and one can of organic non-pba lined)
Red lentils
Brown lentils
Firm tofu
2-3 cans of ground tomatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes
Herbs and spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, Italian, parsley, chili, cayenne, smoked paprika, coriander, turmeric, cumin, salt, black pepper)
Veggie broth
Pure vanilla extract
Pure lemon extract
BBQ sauce
Mustard
Vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
Sambal oaelek
Rice vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Canola oil
Whole wheat paste
Rice vermicelli
Rice paper
Norri sheets
Unbleached all-purpose flour
Whole wheat flower
Brown rice flower
Bread crumbs
Corn starch
Baking powder
Baking soda
Raw cane sugar
Brown sugar (vegan version)
Raw pistachios
Raisins
Cranberries
Dates
Apricots
Teas (organic vanilla rooibos, fennel seeds, mint, jade citrus mint, herbal vanilla chai, pineapple, passion tango - last two are to make iced mix with sparkling water)
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Onions
Garlic
Corn kernel
Bananas

Or course to this, you would have to add anything my son and husband like to eat... that I normally do not eat... but it is all vegan or course...  and it is not necessary to have those items - personally I don't have them very often but sometimes as a treat I may be tempted... We are talking here dry roasted salted cashews and veggie burger for example!

This is it! for any recipes I will share with you over the next few weeks, you will find all you need in there! Unless I forgot something...  In which case, I am really sorry...

Remember, I am aiming for a whole food plant base diet with little to no added oil.... and although this list may seems exhaustive to look at for beginners, it is actually way more simple then when I initially started my vegan diet 3 years ago!

The number of meal you can make out of those ingredients are endless.... and all this for a very low cost actually!  Who ever said a vegan diet was expensive most likely did a very complicated one!  Relying on highly process vegan food...

Dry beans, rice, barley and oat is fairly inexpensive where ever you are... especially if you buy in bulk!

Fruits and veggies can be a challenge in the winter months but this is why I get frozen ones...  and add them to my cereals, oatmeal, pancakes etc...

So here you go!  You can go grocery shop now if you don't already have those items in your home!!!
And for the next few weeks, we'll be cooking and baking all sorts of things!

But please remember, I am not a food blogger and have no intention to become one... the pictures won't be very frequent... I only wish to share what I eat because some of you asked...

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...

namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

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Transitioning to doing work you love!

On Dec 31st I wrote a post about New Year's...  You can read it here.

Following that, someone ask me to write a post about how I transition from my corporate job to working at Starbucks.  I hesitated for a while as truly, I was unsure on how it all happened... and the more I think about it, the more I realize that is was a roller coaster and not the easiest thing I ever done...for many reasons.  Do I regret doing it?  Not at all....  However, if I was to do this again, I might do it differently!

It all started a few years back when I realize that my 40h week job earning a salary of 70k was not making me happy... I was not unhappy either...  I was just missing something!  I didn't know what...yet.

Then, they have let go of me...  and I remember that day like if it was yesterday!  I was FREE at last... I had unemployement for a while and we would be OK! I could do anything I wanted!  And I saw many options... Little did I know, a few months down the line I started panicking...  I needed more money... I was not ready to make the switch and options I was looking at that could still make me rich implied having a degree I did not have! To me, a life coach should be someone who has life experience...  someone who lived thru some tough stuff and moved on with his/her life.  Back where I lived then, a life coach was a 25 year old kid with a degree earned in a couple of years at a cost of many thousands of dollars! Theory was  (and still is) worth more then life...  I had life... I didn't have theory nor did I have the $ to buy it!  I was without a job... SO I got discouraged and started looking for a contract job in something I knew how to do... I found something for 10 months which turned into 14 months contract eventually... In the mean time, I published my book and thought this would help with my life coaching thing...  but it did not...  not enough anyway...

I did some more thinking and after my 14 months contract, my husband and I decided that I would use up my unemployement and take time to figure out what I wanted to do when I grow up! We also packed up and move 10000km away in a city where cost of living was much less...  I thought that there I could become a life coach...  However, building a life coaching business takes time and I realize that I didn't want to invest so much time in it!  I didn't want to put in the hours during evening and week end...  Which brought me to do some more thinking...

Why did I wanted to leave my high paying 9-5 job???

1) It was too many hours
2) There was no real purpose to it

Then I followed with "what would I do with the extra hours?" if I had them... and soon realize that, however this may sound like I have no ambition at all, I wanted to take better care of my son and husband because I loved them and I wanted to be the best person I could be for them. I wanted to have more time to cook real food, more time to read, more time to do yoga, more time to write my blog and work on my social media (which in turn didn't really happen because I soon realize this was an "excuse" I came up with to not do "real" work)...  I wanted to have more/better time for myself during the day so that I can have more/better time with them over the evenings and week ends!   It was THAT simple and when I understood that, I also accepted what my real priorities were:  my wellness and happiness to create wellness and happiness for my son and husband - THAT was all that really mattered!

And by doing THAT, I was getting purpose... but still felt like something would be missing... and that I needed to get a part time job to earn some money myself AND to meet people... I love people! And still secretly hope I could help some to turn their life around...

I then started thinking where would they hire a part time employee with no degree or specific qualifications needed?  I also wonder where do I go that makes me feel good?  Where do I spent my money and do not mind doing it? What is one business I really like? And everything was pointing me to Starbucks! I love being there... I spent thousands of dollars there every year for many years...  I love their attitude towards customers... Their values... And although is is not perfect (nothing ever is), I figure this would be a good match for me!  And I applied and got the job...  because I was passionate about it!

Of course I thought this would be temporary... allow me to meet the "right" people to get my life coach business started... but I soon realize that THIS was enough... I didn't need, nor did I wanted to, work more then 15h-20h a week... I could, there, meet countless number of people...  and it was enough. I had the impact I was looking for... I had the purpose I needed in my life.

I have slowly let go of my dream to change the world through my life coaching business and this blog and all social media. I've let go of the pursuit of numbers!  More "like" more fans, more followers, more friends...  All this takes time and for what really??? I don't even think about this anymore... I have closed many of my social media accounts and this blog is really just staying "open" for a few people who told me they really need it... I care for them, a lot,  but if if was just all up to me, I think I could close that too... I have lost so many readers anyway when I had to change the domain name (because I was been harassed and couldn't take it anymore) that  I took this as a sign... I don't feel this is for me.  When you see some people building on-line businesses so fast and you try and try and struggle...  you get the message!  Perhaps THIS is not what I am suppose to do... Perhaps this is not even what I really wanted to do.  Maybe I just loved the idea of having virtual people like me? Maybe I was switching my love of high paid job for high number of virtual people liking me?

I love to talk to people and help them move forward in their life...and will always love doing that.  I enjoy having good deep discussions and sharing my knowledge... but I don't care for getting a financial benefit from it... benefits comes in so many more ways... I also realize that I'd rather help deeply less people then a lot of people superficially.

I also didn't like feeling like I was "stuck" being someone not to displease anyone... I am my own person... it is not a role.... and I change my mind and "rules" and continue evolving...  and planning on doing so.... and that unfortunately means people coming and going around me... not continuously increasing in number.

Of course I do need to earn "some" money and my Starbucks job is perfect for that!  I LOVE it!  I created bonds with some of my customers...  I love going to work in the morning... I make people happy - have you ever seen someone coming out of Starbucks unhappy? OK may be I did.... but most times they are really happy with getting their caffeine fix and more!

I am not quite sure this is what my reader was asking for at this point... I may have gotten lost in all my life story...  BUT I know that it was challenging... I know for a few months I wonder if I was doing the right thing - we had less money AND after all I was not using my biochemistry bachelor degree.... how could I have gone so low???  But you know what, every time I had those moments, synchronicity send me a message that I was at the right place...  and today, I would not go back! If you are looking for a specific "end result", if you know what you really want, just listen to the Universe, it will guide you to that within the easiest path possible.  Sometimes I feel like I lost time trying to build something complex, to make money to then be able to afford time.... whereas time is free!  Just figure out with out little money you can live and then find something you love that provides you that amount of money!

I now have more "me" time.  I can cook, bake, knit, read, do yoga, see my friends during the day (yes, most of my friends also have part time jobs because they know there is more to life then work)... and I am free for my son and husband on evenings and week ends.... THIS matters more to me then anything else... we all are healthier, happier, less stressed out... and it works out for the best! For all 3 of us!

Now, all that said, would I have known better, there is one thing I would have done differently:  PAY of all my DEBTS before I ditch the high paying job...  It is the only regret I have since now, the only way out of this, is to take out some of my pension plan to repay it...  but hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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The other way to do things - with finances

When I started my minimalist journey and wanted to get smart with money, I went back to some old financial advice I heard quite often... and that are, to this day, what most people will tell you...

Cut down on daily stuff - that latte at your neighbor coffee shop, lunch with co-workers at the pizza place... regular coffee/outing with your spouse over the week end...

This, to my knowledge is THE number one advice you will ear over and over again...

I tried it...
It failed me...

Because I ended up spending more time at the mall because I didn't know what else to do at lunch time...  or over the week end... so I fed my shopping addiction for clothes instead of that of my soy chai latte at Starbucks!

Guess what?  It turns out a sweater is a little more expensive then a chai!  So is pretty much anything I would buy at the mall because I was saving where it mattered!

THEN... I started thinking about this... what if THAT didn't work for me?  What if instead of saving money where it technically really added up I started saving money on stuff I cared less about?  What if skipping my morning chai with my hubby made me miserable and wanted to compensate by shopping for that extra pair of jeans I really didn't needed?

And realized that making me miserable my saving money where I was told to do so cost me more in the end.... and I came up with my own system for saving money according to my priorities.

What matters most to me:

Living in a clean, well maintained apartment
Living in a safe neighborhood
Eating a vegan diet - but doing it on the cheap side is possible and healthier actually
My weekly splurge on soy chai latte and vanilla soy latte at Starbucks for my husband and I (twice a week)
My occasional outing at my near by sushi place (2-3 times a month)
My random meals at our local vegetarian restaurant (3-4 times a year)
Having clothes I like - but I have enough of that so no spending now
Reading - but I can do library for no cost
Incense - buy once a month good quality ones
Once a month trim for my really short hair

The rest?  I really couldn't care less for it... so it slowly but surely went out the door!

I am talking:  car, smart phone, cable TV, excessive shopping, dye for my hair, hair product (my hair is so short I don't need it), daily shampoo... I am talking outings for every single occasion with everyone who ask...  I am talking that occasional glass of wine or martini... I am talking crazy amount of gifts for my son, husband and his kids as well as myself every birthday and Christmas... I am talking bringing over the most expensive hostess gifts every time I go somewhere (you can bake or cook something) or go moderate with the money spent... and last but not least yearly trip down south during the cold months... and I am sure I am forgetting stuff - Oh like... updating my decor at home to be trendy...  hahaha

All this...  saved me much more money then the sum of our lattes and occasional sushi...
Of course, I have decreased the number of times I go to those places but I still do it, because for me, this is what matters!  And cutting what matters most made me miserable and spend more money on what matters less... ironically! As long as it is in your budget, as long as it makes you happy and as long as you pay cash for it... DO IT!!!  Life is short!

Being a minimalist is not about living in poverty... it is about choosing what matters to YOU and spending your money on that instead of on everything and anything you couldn't care less for!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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Happy New Year 2016

What if less was more?

We live in a society where we constantly feel like we need "more"... more stuff, more clothes, more activities, more projects, more money, more time, more space, more friends, more vacation, more furniture, more outdoor stuff...

What if all this "more" we need were incompatible?
What if all this "need" was not a real need?

What if this poem, "The paradox of time" actually was right?

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

I truly believe this to be completely right...  and I have changed my life around a lot to actually reverse this tendency...  at least in my own life...

So in this time or "resolutions"... in this time where people will engage themselves to loose weight, eat better, travel more, exercise more, buy a house, get into a stable relationship, get a new car, upgrade their computer. find a higher paying job to increase their income, get more "like" or "views" on their social media, increase their number of FB friends... build their own business... you name it.... I will challenge you to do this instead:

Give your stuff away.
Make room in your home for walking around, lying down, doing yoga, sitting on the floor with friends.
Dress with less.  You can wear the same thing 2-3 times in a week.
Anything you did not wear in a season give away - someone will.
Meet new people in real life.
Invite your new real life friends home for tea.
Go for coffee with friends and no one can pull out their phone.
Close your social media accounts - all of them but one.
On the one you kept, clean up your friends/followers list - keep only those who matters.
Downgrade your smart phone so that people can't reach you 24/7 on social medias.
Alternatively, leave you smart phone home once or twice a week.
Read real paper books you get from the library.
Learn how to do grocery shopping.
Learn how to cook.
Eat real food.
Spend less money on food - you eat to much anyway. Yes you do!
Eat more at home and much much less out. Much less...
Walk/bike to places instead of spending money on expensive gym membership.
Play outside with your kids.
Go for a long walk with your lover - no money spent.
Start movie night with your family instead of going out or all watching different things.
Keep only one television set.
Find your passion - your real passion - you can really have only one or two real passions.
Slow down.
Delete some activities/obligations from your agenda.
Get some "me alone" time.
Figure out what you would like to do with your life.
Journaling, meditation, yoga will help. Even if you think you suck at it.
Figure out where your money goes.
Cut expenses that are not really needed from your budget.
Find a job you love even if it means less money - because you don't need that much anyway.

Be honest with yourself cause you deserve it...
Let go of "what will people say?" because you shouldn't care really... it is your life, not theirs.
Let go of society created expectations.  It is all bullshit. You do not need or even really want that life if you take the time to think about it. It leads you to work you ass off to make more money at something you don't like, to spend on things you do not need, to impress people you do not really care for.. to end up sick and broken... way too early!

Be happy.
Be nice.
Be true to yourself and others.
For it is all that matters.

Oh and one last thing... it is OK to be sad... upset... angry... it is OK to let go of people and stuff...  it's OK to have less "ambitions"... it is OK to not follow the masses (take of the m in masses and this is what it's made of)...

Be original as you were born that way!!!
Be yourself cause everyone else is taken!!

And if you need help, support let me know.  I am here for you.  Just comment on what you need help with and I can write more extensively about it.  You can also PM me on FB.

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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about buying second hand clothes

This week end I finally did something I've been working on for a couple of years now...

Since I am a minimalist I've worked on buying less clothes... and I've had my ups and down....  Many blog posts here on that...

BUT...  where I stand now is this:

I have much less clothes then 8 years ago...  I possibly never had that little clothes in my adult life.
All the clothes I own I wear on a regular basis - some more often then others but wear them all!
I also have no more "orphans" items - items that do not go with anything else - in working on my wardrobe, I chose the color I love and came up with pieces that mix and match quite easily...

I still think that I have more clothes then I could get by with... but I really do love clothes... and all the ones I kept reflect my style, fit in my lifestyle and really fit me well!  I do not see the point of getting rid of them...  and after all, using up all those clothes will help me not having to buy some for years to come technically!

And this is where I run into a problem... because I love to buy clothes...  especially this year's clothes as the all seem to be my style!

Thing is, I want to really work on my debt... and for that reason, I have included no budget for clothing per say...  Everything is accounted for in my budget and there is no room for clothes for me as there is no need really...  therefore I have to find "solutions" to the few items I would like to add to my wardrobe:  a plaid shirt, a burgundy cardigan and a beige huge comfy scarf!  I found a solution for that... I sold a winter jacket I am no longer wearing - hence I can buy the items - using my 40$ per month allowance to cover what is missing! And still work on my debt!

The other thing that is bothering me, is this documentary on my "to watch" list on Netflix that talks about the truth about clothing... I know it must not be pretty...  I am not yet ready to watch it - and I feel selfish for it....  but I know I will watch it eventually!  Knowing myself, I know it will trigger a huge shopping strike!

I have been concerned on and off about the clothing industry for a few years now... and for that reason, I have been trying to buy second-hand clothes... but it never really work out...  for many reasons!  One is I truly could never really find something that I loved and that fit me.  OK, you may say I did not really try hard enough and maybe I didn't but I did look around and try on a few items...  no luck I guess!  I was told, by friends, who do buy them, that you have to go often and not think of anything specific but just browse and keep an open mind! Second reason, is that I was not raised that way.  In my childhood, we use to give clothes we no longer wanted or no longer fit us to "poor" people... therefore somehow I equated second-hand clothes to being poor in my head. Now I am not rich... and far from it...  we are just above poverty as per our income in the country we live - but I am not complaining... this is something we chose to do - to do work we love! Our minimalist lifestyle allows us to do that...  but it comes with a price!  I only work 20h a week and at a salary just a little above minimum wage...  therefore I am not comfortable spending crazy amount of money on clothes - plus, there is no need for it! Where it is more difficult is that we use to have an income 4 times what we have now...  and buying clothes was a hobby -that created debt.. I know! So, now I have to overcome the fact that second-hand clothes are not only for poor people (as I know wealthy people who buy them too) AND the fact that I am indeed poor now (by choice but still)!

All that to say that this week end, I spend 21,24$ on 3 items (I had a 15% discount on that so initially they were 24,36$).

I found Roots pyjama bottoms for 3,99$, a corduroy skirt for 4,99$ , and a velvet embroidered jacket for 12,99$.  They all fit well, are within my style...  used my allowance for it! I have now officially break the cycle... and I am confident I could go back there and buy more stuff if I needed to!

I also feel good about it not only because I saved $ but because it is a better choice for the environment too! We buy and throw away so many clothes every years in America that it doesn't make sense anymore!  When I decided to minimize my wardrobe I decided to wear my clothes until they "die" on me...  this will save the landfills... I also decided to give or sell what ever I no longer want when it is still wearable...saving the landfills some more...  and decided to bring to H&M unusable clothes as they recycle the fabric... landfills people.... and now if I can buy more second-hand, this means not using as much new material!!!    And using my creativity to mix and match and sometimes "modify" items I find to make them a better fit for my life!

Now, what about you?  Do you buy second hand clothes?  What are your reason for it?

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste
love&peace,
nath
xox
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