It’s time again for Link-O-Rama Mama, where I lazily link up to other people’s well written and thoroughly researched articles.
Marimekko Sheets Find a New Castle
Remember Princess Katy and her Marimekko Sheets? Well, Trish, the Lady in Waiting from Modern Thrifter has posted photos on her blog, as well as the story of how the sheets came to live in her daughter’s room. Super cute!
Click HERE to read her post.
Living Large in a Small Space
Graham Hill, famed inhabitant of the super teeny and inventive NYC apartment has written an article for The NY Times supporting and explaining his decision to live a life of minimal possessions in a small space. (Oh, and he also founded Tree Hugger.com, as well as other online businesses.) Because the article is written in first person, the perspective is unique and goes a bit deeper than the typical minimalism article.
“I have come a long way from the life I had in the late ’90s, when, flush with cash from an Internet start-up sale, I had a giant house crammed with stuff — electronics and cars and appliances and gadgets.
Somehow this stuff ended up running my life, or a lot of it; the things I consumed ended up consuming me. My circumstances are unusual (not everyone gets an Internet windfall before turning 30), but my relationship with material things isn’t.”
Click HERE to read the entire NY Times article.
I usually include a third link, but it’s late and I have to be at work at 7:00 A.M., (which sure feels like 6:00 A.M. this week.) So I want you to include your own links in the comments section. Even if it’s just a link to your own blog.
Have a great day, and I look forward to coming home from work and reading through everyone’s links!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I thought this article was pretty good : http://www.becomingminimalist.com/maybe-the-answer-is-owning-less/
And as always, i am not opposed to people reading my blog 😉
Kate
Thanks for sharing these articles. Great ones! I thought you and Trish might enjoy this: http://blog.alwaysmod.com/category/calendars/
It is a fun way to enjoy Marimekko designs. I also long for less clutter so I enjoyed the second article and now am going to email it to my son and start cleaning out a few areas.
Thanks Patti! I’ve been using these ones: http://www.oanabefort.com/search/label/calendar but it would be fun to mix it up with some Marimekko, too.
Timely that you mention Graham Hill, as he was featured in the documentary We The Tiny House People, that I just blogged about.
A freely available documentary on YouTube, it takes us inside the tiny homes of people searching for simplicity, self-sufficiency, minimalism and happiness by living in caves, converted garages, trailers, tool sheds, river boats and former pigeon coops. A must see!
More at http://mreverydaydollar.com/we-the-tiny-house-people/
Katy,
I LOVE the Marimekko! Your tote-to-lampshade is great. So generous of you to give the sheets to Trish.
Do you have a preferred method of laundering from-the-thrift-store sheets? I’ve thrifted sheets before, and just found a cute set of cotton flannel ones that perfectly coordinate with others in my son’s room. But it’s a dark red (almost burgundy) on white pattern. Normally, I’d run them in a hot wash and hot dryer, but I’m worried the red will bleed. Any suggestions?
The link in my name above is to my non-profit handcrafting organization called Flint Handmade. Lots of great (free!) inspiration for crafty folks!
I am also the Library Steward for the Delaware Ave Little Free Library #1997, which my husband and I installed on our wedding day last summer. It’s a great way to acquire and circulate (free!) books in your community. More info is at http://www.facebook.com/DelawareAveLittleFreeLibrary.
I came across a heart breaking blog this week about a single mom in the UK just trying to keep a roof over her and her son’s head. There is a bit of good news – she just got a job but the entry http://agirlcalledjack.com/2012/07/30/hunger-hurts/ was the saddest. Be sure to read her newer entries too. Cheers.
A recent post I did about rearranging (and being owned by your furniture)
http://keepingrobin.blogspot.com/2013/03/it-must-be-spring.html?m=1
One of my favorite blogs is Not Quite Amish, at http://notquiteamishliving.com/ where the blogger, Tricia Goyer, posts about simplifying your life, beautifying your home, wisdom, Scripture, Amish proverbs, recipes, and other interesting tidbits.
Thank you for sharing, Betty!
Hi there,
I have followed your blog for a while, but have never commented. I love reading your ideas, and have tried quite a few out. One thing I am struggling with is using dried beans. I have tried soaking them over night, changing the water, and then cooking them as directed on the package. My beans have turned out hard and inedible. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? I would really appreciate some ideas!
I just finished cooking a big pot of black beans. Here is how I did it: I rinsed the beans in my colander and then put them in the bottom of my dutch oven pan. I covered them generously with water and let them soak overnight. I poured the water off this morning and covered them generously with fresh water. I added some olive oil (about 2 tablespoons). I heated them to boiling, then simmered on a low heat for two hours or until they were soft. I will now cool and transfer them to freezer bags which I will lay flat on a cookie sheet until frozen, then stack. I do not add any spices or fat while cooking as I will add these items later when making meals with the beans. If you are cooking to eat alone, you will need to add those but be aware that salt and acid products (tomatoes) will keep them from softening if added at the beginning. Hope that helps! I know you can do them in the crock pot but I have not had success that way.
Beans, I found out the hard way will not cook well if you are using any tomato in the water. Beans and rice have a very short fridge life. If you get canned beans on sale sometimes they are cheaper than cooking from scratch. Just be sure to rinse them thoroally to reduce the sodium. Check the UDSA web site for storage limits.
Hello – I love your blog. I too share many of your ideas about how to spend and how not to spend…one reader above was interested in how to cook dried beans and I cook them quite often and have posted on my blog about as well. I’ve included photos as well as simple ‘how-to’ as well as many other recipes (cooking and baking) and ideas for living well on less…
http://riperedberries.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/bodacious-black-beans/ here’s the link to the how to cook black beans…
Thanks Jennifer!
I will give this a try again! Maybe I added salt – I don’t remember, but that could be the problm. Great pictures too!
Val
Since you so kindly invited us to share … here’s my first real attempt at becoming Katy Wolk-Stanley when I grow up 🙂
http://makingsomethingofit.com/maker/a-place-for-everything/
I love that you used a Lincoln Log box lid to make an organizer. very clever!
😀
Katy
I recently posted about making homemade yogurt. I had a “slaps-forehead” moment when trying to figure out how to reduce all the landfill trash of my beloved daily serving of yogurt. Problem solved! http://taylormaderanch.com/blog/?p=1672
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
I was making yogurt for awhile, but have gotten off the habit. Thanks for the reminder!
Katy
After it was brought to my attention that there were people on SNAP that were running out of money before they ran out of month, I started a blog to educate people how to grocery shop on the cheap. I have been doing it for years because there have been times when we were out of work and I just want to live as well as we can on what we do have. My mother always said, it’s not how much you have, it is what you do with what you have. We economized long before going green or non consumer were in our vocabulary!LOL
http://Www.janegrocerysavy.blgspot.com