Day 1, Day 2

Day 3:  Let’s be honest, I have too many clothes!

My two favorite times in my wardrobe have been when I started working at University of Texas-Southwestern as the Administrator for Cancer Clinical Trials–it was a big deal kind of job–I loved that job and the challenge of “looking” Administrative.  Texas has a different standard for what women should look like and frankly–I stuck out like a sore thumb.  I didn’t really mind.  What I did love about that job is the new clothes that I bought for the job–I had 7 outfits that matched and mix matched perfectly.  I felt awesome each and everyday.

The second favorite time was 15 years later when I was pregnant for the 3rd time.  I wore the same 5 outfits for about a year–I loved how the clothes felt and loved having a successful pregnancy!  I even made jewelry to match the hues of green and purple.

Now I’m 20 years out . . . I have 20 years of clothes from size 4- size 18.  I’ll be honest I got rid of all size 20 and 22 after my 4th baby!  I just could not bear to have those sizes in my closet.  When we moved from MI to IL I purged my closet big time.  I got rid of it if:

1. It was bigger than a size 18 or less than a size 14–tried to keep it realistic for myself.
2. Maternity clothes (even two of my favorite sweaters!)
3. Anything with a stain
4. Any workout clothes that I wore when I ran 1/2 marathons–I would put the on and remember what I was rather than my current potential
5. Anything broken, torn, needing repair–because even though I do sew–I knew it was just an excuse to keep something
6. I got rid of things that I knew I spent a lot of money on–I no doubt bought it to make me happy and then felt guilty about spending the money.  I vowed that I would not buy any more clothes unless I had a need for them–that I have managed to maintain!
7. Shoes . . . I have several pairs of sandals, 1 pair of brown boots, 1 pair of black boots and a couple pairs of Danskos . . . I did give away a ton of shoes from my dress up days.  I got rid of all my running shoes that were worn–no matter how well I did in the race.

Now I have a dresser, a lingerie chest and a small part of the closet.

I still feel like I have more to go through.  I have skirts that I will never wear as a Mom, workout clothes that will never feel sweat, too many trips to the outlet mall for one shirt here or there and now . . .

I want to have a limited number of outfits.  I want to spend less time in coordinating my clothes and more time living my life.  I want to simplify my closet.

I don’t want the excess that is in the world today!  I don’t want to buy the cute shirt at Target just because it is only $5 or $10 or whatever.  But it’s only $5 and it is Halloween . . . and won’t I look cute–feeling guilty and cute and made that I spent $5 that I didn’t need to spend.

I want to go shopping in my own closet and get rid of the rest.  I’ve read so many organizing post about how “many” clothes a women needs but the person writing that is not living my life–I get that it is just a guideline–but I take the suggestion too seriously and I get caught up in the number . . . so I will be coordinating and cleaning by outfit.  I get my clothes ready the night before by outfit–so why not organize my closet by outfit?

I’ll let you know how that works out for me!  I want to be more intentional in my shopping–not just for me but for my kids . . . oh my gosh–Christmas is coming!

That is my post for tomorrow . . . being honest in shopping for the kids and what will I do for Christmas without going broke!

Does your closet look like mine?

Today I’m linking up with these wonderful friends:

Walk With Him Wednesday, Deep Roots At Home

Whatever Wednesday,God Bumps and God-Incidences,Unwrapping His Promises Living Well Wednesday,Women in the Word Wednesday,Works for Me Wednesday,wip-wednesday,