Year of Declutter: Kill the K-Cup

2015: The Year of Declutter

I have been absent from this blog for many months now. I migrated most of my attention over to my other blog a while ago, but I certainly didn't mean to leave this blog completely ignored for so long.

I guess I just haven't known what to do with this blog. For a while I was just posting recommendations, first weekly and then monthly. I have been thinking about starting a blog that focuses mainly on simple, clutter free, pared down living. I am not a fan of overconsumption and our obsession with "stuff" (owning it, having it, buying it, hoarding it, always being on the look out for more of it). I am well aware that I have too much stuff, and I have been wanting to simplify for a while now. I figured if I start a blog about it and use it to document my paring down process, then maybe it would encourage me to actually do it. I would be accountable in some way.

The new year was approaching and I wanted to make simplifying my life my new year's resolution (or at least one of them). Starting another blog since I already have two doesn't really agree with the whole simplifying theme, so I decided to just use this blog for that purpose.

Being a seat of the pants kind of guy, I don't exactly have a clear and detailed plan as to how I am going to go about this. It's a journey, a marathon even, and it is one that won't be accomplished in a year's time. Regardless, I am calling this the Year of Declutter. Forthcoming posts on this blog will be updates on my decluttering journey and possibly some tips, links, resources, etc. that fit with this theme. Perhaps you would like to join in this journey and pare down your own life. If so, follow my blog and feel free to comment along the way. Let's be in this together.

As I mentioned, this is not my only blog. I write a blog about all things plant related called Awkward Botany, which has a sister microblog. You can also find me on Twitter. If you like what you find here and/or on my other sites, please share it with your friends. Oh, and consider using #phytocurious when posting about anything planted related, that way I can find it easily and enjoy it as well.

Speaking of things plant related, I have decided that one of my first decluttering tasks will be to organize my box of seeds in preparation for the upcoming spring. How about you?

Happy 2015 everyone! I hope your year is not austere.

2014: A New Direction

You may or may not have been wondering where I have been all year. I'm guessing not. But if you have, here is your answer. I've been focusing full time on my other blog, Awkward Botany. It's a blog all about plants, and it's for everyone - even for people who don't like plants. Why am I spending all of my time over there? Well, frankly it's because I have to learn to focus my energies on one thing in particular. I end up spreading myself too thin otherwise. I can do a dozen things and do them okay, or I can do one thing and do it well. I'm not sure how well I'm doing, but I'm giving it a shot. The problem is that I have lots of other blog ideas (and non-blog ideas), so it's hard to stay focused on just one thing. Regardless, if you want to be in touch (and I hope you do), please point your cursor here and give it a click. You just might like a bit of what there is to read. If not, at least there are some pretty pictures. Oh, and tell your friends, please - that's how movements start. Thanks!

Monthly Recommendations: December 2013

I am doing something different for this month's Monthly Recommendations post. Seeing how it is the end of the year, I have decided to select a few of the things that I recommended this year in my monthly posts and re-recommend them. These are things that I think are totally worth checking out. Consider this the highlight version of this year's recommendations.

Blog

Brave Hannah - Yes, it's my sister's blog. Yes, that makes me a little biased. But it's a really great blog for anyone interested in eating real food, staying active, and generally living a healthy and positive life. If that's your thing, then give it a look.

Book

Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to a More Meaningful Life - I read a lot of books this year - way more than usual - but this book by Massimo Pigliucci is by far the most intriguing book I read all year. I think about it regularly and intend to read it again soon. Yes, it's that good.

Zine

Dream Whip #15 - Dream Whip is one of my all-time favorite zines. Bill Brown's writing is simple yet so profound. Getting to read a new issue of Dream Whip was a highlight of my year.

Podcast

Caustic Soda - When I recommended this back in August, I had only listened to one or two episodes. I honestly didn't fully comprehend what I was listening to at that time, but I knew I liked it. Now that I've listened to nearly every episode, I think I can safely say that I am a bona fide Caustic Soda Jerk. With healthy doses of humor, lightheartedness, caution, and seriousness, nobody discusses "caustic" themes like these guys. Give it a few listens, and you'll find that - just like a train wreck - you won't be able to turn away.

Music

The Kingons - Because I am convinced that everyone needs a little pop punk in their lives every now and then. (Or in my case, the more the merrier).

Monthly Recommendations: November 2013

Read:

Death from the Skies: The Science Behind the End of the World - Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy describes the myriad ways in which the universe is out to get us. A fascinating and somewhat unsettling read.

Darwin for Beginners - An illustrated history of Charles Darwin and how he came to write The Origin of Species. A great introduction to the theory of evolution and all of its complexities by Jonathan Miller and Borin Van Loon.

Watch/Listen:

The Kingons - Japanese Pop Punk. On tour now with The Copyrights and The Queers.

Also:

Thanksgiving is coming up soon, so consider this:

Review of Elephant Mess #27

 

 

Recently, DJ Frederick posted a very kind and thoughtful review of my zine, Elephant Mess #27. I appreciate his words very much, and I encourage you to check out his blog - One Minute Zine Reviews - where you can read other reviews that he writes as well as find out about all the other worthy projects that he is involved in.

Monthly Recommendations: October 2013

Read

Pie Any Means Necessary: The Biotic Baking Brigade Cookbook - Activists pie-ing people for a cause. Making protest fun again.

Listen

Sandra and Zora Knauf (of Greenwoman Magazine) were interviewed on We Dig Plants, one of the many fine programs on the Heritage Radio Network. Check it out!

See

Autumn is here. Get outside, enjoy the cooler temperatures, and observe the beautiful fall colors. But first, read a little about the science behind why leaves change color in the fall. Just one of the many plant themed posts on my brother blog, Awkward Botany.