And, We Count

Friday I promised myself (and you) that I would begin my 100 Thing Challenge count on Sunday.  Success.

I was very liberal with my groupings (and I'm sure I forgot some things, despite walking around my apartment, trying to view things as though I'd never seen them before,) but it went faster than I thought it would.  That was encouraging.

Undoubtedly this first attempt will be qualify as sheer entertainment for anyone who has successfully accepted the 100 Things Challenge ahead of me, and as well anyone who has already successfully downsized from a traditional home to under 120 square feet.  My naivety about what I still must part to get down to tiny with is probably laughable.  And, once I (bravely) start ungrouping things, this list will explode exponentially.  Yes, I know.  Check with me in a few months - you'll be proud.

But nonetheless, here's my first stab at this and hey, at least I am doing it!  That being said - be nice.

     OFFICE

1    Laptop & printer
2    Office supplies
3    Heaps of paper
4    Paper Shredder

5    Desk lamp

  
    DÉCOR

6    Ooo la la sign

7    Wall mount lamp

8    Nightstand lamp

9    Stained glass window pieces

10  Rugs mom & dad made

  

      LIVING ROOM

11    TV trays

12    Salt lamp
13    Oscillating fan
14    Afghans
15    Throw pillows
16   
  
    KITCHEN
17    Kitchen Aid mixer
18    Silverware & knives & utensils
19    Dishes
20    Pots & pans
21    Kitchen Aid mixer
22    Toaster oven
23    Recipe boxes
24    Potholders
25    Coffee pot
26    Fire extinguisher
  
    PERSONAL ITEMS
27    Coats
28    Shoes
29    Totes
30    Hats & scarves & gloves
31    Purses
32    Make up
33    Toiletries
34    Combs & brushes
35    Hair dryer, curling iron, rollers
36    Clothes
37    Towels
38    Bedding
39    Essential Oils
  
    ENTERTAINMENT/FITNESS
40    Jewelry making stuff
41    Henna kit
42    Jewelry
43    Scrabble
44    Backgammon
45    Recorder & music
46    Garden hand tools
47    Books
48    DVDs
49    CDs
50    Sewing machine & related
51    Bicycle
52    Yoga props

    MISC
53    Luggage
54    Dog stuff
55    Broom & dust pan
56    First Aid Kit
57    Sentimental stuff
58    Tools, shop equipment
59    Personal protection items
60    Shoe polishing kit
61    Extension cords
  
    APARTMENT LIVING ITEMS
62    Ironing board & Iron
63    Wooden wine box (shoes)
64    Vacuum
65    Camping gear
66    Round mirror
67    House plants
68    Floor Steamer
69    Footlocker
70    Framed art
71    Big mirror
72    Card table
73    TV/Apple TV
74    Wooden bench
75    Card Table
76    Couches (up for sale as of last week!)
77    Wooden bench
78    Washer/Dryer
79  
80  
81  
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

100 Thing Challenge

Yesterday I was trapped in a windowless conference room all day - fortunately it was wi-fi equipped and I had my iPad!  I was doing a lot of tiny house reading, following links down rabbit trails, and I came across the 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno.  (He has also written a  book about it, but I can't order it, because then I would be down to 99 things!) I think I've heard about it before, but I wasn't really in a position to seriously consider it.  Now?  Well, now I'm in a serious enough position to at least start counting and see where I am...

I read some posts from others who have taken the Challenge, and I'm glad to see there is space for independent thought.  For example, I read that grouping some things is generally considered okay:  Silverware, pots with lids (probably not an entire set of cookware, but maybe...) lingerie, things with multiple pieces, like my KitchenAid mixer, some people even group their books and count that as one thing.  I also read that for some people, perishables/consumables are not counted at all.  That seems logical to me.

I have to say, though, that doing the actual counting seems really daunting.  How do you do that?  Room by room, I presume, but short of putting stickers on everything, how do you keep track of what you have counted already?  I guess if you have 100 things - not 1,000 things - it probably isn't that hard to keep track!  I may have to start with 100 things per room.  Er, or 100 things per box.  LOL

And then today I stumbled upon the Reverse 100 Thing Challenge which, I read, "invites you to dump 100 things before the end of the year. If you’ve always thought that the 100 Thing Challenge is extreme, and that it would be impossible to only live with 100 things, then giving away only 100 things should be a breeze." Gosh, if only I had heard about the Reverse last Fall, I could totally add that to my list of accomplishments ten-fold.  Alas, I did not.

Regardless, I think the 100 Thing Challenge an interesting concept, especially if you plan on going down to under 150 square feet... Okay fine I'll just say it - 112 square feet. At a minimum I'm at least  going to take a stab a counting my belongings.