4 Reasons to Lead a Simple Life with Less Stuff

Why are more and more people choosing to declutter, reduce items they own and become minimalists? I've been trying to declutter and practice minimalism. Upon decluttering, here are four reasons I've discovered which is keeping me going on the journey to being a minimalist.

1. Bright and Light. Looking at my decluttered dressing area, I feel light and happy. It now has the essential skin care products and a few pretty make-up items which I use once or twice a week when I'm in the mood for make-up. It brightens up my morning and all that I need are easily accessible.

2. Focus. Your mind will be clearer when your home and workspace is clear, clean and tidy. I keep my workspace most minimal of all my spaces. It has a monitor, my laptop dock, a pen holder, a desk phone, my laptop, a mouse and a keyboard. Yup, pretty minimal for someone like me who lived with clutter for years. I actually really enjoy being at my desk at work because it's so inspiring to work in.

Minimalism - 50 items

I've started featuring items I use daily or frequently which bring me joy or are a part of my interests and hobbies. I'm wondering if I can survive with 50 items. Clothes and cosmetics won't be included here as I will be reducing and taking care of them separately. These 50 items will include electronics, sports equipment, and general use items. [Last updated 23 July 2016]

I will update this list as I go along so we'll know if I actually need more than 50 items. 

1. Smartphone (and camera) Samsung S7 Edge [Jul 8 2016]

2. Earphones from Sony [Jul 9 2016]
3. Little Bag for Smartphone [Jul 10 2016]
4. Cardholder [Jul 11 2016]
5. Wristlet [Jul 12 2016]
6. Hairdryer [Jul 13 2016]
7. Mug [Jul 14 2016]
8. Hairdryer [Jul 15 2016]
9. Laptop [Jul 16 2016]
10. Water Bottle [Jul 17 2016]
11. Pillow [Jul 18 2016]
12. Bolster [Jul 19 2016]

13. Blanket [Jul 20 2016]
14. Sling Bag [Jul 21 2016]
15. Phone Charger [Jul 22 2016]
16. Laptop Charger [Jul 23 2016]
17. Plate [Jul 24 2016]
18. [Jul 25 2016]
19. [Jul 26 2016]
20. [Jul 27 2016]
21. [Jul 28 2016]
22. [Jul 29 2016]
23. [Jul 30 2016]
24. [Jul 31 2016]

Item2 - Sony Earphones

Item number 2 which came to mind is the Sony Earphones which I've been using for a few months now and loving em. There is less loss compared to my other earphones so the sound is a little louder. The music from the earphones is clear and has a nice stereo effect. There will be better earphones/headphones out there but I'm happy with the one I have now.

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Item1 - Samsung S7 Edge

I'm wondering, how many of the things which I own are things I really need and use regularly? I will start documenting one item each day.

Item #1 to be documented is my phone! The samsung S7edge. I love photography but I love convenience even more. The phone will be more likely to be with me almost all the time compared to a DSLR. I've still some practicing to do when it comes to the pro mode but with the auto mode, I've already got shots which I'm pretty happy with. My photography account on instagram @cherishedshots is filled with photos from the S7 Edge although there are a few from the Samsung S3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7. The S7 Edge is the most expensive "camera" I have had so far. I can photograph things the way I picture them in my mind so it is worth it.

Here are some photos which I shot with the Cyber-shot camera during the unboxing of the S7 Edge.

Top View / Front View of the box

The 1st Sight!

The pin for removing the sim/sd card tray and the charger

The iflix code

I like listening to music and spotify is a convenient way for me to listen to music anywhere and at anytime so I've got it installed. I'm using Microsoft One Note as it was pre-installed in the phone, and have made it work for my bullet journalling and note taking in general. I've been making full use of my phones for a lot of personal and work tasks. I only play "2048" so I haven't really been making full use of its capabilities in the gaming department. 

There're plenty of reviews of the S7 Edge online so I will keep this short. In summary, the camera of the Samsung S7 Edge (S7 has the same camera) is fast and clear. What more do you need? I've yet to try the RAW mode, I will get started soon once I've mastered the pro mode features. If you're also an S7 Edge user or a "phonephotographer" like me, let me know what you think. From reviews I've seen, there are other phones with very good cameras as well. We can now capture more of the important or cherished moments because most of us would have our phones with us most of the time. Yeay to that!

Follow on @livesimplysimplyhappy on Facebook for updates of latest posts. To see photos I've captured with the S7 Edge, visit @live.simply.simply.happy on instagram.

Clothes that Spark Joy

I've been reading about Marie Kondo and the art of being tidy. Articles often mention things that spark joy. I've a two door wardrobe, and all my clothes could not fit into it. When I read about minimalism and project333, I thought about the clothes I have. Some had been worn only once or twice while there were some which I wore on a weekly basis. The clothes I wore weekly were the ones which made me feel confident and comfortable in. So I picked out my favourite items and kept the rest in a luggage bag, just to see how it would feel. I wear the same set of clothes for work and for going out.

Here's what I picked out :
1 Plain White T-Shirt
1 Plain Black T-Shirt
1 White Button Down Shirt
1 Grey Blouse
1 Black Blouse

1 White Shirt with Grey Stripes
1 Grey Shirt
1 Mint and White Striped Shirt
1 Pink Floral Skirt
1 Grey Skirt

1 Grey Skorts
2 Pairs of Jeans
1 Pair of Navy Shorts
1 Pair of Ivory Shorts

1 Black and White Dress
1 White Collared T-Shirt
1 Black Collared T-Shirt
1 White Jacket
1 Grey Jacket

1 Navy Sleeveless Blouse
1 Pink Jacket
1 Pair of Black Shoes
2 Pairs of Walking/Running Shoes (Nikes!)

1 White T-Shirt with Black Stripes and Floral Design

There are 26 items in the list and I might add a few more as I go along. I'm going to observe whether I will be going through my luggage bag looking for my other clothes or if there are clothes in this list which I don't wear. I'm not really doing a project333 but I'm using the idea of it to understand myself better.

Finding Balance - Moderation is the Key

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. A potted plant needs water. If it gets enough water, it will thrive. Water is a good thing. If we keep pouring water into the pot until it is flooded, after some time, the roots of the plant may rot. This is similar to many situations in life, where moderation is the key to a balanced life.

#ig_minimalist #minimalism #tv_simplicity #awesomeminimal #ptk_minimal #bnwmood #trees #sky #worldofminimalist #minimalist_ig #learnminimalism #ig_bw_flowers

A photo posted by Erica Yin (@live.simply.simply.happy) on Jul 8, 2016 at 9:07am PDT

Simple Fried Rice

All you need for a simple plate of fried rice is rice, garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce. I added dried shrimp, ginger, mango and an egg to my fried rice. The steps and ingredients for preparing this. Any feedback/suggestions or advise is appreciated. :)

#friedrice #egg #garlic #ginger #rice #lightsoysauce #mango livesimplyhappily.blogspot.com

A photo posted by Erica Yin (@live.simply.simply.happy) on Jun 30, 2016 at 10:58pm PDT

Preparation:
1) Dice garlic
2) Cut ginger into shreds
3) Rinse dried shrimp (then fry for awhile in non-stick pan(without oil) to remove moisture before cooking)
4) Cut mango into small pieces

Steps :
1) Heat up sesame oil in frying pan/wok
2) Turn off the heat (which was the gas in my situation.
3) Add in garlic and dried shrimp (dry) and the ginger
4) Swirl this around till garlic turns almost golden.
5) Pour ingredients onto a small plate
6) Pour the rice (cooked) into the pan/work and fry for awhile.
7) Add the egg and fry.
8) Add the ingredients from the small plate into the fried rice and fry for awhile.
9) Add the cut mangoes and serve.