I went through a phase when I was using a French Press for my coffee but like the Chemex it let my coffee get too cold. So I started using the BEHÖVD Vacuum flask, from Ikea to keep it warm. My husband can make coffee early in the morning and I have steaming coffee through lunch.
Hi Marissa! I just wanted to say that I think the person who judged you for having a ping-pong table is way off base. Firstly, looking at your home inside I would ABSOLUTELY say your family is minimalist! Secondly, how wonderful that you have a recreational item in your home! You don’t have to run to the park or wherever if the weather is bad. And I so appreciate your channel! You always take time to explain your thinking behind your purchases, and that helps me to ask questions before I buy something! Thank you! 😊
Totally agree. Also, it's great to invite friends over for ping pong, the children and adults. Great purchase! And if you use the item that you bought, then it's a minimalist buy.
Wow. Your home is absolutely breathtaking and literally my dream home. I’m so happy for you and your family that you found this home and that it is still on your best purchase list.
To avoid over- or under- watering a plant, the best tip a specialist gave me was: one per week, place your plant in a basin with 3-5 cm of water. Or in the bathtub with a few centimetres of water. Leave the plant in this position OVERNIGHT. This way, the plant will absorb EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT of water through its roots. By following this advice, all my plants have thrived.
Interesting, but how does this work with different plants that need to be flooded with water rarely vs plants that like to be pretty much consistently moist.. May be a better way than just randomly watering, but I don't think it would best knowing the type of watering plant needs and using your finger to access dryness levels. Personally I am always very lazy to get my finger dirty😖
@@lenanayashkova Obviously I have not tried this tip with every single plant on planet Earth. So I cannot guarantee it works with all of them. The thing is: the plant itself is the best judge of how much water it needs, which could vary according to the ambient temperature, the level of humidity in the air, the season, etc. This method allows the plant to take just what it needs. It has given very good results with a dozen different plants that I have experimented with. That's all I can say.
Easy to say if you have one, I have 33 plants 😂😂😂 Just keep some water for watering them inside the apartment to keep it air temperature, that already helps a lot.
Marissa, A leaf blower can be a huge time saver,( they’re great for cleaning the garage floor too), but for lawns, consider a mulch mower. It’s a lawn mower with a mulching blade, the mulching blade shreds your leaves into tiny pieces, you leave the mulched leaves on your lawn and you have just taken advantage of free organic fertilizer. We have an electric mulch mover that is light weight, quieter and no more purchasing gas. Just charge the mover up, unplug and you are set to go.
A battery powered leaf blower and mulching mower have been great additions to our garage too. Both help us get yard work done easier and without gas. Bonus, I can actually start the mower now.
Yay for table tennis tables! My brother and I played for hours from elementary years, throughout high school and beyond. My brother was a rated player for several years, even during med school. I'm sure your family will have hours of fun as your children grow.
I like using mason jars as glasses. You can buy tops tops for them to keep things fresh for later, use them for hot and cold drinks, save soups for later in the fridge,....
You are so mindful with all your purchases, and it’s helped me and inspired me a lot. I do have to say seeing you have things that you were disappointed in was really nice and refreshing. You put so much thought into most things and to see you still have things you regret makes me feel like okay, it’s alright if you make purchase mistakes once in awhile, just learn from them.
Oh, I´m so glad to hear that you came to like the blue tiles in your kitchen! As I remember - you mentioned in one of your house tour videos, that you weren´t sure if you liked the blue color. I really like those tiles! Love from Denmark 💙💙
In my mid fifties, I have taken up swimming laps in the past year and just bought myself a new bike (retiring the old one I got 25 years ago). I thank my mother a thousand times over for ensuring I learned those skills as a child. Still paying dividends.
Talk about scams, holiday scams that is. I need to replace my black v neck sweater, it’s past the point of even being donatable. Barefoot Dreams had the exact one I want on the 12 days of Christmas sale for $45 this morning….woot woot! Or so I thought. I added to my cart, proceeded to checkout and discovered the shipping charge was $17.49! For a sweater! If I want free shipping I have to send $150! Oh hell no! So they can keep their “sale” sweater and I will keep my money. I have a brown one I can wear instead. Happy Sunday everyone ❤️💚
Just as a heads up Barefoot dreams has gotta be one of the most marked up mid price brands in their market. It's fleece blankets and fleece robes. Nordstrom rack sells versions of the blankets like 60% the price of the ones sold at Nordstrom full line, and I bet there's millions of dupes of the apparel barefoot dreams makes online by now.
I bought the toaster, agreed! Best purchase in a very long time!! I got the same dutch oven on a facebook group for $25. It was never used - so happy I didn't rush into this purchase!
Don't worry about the rug, looks like a wool one and the shedding is normal with that kind of pile. It does get better over time. Also, I would recommend keeping your car in the garage if you have squirrels. They will chew through wires in the engine, to the radio, airbags etc. Ask me how I know 😱
I had a wool rug for decades and it never stopped shedding. I had no idea how it lost so much and still looked good but it did. I’d get a different rug if I had to do it again.
Was thinking the same thing about the rug. I have a large wool rug that we purchased almost 20 years ago and it shred for a good 5 years. It finally stopped leaving a huge mess and is now such a beautiful statement piece in our living room. Just vacuum frequently and it should be good! Remember to clean out the vacuum’s dirt cup every time you vacuum. It WILL be full of fibers in just a few seconds 🥴
You can buy a gadget that you put under the hood that will keep critters away. I had tons of issues with mice chewing cords, building nests, and all kinds of other things. Peppermint will also keep mice out of your garage.
Thank you! And those were just a few examples…there are thousands more temptations through an entire year, so being able to resist impulse purchases saves so much money and headache! 🙌
Creating another source of income in these difficult times is the best thing to do not only does it guarantee returns, it also helps you plan and save for future expenses I hope everyone who reads this will be successful in life
@@AtoZenLife I live in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Since moving into my home I have seen deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, raccoons, groundhogs, Opossums, chipmunks, moles, and I'm not sure but might be forgetting others on that list. Opossums are such helpful (they eat ticks), docile creatures and because of their eerie appearance are mostly misunderstood. Be glad for all your critters. Some destroy more plants than others, so be cautious. I fight daily with deer eating my landscape.....or my "wildlife salad bar" as I call it.
Wow the rug situation looks bad! Loved learning the best and worst of the things you bought. I love how we can learn lessons from our experiences of purchasing. I am like you where sometimes I wait years before getting the thing that I have been wanting. That is like how I wanted a large rice cooker and had a 2 cup one for 18 years! Finally, I noticed that my mom had one in a box on her counter for two years. . . still unused. I asked her if she planned to actually use it or if I could have it since I have wanted and needed one - so she gave me it. Saved me money and cleared her clutter from her hoarding issues. It is scary to think how much worse situations may be for those who are NOT minimalists who just buy things that end up sitting around or getting trashed shortly afterwards.
When I was growing up, our ping-pong table fit over the pool table, and my parents hosted large groups for supper, seating them (somehow) around the table. I don't know what they used as a tablecloth, but with a little creative thinking, it served multiple purposes!
That's awesome! My husband's parents also use a ping pong table with tablecloths for holidays at their house because he has such a large family. It's a lot of fun. 😉
My husband was an avid gardender and he set up a grow light to start seedlings on the ping pong table. It didn't eat up too many weeks of use for it, LOL.
Well Marissa, I have a walking pad but have put off getting a standing desk because we live in a very small 600 sq ft home. Now that my husband is also using the pad daily and we found a place to leave it out permanently, I mentioned a standing desk and he was all for it! So!! Merry Christmas to me! Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
YES, your home purchase was EXCELLENT. The cabinets and backsplash -- I'm so glad you kept them. They are high quality and gorgeous and will last forever. When shopping on Amazon, if it's a major purchase -- like my standing desk that I recently bought -- I just eliminate looking at items that don't have "free shipping" AND "free returns." Free returns, especially for big items, is a Big Deal. Pillows: Man, I had to get rid of all things that had memory foam in them, in 2011. Memory foam almost (physically) killed me. It's a poison. If you look it up, you won't be able to find what chemicals are in there -- it's "proprietary." I'm lucky I got rid of mine before my health got any worse, and it was bad. What I replaced everything with was Japanese buckwheat hull pillows, tatami mats, and organic cotton futons. They are natural products and don't have poisons in them that my body is so sensitive to. No more memory foam for me, ever -- which is almost impossible to avoid, these days.
Hi I've just found you channel. And what a joy and great find it is. I've had a very emotional 2024, I've retired from work and am almost at the end of my breast cancer journey. I am also going to downsizing in 2025. I've decided to do decluttering by room, so now my bedroom is calm and restful, my bathroom is also a calming place as well. Still a long way to go but you videos are a joy. I love how you keep it really. I wish you and your beautiful family a fabulous 2025. Julue from Wales UK
Marissa, you are one of my favorite RUclipsrs and I absolutely love your content. I always look forward to your new videos. I face a lot of the same personal challenges that you do, so it helps immensely to see your videos. PS - I have an OXO pour over coffee gadget for cups of coffee in the morning, it is fantastic.
Two of my best purchases have both been this month but won't actually get until 2025: tickets for my husband and I to see Penn & Teller at the Sydney Opera House; and tickets to see ZZ Top and George Thorogood in concert. Both are experiences we have both wanted to do and will both enjoy rather than things we'll have to declutter later.
Certified black thumb here: i own a bird of paradise and the best purchase for it was a self watering planter (mine is from Lechuza with the corresponding substrate). I know it is more expensive, but it thrives in my flat. It sits next to the radiator in a southern window. The self watering is awesome, because I didn‘t know the leaves grew crispy because I overwatered or underwatered it before owning the pot. Maybe this is a purchase to think about for you😊
That’s exactly right, I didn’t know that was the word for it! I loved it as first sight because it reminded me of My Neighbor Totoro and Studi Ghibli in general 🥰
I scrolled a bit in your comments, didn't see anyone giving you honors for your french prononciation. So Yes, you're right, it is the correct "Le Creuset" prononciation and bravo! Once said, here in Paris I love to see your videos and even if we have to be a lot more drastic on clutter (living in 52m² for 3), I always check your good advices. Thanks for your content!
So nice to hear that! I actually studied French in high school, and even won contests for it, but when I ACTUALLY went to Paris quickly realized my teacher’s Indiana accent had greatly colored her French pronunciation. 😂 Ah, the good old days. Bisous from Chicago! 😘
Fantastic video as usual! I have the same Le Creuset pot in the maringue color. Just like all clad it will last forever! Either bon ami or bar keepers friend clean them up beautifully. Buy once, buy right. So glad you left your kitchen the way it is. It's fantastic!
Home ownership is a lot, but so worth it 💛 We love our house on five acres, I find a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment in looking after it. It's not perfect but it's enough 😊
I love feeding the squirrels. They devoured our pumpkins too. I actually had to get a food bowl for them because they expect food now and wait at my back door haha i feed them everything, baby puffs i sweep off the floor all kinds of things, old apples, etc .. 😂
Hi there! First of all , thank you!! I watched a few of your videos yesterday and I was inspired to declutter even more! I had done a huge declutter the beginning of last year so I didn’t realize there was more😂. I’m with you on the plants. The only plant I’ve found that I can’t kill is a Philodendron, I’m jealous of your Jade as I was unsuccessful with one of those beautiful plants last year 🥲 I love my AirPods too, I updated to some new ones last year as my old ones weren’t working. The stems on the new ones are longer, and I get irritation in my right ear once in a while. That shouldn’t have anything to do with the stems except maybe it causes the pod to sit in my ear differently?Anyone else have that problem? Love your channel, hope you have a great 2025!!🎉
I have never owned a toaster, but I have never lived without a toaster oven! 😆I have to be able to toast at least 4 slices at a time. Plus we use it to warm up leftover pizza, make nachos, frozen biscuits, tator tots, etc. It's really great for small items that don't need the whole oven (and won't heat up your house as much, which is great when you live in the south). As a side note, they are also great for taking on a hotel vacation. 😉 I have never heard anything good about items from wayfair. I feel as though they are the most often sold item on fb marketplace.
I don't usually comment, but feel I have to address the Chemex. My SIL has one and I love it! She has gas burners and can keep it over a low low flame to keep the coffee hot, and it works like a charm! Not sure what kind of stove you have, but if it's electric, you can keep it on a low heat with a wire grid and your coffee is always hot! The Chemex website gives details on ways to keep coffee hot once brewed. Love your videos and your new home! Congratulations!
A lot, but not all, leaf blowers operate as a leaf vacuum as well. If they come with a bag, you can suck up and mulch the leaves. It leaves the area so much cleaner, and those mulched leaves make great fertilzer if you have a place in your garden to use them. Another person commented on mulch mower. I own one of those and found it much easier to "mow" the leaves and leave them right where they fell on the lawn. It's great for the soil. I own both blower/vac for the planter beds and mulch mower for the lawn. Welcome to lawn maintenance. :-)
We love Bodum French press coffee makers however we had get rid of 2 due to chips in the glass. Best solution was the stainless steel Bodum french press - no glass to break, keeps coffee warm, and not a bad price. ❤ for the table tennis.
In reference to your issue with returning that table, I had a similar experience with Lowe’s in a toilet. They delivered only half of it and I spent forever arguing with their customer service but I finally turned to my credit card and filed a dispute and immediately got my refund that way because they handle everything with the company from then on out. It’s a discover card, not sure if all cc companies operate that way and so easily but man was it night and day!! Lowes jerked me around for so long, but my cc took care of it immediately!!
The birds grow in tropical climates, like where I live. They really arent watered, but sips on the rain water, and responds to humidity....perhaps it doesn't like where you've placed him, try another spot in your home. A visit to your plant nursery may be in order...just my thoughts. Aloha from your friend in the Hawaiian Islands 🌺
My 13 year old who helps with the dishes asked me to get the scrub daddy sponge - I though it was very unnecessary- but gave it a try We absolutely love it too Definitely a good purchase for us also
I have some glasses I thrifted I don’t like. I ended up using them on my counter/in my fridge for when I store herbs/celery/lettuce. When you get these items, cut the bottom off and put it in a glass with a little water. Store in the fridge or on the counter. They’ll last much longer.
I live in California ( San Diego) and they are everywhere. So just recreate the moist weather we get in the morning. They can take a bit of cold and lots of heat. If you can ground it once a week that would help as well. Love your home. My Mom had a mid century home. They are beautiful.
Happy Sunday, to you! Thank you for sharing your wins and not wins with us! I enjoy your videos and welcome the wise tips you share with us. About your plant, which is a tropical plant, perhaps it just needs a bit more ambient humidity to keep the leaves from breaking and tearing. Maybe setting it in your bathroom while taking a shower (not everyday, but often) would help it thrive. Definitely keep it away from heat vents and perhaps, instead of trip to the bathroom, a daily misting would help. Happy Christmas!
I have neck issues and I can't tell you how many pillows I have purchased and then gotten rid of. Regular pillows, supposed ergonomic pillows. None worked. I've found, for me, I need a very flat pillow that is only about 1.75 inches high. It's working for me, so I'm happy.
The old glasses could be used to propagate plants - some plants you can cut a leaf or branch, place in water and it will grow roots. I like using glass so I can see the progress without moving the plant. Your snake plants can definitely be propagated.
Growing up, my siblings played with the ping pong table all the time. Long Maine winters. I had/have no hand-eye coordination, so it wasn't my game. By the way, we named our current house "Fainting Squirrel Cottage". I love squirrels, too, but it gets hot inTexas, and I have to put water out for them....you find them draped in the trees.
Great Video Marissa your content is always so good! I have a Cousances Dutch oven and medium sauce pan ( Cousances is a brand that Le Crueset acquired) that I inherited from my grandmother. I’m 48 and these pots are still going strong and we use them at least 2 to three times a week. So your boys will definitely be able to inherit them! My resisted urge to purchase this week was nail polish for me and my daughters. It was on a great deal but we didn’t need because we have plenty that we are in the process of using up. Having a list and rules around how I allow myself to make purchases has saved us money and saved us from clutter and the stress that comes with clutter.
Birds of paradise are VERY tropical plants and our house humidity is like a dehydrator to them. Ambient house humidity is typically between 30-40% humidity, and these plants hail from regions that typically exceed 60-70%. Your plants are just super dry and crispy like how people get in our houses in winter. There’s not a great solution to humidity besides getting plants that don’t really mind the dry. A good option to replace the BOP with, if you wanted, would be a Parlor Palm. They don’t grow super fast and they’re another type of plant that can do well in low humidity and medium light levels (while they would also love as much as you could give them).
Additional help with your floor plant: Avoid obvious heat sources but place it on a saucer with stones, filled with water to create a moister atmosphere. Can also mist with water from a spray bottle a few times a week. Over- and under-watering is hard to identify but these two options should provide a better environment for your plant, especially in the winter. It's a lovely plant. (Good advice below to use bottom-up wicking method in tub, letting pot drain completely before placing back into cachepot/outer pot. Don't let it sit in water...as I've done by accident.) Good luck from a chronic over-waterer. Thanks for your videos...love the new house/setting.
My dad had the most gorgeous orchids growing up. He did your method of putting the potted orchid in a big foil roasting tray that had a layer of rocks in it. He would then water the tray and he misted them with water. We live in California, so they were under the covered patio year round. They were STUNNUNG!
Hi, I too tried the Fortunately mine came from the Goodwill. Not only did the coffee cool much too quickly, making it was a mess. It went back to Goodwill.😁
I have heard that many people use an app on their phone very successfully to take care of their indoor plants. You input the type of plant, then input a photo of your plant, and the app tells you what it needs to fix the problem you are perceiving. It also specifies watering and/or plant food schedules and gives you feedback on underwatering/overwatering.
Re: Chemex, we have one and I do believe that the main purpose is to drink it straightaway when it's ready and not leave it sitting there. If you serve it right when it's finished dripping, you'll have a nice cup!
There's now at least one (if not a couple) of "Washable rug" companies. I've not looked into them because I don't need a rug, but this may be a better option for you, especially with 2 boys.
The coffee maker you purchased is best for cold brew, FYI. My best purchase of the year is the Fullstar 9 in 1 vegetable chopper. To make a veggie heavy soup, it would have taken me 20-30 minutes to chop everything. Now, it takes me about 5 minutes to rough chop and another 5 to chop them. It has a 5 cup bin that holds just about everything in one go. Separately, you can buy stretchy silicone lids so you can pre-prep onions and garlic without stinking up the fridge. I don't know that I made a bad purchase this year. I'm pretty careful. I suppose the worst was a set of Art-n-fly pan watercolors, and even then I got it on sale. Ended up taking them out of the pan and reusing for a better tube color set.
Our alligators eat the opossums here. And coyotes are a problem for people with backyard chickens. Florida life! My 3 sons LOVED their ping pong table growing up !
Have used Terro Ant products for years. Best around! Glad you were able to get the refund from your Amazon purchase of a faulty sideboard. The color chosen for your floors are beautiful.
We have many battery operated tools. The extra batteries are extremely expensive. We now try to stay with one brand, Black and Decker, DeWalt, Millwaukee etc, then we buy another tool, perhaps a drill, that comes with the same battery. Often the tool and battery are the same price as the battery alone.
@@ArtingFromScratch Usually wait until it is heading to the dry section for most tropical plants. Either level 3 or 4 out of 10, with 10 being wet . For succulents, wait until it is completely dry (Level 1). Watering on a schedule doesn't always work because every environment is different and the plant's needs change throughout its development.
I'm definitely with you when it comes waiting a long time to buy something. I finally pulled the trigger on a PS5 since they put them on sale for the holidays. I've considered buying one off and on for years. At the same time I sold my old consoles to a coworker. I went from having 3 old consoles to 1 current gen console so now I have 2 less in my house. A minimalist win! Also, I love the Thuma bed frame concept but it's just too expensive.
We use Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter1 with Comfort Wand for exterior bug control. It is especially good for ants (and misc other bugs) that constantly try to come inside our home.
I wish you could put your house on the list because it is AWESOME. Water the bird of paradise when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. It means the plant grows in areas where it gets infrequent but soaking downpours - water a lot but not too frequently. If you water too often the roots will rot. In the winter it needs less water, as again the roots might rot - the temperature is lower so water won't evaporate as quickly
lt looks like your bird of paradise probably needs some more humidity. I am from south texas, and we had them outside in our backyard. Think of it like a tropical plant! Humidity is its friend! :) Stick it in the bathroom for a shower or two and it will be fine! LOT of light! Also, they don't like drafts! :)
I love your list. We have found off brand batteries to be worthless too. We actually started buying everything the same brand so we can switch the batteries around, and they use the same charging station. Also, those drinking glasses are from Walmart, they probably had some kind of coating on them and when washed or used improperly it started to deteriorate.
I'm not sure if this would fit your needs for coffee, but I ended up purchasing the AeroPress coffee maker, and I love it. You can make different types of coffee with it as it allows you to experiment, it's super easy to clean, and you can take it anywhere. If you want more than 1-2 cups of coffee though, you probably won't want to purchase it. Also the people who want a super easy way of making coffee probably wouldn't like it either.
For the glasses I would suggest trying to polish it using toothpaste for 5mins :) there are also window glass polishing kits but not sure if that would work
@@AtoZenLifewe have a terrible time with the tiny ants and one of my subs suggested cinnamon! LOL! I sprinkled it everywhere they were coming in and that stopped them for a couple months then I saw them again going after the cat food so I sprinkled more and no more ants. So I bought a new bottle of it hahaha 😅
I am wondering about the humidity level in your house. Bird of Paradise is a tropical plant that thrives on high humidity. By the way, your home is awesome ❤
What were your BEST and WORST purchases of 2024!? Please like this video and share your stories in the comments below!
I went through a phase when I was using a French Press for my coffee but like the Chemex it let my coffee get too cold. So I started using the BEHÖVD Vacuum flask, from Ikea to keep it warm. My husband can make coffee early in the morning and I have steaming coffee through lunch.
Hi Marissa! I just wanted to say that I think the person who judged you for having a ping-pong table is way off base. Firstly, looking at your home inside I would ABSOLUTELY say your family is minimalist! Secondly, how wonderful that you have a recreational item in your home! You don’t have to run to the park or wherever if the weather is bad. And I so appreciate your channel! You always take time to explain your thinking behind your purchases, and that helps me to ask questions before I buy something! Thank you! 😊
Totally agree. Also, it's great to invite friends over for ping pong, the children and adults. Great purchase! And if you use the item that you bought, then it's a minimalist buy.
I think your ping-pong table is terrific. Kids not glued to screens!!
Also I heard years ago that it’s the best home exercise for everyone. Alas I live alone so. So no ping pong table for me!
So great for father son time! They're good parents
Wow. Your home is absolutely breathtaking and literally my dream home. I’m so happy for you and your family that you found this home and that it is still on your best purchase list.
To avoid over- or under- watering a plant, the best tip a specialist gave me was: one per week, place your plant in a basin with 3-5 cm of water. Or in the bathtub with a few centimetres of water. Leave the plant in this position OVERNIGHT. This way, the plant will absorb EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT of water through its roots. By following this advice, all my plants have thrived.
Can confirm this works. Even with fusspots like orchids.
Interesting, but how does this work with different plants that need to be flooded with water rarely vs plants that like to be pretty much consistently moist.. May be a better way than just randomly watering, but I don't think it would best knowing the type of watering plant needs and using your finger to access dryness levels. Personally I am always very lazy to get my finger dirty😖
@@lenanayashkova Obviously I have not tried this tip with every single plant on planet Earth. So I cannot guarantee it works with all of them.
The thing is: the plant itself is the best judge of how much water it needs, which could vary according to the ambient temperature, the level of humidity in the air, the season, etc. This method allows the plant to take just what it needs. It has given very good results with a dozen different plants that I have experimented with. That's all I can say.
Easy to say if you have one, I have 33 plants 😂😂😂
Just keep some water for watering them inside the apartment to keep it air temperature, that already helps a lot.
@@KL-wp8ipsame here. I have 48 indoor plants
Marissa, A leaf blower can be a huge time saver,( they’re great for cleaning the garage floor too), but for lawns, consider a mulch mower. It’s a lawn mower with a mulching blade, the mulching blade shreds your leaves into tiny pieces, you leave the mulched leaves on your lawn and you have just taken advantage of free organic fertilizer. We have an electric mulch mover that is light weight, quieter and no more purchasing gas. Just charge the mover up, unplug and you are set to go.
I bought one of those and I love it!! It’s like vacuuming the yard 😅
I love my leaf blower! I use it all the time, I have arthritis in my back and sweeping can make me sore!
A battery powered leaf blower and mulching mower have been great additions to our garage too. Both help us get yard work done easier and without gas. Bonus, I can actually start the mower now.
I love your reasoning for a ping pong table! Every family is different with different needs and wants 😊
Absolutely agree! If you have the room!
Yay for table tennis tables! My brother and I played for hours from elementary years, throughout high school and beyond. My brother was a rated player for several years, even during med school. I'm sure your family will have hours of fun as your children grow.
I like using mason jars as glasses. You can buy tops tops for them to keep things fresh for later, use them for hot and cold drinks, save soups for later in the fridge,....
My friend gave me a bunch and they’re so useful!
We “borrowed” a couple of large mouth tall mason jars from my daughter. There’s only one left, but it’s strictly my husband’s only drinking glass!
Enjoy your ping-pong table! I understand 'minimalism' or 'overly simplified' to mean what's right for each person/family ... not choosing misery. 🤣
👏👏👏 Well said.
Exactly
You are so mindful with all your purchases, and it’s helped me and inspired me a lot.
I do have to say seeing you have things that you were disappointed in was really nice and refreshing.
You put so much thought into most things and to see you still have things you regret makes me feel like okay, it’s alright if you make purchase mistakes once in awhile, just learn from them.
Oh, I´m so glad to hear that you came to like the blue tiles in your kitchen! As I remember - you mentioned in one of your house tour videos, that you weren´t sure if you liked the blue color. I really like those tiles! Love from Denmark 💙💙
Thanks so much and cheers from Chicago 🙏❤️
In my mid fifties, I have taken up swimming laps in the past year and just bought myself a new bike (retiring the old one I got 25 years ago). I thank my mother a thousand times over for ensuring I learned those skills as a child. Still paying dividends.
Talk about scams, holiday scams that is. I need to replace my black v neck sweater, it’s past the point of even being donatable. Barefoot Dreams had the exact one I want on the 12 days of Christmas sale for $45 this morning….woot woot! Or so I thought. I added to my cart, proceeded to checkout and discovered the shipping charge was $17.49! For a sweater! If I want free shipping I have to send $150! Oh hell no! So they can keep their “sale” sweater and I will keep my money. I have a brown one I can wear instead. Happy Sunday everyone ❤️💚
Just as a heads up Barefoot dreams has gotta be one of the most marked up mid price brands in their market. It's fleece blankets and fleece robes. Nordstrom rack sells versions of the blankets like 60% the price of the ones sold at Nordstrom full line, and I bet there's millions of dupes of the apparel barefoot dreams makes online by now.
I bought the toaster, agreed! Best purchase in a very long time!! I got the same dutch oven on a facebook group for $25. It was never used - so happy I didn't rush into this purchase!
Don't worry about the rug, looks like a wool one and the shedding is normal with that kind of pile. It does get better over time. Also, I would recommend keeping your car in the garage if you have squirrels. They will chew through wires in the engine, to the radio, airbags etc. Ask me how I know 😱
Oh my goodness! 😱 Hopefully the pumpkins will keep them busy lol. 🤣
Agreed re the rug. Just vacuum it repeatedly until most of the loose fibres are gone. Then the rug will be less of an issue.
I had a wool rug for decades and it never stopped shedding. I had no idea how it lost so much and still looked good but it did. I’d get a different rug if I had to do it again.
Was thinking the same thing about the rug. I have a large wool rug that we purchased almost 20 years ago and it shred for a good 5 years. It finally stopped leaving a huge mess and is now such a beautiful statement piece in our living room. Just vacuum frequently and it should be good! Remember to clean out the vacuum’s dirt cup every time you vacuum. It WILL be full of fibers in just a few seconds 🥴
You can buy a gadget that you put under the hood that will keep critters away. I had tons of issues with mice chewing cords, building nests, and all kinds of other things. Peppermint will also keep mice out of your garage.
Really liked this video including the end where you show what you resisted purchasing.
Thank you! And those were just a few examples…there are thousands more temptations through an entire year, so being able to resist impulse purchases saves so much money and headache! 🙌
I also absolutely love our Thuma bed! Glad you found them!
Creating another source of income in these difficult times is the best thing to do not only does it guarantee returns, it also helps you plan and save for future expenses I hope everyone who reads this will be successful in life
Assets that can make one successful in life
I. Forex
2.Stocks
3.Shares
forex is profitable and lucrative investment online
@@Mark-r6i1qYou are right.
But I don't know why people remain poor due to ignorance
Opossums, totally cute and are wonderful for pest control.
I bet! We also have a raccoon family of 3 that frequents our yard 😄
@@AtoZenLife I live in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Since moving into my home I have seen deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, raccoons, groundhogs, Opossums, chipmunks, moles, and I'm not sure but might be forgetting others on that list. Opossums are such helpful (they eat ticks), docile creatures and because of their eerie appearance are mostly misunderstood. Be glad for all your critters. Some destroy more plants than others, so be cautious. I fight daily with deer eating my landscape.....or my "wildlife salad bar" as I call it.
@@kristywhited8857we also have skunk and fox!!
Good for you and your PIng Pong Table!! YOU ARE Spot ON!! Your family! Your minimalism!! :)
Wow the rug situation looks bad! Loved learning the best and worst of the things you bought. I love how we can learn lessons from our experiences of purchasing. I am like you where sometimes I wait years before getting the thing that I have been wanting. That is like how I wanted a large rice cooker and had a 2 cup one for 18 years! Finally, I noticed that my mom had one in a box on her counter for two years. . . still unused. I asked her if she planned to actually use it or if I could have it since I have wanted and needed one - so she gave me it. Saved me money and cleared her clutter from her hoarding issues.
It is scary to think how much worse situations may be for those who are NOT minimalists who just buy things that end up sitting around or getting trashed shortly afterwards.
A lot of times if you mention to a friend or family member that you’ve been wanting to get xyz they may have one they don’t use! It’s a win-win!
When I was growing up, our ping-pong table fit over the pool table, and my parents hosted large groups for supper, seating them (somehow) around the table. I don't know what they used as a tablecloth, but with a little creative thinking, it served multiple purposes!
That's awesome! My husband's parents also use a ping pong table with tablecloths for holidays at their house because he has such a large family. It's a lot of fun. 😉
My husband was an avid gardender and he set up a grow light to start seedlings on the ping pong table. It didn't eat up too many weeks of use for it, LOL.
Well Marissa, I have a walking pad but have put off getting a standing desk because we live in a very small 600 sq ft home. Now that my husband is also using the pad daily and we found a place to leave it out permanently, I mentioned a standing desk and he was all for it! So!! Merry Christmas to me! Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
If you keep your eye out in the yard in the spring, the squirrels may have planted some pumpkins for you. 😁
“Living my best Studio Ghibli life”. Goals. 😂👏 It’s not often you find channels that are inspiring AND practical! I appreciate your content so much!!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
We had a ping pong table when I was growing up in Iowa. It was the best fun all year long! Even our cat use to play.
😂 Your cat used to play! Oh man that’s hilarious. I love cats, ours do the funniest things.
YES, your home purchase was EXCELLENT. The cabinets and backsplash -- I'm so glad you kept them. They are high quality and gorgeous and will last forever. When shopping on Amazon, if it's a major purchase -- like my standing desk that I recently bought -- I just eliminate looking at items that don't have "free shipping" AND "free returns." Free returns, especially for big items, is a Big Deal. Pillows: Man, I had to get rid of all things that had memory foam in them, in 2011. Memory foam almost (physically) killed me. It's a poison. If you look it up, you won't be able to find what chemicals are in there -- it's "proprietary." I'm lucky I got rid of mine before my health got any worse, and it was bad. What I replaced everything with was Japanese buckwheat hull pillows, tatami mats, and organic cotton futons. They are natural products and don't have poisons in them that my body is so sensitive to. No more memory foam for me, ever -- which is almost impossible to avoid, these days.
Buckwheat hull pillows are great! Neck support, and cooling, too!
Hi I've just found you channel. And what a joy and great find it is. I've had a very emotional 2024, I've retired from work and am almost at the end of my breast cancer journey. I am also going to downsizing in 2025. I've decided to do decluttering by room, so now my bedroom is calm and restful, my bathroom is also a calming place as well. Still a long way to go but you videos are a joy. I love how you keep it really. I wish you and your beautiful family a fabulous 2025. Julue from Wales UK
Marissa, you are one of my favorite RUclipsrs and I absolutely love your content. I always look forward to your new videos. I face a lot of the same personal challenges that you do, so it helps immensely to see your videos. PS - I have an OXO pour over coffee gadget for cups of coffee in the morning, it is fantastic.
Ours is the OXO as well! Thanks so much for sharing and your support ☺️🙏
Two of my best purchases have both been this month but won't actually get until 2025: tickets for my husband and I to see Penn & Teller at the Sydney Opera House; and tickets to see ZZ Top and George Thorogood in concert. Both are experiences we have both wanted to do and will both enjoy rather than things we'll have to declutter later.
I love my drinking glasses from IKEA. I have had them for 3 years now & they still look brand new.
Drawer organizer AMAZING. I HOPE YOUR HUSBAND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO FURNISH AND DECORATE YOUR HOME. I KNO YOU DO ALOT TOGETHER
Certified black thumb here: i own a bird of paradise and the best purchase for it was a self watering planter (mine is from Lechuza with the corresponding substrate). I know it is more expensive, but it thrives in my flat. It sits next to the radiator in a southern window. The self watering is awesome, because I didn‘t know the leaves grew crispy because I overwatered or underwatered it before owning the pot. Maybe this is a purchase to think about for you😊
Your house is absolutely amazing. I love your front door. And the sun porch is so charming. It looks like a Engawa.
That’s exactly right, I didn’t know that was the word for it! I loved it as first sight because it reminded me of My Neighbor Totoro and Studi Ghibli in general 🥰
I scrolled a bit in your comments, didn't see anyone giving you honors for your french prononciation. So Yes, you're right, it is the correct "Le Creuset" prononciation and bravo! Once said, here in Paris I love to see your videos and even if we have to be a lot more drastic on clutter (living in 52m² for 3), I always check your good advices. Thanks for your content!
So nice to hear that! I actually studied French in high school, and even won contests for it, but when I ACTUALLY went to Paris quickly realized my teacher’s Indiana accent had greatly colored her French pronunciation. 😂 Ah, the good old days. Bisous from Chicago! 😘
The jacket for the coffee is so funny 😁
Fantastic video as usual! I have the same Le Creuset pot in the maringue color. Just like all clad it will last forever! Either bon ami or bar keepers friend clean them up beautifully. Buy once, buy right. So glad you left your kitchen the way it is. It's fantastic!
Oh thank you, and PS I love the meringue color! I was eyeballing that one before I found this color. Nice choice 👍
Home ownership is a lot, but so worth it 💛 We love our house on five acres, I find a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment in looking after it. It's not perfect but it's enough 😊
I love feeding the squirrels. They devoured our pumpkins too. I actually had to get a food bowl for them because they expect food now and wait at my back door haha i feed them everything, baby puffs i sweep off the floor all kinds of things, old apples, etc .. 😂
Right? They are so sweet. The pumpkins are gone now and we miss seeing them 🥲
Hi there! First of all , thank you!! I watched a few of your videos yesterday and I was inspired to declutter even more! I had done a huge declutter the beginning of last year so I didn’t realize there was more😂. I’m with you on the plants. The only plant I’ve found that I can’t kill is a Philodendron, I’m jealous of your Jade as I was unsuccessful with one of those beautiful plants last year 🥲
I love my AirPods too, I updated to some new ones last year as my old ones weren’t working. The stems on the new ones are longer, and I get irritation in my right ear once in a while. That shouldn’t have anything to do with the stems except maybe it causes the pod to sit in my ear differently?Anyone else have that problem? Love your channel, hope you have a great 2025!!🎉
I have never owned a toaster, but I have never lived without a toaster oven! 😆I have to be able to toast at least 4 slices at a time. Plus we use it to warm up leftover pizza, make nachos, frozen biscuits, tator tots, etc. It's really great for small items that don't need the whole oven (and won't heat up your house as much, which is great when you live in the south). As a side note, they are also great for taking on a hotel vacation. 😉
I have never heard anything good about items from wayfair. I feel as though they are the most often sold item on fb marketplace.
I don't usually comment, but feel I have to address the Chemex. My SIL has one and I love it! She has gas burners and can keep it over a low low flame to keep the coffee hot, and it works like a charm! Not sure what kind of stove you have, but if it's electric, you can keep it on a low heat with a wire grid and your coffee is always hot! The Chemex website gives details on ways to keep coffee hot once brewed. Love your videos and your new home! Congratulations!
A lot, but not all, leaf blowers operate as a leaf vacuum as well. If they come with a bag, you can suck up and mulch the leaves. It leaves the area so much cleaner, and those mulched leaves make great fertilzer if you have a place in your garden to use them. Another person commented on mulch mower. I own one of those and found it much easier to "mow" the leaves and leave them right where they fell on the lawn. It's great for the soil. I own both blower/vac for the planter beds and mulch mower for the lawn. Welcome to lawn maintenance. :-)
We love Bodum French press coffee makers however we had get rid of 2 due to chips in the glass. Best solution was the stainless steel Bodum french press - no glass to break, keeps coffee warm, and not a bad price.
❤ for the table tennis.
Squirrel watching is one of my favorite things. You can also get cute squirrel feeders. The bungee cord for a corn cob is hysterical.
In reference to your issue with returning that table, I had a similar experience with Lowe’s in a toilet. They delivered only half of it and I spent forever arguing with their customer service but I finally turned to my credit card and filed a dispute and immediately got my refund that way because they handle everything with the company from then on out. It’s a discover card, not sure if all cc companies operate that way and so easily but man was it night and day!! Lowes jerked me around for so long, but my cc took care of it immediately!!
The birds grow in tropical climates, like where I live.
They really arent watered, but sips on the rain water, and responds to humidity....perhaps it doesn't like where you've placed him, try another spot in your home. A visit to your plant nursery may be in order...just my thoughts.
Aloha from your friend in the Hawaiian Islands 🌺
Have you done a house tour? Would love to know where your dining table & chairs are from! Thank you!😊❤
My 13 year old who helps with the dishes asked me to get the scrub daddy sponge - I though it was very unnecessary- but gave it a try
We absolutely love it too
Definitely a good purchase for us also
Marissa, try the loop airbuds that are made for concerts. You can still hear everything your kids are saying, but not too loud.
I have some glasses I thrifted I don’t like. I ended up using them on my counter/in my fridge for when I store herbs/celery/lettuce. When you get these items, cut the bottom off and put it in a glass with a little water. Store in the fridge or on the counter. They’ll last much longer.
I’ve done the same with parsley and cilantro…used old jam jars 👏
I bought a rug from pottery barn and they told me it will stop shedding in 6 month. Nope, 5 years later - still shed. I share your frustration!!
😳😢
PLANT nerd here
FYI: Strelitzia are native to the Cape Province of South Africa (not tropical at all, lots of dry heat).
I live in California ( San Diego) and they are everywhere. So just recreate the moist weather we get in the morning. They can take a bit of cold and lots of heat. If you can ground it once a week that would help as well. Love your home. My Mom had a mid century home. They are beautiful.
Happy Sunday, to you! Thank you for sharing your wins and not wins with us! I enjoy your videos and welcome the wise tips you share with us. About your plant, which is a tropical plant, perhaps it just needs a bit more ambient humidity to keep the leaves from breaking and tearing. Maybe setting it in your bathroom while taking a shower (not everyday, but often) would help it thrive. Definitely keep it away from heat vents and perhaps, instead of trip to the bathroom, a daily misting would help. Happy Christmas!
I have neck issues and I can't tell you how many pillows I have purchased and then gotten rid of. Regular pillows, supposed ergonomic pillows. None worked. I've found, for me, I need a very flat pillow that is only about 1.75 inches high. It's working for me, so I'm happy.
The old glasses could be used to propagate plants - some plants you can cut a leaf or branch, place in water and it will grow roots. I like using glass so I can see the progress without moving the plant. Your snake plants can definitely be propagated.
Growing up, my siblings played with the ping pong table all the time. Long Maine winters. I had/have no hand-eye coordination, so it wasn't my game. By the way, we named our current house "Fainting Squirrel Cottage". I love squirrels, too, but it gets hot inTexas, and I have to put water out for them....you find them draped in the trees.
I luv your list of purchases
Great Video Marissa your content is always so good!
I have a Cousances Dutch oven and medium sauce pan ( Cousances is a brand that Le Crueset acquired) that I inherited from my grandmother. I’m 48 and these pots are still going strong and we use them at least 2 to three times a week. So your boys will definitely be able to inherit them!
My resisted urge to purchase this week was nail polish for me and my daughters. It was on a great deal but we didn’t need because we have plenty that we are in the process of using up.
Having a list and rules around how I allow myself to make purchases has saved us money and saved us from clutter and the stress that comes with clutter.
Birds of paradise are VERY tropical plants and our house humidity is like a
dehydrator to them. Ambient house humidity is typically between 30-40% humidity, and these plants hail from regions that typically exceed 60-70%. Your plants are just super dry and crispy like how people get in our houses in winter. There’s not a great solution to humidity besides getting plants that don’t really mind the dry. A good option to replace the BOP with, if you wanted, would be a Parlor Palm. They don’t grow super fast and they’re another type of plant that can do well in low humidity and medium light levels (while they would also love as much as you could give them).
I think this must be it…Chicago winters are SUPER dry. My hands crack like crazy. Thanks for the info 🙏❤️
AKA Kenneth Bailey What an Absolutely Wonderful Person You have been these years !!!😊😊😊
Additional help with your floor plant: Avoid obvious heat sources but place it on a saucer with stones, filled with water to create a moister atmosphere. Can also mist with water from a spray bottle a few times a week. Over- and under-watering is hard to identify but these two options should provide a better environment for your plant, especially in the winter. It's a lovely plant. (Good advice below to use bottom-up wicking method in tub, letting pot drain completely before placing back into cachepot/outer pot. Don't let it sit in water...as I've done by accident.) Good luck from a chronic over-waterer. Thanks for your videos...love the new house/setting.
My dad had the most gorgeous orchids growing up. He did your method of putting the potted orchid in a big foil roasting tray that had a layer of rocks in it. He would then water the tray and he misted them with water. We live in California, so they were under the covered patio year round. They were STUNNUNG!
@@elizabethbertsch3066 Beautiful memory, and a great technique. Wish I'd know it when I attempted orchids...with no luck.
Hi, I too tried the Fortunately mine came from the Goodwill. Not only did the coffee cool much too quickly, making it was a mess. It went back to Goodwill.😁
❤❤❤❤ GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR Family, don't listen to silly people ❤❤❤❤❤
I have heard that many people use an app on their phone very successfully to take care of their indoor plants. You input the type of plant, then input a photo of your plant, and the app tells you what it needs to fix the problem you are perceiving. It also specifies watering and/or plant food schedules and gives you feedback on underwatering/overwatering.
Re: Chemex, we have one and I do believe that the main purpose is to drink it straightaway when it's ready and not leave it sitting there. If you serve it right when it's finished dripping, you'll have a nice cup!
I'm from Chicago. The ping pong table or something similar is a good idea!
There's now at least one (if not a couple) of "Washable rug" companies. I've not looked into them because I don't need a rug, but this may be a better option for you, especially with 2 boys.
I got a Ruggable two years ago and we didn’t like it. 🥲 So hard to find a good rug!
18:34, minimalism looks different for every single person...
You have a beautiful home and family. I can only dream of such a nice home and neighboorhood some day.
I have the uplift desk! Absolutely love it ❤
The coffee maker you purchased is best for cold brew, FYI. My best purchase of the year is the Fullstar 9 in 1 vegetable chopper. To make a veggie heavy soup, it would have taken me 20-30 minutes to chop everything. Now, it takes me about 5 minutes to rough chop and another 5 to chop them. It has a 5 cup bin that holds just about everything in one go. Separately, you can buy stretchy silicone lids so you can pre-prep onions and garlic without stinking up the fridge. I don't know that I made a bad purchase this year. I'm pretty careful. I suppose the worst was a set of Art-n-fly pan watercolors, and even then I got it on sale. Ended up taking them out of the pan and reusing for a better tube color set.
Our alligators eat the opossums here. And coyotes are a problem for people with backyard chickens. Florida life! My 3 sons LOVED their ping pong table growing up !
Swim lessons are so important for safety too! An underrated skill to have. 🙏🏼 Love your videos! 🫶🏼👏🏼🩷
Love the ping pong table! We had the tabletop version growing up and we loved playing
You can return pillows😊
Have used Terro Ant products for years. Best around! Glad you were able to get the refund from your Amazon purchase of a faulty sideboard. The color chosen for your floors are beautiful.
We have many battery operated tools. The extra batteries are extremely expensive. We now try to stay with one brand, Black and Decker, DeWalt, Millwaukee etc, then we buy another tool, perhaps a drill, that comes with the same battery. Often the tool and battery are the same price as the battery alone.
Refreshing that you didn’t feel the need to gut renovate your beautiful mcm house. Great flooring choice! I enjoy your channel.
Oh dangit... I just bought that exact sideboard. I just unpacked it (haven't started trying to build it yet...😬)
Oh my goodness!!! I hope you have better luck than us. 🤞🤞🤞
❤❤❤❤ that's so cute
Get a leaf vacuum. Yard work is exercise so you won't miss exercise you did in your last city
Bird of Paradise plants likes warmth and humidity - maybe the bathroom?
Lovely vid by the way
Get a moisture meter. It will help with the plant watering issues.
I never know what level each plant needs
@@ArtingFromScratch Usually wait until it is heading to the dry section for most tropical plants. Either level 3 or 4 out of 10, with 10 being wet .
For succulents, wait until it is completely dry (Level 1).
Watering on a schedule doesn't always work because every environment is different and the plant's needs change throughout its development.
I'm definitely with you when it comes waiting a long time to buy something. I finally pulled the trigger on a PS5 since they put them on sale for the holidays. I've considered buying one off and on for years. At the same time I sold my old consoles to a coworker. I went from having 3 old consoles to 1 current gen console so now I have 2 less in my house. A minimalist win!
Also, I love the Thuma bed frame concept but it's just too expensive.
19:52 my mom passed away around 8yrs ago. She used to say this all the time hahaha what a blast from the past. Thank you
Terro is the best for every kind of ant!!!
We use Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter1 with Comfort Wand for exterior bug control. It is especially good for ants (and misc other bugs) that constantly try to come inside our home.
I wish you could put your house on the list because it is AWESOME. Water the bird of paradise when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. It means the plant grows in areas where it gets infrequent but soaking downpours - water a lot but not too frequently. If you water too often the roots will rot. In the winter it needs less water, as again the roots might rot - the temperature is lower so water won't evaporate as quickly
lt looks like your bird of paradise probably needs some more humidity. I am from south texas, and we had them outside in our backyard. Think of it like a tropical plant! Humidity is its friend! :) Stick it in the bathroom for a shower or two and it will be fine! LOT of light! Also, they don't like drafts! :)
26:38 wow 🤯
I love your list. We have found off brand batteries to be worthless too. We actually started buying everything the same brand so we can switch the batteries around, and they use the same charging station.
Also, those drinking glasses are from Walmart, they probably had some kind of coating on them and when washed or used improperly it started to deteriorate.
I'm not sure if this would fit your needs for coffee, but I ended up purchasing the AeroPress coffee maker, and I love it. You can make different types of coffee with it as it allows you to experiment, it's super easy to clean, and you can take it anywhere. If you want more than 1-2 cups of coffee though, you probably won't want to purchase it. Also the people who want a super easy way of making coffee probably wouldn't like it either.
For the glasses I would suggest trying to polish it using toothpaste for 5mins :) there are also window glass polishing kits but not sure if that would work
Thank you, I will try that!
I love the smaller ribbed glasses you have. Where did you get them?
Great list! I love your kitchen and am thrilled you love it too!
The ant killer works great. I bought some for my house and within 12 hours, all the ants were gone. I highly recommend this product.
It was night and day to the Raid brand…they weren’t fazed by that AT ALL!
@@AtoZenLifewe have a terrible time with the tiny ants and one of my subs suggested cinnamon! LOL! I sprinkled it everywhere they were coming in and that stopped them for a couple months then I saw them again going after the cat food so I sprinkled more and no more ants. So I bought a new bottle of it hahaha 😅
I am wondering about the humidity level in your house. Bird of Paradise is a tropical plant that thrives on high humidity.
By the way, your home is awesome ❤