Things I will not be taking to our apartment.

I’m really excited about this, y’all.

Justen and I have found the place we’ll live in after we’re married (AND THEY APPROVED US TO LIVE THERE). Insert that happy crying emoji RIGHT HERE.

I’ve been wanting to find a place that wasn’t cookie cutter. I didn’t want the same cream carpet and beige walls and brown cabinets. I wanted character and charm and something that was different. I’ve been trolling listings for awhile and FREAKED OUT about this one. Justen went to see the apartment, we decided to apply, and then about a week later we found out we’re approved and get the keys right after we get back.

Oh and… I haven’t ever actually seen it. Justen FaceTimed me while he walked through it, and I loved it, but still. My first time seeing the apartment is when I’m bringing stuff into it to move in (I’ll be moving in first).

But y’all. It’s located above an antique store on a cute little downtown street we’ve visited many times before. It has hardwood floors and an exposed brick wall in the kitchen and pretty white doors. I’d show you the pictures but they just don’t seem to do it justice. It’s within walking distance of a $5 theater, a coffee shop that serves Monin coconut syrup, and a bakery with the best nitro cold brew I’ve ever had. AND IT IS ABOVE AN ANTIQUE STORE.

So anyway. When I get home, I’ll be packing my stuff up to move in. and you know what I’m excited about? I’m excited about a blank slate in which to not put a bunch of crap. It’s like the ultimate act of decluttering. Do I take the crap or not?

I’ve already begun to think about what I will not be taking with me to our new home.

More than 5 bottles of nail polish
One of my 101 in 1001 items is to get rid of all but 5 bottles of nail polish and not buy any more until I use them all up. This seems like the absolute best time to do this. While there is something really definitively girly about having eighteen zillion shades of pink nail polish, I will never be able to use them up. They will always win. It’s a small victory over clutter and I’m going to claim it.

Bread and Milk
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen the post I made about being ready to do Whole30 in September. A few years ago I was 100% rocking the gluten/dairy-free lifestyle. It was my jam (on gf bread, of course). After my last Whole30, idk what happened. I went food crazy and I’ve been eating all the crap. Having empty cupboards and an empty fridge gives me the opportunity to NOT put things in there. Things like bread and milk and cheese. Instead, I can stock foods that are 100% good to put in my body and not have to worry about it.

More than 50 pens
This was also on my 101 in 1001 list – to get rid of all but 50 pens. Justen wrote me a letter earlier this summer and in it mentioned that he didn’t have many pens and would have to get more. I freaked and told him NO WAY JOSE, because I have more pens than I should! Again, it’s that same setting myself up for a small clutter victory thing. Instead of bringing all infinityzillion (made that up) of my pens and then deciding what to keep, I’ll only bring what I’m going to keep.

Samples
This is a big one, y’all. Today I was using up a teeny tiny bottle of cleanser I got in a Birchbox a few months ago and I realized that I need to just clean slate the samples. I’ve been trying to be more diligent with using them up, but there’s no way I’ll be able to get this under control. Honestly, I just need to go through and only bring the makeup/products I actually use, and then it will be a joy and not a burden to receive new samples in the mail each month. This one might be hard.

Trinkets I’ve kept out of sentimentality
I’m the worst at keeping things because they were gifts. I have a really hard time getting rid of gifts, no matter how small or insignificant. Over the course of my life, I have collected quite the trinket collection. But since this will be Justen’s home too, I don’t want for him to have to be surrounded by tiny clutter-y gifts people have given me over my lifetime. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy taking care of these items and now it’s time to say goodbye to them and move on.
Books I’ll probably never read
Whenever someone offers to loan me a book, I lose my mind. I have so many books, y’all. Books can be so cheap if you buy them at second hand bookstores, garage sales or thrift store 1/2 off days. Like the trinkets, I’ve accumulated a collection of books I’ll probably never read. Instead of bringing them with me to be a constant, daily reminder of how I don’t read as much as I should, I’m just going to put them back into the second hand bookstore, garage sale, thrift store cycle.

I’m sure that as I’m packing things up, I’ll find more things that aren’t worth taking with me – any suggestions? I’ll keep y’all updated. It’s like the biggest, most efficient decluttering ever. Just don’t take stuff. I love it and I’m so excited.

Plus.

This apartment, you guys.