I am dedicated to simplifying my life. As a testament to this, I recently emailed all of my family and friends with a list of items Josh and I have decided to sell. I’m also planning to have a yard sale to try and get rid of even more stuff. When I shop, I try to consciously consider whether or not each item is truly needed (not just waned) before placing it in my shopping cart. (Note: Chocolate is a necessity. Always.) Also, Josh and I also go through our wardrobe at regular intervals and donate items we no longer wear.

Because I am a realist, when trying to determine which of my clothes to donate, I divide the items into five categories (read: piles on my bedroom floor).

1. Keep-this pile is home to the clothes I am currently wearing.
2. Toss-these items are too ratty to even donate. They either get thrown away or cut up into rags.
3. Offer to friends/family-if I come across an item I think a friend or family member would really like, I offer it to them before putting it in the donate pile.
4. Donate-these are clothes items that for one reason or another, I just don’t wear anymore. I like to package these up and take them to FreeSpace as a way of recycling them.
5. “Never Going to Fit in Again. Ever. (Seriously, never.)”-this pile is comprised of clothing from my skinnier, pre-baby days (pre-marriage, even). While I never expect to actually be able to wear these clothes again, I am unable to get rid of them because they are my beloved. Some notable items from The Fifth Pile are my yellow dress, my stupid pants (read: capris) from Old Navy, my jean skirt, and my Gap trousers.

Ladies and gentlemen of the internet, today I write to you with a great joy in my heart. Today, after realizing I had no clean pants to wear, I discovered that I once again fit into my jean skirt. Hallelujah! The Skirt is risen indeed! Praise the Lord for breastfeeding-induced weight loss, because He knows I’m sure as hell not partaking in any actual exercise. And also, I love chocolate.

Also joining in the Resurrection are my yellow dress, my black skirt, and my Gap trousers.