Doing my Project 333

I came across Project 333 and decided to take it on.  This post will give you Project 333 background and my reasons why I’m doing it.  Fast summery three months 33 items of clothing/shoes/accessories to wear.

I wanted to give an update since I’ve been into it almost a month.  To get my 33 items I tossed all my summer clothes on the bed. There were certain items I knew right off wouldn’t make the cut so I put them away. I cleared out a drawer for tops I was wearing for the next three months and another drawer for tops I wasn’t.  That way I wouldn’t be tempted to wear a top when I opened the drawer. No need to access that drawer for three months. It is working.

I need work clothes – not business suits but casual items. Capris and nice tops for the summer. I ended up with 9 bottoms. These include jeans. Remember I need work and play clothes. Also one dress a friend had recently given me that I thought would shake things up a bit.  I picked out 17 tops. Typing that it sounds like a lot and I guess it is if you check out what other people’s 33 items are. I’m not into accessories so I didn’t include scarves, necklaces or bracelets. I walk everywhere so sneakers and a pair of sandals. For purses I have my backpack which I take to work everyday with wallet and lunch. That meant one pursue for the weekend.  Last items were two pairs of earrings. Earrings are the only jewelry I wear everyday. I put all my jewelry away in a box and left out a pair of silver hoops (small) and my fishhook silver fish earrings. These fish earrings I have had forever and have always been my go to summer earrings.

I put my 33 items separate from my others clothes so I just access them. I’m lucky to have a big enough closet for that. It makes it easier not seeing other stuff. A friend at work asked me when I was starting my Project 333 and I said I had already! So she didn’t notice the same clothes (or what I thought was the same clothes) every week.

When my clothes were on my bed I started mixing what tops would work with what bottoms.  Since I have more tops than bottoms I started with bottoms. I laid them out and went to the tops mixing and matching with them. Some items were easy like backpack, sneakers, jeans and a few tops. I don’t feel like I’m missing stuff for the majority of the time.  More on weekends when I want to grab a t-shirt. Yes I have t-shirts in my 33 items, but sometimes I think oh that one.

I don’t mind having less clothes to go through. I pick my clothes out on Sunday for the week so no scrambling in the morning.  I have more than enough clothes so I’m not repeating myself during the week. I mean 17 tops seriously (yes a few are for play) so that is two weeks of work with no repeats.  Can wear jeans on Friday.

I can already see a few of the items I will be donating when my three months are up. Clothes I didn’t wear and didn’t make the cut to even consider being part of my 33.  Also no purchasing of clothes for three months.

My biggest struggle is weekends and tops that didn’t make the cut but I like. But I’m good with that.  They are in the drawer waiting. Some to keep and others definitely into the goodwill bag.

This hasn’t been as hard as I thought when I made the decision to do Project 333.  I recommend checking it out – link in my original post at the top. I will be getting rid of clothes when this is over and can see more closet space. Also knowing my style more and what clothes made the cut and why.

Everyone’s 33 items for 3 months will be different and that is what makes this interesting. I know I have more tops than necessary. Maybe I should have chosen another set of earrings or a bracelet for the summer.

The project (your items) are not set in stone. The author says if you find you need to swap stuff out do it. This shouldn’t feel like a sentence. It is to show us what is important to us and that yeah maybe we have too much stuff.  Less choice can be a good thing, especially if you are looking into a fully packed closet with nothing to wear.

If you have done Project 333 or considering it, I would love to hear your take on it. Along with how you made your choices and what your items were.

Rolling into the next four months with Project 333

I started the year with intentionally living. Focusing on what was around me. What I wanted to accomplished in the next four month. Being intentional with how I spent my time and at the end of the four months know some major things were completed. I have less than a week left and I can say “not bad”. Now to regroup and set my intention for the next four months.

I’m always looking for book recommendations and jotting them down. I think I found Project 333 through a blog post.  I started reading the book and thought yeah this makes sense. This is a project I want to take on.

Summery of Project 333 is for three months you only wear 33 items of clothing/shoes/accessories.  This includes jewelry and pursues. What you don’t have to include is underwear, sleepwear or workout clothes. Thank goodness.  Check out the site for all the details. I read the book as I’m old school.

So what better intention to take on for the next four months than Project 333. I’m giving myself a month to get the summer clothes out, sorted and what I’m not wearing put away. The month of May can be dicey here I wouldn’t call is necessarily summer weather. Courtney Carver, author, recommends not giving your stuff away (yet!!) but getting it out of the closet and sight.

My plan is to put tops that are not part of my 33 items all in one drawer and leave them. I’m also boxing up jewelry – I have a dresser covered with items. At this point I figure maybe two sets of earrings. Nothing else as I want to make sure I have enough tops and pants. I know runners, jacket, backpack and sandals are on my list.

It doesn’t seem as daunting as it could be as only for three months. Plus I don’t have to have winter and summer clothes together as part of my 33 items. So no boots or winter coat needed. Courtney say to be flexible. Just because someone has X many pants on their list doesn’t mean you have to. The book gave winter/spring/summer/fall lists of what various people had as their 33 items. It was interesting as one person had way more jewelry and scarves than I thought you would need. She was doing her which was great and what it is all about.

Project 333 also talks about living with less. That enough is enough. When we start with our closets and challenge ourselves there to live with less (33 items), that it can trickle down to other areas. We start to realize we can live with less stuff in our homes. Stuff that is weighing us down. See my closet! I can do this. It can be the start of freeing ourselves of stuff. Less consumerism. We don’t shop as we have enough. We realize that maybe shopping was filling a void. Instant gratification anyone? That we have enough and can concentrate on what bring us joy without stress. Nature, reading, writing, crafts the list goes on.

So May I make my list, get my stuff out and put the rest away. Giving myself May as it can still be a bit cool here for capris and a t-shirt. I will keep you posted on my 33 items. If you want to join check out the website, read the book and do it. It would be great to have accountabilities partners to check in with.

Deep breath Project 333.