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    One Shirt, Two Shirts, Red Shirt, Blue Shirt

    March 22, 2011 /

    Hi, My name is Amanda and I have a problem.

    (That’s where it starts right..)

    When I find a shirt I like, I buy it in every color. Or at least I buy it in two or three colors. 
    Now, there may be a line of reasoning somewhere that says this isn’t such a bad idea. I mean, when you really like something, why not have multiples of it? The problem comes when this is not a one time process. And I mean, really, how many striped polo shirts does one person need? Because I have a green striped one, a blue one, an orange one, and a grey one. Or how many solid color shirts does one need? Because I could create the rainbow several times over. Not to mention the reality is, I typically have one shirt that I love and wear weekly and then four others that I may wear maybe once a year. 
    Therefore, in my quest to simplify, minimize, and get back to placing my worth on who I am and not what I own, I have begun a purging process to get rid of those multiples. 
    Take my polo shirts for example. I have a grey striped one that I love. I have a skirt that it matches perfectly and grey is a color I wear a lot. It is a key piece of my weekly waredrobe. The orange striped one I bought and wore once. Its just not one of those colors I wear hence it got put in the give away pile. The green striped one is exactly the same as my grey striped one. They are both from Gap and I bought them at the same time. But the green one doesn’t really go with much and I think I have worn it twice. Item number 2 in my give away pile. Lastly, my blue striped one. This one was a bit harder. I haven’t worn in much lately, but it used to be a staple piece and something I wore every week. For now it sits in my “potential give away pile.” It will probably eventually wind up in the give away pile once I get over the sentimentality of it and realize that after 8 years, it may just be time to retire it. 
    I have been doing this with everything I have multiples of and it is amazing how little I wear the multiples. Thus they get put in the give away pile. Best part, because I have been getting rid of so much, I can’t even completely fill one box of clothes to send home! Not only does that save me money, I don’t miss any of those clothes in the give away pile. In fact, I am relieved they are gone.  
    However, its not getting rid of the clothes that is the biggest key. That is the start, but the bigger challenge comes the next time I find a shirt I love. It is then I will have to guard against the tempation to buy it in multiples because really how often are you going to wear the same tank top in blue, purple, orange, pink, black, and grey?  (and no that is not an exaggeration of my collection:))

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    Suck It Up and Get Over It…or Lessons I am Learning

    March 18, 2011 /

    Yep.  Just do it.

    Stop making excuses. 

    Stop coming up with reasons why not.

    Stop letting FEAR control you.

    Stop planning for the future or putting off this or that until tomorrow.
    Stop waiting for someone else…
    …or the right time
    …or the right place
    Stop living within the box


    Stop coloring within the lines (check this out while your at it)

    Stare down your fears and kick them to the curb

    Start marking things off your list


    Live as if the world depends on it


    Laugh at yourself


    Don’t let anyone tell you “It’s not possible”


    Don’t accept that it is the way it is

    Be different.
    Live LOUD.


    Because at the end of the day, the world needs people who are willing to challenge the status quo and not accept that it is too hard, too impossible, or too big to do. 




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  • Life Inspiration

    Inspiration from One Dress Protest :)

    March 17, 2011 /

    Wear the same dress everyday for a year.


    Fight the tides of consumerism and materialism and status quo for a whole year.

    Endure questions and ridicule and praise and media attention.

    Inspire, challenge, and motivate others to do the same.

    Meet Kristy Powell and her One Dress Protest.
    Not only is she an amazing person, who took on an incredible challenge, she is a sister in Christ and an astounding role model.  
    For the past few weeks I have been really convicted over my habits, my desires, and my thoughts about fashion, and clothing and have been really challenged to think differently about my role in this crazy, mixed up world and the endless cycle of fashion. But when conviction and challenge end with happy thoughts, you might as well never have thought about them in the first place. Great thoughts, while needed, are never going to change the world. It is only in turning those thoughts into action that change is bred.
    Therefore, I have committed for the rest of lent to join her in her fast from fashion.
    However, it is not just about wearing the same dress everyday. It is about debunking the lies I have bought into about who I am, what I must wear, how I should look, and what I should have.  It is about leaving who I used to be in the dust and embracing who I am becoming. It is about living out the passion that for so long has been pent up inside. It is about becoming who I was created to be. It is about being a voice and speaking up. It is about saying “No more.”
    So join me on this journey to live life to its fullest, kick the status quo to the curb, and spend the next 6 weeks in one little black dress!
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  • Life Inspiration

    I Refuse

    March 10, 2011 /

    I refuse to be told what I can and can’t do; I will make my own path
    I refuse to sit still while others suffer; I will suffer with them
    I refuse to let my words speak louder than my actions; I will let my actions speak loud and clear
    I refuse to get stuck; I will keep pushing forward
    I refuse to believe the lie that I am what I own; I am who I am
    I refuse to wait for someone else to do it; I am going to do it.
    I refuse to keep waiting for something to happen; I am going to go make it happen
    I refuse to say an empty prayer; I will believe that there is power in my words
    I refuse to to stay cold; I will let the broken break my heart 
    I refuse to love only the lovable; I will love like Jesus
    I refuse to live a boring life; I will seek adventure at every turn
    I refuse to take the safe path; I will take risks
    I refuse to walk away from the Word unchanged; I will let it change my life
    I refuse to buy into trends or fads; I will act based out of conviction and purpose
    I refuse to quench my passion; I will use it to change the world
    I refuse to live an easy life; I will take on the challenges as they come
    I refuse to shop on the backs of slaves; I will be conscious of my purchases
    I refuse to buy into the mold of what society thinks I should be; I will be different.

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  • Life Inspiration

    Becoming a Minimalist

    March 4, 2011 /

    While its maybe a little late in 2011 for resolutions, I am declaring a theme for the rest of the year.

    Less is More
    or
    Experiments in Becoming a Minimalist

    Living on a small island has developed in me a love for simplicity and as I start to determine what of my stuff I am going to ship home, I am realizing just how much I have that….I don’t need! So while I shipped 15 or so boxes out here, my limit for going home is four.
    This is experiment #1: Get rid or give away 11 boxes of stuff-more if I can!
    I want to keep the stuff I have collected from my travels so that will all go, but what is staying is the massive amount of clothing that I just don’t wear. As well as the belief that I must wear certain things or look a certain way or have a certain amount of stuff. I want a simpler life. I want the freedom to travel, to write, to experience, to create, and to start fresh. I want to purchase with social responsibility-knowing where my clothing comes from and making hard decisions on whether I actually need it or am just buying it because its cheap. And by re-allocating all the money I used to spend on clothes, I will have the freedom to travel, to write, to create, to dream, and to make those dreams a reality. So thanks to all those who have provided inspiration and motivation. Check out Miss Minimalist, One Dress Protest, and All of Us Revolution!
    Now off to work on getting rid of stuff! 🙂


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  • Life Inspiration

    Why not?

    February 22, 2011 /

    I have spent much of my morning reading up on the blogs I follow and catching up on my Twitter list and through that hit a point of revelation. Kinda one of those duh moments..

    Passion+hard work=ability to make dreams reality

    I was reading about all these normal people that got fired up over ideas and made them a reality. They started a clothing business like this one. Or they created a play like this. They are teaching women to sew scarves here. The list could go on and go as I have spent two hours reading up on similar ideas. As I was reading their stories and getting excited over the ideas, it hit me. What did these people have? A passion for a cause and a willingness to work hard. I have spent the past year of my life coming up with every reason in the world why no one would want to hire me-I am not qualified, or educated, or experienced, or right, or blonde, or tall..etc. I have also spent the last year in a job that while good for me, was not the perfect fit nor something I could see myself doing long term. I have high expectations. I want a job I can love. I want a cause I believe in. But so did all of those people. They wanted jobs they loved. They wanted to change the world, raise awareness, simplify their life.
    So enough is enough. I have passion. I have an incredibly strong work ethic. I am stubborn and organized. And I won’t give up. No matter what obstacle-like overcoming my deathly, panic fear of water-I am learning the power of facing it head on and conquering it. Therefore, I have decided to go for my dreams. To create a reality out of all this passion. Perhaps it will look like applying to all these jobs I love, but don’t feel good enough for. Or perhaps it will look like starting my own thing. I mean, if they can do, why can’t I? I love the simplicity of my life here in Saipan, but even as I look around, I see so many areas I could simplify further. I could save more and give more and love more. The journey begins now. Where it leads will be all in God’s hands..but I can assure you it will be an adventure!
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