I Might Get Down to that Size Again Maybe?

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I Might Get Down to that Size Again Maybe?

March 10, 2017 by dorannrule

Image from http://www.articlesofhealthcare.com

I get “the bug” this time of year. Not the flu bug (please), but the urge to get rid of stuff.

Sunshine brings it on and Virginia has had many sun-shiney days this winter

It’s high time to make decisions about what clothes to discard and which to donate!

Over twenty years ago I was a working girl of semi svelt proportions who invested in quality stuff befitting a career girl’s status.

And would you believe those pencil thin skirts and silk blouses are still in a back closet?

They are the favorite clothes that will not button or zip no matter how much I hold in deteriorating abs.

Never mind the suits and silks of the past are no longer in style and never mind that most of those vintage beauties are ridiculous to wear in the country.

Sensible sneakers and jeans are things to wear here in rural Virginia (with the exception of one or two special occasions where people still turn out in jeans!)

But back to the bug, my warped thinking every Spring is, “Hang onto this. You might get down to that size again!”

That skirt was high quality you know.

But there are many other “things” to hang onto. Shorts, bathing suits, and even underwear have accumulated in plastic bags marked Medium, L, XL, XXL (notice there never was a Small).

It is exhausting work to try all those sizes back on.

Sigh.

I have managed to donate two coats to Good Will, but promptly bought two more – needed someting in beige after all. Something to wear with jeans.

Best to leave all this decision making until it is really Spring, or maybe a year from next Spring?

I might get down to that size again!

Posted in Country Challenges, Country Thoughts, Humor, Seasons, Uncategorized, Virginia | Tagged changing styles, country living, donating clothes, downsizing, Good Will, Jeans, rural Virginia, sizes, Spring, spring cleaning | 40 Comments

40 Responses

on March 10, 2017 at 6:18 am Jill Weatherholt

After dealing with closets, bursting at the seams, if I haven’t worn it for two years, it goes into the donation bag. You better hang on to your winter wardrobe for now, I hear snow is headed your way this weekend.

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on March 10, 2017 at 6:37 am Kate Crimmins

I did this last week. Every year I part with an outfit or two from my business days. All the ones that don’t fit are gone but the ones remaining never get worn. It’s not rural Virginia, it’s retirement in general. The only time I truly dress up is for funerals and many people don’t bother for that either. Still….maybe I’ll wear one of them this year. They are so pretty and were so expensive. Besides no one else will truly appreciate them like I do.

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on March 10, 2017 at 6:46 am Nyamunga

Hilarious…and yeah i did notice there wasnt any small

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on March 10, 2017 at 6:46 am Mama's Empty Nest

Oh, I hear ya, friend, I hear ya! Same here. I have way too many clothes that I no longer fit into and even if I did ‘get down to that size again,’ I probably wouldn’t wear them anyway. Time to purge the closets.

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on March 10, 2017 at 12:28 pm dorannrule

The penalty for a fair weather winter will be snow! You are right. I am suspending downsizing the clothes closets.

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on March 10, 2017 at 12:29 pm dorannrule

It is enormously gratifying you are out there Kate, mirroring my sentiments exactly! 🙂

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on March 10, 2017 at 12:33 pm dorannrule

Great word “purge”…. I like the idea that I am purging the closets! 🙂

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on March 10, 2017 at 1:21 pm Eliza Waters

A couple of winter’s ago, as therapy for my grief of losing my dog, I distracted myself by purging my walk-in closet of 20+ years. I donated about 90% of it. Amazingly, I haven’t missed a single item! And the clothes I have left hanging have a inch between each one – no more cramming. Release = relief!

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on March 10, 2017 at 1:28 pm dorannrule

Wish I had thought of clearing closets when we lost our dog, Rozie. That would have helped a lot.

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on March 10, 2017 at 1:36 pm Eliza Waters

It is a therapeutic way to busy one’s mind and pass the time.

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on March 11, 2017 at 4:34 am Mary

Oh my goodness how I can totally relate Dorann and I too have to get going. I need a once-and-for-all purge of my closets, yes I have to get at it!

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on March 11, 2017 at 5:25 am Mama's Empty Nest

I just purged my laundry room cabinets where I store a bunch of sewing and craft items, etc. Whew! What a job that was trying to organize everything. I never realized I had so many buttons!!!

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on March 11, 2017 at 10:20 am Anne Mehrling

I went in my closet the other day and asked myself, “Did you really wear that?” Anything with a question mark in front of it, should go immediately. I’ll find an excuse to put it off, but maybe your post will inspire me to pick out a few things to give away. After all, many of my clothes could be labeled “vintage” now.

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on March 11, 2017 at 1:02 pm Margy

A while back, when my husband wanted to buy another vehicle, I said fine – but two vehicles had to be sold first. Now I tell him that if he wants to buy any new clothes, two items have to go out before anything new goes into the closet. Of course, I have to do the same. Two out, one in! It is the only way we can stay on track with the downsizing program!
Wish it was that easy to downsize my weight!

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:13 pm apronheadlilly

I feel your pain. A neighbor gave me a recumbent bike today. Maybe I can sit my way to svelte. Highly unlikely.

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:52 pm dorannrule

It does certainly make me feel less stressed when there is room to spare in closets and drawers. 🙂

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:53 pm dorannrule

Now we have to “purge” because we have announced our intentions. Go Girl!

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:54 pm dorannrule

I think I have a huge bag of buttons and rarely ever need one. Do you think Good Will takes buttons?

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:55 pm dorannrule

I know my un-purged clothes are definitely vintage to match this vintage body that grew with time.

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:56 pm dorannrule

You have some very good rules for adding and discarding things. You will be my new inspiration. As for the weight, ah well….I have the same problem.

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on March 11, 2017 at 3:58 pm dorannrule

I keep hoping for a magic pill or better yet a delicious candy that blunts appetite! Thanks Lilly. Now I will look up “recumbent bike” to see if sitting will make us svelt.

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on March 11, 2017 at 4:11 pm Mary

So funny!

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on March 11, 2017 at 5:35 pm apronheadlilly

🙂

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on March 12, 2017 at 1:31 am Mama's Empty Nest

I bet they do. They probably need them for replacement on clothing. But you know what they say? As soon as you get rid of something, you need it the next day! 😉

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on March 13, 2017 at 11:26 pm Kim Smyth

I’m pretty sure I have a tub in my closet with clothes a size I’ll never get back into, or out of style clothing -why do I hang on to that stuff? Same reason you do, we all think maybe we’ll be that size again…if I just….

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on March 13, 2017 at 11:56 pm judithhb

Me too my sister of choice. It’s amazing how we think so alike. I have had three clear outs since the beginning of 2016 and still the wardrobe is bulging.

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on March 13, 2017 at 11:58 pm judithhb

Forget that recumbent bike DOR. Mine sat in the garage for two years before I gave it to the Hospice shop. Walking is more fun and a lot easier on our aging parts.

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on March 15, 2017 at 8:08 am roughwighting

I was in the spring ‘clean it up’ phase last week. But today, we have a blizzard outside! I need extra layers, so I better go back into my Goodwill bag. 🙂 Actually I clean out clothes I’ll never wear again once a year. My guy does it once a month – he’s the ‘organized’ one (I call it obsessive/compulsive), particularly since he weighs the same now than he did when he was in high school. As my daughter and I say to him – “You brat!”

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on March 15, 2017 at 12:13 pm morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer

There’s another reason clothes hang, unworn, in my closet. Nobody dresses like that any more. Even the clothes I wore to work are too dressy to wear anywhere unless I love standing out in a crowd: which i don’t. Nobody dresses any more: and when i thought of the strict dress codes we had to obey…

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:35 pm dorannrule

🙂

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:36 pm dorannrule

Or as soon as there is an empty space it gets refilled!

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:37 pm dorannrule

Wishful thinking is what gets me through the days and I am glad we share mutual weaknesses Kim. 🙂

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:38 pm dorannrule

Dear Sister of Choice…. thank you for reminding me that we are so much the same across worlds and cultures. 🙂

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:40 pm dorannrule

Anything that is “easier on our aging parts” has my immediate attention. 🙂

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:43 pm dorannrule

I was praepared for a blizzard today or at least a foot of snow and got an inch that melted in an hour! So much for the winter clothes retrieved from the Goodwill bag. Hope you and yours are well and warm.

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on March 15, 2017 at 2:47 pm dorannrule

You are right Ronnie – nobody dresses like that anymore. But I continue to look for higher necks, shorter tops, longer dresses, and matching shoes and bag. I am undoubtedly seen as a vintage misfit and a standout in a crowd.

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on March 15, 2017 at 11:38 pm roughwighting

A foot of snow and an inch of ice this morning…now, where ARE those boots I was going to give away? 🙂

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on March 17, 2017 at 1:12 pm The Coastal Crone

Goodwill is my friend! As Ronnie said, nobody dresses like that anymore. These days I find myself overdressed for some funerals.

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on March 17, 2017 at 3:21 pm dorannrule

Barely any snow here but it is darned cold outside. I too am digging out warm socks and sweaters. 🙂

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on March 17, 2017 at 3:39 pm dorannrule

Now that is funny! Finding yourself “overdressed for some funerals.” I may begin shopping at Good Will though. At least there you can uncover styles that are more sedate.

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