Less is More: Sal's or You May Know It as The Salvation Army

I remember my friend Susie excitedly telling me she had gone shopping and gotten a whole bunch of great tee shirts at Sal's. She said "Sal's" as if it were an unmistakeable brand name like GAP. When I asked what Sal's was, she laughed and said her nickname for the The Salvation Army. Good mid-westerner that she is, she bought used tee-shirts for her job which includes working with printer inks and other materials that ruin clothing. I've been calling The Salvation Army "Sal's" ever since.

My local Sal's used to be located conveniently on the corner of Bedford Ave and North 7th (pictured above). I visited it many times to unload unwanted stuff. I've browsed the racks and knickknacks, but what I love about Sal's is being able to get rid of stuff. It makes it easier to part with things that are unwanted but still useful, when you know they have a chance at second life.

A Hint of Spring

It feels so much like early spring today. The sunlight outside has that end of winter feel. Must be why I found my self in a mood to clean and clear. I didn't get very far but I'm making a new bag for the Salvation Army and a bag to go to a consignment shop. Project pair down continues.

This lovely print by Shotei Hiroaki c. 1930 reminds me of spring and also of how less is truly more.

Inspiration for Operation Pare Down

I'm really trying to pare down these days in so many ways. I'm on a campaign to eliminate stuff we don't need or really love and to find homes for those things others might treasure. Thank goodness for the Salvation Army or Sal's as my friend Susie calls it. I remember the first time she told me she'd been shopping at Sal's. I thought it must be the newest boutique and that I was out of loop. No, Sal's was not another Jeffery's, it was the good old Salvation Army. She had hit our local one for some cheap work t-shirts. I was definitely out of the loop in terms of frugal shopping.

Now a days, I'm trying to reform in terms of how much I spend, how much I own, and how much time I spend taking care of stuff versus living life. So I'll be making a trip to Sal's this coming week, not to shop but to help stock the shelves.

The photo from Fine Little Day above is my inspiration for the weekend purge and proof that less can still be warm.