The 100 Thing Challenge: Living With Just 100 Items in Your Life.

These days most people are living a jam-packed life. We want more when we already have lots. And in the grand scheme of things that just doesn’t make much sense when you consider what’s really important.

Meet Dave Bruno. One day last July he looked around his San Diego home and realized just how much of his family’s belongings were cluttering their lives. So he decided to do something about it. And that was the beginning of The 100 Thing Challenge.

“By my thirty-seventh birthday on November 12, 2008 I will have only 100 personal items. I will live for at least one year (God willing) maintaining an inventory of only 100 personal things. This challenge will help me “put stuff in its place” and also explore my belief that “stuff can be good when it serves a purpose greater than possession alone.”

The thought is that everyone is holding on to so many possessions not because they need them, but because they like what the idea of the possessions means. An example are kitchen pots. We don’t need more than a few to make a meal, but we like the idea of the family and comfort associated with that meal. When I started to really think about that I realized just how true it is. “Things are to be used, people are to be loved.”

Keep up with Dave’s progress on his blog.

:: via Neatorama
:: photo via Veer

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Terra Medi.

Most well designed bottles fall into one of three product categories: wine, vinegar or olive oil. So it’s really no surprise how lovely Terra Medi’s packaging of their Greek and organic extra virgin olive oil happens to be. They also offer a selection of vinegars, sesame oil, olives, olivades and olive bruschetta. This product line alone calls for open shelving in the kitchen.

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Eames Postage.

It seems like we’ve been waiting for the release date for this homage to the Eames for-ev-er. Can’t wait to grab a sheet. Since I can’t afford any of their furniture, these might be the closest I get to Ray and Charles! Oh, and totally frameable in my opinion.

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Aline Yamada.

Aline Yamada is the brains behind the yumi yumi shop. Her style is really quite versatile. And while I prefer the more “cartoon”-ish pieces it’s all beautiful work.

And right now Aline is celebrating her one year anniversary on Etsy and as a Thank You offering a fourth print free with the purchase of three others!



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Blank is Like Blank.

Today I need all the help I can get. My office mate is out on vacation (in Vegas no less, lucky bastard) so I have no one to complain/vent/banter with. I didn’t sleep well last night. And all I can think about are house-related things (like how I didn’t get a fridge this weekend as planned, but did score a $50 lawnmower!).

I just came across the blog Blank is Like Blank (via swissmiss) and am sufficiently distracted. Well done.

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Amy Stein.

Sometimes I feel so lucky to have come across a certain artist or product because it literally makes my heart skip a beat and go pitter-patter. That’s how I felt when I first laid eyes upon the beautiful photographic work of Amy Stein. Her Domesticated series had me talking out loud to myself about how perfect the lighting was and how beautifully exquisite every single image turned out.



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Coffee Bag.

My question is what took so long for someone to come up with the idea for the coffee bag? Those trays that beverages are normally put in for “easy” transportation are nothing but a dry cleaning bill waiting to happen! But let’s be honest, one stiff breeze and those napkins are history.

:: via Neatorama

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Breath Palette.

Breath Palette carries toothpaste and mouthwash in 18 different flavors, and I’m not talking cinnamon or mint. Try Monkey Banana, White Peach and Pumpkin Pudding – just to name a few. Every flavor is guaranteed to leave your mouth feeling clean and fresh with a menthol finish. The flavors are created using infused oils so your grill won’t be left tasting like day old espresso.

:: via Rare Bird Finds

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