20 years ago (in her 50’s) I took my mom to some beautiful boutique stores in Chicago. She said, “I’ve waited my whole like to be able to afford things like this and now that I can there’s not a thing here I would buy” That has definitely stuck with me! Huzzah to you!
There seems to be some kind of natural instinct in (mostly) women in their mid 50's that has us feeling the need to simplify and declutter. It's no less powerful than the "nesting" instinct that we get when we are pregnant and preparing for a new baby to arrive - all the cleaning, get the nursery just so, everything neat and organized. I'm going through the decluttering process, myself, and it feels so freeing. I love walking into a once cluttered room or opening a once jammed packed closet and seeing a calm, tidy space.
I love that you had a particular luxury handbag in mind, went into that outlet store, saw the bag for an extremely good price ($1500 LESS!) but did not allow yourself to talk you into buying it because you were disappointed in the quality of it and you have learned not to settle for something you don't absolutely love. That is huge.
My neighbor, an older woman, always dressed a bit "extra". Everyday she put herself together with a nice outfit, hair, makeup, etc. She always looks so nice, never frumpy. At her funeral, several people spoke about how nice she always looked, even into her 90s. We reminisced about running into her at the grocery. She would be wearing a dress and pearls. We would be in shorts and t-shirts and thinking we needed to make more of an effort. If you feel like dressing a bit "extra", do it. Others will admire you for it.
@@cjhoward409 I agree. I've even seen people in church looking like they just rolled out of bed (sweat pants and hair askew). It's bad enough to run to the grocery looking a mess. It's another thing to not respect yourself enough to shower and dress for an event that you know you will be attending. I wonder what those people do for a living and if they clean up for their jobs.
@@cjhoward409 Fortunately, it is rather unheard-of here, in central Europe. However, I see more and more men in shorts, sleeveless tops and flip-flops on the city streets; they look awful, to be honest. I blame American TV shows for that ;-)
I became the master of window shopping when my kids were little. I would take them to the mall and go to Pottery Barn Kids for the train table and the clean, child friendly bathroom. I think I bought one thing out of all of our visits.
I love the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning. I can definitely do that to MY stuff, but my husband refuses to part with ANYTHING! We are already seniors (late 60’s for me, early 70’s for him). I don’t want to leave this crap for my kids to toss!
I sympathise (I'm in my mid-70s). I would love Jen to do a video on this subject. I know that the advice is to deal with one's own stuff but I worry that I won't have the strength to deal with all the rest and I don't want to see it all junked.
I’m today new to your channel! I was just talking about decluttering with my sister last night when she came and picked up bags and bags of vhs I’ve had for upward of 25-30 years since my kids were little ( Son 33, Daughter 25 ) and your video on Swedish death cleaning popped up on my TH-cam today….since we recently nearly lost my mom within last few weeks and her house is cluttered to the core, believe me I will be sharing with my siblings and her too!! I know I cannot change her and them, but I’m changing me! Hopefully, it begins a trend!!
Congrats on going gray! After coloring my prematurely gray hair for 25 years, I went au naturel about 7 years ago. It took at least a full year, maybe a year and a half to fully be done with the colored ends, but I wear my hair long like yours. It was soooo worth it. I was coloring every 3 weeks at the end and it was just ridiculous. Now I have beautiful silvery hair sprinkled with a bit of my natural brown and I LOVE it. I get compliments all the time. One thing that helped when I got about 4-6 inches of gray growth was to have my stylist put in some lighter highlights to soften the line between the gray and my medium brown color. It really helped to make the grow out process a little less dramatic. Good luck!
I used to browse Costco and could always find stuff to buy. I still look at and appreciate the stuff but, I only buy things I will use/consume. I still get the trill of grabbing milk, eggs, cat litter, etc. at good prices but, I'm no longer cluttering our home with stuff. I think I'm finally growing up.
Fabulous! At the 18:10 mark; “ there’s nothing I saw that I liked more than my money” That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling for a very long time. And yes, it could be the book, I read it too. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning was the final game changer for me. Also I am a silver sister in the making. The last time I died my hair was April 15, which to everyone is usually tax day, but for me, it is my frost free date here in NC of which I can plant my flower seeds! 🌸🌻 You go girl, you’re great.
I think outlet shops have changed. They used to sell overstock at a discount. Now they seem to sell a completely different line in their outlet stores.
I believe this 100% but I have to say that the flattering drape of a discount store designer top is a lot different than what you might find in off label brands.
My wife is sort of a pack rat. I do understand not wanting to throw away kids stuff that reminds you when they were babies, or things that remind you of good times in your life. But man is it a struggle for me, as I hate clutter. We have a 10x20 storage unit full of boxes we pay 200/mo for and I don't even know what's in them. It could literally burn down and I'd not miss a thing. She needs this video.
My sister and I went through the same process with our mom a few years ago. It’s exhausting and sad, but we also shared a lot of laughs and memories in the process. Thinking of you and your family. ❤
💐 You are right on about the purses in the outlets. I worked for years for an extremely wealthy gentleman here in southern California. He would stop by the outlets on the way to Palm Springs with his girlfriend, and he told me that the products in outlets are made for the outlets especially. He ought to know! He traveled the world and bought the real items! 😊
I love your weekly vlogs,you are so genuine and very easy to listen to.Your Swedish Death Cleaning journey is something I have been doing for a couple of years & I am finding any clutter makes me feel a little chaotic!! Lol! Also l find your love for designer bags to be something that every woman should be able to enjoy! Or as Adam & Gary would say “treat yourself”Looking forward to your next vlog…🇨🇦
I just found your channel today because of the whole dementia parent thing that I am currently also going through. I just got back from Ft. Lauderdale where I have been cleaning out my Father's condo. He was just placed in a full-time nursing facility there due to his recent toes amputation (from diabetes) and now he can't live on his own. Anyway, what I find funny is how much we are going through that is common at the same time. And now watching some more of your videos I find out you are in Atlanta and going to the same outlets that I am. It truly is a small world!! BTW, most of the luxury outlet shops are low-budget items. Same for the Prada store at this mall. Now I did see they just opened up a Karl Lagerfeld outlet store there and I peeked in the last time I was there but didn't find anything that caught my eye. Their Coach store at the Georgia Premium Outlets is decent and they do carry the latest styles that are coming out. I agree, go for vintage and very good condition if you can. They are so much better made and they actually were made in Italy in those days!
Pandemic silver lining for me was I’m longer highlighting my mouse brown hair every 2 months. Used to be blonde, hated the taupe hair, but no more! Discovered to my utmost surprise that light gray highlights were exactly what I wanted. Totally natural now, get lots of compliments, and I do nothing, zip, zero. Save $100 a month by sitting still 😂 Lol, had a college drama teacher yrs ago who was verry uptight about the words “cheap” vs “inexpensive.” He’d have adored you!
Wishing you strength while you deal with your Mom’s transition to new living arrangements. All of these things are physically and emotionally demanding. 💝🙏🏼
So glad your back is feeling better. Thanks for the vlog! I am all for saying no to luxury/consumerism. Goodness knows there are far bigger issues in life!
I too just don't feel the same about spending the prices the "luxury" brands ask these days. I just ordered a bag from an Austrailian brand called "The Horse" - their prices are normal/reasonable and the leathers beautiful, well worth my hard earned money. Good luck with the bathroom renovation! And the shorts look great.
Glad you're feeling better! I think everything is made cheaper today. I just replaced our seven year old Keurig coffee maker with the same exact model. It looks exactly the same, but it is made so much flimsier. I told my husband that there's no way we'll get seven years out of this one!
Couldn’t agree more about Swedish death cleaning! We’ve really been minimizing what we’re buying and not just buying crap. I just get so tired of throwing crap away, or swelling it, or giving it away.
Agree with you on the cost of things that are made well. Nothing is anymore! Throw away society. I choose to live in a 1953 brick ranch home because it is made to last baby! Vintage is so much better. Best of luck finding what you are looking for.
I'm a little older than you, but I resonate with a lot that is going on with you. Love the death cleaning and currently emptying out my parents house of all the stuff they had and now most people don't want. Looking at going grey also seems to be all around me at the moment. Love how you keep things real.
Old heating pads can be great for outside cats on a covered porch!!! They can also be useful to animal rescues that may be bottle feeding baby kittens/pups. Just an idea if anyone wants to upgrade but not toss the old one. Of course you’d want them to be working properly to keep the animals safe.
Me: a gardener, who cannot imagine buying a designer bag anymore but will 100% stop at a new plant nursery and spend $300 on a tree. 😬😩 my coworkers joke that I work to pay for Disney and to pay for plants. And they’re not wrong.
Absolutely yes to your choice of a tree any day over a designer bag. I have far more of an appreciation for something living and one that will benefit the environment. I have strong feelings about trees! I love your comment.
Oh absolutely can relate - Me - caring for horses - weighing up benefits of $100 pair of sneakers for months but just dropped $250 on a joint supplement for my horses! 🐴🐴💕🤦♀️🇦🇺
@@Whistlingwoman647 I used to love shoes and bags but somewhere in there I just got sick of stuff. I think it was somewhere in COVID bc I wasn’t going anywhere and I was stuck in my house with all the crap. I got overstimulated with all the things.
Hey! Love this video! When I was going to grow my gray out I went to a colorist who put in highlights and lowlights to make the process a bit more natural looking. Anyway…I only did it once and that was it!
Yes I haven’t decided yet if I’m doing that or (and this is more extreme) I may do the route where they dye my hair to match my regrets which is so pricey but it’s one day and you’re done. I need it to grow out a bit more first!
@@cathymichaelson1507 Thanks. My stylist tried to explain this to me as gray blending I believe. And supposedly you can wait longer between color visits but I remain skeptical. 🙃
Wishing you all the luck with your Vintage search - love the concept of getting a vintage piece, made to last! I've never been into luxury brands, except Vera Bradley have made some really pretty things. Even if they don't last all that long, I can darn and personalise them. I've been clearing out and upgrading storage into better, transparent boxes - ADHD means a cardboard box is filled with- *shrugs*. Transparent boxes mean the contents still exists! Plus, an empty cardboard box is like Christmas for my little cat! She's just the best at being helping :D
In January I got very sick and was hospitalized needing a liver transplant. While i laid in the ICU waiting for a liver all i thought was how is my teenage son going to deal with my stuff if I die ? It was hard i am slowly donating and tossing things i dont need. Quality over quantity 💖❤💖👩🎤
Great job! The Pinterest worthy closets look beautiful, but I use containers I already have even if they aren’t matchy matchy to save money and not be wasteful. I was working on decluttering but had to stop to do a bathroom update (long story). Still working on that. Looking forward to getting bathroom done and resuming my work on my office/craft room. I am so tired of piles and the mess. I have major regret for having spent so much money on collectibles in my 20s. I am a tad angry about the burden I now feel to provide space for those things. I loved what you said about your Disney collectibles, I think they were. You’ve changed. I’ve changed too. Those things are no longer important to me. I am a few years older than you. Still working full time and have an aging parent, caring for house and yard, and adorable dog. I look forward to retiring when I can devote more time to purging my own “crap” and excess stuff and having a more serene environment. I also don’t see myself as a minimalist, but I am done being a maximalist with having 3-4 x the stuff I need and have room for. Thanks for taking us on your journey. I find it inspiring.
Loving your natural color. It is gonna be stunning. And yes, it is the Swedish death cleaning. I have $3000 in my Amazon cart and it has been there forever. I am the same way at Costco now so yes, it is a good thing. Also, high fashion is something I no longer even look at.
Looking forward to seeing the bathroom remodel journey. We recently got quotes to remodel our primary bathroom and can't get over the cost. Trying to make decisions on what to proceed with, so I hope your journey gives us some inspiration!
Hey! Thank you for your channel. You have taught me so much. I have been Swedish death cleaning for the last couple years and you are so right. It is freeing to not have clutter we don’t need in the house. Oh going on our first cruise to the Mediterranean in May. I actually practiced packing carry on only for this trip. I got this! Thanks again!
Used to live in Atlanta and got excited when you went to the outlet stores. I did some remodeling work in the Home Depot across the street in the early 2000's. Great to see the outlets are still there. So much has closed down around where I live now, especially post-pandemic.
I went through the same type of thing when my mom was diagnosed with lymphoma. ❤I certainly felt your pain and heard you. 😢 It was stressful and emotional. Please keep doing things for yourself and taking little breaks. I hope you get to go on your trip! P.S. Your hair is going to look so pretty!
Agree about quality decline in clothing and handbags. I find I’m investing in better brands and more classic items over trends and inexpensive brands. Brands like Talbots and Loft and others have definitely decreased their quality.
Depending on your GoodWill. We have an affluent area with a Goodwill. People know about this Goodwill and have traveled a long distance to this. You would be shocked at the good stuff you can thrift there. Handbags, silk shirts, suits, dresses from Macy's. Teenage clothes from old navy, kohls, jcpenney that you can get at the fraction of a cost (back to school!) in great shape. Yes, it takes TIME. Lots of it, but if you have a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do you might just be surprised at what you find.
Gucci didn't used to have different bags in their outlets, just out of season bags, but I have noticed since the pandemic they changed that. They are bringing in bags that are not the same quality or anything as their regular bags in their stores which means I don't really go in there any more. I go on second hand stores like Fashionphile (although know your prices if you are going to do that) or I just don't buy them. I also like doing Fashionphile and such because it saves a bag from getting thrown out into a landfill.
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge Yeah I had heard that they were bad. I have had some health issues the past couple of years, so getting to the outlet mall hasn't been an option, but hopefully I can this year.
Wow glad that tree falling wasn't a worse situation. Sorry about you having to move your mom hope it goes smooth its not easy we are getting close that situation with my hubby's parents. I never could afford luxury or name brand items & now I could splurge to buy something but like you I am getting rid of stuff in my house to downsize & move. I think as I have retired 2 years ago I want to spend the money on longer travel trips & tribute rock band concerts we have a great theater in our town to go see them can't even bother to go to the city & see the real bands anymore lol Experiences are replacing stuff for me.
I absolutely adore you! I recently went on a cruise and met some amazing people. I was talking about Disney and vlogging/vloggers, and I named you. My new bestie has actually met you (he and his partner both work at Disney) and mirrored my love for you!!!
Absolutely loving the gray! I'm doing the same process and love my natural hair. Turns out I don't have as much gray yet but I'm so much happier letting it happen. You look gorgeous!
I guess I didn't realize how much it bothered me when my roots started showing and my appointments kept having to be moved up - accepting it I feel like I can breath more easily and that's PRICELESS. And THANK YOU!
Swedish Death cleaning has changed the way I look at “the stuff” in my home and all the stuff in the stores…it’s freeing in a way to think I’d rather contribute to my IRA Roth vs buying another purse 😊
My hair is slightly darker than yours and I went completely blonde last year! My hair looked a bit scruffy when the greys started to show whereas when my dark roots come through on blonde hair it looks edgy. I have had so many compliments and it is very easy to look after. But it does shock people if they haven't seen me in a while! 😂
Same page with over consumption Jen. At this stage in my life, I am very fortunate to have the ability to purchase luxury and yet it has zero appeal. Zero. I would almost feel embarrassed to carry a $5,000 handbag because the message that it might be sending is not one I want linked to who I am. I guess it just doesn't align with my values and while I appreciate the beauty of certain items, I have far more appreciation for truly unique, one of a kind pieces. I hope I don't sound judgmental because I firmly believe that it's a personal decision and not my place to tell anyone how to spend their money. It does baffle at times but we all do things for many different reasons some of which we may not understand ourselves. Too long of a reply but lots to say!
Hi there! Enjoying your channel and hear you say you’re in Atlanta. Me too! And the Costco run was just me other day. Get in, get out with necessities. I usually like to plunder but that’s changing 🎉
You sold out the heating pads!!!🎉 I’m going to stalk it so I can grab one next restock! I love that quote and shall now use it! “You may agree, you may disagree, not your business” I feel like this works for everyday life! LOVE the shorts!!! Target online has Vera Bradley outlet!! Also, I’m also going to say to myself “do I like this more than my money?” All kinds of good advice in this video!! A must watch!🥰
Feel like I am constantly getting rid of stuff and have so much more to go. Live in a big house, and I have one recent college grad and one college student. I have to keep buying for them, but I really don't desire much for me these days. Occasional clothing items, yes, but not much else. Made progress this summer with some purging of baby and kids items that should have gone a long time ago. Feels pretty good on the whole.
Since Covid hit I have bought just a few unnecessary things, I have almost stopped buying clothes, I don't buy many plants any more (I tend to propagate them myself nowadays), I no longer buy ornaments, books and so on. I have also simplified my skin care and I cannot see much difference in the quality of the skin, to be honest. I am going to age anyway. I invest my "hobby money" in dance classes and shoes for dancers, which I have too many already :-) I would love to declutter my small home but my husband is not really co-operative in this respect. At present I am donating dozens of books to the local library.
They stink and they fall, HA! So true I hate the way they smell. We have a smallish Bradford Pear we want to remove before we have an issue. It's amazing that tree even got that large. So glad it didn't damage the house at all.
Totally get the consuming less thing. I'm not quite Swedish death cleaning but I'm definitely being more conscious about what buy. Making sure it's good value and versatile. Although I did buy a pair of sunglasses yesterday that I definitely didn't need 😂😎
Bradford Pear trees are not native to the US. They are invasive and I pull them up like weeds whenever they pop up on my property. (My husband and I are tree nerds and we plant about 200 native trees per year)
I feel the same way about Dooney and Bourke at Disney. I would not pay that much for a bag no matter how cool it is. Give me the lounge fly. Give me lily bloom. I’m happy.
YUP they are most certainly NOT and I'm actually not sure why anybody would buy from the outlets - the quality was SO BAD and not worth the money AT ALL in my opinion.
I think we are SATIATED with “stuff” when we reach a certain age. I noticed the same thing with my Mom. She was an avid decorator until a certain stage in her life and then she no longer was interested. Things were dusted, rearranged but not replaced. I hit the same point. A mass decluttering a year ago diminished my NEED to re-invent my decor. I no longer need to do that! It’s been fun but I am done! ✔️ As a new viewer, I am enjoying your videos until you brought up a side comment about a certain Presidential candidate. I am not a fan! Hopefully politics are not going to be part of your conversations.
Just finished editing my Vera Bradley video. The more and more I think about the changes the more I’m resigned to the fact that I may have purchased the last of their products!! 🥴
Outlets definitley aren't what they used to be. And all retails play games with pricing. Even Amazon - today its $35 with free shipping, tomorrow its $30 with $5 shipping. And yes, the quality is usually lower at the outlets. First world problems, I know.... And your hair looks great btw!
I have never been into luxury brands (although totally understand why some are) but your outlook/feelings reminds me of how I feel about Disney these days - I am so sad to say 😢 I still feel that the cruises are good value for what you receive in return but the parks/dining/hotel in Florida……….well as you said, I just love my money more than what I would get for that money at WDW. Don’t get me wrong, I am still a massive WDW fan and it genuinely makes me sad. It’s not that we can’t afford it, it’s just that I am no longer comfortable spending that amount of money on that experience. We do hope to return to Florida in 2026 though and will hopefully get our Disney fix in the form of a 5 night Disney cruise. We plan to stay at Orlando airport (think you did that?) and take Disney transportation to Port Canaveral. Then we will have a villa for 4-5 days after the cruise too 😃 really hope you can find the vintage Gucci bag you are looking for and love your vlogs as always 🥰🥰xxx
That sounds lovely and I completely understand what you’re saying. I’ve cut my parks visits way back and even though we are DVC members the increased costs for food, tickets and now lightening lane is no joke.
Two more reasons Why I love Jenn .. . “There was nothing I loved more than having the money in my pocket” and “waiting on a call as a volunteer for the Harris campaign.” Enough said.
Suggestion! I went thru the menopause part of life utilizing Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There was no consistent blood work or watching for organ damage. Suzanne Summers was an inspiration for BHRT however her persistence in constant bloodwork was ridiculous and her doctor should never have let her approach it the way she did. BHRT is amazing. Shameless plug for Kamala.
Why not choose a purse of b your Mothers that will become a memory and something useful to you I'm 78 years old my husband is passed I live on SS and realize that a 25.oo dollar purse is just as pretty as a more expensive one I've also been doing the Swediah death cleansing with less to keep clean just now found your channel
Bradford Pears are an invasive non native species. Clemson U will remove and replace with something environmentally friendly once a year locally. More of that tree will break off in the future. 😢
I don't agree with her politics (runaway inflation!!!), either, but I find that I have A LOT in common with this lady. Like her, I'm decluttering, we saved and helped our kids pay for college, we are careful about what we spend money on, we've helped an elderly parent with downsizing which is an eye opening experience and has a way of changing your perspective about "stuff".
I just found you today and am thrilled to see you support Kamala. Just went through helping my 87 year old mom downsize and move across the country to live with my brother. It really does make you rethink your own belongings.
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loved that you dressed up, ate lunch by yourself, and did your errands. sometimes you are your own best company!
This exactly! Thank you for getting that.
20 years ago (in her 50’s) I took my mom to some beautiful boutique stores in Chicago. She said, “I’ve waited my whole like to be able to afford things like this and now that I can there’s not a thing here I would buy” That has definitely stuck with me! Huzzah to you!
That’s how I feel.
That’s where I am at. I’m 58… I have the money but I don’t want all those fancy nice things anymore
There seems to be some kind of natural instinct in (mostly) women in their mid 50's that has us feeling the need to simplify and declutter. It's no less powerful than the "nesting" instinct that we get when we are pregnant and preparing for a new baby to arrive - all the cleaning, get the nursery just so, everything neat and organized. I'm going through the decluttering process, myself, and it feels so freeing. I love walking into a once cluttered room or opening a once jammed packed closet and seeing a calm, tidy space.
@@goofygirl1311 Well I’m 54 so I guess this is so because I’ve been feeling a need to simplify!
I love that you had a particular luxury handbag in mind, went into that outlet store, saw the bag for an extremely good price ($1500 LESS!) but did not allow yourself to talk you into buying it because you were disappointed in the quality of it and you have learned not to settle for something you don't absolutely love. That is huge.
My neighbor, an older woman, always dressed a bit "extra". Everyday she put herself together with a nice outfit, hair, makeup, etc. She always looks so nice, never frumpy. At her funeral, several people spoke about how nice she always looked, even into her 90s. We reminisced about running into her at the grocery. She would be wearing a dress and pearls. We would be in shorts and t-shirts and thinking we needed to make more of an effort. If you feel like dressing a bit "extra", do it. Others will admire you for it.
Not too many women do that anymore. I see more and more people wearing pajamas in public, ratty old clothes, no hair combed. It’s terrible
@@cjhoward409 I agree. I've even seen people in church looking like they just rolled out of bed (sweat pants and hair askew). It's bad enough to run to the grocery looking a mess. It's another thing to not respect yourself enough to shower and dress for an event that you know you will be attending. I wonder what those people do for a living and if they clean up for their jobs.
@@cjhoward409 Fortunately, it is rather unheard-of here, in central Europe. However, I see more and more men in shorts, sleeveless tops and flip-flops on the city streets; they look awful, to be honest. I blame American TV shows for that ;-)
I have learned to shop, touch, feel, enjoy, and walk away. I can like something and not bring it home. It’s liberating!
I became the master of window shopping when my kids were little. I would take them to the mall and go to Pottery Barn Kids for the train table and the clean, child friendly bathroom. I think I bought one thing out of all of our visits.
I love the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning. I can definitely do that to MY stuff, but my husband refuses to part with ANYTHING! We are already seniors (late 60’s for me, early 70’s for him). I don’t want to leave this crap for my kids to toss!
I sympathise (I'm in my mid-70s). I would love Jen to do a video on this subject. I know that the advice is to deal with one's own stuff but I worry that I won't have the strength to deal with all the rest and I don't want to see it all junked.
I’m today new to your channel! I was just talking about decluttering with my sister last night when she came and picked up bags and bags of vhs I’ve had for upward of 25-30 years since my kids were little ( Son 33, Daughter 25 ) and your video on Swedish death cleaning popped up on my TH-cam today….since we recently nearly lost my mom within last few weeks and her house is cluttered to the core, believe me I will be sharing with my siblings and her too!! I know I cannot change her and them, but I’m changing me! Hopefully, it begins a trend!!
Congrats on going gray! After coloring my prematurely gray hair for 25 years, I went au naturel about 7 years ago. It took at least a full year, maybe a year and a half to fully be done with the colored ends, but I wear my hair long like yours. It was soooo worth it. I was coloring every 3 weeks at the end and it was just ridiculous. Now I have beautiful silvery hair sprinkled with a bit of my natural brown and I LOVE it. I get compliments all the time. One thing that helped when I got about 4-6 inches of gray growth was to have my stylist put in some lighter highlights to soften the line between the gray and my medium brown color. It really helped to make the grow out process a little less dramatic. Good luck!
I used to browse Costco and could always find stuff to buy. I still look at and appreciate the stuff but, I only buy things I will use/consume. I still get the trill of grabbing milk, eggs, cat litter, etc. at good prices but, I'm no longer cluttering our home with stuff. I think I'm finally growing up.
Fabulous! At the 18:10 mark; “ there’s nothing I saw that I liked more than my money” That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling for a very long time. And yes, it could be the book, I read it too. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning was the final game changer for me. Also I am a silver sister in the making. The last time I died my hair was April 15, which to everyone is usually tax day, but for me, it is my frost free date here in NC of which I can plant my flower seeds! 🌸🌻 You go girl, you’re great.
It’s funny how the date becomes significant! Happy to be on the journey with you.
I think outlet shops have changed. They used to sell overstock at a discount. Now they seem to sell a completely different line in their outlet stores.
Someone in the high end retail fashion industry once told me that designers actually produce a different range of goods just for outlet centers.
This…
I have heard the same thing.
I believe this 100% but I have to say that the flattering drape of a discount store designer top is a lot different than what you might find in off label brands.
I'm perfectly happy with what I've got and don't have the need or desire to shop. Need to clean and purge is always with us. Neverending!
My wife is sort of a pack rat. I do understand not wanting to throw away kids stuff that reminds you when they were babies, or things that remind you of good times in your life. But man is it a struggle for me, as I hate clutter. We have a 10x20 storage unit full of boxes we pay 200/mo for and I don't even know what's in them. It could literally burn down and I'd not miss a thing. She needs this video.
My sister and I went through the same process with our mom a few years ago. It’s exhausting and sad, but we also shared a lot of laughs and memories in the process. Thinking of you and your family. ❤
💐 You are right on about the purses in the outlets. I worked for years for an extremely wealthy gentleman here in southern California. He would stop by the outlets on the way to Palm Springs with his girlfriend, and he told me that the products in outlets are made for the outlets especially. He ought to know! He traveled the world and bought the real items! 😊
I love your weekly vlogs,you are so genuine and very easy to listen to.Your Swedish Death Cleaning journey is something I have been doing for a couple of years & I am finding any clutter makes me feel a little chaotic!! Lol! Also l find your love for designer bags to be something that every woman should be able to enjoy! Or as Adam & Gary would say “treat yourself”Looking forward to your next vlog…🇨🇦
I just found your channel today because of the whole dementia parent thing that I am currently also going through. I just got back from Ft. Lauderdale where I have been cleaning out my Father's condo. He was just placed in a full-time nursing facility there due to his recent toes amputation (from diabetes) and now he can't live on his own. Anyway, what I find funny is how much we are going through that is common at the same time. And now watching some more of your videos I find out you are in Atlanta and going to the same outlets that I am. It truly is a small world!! BTW, most of the luxury outlet shops are low-budget items. Same for the Prada store at this mall. Now I did see they just opened up a Karl Lagerfeld outlet store there and I peeked in the last time I was there but didn't find anything that caught my eye. Their Coach store at the Georgia Premium Outlets is decent and they do carry the latest styles that are coming out. I agree, go for vintage and very good condition if you can. They are so much better made and they actually were made in Italy in those days!
Pandemic silver lining for me was I’m longer highlighting my mouse brown hair every 2 months. Used to be blonde, hated the taupe hair, but no more! Discovered to my utmost surprise that light gray highlights were exactly what I wanted. Totally natural now, get lots of compliments, and I do nothing, zip, zero. Save $100 a month by sitting still 😂
Lol, had a college drama teacher yrs ago who was verry uptight about the words “cheap” vs “inexpensive.” He’d have adored you!
Love your vlogs. Lots of nuggets of wisdom as per usual. Cleaning out our parents homes sure does put our own stuff in perspective.
Wishing you strength while you deal with your Mom’s transition to new living arrangements. All of these things are physically and emotionally demanding. 💝🙏🏼
So glad your back is feeling better. Thanks for the vlog! I am all for saying no to luxury/consumerism. Goodness knows there are far bigger issues in life!
I too just don't feel the same about spending the prices the "luxury" brands ask these days. I just ordered a bag from an Austrailian brand called "The Horse" - their prices are normal/reasonable and the leathers beautiful, well worth my hard earned money. Good luck with the bathroom renovation! And the shorts look great.
Glad you're feeling better!
I think everything is made cheaper today. I just replaced our seven year old Keurig coffee maker with the same exact model. It looks exactly the same, but it is made so much flimsier. I told my husband that there's no way we'll get seven years out of this one!
Couldn’t agree more about Swedish death cleaning! We’ve really been minimizing what we’re buying and not just buying crap. I just get so tired of throwing crap away, or swelling it, or giving it away.
Agree with you on the cost of things that are made well. Nothing is anymore! Throw away society. I choose to live in a 1953 brick ranch home because it is made to last baby! Vintage is so much better. Best of luck finding what you are looking for.
Thank you!! The hunt is actually kind of fun!
Can I say, your mom is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing about Swedish death cleaning,very interesting perspective to declutterring
Thank you and I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
I'm a little older than you, but I resonate with a lot that is going on with you. Love the death cleaning and currently emptying out my parents house of all the stuff they had and now most people don't want. Looking at going grey also seems to be all around me at the moment. Love how you keep things real.
Thank you, Gail!
Your dress is perfect for going to an appointment or having a more casual get-together at home.
Old heating pads can be great for outside cats on a covered porch!!! They can also be useful to animal rescues that may be bottle feeding baby kittens/pups.
Just an idea if anyone wants to upgrade but not toss the old one.
Of course you’d want them to be working properly to keep the animals safe.
Me: a gardener, who cannot imagine buying a designer bag anymore but will 100% stop at a new plant nursery and spend $300 on a tree. 😬😩 my coworkers joke that I work to pay for Disney and to pay for plants. And they’re not wrong.
We all have our things! And yeah plants are expensive!
Absolutely yes to your choice of a tree any day over a designer bag. I have far more of an appreciation for something living and one that will benefit the environment. I have strong feelings about trees! I love your comment.
Oh absolutely can relate - Me - caring for horses - weighing up benefits of $100 pair of sneakers for months but just dropped $250 on a joint supplement for my horses! 🐴🐴💕🤦♀️🇦🇺
@@Whistlingwoman647 I used to love shoes and bags but somewhere in there I just got sick of stuff. I think it was somewhere in COVID bc I wasn’t going anywhere and I was stuck in my house with all the crap. I got overstimulated with all the things.
As soon as you said Bradford Pear I thought to myself, yup. Not surprised. 😭 I am so glad the damage wasn’t worse!
Same! And they've already cleared it away and repaired the fence. Whew!
Hey! Love this video! When I was going to grow my gray out I went to a colorist who put in highlights and lowlights to make the process a bit more natural looking. Anyway…I only did it once and that was it!
Yes I haven’t decided yet if I’m doing that or (and this is more extreme) I may do the route where they dye my hair to match my regrets which is so pricey but it’s one day and you’re done. I need it to grow out a bit more first!
@@cathymichaelson1507 Hi Cathy, does the process you mention still show the gray? Thanks.
@@marleebaya yes, I think she just really blended it in.
@@cathymichaelson1507 Thanks. My stylist tried to explain this to me as gray blending I believe. And supposedly you can wait longer between color visits but I remain skeptical. 🙃
@@marleebaya it really works! My hair was shoulder length so not long but I was amazed!
Wishing you all the luck with your Vintage search - love the concept of getting a vintage piece, made to last! I've never been into luxury brands, except Vera Bradley have made some really pretty things. Even if they don't last all that long, I can darn and personalise them.
I've been clearing out and upgrading storage into better, transparent boxes - ADHD means a cardboard box is filled with- *shrugs*. Transparent boxes mean the contents still exists! Plus, an empty cardboard box is like Christmas for my little cat! She's just the best at being helping :D
Yes they always are!🤣
In January I got very sick and was hospitalized needing a liver transplant. While i laid in the ICU waiting for a liver all i thought was how is my teenage son going to deal with my stuff if I die ? It was hard i am slowly donating and tossing things i dont need. Quality over quantity 💖❤💖👩🎤
I’m so sorry you went through that. And yes what a perspective shift. So glad you are ok!
Great job! The Pinterest worthy closets look beautiful, but I use containers I already have even if they aren’t matchy matchy to save money and not be wasteful. I was working on decluttering but had to stop to do a bathroom update (long story). Still working on that. Looking forward to getting bathroom done and resuming my work on my office/craft room. I am so tired of piles and the mess. I have major regret for having spent so much money on collectibles in my 20s. I am a tad angry about the burden I now feel to provide space for those things. I loved what you said about your Disney collectibles, I think they were. You’ve changed. I’ve changed too. Those things are no longer important to me. I am a few years older than you. Still working full time and have an aging parent, caring for house and yard, and adorable dog. I look forward to retiring when I can devote more time to purging my own “crap” and excess stuff and having a more serene environment. I also don’t see myself as a minimalist, but I am done being a maximalist with having 3-4 x the stuff I need and have room for. Thanks for taking us on your journey. I find it inspiring.
Loving your natural color. It is gonna be stunning.
And yes, it is the Swedish death cleaning. I have $3000 in my Amazon cart and it has been there forever. I am the same way at Costco now so yes, it is a good thing. Also, high fashion is something I no longer even look at.
Looking forward to seeing the bathroom remodel journey. We recently got quotes to remodel our primary bathroom and can't get over the cost. Trying to make decisions on what to proceed with, so I hope your journey gives us some inspiration!
Hey! Thank you for your channel. You have taught me so much. I have been Swedish death cleaning for the last couple years and you are so right. It is freeing to not have clutter we don’t need in the house.
Oh going on our first cruise to the Mediterranean in May. I actually practiced packing carry on only for this trip. I got this!
Thanks again!
I'm so envious of your Atlanta summer.... It's been non existent here in Glasgow, so depressing...
Used to live in Atlanta and got excited when you went to the outlet stores. I did some remodeling work in the Home Depot across the street in the early 2000's. Great to see the outlets are still there. So much has closed down around where I live now, especially post-pandemic.
I went through the same type of thing when my mom was diagnosed with lymphoma.
❤I certainly felt your pain and heard you. 😢 It was stressful and emotional.
Please keep doing things for yourself and taking little breaks.
I hope you get to go on your trip!
P.S. Your hair is going to look so pretty!
Agree about quality decline in clothing and handbags. I find I’m investing in better brands and more classic items over trends and inexpensive brands. Brands like Talbots and Loft and others have definitely decreased their quality.
Great video. You will love going gray. Personally I’ve never been happier to not have to plan the coloring of my hair.
Thanks, Jen, always so motivating!🤩. Glad you’re feeling better❤
Love you! So happy you are feeling better!
Thank you so much!!
Depending on your GoodWill. We have an affluent area with a Goodwill. People know about this Goodwill and have traveled a long distance to this. You would be shocked at the good stuff you can thrift there. Handbags, silk shirts, suits, dresses from Macy's. Teenage clothes from old navy, kohls, jcpenney that you can get at the fraction of a cost (back to school!) in great shape. Yes, it takes TIME. Lots of it, but if you have a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do you might just be surprised at what you find.
Gucci didn't used to have different bags in their outlets, just out of season bags, but I have noticed since the pandemic they changed that. They are bringing in bags that are not the same quality or anything as their regular bags in their stores which means I don't really go in there any more. I go on second hand stores like Fashionphile (although know your prices if you are going to do that) or I just don't buy them. I also like doing Fashionphile and such because it saves a bag from getting thrown out into a landfill.
And they are BAD. Like if I saw them in the wild I’d think they were fake 🤔
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge Yeah I had heard that they were bad. I have had some health issues the past couple of years, so getting to the outlet mall hasn't been an option, but hopefully I can this year.
I absolutely LOVE your curls on Thursday (I think - you were wearing a sleeveless, blue top and heading to the outlets.). You look fantastic!
Wow glad that tree falling wasn't a worse situation. Sorry about you having to move your mom hope it goes smooth its not easy we are getting close that situation with my hubby's parents. I never could afford luxury or name brand items & now I could splurge to buy something but like you I am getting rid of stuff in my house to downsize & move. I think as I have retired 2 years ago I want to spend the money on longer travel trips & tribute rock band concerts we have a great theater in our town to go see them can't even bother to go to the city & see the real bands anymore lol Experiences are replacing stuff for me.
Yes absolutely! I get this.
I absolutely adore you! I recently went on a cruise and met some amazing people. I was talking about Disney and vlogging/vloggers, and I named you. My new bestie has actually met you (he and his partner both work at Disney) and mirrored my love for you!!!
Oh I love to hear that! Thank you! This channel has brought me so many lovely friends over the years. 🥰
Absolutely loving the gray! I'm doing the same process and love my natural hair. Turns out I don't have as much gray yet but I'm so much happier letting it happen. You look gorgeous!
I guess I didn't realize how much it bothered me when my roots started showing and my appointments kept having to be moved up - accepting it I feel like I can breath more easily and that's PRICELESS. And THANK YOU!
Swedish Death cleaning has changed the way I look at “the stuff” in my home and all the stuff in the stores…it’s freeing in a way to think I’d rather contribute to my IRA Roth vs buying another purse 😊
My hair is slightly darker than yours and I went completely blonde last year! My hair looked a bit scruffy when the greys started to show whereas when my dark roots come through on blonde hair it looks edgy. I have had so many compliments and it is very easy to look after. But it does shock people if they haven't seen me in a while! 😂
Same page with over consumption Jen. At this stage in my life, I am very fortunate to have the ability to purchase luxury and yet it has zero appeal. Zero. I would almost feel embarrassed to carry a $5,000 handbag because the message that it might be sending is not one I want linked to who I am. I guess it just doesn't align with my values and while I appreciate the beauty of certain items, I have far more appreciation for truly unique, one of a kind pieces. I hope I don't sound judgmental because I firmly believe that it's a personal decision and not my place to tell anyone how to spend their money. It does baffle at times but we all do things for many different reasons some of which we may not understand ourselves. Too long of a reply but lots to say!
I do love luxury items when the craftsmanship and design meets the mark. I despise it when it doesn’t.
Hi there! Enjoying your channel and hear you say you’re in Atlanta. Me too! And the Costco run was just me other day. Get in, get out with necessities. I usually like to plunder but that’s changing 🎉
I think Swedish Death Cleaning is what I need to do at my house. I am looking to reset things and DE-FREAKING-CLUTTER.
I think your hair is beautiful 😍. I started going grey after I had my daughter at 23. I have worked hard to love it as it is.
Most Brands in Outlet Malls Specifically Make lower quality lines just for their Outlet Stores.
You sold out the heating pads!!!🎉 I’m going to stalk it so I can grab one next restock! I love that quote and shall now use it! “You may agree, you may disagree, not your business” I feel like this works for everyday life! LOVE the shorts!!! Target online has Vera Bradley outlet!! Also, I’m also going to say to myself “do I like this more than my money?” All kinds of good advice in this video!! A must watch!🥰
Oh thank you Amber!
Feel like I am constantly getting rid of stuff and have so much more to go. Live in a big house, and I have one recent college grad and one college student. I have to keep buying for them, but I really don't desire much for me these days. Occasional clothing items, yes, but not much else. Made progress this summer with some purging of baby and kids items that should have gone a long time ago. Feels pretty good on the whole.
Progress over perfection!! It’s an ongoing process and I feel the same way - we’ve purged so much and still so much to go.
Since Covid hit I have bought just a few unnecessary things, I have almost stopped buying clothes, I don't buy many plants any more (I tend to propagate them myself nowadays), I no longer buy ornaments, books and so on. I have also simplified my skin care and I cannot see much difference in the quality of the skin, to be honest. I am going to age anyway. I invest my "hobby money" in dance classes and shoes for dancers, which I have too many already :-) I would love to declutter my small home but my husband is not really co-operative in this respect. At present I am donating dozens of books to the local library.
They stink and they fall, HA! So true I hate the way they smell. We have a smallish Bradford Pear we want to remove before we have an issue. It's amazing that tree even got that large. So glad it didn't damage the house at all.
Totally get the consuming less thing. I'm not quite Swedish death cleaning but I'm definitely being more conscious about what buy. Making sure it's good value and versatile. Although I did buy a pair of sunglasses yesterday that I definitely didn't need 😂😎
Just a small shift makes a huge difference! And I still buy things but it’s now a much longer conversation in my mind🤣🥰.
Bradford Pear trees are not native to the US. They are invasive and I pull them up like weeds whenever they pop up on my property. (My husband and I are tree nerds and we plant about 200 native trees per year)
moringa teas are good for menopause. maybe try it. for me luckily, taking evening primrose capsules daily worked. it balances estrogen naturally.
I feel the same way about Dooney and Bourke at Disney. I would not pay that much for a bag no matter how cool it is. Give me the lounge fly. Give me lily bloom. I’m happy.
Good morning! Thank you for your posts!
THANK YOU for your kind words!
I'll never not love these weekly day in the live vlogs. Never.
I’m so glad you like them! They’re a lot of fun to film.
products sold at the outlets are not the same as what is sold at their regular retail stores.
YUP they are most certainly NOT and I'm actually not sure why anybody would buy from the outlets - the quality was SO BAD and not worth the money AT ALL in my opinion.
The lighting on your face in the closet is 👌💯
Oh thank you!!
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge gurl if my closet were so well lit, I’d never have come out of it 🤣❤️🌈
@@acbetka 😝😎🥰
I think we are SATIATED with “stuff” when we reach a certain age. I noticed the same thing with my Mom. She was an avid decorator until a certain stage in her life and then she no longer was interested. Things were dusted, rearranged but not replaced. I hit the same point. A mass decluttering a year ago diminished my NEED to re-invent my decor. I no longer need to do that! It’s been fun but I am done! ✔️
As a new viewer, I am enjoying your videos until you brought up a side comment about a certain Presidential candidate. I am not a fan! Hopefully politics are not going to be part of your conversations.
Just finished editing my Vera Bradley video. The more and more I think about the changes the more I’m resigned to the fact that I may have purchased the last of their products!! 🥴
Yeah I had my eyes out for you at the outlet but they didn’t have any Disney stuff at all.
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge a friend told me that even the Disney springs store looks bare and is lacking product. 😔
Our Bradford split in half. They are great when they are great, lol.
They look great, buy 2!
Outlets definitley aren't what they used to be. And all retails play games with pricing. Even Amazon - today its $35 with free shipping, tomorrow its $30 with $5 shipping. And yes, the quality is usually lower at the outlets. First world problems, I know....
And your hair looks great btw!
You may want to remove the Bradford Pear and replace with another tree. Your tree guy is right. It’ll continue to split and fall
Love the bathroom plans.
Me too! I can't wait to get started.
Good video! By the way, your curly hair looks fabulous!
Oh thank you!!
Loving your journey to natural gray. I am all salt and pepper after 3 years and do not regret it at all. Oh, and VOTE BLUE.
@@kathyn91 I hope everyone votes! I will be voting red!
I have never been into luxury brands (although totally understand why some are) but your outlook/feelings reminds me of how I feel about Disney these days - I am so sad to say 😢 I still feel that the cruises are good value for what you receive in return but the parks/dining/hotel in Florida……….well as you said, I just love my money more than what I would get for that money at WDW. Don’t get me wrong, I am still a massive WDW fan and it genuinely makes me sad. It’s not that we can’t afford it, it’s just that I am no longer comfortable spending that amount of money on that experience. We do hope to return to Florida in 2026 though and will hopefully get our Disney fix in the form of a 5 night Disney cruise. We plan to stay at Orlando airport (think you did that?) and take Disney transportation to Port Canaveral. Then we will have a villa for 4-5 days after the cruise too 😃 really hope you can find the vintage Gucci bag you are looking for and love your vlogs as always 🥰🥰xxx
That sounds lovely and I completely understand what you’re saying. I’ve cut my parks visits way back and even though we are DVC members the increased costs for food, tickets and now lightening lane is no joke.
Two more reasons Why I love Jenn .. . “There was nothing I loved more than having the money in my pocket” and “waiting on a call as a volunteer for the Harris campaign.” Enough said.
Thank you, Anna!!!
Suggestion! I went thru the menopause part of life utilizing Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There was no consistent blood work or watching for organ damage. Suzanne Summers was an inspiration for BHRT however her persistence in constant bloodwork was ridiculous and her doctor should never have let her approach it the way she did. BHRT is amazing. Shameless plug for Kamala.
Why not choose a purse of b your Mothers that will become a memory and something useful to you I'm 78 years old my husband is passed I live on SS and realize that a 25.oo dollar purse is just as pretty as a more expensive one I've also been doing the Swediah death cleansing with less to keep clean just now found your channel
Bradford Pears are an invasive non native species. Clemson U will remove and replace with something environmentally friendly once a year locally. More of that tree will break off in the future. 😢
Oh and by the way, those curls were popping! 😬
Well thank you! In this humidity my hair doesn’t stay down for long 🤣🥰
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge 😂😂
Outlets looked empty. And outlets are no longer actual outlets.
Black cohash for hot flashes!!!
They make other products just for the outlets.
Thanks for volunteering for Kamala!!
My honor!
Bradford pear trees are actually an invasive species.
Well it was here when we moved in so what are you gonna do.
❤
I live in Norway and cannot wait to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz!! I'm so glad you mentioned it!!!!
I might pair those shorts with the Kamala Harris For The People tee I saved from five years ago 🙂
I just got my I’m in My voting era tshirt and the pairing is happening today
I found myself subscribing and unsubscribing in the same day. Too bad you had to add politics to your channel.
My politics are a huge part of who I am! And it’s called TH-cam for a reason. Harris Walz 2024 and all the LGBTQ+ for the win!!!!!
@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge❤❤❤
I don't agree with her politics (runaway inflation!!!), either, but I find that I have A LOT in common with this lady. Like her, I'm decluttering, we saved and helped our kids pay for college, we are careful about what we spend money on, we've helped an elderly parent with downsizing which is an eye opening experience and has a way of changing your perspective about "stuff".
I just found you today and am thrilled to see you support Kamala.
Just went through helping my 87 year old mom downsize and move across the country to live with my brother. It really does make you rethink your own belongings.
Harris 😂😂😂😂😂😂 you guys are brain washed.