31 Days of Using and Loving What You Have {The Introduction}

A big hello and WELCOME if you're visiting May Richer Fuller Be for the first time. Today marks the beginning of my very first 31 Days series and I'm so excited to get started! If you're new to the concept of the 31 days series, it's a (duh) 31 day blogging challenge issued by Myquillyn (aka The Nester) each year. The goal is to write about a single topic for each of the 31 days in October. If you'd like a little more background on what this idea, you can read about it here. Last October over 1200 bloggers participated! This time last year, I was just starting up this little ole blog of mine (it turns 1 on Thursday!), so I'm excited to start my second year of blogging off with this awesome challenge.

Back in September, when the Nester announced that 31 Days was coming up, my first thought was I am so intimidated. I wanted to participate, but I wondered how I could possibly write on the same topic for a whole month. What would my topic be? The thought of it scared the c-r-a-p out of me. Then I read two 31 Days intro posts (here and here) from the blog Beauty and Bedlam that eased my mind and actually inspired my topic. She said that in a world full of Pinterest-perfect homes and lives, that we need to be reminded that what we have is both "good enough" and that we need to learn to love what we do have. Embrace both things we have in abundance and our limitations - that includes both tangible and intangible things. It's a little something called contentment and being thankful.

SO. With those thoughts in mind, I'm calling my series "31 Days of Using and Loving What You Have."

Let's unpack that a bit and talk about what's to come over the next 31 days...

First. I have a teensy bit of a crafting/DIY supply stockpiling problem. I've recently started asking myself why I have a drawer full of craft supplies, a shelf full of paint, and a basket full of fabric that never seems to get smaller. In case you didn't notice, I love doing projects, crafting, and DIYing, but for some reason, have a hard time using up what I've got on hand. For example, I'll hold onto cans of paint from projects as if I'll never be able to find paint again if I use up the last bit. (I'm talking about you, three half-empty white paint cans collecting dust in a closet. Why do I have three whites? I have no idea.) Perhaps you could call it Fear Of Running Out (FORO) syndrome? I believe it's a close cousin to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and I think it's a form of sub-clinical hoarding. Does anyone else have this problem? #pleasetellmeimnotalone

My craft drawer is still pretty much this full...and I organized it MONTHS ago.

My finance-background husband says that in the business world, things like this are called "sunk costs." They're things you've already spent money on that you can't get back. So why not use them? They're not adding any value just sitting there on a shelf. And while I'm at it, why not use them to make something I love?

So I'm taking a stand against FORO. I'm going to shop my house this month, and do lots of projects (mostly) with things I have on hand. I've got a whole list of things I want to do/try and I've already started on a few!

Second. While I sometimes wish I lived in a larger apartment/house and there are plenty of things I'd love to change, that's not likely to happen anytime soon. I know we are beyond blessed with what we have, so there's no good reason to be dissatisfied with our current situation, furnishings, etc. There may be (ok, there are) things I don't love, but I really want to spend this month embracing and getting creative with what we do have - even the quirky bits of our apartment - and making less than ideal things work well for our home.

Love our upholstered headboard, but there are definitely some things I'd love to change in here :).

Third. In addition to material things, this topic of using and loving what I have goes beyond DIYing and crafting. It's bigger than that. I want to spend some of this time writing about other things I love like the awesome city (DC) I live in and the amazing family and friends I have. So there'll likely be some more "touchy-feely" and personal posts on the blog this month.

I loved photographing the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin last spring. Crazy to think these are in my city! I'm looking forward to doing more things like this in October.

A recent photo of "the kids" - my sister-in-law, brother, me and C. Love when we're all together!

So, in summary, for the next 31 days, I'm raiding my house. I'm raiding my lovely city (ok, that sounds a little violent, but you know what I mean). I'm raiding my craft drawer and my paint shelf. I'm going to step back and simply be grateful for the many blessings I have in my life and look at the things I have in a new way. Use and love what I've got.

You with me?

I'll be linking up to the the Nester's "House and Home" category for this #31Days challenge. I'll also put a link to each day's post on this intro post to make it easy to follow in the future! 

Day 1: You're here!
Day 2: Pleated Fabric Wreath with Rosettes
Day 3: 1st Blogiversary!
Day 4: Easy Sew Dog Toys
Day 5: Jackson on Using and Loving What HE Has
Day 6: Giant Chalkboard
Day 7: "Loving What You've Got" Home Tour
Day 8: Secretary Desk Turned Bar
Day 9: Our Well-Loved Balcony
Day 10: Appliqued Felt Bird Pillow
Day 11: Trash Can Turned Side Table
Day 12: On Friends and Celebrating Life With Them
Day 13: My Commute
Day 14: Felt and Fabric Coasters
Day 15: On Using Gift Cards (and Paper Source)
Day 16: 2014 Two-Tone Chevron Desk Calendar
Day 17: Organizing the Car
Day 18: Inherited Furniture
Day 19: For Sale: Coral and Gray Side Table
Day 20: Continuing Celebrations
Day 21: Hand Stamped Dish Towels
Day 22: Adding Greek Key Trim To Roller Blinds
Day 23: Styling Shelves by Shopping the House
Day 24: "Using What You've Got" Project Round Up
Day 25: "Using and Loving What You Have" Feature from IHeart Organizing
Day 26: Using What You Have to Refresh Your Home
Day 27: Family
Day 28: Organizing Dog Walking Supplies
Day 29: Scrap Wood Turned Votive Holder
Day 30: Husband
Day 31: