21 Days of Downsizing – Day 18

Welcome to my 21 day series of downsizing my NYC shoebox apartment for a move to Australia! Alex + I have already downsized about 85% of our belongings, but I’ve got some “on the fence” items from my closet and I could use a bit of help!

If you know me well, you know that while I’ve come around on downsizing my fashuun, I will *gulp* NEVER downsize my stuffed animals. Cuz #crazystuffedanimallady

So, tune in to help me decide what closet items to keep or not to keep! Simultaneously, I’ll introduce you to one of my stuffed animal friends, cuz I could NEVER downsize them!

Bryant Park Doppelgängers

I still remember Labor Day weekend of 2019. Alex and I had gotten married at the marriage bureau + courthouse in FiDi. My dear family came to celebrate the weekend with us and stayed near Bryant Park. ️

I became pretty impressed with my dad’s sense of direction after we’d stroll around the city and upon returning to the area, my dad would exclaim, “Bryant Park!”

Later throughout the days, as we walked Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park and other NYC parks, my dad also exclaimed, “Bryant Park!” 

Day 18 – Almond Shaped

Meet Almond.

Almond didn’t like it when other critters questioned if she was a squirrel.

“You look like a chipmunk,” the adiboos in her community would remark while playing in the tree branch playground.

“I’m NOT a chipmunk. I’m a SQUIRREL!” Almond would retort.

She had heard all of the comments before.

“You don’t look like a squirrel.”

“You have a tiny tail, like a chipmunk’s tail.”

“You’re too small to be a squirrel!”

“You’re not bouncy enough to be a squirrel.”

One day, Almond packed her bags. With one last glance at her hometown, she extended her patagium and flew down from the cluster of branches she called home. She would make her way to Adibooland. She had heard that Waffi was a fair leader who loved to take all the other squirrels to Pizza Hut while protecting and respecting all of the adiboos.

Within the first week, Almond knew she had discovered her crew.

No one questioned her when she would hide in Alex’s overnight oats container, feasting on pistachios, sunflower seeds, hemp, chia and all the cacao powder her heart desired.

No one asked her why she had a tinier squirrel bounce than other larger squirrels.

To the adiboos in Adibooland, Almond was whoever and whatever she wanted to be.

She just belonged.

Now For Fashuun: To Keep or Not To Keep

On the fence about the below items. To keep or not to keep? Comment below!

  • neutral scarf print batwing top
  • blue balloon pants with ribbed fabric
  • teardrop metal beaded earrings
  • faux snakeskin block heel boots
  • sash from a duster repurposed into a tie (alex tied a windsor knot for me!)

Stay tuned for day nineteen…