More than we need?

Not too long ago, someone asked me what kind of kitchen appliances I owned and which ones I used most often.  It really got me thinking about what we own vs. what we actually use.

Kitchen-Aid stand mixer?  At least once a week.

Slow cooker?  At least once a week, usually two or three times.  I do own three regular slow cookers and one tiny "dippers" sized one.  I use the large oblong one very often and the smaller ones occasionally.  I've never used the little one - it was a bonus in the package when we bought the big one. 

Fondue pot?  Um...never used it.  Something about a pot of blazing hot oil scares the bejeebers out of me.

Toaster?  Our most used small appliance - nearly every weekday I make eggs and toast for Bryant's breakfast.  The kids also love toast and often make it for lunch or snacks.

Food processor?  Once in the last two years. 

Deep fryer?  Maybe three times a year, but only Bryant actually uses it - I'm more than a little afraid of it.

Coffee pot?  Only when one of my sisters visits - so half a dozen times a year.

Blender?  Twice in the last year.

Electric skillet?  I don't think we've used that at all since we moved in here - so that's 7 years.

Of those things I don't use often, I think only the coffee pot and the deep fryer are things I would miss if they were gone. 

That got me thinking about other areas of my life.  Like the shelf in the dining room that is filled with random old school workbooks, empty binders and misc. junk.  Or the boxes of fabric from when I thought I wanted to be a quilter (turns out I don't).  Or the books that are way too simple/infant-oriented for Pookie, but I can't bring myself to get rid of.  Like the stacks of specialty shaped cake pans I don't have time or inclination to play with very often. 

And the kids?  Do they really need bedrooms so full of toys that they can't see the floor anymore?  Or so many books that they'll never read them all before they outgrow the subject matter? 

I don't think so. 

Maybe it's time to simplify our lives a little...

I think I'll start with that shelf in the dining room.