Want.

That is an awesome idea!

martha stewart had a girl (the girl works for martha) on her show that made notebooks w/papers from the office. pretty cute. might make one of those and use it for this!

I remember when I was a kid folding over the corners of the Sear and JC Penny's books of things I wanted....still do that will all the cataloges I get. Ripping out the pages I want and putting them in a folder. I think I get almost as much satisfaction from that. I go through it now and then and filter through the great finds. It's like my list of favorites. Instead of shopping it's like collecting great ideas for possibilities. Sometimes just knowing I found a cool thing is thrill enough. Unshopping?

I love this idea! There is something about letting an idea travel from your mind through your hand and then onto the paper that just helps you let it go, a physical let go! So simple, like an exhale. Love it!

Esty shoppes here and creative items there, trinket bundles that cost more then hubby is willing to pay...thanks for the reminder about writing your wants down and giving them a little time. I have a lot of these lists written down in my daily journal -some of the older ones (by the time I could actually buy them), most of the items were discontinued. Happy happies to you.

Ali, it's like reading my thoughts. What a great idea - I just love it. Inspirational as always.

I have a Wants list too, but it is a list of books I want to read. All too often I'm stuck on line at the grocery store and read People mag's "pics & Pans" for the book reviews, write down the title and author and eventually treat myself to a trip to Barnes and Noble. My list, by the way, is 4 pages long. Someday I'll catch up with my reading!!

Ali, you always have such incredible way to inspire and this is just perfect, especially for the post- Christmas feelings of blah I have going on right now (I'm a teacher, so yesterday was a tough jolt back to reality).
Thanks!!

Fab idea! Been "wanting" to do something like your book for awhile including some sort of to do things i.e., make light in bedroom a dimmer. Just starting to read your new book now. Love the format!

I love this idea. I tend to get caught up in the things I have to have. I think I will try to keep a list and see if this helps. Jess

I need a system like this too because I tend to want it and then go out and buy it, which is bad for my budget!! Thanks for some inspiration!

Great idea! Man, I wish I had been as wise as you 10 years ago. You always amaze me with your vision.

Thank you SO much, Ali, for this idea. I WANT to stop wanting and more so, follow through with being content. Writing things down has always been a favorite of mine and maybe, just maybe, this will help with my habit of wanting. Huh. Think about that.....a habit of writing things down to stop another habit? Leave it to you to always make me stop and FOCUS ( my one word ) on what's important.

yup, super cool idea! :)

Of course I think of "things" I want when I walk around the house, but my BIG WANT is the structural stuff I would do to my house. It was so designed by a man that did not think once about the fact that someone would have to place furniture in here. I want to move doors, and I want to make walls, and I desperately want to overhaul the kitchen cabinets. I think it is knowing that we can't do that right now that makes me WANT to buy little things, but like you I am trying not to. Right now the main thing I want is canvas ... AND TIME!

The sense of accomplishment I achieve just by writing what I want and/or need on a sheet of paper makes me feel good. So I couldn't agree more with your theory.
I sometimes tear photos out of catalogs and magazines and save them. And about a month or two down the road I flip through them again and find that a majority of the items I've saved I no longer have a yearning for.
Creating an "I Want" book is a brilliant idea. Number one on my list right now is to see Ali Edwards at Scrapbowl next month. ;)

I have a moleskine and I have never turned back! I was keeping a "want" list for awhile but now it is mostly a "want to craft" list. Someday it will all get done. Maybe!

Fantastic idea Ali, as always. Constantly amazed (and oh so pleased) at your ideas and those of others who comment on your blog - just confirms to me that there are others (many, many others) who think like me - so comforting to know that my thoughts and feelings are "normal" (because there are many times when I feel that they are not!) Will be working on my "want" book today. :-)

Super idea - one my husband and I could both add to - especially when thinking about the house!

Another great idea Ali!
We are currently visualizing wants vs. needs with a legal pad on our refrigerator. It's a great constant reminder of the BIG wants we want that we could eventually get if we didn't get all the little ones! :)