Out With It!

Our garage sale was a smashing success last week. I really think that by having it as early as possible in the spring everyone is ready to shop; whereas if we wait until after the city wide sales people have much of what they need and don't grab like they do. 

Because our garage is tiny and not so nice we have to set up in the yard. The weather prior to our sale was chilly, rainy, and windy so I was worried until about three days beforehand when the forecast continued to show gorgeous weather for Thursday and Friday. We were not disappointed - both days dawned clear and warm and the crowds came out. As a matter of fact, within 10 minutes of the signs going up we had a steady stream of shoppers and I think that there was only about a three minute period on Thursday when there wasn't someone browsing. Friday was a bit slower but still steady. 

Siblings helped both days ( this was a total of five families contributing) and the kids were great and big helpers. Our sale made over $900 total and I personally made the most I have made at a sale yet: $325. 

I got rid of A LOT and at the end donated a car full to the charity shop, sent a large box to Swap.com, and gave some away to friends. I had a teeny tiny pile left to take back inside (about 6 things I decided to keep) so I really did stick to getting rid of it all.

It was great spending time with the family, seeing the kids work ethic (Becca and Joe each made over $25 each and had no qualms putting half their profit in the bank), and talking with "my kind of people" (garage sale shoppers!). But it was also a lot of work...weeks of organizing and pricing beforehand, setting up and taking down each day, getting sun burnt, etc.  And yet I'm sure this time next year I'll have forgotten all about that and be setting up another one! 

It's The Time of Year

Garage Sale season will soon be upon us! As a matter of fact, I've been to two already this year - both charity sales held indoors. With really decluttering our house I've already noticed a difference in what I pick up - not much! I see nice things that before I would have bought but now think, "I don't need that, I don't have a place for that". I did find Becca some needed Justice clothing for a great price and Amy a nice pile of GAP clothing though. 

With my KonMari and 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge I have a HUGE pile of stuff priced and ready to go in my own garage sale. I am hoping to set up next week, though if the current weather conditions continue into next week that will not be possible. I'm just watching the weather conditions and waiting - as are my siblings and cousins who will be including their own items. It may happen on the spur of the moment. 

Whenever the sale happens, my goal is to set aside all my proceeds to use for my own garage sale and thrift shopping this coming summer. Money is tighter now and by doing that I won't be drawing from the family budget. I also plan to continue being much more selective in what I do buy, only purchasing items I truly need and love. It's amazing what deals can be found while garage sailing and I hope to highlight the fun finds here on the blog. I'll update on my own garage sale once it's happening. :)
 

The More of Less

I've been reading a lot of minimalist as well as organizing books recently so I tried not to compare  The More of Less by Joshua Becker but it's only natural to note the pros and cons of each book in my mind.

The second half of this book didn't do a whole lot for me as it discussed the purging part of the process, but not nearly in as much detail as the KonMari method. Having already read the latter book before reading this one I didn't take away anything new, though someone else may.

The first half of the book was fascinating to me. As a Pastor Becker does sometimes write from a spiritual standpoint (which I enjoyed) but I don't think his way would be off putting to anyone. He writes about the excess in America and how we could live with so much less and find our passions and purposes under all that stuff. He clearly points out that his viewpoint of minimalism is not about paring down your possessions to the bare minimum but rather to only own what you love.  That journey will be different for everyone - one person may find joy and happiness in their hundreds of books while another may only own a Kindle. 

He goes on to point out that at some point we often go from owning something to it owning us. For example, is buying a 5,000sqf house important if you have to spend all your time at work to pay for it? This book includes real stories of real people who decided to give up some (or almost all!) of their stuff in order to have what they truly want - the freedom to travel from country to country, donating proceeds to charity, saving money or getting out of debt, or even just having less stress. Yes, stuff is stressful. 

This book goes deep. It's not just about "having a clean house, but rather a full life".

This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. 
 

New Year Must Haves

One of my favorite things to do between Christmas and New Years is to get my life organized a bit. You know, taking down the Christmas decor, cleaning up all the wrapping paper bits and boxes, getting the kids rooms organized. But most of all, getting my calendars, planners, and so on ready for the new year.

My husband and mom know me well. For years they have gotten me calendars and journals for Christmas gifts. My New Year's Eve tradition (probably 20 years running now) is to sit by candle light and open my calendars and work on adding important birthdays, anniversaries, etc. So exciting, right?! My kids must have gotten that weirdo gene from me because they now ask for calendars for Christmas and do the same.

I have a monthly budget sheet printed out ready for January as we are going to pay close attention to the money we spend and the money we save. 

We have plans to buy an acreage within the next couple years. Since we recently paid off our house, it is time to start building up a down payment for when we do find that perfect place for us. After looking at prices of places I think we realize that we will need a bit more than we originally thought for the type of place we have in mind. While we await the perfect place to pop up on the market we will also be fixing this house up to be sell ready. So a careful budget for the next few years is a must.

My mom gave me a delightful Bible journal for my morning studies. 

My calendars will hold special dates and the daily journal will hold daily life notes.

The One Year Home & Garden Devotions by Sandra Byrd "offers an encouraging, applicable, sometimes humorous, and always personal word each day for contemporary women of all ages who delight in being busy at home." 

Each month starts out with a recipe, household tip, or gardening hint. Daily you'll read a Bible Verse and then get a glimpse into Byrd's life with a story, reflection, or life lesson. Whether it is about friendship, gardening, homemaking, marriage, or life - you'll feel encouraged to go about your day with a little refreshment and see things with new eyes. 

Just by flipping through this I am really looking forward to making it a part of my morning devotions! (This book was given to me by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.) 

My friend knows me well as she gave me this daily desktop coloring calendar. 

I still use the Whitney English Day Planner as well. So, yes, I have my little daily rituals and these are the items that I depend on each New Year to get me organized and on track!

Do you have any New Year must-haves? 
  

Create!

The cooler, rainy days have lead to some creative inspiration recently. Probably as a way to "fluff the nest" for the upcoming months stuck indoors due to cold and snow. Make pretty things and it won't be so difficult to be stuck indoors? One can hope.

I bought this large frame at a garage sale for $1 and intended to use it in Amy's room with her initials inside of it. But then, as I contemplated a way to keep my jewelry organized I decided instead to use it for our bedroom. 

A sheet of wire from the garage. Some S hooks and clips for hanging the jewelry. Perfection.  

It looks pretty on the bedroom wall and is quite functional. I just need to buy a few more hooks for the rest of my necklaces to be hung up. 

I'm beginning to get my Etsy shop stocked back up with goodies for the Christmas rush coming in late fall. You can follow my Facebook page to get updates of new items.

I had to start on a cuff for myself first, as the words have been tumbling around in my brain.   

A reminder at hand (literally) to truly LIVE LIFE...every single day.
 

Planning

This is what awaited me this evening.

Piles of books. School books.

I've been putting off working on the lesson plans. Because that would mean that school is starting soon. And I so don't want summer to end!

With just a week and a half between now and the first day of school I decided I needed to buckle down and get to planning. Once I was immersed in the books I had fun and the first week's plans went well. I try not to plan more than a week in advance, that way if we fall behind or work ahead I don't have to rewrite the next week's plans. This has been very helpful when we've had sick days, a last minute field trip, or just an "off" day. That's the great thing about homeschooling - it's flexible! We always have weekends to catch up, or snow days, or the summer. That "rush to finish" isn't there like in a typical school setting.

I'm most excited about The Prairie Primer by Margie Gray. While this is meant to cover a year of academic studies (except for math and spelling) we will be using it more as a supplement.  

This primer is based on the 9 books from "The Little House" series. It's goal is one book a month for nine months and each day has it's own subjects based on what you would have read that day. It teaches U.S. History in the 1800's, U.S. geography, science, language, practical living, health and safety, nutrition, music, and art. As well as Biblical. Since this will be our supplement, and not our sole textbook for those subjects, I feel we will probably do three book studies a year...so this course will work for our family over three years. 

I see that there is also a literature based unit study utilizing C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia". If we enjoy this study as much as I think we will I'll have to try that one next!

When does school start in your area? Are you ready?

A Space of Their Own

When we were at Faith's Lodge everyone was drawn to the art room. Crafts were at the ready, paint and brushes were accessible for ease of use. Having it there, right at your fingertips, makes creation flow.

So I decided when we returned home that we would have a little corner of our own and got to work creating a space that is open to the kids. As long as they clean up their mess when finished they are free to use whatever, whenever, if it's on/in this desk. 

Like moths to a flame they flocked. 

Amy got her paint on.

Joe and Amy worked with markers and stickers.

While Becca said the desk is too small for her she loves the ease of grabbing an art medium and running to her room to create.

I look forward to switching up the crafts on the table. Letting the kids explore with clay, watercolors, pencils, beads, and more.  Watching the budding artists emerge.
 

Purge

This weekend seemed like a good time to purge excess clutter around the house. I was in a grouchy mood and felt like I was walking around, as well as tripping on, piles of stuff.

So I took everything out of the dining room (besides the furniture, that is), and then slowly brought it back in. By doing that I was able to see what items I didn't want in there. What items I didn't love. What items were just stuff, instead of needed/wanted things.

Therefore, I was left with a very basic, minimalistic dining room that feels more open, more light, more useful. 

(Why this picture is slanted I do not know.)

It contains my little corner shelf. My dining table. And my buffet which holds the kid's school items. That's it. 

Perfection!

One bag of stuff ready to be donated. One room down. A million left to go!

On a side note, we also cleaned out part of the garage and got rid of a pile of stuff on the curb. I'm glad someone else is able to make use of the items and glad we have some cleared space.

S.O.S. Update

My S.O.S. Challenge (Sick of Stuff) has continued. My goal? 5 things out of this house daily. I've met, if not exceeded that goal.

Today I will be working on my clothing. I have a box half full waiting for donation and hope to top it off and drop it off today.

I noticed when putting my laundry away that the drawers are so stuffed that sometimes I just pile the excess on top of the trunk at the end of our bed. Sometimes that pile ends up getting knocked down and then I end up rewashing it all whether it was worn or not.  Extra work for no reason.

Another item has been toys. A mothering book, which one I can't remember at the moment, gave me the freedom to purge toys whether they were sentimental or not by stating, "Think of toys as expendable. Like a movie or a day out at the park. Fun for awhile but not having to be hoarded." Or something like that, I'm paraphrasing here.

The point is, I can buy the kids a bag of 25 cent plastic farm animals at the thrift store and know that by the end of the week they will be forgotten and spread around the house. I can then bag them up and send them back to the thrift store (or even sweep them up and toss them) and still consider that 25 cents well spent. Because even if it's just an hour or two - they were played with. That doesn't mean they have to be kept. The freedom to look at toys (or books, or movies) in that sense is an immense help in pairing down our belongings.  
 

This Week

*It's been rainy and gloomy. You know, April showers bring May flowers and all that jazz. It may be chilly yet tomorrow but I think it's supposed to be dry so I look forward to hanging out some laundry and working in the flower beds and garden. 

I'm wanting to tear out the old, dying shrubs along the west side of our house and plant some type of shady shrub on the west side of the porch...a fragrant shady shrub. Any suggestions? I'm thinking mock orange or something along those lines.

*I've gotten a Facebook page set up for my Etsy shop so feel free to like it if you'd like updates. I'm not doing much with the shop at all right now (though I did just send out two orders in one week after a long lapse of orders) but do plan to list things within the next few months. Little pop ups of new items. :)

*We are catching up on school work by not taking a spring break around here. The kids don't mind (since I didn't mention spring break to begin with!) and we may be able to finish earlier than most schools around here this summer. With that said, we will be continuing with math and reading throughout the summer, as I notice things go more smoothly in those areas without that long break.

*Spring cleaning.  Lots of spring cleaning. I love, love, love this quote and am taking it to heart. This shall be my motto this year. :)

 

Living Well Spending Less

"Ultimately, how we spend our money is a direct reflection of what is in our hearts." Thus begins the book Living Well Spending Less by Ruth Soukup.

As someone who went from a complete penny-pincher to a careless spendthrift, I nodded at that assessment. There is a hole in my heart after the loss of Jacob and there is now a hole crater in my budget. I got to the point that I didn't care. Money is just money, right?

This book brought me back from the brink of excess spending. There isn't anything new in the book. Everything within, from why we need to be good stewards of our money to how to save at the grocery store are all things I already knew. But reminders are a good thing and it pressed my old money ways a little stronger on my heart.

It's not just about money. It delves into how you spend your time, how much you value your friendships, how your goals can make or break you, how simplifying your home can simplify your life. How less really is more. More than a "how-to guide", this is Ruth's own story of her shopaholic tendencies and how she is breaking herself of her bad habits, and why. It brings a lot of religion into play, which may not encourage someone who is not a Christian, but the main principals of her story should help anyone who spends a little more than they like or someone who wishes they could save more than they have been.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest opinion.  
 

U.S. Cellular Helps to Stay on Track

This is the first new year that I've started with an iPhone 5s in my hand. While I don't think a smart phone is a fundamental element to happiness and success I do see benefits to having one, especially when setting goals and staying organized.

I may still use a paper planner but being able to pull out the phone at the grocery store to check a recipe for ingredients helps me meal plan. Showing the gas station clerk a text for savings at the gas pump helps my budget. The list could go on. Help while on the go isn't the only benefit to a smart phone.

What about an app that helps you lose weight or get in shape? Runtastic Six Pack can allow you to create plans from home that help you do just that.  Pair that with Up by Jawbone which is a fitness wristband that can track what you eat and the activity that you do throughout the day.

Need a best to-do list and task manager? Get the app any.do to help keep you organized. 

Saving money is usually a resolution for everyone in the new year. The app Check can help! The free app allows users to link bills, bank accounts and credit cards. The app will notify users  when a payment is coming up and even lets users set up automatic payments.

All this in the palm of your hand. No more searching through papers on your desk, forgetting to pay a bill, and so on.  Those looking for help sticking with some of the most common New Year’s resolutions can use U.S. Cellular’s 4G LTE network, with speeds of up to 10 times faster than 3G to download some of the most helpful apps onto their smartphones and tablets.

Disclaimer: This post sponsored by U.S. Cellular Blogger Brigade but all opinions are my own.   
 

2015

A goal of mine in 2015 was to get back to regular blogging. I started a post and my computer ended up losing it half way through writing it. I intended to get back to it that evening but look here. It's the 6th of January and this is the first post of the year.

*sigh*

I think the issue is that bloggers tend to like to *show off* some of their life. The good days, the fun decorating, the yummy recipes, and so on. And as of late there just isn't much that you would want to see. My avoidance? Lack of enthusiasm? Lack of luster?

I'm not going to lie...this winter has been more tough than last winter without Jacob. The sparkle of life just isn't there right now for me. But you know what else? I know these peaks and valleys in the walk of grief are normal. So I'm hunkering down when I need to, ignoring the housework when I want to, taking things easier when I have to. 

We finally have had a week of real winter weather. I say finally because we had such a mild December (which was nice!) but it seems my soul was longing for the solitude of isolation once again. With piles of snow outside and arctic temperatures (windchill of possible 50 below zero tonight, anyone?) this week I've once again felt the peace of that white cocoon. I don't know what it is, but I think that when your world has stopped with that one person missing you like it when the world outside disappears a little. 

Back to my goal. I do hope to be more regular with my blogging, and not just with my reviews and such. I'm also getting a bit more organized. I sat down on New Year's Eve and got all my calendars out. Birthdays and appointments went into my wall calendars and those went up on the wall. 

I have my small planner to write my daily musings in. And this year I have a Day Planner (this lovely one that I received in a subscription box!) which is helping me get more done. It's quite helpful to sit down at the end of the day or the beginning of a new one and plan out what needs to get done and cross it off as it's done. A real sense of accomplishment!

I hope that you have a blessed New Year and that I see you back here often! :)  
 

Novel Interiors

What is better than reading a novel? Living in a house decorated around one! Novel Interiors by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti is a beautiful book highlighting rooms/homes that are inspired by literature.  "You don't just read a good book, you inhabit it."

This book is filled with gorgeous photographs. Also quotes from over sixty works of literature, which help tie in even the smallest decorating element.  

Can't you just imagine what the room from Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence should look like with this passage from the book: "He was rather proud of his home...The chairs were only wooden, and the sofa was old...{but} there was a simplicity in everything and plenty of books." 

What about "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers...Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them." Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

This is the perfect coffee table book for any book lover and designer. Such original, classic ideas tying our love for reading into a relaxing home in which to read. :)

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Laundry Routine

Laundry is a bit of a no-brainer and I doubt you need a tutorial on how to do yours. But since it's basically the only part of my housework that I have down to an exact science I felt like sharing my routine with you. :)

It's the one chore that I enjoy (except for the putting it away part). 

I have a nice sized laundry room right off the kitchen, which makes this job a little easier. We throw our dirty clothes in a hamper in the bathroom and upstairs, which then gets sorted in a separated hamper in the laundry room. All kids clothes together, all my clothes together, all Ben's clothes together, and then all towels together. I do not separate by color and so far have had no problems because of this.

When one part gets full I do a load of laundry (it averages 1 to 2 loads a day). I wash on cold (except for towels, which gets hot).

In the summer I try to hang out everything on the line, weather permitting. In winter I hang as much as I can on a garment rack which is right across from the dryer in the laundry room. I do this for two reasons. One is that it saves money, by cutting my dryer use in half. Two, I buy certain brands of clothing that just fare better without being in a dryer. Some resale pages I belong to specify no dryer so I get more in return when I do not dry these specific pieces.   

The rack is right in front of a heating vent so these items dry within 12 to 24 hours.

I fold the clothing in the laundry room, pile into a basket, and then get them put away sometime within the week. :) My linen shelf is in the laundry room so towels go directly from the dryer to the shelf, all fluffy and warm. 

Stain control is done in the laundry room. I experiment with different stain removers. Right now my favorite is a squirt bottle with a bit of blue Dawn dish detergent, a bit of peroxide, and the rest water. This seems to get most stains out when spot treated. For ink stains (which we get a lot of around here with a pen loving toddler) my aunt told me about using a bit of hand sanitizer on the spot. It works like a charm!!! I'm loving that tip.

That sums up my laundry routine. What is yours?     
 

S.O.S Challenge

I haven't done a good job taking photos of the items I have purged, but I have continued on with my challenge (rid the house of at least 5 items a day).

I have a reuseable bag that I keep in my closet and as I find items to sell I stick them in there. I have managed to fill it three times in the past two weeks to take to my aunt's consignment shop. 

I also dropped a box of toys off at the charity shop in town before they closed for the winter and another stuffed garbage bag of clothes to the clothes closet at the church (where they give out clothing for free to families in need). I didn't count each item but guesstimate that it is well over 100 items total. 100 things. Out. Of. The. House.

It feels good. As I mentioned before, we hope to buy a house with some land in the future and pairing down now will help us in the long run when we want to put the house on the market and when we get to the actual point of packing and moving. 

35 items a week. Donated, thrown away, or sold. It's really not a hard challenge, and I want to continue this trend until I've paired down to an organized, simplified house. Still a long way to go! :)
 

Week 2 S.O.S Update

I was a mean, green, cleaning machine this weekend. I worked on the upstairs and pulled things out of closets, drawers, and from under beds. I washed the carpet in each room. I threw a giant bag of garbage away.

And then I purged some more. Ignore the dust on my car (time to head to the car wash!) and look at the two reusable bags filled with items for the consignment shop. Plus a garbage bag filled with clothes (and whatever wasn't taken at the consignment shop) which was dropped off at the clothes closet at a local church (free clothing for area residents in need).  

I already have another bag started for the clothes closet and a box of toys/books almost ready to go to the local charity shop. I'd say there were 10 things taken to the consignment shop at 40 things taken to the clothes closet, along with the huge garbage bag of stuff I threw away. So once again, I've exceeded my weekly goal of 35 items out of the house! 

Yay me!
 

S.O.S Update

One week into my S.O.S Challenge (Sick of Stuff) and I'm meeting and exceeding my goal (get rid of five items a day)!

I took 30 books to the library for their book sale.

I have a box in the back of my vehicle to donate. While I didn't count each item, it is stuffed full of books, toys, and clothes so I'm going to guess that there is at least 20 items in there.

I also threw several items away that I can no longer use, at least 5 things.

So that is a total of around 55 things out of the house this week! Well above my 35 item goal. I've already got another box started for donation, and a bag ready for the consignment shop. We shall see how I do this week. :)
 

S.O.S Project

I hate sounding like a broken record. I've said it before and am saying it again - I want to minimize my household. I have a fascination with minimalistic living. Yet, my house borders on that of a hoarder (not like the hoarders on "Hoarders", but we have a lot of stuff). It's hard, because with three children and homeschooling some extra stuff is just needed. And I have interests (books, collections, paper) that I really don't want to give up.

This past weekend I finished the book The Big Tiny by Dee Williams (I've always been fascinated by the tiny house movement) but I think what interested me most was the chapter where she listed the 351 one items that she owns.  

While I was confused by the just two pairs of underwear (does she go commando most of the time, wash a pair every night?!), I imagined what her simplified life must be like - simple. Unencumbered by stuff. Easier, maybe?

While I feel like my own home is too tiny most days (at around 1,100 sq feet - I think) I'm almost dreaming of a future in a tiny house when my kids are grown (though I know hubby would never go for it). Maybe a tiny cabin in the woods somewhere? I live vicariously though my aunt and uncle who sold their home and travel the United States in an RV. It sounds so thrilling. I must have some gypsy blood in me.

Anyhow, while I can't give away all our possessions and live in a room smaller than an area rug, I do want to declutter my life. The Big Tiny not only encouraged me, but the book that we are working on for Bible Study (Simplify by Bill Hybels, this is my second time reading it) is also showing me the way to peace is to simplify my life. 

I need to start small, with little uncluttered spaces in my life. A drawer, a shelf, a table will help me begin. My S.O.S challenge (Sick of Stuff) is to get rid of five things a day. Whether it's into a bag for the consignment shop, into a box for donation, or into the trash. This doesn't mean five pieces of paper or five items of trash...but actual things that I really don't need. That's 35 items a week. I'll occasionally update with a photo of things leaving my house. I'm hoping that by this time next year my life will be more...simple?