Keep up the cleaning out! Monday I will have the next challenge listed!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
What's a girl to do?
As we all work on clearing out our bedrooms this week we are faced with where to donate it all. Keeping things out of the trash is just as important as keeping it out of our bedrooms. Tonight I was introduced to a website where we can all donate our bras.... http://brarecycling.com/index.shtml I have had trouble in the past trying to decide what to do with a good condition bra that no longer fits or never did fit properly (once I posted free bras on a website for free and I got really inappropriate responses!). What a great idea to donate them to someone else who could really use it. Instructions are on the website and easy to follow.
Keep up the cleaning out! Monday I will have the next challenge listed!
Keep up the cleaning out! Monday I will have the next challenge listed!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ever have one of those mornings?
Today I woke up over an hour late, hurt while my daughter cried about not wanting to go to school, drove her to school since waking up late ended with her missing the bus, and then after arriving home, crying from all the stress. My daughter will adjust over time, but will I stop feeling stressed? Some of my stress is from life situations that happen and will continue to happen. But a main cause of stress today was from not being able to find the charger for my digital camera. Some people are sitting there saying "don't you have a place for your charger?" and many of you are sitting there saying "been there done that".
I cried, prayed, cleaned, vented, messaged hubby at work asking if he had seen it, prayed some more, stressed, cried again.....2 hours later I found it! It was in a laundry basket with extra hangers, covered by hubby's work shirts, and other miscellaneous stuff that didn't belong there. Was this God's way of telling me to move it along with the clearing out? After locating the charger I sat there and said over and over "Thank you God, Thank you!"
How must time do I spend stressed and looking for something? What else could I have done with that 2 hours this morning? Let's see I could have....
Thank you God for helping me remember each day that this is Your plan and letting it all go will give me a far better life than I ever could have imagined!
Thank you http://wigflip.com/superstickies/ for the sticky notes!
I cried, prayed, cleaned, vented, messaged hubby at work asking if he had seen it, prayed some more, stressed, cried again.....2 hours later I found it! It was in a laundry basket with extra hangers, covered by hubby's work shirts, and other miscellaneous stuff that didn't belong there. Was this God's way of telling me to move it along with the clearing out? After locating the charger I sat there and said over and over "Thank you God, Thank you!"
How must time do I spend stressed and looking for something? What else could I have done with that 2 hours this morning? Let's see I could have....
Thank you God for helping me remember each day that this is Your plan and letting it all go will give me a far better life than I ever could have imagined!
Thank you http://wigflip.com/superstickies/ for the sticky notes!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Small things
A few days ago I cut hubby's hair, like I have done since shortly after we were married. After literally hundreds of haircuts he said to me this time..... "Did you know it cost $13 to get my hair cut?"..... it only took 12 years, but he now appreciates the convenience of me doing it at home for him and for the cost savings!
Little things do add up. I'm sure you have seen those charts that show how much you would save if you didn't eat out as much, have that daily cup of coffee at a drive thru, and if you pump your own gas (is there a full service station left?). Doing the math I have saved us at least $2000 by cutting his hair at home. The doesn't include the savings in gas and time, but that is still a nice bit of change. I told him I should have been charging him all these years and saving the money :-)
What little things can you do to save that little bit of money? What things can you simply do without?
Little things do add up. I'm sure you have seen those charts that show how much you would save if you didn't eat out as much, have that daily cup of coffee at a drive thru, and if you pump your own gas (is there a full service station left?). Doing the math I have saved us at least $2000 by cutting his hair at home. The doesn't include the savings in gas and time, but that is still a nice bit of change. I told him I should have been charging him all these years and saving the money :-)
What little things can you do to save that little bit of money? What things can you simply do without?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Plans for the bedroom
Another two beautiful hours outside sitting in the shade of the Royal Palonia tree, while the wind rustles the leaves. This time though my older daughter is at the mall with a friend, while younger daughter whines about wanting to go inside. Less than perfect, but still wonderful to be outside. Hubby worked on cutting dead limbs off a Crimson King tree with a small hand saw.
Back inside again, I did a load of dishes while younger daughter escapes to the school room, where the computer is kept and hubby goes on to his Ipod to play a game. I asked him to put something away when I mentioned that, that item wasn't going with us to the log cabin. His response was "I like it", well then it is one of HIS hundred items! This started me thinking again about my 100 item goal. I have had lots of opinions on it ranging from support, to thoughts I was crazy, to comments about "are you going to count each pin". No one is challenging me to do this, but God has asked me to. He wasn't exactly clear on what does count as part of the hundred items, so for now I have some "play" room to learn for myself what should count (for example the cedar chest I am keeping will count as 1 item and whatever fits inside will still be part of that 1 item). Hubby and I have been entrusted with many family heirlooms....none of which will leave our care. I have spent quite some time thinking about this. With our bedroom being the room of the week, I know exactly which furniture pieces are going and which we are getting rid of.
Currently in my bedroom has a wardrobe that belonged to my Great Grandmother, a beautiful hand-made cedar chest that my Great Uncle Ted made in the early 1900's while he was in high school, our bed, which is just a frame with a boxspring and mattress, a secretary desk that belonged to my step-mother's mom, a chair that I use with the secretary and a small cabinet that hubby uses as a night stand. We need a bed, but in 4 years we will probably purchase a new one and this one will go. The cedar chest is easy....it is going with us! No doubt about that! I have decided today that it will hold all my childhood memories, so whatever doesn't fit, will be given away. Right now it is filled with my Great Aunt Ann's memories, the ones she created with Uncle Ted, some baby items I was saving for a baby boy, pictures that I really want in frames, and some other miscellaneous stuff. Some items I really don't know what to do with. My Great Aunt Ann, who is 92, lives in a nursing home close to my home, but sadly doesn't remember much because of advanced dementia. I have a small flower from her wedding. It is hard to tell at this point that it is a flower, but it is. I'm really not sure what to do with it. Keeping it would mean another 50 years or so sitting in the cedar chest, but the thought of throwing away something she has kept all these years doesn't seem right either. This will be one of the hardest items I have to decide about.
The secretary is a nice piece, I like and use it, but I'm not sure there will be a spot for it in the cabin, so for now it is labeled "maybe". The cabinet is easy, we got it at Target 3 years ago and we have no attachment to it! It is going out at the yard sale! The wardrobe we are keeping, not only is it old and special, it will be where we store all our clothing. On one side it has a pull out hanging rod and on the other it has 6 drawers. We each have our own sock and unmentionable drawers, and I have a jewelry drawer and he has a shorts drawer. It is small, but it works. I will have to count the hangers in there since it requires special hangers that I don't think you can buy anymore. Hopefully there are 9 for each of us. 3 winter shirts, 3 summer shirts, 1 church outfit and 2 pairs of pants. Hubby tells me he needs an extra 10 for work shirts, so we will have to be creative on where we store those. Maybe in the "shorts" drawer.
The closet will be easy for me to clean out as I don't really form attachments to clothing. I already told hubby that I will turn his old t-shirts into a quilt, so he can still enjoy them without taking up closet space. That reminds me, there is a quilt rack in there too, but I'm willing to part with it too.
I will work on taking some pictures, as I'm sure my blog is pretty boring to read and pictures would help spice it up!
Hugs and Blessings!
Back inside again, I did a load of dishes while younger daughter escapes to the school room, where the computer is kept and hubby goes on to his Ipod to play a game. I asked him to put something away when I mentioned that, that item wasn't going with us to the log cabin. His response was "I like it", well then it is one of HIS hundred items! This started me thinking again about my 100 item goal. I have had lots of opinions on it ranging from support, to thoughts I was crazy, to comments about "are you going to count each pin". No one is challenging me to do this, but God has asked me to. He wasn't exactly clear on what does count as part of the hundred items, so for now I have some "play" room to learn for myself what should count (for example the cedar chest I am keeping will count as 1 item and whatever fits inside will still be part of that 1 item). Hubby and I have been entrusted with many family heirlooms....none of which will leave our care. I have spent quite some time thinking about this. With our bedroom being the room of the week, I know exactly which furniture pieces are going and which we are getting rid of.
Currently in my bedroom has a wardrobe that belonged to my Great Grandmother, a beautiful hand-made cedar chest that my Great Uncle Ted made in the early 1900's while he was in high school, our bed, which is just a frame with a boxspring and mattress, a secretary desk that belonged to my step-mother's mom, a chair that I use with the secretary and a small cabinet that hubby uses as a night stand. We need a bed, but in 4 years we will probably purchase a new one and this one will go. The cedar chest is easy....it is going with us! No doubt about that! I have decided today that it will hold all my childhood memories, so whatever doesn't fit, will be given away. Right now it is filled with my Great Aunt Ann's memories, the ones she created with Uncle Ted, some baby items I was saving for a baby boy, pictures that I really want in frames, and some other miscellaneous stuff. Some items I really don't know what to do with. My Great Aunt Ann, who is 92, lives in a nursing home close to my home, but sadly doesn't remember much because of advanced dementia. I have a small flower from her wedding. It is hard to tell at this point that it is a flower, but it is. I'm really not sure what to do with it. Keeping it would mean another 50 years or so sitting in the cedar chest, but the thought of throwing away something she has kept all these years doesn't seem right either. This will be one of the hardest items I have to decide about.
The secretary is a nice piece, I like and use it, but I'm not sure there will be a spot for it in the cabin, so for now it is labeled "maybe". The cabinet is easy, we got it at Target 3 years ago and we have no attachment to it! It is going out at the yard sale! The wardrobe we are keeping, not only is it old and special, it will be where we store all our clothing. On one side it has a pull out hanging rod and on the other it has 6 drawers. We each have our own sock and unmentionable drawers, and I have a jewelry drawer and he has a shorts drawer. It is small, but it works. I will have to count the hangers in there since it requires special hangers that I don't think you can buy anymore. Hopefully there are 9 for each of us. 3 winter shirts, 3 summer shirts, 1 church outfit and 2 pairs of pants. Hubby tells me he needs an extra 10 for work shirts, so we will have to be creative on where we store those. Maybe in the "shorts" drawer.
The closet will be easy for me to clean out as I don't really form attachments to clothing. I already told hubby that I will turn his old t-shirts into a quilt, so he can still enjoy them without taking up closet space. That reminds me, there is a quilt rack in there too, but I'm willing to part with it too.
I will work on taking some pictures, as I'm sure my blog is pretty boring to read and pictures would help spice it up!
Hugs and Blessings!
The great outdoors and the new clean out challenge!
I'm sick, but that didn't stop me from enjoy time with my family. Outside the temperature was in the 60's and inside the house was empty. The girls, my hubby, and even my two dogs were all outside with me. Enjoying the beautiful breezy day. There is nothing greater then hearing the giggles of your children. Our teenage sat on daddy's lap as we talked and laughed for literally hours! Our younger daughter played with a rope she found and occasionally got close enough to tickle! Eventually our teenager came and sat on my lap for a while.....we had a wonderful time. Hubby fired up the grill and made hamburgers, a hot dog, and potatoes for lunch. What a difference being outside makes! I challenge you to spend an afternoon, evening, or morning outside with your family....whether that means you and a furry 4 - footed baby, you and your spouse, you and your children, or simply you and God. See what a difference being outside makes compared to your relationship inside the house. As soon as my family returned indoors, the teenager went on the computer, hubby turned on the tv, and I came on the computer....we are together, but once again separated by technology. You ask "how about you turn it all off".....well that is a good idea, but then hubby would retreat to the bedroom for a nap, I will venture into the kitchen to wash dishes and the teenager would good into her room. Our little one (who really isn't a little girl anyone at the age of 10) is always close by, but usually distracted by something. There is just something so amazing about being outside with the family. Something you can't put a price on and something I wouldn't trade for the world.
Now onto this week's clean out challenge! This past week we worked on the kitchen and a lot of progress was made! If you want to join the challenge just send me a message and update me when you get items out of your house! This week I challenge you to clear out your bedroom! Make it a place where you can escape clutter, stress, and distraction. Go through your closet and get rid of all those items you will never wear. Get ready for the new season....here we are preparing for the crisper, cooler weather of fall. Bless others that don't have any with what you have too much of. Then send me a message with how many boxes left your home and I will post the results on the side bar near the bottom (if you haven't already, check out the great progress the rest of the group has made in this last week!!!!!)
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Now onto this week's clean out challenge! This past week we worked on the kitchen and a lot of progress was made! If you want to join the challenge just send me a message and update me when you get items out of your house! This week I challenge you to clear out your bedroom! Make it a place where you can escape clutter, stress, and distraction. Go through your closet and get rid of all those items you will never wear. Get ready for the new season....here we are preparing for the crisper, cooler weather of fall. Bless others that don't have any with what you have too much of. Then send me a message with how many boxes left your home and I will post the results on the side bar near the bottom (if you haven't already, check out the great progress the rest of the group has made in this last week!!!!!)
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
I'm crazy, I know!
While watching my daughter's blanket dry in the sun on the clothes line I started thinking about a better washing "machine" option. I would like something that doesn't use any electricity and would be simple and compact.
A hand-crank washer is perfect, small, does the job, doesn't use electricity, but with a price tag of $40 or more, it isn't exactly what I'm looking for.
After some more web-searching, I found an option that I think will work out great! I will begin looking for the parts to build it and when I'm done, I will share with you the pictures and the how-to.
I feel inspired and motivated to continue on this journey!
A hand-crank washer is perfect, small, does the job, doesn't use electricity, but with a price tag of $40 or more, it isn't exactly what I'm looking for.
After some more web-searching, I found an option that I think will work out great! I will begin looking for the parts to build it and when I'm done, I will share with you the pictures and the how-to.
I feel inspired and motivated to continue on this journey!
Discouraged
A friend of ours is a real estate agent, so I asked him what the going price is for one acre of property (without a house) in the County we currently live in....he said it ranges from $30,000 to $160,000. My jaw dropped. Our plan was to spend no more than $10,000 on the land. I am finding myself feeling very discouraged today, especially after my hubby's usual lunch call to me, where he sounds so sad and tired. My heart wanted to tell him to come home and we are moving today to our little house with just the basics. Unfortunately my mind knows that we don't even have the money for a u-haul! Anything worth having is worth working for and God knows the best timing and plan.....so if I could just shake off this human emotion of discouragement I could continue to enjoy my day in the knowledge it will all be ok.
Originally in my dream of a tiny house, we could live anywhere. Nothing really ties us down here until now. My daughter is adjusting very well to her school, friendships are being established and a routine is now in place. The thought of moving my family from here.....hurts.....I didn't think it would. I'm always game for adventure and I look at moving as a very exciting adventure. Why do I want to jump ahead? Someone told me once to "enjoy the process" as I was rushing to finish the quilt. I wanted the end result and forgot to enjoy the sewing. I need to remember to enjoy each day, cleaning out, planning, and spending time with the ones I love. God will work out the details and the time line. Today my goal is simple.....live, breathe, love, and thank God that I am here!
off to continue working on my kitchen!
Originally in my dream of a tiny house, we could live anywhere. Nothing really ties us down here until now. My daughter is adjusting very well to her school, friendships are being established and a routine is now in place. The thought of moving my family from here.....hurts.....I didn't think it would. I'm always game for adventure and I look at moving as a very exciting adventure. Why do I want to jump ahead? Someone told me once to "enjoy the process" as I was rushing to finish the quilt. I wanted the end result and forgot to enjoy the sewing. I need to remember to enjoy each day, cleaning out, planning, and spending time with the ones I love. God will work out the details and the time line. Today my goal is simple.....live, breathe, love, and thank God that I am here!
off to continue working on my kitchen!
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