Simple Ways To Start Decluttering

Let's get real, tackling your whole house is WAY too overwhelming so start in just one place. For me, it's the kitchen table. The table is the catch-all for everything Partak including school work, mail, glove business, consulting work notes, and anything else that comes in from outside.

When I start to feel my clutter closing in on me, I start by putting away things on the table, if they don't have a home, I make the choice to keep it or toss it. Next any paper that I can throw away (or recycle as is appropriate) gets tossed. Everything else gets put in one pile and I go through it piece by piece. Right then, I put it where it goes (file, bills to-pay, sign for school or to mail, etc.), and in just minutes I'm done! I wipe the table off, push the chairs in and I already feel like I am more in control and ready to tackle the next space! You can do it, too...just start!

Quotes That Resonate

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary
so that the necessary may speak." ~Hans Hoffman

I love this! As I stay on top of keeping our home free of clutter and our life simplified, I can enjoy the beings that are my family!

Happy Earth Day!

Mason wanted to make cookies for Earth Day to take to school, so we did!

We love planet earth cookies! The heart in the cookie is actually "stained glass" by using melted Jolly Ranchers! Yummy!

Happy Earth Day!

Time To Refresh

The major decluttering project last year set me up to feel free of the weight hanging on to stuff put on me, but as time has passed, things have started to pile up again. It's not anything other than living, but it needs attention and intention to be beat!

Just yesterday I pulled a bag out of the pantry and went through the house and easily collected more than 10 things (remember, Give Away Ten A Day?). After I put the stuff that was easy to part with, I walked through again and grabbed three more things, one being a pair of boots that I haven't worn in more than two years but couldn't part with last year. Gone!

I'm going to take you on my refresher and would love it if you would join me and declutter your space a little, too. Call it Spring Cleaning with a twist and Give Away Ten A Day!

Wanting Less! It's Working.

Mason seems to have resigned himself to the fact that I am not buying him anything (at all). He has not stopped asking completely, but he is asking less and when I say no, he is not pitching a fit! Hooray! I don't think I am out of the woods just yet, but it's working. I know this because he is playing with the stuff he has now, dusting off toys he hasn't played with in months and get this, we are reading more. He has come to me to ask me to read books we haven't shared in a while and he is playing outside in the back yard.

I have to admit, I've had some serious doubts about whether or not I could reach a six year old about materialism and consumerism, but I believe it's working! The secret seems to be consistency, the say what I mean, mean what I say approach. I've outlasted him and he knows I'm not giving in. For me, the bottom line is that I want Mason to build a strong character based on good moral values and who he is as a person, not what he has.

This will be something we will work together on as long as he is learning and growing, but it is a wonderful thing to work on!

So Get This!

I'm in this unfamiliar space where I'm being completely accepting of my body and my weight. I truly have committed to never diet again, and the last month or so (I made this decision well before I posted for all of you to read) I've eaten whatever I wanted. Have I gained any weight? I don't know, don't care. What I do know is I've enjoyed every bite.

So here's the thing, I'm craving raw food. I want vegetables, cabbage salad, cucumbers, and more! I'm going to go with what my body is asking for...salad, marinated vegetables, and more! I'm lucky, I love fruits, vegetables, and salads. I'm not big on lots of dressing and I'm completely satisfied with a salad as a meal. All of this works in my favor to feed my body for health. Next it would be great if I could start craving rigorous exercise! I'll keep you posted!

Quotes That Resonate

"Trust yourself and stop asking so many questions. You will find your own answers as you go through the process." - Richard Schulze