Joys In My Life

I finished watching the first season of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and I loved it!  I think I was finally able to understand the concepts in her book, by seeing it all in a video format.  I started re-listening to the audio book over the weekend while I was doing the weekly cleaning and it really started to speak to me and things I needed to hear.  Here are the top things I've learned about the process I need to go through: I do not want my daughter's cast offs.  Those are items that are not going to spark joy for me!  I am the mom that when my daughter purges stuff from her room, that I go through her bags and look for things I want.  I have sweaters from my daughter in with my clothes that I thought I would wear, but never do.  I still like her old sweatpants.  She got rid of them as they were too small in the leg, but my legs are shorter than hers. I do not want to sell anything that I am purging.  That is poor thinking. I can take my...

Boys after piano recital yesterday morning. They are getting so big!!! Phoebe and I had a great time yesterday cleaning out the boys toy room.  We involved the boys in the parts that we thought were important for them, like cleaning through stuffed animals.  However, their toys in bins needed to be sorted through as some was junk (old McDonalds toys) and others just needed to put together - Playmobile castles vs. Legos.  They did help make some major decisions of toys they've outgrown - a Cars car track for preschool age children.  We did come out with about 6 bags of trash.  Thank goodness the trash went to the curb last night, as the bin was overflowing.  I think the only thing we didn't do very well was thanking some of the items that were put in the trash for the service they did to us.  I'm sure they did entertain the boys a bit before they were put to the side and piled up. I am taking the things I was going to donate to Goodwill to the basem...

Phoebe and I started watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo last night.  I think this is finally a reality TV show I can love!  What I believe it's inspiring me is how she's getting the whole family involved. I see now that is something I need to work on more with the kids - teaching them tidying up, so it's not something just Mommy does. I have the perfect projects for us to start with - the boys' closets, drawers and playroom.  The playroom is also the guest room and right now, no guests can stay in there.  There is a bed in there that is covered in toys.  There is also a desk that matches their bedroom furniture in the other room that is in the same state (covered with toys).  I'd like to clean out their toys with them involved in every step  and decide what ones they will not play with anymore that can be given away or sold.  I'd like to repaint the room, get some guest room furniture (bed to put the mattress on, bedside table and one dres...

The holidays are over and the decorations are put away.  Life is back to work and school and this is our first three day weekend after the holidays.  It's a Saturday morning, I'm missing my husband, and I'm ready to tackle our life that is not quite living up to our expectations these days.  I've decided to pull up my big girl panties today and get started on making our life the dream life we've always wanted.  I'm pulling out my bullet journal and using this weekend to take charge of our life.  By the time Tom is home for good I want things to be the way we've always wanted them. What do I need to work on: Our house is not setup the way I'd like it to be.  I can't wait to get hardwood floors and want projects not to be half finished.  You know when you're putting your house on the market and you finish all those projects to make it look good to sell?  I want our house like that now while we have time to enjoy it! Phoebe is leaving for...