SIMPLIFY

This year I have been thinking a lot about the New Year and what I wanted to accomplish.  Every year I do an intense list on different aspects of my life that I want to do better in.  Most of the goals have a monthly if not weekly or daily requirement.  This sets oneself up for failure.  This year I decided to go down a different path...a SIMPLER path.  This year my ONE word for the year is SIMPLIFY!  That's it.

Now what does that mean you might ask.  Well, that's what I have spent the past few weeks trying to figure out and it will be a yearly process.  I love that...a process.  Not something to really check off the list or look at saying I didn't do that this month and now I'm a failure.  Nope just a word that means what it needs to at that time.  So my game plan as of now.

I'm working on a 40 bag challenge.  It's meant to be 40 bags in 40 days for lent.  This is to rid the house of 40 bags of stuff.  It can be whatever size you want it to be but I'm doing garbage size bags.  I started on the 1st.  While Kevin was having his weekly Presidency meeting for Elders Quorum I was stuck upstairs and thanks to my SIL I had some white bags of clothes for the kids to go through that her older children had grown out of.  I started there and sorted the items and sorted the ones to keep in the laundry bags and put the others in the bags to start clearing out.  I then hit up my closet and got rid of a BUNCH of things.  I couldn't believe it.  I usually purge my closet well but I decided to be a little tough on myself.  I got rid of most everything (I believe) that has a hole in the shirt, even the ones I LOVE.  My sweet sister pointed that out to me while we stayed with her in LA and was trying to find me better clothes for our trip.  I think she was horrified I was traveling with a hole in my shirt.  Well...it's gone now.

I also went through Addie's 12 month clothes and baby blankets and got rid of things.  I couldn't believe it that after just those simple tasks I already had filled 3 bags of stuff!  Yeah.  Kevin told me when I started the challenge that there was no way we would get 40 bags out of the house.  He thought maybe 10 but I told him I could do it.  I have set the challenge and I'm ready to fill it.

The reason I wanted to start off my SIMPLIFY challenge by getting rid of stuff because it's easier to put things away/organize/clean when there is less stuff.  I'm sure it will get hard at the end but I know it will be better in the long run.  We even got a kick start by clearing out the garage on Thursday.  Right now after asking Kevin he thinks we got rid of 10 bags total including the bags I had upstairs.  That's about what I was thinking.  It was a car full and then a partial load along with a toddler bed we don't need that I'd been holding on to for Glenn but he's got a regular twin size bed (box springs actually but he loves it). It feels great.  There is more I would like to get out of the garage but Kevin was wanting to finish everything instead of letting me sort through every box and get rid of the stuff I don't love.  Oh well, we will keep working on it. 

The next step I plan on taking is to start implementing FLY Lady in my life.  If you haven't heard of her google it.  She's got a whole system set up to help you organize your life and clean your house.  Again...simplify things.  If I keep up on it then it won't get over whelming and life will be easier.  Exactly what I need. 

I've already set up a goal/plan for me to exercise 5 days a week.  I have to do 5 because I know if I only do 3 that I will push it off and then it won't happen, trust me.  I've learned from experience.  I've also signed up for the Portland to Coast walk.  I'm so excited to participate in that this year!  I've always wanted to do it and now with a ton of friends I can.  This will also help me keep in shape.  A happy fit momma will make for a happy family and a mommy that will be able to do things with her kids as the bones start to creek more.