Day #30 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Get a Little Help from Your Friends

Your task for today is to call three friends and ask, "What are some ways you have simplified your life?"

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 183)

In this final chapter of 30 Days to a Simpler Life, the authors included pages of tips from all their friends.  I enjoyed reading them, and I'm sure you will too!  I checked out another book from the library during this process called Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets.  It has a lot of household and organization tips in it too, but I found its value to be more in the author's sense of humor.  I couldn't leave day #30 without giving you this quote from that book:

Take a look at your life---do you like what you see?  Live every day like it's the last one.  Find a passion, not an OCD.  No drama allowed.  Don't worry about all the toys; just hold your kids and smooch them on their perfect little heads.  Embrace the chaos.  Quit trying to keep up with the Joneses and tell those jealous bitches to suck it.  Give yourself some credit.  Do less and enjoy more.  Wave your hands in the air like you just don't care.  Put down the glue gun and step away, ma'am.

(Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets, p. 160)

So while I'd love to think that I'm now the maven of simplicity (ha ha), I have a long way to go baby.  Just because I know lots of hints and tips now doesn't mean I'm going to be motivated to apply them everyday---  and that's okay.  I think what I got out of this process is the knowledge that I can do it!  It might not happen as fast as it does on HGTV or TLC, but it can happen.  I just need to commit to getting one thing done and just do it one step at a time.  One of my college friends used to always say to me, "You can't eat an elephant in one bite."  I always found that quote a little gross (visions of eating a pachyderm raw---ick), but she was right.  One step at a time is the only way to get anything done.  So I'm putting down my glue gun and I'm looking forward to a fun Easter weekend with the family.  Next week I'll be back to business, but until then here are five recurring themes that the authors of 30 Days to a Simpler Life experienced when they asked their friends how they simplified their lives:

• Drop perfectionism and the guilt it produces.
• Learn to say "No!" right away.
• Make a commitment to your health---eat well, exercise, and get adequate sleep.
• Edit negative people from your life.
• Avoid shopping whenever possible.

(Page 183)

Wow---imagine how much easier life would be if we could just do those five things!  How have you simplified your life?  What's your best tip you can share?  Thanks everyone for coming on this journey with me!  

Day #29 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Find Out What Works

Today fill out the checklist below.  It will help you see at a glance what works and what doesn't in your life.  Make a copy of this list and keep it in a place where you will refer to it again (your bulletin board or date book).  Add additional categories as they occur to you.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 180-182)

There is no way I can do today without sharing the list...and what a list it is!  Decide if you're okay or need help in the following areas.  My answers to the questions are bolded to the right.

Closet

Love and Wear clothes exclusively     OK

Closet organized     Help (I still have some stray stuff on the floor that needs donating)      

Accessories managed    OK    

   Stockings     OK (I only own 1 pair...I'd say this is okay :-)

    Belts     OK

    Scarves    OK

    Shoes     OK

    Jewelry    OK

Clothing Systems

Dry-cleaning system    OK (we don't really dry clean much :-)

Laundry system     Help (it could be better.  Tom Thumb was out of underwear yesterday.)

Out of season system    OK (all in Rubbermaid tubs or hung in the hall closet.  It was fine until Red raided the summer bin a couple days ago for some shorts.  Now all is chaos!)

Recycling System     OK (outgrown or not used clothes go to Purple Heart or my niece and nephew)

Linen closet     Help (needs assistance after I bought new pillows for the guests from Tennessee last month. Now it's jammed!)

Kitchen

   Counters cleared     Help (I'm still working on keeping that darn counter cleaned off)

   Storage organized     OK

   Love and Use items exclusively     OK (except the china cabinet, but that's technically in the dining room :-)

   Meal Planning System     OK

   Grocery Shopping System     OK

   Entertaining Menus and Setup   Help (but I'm really not entertaining much currently so maybe I am OK)

Home Office

Mail Handling     OK

Desktop Papers     Help (I get this under control and then this immediately goes to hell again)

Office Supplies     OK

Bill-Paying System     OK (Cobbler's domain)

Filing System     OK (all below are okay.  They could use some updating, but are okay)

     Current   OK

     Important Documents   OK (in safe)

     Estate planning   OK (in safe)

     Tax records   OK (yay---taxes were filed on Saturday)

     Home improvement records   OK

     Insurances   OK

     Archives   OK

Stationery and stamps   OK

Ticket system   OK

Gift wrapping   OK

Photos   Help (still working on this one)

Subscriptions   OK

Travel files and planning   OK

Kids

Kids' rooms

     Closet   Help (Tom Thumb's closet leaves something to be desired)

     Desk   OK (because there aren't any!)

     Storage   OK

Kids' papers and mementos  Help (Just got caught up on pasting Red's art projects into her book today.  Still a long way to go.)

Babysitter information current   OK

House Maintenance

Supplies organized   OK

Daily Routine  Help (in all these cases, I have a written routine I just don't do it)

Weekly Routine   Help

Seasonal Routine   Help

Garage OK (Cobbler's domain)

General

House sitter information current     OK (more cat sitter than anything)

Recycling system for useless stuff   OK

OR for serious simplifiers only...

If you are highly motivated, in the next three months, tackle all the areas marked "Help."  Some areas will take just a few minutes to simplify and organize, while other will take hours.  Imagine how you will feel when the job is complete.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 182)

           

I'm going to keep at it when this 30 day process is done.  For me, it's going to be a life long thing I'll continue to work on.  I'm not a naturally organized person (I tend to drop things on the floor as I walk along) so I really have to be intentional about simplifying and organizing.  As I've been saying all along---baby steps.  I think you'll see a lot more posts in the coming year about meeting the challenges above.

Today is my Dad's 67th birthday!  That's my Dad and Red at my Grandma's cottage on Lake Erie almost 6 years ago.  Happy birthday Daddy!  We're going over to my parents' house tonight to celebrate by eating some of my mom's homemade pineapple torte.  Yum!  My little sister is in town from Wisconsin for a visit too.  Can't wait! :-)

Day #28 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Get Physical!

Make an appointment on your calendar to exercise three to four times a week for an hour, or daily for 30 minutes.  This is a manageable amount of time for most people.  With a simple routine, you won't have to think about when to exercise---it's prescheduled!  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 175)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Each day, exercise for at least an hour and stretch for 15 minutes.  On weekends, set aside time for recreational exercise.  You will be more relaxed and refreshed for the coming week.  On your next vacation, be more physical.  Plan a golf, walking, trekking, biking, river-rafting, or cross-country skiing vacation.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 179)

Back on January 11th, I blogged about how I was "skinny fat."  I had gone to the rec center, been assessed by the trainer, and found out that I was extremely unhealthy.  Since the first week in February (barring extreme weather or illness), I have been going to the gym three mornings a week to lift weights and do cardio with my friend Colleen.  I usually get there between 530 and 6AM and am home before 730AM so the Cobbler can go to work for 8AM.  The first two weeks were killer.  I seriously thought I wouldn't make it.  My body hurt all over, I was wheezing after 5 minutes on the elliptical machine, and I was having shortness of breath during the day even when I wasn't exercising.  It was not a good scene.  

Amazingly though, it has gotten easier and easier as time has gone on.  The first week my arms shook when I did the Arnold press using only 5 pound weights.  Last week I made it through three sets of "the Arnold" using 12.5 pound weights.  When I was assessed, I could only do 12 modified (AKA "girly") push ups.  I just dropped as I was writing this to see how many can do today.  I just did 28 plank push ups.  My body feels stronger and although my weight hasn't changed (that wasn't my aim---I was actually trying to gain muscle and weight), I feel like my body has rearranged itself.  I keep telling the Cobbler to feel the back of my arm because there's a muscle there that wasn't there before!  It's not like I look ripped or anything, but I teased Colleen last night that I'm going to go five days a week in August and September so I can have Michelle Obama arms for my sister's wedding in October.  :-)

Today is the first day of spring break --- no school all week---and it's snowing here!  I don't think I remember a time when it snowed this late in the year.  I'm really disappointed because I had all these grandiose plans in my mind about all the things we were going to do outside today.  Maybe we can make a snowman instead?

Day #27 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life ---Make Landscaping Easier

A successful landscape is one that you thoroughly enjoy and is easy to maintain.  Use plants that require little maintenance.  Ask the nursery for three of the most successful plants in your region.  Make these plants the mainstay of your garden.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 169)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Schedule an hour a week in the garden---weeding, planting, pondering.  Make gardening a part of your new simpler life.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 174)

I am trying hard this year to control myself with the gardening.  I adore buying beautiful new flowers.  I spend way too much money and then they get trampled on by the kids or eaten by the neighborhood bunny rabbits.  This year I've decided 2 flats of annuals only for the front and I am going to let the rest go.  Don't get me wrong---I'm still going to weed and stuff, but I'm not going to stress out about having the perfect yard or the prettiest landscaping in the neighborhood.  I'll save that for when I'm retired.  :-)

Today's task---ugh, I really don't even want to think about---is the Cobbler and I finally have to do our taxes.  Normally, we're really on the ball and have them in early, but he counts on me to work out all the donations (i.e. take photos of everything and then punch them all into the tax program so we have an accurate estimate of what we actually gave) and I've been so busy that he hasn't pushed me to do it.  Big sigh...not looking forward to my Friday night at all.

On a happier note, check out my other post about Red's spring party and you'll see where all my energy has been sucked to over the last couple days...and it hasn't been landscaping.

Day #26 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life--- Pare Down Your Garage

Your garage is not a junk bin.  It's an important base of operations, like your kitchen and home office.  Today, sort your garage items into categories---tools, paint, gardening, recreational, barbecue, and so on.  As you sort, ask yourself:

1. Do I use it---or think I should?  If not, toss it.

2. When I want to do a project, is this item ready to use?  Am I willing to keep it cleaned and repaired?  If not, toss it.

3. Do I have enough space for this and is it well located?  If not, toss it or move it.

After you have sorted and tossed, make a list of organizers that will streamline your garage.

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 164)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

One month from now, go through your garage again.  Toss more ambivalent items.  Then buy organizers for tools, gardening supplies and sports equipment.  Install them immediately!  

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 168)

I am in luck today.  I have absolutely nothing to do with the garage except I park the minivan in it during the winter.  I've never cleaned it, and I've never organized it.  In fact, if I tried to organize it, I'm sure the Cobbler would be perturbed.  The garage is his domain.  His man cave.  I stay away...far far away.  Believe it or not, it's actually fairly well organized.  Generally if I need something like a shovel or a rake or some rose fertilizer, I can find it.  Or if I can't find it, I make the Cobbler go find it for me. It's the perfect situation. :-)

Instead, today I have to work on things for Red's spring party that is happening this afternoon.  My friend Maureen and I planned a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" theme so we'll read the book, play a game that I'm making (yes, I'm crazy.  I will be sewing fruit shaped bean bags all morning), make a butterfly magnet craft, and eat some cupcakes and fruit kabobs that Maureen is concocting to look like the caterpillar from the Eric Carle book.  I can't wait to share photos!

Day #25 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Enjoy Your Photos and Mementos

Today, round up all of your photos and put them in one place.  That's all you have to do.  Make a commitment to buy some photo boxes in the near future.  With these boxes, you will be able to sort your photos.  Read on for details. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 156)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Create one fabulous photo album from your most prized photos of the past.  You might choose great snapshots from several big events --- vacations, birthdays, weddings, christenings.  Forget the detailed system we described above.  Don't do anything that takes more than a couple of hours.  Store the best of the rest of your photos in a banker's box and give some to family members.  Do this project, put it aside, and get back to the joy of living in the present. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 163)

This chapter has a lot of helpful hints that are too numerous for me to write here, like some great ideas of what to do with color copies (e.g. greeting cards, placemats, collages, etc.).  I also liked their idea of having "An Old Lady Box."  The Old Lady Box is supposed to be a small box with mementos from the year that you put in storage to enjoy when you're an old lady.  :-)  Back to business...

In short, here's what you're supposed to do with the task above.  Once you have all the photos in one place, you are supposed to sort them into the boxes chronologically or by event or in some other fashion that makes sense to you.  Then, they advise you to buy a bunch of cheap photo albums so you can put them all in without agonizing over which photos to keep.  For all you avoiders, there is no mention of scrapbooking here!  

The one reason I think I keep not doing any photo projects is that I don't feel like scrapbooking them.  The biggest thorn in my side in this arena is our 2004 Italy trip photos.  I started a fabulous scrapbook when we got home from the trip.  I used matting and stickers and die cuts and stamping.  I got the first four days of the trip done (it was a 2 week tour) and it looks fabulous, but I just don't want to put out that much effort to finish it.  I keep beating myself up and thinking if I don't do the rest of the book just as nice as the first 4 days worth it's going to look weird.  Instead, I need to tell myself doesn't it look weirder that there's only 4 days of a 14 day trip in the scrapbook?  

On a good note, with the exception of the Italy trip, all of our photos prior to 2008 are in scrapbooks or photo albums.  The Cobbler always kept his childhood photos just shoved in a shoe box.  A couple of years ago I made him help me put them in chronological order and label them, and I put them all in photo albums.  Since Tom Thumb was born in 2007, I've pretty much done nothing other than take pictures and upload them onto the computer.  At Christmas every year, I print our top 24 greatest hits of the year for all the grandparents and aunt and uncles and put them in mini albums.  That's been about the extent of it.

So I'm setting a new goal today --- by the end of 2011, all my photos to date will be in albums or scrapbooks.  There...I said it.  Now what am I going to do with that Italy album?

Day #24 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Create Hassle-Free Holidays

Make a list of the holidays you celebrate annually.  Besides each entry, write down what each holiday means to you.  For example, Thanksgiving may mean organizing a big potluck dinner for friends who don't have anyplace else to go.  Next, make another list of holidays with columns entitled "Joyful Activities" and "Stressful Activities."  Fill in the blanks.  For example, a joyful Christmas activity might be "Sending cards," whereas a stressful activity might be "Finding perfect gifts for household help."  Once the list is made, vow to maximize joy and minimize stress. 

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 152)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

For one year, as each holiday approaches, choose one celebratory activity.  For example, for Christmas, just send cards, or make a wreath, or decorate a tree.  Fully experience one aspect of each holiday --- and ignore you least favorite holidays completely.  To simplify gift giving for one year, give the same gift to everyone on your list or send a card.  Get out of the loop for one year.

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 155)

Holidays --- I love 'em.  Here are some photos from the last five years.  No way around it.  I love everything about them.  Can you tell?

I love New Year's Day and watching the Rose Parade.  I love Valentine's Day and making hearts with the kids.  I love St. Patrick's Day and dressing green and drinking too much beer.  I love Easter and the egg hiding and finding.  I love Memorial Day parades, 4th of July fireworks, dressing up for Halloween (I don't miss a year!), gathering around the table for Thanksgiving, and taping Christmas cards to my door in the days after we drag home the tree from our church's Christmas tree lot tied to Red and Tom Thumb's red wagon.  I even love obscure holidays like Talk Like a Pirate Day.  I don't know if I ever met a holiday I didn't like.

Now just because I like holidays doesn't mean I'm immune from the stress that accompanies Christmas.  Every year I push myself to do more and more surrounding Christmas.  I send out around 100 Christmas cards, we decorate the tree, we go to the city tree lighting ceremony, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th (there are some great resources for celebrating this holiday here), we buy and ship a ton of gifts, and we make the big crazy meal on the actual day.  Last year I even made figgy pudding from this recipe!  This year I'm ready to take a breather, but can I actually take one?  My sister Andrea has invited us to Christmas at her house this year---her non-existent house that isn't built yet.  She and her husband have been planning to build this house for the last 5+ years on some property given to them by her husband's grandmother.  It finally looks like this will be the year it happens and I told her if it's built we will come.  I think having flexible plans will be a good excuse for me to just relax a little bit and see what happens.

In sad news, the baby bunnies are gone.  We're not exactly sure what happened, but we fear the worst since the Cobbler found some blood on a leaf in the nest.  I'm really sad and bummed out for the kids.  I haven't told them that they're gone yet.  

And poor Red has to get evaluated for some dental work next week.  She's been seeing the dentist since she was three years old with great results!  The hygienist even praised her brushing abilities and told her she could give lessons to older kids.  Well, genetics caught up with her yesterday.  At her appointment 6 months ago, the dentist said there may be some decay between two of her molars in her upper jaw but they couldn't tell since they couldn't get the bite wings in for an X ray without her gagging.  They were able to finally do the X ray yesterday and the decay was there.  She has to see a pediatric dentist to get it repaired.  In the meantime, I have to brush her teeth.  Red actually cried at the dentist and said, "I'm a baby now?  I can't even brush my own teeth!??!"  I felt so bad for her that I even got weepy and had a good cry while locked in the bathroom when we got home.  I feel responsible as a mom too.  At the appointment six months ago, the dentist suggested flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily.  I kept up with it for a few months, but then didn't insist upon it.  The dentist asked me if she uses sippy cups (no) or eats sticky sweet foods (yes, we gave her a lot of jelly beans while we were working with Tom Thumb on the finer details of potty training since he was getting them).  I definitely had a bad mom moment.  After talking to a few of my friends and realizing I'm not the only one with a kid who has teeth problems, I felt a little better.  I've never had a cavity in my life, but the Cobbler's teeth aren't so hot and the rest of my entire family (my mom and my sisters) have all had a TON of dental work.  I just need to buckle down, do what I can do (yes, we will be flossing and rinsing nightly from now on) and let the rest go.  I need to apply that philosophy to other areas of my life too.  

Day #23 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Give Vanishing Gifts

Today, tackle your wrapping paper, ribbons, gift bags, and gift tags/cards.  Save a few of your favorite rolls of paper, some matching ribbon, and some gift enclosure cards. Give away your extraneous wrapping supplies (give a few rolls to the kids).  If you cannot bear to give away beautiful wrapping paper, store the excess out of sight.  Simplicity is about using up what you have --- and keeping things flowing through your life.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 147)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Give far fewer gifts and far more hugs.  Gifts are symbols of love.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 151)

I really enjoyed this chapter.  I find it so hard to pick gifts for people.  I want to give something that shows I put thought into it and still have it be within my financial means.  Some of the suggestions the authors include in the chapter are gourmet foods, local wines, fresh flowers, toiletries, experiences (love this idea!), gift certificates for services or events, photos, stationery, and services by you (like babysitting or dog walking).  Another suggestion that I thought was great was to create a signature gift wrap look for all your gift giving---one look that works everyone and all occasions.  Love that!

Here is where I keep my wrap.  It's in my "craft closet" and the Cobbler set up an ingenious organization system for me.  He put the gift bags by genre (baby shower, birthday, etc.) all in the biggest bag in their category and then hung them on hangers.  He also crafted me that hanger for the bubble wrap made from old wire hangers.

Then I keep all my ribbon and tissue paper inside an old plastic file bin that I used to carry my files to and from my car at my last job before kids.

My gift wrap tubes (I don't have too many---maybe 6?) are all standing up inside a small basket.  For once, I feel like I have a daily assignment under control.  I'm going to be working on the valuables binder of last week for quite a while.  Don't even mention the 3rd and 4th shelves inside my pantry that I'm still working on.  What I've liked about this whole 30 day process is just doing a little bit and that still being a success because I did SOMETHING.  I'm proud of me and everyone else who I know who is doing this too.  All those little somethings add up to a BIG something.  Yay!

On a totally different note, it was like wild kingdom around here this weekend.  We took a hike as a family on Saturday and found a ton of snails!  It made me wish my R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Life curriculum (we're using that to do science camp at home this summer) was already ordered because I know they have a unit about snails and snail keeping.  It was really cool though.  They were absolutely everywhere!

Then, yesterday afternoon the Cobbler kept seeing a rabbit (a fairly common sight in our neighborhood) running back and forth across our backyard with different natural materials in its mouth--- grass, leaves, sticks.  This morning after church we came home to baby bunnies in a nest on the side of our house.  Here they are!

The kids couldn't stay away from them (it was too cool!) but we didn't want to scare away the mom so the Cobbler erected "The Bunny Cam".  We have some small security cameras that we used at our last house.  The Cobbler mounted one on a stick and aimed it at the bunny nest.  We now have a TV channel totally devoted to all bunnies all the time.  I'm just hoping the neighborhood cats can resist the temptation and stay away!

And in other big news---Red finally swam this week in the lap pool without a flotation device for the first time ever!  It has been a LONG time coming since she's been taking private lessons on and off for the last eight months.  Last summer she was afraid to put her face in the water.  Now she's a swimmer!  I am just bursting with happiness for her.  Here's a photo of Red with her instructor Colleen after her big triumph.

Happy Monday to all!

Day #22 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life---Keep Track of Your Valuables

Today, create a Valuables Binder for art, jewelry, silverware, and collections of anything you value and worry about losing to fire and theft.  Detailed instructions follow. 

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 143)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Scan your house and ask "Which valuables bring little enjoyment and much distress?"  After you have identified these items, sell them or give them to relatives who will enjoy them more.  If you are serious about simplifying, break your attachment to things you worry about losing.  Being free of concerns about possessions simplifies life.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 146)

Here are some of the suggestions (in short) that the authors make for keeping track of your valuables:

1. List them and put the list in a binder.

2. Photograph or videotape your valuables.  Date the video.

3. Include the receipts.

4. Put any appraisals or authentication documents in your binder.

5. Store your valuables binder in a safe place.

One thing they mention in the chapter is the story of a man who rented a storage space for all his possessions during a move.  His storage space caught fire and nothing was salvageable.  He lost $300,000 worth of stuff, but afterwards he said, "I learned that losing everything in a fire is insignificant.  When people lose body part, a loved one, a family member, or even a pet, it's a far greater loss (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 145)."

I think that is the ultimate goal with possessions---get to the point where your possessions are limited (so you don't even have the chance to lose $300K in a fire!) and love what you have but don't be unreasonably attached to them.  I don't have a lot that I would miss if there were a fire.  In fact if I really think about it, the only possessions I would be really really upset if I lost them are my wedding and engagement rings and the earrings I wore at our wedding.  And in the end, even those are replaceable.  As far as making a valuables binder goes, I think it's a great idea.  When we moved to our current house in 2004, we took photos of all of our collectibles in case they were broken during the move.  We still have that CD, but of course we've acquired a few more things since then.  It might be time for an update.  :-)

I started slowly working on yesterday's challenge of simplifying your travel life.  I got the first step done --- writing up instructions for taking care of the cats.  Ours are complicated fuzzy little creatures.  We can't leave food out for them to free feed or they would eat it all at once and then throw it up.  I don't know why they're so afraid there won't be more food later, but they have been that way since we got them at 2 months old.  Because of this, we always have to have a cat sitter for any time we leave longer than one day.  Now I just need to get pack lists done.  This is definitely going to take a while.  

On a separate note, the kitchen counter is still clean---yay!  The Cobbler teased that he's going to set up a web cam pointed at the counter so I can have the whole world watching it so I can't crap it up again.  Ha ha!  I'm hoping this is a long term change that I can keep.  Go Habit Training for Grown Ups!

See you back on Monday for Day #23!

Day #21 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Travel Light in Style

Set up a Travel Center today.  Include travel lists, travel documents, travel accessories, frequent flyer information, travel destination files, and books on travel.  Complete instructions follow.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 136)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Travel with carry-on luggage and skip the lines at the airport.  Make a drop-dead short packing list and stick to it!  Light travelers are free and independent.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 142)

Obviously I can't rewrite the whole chapter here, but I'll try must best to summarize.  If you want all the details, please buy the book.  The authors (in short) said the following about setting up a Travel Center:

• Put your travel phone numbers (airlines, frequent flyer numbers, passport numbers, etc.) in one place.
• Make permanent travel lists for what to pack, thing to do before you leave, house sitter instructions, household operations (e.g. how to run the sprinkler system, the alarm system, etc.), and medical release forms for your children for caregivers.
• Put all your travel accessories (e.g. earplugs, eye shades, neck pillows, etc.) in one place
• Make travel folders for frequent flyer miles and trips (i.e. upcoming trip, trips I've taken, trips I'd like to take).
• Create an area for travel books.

The rest of the chapter is devoted to what to pack (lots of good tips here) and how to make traveling simpler (more good tips).  I think this task is going to take me a really long time.  The authors are absolutely right--- this needs to be done.  I rewrite instructions at least twice a year about how to take care of our cats for the current cat sitter.  I always am making up packing lists before trips, but never keep them for the next trip.  It's time to buckle down and make it happen!

How did everyone do with yesterday's task of being mindful during your day?  To be honest, I failed miserably.  Number one, I was very tired yesterday afternoon (not conducive to be present in the moment) because I worked out early in the morning and then took the kids back to the rec center to swim for an hour mid morning.  Number two, I had two of the bridesmaids in my sister's wedding come to my house so I could measure them for their dresses and collect their money.  All went well until I had to call my older sister to remind her to get her measurements done and mail me the dress money by next week.  We need to place the order now so we can have the dresses in time to distribute at the July bridal shower..  Sigh...it didn't go well and the messenger (me) got shot.  She's having some issues getting the money together and didn't appreciate being reminded of that fact.  It was nothing I did or said in particular.  Just very bad timing.  Again, not conducive to being in the moment and being mindful.  I just spent a lot of time and energy yesterday being upset and angry.  Double sigh...

On a good note, I finally had some success with a vegetarian recipe I tried out tonight for eggplant meatballs.  I know they sound weird, but they got three thumbs ups from me, the Cobbler, and Tom Thumb.  Red was the only thumbs down.  I think she just likes my ground turkey version too much.

See you back tomorrow!

Day #20 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Be Mindful, Savor Time

Today, practice living in the present---not in fast forward or reverse.  Do one mundane job with your full attention.  When you pay attention in your daily life, whatever you do becomes transformed.  Step 1.  Sit still for a few minutes before beginning the next activity on your To Do list.  Focus on your breathing.  When you feel calm, centered, and grounded, turn your attention to your task.  Next, walk slowly to the site of your task.  Step 2.  Now do the job slowly and deliberately.  Perform this act as if it were your last.  Step 3.  When mental and physical distraction arise, remind yourself to refocus.  If the interruption is about something you must do later---such as calling the plumber---write it down and return to your chore.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 131)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Sign up for a week-long retreat that requires you to be silent.  A week of silence will be one of the most renewing weeks of your life.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 135)

The idea of mindful living really appeals to me.  Some of my favorite quotes about mindfulness come from Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.  Here are a few of his gems to ponder---

On washing dishes...

While washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes, which means that while washing the dishes one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes. At first glance this might seem a little silly: why put so much stress on a simple thing? But that's precisely the point. The fact that I am standing there and washing these bowls is a wondrous reality. I'm being completely myself, following my breath, conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions. There's no way I can be tossed around mindlessly like a bottle slapped here and there on the waves. (pp.3-4, 1976)
There are two ways to wash the dishes. The first way is to wash the dishes in order to have clean dishes and the second way is to wash the dishes in order to wash the dishes.(p.4)
If while we are washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as they were a nuisance, then we are not 'washing the dishes to wash to wash the dishes.' What's more we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes....If we can't washes the dishes, chances are we won't  be able to drink our tea either. (pp.4-5)

On driving the car...

Before starting the car,

I know where I am going.

The car and I are one.

If the car goes fast, I go fast. (1992, p.31)

On eating tangerines...

One day, I offered a number of children a basket filled with tangerines. The basket was passed around, and each child took one tangerine and put it in his or her palm. We each looked at our tangerine, and the children were invited to meditate on its origins. They saw not only their tangerine, but also its mother, the tangerine tree. With some guidance, they began to visualize the blossoms in the sunshine and the rain. They they saw petals falling down and the tiny green fruit appear. After seeing this, each child was invited to peel the tangerine slowly, noticing the mist and the fragrance of the tangerine, and then bring it up to his or her mouth and have a mindful bite, in full awareness of the texture and taste of the fruit and the juice coming out. We ate slowly like that.
Each time you look at a tangerine, you can see deeply into it. You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine. When you peel it and smell it, it's wonderful. You can take your time eating a tangerine and be very happy. (1992, pp.21-22).

References:
Thich Nhat Hanh (1976). The Miracle of Mindfulness (trans: Moby Ho). Boston: Beacon Press.
Thich Nhat Hanh (1992). Peace is Every Step. Bantam Books.


I'm going to try to get my tasks done mindfully today, which is definitely easier said than done.


Now about yesterday's task of finding a spot to put stuff that you need for when you run errands.  I just can't decide what to do about that.  Before I would have put it all on the kitchen counter, but now that I'm trying to keep that clean I don't know what to do.  We don't really have a foyer so there's no table at the front door or anything like that.  I guess for right now I'm going to put a bag in the office and hope that I can remember to use it.  I think having a catch all bag or bin for errands is an amazing idea.  I just can't figure out how to implement it and keep it out of the way.  Suggestions?


And for your amusement, here's my favorite quote of late.  When Tina Fey was interviewed for In Style about who is her boss, she said, "Kids are definitely the boss of you.  Anyone who will barge into the room while you are on the commode is the boss of you.  And when you explain to them the you're on the commode and that they should leave but they don't?  That's a high level boss."  


Yep...my kids are definitely on their way up the corporate ladder already.

Day #19 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Run Fewer Errands

Today, create a box for errands.  You can use a great-looking basket, plastic tub, or shopping bag.  Whatever works.  Keep it by the door and fill it with film to be developed, shoes to be repaired, purchases to be returned, and papers to be taken to the copy center.  On errand day, take the box in the car.  When you come home, it will be empty.  What a feeling! (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 123)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Run errands just one day a week.  Designate a particular day and write it on your calendar.  Obviously, some errands are urgent and cannot wait for Errand Day.  Learn to discern the difference between urgent and non-urgent errands.  To run fewer errands, look for the underlying reasons behind your errands.  Then eliminate the reasons! (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 130)

Let just say straight up---I don't have any film to develop (ha ha), but I do have a heck of a lot of photos I need to back up and get into scrapbooks.  For everyone who is in that boat with me, Day #25 is coming!  I think the idea of an errand box/bag/tub is brilliant.  I have to figure out where to put it and what it should be...hmmmmm.  I'll report back tomorrow.

As far as my quest for the safe combo goes, I found it, I wrote it on a Post It, and posted that Post It in a safe place.  Let's just hope I don't forget where I posted it.  :-)  Hopefully, that will prevent any chance that during a disaster situation you'll see the Cobbler and I carrying the safe down the street.

I have something else I'm working on that's not part of the 30 Days to a Simpler Life.  I'm calling it Habit Training for Grown Ups.  One of my educational muses, Charlotte Mason once said, "Whether habits are planned and created conscientiously, or allowed to be haphazardly filled in by chance, they are habits all  the same. Habit rules ninety-nine percent of everything we do."  And I have some BAD habits that I don't want to rub off on to my kids.  One of my habits I hate the most is that I put everything I don't know what to do with on the kitchen counter.  This is what it looked like this morning---

It then took me an hour and a half to make it look like this---

I was legitimately putting stuff away off the counter, not just tossing it in a closet or another room.  Now I want to keep it this way.  In habit training, you're only supposed to work on one thing at a time, and I'm going to become the best kitchen counter cleaner that you've ever seen.  Watch for more counter pics over the next couple of weeks.

Day #18 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Go for Financial Freedom

Happy Monday to you!

Day #18's task is:

To achieve financial freedom, first figure out what you have and then manage it well.  Today, collect your documents that are associated with large assets---documents for your car, house, investments, and so on---and put them in one filing cabinet called Assets.  For your house: file your deed, purchase contract, closing papers, title policy, and insurance papers.  For your investments: file confirmations, year-end statements, and tax reporting forms.  For cars: file ownership papers, registration documents, and insurance papers.  (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 116)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Don't use your credit card for three months.  Be resolute.  Or, every time you use your credit card, deduct the amount in your checkbook.  Better yet, trade in your credit card for a debit card.  It automatically withdraws the amount from the bank.  You'll spend less.  

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 122)

What does financial freedom mean to you?  For me, financial freedom means freedom from crushing debt (currently we don't have any debt now other than our mortgage---which we are upside down in because of the housing market crash, but that's another story), the ability to live without fear of not having enough, and having the opportunity for an occasional treat like a nice family vacation (we're currently saving for Disney World for fall 2012).  I don't know if anyone is perfect in this department, but I think we're doing pretty well.

It wasn't always this way.  Shortly after we got married, the Cobbler's mom gave me a foot tall stack of paperwork (she had been paying all his bills for him prior to our marriage) and said, "Oh and by the way, you guys owe me $10,000."  Turns out she had been paying some of his bills with her money!  I wasn't much better.  When a credit card statement would arrive, I would hide it and pretend it didn't exist.  I had the money to pay my bills; I just had this weird phobia about actually paying them.  Well, those days are long behind us after nearly 11 years of marriage.  The Cobbler is now in charge of managing the money.  I used to be until he decided that he wanted to try doing it seven years ago, and I was more than happy to hand the bill paying duties over.  He manages our accounts using mint.com and is happy with it for the most part.  I think he has some issues with credit cards not syncing properly, but you can't expect too much from a program that's free.  When Microsoft stopped supporting Microsoft Money, he was devastated (really---the man was broken up).  It took him a long time to move on to something else.  We try to live below our means and save the rest for retirement or the kids' college education.  The biggest ways I've found to save is to diligently plan our meals so I only need to grocery shop one time each week and  to not shop when I'm bored.  The less I shop; the less I can spend.

Not using our credit card?  Not going to happen.  The Cobbler has it down to a fine art which credit card I am to use for what purchase.  Here's my decoder ring --- the grey HSBC one is for groceries, gas, drug stores, and Target (for some reason the company counts Target as groceries.  Who knew?) because we get 5% cash back on those categories, and the blue Chase one (that gets some other lower percentage back) for everything else.  Once we hit the limit on the 5% bonus on the grey one, he then has me start charging everything on the blue one.  He's constantly looking for new ways to make more money off the credit card companies.  I guess this would only work if you can pay it off every month, which luckily we are able to do.  It's like a game to him.  As long as it doesn't get too confusing for me, I'm willing to play along.

One thing I want to do today is find a secret spot to put the combo for our safe that has our important documents in it (i.e. our will and trust, deeds, etc.).  It's all fine and good that they're in one place that happens to be fireproof, but if we ever had to leave in a hurry neither one of us knows the combination by heart.  We're going to be stuck towing the safe away in the kids' wagon or something.  Not a good scene to contemplate.

Back to my day #17 ugly computer drawer.  As a reminder, here's a photo of that hot mess again.

Here's how it looks now.

Here's what I was able to purge out with the Cobbler's help---about 20 CDs in all!

My favorite thing I found in the drawer was the CD for our old digital camera that we bought in 1999.  I think that its maximum mega pixels was 2.0 and we thought that was absolutely amazing when we bought it.  Not to mention, I think we paid between $300 and $400 for the camera back then.  Eek!  We haven't had the camera in I don't know how long and yet inexplicably we still have the CD.  Well, not anymore!

I think today I'll be back to working on the unfinished projects.  Yikes!

On a totally separate and unrelated note --- go look at the live web cam pointed at the baby bald eagles in Norfolk, Virginia here.  Red and Tom Thumb were riveted yesterday when one of the parents was there at the nest feeding the wee baby eagles.  Amazing!

Day #17 of 30 Days to a Simpler Life --- Organize Your Computer Life

T.G.I.F.!  Welcome to Day #17!

To simplify your computer life, make three piles: pile one, manuals; pile two, floppy discs and CD-ROMs; and pile three, registration materials and bills of sales.  Read on to discover how to handle these piles. (30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 111)

OR for serious simplifiers only...

Keep your computer free of superfluous stuff.  Delete programs you rarely use.  Don't get lulled into buying new fonts, games, graphics, and utilities that you won't use.  Frivolous program slow down computers and create clutter --- more CDs, more manuals, and more information to manage.

(30 Days to a Simpler Life, p. 115)

I think I'm finally on the mend so a big thank you to everyone who sent me get well wishes.  I'm thinking the root cause of this episode may have been a Snickers bar.  I admit it---it was calling to me from the vending machine in the hallway at Red's dance studio.  Why did it have to be chocolate--- why?!!?  My lament is over.  Back to work...

First off, does anyone amongst us still have a floppy disk?  I seriously can't remember the last time I saw a floppy disk!  I guess it's in passages like this when this book shows its age, but the message is still valuable.  Here's some evidence of its value.  Look at this mess---

This is the top drawer of our main desk in the office.  I'm actually gob smacked by sheer volume of CDs in that drawer.  I don't know what they are.  I don't know if we need them.  I think this might be a job for the Cobbler.  Maybe he'll do it if I offer to help?

If you don't have the book, allow me to attempt to summarize what comes in this chapter when you "read on":

1. Sort your manuals into hardware, software, and utilities.  Recycle any outdated manuals.
2. Put your current manuals back where you keep them with the ones you use most being the most easily accessible.
3. Sort your CDs by program and discard old versions of programs you already have.
4. The authors suggest sorting CDs into the following categories: System/peripherals, programs, games, communication software, fonts, graphics, back ups, and blanks.  (I don't consider myself super computer savvy so I don't know if these are good categories or not.  Make up your own!)
5. Register software and hardware products if you haven't done so and make a file for receipts and registrations. 
6. Hide your techno-clutter.
7. Label your cords.
8. Make a list of technical support numbers.

Speaking of the office, I managed to get a wee bit done yesterday for Day #16.  I went through most of the folders in our main filing drawer and came up with this to shred or recycle.

There were some non-essential receipts for stuff going back to 2008 in there along with some old address information, lists of Christmas gifts from previous years, and a bunch of other extraneous stuff.  The item that took the cake was a registration form from 2006 for a nanny service I used one time when I blew out my back and had to go to physical therapy shortly after Red was born.  If I ever use them again, I'm thinking they might want information more current than five years old.  Not to mention, there's now another kid living here!

I didn't have too much work to do since the room was already pretty clean from when we had the house guests.  I really wish I had a before photo to show you.  Then, you would really be shocked by the difference.  Before looking at these after photos, close your eyes and imagine every available inch of desk surface covered with papers or fabric, and imagine the floor littered with abandoned kids toys and dirty clothes.  Are you sufficiently grossed out?  Okay, now look at the office now---

Significantly better.  Now don't ask me about the inside of the closets in the office.  Those still need lots and lots and lots of help, but we are making progress.  I keep telling myself baby steps...

Enjoy your weekend!  I'll see on Monday for Day #18!