Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

Life gets so complicated.

How many of us have done this: I drove my son to school every day, and picked him up in the same way.  Wow, it rhymes.  He was exhausted, but this helped him to get more rest as the school bus he was assigned to passed by our home at 6:10 am every morning.  He was not the first child on the bus!  Poor babies.  As for picking him up, I could get there early, like all the other mommies, and wait 30 minutes for him to be released, or get there LATE, and see him orphaned sitting sadly on the sidewalk.  At least this way I did not have to fight so much traffic.  It took an hour and a half to drop him off and pick him up every day!  Max is now 12 years old, and has been home-schooled since 4th grade, and he can STILL sleep 10 - 11 hours.  Our children are so sleep deprived - one study I read recently mentioned that sleep deprivation in teens is a huge factor leading to teen depression.  Max has been so happy and healthy, he really enjoys his 'good sleeps' as he calls them.  It takes a lot to grow a body.

For us, the decision to homeschool simplified our life.  It led to many other simplification measures.  For example, we eventually came to the realization that we did not need two vehicles.  That was a biggie, as we chose to keep the car that was already paid for.  This, in turn led to other side benefits - I could hardly keep ONE clean, much less TWO!  I work from home, but I understand this would be difficult for someone who works outside the home.  It has worked for us, though.  At first it required some getting used to, but we quickly adapted to our new, one-car circumstances.  Our insurance dropped to  1/3 of what it was before.  That was an unexpected bonus.  Now outings seem more special, probably what it was like for folks 40 or 50 years ago.  Remember Sunday Drivers?  Does anybody even use that expression anymore? 

Here is something to think about - I found this great blog on simplifying our life.  These were actually the very last things mentioned, but I think they should be first (ever so humble opinion).

• Cut back on your children's planned activities. If they have to use a time planner to schedule their activities, and you spend all of your time taxiing them around, they're probably too busy.
• Live closer to your work so you don't have to drive.
• Take a moment each day to be grateful.
   
  Pretty good advice.  To read more:  http://www.getmoredone.com/tips7.html

Just in case anybody wants to know  - we use K-12, www.arva.org  This is actually a public, virtual, school.  Love it.

New Item - Alphabet Onesies

I will have this in Kiwi Green, Fuchsia, Blue, and Pink.  Hubby has a penchant for Chocolate Brown, so we will probably do it in that color as well.  We are working on 'Stock' for fast shipping!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45617724/minky-initial-onesie-set-5-pieces-onesie

I am addicted to this stuff

Pare down your belongings: we spend about 80% of our time wearing 20% of the clothes we own, so by getting rid of most of that wasted 80%, your life becomes immediately simpler: less laundry

and less indecision about what to wear that day. Instead of having 3 TVs, 2 computers, a VCR, DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3 different game stations, reduce to one computer–transfer your movies to a hard drive and a flat screen monitor can double as a TV. A laptop with a TV tuner is even more energy efficient.

Read more:  http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/how-to-start-living-in-a-tiny-house/

On Simplification

What makes the cut?  What stays, what goes?  At this point, pretty much everything seems to be going...... All of my pretty glassware, dishes, decorative items that have made it past three culling episodes, nothing is sacred anymore.  At first it was hard, but now nothing can get by on sentimental value alone.  It must have function.  It does not even have to be pretty.  I now favor my Tupperware tumblers over pretty glass, as they will be practical in the NEXT move.  I have TWO sets of Tupperware tumblers, one has pretty stems, the others are just plain with lids.  Guess which one wins?  Actually, I will keep them both, one set will go to the DR, the other will stay behind in the motor home.

Max, my 12 year old is doing well with the transition, he was very mature in making decisions regarding his toys.  As I mentioned, he is home schooled, so toys are very precious to a home schooled, only child.  He joked "I know what you are doing, little by little you are going to get rid of all traces of me, and then you will get rid of me!"  I love preteen male humor.

My three '50's ceramic chickens may make it, but I do not know where they will go.  They have lots of pink, green, and orange in them, my possible color palette.  Some original paintings from my amazing artist sister-in-law will definitely be there.  they all have the colors.....I will have to post pictures.  For now, must get back to work.

20% off coupon if you become a follower!

It is my goal to have giveaways as well!  Please let me know of any clever ideas you have seen, or would like to try, I am open to ideas!  Just click on 'Follow" down on the right, and I will get you a coupon!

Here is something new:

 It can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45166609/free-shipping-black-damask-smooth-minky

My House!

On our way to simplifying - all I can think is "am I crazy?"  Here are the pics of my new home, I am jittery with excitement.  I have been culling through my belongings, and now I can visualize what I have to work with.  Oh my, it is tiny!  Also, if you like this, you need to get in contact with Scott Stewart of Ozarks Best - here is his contact info:ozarksbest@yahoo.com  Many of you have been clamoring to see it - so here it is!

First, the photos you will see are my inspiration.  This tiny home is a 'Tumbleweed House', but here in Arkansas we have Scott Stewart!

Now, this is my house - Oh, my, it is adorable.  SOME of this wood is GOING to be PAINTED.  I am a bit outnumbered by my two boys, but sheer will wins out.....

Now, here is the living room:

This one up above is actually the 'kitchen' adjoining the living room.  My washer and dryer will be here also.  Gulp.  I can do this!!!!  Here is the bathroom and shower stall.  The commode area is actually very spacious :-).

This is my son's loft area, notice the window above the kitchen, and the two windows in the actual loft:

This photo above is the loft access area, positioned in his 5 x 4 walk-in closet just off the bathroom.  Clever, no?

Ok, I can do this.  I think the garage sale pile just got bigger.  This is going to be a great adventure, I will keep the simplification goals in front of me.

Our home is almost ready!

We are working on a lifestyle change - and I'm so excited!  It has take TWO years to simplify everything, from going from a 2,500 sq ft home to a 1800 sq ft home, to an 800 sq ft apartment, to a 400 sq ft cottage.  WOW!  It is so liberating!  The first couple of moves were terrible, just terrible.  But little by little I feel my load being lightened......


Gary and I spent 9 years in Ecuador, South America, as missionaries.  We supported ourselves with a business we had back here in the States.  I got pregnant with a little boy, (what fun!) and we came back to be by family.  When we arrived, we had two bags between us.  This was back in '98, kind of in the middle of the beginning of excess, it was amazing how much STUFF people had accumulated, and how big our cars were, how big our houses were getting. .... I vowed to remember my friends in Ecuador and to keep my life simple.  Easier said than done.  Toys for baby, decorating my home, starting a business, all this added up quickly, and within 10 years we had enough STUFF to occupy a landfill.  What happened????  From there things got complicated.  Hubby loses job in 2008 when the company he works for shuts down, and the 'era of stuff' is over. 

The happiness reading on the Happiness Scale is so much higher now.  It is like being overweight and losing pounds and inches (which we are also doing).  The physical feeling of relief is tangible in every way.  Last night I started packing up for the move in a month.  I want to take my time, as I will be packing for three eventualities.  Yes, three.  Scenario # 1:  We will move into our cottage May 15 2010.  Scenario #2:  We will move to the Dominican Republic somewhere around Dec. 2010 to Jan. 2011.  Scenario #3: We will rent the cottage out while we are in the DR, so we must have a motor home for our working trips back here in the spring and fall.  I STILL HAVE ENOUGH STUFF IN MY 800 SQ FT APARTMENT TO SET UP THREE KITCHENS!  Crazy.  Each kitchen will be perfectly stocked.

Anyway. next post I will explain what Minkee Baby Gifts has to do with all that I am writing today.  What does all this have to do with baby gifts?  A lot, a whole lot.

NWA Boutique Show Saturday April 17 2010

We have a show coming up!  What fun!  My living room is filled with minky bunnies, painted doors and shelves, hot pink chandeliers, baby blankets,  and other pleasing piles of stuff.  Oh how I love showtime, it comes upon you, ready or not.  There will be many of my favorite vendors, here is a list:

http://www.heatherhillclothing.com

http://www.perfectlyscentsable.com

http://www.puresolace.biz/

http://peacockgarden.com/