I have to admit that this hasn't been in the forefront of my mind, but it is in a corner and it keeps creeping up in my thoughts.

I have only walked at school once twice (I did today!). But, the weather has been beautiful, so we have gone for walks in the evening. Henry is a mad man on his bike (with training wheels), so we've been going places.

We got down some of the totes from storage in the garage. Two were toys that were Henry's, and Wesley will play with them soon. I was able to weed through and list about one tub worth on the local Facebook swap. (though Henry keeps playing with the toys I'm trying to get ride of!) I'm still sticking with my commitment that if things don't sell in two weeks on the swap, they're going to Goodwill. This means that this weekend, I'll be bagging some things up and making a Goodwill drop off from the first purge.

I did realize as I brought out my fall clothes, that I have a TON of clothes. I am a sale/Goodwill shopper, so I never spend a ton on clothes, but they do pile up. I still need to weed out there, but it's hard to let go. I listed a few things on the swap, but need to again evaluate what I'll wear. My style has changed since two winters ago (last winter I was in maternity wear).

Also, in the Tacking Nagging Tasks category, WE WROTE A WILL! It's somewhat strange to write about what our last wishes are, especially with two little ones under our roof. But, it needed to be done. 

Happpppy Friday!

I have already started digging into my tossing/storing/organizing goal.

- My underwear drawer - I dumped it all out, got rid of some things, and neatly organized the rest. Will I continue to fold my underwear so neatly? Probably not, but it took about 5 minutes to put it in order, so I know I can accomplish it again quickly. And, no, I'm not posting pictures.

-I dug into a couple cupboards and closets. The local Facebook swap group is wonderful, and I've sold a lot of things in the past on there, so I added some goodies. I did, however, store them back in a cupboard together so that I can locate them easily. I commit that if things don't sell in two weeks, they're off to Goodwill.

I walked at school on Friday for 10 minutes. I'm going to focus on doing this 5 days a week and see where it goes from there. I have an app on my phone that I can set workout goals with, so I set that goal in there (kind of like a sticker chart, but not as cool in my opinion).

I feel great about what I've accomplished so far. Let's hope I can continue with as much gusto as I've had the past two days!

I just started reading the book The Happiness Project. I somehow scored it cheap/free on Kindle a long while back, and it has just been sitting there on my virtual shelf waiting for me.

I like the premise of it just from reading the first few pages. It's not that I am unhappy, I just feel like I could be happier.  Russ and I keep going back to the YOLO idea (you only live once). Some days I just feel like I should be getting more out of things. I sometimes feel discontented. A few quotes that have hit me from the book so far:

"I had everything I could possibly want -- yet I was failing to appreciate it." (Kindle location 86)

"How could I set a higher standard for myself as a wife, a mother, a writer, a friend? How could I let go of everyday annoyances to keep a larger, more transcendent perspective?" (Kindle location 91)

"I wanted to change myself but accept myself. I wanted to take myself less seriously -- and also more seriously." (Kindle location 118)

So, I'm going to dig into this book a little and share some of it here.  More for a place for me to record it than anything. Maybe, you might get something out of my reflections too or join me in reading the book.

The author took one focus each month for a year. Though I may not agree with all of her focuses or feel that they apply to me, I will still consider them. I don't want to have to read through her whole book to get started. Taking things monthly is a good pace. Trying to change it all at once is overwhelming. She started in January. I'm going to try to start now. In January, her focus was VITALITY (Boost Energy). I feel like this section applied to me in some aspects. She talked about going to sleep earlier, exercising, tossing/restoring/organizing, tackling nagging tasks, and acting more energetic.

In all honestly, I do go to sleep pretty early, so I feel like I have a good grasp on that.

I truly don't feel like I have much time or want to devote a ton of time to exercise. I know it's important. I do. But right now it seems like time away from my kids. She did mention just instituting a simple 10 minute walk, so I think that will be my goal. I will bring my running walking shoes to school and go for a 10 minute walk sometime in my day. That way, there's no weather interruptions. There's no gym fee. If I'm here at work, I can walk. Starting tomorrow. I'm going to make myself a sticker chart. For. Real.

Tossing/Storing/Organizing is something that always makes me feel better. Dear old Goodwill benefits a lot from my constant purging (and also from my shopping!). I will continue to do purge, but I want to make a list of some focused areas I would like to hit this month:

• my sock/underwear drawer
• my shoes
• the closet in Wesley's room
• our file box
• the closet in Henry's room
• my sewing area
• Henry's toys (again! - I feel like I do this all the time)
• the kitchen cabinets
• institute a 10 minute tidy up time before bed (I'll need a sticker chart for that, too!)

My challenge for this is to really simplify. I need to let go of the "some day I might use this" stuff. I need to let go of the "nostalgic" stuff. Seriously. We have sleeping bags we got for our wedding that have NEVER been used. I know, the boys might need a sleeping bag SOME day, but when that day comes, I will buy a new one or borrow one. Our house is small. I have Christmas platters I never get out. We don't host Christmas stuff. I know. Some day we will, so I will keep a COUPLE around...but not a the multitude that I have. We have a set of glasses we NEVER use. I don't plan to document all my purging, but I will share some with you as I see fit.
 
Tacking Nagging Tasks is something I've been wanting to do so badly, but just get too lazy. I'm beginning to make a list. For sure they won't get all done this month, but it's a place to start.

That list includes:

• cleaning all windows (which have not been done since we moved into the house 4 years ago...)
• clean out the pantry (so much stuff in there we rarely use...and I have a bazillion of those reusable shopping bags) - and I realize this goes in the tossing/organizing section as well.
• write a will (Sorry, mom, still haven't gotten this done, but I will!)
• set up an actual college savings account (529 or whatever it's called) for the boys instead of just a random saving account.
• finish the jewelry display I started 2 years ago
• and some more things...I'll share them as I think of them/see fit

 Acting More Energetic is something I've always struggled with. I'm not an enthusiastic person. I'm introverted, and I just don't get super excited. But I try to be conscious of this.

So, that's it. I'll update you and see how these things go. Anyone with me?

We hadn't been to the Des Moines Downtown Farmer's Market at all this summer. When we're on endless weekend (which is what we call summer in our family of two teachers), the days kind of run together. We often forgot what day of the week it was! Since school has started, we're back to routines and this morning was perfect sweatshirt weather, so we headed to the market!



I admit I was pretty excited to get out Wesley's cute little jeans and owl hat. I picked up the owl hat for about $3 at Gap before he was born. Also, ErgoBaby carrier, I adore you!