Simplicity in the Suburbs

Heart Day Photo Dump.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:17:00 +0000

My mind has been bustling with lots this week but time hasn't been on my side. It's Tuesday and yet I can't stop thinking it's still Monday morning. This week is exciting and also daunting.

I've been reminded once again of lifes fragility and whenever that happens it seems my mind and heart are overcome with thoughts and words and gratitude.

Yesterday my father-in-law turned 81. We celebrated Sunday afternoon.

Today is full of Valentine's celebrating. A holiday that snuck up on me even though it seemed we were handwriting names on cards for weeks. As I walked through the grocery store yesterday it dawned on me we had nothing for the kids for Valentine's Day and I bought donuts for breakfast. That's it. And they were happy.

I haven't even yet written in J's card, though he already gave me a gift {!} on Saturday and also left a card for me on the counter this morning.

I'm putting the last few things in my suitcase, heading to H's Valentine's party and then I'll be picked up to go to the airport on my adventure so thought today was a good day to dump some of my favorite pictures I've taken recently. {Most are from my phone.}

{She sleeps during the after school shuffle of picking up here and dropping off there but she reminds me of that quote; "Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains." Oh, she will.}

{The 100th day of kindergarten is coming....and these two counted out 100 marshmallows for the celebration.}

{Valentine package opening and eating and celebrating. Thanks to my grandma and aunt Laurie.}

{I have never, and I mean never, seen someone look so good in a swimsuit. She is a doll.}

{Have I mentioned that H likes legos yet? He learned about a contest that one could win a $100 Lego gift card and has been creating and creating and creating lately.}

{Love.}

{Star of the week. Related: He's also a star in my heart.}

Happy Heart Day, friends. I'll check in next from Cincinnati!

At Night and Full Life.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:41:00 +0000

The house is finally quiet, minus my fingers hitting the keys of the computer and J going thru his mail. This is our time and I long for it all each and every night. To just be.

The afternoons from 2:30 pm to bedtime can be crazy and busy and oh, sometimes too full. Pick ups and drop offs and homework and dinner prep and tears. By the time we've finished dinner and I've rinsed the last dish I am ready.

"Choose your books," I tell my littles and they argue they're not tired. They claim to never be tired but I know better. Tonight after a read through Dora and another through Batman their eyes were closed, their minds in dream land before I even say, Amen.

E, reminds me of being little. I had all these animals in my bed when we lived on Huron Street. I wanted my mom and dad to tuck in all my animals and me. And I'm sure it drove them a little crazy because they probably wanted their own time too. I get it now. But I look at her asleep with each of her random animals all tucked in asleep and I remember.

The bigs came home today and H & E were excited. We waited at the bus stop for M this afternoon.

"You're home, you're home," E shouted and jumped about when M climbed in the van.

The reunion between our bigs and our littles is always something to be seen. They all adapt so well, moving from one house to the other, the littles accepting, here this week, gone next. Sometimes I think maybe it's a harder transition on me than them.

Life is full right now. In good ways, yes. But full nonetheless.

I reported at my very first caucus last night and was very intrigued by the process. I was tweeting {and later found out the tweets were aggregated to Cover It Live nationwide for Patch} and trying to keep up with it all but really enjoyed the experience.

I also wrote about Kids and Chiropractic care this week and you can read that one here. {I found this topic and issue super interesting.}

I've said before that when it rains, it pours in opportunity and right now is just one of those seasons. I'm excited to be working with some folks with Disney and we'll be taking our kids to see a prescreening of the newest Disney movie The Secret World of Arrietty that opens everywhere February 17. {Think: The Borrowers}

And next week, oh next week, I'm flying to Cincinnatti on Tuesday night and spending Wednesday with Proctor & Gamble. Wednesday morning, myself and some other media/blogger folks will be having breakfast with Robert McDonald, the P&G CEO and then spending the afternoon at a first-time ever look at their Innovations Center. Will surely be an interesting event and whirlwind trip full of information.

Of course, sandwiching the trip will be H's Valentine Party on Tuesday and his 100 Day of Kindergarten Party on Thursday. Those are the real opportunities right there.

Highlight Reel.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:28:00 +0000

Another weekend bites the dust and just like every Sunday night we try to prolong it by staying up much too late and then we kick ourselves all week long.

I read something somewhere recently about not comparing life to everyone else's highlight reel. It can be so easy to do. J had to work a few hours on Saturday and then due to an emergency with one of his contractors today had to head to work again for a few hours. It'd be easy to get upset about the lost weekend time that I so crave, it'd be easy to compare to other professions where these things don't come up or happen. I honestly was a {tad bit} annoyed hearing his voice on the phone this afternoon knowing that it meant he had to cover, he had to leave his family to help another family.

Like always, it all worked out. We had an impromptu afternoon playdate with a friend, finished our Valentine's and even worked on H's Star of the Week poster. {He wants to be a policeman!}

I'm a glass half full, life is good, these are the highlights sort of girl but the point I'm trying to make is that everybody has stuff. Everybody has days and things that drive them mad. And just cause you don't see it in their highlight reel doesn't mean it's not there. Nobody's exempt from the ups and downs that go along with life. Nobody!
Highlights of the weekend included:

Taking a visit to J's new office. His signage is up now and it's great. So proud of him and excited for him as he continues on this path of independent business.

Sleeping in until 9:30am Saturday morning. We usually switch off getting up with the littles and rarely ever does one of us actually sleep past 8 so this was quite a shock. I felt like a new person.

Lego-ing with my littles at a Toys R Us event.

Lunching and laughing with Boppa.

Meeting new people at a new small group from church.

Having friends join us for church and donuts this morning.

An impromptu McD's playdate this afternoon that wore my littles right out.

What's on your highlight reel from this weekend?

*Winners of the Appleberry's Attic giveaway: #11 {alicia's design} and #16 {kelly}. Contact me with your info and I'll have your signs on their way to you!

What LESS Isn't.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:16:00 +0000

So it's been close to a month since I was feeling inspired to make some changes with our lifestyle. Feeling like we just have too much stuff, too many choices, too much waste, too much distraction. Too much.

So, how's it going?

This is what is working and where I feel like we're really doing something:

-We've donated a TON of stuff. J & I literally did one of those "if we haven't worn it or used it since we've been married, why are we keeping it" sort of clean outs which resulted in bags and bags and bags of clothes. Would you believe he had even more clothes in his closet to donate than me?

-J & T pulled every single item out of T's bedroom last weekend and went through everything. First of all, T's room has never looked cleaner. Second of all, there was so much stuff that he didn't need, use or want that all can be used by others. {Though I am seriously questioning why he donated his alarm clock? Not a wise move, dear thirteen year old.}

Next up will be M's room, then H's, E's, the playroom, baby stuff we're keeping. There's still much that needs to go.

-Shopping with a list. I think one of my biggest issues in the past has been showing up at the store and randomly shopping for whatever strikes my mind in the hour I'm there. This doesn't work because many times I then forget what I actually did need prompting a second, third, sometimes fourth trip, each of which results in additional purchases that aren't necessary. It also causes me to do the "oh I'll just see what's on sale" walk through the store. I've been a lot better at making a list before we leave the house {not in the car in the parking lot and not in the Target Starbucks} and actually sticking to it and not grabbing a random 3T shirt for E since it's only $2.80.

-Speaking of shopping, literally a week after the initial LESS post I started feeling this overwhelming urge to SHOP. FOR MYSELF. Like I have no clothes, I need to get a whole new wardrobe sort of thing. I resisted thus far.

-Unplugging and Using Less Technology. I thought this would be a lot harder than it has been so far. But I am making choices each day to really "unplug". Monday, after having been unplugged all weekend at camp with M, I literally turned the ringer on my cell phone off for several hours to just get caught up on life without the distraction of a text or an email or even phone calls. Obviously for several reasons that doesn't work every day but making choices like do I need to answer the phone right now or do I need to finish helping H with his homework. At Hearts at Home this past November, one suggestion was to decide what's urgent and what's important. The important stuff should win. Working on this and trying to remember the balance component. Balance is still needed because on one hand technology is wonderful at keeping up with far away friends/family but it can also be a very large distraction.

Things that haven't worked:

-Completing cutting myself off from the option to get a coffee or grab the kids lunch if I needed to. I spent a week NOT getting coffee and not doing any fast food and that was good except I was obsessing about not getting a coffee or fast food. And then I hit my breaking point, furnace issues, sick kid, having to wait on an antibiotic at Target and I just threw in the towel bought a coffee and fed my kids lunch.

And that's when I decided that depriving myself of things I enjoy is not the way to do LESS.

My friend, Melissa, who's much more eloquent than me reminded me that I must couple LESS with grace. LESS isn't a laundry list of self inflicted rules everyone needs to follow, it's more about living intentionally with what we need, with awareness to what others need and realizing how much less that is.

So that's where I'm at with things, where are you at? What's working or not working? What are you doing or not doing to live a life towards LESS? Please share.

MoJo.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:22:00 +0000

I seem to have misplaced my blogging mojo this week and I'm trying to get it back.

Some weeks are just a flurry and after spending all of last weekend out of town and unplugged this week seemed harder to get back connected.

Tonight I wanted to surprise my littles and take them to get ice cream because the Dairy Queen in town had everything 50% off. Unfortunately hen we got there the drive thru was a block long and the line inside was even longer so we pulled across the street to Mickey D's and they had sundaes.

I don't think E has ever had a sundae before as she didn't even know how to eat it, she tried picking it up and eating it like an ice cream cone. She's hilarious. And also a handful these days.

Good thing H broke me in. I love watching my littles do simple things like eat ice cream in their pajamas. I love that E talks to every other customer in the place. And I love that H talks with me, like really talks with me now, about everything and nothing. Serious things like what makes a river different than a lake and things like how to battle Ninjago spinners.

{New LESS post to come tomorrow. Get ready.}

Appleberry's Attic Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:49:00 +0000

While I've always had a love/hate/fascination with the whole facebook thing, I will say that one good use is the way you are able to reconnect with old friends.

One of those friends is Jen, who I really met through other friends in high school. We kept in touch for a while but had lost touch until a couple years back we found each other on facebook.

She and her husband recently started a business called Appleberry's Attic. They create beautiful signs, refinish and paint tables and furniture and even do some mason jar crafting. The biggest, busiest part of their business seems to be the signs though. Who doesn't love a sign with some good words on it for their home, right?

As soon as Jen officially launched her business outside of selling at occasional sales I was in line for some signs and three of her lovelies sit in my kitchen.

Business continues to get better and sooner than later they plan on launching an etsy shop in additon to the occasional sales and facebook page they are already using for business.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to help her just a tad with promoting her business by doing a little giveaway. Jen would like to give away a Valentine's sign to two lucky readers this week in celebration of her birthday!

There are three ways to enter and one must leave a comment for each entry!

#1 Like Appleberry's Attic on Facebook.
#2 Like Simplicity In The Suburbs on Facebook.
#3 Take a look at some of Jen's other signs on her facebook page and tell me which one you love the most.

That's it! And you're in! I'll choose a winner on Sunday Feb. 5 and winner's signs will go in Monday's mail.

If you're interested in other Appleberry's Attic signs, contact Jen on her facebook page about ordering them and tell her I sent you for a 10% discount.

Finally, don't miss my other Valentine's giveaway for the Tiny Prints valentines cards. Ends Tuesday night so there's still time to go enter to win some cards for your kids or your classroom.

Now I'm off to keep working on laundry and emails and paperwork and all that goes along with being away for the weekend. Trying to pretend the lack of groceries thing will solve all on it's own.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post or giveaway, Jen is a friend of mine and that's it!

Round-Up.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

I've had so many things I've wanted to do this week and then I woke up and it's Friday.

M & I are leaving this afternoon for a Middle School retreat at camp with church. I'm going as a counselor. This brings me back in so many ways. First to when I was a camper over and over and over again and then working with youth and eventually chaperoning and counseling camp trips. I have to admit that I'm not super excited about the 3 hour road trip to camp in the blizzard like snow but I am looking forward to treating myself with a venti-carmel macciato on the way out of town. I'm sure I'll have lots of stories next week about my adventures with the seven 5th and 6th grade girls in my cabin.

I've been wanting to write more about LESS and what we're doing {or not doing} and what's working {and what's not} but just haven't found the time. Sure there has been gaps of time I could sit down and write but this last week it would have been at the cost of something else I needed to intentionally do. Like playing Monopoly Jr. with H.

T turns 13 today. Thirteen sounds so old to me. Not that twelve exactly sounded young but it's like this official entry into teenage-hood.

I took these pictures secretly yesterday afternoon at H's piano lesson. It's no secret that T has a super soft spot for Ms. E. She has got her big brother wrapped around her finger. And he is such a good big brother.
We all have those moments where the littles have asked 101 questions in 3 minutes and are pushing every button but he takes it all in stride and tries to jump in and help when he can.

We celebrated his birthday last night at our usual place and this year we went in on a Kindle Fire with his mom and stepdad for his gift. He was so surprised and excited because he's really wanted one.

He's a good kid with a big heart and I am still baffled that he's 13, where on earth did the last 9 plus years go? It seems like just the other day that he was a friendly 3 1/2 year old with a ready smile and friendly spirit. Life just keeps moving.

Finally, I have a Tiny Prints Valentines Giveaway going on over on my review blog for 50 free Valentines cards. They are the exchange size so perfect if you've got a couple kids that need them for school or maybe if you're a teacher? Last I checked there were not so many entries, so go enter!

Tiny Dancer.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:15:00 +0000

E started dance on Monday night. It's nothing major, no make-up or crazy costumes or dance mom insanity yet. Just a little local community education class.

She practiced wearing her leotard, her tights, her hand-me-down ballet slippers for days ahead of time and was daily asking when dance class would be. The day of she even had me put her hair in a bun.

She's the real adorable deal even though she totally beats to her own booty-shaking drum.

Ballet dancing is not what she had in mind Monday night. She twirled and she ran over and hugged us and then she'd jump around and then she'd shake her hips a minute or two.

She's not a first position, second position, plie sort of dancer quite yet. She's more of a Party Rock and Moves Like Jagger girl to be honest.

After dance class when we got home she asked when she'd get to dance. Obviously we have our work cut out for us. More mellow dance parties, perhaps?

If you could see the rest of the girls, most are staying on the blue line, attentively listening and participating.

While I'm not so sure I want her to be the only ballerina shaking her hips at the recital, I do hope she always keeps that independent spirit and let's the music in her little heart spill out. It's the tiny dancers with a feisty spirit that really change the world, I've heard.

Just Write: Her People.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

I was going to share some of E's first dance class pictures. {I took 43 during the 45 minute class.} And then I thought about writing some thoughts on stepfamilies and church and how sometimes I get all twitchy about it. And still yet I've had all these ideas about LESS and some things I learned {the hard way} last week.

But none of that tonight because five minutes ago M called from her mom's house.

To start planning her birthday party.

Her birthday's in March and we all decided a couple years back that we do parties through age 11, meaning this one's M's last. Since T turned 5 we've done their birthday's together and eventually starting switching off the planning. So this year's party, while we'll all celebrate together, the planning is on our end.

She's got big plans and ideas and she makes us laugh a lot.

Tonight's plan involved nine friends. The mall. And a hotel.

And I listen to her plan and tell her we'll have to see and then she drops the bombshell that her and her nine friends will be in one hotel room and then her mom, her dad, her stepdad and I will be in the one adjoining.

And J starts laughing but tries to hide it because she doesn't know she's on speaker phone.

While I don't think the four of us have any plans on sharing a hotel room anytime soon, I love that in her eyes there's nothing wrong with it.

It's a proud moment for me that amidst the daily stresses and the toll co-parenting takes, we've held it together enough.

She values and needs and loves and sees each of us as her people.

Linking up to Just Write.

Mr. Roboto & The Chicken.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:48:00 +0000

He's just taking this whole LESS thing really seriously by sleeping in a cardboard box.

And who wouldn't want to sleep in a chicken costume if you had the chance?

Other funnies this week:

M, on the phone with a friend regarding a sleepover: "Can I just talk to your mom and work out the details?"

{Since when did 10 year olds coordinate things with other people's parents, I asked her.}

And later that same day, while talking with one of her friends moms, she told me, laughing, that recently M told her that she should let her know when her daughters birthday party is going to be because..."My weekends fill up fast."

E, earlier tonight, tells J and I that "God is worried about you."

And also, "we don't say hate, stupid or peni$!" Good thing we have that established.*

*The use of the $ is so that certain internet searches don't bring people here.

Less. 2.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:08:00 +0000

I wasn't sure how my idea and word choice for less would be received. In all honesty, I knew I was admitting some personal character flaws that were a little embarrassing. {Hello, hoarder of bedding and overspender at coffee shops!}

However, the post and my word was well received. And many of you shared similar feelings and sentiments. I had some Twitter conversations, Facebook friends shared the post with their circles, comments and "likes" started spreading and even my email/text inbox heard feedback.

I wanted to share some of the things I've been hearing, the comments some left that resonated with me, the conversations I've had with others and even some of the notes I've received with questions.

Allison wrote..."The memories aren't in the "stuff" they are in the "heart" and someone else needs those things way more than we do."

It's a good point because I have close to half a closet full of clothes I haven't worn in YEARS for sentimental reasons. Seriously, two business suits that some woman out there could be wearing to a job interview or something.

Jessie wrote..."Can I add that a huge way you can support a "LESS" campaign is to stop giving things? I have worked hard for the past 5 years to simplify my life by eliminating stuff. The hardest challenge has been not to accept free stuff...from family, friends or otherwise. It makes me upset that you can't choose to run in a race WITHOUT getting a t-shirt. I don't need more shirts. I would much rather enjoy someone's company for a while than get a purchased token. Anyway, I think in trying to have less, we can all be better about not dumping stuff on others too."

How often do we do this to others and how often does this happen to us? I've had offers of things {ahem, some furniture from a relative years ago that we didn't need or want but I felt bad saying no, J still brings this up as it was a mess to donate later.} Or badgering others to take things we don't need or want anymore.

Conversations with friends and aquaintenances have been so interesting. What's interesting is the fact that we all agree and are coming to terms with the fact we are a culture obsessed with more.

More money. More stuff. More technology. Bigger. Better. More.

I'm not suggesting we all sell and donate our possessions, cars, start wearing robes and live in cardboard boxes. {Yes, someone actually asked this. Yes, she's still my friend.}

I'm suggesting becoming intentional where it seems we've gone mindless. I'm suggesting looking beyond OURSELVES. Beyond our immediate desires and what our children ask us for to do something for greater good. I'm suggesting that instead of buying more, we're present more. Instead of watching more, we're talking more.

I'm not saying you can't have a nice house with nice things and drink Starbucks coffee.

I'm just saying let's stop being mindless, let's stop being distracted by all of the worlds offerings and let's start living real, intentional lives where others lives benefit from our excess.

In conversations throughout this past week so many gave me such great ideas and thoughts to ask and share. Now that we're all done unsubscribing from our junk email {You did that right? I did and let me tell you, there is nothing better than checking my email and not having every single sales special or discount at my fingertips. Seriously.}

This week, let's talk about what it is that is excess in our lives. Three things.

For me, the three biggest struggles I'm going to face with LESS are:

1. Technology. I like being connected. I'm going to a discussion group this Thursday night and I'm already feeling the stirring inside that I'm going to need to start having some "unplugged" days.

2. Coffee. Yes, I said it's ok to get coffee. What's not ok is being obsessed and planning one's life and day around it. Stopping at Starbucks or Caribou used to be a special treat and it's turned into a daily-must-have. A friend already suggested a challenge regarding this that I'm hoping to tackle and share in the next couple weeks.

3. Stuff. There are still things to go through around here that others need more than me.

So what are your three? What three areas do you want to get rid of excess? What is going to challenge you the most?

Week-Ending.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:42:00 +0000

Weekends are my fave.

We catch up on sleep and laundry and sometimes let the dishes slide. We go to bed early some nights and stay up late other nights. We don't really ever get to sleep in but it's ok.

Date nights come easy lately. And I am of the belief you can never have too many.

Some friends joined us at church today and then at our house for chili after and that's exactly the kind of community I love. Fellowship. Church and chili sounds almost Biblical, no?

Meaningful conversations about life and love and less throughout our life this weekend and past week and it's good stuff. Such good stuff.

This afternoon E and I went to Sesame Street Live with her little buddy Charlie and his mom. She literally yelled all the way from Section 138, "HI ELMO!" as if Elmo could hear her and was waving just at her.

"He waved at me," She tells us tonight as she's getting tucked in. "Elmo loves me."

I'm certain he does.

*Next Less post coming soon. Get ready.

{Disclosure: As part of my relationship with VEE Corporation, I was given complimentary tickets to Sesame Street Live. This is not a review or sponsored post. Just sharing my weekend...}

Simple Little Things That Bring Me Joy.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:29:00 +0000

Middle of the week and lots of simple joy happening over here. The bigs came home after school and the littles were very excited. The week on/week off thing is really working well. Thankful for our set up and the way we make it work. Here's some other things bringing me joy this week:

#1. Pinterest crafts.

{heart crayons}

I tried my first two projects this week and while both weren't quite as easy and were just a little bit more time consuming but still turned out kind of fun.

{Photo taken from Pinterest. Using this daily calendar for daily gratitudes.}

#2. Mild Winter.

{First bike ever for little miss.}

While it's already changing with snow flurries and a cold snap, yesterday my littles rode their bikes. With no jackets.

I would take this kind of winter every year.

#3. Legos.

Hero Factory and Ninjago are his favorites. He sits and reads the directions step by step by step. He put "Black Phamtom" together without any help amidst the chatter of four women and a couple babes.

#4. This whole LESS thing.

I am blown away by the feedback and agreement I am hearing. And also challenged by the critics and the questions. I don't know how it's all going to work and look and be yet. That's part of the challenge. It's going to be a month by month and week by week and sometimes, probably day by day. I'm going to address some questions and comments I've heard this week in another post soon. In the meantime, if you've read and shared the LESS post, thank you.

Less. 1.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:31:00 +0000

That's my word. Four letters. So very much meaning and desire behind it.

Less.

We have so much. We are deliriously spoiled and yet want more. Every day. I need this and I need that and I want that and someday...I say everyday, all day.

Here I sit. 2600 square feet. Five bedrooms. More beds than people in this house. We have so much stuff. I stand in front of my overflowing cupboards, fridge and garage freezer on a regular basis and say, "We have nothing to eat." No, really, I do. I don't even flinch when I hear the total at Costco or Target anymore totalling all the things I think we need.

My children have so many clothes that when all of the laundry is done their drawers can't even shut all the way. I frequently trip over their shoes in the entry or garage. Yet I walk through Target and feel pulled to glance through the clearance racks because if it's only $3.24 what's the big deal right?

Wrong.

In our home we have three laptops, a desktop computer, two tvs, DVR, two DVD players, three Nintendo DSis, two Leapsters, three ipods and a Nintendo Wii. Oh my word, I wish I was making that up.

We are a family of instant. If the internet isn't working when the mouse refreshes the page, you better believe there is frustration. When the winds are blowing and the DVR or Dish goes out and it's the night of our favorite tv show, some of us pout. {That'd be me.}

Sometimes, or let's be honest, many times, I plan my day around getting my hands on a $4.56 warm beverage.

Just typing out the cost of the daily latte makes me sick to my core.

Because there are people all around me in need.

I'm not just referring to African orphans or Haiti earthquake survivors, I am referring to people in my neighborhood, my children's school, church. Everywhere.

Did you know that if your family salary is over $50,000 a year you are in the richest 1% of the world? I am so not even kidding.

Enter Jen Hatmaker's new book, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. Oh my word.

A few months back I remember reading something about if I wanted to review a copy of the book. I didn't respond and then last Monday morning something on twitter caught my eye and I remembered I wanted to read the book. So I found it, bought it and downloaded it on my Nook at the gym. {Did I mention how spoiled we are yet?}

I'm not even finished with the book yet but oh my friends, it is stirring me. I have so much. Chances are, so do you.

In her book, she battles 7 areas of her life one month at a time. Food. Clothes. Posessions. Media. Waste. Spending. And Stress.

She had me at the introduction, really.

I have so much. And there are others who need it more.

My word this year is less. I'm joining the 7 revolution.

This year I am getting rid of excess. I started yesterday by packing up three gigantic bags of bedding and another gigantic bag of towels. Some almost new. When I started working on the linen closet in my laundry room I had no idea that I would find bedding for 30 beds in it. THIRTY FREAKING BEDS. WHAT?!?!

There's a crisis nursery for up to ages 12 and a woman's shelter that can use it because I certainly don't need it.

There's more. There's more stuff. There's more non-necessities we can kick out of here. There's some good, hard, long looking and thinking and praying we need to do.

What is it we want our lives to speak? That we were just like the Joneses? That we had all the stuff everyone is supposed to have? Or that we lived better within our means? That we gave more? That because we had enough we clothed and fed the poor with our excess? That we were different.

We claim Jesus as our Savior when it's convenient for us and it's just not ok.

My heart is being stirred because all this stuff, all these things I have to have and buy and do and be are getting in the way. I'm so very distracted by the worlds attempts at getting me to buy this and watch this and own this.

This year's word is less. I'm tackling it head on and I'm inviting you dear friends to join me. Will you get rid of the excess in your life this year too?

I plan on posting a weekly update and challenge on less each week this year. It's not easy. I like my "things". Especially nice things. But it's not about me, it's about less.

This week's challenge is easy and I've been working on it since last Wednesday and I'm still not done. Unsubsribe from all the emails you get from every store or business you've ever shopped at or done business with. It's time consuming yes, but is there anything more distracting than finding out there is Free Shipping at the Gap today ONLY!!

Seriously. Less.

New.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:54:00 +0000

With the new year, just like every new year, I'm bitten by the new bug, or maybe it's the fresh bug. Just wanting to change things up a little bit, make things a tad bit new and fresh.

I'm in the midst of totally changing around our main floor bathroom which serves as both the kids bathroom and one for guests. For the last almost 8 years the decor has been fish and frogs and water life. Which was fine but it's getting old. Fast.

So I'm totally doing something new except I'm leaving the walls blue. Both because my husband has said no painting projects right now and also because I am a very bad painter and very impatient when it comes to having others paint for me.

Before Christmas I finally finished the basement playroom decor. For the longest time it was just "the playroom" with no rhyme or reason for anything and I kept thinking an idea would come to me. One finally did and here's pictures of the finished product. {I'm pretty proud of it. Also, if you must know, the total cost for the project including bins for the shelves, frames, pictures, canvasses, poster was....$180.}

All the bins on the shelves are from Target. Words on the wall from my friends at Design with Vinyl.

This is the forced family fun project I did with the kids awhile back. Canvasses from Michaels.

The shelves are organized with paint and playdoh on top of the shelves. Then board games followed by arts and crafts supplies and the bottom two shelves are all toys. The blue buckets on the floor here are full of costumes from various Halloweens over the years. The toy box on the left (which we already had) is FULL of LEGOS.

Poster from Etsy. Frame from Michaels. Love.

In the orange bucket on the floor we have building blocks. Then ALL of the baby/doll stuff is set up as "baby world" with the play kitchen and table. And then my wall of pictures.

No rhyme or reason to the way they are arranged on the wall. Just an idea I had and went with it. Frames are $1.99/each at Ikea. I got the mats at Michaels and printed various family and kid pictures at Costco. What I love about the wall is that we really have pictures from when it was just the bigs, through H's babyhood and even now.

What do you think?

***
In other news and events around here. I joined Pinterest on Sunday night and while I definitely don't know all the ins and outs of it yet, I'm kind of smitten with it. I might pin some of my basement (and eventually bathroom) pictures to share too if/when I ever figure that out. Are you on Pinterest? I'd love to follow you, find me or leave a comment with how to find you.

I'm not a big resolution person but I love the idea that I've been hearing round the internet for the last few years of choosing a life word for the year. I've been thinking and thinking and thinking of a word I want to live out for 2012 and once I've chosen it I'll be sure to share. Do you make a resolution? Or what word would you pick?

Finally, I wrote a little story on parenting resolutions. No time like the present to decide to make changes in the way we parent our children. Take a wander over here for the story.

Quickie Quotes.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:57:00 +0000

Just enough time for a quickie quote post tonight even though I've got a few other things on my mind to share. This will have to do for now.

***
H & M played in the snow the other day for hours. Like I had to go out and tell them to come in, kind of hours. Cheeks beat red, noses running, frozen fingers and toes. They made an igloo and H was so proud of it.

They have all been anxiously awaiting some snow to play in and really what's on the ground can barely count, it's maybe 2 inches, but it kept them plenty busy building their igloo.
This morning, H gets up and in the midst of getting T & M out the door for school he asks me when the people from the news are coming.

M is giggling at this point which should have been a clue.

I let it go, we moved on, everyone went to school and when H got home, he asked again, "when's the news coming? M said that if I did a really good job helping her, the news will come and take a picture of us in our igloo."

No idea where M got that idea or why she decided to tell H that but "this" is the news, and these are the bigs and H in the igloo.

Then tonight, E was fighting bedtime. Fewer parenting battles aggravate me more than the bedtime one mostly because by the time bedtime rolls around I am done. We were ignoring her antics until I heard her door slam shut. I walked down the hall, opened the door and there she sat in the middle of her room surrounded by ALL, and I mean ALL, the clothes from her dresser, the books off of her bookshelf and her bedding. I started to say something and she says, "Mama, you're dreaming. It's just a dream."

I have no idea where that came from but I loved it and had to laugh.

Glimpses 2011.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:46:00 +0000

We toasted 2011 away with our littles and tucked them into bed hours ago now. We clinked our glasses together with sparkling pear juice where E may have drank hers in one giant gulp.

"We'll see you next year," we said and now T and M sit eagerly awaiting the midnight drop of the ball. There are advantages to being the older ones you know. Like staying up on New Years Eve.

When we ate dinner hours ago M asked everyone what their resolution would be and while I'm pretty sure H didn't really comprehend what that meant or what she was asking, he cracked all of us up with his response, "I'm going to work on my skills. My ninja skills."

Really, can anyone top that one?

***
So I couldn't end 2011 without looking back through the year and remembering just what a good year it was. Here's just a glimpse at this past year before we wake up anew in 2012.

January: J & I went on a cruise. T turned 12.

February: My father in law turned 80. I shared a picture of our blended family and wrote about what our normal is. Oh and I wrote about the balance struggle.

March: I finally said aloud {or wrote, in this case} my true dream and shortly after my computer crashed. I wrote about friendship. Twice. M turned 10 and had a hilarious outing to the movies unattended. I turned 29 and I wrote about the balance thing again.

April: H turned FIVE! J & I celebrated 7 years. I introduced you to a couple in love and also wrote about being the tiger in the family.

May: Osama binLaden was killed and I wrote my thoughts on that. H & E were in their first wedding. I donated 10 inches of hair and H graduated from preschool.

June: E turned 2 1/2 and I celebrated 6 years of blogging.

July: We went through my dad's house and took the crib down. We went to the Aquatennial parade on the hottest night yet.

August: E officially potty trained herself. and we spent a week in Brainerd.

September: H started kindergarten.T started 7th and M started 5th and E started preschool. We walked and ran to remember my mom. Oh and my new blog design went up!

October: My dad got engaged! And H & E were in not just one, but two weddings.

November: I overheard J talking to a colleague about me and I wrote about expecting great things as a stepmom. And also, E outgrew her dairy allergy!

December: E turned three. I decided that I wanted a full Christmas season versus a busy one and we remembered my mom after four years.

Happy New Year, friends! I hope that you can look back at your 2011 with fondness and good memories and look forward to 2012 with excitement, joy and full of possibility.

Coffeeshop Memories.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:38:00 +0000

My editor over at Patch is "on vacation" this week and I decided I was up for the challenge of filling in for him while he has some time off. It's been a week, my friends. It's all come together and it's all getting done but it's been a little crazy at times.

Knowing we had a full, fun day planned today, I decided late last night that I needed to get up early and just get my work done. The internet at home wasn't working at 5:30am this morning so I got ready for the day, packed up my stuff and came to Starbucks, where in a little while J will bring my littles. They'll be dressed and ready for the day, complete with their lunch packed for the Children's Museum. {He's good, isn't he?}

This morning though, in the wee, dark, cold hours, I was brought back 10 years or so to when I worked the early morning shift at a coffee shop in Chicago.

Go! Coffee at the Francisco stop off of the Brown Line of the CTA feels like forever ago. My alarm would go off in what felt like the middle of the night those mornings and somehow, someway, I'd get myself up and ready, walk the couple blocks to the train station and ride the bustling train of city workers to the shop. I can't remember now if it opened at 5 or 6.

I'd always tell myself I could take a nap or sleep later on in the day but I didn't. I've never been much of a napper.

I really loved that job. There's something about the coffee shop in the early morning hours. Where the regulars come in and before they've even said a word their drink was already being steamed and perfected. The crabby ones. The funny ones. The odd ones. The young ones and the old ones.

When I got to Starbucks this morning there were two others here. A man bent over his Franklin Covey planner as though if he stared hard enough the pages would turn themselves and a woman typing away on her laptop. Since then the shop has filled and emptied, some have sat down with colleagues and had in depth conversations, others sit and read the paper. Some are dressed in suit and tie, ready to conquer the world, still others, like a mom and her little boy, they're not yet dressed.

Isn't it funny the things we don't remember and don't forget? Something strikes us right and the flood gates open. I hadn't thought about Go! Coffee or my early morning train rides in years and this morning it seemed like the freshest memory I could think of as I tied my scarf around my neck, laced up my shoes and came to Starbucks.

The memory will last as long as the coffee aroma stays burnt in my hair and clothes and then as the day closes it'll make room for other fresh, old memories to come to the surface. It's fleeting.

Working on an end of the year recap post, like always. Here's hoping you're filling the end of your 2011 with good things.

Reviewing Christmas.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:01:00 +0000

We'll pretend that as I type this the tree is still up, decorated and glowing. That the nativities are still all set up and that no one has stolen Baby Jesus quite yet. But really, it's all taken down, wrapped in bubble wrap and tissue and boxed up ready for the rafters and next year.

Some years it stays up longer than others but this year it was just that time. I couldn't look at tinsel or Christmas tree needles anymore.

We had a great Christmas, celebrating all month long. We celebrated with my family and J's side of the family two seperate Sundays prior to Christmas weekend so the weekend was our oyster. And while we have our own Christmas Eve traditions when the bigs are with their mom and I usually stand firm, there was just something about hearing my 79 year old grandma on speaker phone last week asking if I'd stop by my aunts house on Saturday.

So we did. It's an hour one way in the smack dab middle of the woods and we missed church but we did. And I'm so glad.

She's my only grandparent left and the way she makes you feel is out of a storybook, really.

Four generations.

There was a time where I could plug my camera in to the computer and 439 pictures would need to be uploaded but lately it seems I take a few pictures here in there. Christmas was no different, just a handful were on the memory card last night because really, how many pictures of kids ripping open presents does one need?

Our four. Christmas morning. There's a story about the Barbie Jeep recovered from the good ol' local goodwill gifted to E from her siblings, but I'll save it for another day.

I like to think that the lack of pictures mean that we were more present, that we were more aware of moments instead of creating them and most of all, that we were too busy having fun most of the time to be bothered by the camera.

We had a lot of fun. Christmas with four kids pretty much is the definition of fun. We spent the entire day pajama clad, assembling games and toys and playing and only left the house to grab coffee. We started the day early and ended it late. Ever since we made the decision to stay home on Christmas we have fully lived that up.

Oh, just one more picture left.

I didn't forget, I couldn't. Christmas Eve, my littles and I. Two of the{many} best gifts I've ever been given.

Hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright. And Fun.

Previous Christmas Eve photos can be seen here.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:36:00 +0000

I didn't intend to go dark on the blog for most of the week but it was one of those weeks where I had to make choices because I couldn't keep up on everything. Last weekend, {after our Christmas party that was once again a success and full of fun!} Miss E ended up at Children's Hospital with a nasty case of croup that was swiftly kicked out of her system and our house with some steroids. Then H was sick Monday and Tuesday with a mysterious sore throat, fever and then let's just add in a little throw up for good measure.

Wednesday I hosted my co-workers from Patch for a little Christmas luncheon and am just so grateful for the community connections and the opportunity I am given to share others' stories.

Yesterday, well, you know how that went.

We're heading into the brown, yet sunny Christmas weekend healthy and happy. And grateful, always grateful.

We hope the same to you!

Merry Christmas dear friends, both near and far, both known and unknown. Thanks for taking the time to visit my little corner of the internet whether that's via email, facebook, twitter, Google Reader or even the old fashioned way! It's always appreciated. Planning on getting back on with regular posting next week.

On The First Day of Break.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:47:00 +0000

It was his first day of Christmas break and it was nothing short of disastorous. I wish I was kidding or exaggerating or something but I'm not.

The van was in for service first thing and despite running behind we were having a fine, old day. The car in front of ours even paid for our Starbucks order including kids cocoas and cake pops.

But at the dealership, it was this and it was that and it was please sit down which quickly turned into frustrated glares from me. I think I asked H to turn the volume down on his game 6 times before I finally just took it from his hand and shoved it in my purse.

"I had a difficult one too," an older man tells me and I tell him right back, "I prefer spirited." And he harumphed and I sat embarrassed.

We left and I stewed and we talked and then believe it or not, Trader Joe's was even worse.

That was hours ago.

We're at piano lessons right now and he's in his lesson playing cute little Christmas songs and totally listening to his teacher but E is laying on the floor next to me kicking the soda machine. I'm not kidding.

We're the only ones here so I don't mind, there's no one to apologize to or for.

It's been one of those days and I know that we're three days shy of Christmas and I know that I'm lucky to have more good days than this, I am, but if I am really honest, today is one of those days I want to cry, "I'm just the nanny!" Moms everywhere relate to this, right?

{I don't. And I won't. I love them too much to not claim them as mine.}

P.S. H just came out of his lesson and his teacher informed me of H's plans to have a garage sale when we get home. Oh to be the one to deliver the disappointing news that there will be no garage sale today.

Please may tomorrow be new and fresh and maybe even shiny.

Just a Quick Photo Dump.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:35:00 +0000

I'm giving myself 15 minutes on this one today. It's Christmas party night and a friend is coming over to iron my tablecloth soon. {Umm yeah, don't ask. Not a skill I've acquired quite yet.} There's much to be done before a night of twinkling lights, chocolate fountain and laughter ensue.

We're fully living the Christmas season up over here with recitals and programs and concerts and plays, there really has been something every single night.

H's very first piano recital was last Saturday afternoon and proud mama was I as he played from memory Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

{Most of the pics from the recital H is glowing as he is wearing a white shirt and no flash allowed so we re-enacted at home. J has a video I may upload at some point.}

We had family Christmas with my side of the family of Sunday. My dad {along with some other fun gifts} gets the kids savings bonds. We call this "money for college". On Monday morning, H was trying to do a little negotiating with me since he claims he won't be going to college, can't he just spend that money on Lego Ninjago stuff?

And E, wore her new Dora helmet all morning long.

Tuesday night was E's very first Christmas program and I had high hopes. She's the youngest in her class and cried going on stage and then did not sing a single word.

But afterwards she told us it was so fun.

Thursday night we had M's play, America's Next Top Model Student. It was really cute and so fun to see her in her element of theatrics.

J got pulled onto stage too.

It has been full, hasn't it?

Oh and we can't forget T's twice weekly basketball games we've been trekking to.

Here's hoping your weekend is full and happy.

***
My editor wrote an article on LICE this week and I'm still itchy just thinking about it.

I wrote an update on the story about the man who donated his kidney to his dad and while it wasn't the ending everyone hoped for, it's a touching story.

I also wrote about trichotillomania and learned a lot about this disorder in the process.

Happy Friday!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000

She picked her outfit out today {do you see the multicolored stripey tights?} and a couple years ago it probably would have driven me crazy but I've learned it's really not that big of a deal.

We're having a little rainy coffee date this afternoon since we're out and about for an eye appointment and a Costco shopping trip.

We didn't have any vision concerns but because of H's amblyopia it was important to have her eyes checked as soon as she was three. She passed and did a great job even if she said, "that horse looks like a zebra."

Her eye doctor even told me that she was super impressed with E's speech and vocabulary for someone who just turned 3.

Oh she impresses us every day, friends.

Like just now when she asked me if I love rainbows as much as she does.

Of course, I do. Don't you?

***
Pictures and update from her program and all the other activities we've had going to come soon.

Tonight is my Bead for Life party at the Maple Grove Starbucks. 7pm until probably 9pm, I'll be there with necklaces, bracelets and earrings all made by Ugandan women supporting their families. I had a party at my home last Tuesday night and friends loved the unique jewelry for Christmas gifts. If you're out and about in Maple Grove or are looking for some extra gifts, stop by and say hello. Email me if you need more info.

Happy Wednesday! How are you spending the dreary, rainy day?

Just Write: 4 Years Later.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:56:00 +0000

My littlest little is still up and the clock just went past 10. She says, "I not tired, mama, I not tired." and so she sits with books spread across the couch reading and talking and looking while J & I exchange glances that we totally should do something about this, but we're not.

It struck me just this afternoon what tomorrow is. I knew, I always know, but the memory had been below the surface and then this afternoon it just hit.

It is bitter and sweet all wrapped in one, I wrote a year ago and still find it to be true.

Four years ago tonight, after days of the hospital, exhaustion and uncertainty I climbed into my bed and tossed and turned and prayed until the phone rang in the wee hours of tomorrow and my dad's quite, somber voice told me my mom had passed away.

We knew. We were preparing. While we prayed for a miracle, we also knew the cancer would take her life. In the words of M, we wanted her to be kept safe on her way to heaven.

There are things we remember and then there are memories we keep.

I keep those days and moments in my heart. Where everything else seems a fog, I remember in great detail.

My mom has been gone four years now and friends, you've no idea what I would give, what I would do, for just another day.

I could write pages and pages and share stories and stories but tonight I don't. Instead I stare at the little face now finally asleep born 355 days after my mom's passing and think, Thank you God for what I had and thank you for what I have.
Tomorrow night, the anniversary of a sad day, my littlest little will wear her Christmas dress and she'll sing her little heart out at her preschool program and there's nothing else I'd rather do.

And while I wish my mom could be there with me, I know that she would be proud of the very proud mama I get to be.

Linking up early to Just Write.
Written Monday December 12.

Christmas Stories.

noreply@blogger.com (simplicity) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:23:00 +0000

I watched this video yesterday {thanks to both Steph and Heather sharing it} and fell in love. Even the kids love it. M, ever our dramatic one, would like to make her own version of course.

Take the 3 minutes and watch it please?

H also really likes this LEGO nativity story too.

So we don't do Santa and every single Christmas this comes up with friends and family. I wrote about that a decision a couple years back and if you're interested you can read that right here. I should explain that we do celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6 with little stocking gifts. However, our kids know the gifts come from us and also, it's a seperate celebration than Christmas, where we just choose to focus on Jesus.

I did write about the Christmas budget over on Patch this week. Do you have a set number of gifts or dollar amount when you shop?

Finally, I would love to challenge you to make your own December/Christmas bucket list. What would be on yours and how are you making sure to live an intentional Holiday season? {We did number 1 last night! Sooo fun!}

Happy weekend! We are about to live a very full weekend, I hope yours is too.