Friday, July 29, 2016

Clutter Busting Challenge July 2016 Part 4

I've purged 490 items in the month of July. We did the Color Run and went to the Jazz & Rib fest last weekend. We purged some of our stuff from that. I've been working on organizing and purging books.

My Purge Pile:


















  































You may be interested in:
Clutter Busting Challenge July 2016 Part 1
Clutter Busting Challenge July 2016 Part 2
Clutter Busting Challenge July 2016 Part 3

Thursday, July 28, 2016

July 2016 Reading List


















Do over : rescue Monday, reinvent your work, and never get stuck by Jon Acuff

Maine Brides Collection by Susan Page Davis
The Prisoner's Wife
The Castaway's Bride (read August 2015)
The Lumberjack's Lady

Escape by Kathleen Paul

Storm by Dianne Christner

Mountaintop by Lauralee Bliss

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

KonMari Weeks 4: Cookbooks Notebooks

 I'm working on Books during Weeks 4 and 5. 

Cookbooks Notebooks:

The subcategory of Cookbooks/Cooking Notebooks is small compared to my other books. It still took me several hours to do. I’m discarding all 5 of my Cookbooks and 1 of my Notebooks. That means I own no Cookbooks. I print my recipes from online. I’m keeping my 4 Cooking Notebooks labeled breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. The reason it took so long is that I typed up 6 recipes and decorated my Notebooks with an old calendar.

I’m discarding all 5 of my Cookbooks.

















Before: My Cooking Notebooks. I discarded the black Notebook.

















After: The front of my Cooking Notebooks decorated with an old calendar.

















After: The back of my Cooking Notebooks decorated with an old calendar and scrapbook paper.

















After: The spine of my Cooking Notebooks decorated with scrapbook paper and typed/printed labels.


















After: They went back into the cabinet.




Tuesday, July 26, 2016

KonMari Weeks 4: Christian Fiction

I'm working on Books during Weeks 4 and 5. 

Christian Fiction:

My Christian Fiction books in my master bedroom china cabinet. I’m not discarding any of these as what I have is joyful to me. I’ve not bought any books in 1 yr. 7 months and am reading from my shelves along with the library. I discard each book after reading because it gives me no joy to reread a story a second time. It gives me joy to pass them on to an acquaintance that enjoys this genre. I have some bible study on the top shelf that I’m doing as a separate category.

I'll have a much smaller collection as the years go on. I read an average of 3-5 books a month. I have about 200 books in this category. I had over 500, a couple years ago. I like to buy books at yard sales and thrift stores. I love the library and will use them more rather than buy. In the winter I prefer my own books especially during the Holidays.

Monday, July 25, 2016

KonMari Weeks 4: Poetry

I'm working on Books during Weeks 4 and 5. 

Poetry:

My poetry books in the guest room china cabinet. I didn't discard any from this book category. The top is bible study, second shelf is poetry, and the third shelf is children’s poetry. I’m doing bible study as a separate book category.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Thursday, July 21, 2016

KonMari Week 3: Accessories

I'm working on Clothes during Weeks 2 and 3.

I did workout clothing, purses, jewelry, shoes, and winter accessories yesterday. I store all these items in my closet. I forgot to take a picture of the winter accessories (hats/gloves, long johns, heating pad) basket. I discarded a total of 6 items.


My workout clothes. 1st basket warm weather and 2nd basket cold weather.

















My purses.

















A box of sentimental. The baskets for winter accessories, workout clothing and purses.

















My jewelry.

















 My discards.

















My shoes in my shoe rack. My travel bags and laptop bag tucked in on the sides.
 
















The top half of my closet. A box of sentimental, blanket, and my baskets for winter accessories, workout clothing and purses. My basket of purse supplies, bag for travel toiletries, basket for medicine/vitamin, and basket for hair care. Behind the smaller baskets is hand cream, nail polish remover, and a mirror.

















The bottom half of my closet. My ymca bag, walking pouch, speed walking bag, and drinking bottles. My make-up box, face care bag, bath bag, and nail bag. My yoga bag and zumba bag.

















The left side of my closet. My jewelry, lotion, perfume/body spray, deodorant, and a cup for brooches/earrings.

















The right side of my closet. My cold weather clothes, scarves, and belts.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Giving up Soda

I'm trying to drink more water and give up soda, in my case it's diet Pepsi. I gave up soda many years ago but over the last 2 years I started drinking it regularly again. I can tell that I'm addicted due to the fact that I have cravings for it about the same time every day. I'm going to give it up again. I’ll drink most of my water plain but wanted to have flavor options. Once I drink what I've made for myself from my list I will make a few more drinks. I'm making someone ice for my drinks.

This should give plenty of options to get my water thought the day:

1. I brewed a pot of coffee to use for iced coffee. I brew my coffee double strength; I add an equal amount of coffee and water when serving. I like to add a teaspoon of milk or almond milk sometimes.
2. I made a pitcher of fruit water with an ugly grapefruit.
3. I have a pitcher of iced tea.
4. I made crystal light lemonade.

I made this Pinterest board a couple years ago. I'll make a recipe or two once I run out of my current options. Health- Infused Water
 









Tuesday, July 19, 2016

KonMari Week 3: Cold Weather Clothes

I'm working on Clothes during Weeks 2 and 3.

I did my cold weather clothing, skirts/dresses, scarves, and belts. I used the same criteria that I used for my warm weather clothes. I discarded 11 items.

Before: My cold weather clothing, skirts/dresses, scarves, and belts.

















14 Long sleeve tops/sweaters/pullovers.

















5 pair jeans size 10 & 5 pair jeans size 12.
1 pair dress pants size 12.

















3 jackets.

















4 skirts and 9 dresses.

















4 scarves.

















1 coat and 2 belts - black/brown.

















After: My cold weather clothing, skirts/dresses, scarves, and belts.

















11 discarded items.

Monday, July 18, 2016

My 30 Day Challenge for Better Health

I'm going to be doing this 30 Day Challenge. I need to get back to better health.

 






















1. Soda is hard although I did give up all caffeine and sugar in May. I have gone back to it.

2. I drink a lot of water but not sure if it’s a gallon.

3. I'll do the 3X for 30 minutes in a yoga workout. I have to be careful of not overdoing it. I don’t want to get myself laid up for a week or more again, darn arthritis (lower back and hips). I’m doing the Color Run on Saturday and don’t want to miss it.

4. That’s a lot of squats, especially with that much water. I usually do 30 a day, so I'll see what I can do.

5. I may not be able to do the plank. I'm having shoulder issues, although not diagnosed yet I’m pretty sure it’s arthritis too.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

KonMari Week 2: Underclothing and Nightclothes

I'm working on Clothes during Weeks 2 and 3.

I sorted and organized my underclothing and nightclothes. I didn’t count the underclothing. The underclothing is all new within the last couple months. I discarded 1 pair of socks due to the fact that they shred all over the place. I do have 2 sets cold weather nightclothes and 5 sets warm weather nightclothes.

My underclothing.

















My discarded socks.

















 My nightclothes.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

KonMari Week 2: Warm Weather Clothes

I'm working on Clothes during Weeks 2 and 3.

I worked on my warm weather clothing. I purged 5 items. I keep 15 tops, 5 tanks, 10 shorts, 2 Capri, and 2 bathing suits. I’m going for a small wardrobe that is mix and match. The last couple years I have done better at narrowing down and defining my style. My wardrobe still needs some work but it takes time to find the right pieces. I plan to stay under 35 items. I’ve research project 333 so I’m going for that concept.... I do prefer to categorize my clothing into 2 categories warm and cold, rather than 4 seasons, although I do live in Ohio. I store my warm weather clothing in my 2 dresser drawers and cold weather clothing in my closet. 

I’ve research Dress Your Truth which has helped me to define my style more and confirm what I know that I like. I have not taken the course but have read on the website and Pinterest. I like v-neck tops with ruffles, ruching, and lace. I don’t like strips, plaid, geometric, bold, or a lot of print patterns. My neutral colors are cream, brown, gray, and black. I like jewel/gem colors of purple, blue, red, green, and fuchsia but not pastel colors. I like neutral pants/bottoms. I'm not doing the Konmari fold and in Sparks Joy she said it was ok to do whatever method brings Joy.


After: warm weather tops and tanks.

















 After: shorts, Capri's, and bathing suits.


















 Discards: too much pattern for me.

















My shorts, Capri's, and bathing suits after discarding.

















My tops and tanks after discarding.