declutter.

I try to declutter my house about twice a year.  I don't know about you but with 4 kids it seems that we are a magnet for STUFF...alot of it.  One of my girls' room needs to be decluttered about every other month (from the pictures here I'm sure you'll be able to figure out which room that would be!).  I love getting all of the stuff we've acquired but don't really need out of my house.  We give things to D.I., The Goodwill, or Salvation Army.  It helps other people and makes my life feel more clean and much simpler.  Even though my kids fight me tooth and nail when I'm trying to get rid of everything (that has suddenly become their favorite, most dear things in all of the world) they love to come into their room when I'm done and have all of the clutter gone.  They love the clean space and the simplicity.

If you're feeling like you have no idea where to start in your house here are some ideas. 

**Get a garbage bag and start walking through your house and just putting everything in it that you need to throw away.  You'll be surprised at how quickly your bag fills up.  A lot of things sit around our homes that we just get used to having around and don't realize that you really don't need it anymore.  Take a second bag and walk around your house and look for all of the things that someone else could use that you don't use and put them in the bag. 

Usually, this is enough for me to do to get the bug for cleaning out everything else.  Remember to take things in little bite sized chunks and in no time you'll be living simpler and fresher.

**The process you see in these pictures is not my usual way of decluttering.  My son decided to help my girls get their rooms cleaned out since he'd heard me talking about how badly it need to be done.  He took everything out of the little hideways, shelves, and crevices and made a huge pile in the middle of their rooms. This method works also...anything to just get it all out of your life and help you to live with more simplicity.

NOTE:  This round of decuttering I can't take credit for...it was pretty much Mike and the kids who did it while I was at a meeting....I'm pretty blessed...

Gracie was so excited to have her room clean again.  She was jumping on the beds and feeling so good to have all of the stuff out of her little space in the world.   The little series is of Grace working out a karate chop move she came up with....

simple. LIFE.

Date Night. Every Week.

Every week I go on a date with my all time favorite person...my husband.  Tonight is the night of the week that I look forward to every time my Friday night ends.

We're always glad to get a way for some fun and good times together.  A chance to be somewhere without the kids, away from the cares of the world, and to just get to be us.  We love this time and absolutely feel that our week is not complete if we miss it.  It fills up our hearts and our buckets...especially after a long week.

We've done all kinds of things.  Tonight we'll be getting something to eat (and I'll be leaving a little on my plate...), go for a walk, and then later maybe the movies. 

Other times we've gone to Barnes and Noble, gotten a steamed milk, and played a game in the cafe.  We've also gone ice skating at the ice sheet, hiking, to the movies, a picnic, to the theatre, dinner theatre, walked around downtown, gone the gallery stroll, and so much more.

If you're not dating your fave person...start.

If you are dating your fave person but are stuck in a rut, plan ahead.  Occassionally, we end up doing the same thing every week (especially in the middle of the winter) so we take turns planning the date.  If you want to spice things up you definitely have to try this.  Whatever the person for the week plans, you both do.

We've considered getting twenty $1 bills and just going to the mall and giving one out out to anyone we see...just to do a little study on everyone's reactions.  We've also given ourselves each $1 and we go to the dollar store and see if we can find something the other person would like.

Whatever you do...usually the cheaper it is...the more fun it is.  Find your true love and sweep them off on a date...tonight!!!

love. LIFE.

save. your. life.

When you have your own business, it's easy to take every aspect of it on yourself and think that only you can do everything...only you can do the perfect job. 

So many people want to know how I make it all work.  I have a family, four kids, a husband, and a life.  I want everything to be perfect for my clients.

One of the things that I want to have perfect is the album.  I want to have gorgeous albums for my wonderful clients and pink penny has made that happen for me.  I love working with them, they take care of the entire design process and work so closely with my clients.  It's a gift when you find someone who values and appreciates the investment you have in your clients and business and wants success for you and your clients.  I found Pink Penny and they do just that.  Shelly helps my clients every step of the way to get the beautiful album that they want...which is, of course, 100% important to me.  It's been a dream to have them as a partner.  I love that Shelly gives my clients the attention, help, and beautiful album that I want them to have.

better. life.

real. LIFE.

I was going to give a tip today that I really believe in and I know is important to loving life. Instead, I'm going to write about what is happening right now. Today. This week.

I'm in over my head.  To tell the truth I have too much on my plate.  I've overextended myself and I'm doing all of the things I've tried to eliminate over the past year.  I'm going to bed again at 3am and I haven't journaled in a couple of days.  I'm trying to manage too many things and not living my life.  I'm on urgent overdrive.

It's not too late, though, to change all of it.  Yes, responsiblities are bearing down but it's no reason to lose perspective now...it just means I need to take a step back, re-evaluate, and see what needs to be reworked.

This is how I'm getting my life back today:

#1:  Realize that you don't have to do it all.  I love and adore Thirst Relief.  I have since the moment I heard about it and got the opportunity to talk to Jim Davis-Hicks about it and came up with the idea to start a mentoring benefit to raise money for clean water around the world.  This year the Benefit has gotten enormous...which is totally what we've been hoping for.  We couldn't be happier.  Sometimes when you start something that is a great idea you think you're the only one that can do it the way it needs to be done.  This is so not true.  There are always facets of a project that don't HAVE to be done by you.  This is the case within your own business.  Jim and I emailed back and forth and I did the unthinkable-I told him I needed help.  Within minutes, he had responded that there were two people that would probably be willing to help me.  Just that email alone took a huge weight off of the things that need to be done this week.

#2:  Ask for help.  WIth Love Affair I have been the one that has been blogging women over the last 6 months.  I've had fun doing it, however, since I want to spend good time with my family before I get to the Love Affair workshop something had to give.  I talked to Lauren about the stress I was feeling and she said, "Well, is there anything I can do?"  Instead of just brushing off her question with a, "Oh, no, I've got it under control."  I really thought about it and said, "Actually, if you could take over blogging the rest of the girls that would be a huge help to me."

#3:  Remember you are human.  No one expects you to be the superhero. You're probably the only one that thinks you need the super powers of 10 superheros.  I'm here to tell you it's just not going to happen. 

#4:  Don't let the time to journal be the thing that gets pushed to the back burner.  When your life gets hectic is NOT the time to lose perspective.  That's exactly what will happen if you decided to start working the minute your head pops off your pillow in the morning. 

#5:  Things get hectic, however, you can keep your life in the midst of them.  Make sure to have some down time everyday to just breathe and be grateful that you are alive.  Don't go to bed a frenzied mess or you'll wake up the same way.

NOTE:  This is a snapshot into (I've heard from a number people) exactly what many are living with all of the time.  This is one week of my life right now.  But there are things that I'm doing this week that you can apply to your life that will ease the burdens that you have.  Make sure to take a step back and enjoy your life even if things seem a bit chaotic in the moment.  You'll be glad you did!

enjoy. LIFE.

Journaling.

The two things that give me the most inspiration in my life are journaling in the morning and the shower.  I don't have any idea why I get great ideas in the shower...maybe because it's actually quiet and water cleans my brain and thoughts out and leaves a place for all the new and wonderful perspectives and ideas. 

The other things that opens up my life to recieve love, thoughtfulness, and clear vision is journaling.  When I think back in my life about the people that inspire me so much I realize that, for the most part, they all journal.  When I wake up early, during the quiet of the morning or after the kids go to school, I have a chance to read scripture, inspirational books, and write to my heart's content.

On a typical morning I will read some scripture and write any thoughts that come to me about my kids, other people that I may be able to help in some way, my marriage, and my business.  It's something that centers me, helps me to gain perspective, and also gives me a chance to meditate and pray.  I need this time.  It's my time to get connected to myself and to the heavens.  I need guidance and inspiration that draws from my strengths and taking the time each day to give my attention to that makes a difference through out the entire day. I believe that everyone needs this time everyday.  No matter what or who you believe in this time is vital for you.  Study whatever helps you to get back to what you value, take time to clear your mind so that you can recieve the information that you need specifically for you.

I'm also a self help junkie.  I admit it.  lol.  I love to have one book that I'm studying to help me in my life and in my business.  Right now I'm reading Siblings Without Rivalry because I'm trying to figure out how to help my kids to squabble a little less and enjoy one another a little more, as well as empower them to solve their own problems.  I love to have a book that's a novel, so that I can enjoy a book just before I drift off to sleep, that doesn't suddenly spark my brain with a bunch of new ideas.  RIght now I'm reading Eat. Pray. Love.

The business book I'm reading right now is Happier.  It has wonderful little pieces of writing homework throughout that I love having the chance to write about.

Taking the time to write as often as possible will give you insights into your life, heart, mind, and business that you can't get from anywhere else.  You need the time.  I promise.

inspired. LIFE.