Monday, August 27, 2012

My Achilles Heel

When we moved, we got rid of a lot of stuff.  Like, a LOT.  And I have to tell you, it's made a huge difference in our lives.  The kitchen is easier to keep clean, because we can't let the dishes pile and pile up...we only have so many plates, and if we don't wash them right away, we have nothing to eat off for our next meal (or at least for the next day's meal.) The kids toys are easier to keep clean because there just isn't that many of them.  Plus for the most part they stay up in the kid's rooms, with one basket for stragglers in the living room.  (Plus, Corben will 9 times out of 10 choose something that he's NOT supposed to play with over an actual toy.  Yes, he's THAT child.)  All that cleaning and purging made a real difference in keeping on top of things. 

There is however, one thing that I'm most certainly NOT keeping on top of.  The laundry.  (The effing laundry.)  It finally hit me the other day WHY I can't keep on top of the laundry.

We didn't really purge on the clothes.  We still have the same amount of clothes in this house that we did in the old house.  And that, my friends?  HAS to change. 

My friend Terri-Ann wrote a post about this very thing today, and how when there is just TOO MUCH, you don't even know where to start.

I have a plan.

Next week, I am going to take every single piece of clothing that is in this house and sort it.  First I'm going to get rid of anything that doesn't fit, is beyond repair, or is just darn ugly.  Because lets face it, sometimes things are just ugly.  And then I'm going to put only the clothes that fit in each of the boys dressers back into them.  Same with my closet.  And if the pile of short sleeve shirts is too big to fit in the drawer, then best pare it down some more. 

I think there's a good chance I can get rid of a third of the clothes in this house.  (I did it with the towels.  We had a bajillion of them in the old house, and I gave away a whole bunch.  We have lots now - bath towels for the four of us, a set for guests, and beach towels.  Still feels like too many sometimes, but I also feel like I'm finally not washing towels twice a week.  Same goes for sheets.)  

I have (in the past) had so much trouble getting rid of things that I *might* need some day, because I loathe buying stuff that I used to have and suddenly need more of.  But really, what day in the very near future am I going to need 20 bath towels ALL IN ONE DAY?  Or 20 pairs of pants for Corben, ALL IN ONE DAY?   There is always laundry, there is always the Goodwill if I suddenly find myself without pants, or shoes, or towels.  And there will always be friends down the road, likely hoarding 16 to 20 towels of their own, if I'm really in some sort of Towel Emergency. 

So, to recap, the plan:  1/3 of the clothing out of this house.  Booyah.  Pictures to follow! 

How's about you?  What's your constant battle with stuff - what's your Achilles towel?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Change is the only constant

I kind of fell off the Month of Happy Bandwagon. 

You know that phrase - "Never be too busy making a living, that you forget to make a life?"  (Or however it goes.)

Yes, that.  We've been very busy making a living, and trying to make a life all at the same time.

But once again, everything is about to change. 

So long "making a living." My last day of full time work is this coming Friday.  Full time work, with full time benefits, and a full time paycheque.  Adios amigos.

I don't want to get into the long story, nor to I want to be vague and let you think something when that's not really the story, so I'll make it brief:

I asked to have things changed, so that I could make my family the priority over my job.  I still wanted to DO my job, or a version thereof, but needed some things to shift.  They said no.  And so, I left. 

And that's all I'll say.  (You can take a wild guess about how that rubbed me.)

And so here I stand, unemployed to be.  One hundred percent certain that I made the right decision about what is best for my family.  And scared shitless, all at the same time.  And throwing myself on the mercy of the universe, hoping that it's all going to be ok. 

And knowing, that in all this, we'll be happy.  We ARE happy.

So...raise your hand if you've ever paddled in this boat before...I know lots have.  Any advice?

I'd love to hear your pearls of wisdom (or even your terrible jokes if they'll make me smile!) 

Much love,
xoxox

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Splash Happy

Yesterday Corben and I headed out to the park that is just next door to our house.  As we approached the little play structure, the skies opened up and it started to pour.  Like torrential. So we climbed into the play structure and huddled together under the roof to wait it out.  Eventually we decided to head back on home, as the rain showed no signs of letting up.  But on our way back, the rain did start to let up, but it's mark was made:

So instead of playing in the park we spent a good half an hour splashing in the puddles.  By the time we were done Corben needed a full change, and his boots had a good 2 inches of water in them, but hoo boy did he have fun.

Children are especially good at finding the happy, aren't they?  I think sometimes we should all slow down a bit, and take their lead...jump in the puddles, my friends!

xoxox

Friday, August 10, 2012

Happy making: winning the war

I have been fighting a major war here, with the mice.

I do bugs, I do spiders, I do chipmunks, I even do bats.

I do NOT do mice.

But I've been fighting them.  Last night I think I found one of their main entry gates.

I plugged that mothertrucker up like no entry gate has been plugged before.

Friends, I think I might just be winning.

And that? Is enough to make this girl Happy!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A Month of Happy: Breastfeeding

As a nod to world breastfeeding week (it would be MORE in honor of it if I wasn't a day late, but it'd the thought that counts) today's Happy post is dedicated to me, and this dude, and my boobs. (How's that for an opener?)
Me and my boobs have been nourishing this little guy for 2 years and 8 months now.  Yup, I'm one of those people, those "extended breastfeeders."  And I love just about everything about it.

I had no idea when we started this relationship 32 months ago, that we'd still be at it today.  I had a goal this time to make it to a year, and a more secret goal to make it to two years, which came and went without anyone showing signs of wanting to stop.  I figured our week long trip to Japan in May would be the end of it, but dragged my hand pump with me, which I was happy to have when things got a little bit sore a few days into the trip.  When we got home, we picked back up like I'd never been gone.

I've never really been given a hard time about still nursing a kid that's pushing three, but I kind of keep to myself about it too.  Frankly, in my opinion, it's none of anybody's beeswax how long I choose to breastfeed my kids, or how long you choose to breastfeed yours.  However, I also know the flipside is that the more people talk about nursing their 2, 3, 4 year olds (and onwards, if you so desire) then the more normalized it will become.  So here I am.

Most of the time, I love our nighttime (nearly every night) and morning (which gets skipped more often) moments together.  It's a chance to take a deep breath, and know that for the next 15 minutes the only thing that matters in the world is me and Corben.  And he loves it too.  I don't know when he'll want to stop, or if I will first, my only hope is that when the time does come the decision is mutual.  For now it remains one of my favourite moments of the day, a special moment just for us, and I'll treasure it for as long as it lasts.   





Monday, August 6, 2012

Today in the Month of Happy

I have a camera full of photos, and a heart full of love for this past weekend.  And a heart full of happy.

It's amazing how good the universe it getting at smacking me in the face when I get in a little bit of a funk.

"Hey you, why so glum?  Life is pretty wicked awesome!" *smack!"

We spent Saturday and Sunday at a family reunion, that was, as it always is, a heck of a party, despite getting thoroughly rained on for the first time in 12 years.

Yesterday afternoon when we got back, we rounded out the day with a quiet night of movies.

It was today though that really made me happy.  A friend dropped by with her kids around 10am this morning, and they only left about an hour ago.  A pop by morphed into a coffee, and then lunch, and then a trip down the road to another neighbour's pool.  Then into coctails, dinner, and finally a campfire.

That's my kind of day - something that flows so effortlessly from one part to another to another, that you hardly even realize it's happening.  Everyone is happy, (hardly) no one is complaining, and the day just comes together the way popcorn comes together with butter...like it was just meant to be that way. (I know, my comparisons aren't exactly potetic, but I did also spend the whole damn day in the sunshine, so forgive me if I'm a bit fried!) 

I love this place, and the people here, and my new home.  And I love when I get in a funk about (any) of it, this place has a way of standing up and reminding you about just how incredible it is.

You know what else is particularly incredible these days?  My kids.  Griffin has really found himself in the past two months here, and I can only hope that the next year, September especially, gives him the courage and the confidence to really find himself a spot in this community.

Corben is holy effing cute, and does he ever know it.  Smart, this one, and sassy.  Or Salty, as my brother has christened him, Salty Dog.  Suits him to a tee.  He's growing so quickly, and has full conversations with me now for pity sakes.  This one, he's one to keep an eye on for sure.  He's going places...and likely when you've got your back turned!

There are changes in the air again, and not just the weather (which has taken a characteristically autumnal turn since the calendar turned to August.) But looking for and crediting the things that make me happy has really turned my eyes to the little things that really do keep us sane, when all the other big things get overwhelming.  (At the same time, respect for the big things can keep you sane too!)

All in all, it's Happymaking, to be sure.

Hope you all found the joy this past weekend!
xoxox


Saturday, August 4, 2012

A Month Of Happy: Friday August 3rd

It's amazing how many things you notice that make you smile, when you're actually on the lookout for them...it's easy to see how seeking out joy and gratitude can turn a day or a life around.

There were so many wonderful things about today.  A half day of work only, followed by a staff party complete with an ICE CREAM TRUCK for dessert.  Some days I complain about my job, but I sure would stop that pretty quick if an ice cream truck came by every day.  Just sayin'. 

Then on a "find the happy" whim on the way home (at 1pm!), I made a spontaneous u turn to check out a little pub that we keep hearing wonderful things about but have yet to find the time to go.  So today, we went.  Sat on the patio, had a beer, and more food (that I so didn't need.) But all terribly happy-making.

Home to can 7 quarts of peaches that are going to taste SO good in the dead of winter.  A night of porch time and campfires.  All in all, a pretty perfect day.

I'm excited to hear that there are a few others joining in in this Month of Happy!  No worries in joining late, we're just getting started!

Have a beauty of a day - enjoy finding your own happy.

xoxox

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A Month of Happy

Ugh.  I've been in a bit of a funk these days.  I feel a little bit like a lost soul, wandering on a road that is somewhat familliar, but I have NO freaking idea where the road is going.  None.  "It's the journey that matters, not the destination," yadda yadda yadda, but I'm not big on aimless wandering.  Nope, I'm a "have a purpose and get 'er done" kind of gal.  I like lists, goals, deadlines, and right now I have none of those things.  I'm a damn leaf floating on the wind and I suck at it.

I feel like I've been looking for inpiration all over.  But then it hit me tonight - I've been looking for it all over the internet - in blogs, facebook, the words and pictures of others.  But the words and pictures of OTHERS are not what I need...I need to stop trying to pimp of someone else's inspiration and find my own.

So that's what I'm going to do.  I'm going to start right here.  August Project - A Month of Happy.  I'm going to post this month, as much as I can, about things that make me happy.  It might be a photo, a thought, or just a whole lot of words, because sometimes emptying them out of my head is something that makes me happy too.  I'm looking for things that make me smile, things that make me want to work harder and be a better human, things that are just downright beautiful, something that makes my heart swell with pride, joy, gratitude, or all of the above.  Something that just feels good or right.  A little something I said, a little something someone else said.  Or, anything else that falls under the definition of happy.

Will you join me?  Will you find the happy everyday this month too?  There's no pressure, it doesn't even need to be every day that you post, but try to take a moment each day to think of that one thing that made you smile, for whatever reason.  Post a photo, or just a few words, or whatever you have time for.  Or just come and leave a comment. Or not, if that's what makes you happy!

The first thing that's going to make me happy this month?  I'm going to take a little Facebook break.  Now I'd be downright lying if I said I was going to stay away from it all month, but I'm going to try to be there less.  Way less.

The second thing? These awesome little buttons that I've made. Except they're not really buttons, because I don't know how to make them all code-y. (Yay! Thanks to the Bean for helping me fix that one!)  So, if you're up for joining, feel free to snarf one and put it on your very own blog.  Or heck, make your own with something on it that makes YOU happy!

Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Won't you please let me know if you're joining in, I'd love to see what makes you smile everyday too!  I'm going to start a link list in the sidebar there with those that are participating, so you can be overwhelmed with happy! 

xoxox

(Oh...and the next thing that's going to make me happy is fixing that terrible header up there.  ^^^  You guys, it's bad.  Why didn't you tell me?  Blargh.)
(Nevermind, fixed it!)