Over the Backyard Fence

First, I want to thank Anita for hosting the Write28Days blogging challenge. Anita writes a wonderful blog called Blessed (But Stressed), and it's all about self-care for caregivers. She also has a website about self-care and finding what nurtures you. You can find it here.

Much of this month, not all of it, has been about simplifying and decluttering my surroundings. For me, it's been a lesson in self care as I learn how to calm my surroundings and in turn feel calmer inside. I've always wanted to do a monthly blogging challenge, and this one suited me just fine. My topic was much lighter than what other bloggers chose to do, but it felt right for this time in my life. And I sure got a lot done around here!

Some takeaways from this little exercise:

Self discipline is a matter of planning and not trying to do everything at once. I could have done better on an overall plan, but each week I pre-planned my posts. Doing something each day -- sometimes big, but often small -- adds up.

Using the Timer! -- Initially, it was to get me started on tasks. I soon realized, that it is a necessity in keeping me moving and not getting so lost in carrying on with one area, that I haven't any energy or interest left when it's time to move on and clean up another area. When the timer goes off, I have to stop. So, cleaning up the top of the dresser won't become another hour lost in sorting through the jewelry drawer, and then walking into the messy kitchen and feeling that I really haven't accomplished a thing in the grand scheme of things.

Making choices -- I simply can't do it all. I tried to pick one thing and go with it. The rest of the list will be there tomorrow.

Having a friend to work beside makes any challenge 10 times more fun! Thanks to my dear friend Dianna for hanging with me!! We met through our blogs last fall? I think, but we have had such fun getting to know one another as we've worked through our kitchens and pantries. Love ya, Dianna!

Last, I've learned that I'm just not a daily blogger. I have some favorite blogs that I read every day, it's a part of my morning routine like reading the newspaper. And, these ladies inspire me to blog more often. However, daily is just more than I can manage. I'm going to try very hard to attempt a couple (maybe three?) days a week. We'll see.

Tomorrow is Friday's Fave Five. I'll be back for that!

This month I've been looking for little 10 minute exercises to do each day that will help me tidy up my house and/or simplify my life somehow. This list, 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life in 10 Minutes or Less has been a great resource. And by participating in the Write28Days blogging challenge, I've managed to stay on task, finding something to do almost every day.

Today, I'm cleaning out my mailbox. Electronic mail, that is. I'm going to set a timer for 10 minutes and go through the delete box, unsubscribing from all those great newsletters I once thought would be just what I needed to change my life, or mailing lists I don't even remember signing up for.

Here goes. . .

As I declutter and make things less complicated around here, I'm finding how happy I can be with the simple pleasures, choosing things that fill up the heart rather than my cupboards and basement shelves.

Today, I'm marking Task #17 off my list of 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life in 10 Minutes or Less. 

It's blooming again! The Christmas cactus that my friend Pam nurtured back to health for me, is just thriving. I'm so tickled whenever I see it come into bloom, like I did something to make it happen. Well, I guess I did, I've actually remembered to water and feed it!


How was your week?

Good morning!

Well, I 'tripped' yesterday, and missed posting, so there goes my 28 days in a row of blogging. But, it's not about perfection, so let's pick up from Monday.

I'm going back to the 25 Ways to Simplify for today, and have chosen #22 on the list:

This will be a quick post today. My day is suddenly filling up, but I want to get back to the 25 Ways list, which was my original intent for this month, as I blog for 28 days.

I'm on Day 5 of the #write28days challenge.
Yesterday, I came across a post called 5 Things People With Tidy Homes Don't Do. You can find it here. Number one just made me laugh out loud:

Oh, my gosh, this is ME! Anyone that knows me, would not call me a slob. But, I tend to go through the day with my mind 3 steps ahead of the task I'm on, and it's not unusual for my husband to be closing cabinet doors behind me. I'm an 'out of sight, out of mind' kind of person, so I have lots of little piles laying around.

Then at the end of the day, it seems insurmountable, and I go to bed determined to get it all together tomorrow. One of the things I've learned is to accept that this is my nature. That doesn't mean I can't strive to do better. I'm doing this challenge, after all. However, for me to be tidy takes planning and concerted effort. I want to be tidy!!

Today, I'm taking on #1 of the 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life list.

This is Day 4 of the #write28days challenge.

When I was growing up with my three brothers, there were inevitably times when we got pretty rambunctious. I remember my dad saying, "Time to simmer down." After going great guns the first few days of my challenge, I slowed it down a bit yesterday and did my planning for the week and let it go at that. This is supposed to be about finding simple, 10 minute projects after all, and creating good habits. So often, my enthusiasm gets the best of me when I start organizing, running with the momentum, overdoing it, and then crashing.

So, back to a small 10 minute project today. Time to simmer down. Taking a task from the 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life in 10 Minutes or Less, I'll focus on my car today and give it a quick sweep, putting things away that don't belong in the car and wiping down the dash with the wipes I bought just for that reason (a month ago, and I have yet to open the package).

It's Day 3 of the #Write28Day Challenge. Yesterday went well, by the way. The cupboard I worked on is one of the busiest corners of the kitchen, right over the coffee maker and next to the stove. It houses coffee cups, coffee and tea, and baking supplies. I took everything out, and made four areas on the counter: keep, put somewhere else, give it away, throw it out. Then I wiped down the shelves and put back only the things we'll use. I didn't end up with a "keep for 30 days" box -- the decisions were easy to make, so that will come in later for another cupboard. But, I did go on to clean out the silverware drawer! I'm on a roll!

I'm trying something new this month, something that will chase away the winter doldrums, get me posting on a regular basis, and hopefully get things in order around here.

It's the Write28Days blogging challenge, where you pick a topic and post something every.single.day. in February. There's a button over on my sidebar with suggested writing prompts for each day. If you would like to join the challenge, click on it for the link.

My topic is based on an article called 25 Ways to Simplify Your Life in 10 Minutes or Less. (I love this blog, by the way.) Each day in February I'll choose one of the tasks from the list, write about it for the blogging challenge, and of course complete the task. The posts will be short and sweet, a warm up for the day.

I was talking to my friend Pamela yesterday, and we were sharing ideas on how to de-junk, live simply, i.e. get rid of crap. I'm hoping this will encourage me to that end. If you'd like to join in, the more the merrier!

Today, I'm going to begin with emptying the cabinet under the kitchen sink (oh, yuck) wiping it out and then put back only the things we use.  Sounds easy enough. I wonder what I'll find?


Time to begin.

Until tomorrow,