A Little Makeover.

Last night The Littles gave me some special attention. While The Little Girls did my hair and makeup,  Goo told me I was looking hurt and needed a good doctor.

It felt so good to be pampered by these sweet faces above me. They were doing a great job and for once all evening they were working as a tiny makeover team=no arguing! Then they told me too look in the mirror. wow. Awesome! I especially liked the beard. They begged me not to wash it off.

So we all put on lipstick and took a selfie.

Then I washed up.

The first thing they asked me this morning is when can we do it again. I can't wait!

Letting Go.

I'm still at it, decluttering and asking every object I own if it sparks joy in my life. Some belongings are hard to discard even though I instantaneously know upon contact with the object that it doesn't spark joy. So I caught myself cheating a bit. I put a few "once upon a time favorites" back in my closet or back on my bookshelf then walked away from that part of sorting/decluttering. Here's the thing though, I couldn't stop thinking about the item I put back. It's like there was a huge stain or something really stinky in my closet/on my bookshelf. I knew inside that item had to go. The sweater in the photo above is one of the things I put back then waffled back and forth about for hours. HOURS! My Mom bought this sweater for me. Just she and I, Placerville Clothing Company, a bright Spring day, 2001. This was a favorite for many years, many reasons. Sentimental attachment. I hugged that sweater several times during those hours, at first it felt good then after each hug I could feel myself pulling away. I felt my heart say, "This sweater is not your mom. It's okay. Let it go." And so I did. I took a good look at it and said thank you. Instead of throwing it on the heap of discards, I placed it in a box of shoes, belts, handbags for donation. And now I am excited that someone else will find joy in it's warmth.

I just want to pause here and send my love to Margaret, Tim's Mom. She said good-bye to her Mum today. It is awful to bury the person who gave you life, holds all your childhood memories, hoped eternally in your favor, championed for you and loved you more than anyone ever could. My heart is with you Margaret, wishing I could send you peace.♥

Guest Post: Savannah Jane.

Hello Hutters. This is Savannah. I love reading my mom's blog. I am going to tell you a little about myself. I am in 3rd grade. I have 2 friends named Wrenna and Gracie. My favorite subjects in school are math, art and science. When I'm not at school I like to go outside and play on the trampoline, play with my pets, read magazines or books, I love to draw and color. I like to play legos and lalaloopsies. My favorite colors are grayish-pink(magenta)and mint green. My favorite food is sushi. What bothers me is Grady, Ivy, Jake and flies. My favorite smells are, my mom and laundry detergent. I have a dog named Izzy. I have a kitten named Genevieve . I have 14 chickens named Ginger, Olma, AlmondCake, Beatrice, Sophia, Gracie, Isabella, Ivory, Tiny, Addie, Chicka, Clara, Mocha and Fudge.. Wrenna chicken died and we gave away the rooster Taylor.

 And I have a couple of Koi fish. I haven't named them yet. The best day I could ever have would look like this.

Going on a rollercoaster.

I would pick fruit or apples at Grandpa Dan's.

I would sleep out on the trampoline with my friends telling haunted stories.

I would eat Special K cereal.

Well now that I've told you a little about myself I must be going. Bye!

Ah Ha.

I bought this book on Tuesday and stayed up until 2:30 am reading half of it. I'm hooked. I mean I am really diving in. The process typically takes 6 months to fully achieve tidiness and so at first I wasn't sure I was able to commit. But Marie Kondo's writing and philosophy behind creating a home that "sparks joy" has really resonated with me.
 
These last 2 days I have tackled 2 subcategories of clothes (mind you I did a closet clean out last Saturday morning before I even knew this book existed); tops (shirts, sweaters) and bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts).
This is what I discarded:

And this, this is what my dresser drawers look like now that I finally know how to fold clothes properly according to the KonMari method (the author's system). These two drawers hold every top (not including button downs/blouses BUT including all my seasonal sweaters that use to vacation up at high altitudes in my closet) I own.

And now that I have started holding each object I own in my hands and asking myself if that particular object sparks joy in my life (literally this is what the process of tidying or discarding is) I am excited about the next few months of sorting through the roughage in order to find my home sparking with joy. 

 

Hi.

I'm here. I really am. All the while I was not thinking about this space, I really was. So, hi there. I think I'm back. These pages are really a strange place for me to navigate. I want to share so much with you readers but I am increasingly becoming an introvert and so I really crave solitude, privacy and quiet. In these ways I gain energy. And energy is what I needed earlier this month, we were all so very sick. Then I got out of the habit of sharing and well, you know.
Lately...

I couldn't pass up this swim cap at Hospice (thrift store) $.50.
Savannah decided to get a pixie cut. We made the appointment the day after Christmas and she waited until February 3 to get her hair cut. I thought she might change her mind, all other girls her age want Disney Princess hair...not Savannah Jane!

I am so proud of her for doing something different and unique.

 

Goobie is talking more and more each day, he loves to "read" to us every night. Every page in every book begins with "last time..." as in "last time the hungy capitillar ate 4 strawberries..." And all throughout the day he asks me if we can do family game night and play his matching game. He beats me every time.

Ivy is starting to grow into school. In order for her to gain confidence and calm, I go to computers (a major source of anxiety for her because the teacher is a loud-talker) with her every Friday. I am bored out of my mind but she thrives while I am there (and her table partner Tyler stays on task too).

I took on a new form of art recently-Weaving. I bought a loom and am teaching myself to weave in the Navajo tradition. It is a lot harder than I anticipated but I really am enjoying it.

Thank you for checking this space. I wasn't sure I would return. But then one day after school I found Savannah under her bed with her best friend, looking at the blog and hearing them giggle about things I have posted, I couldn't very well abandon this space. I've invested so much. Anyways, thank you for believing I would be back.