Unplugged...Kinda

Well, I'm back! (sorta.)
I decided to go unplugged for Lent.
My rules were simple:
1) No Facebook
2) No general internet browsing
3) E-mails are to be checked once a week.

It all seemed simple enough I was excited to start. I had fiddled around with the idea of getting rid of Facebook all together, but there was a bit of a public outcry from long-distance family members who wanted to be able to keep up with baby Eloise's exploits and glamor portraits.

I had to physically remove my laptop, or I knew I'd be too tempted to use it. So I unplugged it and threw it under the couch where it sat.
One of the odd by-prouducts of not having my internet is that I suddenly had little patches of time, normally used to browse, which I didn't know how to fill.
I grabbed one of my unused journals and started journaling with reckless abandon. Sometimes I'd have up to four entries just in the one day - I'd write about my plans for the day, Eloise's eating and sleeping schedule and general thoughts and feelings.

I had such lofty thoughts about being internet-free until the end of Lent, but I didn't make it.
I got to the three week mark and I started making little allowances, like checking my emails more often or peeking over at pintrest, until finally I admitted defeat.
I have been off of Facebook and will do my best to keep off until the end of Lent.

It was eye-opening to realize how much time I actually spent on the internet and not actually being productive; even though I was rarely online for long chunks of time, I was constantly flipping my laptop open just to "check" something.
It's that need for constant information, to know everything that's happening right away, even though it's not of any consequence. (Do I really need to know what my friend is eating for dinner through facebook??)

I also read more than I had since having Eloise.
For my birthday in February, Jeremie got me a Kindle! My folks got me this beautiful cover for it.

That, coupled some free e-book sites like Inspired Reads and Pixel of Ink, I had more than enough to keep me busy.
I tried out some new recipes, decluttered and cleaned out more boxes from my basement.

It was a good experience and I'm glad I did it, even if I didn't quite reach my initial goals.
I'm going to try to unplug more often, and will probably do so again in a couple of months.

 Peace,

What's In Your Purse? (or diaper bag!)

I've been reading about the "minimalist wallet" and how we can pack so much in our wallets and purses. 

So here is the contents of my diaper bag, its all I need even in winter!

Top row: terry-cloth bib, hand cream, Burts Bees bum cream, changing pad, wipes, diapers, baby Sophie and wallet.
Bottom row: 1 onsie, 1 pair socks, 2 fuzzy sleepers, Buggy the toy, and nursing cape.

Generally I stuff a knitted blanket in there too, because...you never know!

All of this fits pretty easily in my Baby Sac. 

I don't use a purse at all anymore, as there doesn't seem to be much of a point!

So here's my diaper bag!

Peace,

Little Victories

Today has been a good day.
A day full of "little victories."
I've learned since having Eloise, that nothing is as easy as it once was.
Even having a shower is more difficult, as I'm listening for cries, have the light in the bathroom off because of the noise of the fan and remembering to actually wash my hair in the 3 minutes I've allotted myself.
Today though, I'm focusing on all the things I have been able to do.
Like: Get the laundry out.

Nothing smells as good as laundry fresh off the line.
Eloise and I had a good night last night.
We were only up twice last night, though didn't quite get to bed until midnight.
Still I count it a victory.
Adorable eh?
It turns out she adores music.
I have it playing constantly in the background, and if not music, talk radio.
Her big hits right now are my "Romantic Classical Music" cd, and my Praise cd's.
It's actually very nice and uplifting playing that soft music in the morning.
It sets the mood for the day.

I finally organized my entertainment unit.
It was stuffed to the brim full of junk.
Now I have just what I need, and love the extra space.
I haven't decided what to put in the empty cubby yet, but I'd like to put something decorative or pretty there.
Something to compliment the typewriter beside it.
I still have to think about it!

My list of to-do's still include tidying the bedroom, cleaning the kitchen and folding/putting away the clothes.
And because it's such a beautiful day, I think Eloise and I will go for a walk to the library!

Have a wonderful Friday!

What Have I Started??

It all started with Jeremie and I agreeing that we simply have too much clothing.
Our dresser was packed to the point that the bottoms of the drawers were falling out, the closet was stuffed to the brim, and even two plastic bins full of more 'off season' clothing were living in the closet and basement!
Finally I had had enough.
Stuff had to go!
First though, I needed inspiration, a challenge! Something to get me burning with de-cluttering desire!
I came across this site with the "333" project.
A challenge to only use 33 items of clothing for 3 months. (excluding things like under-roo's etc.)
I happily read through lists of other challenge-takers of what they considered their most worthy 33 items to be.
As a self-proclaimed 'clothes horse' 33 items seemed veeeery steep to me, but I figured if I could get down to 66 maybe, or some other small(ish) number I'd consider it a great success.
So I started to purge; soon enough clothing was flying out of drawers and off hangers, I was trying on clothes to see how they fit my post-baby body, and the donation pile steadily grew.

Suddenly I realized: "This feels GOOD!"

It was liberating getting rid of clothes I had schlepped from closet to closet, drawer to drawer.

Soon, I only had 2 pairs of jeans instead of 5, 3 blouses that fit well instead of 6 that only fit so-so, 5 basic t-shirts I wore all the time, instead of the 8 I normally left sitting in the bottom of the drawer.
Even now I find myself thinking: "Do I really need 2 pairs of yoga pants and 2 pairs of black leggings, if I can easily do with just 1 of each?"

I am however, being careful. I'm going to store the clothes I'm unsure or hesitant to donate for at least a couple of months. If I go back for the item, it's worth keeping. If it sits in the bin for 3 months, clearly I don't need it all that much.

I am proud to say I now have in my bureau:
- 4 tank tops
- 5 t-shirts
- 2 shrugs
- 3 yoga pants
- 2 leggings
- 1 linen pant
- 2 jeans
- 1 jean capri
- 5 long sleeve t-shirts
- 4 sweaters

In my closet:
- 9 nice tops
- 2 vests
- 4 skirts
- 1 pair black pants
- 7 cardigans
- 4 dresses
- 3 coats
- 1 blazer
- 2 winter coats

Total: 62 items of clothes! Not quite 33 but that's pretty pruned down for me!
The only problem now is that it's addictive! I'm finding myself staring at my book shelf, mentally boxing up the books I don't need any more, or thinking of other homes they could go to.
I think of all the kitchen 'stuff' I have but never use and is sitting in a box in the basement.
The fabric and sewing notions I've had since college because I'm "sure I'll use it someday."

I have never been more excited to rip into my stuff and de-junk and de-clutter. To have nice, organized clean spaces, instead of piles of stuff I'm keeping for no apparent reason.

I think part of it is also attributed to the new Ikea catalogue.
I love flipping through it and seeing how organized their tiny spaces are and wishing: "if only I could re-create that, so I'd have more space for my things."
But something flipped in my head today, and instead of wishing I could go and buy more furniture to hold more stuff, a lightbulb went off and I realized that I could just simply get rid of my stuff, and then not need the Ikea furniture!
I would save money and space! It was an epiphany, I tell you.

So here's to organization, more simplicity and a less cluttered life!

Peace,
- Jenny

6 Days!

The countdown is on.
Moving day is this Sunday, and so far it looks like a lovely day of rain and cold weather.
The apartment is a mess; boxes, tape, markers lay all over the place, but I can't find a pencil to save my life.
It's really quite amazing. I know we've done a alot, the stacked boxes attest to that, but it still looks like we've done nothing but make a huge mess.

Today is clothes day - sort and pack all the clothes I won't be using in the next 5 days and get a large enough pile of donation clothing to please Remi.
It's so cute, he keeps saying: "We have too much clothing...we should donate most." But I know he means "you" when he says "we".
It's true, the majority of the clothing is mine - I just like how he tries to soften it by saying "we".

It's all gray and rainy out today, a nice stay-at-home kinda day. So at least I'm not missing anything being inside!

Better get started, have a happy Tuesday!

Peace,
- Jenny

A New Little Member Of The Family!!

I know I haven't done very well, keeping my blog up-to-date.
However, I do have a good reason! Jeremie and I are expecting our first little one around early August.
We are both thrilled and couldn't be happier! Especially now that I've more or less gotten over my horrendous morning-sickness.


My stomach is still pretty picky, but at least water isn't making me sick any more. Slowly I feel my energy levels picking up, though to be honest I have been totally and completely unmotivated.
I think I want to do all these things like clean and bake and get the nursery ready - I even bought fabric already for baby's new curtains, but I just get too tired.
I'm having a hard time deciding whether this is baby or laziness.

I'd like to think it's first-trimester induced, as clutter and mess stresses me out.
Even now I'm sitting in an apartment and all I can think of is "gritty" and "unclean." It's sorta driving me nuts, but for all my good intentions I'm still not doing anything!
Jeremie is pretty much doing everything, the cleaning and cooking for me, but as much as I appreciate his help - it's not how I would clean, or cook.
I like doing those jobs normally - but I'm just one big, unmotivated slug.
Almost to the point where it's becoming a "funk" I'm in.
I am very much not like this normally...I'm the type to want to vacuum at 10:30 pm, or decide last minute that all the closets need to get sorted and put into a Goodwill pile.

Boy, this is one being complaining post isn't it?! Lol! I didn't mean it to be - I guess I feel that I don't have much to report on, as I haven't done anything in the last 3 months!

Any tips how to motivate myself??
(And yes, I'm sleeping lots. That I am doing well. ;) )

Peace,
- Jenny