Random

This week I have both my least and most favorite picture I have taken thus far for my Project 365. Is taking photos of black cats bad luck? Both are slightly fuzzy photos and because of this, my least fav.

{22} – Anderson Chocolates (A delicious annual gift from my family in Illinois.)

{23} Cat Band

{24} – Kitty Salt and Kitty Pepper

{25} Freckled Man (My favorite shot thus far. It’s my husband. Of course I love it…)

{23} The Motor Shines

{23} Eye See

{28} Cat Mouth

Adam and I went to a rocket launch last weekend. A friend of ours was working on a rocket design as part of a NASA space grant. You got a sneak peak here.

The rocket launch is held on a farm.

It is hosted by Rockety of Central Carolina (ROCC).

Everyone sets up their launch.

Two kids had their rockets launched at the same time to race.

And one of the rockets was caught from the sky.

Not all launches are successful.

Doctor Who was there.

An old friend was unexpectedly there with her family.

It was a beautiful, chilly day in January.

On track with my plan for simplification, this month I am focusing on simplifying my kitchen and living room.  I am focusing on these two spaces first because I think they’ll be the easiest, they are a combined space, and they are high trafficked spaces.  Here is my plan of attack.

Kitchen – There is a lot of motivating organized eye candy here and here and here. I’m going to declutter and organize:

• Pantry
• Cabinets – I can’t reach the top cabinets, so my goal is to have nothing on those shelves. The only possible exception to this is the space above the microwave. When I am determining what I should keep, I will use “Simple Kitchen Essentials” and “My Perfect Minimalist Kitchen for a Family” as guides.
  • Plate/Bowl Cabinets
  • Glasses Cabinet
  • Mug/Travel Drinkware Cabinet
  • Tea/Coffee Cabinet
  • Under Island Cabinets
  • Under Sink Cabinets
    • Add a tension rod for cleaning supplies (and other tips)
  • Pots/Pans Cabinets – I may need to find a better way to organize with “Five Ways to Get Your Pot Lids Organized“.
  • Random Cabinet
  • Medicine Cabinet
• Drawers
  • I am planning on implementing an organization system for junk drawer like this.
• Fridge
• Counter Space – I am still debating on if I am going to keep everything completely cleared off. I’m not convinced.
• Coat/Shoe Closet

Living Room – I’ll read “Get in the Right Mindset for a Truly Clean & Organized Living Room” to put on my game face. Then I’ll declutter and organize:

• Large Bookcase
• Small Bookcase
• End Tables
• Coffee Table

My plan lists each space individually because it is motivating for me to cross off each one.

P.S. I just finished reading Simplify by Joshua Becker and it was a validating, inspiring, and easy read. I have been reading a lot of posts on Becoming Minimalist so I should have made the connection that the book and blog are written by the same person , but I didn’t until I was already reading the book. If you are just getting into minimalism like me, it is a good read.

For the past two years I had a word of the year to help guide the changes I wanted to make that year. 2013 was the year to “be” and 2014 was all about focus. 2015 is my year devoted to simplifying.

I read this quote by Orson Welles and it cemented the word simplify as my choice – “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” I need limitations in my life. I have too many choices. This does not bode well for someone with such a high level of distractability such as myself. I’m looking forward to a year of simplifying my life. This includes my time, but also my possessions.

Simplifying goes hand in hand with minimalism, so I’ve been reading a lot on Becoming Minimalist. Here are a couple of resonating snippets to inspire some reading.

Purge distractions so you can focus on what is most valued.

…purging not just possessions, but, in Becker’s words, “anything that distracts me from the things I most value.” For some, this means not Facebooking after dinner or binge-watching House of Cards. For others, it’s resisting the siren call of eBay. (Source: Success – How Living with Less Can Give You More)

Place limits on yourself to increase awareness.

Start with a week of no spending, or a month. Once you start, you’ll recognize where those temptations are for you. That awareness can really help people. (Source: Forbes – The Buy Nothing Year: How Two Roommates Saved More Than $55,000)

Whether they be social, financial, or moral, boundaries provide structure and a framework for life. They promote discovery, invention, and ingenuity. Boundaries motivate us to discover happiness in our present circumstance. (Source: Becoming Minimalist – 9 Stress-Reducing Truths About Money).

Be active in your life, not a passive participant.

Watch less television…Be intentional about planning something else…Try to eliminate specific shows. (Source: Becoming Minimalist- The Single Easiest Habit Change to Improve Your Life Forever)

Seize the opportunity of every moment.

Make the most of every opportunity. Forgive who needs to be forgiven. Express love and gratitude to those who deserve to hear it. Live lives of significance. Each new day is an opportunity to make a difference. Don’t waste it. (Source: Becoming Minimalist – In the Blink of an Eye).

For me, simplifying means being intentional – intentional about my actions and habits so my time is well spent. This requires reflection, awareness, and change. I am looking forward to the growth that will result from this word. Simplify!