"store" things on craigslist

I love this subtle shift in thinking that can combat the "I might need it someday" pitfall to decluttering and simplifying.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/naBhfhC6ypk/use-craigslist-to-store-your-unused-stuff-until-you-need-it

Modern*Simplicity: 7 Choices to Make Now to Streamline Your Life

http://www.modern-simplicity.com/2011/05/7-choices-to-make-now-to-streamline.html

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Auto Silent Silences Your Jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad on a Schedule [Downloads]

This might be enough to convince me to jailbreak. 

If you've ever gone to sleep and forgotten to silence your phone, only to be woken up early by a telemarketer or other unwanted call, you're a good candidate for downloading Auto Silent. It's a handy jailbreak app that automatically switches your iDevice to different sound profiles at specific times so you're not bothered by calls and/or alerts when you don't want them. More »

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/qkXUy4kD3sY/auto-silent-silences-your-jailbroken-iphone-ipod-touch-or-ipad-on-a-schedule

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What homeschooling looks like

Doodle came in and asked me how why 2 6's equal 12, but 2 7's equal 14. We got out some pennies and have been making number combinations for 20 minutes now.

How we feed out bodies

I’ve also realized that how we feed our bodies and souls is usually an indication of what we think of ourselves. 

From Be More With Less

Wine isn't an issue with me, but sugar sure is!   I'm a little late to give it up for Lent, but the thoughts in this post are worth pondering.

Is it really that important?

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/eyuTsJAC98c/how-difficult-decisions-trick-your-brain-into-thinking-theyre-important

Good stuff to think about here.

Run your race

DH and I watched secretariat (sp) this weekend and I found the message profound. Does it sound silly to say that I felt like God was encouraging me to run my race?  Oh well, it's true. 

This article reinforces that idea. 

The following post is from Jeff of My Super-Charged Life:

source: PhotoXpress.com

Do you believe in yourself?

I mean really believe in yourself.

I believe in you.  I believe you are strong enough, smart enough, and capable enough to achieve great things.

I'm telling you this because I want you to reach out and grab the tiger of life by the tail. Life isn't going to hand you your desires on a silver platter.

You will need to demand from life what you want.

That's okay.  Because as I said, you have what it takes to make it happen.  You can take control of the tiger and wrestle from it what you most desire.

Do you believe it?

Belief Is the First Step

Timidity won't get you anywhere.  Boldness with a dose of diplomacy and emotional intelligence is what will take you where you want to go.

However, first you've got to believe enough in yourself to step out onto the playing field.

Have you ever had an idea or desire, but failed to act on it only to see someone else run with your idea and be a tremendous success?  You might have a flash of creative genius for a new book, business or blog.  You might see a new way to do something more effectively at work.  You might be ready to revolutionize a whole country.

What is it that you want to do, but have failed so far to act upon?  Why?

You likely lack the belief that you can do it.

I'm here to tell you that you have what it takes.  You can do it if you believe in yourself and act boldly.

You Are Strong Enough

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."

~ Helen Keller

You have strength that you've never even touched.  There is more inside you than you realize.  It just won't come to the surface and reveal itself until you force it to do so.

Let me give you an example of the kind of strength that is buried in all of us.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in the late 1800s.  As you probably know, early in her life she lost both her sight and her hearing.  She was deaf and blind.

Despite what might seem like overwhelming odds, Keller accomplished some amazing things.  For example, she:

• Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe by the age of 24

• Helped found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

• Wrote 12 published books

• Visited disabled soldiers during WWII in hospitals around the country

• Traveled and visited 39 countries

• Earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor

Helen Keller learned to tap into a deep internal reservoir despite what she had going against her.  She found the well of strength that is inside all of us.

If she can accomplish all that she did, don't you think you can find the strength to act boldly and pursue your dream?

You are strong enough.  You just need to reach deep, find your strength and use it boldly.

You Are Smart Enough

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."

~Albert Einstein

If anyone had a right to think themselves smart enough, it was Albert Einstein.  However, as you can see, even he realized that it isn't a high IQ score that accomplishes things.  It is your willingness to attack a problem and work it through to completion boldly.

You are plenty smart enough.  You may not know everything you need to know today to build the life of your dreams, but you can learn what you need to know if you will just try.

Look around you.  How many people do you know that are overwhelmingly smarter than you?  Probably not that many. In fact, I bet if you were unknowingly put into a room full of self-made millionaires that you'd think you were all equals until the secret was revealed.

We limit ourselves by thinking we aren't smart enough. This false belief keeps us from acting boldly.  It impedes us from achieving the greatness we were meant for.

Stop holding yourself back.  You have as much brainpower as the next person.  Trust yourself and apply what you've been given to achieve more than you ever thought possible.

You Are Capable Enough

"Freedom lies in being bold."

~Robert Frost

What I'm trying to tell you here is that you have what it takes.  All you have to do is believe it.  Because belief will give you the courage to act boldly and boldness will deliver you to freedom.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

~ The American Declaration of Independence

This is a bold statement.

You are created with an equal amount of capability as the next person.  Do you believe it?  Your talents might be quite different than mine, but you have all that you need.

Your job is to figure out how to apply your unique mix of capabilities to achieve great things.  It is all there inside you just waiting to come out.  What are you going to do with it?

The founders of our great nation were common people with uncommon boldness.  If they could start a nation as great as this one, don't you think you can achieve your dream?

How have you been doubting yourself?  In what ways do you need to believe in yourself and act boldly?

Jeff Nickles writes My Super-Charged Life to help people find success and meaning in their life. He has spent many hours researching these topics and loves making it easy for others to use the wisdom he discovers. Jeff is a corporate IT Director, but also has experience as an entrepreneur, consultant, training instructor, and military officer.

You Have What It Takes: Act Boldly is a post from Life...Your Way

© 2010 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Success Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

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Busy Mom’s Guide to Easy Recycling

I have GOT to get back into recycling. Here's a great article to get me started. 

The following post is from Selena Moffitt of 1 Mom's Mission:

source: UofSLibrary

You are about to toss that juice box in the trash and you stop to think, can I recycle that? How about the straw — can it go curbside?

You have a 3 minute conversation with yourself over 1 piece of garbage. Do this over and over all day as you struggle with what is trash vs. recyclable, and it can make a busy mom insane!

Just think about all the things we throw out in a day –  Ziploc bags, juice boxes, saran wrap, wrappers, straws, lids, caps, and the list goes on and on.

We know that we should recycle, but the task just adds to our ever-growing list of to-do's.

However, recycling doesn't have to be that hard.  A little education, a few well-placed bins, and you are ready to do YOUR part in nurturing our planet.

Getting Started

Gather up the following materials to create your simple recycling centers.

1. Bins or tubs: Ikea has some great ones that are tall and slender which fit under the kitchen sink very well. I also shopped at thrift stores and dollar stores to acquire baskets.

2. Permanent Marker or labels: so everyone knows what the bins are for.  No fun trying to dig out garbage from your recycling bin!

3. List of curbside recyclables and other recyclables

Where to Put Your Bins

The Kitchen: Two bins here — "Curbside'' and "Other" (three, if you label your trash)

source: 1 Mom's Mission

The Office: Two bins here  – "Shred" and "Paper"

source: 1 Mom's Mission

The Laundry Room: My laundry room is upstairs, so anytime I cut a tag off of new clothing or replace batteries in a toy, I put them in this bin.  That way I am not tempted to just throw it out.

source: 1 Mom's Mission

The Garage or Shop: Again, to prevent you from throwing stuff in the garbage.

When you clean out your car, which if you are a busy mom like me, is not often enough **wink**, it's a quick toss into the recycling bin for coffee cup lids and paper products!

A Few More Tips

Most waste management systems give you the option to have recycling bins.  In Portland, Oregon, we are allotted one for glass and one for all other curbside recyclables.

But if you are going to be hardcore and collect the hard-to-recycle stuff, another bin or two in the garage  is key.

Our Recycling System

Plastic

source: 1 Mom's Mission

Batteries – No picture b/c my husband has it at work!

Styrofoam

source: 1 Mom's Mission

Daunting?  I hope not.

Inspiring?  That's the idea!

Do it as a family. It's a cheap thrill for the kiddos to stick labels to buckets…trust me. However, you may have to straighten the labels a bit — my boys can't read yet!

Go forth and go green!

Motivate change, invigorate people, and radiate joy every day.

How to you set up your recycling?

Selena is a mom on a mission to make our world a better place, one person at a time.  Her blog 1momsmission, aims to motivate change, invigorate people, and radiate joy!  She blogs about the craziness of Momhood and how small shifts in our day-to-day can make an impact on the world around us.

Busy Mom's Guide to Easy Recycling is a post from Life...Your Way

© 2010 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Green Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/24577317/0/lifeyourway/full

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Whose socks?

Just finished knitting a pair of alpaca socks for my 9 yo son.
I started them 6 weeks ago.
I procrastinate finishing items.
I hate to bind off.
My son's feet are the same size as mine.
I tried the socks on to check for fit.
Darn if they aren't the softest warmest comfiest things my feet have ever slipped into.
My son is 9.
He does not have the ability to love and care for them.
They fit my feet perfectly.
I don't want to give them up.
But I will.
Dang sacrificial motherly love.

Freezing bulk purchases

I stumbled on a good deal at the grocery store today.  Thick cut Angus beef ribeyes for $2.99/lb.  One of my favorite things about my local grocer is that they have an in house butcher.  Now I know they don't have whole sides of beef hanging in their cooler and they get meat in semi-cut packages - but I know they cut the ribeyes into steaks themselves.  Mostly because you can see them doing it - and because they will custom cut it for you :)
Anyway....  I like to buy their meat. OK?
These were packages that were still good - but needed to move.  "Reduced for Quick Sale"
I bought up 6 steaks, and wrapped them in freezer paper (I don't like freezing in the store packaging)

*pretend I took a picture and put it here all pretty like*

To help me remember to USE it (like I need to be reminded to eat ribeyes!) I added them to my task list with a date of 6 months from now.  (Calculated from the USDA freezer storage chart).   I use Toodledo for my task management, so in that application I have a context called "pantry".  That's where I list all the food and stuff that I buy ahead and what date I want to use it buy.  I set it to remind me 2 weeks before the "due date".   I give it a location of "freezer" or "pantry" depending on where the item is stored.

I like to keep my pantry list right with my other tasks.  That way when I'm doing a quick skim over the stuff coming up in the next few weeks, I see the food that I need to use and incorporate it into my menu.

I also have a context named "coupons" that I keep a list of the Q's I will want to use even if there hasn't been a sale on that item by the time it expires. (more on that later)

Why I love the Balancing Everything Blog

Let's pretend this is my laundry room OK?

I first fell in love with Jessica several years ago when I was learning about cloth diapering.  I was overwhelmed and felt like everyone else had it all together.  I doubted that I could really do it.  Then I found Jessica and she was OK with showing everyone that she DIDN'T have it all together at all.  It boosted my confidence.  Maybe I could do it too.
I've probably read a million and four articles on laundry organization.  They all get filed as "a great idea for naturally organized people".
But Jessica is talking about her laundry epiphany, and SHOWING her laundry backlog, I listen.  I mean, that laundry room looks like mine.  Maybe this could work for me!!

Gratitude 01-08-2010

I want to be more proactive about recording my gratitude. I am a very very blessed woman.
I ran errands for my husband this morning and I had all the tools and resources I needed to complete them.
I snuggled with my 6 year old on the couch with a cup of tea and watched The Waltons on DVD.
My older kids drove to their grandparents house to pick up their younger brother who stayed with them last week (yay for the flexibility of homeschooling)
When they returned home, they were all laughing and joking together for half an hour or so before the bickering started. :)
I was able to serve a healthy and nourishing meal to my family.
I listened to my husband and son argue over who Grandma loved the most. :) (we raise boys that love their mama6s 'round these parts)
I will sleep in a warm, soft bed next to the love of my life.

Go Make Your Bed... or not

Like every new year, or new quarter, or new anything I resolve to do better keeping my home neat and tidy.  It's not like I don't know HOW.  I just don't actually DO it.

But wait....

could it be...

messy is the new cool?

Anthropologie via Apartment Therapy

Check out what Apartment Therapy is saying about messy bed!

Low Carbing with Kelly the Kitchen Cop

She's not really in my kitchen like the title makes it sound.
Actually I've been kind of avoiding her blog for a while.
The unhealthy eating is catching up to me though.
OK, it caught up to me a really long time ago and it's taking over.
Geez, cut me some slack already.
Hubby made a comment that he didn't want any bread with supper tonight.
Fine.
But what about my brand new shiny red kitchen aid mixer?
It needs to be making bread and pie crust and all things yummy to be happy right?
I am a resourceful girl.  I will figure something out.
Maybe I will make small amounts of treats infrequently.
I think that logic is what got me where I am now.
I don't really know how to define infrequently.
Or small amounts.
My family does best without a lot of carbs.
I thought I'd stop by Kelly's for some meal ideas.
Guess what she posted about.
Yep.  Low Carb eating.
Ouch.
OK God.  I hear you.
Really.
I'm even planning to listen :)

On with the linky love:
10 Q&A's with Kelly
Low Carb dieting with Kelly
Kelly's low carb meal links

Decluttering.

Zen habits has a great article in decluttering and a list of some other really useful articles as well.
3 guesses as to what I'm doing today.
http://zenhabits.net/zen-mind-how-to-declutter/

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