5.21.2015

challenges of living simply


I'm over a month into my journey on minimalism.
While I wish I could say I finished the house in one weekend,
that's proving to be impossible with a 4 month old.
(She's a demanding one. But oh so cute.)
With the help of Daddy-Daughter dates, 
I've been able to tackle small portions at a time.

Along the way, as with every new adventure, there have been some challenges.

First (and most prominent), I'm married to an "organized hoarder."
I say organized, because he's clean and keeps legitimate items,
but it's hard for him to let things go.
That cup I acquired from dorm life?
Gotta have it.
It's his favorite.
Do we have other, nicer, cleaner, newer cups?
Sure.
But he needs that one.
(Love you, I do!)
And it may not always be a cup, 
but it's usually something here or there that we have to stop and evaluate.
I have to understand that this is my "ah ha!" moment and not necessarily his.
"Lauren, I love you and this whole minimal thing, but it's not me."
It's a give and take, and more often than not, 
he's so sweet and willing to let me do my thing.
(But you betcha he's got his cups.)

The other challenge I've come across is simple vs. empty.
I'm de-cluttering our rooms, wall space, furniture, etc.
But does that mean everything should be empty?
To live simply, we have to live empty?
I'm learning to find the balance without going against my interior designer mind.
For me, this is all leading to a happier, less stressful environment that provokes comfort and in turn declutters my mind and life.

So, no.
Simple doesn't mean empty. 
It means evaluating everything. 
Do I need this _____?
Do I use this _____?
How long have I had this _____?
Does this _____ serve a purpose?

If the answer is mostly "no's," 
put it in the yard sale pile.
Because, oh yeah, there's a major yard sale coming.
(And who doesn't love a little extra cash in the bank?)

With the kitchen mostly finished, I'm excited to share some pictures soon!

5.04.2015

my must list (minimalism update)


The first thing anyone should do before drastically changing their lives is check their heart.
The past month or so, God has brought my anxiety to the forefront of my mind.
Little things, big things, stupid things, anxiety has always been my biggest companion.
Having Emmerson rocked my world in more than one way.
Suddenly the little things didn't matter anymore and the big things mattered even more.
I ventured into the world of minimalism because I needed to de-clutter.
Not just physically, but mentally.
I needed to let go of the expectations, the worry, the stress.
(Along with the excess clothes, furniture, and "stuff.")
So, here I am.
Starting with my "must list."

I must be healthy. Emmerson, my husband, and my future kids deserve me at my best. I must eat right, exercise, and treat this body with respect.
I must de-clutter. I don't need a closet full of clothes or 50 coffee mugs. That's just more to clean, more to wash, more that collects dust.
I must be joyful. Deliberately choose joy in all situations.
I must drink water. Because, it's water.
I must turn it off. Social media can clutter my mind with comparisons and bad news, turn it off. TV can replace good conversation with my husband and distract me from Emmerson, turn it off.
I must live in the moment. Today is the only today I get. My baby is only getting older and I don't want to miss out. I must be intentional with my life.

4.29.2015

minimalism


Recently, I've stumbled into the world of minimalism. 
I've researched, read blog after blog, and I'm so drawn to the idea of "getting rid of the unnecessary to focus on the important."
I've come to learn that it's deeper than the "less is more" mentality.
It started with my closet, which was once overflowing but now holds 5 shirts, 5 dresses, and a few sweaters. 
Brandon and I have spent the last few nights purging our bedroom.
(The place the mismatched furniture calls home.)
The first night, we put our spring board and mattress on the floor.
Removing the massive bed frame, a book case, and small drawer, I could breathe a little better.
Our curtains, thick and dark, came down and were replaced with airy, flowing curtains.
This morning, I woke up with the sunlight in my room, refreshed and calm.

I don't know how far this journey will take me, but I feel it will overflow into the living room, the kitchen, and even my lifestyle.
How many unnecessary things fill my mind and keep me distracted from what's important?

I'll likely continue to journal this transformation, feel free to join me.

4.24.2015

joy filled friday


 1 tummy time profiles (those cheeks! those lips! that nose!) 2 baby wearing (sollybaby all the way!) 
3 clean bottles (such an ocd satisfaction) 4 getting healthy and losing the baby weight/pre baby weight (35 pounds down!) 5 full nights of sleep (8pm-6am. sweet, precious, blessed child of mine!) 6 kroger brand kettle chips (ob-sessed.) 7 gel manicures 8 decorating/repainting everything white 9 emmerson's getting her first cousin (come on, Everly!) 10 brother's getting married (pretty sure I'm more excited for this than I was for my own wedding!)


Happy weekend, y'all!

4.23.2015

my happy place


At least once a day,
I get to spend some time in my happy place.
A place where nothing else matters
and time slows down.
My baby girl in my arms.
Unable to fight sleep
because she feels safe and comfortable there.
Sock monkey close by, of course.
Tiny fingers on my chest, 
holding on to my necklace.
Little breaths,
in and out.
Pacifier just a-going.
In our comfiest pajamas,
 wrapped in our sunniest blanket.



My happy place.