How to Convince a Packrat to Become a Minimalist

I'm a packrat turned minimalist. How did it happen? Well, we've lived in eight different houses or apartments in the past five and a half years we've been married. I'd like to say that it was all my husband's plan to move us around a lot so he could get me to get rid of my junk, but it wasn't.

Luckily,  I've found the secrets to being minimalistic during these past years - so I don't have to keep moving around to stay this way,  and you don't have to start moving around to become this way.  Yes,  even if you are a packrat!

An interesting (or maybe not so interesting) pattern started happening when we would move. As I was packing and unpacking things around over and over again, there have always been things that:
• don't have a set place in my home (so they would end up on the bookshelf,  nightstand,  floor,  or in a box to "put away later")
• would always end up "in storage" (in a closet or the basement)
• I didn't miss at all during the process of moving (because I didn't use whatever it was, it was broken, I had something else that was similar, or I was keeping it out of guilt)

And these three things are exactly the jump-start you need to start becoming a minimalist!

Now, you might be saying,  I'm reading this post to figure out how to convince my packrat spouse get rid of some stuff,  not how to do it myself! Well, knowing from personal experience...it's not easy to let go of things.  And my goodness it didn't happen overnight. 

What convinced me was not someone telling me to get rid of my stuff. What convinced me was the feeling I got when I realized I didn't miss the things we got rid of.

I had to get rid of a few things FIRST and THEN I started desiring a more minimal lifestyle. 

So,  if you are a packrat- just get rid of a few things.  See if you miss them. Then get rid of a few more.  Some things you probably won't miss are your broken wire whisk or 5 of your 8 spatulas. Other things you will only miss one time a year. Don't let that moment cause you to go out and get another one. You can power through it,  and then you won't miss it any more.

Now,  if you're married to a packrat, some upfront communication is highly encouraged. Talk about how each of you view the organization and clutter level of your home,  and where each of you would like it to be. As long as you both agree that you'd like it at least a little more organized or a little less cluttered, you're in business. Start immediately, before your wonderful packrat changes his/her mind. Fill one bag (either a grocery sack or bigger trash bag) with trash,  and another with stuff to donate. (Unless you're going to do a major purge all at once,  I don't recommend holding things for a yard sale day. Not very good for our personalities. If you're gonna do that,  go for gold and do it in 1 or 2 days.)

Once you start, keep going. Once a week,  once a month.  Continue getting rid of excess. 

And that's how you convince a packrat to become a minimalist. More to come on how to actually be one on a day to day basis.

Finding My Crazy

So I made up this phrase (at least I think I did) "I found my crazy." And ya know,  it's not the kind of crazy that means a crazy weekend. It's actually a phrase I made up so I wouldn't have to use the phrase, "I lost my ..." ya know.
And let's be honest here,  we all find our crazy sometimes.  Last week I found it at the same time I found a snake in our bathroom.  When my husband thanked me for not using the shotgun to kill it in the house, I simply told him that was the next weapon I was going for if I couldn't get it killed with the shovel or floor scraper.
So, next time you find your crazy, remember you're not alone. Then put it away and grab some chocolate. One of my favorite ways to eat lots and lots of chocolate during the day is chocolate covered dried cranberries.  What's your favorite?

Vision for the Chicken

So back when my husband and I were in college one apartment we had was on the second floor, and the hall was covered but still outside. One day the couple that lived diagonal from us across the hall had some friends over.
So, they pulled out their little grill into the hallway. Our windows are open because it's summertime, and all of a sudden in this loud, slow, 'trying to sound cool voice' (come on we all have one even if we don't pull it out very often) we hear.  "Hey babe what's your vision for this chicken?" And then we hear this screech of a response, "Just put it on the grill!"

It was so funny that we couldn't help it,  we just burst out laughing and had to close our window. And that started being our phrase, "Hey babe what's your vision for this chicken?" It doesn't matter if we're talking about food or not. We could be taking about a table, craft, project, window or anything else under the sun; if one of us doesn't know what the other one has planned we ask, "Hey babe what's your vision for this chicken?"

And a disclaimer for the poor woman who sounded like a shrieking eel, we later found out she was pregnant. And as any pregnant woman and her husband know, that stuff is full of craziness.  (Shrieking eel is a Princess Bride reference.  For those of you who haven't seen it- Amazon Prime it and have a movie night in a couple of days :) )

2 Years

Well,  it's been 2 years since I last posted!!! Hard to believe, but not really since I actually forgot that I even own this blog lol. What can I blame that on? School sucking all my brain cells? Yeah I'll go with that. 

So in the past two years I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree,  my husband graduated with his, and we had our third kid! (First boy!)

Right now I'm brainstorming ideas of how to start farming now that we bought a place out in the country *cue hallelujah chorus*. We want to be able to make farming our full time gig,  without selling our souls or getting in a bunch more debt. So,  if any of you have ideas,  throw them at me! I know organic can be highly profitable,  but truth be told I'm a huge fan of sustainable,  and I don't think organic farming is truly sustainable. (Rant for another day.) Also, starting at farmers markets really isn't that feasible of an option with 3 little kids. (Maybe now you see my problem?)

Well, I guess my brainstorming session is over,  our baby boy just woke up. Have a good however long til I post again!

Cloth Diapers: Sanity Intact 1

We've been doing cloth diapers here at the Woods' for almost 2 years now. And, I can definitely say that any sanity we've lost during this time hasn't been due to using cloth diapers. :)

For anyone wonder how to do cloth diapers as cheap as possible, with their sanity intact, this is the post for you! I'll talk about what to get in this post, and in another post I'll talk about how to use all of it!

*A note before we start though - I cannot be responsible for what you choose to do with your child and their diapering needs. Some children are more sensitive than others and have different needs. Figure out what your kid needs, and if you have concerns, talk with their pediatrician.*

To start off, you'll need

1. Flat cloth diapers
2. Diaper covers
3. Detergent
4. Diaper bucket

Now, to do this on the cheap - first look around online for deals on flat diapers. What you're looking for are birdseye (cotton) flat cloth diapers; one size fits all at 27x27 inches. Something like this is what I'm talking about. Step two of doing this on the cheap - forget the Snappis and clothespins. You're not going to need them doing them this way. (You'll also save your sanity by forgetting them because you won't be trying to learn crazy wraps and folds!) 

The next thing you'll need are diaper covers - one size fits all will save your sanity because they're so easy to adjust and they're easy for babysitters too. We have Rumparooz, Thirsties, and Flip diaper covers. The Flip covers are my favorite and my husband's favorite. He goes with the Flip every time he changes a diaper around here. We started with the Flip because they were on sale... we tried the others because we wanted more covers with baby #2 & the others were on sale when we were shopping. Really, all three work great. Thirsties does have 2 sizes which puts them down a notch because sometimes I can't remember which diaper is which size before looking at the tag. 

The third thing you'll need is something to wash the diapers and the covers with. 

For the diapers: This really depends on your baby's bottom. If they have sensitive skin, you'll want to use something that's for sensitive skin. I prefer to use Tide Original Powder Detergent on all of our diapers. I used Arm & Hammer Powder Detergent before for an extended period of time as well, and that worked just fine. You'll also need something to "strip" them with occasionally (we'll talk more about that in another post if someone comments and asks). Bleach and Dawn Dish Detergent are fabulous for that.

For the diaper covers: I am pretty sure than each manufacturer has specific detergents that they'll warranty their diaper if you use than kind (blah, blah, blah). The thing is, I know that I'd never go through the pains of talking with their representatives, mailing a diaper cover back, and waiting for a new cover, even if something did go wrong. If you're worried or willing to do all that, then follow their instructions. For those of you who aren't worried or willing...I use Arm & Hammer Powder Laundry Detergent - Clean Burst on all of my covers. I used Tide once, on one of my diaper covers...and it came back too clean...it was no longer waterproof. I was able to re-waterproof it, but lesson learned - no Tide on my covers. 

The last thing you'll need is a diaper bucket...sounds so fancy. Get a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. Use a trash bag as a liner. Done. Fancy as that. 

So that's it! The four things you'll need to do cloth diapers; sanity intact! 

The Lord's Thoughts and Ways

I haven't written about the things I've been reading and learning about in my Old Testament Class in a while. Instead, I've been discussing them out loud. That's one of the options we're given as well. This week though, I thought I'd re-visit the blog with some of my thoughts.
I was asked to read: Isaiah 55:8–11; Jacob 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14–16 and answer what is comforting about these verses, along with some other things. So, here are my thoughts: 

People can change, people can repent, people can come unto the Lord; these things are all possible because the Lord's ways and thoughts are higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-11) This is comforting to me because I am a sinner and want to be forgiven. Through Christ, I can. This is comforting to me because it tells me I am never too far gone, Christ can always reach me.

We cannot know the mysteries and ways of God on our own, but He can reveal them to us (Jacob 4:8). This is comforting to me because when things in life just don't make sense, I can ask Heavenly Father and He can tell me what I need to know. 

Sometimes when I ask God, I don't feel like I understand His answer. Sometimes when this happens, I usually need to change me - I need to become more spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). I need to become like Christ. For me, this can be a variety of changes. I may need to make serious life adjustments, I may need to change my perspective from being selfish to selfless, I may need to change the atmosphere around me so I can feel God and His answer. Through the scriptures and God's living prophet and apostles, I can be guided in how I can be more spiritual. This is all comforting to me because it shows me that I can receive answers to my questions. 

Understanding God's thoughts and ways is the quest of an eternity. We Lived With God (video link) before we were born, and we can live with Him again. We can learn more of His ways as we strive to get to know Him by living as He would have us live, reading the scriptures, thinking and pondering our questions, praying, attending church, and making covenants with Him. 

One experience I've had where I have seen that God's ways and thoughts are not my ways and thoughts happened when my sister, Leila, died. She died this past August of HELLP. This is a website from my sister, Alisha, on HELLP. When Alisha called and told me Leila was in the hospital, with bleeding in her brain, and she was most likely not going to make it, I burst into tears. Then I tried to regain control of myself so I could get some more information. After we hung up, I prayed. I prayed so hard. I prayed for some very specific things; things that I thought would heal Leila. Things I thought for sure if they happened, she would live a happy, healthy, normal life. I ended my prayer letting the Lord know I would accept whatever His will was however, so His will be done. 

My husband, barely 6 month old daughter, and I drove to Missouri from Idaho that day and through the night. While we were there, everything I prayed for happened. Everything. But Leila did not get better. I didn't understand, I still don't understand in a lot of ways, but something I do know from this, is God's ways are not our ways. He answered my prayer because I prayed in faith and He knew I needed to see my prayer answered in full. He answered everything, including that His will be done. 

Thankfully for me and our family, we have a knowledge of the restored gospel. We have hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we will see Leila again, and we can be with her for forever. I believe that with all my heart. 

My Secret

So I have a little secret...I like making soap. My mother-in-law has been asking me some questions about it today, and while I'm not a total expert on soap making, and I don't want to be liable of telling people who to making and then them burning themselves with caustic lye...I do have some tips! Here are 5 little tips of somethings that will help if you keep them in mind while making your soap. 

the first batch in the soapbox

1. Have an extra pair of hands around to help. Once you get in the heat of things, you probably will need another pair of hands. You might need them to help pour something, stir something, or clean up the lye you spilled while you keep going. 
2. You could mix the lye and fat by hand together for an hour before you have "tracing", or you could use an electric hand mixer or whisk like I did. Both of those options definitely speed the process up.
3. Different types of fat create will create different hardness levels in your soap. If you're making your soap from kitchen fat, just remember that your batches of soap will probably never be consistent like when you use an exact recipe.
4. The scents and add-ins will change after you put them in. Just ask our soap that literally stinks and our soap that smells great. The essential oils both smelled good before mixing them in, just sayin'. Or you could ask our first batch of oatmeal soap...fun times.
5. Everyone on the internet has something different to say. Use good sense, try new things, and make sure you can open your windows the first time you use lye. It's stronger stuff than you might think.

Happy Soap Making!