Happy Solstice

It's the solstice and I've been purging. I'm up to 645 items so far and I intend to have 1000 purged by the start of 2011. Tonight, we'll burn financial statements, life reflections, and health records in an effort to symbolically transform the state of each of these areas.

Finances: It isn't likely there will be an increase in Bill's income this year but from my end, we could improve our financial situation a bit at a time. As I advance in my passion for photography, generating revenue could be icing on the cake. I am committed to playing the business game big as EKP takes ground.

Life: Life is good - ours works. That said, there's still always room for greater sharing and fuller loving. I know I want to be vulnerable and courageous in my sharing and I have actions to employ to that end. As a mother, daughter, sister, partner and friend - I am committed to being more open, compassionate and considerate.

Health: I'm always interested in achieving optimal health for our whole family. We could eat better, rest enough, and laugh more. I am committed to reinvigorating our family's habits to improve health for all.

I am making more physical room in our home to accommodate abundant and loving energies. I don't intend to fill the empty space with material goods and can already sense the revitalization of the space.

Ants & Stomach Flu

It's kind of like a simplicity short cut - a minor crisis to jumpstart behavior modification. When we were attacked by ants, I realized how imposing certain pieces of furniture and my organization of things were. As we tried to clear the critters out, stuff was moved and much of it given away. I simplified the design of things to more easily accommodate any further insect invasions which ultimately led to a cleaner, easier to maintain space. It took the problem of ants to prompt a new shift in my ideas of space and organization.

In a similar vein, a recent stomach flu forced me to simplify my dietary habits. I've opted to maintain many of the new habits and in addition to the 5 pounds I lost while ill, I've lost an additional 3 pounds. Thanks to the stomach flu, I've simplified my sense of appetite and I am more in tune to my body and its dietary needs.

It's all about the silver lining.

100 items

I reached 100 items today!

Pulling from an article by 2 of the leaders of the voluntary simplicity movement, Elgin & Mitchell, I am applying a quick rubric to my living space: Does what I own promote activity, self-reliance and involvement or does it induce passivity and dependence? I am also applying this question: Does what I own promote consumption?

These questions have made a tremendous difference in how I see my things and while I still have 400 more items to go, I know I can easily distill our living space further. I already feel a newness starting to open up in my home and it's invigorating!

Energy

I am starting a new 500 item purge to ring out 2010. I feel that we may be living beyond the means of our home. I feel as if the home is bursting. In order to accommodate fresh abundance, I need to make room for it. This purge's theme is all about ENERGY. I am committed to unlocking what my life's momentum is directed toward and creating a material world that supports those energies. So far, what I've come up with are: connectedness, courage, love, clarity, contribution and joy. As I unearth more of how these energies propel my life, I will share.

November

The month of November was hopping. With 4 regular shoots and 22 mini shoots, business was booming! I am a tad challenged to stay organized and on top of the work-life balance right now. With the influx of paperwork, phone calls and scheduling details, I'm inundated with information. So far, here's what's working:

Calendars: I use google calendar to coordinate with my family all our plans so we're all on board for whatever's coming up. I print that out every month for the next 4 months and update that as I'm out and about. I do not rely completely on the computer for everything and planning is one thing I've discovered for which I require something tactile. I also have a workbook in which I schedule the tasks for the day, appointments, and the intention I am creating for the day.

A great partnership: Bill has been an amazing source of energy and light as we work together to meet the needs of our family and our growing business. He often cares for the children anyway but weekends are pretty full these days so the demand is a little higher. As the "suit," he also handles all the accounting and fiscal details. As the "creative," I am in charge of production.

What could be working better:

Time: spending quality time with the girls has taken a back seat to business calls, editing and planning. I commit to spending more and better quality time with each child.

Filing: I hate filing so the file basket often has to overflow before I even consider addressing it. I commit to emptying the filing basket every week.

Things that work

Things That Work: De-stressors

Stress manifests itself in different ways. Usually something on me breaks out...my face, my tongue, this go round - it's my eye. Between trying to strike a work-life balance between a new business, motherhood and household management, I've been on a quest to quell some of the angst I've been experiencing lately. Here's what I've come up with that works for me:

1. Distraction: a good novel or magazine article as time permits stops my world for a minute and allows me to escape whatever feels pressing. I can usually come back to the present with a little more clarity and awareness than when I left it.

2. Knowing that all there is to do is what there is to do* and doing it. Whether it's the laundry, a phone call, the dishes, a craft I'd been promising the kids, dinner, etc., I try not to let my energy level or feelings dictate whether something gets done.

3. Sugar: Mochi, candy corn, caramel apples, rasmalai, custard, smores, cinnamon popcorn, Vosges chocolate - sweet stuffs are my friend

4. Goodwill: There's always something cool to find at Goodwill and that the expenditure is for a good cause is an added bonus.

5. Water or hot tea. I love 2 glasses of cool water or a cup of hot pink lady apple tea.

6. Running: Even though I already run 2-4 times a week, I find this type of exercise extremely helpful in the morning, especially in alleviating some of the stress I wake up with.

7. Michael Franti on Pandora + a stick of burning incense.

8. Writing: I keep journals for each of my children, a private journal and this blog. Writing in any of these is both a distraction and a rejuvenator.

9. Alone time.

10. Laughter: Things bringing me laughter these days, aside from the entertainers my children can be, are these shows: Modern Family, Cougar Town, Glee, Running Wilde, SNL, and Psych.

*Landmark Education

Decluttering?

I found this list in one of my simplicity journals that I thought might be helpful to record in this space:

When simplifying/decluttering, keep the things that:

-bring beauty

-stir the soul

-bring family/friends together in creative/meaningful ways

-educate/enlighten

-make life profoundly simpler

-are helpful day to day

-are part of a special ritual/tradition

Road Trip with Kids? Simple!

In the past 4 months we've visited both US coasts and traveled about 2K miles by car. Here's what we've learned that we think makes a difference in road tripping the simple way:

For the car:

1. STORY: A good story line is more useful than a DVD player. Telling stories to pass the time means less equipment, less stuff and less power hogging from the car. When the kids gets especially restless, old favorites to the rescue: Old MacDonald had a Farm, Bingo was his name-o, and The old lady who swallowed a fly! Get silly with the songs so that even you entertain yourself a little! Finger rhymes/tunes are especially entertaining for the kids - if you're not the one driving, that is!

2. GPS: A GPS is invaluable. We use the one on my phone. It may require a little extra juice from the car so another reason not to clog up the energy sources with a DVD player. One of the features we love about GPS is being able to find exactly what we're looking for - the cheapest gas, a certain store store, groceries, etc.

3. TREATS: Real treats as treats. For each road trip, I purchased snacks that I would otherwise not buy. New snacks are novel and serve as great bargaining chips when the going gets rough plus if you get what you like too it's something to look forward to when the road gets long. For the driver, I recommend the small 5-hour energy drinks and expensive chocolate!

4. PLAN: Plan ahead: use google maps and plan to avoid traffic or other potential delays if possible, spend a little time brainstorming up topics of conversation between you and kids or you and other adult so that whoever is driving can be sufficiently engaged to stay awake. Plan on restroom breaks and plan on diversions from the plan.

5. COMFORT: Make the car as comfortable as possible with some of the conveniences of home: tissues, wipes, hand cleaner, hand towels, travel pillows, blankies, dolls, books, other novelty items to entertain little hands.

For the hotel/place of rest:

1. SCENT: Febreeze/air spray to help promote the scent and feel of home. We use Febreeze and a lavender pillow spray at home so mini sized ones are what we bring with us. Depending on where we've chosen to stay, I bring along a small can of Lysol too (!)

2. MONEY: A well thought out budget. On our most recent road trip, we budgeted to dine out our first night in town. The kids had a different idea and were a little tapped out by dinner time. Since we knew precisely what we budgeted for food, we could opt to get room service and dine in to everyone's relief and comfort and not break the bank.

3. CONSIDERATION: A nice tip for the cleaning staff. Our kids are messy and between dirty diapers, carpet crumbs and pillow fights, the cleaning staff deserve a little extra for what they will be asked to do upon our check out.

4. PERKS: Ask if there are any perks for kids. Our most recent hotel stay had a scavenger hunt for kids that might have been necessary had we not planned enough to entertain the little rascals.

5. COMFORT: Again with the conveniences of home: wipes, hand cleaner, lotion, safety pins, nail clipper, nail file, floss, blankies, etc.

For out & about:

1. HANDS: Wipes are so handy after dining out, ice cream, the beach, petting puppies, anywhere the quality of little (or big) hands might get compromised. Hand sanitizer is also a must.

2. BUBBLES: Bubbles are perfect in times of boredom brinking on disaster. You can buy mini containers at party stores.

3. PENS: and paper are handy to have to jot a note to yourself or to save your sanity by letting the kids get their draw on.

The road trip out east was longer and punctuated by multiple stops and starts than the road trip to the west but these were some of the nuggets that we know we'll continue to find useful for future excursions. Happy Trails!

Why We Don't Have TV

We've been without a proper television since 2006. Our antiquated hand-me-down died one October 4 years ago and we chose to see how long we could go without. We like TV - we are big fans of our "stories" - but here are 5 reasons why we don't have one:

1. Simply cutting out the massive advertising that TV offers has cut our desires by at least half and increased our activity by leaps and bounds. We like this. While we may not be privy to all the latests and greatests in films, or anything really, cravings for the latests and greatests is not missed at all.

2. We are sufficiently entertained by DVDs through Netflix as well as its Instant Watch feature. The variety is great and for $10/month we get unlimited online instant watching. To have unlimited access to watch Barney, Dr. Who and Law & Order whenever we want = priceless!

3. We have computers to pass the time in lieu of TV and given the access available via the web, not having TV is painless. We see a lot of our favorite programming by going direct to the TV station's website or by watching via hulu.com.

4. With program viewing now a ritual rather than a habit, there is a tremendous amount of time to spend doing other cool stuff.

5. Being a fan of products that multi-task, the computer has greater utility than a TV. We network, shop, research, and play online video games for free. If we had to choose a shiny box of colored light to keep around, the computer is definitely it.

Business Simplicity: Know Thyself & Perspective

Knowing one's strengths and limitations is paramount in any game being played but setting up a business requires an extra keen sensibility of such qualities. Ten or so years ago I tried to have a business but the most common of things kept getting in the way: money. It was a creative endeavor wherein I made stuff for sale and by commission. I did not like thinking in terms of profit and loss and therefore didn't. My partner was a stickler for such things and eventually we drove each other a little bonkers. After several emotional exchanges, we parted ways in this regard. We're married so we didn't part far.

We're older and, hopefully, wiser now so instead of focusing my time and energy on strictly generating and maintaining revenue, I concede to a partner who sees to those details. I get to see to every creative aspect of my business and he sees to the flow and balance of the details that he's talented at managing. Regular conversations to address how our "duties" are being carried out in relation to my overall grand scheme are integral.

Recognizing where each of our individual strengths lie affords us each opportunities to excel. Keeping tabs on the big picture on a daily basis is essential to maintaining perspective of the business's goals and productivity.

So what is the business and what is the grand scheme? Elaine Kessler Photography is the business and the grand scheme is to generate enough money to consistently and continuously "capture the love and energy of the good life." This is the beginning so as I get my feet wet I imagine that kinks will come more frequently before they go but as I've fielded 1 or 2 (kinks) so far, I am buckling up, with a smile, and getting ready for the ride.

Why We Drive A Hybrid

After 10 years of sharing a car (4 of which were for 3+ people), we finally, begrudgingly, became a 2-car family. Of all the cars on the market, here are 5 reasons why we drive a Hybrid:

1. We wanted a cool, quality second vehicle. Buying one that combines the power of a gas engine with an electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and emissions was a no brainer, especially since we like to think of ourselves as green & clean!

2. Trendy can be cool. We like protecting the environment and setting a new standard for our kids. Hybrid's "produce about 90 percent fewer smog-forming tailpipe emissions compared with the average new car," according to the Head of Environmental Engineering for Toyota. We want to set a trend for our kids in how to treat the planet, driving green is just one way we can put power behind our action.

3. Comfort counts. Our Honda Insight is just as, if not a tad more, comfortable than our Saturn Vue and it rides as smooth as other gas-powered drives we've experienced.

4. Driving a Hybrid is peaceful. When the car is stopped, the engine completely shuts down so gas isn't wasted or toxins emitted.

5. We like saving money. With the Hybrid's fuel efficiency, we visit the gas station less than twice a month as compared to the once a week we visit with the Saturn.

Despite having to be a 2 car family, I truly do adore the Honda Insight. We may have been able to survive on 1 car, perhaps even no cars, but our quality of life would have suffered as a result. Sharing a car was fine for the 2 of us but once we grew in number, it seemed wiser and safer to have access to more mobile resources. Choosing a hybrid was one of the best choices we could have made and when the time comes to choose again, we'll trade the Saturn in for a hybrid too.

Why We Compost

I grew up composting so it was only natural that I would compost as an adult. There were some fallacies about composting that I had to work through to finally arrive at the green & clean method we use today. Here are some reasons we compost:

1. It's easy. Once you get the hang of it, composting becomes second nature. I find myself looking for friends' compost bins whenever I'm at their house. Throw the banana peel in the trash can? Really? Maybe I'll just stash this till I get home to my bin.

2. It saves space. With the terrific accumulation of waste product, composting can save quite a bit of trash space. We use MAYBE 2 small plastic grocery bag's worth of trash every week for a family of 4 (that includes diapers!) Btw - of course, we recycle.

3. It's good for the planet. Landfills are being pushed to the max. The EPA estimates that roughly 25% of the garbage in the U.S. is made up of yard trimmings and food scraps. Imagine all the land and energy we could save, simply by composting.

4. It's good for the garden. "Black gold" loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Composted gardens tend to produce more and higher quality fruits and veggies than gardens made with commercial fertilizer alone.

5. It saves money. After the tiny initial investment of setting up a space to compost, we find that composting saves us money by reducing what we pay for fertilizer and yard waste removal. We save $5/month by composting ourselves and not paying for the municipal yard clipping bin pick up. We used an old crib to set up the boundaries for the outdoor compost and we use various bowls to haul indoor scraps outside. Recycling means zero-minimal cost on both ends.

6. It's clean. Only composts done wrong attract pests. Keep dairy products, meats and anything cooked out of your pile and you'll be golden.

How to Simplify a Traditional Sit Down Dinner Party

We enjoy entertaining. We've had brunches, bonfires, small & large, in & outdoor dinner parties. We recently hosted a sit down dinner party that was a complete success. There were no stressors that caused unhappiness and all of the guests seemed truly to enjoy themselves. I applied the principles below and think the outcome was absolute perfection. Here is a little on how we made it happen:

1. Get the past out of the present & your future*: Don't plan on having a party that is like other parties you've had before. Understand that this endeavor is a unique one and make it unique in all the ways only you know how.

2. Give up looking good*: Have fun with the planning and execution of the event - don't forsake your personal sense of enjoyment for this cause.

3. Do the best you can with what you have: Create the menu from items you prepare well; use what you already have; and be original with what you don't.

4. Plan your Work & Work Your Plan*: Be prepared

5. Choose what works*

*(Principles courtesy of Landmark Education)

The Menu

7 homemade Northeast Thai (Issan) dishes - made from scratch. There are a myriad of cuisines I could have chosen but I chose what I feel I do well and love doing. I planned my work and worked my plan. I had a schedule for 2 days before the event to map out how & when I'd be prepping then ultimately cooking each dish. I divided the day of the event into 4 sections and then into hours to be sure I gave myself adequate time to make each dish fresh then to clean as I go. There is nothing more daunting to me than to have a kitchen full of dirty dishes as guests arrive so I clean as I go and eliminate that stressor altogether. As far as the leftovers, which there were plenty since I fail to understand portions for a group, I composted what could be composted and stored the rest of the food for lunches and dinners the following week.

The Home

We live in a modest home. While Bill recently became an Assistant VP at a major banking institution, he wasn't always an AVP. The home we live in once belonged to my parents - interestingly, my daughters sleep in the room I slept in as a child. We bought the house for really cheap as a starter home and have since chosen to make it a "till retirement" home. It is a humble home in a humble neighborhood and I sometimes feel conflict that my environment doesn't adequately reflect my "station" in life. This is the area where I have to give up "looking good." I wouldn't choose this space and location, given our resources today but since we didn't always have these resources, I now choose this space because I love it and am tied to it in an intimate and amazing way. As one guest remarked - "It's a surprise inside!" That's the kind of sentiment that works for me!

The Seating & the "Silver"

Given the size of our home, 16 guests would not comfortably fit in one room. I appointed 2 tables for guests, one in the front room and one in the back. Guests were invited to switch up seating for dessert which made for a lot of laughter and fun. To reduce waste, we used the glasses, plates & bowls we owned then since there wasn't enough silver, we also used some plastic ware. I set the tables the day before and to eliminate confusion, I made place cards then reminded guests to switch around at dessert time. We normally use cloth napkins but not having enough and wanting some congruity on the table, we used large paper napkins. While I don't advocate regular use of such items due to the amount of waste that accumulates, every now and then an occasion sees fit to use some. We had a lot of dishes to wash afterward (we don't have a dishwasher) but organizing the work (and waiting till the next day) proved helpful to make quick work out of a large stack. Plus, not having pots and pans to clean in the mix made a big difference in how fast we got through the dinner party dishes.

Little Touches

Being creative with the food is one way to enjoy yourself. I personally liked creating a physical menu so everyone could see in Thai what the dish was called and how it was pronounced. I'm also a big fan of the "goodbye gift" - nothing too ornate this go around but in fitting with the theme, I made individual bags of banana chips that guests could take with them.

Oops

I forgot an item when I plated dessert. No one said anything and I noticed after everyone left. I was pretty bummed about it for the next couple of days and had to constantly remind myself that the incident was over and pondering it now just gets in the way of what new things I could be creating.

To reiterate - Giving up the past, giving up looking good, doing the best you can with what you have, planning your work & working your plan, and choosing what works are sure fire ways to have a dinner party that dazzles and delights you AND your guests!

500 Item Purge

Finally it's complete! With the help of craigslist, goodwill and the "circular filing systems" (trash & recyclables), I finally completed the latest 500 item purge. It took longer than anticipated but it was well worth it. I got a little extra cash and a lot less cluttering energy. I've undertaken a series of aesthetic projects including hanging paper birds, making a closet "door", painting a fan, and painting giant flowers on our block walls. So far I painted a couple of flowers on the back porch and sketched out the flowers for the walls...I am so excited about dazzling up the place a little.

Living in Richness

We opted against pre-school this term and it's making our lives somewhat, though not entirely, simpler. It's definitely a richer life. As confirmed by one of her pre-K teachers, Adele is Kindergarten ready but we've missed all the testing deadlines to get her in to a class for this school year. Instead of pushing charter school, I am now pushing public and planning to supplement (as was the plan already.) I am teaching Adele more basics and relying on experiential devices to aid my lesson "plans." I loaded up at Michaels and have a little preschool set up right inside the house. We fleshed out some of our hobbies to have more fulfilling and educational experiences with puppets, dress up clothes, and crafty goodness. While the rest of the area's kids were off on their first day of school, we went on our first field trip. In an effort to keep up with the 50 place challenge, we went somewhere new - the Children's Museum of Phoenix. The "Noodle Forest" was not near as fun as we anticipated but "The Climber" totally rocked. Speaking of the 50 place challenge, due to some visits to new restaurants and parks, we have 10 new spots left to hit.

To make up for what Adele will miss in socializing at Pre K, we are putting her in dance classes, per her request. School has created more stress than it deserves but I am finally feeling at peace with choosing public school. AZ's education may be underfunded and low ranking but our district is high performing so that balances it out a little.

50 Place Challenge

We're making progress on the 50 place challenge. We visited 9 new spots since last I checked in. We loved the Katsina doll exhibit at the Heard Museum and the Fear exhibit at the AZ Science Center was a blast. We made friends with the geese, ducks and pigeons at Encanto Park one hot afternoon. Most recently we took a weekend jaunt up to Prescott where we made fast friends with a diverse group of folks, saw a couple of bands live at Yogashala and made short work of the downtown area. We dined at the super cool Raven Cafe (http://www.ravencafe.com/) where rooftop seating made an afternoon meal a total delight. We took in the fabulous scenery at Watson Lake and visited the ever cool Arcosanti. Also while in Prescott, we toured Sharlot Hall Museum, where we got a glimpse into the happening life of one busy female pioneer. 17 new spots to go!

Reticent No More

I've been participating in Landmark Education for a little over a year now and this endeavor has most definitively simplified my life. I've been freed up from years of "stuff" - physical and otherwise. This week I've had 2 major areas of life defined.

The first area has to do with how I've "failed" - namely how I've "failed" to sing on Broadway and how I've "failed" to publish a book. I haven't actually failed because I've never once auditioned to be on, or anywhere near, Broadway and I've never even completed writing any of my so called books so, naturally, they aren't published.

Bill and I had a brilliant conversation that unearthed where this fear of failure originated - and we discovered that it was at my birth. I was born early and had to stay in the hospital. My mother tells the story of how heartbroken she was to go home without her baby; of how she felt she had done something wrong. Something happened for her as a first time mother that also happened to me as a newborn and kept happening as we both grew older and further apart. From that moment onward, fear of failing, of being rejected, governed my choices. The pattern is crystal clear throughout my life - reticence reigned. Distinguishing this has opened up my whole friggin' world. The possibility to pursue what I want "out loud" and beyond is new and invigorating - I'm choosing to be whole and fearless and unstoppable.

The second area has to do with the way I've allowed my past to dictate my present and my future. I've struggled with how to describe what I do on a daily basis and with how it isn't what I used to do. I was an educator in a classroom. I've gotten present to how I'm *still* an educator but my classroom is bigger now. It includes the whole world and 2 students for life. I am choosing motherhood as an educational playing field and it's a grand one - perhaps the grandest I'll ever know.

Finding triumph in these 2 areas has inspired me to do things 1 week ago, I simply wouldn't...join a Moms group - which I swore I'd never do, write more openly and publicly - which I swore off doing, get serious about photography - which I've been swearing I would do. I also will learn to play the guitar so I can accompany myself at all the new gigs I'll be taking on. Watch out world, I'm on my way!

Numbers

So I'm amending my 50 new places endeavor to include new restaurants...time's a running out! School starts 9 August and we still have 26 places to visit. We knocked out 4 this afternoon. We visited Angel Sweet in Chandler today for yummy gelato. It was a treat for Adele's updated immunizations - 4 shots is worth a little sweetness. She had chocolate chip. Lise and I shared super dark chocolate and coconut - it was like a Mounds bar ice cream sundae. We had dinner at Liberty Market in downtown Gilbert and enjoyed some tasty sandwiches - the grilled cheese and chicken salad were especially good. We enjoyed a little coffee treat (hot chocolate for kids) at Bergie's Coffee House, also in downtown Gilbert. Yes, despite the triple digit heat, we are hot drink fans. The girls also played in the splash pad behind Liberty Market - under the water tower. What a lovely little spot with fountains and tables and benches. It was a terrific afternoon!

For the 500 item purge, I am at 368. Getting there!

Getting Crafty

We've been doing at least one craft every day this week. One of my goals of living simply includes accomplishing something creative every day. Getting the kids involved has been a lot of fun. I gave up being attached to what they actually produced and committed instead to the process of being creative. Releasing attachment to the outcome has made a tremendous difference in many areas of my life but in parenting, the difference is especially profound. For crafts, together, we made a diorama, star bead necklaces & bracelets, a banner, ornaments, decorated wooden dolls, and constructed a bird feeder. Normally, I would see most of these things as junky but I'm realizing that the path to creativity can't be fostered unless there's *some* lack of purpose. I can't design the outcome of every endeavor if I want the kids to have an amazingly creative experience. Surprisingly, the items don't register as junk but as products of love, care and thoughtfulness...for now, anyway.

Go To Foods

In our house, we have a few go to foods that pinch hit when times get busy. The most popular is the "smorgasbord" which often includes leftovers, cheeses, fresh vegetables, hummus, and fresh fruits. Another easy one is a bag of Bertolli's pasta to which I add 2-3 cups of frozen vegetables. Another one is soup and tuna with toast. A big help in the kitchen and one of my favorite cooking tools is the slow cooker. I try to use it once a week, often with chicken thighs, vegetables, honey, mustard, rosemary and spices. I absolutely love the way it fills the house with delicious aromas. The last major go to food is a Thai dish called laab which is made with ground meat - I use turkey. The turkey is sauteed in a pan then added to fresh cabbage & carrots dressed with a traditional Northeast Thai "sauce" using sugar, lime, red hot pepper flakes, garlic & fish sauce. Knowing my go to foods makes life easier to manage - there's rarely ever need to fret over what's for supper!

Simple Eating

As I continue the 500 item purge (up to 274 now), I am mining various collections. One of the more enjoyable sessions has involved going through my recipes. Years of collecting recipes from family and magazines had developed into quite an impressive stack. I eliminated about 100 recipes and consolidated the rest into categories (Vegetarian, Ethnic, Meat, Fish, Fast, Sweets, Drinks). The recipe binder is labeled EATS and is organized using 3 holed photo pages. I've tried a number of different systems but this one, so far, keeps me coming back to it - which, to me, is a sign that it works.

I took inventory of the pantry, fridge and freezers and then I created a monthly menu wherein one new recipe is scheduled to be attempted each month. The monthly menu includes "culinary" themes such as: smorgasbord, fondue, ethnic, easy, adventure (variations on a theme), etc. Having a plan is paramount to our eating simply. Knowing what we have and using what we have is integral to the pursuit of simple living for me. Next post: GO TO Foods!

A Designed Life

Early in this quest, I mistook simplicity for minimalism. While minimalism may be a form of simplicity, I've discovered that simplicity doesn't have to be minimalist. I've embraced a form of simplicity that has me live a life designed around what I love and not what I don't.

What do I love? I know that I love haphazardness in small doses. I love my family to pieces. I love beaches, big skies and the bustling array of blues they produce. I love the big picture but its details even more. I love conversation. I love food. I love a lot of forms of art.

In my designed life, I've endeavored to include as many of my loves as possible. At the present time, I'm sensing that my cup overflows - hence the 500 item purge. I want always to have space for what I love and I want always to have space to be more loving. Simplicity isn't about giving up what you don't want to but I do think it means surrounding yourself intentionally with what inspires you.

The Energy of Things

I believe everything has energy and as I continue my 500 item purge, I'm assessing the energy of things. One of my favorite ideas is http://www.postsecret.com/

I bought one of the books a few years back and have often marveled at the intensity of the secrets and the perfection of the cards. I realized today as I considered whether it still held a place in our home that the momentum behind most of the secrets is less than inspiring, in fact, most of the secrets, as secrets are wont to be, are downright depressing.

I'm donating the book to Goodwill and already feel a lightening of energy in the house.

500 and 50

The 500 item purge is slow going right now. I have 2 days to purge 447 items and may not be able to to pull it off. I will be addressing the file cabinet next. I got caught up on the 3 day weekend and found myself having fun with the fam which was, as always, perfection! We went to parks, the zoo, swam in the pool and celebrated the 4th.

I've been inspired by the reminder that simplicity, for me, involves being engaged in adventure and fun. Sometimes all my ducks aren't in a row but what I've found is that the return on adventure and fun is almost always more than having everything be a certain way. I just got to keep practicing giving up what gets in the way.

We hit Freestone and Tumbleweed Parks this weekend so summer destinations number 20 now. We also went to the zoo but since I've already banked it, I won't count it again. 30 places to go!

Simple Eating

Part of living simply means having time and energy to create culinary feats of adventure and love. This week as I endeavor to complete the 500 item purge, I found the resources to make 3 meals that absolutely made each day awesome (if I do say so myself.)

Wednesday night:

Poached tilapia in a liquid mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, plum wine, sugar, & garlic served over shredded carrots & cabbage with sliced strawberries & cucumbers garnished with fresh from the garden tarragon

Thursday night:

Slow cooked cajun chicken served over coleslaw and baked beans

Friday night:

Cooked shredded chicken with mushrooms, fresh from the garden eggplant and peppers marinated in soy sauce, maple syrup and garlic served with pad thai noodles and sauce.

Summer Places

While in PA, we hit Outdoor World with an indoor water park, miniature golf and indoor/outdoor pools. Last weekend we checked out Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center in Chandler. For .75/kid (free for 2 and under) and $2/adult, the 15 minute wait was bearable. It was packed but the girls had a ball!

So far, the summer places we've hit number 18!

7 Places in VA

While in VA, we hit the Virginia Air & Space Center, the Hampton Carousel, the SPCA's petting zoo, the Virginia Living Museum, Buckroe Beach, Colonial Williamsburg, and the splash pad at Peninsula Town Center. We had an excellent time everywhere!

3 Places in NC

While in NC, we hit Onslow Beach, a playground on Camp LeJeune and the historic town of Swansboro. We loved being in NC with family and being near the water made the visit absolutely perfect!

5 Places in DC

While in DC, we went to the American Science Museum, the Washington Monument, The WWII Memorial, The USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima) and the Carillon Bells from the Netherlands. It was a quick but full day that was both inspiring and humbling.

50 Places

One of the summer challenges I've found is this one: http://kaboom.org/ where you are invited to visit 50 parks and playgrounds. I am extending the parameter for my family to include museums. Part of pursuing the simple life, for me, is to live more fully into the possibilities I see in the world. Generating adventure and connectedness are part of the world's possibilities I want in this life. I will post a little about each of the 50 places we visit this summer. We went to the PHOENIX ZOO yesterday where Adele took this photo of Smokey in Harmony Farm. It was a hot day so, before the elephants and after the gibbons, we also took advantage of the splash cavern.

500 Items

I just started a new 500 item purge and this time I am taking inventory of everything. I am down 55 items so far and have consolidated storage locations for several things already. I have enlisted Adele's support by asking her to choose her favorite things over all to keep. When I ask her to choose what to donate, she suddenly chooses to keep everything but when she's asked to choose her favorites, the outcome is revealing. This technique has made a difference for both of us - choosing what we love to keep and donating what's left over.

"What do you do?"

As a current stay-at-home Mom, I often feel that my life is far more interesting to me than it is to others. Despite how frequently entertaining and thought provoking, I still find it difficult to share the ins and outs of my day. Part of embracing simplicity for me is to engage in sharing what's powerful about the life I've chosen. I'll do that here.

Adele told me today that I'm "still giving birth to her" and when I tried to explain that I'm not, she insisted that I still "give her life." I thought about that a minute and realized that what I do my best at on a daily basis - embrace her uniqueness, protect her from harm and introduce her to new sources of energy - is, in fact, *still* giving her life. What a great station to have!

A Nation's Birthday

Hodge Podge No More

Over the years, I've handcrafted pavers and stones in an effort to hardscape the backyard. I had a mosaic, artsy vision. This weekend, we scrapped that endeavor and moved 6 tons (just the beginning) of 1" San Tan Mirage rock into its place. The yard is like a sea of rock but the possibilities already and suddenly feel endless when compared to the ever waiting pockets of dust and dirt from Friday.

Someone said today in regards to photography but I think is fitting here too: "I have to remember that what I capture is sometimes more important than HOW I'm capturing it." I want the backyard to be a site of relaxation and rejuvenation and if I had to hand make every step of the way, it would *never* be that. Sometimes focusing on the "what" makes everything clearer.