Two days ago I started the 10 day cleaning challenge I found on Houzz.com, the first day you are supposed to grab a garbage bag and go through your house to throw things away and the second day go back through with a new garbage bag and collect items for donation. Day 1 - I grab my little garbage bag, because I am not a hoarder and don't have trash laying around, or so I thought.  Not 30 minutes into this little challenge when I realized, "we're going to need a bigger bag."  3 HOURS later and I was still upstairs and had not even begun to tackle my own closet.  However, I did have empty space again!!

Look At All This Space!

Last weekend my husband spent two days cleaning out his garage, then he left town.  He is going to be pissed off when he get's home!  His garage is quickly filling up with my garbage and donations!  Once the veterans pick up the donations he will be just a thrilled as I am. In the meantime, I better keep a low profile.

This really does feel amazing, it makes me smile every time I see my neat and organized shelves and all the room to breathe.  But, 10 DAYS! who are they kidding, it's going to take me 10 days just to do the first days challenge.

Off I go...today is my home office, say your prayers for me, it's going to be a long day.

My goal this year is to clean up my act! By that I mean mind, body and soul cleared out and ready for everything life has to give me. In my bones I can feel that 2018 is going to be amazing and I need to be ready to receive all the blessings. Some old Roman once said "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity" so I am preparing.  I cannot be ready for the new until I clear out all the old. Old stuff, Old resentments, Old thinking, Old behaviors.  One of my New Years resolution was to start each day with an intent and to end each day with gratitude. (Can you tell I've been streaming Oprah and Maya on YouTube)  Believe it or not, I am proud of myself that we are 1 week into the New Year and I have not yet broken that resolution. This morning I was reading this article on Houzz.com called Get Organized: Take a 10-Day Simplification Challenge.

Starting tomorrow I take the first step

1. Grab a trash bag. “Go through all the rooms in your house and look for trash,” Ley says. “You’ll be surprised at what’s just lying around.” Whether it’s expired coupons, boxes, empty shampoo bottles in the shower, dry-cleaning tags, a dead plant or wastebaskets that need emptying, just making this first step will make you feel better.

You may even decide you’re ready to make a second round with a light look for items you can donate, like books you’re never going to read again. “This will ease you into the process,” Ley says.

Two and a half years ago we moved across town into a much larger home.  When we first moved in we had empty drawers, cabinets and a fairly empty garage.  Now, just a few years later it is filled up.  That is upsetting for me, we certainly didn't NEED anything else but elbow room when we moved. Firstly, I need to stop bringing things into the house, my goal is to go 2 weeks without bringing anything not absolutely necessary into our home. Second, tomorrow morning I will grab my trash bag and go through the house to see what can be thrown out.  Then I will go back through and collect items for donation, I've already called the Veterans and they will be here in 4 days whether I am ready for them or not.  I'll post pictures of all the cleared away things, I hope its a mountain!

The article also recommended this book A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living  I'm going to read it but from the library or digital, I'm not bringing it into this house!

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/98970790/list/get-organized-take-a-10-day-simplification-challenge w=300]

2 years with no posts! WHAT have we been doing?? Clearly we have not been blogging but we have been expanding!  Jenni Lovings has now been with Massey Real Estate for more than 2 years and Liz Swan has been with us for 6 months.

Liz has had several closings and is doing a great job.  Not only does she sell real estate but she is also a Yoga instructor and has started a newspaper column with The Longmont Compass about Longmonsters , she is so talented and such a creative thinker, it's inspiring.

Jenni's Real Estate career is doing amazing, this woman knows everyone and everyone loves her! Everywhere we go together, someone is stopping her to say Hi.  She is perpetually cheerful and it's easy to see why she is so loved.  Jenni is a huge sports fan, this weekend is the big Bronco's game, I am sure she is feeling quite anxious but I also know she is smiling.

Last year I was honored to be chosen to represent Gen 3 Homes, a fantastic builder originally from Chicago but has been building here for more than 13 years now.  My family and I moved from Old Town to Prospect this past year and while we miss our buds in OT, we are thrilled with our new home and new community.

We will try to do better in 2016 with a few more posts.

Susan