Thursday, August 1, 2019

New Month - New Start

Oh my goodness, the days are just flying by.  Here we start another new month.
I am looking at it as another new beginning!

Yes I have de-cluttered some.  I have donated some.  I have cleaned out some closets.  I have rearranged some.  BUT, many days I don't do SOME!  I just get into myself and don't do anything and then I feel guilty about wasting time and the day God gave me.
So. I have decided to kick myself in the butt and start getting busy.

There are many things  that we can all do and so many ways to save.  If you feel negligent - then today is a new start for you too!

Yes, we are in this together.  I know so many gals have said 'thanks' for the motivation they get here.  I say 'thanks' to all of you.  You all keep me motivated.  I love learning new things from you all.  Let us continue to motivate each other.

  1. Start with making lists of things that need to be done.  I have a list for super important things and a list for things I want to achieve around the house and yard (that one is long!)
  2. Get more fresh air!  Go outside and take it all in - yes I know it's hot - but we need to quit making excuses.  Sleep with the window open at night if possible.  Air out that house when possible.  Just drink in that freshness!
  3. Eat all the leftovers!!!!!  Don't waste.  Look for ways to re-invent them.
  4. Drink more water and tea - less pop.  Let's get back to a more natural way of taking care of ourselves.
  5. Utilize every single thing you can from the garden or the farm markets.  My little garden patch isn't providing a lot this year (probably cause I just haven't worked at it).  I may be getting fresh goodies at the farm stand - and I will enjoy it to the fullest and preserve what I can.  Fresh is best!
  6. Go through the health and beauty closet and inventory and combine and use it up!  Don't buy anything new till you have.  I bet you have more than one bottle of Tylenol open or a couple toilet bowl cleaners open!!!  LOL  I did this and found that I have enough soap, tooth paste and vitamins and herbs to last forever!!!!!
  7. Learn how to clean naturally!  Use up those cleaners and supplies you have and then go natural!  You, your pets, your kids and your home will thank you!  Think vinegar, baking soda, salt and water!  It is amazing what you can do with them.  (Save those citrus peels as well for making citrus cleaner).  Maybe a little Dawn mixed in there too!
  8. Start working on those homemade holiday gifts!  We are on the short side of that and probably all need to get busy.  Not only are homemade gifts special and precious - they save money.  Make this your CREATIVE year.
  9. Don't eat or drink out.  Make your fancy coffee, cook from scratch, take snacks with you.
  10. Use your pantry.  Go through and find what needs to be used first and get creative.  Look at the items in your various pantries as MONEY!  IT IS.  Money you earned and then spent on stuff - USE IT - DON'T WASTE IT.
  11. Stay home - that saves a ton
  12. Turn off the phone or the computer more often - you will be amazed at how much you can get done while not sitting and salivating over Pinterest!  Don't just look at that stuff - do that stuff.
We all have so many things that we can be doing that are productive.  We just need to do them.  If we each do one special project a day - that is 31 projects DONE just this month (minimum).
Let's do this.
I will continue to try to motivate you IF you continue to motivate me.
We can do this this together.

PROJECTS HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!!!

26 comments:

  1. This is the best post ever! You lit a badly-needed fire under my butt. As they used to say on the opening of the old soap opera: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." Well, I'm guilty of allowing too much sand to flow through the hourglass with nothing to show for it. I've tried to be more mindful this year, but still have a long way to go.
    Carol in NC

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    1. Carol - me too!!!!!!! I find myself at the end of a day - saying what did I do today? I love the analogy - I have let too my sand flow as well.
      I am glad to have lit your fire - let us know what all you get done this month. Maybe if we are accountable to each other - we will keep that fire lit!!!!

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  2. I was going to ask if I could check back in this thread once a week and briefly recap what I had accomplished, to keep myself accountable. But I wasn't sure how blogging worked, as in if you had a limited amount of space allowed for comments, etc.

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    1. I love it. How about we make next Thursday - check in day? Sounds good to me. It will help me work harder too. We have plenty of room and that sounds like a good post for us each Thursday this month.

      Thank for the idea. Look forward to hearing what everyone gets done!

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  3. I made a very long list this week and it is so satisfying crossing things off. Have been gardening all afternoon.

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    1. Gardening sounds lovely. yes, it is very satisfying to mark those things off. Hopefully we will all get a lot done!

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  4. I enjoy your first of the month ideas and look forward to hearing how you've done. We put an offer in on a house finally so look forward to having a home base again soon.

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    1. Oy my goodness - I sure hope you get it. Good luck to you. I don't envy you moving again - but it will be yours!
      I think you did your challenge already!

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  5. I love having a to do list and crossing things off it. I have one I use everyday. Otherwise I wouldn't get anything done. LOL

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    1. I do lists for everything. Hopefully this will keep me on track being accountable to others.

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  6. I use lists at the office and at home to keep myself accountable - it is so satisfying when you get to stroke off something!
    I had been procrastinating a lot due to the heat & humidity but last weekend I just decided to get going and in 3 days I managed to get rid of a couple of pieces of furniture - moved around a few other pieces to open up my living & dining rooms a bit, dusted the hundreds of books I moved, made up a pile of things to donate and then swiffered and dusted! This weekend I am going to scrub the bathroom from top to bottom and vacuum! It is so worth it when you get to admire the results!

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    1. You have been busy. I get those fires going once in a while and accomplish a lot - then I slow down and stop.
      Sounds like you are on a roll. Great job and keep it up!

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  7. I always feel better when I have accomplished something, especially around the house. We are using all of these tips especially as we are paying down debt and trying to stay healthy. Thanks for the motivational post!

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    1. You are welcome. I hope it helps. Yes, standing back and admiring your work is so satisfying!
      Good job on paying down the debt - that is huge. Staying healthy is so frugal and smart.

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  8. I have a picture frame I made with pictures of my 2 grandchildren (the youngest passed away just after her 2nd birthday. The saying on it is a fantastic reminder is not how much we do, but how important it is. It says, "On judgement day, if God should say, did you clean your house today? I will say, I did not, I played with my grandchildren and I forgot. Then God will surely say, what a lovely day to have spent your day" Old enough to know tbat sometimes lists are to be thrown away and feeding the soul with a long walk, seeing a friend, or just spending time with loved ones is more important than any
    to do list. Be nice to you, you are still grieving I am sure so dont add any guilt into your life over things that doesn't have to be there. Gramma D

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    1. Thank you so much for that wonderful reminder!!!!! Yes family should always come first. Spending time with our loved ones is precious and the heck with the lists on those days.

      I am sorry for the loss of your grand daughter. Yes, I am still grieving. I need to keep myself busy or I feel like I will go nuts. I do absolutely love my communes with nature.
      Thank you for a wonderfully positive look at life.
      We all know WHEN to take care of those lists!

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  9. Thanks for the kick in the butt, I need to get my lists going again. I know I accomplish so much more when I have one. It's hard to fathom that this is my house and I can hang pictures, silly thought. But I'm never moving again so why not, ehh! Have a good day.

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    1. You have had a time of it like a couple others on here - moving. I well imagine you got rid of a lot and organized a lot.
      YES that IS you forever home - so enjoy it to the fullest!!!!!
      Make it yours!

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  10. Great post! I am trying to do more stuff instead of watching it on Instagram and pinterest. I have a goal to get that little winter stitchery done before winter!

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    1. Same here. I don't have Instagram - but admit I do get lot in Pinterest! That is so time consuming.

      Yay, of the stitchery. I have things too that need to be stitched - here's hoping!

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  11. We did so many projects this spring that we are burnt out. Just spending the summer working on the garden and getting my youngest ready to go away to college. We also started working on my oldest's wedding plans. We booked a venue. I will get back to all of the small projects next month after YD leaves for school.

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    1. You like many of the others have had a busy and full summer of it. You deserve a break. Take it slow and once fall comes and gets cooler start again.

      How exciting to be getting started on wedding plans!

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  12. I am a newly retired (1 week) Registered Nurse. 55 hours returned to my daily life! Week 1 is about doing what I want in the moment. I've been in the hot tub every day for some "ahhhhhhhhhh" :-) My one commitment is my health: 1 hour of exercise each day I would have worked. Weekends optional. 5h-check! Quilting is my hobby. I have a bin of 2.5" wide little strips and squares that I've been chipping away at all year. I decided NOW is the time to finally empty it. I had already made several out of it and had selected 4 patterns. I spent nearly 7 hours yesterday stitching up bits and pieces. It is very satisfying to see the bottom of the container. I think I'll get the remainder sorted and cut if not stitched up today!

    On the home front: bathroom cleaned, laundry done, light dusting complete, garden weeded, 1st zucchinis have been picked and most given away, picked 4 cherry tomatoes (1st ripened) and are oh so sweet!

    For at least this month, no lists. I'm going to live life in the moment and if something gets done-fabulous. If not-it's all good!

    Wishing everyone one a Blessed Sunday Morning!

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    1. Congratulations on your retirement!!!!!! You go girl - take off some time and enjoy YOU TIME for sure. You have earned it.

      Hot tub sounds wonderful! How fun on the quilting. Sounds like you truly enjoy it and it will give you a wonderful outlet to be creative.
      The veggies all sound yummy. Those tomatoes are so much better than anything you can buy. Pure bliss and sweetness!


      Enjoy your ME month. Have fun, relax, and just chill. Read a book, sew a little, sit and watch nature - whatever makes you happy.

      Again, congrats to you!!!!

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  13. Thank you Cheryl. I am reading as well. "Radical Homemaker". We just had a hawk visit the backyard. We watched it for about 5 minutes as it was perched on the birdhouse attached to the back fence. Amazing creature. I just finished quilting a new quilt on my new machine. Tomorrow I'll attach binding and then I have handwork for an evening :-)

    Truly enjoying the moment!

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    1. Life's simple moments can bring so much joy. We need to spend more time enjoying the simple instead of trying to get all busy.
      Sounds like a blissful day.

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