A to Z

I thought this looked like fun!

A is for age: 29
B is for breakfast today: One chocolate iced donut and one strawberry iced donut courtesy of our auditors at work.  No judging please!
C is for currently craving: Nothing at the moment.  I just finished eating lunch.
D is for dinner tonight: Escalante's with family. 
E is for favorite type of exercise: Running
F is for an irrational fear: Frogs.  I can't stand them.  Andrew used to chase me with them and throw them at me (when I say Andrew I mean husband Andrew, not brother Andrew - can you believe my own husband was that mean to me!)
G is for gross food: Mushrooms.  I can't stand the texture.  I used to hate onions too, but I am getting much better about eating them.
H is for hometown: Sugar Land
I is for something important: My Family
J is for current favorite jam: Blackberry
K is for kids: Autumn Elizabeth, 17 months, that's it for now . . .
L is for current location: Work
M is for the most recent way you spent money: I bought a Diet Dr. Pepper from McDonald's on my lunch break.  It is one of my guilty pleasures.  And yes, I have officially broken Lent (not going out to eat).
N is for something you need: More time with my husband (can't wait for April 17th).
O is for occupation: Accountant at Kelsey Seybold.  I love my job!
P is for pet peeve: People who don't respond to e-mails.
Q is for a quote : "The only worthy religion in the world is an examined religion." I came across this quote a few weeks ago and I really like it, although I don't know who said it.
R is for random fact about you: I am married to my high school sweetheart.  We started dating in 1998 (almost 14 years ago!).
S is for favorite healthy snack: Carrots and hummus.
T is for favorite treat: Skinny Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks or cake pops.
U is for something that makes you unique: My red hair.  I used to hate it when I was younger, but I like that it makes me unique.  I also love that Autumn has my hair too.
V is for favorite vegetable: Squash, any kind.
W is for today’s workout: Nothing yet, which probably means nothing at all today.
X is for X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, foot
Y is for yesterday’s highlight: Chasing a naked and laughing Autumn around the house while she tried to avoid a bath (bath equals almost bedtime and she was not ready for bed).
Z is for your time zone: Central

Things I have learned in my first 30 years:

I turn the big 3-0 later this year (November 20^th to be exact), so I have decided to post something I have learned in my first 30 years every couple of weeks, so that by my big birthday I will have posted 30 thoughts on turning 30 – or lessons I’ve learned in my first 30 years.  The topics will range from food to spiritual lessons to things I’ve learned from being a Mom, etc.  I’ve jotted down a few topics I want to share, but I don’t have 30 yet.  I figure I will by November.  Anyways, here is numero uno:

1.    Living with less is really living more.

I’ve been on a de-cluttering/minimalism kick this year (of course we’re only a month and a half into this year).  I blogged about this briefly a couple of weeks ago.  I am nowhere near where I want to be with minimalizing /de-cluttering my home and my life, but I am working on it and the progress I have made is encouraging.   Joshua Becker has a great post on “The Heart Impact of Living with Less” today on his blog – Becoming Minimalist.

Here are a few inspiring quotes that motivate me in this new lifestyle of living with less.

·         “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” – Democritus

·         “Owning less is far more beneficial than organizing more.”

·         “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibran

·         “Minimalism – the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it – requires a conscience choice. It is a counter-cultural lifestyle that begins with the decision to pursue it.” – Joshua Becker

Basically, I feel like amassing less things will help me shift my focus to what really matters in life – faith and family and friends.  People matter – not things. 

I have always been a little bit of a shopaholic.  In high school and college I would spend every dollar I made at Old Navy or Banana Republic or Abercrombie or Starbucks – you name it.  I always thought, if I could just buy that one item I wanted then I would be happy.  I didn’t really think my happiness was dependant on these things, but I lived my life like I did.  I never got myself into debt over shopping, but I did not build up my savings during my early twenties either.  Andrew, on the other hand, saved every dollar he ever made,  Andrew's tendency to save truly served us well in our early years of marriage, because we actually had a rainy day fund, which most young couples don't have. 

Now, I am trying very hard to think through all of my purchases, and to only buy what I need.  I used to go to Target to purchase "groceries" and come out with a few clothing items for myself and Autumn.  I have been pretty good at avoiding unnecessary spending so far except for at the grocery store.  I still buy way too much food at the grocery store.  I plan to clean out my fridge, pantry, and freezer this weekend.  I think if I can clean it out good (throw away everything we don’t/won’t use or that has expired) that I will be reminded of my waste, which will further motivate me to spend less at the grocery store. 

Another reason, I think this lifestyle choice is going to "stick" is that I have "taken over" managing our finances.  In other words - Andrew has delegated the task of paying all of the bills to me.  Seeing exactly how much money comes in and where it goes is motivation for me to spend less.

I feel very committed to making this a lifestyle for my family and to teach my children to live a life with less.  I think Autumn will benefit from this as she grows up.  Of course, Autumn is not exactly living with less now – she has more clothes than any baby I have ever seen.  I plan to go through her closet and dresser another weekend.  A little bit at a time and I will get where I am going eventually.

I hope to post some before and after pictures of my kitchen and Autumn’s room soon.

Blogs I read

So, I have started to read other people's blogs this year as I have started my own blog.  I love learning new ideas for blogging from other people.  I also love learning other people's stories.  Two blogs in particular have been specially enjoyable.

Live Learn Love Eat
I found this blog when searching for "all things Autumn" one day.  This is a blog by a mom, Tiffany,  somewhere in Canada who has a redheaded daughter named Autumn and two other beautiful daughters.  She is a vegan and posts new vegan recipes consistently.  Although I have no intentions of going vegan I do intend to try some of her yummy looking recipes at some point.  Tiffany has an amazing story.  She has struggled with an eating disorder in the past and has found joy on the other side of it.  She is a true inspiration.  I have found her posts to be very mature beyond her years and have really enjoyed reading them.

Becoming Minimalist
I found this blog through Allison's blog.  This blog has been incredibly influential on me this year.  It is a blog about a normal family that decided to become minimalist a few years ago.  It is written by Joshua Becker, who has also written a book, called Simplify. 

I don't know why, but for some reason something just clicked when I started reading this blog.  I think it had to do with the time of year.  Every year after Christmas for the past three years or so, I feel so burdened by all of the "stuff" we have.  Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate all of the presents we receive from friends and family and I enjoy giving presents as well, but I also just feel like we have so much "stuff" this time of year, due to the added "stuff" we receive during the Christmas season. 

I don't have any intentions of going completely minimalist (or whatever that really means).  I intend to find my own version of minimalism, which is what the blog author seems to encourage.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to declutter.  Joshua's blog is a guideline of sorts for helping me do that.  So far this year I have decluttered my bedroom.  I have taken 5 or 6 very large lawn and leaf bags full of clothes and accessories to Goodwill.  My closet seems so clean and orderly.  I can clearly see everything.  I have also gotten rid of tons of bath & body stuff that I will probably never get around to using.  I used the question of "when was the last time I used/wore this?" to help me determine what to get rid of.  It is amazing how much clothes, accessories, bubble bath, lotion, makeup, jewelry, etc. that I have accumulated over the years.  Now, to be honest, I have only decluttered/minimized by half of the bedroom.  Andrew is in the middle of busy season, so his half will not be completed until after April 15th.  I know this is only one half of four bedrooms in my house (not counting the other rooms like the kitchen and living room), but it has been incredibly freeing to declutter or minimize half of one room.  I feel like I have energy to do the rest of the house over the coming months.  A little at a time.

One of the biggest benefits of becoming minimalist is the decrease in spending.  I have not really bought anything this month other than food/necessities.  The only purchase I would say I have made was a toy chest for Autumn from Target.  I bought a nicer looking one to store her toys in our living room.  It feels very freeing to pay smaller credit card bills at the end of each month.

Check out my blog roll for other blogs I read when I can find the time.

New Year's Resolutions

I like making lists and setting goals, so I love making New Year's Resolutions (regardless of whether I actually keep them or not).  I have several resolutions this year.  Here they are:

1. Wake up early.  This means waking up before 6am during the week, so that I can workout before work and get into work before 8am.  If I manage to do this then I will have more time with Autumn in the evenings, because A) I won't have to try to squeeze in a workout and B) I will be able to leave work by 5PM or earlier.
2. Work out at least 3 days a week.  This one goes along with number 1.
3. Plan meals on the weekends for the week.
4. Cook at least 3 nights a week.  This goes along with number 3.
5. Stop biting my nails.
6. De-clutter! I am planning to go through my house room by room and get rid of stuff that we don't use.  I am trying to avoid renting a storage space.  We don't have an attic, so I don't have much storage space at home.  I think de-cluttering our house might help prolong the inevitable.
7. Take more pictures.  I think having this blog is going to help me remember to take more pictures and just in general do a better job of documenting our life with little Miss Autumn.
8. Do a daily devotional with Andrew. 
9. Get pregnant.  Not getting started on this one just yet, but planning to sometime in 2012.