minimalist game

I have decided to take this 30 day challenge head on.  I want to declutter in a huge way.  I have way too many items.  It is time to get rid of items that I am just hanging on to for either sentimental reasons or even just because I might use it later. I have currently lived in our house for 15 years.  I can not even believe the amount of stuff I have acquired.  First and foremost it is overwhelming when I look around the house. 
So I have decided to work on the first week of the challenge.  I knew this part would be easy and painless.  Trying not to stress out is my major goal.  Being stressed is not good for me in any shape or form. So I am going to ease into this challenge very slowly.

First day found this cup.  I will never use it and received it in a swag bag. It is cute but I will donate it to someone who will use it.

One blue cup 

Day 2 of challenge.  I had both of these items on my bar in the kitchen.  Do not need either one of these items.  So they will go in donation pile. 

Two yellow items

Day 3 of the game.  Had these magazines in my mail pile.  I have looked thru them and am done with them.  I will take them to either the hospital or donate to someone who will read them. 

3 magazines 

On day 4 I went thru my cup of pens on my living room end table.  Anyone who knows me at all realizes I love pens of all kinds.  Pencils I never use.  This pen is nearly dry, so time to let it go.  I am donating pencils to a school.  Our planner group is doing a fundraiser for the local schools.

#SWOKPSKARES 

4 writing instruments. 

Day 5 of the challenge.  Miscellaneous items I found on my dresser.  Some of these items are duplicates. I am trying to learn that I don't need multitudes of a item.  Which is a hard thing to wrap my mind around.  As I think all my life I was taught to keep something incase you needed it down the road.  As I have gotten older that is known as being a horder.. Not even joking!  

5 beauty items. 

Day 6 and its getting a little tougher.  I have lots of scents that I do not like.  Unfortunately I have way too many of these scents on hand.  It's time to find them a good home so they can be used.  

6 scentsy melts. 

I have made it to the 7th day.  Haven't had to think to hard about what I need to clear out.  I know the next 7 days will be a bit tougher.  Random items I found in my cabinet.  Most will be donated.  I do have a friend who will use the vanilla I brought back from my last cruise to Cozumel.  

7 items out of my cabinet.  

I am slowly making process and I am really starting to embrace this challenge/game.  Once I complete this challenge I hope to continue to declutter items out of my life.  

Baby Clifford

Michelle and Clifford

Our baby is very vocal! 

Finally he is getting to rest!

Be still my heart!! Baby Clifford is a baby doll!   He is a little dramatic but am sure he gets that from his daddy Aaron!! 

Welcome to our loud and crazy family Baby Clifford!!!

Black Friday shopping

My cart is full!!

This is the back of my Jeep.  It's almost time to head home.  I think I have spent all my money!  Every year my cousin Brenda and I go shopping together.  We have a good time plus we get to visit.  It's a win win situation for us. 

I didn't get all my shopping done but quite a bit of it done.  Some gifts I feel good about and some not so good.  Blake and Jessica mad it easy for me as they had a list for me.  Alisha's mom sent us her wish list.   The other kid's did not tell me anything they needed or wanted.  Uugh.  That makes it hard on me.  As hard as I try I sometimes feel like gifts are lacking.  I really do put a lot of thought into the gifts for each person on my list. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! I found some tidbits I want to share with you today about Thanksgiving.  What we commonly call Thanksgiving was a harvest feast celebrated by Pilgrims in October 1621 in what is now known as Plymouth. Ma.  They most likely feasted on wild foul, cornbread or porridge and venison.

George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation in the United States in 1789: "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts that many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peacefully to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Americans tend to do more eating than being grateful on Thanksgiving.  The average American will consume between 3,000-4,500 calories at Thanksgiving dinner. That is about twice what the average daily calorie count should be. 

America is still the nation that has more liberty than any country in the world .United States still affords more personal freedom, economical opportunity and less intrusion into your personal life than any other place on the planet. That freedom isn't there because Americans are smarter, it comes completely by grace from the hand of a sovereign Creator. Americans should recognize that and be very thankful.

I am thankful for our mighty God, my family and friends, health and my career.  I am blessed with more than I need. 

Thanks for checking out my blog.   Again Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tyler in Egypt!

Tyler on the plane to Egypt. 

Tyler is celebrating Thanksgiving in Egypt! I can't even wrap my head around my baby brother being a world traveler.  I am so proud of him and everything he has accomplished in his life time.  He inspires me to be a better person.  He has fought for his dreams and worked hard at everything he has touched.   

I love his adventure side.  He is fearless in everything he does.  He doesn't just have a job he is living his dreams!!

Small coupon haul

Went shopping at Dollar General today.  I used digital coupons.  Am really proud of what I bought for $14.74.  $12.70 for the items and $2.04 for the tax.  I also had bought some cookies that did not make it into the picture.  

Earlier Mr. C. stated we were completely out of laundry soap.  I told him I would see what coupons where available and go shopping.  The savings was $13.25 and I thought that was great. Basically I paid around $1.84 for each item.  SCORE!!! 

I really need to focus on getting back in the groove of using coupons.  Several years ago I was doing so good but kinda lost interest.  What I mean by that is I didn't want to spend hours locating the deals and then driving 35 minutes to town and shopping.  Now that I work in Duncan Okla I have access to the stores.  So I should be taking advantage of the sales and coupons. 

My stock pile has dwindled down to just a few items. I need to replenish personal items and laundry soap and cleaning supplies.  

If I could encourage someone to coupon my words of wisdom would be to take it slowly. Create small hauls first.  Get use to following the rules at each store. Lastly be sure to only buy items you know you will use.  When I first got into using coupons I was buying items that was on sale but no one was using the items.  In fact some are still sitting on my shelves.  So I did not save any money in buying several of these items.  

Diy spa gift baskets.

I am currently working of 4 spa gift baskets for my ladies in my life. 

I am wanting to add a few more items to the baskets.  Maybe another pair of socks and a candle.  If I was real creative I would buy some wine glasses and monogram them.  I have a older cricut that I could use on them.  Then maybe add a small trial size of wine with the basket.  I may need wipe down the cricut machine and attempt it this weekend. 

I need to pick up red filler and clear bags at Dollar Tree.  I also will make some pretty Christmas bows to use on the gift baskets.  

When I worked at the Flower Shop we made lots of fruit and gift baskets.  Everyone loved them and they are easy to make.  I went with the spa basket because my girls are girly girls.  I would love to have one of these baskets myself.  I can't wait to see the finished product!! 

I am trying to get ahead of my Christmas shopping this year.  So far I have wrapped the toys I have bought for the littles.  Which I am proud of getting done so early.  I told Mr. C, that I needed to wrap the gifts I had already bought so I could see what I had.  I am looking forward to Black Friday shopping with my cousin Brenda. 

First snow!!

Our first snow of the season! You all know I love fall/winter season.  Especially the cool nights, fresh snow and baking in the oven. When I woke up to this I was happy.  For just a moment I thought about staying home from work.  I would have read a book, wrote a few letters and drank some hot chocolate.  The perfect way to spend a day off.  then reality set in and I got dressed and headed to work.  I did get to Duncan early so I could work on this blog post.  

This is across the road from where we live.  Living out in the country is peaceful and quiet.  Love looking at the snow that hasn't been tracked on yet.  As warm as it is here in Oklahoma I bet it will be gone tonight when I get home around 7:30 pm. 

If I was younger I would be tempted to make snow angels in the snow.  Great memories from when I was younger.  Now I am waiting for the 2nd snowfall so I can make snow ice cream.  My mom use to make the best snow ice cream.  It was always such a treat for us. 

How would you spend a day home on a snow day? Would love to hear your stories!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my little ole blog.  I do appreciate it very much.

Have a great day my friends,

Karen  

Loving my job!!

$7.00 gift card from my work!! 

Here I am at work.  Another day at the call center!

I am loving my job here at LegalShield.  I am truly blessed with this job.  This company has been incredible.  Love the incentives they offer. I believe that this company is somewhere I can grow as a employee.  

Working at a call center isn't for everyone.  But I think it is a good fit for me.