"Simplify, organize, simplify…" a small voice has been chanting in my head lately, making it difficult to concentrate.

So when my friend Gwen invited me to add some of my things to her garage sale this weekend, I jumped on the chance to de-clutter.

By yesterday morning, my car was loaded with two large boxes for the garage sale – one of clothes and another of junk like lampshades, 90's jewelry, steam hair rollers and clocks. 

On my way to Gwen's I would be passing a Half Price Books store, so I also loaded up two boxes of textbooks we've been hoarding for some insane reason… some were from my brief engineering student days, for goodness' sake, relics of the dark ages when a pocket calculator cost hundreds of dollars and a computer filled an entire room.

Someone please tell me why I thought I should save those?

Half Price gave me $9 and an offer to recycle the ones they didn't want (probably my college books!) Thank you and good riddance!

Unfortunately, those boxes didn't make a dent in the junk inventory. For the next few weeks, I foresee an internal battle between my alter egos (the collector/hoarder and the zealous tosser/organizer) over what to toss and what to keep. Please wish me luck! The zealous/organizer is responsible for throwing away my journals from 3rd grade all through high school. She's dangerous!

So please also wish me a clean, organized, but interesting and eclectic decor, with no lingering regrets!

And now for my Saturday Sweet Report… 

Saturday: celebrating your mother's 80th birthday; your toddler niece reaching out to you for a cuddle

Sunday: wishing your Mama a happy 80th birthday in person; your Daddy's bacon and biscuits for breakfast; baby squirrels taking peanuts straight from your son's hand; your mom in a sombrero; a son who is addicted to books, just like you are; your oldest running his first marathon

 

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Monday: an Indian summer morning; getting paid to write

Tuesday: a good soaking rain; photography friends who give advice and tips; Google, when you're learning something new and can't afford a class; people who make free tutorials

 

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Wednesday: sunshine in the morning after a rainy day; a surprise visit from a friend; meeting a writing deadline; a call from your youngest; a POTW from Hilary!; a husband who shops and cooks so you can keep working on your dreams 

Thursday: the sound of a woodpecker filtering through the trees; finally sending the Cd of photos from your first shoot off to your client; bumping into a neighbor at the post office; an afternoon walk through the woods with your puppies

 

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Friday: a happy photography client; lunch with girlfriends; ridding your house of two boxes of old textbooks, one box of clothes and another one of junk; visiting with three generations of beautiful blondes; lace and velvet Christmas dresses, in size 3Toddler 

Saturday: a friend who lets you put things in her garage sale even though you can't help work it; autumn leaves falling on the road in front of you; helping break a sales record where you work; sitting down after a long day on your feet; making $30 on things you would have tossed away; a movie that makes you both smile and cry at the end

 

Hope you've collected plenty of Sweet!s, too!

 

 

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23 responses to “Simplify! (and my Saturday Sweet Report)”

  1. Liz White Avatar
    Liz White

    HaHa…I thought I was the only one with that split personality! Good for you for making that bold move with the books 🙂

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  2. Walker Avatar

    You have had an amazingly busy week… I feel sloth-like all of a sudden! Congratulations on your first paid photography gig!

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  3. beth Avatar

    i love how you keep track of your days and write about what happened or what you’re grateful for….we could all learn from you 🙂
    xo

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thanks, Beth! I'm glad I started doing it – it helps me pay attention and helps me see that even on 'bad' days there is usually at least one blessing to be found if I open my eyes.

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  5. Gail Avatar

    Great list as always! If I didn’t sit down every day and write this stuff down, I’d probably forget more than half. I am in the clutter-free mindset but it has caused me regrets – not many, but some. It’s time to de-clutter once again since we are listing our house tomorrow! Yikes. :/

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    That's another reason why I write them down! I find if I wait even just a few days, I have to really think hard to remember what happened on any given day, even if it was something amazing!! I don't envy you having to start packing, but at least it's good motivation to de-clutter!! Good luck!

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  7. Lady Fi Avatar

    Busy and sweet! Love that adorable pic of someone hand-feeding the squirrel.

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    That's my son – those squirrels are so entertaining but also very demanding!

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! And I know there's no way you can be considered 'sloth-like'!

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm glad I'm not the only one now, too!! Dropping off those books and having those boxes out of the house is such a relief! I wish I had time to keep the momentum going! I have so many boxes of books…

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  11. cynthia eloise Avatar

    if you are having a hard time cleaning out just watch hoarders on tv once. that will get you moving.
    happy thanksgiving. hope you get to enjoy it with all your family home.

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  12. lisleman Avatar

    what type of engineering?
    I wish I keep my slide rule.
    So you are more of a garage sale seller than buyer?

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  13. lisleman Avatar

    Must proof read comments.
    I wish I had kept my slide rule.
    But I do know pi = 3.14 and an infinite non repeating series of numbers. Why can’t I type better than I talk?

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Chemical engineering – so how ironic I ended up working for chemical engineers at the chemical plant for 13 years, right? And Lord, no, I'm totally more of a buyer than a seller – which is how I ended up with so much I need to sell! 

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Chemical engineering – so how ironic I ended up working for chemical engineers at the chemical plant for 13 years, right? And Lord, no, I'm totally more of a buyer than a seller – which is how I ended up with so much I need to sell! 

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I bet that slide rule would be worth some money now! (My sympathies on the type/talk thing – I make so many typos, but I still think I probably type much better than I talk! Sad!)

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  17. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I haven't watched the show, but a friend of mine's mother is a true hoarder. Just hearing his stories about her made me start taking a look at all my stuff and feeling sorry for my poor kids having to deal with it some day down the road, especially if I didn't nip it in the bud now!!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! I'll get to be with all of my kids – yay! 

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  18. Bella Casa Avatar

    Oh the things I have held onto …as if those things could make time pause, if only for moments, to catch my breath and remember how or why they came to be. I too am working toward simplifing my life and creating more balance. I find that getting rid of things I no longer need to be very refreshing.

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  19. charlotte wilson Avatar

    It does feel so good to declutter and give to someone who needs and appreciates it.
    Happy thanksgiving!
    ♥charlotte

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  20. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    The best form of recycling – buying used and then re-selling or giving it away! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Charlotte!
    By the way, the shoot went off great and my client loves her photos! I love Lightroom! Thank you for all your support!

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  21. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I agree, it's very refreshing!

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  22. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    At my son’s bedtime, the three of us have started recalling one thing we’re grateful for.
    Baby steps.

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  23. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    What a wonderful ritual! I wish I'd done that with my own kids. It will give Nick the perspective he needs to get through hard times the rest of his life!

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