Life is too short to ________.

At a work training a while ago, I received this fun little tag attached to a bag of assorted chocolates.

I've kept it on my fridge, and every day I see it I ponder upon what things life is to short for.

Here's a little list I've come up with thus far.

Life is too short to eat at McDonald's.
Life is too short to shop at Walmart.
Life is too short to work full-time.
Life is too short to wear boring shoes.
Life is too short to wear uncomfortable shoes.
Life is too short to diet (see this post for clarification).
Life is too short to always have white walls.
Life is too short to live without AC.
Life is too short to watch TV.
Life is too short to use cheap TP.
Life is too short to be a perfectionist.
Life is too short to waste vacation/annual leave days (I did that last year--never again!).
Life is too short to watch a boring movie.
Life is too short to finish a really boring book.
Life is too short to be part of a mosh pit.
Life is too short to sleep through the morning.
Life is too short to frown.
Life is too short to unpick an only-slightly crooked seam.
Life is too short to eat a bruised apple.

I could make this list much longer by adding "not" (as in: life is to short to not ___), but I wanted to keep it more positive and lighthearted.

We live in a world full of wonderful opportunities and much abundance. It's fun to think about things that are just simply NOT worth the time and effort, because there are really so many other things to brighten our world. (This kind of reminds me of the book The Happiness Project. Have you read it? It's a great one!)

What things would make your "Life is too short to _____" list?

Declutter Bug: Joy of Less Part 1

I have the declutter bug.

And it all started because I read this book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life by Francine Jay.

Well, maybe my declutter bug started with a comment from my sister-in-law who mentioned how much stuff we (Americans) have, after visiting Brazil and staying with people who have very little, but are so happy and so generous.

Why do we have so much stuff? And why is so much of it really just plain silly to actually keep and store? We can all get by on much less.

Maybe my declutter bug started when I moved to college and realized I didn’t have money to shop, and other than food and textbooks, I really didn’t need to shop, anyway. Or maybe I got the declutter bug when I started taking serious classes in family finance and realized I had major goals to accomplish (like paying off Sam’s student loans before they came due and never going into consumer debt). That’s motivation to avoid shopping-for-fun.

And during this time, I moved countless times (9-ish) from apartment to apartment to finally a home, and all that while we chiseled down on stuff we were sick of moving, and stuff we found we never used since we last packed it.

Now, I wasn’t always good at decluttering. Oh boy. I think it took until I was 15 to actually have a clean room. And that meant I could walk from my bed to my door without stepping on anything. My walls were always decorated with everything and anything, as well as my dresser top, desk top, window sill, etc., etc. I definitely had clutter.

Our "stuff" after unloading our uhaul in our previous apartment, a few years
ago. Most of what you see here was crammed in our 2nd bedroom

During the first 5 years of our marriage, we got good at purging! But probably better at re-organizing and re-shifting. Our last two apartments before our home had two bedrooms. The second bedroom only had our stuff in it. Stuff taking up the entire closet, stuff on shelves from floor to ceiling. Stuff. Stuff. STUFF! And to think how much time I spent un-doing our puzzle of stuff to find a more efficient way to fit in all the pieces so I didn’t feel like it was going to topple on me. What a waste of time (especially because a lot of that stuff we have since tossed)!

Okay, confession time. We moved into our house not quite two years ago. And we haven’t really done much purging. In fact, all of our stuff filled (almost) our four bedroom house (not to mention we have a living room AND a family room…which none of our apartments could boast). And we’ve acquired more stuff—you know, all that we’re-homeowners-now stuff. And where we did have empty space, it has been really easy to stow stuff.

Then comes a long a new director in my office. He’s from a different office, so he comes with a nice, fresh view of how cluttered crowded to improve our office. He wiggled funds around and did all sorts of things to open the space and clear the clutter, or as he calls it, feng shui-ed it. I spent the last two months decluttering my office. So maybe that’s the true source of my declutter bug.

Then add to that a discussion right after Christmas with a great friend of mine about gifts, and stuff, and organizing, and then she mentioned the book, Joy of Less. All the above things had been ringing in my head for weeks—maybe months and years.

So, I read the book.

And I have the declutter bug. Five fairly large boxes of stuff are waiting to be donated. Junk has been thrown away. Papers have been shredded and recycled. More stuff is on my list of things to sell.

It feels AWESOME.

I’ve read a few decluttering books before, but this one has a unique perspective. Minimalism.

My following posts will tell you more of what I find most noteworthy about the book, and perhaps you’ll catch my declutter bug, too.

Awww, Logan. Where Have You Been Lately?

We always love a chance to get back to where we went to college, met, and lived for the first few years of our married life. Since I work for the University, there seems to be a good excuse every now and then. But last weekend we headed north for Sam's students' tri-state band symposium.

Winston and I had a great time running around while Sam was busy.

We chased squirrels.

We suffered the bitter cold (I forgot how "Logan is colder than Salt Lake" really feels...and it will only get colder...) as we ran around a park (which is newer and awesome-er since we've moved away).

We also rode the city's free bus just for fun (Winston's first bus ride), and visited some dear friends (and missed visiting many others!). Later with Sam we played at chic-fil-a (when did Logan get a chic-fil-a??), and ate at our favorite Firehouse Pizza with Uncle Jacob (our family's newest Aggie!)

 And, of course, enjoyed some yummy Aggie ice cream.

Everyone needs a little time, sometimes, to get your feet back on the ground, right? Our one-nighter in Logan was that for me. Life has been a little crazy the last couple of months, and I felt I was just being pulled along--dragged by one too many "to-do's." My fond memories of Logan offer me a kind of mystique, in a way, and I'll forever be grateful for the few years I had to live, work, and study there.

The Fortune

Well, well, well. The most interesting fortune I can ever recall opening.

A Day-Dream Come True

I was never one to really day-dream or fantasize about boys and dating like other girls do. But during high school, I did have one little smidgen of a fantasy: to receive a kiss underneath an awesome firework show.

But, I wasn't one to give kisses so easily, especially with a bunch of my friends and/or family around.

When Sam and I were dating and engaged, I thought the time had come. But we were in Evanston, Wyoming, and the fireworks there are puny--absolutely nothing like the holiday and festival shows in Utah.

This past weekend, my little day-dream came back to me as I sat with Winston in my lap and holding hands with Sam as we watched fireworks two evenings in a row. Winston was so excited, and so cuddly. I couldn't help but feel his excitement for the "big boom" as he called them.

I turned my head to see Winston, and this is what I saw:

Now that, my friends, is true love. Maybe not the kind of love I once dreamed. But it is the truest, true love ever.

Winston, enjoying some red and orange peppers before the fireworks. He LOVES red peppers.

Grow. Please, Grow.

Over the last few months, Sam took apart the retaining wall he made last summer to make some improvements. We also added in more dirt and over memorial day weekend planted flowers.

I don't have a before photo, but it was just weedy grass sloped down to the driveway, with a honkin' old ugly railroad tie beam at the bottom. I love the new retaining wall.

Last year's memorial day weekend we planted flowers just in the front section of our house, and they died so quickly because of snails and earwigs. I'm surprised that our lilies actually came back, because they were pretty sad looking last year. I can't wait for them to bloom.

When we first moved into the home, this little rose bush looked pretty icky. We trimmed it way, way, down, chasing away lots of spiders and snails. Right now it is lovely!

We waited a little too long to plant some grass seed in patchy areas. But, it's now coming in and look how cute the fresh new stuff is. :)

Now, if I could just get this weather to warm up (May was quite chilly around these parts), we'd have some other blooms to show you. Hopefully soon.

It has surprised me how much fun it is to plant flowers, and how much excitement and anticipation I feel waiting for growth and color.

Month of Love: I Love Yoga

There are a few things I look forward to every morning: 1) getting back in bed in roughly 15-16 hours, 2) eating breakfast, and 3) practicing yoga.

I love how long and lean I feel after a good few minutes of yoga. I reach and stretch so much I really think I'm taller. And thinner. And that feels great. And then I find myself out of breath from the movements. And the next day I'm sore from working and building muscles. I love those feelings. And I get them every time I do yoga.

I know it looks like me (haha!), but really it's just an image I googled. :)

I think Winston must like it, too. He always giggles when he sees me do it. And then he tackles me, or shoves his face right up against mine when I get into downward dog. It's hilarious, and I can never seem to firmly tell him to leave me alone so I can finish; it's just too cute! We just wrestle and laugh.

He's picked up on some yoga, too.

'Tis the Season at our Home

After the Big Feast and Black Friday shopping, we messed our house with all the boxes of decor.

Sam attempted to hurt himself when the ladder slid out from under him while hanging Christmas lights. Scared the beegeebees out of me (and him), but he's fine (phew!), and the lights are up. So far, we're the only ones in our neighborhood with lights up and on outside. Where's the Christmas love?

Winston loves it all. The books. The music. The ornaments (maybe a little too much). The dancing snowman. The popcorn tin full of Christmas toys, stuffed Santas, and bells.

Our Christmas cactus is right on time with its blooms. The poinsettias are the perfect touch. And today the advent calendars begin.

I always love this time of year, but this year in our own home with a cute little tot, it's even better.

Photo Booth Fun

My Mac-user friends already know that one of the totally cool things about macs is the built in camera. Along with easy skype abilities and the like, it has a photo booth program to take pictures with multiple effects.

To pass some cold-weather time last week, Winston and I had a grand ol' time playing around with it. I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks.

If you watch until near the end, you'll see Jay Leno. It's hilarious. 

Some Things are Worth Keeping

You all know I'm a dejunker; I love to get rid of stuff. I almost always have a growing pile waiting to take to the thrift store.

Well, tonight I am glad that I have kept a few things.

For Halloween this year, I borrowed a dragon costume for Little Dude and thought Sam could go as a knight and I could go as a princess. I figured it would be easy as I have a few formal dresses I can choose from leftover from high school dances.

I opened the closet to pick one and noticed my bridesmaid dress from my brother Jason's wedding in 1997. 13 years ago. I put it over my clothes and ran out to show Sam, totally not expecting it to fit, but to make Sam laugh.

Laugh he did.

Laugh I did.

And then Sam zipped it up.

It actually does fit (though I am a little bit taller and a little more curvy now than I was when I was 12, go figure...no pun intended, honestly).

Check me out as a bridesmaid 13 years ago.

My oldest brother, Jason, and me (age 12)

My oh my how styles change so quickly.
Even my own wedding 5 1/2 years ago looks "out of style" compared to styles today.

I also scrounged up my old tiara from when I was in my high school's homecoming royalty in 2002. Pair that with the lovely peach dress and viola! I'm a princess!

A damsel in distress with an oh-so-scary dragon, waiting for my knight in shining armor...

So, I guess some things are worth keeping around all these years. If for nothing else, at least for a good laugh.

For Simplicity's Sake

Sam was asked to speak in church today on Pres. Uchtdorf's latest general conference talk, entitled Of Things That Matter Most. It's a perfect reminder to reflect on the balance of things in your life.

Just a few days ago we took a short-but-sweet road trip with Sam's sisters down to southern Utah to see a show at Tuachan and to visit Sam's grandparents. As I look at the photos of the trip (thanks for remembering your camera, Eliza...), I'm reminded of the simple joys surrounding us.

Things like:

Powdered doughnuts and loving Aunties,

park time,

feeding unabashed fowls,

family (and, yes, that's a feather in Winston's hair),

and great food, to name a few.

Here's to a week of calm, Autumn-promising weather, and time to focus on re-balancing (and maybe un-balancing) in order to find a more perfect balance of the things that really do matter most.

Cruisin' in My Automobile Part 2

Remember this car? Well, Winston now has a Buzz Lightyear car, powered by Crystalic Fusion, or Footpower. Watch him fly by.

It also has some great buttons to push...

Things I Love Lately

• bowls of icecream from the $0.99 quarts stocked in my freezer from Smith's grocery store.
• longer periods of sleep that Winston has finally discovered after 13 months of life (who knew you could get so much done in 60-90 minutes during the day?).
• bike rides (even though my brakes are barely working...).
• crossing one more thing off our HUGE--and still growing-- to-do-around-the-house list.
• blackbean cheeseburgers

Crazy Hair Day

Some days are just a little like this.

Which reminds me of this.

First Giggles

Thanks to all who helped us figure the too-large video thingy out.

He giggled a few times before this, but this is the first really good one we caught on camera. I laughed so hard my side and mouth hurt.

Luxury Living

We have a few things in this apartment that we've never had before (since moving away from our parents' homes years ago).

Namely:

- an automatic dishwasher

- central air

- a garbage disposal

- a coat closet

- a counter in the bathroom

Aww...the luxury (hahaha).

Fresh Flowers

I often think about how nice it would be to live somewhere like DC or Amsterdam and be able to buy fresh flowers from the numerous corner flower stands as often as they need replaced. I love fresh flowers and how they brighten up a room.

A few weeks ago, Sam came home with a huge amount of wild flowers. (That's not illegal is it? To pick wild flowers from the mountains?) I arranged them and placed them around our little apartment. I even took one vase with me to church for a table decoration for the YW lesson I taught.

Aww...the bright fresh-ness of bright fresh flowers.

Moments Like These

Moments and beauties of the earth like these renew my faith in The Creator of our world, our bodies, and our spirits. (as seen from the flight from Detroit to Salt Lake City last week)