An alternative to the New Year's Resolution

Tonight I stumbled upon a new blog I haven't seen before Practical Parenting where the author spoke about focusing on the happy stuff for the new year instead of making resolutions that we don't follow through. Her first post titled Project Happy launches a great way to think about the new year and a great way to focus on  even the smallest moment of joy each day.

I know personally this would be a great project for me to be part of. I could  really use this kick in the  pants and focus on the happiness in my every day existence. I also know that documenting my happiness weekly will be very challenging. It means changing the way I think and making an effort to comment on what makes me smile each day.

My happiness today was listening to my son laughing as I tossed him in the air and completing my gift to my husband...a few day late

Living with less...toys

As my son's mother I of course want the best for him this includes appropriate toys. The first question that arises is who deems the toys to be appropriate? At the moment its me and I am making the determination by reading articles online about age appropriate toys. I also have personal preferences for having as few battery operated items in the home as I feel its wasteful and who needs all the noise that battery operated toys bring!
I blogged last year about this same topic on my other blog. Christmas Musings I still feel the same way a year later and have not made any decisions or come to any conclusions regarding our Christmas celebrations.

With these thing in mind I have continued to narrow down the toys we have out for Saylor to play with by going through the wooden toy box and removing toys that were no longer age appropriate or he wasn't playing with. I also took all of the the toys out of the toy box and put what I was going to leave out for him on a book shelf I moved from another part of the house.

Saylor has books and toys he can access any time and in the 2 pink totes a wonderful set of wooden blocks. Pete and I have noticed that Saylor is being more selective in what he chooses to play with now and there are fewer to strewn around. After iChristmas is over and life returns to its normal rythms I will once again go through his toys and put a few away  for a little while. So that he can have  something "new" to play with later on.

I have also found some wonderful blog posts that reflect my feelings about living with less.
Loving earth mama -why having less toys may bring more happiness and The mother co - Too many toys

I had a wonderful experience yesterday that truly renewed my belief in the spirit of the season. On a whim Pete, myself, Saylor and Ana (aka Grandma) decided to go out for lunch in a local community called Chemainus . We always eat at the Willow street cafe where the food is made on the spot and always delicious! The cafe wasn't very busy so we quickly got our food and enjoyed every bite. We had come to the end of our meal and we were packing up to go when a fellow approached our table and gave Saylor a wonderful toy handmade by this fellow Grandfather. I wish we had gotten his name! What a wonderful surprise and I am so grateful for the reminder about the spirit of the season.

I may be choosing to live with less and be trying to eliminate some of the clutter in our lives but I have a feeling this toy will be hanging around our home for a very long time.

This was difficult to get a picture of. It is a little figure with moving limbs hanging from a bit of elastic. When the "ladder" is moved the figure spins around like a gymnast. Thanks again to this fellow who brightened up our day and shared some Christmas spirit.

A Switch in Some of my thinking

I have had this post hanging around between my ears for over a week now. I prefer to plan my blog posts in my head comming up with my titles and some of the subject matter before I start writing. I know other bloggers have a note book dedicated to this process. I think that's a great idea I also know its not something I would maintain. On to the real topic.

Over the last three or four months I have been gradually de cluttering and getting rid of items we are no longer using or have no reason to store for future use. I made a large donation to charity and I have been using a couple different swap 'n shop pages on Facebook to sell other items. I have even sorted through my son's toys in anticipation of a few gifts being received at Christmas.

The aspect of this project that inspired me write about the process is knowing I need resist the urge to go out and purchase more items with the cash from selling what I can. To curtail my spending I have made goal of buying Saylor a new bed by his next birthday in May. I know I need to save up at least $500 for a bed,mattress and bedding. With a goal in my mind it motivates me to think differently about the small amounts of cash I make from selling things here and there. If I hang onto the money it will add up and I can meet my goal.

Previously I would get a little money in and I would immediatly find a way to spend it. Now I need to recognize my goal and make that my priority. I am going to try to write down the items I think I need or want and then wait a week before I rush out and buy something unless its food related.

I am feeling really good with my progress but I also know I have more work to do. I find it really difficult to maintain my momentum with this de- cluttering project.