I moved pretty much every year 29 years and have lived in 5 different states - so I kinda get that moving. I lived in 5 different placed in this state and pretty much disliked them all until the last one - the county and area we live in now, I really like. I feel at home and connected because I made a good group of friends and I feel like I can breathe in this space. I grew up in wide open spaces, mostly, and live in a high-densitiy state now, so it was a big change. The county I'm in now is more rural but we're still close enough to everything we need. This is my first time owning a house, maybe my last too, but it feels like my home. I dont know, I have issues with it and sometimes consider leaving it, but I really don't want to. I think I'm pretty content to stay here, plus my babies were born upstairs too and that also makes me feel more cemented. I lived in another state before and felt more 'home' like to the area but not as tight to the people. If I could combine that place with where I am now somehow, I think it would be perfect, but since this is what it is, I think it's good enough and home. It's been 5 years now and the longest I've ever lived in one place. I don't really see myself here into old age, or at least, I wish my neighbors weren't so close, but if I'm here in 40 more years I won't be surprised either.

I think you need to get a ProClick and trim off all those bindings. I agree that 3-ring binders are a pain to work with. :) Store spiral bound also a great option too. :)

Today I'm making a purse-friendly printed contacts form. Trying to debate what all to include beyond family members and the kids doctor. Maybe our primary bank phone numbers would be a good addition too. I am still trying to work out why I would need this printed out and keep going with the assumption of in case of emergency and it could make it easier, maybe for someone to contact my family. But also trying to think about what situations I may need the list as well (as opposed to all the info on my phone already) - perhaps numbers to contact CC companies to cancel all cards? Of course, if someone has my cards, they probably have this print out too. eta: well.. was making progress, halfway done - of course hadn't saved my work - and computer died on me, no recovered file to go back to. Ha! Teach me to feel like I'm making progress. Well the kitchen is getting cleaner at the same time at least.

For people wanting to add green smoothies to their diet, I suggest starting very very small. Add one small handful of spinach to your normal fruit smoothie - you won't taste it. Later, add 2 handfuls and you still probably won't taste it. And slowly work forward until you find yourself cramming your blender full of spinach and having to blend it down just to fit in some fruit or some ice. Now in this process, it does taste more green. But I read an interesting argument that both sounded both good enough and really seemed to match mine and dh's experience: as your body gets more green, it wants more green. So as you add a bit more and more, your body and your tastes really start to crave it and so while it stats to taste more veggie like, you find yourself enjoying the taste. I compare it to really fresh and bright taste - dh sometimes says more like grass, but in a good way (?), but you don't have to start there. My smoothies are very very green and they taste very green now and it's like wonderfulness in a glass, but it took a little time to get there. I tried to start dh much further ahead in the process and he didn't like it at all, so I backed up, and now he'll point out when it's been too long since he's had one (work means he misses a lot of my kitchen-awesomeness).

It could be that a large hoop would be easier to keep going. I read a neat article of a gal that got started and ended up needing a really large hoop to really make progress at first. But practicing works too, I suppose, I just need encouragement in order to keep going so I make things as easy as possible to start. I'm planning to make my first a bit larger than usual, plus I'm making the girls some too so I'll have other options. But still trying to figure out where to store them and how to not get too obsessed and have hoops taking over my house. :)

I have made ours, we use the dehydrator to keep it at proper temp. I made mine with raw milk and was ended up with very runny yogurt because I didn't want to overheat it either - well that was only useful for smoothies. Straining felt like a major waist because a lot of liquid strained out and little was left. So I now make mine at high temps, heating to 180 I believe, and totally solved the issue. Decided I cared more about texture and fermented benefits of yogurt than keeping my raw milk raw. :)

Okay, found one link that has the image I saw before but can't seem to find the original source blog (frustrating! wishing I'd saved it in Evernote now) but also addresses the concept: http://heartofwisdom.com/heartathome/2012/06/01/how-to-make-salad-in-a-jar/ Veggies that I chop or shredded in advanced: carrots, peppers, cucumber, zucchini, celery. I also like to make simple salsa with tomatoes and cucumbers and often use that, with some seasonings, as my dressing when it's wet enough. But it can still be quick to pull out all the containers and toss together a salad - I'm just feeling really lazy lately and even doing that feeling like too much work - so I'll make up some Salads in a jar instead. I expect they'll last up to 5 days tops, but that's just a guess and I'm also fussy about flavors changing and such.

I am excited for you! I blended everything under the sun for a few weeks when we got ours. I might have spent as much on produce that first month as I did for the blender, at least it felt like it. :)

I have done individual salads in a mason jar, an idea I saw somewhere. I plan to make it weekly prep because it actually worked really well. You assembled them so that the wet ingredients or dressing is on the bottom and then prgressively lighter items and things like cheese next and then lettuce. Since I make dressing, I'll leave that off because my homemade stuff solidified in the fridge. I've taken them camping before to the beach and they were great. link: ran out of time to find a link - lots of options out there if you google. I have also just prepped veggies in advance and stored them in containers, pull many containers out, make salad, enjoy.

So I'm curious how the weighted hoop works out. I've read different opinions on them - some saying they're awesome for fitness and others saying they just increase bruising and to pump up fitness by spinning faster/harder/more active/whatever. I told DH what I need to to go ahead and make one and it sounds like he just might have something in the workshop, woot. Love it when the materials I need are on hand somewhere.

Well you are the straw that broke the camels back - going to scrounge up the materials and finally make myself one. I did poi (fire spinning) for a long time and then hooping because the next big thing in my community and I never wanted to even give it a try. But it sounds like the perfect thing to get moving at home more.

Looks good, I also like the Dollar Tree bins for organizing things - all about cheap options. I use them in our cabinets/pantry to make things neater. :) And what is with the green? I have collapsible baskets that I really like the size and used them in the fridge, but would have liked something other than green. But I care more about things being neat than the exact color I want and I'm just thankful it's not neon-pink zebra print.

Me! I've had a couple weeks of just not feeling well or being really blah and little has gotten done. I'm happy to feel energized and motivated today. Todays plan: clean and declutter the kitchen. So far have scrubbed half the floor.

How has your perspective changed over time and how often do you wish you could go back in time with the new outlook? I was thinking about some cleaning/decluttering tasks I need to tackle and realized that with just 2 young children that are not-as-needy as they once were - it is probably far easier and more manageable than I was making it out to be. And thinking about the many families here, I thought there were probably more than a few that would think 'I would love to tackle a (house) project with just two content littles about and no schooling (or other obligations) that needs done." It was an encouraging thought for me. Just like I struggled so much when my second was a baby (fyi my oldest was a teen then - so it was like a new first baby), every task was so hard to accomplish it seemed and I was so overwhelmed. And then the third baby came and suddenly every time that I had only the baby, I could do three-times more than when I had them both. Having just the baby was such a cake walk and I would happily go grocery shopping and run errands with her, whereas with her bigger sister was the only baby all those tasks were so hard. So, just an example of considering my situation now and how I'll probably look back at some point and think "oh if only I had realized how much easier it was then, I would tried more and been easier on myself too." Important!!!!! This isn't to judge anyone feeling overwhelmed at any life stage (1 baby, 1 school age child, or any combination of more children) AT ALL, it is not. I've been there and will be there so many more times in feeling overwhelmed and struggling. So please please do not feel judged or like you're not doing enough to hear how other's perspective changed or where it is now. I find small shifts in perspective really helps me and I'd love to hear other's experiences with this. Always be gentle with yourself and others and know whatever the best your doing now is totally good enough.

I have the plastic ones and most people have said that the bowing isn't a big enough issue to not use the plastic and their kids were fine with it. But I can't stand that 10 tens lined up next to each other isn't the same length as a ten-rod -- so we will be buying wooden rods for our curriculum this fall. The only complaint about the wooden rods I've heard is they're a bit soft, so easy to dent with teeth marks. That is what turned me off the first time, having toddlers that mouth things still sometimes, but I think I can live with a few teeth marks (IF that happens) more than I can live with the bowing sides of the plastic rods.

I finally took some photos and added a few more details to my experience with these. Since I really hate to give a negative review of a product, especially since I rely so heavily on others' experience when making purchases myself, I wanted to provide more thorough feedback. This is the photo album with photos of the binding and details of the problems I had with Zip Bind binding: www.flickr.com/photos/xixstar/sets/72157632914461392/ I'm not sure they'd stand up to children using Zip Bind bound documents because it feels like they won't take much pressure to pop them back open. But since I only have 2 to test and wanted to get use out of the already-damaged-one, I didn't test this thoroughly for fear of breaking more rings. When I find the second one I have for testing, I'll see how sturdy they are with typical child use and will update this photo set when I do. I would really like to love these because I already own a comb binding machine. They do lay flat, which is what I really care about, but the cost works out to about $0.65/each (buying a 50pk) compared to $0.13/each (buying 100pk) for 3:1 spiral bindings or $0.49/each (100pk) for ProClick bindings. These are based on the 5/8" size I chose at random.

I read through tomorrow's assignment, hoping it'd have a clue about todays task. But I really needed the reminder near the end to do these small tasks and don't ignore them (to me: just because they're not as exciting as clearing out more visible clutter) because they're leading in to taming incoming paper clutter. That is one of my biggest challenges, incoming paper. This weeks' assignments are very much things I often have in the back of my mind of 'I need to do that' so yay, this week will get them done. I'm going to try to do 2 challenges a day, one old and one current, to catch up (because I'd love to tackle my kitchen right now) but also not going to let that be an excuse to do nothing either. If it's just 1 challenge, that is still major progress.

Hmm, I just found this and am joining in since decluttering is an ongoing adventure in my house. I'm feeling a little dorkish in that I don't really understand today's mission: Create template for weekly errands and shopping list. I see she already created a grocery shopping list, so that's not on the agenda, yes? What do I need a template for weekly errands? And I don't think I really have that many weekly errands anyways, as in, I don't have anything that is done on consistent days (grocery shop - sun, buy gas - mon). Though my old flylady journal does kinda have something like that. Maybe I should just update my weekly routines page in my flylady journal? Or just do an older task.

Thank you, looks like you put all your space to great use, love how nooks and crannies are used. We do the same as well. My husband doesn't realize it, but he thanks you for this whole thread. I can stop wondering why everyone else has these large sparsely furnished homes to live in - so happy to see many people with books and life and such. :)

I think the doors make a big difference, I think I stuggle with this because our space is all open shelving (even the dining room is 5 bookshelves that are a mess of stuff) and I think I would find it far less overwhelming if I didn't have to see it all. Now if only DH felt the same, he really likes to see everything, even it it's all a mess. What a great use of space and way to make it work for you. I am so grateful for this thread because I really get all up in my head feeling uppity and frustrated and down on my space because I get so caught up thinking it should be magazine style (because that is the style I like to look at) but really getting more of a sense that full of life and living really is great as well. I'm letting go a lot of my obsession over feeling like I need things to look a certain way - I'm evening inviting family over which we've not done in year because of the clutter and tight space, but now realizing I need to just enjoy life where it is and stop obsessing over where it could be (well maybe could be).

I define my pantry as both the dry pantry storage and my freezer storage. But primarily in the pantry are stock ingredients like: home canned jams/jellies, applesauce, broth (lots of this, we use tons) and anything else I've canned like pickles or whatever(hopefully will be more next year). I then also have lots of canned tomatoes in various forms - I have a shelf for tomato products it seems. Cans of coconut milk and then jars/can of seasoning items like hosin sauce, curry paste, soy sauce, etc. I also maintain a shelf of canned fruits, which we don't eat often but when the grocery budget is gone and all the fresh produce has been consumed, they get gobbled up. Also, some recipes I use need canned fruit - but that is like 1x a year or so. And canned beans but that isn't a lot. Also buy canned meats like tuna and chicken for quick last minute meals or often for food pantry donation too. Then there is the pasta shapes, I don't like spaghetti so the shapes take up more room. And there is a storage of spaghetti sauce too - usually 10-12 jars at least (we use 2 per meal). And also stuff for my oldest like ramen when I'm feeling nice. Then there is the storage of rice, purchased 25# at a time (lasts a long time in a 5 gallon bucket) and all the sugars and flours that also take us a long time to get through. Oh and the other rices, though I try to just stick with one kind for 6 months or so, and all the dried beans. Oh and snack items like nuts and dried fruit too, but I don't store too heavily on those because not everything lasts a long time - But there should always be another jar/bag in the pantry to replace what is open. So with things stocked, the only things at the store I need to buy are dairy products and produce (not so much in summer when garden is producing). I buy meat in bulk as well and often cheese too for freezer storage. I stock up when things run low and try to just keep a usual stock level, I start feeling panicked when our food stores are low. I spent many years being food-insecure without enough to eat, so I just feel emotionally better when we have more. Also when something comes up like unexpected expense or whatever, we have several weeks worth of food to eat without feeling it and we could easily drop our grocery budget to almost nothing for a month and be fine. I would love to have a year of food storage for possibilities of natural disaster but more so as backup for job loss or other economic issue - like an illness or injury. One thing to have savings in the bank, but I'd feel much better if I also knew we'd eat well. I've seen some great videos and resources online for building food storage based on how you eat - so no buying 50# bags of wheat berries if you don't eat wheat or wouldn't grind flour and don't have 50# of black beans if you don't eat them now. But instead look at any pantry meals you eat now (lentils and rice? bean soup? spaghetti?) and make out a 3-month, 6-month, 12-month plan for how many meals and much food you'd need on hand to eat that long. Also realize that canning can offer a lot too like canned soups and such to deal with lack of product and you can dehydrate produce too, which I've done a little of but haven't been impressed with reconstituted items from it yet.

Oh wow, thank you, shows a great use of making the space work for both functions!

Are they being slept in or just stored for the moment? One of the other no-more-kids arguments is having the 2 littles in our room, they're in they're own bunkbeds and it does feel a little like two rooms with the divider. And we could put a crib back next to our bed - I know that set up sleeps 2 adults and 2 babes alright since we did that for almost 2 years before adding the bunkbeds. But well, there is only so much sanity of having small children in your room, right? Part of me thinks that if/when oldest moves out, we'll just move into her room and then the kids get a giant bedroom/playroom (we could even add a wood-burning stove to the room - if it was more playroom). Otherwise, it'd be kicking dh out of his office and putting them in a room (with no closet - joy of old houses) that is only big enough for the bunkbeds and nothing else.

Maybe I'll take a new living room photo since it looks different now (and will probably change in 6 months too) - but I am happy with how the shelves organize the play toys for now. I really hate bin style storage because then everything just gets thrown in and I don't like how it isn't easy to get what you want or mixes things up too much. But adding more children does still make me wonder if it could work out because I don't see that space getting any bigger. Here is my craft room space, it has a shelf to hold the toys and activities in rotation for the schooling area and living room play. And then bookshelves for learning specific and art activities. Plus I have a bit too much in terms of craft supplies and business supplies still, but this is a major improvement over where it was a year ago. But adding more to this room isn't really feasible anymore. Photo Description: Storage shelf for games/activities and shelf for fabric. To right is the bookshelves for available activities and books and such. The table here is the one for the kids to use. Fabric and Kid Stuff by xixstar, on Flickr Photo Description: Broader photo of the same area -- the shelves aren't as empty anymore. As if that would last long like I hoped. But I do love being able to sew or work at my table with them in the same space. Fun for everyone. by xixstar, on Flickr Photo Description: This is looking from the above point in the other direction - my main sewing area. Cutting table and sewing tables and all the machines. It's never actually this neat. Sewing Area by xixstar, on Flickr Photo Description: And this wall is fabric and craft and business storage - it's been decluttered a lot to get down to this but I still have some more I could remove... Storage Bins by xixstar, on Flickr I think I've done a pretty good job of making this space useful and accessible but it can't handle more stuff in there either. It used to just be my space one until we re-did it to add activity space for the girls too. I don't use our dinging room for anything because most of dh's hoarder storage stuff is in there and the space overwhelms me, so we just eat in there. That means all of the "living" in our house is done in either the living room or this room (and the kitchen for all the food prep too). ETA: To clarify, other than our bedroom, the craft room is the largest room in our house and I don't feel like it is a small space. But since we maintain it for crafting/making/doing/schooling, I still feel a little cramped in our whole house because I feel like I define my house as this room and the tiny living room.

Thank you, that's great! And also super happy to see projects in process too, I get too caught up on feeling like I need things done and nice looking now and reality means would could work on more progress if in smaller increments. Love this actually! I've seen some tiny house living and it wasn't as inspirational as this space to me for some reason. And I love the table by the couch too - makes me think about hosting a small birthday party here (adding 5 more adults to our space - I never host for lack of space). Thank you! I really like the idea of concealed storage.