Any day now. . .

It feels strange being away from this blog for so long. I wanted to leave an update so that anyone who follows our blog can know that I'm still alive (and still pregnant.) I'm at 38 1/2 weeks and I'm hoping this baby will arrive any day now!  I'm at that beloved point in pregnancy when everyone starts saying "you look like you are about to pop!"

No, that's not a watermelon under my shirt. . . or a beach ball.  (I guess I do look like I'm about to pop!)

My boys were comparing bellies with me. 

I love my family more than anything in the whole entire world and I am thrilled to meet our new addition.

If all goes as planned I will be enduced on Tuesday night and he should arrive on Wednesday! Wish us luck as our tribe of 4 becomes a tribe of 5.

Bring on the adventure!

Finding your inspiration

Like writer's block, sometimes your creativity can go into a slump. Sometimes the creative juices refuse to flow.
What do you do when this happens?

Here's what I do.

I remember back to that first day that I said to myself "You are pretty good at this. You should start a business!"
I think about how I felt, and how I knew I couldn't fail. I had so many ideas that I had written down and so many more waiting to burst out of my brain.
Where did I put that notebook anyway?  Ah, there it is.
Then I look through the pages and remember how much fun it was coming up with ideas and building my projects. Not work, just fun.

Now I remember why I started doing this. It's fun!!

Take a step back and look at the big picture. Money is nice but freedom is countless times better! I love how creating makes me feel free. I love when someone really enjoys and appreciates my designs!



Now that I'm feeling better about myself it is easier to move on to the next part of the creative process: Inspiration!

What inspires you?

I have 2 little boys (soon to be 3!) and they are the most inspiring part of my life. It really shows in my work because, as you can tell, Cantaloupe Corner is chalk full of little boy's designs. Trains, crayons, robots, guitars. . .
So many of my designs are inspired by the things that my boys love or sometimes it is what I see when I look at them. Add that to my more-than-slightly cheesy sense of humor and you get clever sayings and fun designs.
I am also inspired by nature, anything vintage, music, and random everyday stuff.

Think about the things that make you really happy, or really curious, or things that create other strong emotions.
Inspiration comes when you allow those feelings to rise to the surface and you give them direction.


Go for a walk. Take a small note pad with you. Use your senses to touch, see, hear, and smell the world around you. Write down the things that make you feel alive inside.
This is a way to dig deep into yourself and find out who you really are.
Keep this notebook with you in your purse or bag. Look back on your inspirations often and add to them everyday.

-Last night the color of the sunset was so beautiful! I think I want to make something in that esquisite color.
-My kids were acting like they were robots today and their favorite robot line is simply "I am a Robot". I wonder if a 2 year old can do the Robot dance.
- I need to find a good cause to donate some of my time and money too. Who is it and what can I do to help?


The best art comes from that place deep inside your heart. If you are passionate about what you do, people will feel that passion. They can sense it. Don't create what you think the world wants from you. Create what you really are. Each item you create, whether it's t-shirts, sculptures, jewelry, or baby bibs,  should have a little bit of you in it.


When you feel in a slump, look back on all of this inspiration. Often you have great ideas or inspired words that you have written down but haven't done anything with. Get started!


Need a kick in the pants to get you going?
Once you have an inspired creative idea you have roughly 90 seconds to WRITE IT DOWN! If you let this 90 seconds go by and don't take any initiative on your idea it will soon be gone, never to return again. You never know when your million dollar idea will come.

Some of my best t-shirt ideas came to me at 5:00 a.m. I keep a notebook at my bedside so I can write down my favorite ideas as soon as they come.

So even if you are still feeling like you are in a creative pigeon hole, don't fret! Sometimes your brain just needs a break. Soon you will be writing down new, fresh ideas.

But my best advice is to just keep at it. Often a slump can lead to good things! It helps you to look back and see what you have done and look forward to what you will be. Sometimes it leads you in a new direction. Follow your heart and your inspiration and they will never lead you wrong.




P.S. Don't forget to join our Inked Tote Giveaway!

Spring Cleaning - Step #1

It's that time of year again.
Can you feel it in the air?

I've been feeling it for a while now. Not only have my maternal nesting instincts kicked in but it has felt like spring here for over a month. We have even enjoyed temperatures dangerously close to the triple digit mark. yikes! (Did I say enjoyed? I meant tolerated.)

I have busily been moving from room to room decluttering and cleaning. I still have a looooong way to go. As we all know, the house is never clean enough for an expecting mother. (BTW, only 6.5 weeks to go, and counting!! eee!)


Roll up your sleeves and apply some elbow grease because we are digging into some SPRING CLEANING!


Step #1: Declutter and Simplify

Declutter
I'm kind of a pack rat and decluttering can be emotionally traumatic for me. I don't like to do it, but I can't tell you how good I feel when it is done. Freedom!!!!

One room at a time, go through your drawers, cupboards, boxes, totes, bookcases, etc. and sort anything you aren't using into 2 piles: DONATE and THROW AWAY.

Keep in mind that the things you keep should be of value to you. If it doesn't mean anything to you and you aren't using it, get rid of it! Donate any nicer items that someone else would be able to use or enjoy.

REALLY think about it's value to you.
-Does it have sentimental value?
-Are you currently using it?
-Will you for sure be using it in the near future, or when it is in season?
-Does it add to the beauty and function of your life and home?

If it doesn't qualify for any of these, it is much better to get it out of your house.


Last week I took an SUV full of old clothes, books, toys, linens, blankets, decorations, etc. to Deseret Industries (D.I.). If you don't know about D.I., they are a thrift store set up by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. It works just like Goodwill.  They take donations and use the store as a way to offer job training and employment for those in need.
I choose to donate rather than to hold a garage sale because I love the feeling that my nicer items are really helping my community. And it saves me the work of sorting, pricing, and spending a day in the blazing sun.

-Take your "Donate" pile to the thrift store within a week of sorting to make sure it doesn't get forgotten or stuffed in the garage or spare room. (We've all done it.)

-Take care of your trash as quickly as possible also. If you don't have room in the garbage for bigger items, set up a pick up day with your local sanitation program, or find a friend with a truck and head to the landfill. Just get that stuff out of your house ASAP.


SIMPLIFY:
Don't let those "hot spots" get cluttered up again. If you find places in your home where things tend to pile up, come up with an organization solution.
-Do you need a wastebasket to catch incoming junk mail?
-A mail sorter?
-Somewhere to hang coats and backpack, or store shoes?
-Maybe a basket for keys, and other items that we drop as soon as we come through the door?
-A filing system for bills and important papers, or coupons?

Take care of these problems now before they return to the terrible, menacing piles that they were before.

Whatever the area is, think "simplify, simplify, simplify."




Once the clutter is gone, take a deep breath. You just tackled the hardest part of Spring Cleaning!

Spring cleaning isn't just about spotless floors and clean cupboards.When you simplify your home you are also simplifying your life. Clutter in your home = Clutter in your life. Declutter your home and you will feel more organized and less stressed.
When you feel at peace with your surroundings you will find more happiness and peace in your life also.

I'm going through the life/home decluttering process too. The more "stuff" I can let go of in my home the better I feel. It really is a weight off my shoulders.

My new favorite quote is "Simplicity is the greatest form of sophistication." (Thomas S. Monson)


Now that you are feeling lighter and more organized, we can start deep cleaning!

Happiness is : a positive thought

How are you feeling right this moment?

Tired?
Joyful?
Lonely?
Excited?
Overwhelmed?
Confused?
Bored?
Happy?
Stressed?
Hopeful?

We have so many things going on in our lives. And there are so many emotions we are going through, sometimes all at the same time.  It is exhausting!

Now take those emotions you are feeling and focus in on only the positive ones. Focus on the JOY, HAPPINESS, EXCITED, LOVING and PEACEFUL feelings. They may not be the strongest emotion you are feeling right now but empty the others out of your head, even if just for a minute. Find a smidgen of happiness amidst the chaos of life. And make that feeling grow until it fills you up.

Think of someone you love, something you love to do, or a place that makes you feel happy.
Your children, your spouse or significant other, your favorite sport, hobby, or project, or maybe a tropical island, or your home town.
Really feel the good emotions in your heart.


Now how are you feeling?

Positive thought are extraordinarily powerful. Just one or two positive thoughts can help you let go of the negative emotions and replace them with real, happy emotions.

 One of my favorite quotes is "There is no reality, only perception." This means that your world exists through your eyes. The way you see your world is what is real to you. So why not add some more happiness to your world by letting go of negative thoughts and holding on to positive thoughts. The only thing in life that you can completely control is your thoughts. Take advantage of that and make those thoughts the best they can be.


When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you think of?
The first thing I usually think is,
 "It is waaaay to early for me to be up!"
 "I have soooo much to do today. I don't think I can get it all done."
 "Why does my husband get to sleep in when I'm pregnant and I have to get up and feed the kids?"
"My back hurts and I don't want to be pregnant any more!"
(boo hoo)

So naturally I wake up grouchy. I make myself the victim of my circumstances. (Who wants to come visit me first thing in the morning? anyone?)


This week I have tried to control my emotions and thoughts from the start of the day. It's not easy to do. In fact, it is one of the hardest things I have ever attempted. My brain has been programmed to think negative thoughts first thing in the morning.
So I force myself to take a deep breath and think things like
" I can't wait to take my kids to do _________ today!",
"I love myself and my family because _________"
"I am going to be a better person today because __________"
"I am going to be a really good wife today and let my husband sleep in so he will have a better day at work."
"I am going to be happy today because I deserve to be happy!"
etc.


Has it made a difference?

Y-E-S!!!

Not only do I wake up feeling better, but the feeling carries over to my kids and husband too! I have noticed that the kids don't fight as much, I have more patience, my husband volunteers to help with breakfast, the cluttered house doesn't seem like such a pig sty, and we all enjoy being together so much more.
It has been a noticeable change. I can't believe I have been depriving me and my family of this much happiness all because I wanted to play the victim. How selfish of me.

Because it has been such a great experience, I want to invite all of you to try it too. All you have to do is think positive thoughts from the moment you wake up in the morning. I would love to hear how it goes for you!


A positive thought is a seed that when nurtured can grow into real happiness!
Plant more positive thoughts in your head and your life will become a happier place to live.

10 reasons not to buy ink-printed clothing

Top 10 Reasons Not to buy ink-printed clothing.

1. Plastisol inks, the most popular t-shirt printing inks, often need to be cleaned up using chemicals. Water based inks can require chemical clean ups if they dry onto the silkscreen, or other tools during printing. Ink-free printing involves only soap and water clean up.  Ink-free is the environmentally friendly choice.

2. Plastisol and Water Based inks are considered to be hazardous chemicals in their uncured state. They must be disposed of as such according to local regulations.

3. Inks may contain lead. American made inks are lead-free but lead is still found in inks purchased overseas.
  For example, HERE is a site that has recalled items, some containing lead in the screen printing ink.

4. You cannot iron a plastisol screen printed design, or many water based ink designs. The ink will melt and smear.

5. The design can also stick to itself or another item if it is put into a hot dryer or exposed to other forms of heat.

6. Over time, the ink will wear and break down, causing cracks in the design. This always happens to my favorite t-shirts.

7. Also, due to wear, the ink will fade over time. Ink-free shirts will look just as good wash after wash. There is nothing on them to fade of wear out.

8. The hand, or thickness and touch, of the ink design can be thick and sticky, or even scratchy. Even when water based inks are used you can still feel the design on the shirt. In contrast, ink-free printed shirts leave nothing but soft fabric for your fingers to touch.

9. The CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) 2008, requires that children's items must be lead free. If a company cannot prove that an item is lead free it must be tested by a third party. This drives up costs for children's ink-printed clothing.
Because we don't use ink, there is no concern about lead. And we can keep our costs down while still providing the highest quality toddler t-shirts available anywhere!

10. Everyone owns ink-printed clothing. There are so many screen printers out there that print using the same ol' inks. Be unique and choose something ink-free!

Creativity comes in many forms.

Sometimes it's hard to look at the bright side when your 2-year-old finds your makeup and smears your favorite mascara and eyeliner all over his cute little face.

:(

But I imagine that he is a budding artist and he is using his face as a canvas. At least that keeps me from yelling.

Our 4 year old is becoming quite the imaginitive builder. He LOVES his legos and this week he built himself a MONSTER TRAIN (monster truck/train hybrid) with big wheels and a "real" boiler filled with hot water.  I just wish that filling the "boiler" didn't involve flooding the bathroom counters and floor.  :)

 

No matter what form it comes in, I'm amazed and inspired by their creativity!

But I still get really nervous when the house goes quiet. . .

What kinds of mischief/creativity do your kids get into?

My new favorite photography toy!

I've had my semi-fancy Canon Rebel XT camera for almost 2 years now and I still have no idea how to unleash all of it's awesome capabilities. I'm a wanna-be photographer who hasn't had the extra time yet to take a good photography class. I have learned a ton from library books, websites, and photography blogs but there is always truck loads more information I want to cram into my brain.

One item that kept popping up all over the web labeled as a great tool and an inexpensive way to amp up your pics is this baby:  a 50mm Canon lens.

It's a small lens that packs a big punch!

After drooling over it for a long time I finally bought mine! At only about $120 it's an investment that won't empty your pockets.
 I just got mine in the mail last week. Holy monkeys! I can't tell you how excited I am to use this lens for my next Cantaloupe Corner photo shoot! It creates that nice blurry background that takes a picture from amatuer to professional in a single click.
My hubby thinks I'm a little crazy. The first time I tried out my lens I got so excited and started spouting out photography vocab like "aperature" and "ISO", words that I barely understand myself. I was seriously excited about the f1.8 aperature!
Here are a few random shots taken with the new lens.

I am sooooo digging the blurry backgrounds. 

This is Zues, he is our loyal mini Schnauzer. He loves to pose for photo ops.

They say that a good camera (or lense) is like an artist's paintbrush. Having a good camera doesn't make you a fantastic photographer but it can definately make a difference.

Now to practice with my new paintbrush!

Cardboard Boxes and Rain Puddles

They are cool, fun, and cheap, and much more exciting than whatever was inside when you got home from the store.

They are race cars, rockets, trains, houses, and lemonade stands.

You can't deny the attraction between kids and cardboard boxes.

Contents: Hours of creative entertainment.

Remember being this small and fitting so comfortably into such a cramped little space?


Refrigerator boxes are the best but any big box will do.

It is so fun having kids at this stage. Imaginations run wild around here.



We also love the rain.  Here in AZ rain only comes a few times a year. It makes me giddy to smell the rain in the air.
The kids love to run in the rain and jump in the puddles. The puddles may be (really) small but they are still boy magnets.

Ahh, the simple joys of being a kid.


Happy Saturday!

{ Counting my blessings }

Maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones, or the fact that I just pulled out all my teeny-tiny little newborn clothes out of the garage (oh my goodness! they are so cute!), but I am feeling overwhelmed with emotions today.

Above everything else in my life I am so incredibly thankful to be a mother.

My baby is 2 1/2 years old now and I am so amazed at how much change a little time can make. He is so smart, and curious, and mischievous. He jabbers all day long about important things like train cars and sippy cups.

I am so thankful for him.

My oldest is 4 1/2 and he is a know-it-all who always has to be right. It drives him crazy when I have to correct him. He also adores his little brother. He is kind, smart, and about 80% of the time he is really obedient. He cares so much about his friends and family, and he loves helping anyone he can.

I am so thankful for him.


In the past 4 1/2 years I have learned more about myself than at any other time in my life. Motherhood has taught me how little patience I have and how far I can go before I can feel my sanity slipping away. . . . .
or maybe it's already gone.

But far beyond that, Motherhood has taught me how strong I can be and how much love one person can feel.

With each day that passes I see my babies grow and learn and become independent. They are my best friends.

I am so thankful for them.


I am counting my blessings today because we get to welcome another sweet little one into our home in 2 months.  I am afraid, No, I am TERRIFIED of how hard it is going to be. But if I have learned one thing about being a mom it is that the benefits far outweigh all of the hard stuff.

I can't wait to hold him.

Happiness is. . . Passion

There are times when I want to stand on my soap box and scream at the top of my lungs to all of the people out there that are missing out on LIFE.

You know who I'm talking about:
The young guy that sits in his cubicle all day trying to make it to 5 'o clock just so he can race home and sit in front of the TV and watch his favorite reality or crime scene shows. Every day is the same thing. Work, TV, sleep, repeat. He never moves up in the company because he is comfortable with his life. Not happy, just comfortable.

Or maybe it's the girl who is waiting tables only because she doesn't feel like she is worth enough to get a better job. She would love to go back to school to be a nurse. She is a good people person afterall. But she has heard it is hard to get into the local nursing program. So she keeps going back to the same old smelly restaraunt job, day after day. Maybe she'll try school next year.

Or the old grey haired man that has been working at the same tedious, boring job for as long as he can remember. Not because he likes what he does, but because it is comfortable. Safe.  He hangs up pictures of Cancun and Fiji in his office but he knows he will never go. How could he miss that much work? Besides, he wouldn't really enjoy it anyways. right?



 I have close friends/family that live like this.  They watch the days tick by and hope that happiness will find them.


I'm sorry, but happiness doesn't just walk around knocking on people's doors. Happiness is a journey. An adventure!


On the other end of the spectrum there are the happiest people I know. They enjoy their jobs, even if they aren't making any money. They are thankful to be alive. They are full of PASSION!

Passion is a very personal feeling that comes when you find something that makes your life truly worth living. It can come from your children, your job, your hobby, a good cause, your business, or religion, or many other places. It is a feeling so strong you can't lock it up inside, you would EXPLODE.


Do you feel it?

What side of the spectrum are you on?


I have a dear friend that has just turned her life around just by throwing away the apathy and taking control of her happiness. She is a brilliant woman who I have always looked up to. An engineer making good money. But she felt stuck and depressed. So she made some goals to join a gym, lose weight, and she found more productive uses for her extra time and money! Talk about an amazing woman!! She is inspiring. She radiates happiness and it is contagious!

If you are feeling apathetic about life, find something to be passionate about.
Pick up a new hobby. Take a class. Go somewhere you have always wanted to go. Start up a new business. Make a new friend. HELP SOMEONE.


I am very blessed to be passionate about my job, motherhood, my beliefs, and my hobbies. In fact, I've been told I am overly-passionate sometimes. I get so caught up in hobbies, books, and other fantastically interesting things that I devote waaay too much time to them. (But it's totally worth it!)



I'll climb up on my soap box one more time and yell out, "WAKE UP! Don't spend another day wasting your life away! Life is so short and there is so much love and happiness out there to share! Find something that makes your life worth living!!!"

Ok, I'm done. I feel much better.

Thanks for listening.





I think I'll go read a book about gardening. I've always wanted to be a good gardener.

Strive to be debt free.

A prison is something that holds you captive.
It can be made of cement and iron bars, or it can be a vice like drugs, pornography, or debt.

I don't want to be a hypocrite, I am currently in debt. We are still paying for our car and we have 2 credit cards that we still owe on.  But compared to where we were a few years ago our position has vastly improved! We are slowly, and steadily digging ourselves our of our debt prison.

Society today convinces us that debt is a necessity to get where we want to be in life. If you want a nice car you have to have a car payment for the next 3-6 years. If you want a nice house you get a 30 year mortgage. Almost every department store has it's own buy now pay later plan. It's an instant gratification world out there.
And we fall for it.

The credit card companies are making billions of dollars off of interest and fees just so we can have that pair of shoes a month earlier than we would have if we paid cash.

 I was thinking today about happiness and what would make me a happier person. Paying off my debts was at the top of the list. In the last 2 years I have paid off 3 credit cards! (happy dance) There is NOTHING that compares to the feeling of sending in that last payment! I can't wait until we can send in the last payment on our car and our last 2 cards.

When I had my oldest son we went from a 2 income household down to 1 income. Our biggest mistake was not preparing ourselves for the change. We talked about it all the time but we never sat down and prepared a budget for just one salary. Old habits die hard and it took all of our savings and some credit card debt before we finally adjusted to our new life.

I read a popular book that has helped more than anything else. It is Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover". The concepts are simple and straightforward. Don't buy what you can't afford. But sometimes it takes hearing the stuff you already know out of the mouth of an expert to make it really sink in.

If you have debt you want to get rid of, you have to read this book!

I'm planning on paying off the rest of our debts withing the next 2 years (hopefully sooner) and knock down our debt prison walls for good! We no longer use our credit cards and we haven't missed them even a little bit. We can do this!

Being debt free = happiness!

Sunshine Saturday - Say Thanks!

I was reading this post on I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar this week and it gave me the kick in the pants I needed to set up a new goal for myself. I want to spread more sunshine!

She challenged her readers to leave a note for a restaurant server last week, and this week's challenge is to call up someone you haven't talked to in a while. Those little rays of sunshine can light up someones life!

My new goal is to give a thank you card at least once per week. Maybe to the sweet girl at the doctor's office that always takes the time to ask how I'm feeling, or maybe to my amazing sister that babysits my kids, or to a fellow shop owner who has inspired me.

When I am the receiver of a simple thank you note it changes my perspective on my day. My burdens seem a little lighter, my boy's don't drive me as crazy, and the feeling is contagious throughout the entire house. All from a simple thank you.

I received a few notes this week from thankful customers and each one made me feel like a million bucks!   Now I want to pass that feeling on to everyone!

And, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog and to everyone who supports Cantaloupe Corner!  Thank you for spreading your sunshine with us!

Happy living!

Have I ever mentioned that I lalalove what I do?

I do!

I am a Stay-at-Home/ Work-at-Home-mom and I have the unfathomable privilege of getting to use my creative side every day! YAAAY!

I have been thinking a lot about where I want to go with my business and my blog. I will be closing up shop for maternity leave at the end of April but I am planning on keeping the blog up and running.
Cantaloupe Corner has been successful because my customers (yes you!) appreciate high quality clothing free of harsh chemicals and inks. I try my best to live life with your children's mental and physical well-being at heart, and that starts at home with my own children.

At our house, we like to live as "clean" as we can. I don't mean that my house is clean. No, I still step on matchbox cars and Thomas trains every single day, my floor is always sprinkled with sand from the sandbox, and my sink is rarely empty. To me, living clean is keeping the hazardous, cancer causing junk, and anything morally or emotionally degrading away from our home and away from my kids.  I believe that when God made the earth he put everything here that we need to be healthy, strong and HAPPY!

Along with more craft tutorials and fun stuff, I want to include my own tips and tricks and new things I learn about living clean and happy while staying on budget.

I have already included my Fruit and Veggie Wash recipe. It is a great way to start kicking out much of the pesticides and gunk that lurk on your foods.


My tip for today is: SMILE!
Did you know that even if you are having a horrible day, smiling releases endorphines that will help you start feeling better as soon as the edges of your mouth start to turn up.

Try it.


Feeling better already?

{ Brightest Crayons } What you wear = who you are

Remember a few years ago when you walked into a store in the mall, like say. . . American Eagle, or Aeropostale, and all of their graphic tees had some type of beer, drug, or strip club reference?
I do.
Yuck!

I am happy to report that many, many of those derogatory tees are being replaced by real art and humor.

I know that these stores I listed are for teenagers/adults but I still don't agree with 14 year old's walking around in Jack Daniels t-shirts or "Bobby Joe's Gentleman's Club" tees. Thank you to all of the graphic designers/screenprinters that decided that these shirts are distasteful!

How can our children feel good about themselves when they are dressed in clothing with rude comments or other all-around bad messages?

What you wear reflects how you feel about yourself. We, as parents, know this.
I strive to stay away from the morally questionable whenever I create any of our t-shirt designs. But I have to say that it is easy when it comes to dressing cute little preschoolers, toddlers and babies! 

One of the designs my boys get the most compliments on is our "Brightest Crayon in the Box" tee.

This is one of the first Cantaloupe Corner designs every made. I loved that the message is uplifting and makes my son feel "bright". I think he is such a smart boy and it was so fun to create a shirt to let him know how I feel about him.

We need to let our kids know that we think they are cute, smart, funny, clever, and so much fun! As their parents, we need to help them develop a love for themselves. That is why I try so hard to keep our t-shirt messages upbeat, fun, and uplifting.

You child can be a Super Hero, a Monkey, a Train Engineer (my son's favorite), or a handsome Little Mister.

I believe that what your child wears reflects how you feel about them. You dressed them, right?  (OK, not always, my youngest insists that he wears the same 3 shirts every day. But I buy/make those shirts for him.)

Keep it fun. Keep it clever. And Always keep it on the "bright" side.

Mission Organization

It looks like pack-rat city here in my house. I am a stuff collector, and sadly it is starting to show.

Every corner is cluttered, every cupboard is filled.



I make up excuses daily to myself on why I need to keep things:

" I need the extra tote full of fabric because if my hubby loses his job and we are poor I can make my kids clothes out of it!"

(Except that the extra fabric is made up of hideous polyester, and 1970's plaids, mixed with baby fabrics that have gone out of style long long ago.
I would hand wash my kids jeans and t-shirts every day before making them wear anything made out of that scratchy stuff.)



"I need 15 wooden spoons because we have a lot of company and extra serving spoons are always handy to have."

(Ok, I only have 6, but you get the picture. They are superfluous, and I need space more than I need extra spoons. )



"I need to keep 20 train drawings from my 4 year old that all look the same."

(Why? I don't know.)


So. . .

My mission for 2011 is to SIMPLIFY!

Life is going to get WAY more complicated this May when baby #3 comes so I'm starting right now to cut the clutter out of my life.

So far I have said goodbye to an SUV full of stuff. I had it packed to the brim with everything, clothes, toys, paintings, magazines, electronics, and furniture! I sent it all off to Deseret Industries, a local Thrift Store.
My boys were so willing to give away old toys when I told them that we were giving them away so another little boy play with them.

I also gave away my beloved elliptical trainer. You know, the one I promised I would run on every day. . . and it got used for. . . um. . . 2 months.  *tear* I will miss you.

And I am gutting out my office/studio to make room for the new kid. I can't wait to decorate. The orange walls are going to be a blast to work with!

I didn't realize just how much space Cantaloupe Corner takes up in my house until I took on the project of re-organizing it all, and moving most of it out of the office. Whew, I really am a pack-rat.



Anyways, after all of that rambling, I want to invite you to join me in my 2011 goal to simplify. Start with the physical things. Clean out the clutter in our homes and then we can move on to de-cluttering our time.

I can't wait to find myself under all of this stuff! I feel a thousand pounds lighter already!