2016 Must-Read: Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

I haven’t conducted a survey to see what most people resolve to do in their New Year’s resolutions, but mine usually involve some sort of cleaning, decluttering or organizing.  I recently read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  I have to say that I resisted reading it at first.  The thought that tidying could really change your life seems far-fetched.  But I saw several others who read it and literally raved about it, so I caved.  First, you should know what this book is not.  If you want someone to tell you how to store everything you’ve got in various boxes or totes, this is not the book for you.  If you’re looking for designer storage options, look elsewhere.  To follow Marie’s “KonMari” method of tidying, you have to get brutal with yourself and your belongings.  You will literally touch and hold every item that you own, and decide if it sparks joy in you.  If it does, keep it.  If it doesn’t, it has to go.  Now, I’ve read a lot of articles about decluttering and organizing, but this method is totally new to me—but I liked it!  The KonMari method is broken down into very specific categories, and they must be completed in a certain order.  I won’t tell you what it is, because you really need to buy the book!

I have only competed the first category, which included my closet and dresser so far, but it truly makes me feel happy to just look at my clothes.  However, as much as I loved The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I was left with many questions at the end.  What kind of kitchen equipment should I keep?  How do I store my food?  How exactly do I fold these shirts?  What is best way to store my towels?  So when I saw that Marie has written a companion volume, I knew I had to have it! 

Spark Joy will answer any questions you may be left with after reading the first book.  It expands on the original principles of the KonMari method, but gives even more information, including illustrations about folding everything from sweatshirts to underwear.  There are tips about storing your makeup, toilet paper, kitchen appliances and everything in between.  It’s like a nerd’s guide to tidying!

I also feel like Marie fills in a lot of the blanks about what to do when you’re done discarding and your space feels a little sparse and empty.  She gives tips for decorating your new, tidier spaces using the things that you love.  She also tells you that it’s okay to keep some things that may not seem practical, but do bring you joy, giving tips for how to use those things you just don’t want to part with as part of your décor.  While her tastes won’t match everyone’s, I found a lot of her tips to be helpful.

Why it’s a must-read:

You may think, like I did, that tidying can’t truly be life-changing, but after reading these two books, I believe that it just might be.  Since reading about people who have tidied their homes and found happiness in a simpler life, I can really see how much clutter and truly un-joyful things I have in my home.  I think that keeping only those things you truly love and chucking the rest can be life-changing.

I think everyone can benefit from reading this book and becoming motivated to clear their clutter.  I think a lot of people want to tidy their homes and lives, a but really just don’t know where to start.  Marie will not only tell you how to start, but she’ll give a lot of tips and practical advice along the way.  It’s a great way to start not only a new year, but a new life chapter.  Life-Changing Magic and Spark Joy will only cost you a little over $20 when purchased on Amazon, so I highly recommend that you buy both of them.  If you’re truly dedicated to living a simpler, less-cluttered life, Marie can show you the way!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.  Spark Joy is on sale now

Transformation Tuesday-Easter Edition







Today I'm taking a minute to look back and recognize the progress I've made since this time last year.  At the beginning of this year I posted this quote to my Instagram page, "Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same."  While that may seem to be pretty obvious, it's actually easier said than done.  But it's the truth.  I have been on a journey to lose the 60 lbs I gained while pregnant, and a few more on top of it.  But I grew complacent along the way, and by the holidays was pretty much on a plateau, gaining and losing the same few pounds over and over again.  One of my New Year's goals was to lose weight, and I started out by making some important changes.  I've started working out 5-7 times a week, drinking only water, counting calories and eating less processed foods.  Since the beginning of the year I've lost 12 lbs!  The great part is, that I've done this without really depriving myself of the foods that I love.  I really like to eat, and I like food, so cutting things out just hasn't worked for me in the past.  But by really watching portion sizes, exercising and not drinking my calories every day, I'm seeing results without depriving myself of the things I love.

Easter 2014

This is me last Easter.  Even though I had lost all of my baby weight, I still was overweight, and truly not happy with myself.  Looking back at this picture now is an embarrassment to me, but it's also a great testimony of how far I've come! 

Easter 2015

I'm down 13 lbs from last Easter, and while I still have a few more to go to reach my goal weight, I'm really happy with my progress so far.  I feel like a new person!  I don't feel self-conscious any more when I'm in a crowd of people.  I don't feel the need to pull and tug at my clothes hoping to disguise the lumps underneath.  I'm even starting to see some ab definition!

Before I lost this weight, I didn't take pictures like this!  I was more comfortable in a crowd than by myself.  But now, looking at this just makes me happy!  It gives the encouragement to keep working and fighting.  I've changed a lot, but my desire to change is still here.  I don't want to be the same--I WON'T be the same!  I have proven to myself what I'm capable of, and I refuse to give up.  The journey isn't easy, but it's worth it.  And it's about so much more than being skinny.  It's also about being strong and healthy.  It's about feeling good, and feeling good about myself.   

Now I'm staring out on a new journey to lose the rest of my weight to reach my goal.  I read a great book called The No More Excuses Diet by Maria Kang and it's given my a great plan to get where I want to be.  I've got a review of it coming later this week.  You don't want to miss it!  I'm also starting a new workout program.  My husband and I bought Focus T25 from BeachBody.  I'm loving it so far. 

So here's to spring, new beginnings and changes!  I can't wait to see how far I can go!

21 Day Fix: What I Learned and How I Did

Well I officially finished up my 21-Day Fix on Saturday.  Unfortunately for me (or at least for my diet plan!) Saturday was also my fifth wedding anniversary, so it included some celebrating and eating out.  Can you legally eat out on your anniversary and not have a little dessert?  I think not.  However, I learned some really great things during my 21 Days, and I ate very sensibly on my anniversary date.

First, here's what I learned:

1. Eating tons of fruit and veggies really makes me feel good!

Who knew that eating three cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit every day could make you feel so much better?   I certainly didn't, but now that I know, I try to have a salad or a stir fry for a meal every day.  Luckily for me there's nary a vegetable I don't like to eat in one form or another.  Vegetables contain so much fiber, and eating them helps me reach my goal of 25 grams a day much faster.  One great bonus has been how much smoother my whole digestive process is.  (TMI, I know, but it needed to be said.)

2.  Exercise really does make a difference.

I have never exercised for seven days in a row in my whole entire life--until now.  I have now officially worked out every day for the last 26 days in a row!  That's big for me, people!  Other exercise programs I have been on have always encouraged 1-2 days of rest every week.  But for me, missing one day just throws me off my game, and makes it easier to skip the next day, and the next and the next and the next, until I realize I haven't done so much as a jumping jack in a month. It's also helpful that this program has a different workout for every day.  Not only does that add variety (the spice of life, you know), but it also keeps me from wanting to throw off my schedule.  For instance, I know that Monday is for upper body, Tuesday is for legs, Wednesday is pilates, Sunday and Thursday are cardio,  Friday is a total body workout and Saturday is my active recovery day--also known as yoga.  If I miss just one day, I've thrown myself off for a week.  It helps that each workout is only thirty minutes long, so I'm not committing a huge amount of time to it each day.  I still don't love working out, but I respect it and the changes it has made in my body. 

3. Processed food is out--mostly.

My main reason for doing this program was to learn to eat healthy, less processed food.  I have cut out most processed foods now, and I really feel better.  That doesn't mean that I will never eat another potato chip or candy bar, but it means I have realized they really aren't that important to me.  Since going on this plan, eating chocolate, or even taking a drink of soda just doesn't satisfy me.  My body just doesn't need those things any more.  It has been a little tougher to let go of my favorite pasta dishes, though.  Let's just face it; a piece of grilled chicken with Dijon mustard sauce will never be as tasty as a starchy pasta in a spicy cream sauce.  But when I've worked so hard to get where I am now, that big bowl of pasta just isn't worth it to me.  I'm totally amazed that is the truth of my life.  Other than a few small sips of sweet tea and milk, I have only drank water for the last three weeks.  Now it's truly the only thing that satisfies my thirst.  While I have cut out most processed foods and fatty meats, I do still eat brown rice, whole grain pasta and bread, and quinoa.  I don't have these things every day, and when I do, I try to limit myself to less than a cup.

If you had told me before I did this plan that I would make all these changes and be totally happy with them, I probably wouldn't have believed you.  But it's true.  I have seen great results, and I'm committed to keeping these changes in my life.  I did not follow Autumn Calabrese's food plan to the letter.  I'm sure I would have seen even better results if I had.  While I liked the basic principles, I found it to be a bit more restricting than I liked.  So, I've decided to use the things I learned during these 21 Days, and apply them to my life, while continuing to count calories.  Counting calories really works for me.  I like being able to keep track of everything I eat in my "My Fitness Pal" app that syncs with my Jawbone Up band.  I don't regret using this program, because it really helped me to make habit changes like I'd wanted for a long time.  I plan to stick with the workouts for the foreseeable future, although there are several other Beachbody programs that I'm dying to try!  I'm also still drinking my Shakeology every day, and still love it.

So, HOW DID I DO ON MY 21-DAY FIX?

I lost 4.5 pounds and 7.25 inches during these three weeks!  That brings my total weight loss for the month of January to 8 pounds!  I did it without starving myself or really feeling deprived at all.  My clothes fit better, my skin looks better, and I feel generally better about myself.  I'm so motivated to keep going!  I weigh about the same as I did when I got married five years ago!  It's a wonderful feeling and I can't wait to see how far I can go!

Lyndsie  

Weekly Wrap: January 18-24

This has been a great week for me.  I learned something very important that I hope will stick with me forever.  Sometimes the fear of doing something and failing is worse than actually doing it.  I have wanted to sell my handmade stuff for a long time, but was so afraid of failure, or the criticism of others that I held back.  Since I decided to make 2015 a year when I do things that scare me, the first thing I did was to open my Etsy shop "Little Blue Machine" this week.  Not only have my family and friends been very supportive, I made my first sale!  It's an incredible feeling to actually be paid for doing something that I love.  I wish I had done this a long time ago.  I may never replace my previous income by sewing and selling, but if I can make enough to fund my fabric addiction, I'll be happy!

I'm also about to complete my second week of the Beachbody 21-Day Fix, and so far I am thrilled with the results!  I lost 3 pounds in my first week, and I can see definite changes in my eating habits and my body.  I can push through more exercises now in ways that I couldn't do the first week.  I still don't like to exercise, but I tell myself every day that I can spend thirty minutes to improve my health and my self-image.  I love the variety of the exercises included with this program.  I have seven different workouts, so I do each one once a week.  They don't get boring or repetitive that way.  Week three has an option to do two workouts a day for maximum results, and I'm actually considering it.  You wouldn't have heard me say that last week!  I started cutting back and watching calories even before I started the Fix, and I am so happy to say that I've lost 6.5 pounds altogether, and that I now weigh less than I did when I got pregnant, and about the same as when I got married!  I haven't felt this good about myself in a long time.  Even when I veer a little bit off of my Fix plan, I'm making healthier choices overall.  Not only are the pounds and inches coming off, but my digestive health is better than I can remember it being for years!  No tummy aches when I stick to this plan!  Shakeology is amazing!  I drink it every day, usually for breakfast, and add some fruit and peanut butter.  It really makes me feel like I'm cheating because it's so good!

This week has been awesome, and I'm ready to take on the next one.  I know it's going to be a little more difficult because Billy is working on a new schedule, which throws my schedule off.  I'm always inclined to overeat when I'm off my schedule, but I'm really going to fight the impulse this week.  I'm also determined to drink more water.  Even though I drink very little else now, I'm still not drinking enough.  I've never really liked the taste, although I have found that adding some lemon juice or frozen strawberries really perks it up!  I'm also hoping to list a few more items in my shop this week, too.  Some Easter goodies are coming soon as well!

I've made so many positive changes this year, and it's only January.  I'm determined not to lose momentum, but to stay healthy and happy and productive for the whole year!  How was your week this week?  Do you have goals for next week?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Lyndsie

My Fitness Steps for Success

You may know that I've set some new fitness goals for 2015.  I guess I set them most years.  But this year I've done a few things differently.  I have set a goal to lose at least twenty pounds, but I want to go beyond that, and learn to lead a healthier lifestyle.  So I've taken some definite steps for success.

Step One: Team Beachbody

I signed up as a coach with Beachbody, and I also have my own coach.  She's really great and offers a lot of encouragement along the way.  So far I haven't asked her a question or gone to her with a problem she hasn't helped me with.  There is also a lot of inspiration to be found when you search "Beachbody" or "Team Beachbody" on Pinterest or Instagram.  I search often and always feel more motivated when I'm done.  I'm still trying to learn all about the coaching part myself, so if you're interested in Beachbody, ask me and I'd love to help! 

Step Two: The 21 Day Fix

The 21 Day Fix is a diet and exercise program that I got through Beachbody.  I've only been doing it for a few days so far, but I feel amazing.  I have seven containers that I fill and eat out of every day.  Most of them I can fill multiple times.  The green on for veggies I get to fill three times, and the purple for fruit I fill twice.  I also get four reds for protein every day.  The containers look so small, but I am amazed at the amount of food that I get to eat.  My only sugar comes from fruit, and I get only a few carbs every day, but I've found that I don't miss that bad stuff much at all.  That's partly due to my third step for success.  I also do a thirty minute workout every day.  Don't let the fact that they're only thirty minutes long fool you!  There is some serious calorie burning going on in my living room!  

Step Three: Shakeology

If you have ever done a Beachbody program before, you have probably heard about their meal replacement shake.  It's different than any other meal replacement I've ever tried.  It comes in several flavors, but I ordered the chocolate this time.  There are so many different recipes and stuff to mix in, that I never have to have the same thing twice.  It helps me feel full and not crave sugar in the afternoon.  Also, good, fresh fruit is hard to come by right now, so I love that I can mix in a cup of frozen berries and get one of my fruit servings for the day.

Step Four: Jawbone Up

I never thought I would be a person who wore a wristband, but now I am.  All I can say is, don't knock it 'til you've tried it!  I sync it with my phone and it gives me great health and fitness tips during the day that keep me motivated.  It counts my steps, and lets me know when I need to work a little harder or sleep a little more.  I find myself making smarter decisions during the day just so that it will tell me I've done a good job when I sync before I go to bed!  

Step Five: Sharing

The thought of sitting down here and writing on this blog that I've failed to meet this goal is great motivation to keep me going at it every day.  I want to be able to show you what great progress I've made and really inspire you to want to make healthier choices too!  That's one of the reason's I chose Beachbody.  I like having other people to encourage me along the way.  It's great to see someone else's progress and know that with hard work and dedication I can see results too.  I'd love to tell you how you can join Team Beachbody.  Just email me through my "contact" link above. 

I'm hoping that by the time 2016 rolls around I will be a much healthier (and skinnier) person.  But more than that I want to have a healthier lifestyle for many more years to come.

Do you have any tips for fitness success?  Leave me a comment and let me know what they are!  

Lyndsie

Weekly Wrap

Well, the first week of 2015 has come to an end.  It's been a pretty good week all told, but with a few setbacks.  My goal was to open Little Blue Machine on January 15, but alas, I don't think that's going to happen now.  I was already a little behind in my projects, but on Tuesday I broke the bobbin case in my Brother sewing machine and was forced to order a new one...all the way from Oregon!  Needless to say, that probably won't be here any time soon, so I'll have to push the opening back a little.  Although I am able to use my old machine for now, it's really basic and the going is very slow.  I am thankful to have it though and have to keep reminding my frustrated self that I sewed my first three quilts on this little blue machine (get it?) and I can sew a few little table toppers with it now.  I'm really blessed to have it.  Maybe I should devote a whole post to it?

My goal of eating healthier has gone really well this week.  I'm still waiting for my Beachbody tools and equipment to arrive, so I've been mostly counting calories this week, while focusing on fresh fruits and vegetables.  I've cut out most sugar, and I actually don't miss it much, although I do let myself have a little treat every once in a while.  I'm using the My Fitness Pal app along with my UP by Jawbone band to keep track of steps and sleep as well as things like fiber and carbs.  I have cut back on bad foods, but I really don't feel like I've cut back on eating and I absolutely don't feel hungry.  I've been eating smaller meals, and healthy snacks through the day, and I actually feel pretty good!  I still can't wait to get my Shakeology though!

As for my other goals, I've only read one book so far which really puts me behind, but a few hours of sewing with my Audible app will help me catch up.  I'm actually listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with a signature performance by Tim Curry.  I know it's a little out of season, but I'm enjoying it a lot.  I've never read the original and I have to tell you that if you haven't either, you really should.  It's so much better than any movie version.  (My favorite is the Disney animated version, though.  Shhhh! Don't tell!)  I'm also really working on cleaning out junk and organizing.  I'm following along with a plan by Becky at cleanmama.net.  Her plan is awesome and you can find it on her Instagram page.  Some of the projects don't take very long, because I did them when I changed out my wardrobe in the fall, but others are making a big difference for me. 

So, how was your first week of 2015?  Are you resolutions/goals going like you hoped?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Lyndsie

New Year, New Goals

Last week I promised a post about my new goals and plans for 2015.  I haven't forgotten about it, I've just been really slow about getting there.  Maybe my first goal should be to stop procrastinating.  I've also been waiting (on pins and needles) for my Plum Paper Planner to arrive, and it came yesterday!  I've been wanting one of these puppies for a long time, and decided with all the new things I'm planning this year, there was no better time to get one.  I think it will really help me stay on top of things.  I'm planning a post/review about it in a few days, so stay tuned.  For now, I want to list some of the goals that I've set for myself this year, and also reveal the big changes I hinted about in December.  First, let me say that I prefer to call these "goals" rather than resolutions.  Resolutions sound so set in stone, but sometimes goals change as we grow and change.  I'm not a very flexible person in many cases, but sometimes I see goals that I had set in the past, and realize they just aren't feasible in my life any more, so it's time to make a change.  This is why I find writing down my goals to come in handy.  It's also why I set pretty broad goals at the beginning of January, then I can break them down and alter them a little month by month as necessary.  So here are a few of the goals I've made for 2015.

1. Read through the Bible.

Billy and I read through the Bible together last year, and it really helped us spiritually, so we've started it over again.  We've already found new insights into things we didn't think about before.  Billy teaches the Teen Sunday School Class at our church every other week, and he's already working on a great lesson about Abraham and Egypt.  I can't wait to hear it all!

2. Lose 20 pounds and live healthier.

This is one of my more broad goals that I really like being able to break down month by month, and even week by week.  Twenty pounds seems like a lot, but to say, "I want to lose 4 lbs this month," or "1 lb this week" doesn't seem so hard.  I've joined Team Beachbody and plan to start with the 21 Day Fix to really help me meet this goal.  If you're interested in learning about Beachbody, feel free to leave a comment or contact me and I'd be glad to talk to you about it! When I get my Challenge Pack in a few days I'll write a post telling you all about it.  I'd love it if you'd join me in my journey, or even just cheer me on!

3. Pay off Billy's truck.

This is a big one too.  We are hoping to build on to our house sometime next year, but we really need to pay off all of our other debt first.  We're starting with this one because we think it's the most manageable and can be paid off the fastest.  Then we'll move on to the next one!  We actually don't have a lot of debt, so to pay it off in a year and a half is very doable if we tighten our belts and just do it!

4. Open my Etsy shop.

This is my biggest and most scary goal of the year.  It scares me to even write about it here.  This is a dream of mine that I've wanted for a long time, but have been too afraid to reach for.  What if I fail?  What if I'm not good enough?  What if, what if, what if?  But I've decided to live braver this year, and try things that scare me.  After all, I'll never know if I don't try.  So I'm happy (and terrified!) to announce that my shop Little Blue Machine will be open on Etsy by the end of the month! I'm so excited and will fill you in on the details later, as well as give  you the exact opening day and a preview of some of my products.

5. Read 115 books.

This one is pretty lofty considering all the other things I have in the works, but I'm going to give it a shot!  My 2014 goal was 100 and I surpassed that with 110, so I thought I'd aim a little higher this year.  One of my secrets is audiobooks.  I have a subscription to audible.com and I read at least 12-15 books that way every year. 

6. Live in the moment.

This one is almost funny considering that I'm making plans right now!  As the mom of a one year-old I want to learn to live in each every moment, and not take any for granted.  Already my boy has grown so much in a year, and I don't want to miss anything.  He is more important to me than all the plans I could every make, blog posts I could ever write, books I could read or quilts I could sew.  So, while all my other goals are definitely important to me, being with him and living in every moment is the most important one of all.   

These are my biggest, scariest 2015 Goals.  I have them written down in my new planner (along with several others) and I'll keep you posted through the year as they evolve.  Have you set any big goals that scare you this year?  I'd love to hear what they are!  We can encourage each other!

Looking ahead with excitement,

Lyndsie

 

A Look Back

Well, it's that time again when we all decide to wake up tomorrow morning and be totally different people than we were today.  Many people already have their resolutions in mind.  I haven't actually made mine yet, but I've been giving them a lot of thought.  I thought that before I made any new ones, I'd take a quick look back at some that I made last year, and see how well I kept them!

As a lover of lists and planning, as well as cute paper and pens, I decided to keep a running list of my plans and goals all year long.  I bought a super cute little notebook that I used as a little journal, place to jot ideas, keep track of weight loss, books I'd read, things I needed to organize and so forth.  I made a master list at the beginning of the year, and a smaller one each month.  This method really seemed to work for me.  Some of my goals are really broad, but I did that on purpose so that I could break them down monthly.  Here's a list of some of my 2014 Resolutions and how I did.

1. Read through the Bible.

This is probably the goal I'm the most proud of reaching.  My husband and I did it together, which has been a goal of ours for several years.  It's not always easy to find the time, but I'm so glad we did!  It had definitely been a blessing to us.  We plan to start again tomorrow and do it next year, too!

2. Lose 50 pounds. 

Sigh.  It pains me to admit that I did not lose all of the weight that I wanted to this year.  But, I am proud of the fact that I lost all of my pregnancy weight!  I gained about 60 pounds while pregnant with Jaxon, and even after the water weight was gone, I still needed to lose about 35 pounds.  Through Weight Watchers and exercise I did manage to lose that weight, but my goal was to weigh less than I did pre-pregnancy.  Even though I didn't reach this goal, I'm very proud of myself for losing 35 pounds this year! 

3. Sew more.

I definitely reached this goal this year!  I have found a true love for sewing and creating, and I have big plans to turn this hobby into something more in 2015!

4. Read 100 books.

I've always known that I read a lot, but I didn't really know how much I read.  So I set a goal this year on Goodreads to read 100 books this year.  I actually accomplished that goal in October!  I've continued to read since then, of course, and my final total for the year is 110 books read!

5. Learn to make a budget and keep it.

I always decide to make a budget, but it rarely seems to work out for me.  My lofty budget goals last year were thwarted when Billy's hours got cut at work, and he was threatened with a layoff.  We spent most of the year putting every spare dime into our savings account to cover us just in case.  Thank the Lord for stepping in at the last minute and saving not only Billy's job, but the jobs of at least 300 other men a the mines!  I'll have to try this one again next year!

6. Eat healthier and exercise.

These were two separate goals of mine last year, but I never really accomplished either one.  I did start out the year exercising 4-5 times a week, and I felt really great, but I ended up giving it up.  Even though I lost weight this year, I didn't really learn much about eating healthy--but that's going to change this year, too!

These are just a few of my 2014 Resolutions.  Looking back I can see that I did accomplish some of the things I wanted, and others I need to work on again this year.  But that's the excitement of a new year.  It's a new beginning and a time to make big changes.  I'm excited to write down my goal for 2015 and then do everything I can to accomplish them!  Over the next week or so I'll make my list, and I'll share it here, along with some ideas for making your own master list, as well as monthly ones.  I also have some exciting news to share about some new adventures I'm setting out on.  I can't wait to start!!

Do you make New Years' Resolutions?  I'd love to hear what they are, and if you have any tips for keeping them!

Looking forward to a great 2015,

Lyndsie