time/minimalism/simplicity

I couldn't think of a title for this post because I wasn't really sure what I was going to write about. I "blogged" a lot during my teen years (Click Here)  and some of my favorite post to go back and read are the ones where I simply rambled. As a twenty-three-year-old mama it is fun to read the thoughts of my fifteen year-old, ambitious, slightly opinionated self. :) :)

Pregnancy is going well so far...almost half-way!!! Whaaaattt???!!!! I can't believe how fast it is flying by.

With the craziness of Daniel's work schedule, growing side businesses, working on our land, preparing for baby # 2, etc. we have had to make some changes.
Productivity, organization, and creativity are very important to Daniel and I and we recently discussed how we could do better in those areas. For me I find that I do better in almost every area when I feel like my life is in order. Obviously, much of life is unexpected and perfect order is not going to be attained all the time. I'm sure when I have a newborn and a thirteen month old my home will not be stellar 24-7. :) However, the more mama's I talk to, the more minimalist writings I read, the more I blunder through this homemaking thing,  I am learning that it is much easier to be successful when I have LESS!
 So...I am now a self proclaimed addict to selling my belongings on on-line yard sales. :)
Seriously though, it is a wonderful feeling to empty your life of unnecessary stuff. When I look back over my children's childhood, I don't want to see all of the time I spent shuffling our things.
I have meaningful belongings that I will always treasure and hope to pass along to my family one day, i.e. handmade quilts, old pictures,  hand-crafted furniture from family members or close friends, and a few special gifts...

Someone recently told me to go through my house and not to look for things to get rid of but decide what I absolutely couldn't live without. That was a bit eye-opening. I think a lot of people (myself included) hold on to things that we really don't care anything about.

Here is a list of things I have let go of:

old clothing items
* I am huge fan of creating a capsule wardrobe!
If you don't love it...sell or donate it. 
 http://www.today.com/style/how-create-capsule-wardrobe-t34931

useless kitchen gadgets and matchless tupperware
There is nothing more annoying than opening a cabinet and a bunch of useless crap falling everywhere!

furniture
If you don't have room for it pass it along to someone who can use it!

baby items
If it is worn out or not being used, let it go!

household items
old lamps, rugs, and out of date clutter!

old magazines
:/ :/ :/  

teenage treasures and college junk
All those "treasures" that just sit in the storage room or attic...pitch it!
I understand keeping a few sentimental things but we had a so much stuff in storage that neither one of us cared anything about.
I was amazed at what I unearthed while clearing out closets and junk drawers. :/ :/ :/

After we went through all of the physical clutter that was slowing us down we took a hard look at time management. That can get super convicting.
 Daniel and I purpose to have "thick skin" in our marriage and to receive constructive criticism well. The longer we are married the more we see how beneficial it is to our marriage and our personal well-being. We've slowly gotten to the place where we ask each other to point out weak spots. Sometimes I will have an idea about what he is going to point out and other times I have been blind-sided. BUT...it is good...sooo good to have someone who loves you enough to be willing to point out your shortcomings, all the while braving the fact that you have evil, preggo hormones raging through your body! :)
 Y'all my husband is a brave man. ;)

I have posted before about some of our thoughts on social media. We love it and we hate it...well, we hate it mostly.
I enjoy the fact that I can connect with people far away but I hate how it has replaced so much of face-to-face interaction.  I really hate how it has started defining relationships, controlling how people view themselves, and watching people abuse it.
 If I'm honest, one of the biggest time wasters for me was having the FB app on my phone. Inspired by one of my favorite lifestyle, mommy bloggers, I deleted the app from my phone. I would have called myself productive before, but it was insane how free and accomplished I felt just one day being completely disconnected from it. Our account is still open because of business purposes but it will be quiet for a while...
So, for the friends that don't see us posting much, we're good! Just taking a break from the daily "feed" to learn how to live life a little bit better.

-mckenize gentry

Oh, one more thing!!! If you blog, I would encourage you to occasionally print out what you write and tuck it in a notebook. Another writer encouraged me to do that and it is such a neat way to preserve your thoughts for the future.