Happy June 1st!

Can you believe it's June already? I'm excited. There is so much I have to share that there's no way you want to read that much, so let me just cover the weekend.

As all of you know, I've been decluttering. On Saturday, Dave, Mason, and I went out to Denio's Farmers Market and Auction and rented a space to sell some of our clutter. We had to be up at 4:30, to the site by 5:30, and set up ready to sell by 7:00 AM. I had loaded both vehicles the day before so that was done, but it still made for a full, busy day. Mason did really well considering it was a long time and hot outside. With Dave and I working, he had to entertain himself. We stayed until 3 PM and sold enough stuff that we only had one vehicle of clutter to bring back home.

Sunday, I was back at it. Dave helped me load the Durango of all the stuff that didn't go to the auction, and that completely filled the Durango. I took that to GoodWill. I returned home and loaded up the clutter that didn't sell and that was another complete Durango load donated. That's 3 full loads of stuff that is no longer in our house! Even still, we have a few high ticket items that I've posted on craigslist, and if they don't sell there, I'm planning to donate them to the appropriate charity.

There is lots of good that I acknowledged this weekend. We all really worked well together and we had a fun day at the auction even though it was work. I can't forget to mention that we made a few bucks, but the best part was when we arrived home. I came in through the front door and the house was so welcoming. The kitchen table was clear, the shelves under the windows were free of clutter, the bar area was clean, it all just felt so good to come home to. Home really felt like a soft place to land. What a wonderful feeling. Not only does this feel so good, but it's easier to keep up. There is less stuff so everything has a place. I never really realized how I simply moved stuff from one place to another. When everything has it's own place tidying up to clean is a snap!

This is the perfect motivator for today. Have a wonderful, clutter-free week!

What's around you?

Look around you. Do you see clutter, confusion and chaos, or do you see focus, direction and purpose? Not only does your environment say a lot about you, it has a profound effect on you. The person you are does not end at the tip of your fingers. Your essence extends deep into the world around you. You influence that world and it influences you.

So what kind of influence is it having? Does your environment support you or does it detract from what you're attempting to accomplish? Sometimes a small change in your surroundings, something as simple as cleaning off you desk or washing the windows, can have a profound effect on your attitude and effectiveness. The effort you put into making your surroundings more supportive can multiply the effectiveness of all your other efforts.

Take control of your life by taking responsibility for the things around you. Surround yourself with excellence and your efforts will more naturally and more surely lead toward excellence.

Used with permission by Ralph Marston www.thedailymotivator.com

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm off spending this day with my family. I hope you are, too!

Please take a moment and remember the many lives that have been sacrificed to allow us the freedoms we so dearly love. Also, the men and women who did not give their lives, come back from war forever changed. This in turn changes the families they love.

In loving memory of my dad, a VFW (WWII and the Korean War).

Mason Declares, "I'm Leaving!"

Yes, at the ripe old age of 5 1/2, Mason packed his things and declared he was leaving. I didn't ask him why he felt the need to leave but I did ask him where he was planning to go. Here's how this went:

Mason: "I'm leaving."
Me: "Oh? Where are you going?"
Mason: "To the middle of no where."
Me: "So you're running away?"
Mason: "Yes. I have all my things packed, everything I need. My blanket, some clothes, my guitar, and Zelda."

At this point I felt it necessary to grab the camera and take his picture.

Me: "Well, if you feel you need to go, okay. I'm gonna miss you."
Mason: "Yeah, well, I'll write to you."

Mason only made it as far as behind the sofa, but just a few minutes later he came into the bedroom and asked me to please cry. I started to cry and just then I got a special delivery letter from the mailman (Mason). I opened the pretend letter and asked Mason (in a whisper, so it didn't imply I was really talking to him) what the letter said. He read the letter to me in his voice from the living room and here's what it said: "Love Mason. I'm okay. I love you. I will come home sometime. I love you. Don't cry. Dear Mom."

Oh, I felt so much better, I went right back to work. A few moments later, another letter arrived. As I pretended to open the pretend letter, Mason ran back to the living room and read me this letter. "Love Mason. I love you. Here's what will make you very happy. Money! $162.57. Dear Mom."

I started to cry and through my tears, I said, "I don't want money, even all the money in the world. All I want is my Mason home with me. Boo-hoo-hoo."

Just then the mailman arrived with a package. I pretend opened the package and asked Mason what was in it. He said, "Me! Your favorite! Except for Riley. Are you happy I'm home mama?"

Yes! Yes! Yes! We laughed and hugged and smiling, he trotted back to the middle of no where behind the couch!

So here's what I derived from this little skit.

1. Mason thinks I really love money. (I'm the CFO of the family, the one who says "no.")
   
2. Mason also thinks I love Riley more than I love him. (That comes from Dave continually saying that I love Riley more than anyone.)
   
3. He really does know what his necessities are. (Not leaving without his blanket and Zelda.)
   
4. Finally, I really need to work with him on his letter writing format. Dear Mom starts the letter and Love Mason goes at the end.

I could be very upset by the money and Riley issue, but kids will be kids, and I know I don't love money like Mason portrayed it. The Riley thing, maybe true! Laughing! In my defense, when either Dave or Mason jump up and down, wagging their tails wildly, and barking with glee when I get home...from checking the mail! I might reconsider that position.

Do I Have To Be Happy Because It's Mother's Day?

I'm sure glad it's Monday!

I didn't have a good Mother's Day but not for any good reason. I woke up feeling the pressure of not having a regular paycheck (comes w/being an entrepreneur), and for the most part, I was just plain down.

I took Mason to the park where unbeknown to me, they were having a mothers day carnival, all five bounce play things were $3 for unlimited use. Perfect! Mason played and I mapped out how I was feeling and some ideas/solutions to take action. It made me feel better to at least have it out of my head and a plan on paper. I called Dave and he made me feel better by talking about all my ideas and giving me some good input. You might all be thinking I was blue because Dave was away on Mother's day. Not so much. I don't like it when he's away, but frankly, I prefer it if he's not with me when I feel like this. It was better on the phone, and I felt like I had my space.

Even though I was not light hearted yesterday, I'm fully intending to start today with a sunny attitude and a list of things to do that will make me feel better. One of them will be to start this weeks exercise with the next level in my program, take Riley to the groomer, and clean my bedroom. With all that said, here's a question for all of you, if you're feeling down or out of sorts, is it okay to tell the truth and be where you are, or cover it up with niceties?

I didn't make Mother's Day calls or hang out on facebook or twitter because I just didn't have anything nice to say...the golden rule! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and a lovely Mother's Day! For me, I'm really glad it's Monday!

This quote speaks beautifully to so many of us on a daily basis. I plan to change this, for me, for today, tomorrow, each moment there after. I have so much to be grateful for and happy about. What about you?

"We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves." Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

I Love Cherries!

What do you think, do you like the cherry background? I hope so because I really like it, and I spend more time here than anyone. I'm keeping 'em!

Rain, Rain, And More Rain!

I sure hope you had an umbrella! We had a wonderful weekend. Ken and Dahlynn hosted their Dos De Mayo party and as usual, it was a hoot! We watched Will Smith in Seven Pounds, a very heavy movie, and Jim Carey in Yes, Man, which was VERY funny! Rent it and enjoy!

Sunday, we had a leisurely morning and then I spent the evening with Julie. We had dinner, a great visit and today I'm off to sell Twist Caps, disposable can covers. Check out the product at http://www.buytwistcaps.com/ If you know of a retailer or you just want to buy some, call me! Smiling!

Have a great week and mix things up, do something different. Take a different route to work, eat lunch at that place you've always wanted to try, and talk to that person you see everyday but don't know. Thanks to Amilya for the "Try something new for the month of May" idea. It's not bad, don't ya think?

Pictures From The Weekend

Dave bought me a bunch of my favorite flowers, sweet peas!
These iris's are from my plant in the front yard. It produces over 100 blooms at a time.

Dave and I at Dahlynn's party

This guest came as a Hawaiian tourist, but I thought he looked like the Hawaiian Punch guy!