Less is More (no, really it is!)

I've been thinking a lot about the concept of stuff lately. It probably helps that I'm in a major de-junk, purge, and organize mood. I've been in it before but this time I'm in attack mode. 

I am pretty much ruthless in my method. I say pretty much because at my heart, I'm a packrat. I hold onto little random stuff because of the sentimental value to me. Growing up, I always had a full closet because I could never bear to get rid of my clothes, they all had so many memories attached to them. 

But I can't afford to be that sentimental anymore. 

We've moved a lot since getting married 3 1/2 years ago. We've lived in a lot of different places.  And we've accumulated stuff. Stuff we keep moving around with us.

We're most likely going to be moving again in the future, our little hobbit hole basement suite is only so big. I don't want to move stuff around just because it has memories attached to it. So I've been going through everything, taking bins of stuff to the thrift store and posting ads on kijiji.

It has been so freeing. Our souls aren't so weighed down by stuff. We're free to just be and enjoy what we do have.

We have more space.

I got rid of a change table and an exersaucer. I was only using the change table as storage and Khaira was quite done with the exersaucer. There's so much more space in the girls' room for them to dump their teddies and tea set all over the floor  play. 

The house can be really fast to tidy up.

The girls have three baskets in their room of assorted toys, teddies and books. They also have a little shelf in the living room. It can look like a total disaster but I can clean it up in five minutes making me feel like Mary Poppins. I just need some sort of trick for the laundry now.

I've gotten rid of all kinds of things that I was saving for a rainy day or oodles of spare time.

-A wicker picnic basket with a broken handle, it would probably be an easy fix but I haven't fixed it and it's been two years. I'm not going to be fixing it. 

 -Random knick-knacks that I will never display again and have just collected dust in my hopechest. My style and taste has changed a lot since I was 16 and there's no need to store stuff for no reason.

-A cupcake storage and transport container. I have never used it. And despite my fascination with cupcakes, I'm not keeping it for that 'just in case moment'. When I make cupcakes, I'll be creative and use something I already have to store them.  

I saved the memories and got rid of the stuff. 

 I know what I have and why I have it.

I haven't been completely cold-hearted and cut throat. I saved my tea cups and silver tea service. I have two little girls and I forsee lots of tea parties with real china in our future. I also saved four tupperware parfait glasses. I have never used them. I have four cut glass parfait glasses that are a lot prettier. But the tupperware ones are quirky and retro and I have so many memories of my Nana serving up her famous chocolate pudding in parfait cups identical to mine. I'm keeping them to create new memories for little people in my house.

Are you a pack rat as well? What's your secret to keeping stuff organized?

P.S. These pictures were taken on Mother's Day, I got the girls matching outfits last fall and love that they can wear them now. And I seriously wish they came in my size!

   

Savor the Day

"Once she stopped rushing through life, 

she was amazed at how much more

 life she had time for."

quote credit

A few snippets from our weekend away as I re-enter life with my two little girls, my man and the home we share. I have much more to share, soon, I hope! 

Enjoy the moments today! 

 

Project 365 - Week 2

We spent this past weekend in a little cabin in the mountains. It was lovely, refreshing, a literal breath of fresh air. Just what we needed. In all the bustle of getting everything together I didn't get a chance to put this post up before we left so I'm doing it now. 

Week 2: February 13- 20

1. Khaira sleeping with her little rosebud lips.

2. Kilmeny sleeping. The girls haven't been sleeping all that well lately during the night, colds and upset schedules seem to be affecting them. Naptime has been slightly hit and miss as well so on one of the days when they both slept at the same  time, I had to take pictures. To remind myself of these days and to remember just how precious they are. Even when we're all a little tired. 

3. Kilmeny loves to be 'just like Mummy' and so she had to read some magazines I picked up from my midwife. She loves to 'read' anything she can! 

4. In a quiet and contemplative mood. For about 5 minutes. I love my little spunky girl!

5. A community Valentines party provided the perfect excuse to wear my red shoes. I just love them, they make me feel like a well-dressed lady. ;-)

6. A little Valentine's inspiration along with my to-do list to make my dinner plans come together on time on the 14th. 

7.  We  were out and about last week with a couple different play dates which provided some new scenery and good conversation over coffee. Khaira's totally into these duplo blocks, I would be as well, the colors are fantastic. 

8. And a little shopping trip brought us to a store that had a beautiful display of jasmine plants which I had to take a picture since it's my niece's name. =)

Kilmeny Turns Two!!

 

 My little Kilmo-girl turned two! We got to celebrate with Jared's family which was very special. It was, as everything else was this Christmas, a rather low-key party as even the birthday girl wasn't her usual exuberant self but it was a celebration. From the day she was born, it's been very important to me to make Kilmeny's day a special day not just leftover from Christmas which being right after Christmas can be a bit of a challenge. Kilmeny had no clue what was going until the cupcakes came out and she blew out the candles. 

Now if you ask her if she is two, she replies with 'birfday' and will probably start singing Happy Birthday.

Fairy cakes made by my mother-in-law. This was very special to me. I really wanted to make these for Kilmeny's birthday but spent the whole day sick on the couch. Jared's mom stepped in and had all kinds of fun making these. Aren't they darling?

When Kilmeny heard the title of this book, Grandma Loves You, she started kissing the cover. So cute!

10 on 10 - the first edition

 

 

 

Ten on ten: a picture every hour for ten (non-consecutive in my case) hours on the tenth of each month. Inspired by Rebekah, at  A bit of Sunshine

Yes, it is the eleventh but that's how I'm rolling this month. Uploading and publishing the post wasn't going to happen last night so it's happening today instead. 

:: goodbye kisses for Daddy

:: good morning, beautiful baby....yes, indeed it was an hour later giving me a little bit of time to get my day organized before launching full out into it with both girlies

:: the remainder of blanket time

:: Kilmo's slightly obsessed with the camera, preferring to 'help' me then pose for me

:: Kilmeny enjoying some music while the vacuuming gets down

:: tummy time with Pooh Bear books

:: roasting the pumpkin

:: playground time in the gloaming

:: Khaira-baby all snuggy and sleepy during supper prep

:: pumpkin soup for supper

 

Kilmeny

Kilmo-girl,

22 months old and full of personality. 

You make me catch my breath with how cute you are and I pray for grace to keep up with you.

Your big eyes are full of life and sparkle

You adore Khaira, Mummy and Daddy and your shoes. 

(I adore Daddy, Khaira, you and your shoes too)

You love to run and run or to swing and slide. You love your clothes and often want to change them several times a day. And you love being all cozy on the couch with Mummy and stack of books.

Your latest words are 'sure, chocolate, crying, sleeping, coffee and pumpkin' At least for today. You are a little mimic and are fast amassing a large vocabulary.

 

Trying to stay still and be happy and trying to pose just like Mummy....

A vintage Kilmeny look. Sweet and slightly mischievous.

I love you Kilmo-doll. You make my life rich.

we went on a photoshoot

One of the best bits about being married to a photographer is that your family camera is really, really nice. And I can use it whenever I want too. Unless he is using it. Or all the cards are full from weddings/family shoots and there is no way I want to check to make sure they are all downloaded and re-format the cards before heading out for a walk with my girlies. 

We actually have two cameras. The second one is called my camera. It's a Canon point and shoot and fits in my purse or the pocket of the ergo. It's perfect for for packing around anywhere and most of our together pictures are taken with it simply because it's a lot easier to whip out when we're out. And it does the trick. It captures the moment and saves the memory. But sometimes a little more is nice.

A couple of weeks ago, we booked ourselves a photo shoot. Jared was using a friend's studio to do a shoot and since we had the studio all day and he wanted to get used to the set up, so we did some family pictures. 

I love them. And I think you will too. I couldn't pick which ones to put in this post so I'm going to do a couple posts with the pictures. 

 Once upon a time, there was a little family. They loved each other and they loved their God. One day they took some pictures. And they thought they would show you. Because you would like them. If you like them, you can leave a comment. 

We like the pictures. A lot. We hope you do too.