Something Bright and Clean

We have been on wait for a house that we hope to become our home very soon. Meanwhile, I've been waiting on some home projects so I can match new things to my possible new home. Well, I was going crazy with waiting to recover my dirty, dingy, absolutely disgusting dining chairs. Poor things have been through 5 1/2 years of torture and torment from my 4 children, as well as lots of visits from friends and family. It was time for me to change them and I couldn't stand the wait any longer.

So, I called up one of my good friends and we headed out to the fabric store in search of something bold, bright, and fun. She pushed me toward the fabric I was a little afraid of, but was totally drawn to. After lots of staple removing, and a few trips to Home Depot, here is what we have.....



For my sanity, I covered them first with the fabric and next with a plastic covering. This way I can wipe them clean and not be a stressed out mommy when the spills began. Yes, I said that right. We already had our first spill only minutes after completion and it wiped right off :)

Christmas Creations

I've been staying busy putting together some fun Christmas projects. This one I created using inspiration from pinterest, and just made it my own. I added the chalkboard paint so the numbers can be easily changed as more children are born.




I've also been doing some sewing projects for Christmas gifts. I love the feeling of creating gifts for other people. What a wonderful time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I love the joy the season brings as we think of others and focus on those things we are grateful for.

Organization=Sanity!!!

So mommies out there. If you haven't been on pinterest lately, just let me warn you, its more addicting than facebook! I love it!!! I've been finding tons of great ideas on there including home decorating, crafts, hairstyles, recipes, and tons of other stuff. I have to say I think the one I am addicted to the most are the fabulous ORGANIZATION IDEAS!!! Maybe its because my house is small so I have to use every nook and cranny functionally or maybe its because I have 4 children and a husband who I am constantly picking up after?
I found a great post on organization I thought I would share. I do some of these things and it makes a world of difference, so here's the link. Maybe it'll help you too :)

http://organizing.yourway.net/10-things-to-do-everyday-to-stay-organized/#sf

Getting back into it

Summer is officially over. I was a horrible/the best mom ever by having my kids miss their first 2 days of school in order to complete the family vacation we had planned before the school let us know what the start date would be. Now that I'm done pouting over the whole situation of summer being over, I am trying to remember/relearn this whole routine mom thing.
The first day of school was simply a nutty day. Trying to figure out where, how, and when to pick up and drop off the kids from school and Hudson starting tiny tots for his first time. Now carpools are running smoothly, and I am working on having a healthy snack ready for when the kids get home (today was zucchini bread, about 1/2 healthy 1/2 yummy!). I also try to have at least 1/2 of dinner prepared so I can sit and focus on homework with the kids.
It is absolutely strange to me that for 3 hours on Tues and Thursday I only have one child with me. Funny how when I had my first child I felt so tied down with a toddler, but now with ONLY 1 toddler to deal with I feel like I can conquer anything. My hardest thing is deciding what wonderful thing I want to do with those 3 magical hours. Should I workout, shop, clean the house, prepare meals, craft, visit teach, work on church stuff, just relax, or ....... the list can go on forever!
I have a lot of figuring out to do still. Funny how each new year brings on so many changes. How long is a routine really a routine? With children always growing, life is always changing and priorities change too.

So, my job this next couple weeks is to figure out what my best routine is, so my family's days can flow calmly and smoothly. Have you picked up any new routines with this new school year? Anything working great for you?

I made it!

So, I made it through my vacations with no excess weight gain! Its pretty amazing what you can accomplish when you have your mind set. I still have 1/2 of the summer to go, but I'm proud so far of how I am doing. It wasn't so hard to hit the gym when I got home since I had continued it when I was away from home.

How are you spending your summer days? Enjoying time with the kids and family?

How are you finding a way to fit in exercise and healthy eating with all the vacations and time with the children?

If you are struggling: try setting a goal to improve a little at a time. It can be something simple, like only eating dessert 2 times a week instead of 5 ;) Or fitting in at least 2 days of exercise a week. Make a small goal and set your mind to it. Good luck! Please share.

Exercising while on vacations

We just got back from a week vacation away with the family. I have been so concerned that I would falter this summer on my exercising, but it has been quite the contrary. Being with other people that love to exercise and make it a priority has made all the difference.

During my week vacation I made it to 1 kickboxing class at the local 24 hour fitness, Ran/did elliptical twice for about 40 minutes and combined that with a few weights, and did a P90X video with my hubby and bro in law. So, on a week vacation I fit in 4 workouts! Its really amazing how when you make something a priority you really can fit it in. Instead of feeling horrible when I came back from vacation, I felt great!

So....Survival tips for vacations,

#1 Make exercise a priority
#2 Surround yourself with people who enjoy exercise or be the motivator! (Everyone will thank you later)
#3 Enjoy the relaxation but do not over indulge in the food.

Good Luck with your summer vacationing!!!

Saving money

I love learning and trying new things. I think its so fun to educate myself and see how far I can take myself in new explorations. I think exploring is a healthy thing to do :) My newest little "hobby" is couponing and saving my family money. Most hobbies take a few extra dollars, so its pretty fun that this hobby is actually saving us tons on our grocery bill!

I would not call myself an extreme couponer~as I only purchase one paper per week and shop only maybe twice a week, but still its been fun and exciting to see those savings.

For example: Last week one of my best transactions(its often best to do multiple transactions at one store), I scored 2 gallons of milk, 2 dino gogurts, a danimals drink 6 pack, and yogurt 6 pack for.....

$2.19!!!!

This week I took a picture of my loot, so here it is

8 boxes of fiber one bars, 4 bottles Sweet baby BBQ sauce, 2 Kraft dressings, 9 lawry's marinades, 1 frenches mustard, 1 Kraft Mayo, 1 gallon milk, 1 knudsen sour cream, bag of twizzlers, and 7 boxes of brownie mix

All for $16.80!!!!

I stuck to stuff that we buy on a normal basis so I feel like I'm only buying things I normally would. The fiberone bars alone would have cost me more than that amount had I bought them at Walmart where I usually shop, so I figure everything else on the counter is just bonus and free. My pantry is starting to burst out the seams and I've spent less in the last month in grocery shopping than I do on a normal month. Its amazing!!!!

Balancing the changes

Sorry, I didn't realize its been so long since my last post! I've been staying busy working out, playing volleyball again, couponing, crafting, and doing lots of other fun stuff with the kids.

My latest concerns with staying healthy both have to do with Balancing the Changes...

FIRST~
How do I fit in exercise with all 4 kids home from school and so many fun vacations planned? There is no way I am paying $12 each time I go to the gym so my kids can be babysat there or paying the $80 monthy fee it would cost to have them all enrolled in the unlimited babysitting! I've gotta figure out a way to fit it in, so I may be trying to do a few laps at the pool or do some extra squats while I fix meals. Should be interesting :)

SECOND~
My bad knee is starting to bother me a bit. If you don't know, I tore my ACL completely my senior year of high school. I walked on it for a year instead of having the surgery right away (this was the only way I was going to be able to go to the college of choice). So, I ruined a lot of cartlidge along the way. The doctor told me I would never be able to run again. I feel blessed that I can do as much as I can exercise wise. Recently I wanted to slim down, so I've been taking lots of kickboxing and other cardio type classes (which totally work)~ I think this is starting to irritate my knee a bit. So, that is my other dilema, how to I choose between staying fit and putting too much strain on my knee.

So, those are my thoughts for the day. I know I need to take care of my body, and I want to, but as a mom of 4 it isn't always easy. I'm going to work on finding a new balance for the next 2 months and figure this out.

Thoughts on Venting

Some days are good and some are bad. I try my best to find the good in everyday, but it is really hard sometimes!

SOMETIMES I JUST WANNA.....

*kick and scream like a kid
*splat, I AM GOING CRRRRAAAAZZZZZZZZZY and I'm so frustrated all over facebook
*call up the subpoena clerk and explain to them that my husband would appreciate more than 2 1/2 hours of sleep a night and scream to them about how I would love to see my husband at least every other day!!!

WHAT I TRY TO DO INSTEAD...

There are a few ways I deal with hard days. Most hard days I just grab my journal and write and sometimes I cry (a girl needs a cry every once in a while right?). As I write I try to find the positive in what is going on. I think of how this trial of loneliness and exhaustion is strengthening me. I think of who I may be able to relate to in the future because of this hard time I am going through. A few times I have called up a listening ear such as my mother, sister, or good friend. Other times I think of others who I can do service for to get my mind off of myself (some of those who live close by are often recipients of baked goods on my really hard days). For some reason baking with my kids and delivering cookies, or bread to a friend make me feel so much better (then eating a cookie afterward helps too :)

HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN!

HOW DO YOU VENT? DO YOU THINK ITS A HEALTHY THING TO VENT? DON'T WE ALL GET ANGRY SOMETIMES? IF YOU'VE BEEN ON FACEBOOK LATELY YOU PROBABLY KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO GO AHEAD AND PUT ALL THEIR COMPLAINTS OUT THERE EVERYDAY FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL HEARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S ISSUES CONSTANTLY. DO YOU THINK VENTING SHOULD BE PERSONAL OR IS IT FINE TO VENT PUBLICLY? (I'm not sure how everyone feels on this issue, so please do share).

Inspiration from Jennie

One reader of my blog emailed me and let me know that she had been working on becoming a healthier mommy ever since I posed the challenge in January. I was excited that she was willing to share her story with us.

"My name is Jennie Burke and in January I took Joanna's challenge on to get more fit and healthy. I started out walking 5 days a week for about 30 minutes. Over the course of the 4 weeks I was able to start jogging about 2.5 miles in the 30 minutes. After the 4 weeks was over I continued to jog/slow run about 3 times a week. Well in early March an opportunity came up for me to run in the Southern California Ragnar Relay. Ragnar Relays are an overnight race where you and 11 of your team mates run for 200 plus miles. My husband and sister in law had run one previously and their new team needed a runner and they asked me to join. I was only running about 2 to 3 miles so taking on something like this was really overwhelming for me. But I used Joanna's positive thinking and decided to join. So in April I ran 12.5 miles of the 200.9 mile race. From January to April I lost 35 pounds. It was incredible, the way I pushed my body and did things I didn't think I could do was so amazing. The challenge really changed my life for the better. I am still not as healthy as I would like to be I have a lot more weight to lose but I am on the right path and I am definitely more active than I have been since high school. Which really feels amazing. We have signed up to run another Ragnar in September which is so exciting and will help keep me motivated. Trust me I am living proof that if you set your mind to something you can definitely do it no matter what the stands in the way. "

Thank you so much Jennie for being an inspiration. We all start at different points. I love that you took on something challenging and were able to share that experience with your husband. Good luck in your continued goals toward health and fitness. Please share with us again~ we'd love to have an update again in a few months!

Zumba and Treadmill

I wore my calorie counting watch on Friday to the gym and these are the #s

Zumba (50 minutes)- 300 calories

Treadmill (17 minutes running)- 170 calories. Thought I'd note that even after putting in my age and weight into the treadmill the calories said that I had burned 250 calories, so my watch proved I burn less than the "average" person. Keep that in mind when you are using the machines. Its all based on averages, so everyone's body is a little different. If you are trying to be exact on your calorie intake/exercise than you may want to get something more accurate instead of counting on the averages being correct for your body.

I'm going to have the hit the gym hard next week after all the celebrating we've been doing. Since Thursday its been fun around here celebrating my hubby's 31st birthday and enjoying time with family this Memorial day weekend. It will continue until Monday~then the next couple weeks I will work on whipping myself back into shape to burn off all the yummy food and dessert that I've been eating. YIKES! I may need some extra motivation, who's with me?

Fun with counting :)

I've absolutely been loving testing out my new new mother's day present! Most women wouldn't be excited for their husband to them anything to do with exercise for a gift. Usually that would be an insult right? Not for me! My hubby listened up and surprised me by getting me the New Balance heart rate/calorie counting watch that I have been wanting for a few months now. Its making working out more fun and making me work a little harder at the gym to see what the results are calorie wise.

So far I've logged in 4 of my normal morning workoutsand one day out with the kids and here are the results:

24 Lift (50 minute weight class) 250 calories
I was a little disappointed at first, but strengthening those muscles is just as important as the calorie burn. A balance of weights and cardio is important to being healthy.

Turbo Kick (I was 10 minutes late and had to leave once to change a poopy diaper), so about a 40 minute workout burned 375 calories~ pretty good eh?

Turbo Kick (full class) 450 calorie~ even better!

Step Class (full class) 385 calories

3 hours at the Zoo- 690 calories This was at the L.A. zoo pushing a double stroller up the hilly pathway, picking up kids, and all the other stuff that goes with a day at the zoo with 2 kids :)

Its fun seeing the #s and how the classes compare to just running on the treadmill. I love exercising. I see the results in the mirror, and also in the way I feel. Anything that makes me feel better about myself makes for a good mother's day present. Good job to my hubby for a great gift!

That "SOMETHING"

Of course there are the obvious aspects of being a healthy mama such as, the exercise and healthy eating. Maybe I'm a slow learner, but now that I am a mother to 4 and I've been doing it for 8 1/2 years, I am coming to realize that there are sooooooo many aspects of being a healthy mama. For me part of the struggle has been figuring out what makes me happy and completely fulfilled.

I've just always wanted that special connection and love that in my relationships that I just couldn't figure out how to explain or ask for. For me its just that "SOMETHING" that I just haven't been able to put my finger on. At times I would be frustrated and tell my spouse that I was feeling a certain way, but I had no way of explaining what he could do to help me feel better. I've had this communication barrier for years, that is until I started digging into a new book that my sister recommended to me called the 5 LOVE LANGUAGES.

This book has been taking me on the quest to figure out what makes me feel satisfied and complete in my relationships with others. It also helps me be able to figure out how to understand what others need in their relationships. I feel like its helped me to be a better wife, friend, and mother. Its been so fun and exciting testing the different things out on my relationships and seeing how the different techniques work on different people. I'm not finished yet, but I've pretty much figured out my own "love language." I've now been able to communicate my needs to my husband in a simple way that he understands, and it has taken our relationship to a new level of understanding, connection, and given me that "SOMETHING" that I just couldn't figure out before. I'm still working on pinpointing his "love language." He agreed to sit down and read through a few parts with me, so that is on my to do list :)

If you are searching for that "SOMETHING" that you find is missing in your relationships then pick up the book and read it individually or with your partner. I guarantee it can bring you joy and fulfillment if you put it to practice.


Here is a basic outline of the 5 languages~ What you need to do it pinpoint your language and then communicate that need to your spouse. Also, pinpoint their language and fulfill that need for them. Fill their "love tank" and it will make a huge difference in your relationship.

Words of Affirmation
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Quality Time
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Receiving Gifts
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Acts of Service
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Physical Touch
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

Rainy Day Blues

Not sure how you women who live in places where you are stuck indoors all day due to the weather live! This morning I was able to get out and go to the gym, but our weekly trip to the park was a no go due to the drizzle. Now that I'm home I just wanna be lazy, put the kids in front of the tube, and sit down and snack on yummy treats and do nothing at all. If this was a daily occurance it would not be so pretty to look at this body of mine. I would be overweight for sure, and not sure if I would be as positive as I generally try to be.

Is it just because I was bred to be a California girl? Do some women/mother's enjoy being indoor all day? Maybe that's why people in other states need huge homes with gigantic basements. When I was up at Ricks college in the freezing weather I put on the poundage quick! It was no pretty site (you can ask my hubby who would be glad to share with you that I had chipmunk cheeks after spending the year there).

Random post today, but that's what it on my mind. Until next time, I'll be hoping for my California weather to return soon.

Sleep and Weight Loss

A mother's life and sleep. At park days with other new mommies the questions about sleep always pop up. Is your child a good sleeper? What kind of sleep routine do you have them on? Etc... Another common subject is about weight. How did you lose that baby weight so fast? How do I get my waistline to go down? Or, I just can't seem to lose that last 5-10 lbs no matter what I do!

In the last few months I've been focusing on how to become healthier in several areas. Two of my main goals have been to get to sleep earlier and to have a continuous exercise routine. Funny, I've never thought of these two as related. I just thought getting more sleep would help me be less of a grouch each morning (which it does most mornings :).

As I stepped on the scale a few mornings ago I thought, how in the world is my weight still going down? I haven't changed anything in my eating pattern or exercise routine to cause that amount of calorie difference. Then I thought, the only thing in my daily routine that I have changed is my sleep pattern. So I wondered, could this "earlier to sleep, earlier to rise" sleep change be effecting my weight loss?

After some research online I found that my prediction is likely to be correct. No wonder it is so hard to lose those last 5-10 pounds once children enter your life! Sleep is hard to come by in those first months. Sometimes we must sacrifice time to ourselves in the evening and just shut our eyes.

My challenge to you mommies is to try to fit a little more sleep into your night. I know its not easy (especially if you have new babies or teenagers). Give it a try and let me know if you see the same effects I have seen in the last 2 months. If nothing else, maybe you will be a little slower to snap at your hubbies or children in the morning.

Happy ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs!!!!

Women's Conference

Last week myself, my sister, and 2 good friends traveled to Utah for a women's conference put on by BYU and by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I had the most wonderful time spending 2 full days being uplifted by wonderful speakers and spending time with my friends and sister. Every once in a while a mommy just needs a few minutes to rejuvenate and speak to other adults.


What's interesting about the trip is that the night before I left I was up all night with my 3 year old while he was sick, and I actually didn't feel too well when I headed out. I was determined and prayed that I would have a great time, and it worked :) Despite calls from home hearing from my sick husband, and hearing that even my baby was sick I was able to focus on the positive and take in the experience. Along the way we even encountered problems with my car! As the snow fell and my car wouldn't start I laughed and stayed positive. I was surrounded by positive people, and that really made all the difference. From this experience it was reaffirmed to me that being around people who are positive helps me to be the same way.

If you are feeling in the dumps and those around you are feeding your fuel of negativity and making it worse~stay clear! Surround yourself with positiveness and make an extra effort to be that person who you would want to be around. It can truly change your life if you stick with it. I have seen myself and felt myself become a different person in the last 2 years or so, and I believe that surrounding myself with positive people has truly been the key.

Have a great day.

Creativity~give it a try

I've been enjoying making little creations of my own lately, and its really brought me a new level of joy and satisfaction. There is something about trying new things and making something new that really makes me feel proud and makes me feel just, good.

For inspiration, the following are excerpts from a talk from a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and goes perfectly with my challenge for the next couple weeks~

TO CREATE SOMETHING!!!! It can be anything. Please share your creation with us :)


"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty

You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.


The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."


Here are a few of my latest creations.

Easter Chick Cupcakes (found the idea online and recreated it)

My/my friend Andrea's first fondant cake, and the cute little girl was partially my creation too :)

A birthday plate all signed by London's 1st birthday guests.


A plate for my nephew's upcoming baptism/birthday to be signed by guests. A coordinated creation with my sister Janell :)

Go out and create :) Report back so we can "borrow" your cute ideas :) Thanks!!!

Fun Fact

I got an email from my gym saying it was time for my annual renewal, and as I was searching online for the place to pay I fell upon the CLUB VISITS button. I clicked on it and it told me all the dates I have visited in the last year. Interesting to see what months were nil to those that were full of activity.

So, if you are interested here is my record of how many times I visited the gym each month over the last year.

2010
April-0 (month London was born)
May-4
June-8
July-1
August-3
Sept-3
Oct-10 (month London turned 6 months and could be taken to the gym for care)
Nov-8
Dec-8
2011
Jan-16 (started the Shed 5 Fast challenge)
Feb-15
March-15
April-3 (the month is not over, but the kids were on spring break so I'm far behind)

Of course I did other forms of exercise like videos, jogs, a couple of park workouts with friends, etc... Nonetheless, thought it was interesting to look at and see which months of more exercise related to things going on in my life. If you frequent the gym, check out your # of visits. :)

The Healing Medicine

Thought I'd share for those of you who are still reading this blog. This weekend was just one of those weekends. Too little exercise, too many sweets, and a sicky hubby to take care of.
When monday rolled around, I had all 4 kiddos home (spring break), and a sick hubby to take care of. We also have lots of fun plans on the calendar for the entire week, so I knew I wouldn't be making it to the gym much. I just didn't feel good because I hadn't gotten that dose of exercise my body is used to and just craves now. So, instead of making it to our planned parkday right on time I decided to hit the gym hard and I feel sooooo much better!
Exercise to me is a type of healing medicine that only costs time~so worth it!!! Makes my mind more clear, my body healthier, my attitude positive, and helps me enjoy the moments with my family so much more.
So, next time you are having a bad day think about what you are needing, perhaps your answer will be the same as mine was today :)

Ups and downs of Motherhood

Last week one of my friends told me that the DI Pod was at one of the church buildings here in our city. If you don't know what a DI Pod is, its like a donation box to bring you old used items to. The items are distributed to all different places~including shipped across seas to countries in need. Anyway, this got my mind going crazy. When the DI Pod is in town I always try to clean out a drawer, the toy box, or a closet. My closet was the lucky draw this time. I have had 4 children over the last 8 years, so all different sizes and styles of clothes can be found in my closet. My husband never believes me that I have nothing to wear because of the pure bulk of clothes, so I decided it was time. After I do all the laundry I can hardly find an empty hanger to put the clean clothes on!

Step #1: I started by emptying out all the clothes that don't fit~ including a few maternity pieces that were missed, some tops I bought simply for nursing, and lots of older pants and shorts that are just huge on me. I found some that I used to wear back in college~ so disturbing! Why was I holding onto this stuff? I have the pictures that prove I gained the freshman 15, (so maybe it was 20)~ why do I need the pants? If you've lost some weight and don't want to go back to that size ever, then get rid of the clothes!!! (If you are still having children then put it away in a box, don't keep them in your closet).

Step #2: Once I rid of those I went onto those things I haven't worn in years and that are way outdated and I would never want to be caught dead wearing them! Seriously, I don't plan on being the mom that wears the same dress in family pics 15 years later by accident!

Step #3: Next, I went onto a few shirts that have mommy stains and I never wear because of the stain I was never able to get off. Sad, some of them were only worn once or twice, but that's what happens when we are mom's right? The price we pay :)

After all the sifting and organizing my closet looks much better and I can find the things that I like to wear much quicker. It feels good to walk into a clean organized space where I have only those items I enjoy wearing and not the ones that remind me of times when I was unhappy with my body image. It felt great! So if you haven't cleaned out that closet in a while, give it a whirl. Good luck!