Project de-clutter: Tips for organizing and refreshing your space in 2019

It’s winter in Kansas, but with the start of a new year, it seems my brain thinks it’s spring. When the year switched to 2019, it’s like I flipped a switch and went in to Spring cleaning and organizing mode.

OK. OK. I watched an episode of Tidying Up.

ONE episode. And the cleaning and organizing bug bit me. There. I said it.

And I secretly love it. I mean, who says spring is the only time for clearing out clutter and getting organized ?!?

First, it was all the t-shirts - all folded into

small, perfect, tiny, little rectangles. Then, it was the master closet. coat closet, spare bedroom closet.

before

after

before

after

before

after

And I'm still going :) But if you're not ready to go all Marie Kondo just yet, here are several simple ways to refresh your space in the new year:

•         Change out your bedding/comforter/duvet cover
•         Fresh coat of paint
•         Change out the throw pillows on your couch
•         Hang new artwork in space you spend a lot of time in
•         Add drawer/closet organizers to your spaces
•         Add real plants or flowers to your main living spaces
•         Rearrange the furniture in a room
•         Go through each room and remove SOMETHING---de-clutter
•         Add a basket to each room to gather random items that “don’t belong” (Thanks, Chalene Johnson!) 
•         Do a deep clean of a main room - don't forget those base boards :)
•         Add a fun chair to your office space
•         Clean out your fridge, pantry, lazy Susan
•         Change out your shower curtain and bathmats
•         Purge your closets of clothes you don’t wear or don’t fit
•         Clean out that “Junk Drawer” (or 7) that I we all have

I'm definitely no expert, but with any cleaning and organizing project, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so I encourage you to do a few things before you get started:

1.      Take a walk around your home and Identify areas that you want to tackle and why

2.      Prioritize your list based on what means the most to you

3.      Create a timeline for implementing these changes! DON’T try and tackle them all in a day or even a weekend!

4.      Create a list of the items needed to tackle your first item.

5.      Get to work!!

I’d love to hear about what items you tackled first and see some before/after photos! Share below! And happy tidying 😊

Lucky 13: What I've learned in 13 years of marriage

I don't know about you, but I've been on a podcast kick for awhile now. I subscribe to numerous podcasts and listen to them in the car instead of the radio.

Just a few days ago I listened to a podcast hosted by one of my favorite people Chalene Johnson - The Chalene Show. (If you don't subscribe - I highly recommend!) And while the entire episode offered numerous, great tips on keeping intimacy and passion alive in your marriage (which seemed perfect on the eve of our wedding anniversary), there was one thing in particular that really struck a chord with me:

The behaviors you reward, you receive more of [from your spouse], and the behaviors you "punish", you'll see less. 

Seems obvious, right? 

But then she gave the example of when your spouse attempts to show you affection and you ignore it, show your annoyance or get mad about it. When you do this you're in essence punishing someone showing you AFFECTION!

When you say it out loud you realize just how crazy that sounds.

Now, listen. I'm not saying you can't be in a bad mood or want to be left alone, but I for one know ME and know that I am less than perfect about being kind and tactful in these moments. And it stopped me in my tracks when I could call to memory specific times I had brushed off affection or didn't just say thank you when I was complimented.

Justin and I were high school sweethearts. Anyone who knows us also knows this fact. 1999. That's the year we started dating. 2006. That's the year we were married. For all you mathematicians, that means we've been together for almost 20 years and married for 13. You don't go that amount of time and NOT learn a TON about each other. But having a strong healthy marriage means always striving to be a better, more present, considerate, loving spouse.

So taking Chalene's words to heart, I'm sharing here and will share with my husband just how amazing I think he is and a few ways I plan to make the next 13 years of marriage better than the last.

Ok - he comes the bragging...

Here are a few of the wonderful things about my husband:

He is a great listener. 

Even when I don't think he's listening he is.

And he uses these superb listening skills to surprise me with things I forgot I even mentioned. I made a comment about seeing a show at a dinner theater in town before Christmas. Never brought it up again, and what did this guy do: got us tickets to go see that very show.

I need to be a better listener. Put the phone down, Alicia. Make eye contact. Focus only on him. Block out other distractions.

He is incredibly hard-working.

For as long as we've know each other, Justin has had a job. From umpiring, to Dairy Queen, to the local gas station while we were dating, to Honeywell, a local souvenir shop, umpiring/supervising recreational sports and BE Aerospace and back to Honeywell after we were married, he's always worked extremely hard to provide the best life he can for us.

I need to thank him 
for this everyday. Don't take it for granted. There are not many people I know who  like to do thankless jobs, even as menial as scrubbing a pan that you over-cooked something in. 

He is a kid at heart.

Justin LOVES baseball...watching baseball, playing baseball and talking about baseball. And his face lights up at the thought of baseball. He also loves his video games. The Legend of Zelda is his favorite. And he's also discovered a recent love of comic books. He's nostalgic like me and loves all the things from his childhood. PS - he also sleeps with his childhood blanket. (It's honestly way cute.)

Don't ever let him stop being a kid. Let him play his video games, read the comic books and talk about baseball (within reason, of course :)). These things make him happy. And when he's happy, life is just better. Plus, he indulges me when it comes to gymnastics exhibitions and books and RV shows from when I was little.

He loves things to be clean and organized. (He IS an engineer)

Now I'm not a slob, but if we're comparing the two of us, he definitely wins this category :) He's not the one leaving shoes in random places or hanging sweatshirts on bathroom cabinet nobs.

Disorder and chaos stress him out, therefore I'm really embracing organization, de-cluttering and really making an effort to keep my crap picked up to decrease his stress level. The kids stress him out enough ;)

He is the best dad.

We have three kids that could not be more different from one another, but he has really been great - especially as they have gotten older and started to settle into their unique personalities, about fostering their likes and not using a blanket approach to parenting. With the older one, baseball and all things sports are their thing. With the middle one, it's Cub Scouts, Minecraft and soccer and with the baby... Well, they do whatever it is she wants LOL

Again, make sureh he knows this.

Thank him for all the practices, meetings and activities he makes sure he attends. Don't just think it - say it!

Happy anniversary Justin Scott. Thirteen years and a lifetime to go! I love you! 

Take quitting off the table

Famous words by one of my favorite people in fitness: Shaun T

Starting something new can be so exciting! But it can also cause a lot of fear and anxiety. Doubt creeps in and we start making up excuses as to why we shouldn't move forward. The Devil whispers lies in our ears: you're not strong enough; you're not disciplined enough; you don't have the willpower; you won't have time; you shouldn't take time for yourself.

And we believe them. We let those lies take over our thoughts until they've manifested themselves so deeply we quit on ourselves. Game over.

Let me just tell you, I've been where you've been. I've been the one who believed the lies. When I looked at my post baby body, all I could see was flaws. I could only point out what I hated about myself and not what I loved. I had completely forgotten who I was and didn't recognize the reflection staring back at me in the mirror. I wasn't comfortable in my own skin. But I took a leap and so can you.

What if you decided right here - right now - to take quitting off the table in 2019? How would your life be different? How would things change if you took that fear, those lies, that doubt and pushed them aside like cobwebs in your path? What would be on the other side? 

For me, a craving for a more consistent fitness regimen - the desire to look and feel better - brought me to today. But my faith and mental health are reaping the benefits as well.  I found confidence. I found freedom to be me. I found strength - physical and mental. 

And with every workout I finished and every healthy choice i made, these feelings were amplified. I was finally seeing myself as a strong, capable wife, mother, friend and co-worker... merely a glimpse of the woman God already saw. It took a lot of time to get there, but along the way I met some amazing, inspirational people who help to keep me going.. people who keep me striving to be happy, healthy and holy.

A must-read for all
women about
true beauty by
Leah Darrow

We all have struggles. We don't know what goes on behind closed doors. And we're not here to judge. What we are here for is to be the best human beings we can be, which means being better than we were yesterday and believing we can be better still tomorrow.

What's that prayer? Ah, yes, the Serenity Prayer: 

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Today was day 1 of a new 6-week fitness

program for me... a new challenge...another new beginning and fresh start. Is that what you need - a fresh start? A support system? Don't be afraid to ask for help! You don't have to do it alone. And it's never too late to start something new - fitness related or otherwise.

Look in the mirror and really take a moment

to get to know the person staring back. Look in the mirror and say,"_____, you have to at least try, or nothing will change!"

Take a deep breath. Picture yourself already doing it. Take quitting off the table. Believe in yourself. Have faith in God to lead you. Believe you can because He already does. And I believe in you, too.

New Year, New Goals: Tips for Achieving Success in 2019

With the beginning of a new year comes the stress from the world to make resolutions, set goals to try and accomplish them in the next 365 days…do you succumb to the pressure? Or do you go with the flow and wake up and just keep rolling like any other day?

The following are Webster Dictionary definitions:

goal: the end toward which effort is directed

resolution: the act or process of resolving such as – the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones

Quite honestly, I’ve never picked the definitions apart before, but my interpretation would be that making resolutions really just means breaking down a big goal into the steps needed to achieve it. So that’s what I’m going to share with you. No matter what your goal, I think the following steps will all be helpful in helping you find success.

1.      Think positively

2.      Eat healthy and exercise daily

3.      Pray more/worry less

4.      Work hard

5.      Smile and laugh often

6.      Sleep well (ooh, boy that’s a tough one!)

While in no particular order, from the top down, this list challenges you to be physically, mentally and spiritually stronger. Are you still with me? Let’s break it down…

     Think positively: It’s so hard in the world we live into to stay positive all the time. After all, it seems the news is flooded with only the negative. But start small and watch your positivity grow. Here’s what I mean: instead of grumbling awake in the morning, be grateful for another day to spread love and joy. Instead of whining that you have to go to work, be thankful for the job that you have that helps pay the bills and provide for your family. When your day starts on a positive, it’s that much easier to keep it going. One of my favorite motivators is Shaun T. It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you.

      Eat healthy and exercise daily: I know, I know. Like a lot of things on this list it’s easier said than done, but I can tell you from personal experience, I feel so much better about myself when I eat a healthy meal and work up a good sweat. You won’t realize just how good you DIDN’T feel, until you feel good 😊 That being said, we all have to start somewhere. And in order to take the first step, you must acknowledge and accept your starting point, knowing that it will take a lot of hard work and dedication to stay the course. Your head MUST be in the game! If you’ve struggled in this area, you’re not alone and don’t have to try and do it alone. I can help! With a little bit of planning, some discipline and motivation thrown in, we can tackle your goals. It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you. 

      

Pray more/worry less: These two definitely go hand in hand. In my experience, the most freeing experiences for me have been when I do as my mom used to tell me “Just give it up to God.” If I’m being honest, I used to roll my eyes when she said this (Sorry, Mom!) Life isn’t that simple. Or is it? But as an adult, it has become more and more clear. There are so many things out of our control… we experience trials, heartache and setbacks all the time. And it’s in these times that God truly wants us to invite him into our struggle and wants to help us heal. So I invite you to try it. Lean into prayer and let Him work. We live in an instant gratification and ME ME ME world. Relinquishing control will not be second nature. One of my favorite resources when it comes to prayer is Blessed is She. I highly encourage you to check out their web site for more tips on intentional prayer!  It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you.

      Work hard:  This one seems super self-explanatory. But one person’s definition of hard work doesn’t always match that of another. For me, working hard is giving your personal best. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know whether you are or not. Whether at your job or at home with your kids… are you focused on the task at hand or is your mind wondering? Are you in the moment? When your head isn’t in it, your body won’t follow. So if you have to tackle a big project or you’re at home trying to get things crossed of your honey-do list, break it down into smaller chunks that will allow you to really stay focused. Delegation, when appropriate is also helpful! It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you. 

     

Smile and laugh often:  This one seems like a no brainer – but honestly I take life too seriously sometimes. Not that I had an unhappy childhood, but I used to be painfully shy and rarely smiled. Looking back, I “ruined” a lot of family photos with my frowny/mad face. So when something is funny, laugh… laugh too hard sometimes. And smile at everyone you pass during your day. The smallest things in life, including a simple smile can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. I especially like to try and smile at the kiddos I see that are about the age I was when I was so grumpy 😊 Studies have shown that when WE smile it makes us happier, too, whether we force it or not (PsychologyToday) It won’t                                                       be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you.

     

Sleep well: This one is a tough one for me. I’m terrible about putting down the phone and going to bed. We’ve all heard by now the negative effects that screen time right before bed has on our quality of sleep. So why don’t we listen? Does it really matter that my FB or IG feed has been refreshed and I’m up to date before bed? It’ll all be there the next day. So to help myself, and may I suggest to help you too if you struggle with this, don’t keep your phone on your bedside table. Move it to a different part of your room or another room all together. It’ll remove the temptation and force you to think about what you’re doing if you get up to check it. And we’re all adults and all getting older (ack) so take some responsibility and know what time you need to go to bed to get a restful night’s sleep. Even if that’s 8pm 😊 It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you.

I hope you’ll take to heart these 6 steps… think about how you can apply them in your life to help you accomplish your goals for 2019. What steps will be the hardest for you? What actions will you take to help get the ball moving on them? I encourage you to find an accountability partner ( I know a great one 😉) who can help keep you honest and on track. I think we can all agree if we share our goals with others, we tend to work a little harder to reach them. It won’t be easy, and it will take effort, but you’ve got this. I believe in you. And I’m praying for you.