How I Stay Grounded

 

I posted this on my IG stories, because it really spoke to me.  My personality is quite calm, but there are certain things that keep me that way and maybe this list which is pretty spot on, will help you too.  Obviously, not working full time, or having young children or teens at home makes my days less stressful than many, but we all need touchstones in our daily life that keep us grounded.  Out of this list, I have highlighted a few that I can’t do without.

Sunlight

I live in Florida, so soaking up the sunshine is a way of life.  Having lived in Michigan for a good portion of my life, with it’s gray winter days, I can see the difference living in the Sunshine State makes in mood and lifestyle.

Whole Foods

As I have gotten older, there is a noticeable difference in how I feel based on how healthy I eat.  I rarely eat fast food, do not consume any caffeine and do my best to eat a balanced diet.  As a dietetic, portion control is my mantra.

Sleep

I used to be a night owl and exist on very little sleep.  My diabetes is hereditary, but not getting enough sleep can be a trigger.  Now, I rarely stay up past midnight.  Again, a stress free lifestyle makes a lot of difference, but a healthy lifestyle is the key.

Nature

I love to walk and soak in nature whether it is on the beach or on a trail.  When I lived in Michigan, walking in the snow was my favorite thing.  Gardening is also a big part of my life and getting my hands in the dirt or wandering around a plant nursery are what I consider therapy.

Movement

I discovered yoga about ten years ago and haven’t looked back. When I had a knee injury and couldn’t practice yoga, it showed me how important if is to move.  And, having graduated from physical therapy last week, with my strength and range of motion back, I am doing what I love.  And, out of all the exercises my PT gave me, yoga was by far the best for building strength and flexibility.  I  also play golf regularly and like I mentioned walk every day.

Decluttering

This started with my move and inevitable downsizing four years ago, and it is now a way of life.  I am determined to never accumulate so many things again and donation is happening regularly.  A cluttered home equals a cluttered mind for me.

Future Planning

I love to be home, but also love to make plans.  Whether it is a day trip or plane travel, new experiences are good for your mental health and to keep you from getting in a rut.  There is always a new adventure on the horizon and we live in the perfect place and have the perfect lifestyle to take advantage of it.  

Happy Wednesday!

Revisiting 40 Bags in 40 Days

It all began several years ago when I lived in Michigan in a big house with too much stuff accumulated over the years.  Too much that I was saving just because I had the space and also for sentimental reasons.  It was weighing me down, because I knew that a down size was happening in the near future.  I remember being so moved by what my priest said at mass on one Ash Wednesday about how Lent should be looked at as an opportunity to take something on rather than give something up.  So, I started practicing that idea and taking on the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge.  Each year during the 40 days of Lent, I filled 40 bags (or boxes) with all kinds of stuff to either donate, sell or trash.  And, each year my mind became a little clearer on what is really important.  It all culminated in the year we sold our home and moved to Florida and the process was one of the best things I have ever done.  I will link previous blog posts if you want more details of how I did it.

Now, as Lent begins,  I have very little to get rid of and am extremely careful in what I bring into my new home.  If something new comes in, instead of sticking the old item somewhere "just in case", I let it go.  Living simply and without clutter gives you room to breathe and live for the present and future.  I'm looking for something new to take on this Lenten season that will give me the same feeling of satisfaction. I think some volunteering is in order soon as a repayment to this new city that has given us so much happiness.

Have a wonderful weekend and Go Green on Saturday night!  Beat Michigan!

40 Bags in 40 Days 2013
40 Bags in 40 Days 2014
40 Bags in 40 Days 2015
40 Bags in 40 Days 2016

Oh Christmas Tree (and Christmas Card)

 

 

 

 

 

 

After moving to Florida and all the work of downsizing, I fight against bringing too much into the house again. It is especially tempting at Christmas and I have to make myself not go to Hobby Lobby. So far, I think I've been able to achieve a pretty good balance and really concentrate on the tree and the most sentimental and favorite items. I still put out my snow globe collection, but only the most special to me. Our nativity was my husband's mothers and it will always have a place in my home. And because every thing old is new again, my ceramic Christmas tree that was a wedding gift in 1982, is now coveted by all the millennials. The big change is that it's outside on my lanai.

My tree is new and much smaller than the tree I had in Michigan, where it needed to have height and drama in my foyer with a two story ceiling. I find this smaller tree perfect for this downsized house and so simple to decorate. My tree will never be pinterest worthy, but every ornament has a memory and that's how we like it. My favorite new ornament is a gift from my daughter and new son in law. It's a clear glass ball with their wedding invitation cut in strips and placed inside. I know, right!?

I do make my tree pretty and sparkle a bit by adding red and gold glass balls and silver and gold garland. To give it a touch of the coastal decor I use in my Florida home, I added a large starfish at the top and other large starfish scattered throughout the branches. This year I also added some small tourquoise ornaments and next year will look to add some large glass balls in the same color.

 

 

This was a special year for our family and my Christmas card reflects the joy in our daughter's wedding. Merry Christmas to all you lovely readers and I'll see you after the holidays.

 

40 Days

 

 

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For the past few years, I have tried to take something on during lent rather than give something up. The thing that really spoke to me, especially at the stage of life that I was in, was the 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge. The premise of this challenge is to use the 40 days of the Lenten season and let go of things that you no longer need and do not serve you. To clear your home of clutter and open your mind to new things, including the peace of the Holy Spirit.

I wrote about my process here and here and here and while I no longer need to do this, since my downsizing is complete, I am here to be your cheerleader and let you know how amazing this challenge can be. We all have too much stuff and it's incredibly easy to accumulate things over the years. When we get ready to downsize, it can be overwhelming. Use this challenge to make it less so. One bag a day, whether it be for donation, the trash bin or resale, can add up nicely over the 40 days. As you are filling a bag, let yourself feel the weight being lifted and the opportunity for new beginnings.

We made our move 8 months ago and besides the sunshine and beach living, downsizing and having very little in storage has been my favorite thing about the move. I kept what I love, use and had room for and continue to be very judicious about what I bring in.

It's not easy, but it can give you the greatest feeling, once complete. The 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge is a great way to start.

Happy Thursday!

 

Seashells, Starfish and Sparkle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A big part of my downsizing process, before we moved to Florida, was decreasing my Christmas bins by at least half. It was hard, but knowing that a lot of what I had, just wouldn't look right in our new home helped the process along. I have a few touches of red here and there (not pictured), but most of what I ended up using was neutral, a little sparkly and with a beachy flair.

I added gold Christmas balls to some seashell and starfish decor I already had and repurposed the gold and silver trees I always used on my traditional mantel to a more modern grouping on my island. My tree, though pretty, needed a bit of pizazz and to align with the beach theme, so I added some large starfish and I love it now. Next year I want to add some aqua accents too.

Even outside, the decor has a Florida vibe with lights wrapped around the palm tree and something that still amazes me - there are pointsettias planted in pots both on the lanai and the front porch. That is definitely not something that would happen in Michigan.

I am finding that less clutter, simple decor and quiet colors are what makes my eye happy right now.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

All Moved In

 

 

 

The moving truck came on Saturday and it has been a whirlwind of a week since then, but I unpacked the last boxes yesterday morning and it feels really good to be finally in our new home. Because we downsized so much, I have found space for everything even though we went from a two story house with a finished basement to everything on one floor. But, we have large walk in closets in every bedroom, a really large walk in pantry and an extended garage for extra storage space. We even have room to spare, believe it or not. When the boxes started coming into the house and I started to unpack things that I thought were important to me and that would fit with Florida decor, I realized quickly that another trip to Goodwill would be in order. Everything just needs to be lighter, brighter and more colorful. It will be fun to find just the right things to make it all feel like a Florida home.

There is still a lot to do, but since it is a new house, there are really just finishing details that we can accomplish over time. Next week a handyman is coming to install ship lap on a wall in the dining area and install the remaining ceiling fans we need. I need to find a rug for the living room and decorate the guest bathroom. I need colorful pillows and bits and pieces of beachy decor that I can find in all the cute little shops in downtown Venice. And, in the next few days (if it ever stops raining) I hope to fill some pots with colorful flowers. I am itching to discover what kinds of flowers I will find at the plant store.

The photo is just a hint of some of the new things we have found and as the rooms are finished, I will post more photos. Now that life is a little more back to normal, I hope to start posting on a more regular basis. I miss writing about all the little, day to day happenings that this blog is about. Thanks for hanging in there with me as my life took a huge u turn. It will be fun to bring you along on my Florida experiences.

Happy Thursday!

 

Greetings From Florida

 

 

 

 

 

This post is coming to you from Florida and I couldn't be happier. Of course, I miss Michigan, my daughters, all my friends and everything familiar and I will always be a Midwestern girl at heart, but there is something about Florida that is stealing my heart too.

We have been busy, but have made time for some fun too. We tried the dog beach and my puppy hated it with a burning passion, but will try again when the surf is a little calmer. We have enjoyed lunch sitting outside as much as possible and in spite of the heat, with shade and ceiling fans going, it really quite comfortable. Today we went to a beachside restaurant and with a strong gulf wind blowing and the waves crashing, it was really a wonderful and relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Yesterday was spent furniture shopping and we found some great things. We will have a neutral base with added color; turquoise, greens and blues. It was a bold choice for this northern girl, but my kitchen bar stools are a pretty blue-green shade and I love everything about them in my all white kitchen. We close on Friday and new furniture deliveries start coming that same day. Unfortunately, the moving compsny gave us a delivery date later than we hoped and since we need to move out of our rental, we will be camping out in the new house one or two nights. We could move into a hotel, but frankly, just want to be finally at home. Luckily, a new king size bed is one of the things we purchased here.

I'll keep you posted when I can.

 

In Between

 

 

 

It is a very strange time in my life right now. I am in between two things and I feel unsettled to say the least. We are living in a small rental condo and while it is very nice and even has private outdoor space (and a blooming lilac tree), it feels temporary and it isn't home. I am counting the days until we get to Florida and finally move into our new house, but am also dreading saying goodbye to everything here. I know everything will be fine in the end, but getting there is bringing up emotions I would like to get past.

This is the time of year when I would be thinking about planting flowers at the end of the month and watching my established flower gardens coming alive after the long winter. But, in this in between time, there is no need to wander the aisles of my neighborhood greenhouse and I will miss that. The bright side of my Florida house and gardening there is that I will be able to have year round flowers; not just in the summer and many new more tropical varieties to try.

These last few weeks will be busy with final arrangements, appointments and goodbye dinners and even a party. There is a lot to keep me busy and I'm concentrating on moving forward rather than looking back. The beach and a new life is so close. Yet, it feels so far when you are waiting.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Another Goodbye

 

 

 

 

It seems to be a parade of goodbyes lately and it hasn't been easy at all. My neighborhood Bunco group met on Friday and since it was my last time, they were so thoughtful and sweet to commemorate the occasion with cake and a lovely gift.

I have been in this group for 21 years. That is a lot of rolls of those dice. Members have come and gone over the years and I still haven't wrapped my mind around the fact that now I am the one that is leaving. I had to drive there, rather than walk down the street. And, I had to pass by my old house which is also strange.

The memories come fast when I am with these women. There are memories of playgroups, carpools and many days outside chatting while our children played in each other's driveways. Memories of birthday parties, backyard barbecues and 4th of July Fireworks in the street. And, memories of a group of neighbors that were always there for each other. Goodbye Glengrove Drive - I'll miss you.

Happy Tuesday!

 

Finally Moving Day

 

 

 

I suppose I should be sad and it definitely is bittersweet, but mostly I am relieved that this part of the process is over. We have been working towards this for at least a year and I've had more than enough time to mentally prepare myself. Though I loved my house, like any 20 plus year old home, it had its quirks, as well as a list of things that needed updating. I feel happy to be out from under that and starting fresh with everything brand new.

My daughters were sad, but they also had a long time to process things and I think we are all looking forward to making new memories in Florida. We have almost two months, before we leave Michigan and I plan to fit it many favorite things. Melissa is planning to visit us in Florida about a month after we move in and that will help make the goodbyes a little easier. And, we have a wedding to plan here in Michigan and I plan on being a part of that as much as possible. I won't be missing that wedding dress shopping day!

 

 

 

 

As I sat in my back yard for the last time today, on a beautiful spring day, I couldn't help but think that as hard as it was to think of what I would be leaving, I am going to something even better. The three pictures above are things that make me most excited; the view from the living room and lanai, the pool surrounded by palm trees and sunsets at the beach. It will be a lovely life indeed.

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Moving On

 

 

The last box will be packed this morning, as I empty the last cabinet in my master bath. I am trying to process how I feel about leaving my house of 22 years and while I should be sad and nostalgic, I'm not yet feeling any of those emotions. It really has been a year long process for us and I think I have already mentally moved on. We have been diligently downsizing; selling, donating and throwing things out and generally making all kinds of hard decisions over the past few months and I am ready for it all to be over. My Florida house and lifestyle beckon and that pull is stronger than any attachment I have to a house.

I have been pinning on a board called "All Things Florida" just to get a feeling for what I want my Florida house to look like. I plan on taking things slow with decorating and finding just the right touches for every room. I'm looking for a coastal style without being too tropical or beachy, except possibly in the guest room. We will be buying quite a bit of new furniture and will be looking for neutrals and adding color with accessories. Below are some of the pins that caught my eye.

 

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Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Life Lately

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the sale our house has officially closed, I can update you on what is happening with our move. We have about 10 days until the movers arrive. They will finish up the packing ( all the breakables) and move everything out and put it in storage. Then, it's off to a temporary condo here in Michigan for a couple of months until our new house is ready. It has been a whirlwind of activity with a lot of packing, organizing, donating and selling furniture. The house sold in 3 days, thank goodness, because being out of the house for house showings (with a dog in tow) is not fun.

We are in constant contact with our builder in Florida and he sends us photo of the progress, along with our real estate agent. The photos I am showing you are a few weeks old, so there has been even more progress since they were taken. We just heard that the tile in the master bath shower is in and I can't wait to see that. We picked everything out so long ago, it's hard to remember what it is supposed to look like, but I am looking forward to seeing it all come together.

Once we are out of our house here and basically living out of a suitcase, I will be so ready to finally be home again. We are having incredibly dreary weather here too and I am longing for sun and warmth. Thankfully it won't be long until those sunshiny Florida days will be the norm. I can't wait to take you along.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Busy Weekend

 

 

It was a successful and busy weekend all around with many, many house showings. More details on that and what's next later. We had to be out of the house for hours on end and with my puppy along for the ride, there is only so much you can do. Luckily, Melissa was able to pet sit at her apartment on Saturday and Sunday, so we were able to go out and have some fun.

 

 

On Saturday, we headed to East Lansing and MSU's campus for lunch and margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Since in was such a beautiful day and we had time to kill, we walked around campus and even stopped at the MSU Dairy Store for some delicious ice cream made from MSU dairy cows. Walking on campus brings back such good memories of our college days and when we first started dating.

 

 

We had to be out of the house again on Sunday, so we went to an early movie and were practically the only people in the movie theater. After the movie, we stopped at home for a bit, then headed back out to join some friends at a bar for a big band concert that was just fabulous. It had an informal feel, with the singers performing, then joining the crowd for a drink at the bar when they were done. It's a great neighborhood Irish bar and we hope to head back for St. Patrick's Day.

It's a stressful time, but we definitely made the most of it. We turned a busy weekend, into a fun weekend.

Happy Tuesday!

 

I Will Miss This

 

 

 

This picture perfectly embodies my book club and what I will miss when I move. We gather around a table each month for a lovely meal prepared by our hostess. There are always special touches, such as a beautiful centerpiece or place settings thoughtfully put together to create just the right ambience. There is always wine and there is always great conversation.

There were a lot of mentions this time about my impending move and how it will be a sad occasion. Many have already downsized and moved, but locally. I will be the first in the group to move to another state. We have been together as a group for over ten years and have been there for each other in big and small ways. We are much more than a book club at this point. I know I will find a book club in Florida, but will miss the long term connection and the depth of feeling that comes with it. We know each other's struggles without having to explain and we know that we will be there for each other during the hard days. We all need our girlfriends and these ladies are truly the best.

 

P.S. We did also discuss a book over the best chocolate cake with mocha frosting I have ever eaten. Our book this month, Brain On Fire, a memoir by Susannah Cahalan, was a facinating read and a real life medical mystery. The author, a twenty four year old, healthy journalist had her life suddenly turned upside down as doctors struggled to determine if her symptoms were severe mental illness or if there was a physical problem with her brain.

Have a wonderful weekend! The next few days will be filled with house showings, so a lot of time will be spent staying away from home and finding something to keep us occupied. Another step closer to Florida.

 

Embracing Change

 

 

 

So, today let's discuss my move to Florida that I talked about here. It's starting to seem real now that the calendar has turned to 2017 and I'm starting to feel just a little bit overwhelmed. I'm still excited, still looking forward to living in Florida and moving into a new house and know that once I get there, I will be happy. But, there is just so much change to get through to get to that point. And, I don't really like change.

If I had to pick a theme for life in 2017 it would have to be "embrace change". I need to think about all the things I am looking forward to and take everything one day at a time. Because, the big picture - selling the house, packing and leaving Michigan, is a lot to wrap my mind around.

Our builders for our new house (sneak peek of model pictured) should be breaking ground this month and we have already picked out everything from doorknobs to appliances to paint color. We have been making decisions about what to take and the consensus seems to be that most of our furniture will not be making the move. We need to go lighter and brighter; more in keeping with a Florida house. So, furniture shopping when we get there will be something to look forward to. I'm especially excited about finding comfortable and fun furniture for the lanai, where I know we will be spending a lot of time.

Other things to look forward to: going to the beach whenever the mood strikes, dining outside year round, year round golf, yoga on the beach, walking the path along the intercostal, visits from my daughters and of course the abundant sunny days with no winter weather. Especially, no winter weather!

I keep telling my daughters change doesn't have to be bad and that it just means that things will be different. It's going to be a whole new life with new experiences, new people and it really will be an adventure.

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Lately

 

 

 

Life has been a whirlwind lately. It seems we are having workers come to the house every day, because we are trying to repair the odds and ends we need fixed and spiffed up before we put our house on the market. And, we are also doing a lot ourselves. I hope to post some pictures soon of my updated master bath. It is very neutral and therefore not too exciting, but the new shower is fabulous and it's all now in perfect shape for going on the market.

I took a much needed break last night for a girl's night with a couple of friends. I forgot to take a photo, so you will forgive the use of an old photo from another time at our club, but the company was the same and I even wore the same dress. We had a lot to catch up on and the evening just slipped away before I realized it. My phone never made its way out of my purse. But, it was a lovely dinner and we did drink a little wine too :-)

Thanksgiving is looming and today I will make my first of three or four runs to the grocery store between now and Thursday. I love cooking the meal, getting up early to make the stuffing and get the turkey in the oven, setting my table and having all my family here. The grocery shopping and the long shopping lists I can do without.

Is anyone watching Poldark? I am really enjoying this season and it was interesting to read that the last episode on PBS was edited different than the BBC version. It seems we saw a different version of what occurred between Ross and Elizabeth and I wonder how all will make sense going forward.

I have been so busy that I am very much behind in my television watching. I am weeks behind in Grey's Anatomy and have yet to start watching This Is Us. Also, a new season of The Fall is on Netflix and I need to binge watch that very soon.

Finally, it will be a short visit, but both of my daughters will be home for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to have them sitting on my couch, in their pajamas, the tv on, a fire burning in the fireplace and the sound of their voices and laughter filling the house. There is nothing better in this world.

Happy Thursday!

 

Empty Nest Changes - A Decision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been a little quiet on the blog this past week, but it's because a lot has been happening. We are back from a whirlwind trip to Florida and my life is about to get a whole lot more tropical. After a week of looking at houses, we made the decision to buy a new construction house that will be ready in about 7 months. It's equal parts scary and exciting and there is a lot to do (emptying one house and making design decisions on another) between now and then, but we are happy with both the location and the house plan.

We saw many existing homes, that just weren't quite right and actually saw the place we did buy on a whim by our realtor, at the end of a long day. It just felt right, for many reasons and we were able to get the lot we wanted, with a pretty lake view. We are just 6 miles from the closest beach and we love the downtown area of the city we chose. There is also a 9 mile walking trail along the inter coastal waterway that will be amazing for long dog walks. The weather was perfect while we were there and we look forward to sunny and mild winters for the rest of our days.

Leaving our daughters, family and friends will be hard, but we anticipate many fun visits with days spent at the pool, the golf course or the beach. It will be a totally different lifestyle, but one we will embrace. I am really a homebody at heart and once I am settled in my pretty new house, with all my things both old and new all around me, the location is just a bonus. And, we are only a 2 hour plane ride away if a visit to Michigan is needed.

Things are about to get interesting around here.

Happy Monday!

 

{Linking with these friends}

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

21 Rosemary Lane

Stonegable