How much is too much?
Do you ever feel like you are chasing yourself around trying to do everything at once and accomplishing nothing?
There are so many things to do that you end up sitting and staring into space not knowing what to tackle first?
You work and work and work and work but feel like you are spinning your wheels?
Clean one mess and turn around to find 15 new ones staring you in the face?
Organize till you feel like your eyes are permanently crossed and still your house looks like it is destined for the next episode of Hoarders?
Get rid of so much stuff at a garage sale that you think ‘There. Now we won’t ever have too much stuff again.’ And one year later find you have a pile even bigger than the year before??
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?! I thought I was cutting back. Not spending as much money. Being a good steward. And yet I have no more extra cash than I did a year ago and I have MORE STUFF!!! AAAAAACCCHH!!
But I guess I did start a business in the past year. And you DO have to have some inventory. And the girls are still growing so they have piles of clothes they have outgrown. Or in the Teenagers case gotten tired of. And as far as where the money goes we DO have 2 girls in braces. And there is that business… Sigh.
I can talk myself blue in the face with excuses but the piles and mess don’t go away and the money tree never shows up in my backyard. So this week I am hitting both issues at once. It is time for our huge garage sale again! Woo-Hoo! I think the past couple years we have had over 60 people put stuff in this sale in the spring. Tons of great, name-brand kids clothes, toys, books, baby stuff, and now we are adding in household. I hope to get rid of a lot of these piles that have accumulated the past 2 months. And I’m not bringing much home. And hopefully after the craziness of the sale is over I can organize things here – again. Seems it is a never-ending battle.
This past weekend has been a whirl-wind. Thursday we dropped our girls off at my Mom’s and headed south to the homeschool convention. Shopped at some outlets and IKEA on our way, sat in on some good sessions and browsed the exhibit hall, spent the night, hit the convention hard on Friday, thoroughly enjoyed laughing ourselves silly at a Tim Hawkins show, got home at midnight. Saturday morning we were up before the sun, madly getting ready for the day, loading the cars and heading to my Mom’s to get the girls and go to a family auction. The day for selling all my Grandma’s things had come. My girls did a little lunch stand with the help of their Dad and I bought a lot of fun and memorable things. More on that another day.
This week is gonna be CRAZY. Like I mentioned our garage sale commences Wednesday and I have all my stuff to hang, price, load, and get to the barn.
I will be a little scarce in the blogging world, but I still love you all! I’ll be back around to visit, comment, and catch up as soon as I can. I will reply to your comments as soon as I am able too – please know that I read and appreciate each and every comment you leave me! I do have a couple posts that are supposed to go live this week so please pray for me that I can get them ready. I have a sewing project reveal and an exciting update about the magazine.
I hope you all have a good week and I can’t wait to catch up soon!
Sew a Fine Seam
Want to follow along with me? Get my posts in your inbox!
Linking up!
 | | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
My motto is: do the best you can, and that’s all you can do. Give yourself grace…
I know we are related. My thoughts exactly. Peace
🙂 Thanks Nancy! We must be long-lost cousins!
My sentiments exactly! Before I even have a chance to feel good about organizing a closet or room, I see something else that needs to be done. I think the best way to stop accumulating “stuff” is to avoid going to the places where you find it…very simple! I also try to be creative and shop the house as best as I can.
I think the garage sale sounds great! The bigger the better, people like that. Good luck!
XO,
Jane
Isn’t that the life of a wife and mom, Jane? It’s never all done at once! We had a great garage sale once again – we do this every Spring and Fall. This was our 8th Spring doing this and I think it was about the biggest ever.
Jill, I’ve just returned from a week away from my computer and the blog world. Kids were home for Easter break and I had a wedding to do, and I just couldn’t manage to do it all. So I let it go. Haven’t checked my stats since I don’t know when. And guess what? The world doesn’t end. Probably not many even noticed. I think we have to stop putting all these “have tos” on our shoulders. I think most of our “have tos” are really “like tos” and while that’s ok, it’s important to know the difference. I’ll be checking back to hear all about your garage sale!
hugs,
Leslie (Gwen Moss)
Amen, thanks Leslie! Our week went well considering my hubby was sick from tuesday on and is still recovering. Bad chest and head cold. it was nice to just leave some of the computer stuff go – I checked in when i could and read my email but didn’t take time to reply or visit anyone. It’s kinda fun to be starting to catch up now!
My whole life I’ve been constantly amazed at how no matter how much I do, there is still more. There’s a lesson in there somewhere, but apparently I’ve never fully learned it. I should never be surprised at the dailyness of life. I’m so jealous you got to see Tim Hawkins in person. He totally cracks me up. I’ve watched some of his bits over and over! Hope all goes well with your sale! Looks like you have some good stuff to sell. Hope you have time to take some pictures.
Liz
I read a great quote on Minister Grace’s blog a couple of years ago.
Do the Next Thing.
It applies when you’re swamped or when you just don’t feel like doing what needs done. You just do the next thing that needs done or, if you can pick and choose, that you want to!
Have you been a fly on the wall at my house? 🙂
Yes! I feel exactly like that at times…right now as a matter of fact! My problem is I flit from project to project without totally cleaning up when I’m done, and letting the regular chores go to the wayside in the process. I hope your sale goes well. Hang in there, they are no fun to get ready for but such a relief when it’s over and everything is gone! PS-no reply needed here! 🙂
I hope your yardsale is 100 percent fabulous!! I hope you make tons of money and get rid of lots.
I have been there myself. Sounds like you have a great solution to the problem though. I take stuff to Goodwill and a consignment shop whenever I have too much stuff. It really helps to do that on a regular basis so it stays under control. Good luck with your garage sale!
I find myself constantly feeling overwhelmed with all the stuff and all there is to do.
I’ll spend hours cleaning out, creating mountains for Goodwill or to yard sale.
And then there will be a trip to Target or a yard sale Saturday or a trip to Ikea…
And I completely know where you’re coming from with starting a business. I was just working on our taxes over the weekend (something I put off way too long) and it was the first time I really saw how much starting a business cost. At least we’ll be able to deduct those expenses.
I hope you can find some calm in this busy week.
Thank you Amy! The week went very well but we are happy to see it end and put some of the business behind us! Have a great rest-of-the-weekend!
Jill, I think most of us can relate! (I think the ‘stuff’ in my basement multiplies while I sleep!) Good luck with your sale-hopefully you’ll get rid of those piles. And I totally enjoyed the pics of your vignettes-LOVE how you put everything together!! 🙂
Susan
I tell myself that when I retire in June I will always have a clean workspace, I will get all the wonderful quilts made out of the stacks of fabric I have waiting and that my desk will not be covered with tools and supplies.
I know that I am only dreaming.
My thoughts are with you as you take your break and find time for yourself.
Thank you Carol, for coming by and for leaving me a sweet comment! I truly hope you will find time to do all the wonderful things you want to do when you retire! I just bought one of my Grandma’s quilt frames and I so hope to put a quilt in it someday and handquilt it!
I so understand Jill. I have the same problem and find myself staring into space quite often. lol Good luck with the sale. Thanks so much for joining us at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs