Day 2511 – Living Light Tips – Organizing Your Home

Posted on May 26, 2016 by 365 days of marriage

We started living light or living a very minimalistic way when we moved into this apartment. We still sleep on the floor and we still only have camping chairs for our furniture. We have gotten rid of more than we’ve purchased in the last year and we have made even more changes that have made our lives simpler.

I’m a big fan of The Modern Mrs. Darcy. She blogs about reading, life and everything in between. She recommended a great book and one I wouldn’t have thought to pick up on my own – Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized. My biggest take aways were:
– Store things where you’ll use them (extra towels on a shelf in the bathroom instead of the hall closet)
– Only have 1-2 types of socks and don’t match them
– Only have 1 type of reusable containers

How we’ve changed things:
– Not matching socks….ok, just Bret’s socks. I have a soft spot for fun socks – superhero socks, Star Wars socks, silly ducks, etc. I have to match mine. BUT they’re super easy to match. Bret’s are the same white sock. This has saved me maybe a few minutes for each load of laundry, but that adds up.

This was something I already had going on, but it’s a good minimalist tip. Bret has 4 work shirts and 2 work pants. I’ve labeled 4 hangers so I can keep track of what he’s worn already (I also set a calendar reminder).

We got rid of all of our random reusable containers and only have 2 types. Red Rubbermaid and some green ones I got from the dollar store. We also got rid of all of the dishes that weren’t in the black and white set.

A brand new thing we’re trying is washing, drying and putting away the dishes immediately after using them. I read a great article on Becoming Minimalist about how why he does this (mostly taking the stress out of having something hanging over your head). It makes a lot of sense and I want to take a look at other areas in my life where I can apply this (I’m looking at you four different to do lists!)

What about you, what are some things you do to have a more organized and minimalist home?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2500 – What Makes A Great Marriage

Posted on May 15, 2016 by 365 days of marriage

Today we celebrate 2500 days together or just about 6.85 years. A lot has happened over those years and I have come to realize that marriage is not made up by years or even days, but thousands, nay, millions of tiny (and some big) choices.

– The choice to wake up, without grumbling, and make coffee for your wife. (Serious shout out to my amazing husband for this!)
– Paying the bills, again.
– Waiting in line.
– Choosing spiritual health over silly entertainment, thus being stronger for your spouse.
– Holding the wife when she’s crying, again….for no reason….again.
– Eating cheap food.
– Making sacrifices so you can live like you want later.
– Giving each other space when it is needed, even though all you want to do is be with the other.
– Working five jobs so your spouse can work at their dream job….even if dream morphs only a few years later (another serious shout out to that awesome Bret person).
– Realizing you’re not perfect.
– Realizing and accepting that you’re a big fat sinner (Thank you Dave Harvey).
– Knowing when to hold on a little longer and sleep a little less.

Bret, Huz, ol buddy ol pal, I can’t wait for another 6.85 rotations around the sun.

day_02192a

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day 2486 – Marriage Tip – Wow Your Spouse

Posted on May 1, 2016 by 365 days of marriage

Bret is all about quests in life. Whether it’s the quest to break a world record, finding the best tent or finding the perfect spouse (his words, not mine), Bret is all about finding the best. His current quest is the perfect beer. He loved Red Sky at Night from Heavy Seas but we were told they aren’t making it anymore when we took the tour a few weeks back. ::insert Bret’s broken heart here:: So! Now he is on the hunt for a new favorite beer. We continued his quest at the Judge’s Bench in Ellicott City yesterday. What a fun place with great staff and nice customers. While chatting with one of the customers about beers, they mentioned Du Claw and it reminded Bret of Sweet Baby Jesus (chocolate and peanut butter beer). They also talked about getting a growler at Du Claw in Arundel Mills. I went to a movie last minute and decided to surprise Bret with a growler of Sweet Baby Jesus. A bit more than I’d like to spend but the growler was flippin’ cool!

So let me tell you about Bret. He’s not one to get super excited about stuff like me. Me, I’m jumping up and down, woo hooing, etc. Well, when I showed him the growler, he was speechless. Mouth open, hands on the head, So. Freakin’. Happy.

It doesn’t get better than this.

Well, humorously placed signs help too.

Day 2480 – Video Of My Testimony – Sharing About My Journey Through Alcoholism

Posted on April 25, 2016 by 365 days of marriage

"I am a recovered alcoholic" from Sovereign Grace on Vimeo.

Day 2476 – Marriage Tip – Ask Fun Questions Out Of Books Like These!

Posted on April 21, 2016 by 365 days of marriage

One thing I love about marriage is continuing the learn about Bret. Even after being married 2476 days (7 years in July) and dating for 2+ years before that, I’m still learning new things. And let’s be honest, we all change over time. Also, I have a bad memory, so he can tell some stories multiple times and I’m none the wiser!

Yesterday, we purchased a really fun book! It’s called 500 Writing Prompts. We bought it on clearance at Barnes & Noble for only 10 bucks! Our intent is to actually write in our answers, so it will be fun to go back and see what we said in the past.

Check out some of the questions!