#and a much needed deep clean/decluttering of my space

[viralimmune]

I apologize for being slow around here; work stress and irl stress have been draining me of all my energy but I'm slowly starting to bounce back. I appreciate everyone's patience with me <3

[astroismypassion]

What does it mean when we repetitively attract into our life a certain Moon sign? 🌙 🌗🌘

Credit goes to my blog @astroismypassion

The lovely and kind @bthechangeuwant2cintheworld asked me about if I could do a post on when we attract certain moon signs and what does it mean? Let's dive deep into the topic.

So what does it mean FOR YOU when you attract the following Moon sign in your life?

ARIES MOON

You are likely not courageous enough, need to learn how to be more bold, stand out from the crowd. You might also be a bit too selfish or self-focused. You need to work out more and steam off your feelings through work outs, physical activity and chores or cleaning, being more active and present in your home. Also, you might likely not do enough. You might be just working on one single particular thing, such as just your studies, your job, but completely neglect other fields, aspects of your life. Could have a hard time juggling many things at once or struggle with multitasking.

TAURUS MOON

You might be too passive, lazy or indulgent in your habits or even on a daily basis or in your own home. You might be a bit too love obsessed, wanting a partnership at any cost or even pressuring someone to like you back or enter a partnership with you. You might idealize the idea of a partner, being a part of the team. You might need to transform your values or understand what those are. You likely lack self-love and need more self-care too. You are either too materialistic or not enough. Also, maybe dress up more often.

GEMINI MOON

You are likely not social enough, you spend too much time on your own alone or you are too much in your head, but not grounded enough. Could have difficulties with control, like trying to control your surroundings, immediate family members, close friends, even people you talk to online/social media/instant messaging. You might be too anxious or nervous when talking. You might either need to take a social media break or talk to people online more.

CANCER MOON

Check in with how you treat your mother. Do more chores in your home, help out with laundry, doing dishes, organize your home more, clean it more often. Learn how to cook, bake more. You are likely bottling up your emotions or suppressing your innermost feelings, even needs. Learn what your needs are, especially what you require from your loved ones, family members, your partner. Vent, cry out your tears, embrace the flow of the good and the bad sides of emotion. Try to provide for your family more.

LEO MOON

You might too dramatic or not dramatic enough and too nonchalant. You might need to share more of your emotions. You might be self-centered emotionally, so selfish with your feelings. But at the same time, you might make too rash decisions or jump to conclusions in the early stages of dating. You need to become more jovial, happy and bright. You need to focus more on hanging with your close friends since you are likely neglecting them a bit or spending too much time on your own. You need to figure out more on what your hobbies are and if you can pick a new one as well. You might need to welcome more romance in your life, maybe by accepting an invitation to go out on a date, listening to romantic songs, watching romantic movies.

VIRGO MOON

You might need to take better care of your personal hygene, live more in the present moment and establish better daily routine and habits. You need to be more present and focused during conversation. You need to go out more and do your own grocery shopping, run errands and focus more on paying your phone, electricity bill etc. You need to declutter your home and organize your space. Try to find time for little self-care rituals in the day.

LIBRA MOON

If you end up attracting a Libra Moon again and again you are likely taking care of too many other people and not enough taking care of yourself. You need to learn how to share but with boundaries. You learn how to balance giving and taking. You need to learn how to accept help and how to delegate tasks off your shoulder more. You also need to socialize more, meaning that learn how to be okay with chit chat and even more superficial conversations, they still teach you how to connect and relate to those around you more.

SCORPIO MOON

Scorpio Moon is tricky, because it's one of those either or type of Moons, it can go either way. So you might have an escapistic issue, I'm not saying downright addictive behaviours, but you might overuse something. Such as you feel a bit too lonely and use food as a buffer or coffee, alcohol, sweets, sugar etc. You might not have only one cup of coffee, but 2, 3 too many per day. I'm not saying this is your case in particular, I'm trying to illustrate the case. You might also be too materialistic or not enough. Like too power hungry, money driven or not enough. You could have certain subconscious thoughts, triggers that you don't want to address. You might jump to final conclusions too quickly, without knowing the full story or context or information. You might need to let go of certain old habits, coping mechanisms that don't serve you anymore or sometimes this means even people, old friends or partners. You might not live fully authentic in your present life. You might also be scared of being truly raw, vulnerable and you could have a fear of being exposed, exposed as in having any trait that you don't like to admit you have or don't want many other people to know. Or you can also act a bit too fanatic in your behaviour, again it can go either or, you might perhaps need your jealousy, envy, possessivness in check.

SAGITTARIUS MOON

You are too uptight, need to let loose. Attend a party or two with your group of trusted friends, go to that club and dance, even if you don't completely like the idea of it initially. Also, you might be too hedonistic in one department of your life. Either you indulge in too many desserts after a meal, eat too much in one setting. Stop saying yes to everything and everyone just so you please others and that they stay happy. You need to get more organized, buy a planner, plan your days more and prioritize, you might be all over the place. Again, certain eating habits might represent a bit of a problem for you. Try expanding your mindset about food, by trying out alternative regimes, introducing more whole foods, leafy greens and such. Don't be a picky eater, give certain foreign foods/those you are not used to at least a one time try.

CAPRICORN MOON

Now, this is one of those major, life changing, big life decision ones. If you attract Capricorn Moon in your life again and again, you need to make a turning point in your life. You need to make a big life change. Likely, your job, career is not where it should be at this point. Or it's not fulfilling you and a change is to be made. Either going back to school, finding another job, career field etc. You need to revisit this part of your life: your career, long-term goals, aspirations, social status, reputation and your relationship with parents. The last one might be big as well, ask yourself if this is the best way to treat your parents? Likely, you could do a bit better. Also, you are likely spending too much time at home or isolating yourself.

AQUARIUS MOON

You are afraid to embrace your own unique self and being original, mostly out of fear of not being accepted or judged. You might also need to dream more, set your dreams big and start going after them. You might also replicate other people's ideas, try coming up with original thought and your own creative ideas more, even if they are weird, unique, eccentric or odd at a first glance or even if you feel uncomfortable expressing them. Go out more and socialize more.

PISCES MOON

You are too giving, humanitarian, charitable, selfless or not enough. You might take care or help out every close friend, acquintances or stranger, but NOT your own family members, loved ones or your partner. So try to put that in check. You might be undereating or eat foods that don't nourish your body. Again, substance overuse can be present in subtle ways, such as drinking too much coffee in the day.

Credit goes to my blog @astroismypassion

[balkanradfem]

So! I went home and found myself with hundreds of fall chores, no laptop, and no internet. I love my unpredictable, varied routine; first day back I went foraging for mushrooms and chestnuts, collected beautiful red apples for the kitchen and made my first fall mushroom soup. I cleaned out the fridge and the pantry and checked all my dried goods for moths. Then I headed back out, collecting conkers, walnuts, nettle - I actually had to go on a mission to find nettle! Half of it was destroyed by the flood; the other half cut by city maintenance. In the end I found some near the little house where a woman lives with six cats. I knew it was a cat lady because one time I spotted her coming home from the store, arms filled with bags, and all six cats ran to greet her with their tails up in delight. It was a lovely sight!

I don't think the woman used the nettle, it was strong and untouched, but when I sneaked by to get some, all six cat perked up and watched me. I've never been so observed by cats!

I was late this year to collect yarrow as well, and it would be unwise not to have it, since it resolves stomach cramps. Most of it was gone already, so I had to scour the fields and finally found some on a grassy path near a pumpkin patch. I'll be safe from cramps this winter!

Another big chore I had was to declutter my basement - I was stashing lots of donated clothing in there, and I need the space for all the zuchinni, pumpkins and potatoes. I gifted all the good clothing to the plant lady, and then had to figure out what can be used for sewing, and what was useless to me. This used to be an impossible task for me, because everything can be used somehow, I can sew with anything. And when you buy nothing, it's really hard to throw stuff away! You can't replace it. 

But this time I had a new distaste for microplastic and decided I would not own or sew with plastic materials. This easily got me rid of more than half the stuff! I tolerated stuff that was 95% cotton or linen, but anything completely viscose, acrylic or polyester got removed. This is of course, clothing I was not attached to. It's much harder to get rid of an acrylic sweater I happen to love. But! I won't be getting attached to another. 

I put all the nice stuff in a bag and left it outside for people to have. If they can tolerate it who am I to deprive them of it. I hope it can get used!

My next tasks are weeding out the garden, transplanting strawberries, sowing some celery and parsley, digging out potatoes, processing all the conkers and walnuts, drying and storing the mushrooms, trying to get rid of kitchen moths. (any advice on that?)

I'm having a good time running around doing various chores! The routine of normal people was driving me insane; every day was exactly alike, lots of sitting around, waiting for food delivery, then doing dishes and laundry. The store was the only place to visit! My quests for food bring me deep into the forests, looking for edible mushrooms, to the tops of hills for chestnuts, and quaint little houses with cats for nettle. Finding food outside is enrichment! I missed interacting with nature and roaming mindlessly trough the wilderness.

[aerkame]

Any advice on how to break out of an insane long art/writing block? My minds been going crazy with ideas, yet my hands say “Nope! lol!” Mode for some time.

I absolutely hate art blocks they're the worst. I've had some that lasted for months on end, sometimes a whole year so I'll give what advice I can to help you break out of this funk. 👍

Important bits are highlighted.

I suggest changing up your drawing environment for a bit, declutter anything on your desk or drawing spot, clean anything that could be in the way. Sometimes a change in your environment can help you feel less stressed. Cluttered spaces can change how we behave and it can also mess up our thinking process without us even noticing it so give that a try. (This applies to studying and doing homework as well!)

If you can, go to a new location and just try relaxing. Try going to a park, a colorful part of a city, a zoo you never went to, or even just walk around a neighborhood. This works similar to the above advice with changing your environment.

Write down the drawing idea you had for later and sketch something else lazily, do not put effort into the sketch, just feel and do whatever. After that, practice SKETCHING (sketching, not drawing, this does not need to be perfect or a masterpiece or a final product of sorts) parts of your desired drawing idea. Do this until you feel yourself being more comfortable.

RELAX! A lot of times when I start to feel an art block coming on mid-drawing, I notice my hand and face is not relaxed. If you feel yourself gripping a pencil/pen hard when drawing, take deep breaths in and out and relax. Drawing with your hands gripped is a sign of stress and art should be relaxing, not a stressful chore.

This follows up on number 4. Try lightly exercising. And I emphasize lightly. Especially if you are not someone who regularly exercises (remember to stretch before). Do something to get your heart going just a little bit. Sometimes doing this helps relives stress you may not be aware of and it also makes you feel more loose and energetic afterwards. This is because your body will release endorphins (the hormones that make you happy) into the body after exercising. Along that, make sure you're hydrated. No really, drink water.

SLEEP WELL! Make sure you are taking care of your body by getting enough sleep.

Draw out of your comfort zone. Try to start practicing on drawing things you are not usually used to drawing. Your Kryptonite basically. Personally, my kryptonite is cars and mechanical things.

That's all I can think of for now. If I think of more, I will reblog this with the attached new list.

You may or may not be confused on why I am focusing so much on the body and not actual drawing part itself. The thing is, art block is both a mental thing and physical thing that results from stress, exhaustion, or other factors you may not be aware of that can be helped (usually). An example? When I'm busy with college or when I had my first job last year I was so stressed out that the very idea of getting out my graphics tablet and drawing made me feel like I didn't want to draw anymore. I lost interest in doing something I really like. The same happened when I was in a STEM high school. I was too stressed out to pick up a pencil and draw.

You need to make sure your brain is stimulated and relaxed before you draw and after you draw and that can be done through exercise, new changes to the environment, or simply just trying new things with art. Your brain is in charge of so many things and that includes how you're feeling, so do what you can to take care of it.

[444princesa]

how to get your room organized and keep it organized

i understand organizing can be intimidating so i wanted to write a little guide to help.

clean your area

clean off surfaces, make your bed, pick up anything on the floor, throw away trash, etc. you'll probably do this again but this pre clean will help the post clean alot easier

if you need to wash your clothes or sheets, do that while you clean, gather everything you need to clean as well.

declutter / organize

start by sections of your room

closet

if you start with your closet, take all your clothes out and have three sections. keep, maybe and donate. organize your clothes by type and color, so short sleeve by color, long sleeve by color. put away any summer or out of season clothes you still have out and while you are at it, sort out your out of season clothes as well. organize your closet with bins, closet organizers and shoe racks if needed. for the maybe pile, hang them in the front of your closet so its the first thing you see when you pick an outfit, try to wear them the next time you get ready and if you dont feel confident in it, dont feel comfortable or you want to wear another outfit then its time to let it go. do the same for your dressers as well.

desk/vanity

declutter each drawer one by one. start with one drawer/ shelf and once you declutter and organize that drawer/shelf, move on to the next.

under bed

if you can keep under your bed space clear do that but if not, get some containers and organize whatever you need to put under there.

personally, i like to be a minimalist in my parts of my life. like my desk, i dont like having so much stationary. i dont use so much stationary for school and i have my essentials so i keep that. i dont buy more stationary unless i need to restock. for my wardrobe, im currently building my signature look but i also dont like to have an overstock of the same thing unless i know i will wear it and its my favorite thing. i keep surfaces as clear as i can but also having cute minimal decor.

keeping clean and organized

have a cleaning schedule you stick to, have a set day you wash and deep clean. tidy 5 minutes everyday. put away things that arent in their place, pick up whatever is on the floor, make your bed, fold and put away clothes as soon as its out the dryer. if you are watching a show or video and a commercial comes on, use it to clean. always take any dishes or trash when you go out of your room. wipe down surfaces every few days. doing these small up keeps will make deep cleaning easier.

[wishbrightdreams]

Weekly Check-in: September 13th 2024 💭

Oooh it’s Friday the 13th today! 🐈‍⬛ Spooky. Where I used to live, we had a flood of bikers come into town and take over the place for the weekend. It even made the news a few times! It was a nightmare living through that because of the noise haha. This week started out productive and on track, then in the middle of the week I fell off the rails.

⭐️ What I Accomplished:

Got through more of my hospice volunteer training course, I’m making good progress!

Booked an MRI appointment at the local hospital instead of the one in the big city that’s an hour away. Even though I have to wait longer, I dread having to commute into the city

I also cancelled a follow up appointment that was going to be at the end of the month that would also be in the same city, I wouldn’t have gotten the necessary tests done yet so I saw no point in going and wasting another whole day and then telling me nothings changed

Had a phone appointment with my family doctor (she lives in a different county 2 and a half hours away), we can’t get a new family doctor where I live right now (it sucks!) and I got some skin cream and prescribed muscle relaxants

Did a little bit of organizing my closet space situation (not finished it yet though)

Made Pillsbury Cinnabons (kinda burnt them lol)

Had no alcohol (can’t afford it right now so it’s easy to avoid haha)

Did some more robotic affirmations affirming sessions every day

😅 Things That Could Have Gone Better

I was very tired this week and slept a lot, I’m not sure if it’s my meds or what. The changing of the seasons mess with my mood and makes me more sleepy

I changed my ADHD/Autism coach session to next month (I only meet with them once a month because that’s what I can afford)

I’ve been feeling more stressed and on edge lately, I think I’m absorbing my parents energy because when they leave the house, I go back to feeling stable again 🤷🏻‍♀️

Because of me feeling more stressed, my eating habits haven’t been that great lately (been eating a lot of pizza and stuff)

Could have had more alone time, parents weren’t feeling great so they cancelled their outing

Fell off with my volunteer hospice coursework in the middle of the week

Slacked on my chores

Didn’t go out at all this week (stayed inside pretty much all of the time)

Didn’t do any meditation sessions

🗓️ Plans For The Weekend:

Finish decluttering my bookshelves and nightstand

If I have the energy and focus, I’ll deep clean my bedroom

Catch up on chores

Get through some more modules of my hospice volunteer training coursework

Have a spirit guide meditation session (30 mins) + get back into the gateway tapes

This week started out promising, then it fell off. I hope my mom will feel better after going to a friends house for the weekend. Things have been quite tense lately because of money and such. We’re okay, it’s just tight right now because we’re not getting any sales on our medical grade red light machines. I need to get better at protecting my energy, I’m too lenient when it comes to my parents (especially my mother) and I let their energies affect me a lot. I know it will improve once I am volunteering at the local hospice, as I won’t be around my parents all day (they work from home) and will have a new change of scenery. If anyone has any helpful tips on how to protect one’s energy I’d love to hear it!

See ya next time, dreamers ✨

[blue-disco-lights]

Galladrabbles: 100

I love reading all of the @galladrabbles and can’t get over how much talent there is in this community! I’ve never written creatively (as an adult), but got this little spark after reading the stories here. So.... here’s my first try, to celebrate 100 :) Thank you for this space to be creative.

----------------------------------------------

It’s April and Ian’s on a mission to spring clean and declutter. They moved into their apartment five years ago, and things really accumulate while you’re living your best life.  

“Mickey, need your help!” he yells from deep under their bed. He’s fished out a metal box he’s somehow never seen before, packed with random trinkets. “What’s this, and does it spark joy??” he asks his husband.

Mickey hesitates, then admits: “I saved something small from the first 100 times we hung out.” Realization hits Ian - Snickers wrapper, bottle cap, Sox tickets, Pringles lid. 

Yep. Sparks all kinds of joy.

[smallerplaces]

2023 in review 1: the great decluttering of Mom's collection

These are the survivors of the early-year decluttering of Mom's vast, vast, vast doll collection, plus culling from my own much smaller collection. If you've watched my photos of new acquisitions, you know that since getting the place decluttered, I've been buying for myself at an unsustainable rate -- but I've lucked into like 90% of my wish list, and the other 10% may never show up.

That's a story for another day. This part of 2023 in Review is about decluttering. A couple of preliminary notes:

My own collection has varied in size since it started in 2012, reaching about 100 at its peak. My interests have also changed a lot over that time. When I moved to California to live with Dad and declutter the family home, I brought maybe 30 dolls at the outside.

Mom loved dolls, inundated me with dolls when I was a kid, and bought more dolls as an adult, and the brakes really came off in her sixties. I see nothing at all wrong with having whatever size collection you want! She enjoyed her collection, and then I got to deal with it because everyone else in the family stared in awe, muttered about how it must be worth a fortune, and then sloped off to do more important things than identify and sell dolls.

Let me tell you what confronted me here in California.

Sewing room lined with shelves (including small shelves two deep!) filled with dolls. This room was heavily My Twinn and "collector" dolls. I do not consider dolls creepy, but I maintain it's creepy af to have My Twinn dolls that look exactly like daughters one has gone NC with.

Extra bedroom completely filled with dolls and dollhouses, to the point that most things were on rolling shelving units like a library. When I first sorted dollhouses, I'd tentatively kept about six that had been on my wish list.

Guest room (now my room) with two cabinets full of Vogue Ginny and Madame Alexander Dolls of the World, floating shelves loaded with stuffed animals, and every piece of furniture stuffed with doll clothes. (There was space to unpack solely because one of my sisters had cleaned out half the guest room closet by chucking it all into the extra bedroom. This was the only way she could have done it!)

Linen cupboard "folding counter" completely covered with dolls and bears.

Additional doll clothes in boxes in Mom's bedroom closet and in trays in all the furniture there. Also additional dollhouses.

Small cabinet of dolls in the dining room (plus multiple large dollhouses!).

Dad's count had been that Mom had 834 dolls (not counting dollhouse residents), and with things I found in cupboards, I'd make it a round 1000.

Here's where you say, "This must have been an incredible collection!"

One big lesson from working my way through all this is that, if a doll was a bargain on eBay when Mom bought it, it's probably not worth that much now. This includes most things made in the name of Ginny or Effanbee after 1980, as well as anything pitched to "collectors."

Never collect collector's items.

A second one was that Mom loved dolls with strung limbs but had so many bajillions of them that nobody kept track of whether the string was still strung. If it were a couple of dolls needing restringing, Dad would have done if for me. But when I pulled Ginny dolls off their shelves and dozens of them explode in random limbs... it's too much.

At the beginning of the process, I spent hours on identifying dolls and trying to figure out how to eke out money from every single doll. By the end, I knew at a glance what wouldn't sell and was shoveling entire cabinets of dolls into the donate bag.

Yes, I know thrift stores don't sell all donations. But (a) I've literally seen dolls I donated in the store; and (b) this is honestly not a loss to the doll world if they don't. No matter how pretty a 1980s Effanbee in a fancy dress, with loose limbs, is, her value on the market is close to zero. Dolls in good enough condition to donate got a chance at finding an appreciative thrifter. Some got sold or given away on FBM in large lots instead.

The number of dolls individually sold on eBay was a small fraction of the total -- after the first couple months, it was dolls I found fun to pose, photograph, and list, or else they had to be worth more than $30. The ones I remember most fondly as selling projects were the Kelly dolls (at least 100) and the Madame Alexander Travel Friends (who are adorable, and I had some when they were new, but they never fit well with my fashion dolls).

All stuffed animals got donated. Life is too short to figure out what drugstore bear is what.

Didn't you want to keep dolls because they were Mom's?

Yes and no.

On that size of collection, sentimentality ultimately doesn't mean much. If it's all Mom's Treasures, none of it is terribly meaningful. If I'd been 100% sure that certain dolls were ones from her childhood that I remembered, I might have kept them -- but I wasn't.

Mom's tastes were also mostly different from mine. She was highly influenced by Toy Box Philosopher, in a sort of hate-buying way. She'd inevitably buy whatever Emily was touting, while complaining about Emily's tastes, buying level, etc. I don't know! So a lot of dolls in the 18" to 24" range showed up, and I have no interest in those sizes.

She also went whole hog for sulky 8" collector dolls (Madame Alexander and Ginny), which I can't stand. Again, if I'd been 100% sure I'd found my Ginny from when I was a kid, I might have kept it. But when there are five dolls that could be that doll... eh. (The experience also unearthed for me how much I resented having been pushed, as an impressionable child, to pretend to like older-style dolls better than Barbie. There was literally a lot to unpack here.)

That all said, in dealing with fashion dolls in the Barbie-Bratz size range, I'd been setting aside dolls I thought I might want to keep, so my one bin under the bed expanded temporarily to two.

I sold most of the tin litho dollhouses as a lot to a collector.

Was there a process for decluttering?

Grab a thread and pull.

Seriously, every organized method i tried fell apart on volume and identification. I did my best work in fits of spite, where I could get through an entire section of shelves without deluding myself that if Mom had liked a doll, it must be worth cash money.

I set myself the goal of finishing within a year of when I'd moved in here (May 2022) and I beat it by a full month.

Did you enjoy any of this experience?

In selling the dollhouses and some of the Playmobil, I consistently met delightful buyers who were so excited to get a bargain. One of my happiest afternoons was sitting with two buyers and a box of furniture and accessories that I was letting them have free or cheap, listening to them be delighted over items I'd ceased to care about. This whole process has surely done something to boost dollhouse love among a younger generation. I met a number of lovely people as repeat buyers or freebie takers, too. And the son of one of Dad's friends is now the Playmobil Tycoon of his kindergarten.

Photographing vintage playsets was fun, and those buyers were nice enough.

The Kelly collectors are adorable.

One My Twinn buyer told me about how she chose that doll because it reminded her of a childhood friend. There was also a buyer of over 100 vintage dollhouse dolls who was charming and saved me so much listing and shipping time.

All this stuff is out in the world, giving more joy than it could possibly have given to me alone, even if I'd liked more of it.

How did you get from two bins under the bed to the four dolls and three pets in the photo?

So I got to the end of the big room-clearing. I could, at that point, have called it done, left the dolls under the bed for later, and moved on with life.

However, I decided I needed to tackle whether I was even going to do dolls any more. So I pulled out the bins and asked myself what I'd consider a comfortable, non-stressful amount to keep. The number 20 popped into my head. I don't recall whether that total was meant to include 4" dolls or not -- I've gone back and forth on that -- but 20 was a good number.

I culled down to 20 with surprisingly little difficulty. For the most part, I don't remember what I got rid of, so I guess I wasn't all that committed to my own collection by then!

The deal was that those 20 went on shelves for display. If I didn't engage with a doll over a reasonable period of time, it would leave. If I wanted to buy something new, something old had to leave.

Within a couple months of my buying Simply Fresh Kylie, virtually all of the retained 20 had left, in favor of dolls I was finding more interesting to acquire, restore, or customize.

The survivors are:

Fashionista Teresa, who I'd found at a thrift store and given to Mom for a birthday.

Manbun Ken, my grail doll from the TRU going-out-of-business sale.

Articulated Kelly, who was a long-time grail doll from Mom's collection and makes a good body comparison doll. I'd originally intended to trade her in for a different doll from the same line, but she grew on me.

Scarlet the Sparkle Girlz Mini, who I bought in Connecticut.

Vinyl dog and white tiger from Mom's collection, because they're cute.

Felted dog from Target because I was totally taken with those when I bought it.

What I learned was that I'm happiest with a leaner, more focused collection, where I have space and time to make clothes and furniture for them.

A later recap will discuss the dolls I've bought this year, which was definitely a pace I won't be keeping up in future years!

[anerdyfeminist]

Ronald and I tackled a big project I’ve wanted done for forever today…we deep cleaned, reorganized, rearranged, and decluttered our bedroom. I’m soooooo happy it’s done. We haven’t given that space much TLC (beyond surface cleaning) since like 2021. We kept putting it off as no one spends any time up there but us…and it was way past due. I’m exhausted but love the feeling of completing something that’s been bogging me down knowing it needs done. I feel lighter. In fact right now our whole upstairs (our room, Ronald’s office, and my office/the guest room) are all in decent shape at the same time for the first time……ever.

We don’t have the money right now but when we can (maybe tax return season 🤔) I want to upgrade to a king sized bed, too. Our lil queen has, unsurprisingly, felt a lot smaller w/ 3 adult cats in it 😂 The reorganize and decluttering created the room we’ll need to do that someday. Then our current bed can move to being the guest bed bc our current guest bed is not the most comfortable.

There’s about 15 other things on my “house projects I want to do” mental list bc after nearly 10 years here now, things are worn out and need attention. Especially our flooring…but ya know. That whole money thing limits what’s all possible. So I’ll ignore the expensive but unnecessary things for now and try to focus on cheap DIY changes we can handle.

[mysstella]

Day Five- Dec. 18, 22

Hey guys! I haven’t been up to too much today, but I do have a work dinner tomorrow so that’s cool I guess. In all honesty, its pretty late right now and my brain is kind of giving up on me, so it may be another short update for today, sorry. 

I did have to spend a little more than I would’ve liked on lunch today because the other place was way too busy, and any other day I would’ve just skipped lunch but I worked a later shift than usual today as it is so I was already pretty much starving. I think Sundays I will do an end of the week recap, as in showing what I spent for the week. Also, I didn’t notice until a little while ago but my phone bill snuck in yesterday on autopay, so I should've included that as well for yesterdays update, but it was $50 for those wondering. 

One of my more personal goals for this upcoming week is to get at least something put into my savings. Another goal is to try and get my sleep schedule back on track. As some of you may know, I had a week off last week, and my sleep schedule has been all sorts of out of line. 

One thing I would love to do to wrap up the end of the year is tidy up my space, and try to just really finish the year off strong, and therefore starting the new year off fresh. I definitely need to super deep clean my room and declutter a ton of stuff, maybe I’ll actually sell some of it and put that money into my savings as well, but if I don't get to it I plan on at least donating what I can. 

Alright, I think that’s all for today. definitely feel free to DM me suggestions or hit the “Ask me anything” button on my profile if you have questions or feedback! I’d love to hear from you!

Finance Tracker:

Savings: $0

Spent Today: $14.88  

[sad-lullabee]

Mood Scale System ��✨

I’ve been working on a mood scale system to help balance self-care and productivity. The lower I am on the scale, the more I lean into self-care. The higher I go, the more I dive into work, chores, and productivity. Here’s how it breaks down:

0-2 (Low Mood - Self-Care Focus)

🖤 Rest, healing, and nurturing.

This is when I need to pause and focus entirely on my mental and physical well-being. Activities include:

📕Journaling: Writing down my thoughts, processing emotions, creating a safe space for myself.

💨Meditation or Deep Breathing: Guided meditation, mindfulness practices, or simple breathing exercises to calm my mind.

🧘Gentle Stretching/Yoga: Slow, restorative stretches or yoga flows to release tension in my body.

🛋️Rest: Taking a nap, or just lying down and allowing my body to fully relax without doing anything.

🎶Music or Sound Baths: Listening to music, nature sounds, or ASMR to help ground myself.

🧼Baths: A warm bath with Epsom salts or essential oils to relax my muscles and clear my mind.

📚Reading: Books that make me feel safe, loved, and comforted, or just escape into a story.

✨ This is about restoring my energy, not pushing myself to do anything more. The goal is to feel seen, heard, and nurtured without pressure.

3-5 (Neutral - Balance of Self-Care and Light Tasks)

🌿 Light tasks, grounding activities.

I’m in the middle zone, where self-care and productivity can coexist, but I’m not ready to take on too much. Here’s what I do:

🧺Tidying up: Light cleaning like making my bed, organizing small spaces, or wiping down surfaces.

🔪Meal Prep: Preparing simple, healthy meals or snacks that make me feel nourished.

🌾A Walk: A short walk outside to get fresh air, clear my head, and feel connected to nature.

🔉Listening to Podcasts or Audiobooks: Something inspiring or uplifting to keep my mind engaged while doing light tasks.

🎨Creative Hobbies: Doing something low-pressure, like sketching, writing, or crafting. Nothing too demanding, just enough to feel productive and connected to myself.

✨ In this zone, it’s all about finding a rhythm that allows me to move through the day while still making space for self-care.

6-8 (Higher Mood - Productive Focus)

💫 Energy rising, focus on getting things done.

I’m feeling a bit more energized and ready to tackle tasks, but I still need balance. I start diving into productive work, though I make sure to take breaks when needed. Activities include:

💻Work Tasks: Checking emails, tackling projects, meetings, or any professional work that needs attention.

🧽Cleaning/Deep Cleaning: Organizing bigger spaces, decluttering, or doing laundry.

🚪Running Errands: Grocery shopping, picking up supplies, or any small errands that need to get done.

🪡Creative Work: Writing, painting, or engaging in any project that requires focus and attention.

📔Planning/Organizing: Making lists, setting goals, scheduling tasks for the week, or planning my day.

🪩Exercise: A workout, whether it’s a walk, strength training, or a dance session.

📱Social Interaction: Catching up with friends or family, either virtually or in person, when I feel up to it.

✨ This is when I feel the momentum building. There’s a productive energy, but I still stay mindful to take breaks and care for myself.

9-10 (High Mood - Full Productivity Mode)

⚡️ High energy, full-throttle focus.

When I’m at my peak, I feel unstoppable. I’m all in on getting things done, tackling big projects, and being incredibly productive. Activities include:

📑Big Work Projects: Diving into major work projects that require intense focus and problem-solving.

🖥️Creative Intensity: Writing a long blog post, completing an artwork, or tackling any large creative endeavor.

🪠Chores and Deep Work: Cleaning the entire house, organizing every closet, doing a major declutter, or taking on large personal tasks.

🛼High-Energy Exercise: Running, intense HIIT workouts, or anything that gets my heart pumping.

📋Goal-Oriented Tasks: Setting and achieving big personal goals, like completing a course, meeting deadlines, or finishing a major project.

📝Brainstorming/Strategizing: Mapping out future projects, making big plans, or creating new systems to stay organized.

✨ This is when I feel on top of the world. I can tackle everything that comes my way with focus and clarity. I push myself to accomplish what needs to be done without hesitation.

Anyone else have a system like this? How do you balance self-care and productivity? 💬 Let’s share! 🌿

[convergeinproperties]

How to Prepare Your Home for Selling in Mesa County

Preparing your home for sale is a crucial step in the selling process. A well-prepared home not only attracts more potential buyers but can also lead to a quicker sale and potentially higher offers. If you're planning to sell your house in Mesa County, follow this guide to ensure your home is in top shape for the market, with insights from Convergence Properties to help you every step of the way.

Step 1: Declutter Your Home

The first step in preparing your home for selling my house Mesa County is to declutter. A clutter-free space allows buyers to envision themselves in your home. Here’s how to effectively declutter:

Start Early: Give yourself plenty of time to sort through belongings. Start in one room and work your way through the house.

Sort Items: Create three piles: keep, donate, and discard. Be honest about what you truly need and use.

Storage Solutions: Consider investing in storage solutions to keep essential items organized without cluttering your living space.

Convergence Properties can provide tips on how to declutter strategically, ensuring your home looks inviting and spacious.

Step 2: Deep Clean Your Home

Once you’ve decluttered, it's time for a deep clean. A clean home makes a significant impression on buyers. Here’s a cleaning checklist:

Carpets and Floors: Steam clean carpets and scrub hard floors to remove stains and dirt.

Windows: Clean windows inside and out for a clear, bright look.

Kitchens and Bathrooms: Focus on these areas as they often hold the most significance for buyers. Clean and sanitize surfaces, including sinks, countertops, and appliances.

Consider hiring a professional cleaning service if time allows. A thorough cleaning can elevate your home’s appeal.

Step 3: Make Necessary Repairs

Addressing repairs before listing your home can prevent potential buyers from being deterred by minor issues. Here are common repairs to consider:

Leaky Faucets: Fix any dripping faucets or running toilets.

Paint Touch-Ups: Repaint walls where the paint is chipped or worn, opting for neutral colors that appeal to a wider audience.

Light Fixtures: Ensure all light fixtures are functional and consider replacing outdated ones for a more modern look.

Convergence Properties can help you identify which repairs will provide the best return on investment, helping your home stand out.

Step 4: Enhance Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is your home’s first impression, and it plays a significant role in attracting buyers. Here are ways to enhance your home’s exterior:

Landscaping: Trim bushes, mow the lawn, and add colorful flowers or plants for a welcoming touch.

Clean the Exterior: Power wash the siding, walkways, and driveway to remove dirt and grime.

Paint the Front Door: A fresh coat of paint on the front door can give your home a pop of color and make it more inviting.

Investing time in curb appeal can create a positive first impression and draw more potential buyers to your property.

Step 5: Stage Your Home

Home staging is the process of arranging furniture and decor to highlight your home’s best features. Here are tips for effective staging:

Furniture Arrangement: Arrange furniture to create an open flow and make spaces look larger. Avoid overcrowding rooms with too much furniture.

Neutral Decor: Use neutral colors and decor to appeal to a broader audience. Personal items and bold decor can distract buyers from seeing the home’s potential.

Lighting: Ensure each room is well-lit. Use natural light whenever possible and add lamps to darker spaces.

Consider hiring a professional staging service, such as those offered by Convergence Properties, to maximize your home’s appeal.

Step 6: Organize Important Documents

Having all necessary documents organized and ready to present can streamline the selling process. Key documents include:

Title Information: Ensure you have clear title documents and any necessary property disclosures.

Past Repairs and Improvements: Gather receipts and records for any repairs, renovations, or upgrades you’ve made to the home.

HOA Documents: If your property is part of a homeowner’s association, have the relevant documents ready for potential buyers.

Being organized will help potential buyers feel more confident about your home and can speed up the process for selling my house Mesa County.

Step 7: Set the Right Price

While preparing your home physically, it’s also crucial to consider the financial aspect of selling. Here are ways to set a competitive price:

Market Research: Analyze recent sales in your neighborhood with the help of Convergence Properties. Understanding the market will help you set a realistic price.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA): A CMA can provide insights into what similar homes are selling for, helping you make informed pricing decisions.

Setting the right price from the beginning can attract more buyers and reduce the time your home sits on the market.

Step 8: Hire a Professional Realtor

Choosing the right real estate agent is vital for a successful sale. A professional can provide guidance, market knowledge, and negotiation skills. When selecting an agent, consider:

Experience: Look for an agent with a proven track record in your local market, such as Convergence Properties.

Marketing Strategies: Discuss their marketing plan and how they intend to showcase your home to potential buyers.

Communication Style: Ensure you feel comfortable communicating with your agent throughout the process for selling my house Mesa County.

A skilled realtor can help you navigate the complexities of selling your home and ensure a smooth transaction.

Step 9: Create an Inviting Atmosphere

The atmosphere of your home can significantly affect how buyers feel about it. Here are ways to create a welcoming environment:

Aromas: Use subtle scents, such as fresh-baked cookies or brewed coffee, to create a warm and inviting ambiance during showings.

Temperature: Ensure the home is at a comfortable temperature for potential buyers during showings.

Music: Soft background music can create a pleasant atmosphere during open houses.

Creating an inviting atmosphere can make a lasting impression on buyers, encouraging them to envision their life in your home.

Step 10: Be Flexible with Showings

Once your home is on the market, it’s important to be flexible with showings. Here’s how to accommodate potential buyers:

Availability: Try to accommodate showings at various times, including evenings and weekends. The more accessible your home is, the more potential buyers you can attract.

Clear Out During Showings: If possible, leave the house during showings to allow buyers to feel comfortable exploring without feeling rushed or awkward.

Flexibility can lead to more opportunities for potential buyers to view your home, increasing your chances of receiving offers.

Conclusion

Preparing your home for sale in Mesa County requires thoughtful planning and execution. By following these steps and collaborating with Convergence Properties, you can create a home that appeals to buyers and maximizes your selling potential. From decluttering and cleaning to staging and pricing, each aspect of preparation plays a vital role in your home’s success on the market. With the right approach, you can ensure a smooth selling experience and achieve the best possible outcome for your home sale.

[wellnesscard]

I finally got a day off and this was so badly needed. my house was an entirely disarrayed situation. so far I've done all the dishes, cleaned the counters and stove. took all the weird old food and jars out of the freezer and fridge thrown away just so much random shit that was in there, then cleaned both fridge and freezer interior for maybe the first time since moving in. bedding is stripped and washed laundry's done and folded, I'll match the socks into pears next, I attended to my plants, trimmed their dead branches. I got rid of these old dead plant jars of dirt that had been on top of my cupboards for 2 years. opened all the windows and lit incense to air out this stink nest, All garbage is taken out but the large can is refilling with plant debris and random objects so I'll take that out later after I deep clean the bathroom and sweep and mop all floors and beat the rugs. then there's only a few things left on the agenda. decluttering, emptying out suitcases which have been full for months. I want to go through my purses and bags and backpacks and clean those out too because they've got so much random junk in them. putting lots of coats back into the closet that are overloaded on the hooks by our door. I'm going to wash buckets dog bed next. maybe put some cuttings that have been growing in water for at least a year into dirt finally. might even go through my closet and drawers and get rid of clothes which I really need to. that's just such a hard task because every time I do that a few months later I go looking for the clothes that I got rid of wanting them again. it's hard to make decisions, but I want to revamp my wardrobe a little bit because a lot of these things are nearing 10 years old which is great because I love a lot of my clothes and wear them a lot but a lot of them are getting quite worn down and it may be time to say goodbye....The real problem here is that I only have a very small closet and three drawers so it's really limited space for A girl who enjoys an expansive wardrobe with lots of options, not to mention work clothes im stuck with for my two different jobs and outdoors gear. what if I buy one of those non-permanent sheds to put in my rentals backyard to use as a walk-in closet? haha

[halfcrackedguru]

A Message from the Universe ~ A Gift for Your Future Self

A Message from the Universe ~ A Gift for Your Future Self, Cosmic Dancer Oracle Cards Today's Message from the Universe indicates a need for a period of assessment. As we move a little further into autumn or spring for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, this message is perfectly timed to catch us before hibernation or upon waking from our hibernation. Of course, we're not bears who sleep for the entire winter but we are still highly affected by the seasons, the sun, and the moon. Hell, even in the financial world we have just recently moved into the fourth quarter where it's common to try to get as much revenue in as possible before the new year. So what does this mean for us on a personal and spiritual level? Well, we are a part of the physical world. What we do and experience in the 3D has a direct effect on our mind, body, and spirit as you well know. Our spirit is happy when we're taking care of our physical and mental selves. You will find that your needs at this time might be a little different than they were a couple of months ago. For example, I've noticed that I need a little more sleep than normal and a lot more meat. The holidays are coming so I need to budget a little differently to do something nice for my kids. This is also the time of year when depression is usually at its worst so I want to make the coming months easier on myself by doing a deep clean, purge, and reorganization of my space and routines. How do your current needs differ from what they were over the last few months? Are you prone to declining mental health in the winter? Maybe you're working on a personal or business project whose processes could do with some reorganization and streamlining to make it less of a headache, easier to work on, and ready to scale. Whatever your current needs happen to be, this is the time to assess where you are and anticipate what you will need in the near future. See a doctor if you need to and are able. Do some purging and decluttering of your schedule, as well as your physical and mental space, and tie up any lingering loose ends. Be proactive now and you will thank yourself later :) TODAY'S CRYSTALS: Rose Quartz Hematite Clear Quartz Seraphinite Red Jasper TODAY'S DECK: Cosmic Dancer Oracle CHECK OUT THIS DECK: Cosmic Journey Oracle TODAY'S MUSIC: TODAY'S MUSIC: "Sam Hunt, Bottle It Up" "Thomas Rhett, Die a Happy Man" Thank you! Your tips and donations help to pay for the website and other costs that help me to bring these messages to you :) Read the full article

[pennsylvaniacashbuye]

How to Sell My House Fast for Cash

When life throws us curveballs, sometimes we have to think and act quickly. Perhaps that’s the case when it comes to you and your family needing to sell your home. Fortunately, if you need to sell your house fast for cash, you’ve come to the right article to get started. take your home selling efforts seriously. If you want to get the highest price for your property value, it’ll take some work. That’s why we’ve gathered the top ten tips for you to get started and make the most money possible from the sale. Keep reading to see how you can sell your house fast even in a potentially competitive real estate market.

Hire a Real Estate Agent: It’s important to note that selling to investors or perhaps auctioning off your home, while they both might save time, won’t necessarily get you the best value for your home overall. Rather, getting the top dollar price for a property requires some initial investment and yes, even money down (for repair projects, advertising materials, etc.). A real estate agent with familiarity selling homes in your local area could, therefore, become extremely valuable here. Start researching a reputable real estate agent in your area. Don’t hire just any real estate agent you come across, though. The unfortunate truth this that there are so many underqualified or under-experienced real estate agents on the market. please go here to this website https://www.tristate-properties.com/ and get the best cash buyer.

Declutter, Clean, and Organize Everything in the Home: No matter how you choose to market your home for sale, it’s important to consider how it appears to potential buyers. Most likely, those potential buyers will have at least one tour of the interior of the home before they purchase. If, on the tour, the home is in complete disarray, don’t be surprised if you don’t get an immediate offer for the house. When living spaces are too cluttered and disorganized, potential buyers won’t be able to easily visualize themselves living there. Being able to use their imagination like this can end up being a great deciding factor to spur their purchase. Not only is cleaning and decluttering an essential part of staging your home for it to be sold, but deep cleaning your home can also aid in the process of you moving out.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Curb Appeal: Business leaders who have experience and know their way of selling homes successfully all agree on the power of curb appeal. Think about it. If your home doesn’t seem attractive from the outside, why would any potential homebuyer feel encouraged to see the interior design elements? This tip for selling your home is particularly crucial for homeowners hoping to sell their property on their own. Even with a third-party investor or a real estate agent, giving your home’s curb appeal a boost can be a smart move. The good news is that curb appeal can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. An updated paint job to your home’s exterior can make a world of difference, as an example.

What Features of Your Home Are Unique and Valuable? Perhaps the most significant tip in this list of ways to sell your house quickly is to prioritize marketing efforts. You can have the best home with tons of recent renovations for sale, but if no one knows about it, you’ll never get an offer. Take some time to think about all of the ways you can market your home for sale. If you’re only looking to sell your home to an auction or a third-party investor, it’s still worthwhile to do some initial research. Don’t be afraid to compare and contrast different financial offers from these potential buying parties. When you do list your home for sale on any marketing platform, list its best and most unique features first. Think about qualities that will help your house stand out compared to any competing homes for sale in the same area.

Optimize Natural Lighting as Much as Possible: Speaking of making your home shine, don’t underestimate the power of lighting throughout your home when you’re trying to sell it. This can be important for both open houses and tours as well as any photography or videography to market the house online. In rooms where there are a lot of windows that natural light can shine through, be intentional about where you place decorations and furniture. Don’t block a nice window with a bookshelf, for instance. Another good practice is to strategically place larger mirrors around a room with fewer windows that provide natural lighting. These reflections will help open up the space more and even make it seem larger.

[sunsetmaiden]

I spent my day today decluttering and deep cleaning, I really feel like my home is pretty much ready for the new year. I am feeling pretty happy that I was so productive in my time off of work, I managed to tackle a lot of projects that I don't usually have time for. There are a few things I wish I had been able to do, but I have created a list for those and plan to schedule time to complete them because they aren't urgent and the main barrier was that I need to buy some storage stuff, some bins and stuff to organize linens and stuff like that. I have a big list of home goods I want to purchase and upgrade this year as well, new towel sets and some more sheet sets, a new duvet cover. I want to buy some new glasses and new mugs. things like that. A lot of the kitchen stuff I have is still stuff from when i just moved into my apartment in 2020 and is hand me down stuff that I want to replace with things I actually like, and just newer nicer stuff. But I also want to buy a chest freezer and a food saver, and since I have been off work so long it's going to take some time to do all of this.... but hopefully not too long. I will be making more money in my new job so I think I can get it together pretty quick. I'm feeling excited. :) It feels good to just clear out so much clutter and things I dont use. Making space. Moving the energy, etc.