eleven in '11 (projects and parties)

time for a little look back at 2011.

these posts help me remember the joy chosen and the beauty found.

they give me time to savor the time given and the stories told.

here's to the loving hours put into projects big and small.
here's to the sweet times celebrating with family and friends.

the new firepit


a star wars movie party


lighting up the back patio
(there was never a post dedicated to this other than here, but it was much more than just purchasing LED lights and stringing them up over a table.  we attached a cable from the house to the tree, which is easier said than done.  let's just say, it was definitely a project!)

a house concert with karla adolphe

operation tree fort
(still in progress! we are excited to finish up this year.)

gia's new all-girlie room

the boys share a room

the front porch makeover

time for a tailgate 

 

the dollhouse

2011 in 2011 challenge
(no, i don't have a photo of the boxes and bags dropped off at goodwill.)
so far, we have purged 1269 items .
the plan is to continue until we hit 2011 and then start over for a 2012 in 2012 challenge.
this is really really good for us.

end o' week random (and happy birthday grandma!)

 

• last weekend's crafting was pinterest inspired.
• also, the gal who made that wreath is super cool.  her blog is new to me and i am so with her on the thoughts of creating something out of nothing.  all of the materials for my wreath came from the stash.  crafting at its best, in my opinion.
• did you catch ruth's and alicia's guest posts this week?  i am oh so thankful for those mamas.  joy forney (of grace full mama) and i also shared advent-y goodness at gracelaced.  we have more great guests coming next week, so stay tuned.
• the count is up to 821 in my 2011 in 2011 challenge.  i am amazed that number changed at all, considering the week here at casita hart.  having a goal is key.
• in related news, my monica closet now has a visible floor.
• this floor will now be the workspace for the great dollhouse build.  we have 10 days to start and finish before the girlie turns five.  that's doable, right?  (don't tell me if you disagree.  i prefer to remain naive on the subject of this deadline.)
• and last, but certainly not least . . . today is my grandma's birthday!  and i get to see her next week!  i snagged a pic of the two of us at thanksgiving.  it was a bit bright.  we were all squinty.  but it is a happy photo, nonetheless.

happy birthday, grandma!

decluttering of all sorts

so, how does she look?

with the absence of the sponsors and a desire for something simple and clean, we get this new streamlined one-column design.  i LOVE it.  i am just in a decluttering sort of mood.

my count is now at 600 in the 2011 in 2011 challenge, but i should admit that it is not very hard.  we have way too much stuff.  i donated 84 gift bags.  at least a dozen were from my wedding showers. TWELVE YEARS AGO.

i still need to work on the footer and figure out the setup down there.  any opinions?  i am open to suggestions.  but did you notice my new favicon.  i have a fascination with them.  probably because they are tiny.
tiny things are cool.

also, remember to enter the tea collection giveaway.

it closes sunday night, so don't delay now.

now it is time for a little date night at home with jesse.  thank you God.

2011 in 2011 challenge and one little change

about a week and half ago i had the brilliant and simultaneously harebrained idea to rid our home of 2011 items before the end of 2011.  yep.

this was brilliant because i work well under pressure and with short-term goals.  and brilliant because my schedule right now allows time for purging.  also brilliant because i am motivated.  there's nothing like the prospect of being indoors with three children during a long illinois winter to make you want get rid of clutter.  tell me you understand.  

there's also the inevitable increase of gifted goods that come with generous family during the holidays.  i have learned, my friends, i have learned.

it has been an excellent way to clear the way for advent.  our family can focus on what we have and what we need, what we have been given and what we can give. 

since last tuesday, we have donated, returned, recycled or tossed four hundred and eighty seven items.

487!!!

pretty good, right?

now the harebrained part comes in when i realize there are only 32 days left in the year.  but the numbers add up surprisingly quick, especially since we have decided no more yard sales for the hart clan.  too much work and too little pay-out.  

now just 1524 to go. . .

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were you around during the first part of this year, when i set up the one little change series?  well, it bugged me to not follow through with that.  the thing was i wasn't making little changes.  in fact, i was either making big sweeping ones or holding on to the rest of life by my fingertips.  the storm that was 2011 swept away so many plans.  that's okay.  in fact, living with a chronic illness has prepared me well for swept away plans.  God has others.

but i really love the idea behind little changes.  baby steps.  recently, i have been up for considering a few new changes.  the kind that only take an initial decision and effort - the pruning sort, rather than the habit forming sort.

one of them that will be quite noticeable come thursday?  no more lovely blog sponsors in the sidebar.  in the pursuit of scaling back non-essentials, this was an good choice for the immediate future.

tell me, do you have any end of the year goals?
are you (still) making any little changes?