Like a hotel! It’s SO un-cluttered.

I really need to post some photos … but I’m kind of waiting until we get everything finalized …

Our “new & improved” bedroom is just SO much more inviting, relaxing, and “warm” than our old one. It is truly AMAZING what just changing the paint color can do. Plus new outlet covers (bye bye old faded yellowing plastic covers from the 70’s!)

AND … the thing that I believe is TRULY the most relaxing for ME: Bye-bye CLUTTER!

Yes, it’s true. I asked of absolutely EVERY SINGLE THING before I allowed it BACK into our newly-painted, spic-n-span clean room:

Have you EARNED the right to be here?

Specifically … I am no longer using our master bedroom as a repository for STORAGE.

Man! Were there a LOT of things that really had NO RIGHT to be there.

– Sweatshirts we never wear
– Clothing that is SO far away in “dream size maybe one day Tara”-ville that it’s ridiculous to keep them
– Old costume jewelry that is never worn
– Scarves that I keep HOPING one day I’ll turn into one of those super-confident-scarf-wearing women, but I never do
– A wooden box on Fred’s dresser that had exactly ONE thing he ACTUALLY (only occasionally) used in it: a pocketknife. The rest of the box was simply taking up space and crying out for a dusting each week.

Oh! How they TOTALLY did not earn the privilege of returning and staying.

Gone gone gone!
Hooray and yeah-rah!

Here is my system for (WONDERFUL!) times such as these:

1. Do I REALLY use this? How many times have I used it in the last week / month? If not much or not at all … BYE BYE!

3. For never-used things: a) give away; or b) throw away.

I was ruthless! And it is SO nice. So very, very nice.

I can feel my subconscious going AHHHHHHHHHHH.
Like a big ol’ deep, cleansing breath.

Creating a more welcoming environment for Fred and me.
Being a better steward of “stuff”–especially by giving things away.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I’ll post pics as soon as we get just a smidgen more done.

Hope you’re having a wonderful Sabbath!

Love from the Barthels,
Tara B.