Spring Cleaning

It finally feels like spring here in Idaho! As we are starting to get longer days, I've noticed that I've actually had more desire to do things like organize my home, garden, and just in general, haven't needed to take as many naps. It's made me curious why exactly is that? So I did a little research and found that your body produces more melatonin when the sun is not out, which explains why in the winter I don't really want to clean my house and take more naps, overall, I'm just a lot more lazy in the winter.

This makes some sense when talking about why we do a "spring cleaning." But that got me curious, where did that phrase come from? Is it because we have more motivation to clean out our dwellings when the sun comes out? It's possible. So I looked up where does that saying come from? I found a few traditions from around the world. One of my favorites that I found is that supposedly, the Chinese traditionally believe that all of your misfortunes from the previous year pile up in your home. So after the new year, to make sure that you start out your year right, they deep clean out their spaces.

Now the reason for this being one of my favorites out of the traditions of where the spring cleaning phrase and actions that takes place comes from, is because I am a big believer that our possessions say a lot about who we are. Owning too many things and not being a conscious consumer hinders our growth to become the greatest version of ourselves. So I say, that now is the time to look through those things around you and ask yourself, "Does holding onto this benefit me in anyway? OR does it make me feel heavy possessing it?" Here is a list of 101 items that you can read over and maybe find some that you don't need. The next step that I encourage you taking after your have cleared some items out would be to try and be a conscious consumer here on out. Think through all of your purchases. Where the items come from, if they are good for us or hindering us, will they soon (5-10 years) end up in the dump? Alright here is the list:

1. Glassware
2. Cookbooks
3. Kitchen gadgets
4. Kitchen appliances
5. Pots and pans
6. Mixing bowls
7. Tupperware
8. Water pitchers
9. Magazines
10. Newspaper
11. Books
12. Over-the-counter medicine
13. Make-up
14. Barretts/ hair clips/ ponytail holders
15. Cleaning supplies
16. Personal beauty appliances
17. Bottles of shampoo/ conditioner
18. photos
19. Photography supplies
20. Photos
21. Craft supplies
22. Scrap-booking supplies
23. CD's
24. DVD's
25. Decorative items
26. Candles
27. Figurines
28. Crystal
29. Vases
30. Audio/visual components
31. Audio/visual cables
32. Computer equipment
33. MP3 players
34. Furniture
35. Video game systems (yes please, get rid of them!!!!!!)
36. Video games
37. Video game accessories
38. Shirts/ shorts
39. Pants
40. Coats
41. Dresses
42. Hats
43. Clothes hangers
44. Winter gear
45. Shoes
46. Jewelry
47. Purses
48. Coins
49. Pillows
50. Towels
51. Linen sets
52. Candle Holders
53. Televisions
54. Items on your bulletin board
55. Magnets
56. Artwork
57. Mirrors
58. Home office supplies
59. Pens/pencils
60. Old batteries
61. Tools
62. Hardware
63. Rolls of duct tape
64. Coolers
65. Manuals
66. Phone books
67. Coupons
68. Sporting good supplies
69. Sports memorabilia
70. Aluminum cans
71. Glass bottles
72. Automobile fluids
73. Automobiles
74. Scrap pieces of lumber
75. Brooms
76. Rakes
77. Shovels
78. Garden tools
79. Plant containers
80. Empty cardboard boxes
81. Board games
82. Puzzles
83. Decks of cards
84. Unused wedding gifts
85. Baby clothes
86. Baby supplies
87. Old schoolbooks/ papers
88. Army men
89. Bath toys
90. Toy balls
91. Toy cars/trucks
92. Toy musical instruments
93. Stuffed animals
94. Plastic toys
95. Childrens' old school papers
96. Suitcases
97. Soda
98. Alcohol
99. Processed foods
100. Christmas/ seasonal decorations
101. Cable or satellite TV

Alright so here is my list! Hope you all have a great day, where ever you are! I'm going outside to enjoy the sun with my daughter.

Original list: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/101-physical-things-that-can-be-reduced-in-your-home/
Spring cleaning origination:http://prudentliving.com/blog/secret-histor/

Our House: Part 1

Wow, what a process it is moving into a house. It has been so great having our own place to call home. I still find myself shirking when I'm loud, worrying that I'm bothering the neighbors below me, then realizing that I don't have neighbors below me! It's awesome! Now, the houses that were in our price range were ones that needed a lot of work, so we spent a lot of time and effort in getting our house just livable before moving in. I want to thank those that helped us with this process. Those in my ward, my sister and her husband for letting us stay at their house for a week, my niece Kirsten for watching my baby a lot, and of course, my parents! They helped us with so so SO many things, from the process of finding a house, to getting into this house, and from turning this house into our home. We still have a lot of work that needs to be done, but the upstairs is at least livable, and we have been enjoying every moment of transforming the place. Here are a few pictures to show some of the work that we have done.

 Now I know it may not seem like it's been a lot of work but what you don't see in pictures is the dirt on the walls, the awful smell of dog urine that was embedded in the floors, and the dog hair that was in every cupboard, etc.

My Experience With Short Hair

(3-years-old. My brother Kyle & I). 

It only takes one time as a toddler to cut your hair to realize your hair goes from this (above) and this (below) to....

(What I was typically dressed in at 4-years-old)

 This:

 (4-years old Preschool)

And this:

 Since then, my mom always cut my hair short with bangs...

 (9-years-old)

 (Almost 11-years-old. I was a "temptress" for Halloween?! Mom why didn't you explain what a temptress was to me and then tell me I couldn't be that for Halloween!?)

At around 12-years-old I decided that I was only going to have long hair, except for one exception here when I cut it short for picture day in 8th grade, but still, not as short as in the past:

 Since then I have been trying so hard for my hair to grow, and it finally grew long and thick and beautiful when I was pregnant!

 But now that my baby is 4 months old (tomorrow!!!) My hair has been falling out in globs! Like, I'm surprised I still have any left! So I cut it!!!!!!!!!!! From this:

 And this:

 To this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE IT! The girl who cut it said she was surprised how well I was taking my new haircut, because a lot of people wish they hadn't once it's too late.I'm surprised too. I really loved my long hair, but I felt I needed a new change. She cut around 8 or so inches. What do you think?

Getting Out of The Poor Mentality

I guess you could say this is my belated Thanksgiving, thankful note. With about half the world living on $2.50 or less a day, (that's well over 3 billion people!), and about 80% of the world living on $10 or less a day, I have so much to be thankful for. Now, like my economist husband pointed out to me, we're comparing dollars and in some countries a dollar really goes a long way, yes, true, but living in America alone we are so richly blessed. Honestly, unless you are too stubborn to get help, you don't ever have to go without food, shelter, or clothing in the United States! One point my husband and I only had $15 dollars in our bank account, right before I was about to panic, I looked around at my apartment. I still had a warm home, food in my cupboards, and everything else that I needed. I am greatly blessed with abundance and feel like I'm living like a Queen! One of my most favorite talks I have heard was given at my school about how even though as college students we seem to be poor, here on campus, we are some of the richest people in the world because we actually have the opportunity to get an education. And with this education we can help those that are not as fortunate as we are. So that is what I have to share during this holiday time. I am so so so thankful for the abundance I have been blessed with. My physical needs are met, and I have been blessed with the richness of education and the wealth of good family and friends! So before you think of all the things you don't have, and maybe think you need to purchase for yourself this holiday season, try thinking of what you already have been given.

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Talk: Caring For The Poor and Needy
Photo: http://megainsights.com/poverty-mentality-among-nigerians/

Jay Shafer: Tiny House Creator

I've been wanting to talk about Jay Shafer for a while now because of my admiration for his designs. Considered to be a pioneer of the tiny house movement, or what I feel, really just "going back to how our ancestors used to live- in much smaller spaces" movement, he has been living in tiny dwellings that he's designed and built for over 15 years now. Out of mostly wanting to be able to get around building codes and prove that he could do so, all of his smaller designs, less than 200 sq ft, are on wheels so that they aren't considered an illegal home, but a legal mobile trailer. All of the homes he designs are very well thought out... 

You won't find any space wasted. Starting out with his first company Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, he recently sold that and began his new business called Four Lights Tiny Houses. His latest project is now, what the city regulations define as a "trailer park," will be a community full of all tiny homes.

Here is a great youtube video about Jay Shafer done by another great artist I admire-Kirsten Dirksen from Faircompanies.com that is less than 20 minutes if you have time:

Don't forget to subscribe either by e-mail or with your blogger account if you haven't already. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Photos from: http://tech.bemoor.com/about.php?id=218&s=Jay%20Shafer%20Philosophy &
Tumbleweedhouses.com & Fourlightshouses.com

Going Bald

 Okay, so I'm not going bald, but I honestly feel like it since having a baby. I washed my hair this morning and the globs of hair just kept coming! I recently learned how to cut my own hair, cause lets be honest, I don't want to make an appointment and pay for someone else to do it, and have already cut a few inches since she was born. But now my long pieces of hair are thinning out again! So, should I cut my hair shorter? I'm seriously considering it, even though my hair has never been this long before in my life and I was fully enjoying the length while pregnant!

^^If you're wondering how I cut my own hair ^^ I wet it and comb all of it forward and put it in a pony tail on my forehead. And yes, I drew these silly pictures on my computer!

If you want to watch the Youtube tutorial on how to cut your own hair that I use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lucvs8KMSxc AND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw5HH5z3z4o

How to help prevent hair loss: http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Hair-Loss-After-Pregnancy

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The Big 22!

Saturday was my birthday. So I thought I'd share with you what I did...

 First water with lemon juice

 A quick 30 minute work out

 Dishes, had a nice dinner the night before with friends and hadn't done the dishes yet.

Banana & wheat grass smoothie. Nutella too because it's my birthday!

 Homework, not fun.

Baby girl and I took a bath.

 A peel-it-off mask, hence it's clear.

 Read some books.

 Then we went to Idaho Falls for lunch and to find some boots. I wasn't successful though, if I'm paying the price for boots, I want the perfect ones!

 Baby girl dressed as a marshmallow!

Pizza for dinner, only had 1 slice.

 Yay for onion goggles! I've been telling Jimmy I want some for a year now.

 So excited about this book, tells you all about the edible plants. Can't wait to go foraging!

And then we took our couch seats to the 2nd bedroom where the computer is to watch Fiddler on the Roof. Just the 1st half though.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

My 12 Days Early Bundle of Joy

Last Wednesday started out just like any other normal pregnant day. I got ready and worked in the morning at my desk job. I had stopped walking to work a couple weeks earlier because being full term pregnant, it took me double the time it normally would to get there and it tires me out way too much. That afternoon around 3:30 I laid on the couch to take my nap when all of a sudden I hear almost like a 'woosh' sound and had water coming out, immediately I run to the bathroom. I-was-shocked! I contacted my husband who luckily was working close to home that day so it didn't take him long to get back. We went in to see my midwife to just make sure that it indeed was my water that broke (since it wasn't much water). As she was talking she confirmed that it was my water and that because I am strep positive I need to get started on anti-biotics until my baby comes. At first I was thinking it was some medicine that I could take home until I need to go to the hospital. But she confirmed that no, I was going to the hospital right now and when I leave the hospital I will have my baby in my arms. I think the shock of that is what made my contractions start in the room just then. 

I was not prepared for this. My sister and mom both told me that the doctors usually broke their water for them, so I was expecting my labor to start with contractions. I had it all planned out; walks, certain labor positions, and then when I get to the hospital, I planned on getting in the jacuzzi until I was fully dilated. I was going to have my baby all natural. Then reality happened...

IV with anti-biotics, electrolytes, and pitocin. Two straps over my belly, one to monitor contractions, another for the babies heart beat. No walking around, no jacuzzi, I was stuck. After a short time I was dilated to a 3 and my non stop contractions went from predicting my baby being born Thursday afternoon to her expectancy to be that night with only just the bare amount of pitocin being given to me. Because I was strapped down since the beginning of labor, it wasn't difficult for me to change my mind about having an epidural. I felt great afterwards! And at 2:33 AM after pushing for just 30 minutes, my baby girl, Brigitte Jodell Ayama was born. I even watched the birth with a standing mirror! It was so cool! Overall, labor was not bad and I joked in between every labor pain before I got the epidural. For having my labor plans ruined, I couldn't have been more pleased with how it turned out. I was always scared of what it would be like but ultimately, it felt so natural, instinctive. And lets be honest, the epidural at the end helped too! :)

She came out and I instantly fell in love. At 12 days early she was born August 15th, 6 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long. She's healthy, a great nurser, doesn't cry much and really just a great joy in my life. I feel so blessed!

The Light at The End of The Tunnel

 I only have a few more weeks until I am due! Which means that my baby could come anytime from now until then!!! Just a couple of weeks ago my amazingly talented cousin Myra took some pregnancy photos for my husband and I. They turned out beautifully, couldn't be more happy. Love the picture of my European husband at the bottom! It's been getting me thinking of all the things I still need to do before my baby gets here, like pack my hospital bag, deep clean my house, finish washing baby clothes, the list goes on. Since I have been trying really hard to not surf the internet this week (which I will talk more about later), one of the things I wanted to do this week was finish preparing for my babies arrival, but somehow, I've still filled the time up with other things. Mostly productive, but I haven't yet got that 'nesting' boost of energy women talk about and am still so tired by the time noon hits. In the meantime, I hope all who visits my blog enjoys my pictures.

Photos done by: Myra Merrill at myrakjer.blog.com