By now you’ve had a chance to realize you don’t need any of the things stuffed in those bags. If you do, go ahead and take them out and put them away. It’s okay. Now, if you haven’t already done so, put the rest in your car and either take it to the trash or to your nearest Salvation Army or Good Will drop off center.

Whew! Breath deeply! You did it! You’ve won the first round!

Next, I want you to tackle your kitchen pantry. This is a diet, too, remember. Take a good look at the food items stored on those shelves. You know what’s bad for you so get that grocery bag, the brown paper one so you can’t see through it and start loading it up. Take out anything you know is unhealthy, processed foods (unless you bought them from a health food store, then they’re probably okay) sugary foods, candy, cookies, potato chips. Read the labels. Any food that has ‘partially hydrogenated’ anything is BAD for you. Throw it out!  That is a BAD fat! There are good fats and they are found in foods like almonds, walnuts, avocados and cold water fish like salmon and halibut. Add these to your grocery list.

Once you clean out your pantry and shop for healthy fresh alternatives, you will be ready to start eating healthy. There should be nothing left in your pantry to tempt you! The next thing you need to do is eat smaller portions and take a fifteen to twenty minute walk every day. If you do this there is no need to count calories. The key is to be aware of what you put in your mouth. Will your choice result in health, energy and beauty or will it bring weight gain, sluggishness and sallow skin. For those of you who don’t read regency romances, sallow means having a dull, sickly complexion,

So get to it. Start on your food pantry and let me know what you struggled with. What pep talk did you give yourself that helped you to part with those peanut M&Ms?

Five pounds lighter,

Darcy

But this year I’m going to make it.

Let me ask you. Do you want to get rid of all the junk that’s crammed in your drawers and stuffed in your closets? Do you want to loose weight? To get into those skinny jeans that have happily mocked you from the back of your closet for …how long?

Well, I do and this year I’m going to succeed. Why? Because I’ll have you in my corner. And I’ll be in your corner. We’ll cheer each other on. We’ll clap and do the snoopy dance whenever one of us looses five pounds of fat or five pounds of clutter. That’s the goal. Five little pounds at a time.

Did you know that research shows that clutter in your house shows up on your hips, tummy and rear end? It’s true. I’m a perfect example!  So here’s the plan. We’re going to start by getting organized. I know, I know. If we were organized we wouldn’t have all that clutter and excess weight on our hips. But, all I’m talking about here is starting small with a teeny, tiny little plan. Something to get us started and to keep us motivated on this de-cluttering thing.

Now, you and I both know there are a million ways to do this. After all, we’ve read every de-cluttering book out there! But, let’s keep this simple. You will need two empty boxes or sacks. Mark one ‘to give away’ and one ‘to throw away’.

To get started, I want you to start with your clothes closet- drawers, boxes…any place that holds anything and everything you wear. If you just want to de-clutter and not loose weight then start anywhere you want. Pick a room or an area in your house that you’re sick of looking at because of all the junk and the mess. You’ll feel terrific when you’re done!

Now, walk around that space and take a good look because when you’re done this closet is going to look a lot different. Stream-lined, organized and efficient. When you get finished, you are going to love getting dressed in the morning.

Now grab the two boxes, then go through each rack, drawer and shelf and take an honest look at the items. If you haven’t used it, worn it in over a year or if you hate it but kept it because your mother or your best friend gave it to you, GET RID OF IT. Put it in one of those boxes. If you’re not sure about it, put it in the give away box. (this does not mean you’re giving it away, you’re just getting it out of your closet)

Now Here’s The Key…DON’T STOP AND THINK, JUST TAKE ACTION.

What is your initial thought about the item, DO what that thought told you to do. One of the main reasons we have difficulty parting with things is because we are emotionally attached to the item. That’s why I don’t want you to stop and think, to stress or second guess. Remember, you haven’t thrown anything away yet, you can always retrieve it later.

Now, go to another area or room and do the same thing. Don’t get discouraged. For most of you, this process will take days, maybe even weeks. That’s okay. Focus on your closet over the week-end. Make sure you haul away everything in the ‘throw away’ box. That one act alone should make your pants feel looser! Then store the other boxes in the spare room until next week.

Remember, ACT on your first impulse about the item in question. If you stop and think, it will stay in the closet.

Go! Girls, Go!  Then post a response and let me know how you did. If you’ve de-cluttered in the past let me know how you did it. What worked for you. What didn’t.

More to come on Darcy’s De-Cluttering Diet in next weeks post. We’ll be focusing on the pantry in preparation for the diet!

But for now…go on, get rid of it!

Darcy

But this year, only four cards our of about thirty were of scenes that I’ve just described, the rest of them were photo cards displaying family portraits, pictures of children, dogs, cats…and as much as I love seeing my family and friends I have to confess to some disappointment and lack of enthusiasm as I looked through the stack. (And don’t even get me started on those long single spaced family letters that try to tell me what all six family members accomplished the past year!) Yikes!

Anyway, I digress. As I flipped through the cards I thought, who are we celebrating here? Who’s birthday is it anyway? I’ve been guilty of doing the same thing, but finally settled on a compromise. I’d include a recent family photo inside the card and only to those I was close to and who hadn’t seen us for a year or more. Yes, send those cute photos of Janie’s ballet recital and Jimmy proudly displaying his soccer trophy, but slide them inside the beautiful card displaying the nativity or a glorious Christmas tree. Celebrate your lives and send photos to those you are close to, those who haven’t seen you for awhile.

What do you guys think? Am I being ‘scrooge’ or do I have a point? Let me hear from you. How do you keep a balance between the secular and the spiritual side of Christmas?What bugs you? What brings you joy and makes you smile?

Darcy

Kit’s anger against Sam returns with a vengeance.  The root of bitterness against the Dawson’s ruthlessness and thievery having gone deeper than she’d thought.

After being in “exile” for years, Sam comes back and turns his family’s rustic hunting lodge into a five star resort, bringing much needed jobs to the depressed draught laden community and home town he loves. Unfortunately, this threatens to put Kit’s little charming Texas B&B right out of business.

But Sage Brush isn’t all that Sam threatens and if Kit isn’t careful a Dawson will steal her heart.

My husband and I arrived over a week ago with nothing but a suitcase each of cloths. Being the self-educated decorator that I am, I’ve scoured London’s furniture stores and finally found beds, a sofa and two chairs to add to the small amount of furniture that my husband’s business partner already gave us.

The best part is our location! You’ve heard it said. Location. Location. Location. Well, we’ve got it! Our flat is right off Marylebone High Street. And if you know anything about London, you know that that is prime! Every morning from my living room windows, I watch mothers walk their children to the catholic grade school that is next door to us. The little girls are all in sky blue and white check dresses, white knee socks and black mary jane shoes. Adorable! The boys are in navy shorts, knee socks, blue and white checked shirts and navy blazers. They take recess on the roof top of the school. The perameter of the roof is screened in by a giant cage, keeping the children safe and sound! The teacher calls them back inside by ringing an old fashion hand bell. Talk about stepping back in time. It is all so ‘British’ and I absolutely love it!

Before I go, I won’t tell you about all of the lovely afternoon tea’s I’ve enjoyed or that the best scones in England are just down the block from me, or that every Sunday there is a farmer’s market in front of my flat…I don’t want to make you jealous or anything!

Well, enough gloating. But the very, very  best thing, is that I get to write everyday! On my next post, I’ll tell you more about that.

Until then,

Blessings,

Darcy

Thanks for posting,

Darcy

My husband forged a maze of meandering paths through the woods on our property, and along the creek, with his tractor. Perfect for long walks when I want to mull over a scene or plot point.