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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Practicing Minimalism as a Parent

Minimalism is different for everyone. My practice of minimalism is not going be the same as anyone else’s. To me, minimalism means finding the right amount of stuff for me, an amount that doesn’t feel overwhelming. It doesn’t have to mean having a certain number of items. It’s having what you need and what you enjoy but not an excessive amount — not having more than you need and use. I aim for that but that doesn’t mean I practice it at all times. Do I make impulse purchases sometimes? Sure. Do I hold onto some sentimental items? Yes. But my goal is always to minimize consumption and teach my kids that life is not about posessions.

What I have learned about practicing minimalism as a parent:

  • Value experiences over possessions. I have no problem spending money to go to attractions in the city or to travel rather than go to a store to pick out a new toy to entertain my girls. 
  • Teach the joy of giving to others. Our goal is to show our girls that other kids do not always have what they have and that it feels good to give toys or clothes they no longer want or need to someone in need.
  • Regularly analyze your belongings. I am always asking myself if I (or we) need items, and if the answer is no, it goes. This sets an example for my children that I hope they will want to emulate.
  • Try to find a home for everything. This can be tricky for certain belongings, such as baseball memorabilia, but we plan to create a home for those things when we finish our basement. Everything should have a home; it makes it easy to find what you need and helps disorganization, which can be overwhelming. Teach kids where things go and help them return things there after playtime.
  • Possessions will creep into your home in the form of gifts. The gifts are always appreciated, of course, but rarely do people consult with parents about whether a child needs a certain item. Our girls have enough stuffed animals, for instance. I try to manage the best I can and find a home for the gifts. Just like all other toys, though, if they stop being played with, are duplicates or fall into disrepair, they will be decluttered.  
  • It’s a practice. I am figuring it out as I go. I don’t have all the answers to have a perfectly minimalistic and tidy home at all times. I am just sharing what seems to be working for me.

The point is not to have nothing. It’s not to have too much. What constitutes too much varies from home to home. I measure my success by how overwhelmed I am with my belongings. I would rather spend my free time doing what I love than picking up unnecessary things.

 

Do you practice minimalism? If so, what does it mean to you?

Related posts:

Thoughts on “The Joy of Less”
End of Summer Cleaning and Decluttering List

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Finding A New Normal After Having Kids

Today’s post shares something that’s been on my heart lately. I hope that it will help anyone who feels a little lost after a life change.

Something I’ve discussed with my therapist this month has really opened my eyes to one of the sources of my anxiety and postpartum emotions. I realized that I have been holding on to the notion that I needed to “get back to my old self.” I keep talking about getting back on track when it comes to my workouts or feeling more like myself again. The reason I am still struggling with these things is that I will never go back to the “old” me. I see that now.

Adding a second child to our family has forever changed me. When V joined us I was able to continue doing everything I loved and wanted to do because she was not a newborn. It was a transition, yes, but she didn’t require drastic changes to my lifestyle (and body).

I finally recognize that I won’t ever be the same, and that’s a not a bad thing. I just need to figure out what our new normal will be.

I have been expecting a lot out of myself. I had signed up for a half-marathon when I was pregnant and then I was so disappointed in myself when I didn’t train adequately. I wrote down so many things on my to-do list and then felt like a failure when they weren’t all done. I tried to keep up with social media and then felt down when I didn’t get the engagement I did before. I need to make a change in order to find my new self.  I am learning that by letting go of unrealistic expectations I can be happier and less anxious.

What will be my new normal? Maybe I won’t be working out four or five times a week like I used to. Maybe my workouts will be different for a few years. My body might never look like it did before pregnancy, and that’s OK! I can work toward loving where I am or making healthy changes so that I feel better about myself. We will probably travel to more family-friendly places now, but that doesn’t have to be a negative. Maybe I will try to adjust my work schedule or ease my workload. Maybe Graham and I will have to schedule date nights far in advance based on our crazy schedules.

What will our life look like in a week, month, and year? I have no idea. But I have a little bit more peace moving forward because I know it’s OK that I take some time to figure out who I am now. It’s OK to take time to figure out a lifestyle that will be best for our family and my well-being.

Have you experienced a life-changing transition recently? How did you cope?

Related posts:

Ways to Offer Postpartum Support
Postpartum Clothing Haul

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Healthy Fitness Habits for the New Year With Audible

** This post is sponsored by Audible but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

One of my goals for the new year is to get back on track with my workouts and to prioritize fitness again after a year off. It’s not easy to get back into working out, but I have ways I’ve learned to make fitness enjoyable and to keep me motivated and inspired. I’m hoping these will help you with your own fitness and overall goals in 2019!

Healthy Fitness Habits to Begin This Year:

  • Choose an activity you enjoy. Try new things and classes until you find something you love to do as a work out, whether it’s dancing, running, yoga, swimming or a boot camp.
  • Set realistic, incremental goals. My goal is to run consistently again and then complete a half-marathon, so I’m starting with walking consistently, whether outside or on the treadmill. It feels great to work up to a longer run each time.
  • Visualize the results you’d like to see and then make a plan. Following fitness acounts that inspire me and surrounding myself with reminders of my goals keeps me interested and inspired to continue. Having a training program keeps me on track.
  • Listen to your favorite audiobooks with Audible. This is my current favorite way to lose track of time while working out. I’m enjoying Michelle Obama’s “Becoming,” which I find to be riveting. Listening to Obama’s story while running or walking has calmed me down on some recent overwhelming days. Her voice is calming and soothing, and her story brings me motivation.

I find that I am most energized by motivational books, but Audible offers a range of options including best sellers, mysteries, thrillers, and memoirs. You can also pick out two free Audible originals every month or check out the fitness content in the Audible store. I found a 5K training program that I am trying as well as content sharing quick workouts for busy people. If you’d like to try meditation, you can find guided options, too.

I recommend these motivational audiobooks, which I’ve enjoyed in the past year.

  • “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero
  • “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • “You Are a Badass at Making Money” by Jen Sincero

How to use Audible:

I have been an Audible fan for a couple of years now, so I’ve built up a library of audiobooks that I’ve downloaded onto the phone and can access at any time, whether in the car, using my headphones or via speakers. You can adjust preferences for your audiobooks by setting the narration speed, switching to button-free mode and sleep timer. With my membership I get one audiobook and two Audible Originals every month and it rolls over if I don’t use it. If I’m ever unsatisfied with a purchase, I can return it easily and buy another audiobook instead.

Are you ready to hit your fitness goals too? Get started on Audible with a 30-day trial!

Try Audible:

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My Birthday Wish List 2019

 

** This post contains affiliate links . I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

 

I will be 33 this year. 

I had to do the math because for some reason I thought I would be 32 again. In fact, Graham and I both had trouble remembering our ages this year, and our birthdays are both odd years. I much prefer even numbers.

While I may not always remember my age, I still want to celebrate another year of life. I’ve been thinking about how I want to spend my birthday this year, and I’m hoping we will do something fun again. Last year we saw Potted Potter and had a lowkey evening because I was pregnant. I’m still in favor of experiences over belongings, but I do have some items on my wish list this year. I’m sharing my birthday wish list as I do every year in hopes it will give you some ideas for gifts for someone in your life. All of these are aimed at someone who prioritizes self-care, except for one item that just helps out in the cleaning department.

My 2019 birthday wish list:

  • A Roomba. I am not sure which model is best, but I think any of them would be helpful in keeping our floors clean. I’ve wanted one of these for so long! I want this for my birthday because it would take something off my plate and thus leave me with more time to relax. And relaxing is all I really want to do.
  • A facial. I haven’t had a facial in years, but I’d really like to treat myself and take better care of my skin.
  • Bath bombs. These are always on my list. Baths are part of my relaxing nighttime routine on several nights of the week.
  • New running shoes. It’s about time to replace my running shoes, even though I love them. I am a diehard Brooks fan so I want my next pair to be from the brand.
  • A fluffy robe. I just want to be cozy in my soft pajamas, comfortable slippers and a robe. That sounds like a dream.

What would you add to your birthday wish list this year? Are you all about comfort, too? Let me know in the comments!

 

 

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Related posts:

My 32nd Birthday
Galentine’s Day Gift Ideas

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How I Keep My Home Tidy

I like to keep a tidy home, though that doesn’t mean it’s always perfectly clean. (There’s obviously a difference between clean and tidy!) I am someone who becomes anxious in a messy home, so I’ve always worked hard to keep our house mostly clutter-free and organized. With kids it’s become more a challenge and our home does get messy sometimes, but for the most part it’s a quick process to get it back in good shape.

Ways I keep my home (mostly) tidy:

  • Declutter regularly. I’ve done several rounds of decluttering starting several years ago. I was most inspired by “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” when I read it in 2016. I am now watching Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix and it’s brought on another urge to declutter, even though I just got rid of bags of stuff before the holidays. This time my husband seems to be onboard as well, which is exciting!
  • Store things in baskets in closets.  I 100 percent agree with Kondo’s method of storing things in baskets and boxes.
  • Show my daughters how to put things away when they are done with them. When I play with my daughters, or watch them play, I always help them put toys away when we move on to another activity, or I suggest to V that she put her toys away.
  • Find a home for everything you keep. This is true in our home except in the basement, which we need to tackle this year. I like for everything to be put back in its home as soon as possible after use.
  • Don’t shop for things we don’t need. We don’t buy too many toys, for instance. For us that means buying toys on birthdays or Christmas and rarely in between. We buy clothes only when a new season is approaching or when there is a specific need. Another example: We buy shoes for the girls as they grow out of old shoes or for us when the need arises.
  • Don’t go to bed with a messy kitchen or home. I do a quick sweep every night before going to bed and make sure things are at least in the room they belong in, if not fully put away. I try to do all the dishes so we don’t wake up to a mess. I don’t always clean surfaces, but they will at least be clear of stuff. (I put things on the stairs that need to go upstairs and bring them up next time I go. A basket could be useful for this.)
  • Keep only certain toys in the living room. Toys mostly stay in the bedroom. If toys are brought downstairs they must be being played with. If not, back to the toy chest they go! Sometimes they stay in the living room all day and we don’t mind, but for the most part we put them away when the girls move on to something else (or V puts her own toys away).
  • I don’t display things on shelves unless I really love them. We actually don’t even have many shelves in the new house currently, so no need to fill them! We decorate our home with things that have meaning to use or that are useful. 

That’s pretty much how I keep our home mostly tidy. Yes, we have our bad days when our house is what I would call a disaster. Again, my house is not always clean, but it’s often clutter-free. I think if it’s challenging to keep a clean house, especially with kids or dogs, one can perhaps keep it tidy in between cleanings. I am looking forward to our next round of decluttering to see how much more calming our environment can become.

Do you have any tips for keeping a home tidy? Share them in the comments!

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Related posts:

Review of “Life-Changing Magic”
Decluttering before the holidays

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Postpartum Workouts: Week 1 Recap

Welcome to a new fitness series! I joined a gym last week so that I could restart my fitness journey. Yes, I have worked out since having a baby, but it hasn’t been consistent. I want to change that, so I’m sharing recaps of my workouts as I try to get back into my fitness routine. I’m recapping this both to inspire others to start, even if it’s slowly, and to hold myself accountable. If anyone reading this is also trying to meet a fitness goal, I’d love to be virtual workout buddies. Share your goals in the comments!

Week 1 Workout Recap:

Note: You will notice my workouts were not intense or long on my first week. That’s because I know my body and I am not in the best shape. I want to show how even just a short workout can help in the long run.

Monday-Tuesday: No workout. It was New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We signed up for the gym membership on NYE and then went to the gym to tour it and grab our passes on the first.

Wednesday: .5 mile run and 15 minutes on the stairmaster. I then did 15 minutes of light yoga and bicycle crunches. (I was sore for three days from this.)

Thursday-Friday: No workout.

Saturday: .25 mile walk on the treadmill to warm up, followed by a 1-mile run. We then did about 15 minutes of yoga and bicycle crunches.

Sunday: Yoga Sculpt class at a studio. This class combines yoga with using free weights and strength training exercises like squats and lunges. It also includes a section on working the core. I estimate we did about 150 lunges holding weights and at a fast tempo. I had to take several water breaks. The instructor was like a drill sergeant, but I appreciate the intense workout.

Reflections and tips:

  • Don’t worry about starting slow or taking it easy. Yes, you want to get a good workout in, but you also don’t want to hurt yourself. Stretching is important, as is drinking enough water and allowing your body time to recover.
  • Mix up the workout to keep yourself engaged. I have always enjoyed a mix of yoga, running, and strength training.
  • Don’t worry about what others think. There will always be people who are annoyed at the newbies. Focus on yourself and ask for help when you don’t know how to use machines. Many gyms offer a free training session when you first join, and the trainer can help with the machines.
  • You don’t need the fanciest shoes, workout clothes or gear, at least not to get started.

Note: I am not a fitness trainer. These are just tips that I follow and that work for me. For the best fitness advice consult a professional.

Shop for my yoga towel and yoga mat**:

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Recent Cruelty-Free Beauty Empties, Vol. 13

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise.

I haven’t shared my beauty empties in quite a while, but I’ve still been using cruelty-free products since my switch a couple of years ago. Most items in my most recent round of empties are super affordable yet work just as well as higher-end products. I’d also love to hear what products you’re loving in the comments!

Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash: I have mentioned many times on this blog how this is my go-to cleanser because it’s gentle, works and isn’t tested on animals. It’s also inexpensive.L

Wet ‘n Wild PhotoFocus Foundation: I really like how my skin looks in this foundation and the shade Desert Beige matches me perfectly. It’s an affordable drugstore foundation that many people rave about.

Colourpop Brow Boss pencil: This was such an easy pencil to apply, but I honestly can’t remember if I was wowed by it. I remember liking the color black-brown, though. I purchased it after a beauty guru suggested it. It’s affordable if you’re looking for a drugstore option to try.

Wet ‘n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick in Give Me Mocha. This was my favorite lip shade and I’m sad I don’t own it anymore. I need to buy it again but I’ve been trying to use up more of my other lip colors. I highly recommend this and it’s only about $5!

L.A. Girl OOMPHD! Mascara. I wasn’t wowed by this mascara. It’s decent enought, but I keep trying different mascaras and always come back to the Essence Lash Princess, which is only $5.

OLEHENRIKSEN Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum: Influenster sent this to me to try. It is a purple serum that contains a natural retinol alternative. It gave me glowy skin, but I looked up the price tag and I doubt I would purchase it again. I appreciated the gift, though!

What products have you recently used up?

Shop my empties**:

 

Related posts:

Recent Empties, Vol. 12
RECENT EMPTIES, VOL. 11
RECENT EMPTIES, VOL. 10

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My 2019 Goals and Guiding Word

It took weeks for me to figure out my 2019 goals. I had to really think about what it is I hope to accomplish. The person I wanted to be a year ago is not the same as the person I aim to become now. Some priorities have shifted, and some goals I previously saw as unattainable are now aspirations I think I can make happen if I commit to them. 2018 has been wonderful for us. We bought a house and grew our family, and all my attention and energy went toward that. In 2019 I hope to refocus some of that attention on my own goals outside of motherhood and marriage. While family will always come first, I have career and self-development goals that are also important to me. With that in mind, I’m sharing my 2019 goals in hopes of inspiring some of your own. I hope you’ll share your goals or guiding words with me in the comments!

Make fitness a priority again and run two half-marathons. I want to bring back fitness posts, which have taken a hiatus in the past year during pregnancy and afterward. I want my energy back and I’d love to not be out of breath when I walk up the stairs while holding the baby or carrying laundry. Also, working out has always helped relieve my anxiety. This goal is more about committing to my health and fitness, and then using that newfound energy to meet my career and family goals.

Replenish our savings. I saved in 2018, but a lot of it went toward replacing the lost income I had from taking maternity leave, which was unpaid besides short-term disability payments. I want to increase our savings and set aside separate funds for becoming self-employed. I also want to explore new avenues of making money.

Travel to a new place as a family. Iceland, Seattle, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas are on my wish list, but we are still discussing possibilities for travel in 2019. Our travel plans all depend on my husband’s work schedule and on a major decision we just made, which I’ll share later. (We also have a wedding in Virginia.)

Sell photography services/prints. I have always loved photography, and I’d like to do more of it. I’m not trained professionally on it, but I have learned a lot from workshops, classes and watching tutorials. I recently had a collaboration in which I was hired to shoot video and photos for marketing materials, and I really enjoyed it. I want to do more of that in addition to selling prints of my photographs.

Blog consistently and pursue sponsorships with brands I love. In 2018 I nearly tripled my blogging income, something I am proud to have accomplished. I want to continue that growth while doing something that brings me joy. I would like to double my blogging/editing income this year while continuing to partner with brands that I think readers would like or benefit from.

Those are my main goals, but I’ll be thinking about other self-care and career goals, too. What are your 2019 goals?

My Guiding Word/Word of the Year

Abundance.

This word has come up a lot lately, which I’m taking as a sign that I need to refocus on this mindset vs. on scarcity. I’ve been focusing on the money and energy traveling outward instead of the abundance heading my way. It’s not just about money, either. I put so much of my focus on time I don’t have instead of maximizing the time I do have each day. 2019 is about changing my perspective in that way.

Do you set a word of the year? What did you choose for 2019? How did you do on your 2018 goals?

 Related posts:

Favorite Self-Help Reads
5 Ways to Improve Your Photography
Beating the Sunday Scaries

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A’s 8-Month Update

This has been a major month in terms of milestones for Addi. She has changed so much in a short time, and this phase has become my favorite so far. I love watching her do new things and learn every day.

Sleep: After waking 3-5 times a night every night since she turned 4 months old, we decided it was in our family’s best interest to attempt to teach her to fall asleep on her own. It’s been less than a week and she is already sleeping better and going down for naps more easily. We are attempting as gentle an approach as we can.

Feeding: She’s eating three meals a day now along with breastfeeding and drinking breast milk or formula from a bottle. We are mostly feeding her purees, but we are slowly introducing chunkier foods and letting her self-feed.

Stats: I am not sure what her weight is now. She is in 9 or 9-12 month clothes and wears Size 3 diapers.

Highlights:

She pulled herself up to stand in her crib, so we had to lower the mattress.

She started army crawling at first but is now fully crawling, though she is still a bit unsteady.

She still smiles and laughs constantly.

She loves to drink water from her sippy cup and can hold her own bottle.

She still protests when mom and dad walk away.

She places her hand on mine when I say high-five.

She loves to splash around during bath time and now sits on a nonslip mat vs. in a bather.

She wants to grab EVERYTHING.

She still doesn’t have teeth.

We also had her passport photo taken and submitted the passport applications for both the girls, and we are excited for future trips as a family.

That’s it for today’s update. I’ll share another as she gets a bit older and we have hit more milestones. Do you have a kiddo(s)? Share a fun update in the comments!

 

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Related post:

Flying With a 2-Month-Old Baby
Adelina’s 4-Month Update

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Why the Holidays Are a Perfect Time for Decluttering

I recently decluttered yet again, but this time I did it differently. In previous declutters I would take everything out and sort through items one by one, KonMari style. I don’t have that kind of time to devote to decluttering in my current phase of life, so this time I tackled my simplifying in a different way: I decluttered as I went. What this means is that when I would open a drawer to grab something I needed, I also quickly glanced around to see if there was anything in there that could go. Anytime I opened a closet, drawer, basket, etc., I would assess the contents and decide if I wanted to part with anything. This helped me accumulate several large bags of items to donate or recycle/repurpose in just over a month.

Examples of my current decluttering method:

When I reached for tops or bottoms for the baby and found anything that no longer fit, I tossed it in the bag.

When a toy broke or I noticed it wasn’t played with, I asked V if she still wanted it. I also asked her to let me know if there were toys she no longer was interested in because she would likely be getting some gifts for Christmas. She was sweet enough to put together a small pile of toys that she said she wanted to go to kids who don’t have many toys.

When I put clothes or shoes on V and they were too tight, I put them in the donation pile.

As I unpacked boxes or organized in our new house, I noticed if there were items I had forgotten about that I could do without.

When I did my makeup, I assessed how often I wore certain lip colors and took note of when makeup was set to expire.

When I put socks on, I threw those without matching partners or those with holes into the textile recycling bag. (Our city offers recycling for shoes and clothing.)

When I took out the holiday decorations, I donated or tossed anything that was broken or too worn out.

This decluttering method isn’t groundbreaking, but it does work for those who claim to have no time to devote to empty an entire room and then sort through items. Keeping a bag or box in a certain location that you can easily add to takes little to no effort. Then simply drop it off at your favorite charity or have it picked up. The key is getting those donations out of the house as soon as possible, though. No driving around with them in the trunk of your car for months. Pencil it into your planner immediately.

I wanted to declutter before the holidays because Christmas is always a time when people tend to shop more and accumulate more belongings, whether you want them or not. I pick up decorations, buy wrapping supplies and have a bunch left over, and receive gifts, like many people do. The tendency for many is to make a new year’s resolution to simplify and declutter, but really starting before the holidays gives you a headstart.

 

Related posts:

Inspiration From “Year of Less”
Decluttering and a Family Tradition
Thoughts on “Joy of Less”

 

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