Decluttering Essentials

I moved to a new house recently and I wasn't even around for the move. I know, cue the interesting story. I was out of the country on a mission trip and visiting family. My family decided to move without waiting for e to return. What a great move. The corona virus epidemic was in full swing when I landed back in American soil.

I arrived at a great home. My husband made sure the kids were settled and the kitchen was unpacked. He also made sure I could find my running essentials. Oh, another essential that I quickly found: my coffee pot. Life was good. Except that I was back at work full-time and the kids were out of school.

What to do? Get angry and break the stuff that did not break during the move? Heavens no. I decided instead to grab my decluttering essentials. These five tools have helped me get organized over and over again. I'm sure you want to know what they are. 

Music or Podcast • I always declutter better when I am listening to good music or an interesting podcast. I believe these audio cues help me think less about the mess around me and focus on something else. I also believe that if I save a certain podcast only for decluttering times, I get back to that project over and over again - until I'm finished that is.

Cleaning Supplies • I often need some type of cleaning supply when I'm decluttering. I gather whatever I think I will need ahead of time. Having all the supplies next to me cuts down on distraction. Because I don't have to walk back and forth to get the supplies I can actually spend all my designated time decluttering.

Trash bags • It is inevitable that I fill have to throw things away when I am decluttering. I decided to have a few trash bags at hand just in case. Some bags double as recycling bags. The goal is not to keep all of the reasons why my space is disorganized. I created the habit of immediately going to the trash can outside of the house and getting rid of what I don't need.

Donation box • I developed the habit of having a donation box in the same space I am decluttering. I try not to think deeply about what needs to be donated. I haven't repented yet of making a donation. If it's still good enough to be reused and if it can be a blessing to someone else, I let it be. The only time donating hurts is when the item was not used properly. I have a few things that should have stayed in the store. Personally, this type of pain of regret is the only one I feel when separating things for donation. Much like the trash, the donation box goes immediately to the back of my car. My car goes quickly to the donation spot as soon as I can.

Timer • I start my decluttering process by setting my countdown timer for 45 minutes. I have learned over the year that 45 is a great number for me. It is not too little or too much. I can get a respectable amount of work done in 45 minutes. The 15 remaining minutes are all mine. I can use them however I want. I can browse my favorite social network. I can have a cup of tea. I can write a quick blog post. Those minutes are a reward for the focused work I did. Setting a timer also gives me the mental encouragement that there is an end time to that hard work. I even use it with the kids and they enjoy it.

I still have a lot of work to do in our newly moved home. Things slowly get in place as I use these five essential decluttering tools to keep my home organized.

P.S.: I recomend my own Podcast if you want to listen to something while you are cleaning. 

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Blog Elevated 2014 Recap

All-access, empowering and friendly are some of the ways I describe Blog Elevated Conference. I was at Moody Gardens last weekend with the goal of improving my social media knowledge but I gained so much more. 

I heart Blog Elevated!

Blog Elevated has an all-access feel to it. Speakers, presenters and mentors are all available to answer our questions. I came back home with a lot of information that helped me to better plan for my blog and other writing projects. Just to show you a little of bit of the heart of the founders, I contacted one of them before the conference with a social media related question and she was so kind to give me solid advice. I appreciate their generosity and openness when it comes to information that will help us become better bloggers.

Blog Elevated Co-Founders at the Conference's Opening.

Blog Elevated is Empowering. I appreciate this conference because they empower you with tools that will really help you move forward as a blogger. I met many bloggers who followed the advice from last year and made a lot of progress in their goals. Each year I attend I am challenged to improve. I can honestly say that a lot of the knowledge stretches me to growth, which is a great thing. They also have designated times for "study hall" and let me tell you, I got a lot of work done during those times. I was able to talk to different mentors who gave me some practical advice to improve my social media platforms. 

Beautiful Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

Blog Elevated is a great place to find friends. I met Lisa last year and we became friends. This year I met her sister and we all had a great time as roommates. I also tried to get her mother to adopt me so I can become the third sister in their blog. Blog Elevated is a great place to find friends who understand what bloggers are all about. It is also one of the few places I don't have to apologize about posting on social media and checking it often. I also enjoy talking to people in person and online simultaneously. It can be done!   

Lisa and Shelly from SoundMindandSpirit.com

I am thankful to God, to Blog Elevated and to my family and friends for making my experience so wonderful. I hope that if you can attend Blog Elevated Conference in 2015. When you follow them on Twitter, you can be a part of weekly Twitter Chats where they share wonderful social media information. It's a great learning experience! For more photos, follow me on Instagram.

Question: Have you ever been to a Blogging Conference? What was your favorite part of the event?

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Blog Elevated 2013 my Recap

I had the honor of attending my best Blog Conference yet: Blog Elevated last weekend. I want to thank God for the amazing people who made my attendance possible. I thank you for your generosity, love and belief in me. May God bless you abundantly for all you've done for me! Here are some of the amazing people who spoke at the conference:

Rae Hoffman gave us some great information on SEO. I really liked the fact that she was down to earth on and off the stage. She's really transparent and passionate about her business and family. 

SEO Madness with Rae

I didn't stay very long but I had a chance to see some of the models from the Blogger Fashion show. The food was super delicious too!

Blogger Fashion Show & Dinner

I didn't get any Likes on Facebook for this but this quote really resonated with me. It's quite empowering!

I loved this quote!

Karen Walrond was so lovely to take a question from me during the break. I appreciate her wisdom as well as Mr. Frederick Goodall's on preparing for speeches. 

Karen of Chookoolonks is very kind

This is a photo of me after my 10-miler with my running group (post with details later this week).

I sneaked in a 10-miler before the Saturday morning session

I learned a whole LOT from Erik Tung's workshop. I'm looking forward to some time alone so I can apply all the great things I learned about making Social Media work for my blog. Exciting!

I learned so much in the social media session!

This is a photo of my Tofu salad before Jenny Ingram's workshop started.

I missed Friday lunch so I got tofu salad at Ruggles Green

She taught us on YouTube. I learned I have A LOT of homework to do on my channel! I found Jenny to be really friendly, open and real. I also loved the fact that I have the same sandals as the ones she's wearing on this picture. 

Got my YouTube skills sharped by Jenn

Katie Laird talked about working with Brands. I heard she had knee surgery recently and she stood and presented like a champ for 45 minutes! She added her own flavor to the presentation which was so refreshing. 

Very good knowlege on working with Brands

Holly Homer was amazing! She brought a lot of energy and information to the Google Plus breakout session. Again, I have a lot of homework to do and I have started on it!

G+ and I are friends and I learned how to become even friendlier

Stacy Teet is my new favorite person. She talked to me the first night of the conference when I had no idea she was a presenter and she had no clue who I was. I love her heart to make friends for friendship's sake. She taught the Pinterest session and I was so blessed with so much amazing information! I'm applying her advice to my account. Follow me on Pinterest if you haven't already please.

I learned so much from this awesome friend on Pinterest!

I really had a great time at Blog Elevated. I will always remember the people I met but more than that, I will remember that the hear to the organizers was so evident in every little detail. Congrats to organizers Lisa and Bobbie and thank you for making this amazing conference happen!

Isn't she lovely? I loved meeting Jenny Ingram!

Also read:

• Blog Elevated Day 1

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Story of Mum: I'm Confident!

I am so excited to be part of Story of Mum today! StoryofMum.com is a British Mommy community where mothers from all over the world can share ideas and find inspiration to be better mothers. 

Be sure to visit I'm a mum and a... Confident Woman and let me know what you think! 

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Survival Mode

Dear SimplyCintia.com readers, I am taking a short Maternity Leave so I invited a few friends to write as guests. Please enjoy this Guest Post by Lauren of Lauren W. Lutz Blog. Take care, Cintia.

My first child was a week old.  For the first time since her birth, we were headed out of the house to somewhere other than the doctor’s office.  I was having a difficult recovery, so getting out of the house was challenging, but very necessary for my sanity.  I don’t think I realized at the time that I was walking on the edge of a mental breakdown. 

We arrived at my parents’ house, and they fixed us their traditional weekend company meal. Don’t you find so much comfort in family food traditions?  Later, my dad pulled out his trusty 35mm camera (because we just like to fight the current of modernity, apparently) and snapped at least 2 rolls of his precious, new, perfect grandchild.  I think my husband, Jason, and I might have made it into a few pictures, too.  I recall nursing, because it was an every-2-hours kind of thing at that point, and most of the rest of the evening was a blur except for a movie.  I distinctly remember that movie.  I don’t expect I’ll ever forget it.

When Fifty First Dates ended, I walked into my mom’s kitchen and cried big, hot tears that spouted from the pit of my stomach.  I mean, what if I was her?!  How horrible would that be to wake up every day and not know who you were?!  That was the worst movie I’ve ever I’ve ever I’ve I’ve ever SEEN! Who thinks of scary stuff like that? They should quit making movies, because that was [now read in your most guttural voice] awwfullllll.  Jason listened to me rant with his arms around me, and I’m pretty sure he had a somebody-help-me-please look on his face.  They probably made me go outside and breathe some fresh air, and my parents probably giggled a little bit when I left.  I have no clue, because I was wiped out.

I don’t know why I waited until after my daughter was born to decide I needed as much information from "experts" as possible about sleeping schedules.  I don’t know why I thought I had to read it all in the first 3 or 4 days of her life.  I don’t know why I couldn’t sleep if she was awake – even if someone completely capable and trustworthy was attending to her every need. I do know, looking back, that I was setting myself up for a meltdown complete with Ugly Cry Face.  The child was seriously colicky, I could barely walk, and for some reason, I was putting myself through the paces of a new parent boot camp.  Not exactly being gracious toward myself, eh?

When our third child came along last August, I was much more mentally prepared.  Who hasn’t heard about older sibs being jealous (it happened, but way later than I expected) and possibly regressing?  I used those conversations with friends in the weeks preceding the birth to verbally process my expectations for myself and my growing family.  “We’re just going to be keeping it really simple, and I’m okay with that.”  “You’d like to come get the kids and take them to the park?!  Awesome.”  “Hm.  I don’t know if we’ll be able to attend right now.  We’ll just be deciding hour-by-hour at that point.  I hope you’ll understand.”  I call it Survival Mode.  All of your ecologically concerned friends will give you a pass this week if you buy paper plates.

I think this mindset can be applied beyond the bringing home baby stage.  If you’re going through an illness, if you struggle with cycles of depression, or if an unexpected hardship comes your way, you might consider these tips:

• Recognize that these days present unique circumstances and necessitate more attention to the basics.  Life won’t always be like this, so it’s okay to change your expectations for a bit.

• Don’t demand more of yourself than is absolutely necessary.  The health of others is somewhat dependent on your health.  Take care of yourself.

• Listen to those around you for cues on when it’s time to take a break and when it’s time to press through the difficult parts.  When you can’t see through the fog (or your Ugly Cry Face tears) your loved ones are often holding your compass for you.

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Type-A Mom: my experience

Unbelievable! Cintia at a blog conference? I was so thankful! I got there because of the awesome Janis, who held a contest on her blog {thank you}. The conference exceeded my expectations. I was open to learn and I left encouraged and equipped to be a better social media professional.

The atmosphere was a relaxed one. You could tell that newbies were nervous to be there but everyone had such a great attitude and wanted to connected. 

The first person I met was Nichole. She was a local blogger and an awesome person to hang out with. She really made me feel at ease. I was also excited to meet Fadra. She won that contest. I found her to be an awesome human being with a great blog! She was a lot of fun to tweet with :)

I met Roni Noone from Roni's Weigh. I have been following her blog for quite a while, and it was nice to talk to her about how she got started and how things evolved for her in social media. 

I was really star struck when I saw this awesome lady, Miz Fit herself! The best thing about her? She's so real! I will always remember meeting her and how encouraging she is.

Rich Single Momma is an awesome blog by Samantha. I learned that often times, the person behind the blog has a great story. I enjoyed meeting Samantha and I think she's one of the richest persons I know because of the strength she carries inside and out.

Here is another photo of Miz Fit (can you tell I'm a fan?) and the co-founder of BlogHer Elisa Camahort. I haven't been to a BlogHer conference but that is something I'd love to experience one day. I met so many other bloggers, I won't try to list them all here. Just know I appreciate you.

I walk away from Type-A with more: technical knowledge, connected with the blogging community and with the assurance that I am more than 'just a mommy blogger', I'm a social media expert. 

• To read transcripts of the sessions, click here

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Type-A Mom: the Reasons Why

I simply would love the opportunity to attend Type-A Mom Conference. The conference starts roughly 2 months after the birth of my second child. It also starts 6 years after I typed my first post. Through different phases of life I have blogged. Everyone needs a chance to renew and refresh. This chance could be mine. 

Type-A Mom Conference is the best blog gathering for me because:

• It will help me to increase my knowledge of blogging;

• It will give me a much needed refresher course in marketing and social media;

• It will help me be connected with other bloggers. 

I have researched other blogging conferences out there and I am very impressed at how diverse Type-A Mom conference already is. I am a blogger of color and I am so thrilled about that option as a tribe.

If I am chosen to attend Type-A Mom, it will be my very first blog conference. I hope to share what I learned with local bloggers who won't get a chance to go as well as with my readers. 

The conference will make me a better blogger but my goal is to produce content that will make the lives of others better.


• Here's the link to this giveaway at Blog Conference Newbie!

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Friendship

by guest blogger Riema 

Even though the term friendship is loosely used in our culture for our associates and acquaintances, I place a high value in those I call and regard as friends. Let me share my perspective on how friendship weighs on me.

I grew up being very selective of those I deal with and call friends. I always have a low key personality and tend to gravitate towards people with similar personality traits. I believe in the notion to look out to people who share like values and principles came from the influence of my mom. She has a strong belief that kids tend to fold easily under peer pressure and friends are a good measure of our types. She often refers to the famous saying “show me your friends and I will tell you what you are”. This has a profound impact on me to this day, although I’ve made a big improvement.

My experience has thought me a lot over the years. I didn’t want to be a vessel of moving genes from one generation to the other causing me to open up more in reaching out to broad range of people. Against my fears, I felt the need to move to the center and build relationship with others not alike me. It was a steep climb and a difficult endeavor to build tolerance. This has been a great learning experience to discover in me more than I knew I’ve possessed. A great deal of self awareness came into light in my life. After all, I came to the realization that we may be different, have contrasting personalities, beliefs and desires, but we very well share deeper inner ability to relate and enjoy doing the same things. These little things actually create the strong bonds that develop into many of my true friendships.

The core basis of friendship to open your life to others also comes with its own aches. In my own experiences which are not unique to me, I’ve had my own share of disappointments. Not every good deed gets rewarded with good. We are vulnerable anytime we expose ourselves to others. Few friends have betrayed my trust. Often said “friendship is forever”, they made me rethink this theory quite a few times.

Indeed, few good ones makes it worth the sweat, especially when a friend is a joy to talk to when you need an ear to listen to you, when a friend makes you laugh whenever you feel down, when a friend laughs at your jokes even if they don’t appear to be too funny etc. I appreciate all my friends especially the ones who can go for a long period of time without speaking and never question our friendship. My friends enrich my life, and I cannot imagine life without a single friend.

These are a few of the friendship quotes I like:

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost." - Charles Caleb Colton

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

"My friends are my estate."- Emily Dickinson

"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out" -Walter Winchell

"A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else." - Len Wein

On that note, I leave you with this great video clip I saw on facebook months ago. I wept the first time I watched it. My all time favorite video clip of the power of friendship:

Riema is a wife, mother, entreprenuer, philanthropist and a blogger. You can follow her journey in her blog.

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Zombie Mom

by guest blogger Christina Hebert

Crying baby.

You realize your clothes are dirty and you don’t care.

Hair is a little on the greasy side.

You’re in pajama pants because you can’t seem to fit in any pants you own.

Bra is stuffed with breast pads because you can’t seem to control your “flow”.

You cuddle with a Boppy pillow and cling to your baby for dear life and realize that this Boppy pillow DOESN’T stop the pain in your back.

When you stand up you shuffle around the house like Ogre, because you don’t know how to stand up straight.

Your computer becomes your online link to the outside world.

Mommy bloggers make you sick with their enthusiasm.

Dishes can speak to you now, as they have a block party in your kitchen sink.

You stop and realize “Who am I?”

Sound like you at this very moment?

At this moment realize that you aren’t the only one in this EXACT same situation. This is an epidemic and its called “ZOMBIE MOMS”

Zombie Moms fall under the list mentioned above. They are no longer the beautiful vibrant women they were before children. That woman is tanning on a beach with a margarita somewhere in your brain and wants nothing to do with the havoc that is happening at the moment.

Zombie Moms go through the motions of childcare and increase in mass. They let the trials of motherhood overwhelm them and can’t seem to find the happiness in the blessing that has entered their life.

Do you know a Zombie Mom? Maybe. They choose to live indoors. You might catch the rare being in the line at a fast food restaurant. You can spot this mom by the baggy sweatpants she is wearing on a 90 degree day, the greasy hair that for some reason she is wearing down because Zombie Moms have no realization of “dirty” hair, and they live behind large sunglasses.

How to conquer to Zombie Mom epidemic?

One word: MOVE.

Such a small easy word with potential to change lives. As a mother of 2 under the age of 2, I have been lost many a times in the Land of the Zombie Moms.

Now to truly the conquer the Zombie Mom, you can NOT use wooden stakes, silver bullets, whiskey, margaritas or self help books.

You need SUNLIGHT, MOVEMENT, and a SHOWER.

Seems simple? Not to the Zombie Mom.

Here are 3 steps into beating the Zombie Mom and Bringing back the Mom that has been tanning on the brain beach.

• Either have a stroller or sling/wrap to transport Zombie Mom offspring.

• Water. Like the witch from the Wizard of Oz, it has strong affects on melting the zombie skin off.

• Now walk. Nothing spectacular. Start with 30 minutes a day.

By this point the Zombie Mom virus is in reverse effect. Color is coming back to the skin, muscles are starting to support the body, the vibrant lady on “brain” beach is peaking through.

At this point Zombie Mom is now MOM, but that is not good enough. Mom needs to be YOU again.

Since you are no longer in “Zombie” status you have more energy and can use that energy to regain that body you had before baby. This process takes the longest but comes with the greatest rewards.

Next steps to feeling like YOU again:

• Start a DVD workout program

• Choose one of the many workouts published in your lovely collection of magazines that are taking over your kitchen counter.

• Find a local Stroller Strides class, meet other “Zombie” Moms in recovery while teaching your child to socialize.

• Give yourself a goal of the daily 100: 20 squats, 20 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 jumping jacks, 20 sec plank hold. Each week increase 100, 200, 300 etc.

• Most important is to NOT stop MOVING, and continue to push the limits on your movement.

Unlike the zombie movies we watch there is an END. How and when you get there is up to you. No one can force you to do anything you truly don’t want to do. But there is that vibrant woman in there that wants to be let out. She lives behind the tears & anguish that you let consume you. Be yourself again by doing your body good. No book, craft, or job will bring your back to yourself. Only working your body, boosting endorphins and sweating out the “weakness” will you bring out that strong confident woman that is now a mother.

Now decide your fate will you be the Zombie Mom conqueror or roam with the pack of other “Zombie” Moms?

Choose your own destiny.

Christina Hebert describes herself as "Mommy of 2 crazies, Military Wife, Triathlete, Sexy Lifestyle Advisor, I drink sweat for breakast." You can follow her blog www.seemomrunbikeswim.com for more inspiration! 

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Discipling My Children - Lord Give Me Strength

by guest blogger Molly Thornberg

Pre-kids I had a MAJOR beef with those little kids that cut you off when you are walking in a store. WHAT KIND OF PARENTS do they have that would let their child cut me off like that? and that NOISE coming from the kid? Are you kidding me?

Well 7 years ago, God blessed me with my little head-strong darling of my very own. My daughter is everything that birth order books talk about in regards to being the first born. She is gorgeous, sweet and did I mention HEAD STRONG?

Since then, I have given birth to 2 boys, a 5-year old and a 14-week old. Each child is different. Each has their own personality - and while they all look alike - they brings to the family their own strengths and weaknesses.

Sigh.

Yes, they cut people off in the store. (well the 14-week old doesn't.... YET). Yes, they make THOSE noises. But it's funny how God gives you a bit more grace when it's your own kids in those situations.

God is teaching me something. Patience.

While I hope to have the calm someday of Michelle Duggar when disciplining or correcting - i'm slowly getting there.

Disciplining in the calm is a goal of mine. I don't want to scream irrationally when my kids do something wrong. I've done that way too many times and have been burdened with a heavy heart after the fact. I want to speak firmly and with respect to the situation, and discipline effectively.

It's a learning process. But hoping God helps me before puberty hits. PUBERTY, oh my.

Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them. - Proverbs 19:18 - The Message

Molly Thornberg blogs at mollythornberg.com and digitalmomblog.com. She's a follower of Christ, a mom, a wife and technology lover. When she isn't being MOM to her 3 darlings, she is Director of Digital Media at Women of Faith.

Have you experienced God working on you thru disciplining your children?

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