How Do You Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed?
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Last week, I sent an email to the Nurturing Hope email list with a link to a survey with questions related to our thoughts about clutter and emotional eating. I was amazed at how many people took the time to respond — thank you!
One question asked, “What is the single most challenging issue you face in relation to clutter and/or emotional eating?” Over 80 people answered this question. As I read through the answers, a strong theme stood out:
I just get so overwhelmed with it all, not knowing where to start or where to put things.
Easy Soup Recipes for Cluttered Kitchens
I adore soup. There is something so comforting about a big pot of hot soup on the stove, and my family always feels like they have had a “real” homecooked meal when it’s a soup night.
We make soup at least once or twice a week, especially in the winter. I make split pea soup, leek and potato soup, turkey vegetable soup, spicy tomato vegetable soup — the list goes on and on. A good soup has so much going for it: Read more
Designing a Winning Breakfast
Last year, I started going to the gym on a regular basis. At first I would go in the afternoon, but then I tried going to the gym in the morning and something really clicked. When I work out in the morning, I feeling of calm and relaxation lingers all day. But there was something missing — I haven’t really created a good pre-workout breakfast routine. Read more
Decluttering Craft Supplies and Tools — Things to Think About
First off, I have to be honest and say that I’m not a crafter. My mom is a talented and sought-after artisan quilter and I grew up watching her acquire and stash lots of crafting supplies. Now that she is retired and free to quilt a LOT, the stash has grown 
Many crafters like to have a lot of supplies and tools on hand in order to be well prepared for current and upcoming projects. Many also have a number of unfinished or in progress projects to organize. The key is to balance your crafting inventory with the space available so that you can easily find what you need and spend your time enjoying crafting rather than searching for supplies and tools. Read more
How I Found the One
Our Wedding - 2005
This is really a Friday Fun post, but it’s a day late 
)
In my early adulthood I didn’t have a clue about men or love. I made a lot of bad decisions. And then, shortly after I turned 30 I began adding Tweaks or positive habits to my life. Gradually, I began to realize that I am a worthy, precious person and I slowly started to treat myself accordingly.
Magic started to happen. I got happier and it showed. Men started to notice me. It dawned on me in a blinding realization that fat does not mean unattractive. I was an attractive, vibrant woman even though I was still very heavy. Read more
Tweak: Replace Trans Fats with Healthy Fats
I started to avoid trans fats in 2004 and I believe that it has played a big part in improving my health. Over time, as I gradually replaced or slowly eliminated the major trans fat culprits in my diet, I noticed that I was eating far less processed food — another big plus. Almost all of the foods we eat at home now are fresh “real” foods instead of packaged, factory-produced foods.
But this was a gradual change. I didn’t turn into a health nut overnight, and I didn’t stop eating processed foods entirely (I still eat them occasionally — perfection is boring). Doing the healthy thing most of the time — not 100% of the time — has paid off. Read more
Monday Link Roundup
Today’s Monday Link Roundup centers around hoarding and decluttering. If your home is seriously cluttered, beginning to declutter for 15 minutes per day is the single most effective tweak you can begin today to transform your life.
What do I mean by “seriously cluttered”? If you have areas of your home that cannot be used for their intended purpose, then your life — and your family’s – is being seriously impacted by the clutter. For example, sometimes a family cannot eat at the dining room table because it is covered with stuff. Or a sofa or chair is out of commission because it has a heap of clutter on top. Sometimes people stop using beds, bedrooms or even bathrooms because the clutter has taken over. Is this you? Commit to turning the problem around for just 15 minutes a day — I promise you will be amazed at the results of a little consistent daily focus.
Here are the links: Read more