Ranch Mama Learns: Bugs, Sun, and Wheels

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I thought that the timing was just about perfect. I would be pregnant over the winter and give birth in the early spring, so we could back in full force for the summer. It turns out, that was kind of true, but having a newborn into the summer presented us with a few specific challenges. As silly as this might sound, figuring out how to protect Huxton from bugs and the sun was a problem from the start. Not only is our boy fair-haired (he gets that from me), but he's little, too little for traditional bug sprays and sunscreens, plus he's prone to getting hot as well. Of course, he'll be the recommended six months old in October, just in time for bug spray and sunscreen to be put away in the cupboard for the winter (sigh...). So we started some brainstorming and research, and we came up with a few solutions that worked for us.

Ranch Mama Learns: Starting the Curve

Ten Weeks Old

We celebrated Hubster's first Father's Day yesterday (Black Rifle Coffee Co. Merch abounded in our house--more on that later), and had a gorgeous, cool stormy day outside. Huxton turned TEN weeks old as well, and today I put him in a 12 month romper that's a little big, but not that big!

Over the past ten weeks, I've come to realize that the learning curve on becoming

Huxton and I at an Eventing Clinic in
Gillette, Wyoming, learning all about cross
country and how to keep baby from getting
sunburned.

a mama can be pretty steep, but there are some peculiarities to being a ranch mama. When you live on the high plains with animals and crops and bugs and in the hot sun, it turns out that there are some challenges to toting around a wee one.

So I'm embarking on a new series here on the Ranch Librarian: Ranch Mama Learns. 

Whole30 2.0: Couples Challenge

I you know me or read my blog (or maybe both!), then you know that back in June, I completed a Whole30 Challenge.

If you don't know what a Whole30 is, let me give you the quick and dirty summary:

• 30 days
• Real Food
• No sugar, dairy, soy, carbs, or processed food
• Incredible metabolism reboot
• You must make a plan!

That is the Whole30 in a nutshell. If you want to know ALL about it, read about the Whole30 on their website, where you can download all the information needed to complete the challenge; it's free and not a gimmick.


I completed a Whole30 this past summer with great success. You can read about my adventures here, here, here, here, and here.

When I finished my Whole30, I was 15 pounds lighter, had higher energy levels, and just generally felt amazing! I was so pleased with my results, and I can tell you this: I lost another 15 pounds after the Whole30 was over, just because my metabolism was rebooted after all the disastrous hormone tinkering of the previous year.

Hubster participated in what he termed "a third of a 30" last June, and by this, he meant that he ate Whole30 dinners with me. But he still had toast at breakfast and lunch wherever he pleased. But about two months ago, he suggested that we do a Whole30, and this time, he would be all in.

I have to admit, I am apprehensive about taking on a Whole30 during my working life. If you are a teacher, are married to a teacher, or have a close friend as a teacher, then you know how all-consuming the job can be, and how sometimes things like careful meal planning go out the window when you have a stack of papers to grade that is oh-so-tall.

But Hubster and I are going to get a Whole30 done, which means that I have gone into full planning mode to get ready for it.

The tough part about the Whole30, in my opinion, is staying ahead of your hunger. By this, I mean having a careful plan so that when you are hungry or busy or on the move, you have access to the kind of food you can eat. This is the only way to keep from cheating on the middle of a Whole30 and having to start again--because really, no one wants to say they lost their self-control over a bag of pork rinds, just because you got to that I'm-so-hangry-I-can't-think point while at the gas station.

When I plan for a Whole30, I take a day-by-day approach. I print out the Whole30 shopping list and a weekly calendar.

And let me just say this about the shopping list--I know it sounds super by the book and nerdy to do this, but seriously--the Whole30 shopping list has some awesome ideas on it for things to buy, like fruits and veggies that would never occur to me otherwise.

I sit down and plan out ALL the meals for the week, as well as write down all the events and such we have planned. This helps me figure out how I need to plan around things like dinners out or evening class or project night.

We're planning to begin our Whole30 journey on the Monday after the Superbowl. You know, get our last kicks in with hot wings and drinks, then take our thirty days of clean eating by storm. I am excited to see how many inches and pounds we can shed, as well as experience the energy boost and mental clarity that comes with operating on real, good food.

To give you an idea of the delicious food you can eat on the Whole30, here's a peek at some of our menu items:

• steak and mushrooms
• stir fry and cauliflower rice
• roasted cauliflower and red pepper soup
• stuffed bell peppers
• beef kabobs
• coconut curry chicken
• salmon patties with roasted veggies
• pot roast
• eggs with sweet potato home fries

These are just a few of the delicious recipes that will provide us with some tasty eats over our Whole30. Check out their website for more information, or ask me about the Whole30--I am a big believer in what it can do for you because I know what it did for me.

Cheers to Whole30!

The Ranch Librarian Happiness Project: Lighten up in January

I am sitting here looking at the computer and wondering how it's already the 22nd of January...because I still haven't written about my January Happiness Project.

Yikes! Sorry for being behind schedule, guys. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with my life and writing about all the things I want to write about.

So...here's a quick rundown on December: Christmas month was a wild and busy one for me, and I am bummed to admit that I didn't get to focus on Spirituality in December the way that I wanted to. That being said, I did spend some time reading on She Reads Truth, which I have come to love. If you aren't familiar with it, it's an app you can download on your phone that's filled with great Bible studies. It's very accessible and easy to make use of regularly.

But on to January, and this month is all about keeping a sense of humor and lightening up!

I decided to focus in the New Year first on teaching, and one of the things I struggle with in teaching is remembering to keep a sense of humor. I often get too focused on all the things that need to be done, or focus too much on all the negative that can happen in a day at school.

Not this month. This month is all about staying light.

I struggled with how, exactly, to do this, and the steps I took were maybe alarmingly simple:

• Laugh in class EVERY DAY
• Live a little dangerously (ie. let the kids pick their own groups--YIKES!)
• Focus on the good

That's it--that's my plan. 

And so far, it's working (I think). 

I let the kids pick their own groups for new teams in 2nd semester, and it turned out really great. It helps that this group of kids is pretty chill, but still--letting kids pick their teams is definitely living dangerously for me. 

So as January heads on to February, I'm going to keep my eye on staying light and remembering why I'm a teacher--because I really do love it! 

More on my Happiness Project to come! 

Ranch Librarian Happiness Project: Contemplating the Heavens in December

It's December!

Holy cow; how did that happen?? I am always amazed at how fast December arrives on the heels of going back to school in August.

But now it's the 8th and I am into my next month of The Ranch Librarian Happiness Project: Eternity.

I think it works out well to have December focus on "contemplating the heavens" as Gretchen Rubin would say. The Christmas season is a great time to spend a little extra energy on my spiritual life.

So, what's the plan?

Well, it's pretty simple: I plan to spend some quality time on devotionals each day, using Ann Voskamp's wonderful devotional, One Thousand Gifts Devotional.

My middle name actually is Grace, despite the myriad of jokes that people make about such a middle name. And my mother told me once that she thought my middle name was a gift from God, because Grace was the lesson that I would need to learn throughout my entire life.

And so far, she's been right. I tend towards a type-A, perfectionist personality, and when you feel that way, grace can be a tough lesson to learn--grace for yourself, for others, for life in general.

Therefore, Voskamp's devotion is right up my alley--the devotional for each day is labeled as a different kind of grace.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, a time when we contemplate the birth of Christ, I can think of no better way to spend the month of December in my Happiness Project.

That's my plan--what about you? What's your plan for the month of December?

The Ranch Librarian Happiness Project: Aiming High in November

I, like my bestie Ayme, am completely FLOORED at the fact that October has come and gone! every week for this semester's Master's Class. 

October was maybe the busiest month of the year for me, with Accreditation at work, chaperoning 8th graders to Teton Science School, Hubster out hunting, and writing a paper

Yikes. But  have to say, my goal to be more mindful in October worked out okay. That's not to say that I was some paragon of peace and calm, but I was so much more aware throughout the month of making sure that I did the small things throughout the month. I played my violin (not a lot), I worked on Italian (in short bits and pieces), and I spent quite a bit of time outside connecting with nature. But again, I think for October, the real lesson for me was just being mindful. Being aware of taking time to just sit or go for a walk or take a break from the incessant calls on my attention to do something for me.

Now November has arrived, and this month's focus is Aim Higher.

So I only have one goal this month: Participate in and win NaNoWriMo.

What is NaNoWriMo, you ask?

November is National Novel Writing Month, and the awesome people at the Office of Letters and Light in San Fran put on NaNoWriMo every November.

The goal: a 50,000 word novel in November.

I have been participating in NaNoWriMo for five years now, and I have never won. Meaning, I have never gotten to 50,000 words before. I've gotten as many as 35,000, and then gone on to later finish the novel, but I've never verified a win on the 30th of November.

That all changes this year.

My only goal for the month of November, in between life and papers for my Master's class and turkey on Thanksgiving, is to finish the novel I've started.

And so far, I'm on track! To finish a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, you have to write 1,666 words a day, and I'm keeping pace pretty well.

The novel I am writing is called My Summer with Gatsby, and it's FUN. I am loving getting it all out on the page, and enjoying every minute of it. Chances are, I will post parts of it here as I work on it this month.

And on a final note:

Ayme's post about her October Happiness Project got me to thinking. She says in her post

"Now is just not the time for lofty goals AND great hair.  It's the time to raise little boys and do what I can.  And I'm happy with that."

Her wisdom really encouraged me. "Now is not the time" has been part of my mantra the past two years, as Hubster and I have struggled to conceive. When I was planning this year-long Happiness Project in September, I had several goals written down for November, my month of writing. I was going to blog on a regular schedule, do a NaNoWriMo novel, AND create several Shutterfly memory books.

Then, as I began November and my NaNoWriMo novel, and thought about October, and realized that I still have to sleep and eat and go to work...suddenly Ayme's words really took hold of me. Now is not the time to do ALL those things. Now is the time to do some of those things, just the same way as now is clearly not the time for Hubster and I have to have a baby.

And let me be real here for a moment: I don't like the fact that now is not the time to have a baby. I don't particularly care for the fact that now is not the time to be writing full time, publishing books, or teaching college. But nevertheless, it's not the time, so I have find a way to make peace with it.

So while I am writing my NaNoWriMo novel this November, I am also going to be thinking about the ways in which now is the time to tackle this one project.

And there will be a time, later, for those other things.

But one thing, one step, one day at a time.

Happy November!

The Ranch Librarian Happiness Project: Mindful in October

So, is anyone else totally appalled by the fact that it's OCTOBER?!?!

I have been running and gunning like a crazy person lately, since it's fall and that's a pretty intense time for teachers...

So I was reading Ayme's blog on the 1st of October, and realized that she was posting about her happiness project (and ps: if you don't read her blog, you should. She's brilliant, and I am not just saying that because she's my friend. Truly.) I thought to myself, she's on it kind of early, isn't she. About three hours later in the day, I realized that it was A. October 1st, the date we agreed to start our projects, and B. the irony of the fact that I picked mindfulness for my first month.

I don't think I am off to a particularly promising start...

But nevertheless, October (my favorite month) has begun, and so far, it's not too bad. My folks were just here for a visit, the leaves are changing, the weather has cooled, and my wedding anniversary is right around the corner. I love fall on the ranch because the leaves turn and make it beautiful, the weather changes, the days shorten. The time for tea, sweaters, and fires in the stove arrives, and I think of Anne of Green Gables:

www.unexpectedelegance.com

So when Ayme and I decided to do Happiness Projects over the next year, it made sense to me both poetically and logistically that we would start in October. We also decided that we would do our Happiness Projects however the concept spoke to us, since that's how Gretchin Rubin encourages you to go about it in her fabulous book The Happiness Project. You can find all kinds of information, including doing your own happiness project, here.

As I got to planning my HP (it makes me SOOOO happy that the Happiness Project and Harry Potter have the same initials :-), I decided to put together a list of what Rubin calls Nine Splendid Truths and the Twelve Personal Commandments. So here's my list (which may change over the course of my project) of truths and commandments I live by or want to live by:

If you REALLY want a list of these in a readable size, let me know if the comments.  I will post them for you.

To kick off my project, I chose mindfulness. 

Mindfulness is defined as:
     1 the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something

     2 a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly       

     acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a       

     therapeutic technique.

Despite my Type A tendencies, I very often find myself in situations that cause me to wonder how did this happen? I end up with a stacked schedule, too much to do, and completing tasks for others. This causes me a great deal of stress and anxiety, and often results in sleepless nights, fretful days, and in the rare case, panic attacks. 

So mindfulness seems like a good place to begin. I need to spend more time being aware of myself in relation to my life, and pay attention to my limits. In my mind, I should just be able to do all the things, without question or hesitation. As I often tell my students: I could RULE the world if I didn't need to sleep!

But I do need to sleep, and I also need other things too, like time to rest and recharge or hang out with my husband or take my horse out for a ride in the solitude of the ranch. 

So I am going to work on being more mindful, and here are some of the ways I plan to achieve that:

• Connect with nature: for pity sake, some days I feel like all I do is be INSIDE. Gross! I need to find ways to get out and connect with nature, like walking on the ranch, visiting with my horses (or, gasp, riding them!), or taking a few minutes to watch the sunset, even if it I'm doing that while driving home.
• Make something beautiful: as an adolescent, I played the violin. As an adult, I would really like to start playing again. I really, really, really wanted to learn to play, so my mom found a teenager at church who was willing to give me lessons. Violins are really expensive, so my dad decided he would try to fix up an old barn fiddle he'd come across in North Dakota. He managed it, and my blonde beauty holds a gorgeous tune. So in October, I am going to make a conscious effort at playing my violin. 
• Try something new: Ever since I went to Italy in the 9th grade, I have wanted to learn to speak Italian. I've taken a class and can do a little Italian, but this October, I am going to spend some time working on learning Italian. Thank God for Duolingo!
• Meditate on God's Grace: My mom gave me a new devotional recently, called One Thousand Gifts Devotional. It's thoughtful and inspiring, and I am going to take the time to sit down and do it each night before bed. 

That's it--those are my goals for October. In keeping with my mindfulness theme, I wanted to make sure to set a reasonable amount of goals that I could actually accomplish. I feel pretty good about that list.

I'll keep you updated on Happiness Project Happenings as the month (and year) go by. 

Anyone thinking of giving an HP a try? 

Project 333: Fall Wardrobe

Each morning I get up and feel the cooling air, I realize more and more that Fall is here, really, and cold weather will be just around the corner.

I love fall, and I can't wait for the days to stay just a little cooler so that I can wear long sleeves, sweaters, and boots. Fall is my FAVORITE time of year--it reminds me of days spent at the Western Washington State Fair as a kid, as well as afternoons at the pumpkin patch. Hubster and I got married in October as well, an indulgence for a teacher. But I was determined to have a fall wedding with rich colors and pumpkins all around.

It's no surprise then that I have loved planning out my fall Project 333 wardrobe. For the OCD in me, planning a wardrobe is very appealing anyway, since it fosters a sense of control and order.

The Polyvore above contains the basics for my P333 wardrobe--it's not comprehensive (and I'm talking to you, counters--there aren't 33 items in the photo) and there are a few pieces that I couldn't find accurate representations of on Polyore.

I did a lot of Pinterest-ing to find the looks I wanted to wear this fall, and then dug back through the totes I packed up at the start of the summer.

It was crazy to sort through those piles of clothes and realize a few things:

1. Most of those clothes either didn't fit any longer or were things that I really just won't wear
2. I really don't need that many clothes
3. It felt SO GOOD to pile up a giant box of clothes to take to the consignment store

I whittled my totes down to one, which now contains some summer and winter things. My fall wardrobe is now hanging in my closet, and I am loving on my options.

Here are some of things I'm excited to wear this fall:

P333 Wardrobe Basics for Fall

A few of my favorite things for fall are my new rust colored corduroy skinnies and dark gray blazer, which StitchFix sent me a few weeks ago; the long sleeve striped Gap shirts I found at the Casper outlet; the soft light gray fancy sweatshirt that I am absolutely in love with; and the new white converse that are super cute with my black skinny pants.

I have a few pieces left to shop for (something I am totally excited about, since Ayme and I have a shopping trip planned at the end of the month), and then I am ready to face the fall in 33 pieces or less :-)

PS--if you are inspired to try Project 333, check out the basics here. I dare you to give it a try--you might find the simplicity as liberating as I do!

Operation Detoxification

There are so many "things" that one is advised to do when one is trying (rather than succeeding) at making a baby. It feels like the list is never ending:

• lose weight (or gain weight)
• be healthier
• change your diet
• exercise (but not too much!)
• exposure to fewer chemicals
• boxers not briefs
• no cell phones in pockets (for him) or around belly (for her)
• get enough sleep
• use Essential Oils
• "Just relax" (that's my favorite piece of advice...)
• take a prenatal vitamin
• increase your progesterone
• And a whole host of other things: "My so-so in-law did ____________ and got pregnant right away!"

This is, by no means, a comprehensive list. There are SO MANY other things you can try or adjust in the quest to become pregnant. There are books, websites, doctors, and a host of well meaning friends to offer advice. take a look at this informational book if you want TONS more information.


But most recently, I have begun to work on the 5th line on the list--exposure to fewer chemicals.

I'm calling it Operation Detoxification.

Not surprisingly, we live in a world FILLED with chemicals. Our cleaning supplies, plastic tupperware, make-up, hair products, sunscreen, bug spray, fertilizer, pesticides...the list goes on and on it seems, when we consider the ways in which we are exposed regularly to chemicals that aren't so great.

My naturopath explained to me not so long ago that it takes almost a year (around 340 days, if I remember correctly) for an egg to mature in your ovary, so it can be dropped during ovulation. In order for your egg to mature, you need to be relatively healthy and keep things from disrupting its development (For more info, take a look at this informational book about how to change your life before you get pregnant. It's not gospel, but it has some great points and awesome ideas).

Therefore, in an effort to give my body the BEST CHANCE POSSIBLE to create healthy eggs so we can have a baby, I am working on detoxing our house. That means changing out bath products, hair products, make-up, cleaning agents, laundry detergent, air fresheners...you name it, I am evaluating it!

You might be thinking to yourself, "Wow. That sounds overwhelming. And costly."

Yes.

I thought the same thing.

And it's true, to some degree. Tossing out all those products is an expensive and overwhelming exercise. Which is why Operation Detoxification at the Sage Creek Ranch is a much slower process than that.

I have begun with a few small steps:

1. Clean out the bathroom cupboards
2. Research alternative products
3. Create some Essential Oil replacement products

Cleaning out the bathroom cupboards was a big deal, but I got it done! I threw out a lot of old, dated bath products (you know the kind: the inch of shampoo left in the bottle, or that body wash you loved but now the smell reminds you of being a 10th grader), set aside some products to take to school for my "mom box" (this might sound weird, but the mom box gets a lot of use from my students: lotion, pads, tampons, socks, bandaids, etc), put some products in the gift closet, and set aside a few things to give away.

Then I set to finding information on how to find and make alternative products (i.e. I spent some time browsing Pinterest...)

Since I already have Essential Oils in my home and I am connected with a great group of EO people, building some products wasn't too tough. I scoped out some recipes, visited the local health store, where I picked up some Castile Soap, Almond oil, and Shea Butter. These mixed up great with some coconut oil I already had, and when I added some Essential Oils like Lavender, Frankincense, Tangerine, Lemon, and Grapefruit, my new products felt and smelled delicious.

I put my products in mason jars, since anyone who has been
to the ranch knows I have about 500 of them.

I started with body wash, since I've been on the hunt for a body wash for a while anyway. I read a bunch of Pinterest recipes and patched together my own:

Citrus Body Wash

1 cup Castile Soap
1/2 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil*
1/4 cup Almond Oil
1/4 cup Regular Coconut Oil*
20 drops Young Living Lemon Oil
20 drops Young Living Grapefruit Oil
15 drops Young Living Tangerine Oil

Mix together all oils and stir or shake until combined. Add oils and shake. Store in mason jar or other glass container.

*Fractionated Coconut Oil has been processed into a liquid form. Regular Coconut Oil will remain solid at room temperature. The Regular will help thicken your body wash, but you can leave it out if you want it to remain at a more liquid state.

The next recipe I tried was a facial moisturizer. Again, I searched Pinterest and collected recipes, and then tweaked several to make my own:

Facial Moisturizer

2 Tablespoons Shea Butter
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon Almond Oil
10 drops Young Living Frankincense Oil
15 drops Young Living Lavender Oil

Mix ingredients and whip together in mixer or by hand until frothy. Add oils and whip again until combined.

The moisturizer was a little more oily than I expected or cared for at first, but after a few days of using it, I am sold--it works fantastically, and the benefits of Lavender and Frankincense for my skin are awesome.

I think I can safely say that the first steps of Operation Detoxification have been successful, and I'm happy with the simple, natural products I am using on my body. I don't have to worry about harsh chemicals in these products, and that's one less potential obstacle in the quest to get pregnant!

PS: I began using Young Living Essential Oils almost a year ago. I was a total skeptic at first, but after a few encounters, I was totally amazed at they way they support the body's own healing powers. If you are interested in learning more about my experience with oils or interested in potentially ordering some, click here, or contact me at jillgrace23@gmail.com

Back to School: Adjusting Project 333 for Work

I know all you teachers know exactly what I am talking about...

 The beginning of the month of August brings with it the inevitable: back to school.

*SIGH*

I have to start thinking about it and preparing for it, so I try not to fight it, even though the meme is true.

One Sunday night after another.

I compensate for this feeling by protecting some calm alone time, as well as cram in a few last minute adventures with Hubster.


But I also try to prep in small amounts, since I am not a last minute kind of person. I like a little time to prepare. So I took that approach to tweaking my Project 333 wardrobe for going back to work.

I have been working on a fall color palatte and plans for a fall wardrobe, because I LOVE fall and cannot wait to dive into wearing tall boots, warm sweaters, and thick scarves.

However, I can't start wearing my fall wardrobe until the weather changes, and so I need clothes for the lingering warm weather of August that are work appropriate. My jean capris and shorts won't cut it for work.

So I headed to Pinterest to get some ideas. As I searched, I found a great idea: a 10 piece work wardrobe.

Ten Piece Wardrobe Challenge, as I found it on Pinterest

I loved this idea, and as I started to think about the clothing I had packed away from my original closet clean-out in June, I began to realize that I could totally accomplish this for an end of summer work wardrobe. 

From the big orange tubs, I pulled and tried on and texted photos to Ayme until I found pieces that would all work together for mixing and matching. 

So, here's my Ten Piece Wardrobe Challenge: 

CLOTHES: White Button Down, Chambray Button Down, Marigold Sweater, Cream V-Neck Sweater, Denim Jacket, Sea Foam V-Neck T-shirt, Black V-Neck T-Shirt, Black and Cream Lace Skirt, Khaki ankle length pants, Black denim skinny jeans.
SHOES: Tan Flats, Black Flats, Leopard Slip-ons, Printed Sanuks
ACCESSORIES: Sea Foam Scarf, Marigold and Sea Foam Scarf, White Fossil Watch, Hoop Earrings, Silver Necklace

Now, you will notice that I have 10 basic pieces of clothing, and then shoes and some accessories on top of that. A few of these pieces are already part of my Summer P333 wardrobe, and some that I will be adding. I have a feeling that I may end up with a few more pieces than 33 for the end of the summer, but that's okay. The whole point is to make this whole business work for me.

The pieces pictured are all articles of clothing that I already owned, and they are all pieces that I like and feel comfortable wearing, which is a key element in the P333 project. If it doesn't fit, if I don't feel comfortable in it, or it just feels funny, it has to go!

Also, I have a black dress that I didn't include on my graphic, but I plan to make use of it as well, since it's easy to wear and it dresses up or dresses down really easily.

To get a clear picture of how I plan to make this wardrobe work for me, I used Polyvore to cook up some easy and comfortable combinations:

Comfy and Casual

Comfy and Litte More Dressed up

Comfy and Dressed up

These Ten Pieces have given me a lot of options! I was thrilled to lay these pieces out and realize how many easy and comfortable ways I could put them together. Plenty of options to get me through August, into September, and to my P333 Fall Wardrobe.

And my Black Dress Set below will be a fabulous option for things like Parent-Teacher Conferences, Church, or anything else I might need a little more flair for.

So, I am now ready to head back to school...at least as far as clothing goes!!!

As I mentioned earlier, I am planning eagerly for my fall P333, but I love this plan in the meantime. 

Anyone else have fabulous P333 plans to share?

Summer Project Series: Lessons from Project 333

I have all kinds of blog post ideas rattling around in my head for a few weeks now, though the irony of being a writer is that just when you figure out what you want to write about, the gates of your brain open and pour forth something else.

When I started posting Struggling to Conceive, I meant it to be an every once in a while thing. But then the thoughts kept coming, and so I have been posting stuff that’s…heavy lately.

This post is less heavy.

At the start of the summer, I posted Summer Project Series: Project 333, which explained that my bestie, Ayme, challenged me to try Project 333 for the summer. In case you don’t know, Project 333 is a minimalist’s dream: 33 clothing items for 3 months.

Yup.

Never one to back down from a challenge (and one who is deeply interested in simplifying my life as much as I can), I told Ayme, “Sure!” and started cleaning out my closet.

Little did I know that it would change my life.

Seriously.

I LOVE PROJECT 333.

And I want you to know it.

So I have compiled a few lessons I have learned from participating in this Project, which I will carry with me into the fall, when I build a new set of 33 items for the cooler weather.

Lesson #1: Less time spent on clothes = More time doing other things

This concept is simple but true: the less time I have to spend picking clothes, washing clothes, or worrying about clothes, the more time I have to do other things.

The first and best benefit from Project 333 is that I don’t have to think very much about what I put on. There are only 33 items.

I also have noticed that I do a lot less laundry, which I am a major fan of—after all, who likes doing laundry?

Lesson #2: I love the clothes I have = no more clothing frustration or guilt

Since I only have 33 items to work with, I have found that the items I chose for my capsule are only ones that I really like to wear. The shirt with the slightly itchy fabric, the pants that aren’t quite the right length, or that mauve sweater that I can’t find anything to go with are no longer members of my closet. So I don’t have to think about them. Or feel guilty about never wearing them.

The clothes in my 33 are pieces that I feel comfortable in, feel like I look great in, and are effortless to wear.

Lesson #3: Fewer, quality pieces > a closet full of cheap options

I’ve noticed that since June, I have whittled my selections down to really quality clothes. Instead of having a closet full of cheap tops that I never wear, I have a small selection of tops that I really like to wear, and most of them are good, quality pieces.

I also splurged and bought two pairs of Columbia Sportswear bottoms: some cute plaid shorts and some zip-off pants. Turns out that I am totally in love with having these bottoms. They fit, the fabric is awesome, and nothing itches, pinches, or looks funny. One of my dresses is a Patagonia hand-me-down, and my solitary skirt is also a second-hand Patagonia piece. These articles of clothing are really solid in terms of quality, and they feel better to wear.

Lesson #4: Less shopping = no buyer’s remorse

I am a queen of buyer’s remorse. I am. I freely admit it. But it’s a problem that I am trying to get over, and Project 333 has helped with that. When you only have 33 items to work with, you have to do some planning and strategizing that you wouldn’t otherwise have to do. A smaller wardrobe forces you to think about the purpose and functionality of each piece. That means that when you go shopping, you are looking for things in particular, rather than just wandering the aisles and finding yourself A. overwhelmed, and B. pushing a cart full of things that you know you won’t wear.

Having only 33 pieces means that you have to plan your wardrobe.

You heard me.

Plan.

This was a common thing in days gone by, but as we as a society have moved to off-the-rack clothing that’s cheap and mass produced, we have moved away from the planning of a wardrobe.

Yet I have found wardrobe planning to be one of life’s great pleasures, even before I started Project 333. I love scouring magazines and Pinterest for looks that I like, then making a list of clothes I want to wear to accomplish that look. With P333, you have to decide on a color palette and stick to it. You have to mindfully choose your pieces so that you can mix and match what you have for the maximum number of options.

LOVE THAT!

Lesson #5: I don’t need a big wardrobe, because I wear the same things anyway

I was embarrassed at first to admit this, but then I decided that I would just own it. About 3 weeks ago, I realized that there were about 5 articles of clothing in my 33 that I didn’t wear. Can you believe that? Only 33 items and there were five that I don’t wear? That means that I have been living in just 28 items.

So, what did I do?

I pulled out the 5 non-used items and shelved them. I then replaced them with 5 other items to see if I would get more use out of them. And so far, I have.

This illustrated for me a point that Gretchen Rubin makes in her fabulous book, The Happiness Project: “In the store, it seemed like a good idea to have a variety of colors. But I knew from experience that when I stood in front of my closet, I always wanted to pull out the same things: white V-neck T-shirt; black yoga pants or jeans; and running shoes” (182).

I have always been a wearer of the same things. Since I was a kid. I remember my mom bemoaning this particularly pilled gray cardigan that I loved and wore for years. So P333 works for me in the sense that it is predicated on wearing the things that I love and am most comfortable in.

The Final Take-Away

Ultimately, what I’ve decided from my Project 333 experiment is this: clothes should be a source of joy, rather than frustration. And simplifying my wardrobe has helped me take joy in looking and feeling my best, rather than leaving me in a closet full of clothes that just make me feel annoyed.

So, as I turn my mind to thoughts of school and cooler weather, I am scheming on a new wardrobe. I have a bunch of tubs of clothes to sort through, which I will take a few items from, and pass on the rest to the local consignment store.

While I went into P333 with some skepticism, I am a believer.

In fact, I am planning my fall P333 on Pinterest right now.

And I would challenge anyone to try it. After all, it’s only for 3 months.

Cheers!

R-Lib

Whole30: DAY 30!!!!!

My final day is here!!!!

I can hardly believe that the past 30 days have come and gone, and that Hubster and I are headed to the tropics in just TWO days time!!! 

Overall, I have to say this: Whole30 rocked. my. socks. 

It sounded intimidating and tough at the outset, but now that I am at the end, I have discovered several awesome truths about my life through this process. And I can honestly and whole-heartedly recommend the Whole30 to anyone wanting to take a hard look at their nutritional habits and health. 

Here are some of my deep (and not-so-deep) thoughts about my Whole30: 

1. Sugar is EVERYWHERE. And I used to eat more than I needed to. Seriously, it's everywhere, lurking in foods and products that are often labeled with nefarious things like "no sugar added." Pickles, spices, olives, canned food, drinks...to name just a few. But the Whole30 not only caused me to be aware of this in a BIG way, it's also killed my inner Sugar Dragon. Okay...maybe not killed. Forced into hibernation, how's that? I don't have the sugar cravings that I once was plagued with, and that feels pretty stinkin' awesome. 
2. I have better self-control than I thought I did. When I began Whole30, I expected to struggle more with wanting things I couldn't have. But honestly, once I committed to taking the plunge and made a plan (Emphasis added because this is the KEY to success. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. For real), I was all in. Like the Whole30 literature says, it really isn't that hard. It is, but keeping life in perspective is important, and as they point out, things like giving birth or losing loved ones are WAY more difficult than having a cup of coffee in the morning with no milk or sugar. The trick really is to be prepared so you are not caught in the candy aisle at Walmart when you haven't eaten for 4 hours, you're having cramps, and there's no compliant snack in your bag...
3. My tastes have changed. I don't feel cheated by drinking plain iced tea anymore. Not to say that I won't be looking forward to some coconut palm sugar or honey in my tea tomorrow, but I can easily pass over sugary drinks for a water or a plain iced tea without feeling pangs of self-denial. 
4. I have SO MUCH MORE ENERGY. This has blown me away! I am naturally an introvert, so lots of time around people or really harried schedules tend to cause me to struggle with my energy levels. Since I am a teacher, this is an issue for me. Hubster has often times teased me about becoming a hermit, because during the school year, I could stay home ALL WEEKEND and be perfectly contented not to talk to a soul aside from him. But the Whole30 has changed my energy levels, and that rocks! I spent my week in Laramie running at a breakneck pace, and after the first day, I fully expected to feel cranky over my early morning and late night days. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was okay. Better than okay, really--I was totally on it! My body has become more efficient at using the fuel I give it, and I am not experiencing the sugar/carb highs that are accompanied by the afternoon crash/fog/coma. 
5. I've lost weight (HOORAY!!!!!). Now, let me caveat this statement: I have not weighed myself since the day before Day 1, but my clothes and the mirror definitely say that some poundage has changed. I am not one to obsess about the numbers on the scale, but I am one to obsess about how I feel, and I have felt not-so-great since a hormone shot I was given in the course of fertility stuff. I packed an extra 20 pounds on in the three months after that shot, and that 20 pounds decided to stay. So for the past year and a half, I have been unable to lose that weight, despite diet changes, exercise, anything! Talk about frustrating...But my nurse practitioner suggested that the hormone shot had actually slowed my metabolism down, so the Whole30 was a logical choice to help my body reset my metabolism. SUCCESS!!!! 
6. I have learned a whole slew of new cooking techniques and acquired all kinds of new, delicious recipes that I love. As I am lactose-intolerant, so many Whole30 recipes are already up my alley because they use coconut cream and milk for everything. I love the rich protein of the dishes, and so many can be easily modified by adding rice or pasta if you want some "normal" food added in there. I loved garnering new skills and recipes to add to my repertoire. 
7. As I often tell my students, most things in life worth having or doing (marriage, children, jobs, hobbies, etc.) require work. And healthy eating is no different. You have to put the work in and sometimes make the sacrifices for the good of yourself and your body. It's not always fun, it ain't always pretty, but it is the way it works. In our impatient, instant-gratification society, this is a hard concept to grasp (and sometimes tough to explain to people) but it is ultimately the best way to accomplish real and lasting change. 
8. I am planning to continue on a Whole30-ish kind of diet from now on. Everyone keeps asking what I am going to have first tomorrow (probably some sugar or honey in my tea, in all reality), but I can honestly say that I am not just dying to EAT. ALL. THE. THINGS. I am excited to head off on this vacay and eat some great food and drink some delicious beverages, but I'm not planning to binge on...anything really. I love the way I feel on this diet, and while it's...inconvenient sometimes, I want to hang on to this awesome feeling. So I plan to keep on this way, adding small things back, like the luxury of eating a snack from the gas station, or eating at a restaurant without overthinking the dressing. Despite the way I love food, I love this feeling I have even more, and if these eating habits are the ones to help me feel this way, I am all over it. 
9. I LOVE ALMOND BUTTER, CASHEW QUESO, FREEZE DRIED FRUIT, AND WATERMELON. Seriously. I didn't know these things before Whole30. But I am so glad that I know it now. Oh, AND: Okay, this is not a revelation for plenty of people, but it is for me: Balsamic Vinegar and Light Olive Oil are my new favorite salad dressing. For real. 
10. I am of the opinion that you could potentially rename Whole30 into WholeAvacado...

That's my wisdom for now :-) I will be updating on the before and after weights soon! 

Anyone else been working the Whole30? Thoughts or ideas? 

Cheers, 

R-Lib