Minimal Living

Well, I mentioned the other day about "Minimal Living" and "M.O.M" (My Other Mother) left me a comment that really started me thinking. In the midst of all of the cleaning and moving this and that everywhere I really started wondering......
What can I do without?
Can I do without....
This HUGE drawer in my kitchen FULL of kitchen gadgets?
The overwhelmingly LARGE amount of shoes that I have?
The MASSIVE amount of "trinkets" that I have?
The years worth of just "Stuff" that I keep because I THINK I might need it.

Marsha told me once of her trick that she does. If she buys something new, something old has to go. So, if I buy a new shirt, an old one gets tossed. Same thing with shoes and dresses and everything else. I like the idea and really trying hard to work on doing it. It is a lot harder than you think. I have so many clothes and so many that I look at and wonder...."What was I thinking!!!!!" I go into my closet as often as possible and get a bag together to donate. Haven't worn it in a year....it goes. So far, I have cleaned out a lot of just stuff but I still have a long ways to go and a lot to go through.
I think this weekend will be the weekend to get into the small storage closet at the condo. I opened the door the other day and almost had a stroke!!!!!
I will have to take pictures as we go through things and get rid of them. It will be interesting I am sure.
I cleaned out my pantry the other day and I was so embarrassed. I had kept every plastic container that I had emptied. Cool Whip, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Butter dishes. You get the picture. I am sure that you have NEVER done that before right???

So, now that I am totally inspired, I shall clean out and clean house......My husband will probably will be VERY happy but it will be a lot of work. Question is.....how many T-shirts can he get rid of???????
Stay Turned
LET THE CLEANING BEGIN!!!!!

Laboring With You (and Cleaning)
Doula Mama Pam

HIJACKED!!!!!!

I have NEVER done it before until today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HIJACKED someone's blog!!!!!!

I never thought I would do such a thing but I did today.......

You must go and look...... here

Hopefully she won't kill me.....WE LOVE YOU "Ta-Ta"

Doula Mama Pam

Wednesday is here and BOY WHAT A WEEK!!!!!!!

My oldest, Kyle is moving in with Bo and I. We are so very excited about having him. Of course, Little Man is not really aware what is going on but knows that for some strange reason, the extra room in the house is all of the sudden clean.....Hmmmmmmm
We have moved stuff, stored stuff, cleaned out and thrown stuff away. Where in the world did it all come from in the first place???? Funny how we become such pack-rats. I think that I am becoming a "Minimalist", you now those that don't want the clutter? I think I would really like that but at the same time with a 3 year old in the house and his love for matchbox cars, that is not likely to happen anytime in the near future.
At one point in my life, I had lost a massive amount of weight and when I had made the decision that I was NOT going there again, I cleaned out my closet. Let's just say that Good Will was VERY happy to see me that day with approx 7 trash bags of clothes. Going back was not an option. I still live by that rule and if things start getting to where they don't fit, it's an easy reminder to not go there because I have NO clothes to fall back into.
What do you do when you reach a goal with your clothes?
Do you keep them?
Do you put them in storage?
Give them away?
Kyle is moving in slowly but surely, bringing things a little at a time. He appeared last night with this huge laundry basket. Of course it was FULL!!!! and probably weighed a ton. He came in the front room and we all just died laughing at the fact that he brought over all of his dirty laundry and no clean clothes. He proceeded to separate them and put them in the washer. Of course we joked about that for a while. It's going to be great having him around the house. I am just thrilled. It's been a long time!!!!! I have missed him more than he knows.
Things are on the change at home. Things are getting busy again with Mothering The Mother. I have a client in October, possible November and a possible for February. Busy Busy Busy but that is always good and very exciting.
Hope your day is good and we will talk again soon.

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Doula Day

I love to support local buisness and local groups that are promoting healthy living, healthy Mom's and healthy babies. This is a new one that I had found out about and just wanted to share with you all. If you are in the North Carolina, Greensboro area, CHECK THEM OUT!!!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
I asked Taryn to share a little bit and talk about how to get into contact with them. Below is her information.......Join up with them and get together with these awesome Mom's!!!!!!!
Triad Tot Toters is a group for anyone who loves to wear their baby, or is interested in learning more about carriers! Our Members are located in the Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Kernersville and surrounding areas.
Babywearing is good for parents and babies! Worn babies grow better, learn faster, and cry less! Parents who wear their children are hands-free to get things done while staying close to and nurturing their children.
Interested in wearing your baby? We can help! Our members use a variety of carriers and can help you choose and learn to safely use the perfect carrier for you and your family! We are fortunate enough to have a lending library of different carriers open for members to take home and try out for two week periods.
Please come out and Join us! We are currently meeting every other Saturday and each Wednesday at 4504 Crowne Lake Circle Apt 1A in Jamestown.
Saturday Meetups:
July 10 at 1:00pm
July 24 at 1:00pm
Wednesday Meetups:
July 14 at 10:00am
July 21 at 10:00am
July 28 at 10:00am
Learn more ab
out Triad Tot Toters at www.triadtottoters.com and visit us on Facebook!-Taryn Learyon
behalf of Triad Tot Toters
336.541.3130
Check them out!!!!!! Thank you Taryn for sharing!!!!! Send us some pictures and we can post them of your activities!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Yeap....I am still here.

Working-Networking-Working-Networking- and did I mention Working and Networking? Busy does not even come close to putting into the right words. I got the new Droid phone.....LOVE IT!!!!!!
Found out I can Twitter.....who knew.....now if I can just figure out how to get it on my blog I will be doing great.....any suggestions on how to do that?
Signed up on a Doula website that is just way to cool and I can link it if I can figure out how to make that work.
I donated information and merchandise to an awesome group that is going to be raising money that I want to share and figure out how to do that to.
SOOOO MUCH to share. Well, let me get busy and see what we can get done.
Hubby is playing cards and Little Man is with Mema and Papa and it is quiet in the house.....working, networking and working!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Laboring with you,
Doula Mama Pam

Soooooo??????

What do you think? Changed things around a little and made it kind of "clean" in appearance so to speak. I really like it a lot. It was so hard to decide and then it just seemed to fit.
Would love to hear your input and thoughts?
Anything to add?
Anything to change?
Anything that you would like to discuss?
Would you be interested in being a "Guest Blogger"?

Please chime in and let me know!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the new and improved......Mothering The Mother Blog!!!!!!

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

I'm Still Here!!!!!!

Changes are on the way!!!!!!!!

Worshipful Wednesday

Happy Father's Day

Well, its Sunday evening and I know that this is a post that should have been up a long time ago today but it has taken til now to get it on here so bear with me.
FIRST OFF---- Happy Father's Day!!!!!! I have been blessed with an awesome Father!!!!! I was, think I still am, Daddy's little girl, even if I am 40 something. My Daddy has always been a strong Christian, hard working and loving man. Yes, he can discipline but only when it was necessary and I truly believe that "It hurt him more than me". He has stood beside me when I made mistakes, hurt and disappointed him but he never stopped pursuing me and pushing me to be what I could be. For that Daddy, I love you!!!!!!!

Secondly, this is the part that breaks my heart and it just hurts me to know that others are hurting. No names will be mentioned but when they read, they will know who they are.
I have a great friend. We have know each other for over 20+ years. He is an awesome man. We haven't seen each other except in photo's on line here and there since 1986....wow it's been a long time. Anyway, he has a daughter. Not sure when the last time he laid eyes on her but she has chosen to forget the fact that he exist. How does one do that when you know how much they love you and how much they care. I sent him a text this morning to wish him a Happy Father's day and it was bittersweet the response I got. It just broke my heart.
I have another friend that I have known for about .....well, I'm not really sure, she has just kind of always been there. Her situation is a bit different. You see, her father doesn't agree with her family, she and her husband, and he has chosen to behave in a manner that takes she and her family out of his life. To the point of acting as if she doesn't exist. I know that today is a hard day for her. I can't imagine. She still loves him. She still cares about him. He has made a choice and that choice has affected so many in her life. I have been thinking of her all day and I hope she knows it.
I have another friend. He is a dear sweet man. He is a prayer warrior. He is a friend. He is such a man after the Lord's heart. I have seen him weep over lost friends and family. Today his children didn't acknowledge him. For the life of me I don't get it. Do we have any idea what our choices do to those precious loved one's around us?
I could go on and on and on. If you are having a difficult day today, please know that you have been on my heart. I have been praying for you even if I don't know you by name.

Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Worshipful Wednesday