No Hoarder Left Behind

So, if you read my post last night and now you are simply inspired to do a deep clean and purge, then this post is for YOU!  I realize that many people DO want to live more simply, but don't even know where to start!  Well, let Emily help you :)

First things first…make two piles:  GIVE AWAY and THROW AWAY.  There is no "maybe" pile.

We are going to start "big" and keep narrowing it down, until your entire home is cleaned out and you feel like a new person.  You don't have to do this in 1 day…you can do 1 challenge per day until you finish…it's up to you!

My BIGGEST advice?…when you go to an item, "look" at it, don't "touch" it.  While looking at it, decide whats going to happen to it, then pick it up and take it straight to the give away or throw away piles.  If you touch the item, you will all of a sudden become re-attached to it and think of all of the reasons why you should keep it.  Sounds crazy huh?!?!?!  I'm being totally serious.  Look, decide, pick up and take to designated pile.  No touchy…huggy…definitely no kissy…if you do any of this, you will quickly put the item back where it was and keep it for two additional decades.  AND once you have put an item in its designated pile, it stays there for good…no going back…DONE!

Ok NOW let's get started...

challenge 1.  Everyone has things in their home that they never liked.  They may have been a gift.  An impulse buy.  Whatever.  Go get those things now.  You know what they are.  Don't feel bad.  Go to each room, collecting those items.  Now put them in GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY.
Challenge 1 Done.

challenge 2.  Everyone has things in their home that they DID love at one time, but that was a while ago.  Don't feel bad.  Be happy that you enjoyed that item and move on.  Remember the good times.  Go to each room in your house, collecting those items.  Now put them in GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY.
Challenge 2 Done.

challenge 3.  Go through each room of the house and do a "sweep" of the visible items (not things put away and unseen in drawers and closets and cabinets).  While looking (not touching) these visible items, ask yourself these questions:
-do I use this item everyday?
-do I consider this item to be beautiful and I enjoy looking at it?
-do I consider this item to be sentimental and I cherish it?
-do I consider this item to be seasonal, like a Christmas tree, and DO use it for that season or holiday?
-do I consider this item to be a specialty item, like a cake plate, and DO use it for that purpose?

***If you answered NO to all of the above, pick that item up and take it immediately to GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY.  Move on to the next item and repeat this over and over until you have looked at and decided the fate of each item in that room.  You should be looking at EVERYTHING…lamps, pillows, blankets, TVs, bedding, photos, frames, everything sitting on shelves, organizing pieces, boxes, decorations hanging on the walls, knick knacks on all surfaces, rugs, plants, books, dvds, artwork, gifts from people, racks, coffee tables, everything sitting on any surface, side tables, sets of drawers, chairs, couches, beds, headboards, hope chests, shelves, candles, basically anything and everything in the entire room that is not the four walls, ceiling and floor.  This may take a while, but thats ok!  Think of how long it took you to accumulate it all!
Challenge 3 Done.

After doing challenge 3, you may feel a little freaked out.  Your rooms will look very different (especially if you did a GOOD clean out).  They may be emptier, but do you feel lighter?  Freer?  Do you have more space?  More room to breathe?  Just tell yourself that you are going for quality, not quantity.  You want everything that you own to be things that you truly enjoy and love.  All of the clutter only takes away from the few truly beautiful things that you own.  Think of how much better you will feel looking at your dresser and seeing that ONE beautiful photo frame next to your favorite lamp, WITHOUT all of the clutter that you had blocking your view before!!!!!!!

challenge 4.  Your going back into every room for another round.  This time, you will be cleaning out the drawers and cabinets (don't do the closets or any furniture with clothes yet).  Open every single drawer and every single cabinet and TAKE EVERYTHING OUT.  Yep.  Take it out and throw it on the floor (or a bed or table top).  You are going to go through the same process. While looking (not touching) these items, ask yourself these questions:
-do I use this item everyday?
-do I consider this item to be beautiful and I enjoy looking at it?
-do I consider this item to be sentimental and I cherish it?
-do I consider this item to be seasonal, like a Christmas tree, and DO use it for that season or holiday?
-do I consider this item to be a specialty item, like a cake plate, and DO use it for that purpose?

Honestly, MANY things that are put away in drawers and cabinets don't get used.  Usually, those items are there because you forgot about them or because you don't use them and they needed a place to "live".  You should really be getting rid of A LOT of stuff at this point.

***If you answered NO to all of the above, pick that item up and take it immediately to GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY.  Move on to the next item and repeat this over and over until you have looked at and decided the fate of each item in that drawer or cabinet.
Challenge 4 Done.

challenge 5.  Your clothes.  This is usually the worst.  You are going to have to try on a LOT of items and be VERY honest with yourself.   This includes shoes, socks, underwear, bras, pants, shorts, skirts, all tops, dresses, belts, scarves, hats, pjs, bathrobes, swimsuits, coverups, all jewelry, gym clothes, EVERYTHING!  Take it ALL out of of your closets, drawers, shelves, cabinets, boxes, storage bins, from under your bed, everywhere…EVERYTHING!  Take it ALL out and throw it on your bed or floor.

Look at each item and ask yourself these questions:
-is the item stained?
-is the item stretched out?
-is the item an awful color on me?
-does this item make me feel ugly and/or fat?
-is this item old looking, picked, dingy, etc?
***If you answered yes to ANY of these, the item needs to go to GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY!

Now, everything that is left, should be good-looking items.  Ask yourself these questions:
-have I worn this item in the last 12 months?
-is this a seasonal item, like a winter coat that I DO wear?
-is this a sentimental item, like my old wedding dress?
-is this item a special item, like a dress that I DO wear when invited to weddings and formal parties?
***If you answered "no" to all of the above, the item needs to go to GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY!

Now, EVERYTHING that is left, you are going to try on and look at yourself in the mirror.  EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF CLOTHING.  For each item that you put on, ask yourself:
-does this make me feel beautiful when I wear it?
-do I feel comfortable in this?…no cutting off circulation, no leaving deep red lines anywhere, no painful blisters...
-does this color look good with my skin tone and eye color?
-do I get compliments when I wear this?
-do I enjoy wearing this?
***If you answered "no" to any of these, the item needs to go to GIVE AWAY or THROW AWAY!
Challenge 5 Done.

If you have completed all 5 challenges, you deserve a……………….

trip to Goodwill :) 

Challenge 6:

Seriously, you have GOT to get that stuff out of your house ASAP!  If you leave it there, you will dream about it, think that you miss it, tear back into that bag and put that ugly item back where you had it.  DON'T FALL INTO TEMPTATION!  

1.  Take all of those bags and boxes you labeled THROW AWAY and go to the city dump and trash them NOW. 

2.  Take all of those bags and boxes you labeled GIVE AWAY and go to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, mens and/or women's shelter, church (or where ever you choose) and leave them NOW! 

PS:  If something is stained, torn, broken, etc. please trash it.  Only give away items that are still in good condition.  Just because someone is poor doesn't mean they want your trash…

      I'd seriously LOVE to hear your stories of how you cleaned out and turned your home around!!!  Please send me an email at nickandemilystewart@me.com …also, if you live near me, I would LOVE to come and help you, but be warned…I am a SERIOUS cleaner outer (is that a word?)…don't invite me over unless you mean business!!!

LIVING SIMPLY

Confession:  I have a slight obsession with cleaning out, giving away and/or throwing away.

Friends and family may call me crazy…some have actually panicked when I have come by and offered my FREE labor to help them declutter.  When we first got married, I made Ironman nervous every time I "cleaned up" the house.

Part of me thinks that I am just insane because of how many times I have moved in my life (almost 40 times) and I just can't stand the thought of packing "this item" or "that item" one more time.  Honestly, when I get something new or someone gives me a gift for my home, my first thought is ALWAYS, "I'm going to have to eventually pack this".  Sad…isn't it?  But then part of me thinks that I LOVE simplicity because it is SO freeing!!!  

How would your life change if you lived more simply?  

     More money?  More free time?  More space?

Where would you spend your extra money if you were debt free?  

     Travel?  Support missionaries?  Go back to school?

What would you spend your time on if you had less house/yard to clean/maintain?  

     Hobbies?  Family time?  Health?  Friendships?

Where would you have extra space in your house if you did a serious declutter?

I have never understood why the American Dream 

isn't called the American Burden.

We spend our entire lives trying to get more and more, bigger and bigger, better 

and better…but, it's never new enough, big enough or good enough...so then we have to work harder and harder…meanwhile, we are exhausted, discontent, stressed out and unhappy and wonder if this is all there is to life!

I try to follow these simple rules for our home: 

-the item must be used everyday

-the item must be something that I consider beautiful/sentimental

-the item must be something that is seasonal (like a Christmas tree) or a specialty item (like a cake plate)

-clothing must be worn within the past 12 months unless it is a special piece (like a fancy dress or tux)

-when a new item comes in, an old item must go out

***If an item doesn't fall into these categories, it goes.  I know.  I know.  You think I'm crazy.  But, I (usually) don't take stuff to Goodwill and I rarely trash it…I give with a purpose.  If I know that someone else would enjoy something I have more than I am enjoying it, I WANT to give it to them!  It's so fun!  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and make someone's day!

     When Ironman and I tell people that we served with OM Ships and lived in a teeny tiny cabin for 6 months, they always say something like, "gosh, living in such a tight space must have been so difficult".  But you know what?…that was the easiest part!  We ABSOLUTELY loved that we were only allowed to bring 20 kilos each, that we could sit on our toilet, brush our teeth and shower at the same time because of the tiny bathroom, that we had one dresser, one set of drawers, one closet and a single bed that had a pop up single bed under it that we pulled out and set up each night (during the day it was our couch).  We LOVED that we only had exactly what we needed and exactly what we used.  It was SO freeing.  Since we had next to nothing, I even noticed that we were more generous.  I was so ready to give away and share everything that I had.  I was so proud of Ironman one day when it was pouring rain and people were lined up to come onboard…he came in the cabin, got his rain jacket and gave it away to a women standing in line. 

     You know whats amazing?!?!!??!  Ironman DOES NOT think I'm crazy.  Just like me, he enjoys living small and simple.  We both LOVE having exactly what we need and nothing more.  We BOTH dream of building and living in a Tumbleweed Tiny House, or living in a downtown studio apartment in some big city or living in a small flat somewhere in Europe.  We BOTH love this.  So, when I think of how Ironman and I both love it, I start to think that maybe I'm not crazy, but maybe God created us this way for a purpose?  Maybe there is a reason we love to live so simply?  And then I think…"what am I talking about?!?!!?  Of COURSE there is a reason!!!…look at how we have been able to live debt free, travel the world and more!!!…we are not even 30 and we have had SO many wonderful adventures".

So, I want to challenge you…live simply!  This doesn't mean giving away everything you own or even living like Ironman and me (we still might be crazy).  This means making one decision that would simplify your life so that you can live better.  Then, once you have done that, lived through it and are happier because of it, make one more decision that would simplify your life so that you can live better.  Then another.  And then another.  Baby steps towards towards the REAL American Dream…own your possessions, but don't let them own you…work to live, but don't live to work…dream BIG dreams, but don't settle…I challenge you to really live!!!

Convention wrap up...

John Maxwell was one of the last speakers at the convention.  He said so much good stuff:

-Anyone can have a dream, but not everyone will take the journey to get there.

-Don't say "I'll try to do it"...just do it!

-It's easier to go from failure to success than excuses to success!

-If you are thinking of quiting, just go ahead and do everyone a favor and quit...it obviously isn't your dream!

-If you are working in areas where you are not naturally gifted, you cannot achieve it.

-Passion gives energy.  Great passion gives people great energy.  Passion sets you above the crowd.

-Live until you die.  A lot of people are already dead, but just haven't made it official yet.  Don't ever retire...do what you love and do it until you die!

-Have a strategy to get from where you are to where you want to be!  The secret to success is determined by your daily agenda.  

-Everyday we are preparing or repairing, so do today right!

-Follow "The Rule of 5"...get your system of five things you will do EVERY day to work towards your goal.  

-Don't say "someday" because that really means "never".

You see that little green bottle in his hand?...Young Living Peppermint Essential Oil...yep.

Wow...took lots of notes and felt pumped up and worn out at the same time after that lecture!  A shot of Nitro in my Ningxia slushy did wonders!

Remember how I said that Young Living is all over the world?!?!?  Leaders from all over the world came to tell us about their markets!  We heard from North America, all over South America, Australia, Asia and Europe...I LOVE how they are everywhere...it means that I will have to visit those headquarters all over the world, right?!?!?!!!!  Travel fever was coming on BIG time during that session!!!!!

This is Mona, Utah where one of Young Living's farms is located.  

Here is the Lavender that is grown there...

Blue Spruce waiting to be distilled...

Juniper and Blue Spruce during the distillation process...

Rosemary growing in the greenhouses...

And fields and fields full of plants just waiting to be harvested, distilled, tested, sealed and sent to homes all over the world!  This is one reason why I love Young Living.  They manage every step from the seed until the bottle is sealed so I know that I am getting 100% pure, unadulterated therapeutic grade essential oils!

Once we left the farm, we drove to the Young Living corporate office in Lehi, Utah.  We toured around, saw Live Chat area, customer service, the offices of Jared Turner, Travis Ogden, Gary and Mary Young and more!!!

Royal Crown Diamond is Young Living's highest rank and Monique McLean hit it within 16 months...my goal is to be up there beside her family's photo by convention 2015!!!!!

Oh yea...who could visit Salt Lake City without visiting the temple :).  I know that many of you know that I grew up in Cochabamba, Bolivia...we has the largest Mormon temple in South America!

Isn't this amazing...I'm in Utah, talking on FaceTime with Nick, who is in SC.  My puppy can hear me and see me and is dying to get into the phone with me...technology is incredible!

Time for bed!!!  I'll fill you in tomorrow!!!

Lemon Dropper pArTy!!!!!!!!!

Build Your Dreams Young Living Essential Oil Blend...Do you remember what MY BIG DREAMS are?????.....

What are YOUR BIG DREAMS?!?!?!!!???...I'd seriously love to know!

Today, during the General Session, Monique McLean spoke to over 9,000 of us here in Salt Lake City!  She spent her entire time on stage giving all the glory to The LORD, recognizing our teams hard work and encouraging everyone in Young Living.  People keep asking how the Lemon Droppers are so succesful...this is why!  We have great examples of leaders!!!

After the General Session, we broke off into workshops.  I attended You Glow Girl and learned about how to care for your skin with Young Living products.  I wanted ALL of the products.  I DO have the Art Day Activator and actually love it!  I learned that most women in Asia use up to 18 products per day!!!!  Most people don't have time for that, so YL broke down the steps of the basics: cleanse, exfoliate, tone, restore, moisturize and refine.  They have products for each of those six steps and I love it because they carefully select the ingredients and also include essential oils for your skin health! Want an example of the products that could be in your quick routine?

1.  Cleanse with Art gentle foaming cleanser or orange blossom cleanser.

2.  Exfoliate with satin facial scrub (not every day).

3.  Tone with the Art toner.

4.  Restore with the orchid restoring serum.

5.  Moisturize with Art Day Activator or many others!

6.  Refine with Art Beauty Mask or Orchid Creme Mask (not every day).

You all know that beauty is very important to the world.  Although what really counts is what's on the inside, people want to feel beautiful and confident.  

Let me just say...if you know me, you KNOW that I LOVED this class!!!!  Young Living has Beauty School in October and I want to come back!!!!!!

Guess who else I went to hear in a workshop!???????!!!!  Monique McLean!!!!

Monique had a full house!!!!  It was basically survival of the fittest to find a seat in her class!!!  

After a full day of sitting and listening, we had a night of standing around, dancing, talking and receiving award pins at Lemon Dropper night!!!!!!!  See all those Lemon Droppers!!!!  

Every party needs a chocolate fountain!!!!!

Every party needs swag!!!!!

And every party needs a 300 person Lemon Dropper selfie!!!!!

Although the Lemon Droppers are my group, here are the girls that I have been sharing a house with, getting to know and having an amazing week with!!!  We are from ALL over the USA...even from Alaska!!!!  

I came to this convention alone and not knowing anyone...I'm leaving with new friends from all over the country and planning on bringing back my own team with me next year!!!!!!  

And what is my goal for next year?!?!?!...I'm coming back as a Royal Crown Diamond and bringing my favorite person with me!!!!!!

Leadership Gala!!!!

Honestly, I'm exhausted!  We are so busy, walking so much, talking to so many people and taking in so much information in such a short period of time.  

We had our General Sessions 1 & 2 and heard from so many different speakers.  There was also skits, special music and more.  I was so surprised to see how global Young Living is...they are all over the world!  Look at all those flags!  We had what reminded me of our church's Parade of Nations!!!  Guess how many people were here today???...over 9,000!!!!!

Want to know the truth?!  My favorite part of the day was the Leadership Gala because I felt so special!  You must hit Silver rank and above to be invited.  I am one rank below, at executive, but someone didn't want to go and gave up their tickets to me and another girl, named Lindsy, take their places!!!!!!

Meet my date, Lindsy...

The food was so good.  Instead of serving wine, we had Ningxia Red!!!  They sure do know how to keep us going :).  Even our little dessert had the cutest piece of Lavneder across the top...so many thoughtful little touches.  

Young Living had already spent the day recognizing and giving out awards to Silvers, Golds and Platinums.  Then tonight they did the same for Diamonds, Crown Diamonds and Royal Crown Diamonds!!!  It was amazing to see Lindsay Moreno walk for Crown Diamond and Monique McLean walk for Royal Crown Diamond...our Lemon Droppers, who started it all, made it that far in ONE year...one year!!!!!!!!  They have both worked hard, but they are all about the Team Work and look where It has gotten them!  All the way to the very top!!!  The Lemon Droppers are growing faster than anything the company has ever seen and it's because of those two amazing women!  And is it JUST them?!  No!  Every Lemon Dropper who follows their example is growing at crazy speeds too!  I love being a Lemon Dropper :).  Not just because I love the oils and I love it as a job...I love all of the friends I've made!!!!

Finally got a photo with Lindsay Moreno!!!  Already have one with Monique McLean from yesterday...the convention is officially the best!

And we got Mary Young!!!

Oh yea...and we have a TON and really amazing new products coming out that I can't wait to try and tell people about!!!!!

Off to bed...workshops begin tomorrow!!!!