Long weekend cleaning

Scott went hunting this weekend so I got that trash bag energy. The Lazy Genius calls it big black trash bag energy. I used white bags. All in all, I threw away two bags of stuff (maybe three?) and then I filled a huge box with baby items to give to a friend. Then I filled three more bags to take to the donation site. 

I randomly started listening to the Minimalist Mom on the Alex Clark podcast, completely by chance, when I was in the middle of this and so I think I became fueled by "I can't live like this anymore" at the same time. There's a book too.

I had spent so much time organizing and sorting toys over the summer. It made no difference. NONE. So I cleared out three big totes, dumped in every small toy I could find that was worth keeping (lots of broken stuff went into those above-mentioned trash bags), and put them into the kids' closets (which now had a lot of space in them!). 

I came to the realization that we won't live in this house forever and maybe I just won't be super organized as long as we live here because I do feel like there's a major lack of storage space in the house (I'm such an American...the house is 2,000 sq. ft). But then, listening to that podcast, I realized the only way to feel better right now is to have less stuff. The less stuff, the less stress/organizing/cleaning that needs to be done. I have realized that since, maybe 2017, I don't bring random things into the house anymore, I don't buy candles, trinkets, TJ Maxx runs are usually for clothing items or rugs or something. I only buy what has a purpose (to me). I do not browse-shop for pretty things, even online.

I haven't even bought new clothes since the end of August, now that I think about it. 

Anyway.

I was getting ready to vacuum the other day and the vacuum started to smoke. This is not the Dyson cordless that we use for hard floors but the Bissell we bought in 2020 at the beginning of covid lockdowns. It was definitely $70-80 so it wasn't a huge investment. 

I could honestly talk about vacuum cleaners for days...we've had 7 in 15 years...we've had multiple properties so two of those originally came from other places. One of those is in my classroom right now because it comes in handy. When you remodel and when you move a lot, it's hard on vacuum cleaners. That's my tidbit of knowledge you may not know. You need to transport them. You deep clean more often. Scott has, more than once, picked up *my* vacuum to take care of drywall dust. Our shop vac is also on it's last leg so I won't let Scott bring it in the house.

My point: The vacuum started to smoke, make a funny noise, and there was an awful smell. I had already replaced the belt twice and it didn't seem to be the same issue. I put it in the garage and we went to Walmart. I'll call it an early Christmas splurge. I got a Shark Rotator and it was much cheaper at Walmart when I compared it to Amazon. 

I also did some cooking. My friend had a baby a few weeks ago, so I took them dinner on Sunday. I did tortilla soup (this is the only recipe I ever use for tortilla/taco soup and I've been using it for 12 years), chips, guacamole, and cilantro lime rice I also made a box of brownies and then pumpkin muffins. I made my own taco seasoning.

And, then, I went absolutely insane and made "goldfish" crackers because I'm over the processed food. I did not have a goldfish cookie cutter. 

This was so easy and worth it. The worst part was cleaning the food processor. I used unbleached all-purpose flour.

We went to the playground and for a walk and then finished the evening with the new episode of Lioness. 

I cannot find Yellowstone for free...we have Peacock and Paramount+. Where are you watching Yellowstone? 

9 more days until Thanksgiving break...