Back at it.

So, I've been going crazy for about a month or so.  We moved at the beginning of last month and it was a whirlwind.  Things just never seemed to fall into place after we moved.  It's just been a mess and I didn't fall back in to my schedule for a while and Joey had a vacation which threw things off more and then I took on way too many things for Easter and I got sick on top of all that.  My goodness, it's been insane.
I've finally been feeling better that past day or so and I'm determined to get back to things.  I've been really lazy (and lucky) up until now, baby food has been on sale or clearance every time I went to the store and haven't made much until now.  But I just can't be lazy anymore, baby food won't be on sale forever but it did help me stock up on baby food jars and the like so making my own is a touch easier now.
This morning I made three types of baby food for my little one.  Today made roasted grapes, roasted grapes with peaches, and apples with peas and spinach.  And it's so much easier now that Norah's bigger because I don't have to strain everything after it's pureed. On my cooking list for the day (after the baby food of course) is some ham (in the crock pot now) some lentils for baby, and homemade English muffins for my hubby.
I have some pictures of our new apartment and all the things that I've been making:

living room curtains

office curtains that coordinate with the living room

that painting that I've been working on for the kitchen for what seems like forever

On to my next thing on my schedule for the day, my meal planning:
Monday: Crock Pot 'baked' Ham with Spinach salad
Tuesday: baked fish Tacos
Wednesday: whole wheat Spaghetti & meatballs (baby food version too)
Thursday: Spinach and Ham Quiche (using Monday's leftovers)
Friday: Veggie Ravioli Florentine (spinach bechamel sauce)
Saturday: Nothing planned, it's my Grandfather's Memorial service and I may bring something but I'm not planning on doing any cooking that day.
Sunday: Mac and cheese and tuna salad or egg salad

Well, that's it for me today.  Here are some pics from Easter:

Been Busy

Hey Folks,

Long time no blog,I know I'm a slacker.  Our move date got moved up on us and I'm just now starting to recover after moving and then curtain projects for the new apartment and the like.  Then sickness in the house and now it's Easter.  I just don't feel like I'm catching up so here's a link to the hubby's new blog so you all can catch up on the Palm Tree Quartet.

Moving on Down

So, Danny and I got our official moving date.  We're to be in our new apartment by Saturday!!!  And the woman down there now should be out by tomorrow.  Our landlord was shocked by the upkeep on our place.  He was sure that he was going to have to replace the floor (it's a cheap laminate tile floor made to look like parquet tiles) but we've done enough that he's not even charging us an increase in our security deposit for the more expensive place.  Woo Hoo!  It's nice to be appreciated.
I've gotten a good chunk of our knick nacks, fancy dishware (what little we have) and books packed up.  I've once again run out of boxes.  I really thought just moving downstairs would be simpler but I'm honestly amazed at how much stuff we truly have.  I'm thinking of giving away a good chunk of books again and clearing out the pantry and donating stuff to the food bank here.  I already have a request in for more boxes from my father-in-law since the kitchen he runs often has good boxes left around that are great for moving (it's free and it's recycling). Danny's also going to go to the local liquor store and get some wine boxes (again free & recycling).
Danny and I are debating getting a Kitchen Aid mixer since the company is apparently discontinuing some colors since they have them marked down 50% off both on Amazon.com and at Target.  I've always wanted one but I could never justify spending $300 on a kitchen item (I spent less for out kitchen table/bench set).   And it appears that no one gets rid of one if they have one, I have been trolling craigslist for one for years to no avail.  But half off is pretty  reasonable, I think.
I don't know what's reasonable to expect for my cooking ability with moving and all but I've tried to plan my meals for the week anyhow.  I stupidly packed up my dried beans already and misplaced them in my many kitchen boxes so we're going meat heavy & quit and easy this week.  Here it goes:

Monday: Pot Roast w/ potatoes & carrots (in the crock-pot)
Tuesday: Crock-pot pulled pork tacos
Wednesday: Baked Tilapia w/ Thai rice & broccoli
Thursday: Crock-pot chicken Soup (I found the cutest little whole chickens on clearance at Target)
Friday: Corned Beef & Cabbage(in the crock-pot)
Saturday: Ordered out Pizza (It's moving Day after all)
Sunday: Chicken Nuggets w/ tater tots & salad

And for those of you not counting that's 5 out of 7 days worth of meals in the crock-pot. And you can bet that if I knew how to make baked fish or nuggets in there, they'd be crock-pot meals too. :-) well, the baby woke up so I'm off.

Life on a New Schedule

Our little world got shaken last week and it's upset my whole schedule.  Danny lost his job.  His boss let him go with no reason and seemingly no cause.  It happens, and we've basically come to the conclusion that anyone who could do that isn't someone that Danny should be working for anyhow.  We know that God has a plan for it all and we're praying about it to figure out what's on the horizon.
But as for my schedule, I've made up a new one since Danny's made some suggestions that I thought needed addressing and I've noticed that some stuff is just not fitting where I had it. I've moved some stuff around and added items here and there.  Weekly Checklist: this is my publicly accessible google.doc of the updated checklist that I made if anyone else is looking to set up something similar.
I'm still allowing myself some flexibility to see what needs tweeking, but I realized the other day why I've never needed a schedule like this before.  I've been the primary earner in our household for the majority of our marriage and Danny's been the stay-at-home parent since Joey was born.  My efforts had been focused one working and now that Danny's been working again, I've only had a few months to switch gears, oh yeah and I had a baby during that time too.  And on top of that, I am still working part-time.  Yeah, it's been pretty much a whole year of transition for us, and it seems we have a few more hoops coming up.  We're still planning on moving to the larger apartment one floor below us.  I've already started purging in preparation.  The nice thing is that since we are only moving downstairs, the process of moving will be so much simpler.  No trucks needed and not even really many boxes.  Clothes can be carried straight from our closets on their hangers and be hung straight up down a flight of stairs, drawers can be carried down without being unloaded. The biggest hassle with probably be the books and knick knacks that will need to be boxed and the curtains and shelves.  And our Landlord wants us down there ASAP so as soon as the current tenant is out, we'll be on our way.  I'm pretty stoked about it.  We'll be losing some closet space (hence the purging) but gaining so much square footage, it's totally worth it.  Well, I'm off to go do stuff.  Tootles.

Nesting Fun

So I know I've been amiss in my blogging lately.  I've had a lot going on.  I've been nesting like crazy.  Everything is getting cleaned and organized.  Projects are getting completed.  Plans are getting in order.  I've got 3 weeks left before this baby is getting evicted!  I'm getting all my ducks in a row.  Now if only I could find the battery charger for my camera battery and take photos of all of my accomplishments.  :-( I had it in the diaper bag the other day and I'm afraid our little one thought it a toy and now I can't find it.  I have not given up though, I know it has to be somewhere! I shall find it!!  I must find it, I'd really like to have it ready to go for the hospital. 
We have this baby scheduled for C-Section on August 15th at 1:30pm so, prayers would be appreciated for that for sure.  I've had so much going on that I haven't even had time to blog from work and we are still internet free at home which is really proving to allow for much more room to prepare for baby.  I have been slacking on my meal planning though since I've been without online recipes and inspiration for new things.  I've also been feeling less and less like cooking with the extreme humidity here (the only downside of living only a few miles from the beach). 
I've been truly blessed with hand me downs! Norah has all of Joey's old things that weren't totally stained and gross and with hand me downs and gifts Norah already has a complete wardrobe for the first year of her life.  And then I get to pass them on down to a lovely friend of ours who is having a little girl in a several months.  I love it!! It's also going to be perfect for us because then I won't be tempted to haul baby things across the country when we move. 
Danny has recently found work!! PRAISE JESUS!!! I'm so excited for him.  The company looks like such a good fit for him.  He's going to be part of a flagship team taking over merchandising for the local Best Buy.  The best part...The company is a National one and they have locations in Colorado.  So, here's hoping that it's just part of the amazing set-up that I foresee for our moving.  I've been being blessed with little snippets of hope, in a bunch of people that we know all talking about moving to the Denver area which is where I've been feeling like we're supposed to be going and Danny is now starting to feel a little more as well.  WOOHOO! It's so nice to be on the same page as your spouse about big things.  The small things too, but the big things really do tend to be the conflict starters don't they?
Ok, well I've got some more calls to make and emails to send to get everything all set for this baby's arrival so I'm going to be off!

Things and things

So many things going on lately.  Where to begin.  I know I've been slacking lately in my blogging (sorry!), we had two computer's die on us in the past few weeks.  Ok, not die per se but make themselves unusable for the time being.  The laptop will no longer take a charge but otherwise works fine, we just can't get any juice in it too use it, Danny took it apart and fixed what he could but he thinks there's a small component in the power system that needs to be replaced.  Then our desktop got a virus (at least it waited until Danny finished his finals).  So now we are sans a computer with Word which means that one (preferably both of them) need(s) to be fixed before the fall semester begins.  It's honestly a good thing that Danny hadn't gotten around to cleaning out our old desktop otherwise I'd not be typing now.
So, now that Danny's through with finals we've begun planning how exactly our move to Colorado is going to work.  We'll either be moving in March or May of 2012.  That's what we've narrowed it down to. We probably won't finalize a date until Danny either finds work, or begins school again, whichever comes first.  If he's able to find a decent job to tide us over until March, we'd prefer to move sooner.  If he's not able to find work, then he'll go back to school in the fall and we'll wait until the end of the spring semester.
I had my oh so fun glucose test on Wednesday.  Lord knows that's always fun.  But for once, I got a phlebotomist that not only found my vein on the first try but managed it without me wincing.  Usually it takes a few tries before they're able to find a vein on me.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I also had a neurologist appointment on Thursday which took way longer than I thought it would.  But it turned out pretty good.  The doctor thinks I just have a really bad case of restless leg syndrome which he recommends that I take iron supplements and magnesium for (horray for the homeopathic!).  I'd so rather take vitamins than medication.  He also suggested something I find totally silly, putting a bar of Ivory brand soap in between my sheets at night while I sleep.  He said he doesn't get it either but enough people have said that it helps, that it's made it's way into the medical literature.  (WOW right?)
Danny sold our Saturn today! And boy oh boy did we need that, I'm still not sure if we'll be getting his SSI this month so it's nice to know where at least rent is coming from this month.  Yay for small blessings.  It's one less thing on my mind.  Danny's been working really hard at streamlining our household assets as well.  We're trying to get rid of all the things that we're not planning on taking with us to Colorado when we move.  So, I've gotten rid of clothes and we're going through books and selling off what we can and giving away what we can't.
Danny's even been trying to sell off some of his non-essential musical instruments and the things that go with them.  I'm so proud of him.  He's really trusting God to provide for us when we get out there and I know that it's really hard for a musician to part with his instruments and I'm just so proud of him.
Joey and I are almost finished with our third book in the little house series.  She's really been enjoying it. She calls the books Ma & Pa, which I think is just super cute!  Every time I say that I'm going to read some more, she asks if we can read all the pages, and I have to explain that we most likely won't get to all the pages since it's nearly time for bed.  But it's become a really great wind down routine before bed time & nap time.
Now, if only I could figure out how to keep my living room clean, but that's a project for another day.  Joey's making me a tea party while I'm making lunch so I should jet.  Tootles!

Sunday Reflections

So, I'm enjoying some last few minutes of quiet before Sunday morning really begins.  Next week is Mother's Day and I'm almost in shock to think that next year, I'll have two little girls to celebrate with.  It makes my heart smile.  Joey is just getting so big and I almost can't believe that my pregnancy is winding down again.  And soon our bustling little household of three will be a household of four.  We still don't know how we're going to make all the schedules work, but somehow, it will.  God will provide, that I'm sure of.
The weather's getting warmer and it's so fun to be outside.  I love spring.  The only thing that would make spring better for me would be if I had a yard to plant in.  I was talking to my grandmother the other day, and I was telling her how I ache to garden and plant things.  She said simply, 'we come from farmers, it's in your blood.'  How true that is!  She grew up on a farm, my mom grew up on a farm, I spent my summers growing up on a farm.  There's nothing like it in the world.  No city can compare to it.  No matter where I go, it's with me.  My heart longs to farm, to have my life ebb and flow with the seasons.  I can't escape it, and I can barely contain it.  I feel most myself and most connected to God when I'm doing something with my hands or when I'm out in nature.  It's my home.
It makes me yearn more for our move to Colorado.  I've been peeking at places out there only sporadically since we postponed the move, but it makes me excited to know that since cost of living is so much lower out there and since the lifestyle out there lends itself more to self-sufficiency, I might actually be able to have a yard, or at least a little piece of land to dig in and grow things.  We are just floundering here sometimes.
There is so much pressure in New-England to perform, perform, perform! And with the job market being so flooded, and work being so hard to find (and neither of us having found any in quite some time), it'll be really nice for the change of pace.  Not to mention the change in cost of things.  Generally, the cost of living out in CO is 60% of what it is here.  Such a big cut for us since we're living in a constant state of deficit.
For those of you not up to date on our finances: We have 0 money.  We're living off of Social Security Supplemental Income, Unemployment benefits, my part-time wages, food stamps, coupons and anything we can save after books from Danny's Pell Grant from school.  It's not much and it doesn't sustain us.  We haven't paid our utilities in over a year and we just keep praying that the lights stay on, but we have no means to pay them.  It's all we can do to keep the rent paid and food on the table and diapers of Joey's tush (though hopefully not much longer on that last one).  Now, our SSI got pulled, though I'm hoping that's just a technicality due to our bank changing names.  One of us needs to find work or some means of support SOON.  But God hasn't shown us where that will be coming from yet.  We keep looking but we're not finding.
Any prayers you'd be willing to throw up for us would be greatly appreciated.  We sure could use the extra intercession.  Danny's finishing up finals this month and he's trying to figure out if God even means for him to go back to school in the fall or if he needs to work (should he be able to find any).  It's a rough road we're on.  There's a light not only at the end of it but not too far off by the way of Colorado, but the mean time however is totally unclear to us.
Well, I should go wake up the family and get us moving and ready for church.  I'm excited for what God has in store for us.  I just wish that I could see it a little better.

Figuring things out

So as Danny and I were heading down to the Norwalk Children's Museum today (pics to come soon), I kept seeing all the lovely houses down in that area and I made me long to be studying architecture again.  I seem to keep coming back to it.  It's the only thing that maintains my interest long enough for me to think that it would be a viable career option.  But I still hit the snag of not wanting to work in someone else's firm drawing their designs for 40 years.  But I had the thought today, I could teach it.  I could go back to school, finish my degree and go for my Master's and then teach it in college.
I know that I don't have the patience to teach oodles of little kids, and I can't stand high school kids, I couldn't even stand high school kids when I was in high school.  But I do enjoy breaking things down into manageable chunks.  I think I may have finally figured out what to do with myself.  Now, to just figure out how to make it all happen in Colorado, with two kids, after a cross country move.  We shall see.  But I am more hopeful than I've been in a while about the whole subject.

The rain

Usually the rain makes me feel like curling up in a ball and reading a good book.  But today, it feels cleansing and refreshing.  Joey woke up early this morning, it seems she has a little cold.  But she came into bed with Danny and I and fell back asleep and then slept late.  I actually had to wake her up after a bit to ensure a nap later.  I'm feeling uber-productive.  I've already done dishes, made breakfast, started making yogurt, did Joey's hair and did her school for the day.  Today we worked on tracing lines and the Alphabet and matching, we also have some Sesame Street You Tubes that we watch at least a few times a week to teach her things like counting and rhythm and things that we did.  I've got way more on my agenda for the day but I can do it.
Last night at Care Group(what our church calls Bible Study) I got some really good prayer and it just pushed every last bit of that depression out of me and I left feeling really encouraged and ready do keep doing what I feel like God has been calling me to do to prepare to move out to Colorado.
So, the rest of my list for the day is as follows:
*Finish the yogurt
*Make Irish Soda bread
*Do two loads of laundry
*Take out the trash (I cleaned out a closet a few days ago and have yet to take the trash from that closet down our three flights)
*Try and search for my maternity pants from two+ years ago
*Make a plan for turning Joey's favorite bed-time story into a children's book
*Try to remember to do my daily Lenten devotional during nap-time

I can do it.  I know I can.

Salty fresh goodness

I don't know what it is about the beach that is just so centering for me.  The salty fresh air (today it was slightly tainted by the smell of skunk), the rocks and the water.  It's a magical place for me.  I feel like everything will be o.k. when I'm at the beach no matter what my circumstances are.  Today it was muddy and still a little snowy but it's still the beach for me.  The seagulls cawing over head.  Joey throwing shells into the sea.  Danny and I taking turns pushing the stroller or carrying Joey around the massive puddles and piles of dog poo that got buried in the snow and are now re-appearing.  All the non fun bits are totally washed over by the fact that it's the beach.  The soothing wonderful beach.  The sound of the waves and the salty wind revive me.
I don't know what I'll do without it when we move to CO.  I'm an ocean girl, not a mountain girl.  But I'm sure I'll be able to find a rock and a babbling brook somewhere to still my soul.  That's what I used to do when I was in high school.  I'd go to the park and I had my little spot by the brook, and my tree by the pond.  I could watch the snapping turtles swim and the tad pole blossom.  I miss nature so much sometimes.  I need more nature! I really do.  I will have my place one day. Where that will be, I don't know.  God doesn't seem to be leading me to a firm place yet.  We're still in a transitional place as a family.  With another one on the way and a move to CO next year everything is all up in the air.
I don't know where I'll end up.  I don't even think I have a place that'd I'd prefer.  I mean I loved living in Philly, but I would not want to try and raise kids there. Delaware was nice and I always loved visiting but I've never lived there.  Kittanning, PA and the family farm will always have a piece of my heart, but I don't think that Danny could be that far away from everything.  Boulder, CO has definite potential but I've never been there and going now at God's urging and not my own so who knows where life will take me.  Hopefully somewhere warmer or at least sunnier.
I can't take all the grey and gloom of New England sometimes.  I need some more sun, I need to be not cooped up in the house so much.  I need to be outside and digging in the dirt and running around with my little one(s).

So many changes

So with baby number two on the way Danny and I have decided to hang out here in CT for another school year.  Moving with me 6-7 months pregnant is just not something that we've been able to figure out how to be comfortable with.  We got our due date finally figured out, August 20th.
This pregnancy has not been going so smoothly as our last.  I had nearly no symptoms last time around.  This time, I'm horribly tired most of the time.  I've got a bit more nausea too and this horrible metallic taste in my mouth that I just can't seem to shake.  I made some slow-cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut for dinner so I have temporarily gotten that horrible taste of pennies out of my mouth.
I had a feeling that it'd be too good to be true if this pregnancy went as smoothly as the last.  I've just been so out of it.  I haven't been cooking as much or cleaning as much, our house is pretty much in a permanent state of disarray at this point.  I occasionally get a wind long enough to get a little something done but I have pretty much resigned myself to just trying to hold out until that 12 week mark and pray that I get a nice second trimester wind.
I am really excited for this baby though.  I don't have much to buy this time around.  I'm considering a glider but we don't really need one, our poang really has a lovely soft bounce to it and is great for nursing.  I have been trying to figure out what it is that I could possibly use but I can't for the life of me think of much.  I know something will come up last minute and I just know that it'll be right when I least expect it.  I always think of things last minute.  I swear sometimes my brain doesn't function unless it's under that last minute pressure(great for paper writing, not so great for real life when trying to planning ahead).
Well, my little wind of writing energy appears to be dwindling.  I'm gonna say tootles.
  

I'm thinking again...Let's see how this goes

So, I was asking around on Facebook about what cloth diapers were the best and most cost effective.  A friend suggested that I just make some myself.  I don't know why I hadn't thought of this.  I've been poking around different websites with patterns and instructions and have been trying to figure it all out.  I think I may be onto something now though.  I found one woman who made diapers for FREE!!! she used fabric she had around the house.  I have tons of fabric around the house.  They recommended using terry cloth layered with flannel and/or wool for the soaker pads, using micro-fleece and flannel layered for the outsides.  I have so many ideas now, and all using fabrics and extra towels that I have laying around the house.  I even found a bunch of free patterns on-line in all different sizes.  I think the only thing that I'd absolutely have to buy would be either snaps or hook & loop for the closures.
I told Danny about what I found and he agreed that if we find a place out in CO that comes with it's own laundry, that we will for sure consider it.  I'm so excited.  Diapers for Joey run us like $50+ a month.  And the rough part is that I can't even buy off brand because Joey has really sensitive skin (like her mommy, ugh) and all but one brand give her really bad diaper rash.  But I am excited about this concept.  I'll even be able to make her training pants that I'll be able to re-use for baby number 2.  It's really going to depend on what kind of place we get in CO though.  We just can't expect to wash diapers in a shared laundry like we have now.
And of course, if we have tour own laundry space, I can start making my own laundry soap.  Another friend gave me a bunch of recipes for homemade laundry soap that are a huge money saver and if I have the space to keep a 5 gallon bucket of laundry soap somewhere, I will.  Oh that nesting brain is kicking in already, I can feel it.  I want to make and clean and everything all RIGHT NOW!!! AHHH!!!! But I'm restraining myself.  At least for a little while.  We have so much to do to prepare to move.  I have plenty on my to-do list.  I just need a game plan.

Crazy days of Christmas...

It's only Tuesday but I feel like it's so much further in the week.  Danny and I went to Target to get the some of the last of Joey's Christmas presents last night.  She's been asking for a new piggy bank since she broke her old one, so we found her a cute on.  The only thing that we want to get for her still is an easel and they have one just her size at IKEA for $15 so I think we're going to try and get that this week.  I got Danny some little surprises for Christmas day and I've been really good and I haven't tried to open my present yet.  I may actually make it until Christmas.
I had my obGyn appointment today.  They say that I am indeed pregnant and I have an ultra sound appointment set for next Wednesday to get a more accurate due date since I'm not positive of which Friday of two possible to use to get the accurate measurement.  So, we'll have a for sure due date next week.  Then my next obGyn appointment will be in January so that I can get what I need to sign up for WIC again.  Which I am totally stoked to do again, especially since I found an office here in West Haven that I can go to instead of having to fight with downtown New Haven traffic.
Danny and I are still trying to figure out what to do about our plans for Colorado.  Right now I think we're still thinking that we're going to move in May or June barring any medical complications on my part, I think.  I think one of our biggest fears at this point is whether or not we'll be able to get health care in time for the birth.  Particularly since I'm not so much a fan or going for a VBAC and a C-Section is rather costly.

Late Night Ramblings

So, I have this funny little new habit of watching Netflix.com instant movies before bed when I don't have to be up early and they always lead to pondering.  I love a good movie that leads to some good pondering.   So, one thing I've never been good at in life is throwing things away.  I much prefer to reuse and re-purpose and usually this is a very good thing and not one that I intend to give up anytime soon.  But as I've not moved very many times in the span of my lifetime, I tend to accumulate a lot of crap.  All stuff that my artist mind sees potential in and a purpose for.  I have a very hard time letting go.
But (there's always a but isn't there?), Danny and I are on a mission to relinquish as much of our junk as possible before we move.  For several reasons:  One, it will probably cost nearly as much to move it all to Colorado as it would to purchase something fresh once we're there.  Two, we see this journey as a fresh start of sorts and bring along all of our physical baggage wouldn't so much be helpful.  Three, a purge every now and again is a good thing.  Four, living more plainly could only lead to good things.  Five, when Christ speaks of selling all you have and giving to the poor, he's not only speaking metaphorically.
This year Danny and I are on a mission to hand make as many of our Christmas presents for folks as we can, this is helping to clear some of our stores of 'useful' items.  I have also gotten Joey in on the act and she's been hand making her gifts to the family (with a little help from mom).
I would like to find a consignment shop that will take my handmade fairs off of my hands, and actually be able to sell them (if only Etsy.com weren't so pricey sometimes).  In all fairness, their prices are actually reasonable but my priority has to be keeping my family warm and fed.  There never seems to be any money left over after all that.  I wish it weren't always that way but then again, just one more reason we're moving.
So, what brought on all this pondering you might ask.  Well, I was watching Confessions of a Shopaholic.  And the main character spends the whole movie trying to learn the difference between cost and worth.  A big lesson for anyone, I think.  I honestly hope that I can get this one down someday.  Because, I definitely don't have it yet.
I can know how much something costs and the things that are worth most to me are not the most expensive, I have a different problem.  I attribute too much worth to things that cost me little to nothing at all.  I figure, if I can turn something that cost nothing to me into something of greater value, then it's worth all the world.
Now, this idea works great in Kingdom Theology (just to drop a little Christian-ese on you all).  Where all is gained when all is lost and the thing that should be worth all the world actually costs us nothing at all.  But how much can we expect this to be a part of our lives in the world? Does Kingdom Theology in this aspect have any practical and tangible repercussions on how we live our lives?  And, if so, how does one gather the strength to keep trying to let go when all the world tells us to hang on for dear life?
I'm trying to hard to throw away...and give away...and get rid of...and, and, and. But I'm just finding it so diffficult.  I've never been much of a person interested in having the newest and coolest and funnest toys.  I do enjoy it when I am able to have something nice, but to me it matters more that it was gotten at the best price possible and is it the product that will last the longest.  Not, the most horrible thing granted, but where do you draw the line between cost and worth?  At what point did it take more time finding the bargain than it was actually worth it? And when do you force yourself to draw the line and say, enough is enough?
Where that line is, is a total difference between Danny and I.  I'll push on the the dear end searching for a better deal, and Danny has no problem saying, "You know what it's worth the possible extra X amount of dollars to just not have to worry about it anymore." I don't think I have that switch.  Yet, I think that having such a switch would make this whole purging thing so much easier.  I'm at the point where all I can say is, "I don't know how to do this.  I really have no idea how this is done, someone needs to help me."  And of course admitting that I need help is not something that I am terribly good at either.