Friday things

Less than 10 days until Christmas. We are so ready for it here in our house! We've been getting rid of the old to prepare for the new in the start of the new year. It's still a mission every day to get rid of things that aren't necessary. I can't even begin to tell you how much happier we have been downsizing our possessions. It's incredible how overwhelmed you can feel with stuff burying you. I just watched the documentary, "Minimalist" by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. It is an amazing insight on how much stuff people think they need. It's a great way to put your life back on track on buying the things you really do need and not buying the things you really don't need. With Christmas quickly approaching, I do hope you take a minute to watch it and remember what's important. It isn't stuff. "Love people and use stuff. Because the opposite never works." -Ryan Nicodemus

The Mr. and I went through our Christmas boxes and determined which things we could do without. We still feel that we could downsize even more, but for now, I think this is a great start.

The Bean loves to take things to donate. He is always buried in the backseat with all of the boxes and bags. It always makes me chuckle seeing him shoved in between all of the stuff.

Here are the things that made this week great!

1. Togetherness

Along with reducing our household down we have also been spending more time together outside of the house. For awhile there, all three of us had become sluggish on going out and about-other than grocery shopping. The Mr. and I felt it was time to chin up and let's do more together. Of course, The Bean loves doing anything and everything with us, so it was only a matter of planning and following through. This past week we took a walk downtown and popped into the downtown diner to have some dinner and listen to live music. This restaurant is known for having some great live blues and folk bands play.

2. Subscriptions

This week Honest Beauty and The Honest Company essentials bundles came. I am in the process of downsizing a lot and these subscriptions keep me on track with household and beauty needs.

Also, Yogi Surprise boxes came on Tuesday and Wednesday. I actually get extremely excited when I receive these in the mail each month. December's boxes had such great products this month and I can't wait to try the 4th & Heart Ghee Butter this weekend. Grab a subscription to these boxes here and get on the list for the first of the year.

3. Butternut Squash

I made my first homemade butternut squash soup and it was delicious. The recipe I used was sort of on the fly, but it worked out great. Below is the recipe if you want to give this winter soup a try.

1 Three to Four pound butternut squash, peeled and diced into small cubes.

2 tbs. butter

1 Small white onion, peeled and diced.

6 cups water

Salt and Pepper

1 tsp. garlic salt

In a small stock pot melt butter and add diced onion. Cook until the onion is transparent and add the water. Bring to a boil and add diced butternut squash. Reduce heat to medium and boil for 30 minutes uncovered. Remove from heat and using a slotted spoon, add the cooked squash and onions to a blender. Slowly pour in liquid and blend until smooth. Pour soup back into stock pot and add salt and pepper-to taste. Add the garlic salt and serve hot.

4. Kitten

Allow me to introduce you to Eleven. The Bean has named the stray kitten and for now she has a home. She has grown on us, so I don't think she will be going anywhere soon.

5. Clock

We needed a clock and so I definitely found us a good one. It's such a great item and for now it serves as the clock in our front living room. The Mr. and The Bean actually depend on it when they wake up in the morning and we've all gotten in the habit of glancing at it as we go out the door. So I've justified the purchase so far.