Strollathon Success

I am so thankful for all of the support I had going into the Strollathon event I coordinated. Yes, I forgot one or two things like I was afraid of, but overall the event came together beautifully. We had a great turnout and everyone I talked to enjoyed themselves. I got feedback from more than one family who said they had fun, thought it was a well organized event, and could not wait until next year. The fact that people were ready to do it again made me realize how successful the event really was. I had a blast coordinating and being a part. The event was short in comparison to the amount of prep that went into it, but definitely worth it. 

The Calm Before the Storm

I'm hosting an event this weekend. It's definitely the biggest event I have ever attempted to put on and there is a bit of pressure to make it awesome seeing as people are giving a donation to be a part of it.

I've done lots of prep and worked hard to ensure that I have everything I need so that I'm not scrambling last minute. Although I have a few places to run this Friday in order to be ready Saturday morning, I'm feeling ridiculously calm about this whole thing.

It makes me think... "Am I prepared, or am I just forgetting everything?"

My event is mostly outside which is not the smartest choice for April -- April showers bring May flowers, right? Thunderstorms are on the radar for Saturday afternoon. So yes, there is a literal storm coming. But my event will be over before lunch so I am hoping/praying/wishing that we're going to be a-okay.

Planning, hosting, and coordinating an event of larger magnitude has been quite an experience. To make it more interesting, I have had to ask people for money. Donations. This wouldn't be much of a problem if I was representing the Wounded Warrior Project or the SPCA. Instead, I am asking for funds for a local non-profit with not nearly the name recognition of most other non-profits. And this is our first time putting on this event so there are no photos or stats from previous years. Turns out, people don't want to hand a check (even a small one) to people they don't know they can trust. Shocker (ha). And the people who did hand me a check? Now I have a responsibility to perform for them and make it worth their donation. Eek. That's scary.

It's been a challenge and the challenge isn't over. But, I know once this event is done, it will be worth it. So many of the participants have reached out and told me how excited they are about the event and I'm certainly doing the best I can to make it fun. It's going to be a party of sorts to celebrate the San Antonio Birth Collective and just moms and their kids in general. I'll have to blog about the results next week. I'm hoping that if there is a storm, it's a beautiful one. And after the storm comes the rainbow, right? At least, that's what I'm counting on ;)

34 + 14 = Insanity

Remember that blog post about having 34 bags? Well, I discovered another hidden "treasure trove" in my room today... and it contained an additional 14 bags and purses as well as five sweaters I survived the past two winters without wearing and a bonus flamingo pillow. (I'll be taking bids on the pillow until Friday, by the way.)

Seriously, just as I thought I was getting toward the end of cleaning house I come across this mess? And all of a sudden, this group of bags became... sentimental.

Once these bags are added to the mix, my bag count is almost at 50. Some of the bags and purses I found today I have had for over half of my life. Yet I rarely if ever use them. None of the items in this stash have been used recently (at least two years or more) so you would think I could just get rid of all of them without missing a thing. And I could. But as soon as these old and forgotten items come to view, I suddenly grow attached. Again.

I have theories about material things. They're great, don't get me wrong. I like having stuff. But having too much stuff has many negative consequences:

• The stuff starts to own you. You may be be the owner, but just try to get rid of something you have even the slightest affection toward. Somehow, that one little item grips you. It makes you want to hold onto it as if it were the last of its kind. It is painful to give that item up. 
• The stuff keeps you put. Want to move across the country or just downsize? You will have to get rid of excess. For some people, giving up all of their things keeps them from chasing their bigger goals. I know I would struggle if I had to pack up my life into a suitcase. 
• The stuff encourages risk aversion. Once too much stuff is accumulated, we no longer want to take risks. Taking a risk (especially one that includes finances) means we could possibly lose it all: not just the little stuff but the big stuff like our car, our house... everything. 

Being independent from this stuff means having a physical mobility but also a mental freedom as well. Clearing out and detoxing ourselves of the physical means putting life into perspective mentally. 

Do you have too much clutter in your life? For me, I feel disorganized and chained by all the excess. Having too much does not affect everyone this way, but I personally do not enjoy it. As much as I hate throwing things out, I also hate being chained by it. So I will continue working to stop the insanity. What about you?