Low FOD Life

This is long but is my firsthand deep dive into health problems, food, gut and diet. I hope there's something helpful in here for someone, or at least makes sense why I've been acting such a fool at restaurants lately ;)

The faces people have made when they've asked me to explain what diet I'm following for the past 3.5 months have been comical, that's for sure. It's like they think I made up a word: "Fodmap". I explain - "it is a funny word - it's actually an acronym". When they ask me to tell them what it stands for they usually glaze over somewhere after Fermentable Oligosacchardies.. the other letters if you're interested are Disacchardies Monosaccharides And Polyols. In lay terms, they're small sugar molecules (all those 'saccharides' and 'ols' really just mean certain sugars/carbs) that our small intestine isn't able to digest and absorb, so they move into the large intestine where they're Fermented (there's the "F"). This causes the body to bring in liquid, bloat, cause gas - all those things you KNOW about how you feel when you eat, say, raw onion, or too many beans. Those are FODMAPs and they're just doing their normal thing. The thing is in people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome - yup, I said bowel on my blog) like me, if your sensitive gut gets too disrupted these FODMAPs can wreak some havoc. This summer I went through a very stressful period (sadly, my dad's cancer is back, and not treatable aside from palliative chemo/pain management, so digesting and processing that information has been tough on my brain.. and my gut..not really interested in talking about it much, but feel free to send your good vibes his way - he's the best, and the toughest) and I must have eaten something, somewhere, and found myself in a bad stomach spiral that lasted for SIX WEEKS. I'm talking.. motility, folks... I'm talking.. every day... oh god. I lost a staggering 15 lbs because I had zero appetite and when I did eat, bad things happened. My usual tricks of bread and juice weren't working the way they normally did. I'd have days where I'd go "screw it!" and eat anything, because nothing was going to make me feel good. My doc suggested the BRAT diet (tough for someone with a banana intolerance, and who apple juice is suddenly giving a stomach ache to), and ordered a colonoscopy and endoscopy.. for 6 weeks out.

Then my buddy Jay, my saviour, really, told me about the low FODMAPs diet. I'm aware of it because my sister in law is on it, but she's a nightmare to feed so I never even thought about looking into it. Jay explained all the things you COULD have: a bit of bread! cheese! lots of different fruit and veg! all the meat and fat you want! chocolate! (oh man I quit sugar in Dec 2018 and came back to chocolate like a crack addict as soon as I had an excuse). I figured: what the hell. And gave it a shot. Within 3 days my appetite came back for the first time in 6 weeks. Within a few weeks I had the functionality of a normal person in the place where it matters a lot. I went in a helicopter with potential major donors and didn't have it end in a really really embarrassing story. And today, I'm pretty much a normal girl again. An RD I finally got an appointment with a couple weeks later told me it was the first line of defense she would have recommended and has walked me through the phases of it (more on phases below), and later a gastroenterologist recommended it too. Low FODMAP: the gold standard in gut care! Who knew.

But OMG.. what you CAN'T eat on this diet has made the whole journey really SOMETHIN! Garlic, onions, apples/peaches/any fruit with a pit, wheat, lactose, beans and legumes, asparagus (why? why??), mushrooms, etc. No pattern you can pick out with the fruit and veg, just a lot of "nope"s! Add this onto my Kristyn-specific food sensitivities that pop up randomly from time to time (coffee, alcohol, red meat) and I sure was eating a lot of chicken and rice. You can eat the tops of green onions (the leaves DIGEST THE FODMAPs.. kind of cool), and have any fresh herb you like - so flavour came, but was hella different. Garlic infused oil is neat - FODMAPs are water soluble but not fat soluble so you get all the garlic flavour without the pain! And talk about people making faces at you - try going to an Italian restaurant and asking them what on the menu doesn't have garlic in it. I have had some very nice salmon salads, and a life smothered in parmesan cheese for flavour. DYK... most cheese doesn't have much lactose, which made this bearable as cheese is a main food group for me. Saving grace: the Monash app/website - Monash is a school in AU that researches FODMAPs and launched this diet and super specific and helpful app, and improved symptoms in 75% of IBS patients who go on it.

So a full 8 weeks on Phase I, the elimination phase of the diet where I can't have a single FODMAP while I just calm and heal my poor gut. Thank goodness for companies like FODY that make garlic and onion free pasta sauce, salsa, ketchup, bbq sauce and the best granola bars ever! Thank goodness for the cookbooks I found that let me still eat Italian (polenta lasagna!) and Mexican (cheesy tortilla casserole!). Thank goodness for the restaurants that talked to me ahead of time so I could still celebrate special occasions with friends and family (and a quiet 'f*ck you' to those who treated me like dirt and discouraged me from coming, like Caroline Cellars in Niagara on the Lake, a former favourite lunch spot). Thanks goodness that the gluten free and lactose free landscape at the grocery store is super impressive these days too. And I got back into cooking which after 6 weeks of eating mostly bread, and a spring of living in hard denial about my dad with my best friend fast food, was a welcome treat. And I didn't mind bringing sugar back into my diet.. girl needs some FLAVOUR!

Starting in mid-Oct was a full 8 weeks of Phase II "challenges", where I stay on the elimination diet but reintroduce FODMAPs one at a time to see which ones are actually a problem for me - 3 days of intro, 3 days of rest. Great news - in doing this I haven't regressed to my symptoms being as bad as they were in July, but I did find a couple of things that caused me some (manageable) pain and bloating (so I can extrapolate that if my gut is off, they're going to cause the full monty of symptoms). Turns out I am mostly a fructan master. WTF is a fructan? It's just a whole bunch of fructose molecules together. You have to test 5 types of fructans during the challenge phase and I mastered wheat (THANK GOD!), fruits/veg fructans, galactoligosaccharides (fructans found in chickpeas, beans, etc.).. I'm going to do onion fructans this week (promise!) and I somewhat failed garlic fructans. A small amount of garlic was fine, but increasing the dose on day 2 caused enough stomach pain that I didn't need to see what would happen on day 3. The hope is I can try again down the line. I've always loved and cooked with garlic and do believe my gut is still on the mend. I did well with lactose, except got bloated after a big glass of milk. So lesson learned to get the kid sized ice cream cone (...I already knew this. I have a very clear memory of a morning in Carden after a night at Kawartha Dairy where I made eye contact with a cow in a field during a critical moment...). And I tested a bunch of weird stuff like mannitol, and sorbitol - turns out sorbitol, found in things with pits (avocado, apple, peach, cherry) among other food, is a real jerk to me, but only in higher doses. I typically don't want to eat a whole avocado at one time anyway, but it explains why apple juice became an enemy last summer. You definitely want to get as many FODMAPs back in your diet as you can, since they're important prebiotics that feed your microbiome and are associated with great nutrients and fibre in the foods that carry them.

So I'm almost at Phase III - customize, based on what you learn from using your body as a science experiment during Phase II, and then live yer life. Can't friggin wait. I've been tracking every bite I've eaten for month and this week I got so bored of it I started using emojis instead. The kiwi one is the cutest. I track my stress, and sleep, and gut feelings and BMs too. My FODMAP life, in snapshots.

And a crazy thing that came out of this was the results of my first colonoscopy. It's almost funny how weird the prep is (I felt well prepared for it emotionally after the summer I had lol - once you've been in trouble in the woods, there's nothing left to fear..). I had SEVEN polyps found and removed. And the lab tests showed they're all pre-cancerous.. WTFFFFFF!!!!???? If this hadn't happened, I may not been screened routinely until I was 50, and then guys I quite likely would have had full blown colon cancer. So now I'll be heading back for a screening every 3 years, and would encourage anyone who has a chance to to get the damn test! Worth the cleanout. Good news otherwise - no celiac, no crohn's, no colitis, no cancer.. just inflammation associated with good ol' IBS.

My weight bottomed out after that procedure (as you'd expect) at -20 lbs (yikes), but I started eating small and high calorie meals very often and I don't know what I weigh but my pants aren't hanging off me anymore, and I can wear everything I own comfortably, which seems great. PSA: don't tell people who look like they've lost weight "you look fabulous! what's your secret?!" - because my answer was, "I don't mind the results, but I wouldn't recommend the method". What I would have given to eat normally over the past few months, I tell ya... Plus, I was grey. Health is measured in a rosy cheek, not a skinny leg, I say!

And that's it. My FODMAP adventure. I'm not exactly going to recommend it for fun, but it might be neat to think about the foods that cause you trouble and have a look at what portions of them you can truly tolerate to avoid that post-restaurant bloat/pain. And if you're ever in a tricky digestive spot, or are a fellow IBS sufferer, then I think you have nothing to lose by giving it a go. Phase I can last only three weeks if you don't start out in as bad shape as I was, and the challenge phase really has been a fun experiment, selecting from the app what foods to try next with my coworkers at the lunch table. Though figuring out how to eat 1 cup of chickpeas was interesting. I need the barf face emoji. That's just too many chickpeas.

Thanks everyone who's been supportive, listened to me talk about my stomach, my guts, and short chain carbohydrates ad nauseum for months on end. Thanks Jay for saving my life before I spent 2 weeks on the water in Georgian Bay and in a helicopter over Timmins. I do think Jeff enjoyed all the cooking and definitely the birthday polenta lasagna. Anyways, now I gotta go figure out how to palatably eat 1/4 of an onion tonight to start this second to last challenge. I'm scared for Day 3 -who eats half an onion anyways? Should I just chomp it down like George when he didn't have his glasses? Stay tuned to find out ;)

Concert High Series: Panic! at the Disco & Two Feet, Montreal

The first time I saw Panic! at the Disco, after dying to for years, was in 2013 when they were opening for Fallout Boy. They were fantastic then – Brendon Urie the lead singer is really something special to watch – and I was sold even further on this band I already adored. Then bring along the next two albums – Death of Bachelor in 2016 and Pray for the Wicked last summer – and I was even more picking up what they were laying down. So this show was a perfect culmination of seeing a band I’ve loved for so very long have the moment in the sun they deserve headlining a big splashy tour, and just an experience of pure awe and joy and nonstop smiles for this big goofy fan. Unless I’m out seeing the Watchmen, or Tool, or another band I’ve loved since the 90s, you can guarantee I’m surrounded by children at these shows – but Jeff and I just roll with it! I don’t think there’s an age limit on any band – if their music makes you happy and speaks to you, then that band is all yours to love.

The opening act was Betty Who (who?) – who put on a great show with some backup dancers. I loved how humbly she introduced herself, asking if we were excited for Panic and then saying “I’m going to sing and dance for you while you wait for them to get here”. But then just rocked, with so much confidence. Also – an average sized woman, who was clearly proud of her body? You go Betty. More of that please, music industry. The main opening act was Two Feet, who were a big part of the reason we were there. I often tease Jeff that he hasn’t liked a new band in 20 years (this man loves Nirvana and Tool), but it turned out all he needed was Slacker radio (which comes free in his new car) to expose him to some new artists – he’s now added Two Feet and Twenty One Pilots to his list of bands he really likes (both excellent choices!). He’s destroyed my ear drums frequently with Two Feet’s crazy bass lines, so I thought that was a good candidate for our next concert - so for Christmas I decided that would be the perfect gift for him. And behold, Ticketmaster tells me they’re touring! ... opening for one of my favourite bands. That would be a hilariously selfish Christmas present, so I ended up consulting with him on it and we decided to make a Montreal weekend out of seeing Panic, Two Feet and staying at a nice downtown airbnb.

The weather cooperated for our adventure – sunny, and freezing. Lol. But at least not the snowstorm of this weekend – that would have been way trickier. We stopped at three superchargers along the way to Montreal – conveniently located by an LCBO in Pickering (yes, I SHOULD buy some champagne!), a Boston Pizza in Kingston (please, take all our money in exchange for so many calories), and absolutely nothing in Cornwall (I stargazed instead, it was a beautiful clear effing freezing night). We rolled in with 150kms on the Tesla, thinking that would be plenty until we wandered to a supercharger sometime the next day – only to find that our pampered electric car, used to sleeping in a southern Ontario garage, did not react well to -30 windchills outdoors overnight and we had to take it to a charger STAT on Saturday morning lest it lose more battery and we be stranded!! Yikes! Lots of lessons learned about electric cars in the deep cold (such as: we should have taken my plug in hybrid!). We had amazing poutine for lunch, lounged about in bed in the sun (how nice is it when you’re in another home that you DON’T have to clean, without piles of laundry to do and a mournful staring dog to walk!? So relaxing!), and mastered the subway system to Laval. Mon Francais est terrible, but I muddled through dinner and drinks before the show. 2019 resolution back on the table: learn some damn French!!

So, back to the concert.

Two Feet played and it was a great show even though his voice wasn’t that easy to make out above the sound of his super loud excellent electric guitar playing. He’s a crazy talented guitarist and it was great to watch. I felt like Jeff and I were the only people who knew all the words to all the songs and we sang our hearts out. Some people did know their radio single Feel Like I’m Drownin’ – and gave it well deserved cell phone flashlight love! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCW_GRh8AjY Brendon later shared that he handpicked Two Feet because he loved what he was doing – I thought so, and even more props to him.



Two Feet clap



So now.. the stage is empty, the roadies are gone, and it’s dark – until a 1 minute countdown until Panic comes on hits the stage is up on the huge screens behind the stage. The crowd of teenagers is going wild. Jeff wonders: “where are the drums?” just as the drums and drummer rise out of the stage on a platform. And then a string trio and brass trio rise on either side. It’s hard to know where to look, and sooooo fun to watch.. then it’s dark again... until suddenly LIGHTS – and at the same moment Brendon on a platform rising out of the middle of the stage LEAPS into the air, seemingly out of nowhere, at the same time the lyrics and music of (Fuck A) Silver Lining start, at the same moment a bunch of giant confetti cannons explode all over the audience. It was ridiculous and hilarious and awesome!! I could watch the youtube videos of it all day – this one I found from another fan is good, aim for 0:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkfpzZ1Jb8s - I could literally watch that moment on repeat for the rest of my life lol. We had these crazy good seats (come on, it was Christmas!) four rows back from the end of that stage arm, and the people standing in front of us were two super short 10 year old girls, so we lived the concert dream of sitting through the entire show AND having a great view. Ah, being old. I did miss standing/dancing a bit, but I wasn’t going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. And we started a sitting chain that lasted three rows behind us. Super impressed ;) Here’s a snippet from Silver Lining once I caught my breath, and you can see our sweet view! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juALfUFsUAY Those dance moves. Those pants! lol. Apparently he wears them for confidence as he has social anxiety - hard to imagine, but I dig him even more for being open about mental health issues. This man is sending only good vibes to the next gen.

I honestly can’t think how to describe this show. Pure energy. Beautiful light show. Pyrotechnics. Seriously talented musicians (Brendon doesn’t just sing 5 octaves, dance like a maniac, play guitar and piano – he drums too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fek1KfzU6N4). At one point he started playing piano back by the sound equipment and suddenly his piano, on a platform, rose into the air. Then, it travelled across the entire length of the general admission crowd on the floor until it reached the stage while he played Dying in LA. Unreal!



Piano floats across audience -before landing back at the stage - wild!





This Is Gospel - guitar break from dancing



He played so many of my favourites, from Crazy=Genius to One of the Drunks to Miss Jackson (not that Miss Jackson) to Hallelujah (not that Hallelujah). And their amazing Bohemian Rhapsody cover. The way he acts out his lyrics has always made me think that’s how I’d act if I were a singer, and it’s so silly and so fun. Everything was over the top, bright, sparkly, fabulous and amazing. His leather pants, gold microphone and dance moves were a delight :D The band (total new configuration) were super solid and the orchestra accompaniment, which I totally HEARD on the last album but didn’t quite register (ya know?) were great.

 



So much fun!



 

It felt like it went on forever, in the best possible way, and I went home just happy and exhausted. And proud! The little band that everyone thought disappeared (people have said to me: “remember that emo band Panic! at the Disco?” to which I’d reply “they have six albums and are one of my favourite bands” (snarkypants)) are releasing Billboard #1 albums and lighting up a whole new generation with their energy and vibe. Their music is just fantastic – so alive, fun, catchy, real – and I feel sooo lucky to have seen them at this show!! Yay!

 



Dancing in leather pants has got to be warm - shirtless encore which included I Write Sins Not Tragedies (classic!)



 

Kristyn Wakes up at 6 a.m. ... every day

Now that is a scary blog post title for those who know me. I am NOT a morning person. I'm lucky enough to work in the city where I live, so I can get away with sleeping until 7:15.. 8... 8:15.. most days. With a variable bedtime of 10-11:30, this is supposed to guarantee me my 9 hours of sleep, and I wake up in a MUCH better mood than after 6 or 7 hours of sleep. I am not chatty in the morning, I "wake up" sometime around 10 a.m. (calls before 10 a.m. are the WORST..), have been known to say really strange things in emails and texts before that time, and become increasingly chipper as the day goes on.

So why THE F*CK would I decide to become someone who wakes up at 6 a.m. every day? Well, friends, the answer is: exercise.

I have been finding it so hard to fit in fitness, which in some past iterations of my life was successfully typically done between 7 - 8:30 every night, at least 2-3x/week. However, doing that means a mad rush to make and eat dinner, walk the dog, exercise, shower and spend some time with Jeff - making the evenings a flurry of activity and not leaving a lot of time for downtime, hobbies and especially not for social plans. I've definitely noticed a shift that many plans have headed to weeknights these days - not 100% sure the reason, maybe more people using the weekends to recharge after a workweek since we are so damn old ;) or maybe more people dedicating weekends to time spent with kids/immediate families. So I was trying to stuff my social stuff into Wednesday nights and work out the other nights of the week, but add in my variable work schedule with frequent evening meetings and events, and I just wasn't MOVING MY BODY. Unacceptable! (for ME. exercise is a big part of my life. but also really hard to motivate yourself to do when you're busy and tired - and busy and tired is how I'd define 2018).

See you again in 4 months, outdoor cycling... :*(

So while I was away in Galapagos, with "vacation brain", that expanded brain that allows you to plan life as a better you when you come home, I started thinking about exercise. I knew I wanted to focus on activities that won't hurt me (i.e. no running, limited elliptical, and actually no yoga due to a downward dog induced wrist injury from a bout of yoga this fall - ugh) - thinking about super low impact swimming, and indoor cycling. I also know I owe my physiotherapist about 15 mins a day (ha!) of exercises for my various ailments (tennis elbow, wonky foot, weak core causing back issues) which I NEVER DO, so I thought a physio/strength session would be good too. And I'm also thinking about 2020 (who isn't...judge away, I'm so Type A) when we move into the condo and in the small space, Jeff is going to wake me up every morning at 6:15 when he gets up for work. Currently he gets ready and showers in another part of our upstairs, but I'm not going to banish him to the less nice shower (we're getting a really nice big tiled glass shower in the ensuite.. shower goals realized! :)), and I'm not going to move into the guest room permanently (besides, I'd hear him in the kitchen anyways! ;)). So in that scenario I'll likely need to do something in morning (unless I want to get to work across the street at 6:45 a.m... I don't).. so could I work out? The seed was planted.

Hanging out with Galapagos wildlife gave my brain the space and time it needed to hatch plans!

I've done morning workouts before. I've felt really crummy after some. I've felt decently good after others. Mixed bag. I get SUPER hungry after I work out, and SUPER sleepy when the workout is demanding.. neither of these are feelings I enjoy riding through the day, so it's been nice to mainly feel them late at night and then sleep them off.

BUT

I've been struggling with early waking insomnia for a couple of years now. If I wake up after 5 a.m. I often don't get back to sleep AT ALL. So crappy! Exercise makes me sleep better AND if I'm so used to getting up in the 5s and 6s, why don't I at least do something with it instead of lying in bed, frustrated?

With my vacation-brain plan hatched, I came home, ready to set it in motion. And of course struggled with awful stomach issues following my trip for the first week.. but THEN.. THEN it was the second week home. And I committed to three morning workouts a week - Mon, Tues, Thurs, for the next 5 weeks until Christmas. And if I can do this, I can take $200 and spend it on a new pair of lulus and a nice workout top. If I don't do it, $200 goes to debt repayment (so lame!!! but god, so much debt right now between Tesla and condo down payment lol - so in a way I win either way, but I win WAY BETTER if I get the nice workout tights - for the record I only go into lululemon and touch things, never allowing myself to buy - but I love their gear! the pieces I own are gifts and hand me downs from Dawn - thanks D! :)).

Just add hips..

I practiced on the first Sunday morning with physio/strength in the basement (future life: in condo gym, or second bedroom aka my space - Jeff gets the den). It went well. I was hungry! I went to the gym the following day and rode the bike for 30 mins, averaging about 24 km/hr (decently faster than I go outside - I credit good workout music instead of the sound of my own panting :)). I went to the pool on Tuesday morning and swam my triathlon distance of 750km in about 22 mins. Thursday I repeated physio/strength in the basement. And Week 1 was over before I knew it. NOW I'm most of the way through Week 3 and can't believe how easy it's actually been. I've also increased my bike and swim speed to the point where I have to add distance to keep the time the same.. cool! And I've already upped my weights by 2 lbs (upper body) and added weight to bodyweight workouts like lunges and squats, and 30 seconds to my planks. Amazing how fast you can make gains (especially when starting back at GROUND ZERO).

Ok so the energy boost was great. I actually haven't noticed it as much the past 2 weeks but I sang and danced all the way to work (and at work a little) that first Monday. I am effing tired. Like, falling asleep on the couch at 9:30 p.m. every night and if I'm not  in bed by 10 I'm a wreck the next day (exhibit: today). My evenings are suddenly oases of time in which I can do things that actually interest me, and I have been just jamming them up with social plans, so excited not to need to juggle them against workouts anymore. Travelling out of town? All good - since I rarely leave before 7 a.m. anyways, there's always time to work out and I'm guaranteed a good hair day from styling it after my shower! Probably the best perk is that I never have to have those conversations with myself during the day: when will you work out? Will you work out? Will it be better to put it off to tomorrow? I just do it - and it's done. I wouldn't say I feel energetic in the morning, but once I'm on the bike, I'm riding and I find the energy. Once I'm the pool I'm swimming and I find the energy. I laid out a physio/strength workout for myself that isn't negotiable. So I just follow it. And once the planks are done, I actually enjoy the rest of it.

Why this seems to be working (from my view in the honeymoon phase):
- I never said it had to be forever, it's just 5 weeks. Like an addict, all new habits should be thought of one day at a time
- it has a reward attached to it and I'm pretty strict with myself when I make rules! I even have a contingency that if I get sick I can walk for 30 mins on the treadmill so I don't lose progress - it's cold and flu season after all and I want those pants!
- I pack my gym bag on Sunday and Monday nights so it's ready to go and one less thing to do/dread in the a.m.
- showering and doing my hair in the morning feels great, actually. 10 p.m. blow drying was a bummer
- early waking insomnia has disappeared (or has it? I just now get up in the 6s, no matter what, so who knows!) and all I had to sacrifice was an extra hour at the end of the evening to get to bed on time (and look what that sacrifice gets me - consistent exercise.. yes!)

I'm pretty hungry. It's faded a bit, but my body is definitely trying to replace the calories I burn first thing by eating everything in sight. So I haven't lost any weight and I don't look or feel different.. except.. EXCEPT.. I noticed some muscle definition returning to my arms and legs.. but didn't look too closely because I didn't want to jinx it.

So there. Kristyn wakes up at 6 a.m. every day. Today is my day off so I decided to work on another cast-aside habit - writing. Except I'm SUPER TIRED AND SUPER GRUMPY because I stayed up too late watching the Leafs.. when will I learn! Never. We've won 5 in a row and life as a Leafs fan is goo-ood right now!



So glad to have you back, buddy

So, I guess my recommendation would be - if you're having the same problem as me trying to find time to squeeze in fitness after work, and think you can spare an hour at the end of your evening to sleep, then wake up 1 hour earlier than you usually do and work out. You might just see the return of the long lost bicep after only 3 short weeks... And if you can stave off the rampant hunger, it might help you reach a weight loss goal, if that's your thing.

I don't know who wrote this blog post, but it's nice to meet her. I do recognize her because it's 7:30 a.m. and she's super angry about being awake/alive. Maybe I should go to the gym to feel better? HA!

Movin' on Down.. Part 2

Having answered many questions about our decision to downsize to a condo in my last post, this post is about what we're really excited about, and some facts about our future digs.



I love an artist's rendering! I do like how every phase is a little different. Phase III (us) is the shorty on the left side of the screen

Excitement List

1. Instead of another decade plus of mortgage payments and big utility bills here, our monthly costs are reduced to just condo fees and electricity (property taxes a constant, though no idea what they'll be in the new place - hopefully less than the crazy $5k a year we pay in the barren east end)

2. Instead of having three cars to pay insurance on and fill with gas, I can walk to work (800m door to door!!) so we can go down to one car. Downtown Guelph has 2 rental car locations, our building will have a carshare, and .. Uber. So Jeff will take our one car to work every day and I'll … figure it out. This one has been flipping between the pros and cons column because I've had a car since I was SEVENTEEN! But I've only ever lived in the suburbs or had a hefty commute somewhere, so I'm guessing downtown will present a bit more of a walkable, bikeable life. I definitely need a basket and pannier bags for my mountain bike...

3. With only 1,050 square feet to clean and no driveway, backyard or exterior features (like the siding that detaches itself during every wind storm and needs to be beaten back into place with a broom while standing on the top rung of a ladder) to maintain, significant time and money will be freed up for doing things we actually want to do. And the stress when you hear that inevitable bang of siding, falling tree branch, grind of the owned water softener, howl of the wind when you will your shingles to stay put - will be alleviated!

4. Our environmental footprint will be reduced, living in a smaller space and reducing our heating/cooling/electricity needs.

5. Location, location, location! We'll be less than a ten minute walk to my favourite walking and biking trail in Guelph along the Eramosa River which stretches infinitely in each direction. Yay! Restaurants, sports, theatre, shopping, market - suddenly all walkable. The east end has a walkable library and convenience store. End.

6. Back to #1 which is really the driving force here - we'll take the money saved on mortgage payments, bills, cars and spend it on higher priorities for us - accelerating retirement savings to reach ultimate financial/career freedom faster (not saying we'll stop working earlier, but having the option would be nice!), experiences, classes/lessons, more Leafs, more travel and just the ability to breathe a little after stretching ourselves so significantly to get into this house, then as soon as we got comfortable increasing the mortgage payments to get it paid off faster. So, basically, being comfortable for the first time since we lived in our townhome on Schroeder Cres, which I on and off have mildly regretted moving from because it was just so damn affordable!

I wanted to add a big disclaimer, that this move is right for us, and us alone. It's in no way a commentary on anyone else's choices. Especially in that we aren't having kids. As a kid, some of my best memories are in my backyard. It was my happy place! Tobogganing down the tiny hill in the winter; playing "spy" around my and Aynsley's houses, learning about backyard birds from my mom. Then, as a teenager, our 2000 square foot home provided much needed separation from my parents! A separate place to hang out and watch tv with friends was crucial. If Jeff and I were on the life path of having kids, we'd for sure finish paying off this home and hunker down here for the long haul. Then again, there are tons of different ways to make it work! No one decision will be right for everyone. Plus, I need big beautiful real estate to enjoy with soaring ceilings and flooring that stretches on forever - so someone's gotta keep that going!!

For me, I never imagined living in the same place for more than 10 years. I panicked when we bought this house and Jeff suggested we stay here for 20 years. I talked him down to 5-10. It's telling that this will be my third purchased home since 2007. I'm pretty nuts about real estate, and I just like variety all around! I've changed jobs six times in 11 years, changed my priorities and interests more times than I count. I thrive on variety, doing things that scare me and having adventures. Having Jeff and my friends and family as the constants in my life are great - everything else, let's spin the wheel!

I'm really excited for this next adventure to begin, with my awesome hubby and furry puppy by my side. August 2020.. oh gawwwwwwwwwwwddddd this wait is going to kill me!!!

The Facts

I forced you to listen to me ramble for this long, now here are the goods on where we're going!

Condo Development: The Metalworks
Location: The transition between downtown Guelph and (ominous music) THE WARD! 73 Arthur St. S to be specific
Occupancy: August 2020
Unit specs: 1,050 square feet, 240 square foot balcony; 2 bedrooms + den, 2 bathrooms
Parking: 1 space, underground, with car charger
Finishes: tbd - I am so excited. Stone counters and tiled showers are a minimum, which is not too shabby!
Amenities: party room, chef's kitchen and dining room, guest suite, bar (private spaces available for rent for about $100/pop); gym, dog spa, library,

The Metalworks is a pretty cool development I've been keeping a close eye on for the past several years. It's pricier than almost every other condo in Guelph except the River Mill and River House (also downtown) which is driving me a little nuts, but I rationalize we're paying a premium for downtown living and the car charger (no other condo offers this, come on Guelph, get a move on!). In the end it will consist of 5 phases (we're phase 3) and a heritage building turned restaurant and distillery (cool). It backs onto the Speed River. I'm excited to see the Ward continue to turn over into a bit more of a cool, contemporary funky spot. There is this nasty warehouse that I'm going to have to strategically not look at until it sells/changes hands/gets torn down. I'm thinking of petitioning them to put in a green roof ;) But I'm grateful for this old neighbourhood and it's wonderful old trees. It will be neat to be a part of it changing over the coming decade.

In another 10 years (estimate) we'll see where we end up. Retired and living in a cottage on a lake full time? (yes please! Freedom 45?? haha I wish). Finally trying out downtown Toronto living? In the middle of nowhere with my own forest? In a tiny house on a tiny lot because we just couldn't stand the proximity of other people in condo living? In a literal tiny house because we loved the smaller space? Out west with the grizzlies in BC? Leading ecotours in the Galapagos? In Niagara on the Lake close to my parents? It's cool to think that we could keep this condo forever and rent it out, allowing us to go where the wind takes us (jobs pending). It really does feel like I've started sawing a ball and chain off my leg. The future freedom feels at once scary and exhilarating. Note to self: make the most of it!

Thanks for coming along on my thought journey today!

Movin' on Down... Part 1

I'm excited to share that Jeff and I are officially the proud new owners of a condo... that won't exist until 2020! Yep, that's right - we are downsizing! The driving force is financial freedom - I know mortgages are kinda de rigeur, but we have a unique opportunity to sidestep the last 12 years of payments, because we bought our house when the market was in the tank (and the Guelph market did well as the TO market boomed), and are willing to live in a smaller space - I just felt this pressing need to take advantage of the value in our home. And like 60 year old empty nesters, we have realized we don't need this much space, we're tired of the maintenance (yard, cleaning, repairs), have always been interested in downtown living - so here we go! The 2 year window until our home actually exists should hopefully be enough time to get rid of several couches, cars, treadmills, coffee tables and the remarkable number of 'things' we have filled our house with since we moved here in 2010 (...maybe). Though I'm relieved about my heavy duty Marie Kondo effort of December 2017 (see I Got Kondo'd - Part 1 and Part 2), which I had in the back of my mind was the first step toward downsizing, it didn't take care of the pieces of furniture which fill this full house plus basement. To Kijiji!! (p.s. anyone want a couch or treadmill? let me know!)

Question Period

Questions? I thought you might have some - I've heard every question and concern under the sun, but to the credit of my coworkers, friends, and family once their questions had been answered they were happily on board because they could see that we were stoked about this (as usual, against social norm) life choice.

1. What about your dog?
Our dog's top 2 priorities are napping as close to us as possible at all times and going for walks. Bailey was a 10 year old at heart by the age of 2 - just an old soul. His use of our backyard consists of laying on the deck staring at the grass and occasionally using it as a toilet (though he mostly goes on walks, because it's important that I touch poop every day of my life). When we have to get up with him in the middle of the night there are a lot of stairs to head down anyway. And since he will never age or pass away, we're good.. right? ;)
Conclusion: more small walks, nothing else changes for Bailey

2. Don't you love your backyard?
Yes, the big willow trees on our back neighbour's rural property and shaded deck are wonderful. We sit out there about 1x a week from April - October (though not in this crazy kinda heat) and love it. But I just don't love it ENOUGH to keep paying through the nose for it for another decade plus. I would literally pay someone if I never had to garden again in my life. ;) The hot tub was a fun/novel addition but it is a lot of money and maintenance and the chlorine plus my skin is not a great combo, especially in the winter.
Conclusion: Our 250 sqft shaded 5th floor balcony will have nice views of treetops (and our building allows hot tubs on balcony - doubt it, but good to know!)

3. But I thought you loved your house!
I never would have spent every last cent to my name if I didn't love this house to pieces. I think an appropriate word all my fb/friends could agree to use is "obsessed" during the buying, building and decorating process. In 2009 my priority was buying as much space as I possibly could and I was thrilled to end up here. We felt so lucky, so in love with this home, and spent years lovingly tending to it. But the bloom is off the rose. We can't/don't want to sacrifice $ for Leafs tickets to pay for cleaners so we spend 1 hour a week dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing 2000 square feet. Jeff mows the lawn in the stifling heat of summer. We seal the driveway. We refinish the deck. Jeff waters and weeds the gardens and lawn. We work, and work, and work, and have stopped finding joy in it. There's always another outdoor improvement project to blow a couple grand on per summer and yet another room to upgrade in our home. The windows and shingles are more than halfway through their life so I see that $30,000+ cost staring me down. And I just... want out.
Conclusion: We aren't "in love" with our home anymore, though still love it very much - but we are starting to see some red flags! ;)

4. You're going down to one car? But you love Sparky!
That one's easy - I love our fully electric Tesla even more! And I will not miss the multiple car payments or insurance payments, that's for sure!
Conclusion: I get 2 more years with Sparky, and then share Tesla with Jeff. I can do it.

5. Won't you and Jeff feel cramped, cutting your space down to 1050 sqft?
It's very difficult to use two living rooms, a dining room and three bedroom simultaneously, if you can imagine (haha, I was so irritated when I drafted this blog post in early August, I'm actually just transcribing it now - but I'm leaving that in because it made me laugh). Two adults need maximum two living areas and we will have three (it's a 2 bedroom plus den with a living/dining area). I don't think we need 2000 square feet to fit comfortably. Contrary to what Jeff will tell you, I do really like him! ;)
Conclusion: We will not feel cramped and if we do there are multiple indoor/outdoor common areas as well as nearby parks and coffee shops!

6. What about Jeff's tools and woodworking?
Jeff builds about one piece of furniture every 2 years. We'll put his albeit impressive tool collection in our external storage space ($150/month compared to a decade of four digit mortgage payments per month felt like a good tradeoff) and he found a space in downtown Guelph you can pay a monthly fee that you can stop and start anytime to use their tools, workbenches and space as often as you like. However, he has decided he doesn't like the idea of building things for selling (too bad, he could have a great side hustle, he's so talented!!) and already having built our entertainment unit, kitchen table, headboard and coffee table, and in the process of building a new writing desk for me (all can fit into the new space, yay) he's basically out of stuff to build. Unless we wanted to sit on some sort of wooden couch..
Conclusion: There is a workable solution for my woodworkin' guy.

Stay tuned for the next post, containing a list of the things we're pretty darn jazzed about... :)

Back at It

 

I've been having a less than optimal 2018, although it has been packed with great things and highlights among the tragedy and stressors. I was thinking that I would need to create at least 10 blog posts to get caught up on this year. But what I've learned is that you can't spend too much time looking backwards, you can't stop time. And no matter how hard I try I won't be able to capture all the sad, all the beautiful, and all the happy. So with that being said here is a short series of blurbs about the first half of 2018. Really looking forward to a much better second-half – come on quarters three and four!

In February 2018 my boss Wendy, who had been covering both the positions of Regional Vice President and Director of Conservation since the passing of our RVP James (suddenly and tragically in January) realized that the two positions were too much for one person, so she passed along the bulk of the Director of Conservation job to me. We didn't have the foresight to backfill my role, not knowing how long it would be before Ontario Region hired a new RVP, so I spent mid February 2018 to mid June 2018 absolutely drowning. Something weird happened, that enabled me to get all the work done for both positions, supervising a total of 11 staff out of Ontario's 35 full-time staff, meeting deadlines, completing business planning, and somehow keeping enough balls in the air that nothing went off the tracks, and some pressing long-term problems even got resolved. I don't know how to describe it except it felt like I kicked it into some sort of high gear I didn't even know I had in me. But what I should've realized it was four months spent in this gear was going to destroy me. And it did. I've experienced burnout before at work, and decently stayed away from it since that time, but here I was again, burned to an absolute crisp. When I look back at pictures or messages from that time I can see and feel my stress – it was tangible, unsustainable and it really took a toll on me. Luckily, when Wendy and I realized that there would not be a new VP hired until at least the fall, I cried mercy, she answered swiftly, and we found a backfill for my position. The backfill is the person from whom I took over the job in 2012, so I couldn't think of a better person to take my place to allow me to focus on the DOC job, allow Wendy to focus on the VP job, and for all of us to truly make sure that everything stays on track and even makes nice progress ahead. Again, it's not to say there weren't highlights during these four months, like my meeting with Margaret Atwood (fangirling hugely), our annual staff retreat, trying out floating (sensory deprivation in saltwater) for three wonderful separate hours of oblivion throughout the month of April, a couple of stolen vacation days which were sanity makers, fun events like the Cardin Challenge, and lots of great memories with friends on weekends and weeknights, and as always clinging to the liferaft I know as Jeff. But Oh. My. Goodness: I couldn't be more glad that it's over. My replacement is now up and running so for at least the next couple of months I will have just one job, this new and interesting challenge of DOC for Ontario Region, and it will be interesting to see what this job actually looks like without the constraints of my usual position preventing me from thinking it the DOC job is anything except sheer and utter torture! ;-)

Carden Challenge highlight: a Red-shouldered Hawk carrying a weasel in its claws. Photo credit Bill McIntyre

No better way to spend 24 hours in the Carden Alvar :) With my team the Bruce and Spruce Moose

So.... when you are overstressed, what else is there to do but sign up for a triathlon, doubling the distance of any triathlon you've done before. So that's what I did! On June 17 the Guelph Lake 1 Sprint Distance Triathlon took place, and I crossed the finish line! I'm not going to pretend I didn't cross the finish line 20th from last out of hundreds of participants, but I'm also very proud that I did cross it and in a reasonable time of two hours and two minutes. It included a 750 m swim, a 19 km bike ride, and a 5 km walk. You're supposed to run that last bit, but with my recurring foot injury due to a loose and unsupportive ligament in my right foot, running is off the table for me. However, I learned that I can walk 5K in 42 minutes, which is pretty excellent! The swim was intense – this race is full of professional triathletes and very serious triathlon club members who take it all VERY seriously. The way people swim in this race almost just makes me laugh every time I'm in the water with them – the splashing, the intensity, the fierceness – when I tried to escape to the outside of the pack on one of the corners one guy lifted his head from the water and frantically screamed at me "you need to go this way!". I think he was thinking that I was just going to keep swimming for the great beyond. He was so stressed out my response was only to laugh. I'm proud I made it out of the water in about 21 minutes, front crawling almost the whole way. Switching to a road bike this year was definitely an advantage, and I think my speed of 23 km/hr on the bike ride was good. Finally, the walk was actually the most fun part for me because I got to chat with other people who were at the back of the pack and not so intensely competitive, and we encouraged each other all the way to the finish line. Getting that medal felt great. It reinforced my love for multisport, and solidified the fact that I'm done with running (at least for now until my foot is in better shape, should I ever be able to get it to that place through annoying physio and strengthening exercises which, really, I just hate). So that means my next event is going to be a "swim/bike", in Niagara on July 29. It's the same distance swim – 750 m – but a 25 kilometer bike ride, including a 1km climb straight up the Niagara escarpment, which should be an interesting challenge. I've ridden up the escarpment one time before, but who's to say I can't just do that again! Also, I had to buy a new tri top due to my excess pounds gained this year from grief and stress eating, rendering me NOT sports bra/tight shorts ready, so I've got to get my money's worth and take it out for at least a few more races!

My parents came to the finish line for me bc Jeff was in Germany, then my dad took this supremely dorky photo for me when we got home

 

I used to always share the stories where I did the stupidest things, and I don't want this post to be an exception. Jeff, my parents and I, were cycling the Waterfront Trail in Burlington/Oakville in May and having a good decent long ride. Jeff had fallen behind due to an equipment issue, so my parents and I turned onto a side street off Lakeshore to wait for him to catch up, and get out of the traffic ourselves. As we waited, we suddenly saw a blur of black on a black bike zoom past, and it didn't stop even when we shouted "Jeff! Jeff!". I was feeling cocky due to recent triathlon training, so I decided to chase Jeff down on my bike. For a good 1.5 km I rode flat out at 33 km/h, but was barely closing the gap. Jeff was riding so fast, presumably to catch up to the rest of us, and even though I was shouting his name he didn't appear to be able to hear me, so I just kept riding and yelling "Jeff! Jeff!". When I saw his head tipped back slightly I screamed "yeah! You!" And " Jeff" stopped. As I neared him I realized that this was not Jeff at all but another cyclist who seemed very shaken up by the angry blonde girl speeding towards him and screaming. I simply said "you are not my husband. You are wearing identical outfits and we lost him. I am SO sorry." I turned around and rode back to where my parents were, and couldn't tell them the story because I was laughing so hard. Luckily we reunited with the real Jeff again at some point along the way and finished our ride.

I want to reflect on all the loss that has happened in early 2018, because I don't want to run away from the idea that death is an inevitable part of life. I know it's just going to keep happening. I keep thinking "don't I get a break from this?", But it just keeps happening and as I get older, everyone I love is going get older too. So to the bosses, moms, aunts, sisters, pregnancies, and all the other losses that were suffered during the first half of 2018, know that you were all loved, that you are also dearly missed, and that the rest of us lucky enough to persevere on this planet will do our best to live

our lives right, for you.

My Aunt Lynne, who passed away on June 28 2018. I'm grateful for the good memories.

 

 

I recently listened to a great podcast featuring Sarah Knight, an author who I hadn't heard of before, and it was a pretty awesome game changer. It inspired me to download and gobble up her e-book The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck (for the record, I am reading or listening to at least 1 to 2 books per week, resurrecting my old grade 5 nickname of "Books" which I know at the least will make Dawn laugh pretty hard). The premise of this spin on Marie's Kondo's classic (around here anyways: instant classic ;)) was to be more authentically you, whatever that means, and recognize and stick to a big list of all the things you have decided are going to care about, and especially all the things you are not going to care about. I found the process of writing both lists incredibly enlightening, uplifting, and freeing,. Writing down words like "I don't care about gardening" and "I never have to run again in my entire life if I don't want to" and "I don't want to discuss current events for more than 5 minutes when I am socializing with people I care about" was so freeing. It's allowing me to own parts of what I want to give my energy to, without yielding to the fact that everybody thinks as a naturalist I should be an amazing gardener, or that as a bright girl I probably want to talk about politics – I don't – politics absolutely depress and disgust me most of the time and I can't handle the pain. On the flipside of that, writing a list of things I did care about, which I dabbled in during my "manifesto" of 2015, was reaffirmation that spending time with people I care about, reading, writing, outdoor fitness, travel, TV shows I love like The Affair (augh - so good - inhaling it right now!), are absolutely things I could, should, would, and will give my time and energy too (that is a sample of the 6 things from a list of like 60 - yikes!). Awesome! Now the trick is continuing to populate the list and remembering that I don't have to care about things that I genuinely don't care about. Whether or not you think I should do them, should care about them, and whatever expectation you have for me – sorry to tell you, if they're on my don't give a f*ck list, they're out of here! If you're interested in taking deep into who you are and what matters to you today, to help you focus how you want to spend your time and energy, I would highly recommend her book.


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It feels so nice to share some life updates and musings, and just to write again, even though writing these days is mostly with my voice because of my persistent tennis elbow issues (as such any crazy grammar errors I blame on my dictation program!). I hope to get back into the swing of writing blog posts regularly and reflecting on some of the things going on in my life, new things I'm thinking about, and sharing of ridiculous stories. It's my hope that putting my thoughts into the world will make people feel less alone if they are thinking about some of the same things as me, inspired to take action in their own lives in a new way they hadn't thought about, to be very sure that they don't want their life to look anything like my life, and best of all if I can get it, to make somebody laugh.... ("Jeff! Jeff!!!!").

 

Last up: I booked our flights to Quito this week. Galapagos Oct/Nov 2018 here we commmmmmme!!!!

Waved Albatross who only live and breed in Galapagos - this bird is thigh-tall for reference!

 

I Got Kondo'd - Steps 4 & 5

So, what was I saying? Ah yes, komono.... step 4.

CRAP WAS EVERYWHERE!

It was in every drawer, every basket, every cabinet. It was in my night table, the kitchen, the living room. Picture loose change, buttons, a spool of thread (I don't sew!), 15 serving platters, hideous mugs, and all that stuff you keep because "I could use this for.." "one day I might.." "maybe someone would want...". UGH! This to me is the bane of the stress that comes with "too much stuff", where you start to feel suffocated and overrun by your possessions. When drawers don't close. When you can't get at the thing you actually want due to all the junk piled in front of it.

I asked myself these types of questions: how many of Item X do I ACTUALLY need? Does having 12 back up wine glasses (along with the set of 8 we have) bring me joy (in my case - hells no!!). Will I ever sew a button on a shirt? If a button falls off a shirt.. isn't that shirt ready to be donated? Will I ever wear this necklace I haven't worn in 15 years again? Just because I wore these shoes to my wedding, do I intend to keep them forever in this shoe organizer, even though they're too fancy to wear anywhere else and the heels are covered in dirt from our outdoor ceremony and pictures? :) Also I think we're really lucky to live in the digital age where saying goodbye to CDs doesn't mean saying goodbye to Nirvana's entire collection of songs, forever. All those CDs were ripped long ago and are available whenever I want them! I have an android box where every movie or tv show I could ever want to see is illegally available to me. :P Every instruction manual for everything I own is online! There are 9,700 versions of a recipe for every type of food item you could ever dream of making, a click away.

And what's with the hoarding? We wouldn't need so much storage space if we didn't buy 87 rolls of toilet paper when they came on sale. Again, the world is very unlikely to end tomorrow, leaving you very glad for all 87 rolls. You live in a city with stores on every corner to buy toilet paper in! And 4 sets of bedsheets for the guest room? I think we could get by with 1! I kept 2 to be safe ;) Just... tone it DOWN, friend! (yelling at myself there.. still in shock about how much stuff there was). Bottom line - we need way, way less shit than we currently have. And with that, we added to our eventual 6 hatchback carloads that went to the dump, Goodwill, Value Village, The Beat Goes On, Royal City Gold.. you name it. We sold a lot of stuff, gave away a ton more (and it felt so, so good) to friends, family, and mainly people we don't know, who need it more than us.

I traced my obsession with stuff back to the days when we first bought this house (let's be honest, the first three years) when I was sick over how house poor we were. I could have no "stuff". I let myself spend $100/year on clothes. No new dishes. No new books. Electronics/toys had to be very well justified to enter our doors! When my step-grandma would load me up with stuff (she was a lover and hoarder of all stuff), I'd cling to it like a life preserver. "I have obtained things! All is well!!" It's amazing what a 180 I did in the span of a month. I denounced presents and gifts that weren't consumables. I loathed giving people gifts this Christmas for fear that they wouldn't use them and I would have just contributed more to their STUFF load. I felt more joy in getting rid of things than acquiring them. I'll be honest.. this process changed me and it was WEIRD.

Kitchen junk drawer - ONE pair of oven mitts, ONE apron, 50% less dish towels, and 1 less set of cloth napkins. Twist ties, elastics, labels, one lighter and one pen. DONE. Damn I wish I had a before pic of the hot mess that was :)

Up last was Step 5: sentimental items.

I threw away 2000 photos!! That's my best estimate. From the ages of 11-23 I took pictures on film at a pretty impressive rate, and had the 20+ photo albums to show for it. I took them all apart, put the pics in chronological order, and as I was doing it, got rid of blurry pics, doubles, pics where no one looked good, 1/2 of a 1997 trip to Greece where I took miscellaneous photos of Dawn in our various hotel rooms. I kept about 1000 pics which someday I'd love to scan (but couldn't justify the cost/time right now). In the bookcase pic in my last post you can see 7 photo albums, plus our wedding album. Set for life!

I recycled 4 shoeboxes of notes from high school. I kept the ones that made me laugh out loud. Truth, I didn't read them all. High School Kristyn is actually not who I am anymore, and while I'm glad she had the experiences she did, she was a boy-crazy, drama-lovin' typical teenager. Plus, if I ever need a trip down memory lane, I have her diaries (oh gawd.. mortifying..).

I threw out another 4 shoeboxes of miscellaneous memories - every movie stub, beer bottle cap, napkin from a restaurant while traveling, etc etc etc etc. The purple paper covered box you see in the bookcase pic (last post) is what I kept and where I'll keep a few future worthy items. What's in there now: a few key high school notes from characters like Dawn, Nicole and Jana, cards with sweet messages that made me smile or tear up, the ticket to my first (and last and almost every in between :)) Leafs game, and all the beautiful love notes Jeff has written me. I shed tears and laughter, and in the process, a lot of space/stuff/weight/emotions. What remains is that purple shoebox, those photo albums, a tote of diaries and stories, and ... that's it.

I would like to solve the mystery of who the heck wrote me this funniest email ever in high school. I was hysterically laughing about it - whoever it was shares my very random sense of humour. If you're someone I have on fb, please let me know, and thank you (then and now) for the laughs!!

I'm light as a feather. There is so much space around here. And even though my house looks basically the same to an outsider, I'm finding it WAY easier to relax in, WAY easier to clean up and keep clean, WAY more appealing to come home to and way easier to focus on what matters: my relationships, my hobbies, living a healthy life, and relaxing in a bath with a thousand candles lit because, guys, I finally found where I was keeping the extra candles!!

Also, doesn't this battery drawer (that used to not open) just look so chill?! ;)



Basement storage area, 1/2 of what used to be here, everything you need to reach can be reached with one move. And GOODBYE PLASTIC CHRISTMAS TREE! One of my favourite moves :)




Anyways, that's the extent of my thoughts about this process that I can share. Definitely would recommend it to anyone. If you can't imagine going as hardcore as me, don't. Just start small. Maybe do your clothes, or your books. It gets a little addictive (having trouble watching movies or tv shows without mentally editing the contents of their bookcases in the background). So thanks, Marie, you slightly kooky organizing lady. It was indeed life-changing!