"Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want" - Mark Twain

Infomercials, magazines, catalogues, commercials, and miscellaneous advertising come into our consciousness daily. The advertisers know their demographics and are masters at appealing to adults and children through TV commercials. They want us to buy the latest, best, and biggest of whatever they are offering.

Needs and wants are two very different things. We need food, a roof over our heads and clothes to cover our bodies. We need an income to pay for our house, utilities, and car. When it comes to what we want, the sky is the limit. But, is what we want realistic?

We encourage you to begin simplifying your life. It is a freeing experience to realize that we are in control of our things, not the other way around. If we are constantly purchasing the best, latest, and greatest for ourselves and our children, we soon find out that we no longer have room for much of anything. Lori and I want to help bring you clarity by urging you to take control of your space by limiting what enters. Surround yourself and your family only with things that you love or have deep feelings for.

When our parents and grandparents were growing up, usually nothing new was purchased unless the used item lost value. Either it stopped working, became worn, or too small. We are in a society now that purchases items to make us feel a certain way. We think our kids deserve so many pairs of shoes, clothes, or toys, because we might not have had them when we were small.

Just like grocery stores and other merchandisers who utilize the first in first out system, we are asking you to think about this concept. For example, when a new pair of shoes come into your closet, take an inventory of your other shoes and determine if another pair have overstayed their welcome. We c

an only wear so many pairs of black shoes! The same idea fits for any new item that is brought into your home.

Take an inventory of what is in your laundry room or clean laundry baskets. It is interesting to note that what's in the dirty clothesbasket are usually what we enjoy wearing or what fits. What is left in the closet is typically what we do not wear as much, or at all. Clothes, toys, and memorabilia are all things that we tend to hang on to much longer than we should. "We might wear it, they might play with it, my mother-in-law gave it to me,” are all excuses for hanging on to things.

Think before you buy. We know that feeling of buying something that you've had your heart set on and saved your money to purchase. It feels great. We might even tell ourselves that we "deserve this.” Often though, things are purchased without much thought at all. Those items that creep into our homes without much thought are usually the ones that begin to add to our clutter. In order to stop clutter before it begins to make piles, we need to pay attention to what is coming through our doors. Do you really need it?

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