Cooke's Frontier {Episode # 20}

* Finding freedom by cutting clutter. I think there are two kinds of clutter- physical clutter and mental clutter. Physical clutter is the stuff that you see- decorations, appliances and stuff. Mental clutter is anything that steals your piece of mind. It can be tv, phone, disorganization. It can be a lot of things and physical and mental clutter can go hand in hand. Riding yourself of some or all of it is actually pretty easy if it's a choice you decide to make. For example, nixing microwave and toaster to make space for a smaller toaster oven can save space in your kitchen. Cutting land lines and cable can free you of needless distraction and allow you to focus more firmly on the things that you want to do.  Not only that, it can also you may also save money. Not just saving by cutting the service, but also because you will find more time to do things- like cooking from scratch, learning a skill like knitting or crochet that you can use to make useful items or gifts for your family. You'll be amazed at how much you can get accomplished if you don't have cable tv lingering in the background. When people ask me how I do it, I tell them I just do! I have little distraction, other than my kids, during my day and that allows me to do more of what I want.

* A less cluttered home takes less time to clean, thus allowing you more time to do the things you want to. It also makes it easier to train children to help clean, since things are simpler and you aren't worried about the kids breaking or ruining something. Having kids help is not always a time saver, but it's important for their well being that they learn to take on responsibility.

* Sparse homes aren't very welcoming, but neither are ones that are so crowded with stuff that they seem to be bursting. I was recently invited into a home and while it was lovely and beautifully clean, it was so full of collections, pictures and furniture that there was literally floor to ceiling in every room. It made a small house seem unbelievably small, but it also made me feel claustrophobic. Even the halls had floor to ceiling pictures! It must be a nightmare to clean and you know that each item on display cannot be the owners most favorite simply because there is such a mass quantity of stuff. It takes all day several times a week just to dust the collections. I certainly don't begrudge people the ability to decorate as they see fit, but I do begin to wonder when the decorations become a full time job. By surrounding yourself with beautiful objects that you absolutely love and cherish, including your family,  you are creating a home. When you stuff your house with items because you like having collections, you choose to create an environment that your family has to live around instead of a home for them to live in.\

* Cut cable and watch less tv. It's a simple thing, really but probably the one that people balk the most at. What we have learned from becoming cable-less is that there was never very much that we actually wanted to watch on tv- but we would watch tv anyway. We would fill our time finding something to fill our time and end up watching crappy tv. We would get sucked into watching reality tv show and we all know that they are less than real. Also, and this may just be us, but commercials that are aired during cable are terrible. They aren't really what I want my kids watching. We have more time to be a family this way, to read books out loud or to ourselves, to have hobbies, to be outside or just to be.....quietly and together. I'm not saying watching tv is bad, we watch Netflix and movies, but having an outlet where you can control the content and not have commercials is a bonus. So is the time not spent watching a show I could care less about. You'll be amazed at the entertainment your family can find when you aren't staring at a tv screen.

* basically, cleaning your house of physical and mental clutter can be a challenge, BUT it's worth it. You'll save time, money and stress.

*recipe of the day- Fry bread

*reader questions- when do you think kids are ready for chores? How can I begin cooking from scratch? Where do you find the time to blog?