40 Bags in 40 Days Update

So every year during Lent, I do 40 Bags in 40 Days.  This year I am behind, but as my fiancé is calling it, the "great purge of 2014" is underway.  He has done well at this task..getting rid of most of the 1990s that somehow stayed in his closet for all of these years.  Now if I can only get rid of that velour track suit...if only!

I am slowly but surely getting rid of the clutter, and will continue to keep myself honest. 

I just donated 3 bags of clothes, shoes, and purses to Goodwill.  Things that I haven't used in 1+ years, usually doesn't make the cut in my closet.  I have it paired down quite a bit, and I also have an area of clothes to sell.  Standby for the next great Ebay extravaganza.  Some lucky lady got a JCREW coat for the cheap last time! 

I am also a binder girl.  Yup.  I said it.  Binders.  Everywhere.  Work, Home, School.  Binders. 

I have one for recipes, one for the wedding, one for finances...you get the picture.  Supa dupa organized.  Have to be in this crazy world. 

40 bags in 40 days

I have followed Sarah's blog for quite some time, and she has motivated me to do 40 bags in 40 days.  I do this each year during Lent, as well as the time leading up to a big move.

How easy is it to just go after 1 thing a day, and get your house pared down to just the essentials?  I have found so many clothes to donate, magazines to toss, and expired Benadryl.  Don't we all have these things...aka..gremlins in our homes? 

I have taken all of my old tee shirts to mail off and make a blanket with project repat.  30 old tee shirts just lying around in my drawers.  30 shirts I never wear anymore.  Wowsa.  I have probably moved with these tees about 10 times.  Thank goodness for repurposing things in life! 

I have also started selling old clothes I don't wear on ebay.  I figure if I buy new things, sell the old things that are still in good condition, and make some money back. 

Off to binge and purge my friends!

Arugula Salad

I found this amazing salad recipe on www.skinnytaste.com.  You can find the recipe here.

The recipe was super easy, and fresh.  I love a fresh salad, which is why I remember the two best salads I have had this year (Hotel Viking and Castle Hill).  Both of these restaurants ensure they have the freshest ingredients in everything they make.

Arugula Salad

I am definitely using the leftovers to make another fresh salad today.  I used freshly grated Parmesan cheese, because that is all I had in my fridge.  I really hope this go around on WW helps me lose weight.  You will see me post a lot of recipes from Gina's site because the food is amazing.

Lent

I feel like this time of year has creeped up on me so quickly!  I have been super stressed out lately, so I hope I can come back to a better place and really focus on what this time of year is about.

Things I will try to do this Lent:
No Meat on Fridays
Fasting
Limit TV (I have been really good about this the past 8 months!)
Go to Church more often
Perform good works of Mercy

I used to volunteer a couple of times a month in Chicago.  It is almost impossible to do this in Rhode Island.  We sign up for stuff, and never get calls back.  It can be a bit discouraging sometimes.

I feel that with the above, in addition to working out more, and doing my "40 bags in 40 days" from the Clover Lane blog, I can accomplish a lot and be my best self. 

To add to this list...a friend of mine and I are organizing a project to honor a friend of ours who died training to be a Navy pilot.  I will keep you posted on our memorial.  I got the idea today, and we are trying to make the plan come to life.