{ on my mind }

I'm taking a brief hiatus from blogging while I tackle getting my life in order, scratch some stuff off of my to do list, get back in shape, begin working on my spring gardening projects, etc.

I recently came across this quote and it really resonated with me. “Stop every now and then to evaluate whether you are really learning or enjoying as much as you would like. If not, have the courage to find out why and then change your path of study.” - Clare Walker Leslie

This Spring figure out what you want to put your energy towards. Now is the time! If YOU don’t get clear on what you want, then the space won't be there to create that life and there is no way the universe can give it to you.

So here's how I'm changing my path this spring...

I deactivated my facebook account and have been taking a hiatus from twitter.
I deleted my google reader account to less than 20 blogs.
I returned a few items that I recently bought because I realized I didn't need them.
I dropped off 6 more boxes of stuff to donate to the local shelter & thrift store.
I let go of some past family drama and sought out peace.
I almost bought a yogurt maker and then realized that my time is more valuable than any potential savings so I put it back. I can buy Stonyfield Organic Yogurt and support a good company. Same with the chickens. Dreams of turning our backyard shed into a chicken coop gave way to a much stronger desire to have less things to take care of. So I will continue buying our eggs from Lindsey, a sweet woman with a small family farm nearby. I will support her family and let her muck out the chicken coop instead of me. ;)
I let my personal assistant go in my desire to meet some of our financial goals more quickly. I am just going to work less. I am going to ship less frequently. I am not doing wholesale accounts anymore with the exception of The Container Store (they are delightful to work with). The smaller store accounts created a payment collection nightmare. I am just letting LobotoME be what it is and am working on letting go of my grand expectations and lofty business goals.
I'm cooking healthy meals for the family and we don't eat things that my grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.
I'm ramping back up with p90x and starting to run more now that the weather has gotten better outside. I'm taking care of ME.
I'm purging my closet again. Check out my ebay listings here.

I want to be with my family (with the secondary plus of bringing in additional revenue on the side)...I don't want to put my kids in daycare or farm them out to others if I don't have to. I don't want to be on the computer when I could be playing with them. I want to swim in the pond and have picnics everyday this summer with them. So that's what I'm going to do.

I'll be back later this spring but in the meantime I leave you with a few inspired posts from around blog-land....

Running a Business and Finding Balance from Tara at Ink+Wit

I Choose (words to live by)

Intrigued by this concept.

Love the thought of this...home as vacation.

The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in your Life

Home Farming Tips

Start Your Day in 33 Different Ways

101 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up

Tiny Spring Baskets (perfect for May Day)

The Suck Factor of Life Balance

My Brain on Sales via Daily Worth {we can all relate, can't we?}

This Video {I need Africa more than Africa needs ME}

I like this idea of having a "uniform" and coordinating pieces and getting rid of the rest. I really want to simplify my look and my belongings. I'm feeling another closet purge coming on...

And I'm still in love with Jamie Oliver's new show, Food Revolution. The cooking flash mob=brilliant! Catch up on past episodes here. Sign the petition here. And if you don't know what your kids are eating at school, I BEG you to go, look, learn, get involved (and in the meantime PACK healthy lunches + snacks for your kids).

print pictured above available here.