Great Idea: On a Misson...

For the past week I've been on a mission.  A mission to regain some freedom.
I'm a wife and mother.  I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I'm an entrepreneur and business owner.  I'm an artist and illustrator.  I'm also a chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, nurse, music teacher, law enforcement officer, teacher, and food source.
I like being all of these things.  They're what make me who I am.  But sometimes I feel like some of those personas start to take over.  Sometimes I feel like my housekeeping side never gets a break.  And then the Crank Monster comes to live at my house...I get crabby.  And not so nice.
Lately I have been feeling so overwhelmed by all of the 'things' I have to do.  I realized that a big part of that was actually just the stuff that had accumulated around us.  Too much stuff.
So this week I decided I'd had enough of the emotional and physical stuff weighing me down, and I started to de-junk.  
Following much of the advice that Katie (from The Red Kitchen) has been giving in her series, Living With Less, I started sorting out unnecessary 'things'...including guilt.
I went through the kitchen, the toys, the kids' clothes, my clothes, the books, even my craft room *gasp*...and do you know what happened?
I feel great.  I feel lighter.  I feel happier.  I've realized that I'm a happier mommy, wife, and person when I'm not so stressed out.  When I can concentrate on doing things that important AND on things that are fun.  When we have a schedule in place.
And...
So does the rest of my family.  Things they thought they couldn't live without are gone...and they don't miss them.  There have been fewer arguments.  There has been time to do the fun stuff.
So tomorrow we're having a yard sale...and completely getting rid of all of this:

And I couldn't be happier!