31 Days of Enjoying the Busy Season {Days 18-24}

I'm back. I have been thoroughly enjoying a much needed break! I have specific things to post about, but need to find the time to do it.

This past weekend, the kids and I headed to Missouri to spend some time with my parents. We enjoyed some downtime, an 80th birthday party for my grandma, and I had a rare night out with just my mom and sister for dinner and a movie (Footloose ... Excellent!)

One way that I always feel when I come home from an extended stay at my parents' is INSPIRED.

My mom and dad have embraced their upcoming retirement years. They are only 62 and 60, but have decided to switch some things up so as to enjoy themselves more. They sold their big house in the country for a small house right on Main Street in the town where I grew up. They bought a small house in Florida. And they have their little lakehouse in the Ozarks. Life for them has gotten simple, and they are so much happier!

Being in a small town has it's advantages (and disadvantages). But it is kind of nice to walk to the bank, and Dollar General, and the post office, and the hair salon, and the grocery store, and the Dairy Queen. We did a lot of that. I didn't start my car from the day I got there until the day we left.

My mom has always taken good care of herself, so she inspires me to do the same. She eats healthy and exercises, always has and always will. She makes me want to be better at it.

My mom is also an excellent housekeeper. Her home is always clean and tidy and inviting. She always makes me want to come home and start decluttering, organizing, and purging. In fact, last night we got home around 5:30 p.m. and I immediately went upstairs and steam cleaned the carpets. I am ready to tackle some bedrooms and closets to get rid of some stuff! The less you have, the less you have to keep up with and clean!

Anyway. We had a great weekend that allowed me to recharge. I plan to hit a couple of things really hard between now and Thanksgiving: Eating well and exercising, going through all of our closets and dressers and the kids' toys, and blasting through lots of school work. Then I will feel so good about a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.

Glad to be back!