A weekend reset in Vermont
A couple of weeks ago we took a quick trip up to Vermont. The timing was coincidental in that we planned it during peak leaf season. I found the perfect cottage on a horse farm in Southwestern Vermont and it was just what our family of 4 needed. I had reached burn out with work and home life and needed a reset. This location was PERFECT.
My only goal for this trip was to relax and see where the day took us. I didn’t plan for anything and ended up renting a full size crib, mattress and kids toys from BabyQuip (personal plug - I’m a BabyQuip quality provider! Check out my site here). Renting the kids items was awesome. We didn’t have to cart everything up with us and the QP delivered, set up and picked up. Not to mention Bee has outgrown everything, including the travel crib.
We had slow and easy mornings where we didn’t have to rush off to school or have endless piles of laundry to do. We took our time and once the temperature warmed up, we put on our boots and jackets and walked down to the paddocks to visit the horses. We searched for salamanders and frogs at the pond and went on nature walks. This was also the bonding trip the kids needed. They played so well together and ever since coming home, they’ve continued to play together. It’s been so wonderful to see.
Coming home I felt so defeated (granted I had a sinus cold that made the return trip awful) and walking into the house made me feel claustrophobic. I acknowledge that I am very in tune with my environment and if my surroundings feel chaotic and messy I am drastically impacted. The Vermont house was an AirBnB so it had just enough plate settings for the 8 people that could occupy the space and it was sparsely decorated. It also meant quick cleanups which was a game changer. So now I’m slowly going through my house and trying to simplify. Realistically this is our home so it’s going to have more stuff than an AirBnb but do I need multiples of everything, no. Do I need tons of decorations and clutter? Also no. Having less to clean and organize on a regular basis means I can spend more time with the kids on weekends and less time straightening up or feeling overwhelmed when chaos takes over. It also clears the mental clutter that occupies my brain.
I’ve decided to start by slowly tackling spaces. I first did the spaces where junk collects: the one kitchen drawer, top of the fridge, linen closet and bathroom cabinets. Next I’ll tackle each room and take my time. I typically zip through to just get it done and move on to the next space but my goal this time around is to not have to do this again.
What are some organizational tips that have helped you create a calm space?
