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Work smarter, not harder, right?

I think he was onto something.

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My aunt told me about this challenge years ago. She said that if you get rid of one thing each day – even if it’s something as small as a paperclip – at the end of the year you will have made significant progress in cleaning up your house.

I thought of this challenge as I was hanging my new calendar. What if, to keep myself honest, I wrote what it was that I got rid of each day on the calendar? So far, this has turned out to be a great motivator. Trying to sort out an entire desk drawer might seem intimidating, but getting rid of that cable from a camera you don’t even have anymore is easy. After a while, these little steps add up.

I wish I could say that the place looks neater already. Instead I can say that the stack of items I have to give to charity is growing steadily. I keep hoping that somehow my donations will make it to areas of the country that have been devastated. Their loss is so great. I want to help, but I have so little. Perhaps this will be a way for me to make a difference.

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Looking for ways to stay warm? Consider this cozy quilt!

This rustic Bear Paw Quilt would fit in nicely at a cabin by the lake or thrown over your couch at home.  The pattern is geometric, and the colors are bold yet earthy.  The overall effect of the quilt is of paw prints in snow.  On sunny days, the colors look so inviting it is hard not to lie down on them and take a nap.

Handmade Bear Paw Quilt and other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.