I know most folks tend to consider their life goals at the beginning of the new year, I always tend to re-evaluate in March. I think it’s because it’s the month of my birthday (one year wiser – I like to put things I’ve leant into practice as it were) Spring is just around the corner and we are usually in the midst of planning a holiday or two.

This year March is also the month of Mabel’s birthday, she will be turning one and so many things will change almost all at once, which makes me both sad and secretly relieved in equal measure. We’ll be moving her from formula to whole milk, we endeavour to drop the dummy (wish us luck!) and it is becoming increasingly apparent that we need to re-think some of the furniture and layout of our home. Some areas are particularly non child friendly (really, I am not exaggerating) and now that Mabel is crawling at the speed of light and pulling herself up at every given opportunity we need to try and remove as many obvious dangers as we can.

I will no doubt shed a tear when the bottle steriliser makes it’s merry way to the loft. I shall however embrace significantly more kitchen counter surface area.

The whole “simple living” and “de-cluttering” motion seems to be very much on trend right now and I have to say, fashionable or not, I am firmly climbing aboard the less-is-more train. Since Mabel arrived we have acquired So. Much. Stuff. It’s not as if we didn’t expect it (many a weary space deprived parent pre-warned us) it’s just we seemed to have gotten ourselves into a situation where during this period of mass accumulation we seemingly haven’t disposed of anything at all.

I actually stood in my home office the other day looking into the depths of my giant cupboard (no, I didn’t share it in the interior feature..) at all the many shoot props, hardly used and discarded cosmetics and hair styling products, the vast array of un-read books… and realised I would feel infinitely more organised and well….just better if I had a good old sort out. Then I went and had a wee review of my closet (taking into account the many crates of clothes I know are already awaiting their new friend the bottle steriliser in the loft) and actually felt really quite annoyed with myself.

A few days and a thorough review of the rest of the house later I actually felt like some kind of bloody self-confessed hoarder. Who needs 136 bud vases?! Why do I have so many cake tins?! Why do we insist on keeping items we never use?!

Without wanting to get all dramarama on your serene Monday morning selves I can only describe it as feeling really quite suffocating. We are literally drowning in material goods and unwanted things.

As a general rule I’ve always been pretty good with Mabel’s belongings and necessary bits and bobs, at the end of every 3 month “growth” period I pack everything she has outgrown/no longer needs away in neatly labelled boxes – or throw/give away anything we just don’t see ourselves ever using again. I don’t really understand why I haven’t applied this method to my life in general. Out with the old in with the new as they say. And most definitely less new. And altogether more considered new.

So far I have made rather excellent progress with my wardrobe, chucking out an entire bin bag of pieces I have inadvertantly ruined/worn out/stretched during pregnancy and put together a box of bumpf ready for eBay (my track record for actually getting as far as listing anything on eBay is notoriously bad but just last week I sold both a pair of boots and a fancy bag and made over £100!)

I still have a LONG way to go but there is a whole 30 days of March left and I am majorly motivated to simplify the way we live, I’ll obviously update you on progress.

Other Lovely Things For Spring

1. As a family I would like us to spend more time outdoors, I think we need to be be braver with facing the unpredictable British climate, a bit of rain never hurt anyone. Plus, I can always buy a cool cagoule right?

I am genuinely looking forward to more long walks and if the sun does decide to make an appearance – picnics in the park.

2. I’m re-thinking the essentials in my kitchen cupboards. I want to be able to make quick and easy but ultimately fresh dishes without too much faff, so far it’s been fun and we’ve added a few delicious and nutritious recipes to our evening meal repertoire.

3. I’m going to take more pictures. And learn at least the fundamental basics of good photography, I don’t want my new camera to become an item that sits gathering dust along with the multiple cake tins.

4. Flowers make me happy. REALLY happy. I shall be not having less of those but more. Many more. Hopefully I will be able to take half decent pictures of them. Now then, what was it I was saying about those 136 bud vases…….

What are your spring clean plans for March?

Was there anything you did in particular when your littles turned one in terms of moving onto cows milk/dummy disposal?

Any methods you can recommend I adopt in order to simplify my life as a whole?