now it's getting personal

Quick update--we've been working on a kitchen remodel, which was started before the halve-ing project, so that has taken up some of our time the last few days, but we did have a brief "discussion" over whether or not to eliminate the toaster oven that Brett had bought for me for either my Birthday or Christmas two years ago (my birthday is 5 days before Christmas, so those gifts tend to run together in my mind).  When Brett gave me the toaster oven, I was very excited, because despite already having both a toaster and an oven, I thought it would be nice for making toasted sandwiches (you can't put an entire sandwich in the toaster, and it seemed silly to me to use the oven for one tiny sandwich).  It was also convenient for making garlic bread to go with baked ziti, since I could be baking the ziti in the oven, while cooking the garlic bread in the toaster oven simultaneously, and time it just right so the ziti would just have enough time to set and be ready to eat right as the garlic bread finished.  Though, more difficult than giving up the aforementioned conveniences, particular for Brett, was parting with the fact that that toaster oven has a POEWR button instead of a POWER button--making it infinitely more POEWRFUL and special than an ordinary toaster oven only possessing mere POWER.

This "discussion" lasted a couple of days.  First, I simply suggested maybe we could think about getting rid of the toaster oven, even though it was a fantastic and thoughtful and PERFECT gift.....and after some grumbling and arguing about it's usefulness, and could we really tolerate putting the garlic bread in after the ziti finished and then having to wait the extra 5-10 minute that would take....Brett came around and agreed that we don't really need it and we could use the extra counter space.

Here is our final picture of the POEWRFUL machine that we parted with yesterday:

And I have to say, it's only going to get tougher from here.  This project is all about creating the life we want to live, and it's going to take some tough self-love along with the ever present Peter Walsh voice in my head saying things like, "No more excuses!"  "You are the only one standing in the way of the life you want!"  (yes, Peter Walsh can be harsh, have you ever watched Clean Sweep?  But, let's face it, he's right)  And when we think about what we hope to gain out of this experience, we know it is so worth it, to clear the clutter from our lives and create the kind of peaceful, easily maintainable home that will allow us to spend more time on the important things like playing with our kids, cooking healthy meals together, having quality family time, enjoying the company of friends, and fighting over whether we should watch Survivor or The Office on Thursday night since we only watch one T.V. show per day :)

Thanks for the comments, and especially the ENCOURAGEMENT!!!, because we are gonna need it!