A Year in The Life
This website is 15 months old. As fast as time passes, I think it’s important to reflect on what’s happened.
While I don’t advocate living in the past, I think it’s important to take a look at the last year. See what events or people have shaped your life, learn from your success and failure, and be better because of it.
With that explanation and because I promised you an update, I present…
A year in the life 2010-2011
Project 333.Last year I announced my desire to dress with less. I invited you to join my experiment and dress with 33 items or less for 3 months including clothing, accessories, shoes and jewelry. Project 333 became more than a minimalist fashion experiment. It became a website, a news story, and for me and many others, it became a lifestyle.
The Chia Chronicles. After reading Fuel Your Run the Tarahumara Way by Matt Frazier, I announced that I would cook my way through each recipe, sort of like the Julie and Julia Project, but without a time restraint. I reviewed a few recipes and learned more about chia seeds. Because the project has no deadline, I am happy to report it is still in progress and hope to have a new review for you this Fall.
My Make-up Obsession. I don’t like to talk about this much, but you should know, I used to own too much make-up. I didn’t wear too much, just owned too much. I had this thing about make-up counters and high end cosmetics. I’ve cut back, way back. I don’t have a picture of my newly improved make-up drawer, but will share one this week on Twitter.
The Starbucks Experiment. In May, I confessed that I spent $225 in one month at Starbucks, and promised to use that money to make a difference. Even though some of you thought the post was a paid promotion for Starbucks, I promise you, it was not. Instead, it was my way of giving the money I gave to Starbucks, to people in need. I made and have since distributed more than 50 paper bags filled with snacks, juice and $3.00. I gave the bags away from my car when I drove by anyone with a sign asking for help. I walked around parks with friends handing them out, and left bags by people sleeping on the ground with everything they owned. I had reactions like, “Is this really all for me?” to “When are you coming back here” and even a few tears and “God Bless You”s. While this project did not change the plight of the homeless, it did change me. I’ll be making more bags this month.
My Book. I wrote and released an ebook this year called “Simple Ways to be More with Less”. It is still available for purchase and if you would like to sell it on your website, I offer an affiliate program.
Adventures in Running. Once again, I tried to become a runner. My knees and hips screamed no! I listened. Instead, I’ve been walking, hiking, cycling and doing yoga. I may turn to running again someday, but for now, more gentle activities are better for my body. Luckily, I did not invest in running shoes or other equipment.
Fighting MS. I asked for your help and you responded by donating money to Team TLC. My husband is flying out this week to ride 100km with my sister-in law and Team TLC to fight MS. Thank you for your kind notes, prayers and generous donations. It’s not to late to donate if you are interested.
For the love of dog. Guinness, our family dog, had a very successful surgery in late May on his right rear leg. He was almost ready, after 2 months of very limited leash walking to get the backyard to himself again, when his left leg gave into the pressure of the rehabilitation. This Thursday he’ll have the same surgery on his other leg, and I’ll be sleeping on the couch again. By 2012 he will be running in snow and hiking on his favorite trails.
Next year, I am thinking about participating in Ali Edward’s special project, A Week in the Life. It looks like a beautiful way to document the real goodness in our day to day lives.
As you can see, I like to experiment. I’m not a tinkerer of stuff but definitely an experimenter of less in life. Usually those experiments, like the ones mentioned above + killing tv, and traveling lightly become part of my lifestyle.
What’s next? I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you that I’ll be letting you know about some exciting new projects and big changes. (really soon)
Thank you for being a part of my life and experiments. You are the people, the friends that have shaped my life for the past 15 months and I am grateful that we are in this together.
Go ahead, look back. What special project or person helped shape your life in the past year?
P.S. I’ll be emailing you if you won a copy of Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence. It is clear from the 100+ comments on last week’s post that recognizing what is enough is a big step in living the life you want. I’ll be writing more about that. Feel free to comment with additional topics you are interested in or contact me via email.
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Writing my blog has been a huge change factor for me this past year. Connecting with others who have gone through burnout, stress, and breakdown has brought healing and has been so rewarding! It has propelled me on now to even bigger projects and challenges!
You have definitely come a long way Courtney!
Bernice
You too Bernice! So glad you have had such a powerful year.
I’m new to your site — I discovered you through your chia-seed cooking project and Matt at No Meat Athlete — so I especially enjoyed this overview of your year. Replacing your Starbucks fix with acts of giving was something that I found particularly moving. Thanks for sharing some highlights of your year!
Deborah, I’m glad you found me! Stay tuned for more chia seed recipe reviews. Matt’s cookbook is great!
I think your Starbucks Experiment is wonderful. It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the demand for help, and so simple – and wonderful – to respond to a need the best way you can. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thanks Desi, That project brought so much joy to my life. It was so amazing to be able to really reach out.
Sounds like a fabulous year!! I’m all for experiments too (doing a green extreme couponing one for charity right now). I figure life is one giant experiment, so I want to give it all a shot! I’m very interested in your affiliate program too! Is the book available for kindles & nooks?
The book is on Amazon for Kindle and but the affiliate program is only for the ebook via my website. You can read more about it here: http://courtneycarver.com/simple-ways-to-be-more-with-less/
I’ve been reading for awhile but this is the first time I’ve commented. I somehow missed your “Starbucks” experiment but now that I’ve read the story, I just wanted to comment about what an inspiration it was to me. What a beautiful example of one of my favorite quotes:
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa
Thanks for continuing to write posts that are meaningful, thought-provoking, kind-hearted and inspirational. I look forward to reading what the next year has in store for you!
Thanks Lindsay, I love that quote!
I loved seeing what you’ve done these past 15 months. A review every now and then is helpful to rediscover the tracks that have led to the present moment. I love the variety of your experiments
and have found them to be very inspirational. Thanks for writing & sharing your creative mind with us!
Thanks Susan. I love that through these projects and experiments I can see what life really has to offer.
Courtney,
This post is so juicy, I love it. Just checked out a year in a life. Love the thought of doing that. The other reason this is so cool is because I had a chnace to learn about a few things I missed. It’s your authenticity and honesty that steals my heart. xoxo
I love you Tess!
Your honesty is inspiring!
Thanks Gladys!
Well i started my blog on April 1st 2011 – april fools day. I’ve just had a look, i didn’t remember. It has evolved and will continue to do so. I’d like to delete the original blog but for now it continues to run along side my new blog.
I found your blog during one of the 333 projects, i say somewhere because it was in the middle of it and i thought what a great idea, either the 1st round or the 2nd. I’m not a great hoarder of clothes and it actually made me go out and chose new things very wisely. There are some blogs i follow for a few weeks or months but yours is still around and it continues to be good, so thank you.
Bev, So glad you keep coming back. Congrats on your blog!
Nice blog, great post! Well done, and congratulations!
It was many beautiful things you did Courtney!
Big Congrats.
Expecting your next year’s update too, while I will definitely prepare my own simple writable one too
The biggest change for me (and DH) was going to marriage counseling within the past year. It has made us realize who we are as individuals and who we are as a couple and strengthened our marriage. We are extremely close to becoming debt free (1 house payment and a student loan to go!) and my new relationship and respect for money has made a definite impact in our lives!
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great content on our website. Keep up the good writing.