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Savannah Scott Romcom Author

The End of the Year Purge

December 28, 2015 By Patty Leave a Comment

28 Dec

Do you all get like me at the end of the year?  I just have to purge!

I purge at the end of summer and usually each member of our family purges one item each day in November, but I somehow missed that boat this year, so I’m on double-duty to purge now.

A LEGACY OF CLUTTER

My childhood was riddled with things. We reused or kept everything from screws to paper for the potential that someday, somehow we would make use of them.  You know the bolt you may just need … that mismatched sock that somehow has a partner that may show up … the sentimental scraps of artwork from every craft day in elementary school, tattered and faded, but precious enough to avoid the ever-looming trash can?  

Photo by Simson Petrol

My mother married a genius of a man who has a penchant for reading five to twenty items at a time … all over the home.  You literally struggle to find an open seat for want of misplacing the magazine, newspaper or book taking a respite in the very spot meant for your tush.  Ah well, genius has its price.  He is a keeper, so we all endure the scattering of literature and scientific journals.

All that said, you can easily see why I am at odds with clutter.  I have the seeds of sentimentality sown deeply into my psyche.  Every little thing has a meaning and threatens potential loss if thrown out. 

IT’S NOT YOUR MAMA’S CLUTTER

Still, after years of living with my husband and all the inevitable accumulation of what-nots, junk and miscellany, I got the itch to ditch.  Add to that equation my two boys (now 7 and 14 years old) and we have a veritable hoardfest if I don’t get serious, lay down the law and bring out the empty Trader Joe’s bags several times a year. 

Photo by Ashim dSilva

This, my friends, is one of those times.  All through Advent I am caught up in the spiritual significance of the season, but once the blessed day of Christmas has come and gone (forgive me all ye lovers of the 12 days …) I’m ready to pull up the C-Train, and start tossing!

WHY THE RUSH TO PURGE?

You might ask why I’m in such a fevered-pitch to get rid of stuff and whip out the label maker and see-through Tupperware shoe boxes so I can organize to my heart’s content.  It’s quite simple.

I want to own my stuff.  I don’t want my stuff to own me.

Every year I have found that all this miscellaneous stuff doesn’t only take up room in my home.  It rents space in my brain.  The mittens stuffed away in a rubbermaid in the garage, the candlesticks up on top of the laundry shelves, the old playdough, gone hard in its container due to lack of use – they may be out of sight, but they aren’t out of mind.  

Every time I toss, give or sell something, I am lighter.  It’s as good as shedding a few pounds – and at my age, it’s far easier.

THOSE THINGS WE CLING TO

I have improved over the years in this habit of purging.  We do two “end of season” purges (as mentioned above).  One before starting back to school and one after Christmas.  The other big purge has to do with making Thanksgiving truly thankful.  We each purge one item a day in the month of November and that allows us to keep what we love: whatever is beautiful, meaningful or purposeful. 

It’s ironic how letting go of what was unnecessary or no longer useful makes you appreciate what you keep all the more.

Photo by Aleksi Tappura

Here’s what’s also a bit funny to me …  How is it after purging as a habit and routine for years now, I still end up with things that have been around and survived purge after purge?  I think it has to do with my ability to let go.  Each year I outgrow this strange and false belief that my things are vital.  I realize that I hold the truly important memories and sentiments in my heart.  No bucket, box or attic full of mementos will recapture the significance of those moments. 

CHERISH THE PRESENT

I’m allowing time to go by more freely and I am cherishing the now more than the “what was.”  I’m making room for the future – holding my hand open.  Clearing out physical space is a spiritual exercise too.  Don’t get me wrong, I kept some very precious things from my boys’ childhoods.  God help the person who tries to throw out my oldest son’s stuffed dog or my second born’s first lost tooth.  Still, each year I get a bit better about saying “farewell” to some things that seemed impossible to release just six months back.

Photo by Annie Spratt

For those of you in need of a little purging inspiration, I wrote a little “Dr Suess-ish” story to inspire you …

I’m on a roll and it won’t stop there, 
I’ll purge the cupboards til they’re nearly bare … 
 I’ll toss things we can’t or don’t use at all … 
I’ll search through the attic, under beds, down the hall. 

This purging gives life, makes room and brings peace … 
When I finish here, I’ll go to the house of my neice! 
Once you get started you’ll see what I mean. 
There’s nothing like the feeling of getting things clean. 

Don’t hang onto old junk thinking someday you’ll use it … 
Get rid of that frame, the old pot and your whatsee-doosit. 
You may feel a pang as you drop things in boxes. 
After all, those were great grandpa George’s old sockses. 
 Ignore that feeling and do what you must. 
 Get rid of the excess. Salvation Army or bust!

I’d love to hear your purging stories … or your hanging on stories … or whatever you feel like sharing.  

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Filed Under: Time Management

About Patty

I write to encourage your heart, feed your soul, and give you wisdom for your life. Motherhood is my passion. I've been married to my surfer/skater husband for over 20 years.  We have two boys and a home full of neighbor kids most days.

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Hi, I’m Savannah …

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Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥 The banter is so f Ahhhh … enemies to more. 🔥
The banter is so fun!

Chris and Ella Mae start out getting on one another’s nerves … then, due to completely unexpected circumstances, they end up fake dating … and then they drive one another crazy in a whole different sense of the phrase 😉🥰

Ripped & Shipped comes out early May. I’m about 🤏 close to finishing it and sending it to my editor.

ARC Team sign ups will be coming for ebooks on Saturday (Apr 1). Paperback team is already selected and will be getting a welcome email by this weekend. 

We are going to have so much fun launching this book! I can’t even tell you the feelings I have … wrapping up this first Bordeaux series, writing this story that’s full of heart, and laughs, and kisses that make you grab a glass of ice water and fan yourself. 🔥😘🧊💦🫠

I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride. There aren’t words for the sweetness of sharing the Getting Shipped series with you. 💕

(And I’ve been loosely plotting the next series and getting excited as I start writing the Love Trippin’ books.) 💕

Do you love enemies to lovers?
Fake dating? 
Let me know … 

#wipwednesday #workinprogress #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio #bordeauxohioforever #newrelease #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #lovestories #rippedandshipped #chellamaebae #rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers #bookstagram #romcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt #shippers #Imashipper #Smalltownromance #ohiolove #smalltownromancebooks
Okay. So. Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Okay. So. 
Yes, we are still waiting for Ripped & Shipped to come out and be in your happy little hands on May 1st. 

But, authors are always (usually) a book ahead of the readers. 

And, this time, I’m a whole series ahead. 

I’m thinking about “Are We There Yet?” It’s the first book in the Love Trippin’ series. 

Four people from Bordeaux (yes!!) are traveling to California where the next series takes place. 

This first book takes place over a road trip (after a few chapters in Bordeaux, and before the later chapters in Cali).

So, I want to plan this road trip!
Im a road-tripper, and I grew up spending summers traveling from state to state with my family. 

I know my road trip stories. 
I want to hear YOURS! 
Leave it in the comments or DM me. 🚗🌳🚧🏔️

I’m not going to use your exact story, of course. But, if your story inspires something in the book, I’ll send you a free sticker and bookmark when “Are We There Yet” releases this summer. 

I’m so excited to share this new series with you!

#lovetrippin #lovetrippinseries #savannahscottauthor #savannahscott #romcombooks #sweetromcom #sweetromance #closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom #romcombooksaremyweakness #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #roadtrippin #roadtripromance #roadtrippin #arewethereyet #arewethereyetbook
Writing retreat A few days on the central coast. Writing retreat 

A few days on the central coast. 

Views. 
Good food. 
Sweet conversation 
Getting so close to finishing Ripped & Shipped. 

Dreaming about the next series. 
Thinking about how to bless moms and women 

#writingretreat #amwriting #amwritingromance #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #romcomreadersofinstagram #romancereadersofinstagram #bookstagram #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #cambriacalifornia #centralcoast #slocounty #moonstonebeach
Would the Rob & Laura fans raise your hands? 🙋🏼‍♀️

My husband and I are listening to the audiobook of Battleshipped together right now. It takes us forever because: life. But, it’s been fun to revisit their story. 

If you love a slightly geeky leading man, a strong female lead with a loyal heart and a persevering spirit, Battleshipped is for you. 

If you love second chance romcom with a dash of enemies to more, Battleshipped has all the “working hard to win her heart back” vibes. 

If you love laughing out loud until people look at you funny while you read. Yeah. There are those scenes. 

If you love a found-family friend group, and a quirky small town that will win your heart, come to Bordeaux. 

QOTD: Do you love when a brainy male lead becomes your book boyfriend? Which brainy male characters have stolen your heart? 

#battleshipped #battleshippedbook #bookexcerpt #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #smalltownromancebooks #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #secondchanceromance #goatsgoatsgoats #bordeauxohio #bookboyfriend #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #ohiolove #bookstagram #bookstagrammers
Is it Wednesday? Um no. No it is not. But, do y Is it Wednesday? 
Um no. No it is not. 

But, do you still want this #WIPWednesday teaser from Ripped & Shipped? Why yes, yes you do. 

I’ll tell y’all. This book is coming along. And it is scrum-diddly-umptious. 

We’re talking banterrrrrr!
And all the swoony enemy vibes. 

And then they start faking! 
What? yasssss. They fake. The enemies start to fake a romance. 

Then … a completely unexpected and sweeeet friendship develops. 

But, ruh-roh. One of them catches feelings (just quoting Duke here). 

And it gets so HOT ( in a very closed-door way) and so HEARTFELT. 

This story is special. It’s the last in Bordeaux. So I’m pouring it all out into this book. 

You’ve got Memaw, Esther, and Mabel. 
The Bordeaux friend group. 
Lulabelle 
Ella Mae
Cooter
And so much more. 

I’m not kidding when I say this may be my fave in series. 

And you know what it means when I say I’m about 3/4 done writing? Yep. I just might release this story in May … ARC Team wannabes, lace up your running shoes. I’ll be posting opportunities to join the few open spots the first week of April. ❤️

Wait til you see the cover, too. Gah. I love it!! 

#rippedandshipped #workinprogress #amwriting
#amwritingromance #amwritingromcom
#romcombooks #sweetromance #sweetromcom
#closeddoorromance #closeddoorromcom
#savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #bordeauxohio
#bordeauxohioforever #bookcoverdesign #newrelease
#ilovemyreaders #gettingshipped
#gettingshippedseries #lovestories
#chellamaebae #comehomeellamae
#rippedandshippedbook #bookstagrammers
#bookstagram #romancereadersofinstagram
#romcomreadersofinstagram #bookexcerpt
Heyyyyy ARC Team! If you were on the ARC team fo Heyyyyy ARC Team! 

If you were on the ARC team for Cruiseshipped, our exclusive ARC Team only book chat is coming!

Tomorrow (Thursday March 23) at 5p PT we’ll be gathering on zoom to talk about Cruiseshipped. 

I’m so grateful to each one of you for reading, sharing, and reviewing Cruiseshipped. ❤️ 

So … mark your calendars and set your alarms (and a countdown is in my stories!) and let’s talk all things Brooks + Gabby ❤️🚢💃🏻

#cruiseshipped #cruiseshippedbook #savannahscott #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #gettingshippedseries #arcteamperks #bookchat #buddyread #ilovemyreaders #authorchat
Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this Well, I’m back with another #mememonday and this one is featuring one of my favorite movies EVER: The Princess Bride!

Which slide do you like best? 

And … aside from posting here today, I’m writing! Ripped & Shipped (Chris’ story) is halfway done! 

I’m on a roll now, and my family is going to an amusement park for the day (without me), so I’m alone with Bella and my laptop. 

Then, this weekend, I’ve got a writing retreat. The final book in the Getting Shipped series is going to be written! 

Not saying we won’t have some novellas down the road … mayyyybe we could. (Who would you want to see in a Getting Shipped novella?)

I hope your Monday is GREAT!!

#bookmemes #bookishmemes #princessbride #asyouwish #amwriting #amwritingromcom #romcomauthor #sweetromcom #closeddoorromcom #romancereadersofinstagram #romcomreadersofinstagram #savannahscottauthor #gettingshipped #rippedandshipped #gettingshippedseries
#mawwage #bookstagram #bookstagrammers #bookishcommunity
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