The worst kind of fatigue...

The worst kind of fatigue is the kind that happens when you haven't done anything that should even remotely elicit exhaustion. It happens when you have nothing to do at work for an entire week and you get sick of web surfing and end up spending your entire Friday reading. Sure, reading isn't a bad thing, but it'd be nicer at home on the couch or in bed in combination with a cup of tea than it is in an office chair.

This kind of week makes me grumpy. I dislike not accomplishing anything and the lack of brain stimulation that comes with being busy. Then I have to get in the car and commute home amongst people driving selfishly in pursuit of their own culmination of TGIF.

Fortunately, I recognize this worst kind of fatigue grumpiness and I did my best to talk myself out of it on the way home. I wasn't particularly successful, but was relieved to find joy and a big kick in the fatigue's booty in the mail box when I finally got here.

It's the first journal card from my sister with a little love note...

I almost got choked up because it truly made me glad and helped to shoo away the rest of the grump and any associated blues. Plus, it relates beautifully to my goals for 2010, which makes it delightfully meaningful.

My sister is on her way here tonight for a visit. I believe I might hug her.

All tucked in...

Sometimes Gracie can't find a comfy place to sit near me, especially because I have a hard time sitting still for very long and it is extremely bothersome to her to have to get up when I do and then get cozy again when I sit back down.

Fortunately, she's very smart and has learned from us humans that blankets are great to cuddle up under if you want a little peace and quiet.

That is until I find her and think she's silly and decide to take her picture; then the peace ends for a few minutes, but she goes right back to it when the blanket is laid back down.

Silly girl; she makes me smile.

Not Wicked.

I had a great weekend with my sister. It was a nice change of pace and scenery. I got up there late morning (almost afternoon) on Saturday and we spent the afternoon walking around before trying to get tickets for Wicked.

Our walk took us past Independence Hall and all over the place.

We had lunch at El Fuego, which is very similar to Chipotle. After lunch we sat in our seats at the window passing time making silly commentary about the people who walked by... well, mostly my sister made commentary and I laughed a lot.

After lunch we walked around some more, checked out some movie theaters to see what was playing, and then decided to make our way to More Than Just Ice Cream for a cone before making our way to the lottery.

I had two scoops of maple walnut in a waffle cone. It was divine. We sat in comfy lounge chairs with our feet up on yet another windowsill and did some more people watching, this time in drowsy silence.

Eventually we made our way to the Academy of Music box office, which is where the lottery for tickets was taking place. Sadly, we did not get tickets, but we had a great day so the show would have just been icing on the cake.

We tried for tickets again on Sunday morning, but without luck. Instead we went to see the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It was a movie my sister had been wanting to see and it was pretty good- kind of dark, but very colorful, and definitely imaginative.

Someday maybe we'll score some tickets for Wicked, but in the meantime I'm glad to be able to spend the weekend with my sister in pursuit of good food and laughs.

Glory, glory, glory!

I’ve been in a rather glorious mood the past few days. I’ve got my ideas of why, but I’m going to save them for another day. Mainly, I’ve been developing thoughts and working on myself and it all just feels good.

In the meantime, while I continue to formulate, here are a bunch of random musings and declarations:

1. I LOVE MY HUSBAND. I love him all the time, but in an especially joyful way today because he asked me out on a date. It’s quite out of the ordinary and completely cherished. So tonight we’re going out to Romano’s Macaroni Grill and I even put on mascara.

2. I have discovered that when I don’t exercise for a period of about two months (aka since before Thanksgiving) that fat begins to accumulate on my inner thighs and then they rub together. This sensation drives me completely crazy. Hence, I’ve been back to the gym twice this week and will go even more often beginning next week as my exercise plan gets into full swing, hopefully banishing the jiggly rubbing together for the rest of time.

3. I went to my first group Bible study last night and I LOVED it. Everyone was really friendly and outgoing, there was no pressure, and I think I’m going to learn a lot. The session right now is on the 12 Disciples.

4. I’m going to Philly this weekend to visit my sister. We’re going to try to see Wicked, which we should have done four years ago, but I’ll share that story another day. We don’t have tickets, but we’re hoping to get lucky in the lottery. We’ll have four tries, so wish us luck!

5. I’ve got the supplies and will be participating for the first time on a project for Craft Hope. Check out the link for more details on their current project, as well as a couple of options they have listed for donating to the people of Haiti.

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend… maybe even with the added bonus of having Monday off like I do!

Awesomeness.

When Mom came to visit in early December, we discussed journaling and creative stuffs like we often do and one of the things we talked about was doing a shared journal. We decided to adjust the typical shared journal, which you write in and then mail back and forth, and instead create journal cards for each other and send two a month throughout the year.

I made Mom her first card for Christmas and my sister even decided to join and made one for her as well. Mom was very surprised by my sister's card and it's going to be great to have her participate.

I got my first cards (shown in this post) this week. Each came with a personalized note on the back (or accompanying on a separate card). They're both beautiful and I was thrilled to receive two! I was just expecting the one for January, but Mom had made one for Christmas too.

It's going to be so awesome to use this as a way to stay creative throughout the year, as well as a thoughtful way to keep in touch through the fading art of snail mail.

Stage One

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Pie and Apron Life and I’ve realized that I already live it; I’m just in Stage One.

My dream is to live the Pie and Apron Life full time, to have my day consist of nesting, housekeeping, cooking, creating, caring for loved ones, and other such housewifely duties.

Some people might think I’m dreaming and that such a life doesn’t exist anymore. But for me it already kind of does, just part time. Instead of having all day, I have bits of time that revolve around my full time job and I make that work for me.

The key is to recognize that you can make whatever you want of the time you have and you shouldn’t waste all of it looking forward to something when all it takes is a little flexibility and you can have what you’re looking forward to right now.

I’m pretty sure that was a run on sentence, but I ain’t changing it.

(update: The Pie and Apron Life refers to living according to all that I love and all that moves me. I help pay the bills, and save for future mommyhood, with a full time, “real world” job during the day and then fulfill my calling through homemaking, which is a full time job in itself, at night and on the weekends. I keep my home clean and comfortable using love and elbow grease. I cook with love too, often from scratch… yes, including pies. On top of all that, I create using various mediums, keep multiple journals, take photographs, read, cuddle my kitties, love on my husband, and strengthen my faith through worship and prayer each day. The Pie and Apron Life involves love, authenticity, faith, loyalty, determination, and plenty of organizational skills, but most of all it involves banishing piddle and finding fulfillment in making each moment count.)

Mission Complete

Thursday night, before:

Friday afternoon, progress:

Sunday afternoon, completion:

My guest room belongs to me again. I've already been in there working on some creative projects and am looking forward to developing the space as time goes by, adapting it to what I need it for, all the while keeping it tidy.

I've still got sorting and decluttering to do, but it's contained and as organized as clutter can be and I am determined to get it done before January is over.

It will be such a relief when February 1st gets here!

Progress.

Things went well today and I feel like I got a lot accomplished. I am definitely on the winning side of the war. However, I did hit a bit of a block when I made it as far as what's in the picture below (see "before" in yesterday's post). I mostly think I just need a break because I've been going at it for about eight hours. That's a regular work day!

Yes there are still piles, but they are controlled piles, meaning they are serving the purpose of breaking down what needs to be sorted into more manageable bits so I wont become overwhelmed.

The worst part of it is all the paper. Old paper and new paper. Bills, receipts, cards, bank statements, unopened mail, ephemera, college essays, and so on and so forth. I sorted through a lot already and I am determined to go through each piece and toss (recycle bin or shredder) what does not need saving.

I'm thinking I'll be done with the cosmetic declutter tomorrow so that I can at least get in there and work. The more intense, deeper rooted sorting can be done gradually... I promise that's not a cop out, but more of a stress saver to keep me, and my precious time, from being smothered by it all.

I'm looking forward to the end of this war... as are my hands which are thoroughly dried out from all the paper handling. I especially can't wait to get it cleaned up so I can work on some (way more fun) projects I've been really wanting to get started!

The End Is Near...

It began many moons ago, back in the days just after Hubs and I moved from our first apartment into our first condo, and especially just after we were wed and honored with many gifts.

It has been a war to end all wars, already marked by many battles, some of which I've posted about here in this space when I had won a small step towards victory.

In recent weeks the war has raged and expanded, closed behind a door that has opened only long enough for me to throw in a clutter grenade. The busy holiday season has kept me away, though my mind is always tormented by the thought of it.

This war, my friends, is between me and the guest bedroom. You see, I want the space to be welcoming, efficient, and inspiring. I would like it to be a place for guests to feel cozy, while also operating as both an office space and creative space.

The room, on the other hand, is anti-cozy. It prefers to allow it's closet contents and the array of my creative supplies to spew forth into the room. My old nemesis The Pile turns up everywhere and I become surrounded, stripped of the motivation to fight back.

Unfortunately for the room and it's anti-joy campaign, my motivation is surging and I am thoroughly inspired to get in there, declutter, and make it a fresh new space. The first battle will likely take place tonight with the final demise of the mess occurring over the weekend, including my flex day off tomorrow.

And because I'm about keeping it real, here is one view of what I'm up against... there's more to conquer on the other side of the bed and to the left, near and in the closet.

Check back Monday to see the "after."

Cupcakes and Aprons

The other day my Mom and I had an e-mail conversation that included the decision that if either of us were to win the megabucks we'd share with each other so we can both start living the cupcake and apron life.

You may be asking yourself, "What the heck is she talking about?" And here's the answer: The cupcake and apron life pretty much means being a full time homemaker/nester/stay-at-homer instead of working a full time job in addition to handling the housekeeping and so forth while also trying to make time for the fun, creative stuff.

The only thing is, I really prefer pie. So Mom, I guess you can live the cupcake and apron life and I'll live the pie and apron life. Let me know when the latest version of Ed McMahon shows up at your house with your Publisher's Clearinghouse check.

Words for 2010

Simplify. Cherish and be thankful for the simple pleasures of life, the little things that often get overlooked.

Declutter. Eliminate all the exorbitant stuff that gets in the way of the more important good stuff.

Authenticate. Be genuine and true yourself, remembering even in the greatest moments of imperfection that life is beautiful and so are you.

Balance. Make time for everything you want to do, but don't overwhelm yourself. If something that is supposed to be enjoyable becomes miserable, it's time for a break.

Pray. Give it to God and the rest will come accordingly.

Hello 2010!

Today was almost the complete antithesis of what I'm hoping 2010 will be for me. Last night Hubby was feeling full of the new year and all it's opportunity for new experiences and so we... slept on the pull out couch. Haha, it was completely childish and silly, but also something we've never done before.I decided today, though, that rather than being cute, his master plan was actually to be able to stay in bed all day WHILE watching TV. We slept in late and then spent the rest of the afternoon watching movies. He did get up long enough to shower and go to the store and get movies from Redbox. Ahh Redbox, it's a beautiful thing.

So, rather than get up raring to go for the new year and all I hope to accomplish, I spent the day cuddled up with my Hubs and occasionally the kitties, who, like me, found the fluffy down comforter quite delightful. Honestly, even though it wasn't particularly productive, I think it's the kind of wonderfulness I'd like to add to my to-do list for the year. Nothing makes everything else worth it like a day spent with the one you love, just resting and cherishing small pleasures like spontaneous sleepovers on the pull out couch.