Friday Happies!

Happy Friday, y'all! I'm ready for a weekend, how 'bout you? I'm working but it won't stop me from putting together a pretty epic and fun list of pretties, interestings, happies and what-nots for y'all. Heee're we go!

*This was fun. Meanings of names!

*BB's processional down Beale Street in Memphis. R.I.P. 

*The prettiest tablecloth.

*Made a garlic version of these and they were soooo good!

*Seven types of bad bosses. Woah. I've had a few of them, certainly hope not to again.

*I like Tiny House Talk. I don't live in an actual "tiny" house (more like smaller than a small house), but I very well may in the future!

*Gemma Hayes has been a favorite of mine for over a decade. Here's a wicked good cover of Wicked Game.

*Heh. Teddy. Funny.

*Ah! Want your hear tot grow forty-seven times its size? Here ya go.

*15 types of car radio singers. I'm about fifteen of them...

*Woah. The Little Prince movie trailer!! Jeff Bridges!!!

*Nick Offerman has a new book, Gumption. Dig it.

*Kid keeps his prom-promise to childhood friend!

*I love the heck out of Kate McKinnon from Saturday Night Live. Here's a great article on her bizarre mind and the sister that shares some of the same delightful and entertaining oddities!

*This little girl was shamed and bullied by teachers in kindergarten for wearing a sun dress to school. Her papa surely stood up for her and its awesome.

*Ohmigod,ohmigod! This woman's brain tumor turned out to be an actual EVIL TWIN! AAAAAck!

*This is my new favorite movie, other than Spy.

Have a great weekend y'all!! 

A little something extra!

Julia.

I found this fantastic post on Yes & Yes today and it really tied in nicely with my post from this morning.

Don't you love it when something serendipitous happens like that?

The Good & The Bad...

I had every intention of posting a detailed post about bad job interviews and what they teach you. I wrote it yesterday and reread it about fourteen times before I decided I sounded a bit petty (and angry), though the message was good. So instead, I am going to give a reader's digest version of what happened on a bad interview recently and what it taught me.

The Bad: 

Weasel-y interviewer, said he didn't have time for me. He proceeded to insult my education, experience and my actual name. Not a fan of women in general, he apparently finds the fact that women have children inconvenient. Most of this was done quite passive-aggressively with several actual barbs. I also caught him looking at my chest. He told me I basically had the job (because they are desperate). Twice. But, I left feeling defeated as I am quite in need of a career change, but working for that creep wasn't an option. I cried in a diner over scrambled eggs. I felt like a Joan/Peggy hybrid.

The Good:

Some time with my mom and step-dad cheered me up and most of the anger went away. I felt a bit rejuvenated actually. I felt like I was aiming my sights too low anyway and that I should aim for better things. Things that make me a little happier, even if they aren't "my life's work". There is a whole lot out there that would be better than where I am now, and where I could have ended up if I had accepted that job.

Something I love about the KonMari Method I've been so excitedly practicing over the past few weeks is the psychological bent it takes in regard to letting things go. Generally, as with most every human I've ever met, "letting go" doesn't always come easily. I find it's even harder when my feelings get hurt. In the KonMari Method, when you let go of a physical item, you thank it. You either say "thank you, Winter Coat for keeping me warm all of those chilly days" or "thank you Brown Dress, for showing me what styles actually look good on me and which do not". In this case, Mr. Creep is a hideous brown dress I'm throwing out.

What a gift that sad person gave me. He showed me that you have to kiss some frogs before you find the right gig. He also showed me that I'm worth a lot more than the jobs I've been looking for.

Have you any interview horror stories?! Tell me yours and I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

New Day

Hey y'all! First things first.

My apologies. I have been so busy with the new house, the KonMari "great purge"and subsequent yard sale, work-related stuff, and all-round feeling unorganized that I haven't given the blog as much attention as I would like. It's my sanctuary too, you know. And I know that if I pay more attention to it (i.e. my gut and heart and mind) then clarity comes forth and I feel better in all those above departments. Der. Easy to say, not always easy to do, amiright?

Anyway, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. In fact, I'm trudging through it all like I'm in a tough-mudder. And I promise more frequent posts and a Friday Happies this week too.

Hang in there with me, y'all.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Sign Stealing Lizards...

The little Lu, of Sign-Stealing Lizards fame.

Hello friends! I hope you had a great weekend and a terrific Monday! I finally have an entire day off, and let me tell you guys, I'm stoked. I have a list of things that must be done and things I want to do, plus some major relaxation thrown in there for good measure.

Anyway, the other day my mom and I were laying in the grass and talking about stuff (I know, we can be pretty damn cute) and we started giggling about silly things we used to do, believe or say when we were kids. Things like:

"When I was little I'd sleep with the covers up around my neck because I was afraid of vampires getting me when I slept." or

"I used to think the song 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' was 'Sign-stealing Lizards'."

I personally also would freeze and pretend I was a life-sized doll when my parents would leave me in the car to run in somewhere to do errands (it was the 80's and everyone did it, don't judge). Why a life-sized doll? I thought that no one would want a life-sized doll that wasn't in its original box, but they would want to steal a little kid. In my mind, it was genius. Also, my dad used to think brown cars would taste like chocolate until he licked one when he was about three!

Well, we got so tickled thinking up all the little things that crossed our minds as kids, I thought I would just share it with you because it's silly and innocent and that's how we all used to be. I think it is special and important to stay connected with that little person, because that little person is still in your heart and mind and must be nurtured.

Isn't it funny to remember thinking all of those things and they're nestled somewhere in our minds from our life's journey (which also made me think of the the long-term memory labyrinth from this new movie)?

Our minds are incredible, no? I'm constantly amazed by some of the things it holds on to (such as every word of every episode of Gilmore Girls and Steel Magnolias in their entirety as well as so many lyrics to songs it technically may be obscene.). I'm also likewise quite consistently surprised by the things it releases back to the wild (What was her name again, because I totally know her?! How do you do Geometry again? Where is Montevideo?).

Take some time today to remember those things we use to think about (quicksand!). I guarantee you'll
smile.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

The King

I was saddened to hear one of my all-time favorite musicians passed away yesterday. B.B. King was a voice I listened to all throughout my life. I even met him once at a blues festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky around 1997.

I got to meet him and his wife in his trailer backstage. I was so nervous I ate all of the red grapes out of the bowl on the table. Then he let me sit on a big ole amp off the side of the stage while he played his show. There was little 15 year old Lulu, off stage right jamming out to B.B. himself just a few yards away. It was one of the coolest experiences ever.

Rest in peace, Mr. King.

The adventures of Lulu & the KonMari Method!

Progress, baby!

For those of you who read pretty regularly, you will remember that I have mentioned this book several times in the past. Well, funnily enough, my Mom bought it for herself and immediately became motivated to reduce her belongings.

Last week, she loaned me the book to read. I knew I would love it, because the book Scaling Down was a huge influence on me in the past and a motivator to do this tiny house experiment. I didn't realize how illuminating and special Marie's book would become to me (and funny too!). It has motivated me to try the "great purge" experiment, in order, and follow all the steps to find my "click point". That is the point in which you discard, donate, remove by identifying the items that "spark joy" instead of just throwing stuff out. By identifying the joyful items, "the getting rid of" becomes sooooo much easier and more rewarding and you find your personal level (click point) in which you are joyous by your home and belongings and don't feel the itch to acquire more. All I could think as I read that idea was... I want that.

I have been on the quest for balance and peace for years and most recently have made great strides in figuring out ways to make it happen for me. My favorite part of the read was where I am asked to envision the life you live in your head and solidify it. Descriptive and clear details as if you already have that life instead of dreaming of it. I did so (I won't share, as those kinds of things are kind of personal). But basically I kept finding a pattern in the words I used. Clean, peaceful, sanctuary, well-appointed, cosy, bright, happy. I felt so good reading over it that I wrote this down in my notebook: "May 12, begin the project by going through your clothing and loungewear. Be ruthless."

As the week dragged on and the book got better and better, I started becoming anxious and little kid- excited about pulling all of my clothing into one place, identifying whether it sparks joy or not then removing it if it doesn't (you also must thank each item you get rid of for teaching you something or fulfilling its duty- hokey but it totally works psychologically). Yesterday was the day (and my day off incidentally) and I happily took my hiney to the storage unit (my ultimate goal is to reduce that bad boy by 2/3 and get a smaller, less expensive unit this summer) and pulled out all of my clothes (not jewelry or shoes). I brought them to my little cabin and spread it all out on the front porch.

It was quite the ride to hold each item in my hands and find the joy (or not). It felt good to grow the pile of donations piece by piece as well. In the end I counted that I owned 154 items (scarves, belts, tops, bottoms, dresses, lingerie, layering pieces, coats etc.). Here are the stats (now be aware that I have much less than I did a year ago as I have been getting rid of stuff actively since then but even after all that, I was still shocked by the excess):

Tops: 43

Bottoms (pants, skirts): 13

Layering pieces: 15

Scarves, Hats & Belts: 24

Lingerie: 17

Dresses: 11

Coats: 3

Swimsuit/Robes: 4

The halfway point!

After I took a good look at everything, I added a few more things to the donate pile and threw a few things away too. In total, I ended up giving away 40 clothing items (and three hangers) and throwing away 21 for a total of 64 items removed from my house/storage. I kept 93 items (three of which I can only keep if I get them repaired).

I have a feeling I'll get rid of even more as the process goes on. But still! 40% of my wardrobe has been removed (in an hour and a half) and I don't feel like I am missing a single thing. Seriously! There isn't one thing I miss or have thought about since and I'm a sentimental fool, y'all! I also know every single item by heart that is in storage (fall/winter) and anything I forget about will get tossed or donated as I come across it throughout this process.

All in all, this feels incredible and I am so excited about going through more and making space for my life to blossom to new potentials (can one pluralize 'potential' I wonder?). I'll post more about it as it goes along!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Friday Happies & Happy Mother's Day!

A Mama and her Kit.

Hey y'all! Thank goodness it's Friday, even though I work half the weekend. It's been a week of trials and errors for this ole gal, but I am kicking today off happy, healthier and motivated. Without further ado, here's this week's list of funs, happies, pretties, interestings and what-nots for you to kick your weekend off right! Here we go!

*I love love love this nurse's reaction to her patient who was paralyzed but with intensive physical therapy is now able to walk. So sweet!

*Geek time! I loved this info-graphic of mythological creatures of the world. It's not an inclusive list, but it's pretty great.

*Do you know about Money Trees?

*This five year old little boy is obsessed with Bruce Lee, so much so he has every move he made memorized!

*This lady inspired me. She did yoga every single day for a year, even though she wan't particularly yogic to begin with!

Mama Panda love!

*Woah. Spotting income inequality from space.  Sidenote, I have major nerd-love for Bill Moyers.

*This woman saved her three kids and herself from a violent hostage situation with her husband/boyfriend by leaving a message on her online pizza order. 

*I really dig 86 year old model, Daphne Selfe.

* This Amy Schumer video had me cracking up!

*I really liked some of these thoughts on female friendships.

*Some interesting ideas for Mother/Daughter dates! Aw!!

Pachyderm Mama/Baby love!

*These pregnancy photos are really sweet.

*I"M SO EXCITED ABOUT PENNY DREADFUL!

*Ack! Wolf pup with the hiccups! Wolf pup with the hiccups!!! Also, Buck has the hiccups and is not happy about it.

*Heh. This guy is kind of ridiculous but he did start a company from scratch and sell it for nearly $100,000 like a month later.

*For the OCD in all of us. Inka Mathew matches every day items to Pantone color samples. 

*The Super from Friends dishes five secrets we never knew!

*THIS is a tiny house, but wowsers is it well-done!

*What happens when you give up sugar for a month. Pretty fascinating!

*Moxie Girl, a comic by 7 year old Natalie McGriff. You rock, Natalie!

Aw!!

I hope y'all have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend planned. I'm going to make something for my mom, but I can't say what because she reads this blog! Hopefully my boys (dogs, Comodino and Seven) will make me some clay paw prints or something. Don't forget to call the moms in your life (I like to send messages to my girlfriends who are moms as well as my mom and stepmom). Have a great weekend guys!

Feliz Cindo de Mayo!

Hello friends! I hope your weekend was superb! Mine was busy, but I thoroughly enjoyed my day off. I know it's Tuesday, but I didn't recap anything on Monday because I was too sleepy.

Anyway, I am hosting a manager's meeting at my (tiny) house tonight and since it happens to be Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd bring some delightful, fresh Mexican flavors to the dinner. Here's a few of the things I'm going to make!

Pineapple Salsa. A perfect blend of sweet, tangy and a little spicy. Yum!

I'll also be making a version of these skewers with a dipping sauce (or two). The only things un-Paleo are the corn chips and sour cream. Both of which I could live without (though I probably won't!).

Alls I have to figure out now is a dessert...I think I'll do something simple like these sweet, pan-fried bananas (or plantains if I can find some decent ones at the grocery store).

I love Cinco de Mayo, though it isn't a drinking holiday for me like it is for most who celebrate it as a time of drink specials at bars. It's an eating holiday for me and I like to pay a little tribute to Mexico and it's vibrant culture in my own small ways. What will you be doing to celebrate? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Something new...

Have y'all seen the trailer for the new Netflix original show, Grace & Frankie? I happen to be a huge Lily Tomlin fan (and Sam Waterston and Jane Fonda and Martin Sheen), so I'm super excited. It looks so funny! Check it out!

Do you think you'll watch it? 

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Happy May Day!

Great site for old photos of Florida.

I can't believe it's the first of May already (hope you remembered to say "Rabbit Rabbit"). April seemed like it flew by and also took forever. I'm happy to say though, that I welcome this new month and with it more fun experiments, maybe even a day trip to the beach if we're lucky too.

The hubs and I are spending a lot of time in the new house (the beach house as I've been referring to it) and trying to organize, tidy and all-round feather the nest. One thing I've learned so far, living in a tiny house- small refrigerators are the jam!

We bought a small fridge when we moved in partially because the landlord left us an enormous "normal house sized" fridge and it was just too huge for the space. But also, we had talked about getting a smaller fridge a few years ago because we were getting tired of losing food to the back "graveyard" of the fridge and wasting money on wasted food. So, we invested (a whopping $143) on an igloo (can't remember the exact cubic feet but something like 12-19) and we have loved it!

It makes you think before spending money at the grocery store and it's so nice to have everything right where you can see it. So, so far so good. We'll see how I'm feeling when it's time for Thanksgiving leftovers (because my freezer is about the size of a laptop).

Also, so far the window unit air conditioner is doing its job really well. However, it hasn't gotten over 90 yet- so a plan is in effect for that situation when/if need be. Adjusting to not having a shower is...interesting. It hasn't really been an issue yet, but like I said- it also hasn't gotten above 90 degrees yet so we'll see!

I'm surprised to admit that I'm enjoying my postage stamp of a kitchen. It was a real worry of mine when we were in the middle of moving because cooking is my little sanctuary. But I'm happy to say it's been pretty nice. It slopes on one side so that's been kind of a silly "pretend we're just on a house boat" kind of thing.

I did make some delicious Paleo-ish turkey meatballs in an Asian broth/sauce with sesame seeds. I don't really have a recipe for you because I totally made it up as I went, but I'll try to get it written down for you this week.

Anyway! Happy beginning of May and I hope you have a truly wonderful day!