April Challenge Recap and Something New!

One of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. Morning sunrise walk at the lake. 

Well y'all, I did it. I happily skipped through four weeks of this Paleo experiment. This last week was a tough one due to the final stages of the move. However, though I imbibed more wine than usual and processed convenience foods did show up here and there, I'm happy to say I stayed about 60% Paleo (and that's low-balling it).

That being said, I chose not to weigh or measure myself this week. I decided that I was happy with the experiment regardless of this final week's results. I also decided this is something I'm going to stick with for a while. Staying 90% Paleo every day, with plenty of fun exceptions because life is meant to be lived. Oh! And I also got in 46 miles this month too. That's four miles shy of my goal, but I still think it's superb considering I only got in 18 miles in March! Snaps for me!

I enjoyed this challenge very much for several reasons. 1. It was something I wanted to do, not that I told myself I had to do. 2. It offered plenty of creative outlets to get the job done, so I didn't feel stuck. 3. It nourished me, both physically and mentally. I didn't feel restricted or bummed that I couldn't have this or that. I found that approaching changes of any kind (especially health-based ones) require a sense of kindness to oneself. An inner-shift in perspective that leans away from "I've been bad today" kinds of mentalities to "How can I nourish myself better?".

Keeping that in mind all month really did help. Did I eat sweet treats? Hell yeah. Did I eat all of them because I felt I "deserved" it. Nope. I deserved health and nutrition and gave myself that as often as I could. Could I have done better/made better choices? Absolutely! I'm not going to feel bad that I ate Rice Dream ice cream bites. I'm not going to feel bad that I had delicious fried chicken either. Or that that new wine I tried was deee-licious (though I admit that sticking to one glass is probably best for me- hello mid-30's wine headaches!).

All in all, I'm thrilled to keep this going for the month of May. Now that the hubs and I are finally moved in and getting organized, my kitchen is once again my sanctuary. I have scores of recipes I want to try and now I have the chance to do it. Yay!

I've also decided that I want to try a fun challenge every month. For May I want to commit to 5 minutes of arm exercises every day. I dream of having Angela Bassett arms, but I'm perfectly happy toning up my little spaghetti noodles for some confident sleevelessness.

May also ushers in my return to regular blog posts. It's been so weird not having this place to go to for random thoughts, philosophies and what-nots. So, you'll be hearing a lot more from me from now on.

Well, What do you think? Wanna try my May challenge with me? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, y'all!

Two choices.

I don't know why I just needed to read something like this today. I hope that it resonates with you all too. Perhaps, there are no excuses today after all? Methinks of all the possibilities!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Thoughts on pulling the trigger...so to speak...

Kat's Daily Inspiration

Things I've been needing to make decisions about:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health.

3. Job/Career

Things I have been obsessing about or sabotaging:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health (beer...why you so yummy?)

3. Job/Career.

Coincidence? Methinks not. But, why oh why oh why oh?

Mostly because I'm overwhelmed with a smattering of fear. Partially because the last time I just went and did something about 2 of the 3 of those, it ended up being great for what we needed then but every attempt to progress afterward quickly felt like quicksand. As for fitness and health...I'm getting there and will not beat myself up about having a bit of a hitch in my giddy-up. I just need to light a fire, so to speak.

Decide.

So here's what I want and here's what I'm doing about it:

1. I want a house that fills our needs and doesn't break the bank. We are actively looking and (I'm) trying to convince the hubs that the right thing will feel right (as that tends to lead us to good things anyway). Instead of forcing something that is sort of right but mostly not.

2. Just doing it. Making the healthy snacks so I don't buy 37 peanut butter-filled chocolate bunnies. Doing the exercise because I want to feel good in pretty clothes this summer (and always). Going to bed early yadda yadda (and limiting the yummy beer too).

3. I want to do something for a career that I'm passionate about. Writing, creating, and helping people. I see it's possibility glimmering in the distance and I want to grab it and hold on to it forever. Also, I'm aware that bills need to be paid, and I'd prefer to do something in the meantime that isn't so hard on my body, emotions and psyche as my current gig. Is that asking too much? Anyway, I'm actively looking for something new. Also, I'm choosing to ignore the biased and unsolicited advice of a few close to me that prefer that I settle because it would directly affect their job if I left. I'm choosing also, to work more fervently on my personal passions. I need to and I've put them off for a long time.

Y'all, I am tired of feeling bogged down. Do you ever feel that way? I honestly believe that I could be living the life I want to live every day starting now. I just have to take it one day at a time and stop bitching about the things I want to change and just...pull the ever-lovin' trigger, you know?

What could you pull the trigger on in your life? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Thoughts on Derailment

Stay on track!

I've said before that when I get going with big changes in my life that inevitably within a week or two something happens that I feel derails me. Well, last week there was an attempt of derailment and I'm weathering it pretty well. Not marvelously but well, and here are the reasons why I consider myself succeeding:

*I'm not giving up. That's the main thing. But also...

*Just because an incident throws me off-kilter doesn't mean that it's a total loss for the goals I'm working toward. Like realizing I'd not only gained back three of the pounds I'd lost in January but also gained three more! It made me work harder this week and make better choices instead.

*Going to bed when I'm tired instead of doing the things on my to-do list doesn't mean I've broken the cycle and can't get back on track the next day. I worked a few really exhausting shifts last week and partnered with the time change, my body just needed more rest. All the things on my to-do list are getting done (though it's at a slower rate) and I will not beat myself up for it. Though my subconscious mind did try to tell me I was being lazy, I knew that I just needed some self-care time.

*I did one small thing even when I felt like that dark wave I mentioned yesterday was creeping up. Instead of beating myself up, I did two minutes of sit-ups. I really did that! Instead of going to bed feeling like I'd failed because I didn't do the things on my to-do list, I tidied the bathroom counter after I brushed my teeth so when I woke up, it'd look nice.

And that's the thing. Progress isn't black and white. It isn't a staircase as much as it is a ramp. Just keep on truckin' y'all! Don't give up on your goals! You can do it, and so can I!

Have a wonderful and productive day!

Thoughts on Time Part 5

Alright friends, today's the last day of my series on time management and it is a long one- but it's worth it! I know I've learned a lot, have you? Well, today I have four simple tips that are usually reserved for organizing and decluttering projects that are, in fact, extremely helpful for time management. But I also have a breakdown of how to apply everything we've learned so far. So, without further ado...here we go!

Apples & Oranges.

#1. Group like with like.

This helps not only with organizing your stuff, but also with your tasks. Instead of running errands on different ends of the planet all the time, group tasks, chores and errands into categories. I also like to plan a route so that I a) save gas b) save money c) save time d) save my sanity. Keep this in your mind, there will be a visual example at the end of the post!

...

               

#2. Divide and conquer!

As with grouping like with like, dividing tasks into workable groups or sub-groups helps to take huge chunks out of your list with far greater ease than if you just made the list and started going with bullet point number one and worked your way down. Threes work for me. Three types of things that need to get done. I can look at that and take whatever is in the group I choose first and knock it out. Keep this in your head too, kiddos! It's all going to be revealed to you visually shortly.

#3. Handle things once.

This has been a huge help to me. I had a boss say it at work almost ten years ago and it has stuck with me. I've always been kind of a walks-in-circles kind of person. I live a lot in my head and when I get overstimulated especially I have a tendency to wander. It's taken a lot of hard work to teach myself to just pick that thing up and put it away where it belongs and be done with hit. In the past I would have carried it through every room of the house before I found a place that didn't bug me as much. It works with possessions, paperwork, and especially tasks on your to-do list. If you sit down and dedicate a given amount of time to a task and just get it done, it won't haunt you or grow bigger or nag you and make you feel bad or overwhelmed. It will have simply been handled, once. Handling something once can be done every day too. So instead of checking emails 34 times a day, do it once at a given time...period. Unbelievable time saved.

Cut it out!

#4. Ruthlessly cut away the unimportant.

I've touched on this a bit when I explained time thieves. However, a lot of unimportant things occupy our "to-do" lists. There are a million things we all do that aren't necessary but for some reason we still waste/piddle time away doing them! Think back to that time audit you did...where is your time going? What are the things that are unnecessary, outdated, annoying, or unimportant that you could cut from your life?

I know I waste time complaining about work. If I added up all the time I spend in a week bitching about stuff that happened at work and put it toward learning to sew (something I've longed to master for years), I'd be making a garment or decorative pillow a week (and I'm not kidding)! Or I could have put out a dozen more applications for another job in the meantime until my creative things take off more. I have to learn to cut the unimportant things too. We all do.

And don't worry, baby steps are the most important steps of all!!

So that brings me to a visual example of all the things that I have talked about these three weeks. Here's the summary:

1. Time management is energy management. AKA, Know thyself.

2. Develop a sleep routine and start getting to bed (and waking up) earlier. It's what the cool kids are doing.

3. Use the concept of "control" a little more wisely. Time management is about working smarter, not adding more stuff to do so you have no peace. Peace and joy are the goals here, people!

4. Write everything down and utilize a calendar. 

5. Determine what is urgent vs. what is personal priority.

6. Get the no-fun stuff done first, freeing up more time for the stuff that makes you happy and fulfills you!

7. Plan. Plan for tomorrow, then have a contingency plan (or two).

8. Delegate.

9. Learn to say "No."

No.thank.you.

10. Eliminate (or greatly reduce) distractions.

11. Be aware of your time thieves.

12. Focus on the tasks that will accomplish the most (the Pareto Principle).

13. Do a time audit. See where your time really goes (be honest!).

14. Learn how long it takes you to accomplish your tasks and be real about that too.

15. Schedule time to relax. Leave room for the joys of life!

16. Group like with like. 

17. Divide & conquer!

18. Handle things once. Even if its every day.

19. Ruthlessly cut away the unimportant. 

Here's a to-do list for my day off as an example. Before time management and after...

Before

1. grocery shop for the week (U)

2. do laundry (U)

3. get oil changed in car (U)

4. write blog posts for Monday and Tuesday. (PP)

5. make dinner (U)

6. pick up Mom's birthday gift (PP)

7. get hair cut (PP)

8. check emails and respond (U)

9. clean upstairs bathroom (full clean) (U)

10. wash the pup (PP)

11. call out of town friend to catch up (PP)

12. work on sewing project (STG)

13. call Credit Union with questions about IRA. (LTG)

I went ahead and added identifiers to the list to immediately indicate which items are urgent, which are personal priorities, and which were either short-tern or long-term goals. 

After

Morning: Out of house errands (arranged in a horseshoe/circular pattern so the first and last tasks are closest to home). Starting at 8:30 a.m.:

1. get oil changed and use the wait time to...

     *call CU with IRA ?'s (should take 5 minutes). 

     *call out of town friend to quickly catch up (5-10 minutes).

2. get hair cut

3. pick up Mom's birthday gift.

4. grocery shop for the week (30-45 minutes).

Early afternoon: In-house tasks. Starting around 12:15 p.m.:

5. start first load of laundry and...

6. prep food and snacks for dinner and lunches (30-45 minutes)

     *switch out laundry and...

7. assemble dinner in the crock pot or oven 

     *switch out laundry and put away. (30-45 minutes)

8.while upstairs and laundry is put away...

     *use the time upstairs to clean the bathroom (takes 30 minutes for full clean).

Late afternoon: In-house tasks:

9. check emails and respond while last load of laundry dries. (30 minutes or so).

10. work on Monday and Tuesday's blogs (30 minutes for Monday & 15 for Tuesday). 

11. Finish up the last of the laundry and put away. (30-45 minutes)

You are done. It's about 4:35 p.m. and the rest of the night is free to do what makes me happy like work on that sewing project I've been wanting to do or getting in a little yoga. I can have New Girl or The Mindy Project streaming in the background as I do so too! The things that make me truly happy get a chance now, all because I got all that no-fun and urgent stuff out of the way in a well-thought out manner. I bet you'd feel better with those big, urgent ones out of the way as well as those personal priorities too.

Exactly how I feel now after my to-do lists!

Do you think you'll use any of these ideas? I know I have been incorporating them bit by bit every day. I hope this series has helped, y'all! And I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Thoughts on Time (Part 3)

Oui.

Well, we've discussed the bigger "headspace" issues of organizing your time last week. This week we've discussed the slightly more detailed issues such as planning, such as keeping and managing a list and deterring urgency. Today we are going to talk about a few more tangible ways to get more out of your time. Here we go!

Fa real, yo!

#1. Delegate!

Oh, it's such a hard one, isn't it? Especially for women. It's hard to accept when people don't do something the way you would do it. Am I guilty? Totally. I make my staff at work nervous when I look over the shoulder to supervise their tasks. I hate that I do it, and I can't stand it when people do it to me, but for the sake of honesty- I admit it.

I can be a control freak, though not everyone would assume that about me. My house is always in a state of "organized chaos", and I'd rather do just about anything that spend time fixing my hair. But in regards to other things- like finances and my kitchen cabinets...I'm a nutbar.

That being said, there is a glorious freedom to letting go of tasks that you don't have to be the sole executor of. Let the hubs fold the laundry even if he does a double fold and you prefer a triple fold. The fact of the matter is that laundry is being folded(which is the whole friggin' point) and that frees up time for you to get other shit done like that rough draft on the Great American Novel you've been dreaming of writing. Ahem.

Brick Tamland. So funny.

#2. Learn to say "NO".

Man oh man it feels good to get out of plans. It feels even better when you swallow your fear of disappointing others or making waves and say "No" if you don't want to do something or if it puts too much on your feet. 

I find that a sincere "Thank you, but..." really does the trick. Also there's the uber-classy "I prefer not to" that I've grown quite fond of. People have their own stuff going on too, you know- they aren't all lying awake at night staring at the ceiling wondering why you aren't coming to the fifteenth baby shower this year. 

Just think of that time saved as "free time". It wasn't just given to you- you took it for yourself and that is a fantastic feeling!

How true. Interesting article here.

#3. Eliminate or greatly reduce "controllable" distractions.

I touched on this last week, but it bears reiterating. There is no need to have the TV on all the time. There is no need to have a computer or tablet on non-stop, or your phone always beeping bloop buzzing right next to you calling your attention to a little glowing screen every 30 seconds. If you add up all the time spent looking at screens or occupying your senses, I bet you'd have gained a few hours a day.

Geez Louise. Another interesting article here.

I'm not saying you must take a tech-fast. Of course I look at my phone and hey- I'm writing this blog on a computer. You can live a completely regular life and not waste loads of time mindlessly internetting. And you know what? There is something to be said for boredom too. The mind does incredible problem-solving and creating when it's allowed to breathe and be. 

You can have a gratifying existence without constant stimulation and a lot can get done in a much shorter amount of time that you'd think (more on that on Monday). Find your balance with that. Constantly zoning out, sucks more than your time. It sucks your motivation and your get-up-and-go, your zippity pow,  and your je ne sais quois! I don't know about you, but I could use all the zippity pow and je ne sais quois I can get my hands on!

What are your controllable distractions? What could you trim away, delegate or say "No" too that could immediately fill your time bucket? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day and stay tuned!

Let the Good Times Roll, Y'all!!

Let the good times roll.

It's Mardi Gras, y'all! For the observant, it is the feast before the fast. For everyone else, it's a party. Either way, life is short. Enjoy it and make the most of it!!!

Très bon, très bon!!

I hope you have a wonderful day! J'adore!

Thoughts on Time (Part 2)

Through the Looking Glass

Happy Monday, y'all! I hope your weekend has been wonderful! Hopefully you didn't have to go to work today (I've been told it's a holiday), but if you did- you have my sincerest sympathy and understanding!)

Well last week, I wrote this post about the more "bigger picture" aspects of time management. Today, I'm breaking down a few organizational aspects of time management. Some of these ideas are super simple, some are common sense and others are maybe not fun, but they pay off. Here we go!

Keep it simple, Sister!

#1. Write it all down & Utilize a calendar.

Contrary to popular belief (particularly in the world of "time management" research), one does not need anything fancy or expensive to do this (even that stuff seen above). It's fine if that's what helps you feel more productive, but it doesn't work for me and in reality is so completely unnecessary. To me, it is a way to distract from the real tasks at hand by occupying my mind with the project that has to occur before being able to do the real work of organizing. 

To rephrase: I can't organize my time better because I don't have a $300 Filofax organizational system. I'll spend two weeks compiling everything I need to be organized then I'll really get started."

Ugh. Just write it down. Write down all the things you need to do. Write down your daily stuff, write down your short term goals, write down your long term goals. Write down important bill dates etc. project/event/appointment dates too. Stop avoiding it. Get out a calendar and a steno pad and just do it. After you get it all down, you can organize it however you want. First things first, though. 

Also, you must remember that to manage your time better, you have to tend to it regularly. You have to sit down five minutes a day or a half hour a week (whatever works with your headspace) and update, change, move around, rearrange and re-prioritize your goals and tasks etc. Which brings me to the next point.

Dr. Evil loves air quotes just as much as I do.

#2. Determine what is urgent (versus personal priority).

Sure it will be scandalously gratifying to spend three hours tending to a project on your to-do list. Crossing it off the list feels so good! But if you did that and didn't go to the grocery store before a busy week ahead, you are setting yourself up for time management failure. Balance is paramount.

Determining what is urgent (sitting down and doing your taxes, making sure your car is cared for before a road trip, getting the week's groceries purchased and prepped for that long week ahead, getting your kid's school play costume started (instead of binge-watching House), getting a just rough draft of your Great American Novel completed etc.

Those are bigger picture items that get you to a better place so that you have the time to work on other things like: making your bathroom cabinets look Pinterest-worthy, learning how to do a perfect fishtail braid, watching the latest episode of Downton, or spending a few hours delving into the backstory of a character you're workshopping for that Great American Novel. You get my point? No? Let me put it another way:

Party on, Wayne!

#3. Get the no-fun stuff out of the way first and earliest in the day.

Otherwise said by no lesser a sage than Wayne Campbell from Wayne's World (paraphrased of course): "It's like rushing home on Friday after school and getting all your homework done early so the rest of the weekend, you're free to party."

Simply stated: You'll feel buttloads better getting the no-fun stuff done early which makes the rest of your day feel so conquerable! It is a positivity snowball that gives you piles and piles of more time at the end of the day for the things you want to do; the things that make you happiest and bring you the most satisfaction and joy! 

That's what we're all after in the end, isn't it?!

Yep.

#4. Plan. Plan for tomorrow, then have a contingency plan (or two).

I can tell you hardly no other thing about time management that helps more than this simple idea. And yes, I'm familiar with the colloquial saying "the surest way to make God laugh is to tell Him your plans".

However, planning has gotten a bad rep. It seems to be associated with mouse-eyed Type-A's that can't seem to remove the stick from their ass no matter how badly they need to. Real life planning isn't like that.

This is what planning is:
*Making a meal plan for your week, allowing for wiggle room in case a last-minute celebratory outing with friends, family or kids pops up. This kind of planning frees up major money so more fun life stuff is possible.

*Planning is keeping a bag in the trunk of the car that has bottles of water, granola bars and a change of clothes in case there is an emergency or your car breaks down in July and AAA is delayed due to a bizarro pickle truck flipping over on the opposite side of the interstate.

*Planning is keeping a spare box of pasta noodles and spaghetti sauce in the pantry in case one week you have an unexpected bill and can't afford your typical fare. Or a friend is sick and you want to do something for her family while she's stuck in bed. Boom. No extra money needed and you've done a nice deed for someone you love.

Planning isn't filling every single moment of every day and evening with some task, project, event, sport, hobby, etc. The goal of planning is to simplify- to quiet. Not to occupy or busy oneself.

 And that's another thing! Planning is just taking the time to anticipate what can't be anticipated so when life happens (AND IT ALWAYS DOES, Y'ALL!), you aren't derailed. You aren't standing on the side of the interstate waiting for AAA in 100 degree weather, ready to pass out from dehydration (I use this example because I've had that happen and thank goodness I had water in the car)!

If you plan properly, you can be super flexible and enjoy all (or at least more) of life's little curveballs. Sometimes curveballs are the best thing ever, but only if you can manage your stuff enough to be able to glean the positive from each situation!

Alright, okay. That's enough of a lesson for today. I do have a lot left to say on the topic though, so stay tuned for Wednesday's update. Time management doesn't have to be daunting if you approach it with good headspace. Seriously. A little goes a long way toward having the life you want. I know because I'm doing it myself after years and years of struggling.

Check ya later, pals! I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Just a thought...

Image

I've been thinking a lot about fear these days. Why I've put off so many things I'm passionate about because I'm so afraid I'll fail. Or I'm afraid people (friends, family, audience etc.) won't like it or judge it. Yadda yadda yadda, right? We all have it, deal with it and/or are ruled by it in some way.

Well, I saw this quote and it...I don't know. It made me smile. A simple thought that provokes a powerful image. It put a bit of wind in my sails, so to speak. I hope it does for you too!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, y'all!

A little something for your Monday.

I found this quote a while back and like it. I found it again yesterday. Something about it made me smile, and made me say "oh!" and "hmmm.". I think it is a lovely way of describing the simplification/weeding out process (physically and emotionally). I like it and I'm going to meditate on that this week. I know the hubs and I are having major anxiety about our apartment and keep trying to find one that fits our budget and our specific array of needs. In the meantime, we are trying to get as simple as possible (it is not as easy as the blogs say it is). This quote just kinda hit home (no pun intended) for me.

 What about you? Any quotes that really get in your noodle and get you perspectivizing (trademark pending on my new word there)? I'd love to know!

Image from Pinterest.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day! It's a concentrated month, let's make the most of it, y'all! Oh, and Happy Groundhog's Day, Candlemas, and/or Chandeleur Day!

Friday Happies!

Hahahaha! This made me laugh out loud and immediately think of all the Southern women in my life!

Happy Friday, y'all! It's been a week. Man oh man. Not just for me but for my whole family. It's all good though. They're all far more graceful than I am. I still chug along. Anyway, I'm working all weekend, but if you aren't or if you are...here are some funs, pretties, happies, what-not's and feel-goods to help usher you into a nice one regardless!! Enjoy!

*I love this flawy, gauzy top. But I feel compelled to do some push ups (or just get a nice long cardigan to layer with instead) beforehand!

*I'm not a glitzy glam kind of gal, but there are some cute (and some practical) ideas here. 15 ideas for fixing up your old high heels. 

*I really want to make this for our trash and recycling area. Three black plastic trash cans from Home Depot do not do it for me aesthetically. For reals, y'all.

*Have y'all listened to the new song by Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud? I love it! The video is pretty romantic too! Not bad for a guy who never danced like that until training for the video!

*This little heart necklace is so pretty and would be such a nice birthday, Mother's Day or Valentine's Day!

*This Dove "Love your curls" campaign had me crying the happiest tears. They do a wonderful project to help little girls love their curly hair (it made me so sad to hear them say they hated their curls at the beginning, that they wanted to pull it out or straighten it!) then Dove gets together and makes something really beautiful!! I think it's such a lovely way to help little kids in general love the way they look naturally. 

*This made me laugh out loud. Weird ways couples mess with each other. The hubs and I are definitely guilty of a few of these!

*I could not help but cry. Her friends, assistant and cast and crew (of her tv show) flash mobbed her with a cute hula dance! Her reaction is just wonderful! She is the funniest, sweetest gal. Happy 93rd birthday, Betty! Anytime you need a feel good moment, watch it.

*While you're at it, this funny clip of Johnny Carson and Betty White as Adam & Eve had the hubs and I snorting!

*The ultimate reading challenge! Oh, it sounds so fun!!

*100 years of black beauty (and hairstyles) in 1 minute! I love them all! The 1960's is my favourite. The 2000's made me laugh because I totally remember that hairstyle was everywhere!

*Wanna live in a nuclear missile silo in Roswell? It's kinda cool!

*I'm a nerd. I'm a nerd who is also quite vain.  I'm obsessed with teaching myself to sleep on my back (because I want to minimize décolletage wrinkles and the inevitable sagging of my face). Therefore I'm always researching things that will help me accomplish this.

*What would our favorite literature characters be like in 2015? Yes & Yes (I told you I love her blog!) just started a great feature where she explores that very sweet idea! Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables- love it!!

*In 1959, a woman mailed a letter to the man that fathered her child five years previously. Newly married, his wife intercepted the letter and hid it, never mentioning it to him. Fifty-five years later, the father found the letter and found his son. He thought he'd never had any children and always lamented it. It's so sweet to see them together. My favorite quote: "How do you feel finding out you have a son?" His reply? "Like any proud father with a newborn son." Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!

*Because I already told you I'm a nerd and I love this kind of stuff! Egg identification chart!!

I hope you have a truly wonderful and relaxing weekend no matter what you get into!!

Two Week Check In!

DIY Rotating Goal List

Alright y'all, can you believe we're already two weeks in to the new year?! It's going by too fast already! So, how are your resolutions going? Whether it's weight loss, organizing that spare bedroom, learning a new craft or skill or getting through Julia Child's entire cookbook; before you give up on the goals you set for yourself, have you tried making an organized "goal at-a-glance" so you can keep track as you go along? I found this the other day and I thought it was a complete gem for a few reasons:

1. It's simple. You won't do it if it isn't simple!

2. It's manageable. It's small, no special supplies are needed other than a stack of post-it notes and a pen. However, six tasks seem so much more feasible when they are written in big lettering on small pieces of paper. And! It forces you to choose the six most important tasks instead of the dozens of minute ones that seem important but really aren't.

3. It's visual. Each task is assigned to a small square piece of brightly coloured paper. The at-a-glance benefits cannot be denied! Especially if you're really trying to get organized.

4. It's efficient! Each week you update it with the simple changing of a slip of paper. It minimizes the perceived workload to make each task achievable.

Alls ya gotta do is write your goal as your heading and six things you can do to move forward with that goal every week (oh and DO THEM)!

What do you think? Do you think you'll try it out? I think it's a peach of an idea to keep one motivated and in control of their goals (and plain ole to-do's too). We've gotta get going on our year's list, we're already 1/26th done with this year! Aaaaaaagh!! JK, fifty weeks is nothing to sneeze at!

Also, I'd love to know what works for you! I'm always game to try something new! Have a wonderfully organized and productive day!

Thoughts on 10 minutes...

The other day I saw something on a blog I read regularly (Yes & Yes) about the first ten minutes of anything you do. Something about it really stuck with me. Here's how it goes:

              "The first ten minutes of any part of your day - when you get up, when you get into work, 

               when you get home - often set the pace for the rest of it. Pay attention to your choices; 

               create a routine that serves you."

I love it! It's such a simple concept and it rings true (for me at least). My husband and I are pretty bad about getting on our respective computers as soon as we get home (for example). Yes, we have multiple online outlets that we utilize for business purposes and that's all well and good. I noticed, though, that when we come home and don't open the computers for a while, the vibe is generally better for the evening. Then we feed off each other's productivity. I noticed it just last night when I got home from work! 

So I'm going to make an effort to be better with all of my first ten minutes'. When I wake, when I get to work, when I take my lunch, when I get home from work etc. Even if those ten minute increments are the most productive of my whole day, that's a lot of minutes! It's a hell of a lot better than paying no attention to it at all; and I have a sneaking suspicion that productivity wouldn't stop with that first ten. Positive stuff is super contagious! 

Will you try it with me, y'all? Try to be mindful of the first ten minutes of all you do? It's so easy and it really shed a light on how we spend (and waste!) our time. 

And sometime or another, take a few moments to check out Yes & Yes. Her blog is quite enjoyable!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Last but certainly not least!

Pacino (aka "Cheeners") our neighborhood nosy cat, keeping our New Year's safe and as hooligan free as possible.

Here, it is! The last P&PPS post for the year. Crazy. Hard to believe it has only been a little more than five months ago that I started it, this place has become a bit of a sanctuary for me. Hopefully for you too!

Well, it's New Year's Eve, and once I get done closing up the store, the hubs and I are going out for a cocktail and nosh with a pair of acquaintances. After that it's pajama time until the ball drops. I'll probably be reading until the big moment (just finished this and it was just as awesome as you'd hope). We're going to do the 12 grapes thing too. 

Usually I have a long and very specific list of things I want to accomplish for the new year. This year, I'm making the list a bit more vague. General ideas of lifestyle changes are the way I'm rolling into 2015. I can't believe we're halfway through the 2010's. It's so bizarre! Time, y'all. She's a bandit.

Anyway, I hope for much happiness, balance and abundance in your life this upcoming year. May old habits die quick deaths and new habits spring forth like crocuses from the snowy ground!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Year Out, Year In

Last year's hats.

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Can you believe the year is almost over? It's so strange how quickly this year has flown by. It went by so quickly it's hard to imagine that much has changed, and yet so much has!

*We didn't have Comodino this time last year and in a few weeks it will be his one year anniversary living with us. Aw! Sweet, silly goober of a dog.

*My husband found a job, got a new vehicle and went back to school! So proud!

*I started working part time to help my mom with her burgeoning art career.

*Two new babies joined my universe, Addy in June and Mannee in December.

*I gained about ten pounds (working on that though!).

Now that the New Year is just around the corner, I hope for more positive changes in my life in the upcoming year. Things like:

*A new (better) job for me.

*Getting our debt paid off (at least 50%).

*Finding a cheaper apartment that doesn't have mold and sheetrock holding up one wall of the kitchen. Ahem. And has a yard.

*Traveling more!

*Losing those ten bleeping pounds.

*Selling tons of prints, stationery and mugs for mom's online store.

*Getting better about writing and mailing notes and nothings to friends and loved ones.

*Getting better about wasting money. Everyone does it in one way or another, but I've got like seven ways I do it and no me gustaria mucho!

What changes would you like to see in your New Year? I'd love to know! More tomorrow, y'all!

Have a truly wonderful day!

P.S. A list of those we lost. Rest in peace. I had no idea that Shirley Temple had passed away!! Sad!

A thought.

I really needed this today.

No regrets.

Thoughts on giving up...

Photo by yours truly. Check out the crescent moon!

Sometimes you feel like you want to give up. I know I do.

No matter the goal, in the short term it's way easier to throw in the towel and say: "Screw it! I'm going to spend that $40 or eat that fried chicken or have that third glass of wine!". And you know what? Life is meant to be lived, y'all, don't get me wrong.

However, in the long term, whatever goal that was that you abandoned will curl into a corner of your brain and peck at your self-esteem until it gets your attention again.

Don't give up. Whether it's saving for a new apartment, losing the freshman 15 (or a 30 year old's twenty...ahem), going back to get your degree, dealing with the loss of a loved one, a divorce, or trying to talk to your teenager...the plowing through means you are in the mire- that's that hard part that happens before it gets better! That means better is around the corner. That's called hope.

My mom has this wonderful saying/philosophy what-have-you that I've passed on to friends going through trying times or just having a hard time sticking to a goal, the idea of it is this:

When a jet is about to break the sound barrier, it shakes violently.

It rattles the screws and it feels like everything is going to break 

apart from the effort. Then...boom. The sound barrier is broken.

When shit gets real, y'all, or if you're just feeling too tired from a long day at work and school and well, life- remember that. You can't break the sound barrier if you're sitting on your ass, placating some little voice in your head that says you aren't worth it. You gotta do something about it and face those tremors, rattling screws and mire to get those truly badass results. And you are worth it, by the way. 

I hope you have a truly wonderful day.

100!

100

Happy Monday, y'all! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was a pleasant blend of work and fun. The decluttering and organizing kick I'm on has done wonders for my psyche. Seriously, I never knew I could get so much done. I'm being very careful to make sure to leave room for fun and nothing-doing (two of my favorite things) and so far the balance is working out so very nicely!

Well, today is my 100th post! I can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday I logged on and created this blog to help me mentally escape and try to grow out of a tough situation at work. Already this has evolved and continues to. I love it. I look forward to writing this posts every day and it still is providing me with an "excuse" to do more, be more and strive for a positive, abundant and balanced life. Whew! Awesome!

Today, I thought I would share a philosophy that the hubs turned me on to. It's No Zero Days. He found it here on Reddit (the column to the right of the page), and I've found myself going back to this idea over and over and over again for a few months now. It's great for when you don't know how to start to make changes, or you are someone who is suffering from depression and needs a ladder rung to cling to (I love the bit about the 3 "you's" too).

Basically the paraphrased, Reader's Digest version of the idea is this: do one thing a day, no matter how small, that moves you closer to your goal. For example: I want to lose five pounds. Today I did a few sit-ups and passed on french fries when I went out to lunch. It isn't much but those little things add up. Imagine what it could do for you if you're trying to tackle a big project like writing a novel, or rebuilding an engine in a classic car!

Take some time to read more on No Zero Days, there's more to it than what I shared. It's fantastic and it's a little something that can reignite inspiration, motivation and therefore change. Change is good, y'all! Try a little something today to be better, smarter, healthier, happier, and more positive!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for swinging by!

Project 3: Jewelry

Happy Thursday, y'all! I hope your week has been awesome. I'm day three (well, technically today is day 4, but- y'know) of the declutter challenge. So far the week has been awesome and inspiring, however, day three didn't go as great as I had hoped. That was mainly because I was absolutely exhausted after a closing shift at work while simultaneously training two new employees. Geesh. I'm still tired, to be honest.

However, miracle of miracles! I did manage to take a half hour or so to go through the house and harangue all the jewelry that I have strewn all over the place (I can admit I can be a hurricane at times- in fact, I have strategically placed bowls in every room to corral it all). I didn't get all the jewelry organized, but that's because I have a few boxes of sentimental and/or family heirlooms that will take a day. I did go through all my everyday jewelry and weeded it out a little bit then figured out about how much I had so that I could get all the supplies for...

...the awesome new jewelry hangers I'm going to make!!!

Aren't these cool?! I showed them to the hubs and he said he'd totally help me make them (i.e. he'll totally make them because he's cute when I start a project he wants to help then he ends up doing it himself). Regardless, I'm so excited!!

Now I know I said I'd be working on pi's and accessories etc. too, but I just couldn't. Tonight maybe!

Any great crafts or DIY storage ideas that have made your organization journey a little easier? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Project 2- Linen Closet/Master Bathroom

Look at this beautiful afternoon sky! I love the funky clouds, they make my head feel all swimmy.

Happy Wednesday, y'all!! I'm on day two of The Great Declutter! I began this blog in July as a way to find and hold onto positivity after a couple of years of depression. I've found so much gratification and inspiration and happiness in this project and I'm only two days in! I have to say I was a little surprised at how good it felt. I even daydreamed about yesterday's project at work the whole day before!

Yeah, it feels really good. Truly. I tackled the linen closet and bathroom cabinets last night. It took about an hour and a half. I did it all, man. Even folded the fitted sheets. That's right, I'm a fitted-sheet folding, decluttering badass! I didn't do it well, but I did it and that's the participation ribbon I'm going for, honestly.

I threw out a giant bag of garbage, recycled a ton of empty product bottles and boxes, streamlined the first aid/medicine and daily use stuff. I found all kinds of stuff I thought I'd lost (go figure). I cleaned it all up and then washed those two stinky dogs of mine on top of it. I'm telling you, when you get on a roll- decluttering and organizing- it's like crack.

Check that glory out right there. Sheets all folded and bundled. Spare blankets too. Corded things like heating pad, space heater etc., extra toiletries (never knew I had extras, just kept buying, I guess). Awesome. I'm going to bronze that picture.

And...not to brag, but I mean- hello! Look at that pretty bathroom counter! That is making the best out of a pretty pitiful little bathroom. I'm so proud. Aaaand I'm a nerd. Tonight is all about organizing & decluttering my jewelry, accessories & pj's (etc.). Boring, I know!

Have you done anything to make you feel particularly awesome lately? This is mine, what's yours? I'd love to know!!