Things That Are Good, Neither or Really Shitty
Ladies and gentlemen (there are a select few of you, I hope). This is it. The introduction of my
WEEKLY FEATURE.
Once a week (on Fridays) I am going to be here, dishing the dish, full of links and critiques and my opinions – which Salt'n'Pepa taught me "...are like assholes and everybody's got one." (Side note, if you haven't listened to this this year, you should.)
So, THIS week's roundup:
- This wall color. I sweat the bravery, I sweat the color, I do not envy hanging art on it. Ps. No one looks that good while painting (new thing to live up to.)
- So since we are already talking about people looking awesome...I want to tell you how stinking awesome I look in this sweater. Seriously. I bought it in all three colors. I am old. It is official. But I am happy. So suck it.
- More on pretties: Rings cast from sand. Stackable. Unique. Going on my MUST have list.
- On the SHITTY list. This terrible article about the grossest stuff you'll ever hear about. Seriously, if you want to quit, just quit. If you want to smoke, just smoke. Yuck to chemical poison.
- If you do care about your body and you are ready for a spring (god, I hope) cleanse. The click here because this is the one you want. The recipes OMG they make me want to cook!
- Loving THIS song. Rosie Thomas. There is a reason it is on the "Sad Songs Channel" but seriously, major prettiness.
That is, officially, all that is important in the world today. Well, except for THIS granola I make weekly to feed my family. Oh, and THIS calzone. And THESE pork chops.
Happy Weekend. I'm out
Just This Shelf.
There is a space, somewhere.
It waits for you.
It might be hidden by single socks, snow melt, crinkled wrapping paper, old water glasses. But underneath that all
It waits for you.
There are a few places it is not. It is not at your friend's house (hello, envy). It is not at the end of a long day of cleaning (hello, avoidance).
It is in the middle of your messes, it is at the top of your list. It is yours alone. Without reason, without perfection. Without perfection. Without perfection.
Carve it. Right now. Make yourself space. Make yourself space. GIFT yourself this space. It frees your brain. It frees your brain. Make yourself space. (Click HERE to Tweet).
This is our second skin.
This outside that reflects our in. Maybe not everyday. Maybe not always. Maybe not the mess in the sink. Maybe not the unfolded laundry. But somewhere, there is a space. It's not on Pinterest. It is not tomorrow. It won't wait till the New Year. It won't wait at all. It is there right now. All along. Clear the debris.
Claim it.
Where is yours?
People Making Pasta in My Artless Kitchen
Artless kitchen because we are MOVING and everything is in boxes (almost).
Pasta because Chris' brother is here making Spaetzle. Like macaroni and cheese, only better.
And I am warning you,
I am FEELING LOST.
Artless kitchen because we are MOVING and everything is in boxes (almost).
Pasta because Chris' brother is here making Spaetzle. Like macaroni and cheese, only better. And anything with cheese always makes me happy.
And I am warning you,
I am FEELING LOST.
I seem to have forgotten, until today, just how sad moving makes me. I walk around despairing the loss of views through windows, the squeaks of doors and floorboards, the feeling of a door handle in the dark, the shape of the ceiling fan's shadows. I feel heartbroken and mournful. Like leaving a lover, like death, like change.
I know it's like passing from maiden to mother, from mother to crone. I know it's like leaving a job and clearing your desk and cutting your hair. I know it's the jacket that got left in the nightclub, the tattoo drawn but never inked.
Loss. Emptiness. Abandon.
So, I'll hold my babies close, look out this window for the last time, and feel the ground beneath my feet.
Change and challenge. Prevail.
Because you are here already, you might as well keep reading:
BLOG
Oh Snap, What Have I Done #wordlesswednesday
about 4 months ago
Passive Income like a Mother*ucker
about 4 months ago
The Hustle. (I'm a Hustler, Baby. I Just Want You to Know)
about 6 months ago
Moving Life
I know I am not the only one who loves moving. But I really do. I've been getting rid of stuff lately and now I am so excited to pare down even more and pack up.
We were approved for our loan (our third, ohmygod) to buy the new blue house! And we close (I think) in about two weeks.
Now on the agenda:
I know I am not the only one who loves moving. But I really do. I've been getting rid of stuff lately and now I am so excited to pare down even more and pack up.
We were approved for our loan (our third, ohmygod) to buy the new blue house! And we close (I think) in less than ten days.
Now on the agenda:
- Packing. (Yippee Yeah YEAH Yahoo!)
- Fixing up our current place. Want to come paint window trim for us? Also, patching walls, cleaning, primping, making gorgeous.
- Trying to rent our current apt. See listing HERE. And please, pass it around.
- Taking care of two kids, running a few businesses, and wait, doing this all in the next two weeks!
- Is there something I am missing? Like dreaming about stuff for the new house on etsy?
- Oh, right, taking off the trim in the laundry room to get the washer out, switching the plug back to a euro to put in a different washer/dryer, getting the mason to come and re-tile the shower....crap! Go, team, go!
And now, because you always look for this:
Mindfulness in Moving
Things to notice as you go:
- SPACE. Stop. Breathe it it, feel it around you.
- STUFF. See your attachments. Note them & move gently along.
- DECISIONS. Yes, we all make them. Trust yourself deeply.
- TIME. Things change. We are always IN FLUX. Breathe again. Accept.
- CALM. Even in the most harrowed moments, there are other moments within.
Close your eyes and smile. You CAN do this.
Read more and read it here:
Life Lite – Live Light
Oh it is the fifth trip to sal–army this week to drop off bags and bags and it feels so amazing. What is it about lightening the load that makes me feel like a balloon? That makes me feel like this:
Oh it is the fifth trip to sal–army this week to drop off bags and bags and it feels so amazing. What is it about lightening the load that makes me feel like a balloon? That makes me feel like this:
Just a station wagon and some nalgene bottles. And a whole lot of love. But what I remember was the
LIGHTNESS.
Actually, scratch that. I am just pretending to remember lightness. I think I was pretty stressed at the time.
But back to LIGHTENING THE LOAD. Gosh, every bag I donate, every unused bunt pan, serving spoon, stuffed animal, and three hole punch – I levitate a little more. I feel
SPACE OPEN.
This is how I want to feel.
Clean, able to breathe, able to move and flow, inspired, soft, thankful.
I love identifying this. Realizing how profoundly space impacts me. How I love light shining off of golden wood floors.
My next tenant will move to the amazing space you see below. I love this, this offering of space. This way I collect money to support my family, in exchange for space.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!
Like this stuff? Maybe you'll like this stuff:
Kind of #WordlessWednesday
This is my Dad's house...
That house we are buying...looks suspiciously like my Dad's place on Block Island...
Oh Snap, What Have I Done #wordlesswednesday
The offer is in... Let the waiting begin...
The offer is in... Let the waiting begin...
It was HARD and it was GOOD
The time I spent with the organizer was both. I wanted to cry a bit (luckily he had big shoulders to cry on). And, my husband was there helping too (and he ALSO has big shoulders).
Things I learned:
The time I spent with the organizer was both. I wanted to cry a bit (luckily he had big shoulders to cry on). And, my husband was there helping too (and he ALSO has big shoulders).
Things I learned:
1) People are different. My husband, my assistant and I all were around for this and we were all immediately diagnosed as ADHA, OCD & pregnant, respectively. Totally nailed it. We all have such different styles of what to do with stuff and HOW to deal with it.
2) When everything from one closet is out on the floor in piles you will probably want to give up. If you are really lucky and have someone there to help, they won't let you.
3) You might not finish in a day. These projects can take some tweaking over time. Be hopeful, but flexible.
4) You have more shit than you ever thought possible.
5) Trash day doesn't happen nearly as often as one might like. So, remember to plan in advance for the throwing stuff out portion of the process. I didn't plan well enough for this. So, a few days later we still have a section of crap to deal with...
6) Old paint smells really, really bad.
7) Drink a lot of water.
THIS LINK: DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF TIDY FAMILIES really reminded me that LESS STUFF is GOOD.
THIS LINK: MAKING SPACE CLEANSE sounds like a great way to begin and set intentions for some serious process.
I Hired a Personal Organizer
My family and friends are laughing at me. Usually, I am the one who organizes their spaces.
"The organizer hires an organizer," my mom said.
My family and friends are laughing at me. Usually, I am the one who organizes their spaces.
"The organizer hires an organizer," my mom said.
I needed help. Every time I looked in this closet I shut down. I couldn't even do simple projects because just finding my glue was too damn hard. Closet of excuses? Closet of avoidance? Closet of lost hope?
He comes this morning for our first pass at it. My first job was to define this space's function. My goal is for this to be a supply closet for all of my rental spaces in this building. I'd like to be able to do most building projects from this closet alone. However, for now, while we still live IN the building, it also must hold some wood and raw materials that will eventually be gone... Dual purpose organization, if you will.
Oh, and I'd also like to be able to actually walk into the closet.
Here we go! Stay tuned for more and think about your own spaces. Can you define your goals for specific spaces?
Organizing - My Brain
I am telling you the truth when I say that somedays I wish I could hire myself. I spent the last two days wrestling with pregnancy hormones and trying to sort out my plan of attack. Guess what?
I am telling you the truth when I say that somedays I wish I could hire myself. I spent the last two days wrestling with pregnancy hormones and trying to sort out my plan of attack. Guess what?
I didn't get there yet. And that's okay. Or at least, that's what I'd tell you. So that's what I am telling myself. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay. Allow space for these feelings, allow things to be DIFFERENT. I am choosing to allow myself to be DIFFERENT then I perceive myself to "normally" be. I tend to be very clear when it comes to my (or your) plan of action. These last few days, I can see yours clearly, but not mine. Can I roll with that? Can I make lists and watch the rain and read Dr. Seuss to my daughter and do some laundry and ignore some dishes and make something with my hands? Can I give myself the chance to NOT BE ORGANIZED OR EFFICIENT?
I'd like to try to let these feelings just float around and not attach to them. Not to struggle against the flow. Not to try to understand the WHY of it all. I'm gonna give it a shot and just keep repeating these words: Allow, alllow, allow. Don't judge, don't justify. Allow, allow, allow.
How do you adapt when you are not feeling like yourself?
Do you use inspiration? THIS print about songbirds and roots inspires me.