Let go of your past (what was and what wasn’t)
Let go of those years of clutter
Let your fears fly away
Live your life as if it were new
Be free
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Thinking Thankful Thoughts, November 2011
16 NovSome Things I Feel Thankful For, in No Particular Order:
Hemmed slacks
Crisp sweet apples, especially the tiny ones
Intelligent writers who hold my attention and make me think
Quiet mornings when I can reflect on all manner of things
Sincere friends, supportive family and other fine folks (especially my husband)
Warm Fall breezes that make my skin tingle
Optimism (and the occasional delusion)
Cold filtered water at my fingertips
Being of sound mind and body
Flannel sheets and king size pillows
Nasal decongestants that actually work
A clean bathroom (especially one I didn’t clean myself)
Merino wool and cashmere sweaters
Living in a free country
A piece of music titled “Sheep May Safely Graze”
Nutrition labels
The french fries at Elephant Bar (forget the nutrition label on that one)
My blog readers
This Mess Is So Big
1 Nov“And this mess is so big
And so deep and so tall,
We cannot pick it up.
There is no way at all!”
― Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat
This is untrue, of course.
Charming, but untrue.
This is what children say when they don’t want to clean their rooms, only they don’t rhyme as well.
If you are an adult, and you catch yourself making this kind of excuse to avoid cleaning or organizing, you must remind yourself that you CAN do it. It might take a while, and it might be stressful, but it can certainly be done.
Have some faith in yourself, focus on the goal, and take breaks.
You can do it!
Self-Service
19 Oct
Recent events have led me to the rather obvious conclusion that I can reduce my stress level and even simplify my life to a great degree simply by focusing more of my energy on myself.
Shocking, isn’t it?
I often come across The Usual Free Advice about how to feel better and find inspiration by focusing on helping others through volunteer work or other selfless pursuits. This is excellent advice for those who have a natural inclination to focus too much on themselves.
On the other hand, those who have spent decades focused on the needs of others may realize, as I have, that too much outward focus eventually becomes detrimental, and the solution sometimes lies in the opposite direction.
I am taking a minimalist approach to stress. Less outward focus means more inward focus.
Homemade Sugar Scrub (soft feet for less money)
5 Oct
Some time ago, I read a recipe for homemade sugar scrub (something I normally purchase for use on my feet). I thought it was a terrific money-saving idea, but I promptly forgot where I had seen it.
For those who are unfamiliar with sugar scrubs or salt scrubs, the grains exfoliate the skin and the oil softens it. Normally, these scrubs have a scent, such as lavender or grapefruit.
Having recently exhausted my current supply of purchased sugar scrub, I resolved to try making my own. I filled the container with a mix of olive oil, granulated sugar and vanilla extract. I would have preferred a citrus extract, but the whole point of this exercise was to avoid a trip to the store, so vanilla was fine. I didn’t measure at all, but simply matched the general consistency to the scrub I had used previously.
The resulting batch was a success. As a bonus, in addition to being soft, my feet now smell like cookies!
CAUTION: If you use any oil based product in the shower, be sure you have a non-slip mat to avoid breaking your neck!
Even Nelson Mandela Needs to Clean Out His Closet Once in a While
14 Sep-
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. ~Nelson Mandela
We are changing constantly – sometimes on the inside, sometimes on the outside. Your clothing should fit both your current lifestyle and your current body.
If you find yourself altered but your closet remains unchanged, do something about it!
5 Signs That You Need to Organize Your Home
31 AugSign #1: You found your hairbrush in the microwave.
Sign #2: The spiders have constructed a town hall and drafted a constitutional charter.
Sign #3: The coat stand tipped over and crushed your favorite end table.
Sign #4: To get to the spare room, you need to climb out the window, dangle from the eaves and crawl through a ventilation shaft. (Be sure to bring a flashlight and a grappling hook.)
Sign #5: Poor Aunt Delores hasn’t been seen since she opened up the pantry door to find the dog food. What day was that? Where is the dog? Well, maybe they went for a really long walk…
The Stress Festival
24 AugMy life has recently evolved into such a stress festival that I have actually stopped having fun. Obviously, this is bad. There is no joy happening at all.
This lack of fun has really yanked the stopper out of the drain in the inspiration tub. Nothing is left in there but soap scum. The highlight of my day was visiting the grocery store. My feeble attempt at self-attention took the form of some chicken mango sausages and a container of tuna salad. No one else around here will eat these things; these are “selfish purchases”. Yes, it is true: when I am feeling down, I still eat healthy food. I am one of those people. Don’t hate me for it.
This stress festival is the worst festival I have ever attended, by far. There are no rides, no second-rate bands, no face painters, no overpriced foam lizards on wire leashes… not even an ugly and inexplicably green stuffed gorilla. Nothing but petty resentment on display here, and I had to bring my own tuna salad.
Whose idea was it to buy a ticket to this mess, anyway?! Probably mine, I will admit, but I am leaving just as soon as I can find my way to the parking lot, and no, I don’t want my hand stamped for re-entry.
I had more fun at this festival, although it may be hard to tell from my expression in the photo.
Back to Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks
17 AugIf you are a parent, or an experienced student, you know that paperwork is a key part of the back to school process.
Fortunately, most schools have the important information online, so if you misplace those important papers (or never receive them in the first place), you can still have access to much of the information you need. Later, you can even check your students’ grades online.
We never received the promised back-to-school information packet in the mail, but thanks to the internet, it all worked out.
I spent an entire morning at a middle school orientation, and it was no more pleasant for me than it was for my children. This is saying a lot, because I made them wear their uniforms for orientation day, only to find that virtually all of the other students wore their street clothes. There is nothing like standing out on your first day at a new school district where you don’t know anyone. Bless their hearts for not complaining about my error.
I made my way through crowds. Why am I waiting in line while others inexplicably step ahead?
I became flustered. What do you mean you don’t have my son’s schedule in the stack?
I ignored the standard fundraising promotions. No, I don’t want to join the PTA, can I go home now?
Frankly, I think being a middle school parent is nearly as bad as being a middle school student!
