Things I'm thinking about

Picture from coolpeoplecare.org

I've been thinking about the things on this poster quite a bit. Some of these things I'm already pretty good at and some of them are a challenge.

I'm thinking December should be a vegetarian month for me. I am an occassional vegetarian and I feel like I need a break from the meat products. I'm feeling sluggish.

I'm thinking about turning 40. Someday. Soon.

I need to think about cleaning my closet. And I need to finish unpacking this house.

I think I will journal everday this month. I'm bad at keeping up with journaling, but I know that it is a good tool for growth and learning about oneself, so I'm challenging myself to keep at it.

I'm thinking about ways to make Christmas special, without spending money we don't have and buying stuff we don't need.

I'm thinking about forgiving myself for some bad choices and giving myself a clean slate. I think that's a really good idea.

I think I want to own a Christmas Tree Farm someday. With a big barn, and we will serve hot chocolate and have hay rides and have good old fashioned carol sings and barn dances. I think we will make our whole year's living in the month of December and live lives of leisure the other 11 months.

I think I miss my Iowa friends.

I think my family is pretty awesome.

I think I would like to work on the Washington State Ferry system. For about a week.

I think I should go to bed.

What happens when...

you go to sleep in the clothes you wore yesterday, wake up, eat left overs, sit at the computer and don't put a bra on?

That's right... unexpected visitors.

I guess that proves that it's not all glamour, all the time over here at pretty shiny. As if.

On the agenda today:

Clean up the turkey mess and remove the carcass. I attempted to make stock, but the smell kind of grossed me out, so I'm tossing it.

Spruce up the joint and get out the Christmas Decorations.

My son just now asked me to boil him some water for hot dogs. He's 14. I guess I'll be teaching someone how the stove works.

Figure out what to make people for Christmas gifts. I have a few ideas, but not a lot of supplies. I'm putting on my resourcefulness thinking cap and inviting in the Creative Spirit.

And now I would like to discuss a problem that I have just been able to name and which depresses me: Passive Creativity.

I spend a lot of time on blogs, oohing and aahhing and thinking 'I can totally do that', but then I don't. I just sit on my bum and soak in all your lovely goodness. It's sort of like watching an exercise video, while sitting on the couch and eating pie.

I am a creative person. I have a lot inside me and when I don't let it out, I tend to get a little... I don't know the word. Edgy? Morose? Dissatisfied? Stunted? I don't even know. I just know I don't feel right.

I know that I feel good when I eat my veggies and don't eat sugar. When I don't do those things I feel the same way. Gross and mad at myself.

So I'm calling it. It's too easy to look at things that I will someday make. I will still browse around to look for inspiration but from now on I will limit my time ogling after your stuff and try to produce more of mine. I'm not sure what that will be yet, but how will I find out if I don't begin, eh?

So, here's to creating beauty and spreading the love. Join me, won't you?

Blessings to you

Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friends! I pray that you have a peaceful holiday and that you are able to remember all the things in your life in which to be grateful.

Le petit bal perdu

Have you seen this? Love it.

Harvest Swap

It's swap time again! I love swap time. Carrie and Monica are such nice hostesses. (See link below).

This is what I received in my swap box, from Anne Marie of Married to the Empire. I couldn't have been happier with my little treasure.

I'm pretty sure all the swappers have blogs, so it's fun to get to know a knew friend through their posts. Anne Marie had posted her hand stamped journals and sculpy clay ornaments and I was a little jealous. So imagine how happy I was to receive them in my package!

My pumpkin sits in a place of honor on my mantel and my daughter and I had the pumpkin spice coffee this morning for breakfast and it was DEE-lish. I'm going back to World Market to get a big bag of that stuff. My tea towels will make my Thanksgiving kitchen look all pretty, too. And I'm sure to get lots of holiday ideas from my magazine.

Thank you, Anne Marie! I hope you like your box, too. It was so much fun to be introduced to you this way and I look forward to continuing our bloggy friendship.

For more swap sights, go here.

Excuse me while I brag a bit

Today was an awards ceremony at the elementary school.

My girls have done me proud.

My youngest daughter scared me when I first sent her to school in Kindergarten. She was a lover, but she was often contrary and bossy and her first instinct was to growl rather than smile.

So, it is with pleasure and joy that I tell you, only three short years later, that she was given an award for creativity, good behavior and perfect attendance.

My next daughter never gave me a moment's doubt about her ability in school, but I did have moments of concern about her nature to be so task oriented. She was always friendly and easy-going but she would spend hours on work that would take another kid 30 minutes to complete. And it showed. Her work is often superior because she is a hard worker and she is just naturally academically inclined.

It did not surprise me one bit that she brought home an academic award today for getting straight A's this first quarter.

But even better, she came home with the Compassion award, for being sensitive and showing love for others.

My heart is overflowing.

Sixteen Years

I don't know how it happened, but my baby girl is sweet sixteen today.

I tease her that she really, really, rrrriiillllly hurt. But then I remind her that she is so worth it.

This girl of mine... she is independent, tough, sweet, silly, stubborn, loving, cute, gorgeous, crazy and mostly just wholly indescribable.

I'm so happy that she is a part of my family. I'm so lucky to get to watch her change from a baby, to a girl who would only wear clothes from the boy's section (FOR THREE YEARS!) to this girly-girl, athlete, totally great person.

I'm so proud of her and so in love with her. I hope she feels it. I think she does.

Thank you, God, for the blessing of my daughter.

New to me

Okay, before you think I'm some sick-o, I should tell you that I always have a camera in my purse, and I don't usually take it out in the bathroom.

But I found this interesing.

Pee up, poo down.

One of the buildings for the organization where I work is a 'Green Building'. Non-toxic paint and carpeting, environmentally good products, special toilets. Very special toilets that give you a choice.

Of course, I work in the old building. But that's okay. I get to visit the new one every now and then.

And when I do, I always use the loo while I'm there.

Weekend Observations

Two days of non-stop candy eating will make one very puffy, indeed.

There is an addictive quality to candy that I don't understand. After the first couple of little bars they don't even taste good anymore. However, if they are there, I will continue to eat them. This means that all candy will leave our house today. Either by means of consumption (not by me, for heaven's sake) or by the garbage bin. We cannot have it in the house anymore.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Window Cleaner DOES NOT WORK. It is streaky and leaves a haze on whatever it is sprayed on. Don't like it.


I like going to church. But, I don't like going to a church where I don't know anyone. However, in order to find a church you have to church hunt and attend places where no one knows you. Don't like it. I look forward to finding a church home soon.

If you work out of the home all week, and then take off Saturday from actually working in your home, Sunday is no longer a day to look forward to.

One can never take a day off of laundry. It's just a fact of life.

I like having pajama day. Get up, take a walk, come home to shower and then put pajamas right back on. Very cozy.

I might do the pajama thing again today, after church (where we don't know anyone). But I will keep the laundry going while lounging. :)

Throwing away the carved, rotting, pumpkins is an icky job.

It's a new month! Welcome, November.