Pinterest Fun!

Like everyone else out there, I love Pinterest.  I’ve thankfully managed to stay on the very minimal side of using it though so far.  I know I could oh-so-easily be sucked in to the wonderful world of Pinterest.  But I'm holding back as much as I can for now. (All that photography inspiration is so very dangerous).
I used Pinterest for a little inspiration to redecorate my mantel. I simply just created a Mantel Inspiration board and posted things I liked that I found around the web.  What I created for my mantel and the pictures had actually pinned weren't all that similiar, but it's what got the juices flowing, so to speak.  

I also used Pinterest to gather Valentine’s Day ideas for pre-school Valentines. There were a million cute ones floating around this year.  I used Pinterest to collect ideas for my daughter’s 5th birthday parth.  I’ve pinned lots of things that I would love to try one day.  And I know that several of my friends are posting things to Pinterest that I would love to try – from recipes to craft ideas with kids. 

My goal is to try and use Pinterest sparingly and not be overwhelmed by the fun and wealth of ideas there!  On occasion, I may just even post a thing or two I try on Pinterest with success. 

For example, I loved this super easy idea for creating a wreath of balloons.  I made this and hung it on the door for my daughter’s birthday party.

Next up, I want to try my friend’s necklace storage idea here.

Oh, and you can find me on Pinterest here.

My Mental Block

Most days I feel like I need an extra few hours to complete everything I want to accomplish in a day. 
Ok, who am I kidding?  I think I feel like that every day!  I’ve tried mental to-do lists – which usually get lost in my frazzled brain.  I’ve tried the good ol’ fashioned write-it-down method of tracking to-dos.  I’ve logged them in spreadsheets.  I even downloaded an app to my iPhone and tried to manage to-dos that way.  No matter how I try to track to-dos, I never have enough time in the day, week, or month to get them accomplished.  As a full-time working mom of two little ones, I know it’s not an uncommon feeling, either. 

And here’s where I’ve accessed my real problem with trying to accomplish to-dos - I have a mental block.  

Let me take a step back for a moment.  I have OCD tendencies.  I’m a Type A, no doubt.  To those who know me well, I can hear you sarcastically saying “Really?”  It’s amazing how much raising two kids has put these OCD tendencies in check.  Here’s a good example of what I mean:  Before kids, I used to clean my house from top to bottom, in a particular order, with a particular order for each room as well, every single Sunday, without fail. Now, I’m lucky to run the vacuum once a week (and I have a dog and a cat).  I tried to go the cleaning lady route, but was not happy with the quality of cleaning.  (I have contemplated getting another cleaning lady and trying again).  I’d rather spend time with the kids than mopping the kitchen floor (although sometimes scrubbing a toilet is a welcome break from the daily chaos).  I don’t have the time to clean the way I like to clean, and I’ve come to terms with that. Life will go on and I’m okay with it.  OCD in check.

So back to my mental block…….. The issue is now that my OCD-tendencies that have been forced to take a back seat (a good thing), an “all-or-nothing” phenomenon has taken over (a bad thing).  If I can’t do something 110%, I often choose to simply not do it.  This usually applies only to my personal “wants”.

If I can’t run on a regular basis or blog on a regular basis or edit photos every evening or start a good book or watch a favorite TV show or even manage to have houseplants and keep them alive (all my “wants”), I prefer to ignore them.  That leaves me feeling a little sad because it’s another reminder that I’m not Superwoman. Some people can do everything all of the time and make it look effortless while doing so.  I’m not that person, and it’s hard coming to terms with it.  I completely understand the need to meet my wants on a somewhat regular basis – a happy mom is key to a happy home. 

So why is it so hard for me to understand and accept that it’s okay if I can’t give 110%?  If I can only run once a week, at least I got in a run.  If I only get a chance to edit photos that I took several weeks prior, at least I’ve captured the memory.  TV and new shows will always be there.  Books will continue to pile up on my night stand and one day I will again be able to devour books like I used to do.  I need to learn to better balance and enjoy a little bit of everything even if I can’t do it the way my old OCD tendencies want me to do it.  I need to loose the “all-or-nothing” mentality and break free from the exhaustion (the “all) and the sludge of inactivity (the “nothing”). 

I can’t do everything all of the time.  I just wished I was okay with only "half-way" doing things.

First Day - March 2012

On the 1st of every month, I'll snap some shots of my normal everyday life.  The first of this month was not a very "typical" one for me.  I left the house by 7:30 a.m. and didn't get home until after 10:30 p.m.  It was a long day away from my girls, but I had a nice evening out with some co-workers. And in future months, I promise to just post the pictures and not babble on and on and on.....
(I took all the pictures with my iPhone.  I gave Instagram a try, but I now see that all my pictures are blurry and I'll pick another app next month.)

My day started off just like an typical weekday morning.  I hit snooze way more times than I should have, and I woke to the cat purring and sleeping on my upper body.

Usually when I wake, no matter how early it is or how quite I am, one of my little munchkins can just sense I'm up, and they feel the need to join me.  This morning, Tee woke an hour earlier than normal and I could not convince her to go back to bed.  And yes, she wore the hippie bandanna all night long.

Shortly after Tee woke up, little Vee followed. 

And amongst the morning chaos of me trying to get ready for work, put make-up on and entertain two kids, the dog started barking downstairs that he needed to go outside.  And once he starts barking, there is no stopping him - old guy has a small bladder.

When the girls wake before I leave for work, I usually start them on a very quick breakfast while I'm making my tea and gathering my items for work.  Auntie Tina (my brother's wife) finishes up breakfast when she comes over to watch the girls.  She's there "nanny", and it's nice to have family watch the girls and me not have to bundle them up to head out the door with me in the morning.

It never fails when I'm running late for work, I need to stop and fill up my car because it's on fumes. 

Thankfully, my commute wasn't too bad.....just a little slow due to the rain.

View of my building from the parking deck.  In the background on the right, the building with the peaks was the first building I worked in after I graduated college.

My cube.  I work here three to four days a week, the other time from home.  My wonderful co-worker brought in potted flowers for our team to help us "Think Spring".

Part of my morning routine.  Located within my building.  It's dangerous.

Auntie Tina sent me this pic of Vee.  She only gets her binky in her crib, so sometimes she'll ask to go in there.  In this case, she's making up for lost time with two pacifiers in her mouth.

Another picture from Auntie Tina during the day.  They don't get to watch much TV, but when they do, they are glues to it.  And the cuddling with one another doesn't happen all that often.

After work, a few co-workers and I get together for dinner and a show.  We head for tapas.  Yummy!  I had creme brulee for dessert.  Let's just say I need to get back on my Weight Watchers program real soon.

This was a show written by the Ephron sisters.  I laughed quite a bit! 

This is the time on the clock as I'm heading home.  Long day away from my girls.

Auntie Amy watched the girls in the evening.  Verity was in her crib fast asleep (and I didn't dare go in for a picture as she surely would wake), and my sister and Tee were fast asleep in Tee's bed.

 

End of Day!

I'm linking up with an old blogging buddy on the first of every month. Our feisty five year old daughters are only a month a part, and it's been fun to see them grow over the years.  I love this idea of simply taking pictures of the normal, every day happenings on the first of each month for a little log of what life is like.

Oh Those Curls

My little baby is not so little anymore.  I couldn't imagine not having her in my life.  Soon she will be eighteen months.  The time really goes by all too fast, especially when I was looking back on pictures from just a few months ago.

Ready for Princess Tea Party

Well, almost.....

I can't believe my oldest is going to be turning five.  It truly is hard to believe.  I do feel that I just blinked and had a baby in my arms and blinked again and have a feisty, spirited, independent girl in my midst.

We are gearing up for a princess tea party.  I still have a few things to coordinate, but the party is a month away and I have the time.  As of now, the invitations I made are being printed.  And a true singing princess is scheduled to come for the tea as well. 

Who would have ever thought I would be up for a princess party?  Let the pink prevail.

Front of the card. 

(Back of the card has all the when and where details.)

Small Changes

With the new year I was overcome with a crazy desire to make some small changes around the house.  I want to make it my home.  I'm working with a limited budget, so the changes I make will be small, but they will indeed put my mark on the place.

One of the first projects was to re-upholster the dining room chairs.  The dining room set is from the 1940s and was purchased at an antique auction several years ago.  It's been to the refinishers for some general structural help over the years.  It's true what "they" say though - They just don't make furniture like that anymore.  It's a solid set.  When it was purchased from the auction, the chairs had some hideous fabric on the seats. Taking the fabric off revealed the original fabric, which I didn't think was all that bad at the time.  So the chairs have been used for the last several years with the original fabric still holding up super well. 

Before - Original 1940s Fabric

I decided recently though that I was tired of the old fabric and wanted to change it up a bit. My lovely sister volunteered to help me with the project.  I had a budge of $50 to recover six chairs (five regular chairs and one captain's chair).  We headed out to a very swanky fabric store across town where I knew that I would not be able to afford half the fabrics in the store.  Once we got there, I made a bee-line to the back hoping to find a clearance section.  Score!  There was a clearance section and it was overflowing with goodies.

I set my sights on a fabric that both my sister and I thought the clearanced remnant might not cover all the chairs.  I held on to it anyway and continued looking around.  I found a second, more expensive remnant that would be sure to fit all six chairs.  Not being able to decide which fabric to go with, I walked away with both of the remnants.  I figured if the one I really like didn't work, I would find something else to do with it.  The remnant I really liked was originally $67 a yard!  It was on sale for $9.99 a yard, and the remnant was a yard and a half.  So $15 for the first remnant.  The second choice remnant was $15 a yard and was a little over two yards.  (Not sure how much this remnant originally cost, but I'm guessing it was around the same price range as the first if not more.)  I walked out spending $15 more than my budget, but I had two really great fabric remnants to work with.

Once I got home, I took apart all of the chairs and laid out the fabric I really liked.  And it just fit all six seat covers - just barely!  My sister cut the fabric and folded, and I went to town with the staple gun.  The project went much smoother than we anticipated.  And the result is some pretty nice looking dining room chairs!  I'll save the other, larger remnant for a few years down the road when I get the itch to recover the chairs again.

After - The fabric is a nice Italian velvet in a soft yellow. 

Although the wood looks darker, I didn't do anything to the finish of the chairs (before picture taken indoors with flash, after picture taken outdoors while I was scotch-guarding the chairs).

Happy New Year + A Few Weeks

I miss blogging. (My last post was over two months ago!)  I miss being able to sit on the couch at night and decompress from the day. (Major issues with getting the older one to fall asleep in her own bed).  I miss sleeping in general.  (Major issues again with getting the little one to sleep through the night).  But life is happening all around me and I'm trying to enjoy it as best I can.  Here's what happened over the past two months:

• The holidays came and went.  We enjoyed them.
• I thought about blogging a few times, but didn't.
• I have yet to finish editing my brother's wedding pictures (yes, it's really been several months since he married).
• I haven't taken nearly as many pictures as I've wanted to do.
• I've felt guilty for not continuing to do monthly updates on the little one like I used to do with the older one.
• I still do take monthly pictures of each girl on the date of their birth day.  I don't do anything more than snap a few pictures and download them to my computer though.
• I've already had enough of the darker, colder, shorter days .
• The little one is talking up a storm (single words, not stringing anything much together).  She's a smart cookie.
• The older one has quite the stubborn gene thanks to her mother.
• Work has been doing layoffs, and thank goodness I've been spared thus far.
• I'm working on doing another round of 101 in 1001 days.  I liked it before and would like to try it again.
• I'm contemplating two half marathons this year, which means I need to start running.
• But before I can run, I need to loose a lot of weight.  And I mean a lot.  Got on the scale last night and wanted to cry.  I'm  blaming it (the weight) on the little one and the major life changes of the past year.
• The older one and I have started writing in a gratitude journal every night at bedtime.  It's good for the soul.

Hoping to be a better blogger this year, but I can't guarantee anything.  Working on being a better Brooke is a bit more important :)