Pinterest Pickings- Yards and Yards

Me and a couple of my lady friends (holla) are having a multi-family Yard Sale this weekend. It is one of those things keeping me very busy as of late. It is a lot of work! And I probably won’t make much, but man, cleaning out this ol’ house feels liberating. And I’m always game for having a sale (and donating the rest) rather than trashing perfectly good items. It’s been a couple of years since I had a decent Yard Sale and another one is definitely needed.

In honor of my hours and hours of sweat putting this thing together, this Pinterest Picking is full of Pins on how to have a successful Yard Sale.

Advice found here

& here

 

 

Tips here

 

 

Genius ideas here

 

 

 

Tips & printables here

 

 

Some of the tips repeat themselves and then some of them were like 'Ah ha'! Hope all goes well this weekend!

 

If you would like to come to our Yard Sale, check out our post on Craigslist for more details.

The Blog Reno

There seems to be a lot of rules about blogging these days, how many times you need to post, how many tweets or instagrams you should post a day, how to create "your brand," and lots of classes on how it should be done. I don't think that this is that type of a blog, blogging is not my day job. I blog to try and keep myself motivated to do my odds and ends around the house. I blog so I have somewhere to talk/write about design, crafting, my day, work, or whatever (this also helps keep my DH from having to listen to hours of me talking about paint colors). I blog because I'm MUCH better about blogging than keeping a journal (although, I could still be much more of a consistent blogger). I blog for a creative outlet.

Blog-o-sphere complaining aside, I like blogging and think it's a fun hobby. I hope this blog helps give others ideas, or is a happy stop in someones day. I hope it is a good creative outlet and helps bring more beautiful things into my life, and maybe even a few others if I can help it. Recently, I don't feel like my blog is working for me. I mean, I've been at this for years, and I have tried to re-design, streamline my topics, or create a "brand," but it just isn't my jam. I think I just want to blog about whatever is going on in my life, not just design or home improvement. For example, I also am very involved in my church, I also happen to work a couple of jobs and have gained nifty skills, I'm obsessed about my dog. Things the world must need to know, right?

Okay, maybe not. But I've decided to try and give my blog yet another little renovation. Make it look better, be more organized, and just in general work better for me (and in turn, hopefully for others as well.) I read blogs a lot, and it's always fun to go to their site and BAM! Everything is different and pretty and organized. Well, like I said, I'm not that kind of a blog. And in the wise words of Sugar Brown "Ain't nobody got time for that!" So instead, I think I will take you along in my journey  of a BLOG RENO.

I don't plan on doing anything too crazy, just streamlining it all really. I also plan on writing more about what is on my mind or inspiring me at the moment and not worrying about weather it fits within a "brand." I basically will just try and make the blog work better for me and for others. I have so many projects around my house right now it's not even funny. I need to get re-energized and blogging really helps me do that, keeps me more organized as well.

Here is my beginning "to do" list:

Streamline Labels
Add "buttons" for social media and stuff
Add an Instagram Roll
I like links to blogs I like and topics instead of them cluttering up the side bar
Make "Search" field in side bar
remove the blogspot header
Make it look sleek and cleaner overall
Use my real camera for pics and rely less on my phone camera

Now, knowing me, it might take me a year to get this done. It's real life over here, but my goal is to try and do something blog-clean-up related at least once and month and share my wisdom struggles. I just put it all out there so I hope I will follow through. After all, that is why I'm blogging in the first place. Wish me luck!

30 x 30 Completed . . . Kinda

Well, it's that time to see how I actually ended up doing on my 30 x 30 goals.

(italicized is something I've completed since my last post. Gray bolded text is new.)

So, I didn’t get my list done. That’s okay. I still think I did a lot more than I would have without making the goals. Jeff says it’s better to aim for the moon and miss than to aim for the ground.


So here is what I missed:

5) Lose 20 lbs, feel more fit. Lazy
12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding- Didn’t print due to budgetary constraints.
14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts. Lazy.
15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book." Lazy.
17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history. Started, not finished.
19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what. I decided I can’t decide until at least Jeff is done with school. One person at a time.
25) Get preggo. Working on it, may take some time.
26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever! Maybe I will get to someday :)
29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie. Lazy . . . and I have no piano.

Here is what I did that WASN’T on my list:

-Get a new job! (Tell you about it later)
-Paint the guest bathroom,
-Re-do the flooring after our flood (okay, technically Jeff did the work, but I picked the flooring out.)
-Decorate the guest bedroom,
-Upgrade our patio furniture,
-Finally buy a rug for the living room,
-Get a DOG, Scout!

And I’m sure I did lots of other stuff too. I was busy to say the least. I like making goals and would like to do something like this for this next year too, but am not sure what to do. I learned a lot about making goals for the future. Instead of trying to do 5 things from such and such, I need to just start with doing 1 thing. I also need to be more specific in some instances, like "pray more" and more vague in other areas.

This year I was thinking of making a list of things to accomplish each month instead of doing 31 things. I also thought about just trying to do 31 acts of service. Not sure where I’ll end up, and again, I may not succeed at everything, but I’ll do better than if I make no goals at all. I’ll keep you posted.

30 x 30 It's almost reckoning time!

Here is a list I created a year and some months ago with all the things I thought I could accomplish by the time I turn 30. It doesn't look too good for me!

1) Have my hair professionally dyed a dark auburn.
2) Go on a 'real' date with Jeff once a month, no family members invited. So far so good!
3) Blog once a month. So far so good!
4) Update my wardrobe with at least 5 fun and totally non-essential items.
5) Lose 20 lbs, feel more fit.
6) Take a road trip.
7) Organize the garage and all our tools. Jeff has the tool bench and has them all wrangled in ONE spot. It’s amazing!.
8) Re-vamp the office. It needs an overhaul. I think I can mark this one off, made huge improvements, even if it does still need some work..
9) "Grow up" our decorating style a little. I think I did okay at this, at least our bed is no longer on the floor and our TV stand is no longer an old painted dresser. I'll consider this success!
10) Paint the hallway and stairwell.
11) Frame the dried flowers from our wedding. I did this in our hallway picture grouping.
12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding.
13) Make a window treatment for the kitchen window. I forgot about this, it was so simple, I should do a post about it.
14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts.
15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book."
16) Take better pictures with my Nikon.
17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history.
18) Sew something. (Kitchen window and a little bad to organize my Primary stuff)
19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what.
20) Stop drinking caffeinated soda.
21) Tithes.
22) Pray more.
23) Go to the temple once a quarter (4 times a year) So far so good!
24) Read the Book of Mormon again.
25) Get preggo.
26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever!
27) Read 6 books.
28) Reduce our monthly expenses by 10% I reduced our utility bills by 10%. Not much I could do about the car payment and what not. But, the car and credit card payment only have a few months payment left and then they are GONE!
29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie.
30) Take a trip with just Jeff and I for our 30th birthdays

There are a couple of items that I know will be completed, I just need to see them through. #2, #3 and #23 will definitely be checked off the list (Dating, blogging and temple going. Check, check, and check.)


Then there are those that I think I could pretty easily check off if I concentrate on them in the next couple of months:


4-Updating my wardrobe: So far I have an owl ring, a jersey knit skirt, a floral scarf, and yellow shoes; I just need one more unnecessary item.
10-Painting the stairwell
12-Printing out our wedding pictures
16-Taking better pictures Signed me and my sister up for a class. AND I know how to change my f stop and aperture now. On my way to success!
20-Caffeinated Soda’s : Almost broke the addiction, down to just one caffeinated soda a day.
21-Tithes
22-Prayer
24-BoM read through


Then there are those that I think I may have just dropped the ball on and will have to keep working on:

5-Losing 20 lbs: I got the gym membership, went once. HA HA HA! Guess I need to work on this.
14- 5 Martha Stewart Crafts: I glittered eggs, that’s about it.
15- Cooking: Total fail. I think I made one soup from the recipe book but that was it. I still don’t really cook.
17- Writing my grandparent’s history: I started this, but there are still so many more stories I should write down.
19- Decide about school:
25 and 26- Getting preggo and make nursery: I broke down and have the appointments scheduled with the fertility specialist.
29- Learn a song on the Piano: Total fail. I’ve probably only played the piano a couple times in the last year.
30- Taking a trip with Jeff: We are still thinking about this. If we do go on a trip I think it would be between our two birthdays, maybe some time in the fall, so I won’t make this one by the time I turn 30.

Wow! So I’ve only completed 10 out of 30 in the last year and some change. I am nothing if not a procrastinator! Let’s hope I can get some more of these babies done!

The LIST

My last post about feeling like I’m in a rut with the house got me thinking about “my list”. You know, the list that I keep running in my head with all the ideas I have to revamp our little condhouse. Everyone has their own list. I recently came across a list Jeff wrote with ideas on how we should spend our tax return money (an awesome list with vacations, cool toys, and perks- but of course we are going to use it to reduce debt and not have any fun. We’re cool like that). I thought it was very enlightening because what’s on his list is very different than what is on the list I carry around in my head.


Back in January of 2010 I wrote a small list of things I’d like to change downstairs, so I thought I would jot down an updated list for the house and then, maybe – just maybe, I’ll even review my 30 x 30 list. I only have a few months for that you know. Imagine that Amber, don’t be scared, you’ll be alright! Gray type is the old stuff and blue is the NEW. Here she blows . . .

THE LIST

Kitchen:
Granite Updated counter top for the kitchen island
Cute cafe curtains for the kitchen window (I should post about this one)
Microwave mounted above the stove
Herringbone marble subway tiles for the back splash
Fix plumbing behind the fridge so we can hook up our water and ice

(I’d love new appliances too, but since those normally stay with a house, I think I’ll wait to make those big purchases in a more “forever home.”)


Living Area:
Nicer TV stand (not just my old dressers painted brown, maybe something that is actually wood),
Brown carpet tiles for an area rug, I got an even better rug! Woot! Woot!
Pair of unique antique chairs to replace the Salvation Army finds
Round glass kitchen table from Crate & Barrel w/ upholstered dining chairs
Buy/ make an upholstered ottoman/coffee table in burlap or something
Reupholster or make a slip cover for my sofa in a linen fabric
Add more texture to the room through fabrics, plants, and natural materials
Large art piece or installation to go above the sofa
Finish the flooring with baseboards and trim
Paint the Stairwell
Tare up the carpet on the stairs and install wood

Clean out the closet to prepare for when it’s a bedroom
Fix electrical for light and ceiling fan

our back yard no longer looks like this. All those plants died

Outside:
Fire pit
BBQ
More seating
Bamboo & Shrubbery (Something I won’t kill off so fast)
Stained cement
Update patio table top with rustic farm wood
Create a planting or art instillation to give us more privacy from the street
When kids come- make sand box, chalk board wall, and toy storage benches


Guest Room:
Turn into a Nursery/Kids room someday. (It is okay for now; we don’t really use it that often.)

Office:
Add art and accessories to the entire space
Add some kind of blind treatment
Paint the settee legs gray
Add texture with a rug, pillows and throws
Clean out the closet to make it more functional
Fix electrical for light and ceiling fan



Master Bedroom:
Re-paint the room a warm taupe-y gray. (Enough with the Easter green walls. I may even go white?)
Possibly do a wallpaper-like paint treatment on the bed wall
Navy and burlap decorative bed pillows
Better art for above our night stands
Make legs for Jeff’s night stand
Better style our nightstands
Buy an attractive laundry basket
Fix electrical for light and ceiling fan



Upstairs Bathrooms:
Paint Walls (Master= Navy, Hall=?)
Install Board &; Batten wall treatment
Flooring (hopefully cork)
Paint vanity cabinet
Update lighting
New shower curtains
Hang bathroom friendly art

Geeze, and I thought my Jan 2010 post was reaching for the stars. I’ve actually done better on that small little list then I thought I would ever do. Hopefully in another couple of years I have a few more checked off my list of wishes! (I understand this list means nothing to anyone except to me, so sorry for anyone who actually tried to read this.)

Alright that is enough listing for one day. I just don’t have it in me to look at my 30 x30 list today. I’ll take a gander at it next week. After all, a girls got to pace herself from all that list making and not actually doing anything. All that typing is just such hard work!

I'm Stuck!

I seriously feel like I am in a decorating/ updating rut around here. I’m at that spot in finishing our home where I don’t really know where to go or what the next step is. We have most of our main furniture pieces (even if I'd like to upgrade some of them), I think that our rooms function well for what we need, but I don’t know how to bring my house up to another level. What do I add? Should I take things away? Will I have to spend big bucks to get my home looking more polished? How do designers make a room feel so complete and finished?

I feel like I am at a crossroads of sorts. So, I have been trying to brainstorm and think about what I can do next. I tried to do some research on the subject but Google wasn’t playing ball. I guess Googling things like “How can I bring my homes decor up a level?” didn’t really translate well. It brought up pages that were literally talking about raising a home’s elevation. Eek! Not what I’m looking for!

So I looked up my Pinterest page and started to look at rooms that I like and decide what makes them seem finished? Here is a list that I’ve come up with for how improve my homes overall look:

Texture: There is so much beautiful fabric out there that I really should start adding more fun pillows, change up the curtains (or add curtains at all in other rooms), or be more creative covering items with it. No matter how much Jeff may disapprove I’d even like to add more rustic elements like burlap, wicker and wood. I need to start adding things that will bring in more layers on top of what I already have and I hope it will create more depth in our spaces.

Kristen, at the blog Sixth Street Design (source for the picture above), really knows how to do this. I think she may be obsessed with fabric and pillows a little bit . . . in a good way. But while following her blog I’ve been introduced to a lot of wonderful fabrics and has really made me aware of what a difference just a little (or for her, sometimes a lot) of fabric can do to a room.

Art: I am always way too cheap to buy real art. Like, I won’t even pay $30 bucks to get something off of Etsy. That may be okay if I had any artistic talent whatsoever, but I have tried making my own art before and failed miserably. I need to just buck up and but the Benjamin’s down! My grandparents have a cabin that is full of art and paintings they have collected over the years. I LOVE IT. Each piece has a story, or brings back memories of where it used to hang in their old house. I need to think of art as of an investment and something I will enjoy for many years. Maybe I’ll start slow, and purchase less expensive items first, then try and work up my courage for more substantial pieces.

Finish those finishing touches: DUH! I have lots of little unfinished projects around my house. Example? We still haven’t replaced our base boards from the flood. If I can tackle those small projects here and there I am sure my home will start to feel more finished. I’d like to have a few quick lessons and familiarize myself with Jeff’s power tools. That way I could safely dive into projects myself, instead of waiting around for that magical day when we are both off work at the same time. Last time we refinished the floors getting the molding done was my favorite part! I couldn’t believe what a different it made.
Go outside my comfort zone: Contrary to how it may sound above, I love my house. It totally feels like home to me, an escape from the big bad world. BUT, I think I need to stretch myself more when it comes to the interior. Maybe try a color I normally wouldn’t go for, or take a leap when I usually always hesitate. Nesting place did a post last year dedicating a day in March as "Take a Risk Day." I need to heed her advise and start taking a lot more risks around here!

I see stylist who suggest purchasing multiple items to try them out in a space to see which one works the best, and then return the ones that didn’t. I, of course being super cheap, would never try and do that. But, at the same time, I have issues like- I feel I can never get the bookcase in the living room styled right. Maybe it’s because I’ve had the same items on it for pretty much 4 years! I should try something new. Maybe multiples of something’s new and see what actually ends up working!



(Lucky for me one of my favorite stylist Emily Henderson is starting lessons on her blog next week about how to style things. Hurray for me . . . and anyone else that reads her blog. She is also the source for the picture above.)

If all else fails, hire a decorator for a consult: I most definitely can’t see myself laying out thousands of dollars for an interior designer to come re-do my house, but designers do a lot more than that these days. I could hire a designer to come in, look at my space with fresh, well trained eyes, and have them give me some new ideas on how to finish my space.

For a little more mula a designer can even be hired just to finish a space off and make it seem more complete. Crazy right? And with all the design bloggers out there that will send you a mood board or can be hired a la carte, it is more in reach these days than ever. I think it would be fun, but I’ll see how far I can get on my own first by trying some of these ideas above.

New Years Resolution?

I don't really do New Years resolutions (mostly because it is just setting myself up to fail), but if I did do resolutions, there are a few goals that have been on my mind lately.

It's not like there are little voices inside my head at the beginning of the new year encouraging me to better myself or take on new goals, seriously, that is completely NOT happening to me. Totally above and beyond that at this stage in my life. I'm not finally giving in and making a fitness board on Pinterest, and I'm definitely not writing secret lists of projects I should complete.

{Pic}

But if I were making New Years Resolutions they'd look something like the list below.

1) Be better with my diet:

Breakfast- Diversify to more than toast or skipping it! I'd love to start making a protein shake for Jeff and I in the morning. If I could make them a couple days in advance and freeze them it'd save me some time in the morning.

Lunch- I plan to always keep at least three different options on hand (my favs are salad, soup, and I'll admit it, lunchables). Keeping it simple with different food traits (cold, warm, fun, quick) will help me actually have something I want to eat everyday. . . hopefully.

Dinner- Okay, I have something really sad to admit, I don't really cook. Like at all. It's not that I can't cook, it's just that Jeff is soooo much better at it then I am. Jeff has been working a lot more nights lately, so my goal is to cook dinner at least one night a week. Stop it with the cereal already lady! I hope I can start out with just one night and keep to it.

2) Another food related goal is to not eat after 8pm. No more nighttime munching.

3) Next goal on my mind is decreasing my TV viewing, so my goal is to not turn on the TV until at least 7 at night. The first hour I get home I have to do my chores! I can turn on music or the radio, but no more TV distracting me.

4) Lastly, my final goal is to make something with my hands at least once a month. Now I am well aware that I am not a crafty or talented person, but that doesn't mean I can't be. I really enjoy making things, even if no one would ever want it but me. It just makes me happy. And how do I think I 'll improve if I don't practice anyway?

So there it is, my list of non-new year resolution thoughts. If these were ACTUAL resolutions, I'm glad I kept them so simple and easy, increasing my chances of sticking to them. That would be so smart of me.

In other news that may be only exciting to me, I have someone looking at the computer today. I am crossing my fingers that it is an easy fix so I can have my computer back and upload all my Christmas pictures finally!

52 Weeks of Clean

My computer is still down for the count. Hopefully we can get someone out to look at it this week but it’s not looking promising. Which means all my Christmas pictures and everything are still locked up in my camera, I’ll have to catch up on some of the Christmas stuff later. This also means that Jeff hasn’t made his annual End of the Year CD Mix that he normally makes; it’s amazing how much we rely on our little home computer to entertain us! Haha!

Any who, I made a project back in the summer (when I was all amped to clean every inch of my house in the nice weather) that seems to be pretty relevant to the New Year. I noticed I was utilizing a lot of those cleaning projects that I found on the web to try and keep me up to date on all my regular and seasonal deep cleaning, but they weren’t exactly right for those problem areas I have in my house.

I spotted this one on Pinterest:


Awesome, but maybe too broad? I don’t remember things that aren’t written down very well, so I need a bit more detail.

This one was from Martha Stewart:

This lady has way too much time on her hands to clean, I found I needed the abridged version of this!

I was starting to feel like Goldie Locks, needing to find a cleaning schedule that was just right for me. Knowing it would probably be impossible to find it, I made my own DIY version. A weekly (all 52 of them) cleaning to do list (with some daily chores that are harder for me to remember, and one or two deep cleaning chores that I need to do periodically).

Now this is just right for me, or if it’s not quite right, I always have the option of changing it up. I like making it just for me, and it worked out really well for a while too. It all kind of started to fall apart and I found that I was weeks behind once it started to get closer to the holidays, but I think having something written down to reference is just what I need to keep me on a better cleaning track. I am determined to try and stick by this cleaning calendar this year (again, making any changes that I need to along the way).

This may not be perfect for everyone. I know some people that change their bed sheets every other day, or someone else might think it’s odd that I clean my walls. Everyone has their own cleaning must do’s, since it is just Jeff and I in the house (okay, and the cat too) we really don’t get things too dirty, and try to take a more laid back approach to cleaning. I know that may seem odd, since I spent a few lunch hours trying to perfect a cleaning calendar, but really this was just something to put into place so I wouldn’t forget to wipe down the base boards or dust the fans.

Feel free to steal mine for yourself and edit it to your heart’s desire. You could probably make it cuter too, this was made for a very utilitarian purpose for me, I wasn’t really worried about doing any bells or whistles. I just printed mine off, cute it out on the lines, glued it to some small note cards from the dollar store, punched a hole in the corner and put them all on a circle key holder thingy. It is hanging in my kitchen so I can quickly look at it anytime and remember what I need to get done that week. I am hoping for a cleaner and brighter 2012!

30 x30 ETY update

I have really slacked on this 30X30 list. I figured since it is the end of the year, and I only have 6 more months to finish this list, that I ought to give myself a little refresher. All the things I've already done I've marked off in red:

1) Have my hair professionally dyed a dark auburn.
2) Go on a 'real' date with Jeff once a month, no family members invited. So far so good!
3) Blog once a month. So far so good!
4) Update my wardrobe with at least 5 fun and totally non-essential items.
5) Lose 20 lbs, feel more fit. I just signed up for the gym!
6) Take a road trip.
7) Organize the garage and all our tools.
8) Re-vamp the office. It needs an overhaul. I think I can mark this one off, made huge improvements
9) "Grow up" our decorating style a little. I think I did okay at this, at least our bed is no longer on the floor. I'll consider this success!
10) Paint the hallway and stairwell.
11) Frame the dried flowers from our wedding. I did this in out hallway picture grouping.
12) Print the disposable camera pictures from our wedding.
13) Make a window treatment for the kitchen window. I forgot about this, it was so simple, I should do a post about it.
14) Complete 5 crafts from the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts.
15) Find at least 5 go-to recipes from "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cook Book."
16) Take better pictures with my Nikon.
17) Write, record, memorialize my grandparents history.
18) Sew something. (Kitchen window and a little bad to organize my Primary stuff)
19) Decide if I'm going back to school and for what.
20) Stop drinking caffeinated soda. I did for a while but then gave back in, boo.
21) Tithes.
22) Pray more.
23) Go to the temple once a quarter (4 times a year) So far so good!
24) Read the Book of Mormon again.
25) Get preggo.
26) If preggo, decorate the cutest nursery ever!
27) Read 6 books.
28) Reduce our monthly expenses by 10% I have reduced our expenses, but I'm not sure if it by 10%? I'll have to check.
29) Learn how to play my favorite piano song from the Sense and Sensibility movie.
30) Take a trip with just Jeff and I for our 30th birthdays

Wow, I am not doing too hot. I guess I better try and focus myself some more!

Wait UP!

So it's only the middle of January and I feel like I'm already behind. I think of all the things I need to do and I get so overwhelmed that I don't know how to start. Somehow,I must already be behind.

I've been trying to think of the things that I HAVE to do, the things that I SHOULD do, and all those many things I WANT to do, to organize myself and not get overwhelmed. Again, I don't know how working moms do it? So here is my basic list:

HAVE TO: Work, work overtime, clean, wash, make healthy meals, pay the bills, run errands, church callings (including talking this last Sunday at church- I could make 5 other posts that describe how much I truly HATE speaking in church, but that can be another day). This list doesn't seam all that long, but in reality this stuff takes up 90% of my time, makes me exhausted enough that I don't know if I can get up the strength to go on to other items below.

SHOULD DO: Work out for an hour a day, read more, research fertility treatments, research adoption, volunteer, visit with family, date my husband, help Jeff with his "new" job, get a hair cut, wake up earlier so I look presentable everyday, have a pedicure, have family home evening every Monday, make weekly meal plans, clean the grout in the kitchen, etc.

WANT TO: Basically everything on my 30x30 list and I think I've added like 5 more things to that list since I created it in November (fix the plaster on the stairs, paint strips in the downstairs bathroom, make a new ottoman/coffeetable, granite for the kitchen, new 'grown up' dishes). I also want to just sit on my couch and watch TV or a movie. I want to update my Ipod, I want to update and fix our whole house, I want a dog, I want, I want, I want. Basically this list never ends.

And when I sit and think of all this stuff I have to do, I should be doing, and that I want, I am still overwhelmed. I guess this is part of being an adult. I guess the worry and sleepless nights and feeling inadequate are just part of life. But you know what? I'm done. I am DONE with it! Fini! Geschehen!

Every year I make a mantra for the year, kind of my own small way of doing a resolution. Last year I consistently tried to console myself with the mantra of "Lighten' Up" because I am always so worried and serious. It did help, sometimes. When I was being taken over by "stuff" to let myself know it wasn't the end and I should just get over it. I even lightened my hair as a physical reminder to be more care free. This year I was thinking that I may need to make a mantra like "Make it Simple," or something else consoling, but in the end I decided to just . . .

FIND JOY!

I NEED TO do what makes me happy and stop worrying about all this "stuff". I don't need to worry if I am always on target, always my best self, I should just be myself. I think if I just follow my passions and desire that I will be a more interesting and better person.

So many times my natural man, or the man of the world, takes over my body and mind. But if I can just be true to me and, for instance, read a geology book if I want and not worry that it's the most important of books, or the best use of my time, but just because I think it is interesting and enjoy doing it. If I take a cooking class because I think it sounds like fun and not because I am ashamed that I am not as a good of a cook as so and so. This is my goal. Find what brings me joy.

2009 - oh so cliche

When I was at the bank today writing the date I realized that this was most likely the last time I would write 2008 in 2008. It makes me a little sad. The older I get the faster time seems to go, I'm not sure I'm ready for 2008 to leave.

But as I look to the next year I can't help but think of what I would like to accomplish in it, even though I am not the biggest resolution maker, these are a few things I'd like to be better at in the next year:

- Save more money
- Pay off more debt/ stay on budget
- Look more put together on a consistent basis
- Feel secure in my job/ get promoted
- Do the laundry, grocery shop, and clean more regularly and on a schedule
- Spend more time with family
- Meet new people
- Hug Jeff more often
- family prayer/ FHE/ scripture study more regularly
- Be strong (physically and emotionally)

Looks like I need a blackberry or something for the next year. Everything seems to correlate with being on a more regulated schedule and not being lazy, the struggle of my life.