Photos January 1-7

So one of my goals is to take more pictures.  Hopefully I'll actually post them!  So far so good right!

One more thing!

I almost forgot this little tidbit that I absolutely LOVE.  It's kind of silly for some but I don't care. My stairs.  I have battled the stairs for some time.  Not the going up and down, but the keeping them clean.  Especially that lovely white part that gets the scuff of the shoes and does not want to come off.  In fact, I got out the cleanser and tried my best to get the ugly black marks to come off only to find that the paint was coming off before the black marks would... which brings me to another thing.  Apparently the guy who flipped our house used the cheapest stuff possible, as evidenced by the fact that whenever I try to wipe a scuff mark off the wall the paint comes with it.  Grrr.  So the only solution is to repaint the entire house.  Needless to say that isn't happening any time soon.  But happen it will... happen it will.

Okay, back to the stairs.  I wanted carpet, but just on the white part.  I don't like to vacuum carpeted stairs and the wear and tear is just too much.  I just wanted some carpet squares that could be glued on to the "up" part of the stair.  When I explained what I wanted to both Lowe's and Home Depot they looked at me like I had two heads and said the only way it could be done was to buy carpet by the yard and staple the edges under so it wouldn't fray and even then the wear and tear would probably be too much and I'd be better off carpeting the entire stair case.  Well, I showed them!  David and I bought two packages of carpet "steps" which only cover half the space, hence the two packages.  David did the measuring and a little trimming on the top and I did the gluing.  They were already backed on a heavy duty something or other so no fraying! I really quite liked the way it turned out, no yardage of expensive carpet or staples.  In fact I think it cost us right around $18.00 to do 13 stairs.  And honestly, is there that much wear on the "up" part of your stairs?

Some things I've done

I told you there was more to wrapping things up.  Mostly because such efforts on my part should be known! Not because they are spectacular per se, but more because I actually got off my hind end and did something!

For this, I was really tired of having mail all over the place.  I knew that I wanted something on the wall but everything was either too office-y looking or just too expensive.  So I found this beauty at the DI and added a few touches.  Now it keeps my mail organized... or at least off the kitchen counter.

I've wanted shelves in the living room for awhile, but again, expense. I also wanted a magazine holder. Not just anything though.  My grandma Robbins had one that my mother now has and I have always loved it. Mostly the memories and the nicks and scratches that just said Grandma.  However my mother absolutely would not part with it.  So I found this at the DI and snatched it up.  It's the same style, just needed some love.  And the shelf is self explanatory.  Didn't get a before of the small one, but here's the finished products on all.

I really like the way the magazine holder turned out.  I like the streaks with the black underneath.

And the grand finale.  Our upstairs bathroom has largely driven me crazy with it's 70/80s style everything.  So little by little we've been updating.  New toilet, new cast iron bathtub with cultured marble finishing (the old one was hideous and kind of gave me the creeps. Perhaps it was the cigarette stain on the tub that would not come off) and finally the updating of the mirror/shelves.  I knew what I wanted as far as shelving to replace the hideous sliding cupboard attached to the mirror but could not find anything.  Until Target that is. 

David and I found the shelves at Target and the mirror at Tai Pan. So for a grand total of $50.00 we completely updated our look!  And I love it.  Now to replace the cabinets and the faucet.  But that's a ways off.

Please notice the plastic icky looking sliding doors. 

That's it for this installment.  I would like to give a special shout out to Sharon who has no idea that she taught me how to look at thrift store stuff through a can of spray paint! My life may be changed forever!

Wrapping Up

Moderation.

That was my word for 2011 and I loved it.  I made quite a few changes in my life with the promptings and promises of this word.  I dropped to part-time in my job.  I looked at my life more realistically.  I actually said "no" to some things.  But mostly I learned to let go of others. 

Moderation has taught me to take a good long look at some of my "must dos" and realize that there's a lot of stuff out there that simply is not worth the hassle.  Of course this lesson came on full force with the level of sickness that I experienced during that wonderful 1st trimester and then some of pregnancy.  I stopped doing things and the world did not come to an end.

It also taught me to be more moderate in my thinking about myself and others.  Perfection, though worth striving for, is not the end all be all.  In fact, I'm not sure that most of our definitions of perfection are actually correct.  Like art, beauty/perfection is in the eye of the beholder.  Could it be possible that we perceive perfection where it doesn't exist? Like in other people's homes or family lives?  Or even how other's think of themselves?

One of the most pertinent lessons I've been taught this year is that how I see things isn't always how they are.  In fact just recently I found out how very very wrong my perception was concerning a dear friend of mine.  It's a mistake I hope to not make again.

All in all it was a good year.  I have learned, I have grown, and I have become a slightly better person in some aspects and there's a whole lot more to go before this ride we call life is over.  I am looking very much forward to this coming year and what it has in store.

I do have a few more wrap up things but they will be in another post. So until next time, enjoy this unseasonably warm weather!  Is it January or March?!

Out with the old, In with the new.

I'm excited about this year.

There are so many built in changes right on the horizon. The most exciting/trying/unknown being the coming of our new little addition.  The one that is "scheduled" for February 16th but will really come right when he is good and ready to come. 

As I've been thinking about some of the challenges that our little guy will present us with, it's led me to want to change things even more.  I want to be more resourceful and more simple at the same time.  I don't want to spend time on things that aren't going to get me what I want, or really the peace and happiness that I am striving for.  I don't want to waste my time on things that are of no worth while neglecting the things that are.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

So my "goal" for 2012 is to be Simple and Resourceful.

I want to be able to provide for my family on a shoe string budget.  I want to make my house a home with my own talents and scavengering skills.  I want to spend less and get more from it.  I want less stuff in my house and more enjoyment from what I do have.  Simple and resourceful.

Along with that comes some more defineable goals.  I want to take pictures more often.  I want to write more often.  I want to reflect and re-evaluate more often.  It may be a lot to hope for but since it's my goal then I have license to get rid of it!  Such power right!

So out with the old and in with the new!

Christmas... gone?

I feel a bit torn this time of year.  I have so completely and thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas season that I can hardly believe it's coming to an end.  So much so that I might be fighting it just a little bit.

I understand the reclaiming of the living room, the getting back to usual and comfortable routines.  The getting back to "normal".  This year though, I'm not so sure I want "normal" back yet.

Did you know that the United States is about one of the only places that ties the Christmas season with the shopping season?  It's true.  In countries throughout the world the 12 Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day.  The celebration lasts till January 5th or 6th depending on when you choose to end it.  You can check out your friendly Wikipedia page under "12 Days of Christmas" for all the details.  It's a bit baffling but I find that I really like the principle.  It may be because I didn't get all the people visited that I wanted to.  Or the fact that my Christmas card ambition that started in October didn't come full circle and actually get delivered.  But mostly it's because I'm just not ready for all of the Christmas songs to go away.  I'm not ready for the lights to come down and be plunged unceremoniously into the January blahs.  I want to keep the lights that break up these dark days.  I want to continue to feel that "Christmas Spirit" that goes away all too quickly.

So yeah.  I'm the crazy person that will keep the tree up until sometime in January.  You will continue to hear Christmas songs on my playlist, though not as many.  I will still have Christmas on my mind, whether sharing the stories of this year or planning for the Christmas Season of next year.  And for the record, I'm going to try really hard next year not to let the commercialism of the shopping season determine how I will celebrate the birth of our Savior.

May peace on earth, good will to men last a little longer this coming year.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas and...

I have no idea what to do!

For the first time in 36 years I do not have a pre-planned Christmas Eve.  David and I usually find ourselves with family, but since Christmas is on Sunday and we are a definite part of the Sunday program... well.  Just doesn't make sense to go anywhere till after the program. 

It's odd.  I have been looking forward to this time of our lives so much and now I find myself at a complete loss! What to do on Christmas Eve.

So.  What do you do?  Fun family traditions?  Non-traditions?

I'm considering options but I really don't want it to be a "stay at home and clean the house" type of Saturday.  I want something special, just not quite sure what will fit the niche.

Needless to say, your suggestions are more than welcome.

In all the earth is growing...

I love Christmas.  I love the feelings of warmth and joy that surround the season.  I love the tree and the lights and the songs and decor.  I love the white blanket of snow that covers up the "dead" of Fall.  I love that people are doing things for each other.  I love that it's a bit easier for each of us to feel a little less selfish and look out for the needs of others.  I love that we try to find ways to surprise the ones we love with the perfect gift.

At the same time it does get a little stressful.  The perfect gift is often quite hard to find and sometimes never makes itself known.  It's easy to fall into the trap of commercialism and think that maybe the simple Christmas that you have planned this year is kind of stupid.  That you should budget more or throw caution to the wind and stop worrying about how much to spend.  And then...

You stop.  Remember your goals.  Remember why the good feelings that come with Christmas are actually there.  In sacrament meeting today we sang "With Wondering Awe" for the closing hymn.  It's one of my favorites.  "With wond'ring awe the wise men saw The star in heaven springing, and with delight, in peaceful night, They heard the angels singing: Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to his name!"  I know that Christ is the reason for the season.  It is Him that makes this time of year so special. 

I have the privilege of leading the music in sacrament meeting every Sunday and I have really come to love it.  I have paid more attention to the words of the songs that ever before in my life.  I try to add expression to the words and feel in my heart what it coming out of my mouth.  "By light of star they traveled far To seek the lowly manger, A humble bed wherein was laid The wondrous little Stranger."  "The heav'nly star its rays afar On every land is throwing, And shall not cease till holy peace In all the earth is growing.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to his name!"

The message of Christ, His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, is the light of that star.  Every year we get that reminder and it "shall not cease till holy peace in all the earth is growing."

This year we will have a simple Christmas.  We'll enjoy the lights and the music.  We'll give small gifts of love.  We'll skip the debt, the shopping mania and the stress.  We'll enjoy the company of family and friends and thank God for the gift of this season, the gift of good friends, the gift of forever families.  And most importantly we'll thank Him for the gift of His Son.