A makeover, what's not to love?

Short post tonight.     My blogging days are few thus far, but already am hankerin’ for a change.      So, I’m in design phase of a new and improved blog, coming soon.     Stay tuned for the unveiling of
Project Beautiful:     people, things, food, moments.

In the meantime, saw these posters and liked them, so thought I’d share.

                               

Ain’t that the truth!

                                

Ok some of you, I know you have comments here.

                        
More truth spoken here.

Ok blog readers, I challenge you to please leave me a comment.      Starting to wonder….is there any life out there in the blog-sphere?

Things that bring on happy

We moved into our new house in June of this year.   We moved twice before that, so there was much packing, and moving, and shuffling, and tossing things in to boxes.

As you likely can guess, stuff went missing for, what seemed like, forever.     Well I guess it is forever, ‘cause some of it is still missing, and may never be found at this point.

I lost my running Garmin watch – I looked for that (bleep) thing for 3 months.    It was nowhere.       Seriously, it was just nowhere in this house.      And then one day I used my psychic powers, and voila, there it was in the bottom of my knapsack (why in my knapsack I have no idea, certainly “I” didn’t put it there).
Then there was my retainer.      Missing.   Completely.     Just.  Gone.     These things are $500 to replace (and just so you know this ‘missing’ one was my second one which I had made just last winter, so it was 6 months old – argggh).     But then tonight arrived, and my psychic powers kicked in again, and low and behold, I thought it a good idea to open up my luggage.    And voila!    There it was, just sitting in the bottom of my suitcase.     I have no idea why my husband put it there – what on earth was he thinking??!!

Sooo, all to say, I am happy.        And hence, I bring you things that make me happy:

 
(photo by Mark J. Asher via Etsy) – I feel this connection – this is LOVE.


(photo via http://www.houzz.com/) – I adore this kitchen.   I have a thing for black and white, never mind in my all time favorite room!)


(photo via Cote de Texas via Pure Style Home) – I love this room – I would never leave this room.


My front door – my home.

And of course, my girl (see first photo).

So, what are the things that make you happy?  

p.s.  I just finished watching Barbra Streisand on Oprah with Robert Redford – and I think I need to watch The Way We Were – this, I think would make me happy (or maybe sad, considering how it ends).

                           

Project Procrastination

Ahhhh Sunday morning.      We are up and about – coffee is made and the fire is on.      I love having fires, but they are especially a treat in the morning while drinking coffee.

So today I’ve decided to tackle all the projects that I have been procrastinating on.       My first is loading every CD I own onto iTunes so I can turn my iPod, now configured for MAC, into a PC friendly iPod.    I have been meaning to do this for years.    You see, my friend Nat loaded up my iPod for me years ago, but she’s one of the MAC users (you know the one’s, they’ll only use MACS ‘cause they’re the best), and so have lived with this version for all these years.    No more!

Second, I plan on organizing our laundry room.    We (I should say my husband) is insulating it these days, so it is a focus at our house.      I see baskets, organized baskets.

Third, I do believe it’s time to put the patio furniture, if not at least the cushions, away for the season.     I’d say it’s about time.

And, if time permits, I’m “itchin'” to hang my wreaths.      Perhaps I’ll just dig them out of storage and I’ll be one step closer to dressing up my already pretty front door.

Isn’t November great?!      See, this is what I was talking about earlier in the month.     Get at your projects, you’ll be happier in December for it (or so my November horoscope says).


(cartoon via Inspiration Online)

Itchy. (it's not what you think)

I’m feeling creative lately.      Maybe it’s the sun.      Maybe it’s where I live.   I’m not sure, but I have an itch.    I find myself searching for creative endeavors.       My house has had an overhaul in my head, a few times over (never mind my headboard – argggh).      I have an itch to start a business – but I’m just not sure what?    (if you have any ideas, please feel free to share).

We spent the evening with friends last night over take-out Chinese food, brainstorming on local hotel/motels, pizza joints, gyms, and wine bars.     I think it would be so rewarding to own my own business.     Doesn’t have to be big, but something that I could create, grow, work at while it satisfies this creative itch I have.     But I don’t think it’s just an itch per se – I think this might be something that is meant to be in this phase of life.

Yes, I have my real estate license, and no, not sure how I’m going to use it yet.    But I’m thinking….ohhhhhh, I’m searching.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share some  of my creative itches:


Loving these dark/black floors – (photo via Decor Pad via Design Sponge)



My headboard material – it arrived yesterday but we weren’t home to accept it, so looks like a Monday night project.



As mentioned before, I have a thing for door wreaths.     Am especially excited for this Christmas, as I’m doing just this:    the triple door wreath ensemble.   Oh yes, can’t wait, might even do it today!     Here  is a great video from House and Home on DIY holiday door wreaths – enjoy!



I love these outdoor arrangements – this is another winter project of mine.   This picture is Sarah Richardson’s front door, complements of House and Home.



My final creative itch is to culture stone our fireplace.    This is not our fireplace, but am aiming for a similar look.     (photo via Aurora Masonry)

Well, I think that’s enough itchin’ and scratchin’, off to dig out my wreaths.     I’m worried the neighbors will think I’m crazy putting up Christmas wreaths.    But who cares, right?

(do you think it’s crazy?)…………….

Get up and go for Pete's sake

I think I mentioned my year long date with my personal trainer is coming to an end.     We only have somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 sessions left.     That’s just a few weeks.

So, I’ve joined the gym in my building (for $60/year), and will be talking to a trainer today who writes training plans for people to work out on their own.  

My question is – how do I gear up to do this on my own?     I need to find the zone  and get in it - you know those times in your life when you are in “the zone” and it’s a no-brainer, you just go and workout because it’s what you really WANT to do.      You wouldn’t dare let the day pass without getting your workout in. 
So what would Caitlin do, or Angela, or Jenna?      (Ok for the record, these three women are a lot younger than me!  Just sayin’)

My new project is to search for the “get up’n go” required to do this on my own.     I know I have IT.   IT has shown itself at various points in my life.     I need to feed IT to get IT to come out of hiding.      Hmmmmm……….what to feed IT????     This is the question.

So, what do you feed your IT to get it out of hiding, and stay in charge?     (please don’t say ice cream :))

                    
Cartoon by Every Day People Cartoons

Wellness, not a "project" afterall

I had a lovely acupuncture appointment today with my ND.    We talked alot about the wellness journey.     I explained to her that I was beginning to feel better, how it seemed to be a slow and steady journey, and how bit by bit, day by day, I was feeling improvements, more energy, a better outlook.

Knowing how I project manage everything (this didn’t take her long to figure out), she counseled me on the process of wellness and how health is not a project – there is no start, middle or end.   It is not “accomplished” once a certain goal is reached.     It is a constant and continuous journey.      
I have a hard time with this concept I must say.    How does one manage something that doesn’t have a start and end?        This is definitely homework on my end – maybe I need to ‘project manage’ my inclination to project manage my health.    JK.

In the meantime, I read this on The Happiness Project today, so I thought I’d share
10 Common Happiness Mistakes.                               

1. To delay to do something important until you have some “free time,” because you may never have any free time
2. To retreat into isolation when you’re unhappy
3. To neglect to make a small change because you think a big change is necessary
4. To refuse to consider a big change because you assume you can only make a small change
5. To “treat” yourself to something you wouldn’t ordinarily permit yourself, because you’re feeling blue
6. To postpone something important until you’re feeling healthier, or thinner, or married, or whatever
7. To think that you can “make” someone else be happy
8. To imagine that what’s true for other people is true for you
9. To spend too much time, or not enough time, thinking about the past, present, or future
10. To ignore the truth about your own temperament, interests, and aptitudes

Well, in my opinion, there are no mistakes – only learning.

Happy Hump Day everyone, let the sun shine on.

Project Smart Spending

My husband and I are challenging ourselves with a new project:

Project Smart Spending

I love this project.   To me it creates order, and anyone who knows me, knows I love order.     Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project says ”external order creates internal order” – but I think the same goes for financial order.    Don’t you think?



(this is a great read by the way – afterall, it’s a “project”)

Anyway, on a similar note, my husband cooked dinner tonight! (I intended)    He decided that he was going to make lasagna.    Not one but two lasagna’s.       Much to my surprise, they were bubblin’ in the oven when I got home (hub doesn’t cook as a rule, so yes this was a surprise.   Although he tells me he made me a roast 5 years ago :)).       Anyway, while enjoying his amazing creation, we did the math and calculated that each serving cost about $2 per serving!!!!       This was a major A-HA for us!      When can you eat good homemade food for $2!!!???      This fit nicely into Project Smart Spending, without us even making a conscious effort.     Imagine what we can accomplish when we put some conscious effort forward(?).

Another item on Project SS  is my fitness regime.    I have decided to join the gym in my building.     Cost:   $60 per year!!       Then, I will hire a trainer that my g-friend uses to do 6-week plans for $40.        Now that is some smart spending, in my opinion.

In the meantime, I’m going to add a couple of strength programs to my regime myself.       Caitlin from the Healthy Tipping Point posted today about starting the following strength programs:    One Hundred Pushups and Two Hundred Pushups.




How awesome would it be to do 100 pushups?      Love it.     And better yet, it’s free - you do this program at home.

It gets better.    As some of you know, I’ve been shopping for fabric for my headboard.     So, I have to admit, we bought some last week, and put it together yesterday, and I hate it.     So, while this is NOT a good move for Project SS, we chose another fabric (the fabric I should have gone with in the first place).     The swatch I got from the store was $36/yard.     BUT!!  I found it online for $8/yard – so my headboard will cost $24!! (well besides attempt #1) but still!!       I need a round of applause here for resourcefulness!

Please share some of your Project SS  choices – I’d love to hear them……