Sharing Our Spoons / August

Jamee at A New Kind of Normal has relaunched Sharing Our Spoons.  I used to do this before and was excited to see it's return. 

Here's a little explanation of how it all works in case you'd like to join in.

1. Physical: could be weight loss or exercise related or it could be goals like eating more veggies or cutting soda
2. Mental/Emotional: take a day to be alone, write a letter, paint, etc
3. Spiritual: start a new devotional book, commit a certain amount of time a day for prayer/meditation
4. Something fun: Take time to treat yourself – maybe a pedicure or Starbucks (if you don’t typically splurge for specialty coffee)
5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone a week – try something new, sign up for a class you maybe have been putting off.

Here are my goals for August................

1.  I just started the new challenge with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  My physical goal for this month will be to walk at least one mile a day.  I'd really like it to be more, but absolutely no less than one mile. 

2.  Believe it or not, I am going to give painting a try.  I actually bought the canvas and paints months ago and still haven't tried it. 

3.  My goal is to not miss church once this month.  What is it about summer that gets me so out of routine?

4.  Something fun!  I am going back to gel nails.  They last so long and I am worth the extra money.  Actually it turns out to be cheaper than weekly manicures.

5.  Something to take me out of my comfort zone is going to be to try tabata classes.  They just started them at the studio I go to and they scare me just a bit.  They seem pretty intense, but I'm still going to try it.

Okay then!  These are my goals for August.  Thanks Jamee for bringing this back.  I missed it.

Just Write

Listen to the song below and then we'll talk!

Make a big mess, use the good dishes, go to a ballgame, make lots of wishes.  When was the last time you can say you did any of those things?   We get so caught up in the very day mundaneness of our lives we forget that there is a lot we are missing.

I have good china that I got for a shower gift 40 years ago.  Do you know the last time that was out of the cabinet and set on the table?  Yeah, neither do I.  I spend my days attempting to not make messes and cleaning up other peoples messes.  Would it be so tragic to just have fun with making a mess?  It will clean up.  I'm sure of it.  I love Cubs baseball, but it has been years since I have been to game.  No real reason, just haven't bothered to do it.  I spend my whole day making wishes.  Wishing I didn't have to get up so early or that I didn't have to go grocery shopping.  I don't take the time to make the fun wishes.  Like wishing the dragonfly would land long enough for me to take his picture.

Maybe it's time to really take a few chances.  Nothing crazy, just everyday life chances.  Smile at someone you don't know on the street.  Chances are they will smile back.  Take some time to talk with God.  Maybe you haven't done that lately or maybe you did it this morning, but it's good for the soul.  Take some time to really give your kids your full attention.  No cellphones or tablets or tv nearby.  Give them all of your attention.  Turn up the music and dance and be silly.  They will love it and you will too.

The chorus of this song says it all.  It's how I am going to strive to be.  It is how I want to be,

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
And let it all out
Cause you won't regret it
Lookin back from where you have been
Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you lived

Just Write

The Difference Between 18 and 58

In the summer of 1972, all I could think about was getting out of school.  I was going into my senior year and I only needed two credits.  The school system wouldn't let me go half days or graduate midterm.  I had to go to school all day all year for two stinking credits.  To me, this was totally unacceptable.  I thought it was ridiculous and I had a plan.  Somehow, I was able to talk my parents into letting me go to night school and finish.  I could go two nights a week and graduate midterm.  That was that and I never looked back.

I never looked back until a few years ago when I discovered social media.   My arrival in the world of social media was slow.  I first started by blogging with some coaxing by a friend.  .After that, I decided to try Twitter and Facebook and Facebook was a whole new world.

With Facebook, I was reconnecting with people I hadn't seen or heard from in so many years.  People who had moved away and I lost contact with.  It was amazing.  There was even a page set up for just the class of 73 from my old high school.  My "real" high school.  Not that one that I graduated from.  It was this page that would change how I felt about high school and my class and myself.

In the fall of 1972 when I started night school and everyone else started back to my old high school, I figured that was that.  That was the end of my connection with that class.  I thought that my friend and I were the only people who weren't going back.  Little did I know that I would find out 30 some odd years later that definitely wasn't the case.  Every five years, I would get the reunion letter from the class of 73.  It almost always fell when we were going on our annual family vacation, so I never gave it much thought.  Sometimes, I would send in an update for the book, but not always.  What did I have in common with these people anymore anyway?

As it turns out, I have a lot in common with a whole bunch of my old classmates.  Many of us are proud parents and grandparents.  Many of us love to travel.  Many of us love photography.  Many of us are exercise enthusiasts.  Many of us felt awkward for lack a better word in high school.  The list goes on and on.  Wow, I did have a lot in common with these people.

It was one thing to get to know these people again through a computer screen, but it would be something else to meet them face to face again.  That time came a few years ago.  One of the girls from our class invited us over for the first of our now famous get togethers.  I made myself put on my big girl panties and go.  There was maybe 20 of us there and I had the best time ever.  It was so much fun.  I loved every minute of it.  I look forward to these meet ups, even when they try to ditch me!  Funny story for another time.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving weekend 2012.  Lots of people are in town for the holiday, so a bunch of us meet for breakfast.  Talk begins abut our 40th (gasp) class reunion.  People start asking when the date is.  One of the guys throws out July 13 and everyone agrees.  In the back of my head, I'm thinking this is something but I can't place what.  I put it out of my head and return to the conversation.

I get home that morning and start talking to my husband about the breakfast and tell him the reunion date.    He immediately remembers it is the day we leave for our annual family vacation to a lake house in Michigan.  Wonderful!  The first time in 40 years I want to go to a class reunion and I can't!  There is no way to change the vacation because the date is set a year in advance and there are 20 some other people coming too.

The good news is that I will be able to go to the Friday night pre party.  I've also decided to have a little party of my own at my house on Thursday night.  Nothing fancy, snacks and drinks.  But, another opportunity for me to be able to spend time with these wonderful people that I let get out of my life for too long.

I'm excited.  Even the guy who grew up across the street and lived there our entire growing up years will be there.  I couldn't even tell you the last time I saw him.  This is going to be awesome.  At 18, I had no idea how important long time friends are.  At 58, I wouldn't give them up for anything.

Just Write

Wicked

Today was one of the best days ever!

Abby, Sarah, Natalie and I went and picked up my mom and headed out on an adventure.

Our first stop was to Olive Garden for some lunch.

Our next stop was to the Morris Center in South Bend for the traveling Broadway company performance of Wicked.  This was the only shot I got of the stage.  It was before the show started.  Natalie loved the dragon or whatever that is.  I've never been really sure what it was.

Here we all are waiting for the show to start.

To say that Natalie was excited is an understatement.  She could not wait for those lights to go down.

 Far too soon, the show was over and there were things to buy.  Natalie was a little perturbed that they didn't have kid size t shirts.  She settled for a hat and some Elphaba (her favorite character) sunglasses.

She took in some of the views with Aunt Abby.  The Morris is a beautiful old theatre.

Then she was just being silly.  You can do that when you are going to be seven in three days.

This is Natalie on the ride home.  This was her response when I asked if she had a fun day.  She said she wished she could have hugged Elphaba and told her she loved her voice.  Now, she just wants to go back and see the show again.  Lucky for her, it is coming back to Chicago this winter.  Just in time for grammy's birthday in December.  Think of how pretty it will look in Chicago then.  I see a train ride to the city in our future.  I can't wait either, Natalie. 

It was the best day ever!!

Loving Me

I did a post over at Shrinking Jeans this morning about Self Love Month.  I'm putting my heart into this.  I'm going to get it right and keep the feeling alive.  I am worth the effort.  I can do this.  We can all do this.  Repeat after me....I Love Me!!  Here's a little inspiration to help you on your journey.  It's a little picture heavy, but can't we all use a little help to get us in the right frame of mind?

Last, but certainly not least.....

My dad used to tell us this all the time when we were kids.

He was right, you know!

Motivorganization Month Update

I am moving right along with my month of decluttering and organizing.  It is going a little slower now that I am back at work, but it's moving along.

Just a few of my accomplishments........

The kitchen junk drawer is now clean.  Amazing what you find in there.

Our one hall closet seems to be the catch all for everything.  It still has a lot of stuff, but it looks so different.  I found seven of my own sweaters on that top shelf.  Five of them went to Amvets.

Here are five of the eight bags that have gone to Amvets or the garbage since I started. 

I have been enjoying this January project.  I have found some treasures that I forgot I even had.  I've also found a lot of junk that I didn't need.  Letting go is hard sometimes, but I've put on my big girl panties and forged ahead.  It's been a very freeing month.  I'll keep you posted on the final results.  

Thank you so much. Christie for this inspirational project. 

My House is Going on a Diet!

I'm not the only one in this house thinking about scaling down in 2013.  My house is going to scale down as well.  My house is going on a diet!

I don't know about you, but my house has more clutter than it needs.  Working full time gives me not a lot of time to declutter.  It's easier to just keep moving things around instead of finding them a permanent place or getting rid of them all together.  I've known for some time now that this problem needed attention, but my attention has been elsewhere and everywhere but there.

Enter my buddy, Christie!  She posed a question on Facebook the other day.  What do you need more in your life?  Motivation or organization?  Well, that's a poser.  I need them both, but organization would be awesome.  If I was organized, possibly I'd be more motivated. 

So, awesome person that she is, Christie ran with the idea and enter Motivorganization Month!  This makes me so happy.  She is giving me organization plans and skills and motivating me all at the same time.  She is doing this with the help of Fly Lady.

I am going to spend the next hour or so, reading what I need to do and make a plan of attack.  This really excites me.  My house deserves this revamping.  She serves us well and I need to be better to her.  An organized house is a happy house, right?

I took a tiny step in the right direction tonight and cleaned out the junk drawer in the kitchen.  One small, but huge step.  You wouldn't believe the things I found in there.  Why did I feel the need to save 47 twisty ties?

I'll be checking back in once a week to show you my progress and what I'm doing.  You can join us, you know.  Is your house "morbidly obese" as Christie put it.  Go check out the link.    It may be just what you are looking for.  It sure is what I need.

Merry Wordless / Day 5

Finally......snow!!

Merry Wordless / Day 4

Aunt Cindy's Birthday!

Merry Wordless / Day 3

Christmas Day at home and at mom's.