Friday, June 28, 2013

Claiming my Blog

Just claiming my blog from Bloglovin.  It's my favorite reader:
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8843955/?claim=s5nq78xcz8j">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I have this mental picture of me going "I CLAIM MY BLOG!!!"  Kind of like this old clip from "The Office"


Finish What You Started

Am I the only one who gets totally overwhelmed with projects I want to do?  I see something that looks cool on Pinterest or find a recipe to try, sewing pattern to attempt, or a book I want to read, so I pin, or sometimes I buy the book, or some uncommon ingredient like almond flour (I'm looking at you French macaroons!), or even get the fabric cut out and then it sits.  Sometimes for weeks or months, sometimes even longer.  A little while ago, I realized that a lot of the clutter in my life is from unfinished projects.  They weigh me down every time I see the visual reminder of a cut out dress in my sewing room, or the almond flour in my pantry, not to mention the mental wear of another thing on my unfinished list. 


So what's a girl to do?  Well, finish it.  Read the book, sew the dress, make those darn French macaroons.  And you know what, it feels good to finish things.  Even if it doesn't turn out as fabulously as I was hoping, I still get a little buzz from completing it.  It's a two fold win.  First off, the project is done and secondly, I don't have to look at it's unfinished body laying around my house taking up room any more. 


I don't think I'll ever be the kind of person who can focus on one project and work it from start to completion.  I like to have several projects going at once, but unless I finish them, they don't really count for much.  I'm trying to consciously focus on finishing things.  I've been trying to finish more than I'm starting and it's been kind of interesting dragging out old works in progress in my sewing room and finishing them.  Not all have been a rousing success but at least they're done.  And that feels good in itself.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Pull up a Chair

Jane Austen said,

“To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” 

I think she was right.  Everyone always takes about going on vacation to feel refreshed, but I think you can get this feeling in your own home by just slowing down and enjoying little things that life sends your direction.  We spend so much time wishing for bigger or better things- a better job, a chance to travel, more money, more free time.  We take for granted all the little things we already have or that we can create even with limited resources.  This blog is going to be dedicated to enjoying those things.  It can mean cooking something from scratch, reading a good book, planting flowers, watching a movie, or just enjoying a cup of coffee.

 

Sometimes we get so weighed down with being productive and creating big life experiences that we miss out on the little things and that's really too bad.  Big things are nice but they're few and far between.  I think if you want to enjoy all of life and not just be holding out for all the big wow-type experiecnes you need to appreciate those little things. 

 

I want to travel more.  I want to do big things, see the world, explore all life has to offer, but in the meantime, I want to enjoy what life is giving me right now and accept it gratefully with both hands.  Enjoy the refreshment of the little things.