Category

Personal

Dec 02
0

make a list!

By | Personal | 10 Comments

there are few things in life more satisfying to me than a well made list. in fact, on the ‘things that make me instantly happy’ list making a good list sits close to the top- competing with the likes of harmony and puppies. i make lists as religiously as other people work out and i (dare i say it!?) enjoy the same increased endorphins because of it.

at this point you may be thinking, ‘woah, never knew she was so organized! so on top of things!’ if so, then i have completely misled you. i make lists for my own enjoyment. i prefer them perfectly symmetrical in design and consistent in ink and handwriting. what? i didn’t mention content? let’s just say i have been known to add things to a list just for balance and satisfaction- what if ‘sourdough bread’ has 9 more letters than any other item on the list causing it to rudely stick out? i better add ‘india pale ale’ and ‘mustard greens’ to even things out. but before you send me that therapy book and a prescription just let me say this- list content is not always totally irrelevant; i do usually follow them long enough to scratch a few things off (or highlight, or check, or dot or ‘x’- depending on my mood- actually- feel free to send that book…) which results in a cozy feeling of accomplishment. my favorite! bottom line:

– lists are good for the soul

– they help one feel more organized

– often they help get things done

– they are easy to read

– santa loves a good list

that last one is because i really can’t handle short lists with even numbered points- that’s my life- sue me. or please don’t. love!

Nov 26
0

thankful

By | Personal | 3 Comments

and it’s begun- the holiday season! let me first just say that i’ve a new found respect for anyone considering a family christmas card this year! yesterday afternoon when matt and i decided it was finally time to take our picture it was laughable. i’m so glad no one was there to watch- although, no doubt it would have been entertaining- at our expense. actually, i would have been ok with some company to giggle with me while matt perfected his ‘model’ pose… bottom line, the other side of the lens is just so intimidating. we tell our clients all of the time- ‘ohhhh, just pretend we’re not here!’ but when it’s time for us to get our picture taken- that camera on a tripod just intimidating- transfixed, unlaughing, at our antics- full of judgement. so basically, we feel your pain. go clients! you rock. way to show us how it’s done!

anyway, i hope we got a good image out of the 40 or so we took- we shall see. i’m sure we’ll be sharing the finished product on here for your scrutiny/viewing pleasure. please be kind- it’s the holidays.

in other news we woke up today to greenville, south carolina, in the home of my parents. i always get so sentimental at this time of year and one of the biggest things i find myself focusing on is just how awesome my family is. my dad is the man, always ready to listen and respond with humor and logic. mom is always encouraging and up-to-date, the woman has twitter and facebook, she is on the ball. my little brother is always the entertainment- never know what’s coming from him but we can always count on him eating whatever we cook and competing at everything now that he has a big brother (matt). we’re all really excited that matt’s now a part of the family- he changes everything in his own, um, special way. all that to say, i have so much to be thankful for and i can’t wait to celebrate it!

on a totally unrelated note: i got new boots today and i couldn’t be more excited. i promised my grandmother and granddaddy that they would be wrapped under the tree for christmas- and they will be- but until then they are on my feet and i’m ecstatic. loves it!

happy thanksgiving to you!

Nov 19
0

and it begins!

By | Personal | 5 Comments

let’s start with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies, the holiday (personal reminder: add to netflix!):

‘it’s christmas eve and we are going to go celebrate being young and being alive!’

now, i know it’s not actually anywhere near christmas eve but that’s just the way i feel as soon as mid-november hits. to me, that’s when the holidays start and joyous thoughts of love, thanksgiving, family, friends, gifts and decorations start for me. personally, i welcome the holidays to take over my life which means matt and i are already wading through tons of half finished decorations, numerous notes of holiday recipes, lists of gift ideas for all of our family members, candles, fabrics, garlands and wrapping paper- and we haven’t even started the gift shopping yet!

so yesterday when fed ex arrived with some decorations i’d ordered i could tell that matt was seriously over it. like in a ‘i’m so over this i’m about to ban the christmas music you started listening to last week from ever playing in this house again.’ and that is serious. i caught all of this from his fleeting look of exasperation when he took my package- it was in that moment that i finally realized i was out of control. from my spot on the couch i could see six tabs of holiday recipes open on my browser, a half finished garland that was obviously going to be too short for it’s intended purpose, a barely started homemade gift on the kitchen counter, and two home design magazines full of ideas for christmas decor. i’d lost my mind and my poor husband had been sitting quietly watching his wife’s madness take over his tidy organized life.

so yesterday when matt headed out on our weekly post office/bank run i stayed behind with the intention of tidying up. as soon as he left i grabbed my projects and ran for my little closet jewelry studio. as i carefully placed my different projects out on my desk i could feel distraction creeping in. i saw a scrap of pear green silk and fought off all of my immediate desires to turn it into an ornament. i saw a gleaming red glass decanter and started daydreaming about how that could transform our bathroom. the final straw was catching site of my stash of vintage lace practically begging to be worked into a fresh wreath with some cranberries. as i felt my resolve to clean slipping away, i quickly stashed a few more incomplete projects into the closet before allowing myself to plop down and allow myself the luxury of wrapping the one gift i have purchased so far. it was a nice sense of satisfaction when i put the gift on my dresser- one down. i can’t say that the craziness is gone but i certainly feel more like i’m controlling the holidays rather than them controlling me. plus, matt’s back to neat and tidy and i can tell that he’s starting to get excited about the holidays rather than resenting them for driving his wife to insanity. and really, i couldn’t ask for more, than him being excited with me to celebrate holidays and being young and alive!