shifting focus

Focus. I've shifted it a bit.

It's still pointed pointed towards health, self care, and simplification, but I've got to meet mini goals in order to actually make anything happen.

Rather than expect to make a bunch of changes all at once (like lowering my carb intake and an exercise commitment), I figured I could focus on a few of these mini goals at a time.

[And in the meantime I'm going to attempt to live more in the now instead of the future where all of my goals are met.]

Mini goal #1: Cut back to 1 daily glass of wine, with dinner. 
So far, achieved. Easily. Surprisingly.
There's really no good reason to have several drinks every night, and the empty calories are crazy. Plus it's easier to wake up in the morning.

Mini goal #2: Meatless Monday.
I've done this in the past, mostly because we were poor and meat is expensive. No worries here; I do enjoy a nice bean-ful meal.Variety will be the biggest challenge.

Mini goal #3: De-clutter.
This is ongoing. The strategy is to designate a box and toss things in as I notice they're no longer needed, or when I clean something out. The box sits there for a while, long enough that we can take something out if we realize we need it. So far, nothing that's been in a box has come back out.

Side note- Exercise:
I still haven't figured out how to motivate myself to work out. It's definitely a mental thing because I've never regretted a workout, but I'm so damn lazy. And tired. But mostly lazy. Most days I hit the recommended number of steps, according to the fit bit, so that counts for something, right?


Anyway three things seems like a good enough number for the moment.

Planned lazy

I did not expect to put on pants today.
Our world was icy and cold, and my heated mattress pad was on high all day. Plus it's the first weekend I've had off since before Christmas and I am tired of going going going.

I drank tea and did laundry and made cookies, savoring the fact that I was able to make the whole batch at once, instead of multiple little batches in a toaster oven. Still smitten with that oven.

For the record, I did put on pants. And I drove places. And I got an unexpected take- home container of chili out of it. (Mah always has something tasty, whether you're hungry or not)

Got home, put on a different pair of jammies, washes the ones I wore all day so they'll be clean for tomorrow.

Because being lazy sometimes requires planning.

Hi, 2017

Oh, HEY 2017. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Welcome.

I'm ready to make 2017 my happy year.
My goals focus mostly on health and self-care and simplification.

*sips green tea*

peace

Peace.

As I type this I'm sitting at my dining room table, next to my not-installed double oven that we partially unpacked to see how pretty it is. I'm sitting in a room cluttered with boxes and there are leaves and muddy dog footprints on the floor. It was a painfully long day at work after a bad night's sleep and the remains of multiple projects are scattered around the house. Re: the house is filthy chaos and I'm tired. Plus I just paid the first bills that are due in 2017.
 2017. Already. But let's not get head of ourselves.

Let's talk about tonight- despite all of the factors trying to induce stress- in this house, with the smells of two different scentsy warmers melding nicely, a glass of wine to my left, cookies and ham packed away for a nice work holiday lunch, I feel at peace.

I suppose all of the puzzle pieces have fallen into place, for a moment, so that I get this bit of peace.

Any minute now I expect the anxiety and inner monologue to re-question everything, but for now I'm going to relish the peace.

Cheers.
Merry Christmas Eve.

12 Days 2016

The Twelve Days of Christmas for Hubs is back! A few years ago I saw a neat idea that I thought I'd try for Christmas.

The idea is to give your hubs a gift on the 12 days leading up to Christmas, following the number theme. It was a huge hit, so it has become a tradition.

Here's what's in the boxes:
  
Day 1: A bottle of whiskey- single barrel. From the local family-owned liquor store
Day 2: A pair of can openers, perfect for backpacking and camping. We used to use these camping with my dad.
Day 3: Little bottles of Baileys. It's not Christmas without booze in your coffee.
Day 4: These neato twisty ties.
Day 5: A 5-piece dice game
Day 6: A 6-pack of beer
Day 7: 7 oz of candies
Day 8: A bluetooth magnetic speaker that will play for 8 hours
Day 9: Whiskey stones- 9 little squares of granite. For the rock enthusiast side of him.
Day 10: A $10 scratch off lottery ticket
Day 11: Some dark chocolate covered espresso beans, 11 oz
Day 12: A subscription to Guns and Ammo magazine

See all 12 Days of Christmas

Hey there

Researching things about which I have NO earthly idea. May have to make this gift a non-surprise and get some input.

Another stellar performance review this week. It's a little embarrassing how much gushing goes on. Give me some constructive criticism? It's okay, I make my own goals. Thankfully I have a coworker who doesn't mind sharing insight, or books.

This year's Litmas invitations? I'm dying. My brother and the spirit of Litmas, everybody.

No babies born this year... I think?
You never know at Litmas.

fresh rosemary wreaths diy

Need a quick, easy holiday craft/ decor/ gift?

Rosemary wreaths are darling, easy, fragrant, and simple.

I happen to have a rosemary bush that desperately needs trimming, so I hacked off a bunch and strung them all into wreaths. A bunch of rosemary purchased at the grocery store would also do the trick.

Most stems needed a simple tie-up with baker's string, but a few of the larger (older) stems needed coaxing with floral wire. Soaking in water does help make them more pliable.

I plan to take these to work as coworker gifts, and a few will make their way to neighbor's houses.

One or two will stay here to spruce up the kitchen decor until I need them for a soup.