the speed of light

It seems life is whirling by at the speed of light, while I am struggling to keep up. My posts have been very lacking lately.  As you can see here, I'm lucky to find my computer under the mess, let alone actually have time to write something 1/2 brilliant.

I have been working to pull together my sister's baby shower. I'm super excited for it, however I feel very unorganized. This is untypical for me. I am usually fairly organized for things such as this. As of tonight, I have everything packed up and ready to transport the 8 hours. We are going home this weekend for both the shower and Easter. It will be a jam packed time.

April and May at work have always been demanding, however I'm really feeling it this year. It is both demanding and the "same old stuff". I have been getting easily bored and irritated. Don't get me wrong, my students are amazing and I work with some great people, I'm not always learning/growing and that is frustrating for me. I love my job, but need to figure out a few things.

Other than the above, my laundry is not caught up (not even close), dishes are dirty in the sink, the floors haven't been vacuumed, and there is a giant pile of papers/mail where the counter used to be.

This is my life. Unorganized.

This doesn't have to be my life. I'm looking for Simple. Balance. Clean. Healthy. Peaceful, Joy. Friends. Family. Knowledge. Happiness.

I will get through this weekend and see where I land. That is where I will start from in finding where I want to be, where I will find Simple. Balance. Clean. Healthy. Peaceful, Joy. Friends. Family. Knowledge. Happiness.

{one little word 2011} Week 8

 {simple}

In just the 8 weeks of this year, my word has taken me from wonderful discoveries and moments, to depths of frustration. I struggle to figure out how to live a simple life, yet try to embrace the moments of {simple} and perfect clarity. I know I am moving in the right direction. I must stay motivated. I cannot give up.

This weeks photo is from last Sunday. Alan and I had spent Friday night and Saturday on an overnight adventure to get out of town, see a friend and do some shopping. Sunday, we spent relaxing. My typical Sunday, I am in a state of panic, running around trying to finish "everything" before Monday hits and I'm back to work. This last week, I took a different route. I slept in. I lounged around. I played outside with Dakota and Jaffery. I started making a snowman in our front yard.  :) Alan laughed at me a bit, but then joined me. I'm sure we gave the neighbors something to laugh at... 2 adults with no children running around the yard, finding sticks for a snowman. However it was fun. It was pure {simple} bliss.

Archive of my One Little Word Photo Challenge Posts

Week One Post
Week Two Post 
Week Three Post 
Week 4 & 5
Week Six
Week 7 

To see other One Little Word Challengers, visit One Little Word Captured - Week 8


For the details on joining in, visit One Little Word | Captured.

{one little word 2011} Week 4 & 5

 Week 4



















 Week 5













It has been crazy busy. I started stressing about my one little word photos, and then, thinking of my word {simple} decided to just go with photos I already had.


Archive of my One Little Word Photo Challenge Posts
Week One Post
Week Two Post 
Week Three Post

To see other One Little Word Challengers, visit One Little Word - Week Five

For the details on joining in, visit One Little Word | Captured.

i heart Esty & my new {simple} necklace!

When I first began the One Little Word class with Ali Edwards, there was all sorts of talk from others about purchasing jewelry with the chosen word on it. I L.O.V.E.D. the idea, however the various sites people were referring to didn't seem to fit my budget.

After sulking for awhile, I did my own search on Etsy. I found the perfect necklace with charm from a cute little shop called HipHopHippos. It was quite reasonably priced and was the {simple} beauty I had been looking for. I messaged the shop owner, asking about customizing, etc.

Later that evening, I had a reply in hand, with a few very kind and helpful thoughts/suggestions from the shop owner about the charm size and customizing.


Before the day was over, I purchased a beautiful charm necklace and was already anticipating it's arrival.

Low and behold, on my birthday it came in the mail! What a lovely bit of inspiration from my One Little Word on my little day! :) I was jumping up and down when my husband waved it in the air telling me I had received a package.

It was very nicely packaged, though I tore it open too quickly, forgetting to take a photo.



I wore it all day on my birthday (and most of this last week!).

It is exactly what I wanted. I am very happy and plan to purchase a new charm each year to add to my necklace.

HipHopHippos also has a great selection of very cute items... I'll be adding this to my list of shopping sites to visit for future gifts!

 

This is not a sponsored post... I was just that happy with my necklace! :)

30 Minutes or Less #1

Sometimes the most {simple} thing can make a room appear so much more put together, organized and calm.

As is likely the case for many, our kitchen is the grand central station our our home. Mail, coupons, photos, coats, boots, lists, dishes, and countless other items pile up in this space. After yet another magnet fell off the fridge due to the mass growing under it, I decided today was the day to sort through the piles "hiding' behind the magnets.

BEFORE                                                                                                  AFTER

 WOW! Now I can actually see those cute magnets I made a while back!
What a transformation, and all in under 30 minutes!

Birthday 2011 Recap

Earlier today, I posted about my birthday goals!   My year of {simple} has thus far been interesting, and I am excited to see where this takes me in the next year.


To celebrate my birthday this year, I slept in, however hit snooze too many times and was a bit late meeting K for shopping fun.

We did mostly window shopping, however did pick up a couple things. It was so great to catch up over lunch. We always have fun stories and a few good laughs.



I drove home to hang out with my boys...
Somehow, Alan and I didn't get a photo together :(


However in the -13 degree weather, I did have him take one of me!

We made our way to a couple antique stores.  Then to supper at Khans. :)

Then home to a fun ice cream cake!

We watched a bit of TV (Netflix is addicting).

I then ended my day with one of the most awesome things ever. I visited the Compassion International website, searched through children who had been waiting longer than six months for a sponsor, filled out the form, and hit "submit".     

She is from Uganda. I thank everyone who donated to make this possible. THANK YOU so much!

I'm looking forward to hearing more about my Compassion Child. It said to expect information in about 15 days. Wow. It seems like so long to wait. Yet, she waited over 6 months for me...

Birthday Goals 2011

On Tuesday January 22, 2008 I started a blog. I listed goals. Each year after (2009, 2010) I reviewed the previous year, and started fresh with new goals.

Last year, I had a good list of goals:

• Read 5 books, cover to cover.
• Make even more time for friends, and family
• Volunteer in at least 2 projects (Already signed up for one!)
• Pay off credit card
• Keep control of incoming paper (mail, newspaper, coupons, etc!)
• Finish organizing basement and paint
• Research and then implement making more use of new dehydrator, especially this summer!
• Meal Planning - just do it!
• 10 scrapbook pages a month. I know I can!

In 2011, I'm going to try something a little different.  I'm still setting goals, however it is going to be a couple overarching goals, with monthly specific goals. To keep it as {simple} as possible, I"ll post them here at the beginning of each month with a recap of the previous month. I'll also post updates to specific goals during the month. 

Keeping my one little word in mind, my general 2011 goals are:

• Connect with family and friends, frequently, though all possible ways, but particularly in person, on the phone and through snail mail.
• Use fresh produce for meals
• Organize and prioritize  - rid my life of unnecessary clutter and burden
• Connect with people, pets and things around me - do not take anything for granted
• Be creative
• Breath - pray - relax - enjoy - appreciate

I look forward to the journey this year will provide!

I have been secretly working on my January goals and will post the update on February 1!

I'll be posting later today about my {simple} birthday adventure! Stay tuned!

{one little word 2011} Week 3

I finally finished the 9 pocket layout for my January prompt.  I took this weeks photo while I was working on it. I have always loved color, and how the {simple} line up of my markers made me smile.

My word, {simple} has been on my mind all week, however I'm not sure how successful I have been. I keep struggling with the idea of "how can my life be {simple} when things around me (laundry, dishes, paper piles, schedule etc) are cluttering around me".

I have come to the conclusion that I must take an active part in this journey and begin to sculpt my {simple} life. This might be a "duh" moment, however for me, it is an interesting concept that I must first simplify my life, which may not be all that {simple} of a task.



Archive of my One Little Word Photo Challenge Posts
Week One Post
Week Two Post

To see other One Little Word Challengers, visit One Little Word - Week Three

For the details on joining in, visit One Little Word | Captured.

January 2011 - One Little Word

{simple}

{one little word 2011} Week 2

 I headed into Monday with the best intentions on keeping {simple} close to my mind, heart, and actions. I found it just doesn't work that way. Work (filled with before students come back meetings and paperwork) this week got the best of me. Alan was sick. I didn't feel great either. It is really cold outside (6 degrees as I type this at 10:30 am). Not to mention the laundry, dishes.... ugh. Anyhow. 

{simple}

This weekend, I'm hoping to regain some perspective on my word. I started by taking a deep breath when I began freaking out about hot having a photo for the challenge this week. I thought {simple} and this just came to me.

Archive of my One Little Word Photo Challenge Posts
Week One Post

To see other One Little Word Challengers, visit One Little Word - Week Two

For the details on joining in, visit One Little Word | Captured.

Great Friends, Great letters

When I was in elementary school, I had a penpal, or two. One of my best writing pals was from New York. It was tons of fun.  We mailed each other letters, cards, photos, stickers... and once, we even took video of our homes, families, pets, etc and exchanged.

Through out letters, we encouraged each other, laughed together, and told each other our secrets.

Later in middle school, I had another great penpal. This one from TX.  She even came to visit and stay with my family for a week! It was fun showing her around my home town, and then taking her around the state, with my parents of course, showing her all the tourist things to do.

I'm not sure what happened with either of my writing buddies, however we eventually lost touch. It is kind of sad. I suppose part of it was our age, and distance in such a non-digital time. Yet, I'm not the kind of person who is good friends with someone, and then just disappears.

Sure, maybe people come into your life for one reason or another at a certain point in time to help you with whatever is going on. blah blah blah. However I tend to also believe that those people who really help you out, that you can talk with for hours and not realize it, who you can pick up a conversation after weeks of not chatting much, or even those who you stand at the mailbox waiting for a letter... those people, are great friends.

Though I email a lot, I have only a couple people I email frequently. Now by frequently, I mean, sometime 3 times in a day, and other times, not for a couple weeks. I love these emails and way of corresponding. I still now and then also send handwritten notes, yet, I am saddened by the frequency, and length of my actual written notes.

I will be making a huge effort this year, as part of My Little Word, to write more letters. Not just "hello how are you", but really write a letter.

Would you like to join me?

{one little word 2011}

Alan and I went to visit our families for the holiday. One night, sitting in the car, while driving between places, with conversations going on around me, I was deep in thought. Completely detached from anything else, I was watching out the window into the South Dakota sky.

It is beautiful... the South Dakota night sky. On a clear night such as this one, it feels like one is wrapped in a blanket of stars. As a child, i always loved the glowing dots and often stopped to sort out my thoughts while gazing into the evening sky. There was always a sense of comfort. I could talk to God though the stars and often felt the presence of those I have lost when I find a special bright star.

I found myself flooded with memories. Suddenly, my thoughts were going a million miles a minute.

Deep breath.

While I love living in the 'burbs, I often miss the quiet of our family farm. It is not the easy life, however it is peaceful, beautiful... simple.


EDIT: I'm joining the Life As you See It challenge to post a photo each Saturday, reflecting on my word.