happy april!

By Emily | Published: April 1, 2011

As it rains outside (let’s hope it’s rain!!!) here is a sprinkling of 5 minute to-do’s so you can make some ground around your home-sweet-home.

Yes – it appears someone came in the middle of the night and transported my brain to that of a ’50s housewife. (or maybe that of a cheesy poet.) No, the ’50s version would have a lot more to-do’s and there would be lots of scrubbing, polishing and bleaching involved.

This plan is strictly focused on getting a few things out of cluttered areas. I think I might have a big head after my amazing accomplishment of late.



Already clutter-free?? Bringing another child into this world this month? Or taking on the day-to-day task of providing for house and home for the next 30?? First of all, congratulations on all counts. And maybe this is more to your liking:



For those wanting to give it the ole’ heave hoe download pdf here: April To Do Calendar

Give me a break pdf here: April Doing Nothing

Enjoy!

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Posted in cleaning, HOUSEHOLD ISSUES, how to, INS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

storage room * secrets.

By Emily | Published: March 27, 2011

I heard a bird chirp and saw some melting snow and puddles forming. Ahh….

to the storage room I go!!


But really??? And no loveliness of spring down here!

I have been here before—this view. Yea, I’ve gone so far as to take a peek – maybe shoving things around a little. Shuffle shuffle. The general view of various items tumbling from above eye level to below my feet is familiar to me. And that feeling inside – it’s creeping in – that energy it takes to just focus on one single item! The strain on my eyes as I try to take a close look attempting to concentrate…keep this? Throw? Or what is that?

I back my way out of the room rubbing my temples and put my mind towards anything other than this dark abyss.

For today, on this day, I start here—


1. triple shot. * No half-ass-caf here. I plan to take a sip every 3 minutes over the next several hours. This is going to get worse before it gets better. And I can’t just leave it at worse. He will leave me. Or I will leave me.

I need to get creative.


2. a holding place. My thought—ok, get everything out of the dreaded storage space and into a display area I set up in the playroom. To make this holding place a bit more appealing I even did a bit of vacuuming for good measure.

I am going to do some shopping here—asking myself the key question (over and over) * would I buy this? As in today, if I were shopping would I put hard cold cash toward lugging this item into my home???

In order to get to the decision making I need to fill these shelves. * So I shut off my brain and turn into a robot. I move my arms and legs and pick up items from storage room, pick up and set down. I do not engage or think. If you are at all taking notes here – this is an important one or you will be slowed down, discouraged and possibly done within minutes. Whether you go to the place of really liking something or you can’t believe you still have the item, or you start to think about what it actually even is, or what it used to be, whether it’s a piece to something else, or sacred, or a book you’ve been missing and your just about to text who you never returned it to, or a project you were so going to finish and now you are starting to be a bit hard on yourself—no. Just move items out. Shut brain off.

3. shop. Now that items were stacked, displayed, just out of the dungeon I got a quick breath of fresh air. I took a stroll around my house. Hmm… what am I needing around here?? I get my purse and more coffee and go shopping. What do we have today??

Ok, for some of you—just thinking about whether you used in it the last calendar year works for you. I honestly say—rah! Rah-rah! I admire that in you.  And come to think of it—maybe you don’t have storage issues to tackle. Maybe it’s just more of a bin that you go through on the first of every month. And maybe you even put things back where they belong. You have places for your things. So many options…and I know your out there. No hard feelings from me—I’ve just got to hand it to you. This lovely part of you is worthy of mentioning. How lovely for you and yes, for those you live with.

This shopping has a tricky piece to it for me: “Ok, I wouldn’t technically buy this today, but I do currently own and what if I need down the road??? And end up having to pay for this item—again??” Gasp!!! The conversation in my head continued: so is it better to have this room full of hoarded items and junk piles than to run to Target and pay $20 dollars here and there???

Hmm Emily????

That is ridiculous!!!

No more.

So believe I do, but I need a way to get around this money debacle. Another secret strategy. (This one might be my favorite.) * I put a dollar amount on the value of having some elbow room and organization in this little storage/laundry room of ours. I came up with $300.00. So when the fear strikes at any given moment as in, “I can’t get rid of this oil and vinegar set! What if I end up needing it??” (Though I have yet to use it in the 5 years of owning it, and I will say I prefer to have the 2 liquids combined prior to drizzling on my greens…) I can simply write down $8.00 on my list and toss in the good will pile.



Mr. K didn’t ask questions, he hauled bags and boxes and things into the back of the van and sped off to goodwill that very afternoon.

I allowed myself some good keeps and by the end of a very full day I saw results!!





Yay! I can see the floor. I can walk through my laundry room! I can actually sit down and whip up a little card or wrap a gift! I can find an envelope!! I have gift bags! I have candles!!

Celebrating I am!

to recap all my secrets: * caffeine * got the objects out of the dreaded area to display area * robotic movements when transferring items!  * put a dollar value on having this space clutter-free in my home * shop: “would I buy this item today?”

* oh, and smile.

Any spring cleaning happening for you?? Would love to hear any of your secrets…

Posted in cleaning, CREATIVE, full caf, happy, HOUSEHOLD ISSUES, how to, INS, me, mr. k | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

i am inspired!

By Emily | Published: March 9, 2011


Thanks Anthro for going beyond funky with this wall art!!

So out of the box. All 8 corners, I love it.

And I think I could come up with the supplies needed—some old frames and scraps of fabric.

Or photos.

Maybe old ones.

Or floral prints!

Ohh….

I so hope I do.

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Posted in art, CREATIVE, she made it/might | Tagged , | 1 Comment

happy march!

By Emily | Published: March 1, 2011

And really – really for those anywhere near MN, this getting into March business is a big deal!

And rally – rally for a moment with us about Women’s History Month. Thanks Heath for sitting with March and passing along what inspired you. There is something good, solid and grounded about pausing and looking at the value of Our History as women—I sure know that without so many compassionate, strong and loving hearts I would have really lost out.

It’s cool to me that for women who have been able to scoop me up at times, to speak to me straight to my heart, to have eyes that tear up on my behalf, and lots and lots of moments of just being and holy cow just being silly—I love thinking that all of these women had lives touched by women and those before them and so on and so on. The roots run deep.

Here’s the fun I had with my flower – print, play and display.

I took full advantage of the doodling option – I crammed in name after name of women that came to me top of mind and heart as I reflected, just jamming them all into my full flower. And I enjoyed the coloring of the orange, that’s me. Full of life and grateful.

I then realized I could see faces of women, but didn’t know their names – so I went with “coffee shop worker” (not you Jane), or “shopper woman” (that’s you – the woman from the communal dressing room at len druskin outlet, you had great feedback on some jeans), or the one who just today was willing to get all excited about an item I was all ga-ga over as I assumed she was a worker. Then later crossing paths again she turns to me sharing a moment of glee over a little stack of books. I like you. So just today I kept saying to myself and outloud “women are nice! women are fun!”

Ok, just one more – it started out at a Target end-cap, a funky display of must-have outdoor dishware and accessories. This then lead to a whole conversation about how we both long for a screen porch or patio type space and how possibly purchasing this whole line would somehow magically bring this longing to reality sooner. We both walk away without purchasing any of the must-haves but have a good laugh and geesh that was probably what I needed most that day. And so much cheaper.

I hope you can enjoy this yourself!

March with Names–Color | March Blank–Color | March with Names–B&W | March Blank–B&W


Posted in art, celebrating, CREATIVE, OUTS | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

now what??

By Emily | Published: February 28, 2011

Monday is here.

The end of the month is here.

And the end of the busiest 5 months known to this household is here.

Today is the first day in a lonnng time where there are no sports to practice or drive to, not a meet to attend or a hockey game to cheer on while chasing Mr. C about.

So if I would rather not, I don’t need to climb into the nasty crumb filled, blanket and toy tossed van with the frozen water bottle(s) left behind and empty starbuck cup(s) thrown about.

How very very proud I am of The Teen— practicing gymnastics 20 hours a week, getting her homework done, and even doing her own laundry (by choice! or – ok – maybe she just finally gave up on me…) It has been so much fun to cheer her on and all the new skills she’s learned. A big WAY TO GO from this mommy.


Hockey. Yes 5 months lonnnng also. From out of town tourneys to lots— and lots— of practices and games Dboy would come and go with a good attitude. Getting home looks like me asking all sorts of intriguing questions about how this or that went to then hear that same boyhood charmed reply of  ”good…” as he opens the fridge staring inside to then say “what’s there to eat?”


And where Dboy goes, there goes Mr. Koach as well. Wow. He will be home as well. As in any minute, he will be home from work, and not just screeching his tires up the driveway to just have Dboy run out with his hockey bag to then just put the truck in reverse. He will not leave the truck running.

Maybe we’ll have some conversations. Wow. Or we sit and stare together. First things first here – how about not freaking out on him? Huh? Be nice Emily.

So with every ending there is a new season and a beginning. There is new space. And so far I haven’t gotten to live it, but it is already present in my brain.

More time with our family – I am looking forward to that. Needed. And then there is the more time for myself part. (!!!) At least a recovery period anyways. So what to do? What is it I like again?? Is there a need I have??

Roam about? Start a project? Go back to school? (know of any 7 month programs?) Whip out a novel? Cook something? Or maybe a lot of things? Organize a pile or two? Sign up for a yoga class? Learn how to teach one?

Hmmm….

I do love options.

What would you do?

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Posted in kid story, marriage, me, monday, mr. k, the both/and, the ordinary | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

after bashy.

By Emily | Published: February 22, 2011

To be this liddle —just lump’us and rump’us-about so cozy-coz with nuggles and squirmy squishy-squish.

‘Gain and again.

Lov-ew Mr. C.

‘Gain and again.

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Posted in happy, homespun, kid story, the ordinary | Tagged | 3 Comments

a valentine for you.

By Emily | Published: February 14, 2011

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Posted in art, celebrating, CREATIVE, hope, me, the both/and, thoughtful | Tagged , | 1 Comment

one less step for mankind: laundry.

By Emily | Published: February 8, 2011

Really?

One less step?

Is that possible?

1. The bringing the laundry down  2. sorting  3. washing  4. switching to dryer  5. folding  6. stacking in baskets  7. bringing to the correct rooms  8. putting away

The hardest part for me is rounding that corner from the folding and stacking in baskets to the part of putting it all away so that I can actually find the clothes in a reasonable amount of time since I do not typically give myself a reasonable amount of time as I assume it takes 10 minutes to get out the door so for the love of any and all good things if I did all the cumulative work of steps 1-7 I really would like to be able to clothe my body so I can get onto the next part of my day without feeling irritated and seriously how about not late again.

This laundry process has come up in my therapy sessions – yes in one way or another. This is all very concerning, and I realize that. It has been symbolic of where I am at emotionally. How behind I feel, and how motivated I am to tackle this whole process once again.

Let’s just focus on the being irritated part for a moment. I don’t like that feeling. The less feeling irritated the better. It adds up. Like moments in a day, a week, a month, add it up and basically I could spend a whole years worth of time annoyed about this. I can will myself, avoid, snap, make chore charts on every wall and still find that this laundry process has me beat.

I have tried to skip number 5 through 8 by taking clothes out of dryer and tossing them wildly into 6 piles on the basement floor: towels, Mr. K, the teen, dboy, Mr. C and myself.  How does that turn out? Unless everyone is home and ready to take that pile, fold and put away, before you know it the piles aren’t really piles anymore. More like a multi-colored-lumpy floor covering. And then if you need to find a shirt? You bend over and start the digging – picking up item after item from your lumpy-area-rug-section as items get tossed and end up off your pile – into and onto other piles — then there is a complete breakdown of all the boundary lines, you force yourself back to standing feeling the ache in your lower back left sweaty and shirtless.

And more frustrated.

—

So how about this? Call me a bit crate-crazy but go with me here:

I load these crates in my cart a few minutes before closing time. A cube. It stacks. Hmm….

I fold and stack the clean clothes into each family members bin, including one for towels. So far so good. I notice some potential here.

I can fold the clothes and stack the bins. I can see all the items in the crate – and I can even tip the crate to face forward and it mimics a shelf. These things I cannot do with the standard laundry basket. Hmm….

Lookie here, I can stack and carry.

I hand deliver setting each crate in the appropriate room.

I go into my room and set my crate on a shelf in my closet.

I look at it.

I then walk away.

I do not put away.

I do not put away.


< — This typical style laundry basket? Left in my room there is not hope in finding my baggy Levi's or brown shirt without disheveling the whole pile.

— > The art of the cube? I can see my all the clothes – all the layers. Pink shirt? Or the brown? I officially skip step number 8. (!!!!!!!) It can be done. I did it. The next day and the next day I was happy to just pull out and select an item from this tidy stack. It didn’t bother me a bit that the shirts were never married with the official shirt pile of my closet. No. And I like the boundary lines of this cube, how it keeps things from tipping over.

I really really like this. Love love.

One less time of having to man-handle each and every item.

Praise the Lord.

And praise be to Target.

I will be back for about 5 more of these. (See, if I leave one in the closet, I need an empty one for the next round of clean clothes. At $3.99 a bin, this I am not considering a problem.)

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Posted in cleaning, frustrating, hope, HOUSEHOLD ISSUES, how to, INS, me, Product | Tagged , | 4 Comments

happy february!

By Emily | Published: February 1, 2011

Thanks Julie for your adorable take on the month of February. It’s the kind of calendar you’ll want to gaze at, letting your eye’s sink in while sipping English tea from your grandmothers china set.


As you sip you dream of using phrases like: “If the weather is agreeable we shall take a stroll through the garden hence lunch. Mother’s roses are in bloom and the afternoon sun is esquisite how it breaks through the pines from the west.”

My other view of February?

It is like getting my eyes poked out. Something I avoid doing unless absolutely necessary.


Screw the tea. Gazing at this calls for a double shot, double pump mocha espresso. With whip. If I am outside that sacred window of sipping, then I avoid.

The language in my head (or at times audible) while looking at this view of the month is less quaint: “Hells bells – ugh – your kidding me – do I drive that night? or is that the off week? let’s see….when could I schedule – wait -how is that going to work? all on the same night? why??? oh why!?!?!?”

The rule? I am never to write on the sacred peace filled calendar. No. No dates, or times, or plans. Leave it empty. I want it to speak it’s endearing messages to me: “there is plenty of time…take a stroll…write a letter… exclaim to Mr. K how fond you are of his dutiful commitment to sport and how honored you are to keep the fire kindled as you await his arrival each evening in the drawing room…”

Yes. Say this to him.

Thanks for the glimpse outside my reality for this month Julie. Look forward to more from the Both/And in the months ahead.

To print your own dreamy perspective on February, click on the PDF below, black and white or color.

Enjoy.

february calendar | the both and | february calendar color | the both and

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Posted in art, CREATIVE, DREAMING, frustrating, full caf, me, the both/and | Tagged | 2 Comments

can you drink the cup?

By Emily | Published: January 30, 2011





For today, I hold the reality of what currently is, and the potential of more to come.

For more of the
soul searching-
and gut wrenching
peace seeking-
and crazy making
spirit filling-
and out pouring
accepting-
and longing
laughing-
and crying
wanting-
and waiting
loving-
and hurting
kind of moments—and the potential of more to come.

Learning to do this, while spilling here and there and coming up empty time to time. Thankfully I have a shot at any and all of this, because I have others who I can lift my cup with. Thankfully….

Cheers to each and everyone of you as you look, wonder, see, question, and gather what is in your cup. None are alone.

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cup images noted in order – click on photo to link to photostream
the black and white: Dihan_DS, the hope: ciccioetneo, the emptiness: subnet24
the abundance: torode, the giving: CubaGallery, the more: mbgrigby
the options: carola’s look, the joy: Thomieh, the sorrow: mbtritby, the both: BishopB

Posted in hope, INS, me, the both/and, thoughtful | Tagged , , | 2 Comments