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Words for the Year
January 30, 2020
As you know, I am not much for “word of the year” or resolutions. Heck the last few years I haven’t even really bothered – too many crises. However, I can’t keep that up because things aren’t getting done. Things that really need to get done. So, I’m going to dub this year the year to “Get Sh*t Done”. I already started by getting a couple of things done that were past due. And I’ll continue that next month. I may not get to hibernate but I know I’ll be happier to get these monkeys off my back. And maybe if I get all this sh*t done, I’ll actually get to hibernate next January. As if.
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Hibernate – Week 4
January 28, 2020
It’s the last week of January and did I hibernate? No, not really. But a few things that absolutely needed to get done did so at least there was that. I am taking today to just rest because I was out most of the day yeseterday and I need some down time. SO, I’m catching up on laundry and reading “Save Me the Plums” by Ruth Reichl. I read her book “My Kitchen Year” about her first year after being editor of the now gone Gourmet magazine and I really wanted to hear more of the story. Last year Plums came out but being the cheapskate that I am, I waited (and waited) until our library finally got the book. It’s great. It’s also the only book I’ve read this month. I’ve attempted a few other reads, but this is the ONE book I’ve actually read.
I also finally took the new portable dvd player my husband gave me for Christmas out of the box. I was so hesitant and then one quiet morning I decided to check it out. Larger than my other one, but very quiet running. I like it. So, I’m watching “My So Called Life”. Again. :-)
It’s going to be a drab week weather wise and I really would like to sit and write and plan out some things but I just don’t feel it. It seems like too much right now. I decided to exit Stitch Fix for good and even thinking about getting new clothes somewhere else feels like trauma. I do need to come up with a plan though because I really need pants.
So, my hibernate month ended up busier than I’d wanted but on the other hand I have had time to let a few things germinate and it really is time to get some things down on paper and then take the next step. Maybe I can be quieter next month – especially if the groundhog says six more weeks of winter.
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Hibernate – Week 3
January 21, 2020
I don’t know why I’m still saying I’m hibernating when clearly I am not. Yesterday we made a trip to a neighboring town since everyone had the day off. Not so much hibernating, but it was a fun day for everyone. Well, maybe not my husband – he’s not much on the shopping.
This week I may get to have more downtime since there are no appointments to go to. So, the plan is to keep up on housework basics but also plan time for some fun things like watching a movie or tv show I enjoy. Yesterday I found a brand new copy of “How To Steal A Million” for $8!! I could not believe it – I’ve been looking for that one for a long time and Amazon’s price is expensive. Time to grab the popcorn.
My birthday is on Friday and we will be celebrating Mozart’s birthday next Monday with a watching of Amadeus over the weekend. We usually do this every year but somehow it got lost in the shuffle last year so we’ve got to watch it this year. I’m tired of missing out on these movies we usually watch – even Christmas movies have gone by the wayside since my girls started going to public school. There’s just not as much time. I’m going to have to figure out how to fix that.
So, finally a quiet week. Here’s hoping I get to curl up and actually do nothing because next week is going to be a busy one.
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Hibernate – Week 2
January 13, 2020
So here I am at the beginning of the second full week of January and thinking this hibernate idea this month wasn’t the best. There’s been too many things going on for me to even think about it. That’s not a bad thing necessarily because some things needed to get done now and I also had a son visit from the west coast and we haven’t seen him in a year. That’s more important.
I have been doing a lot of thinking though and I’m getting ready to do some planning. I’m going to make a list of everything I need to get done this year and things I’d like to do/start this year. You can’t do it all but there are things that really have to get done. The other stuff I can fit in when I can, but I need to fit at least one want in each month.
Also – a menu plan for the month. And I mean ALL meals every day. If I want to get healthy than this is my first step. I’m not talking about elaborate calorie counting stuff – just getting meals on the table. And as in a previous post – I need to be sitting at the table eating and eating decent meals. After I make the menu plan, then I can go to the store and load up on what we need and make at least that part of my day go smoother.
Those are the two things I need to get done by Wednesday. The only other must do this week is to buy pants. I have some birthday coupons to use so it’s a good time. And I’m going to ask for help rather than try to go through racks myself to try to find what I need when the ladies working in these stores know what they’ve got and where to find it.
I still need to fit some downtime in each day too. I’d like to start watching My So Called Life again and may just do that each afternoon when I have the time – watch an episode at the same time each day. Like I would when it was on originally. This way I’m more likely to keep that time open.
Oh and that quiet thing? Yeah – not so much. I need to work on that more this week. I just really need to listen more and think about what I want to say before getting all reactive. A few things got pointed out to me over the weekend so I’m going to try to do better.
Anywho – that’s how things stand today. Now it’s off to bed to try to get back to sleep. Yeah – that half cup of coffee I had last night wasn’t the best idea. I am learning things like having 1 cup of regular coffee and 1 cup of decaf in the morning and nothing the rest of the day helps you sleep better. Yeah.
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Stop/Start
January 7, 2020
I was thinking today about…something…and realized that what I really need to do is this: STOP (insert something you need to stop doing) and START (insert the opposite of this or something that is better than the stop thing). Let me give an example:
STOP – drinking soda and START drinking more water
I’ve seen this around the internet as more/less but I think stop/start is more concrete. It’s a good way to get rid of bad habits and change my behavior for the better.
This is kind of like the little habits I added in last year. One of them was every time I go past a certain gas station I check the gas level in the car. Another was not leaving dirty dishes in the sink – get them rinsed and moved to the dishwasher. And they stuck. I need to use this power, if you will, to make other changes. I think the stop/start thing might do just that.
I’m going to end with a quote I saw in a magazine that kind of underpins this changing: Stop wishing for it and start working for it. How many times do we say “I wish” but never do anything to actually get towards that change we want? Too many. SO, time to stop what’s not working for us and time to start making changes to move us to what will. I’m in.
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Hibernate – Day 1
January 3, 2020
I started the morning off by thinking of how much I really do talk – which I already knew since Someone keeps bringing up the need to be quiet. And then I thought about how hard it is going to be to keep my mouth shut when I need to talk to someone or someone has talked to me. I need to limit what I tell and to whom. This has been a problem for some time and it’s time to kick what has become a not very good habit.
I also thought about how many conversations run through my head on any given day and this sometimes fuels a lot of negative thoughts, so quieting the mind is a must. I need to replace the negatives with positives or even acknowledging my feelings when a negative thought pops up and then let it float away instead of giving any more credence to it.
On a different note, I need to remind myself to do something I like or enjoy when I’m bored, instead of just scrolling through Instagram or seeing what’s on Youtube. I could watch a movie I enjoy, or write a blog post, or read a light novel (or get started on the classics). Or how about a walk or exercising at home? Although sometimes I could just sit and be quiet which is okay too. Boredom only really shows up after the housework is done so I need to find ways to fill that time that are meaningful to me. I always think “there’s no time for that” but there is.
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Rules for Eating
January 2, 2020
I’ve run across a lot of these over the years. One of them was to eat only when sitting at a table. No eating in the car or walking down the street as it tends towards mindless eating. Being seated at a table draws your attention to the meal which is obviously better for you. And I think you’re less likely to eat too much as well. I’m actually going to take this rule up. I rarely eat on the go, except if I get a snack or coffee while I’m out and haven’t eaten much in the first place. :-P Yeah, time to switch that up.
Which brings me to my other rule: eating. Eat a good breakfast, a good lunch, and a good dinner. What does good mean? Eating enough. Right now I’m eating very little at the table and snacking on crap the rest of the time because I’m hungry. Yeah – not so good. So eating is what I’m going to do. And not worry too much about organic vs. canned and that sort of thing – just eating regular meals. I think I’ll need to figure out the disconnect as well so I can re-think what I’m doing.
So, those are my two rules for eating. I just have to focus on putting nutrients in my body so my cells can be happy and keep going. And that’s enough for now.
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Goodbye 2019
December 31, 2019
And don’t come back. :-/
So, another year has come and gone very quickly. Maybe that’s a good thing considering the last three years have been stressful in various ways good and bad. I’m sort of looking forward to the new year, but with a lot of caution and guarded optimism. Next month will be my hibernate month. My quiet month. It needs to happen.
I am going to quiet down my speech and try to quiet my mind too. I’m going to be careful about my social media perusing as well. I am going to consume less sugar and caffeine and replace those with water and a B stress vitamin. The one I was supposed to have been taking months ago. I am going to shop less and just be out in nature a little more.
I am going to get back to a housecleaning routine as well. I’ve added several little habits over the last year and that’s one positive at least. And these habits weren’t anything I planned to do – I just started doing them and they stuck. Go figure.
So, let’s raise our glasses and join our voices in singing that song of old:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
for auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all love and peace and joy in the new year. <3
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Filling Up
December 30, 2019
Christmas is over, the presents opened, the visitors gone. What is left is empty. I realized this on Saturday when I was home alone and picking at all the treats and other foods that are still around. As I was filling my mouth I realized that what I was really doing was trying to fill up the holes in my life. Fill what is empty or lacking.
Today, I was looking at Amazon and Sephora trying to decide on things that I would like to have partly because I want them, partly because it is something to do to fill the lonely part of me.
I need to name the holes in my life – what is missing – so that I can stop trying to fill up with things that weren’t meant to do that. To find a way to satisfy the longings that I have.
This is a long ongoing thing with me. One day I was angry at my husband and started stuffing my face with a chocolate bar. Aha! The lightbulb went off and for the most part I haven’t done that since. Well, not much anyway,
So, I’m glad that on Saturday I had another aha moment so I can start working on this part of me. There’s a little girl inside that didn’t get her needs met, a teen that was bullied, and a young woman who desperately wanted someone to love her. These all need to be addressed so that I can start becoming a whole person who doesn’t try to fill with food or things because it simply won’t work.
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Beauty Update – Makeup
December 28, 2019
Ok, so last post I talked about my skincare routine. Today, it’s all about the makeup. Let’s get started.
I talked about this product in my last post, but it’s the last step in skincare and first in makeup as it acts like a primer. It’s my Cotz Face Moisture Lightly Tinted Sunscreen.
Next, I’m using the Cover Girl TruBlend Liquid Foundation in L1. I don’t love this foundation because it’s super sheer. But, when I use it in conjunction with the sunscreen it works. After this is empty (and it’s getting close) I’m either going to test drive a few I’ve been looking at or splurge on the Dior Backstage Foundation which I really liked from the sample I received.
For eyeshadow I’ve been really loving my Ulta powder eye shadow single in Pin-Up Girl. It’s very natural looking and a one stop deal in the morning, I bought the Lorac Matte Palette, but not loving it. I may get back to the Smashbox Photo Op trio in Nude Pic Fair – a great mini palette of neutrals.
Of course you know about my mascara love – Cover Girl Professional with the straight brush in Brown/Black. I need a new one so will be buying that soon.
On to brows – I currently have two things I’m using. The first is IT Cosmetics Brow Power which is a neutral shade that works on everyone. It’s very easy to use and not expensive. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but you can buy the mini for only $12 so it’s not a huge investment. I also bought a mini of Benefit’s Gimme Brow in Light so I’m testing that out. Not sure yet how I feel about it.
For lips I’ve got a couple of different things going. The first is Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask in Candy Cane (from last year’s Christmas tin) and their Agave Balm. I use those on days I want to just go natural. I also bought a lipstick holiday set from Becca and I’m really enjoying that. The colors can be sheer or dark and I like wearing the bolder colors.
And that’s it – it’s a pretty simple routine. Some days I’ll wear my Tarte Sugar Rush Cream Blush in Ocean Girl. This is an easy product to use and gives just a hint of color. Well, that’s how I use it anyway. Another blush I like is Benefit’s Dandelion – a really light pink. I have rosacea so I have to choose blushes wisely and both of these are easy on the skin.
It’s been nice to have a set of basics to use for the last several months – makes getting ready in the morning a no brainer and I like how I look. And that’s really what I want/need right now – simple.