everything changed when the fire nation attacked or how I (finally) organized my closet

We’ve lived in our home for five months but I was still ‘living out of boxes’ in my closet.
Actually ‘boxes’ was a plastic bin and big blue IKEA bag of shoe boxes and loose shoes, and a big bag of every random thing from my night table with jewelry trays of earrings on top.
These things were all in the bottom of our closet. Every time Baby K comes, she finds a new pair of earrings to get excited about. I can’t even get mad, those earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are right there for the plucking.


(a fun little AtlA reference)

Yesterday I was the fire nation and I attacked that closet.

It all began because I needed better access to seasonal clothes. It was summer when we moved and I organized the closet with easiest access to warm weather clothes.
Well, that and I wanted to get my earrings out of the floor and my shoes out of the cedar chest.

First, I moved everything out (of my side) and vacuumed.
Then I took all the boxes of shoes out of the IKEA bag and plastic bin. I put all the Chucks, Birks, strappy sandals and fancy summertime shoes in the cedar chest and put boots and booties in the closet. I left out two pairs of sneakers I like to wear to school, and ballet flats.
Next I moved the bin of shorts to the top shelf and replaced it with my winter jammies.
Really I just organized in a way that made better sense.

I didn’t take any before pics.
But I did take some after pics.

I cannot express how much better I feel about how my things are organized in that closet!

The closet system chick is coming next Friday to measure and discuss plans. Of course if this is the way we end up going, they’re scheduling installation for March…
That’s OK, I’m well sorted until then.

I’m so grateful for this snow week!
I had inspiration, motivation, and energy to accomplish so much while I was home from school.

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organizing my home and brain space

This is the view from our bedroom window this morning.
Can you spot three deer out there in the snow?
I watched them for about ten minutes while they foraged.

Today is snow day number four.
And two to four inches of snow predicted in the overnight hours tonight.
Three full weeks of winter break.
I’m actually ready to get back to school.

Though I’ve been quite productive around here and feel good about it. This additional week was helpful.

I found some good decor items to add with things we already have to style the dining table. I’m being mindful about making sure I have mostly practical pieces that are useful in ways other than simply looking nice. I don’t want decor for decor’s sake. I want beautiful things I can utilize in other ways.
I may end up returning some things, I’m still trying to figure it out.
Photos to come.

I’m actively journaling.
It feels good to get my brain space better sorted. In addition to journaling my thoughts and feels, I’m also writing about writing. My hope is that will eventually translate to this blog.
We’ll see, those thoughts are still hatching…

I’m feeling positive and hopeful about all the things right now.
Inspired and encouraged.
About our home.
About my feels.
I’ll strive to do what’s best for my physical and mental health.
I’ll continue to ask questions that may or may not have answers.
I must consider some serious decisions.
But I’m going to accept what comes as it do.
And I’m going to embrace as much playful fun and joy as I possibly can.

How are all y’all feeling this first week of the new year?
What thoughts are hatching in your brain space?

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a tune for Tuesday vol 151

I’ve been listening to this song for months and every time I hear it I love it a little bit more.
A playful collaboration between AJR and Daisy the Great.

I especially love the chorus.

I’ve got a record player that was made in 2014
Dyed my hair blue, it came out a seasick sort of green
I like vintage dresses when they fall just below my knees
I pretend I scraped them climbing in the trees

It reminds me of both my girls in their teen years and my heart overflows with love and nostalgia.

Check out Record Player and let me know what you think.

Please listen responsibly.

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snowy day

After nearly two weeks of sixty degree weather, we had a surprise snow storm last night into this morning!

It was bucketing down so quickly!
YBW left home between 7:30 and 7:45. I could see his footprints in our driveway and up the road. But by 8:00 they were completely covered, as were tracks from one vehicle that drove around the corner and up the road.

I’ve kept myself busy around the house.
Striped and remade the bed, and washed, dried, and folded sheets and towels.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Finished reorganizing the pantry.
Started styling the dining table…this will be a work in progress until it feels just right.
Wrote in my journal.
Planned dinner.
Baked an apple upside down cake. (from scratch)

As you can see, I haven’t flipped it yet.

It’s stopped snowing.
The wind continues to howl.
The temps keep dropping.


This is the path beside our house through the dining room window.
I’m considering venturing out…but it’s so nice to be all hunkered down in the cozy warm house.

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Encanto: does being magical = unconditional love?

We watched Encanto Tuesday night.
On Disney+ from the comfort of our own sofa.

photo cred: walt disney animation studios

I had no real interest in seeing it. I hadn’t even seen the trailer.
But Thing 1 has been expressing her interest and excitement for a couple of months now. She’s even been listening to the soundtrack for a few weeks. So her hype kind of tipped me from the edge of ‘maybe I’ll watch it’ to choosing to watch it.

Y’all!
I laughed.
I cried.
I was mesmerized.
I cannot recommend this movie enough!

First of all, the music!
So many great songs! In English, and in Spanish.
I’m ready to watch it again just to hear the soundtrack.

I’m fascinated by Colombian history and culture. (you may recall it was the place I was most excited about going on our 2019 Panama Canal trip)
This film did not disappoint when it came to Colombian culture.
Not to mention the animation itself was unbelievably stunning.

But what got me the most was the story.
Mirabel is a girl who grows up in a family where everyone is magical but her.
To be told you’re not special you’re entire life is a feeling I understand down deep in me.
This girl knows she’s not magical like literally every other person in her family, yet she shows up every day and does what she can to contribute. To make life better for everyone around her. However, no matter what she does, or how hard she works, it’s never enough.

I know what it feels like to be told you’re not special.
I know what it feels like to grow up in a family where no matter what you do, nothing is enough. But you keep trying every day because it’s the only way to feel loved.
Like me, Mirabel is a classic over-functioner.
Her sisters kind of are too…

Mirabel’s story is infinitely more complicated but also a bit simpler than that, but it hit a trigger point in me.
It was beautiful and sad, and hopeful all in one.
And hope is a truly wonderful thing.

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continuing to make this house our home

The day after Christmas, YBW and I went out in search of a coffee table.
I ordered one in August and it’s been delayed four times now, the latest delay puts delivery the end of January. And while I’m realistic about the current state of the world, especially when it comes to the supply chain, I was tired of waiting.
And we were kind of questioning our choice anyway…

We planned an entire day for exploration, but we found success at our fourth store.
We chose a two piece set of nesting tables. YBW came up with the idea of adding a second of the lower tables to the original pair.

We initially ordered an enormous square coffee table. It was YBW’s vision from the moment we knew we’d live here.
But with these three smaller tables, we have more freedom of use, which to be perfectly honest, makes more sense for the way we live. We can move them about our living room as needed.
And I’m all about the fact they’re so mid-century!

Of course, we have to wait six more weeks, but it’s a guaranteed six weeks, not this maybe in five months situation in which we’ve found ourselves.

We finally found the perfect rugs for our living and bedroom, they shipped early and arrived the week before Christmas.
Thing 1, Husband N, and even Baby K helped us lay the big one in the living room. The one for our bedroom is rolled up waiting to be laid. Our bed is so damn heavy, it’s going to take proper planning to make getting it set work.

We’re prioritizing our home needs as we move into the new year.
A closet system is at the top of our list.
After that comes the fridge I wanted instead of the one I had to settle for, two new sofas, wallpaper, and having the TV mounted on the wall.
There are other things too, smaller things, I just can’t remember what they are at the moment.

We haven’t planned an order for any of these things other than the closet system.
We’re not in a hurry.
We’ve lived in this house a few days less than five months and continue to make it our home each day we’re here.
We have time.

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a tune for Tuesday vol 150

These punk rockers range in age from ten to sixteen and I’m all about their girl power!
Check out Oh! The Linda Lindas and let me know what you think.

Please listen responsbily.

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present and engaged this Christmas

For the first time I can remember, I didn’t take any photos at Christmas! ​
A tiny part of me is sad there are no photos, but I love that I was completely present and engaged on Christmas Eve when our family was here.
Three of our four kids, their two partners, one mother in law, and our grandgirl came to our new home to celebrate together.
We popped bubbly.
We laughed.
We opened gifts.
I was disappointed Thing 2 and Boyfriend M weren’t with us, but I talked to her for nearly three hours earlier that day, and I know she spoke with her sister too.

I put out the cookies Thing 1, Baby K, and I made.

We ate three different varieties of soup.
We nibbled and talked and told stories. We were content to celebrate together.

Baby K helped me pass out pressies to her parents, uncles, and other grandmother. She enlisted her Papa’s help as she was feeling a bit shy about taking gifts to her uncles and Thing C’s girlfriend.

We all had Christmas Eve gifts of jammies and books.
Our adult kids get gift cards for Christmas, which may seem boring, or even like a cop-out, but it works for our family.
Of course, not being an adult, Baby K gets gifts.
And I can assure you she was all about opening them!
Even though we went to see her Christmas morning, she opened gifts from us while she was here on Christmas Eve.

It was the loveliest Christmas I’ve had in a while and my love and joy were spilling out all over.
I hope all y’all and your families had a wonderful Christmastime.
I wish you all comfort and joy.

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love and joy and cookies

Thing 1 and I baked cookies all day yesterday.

Baby K said, “I help you!” many times.
Of course toddler help looks often looks like her taking cookies off the pan and cramming them in her gob as quickly as we can cut them. (I’m over here like, dude, that’s what scraps are for!)
Or taking a handful of flour and throwing it on the floor while saying, “It’s SNOW!”
Then when her mother unceremoniously removes her from the stool upon which she stands, laying in the flour on the floor and…”I making snow angel!”
(Yeah, we laughed. It was freaking adorable!)
We had a reprieve when her Papa came home from lunch and they sat at the island being all cute while they ate their lunches together.
And again while she napped.

Baking is not my strong suit.
But yesterday, baking with my girl. I was absolutely content.
I enjoyed her company.
I enjoyed working in the kitchen with her.
I enjoyed watching her be her daughter’s mom.

That time was sacred to me and I’m grateful for it.
It wasn’t about the cookies, though most of them turned out beautifully.
It was about the process.
It was about the fellowship.
I know how fortunate I am to live close to my daughter, especially after not for so long.
But more than that, I know how fortunate I am to be close to my daughter.
Love, joy, and gratitude are spilling over in me and out into the world.
I hope y’all can feel it too!

Categories: love | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

a tune for Tuesday vol 149

I heard this song for the very first time on Friday, and y’all, I’m totally obsessed!

I especially love the chorus

What’s not to like about me?
I’m a lover not a fighter sort of thing
Imagine life without me
Don’t stir me up ’cause I am not your cup of tea
Look at yourself

Check out What’s Not to Like by Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba (yeah, you read that right) and let me know what you think.

Please listen responsibly.

Categories: music | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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