Weights

 

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.”  
~C. Joybell C.

 

Life has been coming on strong (a.k.a My Broken Record), but it is a mixed bagged of change and new opportunity and less traveled roads. I have been preparing myself for new adventures and new discoveries, of late, and I am finding that I tend to hold on to objects like a security blanket. I also tend to forget what I actually hoard. Purging and letting go have been two objectives I have been struggling with for the past couple of years. Actually, I have struggled with these goals for most of my life.

 

The past couple of weeks I have let go of a lot of crap, both physically and mentally. In order to accomplish goals and move on with my life, I had to literally tell my inner voice to stop talking: "I'll have a yard sale this year..." or "I can sell these things on eBay..." or "I'll make this [insert crafty thing] with that..." The thing is I am a busy, busy girl. True Fact. It's way more easy for me to thrift than decorate. Thrift than resell. Thrift than create. Thrift than organize. I absolutely love a treasure hunt. I absolutely despise the burden of the treasure. It really is a forest/trees kind of thing.

 

So, I have been taking boxes of outgrown baby clothes, cheapo books already read/never to be read, unused housewares and modern knick-knacks back to the thrifts. And you know what? I haven't missed any of it. I have also reopened my Etsy store to help lighten the load of vintage I have boxed away in nooks and crannies (and I have been delighted by what I am discovering right inside my homes). I am slowly photographing and listing the items I have decided to let go (or I think will sell). I am telling myself that if they do not leave by X date, then back to the thrifts they go. I am on a self-imposed thrifting hiatus until at least half of my shit is gone (it's hard). Thrifting is a stress buster for me.

 

I am really looking forward to spring. I know it's cliche, but I am full of hope and renewal. I am getting ready to brave the next chapter in my life and it's best that I travel without all these weights tied to my ankles. Let it go.

 

 Linking it up with Sir Thrift-a-Lot, Apron Thrift Girl, Penny Worthy Project, Young Heart and A Living Space.

Cool Ideas for Spring Gardening

So, this week has been tough one. I've been on a special assignment for work and, unfortunately, it is a third shift deal. I am definitely a diurnal person and being up all night has really messed up my bio-rhythm and made me quite the tried pup. I've stayed in bed (either sleeping or just being lazy) most of the day. The "to-do" list has flown out the window.

I am also tired of winter. I am really yearning for spring and gardening and just being able to go outside without ice cold fingers and toes. I know it's coming...but I am impatient to say the least.

Here are some cool urban gardening ideas found floating around the Internet:

 

Recycled Plastic Bottle Greenhouse

 

 

Marbled Fence

 

 

Security Door Trellis

 

 

Beautiful Mosiac Pathway

(I couldn't find the original source)



Operation: Feel Better

Monday will mark one week since I started Operation: Feel Better. Even though I had to travel (again) all week, I did well. I stuck to the Whole30 and I worked out every day except Friday (work and travel home prevented it). I am already feeling better, more energetic.

 

I'll admit a lot of this need to improve is based on age. I have had a hard time accepting that I am trucking very quickly into Middle Age Years. Take note, Youngin's, it goes fast! Next month I will be 42.5 years old. Wow, I really don't think I have ever said that here. I still feel much younger, but then maybe we always pretty much are the same with just added experience, hormones and responsibilities. I also have always been told I look younger (the guess is usually about 6 years minus the real number), but that seems to have tapered off in the past year or so. I think I caught up with my age (but this may be mind/matter issue. Who knows?!)

 

Anyway, just in the week I've been moving and eating less crap, I have notice I am not sitting around fretting about my forties as much. Or my job. Or my shitty marriage. Or all the crap I have to do. Really, what a stupid thing to waste time on! I have started to focus more on doing things like urban gardening, rehabbing the old 1900 house, purging, reading...all these things that make me happy! This is a bonus of physical health. I have always had an active, curious mind, but when I feel bad, I think bad. By being proactive on my health, I can feel my mind is starting to emerge from the fog of bad diet, stress, and inactivity. I have a long path to hike, but I am on it and this is important.

I have a thrifting post to write up sometime this weekend. I found few, but wonderful treasures this past week. The highlight was a stop at the Indianapolis Goodwill Outlet (I have a love/annoyance relationship with GW Outlets). To tease, I found a vintage camera, an old window (I'm building a repurposed greenhouse from old windows), and some great craft items! Thrift Lovers: Stay tuned!

Theodor Seuss Geisel

 

March 02, 1904-September 24, 1991

 

It's no secret that I have a huge crush on the late, great Theodor. In fact, in every single home I have had as an adult, I've kept a framed photo of my Ted. I believe I cut it from a magazine article I read about him the year he died (1991). I remember I was quite sad to hear of his passing; I'd been a fan since I was three.

 

Shortly after I read that he had died, I read his biography. Turns out for such a magically gifted artist, Ted experience his share of sorrow and mistakes. For example, he had an affair while married to his first wife (with the woman who became his second wife) and she killed herself (she was also mentally ill and had cancer). I also, around that time of obsession, found a book featuring some of his more adult art. It included these wonderful photographs of some of his carved fantastical taxidermy. Oh, how I wanted one! You know how some people fantasize about how they would spend a million lottery dollars? Well, mine always includes buying an original Dr. Seuss!

 

 

Like so many homes with children (OK, some without too!), Dr. Seuss is a favorite author around here. He was truly an original soul. We even celebrate his birthday like a proper holiday. The festivities begin with green eggs and ham (for the boys) and end with a wonky cake. We read a few favorite books and then watch a movie or two.

 

My favorite Dr. Seuss book is probably The Lorax. When I was pregnant with my first son, I dreamt I bought a copy at a bookstore. In my dream, I held a blond son. At that point in my pregnancy, I had had at least two ultrasounds (due to high-risk issues) and both had assured I was having a girl. Lily. I hadn't even bothered to pick out a male name. Fast forward a few months and out came a blond boy. See, the Lorax knew.

 

Two of my favorite Seussian quotes:

 

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR TED!

For Whole 30 Days

- See more at: http://whole9life.com/2012/08/the-whole30-program/#sthash.O4IDPzMy.dpuf





A couple of years ago, I made a change to help my body and mind. I gave up sugar and grains, began exercising and, within just a couple of weeks, felt great. I continued this for over a year. Carefully adding back whole grains, selecting healthy foods over processed and, you know what? I felt wonderful and full of energy. I also lost weight and dress sizes and could jog three miles without feeling like my lungs were going to jump out of my chest.

Fast forward: A job transfer, marriage stress, trials of work travel, a bully supervisor, weekend back and forth, Ohio valley allergies and raising my boys long distance has had it's toll. The worst thing, however, is that I went back to my old, bad eating habits. You can guess I quickly gained the weight back, the dress size is up again and I feel tired, congested, hopeless and depleted most days. I also sleep horribly.

The math is really not hard: Stress+Bad Foods+No Exercise+Allergies+Travel=Exhaustion & Depression.

Last week I traveled to southeast Kentucky for work. After work, while checking into the hotel, I noticed a pamphlet about the McCoy-Hatfield feud. Apparently, the majority of of it happened in the area I was staying in. I ended up walking to the cemetery where the majority of the McCoys are buried (I took the first photo on this post there). It was about a mile from the hotel. It also required a hike up three flights of stairs (it was located on a steep mountain side). By the time I reached the top, I literally thought I, or at least my heart, was going to die. I was happy no one but the dead were around to hear me huffing and puffing. I could have cried. All that hard work and habit changes...gone!

I constantly announce challenges I'm attempting here. I'm a challenge junkie. I also fail over and over (and I have a bag of excuses as to why I can't seem to stay focused). My main excuse is time. I am constantly busy and a month flies by before I realize it began. This time, however, I am challenging myself because I need to get my health straight. I cannot let myself down this time.

I've decided to take the Whole30 challenge. I am not affiliated with this program and have never tried it, but it's similar to the one I made up to get my health better two years ago. Only, this one is more tough: No dairy, grains, sugar, or LEGUMES! The latter is the hardest because I love beans and, as an almost vegetarian, I depend on beans for many of my meals. This means no black beans, lentals, dals, green beans, peanuts, peanut butter...oh, no! But, it's only 30 days. 30 days seem to march by in a flash.

I am starting this Monday. March, the official start of spring, seems like a good month to regain my health. I'll probably need a wish of luck, especially since I am traveling at least two weeks this month. I really don't want to flake out again. I want to be able to walk up three flights of mountain stairs and not sound like my Boston terrier when I reach the top. Enough said.