The (Not-So) Ordinary Life and Times...

Oh Baby, the Places You'll Go! A Dr. Seuss Baby Shower

I co-hosted a baby shower for my sister in law yesterday. We kept the theme gender-neutral since I don't know if I'm getting a neice or a newphew!! I'm very excited to be an aunt, and we had fun planning this very whimsical Dr. Seuss-themed party. You can check out more pics on my events page.

Calendar Wisdom: February 2012

Life isn't divided into genres.

It's a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical,

science-fiction cowboy detective novel.

--Alan Moore

2012: A year of yoga

I have never been into yoga as a way to exercise. I did one class in high school and thought it was really boring.

Working two jobs is very stressful, and I got tired of having one too many nights when I couldn't sleep because my shoulders were wound so tightly I feel like my spine might break. Right before the new year I decided to look into yoga again.

The verdict: I'm in love.

I'm using yoga as a way to breathe. I never (ever) took a moment to think about my breathing. Yoga is the practice of matching breath to movement. I'm challening my body and mind in a way that really helps me focus. If I can breathe and relax on command, my day goes so much  more smoothly.

I love that doing yoga is referred to as a practice. I'm a creature of habit, and a routine is really soothing for me. So being able to say that I am practicing something makes me feel good. It also helps the perfectionist in me calm down if I can't do a pose perfectly on the first try.

I've mostly been doing it by myself at home, but would love to take a class. I can't believe how much more flexible I've become in just about a month of practicing.

I encourage anyone to at least try yoga.

You'll find a list of yoga DVDs I like on the Yoga page. And we'll end with a little inspiration:

 

 

Winter Wreath

You may have seen my Fall yarn wreath in a previous post, but this one is a little more appropriate for winter! Or at least it would be if we had any snow. We've had some flurries, but today is what I would call the first REALLY cold day...single digits. Enjoy my slight obsession with yarn wreaths:

Wrapping this wreath took a significanly shorter amount of time, partly because I used a styrofoam form this time, and it was white, so the form didn't show through the yarn as much as the straw one did for the other wreath I made.

I chose "wintry" colors for the felt flowers this time...and did you know they made glitter felt!? It's true. It had to happen.

I used an old package decoration (a pretty ornament or brooch would work too!) to decorate the wreath, tied it with navy ribbon and on the door it goes! This can last at least through February, I would think...unless I decide to ambitiously attempt a Valentine's day wreath. Happy crafting!

Comfortable

I love New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It's probably my second favorite holiday (Thanksgiving is the first!). For a details person like me, the beginning of any month or week is a chance to start fresh, get organized for the things ahead, etc. But something about January 1 is special. A whole year to plan! I also like cleaning out all my files, older items from my closet and house, and generally cleaning up the details in my life. The annual purge is very cathartic.

The lovely Christina Kahler got me a new quote calendar for Christmas, hooray! So I'll be posting musings every month. That's at least 12 blog posts this year, woo hoo! I've been wanting to post about our homemade Christmas, but we haven't celebrated Christmas with Daniel's family yet so I will post about that later (I don't want to ruin any Christmas surprises!).

I don't like to make New Year's resolutions, but I do think I will be repeating this little mantra this year: "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable." It sounds a little strange, I guess, but probably because it came from one of my Jillian Michaels workout videos. She was talking about physical comfort, but I think it can apply to other areas of life. Life isn't about being comfortable. The world doesn't owe you anything. Life will be hard sometimes. The more comfortable you are with being uncomfortable, the more likely you are to be happy even in hard situations. Another saying I've heard that I will try to remember this year is "God is more concerned with your character than with your comfort." I know God doesn't want anything bad to happen to me, but I do think a little hardship in my comfortable life is small potatoes compared to what Jesus did for us. So I'm going to roll up my sleeves and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Happy New Year! All the best to you and yours in 2012.

 

Musings: January 2012

A new Quotable calendar from Christina Kahler means a new quote each month!

 

May every sunrise hold more promise,

and every sunset hold more peace.

Calendar Wisdom: December 2011

HappyDecember! This year seems to have flown by, and is perhaps the fastest year I can remember. I'm so thankful for all of my blessings, and can't wait to finish the year strong and start fresh in 2012. The quote below really sums it up for my life. As hard as it has been, I can't forget how lucky I am to have a roof over my head, food on my table, a husband and family that love me, and a job that I love. Take a minute to look back on your 2011 and I think you might find some things to be thankful for as well.

Thought for the day (courtesy of my quote calendar from Christina Kahler):

 

"These are great days."

                    -- Winston Churchill

Ruffle Cake

Even though this was over a week ago, I didn't have a chance to post my pictures! I made a cake for my birthday because I wanted to try a Martha Stewart frosting technique.

It's pretty simple and not hard if you have the right tools (and enough frosting!!). The frosting on my cake was so heavy, it started falling down the sides of the cake later in the day. It was still yummy!!

Weekend project: Fall Wreath

I'm loving homemade yarn wreaths! Super easy to make, I did this one in about 5 hours total.

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I took them with my phone...the memory card for my camera was nowhere to be found.

I plan on making at least one more for winter!

Since we're on a pretty tight budget, Dan and I are opting for more homemade gifts this year for Christmas. I'm hoping the personal touch will make up for any lack in quantity :)

 

New List!

I couldn't believe how many requests I had yesterday (my birthday) for a new list of things to do this year! I have a few stragglers from last year that weren't quite completed, so you may recognize a few things here and there :)

26 things to accomplish in my 26th year

1. Talk less, listen more
2. Opt for homemade gifts instead of buying them
3. Splurge on a great pair of jeans
4. Watch the last Star Wars movie
5. Read 26 books this year
6. Host a party at our house
7. Take a cooking class
8. Try Falafel
9. Attempt (again) to make puff pastry
10. Keep singing
11. Make my own vanilla "extract"
12. See at least one opera (live or from the Met HD series)
13. Set a financial strategy for the future
14. Keep practicing Spanish! - Trying to become fluent
15. Make my own fresh ricotta cheese
16. See a great theater production or concert
17. Read a large classic novel
18. Have an herb garden
19. Learn to use a sewing machine
20. Make sushi
21. Make a holiday wreath for our door
22. Kiss under mistletoe
23. Start saving for Las Vegas...Bachelorette Party for some special ladies, perhaps?
24. Host a brunch
25. Organize the storageroom
26. Live in the moment