Painting-not so much fun.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to paint the hallway and stairway. It's one of few rooms we didn't touch when we bought the house. It was a nice cream, I suppose. I got the crazy idea a few months ago that I should finally hang all those pictures I got done of my daughter when she was a baby so I decided to tie both projects together. Since I spent so much on the photos, I decided I wanted the least noticeable frames possible and I wasn't going to mat them. This is a huge departure for me. The few that are up were done beautifully in a frame shop. I figure I'll eventually have to add in a few more elaborate frames to balance out the mix. So, I bought all the cheap front loading black plastic frames Walmart had to offer. I may need to order more. I also had a friend make me a lovely vinyl quote to hang about the one set. I still have a week or 2 for the paint to cure so I've got plenty of time. Right? Maybe.

In the mean time, I got impatient and hung the wall words I found at Walmart while shopping for those frames. They look OK but my bumpy old yucky plaster walls may not support vinyl letters for long. I hope the hallway is smoother but won't hold my breath. They were easy to reposition but I was bummed that they were not all one piece. I didn't do a chalk line or use a level. The result is crooked and funky. I took a picture but later fixed 2 of the letters.

I also decided to get rid of my old window treatment. It was dark, heavy and boring. When I worked downtown, I would frequent (and I mean frequent) a gorgeous little vintage store. One day, she displayed a stack of petticoats from the 20s. They were so pretty and delicate. It was cheaper to buy all 12 then to buy just the ones I wanted so I went for it. My intention was to frame them and give them as gifts but that never happened. Then, a few years later, I had a little girl. I intended (once gain) to use them in her nursery but that never got done. So, for now, a few of them hang in my little window seat window. It's an odd sized window anyway. It needs a bit more but I'm not sure how to spruce them up. They really are just darling. I do hope I frame a few one day.

Pictures to come!

Happy Memorial Day

No thought provoking patriotic comments today. Just a simple thanks to all who have served. God bless America.

Scrapbooking

I got lured into the scrapbook store today because I was supposed to get a tote the last time I was there but she forgot to give it to me. I just happened to have a 25% off coupon; so, why not go? I got some lovely things and only spent twice as much as planned (Without the discount, it would have been almost 3 times but who's counting?) Now, I have to find the time and space to actually use the gorgeous things I buy. I did make a lovely envelope scrapbook for a Mother's Day exchange. I'm quite proud of it. It was the first I tried and it turned out great.



I plan on making a few for a mommy meet-up I'm going to in August. The probably won't be quite as elaborate but I think they'll be well received. I ordered some cool envelopes and can use the awesome paper I keep buying.The ebay seller didn't send me one of the colors I ordered though and they haven't replied to my inquiry. I really wanted that blue and, yes, that might be because it's called twilight blue.They sent me 2 hot pinks instead. Ugh.I wasn't planning on hot pink. I'd say their color descriptions are just a bit off.

It's all about me.

At the Mothers & More meeting last night, a counselor talked to us about prioritizing ourselves first. She said that the happier we are with ourselves the better we'll be at everything else. It's true but, damn, it's hard. Quite coincidentally, one of the mommies in my online group also posted that she's doing a challenge called Making Me Important (MMI). You commit to 5 days of work in 8 areas.

Here's how it works:

1. FITNESS: Pick an activity or goal.
2. NUTRITION: What change will you make?
3. WATER: How many ounces will you drink each day?
4. REFLECTION: (Me time!) Blogging, meditation, journaling, time out, etc
5. MENTAL FOCUS: What's holding you back? What 1 thing can you change?
6. SLEEP: How much do you need? Make sure you get it.
7. PROJECT: Pick an achievable nonfood/fitness goal and work on it 5 of the 7 days.
8. ACCOUNTABILITY: At the end of the day, mark the areas you completed. Score yourself for each day you give 100% in all areas with a goal of 5/5 at the end of your week.

At the end of the week, you answer the following questions:

1. Where did I succeed this week?
2. Where did I have the most challenges?
3. Where did I have the most flubs?
4. What am I going to do differently?

Sounds easy enough, right? Ha! We'll see. I wanted to try blogging and I need to lose all the weight I've gained back so here I go! This is not a weight loss blog though. I actually had planned that my first post be about painting my hallway. I even took pictures! Guess I'll do that some other time.

MY GOALS 5/27 TO 6/3

• FITNESS: walk 20 minutes
• NUTRITION: eat 2 fruits
• WATER: 64 oz
• REFLECTION: 5 minutes of quiet each night before bed
• FOCUS: Stop wishing, start acting.
• SLEEP: 6 hours
• PROJECT: clear out junk beside the bed
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Update score daily.

• FITNESS: yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes
  
• NUTRITION: yes, yes, no, yes, no, yes,
  
• WATER: yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes,
  
• REFLECTION: yes, yes, yes, yes , no, yes
  
• FOCUS: yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes,
  
• SLEEP: yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,
  
• PROJECT: yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes,
  
• ACCOUNTABILITY: 1/5, 2/5, 2/5, 3/5, 3/5, 4/5