Resolutions.

I know this resolution thing is all little behind in the times. 

But, as I said yesterday, I'm catching up...slowly.

I'm one of those people who likes making New Year Resolutions.

I'm pretty good at sticking to them too. 

Mostly, because I am realistic about it and I don't do it every year. Only when there is something I really, passionately, want to work on or change.

Six years ago I quit smoking.

It's hard for me to even imagine that I ever smoked.

This year was coffee. 

Or at least the habitual morning use of it.

I mentioned a bit about my coffee drinking here. It has the back story of why I started drinking it habitually in the first place.
You can probably guess.


Exhibit A

I only indulged in (and really enjoyed) one cup in the morning but after a while I noticed I just wasn't myself. 

I was a bit...nasty and impatient.
Thumbs down!

Two things I never want to be. Especially, while trying to be the best mama I can be.

Being sick made this transition very easy.

I didn't want coffee and I felt like crap anyway, so if I had any kind of withdrawal from it I was unaware.

So it's back to my Silver Needle White Jasmine tea.

I forgot how wonderfully fragrant it is. 

What a beautiful way to start the day!

To Do List: Part 2

This is my list so far

1. purchase mushroom growing supplies and make preparations for logs
2. pot rack for kitchen
3. organize phone and message center in kitchen
4. clean and organize under kitchen sink
5. purchase supplies for maple tapping for next spring
6. new couch for living room and general living room design
7. paint dining room
8. figure out a better situation for shoes/recycling by the front door
9. finish reorganizing and clean dressing room
10. clean windows
11. start and finish handmade gifts for Jenny, Helen, Becky, Melissa, Allison, Carol, Sarah and Pat.
12. new lighting for Iris's room
13. organize and backup iphoto
14. clean out pantry and wipe down shelves and bottles (ANTS!!!)
15. find and purchase vintage ceramic egg holder
16. sort through wardrobe and donate, trash or repurpose
17. learn one new knitting pattern
18. learn one new crochet pattern
19. paint giant urn and candle stick holders
20. finish mending and repurpose projects
21. plant salad greens, tomatoes and kitchen herbs
22. keep blog up to date
23. start etsy shop
24. buy more vintage and handmake more of our clothing
25. run in at least two 5k's 

My makeshift dining room office/studio

I even have one thing checked off already (see next post). There are not 50 items but again those were just boundaries to work within. Having composed this list I already feel lighter and more focused. 

2011 To do list...

Since the feeling of being overwhelmed seems to be a running theme in my life these days I decided to make a to do list... for the year. Some of you are probably thinking that this will further complicate my daily life instead of making it flow a bit easier but I assure you if your mind works like mine... it won't. When I get an idea it tends to self pollinate and the next thing I know I have 20 new projects and I don't know where to start or where to stop and smoke starts coming out of my ears and finally I become disenchanted with all ideas and nothing gets done. What it will do (theoretically) is give me a set of goals to work towards (yay!) and parameters to work within (discipline) and still have that feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day (or year as the case may be).

dining room/studio

Here are the rules/guidelines that I have come up with so far:
The list will include everything from purchases, diy projects, gardening to cleaning and reorganizing. Oh and it will have a 50 item cap on it. Sounds high but it is for the year after all and some of the list items will only require a small energy expenditure. Also, some of the things on the list may depend on economical circumstances. If finances do not allow for an item to be checked off then so be it.

Here's what I have so far...
1. purchase mushroom growing supplies and make preparations for logs
2. pot rack for kitchen
3. organize phone and message center in kitchen
4. clean and organize under kitchen sink
5. purchase supplies for maple tapping for next spring
6. new couch for living room and general living room design
7. paint dining room
8. figure out a better situation for shoes/recycling by the front door
9. finish reorganizing and clean dressing room
10. clean windows

farm market fresh

Ok so that's 10. You get the idea and I'm sure some of it doesn't make sense. Fear not all will be revealed. I'll post the full list when I finish it and as each project gets checked off the list it will become a post here on this blog. Yay!