Still here! We've been busy crunching numbers with financial planners in preparation for my upcoming retirement. Its fast approaching....AACK! We're also waiting for plans to be drawn up to enclose our back porch, once we have them they'll need to be approved by our HOA and we've ordered me a new vehicle. Other than that most everything else has fallen by the wayside. The crocheting, the CY365, pretty much the entire bucket list. I've found that planning for Retirement can be both exciting and stressful. Right this moment the stressful is winning!
In other news, while preparing to try a Spring capsule wardrobe I came across Stitch Fix, they get good reviews so I've decided to try them out. I filled out a short style survey(Plain Jane here), so it'll be interesting to see the items they send in my first Fix. I went with a Fix every other month and if I find it doesn't work for me there is no contract so I can cancel at any time. I'm thinking this may keep me out of the stores and in turn stop the impulse buying. Um...hummm...I just bought a Blue Leather Jacket at Von Maur last Friday, its so pretty, it fit me perfect and the Mr. loves it. It was a pretty good sale so I didn't break the bank and other than socks and skinny tees I haven't shopped for clothing since early December 2014.
Back to the Spring capsule wardrobe, earlier this month when I purged my closet and dresser it was mostly tops that got tossed out so other than a couple of tops it doesn't look like I'll be needing much. Yay! I still need to decide which 37 items will go into my Spring wardrobe and how I want to store the rest of my clothing. I think this will be the hard part. Off I go to make a few decisions.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Simplifying...
A year ago I started packing up everything we owned. Twenty eight years worth of stuff really adds up, especially when you pack it all up in boxes and totes. Everyone told me I should purge things while packing but I just couldn't do it. I wasn't sure what I'd need for the new house so everything got packed up, put into storage and eventually made its way to the basement and garage of the new house. Once I started unpacking I started purging all those unneeded things that just didn't seem to fit anymore. I have purged about 8 totes of stuff to date. We still have a few boxes in the garage and the Mr. has all his collectibles in the basement to unpack. I doubt he will purge anything but those few boxes in the garage must be filled with stuff I don't need. They've been there for 8 months and I haven't missed anything. I'll get to them once the weather warms up.
Last month on FB I came across a couple of websites about simplifying that caught my eye. You can find them here and here. And while I've already started simplifying I plan to take it a step or two further using information from both websites.
I also follow a blog about a capsule wardrobe. I love her approach and feel like it is something that might work for me. This website also provides information about minimalist fashion. Check them out, very interesting concept. A capsule wardrobe consist of choosing a number of items to wear for each season, mixing them up to make many different outfits so there is less fuss when getting dressed each day. It also suggest setting a shopping budget for each season which in turn should help with impulse buying. Sounds easy enough right? My closet and dresser are both full of clothes I do not wear, many still have tags on them and many of them are very old. I purchased a sweater while shopping with my sister, six months later she found it in her closet and brought it to me. Heck, I didn't even miss it. Problem...yes!
My plan is to start with a Spring Capsule Wardrobe. Sometime around the end of this month I'll be emptying my closet and dresser to see what I can come up with for a simple yet fun Spring Wardrobe and I'll also be setting a small budget for shopping. I'm excited to see if I can make this work for me. I'm finding that I like simple. Oh and that impulse buying thing...Guilty!
Last month on FB I came across a couple of websites about simplifying that caught my eye. You can find them here and here. And while I've already started simplifying I plan to take it a step or two further using information from both websites.
I also follow a blog about a capsule wardrobe. I love her approach and feel like it is something that might work for me. This website also provides information about minimalist fashion. Check them out, very interesting concept. A capsule wardrobe consist of choosing a number of items to wear for each season, mixing them up to make many different outfits so there is less fuss when getting dressed each day. It also suggest setting a shopping budget for each season which in turn should help with impulse buying. Sounds easy enough right? My closet and dresser are both full of clothes I do not wear, many still have tags on them and many of them are very old. I purchased a sweater while shopping with my sister, six months later she found it in her closet and brought it to me. Heck, I didn't even miss it. Problem...yes!
My plan is to start with a Spring Capsule Wardrobe. Sometime around the end of this month I'll be emptying my closet and dresser to see what I can come up with for a simple yet fun Spring Wardrobe and I'll also be setting a small budget for shopping. I'm excited to see if I can make this work for me. I'm finding that I like simple. Oh and that impulse buying thing...Guilty!
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Bath Day! Ugh...
Bye, Bye January! I for one am happy to see you go! We've had a stressful month here at the Berlin house but things are looking up. The vet upped Deuces meds, added a couple more and he seems to be doing better.
Today I mustered up the energy to give him a bath. Believe me when I say this isn't easy. Two minutes into it I called in reinforcements (the Mr.) for help. I did the washing, the Mr. did the rinsing...all at the same time to make it quick! Deuce used to love his weekly bath but his anxiety level goes off the chart nowadays during his bath so we've switched to bi weekly baths for now. He also gets groomed once a month. Last month at his grooming appointment they had to take several breaks during grooming to let him gain his composure. Luckily they have lots of patience and haven't kicked him to the curb...YET! Next up brushing...wish me luck!
Today I mustered up the energy to give him a bath. Believe me when I say this isn't easy. Two minutes into it I called in reinforcements (the Mr.) for help. I did the washing, the Mr. did the rinsing...all at the same time to make it quick! Deuce used to love his weekly bath but his anxiety level goes off the chart nowadays during his bath so we've switched to bi weekly baths for now. He also gets groomed once a month. Last month at his grooming appointment they had to take several breaks during grooming to let him gain his composure. Luckily they have lots of patience and haven't kicked him to the curb...YET! Next up brushing...wish me luck!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Winter Bucket List Update...
I'm getting close to the half way mark for my Winter Bucket List and so far I've managed to crochet a rag rug (pictures below), I've continued using My Fitness Pal and totally bombed out on CY365 and #fmsphotoaday for January. Oh and I'm four squares behind on my CAL.
But Deuce is doing better, the days are getting longer (more light) and February is right around the corner so hopefully I'll be able to mark a few more items off my list and get back to taking photos for CY365. A few years ago when the Mr. bought me my Canon t1i, I promised myself that I would learn to take better photos with it. At first I practiced a lot and even felt like I was taking better photos, then I laid it down, used my iPhone a lot (like all the time), picked up my Canon t1i again and seemed to have forgotten everything I had learned about it. Has this ever happened to you? So my new plan starting February 1, 2015 is to use my Canon t1i for CY365 and ditch #fmshotoaday for now. Who know maybe it'll show up on my Spring Bucket List.
But Deuce is doing better, the days are getting longer (more light) and February is right around the corner so hopefully I'll be able to mark a few more items off my list and get back to taking photos for CY365. A few years ago when the Mr. bought me my Canon t1i, I promised myself that I would learn to take better photos with it. At first I practiced a lot and even felt like I was taking better photos, then I laid it down, used my iPhone a lot (like all the time), picked up my Canon t1i again and seemed to have forgotten everything I had learned about it. Has this ever happened to you? So my new plan starting February 1, 2015 is to use my Canon t1i for CY365 and ditch #fmshotoaday for now. Who know maybe it'll show up on my Spring Bucket List.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
Tough Times...
As you know from my last post the first of the week was a little tough here and even though daddy is home now things haven't gotten better.
Today I took Deuce to the vet and didn't get the best of news. He has lost his sight, his hearing is going, his back is weak, he has problems with his back legs and his heart murmur is worse. The vet was surprised at the amount of energy Deuce has being he is in congestive heart failure. He talked a lot about giving him the best quality of life that we can at this time. They are doing blood work to see if they can up his meds for the heart murmur. I'll know more tomorrow. I'm not liking where this is headed and I feel that the Mr. and I will have a very BIG decision to make sooner than later. But for now I'm going to be busy holding him, hugging him and letting him know how much I love him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Today I took Deuce to the vet and didn't get the best of news. He has lost his sight, his hearing is going, his back is weak, he has problems with his back legs and his heart murmur is worse. The vet was surprised at the amount of energy Deuce has being he is in congestive heart failure. He talked a lot about giving him the best quality of life that we can at this time. They are doing blood work to see if they can up his meds for the heart murmur. I'll know more tomorrow. I'm not liking where this is headed and I feel that the Mr. and I will have a very BIG decision to make sooner than later. But for now I'm going to be busy holding him, hugging him and letting him know how much I love him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
While The Mr. Is Away...
The Mr. jetted off to Vegas for a business trip earlier in the week. He left on Sunday so I had a few family member over to help me get a few things done. My son sealed the grout in the bathrooms for me and all of us pitched in and did a switcheroo of my craft room and the sleepover room. Both rooms are the same size but making the switch gave me more wall space to work with so I'm quite happy with the end result. Funny, once the switch was made they all said "we thought you'd put it like this from the get go." I only wish they would have mentioned it seven months ago.
I've been trying to find the time to get in and organize the remaining items stacked on the floor but my poor little Deuce is having separation anxiety because daddy is away. Three hours of sleep just ain't cutting it. I've been a couch contortionist since Sunday night because each and every time Deuce hears a noise he thinks daddy is home so he paces through the house and barks for what seems like hours. Looks like organizing will have to wait until at least Thursday, maybe Friday.
If anyone has a good way to store printed pictures, please share. I have them in photo boxes at this time but they take up so much space. I'm thinking that I need to go through and weed out the photos that have no meaning, you know from back in the film days. I'm sure I kept everything. I do have photo albums that I purchased for the Library of Memories class but I just couldn't take all my photos out of order so maybe that's an option. I also need to stop with the hobby hopping and focus on just a few hobbies instead of trying and buying them all. Yes, I do that! Why, I don't know!
I have quite a few UFO's and I'm wondering if I should complete them or just move on. I have tons of scrapbook supplies and have decided that the only way I'll be scrapping in the future is hybrid/digital (CZ style) so do I keep all this stuff or let it go. I have tons of yarn so I plan not to buy any yarn until I use up most of what I have. I have a cart full of paint that I used for tole painting years ago, do I keep it or let it go? I also have beads and more beads, I thought I'd like to try jewelry making but have yet to make any so again do I keep them or let them go. Do you all do this hobby hopping thing or do you just focus on a few hobbies and let it go at that? I'd better go and stop blabbering, the tireds are creeping up on me, this post may not even make since to anyone but I hitting publish anyway.
I've been trying to find the time to get in and organize the remaining items stacked on the floor but my poor little Deuce is having separation anxiety because daddy is away. Three hours of sleep just ain't cutting it. I've been a couch contortionist since Sunday night because each and every time Deuce hears a noise he thinks daddy is home so he paces through the house and barks for what seems like hours. Looks like organizing will have to wait until at least Thursday, maybe Friday.
If anyone has a good way to store printed pictures, please share. I have them in photo boxes at this time but they take up so much space. I'm thinking that I need to go through and weed out the photos that have no meaning, you know from back in the film days. I'm sure I kept everything. I do have photo albums that I purchased for the Library of Memories class but I just couldn't take all my photos out of order so maybe that's an option. I also need to stop with the hobby hopping and focus on just a few hobbies instead of trying and buying them all. Yes, I do that! Why, I don't know!
I have quite a few UFO's and I'm wondering if I should complete them or just move on. I have tons of scrapbook supplies and have decided that the only way I'll be scrapping in the future is hybrid/digital (CZ style) so do I keep all this stuff or let it go. I have tons of yarn so I plan not to buy any yarn until I use up most of what I have. I have a cart full of paint that I used for tole painting years ago, do I keep it or let it go? I also have beads and more beads, I thought I'd like to try jewelry making but have yet to make any so again do I keep them or let them go. Do you all do this hobby hopping thing or do you just focus on a few hobbies and let it go at that? I'd better go and stop blabbering, the tireds are creeping up on me, this post may not even make since to anyone but I hitting publish anyway.
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