Did you miss me?
SO much has happened since my last post (which was over two weeks ago...eeep!) We're moving (again!); just a few streets over but it's still a move! I dislike having to pack up and go again but I think we've finally find a rental that meets all our needs and that we can stay put in until we are due to transfer. The second bit of news is that....I'm working again! I decided at the end of the summer that I definitely wanted to re-enter the work force. However, just because I decided I wanted to work did not mean that work wanted me! This was quite a change for me; back home I never had any trouble finding work. In fact, work often found me! However, I have finally found a great job (in the interest of keeping some of my life private, I'm not going to get into details, but suffice to say it is fabulous and I wake up happy every day!).
Soooo, what does this mean for Nesty?
Well, you may have noticed I've been cutting back on posting lately. One of the reasons I started Nesty was to pursue and develop my writing, something I had planned to do after university and never did. I set a writing schedule for myself of three posts a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I challenged myself to stick to that goal, and I did until December. I am proud of that. However, when I decided to really crank up my job search in January, I decided to relax the posting a bit. The last few weeks, with the news of our move and my starting work (not to mention a horrible, horrible bout of the flu) I have not been posting at all. And I realized that now, when I don't write, I really miss it. Yet, I realize that I won't have as much time for writing, not to mention the creative projects that make up my subject matter.
What to do?
To figure out my answer, I turned to you. For the last few weeks, I've been pouring over my favourite blogs. I know a lot of you work AND blog. What I've observed is that you seem to write when inspired, not necessarily on a schedule. A lot of you participate in memes and link ups to keep a posting schedule going between your own writing. A lot of you keep it "short and sweet."
I've been taking notes, readers. You're a smart, inspiring, talented lot, and you've taught me a lot about what my next steps will be.
Nesty will continue. I'll be popping in unexpectedly, not on schedule, not unlike a good friend stopping by for coffee. I'm going to try my best to keep the philosophy of Nesty in my posting matter (pursuing a happy home and a honeyed life through simplified living). I'd like to re-examine that philosophy from the perspective of a working woman who loves the domestic arts; I'm sure there's some good posts there!
So, please bear with me as I transition! I think it's going to be great!
Showing posts with label It's good to be me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label It's good to be me. Show all posts
Time For a Talk...
It's not you, it's me.
I should have done something about this a long time ago, but I thought we could work.
Please don't take it personally, we've had some really great times together, but I'm just not feeling it any more.
I think I need a change.
Dear Winter Jacket....
I think we need to see other people.
Ha! Had you going there for a minute, didn't I? Nothing to fear, my friends, just feeling a little stale on the fashion front. By now we are deeply entrenched in Winter, and with all due respect to the groundhogs of North America, I don't really think we will have an early Spring. But one thing is for certain...
I will have to spend a lot more time with my winter jacket.
If you live in an area that either doesn't get Winter or doesn't get a cold Winter, you may wonder what the big deal is. That is probably because you can indulge in the cute, lightweight, "winter" jackets that can be picked up for a song at mass retailers. Those of us who spend October to May with the risk of snow, cold, and (ugh) freezing rain need to invest a little more in something substantial. We will spend a lot of time in this garment. So much so that the decision making process when purchasing it can rival that of buying a car. When the decision is finally made, if we're lucky, we'll have found something that we absolutely love.
For a time...
The first day we get to wear our new winter jacket is soundtracked with "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" (the Bing version). Each step we take will have imaginary fluffy white bunnies and darling fawns prancing along beside us, and those steps will be prancing because our feet will be warm and dry in cozy winter boots. The air will smell of candy-canes and hot cocoa. Life is goooooood!
This little illusion will last, if we're lucky, until just after Christmas. After that, a Northern gal's view of the world in that jacket...well, it changes....
The soundtrack is gone, replaced instead by the sound of snowplows and squealing brakes. Forget walking, if you're lucky you'll be able to slip and slide to the car while clinging to the side of your house on account of the inch of ice that's coating everything. As far as prancing goes? Well, the damn coat and boots weigh a ton, and seem to be getting heavier, so prancing's out. All self respecting animals are snug in their dens. And the air...you don't want to know what the air smells like!
And the jacket....who picked this thing out, anyway?
Ah, the pity party! There's really no pleasing us. A trip to town reveals that the winter jackets have all been packed away and it's all bathing suits, shorts, and flip flops (for those lucky enough to be heading south for a sun vacay). Online, only the weird colours are left (even if they had our size). Then we realize that we really don't want to buy a new winter coat anyway because we're sick of winter coats in general. We want to buy the cute little sundress and sandals that we might be able to wear for, like, two weeks in August.
Now me, I'm lucky (-ish). I have other outerwear. It's just too cold and / or damp and my winter jacket wins out every time because, like it or not, it's warm. Getting ready to go out, I'll look longingly at my pretty red wool yet unlined military styled coat, my high heeled boots, my cute puffy vest. And then I'll stick my nose outside, shiver, and reach for my winter jacket.
This is a self-indulgent little rant. I'm very lucky to be able to afford nice, warm, and yes, actually stylish winter outerwear. Lots of people can't. So that's why, when I'm finished with my jacket this year, I'll be giving it to the local thrift store so someone can have a nice, warm, actually stylish winter jacket for a really cheap price. I hope they enjoy the shiny satin fabric. I hope they like the fact that it's warm and actually quite light weight. I hope the snuggly faux fur on the generous detachable hood (I hate a small hood) makes them feel cozy and a bit glamorous. And I hope they have as much fun and as many adventures in it as I have.
Do you have a garment that you have a love / hate relationship with? If so, I'd love to hear about it!
Have a great week!
I should have done something about this a long time ago, but I thought we could work.
Please don't take it personally, we've had some really great times together, but I'm just not feeling it any more.
I think I need a change.
Dear Winter Jacket....
I think we need to see other people.
Ha! Had you going there for a minute, didn't I? Nothing to fear, my friends, just feeling a little stale on the fashion front. By now we are deeply entrenched in Winter, and with all due respect to the groundhogs of North America, I don't really think we will have an early Spring. But one thing is for certain...
I will have to spend a lot more time with my winter jacket.
If you live in an area that either doesn't get Winter or doesn't get a cold Winter, you may wonder what the big deal is. That is probably because you can indulge in the cute, lightweight, "winter" jackets that can be picked up for a song at mass retailers. Those of us who spend October to May with the risk of snow, cold, and (ugh) freezing rain need to invest a little more in something substantial. We will spend a lot of time in this garment. So much so that the decision making process when purchasing it can rival that of buying a car. When the decision is finally made, if we're lucky, we'll have found something that we absolutely love.
For a time...
The first day we get to wear our new winter jacket is soundtracked with "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" (the Bing version). Each step we take will have imaginary fluffy white bunnies and darling fawns prancing along beside us, and those steps will be prancing because our feet will be warm and dry in cozy winter boots. The air will smell of candy-canes and hot cocoa. Life is goooooood!
This little illusion will last, if we're lucky, until just after Christmas. After that, a Northern gal's view of the world in that jacket...well, it changes....
The soundtrack is gone, replaced instead by the sound of snowplows and squealing brakes. Forget walking, if you're lucky you'll be able to slip and slide to the car while clinging to the side of your house on account of the inch of ice that's coating everything. As far as prancing goes? Well, the damn coat and boots weigh a ton, and seem to be getting heavier, so prancing's out. All self respecting animals are snug in their dens. And the air...you don't want to know what the air smells like!
And the jacket....who picked this thing out, anyway?
Ah, the pity party! There's really no pleasing us. A trip to town reveals that the winter jackets have all been packed away and it's all bathing suits, shorts, and flip flops (for those lucky enough to be heading south for a sun vacay). Online, only the weird colours are left (even if they had our size). Then we realize that we really don't want to buy a new winter coat anyway because we're sick of winter coats in general. We want to buy the cute little sundress and sandals that we might be able to wear for, like, two weeks in August.
Now me, I'm lucky (-ish). I have other outerwear. It's just too cold and / or damp and my winter jacket wins out every time because, like it or not, it's warm. Getting ready to go out, I'll look longingly at my pretty red wool yet unlined military styled coat, my high heeled boots, my cute puffy vest. And then I'll stick my nose outside, shiver, and reach for my winter jacket.
This is a self-indulgent little rant. I'm very lucky to be able to afford nice, warm, and yes, actually stylish winter outerwear. Lots of people can't. So that's why, when I'm finished with my jacket this year, I'll be giving it to the local thrift store so someone can have a nice, warm, actually stylish winter jacket for a really cheap price. I hope they enjoy the shiny satin fabric. I hope they like the fact that it's warm and actually quite light weight. I hope the snuggly faux fur on the generous detachable hood (I hate a small hood) makes them feel cozy and a bit glamorous. And I hope they have as much fun and as many adventures in it as I have.
Do you have a garment that you have a love / hate relationship with? If so, I'd love to hear about it!
Have a great week!
I'm Back, This Time With a (12 Month) Plan
Hi Everyone, and Welcome Back!
It feels really great to be posting again; after my holiday break I am refreshed and full of ideas for future posts. This week, you can look forward to learning how to make the world's most ridiculously easy craft (if you still have a champagne cork lying around from NYE, put it aside) as well as a "new" Retro Recipe. Today, however, you are going to hear all about my 12 Month Plan for Holiday 2011.
Why, you ask, do I need a 12 month plan for Holiday 2011? Good question, glad you asked! I am a self-confessed Christmas nut, I love all things holiday and, as such, tend to bite off more than I can chew a little too late. Try as I might to adopt the "what gets done, gets done" mentality, the truth is that I get bitterly disappointed when I don't achieve all my holiday goals. This is what led me to be designing gnomes on December 22 for my Cookies & Gnomes kitchen tree. Incidentally, the cookies never made it onto the tree. Actually, they didn't even get made, and this bugged me all Christmas long.
You get the picture. I am the queen of REALLY BIG IDEAS, and I am for the most part good at executing them. It just seems at Christmas that these REALLY BIG IDEAS come fast and furious and with a huge sense of urgency, as if Santa's departure truly depended upon my successful completion of a COOKIES AND GNOME TREE!!! Or perhaps HANDMADE MITTENS FOR ALL!! Why not NEW STOCKINGS FOR HUMANS AND CANINES WITH MATCHING TREE SKIRT? And let's not forget HAND DIPPED TRUFFLES, the very important HOMEMADE CRACKERS, and last but not least HONEST TO GOODNESS REAL PLUM PUDDING!!!!! Which doesn't contain a single plum; who knew?
So, here's the plan. I'm making a list, and I'm checking it no, not twice, 12 times this year. On (or around) the 25 of each month, I'll be updating you on my progress. Oh, what's on the list you say? The Twelve Goals of Christmas! Projects, items to buy, plans to make, anything that I can potentially do throughout the year to prepare in advance for Christmas. I'm also going to be preparing a Christmas Countdown To-Do List. Oh yes I am.
But wait, there's more! I'm not in this alone. My cousin Ainsley from Pattycake Manners is going to be my partner in crime! Not just for the Twelve Goals of Christmas, either! She's come up with a great idea where we are going to pick 12 handmade projects that we want to achieve by Christmas 2011. We'll be sharing these with you and updating you in a series of shared posts.
I can't wait! My first holiday update will be on January 26, so be sure and check back! Oh, and just in case you thought Christmas 2010 was a mess in the Nest, it really wasn't. It was lovely. On the 26th, I'll be sharing some photos and memories of what I did achieve this holiday season. Gnomes and all!
A Very Nesty Christmas - Me, Panic?
Hello, Everyone! It's 1:41 AM here in Kitimat, British Columbia, and I'm up! Why, you may ask? Well, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and I've reached the point where there seems to be more items going on my "To-Do" list than coming off.
It'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemo-
Hm, sorry, what's that? Sorry, I was
The celebratory Delusions of Grandeur, well, any aspiring Martha will understand. I have yet to perfect the timing of my visions. For example, I decided to decorate my kitchen in a "Cookies & Gnomes" theme. When it was pointed out to me that perhaps summertime would have been a good time to purchase gnomes (some foolishness about garden centers and end of season sales...) I explained that I didn't think of the theme until November. Does nobody appreciate my genius???
And Mailing Deadlines...sigh. For many, many years I was lucky enough to have all my gift recipients within driving distance, so we never had to mail a thing. Last year was the first year we had to mail gifts, and - it did not end well. After paying an exorbitant amount to an organization that will remain unnamed, and receiving their guarantee that, in exchange for said exorbitant amount my parcels would arrive well in advance of the holidays, they in fact did not. They arrived well after, and having the exorbitant amount refunded to me in the New Year did not quite make up for the disappointment of not getting our gifts home on time.
But, I'm getting better. My current state of panic is being calmed by contingency plans. One of my Big Ideas of Delusional Grandeur this year was to make a lot of homemade gifts, and I did great. However, the last few are dragging their feet coming across the finish line, which brings up my old friend MAILING DEADLINES!! And that, my friends, is why courier services were invented. For a fee (exorbitant perhaps, but I'll pay for reliability) I can actually BUY TIME!!! It's like a miracle!!!
The great news is that once the gifts go off with the miraculous courier service this week, I'm back on track and only have to do "my" projects. Baking, crafting, and more decorating are all on deck, as well as planning for our Christmas Party and Christmas dinner. However, there is nothing on that list that will send me into a panic if it doesn't get achieved to the extent of my glorious visions. Baking, crafting, decorating? What gets done, gets done. The party will go ahead whether I manage to carve an ice sculpture of my dogs (tee hee!) and roast a swan, or if I just remove the dog hair from the furniture and open a few bags of chips (I was never a big fan of swan, anyway...) And Christmas Dinner is safe in the freezer, so even if the clouds open up and it snows until New Year's, we'll have plenty of good stuff to share on Christmas Day!
Me, panic? No way!!!
Heartfelt Holidays!
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby
There seems to be a feeling afoot, a movement if you will, to re-examine Christmas and how we celebrate it. It could be the result of several years dealing with a stinky economy, an attempt at meaning and stability in an uncertain world, or perhaps an effort to return to a time where family and true friendship were enough. I'm not sure. My not-so-scientific conclusion, however, is that we aren't celebrating less, we're celebrating more. With all our hearts, in some cases.
I worked retail for several holiday seasons, and let me tell you, I've seen the bottom of the holidays and it ain't pretty. I'd never really seen pure rage until I watched a woman seethe in a lineup during a no tax sale. Add to that the stress that we all put on ourselves during the holiday season and it left me wondering...why? What are we all getting out of this? Because I have a distinct feeling that, if she didn't spontaneously combust in the food court, what Rage Lady's family probably got out of it was their gifts hurled at them during the world's angriest Christmas morning.
During one of our conversations, my husband and I, who both adore Christmas, revealed that we were actually starting to feel sad around the holidays. And so, to paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi's famous quote, we decided to "to be the change we want to see in the world."
In this spirit, we do something a little different every year to fill our hearts with Christmas Cheer (sorry, I couldn't resist!). One year, we only gave gifts that supported a charity, like the World Vision Gift Catalogue or Ten Thousand Villages. Another year we skipped both our family's Christmas dinners and had our own instead and invited a friend who was on their own that holiday season. Yet another year we hosted the family dinner.
What was really neat about all of this was that we realized we weren't the only ones feeling this way. Lots of friends and family were busy injecting meaning into their holiday observances, too! A popular movement back home is the "Adopt a Family" program. I've participated in this at work and it's so much fun. You get a "wish list" with all the kid's wishes. The parents don't usually ask for anything but I don't know anyone who doesn't include at least one special gift for the parents. In addition to the presents, you also purchase everything they'll need for Christmas dinner and stockings. There's also an "Adopt a Senior" program now, and I know some folks (including some seniors!) who are supporting that program this year.
It's not for everyone (and for that, capitalism is eternally grateful). One acquaintance told me in no uncertain terms that they would never be happy without tangible gifts under the tree (in response to the World Vision gifts I was planning). I just think that's sad; I get the warm fuzzies just thinking about how happy my Papa was to "receive" his rooster and two hens. I'm often reminded of the episode of Friends where Phoebe says that good deeds are actually selfish because they make you feel so good. That may be true, Phoebe, but I'm willing to chance it!
This year, I'm embracing homemade gifts. I've been crafting up a storm and I'm really excited about them! My inspiration has been the Christmas Eve excitement that was felt around my in-law's tree a few years ago, when my husband's aunt handed out the hand-knit presents she'd made everyone. But more about that on Wednesday, when I'm going to share with you Tips for Having a Happy (and Organized!) Homemade Holiday!
Here is a list of quick and easy ways to add some heartfelt meaning to your holiday celebration:
- Don't forget our furry friends! Most shelters are in need of food, litter, and even old blankets and towels! Pick up a bag of kibble and drop it off at your local shelter today!
- Here's a warm fuzzy that's actually warm and fuzzy (and costs nothing at all except time). Many animal shelters are looking for volunteers to walk dogs or cuddle cats; what a perfect holiday outing for you and your family! (Be sure to call first, some shelters have age restrictions on who can actually handle animals).
- Many grocery stores and restaurants have drop boxes for food bank donations. Pick up some non-perishables and give a gift that will resonate well past the holiday season. Some grocery stores even sell pre-packaged kits of the items most needed in your area .
- Keep your community safe! Volunteer to be the designated driver for a Christmas party, or volunteer with your community's safe drive home program (if they have one). You could even commit a Random Act of Kindness and spring for a cab for someone who needs one.
- Speaking of Random Acts of Kindness, a popular movement is to pay for the car behind you in the drive-though line at a coffee shop. See a frazzled looking mom in a van behind you? You could make her day!
- Contact your local hospital, senior's home, or assisted living facility and inquire if there's anything you could do to brighten someone's holiday. Think carol singing is cheesy? Then you've never done it in a hospital or senior's home (be sure to bring Kleenex!)
- Another RAOK! Next time it snows, take a moment to shovel the steps of your neighbor (especially if they're elderly).
- A classic Christmas practice is to volunteer at your local soup kitchen to serve Christmas dinner. You'll look at the blessing that is your home and life with new eyes.
I could go on and on, but frankly, I'm interested in your ideas! Share in the comments; I may even include your idea in one of my holiday posts!
Wednesday is a big day, as it is kicking off 25 days of Nesty! I'll be keeping to my Monday, Wednesday, Friday posting schedule, but on the days in between I'll be sharing snippets of Christmas Cheer! See you then!
On "Busy"
“Busyness rapes relationships.(Dr. Charles Swindoll)
It substitutes shallow frenzy for deep friendship.
It feeds the ego but starves the inner man.
It fills a calendar but fractures a family.
It cultivates a program that plows under priorities.”
A friend of mine keeps this quote on her kitchen bulletin board. Every time I read it I pause for thought as this quote really resonates with me. I wish I'd read it years ago, when I was starting my adult life of marriage and career. I wonder, however, if I would have really heard the message back then.
There was a time when I was an acolyte of "Busy." I had a challenging job that I loved. I trained in kickboxing 3 to 4 times a week. I sat on several committees and one Board of Directors. At church, I taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was forever raising my hand or signing my name to volunteer for yet more activities.
For a while, I thought I was thriving on "Busy." I reasoned that instead of wasting my time on frivolous activities I was making sure that every moment went to something constructive. I rode the high of accomplishment until one day, no doubt sitting in a board room, I realized something was missing.
Life.
Life was happening while I was taking notes, baking pies, brainstorming fundraisers and cutting out Easter crafts. While my family met for Sunday tea, I was kicking a heavy bag. When my husband joined our friends for coffee or drinks, I was choking down dinner after work to dash off to yet another committee meeting.
I began to loathe the words, "I'm sorry, I'm too Busy." I'd hear them coming out of my mouth and the guilt would start. I couldn't reason it out. I was doing the right thing, wasn't I? All of this would help me build my career, my portfolio, my reputation. "I'd really love to, but I'm just too busy."
The writing was on the wall almost exactly five years ago. Dear friends were getting married. We'd been looking forward to their wedding for months. We'd booked a hotel room with friends, planned outfits and parties, and were actively involved in the wedding. And then one of the committees I was involved with announced it was having mandatory training all day Saturday starting at 8:30 AM. The wedding was Friday night. And I took calls related to that committee literally as I was going out the door to the wedding. I suspect the phone may have been taken from me (and for that I am grateful.)
So, I went to the wedding, and ate and danced and stayed the whole time, but I couldn't toast my good friends as liberally as everyone else. I didn't go to the hotel "after parties" since I needed my sleep in order to be bright and sharp for my training. And, the next day, while my friends sipped mimosas and watched gifts get opened, I participated in team building exercises and brainstorming sessions.
I was bitterly disappointed.
It continued like this all year. I was tired, stressed, and irritable. Even activities that were supposed to relieve stress, like kickboxing, became of source of ire instead of fitness and enjoyment. Church ceased to be a place of spiritual fulfillment and became another source of work. Indeed, it was my church activities that finally broke the camel's back. One day, knowing that I wasn't spending nearly enough time at home, I just didn't go.
(I'll pause for a moment while you go alert the church elders.)
We went for breakfast. We strolled the streets sipping coffee, just as we had when we were dating. We drove to our favorite bakery, picked up some sweets, and went to Sunday tea at my grandparents for what seemed like the first time in ages. We talked. We had a lovely supper and then watched television together. I laughed. It felt lovely.
I slept like a baby and woke the next morning clear of head and with a plan.
I was quitting all of it. All of it. For one year. Everything. I would go to work, and I would come home, and I would see what I was missing. Because during the talk that Sunday, I realized that I might have a resume that shone, but my Life was dull indeed.
My sense of responsibility dictated that I would have to fulfill my current commitments. I made this decision in early Spring; most of my activities followed the school year so they would be ending soon anyway. I gave my resignations, said my goodbyes, hung up the boxing gloves, and breathed a sigh of relief.
The real challenge came a few months later, when Autumn, of course, brought all my abandoned activities back to life. I had been candid about my decision, "One year, no activities" so the requests were more creative. If you won't sit on the board, would you join a committee? Help us fund-raise? Help teach a "fitness" kickboxing class as opposed to training? No, no, and no thank you.
Did I burn some bridges? Maybe, although I tried to be as polite and diplomatic as possible. But it didn't really matter. Because by the time the new round of requests had begun, I had had three golden months to breath in exactly what you miss when you're Busy.
Life.
Fitness? I swam in the ocean, hiked mountains, did yoga and Pilates. When I needed a martial arts fix, I did a training session at home with my husband.
Committees and meetings? Instead of reading minutes, I was reading novels. Time spent cooking in stuffy boardrooms was now spent cooking actual food. And hey, I did have a actual job.
Networking? Turns out I had a pretty interesting bunch of family and friends I needed to reacquaint myself with. There's not a team building exercise in the world like the gliding around the ice with your sisters at your family's annual Christmas Skating Party.
Culture? I'd really missed going to movies, plays, and concerts, and I savored these outings, as well as the coffees and drinks afterward. There were new experiences, too. I went to my first gnarly heavy metal concert during that year. Horrified? Yes, at moments I was, but now, I can honestly say I've seen Motorhead play live!
Spirituality? If walking with my husband and my dog in Petersfield Park on a crisp Cape Breton October Sunday with the leaves turning all around us doesn't bring me closer to God, then I don't know what can. All my family relationships - marriage, immediate, in-law, you name it - grew stronger during this time. I think that's more important to my spiritual life, and to God, than fussing over who's making the sandwiches for the social or who's in charge of the rummage sale.
I learned so much about myself during that time. I love wine, and wine festivals. I like to scrapbook and make cards. I enjoy photography. In no time a year had passed, and I had a much better grasp of who I am and what is important to me. It was during this time that the "Nestygirl" you know was beginning to emerge, because she was finally allowed to show her face. I learned that there's no shame in admitting that I'd rather bake a cake in my free time than go to a meeting. I'd rather visit with my family than bicker with a committee. That's who I am and I haven't wasted another precious minute feeling guilty about it.
I hasten to add that I'm not judging anyone who thrives on Busy and truly, truly loves it. Nor am I pooh-poohing anyone who has to be busy out of necessity. It just seems to me that there are an awful lot of people out there (and I was one of them) who claim to have no time for what is really important and fulfilling (family, friends, a healthy blood pressure score) but have time for everything else. Ask yourself this; if you're someone who is always "too Busy," when was the last time you made yourself not be for the betterment of your relationships? I'm not talking about jobs; you have to put in the time to earn your paycheque, and some jobs are more time consuming than others. I'm talking about everything else. Because in the course of my blunt self-examination, I realized a lot of things that were making me "too Busy" were not that important in the grand scheme of things.
To put it into perspective, I'll use extra-curricular activities like sports as an example. I know now that while my ego loved the rush of gaining a new belt level, my boxing gloves didn't pour me a glass of wine and tuck me into bed at the end of the day. Neither do your golf clubs, your poker deck, your boat or your quad. There's not a day goes by that I don't miss training, and I hope to train again someday, but when I do my head will be in the right place, and martial arts will never take the place of time with my family again. Because let's face it, I wasn't a professional kick-boxer, and you're not a professional golfer, poker player, sailor or outdoors-person.
Essentially, it's the lesson at the heart of the song "Cat's in the Cradle." If you're not careful, by the time you're no longer "Busy," everyone else may have passed on by or be too Busy themselves. The moral of my story is to make sure that you have balance. Build your career and resume, yes, but please, please, build your relationships, too. Take care of your health, both physical and mental. Don't be afraid to say "No." You know what they say about how if you want something done, ask a busy person? People do that, and they will take advantage. A good friend once told me, shaking his head as I was giving him my name for yet another activity that no one else would do, that I had to learn to say no.
Life is an ever evolving thing. When I took that year off I had no inkling that five years down the road I'd be in a much less Busy environment altogether. And so we evolve. I craft and cook and clean the way I never could when I was working. And when I miss the organizing and detail-oriented nature of my former career, I apply these skills to something around my home (my Christmas card database, for example!). Our home and belongings are finally, after eleven years of marriage, just about completely organized and under control.
Who knows where I'll be or what I'll be doing in another five years? What I do know is that I have a well-defined set of values and an establish sense of what is truly important to me to guide me through.
Happy Weekend!
Hi Everyone!
As I announced on Wednesday, I'm participating in my very first craft show this weekend. Things get rolling tomorrow afternoon, so I am going to be wise and get ready tonight! And so, dear readers, I hope you will forgive me for not writing much of a post today! I'll be back on Monday, and I'm looking forward to visiting some of your blogs for a "real" visit, not just a peruse in my reader! We've been "staycationing" the last two weeks and so I've been spending time with my family instead of blogging quite as much.
Thanks for your understanding! I'll see you on Monday!
Window to My World - Pumpkin Rock
When you move to a new town, it can seem strange, cold, and lacking when compared to the place you came from. I have discovered, however, that in time, something pretty amazing happens. Suddenly, your "new" town becomes "your" town, a warm, familiar place with traditions and customs you now embrace.
Last Halloween, actually, just after last Halloween, we discovered one of our town's unique traditions. Starting November 1, people from around the town bring their Jack-o-Lanterns to a rock face known as "Pumpkin Rock."
We're not sure, this may actually be a fairly new custom, but it is one that we were excited to join in this year. And so, despite the heavy rain, today we headed down to Pumpkin Rock to deliver our Jack-o-Lanterns to their final home. They seem pretty happy to be there:
We were really impressed with the pumpkin carving skills on display at Pumpkin Rock:
After I said good-bye to our Jack-o-Lanterns one last time, we went for a drive to check out the local Inukshuks, which had been decorated for Halloween:
And that, my friends, was Halloween in our town, a place that has come to feel very much like home!
Last Halloween, actually, just after last Halloween, we discovered one of our town's unique traditions. Starting November 1, people from around the town bring their Jack-o-Lanterns to a rock face known as "Pumpkin Rock."
We're not sure, this may actually be a fairly new custom, but it is one that we were excited to join in this year. And so, despite the heavy rain, today we headed down to Pumpkin Rock to deliver our Jack-o-Lanterns to their final home. They seem pretty happy to be there:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for Family, friends, turkey dinners, shorter days, crisp nights, home, time to breathe, kitty cats, funny hats, puppy dogs, new pens, crisp leaves, the smell of woodsmoke, Prayer, hot coffee, a single rose, a full moon, flannel jammies, ink smears, a day with no plans, farm markets, the unexpected, a letter from a friend, paper weights, a feeling of calm, the sound of laughter, remembering your favorite song, good dreams, last minute adventures, a sale rack, long drives, honey bees, the sound of waves, first snow, green plants, a new dress, warm cookies, funny movies, knowing that you can, the first step of a new journey, scented candles, solving a mystery, knowing you are loved, reading a great quote, notebooks, new foods, naps, each new day...
Happy Thanksgiving Apple Turkeys! - A Tutorial
For almost as long as I can remember, one Thanksgiving decoration has been a constant - The Apple Turkey. My recollection of its origin is fuzzy, so, as I do with many things I can't remember, I called Mom. She confirmed my hunch that we had first made Apple Turkeys as a Sunday School Project. She thinks that perhaps she found the idea in a magazine, maybe Country Living, but even she wasn't sure. That's enough of an explanation for me, and I hope it will suffice for you!
If you would like a charmingly absurd Apple Turkey of your own, here is a handy dandy tutorial to guide you through the creative process. If you are like me and tend to get obsessive about things like wing placement and the perfect beak, please bear in mind that this craft was designed for five year olds and approach it as such (read - relax, this is supposed to be fun!)
Step One
Assemble Your Materials
You will need:
Glue
Scissors
Paper in pretty colours
Toothpicks
A pencil or marker
Step 2
Make Your Turkey Some Feathers
And a Head
Turkeys enjoy having feathers and a head, so you don't want to skip this step!
Cut out a turkey shaped head as well. Draw on eyes (so your turkey can see what's going on). I sometimes like to add a contrasting beak; the design details are really up to you!
Once you have all your paper cut, glue toothpicks to the pieces. Let the glue dry (See, I told you this was easy...)
Step 3
Turkey Assembly
Take a deep breath, this is about to get complicated!
Find the prettiest side of your apple and make sure that side is facing up, with the stem of the apple facing you. Using the picture as a guide, take two toothpicks and insert them into the bottom of the apple as feet. Then, place the turkey's head on the top of the apple toward the front.
I was just joking, this isn't complicated at all!
Don't worry if your turkey is a bit roly poly, that's just part of their charm!
Turkeys need wings, so go ahead and put them on either side of your apple.
See, I told you this was easy!
Step 4
Sit Back and Enjoy Your Apple Turkey!
All that's left to do it put your Apple Turkey to work decorating your home. They really like hanging out in the middle of your dining room table during Thanksgiving Dinner, but in the meantime, use them to decorate all around your house!
Remember that they are made of fruit, and will drip a bit of juice, so make sure you put them on a safe surface. Apple turkeys get embarrassed when they ruin your stuff!
I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial as much as I've enjoyed sharing this fun little family tradition with you!
Before I sign off for the weekend, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving, an a wonderful weekend!
As well, this week Nesty is a featured blog over at the link party Friendly Friday! Friendly Friday is hosted by The Frugal Novice, Thanks, Mail Carrier, and Healthy Home Blog. I'd like to thank the hosts of Friendly Friday so much for this feature, and for the lovely write up of my blog! Please take the time to go and visit Friendly Friday (you'll find some great blogs!) as well as the host blogs.
Today I'm linking to:
I (Heart) Fall!!
Greetings!
First and foremost, let me take a moment to express how grateful I am to all of you for choosing to follow Nesty. When I started my wee blog back in February, I never thought that I would see 18 readers, let alone 83 beautiful people who took the time to officially follow me. You are the juice that keeps the Nesty engine rolling, and your comments bring joy to my day. I have found some truly great people out there in "Blogland" and I look forward to reading your posts and sharing your lives. Thank you!!!!
Now that I have the sap out of the way, it's time to share my excitement with you. It's Fall!!! Maybe not officially, but in my heart and all around, Fall is Here!!! All throughout blogdom I have been reading posts about Autumn and it's just served to feed my personal love of this time of year! For me, the best time of year starts in September, and the good times just keep rolling to the end of the year. Personally, if we could just stop on Christmas Eve, roll back to September 1, and start it all again, that would be fine by me! The build from September to December is a veritable festival, one that I live and prepare for all year long!
A few weeks ago I shared how to me, September is the spiritual start of my year, a time for new beginnings, new projects, and new resolve (not resolutions!). To that end, I am embracing the season this year as a time to "re-energize" Nesty. Oh, we've kept to our posting schedule (except for Wednesday, when we were a little late...sorry folks, more on that next week!) but lately we've been feeling a little faded and dusty. So, I've relied a little bit more on "Wordless" posts. I'm not getting rid of "Window to My World" (my wordless posts) but they won't be making weekly appearances. Instead, I have been brainstorming up new post ideas, and ways to share them. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of the following new ideas with you:
- Housewife Confidential - The trials and tribulations of a not-so-traditional housewife.
- Scraps of Me - Posts about my scrapbooking
- In Stitches - Sewing projects
- Recipe Challenge - Recipe development by moi!
- I Feel Pretty - Posts about being fashionable and feminine in the house and out.
- The Great Outdoors! - Our adventures in "Super, Natural British Columbia"
- Links I Love - Links to some of my favorite blogs and websites
- Christmas Countdown - A monthly "report card" on how my "homemade Christmas" progress is going!
I'll fill in some more details as these posts make their debuts. In some cases, these posts are serving as motivation for me to keep creating; hobbies like scrapbooking and sewing can sometimes go by the wayside if you don't make time for them. In addition, I'm very excited about December, when I'll be celebrating like mad with a Month Long Christmas Festival! That's right, there will be posts every day in December leading up to Christmas! I'm so excited to share my preparations for my favorite holiday with you!
I'm also going to be making the rounds of the blog hops again. I have my favorites that I visit every week but I feel it's time to get out there and mingle again! If you know of any good new ones, please let me know. I love to find new blogs and make new friends! Here are some new hops I'm checking out this weekend:
I'm so excited! Have a wonderful weekend! See you on Monday!
Dinner With Friends, Relax and Have Fun With It...
I truly love nesting, and I adore entertaining. I love planning menus, shopping for groceries, and cooking up a storm. Setting the table, lighting the candles and pouring the wine thrill me. But the best, the very best, part is watching all my guests have a wonderful time.
However, sometimes I feel the pressure. Not from my spouse, or from my friends, or anyone. I feel the pressure that I put on myself. I start to believe that if it's not a gourmet creation, it isn't worth serving. And that's not good. When this happens, it's just a slippery slope to culinary disaster. So I have learned that when I'm veering into Stepford territory, it's usually a good time to kick it back a few notches.
Take this week. We were attending a potluck to which I had agreed to bring cupcakes. And of course, because I'm me, I planned these cupcakes. I decided on two flavours, two kinds of frosting, and hand made fondant decorations. I purchased special jewel tones muffin liners. On the day before (when I planned to bake and create fondant delights) I woke with a horrible pain in my back. No matter, I baked up my two batches of cupcakes. It was well into the evening when I took my package of homemade marshmallow fondant out of the refrigerator and placed it on the counter next to the new shade of paste icing colour I had purchased just for this occasion! I sighed deeply and began to unwrap the fondant. If you've never worked with fondant before, let me tell you just this: it requires kneading. Lots of kneading. Usually, this is the sort of task I live for, but tonight the thought of working that mass of sugar was making me weepy. It was then that my dear husband pointed out that everyone at the pot luck would just be happy that there were cupcakes to eat, and wouldn't I rather relax and watch television with he and the dogs? The decorations would be missed by no one but myself. With grudging relief, I agreed with him. (And hey, who eats the fondant decoration anyway?)
It felt good to relax and have fun with it. And he was right, everyone was happy with my "plain" little cupcakes with their simple chocolate rosettes frosted on top. I felt so good about it that later that week, I decided to keep going with the laid back fun. We were having our good friends and their children over for supper, and I was trying to decide what to make. I often find that I miss out on the conversation and fun because I'm busy sauteeing, reducing, or grilling. This time, instead of concocting a multi-course meal featuring the foods of distant lands, I turned to an old favorite, hot roast beef sandwiches and fries.
Folks, it was wonderful. I threw the roast in the oven and then picked up my knitting and sat down with a cup of tea. When the roast came out half an hour before our guests were due to arrive, I put in a tray of oven fries, put some corn niblets in the steamer, and made gravy. I actually chatted with our guests as I arranged everything buffet style and put a second tray of fries in the oven. Everyone served themselves and we had a great time.
Have I given up gourmet completely? No, of course not. Cooking is my thing, it's what I do. But every so often, it's perfectly alright to do things "homestyle." After all, we gather to eat together as much for the friendship and laughter as for the food.
Here's a few more tips for having friends over for dinner and living to tell the tale:
- Graciously let them bring something if they offer. Of course, tell them they don't need to bring anything, but if they insist (especially if it's a good friend) give them something to bring. Wine, dessert, whatever they offer. The other night for dessert we had a wonderful fruit and cookies pizza that our friends brought, and last week we enjoyed a wonderful homemade apple wine when we grilled steaks for another friend.
- Pick one "Wow" item and go simple with the rest. If you're making homemade lasagna from scratch, for example, feel free to use a kit for the Caesar salad, and everyone loves that garlic bread that comes in the foil bag. Steamed frozen veggies, oven fries, and sauce mixes are other great ways to save time and stress.
- Consider plastic. I know, it's not green, and it doesn't work for all events, but if you're having a big crowd or are serving something casual (like barbecue or corn on the cob) go for it. Clean up will be a breeze. Just make sure that the plate you pick out can stand up to the food it will be holding, or clean up will be a royal pain in the neck.
- Self Serve. Buffet or "family style" serving is great because people can take as much as they want of what they want. Nothing's more awkward than watching someone try to choke down a food they hate or wade through a plate that's holding way more than they can consume. It's not just limited to food, either; try a self serve bar or coffee and tea station at your next get together.
- Plan for your audience. If you're having a family with kids, make the food kid-friendly. I don't mean that you have to serve chicken nuggets, but perhaps leave the rare steaks and stinky cheeses for another time. We had a build your own pizza night with some friends and their kids one night and it was a big success.
- Don't be a clean freak. Get the dishes out of the way, but leave the actual washing up until later. Your guests came to see you, not the sight of your back disappearing into the kitchen for the better part of an hour. I really love the "great room" style of our house, since I can be in the kitchen and still be a part of the conversation.
- When necessary, use your space. If you really need to keep people out of the kitchen, place a bowl of punch and / or some appies in the space where you want your guests to congregate. It's hard to resist the appeal baked brie or a shrimp ring. I like company when I cook, so it's not a big deal for me, I just pour them a glass of wine and give them something to do.
Do you have a great casual entertaining tip? If so, please share in the comments. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and to those of you heading back to work or school next week, best wishes for a wonderful year!
September...
"You are never too old to set another goal
or to dream a new dream."
-C.S. Lewis
To me, September is a magical time. It was always the real beginning of the year. The early fall holds so much possibility- it seems like anything could happen in the months ahead.
The air has an energy, a charged quality, a life all its own. It's a time for personal resolutions instead of the pompous public resolutions of January 1.
It's a time of coming and going. It's a time of looking ahead. It's a time of anticipation, and a time of gathering. It's a time that's full of life.
In September, so much of the year has passed, yet so much is still to come...
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