Wordless Wednesday: Snowflake

Christmas Prep: Rebooting

I should have known not to schedule anything on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend was spent picking up the rooms I have already cleaned, doing laundry, taking my mom Christmas shopping (which took up all afternoon and Sunday) and getting the Little One ready for her and her dad's trip to see Grandpa. I spent  Sunday night working till 5 a.m. Way to mess up a schedule, huh?

So to get back to my Christmas Prep:

• Kitchen and Dining
• Dining and Living Room
• Dec. 21 (today): Solarium
• Dec. 22: Bathroom and Front Patio
• Dec. 23: Bedroom

Menu Day (as well as grocery shopping) will be done today. Sooooooo cutting it short. I'd have to remember to give myself a treat after all this. ;)

Prepping For Christmas

So, yesterday, I planned my cleaning and decorating schedule:

• Wednesday: Kitchen and Dining
• Thursday (today): Dining and Living Room
• Friday: No Cleaning Day (This will be Gift Day instead.)
• Saturday: Solarium
• Sunday: Bathroom
• Monday: Bedroom
• Tuesday: Front Patio 

Menu Day (as well as grocery shopping) will be Wednesday, the 22nd. 

I cleaned the stove top, the fridge, underneath the sink as well as my counters. The dining area didn't need a lot of cleaning--I just needed to declutter a little, since I do paperwork on the dining table. All work and school-related items have been moved to the Solarium, which we have been using as an office/study area. I added some desk space so that we won't have to use the dining table. 

So far, so good. I'm keeping myself happy and motivated with Pandora, coffee, water, and frequent glances at my cat, whose take on life is wonderfully simple, relaxed, quiet, and oh my goodness, INDULGENT. Looking at him reminds me of the simplicity of these tasks and what doing them means for the upcoming holiday and the subsequent days. 

I like the simplicity of each room once the cleaning has been done, and of course, the space. 

10 Days Till Christmas! Ready, Set, Go!

Christmas lunch/dinner is a huge tradition in our family. Plans have already been made that it is going to be lunch at my mom's this year. Well... this morning, my mom casually informed me that since they won't have time to get the kitchen renovated by Christmas, lunch (or dinner) will be at my apartment!

I am super excited and my head is swimming with holiday ideas. What will my menu be like? How should I decorate? How the heck am I supposed to seat everybody? 

I'd have to start with the big ones:

1. Cleaning
2. Decorating
3. Menu
4. Gifts

Thank goodness, I have time. (I think.)

Wordless Wednesday: Sitting By the Window

(Taken with iPhone app Hipstamatic)

Hat and Scarf

For my first adventure in the big, badass world of crocheting, I went to Michael's to purchase an easy-to-follow instruction book for beginners and the materials and tools it specified. I went through the book, practiced each of the basic stitches once, and immediately got started on a project. 

Now here's a basic math equation to describe me: Dee = 0 patience. I like digging in right away. I'm one of those people who don't like reading the instruction manual--I just want to figure it out and get down to business. 

So anyway, it was fortunately easy to learn the basics, so I made a scarf for my girl and, yesterday, finished a matching toque. I got started with the instructions in the book for a beanie ( a really simple, no frills beanie), but I thought it would be fun to close of the top with drawstrings with pom pom ends. See below:

I didn't think I'd have enough patience to finish these, but guess what... it's addicting! My next project will be matching gloves and embellishing these with felt cutouts, also a neck warmer for my best friend! 

Daily Blogging

I made myself a promise to blog once a day for a month. I've been neglecting this poor blog and occupying my time with other things...like looking for work, for example.

I'm still unsuccessful on the job front. I'm really torn as to whether or not I should start my own business or work for a company... but if this scenario doesn't change, I might be pushed into officially becoming a small business owner. My best friend and I have been trying to get something going. We will see how everything goes.

Last week, I had the bright idea of taking up crocheting. After a couple of hours working on a scarf for the little one, my hands and I were cursing myself. And, with much persistence, I found myself horribly addicted. The result: one scarf, an almost finished beanie, and an anti-social Dee. (Seriously. We were over at a friend's place the other night, and I crocheted. I had to force myself to put it away by offering my other addiction to help out with said friend's school project - graphic design.)

What can I say... at least I'm still productive. Kinda. Pictures to come soon.

Super Grateful Sunday, 12.12.10

This meme was created with the belief that good things come to us when we are thankful. Reflect on the past 7 days, and every Sunday, list at least 7 things for which you are grateful.

"There is a calmness to a life lived in Gratitude, a quiet joy." - RALPH H. BLUM

1. A fun, full, and restful weekend.
2. My little girl's unexpected reunion with a former schoolmate who used to call her (and still does) his little sister. That hug they gave each other was precious.
3. Picking up a highly addicting hobby (crocheting) and finishing a scarf for the little one the next day.
4. My sisters. My oldest sister sent me a large and early Christmas present, and my middle sister sent me an old song we used to sing. She requested I record myself singing it, and send her a copy. (It's no secret in my family that I love to sing. So they indulge me. :)
5. My little girl's piano recital.
6. The soft stillness of today, in contrast to the high-energy, fun-filled yesterday.
7. Dinner at my mom's, and finally having her for a sleepover tonight.

Love, joy, and laughter to you, my friends.

Wordless Wednesday: Excitement