2010 Resolution

Welcome back! (Warning this is a wordy post!)

Ah resolutions, the last few years I have made crafty resolutions. This year I found a site that promotes one word resolutions. Intrigued? I was. And I am all game. This last year has been a tough one on a lot of us. We weren’t hit financially (luckily) but emotionally I have had a tough year. A lot has been on my plate, most I wont/cant talk about here so it has been an internal battle to balance everything. So this year I want to focus on my life, living, and enjoying it.

So my word this year…Embrace.

em-brace [em-breys]

-verb (used with object)
1. to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug
2. to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3. to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
4. to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc): to embrace Buddhism.
5. to take in with the eye or the mind.
6. to encircle; surround; enclose.
7. to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

I am hoping to embrace everything, the good the bad and the ugly with open arms, learn and grow from it. I feel like I am lacking lately in all departments. There is always room for improvement and I want to be a better mother and wife. Friend, daughter, and sister. I am also looking to embrace my creativity, the artist in me. Also embracing the god-given talents I have and use them to the best of my abilities. My day job is running a small family business for the owner who lives out of state. This last year was the year of learning. This year I am hitting the ground running and have so many plans and ideas that I want to see come true. I am finally embracing this job that has just evolved over the last few years and no longer just be thankful for it, instead I am embracing it, that I worked hard these last years and I deserve and earned my title it just wasnt by luck that I have it.

I have already been making small changes. I run the word embrace in my head all day long now. Especially in the trying 3 year old meltdowns. "Embrace these moments, while they suck, they go by quickly and she will only be 3 for so long". I have turned off the TV, sorted my blogs (a list I have already whitled down from around 300 to about 150) as must reads (mostly business/work related) to free time reads and plan to stick to it. I plan to unplug more and really live life. A life worth blogging about. I am also planning to schedule my blogging better. Do a group of posts all at once and have them published throughout the week. I may start doing more themed typed posts. I also will have more pictures and probably less words (though don’t keep me to that, just look at how long this post is!).

So do you have a word for 2010 you resolve to live? If you do I would love to hear it! If I get a few I will make sure to post them at a later date!

Time for a BIG change

So last night I found this article which then led me to a few blogs that I HAD to read. This has brought me to the change I am purposing for myself this year and hopefully my life. I have too much stuff, stuff I can’t part with because I feel some day I MIGHT use it but have no plans to in the near future. I can already think of one box of stuff that I love but don’t know when or how I will use it.

I can easily admit I shop when I am sad and/or stressed. I justify my purchases and the bags pile up. I forget about things I have until I am in search for something else. I do not want this lifestyle to be brought on to Leila. I am ending it with me. I cant tell you what toys I had growing up besides lots of Barbies; lots of Barbies that I didn’t take care of (painted faces, cut hair, a few even the dog chewed on I am sure) and are now a collection of dust in my parent’s attic. I want Leila to have a few precious things that will last her childhood and that she will pass on to her own children. I want her to take care of her things not to have the attitude, why should I take care of my things I know I can always replace it.

I am overwhelmed by the stuff and I am done. I am not 100% give up shopping but I am being more conscious of my purchases. I am no longer buying a shirt because it was super cheap or wrapping paper that is marked down even though I have 5 rolls already at home that haven’t even been touched. I am vowing that this year (and hopefully the rest of my life) when I buy something new (used) I give something away.

I am amazed at the outrage some people have when people say they are giving up shopping for un-needed items. That this is some how child abuse; to say no to cheap disposable toys. Less is more for me and I stand by that. Leila will not be deprived in any way but I have come to learn she has more fun playing with our everyday item (pots pans and a spoon) than some expensive loud plastic toy.

I am torn however since I want to grow my own handmade business, how can I preach about frivolous spending and then ask people to buy my own items? Here’s how, I am no longer creating for the purpose of just selling. I am creating handmade items that will last a lifetime that will be timeless and hopefully will give a lifetime of enjoyment. I am no longer creating disposable items (in my eyes) and I hope that people see that and understand my intentions. I want to create items that will be considered a handmade heirloom, when I think of that saying I think of well worn quilts. A quilt that has been with a family for the good and bad times, through the everyday moments. That is the type of products I want to make and I am working towards that.

I am one woman, in one small town, with a tiny family but I am ready to make my tiny imprint, my tiny difference. The more people feel compelled to make a difference the bigger of a difference we make as a whole.

I am really hopeful for my generation, there are many people who I know will read this and think I am nuts, and that is fine. I am also happy to say that there will be others who read this, will understand where I am coming from and will be inspired enough to make their own changes.

A good weekend

Well today I consider the end of my holiday break. First full work week and I am ready to get back into the swing of things. This weekend was a great way to end the holiday break, I made some pumpkin chocolate chip bread, watched Roman Holiday, and cleaned.

I dont know what it is about the New Year but I do more cleaning during this time than during spring break. I have 3 large garbage bags full of things to donate to our local thrift store and I plan to purge some more of my craft supplies (check back this week there may be some fabric in it for you!). It is really amazing to me, I feel like I have nothing to sew with until I actually go through ALL of my fabric, I will have to document it somehow just so I can never say, I have no fabric. I feel like the girl with a closet full of clothes proclaiming she has nothing to wear.

So this new year I am making a rule: Bring something in to the home, take out something I dont use. I can donate the item, give it away, unless it is unusable and then it is trashed. I want to stay away from throwing things away I just dont think my "stuff" should be added to the growing landfills.

Also I am teaching myself to crochet, I am self taught knitter and I am ready to take the jump to a new craft I am hoping that Mrs. Happy Hooker can help me out, she is actually the one that taught me how to knit.

So no resolutions per say just a change of direction in how I live my life, any life changes for you all?