Perspective.

I've been rather out of sorts lately, there is too much going on that I can't control and it's driving me a bit insane. This is one of those times where I have to step back and really put things into perspective. After watching the news all week I know that no matter how challenging life is right now, I have so much to be thankful for. My thoughts go out to those that live in Haiti or have friends there. My heart breaks for them. No matter what this week brings for me I need to hold on to the good things and try not to sweat the small stuff. :)

Creating something...anything...always cheers me up. A few days ago, I needed some "comfort food" and for me that's matzo ball soup!

There was no school on Monday which leads to a stress free Sunday night. This photo is sweet. Liam was actually sleeping while Emily was totally faking it but it still made for an adorable moment!

The Fios guy was here ALL DAY yesterday as I proudly dumped Cablevision on it's tush. I knew the guy would need access to my office (main computer) as well as my laundry room (phone lines) ...but both rooms were embarrassingly messy. I spent over a week, day and night trying to organize my home. I was grumpy every step of the way until I finally put it in perspective. In the end I'll not only have my Food Network back (thanks Fios) but I'll also have a CLEAN HOUSE! Because of this, today I actually feel a bit better, calmer and triumphant because everything, at least for today, has fallen into place. :)

Calm.

I'm trying to soak in my new word for 2010...I'm trying to feel it. I think I need to give it more time because I find it difficult to embrace "calm". That said, there is one way to feel calmer and that's with a clean house. No, I don't have a dirty house, but I do have a lot of "stuff." My garage is embarrassing but one of those places that no one sees...so I put that area on the cleaning back burner. Then there is the office and the laundry room. The laundry room is quite scary but again, it's a place that no one sees...or at least it's usually that place. Since I decided to dump Cablevision on it's...tush...I have Fios coming in on Monday. That's the good news. The bad news is they will have to get into the phone lines, which oddly reside in the laundry room. In addition, they have to get to our main computer which of course is in the office. So, I have less than a week for a major clean up. I hate being in a time crunch for anything but it WILL be nice to have these rooms under control. I'm starting with my office (and the large pile on the floor) then moving downstairs. At least by Monday evening I'll have an organized home AND the Food Network! Ah, I'm feeling calmer already...

I should add...although my "project" this week is cleaning, I did make a blueberry crumb cake last night...from scratch! Thanks for the recipe Martha Stewart. YUM!

My latest project...

...has been for my Brownie troop. Today we'll start to decorate recipe books so the girls can earn a "Try-It." Instead of starting from scratch (as I always do), I found some adorable little scrapbooks at the "dollar spot" in Target. The book has a little window that I wanted to fill but the stamp I have is too big...so I found a solution...

I scanned in the stamp, re sized it and added the troop number using my graphics program. I printed several out on glossy photo paper, punched them out and added rhinestones...and there you have it! Today each girl will decorate their "title page" and a recipe page. In the end each girl will have a copy of fifteen recipes which I'll add to their books.

After my Brownie meeting, I'm actually going scrapping for a few hours (if I can stay awake). I haven't decided what project to work on, although it probably doesn't matter, I never get anything done anyway!

Happy Scrapping!

One Little Word...2010

When the clock struck midnight on January 1st, my champagne glass was "half empty." While many look at the positive aspects of starting a fresh, new year (or a new decade in this case), I already had a giant lump in my throat. One minute in and I knew this year would be a challenging one and to be perfectly honest, I'm not looking forward to it.

I'm a worrier and I like to think of the "what ifs" way before things happen. It's an exhausting way to live, but that's how it's always been with me. Last night Liam was up at 5am (for no apparent reason) and I found myself going through my "stress list"...

1. I don't like the speech therapist they want to assign to Liam. I know she's the wrong fit but what if another isn't available?
2. Someone very close to me found out her cancer has returned. What if the surgery doesn't work this time?
3. I'm turning 40. I'm turning 40. I'm turning 40. Crap.
4. What if I NEVER lose this damn weight??
5. The therapists all want to place Liam in a full day pre-school program in the fall. I don't want to go along with this. What if I don't like the place...or the teachers...or the program? What if I fight and make the wrong decision?
6. What if Frank's show gets cancelled and he's out of a job...again?

As I was having my pre-dawn pity party, I decided check out some websites on my iPhone. My favorite "rock-stars" of the scrapbooking world are Becky Higgins (the brain behind "Project 365" and now "Project Life") and Ali Edwards. Ali introduced an interesting new concept a few days ago (well, it's new to me) called "One Little Word..." The idea is to choose a word to focus on throughout the entire year. A word that has the potential to make an impact on your life. This word should have meaning or be something you strive for. It will be a springboard for projects and inspirations for 365 days.

I think I need a word.

Several words came to mind...persevere, relax, serenity, breathe...but I needed something which will ground me. A word that will stop me for a moment and help me regroup. Then it came to me... "CALM". I like calm. The definitions are what sold me..."Make calm or still; "quiet the dragons of worry and fear"..."The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion." It's poetic.
What would YOUR word be?

Goodbye Holidays...

Today, the closest thing I got to scrapping was taking photos of the project I'm working on. Instead of being creative, we worked on packing up the holidays. On the one hand, it's sad knowing the "cool" holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas & New Years) are behind us. On the other hand I'm sort of looking forward to things calming down for a while.

While Frank and Emily cleared off the tree, I spent some time cleaning out the holiday stuff we didn't need. Two giant garage bags later, and I felt like I actually accomplished something. Tomorrow I'll start working on my bedroom which has turned into a dumping ground for the past few months!

Tonight I went to the city to celebrate my sister- in- law's birthday...great meal...but now I'm pooped. I was out way too late. I'm a wimp! I came home at around midnight and to Emily who was still awake! She is still crying about the removal of the Food Network from our cable provider. I give them one week and then Fios, here we come!

Tomorrow we go back into the city to see Bye Bye Birdie. I suspect I'll get little scrappng done BUT I will finally pack up my scrappy little gifts. They are going all over... NJ, Upstate NY, North Carolina, Illinois and Mass. It took me a while but they will be sent this week! Yeah!

Until tomorrow... Have a happy, scrappy day!

Project..."Finish My Projects!!"

Happy 2010! It's hard to believe a new year is upon us...and how I wish I accomplished more in 2009! That said, I successfully completed my "Project 365" which was an amazing experience. I must admit, life without taking a photo a day will be strange for a while but I have a plan.

Starting in May, 2010 I will launch (get a load of the lingo), "Project...Life at 40!" The fabulous Becky Higgins has put together another great kit ("Project Life") and I'm up for the challenge! I thought it would be interesting to chronicle my 40th year through photos and journaling. This means taking a "365" break...for about 146 days. Then, I'll be back. :)

In the meantime, I've decided to start off this decade with.."Project...Finish My Projects!!" Looking at my unfinished projects is getting old...and frustrating. So, I will use this opportunity (and this blog), to get some work done. Each day I'll post updates, hopefully with photos, of what I'm working on at the moment. I've wanted to do this for a while now but I wasn't able to accomplish both this blog and my 365. I have high hopes!

So, for my first entry, this is what I'm working on today...

I can't show the finished project just yet because I'm surprising a few people. Unfortunately, this should have been done days ago but I'm working on the finishing touches today.

Wishing you all a very happy, scrappy and healthy 2010!