Spring Cleaning and Good Energy

I found myself with a few hours on my hands... time- check, organizational work needed- check.  At the suggestion of my best friend, Allison, I decided to organize my cooking binders.  Although I am not into technology in many ways (old cell phone, don't want an IPad or Kindle), the one way I fully embrace technology is in my cooking.

As someone raised in a house without a lot of cooking, I found myself a few years ago just starting to get into cooking with the help of some friends, the internet, and a recipe exchange at work.  I slowly got better, and now I absolutely LOVE to cook.  I even enjoy making my grocery list since I try out (usually) one new recipe per week.

However, my one binder quickly expanded to three- overstuffed and so full of recipes that it was getting to be overwhelming instead of inspiring to look through them.  I tried Allison's suggestion of designating one binder for desserts, one for soups, sides, and appetizers, and one for main courses and slow cooker.  In the midst of a HUGE amount of pages, sheet protectors, and the feeling that I would never finish, I realized how good it felt to purge some of the old recipes.  Some were recipes that I'd clipped or gotten with every intention of trying... but it just never happened.  Some were recipes I thought might bring me good luck (Engagement Chicken), but haven't fit in with my life so far.  It felt a little like I was beating myself up by looking at those types of recipes, because they felt like a reminder of what I want but haven't experienced.  Some recipes were just too easy for me now or contained too many processed items.  It was a realizing how far I've come as I found my first recipe I ever really made along with my comments.  It was a letting myself off the hook for some of the recipes that I'm not in the place to use yet.  It was giving some recipes a chance to shine since now it will be easier to find them, and I'll have a chance to try some of those.

No organizational project is complete without that final, finishing, fun touch so I spent some time making new cover sheets just how I wanted them.

The feeling of order and peace after these types of projects is great.  I've also been suddenly hearing the word energy an awful lot lately, from some great Carol Plum-Ucci novels to home decorating columns.  One thing that keeps coming up is that lots of things have an energy attached to them-- that many things either make you feel good or bad when you see them.  So, I have to admit, I kept that thought in my head as I tried to get rid of things that felt like they were bringing me back to a period of "negative frequency" of my life.  I did the same with clothes recently, and I am feeling energized and happy to have gotten rid of some of those as well.

In addition, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the spring fashions this year more than I've loved clothes in the last ten years or maybe ever.  I feel like some of the things that have been dragging people down for the last little while have started brightening up and lightening up.

Some evidence:
1) New Pope refusing to live in the apartment because it was too big and elaborate and washing the feet of prisoners like Jesus... a positive and hopeful leader for the church seems to be here.

2)  Economy gradually improving

3)  Bright, colorful, OPTIMISTIC clothes meant for living life in

4)  Marriage equality quickly gaining majority support.  Whatever anyone's views are on the subject, I respect them, but I am thrilled to see people letting go of intolerance and gaining acceptance.  Like many others, I've evolved on the issue, but it feels electric to be "on the right side of history", and I know I'll probably remember this time the way other generations remember great leaps forward in civil rights or innovation.

Small spring haul-

Doubling Down on Debt

As I mentioned before, I have been doubling down on getting myself out of credit card debt.  Finally, I was just so done with being in debt that things just seemed to fall into place because my will was there.  I was willing to make sacrifices and try new ways to save money (all while still maintaining a decent lifestyle with fun and shopping too).  Income tax refund- right to my credit card; I didn't even bat an eyelash or think for a minute of something I wanted to buy.  In the final few months of this process, I have a few more tips to share.

1)  Budget ahead of time.

Instead of waiting until deductions were taking out from my checking such as utility bills or the gym membership, I have lately been balancing my checking account as if these expenses are already deducted.  This practice has been a huge help because instead of spending a little too much and then scrambling at the end, I now have a good idea of how much I will have left over once my bills are paid.  It keeps me more disciplined because I know exactly how much money  I have until I get paid next.

2)  Align spending with values as much as possible.

I like this one a lot, because it makes me feel more control over how I spend my money and live my life.  It was easy for me to identify my values- I prefer to shop a) made in USA b) at companies that treat their employees well c) companies that are environmentally aware and d) grocery stores with less genetically modified food choices.  So, as much as I can, I try to "vote with my wallet" for the values that I value.  Sure, it costs a little more for me to get my oil changed at a place that recycles the oil and materials, but that 6 dollars or so is well worth it when I think that I am helping the environment, even a little, by making that choice.

Same goes for Costco- my vote will always go them for allowing employees to unionize, giving them health benefits and fair wages.  They also save me money, so now I am adding a monthly trip to Costco and trying to up the amount of things I buy from them- starting with coffee and shave gel and next time will be adding toilet paper and getting gas there to the list.

I can't go too crazy with this one, because there are things that you just can't find made in the USA (such as shoes) or things that I just can't afford made in USA.  However, even adding a few purchases made here can add up if lots of people do it.  A few recommendations are www.etsy.com and Hard Tail exercise and lounge wear found at Nordstrom and Lord and Taylor.

3)  Speak Up

After hearing the woman in front of me at Kohl's one day ask the cashier if she had any coupons up there, I've been trying this here and there.  On a recent trip to Kohl's, I asked that question and was given an additional 15% off of my order, even though I don't have a Kohl's card.  A few minutes later, I asked at Ulta since my coupon had expired.  That was all it took for me to save 3.50 on a curling iron.  As long as you ask nicely, the worst they can say is no.  This trick can save you a lot of money, and it's a confidence booster when you ask and are given something that you wouldn't have though to ask for before.

When The Going Gets Tough,

Get Cooking!


It was one of those days today that just felt long, exhausting, and draining.  Lots of meetings, getting home late, and the rainy and frigid weather led to a low mood.  I just wanted something good to happen-- so I tried to add some happy to my day with some home cooking!

I tried my first ever "made up" recipe.  I'm not saying I'm the first person to ever make it, just that I actually thought of the combination of ingredients myself for myself... no recipe involved.  Although I love to follow recipes, it's one of the first times I threw together a real meal and one that I would proudly serve to others.  I think it was reading the wonderful Penzey's Spices (www.penzeys.com) catalog last night that inspired me to try a whole new spin on a few of my favorite foods by putting them together.  I can't control the other stuff, but for a few minutes, everything was right in my world after a bite or two.

Avocado Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

*Pasta shells (2/3 of the box)
*4 slices bacon
*1 yellow onion, chopped
*3 cloves of garlic, chopped
*1.5 cups of shredded cheese (I used a blend of cheddar and Swiss)
*1 avocado, sliced
*salt
*3 tablespoons butter
*3 tablespoons flour
*warmed milk (3/4 cup)
*bread crumbs (optional)

Directions

1.  Boil water with a pinch of salt and add pasta, stirring occasionally for 9 minutes.
2.  While doing step 1, cook the four slices of bacon in a dutch oven or nonstick pan over medium heat.
3.  Cook bacon until nicely browned.  Remove bacon from pan, leaving the grease.  Place bacon on a plate lined with a paper towel.  Allow to cool, then chop.
4.  Add the chopped onion to pan with bacon grease.  Cook approximately five minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Add garlic for the last two minutes.
5.  In a saucepan, heat the butter.  Add flour gradually, stirring to avoid lumps.  Add warmed milk, stirring until as smooth as possible.
6.  Take pasta off heat and drain.  Add to greased casserole dish.  Add cheese sauce to pasta, stirring to combine (mine was thick).  Add onion and garlic mixture to the cheese and pasta.  Stir, then add the shredded cheese and avocado, stirring to combine.  Add bacon, and stir in well.  If you would like, top with additional cheese or bread crumbs.
7.  Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes.  Enjoy!

This was a rich, satisfying treat on a winter night... won't fix everything, but it can't hurt!

The Beauty of a Better Budget

As I mentioned before, I've been trying to get out of some credit card debt for the last couple of years.  It's not that much, but it's been lingering along way past its welcome, and this year I became very determined to get rid of it once and for all.

I've been focusing on budgeting better by using many strategies and tips I've either found online, through trial and error, or through others' advice.  Just to recap, the ones that have really worked for me are:

1)  Transfer balance to a zero percent credit card (Chase).  This tip came from my best friend and has helped me to stop the snowball from getting bigger.

2)  USE CASH!  This tip has, hands down, saved me a lot of money and made budgeting so much less painful.  I just take out a certain amount each week, and then I try to see how much of that initial amount I can keep until the next week.  If I need something, I will buy it, but I am using my cash now for most purchases other than getting gas.  It forces me to be more aware of what I am spending my money on, and it often is the little push that I need to take a minute to find a coupon or use a circular to look at the drugstore sales.   For some reason, "I saved 4.00," seems like so much more of an accomplishment when using cash as opposed to plastic, and it feels like buying stuff is more satisfying as well when I'm handing over the cold, hard cash.

3)   When buying online, use Ebates.  I really like this site, since if you are shopping online, you may as well get a little something back.  This site pretty much gives cash back rewards for all the websites I shop at regularly (Drugstore.com, Nordstrom, Sephora, JCrew, QVC, etc.).  I recently got a check back for 6.00 all for shopping I would have done anyway.  Great site, especially when they have the double cash back from a merchant you would shop with anyway.

4)  Use the wallet index card with a summary of your debts in front of your cash.  If you have to see that every time you look at your wallet, it's easier to say no to some of those impulse buys.  After all, that number would probably be a lot less if I'd made fewer of those over time.

5)  Figure out which services you can cut.  Only you know which things you can get rid of or cut back on without too much pain.  For me, this included cutting my cable and internet to a more basic plan.  Is my internet a little slower?  Yes.  Do I miss On Demand?  Yes.  But am I miserable with this plan?  Not at all.  I also was able to cut my phone bill by about 16.00 a month just by calling and asking the person for advice on my plan.  This one was completely painless, but now I'll be getting that 16.00 extra instead of Verizon.

6)  COSTCO, COSTCO, COSTCO
I cannot say how happy I am that there is finally a Costco nearby.  For a yearly fee of 55.00, you can save a lot by shopping at Costo.  A few recent examples of me saving money there include buying my coffee only from Costco from now on.  A 2.5 pound bag (40 oz.) of good coffee from Costco is 13.49, while a 12 ounce bag of my Starbucks Veranda Blend is about 8.00.  So I can pay .33 or .66 an ounce- easy decision.  I am now paying HALF of what I used to for coffee and it tastes just as good.  I also recently purchased a 4-pack of shave gel there for 7.49 and they are even 20% bigger than the ones from the drugstore.  Another sleeper at Costco (pun intended)- the pillows.  They were recommended to me, and I picked up a pack of two for less than 11.00.  They also are fantastic quality.  One more reason to shop at Costco- they are one of the few retail companies that pays a living wage including health benefits to the workers and allows them to unionize.  A company that treats their employees with dignity and respect and saves me money- yes, please!

7)  Find another way to focus on the indulgences you enjoy buying.  For example, I really enjoy buying and trying makeup, beauty products, etc.  These purchases probably account for a large proportion of my discretionary spending, and I know that probably won't change no matter how much I want to be better with money.  Again, my best friend had a good idea that has worked for me- work on using things up in this category.

There are many benefits to doing a "Use it Up Challenge":

*It forces you to think about the things you do use up (lotions, etc.) and the things you don't but keep purchasing (eye shadows-- I've actually NEVER used one up).
*It's very satisfying to use things up, to think that you got your money's worth and then you can decide if you want to purchase it again or move to on greener pastures.
*It saves money because when you see something you want to buy, you think of all the other ones that you already have and the ones you're trying to use up.

In all honesty, despite the fact that I'm on a "Use it Up" period, I still did make a purchase last night on QVC- A Mally Kit I've had my eye on for some time.  But I'll definitely have fun using that one up, and it's a reward for all of the good choices I've been making lately!

8)  Reward Yourself- this tip I've seen in many magazines and blogs.  No matter how much you want to cut your budget, it will be a miserable experience if you don't reward yourself.  One really good idea I've heard is to take out your weekly budget allotment.  Anything that you have saved up by the end of the week, put half in the bank or toward your next week's budget, then create a "fun money" fund with the other half for any purchases you would like.

These are my best tips, and in combination, they've helped to keep me motivated and to see the beauty of a good budget!

Lent

 This year, I was struggling with what to give up for Lent.  After a really bad experience of giving up coffee a few years ago, which seemed to only punish me and those around me, but didn't get me any closer to God, I didn't even know what to give up or if I should give up anything.  After all, I eat pretty healthfully, and other than the coffee, there's nothing that I have every day that I felt like would be much of a sacrifice to give up.

I wanted to do something that would make me better, make me closer to God, and if possible, make the world just a little bit better.  And finally... I had a good idea- giving up being mean.  If anything is clear at this point in time, it's that our world needs less meanness.  Meanness on T.V., meanness disguised as humor, and meanness towards others not "just like us" all seem rampant today.  I decided that during Lent, I would give up being mean.  As a decently nice person, I've already made better choices since making this decision, but I've also failed a few times already.  One of the biggest things I've realized as a result is that so many times, I am mean to myself.  I'll find myself doubting myself, second-guessing myself, or about to not act in my own best interest of complete self-respect.  It's made me so much more aware of those times, and it's surprisingly easy to just say, "Stop it.  Don't be mean," when it is directed in a way towards myself.  It's a big way of letting myself off the hook, and I've found that being better this way towards myself is making me better towards others as well...more clear, more direct, and just more thoughtful.  More likely to give them the benefit of the doubt or just accept them as I am accepting myself as I am more.

I know that I won't always meet the goal throughout the season, but I already feel more peaceful and secure since making this decision.  I know that others around me have already benefited, and even in situations that I don't know what to do, I now start by thinking, "Don't be mean."  I'm feeling like this is a much better Lenten choice for myself since it's helping me to become better, and hopefully I will keep this habit long after Lent is over.

More Stepping It Up

The good thing about wanting to step it up is the fun of shopping and feeling justified in indulging yourself.  The other thing that you have to do once you have the stuff is actually do something with it-- actually step it up.  Have I done this so far?

Yes, and so far those black boots from Nine West may be the MVP of my purchases lately along with my new eye palette from Too Faced.  Today, I returned something to Kohl's I had purchased online (Lauren Conrad boyfriend blazer- very cute, fit great, but the color was much darker in person and way too close to the color denim I have).  I had to walk through, and I found this shirt (Lauren Conrad again).  Once I saw it, I was hoping it was on sale, and it was-- total of $21.60, so not bad. Here's the best part- once I tried this guy on, I instantly realized I wanted a hot pink blazer instead of teal.  I'm thinking this one shirt can help me with my color schemes for the next few months because it combines most of my favorite colors together and it is just so pretty!  

I can't wait to wear it, and I will definitely post some pics!  

Homemade Pizza

Tonight, I wanted to use up some mozzarella cheese and some basil from the last recipe I made (keeping with my goal of budgeting).  I had also recently watched the Barefoot Contessa's episode on pizza making, so I was very excited to make some changes to the pizza recipe I usually use.

New Recipe:

Prep Time:
10-15 minutes

Total Time:
30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
1 packet yeast
2.5 cups flour
3 teaspoons honey
3 tablespoons olive oil (simmered with 3 roughly chopped garlic cloves and red pepper flakes on low heat while dough prepares)
Cornmeal
Mozzarella cheese

1.  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
2.  Add warm water to a large bowl.  Add the yeast packet, stirring until it dissolves.
3.  Add the flour, honey, and olive oil.  Stir, then use your hands to bring together.
4.  For 10-15 minutes, allow dough to rest.
5.  Sprinkle the cornmeal onto either pizza stone, baking sheet, or upside down cast iron skillet.  Press the dough on this, and then drizzle or brush the warm olive oil (leaving out the cloves of garlic) on top of dough.  Add mozzarella cheese and any other toppings you would like.
6.  Bake at 500 degrees for about 11 minutes, checking around 10 minutes to see if it is ready.


This was very good, but although I was so excited to make the garlic and red pepper olive oil, I felt that this could have had a little more heat to contrast with the cheese and the relative sweetness of the dough.  I did add red pepper flakes on top as well, but I would possibly add a chili pepper or another source of heat next time to the olive oil.

Here it is with the basil on top:

Can't beat homemade pizza on a cold, windy night!

A Winter Wonderland

This weekend, I tried skiing for the first time ever.  I knew it would be much more difficult to learn as an adult since we are higher off of the ground and we have a fear of getting hurt that children lack.  It was a whole new experience for me- one requiring a new ski outfit and being completely new and bad at something right away.  I had this feeling that I would LOVE it instantly and would kind of just be hooked.  Even though the websites I read said that learning to ski alternates between hard and boring with very few "sweet spot" experiences, I still have to say that I really enjoyed it.

First of all, it was so much fun to go somewhere that looks completely different from what I see every day.  That gorgeous view of the mountains, the trees, and the sky just completely refreshed me... especially when the sun was just starting to set.  There's something about a new and different view to shake up your outlook.

Secondly, as an over-thinker, it was so much fun to get out of my own head.  The only thing I could possibly focus on was trying to do the several things at a time that experienced skiers do naturally but that didn't feel natural to me.  At one point, one of the instructors (after I had told him that since I focused on looking up, I forgot to lean forward) said to me, "Take a deep  breath.  Don't think about it.  Just do it."
It was interesting to me not only how quickly a total stranger could identify one thing that I know is holding me back at times, but how many situations in my life that that advice could apply to.  It's definitely messed up many other things I wanted to do or would have tried if only that voice in my head casting doubts or thinking of every-case scenarios wasn't so loud.  The funny thing was that as soon as I listened to that advice, and just watched what he did and did it myself, I improved really quickly.

My goal for the day was just to go down the bunny slope by myself without falling... and I did it eventually, after feeling scared to death, feeling out of control, and falling awkwardly many times.  But in skiing, everyone is falling, and we can see it so easily.  In life, sometimes since we're most aware of our own falls, it seems like everyone else is just cruising along while we keep falling down.  But just like in life, there's only one good option when you fall skiing- pick yourself up,  dust yourself off, and keep going... because one fall just means you're up and moving and learning, not that you're down for the count.  Leaving for the day, I felt like my soul was so peaceful for a while, that the view of those snow-dusted trees and slopes and the new experience both calmed me down and thrilled me.

Stepping It Up Part 3: Makeup

Reviewing Too Faced:

*Boudoir Eyes Palette

So far, I am loving this palette.  The shades are all very wearable, and there is a nice mix of shimmer and matte shades.  The first time I swiped the color on with my brush, I noticed immediately how saturated these shadows are- they really do have that velvet feel.  The colors are very flattering- they seem to be the type of neutrals that would look nice on anyone.  They also seem to draw attention to the eyes instead of drawing attention to the makeup, if that makes any sense.  You can easily create the candlelit, smoky look with this palette, but they also seem fine for work, depending on how you apply them.  Honestly, I think I could get by with just this palette and maybe my Celestine shadow from Bare Minerals for quite a while.

It gets an A from me!

The only downside I found is that for some reason, the crease colors don't seem to blend quite as well as my Laura Geller crease color I often use.  I do have to work a little harder to get them to look right in that area, but it may just be me getting used to these particular shadows.  It looks fine by the time I'm done, though.

*Sweethearts Blush

The second I saw this blush at Sephora.com, I knew I had to have it.  I returned a blush I had bought the week before that was just okay to feel better about buying this one.  But the second I put it on, it was love at first sight again!  Since I've started wearing a tinted moisturizer (L'Oreal Youth Code), blush seems to cling to me so fast that it shows up way too dark, no matter how lightly I try to apply it.  This one has an appealing mix of colors and sweeps on to leave a light, pretty flush that lasts ALL DAY.  

A+

The only downside of this is that the packaging is a bit bulky... but it more than makes up for that with the cute factor and the quality of the product.  

Look #1

Look #2

All in all, I highly recommend this brand from what I've seen so far!  

Stepping It Up: Part Two

As I mentioned the other day, I have been trying to step it up as far as fashion goes.  So far this week, I wore one really cute outfit and one pretty cute outfit.  Both times I put in a little more effort, but I was more than rewarded by feeling more put together, sharp, and confident.  Today when I arrived home from work, two more boxes were waiting for me on my doorstep from Macy's-- so here are my opinions on what I received today.

Nine West Watermelon Boots

The reviews all said that these ran big, so I ordered an 8.5 instead of my typical 9.  I felt like this was one item that would help me update my wardrobe a lot since I can wear them with leggings, skirts, skinny jeans, dresses, etc.  They were a great deal- about $85.00, and I am really happy with them so far.  They seem comfortable, the leather is nice (although a little bit shiny for me, but still very nice), and the calves fit me pretty well.  I can't wait to post some outfits wearing these!  

Perfume by Michael Germain

This was recommended to people who are fans of Pink Sugar, but may not want such a strong or such a "young" smell.  That was definitely my favorite perfume EVER... my signature scent for some fun years of my life.  However, I was ready to move on.  The past few years, I've tried and tried to find something that just smells like "me" with limited success.  I like a lot of the ones I've tried, but none ever made me feel quite the same as my beloved Pink Sugar.  This perfume smells a lot like Pink Sugar in the initial burst.  It seems to dry down to be a bit more subtle, but still sweet with that woodsy, licorice-y note that I enjoy.  Since I still have a bad cold, this impression may change as my sense of smell improves, but so far, so good.  I will be happy to wear this on these cold winter days, and it might even bring me a little sunshine.  

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Today, I was excited to get up because I had a really cute outfit for work planned.  This was a really good way to start the day, but it wasn't the best day for me.  I felt like I really needed to stop myself, like I was acting not like my best self even as I was so inspired by the inauguration last night.  I felt like I was talking too much, not listening enough, and just in general being much more obnoxious than I normally am... I felt like the things I should have said, I didn't, and I said a few things that definitely didn't need to be said.  I did have one really good conversation that I needed to have to prove to myself that the maturity and grace I've felt recently are for real.  I was taking some cold medicine that kind of gives you that jittery feeling, but still I came home feeling disappointed in myself that I wasn't being my best self today.

So I needed to come up with a plan that I felt would allow me to get myself out of a day I felt like this so that I didn't come home feeling like this again.

Here is my start:

1)  Gauge myself more and notice how I am feeling.

2)  If I'm feeling too overly hyper like I was today, deliberately make a choice to not be around people as much unless I have to (don't go to the lunchroom for lunch, etc.).

3)  Try to do either a menial task that calms me down, do a little cleaning, or even just jot down that feeling and how it is affecting me.  Read a magazine or book for a few minutes or take a few deep breaths.

4)  Find and look at a picture that puts me in that mood I want-- calm and serene.  

5)  Think about my overall self and how I want to act in a given situation to build myself up.

I know it wasn't that bad, and that everyone has their off days, but I know by how I felt today that I just don't want to feel like this again...  like I was letting my mood or feeling dictate how I acted instead of the other way around.  It's hard to realize that you have to stop yourself sooner rather than later so you don't act in a way that really doesn't represent the person who you want to be.  I want my list to just serve as a guide to help me "put the brakes on" that type of mood... a simple way to monitor my behavior so that I can stay calm and collected.  

Democracy

I just have to do a quick post on how privileged I feel to be living in a democracy tonight.   Maybe it's the fact that I was off work today, and I was able to watch a lot of the Inaugural coverage on T.V..  Maybe it's the fact that I'm maturing and becoming more thankful, but we are so lucky to live in a country with a peaceful transfer of power, a place where we can make our voices heard, and a place where we have a progressive President speaking for those of us in the middle.  I'm feeling very inspired after the speeches, the dance, and the obvious love between the president and his wife.  Democracy isn't simple, but it sure is sweet.

Stepping it Up

This weekend, I caught an unexpected glimpse of myself in a mirror at The Limited.  As I looked at the view, I suddenly realized, "I am OUT of style!"  Sure, it was just a trip to the mall and yes, I did have a bad head cold, but still.  I looked at my reflection, which I had thought looked just fine before I left, and realized that my outfit would be completely appropriate even if I were 55 or even 65 years old.  Or at work.  But not on the weekend and not for my early thirties age bracket.  If we are supposed to get better as we get older, I really need to get back on the fashionable train.

Strangely, it's actually not the first time I realized that fashion had passed me by.  I had a moment like that years ago in graduate school, but that was partially due to lack of time and money to shop rather than just simple letting fashion get away from me.

It's not that every day I look bad, but just that I feel like much of what I wear on the weekends could be worn to work and look just fine.  This is not fine-- I want to get ready and love my clothes and love my outfits.  I want to look nice and fashionable and hip (but age appropriate).  That might be part of the problem- I've often erred on the side of not trying to dress "too young", but I think it's actually hurt me because I think I'm beginning to dress "too old."  I have a closet full of clothes, but lately I've just felt like I wasn't excited to wear any of them despite some attempts to shop my closet or recombine some old favorites.
   
With this realization, I made the decision to step up my wardrobe and accessories.  Part of this (the fun part) is my hauling that I did this weekend.  I love to shop, and this weekend was one of those lucky shopping times when I wanted to buy things and I actually found them instead of my usual not having money and finding a lot or having money and finding nothing.  This weekend, I did a combination of in-person and online shopping at:

*Sephora  (Too Faced Eye Palette and Blush)
*Express Outlet (cute going out shirt)
*Nordstrom (lip gloss and cami from Nordstrom Juniors)
*Macy's (flat black boots and new perfume)
*Express (2 camis, 1 really fun going out shirt, cute peach cardigan)
*Kohl's (teal boyfriend blazer from the Lauren Conrad Line)


Express, Express Outlet, and Nordstrom

Deeper color than it appears on here- with a little sparkle... can't beat it for $9.99.

The big gun- a Chanel lipgloss...  This one has to be my one and only lip purchase for quite a while.  I'm so excited to use it once my Sephora order comes in and my cold clears up.  Now it's just sitting there tempting me!

   
      This is probably the biggest shopping weekend I've had in years, so I am very excited to try out my new stuff once it all gets here.  New makeup, perfume, clothes- I think I'll feel like a new woman!  Along with the new stuff, I HAVE TO just in general put in more effort putting together my outfits.  I've recently stepped up my makeup, attempted to step up my hair, but the style has lagged behind the other two.  However, what's the point of good hair and makeup on top of a blah and boring outfit?  I need to not just enjoy the new stuff, but figure out ways to combine it with what I already have for some more fun and interesting looks.  Although the Catholic guilt part of me sometimes feels frivolous focusing this much attention on the externals, I just have to think that the effort we put into looking nicer is worth it in improved self-confidence.  It's also a little way that we can make each day better because, really, what's a sweeter way to start the day than with a sharp outfit you can't wait to wear?

Even Sweeter- I called Macy's because when I was on their site today trying to look at my order's shipping, I saw that there was a 15% off code for all purchases that I hadn't seen before.  They nicely applied it to my order, saving me an extra $25.00.

When It's Sour, Make It Sweet

      So, with my renewed focus on the sweet and simple things in life, the question naturally had to come up:  what do you do when life isn't sweet and isn't simple?

     After a very difficult week at work, I felt thrown for a loop... like the ground under my feet suddenly wasn't as steady as it was before.  Like most difficult situations, it made me question another person-- and it made me question myself.  A few tears later, and after several conversations about what to do, the truth was I still didn't know what to do.  That's okay- and I was okay with just letting myself get to the point where I knew what to do instead of forcing action when I wasn't ready.

      I still felt tied up, though, and still felt like my mind kept going back to what had happened even though I was telling myself to let it go.  Finally, I found a few strategies and tips that got me through... so I am sharing them today.

1)  Ask someone outside your comfort zone for advice.  Provided you can trust this person, it can be a great way to get a different perspective.  Basically, the people we turn to most often (at least in my case) tend to be so similar to us that they see things similarly to the way we do.  For me, asking a more casual (but trustworthy) friend at work was really helpful.  After explaining the situation, I got a completely different and much nicer perspective on the situation than I had been assigning in my head.... making it much easier for me to-

2)  Let it go.  This only works if you really can do it.  I've learned the hard way the danger of forcing yourself to "let it go" before you truly are able to process, be angry, or forgive.  In this case, after hearing the advice I received, the anger and hurt I felt was just gone a few days later.  It took a few days of just not even worrying about it to realize that it was gone.

3)  Give the benefit of the doubt when you POSSIBLY can.  It's hard to do, and we sometimes don't in order to protect ourselves, but often this lack of trust just hurts us more.  It hurts our ability to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt when needed and our ability to believe that others will give it to us in life.  Doing this really helped me to let a disappointment turn more into an opportunity for growth.  This leads me to--

4)  After you are feeling better, make a choice to get something out of a tough situation.  Once I wasn't feeling so wronged and defensive, I had a clear head to ask myself some questions like:
*Why did this situation make me so upset?
*What could I have done in the moment to make it better instead of worse?
*What can I do in the future to prevent this or a similar situation from happening again?

I saw a quotation recently in a magazine that said something to the effect of, "How can life polish you up if you get upset at every rub?"  I unfortunately don't remember the author or the magazine, but it really hit me.  If you want everything to already be perfect, you don't get those opportunities for change and personal growth that the bumps in the road afford us.  This situation also gave me the opportunity to--

5)  Be the bigger person.  Again, DO NOT attempt this if you can't do it sincerely.  That is worse than not doing anything, because you are basically trying to be better than the other person out of your feeling of being wronged and wanting to show that you are better and he/she is worse.  Luckily, I felt good enough after the previous four steps to make a nice gesture.  And I felt really good for doing it.

     I feel more mature and in control handling things this way than other ways I have in the past.  Why let it be sour when you can make it sweet?

 

Mid-Winter Decorating

Call me an optimist, but I feel like it's already mid-winter.  Although this belief is not supported by the calendar, to me it feels like once we get into January, the countdown to spring begins.

Along with many others, I have begun taking my Christmas decorations down.  The tree will stay up another week, but the vase full of Christmas balls had to go.  I found that it's much better for me to gradually switch out the holiday decor.  Otherwise, it just looks so bare and depressing.  Let's be honest- winter can be depressing enough without that shock to the system.  I've found it is best to gradually take things down and switch out to a more "wintery" look.  I love the idea of having a separate set of after Christmas decor, but it's not really in my budget at this point (or in my simpler living plan), so I improvised as best I could.  Here are a few pictures, and one of my favorite memory keeping ideas.


Instead of the Pottery Barn cranberries, I was ready for something more neutral to go with my candle.  I used my collection of wine corks.  One thing I really love to do is write a little note on the wine cork about what is going on at the time.  For example, I have one I found on the beach in West Palm Beach, Florida. I have some from occasions such as my 30th birthday or dinner with some new friends.  It's a small, sentimental way to remember some special times, and I like the casual look it brings to the table.

An easy way to keep some elements of Christmas decor like these ornaments- I added them to my "fall" pine cones for a rustic and pretty look

Bonus Picture #1- I found this one day on a walk.  Isn't is adorable?!

Bonus picture #2- Enchiladas with Avocado Sauce from www.closetcooking.com.  I honestly could live for a year just on recipes from this site, so I'm very happy to have found it.  A+!

If You've Got the Money, Honey:  My Top Two Budgeting Tips

     Like many others, one way my life would be simpler is if I could finish paying off my credit cards.  I've felt like I've been treading water for the past few years with this intention.  The pattern has been 1) get frustrated with being in debt 2) be really strict for a while with money 3) not be able to take it anymore and splurge 4)  get frustrated and repeat.  I'm slowly starting to set a new, better pattern for myself, and it feels good.  Here are a few simple budgeting ideas that have worked for me so far... ways that make it feel less like a crash diet and more like a healthy plan I can actually embrace for the long haul.  

1)  Use cash whenever possible.  I've heard statistics that people tend to spend less when using cash since they feel like the loss of the cash is more tangible than the swipe of a credit card.  For a while, I practically never carried cash, but lately I've been taking out cash when I get paid and trying to use that for groceries, trips to Target, and spending money.  I honestly have noticed a difference, particularly in the area of impulse buys of make-up, clothing, or random things I find at Target that look interesting.

2)  Carry an index card with the balance of your credit cards written on it in your wallet.  In order to spend money, you'll have to see this and it may be just enough of a "yellow light" to reevaluate an impulse buy.  It also helps to update this as soon as you make another payment... keeping the momentum going.  This one saved me recently from a sweater purchase at Banana Republic.  Cute, yes.  On sale, yes.  But one look at this card and I thought of another gray sweater in my drawer and whether or not this sweater would improve my life as much as putting the money towards paying off my debt.  Easy answer:  not even close!

     

"Enjoy the little things.  One day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

     This has been one of my favorite quotes for many years now.  I look back at the things I really miss about  past times and almost always, it's not the grand gestures or big events.  It's the little ones that meant something bigger, or represented a feeling unique to that time and only that time.  It's the chocolate chip pancakes my mom made on snow days.  The feeling that each day was an eternity and all it took was some extra sleep and some sugar and some time playing outside... nothing on either side of that day to even think about.  It's the times sitting on the porch in college talking for hours, never realizing how fast those hours were going.  It's the feeling of anticipation in the air or having a co-worker who brings you a Starbucks unexpectedly here and there just when you really need it.  

     

     This year, more than ever before, I've heard many people talking about a goal to appreciate the little things more.  It means to pay more attention to the things going right, those blessings that we take for granted simply because we're used to them, or they're small, or they aren't always stepping stones to achievement.  Maybe it's because we're getting older and realizing that we can't control everything, but we can choose how we focus our attention.  Maybe it's the chaos and fast pace of life, leaving many people not able to take the time to process or to savor a good experience.  Maybe it's feeling like it doesn't measure up if it's not a perfect experience.  I know I've been very guilty of this in the past, and I want to focus more of my attention on the good in my life-- those small blessings that make me smile, make me think, or enlarge my trust in the world.  

    Today on Facebook, I happened to see the idea on Shawn Killinger's QVC page to start a jar of good things that happen in 2013.  It's very simple.

1.  Decorate jar according to your taste.

2.  Fill it with small papers describing the good things that happen over the year.

3.  At the end of the year (or when needed), read the slips of paper and enjoy. 

*Optional- use up scrapbook paper and punch the scraps into a cute shape....use with your pictures in a photo album after the year is over.  

Happy New Year!

     I'm not the biggest New Year's fan.  I don't like the feeling of the pressure of having to have "the best" time in order to get the new year off to a good start.  It's not that I don't like going out- it's just that I don't like the cold, the pressure, and staying out really late just because I feel like I have to.   This year, it was a huge relief to take the pressure off of myself by choosing to stay in and relax.  I said yes to hot chocolate with cinnamon, cayenne, and marshmallows, being comfortable in pajamas, and yes to a super-long  long distance conversation with my best friend about our highs and lows of the year, best purchases, and hopes for the new year.  I got to see the ball drop and relax safe and sound with some MSNBC yearly highlights.  It was great to get up feeling ready to start the year instead of exhausted and poorer.

     So, I felt like I really sent off 2012 on a good note.  Today, I welcomed the new year by baking my first real loaf of bread ever.

     Thanks to The Comfort of Cooking blog for this recipe (http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2010/06/cinnamon-raisin-bread.html).

Here is my experience baking my first real loaf of bread.

The bad part- I took a walk, then eagerly peeked at the dough left to rise with a warm, damp cloth.  It looked like it hadn't changed in size at all.  Luckily, I Googled "how to make dough rise if it won't" and learned the tip that you can turn the oven on warm and let it warm up, turn off the oven, and then place the dough in there so that it is warm enough to rise.  After another 45 minutes, the dough had gotten much bigger.

Yes, I really made that!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a sweet, simple, and happy 2013!