Finding Balance

Yesterday I took a break from purging my junk.  Needed to fuel my talent for being creative – and I used up some junk in the process.   I don’t want to get burnt out with the whole de-clutter process.

I decided to finish a challenge after all, but I did something totally different than what I was planning on doing before my ‘Aha-Hoarder’ moment last week.  I decided to make an organizer to old the various odds and ends of a Nintendo DS we have.  I keep one so that when I have to drag Hope with me to an appointment I can plug her in.  Otherwise, she’d be bouncing all over the furniture and talking to everyone.  We don’t play it much, but it makes appointments fun for her.  I’ve been carrying it around in Ziploc bags in my purse forever.  But, this got rid of some of my garbage clutter and helped me organize the games a bit better.

It almost matches my purse.  Lucky me.  And when not going to appointments, I can store it on the shelf next to books.   

I posted a tutorial on how I made it HERE.  Now, I’m thinking I could do several of these types of cases for various things my boys have.  Would make great Christmas stocking stuffers on the cheap.  I only have to be sure to be realistic about what I have time to do and it’s time frame.  Otherwise this idea falls into my addicting clutter frame of mind.    That’s the only thing that stinks about being creative.

I met with ‘Young and Gorgeous’ today!  Of course she thinks I’m doing Fab and going in the right direction.  The one concern that’s overwhelmed me with the whole gutting process is the thought of running around like crazy and monitoring the family to make sure they are complying with our simple dream lifestyle. 

She Said, ‘Fawn, you have a husband right?

‘Yep.’

‘Well can’t he monitor too?’

‘Yes, I guess he could.’

‘And your kids have all agreed that they want this too – right?’

‘Dang, you are so right.’

She pointed out that I am not doing this alone.  We are all doing it together and I shouldn’t put such a overwhelming heavy burden on my shoulders.  We can all Jillian Michaels kindly monitor each other.  Then, I’m not the only Bad Guy.  Plus, having little Hope sweetly ask Prince Daddy to pick up his socks would sound way cuter from her than it would from mommy.

By the time I’m finished with this process, I will practically fly everywhere, my self-imposed burdens seem to lift a little every week. Love my counselor! 

Now, I’ve just got to control this crazy creative brain of mine.  It’s been dreaming of following the ‘Project Runway’ challenges when they are given each week.  You know watch through the show until the challenge is given – turn off the TV, run to the thrift store to buy fabric and see if I can’t create something similar if not better than the contestants?)  How crazy is that idea.  Of course I’d try and rationalize the process by saying I was trying to create a wearable look for a member of my family that fit in the definition guidelines.  But which of my girls is looking for a High Fashion /Couture Look to wear to Pre-school?  Okay, I know Hope would love to wear a princess gown to the dump if she could.  Anyway, that’s the inner ramblings I have to deal with from myself – on a daily basis.  Good thing I’m not the only one that crazy creative.  Commented about it to ‘Grosgrain’ and she loved the idea as well.  Love Grosgrain’s creativity, wish I had as much time to sew.

Now I’ve got to go find something to chuck!  Blah!!!

Shrinking my view

As always every two weeks or so I meet with my Young and Gorgeous Counselor. It’s something I never would have even remotely considered until my health crisis of a couple of years ago. Something about being given a diagnosis (Essential Tremor) of something you will have to deal with for the rest of your life has a way of putting you on a roller coaster of unimaginable emotions and changing your whole life's perspective about dang near everything.

So I’ve overcome a lot of hurdles, made some huge life changes and probably now feel 100% better about being me than I have ever felt before, even with my new limitations. So why then would I still need to see a counselor?

Well it turns out that about the time that I finally pulled my life back together my son was diagnosed with his O.D.D. and Severe Depression. One of the things they counsel parents of Oppositional Defiant Children is to seek counseling and get help, cause they know that we are going to need it so we don’t turn into mental mush bags. So in my mind one of the huge reasons for continuing to see her is so I can learn how to deal with my son, and still love him even when he’s not himself.

However I think the main reason I still see her is, no matter how good or not-so-good things are going, I really learn something new, mostly about myself, every time I go in. That and I get to vent without feeling guilty.

This last visit was just what I needed. My assignments for the next two weeks is to (1) meal track (totally different subject which I’ll probably explain in future blogs). And (2) Have Fun, Smell the Roses, Find Joy in the Simple Little things that I often take for granted, and usually miss because of my helter-skelter, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants life.

So here is what I’ve noticed. Normally I see this when I look out my front window. I know – not fun – a bunch of weeds, a lot of work.

But if I take a little extra time to notice the small things… WoW the Sun actually came out of hiding. Well, I guess that isn't a small thing it's a big thing, especially here in the NorthWest. And here I am talking about small things. How's this for noticing a little bit of sunshine poking out of a pile of weeds.

And even though I loath weeds I couldn't help but notice my girls precious flowers as well. Of course I like them even better when my little wee ones hand them to me after they are picked.

I know you might be wondering about the simple joy I find in this picture. Well it's the simple little For Sale sign still on my husbands Pride and Joy.

That and seeing my little ones having fun with their Dad even on dry ground, Pure Joy!