All that Hustlin' and Bustlin'

Well hello there...I know I know, its literally been forever. "W"...for whatevs. Things have been busy - around the house, at work, family, friends, Holiday hustling, etc. I haven't had time to make a post...I have thought about it and missed it...so I'm back (at least for now). I'll spare you all the details of trying to catch you up on what has been going on...here is a list of a few of the things that have happened in between the last time I posted and now.

Halloween
Sporting events (Skins, JMU Dukes, Wizards, Caps, etc.)
Training for work
Burkett Girls weekend
The first Annual Woodstock Turkey Trot (put on by our very own at RG (work) HQ!)
RG HQ Christmas Party
RG Company Holiday Party
Thanksgiving
Birthday Party celebrations
Holiday/Christmas parties ('tis the season)
And who knows what I am missing!!

Let's just say it has been a busy two months...and I am loving it. But now that Christmas is right around the corner (literally) and the tree is up, baking is constantly taking place, and the fire has been lit multiple times I am ready to start the slow down and snuggle into some quality family time at home! (During that quality time I plan to do a lot more organizing...I forgot to mention that I was all over that. I am determined to have at least all closets -aka- hiding places cleaned up for the New Year!) Here are just a few snapshots of what has been going on in my world. I hope you and yours are having a wonderful Holiday Season and it only continues to get better! :0)

Katie R and I at the Caps game! My first real hockey game!
Homemade Apple Pie for Thanksgiving!

Kylene and I at the JMU football game! Yea for big sunglasses and warmer weather!

The craft we all did for girls weekend. Homemade stuffed owls! They are now residing with my niece and nephew (T&E) :0) Great gift idea!!View from the corn maze we did as a Girls Weekend activity. We were all surprised we made it out...and as quick as we did.Girls weekend crew - from left to right - Abby, Linda, Lauren, Amy, Little Miss Ella, Yours Truly, & Kay! Here we are again at the Cafe' for lunch!SWL and I at the Redskins vs. Cowboys football game!! Go Skins!
Kylene and I (Riley too) at Halloween. All Alice in Wonderland'ed up!SWL and Mr. Tristan...bonding time over a haircut. Much of the conversation was coming from T and it went something like this..."Are we finished now?...Now?...Are we finished now?"
Lance and Laci! I cant believe little man is 5!! <3 style="text-align: left;">I can't even believe that all that (and some) has happened in just two months! I guess its true what they say...time flies when you're having fun! Hope to post again before the New Year...at least once...until then! :0)

After doing some reading, thinking, taking a 45 minute power walk to think it over some more and then feeling like I might have actually stumbled on the first piece to reaching my goal of being organized - I decided to write it down. Here it goes...

It starts with how you think, can you believe it? At least with me it does. My thoughts, how I view my organization (or lack there of) and my perception of others "organization". I throw quotations around the word organization here because of the following reason and this is exactly my first point. I find that often I compare my life to others and more times than not I allow myself to continually come out on the end of drawing the short stick. For example, it doesn't matter that the entire weekend I might've cleaned and straightened the house, planned the meals for the coming week, and washed the dog, come Monday if I see anyone that looks like they might be slightly more put together than I feel, I start comparing and losing. For all I know, the person(s) I am comparing myself to could have done nothing all weekend and be totally NOT put together and only look like the have it all figured out.

So this is my plan. My first step to "Organizing Me" is going to be changing the way I think and feel about the lists that I check off (completely or partially), the time that I spend relaxing, and how I stack myself up to those around me. Really, it isn't a competition...and it shouldn't feel like one! I do it to myself and its time to stop.

It's not necessarily about "coming out on top" when I compare, it's more about realizing that there are differences in everyone's life and accepting/appreciating what makes my own unique! I'm committed...I'm in need...and I'm ready! So for the rest of this week (and hopefully the rest of my life) I am going to make a conscious effort to change the way I think and look at my life compared to others.

Until next time...

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you are moving through the days, sun up - sun down, get up - go to sleep, everything is happening just as it should so you aren't really paying attention to what day it is? This week, that is me. Chugging along, making lists - checking them off, heading to work - filling in my timesheet and heading home.... I was just fine. Then the week decided to jump up and slap me right in the face as if I weren't paying enough attention to it. All day I've been thinking it was Friday...FRIDAY! Until, just now, while chatting with some friends I realized I still have half a day until I get to be excited about Friday! Hmmmph...total devastation.

I think this feeling really encompasses my entire Fall season thus far. I can't believe we are half way through the month of October, I can't believe Halloween is knocking at my door and I haven't even finished putting out all of out Fall/Halloween decorations (not to mention I haven't pulled together my costume yet?), I can't believe the family is already trying to make plans for Thanksgiving...and then Christmas?! I can't believe I have already started shopping for Christmas. Who does that? Now?

I feel like I have to plan ahead, but I want to slow down. When I take the time to sit and enjoy doing nothing, I feel guilty and 10 things come to mind that I could/should be doing. I have a planner in my purse, a ginormous planner stuck to the fridge, my blackberry calendar is full, there are post-its in every place imaginable as reminders for things I have to or might want to do...WHAT THE HECK? I've got all the supplies to be organized and yet I feel as if I am being swallowed by the "tools" that I have in place.

This is what I feel like now...

This is where I want to be...
Ahhh....doesn't that just make you feel good...

I need tips, real hard life tips for getting, being, and staying organized. We'll see where this goes...but over the next couple weeks (or months, it might take me the rest of the year to really get in a groove) I'm going to read up, listen up, and search out ways to live an organized life. I'll share what I find helpful and will be more than happy to take hints that might lead me in the direction I am so desperately seeking...so please, comment away!

Ha! I figured it out!

So, for some time now I have been wanting to add a "signature" to my blog...well folks...I figured it out! Here is the debut!

PS- I really do plan to share my latest crafting adventures...

Giveaway....over here ---->

For all my fellow bloggers, I thought I would share this great giveaway! Here!! And even if you aren't interested in participating for a chance to win a Fancy Print, I recommend checking out this blog, 33 Shades of Green, where I heard about the giveaway! I follow and love it...hope you like it too!


p.s. ~ More to come about on the progress of re-purposing my table and buffet. OH - and I won a new piece at the auction this past weekend...although I don't know if "won" is the correct word since technically I paid for it?? Thanks for stopping by!!

~HAL

Falling into Autumn

With the Fair finished and gone (tear) it seems that Fall has wasted no time stepping up as being the next big thing to happen. I love this time of year - crisp mornings, just warm enough evenings, football, sweaters, hot drinks, beautiful colors, baking smells...all deliciously irresistible - the list could go on and on. This time of year is also when I get the real itch to jump into more DIY projects than usual. Things like purging the house of all items unused or no longer needed, baking...lots of baking (you have to pack on for winter warmth right?), decorating, moving furniture around, etc. This year I am trying something I have never been brave enough to attempt before - stripping, sanding, and re-finishing/painting furniture!! I am pretty excited. One - its a project and Two - I am going to have "new" furniture in the house!

I started the first project a couple days ago - this lovely table that I found fo' FREE! along the side of the road one day when I wasn't even looking. (Suhweet) I thought it would go great with what I have planned for my sunroom (that which is currently empty minus the dog crate).

My first "to do" - sand it...well I tried (by hand) and thought I was doing good with the little bit of elbow grease I could drum up. But as soon as I dusted it off it was like I had never touched it. Extremely sad face. So I waltzed down the street to borrow an electric sander (I think I'm in love) from the Clarke's (Thank you sooo much!). After about 10 minutes of that I realized I was going to need more than just a sander soooo (again) the Clarke's gave me some stripper! Uhmazing...if you haven't stripped something you should. I think I might strip every piece of furniture I own just to give it a new a refreshed look! Check it out!



Anyway...so this is about as far as I have been able to get with my craftiness. I do have this lovely piece that I scored from the local thrift store that I have grand plans for, so stay posted!

I'll keep you all updated! For now, just a quick hello and happy Fall! I hope this season is as inspiring for you as it seems to be for me :o) What are some of your favorite Fall happenings??

~HAL

Its time...

...time for the Shenandoah County Fair! As sad as I am that this time of year usually means the end of summer is literally right around the corner and cold weather will be here before you know it, I love love love (one more) love the fair!!! If you are from the area and have any idea what I am talking about you probably already have your tickets in hand and your schedule mapped out. You know exactly where you will be heading for your first taste of fair goodness - Shaffer's for a BBQ platter, the booth second from the right of the grandstand for a funnel cake (extra powdered sugar), down towards the dairy barns for a scoop (or two) of ice cream, the lemonade stand for the biggest reusable cup of fresh squeezed lemonade you can get, or maybe your cup of tea is the new stand where you can get a deep fried Oreo...I'll be having all of it please! I am particularly excited by the fact that Josh Turner will be here to sing a tune (which I will unashamedly join in on even if I do sound slightly, shall we say, "off tune"). And the Derby, oh how I can't get enough of the Derby (caps because it is that important to me). Front row, stage tickets, dirt flying (I'm talking you have to wear protective gear flying), ear plugs because it is so loud, pure awesome. Ahhhh....it all starts tomorrow!!

If you have no idea what I am talking about...shame on you. Seriously, and maybe I am a bit biased, but I think the Shenandoah County Fair is the bees knees people. Check it out, get your tickets, and get there! :0) And if you miss it this year, it's never too early to plan for next year!

Hope to see you all there!
~HAL