Simplify and reap the rewards!
In my last post I talked about backing down from A Rotta Love Plus, I did this in June of 2009. In the 2 ½ months since I resigned from A Rotta Love I have learned that a more simple life leads to a LOT more creativity!
Currently my mind is SPILLING over with things I want to try (gardening, crafts, sewing, and scrapbooking projects) and house projects I want Adam and me to work on!
Growing up I was always creative, planning, decorating, coordinating, and loving crafts… When I was up to my eye balls in A Rotta Love Plus, I would often wonder where my creativity went. I felt paralyzed of any imagination.
I read at some point how when you take steps to simplify your life, it really opens up your creativity! This proved to be true for me; I have imagination and creativity back!! I am more connected with myself, my family, and my surroundings and loving it!
Cheers,
Beth
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Life Balance Lessons and A Rotta Love Plus
One life lesson I have been learning is the importance of life balance. As a mother of two young ones, working full time, maintaining a household and a healthy marriage it is essential!
Balance has always been a challenge for me. Case in point is A Rotta Love Plus (http://www.arottalove.org/). I, along with Rachel Anderson used to run a Pit Bull and Rottweiler rescue called A Rotta Love Plus. It is a WONDERFUL organization, check them out online. When I was a part of A Rotta Love Plus, I had so much to do all the time, there is SO much need in dog rescue, I had an impossible time drawing the line, creating balance, and setting boundaries. I tried to do A Rotta Love Plus ‘part time’ but it proved to not be something I was capable of. I was (and still am) very passionate about A Rotta Love Plus, it will always have a piece of my heart, but I also came to the conclusion….
That my family is worth by dedication first and foremost
Anything that compromises my ability to be a good mother and wife needs to go
Moderation really IS important
If you are so dedicated to something to the point that you can’t sleep because your mind races about all you have to do…there is something wrong.
If you are so stressed out over something that you physically manifest symptoms, this is not healthy.
If you have to constantly fight your husband to do your hobby (given you have an otherwise healthy relationship) you need to think about your boundaries.
This and more contributed to my decision to back down from A Rotta Love Plus. It was a decision made over many tears and sleepless nights. After I completely stepped down from A Rotta Love Plus, I felt like a burden had been removed from my back. I felt like I could breathe, I could be a good mom, a good wife…and I had freedom.
This taught me a lot about how sometimes the hardest decisions you make, can bring you great joys…
Of course I miss A Rotta Love at times, but I am at peace with the decision I made, it was time.
Cheers,
Beth
Balance has always been a challenge for me. Case in point is A Rotta Love Plus (http://www.arottalove.org/). I, along with Rachel Anderson used to run a Pit Bull and Rottweiler rescue called A Rotta Love Plus. It is a WONDERFUL organization, check them out online. When I was a part of A Rotta Love Plus, I had so much to do all the time, there is SO much need in dog rescue, I had an impossible time drawing the line, creating balance, and setting boundaries. I tried to do A Rotta Love Plus ‘part time’ but it proved to not be something I was capable of. I was (and still am) very passionate about A Rotta Love Plus, it will always have a piece of my heart, but I also came to the conclusion….
That my family is worth by dedication first and foremost
Anything that compromises my ability to be a good mother and wife needs to go
Moderation really IS important
If you are so dedicated to something to the point that you can’t sleep because your mind races about all you have to do…there is something wrong.
If you are so stressed out over something that you physically manifest symptoms, this is not healthy.
If you have to constantly fight your husband to do your hobby (given you have an otherwise healthy relationship) you need to think about your boundaries.
This and more contributed to my decision to back down from A Rotta Love Plus. It was a decision made over many tears and sleepless nights. After I completely stepped down from A Rotta Love Plus, I felt like a burden had been removed from my back. I felt like I could breathe, I could be a good mom, a good wife…and I had freedom.
This taught me a lot about how sometimes the hardest decisions you make, can bring you great joys…
Of course I miss A Rotta Love at times, but I am at peace with the decision I made, it was time.
Cheers,
Beth
Don't even have the words...
Tuesday night (the 24th) Chloe was invited for the first time to have a sleepover with grandma, all by her big 2 1/2 year old self. Of course I approved as it allowed Chloe to have one on one with grandma and me to spend some quality time with Evan.
Wednesday started out wonderful with a long walk in the morning with Adam and Evan! Chloe came home and we went over to her new friend Elle's house and had a great play date. We came home at about 1:30 and the kids went down for a nap right away.
At almost 3pm arose a monster! Yes, a 2 1/2 monster... Oh My Gosh! The rest of the day was a absolute disaster full of constant testing, time outs, and tantrums. I tend to have a long fuse with the kids but this attitude I was dealing with had me completely frazzled. I didn't even know what to do with my little monster! I kept the kids mainly outside since they seem to do better outside...I think that helped a little. By the time bedtime came, I was spent. Our bedtime routine went well, we talked about our bad day and talked about how we would make it better the next day!
I left my little monster sleeping peacefully and feeling sick to my stomach about how the day went... What happened? Is this normal?
Today at work in tears I talked with the gals about Chloe the monster, who woke up the sweetest little girl this morning. Is it normal to come back home from a sleepover with such an attitude? Is she too young for sleepovers, even with grandma? Do I need to set parameters for Chloe when she has sleepovers (like a bed time, etc)? I surely can't have her continue to have sleepovers if she comes home with such an attitude!
I felt better after I talked to the ladies at work, this seems to be a common issue... What have you done with your little ladies when you leave for a sleepover as little angels and come back as monsters?
Cheers,
Beth
Wednesday started out wonderful with a long walk in the morning with Adam and Evan! Chloe came home and we went over to her new friend Elle's house and had a great play date. We came home at about 1:30 and the kids went down for a nap right away.
At almost 3pm arose a monster! Yes, a 2 1/2 monster... Oh My Gosh! The rest of the day was a absolute disaster full of constant testing, time outs, and tantrums. I tend to have a long fuse with the kids but this attitude I was dealing with had me completely frazzled. I didn't even know what to do with my little monster! I kept the kids mainly outside since they seem to do better outside...I think that helped a little. By the time bedtime came, I was spent. Our bedtime routine went well, we talked about our bad day and talked about how we would make it better the next day!
I left my little monster sleeping peacefully and feeling sick to my stomach about how the day went... What happened? Is this normal?
Today at work in tears I talked with the gals about Chloe the monster, who woke up the sweetest little girl this morning. Is it normal to come back home from a sleepover with such an attitude? Is she too young for sleepovers, even with grandma? Do I need to set parameters for Chloe when she has sleepovers (like a bed time, etc)? I surely can't have her continue to have sleepovers if she comes home with such an attitude!
I felt better after I talked to the ladies at work, this seems to be a common issue... What have you done with your little ladies when you leave for a sleepover as little angels and come back as monsters?
Cheers,
Beth
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Addicted to Etsy
I have been thinking of things I can do to make a little extra money from home. I have considered many different things but I keep circling back to making a craft from home and selling it. This way I can make my crafts when I have time available.
I ran across this web site where you can sell and buy your hand made crafts, clothes, and much more! It is a wonderful site called etsy, and I have found myself addicted to it! Now I have an avenue to sell my crafts...
Check out the web site http://www.etsy.com/
Cheers,
Beth
I ran across this web site where you can sell and buy your hand made crafts, clothes, and much more! It is a wonderful site called etsy, and I have found myself addicted to it! Now I have an avenue to sell my crafts...
Check out the web site http://www.etsy.com/
Cheers,
Beth
Life is a Whirlwind...
This last weekend Adam went out of town, I was scheduled to go along with him but there was something telling me to stay home. I had a lot of little reasons I used to justify my stay home but inside of me there was something telling me to stay home... Any of you who are mothers know to listen to this sixth sense.
Saturday night I wrapped up curtain making with my mom and then bid farewell to some friends that had come to visit and see the house. I put the kids to bed and started to clean up the house. I received a phone call from my mom about 10 minutes into my cleaning "Are you ok" she said... "there are really bad storms coming your way." I proceeded to turn on the TV and realized that this storm was headed right for my house. I had about 1/2 hour to prepare. I quick cleared out a place in the garage for the car, took the dogs out to potty, collected blankets and a flashlight. I moved the dog kennel and a futon behind the stairwell, kenneled the dogs and went upstairs to wake up the kids. The storm really started to roll in at that time and I started to get pretty rattled. I woke up Evan first, he was hard to wake up since he was in such a deep sleep. I then went in to wake up Chloe which was a chore as she was also in a deep sleep and I had Evan in my arms. I managed to carry both of them to the basement!
My mom had dispatched my dad to my house to help me through the storm so he came shortly after we got into the basement. THANK YOU DAD!!!!
Soon after my dad got to the house the power went out. Our flashlights went on! We sat in the stairwell for a little over an hour as the storm passed. It was loud, the wind was unreal, the sounds from this storm were strange...my dad and I looked at one point and said "What is that"...
At about 11pm we came up from the basement. We can't see much since it is so dark and the power is out. My dad left at about midnight, me and the kids slept in my bed...I could not bare to leave them in their rooms with no power and questioning if something else was headed our way.
In the morning, there still was no power. We got up and had breakfast and then went and drove around to see if there was damage. At our house, the patio door (1 of 2 panes) was broken, some siding was pulled out, our Adirondack chair was broken and landed behind our house, the garbage cans were taken and emptied all over our land and thrown in the back of the house, the old plow in the front yard was moved, trees were down everywhere, the farmer next to us had his hay basket thrown into the ditch and the farm across from us in uninhabitable. WOW! We were lucky! I think it was because Chloe and I were praying that we would be safe and singing "Jesus Love Me" over and over...
We were out of power for 17 hours in total. Adam came home early and with his parents and my parents help, we got the yard cleaned up and everything back in order that Sunday!
Lesson learned:
Listen to my gut!
I can handle a lot more than I give myself credit for!
Cheers,
Beth
Saturday night I wrapped up curtain making with my mom and then bid farewell to some friends that had come to visit and see the house. I put the kids to bed and started to clean up the house. I received a phone call from my mom about 10 minutes into my cleaning "Are you ok" she said... "there are really bad storms coming your way." I proceeded to turn on the TV and realized that this storm was headed right for my house. I had about 1/2 hour to prepare. I quick cleared out a place in the garage for the car, took the dogs out to potty, collected blankets and a flashlight. I moved the dog kennel and a futon behind the stairwell, kenneled the dogs and went upstairs to wake up the kids. The storm really started to roll in at that time and I started to get pretty rattled. I woke up Evan first, he was hard to wake up since he was in such a deep sleep. I then went in to wake up Chloe which was a chore as she was also in a deep sleep and I had Evan in my arms. I managed to carry both of them to the basement!
My mom had dispatched my dad to my house to help me through the storm so he came shortly after we got into the basement. THANK YOU DAD!!!!
Soon after my dad got to the house the power went out. Our flashlights went on! We sat in the stairwell for a little over an hour as the storm passed. It was loud, the wind was unreal, the sounds from this storm were strange...my dad and I looked at one point and said "What is that"...
At about 11pm we came up from the basement. We can't see much since it is so dark and the power is out. My dad left at about midnight, me and the kids slept in my bed...I could not bare to leave them in their rooms with no power and questioning if something else was headed our way.
In the morning, there still was no power. We got up and had breakfast and then went and drove around to see if there was damage. At our house, the patio door (1 of 2 panes) was broken, some siding was pulled out, our Adirondack chair was broken and landed behind our house, the garbage cans were taken and emptied all over our land and thrown in the back of the house, the old plow in the front yard was moved, trees were down everywhere, the farmer next to us had his hay basket thrown into the ditch and the farm across from us in uninhabitable. WOW! We were lucky! I think it was because Chloe and I were praying that we would be safe and singing "Jesus Love Me" over and over...
We were out of power for 17 hours in total. Adam came home early and with his parents and my parents help, we got the yard cleaned up and everything back in order that Sunday!
Lesson learned:
Listen to my gut!
I can handle a lot more than I give myself credit for!
Cheers,
Beth
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