A Little Mid-Winter Pep Talk

Ever get the feeling that if you made another choice in your life, things would be drastically different? One arbitrary decision would have made a huge difference between now and what could have been?

These thoughts are the subject of many novels and movies, but if you really think about it, it's mind-boggling and kind of a waste of time.

I'm thankful for the life I have now and the people in it. I admit I do sometimes find myself wondering what would have been, pining away for a more luxurious lifestyle, a more desirable location, a different house. But things wouldn't be as they are now. And now is where I am.

I can make changes to my current life. I can update my home. I can save money to take a luxurious vacation. I can get a job to help pay for the little extras that would make me happy. But longing for something else is pointless.

The choices I have made brought me where I am today. The choices I make tomorrow can change some of that. We are the choices we make. We are accountable for the life we lead. We should own it and embrace the power that we have.

Now I think I'm ready to take on the February doldrums.

SAG Awards Fashion Wrap Up

I didn't find too much to rave about as far as the fashions went at last night's Screen Actor's Guild Awards. The few that did catch my attention are as follows:

1. Michelle Williams in Valentino - I loved the lace and the assymetrical tailoring. It looked lovely on her.

2. Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta - This fresh spring green color just pulled me in right away. Then when you look closer, the draping and construction are just beautiful. 

3. Kyra Sedgwick in Emilio Pucci - I'm a sucker for a sexy dress, and this was the night's sexy dress in my opinion. She looked amazing.

Musing Mondays

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Musing Mondays. This week's musing asks . . . How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

I think about what I'm going to read next before I start what I'm currently reading. When I choose a book, it usually comes down to two options. Once I select the book to read, I know what I'm reading next. I have so many to read, there's always another one calling out to me.

Projects, Projects, Everywhere

If you're anything like me, your home appears neat and tidy on the surface, but it's really not. I'm a stasher. I stash things in corners, on floors, in closets, wherever I find a little space temporarily, and then forget about it. Notice I said "stash" and not "organize." There's a huge difference.

This happens to me a lot during the holidays. I'm planning and prepping for company and need to get things out of the way quickly. So I stash them away with every intention of finding them a permanent home . . . later.

I suppose "later" has arrived. I've undertaken several projects in an attempt to get more organized this year. My mistake is that I'm trying to do them all at once.

I want/need to pull up the carpet in our master bedroom. We have lovely hardwood floors underneath an entirely carpeted house. We've already pulled carpet in the living room and boys' bedroom. Now it's time for the master bedroom. Only problem is there are stashes of stuff in that room.

That's pretty much been my go-to room to stash things. It's upstairs, out of the way, behind closed doors. It's also been about 10 years of stashing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder. That would just freak me out. I just have small piles of things here and there that need to get put away or thrown away.

In the meantime, I'm in the process of converting the nursery into a playroom for the boys. Hubs is going to take down the crib and store it in the attic (partly because I haven't sold it yet and partly because, well, you never know). Once the crib is out, I can load the toy boxes in.

What I'm finding is that as I clean out one room, I get involved in the closet of another room as I put things away. My closets need reorganizing . . . desperately. Talk about wasted space!!

To top things off, our 55" television in the family room isn't working. Now I'm searching for new tv stands so we can organize all of the tv components and media in that room.

I've got a project going in almost every room of the house at the same time. I have a sneaking suspicion this is a sure-fire way to not succeed in accomplishing any of them.

Aloha Friday

Kailani at An Island Life started Aloha Friday. Want to play along? I ask a question, you answer the question in the comments. You can also ask your own question on your blog and link up at Kailani's site. Here's my question:

What's your favorite soup?

My answer: I love so many but I'd have to say my favorite is pasta fagioli.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!








"You Know When the Men Are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon
"First You Try Everything" by Jane McCafferty
"The Underside of Joy" by Sere Prince Halverson
"The Odds: A Love Story" by Stewart O'Nan
"The Night Swimmer" by Matt Bondurant

The Four Seasons?

As we edge toward the end of January, a mild winter thus far on the East Coast, I find myself looking forward to Spring.

When the temp is 52 degrees on January 24, it's kind of hard not to think of Spring. I'm already searching for those first crocuses to pop up on my lawn.

It's odd that it snowed two days ago leaving an inch or two behind while today there are no remnants of that snowfall anywhere. Something strange is going on with the weather.

I wonder what the next two months will bring us here in New Jersey. After what seemed like endless snow on the ground last winter, my snowboots have yet to get properly wet this year.

I honestly don't mind a mild winter. I just hope it's no indication of a sweltering summer ahead.

6WS

Call Me Cate at Show My Face hosts Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

Love snow from inside looking out.

Aloha Friday

Kailani at An Island Life started Aloha Friday. Want to play along? I ask a question, you answer the question in the comments. You can also ask your own question on your blog and link up at Kailani's site. Here's my question:

Have you ever seen a ballet performance?

My answer: No. I've never seen a live performance of a ballet but think I would enjoy it very much. I just might add it to my bucket list.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!






"Spring" by David Szalay
"Crazy Enough: A Memoir" by Storm Large
"Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love and Loss" by RoseMarie Terenzio

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. This week's BTT asks . . . Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?

I am proud to say that I never skip ahead in a book. I try not to even look at the next paragraph before I get to it. If I pick up a book to read it, I usually stay true to reading it through, as it was intended to be read.

Coupons for Troops

File this one under "I'm late to the party" but I just learned this morning that manufacturer's coupons can be used by military families for up to 6 months past the expiration date.

Such a shame I didn't know this before today. I'm infamous for clipping a ton of coupons and never using them, only to throw them out after the fact. This is the sort of thing that really frustrates me.

At least now there's something I can do about it. I'm sure lots of coupon bloggers out there already know this and have the appropriate information, but one site I found today has information about Troopons (coupons for troops) and what you can do to help.

I already have an envelope ready to go. Why not do the same?

That Boy is Breaking My Heart

R, my 5 year old, is giving me grief every morning. He doesn't want to go to school.

It's not just the whining and crying and carrying on that gets me, it's the sadness I see on his face and in his eyes. It's just too much for a mother to take.

We live in a district with full day Kindergarten. I understand it's a long day because, well, it is. Especially for a boy who's used to doing what he wants when he wants.

I accept the fact that he needs to get used to the structure and routine because he's going to be in school for a looooong time. So my sympathy for him, outwardly, only goes so far. Inwardly, it's breaking my heart.

I know he's not sick. He says he likes his teacher. He's smart. He gets all of his work done. He says no one is bothering/bullying/teasing him. What he does say is he misses me. And there goes my broken heart still throbbing from the break.

I hate to impose punishment for my boy wanting to be with his mother (ouch my heart), but each morning he cries and carries on before school there are no Wii or computer games allowed after school.

Fearing he may get used to no games after school and find something else just as enjoyable, I've upped the ante. He's been talking about his upcoming birthday in May and how he would like to have a Cars-themed birthday party. If he wants to have a birthday party, he must go to school without tears or whining and complete his schoolwork every day until then.

I realize there's another month of school after his birthday, but I'm hoping by that time we've eliminated the problem. Then we can enjoy the summer before starting the whining/crying/carrying on all over again in September.

Golden Globes Fashion Wrap-Up

Last night's Golden Globe Awards did not disappoint as far as fashions go. There was a lot to look at and a lot to enjoy. Here are my top 3 favorite looks of the night:

1. Jessica Alba in Gucci - I loved this dress and the lavender/blush color worked beautifully on her. This dress is definitely being overshadowed by my next two picks, which is partially why I placed her as my first choice.

2. Angeline Jolie in white and red Atelier Versace - Stunning. Glamorous. Old Hollywood style with a taste of modern flair in the red on top.

3. Sofia Vergara in custom Vera Wang - She hits it out of the park every year. She knows the mermaid style dress looks fantastic on her body, and this beautiful peacock color was a refreshing change from the night's other colors, or should I say non-colors.

I would like to add I also loved Kate Beckinsale in a blush Roberto Cavalli, so I'm throwing her in as honorable mention. Simple perfection.

And here are my top 3 worst dressed of the evening: (If you're surprised by these next 3, so am I.)

1. Michelle Williams in Jason Wu - I love Michelle Williams but the question is "why," not Wu.

2. Sarah Michelle Gellar in Monique Lhullier - Ink blot, tie-dye, bedsheets. Whatever you want to call it, it didn't work.

3. Nicole Kidman in Versace - Can someone please help this woman? She looks washed out with nail head trim.





6WS

Call Me Cate at Show My Face hosts Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

Not achieving many goals so far.

Friday Finds

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Friday Finds. What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!









"The Last Nude" by Ellis Avery
"More Than Words Can Say" by Robert Barclay
"Sugar Rush: A Cupcake Club Romance" by Donna Kaufmann
"A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty" by Joshilyn Jackson
"The Girl Who Stopped Swimming" by Joshilyn Jackson
"The Bungalow" by Sarah Jio
"The Violets of March" by Sara Jio

Aloha Friday

Kailani at An Island Life started Aloha Friday. Want to play along? I ask a question, you answer the question in the comments. You can also ask your own question on your blog and link up at Kailani's site. Here's my question:

Do you like to ski?

My answer: I hate skiing. It takes a ridiculous amount of energy to put on all the gear, get up the mountain and slide down it. No thank you.