New Motto

If it is not going to matter in a year...I am not going to waste time today being mad, sad, annoyed, frustrated, stressed or irritated with it. 
This attitude has become a great liberator for me!

Wabi Sabi

Wabi Sabi is the Japanese philosophy that celebrates the beauty in what is natural--flaws and all.  Perfection can be boring...In this philosophy, belongings are prized because of (not in spite of) their imperfections.
 
Applying this concept to your life can be very freeing:

Appreciate the imperfections in yourself and others:  I need to accept myself, including the crows feet that are beginning to form around the eyes, the cellulite on the thighs, the tendency to be impatient or demanding.  I need to cherish the fact the DD2 is her own spirit and while she doesn't do things MY Way...her way is still pretty good, my micromanaging co-worker has his moments but that is part of his "charm" (well, that may be taking Wabi Sabi a bit too far...but).  I am a canvas on which life can write a beautiful story! 

In the house:  Good enough can become my mantra.  If the house is not cleaned this week, no one will perish from that state of imperfection!  Cleaning and home repairs should not come at the expense of losing a good day on the water!  Likewise, I need to clear my space--throw away the broken teapot or the ugly skillet with the loose handle the outdated clothing (no matter what it cost) and STOP accumulating more STUFF.  I need to enjoy the good china, the beautiful artifacts we've collected and the clay renderings of the DDs when they were younger (these do in fact have a prominent place in my kitchen).

Meals:  Food is to be enjoyed.  Less is more, natural is better tasting (think hothouse tomato versus the one you just picked ripe and juicy from your own garden) and there should be an enjoyment in the preparation of the meal, not just in the consuming of it.    Even the mess made from cooing can be a time to connect with family members.  Dinner conversation should include a few laughs.

Work:  Align words and actions with values to get true satisfaction and reward in the workplace.  Remember the BIG picture, practice perspective. 

Savor each moment, Breathe deeply, listen to hear, to see beauty you must see the details, relish in the commonplace (a child's laughter, a birds call, the way the sun feels on your skin, the way the burgers smell when cooking on the grill.

Failed miserably at that!

Well-so much for the best laid plans!  I am embarrassed that it's been so long since I posted but I have just been too busy to blog...so 52 weeks is languishing.  I pray you'll forgive me.  I'm in the throes of getting ready to vacation, moving my office, end of school activities/track meets, creating the templates for my stamp camps and working! 
I'll return to this blog when I return from vacation in early June!

Week 5--I gave up wine for Lent

I haven't been real good about keeping up with this weekly.  Sorry about that--Guess that will have to be next weeks focus! 

I gave up drinking wine Monday-Thursday for Lent (I still wanted to be able to enjoy a nice glass with a nice dinner on the weekends).  I've been successful and have reaped some unexpected benefits too.  Obviously, we give up something during Lent to help us focus onthe sacrifice Christ made for us during his passion and I HAVE been more focused on that when I thought about having a glass of wine on the days I had agreed to deny myself.  THe benefits I didn't think about reaping were
1)  Less money spent (not purchasing a bottle of wine per week, saving $10)
2)  Lost 3 pounds (calories not counsume from bottle per week, ~500)
3)  A restful night's sleep (PRICELESS).  I am sleepig better and give credit to the for spiritual focus of each day but also to the lack of a glass of wine in my system each night!

Week 3-Stop being sarcastic

I recently completed a parenting class at my church since I am the proud owner of a 13 year old daughter (just this week!). This class confirmed that while we have done many things well, I can still improve on how I communicate with my new teenager.
Sadly, I was informed sarcasm doesn't work. It can be misconstrued as a serious comment and can backfire on you. Unfortunately, I use sarcasm liberally so...this will be another hard lesson in creating a better Diana. I guess this week will also need to make use of last week's goal to listen more, talk less.
I am sensing a theme here...

Week 2

I was fatigued and it had been a hard day with the rest of a hard week still before me. I was bone tired fatigued and still had too many things to do when I returned home to the girls arguing. I was in a decent humor until I heard them going at it...
Needless to day, my reaction to that has resulted in this week's challenge: Say nothing.

I talk too much, too often, I explain in too great of detail and thrust my opinions on folks when they are not requested. Therefore, I will try to listen more, talk less and by that say more!

1 down 51 to go

Last week was my birthday week-so I wasn't good for much. I ate too much, bought a new car, planned a vacation and spent some money (braces, dishes and Stampin' Up supplies). The sun is shining and all is well in my world!


I've been obsessed with my Stampin'Up demonstratorship...I think about it all the time and wish I had more time to spend creating cards and gift items...perhaps after track season ends. I've created a few nice samples with my starter kit supplies and am anxiously awaiting the delivery of my first order! I "dream" about the day I could own a shop where I could use my love of crafts to earn a living...In the mean time, I will build up my stamp camp attendance and see what happens!

I started this week off right and logged 4 miles on the Exercycle today, will attend a stamp camp and completed my crocheted washcloth and am working on a crochet prayer shawl.

Lent begins Wednesday and I am focusing on giving less advice to my DD2, limiting my wine drinking to the weekends (in hopes of losing 5 pounds) and reading the bible through in 10 weeks (The Story).

Birthday Girl!

What better time to start up again with my 52 week challenge than the week of my birth?
I love birthdays because like the new year they mark a time of new beginning.

A new year starts with resolutions...so here are mine for the year

1) Read the Bible (The Story) in 10 weeks
2) Learn to knit a hat in the round
3) Train to run a 5K
4) Attend exercise classes 2X a week
5) Host 12 stamp camps this year (The first one is March 16th)
6) Knit/crochet all my stocking stuffers for family this year (and have them done by Thanksgiving)
7) Learn to make a souffle'
8) Sew a decorative pillowcase (or 5)
9) Clean the closet of clothing I no longer wear. Actually get it out of my house!
10) Blog more regularly (like at least once a week)

Learning to speak a new Language

I'm reading the 5 Love languages by Henry Cloud and am becoming aware of how often miss opportunities to "Speak" my family's native tongue. Therefore, This week I am recording the various things I appreciate (how my spouse speaks) via "acts of Service.
I'll add to this list as new items occur this week:

Says I love you first thing every morning, makes the bed, brings me my morning coffee, lets the dog out, feeds the dog, gets the newspaper, empties the dishwasher, scrubs the tub, washes last nights dishes that have been left in the sink to soak, makes DD2's breakfast every morning, kisses me goodbye before he goes to work, kisses me hello when he comes home from work, drives us around--church, youth activities, games and meeting, procures UL Tickets, attends various meetings for DD2s sporting events, wants to hang out with my parents, brings home his paycheck, changes light bulbs, takes the trash to the curb, folds laundry, irons his own clothes,

getting DD2 up for school in the morning, cleaning up the kitchen after I cook and this included washing large dishes, cleaning the table and stove top, makes the coffee every night and cleans out the coffee pot before he goes to work each morning, changes DD1 oil before she goes back to college, wants to shop for a new kitchen table (really!) and look at new cars for me, says I love you before he turns off the light at night

allows me to go on trips with our youth from church while he stays home and has the carpets cleaned this weekend (and sometimes I use a week of vacation to do this), hands over his entire paycheck and lets me manage the family finances, delivers DD1 to college and carries up all the heavy stuff, WANTs my parents to go on houseboat and Disney trips with us, talks baby talk to the dog, cleans the outside windos twice a year, cleans the gutters, sets mouetraps and removes the carcasses when necessary, eats whatever I prepare for dinner-and appears to like it, mows the lawn, plants a garden, walks with me during track and cross country season, worries about my health (now if he would only worry about his own), attends church and mens studies,

Clear the Clutter

Over the winter break I had some time off so I cleaned the basement which is just a collection of all my craft supplies, things going to consignment, stuff I've accumulated for gifts, extra school supplies, patio furniture stored for the winter, Christmas decorations, suitcases, the snow skis and seldom used furniture plus the REQUIRED work out machine. I own an excessive amount of stuff (and some junk too, I admit).

I made good progress and decided that I need NOT purchase anything for our annual Easter Egg hunt treats, college kid gift bags, Christmas wrapping or school next year I am so well stocked. Think of the money that is tied up in all those things...YIKES.

It felt so good to give and throw stuff away I developed a plan for some of the other areas of my life.
Clearing the clutter requires a stout heart as I find it hard to part with sentimental items, things I can re-purpose (broken!) or those items of clothing that are of good quality (but too outdated to wear). At the end of your work you should have items to donate, discard or sell/consign. IF you can't bear to part with a particular item, place it in a DATED box and put it in your basement. WHEN you go to use the item, you'll still have it and can re-claim it from the box. If after 12 months, you haven't opened the box you are good to part with it. WARNING: You'll be tempted to open the box...but DON'T. It is like Pandora's box at this point!

I find that setting a time limit provides me the focus I need to get the task completed. Don't be discouraged if a project takes several session to achieve the effect you want. Large scale projects like your basement should be broken down into manageable tasks, areas (Christmas decorations) or storage containers (the craft desk).
Begin by emptying the place you plan to clean, such as a drawer or closet (if feasible) . If you are cleaning an entire room, work clockwise.
Arm your self with trash bags, boxes for donating, consigning, repairs, etc. rags and supplies for cleaning, the vacuum, etc. depending on the scope of the project. Remember it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be good enough.

Here is a 7 day plan to CLEAR THE CLUTTER. I've listed more than 7 tasks so you can do those that most need doing in your life, require the most or smallest amount of work, etc. Just do one each day for 7 days and you'll be amazed at what you've accomplished.

1) Lighten the Linen Closet.
Send frayed and stained towels to the rag bag, fold sheet sets and place in their corresponding pillowcases or large zip lock bags. Consign, donate or e-bay items you no longer use such as a the pottery Barn Twin comforter set (since you haven't had a twin bed in the house since 2003) or the Barney Towels.
If your closet also acts as storage for bath and beauty supplies arrange these in old shoe boxes or other containers so you'll know what you have and won't have to purchase items just because you can't find them. I have some "produce" stacking bins on the floor of my closet which holds toothpaste and smaller items. This allows me to take advantage of really GOOD sale prices since I know what I already have and when I need to stock up.
Donate unopened lipsticks, makeup etc and toss the ugly nail polish, half used bottles of hand cream from the last century. Be brutal. If the item is 12 months old and you haven't used it...you aren't going to!

2) Mop out the Medicine chest
Toss all expired PRESCRIPTION medications (DO NOT FLUSH) by mixing them in cat litter or delivering them to your community's designated location for disposal. The remainder can go in the kitty litter too or the garbage can in their original containers.
Make a list of the items you'll need to replace so you will not be without in the middle of the night when the child wakes up with a 103 degree temperature and find you are out of children's Tylenol drops.

3) Jettison the Junk drawer.
Get some dividers or small boxes, zip lock bags, etc and sequester all the paperclips into one place. I find that jewelry boxes and some frozen dinner containers work very well for drawer dividers. Identify keys with a piece of masking tape. Throw out pens that don't work, empty tape dispensers and the phone book from 2 years ago.

4) Attach the Art supplies
Every so often I have my kids try every marker and we get rid of those that are dried up and donate the over abundance of orange markers to our local nature center. Employ this same strategy with paint, playdoh, colored papers. Put like items together or use zip lock bags to create craft packages for a rainy afternoon, I use old paper boxes, diaper wipe container and cookie tins to sequester items. My kid area has a desk and a bookcase. Consign unused craft supplies or donate to your local preschool, favorite teacher or church.

5) Purge your Purse
Clean out each pocket and discard all the crumpled tissues and old receipts. Clean out the billfold. Close out (in writing) the unused credit cards, remove the outdated library card and redeem those gift cards and frequent buyer cards. I like to do this when I change from the winter bag to the summer bag.

6) Dump a Drawer.
I once cleaned out my utensil drawer and found I had 10 , count 'em, 10 wooden spoons. Enough said.
Wipe out the drawer liners, purge duplicate or broken items or that fancy garlic press you've never used. Use this strategy on every drawer in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and office. You'll be surprised as just how many pairs of black socks you have, single socks, ratty underwear and stained t-shirts. Donate E-bay or consign.

7) Get into the Glove box and Car Console
Discard those outdated maps, receipts and carryout menus. Match up the CDs with their cases. This is where you'll find your missing glasses! Take a moment and read the owners manual!

8) Attack the Attic-

9) Scrub the Shed-do you really need 3 lawnmowers, two of which won't start?

10) Get it out of the Garage-remove all the items, clean and reorganize. Sell the toddler bike that once belonged to your now 16 year old linebacker r give it to his cousin who idolizes him.

11) Banish it from the Basement-

12) Tone down the Toy Chest-put game pieces back in the proper boxes, gather all the barbie shoes into one container, get rid of the items your kids JUST HAD TO HAVE but have never really played with.

13) Lighten the Library--remove old books and donate or sell

14) Spruce up the Spice cabinet. If you can't remember when you bought that spice it has probably lost its flavor as spices are only good for about a year. Begin dating items when you purchase. Discard outdated yeast, powder and soda which may render them ineffective.

15) Prune the pantry-place all the soups together, rotate the oldest items and be sure to use those first. Discard any items past their "best used by date"-printed on the top of cans and on boxes. Empty your pantry of all those stale, half eaten bags and boxes of chips and cookies.

16) Clean the coat closet-get rid of the out of style, too small coats. I like to do this in the spring.

17) Move out the Movies and CDs-We sell our unwatched movies to a local half-price book store and get cash.

18) Clean out the clothes-if you haven't worn it in a year, it hasn't fit in 2 years or it is not your color. Toss it.

Once you've gotten an area clear make an effort each evening to keep it clutter free. Toss the daily newspaper, put scattered toys away, fold the afghan and increase your sense of peace and calm. Studies have proven that less clutter in the bedroom helps us to sleep better. Good luck on cleaning out your clutter.

A nicer me...

This week I'll target how I deal with the public...since my 12 year old DD asked me if I was stressed out after she witnessed my encounter with a sales clerk.

I will have to let go of the petty frustrations I feel (and convey) with inefficiencies, illogical actions, stupidity, rudeness and over all incompetency. Even if these things exist (and they do) I need to act and react in a manner that is patient, kind, not self seeking, generates peace, self controlled, gentle and loving. I may have to fake it, count to 10 a lot this week and I pray my position is it is not a matter of needing to remove the log from my own eye...