What's A Girl To Do When She's Feeling Blue?

Posted by Heidi

Shop? Go out to dinner? Spend an evening with the gal pals? Plan a vacation? Date night with hubby? A long bath whilst eating a hot fudge sundae?

What do you do when you're feeling blue?

(I've been working on a fun home decor project which I hope to post about next week . . . Meanwhile, the poll in my sidebar indicates that "keeping it real" is important to a majority of voters. I'm working on a really "real" post for next week, too . . . )

22 wise, witty and wonderful comments »

Searching For The Light In The Darkness

Posted by Heidi

There is much in my life that needs fixing.

I have spent a lot of time pondering which parts are 1) within my power to change 2)which are fixable without making other things more broken (ack!—the story of my life) and 3) which are totally beyond my control. (I have spent a lot of time watching brainless TV and consuming chocolate in all its fabulous forms, as well, but I digress.) I have a ways to go before everything is sorted out. In the meantime, here are some random thoughts.

As someone who often feels isolated by my circumstances, differences and special needs, I have benefited immeasurably from casting my net wide via blogging and pulling in so many truly wonderful people who are able and willing to take me just the way I am. That’s the true miracle and blessing of blogging.

Apparently, life demands that you must pay for one spectacular year with a truly rotten one. I have four more months before I’m all paid up.

Meanwhile, I’m bumbling around in the dark the best that I can. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t see it just yet but I know it’s there. It always is.

(if you are so inclined, please vote in the poll in my sidebar--thanks!)

31 wise, witty and wonderful comments »

Beating The January Blues

Posted by Heidi in what's great to celebrate about January

1. Suddenly everything seems incredibly spacious now that the Christmas decor is packed up and out of the way (which mine finally is, miracle of miracles!).

2. The sun shines unfettered through the Christmas tree and garland-less windows. Ah, sunshine!

3. After weeks of cleaning, cooking, baking, decorating, undecorating, unpacking, packing, shopping and wrapping of gifts, there is suddenly lots of time to do lots of nothing. (Clearly, based on the numerous smudges on this tea set, I have taken my "doing nothing" quite seriously.)

4. You can decorate for Valentine's Day because, unlike Christmas decor, there is no popular public opinion as to when is too soon to put up the cherubs and pink and roses and ribbons and pretty china (my every day decor is somewhat indistinguishable from my Valentine's Day decor, 'tis true). However, I am willing to own that there might be plenty of private opinion. You can make yours public here if you like (but be gentle as I put my Valentine's decor up before I finished taking down Christmas).

25 wise, witty and wonderful comments »

A Very Merry Confession

Posted by Heidi in Christmas 2009

My tree is still up. Sure, it’s leaning at an angle like a drunken sailor, causing the lights to burn in shame (quite the feat since they aren’t plugged in) but still up. This is troubling not only because I am (maybe) (probably) (I highly suspect) the only person I know whose tree is still (leaning) up(wards), but because the Middle Child’s birthday is on Sunday and the rule is that I must have Christmas packed away with the dawning of January 10th—no bit of tinsel or mistletoe or festive light or any hint at all can show its rosy face for the birthday girl’s day. (I made the rule—after all, her birthday should be about her, not a two-week-old holiday--but the MC rigidly enforces it.)

My trip to the Monterey coast is clearly responsible for my tardiness . . .

The time I spent at the Carmel Mission can take some of the blame, too . . .

I can remember failing to get it all put away by the 10th only once. It was eight years ago when the Little Guy was an infant. Back then the MC was only seven and too small to pose much of a threat. This year, however, she is turning 15, is taller than me and not afraid to make her discontent widely known. I’m hoping three days out of town (still packed up from that) and five down with the flu since the 25th will soften her heart and she will have mercy on me. Then again, she isn’t fond of Christmas clutter even when it’s Christmas. She did comment that she actually liked the tree this year—in spite of its slovenly posture—because it warmed up the room. (My heart felt a little warmer after that remark, as well.)

What do you think? Should I be reported to the Holiday Clean Up Committee or are we in this thing together?

35 wise, witty and wonderful comments »

Three Day Monterey Getaway

Posted by Heidi

" . . . the Lord truly does meet our needs most often through other people--particularly those He has assigned and inspired to watch over and care for us."

~ "With Love From My Sisters" by Marina Petrova, December 2009 Ensign Magazine

Thank you so much for accepting the assignment.

13 wise, witty and wonderful comments »