One Word: Simplify

To describe my life currently, using only one word, I would say "exhaustingly fun."  Ok, that was two words, but it really sums things up. We are enjoying everything we do: traveling, spending time with family and friends, hosting guests at our home, our workouts, playing with our little girl, taking fun classes, weekend trips here and there, projects around the house and our hobbies (which are extensive). My husband and I both have more hobbies than we have time for and are never bored. We actively seek out new adventures, love to eat out and explore other cities. We look for things that our daughter would enjoy and look to find fun new date night activites. We are on the go more than we are home. It is fun. But exhausting.

It took me awhile to choose just one word, so I've put this off awhile, but finally I've settled on one, which is rather fitting with this blog.  Using only one word to describe what I am focusing on in 2012, I would choose:

 sim·pli·fy  (smpl-f)

tr.v. sim·pli·fied, sim·pli·fy·ing, sim·pli·fies

To make simple or simpler, as:

a. To reduce in complexity or extent.

b. To reduce to fundamental parts.

c. To make easier to understand.

As a matter of fact, this was a perfect time to dig out the sign I made a few years ago and display it in my home as a visual reminder of my goal for the year. The sign is made from a piece of barn wood that came from a farm that has been in my husband's family for many years and was torn down a few years back. We were able to salvage a few scraps (including this one) before the demolition.

To simplify my life, I plan to:

Get more sleep

Spend more time at home with my family

Travel less

Cook at home more

Allow things to wait until later (this is going to be my biggest challenge)

Take in nature, especially in the area that we live

Purge things that I no longer need and really use the things I already have

Take the time for the hobbies I enjoy

Finish organizing my home

Enjoy the simple things

~Angela

Fun with Blankets

Over the weekend, Bundle and I had a reading corner, which isn't even in a corner, but that's what we called them when I was a little girl and that's what we'll call them now. Basically a Reading Corner consists of a blanket (any blanket will do, but this one was big enough for both of us) to lay on-cuddling is encouraged- and books to read. Simple, yet we had an afternoon of reading together.

A favorite book "Goodnight Minnesota"

Bundle was quite interesed in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

Today, Bundle was not feeling well and was up most of the night so she had little energy. Since we both stayed home together, it has been a very low-key day, but we did make anothe reading corner. We also made a tent in our dining room. She really loves it. Who am I kidding, it is pretty fun to hang out under the table:)  As much as I wish she felt better, it has been a relaxing day at home together.

This sums up how she felt this morning.

Little legs in the tent

I see you Momma!

Momma, are you coming in?

Ah, what a day of rest can do...Happy Little Bundle is feeling much better!

~Angela

I Remember When 30 Seemed Old

I remember when 30 seemed old. And now I am thirty! Of course it isn't really that old after all. Age really is just a number, but I still can't believe I am 30. Although, maybe I really am getting old as  everything I wanted to do for my birthday was very SIMPLE and low-key.

Birthday brownies with 30 candles...I don't much care for cake

I have always been a fan of my birthday and as I get older, people say that will fade. So far, it hasn't. I love a reason to celebrate so I suppose that is part of it, but it is also the one day each year I think about doing what I want to do. I like to do things for others and that is a huge part of who I am, but the one day for me is special, because I have no guilt about making the decisions to spend my day however I please. After all, I am entitled to be selfish for one day, right? I rarely work on my birthday as I typically take the day off. This year, my birthday even happened to fall on a weekend.

Here are a few hilights from my birthday weekend (even though I've been celebrating for quite awhile):

My coworker made a brie cheese spread in honor of my birthday and we all enjoyed some of it at work. It was delicious!!!

The brie had a carmelized pecan sauce in it. The picture does not do it justice.

We had pears to eat with it. A SIMPLE way to cut pears is using an apple slicer.

I celebrated with a group of friends and my mom and brother also came to visit. It meant a lot to me to celebrate with people I care about.

The day of my actual birthday was filled with some of my favorite things:

1. Sleeping in (don't worry- I'll spare you the photos of me sleeping!)

2. Reading. Currently I am reading these books. I often read several books at one time.

3. Playing with my daughter and husband. Bundle Bowling was the game of choice

4. Date night with my husband to see Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Because we have spent so much of our time in the last few months away, it was a treat to enjoy the relaxed time at home.

~Angela

Homemade Christmas Gifts Reveal

Now that everyone has gotten their Christmas gifts from me, I will reveal what I created in my goal of making homemade gifts for all of those on our list this year.

This is the dollhouse bookshelf that I made for my daughter.

I made this necklace for a friend

Made this wooden box for a coworker. I cut the pieces for the box from wood, painted and decorated it.

This necklace was made for my cousin

This is a growth chart for my Godson.

I cut this ornament from wood and painted it.

I made this memory book for my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Inside are photos from a trip we took with them.

I created this wooden flower for a friend of mine out of a branch then painted it pink.



Other gifts I made that I did not photograph:


1. CDs with Christmas Music
2. Photo calendars
3. Scarves
4. Scrapbooks

~Angela

Twenty Twelve

The start of a new year does provide a good time to refect on oneself.  I think a New Year's resolution may even be in order. Or, rather, a lifestyle change.

Now that the holidays are over, it seems like the right time to start getting some extra sleep. Those of you who know me, know that my 4-5 hours of sleep a night have gotten me through most of my life.

Now seems as good of a time as any to try to simplify my life with an earlier bedtime. Maybe I'll even create a little time each night to read before bed. This could be a whole new lifestyle for me.

We'll see how this goes...