Simplify Saturday

I don't know about you, but I constantly have an on-going struggle within me.  You see, I love new stuff!  It's not just that I love stuff, but I love what you can do with the stuff! 

I'm a decorating fanatic, whether it be for a holiday or a certain event or party or whether it's just coming up with new ways to "decorate" my tables!  I also love creating!  I'm always thinking up new stuff to "create," and I'm usually not satisfied until I've tried my hand at it!  So...I'm constantly getting "stuff" to use for decorating or creating.   The problem is I'm also an organizing fanatic!  My ideal house is spotless, with "a place for everything & everything in it's place."  So you see, this leaves me in a constant struggle....I get rid of stuff in order to simplify and get the house like I want it to be, and then, well, I get more stuff to satisfy my hunger to decorate & create!  And around & around I go! 

In the midst of this "merry-go-round," I've found that I'm always on the look-out for a better, more effecient way to organize or simplify my life without having to completely give up some of my greatest enjoyments: decorating & creating!  I've read countless organizing books; and "Storage" magazine, well, let's just say it's a staple in my house.  All of this reading, along with my love of organizing, has led me to start "Simplify Saturday."  Whether it be talking about an organizing gadget or simply sharing something that I've found to be helpful in simplifying my life, Saturday will be my day to share it! 

My plan was to jump right in & share a little tidbit today, but since Saturday's almost over & I'm a little tired (my hubby & I have both had a stomach bug this weekend), I think I'll just keep this post simple & save it for next time.  So check back next Saturday for "A Purpose A Day Keeps the Stress at Bay."

Tutorial Tuesday: How To Complete Any Project (as demonstrated by God Himself)

Earlier in the week, I shared that I deemed Sundays to be "Scripture Sundays," where I share a little something I've recently learned through my Bible reading.  I also mentioned that I had ideas for other days of the week, too.  Well, welcome to "Tidbits, Tips, & Tutorial Tuesday."  Wow, that's a mouthful!  As I work my way through blogland, this might change a little, but for now, "Tidbits, Tips, & Tutorials" it is!  My plan is to make Tuesdays (or at least as many Tuesdays as I find time to blog!) a time to share "how-to's" and other bits of helpful info. 

In keeping with Sunday's theme of the creation, I want to share something else I gleaned from Genesis 1-2.  Did you know that God reveals to us some helpful tips on how to complete a project?  He does! After all, He completed the biggest "project" of all: the creation of the world!

So here is what I learned:

Step #1: Have an overall vision of what you want the end result to be.                                              
God had a vision.  He saw the big picture.  He knew what He wanted the world to look like and what it's purpose would be.

Step #2: Break it into orderly steps.
God is a God of order!  He knew what all was needed in order to fulfill His vision.....light, water, sky, land, vegetation (which would later be needed for food), sun, moon, stars, fish, birds, land animals, and last, but definitely not least, humans!  He also knew that they needed to be done is somewhat of a certain order.  What would have happened if He'd created man first, with no light, no land, or no food?  Or what if there was no sun or water?  How would the vegetation grow?  You get my point.

Step #3: Work on it a little at a time, giving yourself time to enjoy the process! 
God could have done it all in one day if He would have wanted, but He chose not to!  Instead, He created one thing each day.  I choose to believe He did this partly so He could sit back & enjoy each step of the process.  Have you ever noticed that after each thing He created, He stopped and observed "that it was good"?  (As a side note, after each step of creation, scripture states that "God saw that it was good," but after He created mankind, scriputure says that "God saw...it was VERY good.")

Step #4: Finish what you start.
What if God wouldn't have finished?  Well, let's just say, not only would the world as we know it not be here, but we wouldn't be here either!!  I once heard someone talking about how one of the reasons for depression is that we tend to have so many projects started, but never finish them!  Finishing something gives you a sense of accomplishment & fulfillment.  If you're feeling a little blue, my challenge to you is to look around you and see if there is something you've started in the past that you can finish now!

Step #5: After you're done, take some time to enjoy it!
Gen. 2: 2-3 states that after God finished the work (the creating) He had been doing, He rested.  He took some time to just sit back & enjoy it!  It's important that we don't get so caught up in going from project to project that we don't enjoy the end product..... or the journey for that matter!

Scripture Sunday: In The Beginning...We Were Called to Be Light in a World of Darkness!

After doing a little thinking, I've decided that on Sundays I'm going to strive to make my posts about something I've recently read &/or learned from my Bible reading....thus, I'm deeming Sunday "SCRIPTURE SUNDAY."  (I have ideas for the other days of the week, too, but I'll share those some other time.)   While the perfectionist inside of me is wishing I would have started this blog the first week of January (when I started reading the Bible chronologically) so that the scripture(s) I share line up with what I read that week, I keep reminding myself that this year I'm aiming for PROGRESS, not PERFECTION.  (For those of you who read my "perfectionism" post a week or so ago, you know where I'm coming from.)  So today I'm sharing a little about what I read back at the first of the year.....I think it's quite fitting that at the beginning of the New Year, a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, I read about THE BEGINNING.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1 NIV).  I also like how another version words it: "First this: God created the Heavens & Earth - all you see, all you don't see" (The Message).

Genesis 1 & 2 go on to talk about the creation of the world & the beginning of mankind, but I didn't just learn about those very important things......God showed me several other "hidden" lessons in those scriptures!  I chose one to share with you today:

When God was creating the world, the very first thing He created was LIGHT (Gen. 1:3).  That got me to thinking....what is the importance of light?  Why did it have to be created first?  When I really stopped to think about it, what good would the rest of the creation have been if there was no light?  It would have been pointless (& hopeless). 

Hmmm....that reminds me of something else.  Later in scripture, Jesus is called the "LIGHT of the world."  Without Jesus, our Light, life is pointless & hopeless!  Interestingly, God also calls us to be a light to those around us.....in other words, we are called to bring hope to this world!  Yes, I got all that from 6 little words: "God said, 'Let there be light...'".

It's amazing what you can learn when you really stop & listen to God!

Tutorial Tuesday: A Hodge Podge of Mod Podge (for a Snow Day in the Lodge Lodge)

In anticipation of being snowed in for a day or two, I ran to the store to get all the necessities......you know, chalkboard paint, scrapbook paper, a couple of buckets, a feather boa, some ribbon, and of course, Mod Podge.  Okay, so that's probably not the "necessities" most of you had in mind.  With all the news channels warning of just how bad the snow was gonna be, most people were scrambling to the grocery store to stock up on food and maybe a shovel and ice melt.  Me?  Well, my first thought was, "What a perfect time to try out that new craft project I've been wanting to do!"  (Don't worry.  While I was running around getting my "necessities," my sweet hubby took care of the real necessities.)

A couple weeks ago, I was browsing in a local boutique, when I came across an adorable shabby chic bucket, covered with scrapbook paper,.....the price tag?  $75!!!  Ouch!!  But it got me to thinking.....and when I start thinking, well.... I don't stop! 

Now my creative juices were flowing.....  Knowing that I had a couple of baby showers coming up, I thought it would be a perfect container for their gifts.  As my imagination flowed, I begin thinking, "What if I added some kind of trim to the top, maybe ribbon, or a feather boa, or even tassels?  And what if it had a small chalkboard area to write on?  I could even attach a piece of chalk for future use!  And what if it had flowers?  Why, I could even make a flower magnet for it!  Oh, the possibilities are endless!!!"  Like I said, once I start, I don't stop!

So back to my story....the night before the storm, I ran to our local craft store, list in hand, and this is what I emerged with:





bucket, chalkboard paint, Mod Podge, lavendar & green scrapbook paper (it just so happens that both friends are using the same color in their nurseries), ribbon, feather boa, and chalk.

I also grabbed a few more supplies from around the house....hot glue, ink pad, another bucket that was just sitting in our garage, some more ribbon, a brush for the Mod Podge, some masking tape & cardboard/newspaper for the spray paint....and I was ready to create!

So I ran outside into our freezing cold garage to apply the chalkboard paint to one side of the bucket.  (Okay, I must admit that my  husband, knowing how cold it was, offered to paint it for me.  And I quickly agreed.  So while I sat in the nice, warm house, he applied the chalkboard paint in the freezing, cold garage.)  Of course, paint won't dry when it's below zero outside!  So we brought it in & let it sit by the fire to dry.  (Tip: You might want to tape off the edges of the bucket if you don't want them to be black.)  

So after two coats of paint, it was ready for Mod Podge. 

I tore the edges of the paper for a more shabby chic look, but you could just give them a straight edge if you prefer.  (Tip: If you don't want the white part of the paper to show when it's torn, you need to tear the piece you're going to use toward you.  Whichever piece is pulled away from you will have the white edge.)

I decided to add some ink here & there to add to the aged, shabby chic look.  (You could apply the ink to each individual piece of paper before you adhere it to the bucket, but that was too time consuming for me!) 

Then I sealed it with a thin layer of Mod Podge.  After it had dried, I simply hot glued a lavendar feather boa around the top edge, tied on a piece of chalk (lavendar, no less), & added some ribbon to the handles. 

(I think it would be cute to use tassel or fringe trim, or even some lace, instead of a boa, too!)

 

Voila!  A shabby chic chalkboard bucket! (for much less than $75)

Won't that just be perfect for diapers or stuffed animals or other baby stuff?

Here's a look at all the goodies I put in it!

 Then I added a some lavendar & green tissue paper, grabbed a couple of clothes pins to attach the cute little baby socks, & let one toy hang out, just for that added touch! (Okay, really I let it hang out because I ran out of room in the bucket!)

Here's a look at the 2nd one I made.  It's a little smaller than the first.

Instead of using ribbon, I added hairbows to the handle!

I think these would make cute Easter baskets, too!

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All this Mod Podge reminded me of a gift I put together for my husband while we were dating....so I decided to share it as well....

I simply color copied various photos, movie ticket stubs, sections of cards we had given to each other, & other momentos.  I then cut them out, and using Mod Podge, applied them to a cardboard box (purchased at our local craft store).   For years, my husband used the box to store other momentos from our dating years.  (I took it over a while back, however, & it now has a place in my craft room, storing extra ribbon!)

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Hmmm....I have plenty of Mod Podge & paint left over.....what should I make now?  I'm thinking maybe a bucket for my craft room..... maybe some animal print, with a few rhinestones, or maybe I could add a hot pink flower magnet, or hang a tassel from the handle, or I could.........

{I'm linking with Hoo's Got Talent? at Night Owl Crafting.  Check it out for more great inspiration!}

More of Me Monday: The One Thing I'm Perfect At....

is being IMPERFECT.  It's taken me almost 32 years to begin to realize that I'm human....okay, not really, but one thing I've struggled with throughout my life is PERFECTIONISM.   Looking back, I can see I've been a perfectionist from the time I was a child.  I mean, how many of you as a child cried when you got an A- on your report card?  I did!  In my little child eyes, it was too close to a B!  And how many of you went to school even when you were sick because you wanted to have perfect attendance?  I did!  And I'm not just talking one year....how about Preschool through my Senior year?!  (Don't worry....I've taken plenty of sick days since being in the working world).

Whether these perfectionist tendencies stem from being the oldest child or are just part of my personality or were passed down from parents (I won't mention any names, mom), or whether it's a combination of these, one thing I know is that there is no doubt that it has, and continues to, affect my life.  While I used to think that being a perfectionist was the best way to be (after all it's helped me reach some high goals), in the last few years, I've begun to realize that it also has a negative side, that it's actually kept me from reaching some of my goals, and at times, from LIVING LIFE.  You see, perfectionism has kept me from participating in many activities over the years because if I'm not confident that I'm good at something, I'd rather not do it at all.  I couldn't bear to think that I might....do I dare say.... FAIL?!  Or at least that's how I saw it.  I couldn't bear to think that others might see that....I'M HUMAN.  (Hmmm....my guess is that they already knew that). 

Even as an adult, it has affected my life.  For instance, after building our house a few years ago, I didn't want to have anyone over until our house was just perfect, so for a couple years, no one really got to see our brand new house!  I mean, what would people think if I had a speck of dust on a shelf or if not every area was perfectly decorated?  Well, they'd probably think that I'M HUMAN (if they even noticed those things!).  I've now come to realize that there is no such thing as a "perfect house" and it will likely always be a WORK IN PROGRESS.  And yes, we've had lots of people over in the last couple years. 

Perfectionism has affected me in other ways, too.  You've heard the saying, "If you can't do something right, don't do it at all," or is that "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"?  Well, either way, I've taken it to a whole new level.  If I can't do something perfectly (or what I view to be perfect), I don't do it at all!  Makes sense to you, doesn't it?  Okay, me neither, when I really stop to think about it.  (And, by the way, RIGHT and PERFECT are not the same thing!)

Just to give you a few examples, if I don't have time to perfectly clean a room, I don't even start cleaning it.  I guess really dirty is better than only half dirty?  Not the most logical thinking!  And I bet you'd think that since I'm such a perfectionist that I eat a  perfect diet & exercise every day for the perfect amount of time with my heart at the perfect rate.  Ha! Wrong! Instead, I tend to go through cycles of trying to do everything just right, but when I "fall off the wagon", I usually think that since I've already missed a workout or eaten something "bad", I've already ruined the day, or more often, the week, so I continue to eat "bad" or not workout until I decide to start over....which is usually either a Sunday or the beginning of a new month (because it has to be the perfect time).  Now wouldn't it make more sense to just get back up & keep going so that I don't totally negate all the hard work I've already put in?  After all, if you get a flat tire, what do you do?  You fix it and keep driving (or at least put a spare on as a temporary fix 'til you can get to the root of the problem and get it taken care of).  You don't say , "Well since I have one flat tire, I think I'll just poke holes in all my other tires, too!" 

It even carries over to my Bible reading.  For the last 3 years, I've wanted to read the Bible through in chronological order (the order in which the events actually happened) in one year.  I even bought a one-year chronological Bible with daily readings a couple years ago.  So every year I start out in January following my plan, but by February or March, I've usually missed a few days here and there, and because I feel like it's impossible to catch up, I just give up and decide I'll start over next January.  Yes, this has happened for about 3 years now!   Again, not very logical!

So this year when January rolled around, I did some thinking.  I decided that I wanted to do things DIFFERENTLY....after all, you can't keep doing the same things the same way and expect different results.  So this year, rather than making the same New Year's resolutions I seem to make every year, I decided that I need to work on changing my MINDSET.  I need to change my ALL-OR-NOTHING thinking.  I need to not let FEAR....fear of failure....fear of rejection....fear of imperfection...keep me from LIVING LIFE.  In the past, my perfectionism has often paralyzed me & actually kept me from making progress.  This year PROGRESS, not perfection, is my goal. 

Over time, I've learned that perfectionism often comes from the need for APPROVAL and ACCEPTANCE....from myself and from others.  While I know that I have a long way to go, my prayer is that this year God will begin to help me see things through His eyes... to see myself through His eyes and to see others through His eyes.  If I begin to see myself through God's eyes, maybe, just maybe, I can begin to love & accept myself a little more....imperfections and all.  After all, when the Bible speaks of loving your neighbor as yourself, it first assumes that you love yourself.  It's virtually impossible to focus your efforts on truly loving & reaching out to others if you're consumed with winning their APPROVAL!  Interestingly, as I was thinking about this, I realized that it's my friends who don't put on a "perfect" front, who are transparent, who can laugh at themselves...those are the friends who are the most endearing, who I most enjoy being around, who I can most relate to.  Those are the friends who make me feel the most LOVED.  Hmmm...could it be that my need to look perfect, my need for approval, actually does the opposite?

Now, don't get me wrong, I think that God very much wants us to always strive to be better, but my idea of better (or perfect) is very different from God's!  So this year, my desire and prayer is that I am to God what my house is to me...a WORK IN PROGRESS.

Oh and by the way, in case you're wondering about that Bible reading thing.  Well this year, I decided to go at my own pace....even if it takes two or three years.  And guess what? I'm finding that I'm learning and growing so much more!  Although some days I read a few chapters, other days God has so much to say to me through just a few verses that I don't make it past one chapter!  Hmm...actually learning and growing (and PROGRESSING) from my time with God?  Now that makes PERFECT sense!


Just a few scriptures that came to mind while I was writing this:
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and PERFECT will.

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

Isaiah 64:8
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of you hand.

Romans 3:23
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

New Year, New View

January is a time for reflecting, for renewing, for resolving.  As you'll see in some of my posts to come, I've been doing some reflecting myself.  Through that process, I've realized that out of fear of what others might think, I often "guard" my heart and my thoughts.  While there is definitely a time and place to keep things to yourself, there is also a time and place to share...to be transparent.  So as a result, I've decided to start this blog.  While it will be fun & easy for me to blog about dishes & decorating (which I'm sure I'll do plenty of), blogging about my inner thoughts, my struggles, and my lessons won't be so easy.  To be honest, I'm actually a little nervous about opening up.  However, my prayer is that by peeling back the layers and letting you in to see a little deeper into my heart, that healing and growth will come...both for me and for anyone who may come across my blog.  So whether it's a post about decorating or a post about something that God's put on my heart, I pray that it blesses you.