Smart. Sophisticated. Satisfied

What a great day!  It was busy but I enjoyed every bit of it. I always feel so "smart" and "sophisticated" when I do things like this. I've been to many museums but this time it felt different in a good way.  I also leave museums with a strong urge to create works of art. I have canvases sitting around the house and they desperately need to be shown some attention. I also have a drawing I started nearly 10 years ago - I think I may have just found some motivation to finish it. 

I have to say it again - it was a really nice day.  The company I kept. The weather. The food. And now I can add the five specific things I loved about today.

1. I went to the Phillips Collection in DC.  Great museum that was exhibiting works by Degas.  I remember Degas's work from being an art major in college. He was one of my favorites - probably the favorites of many people simply because he's just one of the more well known impressionist artists. LOL  It's like, you can't mention impressionism without Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Renoir... They were all on display there.  I really enjoyed it.  I'm thankful for VG for suggesting we visit. 
2. While at the Phillips Collection I saw the work of Arthur Dove. I had never heard of this man before and I can't say that I loved everything he did from the instant I saw it - but what I did love is his signature.  He seems like a very bold man because of the placement of his signature.  He signed his name "Dove" smack dab in the center of his painting. He didn't seem to care what was there... he just knew he was going to sign in the center no matter what. LOL  When everyone else chose to sign on the bottom left or bottom right corner, he bucked convention. Way to go Dove!
3. On my way home from DC I decided to give one of my friends a call. I haven't seen Hank in a couple months so I thought that since I was passing Arlington, we could go to Chevy's for happy hour.  Cheap eats and drinks ($3 for each item!). It was nice catching up with him. 
4. Now, I'm not one for PDA (most of the time).. but I certainly didn't mind it today at Starbucks. I love how I didn't even think twice about it.
5. I tried two new food places today.  Cafe Dupont and Le Pain Quotidien. Both were good places. I love how Le Pain Quotidien had a dark chocolate spread on the table - so of course I had to order something to spread that chocolate on. hahahaha I ordered a croissant.

Afterall, Tomorrow is Another Day...

Today's entry presents one of those times when it's difficult to make my list of positive things that happened today.  There are two distinct causes for this - 1. I never really got out of bed today aside for grabbing food to eat and to use the bathroom. 2. Things just seem a little off for me. The latter seems that way due to a disturbance in "the force". hahaha  Actually a disruption in the typical routines I've been having.  Am I sliding into a funk?  If so, how will this funk affect me and my postings?

I can't tell you exactly what feels off - I just sense it. I can feel something brewing. Maybe a fully rested me will wake up on the second day of January and this feeling doesn't exist anymore.  And if it does, I will coexist with it until it passes.

At any rate - I'm going to make my best attempt at a list tonight then crawl into bed (again) and wait to drift off to sleep.

1. Laying in bed all day felt pretty good. I loved the warmth of the sheets and the comforter covering me. It felt comforting and well, I guess that's why those special blankets are called comforters? hahaha
2. I love that I have leftovers in the refrigerator because I didn't really have to do much thinking with regards to what I would eat.  Just heat and serve.  It was one of those days I ate everything while sitting in bed. You'd think I was hungover or sick and I was neither. 
3. This is totally random but I was looking at my feet today and thought, "I have some nice looking feet!" Now, this thought really did make me feel good for a couple of minutes in an otherwise "feeling blue" type of day.
4. Since it was a "blue" kind of day I watched an old black and white movie by Abbott and Costello. After watching it I wanted to watch anything with Bette Davis in it.  I love her presence on film. Too bad I couldn't find a film on cable with her in it and I don't own anything by her - maybe it's time that I do. 
5. There are so many little things that are floating through my mind to place into this last slot - they all seem so insignificant but I honestly know that nothing in the world is insignificant. There's a sense of connectedness among everything in the world.  The fact that I breathe has an effect somewhere on the planet. It's days like this (and some days that are less blue and more magenta) that cause me to get all philosophical. I love being philosophical and thinking of things like how my breathing adds to the breeze someone may feel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Just like my low energy/mood may affect someone else and bring them down. I am responsible for the energy I bring into the world each day.  I watched a documentary by Tom Shadyac called "I Am" that talked about this. It was very intriguing.

Wow - this was a "deep" blog entry. WHEW!

My apologies for the low energy today.

Okay - as Scarlett O'Hara said so famously, "Afterall, tomorrow is another day."

Do They Know It's Christmas Time At All?

Had you come to my house you wouldn't have really known it was Christmas.  I mean, there are decorations up but there were no excited kids running around - just an anxious dog. I'm sure he has no clue that it's Christmas. He just knows that he got this humongous bone to gnaw on for the next couple of days and he's perfectly content to lie on his bed trying to devour it. 

1. Today I woke up on a mission.  To bake a red velvet cake.  Mission Accomplished. It's really tasty. I also cooked a whole chicken in my crock pot.  Did you know that crock pots make an extremely tender chicken??  Mmm
2. The second mission of my day was to clear out the laundry area and prep it for stacking the dryer on top of the washer.  I should have done this a LONG time ago. I don't know what I was waiting for. Tomorrow it will be stacked and I will gain a ton more space!
3. If you know me well enough, you know I love popcorn.  More specifically - Movie Popcorn with the butter flavoring put on in layers. YUM!  Tonight I had that snack as I watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. 
4. One of the gifts that I got today was a gray plaid shirt with a bit of purple in it. I love this shirt and can't wait to wear it. 
5. Is it weird that I spent part of my Christmas weather stripping the doors?  LOL  They were a bit drafty. I'm happy that I've resolved those drafty issues.  Next, I'll tackle my car.

My Sunday Reality

Sunday was certainly a day of rest, except that my form of resting was working on my 30 Crafts in 30 Days challenge.  I didn't leave the house aside from going to my car to get the dog food from it that I bought on Friday.  I did have a really good weekend although I just don't know where the time goes!

1. I created more projects for the craft challenge, one of which I really like and I am considering doing more of.
2. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is keeping me entertained. I don't watch a whole lot of reality tv but this show just does it for me! lol
3. I made Orange Chicken from a boxed dinner I bought at Walmart and I am happy to report that it was DELICIOUS.
4. I was happy to hear that my friend had a great date last night.  She deserves it.
5. I found a quote that I love on Pinterest this is about bravery - if you're not on Pinterest, you soon will be.  This site is growing like a California wildfire! 

L.I.F.E.

1. L.I.F.E. Loving the Incredible Feeling of Existing. I just thought of this quote tonight. I'm going to have to do something with that acronym.
2. Who knew that I could have made so many cool little craft projects in one day?  I am so excited to make the next project. This is all part of my 30 crafts in 30 days challenge. Check it out here.
3. I had another talk with my roommate and things have gone back to "business as usual" except for the things that were the issue.  I'm glad I started that conversation with him.
4. The Peppermint Mocha International Coffee Creamer is DELICIOUS!
5. The spaghetti I made tonight... THE BOMB! That is all.

Super Soul Sunday

I haven't done a thing today and I am okay with that.  Although I never left the house, I did find 5 solid things that I loved about today.

1. Myra stopped by to return the key. It was nice to chill out and chat with her. She's a good friend in the area.
2. I saw a video today that promotes marriage equality. It was made in Australia. It was done so well that I had to share it on Facebook and now I'm sharing it here. The video is titled, "It's Time".
3. I've spent most of the evening looking for craft projects. I'm embarking on a 30-Day challenge to make one craft per day.  I've found about 15 strong projects today. Lots of the ideas came from Design Sponge. Heeeeeeeeeeey, Design Sponge! :0)
4. Waking up early and being able to go back to sleep for a 2 hour nap is something I love. To have no real agenda for the day is awesome!
5. Super Soul Sunday on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) was great today. They talked about Taoism.  Maybe I'm a Taoist?  I don't know. What I do know is that I was fully engaged in the program.

Quotes on Financial Brutality

I spend a lot of time reading quotes.  They give me inspiration and sometimes offers a new perspective. Today, while I was shopping I said to the cashier, "You can't beat this sale" and he responded, "You can't beat it with a stick." And oddly enough, I was buying a dowel rod. At that moment, I instantly thought of my mother because she would always say that phrase as well as a few others. It got me thinking about my own sayings.  What is uniquely mine? If not my own unique saying, what am I known for saying?  Hmmm... Something to ponder at a later date.

1. Today I got to see my brother, sister-in-law and niece. They stopped by this morning on their way back to North Carolina.  It was great to see them!
2. Great quote: "Logic will get you from A - Z.  Imagination will get you everywhere." Albert Einstein
3. I made another journal today, better than the last. They just keep getting better. 
4. Today. I. Ran. For. 8. Minutes. Did it twice, too and didn't pay attention to the time. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Progress.
5. I bought fabric remnants from Jo-Ann Fabrics and they were on sale for 50% additional off! You can't beat that with a stick!

I Hate to Go But I Simply Mustache....

1. After several days of skipping out on going to the gym, I made my triumphant return!  I am proud to say that I did it and wasn't winded! Ahh yes, progress!
2. I hung out with one of my friends who just moved to this part of Northern Virginia. I got to show her a new restaurant and where the ABC Store is. hahaha
3. Tonight posed a great surprise.  I got a message from a customer on Etsy who wanted to buy three bracelets. Got it, no problem.  Then she messaged me again and asked for another bracelet.  WOO HOO!! Who doesn't love making a multiple sale?
4. With the sale of these bracelets I get to move up in the fundraising boards for Movember!  LOVE IT! I get to add another $10 to the mix. Would you like to contribute? :0)
5. Today I finished working the first resume that Nicole and I have taken on in our resume business. Looks like we got our second one coming in!!

Handy Dandy Sunday

1. It's that time of year where I want to try out 101 different crafting ideas.  Here's one that I think is totally doable in the next few weeks.  Paint Dipped Pinecones.
2. I got quite a few things done today and all before 1PM - I didn't get everything done but enough to where I feel good about the accomplishments!
3. Tonight's episode of Once Upon a Time was really good.  I'm lovin' how they're twisting the stories!  Next week we'll learn about Cinderella!!
4. I'm thankful that my roommate came back early and helped me rake the leaves in the yard.
5. I love that the kitchen counter is completely clear.  I bought a small pantry and that did the trick.

Ice, Ice, Baby!

It's one of those days that I find it hard to come up with 5 things. Especially since I slept most of the day but I'll give it a shot.

1. I enjoyed being at the tournament and seeing some of our league members coming out to support us.  That was really cool.  While we didn't win anything it was a great time getting to know folks better.
2. I went to Chipotle for lunch and realized that I don't need to get that burrito bowl any more - Why?  - because you can get a quesadilla with beans and chicken and only pay less than $5.  Granted, you won't have the rice (that I don't like anyhow) and the salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc - but when you're on a budget, this meal does the trick!
3. Waking up this morning there was a TON of ice on my car and I had to use the scraper.  Before I did that, I noticed the beauty of the ice formations on my car and had to take pictures of it.  It's amazing how it forms in these patterns.
4. Being in a "WTF am I doing?" state of mind really causes you to think of the "Why?" aspect of my choices.  A lot of choices I make are because things feel good - but I have enough sense to ascertain when things no longer feel good. I love that I have tools and the knowledge to really "get" that for myself.
5. On my way home tonight I thought about how I might raise joy in others. I love seeing people super excited.  I want to bring some excitement to someone's life and surprise them. I love coming up with ways in which I can let the joy rise in others.

I've Learned...

1. “I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”― Maya Angelou 
2. A great stress reliever is exercise.  Today I went to the gym and walked/ran 2.71 miles. I was tired when I got there but I conquered my work out.
3. I appreciate the phone call I had today. It put things into perspective and helped me not to stress. 
4. My new favorite show: Once Upon a Time.  That was good television! It's written by the same folks who wrote LOST - that's why I love it!
5. I have a great idea for a website. I'm following my passion. Tomorrow I make the first move.

Unspeakable Joy in ...

1. Okay, I'll admit it.  The show Hot in Cleveland is pretty funny!  I've watched the TV Land marathon this morning and love the characters. 
2. The Walking Dead. Will this be a replacement for LOST? Either way, I love the show!
3. Kim English sang the hell out of this song back in 1999.. and you know, it STILL is the jam!  Are they even making mixes like this anymore?   I love it!
4. By George, I think I've got it!  I've figured out how to make these upcycled journals! LOVE IT!  Now I just need to create an assembly line.
   
5. I love that I almost got through the weekend without spending any money.  Had it not been for Chipotle, I would have succeeded. 

Oh the Horror (and the Zombies)!

1. I think I've finally figured out how to make these sketchbooks using re-purposed cereal boxes.  I even added a flap with a clasp tonight! By the time I make one more I should have it totally figured out. Woo HOo!
2. I looked outside of the kitchen window and spotted a hummingbird hovering around one of the flowers in the front yard.  Pretty cool! This is the second one I've seen in the yard in the last month.  I guess they like what's in the yard. :0)
3. Today I found another show that I am excited for, The Walking Dead.  This show is a good mix of creepy, sci-fi and drama.  I like how each episode leaves you wanting more.  Reminds me of how the show LOST made me feel. I'm also excited to start watching American Horror Story - Jessica Lange plays "creepy" really well. Oh, and they sure say the word, "shit" a lot!
4. Scored a great deal on an item at Super Target - I love shopping the clearance racks. I also love Super Target in general.
5. Peace and quiet.  That's what I will have for the next few days and I will love every minute of it.

Fresh and Clean and More Caffeine

1.  While I find it hard to say goodbye - I always look forward to saying, "Welcome back!".
2. A friend and I ate at a really good El Salvadorian/Mexican restaurant in Eastern Market today. It was featured in Guy Fieri's visit with Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The restaurant is called Tortilla Cafe.  Really good tasting food. I will return. 
3. I had a good coffee at Eastern Market, too!  It came from Marvelous Market. Just a regular coffee (French Roast) with room for my own cream and sugar.  I used raw sugar and it was delicious!
4. Peace and quiet will be in my house for the next 5 days. YAY! Love it! 
5. As I was preparing to give my dog a bath today, I closed the doggy door so that he couldn't run outside and away from me.  Well, I went upstairs and grabbed a towel out of the linen closet and he jumped into the bath tub all on his own.  WOW!  I guess he said, "It's about time I got a bath because I'm tired of smelling like shit!".  At least I want to believe that. :0)

"Green" Day

1. To wake up with a plan is what it’s all about.  Today I said I’d wake up, run some errands and buy what I needed for jewelry making.  I finished 8 beaded bracelets.  I love productivity!
2. The word LINDO. :0)
3. While out shopping, I came up with a new way to brand my business. I’ll be using craft and recycled paper. Picked up some print at home stickers too.
4. Homemade guacamole makes my heart sing!
5. I love to hear that my friends are happy with the way things are going for them! Makes me say, “Awwwwww” <wipes tear from eye>