Home Sanctuary

And the Winner is...

Thank you for all your votes and input on the outfits I posted on Friday. I am so grateful to you for taking the time to comment!! I went back to the store that day, certain that I would get the black top and longer skirt. Fortunately, my friend Priscilla met me there and helped me through the decision. Funny how another set of eyes helps you see what you missed the first time!

Our conclusion: the longer skirt was absolutely more flattering on me than the shorter one, and plus I am in love with it, so that decision was easy. And some of the tops were too fussy, and the black one really was too formal and somber....so this one ended up being the best choice!

Me in my Mother of the Bride Ensemble

Had to get a wrap, of course. This one has "just enough" beading to look special, but not so much that I couldn't wear it again with something else.

DONE!!

Almost......I still need some shoes, but worst case scenario is that I would just wear the ones I had on in the photo. They have a wedge heel that won't sink into the dirt, and that is the main thing I'm needing.

So, yeah, it's probably a little dressier than I had envisioned, but after looking and not finding even a close "second," I am very happy to simply make a decision, and cross this off my list!

All the discussion about this outfit reminds me how good it feels to stop deliberating about something and just. make. a. decision.

Sometimes, when faced with lots of options, things become so murky and difficult to wrap your head around. And if you wait too long, the decision is often made FOR you...and it's not always the best one.

"Well, if I do this thing, then this other thing might happen. But on the other hand, if I go this other way, something else might happen. However, if I choose something different....." On and on it goes. And they might not be huge things, it might just be trying to decide what to order for lunch.

"If I order brocolli, I might have gas. But if I eat a salad, I will be hungry in an hour. A hamburger sounds good, but all that meat....." I hear ya, girl. It's so tough.

Today's Small Thing is to make a decision.

In fact, let's be rockin' Decision Makers today. Let's pretend we aren't indecisive procrastinators, but are Decisive Movers and Shakers. Dontcha like the sound of that? Pick your breakfast cereal with authority. Tell your child, no, she can't wear flip-flops to school. Pick a drawer to put those papers in, thaw the meat for dinner, make that dentist appointment, and yes, wear a scarf with that sweater, it looks darn good.

Practice saying Yes, period. And No, period. I'll take this one. I'll go that way. It feels good to move on from the Valley of Indecision - to the Highway of Getting Things Done.

What decision(s) will you make today? Great! Make them and then don't waste your time looking back and beating yourself up over "woulda coulda shoulda." Ask God for wisdom and them move ahead. Really, it's going to be fine.

Song of the Day: Yes I Will, Bryan Duncan

Company Girl Coffee 10.14

Yesterday, I stopped in to Grapevine Mills Mall (mostly outlet stores) and shopped for a Mother of the Bride outfit. The best place I stumbled upon was a store called Group USA...I think one of you girls suggested it....and found some separates that just might work. I call upon you now, sisters, to render your opinions. Mom, if you're reading this, call me.

I narrowed the selection down to two similar black skirts and two or three blouses. There were actually a lot of tops that would go with the skirts, but they seemed just a little TOO fancy for our barn affaire.

First, I love this skirt. Might as well tell you. Ankle length, nice shape....and after some of the awful things I've tried on, this one made me feel happy.

 

Here it is with a very wedding-y top. I like the black ribbon, but I feel like it's a lot of shiny fabric on me...both things are satiny. Plus the neckline is too low and will need some help to make it work. Hmmm.

 

This blouse is a little less stuffy looking and one of my favorites...but they did not have my size. I'm holding the back of it to make it fit for the picture. Ruffly sleeves and shirred drapey fabric. Is that enough black accent on the neckline to work with the skirt?

 

This blouse is my other favorite. It has a few sparkles in it that make it feel special, and some very pretty detailing down the front, off to the side. Is this TOO much black? I looked for these outfits in other colors but could not find them. I'm actually fine with black for the wedding, as long as the outfit itself isn't somber.

 

Now, take a look at THIS skirt. It is shorter and has lots of big fabric flowers around the bottom. It has a flirty, retro shape without being seductive....a quality I would be thrilled to find. Compare this picture to the one with the same blouse, different skirt. Your thoughts??

 

Here is a close up of the shorter skirt. It's definitely a fun look, but I'm just not sure about it.

Please chime in with your votes.....I would be so happy to be done looking, I can't even tell you what a relief it would be. :)

Let me know: 1. which skirt you like best, and 2. which top you like best....or 3. neither.

Time for Company Girl Coffee! Feel free to link up below as an easy way to invite people to your blog....and to find other Company Girls' blogs. I often forget that most people read my posts via email and can't see any names "below" because the linky tool does not appear in the email versions. If you pop over to Home Sanctuary by clicking on the post title, you'll see what I'm talking about. And I hope you'll stop in and visit a few of the great gals who have linked in today. You don't have to "be a blogger" to enjoy some new blogs and make some new friends.

Enjoy your weekend, and please forgive me for not having a Small Thing today! A late hockey game did me in :).

Song of the Day: You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile, Annie Soundtrack

One Extra Thing

 

I'm not a resolution maker, but back in January of 2009, I made ONE New Year's resolution.

I resolved to do one "extra" thing each day. I'm not sure why I was reminded of that recently, but maybe it was when I was doing something extra around the house....and feeling real good about it that I remembered...."OH YEAH! This was my one resolution!"

See, I'm not one of those people who springs out of bed, chomping at the bit to get things done. I wasn't blessed with boundless energy to cross things off my list.  I tend to take items on today's list and move them to the "I'll do this tomorrow" list.......and well, you know how THAT goes.  So by taking on a "one extra thing" attitude, I gave myself permission to not have to get EVERYTHING done......but just one more thing than I thought I could do.

I'll admit I kind of forgot about my one resolution since then. But I've noticed that doing an extra thing has become a mindset - a habit - even without me realizing it. I think the trick to making it stick is simply to remind yourself of it every so often and then get in there are DO IT. It yields such incredible results. I love the way the "one extra thing" attitude makes me feel when I put it into practice. I feel like a freaking ROCK STAR!!!

This might look like: putting away a dish, rather than leaving it to dry in the rack. Or hanging my purse on a hook instead of chucking it on the floor when I walk through the door. It could be putting my clothes in the closet instead of leaving them in a pile on the bed. It could be eating something healthy or even reading a verse or two before I turn out the light. I'm amazed at how doing "one extra thing" can make me feel on top of the world. It's like a drug, I tell you!

Some days, my "one extra thing" might be Today's Small Thing from right here at Home Sanctuary.  The Small Things are simple and easy, quick and sometimes silly. Just the kind of "extra" thing I might be able to swing in a day.  

But the point is really about the kind of attitude I want to have: it challenges me to take one teeny tiny step each day... kicks mediocrity in the butt, and gives me confidence to set bigger goals.

Yes!

Today's Small Thing is to try on a new mindset by doing ONE EXTRA THING.

Do one "extra" thing today and put your new mindset into practice.

Big or small, each "extra" is a victory! What will be YOUR "extra" today??

Song of the Day: Step by Step, New Kids on the Block

 

Welcome Mat

 

My outdoor welcome mat got thrown away some time ago, wrecked by dog hair and people traffic. I'm down to one throw rug just inside the door, and I can't live without it for picking up dirt that would otherwise be tracked into the house. But I miss having something outside the front door that says "Welcome" to my guests before they even come in.

Today's Small Thing is to take a look at your front door area and view it as a guest sees it. 

Is your porch a home to spiderwebs and a pile of leaves that blew in?  Is is littered with newspapers, muddy tennis shoes and skateboards?  Is the door itself dusty and rain splattered? A few minutes to sweep and gather the miscellaneous stuff will give your home an instant facelift!

I love to see pots of flowers by the front door and I actually planted a few petunias this weekend. Suddenly, everything looked better! I was amazed at how just that little touch made such a difference. 

So shake out the rug, tidy your stoop and throw your arms open to your world.  Say "Welcome" without ever needing a rug to do it for you.

Create a hospitable entry in a few minutes flat!

Song of the Day: Welcome Home You, Brian Littrel

Contain Yourself

Lately, I've been seeing lids.

No, not the inside of my eyelids, silly.

Although.  I do love a good nap as often as possible.  (sshhh)

I'm seeing lids to containers and containers for lids...but alas! none of them fit each other!

Back in the day, when Tupperware had a monopoly on plastic storage, lids were interchangeable.  Of course, you had to take out a bank loan to buy a set of them at a home party, but Tupperware was an investment in the family food budget and came in all those great 70's colors.  My mom had some avacado green and harvest gold containers.  They still make great stuff.

But I like the disposable storage containers that I won't feel guilty about tossing when the contents start morphing into fuzzy creatures with alien colonies.  I won't even bother to open them...just a casual flick of the wrist and they're gone.  If only all problems were so easy to solve...

Only thing is that when I go to replace them I can never remember which brand I like, so I now have a conglomeration of similar containers and similar lids....yet few of them fit together.  It's so frustrating to have to rummage through every bowl and every top to find the one set that works.

Today's Small Thing is to check out your kitchen storage containers. 

Are they all thrown in disarray in a drawer or cabinet?  Do you have a bunch of lids waiting to be matched with their container, only to realize that no container will ever come to them?  Put them out of their misery by tossing those lidless containers and containerless lids out, and making room for the pairs that actually work.   I've got a whole bin full of singles taking up precious space that I can get rid of today.

If this job scares you because it seems too big, set a timer and give yourself 10-15 minutes MAX and then stop.  

Hey, do some showing off!  Post "Before and After" pictures on your blog, drag a family member over to see your handiwork, tell a friend what you did, or leave a comment!  Enjoy the rush of container excitement when you see how organized you are!

Song of the Day: Better Together, Jack Johnson

Company Girl Coffee 10.7

My allergies are terrible right now. Ragweed and mold spores always kick them into high gear this time of year....not to mention a major chemical fire just a few miles away that put toxic stuff in the air. (We decided that the air smells like burned brocolli. yum) My husband is suffering even more than I am. He is up every night, rummaging through allergy meds trying to get some relief so he can sleep.

So I have a question. Is it safe to mix allergy medications? I mean, if you take a Zyrtec and then later, because your symptoms are so bad, you pop a Benadryl, is that bad? Because I've done it.....um, probably more than once. I would really like your advice. Pleeeeeeze.

And now on to our task today. Ah CHOO!!

Today's Small Thing is to purge your medicine cabinet of expired medicines and vitamins. 

You don't have to organize them unless you feel so inclined. But you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out it's not as hard as you think it is. All our rummaging through the medications has created a jumble in the cabinet....and revealed plenty of expired items. Old vitamins and cough syrup, Tylenol from 2005.....I thought I'd purged it all fairly recently, but it's high time to do it again, obviously. I'll bet you have some expired things, too.

What is the oldest medicine you can find in your house? Confession time....

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend! Feel free to link up below for our weekly coffee time....it's easy and fun!

Song of the Day: Breathe, Taylor Swift

Grand Central

Ridge Grand Central Station

(a reprise of a classic Small Thing)

 

 

This is our home's Grand Central Station on a good day.  Only one textbook on the table! Just one backpack!  But believe me, there are days that it looks like thousands of people have funneled through on their way to school and activities.  I've spared you that mess.

The one thing that's changed is the "traffic obstruction," which was permanently located right where you'd have to step OVER it.  It was furry and slobbery and oh-so-lovable....(sniff)

Our Grand Central isn't a well-planned feature of our house.  It's the back door that works as our front door because the front door is located where no one uses it.  Anyway, we trek right through this kitchen area every time we go anywhere, so naturally, all the baggage and paperwork from every trip gets dumped here if we aren't vigilant.

Where is YOUR Grand Central?  Do your travelers leave a trail of belongings behind them? 

Today's Small Thing is to do some maintenance duty in the depot. 

Pick up the dropped ticket stubs and trash, the overcoats and hats, the bags and luggage that weary commuters leave "for later." It will feel so good to walk into your station and NOT be greeted by a train wreck!  You might even feel like canceling your next trip in order to enjoy some terminal beauty.

Make departures and arrivals run smoothly with a depot that sparkles!

Song of the Day:Pennsylvania 6-5000, Syd Lawrence

How do you organize YOUR Grand Central? Got any tips?

Stock Your Bathroom

My bathrooms have been a little neglected in recent days. Well, weeks, if you want to know the truth. Every day, I see spots on the mirrors, toothpaste in the sinks, cluttery counters and unemptied waste cans. And every day I just walk away from it all, vowing to return "sometime later" to address the issues.

But I don't.

Want to know why? Because I'm out of the cleaning supplies that are normally kept in each bathroom and it's too hard to walk all the way down the stairs and into the laundry room to gather up what I need for the tasks. TOO HARD! I can't do it! My legs ache just thinking about how far I'd have to walk. 

I'm so pathetic.

Not having cleaning supplies handy to where I need them makes me become a very poor homemaker. It causes my naturally lazy inclinations to simply run rampant! And I notice that other family members follow suit. They can't make their little legs and arms do the work of rummaging through the jumbled supplies in the laundry room to find the one roll of paper towels and bottle of windex they need to quickly clean up their mess.....and so they do what I do. Leave it for "another day."

Today's Small Thing is to take inventory of your cleaning supplies and their locations.

Get these at a discount store to put in a caddy per bathroom (or floor level):

"Small Things" Supplies

Glass Cleaner
Surface Cleaner
Abrasive cleaner
Paper Towels
Sponges
Trash bags
Dust cloth/spray
Wisk broom/dust pan
Rubber gloves
Potty  scrub-brush

Optional: Pop-up wipes (love these)

General cleaning supplies to have:

Floor cleaner
Vinegar
Disinfectant spray
Tools: brooms, mop, vacuum
Trash bags

Don't let "frugality" keep you from having more than one type of cleaner or supply on hand. (I'm so guilty of this.) I often pass by products in the store because "well, I already have one of those." But what good is it to have one bottle of glass cleaner if I never use it because it is too inconveniently located, or I have to track it down each time I want to use it? 

I feel a trip to the dollar store coming on.

Today, make a list of what items you need, and reorganize the things you already have. Take a few minutes to put supplies where you use them....and then don't be surprised when you suddenly become the most amazing homemaker/housekeeper in the entire world! This simple trick will do that for you.

Song of the Day: All Out of Love, Air Supply

What is your favorite bathroom cleaning product? Is it kept in a handy location?

Surviving Busy Days - with MM

Well, I THOUGHT the dust would settle yesterday, and that I'd hop back on the computer to post photos and a Small Thing....but it never did happen. Poo. And as luck would have it, I'll be gone all day today and won't have a chance to catch up.

So here's a quick pic of my daughters and I. That's Lauren on the left and Meghan (bride to be) in the middle. Lauren is my Martha Stewart - a creative genius that is making this whole wedding-planning thing possible. I don't know what I would do without her. Meghan is finishing up her first 6 weeks as a music teacher and is absolutely swamped with lesson plans....and learning 775 students' names. Seven hundred and seventy-five. Ouch.

Other than a last-minute time change for the ceremony and complete re-do of the invitations, I think things are going well as we march toward November 12. However, I'm having trouble sleeping. I keep having crazy wedding dreams.....and ya'll know how much I NEED my sleep, so it's a problem. I do love to sleep, and that's why not even getting in a nap hurts. :)

I'm off to a job site early this morning - wrapping up details on that TV studio that we finished last month. There are a few things that need touch-up and color adjustments, now that they can see how things look on camera. I'm going to arrive with a bin full of paints and brushes and just see how far I can get.

Whew. The only way to survive days and weeks of busyness is through magic. Magic, I tell you.

Today's Small Thing is to (re)discover the magic of Minimum Maintenance. 

Click on the link above and familiarize yourself with the simple tool that will hold your household together, no matter how busy you become. Have you tried it?? If not, take a few moments to read up....and then go like a house a-fire for several minutes - picking up and straightening. As this becomes a habit, you'll see magic start happening....that's home sanctuary, folks! If you never get anything else from my blog, I hope you'll walk away with this fantastic tool - and a mindset that thinks in simple "minutes" of effort. Minimum Maintenance takes only minutes a day....but works absolute wonders.

Have a great day...I would love to hear your MM testimonials today! Has it worked for you? Share your story!

Rachel

Whirlwind Weekend

My daughter Meghan had two bridal showers this weekend....such fun! I will post some pics and a Small Thing a bit later this morning, after the dust settles. :)

Rachel