Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Time to be a “grown up”

At our Local Levo event on Monday, one of the articles that we read and discussed was the first time we felt like grown ups.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt like a grown up.  I’ve feel like Roger Murtaugh a hell of a lot, but not like a “grown up.”

#ImTooOldForThisShit

When was the first time you felt like a grown up?

But I’ve also felt like I’ve had a lot of moments were I was forced to be an adult before I ever was one.  My parents always talked to me like I was an adult.  None of this “Angelica, when I count to three, you better be sitting on your bum at this table” stuff.  #ThatDidntHappenAtMyHouse

Compound that with my parents splitting at an early age, and I had to do a lot of growing up really quickly.

I think the first time I really felt like a grown up is when my mom moved to Virginia.  I don’t care how old I get, I will always need my mom.  To have her move seven hours away was a big adjustment.

It happened really quickly, too.  In April she told me she and my step-dad were moving and on June 21st, they were out. #CouldntGetAwayFastEnough

So she moved pretty quickly and I had to adjust faster.  She trusted me to handle myself and level with me as a mature adult and not like her child.

Another grown up moment coming quickly after that one was when I had to take care of someone else.  Not a dog, or hamster, but a person (and a parent at that).

That’s definitely an eye-opening experience.  I had to make sure bills were paid, surgical gauze was stocked, the house didn’t look like hobos were squatting in it..  #ResponsibilityIsFun

You go from protected to protector and if you aren’t careful, you could get whiplash it changes so quickly.

Of course there are the standards of getting up and going to work when it’s snowing really hard/you’re sick/the day is too beautiful to be inside, keeping food in the fridge that requires that you have some cooking knowledge, and purchasing real furniture. #MyPapasanChairIsTotallyRealFurniture #NoReally

There’s also the time I went to Target on a Saturday night and walked out with clearance lounge pants and Joint Juice.  My fingers get really stiff when it’s very cold and the chondroitin helps with the pain. #OkayIReallyAmTooOldForThis

When did you first feel like a grown up?

I’m linking up with Life With Lolo and Genuinely Lauren for #HashtagHumpday!

#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo

Creative soup for the soul

I’m a fan of coloring.  When I was younger, one of my favorite things was my big-ass box of Crayons.  I still have it to this day.  My neighbor and I would start with a blank page and she would make a line, then I would make a line, then she’d add to what I did, and we’d go back and forth collaborating on this picture.

Then in high school, my best friend and I would totally color, too.  Yep, 17 years old and I broke out the ol’ coloring books.  I’m not ashamed.

Coloring has serious stress-relieving properties.

I love actually making something with my hands – making a #30Lists book* (btw, there’s totally still time to get in on the action this month!), putting together a photo album, coloring, even reorganizing a bathroom feels good to me.

The other day, I saw an article about coloring being good for the soul.  It stimulates parts of the brain related to motor skills, senses, and creativity.

And it has serious de-stressing power.  I don’t know about you, but I find it incredibly relaxing.  The other night after a long day of work and finding out some news that immediately turned me into a ball of stress, I colored.  I found an old geometric coloring book that I think I stole from my mom and sat down with my big ass box of crayons and colored.

Coloring is good for the soul and it relieves so much stress.I was so relaxed, I fell asleep right where I was.

I am realizing the importance of taking time to do things that feel good and are good for me.  I think it’s our natural tendency to say, “Other people are asking me for my time and I feel obligated to give it,” and it’s hard to say no and take care of yourself, but if I don’t take care of myself, I’m not doing anyone else any favors.

Coloring is good for the soul and it relieves so much stress.

As Britt Reints acknowledges, creative spirits need a little nurturing.  And she’s doing just that in her Creative Soul Connection Weeknight Retreat on March 26th.

The whole night is centered around nurturing our creative spirits – talking about how to overcome obstacles that get in the way of creating and the benefits of creating things on a regular basis (aside from having new Pinterest-inspired artwork).

I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to playing with other creatives.  I’m a huge believer that you need to change your surroundings if you’re feeling stuck and actually going somewhere and being given permission to get hands-on and messy..oh hello, I’mma be all over this.

A little recap of what the night will include:

– Emphasis on importance of Being Ernest making stuff regularly
-Hands-on art project with Little House Big Art
-Creative panel discussion – so far it includes a musician, seamstress, writer, graphic designer/art camp director
-Sponsored by Little House Big Art, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and I Made It! Market
-Heated mosaic tile floors at the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination

Coloring is good for the soul and it relieves so much stress.

A while back, I sat down and had coffee with Britt and another writer who felt stuck like myself.  She told us about artist dates that she’s trying to do regularly with herself.  She gets out of her house and does something that feels good to her: go to a museum, paint by the river, etc.  So even if you aren’t in Pittsburgh and can’t come to the CSCWR, do something for a few hours that night that feed your creative soul.

Did I convince you to come?  I sure hope so!  You can grab tickets for the Creative Soul Connection for $25 and I’m thinking it’s probably going to be the best $25 you spend all week.

[disclaim]Britt asked me to spread the creative love and in exchange offered me a free ticket to this event.  You can bet your bottom dollar I already was going to buy a ticket and go anyway![/disclaim]

[disclaim]*The 30 Days of Lists link is an affiliate link.[/disclaim]

Two word advice

Earlier this week, Emily Levenson posted in the Propelle Rock It Facebook group asking, “If you could write a note to your younger self, what would you say in only two words?”  I must have typed out and deleted them so many times because I had such a hard time finding the right two words.

What advice would you give to your younger self in two words?

Don’t stop and be yourself seemed too generic; it wasn’t specific to me.  Try harder makes it sound like I wasn’t trying my best.  Don’t be complacent and everything will be okay are more than two words.

When someone asks the advice you’d give your younger self, I always picture myself as a little kid because those are my “formative years” and there are things I wish I would have known.

I still insist that, as a kid, no one could tell me anything I’d listen to.  I thought I knew pretty much everything and no one could tell me otherwise; all the advice was well-meaning but they didn’t know what I was going through!

No, I won’t get over this crush.  Yes, it is the end of the world and the biggest thing that ever happened to me.

I know when you’re going through something, it seems like the end of the world and it just consumes you and then you can look back and be like, here’s what should have happened.

I think I would have listened to myself, though, because I could say to myself, “Hey, you, listen to you.  Here’s what’s up,” and I’d have to take that advice because I’ve been there and now I’m here on the other side.

Also, it’s specific to me  Advice never felt specific enough when I was a kid.  I wanted someone to tell me, “This is what you need to do,” instead of guiding me with well-meaning cliches.

When I think about how I was as a kid, I was quiet, pretty timid, and unless I was in my comfort zone, I didn’t venture out too much.  So that was what I thought I’d take into consideration when giving advice to tell my younger self.

Get outside.

Get outside. Savor the moment and be present to what is happening around you.

Get outside of everything.  Your comfort zone, the house, the books you read, the music you listen to, the friends you play with, the people you talk to.

Trying something new is scary and you may disappoint your parents’ expectations or get into a hairy situation with your friends, but it’s better than not doing what you want because you’re afraid of the outcome.

Try getting out of your own way, trusting your instincts, finding something new to occupy your time instead of the same old stuff.

Even in college: get outside.  Sure, study hard, but have fun.  Don’t try to pack all the fun of four years into a few weekends when you’re finally free.  Savor the moment and be present to what is happening around you.

And don’t be afraid to get a little messy.  That’s definitely good advice, but much more than two words.

What advice would you give to your younger self?  When you picture your “younger self,” where are you in your life?

You’re never too old to be considerate

Today’s post is brought to you by #HashtagHumpday and some genuinely annoying kids from last week.

We're ranting about consideration in today's #HashtagHumpday link up post!

So the other day I was at Starbucks with Jonathan.  There was a small child to my left with his parent and a woman to my right (by herself).  #WhoBuysTheirFiveYearOldAnythingFromStarbucks?

I went to put my cup down in between the two so I could get some milk.  I set my cup down, took the lid off, and the kid (#ClearlyNotPayingAttentionToTheWorld) bumped me so my coffee spilled all over my hand and the counter.

This is the best part.  Are you ready for it?  #WaitForIt

The father looked at the kid, looked at me, and said, “Okay, let’s go now.” #AreYouKiddingMe?!

I am so sick of this self-centric culture we are living in.  I understand that a small child my not know what he’s doing or be paying attention to the world around him, but the job of the parent is to teach your child to pay attention to the world around him.

Something similar happened later that day.  We were leaving an area where there were many kids (and parental supervisors) were putting on socks and shoes.  And the kids were just sitting in the middle of the walkway area.

Are you surprised that these people aren’t watching out for their kids?  If I tripped and hurt one of their kids, it would be my fault instead of the parents for not keeping them safely out of the way of a busy area.

Seems like they could be a little more concerned for their kids’ well being here, don’t you?  If the job of the parent in example one is to teach their child to pay attention, it seems like the lesson here is to pay attention to the safety of your kids.

I was lucky to have parents that didn’t raise me to be a self-centered brat.  If I stopped in the middle of an entryway, I was told to move.  If I bumped in to someone, I was told to excuse myself.  If I was walking in a public area, I stayed to the right rather than taking up an entire hallway.

It is absolutely mind blowing to me that some people are so passive with their children.  They are shaping minds.  Minds that we all have to live with.  It would be a much nicer place to live if we were considerate of others.  And we could teach that to the future generations.

Sure, I understand that we all have to watch out for ourselves.  If we don’t have our best interest in mind, who will?  I get that.  But there’s nothing wrong with being polite and saying excuse me.

I just can’t believe that someone would basically allow their children to spill coffee all over someone and then #WALKAWAY?!?

Maybe I’m getting older and a few years ago this wouldn’t have bothered me.  Or maybe this egotistical attitude is compounding more and more.  Whatever it is, I’m tired of it.

All I know is that this wouldn’t have been such a problem when I was younger.  It definitely wouldn’t have been a problem when my parents were younger.  Going back even further, still not a problem.  Where do you think we learned how to be polite?  #DingDinDinggg: from our parents.

I’d love to just sit down in the middle of the floor and refuse to move, but life isn’t that way.  We all have to get a long with each other, so can’t we make it a little easier on ourselves?

So that was my rant for this week.  What about you?

I’m linking up with Life With Lolo and Genuinely Lauren to air some grievances for #HashtagHumpday.

#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo

Five things to prepare for 30 Days of Lists success

I have a shocking confession: I planned ahead.  The past two times I participated in 30 Days of Lists, I had no idea what vessel would store my magnificent lists.  In September, I pretty much stored them on Post It Notes until the end of the month when I decided to write them on Project Life cards and hold them together with binder rings.  And in December, I bound my own book again with PL cards, but I didn’t have it ready in time.

Five things to prep for 30 Days of Lists success. Get your PL cards and rukristin stamps!

So this time, I’m planning ahead.  As I mentioned before, I ordered the perfect little notebook from rukristin and I’m excited to fill it up with lists throughout March.  If you’ve never listed before, or you have but are looking for inspiration, here are five things to gather before you start listing.

A notebook / paper

If you register early for #30Lists, you will get a digital scrapbook kit.  While it’s so cute, I love the tactile element to crafting.  Cutting things out, finding the right layout, adding embellishments.  So I need a good base for my work.

Like I said, I’ve used all sorts of bases, from plain PL cards to Post Its.  Whatever you want, make sure that you have it handy when March starts so you can jump right in and start sharing your lists with the world.
30 Days of Lists prep. Notebook from American Crafts DIY Shop

Something to write with

I write my lists with Sharpie pens and my list titles/prompts with a regular Sharpie marker.  love Sharpie pens.  Any Sharpie product pretty much is steak sauce in my book, but the pens are great.  They’re bold, they glide nicely, last for ages, and super thin so you can doodle in the margins.

I like to grab a few colors that coordinate.  In September, I stuck with a black/white theme with pops of purple and pink.  So I grabbed Sharpies in various shades that would work together.

But you may want a plain black pen, colored pencils, ink and feather…whatever.

Washi tape

I’m a little late to the washi party, but I’m all in now.  Thank the lawd I have a Pat Catan’s close to me so I don’t have to fork out $5 per roll.  I’m also a fan of the Target dollar section for finding things like that.  They have (had?) surprisingly cute washi tape for a buck.  Yessir.

You can't scrapbook or makes 30 Days of Lists books without washi tape.

In December, I didn’t have to add many embellishments because of the paper, but I did add in some stamping and some washi tape elements.  In September, my lists were all embellished with washi tape.  I like the pop that washi tape gives my books without having to sacrifice writing space.

Fancy scissors

Someone help me with the proper name for these things.  I love them for adding a pretty boarder around my scrapbook pages or cutting washi tape instead of tearing it for a more elegant feel.

Other stuff

Embellish away!  Ribbons, decorative tape, stickers, stamps, patterned paper…these are your memories and your book, so make it how you want it to look.

Studio Calico and American Crafts DIY Shop scrapbook embellishments from rukristin papercrafts

Arrow rubber stamp from rukristin papercrafts

I can’t wait to start the March 30 Days of Lists and for once, I will be ready for it!  Are you going to join the the list making?

What essentials do you have on hand for scrapbooking?

[disclaim]The link to register for 30 Days of Lists is an affiliate link.  I’ve been listing with them in 2014 and I know you’ll love it too.  Thank you for supporting gals that support Gardening in High Heels![/disclaim]

Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together