Friday, December 31, 2010

goodbye 2010....hello opportunistic 2011

2010
wow, it's finally done!
this being the final few hours of a VERY bizarre year, i feel i must reflect on it.
using my rear-view mirror super powers, i can see that this past year was one of growth, surprises, and utter chaos.
what, with all the job crazy, the beast's allergy nonsense, neighbor crazy, and friendships gone awry, one might think that 2010 was a complete mess!
but i have grown (well, not in the literal sense, i actually am beginning my very long journey of shrinkage due to the fact that polish people seem to get shorter and plumper with age.  i still can't quite figure out the plumper part, but give me time...it's comin').
yes, i have grown in strength with regards to my personal beliefs.  i have grown in my abilities to speak out.  and i have grown in my creativity.
as to surprises, well, everyday in utopia seems to bring them out of the woodwork.  
who knew the moose would be allergic to air?
who knew that the sole purpose for moving to the bible belt was to find work that paid only to return to the frozen tundra because the work dried up? (thank the gods it was only for 4 weeks)
and who knew little man, little lady and sweetie pie would grow so much? little man is kind enough to squat down a bit when giving out hugs so he doesn't hurt my feelings.
and who knew that some friendships thought to have been genuine turned out to be superficial?  that was a real hard part of my year, but i grew.
i won't go into vast detail about the utter chaos, let's just suffice it to say that there was CHAOS.
work, dog, family, friends, house.
yup, chaos.
but we grew.
and here is where 2011 steps in to save the day.
if i were to assign a theme to last year, it would have been transformation.
with this new year's theme being "BREATHE", i am completely confident that it can only get better.
yes, there will always be chaos.
unavoidable.
and from that chaos, there will always be growth.
inevitable.
but the one thing 2011's got that 2010 doesn't:
opportunity.
this is going to be one fantastic year!
here's to wishing you and yours the same...
xxx theresa

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

no resolutions here...

as 2010 draws to a close, most of you dearies are thinking about
RESOLUTIONS.
hmmm, i'm not big into making promises that i can't keep, especially for myself.
lose weight (not a good option for my skinny butt), get organized (are you serious? have you met my brood?  have you seen the horse?), stop spending money frivolously (with money tight like it is here, groceries are frivolous...not gonna happen either), cut back on chocolate intake (does anyone REALLY have this on their list?  ridiculous), etc....
all very lovely resolutions, all very predictable in their demise.
so this time, i'm going to assign 2011 a theme.
a friend of mine suggested it.
i really liked the idea of having a theme to live by throughout the year.
no promises to break, just an idea to guide you throughout the next 12 months.
i chose BREATHE.
it encompasses quite a bit:
try to be calmer, more laid back (the kids will appreciate it.),
take time for the things I want to do for myself (like a relaxing trip to the hair stylist...this mop is one unruly mess!),
accept failures and just move on.
and quite literally...breathe.
i held my breath trying to knit 20 stitches successfully.  
i need to learn how to just take a deep breath and relax.
to breathe in some fresh air more often by taking the kids and beast to a park or just sit outside with them and read a good book.
i need to learn how to pause, breathe, and accept the fact that life is imperfect.
what are your plans for the new year?
resolutions or themes?

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Happy Christmas...

even though my little brood has already celebrated
the magick of the season, 
i still wanted to send out my wishes to you for a very
happy christmas.
may you have a day filled with love, laughter, and warmth.
 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Santa comes early for pagan kids...

the letters went out.
Santa understood...Yule would be pretty hard to 
take off for a new employee.
so, Santa came early for little man, little lady and sweetie pie.

little man is now equipped to handle almost anything
that requires precise measuring...
 little lady has a thing for monkeys...


 sweetie pie couldn't believe her eyes, teddy bears!


 my lusty woodsman knitted a beautiful produce bag for me...


 which makes him #1 in everything...


yes, Santa did a bang up job this year, and everyone used their 
creative powers to make this Yule special...
even in these money-tight times.
i love my little brood!
HAPPY YULE TO ALL, 
AND TO ALL...
A GOOD NIGHT!!!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

and, they're off...

the lovelies are on their way to the midwest.
i had such fun creating them!
almost kept them all to myself.
but, it's not about me.....it's about my gorgeous sisters who deserve to have some lovelies.
one request from them...
PICTURES!!!!
until then, one last hint:





can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Monday, December 13, 2010

a little peek

just a peek now, nothing more...


i'm pretty sure they're curious.
i would be.
 

Saturday, December 4, 2010

i guess i'll share...

there is a memory of childhood that i would like to share with you all.  it's actually a blend of memories, but all related, i assure you.
i grew up in the holly hobbie world of the 70's.  


i had the holly hobbie bedroom of all bedrooms, complete with the fancy mirrored dresser, the tiny fancy nightstand, and the most beautiful canopy bed adorned with holly hobbie bedding.
i love holly hobbie.
i am not really quite sure when i acquired THE sheets, but i'm positive it was around the holly hobbie craze.  these sheets were the most luxurious sheets a child could ever hope to sleep in.  and pretty, very pretty.
aren't they pretty?

my sisters and i fought for these sheets...seeing them on either one of their beds would make my blood boil.  as far as i was concerned, i was the oldest...therefore, i had first dibs.
they were mine.
now that we're older, and wiser (we should hope), and far more generous than when we shared a room, i thought i would give each of them their share of the sheets (yes, i did steal store them in my linen closet all these years.).
think they'll mind?


oh, there's a master plan, fear not.  more to come as the holiday grows near.


my new toy...

i found a new toy.
i have always wanted to have one.
and now it's mine.
 

you're jealous, i know, but let it go.
little man did his history homework on it yesterday afternoon...
little lady and sweetie pie typed out their Santa letters, too.
i was thinking of typing out my own letter,  but then i remembered this was my gift...
to myself.


i had visions of working for the new york times after graduating from college.
still working on that college portion of the vision.
but for now, let me dream...
isn't she fabulous?


 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

confessions...

i have a confession to make:
i love jars.
(and boxes, but we'll save that one for later.)
my kitchen counters are riddled with them, mostly full of pastas.







(another fetish for a different day.)
my cupboards are overflowing with mason jars, full of cooking spices and medicinal herbs and teas.



I have a vintage set of 3 from my Busia that I treasure.


and BOWLS....i love bowls.


don't seem to have enough of them.
i use them everyday.
recently, a dear friend gave me this bowl:


it's my newest treasure; i may just use it for holding lemons.
little lemons.
my dream kitchen has plenty of space for all my bowls and jars.
my present day kitchen is not my dream kitchen, but it will do.
did i mention i love pasta?