Resolved to Resolve

I never make resolutions for the new year.  Really, I can't remember a time when making a list of new year resolutions even occurred to me.  I guess it's the impending doom linked to new year goals: even lists with the best intentions seem marked with inevitable failure when written at the beginning of the year.

But for some unknown reason, this year, I feel inclined to write down the things most important to me and try my best to make them happen.  Some part of me wants to set goals and see my aspirations on paper instead of leaving them to swirl around in my head.  And, this year, the difference is that it doesn't matter to me if some of them are left undone or unfinished or even if they change completely.

In August, I'll be 30 (!) and I really can't wait.  Seriously, I'm beyond excited to say, "Sayonara!," to my twenties.  But, when I think about this milestone, I think about how fast it all went.  Three years ago I had a baby.  A baby who is now a little boy and who called me babe yesterday and asked the UPS delivery man if he was cold with the doors open.  How did this happen in the blink of an eye?

Suddenly, it doesn't matter to me if or when I meet my goals.  It just matters that I have them and that I know them.  I'm still working on mine, but I loved reading Grace's on Design*Sponge and Jordan from Oh Happy Day! has a 30 things before 30 list that I find totally inspiring, too.  And, if you've never checked out Mighty Girl's Mighty Life List, you should.  I think I read the entire thing with my mouth open: it made me motivated and also terrified me.   Aren't I weird?

What about you?  Are you a resolution maker?

xo,
steph

{image via ffffound}

January Fresh

I know spring gets all of the hoop-lah when it comes to cleaning house, but I've always gotten a major organization bug in January.  This is most likely a direct result of my post-holiday home being covered in a smattering of wrapping paper, shopping bags, glitter, tape and what seems to be an endless number of random pine needles. Combine these elements with the horrid six o'clock darkness that keeps us inside and I am forced to come to terms with the amount of crap accumulating in, on and around my little abode.  Because, here's a dirty secret about me: I'm messy.  But, few things make me happier than organizing and, when I do it, I'm really good at it.

Regardless of why, come January my OCD heart starts to pitter-patter with organizational excitement.  I day-dream of perfectly staged vanity, pantry and laundry room shelves.  Canvas baskets and rows of white bins are the keys to my heart.  My idea of pillow-talk is Paul turning to me and asking, "Would you like me to help you organize the closets by color?"

Yes, darling, yes I would.

Mostly this kind of purging produces a wonderful sense of order in our home and leaves me feeling refreshed and in control.  But, every year at this time I also end up convincing myself that the only way I can survive is with a, for lack of a better description, craft room (for some reason I hate this phrase).  By the time I am done designing it, it usually costs us $50,000.  (But, that includes pouring a concrete slab for the addition, so don't think I'm totally nuts.  Concrete is expensive people.)

Luckily, my purging usually keeps me up until all hours of the night for multiple nights in a row, so I usually get so tired that I forget about my Martha Stewart worthy addition.  And, in case you haven't already decided that I actually am crazy, you should  know that Paul has a 2,000 square foot art studio next to our house, so a measly little "craft" room for me is hardly too much to ask.  Right?

For all of you other self-proclaimed organizational crazies enthusiasts: some eye-candy.

If you are like me and these pictures only make you crave more organized goodness, visit Pinterest and you'll be happy for hours.  You can find the links to all of these photos on my Pinterest board, here.

xo,

steph

p.s. I feel the need to admit to you all that I did, in fact, organize my ever-growing ribbon addiction collection by color this week.  It. is. so. awesome.

big family photo prints

My niece, Sabine, took this photo of Dylan on New Year's Day.  I find it equal parts hilarious + fabulous + weird.  We are thinking of getting a super-sized print of it made.  I just have to decide if I want the color or the black + white version.  I mentioned, recently, that I had 3 dedicated readers, but I had a few people inform me they actually read my blog, too.  So, to my now 5 or 7 dedicated readers { = ) }: what do you think: color or black + white?

Here are some more family photos done in a big way.  So fun, right?
{I just noticed they are all in color...}

xo,

steph

{image 1, 2, 3}

danny + annie

Have you ever heard of StoryCorps?  Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 30,000 interviews from more than 60,000 participants.  If you have a minute (or a few hours), you should listen to some of the interviews.  This, this, and this warmed my heart and made me laugh.

But, the story of Danny + Annie brought tears to my eyes.  At times I find myself feeling disillusioned with life.  But then, a piece of life's goodness finds me and I remember that there is beauty and fragility in even the most painful and hurtful of times.  For me, Danny + Annie's story was this kind of welcomed reminder.

xo,
steph

{via A Cup of Jo}

happy new year.

xo,

steph

{image via tinywhitedaisies}

A Christmas Surprise...

Hello lovelies.  I hope you all had a very merry Christmas.  Can you believe it has come and gone already?   I had to pop in today to brag on my beloved.  My adorable and hugely talented husband.  Who spent an entire night finishing the most exquisite Christmas present I have ever received.  Who endured splinters, cold temperatures and the smell of Bondo in the name of love.  Who always listens to my interests and tirelessly works to create and re-create beauty in everyday things.

On Christmas Eve, the man I love more than anything in the entire world, gave me this work of art.  And, yes, he made it.

Isn't it amazing!?!  Most of the sticks are from our property, which makes this one of a kind starburst mirror even more meaningful.  I love you, Paul Damien.

xo,

steph

The Christmas Bug...

{image via solid frog}

The impossible may have happened.  I may have caught the dreaded Christmas Bug.  My husband may have been born with the Christmas Bug and there are a few other unfortunates I know who have fallen victim to this awful spell...

It's the bah hum BUG.

That's right.  I'm admitting it: Bah Humbug.

I don't know what is happening, but, people, this year Christmas is kicking my ass.  Between work, dealing with a sick household and seemingly a million other "issues" I was barely hanging onto the Christmas spirit.  And then...

Our tree died.  DIED.  Are you kidding me?  And, yes, it's really dead.  The most dead a tree can be.  I can't tell you how devastating I find this.  As a believer of real Christmas trees, I cringe thinking of all the  households still enjoying the glow of their fake Christmas tree.  And I hang my head in shame with jealously.  Sigh.  Anyway... I spent last night taking down our Christmas ornaments (tear).  By the time we took the lights off there were only about four pine needles left on what was once our {glorious} Christmas tree.

So, I'm trying to find humor in cynicism and find the beauty in the season {like the pretty flowers above}.  I do, after all, love getting together with both sides of the family and eating wonderful food!  I'm hoping my man and I can also snag a movie date to go see Little Fockers for a holiday belly laugh.

And, since it's been 10 days (!) since my last post, I'm guessing you figured out that this holiday season also kicked my little novice blogger butt.  I wasn't nearly organized enough!  So, for my three dedicated readers...sorry!  Maybe next year I'll get my act together.  Although at this point, I'm thinking a Christmas vacation sounds pretty dandy for 2011.

I'm officially signing off until after the holidays...although you never know, maybe I'll pop back in and post a lil' somethin', somethin' {no promises}.

Hope you have a bah humbug free holiday...sending my love to you and yours!

xo,
steph