BEAT THE BLUES

Whether triggered by a lousy event (like your husband being away on business for two flippin' weeks), hormones, or seemingly nothing at all...we've all felt it. That glum, depressing haze where nothing and everything is wrong all at the same time. I've learned to recognize it the moment it appears: my getting restless, overly self-critical, overwhelmed over nothing, and just plain sad. 

Hopefully, none of you are feeling down these days, but maybe someone out there can benefit from a few tricks I've learned to to prevent the blues from spiraling into something long term. And a reminder for myself couldn't hurt either.


1. Upbeat Music
 There is just no hangin'-around-feeling-sorry-for-yourself with Michael Jackson rocking out in the background. Favorite tunes instantly energize me out of a slump. And I highly encourage singing (and dancing!) along.

2. Let the Sunlight in
Open you blinds! Draw back the curtains! And if it's warm enough, open those windows all the way. The sunshine, fresh air, and an open feeling lifts moods. Sitting in a dark, closed-off house will only make things worse.

3. Exercise
It's all about the endorphins, people. Why not take advantage of the body's natural, safe, self-produced morphine-like euphoric? These endorphins are produced, among other ways, through physical exercise. Another benefit is the self esteem boost as your hind parts lose inches.

4. Get Out in Nature
Go take a walk! Nature seems to have a calming impact on my psyche. God's creations in all their forms are simply beautiful. To see nature doing its thang puts life back into perspective and reminds me who is really in charge of my crazy life. 


5. Bring Nature Indoors
Who says you have to wait for your man to buy the flowers? Go pick out a bunch of your favorites and display them in a vase where you spend most of your time in the house.  If you can't afford the  big, beautiful bouquets at the flower shop, go for a $3 bunch at your local grocery store. The added happiness is worth the expense in my book.

6. Make a To-Do List
This gives needed structure and motivation.Write down everything you hope to accomplish in the day...even as simple as brushing your teeth or making the bed...and then stick to it.  Drawing a line through it afterward will make you feel so purposeful. And go ahead, add something to the list after you've done it, just for the satisfaction of crossing it off!


7. Clean the House
Cleanliness invites good feelings. Try setting the timer for 10, 20, or 30 minutes and cleaning like mad until the timer buzzes. Those few minutes of putting things in their proper place and wiping the counters will make your house a happier place to be.


8. Rearrange the Furniture
Stir things up! There is something about a little bit of change that is just...fun. Try putting the dresser on the opposite side of  the bedroom. Rearrange the decor on the entertainment center. Or put that arm chair in a different room entirely. Maybe I'm crazy. But a fresh view in my house has worked for me!

9. Purge
Clutter will only make you feel stressed out. Do you really need five wooden spoons? Thirty-six pairs of shoes? Seven years worth of Parent magazines stacked in the corner? Gather twenty-five items from around the house that you can donate. Then put them in a box, drive to Goodwill, and get rid of it today!


10. Dress Up
I lived with an aunt who would put on her Sunday best on days she was feeling down. Makes sense. I'm not going to feel great about myself if at 5 o'clock I'm still in sweats and yesterday's makeup. Take a hot shower (which is happy enough as it is!), put on a favorite outfit, and apply that lip gloss. It mentally prepares you to tackle the upcoming day.

11. Be with People
When you're all alone, it is easier to feel sorry for yourself. Stop moping around and call up a friend, go to that weeknight church activity, join a book club, visit family, or even treat yourself to ice cream...anything to remind you you're not alone in the world. Or the only one with problems.


12. Do What You Love
What's your favorite hobby? Personally, jumping in to an activity that gets my creative juices flowing makes me feel alive and invigorated...whether that's photography, drawing, decorating, teaching, or arts and crafts. 

13. Turn to God
I know that when scripture study, prayer, and worship is a priority in my life, I feel better able to bear any unhappy burden weighing me down. There is no greater source of strength and comfort than through the reality of the Lord's atonement. 

MUMMY ACTION WORDS {kid's craft tutorial}

So excited to share what my third graders did last week to display in the office. 

I wanted our display to have a fun Halloween touch to it, but still be educational.

I found a tutorial on how to make garden wire mummies on Pinterest, and the rest just kind of clicked and hit me like a lightning bolt. Mummy action words!

I found the wire at K-Mart in the garden shop for about 6 bucks. We needed two packages for the whole class.

Each mummy's framework was molded into the basic outline of a man.

Then I used the cheapest Wal-Mart muslin I could find and ripped it into inch-wide strips.

With an occasional dot of hot glue, we wrapped the bodies tightly with the fabric. 

We decided our mummies needed googly eyes too.

Then the class brainstormed action words they might demonstrate with their mummies. 

Their creativity blew my mind.

They were so excited to bring in all of their props from home.

Then we arranged them in the display case for the whole school to enjoy.

And enjoy they did.

This I know because the glass doors are always covered in heavy fingerprints. 

I don't thinkmy kids will ever forget now that verbs are action words. 

Just enjoy the other examples...they were all so cute I had a hard time weeding any out!

Dance.

Hang.

Swim.

Ride.

Sit.

Love. 

(Hugging a sheep?)

Hide.

Climb.

And my favorite: escape. 

We put this mummy on top of the display case instead of inside it. :)

FALL DECOR 2012

We built these shelves to put on the dining area wall. I love the shelves. 

This is my first attempt at trying to style them. Arranging a bunch of pointless knickknacks makes me feel foolish somehow...it almost looks to me like clutter.

But this is how it will stay for now. 

I made the garland over the window several years ago. 

I covered a plain, thrift store grapevine wreath with craft moss I already had on hand. 

I filled an old pickle jar with small autumn-y items.

I tried to pull off a dipped paint look on a squash I knew we'd never eat. 

And Leftover metallic leaves from the garland went in the glass bottles.

Those are the shelves.

In the kitchen, I tried for an autumn look with a mini wreath...

And stacked pumpkins...

The great room didn't get much fall decor. 

That was pretty much it, until I felt inspired on a walk with Andrew, Moose, and CC (yes, CC follows us on our walks). 

A few autumn branches in a vase was statement enough. 

Now, this display is not mine. But it was too fun not to share. This blogger was able to create an autumn theme using the Wizard of Oz as inspiration. Seriously, go check out his post for more pictures and explanations. 

That lion kills me. 

HOUSE UPDATE {exterior trim}

The last time you saw the outside, we had just finished the stone and cedar siding. 

This is what it looks like now. Can you see a difference?

We added white vinyl trim.

First, we added a separating line between the stucco and stone.

Then, we added it around each window on the stucco. The windows surrounded by stone will eventually get dark wood shutters instead. 

Not having trim has been bugging me for a long time. It felt like something was missing. 

Our house was like a woman without eyeliner. 

Much better. It needed that definition. 

Before the trim.

After the trim.

Now all it needs are the shutters and porch columns. And landscaping, of course (but not 'til spring). 

AN INVITATION

It is General Conference weekend! Twice a year, the leaders of my church give a message to the membership of about 14.5 million people broadcasted in 93 different languages to 197 different countries. But the messages are directed to everyone worldwide...Mormon or not. 

I love that there are modern day prophets to speak as God's mouthpiece. God is unchanging in his love for his children. Why would He speak to them only in ancient biblical times? Of course, we would continually need heavenly direction! I definitely need this guidance, inspiration, and comfort for my personal heartaches. Christians everywhere can enjoy the messages from these prophets and apostles as they teach from the scriptures. 

I respect you'all for whatever religion you follow. Just thought I'd share for those who are interested.You are welcome to check it out HERE. 

You are also welcome to read more on my thoughts about my religion HERE.