Being Content

The other night I was having dinner with a good friend and we were discussing our lives and the stages in which we were finding ourselves in.  I told her that several weeks, maybe months ago, I had finally come to the stage of contentment.  I am content with my life.

Now, some people may associate being "content" with being complacent and settling.  I admit that I once too thought that being content meant one wasn't trying as hard as she could to get what she wanted, and she was settling for whatever came her way.  Through self reflection, I've realized that being content has a whole different meaning.

I now realize that being content has a positive meaning, and can mean I am in the present and am enjoying my current life.  I've lived so much of my life planning/worrying about the future or regretting/thinking about the past that I've had a really hard time just being in the present and appreciating my life.  I've made a conscious effort in 2013 and 2014 to be more present, and I don't think that I've finally felt the effects of it until November or December of 2015.  I admit, it was so hard for me to be present.  Yet, once I started, it brought me a lot of happiness and appreciation for the life I have.  I do recognize that there are areas I'd like to work on, but overall, I'm content with my life.

If you're interested in some ways to be more present, you can go here or here.  Really, all you need to do is Google the words "ways to be present" and a lot of helpful articles and websites will come up.

How are you doing?  Are you content with your life?

Spring-like Winter

Unlike the Northeastern states (where several feet of snow was dumped on them) or the Pacific Northwest (where it's raining very hard), my neck of the woods have seen little snow and very little precipitation this winter.  The last several weeks have been very very cold, finally getting into the teens and below zero.  Then today and for this upcoming week, the temperature is suppose to be in the 20's and 30's.  To others, those are cold temperatures.  For many Minnesotans, it's spring like weather. 

I'm hoping that if we do finally get more cold and snow this weather, it will come in early March and late April, and maybe early May (yes, it's possible to still have snow in May in Minnesota).  To pass the time, I've been busy trying to clean house, redecorate, and throw away/give away things I no longer need.  I've been finally trying to develop new habits and work on some self reflection, journaling, and hopefully some more yoga.

How are you doing?  

Giant Snow Octopus

[New Brighton, MN]

Pillow Covers

I started working on a red and white cross blanket last month (I'm almost done sewing the quilt top).  I also wanted to make matching throw pillows to go with the blanket.  What I eventually made in the end were semi-matching pillows, in which I reversed the cross and background colors for my pillow (my blanket has red crosses and a white background).  I used the same white fabric to make the cross, but a different red fabric for the background.

For the pillow forms, I found two cheap and ugly pillows at the thrift store (two for $2.99).  The red fabric are actually 100% cotton napkins (six napkins for $3.98), also from the thrift store.  I made the white crosses and then hand appliqued the crosses to the cotton napkins.  I sewed the napkins together along with a zipper on one side so I can take the cover on and off the pillow for easier cleaning.  Overall, I think I made each pillow for under $4.00, and the most expensive piece on the pillow is the zipper.

I'm really happy with the outcome.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the pillow doesn't look 100% perfect, but I'm okay with it because the pillow has character and looks great on my couch.  My Mr. Man has concerns that he might dirty up the white parts of the pillow.  Of course I told him to not use it (just kidding), but that's why I added the zipper feature to the pillow cover.  He's also so proud that I've actually gotten a sewing project done (especially in such a shorter time period).  Now, I just need to finish my quilt.

This website has really good instructions on how to sew zippered throw pillows.  (FYI, even if you don't have a sewing machine, you can still hand sew the zipper onto the pillow cover, and the instructions are still helpful and the best method to sew a zippered throw pillow.)

Do you have any projects that you've finished up?

Becoming 2016

Happy New Year!

2015 was an explosion of great things.  So much happened and time flew by so fast that now, I can't believe it's 2016.  This year, I choose the word "becoming" to guide me.  (If you want the back story, go here.)

A came upon this word about two months ago and I think it perfectly complements the new energies of 2016.  (I love reading this blogger's writing and her predictions for 2016.)  Two months ago, when I came across the word "becoming," I knew that 2016 will be special.  I really truly believe that what I do in 2016, the energies I invest in 2016, will set me up for the future years in my life.  2016 will be a year of laying groundwork for what is to come.  I will be transitioning, becoming something that I currently am not.

Professionally, I'm heading towards something bigger and better.  Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what I'm heading towards, but I know it's better than where I'm at right now.  I do know I will do something much more meaningful to me, much more fulfilling, and hopefully that makes me even happier.  I also know that the first steps I need to make include doing more self work and dreaming big dreams so that I can pinpoint what I want to do professionally.

In my personal life, I'm still on the adventures that I've put into motion in 2015.  New roles will be put onto me and I will definitely become something I was not.  It will be a scary experience, but also the most rewarding.

As the year passes, I will continue to think of ways I can become what I want to be (whatever that means at that time.)  This year, I'm okay with being patient and setting the groundwork for what is to come.  I will learn to "become" my future self.

Do you have any New Year's resolution or guiding word for the New Year?  (I also came across this article, which talks about a new year's mantra.)  Have a wonderful day and an even better 2016!

A Reflection of Adventure in 2015

At the beginning of 2015, I told myself I would spend the year having an adventure.  In 2014, I told myself that I would be brave, which I did, but at the end of 2014 I didn't spend too much time reflecting about the many ways I was brave during the 2014 year.  This year, I wanted to reflect a little bit more about my chosen word because I realize that sometimes, blogging is the only way I get to put some of my thoughts in writing.

This year, I really opened myself up for adventure.  I kept an open mind, and when I felt fearful or panicky about an adventure, I reminded myself that I would be okay or I just needed to have faith. This year, I made the big jump to be united with Mr. Man.  I was so resistant for so long, but once I made the decision, I didn't look back.  I knew that this would be a long term adventure and I'm still learning so much about him and me.

I also had an adventure going to Florida and Puerto Rico in July (it was the first time I've ever been to either places).  I paraglided for the first time (although I would prefer jumping out of an airplane), went to the Everglades, swam in the Atlantic Ocean, and taught myself night photography.

In July, I also embarked on another long term adventure.  This adventure, I am learning to finally appreciate the process.  There are stages that I'm glad are over with, but right now, I'm enjoying the time I have while on this adventure.  Before I know it, one stage of this adventure will end and another will begin.

I've also allowed myself to dream about having adventures outside of the everyday life I'm living and to even think that I could move beyond my current profession.  Even though it's more dreaming than substantive, it's just as important and helps to create a foundation to something more.

I've had quite a year.  What about you?  How was your 2015?

Books of 2015

I'm not going to finish another book by the end of this year, so I'm posting the books that I've read this year.  

1. The Language of Flowers--Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2. The Peach Keeper--Sarah Addison Allen
3.  Unforgettable--Paulette Alden
4.  Lost and Found--Brooke Davis
5.  The Dress Shop of Dreams--Menna Van Praag
6.  The Love Song of Ms. Queenie Hennessey--Rachel Joyce
7.  Letters From Skye--Jessica Brockmole
8.  Cobweb Bride--Vera Nazarina
9.  The Taste of Apple Seeds--Katharina Hagena
10.  Witches of Lychford--Paul Cornell
11.  First Frost--Sarah Addison Allen
12.  Season of the Dragonflies--Sarah Creech
13.  Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave
14.  Little Beach Street Bakery--Jenny Colgan

From the list above, I highly recommend  Lost and Found by Brooke Davis.  I love the three main characters (a little girl, an old man, and an older "senile" woman), and the story focuses on the three of them.  The author is from Australia, so if you are not from Australia, you'll come across some terminology that isn't too familiar.

The other book I'd recommend is Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarina.  I think the story's inspired by the mythological tale of Hades and Persephone.  I love the author's writing style and the story's quite engaging.  This book is also the first in a trilogy, so be aware that you might need to get the second and third book in the series to find out what eventually happens.

Did you set a reading requirement for yourself this year?  Do you have any book recommendations? 

Red and White Quilt

Last weekend, I had a really bad hankering to start a quilt.  Yes, another one.  I won't pretend that I don't already have A LOT of quilts that are in progress.  (I can count at least four quilts that I've been working on over the years.)  Yet, I was so determined to get a new quilt started, so I did.  I even knew the design I wanted:  a Red Cross/Swiss Flag Cross.

I don't even remember how I came across images of the Red Cross/Swiss Flag Cross.  Once I started looking on the internet and saw the different quilts and blankets with the cross design, I knew that I wanted one.  I saw the ones with a black and white color scheme, but felt more drawn to the red and white color scheme.  I decided that having a red cross on white fabric would be a lot better on the eyes.  I also wanted my red crosses aligned, without an alternating space in between the crosses.  In addition to making a blanket, I also wanted to make two matching throw pillows.

So, I made a design, determined the finished size of the quilt, got fabric, and started sewing.  I've been working on it during most of my free time and I'm about one-third way done with the quilt top.  This is the most motivated I've been in finishing a quilt and I'm telling myself that I must finish this quilt before winter ends.  Like all of my other projects, I will update you on it.

Have you started on any new projects? 

Tuesday's Tune: I Will Wait

I love this song when it came out, and still do.  The other day, it came on the radio and put me in a reverie.  Memories and a deeper introspection of my own life came to surface.  I thought about what it meant to wait, why we wait (why we don't want to wait), reasons for waiting, and the results that come from waiting or not waiting.

I may have mentioned this before, but at a point in my life, I had the option of living my life out as a single woman (always a "wild one") waiting for the right love to come OR to live the life I had and to not wait for what may be.  I chose the latter and do not regret the decision I've made.  As I said before, life is meant to be lived.

Now, I do recognize that I've made decisions that have affected others.  I have made them wait.  For their patience, I thank them.  I hope they know that I didn't mean to make them wait.  I hope they forgive me and know that I love them very much.

What about you?  What or who did you wait for?  Did you make someone wait?

Upgrades

I hate upgrading a lot of my things, probably with the exception of my camera.  (I cried when I had to buy my new hybrid car in 2012.)  I'm generally happy with what I have, even if it no longer works.  Today, I got my new phone and knew it was time to face the truth: there's no going back.  I already knew that upgrading my phone was inevitable.  (I feel so sad.)  I've had my old smart phone since Thanksgiving 2009 and I think it could last me a couple of more years. It does 90% of what I want it to do (talk, text, and some web surfing), and it fits into my palm.  It's outdated, I know it is.  But, again, I'm not that reliant on my phone and it does the basic things I want it to do.

So why update?  I had to start thinking about interfacing and how I needed to make my life a lot more seamless.  For example, since my phone was so old, I couldn't connect to my work calendar; thus, I had to keep three calendars, or worse, just try and remember that I didn't have anything important scheduled.  It was also harder for me to do a more effective web search for certain things (e.g. pulling up maps, opening up certain websites for work purposes).  I guess I could try and look on the bright side and think of all the things I could do with this new phone (e.g. join Instagram, take better pictures, easier to surf the web), but I'm still so sad.

Okay, I'll try to be not so sad.  It just takes some getting use to.  I hope you're doing a lot better than me.