DIY Dr. Seuss Nursery

I decided to do a Dr. Seuss theme for our son, Elijah's nursery. I did a few different DIY projects that really made the Seuss theme come alive. These projects were pretty simple and cost effective, so I thought I would share the ideas below. They were also pretty fun to do, if like me you enjoy being crafty!

Seuss Mod Podge Name Letters

I'm not going to lie... the mod podge letters were a bit tricky! Especially, since this was my first time doing it. The most difficult part was wrapping the book pages around the edges and it was quite sticky and messy (that part I didn't mind so much, though!). Overall, once I got the hang of the technique it become easier and easier.

I had 3 Cat in the Hat books for some reason... so I didn't even have to purchase the book. I just used one of the extras that I already had! With this project, I literally cut out full pages of the Cat in the Hat book and glued them on and wrapped them with the special mod podge glue. I arranged each page in a way where I thought you could see the character or scene best. On some of the bigger letters (the "E" and "H" in particular) I had to use 2 book pages and arrange them in a scene that looked best. I don't think this would have been a problem with smaller wood letters, but the size I bought was quite big. All said and done, I think they turned out great!

I purchased the blank wooden letters on sale at Hobby Lobby for $2 a piece for a total of appropriately $12. The only other item I had to purchase was the mod podge glue and I only used half the bottle. I can use the glue for another project in the future. The mod podge was about $6 at Hobby Lobby. You may even be able to get it for cheaper, however I bought it there since I was already getting the letters there.

I got the vinyl wall dots from an Etsy seller. It really adds a whimsical touch!

Seuss Window Valances

These window valances were simple to make and really brought the Seuss theme to life in Elijah's nursery. You only need a few materials to make these simple valances. Materials needed are polystyrene board, chosen material to wrap valance, straight pins, glue & glue gun. The base of the valances is the polystyrene board which is a foam board that you can buy at Lowes for approximately $10. I measured and had my husband cut to the appropriate proportions using a craft knife. Next, I hot glued the side pieces onto the front, so that it wraps around the top of the window correctly. Then, you wrap your chosen fabric around the valance and pin it on using the straight pins and putting them in on a diagonal (so it doesn't go all the way through board and fabric as they are quite long). For the sides of the valance, you need to cut out smaller pieces of fabric and glue on the edge then wrap and pin as you did with the long front of the valance. On the sides, I did use glue gun as needed to secure fabric.

To attached to window, you just need two long nails (one for each side). You nail diagonally through top of valance and into top of crown molding on your window. The valance is light weight, so it is easily secured with two nails. Here are the results of the Dr. Seuss valances below:

Seuss 8 X 8 Canvas Art

I created these four Seuss Art canvases and it was SO easy! I just bought four 8 X 8 canvas and purchased 4 reusable Seuss bags for $1 each in the dollar section at Target. Then, all you need to do is cut out one side of the bag and wrap it around the canvas and secure it using thumbtacks. Voila, you have instant art for your baby's room wall! You could do this project with any theme if you can find reusable bags based around your theme.

These DIY projects really brightened up the nursery. It was a fun way to prepare for baby... share any fun DIY ideas that you have used in a bedroom or nursery below!

Breathe In, Breathe Out...

Yoga and meditation are practices that have been around for thousands of years. These practices can help reduce stress and bring you into a more present focused state of mind. Many people today in our society are bombarded with busyness and technology and we don’t take time to shut down and relax. Even when we think we are relaxing… our minds are still going and going and going like the energizer bunny. Many “veg out” by watching television or looking at media following our long work days. This type of “vegging out” however does not allow our mind to actually rest. Mindfulness through yoga and meditation can be an important means to regain vitality and energy.

Like many others, I have had bouts of stress and mild anxiety in my life. I have found that yoga and meditation practice help to ground me and relieve this stress. I wanted to share these practices and how they have helped me. These practices relieve the stress, but also bring me to a point of increased clarity about the world around me. I feel a sense of control and difference in my response to the world as I become more engaged with the present moment and less worried about the past or what may happen in the future.

Scientific research has found both yoga and meditation to have substantial benefits including:

• ·         Recent studies in people with chronic low-back pain suggest that a carefully adapted set of yoga poses may help reduce pain and improve function.
• ·         Other studies suggest that practicing yoga may reduce heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, or depression.
• ·         Mindfulness meditation activates the ‘rest and digest’ part of our nervous system helping with stress management.
• ·         According to research, meditation promotes ‘divergent thinking’, a type of thinking that allows many new ideas to be generated. (This is one of my favorites! Totally awesome!)
• ·         Neuroscientists found after just 11 hours of meditation practitioners had structural changes in the part of the brain involved in monitoring our focus and self-control.
• ·         Research indicates that relationships benefit from meditation. Those who meditate experience improved communication in relationships. In addition, those in marital partnerships experience overall improved quality of their relationship.

Sources: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Website: https://nccih.nih.gove/health/yoga/introduction.htm ;

Headspace Treat Your Head right Website: https://www.headspace.com/science

Yoga

Yoga focuses on movement, breath and awareness of the present moment. There are many different routines that focus on different elements such as stretching, balance, aerobic activity, breathing, or often a combination of these elements.

It does not take an extensive dedication of time to introduce a yoga practice into your routine. I use Gaiam’s Relax and Restore Yoga DVD for my regular practice. The 24 minute yoga session on this DVD focuses primarily on basic yoga poses that allow for mindfulness of the whole body and breathing. I practice 3-5 times a week. You can modify your own yoga practice to your own individual needs and routine.

Meditation

Have you ever tried to meditate? It can be quite uncomfortable and difficult to sit and do nothing. It is so rare to do this in our world today.  It is challenging to empty our minds that are so full of thoughts, worries, or obligations. You don’t need to do a long meditation to get the benefits of meditation, 5-10 minutes can be plenty to center yourself (especially when you are first starting as 5 minutes may feel like an eternity.) ;-) You can increase the length of meditation in time, if you want.There are many different versions of meditation. Meditation can be tailored to your individual needs or personal preferences.

Olivia H. Miller wrote a book called Essential Yoga that I use as a reference guide for both yoga asanas, breathing, and meditation techniques. She includes a group of example meditations in her book. I am going to share one example below. I share this example because I think this a good meditation for beginners. It’s often difficult to clear your mind completely and often times thoughts may pop in your head. This is natural and just let them go as easily as you can. This example meditation helps by introducing both a visual and verbal mantra to use as a focal point. I often set a timer and then once my timer goes off that is the indication that the meditation is over. I try to choose an alarm that is more calming, so that it is not jarring if I am in a deeper meditative state.

Meditation of Connection

• ·         Imagine an awe-inspiring natural place. It can be a real place you have been or a place that you have conjured in your imagination.
• ·         Go to this place and look around. What do you see? What do you hear? Notice the details about your natural, beautiful space.
• ·         Breathe deeply in your special place.
• ·         Inhale and repeat silently: I stand in awe of the beauty and grace.
• ·         Exhale and repeat silently: That is the natural world.
• ·         Inhale and say silently: Beauty and grace.
• ·         Exhale and say silently: Natural world.
• ·         Continue in this repetitive cycle focusing on your natural scene and the meditation mantra: Inhale- beauty and grace, exhale natural world

          Adapted from Essential Yoga by Olivia H. Miller

Relax

Busyness leave me

Let stillness rejuvenate

May I leave relaxed

I encourage you to try yoga or meditation techniques. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about these practices. Below is an interesting TED talk on the importance of meditation with mindfulness expert, Andy Puddicombe. Enjoy & Namaste!

Bigger is Better Culture

I love the tiny house movement. I mean it borders on obsession! I’ve been binge watching tiny house shows on HGTV and recently watched Tiny on Netflix. I couldn’t figure out for the longest time why I loved it so much. One of my phobias is claustrophobia, so you think I would be adverse to small spaces. I lived in a small house growing up and I was very happy growing up there. We always lived in a pleasant cozy space. However, I dreamed of living in a big Victorian with those beautiful stairs (you know the ones I’m talking about). I do enjoy tiny sized furniture and spaces. I think it is quite adorable and inventive how they are able to utilize the small space. I’ve discovered my tiny house obsession has a bit more depth and meaning than simply loving miniature sized furniture.

I had my “A-HA!” moment as to why I am so enamored with tiny houses and this movement after watching the documentary Tiny. Drum roll please…. BECAUSE bigger is NOT better!! America and our consumerism; we always want to keep up with the ‘Joneses’. Frankly, this has resulted in everything getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER… and completely ridiculous!! It’s really getting out of control and crazy! How much “stuff” and space do we really need? Who are the Joneses anyway? The illusion of the ‘Joneses’ is really our own insecurities that if we don’t have enough and in turn that we, ourselves, aren’t good enough. This is a very flawed perception.  Therefore, it is no surprise that in this bigger is better culture that the tiny house movement has gained so much momentum. The tiny house movement both challenges and attempts to thwart the notion that bigger is indeed better.  

Currently, we have ridiculously sized homes, stores, churches…. Why? By embracing this mentality, we’ve lost small mom and pop stores, depleted local businesses, drained people’s finances, and blocked many from gaining financial stability and freedom. This type of financial bondage restricts our ability to live with more depth and explore the world.

As Forest Gump would put it, “Momma said there’s only so much fortune a man really needs and the rest is for showing off.”

We are totally showing off and in the process decreasing our quality of life.

For me, I’d willingly trade my Victorian staircase … for more quality time, experiences, and depth of life… seems like a fair trade off.

Is there more to the tiny house movement than just tiny houses? You bet! Many are reaching into their lives and exploring what is really important to them. In turn, I too have discovered that my tiny house obsession has much deeper roots and it really hit the core of what I determine is valuable in my life.

So to conclude: Bigger is not better. Stop showing off, America!

Check out the square footage of houses around the world in this infographic below: 

                                                       Source: http://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/fun-at-home/
                                                                      news/a7654/house-sizes-around-the-world/  August 26, 2015
 

INFJ Musings

Image source: basicallybeyondbasic.com

Today, I want to discuss my personality type, INFJ and how it relates to me. Here is a list of tidbits about me that I think relate to my MBTI personality type and may resonate with other INFJ’s:

·         Highly sensitive: I feel that I am highly sensitive. I have difficulty watching violent television or movies. I avoid it and it is very difficult for me to handle.

·         Prominent interests in the arts and humanities, especially writing. I really enjoy books of all kinds, music, philosophy, dance, theatre, crafting, and painting.

·         I need my space and time to recharge alone. If I am in a social situation for too long it becomes draining and I feel myself becoming disengaged.

·         I love nature, especially trees and waterfalls. My favorite tree is the weeping willow.

·         I can be intense sometimes, I am a perfectionist and expect a lot from myself.

·         I really love being around people and helping people. I enjoy my very close relationships with my family and friends.

·         I like to plan & make lists, like this one ;-).

·         I feel like I have one true purpose in life and my goal in life is to figure out that purpose and let that seep into everything that I do.

·         I value education, but don’t necessarily agree with the current structure and ideas in some of our educational institutions.

·         I think abstractly and have an easy time thinking, reading, and talking about theoretical ideas.

·         I like science and I’m really into ideas about physics right now.

·         I have strong protective instincts, especially when it comes to my friends and family. I’ve had these instincts since I was a small child. I hate to see innocent or vulnerable people bullied.

·         I have difficulty speaking loudly.

·         I can appear very calm and reserved on the surface, when that may not necessary be the case.

·         I have difficulty with spatial awareness. I hate parallel parking and have a very difficult time judging distance.

·         Sometimes I am in my own head so much that I don’t notice things in the physical world. I am not as observant of details as some others and I can go for a long time without noticing physical things in my every day environment.

·         I am very romantic and idealistic.

·         I hate conflict and try to avoid it like the plague. If it is a conflict that I am not directly involved in then I can act as a peacemaker/mediator and tend to be very good in this role at helping others resolve their conflicts.

·         I’m a great listener and people often confide in me.

·         I’m very reflective.

Wishing Your Life Away...

“You’re wishing your life away…” my great grandmother would say to my mom when she expressed a wish for something in her life to pass quickly. The phrase resurfaced from time to time growing up with my mom. It stuck with me, even in the absence of my great grandmother and mother.

One day in college, my best friend and roommate was lamenting about an abundance of schoolwork that needed to be done and wishing for college to be over.

The words came back again and popped out of my mouth… “You’re wishing your life away…”

 I’m not sure how much she appreciated it. I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic or condescending. It just came to me, like a gift, as she was complaining about our workload. Her wish for our tedious work to be done was completely rational and made sense. I agreed.

However, I also knew that I really enjoyed living with her and that we would never get this time back. Like the seasons change, from fall to winter to spring and then summer, so would our current circumstances. We were (and are) confined by time.  Eventually, we would outgrow this stage of our life and go onto the next. As it should be. But we wouldn’t live together anymore.

Now I cherish the memories we made while living together and going to school.

Sometimes, we are so focused on getting to the next step that it seeps the joy out of the current moment. I’m definitely guilty of this because I tend to be future-focused… always planning what’s next. Who really knows what’s next?

I trust my great grandma.  She was right. Life is far too short to be wishing it away.

Tomorrow will come and then I will live tomorrow as today. We only ever get to live in ‘todays’.

Measured Time

Measure your time in

Many laughs with kindred souls

Before you wave "Bye".

My great grandmother had already lived the majority of her life. She was giving the best advice she could give to someone, who most likely had far more days and wishes left ahead than she did. Advice can be the most wonderful gift to give…

The days go by so quickly…

Have a wonderful weekend, full of laughs with kindred souls.

I know I will.

The Hourglass (Part I)

Image Source: Michael Himbeault https://www.flickr.com/photos/riebart/4653728769

The Hourglass

Chapter 1- Thoughts of a Dying Woman

From the moment we are born, we are all slowly emptying our hourglasses. My hourglass is running out.  Today. There is barely any sand left in the top and a whole lot of sand in the bottom. I’m staring at my hourglass and I don’t know how to feel. See in my world everyone knows their final hour and exactly how many hours until their fateful hour. I don't know if it makes us live better or worse.

We didn’t always know these things, but some very smart people in my world they've figure it out, how long each person will live, right at the start of their life. So we each are given these hourglasses and they are all running out. There is no way to refill them and we look at them every day in our homes. Well, some of us look at them. Others keep them hidden, tucked away. Different perspectives, you know? Some people want, in fact, need to know. It helps those people make “the most of their time”. Other people, like me, we need the freedom to not think about death. We need to become too busy, too engrossed in life, so that this ominous sign of our eventual demise isn’t pelting us in the face day after day.

I’ve lived most of my life not thinking about my hourglass (who cares, if you can’t control something you might as well not let it control you). I’m a lucky one. Blessed. Thankful. My hourglass was pretty full from the start, so I’ve had many moons to cultivate a beautiful life and not worry about my eventual death. I’m human, though. I’ve peeked under the floorboard (where my hourglass is hidden) every now and then. Checking to see if anything has changed. It’s remained unchanged. My whole life it has been a slow, gradual release of the sands of my life.  However, even with a long release, the sand eventually runs out.

I almost knew today was my day without looking at my hourglass. I thought about not looking at it at all, but I did. It’s time. I’m 82 years old. I feel ready and I’m not scared.

Some people become reckless as their hourglass is running out …they know they will be gone, so they don't want to have any regrets. Others go into death with a quiet peacefulness. Who's to judge which is right?

Anyhow, I wish I knew. Because as I said my hourglass is running out, today is MY last day. All I know is I can't sit and look at this silly hourglass with the sands slowly slipping away. Who wants to think about something they can't controlled? I'd rather relish in what I can control…

Some people announce their last day. Everyone seems to take pity on them and their last day is wrought with the sympathy of family and strangers a like. Can you really live your last day fully if everyone knows it is your last day? My hour glass has been hidden for years, so no one knows it's my last day, no one but me.

Anyway, you slice it. I'm a dead woman walking today.

Smoky Mountain Retreat

In August, my fiancé and I enjoyed a stay in the Smoky Mountains at Alpine Chalet Rentals. We thoroughly enjoyed our stayed and I wanted to write a post about our time in the Smokies and how much we enjoyed our chalet!

Service- First, the service was superb from the start. The woman who helped us at the reception desk was very friendly and hospitable, providing us with driving directions and a number to call if we had any issues (which we didn’t!).

The Chalet- Our chalet was beautifully decorated and immaculately clean! We stayed in the Mountain Comfort 59 chalet. It is a one bedroom perfect for a romantic getaway from two. 

It had a black bear theme and a rustic feel which was very appropriate for the mountain cabin. Our chalet was an open floor plan with the kitchen, dining, living, and bedroom area all together. It made it feel very cozy and I personally love open floor plan layouts. The separate bathroom was spacious and included a washer and dryer, if you needed to use it. 

The kitchen was fully equipped with all dishes and utensils that you need to make meals. We loved this because we really enjoy cooking our own meals for each other. We cooked meals and then would sit on the deck enjoying the view and peacefulness of our surroundings. There was a pretty heart shaped tub in the corner of the cabin that had a window that overlooked the view, as well.

Personal touches- Each chalet is owned by an individual owner and then managed by the alpine chalet rentals. We really noticed and enjoyed the personal touches of the owner of our chalet. Black bear stuffed animals and Smoky Mountain magnets were part of the décor and also available to purchase. It was nice to be able to buy a souvenir without even leaving our chalet! There was also a guest book with countless glowing reviews to the owner. We added ours at the end of our trip, as it was such a great experience.

The tranquil atmosphere- I think this is what we enjoyed most about our getaway to the Smokies. Our chalet was at the very end of a mountain road. It was so tranquil and quiet. And the view… oh the view! The view from our porch (our porch with a new hot tub and table and chairs for two) was spectacular! It was so nice to enjoy a peaceful get away and be able to eat quiet dinners and enjoy the hot tub together… looking at the view. The chalet was far enough away from others, so that it felt secluded. This allowed for plenty of rest and relaxation.

Activities- One of our favorite activities was the Rocky Top Wine Trail. The wine tastings are free! There are five wineries on the trail with different themes ranging from apple wines to Italian style. If you visit 3 wineries on the trail, you receive a complimentary wine glass and if you visit all 5 you receive an additional complimentary wine glass! How could you beat a deal like that? Free wine and wineglasses. Yes, please! A few wines that we really enjoyed were the Apple Julep (apple wine, but includes other fruits making it taste like sangria), Wildfire (strawberry-kiwi wine), and Mountain Valley blush (a medium-sweet red wine). 

Hiking trails are plentiful in the Smoky Mountain region. We walked down a shorter trail that was shaded and it was a nice walk. It was rather hot and humid when we visited in August, otherwise I think we would have taken a longer hike. The vegetation and trails are beautiful and well maintained. I would like to go back in the fall to see the changing leaves and I think that this would be the ideal time of year for hiking too. 

Downtown Gatlinsburg has plenty to do. It is definitely more tourist focused. It has many dining options and fun things to do like take “Old Time” pictures or try some moonshine. We didn’t spend a lot of time there, but it is cool to check out. My fiancé really enjoyed the moonshine taste testing. We also enjoyed looking at all the fabulous paintings located in the Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery.

I highly recommend venturing into the Smoky Mountains and checking out all they have to offer! You can stay in your chalet if you want peace and tranquility or if you are feeling daring you can check out the variety of activities available in the area. Either way, you will have an enjoyable time.  

Happy traveling!