I had my quarterly check-up yesterday for my ongoing health condition and my thyroid hormone numbers are stubbornly stuck at around the same level: almost normal, but not quite. In fact, it was a smidgen worse (holiday stress will do that to me), and I've been evaluating ways to nudge my body into full remission. The last year and a half proved to me that lifestyle changes can have enormously positive effects, but clearly, I'm still falling a little short. Perhaps my love of sugary, fatty foods ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Happy Friday! I'm guest posting over at the KCW blog today, hope you check it out. I had fun painting some illustrations and talking about color inspiration. As per usual, I had technical difficulties, but fingers crossed that it's all been sorted out. ***************************************************** Remember my tolerations post? I missed my pre-2014 deadline, but I spent time yesterday going through the house listing everything that belonged on my tolerations list. The list is ... Read more
Happy New Year!
It's here! The new year! I'm a little sad to see 2013 go because despite some tough moments which are inevitable in life, it was so fabulous in innumerable ways. But I sense that 2014 may be even better. We rang in the year quietly with just the four of us: me, K, M and my mom (well, not too quietly since we live near one of the major fireworks site in Seattle), and it was a perfect way to end a rollicking twelve months. I have a propensity around this time to spend hours and hours reflecting ... Read more
Abstention Updates
Okay. I've shipped out all out-of-town gifts, dropped off most of the local gifts and have just a few more odds and ends to finish up before I can consider Christmas 2013 a done deal. At the last minute, I adopted a "semi-homemade" approach this year in the vein of Sandra Lee, with mostly store-bought items embellished with handmade tags, ornaments, accessories, etc. It's reduced my stress-level by a thousand-fold. I have a dirty secret to share: I don't like making the same things over and ... Read more
Holiday Prep
Just popping in to quickly say that Santa's sweatshop is in full force here, and I am in the throes of toy-making (and last-minute-gift-sewing) at the moment. This year I've finally come to the sobering conclusion that I'm afflicted with a condition called Crafter's Delusion. Symptoms include a total disregard for realistic time management, an overblown sense of crafting skills and a rather worrisome need to hoard supplies and materials just in case. This condition manifests itself when ... Read more