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.
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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 looooooong. Knowing me, I would quickly forget about my paper list, so I transcribed everything into my new favorite to-do app called todoist. I created a project titled “Tolerations” and then broke it down by each room in the house. I also have a “Misc” subcategory that includes things like “renew passports”, “return library book we thought we lost” (we paid for it, then found it in the basement – good thing you get a refund if you return it within a year), etc. Over the next few days, I’ll work on scheduling each task, and I like the idea of focusing on one room at a time that some commenters mentioned. Would you like to follow along? I’m still trying to figure out how to incorporate this Tolerations project on the blog in a way that would be helpful. I’m excited!
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On talent:
K: Everyone has a special talent, but I don’t know mine yet.
Me: You have so many, sweetie!
K: Yeah, but it’s about finding your one real talent — I might find mine when I’m eight or ten. It’s something you really like doing that you’re good at. Like growing hair.
Me: ….?
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Have a fun-filled weekend – our first in 2014! See you Monday!
These silly haikus
I’ve kept them up for so long
Is it time to stop?
That post motivated me to fix my favorite clock that the kids have broken twice …. I finally got the e6000 out and put it back together so it isn’t crooked (since they knocked off one of the legs). It made me feel like a superwoman! I also started sewing curtains for my bedroom. We’ve lived here some 3 years and I still had a blanket with push-pins instead of curtains. Seriously. I was putting our room on the back burner because no one ever sees it except me & hubby, but it drove me insane. Like I was 20 and in college or something.
I’m so happy to be getting a few of these super big annoyances taken care of !! <3 Thanks for the little push.
Mae
That’s awesome Mae! Making curtains for my bedroom is on my list! It’s funny, as I was making the list I got motivated to tackle some things right then and there and boy, did that feel good 🙂
Oooh, glad you brought this idea back up, I missed that post. I like this concept. Tolerations…. I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about why I get so overwhelmed, why I snap, why that one last thing makes me fall over the edge. I think a lot of it is hormones, a lot of it is having 3 kids in under 6 years, kids that are much easier now that they are 2, 4, and 6…but still…they are 2, 4 and 6. Ha. I was discussing a certain book with a friend and she thought she remembered it, but wasn’t sure, so anyway she looked it up and read the synopsis and it was classified in the ‘self help’ genre, which of course it was, but something about hearing it like that made me cringe inside. I gasped, ‘I’m reading self help books (more than a few…), what is wrong with me…?’ This beautiful friend, my ten years older, wiser mentor, just looked at me and replied….’because you’re in your 30’s, that’s what you do in your 30’s. It gets better.’ Anyway, that long story, just to say that I think paying attention to these tolerances, removing them or addressing them, may go a long way to easing just how quickly I (some days) reach that tipping point. Or maybe I just need to wait a decade…
Ha, I totally understand that cringe-y feeling when it comes to self-help books. I’ve read my share and most of the time I end up rolling my eyes though there are a few gems out there. There’s a lot to be said about getting older too 😉
Noooooo! Don’t stop – I love these posts! (especially your little conversations with K)
BTW, my magnets arrived this week! I can’t wait to get started but first I need to get them back from my 15month old – I’ve used some washi tape to seal the tin and she’s using it as a rattle!
Thank you so much :0)
So glad! It was my first time sending something to Wales, so that was fun. And I’m also glad that you like my Friday posts! The conversations I have with K are always good for a chuckle or at least some head-scratching. 🙂
Liked your post at KCW!
The idea of tolerations really appeals to me, I’m a bit procrastinating on making a list though, I’m a bit afraid of all the things I’ll come up with… But it’s a nice project for this weekend, making a list, the tackling of the problems is the next step then. I’m a bit scared of adding to my to do-list, but think it will give me some more peace of mind when crossing of these things indeed.
And growing hair is definately a special talent 😉
Trust me, Nienke, I totally understand your hesitation. The nice thing is, once it’s written down, it feels like an accomplishment in and of itself 🙂
I do hope you continue sharing about tolerations. I think it is so interesting and always an area where I could use inspiration! And unrelated, we made your chai recipe last weekend and it was delicious! And that easy oatmealy bread you shared a bit ago has become a favorite around here as well. Thank you!
Yes, the Chai recipe is a staple and it’s been a while since I made the oatmealy bread, and now I want to make another loaf stat! I’ll see if I can make the tolerations posts somewhat interesting — not sure how inspiring my junk drawer or gross bathroom could be, but you know, it might be a helpful way to track my progress…:-)
The biggest “toleration” in my house is basically our entire kitchen – and finally after 9 long years, we are renovating it starting next week. Walls (yes, multiple! eep!) torn down, living without an oven for 8 weeks, fridge in the basement . . . oh, enduring a new toleration to remedy the old:) Great idea to keep a list going, Sanae, lest you manage to convince yourself that something is really as bad as you thought previously:)
Ack, 8 weeks without an oven!! It’s a good thing the holidays are over (you probably timed it that way, though, right?). Good luck with the renovations — the new tolerations will be totally worth it!
Your previous post inspired me too. I went through the house and created a list for each room. I also had a miscellaneous section which included things like handwashing knits (which has already been crossed off, yeah!). A number of things have been crossed off already which feels great. Hope your crossing off goes well too. Alison
So fantastic, Alison! I’ve crossed off a few things as well and it’s so satisfying!
This is very inspiring! I came home the other day from a Christmas visit to the family and felt so stressed out to find that we have no room to incorporate new toys and clothes because everything is so cluttered with things that are no longer being used and have been hidden away in a closet or the garage. This topic of tolerations definitely hits the mark with me- i like order on the outside, but if you open a drawer or cupboard, watch out! Chaos abounds! And yes, I do believe you are right that this creates an underlying stress that affects our lives so much. So- my next projects are going to be about purging and organizing before I dive into creating anything new. Phew. I’m ready! Thank you for the nudge!
Oh, I’m definitely an expert at making things look orderly on the outside and then cramming things elsewhere (e.g. basement). Good luck, I’ll be purging and organizing right alongside you, Gita!