Thursday, January 1

What a time, but we survived!

It is the time for resolutions, change, renewal and reaffirming. How about survival? My resolution is just to survive the next year with my three kids, three dogs, husband and mother in law. Survival of my Etsy shop. Survival of my creative spirit. Currently my creativity is being strangled by the heaps of laundry that are waiting for my attention. The survival of my youth... perhaps some exercise and diet changes are necessary for that one. The survival of my children. Right now they are cruisin' for a bruisin', (as the saying goes) and my two year old will be lucky to make to three. (I am speaking purely out of frustration and of course, would never actually hurt them, but I can now see how some parents snap.) So my resolution this year is simply to survive 2008."
(-my resolution for last year)

I survived! (so did my children..) Who knew? I have found a quiet pace to life this year which is nice. Something that is really helping, I have started planning out the meals for the week on Sunday. I check the flyers, coupons, recipe box, and get thoughts from the family, then grocery shop once, for the entire week. It is working nicely and it is so nice not to fuss over what to make each night. I know that I'll have everything on hand. With six in the house, it makes a big difference in my time management.

I am so happy that the holidays are over. It is a heavy weight off my shoulders for some reason. The halls have been un-decked and I spent way too much money at HomeGoods today buying lovely things to freshen up the house. Feeling very tired of red right now. Anyone else? Not sure how to handle the upcoming day of love, but I'll have to find some other color to show off my passion. Going with bright, sunny yellows and limes. I want to say a quick Thank you!! for all of you who visit my other blogs. (The Vintage Moth and Button Floozies) Between the two blogs we managed to raise $100 for The American Cancer Society!!! Whhoooohhoooo!! I am so excited! It is nice to see that the time I put into them can help someone other than me. That was in about 6 months so hopefully 2009 will be an even better year.


The only creative endeavours that I have tackled lately have been holiday related. A quick tip for those of you who have started following my blog since last Christmas, is to use your holiday greeting card pile as gift tags. I have mine all set to go for next year. In fact, there were so many tags, I didn't need to buy anymore this year. Recycling at its best! (see above image)

Happy New Year, things are brewing in the pot and I have lots of new changes around the home to share!

xoxo~

Abbie


12 comments:

Vee said...

Oh I've done that before and thanks to your reminder, I'll do it again.

I want to see those yellows and limes! Are we talking kitchen? Seems that's where you had introduced some reds.

Glad that you are aiming for survival, but thriving would be good, too. ;>

Have a great weekend!

Lorilee said...

Each year I put our Christmas cards into a ziplock baggie, except the photo cards that I display on a wire photo holder. I can go back 23 years and look at the Christmas cards-many from friends and family that are no longer with us. I might be a bit too sentimental!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Kathryn Costa said...

I'm so happy that you survived 2008! I would certainly miss you if you hadn't made it.

I haven't undecked the halls yet. I'm sort of dreading it. For one things will look a bit sparse and the other reason, well it is a lot of work.

Great idea for the tags. Yours look so festive.

Happy New Year!
xoxo k

Kathleen Grace said...

Happy new year Abbie! Here's to survival:>) Even I am a little tired of red right now.

Kathleen Grace said...

Happy new year Abbie! Here's to survival:>) Even I am a little tired of red right now.

Kathleen Grace said...

Happy new year Abbie! Here's to survival:>) Even I am a little tired of red right now.

Ces Adorio said...

Happy New year Abbie. Take it easy. You are a creative, productive and artistic woman who is also a mother of three kids. and you blog! You create wonderful things. You are not just surviving, you are living a beautiful life, so be nice to yourself!

Anke Martin said...

Happy New Year Abbie!!!!!! Cruisin for brusin...sounds like my kids right now too. We have been in 1 1/2 weeks twice to the ER over the weekend/holidays each kid had something but good thing minor.....hopefully that is not going to continue like this 2009!
Other than that, glad to hear you had a good time even the holdiay time was heavy on you, I'm glad all those holidays are over too. Can't wait to see your fresh deco in the house! Lime and yellow, sounds really wonderful!
Concerning cooking, I have to do that sometimes as well, when my inspiration for cooking is really dry and I know how tiring grocery shopping can be.....I feel with you and send you lot's of hugs....you will make 2009 fine! Always can hide out here, right? ;) Smiles, Anke ;)

tam said...

Hi Abbie girl! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting-and a big welcome too! :) I too try to plan meals ahead-to some degree. I shop for recipes but I don't always plan a specific day to use them. I make whatever I feel like for the day-usually depends on how much sewing or crafting I will be doing. Congrats on the earnings for your charity! Oh and I don't like country music either-Lol!
Hope you have a good Monday!
~Tam :D

tam said...

Hi Abbie girl! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting-and a big welcome too! :) I too try to plan meals ahead-to some degree. I shop for recipes but I don't always plan a specific day to use them. I make whatever I feel like for the day-usually depends on how much sewing or crafting I will be doing. Congrats on the earnings for your charity! Oh and I don't like country music either-Lol!
Hope you have a good Monday!
~Tam :D

Paula B. said...

Big grin over survival!

I greeted 2009 with a strong desire for renewal and restoration...so many hard angles from 2008 that I'd like to just cover over so they don't jab.

weekly menus are a huge blessing.
I eventually went to monthly menus...it's major pain to think of 30 meals and make up the grocery list, but I do one major shopping trip early in the month to get all the staples. Then the weekly trips are focused on fresh produce and dairy. It was one thing that helped me simplify and reduce the time consumed in grocery shopping and meal planning.

We also had a few family standbys that got scheduled in on the same day every week. (Tacos or fajitas on Wednesdays will come to mind for my 3 older kids!) Thankfully the family loves them - still does.

So nice to visit with you.

Happy New Year!

(Oh -- Burgundies, muted pinks and browns make a lovely alternative color scheme for Valentine's Day!)

Tara said...

Abbie

You know I just made my gift tags! And my friends loved the idea and are doing it, too!