positively minutiae

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:34:00 +0000

It's Been A While. I'm Finding It A Tad More Challenging Than I Expected To Post Regularly - And Now I Have A Log Jam Of Gratitude. It Could Be Worse. I See That.

September 10, 2016 - Day 10 Grateful

I'm grateful J.D. is willing to hang with his mom. When it was just the two of us at home over the weekend, J.D. and I ventured to the Festival Italiano where we dined on sausages and cannoli. We strolled, we laughed, we listened to some jazzy Italian music, and took in the sunshine. He got some new cleats while we were out and I enjoyed a tasty white - so we both felt like winners.

September 11, 2016 - Day 11 Grateful

I'm grateful to not have to spend another evening alone. While Friday night was a glorious evening of self-indulgence, the following Saturday night was filled with uncomfortable moments of too much self-talk and mindless hours of web surfing. Dinner together on Sunday was much appreciated and welcomed.

September 12, 2016 - Day 12 Grateful

I'm grateful that sometimes the family is perfectly happy fending for themselves for dinner. It used to be I felt I needed to always have something ready to serve, but now, if life has been crazy busy, we will occasionally let dinner be every man for himself style. This takes a lot of pressure off of me and I think it fosters creativity and survival skills within our family group.

September 13, 2016 - Day 13 Grateful

I'm grateful I finally made the time to take the clothes we've all purged from our closets to Goodwill. I am a true believer in "thinning the herd" when it comes to our wardrobes - you have to let go of the old or the tired or just plain unfortunate things you've accumulated over the past months. The lightness I feel after releasing those things is palpable. Of course, the purge is not complete if I'm driving around for two weeks with a pile of clothes-filled trash bags in the back of my car so I was pretty darn happy as I pulled away from the drive-thru drop off area and looked in my rear-view mirror to watch the giant bin our our donations rolled into the warehouse and out of my hands.

September 14, 2016 - Day 14 Grateful

I'm grateful I had the day to start cleaning out Eliza's bedroom. After she left for college, I just wasn't emotionally ready to dive into her little space, but I'm over that now. I've broken it into sections because the job is too big for one person in one day - it took her years to achieve this particular level of messiness so I can't expect make things right in just a few hours. It took a while, but the entire floor is clear now. There aren't words for how this truly feels.

September 15, 2016 - Day 15 Grateful

I'm grateful for camo prints. I wore this top today and as I was driving to work, I dribbled coffee onto my chest after gesturing while I sang an Adele song on the radio. Thanks to the camo print, my faux pas went unnoticed. A fashion victory indeed.

Thanks and Love.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 03:13:00 +0000

I'm Reading In A Quiet House, The Dogs Aren't Expecting Me To Wrestle A Chew Toy From Them, I've A Chardonnay In Hand, And We Have Clean Toilets Thanks To Some Good Old Fashioned Time Management By Yours Truly This Morning. I Think I'm Firing On All Cylinders. Or Something Like That.

September 8, Grateful Day 8

I'm grateful for big cups of tea. At the end of the day, whenever I feel like I need to slow down, or when I'm just not feeling good, I like a cup of tea. There's something about the warmth that I love. Plus, I have a lot of the Yogi teas and they give you lovely little words of wisdom right there on the tea bag, so it's really almost like therapy. I have such an array of teas I think I could treat any number of symptoms or conditions just right there from the shelf of my pantry. I'm pretty sure it's not covered by your insurance, but if you're feeling a little 'off' and you find yourself in my kitchen, I'm here to help.

September 9, 2016

I'm grateful for a little 'me time'. I don't need or want much; being with my family is truly my greatest joy, but a little time alone, with sole control of the noise level and agenda, really refreshes. The washing machine is full of wet sheets and there are two full loads of unfolded laundry on the ~~laundry holding device~~ chair in our bedroom, but I'm putting little things like that on the back burner and enjoying just being home. I think we all need some time to wallow around in our living spaces by ourselves - even better if it's done in pajamas (which it is right now BTW).

Thanks and Love.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 06:06:00 +0000

Noting Gratitude Every Day Is Easy. Posting About It Regularly And With Some Level Of Humor And/Or Related Memorable Anecdotes Makes It A Tad Challenging. Plus Sometimes There's Wine. And A Commader-In-Chief Forum To Enjoy, Or Whatever They Call It.

September 6, 2016 Day 6 Grateful

I'm so grateful for Snapchat, FaceTime, Instagram - really all social media. With a child newly deposited at a far away college campus, any and all forms of communication are appreciated to a level I never really could imagine before. Any glimpse into her world, any snippet of her day-to-day life, is such an joy - such a gift. And to have it coupled with actual words, maybe even spoken live, is like poetry in motion. I cannot express how much I ~~need~~ love this.

September 7, 2016 Day 7 Grateful

I'm grateful for a slower day at the food bank. This means people are getting their food at other places and don't need the service. It picks up later in the month as food stamps run out. I'm grateful for this today, plus MSNBC, and restorative yoga. I'm a hippie.

Thanks and Love.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 18:00:00 +0000

As If A National Holiday Weren't Enough To Celebrate - How About Some Minutiae? I Present You With The Gratitude Labor Day Edition. Please Keep Your Expectations Low. I'm Still Finding A Rhythm And Better Words.

September 3, 2016 - Day 3 Grateful

I'm grateful for mornings on the patio with a huge stack of books. And a laptop, because hello, it is the 21st century and I have a serious Google addiction. I like to read lots of things simultaneously. This is weird because I try to limit multi-tasking my activities as much as possible. I've heard that kind of behavior takes us out of the present moment and doesn't really lead to increased productivity - but I turn a deaf ear to those lessons when it comes to my reading time. Let me explain my stack as I'm sure you're dying to know. From the top and working down we have Jacques Pépin's new and trés adorable cookbook, Poulet et Legumes. It's basically a bunch of chicken and veggie recipes but we eat a lot of those things and I need some new material. Plus, he's French so it's instantly more wonderful. Next up, A Course In Miracles Made Easy, by Alan Cohen. Because I always have to have something from the Spirituality/Self-Help category. And finally, Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom. The sequel to The Kitchen House - just fantastic. Read them both if you have not.

September 4, 2016 - Day 4 Grateful

I'm grateful for these chimes. When we vacationed as a family this summer in Santa Barbara (one of my spiritual homes), chimes like these hung on the patio outside the door of the master bedroom in the little VRBO cottage we rented. It was such a fantastic time for the four of us, so we bought our very own set. The chimes serve as a constant auditory reminder of all that vacationy goodness. Of course, when I hear them I want to immediately drop whatever I'm doing, pour myself a glass of wine, and sit on the patio. I fight the urge constantly with varying degrees of success.

September 5, 2016 - Day 5 Grateful

I'm grateful for my morning coffee and taste of sweet. This is how I start every day. After a lemon water, I jump right into a cup of joe and a little nummie. I love the routine of it and I find the little bit of sweet in the morning makes me feel like I've already treated myself to something special. Today I had a chocolate chip cookie my mother-on-law brought us. But I've used a sliver of pumpkin pie as a taste of sweet, a Christmas cookie, a Reece's Peanut Butter Egg, and a spoonful of rhubarb crisp throughout the year with equal enjoyment. Because it's important to eat foods that are in season.

Happy Labor Day!!

Thanks and Love.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 17:14:00 +0000

And Just When You Thought It Was Gone For Good. Minutiae Returns With A Roar. Well, Not Really With A Roar, More A Light Hum And Some Gratitude And Debatable Humor.

I decided it was time for a creative outlet. So my blog got the nod again. This time around Gratitude gets to ride shotgun. Humor is joining us, sitting on the hump in the middle of the backseat and talking over our shoulders. I've been inspired by the movement and website 365grateful and Dr. Christiane Northrup's Instagramming of her own 365 days of gratitude.

I like this 365 days of gratitude format because it gives me some structure. First of all, I always have something to write about and the 365 days ~~guarantees~~ gives me hope I'll be able to keep this up for an entire calendar year. Dear God, it's not a leap year is it?!

I hoped to start yesterday - I'd heard something about a new moon in Virgo - or some sort of cosmic portal opening, plus it was the 1st of the month, but I chickened out. Not today, my friends, not today. It's go time.

We begin with a two-fer - due to my aforementioned wimpy behavior.

September 1, 2016 - Day 1 Grateful

I was grateful I could do yoga in the morning with the door open and not have construction noise interrupt my vibe. For whatever reason, all action on the house they're building up the street was halted yesterday so it was a truly peaceful morning. Later someone came to empty the two Port-O-Potties on-site and I was grateful that was not my job. That afternoon I cleaned our toilets and was grateful for Playtex gloves and long-handled scrub brushes.

September 2, 2016 - Day 2 Grateful

I am grateful for Fall colors and the upcoming, seasonal shift. Because Fall is beautiful and I like eating pumpkin pie and wearing booties.

Thanks and Love.

Last Week I Left The Grocery Store And Hadn't Forgotten Where I'd Parked, I Couldn't Remember Driving There In The First Place. Granted, I Go To The Grocery Store About Every 36 Hours, But Come On! I Was Seriously Checked Out. I Blamed It On The Fact Sinead O'Connor's Old Song, Nothing Compares 2 U, Was On The Radio And Any Woman Who Spent Her Young Adult Life In The Early '90s Cannot Avoid Singing At The Top Of Her Lungs When She Hears It. It's Pavlovian, Really.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:31:00 +0000

Our trip to Costa Rica is just around the corner! I am out of my mind excited about our family getaway. I have worked out three times in the last month, so I should be good to go in the bikini department. Or not. Actually, I think my self-tanner errors will keep people from noticing I'm not exactly a Victoria's Secret model. They'll be too consumed with the incredibly orange color of my right ankle. As am I.

Anyway, vacations are on my mind. Don't you feel just getting away from your regular routine helps make you more conscious of life in general? I do. There is something about being somewhere else that makes even the mundane seem richer - like I seem to not only notice the smell of the air in a new place, but the weight of it too. Even the sounds of the rental car or taxi driving on the road seem louder or more pronounced to me. It's awesome. Vacations turn on parts of our brains that we tend to let go a little dull in our day-to-day lives.

I think it's fun and psychologically beneficial (like having a glass of wine on the patio) to try to live as if I was on vacation every day. To bring that same sense of consciousness and gratitude to my daily existence. It's not always possible, I mean no one would schedule a mammogram on vacation, but for most of what we do each day, we could likely stand to turn on our awareness and appreciation a bit more. Try to treat things as new to us or different each time we hear, see, smell or do them.

This is such a cool way to really get into the present moment. When you step inside your house, imagine you're entering a beautiful vacation home you'll be spending a couple weeks in over the summer. Or when you're driving to the grocery store, try to capture that feeling you get when you're driving to the local grocery on a vacation trip to grab some muffins and juice because eating breakfast out every day costs more than a plane ticket. You can find a million ways to live every day with the curiosity and joy of a vacation.

If you want to get really trippy with it, each moment is a new one so it really is like we're in a new place all the time. Right? Anyway, give it a go. If anything, even just a few moments of living with a vacation vibe is helpful.

I'm wearing this.

A stretchy, black, cotton shift is the Swiss Army knife of a wardrobe. This one is doing laundry, cleaning toilets, running to the bank, and going out to dinner. See what I mean?

gratitude: the word Aloha, black bikinis, backyard progress, family time

thank and love.

My Requests To The Personal Shopping Service, Stitch Fix, Have Been "Neutrals Only, Please" As Of Late. The Stylists Are Always So Nice About It, But I Can Imagine It's A Real Buzz Kill When You Work On My Fix. I Worry They Play Rock, Scissors, Paper To See Who Gets The Fun Job Of Pulling Clothes For That Fashion Daredevil In Colorado.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:01:00 +0000

I feel I should have explained in my requests to Stitch Fix that I was sliding my way toward a "capsule wardrobe" lifestyle in recent months. That might have clued them into my very un-exciting requests. But regardless, the stylists at Stitch Fix have managed to provide me with nearly 50% of my simplified closet selections. And, as is the case with capsules, I love every piece and can use them each in multiple ways. Here are the goods.

First up, the Messi Lattice Neckline Top.

Oh, this is a gem! So comfy! So sexy! So able to hide wine stains! I love the way this fits and it's such a soft knit. I'd have worn it even more lately, but Colorado is now Seattle and I'm cold and wet.

Next we have this cute white, lace peasant top by Brixon Ivy.

I love this top because it looks super delicate, but it's machine-washable. I kid you not. I'm wearing it with the same pants I had on in the black tank photo. They are the Patrick Cropped Chino Pant by Level 99. They are one of the big splashes of color in my capsule wardrobe. Wheee! I know! I really feel I'm living on the edge when I wear them. Love the ankle length so shoes have their day in the sun too. These pants play well with everything.

Moving on to the gray t-shirt by Market & Spruce. This is one of my favorite pieces because it's a basic with a twist. Love the longer back! It makes me feel artsy and funky while I load the dishwasher. Which is much appreciated.

Now we have it paired with the Austen Utility Jacket.

I have wanted a piece like this ever since I read on a fashion blog that this type of jacket is one 'every stylish woman should own.' I have felt diminished until now. Thank you, Stitch Fix.

And now we've paired up our gray T/white jean look with a black blazer. The blazer by Kensie, to be exact.

The kind people at Stitch Fix met my request for a structured black blazer that wasn't overly stiff looking. I love this piece and have yet to find anything that it doesn't work with - I've even done it over a dressy sweat pant and met with success. Or so I choose to believe.

Now on to a couple of skirts, because I like to look like a girl from time to time, and I choose to believe that soon it will once again be warm enough in Colorado to wear something that doesn't fully cover the leg. Here is the first one - the Evelin Printed Pencil Skirt.

It's a nice, clingy skirt that kind of sucks you in so you look better than normal - like Spanx you can wear out to lunch with just a t-shirt.

Andy now the Raegan Floral Printed Swing Skirt.

Look at me! I'm wearing a pattern! I love this skirt. From heels to slip on sneakers, this skirt can go any direction you ask it to. I've paired it with a black T, peep-toe booties and a jean jacket because I'm hoping Geoff will ask me to go to dinner or shopping or to France (but we really don't have time for France right now. #goals).

And finally. The bag. Note the pictures of the gray t-shirt and jacket pairings. With the utility jacket, the bag is black. Yet in the blazer photo, the bag is brown. You are not seeing things. It is the same bag. I know, right? It's an awesome reversible tote bag from Stitch Fix. I can't remember who it's by, but it's wonderful and as long as I don't set it down in a spilled beer at a professional sporting event I will continue to revel in its versatility.

This really gives you an idea of the explosion of neutrals that have arrived on my doorstep in recent months. And you can kind of see how my capsule wardrobe works. Basically, everything in these pictures can, has, and/or will be paired with each other. And because I love each and every piece I will feel good and happy and joyous when I put them on.

Here's a link to get started on Stitch Fix yourself. I may even get a little discount if you use it which means more money available for youth sports. So, thank you.

Your patience is much appreciated, Stitch Fix.

gratitude: simplicity, eggs, candles from Target (eucalyptus and lemongrass), rainstorms while you're sleeping

thanks and love.

I've Been Watching A Lot Of Fitness Videos On YouTube Lately. They're Very Well Done And I'm Assuming Are Making Some Difference In My Overall Appearance, But I Struggle To Relate To The Teachers And Their Settings. Maybe I'll Post A Few Vids Of My Own - Appealing To The At-Home 40-Somethings. They'll Be Filmed In My Bedroom. I'll Be Wearing Pajama Bottoms, A Coffee-Stained T-Shirt, And I'll Be Sharing The Mat With Two Big Dogs And A Few Soggy Chew Toys.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 May 2015 19:45:00 +0000

I've had to amp up my fitness routine as we have a trip planned to Costa Rica next month so I'll be forced to wear things that include a good deal of Lycra and lack the coverage provided by my standard pair of skinny jeans. And even more distressingly, while I was talking and gesturing with my hands the other day, J.D.flicked my upper arm. While I was speaking. Just flicked it and it wobbled! Even though I was using that arm and you'd imagine holding it in the air would have caused the muscles to tighten enough to not wave. That was not the case. My upper arm waved like a chicken cutlet hanging from a wire. At that point I knew I didn't have a second to waste when it came to getting into shape.

Except, here's the thing. I know my weaknesses. I don't like to jump through a lot of hoops to get some exercise in and, while I have days I can devote an hour to fitness, there are other days I ~~can~~ only want to spare 15 minutes. I need a workout program that doesn't take too much effort or require a lot of time.

So I'm doing a few extra booty tightening sessions on YouTube and I found the dumbbells and a few of my old sculpting DVD's to dust off and put to use too. My main fitness thing though, has been and always will be, yoga. I truly believe almost everyone would benefit from a little daily practice. Even if it's just for 10 minutes. A simple series of yoga poses will get your circulation going, improve your posture and balance, calm your mind and help get you in the present moment. And, because I have hermit tendencies (and an unpredictable schedule), I can do yoga anytime in the comfort of my own messy bedroom with sites like YogaGlo or GaiamTV.

I know I'm more apt to exercise regularly if I don't make the whole process such an ordeal. If I can slip on my shoes and head out to jog around the 'hood (or a couple blocks, if I'm being honest) I'm more likely to do it than if I need to find a class time and drive to a club. And I'm more likely to want to exercise if what I'm doing makes my head and heart feel good - yoga for the win there. But that's just me.

So I'm going to forge ahead with my beefed up, but steadfastly simple fitness routine until we hit the beaches of Costa Rica. I currently look a little like a chicken in a swimsuit, so possibly with some toning and a few trips to the spray tan salon I'll look like a slightly more muscular, bar-b-qued chicken instead. I'm keeping my expectations in check.

I'm wearing this.

If this rain keeps up I'll be needing to add a snorkel.

gratitude: Bobbi Brown's Beach perfume, tortillas from Whole Foods, a weeded garden, family yoga sessions

thanks and love.

My Capsule Wardrobe Project Has Been Like A Juice Cleanse For My Closet. I Feel Leaner And Cleaner. And I Was Able To Detoxify My Life A Bit Without Having To Pretend I Like To Drink Kale.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 May 2015 18:22:00 +0000

I’ve been claiming a life shift as an excuse for not posting since before the summer started, but human evolution takes time. Right? Anyway, I think lately I’m really getting somewhere with this transitional thing. I’ve been channeling simplicity. Quality over quantity. This must be a sign I am clearly ~~aging~~ maturing.

It started in my closet. I really pared down for April and lived with only 27 items for the entire month – this included scarves and shoes. It was not easy. Not only from the standpoint that I had less to choose from every day but, dear God, keeping a handful of clothes consistently clean is no small feat. There were points during the month where I wore ridiculous combos (fancy sweats and a blazer??) simply because I had nothing clean. Or I’d pull out a pair of jeans from the laundry basket and spend 10 minutes cleaning the dog paw marks off the legs before I left the house.

Anyway, it has changed me. I no longer want a walk-in closet bursting to the seams with color and pattern. I know what I like to wear, what I feel my best in, and I’d rather have a smaller number of those items available to me than any amount of colorful t-shirts and wild printed tops. No one could be more surprised about this change than I.

I feel a little less wasteful too. In the past I’d wear something for six hours or so and toss it into the laundry bin, because who knows what it touched? And it seemed perfectly okay fill up the washing machine with steaming hot water and run it for an hour because maybe there were cooties on those jeans. But now, unless something is visibly stained or smells like fajitas I’ll usually hang it back up on the rack. I just can’t afford to have my favorite pair of boyfriend jeans lose too much rotation time. So I’m adding less to the wash and not needlessly using precious water to wash perfectly clean items.

I also feel like this exercise has made it easier for me to think about things. Like some of my headspace has opened up because I’m not wasting my brain energy coming up with an outfit for that green ikat top I want to love, but don’t. I don’t have to think too much about what I’m putting on and I know whatever I do choose, it will be something I feel great in, so my brain can move on to other things - like what I’d like to learn and do or how to decorate our dining room. I feel like I’m making some progress in my life (finally). It’s the kind of progress that isn’t totally visible to the naked eye, but more the kind I feel inside.

It’s even made me take a closer look at some of my friendships in my life. I see better now how I could improve my role in some of them a bit, but I’m also honestly recognizing those that just aren’t really clicking anymore. I want to feel good about the relationships I have and I'll admit there are one or two that have been making me feel pretty bad for quite a while. I may have to let go of them. It’s painful to consider, but it actually feels worse to be in a friendship that feels empty, than it does to release it and make room for something better.

So basically, it’s been a lot of simplifying, paring down and streamlining, and as a result, I’m gaining clarity. It feels good. I highly encourage you to give this fashion diet a try. I don’t know if the results I’m getting are because clothes have always been such a big part of my life so it makes sense that shifting there would have a ripple effect or what. But I really feel the smaller wardrobe has triggered some bigger changes. And I am welcoming them with open arms and spacious closet.

I'm wearing this.

These are literally the only pair of pants I had clean. I'm relieved, and surprised, it's not snowing.

gratitude: the smell of our dogs, peonies, a glass of wine, talks around our kitchen island

thanks and love.

I Came To On A Pile Of Laundry. This Pretty Much Sums Up How Last Weekend Went.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:56:00 +0000

When I stopped moaning and opened my eyes I saw a pair of inside out underwear and could smell the shirt JD wears under his shoulder pads. He'd left it in his lacrosse bag for over a week and I recalled demanding he get it out before I put this load in the wash. I felt the dampness of a used washcloth under my right cheek. It felt nice. The pain hit almost immediately - right on the outside corner of my left eye.

Otis and I had just had our second collision in four months. The first occurred shortly after we adopted him. I was doing laundry and bent down to pick a sock off the floor that had fallen from the pile I was folding on the bed. As I was heading down to get the sock, Otis jumped on the bed - probably in an effort to help me with the folding or because he likes warm laundry. My mouth hit his head and I ended up with a fat lip and two giant scabs that made me look like a member of Spinal Tap at Bobbi Fleckman's party throughout our entire holiday season.

This time we hit heads. I was bending down to grab a load off the floor and he ran out of the bedroom like a racehorse because he heard voices outside and that meant we were clearly under attack and he needed to man his station at the front door to prevent the invaders from gaining entry to our house. The swelling started right away, which wasn't bad, but when I woke up on Sunday I looked like I'd lost a fight. I have a major league black eye and, based upon how dark the bruising is, I will likely look normal again about the time the kids go back to school (I'm talking Fall 2015). I think these injuries prove it's time we hire a professional launderer. Or I need to work on developing a laundry helmet.

Facial bruising was really just the tip of the ol' iceberg over here this weekend. Prior to my injury I had successfully broken two iPads in less than 12 hours. One I dropped in the bathroom after a heavy application of hand lotion and the other I threw off our balcony because I didn't know it was in our comforter at the time I gathered it up to shake off all the dog hair.

On Saturday night I reaffirmed that mixed drinks are not my friend. I am clearly a wine and beer only kind of girl.

Also, Eliza's car ,which was parked on the street in front of a friend's house, was hit by a drunk driver. Thank God she wasn't in it or near it at the time. But the whole shebang involved an arrest of the driver, a towing of the car, and now likely, a new car purchase due to the fact that the 4-Runner (which Geoff and I bought when I was pregnant with Eliza) is worth less than the required repairs.

And we have a new dog. Another adorable shelter dog named, Lucy. On Monday, less than a week after we adopted her she needed to have a very expensive dental procedure. This came as no surprise to us.

Here are some pics of the fur squad.

Otis telling me Lucy is chewing his elephant toy and he can't believe this is how it's going to be from here on in.

Lucy being demure.

They are hiding. I think. And yes, that's a bra there because I keep it real.

They smell something potentially edible.

But even through it all, Life is so good. Eliza wasn't in her car. Rescue dogs are wonderful. I am fully 'cleansed' after my margarita experience. iPads are replaceable. And the bruising on my eye really looks like a very impressive cosmetic application. Much to be grateful for, and this kind of stuff, entire weekends like this, help us to practice steadiness. No one in the family unraveled. Humor was maintained. I was impressed and proud.

gratitude: we're all here, yoga even with dogs on the mat, being asked to join Amy's class, Geoff's new anti-snore pillow (we may have something here)

thanks and love.

I Was Going To Post Yesterday, But I Was Afraid It Would Seem Like An April Fool's Joke. Which Would Have Made It All Too Easy For Me To Convince Myself I Was Just Kidding And Disappear For Yet Another Month.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 19:53:00 +0000

I haven't had much to say lately so that explains the lack of postings. Actually, I've had plenty to say but most of it would have involved either expletives, moaning, or a quivering chin. If I shared a humorous perspective (however fleeting it may have been) I might have hurt some feelings or worse, appeared to not care about things as much as I really do. I've spent a lot of time feeling a bit like this:

Anyway, the clouds seem to have parted either because of time, a change of season, or maybe the sage I burnt in a desperate attempt to shift my energy. I accept I'm at a place in life that involves managing a certain level of unsteadiness most of the time and I need to just deal with it as gracefully as possible or continue to move through my days whining - which is not how I like to live. This means it's back to the yoga mat, reading good stuff, and simplifying where I can.

Since I love clothes so very much, I'm taking an active approach to simplicity in this particular area of my life. I've read a lot about capsule collections - picking a limited number of pieces to wear for a period of time. I don't know about you, but my closet is full of different styles and colors, but I tend to wear only a few things most days. Looking at this jumbled array makes me feel bogged down, uninspired, and a little out of control. Strangely, these are some of the very same emotions that had been bringing me down in other areas of my life as well. Coincidence? Perhaps.

So, in the name of science and style, I'll be using April to experiment with the capsule wardrobe concept. I've seen a lot of capsule ideas on Pinterest and actually found a blogger out there who picks 37 pieces to wear for an entire three month season. Impressive, I thought. But, because I don't want to overwhelm my fragile psyche at this point, I'll start with a one month trial period. I've selected 30 items to wear this month (shoes and scarves included). This is really quite daring as Colorado weather in April could mean several inches of snow or 80+ degrees and the blogger that inspired me lives in more temperate Austin, Texas. And, April also involves a few occasions requiring snazzier dress than my daily "What should I wear to Whole Foods?" look, which will challenge the capsule approach further. And I like that.

This is what my April capsule collection looks like hanging in my closet.

Basically, it's three sweaters, two jackets, five pants, three skirts, two scarves and nine tops.

These are the shoes I'll be wearing, plus one more pair that should arrive soon thanks to a sale and coupon combo that could not be ignored.

I'm looking forward to all this. I feel like it will help me feel a little more settled and in control. Which would be nice. And from that calmer place who knows what other loveliness will emerge? Plus, I'll be attempting to post a pic regularly of what I'm wearing from the capsule (I know, so much to look forward to!) and because I really should write a little something along with the photo, I'll be making myself produce and create more often and maybe then I'll stop getting in my head so much and just write already.

Anywho, here is what I wore yesterday (4/1).

And here is today(4/2). Snow coming. Otis questioning.

gratitude: crock pot recipes that don't require processed food and actually have flavor, getting back to yoga again, a pedicure, the Kindle app on my iPad, patios

thanks and love.

Have You Ever Had That Experience When You Turn On Your Kid's Phone, And They've Been Taking Selfies, So The Camera Is On Already And The First Thing You See Is A Mega- Close Up Of Your Face? I Swear It Almost Stops My Heart Sometimes. TMI, Miss Girl.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:18:00 +0000

Almost as sobering is putting together a resume after a 17 year quiet period in your job search. And yet, I sat down and cranked one out the other day and emerged from the process relatively unscathed. I had no intention to create a resume this early on in my quest for future employment - I had held resume development right up there with swim suit shopping - I knew I'd have to do it eventually, but I kept putting it off hoping the next time I tried, things would look different. They didn't. I only ended up forcing my way through this task because I thought I'd found the perfect job for me. It wasn't perfect, but I thought it sounded fun. And based upon the bullet pointed job requirements, I was fully qualified. Which is really saying something - trust me.

I made it to the phone interview process and was eliminated after only the second question. They wanted to know about my availability. Looking back, I would have asked what kind of availability the job required, but I foolishly babbled on about wanting to find something that would fit in with my life and that my kids still required my attention, but less than before, but also that I could be flexible sometimes, just not all the time and blah, blah, blah. Clearly, it's been a while since I've been interviewed. Very rookie mistake - but the truth. The interviewer in all her 20-something glory said that didn't fit with the job requirements and maybe I should check out some temporary jobs with them this summer. I spent the rest of the day in a bit of a funk, but bounced back later thanks to time and a glass of wine and a supportive family and Oprah.

My spontaneous jumping into a job search surprised me a bit - I mean, part of me thought I was only in the conceptual stage at this point. I certainly don't expect to find anything soon, but I read something that made me realize I can't just sit around waiting for the doorbell to ring. A guy had been asking God over and over again to let him win the lottery. It never happened no matter what kind of offering the guy made. Finally, as the man was wailing in exasperation, God spoke and told him to buy a lottery ticket. Please. So I view my newly crafted resume as a lottery ticket of sorts. There are no guarantees I'll find the perfect thing (although I have a strong suspicion I can), but I'm not going to get anywhere without a resume.

At this stage, I'm cooling my jets and resting on my resume-creating laurels a bit - I mean, that was a zero to 60 week for me in the career search, right? And we have two kids playing Varsity for the first time ever, so I'll be doing everything I can to make sure I am at those games. We don't get these days back, so rather than bemoan the fact that I don't have any leads when it comes to my job search right now (I do have a resume ready to go at a moment's notice #stepone) - I'm going to consciously enjoy the luxury of not having to juggle my desire to be there for my kids' events while establishing myself in a new job at this point. Glass half-full, thank you very much.

I'm off to volunteer at my weekly food bank sesh. Talk about perspective.

gratitude: Oprah's book, Things I Know For Sure, black turtlenecks, red wine vinegar chips, blue pens

Enjoy this photo of Otis. It was taken in the aftermath of a vicious battle between him and his new stuffed pig. Otis emerged the victor, but it clearly took something out of each of them.

thanks and love.

I've Journaled A Lot Over The Years, But I Have Nothing To Show For It. I Throw My Writings Out Because I Don't Like To Think That If I Was Hit By A Bus Someone Would Find A Journal Of Mine And Use Something I Wrote Four Years Ago To Define Me Forever. It's Like Someone Finding A Picture Of You In Your Calvin Klein Jeans, Tennis Shoe Roller Skates, And Mork And Mindy Striped Suspenders And Believing That's How You Look Today.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:40:00 +0000

I would have posted something last week, but the delete button won out. Frankly, I'm glad it did. If my 'planned' post was floating around out there in cyberspace forever and ever it would have given me an itchy, uncomfortable feeling. I opened the aforementioned post with the incredibly Eeyore-esque thesis that I feel all my female relationships have disappeared and I'm in a weird place. Basically, it sounded like, "I have no friends anymore and I could really use them now." Then I moved on to explain, in thumb-sucking detail, that I was a victim of circumstance - no longer in a position to build relationships with other moms because my kids are in high school and parenting older, increasingly independent children is sort of hard, and also I'm trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and I don't have a clue. Waaaa.

I mean, I do feel there is a lot of change afoot in my life. A lot. I'm no longer standing with other moms around the elementary school waiting for our kids to get out and chatting about dance classes and the Science Fair. The opportunity to talk with other people about where we are in life isn't as readily available as it used to be. I'm parenting these older, complicated, busy, independent, unfinished, challenging, amazing, evolving people - and it's much harder and more wonderful than I ever imagined it could be. I'm also thinking about starting a career again and I'm not sure what I'll end up doing or how best to go about making It (whatever It is) happen. I wish someone would just knock on my door and offer me exactly what I need and want (because even I don't have those answers), but I know that is ~~likely~~ not in the cards.

Thing is though, while it all makes me a little nostalgic for simpler times and sometimes a little weary of the unsteadiness of it all, I don't feel mopey (usually). Once I gave myself time to think and took a less knee-jerk reaction to a particularly lonely afternoon - I came back to a mindset that has proven itself very reliable for me over the years. It's this: choose Love over Fear. We have the ability to choose to focus on whatever feeling we want, so why not make it a good one? When Life is uncertain or challenging we get afraid. Afraid we can't do something, afraid we're not good enough, afraid we'll do something wrong, afraid it's going to be like this forever. That fear isn't helping us. It's keeping our head in a bad place, it's paralyzing us to possible action, and it's sucking the joy out of Life. We need to focus on Love instead. Love for where we are, Love for who we are with, Love for what we do, and Love for who we are.

It's because we care so much that we become afraid. We care that things are right and good and okay. But being afraid won't make it so. We need to fill our head and our heart with Love (as much as possible), and to trust (and hope and believe and all those other challenging verbs) that this very action of choosing Love instead of being afraid is already helping us move toward the kind of Life we want.*

* Please note: This is sometimes really hard to do and we need to cut ourselves some slack when we fall a tad short of a blissful mindset. Just have a glass of wine and try again tomorrow.

I believe Bobby McFerrin said it best, "Don't worry. Be happy." Eighties wisdom, indeed.

gratitude: Burt's Bees lip balm in Watermelon, the orange/pink roses Geoff brought me, a vacuum that works, the view on our walk today (see below)

thanks and love.

It's Eliza's 17th Birthday And I Can't Even Get My Head Around The Fact She Is This Age. Why Didn't 16 Affect Me Like This? Why Do My Kids Grow Up So Quickly? Why Won't She Let Me Homeschool Her For College?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:56:00 +0000

I had such high hopes for cranking out a second blog post - right on the heels of my reintroduction - riding a wave of well-wishes and fresh eyes. But I have a dog now. So not only am I not producing blog posts on a timely basis, I'm also not getting a shower in until almost noon and I'm spending an inordinate amount of time watching YouTube videos about puppy mouthing and Fetch.

Having a young dog is like having a baby again. I make sure he has stimulating toys, that he's eating only healthy snacks, I even find myself ~~casually~~ obsessively judging his poop quality to gauge his overall health. And I'm so proud when he uses his good manners and greets people with a nice 'sit' - a rare event as he has developed the embarrassing habit of what can best be described as submissive peeing. "Welcome to our home! Just step over our dog. (Otis is, at this point, laying on his back and peeing on himself) What can I get you to drink?"

I was a little anxious the first time I took him to the dog park. Like dropping your sweet baby off at preschool for the first time, I worried no one would play with him. He was fine. But there is so much else for me to fixate on at this point. I worry that he's the only dog barking in the park. Why does he like the dog with the short tail so much? Why does he steal balls from other dogs? How did he manage to eat an entire frisbee? Did I just sit in pee? Would a dog pee on this bench? Is this jacket machine-washable?

I was much cooler when I was dealing with my children. And here they are - my kids, even the furry one.

gratitude: being a mom to Eliza and J.D., gift cards found at the bottom of my purse, Imitrex, dog toys that can be filled with treats

thanks and love.

Thanks To Two Wire Hangers, A Pasta Server, BBQ Tongs, And A Pair Of Scissors, I Cleared Out A Vacuum Clog The Size Of A Chihuahua. What A Rush!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 17:34:00 +0000

And just like the dawn of a new day, or flu season, Positively Minutiae has returned. It's been an interesting journey getting to this point. I drafted a few 'I'm back!' posts, but never felt like they were 'Publish' button-worthy. They just seemed to ramble on about laundry and dog hair - which are, for better or worse, major parts of my day-to-day existence. But, I felt like there was more to share - I certainly had more going on inside my head than that and I spent ~~weeks~~ months trying get my thoughts to line up in some kind of logical order so I could assess my situation and get clear on where I was at this point in life. And in between dinner, laundry, family schedule coordinating (which is, at times, like working in the air traffic control tower at a major airport), dog walking, dog hair removing, vacuuming up dog hair, picking up dog poop, buying/throwing dog toys (guess who got a new dog for Christmas?), grocery shopping, toilet cleaning and the like, it hit me. I'm at a weird place in life.

This age. ~~Mid~~ Late-forties. I don't feel old, but I don't feel all that young either. My kids are in high school, we have college tours on our calendar now, and I have what some consider to be gray hair although I prefer to look at is a more of an ash blonde, thank you very much. I see a lot of road behind me. But I also like skinny jeans, I like strappy high heels, I text (with emoticons if necessary) and Instagram, I listen to current music (although I will never understand dub step) - I'm not at the end of my road. I even want to have another career. It's a great/scary/exciting/worrisome/fun/challenging place to be in life and I think that it's highly under-talked about. I'm hoping Positively Minutiae can fill that gap.

I know I'm not the only one at this place in life. There are a lot of us out here. But we're under-represented in the blog world. When I search the Internet, I can't seem to find blogs talking about this strange and wonderful transition period. There are a ton of sites for little kid moms - I must say, there simply aren't words to convey how very glad I am that I had Eliza and J.D. before the pressure of Pinterest-worthy parenting became a thing. And there are a surprising number of blogs for fashionable, fun retirees. I think it's so cool that someone well into their AARP subscription would jump into the blogosphere - kudos. But, as far as finding something aimed at those of us in our mid-forties or fifties? (crickets)

It's strangely like being a teenager again - stuck between childhood and adulthood - only now our zits are wrinkles and we find ourselves parenting through curfews and finals and varsity games; knowing all the while this is only a temporary stage and we'll need to fill a big space in our lives when those activities are no longer a part of our family calendar. It's a happy and sad place, but a place that if experienced with as much peace and presence as we can muster, we'll emerge from satisfied and ready for the next chapter. I think.

As usual, I will continue to try to find the humor in it all and to always be grateful. On that note, I'm off to defrost some meat.

gratitude: the smell of Otis' (our new dog) neck, quiet mornings with the kids home in bed, a clean kitchen, quality hand lotion.

thanks and love.

Remember When Forrest Gump Just Stopped Running? That's Kinda Me Right Now.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:10:00 +0000

Maybe I'm running out of things to say. I suppose after blogging three days a week for a year and a half, that could happen - even to someone like me who is constantly wording thoughts in my head. Since I don't share all of my life on my blog, my subject matter is often limited to esoteric anecdotes, mindful living reminders, laundry and trouble with wild birds. I choose not to share the vast majority of my thoughts and experiences in order to maintain my privacy and to protect the innocent. That said, I'm discovering that the twenty percent of my life that's comfortably sharable and moderately funny, doesn't change much from year to year. When I sit down to write, it's like deja vu. Or Groundhog Day.

So I'm going to stop. Maybe for awhile, maybe forever. If something interesting or funny happens or I come upon some fresh insight or an unusually cute outfit, I might share it. We'll see. There is just so much out there and I want what I write to fill a unique and special space. Is there even one available? Regardless, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my words. It made me feel so good to write publicly again, but now you'll have to sneak into my house and find my journal if you need a little Minutiae. But don't because that would freak us all out.

Remember to stay grateful. And that there is humor to be found in almost every situation.

I miss my blog already.

thanks and love.

No Matter How Challenging It Is To Coordinate Multiple Teen Sport Schedules, Nothing Will Ever Compete With The Nagging Fear Of Missing Your Turn To Bring Post-Game Snacks When The Kids Were Really Little. I Spent Three Years Driving Around With A Case Of Capri Suns And 25 Mini Bags Of Sun Chips Just In Case Something Had Slipped Through The Cracks.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:29:00 +0000

I think my weekly doses of Minutiae may be moving to a summer schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays. While these posts clearly don't take up my entire day - there is a significant amount of time involved. I mean, those clothes don't just put themselves on the floor to be photographed, do they? And we seem to have entered an entirely new world of summer sport-based 'busyness'. Both the kids are on new teams that are competing all weekend every weekend and a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule of blog posts doesn't seem to be fitting in very well.

My Fridays are now devoted to last-minute trips to Dick's to buy my weekly load of Gatorade water bottles (where do they go??) and Google mapping the 17 fields we need to locate in the next 48 hours. And Mondays find me wondering what in the world made me think it was a good idea to start a load of laundry on Saturday morning that I only remembered days later when we were all forced into a post-shower dabbing off with paper towels. I am open to any and all tips regarding mildew scent removal.

These new teams are also run by younger people which has added an unexpected challenge. Young coaches are a tad more comfortable with social media than I am, and now I feel I'm being forced to adopt new modes of communication just to stay up-to-date on the teams' goings on. Soccer requires a special username and password to access the team website simply to confirm an upcoming practice time via the online calendar. This is meant to be super useful - apparently your phone can simply sync up with the website calendar and voila! you're always current. I do not use a calendar on my phone, I like a good old-fashioned paper calendar, but thanks to my lagging cyber skills I'm not only forced to spend extra time cross referencing their calendar with mine for last minute changes, but I'm also battling the icy fear that technology is passing me by all too quickly.

Our lacrosse team communicates mostly via Twitter. 'Nuff said.

I'm wearing this:

Today I'm dressed in my hippie gardener look. Because I'm going to finish planting all the stuff in my pots and I intend to do it while listening to music from the 70's.

gratitude: a couple hours alone with the fam, ice cream, patio sitting, sleeping kids

thanks and love.

On Living With Teens Who's Days Continue Even After You've Gone To Bed. It's Always Interesting To Peek Into The Kitchen Trash Can In The Morning And Piece Together The Parts Of The Evening We May Have Missed. Apparently Last Night Involved Brownies.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 May 2014 16:54:00 +0000

Some of the transitions we've ~~been forced to make~~ made as parents are incredible when you really think about them. It used to be that the whole house had to be cleaned up, locked up, and I would need to personally witness the sleeping faces of my sweet babies before I could even consider heading to bed myself.

Last night I crept up the stairs holding my cup of chamomile tea around 11:00 and looked over my shoulder at the children in my kitchen. I saw JD laying on the island wearing only his lacrosse shorts. Eliza and a friend were drawing a Colorado flag on his chest and mixing up some henna to cover their outline. A male friend of theirs was standing nearby, chatting with the girls and swinging his car keys on one of those lariats they all carry narrowly missing our cabinets with every circle he made. The floor was strewn with lacrosse equipment, flip flops, soccer sweats and a damp towel (cause of wetness, undetermined). As I reached the top stair, the doorbell rang and, from the sound of it, at least two more people entered our home. They were not using their inside voices.

So that's it. Summer nights with teenagers. I drifted off to a light sleep, but let's be honest, it's impossible to really hit a serious REM stage under those conditions. Even though we're not reading bedtime stories and enjoying bath time, I still won't give up total consciousness until the kids have closed up the house and come in to say goodnight. Now that I think about it, the nighttime routine is basically the same except our roles are somewhat reversed: I'm being tucked in now. I'll still get up from time to time to peek in at their sweet sleeping faces, but it's usually around 2:00 in the morning, and as I step into their rooms to make my way to their beds I make every effort not to fixate on the fact that nearly every inch of their floors are covered with clothes I swear I just washed. I'm just glad they're safe and sound. That's all that really matters.

I'm wearing this.

We'll be at a lacrosse game this evening, so jeans are in order. Of course, based on the forecast, this entire look may be covered with a raincoat at game time. "Can't get enough of watching sports in the rain," she said with a forced enthusiasm.

gratitude: having a home the kids like to hang out in, Geoff's cancelled trip for next week, new sport adventures, my voice returning

thanks and love.

In Keeping With My Tradition Of Mostly Writing About Whatever Happens To Be On My Mind, We Delve Into The Fascinating Topic Of Laundry Today. I Guess I'm Still Riding The High From Finding A Pair Of Socks For Geoff Before He Left For The Airport This Morning During A Frantic Search Through A Load That Had Been Moved From The Dryer, To A Chair, Then To The Couch And Included Those Microfiber Clothes That Every Single Sock Sticks To Like Velcro. It Was Quite A Moment.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 May 2014 16:07:00 +0000

I do all the laundry for our family. We're not one of those households that require the kids to start doing their own washing once they hit the teen years or enter high school. While I admire those of you that can confidently hoist that responsibility on your kids, my children will be total laundry rookies when they head to college. And I'm okay with that.

Personally, I can't imagine the chaos that would ensue if we were all in charge of cleaning only our own clothes. I guarantee we'd all want to do our loads at the exact same time. We could make a schedule, I suppose, but schedules work for us for about two weeks. It's nothing I'm proud of but how many chore charts and reading logs do we need to start and never finish before we realize that's just not who we are?

Plus, we have those high-capacity machines and I push them to their limits (trust me, there is always room for another pair of jeans in there). It would seem like wasted space if we were each tossing in cute little bunches of clothing. Our loads are worthy of a weight belt or at least a regular reminder to lift with your legs.

And I don't really mind doing the laundry. It's not like I have to haul the clothes down to the river and beat them on a rock to get them clean. Basically I sort them by color (which is somewhat soothing in an OCD kind of way), toss them in the machine and press a few buttons. No big deal. I think modern laundering is almost a celebration of how far we've come technologically as a people. Folding the clothes, however, is another story. How about some advancements there, inventor-types?

I'm wearing this.

I just don't have it in me to try to photograph myself today, so clothes on the floor it is.

And on a waaaaaaayyyy more meaningful note, I'd like to acknowledge the passing of the incredible Maya Angelou. She has been one of my favorite poets for over 25 years. I went to a reading she did at the University of Colorado when I was in graduate school there and I feel so lucky to have heard her live. While her writing is undeniably beautiful and powerful, hearing her read her poems in person, with her unique tone and cadence, was magic. Here is one of my very favorite pieces of hers:

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
—Maya Angelou

gratitude: the smell of summer, Maya Angelou's writing, lilacs, the end of the school year

thanks and love.

We're Headed To A Lacrosse Tournament This Weekend And I Have A Terrible Case Of Laryngitis. I Hope The Players Will Be Able To Function Without The Insightful Tips I Provide From The Sidelines. I'm Always Amazed That Having Never Played Lacrosse Before I Seem To Know Exactly What They Need To Be Doing On The Field.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 May 2014 19:31:00 +0000

We have these two doves hanging around our house lately. As I understand it, they partner for life and I've seen real proof that they are truly committed to each other. The other day one of them ran into a window on our house. The bird was instantly knocked unconscious and fell hard into the garden. The other dove landed next to the bad flier and tried to get it up again, nudging it with its beak, but to no avail. Eliza peeked out the window to see what happened and must have startled the bird because it picked up its unconscious friend with its claws and flew to the base of a nearby tree for some privacy. We checked back later and both of them were gone. I've since seen the two feeding in our yard again and I'm sure the unconscious bird has no idea what happened. The other bird appears relieved that its partner survived the accident, but I've also seen it just watching its friend with a faraway look in its eyes. Eventually it just shakes its head and starts back pecking the ground for food. I guess it's all part of being bonded for life.

On that note, I'd like to wish my darling Geoffrey a very Happy Anniversary this weekend. If you ever flew into a window I'd whisk you away to recover under a tree and I can only hope you'd do the same for me. I love you!

I'm wearing this.

I was looking for something that would transition seamlessly from a three-hour car ride to an FAC with a few team parents. Boyfriend jeans and gladiator sandals seem to fill the bill. Whenever do they not?

gratitude: green landscapes, new cars, serendipity, long weekends

thanks and love.

I Need Glasses (Duh), But I Also Need A Pet. I Gave The Bunnies That Nibble Our Grass A Dirty Look When I Saw Them Eating In Our Neighbor's Yard. They Didn't Seem To Care.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 May 2014 15:25:00 +0000

Just a quick post today. No time. What I thought would be a lunch today has turned into a morning coffee and even if I'd wanted to plan ahead and write something last night, it would have been impossible as I was at the end of year high school soccer banquet where I ate a very carb-centric buffet dinner and squinted at a heartwarming video from the back of the room trying in vain to make out a shape on the screen that resembled my daughter.

And also from the #aremyglassesreadyyet? file, I was pulling into our neighborhood yesterday and saw the most adorable little animal at the side of the street. It had a cute round head and short, floppy ears. It even seemed to be playing in the grass, adding to its adorableness. Was it a big prairie dog? A small bear? As I got closer, I saw that it was actually a brown paper bag that moved when the wind blew. It was disappointing, to say the least.

I'm wearing this.

I don't know. It's flowers and a sweater because it's cloudy, but not that cold. It's jeans and sandals because it's wet, but not all the time. Stylewise this weather is less than fun.

gratitude: rain, Allegra, catching up, JD's homemade biscuits

thanks and love.

Recycling Day In Our Neighborhood Always Makes Me Feel Weird. Everyone Else Has A Single Plastic Trash Can And We Have That Plus Two Full Bins, Multiple Cardboard Boxes, And Extra Bags Of Stuff On Top. When They Pour It In The Truck The Sound Of Glass Bottles Is Deafening. I Want To Yell "We Entertained And Online Shopped These Past Couple Weeks!" But Then I Realize Probably No One Is Paying Attention To Our Recycling So I Don't.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 May 2014 16:59:00 +0000

Mondays don't look pretty over here. Especially this close to the end of the school year. Rather than drill sergeant my way through the weekend, I tend to just let it be. People are constantly coming and going, balls are being thrown and kicked, food prepared and consumed, fire pits lit, blankets carted to the out of doors, papers written, assignments completed, projects forgotten at home that require last minute drop offs, and household tasks started and sometimes finished, sometimes not. It looks chaotic because it is. Sometimes I think I could do (maybe should do?) a better job of just keeping things in line, but if I did, I'd just spend my entire weekend tidying and reminding and scurrying and that just doesn't sound like how I want to spend my time.

So when Monday rolls around I try to regain control. At least the illusion of control for only a few short hours. And this being the last Monday of the school year it has dawned on me that we're entering basically a three month long weekend. Our school year rhythm will leave us next week and we'll be without our academic calendar-imposed structure. I'm working to develop a healthy mindset to prevent the "it's all closing in on me" feeling you get when you feel you've lost control of the place you call home and you just need A MOMENT.

I'm going to live as if we're spending the next few months in a vacation house on the beach somewhere. And that's basically what it'll be like here at home minus the ocean and noting there will, in fact, be regular work going on. But even when you're staying in a vacation home, you still have to keep on top of things - like laundry, groceries, general tidiness, etc. Somehow though, those tasks seem less annoying when you're vacationing. So I'm shifting my brain to vacation mode.

Our pace will change, but since we must remain functional as a group, I'll consciously loosen my grip without completely letting go. And when I do have to dive deeper into family management/organization/bossing around, I'll do it with a more laid back attitude (God willing). I want us to enjoy this time - as our kids get older every minute just seems so incredibly precious - and I don't want to be a shrew. I also don't want our kids to look back on their childhood and imagine they lived in constant chaos so I'll endeavor to find balance. Sometimes I may have to do it with the help of a white noise recording of waves crashing on the beach (there's an app for that) and sometimes perhaps with a wine spritzer or two (heavy on the wine).

But always, always with so much gratitude because these are very special times. Let us not forget.

I'm wearing this:

It's hot and I've committed myself to getting our raised beds functioning ASAP so I'll be playing farmer today. Last year we planted pumpkins too late and ended up with only two and they we're pathetic - I think I saw a robin actually pick one of them up and fly away. It was humiliating.

gratitude: Advil, group texts between the family, online shopping for Geoff, evenings together

thanks and love.

It Was Time For A New Pair Of Glasses. I've Been Using A Really Old Pair For Years And They Are So Scratched That I Can't Look Through Them Straight On. I Have To Turn My Head And Look Out The Side Of The Lens Since That's The Only Part That's Still Clear. It's Very Hard To Drive That Way And If You're Watching A Movie, The Person Next To You Always Thinks You're About To Say Something To Them.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 May 2014 18:09:00 +0000

So I went to the eye doctor yesterday. That whole thing is just a weird experience. I always somehow flash back to watching Little House on the Prairie when Mary started losing her sight, so I'm typically on edge, worried they may come back and tell me that due to my recent bout with Scarlet Fever my sight is ruined forever. Except I never had Scarlet Fever, that was Mary, I'm just old and would like to watch 30 Rock reruns on TV without squinting.

The doctor gave me a quick starter exam to see if I could pass a driver's test without glasses. I cannot. In fact, he asked if I had someone who could drive me around until I could see better (I couldn't tell if he was kidding). I said no, and that I drive all day every day with very little problem because I drive mostly to all the same places and I have almost everything memorized so I don't really need to see that well at all. Also that I have been living with bad and uncorrected vision so long now that I think my other senses have become heightened as a result. He was not comforted by my answer.

My son has been playing lacrosse for almost four years and I have yet to actually see a lacrosse ball during a game, but I'm ~~perfectly~~ almost able to figure out what is happening on the field by watching what the players are doing. When players clump together there is probably a ball on the ground they all want. When the net in the goal moves that is usually a goal and I cheer. Not seeing very well has actually made me more alert. I hope I don't get soft when my new glasses come in.

I did, in fact, get some new glasses. The doctor actually told his assistant to not let me leave without picking out a pair - based on my eye test results he was probably legally bound to do so. Now I'm a little anxious for my new spectacles to arrive. I've kind of enjoyed not seeing things too closely, like when I'd catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror - I do feel sometimes ignorance is bliss, especially when it comes to an awareness of my own facial aging.

However, I'm very much looking forward to reaffirming that trees do, in fact, have many separate leaves hanging from their branches and, enjoying the ability to read the names of upcoming streets so I no longer have to count the number of exits to find my way home off C-470.

I'm wearing this.

This look feels a little south of the border, so a margarita may be in order this evening. We have an over-abundance of tequila after Cinco de Mayo and I'm looking for ways to put it to good use.

gratitude: Fridays, time with Geoff and the kids, patio sitting, Pandora

thanks and love.

So This Is My Blog's Version Of Behind The Music On VH1 Except I'm Not A Glamorous Rock Star Chatting About Recording My Last Album, I'm A Curly-Haired 40-Something In Pajama Pants Writing About My Writing While Trying To Get Banana Bread Crumbs Out Of My Keyboard.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:15:00 +0000

The lovely Jodi Pyle of Jodipyle.wordpress.com has asked me to participate in a blog hop (no, it's not a dance although I can't stop thinking about American Bandstand when I hear the term) about How I Write. Bloggers are sharing some insights about their process and then tagging two others to share what they do on their own blogs. I was extremely honored that Jodi tagged me because she's a great writer - a friend of Geoff's from college (Go Ravens, right?) that I've met through blogging. Jodi's writing is beautiful. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes nostalgic - but, it always makes me think and wish I could put words together as beautifully as she does.

Here are my answers to the questions on the How I Write blog hop. On the edge of your seat, aren't you?

What am I working on?
Not eating so much bread, my posture and keeping our house plants alive. But if you're interested in what I'm working on in the realm of writing, it's basically just my blog. I also help edit some of what Geoff is working on and I write articles occasionally for one of his client's newsletters. Recently, I penned a fascinating piece on a singer in a German choral group in Connecticut.

How does my writing differ from others of its genre?
Not sure. I read a lot of blogs, but not very many like mine. Mostly I'm into design or fashion blogs and some of them are really well written while others just make me realize that I will not be wearing overalls this season (I'd like to add that if you can remember Dexys Midnight Runners singing Come On Eileen you should NOT even consider wearing overalls).

I guess what may make my writing different is the perspective I bring. Positively Minutiae is really just a glimpse a few days a week into the life of a mom of teenagers in her mid-forties who likes wine, has a sense of humor, does yoga, tries to look cute on a budget, adores her family, battles an addiction to candles, works to roll with the changes life brings, is consciously grateful and has lived through a pigeon infestation.

Why do I write what I do?
Because I'm too old to get a job writing for Saturday Night Live. Also, because I want people to see that having a perspective of love, humor, acceptance and gratitude makes for a good life. No matter what the universe throws at you.

How does my writing process work?
Quickly. Because I come from an advertising background, I work fast. I don't really plan ahead too much about what I'm going to write because I want my posts to have an unrefined freshness to them and also because I'm a bad planner. I sit down at the island in our kitchen on Monday, Wednesday and Friday after the kids have all taken off for school and write. It doesn't take me long to pen a post, maybe an hour or so, then I'll take a break for yoga and a shower. Once clean and as energetically centered as I'm going to get for the day, I edit or completely rewrite what I'd written earlier.

I always include a picture of what I'm wearing (because clothes are fun) and it's the picture taking that sucks up most of my time. My husband, Geoff, travels a lot so often I have to take my own pictures and I've been trying to use the timer on the real camera instead of photographing my clothes on the floor (which feels weird) or taking a selfie (which feels like I'm trying to be the 'cool mom'). Once I have a photo that kind of doesn't make me look like I'm having a stroke, I add it to my blog and hit 'Publish'. Of course later, as I'm driving to the grocery store or back from lacrosse, I'll think of something I could have written that would have been 500 times better than what I'd actually posted.

So there's that. Perhaps more than you wanted to know, but at least I'm not writing about how messy my house is right now.

Now I need to tag two other writers in the hope they'll share insight to their own process as well. Thing is, I don't know a lot of other bloggers. Although I do know a lot of other writers and really, really good writers at that. Some I've known since high school - we had one heck of a Language Arts department - and others I've meet in college, work, am related to by marriage and/or blood, etc. I'll just pick two because those are the rules but one I'm picking doesn't have a blog so he'll have to get creative.

Laura deMoye of Bucklebuttonzip. A dear friend since high school I've reconnected with over the years through Facebook. She writes a fashion blog that also includes other interesting tidbits about food and travel. She's a lovely writer and has amazing style.

Mike Merschel. Also from high school. He's a legit writer at a BIG newspaper in Texas. I love his writing - I regularly read his Facebook posts out loud to my family. Not sure in what form he'll choose or even if he'll be able to take up the How I Write challenge, but he's creative so I'm sure he'll come up with something.

I'm wearing this:

I'm wearing booties today because I've decided to go sleeveless and when there is snow on the ground I think you choose exposed toes or arms. Plus, I removed some red polish from my toes and somehow it's discolored the skin on my feet (even after a shower) and now they look inflamed. I'd rather not have to explain that to people.

gratitude: not having to come up with something to write about today, melting snow, yogic breathing, coffee

thanks and love.

My Second Stitch Fix Delivery Was 100% What I Needed. They Were So On The Mark That It Wouldn't Have Shocked Me A Bit If They Also Went Ahead And Made Me An Appointment For Highlights And Provided A Few Numbers For Housecleaners In The Area.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 May 2014 18:49:00 +0000

So the delivery came on Friday. I had just returned from completing the drop-off leg of our lacrosse carpool which, if you've ever driven 14-year-old boys home after a sporting event, is a far more appealing task than the take-home shift. It was perfect. I was settling in for the evening, and it was officially happy hour, so I cheerfully availed myself a cocktail before I opened my wonderful Stitch Fix box. This is what came.

First, the Pamplona blouse.

I love this blue. And the scallops on the bottom remind me of ocean waves which, as a landlocked beach lover, pleases me a great deal. This is what I'm wearing today:

I've paired it with some boyfriend jeans, a short sleeve cardigan and booties today since it's snowing even though it's May 12. I'm shaking my fist at you Winter!

Now we have the Aiya blouse.

This is totally in my comfort zone. I have about 7,368 white or off-white blouses, tops and t-shirts and there is still room for more, in my opinion. This one feels very boho because of the cut and the eyelet detail. Me likey.

And the Tara blouse.

I loves me an ethnic print and I am loving this color too. It's a perfect pinky-coral. It will look even better once I get some sun (or some self tanner) on my bod. My daughter even asked if she could borrow this top, so I feel pretty cool.

Also the Isaac floral print blouse.

Now floral prints have been all the rage for a couple years now and I've really wanted one, but I've been unhappy with the colors or prints I've found. They seem kind of garish, in my opinion, or a little too hipster calico. Not this little top. The color in it is amazing and the print is an edgy sort of traditional - kind of like Pippa Middleton. I deem thee my Pippa top. Cheerio!

And finally, the boyfriend jeans as seen in our first image. Remember?

The lovely Stitch Fix stylist who put my box of joy together went to my Pinterest page and cleverly noticed I'd pinned a lot of looks with boyfriend jeans, so she threw a pair in the box. It was like she'd read my mind or something. I have a pair of boyfriend jeans that I wear all the time, but I've never felt all that happy with them. The fit has always seemed weird and the finish was sort of blah. Now I have new pair that fits great and has just the right amount of vintage fading. Thank you Allison!

So there's that. Round two of Stitch Fix and I kept everything in the box. Well played, Stitch Fix. Can't wait for June!

gratitude: pretty new tops, the Pilates Summer Series, rest, brown rice

thanks and love.