JaimeBlogers

A Sewing Notion

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:26:00 PST

It took me three tries to make a functional lens cap holder. The pattern was pretty basic for a beginner and I am getting better, but I have a heck of a time with curves and cutting fabric. Sewing is a mind fuck because you sew all of these individual pieces and then you have to sew them together inside out and then 'turn it out' and you're supposed to get the final product. Well, I tried to outsmart this system and tried a few short cuts that led me to sewing my pouch shut! Oops, guess I better follow directions even if it doesn't always seem like it's making sense at the time!

Next project, re-usable sandwich wrap!

Trial One - Not quite!

Trial Two - Better, but janky and I accidentally sewed the pouch shut. Oopsy!

Trial Three - Success! Functional and pretty!

Cut Bare

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:03:00 PST

Just updating everyone on the bathroom remodel. Phase one is done and the shower is just bare bones. Next step is a new window which Steve just ordered. Then comes water proofing, tile prep, and tiling! And then we'll put in a new floor, the vanity will get replaced, a fan will get installed, we'll paint, install new fixtures and new mirror, and THEN we'll be done! So, maybe in a few months?? ;)

I am feeling very much alive!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:48:00 PST

I attribute my success with the Month of Vitality to three things:

Pretty charts
My 13 personal commandments
Talking about this project with friends

42goals.com is awesome and really helped me to focus on the task at hand! I am a visual person and logging my data every morning and seeing the results was thrilling! As you can see, I made my flossing goal one week out of the month, but gave it a valiant effort. And just because it's February doesn't mean I am going to stop. As for the gym...booya! (Weird scale on that graph, dontchathink?) Speaking of the gym and my last post about going to Pop Physique with Helya (a type of Barre fitness class), well I saw on Facebook TODAY that my new Leadership SLO (yes, that's another story) friend went to a BarreFit class in SLO. Well, I had no idea that even existed here! So she gave me the scoop and I am going with her on Monday after work to try it out! Whoo!!

I tried really hard to consciously think about my 13 Personal Commandments over the course of the month. I often found myself literally pausing over decisions, thoughts, or conversations about who I really am, what I stand for, and what is important to me. During the past month, I concentrated on 'Do it NOW', 'Be Patient', and 'Be Bold'. And guess what? I did all of those things!

The 1-minute rule is officially in full effect in the Dwight Household. We are constantly tidying things up and putting things where they belong. It seems obvious, but just the conscious thought of, "oh it takes 30 seconds, just do it" is a huge motivator!

I have surprised myself this month with the amount of patience I've shown over our bathroom remodel. Steve has knocked out ALL of the tiles, taken out the old drywall, and now there are just lonely 2 x 4's. I can see the progress and I can tell Steve is thoughtfully planning out the next step, so I am patient. I AM PATIENT! Plus, I tackled a nagging task and cleaned out the master shower and wow it's heaven in there!!!

My boldness surfaced a few times this month too. Again, to my surprise and satisfaction! I went on a three day retreat to Wonder Valley (east of Fresno) with a group of 40 strangers for a program I was accepted into called Leadership SLO. The retreat was just the orientation to the program which lasts most of 2012. None of us knew each other and we were thrown into this "summer camp" sort of situation where I had roomies, played name games, experienced my first trust fall, and managed to get across the hot lava! The whole experience was scary, intimidating, refreshing, and exciting. I met amazing new people who I can already call friends and I can tell that this year is going to open my eyes to the nooks and crannies (and people!) that I didn't know existed in SLO County.

Now, if you look ahead a bit to my March goals, you will notice that the focus is on work. Well, either I am psychic or just really want to be the Valedictorian of Happiness Projects, but that little 'Aim Higher' bullet has already come to fruition. While I was busy being bold and being Jaime, I was called into my boss's office and was invited to step in as the new Human Resources Manager at work! I happily accepted and starting March 1, I will be taking on HR duties in addition to my current EH&S work. I am over-the-moon, honored and flattered that they think I am a good fit for this position. It actually made me stop for a moment and realize that maybe, just maybe, people don't see me as a small wimp, as a pushover, as a nervous nancy. Maybe I am none of those things afterall! Maybe I am great!

Anyway, I am having a ton of fun with this little project and sharing my progress and I LOVE hearing from you! Heather, thank you for the comment on my Happiness Page and I love your own Secrets of Adulthood :) And, Maren, thank you for taking interest! Really, I was sort of caught off guard when you mentioned my project at the bonfire because really I don't know who all reads this stuff, so thank you thank you thank you for asking me about it and letting me tell you. :) Means a lot!

Cheers to February, the month of Luuurve...oh and tax prep!

February - Money

Use freezer food at least twice a month

Make lunch 4x per week

Streamline bank accounts

Check-in on 401k

Indulge in a modest splurge (I see a new couch in my future!)

Buy needful things

Give something up

Checking in on my vitality

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:30:00 PST

January - Vitality

Go to the gym at least 3x per week - I'd much rather go to Pop Physique with Helya, but the regular gym will have to do.

Floss 3x/week - Yeah, I suck at this one, but my dentist does NOT wanna know how much of an improvement even THIS is!

Drink 1 glass of water per day - I haven't been tracking this, mostly because I already know my graph will look like this:

For some reason I really resist drinking water. When I am pouring myself a glass of milk with dinner, I think "you should just have some water right now" and then another voice chimes in, WATER SUCKS! Yes, in all caps, and font size 16!

Go to sleep earlier - Two things keep me up: an assortment of good tv on my DVR and pillow talk with Steve.

Toss, restore, organize (use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without) - I already went through my closet. This weekend we have plans to go through our books and organize the office.

1 minute rule - don't postpone any task that can be done in less than one minute - LOVE this rule. I shared this useful idea with Steve last night and he said he already does a lot of tidying up every morning while he flosses his teeth one-handed. He said this as I was picking up a wine glass, a water glass, and some of his candy wrappers from the living room from the night before. ARGH!

Tackle a nagging task (finish CD project, cancel magazine subscriptions!) - Oh my gosh, this CD project is the bane of my existence.

Act more energetic - I'm about a 7 on the energetic scale. I will tell you when I am NOT energetic: when I am changing into my gym clothes and when I am horizontal on the couch. I will tell you when I am MOST energetic: when I realize it is Bachelor Monday and when I've already met my gym quota for the week!

Snazz

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:00 PST

If you ever visit San Francisco, I highly recommend staying at the lovely Joie de vivre property, Hotel Carlton. It is quaint by all accounts. The front desk clerk is hilarious, the decor is eclectically gorgeous, the restaurant Saha is aboslutely divine (crab stuffed artichoke hearts!) and the best part - the happy hour every evening with free wine and live music. The wine social is hands down the reason we stay here. One of the front desk employees sets up his keyboard, throws on some shades, and jams on that keyboard like it is his reason for waking up in the morning. After each applause he looks up with a giant grin and that's when you sink a little bit further into the cozy couch next to the crackling fire, glass of wine in hand, loved ones nearby, and you realize that you are HAPPY.

January - Vitality!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:12:00 PST

I've now posted my Happiness page linked above! Each month, I will let you know how it's going. Since it is already mid-January, here's my first update:

Gym: on target!
Floss: behind schedule!
Water: oopsy, it's probably been 1 glass every other day
Sleep: check!
Organize: cleaned out my closet yesterday and have a giant trash bag for goodwill (STILL throwing out clothes from 10 years ago), a giant trash bag for the garbage (LOTS of holey socks), and a stack of old shoeboxes (why do I keep those?!).
1 Minute Rule: Everyday when we get home, I make it a point to tidy up. Shoes go to closet, mail goes to office, lunch bags get put away, gym clothes go in hamper.
Tackle a nagging task: still nagging
Act more energetic: Need to work more on this one. I think being cold makes me feel less energetic and I just want to curl up and snuggle. (Personal commandment: Identify the problem!) So, now I've been wearing my new fingerless gloves to work so I can get things done while staying warm. Also, COFFEE! We didn't have coffee yesterday morning and I felt lethargic all day. I realized it was probably because I didn't have the coffee that I am used to! I only drink a cup a day, but it makes a difference in my energy level!

And so it begins

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:49:00 PST

Christmas Party at the Madonna Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:30:00 PST

Photos by Moore Photography

Happiness 101

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:37:00 PST

I just finished reading The Happiness Project which really inspired me to make a difference in my life this year. There are many things I want to take directly from this book like not only making resolutions but holding myself accountable to them. The book really reached me because it was formatted in the same way my brain works. Tasks organized in categories, monthly resolution themes, and repeating messages that are helpful year round.

My favorite part of the book was the Secrets of Adulthood, where the author, Gretchen Rubin, came up with a list of truths that she has learned over her adult life. I put together my own list of secrets (and stole some from her). Wonder what they are? Well, you're in luck because I am going to create another page with a link up top with my own goals for 2012, personal commandments, and secrets of adulthood. I hope you can look at my lists and think about them for your life, and I encourage you all to leave comments sharing your own little truths. Stay tuned for that later this week!

A couple things that I've had in my head since reading:

One minute rule: Anything that takes a minute or less - DO IT NOW. (i.e. bring shoes to closet when I get home, put mail in office instead of leaving it on the counter, make the bed)
What's fun for other people may not be fun for you, and vise versa.
Most decisions don't require extensive research.
Be bold.

And, just in time, I found some great tools from mightygirl.com to help me organize and keep my resolutions. My favorite is a website called 42 Goals. I've already started tracking mine here. Some of my goals are simple - make lunch 4 days per week, go to the gym three days a week, floss my teeth more, remember to thaw out freezer food, and spend less on daily expenses! I like this web app because it's easy to use quickly, and the nerd in me loves the graph capabilities to help visualize my progress (or lack thereof!)

The 2 hour Bachelor Monday nights are killing me! ;)

Anyway, I will be sharing more of my thoughts and progress as I make my way into this year! Glad you are here for the ride! And if you want to borrow my Happiness Project book, let me know!

2011 Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:37:00 PST

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:45:00 PST

We've been busy bees getting ready for the holidays, but we made sure to stop and enjoy many sweet little moments sipping on egg nog and baileys, celebrating my 29th birthday, nibbling on festive treats, and visiting a local tree farm for our Christmas tree!

Hope this holiday brings joy, laughter, and happy memories to you and yours!

Stay tuned for my annual slideshow at the end of the month!

Two trees! :)

Pink Cheeks

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:19:00 PST

Really tall old man behind me at the post office: Excuse me, can you bend down a little so I can see over your head.

Me: ha! Good one!

Old Man: So how tall are you? Four foot somethin'?

Me: 5 foot even

Old Man: Wowee, ain't much taller than a country mouse, eh!

Me: *abashedley smiles*

Old Man bends down to my level and with the kindest eyes says: Well, I'll tell ya this...your face turns a nice shade of pink.

:)

Gobble Gobble

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:20:00 PST

Thanksgiving this year was extra special. Steve and I hosted my mom's side of the family at our house this year. TWENTY TWO people. Yes, I was in over my head. But, I must say, everything went off without a hitch and it was the most memorable Thanksgiving dinners ever. My mom arrived in town the Monday before Thanksgiving to help. We (she) bought all of the groceries, she helped me move ALL of our furniture for the carpet cleaner, we decorated the tables, and she was my main squeeze in the kitchen! By 2:00 on T-day, the house was packed with all of our family!

The second my grandpa arrived, Steve was ready with an ice cold Keystone Light for him :)

All of the grandkids

Fun with ladderball!

Super carver

Festive!

My favorite part of our Thanksgiving celebration were the dinner games. This note was at the entryway table when everyone arrived. (Don't you love the beer can rim leftover??)

Then, I wrapped the slips of paper in foil, and put the foils into the rolls before baking. I baked the rolls and before dinner told everyone to grab a roll and open it up to find the foil. Once dinner got going, we took turns opening the slips of paper and reading aloud the "thankful" note. The person with that note had to guess who wrote it. This game was hilarious, sweet, and memorable. My favorite thank you's were "I'm thankful for the Green Door" - a joke played on my grandpa by my cousin. "I'm thankful for my mom who is looking down on us all today", a sweet message about my grandma Ladonna who I KNOW was there celebrating along with us, too. "I am thankful for waking up next to someone who smiles first thing every morning" - Steve's message about me! :) All of the thank you's were creative, lovely, and fun and I highly recommend this game!!!

The next game was Turkey Word Blitz, where I got the idea from my friend Heather. Before Thursday, I wrote down Thanksgiving day themed words on pieces of paper and hid them under everyone's placemat. After we finished eating, I asked everyone to look under their plates to find their word, and one by one we went around the table describing or acting it out without saying the actual word. Some words were challenging and some were easy, but it was another good way to get a huge table all involved together.

I am so thankful that everyone traveled from far away to be with us on Thanksgiving. I've always wanted to throw a huge dinner party, complete with fun decorations, good food, and lots of laughs and that's exactly what it was. I loved seeing my cousins and learning about what they're interested in (Justin Beiber!) I loved tap dancing with the little girls - putting on a show for everyone (complete with stage lights and a spot light, thanks, Steve!) and I loved being together in one place, talking about old times and dreaming about the future.

It truly is a happy holiday season!

Year of the Foot

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:29:00 PST

I thought I would give everyone one last virtual update of my bunion surgery results. Ya'll cross your fingers that this is the last time you have to see pictures of my ugly hoofs.

Foot before:

After Surgery, earlier this year:

One year later:

It's been a year since my bunion surgery and I still often find myself grateful for being able to walk. As I think back on the crutches, awkward baths, many miles driven to and from LA, and the hum of the ice machine, I realize what a huge ordeal this surgery really was. I remember my first steps in my tennis shoes, and how liberating it felt. I remember wishing I could do the most simple things in life..stand up, take a shower, cook dinner, carry things! And I remember my sweet husband taking such good care of me - the best part of being couch-ridden.

And now, a year later, I am doing all of those little things and I hardly notice my foot at all! I think the surgery was a huge success. A few months ago my foot still felt very stiff, and Steve would say, "well don't worry it hasn't even been a year yet!" And now that the year is up, my foot actually feels almost normal! I've changed my footwear habits - mostly flats and tennis shoes, and kitten heels for special occasions! People ask if I would do it again on the other foot..right now I say NO. I don't have time for all of that again. But, if my left foot starts giving me problems, I won't hesitate.

If you ever need a podiatrist, you MUST visit The University Foot and Ankle Institute and say hi to Dr. Briskin for me!

Autumn in the City

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:26:00 PST

Japanese Tea Garden - Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA

Pouch

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:30:00 PST

Not bad for my second attempt at using a sewing maching..right?!

Kamsahamnida

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:33:00 PST

Today, I am thankful for living in such a beautiful place. Today it is 70 degrees and sunny. The leaves are golden yellow, the wind chimes are singing, and as the rush of sweet November air moves past my face, I am reminded that I am lucky to live here. Arroyo Grande is where I call home. Looking around at my family visiting us here, with smiles on their faces and laughter reverberating off the walls, my heart is filled with love and joy and I couldn't be happier.

Arigato

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:29:00 PST

Today, I am thankful for my family. To all of my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and family friends, thank you for being a part of my life. Without you, I wouldn't have a reason to decorate the house so festively, scrub my toilets, try new recipes, or tap dance. Thinking of everyone on this day of thanks, near or far, you are all in my heart!

Danke

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:06:00 PST

Today, I am thankful for my husband. He never ceases to amaze me - he is good at everything he does. His talents come from lots of hard work and thoughtfulness. I always tell him my home-cooked meals are made with love, and it's the same story with his handy-work around the house. Everything he touches and transforms, he does so with the utmost love and care. Thank you, Steve, for being loving, affectionate, and for making our home so lovely and nice.

Grazie

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:16:00 PST

Today, I am thankful for my mom. She brings people together. She makes things happen. And she does it with a smile on her face and a generous heart. I am pretty good at hiding my stress and anxiety but with her I let it all out and she never judges me or gets upset. She tells me not to worry and reminds me that sometimes it's just best to keep it simple. Good advice when making Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people! Thanks, Mom!

Merci

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:30:00 PST

I have a lot to be thankful for. This week I am taking a moment each day to reflect on what is important in my life and what brings me joy.

Today, I am thankful that I have a job. A job where I earn (yes, earn!) the means to own a house, to put food on the table, and best of all, a job that gives me paid vacation! It's unfortunate that there are many people out there without work, who want work. I think those of us who have jobs need to be grateful for the opportunity. Tell your boss thank you. Afterall, having a job in America is not an entitlement, it's a privilege.

Jem Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:06:00 PST

Getting this on Friday!!!

Steve's parents were here over the weekend and his mom taught me how to sew on her Jem Gold sewing machine. I loved it so much, I bought one of my own! It's perfect for all of the basics. The bobbin stuff is the hardest part...wait, I take that back...the lingo is the hardest part!!! But, I already hemmed two pairs of pants and fixed a busted tie on a chair pad! I have all sorts of projects in mind for when I get my own machine. Maybe sewing is my calling!?

11.11.11

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:11:00 PST

Happy birthday to my big brother, Ryan. Top 11 things I love about my broham:

11. He is a produce guy at Whole Foods which, in my book, is the most awesome store of all time. Plus, he can explain how to tell when a cantaloupe is ripe!

10. He has a pretty flower tattoo on his arm.

9. He makes a mean salad.

8. He always sends the sweetest birthday and thank you cards with handwritten messages from the heart.

7. He lives far from family, but is always eager to make the trip to see everyone.

6. You can always count on him to bring his camera and snap lots of pictures. It's just too bad we never see any of them ;)

5. When we were little, a bee landed on my forehead and he saved me from getting stung by throwing his shoe at my face. Thanks, brother!!

4. He always says 'I love you'.

3. I could learn a lesson or two from Ryan about drinking water. He drinks so much water and his skin is like a baby's butt because of it. Super jealous.

2. He is a really good snowboarder and I wish I had the same inclination for snow sports because he makes any day on the mountain sound fabulous.

1. He is positive and happy and I never hear him say anything mean.

Love you, brother!

And a special note for my beloved Grandma Ladonna who's birthday was today too. I read this on twitter today, "There's nothing in the entire universe that's better than a grandmother." It's true and I miss her and think of her often!

Music Added!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:15:00 PDT

More of my favorites have been added to the Music tab!

No, I'm not Pocahontas

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:02:00 PDT

I'm a Chumash! Duh! Happy Halloween!