Thanks to Kat... would be great to do this weekly!! [Week 52 of 2009]

Outside my Window: Dark & Cold
I am Thinking: I've spent a few hours on thoughts of how I want to re-organize my room; now I have to work to earn the money to pay for it.
From the Kitchen: *hahahahaha* heated up mom's Lasagna (supposed to have made Elk Shepherd's Pie... looking like tomorrow instead)
I am Learning: That I'm not as great a communicator as I thought with my hubby. Better late, than never, I suppose -- and we had a good conversation today.
I am Wearing: normal clothes -- have my light vest thing on and the space heater on in my room, which makes the temp perfect for me. I am dressed to shoes, and while I didn't do hair and makeup (per Flylady), I did brush my teeth :-). Baby Steps Baby!!
I am Creating: I just created a 'room template' on Publisher, so I can draw furniture bird's eye view of how my room can be set up.
I am Going: This has the potential to be very long... I am going to put two pictures in two frames -- it will get rid of two projects that have been out and bugging me for a long long time!
I am Reading: Ransom -- a Scottish Romance Adventure.
I am Hoping: That I can stay focused on getting my Studio Office up and running, for so many things are relying on me being efficient, and flourishing as an Independent Contractor.
I am Hearing: "Fantasy" by can't remember the name of this classic rock band - it is 70's Saturday Mix on 94.9.
Around the House: a large (yet small) portion of my craft supplies are in the living room, my stamps are half-put away, mostly labeled (the big containers), and now I just need to be able to keep them somewhere as we gear toward getting my room done. More of my stuff is in Himself's Room on the guest bed. Ha. At least all of it keeps Rascal off that bed ;-)
One of my Favorite Things: Clear Kitchen Counters - Himself did dishes and put away the ones that were dry from the drying rack. I love that look :D
A Few Plans for Next Week: Getting Ind Contracting contracts finalized, so everyone agrees on how to pay me, and how this will work; doing the morning routines with Flylady; walking the dog regularly.

Studio Before (Dec 2009)

Yes, I'm still here... with a new attitude!

December 26th(!)
Merry Christmas... Soon to be the beginning/end of the first decade into the 21st century. Yikes.

2010 for me has to be the year of FLYing (in FLYlady terms = Finally Loving Yourself and getting out of the CHAOS = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I want to take photos of the chaos I'm (we're) living in, but of course can't find my real camera...

So, this an hour later I'm now returning to the blog -- found the camera, took some pictures, loaded them up on the pc, answered some emails, and now it is 1pm (!) One of the things I love about Flylady is the timer concept -- anything can be done for 15 minutes. Set the timer. If the job isn't done, you can still move on. I don't take advantage enough of this idea, and it isn't a habit yet...

[1] Set My Timer for ALL the tasks/chores I don't want to do!!
[2] Do the Before Bed Routine
This includes Shining the Sink every night & going to bed before midnight!!!
[3] Do the Morning Routine
This includes shower, dress to shoes, hair & makeup, & teeth and getting up at a regular time!!!

They say the state of your house/surroundings is the state of your mind, and as I put in an email to a friend this morning, I'm functioning but I'm certainly not flourishing. Finding the external motivation that will overcome the 3-year old inside me who constantly stamps her foot and says to me, "But you don't HAVE to! You're a GROWN UP and can do ANYTHING you WANT!" is going to be tricky.

So, this is my only resolution for this year of 2010... to get out of the CHAOS. I anticipate that it will creep into my work habits, my play habits, my exercise habits (15 minute of loving movement is part of the Flylady routine), my housework habits, my rehearsal habits, and within the discipline of routine and habits I'll find there is freedom.

I know this from doing WDW a long time ago -- a Bible Based (now cult-like) Weight Loss program... but there is truth that there is Freedom within rules. Kinda like when you wear a uniform to school, you don't have to think hard about fashion, peers fashions, what to wear and stuff... it frees you from worrying about little stuff, and sure, there will always be things to worry about, but within the routine and habit there is flexibility, yes, but there is less time wasted on the small stuff.

So, for any blog-followers... I plan to be a regular blogger again, as I want to chronicle the journey.

I've started seeing a counselor, following an upset at my work -- where I'm no longer full time employed, but am doing special projects as an independent contractor -- which is another reason I need to get out of the CHAOS, because I WANT to work for myself, but need to follow my own rules (!) The counseling will be helping in the other areas I want to have more success in -- so here's to a fresh start, another new year and... once I overcome these challenges... here's to the NEW CHALLENGES and Opportunities of Growth & Development! (*just a little sarcasm there, not a lot* LOL).

Happy New Year Everyone!