Are you in Holiday Hell?

Why is it that the most wonderful time of the year usually leaves us feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, run down and over ran?  Because we allow it to happen.  

This past Sunday, Bear was an angel (how ironic) in the church children's Christmas program.  After they sang their little hearts out, the pastor spoke on Peace.  He even asked if there was anyone feeling a bit overwhelmed from trying to do it ALL?!  

THAT is when it HIT ME!  I do NOT have to 'do it all'.  That's right.  Go ahead and put me on your 'naughty' list if you must.  Or you can even call me Scrooge.

However, I've decided Christmas will come and go regardless if I miss a few activities.  It will still be Christmas morn even if I drastically shorten my Christmas shopping list and have decided that I really just can't get into the commercialism side of this holiday.  

Don't go freaking out on me yet!  We still decorated our Christmas tree, will be hanging the stockings and even have two small white trash blow ups outside the farm house (Santa and a Reindeer).  Bear also attended his 3rd annual local Christmas parade and visit with Santa.
Plus 'Sam' our Elf on the Shelf has arrived and is spreading a bit of elf antics.  He doesn't misbehave because what would that teach a 5 year old little boy?  Sam is enjoying the simple things in life too; like camping out under the tree.

Along with having a bit of elfish silliness.

Usually each year I have a huge list of crafty gifts to make for family and friends.  This year the list is shorter and simplified.  Unlike year's past where I have made many homemade/handmade gifts:  For 5 inexpensive ideas visit HERE, and a thrifty quick gift idea for anyone, then there are also the bit more time involved projects of last Christmas.  
Today is my last day of work for 2012.  I am lucky that I work at a local University where I will have a week's vacation and a week of holidays.  So next week there will be a bit of baking and crafting going on at the farm.  Along with attending the Christmas party at Bear's school.   
The difference for me this year is that I have given myself permission to not feel the pressure of doing it all by deciding that less really IS more.  Also, slowing down to enjoy the experiences we choose to participate in.  I do not want to be in Holiday Hell.  
I can go sit in the barn with AnnaBelle (our jersey calf) and reflect on what it must have been like for Mary to give birth in a stable surrounding by animals.  Maybe I should get the family together, along with hot chocolate...go to the barn with Rosie (the jersey milk cow), her calf, chickens, turkeys and barn kitty to share the real Christmas story.  Sounds like a wonderful family night to me, far removed from the hustle and bustle!

“Focus is often a matter of deciding what things you’re not going to do.” – John Carmack

Want to read more of Mom's doing less and enjoying more this season?
Visit with Jules over at Pancakes & French Fries or Rita with her post on Celebrating a Simply Holiday.

How are you finding more PEACE this holiday season?

Enough - My one word for 2012

I AM 'enough'.
I rarely ask much of you my wonderful readers.  However, if you would like to know why I picked this word, as my one little word for this year.  I wrote a heartfelt post on my other blog,  Southern Sunflower Seeds, that is still a very fresh, young blog to me.  You may read about it there.  If you like.
Because it matters.  Because YOU matter.  Because we are ALL 'enough'.

A Plan to Write for 2012

For the last two weeks, I've had a holiday break from my job at a local University.

More time to blog, read your blogs, check out the weekly linky parties for inspiration and pin a ton of ideas. I also had time to actually plan fun activities with Bear, hang out with family and friends.  All of this made me think I just need to DO IT.  MAKE the time, TAKE the time to do more this year of what I enjoy.

Then while browsing Facebook, I saw where a blogger had advance written several posts.  It gave me an idea.  I plan to set aside time each weekend to write at least 3 blog posts for the next week.  I already have two written and scheduled to post for this week.  Yeah me!  I'm not limiting myself to the three.  However, I am going to write three each week.  Hopefully this will allow me to share what is near and dear to me; along with time during the week to browse your blogs, read and comment.  

Here's what you can expect this year on Design to Shine:

Monday - Menu planning and/or recipes to share

Tuesday - Thrifty Thoughts - craft projects, tablescapes, decor, tips and more

Wednesday - more Goodwill Glamorous (fashions and finds)

Friday - InstaGram Friday - a look into my life, my world, my week; via photos from my new iPhone 

There will still be posts about Bear, farm life and other stuff tossed in.  

I hope you will join me as I write on a fresh blank page for the New Year and for my blog.

I created a New Blog!

For months my heart has ached over not having the time to share new projects (heck or even DO new projects), post my Goodwill Fashion finds (yes I'm still wearing clothes daily, most of them come from Thrifting), my meal planning/cooking (yep, still planning and cooking) or just some of our family adventures.

Because of this I started a new blog!  Yep, call me crazy; you wouldn't be the first person and won't be the last.  ;-)

I missed you all.  I still have the desire to connect with each of the wonderful ladies (and a few gents) I've met in my blogging journey.   I've still be reading and lurking around your blogs.

My life has changed dramatically:  trying to get in the groove of being a 'mom' again to an almost 4 year old, changing up job responsibilities at work (I'm the new Social Media Marketing and Customer Relations uh, person for our department at the U), adding an additional room to the house (a home office.  I'm typing from it now) and just busy life 'stuff'.

So to celebrate my shift in life, I'm starting a new blog without all the pressure of living up to the blog I created here.  Make sense?  I'm heading off in a new direction and hope to still share DIY projects (Booger Bear and I created a Fall mantle this week!), menu planning, Goodwill fashions and family adventures.  However, something inside just kept begging for me to start fresh and in a different direction.  Maybe it will satisfy this ache in my heart to 'do' something.  And ....

What I really really want to do is plant seeds of happiness, inspiration and compassion over on my new blog:

Southern Sunflower Seeds

I hope you will join along in my new journey, because you've been so important to me in this one!

Is Your Life a Raging Storm?

Does your life feel as if you are living in the middle of a fierce thunder storm, complete with tornado warnings?

• Unhappy, Just blah or Depressed?  (dark feelings of clouds looming overhead)
• Moving too fast or lost in which direction to go?  (like the whirling of winds)
• Your core self is shaken (Rolling Thunder)
• Anxiety/Anger? (lightening)
• Tears (Rain)

Where is your Rainbow?

Abraham Lincoln said, "People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."   Do you notice how other's attitudes 'rub off' on you?  Like that one person that never has anything good to say.  Everything in their life is UNhappy.  Now we ALL have bad days.  And bad things happen to good people.  However, I sincerely believe I choose to be happy.  My attitude is MY choice.  I can wallow in the bad; which I have done or I can focus on the good.  If life gets crazy, if I allow others to hurt my feelings, when I feel the clouds looming and hear the thunder rumbling into my life...I remind myself.  It's my choice. 

Ralph Marston says this:  Let the experience of each moment come, and then let it go. Rest assured that the goodness will stay with you always, because you love it so. Be now in spirit where you would most like to be. Imagine waves of pure joy as they carry you along. Somewhere within you, all is well, no matter when, no matter what. Feel the peace of knowing the beauty of who you truly are.

I stumbled across a collection of writings for women by women. Reading the stories has made me re-evaluate.  Which I do often in my life.  The bottom line is... It is up to me to make myself happy, my choice to choose every day and I AM ENOUGH.

Read, hear, let it sink into your mind, your heart and your soul: 

Link to the stories...click  HERE

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." - Helen Keller