Something on my mind

*gets up on soapbox*

So…all of the kids in the neighborhood line up for the school bus every morning in front of my house.

Yes, 7:10 am, and about 10 kids are in my yard screaming, hollering, throwing things against my house, leaving garbage, talking non-stop and driving me crazy!

I don’t have kids…

This is a choice we’ve made for a reason. And one of those reasons is to not deal with screaming yelling children every morning (not seriously, but it’s a perk).

Its getting on my nerves a little bit.

Okay, if I’m being honest…its on my last nerve. It’s a good thing the end of the school year is just around the corner. I’ve gone out there and yelled at them a couple times. Like that crotchety old lady with her fist raised: “You kids get off my lawn!”

But it doesn’t make a bit of difference.

I understand why they have to line up there…We have a street lamp and a fire hydrant in our yard which means that the spot in front of them are always clear for the bus to pull in…and technically it’s “city” property. But what if something were to happen? Who is liable legally? Whose to say those kid’s parents wouldn’t come back and sue us for something that happened while we were innocently inside our house going crazy from the screaming. I am not responsible to go out there and watch everyone else’s children every morning! That’s just crazy talk!

Our neighbor is just as concerned. The kids have ended up sitting on her front porch on her bench waiting for the bus. I’m just glad we don’t have any seating out there, or they might have all made themselves home on my front walk too. We have been steaming silently about it for awhile, but saw no way to change it. Our neighbor put in a complaint to the school bus garage and made a bit of a stink. Chris went down there and talked to them too… But alas, nothing can be change. All they can do is send out letters to the parents stating that they must be present while their child(ren) is waiting for the bus if they are under a certain age. Yeah, that’s going to happen…

And the city said that we need to up our homeowners insurance to cover ourselves in case anything ever happened on our property (that’s not really our property if everyone else’s kids get to wait there!). And who is going to pay for that, I might ask? Huh? I don’t have extra money for that!

I wish these types of things had been apparent when we bought our home. I wish we’d thought of how the neighborhood would develop and how many kids would end up running up and down the street and screaming well into the night. I wish we had some extra funds floating around to put up a big fence to keep everyone out!

Oh yeah…I’m totally a grumpy old lady neighbor right now.

*gets down off soapbox*

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 22: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel.

From the archives

I am so excited for today’s prompt…I love looking back through my journals and reading how I thought and felt in the past, and the same is true of looking through my blog. I have been blogging since 2005…that’s a lot of posts!

Here are some of my favorites.

Our love story… We wrote our love story in a “He said / She said” style last year for our 5 year anniversary. It was one of my favorite blogging experiences and we had so much fun writing together. There was a whole week of posts, but you can find them all here.

This poem my friend Salma wrote for me back in 2007. Still one of my favorite things to read that I shared on my blog.

What marriage teaches… I post about a conversation Chris and I had with his parents at dinner one night. The different perspectives made for an interesting look at marriage.

My most popular Hair Diaries post… I had pinned this amazing hair color on Pinterest that was red hair with purple streaks. And I totally went for it! It was one of my favorite colors that I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a few!). Lesson I learned: take a chance and have some fun with your hair!

My favorite scrapbook layout… This was back when I was part of the design team for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and “purpose” was the theme of the month.

Sleep Talking Husband… Fun posts all about the crazy things Chris says in his sleep!

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 21: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives.

A season of loneliness

I struggle with being the type of friend that I want to be… The type of friend that I used to be.

I used to be so good at keeping in touch with everyone. But it seems like that skill (or desire even) has altered or diminished with the increase of social networking and technology. I can see what’s going on when I check Facebook, so I don’t end up actually calling them to see how they are.

I used to be the queen of pen pals. Literally… like 32 pen pals that I would write to each and every month. I still have most of my letters saved in boxes. Those were the days…when I’d write about what I was learning in school or what me and my brothers and sisters were up to. I even had a newsletter that I would include with a handwritten letter to each person. I loved it. And I loved the connections that I had with all my friends all over the place. Friends from different places in Canada, friends I met in places I would travel to, family members that were friends too.

But now it feels like if I can remember to send a text message once a week, I’m doing good.

I am struggling with how life changes friendships, I guess. I miss being able to drop everything and drive for 10 hours up north to visit my best friend Kelly. I haven’t seen her for a year and half…I haven’t even met her son yet. And that makes me feel awful! But life changes things. I have 2 jobs, a house to take care of and its payment to make, a puppy and a husband. I’m involved with the Russian group here, and have people depending on me. I can’t afford to take days off of work to spend extra time with those I love, no matter how bad I want to.

I really do try… I swing by to see people and say hi if I’m in the area. I make coffee date plans with the best of intentions. And my friends are on my mind. I wish I could schedule more Skype dates and send emails and send real letters and go see them in person.

It’s a good thing I’m married to my best friend. I can keep in touch with him.

I am struggling with what my friendships look like as an adult. I expected them to stay the same, but life and the friendships it contains all have seasons. I suppose this is a season of self-made loneliness. I miss my friends.

This is something I’m struggling with right now.

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 20: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.

My 5 favorite blogs

Back a few months ago…and even a few years ago I used to read blogs like crazy. Its true that I had a lot more time on my hands, and I have different priorities now, but my love of blogs never went away. There are a few I find myself going back to over and over again, and reading when I have the time. They inspire me and encourage me in my own writing and life and blogging.

1. Elise of EnJoy It

I found Elise’s blog through our mutual love of paper crafting, and have continued to be inspired by her through the years. She works magic with paper and tells stories in the most simple and moving ways. I love to read about her life, and the beauty she finds in her everyday. She is a big part of why I wanted to start Project Life. Her designs are killer! Elise also did a guest post here last year as part of my Celebrate the Everyday series. You can read it here.

Posts I love: Project Life posts, “Around Here”, and her thoughts on running a small business.

2. Meg of The Wild and Wily Ways of a Brunette Bombshell

I honestly have no idea how I stumbled across Meg’s blog…probably one of those “blog love” posts from someone else with a link to a quote from her they loved. Her blog is one that I love to read. Even in her description of her blog you can tell:

a guide on how to drink lattes (full-fat and without restraint), on how to love graciously, and how to ever-so-slowly suss out a life.

this is a blog about becoming.

Yup this is my kind of blog. I love her photography and how each image feels specially selected for me. I love her handwritten notes all over her pictures and on her blog. She is real, and I wish I could write like her. Total favorite.

Posts I love: Her Letter to her future Husband series were what I first read and they continue to touch my heart.

3. Savannah of Maiedae

Savannah is the writer and inspiration behind Maiedae, a blog and design company that is growing and creating inspiring things. I love her aesthetic in clothing and in design and find so much inspiration every time I visit her blog. Her business partner Jenny and her are currently writing a series called “Make it Happen” where they share the things they’ve learning in developing their company and making it their full time job. I know I’ll continue to learn from them.

Posts I love: “Make it Happen”, Living Well posts with tips on getting enough sleep and how to handle a sick day, Threads (her awesome outfit posts).

4. Susannah of SusannahConway

Susannah is the author of one of my favorite books “This I know: notes on unraveling the heart.” (My review of her book is here). Her blog is full of powerfully good writing and images of her life in London. She is an artist with her Polaroid cameras. She is honest and raw and real and I love to read her words. I adore the video she created for her about page too. Just her, her cute accent and her explanation of what her blog is all about. Her “why” just touches my heart…

Posts I love: Something for the weekend, her journaling love story.

5. Brooke of Brooke Shaden Productions

Brooke is an incredible concept portrait artist that I discovered via Flickr and have been following ever since. She keeps her blog current with her work, the courses that she teaches, behind the scenes images and helpful posts for other photographers. Her work just blows my mind. You have to check her out. Her photography and essays keep me coming back to her blog again and again.

Posts I love: 6 steps to staying motivated, behind the scenes.

So there are 5 of my favorite blogs that keep me coming back. What are some of your favorite blogs to read? Leave a link in the comments for me and I’ll go check them out!

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 19: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them.

A favorite photo

This picture was taken in July of 2006 by my cousin Jenny. We were in a little park sitting with the boys we liked. Chris and I had been dating just a couple weeks at that point and she was in “deep like” with Chris’ buddy Nate. The boys were in town on a pool job for the company they worked for and we all met up one night once they were done. We hung out together, talked and told stories and sang songs (this was the night “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls became ‘our song’) drove around, played cards and just got to know each other better.

The photo is not perfect by any one else’s standards, but this is my favorite photo that I have of myself because I remember exactly how I felt at that moment. I remember how new that feeling of love was.  I remember the butterflies in my stomach and the beating of my heart as we sat beside each other.  So hopeful and excited and expectant and joyous. Jenny said that I was glowing…and I agree. 19 years old, crazy in love and eager for what was to come.

And what was to come turned out even better that I’d hoped. That’s why I love this photo…because it captures all of those emotions for me. It make me smile so big when I see it. I am thankful to Jenny for having her camera with her that day and for the beauty in blurry moments.

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 1: A favorite photo of yourself and why.

A day in the life

These days have been going by in such a blur, so sometimes its good to just pause and take a picture and savor the little moments. That’s what the prompt today was all about.

My mornings all start the same way…with a phone call to my husband Chris. Because he gets up so early for work when I wake up we have our good morning chat. I love starting my day that way and we sometimes talk for a long time, just like we used to when we were dating.

Then I get up out of bed and check to see how bad my hair is from sleeping. Gotta love bed head! If I think I can’t wrangle it with products later then I take a shower and get ready then.

And then its time to take the puppy out for his walk. He’s been getting better about his walks and going outside after his attack. I’m proud of him and I think he’s going to be okay. Sometimes he poses so good for me, and then other times he just wants to see what I’m doing. hehe.

After that I sit down at my desk and my two computers and begin my work for the day. Working for NICA has been such a blessing and a job that continually challenges me. I enjoy learning new things and this job keeps me learning and growing. I spend at least a couple hours a day at my desk, working, blogging, planning Project Life spreads, and I usually have some show on HULU playing in the background.  I have also been drinking tea lately instead of coffee. Its been a good change. 

And then its time to get ready for the rest of my day. I work part time at a local credit union, where I get to interact with the public, help people with their financial questions and play with money….well, not play really, but you know what I mean. ;) I head down the hill about 10:30 on the days I work.

I am the part-time girl and so I get lunch at 3, which makes for a long day. I tend to bring snacks for throughout the day and then I eat I nice lunch at home. I love living close enough to work to be able to come home. One of my new favorites is a garlic shrimp and spinach salad.

And then I get to come home to this sweet face. We spend our evenings together making dinner and playing with our puppy and learning Russian and watching TV some nights and cleaning the kitchen and then reading to each other in bed. I love sharing my days and my life with this man.

Each day is great, and full of little things that make it worth celebrating.

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 15: A day in the life…

10 things that make me really happy

1. A good cup of coffee. 
2. Talking to my mom on the phone.
3. Photobooth pictures (These ones are from the Credit Union’s employee appreciation event.)

4. Capturing and saving moments and making memories.
5. Cuddling with my puppy and my husband.
6. Skype dates with my sister Megan while she’s in Australia.

7. Fresh hair cut and color.
8. Videos from my brother of my nephew Emerson. Glad to be able to watch him grow up even from afar.

9. Singing.
10. The smell of lilacs in the spring time.

 

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 14: 10 things that make you really happy.