Making “Me” Time

I try to.

I plan to.

I really do want to.

Something always gets in the way.

I make lists and schedules and sometimes plot to have a few hours for relaxing, or working on jewelry, or reading, or going in the pool, or, in this case, using gift certificates for spa treatments!

The key I have slowly learned (and often need to relearn) is to plan that time and those activities FIRST thing in the day, not later in the day. Life and work and “shoulds” have a way of nibbling away at “Me” time (it’s a downside to working for yoursef, especially in these economic times…work is work and customer service is king). “I’ll just take one more look at that project,” or “That took a little longer than I planned and I still need to get to XXXXXX”. Pretty soon, it’s dinner time and later still.

My daughter has been at camp the last 3 weeks and I had such plans for decluttering the upstairs, reorganizing the office, working on jewelry projects and learning new skills…I got her room done (no small task so I am giving myself full credit there) and some work done in the garage (still can’t fit a second car in there), but I’ve had lots of book projects (new ones and ones that just haven’t reached completion) and the days have dwindled down.

I’ve gotten better at multitasking on the computer, but I’ve always been good at that…if you see me on Facebook, you can bet I’ve got several other windows open with “real” work. Networking is real work too, not to mention many days it’s my only social input!

But I digress….I was talking about scheduling time for you (or me) early in the day BEFORE anyone else gets it. And so I have! I’m headed to a spa this morning to use a nearly expired gift certificate for a facial, pedicure and massage. My friend, Deb, is going to use the pedicure as I managed to get one in last week when I made plans to meet a dear friend who lives all of 25 minutes away and we haven’t seen each other in 6 months!

I love being pampered…I think most of us do. I think many of us (I am probably the poster child) don’t allow ourselves to enjoy it. I know money comes into play, but most of mine come as gifts or from bidding at charity events, so it’s crazy not to indulge! Deadlines will be met and life will go on…and my pores will be open and my shoulders relaxed!

Next up: Taking a long weekend WITHOUT the laptop…can it be done?

 

Checking in….

Well, that was a long drought. Not sure what happened. I lost the momentum on posting here in my blog. Between keeping up on two Etsy stores, and a couple of forums, and Facebook, not to mention actually making jewelry plus the book design business…Well, I had to sleep sometime!

School is out til early August and Emma is having fun at a camp a few hours away. I had big plans for decluttering several rooms in the house, but I’ve gotten busy again with The Printed Page work. Since that pays the bills more than Joolz do, you have to be realistic. I still plan to get some decluttering done. Emma’s room…Joe’s endless supply of shirts….excess books.

I did spend a wonderful 5 days in Crossville, TN earlier in June with 20 of my beady friends. We had a great time. I learned to knit again (thanks, BJ!) and am almost finished with the most heavenly shawl of soft, dreamy cotton yarn. BJ was also responsible for giving me my first start with Art Clay Silver. I’ve wanted to work with it for awhile but didn’t want to jump in without some training. In between that, I made some beads in the garage studio that Angie Ramey and Verna Hedgecoth set up for Bead Camp. Watched lots of lovely beads being born and traded for amazing beads from friends. Very relaxing (while not much sleep was involved!).

Here’s a pic of some of my handmade beads (little cubes of wispy shades of pink Gaffer Glass) and my ACS earrings. I know I’ll be working on more pieces out of Art Clay.

I’ve got ideas for Art Clay pieces and Melonhead Joolz. Stay tuned.

I’m hoping to update the blog once or twice a week again. And my friends are encouraging me to look at Twitter. We’ll see. Meanwhile, I’ve got some work to do today and then some knitting and also Joolz. Oh, and a peach cobbler to put together. I’ll post that recipe next time!

Thanks for hanging around!

 

Sweet 16 Sale on Etsy!

My “baby” is going to be 16 on May 11th, so I’m having a “Sweet 16 Sale” in my Etsy store through that date.

 

All Joolz (rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, accessories) are marked 16% off already low prices…not to mention that free first class US shipping. What a deal.

 

Think of all the events coming up that need “Joolz”…you can’t? Here, I’ll help you:

 

• Mother’s Day (Also Clean Up Your Room Day…anyone see anything ironic here?)
• Birthdays
• Graduations
• Weddings
• Showers
• Cinco de Mayo
• Asparagus Month
• National Teachers Day
• No Socks Day (I don’t make this stuff up)
• National Dance Like a Chicken day
• National Chocolate Chip Day
• International No Diet Day
• Date Your Mate Month

I think you get the picture…every day is a holiday!

 

Spring Flew the Coop…Good News for the Pool

Another brief Spring in Arizona has left the building…we had our first 100-degree day Tuesday (102) or maybe it was Monday. I’ve forgotten already as it will just be the first of possibly 100 more. The local news media will keep track for us and by late August the novelty will have long worn off!  I’m more interested in the warmer evenings as that means the pool water will heat up and stay that way. I rarely partake of our pool before late May, but I remember days early in my marriage. Hot summer days when the A/C had been left at 88 to conserve power and dollars because we were both gone working all day. We’d get home, set the A/C to 78, change into suits, grab a beer or wine cooler, and hang out in the pool until the inside cooled down.

Now, I work at home (and have full-time since 1995), and sadly, last year I bet I took advantage of the pool about 3 times during the week all season. Life gets in the way and the glare of the sun just really doesn’t work with a laptop! Hopefully I can change that record this year and make it out there more like 3 times a week for a splash and some water exercise.  That will mean swimsuit shopping, which doesn’t phase me as much this year…it’s still not my favorite thing to do, but at least my old suits are too big now instead of the other way around!

Speaking of water, I had a chance to cruise around Tempe Town Lake last Friday evening with a group of women as part of an annual Girls’ Night Out that I helped plan this year. Much of the event falls under “What Happens in C.A.R.E., Stays in C.A.R.E” but I can share this lovely shot of the lights off the water that evening.

 

Another Year Older…

It’s my birthday and since this one has been pretty uneventful, I thought I’d revisit last year’s extravaganza…my 50th. As one of my friends told me last year, “50 is the new 30″…possibly not but I did feel good when the chef at our favorite local restaurant thought I was much younger than 51.

Bon Jovi Concert

Surprise Luncheon

Birthday Weekend 2008