Welcoming the New Year!

Welcome, 2013!

The New Year is always a crazy time of change for me for some reason. Some of it might be the sudden halt we skid to after the build up of the holidays ever since October. I suspect the rest of it is the huge anticipation of the year to come, not to mention looking back on what I may not have accomplished.

We always put so much pressure on ourselves to stick to resolutions! I haven't officially made any, but you know I have things in mind I want to change, make better, learn...insert any word you want there, really. SO, instead of stressing (like I am usually prone to do) I decided to start my blogging year off with The Simple Woman's Daybook; it always makes me slow down and appreciate the little things. (If you want to participate, make sure you click the link!)

FOR TODAY - January 2, 2012

Outside my window... it's already getting dark! I can't believe how late it feels, but I'm glad it isn't cold. I am so thankful I moved to Florida!

I am thinking... I am really hard on myself, even though I am better than I used to be. Why is it so hard to be nice to yourself?

I am thankful...for my loving husband, Rob. It doesn't matter what is going on in my day, he always knows just what to do to make me feel better. That means the world to me.

In the kitchen...thawing out some chicken for dinner. I don't know how I'm going to top Rob's BBQ grilled pork chops from yesterday though!

I am wearing...my jammies, still. Ah, the luxuries of being a house wife, huh? Yeah, I don't do it every day, so don't judge!

I am creating... undue anxiety for myself. I always feel pushed to get paintings started so they will be closer to a finish point. I always rush myself to learn new things faster than humanly possible. This year, I will really work on allowing myself to be human.

I am going... to keep on trying, even if I don't get it right the first time. Or the fifth. Everyone was a beginner at some point.

I am wondering... which project to start first!

I am reading... Discover Your Psychic Type by Sherrie Dillard and Spirited by Rebecca Rosen

I am hoping... to find being more assertive easier than I anticipate.

I am looking forward to... learning more about my new camera. I've only had it since Christmas, so I'm being too hard on myself about not knowing everything I think I should.

I am learning... to give myself time and space. I'm also learning to slow down and teach myself that I don't have to finish a project in one day, or do something "right the first time." It's hard to remember that life is about learning, so mistakes happen.

Around the house...ugh. I have post holiday clean up waiting on me. Why does laundry multiply exponentially during the holidays?

I am pondering...which photography course to take first. I'm pretty excited about starting this new journey! If you have a suggestion, please share!

A favorite quote for today... Those who wish to sing always find a song. ~Swedish Proverb

One of my favorite things... a warm cup of French Vanilla coffee on the couch with my cats snuggled around me. Nothing much better than that!

A few plans for the rest of the week: in an effort to live in the moment, I'm not going to make any hard plans!

A peek into my day...  I'm learning how to do some interesting things with my new camera. I love the Bokeh effect, so I tried and tried, and I think I finally got the basics down! Now if I could just get my beach pictures in focus...