about me

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Married to Nick for 13 years, with 2 children; Sabrina - 12 and Dominic - 11. I am a girlfriend through and through in that I love girly things and anything that celebrates the essence of being a woman. I love vintage, shabby chic, the country and try my best to do my bit for the environment. SO yes...we have 3 bins in our house and try our best to recycle! I believe that with everything in life, the closer we stick to nature, the better off we'll be. I would love to have a balance in life, but have learnt that balance is not always possible, so strive for significance instead, in the hopes that that will be just as meaningful, and the rest will hopefully follow.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

"To do" or not "to do" a LIST!

I woke this morning, and for once the sun was SHINING!!! I think mother nature was sensing my trepidation these last few days, about getting up and facing, yet another day of rain or mist, and possibly took pity on me, fearing that I may not get out of bed today AT ALL!!! And so she thankfully provided the kind of weather that ALWAYS puts a spring in my step, and gives me that “yes I can!!” feeling about the day. Well yes…the weather was short lived….. hmpf!....BUT…....but my sunny disposition was not!

SO armed with “spring in step” I sat down this morning, and made a note of all the things I have accomplished over the last 2 – 3 weeks, having just completed a project last night, and my goodness - I was AMAZED! Amazed that one teensy, weensy, itty-bitty person like me can get so much done ( then again I do have that extra X chromosome..LOL!!) ….but then not so amazed when I realized that Alexander Bell INVENTED the telephone, and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS invented flying IN THEIR LIFETIME, and well yes, that kind of put me and my “achievements” …well…should I say…(blushing) neatly into “perspective”...LOL!!!

That said, I am still in the celebratory mood, fuelled mainly by the fact that I am relieved to have managed to deal with things that I have been tempted to procrastinate over, and some I have, but they are now off my list, and what a wonderful feeling it is, to be able to say “I did it”. I have NEVER been one to make LISTS that so many people love to make, but I have realized that there sure is method in their MADNESS!!! They are indeed ESSENTIAL to being organized and prepared, and so I have to say I have succumbed to this “tradition” and am proud to announce that I manage to make at least 1 measly list a day…phew! But speaking of LISTS, my question is this…how often do we make lists of things we’ve DONE??? - or revise the lists we have ticked off, in order to take stock of what we have accomplished within that week/year/day! Surely that has to be the best part!!!??? I think we’d feel so much better about life and ourselves, if we regularly got to appreciated how far we’ve come and how well we’ve done, which can very often provide the motivation to continue. I think people often obsess (like my DH!) about unfinished lists of “things to do!”, but when they finally are complete, we start the process again!!?? Well that’s one sure way to constantly feel under pressure and unsettled about things, that when you look closely enough, form part of the everyday hum-drum of life! The house will ALWAYS need repairs, there will ALWAYS be filing, and there will ALWAYS be forms to complete! So we could then argue that life is one long list of stuff to do, before we die…..sigh…the perils of the infamous “TO DO” list!....and do we ever include: No 10. Make time for me, on that list, or No 11. Stop to have tea with the children (or myself)??? So I made my list today, of everything I had accomplished, and this actually also gave me the time I needed to reflect on how grateful I am that I had been able to achieve all of it, be it physically, emotionally or financially. I also realized through some of it, how much good has come my way this year, and how even the things I didn’t get, worked out to my advantage….

I love that saying…”Life is what happens, when you’re making other plans”….so my interpretation of that is, don’t lose sight of all the good stuff here and now, whilst planning all the stuff that still needs to be done…
The photies above are of my daughter’s room make-over for her birthday, which has just been ticked off my “to do” list – at last.

7 comments:

  1. What you have said is so true. We are always worried about what has got to be done and never take the time to reflect on what has been achieved.

    I love your daughter's room, especially the fairies hanging from the ceiling and the LAUGH sign- a really happy place.

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  2. Loved your post today...like one of those articles on the back page of a mag. Something to think about...also interesting that it ties in with Thanksgiving, happening round about now too. Yes, you are right...we should sometimes make "What's Done" lists aswell as "To Do" ones 'cos the latter never end! BTW just love the room, especially the duvet cover/comforter. If you get the chance, please let me know where you got it as we live in the same neck of the woods. You can just leave a comment on my blog. Would be most grateful as my 2 girlies are also in need of a room makeover & I have been on the lookout for some nice bed stuff lately.

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  3. You have certainly ACHIEVED flower..... EISH.... I have lists of LISTS.... well done, Bree's room is stunning.... even the QUEEN (my daughter) agrees....!

    Love R

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  4. oh wow - i adore brinas room -well well done my friend - what alot of effort and quality time spent by you int hat room - it has you on the floor and walls and in the centre mrs venter and even hanging from the roof - oh it is full of a mothers love - well done what a gift

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  5. gf from the queen of lists....it sooooo works....and the feeling of ticking off that last thing and crumpling up the list and throwing it away....who needs drugs there is no other high like it....so welcome to the world of "to do" lists.

    Love the room, but you already knew that!

    xxx

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  6. hi love Brina's room i just wish my mom would do the same. love Paige p.s i come to Brina's d.d.d party

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