I need a hobby.

I really do.  Now that I have a three day work week, I need to fill my free time with something constructive.  But I have creativity ADD.

Right away I thought of refurnishing and re-purposing furniture.  I was looking at all sorts of inspiration on the internets and started following blogs like Better After.  Ideas just kept pouring in!  I got ideas for things around the house and other second hand items floating around.  I completed two projects thus far, which I will share, eventually.  But when I started it was so cold outside.  I don't have a garage and I got yelled at for spray painting in the basement.  By chance, a warm winter day happened and that is the only reason why I've completed those two projects.  My sister and I got real excited about redoing furniture and started with my Dad's dining room chairs.  This was a windy day and not good for spray painting.  Who knows what in nature is now coated with a light primer.  Now that it is nice out, have I started any other projects?  No.

All of those "upcycling" web searches led me to sewing.  I'd love to save money and do all sorts of refashioning of my tired old clothes as well as thrift store finds.  I sent my sister's sewing machine to get a tune up, and received a hand-me down sewing machine as well.  While waiting for the machine at the shop, I started following all of these sewing and refashioning blogs and became super inspired.  I started pinning all sorts of junk on pinterest that were tutorials or inspiration or who knows what.  I started scoping out Savers and I bought fabric.  I've searched for local sewing classes but never followed through.  I really just need to sign up.  When I'm out and about and I see something I like, all I can think of is how much money I'd save if I just refashioned something to look like that. 

Now I'm thinking of gardening.  The more I work on a certain area in the yard, the more I realize other areas need SERIOUS attention.  I'd like a new lawn mower and I'd like my yard to stop acting like the center of the neighborhood for all things to blow into.  Really, Mr. Take-out Box?  You are not compost-able. 

So here I am with my lack of commitment.  I'm really trying not to feel guilty or feel like I waste my time or money.  I just need to go outside.

What are you doing with your spare time these days?

The big three oh.

I’m thirty now.  Depressing thirty.  Another decade down the tubes, one more closer to our demise.  Now if reading women’s magazines, I must consult articles regarding the “over thirty” group of women.  I have to stock up on a different category of anti-aging creams and make up.  Do I have a different body type now?  Can I still shop at Forever 21?  I don’t have a home of my own.  I don’t have a graduate degree, although I’ve been in school long enough to have a Dr. in front of my name.  I don’t have a Mrs. in front of my name either.  No children.  No tales of backpacking across Europe for a year in my twenties.  I am just another tired old gal carrying around broken dreams and failed attempts to fit into this mold of an adult in this American dream…
Or am I?
People are really interested in how one feels about turning thirty.  I feel great. 
Turning thirty means a time for me to reap what I’ve sowed.  I worked my ass off in my twenties, in all aspects of the term “work.”  I went to school and worked towards a degree I thought I wanted.  I worked up to a career I thought I wanted.  I left that career realizing I needed to work on more than work and school.  I moved.  I worked on my health and having fun.  Then I got sick.  I realized my soul needed work too.  Through working on my soul and my body through yoga and mindfulness, I was able to heal.  I went back to school to work towards something I knew would satisfy me mind, body, heart, and soul.  Then I realized I needed to work on my heart.  Once I was able to let go of all the negativity and truly open myself to what I deserved, only then I could be ready for what was to come.  My heart was heavy in other aspects of society and there are so many things I’d like to stand up and fight for, but I started with one.  I work everyday since I made that decision and fight with my fork.  I still had school and work.  I worked and studied and studied to work.  When that day finally came, about two months before my thirtieth birthday, the day I finally felt free, I cried. 
Sure, I still have to “work” but everything I did in my twenties set me up for an amazing journey in my thirties.  No, an amazing journey for the rest of my life.  So yes, I still have to go to work, I still must challenge myself mentally, physically, and emotionally, I still have to mind my health, I still have to put the efforts in my relationships, I still feel overwhelmed, and I still have to clean the house.  But turning thirty?  There is nothing I cannot face. 

Another snow day.

I don't really feel productive on snow days. 

My day started with coffee, PB&J oats, and Veronica Mars.  I finished season two.  Chrissy and I have been working on our Logan Echolls face.  He has the same "I'm about to drool on you" expression for every emotion.  I'm about to cry.  I'm about to kiss you.  I just realized I'm in love with you.  My dad SUCKS.  Your step mom bangs me.  I'm going to jail.  I'm out of jail.  I love you again.  I hate you again.  I'm having a party.  In my pants.  Hopefully by the end of the post I'll have a picture for you.

The rest of my day included this:

Yes that is my lunch on my yoga mat.  Had a little Dave action on the mat.  That sounds real bad.  My love, if you are reading this, it was only a podcast yoga workout.  Anyway, I did a different podcast than the other day and I still got tripped up on his half pigeon flow.  I'm going to have to you tube it or something to attempt to figure out what the hell he is telling me to do. 

I was hungry.  As always.  So I made up some onions and made the sandwich!  Chrissy loves me today.  I made her one too.  I had some green tea with it and my book.  Goal is to finish that book today! 

Lets have a closer look at deliciousness...

It was great.  The apples look like pickles but I swear it wasn't an onion and pickle sandwich.  Gross.

What is that hiding behind my sandwich?

Oh.  That.

Just some of the best vegan chocolate chip cookies evah!  Chrissy made them this time.  She's good at that. 

What are you doing to not lose your mind during the snow day?


I almost forgot about Logan's drool!

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Do you see what I mean?!?!  Any other actors/actresses you notice that seem to be making the same face for every emotion?  I'm totally team Logan over team Duncan, but seriously, don't drool on me.

RE-vamping

Can you re- something if it never was? 

My sisters will tell you.  I make questionable wardrobe choices.  Shopping is often painful for me.  I am attempting to enjoy it and find things I truly love and will wear and be able to remix in other outfits so it doesn't seem as though I'm wearing the same tired old shirt.  I will tire out an outfit like you wouldn't believe.  I will love it so much til I hate it and create some vision in my head how the outfit now all the sudden negatively shows parts of my body it initially complimented.  The outfit will make me stick out like a sore thumb and people will no longer want to be my friend.  That may have to do with the fact they've seen me wear the same outfit most days for a month and are wondering if I washed that peanut butter stain off and if that is a new one...

Here are some of my gripes about shopping...

Trying on dresses without the right footwear.  Or any outfit for that matter.  I try to make my dressing room trips conclusive and swift.  That typically means leaving on socks.  Plus that is a dirty floor.  Wow that number looks great with my mid-calf striped winter socks.  I love going to a store that has helpful sales people offering to find a pair of heels in your size so you can better picture yourself in the dress.  This typically happens only in this store.  I love Jennifer Reale Design and wish I could purchase all my dresses from her.  Alas, my pocketbook will not always allow such spending.  Trying to find a cheap-o dress in Charlotte or Forever 21?  Forget about it.  You and your calves are on your own.

Sales.  You get wicked excited by the plethora of well organized goodies on the 75% off rack, then you look and it is only size 0, 2, some 4's, and 16.  If I keep eating BBQ utz chips for breakfast I'll be able to soak up the benefits from this rack but there is no way in hell I'll ever be a 0 or a 2. 

Bargain shopping.  Some people love the discount stores like TJmaxx, Marshalls etc.  I can't spend much time in there.  The lighting and disorganization in it all sends my calm mood into pure chaos, much like the store.  I really have to be in the right mind set.  I have found some great workout gear in said stores.  And I typically do shop only the organized racks they have on the outskirts of the department, hiding those massive long unorganized racks.

Questionable quality.  I sound like an old lady.  They just don't make things to last like they used to.  Some stores I enjoy the styles that they offer but then I think about items I've purchased before.  Hems have fallen out, shape has been lost, even small holes arise.  Not worth it. 

Sizes, schmizes.  I really don't think these numbers mean ANYTHING.  Especially when you try on one size, it is too big and accentuates your thunder thighs with its baggy-ness, then you try on the next size down and hello muffin top and flat mom butt.  I don't get it.  The larger size, I need a belt, but this smaller size, one fricken size down, I need to wear spanks or some sort of girdle to make them fit appropriately?  And now my ass is smooshed down into my mid thigh.  Thanks.

Wide feet.  It is hard to find comfortable shoes that look great.  I abhor shoe shopping more than any other shopping.

This year I have purchased two tops and a pair of jeans.  Flares are being sold again!!  I haven't bought jeans in three plus years because I can't really do the skinny jean thang.  Not flattering to saddle bags.  This is probably another reason why my sisters question my fashion sense.  My resistance to current styles. 

SOOOOOOOOO
I will work on being more open.
Having patience with the shopping process.
Leave expectations behind.
Be less critical of myself.
Find a mantra to repeat over and over and over and over to mentally prepare myself.
ENJOY SHOPPING!

Talk amongst yourselves...

Do you like shopping?  What helps you get in the mood?  Do you have any words of wisdom for me??