Lazy Procrastination

I have been feeling lazy these past few days. I start something and have trouble finishing the task on hand. Example: I did our laundry on Wednesday. Being the good daughter and sister I am, I also did Mom, dad and Jess’ laundry too. Monkey was a big help. He would put clothes in the washer for me (gotta love front loaders), he would push the button to start the washer, he “helped” me sort the clothes (meaning he just threw clothes on the ground, but still; he felt he was helping) and he helped fold and put clothes in the basket. I got all the laundry done. I just didn’t bother to put any of the clean clothes away until today. A step up from when I was younger, mind you. I used to wash my clothes, pick through the basket every day for stuff to wear, pile the dirty clothes next to the basket and once most of, or all, the clothes from the basket were dirty again, I would wash again. I don’t think I saw the inside of my closet for a couple of years.
I like doing the laundry now. I still don’t like putting away clothes, but I do it (even if it is a couple of days later). While living with my parents again, I have volunteered to do the laundry many, many times. I’m the only one who seems to know which article of clothing belongs to who. My father is the worst. He not only confuses who’s socks are who’s, but underwear, shirts and pants too. He says he just can’t tell. Yes, because it’s hard to tell the difference between my sister’s size 2 pants and my…not size 2 pants. Ah, my dad…I love him.
Wednesday, I decided to tackle the mess I had created over in my scraping corner. I had more stuff lying around than put away. It was time to organize a little. I ended up with what looked like a big mess. But, in my head, I was getting somewhere. I got most of it put away when I stopped. I was tired and decided to finish up in the morning. I didn’t. I haven’t. It’s still there. Right around the room from me. I want to clean it up. It’s just every time I go over there, the pictures I have out from my latest project call my name. They’re begging to be scrapped. I know if I’m over there too long, I’ll start playing instead of putting away. So I’m going to do the next best thing. I’m going shopping this afternoon. I’ll deal with the little mess tonight. Or tomorrow morning.
Until next time…

Moving, Clutter & All That Jazz

We got the apartment!
We actually found out last week, but I’ve been as sick as a dog for about a week now and didn’t bother to update this.
Having a small space was not ideal; but it’s a place to call our own for a while. It’s clean and there are no holes and no mold anywhere. I’m sold. When Steve called to tell me the place is ours, I nearly cried. I don’t know if I really was that happy, or that sick. Whatever monkey had was, naturally, passed on to me. It’s been a long, hard week trying to care for a sickie when I’m a sickie myself.
Steve is signing the lease in two days and we move in on the 31st. Whoo hoo! We’re also buying a new mattress and box spring for ourselves. In the near future, we’re hoping to purchase a bedroom set (or at least pieces for a bedroom that mix well together and we can call it a set). We’re not looking for anything fancy or expensive. Just something to get ourselves started. So far we haven’t seen anything that tickles our fancy or that we can agree on. We’ll find it some day. As long as we have a mattress and some bedding, I’m happy for the time being. I say that until we actually move in and there isn’t enough room in the closet for all my…er…our clothes. I have also opted not to purchase a high chair. For those who don’t know…Monkey does not have his own high chair. I put off buying one way back due to space issues. When monkey started eating a little bit of food, I would use his Bumbo chair to feed him in. Monkey and I moved in with my parents while Steve was in Australia. Mom pulled out my old wooden high chair and dad fixed her up. Monkey was about 6 months and we’ve been using it since. I’ve decided to get one of these:

It’ll save on space. It can be used when we travel to Steve’s parents’ (a home without a high chair) and it turns into a booster chair for when the child is old enough.
I watched a Cityline episode on Monday that totally inspired me to change my life. It was a repeat show from February; c’mon, Marilyn isn’t going to do a show on Victoria Day! She’s going to be relaxing somewhere. At least she should be. Anyway…It was all about getting rid of the clutter in one’s space, in one’s life and how it can enlighten one. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. All I kept thinking about it all the clutter I have everywhere. My room is full of junk. I’m taking up at least 1/3 of my parents’ two and a half car garage (which, ironically enough can’t even fit the motorcycle because it’s so full) will clutter, I have clutter stored at my dad’s workshop and I have clutter all around both living rooms in this house (scrap stuff and toys in the basement and toys on the main level).
I am a pack rat. I can admit to that. I keep everything! I have every single letter a friend has ever snail mailed to me since I was 12. I still have my old box of memories from my first love. I still have half the stuffed animals I’ve ever owned. I still have clothes from grade six. I still have my old engagement ring and wedding band (know anyone interested in purchasing? I’ll give them a good deal). And believe it or not, I got rid of a stuff before.
I’m not one who’s into cleansing auras or anything like that; but I truly do believe by ridding myself of the clutter I don’t need, I might be helping myself somehow. I really don’t know how. It’s just a feeling I’m going off of. Maybe if I don’t have so much, I can feel freer somehow. Alright, my writing skills are lacking big time here and I’m having a hard time trying to explain where I’m going here. I’m going to stop myself right here and just say: I am going to de-clutter myself. It’s going to be so hard. I love to hang on to stuff; usually stuff I don’t need. I’m going to have to try to find the strength to just let some things go. I’ve already talked to Steve and he’s with me 100% of the way. He’ll be my rock through this. I’m positive once all the stuff I no longer need and all the stuff that has no real value to me is gone, I’m sure I’ll feel great.
Think I can do it? I’m sure someone out there is saying no. I can see Missy shaking her head if she’s reading this. How can the people who used to store mail and everything else on the kitchen table (and ate at the coffee table because there was no room at the kitchen table) do this? Simple answer…Monkey. I want to set good examples for him, as does Steve. We want to live by the rule, everything has it’s place. We want to be able to eat at the kitchen table as a family. We want to be able to find something when we’re looking for it. We’ve agreed that we lacked some serious organization before and we want to fix that now. Now bring the clutter part into all of this…Why organize clutter we don’t need? See where I’m going with this?
I will never be a minimalist. It’s just not me. I like having stuff. I’ve just reached a point where I have too much.
Let the de-cluttering, organizing journey begin!!!
Until next time…

Home is where the boogers fly.

Steve and I may be one step closer to finally having a roof over our heads again. We went to look at an apartment in a four-plex this past weekend. It’s not as big as some of the other places we’ve looked at, but it as a bunch of perks we liked. There’s two entrances; the main one with the buzzer at the front of the building and one in the back from the parking lot. There’s a large deck. Yep, I said deck, not baloney. It’s only a two bedroom, but the rooms are a very good size with huge closets in each. There are two hall closets, plus a closet in the large bathroom. The biggest perk for me was the in suite laundry. No coin, share with the rest of the building, never can get the machines when you need them here. Steve loved the in floor heating. Heat and satellite are included as well. There’s enough property for Monkey to run around and everyone in the building has small children. One even baby-sits. Maybe, if we get the place, she’ll be able to take on Monkey too. The building is only about six-years old. There’s nothing rotting, broken or scary lurking around in the dark corners. It’s in the new sub-division of the town, near a beautiful park and nature trails and only about a 15 minute walk away from the local scrapbook store. Had to get that in there somewhere. Everything in the apartment was clean, neutral and pleasant to the eye. Monkey had fun stomping on the carpets. I think he liked how cushiony they were.
So, we sent in our application for the place today. Steve faxed it from work. Fingers crossed, everyone. If all goes well, we’ll be moving in at the end of the month. And we are so ready for it. Being apart like we are right now sucks and is slowly bring on stress to our relationship. Please don’t read that wrong and think we’re fighting and will be struggling to make our relationship work. It’s not that way at all. The love, the desire to be together, the friendship and the romance is still all there. Being apart is emotionally draining and we want nothing more than to be together in a place we can call our home again.
Oh…And for those of you who say the little hell hole we called home last time in Kitchener…This place is about as big, but the layout is a lot different and it’s about, oh, 1000% better.
Monkey is sick. He has either the flu or a cold. I’m not sure which. Both are hard to peg when it’s an adult who can explain what’s sore; harder when the person can’t say more than ten words. It all started shortly after midnight. Monkey kept waking up because he couldn’t breath well lying down. I ended up bringing him into bed with Steve and I around 4am. Just so I could rest a little while propping Monkey’s shoulders and head up so he could breath a little easier. I took the day off work today to stay home and take care of my wee one. Poor little guy couldn’t go more than an hour without falling asleep. And then would only sleep for about 20 minutes at a time. I let him decide where to sleep. If he waved night-night, then he went to sleep in his crib. If he didn’t wave, he would either curl up with me on the couch or fall sleep in either the make-shift bed I made for him on the floor (couch blanket, throw pillows and his large kitty stuffed animal) or in the dog bed (he loves that thing for some reason).
He hasn’t been sick often (Thank, God!) but whenever he is, I feel so utterly useless. I, like so many parents I suppose, wish I really could make him all better with a kiss. I also wish I had purchased softer tissues so I wouldn’t have to chase and tackle him just to wipe the slimy, gross boogies that slide out of his nose. And on that note, my son has discovered how to make snot bubbles today and proceeded to try to show me and as I reached over to wipe it away, he sneezed it all over me. I had no idea so much snot could come out of such a small person.
Until next time…

Once a year...
It's always at least once a year...
Once a year, I injure myself in one way or another. Sprain, broken bone; I think the healing process of the c-section infection was worse than the actual c-section...
Anyway...I have done it again. I turned wrong at work and thought I had strained a muscle in my upper back, but I pulled a muscle in my shoulder. The muscle around the shoulder blade. I was put onto light duties and am doing office work instead of factory work for the rest of the week. I haven't been told if I'm sheduled to work next week or not, but I'm guessing not. I'm only getting my hours this week because it's sheduled.
It's a little annoying. I want to scrap, but can't get comfortable. I want to play on my laptop, but once again, not comfortable. I don't like laying on my back, but can't lie on my side. I can't get comfortable to do anything. The worse is the pain that shoots through me when I pick up Monkey. Tonight wasn't easy since Monkey decided not to nap this afternoon and was beyond tired and cranky. He threw the odd fit, started hitting and was just plain old grumpy. He also found the stupidest things to be the funniest things in the world. He would get into a giggling fit and just couldn't stop. I loved those. The more I laughed, the more he laughed. I like the laughing so much more than than the hitting.
Tomorrow, that little monkey of mine is getting two naps!
Until next time...

Score!!!!!

Yesterday, while at work, I got sick and tired of having to pull my pants up every five steps. I realized my pants have gotten way to big. I have also realized, the factory gets very, very hot and humid. I’m not looking forward to the summer months there. So off I went to Kitchener for a little shopping spree.
I ended up finding a pair of light (material wise) pair of jeans for $4.99 on the clearance rack at Old Navy. Whoo hoo! And the fit nicely too. Double whoo hoo! But that’s where the shopping spree for clothing stopped. I didn’t find anything else that floated my boat. I did, however, find leather sandals for Monkey, a pair of skull slip-on shoes for him too (which have to be returned because they don’t fit) and a present for my little sister’s 18th birthday. The little is important this year. Only one more year and she can drink legally (other than in Quebec where she’ll be able to drink in two weeks). I still can’t get over the fact she can drive and owns a car. Sure, I did too at her age, but I remember feeling more grown up than I think she is.
I also stopped by Michaels to check out their scrap supplies. In all the years I’ve gone to Michaels, I’ve just by passed this section. I didn’t scrap, so I didn’t bother. I went to the small Michaels in Waterloo. Now I wish I would have gone to the bigger on down in Cambridge! They had some nice stuff. I know where I’m going when I’m ready to build my scrap corner in our new home (after we find that home). Lots of cool storage stuff. I picked up some cardstock, flame paper and a bling skull & cross bones with my sister in mind.
I stopped at Chapters too. I picked up Creativity Tips for Scrapbookers by Creative Keepsakes because it’s got a lot of cute layouts in it and a few good tips and a new notebook for ideas. I also grabbed a grande light caramel frap from Starbucks for the trip home. Yum.
Until next time....

Passion is as Passion Does?

Steve paid me a nice little complement this evening. He said he loves how passionate I get about everything, big or small. When something is good, it’s the best thing in the world. If it’s not so great, it’s the worst in the world. I’ve never really paid attention to it before, but I suppose he’s right. I’ve always knew I can get overly excited about something. Those who know me have seen it. I get hyped, I can’t sit still, I talk a mile a minute, I talk with my hands more than usual (think arms failing around) and I can’t stop smiling and giggling. My sister has even said I get a look in my eye that says it all.
I guess I do take things to heart when things don’t go well either.
I’m an emotional person, what can I say? At least someone loves it, even if it does drive him bonkers sometimes.
Until next time…

Home?

I love getting to see new places. One of Steve and my favourite past times is going to open houses. Something we haven’t enjoyed too much since the baby came along and Steve going to Australia and such. I also love peaking into people’s windows. Now don’t go thinking I’m a peeping Tome or something like that. I just like looking into windows, from the streets, to see how places are decorated or if you can see how the place is laid out. I have no interest in whoever may or may not be inside. I think that’s why I like going to open houses so much. You can get so many decorating ideas from other people. I also like going through and coming up with my own ideas for the spaces we see.
Steve and I are currently looking for a place for the three of us to call home. Even though we would prefer a house, we’re looking at apartments too. So far all we’ve see have been big ol’ pieces of crap. Well, one was nice. It was a large two bedroom apartment. Lots of storage areas, good size bedrooms, skylights in the bedrooms (that’s what windows on the ceiling is called, right? I’m not too sure and too lazy to look it up right now), a big bathroom with lots of cupboards and two closets, a newer kitchen that was beautiful, a good size living room with a fireplace and a balcony. Sounds good, huh? Here’s the kicker…It’s downtown, steep stairs, over Crappy Joe’s and out looking a parking lot.
I’m getting really, really tired of looking for a place already. I thought a small town would make it easier to find a place, but I think I was wrong.
Fingers are crossed we’ll be able to find something soon.
Until next time…