Things To Love ~ besides the little ones & the hubby

Recently, I'm being kind to myself. Really. Maybe I should have been doing these things all along.

1) I'm reading. Even if it is just a few minutes a day ~ I'm doing it. I have two busy boys, a lot of laundry, a compulsive impulse to have a tidy and germ-free house, a full-time (pretty much) home business which includes a lot of painting and such, and the tactics of a saboteur (sabotaging myself in relation to goals and sleep). But when I realized that I had put away this inch-and-a-half book in less than 2 weeks I was inspired.

Broken For You, by Stephanie Kallos ~ really good. And clearly I have time to read, right?

Tonite I started: Life's Work, Confessions of an Unbalanced Mom, by Lisa Belkin

2) I'm browsing for art I like. I always said that when I had a house I loved, I wanted to decorate it with art that I loved, and art from my artist friends. I'm doing so (because I finally love my house).

Barbara Paanakker's Elephant Exhibit hangs proudly in my hallway ~ the morning light graces it and reveals the beautiful textures.









I await this beautiful print (left) from artist Susana Tavares which I will proudly hang. Susana lives in Portugal. ©SusanaTavares.etsy.com

3) I'm taking time to watch a bit of television. Hulu, to be precise. My actual television treats me to MarioKart with my little ones, but that is all, besides the occasional movie on the couch with the hubby. We like Hulu; no commercials, pick and choose ;) Parenthood, The Office & Modern Family are the ones I like.

4) I'm cooking healthful meals. Get that: I'm Cooking! Yes! When you eat healthy you have energy ~ and said energy can then be recycled into cooking more healthy meals! It seems so simple. But it certainly is not. We do our best. I love smoothies packed with spinach, apples, lots of bananas, orange juice, vitamin c, frozen blueberries and strawberries and I just started adding Goldenseal to help us stay healthy during flu season.

5) I'm buying more unhealthy (but not too unhealthy) treats, too. Freddies Nutrition Center ~ thank you for offering snacks that allow me to be a bit bad, but still good.

6) I'm talking to people I love. Not all of them, just yet, but as many as I can. Skype and the telephone ~ don't forget the value of a smile and the time to listen ~ they remind our loved ones that we care about them. When it comes to those I love, I think about a quote I read years ago (something like) "the tears cried at a grave are tears of regret"... I don't want those tears. Other kinds, yes, but not the regret ones.

7) I'm talking to people I don't know. Lots of them. It is so very fun. I give my smile, kindness and greeting to so many strangers now (that is a tricky subject with my little ones, so I best not get into it with them since I have been promoting Stranger Danger since they were tiny). Well, except that guy on the phone at my hosting company the other day ~ he didn't get my kindness, he got my grumpy attitude and my urge to stand up for myself and not take any crap from anyone. I really should have apologized before we hung up, but I forgot. Sorry man, I know it wasn't your fault.

8) I'm taking breaks from email and computer ~ realize that we sometimes get locked in to feeling our worth based on how many emails/etsy sales/facebook posts & friend requests we get? I'm not turning the computer on in the a.m. until my big boy is at school and my little one and I have had our walk together, it is working for me (of course there are exceptions to this!). Need me before 10:30am? Call me. And, if you are wondering, I am using the wonderful invention of scheduled-publishing, so blog posts can appear in the a.m. while I'm off galavanting.

9) I'm cutting myself slack - in cleaning and work. I'm going to bed with toys on the floor and unfolded laundry (even the wet stuff). I don't stress as much about baths and spots on the floor.

So, this is a start. Life is short. I recently read somewhere, someone said (something like) "when I think about the fact that I will someday be dead, it helps me to..." fill in the blank. Prioritize? Cut some junk from the to-do list? Stress the small stuff a little bit less? Whatever works for you.

So, now, clearly I'm sabotaging, because it is far too late for a mama of 2 early-risers to be tapping away.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Do something nice for yourself, maybe?

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday, Harry Potter ~ shared things, Valentine's Day

Good Afternoon!

It's Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.




We just got back from the Portland Children's Museum, then playing outside with kites and friends, it was very fun. It occurs to me that it is 2:30pm and the house is still clean from last night's after bedtime blast! Wow - it pays to get out and get active vs staying at home and tearing the place apart :)





We have been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I'm reading it to my boys and we are all having so much fun. Spending hours at a time cuddled together on the bed, the beanbag or couch, reading and experiencing it together.

I find myself getting into the voices and characters, and have to slow down to make sure that they understand ~ which they seem to ~ and if I stop to say "how are you doing?" or "are you following me okay?" my 4 year old bangs on the book and raises his eyebrows saying "go on, go on!!"

Today, my 5 year old has been saying Leviosa! testing out his Wizard powers! He made the garage door raise, so I was impressed :)


Having something we can all three share has been very special (thank you to my friend for loaning us the book). And knowing there are many books and many pages ahead in the series makes me feel happy.


I recently read somewhere: If your child has a thing for video games (enter your child's interest here) and you do not have an interest in video games (same interest), you have just missed an opportunity to have a shared thing.

I like that.


I hope you have a wonderful weekend, just hanging out and enjoying your moments. I am packing paintings in my studio, preparing for some shipments and in general getting things cleaned up.


This weekend brings Valentine's Day and despite the fact that I am a woman, (I'm talking to you: every jewelry, flower and candy store) not all of us want candy, roses or some bling ~ what I desire is comfortable times, a good meal together and time to relax :)


Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Love & Sincerely ~ Katie



Images: Several of the 10x10 paintings from The Forty Minis Collection are available as 8x10 prints now (since the originals have sold). I have pictures the available ones here, find them in the Online Etsy Shop.