Being Intentional

I really, really, like my sleep. And I know that when kids come along, I will still really like it. I just won't have the choice if I get it, much less when. It might get ugly.

 

In the first four days of the new year, I've  managed to roll out of bed before 9:30. I know, I know...that's NOT early at all. But for me it is. I'm used to 11, 12, some days 1 P.M. Go ahead and judge, make jokes. Trust me, you will not be the first or probably the last. Call me lazy, I already beat you to it.

 

I don't have a job. I'm not in school. I rarely have to cook dinner because we eat with Brandon's family the majority of the time. Brandon works out four days a week and is usually gone four hours in the morning. That leaves me with cleaning and laundry duties as well as caring for our pup and playing with him throughout the day.

 

I also have time to sew new projects I've been eyeing. Or scour the internet/waste time on my phone. Then I stay up really late. I go to bed after Brandon has been out for a few hours and repeat again.

 

I often wake with a headache that I know is from too much sleep. It has wore on me and I am tired (pun intended) of my lazy habits.

 

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I didn't do things that needed to be done around the house. I keep it clean, did the dishes, laundry, and grocery shopped/ran errands. I just never went above and beyond to make my life, or my husbands easier. I didn't make sure that we were on the same page maximizing our time together this off season. Here it is almost gone. Enter major wife guilt. It's a real thing and it sucks. I'm not bringing that with me into the new year.

 

So why wait to change my bad habit for our new adventure. I don't want my time now or in Japan to be spent catching up on Zzz's. I have stock piled so many the last few months I should be good to go. We have only a few more weeks here at home together and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. I can't do that when my head is pounding and I feel physically ill. I surely can't do that when I get up after half the day is already gone.

 

In only four days I feel like I have made huge strides in fixing this terrible habit I created. I have cooked a little extra, slipped in a few workouts and was showered and ready before he even came home from his workout. Seriously a big deal. Then we could ride together for his eye doctor appointment while I grocery shopped.

 

I discovered the key is to be intentional with my time. I know that I have the power to change and I'm going to do just that, and I'll let you know how it continues to go. Hopefully great because I feel happier and healthier already.

 

Lauren

 

new stuff

It is clear, if you've been following along, that I like to change up the look and name around here. By the number of people who have asked specifically if I will be blogging our Japanese adventures, it seemed appropriate for another change. I'm sorry if this is confusing for you but I hope you'll stick around.

Brandon got some baseballs in the mail from his new team. They use a slightly different ball there. It's more sticky. Yay for fun facts. Now he has something to practice with. I can't believe how quick the days seem to pass. The 22nd is going to be here before we are ready.

Lauren

2013 - New Beginnings

 

Happy New Year from us!

 

We had a low key new year with shrimp creole and some apple dumplings. We could barely stay awake for the new year but we did and then sealed it with a kiss.

 

Remember that Christmas package from Hoteiosho, well we put them to use last night. Well actually, we faked it for the picture because I wasn't ready to start trying all these new things at once. I am not a seafood person so for me to really like the shrimp creole my mom prepared came as a shock for all of us.

 

I don't have a word or even any resolutions for the new year. But I hope I really embrace all the change and stay open minded to new things coming our way.

 

Lauren

 

A 2012 Highlight

I'll admit this year wasn't crazy exciting. I don't feel like this was my best year or a year that I really lived. This may also be because I hope for really big exciting adventurous things in 2013. But before we skip on to 2013, I will say that my favorite thing about this year was getting our little fur man. You, my little friend, are amazing. I love you dude!!

 

Thanks for making 2012 special for me and Brandon, you're the man!

Lauren

Christmas Memories 2012

Merry Christmas friends! It's been so nice to be away and enjoy the holidays with Brandon's family and my own. We are so grateful for our awesome family and the (over) abundance of gifts we received. Each year I say that if I didn't get one thing I would be happy. After moving ten hours away spending time with family has become something I cherish so much. I would take more visits over gifts any day, especially with our upcoming move out of the country.

 

My favorite thing about this Christmas was sitting by the Christmas tree hearing my mom tell stories of Christmases when we were little and how hectic playing Santa was.

 

 

The funniest thing was our annual game of Balderdash. My brother-in-law comes up with the most hilarious/ridiculous definitions and then we quote him for the rest of the year.

 

With all the joy comes a little sadness. This might be the last Christmas with our dog Rudy that we got 15 years ago on Christmas Eve. I hate to think about it, but we all know that his days are numbered. Christmas also makes me miss my Grandma Norma. She made our stockings and I love their uniqueness. I feel like it will be wrong to ever split the four of them up.

 

 

I realized during the holidays the different little joys the internet brings. I gifted two handmade items from a shop that I found through Instagram and I received one from the same shop from my brother. It makes me so happy because I love supporting handmade. Note to self: Next year be sure to take advantage of the cyber Monday deals handmade shops offer.

 

True Love Ring via Amy Cornwell

 

Subtle Mini Necklace

 

I also made the BEST buttermilk pancakes from a recipe shared by Shelley. Not kidding. If you stop reading now to jot down this recipe and forget to come back, I don't care. Go write it down, and then make them. Now. It blows my mind the little joys internet friends bring. They just make your life better and the people in your life too if you make awesome recipes they share.

 

 

Of course Tag man loved playing with his cousin Buoy all weekend but he sure was worn out when they left today. That little man is wiped out.

 

 

I'll be flying solo for five weeks while BD is overseas for the start of our new adventure in Japan. Thank goodness Japanese Santa stopped here. He brought jet lag medicine, chopsticks, and chopstick trainers. Yep, going to need those.

 

 

I also felt like I needed to break in my new toy from BD with a post. He is way to good to me.

 

 

So here I am again documenting some of our life for anyone interested. To all of my new friends made through the world wide web, THANK YOU for sharing your life with me and so many others. I hope you ALL had a merry Christmas and that the new year will be full of great memories for you and your families.

 

Lauren

Sew Busy

My writing here has come to an all time slow. For me this used to be a place I would come to document what has been going on in our life, where we are living, and the ups and downs of baseball life. Although we are moving to Japan in the coming months and that will provide plenty of stories to write about, this little spot here has lost its luster.

I used to love blogging and the community that comes with it. I liked being a blogger and taking pictures of everything I cook, paint, sew, or craft but...it's exhausting and I haven't found near as much joy in it as I used to. I find that I get SO caught up in how many followers, page views, etc. I'm not saying it's wrong to do that because I realize that blogging for many is a business and those things are important to succeed. For me,it drives me crazy. It brings out the worst in me and I pretty much hate the blog monster I turn into. This slow down has helped me realize this and I am going to try to focus on only writing when I feel like it. 

Since I've had so much extra time you probably wonder what I've been doing. We have slowly been updating rooms/spaces in our little home, teaching a Sunday school class, Christmas shopping, signing Japanese baseball contracts, and sewing. I have spent SO much time making fun things and this time lots of them are for me.

For so long I was trying to make my sewing successful and profitable and it just wasn't working for me. I'd get frustrated and start to see sewing as a job instead of a hobby. I see other bloggers making it work and I give you so much credit because it isn't easy. So instead of sewing for others, I started sewing for me, things that I needed or wanted that I knew I could make. I've discovered an even deeper love than I had before. I have found several sewing blogs and immersed myself in reading and learning tips and technique. 

My stocking via imagine gnats / Brandon and Tag's still unfinished (oops)

tiny fur vest for bff's baby girl - via See Kate Sew

a little Christmas dress - pattern via Shwin Designs

fancy baby bubble skirt - via handmadebabyclothes

denim dress - via laurendarlings

new favorite dressy sweatshirt - via laurendarlings

Those are some of the projects that I have LOVED working on over the past few weeks. I hope that you are having a stress free holiday season and are able to enjoy time with family and friends.

LD

Anniversary Surprise 1

I didn't mean to leave you hanging for so long, but I just needed to be away from the blog for a while. Before I was telling you about our anniversary and the sweet surprises my husband gave to me. I have such a thoughtful guy. I know they are hard to come by. Brandon hijacked our wedding photo CD and mailed it to my sister to have her make it into a photo album! I had no idea and was so surprised and happy (I cried) when I opened it. It reminded me that even though all the planning was stressful, having those memories in hard copy to look at everyday is so special to me. Thanks sisters, and awesome husband of mine.