Happy New Year! I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season spent with loved ones and friends. During the holidays, time seems to fly by and before we know it, it's the New Year. What have you decided to make a resolution about in 2011? Perhaps it's to eat better, exercise more, spend quality time with family, enjoy the moment, left go of past hurts or embrace the future. Perhaps it's to finally get organized, get out of debt, or to live a simpler life. When I say "simpler" I do not mean boring! I speak for myself when I talk about living simpler, enjoying the moment, spending time with my family. Much too often I find myself totally exhausted at night from cleaning, running earns, taking the kids to school, cooking dinner, and trying to make it a healthy dinner at that. Then there are those of us that work outside the home and are trying to juggle work, home, kids...I have been in both situations, a full time career outside the home, and a full time career inside the home. Let's face it, for those people who think that being a "stay at home mom" is easy, obviously has never done it before, it is a full time, 24-7 job and you are lucky if you get to go to the bathroom by yourself! There are pro's and con's to every situation!
I will be the first to say that it always looks better on the other side of the fence....the grass is always greener, right? Just remember, you make your own grass as green as you want it, it's all about your own perspective and what is important to you. For me, that's living a simpler life and spending more time with my family. As I mentioned before, at the end of the day, I am exhausted and after cleaning up from dinner and getting the kids to bed, I look around and it looks as though I spent my day on the couch doing nothing! The toys are all over the floor (again), the dirty cloths pile that seems to grow a mile a day no matter how many loads you do a day.....then you feel guilty for not spending time with your kids! I began thinking....what if I didn't have so much "stuff" in my house? I would have less to clean, less to organize and I would be able to bless others with "stuff" I really don't need that someone else might. Best of all, I would be able to spend more time with my kids and less exhausted by the end of the night so I could actually stay awake and watch a program with my husband. What a concept right?
That's what this blog is all about. Giving ideas to help simplify your life. I don't claim to be some sort of professional on any one thing, but most of all, I hope this blog helps people save time, be creative, and have fun! My good friend Christina and I have begun our own blogs, sharing our ideas, career and life experiences. Christina is an interior designer who knows what it's like to have a house that needs function. One of my favorite things about her designs and creative ideas, is her understanding of the "customer". Christina is real, practical, and teaches people how to decorate with "champagne" taste on a beer budget. She also has wonderful crafting ideas, decorating for the holidays, kids bedrooms and how to put all those art projects from your kids into the decor of your house. Maybe it's a simple question as to what color to paint a room, or how to decorate for an outdoor reception! Check out Christina's blog, you won't be disappointed. As for me, one of my passion's is planning! Planning anything from kids birthday party's to, baby showers, bridal showers, anniversary party, weddings, neighborhood block party, 4th of July....the possibilities are endless. It's a rush to be able to research where the best deal in town is to rent table and chairs, or a dance floor or how to make your own invitations, not to mention how to keep on budget! After being a corporate event planner and then having a career in sales, I often was asked questions such as, " when should I send out my invitations?", "how can send a creative 'save-the-date' announcement?" or, "I need to stay on budget, how do I do that and still get everything I want?" Let's face it, in this economy, everyone is watching their money and how they spend it, and I don't blame you a bit! Actually, I congratulate you on spending your money wisely.
Together, Christina and I will give you tips on how to create a one-of-a-kind decor that fits your lifestyle and makes your house function smoothly, to throwing the best birthday party on town, all on a budget.
We look forward to hearing your comments and trying to help you out with any topics you have questions on. Keep checking out our blogs to see what new topics we will cover. I have provided a link to Christina's website to make it easy to follow her blog as well.
With that, I say, "WELCOME, EXPLORE, ENJOY....."
Stacy
