I'm tired...tired of playing the game

Ain't it a crying shame?  I'm tired.  (Let's face it people, I'm pooped.)
Still trying to recover from this weekend's shopping craziness.  Did my seven minute sweep this morning to try to clean up this tornado.  Hubby was awesome and did all the dishes, so I should be back on my cleaning schedule.  There's lots of holiday baking to be done, so I'm grateful for any help.

I took the Praxis test yesterday for adapted curriculum and am looking forward to getting the results.  It would be nice to expand my certification to open up job opportunities.  Oh, and I was able to get some writing done, but now it's sleepy time.  Nite nite.

Just a quick update...

Santa's elves have been working overtime to organize this years holiday season. Dawn and I went power shopping this weekend, had a sleepover, and bought lots of supplies for our homemade Christmas. A plan is finally coming together. I love that!  

Taking a test today for adapted curriculum certification. So excited. I even studied this morning!! Can't wait to get it over with. Knitting tonight. Capsule wardrobe working well. Looking forward to not having a huge dressing decision to make when I exit the tub in 5. Still waiting on mag article, but plan on starting to write it this weekend. ;). 

Gotta run!

So much going on!

So yesterday, I wrote that I had two reasons to be happy: one, I finally assembled my capsule wardrobe, and two, well, I never did get to two.

I pitched some ideas to another editor and she was interested!  This is exciting news, indeed.  I am impatiently patiently waiting to hear back with further instructions.  It is my unwavering belief that 2015 will be the year of two or more published articles.  As for editors who may be wading through my personal blog to get a feel for my writing skill, welcome!  I promise I am serious about this endeavor and will strive to do my very best for each of you.  Which is probably about one.  For now ;)

After my one devoted follower Sara-Across-the-Pond commented on one of my recent entries, I started thinking about all the plans I make.  It's true, I suppose, that I have lofty aspirations in my life.  It appears, while my initial dream to be a contributing member of society was a kind of baseline goal, I am now a thriving member of society.  I am no longer satisfied just be be "normal."  I want to effect some change on a larger scale.  Working among 800+ elementary age students makes me happy.  While once my efforts only affected 8-20 students, now I am able to help dozens each day.  I feel the same about my writing.

Right now, my writing affects me and a few others.  Being published gives me the ability to share my ideas with others, for better or worse.  The more I think about it, the more I like it.  You see, my parents have always been egocentric, self-driven, motivated, and confident.  Unlike me. Growing up, my father had two jobs, then retired as a lieutenant in the FDNY, and built a house.  Over the course of her life, my mom has traveled to five continents, speaks multiple languages, pursued careers in modeling, singing, dancing, and retired as an ESL teacher.  In her 60s, she decided to become an actress and after a few months is well on her way, even racking up credits on IMDB.  After decades of self-hate, self-doubt, instability, and lack of confidence, I'm finally starting to cultivate some of the traits my parents had, which were often viewed by me as shortcomings.  I finally am realizing my strengths and potential.  That I am worthy of being loved and capable of giving love.  That I am intelligent and beautiful, no matter what naysayers say.  That I am talented in some areas, and that though I have these talents, it doesn't mean I don't have to work hard at improving them. There. I've going to say it.  I finally love me.

Lastly, if this is just too emotional and stuff, just picture me typing in with a hairy cat strewn across my face. Because that's how it really is.  I can't breathe...

Happy Tuesday Indeed!

It would appear that I'm overjoyed of late, since my most recent blog entries have all been titled "Happy..." While this may be misconstrued as proof that I lack a robust vocabulary of adjectives signifying this sometimes elusive emotion, I feel it is more or less a good indicator that I'm genuinely happy these days.  As Dawn always says, "North Carolina is a Magical Place."

(In case you are pondering this sudden change of tone in my writing, now that I am, ahem, published, I wish to take my writing more serious and skillfully entertain the masses with my riveting content...spoken with a proper English accent. One can never quite know who is trolling the Interwebs and lurking about, judging my sloppily crafted accounts of failed garden mishaps and yarny disasters.  One errant semi-colon and my burgeoning career may leap gracelessly off a cliff.  Preferably on Shetland, if there's a choice to be had.  Visiting is on my bucket list.)

The events that transpired today which have caused me to harbor such glee are two in number.  I've selected a capsule wardrobe after months of deliberation, and I received a positive response to my article pitch for one of my favorite magazines.  I shall divulge further details of the two endeavors in subsequent entries.

Firstly, the capsule wardrobe is a concept that I have been researching (a.k.a. Pinning) for quite some time. An idea so horrific, yet so beguiling.  I am mesmerized by the tales of these brave denizens of fashion who abandon the riches of their cavernous closets in order to pursue a more defined and simplistic style.  Would I be able to accomplish such a feat?  Someone who is known to frequently change her costume multiple times each day to suit her ever-changing moods?  A woman who is no less likely to wear a pleather minidress than a paisley maxidress?  One who serial pins Mori style and Mod style on the same board? For shame!  Well, some mysterious phenomenon happened at 7:00 this morning which had the effect of motivating me to sort through the mountains of clothes in my possession, choose a precious few, fling out the mismatched hangers and line my closet with the remaining soldiers of fortune. For this go-round, I chose a set based on browns and army green, with a dash of teal and burgundy.

Bottoms:

Brown knit work pants

Herringbone knit work pants

Woven herringbone green work pants

Skinny green jeans with zippered ankles

Wide leg dark wash jeans

Jewel tone paisley velveteen skirt

Brown leather mini skirt 

Plaid brown, burgundy and gold skirt

Tops:

Bulky cream cable knit sweater

Oatmeal post-apocalypse drop stitch sweater 

Mock turtleneck ruffle bib short-sleeved burgundy cotton top

Cream, brown and green western floral button down

Teal pouf-sleeved silk blouse

Cream lace empire flutter-sleeved blouse with gold sash

Cream and gold fine gauge knit pouf-sleeved dropped drawstring-waist tunic

Rust cardigan

Grey cardigan-outlier till I find the perfect camel cardigan. Hmm. Camel. I have some camel down in the stash, lol. 

The goals I hope to achieve from taking these drastic measures are to reduce laundry and early-morning decision making.  Some of you may already know I own one of the world's smallest washing machines. Invented for those who feel that a single 350 square foot room equals home sweet home, this marvel of Italian engineering compacts the washer and dryer into one drum. Like many other hybrid appliances, it is not particularly adept at either task. The only skill that it possesses to be worthwhile is its capacity to spin. It can spin like a tornado!  I plan to exploit this feature when washing fleece in the future.

In any case, the miniscule washing receptacle is a beacon of mastery when compared to its penchant for drying. Clothing may tumble on high for an hour and still be as damp as a baby bunny in a bog. With winter encroaching, I am reluctant to witness a clothesline full of icy stiff jeans, sweaters and undergarments. A smaller wardrobe will ensure there is enough drying area in my house without erroneously portraying me as a professional laundress. It was successful today. Let's see how it plays out tomorrow.