resolutions | Bead Happily Ever After

On the Road Again

Posted on January 6, 2011 by crystal

I’ve been thinking of specific things I’d like to accomplish in 2011. They’re not exactly full-blown resolutions. They’re more in the vein of readjusting my focus. As I mentioned the other day – I want to “mapquest” a new and improved life’s itinerary! 😉

So, here they are in this installment of Lucky Seven:

7 Things Crystal Wants To Do in the New Year

1. Read More!
Reading is the first thing that suffers when I’m short on time. But, I love to read. When the Kindle first came out, Sir Beads surprised me with one for my birthday. I need to get back to using it more.

2. Eat Breakfast On Weekdays!
Ever since I was a kid, I have been unenthusiastic about breakfast – except on the weekends. I’m just not hungry when I jump out of bed. If I have a busy day planned – the last thing I want to do is sit down and have a meal. I like to grab a cup of tea and start working. I know this isn’t good for me. They say that you need “fuel” to start a fire of energy to get your body cranking on all cylinders. They also say that people who eat breakfast are thinner. Hmmm, now that got my attention! 😉

3. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
Lately, my lists have lists. I have to develop some real shortcuts to accomplish the things I need to do . . . or maybe I should decide if anything I’m doing can be eliminated entirely.

4. Cook Something New!
We all have our favorite meals and our stash of “go-to” recipes but it’s easy to get into a rut. I want to test new dinner ideas in 2011 to add a little more variety to suppertime!

5. Pare Down the Clothes Closet!
Boy, am I ever the poster girl for the old saying: We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time! This is the year to face the fact that some of what I’ve been saving would get much more use if it were donated.

6. Cull Out the Collections!
I love pretty things (Who doesn’t?), but I’ve come to the conclusion that too much energy is expended on dusting, cleaning, and caring for them. I’m going to keep my absolute favorites and the rest will have to go.

7. Create A Studio – Finally!
This is the big one! I haven’t ever had a large space dedicated to my creative endeavors. Oh, I had a little craft area in our basement when my kids were growing up. It was clean and bright with pegboard and shelves installed by Sir Beads for my supplies, and a pretty rug to make it cozy. The problem? There was no heat, which was ok in the summer but in winter I felt like Bob Cratchit working by the heat of a candle (not exactly, but you get the idea!). Eventually, I decided that working in the living quarters was more comfortable, even if I did have to continually take all the supplies out and then put them all away again – daily! Talk about time-consuming.

My kids are in their own homes now and there’s no reason why we can’t turn one of the bedrooms into a wonderful workspace. (Film at 11:00, well, sometime before 2012!) 😀

How about you?

What would you like to do in 2011?

Hugs,

Calendars and Resolutions

Posted on January 4, 2010 by crystal

Although I love the adventure of a new year and am inspired by the chance to fill it with lots of fun and positive things, I’ve never been too big on New Year’s resolutions, per se.

Not that I couldn’t use plenty of improvement, mind you! 😉

It’s just that I don’t think of January 1st as a day of self-assessment. I’m more likely to contemplate changes or choose new goals on my birthday. To me, there’s something about adding a year to my age that triggers thoughts about how I would like to modify aspects of my life.

But speaking of the adventure part of a new year – don’t you just love a brand spanking new calendar? The crisp pages are so gloriously empty. What fun it is to imagine all the events and bits of info that will gradually begin to fill-in some of those blank spaces. Sure, there will be the boring dental appointments, and the oil change for the car, but think of the family birthdays, and the summer picnics, and the lunch dates with friends!

I bought our new wall calendar yesterday. Talk about last minute! In my defense, I do like to wait until they’re half-price. I chose this little bit of whimsy called “Flower Fairies” by Cicely Mary Barker.

Sir Beads-a-Lot (saint that he is) always allows me to choose the new calendar. He knows that I will probably never select anything remotely masculine, yet he good-naturedly nods with enthusiasm when I present my pick for the year. The artwork on this one is lovely and it has fairly large boxes for each date, so it will be easy to write (and fit) any information for a given day.

Oh, before I forget! The first GIVEAWAY of 2010 will begin tomorrow. Hope you’ll stop back then to enter for your chance to win!

Hugs,

Friday Favorites

Posted on January 1, 2010 by crystal

For the first Friday Favorites of 2010 (Yikes, it’s going to be tough to get used to writing that!), here’s a darling vintage card and a special quotation to match!

This Little Miss is carrying in a new calendar for the new year. I just love that her bouquet has shamrocks for good luck in the days ahead, and forget-me-nots as reminders of special moments in the previous year.

And, isn’t this quote perfect for today? I’m feeling inspired already!

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

May 2010, and every new year, be brimming with peace, prosperity, love, and much joy for all of us! 😀

Autumn Resolutions

Posted on August 19, 2009 by crystal

Labor Day is fast approaching and bringing with it the unofficial end of summer.

Although we usually make resolutions on January 1st, it seems to me that whenever the seasons change, there’s an opportunity to regroup a little, make plans, strive for more balance, and remind ourselves to live in the moment.

I came across a list that I think could be the perfect formula for “autumn resolutions”. There are definitely a few gems in this bunch! 😀

Which one do you like best?

Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

Try to make at least three people smile each day.

Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid.

Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. – Appreciate their genuine nature, strength, and innocence.

Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.