Pause

I'm taking what I hope will be a short blogging break. I need to focus on life, get through each day, and look forward to whatever the future holds.

I'll be back soon!

Don't Forget Thanksgiving!

Source: piccsy.com via Jess on Pinterest

So I saw this on my friend Jess' Pinterest board {and several times after} and couldn't help but laugh. And then I saw this and pinned it:

Source: fasthorseinc.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Now, don't get me wrong. I adore Christmas. I'm pretty sure I posted about decorating in September. Yup, I did.  At my "real" job, we're thinking about Christmas in August or September. For crafty projects, I'm normally trying to think about it before then. For personal stuff...well, I fit it in where I can.

But, when I walked into Hobby Lobby back during the Week in the Life project in late July and saw Christmas decorations...well, that was it for me. July?? Are you kidding me. What about back to school, tailgating, Halloween & Thanksgiving? Are they just chopped living compared to Christmas?

So, in honor of not forgetting about Thanksgiving, I thought I'd post some Pinspiration {ha, I crack myself up!} for fall and Thanksgiving.

Source: firstladyofthehouse.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I just love everything about this. The wreaths, the mirrors, the way the mirrors are hung. I'd love to have this in my new entry way next year {we'll move in just before Christmas}.

Source: designbykelli.com via Kelli on Pinterest

This banner is great...very rustic, my preferred style of fall decorating.

Source: 5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com via Fran on Pinterest

I actually think this might be a little cuter {and more universally fall} without the "thanks" lettering on the bottles, but overall, it's a really cute vignette.

Source: theheartoftheseahome.typepad.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I love everything about this. I wish I had a table big enough for something like this...one day, in my dream home, I will!

I think it's so easy to forget about living in the moment and look ahead to things that have to get done or that are more exciting than a holiday that doesn't include caroling or candy canes or piles of presents. But by rushing by, I fear that people are missing out on the opportunity to give thanks for the blessings in their everyday life.

Plus, stuffing and pumpkin pie are really quite delightful!

Happy Wednesday, all!

Time

Time has almost no meaning for me these days! It's sort of crazy how it flies by, disappears so quickly, or drags on when I don't want it to. Anxiety and anticipation and stress and planning all seem to have taken over the reality of time and given me a whole new schedule lately.

A few weeks ago, Mike & I were talking one night and I said to him, "Something needs to change. We need something new to look forward to in our lives. I don't care what it is - a vacation, a new job, a new house...just something new." At the time, that statement seemed so overwhelming and impossible. Funds are tight and we already took a trip to Texas this summer, so vacation wasn't happening. Home searches are overwhelming, so we weren't going there. And we were both in good jobs, even if they didn't make us particularly happy.

I guess it's true what they say, be careful what you wish for. Fast forward to now. Mike has a new job {that he seems to like so far}, I won't have a job soon {so I'll need a new one}, and we have a new house {or we will in 33 days...eep!}

Holy. Crap.

On top of all that fun, Vogt Design Co. seems to have taken off a little and I've been busier than ever with orders. I love it. I'm thinking of new ways to expand my business and I couldn't be more thrilled to get them under way. At the same time though, it's so completely overwhelming. Do I really have enough confidence in myself to make a "real" business out of what I do? Not just a sad little Etsy store, but a business where people might actually want to buy what I make on a regular basis? Weird.

Oh, and did I mention that I decided back in September that I wanted to make the Christmas gifts I was giving this year? I decided I could supplement with things I purchased and I would obviously need to buy supplies to make things, but I was going to try to make the bulk of our gifts this year. Yeah, that couldn't have been worse timing! I'm still committed to the idea, but the projects have changed just a little.

So, like I said, time doesn't have a lot of meaning for me anymore. I work until I'm too exhausted to stay awake, and then I sleep. My alarm still goes off at 4:30am whether I went to bed at 8:30pm {like I'd prefer} tossed and turned all night because my mind won't shut off. I sleep where I can {normally in the car on the way to or from work} because every little bit helps. I work where I can, take entirely too many notes and make too many lists, and hope that my health holds out.

And no matter how much I think I can't do it anymore, the truth is, I can. I may yawn a bit more. I may be a bit attached to my iphone. I may depend on Mike to hold me up.

It will all get done, and I will enjoy doing it.