A Knot in the Rope

Life continues, with yet more stressful changes heading my way at the office. We'll have to wait and see if my feeble mind will survive them...

After a few months of plotting, we managed to complete our first painting project! I adore cool, crisp palettes, so deciding on a grey that would mesh with our current "builder beige" color scheme proved rather challenging. My questionable photography skills don't do the color justice - it looks phenomenal in person.

I don't think I've ever been this excited about laundry!

Weekend Snapshots:

"If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error."
John Kenneth Galbraith

Another Day, Another Trail

Two days at work, two days off, one day at work, and two more off. This is the kind of schedule that I could get used to... In all seriousness though, the Thanksgiving holiday couldn't have come at a better time - especially since the issues of last week are still making their presence known.

Chris and I are making an effort to explore more of the areas surrounding Boise, so we decided to head into the Boise National Forest to check out the Crooked River Trail on Sunday. The snow was a bit of a surprise, but it definitely enhanced the scenery. 

Aren't they cute?!

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."

Woodrow Wilson

Happy Thanksgiving!!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Strength in the Broken Places

I wrestled with posting this, but in an effort to be honest about actual life (rather than just sharing the highlight reel) I decided to hit publish.

Last week I had, for lack of a better term, a mental breakdown. I've been dealing with moderate depression for the past few months and, when combined with an inordinate amount of stress at work, it resulted in an involuntary, stress-induced seizure - which was one of the least enjoyable experiences of life thus far. 

The good news is that, with a week off from work, I'm feeling much closer to normally functioning. But the situation begs the question - why, as females, is there such an enormous need to create turmoil? I'm not saying that men are immune to this, but I've dealt with far less of these issues in co-ed workplaces.

In an effort to restore some serenity, we decided to head out for an eight mile hike at Dry Creek over the weekend. Dry Creek is not, in fact, particularly dry, but our expedition was successful in reestablishing my sanity. Add in a detox soak, new recipe attempt, and a healthy dose of Pinterest and the weekend will be complete.

"Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow."
Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Jumbled

Let's be honest, sometimes you just need a break. And that's okay. 

I've spent the last two weeks beating myself up for not doing a regular post. But in reality, I've been overwhelmed and just need to take a step back from things that aren't necessities. Blogging is something that I do for fun, and I will be taking a little more time off until I can find some inspiration and rediscover the joy.

"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."

Audrey Hepburn

Recovered, Mostly...

My lovely cold is still hanging on for dear life, but I feel somewhat back to normal. After putting off everything that wasn't absolutely necessary last week, I finally ventured out to make some progress on my to do list. Grocery shopping, a Target run, cleaning, decorating, and cooking - the weekend flew by!

Project of the Week: Master Bath Updates

Hanging things on the wall is an ongoing (and occasionally hostile) negotiation in our household, with me being the one reluctant to poke holes until I'm positive on what I really want. It's a slow process, and one that drives Chris nuts. Maybe marriage really is about having "that one special someone that you want to annoy for the rest of your life." Sorry, babe...

Before: Noncommittal and boring

After: Much improved!

I'm kind of in love...

Newest lovely from Target's clearance section

Before: Blank

After: Advantageous

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and getting miscellaneous things accomplished around the house.

Fresh cut grass + sunshine = heaven

Hello, fall! Crock pot taco soup

Spoiled? Nah...

Ups and Downs

Fall is here!!

And with it, a whopping head cold. 

More to come later when I don't feel like death warmed over.

"Sometimes You Eat The Bear...

And sometimes the bear, well, he eats you."

via

Let's just say that I haven't been eating any bear lately.

False Start

My day off last week started out with this view.

I was pretty dang excited, and then I realized that A) that was smoke and B) it was still going to be 90 degrees. Did this realization stop me from spending the day wandering around in an autumn-induced delirium? Not a chance. Autumn is my New Year - full of crisp possibilities and endless adventure. After a brutal summer of relentless smoke and heat, the freedom that fall promises is literally making me weak in the knees.

What's a girl in love with autumn supposed to do when it's nearing October and still feels like summer? Shop for cardigans, seasonal candles, scarves, cozy blankets, and seriously consider buying another peacoat regardless of the weather! Purchasing an album by The Civil Wars and making a fall playlist is optional, but highly recommended.

Seasonal candle that isn't overwhelmingly perfumed: Score!

Obsession of the Week: Zach vs. Dinosaur

What happens when a toddler meets a dinosaur? "Wun!!!!"

Dreaming of Change

There were two days where temperatures were in the 70's last week. Two days was all it took to get me into the mood for fall. Scarves, boots, sweaters, coats, spiced cider, soup, fleece, twilight strolls... You name it and I'm craving it; which isn't the easiest to deal with since temperatures bounced right back up into the low 90's.

Project of the Week: Dresser Makeover

I inherited a sturdy wood dresser from my mom and, after years of it being Chris' least favorite piece of furniture in our house, I decided to give it some much needed TLC.

Step One: Forget to take an actual "before" picture until after sanding the entire dresser. Go through old photos to find a substitute.

#poorplanning

Step Two: Stain the dresser top following the product directions (I chose a dark walnut stain), let the stain cure until no longer tacky, then tape off the top to allow for painting the base. Decide on new hardware and prep the drawers accordingly. At this point in the process you should also commandeer your husband's office for your project space.

Step Three: Find a suitable helper to assist with the prime and paint process. Use stealth tactics to acquire your hubby's parking space in the garage while he is out running errands.

Step Four: Apply two coats of primer and two to three coats of water-based enamel paint. Decide how far to paint into the drawer areas; I did a minimal amount to add depth to the front. Something about a solid white dresser disturbs me, but I didn't want to use distressing techniques.

 Step Five: Apply four coats of polycrylic to the stained wood, sanding until smooth between each coat. 

Step Six: Install new hardware.

Step Seven: Bask in warm glow when your previously skeptical hubby admits that the dresser now looks fantastic.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

George Eliot

Five Things I've Learned from Financial Institutions

As I may or may not have mentioned previously, I work at a financial institution. The things that I have been learning from this position are generally, but not always, related to financing.

1) Boogers are not an acceptable form of currency. Judging from the number of people who include them with their deposits, this is not common knowledge.

2) Strippers make their boyfriends bring in their piles of one dollar bills. Why said strippers never bother to face the bills, thus making the transaction as fast as possible, is beyond me. Apparently they're too embarrassed to bring their earnings in, but even they don't like handling that crap.

3) The general population thinks nothing of bringing their dogs in, leashed or otherwise. This also stands true for the full-blooded wolf that someone decided to bring to my station recently (no leash, I might add). Our entire branch is now aware that wild animals and their "owners" are to be kept away from me.

4) If you're too embarrassed to spend your money, we don't want it either. This means you, person whose cat peed on a pile of bills. The fact that you tried to wash them before bringing them in didn't help, and the fact that you neglected to tell me why you tried to wash them until I had them in my hand is reprehensible. Angry and covered in cat pee is not how you want someone to be helping you.

5) If you're under the age of 30, it is highly likely that you believe you have a checkings account. People over the age of 30 find this laughable, and promptly request access to their safety deposit box. Heaven help them. Or me. I'm honestly not sure who needs it more at this point...

"Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it's greedy or loving."
Dan Millman

Portrait of a Long Weekend

I adore holiday weekends...

Mandatory game day attire for the Boise workplace...

Squirrel!!

Mr. Fix-It

Finally finished!!

"Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance 
but disappear when you get up close to them." 
John Shirley