The Holidays

This time of year is always bitter sweet. Many things to be thankful for...health, my two sweet angels, a handful of great friends and following my heart and doing my dream job peddling vintage wears. Then Jill Black AKA Debbie Downer chimes in and reminds me of unhappy discontent in my life. Having just lost my stepdad, Tom, to Parkinson's related illness, has me more thoughtful this year. What can I do to change my attitude? My life? And keep unhappiness at bay? Sounds like I'm starting my unofficial New Years resolution list.

1. Be honest...to thine own self be true

2. Be patient (with myself and others)

3. Learn a new skill or hobby

4. Spend quality time with friends

5. Learn to cook! (fish?)

6. Call my dad (long story)

7. Do more yoga and train my mind to stay quiet and calm during practice

8. Get outside 

9. Make plans and adjust accordingly 

10. Be better/the best version of me...kind, calm, relaxed, attentive, compassionate and wise

Sounds like a difficult list to attain. Perhaps I'm insane. 

Until then, maybe I can just work on the fish preparation! 

Scarves...the perfect Autumn Accessory

Givenchy 1970s Logo Cotton Scarf

Givenchy 1970s Paris Logo Floral Colorblock Scarf

Fiorucci "Oh Boy" 1980s cotton scarf, made in Italy

The little things

Things keeping me happy today:

1. Devon's baby fine hair on my face

2. Chloe reaching for my hand

3. Riding my Schwinn with the girls

4. Hearing Stephanie's smile over the phone

5. Napping for 41 blissful minutes

6. Fall weather 

7. Halloween! on Thursday 

20 Years

So...just had/

survived my 20-year high school reunion. Wasn't planning on going, but very glad I had a change of heart. High school wasn't a good time for me. Insecure, isolated, pushing others away. I realized last night that everyone was going though the same struggles. It just felt so awful to me at the time...like no one could understand. I did have a handful of good friends who knew me and stood by me. I am strong, resilient, flexible, independent and spiritual. I am a mom, a caregiver, a best friend, a sister, an artist, a wife, a daughter... But most of all, me. I am on this life journey and wouldn't change a thing about my past or present. 

Orange is the new Green

So, kid 2 (you know, the high-spirited one) was on orange at school yesterday. For those not in the color-coded school system, that is one color away from principal and calling mom...I love her sweet teacher and her explanation of Devon's infractions. "She is too smart for her own good. She doesn't follow directions or listen. She is a leader. That's what we need to focus on." I couldn't agree more. Miss Miss was on green today. 

And focusing on her reading and writing. Signing her up for karate as we speak/blog?!?

My House

I've lived here for almost 9 years. Today was the first day I did yoga outside, in my backyard. With the shaded back porch, pre-fall temps and quiet house, it seemed the perfect set up. Even found some yoga tunes on my spotify. I was on number 8 of my 10 breathing exercises when mike and the girls came home early. I felt silly doing yoga alone on the back porch. Went inside to check on them and put out fires. Kid 2 needed to poop and the bathroom(port o potty) at WR Lake was unacceptable. Can't say I blame her! After they left, finished my DIY fire 60 class and looked around at nature. My yard is amazing. Happy fall. 

Text Context

So, in this day and age, EVERYone texts. I, being someone who tends to take EVERYthing personally, have found myself reading into texts. Misunderstanding well-meaning statements and reading between the lines when there are no lines. What to do? Stopping texting? Probably not. Maybe just reserve serious discussions for phone or face to face.... So, what if you can't see someone face to face? A phone call is nice. That way, inflections can be heard and nothing is misread. How nice when a smile can be heard or, better yet, a real laugh. Better than lol or :) I don't enjoy technology. I've never been computer (or electronically) savvy. I'm better one-on-one, in small groups and definitely face to face. When did things get so distanced for our society? Makes me want to move to the country. Who's with me? 

Garage Sales, Estate Sales and Thrifting, Oh My

www.etsy.com/shop/Iamclothesminded 

Some goodies I just posted on Etsy!

Insomnia, A Tale of Two Redheads

This is just the type of post that is so boring to me. I typically wake up every night around 2 (or 1:23 tonight), and can't go back to sleep until 4. This lapse was especially brutal when I got up at 5 AM for work. Those of you lucky ones who've never had problems with falling asleep or staying asleep cannot understand. It. Is. Awful. Debilitating, maddening, frustrating, to put it mildly. Since becoming a mommy, I get up and check on my girls, get some water and get back in bed, trying not to move or wake anyone up. I always think that I'll nap (or at least relax) after a particularly long night awake, but I don't. Who has time for that leisure? So, for now, it's just me and my doppelgänger doll and the quiet still of my house. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Around dusk last night, I was relaxing on my porch, having a lovely convo with a Dear Dear..discussing balance, self-acceptance and awareness, love, all things real, "what-we-want-to-DO" vs "what-we-want-to-BE", kids, life and even a ticket to the Crystal Charity Ball (seriously)...I was so enthralled with this deep discussion, that I almost missed the fox sighting. It was clomping loudly through my bamboo, a mere 20 feet from where I sat. I spoke to it and it sauntered off. My home in Dallas, a short 15 minute drive from North Park Mall, sits near a creek with a wooded bamboo area. It's beautiful and natural and is also home to bobcats, owls, foxes and the occasional coyote. I enjoy the fact that it doesn't "feel" like I'm in Dallas. This is a similar Texas fox. I'm just glad it wasn't the coyote. Now if I could just find someone to go see The Grandmaster with me...

It's Thursday! That's Etsy update day!

Adding some new goodies to the ole Etsy store before I head out to estate sale and thrift some more! 

Back to School Blues AKA Monday Blues on Wednesday

About to embark on a new journey...
Change can be scary. So, instead of dwelling on the inevitable ickiness, I'll channel some things making/keeping me happy today.
1. My near-dead caudus equinas 

 2. The coolest Terrarium I never had as a kid.

 3. The cutest little "Monkey" ever.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will list vintage goodies on Ebay, maybe some more on Etsy, hug my girls, make a much-needed dentist appointment, blog, and breathe (which will actually come first on said list). XO

Do I get an excused absence?

It's been a while...please excuse my absence. Life got away from me. Or maybe I should say it got the better of me. But, I'm back. Between work, chasing two growing (and precocious) girls and other details I'll work up to boring you with, I paused from blogging. I'll try to be brief (not one of my strong points) and fill you in.

1. Quit dreaded job in healthcare in March

2. Selling my closet on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/sch/dallasvintage/m.html?_ipg=24&_sop=12&_rdc=1
3. Staying home with my girls this summer. Chloe is 9. Devon is 5, going on 16. 
4. Fighting through hot yoga. www.sunstoneyoga.com
5. Started an Etsy shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Iamclothesminded
So until next time...gotta get these 2 packed for a trip to Paris (TX)