Terry Ann’s tips for organizing and making the visual noise of an untidy place go silent and calm.

Terry Ann’s tips for organizing and making the visual noise of an untidy place go silent and calm.

·       Make your bed in the morning, maybe right as you climb out… it is a work surface for laundry, paperwork, purging other items and it is so worth it to have at least one thing done each day.

·       Set your morning alarm at a place in your room where you will have to get out of bed to turn it off.  You will be up on time.

·       Keep to a routine in the morning, if it be coffee, tea, exercise, prayer and study, makeup, shower or all, do it every morning. It is your time for self-care and to make a good start. 

·       Have a first aid kit and know how to use it.

·       Have extra water stored away for extended emergency.

·       Have an emergency plan for the household and a communication/meet up plan if all fails.

·       Get a diffuser, or another kind of air freshener, they are so clean smelling at least if nothing else it smells clean.

·       Make your daily task automatic.  Give yourself 15/20 minutes to the cleaning you must do. Dusting, dishwasher loading, laundry, toilet or trash take out.  This time might need to be adjusted if you have more than one person in your household, or you may need to split the chores between the two of you, each take care of something while the other is working on the other items.  Once your time is up leave it for the next day.  Revisit this if things get behind… too much leaving things for tomorrow can defeat the purpose, but too much being done all on one day will tire you out and keep you from being motivated tomorrow.

·        Have a box or basket you use as a drop area, things you will need to put away before the day is over, but just can’t get upstairs or to that part of the house just yet.  I like a handled basket because then I can carry it around and distribute the stuff where it goes.

·       Fold or hang clothes right out of the dryer they are less wrinkled that way, not so much ironing.

·       Clean your shoes regularly, you look so much more put together if those toes are shinny.

·       Make a “To Do” list each day, make it short and prioritize it.  If you have no motivation put the mundane on the list. Water the plants, get the mail are acceptable items, just realize that will not be every day and move up to, things like make a budget and write a will.

·       Use a calendar, planner, phone calendar or google calendar.  Set alerts that will get you to your appointments on time.  Looks like you care!

·       Have an email signature formatted for all your correspondence it keeps from you having to add that info to all your communications

·       Remember that when you shop you do not have to take home everything you like and have money for… The Store is a place to STORE an items until it fits into your life, when you have time and space to enjoy it.  In the meantime you get to store your money in your bank where it make interest!

·       Have a place, notebook or journal, to put your great ideas, make shopping list for those craft ideas and write down instructions for your inspirations.  Now these list are not to actually be used unless you have the time, money, space and motivation to do them immediately.  You can always get the items for it later when you have the money and time.  Don’t bring home supplies and items for a someday project.

·       Have an inbox that holds those things in the mail, you have to answer pay or otherwise file and do that at least once a week.  I like Mondays or Tuesdays because if there needs to be follow up by someone there will still be time in the week to work on it more.

·        Update your resume every 4 – 6 months.

·       Keep a small stock of stamps and envelopes.

·       Do the daunting sorting and purging with a timer on, 30 minutes, an hour, 2 hours, and then stop.  It will be there tomorrow.  Just do it again tomorrow until it is finished.

·       As you sort through items keep a box, bag or container in view, marked, sell, donate and keep.  Think through each item and only put it in one of these three places do not put it down where you found it.  Once decided do not change containers. 

·       The items you have decided to sell must be put up for sale somewhere or in a yard sale by the end of the month or they get re labeled as donate.  The purpose is to declutter not to make money, the goal to declutter will enrich your life so much more than mere money.

·       Donate those items as soon as you can, I take a bag to the car even if I am not planning on going by the charity, because I may end up doing that.  Never buy from a thrift without donating at least double what you buy.

·       Every item you keep must have a “home” within your home, someplace where it can be found when needed and organized with like items.  Put things away constantly put things back where you found them.  This is so basic and so important! Simple “your mother told you” wisdom that will help keep clutter at bay.

·       Don’t keep duplicates of the same items unless there is a really good, awesome, earth shattering reason for doing so. “Collections” are the gateway drug to hording.

·       Pinterest is a good place to keep interesting articles and ideas.  If it isn’t digital you can scan or phone camera photo it and make your own pin from that file.  Keep away from hording articles and magazines with stuff in them you will never find them later unless you organize them now.

·       Set up a file system and use it.  Important papers like wills, insurance, health, bank, work, resume, passport and other stuff like that is hard to find when the pressure is on to get it for an important event.

·       Work and rest and relaxation must be balanced, make sure to give your work all the time required, but not more than you are being compensated for.  Balance as the work, rest cycle works for you but be sure it actually works and you have enough time to take care of both!

·       Make a budget, such a stress reliever! Use a digital money tracker like “mint” or “every dollar” or good old pen and paper, find out where those pennies are being spent.  Now you can see how to proceed without worry and find out where the dollars actually go… this is super empowering and useful to keep from overspending and making sure you have the $$ for the things you need and want.  Use your money tracker often, at least weekly, to keep in touch with spending patterns.  I keep paper receipts on my desk and once a week I enter them into every dollar, this helps me see where I have splurged and where I have been wise, learn as you go and get better.  Save something every month, this will be one of the benefits of using a budget and it will look different for everyone.  Just do it!

·       Bring your lunch to work, it will always be healthier, quicker and less $$.

·       Learn how to make a salad and make all kinds of salads, they are so much better and healthier than that fast food and actually less $$.

·       Learn something new as often as you can do it, a class, a seminar, a study or an adventure will be so much more valuable than anything you can bring home to put on the shelf.

·       Go to a gym class, spin class or Zumba, if you try to do it on your own, there will be no social pressure to keep it up and a scheduled time is easier to work into the plan for clothing, budget and time management.

·       Most important of all… Look for joy and remember that experiences are 100% more lasting than any items you may own.  Besides, all we own actually own us… in time, cleaning, dusting, organizing, insuring, storing, protecting… and for what? …to impress someone or to look at every once and a while and feel some connection?  I feel some powerful connection by looking at the mountains, a lovely flower or a sunrise or set… and spending time with loved ones, serving in the community, going to church or a musical… so many better connections to people with all the memories and experiences inside my head rather than on the shelf. 

·       God Bless.

Shoes and Shoe ~~ gasm !!!

     Dear Reader... I was walking down Carnaby Steet, London, last spring, minding my own business...when I was stopped in my tracks by a store window...a shoe store. 

Irregular Choice! 

click to go to store website

SHOE~GASM!

     I went in and decided, I needed nourishment in order to shop, there were too many good choices! I was late for lunch.  Returning with energy, I tried on about 10 pairs and left with these three pair.  Whew!, I could have purchased several more but stopped myself.  The brown pair in the back left are by "Bed of Roses", the ones in the back right are by "Poetic Licence" (saw these yesterday in Nostroms, in other colors) the center front pair, my favorite are by "Irregular choice, Mutiny"

     Shoes for women can sometimes be a sexy accessory or they can be hobbling and make you walk like you are an overweight 90 year old with bunions.  As I have matured, I have rediscovered my love for sexy shoes, however, they must be comfortable enough to actually walk.  Please take time to try on shoes and really walk around in them, do a few dance steps, bend down, sit down, stand up and turn around a bit.

click to go to the MK store

     These black sandals with the wide straps are another of my favorites, they are tall platforms and yet I can wear them, without fear of falling.  I have actually worn these all day without getting a cramp, they are really comfortable, and sexy and isn't sexy susposed to be comfortable!?  These are Michael Kors, I have them in black, tan and the white ones are on order.

     Other sexy, fashionable shoes include these two, a pair of high heeled hikers (unknown info) and a pair of heels that feel like fishnet stockings for your feet, by Steve Madden.

click to go to the SM site

 

     Of all the shoes I have, flats, sandals, flip flops, boots aplenty, and heels... this pair does it for me more than any other pair... they are not to tall, comfortable, soft, well made, I can dance, run, walk and party in them with out noticing any discomfort at all.

Thank you Charlotte Olympia!

click to go to CO site! drool!

 

 

So go find your sexy shoes! and be comfortable!

Journal of the Hat

April 12, 2012, We got messy… yippee!  I got my fabric from the drycleaners and they did a wonderful job.  The fabric was unfolded and mostly pressed to a lovely smooth surface. 

     Prudence talked with us individually and I was taught how to wrap a wooden head called a block with stiff millinery canvas.  I cut a section on the bias and pinned into place while wet then blow dyed it to a stiff form.  I left it there at the studio (see photo) to await more work, next week.  I got a nasty blister on my ring finger from pushing all those pins in!

     I paid attention as she taught two other students how to use the gelatin to stiffen soft silk satin for flower petals, as I am going to do flowers also when I get the chance.  Another student dyed fabric to the color she wanted, see photo of her fingers that matched her camera.

Whatever ~ I love where I live.

I have heard and experienced myself the great many gray days here in the northwest! Some people come to visit and never see the beautiful mountains.... if they make an appearance...it is just a fleeting glance through the clouds. When I first moved here the trees, our neighborhood, and the rainy days kept me from seeing the mountain's for about the first 6 months. One day I turned the corner near our home and the sun had just popped out from behind the ever hovering clouds... Ta... DA ♪♫♫♪♪♪ ~ !!! I was then determined, from then till now, when I see those beautiful clouds lift, and I see the lofty heights of strength and beauty, covered in snow even in the summer, I will be glad. I will be filled with that view and really soak it into me. Thank you God! Then when my eyes fill up with the sight, it brings a kind of inspiring joy.

Trust in the Lord

A few weeks ago this Eagle landed in the trees in my yard....snap!

Today in my Daily verse, this email arrived.......

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

~~~~~~>> Psalm 56:10,11 <<~~~~~~

Evaluate where you put your trust and what you allow to evoke fear. Be reminded that God is trustworthy and it is in Him who you should invest your treasure of trust.

Living a victorious life requires each of us to evaluate, inspect, observe, examine and dissect our own life. Prayerfully looking for ways we are defeated, ways we are lost, ways we are cowed into not fully enjoying the blessings God brings our way. I will not be a victim and I will grab all the joy and blessing God gives! I will rise on wings like an eagles! Amen.

Shoes to be married in!

So...OK............, we saw some beautiful shoes in the most recent "In Style" magazine. My daughter was looking for shoes to wear with her wedding dress this summer.
There is not a chance that we could afford those designer dreams... go look them up on page 394, lace treasures!!! So I had a bit of a creative brainstorm. We went to the bargain shoe store and purchased a plain pair of white strappy pumps for $10!

The end result are these beautiful designer inspired pair, using ..... my old and stained, wedding dress... yep the backs were covered with the cuffs, and the toes took some of the lace from the top. We made some little rosettes from the tulle, and put shell buttons in the middle, those are on the top of the heel area. I am not sure if we are finished with the layers of lace, but I had to take these photos. WOW ! and it was so fun!

Venice with a little photoshop fun.

A few years ago my husband, my daughter and I went on a trip to Venice Italy. There were so many lovely views that I took hundreds of photos! I took a photoshop class about a year and half ago... this is the combination of one of my photos and my newly discovered photoshop skills... I really like it and though I should share it.

Working on things....

Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John 20:29 ~~~~~
Often times, seeing is believing, as far as us humans are concerned. Be reminded that even when you don't feel like you're tangibly seeing results of God's faithfulness, He is faithful - He can not deny Himself.
(from http://thedailyverse.com)

Many of you already know that I have experienced a shocking and sad event ... a life changing event and I am slowing returning to life myself.

This is my first attempt to reconnect with my old life...

I will write and explain more as time and energy allows...

Prayers work ~ Continue to Pray!

Thank you.

Etsy Mini ~ How to put one in your Blog ~ Baby Steps.

Putting an Etsy Mini in your blog… A friend of mine ask me how to... so I did this little tutorial, step by step...

At Etsy…

A - Go to log in and go to “Your Etsy”
B - On the left hand side of the page at the very bottom click “Etsy Mini”

****Three choices appear… here we go…..

1-*Items from my shop… this will capture the items you have chosen as “featured” items those that show at the top of your shop page. *Items from your favorites will chose those you have hearted.
2-*Choose image size… it will depend upon how much space you have in the side bar of your blog… I choose thumbnail so I can get two columns on my sidebar. You can redo this if it doesn’t fit.
3-*Choose Layout …Finally Columns are up and down Rows are side by side… choosing how many of what, again it depends upon how much space you have… I choose 2 columns and 4 rows so I can have a lot of photos.

Once this is set up on your blog if you change the featured items this etsy mini will change too! Fun… Sold items will disappear and new items from your feature list will move up… I switch my featured items about weekly therefore all of my mini’s change too.

C – You will see at the bottom of the page there are two boxes with “code” yep it is CODE and it really isn’t as spooky as it sounds… if you look closely at it you will see that it contains your choices and your etsy shop number, (More on that later). Highlight all of that and COPY it. The first box is for Blogs.

At Your Blog…

A – Go to your blog page and sign in.
B – This should put you at your Dashboard; if it doesn’t, look at the upper right corner of your blog and see the Dashboard link… go there. Sometimes this says customize this link goes there too.
C – At your dashboard you should see your blog name and under that….NEW POST, Edit Post, Settings, Layout, View Blog. Click on Layout.

***** Here is the fun part!!!! Layout Page

On this page you can >>>>> Add and Arrange Elements <<<<> Save, when you save it … the layout page will reappear and your new gadget will be on the top of the column you first chose. To move it around, you can put your cursor on top of the box; a cross with arrows will appear… click and hold, drag it down to where you want it. It is sometimes squirrely; just take your time to get it where you want it. Save and View your Blog with your new Etsy Mini!

__________________________________________________________________
To get someone else’s shop Etsy Mini

1 - Do it all the same, as if you are doing your own Etsy Mini… Take note of the other shops “etsy shop number”. I write it down.
*the etsy shop number for any shop is in the address bar when you are at their shop home, just look up.
2 - When you paste the code into the widget tool, simply change the shop number to the one you are trying to get… this will change the mini to their shop mini!

How about that! > ♥ > Isn’t Blogging Fun!

My New Favorate Place to surf ~ Cut Out and Keep

A couple of months ago I discovered this site Cut Out and Keep! They call themselves a step by step crafty community. It is full of mini "How to's"... written by people just like you and me. I have been surfing there quite a bit and finally put up a couple of things up myself.... check out my step by step...

My teen daughter finally got her ears pierced... so needed a place to put and display her begining collection... We did this...

Click on either photo to go to the Step by Step........ at Cut Out and Keep!

I also put up this wonderful drink that will cool you off on these last hot days of summer....

Italian Soda ... yummy and cool, calories yes but so good! click on the photo to go straight to the "How to"!

The Purse Tote - Oops I didn't do that on purpose !!! - Black and White Chrysantemum fabric with touch of Silver

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Or maybe it is ok........... missed it by that much. > <

Sometimes after making, creating, sewing, ironing, and otherwise being creative, you make an Oops! I have had my share of OOooops ~ es in the past and mostly I carry them myself or I take them apart and begin again. This time I decided it wasn’t that bad, and I have noticed that other Etsians have listed Oops also. In fact there was a treasury devoted to Oops a few weeks ago and they were lovely.
This is an "Ooops" because the snaps were put on off center and attached slightly to one side... This is priced slightly lower than the others because of the Ooops. If it is not sold in one cycle on etsy it will not be renewed and I will carry it. It is really a beautiful fabric. Oh! I might get another for my own collection! It is really a beautiful fabric. If this Oops is calling your name you can buy it at my shop..
Then put Oops in the search box and see what else comes up you will be surprised!

Just So terryann !...

I had to think of something quick! I was signing up for a blog. I was not prepared to just use my first name again. However, I couldn’t come up with some wildly creative tag that would allow it to come up on every blog search and be so “on the mind” of everyone that it would be natural for them to just fall into my blog. I did want to use this space for my shops and yet I also want to use this as an open diary of sorts. I wanted to share a few mostly public happenings and events, as well as how amazingly I find myself being blessed in every situation. What first sprang to mind was Just terryann, that didn’t quite carry me. I then had a bit of a brain blank, bubble, or maybe a seizure… no idea! …. I thought, I thought some more, I delayed, I watched Dr. Phil. I had tea and cookies, and then I went and got the mail. All very exciting activates to say the least. Some where in there I remembered a kids show called “that’s so Raven”, I also remember someone telling me how when something is right it is “Just So”. It caught my attention; I hope it catches yours also. Sometimes my blog will be “Just so” or right. Then other times it will be “just so Terryann” or so much like me.