BulgingButtons

May 27, 2015
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

The Price of my Starbucks Addiction

I was so excited this morning, because it was my first real day of summer vacation. Yes, I had the long weekend, but I spent one of those days miserable (darn stomach bug) and didn’t really do much the rest of the weekend (except see Pitch Perfect 2 for the second time, omg, I love that movie). Then yesterday I spent the day with my wonderful team, planning for instruction. Not exactly summer vacation mode.

Today, though, was different. Today the day was mine. Yes, there were some things I wanted to do, but I didn’t have anywhere I had to be or anything I had to do. What a wonderful feeling.

Naturally I was up early, because I’m in the habit. That will change soon, though, as I stay up later and later.

I was sorting through the wonderful end of year gifts from my students, and decided that I would download the Starbucks app to consolidate my gift cards. I congratulated myself for figuring out how to do it, then got to thinking about how nice it was to have a bank of free Starbucks treats waiting for me.

I know, this has been an ongoing issue for me. I go cold turkey, then I go back. I’ve done it several times now. Why? Empty calories and lots of money, but oh so yummy.

How much could it add up to? Well, I recently went through my bank statement to figure that out. In a thirty day period I spent exactly $123.45 at Starbucks. That works out to nearly $1500. a year. We could take a vacation for that!

I’m back to thinking that I need to stay away from Starbucks, but my phone is always with me, so if I do find myself there, at least I have credit, thanks to my wonderful students and their parents.

May 25, 2015
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Feeling the Need to Purge

So yesterday I started a new quilt project, which felt awesome. Until I looked around.

Every flat surface in my house has stuff on it. Every. Single. One. And I’m not just talking about the normal stuff, either. Oh sure, the kitchen table has place-mats and salt and pepper shakers, but it also has magazines and pencils.

Mine isn’t quite this bad.

The dining room table has gifts from students, the coffee table has magazines, notebooks, pencils, and gift cards. The bathroom counter has movie ticket stubs and receipts. And my desk-slash-sewing table? I don’t even want to talk about it. Frankly, it’s just TOO MUCH.

So today I’ve started cleaning up, in earnest. I decided that I would tackle one surface at a time, starting with the kitchen counters. So far, so good.

Last year when my former house was on the market, it was immaculate. There was not one thing out of place, ever. I loved it. Truthfully it wasn’t even all that difficult to maintain, but getting it that way wasn’t easy.

We’ve been in this house since the end of last summer. By the end of this summer I want it to be immaculate too. That means finding permanent homes for things that have been just sort of hanging around, or letting them go. It also means a serious closet clean-out, since I have piles of clothes that I don’t wear and probably never will again. Sigh.

Still, I’m making progress. It feels good to fill up the recycle bin with junk mail and magazines, and seeing the shiny granite that was hiding under all the clutter makes me smile. I feel calmer, happier, and more creative when I’m not surrounded by too much stuff. Next mission: the coffee table. Wish me luck.

May 24, 2015
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

A New Quilt Project

You know how you have lots of projects already in the works, but can never seem to find the time to finish them? You don’t? Oh. Well, I do.

Sometimes those projects linger for days, weeks, months, or in the case of several of my unfinished quilts, years. Still, I can’t quite bring myself to give up on them.

Just like Dug, I’m easily excited by new things.

SOMEDAY I may want to finish that particular project, so it sits tucked away, patiently waiting.

In the meantime, my attention gets drawn someplace else. New ideas pop into my head. New materials beckon to me. New trends emerge. “THAT’S what I want to do!” I tell myself, so nine times out of ten I give myself permission to go for it.

I’m not one to start and finish one thing before I start and finish the next. I’m more of a multi-tasker. I may be reading three or four books, writing two or three pieces, and sewing two or three quilts at any one time. My dearly departed father would be both proud and appalled. Proud because he did the same thing. Appalled because he preached against it.

Today I’m on summer vacation. I have the itch to sew up some of the gorgeous fabrics that have been patiently decorating my past two sewing spaces. I’ve found a pattern I’d like to try, and I’m ready to go. All I have to do is move the laptop and replace it with the sewing machine. Then it’s go time!

I’m excited. I’m ready. Here we go!