A Bloggish Problem

I seem to have a reoccurring bloggish problem. Each month, towards the end of the month (sometimes even in the middle), I get off track with blog posts and It becomes very hard to get back on track. I out this up to a few issues: I have been busy trying to get on a schedule for my booktube (which is not more important to me than I blog but a bit more exciting at the moment), and then there is just life and productivity in general. Putting my efforts to making videos has left me with less inspiration (not to mention time) for writing. Life generally is always in flux, it seems.

Each month, I try to buck this growing trend and keep on track. The beginning of the month is always easier for me. I have lots of idea, as well as regular series that are easy to accomplish. I love my regular series but it’s important for me that the blog isn’t just those posts. That being said, if that’s all I can muster, it’s better than nothing.

So here we are at the end of another month where, going into the next, I have fallen off with blog posts. My notes books and drafts are full, but very little writing is getting done. On the horizon is my beginning of the month line up, and I feel good about it as usual. I see several weeks of content lined up and accessible for me to write. I love it. So As with each of the last few months, I will try to start strong and keep the momentum going for April.

How do you combat writing fatigue? Over come over or under-inspiration? Get around writer’s block? Stacy on schedule with creative endeavors without letting them becomes tedious?

Until I find the answers to these as well as many other questions, I’ll just keep trying.

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The Problem with Wanting Too Much is Having Too Much

I really want to buy new underwear. New fresh, cotton, ethically made, sustainable underwear. I would love to get rid of basically all my old ones and buy all new.

I would love to go on the internet and buy every little thing I want, like artisen jewelry, zero waste skin care, a comfy tye died sweatshirt, all the jeans, even more of the records. And now that most of us are spending basically all our time at home, this is even more tempting.

There are several reasons why I don’t do that but what they all boil down to is that we should do now what we want for the future. People’s greed and shortsightedness definitely played a part in getting us into our current situation and certain people are taking advantage of the situation in which we now live. It’s up to us as individuals to think more carefully and mindfully about our decisions and how they impact the world, especially while we have the time to make really informed, thoughtful, decisions. While the whole world is forced to move a little slower, let’s move slower within ourselves.

I am now even more mindful of my space, and what I want from it. Our spaces are directly related to ourselves. We’ve all heard the expression “cluttered home, cluttered mind” and we know that for the vast majority of us this is true. I see that in my own life, even more clearly while I’m spending so much time at home. I won’t be becoming a minimalist, but I’m working on ways to decide what is most important in my space. People who are busy buying instead of thinking might come out of this time of covid 19 with more stuff but feeling less safe and whole and “decluttered” in their homes and minds. The problem with being taught to want so much is you will end up having too much.

One of the biggest changes zero wasters and minimalists have to make is the mindset shift from what society has taught us (bigger is better, more is never enough, buy stuff to feel better), to what we know to be true (simple is satisfying and we have a responsibility to ourselves, our world and our community to be better then before, self reflection is healthy). Now that you have a minute, take that time to think about what you want to survive from this time and how to best achieve that in your mind, life and the world.

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My Favorite Videos About Productivity

I love to watch Youtube videos about productivity, habits, resets, to keep you on track, different methods of systems and checklists, and meeting your goals, whatever those goals may be. I find by watching a lot of these types of videos, I can pick and choose and create my own views and methods of being productive in both work and life. Here are some of my favorite videos and a great way to get started.

One method that I love to use to increase my productivity and organization and keep my life in order is Bullet Journaling. I have a bunch of posts about my bullet journal you can check out. But the best video to start a bullet journal is the Bullet Journal Set Up by Ryder Carroll.

My favorite youtuber to watch on this subject is MuchelleB. She does a lot of reading on the subject and can distill that info down, so you don’t have to. I enjoy almost all of her videos, but especially like that most of them are short and to the point. I follow, to some extent her method of having a Life Admin Day when I can.

Calendar blocking is a great method for productivity and organization and Any Landino is the queen of calendar blocking. Her style is more commercial and brash than most of the videos I watch, but I enjoy many of her vids.

Who are your favorite productivity gurus? What methods do you find useful to keep your self on track in the day to day? Do you find videos helpful? Share your favorites!

Pantone Color of the Year 2020: Classic Blue

Each year Pantone, the paint and color people, choose a color in December for the year ahead. They imbue these colors with ideas and ideals for the new year. I don't always agree with the choices but along with many in the quilting community, I like to ruminate on them a bit.

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The Pantone color of the year for 2020 is Classic Blue.

Here is what they say about it:

“Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era… Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience… As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.”

I’ve pondered Classic Blue for almost two months.

Generally I have a pretty quick response to the Color of the Year. Usually a negative one. I tend to vehemently disagree with the statement and mission that Pantone puts out. This year it took me much longer to decide how I feel.

My first thought is that I like this color. I’m often indifferent to the actual color of the Color of the Year. But Classic Blue is calming; it reminds we of the deepening blue of a late spring or early summer sky, cloudless and intense. The feeling you get when you’ve gone thru your whole day and for some reason you glance up, maybe a noise attracted your attention, maybe your in the middle of a memory and your head tilts up in thought, and there it is, a perfectly blue sky. And the feeling that the color inspires is so all encompassing, washing over your body, spirit and mind. It is uplifting, humbling, and expansive all at the same time. It may be, as Pantone suggests, a peaceful color, but it is at the same time a color that makes one think of the vastness of sky, ocean, and time, and how small your part in that expanse can be .

One tiny indistinguishable drop in an enormous endless bucket.

To me, this feeling is comfortable, re-centering, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility, just like Pantone intends. The idea that we are all the same, and all only a part of something far bigger and more important than the individual. This might not be exactly what Pantone meant, but to me this is the most relevant message to what’s happening in the world that Pantone has come up with in recent years. With world leaders making choices that strip away our rights, and divide us, with a shift to a “me me me” mentality, we need a reminder that everyone is connected and everyone needs to be able to relate to each other and put themselves in other people place. No one is special, no one is different, look at a stranger as you would look at yourself.

Overall, I really like classic blue and hope that Pantone, is right and this can be an awaken, centering, joining, strengthening year for all as a whole. That the larger community can leave the individual behind and come together to create better things.

What does Classic Blue make you think of or feel?

Mid Year Goal Review

Here we are in in July and I've definitely been feeling that mid year slump. My unexpected blogging hiatus has lasted much longer than I intended, I'm having trouble motivating myself to get back started, I'm having trouble motivating to sew and art, I'm struggling a little to be happy and content at work. To try and change this mental slump, I've been brainstorming, reading, and watching some videos that might help inspire and motivate me! 

One step I've decided to take is to reassess the goals I made in the beginning of the year. This is something I have never done before. It never occurred to me to change my goals mid year but why not? If the goals I set are not working for me, I should mold them into something that does. My goals should work for me as much as I work towards them.

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Here are my original goals for 2018 and how I might modify them:

Be Balanced in Home Life/Art/Personal Endeavors and Work
Since 2015 working on personal endeavors as much as my job has been one of my main goals. At some times this works, at others it does not. In 2018, I would like to continue on this path but to change it slightly. What I find most difficult sometimes is splitting my focus, trying to keep my work, art, life and job separate but equal. This year I want to focus on keeping them Balanced.

Finding a balance between work and personal art and achievements is a constant struggle. Mid year, I want to take time to figure out what I need to do to be creative and productive in my non professional life. And happier in my professional one. 

Sew and Quilt More
In 2017 my quilting fell off the map a little after a strong start to the year. I want to get back in the habit of working on quilting more days than I don't. I want to have more finishes in 2018 than last year. There are a bunch of projects (not quilts) that I have been wanting to work on; I'd like to get these done this year! I want to keep up with all my community sewing projects, like YOTS, OMG, and FALs. 

This goal is taking a break. I have been unmotivated in sewing and feeling guilty about it. I know it's something I will always come back to so why stress myself out feeling bad about it? 

Be a Better Blogger
I want to keep up my progress on my blog and set some goals for myself. I want to make sure I blog at least 23 days each month, explore my favorite columns more, create new content, and make bloggy connections. I want to get back in the habit of writing in my live journal, and use it more as a free flowing, personal, brain dump, style actual journal. I plan to get some items that will help me at work, but I plan to use them for my blogging life as well. I plan to try a standing desk. I have to learn to get better about answering comments!!

This goal still really motivates me!!! Every year I take a blogging hiatus and this year I feel like it was not planned but has already happened. With that out of the way, I can concentrate on blogging hard for the rest of the year! I can't wait to blog more and have some great content ideaas coming up. But LiveJournal doesn't work for me, so that's a no go. 

Zero Waste Journey
Last year I began my zero waste journey. In 2018, I plan to continue this journey and take more steps towards becoming plastic free. At the moment, I feel like I still hold myself back from taking easy steps towards this goal, so becoming more mindful and incorporating more ZW routines into my daily life are key for this goal. 

This is another one that I am even more excited and motivated about it!! I am so happy about where I am in my ZW journey. 

Be Purposeful and Mindful in My Home Life and Relationships
This is a big goal, but I can break it down. 
First and foremost, I want to spend more time with my husband and the cats, and make that time more purposeful. We live very busy lives and sometimes togetherness and quality time get pushed to the side. I want to make sure I'm mindful of the little things, like taking photos together, going on walks, exploring, beach combing, and being together intentionally. I want to make sure we are caring for the cats, appreciating where we live and the seasons. 
I made strides in decluttering and keeping the house clean, happy and healthy in 2017. This year I want to get even better. I want to tackle a few bigger projects around the house, like finishing our kitchen renovation, fixing up our bathroom, organizing and purging the basement, plus more. I want to continue to take good care of the plants. 
I want to continue to see and be mindful about connecting with my family and friends. This includes my immediate family, who live close, but also those that live far away, and friends near and far. 
This year, I want to focus on gardening, taking care of our yard, growing food, and composting. Since moving we have wanted to make our property more comfortable and useful. This is the year to do that in earnest. 

This is a big goal! But I think we are doing a really great job with this one. We spent 30 minutes the other night pulling caterpillars off our tomato plants and having a great time. That seems like a perfect embodiment of family togetherness and care.  

Improve My Health, Wellness, and Mental Well Being. 
A lot of things last year worked towards this goal, but in 2018 I want to be more mindful and more intent on really taking care of my health. In February, I turn 39 and I want to make sure that I get healthier and happier as I get older. I want to walk and exercise more regularly and purposely. I want to swim in the summer and learn to do yoga and home workouts. 2018 will be the year I can touch my toes!!
My first full year of having a capsule wardrobe is approaching and I have loved this challenge and routine. I plan to implement even more consciousness about my style and outward appearence to feel better about myself in 2018. 
I want to continue to eat and be more mindful of having a plant based diet. I want to make sure that we are eating locally and sustainably as much as possible. I want to increase our health using suppliments, vitamins, essenital oils, and exercise. I also want to make sure I'm maintaining my health by taking my inhaler. My asthma has gotten worse in the last few months and I know this is due to not being strict on taking my meds and also not exercising properly. 
Reading, drawing, sewing, creating, and organization have always helped my mental well being and this year I want to focus on all these areas. Watching tv does the opposite, so I want to be mindful of moving away from this fun but unproductive activity. 

Another big goal!! Mid year I want to really concentrate on health so that at the end of the year, I don't fall in to laziness. I always struggle more in the Winter months, so I want to make sure I have some good habits in place before then. Everything mentioned in the goal has a place in my mid year review. 

Make Time To Travel and Explore 
This should be a priority for us but it must be balanced with being at home in our own space. Challenges like exploring one new place per month, doing an overnight every two months, seeing art once a month, going to the beach once a week, etc...  might help strike this balance. 

This hasn't been a priority for us, and honestly, I haven't thought about it too much. This might happen when it happens but mid year, it's not a goal. 

Write 2 Letters Per Month
Writing letters gave me so much joy last year, but I never made the time to do it in a purposeful way. In 2018, I plan to change that. 

I really want to get back into this!!

Create 1 Tattoo Per Month
I have very slowly been learning to do Stick and Poke tattoos. This year it's time to branch out and seriously improve this skill. One tattoo per mouth is really ambitious but it's a good goal to strive for. 

No progress has been made on this, and it's not going to be a huge goal going forward. If it happens, I'll be happy, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it. 

Save Money
We did a good job at saving money and at not over spending in 2017. 2018 is the first year since we moved to NJ that I will work full time all year and I want to have some money saved to show for it. 

We've been really mindful of this goal and I think we are on the right track. 

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I think one of the biggest takeaways for me is to reassess my art and how to be creative. Sewing, tattoos, and other things I've tried to focus on are not doing it for me but I am inspired by clothes, blogging, and other new endeavors!! I'm ready to move forward in those directions.
Going thru my goals has really let me think about what I want for the rest of the year. I think I need a little while to ruminate and come up with my new goals list. 

Have you ever changed your goals mid year? Did it help you stay motivated?

Mad Cat Capsule: Spring (April - June)

This Spring, I have decided to try a Capsule Wardrobe. I plan to do a full year of capsule as an experiments for having less, loving what I wear and being comfortable all the time. More about capsule wardrobes here. 

For the last 2 weeks, I've been paring down my closet, reorganizing my stored clothing, cleaning, getting items ready to donate, or throwing things away. My plan in to wear my Spring wardrobe from April through June. I hear that putting your first capsule together is the hardest, and I can say, it's giving me some trouble. Although I have the bulk and core of my spring capsule together, there is still a substantial maybe pile, including a dress section to add. 

Traditionally, Capsule Wardrobes are 33 - 37 pieces and usually don't include under garments, workout clothes, loungewear, swimwear, etc... Some people include shoes, accessories, etc.. some do not. Some include everything and still manage under 40 items. 

My Spring Capsule rounds out at 50 items of clothing not including shoes, under garments, lounge wear, active wear, or anything else. I did include the 3 slots I'd like for dresses. I think this is pretty good considering I have hundreds (probably thousands) of clothes. I can also see myself pairng this down over the next three months. Just today I eliminated 3 items I thought I'd need, but when I looked at them again, I didn't. 

Here's my capsule:
9 tank tops.

Flounder couldn't resist helping me with the photos for this post. 

Flounder couldn't resist helping me with the photos for this post. 

This seems like a lot and may be too many. But I use tank tops for layering and wear them pretty much every day in the colder weather. I also often wear them instead of bras so they kinda double as underwear. I have some with spaghetti straps, some wider straps, some short some long. I chose a wide variety, but tried to stick to my loose color theme. 

3 plain crew neck tees.
These are also a go to for layering for me. I picked my three favs that work with the color scheme I have going this season. Green, blue, and grey. Check out the picture above for an example. 

4 plain V neck tees. 

Again, I wear these mostly for layering, but as the weather gets warm, I'll wear them on their own, too. 

5 graphic tees.

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You guessed it, layering. But also, on warm days I'll wear these alone (or with a tank underneath, and/or over shirt). Again, I tried to pick my favorites that fit my color scheme. Mostly they are band tees, but that local brewery shift is new. One of the only new items I have bought so far this year.

1 oversized stripped tee.

This is a anomalous item. I got it last year (new) and really loved it but barely wore it bc of several reasons ( it's white, oversized, not my usual style, etc...). But doe this capsule idea I want to incorporate some items that are different than what I normally wear. I want to find and develop my style. I know I love this tee, so I should wear it. 

1 ratty striped tee.  

This is another weird item. It's one of my all time favorite tees, and well loved, but I never wear it. This capsule I want to wear it and wear it out if I have to. One things I realized when I was crafting this wardrobe was that I loved actually distressed clothing. Not the store bought ripped knees things but clothes that I've worn to pieces. I want to incorporate this into my style more as a statement, not just neglect. Some might say I've gone too far with this shirt, and I couldn't wear it to work, but I feel great when I wear it. 

2 nice tees.

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One floral, one silk, both vintage. These are great for work, fancier occasions or everyday. 

3 long sleeved tees.

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These are for layering, and stand alone times when a long sleeved shirt is what you need. I have a warmer but very light and thin waffle tee, a striped tee, and a plain green tee (not pictured). 

2 three quarter sleeved shirts (not pictured).
These are really great middle weather shirts and will be especially useful for work. I also like wearing them, of course, so even tho they aren't my go to right now, I see myself getting a lot of use out of them. 

3 over shirts.

These are a mix of my favorites that I wear all the time, and my favorites I never wear. Now's the time! The sweater is from a friend's stoop sale, the denim was at a lost and found at work, and the checks is from the Boys section of a big box store. I've had all of them for over 5 years. 

4 sweaters.

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This one was tough. I'm really into sweaters right now. 

4 skirts. 

I'm not a huge skirt wearer, I tried to pick a few that I love and will last me 3 months. 

6 pants.

I mostly wear pants! I love jeans! Lately I have been hunting for the best of the best of second hand pants. 5 out of these 6 are second hand. I would also like to find a really great pair of black pants to add but I have't yet. I didn't include any shorts in this capsule, partly bc I wear pants almost the whole summer and partly bc skirts can serve that purpose. 

2-3 dresses (not pictured).
I have narrowed my dresses down to a few I think I'd like. It's tough for me to know/decide which ones I will be likely to wear and style for cold and warm weather. I'll show these when I come to my decision. 

Maybe that's only 49 pieces? Phew, thats a fraction of what's normally in my closet and it still seems like a ton!! I'm not including hoodies, outerwear or lounge wear either. I have a feeling this will be a changing wardrobe as I see what clothes I gravitate towards. I already see the same items again and again. Part of the challenge for me with be to wear items out of my normal comfort zone, but partly I will ax items that I just don't wear. 

I'll continue posting updates, ideas, and thoughts about this project. 
If any one else is working on their Capsule Wardrobe please share your findings! Or share you wardrobe!

Thoughts On... A Lifestyle Column

I wouldn't call this a "Lifestyle Blog".

But it kind of is one. It's a blog about my life, my lifestyle and how I want to live. 

Recently, especially since the move, I've been trying to identify the things that make my life better. These are usually small, everyday things, routines, products, mantras, practices. Little things that make my life easier, make me happy, or help me to hone the lifestyle I want to create. These are my thoughts on...

Making the Bed. 

A few years ago, I had a friend staying with me who always made the bed. I had never done this before. We weren't a bed making family growing up. She made hospital corners. She was the inspiration for me to start making the bed, but not regularly. 

Now I try to make the bed every day. I don't go crazy. I mostly just straighten the pillows, brush off the fitted sheet, and reapply the blankets in a more orderly fashion. That's it. Nothing fancy. 

But it really makes me feel quite good! I feel like I'm getting something done when I do it and it's nice to get into a made bed at the end of the day. 

Now, we have 5 cats, so sometimes I don't want to disturb them. Or sometimes I'm just lazy, or sometimes I just don't want to. But I know that when I do make the bed, I feel a little better about life. I don't feel worse if I don't make it, but I feel better when I do. It's not a chore, it's a helpful practice. It makes my life a little more orderly, going to bed a little less of a struggle, and doesn't a made bed look sweet covered in cats?

Who out there makes the bed regularly? Who hates making the bed?

 

 

The internet is hard.

I'm most definitely not a tech person.

Ask anyone who knows me. They can tell you. 

This website is still very new to me. I'm working out a blog and shop schedule. I was hoping to have a shop update as of Monday but it didn't work out that way. I am trying to get into a routine and hope to have it set by next week. My new plan is to have the shop updated by Tuesday 11/24 around 2pm. Plenty of time to get some quilted creations by xmas. 

I've made a bunch of oversized "old lady" pot holders or table protectors to sell. This is part of the Butterfly Series.

I've made a bunch of oversized "old lady" pot holders or table protectors to sell. This is part of the Butterfly Series.

Thanks for bearing with me as I stumble along here at Mad Cat Quilts! I would love to hear any feedback on the site so far.