My $3 Home Office Makeover

After reading 6 Tips for Designing a Cheery Home Workspace, I looked at my "home office" and realized I need some color and organization on my desk.  Although I don't actually work from home, as a full-time graduate student, I spend a lot of time writing and reading at my desk.

When I took a hard look at my desk, I realized how little workspace I actually had.

 

As you can see, it is lacking color, organization, and my post-it notes hanging on the wall are not exactly classy.  But I don't have money to spend on revamping my work area, so I decided to see what I could do with what I already had.

The first stage was de-cluttering.  I took the non-essential items off of my desk and into the rolling cart I have next to my desk (from my teaching days).

The rest of my papers went into my desk drawers, which were also cleaned out and reorganized.     

Next, some color was needed.  I started by looking for colorful things that I already had on my desk that I use as more prominent centerpieces.

After cleaning up my desk, moving things off, and pulling a few more colorful items that I had around the house, I came up with this:

 The last step was where my $3 renovation came in.  I purchased two black frames from the Dollar Tree, filled them with two inspirational quotes from Pinterest, and hung them up with picture hanging supplies that I also got from the Dollar store.  All together, this is what I came up with!

I'm enjoying my clean, organized, and colorful desk already!

My Daily Schedule

The month of January has been completely different for me (although it is a lot like my summers when I was teaching).  I have long stretches of day without set structure, spend long periods of time reading, researching, blog-surfing and errand-running.  Without classes back in session until February, I have a few more weeks to get used to these kinds of unstructured days.

Last week, I was practically going crazy with the lack of structure - it's funny how much we dream of getting away from it all without any responsibilities, and then when we actually have it, we don't know quite what to do with it! (Just a note - I am doing work as a research assistant/web editor for my graduate school's public policy program - so I do some things to do.)

This week has been so much better:

• I made myself a schedule
• Have found other things to do with my days that I enjoy:
• Checking out books from the library
• Gotten back into blogging
• Listed new clothing for sale on eBay (you can check them out here)
• Set aside certain days to help my mom with housework since she has knee trouble

My best move though for making this month sane? Making a schedule.  The more structured I am, the better I tend to work and feel.  So here's an example of what my weekly schedule looks like:

Along with that, I have a monthly schedule that helps me keep track of the hours I need to put in for my research work, as well as which days I'm going to exercise (staying with my New Year's goal to exercise every other day).

This is still just an outline for me to work from, but just having these makes my life so much more productive and less anxious.  I'm still trying figure out what methods work for me to stay more organized in my home, life, and work.

What are your favorite organizational methods/ideas?

morning light.

I have been so distracted lately, and probably rightly so.  This past week, I wrote 45 pages worth of final papers, and wrapped up lots of loose ends that stood between me and the completion of my first semester of seminary.  What a good semester it was.   I learned so much about faith, politics, policy issues, and how to navigate public transportation {on my own}.  Actually, realizing what I can do on my own (navigate two trains a day, stay away a night or two a week from my husband, pack on the fly, deal with unexpected complications...) has been a huge boost for my self-confidence this fall.

It's my second full day without any schoolwork to do (once January rolls around, I have to buckle down and write a chapter for one of my professor's books that will be submitted for publishing in the spring).  Yesterday, I woke up feeling like I would have no idea what to do with myself, but I found plenty of wonderful, relaxing ways to fill my time (disclaimer: my definition of wonderful).  I had a lazy morning with cereal, coffee, and the Today Show.  I went out and stopped at my favorite thrifting stops, and then spent time wandering around the city library.  I came home with an armful of books that I can't wait to read.  Last night, I practically devoured a "for fun" book (it has been so long since I've read something with no purpose whatsoever).  I read all of White Oleander last night between dinner and bed.  It is a sad, mysterious book, but it has a lot to say about resilience and the people who make life meaningful.

Today, I'm being lazy once again, trying to decide which book to read next and where I will ride my bike to today.  I had a whole to-do list of plans for today, but I forgot that I was car-less and therefore can only be as productive as where I can walk or bike to.  So I will gladly embrace today as a quiet, lazy one.

Lately I've been taking lots of pictures of the late morning light in our apartment.  Although winter days can seem bleak, there is something so still and beautiful about the late morning light of the winter.  Taking pictures of the simple everyday spots that are transformed in the morning light helps me appreciate the places that I spend my every day.

I am so excited for the weekend over here.  Ben has had a ton of work lately, so a break is much-needed.  We've been taking weeknight mini-trips this week to break up the work days: driving in the country and looking at lights plus a trip to Sonic for milkshakes, stopping by Toys R Us last night (yep, my husband is a kid at heart - and I love it) and getting fountain sodas on the way home, and tonight, we're itching for more lights and I'm itching for a night of no cooking.  The last weekend before Christmas!  What a good one it's going to be.

“I embrace the messiness of life, I find it so beautiful actually.”
Brad Pitt

“I watched the early morning light pass over and through the windows of colored glass, leaving streaks of red and green and yellow on the stone floor.  Now I know it is like happiness-- it is there or it is not, you cannot hold it or keep it.” Karen Cushman

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.  Aaron Rose

'tis the season for early mornings (aka welcome finals...)

It's finals time over here for me, so my time is spent most days

writing                                   reading                            writing some more
                 
                 dozing                          snacking on granola                          overdosing on coffee

spending half the day in pjs                       making multiple to-do lists a day

       
          finding relief in more-appreciated-than-ever breaks with friends, or Law and Order


studying, studying, studying                          reading                          writing

                                         ...... oh, and did I mention writing?

I'm feeling good.  Finals, bring it on!  December 16th, I can't wait for you to come.

School work, holidays, and learning about myself.

It's time for Thanksgiving break (I get the whole week off from grad school!) and that means my mind is officially starting on ideas for this holiday season.  I'm a reflecter by nature, and so any time of transition or change of peace usually prompts me to start reflecting on how I'm doing so far, and what I want to change as I move forward.

I have a fair amount of school work to spend these next few days working on (3 major papers, 2 final exams, catching up on research hours) so I'll be pretty busy up until various Thanksgiving celebrations with our families.  Ben and I tend to say yes to all of the family things we can and end up with quite busy holidays!  Thursday with one family, Friday with another, and Saturday again with one family and Saturday night with yet another! Needless to say, we'll be eating a LOT.  I am thankful though, even in the busy schedule we'll have, that right now we have family near by enough to see, that we love our families and each other's families, and that we Ben and I get to do it together.  Holidays remind me how newlywed I still feel - holidays still feel like a luxury to be able to spend together!

I have a few goals for myself over this holiday season, some practical, some health-related, and others spiritual - all written with grace, realizing that they may not all be done, and will not be done perfectly, but that will be ok.

1. I'd like to be more expressive of what and who I am thankful for.  The next three days before Thanksgiving, I'm going to try to write a note to some of the people I am thankful for to send or give to on Thanksgiving.  I'd like people in my life to know that although I am grateful for many things, the people around me cause me to feel the most blessed.

2.  Morning needs to be a time for reflection - the way I start my morning affects my whole day - if I'm rushed, my whole day feels rushed.  If I don't get to have coffee before I run out the door, I'm a crank! If I don't start the day off with prayer, reflection, or a minute or two to focus on who I'd like to be that day, I end up feeling like I went through my day without any mindfulness of what it held.

3. Soda does not work for me - the guilt, unsettled stomach, and sugar outweighs that cravings I occasionally have for it.

4. One hour of the Today Show = enough for me.  I've found that's just enough to catch up on the news, and then I'm ready to get on with my work!

5. Some days, I just need to remember that spending time with my husband is more important that those pesky dishes in the sink.

6. School is reminding me how much I love to write.  I feel passionate and excited when I sit down to write - even when it's a paper... I think I need to figure out a way to integrate writing into my future career.


My thoughts are uncohesive tonight, no matter how much I love to write, and I think I will leave it there.  Dinner is calling, Law and Order and some tea sounds oh-so-good, and it's my last chance to relax with Ben before the busy week ahead.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

End of a Rendezvous, Back to Reality!

We got home at the end of this week from what started as a little and turned into a week-long getaway!  We had a great time being away and exploring a new city.  So much good food, great coffee, and time to relax.  Just what we needed.

Looking back at my list, it looks something like this:

- Catch up on sleep (already doing a good job on this one!) No problem here!

- Catch up on reading (school-work reading)

- Relax and enjoy it without guilt  Almost without any guilt...

- Go out for a nice dinner with my husband to celebrate his new, upcoming job! (so proud of him) Yum, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!

- Watch a good documentary

- Catch up with my blog a little bit...this is always the hardest thing for me to fit into a busy week.

- Get back into an exercise routine.

So, I did pretty well!  My exercise routine only went as far as downloading new yoga videos on my Netflix....  Although I did do a lot of walking around the city this week (so that's something, right?).  I still need to do some reading, but I did get two major papers done, so I feel like I had a good start.  Last thing to do, find a good documentary.  Maybe this will be a perfect Saturday afternoon fix...

Coming up this weekend, a bachelorette party for my little sister (can't believe she's getting married in 2 weeks!) and a chance to hang out with my little brother while he's home from college.  Good things ahead.

Happy Weekend!

....3 Weeks Down!

 
Oh, life, slow down!  I am now into week 3 of my seminary Master's program.  I am loving it so far!  I just love the feeling of being in school - the new notebooks, smooth-writing pens, and books, yes, even textbooks (well, at least sometimes).... I just love them all.  I love meeting all the new, friendly people that I will be in classes with, eating quick-microwave leftovers with in between classes, and eventually become some new friends.

Since I love lists (have you noticed?), of course, since school has started, I've been keeping a mental list of what I've learned so far as a seminary student:  (and hopefully, not everything I've learned is actually on this list, or else I haven't been paying attention very well, or you'll be reading for a long time!)

1. When taking public transportation, you just have to be flexible - trains often don't go on schedule, no matter how mad you get!

2.  It is always good to have a few extra snacks along.

3.  Caffeine is wonderful.

4.  So much of life is not clear-cut - whether it be the Bible, lessons from history, or
     politics - most of the time, there are more questions than answers, but it is still worth
     asking the questions.

5.  Ask for help (how many times will this show up on my list!?).
      I have had to ask Ben for help with dishes, making meals, or running extra errands.
      Thankfully, he's been a great help.

6.  Calendars are essential, and sticking to them is even more essential!

7.  Waking up early is worth it.

8.  I was not very disciplined this summer, but I'm realizing pretty quickly that I need to
     develop it again!

9.  There are some incredibly wise, genuine, wonderful people out there in the world,
      especially when you have the time to get to know them.

10.  There is so much to be learned from diversity - in ideas, beliefs, backgrounds,
       ethnicity, and families.

11.  When you're in the right place for you, no matter how tired, "munchy", bored,
        unadjusted, or messy things might get around you, there is still peace.


12.  Poverty is the biggest problem in our modern society - not only in its scale and in the widening gap between the poorest and the wealthiest, but also in the way that we push it to the side to try to ignore it.


I'm excited to share more of my journey through this new stage of life, and many more learnings to come...!