Planning our fall craft. Which is your favorite?

 We like to do a seasonal craft.  Fall is one of our favorite seasons with the cooler evenings and the light changing. Plus love fall colours. We have narrowed it down to four crafts. Let us know what your pick would be! 

When it is too early to decorate????

 Discussion happening over here on the blog.  A few of us, one in particular, loves to decorate for the seasons. We are not talking just Christmas holidays but also for fall.  You know pumpkins, leaves, scented candles, comfy throws, all in those fall colors. 

To enjoy the season when is it acceptable to put your fall décor up?  Remember there is also Christmas décor to go up. Once we flip the calendar to September it is four months to squeeze it all in. Should fall decorating start in fall - September 21st?  Or September 1st? 

If the decision is to decorate on the official date of September 21st that gives just over a week for September, all of October, and what? Mid-November?  We are consistent on not putting holiday decorations up until after Remembrance Day. That is a given.

So fall decorations until we switch out for Christmas. That discussion point is yes, after November 11 for sure, but when? Not until December? That seems a shame as one month to enjoy the Christmas decorations. We realize a few items like snowmen can stay up into the new year.  Christmas seems cheated.

The consensus was to put the fall decorations up after Labour Day. You get the majority of September to enjoy them. Add your Halloween themed ones in October.  Start the switch over to Christmas décor after November 11 so maybe mid-November. That way your place is fully decorated for Christmas for the entire month of December to enjoy.    

What are your thoughts on seasonal decorating? When should we start? What might be too early?

Let's plan a party!

 Here are some party ideas we found.   

Let us start with a drink.  We're having a blueberry lemon-drop martini.  We'll have this as soon as the guests arrive.

We have these charcuterie cups for you to start with.  

Also you could try a sea-breeze cocktail.  We liked the name and the color!  We also have a virgin mojito.

One of us was at a party where they played Bingo. Everyone that came through the door was given a Bingo card.  Play or don't play up to individual. Ideas for the Bingo boxes are: someone wearing purple,  who loves to bake. who has been on a horse, who has traveled overseas, favorite podcast, favorite book.  Knowing your guests you could add your own Bingo boxes. The party we were at it was an ice-breaker getting to know.

Here are a few ideas if you are into games at parties.  Party games for adults.  

With the weather warm, people want to be outside so a BBQ is a great idea.

Of course we wouldn't let you not have a mix salad.

Here are some dessert ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth.

How is this for a party!!!

Summer Reads

Here are a few summer reads we have been enjoying.  Just in case you have a few more beach day!!!

If you like a mystery with a bit (okay maybe a lot) of sass check out the series by Darynda Jones. The first book in the three book series is A Bad Day for Sunshine.  They should be read in order as continuing personal mystery taking place.

Fresh Paint by Flora Bowley and Lynzee Lynx.  Fell in love with Flora Bowley's artwork.  If you enjoy abstract art this is definitely work a browse.

Started Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass series.  Read first two books. I'm enjoying as a strong young female character. Fantasy genre. 

Mystery is a favorite genre so another cozy mystery series is Beyond the Page Bookshop by Lauren Elliott.  First in the series is Murder by the Book. The mystery takes place in small seaside town. Newly arrived Addie setting up bookstore and trying to make a new life after traumatic experiences.

Another fantasy by Emma Torzs Ink Blood Sister Scribe. Two different story lines coming together. Parts a bit creepy. 

What have you been reading over the summer?  Let us know.

Definition of success

 I listened to a podcast Off the Grid: leaving social media without losing clients.  Host Amelia Hruby. The episode title was "success is a cycle". It was extremely interesting as it got me thinking about success in a totally different way.  Not achieving goals and climbing the ladder (of success).

Amelia talked about the script society has for us that success is achieving education, job, promotion, family, six figure income. The script of we are not successful until we reached those goals or others. Then, often the goals change. 

But....what about it we looked at success as a feeling. What we are doing and wanting. Not a goal or somewhere we have to be. Goals written by others. Success as a feeling.

So, I decided to change my definition of success. Amelia also said for her it is feelings and wanting that should line-up. Also acknowledging that success, like joy, grief, is always coming in and out of our lives. We are not always successful or joyful. Success like other emotions is a cycle. We are working toward that so.

So my success definition is:

1.  having enough money to enjoy my life (now and in the future)

2.  doing things that bring me joy

3.  working towards being healthier 

4.  filling my life with positive people and experiences

I might add more to my success definition.  This is my start.  

What would your definition of success be? 

Summer and making the most out of it

Okay we have rolled, no ran, into June. No idea where May went, seriously, I have no idea.  June is always busy with school finishing up, graduations, if you haven't booked summer camps yet (get on it and good luck). People have been booking camp sites and cottages for the summer. Oh, and vacation requests have been in for a while. It is that time of year we are rolling into.

Everyone remembers when summer at work used to be slower. You could go out for an ice cream at lunch. The building was less busy with people on vacation. There was time to catch up on a few projects and catch your breath. Plus your own vacation. Now, not so much. There doesn't seem to be a slow down at work. This started before COVID and now seems the norm.

So what can we do? I say take back a little time. If you have a green space near work go there even for twenty minutes. Feel the sun on your face. Get some vitamin D.  Mental health wise we need rest and even twenty minutes is refreshing.

Also when did working through lunch or at your desk become the norm? With the good weather head out and eat in that green space. Or walk around the block. We have to take care of ourselves. Work is definitely not going to. So with the good weather let's make the most out of it.  Everyone can squeeze in twenty minutes. If we are not in an operating room we have twenty minutes. Paper and emails are not going anywhere.

Work will be there in twenty minutes. Take a deep breath and priority health first.

Things we are crushing on!!

These are fun posts to do.  There are a few things we are crushing over.  Please let us know what you are currently interested in. 

Spring nail ideas over at A Beautiful Mess

Check out Inspired by Charm for these peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars  (he has so many delicious stuff there).

I mean look at these from Michael also -- mason jar honey cakes

Head over to A Wandafulthing for some free SVG.  This So Happy is one of my favorites.

Can't wait for Beth Kempton new book to be released.  Japanese wisdom for a life well lived.

IKEA yellow chair.  Can see myself curled up with a coffee and a book.

Saw these and so crushing on them - totem orb meditation balls. Mini pieces of art.

Okay this is big.  A creative retreat in Italy.  Exploring Goddess through yoga and art. 

Do people have favorite Esty Shops?  Eyeing these ear rings.

What do you think of this blender?  Like the options.