The reality of working from home

Over a year ago the thought of working from home was a dream.  Maybe an unrealistic dream but a dream. No rush hour traffic.  Sleeping in an extra half hour. That second cup of coffee and oh I'll just put a load of wash on. 

The dream has become a reality for a lot of people. Some of us are fairing better than others. We also think it is job related. For people used to being in an office alone or whose job was more desk orientated to begin with maybe they are fairing better.  More social people are having a hard time.  It appears to be working, working from home that is, as businesses are not falling apart.  Even hospitals have departments i.e. human resources, payroll working from home.

So in the long run how do you think this will effect us?  Some of us will thrive - the ones with good time management and at least somewhat introverted.  Others are struggling. The ones whose work was so much part of their social sphere. That they defined themselves by work and peers.  Also people who struggle with time management - deadline anyone? 

Making your day as close to what you did at work also helps. For those with kids it has been great but again managing time and expectations. What do you do with a three year old all day? Where is your focus?  Emails are coming in that need answers regardless of potty time. If daycares open that helps as at least that routine is the same. 

We have been at this over a year.  Some colleagues I have seen a handful of times in the past year.  You have your core group still at the office, hospital or wherever so check in is possible. Turn my computer back on anyone? 

We feel this is still being worked out long-term.  Who might stay working from home? Who might work X many days from home? Can we scale down office space? What about mental health and productivity?  It will be interesting to see the fall out when things get back to normal.  And also what the new normal will be. Maybe it is work from home.

Let us know your thoughts.  

Small space gardening we are digging

 Spring is here and the weather (where we are) is slowly warming up.  Still a bit of a bite in the air some days but it is coming. We thought it would be fun and easy on the head to show you some small space gardens we are digging and why.  Here goes.....

We liked this as it shows an average size balcony. Privacy screen and sitting area with shots of color.

We had to include this as looks so European. Definitely making the most of limited space. Love the window/door and can dream about what the inside looks like.

Love the brick and all the greenery. The vines climbing the wall and all the pots. I want to walk out my door and have this!!

Again someone making the most out of limited space. Seating area for coffee or.... and lots of plants actually giving a bit of privacy.

This looked interesting as can see an apartment balcony but larger. Looks like a water feature and lovely doors leading out to area. 

Just a taste of what creative people are doing. Eye candy for the day.

  

Instagram accounts we're digging

 Instagram is one of our favorite social media platforms.  From décor, travel, food to family reunions. We want to see it all.  We thought we'd share our favorite accounts with you.  Please let us know your favorites so we can check them out!!

Centsational Style

jade by the ocean

Seashell ceramics

Cities of the world

tiny house perfect

Italy photos

tv neatly

Spring Bucket List

 It is warming up! Well most days. Restrictions are still in places in many places.  We are making the most of what we can do. Coffee shops and restaurants are open in our area so we have been taking advantage of that.  It was such a treat to go to a restaurant. I felt like an adult and realized how much I missed simple things like eating out and heading to a coffee shop.

For something fun - plus to give us a push we decided to do a spring bucket list.  Check out you can always start now spring bucket list.  We took a few of her items!!

1. Yes to sitting on outside patios.  Expect doable next month as they are getting set up now.
2. Book some camping sites.  This has to happen sooner than later to get a decent site.
3. Head to Farmer's Market
4. Start gardening.
5. Do some hikes before the heat and humidity hits
6. Book cottage as no travel outside our own province this summer
7. Find a signature summer drink
8. Look for a new spring/summer pursue
9. Purge winter clothes not used or worn out
10. Get summer book recommendations
11. Book recreation programs for kids
12. Continue to add to patio decor - more chairs and cushions
13. Continue to support local.  Has anyone been checking out those artisan boxes being offered? Recommendations please.
14. Manicure and pedicure
15. BBQ!  Yes sooner than later please
16. Bike rides with kids
17. Go on nature walk
18. Visit local parks
19. Spring craft with the kids. Looking at a bird feeder
20. Make a spring/summer playlist

If you have any recommendations please share!! 

We have to hold fast

 It has been over a year now since we closed down.  Opened, closed and opened again.  COVID-19 is still out there. Over the weekend we were discussing COVID-19 fatigue. Yes it is a thing. We think the majority of the world has it.

People are getting vaccinated - great - but we can't get complacent. The vaccine is one line of defense. Some positive numbers for COVID in places are as high as they were at the beginning. People we have to hold fast!  Mask, wash our hands, physical distance and stay home. Festivals and events should no be happening yet! With numbers on the rise and governments slow to shut down we have to hold fast ourselves. We can't wait for our governments to tell us what to do. At this point we know what to do. It has been over a year.

If governments are going to put the economy before health we have to take a stand. We can support local through on-line and take-out. Yes we know it has been a long year and people are tired. So tired. Life seems on hold at times. We get it. We feel the same.

The thing is if we don't hold fast this might get out of control (it has again in some places). Then all the sacrifices we have made might be for nothing. This isn't going away anytime soon. Vaccines or no vaccines. We have to take a deep breath and hold fast. 

Get back to safer measures. Cut back on socializing (hard I know). Maybe if we pull it together we might have a summer of small get togethers. Think community. Just because X and Y are not behaving safely doesn't me we follow suit. We are bigger than that.  

So hold fast.  Don't toss it in now.  Things are in place we just have to keep doing the right thing. We have this.

5 Favorite things (well currently)

Deary time of year so we wanted a fun post.  Please drop in the comments some of your favorite things.  Here goes.  

1. Christmas.  I love the holidays. I start decorating end of November and treat the entire month of December as part of my holidays.  Tree up and place decorated by end of the first week of December.  It is a time to spend with family and friends. Making dates for drinks, shopping, coffee and sending cards. I love the entire month.
2. Going thrifting with a friend.  We head out for the day with no expectations. First we grab a coffee to go. Nothing is off limits.  We root, dig and move. You never know what is behind or under something
3. Supper and the theatre.  The whole experience. Love live theatre and supper first gives us a chance to catch up. There is something energizing about live performances.
4. Travel. Period. The planning part of it included. Picking a place we have never been. Looking at things to do and see. Places to stay. Times lines.  Arriving and experiencing a different culture, time and space.  
5. Having an evening at home to light candles, glass of wine and a good book. No expectations or conversation required.

What are some of your favorite things?  Please share. 

   

Do you decorate for Easter and/or Spring?

 

Fun debate over Easter or Spring decor.  Are you someone that decorates for all the holidays? We have a variety here.  One person no. They don't have the space or the energy. Enough of her.  The rest of us are a yes - to various degrees.

Whether it is a simple tablescape like above or wreath on the door. Majority of us are unto that. Then there is the person who loves decorating for all season

A few years ago I purchased two wooden block bunnies and put them in the entryway.  After Easter was over I found on sale a few more cute bunnies and picked them up. Before I knew it I had a bit of a collection.  Wreath on the door - more spring than Easter so stays up for a few months.  I love my bunnies around the house for about a month. I smile when I look at them and you can't get better than that. 

So I am in the camp of do what makes you smile. If bunnies in April make you smile - go for it.  I also have a collection of Christmas trees I pull out the end of November. 

So bring in items that you enjoy. If it is fresh beautiful flowers on the dining room table go for it.  If it is bunnies, pumpkins or trees that works too.  Don't let others tell you what you can bring into your home - tacky or classy if you are smiling it is working.