wiw- casual day at the office

Another job perk is casual days at the office. If I don't have any meetings or court appearances, I can wear jeans. There are still some rules, though. I still have to look business professional.

I paired my favorite Gap jeans with a blue and white pin stripped button down from Talbots, and a black Talbots cardi.

My office is cold and I wished I had worn something a little warmer. On days like this, I typically put on some warm socks and slippers when I get to work.

Yes, slippers at work. Many years ago I worked for a Judge and she always wore high heels into the office then immediately changed into her slippers while at work. I learned it from her. My slippers are black, and when I am wearing pants, they don't draw any attention to themselves. Usually, no one even notices, but I am warmer and more comfortable for a long day at the office. 

re-entry- flylady update

Returning from the 5 day weekend (and the impromptu road trip)  has been more than a little difficult.

The trip did not come at the right time. In fact, it came at a really bad time.  We've both been busy at work, and in the middle of selling his house, and combining it into this house and the list just goes on and on, and coming back to it all has been difficult. 

Is there ever really a perfect time? No, but this is a particularly chaotic time to add a little extra mess to the mix.

The kitchen has been overwhelmed with sudden unexpected large dinners needed with little advanced warning. The husband and the men in the family are moving stuff over which means they show up at dark, hungry, grumpy and looking to me for a solution. I'm pretty darn proud of myself for getting a full dinner cranked out three times so far (thanks to white beans in the freezer, chicken sausage from Sam's club and one night of breakfast for dinner.)


But the kitchen, already a daily challenge to stay on top of,  took a hard hit.  Not to mention the rest of the house. The guest room furniture is currently sitting in the entry way, and that is just the half of it.

I am pretty sure the flylady has no system for this particular situation. My system thus far has been go until you have to stop, take a hot salt bath and hide in bed.

But I am happy to report, I keep at it, and plug along and almost each day I get my 15 minutes of zone cleaning in, one load of laundry and at least part of the evening routine (which I am still working on... more on this later).

I've also been decluttering/cleaning/rearranging upstairs and I've been pretty ruthless. Old pillows  that have seen there better days- gone. Old sheet sets with bleach spots- gone. The dining room chandelier that I was never in love with and had to be taken down for the rebuilding- not going back up and gone.  Clothes that were expensive but don't fit quite right- gone. Fluffy pink bathrobe that is just too hot to wear- gone. If I stop and think about any of it, I can easily talk myself into keeping all of it. (Its still good! What if I need it?! it doesn't take up much space1 You cant have too many pillows!) But, the truth is, we just don't have the room, physically or mentally, for 2 households of stuff to live in one household.

And what is probably the real real truth is I am tired of living in upheaval and disorganization and I am willing to do radical things to get my house back to where it once was, calm and clean.  The flylady system is one of those things, ruthlessly tossing out some pillows is another. And I just joined an online organizational group called get your life totally organized. Doesn't that sound like exactly what I need.  I have also scheduled a pick up of items to donate to the Vietnam Veterans Association. All I have to do is drag it to the front porch and they will do the rest.  

Perhaps the combination of the fly lady and the Organizational group is what is going to propel me to see some real results and ease some of the re-entry. That and making some realistic to do lists.

mani monday from Oregon

Essie Gel in "Turn and Pose" was absolutely the right choice for the trip to Oregon. Perhaps the perfect fall color, for my coloring the purple family is the most flattering, its so shiny and it really stays on. My only complaint is with the dark polish, you have to be extra careful when applying as every little ding will show, and I am not the most careful at this.  Also, for a drug store brand, Essie gel is expensive ($11 to $14 a bottle). But I really love it. I love it so much that, when I found myself in CVS, I immediately went over and bought another color (still in the purple family).

My 5 day weekend in Oregon

I have to admit that one of the most enjoyable perks about my job is the business travel. I don't get to do it a lot, but at least once a year, I end up with a big trip. Last year it was Florida. This time its Portland.  I then turned a two day business trip into a five day weekend with the husband.

Even though it was not the time I would have chosen to take a getaway (busy chaotic time for us both), he agreed that you have to take advantage of these things when they fall into your lap.

I had been to Oregon twice before, and honestly, it is the nicest place I had ever visited. I could not have picked a better place to send myself  other than Portland.

I had never been to Portland this late in the year  and I was looking forward to some fall colors. I was not disappointed.  It was so chilly and  beautiful.

We then unexpectedly took a road trip to Spokane. Eastern Washington was not as scenic as one might think it would be. It was a dessert. 

But the company was good and we got to hang out at the hotel eating cookies in our PJs and breakfast by the fire while it was 35 degrees outside.

Of course we saw a great deal of fog. In fact, we were totally fogged in for two mornings. That was disappointing. I had planned to see some sights on the coast, and the fog made it impossible.  We hung around Portland some more instead.

But I am not complaining. Portland was gorgeous. Sunny and cold.

It was a good trip and I'm so glad we got to turn it into a long weekend. 

mani monday- Sephora Formula X- Gray Matter

currently in my life- What I'm doing Monday- hopefully less wrinkly and winning at life

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window:
Fall has arrived and I could not be happier. The weather, although a lot cooler, has been rainy and gray a lot of days. It makes it hard to leave home in the morning and would be good days to stay inside, in a bathrobe, and cozy up. Although that is not what I have been doing. Its been a busy time for me and I've been doing everything except staying in and getting cozy. 

What I bought lately:
An electric blanket throw for my office. It has been miserable cold and everyone is complaining. One coworker worked in gloves all day. I keep warm socks and slippers at work, and now I'll have an electric lap blanket. 

I am looking forward to:
A business trip that I turned into a 5 day weekend with the husband in Portland, Oregon. I have to admit, this job has its perks. I could not have picked a better place to send myself.  Last year, I got to go to Florida for a long weekend due to work, and in the next couple of months- it looks like it will be February, work will have me in Los Angles for a few days. I can't complain about that aspect of the job. I also get to bring a husband along to make a little vacation out of it. However, getting out of the house has been stressful. A lot to do. Of course, I like to leave the house clean which is an extra layer of stress...... this is probably where having the flylady system firmly in place would have paid off.

Around the house:
I'm trying to just  enjoy the curtains in living room that are finally up, and stop constantly thinking of the next thing that must be done. I am really really happy with my curtain choice. Its made a world of difference in that room. I do kind of have my eye open for curtains in the dining room but I have to slow it all down.... let some money flow in. 

Things coming in my near future:
Moving the entire guest room from my husband's old home to our new home and putting it in the guest room. The old mattress set that is in there now will be tossed out. It has been well used and I think its next stop is the trash.


What I've been reading:

Its your ship, management techniques from the best damn ship in the Navy by D. Michael Abrashoff. Very interesting. Its the story about how one Navy officer turned  the worst Navy ship into the best Navy ship in the fleet.

flylady Friday- purse and car day

Out of all the routines that the Flylady has,  and she seems to have quite a few to master, the area I've seen the most success with is the daily assignments. Everyday is something different to focus on. Thursday is errand day, Wednesday is desk, day, Tuesday is your free day.

Each Friday is purse and car clean out day. How did this one stick  while I flounder with the rest of them?

Who knows.

But each Friday, I take everything out of my purse, wipe it all down, clean it out and change purses if I am so inclined. This is the brand new Kate Spade purse I picked up from my friend at the yard sale. I changed out of the black tote from Rebecca Minkoff and into the brighter slightly smaller one for fall.

Then I take a garage bag and hit the car. After three weeks of this routine, I can say there is not much trash to comb through. I'm not going to lie though, the first few weeks were a different story. Its shocking how easily an area can be tamed with constant attention.

Then I go get gas and  I sometimes go get the car washed as well. Not every Friday, the full car clean up inside and out is a treat. 

Friday Flylady routine is working for me.

December Daily has arrived- My december daily scrapbooking project

Is it too early to think about Christmas scrapbooking? I learned my lesson last year on how early one must order this in order to participate.

Ali Edwards has a December Daily scrapbook....  program? project? class? ..... whatever you can call it.  Its a memory keeping/scrapbook program that is designed to document each day of your December in real time  and it has been going on every year for MANY years. 

And every year for MANY years  I told myself I was going to participate in then, every single year for YEARS I did not participate in it. 

I have a lot of excuses reasons. All very valid ones. but last year, even though I did not have the time, did not have a desk, and I didn't have the "right" material", I finally committed to doing it and decided I was going to do it no matter what.  Even thought I did not have a desk area (I used the kitchen table), and I did not have the "right stuff" (I waited too late to buy all the material and they were completely sold out). 

Last year, my first year participating, was a do-it-yourself kind of thing. I made do.  There is actually no wrong way and no right way to do it. You don't have to have her products to participate, you can follow along on her blog and her youtube and just DIY it, which is what I did.

and I am so glad I did. 

Like she says, the month of December is filled with so many stories. So many things, unexpected things, happened in December 2017. Some of them great and some not so great, but I am glad I have them documented in real time. 

I got the album at Home Goods and paid $3 for it on clearance. I then just followed the daily prompts.  The first page is just your title page. Mine was simple.  Then the documentation began...... some of the highlights. It snowed! Then, I was really - really sick and worked at home for almost two weeks of work. The first time I had not physically checked into my office for that long of a stretch. I kept calling my boss and saying I was sick but working at home. He finally said, you don't have to tell me, just do it. Construction continued and mirrors and lights went in the bathroom. Then I was surprised with an engagement ring at Christmas.

I'm glad it was all documented. However, I think it would be easier to do with the products designed for this specific task. A specific structure for my photos and stories of December happenings to live in.  I had to order early but here it is.

I think I bought a little more than necessary, but I was excited.

wiw

Where: 

A chilly fall day where I had to be in Court all morning, then in a conference most of the afternoon which means, adult lawyer clothes were called in.

What: 

My favorite grey flannel suit from Talbots. Its the Italian flannel line that is my very favorite line but they don't have much selection. I wish they'd make this same skirt suit in black or navy. I would buy every one of them. The cut is very flattering. I wear the jacket in court, of course.

My new favorite shirt from Target. Target has a new line of clothes that I fell in love with. The first time I saw it, I ended up with three things in my buggy. They are work appropriate and very affordable. I love this blouse.