When I first started working on painting our home, I was pumped. When you first see a home that has a ton of potential, you immediately want to get working so that you can show others what you were envisioning. Painting was the first step in making this happen, for us. The walls in our new home were dirty and grayed, as I described in our story of how we found our home. Millions of holes had to be patched after removing hooks, screws, and anchors from shelving. I wanted to see the blank slate. After only a few months, I'd painted 80% of this 2800 square foot house. Sometimes I get focused. This was one of those times.

Resolutions are interesting. I am not even sure how important it is to share what they are with the world, but I want to have a place of accountability and be able to write out my thoughts on the subject for 2018. When it comes to this business, I have a few things that effect it in the long term and at a deeper level.

If I could write a step by step instruction book about how to be happy in life, I think it would set me for life. It would be like discovering the fountain of youth, only a little more realistic to our immediate needs. Anyone else out there wishing for that happy fountain?

So during the month of January I have been spending my time traveling for work and it's given me a chance to learn a lot about myself. My life coach/therapist suggested I read The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown right before my trip. So I got to it and purchased the e-book on Amazon so that I could save room in my luggage. It's a pretty easy read and only took me a week in between work. I thought I would share a little bit about it with you!

So, for the last 10 years I have been struggling with hormonal migraines. Any of you in the same boat? I've tried lavender scented tea and candles, caffeinated beverages of all kinds, pain killers, cold/hot showers, sleeping, drinking lots of water, gluten free diets, progesterone cream, massages, days off, you name it. All in an attempt to ease the pulsing in my head, the foggy thoughts, and the feeling like I am pregnant, but clearly am not.

You know what it's like to live in a whirlwind right? Like you just can't keep up with all that you have going on in your life? Well, that is me this week. I love to put 100% into everything I do, but right now it seems impossible. As I was sitting here, thinking about what to share, the thought came into my mind that I just need to relax.

I love to browse recipes on Pinterest sometimes. I am even mesmerized by Tasty videos on Facebook. I will ponder thinking of making something healthy, like a kale salad, or something a little more decedent and really unnecessary, like a crumbly berry pie topped with fresh whipped cream. Mmmmm.... so good right? Those decisions that should be flooding my brain with creativity become short lived. My mind freezes. I panic. Then the guilt floods in as Chris leaves for work empty handed and has to pick something up at the Wawa at noon.

I have this picture printed and put into a stalky bone white frame. It is of the two of us on a Sabbath afternoon along the creek in Yosemite valley. We were on our honeymoon and had just spent the night up top of the ridge where it was slightly chilly. Unfortunately we had not discovered the showers yet so my hair is quite amiss.