two of a kind

This past weekend, I volunteered at Lunch Break which I first mentioned in this post.

I first read about Lunch Break after an article was published in the local patch about how they opened their doors right after Hurricane Sandy. I was moved that the Executive Director, Gwen Love, said that, without being able to contact the workers and volunteers, she opened knowing that they'd show. I thought that this was the kind of place where I'd like to donate my time.

So I went yesterday and I'm so so glad I did. It was a cold, rainy Saturday morning and I kind of just wanted to lay in bed.  

I got there and helped in the pantry.  I orginially thought that I'd wanted to volunteer where I felt that I would have a direct impact/contact with the people I was helping, but I realized that I shouldn't look at volunteering as benefiting me first.  I think that Jess Lively's book club on The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is rubbing off of me. 

Because I shifted my mindset early on in the morning, I felt grateful to be volunteering and was happy to do whatever task they asked of me--like stocking and organizing the pantry, "shopping" which consists of prepping monthly bags of food for pick up, and filing--so that the next time I'm there, I'll understand more of the responsibilities.  

Tell us: Do you volunteer? Has shifting your mindset ever helped you?

-SM

(photo source: google)

Happy Friday!

I. Here is a picture of the dogs to start this weekend off right!

I've been a bit homesick lately, and looking at pictures of these two sweet dogs always makes me smile.  

II. And I've been thinking a lot about this quote recently:

"When I have a terrible reluctance to go near it...I generally know that something is badly wrong." -Alice Munro

I tend to not be able to multitask working on my craft, so I focus on writing or my stationery side project.  Can you guess which one I'm avoiding?

III. I've been making an effort to buy flowers more often, and I picked these up.  How pretty are they?

Tell us: What has been inspiring you recently?  Does the Munro quote resonate with you?

-SM

Questions provided by one of our favorite blogs: yes and yes.  From this post.

1. What website/blog/tv show/book series are you obsessed with at the moment?
Currently, I CAN'T WAIT for Game of Thrones to return.  So so good.  

2. What is your biggest personality flaw? What are you doing about it?
I let my thoughts snowball so I tend to freak out/panic more often than necessary.  I am working on this one; when I start to panic, I think about what I can control, and that I will tackle what's scaring me when the time comes.   

3. What has been your most awesome/ridiculous faux pas?
My mom dressed Jen, our little sister, and me in identical outfits in different colors.  Or, when I first started working, I would wear these horrible Nine West heeled booties with khakis.  Makes me cringe now!

 

I've been thinking a lot about the quote in this picture, which has been my phone background for the last few weeks.  

Being on the cusp of change is a bit scary, but this reminds me of how to start transitioning.  

Another photo I love.  Puppiesforall is definitely an Instagram favorite.  

Though we were raised Catholic, I wouldn't say Jen or I are very religious, but we are spiritual. And though I am not practicing, I still give up something, each year, for Lent.  This small gesture still makes me feel like I'm connecting to a greater good/higher power.

So here is my Lenten sacrifice: no buying coffee out.

This is one of my favorite treats, as anyone and especially Jen can tell you, so it will be tough. I even have a Starbucks gold card (pictured above).  I also forsee this being a bit hard because I do most of my writing at coffeeshops, but I will adapt.  

I also want to not eat meat on Fridays; I'm thinking of it as a form of Meatless Mondays.  

Tell us: Do you participate in Lent or make any type of sacrifice during the year?

-SM

As a psychology student, I was interested in a few areas—deviant behavior, archetypes and social interactions.  Even though I don’t use my psychology degree much, I’ve maintained the same interests into adulthood—I read books about them (Quiet is an excellent book on introverted behavior) and apparently take quizzes (skeptically, I might add).

If you are active in social media then you probably saw this Archetype Me quiz go viral.  I have never been one to believe in magazine quiz results but couldn’t help myself.  I was actually surprised by how accurate the quiz was (at least, how I see myself, which might speak against the integrity of the quiz—any good pollster knows to include questions that rule out bias).  Regardless, I wanted to share my results in case anyone else might be interested in taking it.

 

 My results

It’s hard for me to split out percentages but I would describe myself as a caregiver, creative and intellectual (and probably in that order).  If nothing less, it’s interesting food for thought.

You can find the quiz here.

I’d be interested in Sara’s results, wouldn’t you? 

Tell us: Did you take the quiz?  Do you agree with your results?

-JCM

Here are a few things I've been coveting:

1. this print

2. this calligraphy class through istilllovecalligraphy.com. 

I posted about obsessing over calligraphy here and didn't really know much about the modern form of it that exists.  So pretty and elegant.

3. And these boots in narrow width.

Since I am doing my best to stick to the spending diet, I just have to look, and not buy, for right now. Hey a girl can dream, right?  Though I'm riding solo for this V-Day so I may treat myself to the Hemingway print.  

Tell us: What are you lusting over?

-SM

(first image, second image, third image)

This picture exudes his personality.  And he was in the middle of his favorite activity—smelling for cats

He is always cold and cuddly after his bath (and looks like a drowned rat)

My sweet (no-longer) puppy, Reese Arnold, turned 3 today and I can hardly believe it.  He is the sweetest, happiest, most curious little dog.  He gives us so much love and we try to return it as best we can.  We commemorated the day with a piece of bacon, his favorite. 

Tell us: Do you have dogs?  How do you celebrate them?

-JCM

My Writing to Change

One of our favorite blogs, Yes and Yes, uses social media as motivation to enforce goals.  This is obviously a genius tactic so Sar and I are jumping on board (you can check her post here).

My goal for February is to complete a DIY project for every weekend in February.  My intention is to complete one per weekend (although knowing myself, as I do, I might end up doing them all at the very end of the month).  I have several DIY projects in my head for our home that I’ve not completed because I haven’t made them a priority.  I’d really like to get our home to a finished state considering we’ve lived there for almost six [shameful] months already.

I’m hoping to (1) refinish a brass stool as a side table, (2) paint and hang floating shelves in our kitchen, (3) create and install a brass fixture above our dining room table and (4) finish painting the canvas above our bed.  Extra credit if I begin working on fabricating a coffee table (just need some tools) from 40 year old oak flooring , finish hanging hexagon mirrors in the living room, and assemble + finish + hang our wedding guestbook.

I’m adding this list to my goals for the year, which are focused on growing professionally, getting healthy + strong and my never ending pursuit to cease procrastinating, because I want (and to be honest, need) to live in a creative space.  Here’s to putting my head down and working hard to get it done!

Tell us: Do you have any DIYs planned for your home?  What is your favorite DIY to date?

-JCM

image via Pinterest
"Work hard at the thing you love. Like...really hard. Don't let anyone tell you that it's dumb. If they tell you it's dumb...work harder and prove them wrong. But don't rub it in their face- just be gracious, and wear expensive lipstick, and smile, and keep working." -Joy the Baker, from this post

My loftiest goals yet:

• start a novel/play/series of short stories
• stick to the spending diet
• run whenever it's weather appropriate
• set up my etsy shop

I think I can do it. Like most people, I find that I am most productive when I have less down time.  So, here's to getting sh*t done and fighting through the last of the cold winter months!

Tell us: What are your plans for the month?

-SM