Sunday, June 8, 2014

I Can Do Hard Things.


I can do hard things.

This weekend I got out my sewing machine and sewed. If you know me at all, then you would understand that this is completely out of character for me. Clearly all of the sewing genes went to my sister.

It had been quite some time since I had last pulled out my sewing machine so I had completely forgotten how the get it threaded properly and set up the bobbin, etc. The thought of trying to figure it all out was a enough for me to keep the machine tucked safely in closet. But I surprised myself when I started pulling out my sewing box and gathering the pants that needed hemming.

After following the instructions for the set-up process I had machine humming along. I actually shouted out loud "I DID IT! I CAN DO HARD THINGS!" My sister (different sister) and I had been keeping each other company by chatting over speaker phone so she laughed quite loudly at my exclamation.

I made a mess (which you can see in the background of this photo) which is enough reason for me not to try new things. I hate cleaning up messes. Honestly, I don't think anyone enjoys cleaning up messes but messes are part of life. They are a sign of creativity, of good work being done. When my sewing projects were complete I cleaned up the mess in less than ten minutes feeling accomplished that I had tried (and succeeded) at something new.

I didn't left myself hold myself back and now I have jeans of the proper length and two new pairs of shorts. If I can sew, when I thought I couldn't, what else can I do. I just have to keep reminding myself...

I can do hard things. 

Monday, June 2, 2014

Bad Bedding Purchases and Laundry Confessions

Not too long ago I wrote this post about our new bedding. Yeah...well... I would have done myself a favor if I had left it on the shelf in the store. After a couple of washes all of the stuffing has bunched up creating the lumpiest comforter ever. I mean, you get what you pay for right? And the whole set was only sixty bucks.

I would feel guilty throwing it away because it's not technically damaged, but I don't want to donate it to the thrift store because the wind-breaker type fabric is a cat hair magnet and Ellie fuzz is STUCK to this bedding. So, I am doing the next most logical thing. I'm washing the comfortable as often as possible in hopes that the seams will rip and all the stuffing will fall out. Is that a terrible thing to admit online? Probably, but it's the truth. It's like when I buy a new type of shampoo and then realize I hate it but I paid good money for it so I don't want to "waste" it. So obviously I will wash my hair with buckets of terrible shampoo in order to use it all up and take a guiltless trip to the store to buy the "right" shampoo again. Esentially, I'm trying to "use up" my comforter.

My dream bedding is here it's Pottery Barn's Samantha Damask in Smoke Gray. I mean this gorgeous bedding is LITERALLY calling my name. But honestly, if I had bedding that nice I'd be too afraid to use it. Knowing my awesome laundry skills I'd dye it pink before I even got a chance to put it on my bed. (Just ask my husband; one time I got bleach spots on ALL of his work shirts. I wasn't even using bleach in that load.)

I think when my "new" comforter is used up I'll just go back to what I had before.

Until I get significantly better at doing laundry.