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. 

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.

This is Exciting!

It's a boy! I was so excited to get a text from my sister that said "I **might** be in labor" at three in the morning and indeed she was because by six that evening she was holding her baby boy.



It was such a cool experience to be at the hospital with a whole bunch of family and have my brother-in-law walk through the doors to proclaim "it's a boy" with a big smile on his face. What an exciting day. They are home from the hospital and both mom and baby are doing well. I've been able to see them a handful of time since his arrival but it never seems like enough. I could hold that little baby forever.

My sister hasn't posted anything on her blog yet but you can find it here when she does.

Weekend Ramblings

Happy Saturday!

I've been kind of all over the place here on Inspired by Numbers, lately. I've been writing about books, my house and whatever else seems to pop into my head. I was trying to force myself into some sort of schedule for the blog by planning posts etc. and you know what? That's just not me right now.

I feel like the internet is becoming more and more saturated and I found myself trying to find my little niche. I wanted to be home decor on a budget blogger (hence the inspired by numbers name) but then when decorating my house wasn't moving quite fast enough for a blog I decided I would just be a money blogger and poor out my infinite wisdom of managing fiances to the internet (that was sarcasm if you can't tell) but I found myself running out of things to say (I guess my wisdom wasn't so infinite after all.)

The truth is, my interests vary more than that and therefore the blog is going to vary a lot too. This blog is a hobby for me. I am not a professional blogger, actually I have a full time job that takes up much of my time and energy and therefore I am not going to worry about what and when my next blog post will be. I really enjoy writing and this is a place where I can be brave and let other people read what I write, even if I am writing about something silly.

On that note, this is what is currently on my mind. My sister is due with her first baby on Monday. This new little edition will make two people parents, four people grandparents, five women aunts and three men uncles for the first time ever. My sister and brother-in-law decided they wanted the gender to be a surprise and therefore I don't know if I'll be getting a little niece or nephew. I am unbelievably excited about becoming an aunt for the first time. I think I've told everyone I know about it. Last weekend I was at Kohl's and bought a newborn boy outfit and newborn girl outfit (so I'm prepared) and I told the lady at the cash register about how I can't wait to be an aunt, I'm sure she didn't care but I am happy about it. I just can't wait to hold this little person in my arms. It could be any day now...

Thoughts on Food from the Weekend

Good morning Monday everyone!

Things to note: the following is just my ramblings with no lesson to be learned or beautiful pictures to view. I just felt like writing and these are my thoughts.

It's been one of those weekends where I just don't. want. to. cook. When it comes to dinner I would like to eat jelly beans. Why can't jelly beans be a legitimate dinner option? I ended up making pizza from refrigerated dough and threw together a quick salad since the lettuce was already washed and chopped.

I have a handful of go-to dinners that don't require recipes. Tacos, spaghetti, chicken and rice, etc. I didn't start cooking until I moved out of my parents house and I didn't do that until I got married. So in the almost three years since my cooking journey began I'm happy that I have these go-to dinners that require little thought. I keep checking cookbooks out of the library thinking it will change my dinner game, but they usually get returned without a single recipe made. So, I told myself no more library cookbooks until I have tired cooking out of the books I already own. I think I'd like to try a recipe for steak and one for ribs in the slow-cooker next.

Another funny observation, my mom never made ribs or steak while I was growing up so those two things seem especially difficult to me. If mom didn't make it, then it was gourmet food that requires a professional. The meals I make now are very similar to the ones my mom made during my childhood and I am 100% with that but I'd like to try something new.

Anyway, that's just what I have been thinking about and decided to share. Hope you all have an absolutely lovely week ahead!

Moving Things Around in the Dining Room

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

This weekend I tired some dining room hutch rearranging. We got this hutch last year for $100 on Craigslist. Originally I thought about painting the back of it a lighter color since since so dark, but it is solid wood and I actually enjoy the look of wood so I decided not to paint it. Instead, I put all of my white ceramic pieces in there and they pop against the dark wood.

Here's what it looked like before:

 

Sorry for the blurry photo but this is the best one of the bunch (you don't want to see the others.) Anyway, the hutch had turned into a catch all of sorts. Nothing was styled so I collected all my pieces on the kitchen table and did some rearranging. 

I ended up with:

 

I love the way the white pieces look in here. I also enjoy having my cookbooks available in the kitchen for obvious reasons. I wonder if the Pioneer Woman minds being on display? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has all of her cookbooks.

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist

This was the perfect book for me to read in this season of my life. The chapters were short but each one contained a heartfelt story that really resonated with me. The way she talks about food makes me want to run to my kitchen to start chopping and dicing right this very instant. (Which is saying a lot because I'm a rather hesitant cook) But this book is about more that just food, it's about life. The good the bad and the ugly, how we all go through hills and valleys and just as life connects us all, so does the food.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the chapter City Love where Niequist is talking about how one of her favorite memories of her wedding day was eating the leftovers with her new husband back in their hotel room overlooking Chicago after all the wedding festivities were done. She says this...

"When we want something to be momentous, it rarely is. Life is disobedient in that way, insisting on surprising us with its magic, stubbornly unwilling to be glittery on command." (page 222)

How true is this? You can plan and practice but life will give you magical moments even in the most unexpected of times. My favorite childhood memories are from everyday life. Dancing in the kitchen with my sisters, making cities out of boxes and paper for our stuffed animals, my dad justifying the cookies the came home after his grocery trip by proclaiming they jumped into his cart.

Yes, special occasions like Christmas and Birthdays contain wonderful memories too, but there is just as much magic throughout everyday life.

Even big things like my wedding day contain unexpected moments that bring a smile to my face. I planned, pondered and made big, expensive decisions because I had dreamed about this day my whole life. I spent a lot of money on dress that I wore once but, do you want to know one of my favorite pieces of my carefully designed outfit was? At the last minute someone asked if I wanted flowers in my hair. Yes, I thought, of course I wanted flowers in my hair. So they rounded up some white orchids and the hair stylist pinned them in my hair. And whenever I see the pictures I smile because I got married with flowers in my hair. To me that is such a beautiful and romantic thing. It was last minute and I loved it.

But back to the book. The copy I read was from the library but I definitely need to own this book. The recipes sound delicious I am definitely going to make the Basic Vinaigrette and I want to try the Maple Balsamic Pork Tenderloin, the Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Toffee and the Blueberry Crisp. Even though I more of a "good reheater" than a cook, I still think I can tackle these. Reading this book has given me more confidence in the kitchen. She admits that not every recipe she tries turns out the way she hopes and that's okay. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes you don't, with food and in life.