19
2012
Making A New Normal
Colour coding keys for family & friends in my new working space at home
It happened! On Saturday we moved to the new house and as of Monday night at 11:30 pm we unpacked the last box in the main living spaces. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and none more than the last few days. The move its self went smoothly, but when we got to the new house we realized that the sellers hadn’t done a thorough clean before they moved out. Because my city is a big small town, Jesse was friends and used to work with the people we bought from so we knew that they had a hurried move for reasons they couldn’t control – but scrubbing the gunk out of the house for 8 hours before we could start unpacking wasn’t the best start surprise!
The best surprise (there is one!) came right as I was finishing with the kitchen scrubbing. I heard a knock at the back door and found my new neighbour, who invited us to a pool party & drink break so we could meet their family. We had so much fun and stayed for over two hours, feeling so thankful to make new friends and be making a connection to the new neighbourhood. And a connection with a pool, no less! It was a better break than I could have wished for :)
One of the most fun things to watch is how much the dogs love the new house and the yard, both of which are more than double the size of our old place. I’ve been amazed by how seamless the transition has been for them. Animals just don’t have any baggage! While I’ve been watching my anxiety rising & falling every day and I’ve been careful to get enough sleep so I don’t have to work so hard be positive & focused, my little dogs looked around, saw that their family & food was in a new place and that was all they needed to know.
Well, maybe that and where the best view of the street is. That’s a habit I’m going to break, but I had to catch one photo ;)
Now that we’re out of boxes in most of the house, I’m relieved to get back to a more normal routine that includes a lot more blogging & creativity than breaking down cardboard boxes & getting ready for the move has allowed! This week I’m breaking out all the art I bought this summer and adding it to the walls, picking up my parent’s 1970′s record player and record collection, and am stopping in at a few of my favourite thrift stores just for good measure. I’m even going to knit this weekend! While these would normally just pieces of a weekend routine, having them back feels so energizing. I’ve missed them incredibly! Since my my version of my dog’s “family & food” essentials are taken care of again, I can hardly wait to put on that first record and put up the pictures. I’m ready to just relax and feel like I’m home.
What’s your favourite everyday indulgence that centers you?
ps – The past months have been very light on posting for me, but I’m so excited to get back into my normal blog reading, replying to your comments & story telling here! I’ve been so surprised by the number of readers who have emailed me asking questions about past posts, offering guest posting opportunities and checking in to see how the move has gone. You are just amazing and I’m thankful for you making my corner of the internet part of your life and I wanted you to know that I’m working behind the scenes on making it an more engaging & inspiring part of your life :)
Teacher & Author
I’m glad your move went well..boooo to the cleaning though!
Happy to see you will be posting more..I love to pop by and read your posts :)
Happy Wednesday.
Vanessa
Yea the cleaning wasn’t the best, but at least I know that it was done well. Thanks for always checking in, Vanessa :)
Congratulations on the move! And glad to hear you’re settling in well! :D Can’t wait to hear more about your new space, and seeing more of your wonderful creativity! :D
Thanks Maggie! It’s been a nice feeling to not have the time to blog, but to be brimming with ideas I want to get into posts. Having excitement for blogging is such a great feeling :)
It’s so comforting when your pet loves their new home right away! When we moved to California, my little rabbit was immediately at home. It made me feel like we made the right choice, you know?
Aw, that must have been so cute! I’ve heard that rabbits are really particular about where they live too, so that’s an extra endorsement. One of my friends can’t rearrange a whole room in one go because his bunny thinks it means a predator has been by, moving tables around while looking for bunnies to eat. Is yours the same way?
He used to be like that! He’s gotten a lot more comfortable in the last year or so (he was a rescue), so now he just likes to cautiously explore “new” surroundings!
Actually I am in goodreaders as Lady Nahema, i would like to add you too :)
Congratulations on the new home! :)
Thank you Stephanie! I’m so happy to be settling in. I wanted last week to be “normal” but now that my clothes are unpacked & I’ve made a few meals in the house, I think I really have a shot at a low stress, comfort filled week. I hope yours is the same way :)
I’m so glad you’re back. You are one of my faves. :)
Thank you Emily! I really appreciate that. I haven’t been in my best form for a while, but having all kinds of ideas and making my evenings dedicated blog time (she writes, at 10 in the morning lol) is bringing back all my excitement and enthusiasm :)
Yay! So excited everything went so well – and what a great perspective the dogs are giving you!!!
I’m trying to wring the lessons out of the stress I’ve been feeling- but thankfully it’s calmed down even more since this post ;)
So glad your move went well and you are already making new friends! Enjoy your knitting! Little pleasures like that are just the best :)
Whenever something small like knitting makes me really happy I thank God that I’m easily entertained. Life would be a lot harder otherwise ;)
Thanks for the well wishes, Leigh!
I am right there with you!
So glad you’re settling in! My husband and I will be moving houses soon as well and I’ll be looking to you for advice! Happy unpacking! :D
I definitely have a few pieces of advice that I’ve been thinking about putting into a post- I’ll get that up this week. Good luck with your move! :)
I’m so pleased you’re settling in already. Your new home looks gorgeous.
Thanks Sarah, it’s feeling a lot better this week already. I wanted that “home” feeling to start right away and wore myself out a little trying to get there. This week I’m trying to just enjoy what it is and let it develop in its own time :)
I’m so glad your move went well. Also, the cuteness of your dogs just kills me:)
They’ve been so adorable lately that it’s just silly. I think they’re sucking up since they’re still getting used to the new house- but I’ll take it!
I love that you’re all moved in and staring down at your new normal. Over the weekend, Sweets changed out all our locks (for no reason other than he was annoyed with our old, perfectly well working ones) and we had to go through a key coloring festival as well. =)
Ha! That sounds like something Jesse would do ;)
Did you guys go the nail polish route too, or do you have another system?
So glad the move went well (except for the cleaning part – ick). I hope you enjoy your new space.
Ha! Yes, there was an ick factor but I swear that the pool cancelled it out. Thank you for wishing us well in the new house, I’m really happy that the move is over :)
I’m glad your move went well, even if you did have to do so much cleaning right away! The fact you made an instant connection with your neighbours is utterly wonderful. So often we have no idea at all who are neighbours are, and I genuinely believe that our lives are richer when we are friendly with those who live around us. Especially if they have a pool! Hells yeah!
What centres me? Usually listening to music and being alone. Sounds mopey but it’s totally not. I put on a little chopin and just un-pin myself from my stresses. It’s glorious!
Morgue x
Having a connection in the community makes the whole neighbourhood feel different- especially since our old neighbours were so awful to us! The contrast is even better. And I’m all about alone time too. Having some music to unwind to is just amazing :)
Congrats on the successful move! Welcome back :)
Thanks Liz! It’s good to be back :)
so incredibly true the part you put in bold. it’s a wonderful reminder.
Thanks Megan, when I’m stressed I get hyper aware of what I can be learning from the situation I’m in. I’m really thankful I was able to pick up on this little lesson, and that I could start making time to relax and let that feeling of being home come naturally instead of trying to force it and remember every little thing I needed to do :)
So happy for you and your husband, and of course for the puppies enjoying the house and backyard, it’s the good thing with dogs, cats on the other hand are a little more difficult to addapt to a new place, but in the end, they get use to it.
My favorite everyday indulgence is reading, i must read at least for half an hour every single day or i feel like i did nothing in all day -even when i work from 7-3 in a highschool-, it’s just the fact of read about places and people, fantastic worlds what makes my day.
I feel the same way about reading- it’s one of my favourite ways to decompress, especially as someone with a really active mind. It forces you to spend time in another world! Are you on Goodreads? I’d love to add you as a friend and compare notes on books :)
something gone wrong with my ipod and i couldn’t reply properly, but yes, i’m in goodreads and i would love to add you too, i’m really new on this site, but i’ve been doing a little challenge all the year.
I’m Lady Nahema there :)
When we moved into our house 2 years ago, we arrived to a filthy, gross house. It was SO frustrating to me! We had a week before move-in, and we spent most of it cleaning up other people’s ick. Made me cranky :)
Cooking dinner was the everyday-indulgence that made my house feel like home. With a million things to do, it seems indulgent to take the time to cook a big meal. It’s relaxing, though, and I love when the smell of cooking fills up the house!
Yes! I’m so much the same way. Last night I made a really tasty, healthy & hearty meal for dinner and as the smells filled the house it was so comforting. I think I’m going to cook my way into feeling like it’s really, fully our home :)
Congratulations on the new home! For me, I enjoy a nice cup of tea every morning to center myself. :) It actually doesn’t matter where I am (home or work), it works wonders every time.
I love the nailpolish-painted keys idea!
Tea is such a good one! I love how comforting it is and the little ritual of making it. I have English Breakfast for the afternoons and a tea called “Mothers Little Helper” that’s calming for the evenings. I just need a big comfy chair, a book and I’ll be set!
I’m also a big cup of tea, make a list in the morning kind of gal. Have a wonderful time settling in to your new space.
Kacie
Congrats on the new place, Kyla! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see more pics! I’m so happy your dogs love the new place and made the move easily :)