Tuesday Tidy

I have really missed blogging and when I take such long breaks it can be hard to know where to start. So I decided on a simple new series: Tuesday Tidy.

I'm slowly unburying myself from my email inboxes. Between multiple email accounts I had over 300 "unread" emails. I put that in quotes because some of them I marked as unread so I'd remember to deal with them later. But the truth is, I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with these emails...

So this morning I set a 10 minute timer. I figure I can commit 10 minutes and then move along if needed. So for 10 minutes I moved emails to the correct inbox folders, deleted those I didn't need, and unsubscribed from unnecessary emails (I always end up back on these lists!). When the timer went off I'd dealt with 27 emails!

After a 5 minute break I was motivated to try again. With the first inbox at zero, I decided to tackle the monster account with 257 unread emails (insert embarrassed face...). After another 10 minute session and I'm down to 181!

Here are my quick tips so I don't dwell on tricky emails and get lost in the process:

• Sort by subscriptions or companies first so you can deal with them at once. Start with an easy one that you know you can delete without much emotional attachment.
• When in doubt, unsubscribe. Clearly I haven't been using the coupons and when I need a coupon, I will know where to look
• Make a list: recipe emails are so inspiring but they clog up my inbox, so I open the link to the recipe and save it in a document called "Recipes to Make," that way I can search later and delete the email now.
• Create folders for certain categories. I have purchased many knitting patterns over the years and they often come in emails so I have a folder where I move these emails so they are filed away. Makes it easy to access later and doesn't clog up the "IN" box.

Looking forward to more tidying and less emails this week! Have other tips and tricks for organizing email? I'd love to know!

Bullet Journal 2017

Last week I set up my new bullet journal. Though my journaling fizzled out toward the end of 2016, I really enjoyed the process and method for keeping track of things so I decided to start fresh.

I'm using the same size Moleskin as last year and found some small cut out calendars to use at the front or my year overview. Other than that I'm hoping to use a bunch of supplies up that I have on hand. I keep a pouch with adhesive, pens, washi tape and precut cards near my journal and just grab what seems right in the moment.

Here are a few shots of the basic set up I did. I'll post some more later on when I have added more pages. Happy documenting!

Currently

The view from here...

Enjoying snuggles with our tiny person.
Reading this book.
Listening to this series during middle of the night feedings.
Watching this documentary and James Bond movies in small chunks as the little one sleeps.
Admiring the sunny weather from inside a warm house.
Cooking fried quinoa.
Making granola bars,
Eating anything that only requires one hand. These are particularly delicious.
Drinking water and #allthecoffee
Soaking up every moment before going back to work at the end of the month.
Inspired by this post to delete and organize phone photos.

Currently April 2016

 

30 days of lists

What's on your list? It seems mundane but each of these items gives me a chance to be grateful for what I have and give praise to a God who cares about these little details as much as he does the big ones!

currently

Maisie Dobbs / Simply Tuesday / Woolful Podcast / The Haden Triplets / QAL / Salad

currently - vacation edition

 

 

currently

currently

I love a good list and I've been inspired to bring back the currently posts. I was browsing around a new to me blog and saw Kristin's free download for a currently card template. I'm digging digital art these days (less physical mess!) so i typed my answers over the top of the image file. I might do this a few times this month since we're going on a road trip and my "currently" is bound to change from day to day!

currently - August 2014

tending to my plants that are somehow still thriving
planning lessons
eating olives and berries (not together)
racing to finish this sweater before school starts
opening this book with the goal of making time to read during the school year
snapping photos of the little people in my life
savoring the last days of summer freedom and sunshine
enjoying my clean and quiet house
sipping coffee
choosing to be joyful always and to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5.16-18)

currently - July 2014

learning the song above as a jazz tune inspired by Sara Gazarek
eating variations of salads such as this one and this one
enjoying fresh berries and the resulting sorbet
organizing, cleaning and clearing out. nothing. is. safe
reading this and this
listening to this song on repeat
working out using these three apps 1/2/3
enjoying the last bits of summer!

Fiber Friday no. 4

I recently came into some free worsted weight yarn.

Everyone dance!

I took some creamy colored yarn and immediately cast on the mara shawl from Madeline Tosh which I've been eagerly waiting to try. Cute blue bird stitch markers are from mom

I also grabbed some black yarn to make a hat for church. I want to do something simple but fun since it's a smaller project. I'm thinking this pattern might be nice because I can use a few other bits of yarn I have around as added details. Maybe a variety of thin stripes?

I'm still plugging away at my Fireflies Rising Shawlette, I just haven't had much opportunity for extended periods of knitting where I can sit down and really dive into it.

This weekend I plan to get my knitting on. The rainy weather seems like perfect knitting weather!

Currently - April 2014

returning to blogging!

wearing my new shawl (see above)

eating goat cheese & apple slices

packing for  Hawaii - trip isn't until June, but it's good to have something to look forward to!

listening to Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Gazarek, the husband's jazz piano from the next room  

searching for a new audiobook to listen to while I wash dishes and knit 

reading A Causal Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (lots of characters with interesting connections and a steady pace)

choosing to move: running and yoga a few times a week with shorter core and toning exercises on "off days"

browsing A Beautiful Mess projects that I don't necessarily make yet always inspire me to try new things no matter after how daunting and Lining Up My Stitches for inspiration and accountability to keep doing the things we love regardless of life busyness

enjoying  the wall of our living room which showcases a small quilt I finished last year, a fun and dynamic paper art project, and an old bingo board from my Grandparent's house. Each has a certain faded, antique quality that I find cozy and relaxing.

watching most things PBS and "Chuck"(we just began season 1)

sipping americanos - hand ground and homemade

knitting any chance I can get!

I enjoy reading currently posts from a variety of bloggers. It is a fun way to document the little and big things happening. Here are some links to other ways of recording what is currently happening:

Elise Blaha Cripe

Stephanie Howell

Ali Edwards