Today felt like a perfect day. Whenever these magical days come along, I take a few minutes to reflect on what made it so wonderful. The goal, of course, is to have more.
As I think back to the day, these are the things that stand out.
1. I woke up nestled in clean sheets, in a clean and organized bedroom.
I spent a few hours yesterday cleaning and organizing my bedroom. And not the haphazard “get stuff off the floor/dresser top” that I normally do when I’m just looking for visual decluttering, but authentic cleaning. I went through my jewelry and even vacuumed out the jewelry box. I refolded all my clothes and placed them neatly in my drawers. I swept up cobwebs from the corners of the ceiling. I put up some new art. I added a few new plants.
2. My husband had an errand at Home Depot, and despite my utter disdain for home improvement stores, I bundled up the toddler, and we went along with him. While the boy looked at the boring stuff, the toddler and I perused the plants. I gave her the task of picking out her favorite small plant for her room, and it was so much fun listening to what she liked and why. After we picked it out, we came up with a name and planned out just where we were going to put it.
3. We met up with my parents for Dim Sum. It’s one of our favorite meals, and so much fun to try something new. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, and got to show them some pictures of the toddler’s antics these last few days. The toddler tried to use chopsticks, and successfully grabbed a few things!
4. We took a family nap. What is it about snuggling up with those that we love that just hits the spot? It’s a rare weekend day when we can even attempt a family nap, but it’s the happiest thing ever.
5. I went and got a pedicure. For those of you that know me well, you know I’m just not into the girly stuff. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, it’s that I’m usually far too frugal and busy to allow myself these little luxuries. We’re usually saving up for our next big trip, and when we do spend money on treats, it’s usually on things we can enjoy as a family, like tickets to a kid-friendly event, passes to the zoo, or a family meal out. I’ve been actively focusing on treating myself a bit more—and though I still feel selfish, I think it makes me happier and calmer in general. So I splurged and got a pedicure. Amazing.
6. I spent some time painting with the toddler. I played with some color on a small stretched canvas, and I gave her a small piece of porcelain to paint as a decoration for daddy’s office. We asked daddy to pick three colors, and then we just played around with our brushes. It was a silly, messy, happy time.
7. In the evening, as we were all immersed in our own activities, the hubby working on a new project, me reading, and the toddler making digital art on her LeapPad. I decided to take a few minutes to whip up some ridiculously easy home-made hot chocolate. I loosely followed the recipe on the back of the Hershey’s Cocoa powder container, and cut the sugar in half since I was planning to add some marshmallows. It just took a few minutes to stir together on the stove, and both the boy and toddler were super happy with their treat.
My reflections:
I am happiest when my surroundings are clean and organized. I need to remember that the next time I don’t “quite” feel like cleaning. It isn’t always fun during, by the effects of a nice, clean, inviting space makes my heart happy.
Even boring errands can be fun if you try. If you don’t have a toddler to amuse you, ask yourself some interesting questions. It’s makes the task go by quicker.
Spending time with family and friends is important. Humans need interaction…both in conversation and in animal comfort. Meals and naps are a great way to incorporate both.
It’s ok to take a little time out for yourself. Even if it makes you feel guilty. A small splurge like getting your nails done, buying a fancy new lotion or shower gel, or even getting a pretty vase of fresh flowers can do wonders for your mood and soul. Pampering doesn’t have to be expensive to be worth it.
I love having a creative outlet…whether it is art, writing, photographing, cooking, or decorating. Bonus points if it helps you bond with your little one.
And finally, I realized that it makes me happy to surprise my family with little treats…a cup of homemade cocoa, a fun dvd to watch together. These are the moments I hope we remember.
As I go through this next week, I’ll try to keep these reflections at the top of my mind. I need to remember to allow myself to do more of the good stuff.