Seven years later I sing a totally different tune. Adulthood has started to get the best of me. And even though it's fun for me every so often to go out stay out late, it just has lost its appeal. Half of it for me is that I have such limited time in my day... and I have my dad's mentality that "there is always something more that can be done." As a mental health counselor, I know that it is imperative to combat the guilt I can feel when I'm not being productive. Let's face it, I've literally been productive since I began learning... I literally went back to school after a month of being done with my Master's... because I get bored not being productive. I have a lot of a Type A Personality. Thankfully for me, my husband is more of a Type B (which is funny given that he's the business man and I'm the one in the arts).
Pinterest... lately has been the ultimate "enjoy your productivity" reward for me. Let me explain: in my career I have worked with many adolescents and adults in finding ways to reach their academic goals. One of the tools that works wonders for most people with attentional problems (myself included) is to study in intervals and to take timed breaks while keeping your mind busy.
Example:
I can study/read for 30 minutes without my mind beginning to wander (I know this because I've timed myself while reading... the first time I have to redirect my thoughts onto the sentence to be read, I stop the clock).
I then take 1/3 of that time of a break (so 10 minutes) and do something separate but thought provoking/creative. Examples of these activities include SuDoKu, Word Search, Reading a magazine, crossword puzzle, etc... Examples of what does NOT constitute thought provoking breaks are social networking, TV/Movies, Radio...
For me, I've always got a job to be done at home. So Pinterest allows me to search other people's creative ideas and imagine how my own twist might allow that to work for me.
Talk about two birds with one stone here!!
Often times, I find my dinner ideas, storage solutions, and toddler crafts that I've been thinking about. Since the arts have been such an integral part of my life and were incorporated into my academia for the first 13 years of my career, this imaginative break has become so cathartic for me. I now take breaks to paint on canvas, sketch out ideas, write down quotes, and of course, eat good meals. While I don't have much time to skim through magazines (nor do I like spending the money) or energy to think of functional ways to create my own ideas, I really rely on this online "idea generator" and "wish list creator" to help guide me to what I envisioned my home to be like.
As I have always wanted books to be at an arm's reach for my child(ren), one of the very first things that I looked up on Pinterest is how to create a functional reading area that is incorporated into the same living space as the "adults" enjoy. After seeing and pinning many other ideas and modifying it to suit my spacial and financial needs, I created our son's first "reading nook" at the front of our living room. (I am still trying to fill out the shelves though). Not only did I get to re-use our TV Stand, but I also got to tap in to my old painting skills (the READ is on canvas)...
So this is what it looks like (so far):
My goal is to be rid of the Target Brand Diaper Box (lol my quick way to get it out of the kitchen to scrub the floor) and the xylophone case on the right... and to literally have the shelves packed with books. I envision writing out quotes about learning and reading and framing them for the table... but I have a toddler who likes to pick things up and run so I figure that books and canvas are the safest bet for the time being.
Now for my Crock Pot Recipe for tomorrow (by the way, the Ham was DELICIOUS and will make great lunch meat for the next couple days).
Pot Roast...
Per instructions found on mariescookingadventures.blogspot.com
What you need:
2-5 pound pot roast (any kind)
1 envelope ranch dressing (dried)
1 envelope Italian dressing
1 envelope brown gravy mix
Potatoes and Carrots
1 to 1-1/2 cup water
What you do:
If you wanted carrots and potatoes in your CrockPot, cut them to your liking and put in the bottom of your CrockPot.
Put Roast on top of vegatables.
Sprinkle all 3 spice envelopes on top.
Add the water.
Cook on LOW for 6-10 hours until tender and veggies cooked through.
While I sometimes envy those energetic college students and their carefree lifestyles... I know two things: they don't have the family I have right at this moment... and they likely aren't cooking this amazing pot roast in their dorms tomorrow for dinner...
Now, time for my peanut butter bagel...
