When I was a kid, one of the family-friendly musicals that was in our semi-regular movie rotation was "Hello, Dolly!" There's a song in that musical that begins with the line,
"Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out..."
Isn't it true that wearing something you like can make the difference between a good day and a bad day? Between a productive day and a day that feels wasted?
{Or maybe you reach the end of a day and haven't accomplished everything on your to-do list... but at least you felt good about the way you looked while being un-productive, right?}
Last week was really crazy for me... I had the usual teaching of lessons, plus gigs Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings that meant I didn't get home until 10:30 or later.
This week, I'm loving having more restful days at home with Nell. Knowing that the evenings will be restful makes the mornings more restful, too, because I'm not flying around making sure I have bottles pumped, diapers laid out in the right places, notes and lists for babysitters, and of course, the house tidied so it's not an embarrassment.
I'm so lucky that I don't work full time, and I can enjoy laid-back mornings with Nell most of the time. But sometimes I feel like all I really accomplish is keeping her alive, and while that is a noble thing in itself, I also want to get other things done. So I started this week off with a new resolution to put on something I like every morning, first thing. Not at 10:00 am before my 10:30 violin student comes, not at 1:00 pm before my 1:30 violin student comes, but first thing. And not just presentable clothes, but an outfit that I really like wearing.
{I'm also trying to break myself of a silly habit I have of getting dressed a little bit at a time, meaning occasionally I spend half my morning in jeans and a bathrobe. So ridiculous.}
Once I'm dressed, with my hair done and makeup on, I'm ready to take on the day.
And that's where my other new resolution comes in: to try to get one thing done a day.
Just one thing. Maybe it's a sewing project or a craft project, maybe a homemaking project or a furniture-paining project, maybe it's organizing Nell's clothes or my closet, catching up on paperwork, working in the yard, doing an errand, or even blogging. Of course I might do more than one thing, but telling myself it just needs to be one out-of-the-ordinary thing each day (i.e. doing dishes or laundry doesn't count!) makes it seem so manageable. Anyone can do one thing!
Just one thing. Maybe it's a sewing project or a craft project, maybe a homemaking project or a furniture-paining project, maybe it's organizing Nell's clothes or my closet, catching up on paperwork, working in the yard, doing an errand, or even blogging. Of course I might do more than one thing, but telling myself it just needs to be one out-of-the-ordinary thing each day (i.e. doing dishes or laundry doesn't count!) makes it seem so manageable. Anyone can do one thing!
I'm even thinking about starting a one thing blog series. (Although, since I just said blogging counts as my one thing, that could get a little cyclical, hah.)
On Monday, I hung two framed prints in Nell's room.
{I've had these prints for months now, finally bought frames for them a month or so ago, but still hadn't hung them up...!}
We also went for a 'leaf walk' to enjoy the beginning of Autumn and look at the changing leaves.
{leaving on our walk}
On Tuesday I finally sewed the third of four curtain panels for Nell's room. I also spent some time trying to decide what storage bins would best fit in the Expedit shelving unit from IKEA that's in her room, but haven't reached a conclusion yet. I might even try my hand at making these fabric storage bins from Make It and Love It. (If I'm feeling particularly ambitious.)
And on Wednesday morning, I finished the last of the curtain panels!
I say "finished" loosely, because I still need to hang two of them (once Nathan installs the curtain rod) and then do the final hems on all four of them.
Here's what the two that have already been (temporarily) hung look like:
Once I get a little more progress made in Nell's room, I'll do a post with pictures of the whole space. It's a very imperfect tiny room in a very imperfect old house, but I love the grey stripes I painted, and the yellow damask fabric I chose for her curtains, and the sailboat mobile her grandparents made her.
So, next time you're having an unproductive day, try it: put on your proverbial 'Sunday clothes' and see what happens.
I needed to read this today. I'm the queen of making unrealistic to-do lists, which are even harder to accomplish now that Henry is here. I'm still in my pajamas as I write this, and about to go get dressed. I like the idea of getting dresses first thing; the earliest is usually during the morning nap for me. Nell is such a cutie!
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