THE answer to a keeping a clean house all the time!!!

I HAVE FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!!!! There is only one reason it is absolutely impossible to KEEP a house clean!!!!! FLAT SURFACES!!! Flat surfaces collect things, they just do. I’m fairly certain even if my house was empty for a week, I’d come home to find every flat surface cluttered. They don’t even bother to collect relevant useful things. Flat surfaces are hoarders of the worst sort, they care not at all whether the item is needed or trash, sometimes they even collect things that we don’t know the use of.

So, my answer is to create a flat surface free house! I understand that means constantly holding everything while using it, but that right there will cut down on clutter. The major problem is that private citizens cannot solve this flat surface problem alone. Manufacturers have to agree and cooperate. Refrigerators, Microwaves, even toilets need curved tops! The manufacturers of things such as tables, shelves and desks may struggle with this concept, but if they refuse, I suggest getting the government involved! You may think that extreme, but really, who better to never think in straight lines than the American government?

This is now my mission!!! DOWN WITH FLAT SURFACES!!!!!!

Oh the Things I would Say!

Oh the things I could say
that I put on a shelf.
The comments galore
that I keep to myself.

The thoughts come unbidden,
they fly through my brain.
The flaws in your “facts”
that you adamantly maintain.

Your political beliefs
based off media mainstream,
Allow no difference of
opinion, or facts, it would seem.

People’s dismissing of other’s
who are considered “snowflakes”
Puts my temper on high,
but my calm I will fake.

People’s amazing belief
their feelings other’s should spare
Would drive me quite crazy
if I could make myself care.

The constant rants about
every negative thought.
Not one ounce of gratitude,
not one happy thought.

For just one funny meme
I will continue to scroll,
doing my best to ignore
Every ignorant troll.

Your mouth runs a muck
with no truth to be found
but on social media,
It seems your logic is sound.

How I would love
to say what I think,
but that would be met
with 50 spurious links.

Oh the things I could say
if I did not have some class,
if I lacked self control for
my tremendous my smart….mouth.

😉 ~ Stephanie Johnson

Tea Time

If you have never had high tea you just don’t know what you’re missing. My husband and I were in the UK last year, but I missed my chance to have true English high tea, as we were on a tight schedule to try and get to Isle of Skye (fantastic btw). Last week I had the opportunity to experience an Americanized version of high tea in the area of Georgetown in Washington, DC.

I made a reservation at Lady Camilla’s Tea Room, they do accept walk ins, but I did not want to miss the opportunity again lol. It is a small space, so I would suggest a reservation unless you just happen to be in the neighborhood and want to take a chance.

My husband was working so I went by myself. That may seem odd to a lot of people, but honestly I enjoy doing things on my own. It gives me a chance to read and/or people watch.

When I arrived the server showed me to my table in a lovely and so charming little cafe. Linen table cloths, cloth napkins, real silver, real china, all the things you would hope for. She gave me a very impressive menu, and I chose to go with the full tea service, I mean, if you’re going to do it, you ought to do it right. I ordered the Darjeeling of a list of at least fifty teas, truly something for every one. I got to pick two different sandwiches, personally I went with the brie and apple and the cucumber. Also, I got to choose between two scones/croissants and for pastries. I ordered the white chocolate cranberry scone, apple croissant, Aaaaaaand….the vanilla creme brulee, coconut macaroon, chocolate hazelnut macaroon, and pecan tart-let.

Let me pause here for a moment. EVERYTHING I ordered was delicious, I mean really very very good. BUT!!!! The scone….oh my sweet lord that scone. I now have dreams of that scone, and wake up slightly teary eyed as I do not have the recipe lol.

Anyway… So the lovely meal (?) was served on a three tiered china tray, I had my own personal, hot pot of a lovely Darjeeling, and my kindle with an excellent book. Honestly, that’s fairly close to heaven to me. I got to take my time and enjoy the entire experience. Though it is a small space the staff is friendly and they do not make you feel rushed in any way.

I know tea time is considered quite “girly” thing to take part in, and generally I don’t consider myself very “girly”. That being said, I very much hope to find a local tea room that can come close to comparing to Lady Camilla’s as that is something I could happily see myself doing a few times a month.

My day started with a brain freeze…

Seriously, that is kind of an omen. I got up, got myself a glass of iced tea, took a sip, and then searing pain through my temple? So uncool!

Conflicted seems to be my state of mind today. I’ve been staying in a pretty good mood lately. Motivated, social, generally just a happy kinda person. Today it seems the past couple weeks have just culminated in me wanting to scream, or just start driving.

See here’s how my brain works. Obstacle comes up, handle it, move on. Another obstacle, continue to handle it, keep moving. Overthink everything. Worry about anything that could possibly happen. Obstacle, handle it, minor break down but keep moving. Keep moving. Distract myself in any way I can think of. Keep moving. One last tiny little obstacle and it’s just done. My brain just says no, time to stop adulting, lay on the floor, kick and scream. BUT! I won’t do that, no way! So keep moving, but with a slow burning angry frustration just under the surface.

Seems healthy right? lol.

Here’s my last two weeks: Unplanned trip to NC and SC due to Dad’s 65th birthday. It happened to coincide with my husbands work trip to NC so, ok, doable. That means all the things I was working on gets put on hold, but I could use a break, so cool. Get everything set up, pack, prepare and off we go. Halfway to NC, get a phone call that my biological father that I have literally NO relationship with AT ALL also is in SC. Internal mental and emotional breakdown, but deal, keep moving. Both of my sisters dealing with fairly serious health problems. I’ve got this, keep moving. Sister calls, asks if I’m going to see the “father”, I explain that I don’t want to see him, just to find out I’m unknowingly on speaker phone with him as well. Ok, a minor break down at that point seems fair. I mean, I didn’t want to hurt the man, at least not accidentally lol. No really, I just don’t want anything to do with him. Ok, and we’re moving. Set down ground rules with family. Only going to be in town for three nights, spend one day and night with each sister and one with my Mom. Good Plan. Get pressured by all family members move back to SC though I have a home and life where I have lived for 11 years. Keep moving. Get pressured by all members of family to change all plans to spend any time with any other family members. Still moving. Barely get to see my son who now lives in SC as I’m trying to keep everything on a good note with the family. Eat out every single meal for a week! Ugh, the wasted money!!! Moving, moving. Multiple family get togethers including TWO birthday parties. Convince my brain it does not need a break from socializing, cause that is just not going to happen any where near the family, and we’re moving. Find out my oldest niece now hates me, up to and including ignoring my entire existence, because I have a small problem with her being a pathological liar and neglecting her children to the point of them being taken away and my older sister raising them, and now the niece wants them back. Yeah, that’s cool, no worries, makes sense. 12 hour drive home, trapped in a car, for 12 hours . Relieved to finally get back home though. Wake up Monday, super motivated! I can keep going, this is good, make lots of progress. Ignore that my sons and husband are doing almost NOTHING to help, including barely even cleaning up after themselves. Keep moving. Tuesday, not bad, lots of progress, got to talk to my very best friend, feeling good. Wednesday, unplanned visit to daughter in laws to take her coffee. Totally worth it! Great coffee, good visit, and got to play with my grandboy! Rest of the day is thrown off a bit, but still making progress. Wednesday night, sore, omg so very very sore. Oh and btw, find out my husband is going to be traveling for the next four weeks. FOUR WEEKS!!! Ugh!!! Ok, it’ll be ok, he’s just the best friend I have in the world, my co-parent, partner and the person I talk to about LITERALLY EVERYTHING! It’ll be ok, keep moving… None of this is even including all the things running through my mind, all the things I’m trying to figure out how to do on as little of a budget as I can work out, learning french, wanting to start meditating, working out, oh and spring is on it’s way. Ok, now how do I balance all the indoor projects with wanting to get a garden going and keeping my yard pretty? Oh, and then there’s all the news, sighs, better to just try not to think about all that.

Look, there are so very many good things in my life and I am so very grateful for all of them. BUT, this morning, I’m just tired and wish anything could just be easy. Anything at all. I’m not being picky here. I realize I am so lucky to be able to stay home and not have to go to work everyday. I’m lucky in so many ways I can’t even count them all.

Oh well, off to clean bathrooms and organize closets. I know I’ll feel better for accomplishing things. Really, I will… just wish I wasn’t so tired today.

The PERFECT Southern Sweet Tea

I live in Ohio now, but I grew up right outside Charleston, SC. When I say I know how to make sweet tea, I mean it. My family has the recipe from THE motherland lol.

I drink about a gallon of it a day… That’s probably not the best thing for me, but it’s so much better than so many of the alternatives that even my doctor is ok with it.

What you need: 1 Gallon Pitcher, 8 regular tea bags or 1 family size (get the lipton, it’s worth it), sugar, water, electric tea kettle or pot and stove.

What you do: Place tea bag/bags in empty pitcher. Bring approx. 1 quart of water to a boil. Pour water over tea bag/bags. DO NOT boil the tea bag in the water, this leads to bitter tea. Allow to steep for at least 1 and a half hours, preferable until water temp drops to room temperature. Discard tea bag. NOW THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART!!! Add 1 cup and a lil bit of sugar. NOT 1 cup. NOT 1 and a quarter cup. 1 CUP AND A LITTLE BIT!!! Add water until pitcher is full and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Serve over ice. Refrigerate.

I admit, water is better for you, we all know that. On the other hand, the amount of sugar in this is a practically nothing compared to any soda, this is high fructose corn syrup free, and is free of chemicals. If you drink diet soda, don’t even get me started…the stuff the put in those things is terrifying. Also, the money you save by drinking homemade tea vs store bought will surprise you.

Try it, enjoy, and let me know what you think 🙂

PS: If you are willing to drink the “from concentrate” tea that some restaurants serve, your opinion is not needed 😉 lol

Making my bed has changed my life…

I have suffered from a general anxiety disorder and depression, well, pretty much always. Add in periods of graves disease, hypothyroidism, my kids growing up, and just the stress of living, and there have been times where all I’ve done is either sat on my computer, or on my couch. Really! I mean I never did stay in bed all day long, but I did the next best thing, got out of bed, and then accomplished literally nothing that I could feel good about.

Ten months ago my oldest son moved ten hours away. You have to understand, I’ve been a SAHM for 21 years. My youngest is now 14. They don’t really need me constantly anymore, and as I centered my world on them, I was left at a loss. For about six months I really just did not get off the couch. I pretty much disappeared for almost all of my family and friends.

Thankfully I have an amazing husband who understood as best he could, I have an amazing dog who would rather I stayed on the couch with him than do anything else in the world, and I have amazing boys who let me know constantly that, though they may not need me the way they used to, they still want me in their lives all the time. Those things helped me get through this and many other rough times.

BUT!!! I have finally figured out the best trick for me. I just have to make my bed. That’s it, that seems to be the trick to my personal happiness and motivation.

Seriously, I know it sounds silly but it has changed the game for me. I get caught up in a vicious cycle of depression making me unmotivated, and accomplishing nothing making me more depressed, and so on….. It’s really frustrating.

So, I made my bed. Not as soon as I woke up, I’m not capable of that, but after I had my time to wake up. I go upstairs and make my bed.

Next thing you know, I was getting dressed after I made my bed. Then I was straightening up my kitchen, wiping down bathrooms, doing laundry…AND FOLDING IT!!!! Suddenly I’m de-cluttering things that haven’t seen the light of day in a decade. I’m painting walls, repairing furniture and decorating. I have even begun socializing again, that may not seem like much, but if I’m in a funk I fall off the map.

I had to really stop and figure out this massive change in my life in the past two months.

There it was. I started making my bed every morning. That one tiny little action has led to an avalanche that has left me in the best emotional place I’ve been in in years. It gave me a small sense of accomplishment first thing in my day. That felt very nice. It gave me the motivation to try other small tasks, which felt even better. I’m sure you can see where this is going. Suddenly I’m up and moving most of the day. I still take my afternoon nap, lets not get crazy. (More on my belief in the good of naps another time) But, otherwise I spend my days doing things that not only are good for my home and family, but make me feel good and proud of myself.

So, if you want my advice for the day? Go make your bed 😉