Medicine Cabinet Clean Out

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, I think about organizing my house, to help lull me to sleep. Oh yeah, I've analyzed this one a lot. Organization is something that I've been "working on" for years. Do you have anything that you've been trying to do/achieve, however "small" it may seem, for a long time? Organization helps me to feel calm, in control, and accomplished. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like the fact that a lot of things in life are beyond our control. It makes me uneasy, and spikes my anxiety. I don't really love the process of organizing a mess- but I love the finished results. And the process has taken on an almost meditative quality for me lately. When I'm focused on an organizing project, everything else gets pushed aside. My mind is quiet.

One thing that I love about our house is these built in cabinets in the hall by the bathroom.



In the bottom left, we keep towels. In the top left is our bedding.. sheets, etc. in the top right is extra shampoo bottles, and other bathroom items. In the lower right is the medicine cabinet (we don't have one in the bathroom).

Sadly, the medicine cabinet got to a point of disarray. Actually, it never was well organized.

Here's a before photo:



It's been bothering me lately, so I ordered some Clear Stacking Bins from the container store which fit into the space perfectly. I like that they are open in the front, so you can easily see and access what's inside them. I'm thinking about getting a label maker for labeling such bins.

I took everything out, wiped the shelves clean, tossed the things that we don't use, and organized most of what was left into the three bins. I thought about taking the medications out of their packaging, but realized that we might need to read the directions! Now, there is a lot more room. When you live in a small house, you need to make every part neat and functional, I think.

Here's what it looks like now (so much more pleasing to the eye, right?)





Just $20.00 or so, and about a half hour of time, and it's so much better.

The Basic Work Out

Until I started my new job at the pilates studio about seven months ago, I taught fitness classes for 13 years. I taught it all... step aerobics, dance aerobics, kickboxing, body sculpting, abs/back class... of course, not all at once, and usually I only taught two or three classes a week. Getting exercise was easy because it was "built into" my job description! I also tried to get into the weight room a couple of times a week and lift weights.

Lately, there has been a big shift in how and when I work out, and I'm still adjusting to it. When I started my new job training for pilates, it was so intense ( I really felt like I was in medical school) that I hardly worked out at all for a number of months. That felt horrible, but it was all I could do to squeeze in a little walk or short run here and there. Maybe it was partially the emotional aspect for me. I was so overwhelmed and overworked for those months of training that I just came home and flopped, and didn't want to move. But my body started to feel the effects of not having enough regular exercise. I was getting sore and tight in ways I hadn't felt before, and that scared me.

I realized just how important movement is for me, physically and mentally. I knew that if I could work out more, it would help me relax and feel more centered at work, and in all aspects of my life. So I've started walking/jogging more. I like to record when I exercise on the calendar on my computer. Doesn't it feel good when you can look back and see that you worked out "X" many times during the week? I also try to take two pilates classes a week (not always easy when you have clients that conflict with class times) and, I'm trying to use the gym at work more.

I know, it seems kind of weird for a pilates instructor and personal trainer to be struggling with her own work outs, right? But even when you work at a gym/pilates studio, it can be hard to find the time/motivation/ whatever/ to get regular work outs. I'm dealing with the same issues that everyone has to deal with... finding exercises that I like to do, that I'll do regularly. It's different now that I'm not teaching cardio classes. When I teach pilates classes, I'm not actually doing the movements with the class for the most part- I show them what to do, and then walk around correcting their form, etc. It's also not cardio, though it's some good strengthening and stretching.

My new goal is to fit in a work out in the gym Monday mornings right after my 7:30 client, and then again on Thursday or Friday. I usually do about 20 min. to a half hour of cardio, and then some weights. It's not a long work out, but I feel like it's enough for now. I also try to take a pilates class twice a week, and then I walk/jog once or twice on the weekends.

I'm starting to feel like I want to take some kind of class on the weekends, but I'm not sure what kind yet. Spinning has been appealing to me, but I haven't tried it yet.

You really can get a decent work out in only a half hour. If you've been struggling with wanting to start doing something, but are having a hard time getting going, try this on a weekend morning...

Go on a half hour walk.... walk up some hills... you'll start to break a sweat. If you want to, you can add some short intervals of a slow run. When you come home, get on the floor and stretch/ do some abs for five or ten minutes. That's it. This has been one of my very basic work outs these last months, and it's made all the difference when I felt like I couldn't do more. Oh, and feel free to mark your work out on your calendar, and then have a nice warm cup of tea or coffee with a healthy breakfast....

Happy New Year, And A Little On Resolutions

Happy New Year,

I hope you brought in 2010 in a way that felt just right.

I usually stay in on New Years eve and do something cozy, but this year we had a little surprise. Lisa's cousin and her boyfriend (who we had never met) came to see us. Lisa was extremely excited, because her cousin had never been here. We took them out for dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Then we took them to our favorite dessert place. The food was delicious, and we had a great time talking and laughing with them. It was one of those occasions when you are suddenly mingling with (someone) you don't know very well, yet feeling connected. Lisa commented that she thought I did really well with the surprise visit, because I'm not always one to be able to be spontaneously social. But I've been trying to be more "in the moment" and adventurous, and I think it's showing. That makes me glad.

It's hard for me to make resolutions, because I'm always "working" on something. But the start of a new year does make me stop and think about where I've been and where I'm going, and hone in on some goals.

Here's the list that's been running through my head:

-Continue to try to be in the moment.. don't dwell on the past or the future- be aware and appreciative of what's right in front of me, and don't procrastinate on having what I want/need now.
-Help a person or family ( and ) animals that need help
- continue my quest for better organization- (organization is broad for me- my house, my finances, the things I don't enjoy like doctor appts., and even the way I speak
-make sure that I do enough creative things- esp. photography and writing

Have a good Sunday!

~Tuesday









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Progress

The bedroom is painted, and it looks so much better/fresher/brighter than the dreary green that it once was. It's amazing what a new coat of paint can do for a room.

A peak at the two tones of grey (sorry for the bad lighting- winter doesn't lend itself well to taking good photos).



I'm still deciding on bedside table lamps, and plan to pick them this week. A few of the contenders:

This Pablo "tube top" lamp also comes with a charcoal base and white shade, which I think would look nice-











I'm also still deciding on window coverings and a new duvet. Since when did duvets get so expensive? The ones I'm looking at are $275.00. Yes, they're high thread count and well made but....
I just might bite the bullet and order one if I love it enough.

Hopefully I'll be able to show you the finished results soon! So stay tuned,
and please let me know if you have any opinions about the lamps~

-Tuesday

The Bedroom Re-Do, and Why Change Is So Hard For Me

Time is really flying. How did it all of a sudden get to be December??
I hope you're all enjoying the nesting phase of early winter. Even though the rain, cold, and ice can get to be irritating and maybe depressing, there's something very comforting about donning the warm clothes, hats, scarves, and drinking hot beverages numerous times a day.

With more time spent inside, I finally decided to get moving with the bedroom re-do that I've been wanting to do now for, Oh... about two years. The problem with me is that when I want to make some kind of change in the house, I'm so overwhelmed by choices and indecision, that it's hard to get it started. I spin my wheels looking at design photos online, thinking about paint colors, styles of lamps, which duvet cover to get. I drive myself crazy. I've always been like this though.

It all stems back to childhood, and a very nice (but somewhat traumatic) day for me. My parents took me and my sister and some other kids to a big park. We rode the merry-go-round, and then went to the snack stand for ice cream. I couldn't decide between an actual ice cream cone, or a popsicle. My seven year old brain hurt, trying to decide which would make me happier. The thought of being disappointed overcame me. Well, everyone else got an ice cream cone, but I picked a popsicle. We sat down to eat them, and I took a few gingerly licks, as I gazed at everyone else eating ice cream. I tried to relish the popsicle, but it all of a sudden hit me that I made the wrong choice. I really wanted ice cream. Who knows why this felt so traumatic to me at the time, but I completely broke down and cried. My mom, always wanting to please me, told me that it wasn't a big deal, and got me an ice cream cone instead. But that feeling of making the "wrong" choice has somewhat haunted me ever since. I know.. call in the therapist!

Anyway, back to the bedroom....
Here are a few photos that have inspired me ....






I love this website, and spend a lot of time oogling over the homes. Don't you love to see into other people's houses? I especially love the San Francisco posts, since I love that city so much and grew up near there.

I'm drawn to light grey, possibly with pops of color thrown in, so that's where I'm going with my bedroom re-do. The walls had been a moss green, with the trim a slightly darker green. I've grown to be really sick of that color. So far, we've got the upper part of the walls painted, and I think we'll get started on the trim this weekend. I need to pick out new lamps, new window coverings, and a new rug. I think I'm narrowing the choices down. I don't want to take too long deciding, because I want it all to come together quickly. Then I'll show you some before and after photos.

Now, go make yourself a warm cup of tea or coffee and get cozy.
It's one of my favorite things to do.

-Tuesday

Summer Recap

Sad to say, this summer has been so full (of the good, the hard, and the challenging) for me, that I haven't posted much to Tuesday at Eleven. I started my new job in full force at the end of June, which has proven to be much more than I imagined it to be- more exciting, and more challenging. It's pushed me to the outer limits of my body and mind. It's like I picked the exact job that gets right at the very things that I've been working on... the things that I've been wanting to improve.. such as better organization and taking my understanding of the body and how it works to a new level. This job doesn't let any of that hide.. I have to face it head on, and it hasn't been easy. Not to say that it hasn't been gratifying. I've never had a job that I felt so proud of. I've never wanted to work so hard to perfect what I do.

Pilates studio, where I teach classes:





Another big event this summer was my sister's wedding. It was beyond beautiful. You know how weddings are- there's so much build up before them, and then they're over in a blink. But this celebration lasted all weekend. We were at a bed and breakfast by the river, and I soaked up every minute of it. After all, it was my sister's wedding (she's my only sibling) and it was also the only "vacation" I've had all summer. It was so nice being in a beautiful location with extended family, focusing only on "big" things in life like love.



I did start a new book (which I'm almost done with). It's Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle." As you know, food is a big issue in my life, and I love reading books about food. This one is about a family's quest to eat only locally or home grown food for one year. It's opening my eyes to some new ideas about food processing and consumption. Very interesting.



My good friend Erin gave me this book for my birthday in August:



I'm super excited to try some vegan recipes.


For my birthday I requested (and got) some sprout making supplies. I tried one batch in a sprouting bag. they came out okay, but I'm not sure if I love the bag method. I'm going to try the jar method next. I'll let you know how it goes. I LOVE sprouts, but am always nervous to buy them in the store because often they have bacterial contamination. They're so healthy.. full vitamins and nutrients, since they're a very "alive" kind of food.

Seeds Soaking:



I hope you've had a fulfilling summer.
In a few days autumn will be here.
I love this season.

Vegan Footwear

I got a new pair of vegan shoes yesterday...
You might notice that they're somewhat similar to the Fluevogs that I posted about last time. However, these were only 13.00. I couldn't pass them up. They're higher than I've worn in a while, and surprisingly comfortable. I wore them today when I went out with my mom and sister to do some errands, and I wore them out dancing tonight....