Raige Creations

So I got a new filing cabinet. I am bizarrely excited about this. Like, butterflies in my stomach excited about this. Why?  First of all, it has been more than 7 years since I have had a filing cabinet in my home. When we made the  last BIG move , I left the $3 filing cabinet I scored while in WNY. (I LOVED that filing cabinet too - who gets a metal 2-drawer filing cabinet for $3?? Awe.Some) Second, I had fallen in to the terrible habit of piling up papers that needed to be sorted and filed. I had bins I was keeping files in. Bins that are meant for blankets in the living room that you can put your feet on as an ottoman or sit on. These bins are not meant for filing. So, it was awkward trying to file in them. Instead I just piled up the papers and threw them on top of the few files I DID have in there.  Third, in addition to the above, I had a bankers box full of papers filed somewhat haphazardly, as this box is from when I left my last job (more than 2 years ago). I was...

Wow, it has been over a week since I have written. The week actually flew past. I did try to write, but every time I tried, my head went completely silent. It was not as though it was empty. It was full. It was racing.  It was contemplating and figuring and planning. But it had nothing to write. When I tried to type, my mind went silent. There was nothing I could put to words on the screen. (I wanted to say words on paper, but that is not the way anymore is it?) The words were gone, my mind could not speak in writing anymore. It could only contemplate, figure, and plan. That was my week. A head full of things, yet nothing to write. This coming week, however, I already have Music Monday planned (though not yet written), and things I could post for other days too. I think my head will have an easier time of writing this coming week, it has already been thinking in writing , and I have been able to get through this post rather easily. The week 'off' from writin...

I write about pressure quite a bit. I am under quite a bit of pressure. And I am so tired of it. When I signed up for Blogher.com 's January NaBloPoMo , I hesitated when I saw the month's theme was pressure . I wondered how much more I could write about pressure !  Image courtesy of Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Then it brought on the more relevant question of 'How much more pressure could I endure?' I have felt so much unpleasant pressure in the past year. I went through the pressure of trying to make a struggling business grow, closing said business , moving all the crap out of said business, then the pressure of what to do now? All while struggling to meet out obligations moneywise. This is heavy pressure. I am sick and tired of this kind of pressure. So I took on the pressure of posting a blog every day ( NaBloPoMo ) for January, since it gave me such pleasure when I did it in October and November . But I was not as successful ...

It's been............... 3 days since I have blogged. (so much for posting every day! this NaBloPoMo has been extremely difficult for me to keep up with!) It's now........... One Week until daughters graduation (well less than that now, it's Saturday! But on Saturday this song kept playing in my head, because it WAS one week until graduation. Somehow, I am not ready for this......) Plus, the other day, hubby said to me,  "It's been one week....", and then he paused. Boom - the  Barenaked Ladies filled in the rest. I can't even remember what he said after that. How can you NOT think of this song when someone says something like that? Over and over, in my head... It's been... One Week ...  And then the rest fills in. Chickity China the Chinese chicken Have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin' Watchin X-Files with no lights on We're dans la maison It will still be two days 'till .....family arrives in town for th...

source: Pinterest I am working on having less. I need to have less, because all that we have is stressing me out ! Less furniture ~ it is too hard to move and we know we will be moving sometime in the future even though we don't know when. Less papers ~ they are heavy, both physically and mentally. My mother hoarded papers, I am so afraid of doing that. Less Kitch ~ I vow to keep only the most meaningful and beautiful. This is hard to purge, because we are collectors of the unique and interesting, and so have cool old bottles, tiny sculptures, beautiful scrimshaw, hand painted eggs and feathers, great vintage lamps (yes, we have been hoarding lamps of all things). Each thing is great, has meaning and a special place in our hearts. These are the tough things to let go of. Less blankets ~ seriously we have so many! But I feel like I can use them as batting in quilts, so I hang on. But maybe it's time to let a few go. Less Kitchen things I never use ~ will I ever make 2...

How frustrating is it when you see a package of Oreo's, or any chocolatey goodness cookie, in the cupboard, get a glass of milk, and sit down to enjoy a nice afternoon milk and cookies session, only to find one lone cookie in the package? One Damn Cookie Left photo courtesy of Raige Creations Or how about getting that package of cookies, then going to get the milk only to find out there is barely a half glass of milk left? A while back, my oldest son was home from college on break, and this is exactly what happened. The rant that came out of his mouth was like one I haven't heard since he was a toddler and the lizards didn't stop long enough for him to grab one.  "Why do you people ALWAYS leave ONE thing left in the package?! Seriously, every time I come home I see this crap." Wha?  "Yes, every time I come home and get something out of the cupboard, there is only one left in the package! Why can't you people just finish the last one?" ...

These thoughts occurred to me today: I cannot help me to the detriment of you and I cannot help you to the detriment of me It also occurred to me I am guilty of both. This is a fine line we all walk - helping others and helping ourselves. It is an ever shifting line, and often we get all tangled up in that line.  It came to my attention that my walks and runs, ever increasing in length and exertion, have taken a small toll on the dog. She seems always starving when it's dinner time. I know, she is a dog and always wants what we are having, but lately her demeanor is urgent. Her vibes are - 'I am SO hungry ... I WANT WHAT YOU ARE MAKING'. So much so I am tripping over her as I prepare dinner!  Also, she no longer pulls me on our walks, well unless a squirrel runs in our path. She walks right beside me, even lags sometimes. That is until we make the turn around to come home, then she is out front again. And today, she looked downright miserable by the time...

Back last year, I won a giveaway from Everyday Inspired , and in it was a magnetic dry erase board. For the past year, it has had a prime location on the fridge, where I would try to give my kids inspirational and motivational tidbits so they would start their day with positive thoughts, as to be out the door at 7am is a tough thing to do in a good mood. Wall-E Wednesday - not sure who Mr. West is. I guess my tidbits were getting a bit stale, because lately the kids have taken it upon themselves to put themed notes on it. I guess my day themed blog series have rubbed off on them.  So for a change, I have taken their cues and let it motivate me! Today it is  Wall-E Wednesday. What was Wall-E's purpose ? To collect garbage. Well, today is as good a day as any to tackle the garbage, um I mean our collections of stuff, taking up main real estate in the basement.   Pile of 'stuff' right in the middle of the basement. "Wall-E hubby" and I will be! Sorti...

I do not enjoy cleaning. (I know I am not alone here, right?) I find it gets in the way of accomplishing other, more enjoyable and just as important things. You know, like paying bills! I read all the time tips and suggestions for quick cleaning - but nothing changes the fact that I just do not like cleaning. I find it utterly frustrating that you spend so much time and energy on making your space beautifully clean and tidy, turn around and BAM , it is dirty again almost instantly. Why am I complaining today? Because I am sitting here listening to the pitter-patter of rain hitting the windows and roof as it pours down outside. And I am really not in the mood for getting cold and wet. So, I turn to my messy, dirty house. Is it fate's funny way of telling me I am a terrible housekeeper, that I just listed Maidcraft, A Guide to the Art of Housekeeping last night, and today the weather is keeping me inside looking at the hairballs and dust and piles of papers, yarn, and STUFF...