I am green with envy....(the 3 second rule)

Thursday, September 8, 2011

I am green with envy....(the 3 second rule)

But I'm working on it.  I used to spend hours and hours looking online at things that just weren't possible.  Whether it was furniture, or places to vacation, or clothing, I just wanted it.  I would fantasize about when and how I could get these things.  I would feel sad about not being able to have them now and about the slim chance I could have them ever.  It was depressing instead of enjoyable.

But who really plans a family summer vacation to the underwater hotel?  And I may love those Jimmy Choo shoes, but the day I spend $700 on a pair of shoes, is the day I get served divorce papers.  It took me a while to realize that my poor emotions couldn't take it.  I have found a much healthier way to kill time.

I have decided to only give 3 seconds of my time to things that are not possible. So after 3 seconds of looking at something, if it isn't possible to make it with the funds and items I have RIGHT NOW, then I don't give it another second. Come to find out, there are SO many things that are possible!

I am obsessed with creating things.  I love making silly little crafts with the kids.  I try and make it something we won't throw away. Something we can use a few times or keep around for decoration.  Sometimes it doesn't go as planned.  Like when I wanted them to finger paint pictures I could hang up as "modern art." They ended up looking like we hung up paper in the chimp cage at the zoo.  Apparently the art of mixing colors is a bit lost on them as of yet.

I love to design and make my own home decor pieces.  There are so many easy things you can use to make items that look just like they're from Pier One or Anthropologie. Again, they don't always turn out perfectly.

When looking at things to fix up the house, I use the same rule: three seconds.  If it's obviously something that will cost more than we have right now, or something I can't tackle when we have a free weekend (not 10 years from now) then I move on and spend that time on something possible.  So now, instead of list after list of things that aren't going to happen, I have lists of things that I can do today.

So for your blogging entertainment, I will be posting various things that you and I can do or buy now. Such as fun projects for the kids, neat-o DIY home decor items, organizational ideas and ideas to help save money to name a few.  Not things you (and I) will sit around and commiserate about not having.  I would love it if you would post pictures of the things you make, or share links to the things you like or inexpensive things that will help us now.

Yay for being happy!!

And here are two fun and easy ideas that I wanted to share.....

These are the rocket packs!! (Click the picture to find the instructions.)

This is an awesome shoe rack that I found to replace the awful box we put all of our shoes in. PVC pipe!!  Any suggestions on how to stick them to the wall? LOL!  Haven't gotten that part yet.