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Showing posts with label sense therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sense therapy. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

On Redecorating My Life

What a year it has been! I honestly can say I have been through the ringer. I was so unprepared fro motherhood. Hubby and I have had tremendous financial issues (the latest being how much we owe in taxes, even after having a baby!). I have had to deal with having a beautiful and perfect baby away from my friends and family. My anxiety has been at an all time high and my therapist has been on maternity leave! I still haven't technically been cleared to work out again due to medical issues postpartum. Hubby and I have been tested in our marriage due to all these issues. As soon as we feel like we have made it through a storm, another comes along. I have read the book of Job twice since December, trying to make sense of the testing God is putting us through. I feel like every proclamation of faith I make brings forward another problem. I know it is the enemy trying to discourage me and my family, but how long is he going to bully me! He went after Jesus 40 days in the desert; it's been 5 months! Satan, you cannot get to me so leave me alone! I have an incredible tribe of support in the way of friends, family, and a church community straight out of my dreams. I know our lives could be so much worse. I thank God that we have a roof over our heads, running water, food in our bellies, clothes on our back, diapers on our booty (for the babe who needs them), shoes on our feet, smiles on our faces, love in our hearts, and faith in our souls. I pray everyday that Daxton knows how loved he is.

Due to these ever growing feelings and emotions, I have recognized the need to redecorate. Before baby, I was really into the boho eclectic vibe. We had really awesome pieces throughout the house and really rich color palettes. We had a beautiful duvet my mom got us for Christmas from Urban Outfitters (it's no longer listed online but its so nice) that was red and brown with hints of purple. I had red throw pillows throughout the house and sought out dark wood pieces. After baby, I needed to completely redecorate the apartment (I just need to talk about how much I love our little apartment; if I could have this layout with one extra bedroom as a house I would be so happy!). In early March, I purged the apartment. I let so many items go and I regret nothing. It felt so amazing. That weekend, we sold our dark couch and bought a white one with blue and yellow stripes. I kinda wanted to get a white slipcover, but I have really come to like it as is. We now have a white duvet cover and the beautiful one is in the trunk, waiting for a home in our future guest room. We sold the desk we had been using in our bedroom (because I didn't want to get rid of it) since we put our dresser in D's nursery for a changing table. We got a new dresser and its a beautiful mid-century modern piece with a medium wood finish. I got rid of my beloved Safavieh grey suede studded bench and found an awesome vintage leather chair my grandfather would have loved that I used to create a serene nursing corner in my bedroom. I even got rid of some books! I really need a boho minimalist feel in my home to help with my anxiety. I feel immeasurably better when I look around the house. The rich colors and large pieces made the place feel messy, even when it was clean. Now, I look around and feel a sense of peace. I am waking up in a better mood each morning. It may be a strange thing to say, but God has provided so much in this redecorating journey. The chair I mentioned fro the nursing corner was a find from Habitat for Humanity. Stephen and I went 5 minutes before closing and I spotted it right away, sat on it and said, "This is it!" I looked at the price tag and it read $10! The dresser was from our third thrift store of the day, and right as we were going to leave and call it quits, I saw it on the way out. It was only $50. I scored two wood accordion racks, one for $5 and one for $1. I have gotten so lucky with finding beautiful baskets and throw pillows. My sister bought us the most gorgeous hand woven Indian throw pillows (another Habitat find). I have realized that less is more; when Stephen and I first got married and moved in together, I was so ecstatic to begin decorating. I had never had my own place before and I had always shared a room with my sister. I finally got to do my own thing. I didn't really know what my own thing was. I tried out so many interior decorating styles and now I have finally settled. What really helped me was looking at interior design styles on Instagram. On Pinterest, once I start looking into one style, that's all they show me. On Instagram, I can browse through a diverse selection of styles. I definitely found the most joy when I would look at white, bright, natural looking places. I know that is the "in" thing and its super trendy, but I also know who it makes me feel and how it affects my anxiety. Redecorating during a rough financial time isn't easy, but I'm so frugal that I probably wouldn't have spent much more than I have anyway. I have definitely made more by selling pieces and getting lucky by finding replacement pieces that are super inexpensive. My next project is painting our chest white, but I have no idea when I will have the time! Someone please come take my baby so I can paint!






Friday, March 18, 2016

On Channeling Your Senses

Recently, my therapist asked me to try a new method of dealing with my anxiety by focusing on my senses and identifying what makes me smile by way of my senses. For three weeks, I focused on my senses throughout the day and anytime I caught myself smiling, I made a note. I had never realized how much I smile, or how many things make me feel happy. I had a lot of options, but i narrowed them down to 10 things in each category. I would like to share those things I have heard, felt, smelled, seen, or tasted that have made me smile and I would like to challenge you, reader to do the same. Whether you adopt this method as a way of meditation, or dealing with emotions or just because, you will truly be able to appreciate the little things that often go unnoticed.

This list is 50 items long, so I apologize, but hopefully my commentary makes it worth the read:


Sight
1. Flowers-any flowers, I just love flowers
2. Pop-pop’s house-Long Island, New York
3. Our love box-where my husband and I keep almost six years of mementos
4. Anthropologie/Free People-the aesthetic 
5. Fitness Instagram Profiles-if they can do it, I can too!
6. My artwork-look how far I've come
7. The babies play-their personalities are amazing 
8. Bookstores-am I right?
9. Babies in the backseat-they make the funniest faces
10. My house-my design is on point


Sound
1. The babies talk-they try so hard
2. Elevation Worship-you can just feel the Lord!
3. Words of Affirmation-my love language
4. Pop-pop’s voice-I can still hear him telling me to do what makes me happy
5. “Then” Brad Paisley-Wedding song
6. “Firecracker” Josh Turner-wedding song
7. “The Stand In” Leighton Meester & Check In the Dark-first dance song
8. Talking to Stephen via Facetime-*tries to insert emoji with heart eyes*
9. Positive conversations with my mom-we are so similar its a little scary
10. My dad calling me “Bebe”-it's adorable

Touch
1. Warm clothes from the dryer-I can't be the only one who takes out the laundry and lies on top of the pile for a HOT SECOND (see what I did there)
2. Hot shower-again...am I right?
3. Bubble bath-with a lavender bath bomb
4. New book-the feeling of the crisp pages...
5. Cuddling with Stephen-all I want when I come home
6. Pedicure-I mean, duh!
7. Snuggling babies-when they let me
8. Running my fingers through Stephen’s hair-relaxes me too
9. Brushing the girls’ hair-so sweet
10. Warm sand-mmm I miss the beach


Taste
1. Nita’s Corn Casserole-Delicious 
2. Nana’s meatloaf-Delicious
3. Tea with milk-Pop-pop taught me how to drink my tea
4. Milkshakes-the best cure for anything
5. Clean Juice-how good does it feel to know exactly what you're eating/drinking
6. Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole-with a side of love and tradition
7. BBQ chicken-stephen makes a killer chef, and pretty easy on the eyes *tries to insert winking emoji*
8. Kale-because I'm recharged after a super kale salad
9. Pomegranate seeds-so refreshing!
10. Apple Pie cookies-my own creation

Smell
1. Lavender-calming
2. Peonies-beautiful
3. Hydrangeas-mmm
4. Apples and cinnamon-mmmm
5. Beach-mmmmm
6. Haven’s hair-mmmmmm
7. Stephen’s body wash-mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm *tries to insert kissy face emoji*
8. Woods/forest-now I want to go on a hike
9. New book pages/bookstores-to a bookstore
10. Woodshop/Pop-pop’s basement-on Long Island


-T