What To Do Before and After You Lose Your Job

Long-time readers (all 3 of you) will remember when I lost my job several years ago, and how devastated I was by the loss. 

photo: jaaron

It. Was. Awful.

BUT! I survived, and turned those survival skills into an article that's just been published over at elephantjournal.com.

The best time to read this article is before you lose your job, since there are tips on what you can do to be prepared, just in case. The second best time is after.

Either way, you can read it here: What To Do Before and After You Lose Your Job.

xo, Susan

worry about the size

I'm usually a Christmas fanatic. Make that holiday fanatic. And make it "used to be . . ."

In fact, let's start over . . .

I used to be a holiday fanatic. I decorated everything for everything. New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... I loved it all, celebrated it all, decorated for it all.

These days? Not so much. But I've realized that's okay. My life is different . . . I'm different.

So, this tiny tinsel tabletop cutie is my Christmas tree this year. It fits in a shoebox; the ornaments stay on. My favorite part is the tiny pink hat. SO CUTE! The 8' tree and 2 totes full of ornaments I usually bring out are still in the closet, and they're staying there. Yes, the mantel in the background is decorated, and the stockings are hung. And yes, the kitchen mantel is decorated, too, and there's a snowman  hand towel, and Christmas mugs. Oh yeah, and flannel sheets with snowmen. I think that's it . . .

So maybe I do still have more holiday decor out than a lot of folks. But for me? This is minimalism, people!

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

xo, Susan

no end to the adventures

Have I mentioned this? 

It's my latest venture, and I kind of love it a lot. Between having a legitimate excuse to shop for vintage treasures and the opportunity to pretend I'm writing copy for J. Peterman, what's not to love?



Stop by, favorite the shop, and if you see something you must have, convo me via etsy to let me know you found me via the blog and I'll give you a 10% discount! ;)

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."- Jawaharlal Nehru

xo, Susan

waiting long enough

for all my searching, and yearning, and falling apart, maybe it really is as simple as this: 

RIGHT NOW, listen here:

level up, by vienna teng

so come out. 

you have been waiting long enough.
you’re done with all the talk talk talk with nothing on the table.
it’s time to come on out.
there will be no sign from above.
you’ll only hear the knock knock knock of your own heart as signal.

if you are afraid, come out.
if you are awake, come out.
come out and level up.

begin again.
dynamite the dam on the flow.
your body feels the tock tock tock of time as it hammers.
lord we are all cinders
from a fire burning long ago,
but here it is the knock knock knock of your own heart that matters.

if you are afraid, come forth.
if you are alone, come forth now.
everybody here has loved and lost,
so level up and love again.

call it any name you need.
call it your 2.0, your rebirth, whatever –
so long as you can feel it all,
so long as all your doors are flung wide.
call it your day no. 1 in the rest of forever.

if you are afraid, give more.
if you are alive, give more now.
everybody here has seams and scars.
so what. level up.

let your faith die.
bring your wonder.
yes, you are only one.
no, it is not enough
but if you lift your eyes, I am your brother.
and this is all we need.
and this is where we start.
this is the day we greet.
this is the day, no other.

xo, Susan

joy in the uprooting

I've moved 5 times in 10 years - and 3 of those were in the last 4 years. That sounds like a lot to me. It feels like a lot.

I do love my apartment, though. 

loving room. painting above mantel by mfamb

living room into office

office

kitchen

kitchen

bird bath

I have big windows that let in lots of natural light, a transom over my kitchen door, beautifully inlaid hardwood floors, and 10' ceilings. I also have 2 fireplaces, both non-working but who cares? I just want to decorate the mantels and hearths anyway. My little fire escape deck is just the right size for my forest of houseplants (which are now inside for the winter) and a couple of chairs, and because I'm on the 2nd floor, I have some semblance of privacy, despite the fact that the houses on either side are so close I could practically touch them from here:

living room detail

 I wonder how long I'll be here?

I give you this to take with you: 

Nothing remains as it was. 

If you know this, you can 

begin again, 

with pure joy in the uprooting. 

― Judith Minty

xo, Susan