How do you like my 3 dollar IKEA candle-thingy, at last put up in the madeover family bathroom? ON sale, oh yeah! Tonight that baby was lit, along with many other candles around the beach cottage. There's nothing much better than candlelight when you're feeling a bit grouchy, is there?
Sometimes I get, and I don't really know any better way to say than, simply…overhwhelmed? I sometimes feel just so swamped with things in my head and all around me that I end up in a heap of crabbiness, nothing more than a jumble of blah. I felt like that today, a kinda mix of a long day and the oppressive, sultry heat that's left me wondering.
Wondering about all the things I want to do, all the things I have to do but don't want to do, all the things I haven't done but shoulda done and, well you get the picture… I guess really basically that means that I have a normal life of a woman today.
And it's not that I want answers (you know how men just always want to fix it, offer solutions and make it better, don't they? ), I don't want that. I just want to wallow in chocolate and candles, cups of tea and ok then, I know it's not particularly politically correct, but the odd bottle of cold beer.
And when I get like this, invariably, what comes up is the fact that a loathsome little voice pipes up asking me just who do I think I am to get all cranky? I don't even work for a living and I can't even get the things I should do be doing while I am not out working for a living, right. Like how come if I don't work, this ole Beach Cottage is a tip, how come the ironing pile is yep, yet again, sky high, how come old mother hubbard is with us and how come keeping all these 3 Beach Cottage kiddos organized and together seems ya know a tad tricky…?
Do you get like this? If you do, what do you do to, not fix it up, but appease the situation and make you ready to face another day? I'd love to know…
Yes I do get that way-what do I do…chocolate chip cookies! LOL! No but seriously I don’t know how I get myself out of that funk-good question. I do talk it out with my daughter who is like a best friend or take it out on I mean talk it out with my husband. He has become pretty good at it after 25 years of marriage. Hope tomorrow brings you a happy day girlfriend!~Smiles~Tam!
I blog and everyone peps you up a bit. If you read my previous posts then you will know that is exactly how I have been feeling. We have to be like elastic – stretched at times due to overwork but exciting things too, slack – only boring old crap to do and no time due to other demands. I realised at times I also have to SNAP out of it! This is me not you! If I were you I would have a beer, light those candles, read a magazine and relax. Life is funny isnt it we really are quite demanding on ourselves. Oh yeah like you said chocolate too! My drink would have to be wine though or even better champagne!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Emma xxxxx
Hooray for saying all of the above. I think it must have been something in that god awful heat today that made me feel the same way.(but who needs it to be hot to feel like that). It’s 11.30pm on Thursday night & I am in the midst of getting a garage sale organised for Saturday morning, I have taken 5 mins out to make a coffee (yes this late at night) & refresh.
Apart from organising everything for Saturday, all I seemed to do today seem to involve picking up after the 3 other bodies that share this house.
So at this very moment, I share your feeling of overwhelmingness. So much to do, so little time to do it……..
I will be back to see what everyone else has to share.
Sarah
When I got “in a funk” (as I some times call it), I used to clean. For some reason the act of cleaning and getting my mind on making things sparkly and organized, helped get over whatever I was thinking. Plus, my house was then pretty which is always nice. In college I would drive. I ended up almost always driving home, over an hour away, but loved taking back roads. And of course, visiting with my parents and getting a free dinner was good too. Now, as things are a little busy in my life, I try to relax whenever possible. I light my little wax melter thingy (do they have a name? the ones where you light a tea light under scented wax?) and either watch a movie or read blogs and get inspiration.
Your candles are pretty! I wish I had one if my bathroom!
Welcome to the life of a Woman. I am in mid-life, do not work, only have a husband to look after now and the ironing pile is gigantic!
I guess the only advice I have to offer is to just “enjoy” when you feel like this as IT WILL STOP (until it visits you again). When you learn to accept this awful feeling, the next time it bothers you just a bit less and so on.
Also, maybe when you feel like this–a small glass of red wine may be just the ticket over the bottle of beer!
Have a wonderful day, today.
Oh My one of the curses of being a woman.We have the misconception that it allll has to be done before we can enjoy something.The truth girls it is never done.You might get the laundry done,but remember “they”,are out there wearing clothes soon to be dirty clothes.I find when I get like this it is usually because my life is out of balance.Too much work,too much play,you know how that goes.Take a look and see where things are out of balance and make small changes like time allotments for the things that need to be done and allow some want to’s.It has nothing to do with not working outside of the home it has to do with perspective.Staying home and doing what you are doing is the hardest job of all.You are doing a wonderful job but no one is perfect.If you can,enjoy the process be in the moment and allow yourself some reflective time,The bath is an excellent.Start out tomorrow with the number one priority of every day.Look around and be Grateful and thankful and then pick one thing and only one to accomplish that day.You will be amazed at how the day goes.Be Well and Be Content, remember Happy comes from a Happening it will come and it will Go but true Joy and Contentment comes from within. kathysue
Wow, how remarkable it is to read words from the other side of the world that say exactly how I feel! Last week I was frozen solid! Frozen between the things I NEEDED to be doing and the things I WANTED to be doing! The end result? I got almost nothing done at all! I am a retired 50 something whose main jobs are taking care of home and helping elderly parents (which by the way is the most stressful of jobs – at least with my parents!) and somehow I’ve gotten in a deep, muddy, filthy rut of mild depression and inability to move in a positive direction. How I changed that this week was by giving myself permission to do some of what I wanted, for equal time doing what I needed to do. It has worked for this week, and I’ve accomplished a few things on the list. Another way – promise myself a treat! I rarely leave the house unless it’s to take my parents somewhere or with my husband, so I’m taking a day at least every 2 weeks when I make myself get out and do something for ME! Tomorrow is my day, and I’m looking forward to a little outing.
Keep plugging – you’ll find your way out to a better day soon! Blessings, Becky G.
oh yes…a common thread. chocolate and candles. so many things to think about. i find that making a list is my solution. sometimes just to clear out my thoughts, lay them out and get them organized. helps me to figure out what is next to do. i love crossing things of that list!…and don’t forget to put chocolate on there! xo
Well thank you, it is soooooooo nice to know I am not the only Mother who seems to fall apart during these way too bloody long school holidays!! You really want to see a TIP, well hey come on up to my place, my youngest son cannot even get into his bed anymore, the contents of his toy box are scattered all over his room & his bed but do I REALLY care, not anymore. Wednesday is D-Day, school is back & there go all my excuses out the dam door, do I care not on your nelly, not right now anyway!!!
I get this way to, cause I stay home with my children and all and stuff still doesn’t get done but days I feel yucky about everything I go for an outing… just walking a store not to buy just for a change of scenery. come back and let it go. there is always tomorrow to iron and clean, allow yourself to not have to be super mom and wife and just be!
then the next day i feel like cleaning like crazy…
LuLu
Love your candelier, and what a great deal you got on it.
When I am overwhelmed thinking of what I need to do, I try to think of what I have accomplished. If that doesn’t work, I just go do something I enjoy and accomplish nothing and try to forget what I should be doing. We put way too much pressure on ourselves, and we need to remember that life is short and we should enjoy it instead of trying to do EVERYTHING on our lists. Just remember, what you’ve done already has been wonderful! laurie
I spend some time thinking about how blessed my life is (I don’t work outside the home either) and how much God loves me… I also remember my sweet Daddy’s saying to me, “This too shall pass”; I have come to know this to be true… I too can get overwhelmed because I need structure in my day, so I have to create that for myself. I have a “loose” schedule to get things done that I need to do (housework, shopping, cooking), but make sure I schedule times to keep myself healthy, body, mind, and spirit… Really important is exercise, “people” time, creative time, and spiritual growth time. A lot of people neglect the spiritual and wonder why other things in their lives are wonderful, but something is missing…like a 3-legged stool with 1 leg missing–it’s hard to sit on without falling over!
I so know what you are talking about. Amazing, I feel the same way today and we definately don’t have any heat here! I was just writing about these feelings on my blog also. There must be something in the atmosphere as my sister has expressed those same sentiments…I live in Europe and my sister is on the west coast of the USA, so it’s not just a regional thing. The best thing for me to do when I get like this is page through a decorating magazine/book, drink something warm and after that say a little prayer of thanks that it’s just one of those days and not anything major. We all go through them and we shouldn’t have to feel guilty pampering ourselves a little!
Keep truckin!
I was just at Ikea and I didn’t see that! What a great find. I just started selling some of my stuff I make and had my first experience of the stress! I guess it’s good to know…it is just like any other job! Thanks for sharing.
I’m a stay@homer (without kids), but still feel overwhelmed too (in fact I had a little anxiety episode last year which landed me in the ER -because I thought I was having a heart attack or something) I know it’s in my head, it’s only thoughts, one after another… I then sit down and meditated, imagining myself as being energy and try to feel that…, this then leaves me more connected to life itself, and I feel at peace. I practice this regularly. I love that chandelier too!
Keeping my sanity is not always easy — ask my DH and kiddos. However, I learned to let them help me out. The trick is that I do not let that uneven pile of (messily) folded towels get the best of me. At least they got folded by someone other than me. I start with the essentials and go out from there, doing as much as I can and leaving the rest for the next go-round.
When it does all finally get to me (and it always does), I lock myself in my room and take the longest, hottest bath imaginable, or read away for a couple of hours on a book that is set somewhere I would like to be (like New York or Paris). These two things always make me right like rain, and ready to face it all again.
Well, my friend, I too have these days so you are not alone. I’m also a stay-at-home-mom and I definitely have had my share of overwhelming days full of crying. Usually, painting or doing something crafty seems to help me.
Seriously, I hear you! I do work (a LOT these days) but I have no kids, thus no responsibilities outside of the job really. And I’m a hot mess lately!! I think I need a day of just purging the closets and bins and clearing my physical space so my mental space clears up, too.
Now, if I could take a nice hot bath under a fabulous $3 chandelier from Ikea, then I may be a bit more ready to take on the world.
“Sometimes I get, and I don’t really know any better way to say than, simply…overhwhelmed? I sometimes feel just so swamped with things in my head and all around me that I end up in a heap of crabbiness, nothing more than a jumble of blah. I felt like that today, a kinda mix of a long day and the oppressive, sultry heat that’s left me wondering. ”
Oh thank God! You were my last shot. I was sitting here, cross, reading my blog updates, and they actually made me crosser! Gees Louise, no one has the right to rave about feeling glorious just when I have woken up at four, not got back to sleep and am cross, at 9am.
You made me feel level again – and normal. Thank you!
I LOVE that candle holder chandelier….it is gorgeous. I hate funks like that. Usually though I just go to bed as early as possible and by the next day things usually look a little/lot brighter!
I feel exactly how you feel a lot of the time! The only thing that helps me is to make myself take a break and sit with a good book and eat something like chocolate.. but I think you are right in line with everyone else! I hate to ask you a favor since you are so busy, but do you mind updating my blog link? It links to my old blog that redirects… no rush…I just might delete the other link…
I love that candleholder. It fits perfect in your décor, you have such a good eye! I love Ikea!
It’s called magic little pills (anti-depressants). And chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And time with girlfriends. As for you not working for a living… Are you kidding??? You are a mother who apparently still has her sanity intact. You ARE most certainly working for a living!
Brenda
First, let me say…love the candle chandalier. I think candles are awesome…can you get the Tommy Bahama ones down under?
I understand what kind of day you mean…but I think the only parts I truly “get” are the parts about the men just wanting to fix it, and the cold beer!
The great thing you have going for you is that you live in a country of naturally cheerful people, so they’ll cheer you up for sure (but it may make you want to hit somebody at first?)!
I just found your blog today and love it!
I blog to unwind, myself. My husband gets all bent out of shape because I’m on the computer “so much”, but maybe if he’d stop pestering me, I wouldn’t need to spend so much time online! )
Love the 3 dollar IKEA candle-thingy. Ironing …. I don’t like it. 20 years ago I had piles of ironing everywhere. Then miracle of miracles I read a hint in New Idea and it changed my life. Hint: When you take the clothes off the line, put them in the wardrobe(folded or hung)then iron what you want to wear before you put it on and you will never have to face a full ironing basket again…..and I haven’t. Such a simple thing to do but the benefits were amazing. No more guilts about the ironing not done, no more piles that get that smell about them, children who learnt to iron their two things or wear them as they were and liberation from wasting my life standing at the ironing board. The other thing I do is … change the mood … turn the music up is always a good start. Love your blog. You are not bad for a Pom. (excuse my Aussie humour)
I declutter. While it may not fix the exact stress in my life- the physical act and emotional pleasure I get from decluttering our home always makes me feel better. And with four girls who “collect” just about everything they put thier hands on, there is always some space to declutter.
oh, i know the feelings… pretty daunting to overcome. you’ve been given lots of ideas to try. my best ‘cure’ is to tackle something that seems big or that i don’t want to do. once i am in the project then time passes and often so does the cloud. of course, talking to my sister or a friend helps me: it makes the feeling out in the open and then i decide if i really feel as bad as it sounds. usually not, and i tend to come out of it.
i hope your blogging has helped the phase pass. and in case you haven’t heard this in a while, your insides may feel all at odds, but what you present on the outside is totally together! jkj
I am just like you. I don’t work either. I only have one kid left at home, but I have 5 dogs. I can’t understand sometimes how the dust bunnies can get big enough to carry me away. So I go to blogs like yours to get inspired and when I see how beautifully you have things decorated, it gives me a second wind. If I get to feeling bad, I load up on vitamins, especially B-complex. It works for me.
This must be going around because you put into words how I have been feeling for 2 days now. I’m going for the afternoon out to the country to visit with friends. Hopefully that will help. Looking at your pretty candle pictures and being jealous that you have an IKEA nearby seemed to help too! ha ha
Love you Ikea bargain! When I feel overwhelmed I write all the things that I intend to do..eventually..in a little notebook I keep by my bed. I got the idea from Simple Abundance and it does get all those thoughts out of your head an onto the page. Then I think of all the things I’ve accomplished, not all the things still to be done. Ironing is a pain but if you feel like this, all you really need to do is iron something for the kids to wear the next day and ignore the rest of the pile till you feel more like tackling it.I need to live in a tidy house soI make some semblance of order before I go to bed so at least I wake to a degree of order! Don’t be so hard on yourself, it will all get done eventually – tiny steps are the way to go!
There are some days when the only thing that will make me happy is to go motorcycle riding with Brad Pitt but then I remember I won’t fit into my leather pants that I forgot to buy. The only thing left to do is to drink water and munch on celery sticks so I’ll be more prepared the next time a funk comes along.
Light a candle to the Goddess of Joy and she’ll surely find you again! I’m lighting one for you right now.
We are women, we are allowed to crabby.
Hmm…well if I don’t fix it, then I make a chocolate cake, get a liter of full sugar Cherry Pepsi rent a movie and hopefully get lost for 2 hours. Then I take a nice warm shower, give myself a manicure put on soft pajama’s and go to bed! That’s if I have time. If I don’t, then I just make myself a fuzzy naval and go to bed. Of course, as a mom, I can only do this when it’s NOT a school night! LOL!
Hi sweet pea…when i am feeling like this i like to read this quote someone emailed me a while back…i am in a funk too so dont worry we all get like that at times! Mel xxx
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.
Girl, stop fussing, get a cup of tea and sit back and enjoy the little beach cottage because you have put such a big effort into redecorating and that deserves to be celebrated.
I have always wanted to go to a Ikea but I don’t think there’s one in my area. The candle holder is really cute. I have been in a funk for awhile now. I have so much house cleaning to do and yet I just look and go yuck I would rather do something else.
i’ve never been to ikea (too far from me) but i’ve always wanted a hanging candle holder like the one in your pic. anyway, when i’m in a funk, i like to clean and tidy up things. keeping myself busy and making my house look good really helps!
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
G’day ladies, oooh have I got a good Beach Cottage recipe for you or have I got a good recipe for you. Â Well it’s actually not Beach Cottage, I cannot claim that… So, a couple of months ago I met up with a couple of blogging friends, AllConsuming and Mrs W for a lil [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? Â The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
 1. beat the cream cheese  until it is soft
2. Â whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
Â
6. layer on top the cream combo
Â
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
Â
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)Â
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. Â I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.Â
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Â Oh yeah. Â Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. Â C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Yes I do get that way-what do I do…chocolate chip cookies! LOL! No but seriously I don’t know how I get myself out of that funk-good question. I do talk it out with my daughter who is like a best friend or take it out on I mean talk it out with my husband. He has become pretty good at it after 25 years of marriage. Hope tomorrow brings you a happy day girlfriend!~Smiles~Tam!
Hi
I blog and everyone peps you up a bit. If you read my previous posts then you will know that is exactly how I have been feeling. We have to be like elastic – stretched at times due to overwork but exciting things too, slack – only boring old crap to do and no time due to other demands. I realised at times I also have to SNAP out of it! This is me not you! If I were you I would have a beer, light those candles, read a magazine and relax. Life is funny isnt it we really are quite demanding on ourselves. Oh yeah like you said chocolate too! My drink would have to be wine though or even better champagne!!!!!!!!!!!
Love Emma xxxxx
Hooray for saying all of the above. I think it must have been something in that god awful heat today that made me feel the same way.(but who needs it to be hot to feel like that). It’s 11.30pm on Thursday night & I am in the midst of getting a garage sale organised for Saturday morning, I have taken 5 mins out to make a coffee (yes this late at night) & refresh.
Apart from organising everything for Saturday, all I seemed to do today seem to involve picking up after the 3 other bodies that share this house.
So at this very moment, I share your feeling of overwhelmingness. So much to do, so little time to do it……..
I will be back to see what everyone else has to share.
Sarah
When I got “in a funk” (as I some times call it), I used to clean. For some reason the act of cleaning and getting my mind on making things sparkly and organized, helped get over whatever I was thinking. Plus, my house was then pretty which is always nice. In college I would drive. I ended up almost always driving home, over an hour away, but loved taking back roads. And of course, visiting with my parents and getting a free dinner was good too. Now, as things are a little busy in my life, I try to relax whenever possible. I light my little wax melter thingy (do they have a name? the ones where you light a tea light under scented wax?) and either watch a movie or read blogs and get inspiration.
Your candles are pretty! I wish I had one if my bathroom!
Welcome to the life of a Woman. I am in mid-life, do not work, only have a husband to look after now and the ironing pile is gigantic!
I guess the only advice I have to offer is to just “enjoy” when you feel like this as IT WILL STOP (until it visits you again). When you learn to accept this awful feeling, the next time it bothers you just a bit less and so on.
Also, maybe when you feel like this–a small glass of red wine may be just the ticket over the bottle of beer!
Have a wonderful day, today.
Oh My one of the curses of being a woman.We have the misconception that it allll has to be done before we can enjoy something.The truth girls it is never done.You might get the laundry done,but remember “they”,are out there wearing clothes soon to be dirty clothes.I find when I get like this it is usually because my life is out of balance.Too much work,too much play,you know how that goes.Take a look and see where things are out of balance and make small changes like time allotments for the things that need to be done and allow some want to’s.It has nothing to do with not working outside of the home it has to do with perspective.Staying home and doing what you are doing is the hardest job of all.You are doing a wonderful job but no one is perfect.If you can,enjoy the process be in the moment and allow yourself some reflective time,The bath is an excellent.Start out tomorrow with the number one priority of every day.Look around and be Grateful and thankful and then pick one thing and only one to accomplish that day.You will be amazed at how the day goes.Be Well and Be Content, remember Happy comes from a Happening it will come and it will Go but true Joy and Contentment comes from within. kathysue
Wow, how remarkable it is to read words from the other side of the world that say exactly how I feel! Last week I was frozen solid! Frozen between the things I NEEDED to be doing and the things I WANTED to be doing! The end result? I got almost nothing done at all! I am a retired 50 something whose main jobs are taking care of home and helping elderly parents (which by the way is the most stressful of jobs – at least with my parents!) and somehow I’ve gotten in a deep, muddy, filthy rut of mild depression and inability to move in a positive direction. How I changed that this week was by giving myself permission to do some of what I wanted, for equal time doing what I needed to do. It has worked for this week, and I’ve accomplished a few things on the list. Another way – promise myself a treat! I rarely leave the house unless it’s to take my parents somewhere or with my husband, so I’m taking a day at least every 2 weeks when I make myself get out and do something for ME! Tomorrow is my day, and I’m looking forward to a little outing.
Keep plugging – you’ll find your way out to a better day soon! Blessings, Becky G.
oh yes…a common thread. chocolate and candles. so many things to think about. i find that making a list is my solution. sometimes just to clear out my thoughts, lay them out and get them organized. helps me to figure out what is next to do. i love crossing things of that list!…and don’t forget to put chocolate on there! xo
Well thank you, it is soooooooo nice to know I am not the only Mother who seems to fall apart during these way too bloody long school holidays!! You really want to see a TIP, well hey come on up to my place, my youngest son cannot even get into his bed anymore, the contents of his toy box are scattered all over his room & his bed but do I REALLY care, not anymore. Wednesday is D-Day, school is back & there go all my excuses out the dam door, do I care not on your nelly, not right now anyway!!!
When I get all filled up in my head, I end up jotting things down in my beautiful visual journal:
http://aswewalk.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/sabbath-sweetness-continued/
Something about its beauty makes its contents much less daunting.
I get this way to, cause I stay home with my children and all and stuff still doesn’t get done but days I feel yucky about everything I go for an outing… just walking a store not to buy just for a change of scenery. come back and let it go. there is always tomorrow to iron and clean, allow yourself to not have to be super mom and wife and just be!
then the next day i feel like cleaning like crazy…
LuLu
Love your candelier, and what a great deal you got on it.
When I am overwhelmed thinking of what I need to do, I try to think of what I have accomplished. If that doesn’t work, I just go do something I enjoy and accomplish nothing and try to forget what I should be doing. We put way too much pressure on ourselves, and we need to remember that life is short and we should enjoy it instead of trying to do EVERYTHING on our lists. Just remember, what you’ve done already has been wonderful! laurie
I spend some time thinking about how blessed my life is (I don’t work outside the home either) and how much God loves me… I also remember my sweet Daddy’s saying to me, “This too shall pass”; I have come to know this to be true… I too can get overwhelmed because I need structure in my day, so I have to create that for myself. I have a “loose” schedule to get things done that I need to do (housework, shopping, cooking), but make sure I schedule times to keep myself healthy, body, mind, and spirit… Really important is exercise, “people” time, creative time, and spiritual growth time. A lot of people neglect the spiritual and wonder why other things in their lives are wonderful, but something is missing…like a 3-legged stool with 1 leg missing–it’s hard to sit on without falling over!
I so know what you are talking about. Amazing, I feel the same way today and we definately don’t have any heat here! I was just writing about these feelings on my blog also. There must be something in the atmosphere as my sister has expressed those same sentiments…I live in Europe and my sister is on the west coast of the USA, so it’s not just a regional thing. The best thing for me to do when I get like this is page through a decorating magazine/book, drink something warm and after that say a little prayer of thanks that it’s just one of those days and not anything major. We all go through them and we shouldn’t have to feel guilty pampering ourselves a little!
Keep truckin!
well girl, i do work, and it’s really tough staying on top of it all (sigh …) but i DO love your ikea candle holder. love that store!
I was just at Ikea and I didn’t see that!
What a great find. I just started selling some of my stuff I make and had my first experience of the stress! I guess it’s good to know…it is just like any other job! Thanks for sharing. 
I’m a stay@homer (without kids), but still feel overwhelmed too (in fact I had a little anxiety episode last year which landed me in the ER -because I thought I was having a heart attack or something) I know it’s in my head, it’s only thoughts, one after another… I then sit down and meditated, imagining myself as being energy and try to feel that…, this then leaves me more connected to life itself, and I feel at peace. I practice this regularly. I love that chandelier too!
Keeping my sanity is not always easy — ask my DH and kiddos. However, I learned to let them help me out. The trick is that I do not let that uneven pile of (messily) folded towels get the best of me. At least they got folded by someone other than me. I start with the essentials and go out from there, doing as much as I can and leaving the rest for the next go-round.
When it does all finally get to me (and it always does), I lock myself in my room and take the longest, hottest bath imaginable, or read away for a couple of hours on a book that is set somewhere I would like to be (like New York or Paris). These two things always make me right like rain, and ready to face it all again.
Well, my friend, I too have these days so you are not alone.
I’m also a stay-at-home-mom and I definitely have had my share of overwhelming days full of crying. Usually, painting or doing something crafty seems to help me. 
First of all, I’m impressed that you iron.
Seriously, I hear you! I do work (a LOT these days) but I have no kids, thus no responsibilities outside of the job really. And I’m a hot mess lately!! I think I need a day of just purging the closets and bins and clearing my physical space so my mental space clears up, too.
Now, if I could take a nice hot bath under a fabulous $3 chandelier from Ikea, then I may be a bit more ready to take on the world.
Chin up, and have a wonderful day!
“Sometimes I get, and I don’t really know any better way to say than, simply…overhwhelmed? I sometimes feel just so swamped with things in my head and all around me that I end up in a heap of crabbiness, nothing more than a jumble of blah. I felt like that today, a kinda mix of a long day and the oppressive, sultry heat that’s left me wondering. ”
Oh thank God! You were my last shot. I was sitting here, cross, reading my blog updates, and they actually made me crosser! Gees Louise, no one has the right to rave about feeling glorious just when I have woken up at four, not got back to sleep and am cross, at 9am.
You made me feel level again – and normal. Thank you!
I LOVE that candle holder chandelier….it is gorgeous. I hate funks like that. Usually though I just go to bed as early as possible and by the next day things usually look a little/lot brighter!
I feel exactly how you feel a lot of the time! The only thing that helps me is to make myself take a break and sit with a good book and eat something like chocolate.. but I think you are right in line with everyone else! I hate to ask you a favor since you are so busy, but do you mind updating my blog link? It links to my old blog that redirects… no rush…I just might delete the other link…
I love that candleholder. It fits perfect in your décor, you have such a good eye! I love Ikea!
It’s called magic little pills (anti-depressants). And chocolate. Lots of chocolate. And time with girlfriends. As for you not working for a living… Are you kidding??? You are a mother who apparently still has her sanity intact. You ARE most certainly working for a living!
Brenda
Hey-
First, let me say…love the candle chandalier. I think candles are awesome…can you get the Tommy Bahama ones down under?
I understand what kind of day you mean…but I think the only parts I truly “get” are the parts about the men just wanting to fix it, and the cold beer!
The great thing you have going for you is that you live in a country of naturally cheerful people, so they’ll cheer you up for sure (but it may make you want to hit somebody at first?)!
Stop by and let me know how your work is going…
Remodeling Guy
I just found your blog today and love it!
)
I blog to unwind, myself. My husband gets all bent out of shape because I’m on the computer “so much”, but maybe if he’d stop pestering me, I wouldn’t need to spend so much time online!
Love the 3 dollar IKEA candle-thingy. Ironing …. I don’t like it. 20 years ago I had piles of ironing everywhere. Then miracle of miracles I read a hint in New Idea and it changed my life. Hint: When you take the clothes off the line, put them in the wardrobe(folded or hung)then iron what you want to wear before you put it on and you will never have to face a full ironing basket again…..and I haven’t. Such a simple thing to do but the benefits were amazing. No more guilts about the ironing not done, no more piles that get that smell about them, children who learnt to iron their two things or wear them as they were and liberation from wasting my life standing at the ironing board. The other thing I do is … change the mood … turn the music up is always a good start. Love your blog. You are not bad for a Pom. (excuse my Aussie humour)
I declutter. While it may not fix the exact stress in my life- the physical act and emotional pleasure I get from decluttering our home always makes me feel better. And with four girls who “collect” just about everything they put thier hands on, there is always some space to declutter.
I am completly found of your beach cottage ! so nice, so gorgeous ! you have made a tremendous decoration ! I love !
Everything you do is so beautiful!
I have an award for you today on my blog. Drop by if you’d like to receive it!
oh, i know the feelings… pretty daunting to overcome. you’ve been given lots of ideas to try. my best ‘cure’ is to tackle something that seems big or that i don’t want to do. once i am in the project then time passes and often so does the cloud. of course, talking to my sister or a friend helps me: it makes the feeling out in the open and then i decide if i really feel as bad as it sounds. usually not, and i tend to come out of it.
i hope your blogging has helped the phase pass. and in case you haven’t heard this in a while, your insides may feel all at odds, but what you present on the outside is totally together! jkj
I am just like you. I don’t work either. I only have one kid left at home, but I have 5 dogs. I can’t understand sometimes how the dust bunnies can get big enough to carry me away. So I go to blogs like yours to get inspired and when I see how beautifully you have things decorated, it gives me a second wind. If I get to feeling bad, I load up on vitamins, especially B-complex. It works for me.
This must be going around because you put into words how I have been feeling for 2 days now. I’m going for the afternoon out to the country to visit with friends. Hopefully that will help. Looking at your pretty candle pictures and being jealous that you have an IKEA nearby seemed to help too! ha ha
Love you Ikea bargain! When I feel overwhelmed I write all the things that I intend to do..eventually..in a little notebook I keep by my bed. I got the idea from Simple Abundance and it does get all those thoughts out of your head an onto the page. Then I think of all the things I’ve accomplished, not all the things still to be done. Ironing is a pain but if you feel like this, all you really need to do is iron something for the kids to wear the next day and ignore the rest of the pile till you feel more like tackling it.I need to live in a tidy house soI make some semblance of order before I go to bed so at least I wake to a degree of order! Don’t be so hard on yourself, it will all get done eventually – tiny steps are the way to go!
There are some days when the only thing that will make me happy is to go motorcycle riding with Brad Pitt but then I remember I won’t fit into my leather pants that I forgot to buy. The only thing left to do is to drink water and munch on celery sticks so I’ll be more prepared the next time a funk comes along.
Light a candle to the Goddess of Joy and she’ll surely find you again! I’m lighting one for you right now.
Darlene
We are women, we are allowed to crabby.
Hmm…well if I don’t fix it, then I make a chocolate cake, get a liter of full sugar Cherry Pepsi rent a movie and hopefully get lost for 2 hours. Then I take a nice warm shower, give myself a manicure put on soft pajama’s and go to bed! That’s if I have time. If I don’t, then I just make myself a fuzzy naval and go to bed. Of course, as a mom, I can only do this when it’s NOT a school night! LOL!
Love your new header. Take care and be kind to yourself.
Renee
I hope you are feeling better…
Your blog is beautiful – and I enjoyed my visit! I’m adding you to my Blog Candy roll now!
xo,
Kim
Hi sweet pea…when i am feeling like this i like to read this quote someone emailed me a while back…i am in a funk too so dont worry we all get like that at times! Mel xxx
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.
© Erma Bombeck
Girl, stop fussing, get a cup of tea and sit back and enjoy the little beach cottage because you have put such a big effort into redecorating and that deserves to be celebrated.
Cool new blog banner to celebrate summer.
wow love the candle hanger. great deal too. your bathroom looks so romantic!
I have always wanted to go to a Ikea but I don’t think there’s one in my area. The candle holder is really cute. I have been in a funk for awhile now. I have so much house cleaning to do and yet I just look and go yuck I would rather do something else.
IKEA is the best! I swear half my house is decorated in products from there
i’ve never been to ikea (too far from me) but i’ve always wanted a hanging candle holder like the one in your pic. anyway, when i’m in a funk, i like to clean and tidy up things. keeping myself busy and making my house look good really helps!