Rhapsody in Rooms

A Colorful & Creative Life

My Empowering Power Walks

Sometimes things just need to move – figuratively and physically.

I’ve found this to be the case on especially long weekends when maybe I haven’t been as busy or my mind seems to be in overpower mode, churning and churning.

The longer I piddle around in my apartment or sit on the couch and stare at a screen of some sort, the worse I may start feeling. It feels like my world is so small sometimes, and when I start focusing on that it seems to just keep getting smaller and darker.

So what do I do? I move.

I throw on stretchy workout pants, a cozy fleece, lace up my shoes, and put in my headphones. Then I go outside, lock the door, and walk.

I don’t just walk – I power walk.

The strangest thing happens every time.

When I am outside, briskly walking through neighborhoods, alone with my thoughts yet also entertained by music, podcasts, or inspirational readings, my world begins to expand again.

I see people in and out of their homes, walking dogs, living life.

I look up and see the expanse of the sky.

I breath in the scent of fall leaves or fresh cut grass or powdery snow.

I am reminded of how big the world is, that it functions all the time, no matter if I feel a part of it or not.

I feel the fresh air run its course through my body, cleansing it and revitalizing it.

I feel energized as I stride up hills and hoof it around bends.

I may have brought my previous panoply of thoughts in my head with me, but suddenly they are being worked out and things are becoming clearer.

It seems working out my body always works out my mind.

I find myself feeling quite empowered in these power walks of mine. There is a sense of clarity and pureness about the world again.

I also feel an overwhelming love of people as I observe what they surely call mundane moments of their life; I find them beautiful. I see you, the woman who picks up her small poodle to protect it from the golden retriever; father and daughter painstakingly building a porch; the father and sons camping in the back yard; the couple on their meandering evening stroll. You don’t know me, and I don’t mean to be creepy, but you have brought meaning to my life, and I love you for these moments.

I encourage you with all my heart, when you are feeling disconnected or your world may feel small, go outside, shut the door, and just walk. I promise, magical things can happen if you are open to it.

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Paula@SweetPea

It’s amazing how getting outside can make you feel better. If I’m sad, depressed, angry, or just glum, getting some exercise and breathing some fresh air always makes me feel better.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  I completely agree! It’s so healing.ReplyCancel

My Super Sparkly & Somewhat Girly Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, how delightfully colorful, girly and colorful you are!

Well, at least that’s where my version of O Christmas Tree stands right now.

Now, before we get into the colorful goodness that is my tree, I want to have a little Christmas decoration conversation first.

Does anyone else feel completely overwhelmed and almost panicked with the sight of homes decked out to the max with Christmas decorations? Don’t get me wrong – more power to those people and their homes are GORGEOUS but the thought of layering and layering more stuff in my apartment (which already feels quite full thankyouverymuch) just gives me the heebie jeebies.

I want less. I want simple. I want space to breathe. I want my eyes to rest easy. I want to eventually get rid of my storage unit.

I just can’t imagine getting my place all decked out in Christmas gear this year. Maybe later in life, but not me, not right now. #rantover #nopanicattacks

Yet, I still want to embrace the holiday spirit and do up Christmas a little bit. I’m not Scrooge, I’m just craving simplicity.

So once again I fully embraced the idea of a fun Christmas tree. Yet, I still went simple and didn’t over think it. I went with what I saw and felt and did it over a few weeks.

It started with an empty tree that I string LED lights on (read here how I lit the tree myself). Then I bought some fun ribbon to layer on it at Michael’s. I liked the silver sparkles and herringbone and polka dots. This year was all about a fun tree…that went girly really quickly.

Then I found these brightly colored ornaments at Wal-Mart and knew that they were perfect. I was originally going to go with a different color scheme but when I saw these I was sold. Bright colors get me every time.

I layered on some ornaments that I used in my gold and silver sparkly tree last year.

Finally, I got a super gigantic silver sparkly bow that almost overwhelms me but I still kinda like it so there it stays. The bow takes it over the top girly for me, but hey, I’m a girl so I will go with it.

This year I also put up my ceramic tree (of course) and then added a little Charlie Brown tree as a table centerpiece. It’s adorable.

That’s my Christmas this year. I am happy with how it has turned out. There is just something so magical about Christmas lights. They are the first lights I turn on in the apartment every day. Heck, when I’m leaving for a quick chore sometimes I leave them on (even though I am a chronic light turner-offer) just so I can open the door and be greeted by the sweet glow of my Christmas tree.

Any who, there it is for 2015. I wonder how I’ll be feeling for 2016 (because who knows what life will throw at me in a year and where I’ll be and what I’ll be feeling).

Where are you on the side of Christmas decorating? More is more? Or less is more?

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Paula@SweetPea

Your tree looks so pretty, Megan! I know that you are really enjoying it this Christmas season. I’m the type that if I were home to do it would keep decorating up until Christmas day. This year I decided that if it didn’t get accomplished over Thanksgiving break, then it wasn’t getting done. I’m more relaxed this December and am actually enjoying the season more. I do wish I had more decor out to enjoy, but I am really enjoying what I do have. I know I’ll be glad that less is out the week after Christmas when it is time to put it all away!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  I’m so glad to hear that you are enjoying the season more this year! I think more relaxed is the way to go! I’m impressed you would just keep decorating though, if you were home!ReplyCancel
Susan

Hi, I liked your post, I noticed that you mentioned wondering about 2016.

Every year for years & years when I take my tree down, I tuck in a note

To myself which I know I will find the following Christmas, I am always

Interested to see what my concerns & thoughts about the upcoming

Year were. I just wrote one the other day for 2016. ( & if I express any

Worries, usually everything turned out fine) I put the note in with my Christmas tree ornaments – Happy New YearReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  I LOVE this idea so much!!! Such a fun way to look back at the last year and see how far you have come! Thank you for sharing!ReplyCancel

Holiday Photo Gifts

This is the year I proclaimed “the year of less stuff“. More stuff going out than coming in – that was the goal. It’s been fairly easy to maintain that all year, but come Christmas time it gets a little more challenging: the extra decorations, the gift giving, the gift receiving. All at once you have an influx of stuff you need to fit into the same defined space.

It can definitely be a challenge and overwhelming at times, but thankfully, my family and I are all in similar situations where we are over the stuff. Plus, most of live in smallish spaces (or are minimalists – good job Jackie) and just don’t want/need more stuff. This Christmas we were able to band together to do simpler Christmases.

Yet, even with agreeing to go simple this year, you still want to give gifts that are meaningful, thoughtful, and fun! That’s why I thought this year was the perfect year to give a couple of personalized photo gifts from Minted.

In October my sister, mom, and I were able to all get together and go visit my grandparents and uncle in Connecticut. This hasn’t happened in SUCH a long time so it was fun to take a picture of the occurrence.

From left to right: me, sister, grandma, mom, uncle, grandpa

I know my grandparents love getting pictures, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do it right. I hopped onto Minted and browsed through their enormous selection of really fun personalized photo prints.

I chose a reclaimed barn wood frame and a gold foil accent. Here it is in person!

I hope they will love it!

I wanted to do one more, and I had this favorite picture of my Dad and me at a Braves game from this summer. I feel like this picture captures my dad and my relationship perfectly. Us two redheads know how to have fun and be super goofy!

I found a really cute photo gift on Minted (and was even able to pick the color of the font) and knew this picture was a perfect fit.

So now this gets to travel to Atlanta to live with my Dad!

Those are only two options out of soooo many. There are all sorts of premade templates that you can just upload your pictures into. They have lots of foil accents, collages, calendars, sayings, etc.

I also wanted to share another print from Minted that they sent me as a little Christmas present.

Isn’t it so pretty? It is living under my Christmas tree!

Minted provided me with these gifts. All thoughts, opinions, and pictures are my own. Thank you Minted for making this happen!

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Paula@SweetPea

Minted does such a nice job of matting and framing photographs which makes them great gifts. I’ve got a few very hard to buy for people on my list and I think a Minted gift is what I’ll give.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  That’s so great! I know they will love it! It is so nice that Minted sends it all framed, matted, and ready to go. Makes Christmas time so much easier!ReplyCancel

My Yarn Wrapped Glitter Winter Wreath

Now that I have fully settled into and embraced apartment living (because of awesome things like when I told them my screen was damaged, went to work, and came home to a new screen!), I’ve also learned that certain things are more important to me than they were living in a house.

For instance, wreaths just weren’t my thing before. But the color of my front door was. Well, since I can’t paint the ugly beige door (grrr) I choose to adorn it with something that is festive and speaks to my personality!

You may remember my fall wreathing party with one of my BFFs. Well, we got together a few weeks back for another wreathing round! This time it was all about the Christmas/winter wreaths.

I wanted to make a wreath that could get me to Christmas and through the winter. As much as I like wreaths, I’m good with making them for every season and cutting it off at those four. It’s fun but still…crafting usually ends with me lying on the floor at some time, just over it. #beingreal #justaskmyfriend #ilaidonherfloor

So after a fun trip to Michaels and wading through all the glitter that Christmas brings out (!!!!!), we came back armed with our supplies.

I decided to do a yarn wrapped wreath and add ALL THE GLITTER. Obviously.

Although it took a while, it was a very easy process. I just alternated wrapping the sparkly gold/ivory yarn and the deep forest green yarn around the wreath, just eye balling the width of the sections.

You can see how I perfected the process by having the wreath rest of my legs to give wrapping room without having to hold the wreath with my hands. I know, I know, pro tips here.

After that was all done I just started gluing down my sparkling flowers and BOOM! Favorite wreath ever! Plus, the obligatory goofy pictures of us with our wreaths (and isn’t hers beautiful?!)

Now, here it is trying to help my beige door look better.

I’m pretty sure that I at least get four visits to my friend a year because we must continue the wreath tradition.

If you’re interested here is the fall wreath we made…

And here is the glittery gold wreath I made last winter…

So glad I can now add this beauty to my collection!

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Paula@SweetPea

I love this wreath, Megan! It’s so sparkly and the florals look great on the yarn wrapped wreath.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much!! I love the sparkles!ReplyCancel

To All the Boys Who Broke My Heart

Thank you. I mean it. Thank you for breaking my heart.

I’m not going to say it was fun or by any means easy. But it was necessary. Without you breaking my heart, I would not be where I am. I would not be the strong, independent woman that I am now.

Did you know when you weight lift you are literally making mini tears in your muscles and then building them back bigger?

Well, that’s basically any breakup or boy who hurt my heart.

It just broke me down a little bit (or a lot) and ultimately I grew back bigger, stronger, and better.

Heartbreak actually progresses us in life, if we let it.

Being with the wrong person will only hold you back in life. The heartbreak helps us separate from them, push forward, and become a stronger, greater, better person.

I’ve always seen every no, every rejection as a blessing. It was something that wasn’t right for me and saved me from even being tempted to say yes.

So every time you have rejection or someone tells you no, say thank you.

That means something better is out there for you and you don’t even have the chance to go down the wrong path. The path is already decided for you. The right path consists of yes’s with the no’s keeping you on the yes path. Makes sense, yes?

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