....empty tank.....

....honestly, the last thing I have felt like doing lately is meeting up with this blog....I have been trying to slow down the pace for the family, soak in the children during this Christmas season, unpack a few boxes here and there, browse pinterest after the kids are in bed for design and furniture inspiration and actually prepare for Christmas......

....I haven't had much in the tank lately for photography or writing.....however, there have been many times during the course of this blog's life, that I have hit this road block......and I find the best way to get over an uninspired phase is to show up......regardless of how I feel, I show up anyway and write.....and although it may not be my best writing, I do it nonetheless because sooner or later, the fog lifts and I am raw with emotion and imploding to tell about it......

....here I am.....I've showed up this evening and I must admit, that my new work place is a very, very  good place to reflect.......

....I am feeling homey, cozy and blessed.....

.....although amidst all the security and comfort, I have still been in a frenzy the past few weeks.....a minor panic is more honest.....I am feeling pressured, unsettled, and overwhelmed......and as often as I tell myself that I am moving the house projects to the back burner until after Christmas, I can't help it.....I am easily side tracked and have been told since the early days of my young, adult professional life that I always bite off more than I can chew........leaving me with many unfinished projects.....

.....I am the over ambitious starter......the one who kick starts ideas and executes, but also tends to fizzle quickly.....

.....Stefan has learned how to manage my over zealous enthusiasm for being a jump starter......he is also handy and loves to paint......so when I began to project manage the weekend on Friday night, requesting a quick detour to Home Depot before we picked out our tree; he deemed this project as a go......he is the closer of all projects we do together and before he even answered my Home Depot request, he had already committed to the project too.....

.....I bolted on this project when my mind racked up another 5 things for my to do list, just as my cell phone rang and my arm got tired; abandoning yet another project so I could leave to begin several others.....

....however, we blazed through several shades of blue on Saturday until we found the one that we love.....

.....and that project is still in progress, but it's looking rich, soothing, dark and inviting.....

....besides, it is Stefan's project now and he will close us out strong.....

....he always does.....

.....we did begin to decorate for Christmas this weekend, which felt really good......it does slightly irriate me that Thanskgiving hardly gets its own glory.....I understand the hype of wanting to move on to Christmas......but when so many families are decorating and adorning their trees in November, it makes me feel like buying a tree on December 8 is terribly late.....

....not late....

.....actually, perfect for what we have had on our plate....Christmas has filled in the empty holes on shelves and made it our home very quickly.....

....sixteen days of enjoying our jingle bells and twinkling lights will be thoroughly inhaled every waking moment.....I love a decorated and cozy Christmassy house.....

.....and I love sweet sentiments of Christmas, like Elsie's PreK class popping in to the senior center in Darien to sing 7 Christmas carols......

....and after several nights of hushing us as she sang to practice her carols, beginning from the top if there was even the slightest interruption- such as a cough or a whisper- she just wasn't feeling it in front of the crowd.....

....no hand gestures, no smiling, no heart felt, singing her lungs out for the seniors......nothing.....and just as I was getting concerned about whether or not she was still breathing up there on that stage, she gave me a sign that told me what was going on.....

....she yawned, rubbed her eyes, and totally checked out for the last two songs.....

....we are all a little weary in this house.....

....but nothing that juice and cookies couldn't fix....

 .....we did manage to squeeze in some down time on Sunday....in fact, we lounged most of the day and it was grand and very overdue.....however, we did close out a few minor projects, like organizing our gift and wrapping paper stations and our cleaning supply closets; but we also took extended breaks.....the girls were able to explore, play, be creative and do their sisterly thing......

....and the next two weeks will have its balance of merry and jolly and also quiet and reflective......

.....and regardless of inspiration, time or desire; I will show up to tell you about it.....