via Inslee Haynes

Friday has arrived! I have some pleasant news.... tomorrow here in NYC we will get to experience temperatures in the high digits... 61 degrees expected here! Spring has sprung! or at least tomorrow it will feel like it.

I am hoping to get out a bit during my study sessions but my plan again this weekend is to make best friends with my books (again). Midterms are just around the corner!

This week on the blog I shared a few personal stories with you, writing on my blog has become therapeutic for me. I hope some posts hit home with you and resonate with you on  some sort of level.  Let me know which posts you enjoy, I've been enjoying your emails :)

Apologies are not easy

My Weekend (last weekend)

Watching my money...

I hope for you this weekend nothing but good times spent with good people. If the weather will be just as nice by you as it will be here may I suggest you spend as much time as you can outside. Head outdoors and make memories. Until Monday, xoxo Meems

IT'S HARD TO SAY....

Just one of those days….Its dreary out here in NYC and I woke up today with something weighing quite heavy on my back. This heavy feeling is not a new feeling ….It’s been there and I’ve tried hard to cover it and yet whatever I do its still there. I think this is what guilt feels like. Guilt, disappointment in yourself and a feeling of embarrassment all balled into one ugly heavy backpack of crap.

A few months ago, without getting into too much detail, I made the mistake of not reaching out to someone personally during a life event. My feelings were put first and I was all too self-consumed in my own world that I let it get to a point where it’s just been too darn long. I should have made an apology from the get go. I should have apologized immediately. Why is apologizing so damn difficult to do?

I’m working on myself and know there are characteristic flaws of mine that do affect the relations with others around me. I’m not a perfect human. But I do strive to be the best I can be, for me and for others. It’s important that I make this situation right for so many reasons. 

Have you ever experienced this? Has it been hard for you to make an apology and say “Im sorry”?

I know we all make mistakes. Not one soul on earth is perfect. Sure, we all like to be on the recipient end of an apology but giving one is different. Way different.

Who likes to admit they are wrong? Is it the fear of rejection? The idea or thought that the person you are apologizing to will give you the cold shoulder? 

Or maybe we don’t apologize because we want to stay in denial. If you don’t apologize then it’s almost as if nothing were done wrong. I know, this is absurd and a selfish way of thinking but it happens.

Maybe it’s my own vulnerabilities…..I get nervous and when I’m nervous I ramble. It’s not a fun thing to see. I ramble, sweat , stutter …repeat. I like to feel in control, this has me feeling the complete opposite.

Apologies are kind of like soul baring. I’m open to a point. I live a pretty private life other than the pleasant things I choose to show to you via my blog. Soul baring opens me up and I’m not quite comfortable in that place. Apologizing is accepting responsibility for hurting another, and who wants to admit they have hurt another. It’s difficult to see ourselves in a less than positive light and truly see our flaws.

Being vulnerable opens you up to relationships. We all want to feel safe with the people that are in our circle and vice versa. Not doing so makes you (made me) seem untrustworthy and I’m all about the complete opposite. Making things right is important to me.

I hope this post inspires you to suck it up and reach out to the person you hurt. It’s not easy, you may stutter ramble and sweat…. But it is the right thing to do to make the situation right.

I’d love to hear from you. Any tips that you can share with us that helps get the words out “im sorry” ? 

Xo

Meems

COUCH CHAT

Our couch arrived! Hallelujah!

I have to say this. Damn! This is the most comfortable couch I have ever been on. The next time you head to restoration hardware, sit on their couches…. And tell me they aren't like sitting on a cloud. A cloud that sucks you into the most relaxing sit down experience of your life. The Mr. and I were contemplating sleeping on the couch.

Here is a pic of the couch we chose, a pic of ours to follow.

 

We chose the ARMY DUCK fabric in FOG. A soft smokey gray color and extremely durable. Hence the name Army Duck, the material is used in making Army tents and backpacks so you can only imagine how much wear and tear this couch can sustain. Crazy thing is that despite the fabric being so durable it is unbelievably soft. Home run in my book.

We also decided on The Faux Fur collection in Wolf, a few 22by22 pillows and the Over sized faux fur blanket. HOLY COW. Ok, now if there is one thing every woman should own is this blanket. The most luxurious blanket on the planet. I wrapped myself up in it and couldn't stop raving for 15 minutes...it was my kinda heaven last night. 

Getting up to do the laundry was like a form of human torture, having to unwrap myself from the blanket and couch cloud. I'm sorry if this is a ridiculous post… I'm just so happy with the couch and pillow/throw set we chose.

The Faux Fur collection has really good sales and we purchased ours during the holidays for a steal! Also, if you have a Restoration Outlet near you they are always in stock. Oh and one other tip, the beautiful RH linens can be found at the Outlets too. Sure the colors are limited but for a gift or extra set of Belgian linens you cant go wrong with picking up a set.

Have a beautiful day!

xo

Meems

SIMPLE CENTS

So far during my "no spend" Lent promise, things have been going better than expected. 

There are certain items I budget per paycheck that may not be an essential to most, but to a working woman like me they are. For example, my weekly manicure. There is a certain need to always look polished when dealing with executives in NYC and my weekly mani’s keep me just so.  A $13 weekly manicure is part of my budget every paycheck and it’s something I rarely blink an eye to. However, with my "no spend" Lent promise, I've had an urge to take it a step further.

& This is how…I've chosen to eliminate my weekly mani’s and change it to every other week, and the week they aren't professionally done I will do so. Thankfully I have the supplies to do my own,  sure they aren't as perfect as when Vicky does them (my nail guru) but a file here  a cuticle cut there and topped with a sheer coat of  “It’s a Girl” by Opi, it all looks fine. A simple way to save more money.

At the end of the month I’ll save an additional $26 and put that money into my “emergency fund”. OK, it is not ground breaking but if you make small changes here and there, they eventually will all add up. Note, I haven’t taken a ($25) cab twice a week from school or ordered take out dinner ($50) on the weekend which are other ways I have been saving money… so yes, it HAS been adding up.

Think about it. What small changes can you make to save more money? 

xo
Meems

THIS & THAT

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it is a rarity that I post on weekends. I'm normally too busy enjoying life but this weekend has been spent behind a computer studying and writing papers. I needed another break so this is the perfect time to share with you a few randoms. 

This is the place where I get lost in my books.....Keeping fresh flowers bedside is a simple luxury that makes for waking up on cold NYC mornings so much easier.

Freshly laundered linens and a view of my side of the bed. Collette Bed by Crate and Barrel with Hudson Sheets (gray stitching) from here. The down comforter inside the duvet is my favorite part of our bed. You can get it here. The lamp I wanted here was found at Home Goods for $300 less. Insane. I paid $39. You don't have to spend tons of money, find something you love and if it is too much money .....research for something similar  :)

His side of the bed.... These 3 left over fabric swatches I used on my monochromatic white frame gallery are now being  used as coasters for the bedroom. The fabrics are beautiful in person and the colors go well with our bedroom. Zinc furniture nightstand and dresser here.  Glad we had extra left over! Frugality is not for the unhappy... :) Oh and a plus, they are washable!

500 Metro Card piece puzzle with the Mr. 

We made progress! Hey, progress is progress. lol

Our Coffee Table can be found here. The Mr. is reading The 4 Hour Work Week.... have you read this?

A quick and healthy dinner....

Meems (Thrown Together) Organic Spinach & Portobello Mushroom Whole Grain Lasagna

• Organic Mushrooms (2 packs)
• Bag of Organic Spinach
• Organic Tofu ( package - wash well with cold water)
• 1 bag of organic mozzarella cheese
• 1 Egg
• Organic Ricotta
• 1 small salted Mozzarella Ball
• Hodgson Mills Whole Grain Lasagna
• 28 oz Brads Organic Tomato & Basil Sauce

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Cook Lasagna in pot for about 7 - 9 mins. Drain and rinse well with cold water - place on glass plate before using (keeps from sticking)

3. Cook Mushrooms with a few drops of Olive Oil - add Italian seasonings

4. In a bowl mix package of tofu with ricotta, one egg and Italian seasonings. Add salt and pepper and garlic powder.

In a 13 by 9 pan add sauce on the bottom, layer pasta then ricotta/tofu mixture top it with mushrooms and freshly chopped spinach and repeat. Sprinkle Mozzarella shreds on top of last layer and slice up the mozzarella ball and place on top. 

Cover with foil and cook for 30 mins, remove foil and cook for 10 mins to make crispy. Enjoy!

Music while I cook....the piano, the lyrics the video...enjoy

& Last but not least!

My OCD Household List. We keep this on the side of the refrigerator and when we are out of a product or food item we put a check on the list. When it is time to go shopping this list keeps us focused on what we need and helps me from straying and overspending. I suggest you create a similar list with what your family uses and the next time you need to go shopping it will take out the guessing and overspending. Try it! Sure, I may be a crazy list maker but you wont be calling me crazy when you see how well it works for you.

What have you been up to this weekend?

xo
Meems

See you tomorrow!