Weekend Snippets | When it all feels like a lot
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of what feels like a million projects? You take a break to come up for air, and realize another week has gone by?
Yes? Same friend, same.
Although we’ve gotten a lot done, it never seems enough. My garden still needs tilled and planted for fall harvest, and if I wait much longer, planting will be pointless. Then there are the three additional trees: apple, plum, and peach, that need planting beside the two apples we put in the ground last week. They sit beside the well house in their pots, begging to be unbound so their roots can stretch and grow in the warm soil.
As if that’s not enough, I’m knee deep in my annual fall pantry organization and restock.
At the beginning of each fall, I take inventory of all our food. What came from the garden, what I have in my pantry, and what went bad and needs removed. I then make a list and in bulk, purchase, and stock up so I can easily bring together dinners in the cold months without constantly running to the store for ingredients. This saves a lot of time and money and insures I have everything we need. Of course, this excludes fresh and perishable items, but if I’m only going to the store every few weeks for those in the winter, I’ll be okay with that!
After gathering most of my supplies, I then do a huge organization of the pantry and fridge, making sure all items are placed together by use, and that I can easily find and see everything. There’s absolutely nothing worse than thinking you have an ingredient, only to not be able to find it in your moment of need.
I’m also taking on the house room by room and painting each, adding decor and making it “ours” after our move five months ago.
We kinda threw all the boxes inside when we first moved and made do while we worked on the big issues in our home. Installing the air conditioning and all new ducting, as well as fixing the foundation and the multiple little things that need addressed when taking over this new to us, but very old to this world, house.
Can you relate to the overwhelm?
Though your overwhelm may be caused by different issues, chances are this time of year, and the transition of summer to fall, back to school, holiday season approaching, etc, can leave us all feeling a little whiplash. We’re turning our heads back and forth, wondering what project to tackle first.
All that I can offer in advice, as someone deep in the trenches with you, is to take one day at a time, and one task at a time. Pick a project, and see it through. Then do it again. And again. Until finally, the light is at the end of the tunnel. Keep the kids fed, take moments to interact and connect with your spouse, everything else comes after that. Drink the water, go to bed on time, even when you list isn’t done, and get up with the sun. March forward, and press into it all. Feel the feelings, and work through them. Set the example to your kids that we can all do hard things. Is this revolutionary advice? No. But it will get the job done. Often there’s no “special tip” or “secret ingredient” to making it all work. You simply have to stop allowing things to distract you (put the phone away) and get it done.
And even when it doesn’t feel like it: these are the days friends. The messy middle with littles at our feet, work to do, and homes to tend. This is both the struggle and the gift. Without mess, we wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate the good. The moments in the day where memories are made, conversations are had, and revelations are experienced. What has value is worth effort. Our families and our homes are worth it friends.
To all those sneaking some chocolate in a corner and wondering what to tackle next, I’m with you. Also, almond Hershey bars are my favorite. Savor that bite, then square those shoulders, take a deep breath, and get back in that ring. All we have is now sweet fiends, let’s make it the best now we can, chores and all.
xoxo, Eryn 🙂
Things I’m loving this week:
So many of these pieces I snagged for fall decor. The candles are perfect for cozy dinners and parties, and the lighting would warm up and add charm to any space. If you’ve been following my IG stories, you know I’ve used Rub n’ Buff on just about every object in my house. Slight exaggeration but not by much.
See it all in my Amazon Storefront!
I’m off to tackle that list, see you in the messy middle!
