Wrapping things up!

I've been wrapping things up... both figuratively and literally!

Like on Christmas Eve - "wrapping up" meant just that... I was in a panic trying to gets my gifts wrapped.  Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

And now, today- the day after Christmas, here at the tea room we're wrapping up loose ends getting ready for end of the year stuff.

When I look back on the year, both at the tea room and art center, it has been quite a year!  Handling the day to day operations at both places I sometimes forget all that's really happened in just 12 short months.  I usually only seem to focus on what "still" has to be done instead of how much "has" been done. 

If next year is like this year, it should be (as kid president says) an awesome year!  (If you don't know who kid president is...google him!)

I'm going to make a conscious effort to slow down next year.  I want to enjoy the ride a little more. 

And stress... some things I can control and something things I can't - so I am definitely putting together a game plan to recognize and reduce that!  So if anyone brings unnecessary stress next year you just may hear a quote from my favorite movie.  As Glenda says.. "Be gone!  You have no power here!"

Oh, and one more thing before I wrap this up... "Sometimes you just have to say no" and that's OK!

So as I wrap up this year, I just want to say...THANKS!

Thanks to everyone, and you know who you are, for seeing me through my latest adventure, for having faith, and always believing in me.

That's a wrap!

Merry Christmas

Just a tad longer and I'm finished.  Today is cookie day. I'm putting ribbons on the last of the trays. Saturday night was the final performance of our  2013 season with a holiday production of It's a Wonderful Life at The Alfresco Art Center.  What a year it's been!  So many wonderful things have happened. 

I must admit I'm ready for the holiday and year to be over.  The hustle and bustle has worn me to a thread.  Between running the business, producing a show. Time has flown by!

decorating the tea room and the art center I don't have time or the inclination to decorate my home.  The only Christmas decor at my house is my dog Daisy in her holiday sweater. 

Now... I don't want to sound like Scrooge - bah humbug and everything  but I'm soooooo ready for Christmas day.  To most that's the busiest day but for me that's my day of rest.  My Christmas is Christmas Eve with my parents and siblings and theirs kids.  After our celebration I'm on lock down.  I stay home and just relax.  That's the greatest gift for me.  No phones, no deadlines, no nothing- just munchies and great movies.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Never say Never!

We've all heard it..." never say never", but we've all done it.  For example I said "I'll never wear crocs those are the ugliest shoes ever".  Wrong!  I wore them for almost a year straight!  I had them in every color and style. It was pathetic.
Or - "I am NEVER" watching Duck Dynasty - as you can imagine I did!  It was one of those nights when I couldn't sleep.  As always, I started flipping through the channels. I stopped and saw some of the funniest stuff! I literally laughed out loud and thought what is this?  So I hit the info button and wouldn't you know it - It was Duck Dynasty! Before I knew I was popping popcorn and getting something to drink at 2 in the morning!  Really?  A normal person would have watched a few minutes and gone to back to sleep. Not me! I watched episode after episode knowing full well that my day begins at 6 am!  Now I'm not someone who has to rush home to see a show BUT if I can't sleep I seem to suffer from the late channel surfing sickness.You would think that I would just turn off the TV, but after all of these years I still have to sleep with the TV on (that's another story)
And after all of these years - I've come to the conclusion that for me, saying "I'll never" is part of a cruel cosmic curse.  So... I'll never say "I'll never" again!  Geez - see what I mean?