Reading Yes Please from Amy Poehler and feeling ridiculously inspired (and laughing out loud frequently). I need to read more auto-biographies. Actually, I just need to read more.
Adjusting to the end of Daylight Saving. Even though I adore getting that hour back, I’ve been up at 5 a.m. every day since we turned the clocks back. At least there’s some more guilt-free Facebook time, right?
Smiling every time I think of how Aidan surprised me by coming home from college on Halloween, my high holiest of days. It was the best surprise that I can ever recall.
Loving the new Taylor Swift album 1989 after just one listen. (And yes, I have seen this awesome SNL commercial.) It’s not that I’m surprised that I like her. I mean, I like her in theory because she just seems like a pretty cool young woman, but this album is really, really good.
Getting my Canon 5D cleaned later today. I know, the life I lead. But honestly? I haven’t had it cleaned since I bought it (maybe four years ago? or five?) and there are spots showing up through the lens, on every lens, which leads me to believe it’s the sensor. Going to a local camera shop to get ‘er done.
Working on holiday products already because it’s almost December and it’s time to start doing that sort of thing.
Listening to a Christmas mix I made last December while working on said products and I can officially say it is the earliest in my entire life I have ever listened to holiday music. Gotta admit: it helps the holiday vibe to flow.
Exercising and eating well to take care of this body of mine. Oh WAIT! That’s on the Totally NOT Doing This At All List for November. My bad.
Thinking about why I’m not taking care of myself the way I could be.
Preparing to learn some more hows and whys of the Word Press platform. I got things to do, people.
Wearing the same swing cardigan every day. It’s by Jennifer Adams and I got it at Costco last year. I throw it on every day and it’s good for two reasons. 1. If a hot flash hits, you can throw it off like that! and 2. Chub camouflage. Oh, and 3. Fashion’s not really my thing. I just read an article somewhere talking about Steve Jobs wearing the same thing every day. Granted, he was by all accounts a difficult person, but at least he didn’t waste energy on fashion choices, right? Oh yeah, Einstein? He did that too. Such good company to be in. Ahem…
Loving this digital illustration one of my students had made for me. I mean, come on! The awesomeness is limitless. (Thanks, Christine!)
Tolerating the process of waking up a teen aged boy every Monday through Friday. I’ve tried the whole, “USE YOUR ALARM TO GET UP” thing. So far, it hasn’t worked.
Anticipating the arrival of my new iPhone 6. Yep. I did it. I stole my daughter’s upgrade for myself. Shhhh. She swears she doesn’t read my blog.
What’s happening for you, in the here and now?
Designer Digitals has done some upgrading to their site and one of the upgrades I’m really excited about is that they now accept PayPal. I love using PayPal for my own online shopping. I like to joke that it doesn’t feel like real money is being exchanged, but the truth is that it’s a very secure way to shop. Check out the new look here.
Carla Crosby says
I am sooooo glad that you now accept paypal….many times it has stopped me from purchasing from your site simply because my credit card does not reside in my studio 🙁
Love your designs!!!!!
Cathy Zielske says
Thanks, Carla! We’re excited about it too!
Kirsten J says
Same about the time change. Hence this comment at 5:49 am my time…..
And my own 15 year old sleeps like the dead through any alarm when she has less than 7 hours sleep. So sleep deprived. My friends can’t believe I get up with her and fix breakfast and even drive her to school some mornings. I just call it parenting.
Yay for music! Holiday and Taylor. Gotta get that album.
Cathy Zielske says
“I just call it parenting.” Yep. Me too.
Deb says
Working. Full time. Outside of the home. For the first time ever since having the kids. 14 years ago I left work to be a stay at home mama and now I’m back in it. Luckily,in the school district where my kids are so we have the same schedule, but still missing the “sure, I can help out at (insert random school event here)”.
Feeling blessed that I had the chance to stay at home as long as I did.
Cathy Zielske says
Whoa Deb! That is a big change for sure. Wow. Good luck and I send you working woman strength vibes!
Margie S says
I tolerate waking TWO teenage boys each morning for zero period. There are quite a few things I can come up with that would be a lot more fun!!
Michelle t says
Yes, I’m doing what I’d call being a parent. I have a friend who tells me I do too much for my 15yr old boys. Not to me, I am their mother.
Anyway, oh, Cathy, I wish you weren’t so hard on yourself. If I knew you better and I was more comfortable I might share a little of what I know on this subject. But don’t be too hard on yourself.
Looking forward to Christmas designs. Can’t imagine, must be hard to dive into it like that.
Michelle t
D says
Feeling relieved that the political phone calls and mailings have stopped. I know each year gets worse with “that stuff,” but this year we had nearly five inches of political mail from just our local city campaigners … ugh! (and coming home to five phone calls on Election Eve requesting “vote for me, the best choice for our town” after a frustrating day of work … double ugh!)
Rose says
That line is the best! “I call it parenting!” My teens have been a struggle. A very emotional ride for me. However, it seems that if I let them fail by not getting up for school that I failed as well. We have very few years to help them learn to do things. Hopefully, they actually do them later!
I love my iPhone 6!
Thanks for your brutal honesty and uplifting spirit !
Michelle t says
I’m going thru it too. It’s been emotional for me, as well. I get it. Michelle t
Alexandra says
Thanks for the heads-up about the PayPal change. I just went and bought some CZ Design goodness. It was so easy and looking forward to using the Thirty Days of Thankful Stamps. Here is to a happy November.
Cathy Zielske says
Aw, thanks Alexandra!
Glenda says
I thought waking up our 2 teenagers was difficult, NOT, compared to 3 little sleepy grand daughters to get up, dressed, eat breakfast and catch the school bus, yikes, teenagers were easier,lol. Being retired, the time change doesn’t affect me much, thank goodness, cause I remember those days clearly. Actually saw Taylor Swift on her first tour as a country singer when she toured with Brad Paisley, only 17 at the time and she was fantastic then and is still fantastic as a singer and as a young woman. If you ever get a chance to see her, well worth it. Love catching up with your life on your blog, always insightful and entertaining.
Sue Treiber says
I just finished Yes, Please last night. Loved it.
Thinking about purchasing the TS album. Haven’t pushed the ‘buy now’ button yet.
Celebrating my soon to be 15 year old son this weekend.
Vicki A says
Did you get the 6+??? I got that one and LOVE it! 🙂
Cathy Zielske says
No, I ordered the 6. They say it’s going to arrive next week!
MK says
It was frequently my job as oldest sibling to wake up the three teens in the house. I tried (and it worked well) a two pronged method. I started waking my brothers up at 3 AM and shouting “You’re late! Get in the shower!” and a few times into it he realized the jig and started using his alarm. The other ones responded well to a squirt gun from across the room as I yelled “BAD CAT!”
Audrey V says
hilarious! By some stroke of good luck, I have 2 teen boys that get themselves up well. The 16 year old was starting to not get up last summer, and my husband let him suffer the consequences, being late for work, and I think his boss’ response solved the problem. But I’m totally going to keep your methods in mind for future reference!
MK says
For my own children, I think I too, will parent. LOVE that response.
BJ says
Oh MK you made me cry I laughed so much
BJ says
Oh MK you made me cry I laughed so much
Aggie Aviso says
I live in the Philippines and I am thrilled DD now accepts Paypal!
Denise von Minden says
I’ve taken the Swiftamine and I’m getting my daughter and I concert tix this AM. It’ll be her first show and I can’t wait to surprise her. Reminds me of the time my mom wouldn’t let me see NKOTB and I cried. For days.
Laurie says
I love all the little details that make life worth living — comfy cardigans, holiday music and new cell phones. Nice.
Maureen says
I can totally relate to using Christmas music to get into the mood to create Christmas things. I am the marketing dept at the company I work for and I have been working on our company Christmas card and our December promotions since the beginning of Oct. I always love the look on co-workers faces when they pop into my office and ask what I am listening to. I wear earbuds to as to not disturb the people on the other side of my office walls. When I hand them an ear bud to listen – the look on their face is always priceless when it is Christmas music in Oct. I normally listen to everything from Classical to Heavy metal, so you never know what you’re gonna get when I hand over that ear bud. For some it has become a daily game of “What’s maureen listening to today?” Admittedly, Christmas music in October is always the best though!
Christine says
Loving working through MTAV process.
Grateful for people who share their skills and talents.
Looking forward to more.
bdaiss says
It all works out – I stole my mom’s upgrade. 😀
Melanie A. says
If I lived closer to you and actually liked people lol, I think we could be friends 🙂 I tend to read a lot of your posts and think “how does she know me so well”!
Adjusting to some new, hopefully temporary “normal” around here.
Daylight Savings isn’t the issue for me, it is this time of year in general. I’m a daylight kind of gal.
Digging the new Lady A. cd 747
Getting ready to start Ruth’s Journey by Donald McCaig
Hoping to learn some more ins and outs of PE and my camera so I can get off of auto more.
Missing being creative. I haven’t been able to get to my stuff since April because of construction. I need my outlet.
Grateful for your blog, which brings a smile to my face and keeps things real
Amyd says
Hi Cathy- glad to hear you liked Amy Poehler’s new book. I haven’t read it yet but will soon … if you liked her book, you’d probably like autobiographies by Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and Mindy Kalling. Funny books by funny ladies for a funny lady! 🙂
Abby P says
Whenever hubby and I are thinking about going out to dinner, going on vacation, doing anything fun, our first thought is to always ask our 18- and 22-year-old sons (and their girlfriends) to come along. Our friends NEVER ask their kids to tag along (soooo don’t understand that), AND they (have the nerve to) get pissed if our kids are with us. So, yay for parenting and keeping the family together! Maybe we need new friends?!