Hello! Happy Friday!

How’s your week been? It’s been a pretty good week here – a mix of time spent with friends and lazy mornings, puttering around the house. (Don’t you love that word, putter? Just hearing it makes me smile, and I am quite a putterer myself.) BB got a circuit set for his birthday, and he’s spent hours working on it. BG got a “Big Girl Bed”, and she’s spent hours lounging on it. It’s always funny to see what catches their interest week to week.

I guess I’m the same as well. Some weeks, I’m focused on finding new recipes and planning meals. Other weeks, it might be sewing or organizing or reading or obsessing about getting the back porch ready for summer. There are so many things that catch my attention – so many things I want to do – that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do it all. But I guess that’s what makes each day fun – what can I try or learn or do today?

Here are some things that have been on my mind this week:

1. “We edit everyday.” Ever since I read this book, I’ve been looking at our home and “stuff” differently. I’m not saying I’ve followed the author’s guidelines and principles perfectly, but it has definitely changed my perspective. I read this post on Cup of Jo about the same time I was finishing the book, and the homeowner’s quote about editing really struck me. Here’s one of Webster’s definitions:

edit (verb) – to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose

Refine. There’s that word again. It makes giving away so much easier when I think about leaving the things that suit my purpose. This is really inspiring me right now.

2. This book. Someone recommended it to me several weeks ago, and I immediately requested it from the library. I found myself bookmarking so many passages that I ordered a copy for myself. In the weeks since I started the book, there have been conversations I’ve had and posts I’ve come across that support this idea, that the way we think about things – ourselves, our jobs, our relationships – can determine our success in these areas, and that by changing our mindset, we can change the outcome. I can’t stop thinking about it.

3. Summer. I know, it just turned to spring (and in Northern California, it’s been feeling like winter again), but everyone’s talking about summer plans – road trips, day camps, local getaways. I was at a play date with a friend this week, and I asked her about summer plans, and aside from their yearly family trip, she said, “We’re just going to play. Isn’t that was summer was all about when we were little?” Isn’t that so refreshing? Reminded me of this post that I’ve thought about at least once a day since I first read it.

4. Upholstery. Because I thrifted a sofa. You know I’m going to tell you the long version.

About a month ago, I was at the thrift store, and I saw a girl pick up a pair of cowboy boots and try them on. I was a bit jealous. I have always wanted to thrift a pair (because I know I won’t wear them enough to warrant buying new ones). Also, I was recently invited to a Southern-themed birthday party, so I REALLY wanted to find a pair. The girl wore them around the store for a while, and I was sure she was going to buy them. Fast forward two weeks to spring break, and the kids and I are at the thrift store. And there, on the shelf, are the boots. And they FIT! It’s my lucky day. I drop them in my basket and move on to the furniture section, where I find this:

(This is my house, not the thrift store. I know it’s hard to tell because of the T-ball mitt, hot pink water bottle, cat tree, and 1960s linoleum.)

Now, I’ve been searching Craigslist for weeks for a settee for the foot of our bed (something like this or this or this). I’m not going to lie, my heart started racing as soon as I saw it. Price? $65! Totally my lucky day! I told the kids to stretch out on it while I grabbed the price tag and the closest worker to claim it as my own. I was so afraid someone else was going to nab it! I put it on hold and called Adopted California Dad to come help me pick it up with his truck. I texted a photo to Husband, who was out of town, mostly to get him used to the idea before he got home. (Also because I had Adopted California Dad deliver it to the living room while I decided if I was going to take it to be reupholstered immediately or live with it in pink for a bit. I decided on the latter but couldn’t actually maneuver it down the hall and had to leave it in the middle of the den, so I didn’t want Husband to trip over it in the dark when he flew in late that night. I’m a good wife like that.)

I’ve got big plans for this sofa, including new upholstery and paint. Husband seems to think I should be able to do it myself. EEK! I’d love to try – and I’m always up for learning a new skill. Tell me, do you have any experience in upholstering furniture? Is it crazy to think I could find a video on YouTube and make it happen myself?

5. This quote.

What are you up to this weekend? We’ve got the party with the cowboy boots, T-ball, and a bunch of other little things scattered on the calendar, but I’m hoping for a little bit of puttering-around time, too. Have a good one!