I wrote yesterday that I've been working on a paper chain for my Christmas tree. I'm not quite into the Christmas mindset yet but because I usually get my tree from my parents the day after Thanksgiving, I have to get my decorations ready for it. Because Thanksgiving is so early this year, that means I have to get motivated even sooner.
Thanks to Pinterest, I've had several ideas for new decorations to incorporate this year. I saw a paper chain made of paper with music printed on it and I just adored it. I like an old-fashioned feel to my Christmas tree, so I knew that a chain would be the perfect addition to my tree.
We are paying for all of Christmas with cash this year. No credit cards, no pay later. I feel awesome about making it through the holidays without the fun of January debt. It does mean that I have to be more thoughtful in my spending, though. I am trying to use supplies for the holidays that I already have. I knew I didn't have any scrapbooking paper with music on it. I have a great deal of Christmas prints, and I was tempted to use them, but I really loved the look of the music. I thought I might have to splurge on some music paper, but then I remembered an old hymnal I've carried around since high school. It hasn't any special meaning, I just liked it. So I gathered the hymnal, my tiny stapler and a paper cutter and got to work.
I went through the hymnal and pulled out the Christmas songs first.
This is an old book, and there weren't many in there. So after I pulled out the Christmas songs I just randomly pulled sheets from the hymnal. Then I cut them into strips that were 1" by 5.5".
Then using my Tiny Attacher I started my chain.
I don't know how many links I made. A lot, because my dad picks out trees the size of the Grizwald's Family Christmas Tree. For now, my paper chain is sitting in a pretty basket. I have a few pages left of my hymnal, so I think I'll make a few more links. I can easily shorten it if needed but it's harder to add on.
I love, love, love the way this turned out and I can't wait to see if on the Christmas tree. I'll follow up with a picture of it on the tree in all it's glory in a couple weeks.
Let me say, too, that this is the second Pinterest inspired project that I've done this year that incorporated me having to dismantle a book (remember this project?), and it doesn't get any easier! Something inside me nearly bursts during those first few moments of ripping out pages. But both projects have turned out lovely, and I'm starting to sense a new addiction!
What are you working on for Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Making a paper chain out of an old hymnal for the Christmas tree.
Listening to Mumford & Sons.
Preparing an itunes playlist filled with favorite holiday songs.
Watching NFL games every Sunday, Monday and Thursday. Boardwalk Empire. Brad Meltzer's Decoded.
Waiting for my replacement iPhone to arrive. My iPhone 5 already died on me!
Anticipating the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert this Sunday. Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Original cheesecake.
Planning for the month of December.
Completed making the Christmas cards I will send out this year. Particularly love the adorable hedgehog stamp I used this year.
Reading very little as my vision has been affected by new medications.
Loving that we get to host friends and family for Thanksgiving for the first time.
Grateful for my loving husband and "babies" Pip and Dobby.
Savoring time to myself when I need it most.
I first heard of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) about two years ago. I'm participating this year for the first time. I'm not writing a novel, but rather some personal essays or something more along the lines of memoir. That's the great thing about NaNo - it doesn't matter what you write, they just want to encourage you to write something. Get the words on the page.
I decided to jump on the bandwagon this year for several reasons. The past few months have been tremendously difficult for me. The roller coaster ride of going off meds and now being back on them has left me less than motivated to do anything, let alone get creative. I'm back on medications and slowly digging myself out of the hole I was in for August, September and October. Part of that means getting back to doing the activities I love to do.
I've always loved to write, and though it is one of the first activities I set aside when I start to get depressed, it is also one of the most therapeutic for me as well. Putting words on a page (or screen) has a healing component to it that few other remedies can compete with.
But I grow extremely self-concious about my writing when times are tougher. Words don't come as easily. My mind feels muddy and sluggish and I'm not sure I'm saying what I mean. I have to rely on the dictionary and thesaurus more. Words that flow freely when I feel "normal" get dammed up when I'm depressed.
I write on this blog about my life experiences, mostly to record them for myself, for Kyle and for anyone that knows me and cares. But when I am depressed, I don't want to bog the world down with my own feelings, thus I withdraw from writing and sharing those darker times with others.
I find, though, that the people that often offer me the most comfort in depression are those who have gone through it as well. I hope that somewhere I am a little spark of hope for a fellow depression sufferer, and that my little blog is a way to reach out and touch the hand of someone in despair the way so many other people have reached out to me in my times of need.
I have a lot to write about, but self-doubt and my inner gremlin (her name is Grizelda) convinces me that no one cares. No one is interested in my little life. So NaNoWriMo is a perfect challenge to myself to put down the words. It doesn't mean anyone will read them. It doesn't mean they will go out in the world at large. It simply gives me permission to put it all down on paper. Maybe I'll go back and look at it when it's all done and say, "There's something here. I must do something with this." Or maybe I'll look at it and think, "What a bunch of crud! Good thing no one else saw this mess!"
NaNoWriMo is simply an opportunity to write - something I already love to do - along with many other people who also love to write. It brings together a community of writers to encourage one another and give that little extra push when it seems to daunting to do otherwise. And maybe it will help silence Grizelda.
You can follow my word count on the sidebar of my blog - I'm almost to 7,000 and it's only the 2nd day!
