Blessing others and a new nail polish

December 11, 2013

This morning several things were weighing heavy on my heart. My sadness and worries seemed to sap the energy out of me, and I just didn't feel like taking care of the things that needed doing around here, or going outside in the cold and snow to get some much-needed groceries. I sat for a while with my coffee, trying to count my blessings and muster up courage for the day. I thought of how I might try and bless someone else in order to stop feeling sorry for myself. I was going to a hair appointment this afternoon, and thought of taking a gift to my stylist. A beautiful Christmas-type bouquet of flowers would be perfect. As I planned this, and began to get on with the business of the day, I began to feel more cheerful.

I remembered a neighbor who helped me out one day years ago. My children were little and I was home with them all day. Those were long days, as my husband is a CPA and it was tax time. I watched three active little children all day and then did the dinner, bath, and bed routine by myself every night. My husband didn't get home until after they were in bed. Saturdays I was on full-time mom duty as well. So you can imagine I was pretty worn out at times.

One snowy January day my neighbor called and asked if I would like to send my children over to her house for the afternoon so I could get a little break. Would I? I couldn't get them into their snowsuits fast enough!

Several times during that afternoon I looked out my front window to see her playing in the snow with my children, romping around with them, making snow angels and having snowball fights. I know they later went in for hot chocolate and cookies. So fun for them, and better than hanging with a tired mom busy with loads of laundry and cooking and refereeing their squabbles.

Why would Joan sacrifice an entire afternoon for me? Her own children were in school, and I'm sure there were plenty of other things she could have done. When I later asked her, she admitted that she had been feeling sorry for herself, and wanted to do something for somebody else in order to stop thinking about her own problems for a while.

Now, buying flowers for someone isn't on the same par as playing with three small children for an entire afternoon, but it is true that giving to others sometimes blesses us as much as it blesses them. It's a lesson I learned long ago, but it seems I still need to remind myself of it.


And now for the sparkly part of the blog. Here's a pretty nail polish called lapiz of luxury by essie.


I picked it out without realizing how well it would go with so many of my cardigans. I got the periwinkle blue cardy from a consignment store and the printed one from Target. Love these colors.




It goes with a pale lavender, a brown, and a pink cardigan, as well as the leopard print.



And can't forget the food section of the blog either. Here's some clementines. I love these little guys, and eat them like candy. I've stacked them on a cake plate. The little crate they come in works well as kindling for fires in our wood-burning insert.



5 comments

  1. From one Deborah to another, I just wanted to tell you how enjoyable your blog is and I'm happy to have stumbled upon it. I bought an Essie 5-color sampler for my hair dresser to give to her today. The fun polish colors these days really cheers me up (as well as a good haircut). Merry Christmas and best of luck with your blog. I will be a regular reader.
    Deborah

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  2. wow -- I have a reader! thanks so much Deborah for your comment. It really made my day.

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  3. Hi Deb,
    I enjoyed reading your blogs today and can't believe you have not let your good book club friends onto this. I'll write more but I have to make sure I know how this works.

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  4. Well, I did send out an email . . . but it was probably buried in some other book club stuff. (I have been a little shy about it.) I hope to write about the simple, beautiful things in life . . . so far it's been a lot of fun for me. I hope others might be blessed as well.

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  5. I know this is an older post but I had to comment on the beautiful coloured nail polish. I would never think to try that colour but after seeing it on your nails I love it! I also like your clothes and the colours you wear...very pretty. Oh and the leopard print! Your a girl after my own heart. You should do a post on your wardrobe.

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