God Bless America.

And my ridiculously cute toes.

Happy (week of) 4th of July! 

I know I'm early, but I seriously love this holiday and I couldn't wait to start celebrating with some stars & stripes.

I may or may not have had my outfit for the actual day of independence planned for weeks...OK, maybe a month.

Some people have junk-drawers...

...We had a junk-CLOSET.

When we moved in to our new 750 square foot place last fall, we downsized from about four linen closets...to one. Our new linen closet resembled something close to the innards of a full-capacity trash compactor:

I was so tired of buying duplicates of medicines, shampoos (etc), and finding the exact same thing weeks later, nestled deep within the abyss. With my new-found, post-busy season sense of freedom (also said, "obsessive compulsive disorder"), I searched for some organizational inspiration on pinterest.  Of course, we have WAY too much stuff for our closet space to look that neat and tidy...so here is my best rendition:

Step 1: Decide which sheet sets and towel orphans make the cut. Roll each set into a gift-like bundle for easy access.

Step 2: Brave Oakland Ikea at 8pm on a weeknight after work in order to buy fabric closet organizer boxes in white and cream.

Step 3: Next evening after work, go to craft store to pick out a hot glue gun and cute metallic letters to label each of the boxes...and get the husband out of there before he convinces you to buy the entire store (he began college as an art major!).

Step 4: Get a buddy to help you glue hot glue letters to various fabric Ikea boxes (Miso makes a really supportive buddy, especially when your finger prints are being burned off by excess hot glue globs). --------->

Step 5: Take a break for some free local wine tasting. Our favorite place in Alameda is Rosenblum, where we are members.

Step 6: Come home and finish putting all the contents in each box, and find a home for it on the shelves: 

(I also got some super cheap metal shelving at Ikea, which helped by adding an additional level in each section of the closet...helped me fit MORE stuff in each nook and cranny! WAHOO!)

And the final product in sections:

...I know it still looks a little cluttered, but I refuse to give up things like laundry soap, my bread machine, and various other "ugly" items for the sake of the cause. Maybe ONE day, if we are blessed with a few more square feet to our name, we can spread out and make things prettier. Until then, I stand by my motto that "Love grows best in tiny houses."

Who needs a Band Aid?? Because...I know where they are!!!

Sophisticated Sheets.

One of my latest projects: to revitalize the random hodgepodge of mismatching sheets from different houses and beds that we {separately} occupied in our college days. I saw these seashore sheets at Pottery Barn and couldn't resist them for our beach apartment in Alameda....Reasons they were my top choice:

• Pattern fills a void left in my soul where leopard print & pink used to be.
• Passes Jack's "Cozy Test" (past winners fall into the category of micro-fleece, jersey,  or flannel...anything ridiculously comfortable and oppositely easy on the eyes...I consider this one a miracle!).
• This view from our bedroom is why they make sense. 
• Neutral brightens up our shoe-box sized room.  

My husband is in med school, and I am his wife.

I am a CPA and I have a full time, well respected career in tax. I commute every day to the financial district within the fabulous city of San Francisco. Doesn't that sound amazing?

Except, I never thought of myself as a career woman. I am old fashioned. I love to cook. I love things that sparkle. I pray for my husband. I love to be crafty. However, the only crafty thing it seems that I've picked up in the last few years has been a pink highlighter to feature notations within tax code, or neon sticky tabs to direct the clients where to sign. My inner "wife" is starting to get restless.

It's so easy to get lost in the hustle of "every day"...within myself.  I have to remember that it's not just me! I got married and God joined me with another person.  My person and I are here in San Francisco for the purpose of our bigger picture.

My husband is in medical school, enduring one of the most stressful things a human can brave. And he is doing it for our family. 

My real full time job? My real full time job is to be the backbone of this family while Mr. focuses on our future. My most important job is to maintain the present. Keep the fridge stocked. Socks white. Carpet clean. Towels soft. Car running. Bills paid. All the while, keeping this side-gig as a tax accountant in the city. No biggie!

On this journey, my job in the city has blessed us with benefits, a paycheck, and a means to struggle through this wild ride less than most.

Hopefully this will be a place that allows me to take a break. To let my inner Mrs. out. To remember the bigger picture in our little wonderful life. To keep my eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole.

My husband is in med school, and I am his wife.