One of my favorite clients is a life coach out in Minnesota.  She has that adorable accent I used to have - I start saying “How key-ooooot!” whenever I talk to her.  She sent me this quote after a marketing meeting today and it is awesome. 

There are no detours around obstacles. There isn’t a meaningful goal that can be achieved, without facing obstacles and hurdles. It’s an inevitable part of life’s road to success. The more you come to grips with this, the faster you’ll get where you want to go!  Instead of seeing difficulties as the end of your dreams, see them as part of the journey. View obstacles as challenges, which, once overcome, will bring you closer to your destination. Refuse to be stopped – keep focusing on where you want to go. When the going gets tough, remind yourself that snags build wisdom, perseverance and strength. With this outlook your frustrations will transform to motivations and success will come your way more quickly.
©Jane Powell – Meditations for Women

I’m printing that bad boy (or girl) out and putting it on my mirror.  And the bathroom scale. 

In happier news, after a truly crappy day on a multitude of levels, I FOUND A HOUSE.  I am really excited.  When you walk through the front door, you don’t need a Hot Tub Time Machine.  You’re in the 60’s, baby.  From the knotty pine cabinets in the tiny kitchen to the powder blue and white tiled “master” bathroom, this house screams “Carol Brady, Take Me Away!”  But I love it.  Hardwoods, sprawling brick rancher, screened porch (complete with neon green Astro-Turf for extra awesomeness!), a huge fenced yard with irises and day lilies blooming, a huge garage, a shed, and a DEN!  The den even has the requisite dark wood paneling on the walls (I’m promptly painting it gloss white).  This means Nikki can continue her nannying/work bitch/domestic slave loveliness, I have an office in which to work that is not in the master bedroom, and my inventory can be stored in the pull down huge-ass attic.  I can deal with an ugly kitchen.  If I get motivated, I’ve even been given the go-ahead to paint the kitchen cupboards white.

From 3600+ square feet full of granite, stainless steel, quartz and vessel sinks to an unrenovated house from the 60’s.  Change has never felt so good.  I am embracing the cheese pieces of the house and digging on the other things that I love, like sitting outside in the fall protected from mosquitoes and digging in the dirt with a bulb planter.  Letting my kids ride bikes in a street where very few cars drive.  Watching Thora run like a freak through the yard.  Parking my new car in a garage and vacuuming it out.  Lying in my bed at night with tiny lights on, reading a book.  For the first time in years, it will be my house - my responsibility - my space.  It’s horribly frightening but incredibly liberating.