Taking Root

Fun with Polyvore.com!

2009-02-27T16:43:00.001-08:00

Hot for Spring - by newhaydens on Polyvore.com

Holy Heavens Can I Maybe Brush my Teeth Today?

2008-08-22T12:59:00.001-07:00

What a long morning!

So, I've been slowly trying to get back into the groove of working from home again, which can be, ahem, challenging with a colicky baby. I woke up late this morning at 9:00 because I was trying to catch up from a very sleepless night last night (Matt was gone overnight because of this insurance training thing, I can't sleep without him, and apparently neither can Natalie). As soon as I get up Matt texts me to throw together a client invoice. Okay, easy peasy, as soon as I take the dog out to potty, go outside to find her because she ran off again and isn't coming when I call her (meanwhile nursing Natalie), then clean up the "present" Tink left in the bedroom dangerously close to my favorite shoes. Finish the invoice, text Matt, "Done.", he texts back, "K Dan's on his way to pick it up." Dan's one of our employees. On his way? He lives 15 minutes away, maybe I should put on a shirt and, if I'm lucky, a bra. Success! My top half is dressed by the time he arrives (yoga pants are sort of like being dressed...even if I slept in them...right?). I give him the invoice, he tells me Matt said he could pick up his paycheck. Oy, he didn't tell me! Dan's been with us four days, I don't have his W-4 yet, I don't know his withholding rate, I don't know what Matt agreed to pay him, man I don't even know his last name! I print the W-4 for him, throw in a load of laundry while he fills it out, roughly estimate his withholding and scribble out a check. Meanwhile Natalie is oh mama so STARVING! Please feed me now right now aaaaaaaa!!!!! Okay, Dan's figured out and he leaves, I feed my girl, and think, "Lord this payroll thing is something I could do without and that payroll service I talked to before wasn't that expensive." So, baby still latched on, I email my rep that I want to do the month trial. I go dress Natalie, think maybe I'll take a speed shower while waiting for the response email, but Tink has to potty again. I take her out, mother in law calls, says they're coming to stay with us next weekend, Tink wanders off again and I have to go collect her. Phone rings, it's Matt, he says he's sooo tired. We commiserate for a sec, as soon as we hang up my payroll rep calls (I was really banking on doing this via email...), I go back to the computer to fill out forms she's leading me through, Natalie wakes up and explosively poos through her outfit (and my pants), starts wailing, I rush through the last of the forms, rep says she can do the next section for me if I dictate, I change a megapoo while dictating the easy part, grab my diapered but otherwise naked baby and dig out my business checking info, federal EIN, etc. to give to the rep. Finish up, dress Natalie again, Matt calls and ask how much we should pay Dan for driving his own truck to work. Uh, people have to drive to work for free. Sorry. We're paying him well and we're giving him health benefits soon. Matt says well he already told him we'd give him some compensation. "What? No. Just buy the guys lunches when our projects are a long drive."
"Well I already buy them lunch every day."
"What? Baby, that's unnecessary. We're going to go broke being nice bosses."
"Well we need an employee handbook with all our policies."
"Yes, definitely."
"Can you do that today?"
"I'll work on it."

I take a look at my massive to do list that doesn't include any of this, and think screw it I'm going to blog about this (typing while nursing, of course)! So... she's awake again and is sick of sitting here in the office. My teeth are still unbrushed and I should probably eat before the sky falls again. ;-)

Natalie's Birth Story

2008-06-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Our little Natalie has arrived! It was a fantastic experience and one I'd like to share. Here's the story of our baby girl's birth:

Monday evening, Matt had been home from work for about 20 minutes when I suddenly felt a little rush of liquid, then another, and another. I walked into the living room, where Matt was lying on the couch, and told him, "Either my water broke, or I just wet my pants three times in five minutes." He looked utterly dumbfounded for a second, then broke into a huge grin and said, "You didn't pee your pants! We're going to have a baby!" We had invited over our childbirth class to barbecue, and they were set to arrive in an hour. Matt handed me my phone and told me to call everyone and cancel. I decided since I was having no contractions at all I'd actually love the distraction, the company of the great people in our class, and the food. :-) I was a distracted mess the whole time, of course, but we had a great night. My childbirth instructor and her sweet year and a half old daughter helped me make a batch of chocolate chip cookies and it made me so excited to have a little girl of my own!

The next morning I woke up and called my midwife to give her a heads up. She told me I should have called her as soon as it happened. I could hear in her voice she was irritated. Apparently if you haven't gone into active labor within 24 hours of your water breaking it's a huge infection risk and they're required to induce labor. For some reason I thought I had 48 hours. Shoot. So the midwife told me to cook some castor oil into eggs and eat it to try to kick-start things. Ugh. This was the worst part of the experience! Eating it wasn't so bad, but the stomach upset it caused was awful! We spent the day trying everything I could to get the labor going. No dice. The midwife told me there was nothing else we could do and I'd have to transfer to the hospital and induce labor with pitocin. I was so angry and discouraged! I wanted so badly to give birth with no interventions whatsoever, and was concerned that with pitocin I'd fall into the "cascade of interventions". My mom's water had broken for almost two days before her labor started - why couldn't I have the same luxury of time? Our local hospital has a 65% C section rate, and I just simply would not go there. The midwife coordinated a transfer to the Group Health hospital in Seattle that has a midwife that would be noninvasive and respectful. Thank God! She was fantastic.

We checked into the hospital, then they started my pitocin IV at 12:20 am. Our nurse was wonderful and attentive, but let me do my own thing and respected my choices. Our hospital midwife arrived and actually READ my birth plan carefully and discussed it with me. I could tell right away she'd do everything she could to help me. My mom, Dani (my best friend/certified doula), and Matt were there to support me.

Dani in all her awesome doula-ness, and me in my birth necklace my friends made me at my Blessingway.

I'd barely slept the night before because of the excitement of my water breaking, and had such a long frustrating day that they suggested I rest while waiting for the pitocin to kick in. I gladly grabbed the opportunity! After a couple hours I could feel it taking effect. My mom rubbed my legs while Matt and Dani slept, preparing for what we expected would be a long night. It was so wonderful to wake up to my mom, still lovingly doting on me after 25 years. At about 3:30am my labor began in earnest, and everyone woke up and started helping me through the contractions. I sat on the birth ball, walked the halls, tried laboring on my side, then they asked me if I wanted to sit in the jacuzzi. You're not supposed to get in the tub until you're about 6 cm, but they assured me I was ready. I was thrilled by the idea that I was already at that point! I had asked to only have my dilation checked when I wanted to push, so I had no idea what phase I was at. The jacuzzi was wonderful, and I entered into transition while in there, which had sounded so intense when we'd learned about it in class that Matt and I didn't believe the nurse when she said I was in it! She asked a few times if I felt "pushy" yet. I didn't but when she had me get out of the tub suddenly I had the infamous urge to poo feeling, and so second stage had begun!

Just getting back from walking the halls. One of the more intense moments, but Matt was an amazing support.

The midwife came and checked me for the first and only time- only 7 cm? I was surprised because now I had the irresistible urge to push and couldn't fight it. She told me to go with it. I kept asking, "Are you sure it's okay to push?" She said it was, so I did! I was convinced I'd fall off the hospital bed if I did hands and knees or squatting position up there, so they laid out a mattress for me on the floor, and that's where I gave birth to Natalie, in "classic position" (leaning back slightly, knees bent), stark naked on the floor. Didn't seem odd to me at the time. :-) They set up a mirror for me so I could see her being born. At first I was too focused on pushing, but suddenly I looked down and realized, "Holy heavens my daughter's head is coming out of my body! There's really a baby and I'm giving birth to it oh my God!"Until this point I still had a strange subconscious feeling of disbelief about there actually being a baby. If you watch the birth video carefully you can spot this moment. :-) In less than an hour Natalie was born!

Her cord was only 12 inches long, so they had to cut it before it was done pulsating. Natalie looked "stunned", so when they put her on my chest they rubbed the vernix off vigorously to get her to cry. Finally she let out a good scream! No one had said, "It's a girl!" because we had an ultrasound so everyone knew it'd be a girl, but I still had to ask, "Is it really a girl?" I guess the Hollywood image of birth was in my mind - someone has to shout the baby's sex! ;-)

She was born at 7:34 am, which was convenient because breakfast magically appeared at 8:00am. ;-) Matt fed me honeydew melon and pancakes soaked in butter and maple syrup while I nursed and snuggled our sweet new baby girl. Pancakes have never tasted so good! It was the most enchanted breakfast I've ever experienced.

No episiotomy or tears, no medication other than the required pitocin, no screaming, no "I can't do it" moments. It was a phenomenal birth and I feel so blessed with how it all worked out and all the wonderful support I had. It was all so beautiful!

We did it!!!
Our precious girl, still covered in vernix. Such a proud daddy!
And an ecstatically proud grandma!

Where the heck have I been?

2008-06-09T13:04:00.001-07:00

See how mysterious and elusive I've been? ;-)

Okay, I'm back! All of you probably know this already, but I'm now nine months pregnant (Only 4 weeks to go! Yes, there are 10 months in pregnancy. Why in the world does everyone talk about nine months?)! I've been pretty busy working part time at the Restoration Hardware outlet (but I left them last month), continuing to run the business, and, well, napping and eating nonstop. ;-) Now that I'm back to running the business from home again, I have lots of important things to work on, which means I'm spending lots of time procrastinating and goofing off! So... the blog will be updated on a regular basis again. At least until my little one gets here. Then I'm sure the blog will become babytastic once I get the hang of nursing while typing.

Great Site for Guy Gifts

2007-08-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Matt's birthday is coming up (and Christmas behind it...), and I don't know about you guys but my husband is the most impossible person to shop for! The only things he ever mentions wanting are outlandishly expensive (such as welding equipment, a helicopter, boat, Lamborghini, and heavy machinery for our business... oh gosh babe I'll have to save up for a while!). So I have been watching him like a hawk for gift ideas (and making notes), but today I stumbled upon this blog all about great gift ideas for guys, and they have some really creative ideas. Thought I'd pass the link on in case anyone else is hurting for gift ideas for those with a Y chromosome.

http://rarebirdfinds.typepad.com/rare_bird_finds/cool_guy_things/index.html

Happy Birthday, Tinkerbell!

2007-08-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, I had to wish my pup a happy birthday, too. She probably doesn't read my blog, but the more love you put out the better, right?

She's the world's greatest snuggler.

She is absolutely honest in her affection. If she doesn't love you, you know it, but if she does love you holy geez look out 'cause she'll be in your face (literally) the second she sees you.

She makes hilarious "conversational" noises.

She is an excellent "mother" to our kitty.

She knows she's pretty and poses. She also crosses her ankles like a lady.

She loooooves babies.

Happy (belated) Birthday, Dan!

2007-08-06T14:27:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday, Dan!

He's a little crazy. We like crazy.

He tells obtuse jokes.

He's always concerned about the comfort of others.

He always checks with me to see if the restaurant we're going to will have something for lil' vegetarian me to eat.

He has lots of wild hair, which he passed on to Matt, meaning my husband will never be bald. I really appreciate that.

He's incredibly smart, and has to be as he's one of the very few medical report editors in the world (only about 1000 in the entire world).

Happy (belated) Birthday, Lisa!

2007-08-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lisa is a very attentive, wonderful mother.

She's a fantastic dancer.

She's a sweet soul with greater strength than you'd expect.

She's open to new experiences.

She's the most phenomenal artist in the universe. Seriously.

Happy (belated) Birthday, Kristi!

2007-08-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

She sets a pretty table.

She's passionate about her faith.

She makes people feel welcome in her home.

She is loyal.

She's a very dedicated grandma.

Happy (very belated) Birthday, Dani!

2007-08-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

This birthday post is so very late, and I'm sorry!

What I love about Dani:

She is always up for fun.

She makes fabulous babies (the new baby isn't here yet, but I know s/he'll be fabulous).

She laughs at all my jokes.

She's very intelligent.

She's a hard worker.

She gives great compliments (even if sometimes she does it because she wants something, haha!).

She doesn't use words she doesn't understand.

She's unpredictable (except when she says, "Let's watch a movie", which translates into "come sit by me while I fall asleep").

She's a people magnet.

She doesn't gossip.

She's my "twin" and understands me.

Fashion Designers are Making Me Cry

2007-08-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, I read this article about this Fall's fashion trends, and I'm afraid I simply cannot comply. Leggings? Ankle boots? Bubble skirts? Skinny ankle jeans? SERIOUSLY? I had sincerely hoped we would not be seeing stirrup pants again, either. So... that's given me a bit of a quarter-life crisis. When current trends make you nostalgic, does that mean you've become - gasp - no longer the young, up-to-the-minute hot thing and have crossed the line into shopping in the misses department, among the embroidered sweatshirts and I-don't-give-a-damn-how-this-looks-it's-comfy selections therein? Oh Lord in Heaven what's a girl to do? I'm only 24, and I tend not to be a huge trend chaser, but I noticed an older woman wearing tapered pants outside Rite-Aid today and I looked down at my boot-leg jeans and thought, dammit is she trendier than me? Because a few months ago her pants were laughable. So, that said, I'm moving to a nudist camp tomorrow. I will come back when they stop trying to sell us jeans that will make our butts look gigantic.

Things to do in Seattle

2007-08-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've started a new blog about things to do in Seattle and the area, and I hope you guys find it useful! I'll update it as frequently as I can. It's so easy to get into a boring pattern of doing the same thing every weekend (or accidentally letting your weekend slip through your fingers, having done nothing exciting), so this little blog is my effort to make all of us have more fun!

http://allaboardthecrazytrain.blogspot.com/

BTW, Matt came up with the name. I don't know why it's the crazy train, but apparently it is. ;-)

This and That

2007-07-25T15:18:00.001-07:00

While searching for women's networking groups today, I ran across some great clubs:

Soroptimists

WomenSucceedwithEase.com

LadiesWhoLaunch.com

http://www.seattleccd.com/wbcmain/

Toastmasters

WomenBusinessOwners.org

http://home.earthlink.net/~everettbpw/index.html

Blogs:

http://fempower.typepad.com/powerplay/

http://everydaycourage.typepad.com/everyday_courage/

And products from woman-owned businesses:

Blankets with positive affirmations printed on them

Comfortqueen.com

I'll add more as I find them. :-)

100th Post - 100 Things Most People Don't Know About Me

2007-06-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

Apparently it is a blogging tradition that your 100th post should be 100 things that people don't know about you. So, here's my list! :-)

As a (tiny, pink-loving girly-girl) child, my favorite animal was the tyrannosaurus rex.
I have a compulsion of adding up numbers I see to determine if they are a multiple of 3 (and if they aren't, I move the lines in my mind to make them into numbers that are a multiple of 3).
My favorite number is 9.
I sleep with my eyes partly open.
I have two tattoos, and plan on a third (a phoenix on my right back ribs).
I have ADD but won't take medication.
My husband was my first boyfriend.
I knew the instant I met him that I'd marry him but I told myself to stop being silly. Now I know!
I first tried to be a vegetarian when I was nine.
I really really wish I could have a buzzcut without looking strange. Matt always tells me to go for it. Uh... not today!
I have an R shaped birthmark on my knee.
At one point I had a C shaped scar on my calf and a Y shaped scar on my thigh, so all I needed was an A and L to spell out my name on my leg (the C and Y have since faded away).
My eyes change color, as do Matt's (and they always change to the same color when we're together! Mysterious...).
My full name means strong womanly fairy heathen. :-D
I was a raver as a teen, and I nearly threw a huge free rave with my best friend. Fell apart towards the end, but almost worked!
I wiggle my feet when I think.
I tend to find really deep meaning in silly things, like children's songs.
I was Buddhist for a couple of years.
I taught (Christian) Sunday school for four years, and still fill in sometimes.
My cat was orphaned when he was three days old so we helped bottle fed him (along with his six brothers). He is totally in love with us for this.
I sleep with Matt wrapped around my back, Tink against my stomach, and Lucky on my neck. Every time I roll over I wake up the whole "family" and they all groan.
I have the wildest dreams of anyone I know.
I can lucid dream (where you realize you're dreaming and take control of the dream).
I have recurring dreams where I'm trying to save everyone from immediately impending disaster (everything from monsters to earthquakes).
I only like colors that I would eat.
I drink pickle juice. Often.
I hear this is why mosquitoes never bite me.
I partly dread Christmas because I'm afraid I won't like half of what I get and then I'll have to get rid of it and feel guilty.
Every time I get a knick-knack as a gift I immediately consider "accidentally" breaking it.
My middle fingers are curved toward my pinkies.
I'm certified to teach prenatal yoga but haven't gathered up the courage to start a class yet! (Just do it, Carly!)
I carry a huge purse with very little in it so I can put things in it when I need to.
I have crazy messy handwriting.
I cry at just about any movie.
I walked REALLY fast down the aisle at my wedding. I was so excited to see Matt! I'm still pretty embarrassed about that, though.
I'm immune to onions - they don't make my eyes water when I chop them.
I caught a fish with my bare hands once. I put it back.
Most of you know this already, but my best friend and I have the same birthday but she's one year younger - we've been friends since her birth. We have a very strong and creepy connection, mind reading and everything.
I have a history of yelling at police/security guards when drunk.
I don't remember most of my bachelorette party, but I hear I did #39 at this party.
I never play video games but I go into geek-mode watching Matt play complex role-playing games, like God of War, Resident Evil, or Fable. "It says here if you push O repeatedly you can rip Medusa's head off!!!"
I have very dexterous toes.
I love mermaids. If I could be a fairy tale creature I would definitely be a mermaid. ;-)
I NEED to see a body of water every few days or I feel unbalanced.
I idolize surfers, but I'm a bad swimmer and I'm afraid of sea creatures... I hope someday to try it, though.
I hate hate hate when spaghetti is cut up or broken.
I'm a visual eater and don't like to eat anything "ugly".
I don't like to be touched when I'm eating.
Unless it is truly delicious and beautiful food, I generally find eating inconvenient and troublesome, except for cheese. I love cheese.
And salsa. I eat a half gallon of medium salsa every month.
I make great mixed CDs.
I love the library more than anything!
Once when I was small my dad filled the bed of his pickup truck with water and let me swim in it. Then I got in the cab and we drove around and watched it splash out everywhere.
My mom used to let me play hooky one day every spring so we could go buy all the plants and flowers for summer.
I have 7 aunts and uncles on my mom's side, all of whom are married with children. Our Christmas parties are massive.
I saw a ghost when I was very small.
Things I wanted to be "when I grow up": ballerina, farmer, actress, U.S. president, archaeologist, advertising exec, fashion designer, magazine editor, cafe owner, children's book author, audio engineer, music exec, nightclub owner, nutritionist, wedding/event planner, and now interior designer/ contractor/ house stager.
What I have been so far: receptionist at Vern Fonk Insurance, telemarketer, hostess at Outback Steakhouse, supervisor at a party rental store, cubicle drone at medical equipment corporation, personal organizer, senior design consultant at Closet Factory, co-owner of general contracting company (and considering starting a side business staging houses for sale). Told ya I had ADD.
I went to my first concert at 3 years old - it was CSN.
At a concert, I grabbed Chino Moreno's butt (lead singer of the Deftones) - after holding his hand for a few seconds.
I was OBSESSED with Chino in high school, so that moment was HUGE.
I have met Jeff Healey, Taproot, Orgy, the Crystal Method, The Living End (the people at the 180 booth told me they'd give me 2 cases of their energy drink if I got them an autograph, so I did), Black Eyed Peas...and others I can't think of right now...
I can hold my own in a mosh pit, despite being only 5'2 3/4" when I stand up really straight.
I wrote a rap once.
I started drinking coffee when I was nine - I just stopped drinking it on a regular basis, but I still love it like an old friend.
I suspect caffeine did stunt my growth.
I started driving very young and first drove alone (on a private runway) when I was ten. A plane nearly landed on me!
I'm very tactile. I must touch everything. I recently reached into a museum exhibit to stroke an ancient Egyptian statue when the security guard looked away. It just looked so smooooth, how could I resist?
They say it's impossible to lick your elbow but I can.
Eleven years ago I was an only child with single divorced parents - now I have 3 sets of parents, a half brother, two stepbrothers, a stepsister-in-law, a sister-in-law, and a brother-in-law, equaling a current count of three moms, three dads, four brothers, and two sisters! (Of course, sooner or later I will have two more sisters...)
When my little brother was born I started replacing swear words with other words because I wanted to be a good influence - now he's ten and he says sh*t all the time and I say weird stuff like poop or holy cheese or aye aye aye. So much for role modeling, haha!
I love to do art projects with unusual mediums - like bleach or candy wrappers or roofing nails (haven't done the roofing nail one yet, but I have a great plan...).
I am a black-belt shopper who is learning to use her powers for good rather than evil.
I consider giving someone carnations to be on par with taking your date to McDonald's - why even bother?
I've always wanted wild hippy hair, exactly like this little girl has! So jealous!
I'm drawn to people from other countries - I've had friends from Russia, Romania, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, England, Korea, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Serbo-Croatia, ...
I sincerely appreciate 3/4 length sleeves - warm but out of the way and ready for action!
I'm constantly cleaning up after my messy... self. Nope, can't blame my husband. I clean the house all the time, and then I go along behind myself, creating disasters as I go. Eeek! This is one of the reasons I'm obsessed with learning to keep a minimalist house - less to put away!
I'm extremely ticklish.
I find the Batman concept incredibly sexy (and Christian Bale is the ONLY actor who's made a good batman AND Bruce Wayne). On the same note, I think there is nothing more boring than Superman.
Also the Jack Bauer character on 24 - badass rule-breaking good guy. Yessss!
I'm on a perpetual quest for the perfect purse (lots of pockets, big enough for my knitting), water bottle (blue, fits in a cupholder, with a spout, doesn't leak), and adhesive.
I hoard shipping boxes.
I'm a music glutton.
I'm incapable of only doing one thing at a time.
Unless I'm in a hurry I always take the scenic route. In every sense.
I'm fascinated by cryptozoology.
When I was little I did not want just any old pony, I wanted a Pegasus unicorn, and was convinced that I would in fact get one some day.
When I watch a predator hunting its prey on nature TV shows I always root for the predator (does that make me a bad vegetarian? lol).
I change my clothes about three times a day (not including PJ's).
I scowl when I read. I love to read, so I don't know why...
I have trouble controlling the volume of my voice.
I have a whacked sense of time.
I'm uncomfortable sitting with both feet on the floor, and prefer to sit on my feet, even in a restaurant.
I'm an unconvincing liar.
As a child I kissed Santa Claus on the cheek at a Christmas party because I thought it'd be funny.
I stare at roadkill as I drive by.
I haaaaate goats.
During stressful times, I take comfort in celebrity gossip. My stress is usually because of major life decisions or problems. Nothing matters less than Hollywood drama, so it's really relaxing to indulge in something that just doesn't matter.
I'm curious to the point that (as a teen, totally sober) I once touched a burner, knowing that it was hot, just so I could see HOW hot. And now I know.

So, you guys all knew I was weird before, but now you know how weird. ;-)

Great Recipe Website

2007-06-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

I ran across this website when I was looking for new recipes, and they have tons of healthy recipes that look delicious. Just had to share it, hope you guys like it! :-)

http://www.wildoats.com/u/recipemain/

Batgirl!

2007-06-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

I ran across this pic and had to toss it in here. I secretly love superheroes, especially superheroines.

Personality Quiz

2007-06-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

You Are An INFP

The Idealist

You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.
Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.
It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close.
But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop.

In love, you tend to have high (and often unrealistic) standards.
You are very sensitive. You tend to have intense feelings.

At work, you need to do something that expresses your personal values.
You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

How you see yourself: Unselfish, empathetic, and spiritual

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Unrealistic, naive, and weak

What's Your Personality Type?

Healthyish Muffin Recipe

2007-06-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

I stole a recipe off the Malt-O-Meal box and changed it around a bit, and I loved the results! It sorta tastes like a mix between cornbread and banana bread, but different. They're not low-fat but very high in nutrients if you use the flax seeds and oil, and Malt-O-Meal/ Cream of Wheat is superhigh in iron, folic acid, and B vitamins, and cinnamon is high in iron and reduces your risk of cancer. They have a slightly buttery taste, and I think even those that don't like Cream of Wheat would like these muffins.

1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Ground Flax Seed
3/4 cup Malt-O-Meal or Cream of Wheat, uncooked
1/2 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Milk
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil ( I used flax)
1 Egg
1 tablespoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 Banana (puree it first)
3/4 cup Walnuts

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until moistened (don't overstir). Pour into greased or paper-lined muffin pan, filling 3/4 full. Bake 18-20 minutes (it only took 15 in my gas oven, so keep an eye on it) or until center is firm to the touch.

Yields 12 muffins.

Some "Before" Photos of Our House

2007-06-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Let's start by saying I absolutely love my house and I know that it was the best investment out of all the houses in the price range AND we were planning on dealing with a fixer upper, which this isn't. It's a fix-the-mistakes-er. The bad "improvements" probably wouldn't aggravate someone less persnickety than Matt and I as much, but man oh man it's just a little overwhelming to me right now. We still haven't slept there because the blotchy paint jobs, scary color choices, and general badness won't let us rest. Soon all the rooms will be painted, the light fixtures will be changed, we'll have our way with the house, and prettiness will prevail, but until then it makes me tired just thinking about it!

I think the exterior of our house is kinda cute. The only exterior improvements we're planning now is some landscaping, possibly terracing or leveling the huge (but sloping) yard, building a dog run, changing the light fixtures, and a deck (hopefully this Summer, maybe next). Thankfully, the exterior is neutral and unassuming. Not the color I would have chosen, but it's not offensive so it stays for now. However, next to my car you see a clump of juniper and rhododendrons, which are two of my least favorite plants. That will be dealt with, sooner or later.

Sorry about the blurry photo, but this is our dining room. It was the height of bad taste. Wood-look linoleum tiles (that they installed RECENTLY, God save us all), gold trim, bad blinds, and possibly the most horrifying chandelier in history.

See what I mean? Yikes! Hard to see in the the photo, but there are also tiny hand-painted pink and blue flowers all over the ceramic parts.

And then there's the paint job.... gold poorly rag-rolled over army green, accented by grape leaf chair rail spray-painted gold (and installed like they were using a butter knife to cut it - jagged ends, not mitered at the outside corners, and a big obvious seam right in the middle of the wall) and it was SCREWED ON. Finish nails! Please! Notice how the heavy rag rolling was meant to stop at the chair rail and somehow ends up all over the place. The last owner had no eye for detail, because big lazy mistakes are everywhere in my house!

Hallelujah! Walls are primered and scary chandelier is never to be seen again.

The kitchen has a great layout and adequate storage for my excess of kitchen stuff (where does it all come from? Oh yeah, the wedding...haha!). The kitchen cabinets aren't a bad color, but the stain is applied blotchily and haphazard (lots where it doesn't belong, lots missing where it should be - again, a little more detail oriented would've been nice), and the backsplash is bad news altogether. You have to see it to really understand how lazily it was installed. Then they added that sheet of metal behind the stove - why? Did they really think it looked good? Did they just run out of tile and they had a hunk of metal laying around? Anyhoo, don't let it keep you up at night, it will all be fixed. ;-)

Ohhh... the camo room... It's already been repainted, so let's pretend it never happened. ;-)

So, yesterday I bought a case of Red Bull, I have Mom and Matt helping me at night, and I have two rooms almost entirely finished. The ugliness is going down! Take that, bad taste!!! POW!

We Moved In!

2007-06-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

We started moving into our house on Friday! We actually signed escrow papers on my birthday, so now Matt's joking, "What do I get for my birthday?" Hmm, a first home is a tough gift to beat! ;-)

We've been working like maniacs scrubbing the house down (it was filthy!), priming over very strange and poorly executed paint colors, adding an architectural detail to the living room, calling an exterminator (carpenter ants! Eek!), changing out most of the light fixtures... We've got our work cut out for us! It's not a "fixer-upper" but the previous owner's taste was...unusual... and apparently they were do-it-yourselfers who didn't take the time to find out how to do it right, so I have to strip down the kitchen cabinets they restained poorly and the tile backsplash that is installed so badly it's shocking. Basically, we have to redo everything they did to "improve" the home. >:-/ Matt took "before" photos for you guys to see but they didn't really turn out - today I'll take progress photos to show what we're working on.

Ohh... am I ranting? About our wonderful new home that we're so grateful to have? I'm a bad person, I'm sorry. I'm just a tiny bit frustrated with the previous owners. I implore all do-it-yourselfers, please oh please get online and read how to properly do a project before you do it! Or ask me and I'll tell you. :-)

So, that said, I can't wait to see you guys at the housewarming party on July 14th! I'll send out invitations soon. Hopefully the house will be 80% up to our standards by then, but keep in mind, anything that's ugly is not our fault, haha! ;-)

Oh, and if anyone needs an amazing mortgage broker, I'll give you his number. He worked sooooo hard for us and we love him for it.

Swimming Pool Dream

2007-05-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

I had a funny dream last night. We'd just somehow forgotten that our tiny new house had a gigantic indoor pool and hot tub in a poolhouse, and we stumbled upon it and invited everyone over to celebrate. Matt went out and bought about 15 lifejackets that looked like full superhero costumes for our guests to wear. Not everyone had one, there were three clown costume lifejackets and everyone else just went in wearing their regular clothes. It was a very joyful dream and it was one of those very realistic dreams where for the first couple seconds after you wake up you're still fuzzily thinking, 'Wow, that's awesome that my house has a massive pool! Oh no wait - was that a dream?'

So, this is what the interpretation seems to be (mostly from brilliantdreams.com):

To dream that you find or discover new rooms, suggests that you are developing new strengths and taking on new roles. You may be growing emotionally.
In the dream it wasn't an entirely new discovery, we had just somehow forgotten about it!

A swimming pool indicates that you will enjoy many social gatherings with good friends.

To see a pool of water in your dream, denotes that you will find much happiness and pleasure in love and marriage. Your social life will keep you busy.

If you see females swimming in the pool you will have luck with love, to see males you will have luck in business, and if you see both you will experience both types of luck.
There were both! :-)

Okay, the pool aspect is easy. I have been shamefully neglecting my social life and now I am working to rediscover it. Now it will be full of good friends, love, and business success. Fantastic! :-D

And now is when it gets complicated. Matt gave out lifejacket costumes of superheroes and clowns to our friends, but we didn't put any on. I did really want this one batwoman-looking costume that someone else put on before I could get to it...

To dream that you are wearing a life jacket, symbolizes security and reinforcement. You are in need of some support.

So we are giving support to our friends?

To dream that you are a superhero, indicates your above-average talents, ideas, and abilities you may not realized you possessed.

Do we somehow give our friends above-average ideas or talents?

To see a clown in you dream, symbolizes absurdity, light-heartedness, and a childish side to your own character.

To dream that you are wearing a costume, signifies that you are putting on a facade toward others. Your true self is not being revealed and you are not being completely honest with people around you.

Matt and I weren't wearing costumes, but he provided them. Matt tends to see the good in people, even to a fault, so does that mean he is tricking himself into believing that his friends have above-average talents? I don't particularly like that interpretation. He was handing them out in a joyful way, not as a way of hiding. In the dream it felt more like he was telling our friends he appreciated their talents and wanted to encourage them.

Well, it was a fun dream to have, even if the costume lifejacket bit is a little complicated! I love the fact that I've stumbled upon my "pool" of old friends, and this dream really reflected that.

Mom's Bathroom is Done!

2007-05-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the photo album for Mom's bathroom. We'll be adding a couple more photos (including "before" pix) and a video soon.

http://picasaweb.google.com/HaydenTransformations/RussellBath

It looked like this before the remodel:

http://newhaydens.blogspot.com/2007/05/now-its-my-moms-bathrooms-turn.html

I Picked up a Hitchhiker Today...

2007-05-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

I picked up a free cabinet on the side of the road today, and I'm pretty stoked about its potential. Matt is, uh, skeptical. He used four letter words to describe it, haha! I'll keep you guys posted, though, because I am going to make this an awesome little desk cabinet!

There's a cutting board slot, so I'll make a replacement for extra work space when needed. I like the drawer pulls, they look friendly. Someone had apparently taped the drawers shut (WTF?), which of course wrecked the finish. It needs to be stripped down and stained or painted anyway (I'll decide which when I see the condition of the wood under the stain). The variety of drawer sizes is exciting, so it should be a handy dandy little office organizer!

It's sans countertop, so I'll call some granite fabricators and it should be easy to find an inexpensive little scrap to top it off.

I can't wait to get started on it and see what can be done with it!

Logo Choices

2007-05-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

So, we hired a logo designer to come up with a few logo ideas for us. We wanted a phoenix to represent us because we bring new life to stale homes and it made sense with our name, Hayden Transformations. They sent us seven first draft designs but we've narrowed it down to these two:

Matt prefers this one:
I like the grey circles behind the phoenix and it's very eye catching, but I'd rather it be less angular and I want a better font, one in all caps that looks more like drafting lettering. Matt loves it the way it is.

And I favor this one:
This one doesn't feel entirely finished to me, but I can't put my finger on what to change...

Both of these designs will be revised before they're finalized (like adding in the f in transformations, haha), but which concept do you guys like best, and what revisions would you make?

Check out our Web Portfolio!

2007-05-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

We started an online portfolio of some of our remodels, and we'd love it if you guys checked it out! We're still perfecting it and a few projects are missing, but there is already a lot to see on there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/HaydenTransformations

And, since I'm way behind on posting the California remodel photos, check out that album here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/HaydenTransformations/BeniciaRemodel

Hope you all enjoy! :-)

My "Spirit Animal"

2007-05-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

I saw this on someone else's blog and it looked like a fun quiz, and it was! Let me know if you guys take this quiz - it'd be interesting to see what everyone else comes up with!

Water Conservations Tips

2007-05-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

Water conservation is one of the major environmental issues for us to be aware of. Not only is it important that we watch our usage but it can save you a lot of money on your water bill.

Lots of great tips here:

http://www.monolake.org/socalwater/wctips.htm

http://www.h2ouse.org/

OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

We bought a house this weekend! The photos don't do it justice - it's very cute, lets in tons of natural sunlight and has a fantastic 180 degree mountain view and is on a third of an acre! Not to mention tons of storage, a great neighborhood, and lots of room to expand and improve (but it's not a "fixer-upper"). It's the perfect house for us at this stage and we're so happy!

Now we're just trying to make them let us move in before my birthday. :-)

http://www.rombakhrealestate.com/Properties.php/Details/2/#viewdetail

A couple of different photos:
http://johnlscott.com/PropertyDetail.aspx?GroupID=43886164&ListingID=29908982&Sort=0

Now it's my Mom's Bathroom's Turn!

2007-05-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

We started on my mom's master bathroom this morning. It'll be a fast lane project because they want us to finish the entire project while they're out of town, a total of eight days. This will be a squeeze but totally doable. We started demolition this morning (my favorite part!), and it's looking good!

10:00AM

3:30PM

I love the potential in a stripped-down room - so many possibilities!

Mom chose a neutral color palette because they're talking about selling in a few years. This is the chosen wall/ shower tile and border (the colors are a lot warmer in person). I'll post updates soon!

Logo Suggestions?

2007-05-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Matt and I just registered our business name, and I need to get business cards and tee shirts printed soon but we need your help designing a logo! Our name is Hayden Transformations, and so I thought something like a magic wand or a hammer with rays coming off it like a magic wand or something, but Matt isn't sold on that idea. Does anyone have any genius ideas to share? :-)

Knit Veggies!

2007-05-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

I finished my crop of knit vegetables for Eli's birthday, and I wanted to show them to you guys because I'm very proud of myself. ;-) I'm getting better at knitting little toys, which is so exciting because my first couple tries (Logan the teddy bear and one of the two turtles I'm STILL working on) were, uh, not so good! But these veggie patterns were soooo easy and fast to knit (except the celery you'll see if you click on the Garden Variety link below - that just didn't turn out...).

Ta-da!

Baby Vegetables (These are knit in a size 8 needle so they were really fast!)

Garden Variety (I knit these in a size 4 needle so they'd be smaller to match with the Baby Vegetables)

What I Love About Eli

2007-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

It's also time for Eli's birthday list! Here we go:

Eli is:

Social and friendly to everyone!
Inquisitive and very intelligent.

He's a sharp-dressed little man (and, as ZZ Top tells us, every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man). ;-)

Really excited by yarn, which makes a knitting auntie's heart proud! (I actually had to cut him some of my yarn because he was so interested in it while I was trying to knit. He then ran around with a scrap of orange yarn, screaming with delight. What an adorable nut, haha!)

He loves Tink as much as she loves him. ;-)
Especially cute when he's sleeping, as all babies are! ;-)

Happy birthday, Eli!

What I Love About Sherry

2007-05-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Here's my stepmom's birthday list!

Sherry is:

Sweet and sensitive.

A nurturer.

Silly (is that not the scariest dress you've ever seen? Haha!).

A good listener.

Protective of the ones she loves.

Happy birthday, Sherry!

What I Love About Sarah

2007-05-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

It was Sarah's birthday recently, and so it's her turn to be admired!

Sarah is:

Fun-loving.

Always up for anything.

A great dancer.

An artistic soul.

Love ya, Sarah! Happy 24th!

(Shameless) Birthday Wish List

2007-05-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

A couple people asked what I wanted for my upcoming birthday, so here it is for those select few. :-)

I want Home Depot gift cards more than anything else!
Tea infusers (the more the merrier) & loose tea
A subscription to Greensource Magazine ($20)
Yarn store gift certificate
Gift certificate to DiscoverU
Anything off my Amazon.com wish list, especially CDs (use the tool bar to sort by priority - also, click on the item so you can see the used prices - I don't mind used!)

Please, no knick-knacks! ;-)

Weekly spending:

2007-04-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Kohl's (amazingly comfy flip flops - did I need them? Uhhhhh sorta...) -$16.10, Hancock Fabrics (final touch on Sarah and Sherry's b-day presents)- $2.04, Salad Mix - $3.49
Wednesday: Saw "The Last Mimzy" - $13.00, Snacks - $11.25
Thursday: Round Table pizza for four - $36.85
Friday: $0
Saturday: $0
Sunday: Amazon.com (Xavier Rudd's "Solace" CD) - $9.35

Total -$92.08

Oops! We were a little undisciplined this week. Oh well, next week we'll do better. :-)

Will Someone Please Come Get Me?

2007-04-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Matt and I went to see The Last Mimzy today. I haven't decided how I feel about the movie, but it was set in Seattle. Oh homesickness! Every time they showed the Space Needle or the wonderful clean beaches and mountains it just grabbed me (Kinda funny - they showed them going to Whidbey by way of the Seattle ferry - uh, no! The Seattle ferry doesn't go to Whidbey! Haha.). I am so so so ready to come home but we made a list of unfinished tasks and Matt says it'll take much longer than a week. I want to go home next Tuesday (the 17th) at the latest. I'm done now! Unbeknownst to Matt, I looked into one-way flights to Seattle - about $180, not bad. However, I can imagine Matt would not relish the idea of me leaving without him and it would be kind of cruel to leave him to drive 13 hours alone in an overloaded van with Tink and Lucky. Oh goodness gracious, what's a homesick gypsy to do? Someone just come get me please. ;-)

OMG Fun!!!

2007-04-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

I just joined 43things.com and it's so fun! This is another great tool for focusing on your goals. You just type in what you want to accomplish (go skydiving, learn to play guitar, etc.) and it pops up other people with your goals and you can post comments about your journey in working towards that goal and read what others are saying. This is a great opportunity to examine what you've always wanted to do and realize it's not so scary or unattainable, after all. Love it! This is the year to go after big dreams!

Weekly spending:

2007-04-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: $0
Wednesday: Gloriously healthy dinner (tiramisu, beer, and tea) - $17.30
Thursday: Six Flags - $82.98, Parking -$15, Lunch - $20, Cold Stone - $4.19
Friday: $0
Saturday: $0
Sunday: $0

Total -$139.47

We only bought fun stuff this week, and I'm so glad! We had a great time at Six Flags. I'll probably post some pix of it in a couple days. Not exactly frugal, but it was worth it. :-)

Matt, the Gourmet Cook

2007-04-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Matt made a wonderful dinner tonight for us and the neighbors, and I just had to pass along the recipes. He did a fantastic job even though he had never before cooked asparagus, artichokes, or monkfish. I'm very proud. :-)

He even presented the meal artfully!

ALMOND ASPARAGUS

2 1/2 lb. fresh asparagus spears
1/4 c. plus 1 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 c. slivered almonds, toasted
2 tbsp. plus 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Remove scales from stalks with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired. Melt butter in a large skillet, add asparagus and saute 3-4 minutes. Cover skillet and simmer an additional 2 minutes or until asparagus is tender-crisp. Add remaining ingredients; toss gently.

Now, when we make this again we'll use less butter and almonds (maybe olive oil rather than butter, for a healthier option) but it was really simple and delicious.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES ITALIANO

INGREDIENTS:

3      lg Artichokes
5      ounce  Parmesan cheese -- grated
1      lg   Clove garlic -- minced
1      cup Italian bread crumbs (Progresso®)
1/4  cup Olive oil (this needs to be  good extra virgin olive oil)
Lemon juice

Cut the stems and the tops (Just low enough to remove the pointy ends of the
leaves) off of the artichokes.
Mix cheese, garlic,and crumbs. Spread the artichoke leaves so you can fill each
layer, from the outside in, with the crumb mixture.

Place the artichokes in a pot with about 1-2 inches of water.  Drizzle olive
oil and lemon juice over the top of each artichoke. Cover and steam 45 minutes
or longer, checking occasionally that the water has not completely evaporated.
The artichokes are done when a leaf can be easily pulled off.

Matt didn't love the artichokes, but I thought they were wonderful and looked beautiful! To improve upon this recipe we'd probably add more garlic and maybe some black or white pepper, maybe a little something else, too.

Monkfish Provincial

Yield:
4 servings

PREP TIME	15 Min
COOK TIME	10 Min
READY IN	25 Min

INGREDIENTS

salt and pepper to taste
Cajun seasoning to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 pounds monkfish fillets, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large tomato, diced
1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

In a resealable plastic bag, mix the salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, and flour. Place the monkfish in the bag, seal, and shake to lightly coat.
Heat the oil and melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the monkfish in the skillet, and cook for about 3 minutes. Mix in the garlic, tomato, and mushrooms, and continue cooking 3 minutes. Mix in the wine and parsley. Continue to cook and stir 2 minutes, or until the monkfish flakes easily with a fork.

Everyone said this was wonderful (of course, I just took their word for it). Matt used about half as much flour and substituted Italian breadcrumbs, and next time he'd do very little flour and more breadcrumbs and add lemon juice. Also, we found out after the fact that monkfish is an environmentally irresponsible choice, so a good substitution would be tilapia or halibut.

What a Powerful Year Already!

2007-04-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you all know how proud I am of you. This year has already been a season of big decisions and exciting changes. So far in these first four months of 2007, in just my small circle of good friends, there have been these developments:

Four couples have bought houses (three of them first-timers).
Two couples have gotten engaged.
Two couples had babies.
Two friends have chosen and committed to pursuing a rewarding and challenging career.
Both of those friends are going back to college.
One stay-at-home mom became a work-at-home mom.
One friend has chosen her long-term career goal.
Two friends strategically changed jobs.
Three friends moved out for the first time.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! Those of us that are working on creating change, keep in mind that this will continue to be a VERY powerful year and the perfect time to shake things up and grab hold of your dreams!

A few of us are going to be getting together on the 20th to make "Treasure Maps" to help us focus on the goals at hand. Treasure Maps are essentially collages you make with visual reminders of what you want for yourself. Simple as it may be, this is an amazingly powerful tool for focusing your prayers and energy into attaining what you want. I've yet to talk to anyone whose Map didn't "work", and they're fun to make!

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

Go get it, my go-getters! :-)

ooo

Discovery Channel's Planet Earth Mini-Series

2007-04-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

While I'm usually snobby about trying not to watch TV, I highly recommend that you guys check out the Planet Earth 11-part series on the Discovery channel. It's on Sunday nights, 8:00 and 9:00 pm. The show is loaded with remarkable, unusual visuals, reminding us why it's so important to change our habits to protect our Mother Earth. One warning, it does have plenty of predator and prey moments (which I could do without...) but even so the show is just stunning. It's also available to preorder on DVD (but will probably be cheaper on Amazon once it's released). It's REALLY amazing in HD, too. Everyone should see it! :-)

xoxo

Weekly spending:

2007-04-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Monday: Melaleuca (2 cans of protein powder, herbal tea, tea tree oil, and 2 massive bottles of detergent, plus tax and shipping) - $78.61 (my SIL sells this and I wanted her to get her bonus)

Tuesday: Brunch - $28 inc. tip (Darnit - I feel guilty about this. Entirely unneccessary.)

Wednesday: Stamps and shipping for nieces' Easter package (not the hand-knit lambs I'd planned on...) - $11.85, Two advance 3-day passes to Bumbershoot - $120 (haha -OOOPS! Guess I won't be meeting my goal this month...)

Thursday: Pet food - $32.00, Target (Easter gifts for Nick and Eli, kitty litter, contact solution) - $21.73

Friday: Our half of Indian food (I have decided I don't love Indian food - it's just too ugly!) - $23.00

Saturday: $0

Sunday: Lunch - $26.00 inc. tip (third meal out this week! SHAME!), Solar Clothing (2 really cute tanks off the sale rack - I did NOT buy the shoes, hat, or earrings that I liked - go me! Kinda. Could've lived without the shirts too.) - $10.74, Tiny yet delicious latte - $1.00

Total - $352.93!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Went over my $250 monthly goal by, ohhh, $196.)

Oh my, this week was out of control!!! I have only one thing to say: PMS. Yet another reason why every 28 days I should be locked up like a werewolf, to protect myself and others. ;-)

Closet Organization Tips

2007-03-31T17:39:00.001-07:00

A well-designed closet with logical flow and attractive design is not only an absolute pleasure to see first thing every morning, but can be a great selling point when you sell your home. However, I used to design for Closet Factory, so I've seen many many closets and I've seen how expensive a custom built closet system can get (I've sold 2 $16,000 closets, and few cost less than $5,000 - don't know about you, but I'd rather build my own functional closet and spend that money on a jet ski or something!). It's absolutely possible to have a gorgeous closet that will magically create storage space and won't break the bank.

To Begin:

Declutter first and foremost - (parts of my Spring Cleaning post may help) - objectively clean out your closet - unflattering fit or color, worn-out items, unloved accessories, or icky fabrics MUST GO! Donate work clothes to the local women's shelter, dresses to Cinderella's Trunk, the rest to Goodwill. You only need clothes that you love - better to wear something great over and over than to wear something not so wonderful just because you're sold on the idea that you need a heartily stocked wardrobe. In this article the author states that most people only wear 20% of the clothes in their wardrobe! I believe it. Keep this in mind next time you go shopping. Let go of (or put back, if you're still in the store) the things that aren't that great but were on sale, clothes your shopping buddy talked you into that just don't suit you, and trendy items that you will no longer wear. Classic, quality pieces that make you feel great are best.

Take inventory. Measure how much double hang, medium hang, and long hang you need, and how long your longest item is in each category. Measure how long and wide your biggest shoes are and count how many pairs you have. Consider all of these measurements when drawing out your design.

Measure your closet and draw it out to scale on graph paper, marking any obstructions and your doors, including door swing if it swings in.

When designing, keep in mind any obstructions such as switches, ducting, outlets, and vents that shouldn't be blocked.

Consider your doors, especially in a reach-in closet. If bifold, open them and measure where they fold up. Drawers, baskets, sliding shelves, etc. will not be able to open if the door is in the way. If sliding, mark on your drawing where the doors overlap - this 6" or so will be difficult to access. If a pocket door, do not hang anything on the wall where the pocket door inserts. A regular door is ideal.

Think vertically.

The Basics:

Double Hang - If you don't already have double hang, this will be your new best friend. Measure out the length of rod required to hang all your short hanging items (shirts, skirts, shorts) and then divide it in two - this is how much space you will need to hang two rods, one above the other. Be sure to hang the rods with enough height so your longer shirts etc. will not drag on the floor or on the lower rod.

Medium Hang - Pants, long skirts, short dresses need a medium length rod (again, measure how much rod you need to hang all your items in this category). This is an excellent place for shelves above or below or drawers or baskets/hampers below.

Long Hang - Few of us need more than 12" of hanging tall enough for long dresses, so you can either have a dedicated rod for these or in a medium hang section have one small area that doesn't have shelving or drawers/baskets/hampers below it so your dresses can hang unhindered.

Shoe Shelves (shoe racks can be used if you have no room for shoe shelves, but please use the canvas type that either hang over the door or off a rod. Metal ones wreck shoes over time so I don't recommend those.) - use the measurements and inventory you took for your shoes into account here. For example, say your widest shoes are 8" wide. Then the length of the shoe shelves should be in increments of 8": 16" wide holds two pairs, 24" holds three, and so on. So if you have twenty pairs of shoes and a 24" space, you need seven shelves (only about 6" tall, except for boots). Easy! A 12" deep shelf is usually sufficient except for large-footed men who don't like the toes of their shoes sticking out over the edge.

Sweater/ Jean shelves - Should be 16" deep. Measure the width of your wider folded items to see how wide your shelves should be, using the same method as with shoes. Try to keep the spaces between shelves short so the stacks don't get tall and tippy.

Purse Shelves - This one is entirely dependent on whether you love big purses or little purses and your inventory.

Drawers - Usually the most expensive part, but it's nice to have some things hidden. Consider buying or making drawer dividers (can use a router and thin pieces of wood or plastic to make your own) - really helps things stay tidy.

Low-Cost:

If you're renting or afraid of commitment use something like this to add a second rod. Use a canvas sweater hanger for extra shelving too (not just for sweaters). Shoes will be happy in a canvas hanger over the door or (preferably) off the rod. These types of things can often be found at Ross for under $10.

Paint or even wallpaper the inside of your closet in colors much more daring that you'd usually use. It's a small, intensely personal space that can be hidden from view. Go wild! Choose a color or pattern that is invigorating, since you typically see it first thing in the morning. This would take very little paint!

If you're renting, you can "wallpaper" with a fun fabric and starch, which peels off easily when you move. Click here for a how-to on a really clever website.

Install an attractive light (can be very inexpensive if you shop well - Home Depot has good flush-mount ceiling fixtures for $15 for a two pack, also check out lightinguniverse.com). I've seen reach-in closets with a 2' rectangular florescent light mounted on the wall directly above the door (so it isn't seen) with a motion sensor, so it comes on when you open the door. Genius!

Find a system of hanging your clothes that makes sense to you: Separate by work/play, formality, warmth, color, or otherwise. This will make dressing faster and simpler, and will give your closet a soothing, organized visual flow. Maybe a little OCD, but I break it into color, in ROY G BIV, then brown, white, grey, and black. Then I hang clothes in order of warmth, tank tops to sweaters. It helps me because I can think, 'well, I feel like wearing purple, and it's a little cold, oh look, my purple sweater section!'. Matt just likes the short sleeve shirts separate from the long sleeves. Whatever works for you!

For the shelving, build your own or buy freestanding bookshelves from secondhand stores or Ikea.

To reduce costs, consider using the white wire shelving and rods from Home Depot/ Lowe's. My old boss would whack me for this, but if your budget is limited it's better to have organization in a less ideal material than to live with an inefficient closet. OR check out something like this.

If you have a reach-in closet that has deep wall returns (the wall that surrounds the door, blocking your view) you may consider cutting the wall back so the closet space is more accessible. The doors can be replaced by larger doors or hanging dramatic curtains that go well with the bedroom (go deluxe on these or it will look cheap), preferably floor to ceiling to create the illusion of height.

Avoid storing non-clothing items in your master closet. The bedroom (closet included) is ideally a sanctuary, not a storage room.

Hang a hook for each closet user so that clothes can be chosen at night and hung up, ready and waiting, to speed up morning routines.

Hooks are also great for frequently used things, such as PJ's, jacket, jeans that are clean enough to wear again, today's bag, etc.

A Little Bit Luxe:

Invest in beautiful wood hangers (Bed, Bath, and Beyond has the best price - $15 for 24). This may seem like an unnecessary purchase but it beautifies your closet, dresses up your wardrobe and will truly make your clothes seem more satisfying. This could actually save you money because your wardrobe will feel more full and you can better fight the subconscious urge to shop. I used to have a variety of colored plastic hangers that made my closet look mishmosh and disorderly, despite any organization (and made putting away laundry slow, as I have a touch of OCD and can't hang clothes on a clashing hanger). I love my wood hangers!

If you choose to have a custom closet made for you, keep in mind that white will be cheaper than colors and drawers and doors will make the cost jump very quickly. Closet Factory charged $100 for the most basic drawer, and the cheapest wood grain melamine was a price increase of 15%. If you go into custom stained wood, the price would be astronomical. I've quoted closets at $24,000, but the same layout in plain white with standard accessories would be more like $7,000. You can, of course, do a reach in closet for about $800 if it's very basic. Ikea does custom closets for MUCH cheaper.
There are a lot of plan-it-yourself websites, which of course you can order from, or just use their website to design your closet and then use that plan when you build your own. Please oh please do not have a closet designer come to your home to draw plans and give you an estimate if you're planning to DIY - this is disrespectful of their time and money (they get paid strictly commission and gas prices hurt when you drive for hours on end for free - trust me, I've been there) and you risk bad closet karma. ;-)

Most older homes have teeny-tiny closets. I may be worthwhile to steal some space from the room to expand the closet, for resale value and your sanity. If done well this could create enough storage space that you can eliminate the dresser from your bedroom.

Kid's Rooms:

Triple Hang! This is the most wonderful thing about kid's rooms. Their clothes are small enough that you can hang 3 rods vertically, or one or two rods with lots of shelving or baskets. Make their closet easy for them to use as they grow. Toy baskets can go on the bottom. The more colorful and easy to understand their closet is, the more likely they will actually use it. Also, consider shelves or hooks where, as they begin dressing themselves, you can set out outfits for them to choose from. They'll learn a little bit of independence and you won't have to have as many arguments about clothing choices. ;-)

To Make it Green:

Use secondhand bookshelves.

Use low VOC paints.

Build your shelves with FSC certified wood.

Donate your old closet rods and shelves to re-do.org.

Keep in Mind:

Consider form and function. Function is of course the first priority with something as hardworking as your closet, but it should be beautiful too. It's where you start every morning. Make it pleasing!

Don't neglect your other closets, either. Do you pray that your guests don't open the linen closet? Is your coat closet full of unused coats or things that don't belong there? Is the pantry overwhelming? Invest some time, creativity, and a little money and these can be places to show off in the grand tour! (A couple ideas - coat closets should ideally have space for plenty of guest coats as well as shelves or hooks for gloves, purses, scarves, hats, etc. If you're blessed with a linen closet, make sure it is orderly and isn't a booby-trap set to spring when someone opens it. Anything not linen-related should live somewhere else or be eliminated.) And then there's the garage...

Absolutely under no circumstances use the melamine coated particle board they sell at Home Depot. It may look like what closet companies use, but I've seen it for myself - it will peel, scratch, and look cheap almost immediately. If you build a wonderful closet system yourself, use paint-grade MDF or plywood (plywood will be more expensive). Don't use particle board - it can't be painted, it could snag your clothes, and it usually has formaldehyde in it.

I'll probably update this post as I think of a few more ideas, but please let me know if you have questions or great ideas!

Excuses, Excuses

2007-03-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to apologize for my lack of useful posts these last couple weeks - I've been helping Matt a lot, and when I'm not helping Matt I'm knitting like a maniac.

I made a few of these for upcoming birthdays:
http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTperdita.html

I'm working on two of these still - from Christmas! Geeeeez I'm late! It's just a slightly frustrating pattern. Well, I can't blame the pattern - I just had to learn several new techniques and it's slow to knit because the pattern has an odd rhythm and tiny needles. AND it's blinkin' impossible to find 9mm safety eyes without paying $6 shipping for a $2 item, so I had to commission my MIL to embroider the eyes on. Pardon my rant!:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTsheldon.html

And I'm working on veggies for Eli's first birthday, as requested by Danipants. I won't show you the pattern yet to keep a little mystery. I'll post pix when the crop is completed. Turning out cute though (and fast - hooray!).

Someday soon I'll knit myself this, hopefully before summer is over. :-)

Tink has been asking for a nice spring sweater... well, shivering slightly and looking at me as if to say, "Where's my jacket?" My only response is, "Well, Noodle, you got too chunky for all your sweaters, and you wrecked the last one I made you".

I wanted to knit something for Ruth's new baby girl, but little Sierra arrived the other day and I haven't even started the project yet! Maybe by Christmas... ;-)

And then there's Auntie Barb's head scarf (for in the convertible) - she asked for that, ohhh, three months ago...

I was also planning on knitting something nice for Mother's Day, but seeing how rapidly it is approaching and considering I have three "mothers" (and some mama friends I'd love to honor), maybe they will get flowers instead, haha!

I need to learn to speed-knit!

Happy Birthday to Lindsey!

2007-03-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

I decided recently to celebrate the birthdays of my loved ones by telling everyone what's wonderful about them. This last week was dear Lindsey's birthday, so here goes!

I love Lindsey because:

She's a great mom to her two beautiful girls and plans on taking the enormous but worthwhile challenge of homeschooling.

She's incredibly sweet.

She's fun-loving and very silly, the best hairdresser in the universe (but so darn far away from my hair, haha), perpetually cheerful, always looking on the bright side, superduper handy (knits and sews and bakes, oh my!), convinced me to try knitting (so grateful for that!), she made us two gorgeous nieces (So far! Maybe more later?), and she was my very first sister!

xoxoxo

Spooky Facts About Household Products

2007-03-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

This information was emailed to me by Melaleuca (they sell nontoxic cleaners, vitamins, etc.), and it's pretty interesting. BTW, my SIL sells Melaleuca and I'll be trying out the products soon and I'll let you know how it works out - if anyone wants to order any, I can get you in touch with her. I'll be expecting a free haircut for that shameless plug, my lovely Lindsey. ;-)

When we pick up a product at the local grocery store, most of us like
to think we are getting something that has been tested and proven to
be safe. After all, we have laws to protect our health and safety,
don't we? Actually, the government has very limited power to regulate
manufacturers, or require testing of their products.

Here are some disturbing facts:

A product that kills 5-% of lab animals through ingestion or
inhalation can still receive the federal regulatory designation
non-toxic . Of the 17,000 chemicals that appear in common household
products, only 30% have been adequately tested for their negative
effects on our health; less than 10% have been tested for their effect
on the nervous system; and nothing is known about the combined effects
of these chemicals when mixed within our bodies. No law requires
manufacturers to list the exact ingredients on the package label.
Personal care product refers to just about anything we use to clean
our bodies or make ourselves look or smell good. The closest thing to
a regulatory agency for the personal care industry is the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), and their power is extremely limited. Here
are more unsettling facts regarding personal care products:

The FDA cannot regulate a personal care product until after it is
released into the marketplace.
Neither personal care products nor their ingredients are reviewed or
approved before they are sold to the public.

The FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing on their
personal products before they are sold to the public.

The FDA cannot require recalls of harmful personal care products from
the marketplace.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and health (NIOSH)
analyzed 2983 chemicals used in personal care products. The results
were as follows:

884 of the chemicals were toxic
314 caused biological mutation
218 caused reproductive complications
778 caused acute toxicity
148 caused tumors
376 caused skin and eye irritations.

Warning: You Can't Trust Warning Labels!

You may think you know what is in a product and its potential harms by
reading ingredient and warning labels. Think again. Manufacturers are
not required to list the exact ingredients on the label. Also,
chemical names are often disguised by using innocuous trade names. So,
even if the chemical is listed on the label, you may not recognize it
for what it is. Even if the harsh and dangerous active ingredients are
listed on a package, often time the remainder of ingredients are
lumped into a category known as inert (not active) ingredients. This
term may lead you to believe that these chemicals are not toxic or
hazardous. In fact, many of the 1,000 different chemicals used as
inert ingredients are more harmful than the active ingredients. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require manufacturers
to identify most inert chemicals, or disclose their potential harmful
effects. Even suspected carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) are used
as inert ingredients in household products.

Regarding warning labels. One New York study found that 85% of
products they examined had incorrect warning labels. Some were labeled
poisonous, but weren't; others were poisonous but weren't labeled as
such; others gave incorrect first aid information. And there are
absolutely no warnings on products about possible negative effects of
long-term exposure. This is unfortunate because most diseases linked
to chemical exposure are the result of long-term exposure.

If we don't know what is in it, and we don't know if it can hurt us,
how are we supposed to make an intelligent decision about whether or
not to bring this product into our home?

Cleaning products
(just a few that I know are used in house cleaning)
Air freshener- toxic; may cause cancer; irritates, nose, throat, and
lungs.
Disinfectant- very toxic; causes skin, throat, and lung burns; causes
coma.
Drain cleaner- toxic; causes skin burns; causes liver and kidney
damage.
Oven cleaner - toxic; causes skin, throat and lung burns.
Window Cleaner- toxic; causes cns disorders; causes liver and kidney
disorders.
Floor/Furniture polish - toxic causes cns disorders, may cause lung
cancer
Spot remover- toxic; may cause cancer, may cause liver damage.
All Purpose Cleaner - causes eye damage; irritates nose, throat and
lungs.
Toilet bowl cleaner - very toxic; causes skin, nose, throat and lung
burns.
Chlorinated scouring powder- toxic; highly irritating to nose, throat
and lungs.
Dishwasher Detergent - toxic; causes eye injuries, damage to mucous
membranes and throat.
As I said just a few.

One Common Ingredient

Although it would take a second book to cover all the ingredients
commonly used in the products above, I want to let you know about one,
formaldehyde, as an example. Formaldehyde is used frequently in both
cleaning and personal care products because it is a cheap
preservative. The following information is taken from a Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which , by law, must be supplied to anyone
who uses any chemical product in the workplace. The MSDS for
formaldehyde warns: Suspected carcinogen; may be fatal if inhaled,
swallowed, or absorbed through the skin; causes burns; inhalation can
cause spasms; edema (fluid buildup) of the larynx and bronchi, and
chemical pneumonitis, extremely destructive to the tissue of the
mucous membrane. All these symptoms and more are caused by
formaldehyde. Yet manufacturers can put formaldehyde in shampoo and
not list it as an ingredient! You will be shocked to learn that
formaldehyde is a common ingredient in baby shampoo, bubble bath,
deodorants, perfume, cologne, hair dye, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair
spray and many other personal care items.

Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen. If all cancers start with the
abnormal growth of just one cell, then why allow any amount into or
onto your body?

Toxic Chemicals and the Human Body

Your body is a very complex, very fragile system of chemical reactions
and electrical impulses. When you consider a single cell breathes,
uses energy, and releases waste much like your whole body does, you
can begin to understand how even small amounts of harmful chemicals
can affect the performance of the body's processes. Chemicals enter
the human body in three ways: ingestion, inhalation, and absorption.

Ingestion
Ingestion brings to mind the image of a young child opening the
cabinet under the sink and drinking something deadly. Well, each year
nearly 1.5 million accidental ingestions of poisons are reported to
U.S. Poison Control Centers. The majority of the victims are under the
age of twelve and have swallowed a cleaning or personal care product.
It amazes me how many deadly chemicals are stored under sinks or on
bathroom counters and bathtubs within easy reach of young children.

Inhalation
It may surprise you to learn that poisoning by inhalation is more
common, and can be much more harmful, than ingestion. When something
harmful is swallowed, the stomach actually begins breaking down and
neutralizing the poison before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
However, when you inhale toxic fumes, the poisons go directly into the
bloodstream and quickly travel to organs like the brain, heart, liver
and kidneys. Many products give off toxic vapors which can irritate
your eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and give you headaches, muscle
aches, and sinus infections. The process of releasing vapors into the
air is called outgassing. Outgassing occurs even when a chemical is
tightly sealed in its container. If you doubt this, simply walk down
the cleaning aisle at your local grocery store, and notice how
strongly it smells of toxic vapors, even though the containers are
sealed tight.

Absorption

Most people never guess this.

Finally, you need to realize the potential threat absorption poses.
One square centimeter of skin (less than the size of a dime), contains
3 million cells, four yards of nerves, one yard of blood vessels, and
one hundred sweat glands. We've all heard the ads for nicotine patches
and analgesic creams. These medicines work by being absorbed into the
bloodstream through the skin. Even some heart medicines are
administered through trans dermal (through the skin) patches. Any
chemical that touches the skin can be absorbed and spread throughout
the body. This can even happen when you come in contact with a surface
that was treated with a chemical days or even weeks earlier. I had no
idea that my children could be harmed by crawling across the kitchen
floor we had just cleaned. I thought that we were being conscientious,
not reckless.

Helping One Family at a Time...=)

If you're not interested in Melaleuca, you can make wonderful household cleaners with vinegar, baking soda, lemon, tea tree oil... There are many websites that will give you recipes (some in my links). This is obviously better for your family's health but also saves a lot of money if done wisely.

As far as beauty products go, Melaleuca's have parabens, so buy that elsewhere. Parabens are linked to reproductive and breast cancers and are in most beauty products. When you read the ingredients, look for propylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, etc. Stay the heck away from these. Also, they're known to dry out your skin. Since we're usually putting on lotion to moisturize it makes sense to avoid them for this reason, too. Many drugstore brands are made without parabens and your local health food store (or Super Supplements - they're only in WA and they don't sell on their website but I LOVE them!) carries many great products. Just be sure to still read the package - just because it says it's "All Natural" doesn't mean it is. Also, if there is not sodium laurel sulfate (a common skin irritant) included it will not lather like you're used to. It will still clean like anything else but it seems strange at first. Honestly, you may have to try a few brands before you find one you love, but it's worth it. Who wants cancer? Not me. ;-)

This website ranks beauty product brands and discusses common ingredients and why you'd want to avoid them. A great resource as you can search for the ones with the lowest risk rating and try that brand for yourself!

I love you all!

Weekly spending:

2007-03-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Detergent - $5.14, Eggs and yogurt - $5.28
Wednesday: Michael's (yarn for Eli's b-day present and for 2 tank tops for me - oopsy) - $21.98 after some returns, Membership to Melaleuca - $14.50
Thursday: Matt's cigarettes - $5
Friday: Rockler (drill bit and spectacular "bookazine' about small homes with big functionality and style) - $10.53
Saturday: $0
Sunday: $0

Total = $62.43 ($156.68 left for the month's challenge)

Okay, not horrible but I didn't REALLY need a tank top, let alone two. I couldn't decide which color I liked better - I loved them both! You know, the yarn was only $6 per tank plus needles - pretty cheap for what will (hopefully) be a nice shirt. So, whatev, not that bad!

Kitchen Counters are in!

2007-03-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Here's where we're at right now in the remodel at Matt's parents' house. It's really cruising along now but there is still a significant amount left to do. Need prayers for a speedy completion! I want to head for home on April 13th (Friday the 13th! Spooooky.). I've already started packing. :-)

Click on any pic for a larger view.

The island is so big it took SEVEN guys to carry it in.

The new undermount sink and pull-down gooseneck faucet.

Supersexy touch-control range with warming drawer, detailed settings, select-a-size burners, and a plug-in thermometer that shows the internal temp of your food on the digital display. (The lovely glass has since broken, but don't fret, it's getting fixed - I've said it before and I'll say it again: Murphy's Law applies to remodels 10x more than anything else.)

Pony wall entering the formal living room (as you can see, the drywall isn't finished...).

Granite shelf above double-sided gas fireplace - notice extravagant and rare plastic and painter's tape covering fireplace. ;-) There will be Tiberias Gold travertine tiles on hearth in the next couple of weeks.

Display shelf and curio cabinet (will have glass shelves soon). This new wall angle is in the center of the new angle created by the open dining room, kitchen, and family room.

The counters were fabricated by Straightline Imports in Martinez, CA - if anyone reading this is in that area, I HIGHLY recommend this company. They were the second cheapest of the five quotes we got, and the absolute best quality. The owner, Rick, was great to work with, as were the installers. This is the first company we've dealt with in the remodel that we've been entirely happy with.

The Tiffany-style pendant lamps.

We also have the 18" Tiberias Gold (problematic! Very brittle and each tile was a different thickness so the floor is uneven. Oy.) tile floor down (fyi - install tile before cabinetry if possible - we didn't for various reasons - much more time consuming and aggravating after the cabinet install). We still need to grout and do the last coat of sealer.

Here's Matt measuring it out so that I can cut the tiles for him...

...On this huge tile saw! It was easy to use and it sprays water when it cuts and it was a hot day so it was kind of like a noisy sprinkler that also coats your arms in wet tile "mud". Fun!

Also, the bloodwood floors are finished in the family room - still have the dining room and hallway to do install. Love the prefinished - went in so smooth and easy and without breathing nasty finish or stain.

For my Nicklet

2007-03-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Being gone for six months, I have sudden attacks of homesickness, and I often have one particular person that would just LOVE to see today. Today my brother, Nick, is someone I really miss. He is so funny and wild and he always tells me I'm his best friend and he misses me "24/7". :'-)

Nick and Matt have been so close since the beginning - he was only three when Matt and I got together!

He's even weirder than me! That takes talent and effort. ;-)

Look at those eyelashes! If I didn't love him so much I'd steal them from him while he slept. ;-)

I know it's not practical, but I secretly hope he becomes a rock star.

An inside joke we have:
This is an episode of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (a cartoon about an orphanage for imaginary friends that have been outgrown) that totally cracks us up. It's pretty weird and I don't know if anyone will think it's as funny as we do, but here it is. Hope you enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Inspiration from Tristan Prettyman

2007-03-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

This year is set to be a big one - everyone I've talked to has their goals coming into focus and is reevaluating their lives and actively changing - so exciting! We all have what it takes to grab hold of our dreams, we just need to go after it! Pray for it and "believe it and receive it" as they say and it's yours! With that on my mind lately, I ran across these lyrics from dear sweet Tristan Prettyman (I love her! I wish she was my other best friend.) and they went right along with how things are flowing right now:

Taken from Always Feel This Way

...
So if you’re wishin on stars
You better go out and get it
Cause you if you want it bad enough
You won’t stop until you have it

Don’t let them tell you
what you can and cannot do
You’ve got to see it through
Like you always knew

It’d feel this way…

Weekly spending:

2007-03-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Matt's cigarettes - $5
Wednesday: $0
Thursday: Matt bought tequila >:-( - $15
Friday: Sally Beauty (pumice stone and nail file - needed!) - $2.34
Saturday: $0
Sunday: $0

Total = $22.34 but I'd like to note that I only spent $2.34! ($199.77 left for the month's challenge)

Well if we keep it up we'll be able to stay under budget when take the train ride to the Santa Cruz boardwalk like I wanted! I looooooove Santa Cruz.

Complaining?

2007-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

So, how are you guys doing with the no-complaining challenge? So far on my best day I made it to 3:00pm without complaining... Hmmmm..... It's a work in progress, haha!

Kitchen Remodel Progress

2007-03-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Before

Now

Sorry, the lighting is a bit dark on the "Now" pix. Basically, at this point we have all the lower cabinets up, all the electrical and plumbing set up, and the counters should be arrive next Monday or so. Tomorrow we're working on the radiant heating and the tile flooring. We're also nearly finished on the wall restructuring and painting. This whole wall angle, pony wall, and and alcove is new (it used to be one long solid wall with two doors that separated the kitchen and family room from the rest of the house):

We just have the hardwood flooring installation, tile flooring, backsplash, upper cabinets, trimwork, touch up painting, a few light fixtures to install, painting in the sitting room, and this and that left to do, then it will be DONE! I'll load more pix when things look a little more finished (unfinished work is just not that pretty, y'know?). :-)

These people are inspiring!

2007-03-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

This challenge is not for me right now, considering we'll be moving into our first home this summer and all that, but amazingly inspirational! This group has committed to buy nothing new for the entire year. They have a yahoo group to keep accountable. It really is true that the consumerist culture we live in is terribly detrimental to the environment and damaging to our finances. They allow themselves to buy used, but nothing new (other than personal necessities). Wow!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/13/BAGH3H7DH71.DTL

This got me thinking about more easily attainable simplifying, so here are some links I found on the subject:

http://www.december.com/simple/live/index.html

http://www.embraceliving.org/simply.htm

http://www.insouciant.com/sl/

http://www.simpleliving.org/

http://walkslowlylivewildly.blogspot.com/

http://www.koransky.com/Other/SimplifyAndHaveMoreFun.html

http://www.simpleliving.net/main/

Complaint Free World update

2007-03-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Today was my first attempt at going complaint-free. I had to switch it once (sarcasm, oops) but I think I should've switched it a couple more times... Haha, tomorrow I'll be better.

The website where you order the acomplaintfreeworld.org bracelets said it'd take 2-5 weeks to get my bracelets, and after considering it further I decided I'd rather have something more subtle than a purple rubber band. So, I made my own. I used clear beads on clear elastic so it would be sorta "invisible' and wouldn't clash or draw attention to itself but still be easy to switch wrists when I complain. This is what it looks like:

I'd be glad to make more (tons of leftover beads!) for anyone challenging themselves to be complaint free!

Weekly spending:

2007-03-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Michael's (supplies for b-day gifts for Sarah, Lindsey, and Sherry; Easter gift for Abigail; little thing for Dani's shower) - $8.21 after returning stuff from last week
Wednesday: $0
Thursday: Matt's cigarettes -$5.00
Friday: Sears.com - (shipping and tax on Catch Phrase game) $8.08 after gift card, Tip at Olive Garden - $3 after gift card
Saturday: Michael's (supplies for Stacy's b-day present and "no complaining" bracelet for myself) - $11.33
Sunday: 6 greeting cards from outlet store - $1.28! Nice!

Total = $36.90 ($213.10 left for the month's challenge)

A decent start! Mostly gifts, and we had a lot of fun this week without spending much (partly due to gift cards, but we went to a lot of parks and whatnot). I think the library was a big part in fighting the spending urge this week because it feels a little like shopping - you go, look around, pick stuff out, bring it to the clerk, and you have something new (even if just for a couple weeks).

I'm actually really proud of myself this week because I had the shopping bug BAD. Seriously bad. In my old habits I could've gone a little nutsy but I fought it and kept my credit card holstered, despite being in three - yes three - malls this week, going to many many stores with my MIL, and being in close proximity to my favorite yarn store and clothing store twice. Woo! Go me! :-)

300

2007-03-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Matt and I saw 300 today -very visually impressive movie. Not much of a plot but it was very exciting. And kinda hunktastic. ;-) Seriously violent BUT there were a lot of half-naked Spartans, which is a nice change from the usual barrage of female skin (there were of course some breasts but much more pecs, woo-hoo!). Something for everyone; blood for the boys, six packs for the girls. I tried to post some pix here but it doesn't seem to be working so check out this link:

http://imdb.com/gallery/ss/0416449/FCJG3000051.jpg.html

Oh my!

Haha, I'm going to be in so much trouble when Matt reads this post...

Check this out!

2007-03-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

Dani emailed me this link and it's such a fun website! You type in a band, genre, or song that you like and they make a personalized radio station for you. Great way to hear about new bands!

http://www.pandora.com/

A Complaint Free World

2007-03-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't Complain." -Maya Angelou

I ran across this in a magazine and it sounds like a fascinating challenge! Go complaint-free for 21 days in a row. If you slip and complain, criticize, gossip or use sarcasm, you start the count over. The church that came up with this idea has little purple bracelets that you switch to your other wrist when you catch yourself complaining and start the count over. I ordered bracelets for Matt and I and it should be interesting to see how it affects our habits. This fits well with my New Year's resolution to think and speak positively, so I'm going to wear the dorky bracelet and do my best! Will anyone else try it with me? :-)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17362505/

Click here for free bracelet order form

Complaint Free Blog

Weekly spending:

2007-03-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Dani isn't competing this month because she just moved to her first house (Woo-Hoo! Go Dani!) and there are LOTS of expensive things she has to buy, so it isn't a fair competition this month. However, I want to keep logging my spending so I don't get off track (and hopefully she will attempt to out-frugal me again next month - right Dani?) so I'm going to challenge myself (and Matt) to spend less than $250 for the entire month of March. Our weekly average throughout this entire challenge so far has been $115.05, so we'll have to cut our spending in half to meet the goal. It will be tough but we can do it! So, starting this next week I will be ultrafrugal and log how much we've used of the $250 each week.

Monday: $0

Tuesday: Superhero postage stamps - $7.80, Target (2 shampoos, 2 cereals, gum for Matt, nail polish, and lingerie laundry bag) - $11.33 (Not bad considering I used to spend $12 on just shampoo!) I really wanted nail polish too. I only packed a sexy, brooding, and mysterious burgundy, which is great for winter, but now that it's spring I don't want my toes to be brooding and mysterious anymore. ;-)

Wednesday: Chocolate milk - $1.00, Michael's (supplies for Lindsey's b-day gift, Dani's prize for last month, Evey's Easter gift, and Dani's bridal shower) - $14.52

Thursday: Matt's cigarettes ~ $5.00, Goodwill (work tee for Matt) - $1.99

Friday: $0

Saturday: Scharffen Berger chocolate - $10.24 - oops! REALLY good though!

Sunday: $0

Total = $51.88

Keeping Up With the Joneses

2007-02-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

I copied these articles from diningonadime.com and it's so very true. How often do we find ourselves buying things we don't really need because we feel like we "should" have it, because subconsciously we're being told to spend spend spend and to define ourselves by what we own? (every time I see the "He who dies with the most toys wins" license plate frame I want to get out of my car and SHAKE the driver - "Wake up! That's not the way to live your life!") The more I think about our society's out of control debt, excessive clutter, disorganized homes, and financial stress (btw, 90% of illnesses are stress-related) the more I realize how our culture's priorities are entirely out of line. We keep eating too much or spending money trying to make ourselves happy, when truly all that can make us happy is to choose the simple things - our families and friends, nature's beauty, and a relationship with God. Ultimately, the things we buy are worthless when compared with the promise of a debt-free life, a clutter-free home, and a low stress level. So I'm going to continually simplify, simplify, simplify. I'd rather be relaxed than have lots of "things" to clean or put away. :-)

Of course, I know all of this in the same way that smokers know that smoking is insane. It will be a daily battle for me to suppress my consumerist habits. But a battle worth fighting!

Anyways, here are the articles:

Don't Buy In!
Are "They" Ruining your Finances?

Lent

2007-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

I've decided this year that I'm going to observe Lent for the first time. I'm a bit late, as Lent started Wednesday the 21st, but I'll just start now. :-) We're going to give up fast food for 40 days. This may seem strange, considering that I'm a vegetarian and pretty health-conscious, but the last few months we've been eating a lot of Burger King veggie burgers and Taco Time because we were on the road for so long and got used to eating on the go, plus cooking in someone else's kitchen just feels kinda strange. And those veggie burgers can be pretty satisfying if done right... Anyhoo... Matt's trying to lose weight and I'm embarrassed to admit I'm eating fast food regularly, so this will be good for us. It's not exactly deep and spiritual, but it is a habit I want to break for our health. With Matt's family history of heart disease, it's my responsibility to protect the heart of the love of my life. (BTW, I'm not counting Subway - it's somewhat healthy if you choose wisely, and sometimes you gotta eat on the run!).

The link below is interesting, and he suggests also adding something positive for Lent. We're going to add our morning walks. We've been doing this off and on, but it's so wonderful to have time outside and to be able to be alone and talk.

I should probably do something deeper than this, but I'm at the Kindergarten level of Christianity, so this is where I'm starting for Lent. :-)

http://www.spirithome.com/lent.html

Weekly spending:

2007-02-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: $0
Wednesday: Matt's cigarettes - $5.25
Thursday: Burger King (2 veggieburgers) - $5.13
Friday: Library late fee - $0.20
Saturday: Kettle corn and rented "Fearless" (Matt loved it, I was bored and frustrated that it's tough to knit lace and read subtitles at the same time, haha) - $5.60ish
Sunday: $0

Total = $16.18

We were so good this week! Matt only bought one pack of cigarettes and I didn't buy ANY knitting stuff AGAIN (woo!). Of course, nothing we bought was necessary... Oh well. Still darn low. :-)

Maintaining a Tidy Home

2007-02-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

I found this article at lifeorganizers.com - it's not so much about organizing but maintaining your home in small chunks of time so you don't have to devote a lot of time to cleaning. It's all familiar but good ideas. :-)

10 Daily Steps to an Organized Home
By Tracy Alt

In this day and age when it is common for both parents to work full-time and our kids are involved in many extra curricular activities, life moves at a pretty fast pace. It can be difficult to find the time or energy to keep the house clean amid all of our other daily responsibilities. The problem, however, is that if you let the house go too long it will become an overwhelming place, rather than a safe haven for you to retreat to after a long, busy day.

It doesn't take much to keep your home running like a well-oiled machine. If you can find five to ten minute pockets of time you can accomplish small tasks that will make a huge impact on the orderliness of your home. Here is a list of ten key tasks that take little time but make a big difference. Start adding them to your daily routine today and see the difference in how your house looks and how you feel.

Make your bed every day. Making your bed takes all of five minutes, but at the end of a busy day, when you can retreat to an inviting bed you will be able to feel the stresses of the day slip away as you slip under the covers. Make it a daily chore for your children to make their beds too. It will help your home look neater and teach them responsibility.

Do one load of laundry every day. I have a washing machine with a timer so I gather up a load of laundry each morning, place it in the machine, add the soap to the dispenser and set the timer so that the wash starts just before my husband gets home from work. When the machine stops, my husband transfers the load from the washer to the dryer. After dinner we fold the clothes together and get them put away. Broken down into segments, doing a load of laundry this way takes no time at all, but the difference it makes in keeping the laundry under control is unbelievable. If you do not have a washer with a timer, gather the load in the morning and throw it into the machine. As soon as you walk through the door in the evening get the load started so it will be ready to transfer to the dryer just before you sit down for dinner. The dryer will be done by the time you are finished cleaning up the dishes and you will be ready to fold the clothes and put them away. Doing a load of laundry every day adds only minutes to your daily routine, but when you do not have to spend your entire weekend trying to dig yourself out from underneath a mountain of dirty laundry, you will be glad you took those extra few minutes throughout the week.

Plan dinner in the morning. If you know exactly what you are going to make for dinner each night you will save yourself so much time that would have been wasted standing in front of the open refrigerator wondering what you can make. Pull anything out of the freezer that needs to defrost during the day, chop up some veggies or marinate something. If there is anything you can do in the morning to make the dinner time rush go smoother, do it
Make a list of any errands you can do while you are out. Blending errands into your daily routine will save you the hassle of having to run all over town on the weekends. Can you make a stop during your lunch hour? Can you drop something off on your way in to work or can you swing by and pick something up on your way home? Doing your errands throughout the week will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Clean up the kitchen after dinner. Although you are exhausted at the end of the day and it is tempting to put the dishes in the sink with the thought that you will do them in the morning, how many times has the next morning come and you get busy with other things? When this happens you wind up leaving the house with the dishes still undone and you have to come home to an untidy kitchen. Make a point to spend the extra ten minutes cleaning up the kitchen after dinner so that you can start each new day with a fresh clean slate instead of getting behind and letting things pile up.
Clean up the living room before going to bed each a night. Make this a family chore. Take five or ten minutes to do a sweep through the living room and put everything back where it belongs. Leaving things laying around is exactly how mountains get created out of molehills.
Schedule homework time. Life may not always allow for strict schedules, but try to keep things as consistent as possible so that your kids know what to expect and what is expected of them. Choose a time that you will be able to stick to most nights of the week and dedicate it to homework. Turn off the television and eliminate any other distractions so that your kids can sit down and really focus on their studies. Right after dinner is a good time for this if possible. The kids can sit at the table while you are cleaning up after dinner. You can spend time together while still accomplishing the task at hand and you are readily available for any questions they may have.
Pick out your clothes the night before. We all know how much easier it can make the morning rush to have your children choose their clothes the night before. Practice what you preach and choose your own outfit the night before. Remove all necessary items from the closet or dresser drawers and lay them out so they are close at hand. The precious minutes you save when you don't have to try and decide what you will wear could make the difference between running late and being right on time.
Make a bedtime routine. Explain to all of your family members what is expected of them when you say it is time for bed. This would include things like bathing and brushing their teeth, putting their clothes in the laundry hamper, changing into their pajamas, choosing their clothes for the next day and getting into bed. Practice this so that when you say "it's time for bed," they know exactly what to do. If you do not have to follow them around telling them what to do next, while they are executing their routine, you will have time to take care of any last minute details you need to accomplish before calling it a day. If your kids need some motivation, create a reward system for each night that they can successfully accomplish their bedtime routine all by themselves.
Keep a note pad next to your bed. It is always just as we are getting ready to retire for the day that we remember something we have to do tomorrow. Be prepared for these end of the day ideas with a note pad at hand to write down anything you must remember. The next morning, simply pull off the top sheet of paper and put it in your pocket or purse to refer to later in the day.

Start small. Add one or two things to your routine each day. Before you know it, your house will be neater and feel more inviting and you will be happier and less overwhelmed. Maybe you can even find some free time to spend relaxing.

Cabinet Hardware Sources

2007-02-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

These websites were featured in This Old House, and I thought I'd pass along the best ones in case anyone needed them. (Especially Dani)

LewisDolin.com

AtlasHomewares.com
(my favorite)

MNGHardware.com

Use less gas

2007-02-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

A few of these tips are very handy:

http://www.greenlightmag.com/dept-carTravel-dtl.php?recordID=232

Great article on consumerism and the environment

2007-02-22T18:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006082.html

Guaranteed to give you a big silly smile

2007-02-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

(you need sound)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DihpWU4-5E

"Today is the day to act like today is your day and you will be surprised that it is, that it is."

Spring Cleaning

2007-02-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is a start for organizing ideas. I'll post another set of ideas in a couple weeks. :-)

BUY LESS STUFF! I’m going to keep repeating this, mostly to remind myself. ;-) Disciplined shopping = less clutter, more money!

When gift time rolls around, tell everyone you're decluttering and you'd really love gift cards for dinner out or tickets to an event. A lot of our clutter is gifts that we feel guilty tossing but we're just not sure what to do with it.

If you're with a friend and they HAVE to stop at the store, leave your purse in the trunk. This will make impulse buys more difficult, and if you find something amazing you can always run out to the car to get your wallet.

Prepare for decluttering by putting on REALLY peppy music and possibly drinking a lot of caffeine.

Do one project at a time. Have ten minutes? Go through one drawer. Slow and steady wins this race. Don’t empty your entire dresser onto the floor and expect to finish it without getting overwhelmed, tired, or bored. Attack decluttering in bite-sized pieces.

Start in “public areas” – kitchen, living room, etc. Seeing clutter vanish will inspire you to keep going!

One of the best places to start is the junk drawer. Dump out the entire drawer into a box, put in dividers (like in your silverware drawer), and put back only the things that really need to be accessible (sticky notes, pens that work, rubber bands...).

A little extreme, but works: If you have a clutter magnet area, put everything from that area into a cardboard box and write the date on it. When you need something out of the box, take it out and put it where it belongs. After a month, whatever is still in the box is obviously not being used. Take the box to Goodwill and be free of it!

Is your purse a disaster? Set out a pretty basket that you dump your purse into daily (or weekly, whichever works for you). This way it's easy to put back all the important things, put away stuff you don't need, and toss gum wrappers and receipts.

As a former Sunday school teacher, I apologize on behalf of all teachers for the amount of adorable, difficult to store art projects that come home with your little ones. You really CAN keep all their priceless art without filling your garage! Just photograph 3D projects and scan artwork into your computer. You can put hundreds of projects onto one little CD. Then you can watch it all on a slideshow on your TV!

Open your mail over the recycling bin as soon as you get it. I’ve seen clients with bags full of unopened mail. It takes only a minute to do it now! Also, call each of the catalogs you receive and get off their mailing list.

Books:

Unread books: Does that book look exciting enough that you’ll ever get around to reading it? Be honest with yourself.

Was it a mediocre book? Sell it to Half Price Books (they give you very little $, and the trick is to make it out without buying even more books, haha) or donate it to Goodwill or the library (get a donation receipt for tax records)

Would you recommend it to a friend? Give it to a friend.

Would you read it again? Really? Honestly? Then keep it.

Magazines:

My biggest clutter challenge. I get a lot of design and construction trade mags so it’s hard for me to part with all those good ideas. This is overkill for most people, but what I do is: as I read it, I tear out and recycle all the pages I’ll never refer to again and write notes on the useful pages with a fine Sharpie so I know what was interesting about it. This way the ideas are already bound, and I can look at my mags and see which ones are full of ideas and which ones end up pretty skinny, and cancel subscriptions to the less useful ones. Ideally, someday I’ll file the articles in an accordion file according to topic. One of these days…

Clothes:

Turn around all your hangers and stick a note in your closet with the date you flipped them all. As you wear things, turn the hanger around the right way (if you take it out but don’t wear it, turn it backwards again). After six months, what is still backwards? Take it to Goodwill.

When cleaning out your closet, it's handy to have someone there who loves you enough to tell you if something isn't your color or isn't flattering. It will go much faster.

Donate formal dresses and shoes to Cinderella's Trunk.

Great links:

http://www.getorganizednow.com/

http://eliminatechaos.com/organizingtips.shtml

Resolutions check-in

2007-02-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

For accountability's sake, I wanted to check in on my resolutions and see how I'm doing.

LEARN TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! Ummm... sorta
Take a walk with Matt or work out 5 days a week. Not so much. We walked this morning though, and we're recommitting to it now.
Become a rockin' good healthy cook once again. I've been working on it a little here and there - MIL is doing most of the cooking.
Think and speak positively. Usually... I have my mean moments.
Consume less! I've been doing better.
Actively practice my guitar and knitting. Knitting, yes. Guitar, no.
Find more good friends that fit where I'm at in life. This doesn't count yet, 'cuz I'm not home. ;-)
Get outdoors once in a while. Yes! We go to the beach and the park and even played catch.
Remember everyone's birthday and send the card out on time. Six out of six so far. Go me!
Do yoga every morning, even just a little bit. Not at all. Oops!

Matt's hat

2007-02-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

This is Matt's Valentine's hat. He chose the basic pattern and colors, and designed the motif himself. He's pretty excited about it. :-)
It turned out a bit too big (I'm new at sizing), but I'll get it to shrink a little.

See the peace sign in the earflaps?

A close-up of the motif. It's Matt's initials, MWH.

The top does this cool swirly thing.

This is the pattern I followed, and we just replaced the wave with his initials.

Now I'm going to figure out how to make myself one with cherry blossoms around it. :-)

Weekly spending:

2007-02-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

Monday: Pet food and catnip - $35.39 (yes, Tink and Lucky are very chubby and VERY spoiled), Key - $3.21, Ipod dock for the van ~ $10 (a little unnecessary but MUCH cheaper than putting in a CD player), Shipped Mom's hat (finally done!) and Nick's Oxypads - $2.94

Tuesday: Cigars - $4.00

Wednesday: Cigars - $4.00

Thursday: $0

Friday: Cigarettes (American Spirit refuses to animal test, supports animal protection groups, and uses no chemicals in their tobacco. Granted, it still kills people... but better than most cig companies!) - $4.50, Cliff's Pleasant View (3 grilled cheese sandwiches, a cup of clam chowder, and a pitcher of beer) - $21.00 inc. tip

Saturday: Burger King (4 veggie burgers - one for MIL) - $10.27

Sunday: Ready? Ross (Matt's flip-flops and shorts) - $20.31, GNC (HydroxyCut for Matt - YIKES - Nothing scares me like diet pills) - $9.71 after leftover gift card, Marshalls (my sunglasses - retail was $30!) - $16.10, Target (my flip-flops - 2 pair) - $13.94, Taco Bell - $2.13, Burger King - $3.64

Total = $161.14

Ick, I had high hopes for this week and it didn't turn out so well. Cigarettes at an all time high ($12.50), fast food ($37.04 ), and our Sunday shopping spree ($60.06) did us in. You know, I don't really feel bad about our Sunday shopping though. We didn't go crazy really, and we actually needed some Spring stuff. This project was originally slated to be finished in January, so we didn't pack many Spring clothes, and all my sunglasses are broken (3 pairs in one year!). So I can rationalize it. ;-)

BUT I didn't buy ANY knitting stuff! Go me! Except for shipping Mom's hat, which was only 87 cents.

Another beautiful sunset in Benicia, CA

2007-02-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

Matt's parents have an amazing view from their back deck. I'll really miss the views and the weather (it's been like a WA June lately - so nice!) when we go back home, but I will still be happy to be home. :-)It'll be nice to visit them now that we know our way around!

How to get the best performance from your contractor:

2007-02-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

As a willing ear to my general contractor hubby's rants and raves, I hear quite a bit of what helps, hinders, and annoys the heck out of contractors. A happy contractor is an efficient contractor, so here's how to do your part:

Feed them! The old adage "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is very true here. Matt loves the homeowners who make him lunch, even if it's just a sandwich or leaving a frozen pizza and a note. Those clients typically get a lot more for their money, fyi. They'll go the extra mile for you if you're kind to them.

Supply a few gallons of bottled water for the crew. It's sweaty, thirsty work. Please don't provide beer. Most construction workers I know currently or used to have a drinking problem. You want them thinking clear and sharp anyway.

Keep your things clear of the work area so he can work easily without having to move a bunch of stuff out of the way.

Unless it is VERY important, stay the heck out of his way! Often Matt comes home saying, "I'd be done already if they'd stop interrupting me to talk!"

Be clear and honest.

Provide a bathroom, and if you'd rather they use one and not another, tell them. Matt got an earful once for using the master bathroom when no one was home - the other one was broken, what did they expect?

Don't flirt with him. Most contractors are married (strange phenomenom but true!), and you don't want to get on the wrong side of a woman who knows her way around the tool box! ;-)

This goes for all construction guys, from the plumber to the landscaper to your general contractor. It's rough work, and they deserve respect and kindness.

Click here for a good article on choosing a contractor.

Happy Valentine's Day to my baby!

2007-02-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

This is Matt and I in Vegas. I love him so much it's unbelievable. He's just amazing. We've been together seven years now! Married for three years.

Matt in the Venetian Hotel

Like the song says:
...we got everything
We need right here
And everything we need is enough
Just so easy
When the whole world fits inside of your arms...
Jack Johnson -
"Banana Pancakes"

And it does. My whole world fits inside my arms.

Tink and Lucky are best friends.

2007-02-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

You guys, I'm pretty excited that I can post pix. If I try to post pix to my profile it "thinks" all day and never works, so I never bothered to try sticking them in a post. But it works!

Anyhoo, these are my adorable little animals. They snuggle all the time and it's so cute!

Hi! OMG I got a pic to load!

2007-02-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

So, Carly, how's the remodel at the in-laws' going?

2007-02-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Oh, pretty well, thanks for asking. ;-)

A blank canvas! Isn't it amazing how small rooms look when they're entirely stripped? We tore out the kitchen entirely the other day because the cabinets are due to arrive next week! Now we need to put up new drywall, install the tile flooring, and paint PDQ. Now is when it gets exciting.

Most of you know that the reason we're in California right now is that we are extensively remodeling Matt's parent's kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room. I thought some of you may want to know how it's going and what we're up to. So, this is where we're at:

Matt's done basically all the structural design work AND labor. He's awesome. I stayed out of the design because I had a tough time determining their aesthetic and it was getting pretty messy trying to get my FIL to make decisions. Aye aye aye. He's a thorough thinker. All the material/ color choices were made by the in-laws.

I've been helping as much as I can with the labor, though!
Carly's bad@$$ power tool use so far:
I've gotten to use a rotozip, nailgun, screwgun, powerdrill, and table saw. Yep, I'm awesome. ;-) Today I got to remove tile with a prybar and a ten pound mallet. I am woman, hear me roar! Ten pounds gets really heavy after a few dozen swings though, haha!

Some materials we're using:

Kitchen:

Mascarello granite counters

American cherry cabinetry, handcrafted by a local business.

Brushed stainless bow pulls (22" wide on drawers, 6" and 10" wide on doors, depending on placement)

Brushed stainless KitchenAid appliances throughout, including a dramatic hood, double dishdrawer and an undercabinet microwave drawer.

Tiberias Gold travertine tiles in kitchen and around fireplace (honed in kitchen, polished around fireplace - BIG TIP - always get a physical sample of what you're ordering. We had a honed sample and ordered polished assuming it'd be the same but shinier. Nope. Much darker and the pattern looks entirely different. Weird!)

Tiffany pendant lamps over island

Undercabinet puck lighting

Variegated natural stone backplash, 2"x2" tiles

Raised the ceiling, expanded the "boundaries" of the kitchen

Family Room/ Living Room:

Napoleon gas double sided fireplace (black) w/ remote

Mascarello granite counters

Bellawood prefinished Bloodwood in hallway, dining, and family room

Built-in LCD TV

Built in flush-mount surround sound speakers

Entirely restructured walls (pix to come)

I can't wait to post pix of the finished product!

We're right on track to be done by the end of March, so we should be back home in early April!

Other than energy star appliances, low VOC paints, and good insulation, this project is sooo ungreen... what's the opposite of green? Red? This project is red. But they are the client, and the client doesn't give even the smallest hoot about the environment. We tried! :-(

Money saving tips

2007-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

So, one of my biggest goals this year is to minimize my debt (other than the impending mortgage) to zero on the credit cards (almost there!!!) and to $6k on my student loan (that loan doesn't worry me much - low payments and interest rate).

I ran across a statistic that kinda freaked me out. I don't remember specifics (and I'm not going to spend all day googling for it, haha), but what it basically said was that while the average U.S. family's income is at an all time high, so is our debt and the number of bankruptcies. How can we be making more money and still be in such awful debt? Well, ours is a materialistic society. We want bigger better faster shinier newer, when what we have does its job just fine. Watching "Cribs" and the E! channel and reading magazines gives us the impression that we should have all these extravagant things. It's just not true.

Spooky facts:

Average household credit card debt has increased 167% between 1990 and 2004
The rate of personal savings in the United States dipped below 0% for the first time since the great depression, hitting negative .5% in 2005
Approximately 96% of Americans will have to retire financially dependent on the government, family or charity, according to a 2003 study
According to a 2004 study, the number one cause of divorce is financial stress

So, I assume many of you are in the same place as we are, trying to rein in the spending and kill the debt monsters. And if financial strain can damage something as wonderful and important as your marriage, then it's definitely something to watch out for.

Frugality is not about depriving yourself, it's about choosing your luxuries and spending intelligently. Do I want to buy espresso/lunch out 5 times or do I want to go to a concert? Do we want ten nice dinners out, or do we want to spend the weekend in Vegas? Do I want to blow $150 shopping, or do I want to put it in savings for my vacation/ new furniture/ retirement/ new house/ cabin? Am I more relaxed when I have a bunch of shiny new things, or when I am free of credit card debt? Honestly, being debt free feels like a luxury. I can't wait to roll around in all my zero balance credit card statements. ;-)

There are, of course, major things you can do, but it seems to me that the best way is to plug all the little money leaks here and there - it adds up quickly! And so, after all that pontificating, here are some tips and links I've culled from the web and my experiences.

Log your spending. It helps to have a friend keep you accountable, like Dani and I are doing, but even just writing it down for yourself and reviewing it at the end of the week makes you more aware of where the heck your money went (me- knitting needles, Dani - Starbucks - haha)

Never go to the store without a list. When you're about to get in line, look through your basket - what is in there that wasn't on the list? Take it out! I know, it's nice, you've been good, and you deserve it, buuuut... Is that the best way to spend that money? You don't need it and it's just going to be one more thing to have to put away.

Buy secondhand when you can, but be objective. Don't buy tons of stuff "because it's such a great deal!" It's only a great deal if you love it (or love how it will look once you paint it, etc.), will truly use it, and it won't clutter up your closet or end up in your garage sale next Summer!

If you have a favorite store that you know you won't resist, at the beginning of the month buy a gift card for yourself. You can use that set amount throughout the month guilt-free because it's built into your budget. When it's used up, stop spending and wait until the next month starts to re-up. If you're really good one month and you have a leftover balance, roll it over and re-up like normal for when you have a really spendy month.

Organize and declutter your home. I've worked in a lot of garages, closets, pantries, etc., and I always see duplicates of things that people couldn't find so they bought another. When you cut away the excess and make all your things accessible and organized in an easy to use fashion you can save a lot of money by not buying doubles. Also, going through all your things objectively can really bring into focus how much stuff we all have, and how little of it we really need. I'll post organizing tips in the next week or two.

Make friends with a hairdresser and trade babysitting or other favors for hair cuts. ;-) (Lindsey, come back to the mainland and cut my hair!!!)

Beauty experts say it's better for your skin and hair to wash it every other day (this is really hard for me - I like my hair squeaky clean or I feel dirty, and not in the good way) - uses half as much shampoo, conditioner, and hot water.

Make your own cleaning products

Pack a lunch every night - it probably won't happen in the morning (if you're anything like Matt and I)! Much healthier than what you'll buy out, and will save you a bundle.

Get books, magazines, movies, audiobooks, and Cd's (I rip them to my computer - shhh!) from the library rather than buy them. (Some library websites will allow you to download audiobooks for free - a great way to entertain your brain while commuting)

Pay your car insurance six months at a time - they'll give you a huge discount

Don't buy payment protection plans or extended warranties

Do your homework before you make a purchase, and buy online when you can - just check for free shipping deals first! Also, if there's a minimum order and you only need a few things, see if a friend wants to combine purchases to make the minimum to get the free shipping.

Do online bill pay or automatic withdrawals - The average household gets 15 monthly bills, which adds up to $70.20 in stamps yearly. Every little bit adds up.

Carefully review all your bills and consider the expense and what you get out of it - odds are there are corners you can cut, downgrades that won't hurt, better quotes you can get (on insurance and whatnot), and maybe even cancel a service entirely.

It's only necessary to change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles rather than the standard 3,000. Check your owner's manual for specific info.

Save wear and tear on your pajamas. Sleep nude! If your bedbuddy does the same, you'll stay nice and warm or nice and cool because your body temp can regulate itself easier.

Eat less meat

Downgrade your cable or go without - there are much better things to do with your evenings than watch TV (when you do want to veg, sign up with netflix and rent tons of movies for $10-20/ month - an added bonus of zero commercials!)

When you get together with friends, do something at someone's home rather than go out (make dinner, play games, work on a project together, perfect your bartending skills, BBQ) - consider potluck/ BYOB

When you do go out to dinner, drink water. A hard drink is usually $5-$8, soft drink is $2-4, and the average calories? A cocktail runs 150-780 calories (whoa!!!), avg. beer is 150, avg. wine is 125, avg. soda is 136 (Studies show that the leading source of calories is from drinks! A little juice, a little pop, a glass of wine... adds up). Same goes for appetizers and desserts - avg. price $3-12, avg. calories 250- 1270! So, think before you order and fatten your wallet as you trim your waist at the same time.

Join restaurant birthday clubs to get coupons for lots of free food (they don't need to be used on your B-Day). Tony Roma's gives you a free entree, dessert, and bottle of BBQ sauce with purchase of a second entree (IF you have the coupon), Alfy's gives you a free personal pizza, Cold Stone gives you free ice cream, and so on. Google around for your local chain restaurants and find out what you can get! Be sure to sign up everyone in your household. Yes, baby is only a year old, but you'll help them eat it! ;-) Of course, you have to go into the location to sign up, and that's how they get you.

For cheap entertainment, scout out your local parks and recreation website or newsletter, the newspaper's website, volunteer at your local theater in exchange for tickets, google for local events, and local search engines (like nwsource.com) for free or inexpensive events. Check the website of local museums/ theaters, etc. for free admission days or 'pay what you can" nights - most of them do this. The Seattle Art Museum is free the first Thursday of the month, Everett Children's Museum is free the first Friday of the month... Also, check out meetup.com for get-togethers of people with your interests. Always exciting to meet strangers!

Links:

Frugal Living

The Guide to Living Well

Better Budgeting

Debt Zapper

Check back from time to time, because I'll add new ideas as they come, and if you have an idea please post it in my comments (you can post without having an account) because I need all the help I can get! ;-)

How's your inner child?

2007-02-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

Your Inner Child Is Surprised

You see many things through the eyes of a child.
Meaning, you're rarely cynical or jaded.
You cherish all of the details in life.
Easily fascinated, you enjoy experiencing new things.

How Is Your Inner Child?

What pattern is your brain?

2007-02-12T21:21:00.000-08:00

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a tempered, reasonable way of thinking.
You tend to take every new idea in, and meld it with your world view.
For you, everything is always changing. Each moment is different.
Your thinking process tends to be very natural - with no beginnings or endings.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Gotta love a silly quiz now and then.

2007-02-12T21:18:00.001-08:00

Your Heart Is Blue

Love is a doing word for you. You know it's love when you treat each other well.
You are a giving lover, but you don't give too much. You expect something in return.

Your flirting style: Friendly

Your lucky first date: Lunch at an outdoor cafe

Your dream lover: Is both generous and selfish

What you bring to relationships: Loyalty

What Color Heart Do You Have?

Haha!

2007-02-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, this is exactly how I feel sometimes! Granted, I'm too addicted to cheese to be a vegan, I'm just a vegetarian but I've heard every question and every vegetarian joke in the world.

If the "play" button doesn't pop up in the middle, here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOInuaZh-v4&NR

Weekly spending:

2007-02-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Weekly spending:

Monday: $0 (woohoo!)

Tuesday: Home Depot (4 dowel rods to make into knitting needles, outlet insulators) - $6.36

Wednesday: Matt's cigarettes (aagghhh!!!) - $4.50, Joann Fabrics (Sharpies and stuff for Dani's prize for last month's spending challenge and Lindsey's b-day gift) - $12.19 - This is amazingly low, really! I didn't buy ANYTHING that wasn't on my list and I had lots and lots and lots of temptation. Not to mention that Kristi and I went to several stores and I didn't buy anything but the stuff I set out for. Go me!

Thursday: Raley's (Matt bought 3 boxes of cereal, at supermarket prices. We could have bought 4 boxes at Target for this price. Oh well. Now he knows.) - $12.84

Friday: Michael's (beading needles) - $3.53, Target (toothpaste and All Free & Clear Small & Mighty - love that stuff) - $4.42 b/c my toothpaste was free! I emailed Crest and told them I hated their new toothpaste and they sent me a coupon for free toothpaste!

Saturday: Benicia Knitting Circle (needles, darnit, again) - $25.61

Sunday: Parkside Cafe (3 ice creams, 1 med. fry, 1 veggie burger - shared w/ in-laws - MIL is on the veggie burger bandwagon now!) - $12.00

Total = $81.45

Well.... only about $18 was entirely unnecessary. I bought a LOT of knitting stuff ($45! More than half the total...) but they were all for projects that I had committed to - Mom had asked for a hat that needed to be done and shipped to WA by the 16th, Dani's prize for last month's spending challenge is still in the works, and I wanted to get started on Lindsey's birthday present. Hmmmm... Well, I'll do better next time. Sooner or later I'll have all the needle sizes. ;-)

Remodeling Sources and Ideas

2007-02-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I had a request for green remodeling info (Congrats on the new home, Ann!), so here it is:

Maintenance Ideas:

Replace all the light bulbs in your house with CFL's.

Install dimmer switches.

Install a motion activated light switch in places where the light is often left on unnecessarily.

Avoid heating/ cooling areas that don't need to be comfortable - such as closets, pantries, etc. Seal the rooms by installing weather stripping and a door sweep under the door, and shut off the heater vent in that room.

To seal around windows, carefully remove the trim (first cut the paint attaching it to the wall with a knife), then spray Great Stuff Window and Door Formula (the regular formula will bow your jambs!) or DAP Tex Plus (which is easier to clean up) into the gap between the wall and the window jamb. Trim off excess with a knife and reinstall the trim. Warmer windows!

Seal up the garage and basement. That cold gets into your house!

Check for leaks in ductwork and seal them with aluminum tape (NOT DUCT TAPE) on straight ducts and pure silicone caulk on joints.

Hate to be a party pooper, but fireplaces are one of the biggest leaks in a home and when lit actually suck warm air out of the rest of the house! When you're not using it, fill a plastic bag with insulation and stuff it up the chimney. Just be sure to take it out before lighting a nice cozy fire, haha!

Tune up your heater.

Clean your air conditioner.

Put a "jacket" on your hot water heater and foam sleeves on your pipes.

Install low-flow showerheads.

Plant an organic veggie garden, if you have room. Doesn't get any more "locally grown" than that! And considering an organic red pepper is $4, that could save a lot of money!

Vacuum behind and under your fridge to keep it efficient. Fridges account for over 15% of energy usage in homes. If you're considering upgrading, click here.

To make your dryer more efficient: Replace flexible ducting with 4" rigid metal duct, with as few bends as possible. Lint can't clog a nice smooth straight duct. Install a 4"x4" vent hood rather than the standard 2 1/2" - this is the equivalent of shortening the ducting by 6 feet - a great thing. Vacuum out the lint chute yearly. Scrub the lint screen with a brush and soapy water yearly, especially if you use fabric softener. Softener clogs the mesh, which means less airflow and slower drying. Also, vacuum the area under the drum inside the motor once a year - not only does this make it more efficient but it will make your dryer last longer and reduces the risk of dryer fires.

Check for air leaks around your home. I've heard that if you added up all the tiny leaks in your house you could drive a truck through it! Yikes! It's wonderful to have an energy auditor come and check out your home with an infrared camera (oooh!) but that costs $250-400, and for that price you could fix a lot of little leaks in common places. Walk around your house and feel the floor, walls, windows, recessed light fixtures, attic access door, and exterior doors for cold spots. 35% of air leaks are in the attic, 18% doors and windows, 17% floors and basement, 13% walls, 10% ceiling. Adding more insulation (check Certainteed for insulation suggestions), outlet sealers, weatherstripping, caulking indoors and out... Crawling around in the attic to add more insulation is not a pretty job, but somebody (coughyourmancough) really needs to do it. Just don't do it on a hot day!!!

Very important: When you seal up your house nice and tight, you MUST invest the $20 to get a carbon monoxide detector. A well sealed home keeps you comfortable with less electricity, but also will help hold in carbon monoxide. This is imperative!

Remodeling Ideas:

Use low/ no VOC paints. Most major paint stores (Kelly Moore, Rodda...) carry them, and your local environmental home store has them, too.

When replacing the flooring, use rubber, bamboo, cork, reclaimed wood (which can all be fixed rather than replaced when need be), or marmoleum (one note- to clean solid floors, use the swiffer-style mops with washable microfiber covers, not an actual Swiffer. Waste of money and landfill.) Carpet is not only a germ and dust magnet, but it has to be vacuumed (which takes electricity), and even when it's recycled carpet it will still need to be replaced in a few years, and will probably end up in a landfill. Matt is a total diva about carpet and flat out refuses to put it in people's homes. ;-)

Install radiant heating.

Obviously, buy Energy Star appliances when it's time to upgrade.

Research any materials you might use. There are a lot of great options out there. Educating yourself can save you money and give you a very "green" and beautiful home.

Countertops come in amazing materials - paper (really!), quartz, recycled glass... It's best not to use natural stone. Yes, it's beautiful, but impractical for daily life and quarries are bad news for the environment.

If replacing a toilet, check this site and click on "CWWA Maximum Performance Testing of Popular Toilets Reports".

When doing any demolition, contact a building materials recycler, and freecycle or craigslist any useful stuff you don't want any more.

Check out salvage shops for beautiful high quality materials with history. Not always money saving, but good for the environment and kinda exciting when you find a one of a kind piece that calls to you.

Check local classifieds and Craiglist for used materials. We've gotten brand new double pane vinyl windows for next to nothing (or actually nothing) just by doing our homework.

Consider quality. It's better for everyone if your purchase lasts a very long time and looks great doing it.

Refinish cabinets, or if necessary, replace the doors if the cabinet layout is good but the cabinets are ugly. This goes back to the big picture of Buy Less Stuff.

Go for timeless beauty. Trends are fun now, but in ten years you'll be dying to remodel again because it's so "outdated". Stay contemporary with paint colors - cheap, fast, and easy. On the big ticket items think about how well it will blend with changing aesthetics. That doesn't mean it has to be boring! Just classic. Again, saves you money and saves the world. They're connected so often!

Links:

Seattle Environmental Home Center

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/

http://www.greenerchoices.org/

This website is still pretty new, but I have high hopes for it

Even Martha Stewart is going green!

A link with fantastic links

http://www.moderngreenliving.com/

http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/

http://www.verdantmag.com/

http://www.sustainablestyle.org/

Of course, in ten years when Matt and I build our Zero Energy Home development, you can just buy one of our houses! ;-)

The Most Terrifying and Inspiring Movie I've Ever Seen:

2007-02-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

We watched An Inconvenient Truth last night, and, frankly, I'm alarmed. The scientific data behind global warming is undeniable. Of the 928 scientific studies published on the subject, not a single one has denied its reality. The "controversy" we all hear is just spin put out to confuse the issue so businesses can continue doing things their own way without changing for the better. It's exactly like what happened when the Surgeon General announced that smoking causes lung cancer. As much as we want to ignore it, it's the truth.

What's most remarkable is that we can do SO MUCH to reduce the effects, but as a general public, we just don't care. It's time to care. It's time to educate ourselves on what exactly is happening and how to change it. We fixed the hole in the ozone layer, we can change this too! We just have to choose to. Politicians are essentially just salesmen, and they will sell us what we ask for. If the voters are saying "We want policy changes made to fix this", it will happen. We need to vote for leaders who care about the future, we need to write letters, we need to make conscious buying decisions. In the business world, we vote with our wallets. Vote for environmentally responsible businesses and products.

Most of you reading my blog are in the 20-30 year old range. We will soon be entering into the time of our leadership. It is also the time that many of us are raising and educating the new generation. Will we create a volatile environment that our great-grandchildren may not survive? Or will we change our habits and take charge of this crisis? We need to not only tell them but show them our responsible actions, and they will follow in our footsteps. Now is the time to change the world for the better. If enough people care, it will happen.

I realize this is a bit of a rant, but when you see this movie, you'll want to rant too. Everyone, please watch this movie. Then go to these websites and see what you can do to help. Also, below the links I listed some very simple starter ideas on what we can do.

Links

http://www.climatecrisis.net/

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2005/10/26/faqs/index.html

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2003/11/25/consumption/index.html

http://www.greenerchoices.org/

http://www.thegreenguide.com/

http://www.wearewhatwedo.ca/index.php

http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/environment/

Ideas

(free and often money saving)

Buy Less Stuff!!! This one is major. Everything we buy has to be manufactured, shipped, and displayed in the store; and then we drive to the store to buy it, then someday it'll be thrown out. Stop shopping as entertainment and start only buying what you truly need.

Buy secondhand when you do need something. It's already gone through the process of being made and shipped. 10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New.

When you need new clothes, buy classic, quality pieces, preferably from a responsible manufacturer.

If you're just going down the street, walk. Save the world, gas money, and your figure. ;-)

Don't circle the parking lot looking for the "best spot". Just park and walk the few extra feet. Think of the cumulative effect of all the people across America circling parking lots. Every little bit adds up.

Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving — every minute the water flows wastes up to 2 1/2 gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. Water plants in the early morning to ensure that the water goes into the ground instead of evaporating. And use a bucket to wash the car, hosing it off for a quick rinse, to save 90 gallons of water per wash. For more conservation tips, go to the California Urban Water Conservation Council site, at www.h2ouse.org. Savings: $189 a year, or nearly 40 percent off the average U.S. household’s annual water bill of $476, according to a 2003 study prepared for the National Rural Water Association.

Freecycle the things you don't need any more rather than throw them out.

Buy recycled toilet paper and use cloth napkins (more elegant, anyway)

Bundle up/ strip down rather than adjust the thermostat.

Wash your laundry in cold water, and line dry whenever possible (your clothes will also last much longer). When you line dry, hang your clothes inside out so the sun won't fade the colors.

Unplug all electronics you're not using at the moment. They often use almost as much energy when off than they do when in use. An easy way to do this is to plug it all into a power strip you can switch off, or even set up your outlets to turn on/off with a light switch.

Join the do not mail list, and even call the catalogs you receive and get off their mailing list. Junk mail is more than just annoying, it uses lots resources to get to your mailbox.

Turn off the TV and enjoy spending quality time with your family instead.

When traveling to another state, consider taking the train. Same price as flying and takes more time, but greener, more fun, you get to see beautiful scenery as you travel, and it's great one-on-one time with your travel buddy.

(Invest less than $10 - and often save much more)

Buy locally grown food whenever possible. On average, food travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from the farm to your fridge. A farmer's market is a great way to do this, and if you go at the end of the day you'll get a lot for your money 'cuz they don't want to pack it back up and bring it home.

Install outlet sealers on exterior facing walls. It'll cost $2 for an eight pack at Home Depot/ Lowe's and you just need a screwdriver and ten minutes. Outlets and light switches are one of the leakiest spots in exterior walls and these little guys can go a long way in keeping in precious heat or A/C. Also, of course, weatherstripping doors and windows goes a long way too.

Buy (and actually remember to use, haha) reusable grocery bags. The ones at Whole Foods are $1 each and are 1000% more pleasant to use than plastic bags. Five trillion (geez!) plastic bags enter the market every year, and most of them end up in landfills, not to mention the energy and resources used to make and ship the bags in the first place.

Use a reusable lexan/ nalgene water bottle rather than disposable water bottles.

It's all in the baby steps!

If you're remodeling your home, there are tons of options too. I can give you guys an idea list or links if anyone is interested. :-)

I'd love to hear everyone else's great ideas and suggested links, too. Now let's go save the world!

Weekly spending:

2007-02-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Matt's cigarettes - $4.50
Wednesday: Stamps - $7.80, Target (cereal, envelopes, etc.) - $14.91, Raley's (top ramen) - $2.00, Burger King (veggieburger) - $2.84, Benicia Knitting Circle (needles) - $9.13, Michael's - $7.51, Walmart (8 pack of Valentine cards) - $4.01
Thursday: Tix to Kodo at UC Berkeley (our Valentine's gift to each other) - $54,
Knitpicks.com (replacement yarn for Mom's hat... long story. Also 4 stitch holders and shipping) - $13.92 (btw, knitpicks.com is AWESOME - very soft, great colors, unbeatable prices)
Friday: Water and juice - $4.00, Kodo DVD/CD set plus shipping - $14.09
Saturday: Post office (10 3 cent and 10 cent stamps) - $1.30
Sunday: Matt's cigarettes :-( - $4.50

Total = $134.51

Not such a great way to start the month... Next week I'll be really good though. And I learned how to make my own knitting needles on knittinghelp.com, so that should save me some money!

HGTV's 25 Biggest Decorating Mistakes

2007-02-03T20:56:00.000-08:00

I caught HGTV’s 25 Biggest Decorating Mistakes on TV tonight and it is so so true! It’s very important to be surrounded by beauty and have harmonious space to call home, and most major mistakes are free or cheap and easy to fix! Here’s the list:

#1: Fake Flowers

#2: Too Many Pillows

#3: Knickknack Overload (Hissss… oh, nothing bothers me like excessive knickknacks)

#4: Fear of Color

#5: Ignoring Windows

#6: Pushed–Back Furniture

#7: Tacky Couch Covers (does anyone actually have couch covers?)

#8: Frames Hung Too High

#9: Improper Lighting

#10: Floating Rugs

#11: Too Many Colors or Patterns

#12: Furniture That Doesn’t Fit (I'm guilty of this - we have this amazingly comfortable but MASSIVE sectional that swallowed our old living room whole -but our next living room will be just the right size for it.)

#13: Following Fads

#14: Everything Matches

#15: Lack of Traffic Pattern

#16: Uncomfortable Dining Chairs

#17: Too Formal

#18: Keeping Something You Hate (Just because it's a gift doesn't mean you need to keep it. But please oh please don't buy anyone knickknacks as a gift, 'cause then they'll have to keep it or feel guilty tossing your gift. Stop the cycle! )

#19: Lopsided Furniture Arrangements

#20: Outdated Accessories

#21: Out-of-Place Themes

#22: Undressed Cables

#23: Ignoring the Foyer

#24: Too Many Photos

#25: Toilet Rugs

For full explanations, here’s the link.

One handy tip they mentioned was to take a photo of your room, then evaluate how it looks. It's so much easier to be objective when looking at a photo, and it really clearly shows what's wrong. When you're standing in your room it's like, "Oh, it's not bad", but if you pretend like you've never seen it before and look at the photo you see "Eww, the table looks awful there!"

Just trying to spread beauty around. :-) After all, being a personal organizer/ designer/ contractor, I am qualified to be a design snob... just kidding, just kidding. Kinda. ;^)

Kodo

2007-02-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

Matt and I went to see Kodo at U.C. Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall tonight as an early Valentine's Day (since MIL wants us to spend real Valentine's Day "as a family". Sacrilege! But, she's had a HARD 6 months so it's fair to give her V-Day this time.) It was absolutely amazing!!! It's an ancient Japanese style of drumming, often called "samurai drumming". Samurai is right! These guys (and two girls) were KILLING their drums, throwing everything they had into pounding massive drumsticks into enormous drums. It was an incredible sight (and sound). They were amazing athletes too, holding exaggerated lunges and sit up positions while throwing their weight into drumming for so much longer than anyone should be able to hold that position. At one point they wheeled out a drum about 5 feet long and 4 feet in diameter (cut from a solid tree trunk!) and this guy POUNDED on that thing with drum sticks that looked wide enough to be rolling pins.

This night inspired Matt and I to start budgeting in a $60 "culture allowance". We'll just buy cheap seats or buy tickets the day of the show from one of the half price ticketing agents once a month, and think of the amazing shows we'll experience! Our two tickets plus the processing fee was $54, and it was an experience we'll remember for years. If you really think about it, how easy is it to blow $60? Two movie tickets and dinner, a night out dancing and drinking, entry for two to the zoo plus parking and lunch... And ultimately, which experiences do you keep longer and affect you more deeply?

Weekly spending:

2007-01-29T10:17:00.001-08:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Wendy's - $3.01, Knitting needles - $22.89
Wednesday: Juice, frappaccino, and water bottle - $3.80
Thursday: $0
Friday: Burger King - $5.21
Saturday: $0
Sunday: Coffee and 2 pastries - $7.50

Total = $42.41

Weekly spending:

2007-01-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Admission for two to local comedy show and one cup of drip coffee - $11.50
Wednesday: $0
Thursday: Renewed my subscription to This Old House (I LOVE this mag and they offered me two years for $10!!! How could I resist?) - $10
Friday: Amazon.com - The Beautiful Girls CD - $12.10 inc. shipping (I've heard great things about this CD and my curiosity finally caught me, AND the price dropped $3!)
Saturday: $0
Sunday: KFC (bought everyone dinner, except me of course) - $20.23, Taco Bell (my bean burrito) - $1.06

Total = $53.89

Pretty good up until Sunday! And I 100% loved every purchase until then, so I find that very very frugal indeed. The Sunday chicken isn't so bad though, because they've been buying us dinner here and there.

*I should note that Matt spent about $7 on individual cigars, because he's trying to quit smoking and buying smokes individually is much less convenient. Please send your prayers to Matt's smoking cessation! He's cut back, but it's still a work in progress.*

So if you count Matt's cigars, $60.89 - still a fifth of what we spent last week!

This will be the best Summer yet!

2007-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some things I want to do this Summer. I'll update this list as more information becomes available and when I think of something else fun to do. I'm still going to actively work on being frugal, especially since we'll probably have a brand new mortgage to pay and cheap activities will be the best kind!

* means MUST DO!

Outdoors:

*Picnic at Jetty Island - free

*Kayak with Mom - free

*Watch the sunset - free

Go to every nearby beach - free

Throw a potluck Beach BBQ - $50

Take an easy hike - Usually $5 to park
http://www.nwsource.com/outdoors/hiking/
http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin/wtaweb.pl?0+fp
http://www.slackpacker.com/map_wa.html

Outdoor shopping:

Farmer's Markets - free

*Fremont Sunday Market - free

Phinney Ridge Community Yard Sale - free

Free/ inexpensive shows:

*Folk Life Festival - free admission, $5-10 to park plus food

Fremont Outdoor Movies - $5/pp

*Puget Park Drive-In - $8/pp

*Music in the Park - free

Not frugal but worth it:

*Go for a weekend trip on the train.

**Camp in Vantage (maybe even rent a cabin) - $?

ZooTunes - zoo admission $15

Wild Waves - $30/pp plus parking and food

*Jack Johnson concert (assuming he comes to town) - $40ish/pp

Bumbershoot - $18/ pp (if we buy presale) plus parking, food, etc.

Misc:

Ice Skating (I know, sounds weird, but ice skating on a hot day is so wonderful) - $10 inc. skate rental

Sources to search for fun things to do:

http://www.wfea.org/calendar-event/

http://www.everettwa.org/default.aspx?ID=1020

Search "Summer Guide 2007" at http://www.seattleweekly.com

http://seattle.eventguide.com/

http://www.seattle-downtown.com/events/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/entlist.html

http://downtownmountvernon.com/events-calendar.php

http://www.skagitarts.org/CALENDAR/PerformingArtsOrganizations.htm

http://www.skagitpublishing.com/publications/almanac/skagit-county.php?article=skagit-county-calendar-of-events

http://www.bellingham.org/event/

http://www.cob.org/events.htm

http://www.bellinghambizeview.com/page/show/272

If you know of anything else exciting to do let me know!

Weekly spending:

2007-01-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

Monday: Zoo - $19
Tuesday: Subway - $13, Taco Time - $11, Water bottle - $.97 (We were on the road, we had to eat!)
Wednesday: Took in-laws to lunch at Applebee's - $57
Thursday: $0 (yes!)
Friday: Burger King - $5.25, Target (wheat kitty litter, birthday cards, toiletries) - $34.20, Home Depot (a great energy saver magazine, potting soil, and a new pot for Albert - Albert is my baby pine tree) - $22.29, Pet Food Express (you guessed it - pet food, 4 bags. Also, a new denim diaper for Tink, since she's about to go into heat and hers vanished, and it was looking pretty sad anyway.) -$56.87
Saturday: Raley's (soap, medicine, Oxypads to send to Nick - puberty is hitting him!) - $21.55, Proppertopper.com (Literally every birthday card I will need to send in the next year and a half) - $57.95 (this is a huge relief b/c I don't enjoy shopping for cards but I think it's important that people are remembered on their birthday AND it's one of my resolutions to send cards out on time)
Sunday: $0

Total = $299.08! Ow!

Man, I must have a hole in my pocket where all the money flies out! That's okay, I'll patch it and next week I'll be so frugal it'll be amazing. I'm so glad we skipped the week we were back in WA because we were out of control! What is with us right now? Two weeks left to rein in the debit card and try to recover this month.

I think I'm spending loosely (I have that itch to spend much more than what I slipped and spent this week) because I'm unhappy right now. I need to refocus and really think about what's good in my life. I have my wonderful husband, my sweet dog and cat, my dear best friend, my amazing mom, my loveable brother, I have my health and food and shelter, and I have my future, which is going to be so so so much better than this. One of my favorite design teachers always said, "if you're uncomfortable, embrace it because it means you're growing". This is clearly a time of growth and reevaluation. I know we're meant to be here at this time for whatever reason, strange as it all seems. We'll learn this lesson and then we'll be able to begin again, like always, and things will be clear and exciting once again. This is going to be a very powerful year with a lot of change and I know it will end very well. I just need to make myself appreciate the journey for what it is, then the arrival will be so much better. "This too shall pass" and it will all fade into a memory, the good and the bad will blur around the edges and I will be off to bigger and better adventures, to be free of judging eyes and harsh voices. I will not look back.

YouTube cracks me up...

2007-01-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAxG3lgRKUU&eurl=?

My visit home

2007-01-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

Matt and I drove up to Washington to visit everyone last weekend. We got back to California night before last and I'm already ready to go back home! It was a wonderful time. It's fun visiting your home when you've been away because everyone wants to do something great, not just hang around.

We got in to my mom's on Wednesday night
Had lunch on Thursday with my grandma, then that night Dani, Jake, and Eli came over to Mom's for amazing veggie lasagna and a round of Settlers of Cataan,
I went to the aquarium with Dani and Eli on Friday (while Matt worked) - Oh so much fun! Eli was just amazed. It's wonderful to experience things with a child because everything is so new and so magical!
I went to the Olympus Spa with Mom on Saturday (Heavenly relaxing place, and free on your birthday! You have to be nude though! Wasn't as weird as you might think, actually.) while Matt snowboarded, then we played Settlers of Cataan with Dani and Little Sarah that night until 3 in the morning (stupid too-tired giggles and all! We're not the partiers we once were...Which is fine with me.)
Hung out with Dad, Nick, and Sherry on Sunday
Matt worked and I went to the zoo with Sarah Martin on Monday (There was hardly anyone there and all the animals were so social and relaxed. It was the coolest day at the zoo.)
Then we packed it up and drove South on Tuesday. It was crazy foggy in the Siskyous mountain pass which was so spooky but we made it! We arrived in California to find that Kristi had emptied her things out of the closet, dressers, and bookshelf so we could put our things away! It was pretty snug in the guest room before so it was a huge relief to put my shoes in the closet etc., and I'm so very grateful for that.

All this gypsying we've been doing has REALLY driven it home for me that my heart is in Washington and I can't live anywhere else. I've liked all the places we've been (except maybe Kansas City, haha), and I'm sure they're great places to live, but darnit, in April I am COMING HOME to Washington and to all the people I love so much. I don't care if this remodel project is done, I don't care if I have to carry Matt kicking and screaming to the car, I don't care if a tsunami hits, I don't care if Washington catches on fire, in April I am packing up my little family of animals (Matt included, haha) and going back to where I truly live.

Weekly Spending, the Last of 2006!

2007-01-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Monday: $0
Tuesday: Target - (rechargeable batteries and Qtips) - $15.33, Beachcamera.com - (our portion of the camcorder and an extra battery - thanks, Mom!!!)- $194
Wednesday: Target (kitty litter, new cat box, Sharpies) - $15.62, Raley's (veggies)- $14.51 Raley's again (stuff for oatmeal bars)- $3.68
Thursday: $0
Friday: $0
Saturday: $0
Sunday: Subway - $13.47

Total = $256.61

I think Dani crushed me this week...

New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-01T00:04:00.001-08:00

My main focus this year is on growing relationships; living a healthier, fuller life; and squeezing more joy out of every single day.

LEARN TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
Take a walk with Matt or work out 5 days a week.
Become a rockin' good healthy cook once again.
Think and speak positively
Consume less!
Actively practice my guitar and knitting
Find more good friends that fit where I'm at in life
Get outdoors once in a while
Remember everyone's birthday and send the card out on time
Do yoga every morning, even just a little bit

What I love about the people in my life

2006-12-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

My friend Sarah was talking about the book The Hidden Messages in Water
(strange and fascinating book!) and it got me thinking again about how what we say, hear, and see affects us in such a profound way and that we rarely even notice when it happens. The gist of the book (the book says it much better) is that these scientists discovered that when they would talk sweetly to vials of water as they froze, the ice crystals turned out beautiful, symmetrical, and balanced. When they talked down to the water, the ice crystals turned out ugly and misshapen. When you consider that we are 70% water, think of how words must affect us! Negative self talk, road rage, and discouraging words hurt us deeply in ways we don't realize, and every word of affection, respect, and kindness helps to build us up. If we could just think before we speak and turn criticism into focused encouragement, silence mean spirited teasing, and shut the door on nasty thoughts, think of the effect we'd have on ourselves, our loved ones, and, most importantly, the new generation we are growing and parenting now! Ever since I saw this book last year I've been trying to listen to music with positive, respectful lyrics (harder to find than you'd think!), and I did work on speaking respectfully as well, but it just slipped out of my mind for a while. This year I want to really focus on giving kind, helpful, positive words, especially to those I love. So, I'll start by listing my best friends and close family and what is most wonderful about them.

And so, in alphabetical order (so I don't have to determine importance), here we go:

Abigail: My loveysweet newest niece, at three months old, was still keeping her personality mostly a secret when I saw her two months ago. I imagine she will be friendly and outgoing like her mom and sister, and will light up a room.

Dad: Unconditionally loving, focused on family, supportive, protective. Children adore him. Always driven to show his children all that he can and to teach and experience as much as possible. His motto is "Today is the best day ever, and tomorrow will be twice as good." Everyone (especially me) needs that motto.

Dan: My father in law is always concerned about the comfort and happiness of those around him.

Dani: Fearless, dives in head first into everything. Self-professed information junkie and marvelous mother. My best friend, platonic soulmate, and "twin" of 22 years succeeds at everything she does, and inspires me to go for it whenever I'm scared. She sends me encouraging text messages telling me she's proud of me and misses me and makes me feel great. She also laughs at my dumb jokes. ;-) Constantly changing, and, strangely, always changing the same way I am! We have stupid amounts of fun no matter what we're doing.

Elijah: My 8 month old nephew is the happiest child on the planet. His big beautiful smile will steal your heart. He's already friendly, intelligent, and musically inclined, and I am so thrilled that I get to watch him grow into an amazing adult!

Eric: My stepbrother's warm smile makes you feel right at home. The first thing he said to me was, "So you're my sister now!" He really does make me feel that way, and I wish he and his marvelous wife Lettie lived near us! It will be fun to see the two of them and their eventual children throughout the years and to be able to grow as a big family together.

Evey: Joy! My confident 2 year old niece will talk to anyone and I'm sure as she grows she will be surrounded by friends (and boys - she's a knockout!)

Jake: Eli's loving father and a thoughtful fiance to my dear Dani. Very intelligent and a "seeker".

Kristi: My mother in law gets excited about everything, and will strike up a conversation with anyone she comes across. Has a gift for staying in touch with people, and has many wonderful friends.

Lettie: Vibrant and fun, my sister in law is all around great. I love that she realizes how important it is to spend time with your husband and really grow your marriage before you add baby to the equation. Very down to earth.

Lindsey: Sweet and friendly, my sister in law is dedicated to being the best mother she can possibly be, which is the most noble thing I can imagine.

Matt: Thoughtful, supportive, encouraging, affectionate, my husband is never embarrassed to say I love you in front of a bunch of construction workers. An amazing nurturer, promising fledgling cook, lightning speed cleaner, and fully understands and appreciates that I will never fit the traditional "wife" mold. Patient with my constant change. Playful and silly. Does the things that everyone else wants to do but is too afraid to (direct quote from his cousin Derik). Talented artist and exceptional craftsman. Will someday be the greatest dad the world's ever known.

Mom: Oh, my mom is amazing, where do I start? Astounding mother, encouraging, always ready to help any way she can, thoughtful, anticipates the needs of others, always actively working to better herself, beautiful decorator, psychic I swear (how does she always know everything?!), hardest worker I know, strong and flexible, daring, funny, always fun to be around, intelligent deep thinker.

Nick: ENTHUSIASM!!! To my brother, everything is THE. COOLEST. THING. EVER. I love it. Amazing musical talent, wild imagination, exceedingly polite and kind.

Phil: Wholehearted interest and enthusiasm in his hobbies. My stepdad is mellow and open.

Sarah G.: Sweet sweet Sarah will do anything to help out the ones she loves. My "sister by association" is an open and warm soul with so many friends!

Sarah M.: Her joie de vivre. My glammest friend radiates excitement and fun and draws people in. The best dancer I've seen, with real star potential. An artistic soul.

Sherry: Big hearted and protective, my stepmom attracts animals and children the way sweet people seem to do.

I love you all!!!

Super healthy oatmeal breakfast bars

2006-12-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

An excellent "grab and go" food, these are SO good, and very simple to make. This recipe is very easy to adapt or change for variety's sake or to suit your own tastes. You can add or change ingredients all you want, and you know you've got the right consistency when it's really hard to stir! My mom took this recipe, then adapted it, then gave it to me and I adapted it, and now it's yours to play with!

In a large bowl, stir together:
3/4 cup of brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/2 cup of granulated sugar (organic raw is best)
1 cup low fat vanilla or plain yogurt (1 8 oz. container)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 banana (well mashed)
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil (I use flax, use anything but Canola!)
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp. fat free milk or soymilk

In a medium bowl, stir together:
1 1/2 cups flour (I use 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup ground flax seed)
4 cups uncooked oats (can substitute barley for oats)
1 tsp. cinnamon (I use 1 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, blueberries...)
1 cup chopped nuts (or whole, if you prefer big chunks like Matt does - sunflower seeds don't work well) *raw, unsalted nuts are healthiest
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 350. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix very well. Spread evenly into a 9x13 pan and bake for 30 minutes. Test doneness with a knife.

Adaptations:
Add 1 1/2 cup fruit pulp (leftover from making juice in a juicer) and an extra cup of oats (use less dried fruit).
Use soy, almond, or rice milk and soy yogurt and another banana (instead of egg whites) to make this vegan.
Instead of fruit pulp, use blended or chopped fruit
Instead of banana, use canned pumpkin pie filling (not as healthy, but yum!).
Put in protein powder for an extra boost of vitamins and protein.
*Best not to use canned fruit - if you do, you may as well eat candy for breakfast -so much sugar!*