I know I said I wasn't going to do resolutions, but then I thought about how interesting it was to look back at them and see what I'd done and not done. I'm trying to make realistic ones this year. Here we go!
1. Maintain my weight loss and up my activity level so that I am also in good shape again. Hopefully my annual doctor visit will show me how beneficial this all has been.
2. Learn to crochet once and for all. I want to make this. I have too much yarn anyway, might as well use it again.
2a. Knitting again would also be nice. I miss it.
3. More driving. I slacked on this as the weather got colder, which I think is just how I roll (I don't like driving in bad weather. Or rain. Or the threat of rain.) so I have to ramp it back up when it warms up again. For real, 2012 is the year I drive to Edgewood.
4. A cleaner house. It's time to sort further through the piles and collections. In 2011 I did finally get rid of a LOT of baby gear and baby clothes. I need to do more of that. I also need to sort my own clothing one more time - stuff I'd hidden away because I'd never be able to wear it again suddenly is wearable. Other stuff is too big now and needs to be gotten rid of so I don't use it as an excuse to go back to where I was.
5. Again I'm setting a goal of 50 books in 2012. I have been dicking around on the Internet too much when I could be reading instead. I have lots of books and I have memberships to two library systems. It's time to read again.
I may come back and add more as I think of them. But this is a start!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
End of the Year Meme List Thing - December 28, 2011
Apparently I did this last year, so I might as well be consistent and do it again this year.
(Secret - I'm writing this earlier than the 28th and just setting it to post. I'm so sneaky.)
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I joined Weight Watchers - and lost 20 pounds.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Apparently I kept two of them. (I did three craft shows, including one that was bigger than ones I'd done in the past, and I kept building on the stuff I have for sale at the co-op. I also pared down the baby gear - a pregnant friend got a TON of my stuff - and books - a lot went to Goodwill - though I can do better with the book paring. I didn't really wean off the Internet as I had wanted, I didn't read 50 books - I read about 30 though - and I didn't drive to the places on the list, though I did consistently drive to a bunch of places, drove to Target, and drove to Big Kroger a few times.) I had totally forgotten I'd made those. I don't think I'll make some for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not directly, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Massachusetts, which is, as I noted in 2010, a country all its own.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A bit more confidence. More strength. And maybe 2012 is the year my daughter will take 10 steps in a row?
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year feels like one big blur. The first summer after the first year of preschool was a struggle. Bean (a place) saved us. My daughter finally weaned. The last year of preschool began. I don't know!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 20 pounds. Gaining three new freelance clients. Winning the milk frother. Nursing my daughter for four years and then gently weaning her when the time was right.
9. What was your biggest failure?
An overall feeling of laziness. And a messy house.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing too terrible.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new smartphone.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My kid's. Always.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Certain candidates for a certain major political office.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My kid, same as last year. Plus weaning - that was exciting in all sorts of ways. The Tori Amos tour. Weight Watchers. Some really good sales. Winning a few online contests.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Shattering Sea.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? happier.
- richer or poorer? poorer.
- thinner or fatter? THINNER!!!!!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Cleaning my house. Travel.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Paperwork. (Renewals, yuck.) Playing around online and wasting time.
20. How did you spend the holidays?
As I write this, we have no plans. That could change, I'll try to remember to update it.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
All over again, yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zerrrooooo.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
CBS Sunday Morning, always and forever. American Horror Story. Revenge and Ringer. Once Upon a Time. How I Met Your Mother. The Big Bang Theory. Two Broke Girls (I just love Kat Dennings, I am aware the show is problematic).
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
Rejuvenile. Spoiled. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The Wilder Life. The Girl's Guide to Homelessness. The Boy in the Moon. One Hundred Names for Love. Home/Birth. Road Map to Holland. (The worst book was the Land of Painted Caves. Ugh.)
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see any new movies this year, which is sad. I watched Enchanted on DVD a lot. I checked a list of 2011 movies and I still would like to see 50/50, Melancholia, Bridesmaids, Super 8, Water for Elephants, the Muppets, and maybe War Horse.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"This fits again? YAY." I am slowly rediscovering tighter-fitting clothes. Skinny jeans. I love boots. The whole 80s revival. Good stuff.
28 Whom did you miss?
My friends in New England. My local friends who had babies (we all got busy). My friend who moved away temporarily.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
The rediscovery of an acquaintance who turned out to be an important friend.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Get started. Stop putting it off, because once you start it, you're that much closer to your goal.
(Secret - I'm writing this earlier than the 28th and just setting it to post. I'm so sneaky.)
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I joined Weight Watchers - and lost 20 pounds.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Apparently I kept two of them. (I did three craft shows, including one that was bigger than ones I'd done in the past, and I kept building on the stuff I have for sale at the co-op. I also pared down the baby gear - a pregnant friend got a TON of my stuff - and books - a lot went to Goodwill - though I can do better with the book paring. I didn't really wean off the Internet as I had wanted, I didn't read 50 books - I read about 30 though - and I didn't drive to the places on the list, though I did consistently drive to a bunch of places, drove to Target, and drove to Big Kroger a few times.) I had totally forgotten I'd made those. I don't think I'll make some for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not directly, no.
5. What countries did you visit?
Massachusetts, which is, as I noted in 2010, a country all its own.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A bit more confidence. More strength. And maybe 2012 is the year my daughter will take 10 steps in a row?
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year feels like one big blur. The first summer after the first year of preschool was a struggle. Bean (a place) saved us. My daughter finally weaned. The last year of preschool began. I don't know!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 20 pounds. Gaining three new freelance clients. Winning the milk frother. Nursing my daughter for four years and then gently weaning her when the time was right.
9. What was your biggest failure?
An overall feeling of laziness. And a messy house.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing too terrible.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new smartphone.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My kid's. Always.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Certain candidates for a certain major political office.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My kid, same as last year. Plus weaning - that was exciting in all sorts of ways. The Tori Amos tour. Weight Watchers. Some really good sales. Winning a few online contests.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Shattering Sea.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? happier.
- richer or poorer? poorer.
- thinner or fatter? THINNER!!!!!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Cleaning my house. Travel.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Paperwork. (Renewals, yuck.) Playing around online and wasting time.
20. How did you spend the holidays?
As I write this, we have no plans. That could change, I'll try to remember to update it.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
All over again, yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zerrrooooo.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
CBS Sunday Morning, always and forever. American Horror Story. Revenge and Ringer. Once Upon a Time. How I Met Your Mother. The Big Bang Theory. Two Broke Girls (I just love Kat Dennings, I am aware the show is problematic).
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
Rejuvenile. Spoiled. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The Wilder Life. The Girl's Guide to Homelessness. The Boy in the Moon. One Hundred Names for Love. Home/Birth. Road Map to Holland. (The worst book was the Land of Painted Caves. Ugh.)
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see any new movies this year, which is sad. I watched Enchanted on DVD a lot. I checked a list of 2011 movies and I still would like to see 50/50, Melancholia, Bridesmaids, Super 8, Water for Elephants, the Muppets, and maybe War Horse.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"This fits again? YAY." I am slowly rediscovering tighter-fitting clothes. Skinny jeans. I love boots. The whole 80s revival. Good stuff.
28 Whom did you miss?
My friends in New England. My local friends who had babies (we all got busy). My friend who moved away temporarily.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
The rediscovery of an acquaintance who turned out to be an important friend.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Get started. Stop putting it off, because once you start it, you're that much closer to your goal.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Picture of the Day (Norton Juster) - December 10, 2011
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| Norton Juster in Decatur, GA, on December 9, 2011 |
Thanks to some amazing people who work at one amazing independent children's bookstore, the city of Decatur, GA, held a several-month-long initiative called "On the Same Page" where everyone in the city was encouraged to read, share, and discuss the same book. The inaugural program selected one of my all-time favorite books, The Phantom Tollbooth. And the grand finale of this program was a visit from Norton Juster.
When it was my turn to meet him and have my book signed, I got choked up. I had about 5 whole seconds in which to tell him how much that book meant to me as a kid. And he was so warm and genuine in his response, telling me it meant a lot to hear that. I shook his hand (I actually clasped his hand in both of mine) and then off I floated.
If you haven't read The Phantom Tollbooth, I suggest you stop what you're doing and go out to get either the 50th anniversary edition or the new annotated edition (the one I now have) and to read it yourself or to share it with the children in your life.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Picture of the Day - December 8, 2011
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| My favorite food truck in Atlanta - amazing food, vegetarian options, and super-sweet staff. LOVE! |
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Picture of the Day - November 28, 2011
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| Cat toy for the kid holding cat toy for the cat. |
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Pictures pictures pictures - November 27, 2011
Many years ago, I set up a livejournal (or was it just a feed...I can't even remember now) for pictures from my dinky little camera phone. And now, here we are, and I think I may start posting pictures here again in a similar manner. Perhaps one a day or just...whenever I remember. This is one of the reasons I made this blog a catch-all place...
Phone: LG Optimus V. Filters: Added through FxCamera app. Drink: Skinny peppermint mocha. Fingerless gloves: Knit by me with yarn dyed by me with Kool Aid. Hand: In need of a manicure.
I also can be found on PicPlz though I haven't actually started using it. I wish Instagram was available for the Android system, but it's not. I wish I could post pictures directly from my phone to my blog, but what I've found is that while I sort of can, I sort of can't. We'll see - the novelty will probably wear off quickly...
Phone: LG Optimus V. Filters: Added through FxCamera app. Drink: Skinny peppermint mocha. Fingerless gloves: Knit by me with yarn dyed by me with Kool Aid. Hand: In need of a manicure.
I also can be found on PicPlz though I haven't actually started using it. I wish Instagram was available for the Android system, but it's not. I wish I could post pictures directly from my phone to my blog, but what I've found is that while I sort of can, I sort of can't. We'll see - the novelty will probably wear off quickly...
Saturday, November 26, 2011
New phone, Black Friday musings, and more - November 26, 2011
It's time for another rambly post that isn't an endorsement or a contest or anything of that sort. (Note - while I never intended for this blog to be a review/contest blog, I do enjoy doing those things and some more are in the pipeline. I still think it's funny which pages on my blog are the most popular....)
So here's a story.
I got my first cell phone in about 2000, which is later than a lot of people. I hemmed and hawed and picked a plain black phone, and it did what it needed to do for years. I then upgraded to a camera phone (I think it was either free or ridiculously cheap) and paid the extra fee to be able to send pictures - mostly to another friend with a similar phone, occasionally to various online forums/blogs.
I jumped ship from that provider (no, I won't name names - ahem, the synonym for running quickly for a short distance - after it pissed me off royally, but in doing so I gave up on the data plan and the camera phone. For six years I've had a phone that did little more than make calls - I even paid per text (did I only text on rare occasion because I had to pay or because I genuinely didn't care about texting? we shall see.) It sounds funny to even lament that by the way. The provider was fine, but service was spotty and I was sick of dropped calls - ahem, a letter and a word that means something can move.
I bought myself an iPod Touch a few years ago (using Swagbucks-earned Amazon credit and birthday money) and that mostly scratched the want-a-smartphone itch. Mostly. I still use my Touch daily but it doesn't have a camera and, of course, it requires WiFi to do most things. But it can make calls, I've been using it for free texting for almost as long as I have had it, and it has LOTS of music on it.
But my phone was crapping out after all these years (it was the freebie, after all). And my husband's had already died a painful death in the ocean, and his replacement phone was also crappy. When a fancy smartphone was on sale at Target a few weeks ago, we got all excited and went to see it. Yeah, except that the monthly plans for the phone were exorbitant. I checked other providers - same thing. I asked around - same thing. $150-ish on average for two people to have smart phones. I couldn't swing that. I couldn't justify that. Nope. When I looked into pay-as-you-go plans, I saw that I could either get a REALLY crappy cheap phone or have to pay for a decent phone so that the monthly plan + the cost of the phone averaged out was...pretty much the same thing. It was a kick in the gut. I wasn't sure what would happen, since our phones really were about to die and our provider was having merger drama with an uncertain future.
Then I saw a leaked Black Friday deal for a smartphone that was $70-ish less than it usually sold for - I couldn't find a price close to the BF price anywhere - with a pay-as-you-go service. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The phone had the basic features I wanted (Droid, camera, ability to run apps, not a crappy flip phone) and the plan included unlimited texting and data (and an option for unlimited talk but a slightly less expensive option for a reasonable amount of minutes). If we canceled our landline, we could totally swing this deal.
And so on Friday we ventured out...to a nearly empty store (we went at around 11am). The shelves were stocked with the phone, the phone was exactly as promised, and we bought. HOORAY. The switch from the old provider (we were off contract already) to the new one was seamless. And now I have a phone that I can use to take stupid pictures and cute videos and that I can text with.
One thing that was eerie and sad was that as I transferred over the numbers (not done yet), I didn't transfer over my grandmother's number. She passed away two years ago. I kept her number on my old phone. This phone doesn't have it on there. I had to let that go. I also let go a few numbers for people I no longer speak with for various reasons. New phone, new life. Some choices hurt my heart, some just made it lighter.
The phone is definitely on the lower end of the smartphone spectrum, but I figure that for the small investment we made in these phones plus a month-to-month plan with no contract, there is plenty of room to, at any time, jump ship again, buy the high-end deliciously wonderful phones and pay that high monthly premium. I don't really see that happening any time soon, but it's nice to know we didn't lock into anything right now. This is a good stopgap, I think. Do I want the phone fairy to grant me an iPhone or a high-end Droid with many long years of paid monthly fees? I sure do. Feel free to leap in at any time and offer to do that for me, by the way...
I would normally end a post like this with "what's your favorite app?" but...the phone seriously has a VERY limited amount of internal memory. Micro SD cards happened to also be on sale, so I have 8 gigs of expanded memory, but if you have a Droid you may know that you can't put just anything on the card, appwise. So...my space is limited and I have to make some choices. Happily I still have my darling iPod, so most of my apps and all of my music will live on it. Sure, it's a bit clumsy dragging around TWO tabletty tiny things, but I still see it as the best of both worlds.
The apps I have so far are mostly practical - Google Docs, Google Voice, Scoutmob, Groupon - with a few fun ones thrown in like FxCamera (love it!). I don't even have a Facebook app at the moment (accessing it via browser seems just as fine and doesn't eat space) and the Twitter app the phone came with is...well, it's fine. (Frustratingly, the phone came with several social-based apps that are both redundant to one another and not useful to me - and that can't be deleted. I hate that bit.) I had to remove the Weight Watchers app because it was just SO HUGE (no jokes, please!) - I'll continue to use the Touch for that one.
[I've lost about 17 pounds now since starting WW by the way. My jeans no longer fit. I have cheekbones. I can wear cute shirts again. My goal is on the horizon. I still was able to eat things I liked on Thanksgiving. I *LOVE* WEIGHT WATCHERS!]
This concludes my rambly post. *curtsey*
So here's a story.
I got my first cell phone in about 2000, which is later than a lot of people. I hemmed and hawed and picked a plain black phone, and it did what it needed to do for years. I then upgraded to a camera phone (I think it was either free or ridiculously cheap) and paid the extra fee to be able to send pictures - mostly to another friend with a similar phone, occasionally to various online forums/blogs.
I jumped ship from that provider (no, I won't name names - ahem, the synonym for running quickly for a short distance - after it pissed me off royally, but in doing so I gave up on the data plan and the camera phone. For six years I've had a phone that did little more than make calls - I even paid per text (did I only text on rare occasion because I had to pay or because I genuinely didn't care about texting? we shall see.) It sounds funny to even lament that by the way. The provider was fine, but service was spotty and I was sick of dropped calls - ahem, a letter and a word that means something can move.
I bought myself an iPod Touch a few years ago (using Swagbucks-earned Amazon credit and birthday money) and that mostly scratched the want-a-smartphone itch. Mostly. I still use my Touch daily but it doesn't have a camera and, of course, it requires WiFi to do most things. But it can make calls, I've been using it for free texting for almost as long as I have had it, and it has LOTS of music on it.
But my phone was crapping out after all these years (it was the freebie, after all). And my husband's had already died a painful death in the ocean, and his replacement phone was also crappy. When a fancy smartphone was on sale at Target a few weeks ago, we got all excited and went to see it. Yeah, except that the monthly plans for the phone were exorbitant. I checked other providers - same thing. I asked around - same thing. $150-ish on average for two people to have smart phones. I couldn't swing that. I couldn't justify that. Nope. When I looked into pay-as-you-go plans, I saw that I could either get a REALLY crappy cheap phone or have to pay for a decent phone so that the monthly plan + the cost of the phone averaged out was...pretty much the same thing. It was a kick in the gut. I wasn't sure what would happen, since our phones really were about to die and our provider was having merger drama with an uncertain future.
Then I saw a leaked Black Friday deal for a smartphone that was $70-ish less than it usually sold for - I couldn't find a price close to the BF price anywhere - with a pay-as-you-go service. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The phone had the basic features I wanted (Droid, camera, ability to run apps, not a crappy flip phone) and the plan included unlimited texting and data (and an option for unlimited talk but a slightly less expensive option for a reasonable amount of minutes). If we canceled our landline, we could totally swing this deal.
And so on Friday we ventured out...to a nearly empty store (we went at around 11am). The shelves were stocked with the phone, the phone was exactly as promised, and we bought. HOORAY. The switch from the old provider (we were off contract already) to the new one was seamless. And now I have a phone that I can use to take stupid pictures and cute videos and that I can text with.
One thing that was eerie and sad was that as I transferred over the numbers (not done yet), I didn't transfer over my grandmother's number. She passed away two years ago. I kept her number on my old phone. This phone doesn't have it on there. I had to let that go. I also let go a few numbers for people I no longer speak with for various reasons. New phone, new life. Some choices hurt my heart, some just made it lighter.
The phone is definitely on the lower end of the smartphone spectrum, but I figure that for the small investment we made in these phones plus a month-to-month plan with no contract, there is plenty of room to, at any time, jump ship again, buy the high-end deliciously wonderful phones and pay that high monthly premium. I don't really see that happening any time soon, but it's nice to know we didn't lock into anything right now. This is a good stopgap, I think. Do I want the phone fairy to grant me an iPhone or a high-end Droid with many long years of paid monthly fees? I sure do. Feel free to leap in at any time and offer to do that for me, by the way...
I would normally end a post like this with "what's your favorite app?" but...the phone seriously has a VERY limited amount of internal memory. Micro SD cards happened to also be on sale, so I have 8 gigs of expanded memory, but if you have a Droid you may know that you can't put just anything on the card, appwise. So...my space is limited and I have to make some choices. Happily I still have my darling iPod, so most of my apps and all of my music will live on it. Sure, it's a bit clumsy dragging around TWO tabletty tiny things, but I still see it as the best of both worlds.
The apps I have so far are mostly practical - Google Docs, Google Voice, Scoutmob, Groupon - with a few fun ones thrown in like FxCamera (love it!). I don't even have a Facebook app at the moment (accessing it via browser seems just as fine and doesn't eat space) and the Twitter app the phone came with is...well, it's fine. (Frustratingly, the phone came with several social-based apps that are both redundant to one another and not useful to me - and that can't be deleted. I hate that bit.) I had to remove the Weight Watchers app because it was just SO HUGE (no jokes, please!) - I'll continue to use the Touch for that one.
[I've lost about 17 pounds now since starting WW by the way. My jeans no longer fit. I have cheekbones. I can wear cute shirts again. My goal is on the horizon. I still was able to eat things I liked on Thanksgiving. I *LOVE* WEIGHT WATCHERS!]
This concludes my rambly post. *curtsey*
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monthly Thrifting Updatey Post - November 17, 2011
It seems like lately I've been able to go thrifting about once a month. I also just donated a GIANT PILE of clothes, books, and baby gear to Goodwill, so I'm trying to get better about things going out as things come in. Also, as I've noted, I've been losing weight, so I actually needed new clothes.
The pictures in this entry are craptastic. I knew when I was taking them that they were bad, but when I uploaded them I could tell they were worse. I'm sorry. This is really just for my own inventory purposes anyway...but enjoy?
We made it to four stores on this trip. The best thing I got was at the fourth store and I don't have a picture so I shall describe it. It is an old-style Little Tikes yellow plastic shopping cart. Old style is critical because it can hold weights inside it so that my daughter can use it to practice walking. Her PT has one and we've been looking around for one for a while - I was borrowing a friend's temporarily, but I seriously squealed when I spied this one across the store. And for the record, the store supported a charity I am not down with. At all. But that's a political issue and this is a lighthearted post, so I will just say I paid $3 for it and was happy.
Now for pictures. First was the BESTEST STORE EVER aka the Humane Society Thrift Store. Wonderful people, puppies, amazing clothing, and the cheapest prices around. It's good I don't live close to this one or I'd shop hourly. And my friend paid for everything I got as a surprise birthday present...
Then we went to another little out of the way store. I didn't get much...
And then we went to Goodwill, where I got the most random things of all...
Quality over quantity this time. I just have to get everything into the washing machine tomorrow so I can start wearing it...
The pictures in this entry are craptastic. I knew when I was taking them that they were bad, but when I uploaded them I could tell they were worse. I'm sorry. This is really just for my own inventory purposes anyway...but enjoy?
We made it to four stores on this trip. The best thing I got was at the fourth store and I don't have a picture so I shall describe it. It is an old-style Little Tikes yellow plastic shopping cart. Old style is critical because it can hold weights inside it so that my daughter can use it to practice walking. Her PT has one and we've been looking around for one for a while - I was borrowing a friend's temporarily, but I seriously squealed when I spied this one across the store. And for the record, the store supported a charity I am not down with. At all. But that's a political issue and this is a lighthearted post, so I will just say I paid $3 for it and was happy.
Now for pictures. First was the BESTEST STORE EVER aka the Humane Society Thrift Store. Wonderful people, puppies, amazing clothing, and the cheapest prices around. It's good I don't live close to this one or I'd shop hourly. And my friend paid for everything I got as a surprise birthday present...
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| Look, it's me. Pasty pasty pasty me. I'm not usually this pasty. But now you get to see the person behind the blog. The trench coat is a size smaller than I've been wearing and it makes me look delightfully thin. It is London Fog and it was a mere $3. That tiny tag on the belt is a dry cleaning tag. I'm guessing the store gets great stuff in part from one or more dry cleaners sharing unclaimed goodness. (Most of my images are click-for-larger types, but I disabled that on this one. |
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| Cute flowery top. $1. Cat tail, free. |
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| I don't usually like turtlenecks, but this one kind of gave me a hipster vibe and I did like the color scheme. $1. |
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| See what I mean about crappy pictures? Cat tails and bad lighting and...sorry. This shirt is a lovely teal and is a tiny bit big on me, but I haven't worn button-down shirts in a while so I got it. $1. |
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| The culprit. |
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| Another cute button down that I photographed poorly. This one fits better than the other. $1. |
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| Dockers - because until I bought these, I owned no other pants but blue jeans. $1. |
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| Ladies and Gentlemen, these Levi's 505s are a full size SMALLER than what I have been wearing. Hooray! $1. |
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| Three tops for the kid - this last one is a very cute sweater/dress/top. They were 50 cents each. |
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| I just love the breastfeeding-centric comics in this series. 50 cents. |
Then we went to another little out of the way store. I didn't get much...
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| I'm not particularly a football fan, but this was cute and fit nicely. $3. |
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| Basic Gap thermal shirt. $3. |
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| I stopped buying mugs long ago but this one was just so fabulous for so many reasons. It's in perfect, pristine shape. The design is adorable. The size is perfect for coffee. My kid's name is on it. And I've been to Chattanooga so many times without going to the Falls that I just had to get this. 99 cents. |
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| I've wanted to read this for a while - read and then rethrift, I'm sure. $1.50. |
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| Another age-inappropriate shirt for me - I think it will fit. $2.92. |
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| Amazing find although you can't really tell from the picture. It's a glass jar that is sort of penny-candy-ish. I plan to use it to display my wares at my next craft show. $2.92. |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Happy Birthday to Me - November 13, 2011
I've always explained why I get so excited about my birthday as follows - my mom and I share the same birthday. My brother's birthday is within a week. Hanukkah always falls somewhere around now. So my entire year was quiet, quiet, quiet and then BAM BIRTHDAY AND PRESENTS AND HOLIDAYS AND EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
So today is my birthday. I feel like I have been making little positive changes for the past few months and that this year has potential. Big potential. I'm hoping for more freelance work, more crafty opportunities, more writing in general. I'm hoping for big progress from my girl. I'm looking forward to starting my next year on this planet a lot healthier - my BMI now firmly in the healthy zone, my jeans starting to be too big (I have now lost 15 pounds on Weight Watchers and can see my goal twinkling on the horizon).
I simply wanted to make a blog post to mark today so that next year, which will be rather close to a milestone (but not quite), I can look back and see where my mind was and try to keep this going.
Here's my birthday post from last year, which included a list of birthday freebies.
Awww, I got a freebie from Borders last year. Sniff. This year I've gotten the free Starbucks drink, the free Moe's burrito, the 50 Swagbuck bonus, and a free $25 gift from Aveda that I still have to pick up. I think I saw a discount deal from Jason's Deli again, though I don't get there very often. Not much else this year. It's a quiet one.
Happy birthday to me!
PS My husband asked my daughter to write her name the other night. She can barely SAY her name, but we've been pretty sure she's known how to read for some time. And she wrote her name - four distinct letters, three of them VERY clear and one approximation. All on her own. The kid who can barely hold a crayon. Never underestimate anyone. Never assume anything. I plan on showing the picture we took of this feat to every therapist and teacher that works with her. I'm so proud I could burst.
So today is my birthday. I feel like I have been making little positive changes for the past few months and that this year has potential. Big potential. I'm hoping for more freelance work, more crafty opportunities, more writing in general. I'm hoping for big progress from my girl. I'm looking forward to starting my next year on this planet a lot healthier - my BMI now firmly in the healthy zone, my jeans starting to be too big (I have now lost 15 pounds on Weight Watchers and can see my goal twinkling on the horizon).
I simply wanted to make a blog post to mark today so that next year, which will be rather close to a milestone (but not quite), I can look back and see where my mind was and try to keep this going.
Here's my birthday post from last year, which included a list of birthday freebies.
Awww, I got a freebie from Borders last year. Sniff. This year I've gotten the free Starbucks drink, the free Moe's burrito, the 50 Swagbuck bonus, and a free $25 gift from Aveda that I still have to pick up. I think I saw a discount deal from Jason's Deli again, though I don't get there very often. Not much else this year. It's a quiet one.
Happy birthday to me!
PS My husband asked my daughter to write her name the other night. She can barely SAY her name, but we've been pretty sure she's known how to read for some time. And she wrote her name - four distinct letters, three of them VERY clear and one approximation. All on her own. The kid who can barely hold a crayon. Never underestimate anyone. Never assume anything. I plan on showing the picture we took of this feat to every therapist and teacher that works with her. I'm so proud I could burst.
Monday, November 7, 2011
We - Yes, You and I - could win $500 in Chronicle Books! - November 7, 2011
Chronicle is one of my favorite book publishers. Seriously. When I'm out thrifting I do a dance of joy when I see the little glasses on the spine. When I'm in a bookstore, I gravitate toward Chronicle's books. Why? They're gorgeous. Whether a cookbook or a how-to book or even, on occasion, a work of fiction, these books are always SO beautifully designed.
And now Chronicle is having a contest. A CONTEST. First, they want bloggers to list $500 worth of Chronicle books that they would like. Well, I can give that a shot...
And now Chronicle is having a contest. A CONTEST. First, they want bloggers to list $500 worth of Chronicle books that they would like. Well, I can give that a shot...
- Skinny Dips - $18.95
- Art of McSweeney's - $45.00
- The Bakerella Cake Pops Kit - $19.95
- A Beautiful Bowl of Soup - $19.95
- Coffee - $14.95
- Craft Inc. (Revised Edition - I have the previous edition and it's great) - $16.95
- Instant Iron-Ons - $14.95
- Stencil 201 - $24.95
- A Life in Stitches - $14.95
- Vintage Craft Workshop - $19.95
- The Button Factory - $18.95
- Creative, Inc. - $16.95
- The Sock Monkey & Friends Kit - $17.99
- Stitchable Stationery - $14.95
- Stencil 101 - $24.95
- Handmade Nation - $24.95
- Creatures & Critters Origami Craft Pad - $12.95
- The Soapmaking Kit - $24.95
- The Art of Pixar - $50
- How to Be Popular - $12.95
- The Small Object Thumbprint Masterpieces - $14.95
- World's Smallest Post Service - $22.95
- Fed Up With Lunch - $22.95
That was both difficult and really really fun. You can see from this list that I'm a fan of cookbooks, how-to books, craft books, kits, and randomness. Um...so, you can see that I'm random.
Now here's the super fun part. If you leave a comment on this post, and if I win, you might win all of the above too! (I'll do a random drawing if/when.) AND I get to also choose a charity to receive all these books - and I choose to have all of these books donated to the City of Decatur (Georgia) high school's library. I suspect they would be very much appreciated and I like to support my local school system.
So go on, leave a comment. Tell me if you love Chronicle as much as I do. Tell me about your favorite book publisher. Tell me which book I should've chosen for my list (I don't think there's a rule against swapping before the deadline!). But please do say something!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Ekobrew refillable K-cup for Keurig brewers is on sale today! - October 29, 2011
The Ekobrew is my favorite reusable/refillable K-cup alternative for the Keurig single-serve coffee brewer. (That links to my review from a while back - it gets the most hits on my blog these days...)
It's on sale today on Amazon as a Gold Box deal - 36% off. This is a great deal for a great product.
And that link up there? It's my referral and affiliate link. I get a few cents if you click through and buy it. So there's my disclaimer so we're all open and everything.
Voila! Go buy it1 Enjoy!
(I also still very much love the Solofill as well - I alternate between them, though I lean toward the Ekobrew as my true favorite.)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Winner of the Renuzit Fresh Accents - October 20, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Doing Things for Me - October 13, 2011
Wow, it's October 13. That means my birthday is a mere month away. Buy presents! I'll be...closer to 40 than I was today.
So after four years of "but it's just baby weight! I'll lose it soon!" and "I'll probably lose it by breastfeeding" and "I'm sure I'll lose it after she weans" and before all that "I'm just getting older" and "I still really think it's fine to eat a carton of ice cream in one sitting" and all along "I really don't think I need to do anything special to lose weight," I joined Weight Watchers. I think I mentioned this before, but I'm going to ramble about it again, so bear with me.
Seriously, I was in denial. When I was in high school, I was a stick. When I was in college, I was a twig - a twig who walked everywhere, danced her booty off, and ate whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. I also started smoking (not ever a LOT of smoking, but enough - what a disgusting habit that was... imissitsometimes...) and of course then eventually I quit (it's been well over ten years - longer, I'm fairly certain, maybe even 15?). Things messed up with my already messed up metabolism, but I never altered my eating habits to compensate. If I could eat a full package of Oreos when I was 15, I could eat it when I was 35 too. And it all slowly slowly caught up with me.
So I joined WW. I know nothing of "the old points," I joined with the Points Plus system. And I really like it. And today I officially (unofficially I did this a few weeks ago on my own scale, but if we're using the same scale/clothing on/blahblah thing) hit my 5% goal. And the Wii Fit says my BMI is normal again.
I have a ways to go before 10% and before I feel like my old self again. But I can see a number just barely ahead of me that I haven't seen since my wedding (8 years ago, when I saw a nutritionist for a few months) and I think if I squint I can see a number that makes me happy.
I'm doing this for me. Nobody else. And after having to do most of what I do for someone else for four whole years (far more than I ever dreamed I'd need to do as a parent), it was time.
I'm also writing this for more accountability. Sometimes I keep quiet about things because I want the results to be a surprise or because I just don't want to talk about it. But if I say "I'm trying to lose weight" (whatever way I choose - WW is a good start, but I may switch to SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal or something else in a few months, who knows) then I am held accountable and people can remind me to stick to it.
Although I have to say, sticking to it has not been particularly difficult. It's partly the way the plan is structured, but it's also that I am ready to do this now. I'm still eating the same things (I believe I always ate at least moderately healthily) but I'm either eating less of them or I'm spacing them out or I'm just being more mindful. Also I am just really sick of not feeling the way I want to feel.
So. Maybe I'll even post a picture when I hit 10%. Maybe.
Now go enter my giveaway for some Renuzit Fresh Accents house smelly goodness things.
So after four years of "but it's just baby weight! I'll lose it soon!" and "I'll probably lose it by breastfeeding" and "I'm sure I'll lose it after she weans" and before all that "I'm just getting older" and "I still really think it's fine to eat a carton of ice cream in one sitting" and all along "I really don't think I need to do anything special to lose weight," I joined Weight Watchers. I think I mentioned this before, but I'm going to ramble about it again, so bear with me.
Seriously, I was in denial. When I was in high school, I was a stick. When I was in college, I was a twig - a twig who walked everywhere, danced her booty off, and ate whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. I also started smoking (not ever a LOT of smoking, but enough - what a disgusting habit that was... imissitsometimes...) and of course then eventually I quit (it's been well over ten years - longer, I'm fairly certain, maybe even 15?). Things messed up with my already messed up metabolism, but I never altered my eating habits to compensate. If I could eat a full package of Oreos when I was 15, I could eat it when I was 35 too. And it all slowly slowly caught up with me.
So I joined WW. I know nothing of "the old points," I joined with the Points Plus system. And I really like it. And today I officially (unofficially I did this a few weeks ago on my own scale, but if we're using the same scale/clothing on/blahblah thing) hit my 5% goal. And the Wii Fit says my BMI is normal again.
I have a ways to go before 10% and before I feel like my old self again. But I can see a number just barely ahead of me that I haven't seen since my wedding (8 years ago, when I saw a nutritionist for a few months) and I think if I squint I can see a number that makes me happy.
I'm doing this for me. Nobody else. And after having to do most of what I do for someone else for four whole years (far more than I ever dreamed I'd need to do as a parent), it was time.
I'm also writing this for more accountability. Sometimes I keep quiet about things because I want the results to be a surprise or because I just don't want to talk about it. But if I say "I'm trying to lose weight" (whatever way I choose - WW is a good start, but I may switch to SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal or something else in a few months, who knows) then I am held accountable and people can remind me to stick to it.
Although I have to say, sticking to it has not been particularly difficult. It's partly the way the plan is structured, but it's also that I am ready to do this now. I'm still eating the same things (I believe I always ate at least moderately healthily) but I'm either eating less of them or I'm spacing them out or I'm just being more mindful. Also I am just really sick of not feeling the way I want to feel.
So. Maybe I'll even post a picture when I hit 10%. Maybe.
Now go enter my giveaway for some Renuzit Fresh Accents house smelly goodness things.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Renuzit Fresh Accents Review and Giveaway - October 12, 2011
Let's get this out of the way right up front and right here: Renuzit brand provided free samples of two Fresh Accents holiday air fresheners so I could review them. However, all of the opinions expressed below are my own.
(That will probably be obvious though.)
I like good smelling things and I love it when my house smells fresh and good. However, I don't think I'm quite the target market for the new Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday line. While I think they are very pretty, and they do smell nice (I was sent one each of Festive Snow and Winter Berry - I preferred the Winter Berry scent), they were a little too cutesy and Christmassy for my taste, and the scent was a bit on the strong side for me. Also, I like foody scents (I lean toward things that are more cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla - that sort of thing) and these were not in that genre to me. Maybe if one was scented like a holiday cookie...?
I have to say, though, that the packaging is very cute - look at that snowflake design! - but I prefer my good-smelling things to be hidden (my tart burner is tucked away in a corner, and I actually hate its design but I got it on sale and it's electric rather than candle-based and so I keep it hidden and OH I DIGRESS WHAT A SURPRISE), and these are more meant to be out in the open. I can't have things like this out in the open anyway, what with a kid who grabs everything and two very curious cats.
In a nutshell, I just didn't click with these although I think they're fine. (They're never going to send me anything else to review, are they? Ha. That's OK. I'm learning!)
So if you like your house to smell and look festive, particularly if you decorate for Christmas, you might like these. They're very inexpensive - around $2 - which is a great deal for something like this.
And I have THREE free product coupons to give away! Yep, one of you gets three free Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday air fresheners. Are you psyched? Get psyched.
To win, just leave a comment on this post telling me which scent you think you'd like best (Festive Snow or Winter Berry). I'll pick a random winner in a week - on October 19, 2011 - to get three coupons. Have at it! Good luck!
 |
| Renuzit Fresh Accents |
I have to say, though, that the packaging is very cute - look at that snowflake design! - but I prefer my good-smelling things to be hidden (my tart burner is tucked away in a corner, and I actually hate its design but I got it on sale and it's electric rather than candle-based and so I keep it hidden and OH I DIGRESS WHAT A SURPRISE), and these are more meant to be out in the open. I can't have things like this out in the open anyway, what with a kid who grabs everything and two very curious cats.
In a nutshell, I just didn't click with these although I think they're fine. (They're never going to send me anything else to review, are they? Ha. That's OK. I'm learning!)
So if you like your house to smell and look festive, particularly if you decorate for Christmas, you might like these. They're very inexpensive - around $2 - which is a great deal for something like this.
And I have THREE free product coupons to give away! Yep, one of you gets three free Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday air fresheners. Are you psyched? Get psyched.
To win, just leave a comment on this post telling me which scent you think you'd like best (Festive Snow or Winter Berry). I'll pick a random winner in a week - on October 19, 2011 - to get three coupons. Have at it! Good luck!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thrifting and booksale hunting - October 10, 2011
Ohhhh I love thrifting. I love it love it love it. Friday - three stores. Sunday - the half-price day of the biggest used book sale around (my favorite - I go every year). (Yom Kippur smushed in the middle. I went to temple briefly. I fasted for part of the day. I thought a lot about forgiveness and about what I want for the coming year. It was good.)
My cat wanted in on the action...
And away. We. Go!
I tend to go in order of stores, but this picture mixes two. FORGIVE. The glass on the left was from Goodwill. It was confusingly marked in yellow but actually tagged green, so it wasn't half price and was a WHOLE 77 cents oh no. The glass on the right was from Value Village and was 80 cents. That's my local beer festival, so I had to have it.
Detail of one of the glasses. It's all similes - sly like a fox, strong like an ox, that sort of thing. The pictures do not capture how wonderfully vintage it is. The images are gilded (still) and the frosting is stripey. It's a good thing.
So. Value Village was our first stop.
The book, which I've been wanting to read for a long time, was $1.50. The Dresden Dolls CD was 80 cents. I have it - I'm from Boston, I've been a fan for forever, yadda yadda. But 80 cents. I had to. It's the 8 Foot Records pressing and everything. It shall be gifted to someone soon.
I hope this fits me. I hope I hope I hope. $1.29. (I think it kind of looks like Missy Kulik's art!)
This is....too young for me (I am old) and just barely fits (I tried it on). BUT COME ON NOW. Cut me some slack. It is amazing and I love it so I am going to wear it. Possibly even in public. $2.29.
I mean really now.
This also may not fit. Or it may. I know I know. But it's a store that fixes Macs right near where I live, and I was amused to find it so I bought it. $1.29.
Back of shirt. I don't get it.
This is actually black, not awful grey-green as this picture pretends. $1.10 because it was the half price color, hooray.
Such a splurge. $3.29. Eek! But it's what appears to be never-worn Gymboree. In the kid's size AND she needs more sweaters this winter. Love.
Another sweater for her. $2.79 and so cute.
Goodwill was meh. I got the glass at the top of the post and these two books for the kid for $1.50 each:
(Fun fact - she had that ladybug book when she was eensy and it was totally her lovey and she'd cry until she could hold it. She also ripped it to shreds. I bought her a condensed version - FIVE little ladybugs - at Target not long ago. She was unimpressed. And so I bought this. STILL unimpressed. Kids. Sheesh.)
So then we went to the Humane Society store. All kids' clothing is 50 cents, and the two shirts for me were $1 each. And the book was 50 cents each and is destined for Paperback Swap, though I probably will read it first. Maybe...
(Look at me, getting brave about buying her dresses. This one and the one below will probably look cute with leggings. I think she has leggings...somewhere...)
(for me, Old Navy, way cuter than this picture makes it seem)
WAHHHHH. RIP Thrashers. This was a freebie from a giveaway night and I think it's a kid size but I also think it might fit me. Also WAHHHH.
And fiiiinally, the BOOK SALE. Because I totally need more books. (I don't. I'm done for a while. I SWEAR.) Green dots were $1, blue dots were 50 cents, red dots were 25 cents.
(That would be Lynda Barry. Stupid flash. I mean...totally my fault...)
The Brain Pickers says "The startling bestseller that strips the 'glaour' fro the publishing world...exposing some naked truths." I used to work in publishing so this greatly amuses me, but I'm sending it to a friend as a surprise. Unless she sees this. Then it won't be a surprise anymore.
I snatched this up so quickly a guy near me was like "Wow, you just found something you wanted, huh?" YESSSSSSSSSSS.
I almost didn't buy this but I just had to have it. It's from 1940. It's amazing. It is exactly what you think it is...
And then so much more.
Have a great week!
My cat wanted in on the action...
And away. We. Go!
I tend to go in order of stores, but this picture mixes two. FORGIVE. The glass on the left was from Goodwill. It was confusingly marked in yellow but actually tagged green, so it wasn't half price and was a WHOLE 77 cents oh no. The glass on the right was from Value Village and was 80 cents. That's my local beer festival, so I had to have it.
Detail of one of the glasses. It's all similes - sly like a fox, strong like an ox, that sort of thing. The pictures do not capture how wonderfully vintage it is. The images are gilded (still) and the frosting is stripey. It's a good thing.
So. Value Village was our first stop.
The book, which I've been wanting to read for a long time, was $1.50. The Dresden Dolls CD was 80 cents. I have it - I'm from Boston, I've been a fan for forever, yadda yadda. But 80 cents. I had to. It's the 8 Foot Records pressing and everything. It shall be gifted to someone soon.
I hope this fits me. I hope I hope I hope. $1.29. (I think it kind of looks like Missy Kulik's art!)
This is....too young for me (I am old) and just barely fits (I tried it on). BUT COME ON NOW. Cut me some slack. It is amazing and I love it so I am going to wear it. Possibly even in public. $2.29.
I mean really now.
This also may not fit. Or it may. I know I know. But it's a store that fixes Macs right near where I live, and I was amused to find it so I bought it. $1.29.
Back of shirt. I don't get it.
This is actually black, not awful grey-green as this picture pretends. $1.10 because it was the half price color, hooray.
Such a splurge. $3.29. Eek! But it's what appears to be never-worn Gymboree. In the kid's size AND she needs more sweaters this winter. Love.
Another sweater for her. $2.79 and so cute.
Goodwill was meh. I got the glass at the top of the post and these two books for the kid for $1.50 each:
(Fun fact - she had that ladybug book when she was eensy and it was totally her lovey and she'd cry until she could hold it. She also ripped it to shreds. I bought her a condensed version - FIVE little ladybugs - at Target not long ago. She was unimpressed. And so I bought this. STILL unimpressed. Kids. Sheesh.)
So then we went to the Humane Society store. All kids' clothing is 50 cents, and the two shirts for me were $1 each. And the book was 50 cents each and is destined for Paperback Swap, though I probably will read it first. Maybe...
(Look at me, getting brave about buying her dresses. This one and the one below will probably look cute with leggings. I think she has leggings...somewhere...)
(for me, Old Navy, way cuter than this picture makes it seem)
WAHHHHH. RIP Thrashers. This was a freebie from a giveaway night and I think it's a kid size but I also think it might fit me. Also WAHHHH.
And fiiiinally, the BOOK SALE. Because I totally need more books. (I don't. I'm done for a while. I SWEAR.) Green dots were $1, blue dots were 50 cents, red dots were 25 cents.
(That would be Lynda Barry. Stupid flash. I mean...totally my fault...)
The Brain Pickers says "The startling bestseller that strips the 'glaour' fro the publishing world...exposing some naked truths." I used to work in publishing so this greatly amuses me, but I'm sending it to a friend as a surprise. Unless she sees this. Then it won't be a surprise anymore.
I snatched this up so quickly a guy near me was like "Wow, you just found something you wanted, huh?" YESSSSSSSSSSS.
I almost didn't buy this but I just had to have it. It's from 1940. It's amazing. It is exactly what you think it is...
And then so much more.
Have a great week!
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