Going Home
Mocha
Pelicans
Books
Pioneer Woman
WFMW - Backwards Edition
I Went Home!
Chalkboard chalk tip
The Note
Purse
Chandelier
American Accent
St. Patty's Day
WFMW- 11:11
Making a Home
Spring Peepers
#42 The Laundry pt 2
Journaling
Oprah's Big Give
End of the Tiki Hut
Monday, March 31, 2008
End of the Tiki Hut
We cleared out the Tiki Hut slash Flea market booth. As we were taking the last load out to the car my husband turned to me and said "This is kind of sad. I thought it was fun." I will never understand him.
I hated the Tiki Hut - even though in my first few posts about it I tried to make it sound like everyone should have some crazy flea market business. I hated going there to work it, I hated that it was 17 miles away and I had to take two expressways to get there. I hated that I got stuck in traffic jams getting there or coming back. Not every week, but close to it. I hated that we had three weeks with ZERO Sales. I also hated that the 18 yr old kid that we hired to work, who was the best kid ever, just stopped showing up and has given me ten million excuses why he can't talk to us on the phone but only through cryptic emails. He keeps telling me that he is going to redeem himself, but its been 5 weeks now. I'm all out of patience.
So now we have hundreds of Tiki Hut items that went unsold in our garage. At least someone bought the Tiki Bar. Oh thank you kind sir for buying the Tiki Bar. I wanted to put the rest of the tiki items in the trash but my husband wouldn't let me.
Thankfully I had given away/sold a lot of stuff and the garage was able to handle more stuff, but now I'm going to have to get on the ball and get the Tiki stuff sold. I can't have it hanging around, its already stressing me out just knowing that my garage is full again.
So the Tiki Hut is gone -- but not forgotten. I'll post a victory post when the last of the Tiki items are gone :0)
Have a great day!
Kristin
I hated the Tiki Hut - even though in my first few posts about it I tried to make it sound like everyone should have some crazy flea market business. I hated going there to work it, I hated that it was 17 miles away and I had to take two expressways to get there. I hated that I got stuck in traffic jams getting there or coming back. Not every week, but close to it. I hated that we had three weeks with ZERO Sales. I also hated that the 18 yr old kid that we hired to work, who was the best kid ever, just stopped showing up and has given me ten million excuses why he can't talk to us on the phone but only through cryptic emails. He keeps telling me that he is going to redeem himself, but its been 5 weeks now. I'm all out of patience.
So now we have hundreds of Tiki Hut items that went unsold in our garage. At least someone bought the Tiki Bar. Oh thank you kind sir for buying the Tiki Bar. I wanted to put the rest of the tiki items in the trash but my husband wouldn't let me.
Thankfully I had given away/sold a lot of stuff and the garage was able to handle more stuff, but now I'm going to have to get on the ball and get the Tiki stuff sold. I can't have it hanging around, its already stressing me out just knowing that my garage is full again.
So the Tiki Hut is gone -- but not forgotten. I'll post a victory post when the last of the Tiki items are gone :0)
Have a great day!
Kristin
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Oprah's Big Give
My husband. Well, that is quite a statement LOL That statement is usually said with rolling eyes and a bit of a smile. He is usually doing something or saying something that is just so typical of him. He will watch Fox news for hours (or days) if I let him but if I happen to click on something where Ty Pennington is yelling or or Tyra Banks is talking to her Next Top Models he just throws a fit about something - their voice, their clothing, their attitude, the comment they just made - I don't think he even listens, it just isn't News and he has to let me know that he doesn't appreciate it.
Goodness.
He's been like this for years and I still can't figure out why we only have one place to watch TV, but that's another story I guess.
So, I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition. (EMHE) I even like the megaphone toting Ty. "Good Morning (Fill in the blank) Family! " Sunday nights have always had some favorites of mine - the Soprano's, Six Feet Under, EMHE, The Amazing Race (which has been moved to another day) and many other great Sunday shows. I set the DVR to record Ty and the gang at EMHE just so I can watch it in peace when Tom isn't around, but the newest show after that one I didn't want to have to watch in the middle of the night... and that's Oprah's Big Give. Much to my surprise and delight my husband LOVES this show and often talks about the previous episode a few times during the week.
True Joy!!
I'm so glad that there is such a wonderful show for us to watch together that so far hasn't involved too many megaphone toting speakers LOL
Have a Great Day!
Kristin
Goodness.
He's been like this for years and I still can't figure out why we only have one place to watch TV, but that's another story I guess.
So, I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition. (EMHE) I even like the megaphone toting Ty. "Good Morning (Fill in the blank) Family! " Sunday nights have always had some favorites of mine - the Soprano's, Six Feet Under, EMHE, The Amazing Race (which has been moved to another day) and many other great Sunday shows. I set the DVR to record Ty and the gang at EMHE just so I can watch it in peace when Tom isn't around, but the newest show after that one I didn't want to have to watch in the middle of the night... and that's Oprah's Big Give. Much to my surprise and delight my husband LOVES this show and often talks about the previous episode a few times during the week.
True Joy!!
I'm so glad that there is such a wonderful show for us to watch together that so far hasn't involved too many megaphone toting speakers LOL
Have a Great Day!
Kristin
Journaling
I purchased this journal called Journal 10+ back in January and I have been faithfully writing in it each night. The journal is dated 2008 - 2018, so it is a big commitment! There is space for just three or four lines a day, so it really is easy to just write a blurb and go to bed. (Journaling is one of my 101 things to do in 1001 days.)
The funny thing is that I am trying so hard not to complain in that journal - I don't want 10 years of whining! I also don't want it to be a gratitude journal (I have one of those.) I want it to be about my life, what I'm thinking, what's going on and what's bothering me, too. I want successes and I want reflection, too. That's a lot to put into just 4 lines and some days I can't seem to fill up one line lol Especially when all I want to do is whine about how tough my life is...
That's me - tough life Kristin. ha! :0)
Have a great day,
Kristin
The funny thing is that I am trying so hard not to complain in that journal - I don't want 10 years of whining! I also don't want it to be a gratitude journal (I have one of those.) I want it to be about my life, what I'm thinking, what's going on and what's bothering me, too. I want successes and I want reflection, too. That's a lot to put into just 4 lines and some days I can't seem to fill up one line lol Especially when all I want to do is whine about how tough my life is...
That's me - tough life Kristin. ha! :0)
Have a great day,
Kristin
#42 - Laundry part 2
I wanted to update my Laundry dilemma - which is number 42 on my 101 Things to Do list. The goal was to put away my laundry on laundry day, not just let it hang out in the laundry baskets all folded and pretty for a week. These laundry baskets, you see, would stay in the middle of my living room and each day my husband would call out for socks, or his pants or whatever he wanted but couldn't find in the closet - and I would say, gees honey, look in the laundry basket, duh??
It was beginning to really frustrate me that I allowed our laundry to be stored in baskets in the main part of the house. It needed to be put away.
Putting that item on my list of 101 Things to Do really drove it home to follow through on the task and complete it. Since the first of February when I accomplished the first "putting the laundry away victory," I have put away all the laundry by the end of the day. The other night it was seconds before I went to bed because I was "forgetting" I had to do it...but because I folded my sleeping T-Shirt and put it in the laundry basket, I instantly remembered that I still had 5 minutes of putting away to do.
One of the side benefits? I've asked my husband to help me put away the clothes. He grumbles and mumbles and pretends to not know where the socks go, but he finishes his basket in the same amount of time I finish my basket. The side benefit you ask? The side benefit is that I don't have to grumble anymore about having to do it all myself. I also don't have time to grumble, he does that for me. Hearing him actually makes me laugh. So the side benefit is Laughing while putting away the laundry!
I'm going to keep this in the active status for a few months longer, but I think this is a habit by now.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
It was beginning to really frustrate me that I allowed our laundry to be stored in baskets in the main part of the house. It needed to be put away.
Putting that item on my list of 101 Things to Do really drove it home to follow through on the task and complete it. Since the first of February when I accomplished the first "putting the laundry away victory," I have put away all the laundry by the end of the day. The other night it was seconds before I went to bed because I was "forgetting" I had to do it...but because I folded my sleeping T-Shirt and put it in the laundry basket, I instantly remembered that I still had 5 minutes of putting away to do.
One of the side benefits? I've asked my husband to help me put away the clothes. He grumbles and mumbles and pretends to not know where the socks go, but he finishes his basket in the same amount of time I finish my basket. The side benefit you ask? The side benefit is that I don't have to grumble anymore about having to do it all myself. I also don't have time to grumble, he does that for me. Hearing him actually makes me laugh. So the side benefit is Laughing while putting away the laundry!
I'm going to keep this in the active status for a few months longer, but I think this is a habit by now.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Spring Peepers
I lived in a house on Bell Hwy in Eaton Rapids, MI. Behind the house was a swamp. I can't help but think about that swamp when I think about spring coming. I think the window glass in that house was as thin as a piece of paper and that the caulking had long since shriveled up and died. The master bedroom had a sliding glass door, right next to my side of the bed and the ice cold breezes that came through there in the winter was welcomed compared to the sounds that the Spring Peepers made. Did you know that Spring Peepers turn into frogs with deep voices? Did you know that frogs talk well beyond spring??
We lived in that place a few years and the frogs drove me absolutely batty. They were so loud. People on the other end of my phone conversation could hear them, when I was in the house with all the doors and windows shut. I told my friend, Bob*, about these frogs. Actually I complained and complained about how I couldn't sleep, they were so loud, and it was only just the beginning of spring! She laughed her funny laugh and twilled - I just love spring peepers! Ha! She came to visit one spring. She was in for a rude awakening. She actually asked at one point -- What is that noise?!! Your Frogs, I said.
She will never, NEVER forget that Spring.
I don't think new windows could even help keep the sounds of those frogs out of the house. There were millions of them. The tad poles that hatched in our unopened pool (of course, on top of the tarp that covered the pool) were in the billions. Billions of baby frogs. Thankfully I don't live there any more. The people who bought the house said they wanted to extend the swamp...make it even more swampy. I disclosed to them that they didn't want more frogs. I told them that the frog noises drove me crazy. They laughed like my friend did - We love frogs!
I doubt they made a bigger swamp after their first spring in that house. The house on Bell Hwy.
Have A Great Spring!
Kristin
*Bob is a name that my friend and I call each other. We are both Bob's.
We lived in that place a few years and the frogs drove me absolutely batty. They were so loud. People on the other end of my phone conversation could hear them, when I was in the house with all the doors and windows shut. I told my friend, Bob*, about these frogs. Actually I complained and complained about how I couldn't sleep, they were so loud, and it was only just the beginning of spring! She laughed her funny laugh and twilled - I just love spring peepers! Ha! She came to visit one spring. She was in for a rude awakening. She actually asked at one point -- What is that noise?!! Your Frogs, I said.
She will never, NEVER forget that Spring.
I don't think new windows could even help keep the sounds of those frogs out of the house. There were millions of them. The tad poles that hatched in our unopened pool (of course, on top of the tarp that covered the pool) were in the billions. Billions of baby frogs. Thankfully I don't live there any more. The people who bought the house said they wanted to extend the swamp...make it even more swampy. I disclosed to them that they didn't want more frogs. I told them that the frog noises drove me crazy. They laughed like my friend did - We love frogs!
I doubt they made a bigger swamp after their first spring in that house. The house on Bell Hwy.
Have A Great Spring!
Kristin
*Bob is a name that my friend and I call each other. We are both Bob's.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Making a Home
I have mentioned before that I just adore Victoria Moran. The way she writes just gets me thinking. Well, tonight I was reading her book "Shelter for the Spirit" and she was talking about how people tend to live in their spaces... it is either temporary or permanent. She said that people who are in temporary housing (and view it as temporary) will pack up the good things for the permanent house or the next place or their home instead of the rental. I have found, that I move about every three years. That is such an improvement from the "moving every year" phase that I had going for awhile there, but even at three years, I do find myself waiting to unpack things. It can take me months and months to unpack boxes that are in the guest room or the office. If I have a garage, they are stored in there when I am tired of looking at them in my living space.
The question being...if I move every three years, when will I ever be settled??
I recently read a story (or a blog) about a military family that unpacks everything the first & second day that they move into the house & take the boxes to the curb. Since they move so frequently, they need to be immediately settled and make it their home. What a fabulous thing to do. They are literally claiming their space as soon as they arrive. BRAVO!
I find that if I take a vacation for a week and stay in the hotel, I immediately claim that space as my own. I unpack my suitcase, hang up my clothes, put all my toiletries in the bathroom and viola I've got a home. The less stuff that I have to unpack, the quicker it becomes my home. LOL
Since about the day we moved into this condo my husband has wanted to move. He hates it here. Sometimes he says he doesn't really hate it, but he says it enough times that I do believe he has come to hate it. On the other hand, I really like it here! I can tell that I like it here because this has been the cleanest house I've ever had. I dust more often, vacuum a lot, put out those hot spot fires and of course keep the kitchen clean and tidy. I don't feel overwhelmed with clutter and piles, even though my office isn't neat by any means.
One of the best things I have done is to unpack the things that I like. I haven't stashed anything away for later. I either love it and use it or I have given it away. I still have garage units that are full of stuff but I don't want most of that stuff. I could give it all away and I wouldn't miss any of it. My husband isn't of that mindset - hence the reason why we have two garage units that are stuffed to the gills.
Oprah had a rerun on this week about hoarders. This specific topic was on a family that had so much stuff in their house that they had little mazes to get from one part to another. The stuff was piled so high that you literally couldn't see over it. The problem with that family was the sheer volume of stuff being purchased on a daily basis and brought into the house. I seem to get overrun with paper. I don't buy it, I print it or it comes in the mail, it comes as catalogs, as free newspapers and flyers.
A few years ago I was overwhelmed with furniture and now it's paper. Maybe I have improved LOL
I think that this residence - my home - has really become my home more than any other. I think I have been learning the tricks to make it mine. Victoria's book is just confirming that fact. Now if I could just release the last remnants of the clutter... ahhhh I still have a ways to go. :)
Have a great day!
Kristin
The question being...if I move every three years, when will I ever be settled??
I recently read a story (or a blog) about a military family that unpacks everything the first & second day that they move into the house & take the boxes to the curb. Since they move so frequently, they need to be immediately settled and make it their home. What a fabulous thing to do. They are literally claiming their space as soon as they arrive. BRAVO!
I find that if I take a vacation for a week and stay in the hotel, I immediately claim that space as my own. I unpack my suitcase, hang up my clothes, put all my toiletries in the bathroom and viola I've got a home. The less stuff that I have to unpack, the quicker it becomes my home. LOL
Since about the day we moved into this condo my husband has wanted to move. He hates it here. Sometimes he says he doesn't really hate it, but he says it enough times that I do believe he has come to hate it. On the other hand, I really like it here! I can tell that I like it here because this has been the cleanest house I've ever had. I dust more often, vacuum a lot, put out those hot spot fires and of course keep the kitchen clean and tidy. I don't feel overwhelmed with clutter and piles, even though my office isn't neat by any means.
One of the best things I have done is to unpack the things that I like. I haven't stashed anything away for later. I either love it and use it or I have given it away. I still have garage units that are full of stuff but I don't want most of that stuff. I could give it all away and I wouldn't miss any of it. My husband isn't of that mindset - hence the reason why we have two garage units that are stuffed to the gills.
Oprah had a rerun on this week about hoarders. This specific topic was on a family that had so much stuff in their house that they had little mazes to get from one part to another. The stuff was piled so high that you literally couldn't see over it. The problem with that family was the sheer volume of stuff being purchased on a daily basis and brought into the house. I seem to get overrun with paper. I don't buy it, I print it or it comes in the mail, it comes as catalogs, as free newspapers and flyers.
A few years ago I was overwhelmed with furniture and now it's paper. Maybe I have improved LOL
I think that this residence - my home - has really become my home more than any other. I think I have been learning the tricks to make it mine. Victoria's book is just confirming that fact. Now if I could just release the last remnants of the clutter... ahhhh I still have a ways to go. :)
Have a great day!
Kristin
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
WFMW - 11:11
Welcome to another edition of Works For Me Wednesday! Each week hundreds of people from around the world gather at Rocks in My Dryer for WFMW and share their tips. Please take a look when you have finished here. Thanks & I'll see you again next week.
What works for me is something so easy. I do it everyday. I look forward to 11:11Am or 11:11PM each day. Most of the time I do a little a dance - my celebratory dance. OK, so I'm a total goofball, but I look forward to this each day.
Why does this qualify as a tip? Because I'd like to suggest to you that looking forward to something each day is a blessing and lightens the heart and can really bring a little bit of joy to the day, each day.
So find something easy to look forward to each day. Whether it is the time of day, or a nightly bath, or being able to read a few pages in a book - something. I think that is the key to happiness - finding true joy in your life each day. Even when it has been a trying day, 11:11 comes around and I smile.
It isn't 11:11PM yet in my part of the world, but when it does strike I will go from room to room looking at all of the clocks and smiling that they all say 11:11 - truly cheap thrills.
Do you have something that brings you joy each day? Post a note in the comment section about what makes you happy each day.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patty's Day
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
When I was a kid, the thing that made St. Patty's day different than any other was that I was supposed to wear green that day. I think I forgot nearly every year to specifically wear something green to school. Most of the time I managed to have on green socks or something that had a tiny green stripe or something. And who came up with this ridiculous "custom" to pinch someone if they didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
When I was a teenager I became aware of some friends of my family who threw a huge St. Patrick's Day party. They used to hold it in their warehouse/office - it was crazy! Hundreds of people came to this event. Literally we were packed into the place like sardines, or maybe sardines had more room! The place was packed and the food and beer flowed until the middle of the night. Those were the days. Now this family rents out a hall and sells tickets to get in. They donate the money they raise, so that is a nice side benefit. My Dad serves up food there most every year and when I was in town, I would almost certainly come by and spend some time with everyone.
I've had a few St. Patricks Day drinking tales that I'll just keep to myself, however these days about all I do for St. Patrick's Day is to wear green - usually my Michigan State University shirt, because now that I'm older I remember to wear green. I don't think anyone would dare pinch me if I didn't, but now that I can remember it doesn't much matter. ha ha
Happy St. Patty's Day to you all. Be safe and please don't drink and drive.
Kristin
*The picture is a close up of the door detail to the oldest house in St. Augustine, FL.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
American Accent
I just took this quiz - How fun. The results you see in the little box are the results of my quiz. Click on the link at the bottom of the box to take your own quiz.
Since I lived in New Mexico for a few years, I tend to say "soda" more often than "pop." It must have been that last month that I lived in New Mexico that finally converted me to saying soda. I resisted for so long, I explained that I wanted a Coke or a soda pop or a fountain drink and finally I caved and started saying soda. When I went back home to Michigan everyone knew what a soda was and it was just easy to continue saying soda.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Since I lived in New Mexico for a few years, I tend to say "soda" more often than "pop." It must have been that last month that I lived in New Mexico that finally converted me to saying soda. I resisted for so long, I explained that I wanted a Coke or a soda pop or a fountain drink and finally I caved and started saying soda. When I went back home to Michigan everyone knew what a soda was and it was just easy to continue saying soda.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop." | |
| The Midland | |
| The Northeast | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The South | |
| The West | |
| Boston | |
| North Central | |
| What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz | |
Chandelier
I just fell head over heels in love with this little chandelier. It holds one bulb. It can probably be hardwired but it comes with a plug in cord which means you can put this little gem anywhere you have a plug. Love It! Oh, did I mention this light was marked at just $42.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Purse
A few weeks ago when I was shopping with my friend we spotted these purses. I can't recall the cost of these at the moment, but just look at the detail of this little wiener dog purse. It is just hysterical and fun and something that I'd personally never carry (if it were a calico cat.....) but it is totally fun, nonetheless.
Kristin
Here's a picture of a few more of these darlings.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Note
My Mother has always written notes & left them in the kitchen for us kids and anyone else who was in need of a note. Mostly her notes consist of things she'd like us to do - Put away the dishes, clean up the kitchen, pick up sticks in the back yard or where she was - I took a walk to the coffee shop, I went to the movies or she was at meeting or luncheon or something. Rarely do her notes strike panic or fear, but the note that she left behind last week made me worry immediately.
(I forgot to buy toilet paper. There is not ONE extra roll on hand. lm)
I came to stay at my Mother's house while she was out of town. She was gone about 10 days and I was staying for 5. It was a lot of fun staying at her house with no one there, but the thought of not a single extra roll of Toilet Paper nagged at me all night, that first night. I investigated both bathrooms and found that each one had a sufficient amount of TP so that baring any unforseen paper eating animals rushing into the bathrooms, I would be fine until morning.
The next day my sister and I went shopping and I decided to get the BIG BUNDLE of my favorite brand, Scott. As a side note, I have to say that I have never seen the stick-on handles used on a bundle of TP before --- but I was terribly excited. When carrying the big bundle out to the car, usually I'm trying to carry it under my arm or on top of the bags of groceries I'm carrying or I stick a finger into the plastic and try to rush to the car before the plastic tears and I have toilet paper rolls flying out into the parking lot. But this handy dandy little stick on handle made everything SO easy! Thanks Target!
Here is the newly acquired bundle of TP for my Mothers house. I slept very well the rest of my vacation just knowing I had some spare rolls.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
PS - The signature on her note - the thing that looks like a tz is actually an L and an M - it stands for Love Mom. :0)
(I forgot to buy toilet paper. There is not ONE extra roll on hand. lm)
I came to stay at my Mother's house while she was out of town. She was gone about 10 days and I was staying for 5. It was a lot of fun staying at her house with no one there, but the thought of not a single extra roll of Toilet Paper nagged at me all night, that first night. I investigated both bathrooms and found that each one had a sufficient amount of TP so that baring any unforseen paper eating animals rushing into the bathrooms, I would be fine until morning.
The next day my sister and I went shopping and I decided to get the BIG BUNDLE of my favorite brand, Scott. As a side note, I have to say that I have never seen the stick-on handles used on a bundle of TP before --- but I was terribly excited. When carrying the big bundle out to the car, usually I'm trying to carry it under my arm or on top of the bags of groceries I'm carrying or I stick a finger into the plastic and try to rush to the car before the plastic tears and I have toilet paper rolls flying out into the parking lot. But this handy dandy little stick on handle made everything SO easy! Thanks Target!
Here is the newly acquired bundle of TP for my Mothers house. I slept very well the rest of my vacation just knowing I had some spare rolls.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
PS - The signature on her note - the thing that looks like a tz is actually an L and an M - it stands for Love Mom. :0)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Chalkboard Chalk tip
Welcome to another edition of Works For Me Wednesday! Each week hundreds of people from around the world gather at Rocks in My Dryer for WFMW and share their tips. Please take a look when you have finished here. Thanks & I'll see you again next week.
My tip for you this week is a cool one. I used to write on a chalk board that was the sidewalk sign for our coffeehouse. I learned right away that if I wrapped the chalk up in a wet towel (or paper towels) and let them get good and wet before I used them,they were much easier to use. When I took them out of the towel they would just sail across the chalkboard with ease. The colors were so much more vibrant as well. I loved to write on the sidewalk board. My favorite chalk is the Sidewalk Chalk because it is fat and easy to hold, especially when wet. Not to mention you can find such cool colors.
The picture shown is of one of my rental condos - I painted one of the walls with chalkboard paint, so my renters could use it and have fun. My renters have all enjoyed the chalkboard wall.
The towels that you use to wet the chalk or to wipe off the chalkboard will probably get stained by the chalk - so designate a chalk towel or two before all of your guest towels become tie-dyed lol
Have a Great Day!
Kristin
Monday, March 10, 2008
I Went Home!
My mothers walk way has this rock - I haven't quite figured out if it was just a coincidence or if it was intentional.
My mother was out of town so I stayed at her place all alone. It was the strangest feeling to be at her house for 5 days without her. The nice thing about the trip, was that I got a chance to relax, to sleep in, to read books, to just think.
I also got to spend time with my sisters and with my niece. I don't think my niece stopped moving for longer than 3 seconds. I never did get a picture of her that wasn't blurry or actually showed her face. She loves to roll in a blanket and then run to the mirror to see her static-y hair all sticking up.
My last Works for Me Wednesday post I asked for help in coming up with creative ideas to keep in communication with this little fireball. Thanks to all of you for your ideas...I can't wait to start trying them out.
I will be posting more pictures and more musings from my trip home in the next few days. Until then...
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
WFMW - backwards edition
This week is backwards edition of Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in my Dryer - which means that I pose a question to you all about something that I need an answer to -- sounds easy enough! I think I have too many questions to narrow it down to just one LOL
My quandary is what can I do to keep in touch with my (almost) 4 year old niece (she isn't a phone girl) when I live 1000 miles away. I came home to visit last night and when I went to my sisters house, my niece came flying out of the other room squealing with glee and ran right into my arms. It was so wonderful! Just last year she didn't want to have a thing to do with me because she didn't know who I was -- so I started sending her cards more often. I want to continue the cards but would like to add in something more (especially since her momma is having a baby in April) something that is special just for her.
Do you all have any ideas?? I don't want to send gifts, she has plenty of toys & games. More mail ideas -- do we send coloring book pages through the mail? I'm at a loss. I've never had children, so my imagination is lacking.
I want to do something every two weeks - it is a goal of mine to really stay in touch with her and in the coming years also with her sibling. I can't wait to hear your comments!
Thanks so much!
Kristin
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Pioneer Woman
I need to talk about one of my favoite blogs. I have absolutely no idea how I ran into it one day, but that was a fateful day. Ya know, I think it was through "Stumble Upon" - in fact, now that I think about it, I'm sure that's how I found her. Well anyway, Confessions of a Pioneer Woman is a blog that I love - love love love!!
She also maintains her cooking blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks and soon to be her photography blog. I know nothing about Photoshop or photography and I am already excited beyond belief about her new site. It is all things Ree all the time, well her and her husband and children AND lets not forget her love story - High Heels to Tractor Wheels. That addictive saga has been a 30 chapter, painful, exhilarating, beautiful & at times hysterical story. We just got to the proposal in her last posting and I am just anxious as can be to read the next entry.
Ree decided before Thanksgiving this past year to help out all of us who were a little bit skittish about making Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd or just for the family. She cooked up and photographed each step of making Thanksgiving dinner. I decided right then and there that I was going to follow that woman's advice and make a turkey the way she was showing us. She said that the first thing I wanted to do was to brine the turkey. I thought it was a cool idea, so I purchased a $15 turkey and $37 in brining spices and brining bags!! I'll tell you right now, it was the best turkey I've ever had in my entire life. It was possibly the best $50 I'd ever spent on food. Yum! (The Turkey stock I made and stashed in the freezer is incredible as well. )
My husband was in Michigan for Thanksgiving 2007 & I was in Florida, so I decided to invite my tenants over for the day & then I invited a few other people that we had met through Mayo. I ended up with 7 people for dinner and it was lovely. My Mother decided on a lark to come stay with me for a few days, so she was here to witness and taste the best turkey ever. I was so glad she came down for no other reason than I was a tad nervous about hosting Thanksgiving by myself. My husband usually is in charge of all meat prep and cooking that doesn't involve just tossing it into a pan and stiring it around real quick.
So that is a real life example of what Pioneer Woman has done for me. If you have a moment, go check out her blog. If you have a few hours, go check out her love story. If you have a need for some really great recipes that are so incredibly delicious and that toss calories out the window, then please go to her cooking blog. If you want a step by step photo blog on how to brine a turkey, go check it out.
You all have a great day!
Kristin
She also maintains her cooking blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks and soon to be her photography blog. I know nothing about Photoshop or photography and I am already excited beyond belief about her new site. It is all things Ree all the time, well her and her husband and children AND lets not forget her love story - High Heels to Tractor Wheels. That addictive saga has been a 30 chapter, painful, exhilarating, beautiful & at times hysterical story. We just got to the proposal in her last posting and I am just anxious as can be to read the next entry.
Ree decided before Thanksgiving this past year to help out all of us who were a little bit skittish about making Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd or just for the family. She cooked up and photographed each step of making Thanksgiving dinner. I decided right then and there that I was going to follow that woman's advice and make a turkey the way she was showing us. She said that the first thing I wanted to do was to brine the turkey. I thought it was a cool idea, so I purchased a $15 turkey and $37 in brining spices and brining bags!! I'll tell you right now, it was the best turkey I've ever had in my entire life. It was possibly the best $50 I'd ever spent on food. Yum! (The Turkey stock I made and stashed in the freezer is incredible as well. )
My husband was in Michigan for Thanksgiving 2007 & I was in Florida, so I decided to invite my tenants over for the day & then I invited a few other people that we had met through Mayo. I ended up with 7 people for dinner and it was lovely. My Mother decided on a lark to come stay with me for a few days, so she was here to witness and taste the best turkey ever. I was so glad she came down for no other reason than I was a tad nervous about hosting Thanksgiving by myself. My husband usually is in charge of all meat prep and cooking that doesn't involve just tossing it into a pan and stiring it around real quick.
So that is a real life example of what Pioneer Woman has done for me. If you have a moment, go check out her blog. If you have a few hours, go check out her love story. If you have a need for some really great recipes that are so incredibly delicious and that toss calories out the window, then please go to her cooking blog. If you want a step by step photo blog on how to brine a turkey, go check it out.
You all have a great day!
Kristin
Monday, March 03, 2008
Books
Here are the books that I have sitting on my coffee table right now.
Shelter for the Spirit - Victoria Moran
The Success Principles - Jack Canfield
Fit from Within -Victoria Moran
YOU: On A Diet & YOU: Staying Young - Michael Roizen MD & Mehmet Oz MD
The Long Tail - Chris Anderson
I would love to be able to read the entire YOU series by Dr's Roizen & Oz - they are just fascinating. Each chapter explains why something happens in the body - how it fires, how it works, what drives it, how to prevent it, etc. It is just truly engaging, entertaining and informative. Love It!
I can't say enough about Victoria Moran. I purchased the book "Creating a Charmed Life" many many years ago. I used to read just little bits of it before I went to bed. Then mysteriously it disappeared for about a year.
Then when we got the call for my husbands Liver Transplant, I already had his bag packed and ready to go, but not a thing for my bag. I grabbed a stack of my clothes that I thought were stacked and ready to pack - only to find out that I had 5 pairs of pants and a shirt. One shirt. However, I managed to remember to grab a few books. I went to my nightstand and picked up the three books in the drawer. Creating a Charmed Life was one of them & I will never understand how that book found its way out of hiding. I hadn't been able to find it for ages. One of the other books must have been a murder mystery - probably an Anne Rule true crime book - I'm just sure of it and the other book was something that I didn't like because I don't remember a single second reading it lol
Victoria's book was perfect. The little beautiful things she talked about in how to create a charmed life was just what I needed in an uncharming time of my life. I had the attention span of a gnat, so the little book and the three - five page chapters were exactly what I could handle. Also each story helped me see a brighter future, no matter how rough this transplant surgery/recovery was going to be, I could see a future.
In my nightstand right now, I have two more Victoria Moran books (Younger by the Day & Lit from Within) and the clutter book by Peter Walsh - It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff...what a great read that is...BUT you have to do something, not just read it before bedtime like I did.
I also have decided to join in on the Oprah Book Club - A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. I love to read all of these self improvement books and spiritual type books, so why not join in on the biggest book club event ever. The first class is tonight, so I read a few pages just to get the feel for it - I'm assuming that I will read most of the book Tuesday while I am in the airplane flying off to cold cold Michigan for my weeklong retreat. (I'll tell you all more about that this week)
Are you reading anything fun, adventurous, thought provoking or that is turning out to be a real good "beach read" as I call those books. You know the ones - I read "The First Wives Club" when it was still in its first printing long before it had any movie offers LOL It was mindless and fun.
Have a Great Day.
Shelter for the Spirit - Victoria Moran
The Success Principles - Jack Canfield
Fit from Within -Victoria Moran
YOU: On A Diet & YOU: Staying Young - Michael Roizen MD & Mehmet Oz MD
The Long Tail - Chris Anderson
I would love to be able to read the entire YOU series by Dr's Roizen & Oz - they are just fascinating. Each chapter explains why something happens in the body - how it fires, how it works, what drives it, how to prevent it, etc. It is just truly engaging, entertaining and informative. Love It!
I can't say enough about Victoria Moran. I purchased the book "Creating a Charmed Life" many many years ago. I used to read just little bits of it before I went to bed. Then mysteriously it disappeared for about a year.
Then when we got the call for my husbands Liver Transplant, I already had his bag packed and ready to go, but not a thing for my bag. I grabbed a stack of my clothes that I thought were stacked and ready to pack - only to find out that I had 5 pairs of pants and a shirt. One shirt. However, I managed to remember to grab a few books. I went to my nightstand and picked up the three books in the drawer. Creating a Charmed Life was one of them & I will never understand how that book found its way out of hiding. I hadn't been able to find it for ages. One of the other books must have been a murder mystery - probably an Anne Rule true crime book - I'm just sure of it and the other book was something that I didn't like because I don't remember a single second reading it lol
Victoria's book was perfect. The little beautiful things she talked about in how to create a charmed life was just what I needed in an uncharming time of my life. I had the attention span of a gnat, so the little book and the three - five page chapters were exactly what I could handle. Also each story helped me see a brighter future, no matter how rough this transplant surgery/recovery was going to be, I could see a future.
In my nightstand right now, I have two more Victoria Moran books (Younger by the Day & Lit from Within) and the clutter book by Peter Walsh - It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff...what a great read that is...BUT you have to do something, not just read it before bedtime like I did.
I also have decided to join in on the Oprah Book Club - A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. I love to read all of these self improvement books and spiritual type books, so why not join in on the biggest book club event ever. The first class is tonight, so I read a few pages just to get the feel for it - I'm assuming that I will read most of the book Tuesday while I am in the airplane flying off to cold cold Michigan for my weeklong retreat. (I'll tell you all more about that this week)
Are you reading anything fun, adventurous, thought provoking or that is turning out to be a real good "beach read" as I call those books. You know the ones - I read "The First Wives Club" when it was still in its first printing long before it had any movie offers LOL It was mindless and fun.
Have a Great Day.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Pelicans
See the pelican's sitting on the ruins of an old dock? My friend and I spent a few minutes in the chilly wind looking out at the sight. What used to be there? Why hasn't it been rebuilt? How many pelicans are out there anyway?
This area of Jacksonville really seemed like old Florida. There were beautiful old homes, small craftsman style houses, old brick homes and a few remodeled stucco homes every so often. I enjoyed the drive and sharing it with my friend.
Have A Great Day!
Kristin
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Mocha
Mocha the Cat.
The scaredy cat.
The Free Online Dictionary describes Mocha as...
The scaredy cat.
The Free Online Dictionary describes Mocha as...
scared·y cat (skârd-kt)
- n. Informal
- One who is excessively fearful.
That's our gal!
I had a friend visiting for a few days last week. Most of the time Mocha hid in the bedroom.
Silly Silly Kitty.
Going Home
I'm going home for a few days. Home to the land of the snow. The picture you see here was taken in the U.P. of Michigan in about 1969. I'm guessing I'm 3 in this picture. My mom said that a neighbor gave us that coat - I always thought that was a great coat...not too crazy about the hat. Hats give me a headache, but that probably wasn't a problem back then. I look kinda cute.
Anyway, I'm going home. I scheduled this trip in December when my grandmother was still with us and I had planned on spending several days just with her. My mother had planned on being out of town, so it was just perfect - I could take her place helping out my Aunt Jane with Grandma.
I'm going home. My mother is out of town, my Aunt Jane no longer needs any help, one of my sisters has been sick and can't take off any days from work while I'm in town, my other sister is 7 months pregnant, so she is saving up all those personal and vacation days. Dear Dad works most days, too. I'm kind of excited to go home and have my days free - what shall I do??? I've got a list a mile long and the funny thing is, it is all reading and computer work. I've thought of making some fabulous dinner for everyone - I've got all afternoon to prepare something. I might need to call the cousins and see if they can drop by. Hmmmm, this is an idea that is forming right here. Well, that might be fun. We'll have to see when my brother in law is playing so he can join us.
I want to take my niece for an afternoon and just hang out with her. She is just so much fun, smart, funny and all mine. OK, not all mine, but she is my first niece and I love the stuffin' out of her. If her folks let me & if she'll agree, I'd love to spend the day with her.
I plan on spending each evening with a sister or my father or a cousin. My husbands parents live in the same town as my family and as luck would have it, they will be getting home the afternoon before I leave, so I actually get to see them. That'll be nice, we haven't seen each other since my grandfather funeral in December and I really wasn't able to be with them any other time.
I'm a Florida gal now - the cold weather is not to my liking - I'm sending warm thoughts to Michigan. No snow. No snow. No snow.
Have a Great Day
Kristin
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