In the past few weeks I've had a number of guests pass through my house. Typically I love company but lately I've been craving my space. The idea of sleeping in on a weekend seems like a thing of the past and I can't remember the last time I ran through the house in my undies to grab some orange juice from the fridge.
Don't get me wrong, I've loved everyone who has come by but I wish they'd been a little bit more spread out.
For the next month Logic and I have no obligations - and I want to keep it that way. So for now I'm putting up a No Vacancy sign in the hopes that we'll be left alone.
July 30, 2008
July 28, 2008
Poem With My Eyes Closed
So tired today.
When will life slow down?
Just in time for school to start?
Friends coming from every direction.
Oregon, Idaho, Michigan and Hawaii
Plus a few trips of my own.
Michigan, Oregon, Vancouver, B.C.
No rest in sight.
Another one comes this week.
And she brings with her a challenge.
Recovery from surgery.
Maybe this is why Winter is needed?
The pace slows down
And no one wants to visit Seattle.
When will life slow down?
Just in time for school to start?
Friends coming from every direction.
Oregon, Idaho, Michigan and Hawaii
Plus a few trips of my own.
Michigan, Oregon, Vancouver, B.C.
No rest in sight.
Another one comes this week.
And she brings with her a challenge.
Recovery from surgery.
Maybe this is why Winter is needed?
The pace slows down
And no one wants to visit Seattle.
July 25, 2008
Dropping in To Say Hello
Yesterday we spent 4 hours in the car due to an hour at the US border (in the sweltering heat, no less) coming back from Vancouver and today we will spend another 3 driving to Portland. Beer is the theme of the week and we have yet to be disappointed.
Candian beer, Washington beer, Oregon beer, New York beer.. and this is all before the Beer Fest this weekend. Here's hoping I remember enough to write about it next week.
Candian beer, Washington beer, Oregon beer, New York beer.. and this is all before the Beer Fest this weekend. Here's hoping I remember enough to write about it next week.
July 22, 2008
From Molly
After reading Eat, Pray, Love two times, I saw that Elizabeth Gilbert was on Oprah and I watched diligently. I even took notes. The book came into my life at a time when I really needed it and I was absorbing anything and everything I could find in relation to it.
In the interview remember Elizabeth saying that she really just wrote it for herself as a sort of ladder to help herself out of the dark hole that she was in. I loved that imagery because I often saw myself slipping into the abyss during a panic attack and the image of climbing out on a ladder was really powerful.
Her interview was really interesting, inspiring and thought provoking but what stands out the most was when she said that she wrote in her journal every night and she always filled out two columns. In one column she finished this sentence: "What I really, really, really want is..." and in the other column she finished "My favorite thing about today was.."
Today is going to be a really great day! First of all, I got to sleep in because Logic had to go to Olympia for work and we weren't able to carpool. Second, I woke up to George resting his head on my face and purring. And third, one of my dearest friends Lilikoi and her dear, dear husband, Ranger are coming to visit tonight. I haven't seen them in a little over a year and I am jumping up and down with excitement.
But in spite of all of the amazing things that have and will happen today, when I crawl into bed tonight I am going to finish "My favorite thing about today was..." with "getting this picture from Molly."
July 21, 2008
Learning From My Cousin
Andy and Eric drove back into the city Friday afternoon. After a week of camping they chose to park at the south end of the city and walk through downtown to meet Logic and I at the north end for dinner. After dinner the four of us walked back to the south end for a Mariner's game (which totally kicked ass by the way).
The next morning Andy and Eric accompanied me to the gym where they took their very first yoga class. We got to the gym about 45 minutes before yoga and Eric decided he wanted to run on the treadmill but Andy agreed to sneak into my favorite Hip Hop class with me. We'd already missed 2 out of the 3 sections but someone was nice enough to catch us up in time to dance the whole thing through. Andy was holding his own, especially for someone who'd never taken the class before. I stopped a few times to encourage him and see how he was doing even though I knew - he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. After telling me how much fun he was having, Andy got serious for a second. "This is so far out of my comfort zone; and I am loving it!"
As soon as he said it, I knew how important it was for me to remember that. He and Eric flew across the country with sleeping bags and tents. They picked up a rental car at the airport and let the wind lead them around the state. They hiked 20 miles to a campsite, swam in hot springs, met some interesting people and journaled the whole trip through writing and pictures. They were in their element and living to seek new experiences. It was invigorating to watch.
Here I am, living in my condo in a safe part of Seattle and I have panic attacks over the weather, the course of my life, the death of my family and my short-comings while all along there have been people out there who just live. And love it.
Also, I learned that you can eat instant oatmeal out of the packet.
My cousin is very smart.
The next morning Andy and Eric accompanied me to the gym where they took their very first yoga class. We got to the gym about 45 minutes before yoga and Eric decided he wanted to run on the treadmill but Andy agreed to sneak into my favorite Hip Hop class with me. We'd already missed 2 out of the 3 sections but someone was nice enough to catch us up in time to dance the whole thing through. Andy was holding his own, especially for someone who'd never taken the class before. I stopped a few times to encourage him and see how he was doing even though I knew - he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. After telling me how much fun he was having, Andy got serious for a second. "This is so far out of my comfort zone; and I am loving it!"
As soon as he said it, I knew how important it was for me to remember that. He and Eric flew across the country with sleeping bags and tents. They picked up a rental car at the airport and let the wind lead them around the state. They hiked 20 miles to a campsite, swam in hot springs, met some interesting people and journaled the whole trip through writing and pictures. They were in their element and living to seek new experiences. It was invigorating to watch.
Here I am, living in my condo in a safe part of Seattle and I have panic attacks over the weather, the course of my life, the death of my family and my short-comings while all along there have been people out there who just live. And love it.
Also, I learned that you can eat instant oatmeal out of the packet.
My cousin is very smart.
July 17, 2008
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
Last night as I was lying in bed, Logic was in the shower so George took the opportunity to come cuddle with me. I was lying on my side, head resting on one arm while the other one was petting him. And because of the angle I was in, I could feel the cool, quick breaths coming from George's pink nose. I rubbed under his chin, around his ears, on his nose; all his favorite places. And although he didn't purr (which is rare), the sensation of having his soft breath on my face was reward enough. I basked in the kitty-love for a minute or two until I heard the shower turn off. Knowing that 1) as soon as Logic entered the room George would scamper as if he'd never cared an ounce for me in the first place and 2) as soon as Logic entered the room I might forget what happened, so I needed to write it down.
July 14, 2008
Og Mandino
I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.
I Need a Weekend to Recuperate From My Weekend - and So Will You After You Finish Reading This
After work on Friday, I met up with Logic and some of his co-workers at Taphouse for a birthday party. There must have been at least 20 people that showed up and we managed to find 2 large booths next to each other. It was chaotic, loud, and fun; just what any 23 year old wants out of a birthday. We stayed until 10:00 and I was still wide awake when we got home so I watched t.v. until midnight and before convincing myself that sleep was required.
When I woke up on Saturday it was too late for my Hip-Hop class but I still had time to make 11:30 Yoga. I hadn't been in over a month and it took some serious self-discipline to get off my ass and go there but I'm so glad I went. I have yet to find anything that compares to the way I feel after a good yoga class.
After class I had to run some errands so I didn't get home until 4:00. I had three hours to get ready for Lach and Bayou's housewarming party so the first thing I did was lie on the couch. At 6:00 I decided that I should probably shower before we left ( ;)). A half hour later Logic came into the bathroom to tell me I missed a phone call. So I checked my messages and it was my cousin Andy from Michigan.
He had contacted me earlier in the week to tell me that he and his friend, Eric were going to be in Washington. They were taking a ten-day camping trip through the Cascades and Olympics and figured they'd be in Seattle early next week. Well, after three days in the Cascades they decided they'd seen enough and were driving into the city. They wanted suggestions for a good bar and we ended up meeting them at Pike's Place Pub and Brewery later that night. But first we drove over to Lachlan and Bayou's and spent some quality time with twenty of their closest friends.
By the time Andy and Eric reached Seattle it was after 10. When they called and asked if we wanted to meet up with them downtown I thought we'd say hi and head home. Wrong! We ended up staying there until midnight and then bringing the party back to our place. Toward the end of the night I asked where they were staying and they both went silent. We offered to let them crash on our floor and they were adamant that they didn't want to impose. Their plan was to continue driving until they reached the coast and then to sleep in their rental car but Logic and I insisted they stay with us (boy did they trick us into thinking it was our idea ;)). We were all exhausted but we still managed to stay up until 2 am talking! Finally, the conversation started to slow down and I suggested we get some sleep.
After rubbing the sleep out of our eyes, we went to Alki Cafe for breakfast on Sunday morning. It was a beautiful day so we took the guys on a walk around Alki Point before heading back to the condo so they could take a quick nap before hitting the road. They left around 1, which gave Logic and I just enough time to shower before driving over to Daniel's. We met up with Daniel and Ishmael and then walked over to McCormick's for a quick drink before setting sail on an Argosy Lakes Cruise around Lakes Union and Washington. It was the perfect weather! The sun was high in the sky and the breeze off the water was just enough to cool us down. The cruise lasted about 2 hours (not a three hour tour) and turned out to be very educational and entertaining (insert booze cruise).
We docked around 5:00 and walked across the street to Buca di Beppo's for dinner. I ate myself into a food coma and was ready to head home but the boys wanted to play the wii so we drove over to Ishmael's. I crashed on his couch while the boys played. I was so tired that I didn't even care whether or not I snored in the midst of their game playing. I woke up at 8:30 and suggested that Logic and I go home. We walked through the door, exhausted, around 9 but I didn't get to bed until 10:30 because a friend called to finalize her plans to visit at the end of the month.
It looks like Justin and I may have a few days to recover but if this week is anything like last, we'll have spontaneous phone calls from out of town friends and relatives and not get much rest at all. I sure hope we get a break though. Andy and Eric will be coming back on Friday and staying the night before flying back to Michigan on Saturday evening. When they get back on Friday we'll be meeting up with them for dinner and a Mariner's game. And before their flight on Saturday night, we'll also be showing them around the city. They seemed interested in going to the Space Needle and seeing Doc's Underground Tour and I'm guessing there will be some more drinking involved. Yes, I will definitely need to recuperate before they come back.
When I woke up on Saturday it was too late for my Hip-Hop class but I still had time to make 11:30 Yoga. I hadn't been in over a month and it took some serious self-discipline to get off my ass and go there but I'm so glad I went. I have yet to find anything that compares to the way I feel after a good yoga class.
After class I had to run some errands so I didn't get home until 4:00. I had three hours to get ready for Lach and Bayou's housewarming party so the first thing I did was lie on the couch. At 6:00 I decided that I should probably shower before we left ( ;)). A half hour later Logic came into the bathroom to tell me I missed a phone call. So I checked my messages and it was my cousin Andy from Michigan.
He had contacted me earlier in the week to tell me that he and his friend, Eric were going to be in Washington. They were taking a ten-day camping trip through the Cascades and Olympics and figured they'd be in Seattle early next week. Well, after three days in the Cascades they decided they'd seen enough and were driving into the city. They wanted suggestions for a good bar and we ended up meeting them at Pike's Place Pub and Brewery later that night. But first we drove over to Lachlan and Bayou's and spent some quality time with twenty of their closest friends.
By the time Andy and Eric reached Seattle it was after 10. When they called and asked if we wanted to meet up with them downtown I thought we'd say hi and head home. Wrong! We ended up staying there until midnight and then bringing the party back to our place. Toward the end of the night I asked where they were staying and they both went silent. We offered to let them crash on our floor and they were adamant that they didn't want to impose. Their plan was to continue driving until they reached the coast and then to sleep in their rental car but Logic and I insisted they stay with us (boy did they trick us into thinking it was our idea ;)). We were all exhausted but we still managed to stay up until 2 am talking! Finally, the conversation started to slow down and I suggested we get some sleep.
After rubbing the sleep out of our eyes, we went to Alki Cafe for breakfast on Sunday morning. It was a beautiful day so we took the guys on a walk around Alki Point before heading back to the condo so they could take a quick nap before hitting the road. They left around 1, which gave Logic and I just enough time to shower before driving over to Daniel's. We met up with Daniel and Ishmael and then walked over to McCormick's for a quick drink before setting sail on an Argosy Lakes Cruise around Lakes Union and Washington. It was the perfect weather! The sun was high in the sky and the breeze off the water was just enough to cool us down. The cruise lasted about 2 hours (not a three hour tour) and turned out to be very educational and entertaining (insert booze cruise).
We docked around 5:00 and walked across the street to Buca di Beppo's for dinner. I ate myself into a food coma and was ready to head home but the boys wanted to play the wii so we drove over to Ishmael's. I crashed on his couch while the boys played. I was so tired that I didn't even care whether or not I snored in the midst of their game playing. I woke up at 8:30 and suggested that Logic and I go home. We walked through the door, exhausted, around 9 but I didn't get to bed until 10:30 because a friend called to finalize her plans to visit at the end of the month.
It looks like Justin and I may have a few days to recover but if this week is anything like last, we'll have spontaneous phone calls from out of town friends and relatives and not get much rest at all. I sure hope we get a break though. Andy and Eric will be coming back on Friday and staying the night before flying back to Michigan on Saturday evening. When they get back on Friday we'll be meeting up with them for dinner and a Mariner's game. And before their flight on Saturday night, we'll also be showing them around the city. They seemed interested in going to the Space Needle and seeing Doc's Underground Tour and I'm guessing there will be some more drinking involved. Yes, I will definitely need to recuperate before they come back.
July 11, 2008
Weezer
When I was younger
I used to go and tip cows for fun, yeah
Actually I didn't do that
'Cos I didn't want the cow to be sad
But some of my friends did
They were all just a little bit wicked
I used to go and tip cows for fun, yeah
Actually I didn't do that
'Cos I didn't want the cow to be sad
But some of my friends did
They were all just a little bit wicked
The Week In Hangovers
Monday:
3 glasses of wine while watching the finale of The Bachelorette with Liz.
Tuesday:
2 glasses of wine when Daniel and Ishmael came over for dinner.
Wednesday:
nap/rejuvinate
Thursday:
1 glass of wine, a margarita and 2 beers with Corynn and her family
Today:
Happy Hour with Logic's co-workers
Saturday:
Housewarming party with copious amounts of wine consumed (I can already guarantee that)
Sunday:
Lake cruise with Daniel and definite drinking involved.
My poor liver. Next week my cousin will be in town and I know he's a drinker and after that Lilikoi and Ranger are visiting for four days. The last time they were here we racked up a $200 bill at Fox Sports and Lilikoi and I spent the next 2 days recovering...
3 glasses of wine while watching the finale of The Bachelorette with Liz.
Tuesday:
2 glasses of wine when Daniel and Ishmael came over for dinner.
Wednesday:
nap/rejuvinate
Thursday:
1 glass of wine, a margarita and 2 beers with Corynn and her family
Today:
Happy Hour with Logic's co-workers
Saturday:
Housewarming party with copious amounts of wine consumed (I can already guarantee that)
Sunday:
Lake cruise with Daniel and definite drinking involved.
My poor liver. Next week my cousin will be in town and I know he's a drinker and after that Lilikoi and Ranger are visiting for four days. The last time they were here we racked up a $200 bill at Fox Sports and Lilikoi and I spent the next 2 days recovering...
July 10, 2008
It's Either This or Jumping Out the Window
I have been working on a mind-numbing report for the majority of the day and feel as if I'm about to lose my last brain cell. So after zooming around the internet for a while, I decided to copy and paste this meme from Lach. (Thanks for giving me something to do.)
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? An umbrella, a book from last semester and an empty Gatorade bottle
2. When was the last time you threw up? Last fall
3. What’s your favorite curse word? Motherfucker
4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? My dad, Jade and Dominique
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Leaving the gym
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Stalling, just as I am now
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? Having dinner with an old friend
8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes and I highly recommend it (gag).
9. What is the last thing you said aloud? "Oooh! I have a voicemail!"
10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Cookie Dough
11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water
13. What was the last thing you ate? Doritos
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Not yet. ;)
15. When was the last time you ran? This morning
16. What’s the last sporting event you watched? Wimbledon
18. Who is the last person you emailed? Gene and Todd simultaneously
19. Ever go camping? Just went last weekend. It sucked.
20. Do you have a tan? Barely
24. Do you drink your soda from a straw? Rarely
21. What did your last IM say? "Guess what I had for dinner last night?" (to a person who makes fun of me for eating cereal for dinner.)
22. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes
23. What are you doing tomorrow? Playing with my new phone
24. Where is your mom right now? In New Mexico
25. Look to your left, what do you see? A big window looking out to blue skies, my bamboo plant, a small fan, lotion, Gatorade and gifts/pictures on my windowsill.
26. What color is your watch? Pink and it comes in the shape of my cell phone
27. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Kangaroos and Keith Urban (even though he was born in New Zealand)
28. Would you consider plastic surgery? I hope not
29. What is your birthstone? Opal
30. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? I often go in. Not sure why though.
31.How many kids do you want? Eh. 0? Okay, there's a 2% chance that I may eventually want 1 or 2.
32. Do you have a dog? No
33. Last person you talked to on the phone? Jill
34. Have you met anyone famous? A few people - I talked to Patrick Ewing on the phone once, met John Edwards and David Lynch and have seen Obama from a block away (does that count?)
35. Any plans today? Dinner with a friend
36. How many states have you lived in? Hmm. Let me count it out: 1) Idaho 2) Washington 3) Oregon 4) Montana 5) Florida
37. Ever go to college? Yes
38. Where are you right now? At work, looking longingly out the window that I was forced to look out of on question #25
39. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Besides being at work? Wait.. that's the only one.
40. Last song listened to? Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
41. Are you allergic to anything? Myself, practically. All things pollen/grass/weed related.
42. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Black and tan ballet flats with a little black leather bow
43. Are you jealous of anyone? My friend Ishmael is getting a new iPhone tomorrow AND a new Z3. If he weren't so cute I'd hate him.
44. Is anyone jealous of you? Probably my friend Renee who moved back to Montana
45. What time is it? 4:00 on the dot
46. Do any of your friends have children? Yes
47. Do you eat healthy? I try to but splurge on sugary desserts.
48. What do you usually do during the day? Surf the internets looking for fraud.
49. Do you hate anyone right now? Nope
50. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily? No. I'm a "hey" or "hi" kinda girl.
51. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 29!!
52. Have you ever been to Six Flags? When I was too young to go on the fun rides.
53. How did you get one of your scars? Falling off a bike when I was in 3rd grade. I love that scar!
1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? An umbrella, a book from last semester and an empty Gatorade bottle
2. When was the last time you threw up? Last fall
3. What’s your favorite curse word? Motherfucker
4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? My dad, Jade and Dominique
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Leaving the gym
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Stalling, just as I am now
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? Having dinner with an old friend
8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yes and I highly recommend it (gag).
9. What is the last thing you said aloud? "Oooh! I have a voicemail!"
10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Cookie Dough
11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water
13. What was the last thing you ate? Doritos
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Not yet. ;)
15. When was the last time you ran? This morning
16. What’s the last sporting event you watched? Wimbledon
18. Who is the last person you emailed? Gene and Todd simultaneously
19. Ever go camping? Just went last weekend. It sucked.
20. Do you have a tan? Barely
24. Do you drink your soda from a straw? Rarely
21. What did your last IM say? "Guess what I had for dinner last night?" (to a person who makes fun of me for eating cereal for dinner.)
22. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes
23. What are you doing tomorrow? Playing with my new phone
24. Where is your mom right now? In New Mexico
25. Look to your left, what do you see? A big window looking out to blue skies, my bamboo plant, a small fan, lotion, Gatorade and gifts/pictures on my windowsill.
26. What color is your watch? Pink and it comes in the shape of my cell phone
27. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Kangaroos and Keith Urban (even though he was born in New Zealand)
28. Would you consider plastic surgery? I hope not
29. What is your birthstone? Opal
30. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? I often go in. Not sure why though.
31.How many kids do you want? Eh. 0? Okay, there's a 2% chance that I may eventually want 1 or 2.
32. Do you have a dog? No
33. Last person you talked to on the phone? Jill
34. Have you met anyone famous? A few people - I talked to Patrick Ewing on the phone once, met John Edwards and David Lynch and have seen Obama from a block away (does that count?)
35. Any plans today? Dinner with a friend
36. How many states have you lived in? Hmm. Let me count it out: 1) Idaho 2) Washington 3) Oregon 4) Montana 5) Florida
37. Ever go to college? Yes
38. Where are you right now? At work, looking longingly out the window that I was forced to look out of on question #25
39. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Besides being at work? Wait.. that's the only one.
40. Last song listened to? Bleed It Out by Linkin Park
41. Are you allergic to anything? Myself, practically. All things pollen/grass/weed related.
42. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Black and tan ballet flats with a little black leather bow
43. Are you jealous of anyone? My friend Ishmael is getting a new iPhone tomorrow AND a new Z3. If he weren't so cute I'd hate him.
44. Is anyone jealous of you? Probably my friend Renee who moved back to Montana
45. What time is it? 4:00 on the dot
46. Do any of your friends have children? Yes
47. Do you eat healthy? I try to but splurge on sugary desserts.
48. What do you usually do during the day? Surf the internets looking for fraud.
49. Do you hate anyone right now? Nope
50. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily? No. I'm a "hey" or "hi" kinda girl.
51. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 29!!
52. Have you ever been to Six Flags? When I was too young to go on the fun rides.
53. How did you get one of your scars? Falling off a bike when I was in 3rd grade. I love that scar!
June 30, 2008
Evan Rachel Wood
"If I go to see a Beatles film, I want it to be weird and artistic and interesting and experimental and psychedelic and dark at times and also beautiful -- and that's what this is. - On Across the Universe."
(I saw this movie yesterday and I really liked it.)
DID YOU KNOW?
~courtesy of Lilikoi
Bananas
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Cheese
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Garlic
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the endof the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating Refrigerated Bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper Weeds Away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket.It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Keep Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible Vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing pantyhose.Place pin in seam of slacks and... tada!... static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield
Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Clothes Dryers
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the
dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he
took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ...well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!
~Sadly, a friend tried the dryer sheet technique for staying off mosquitos and it did not work. Use this advice at your own risk.
Bananas
Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
Cheese
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Garlic
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the endof the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
Reheating Refrigerated Bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper Weeds Away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket.It will keep the mosquitoes away.
Keep Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible Vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing pantyhose.Place pin in seam of slacks and... tada!... static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield
Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the window s fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Clothes Dryers
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the
dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he
took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material... I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well ...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free... that nice fragrance too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ...well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!
~Sadly, a friend tried the dryer sheet technique for staying off mosquitos and it did not work. Use this advice at your own risk.
June 28, 2008
Another Beautiful Day
Most Seattlites like to brag about suffering through nine months of clouds and rain for three months of blissful summer and I have to admit that these three months are definitely worth bragging about. Today might actually reach 90 degrees but if it does, it will be a record. Normally, the end of June is greeted with 70 and 80 degree weather and a nice cool breeze off the Puget Sound. In fact, such a breeze is blowing against my face right now.
I looked at my gym class schedule this morning and was disappointed to see that my yoga instructor isn't teaching this morning but on the up-side, Logic suggested we walk down to the water and get some coffee. We'll be leaving here in a minute and I can't guarantee that we'll be back anytime soon. We often get caught up in the beauty of the boats, kayaks, ferries and jet-skis zooming across the serene, cobalt water and the entertainment that ensues when most of Seattle tries to cram their beach blankets, barbeques and coolers onto the small Alki Beach.
Our enjoyment of the chaos is multiplied by the fact that we live just far enough off the beach that when we are home, the most noise we hear is a woodpecker slowly knocking over the unstable house next to us. We can strain our ears and still not hear horns honking, mother's yelling at their kids and music blaring from portable iPod speakers. And yet, we're still close enough that we can put on our flip-flops and casually make our way to the noise without breaking a sweat, or having to deal with the stressful ordeal of finding a parking spot.
I recently came to the conclusion that there is no where else I'd rather live, and that's a big deal as anyone who knows me would agree. The grey winters can be brutal. But I like to think of those nine months as Mother Nature's way of ensuring we get to enjoy the most beautiful three months of vibrant summer on Earth.
I looked at my gym class schedule this morning and was disappointed to see that my yoga instructor isn't teaching this morning but on the up-side, Logic suggested we walk down to the water and get some coffee. We'll be leaving here in a minute and I can't guarantee that we'll be back anytime soon. We often get caught up in the beauty of the boats, kayaks, ferries and jet-skis zooming across the serene, cobalt water and the entertainment that ensues when most of Seattle tries to cram their beach blankets, barbeques and coolers onto the small Alki Beach.
Our enjoyment of the chaos is multiplied by the fact that we live just far enough off the beach that when we are home, the most noise we hear is a woodpecker slowly knocking over the unstable house next to us. We can strain our ears and still not hear horns honking, mother's yelling at their kids and music blaring from portable iPod speakers. And yet, we're still close enough that we can put on our flip-flops and casually make our way to the noise without breaking a sweat, or having to deal with the stressful ordeal of finding a parking spot.
I recently came to the conclusion that there is no where else I'd rather live, and that's a big deal as anyone who knows me would agree. The grey winters can be brutal. But I like to think of those nine months as Mother Nature's way of ensuring we get to enjoy the most beautiful three months of vibrant summer on Earth.
June 24, 2008
Feet
I recently discovered that my niece is an artist. Her mom had been bragging for years that she was really good, but I chalked that up as maternal pride. Then I saw some of her sketches.
Ever since I laid eyes on her first sketch a few months back, I've been begging her to send me more. This morning I got my wish and I just had to share.
I'm swelling with pride right now. Oh yeah, did I mention she's 17?
Ever since I laid eyes on her first sketch a few months back, I've been begging her to send me more. This morning I got my wish and I just had to share.
I'm swelling with pride right now. Oh yeah, did I mention she's 17?
June 19, 2008
A Day With Sun
Summer starts today, and what a long time coming. Our Spring was hardly a week long so I'm hoping Summer will compensate for the lack of good weather we've been having. When the sun is out, I am a different person. The glass if half-full on these days.
I don't mind working, I don't mind sitting around doing nothing, and I don't mind the crowds of cave-dwellers that emerge and devour the sidewalks of the city. Instead I take deeper, more relaxing breaths and I find enjoyment in every thing. Feeling the warm sun on my inviting skin is an experience I cherish. I stop whatever I am doing and relish in the feeling. My eyes closed, my breathing deep and a smile engulfing my face.
Ahhh, summer.
I don't mind working, I don't mind sitting around doing nothing, and I don't mind the crowds of cave-dwellers that emerge and devour the sidewalks of the city. Instead I take deeper, more relaxing breaths and I find enjoyment in every thing. Feeling the warm sun on my inviting skin is an experience I cherish. I stop whatever I am doing and relish in the feeling. My eyes closed, my breathing deep and a smile engulfing my face.
Ahhh, summer.
June 18, 2008
Complaints
*Can the city really give two simultaneous parking tickets?
*Am I really going to eat a dozen White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies in one sitting?
*Am I going to be able to attend school in the fall or did I royally fuck up my financial aid?
*Why can't I get my lazy ass to the gym?
*Who knew buying a new t.v. would cause the husband to stress out so much about components, location, wiring. Ay ya ya.
*What if DeAnna picks the wrong guy and it doesn't work out?
*Is Molly going to ditch me AGAIN and ruin my chances of seeing the Sex and the City movie in the theater?
*When is Logic going to do the dishes?
These are all the important issues going on in my life right now.
~ update on financial aid: the issue has been resolved. Phew!
*Am I really going to eat a dozen White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies in one sitting?
*Am I going to be able to attend school in the fall or did I royally fuck up my financial aid?
*Why can't I get my lazy ass to the gym?
*Who knew buying a new t.v. would cause the husband to stress out so much about components, location, wiring. Ay ya ya.
*What if DeAnna picks the wrong guy and it doesn't work out?
*Is Molly going to ditch me AGAIN and ruin my chances of seeing the Sex and the City movie in the theater?
*When is Logic going to do the dishes?
These are all the important issues going on in my life right now.
~ update on financial aid: the issue has been resolved. Phew!
June 17, 2008
June 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)