Before & After (My Biggest Job Yet)
So my boss purchased the property and doublewide trailer upon it directly below him to use as a guest house, possibly rental property. When I first walked in I was struck by one, a great odor, like that out of Mordor…(or maybe the Hobbit is just on my mind these days). There were holes punched in the walls, the fire alarm was torn off the wall, there was great evidence of dirt all over the carpet, no furniture but a few pieces of seen better days about 30 years ago, and overall a general ew-ness. Of course, my boss needed it turned livable and inhabitable within 10 days. Whirlwind.
Here are the “Before” pictures….
Friday, appliances ordered, furniture ordered, household goods picked out. Monday, appliances delivered, Tuesday handyman, Wednesday house-cleaners and pressure washing, Thursday more house-cleaners and carpet and duct/vent cleaners, Friday furniture….yeah, it’s been a crazy couple days!
And the “After…”
Remember the scene from The Patriot where the ship blows up? If you recall, just after that is the favorite “horse blanket” disgust portrayed by Cornwallis. He makes a derisive comment about attending a ball at Middleton Place when he should be attending balls in North Carolina… Yes, this is the Middleton Place and Cornwallis (at least as portrayed by The Patriot) was an idiot.
First of all, conveniently outside of Charleston where $400 a night is more common than not. Second, long windy driveway up to the Inn. Third, free admission to the historic house, grounds, gardens and farm area. Fourth, wooden benches and picnic tables on the edge of the bluff overlooking the Ashley River in which I saw dolphins cavorting and later saw an alligator sleepily paddling. Hiking trails, droopy Spanish moss and huge hardwoods. A pool and lodge with games. A hammock lazily swinging between two trees in the courtyard. Luxurious cabin-like rooms with huge bathrooms and tile tubs the size of my closet.
Do I really need to continue?
Plus, no one has lived til they’ve walked the streets of Charleston – particularly down by East Battery, up and down Broad and Market Streets, and yes – Rainbow Market is worth it. High Cotton was a classic must-enjoy. The Dark Side of Charleston walking tour was absorbing and (yes) dark…. I love this city.
At $150 – $180 a night (and going up from there), it’s a very reasonable amount for the free continental breakfast, historic tour, hiking and lounging capabilities, and the nearness (yet remote) distance of Charleston. I highly recommend The Inn at Middleton Place – I look forward to going back.
Corporate Christmas Gift: FOUND!
For weeks I’ve been trying to locate that “perfect” gift for the corporate staff. You know, the one that says we care but we also didn’t forego your raise by getting you this item…or even better, yes, we thought you would really wear this silly star-shaped pin that affirms we think you’re a STAR. There’s also the diverse variety of personalities on staff, so while wine might work for one another would be offended; sales might enjoy a new luggage bag but the web team would prefer a Think Geek USB hub in the shape of R2D2.
What better idea than one that came to me as I read David Pease’s 100 ways to show appreciation for your staff paper. He was actually talking about creating personalized ornaments but me and crafts are … not happening.
So I, of course, turn to Google and located CORPORATE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS.COM! I got an instant quote on their half dozen styles of ornament. I’m able to get 50 Christmas ornaments with our company logo and appreciation phrase and our staff can have a clever gift pretty much (hopefully) no one can roll their eyes at. (No pens, no padfolios, no stupid pins, HR people.) I am actually excited about this year’s gift!
“Quidsi” started with Diapers.com — and got me hooked within a short time. Not only could I get just about the same price on diapers/wipes as I could at Sams, I could have them delivered free to my door within 2 days….and have a vast array of options for both items and brands: Seventh Generation, Earth’s Best, Plum Baby, etc.
Then they got Soap.com going. While I PREFER Alice.com’s ability to sort BY UNIT PRICE (insanely awesome when dealing with things like toilet paper or laundry detergent), Soap.com has an easier navigation and because orders can be combined for the free shipping (which applies after $50)….well….
Soon they added Wag.com (Pets), Yo-Yo.com (Toys) and now Casa.com (Household) and I’m continually in love with the group. Here’s an example of customer service:
Item received damaged, a store credit towards my next purchase given AND the item reshipped.
Dog food had a recall — they auto shipped replacement food to me.
My most recent order was very large ($140) and included dog food, gluten-free cookies for the kids, diapers, toilet paper, laundry detergent, salsa, etc. It arrived in a very large giant box (which is, to UPS, a giant request to throw me as hard as you can because I’m so big). The salsa was broken open, as was the laundry detergent and the cookies were basically a nice pre-made crumb topping. I let them know (YES, I was NICE…because I’m usually on that end!).
Their response?
Not only did they refund 50% of my order to my card, they reshipped the entire order! Not just the damaged items. THE ENTIRE ORDER.
Along with a 7 paragraph email apologizing for our trouble and distress. I am again validated that the more wordy the response, the more it’s appreciated (every now and again someone tries to tell me I shouldn’t write long apologies and explanations but they really do help, otherwise customers feel brushed aside as if what they have to complain about isn’t important enough for a long answer).
Yet again, Quidsi and company have my vote for best customer service and satisfaction rate, in addition to being the most convenient way to simplify and save time through delivery!
When they start doing produce — you’ll never see me in a grocery store again.
(FYI — they auto-apply any outstanding coupon for the item and you can also mail in coupons to use on your orders.) Want to get started on your love of delivery? ENTER COUPON CODE: LIZDARN08 for $10 off (and possibly also 20%!).
William Falk on College (The Week)
My older daughter is already off at school, and the younger, a high school junior, has taken us on a tour of exciting collegiate options from North Carolina to Massachusetts. They all have exquisite campuses, exciting academic programs, and total annual costs exceeding…I am pausing here to breathe…$50,000 a year. Four times $50,000 is — I am trying to breathe more slowly and deeply — a crazy number, especially when multiplied by two kids. It sounds even crazier when I read the other day that 53 percent of college grads under the age of 25 either have no job, or are waiting tables, manning receptionist desks, or folding sweaters at the mall. [Interjection that I recently read that the number of food stamp recipients who also have masters degrees are tripled this year.] As Frank Bruni noted in The New York Times, college used to be a “synonym for success. We only had to go. We only had to graduate.” Now a diploma — especially in the liberal arts — guarantees nothing but a lot of debt.
Yes, I know. Education is not merely a means to a good job. You don’t have to convince me. In my college years, back in the less-competitive 70’s, I took classes in whatever I found intriguing — philosophy, psychology, English lit and astronomy, with little thought to anything as crass as making money. After graduating, I found an entry-level job at a newspaper anyway. (Agreeing to working nights and weekends helped.) Today, education experts say a liberal arts degree isn’t entirely useless — as long as it’s followed by a graduate degree. Kids with a simple B. A. will still be folding sweaters at the age of 33. So do the math: 2 kids x $50,000 a year x seven years = ???!!! I’m breathing deeply, this time into a brown paper bag. — William Falk, The Week, May 11 issue
The Federal student loan program became the latest battleground in the election campaign, as a 3.4 percent interest rate subsidy, set to expire in effect doubling the rate to 6.8 percent which would saddle 7 million undergraduates with nearly $3,000 in additional interest. Jordan Weissmann, of TheAtlantic.com aptly suggested we not mistake the extension of the subsidy for college affordability since tuition fees are at all time highes with total student debt at $1 trillion, with uncertain returns. As Frank Bruni suggests, subsidies would be better spent steering students towards degrees that will actually get them jobs.
I’m a TRIP planner — you know, the kind of “vacation” where you need a vacation when you return? The week at a destination where you know every street, landmark and building by site when you see it on TV, a movie or where a friend asks you a good place to eat in San Francisco and you rattle off 8-9 you tried?
Rabbit Trail: We had 2 weeks in Colorado when I was 9 months pregnant with our son. We started in Denver, of course; wound over to Estes Park via my cousins near Boulder; left them to see Colorado Springs, hit Grand Junction via Black Canyon of the Gunnison, spent a week in Breckenridge where we trotted about Copper Mountain and the Continental Divide, hiked 4 miles through Boreas Pass, and landed splat back in Denver for a traipse into The Tattered Cover and a Jamba Juice experience. Yeah…the only things we skipped were Durango (boohoo!) and the Royal Gorge (hubby doesn’t like swinging bridges suspended over canyon walls, whaaaat?!). I forgot to mention, we also raced to Utah in there, and saw Arches National Park and a few dead cow skulls. I say raced because yes, I finally went 110 somewhere between Colorado desert and Utah desert.
Back on Track: So this trip is not a trip, but a vacation. A beach vacation, no less. My husband thanks me in the sweetest way with his sigh of relief that I had nothing (absolutely nothing) planned.
First, I found “the town” that was more remote, less expensive and yet not ridden with holes in the roof in the old part of Florida known as the “Forgotten Coast.” Hence, the RVC Carrabelle Beach.
An ocean view loft over the convenience store at the RV/cottage sites, just across the street from a beautiful stretch of sugar sand looking out on the Gulf and St. George’s Island and Dog Island a few miles out. With a swimming pool, deck stocked with chairs and tables and a rec center with exercise equipment and a pool table, our full kitchen, launderette, dining room, living room and bedroom are quite large and comfortable for the two of us. We’ll likely be back in a few years for the kids’ first real trip to the beach. (Playground and bark park included!)
The 2 bedroom cottages look adorable and start at just $99 a night, and while the max capacity on the RV lots is 6 people, it’s a great spot for families and those looking to get away to a quiet, clean and affordable spot without the crowds. LIKE them on Facebook to enter to win a free weekend getaway!
We enjoyed a good (though not great) pizza and (great) fried pickles at BJ’s pizza on St. George’s Island; a great beer and homemade potato chips at the Owl Tap Room in Apalachicola followed by dinner of salmon and chocolate mousse at the Owl Cafe and a cafe style breakfast at Two Al’s on the Beach. Recommend bringing own food/meal prep (also the loft did not contain pots/pans or much variety in the way of kitchen utensils).
Staff very helpful as is the convenience store and the fellow visitors all courteous and friendly. However, it is good to note that they provide half a roll of toilet paper and if you run out on the 3rd day and have 4 more to go, they don’t typically provide anything additional. There’s also no pots/pans, or much in the way of cooking supplies despite the full kitchen.
Love the local area and the fact that you can drive down Highway 98 for miles viewing the ocean just a few feet from the roadway — cute little beach houses perched above the rocks….
Never Use Hilton Advance Purchase….
I made a mistake when booking and clicked the wrong date — oops, my bad. But Hilton has such great customer service, they even refund your room fee if you don’t have a good experience (though previous experience also tells me you have to fight tooth and nail while Hilton corporate turns you over to the hotel manager who pretends you never addressed the issue while onsite)….
Anyway, I called the hotel first, to ask for a change to the next night. No problem! They exclaim, but then sorrowfully informed me that I have to call the Hilton customer care line to get the change because it’s an advance purchase.
While on the phone with Hilton, the rep (who can barely speak English, of course) is having a difficult time locating my reservation. She asked for my address, phone number, name, etc. before saying “oh it was here all along.” Oooookay….
She can’t help me, I need to call the number, do I have paper handy, number is…. (I’m still trying to find paper….)
She then hangs up abruptly. I have the first 3 numbers written down, having just managed to find paper.
I go online, find the number and call only to be told “sorry, we can’t modify reservations, and we can’t refund unless you call 3 days in advance of the reservation and it’s 2 1/2 days away now.”
Really? It’s 2012 and you can’t modify the reservation, and it takes THREE days to issue a refund so I can resubmit the reservation, which according to the hotel, is perfectly acceptable to do…if only I hadn’t used Advanced Purchase?
No, it’s different billing departments and it takes three days. Technically, I know it takes 24 hours, max, but that’s ok — they don’t want your business apparently.
Unfortunately, this being my second strike against my favorite brand of inns (Hampton/Hilton), I’m rethinking my loyalty. In a day where there are hundreds of articles and webinars on the danger of losing a loyal customer simply because you’re bound and determined to state “it’s policy,” you’d think Hilton would 1) have a better system that can allow changes and modifications, where refunds don’t require 3 days and 2) when the hotel is ok with changing the date of the reservation, you’d think that corporate would be, too and 3) they would state 4 times “it’s our policy” on a call.
Just saying, and just a warning: be overly careful when dealing with Hilton. I guess Paris needs a new purse…though I THINK she prefers those that cost more than my measly hotel stay would provide. I think I’ll try Holiday Inn next time.
ModCloth — Brilliant
I’m a new addict of ModCloth, where you can vote (and purchase) on clothing and accessories designed by normal people, not the fashion industry (no offense to any normal people in the fashion industry). With a penchant for the vintage looks and affordable prices, ModCloth should be for your unique wardrobe as Etsy is for your home decor and gift basket.
Clever Gift Idea: Custom Quote Gift Books
What a great idea! Using this WEBSITE, you can provide your favorite quotes or sayings (or invite others to contribute) and have a custom book made for just $29.95! You could even put together a book of thoughts for your spouse, loved one, traveling friend or long-distance grandma! It’s one of those ideas I just had to share.
Before & After Organizing Project (Part 1)
BEFORE
Disney Store Rip-Off
Reese is *obsessed* with Princesses right now – Rapunzel, Cindarella, Belle, “Awore-a” – and greatly into being a princess herself. So of course, when Christmas comes up I’m going to Disney Store (or at least Disney Store online because you should all know by now how much I don’t like shopping).
I went to DisneyStore.com and saw this banner (left), which you’ll note says that free shipping will be given on your order of $75 or more. On Black Friday it also was giving 20% off. Of course, I assume this means on the subtotal, like every other online (or brick & mortar) retailer.
I placed my order – at a subtotal of $79. The coupon took off the 20% amount, but the shipping fee remained. 
I contacted “customer service” asking for my shipping refund, as based on their coupon text an order of $75 would get 20% off AND free shipping. First I was sent an auto reply that they could not assist me with licensing Disney products. (???)
I submitted my request again. I was this time sent an email that my subtotal did not reach $75 and that’s why the coupon did not work. I replied with my info a third time, including the screenshots. Again I was replied to with the statement that my subtotal was $63 not $79. They said that the 20% off lowered my subtotal – but as you can see by their own system (right) and my receipt (below) my subtotal was STILL $79.
Like every other store in the world, they show the coupons AFTER the subtotal…yet they don’t honor their own subtotal only the non-existent line below the subtotal and coupon amount apparently.
I’m on my 8th request / reply to Disney Store Online’s “customer service.” I can’t seem to get them to review my actual case, in lieu of canned auto-reply messages from representatives (Tristan, Shauna (who called ME Tristan), and Demiyer) who continue to claim my subtotal was not $75+ and that the coupon would only work if my order was over $75.
I also wish to note how the coupon doesn’t say “order $75 and get 20% off then add another $15 and THEN get free shipping.” Apparently this is what they MEANT to say….?
Children who are encouraged to be active and use their minds to create and imagine are happier, more relaxed and overall better adjusted than those who do not get ample opportunities to play. It can be difficult, however, to create enough opportunities or offer enough interesting activities to keep our kids occupied. However, “it’s important to keep children’s minds active, but it doesn’t take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention,” said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. “After all, imagination is free.”
Primrose, the Leader in Educational Day Care, suggests parents encourage imaginative play to avoid boredom throughout the year. Despite the best planning however, even the most prepared parents find themselves occasionally faced with those two terrifying words, “I’m bored!” There will be times when the usual fun activities fail to elicit the same excitement and joy they normally do. Obstacles tend to get in the way of plans, especially when you have children.
When the weather does not allow outdoor play, or when circumstances change a busy day to one with lots of unstructured time, it helps to have a list of activities planned out to fall back on. You do not need to spend a lot of money to have fun with your kids. In fact, some of the best memories have been made without spending a dime.
Here are 10 ways to beat boredom without breaking the bank:
1. Boredom Buster Jar
Sit your entire family down together to brainstorm ideas for fun activities. Involving the whole family helps each child feel a personal connection to the project, which will make them more excited when it is time to use the jar. Each person can create an activity they would enjoy doing, and each activity is written down on a slip of paper. Decide as a family which activities make it into the jar. Anyone can take a slip from the jar later when ideas for fun come up short.
2. Act Out A Favorite Story
If your family reads together, you probably have certain stories you all enjoy. Your whole family can get into a reenactment of a favorite scene in a story, or play out the entire book. Have fun going through closets to make up costumes, and use household items as fun props. If you have a video camera, you can create a lasting epic drama or fall-over-laughing comedy to watch over and over through the years.
3. Have a Campout
Rain or shine, indoors or out, there is nothing like a campout for the whole family. You can set up a tent in the living room or out in the yard. A fort made of couch cushions, chairs and blankets is fun to make and a perfect substitute when a tent will not fit indoors. If the weather is nice, build a campfire and roast marshmallows while telling ghost stories.
4. Go On a Nature Walk
Parents and kids alike can find interesting things on a nature walk. Encourage your kids to look all around them to find special things like a unique rock, pretty caterpillar, or interesting rock formation. There is no end to the discoveries your kids can make when taking a walk through the woods. You can bring a camera along and let your kids take turns photographing the things that interest them. It is very fascinating to be able to see the world through a child’s eyes.
5. Draw On The Walls
What could be more fun than being allowed to do something you are always told not to do? A stapler and a few pieces of poster board open up limitless possibilities. Set out watercolors, crayons or colored pencils and let your children practice their artistic talents in a new way. You could expand on this to allow them to decorate an entire wall of their bedroom in their own unique way. When they tire of the look, they can simply remove the poster board and be back to where they started.
6. Tell a Round Robin Story
If your children can write, you can write out a story, with each family member writing one part and passing it on to the next. Let each person write a paragraph, then send it to the next person. Some really funny stories are written this way. Another option is to assign each person a part of the story and let everyone write independently. Put them all together and have a laugh trying to make sense of it all! For smaller children, speaking and acting out the story aloud can be a fun and hilarious adventure.
7. Make Photo Paper Dolls
Make a copy of full body photos for every person, then create clothes and accessories from construction paper to decorate the photo people. Goofy glasses, huge wigs and ridiculous outfits give this project a ton of laughs while your kids get to draw and create to their hearts’ content.
8. Learn a Craft
If you know how to do a craft such as knitting, crocheting or jewelry making, spend an afternoon teaching your children how to do it too. Kids really enjoy learning how to do those types of things and the lessons can stay with them for a lifetime, setting the foundation for their own crafty skills later on.
9. Make a Bird Treat
Watching wild birds gobble up a treat they made can be a very satisfying experience for kids. Tie a piece of string on a pine cone so it can be hung on a tree, then smear peanut butter all over it and dip it in wild bird seed. Birds will love this treat and your kids will enjoy feeding the birds.
10. Make Greeting Cards
If Christmas is coming up, kids can create a touching gift for friends and family by making homemade Christmas cards. You can make cards for birthdays and other occasions too. Construction paper, glittery pens and stickers can make some unique, colorful cards to give out. You can also encourage your kids to make their own Valentine’s day cards for school.
Finding a cure for boredom does not have to mean spending a lot of money or time. Using simple supplies many of us have on hand, you can provide your children with hours of creative play that does not rely on the weather or any special accommodations.
Gather supplies for these activities before you have need of them and you will always have something for kids to do, avoiding the dreaded, “I’m bored!”
–By Dan Gilbert
Snail Mail an Email! What a Great Idea…
Snail Mail My Email is a month-long project that aims to bring back the uplifting feeling of receiving an actual hand-written letter. They’re literally transcribing your emails to deliver handwritten notes to the recipient – and hopefully that happy feeling of finding a personal letter in your analogue mailbox amongst the junk and bills.
Want to say hi to your mom? Encourage your 3rd grader’s teacher? Brighten your boss (or assistant’s) day? The president of your favorite organization? The sky (and 100 words) is the limit. Once you’ve finished, just send off your email to snailmailmyemail@gmail.com and their international network of 180 volunteers will transcribe and send your message, all free of charge.
And what letter would be complete without a little something extra? You can request a doodle, a flower petal, a spray of perfume or cologne, or even a lip stick kiss. I’m pretty sure trying any of those over email will result in a very broken hard drive.
(Thanks to Netted by the Webbys for today’s post….)
Stress-Free Work (Repost)
Stress is a poison in today’s society.
The negative effects of stress are numerous. It weakens our immune system, which causes sickness. Because of stress, people produce less. When stressed people are less creative. The list goes on and on.
Problems caused by stress cost our society billions of dollars every year.
On the flip side, this means that anyone who can lower their stress levels and produce at a high level is at an advantage in the workplace. Those people will quickly become the most valued assets in any organization.
Looking to the Future
For many, there doesn’t seem to be any end to the stress. Companies and organizations keep expecting more for less which means we have to work harder, produce more, and get better results.
This means that if we are to solve the situation we cannot look to the outer world. We have to look inside ourselves and make a change.
When I Learned the 80/20 Rule
Most of us get caught up in tasks that really don’t have much of an impact on our future.
I started to think about it this way: 20 percent of the activities we do stand for 80% of the results we produce.
Another way of putting it is that if you have a list of 10 actions, 2 of those actions will have a greater effect on your future than the other 8 put together.
When I looked at my own work schedule this was really obvious.
When I first started thinking about the 80/20 rule, I was working as a sales manager with 5 sales people under me. My task list was as follows:
1. Making sales calls
2. Coach sales people
3. Sitting in meetings with my bosses
4. Prepare marketing and sales campaigns
5. Answer and reply to emails
6. Write standardized offers
7. Create campaign banners
And a few other unimportant things.
When I looked through this list, I realized that 80 percent of the value I created for my company came from coaching sales people and making my own sales calls. Most of the others were unimportant or easy to delegate.
Once I started focusing on those 2 tasks, my numbers and value skyrocketed…which quickly got me a promotion.
How to Focus Your Efforts
A few years ago I was taught a great method for decreasing stress. This guide will help you by getting thoughts, deals and commitments out of your head and on to paper, someplace you know you will be able to go back and review it regularly and that you know you will not forget it.
By not having to keep everything in your mind, you will be able to review it and decide which are activities comprise that crucial 20%, and you will be able to focus single-mindedly on those tasks without having to remember lots of other thoughts and ideas.
Step 1 – What is taking up a lot of your focus and energy?
Write down a list of everything you are thinking about and stressing about.
Step 2 – What would be a successful outcome to this situation?
To each point on the list, visualize what a perfect solution would be and then write it down.
Step 3 – How important is it that this task is done?
By answering this question, you learn if this task is something you need and should do or if it really isn’t that important and can be eliminated.
Step 4 – What action could you take to move the project towards that goal?
Once you know that the idea is an important one, write down what the next action you can take to move the goal towards its perfect solution.
Step 5 – Decide when you are going to do the action
Write it down in your calendar.
Let Go and Relax
Do you feel how much more relaxed you are now that you don’t have to remember all your ideas? Now that you know that they will be done?
This exercise has helped people all over the world get their ideas in writing, find actionable steps to take on their workloads, and start moving towards their major goals. It is a great cure to procrastination and a great way to increase your productivity start living a stress-free life.
Reposted from Stepcase Lifehack – author: Daniel M. Wood is the founder of Looking To Business.com. He writes about Motivation, Success and Time Management. Join his free email course “Your Path to Your Dreams” and receive his ebook “How to Make Selling Easy” for free.
$450 Mothers Day Giveaway!
Hurry, you must enter by the 8th!
Econobusters (Molly Green) is one of my favorite blogs and she is doing a fantastic Mother’s Day Giveaway. Earrings, books, CD, Crocheted Hotpad, Dietary Supplements, Notecards, a solid Birch Bank, AND MUCH MORE…. There’s some really fun stuff here that I’ll be looking into even if I didn’t win! (The Busy Homeschooling Mom’s Guide to Romance?!!)
750 Words a Day
I’ve kept a consistent journal for over 10 years. Granted, with the arrival of children, my writing is more sporadic, time lapses can be several weeks and posts can end in mid sentence – presumably with a vocalized “No! Agh!”
Many tout the wisdom of consistent and honest journaling. Not only can it help you think more clearly (builds focus, flushes out the noise), keep you more popular with coworkers and family (getting things off your chest on paper is better than face-to-face, trust me), and help you write and speak better (you don’t um and uh your way through journals).
Journaling gives you an outlet to think, dream, vent, idealize, and invent. To-dos, schedules, ideas, positive moments, negative moments, who cares but me moments….journaling is not a diary by the bedside necessarily. It’s more of a by your side at all times record of your life. I think more clearly after writing. I get things off my mind and “wrassle” my thoughts to a quieter hum. 30 words, 3000 words. It shouldn’t matter. But writing does improve creativity and clarity. Daily is preferable, if you can.
Enter 750words.com – Counts your words, can send you a daily reminder to write, all online. If you’re like me, you’ll probably never stray from the smooth pen gliding on the lined (college ruled, thank you) sheets encased in a leather covered journal. However, it’s been recommended that many (like me) CAN type faster than they write. And this tool will not only remind you to write your important daily sentiments, it also tracks your overall mood. Pretty cool….
Some great posts on Journaling in general:
From Live to Write, Write to Live
From Stepcase Lifehack
From Life Optimizer
Handmade Body Moisturizer Recipe
Handmade Body Moisturizer Recipe – thanks to ReadyMade.com for this great (and easy) recipe!
Like fresh food, this will go bad after a certain period of time. If you don’t think you’ll use it within three months, store it in the refrigerator. Makes approximately 2 cups.
1 cup filtered water, cold brewed tea, orange blossom water, or rose water
¾ cup oil such as olive, almond, unrefined coconut, or avocado
3 tablespoons grated beeswax
A few drops of essential oil of your choice, for fragrance
1. Set up a blender and pour in the water. Prepare clean, dry glass jars for packaging and have them nearby.
2. Put the oil and the beeswax in a Pyrex (glass) measuring cup. Place the Pyrex cup in a pan or small pot and pour in water to reach about halfway up the cup. Bring the water to a gentle boil, and heat the oil and beeswax until the beeswax melts. You’ll know when the wax is melted because you won’t see it anymore. As soon as the wax is melted, remove the cup from the water and let the oil cool for 2 minutes.
3. Turn on the blender and start blending the water at medium speed. Remove the stopper in the blender lid so you can pour the oil through the top while blending. Slowly pour in the oil and the mixture will begin to emulsify. If there is still some water on the surface, turn up the blender and blend the mixture 30 seconds to a minute longer. If you’re using essential oil, blend it in now.
4. With a clean rubber spatula, transfer the cream to the glass jars. Cover the jars with cheesecloth for an hour, or until they’ve reached room temperature. Placing the lid on the jar when this is warm will cause condensation to form under the lid, which will water down the lotion and form bacteria. When the lotion is cool, screw on the jar lids. Store at room temperature for up to 3 months, or in the refrigerator for 6 months.
Farewell, Baseboard Hugging Orange Cord!
Would you not agree with me that there are either not enough electrical outlets in a room OR they’re in all the wrong places, like behind the couch, behind the entertainment center, or behind the 20 pound mixer?
I’m NOT a fan of long ugly cords winding around furniture and hugging baseboards though.
Need I say more on this?
Here are some cures to ugly extension cord blues….
Necktie Luggage Tag
ReadyMade Magazine (one of my Coke Rewards rewards) has a great website, even better than Real Simple, in my opinion. One of my favorite little DIY projects they featured is a necktie repurposed into a luggage tag.
Lay tie flat. Starting at the narrow end, measure 16 inches down the length of the tie and cut with scissors. The wide end will be the body of the luggage tag, and the narrow end of the tie will serve as the luggage attachment.
Pass the cut end of the narrow tie piece through the slide buckle. Make a 2-inch loop, and stitch the loop securely.
On the wide tie piece, measure 8 inches from the tip and cut the end off with scissors. Discard non-pointed end. Center a vinyl rectangle right side up on front of tie.
Stitch around three sides of the vinyl (leaving one short end open) with either a needle or a sewing machine to form a pocket for your address card.
Fold the cut end of the wide tie piece ¼ inch toward the backside of the tie, and then fold that over another ½ inch to form your seam. Topstitch to make a ¼-inch seam. Align the stitched part of the looped piece with the seam you just made, and topstitch in place.
Loop the narrow end of the tie point around your luggage handle and thread it back through the buckle to secure. Now you’re ready for takeoff.11 Tricks to Improving Your Memory
My mother always said she lost her brain when she had me – and I thought (until Baby #1) that was a total cop-out. Of course, when Baby #1 started growing my muffin top into a frontal watermelon, I learned otherwise. There would be moments when I would point at something and moan “What is that called?!” My husband was very patient: “That’s the checkbook, dear….”
Right. I know there are herbs (Gingko, etc.) that can assist with brain boosting, but even herbs only go so far. Working full-time as a non-profit organization’s Director of Operations, I have to keep on my toes and can’t use the excuse nearly as readily that “I’ve had 2 children.”
1. Exercise – Not only does this make one feel better physically, help you sleep better, and de-stress your day, exercise also increases the flow of your blood that pump blood and thus oxygen to your brain. Suffocated blood cells in the brain cause cell death. When your blood doesn’t flow properly to your brain, it reduced the amount of oxygen that can flow; even if it’s just a brisk walk around your office building, getting your heart rate up and your blood pumping will help to keep your brain healthy.
2. Eliminate Stress – Anything that causes you anxiety, anger, or worry will eat away at the memory parts of your brain. Depression causes a higher level of cortisol in your bloodstream, which carry up to your brain, and high levels of cortisol will particularly damage your short-term memory sections. As cliche as it sounds – focus on the positive, give the rest up, and seek help if you’re struggling with maintaining a depression-free lifestyle.
3. Sleep – Getting a good night’s sleep (7-8 hours of uninterrupted rest are vital to many aspects of health) consistently allows your brain to firm recently acquired information in storage. If you’ve just learned something new (say, been in a class or read online a long and thorough article), take a short (20 minutes is optimal) nap.
4. Music – Research shows that music is helpful in recalling memories. Particularly assigning a specific song or collection to a memory can assist in re-recalling that memory later on. We’ve all heard how playing Mozart improves the brain – can’t hurt to play background music when trying to learn, eh?
5. Write it down – Writing a particle of thought oxygenates blood flow to your brain responsible for remembering, and actually exercises that area. Reading what you’ve written also improves the ability to recollec later. Journaling is a great way to keep your long-term memory intact, and creating lists for short-term To-Do’s does the trick.
6. Visualize – Pay attention to charts, photographs, diagrams and other graphics when learning something. Assign an item, animal or action in your mind to a particular fact to remind you later. There’s a whole book on Memory Mechanics such as these available.
7. Crossword Puzzles – Reading, crosswords, word and card games not only keep you sharp, studies show they also delay memory loss and can be very helpful in pausing the onset of dementia.
8. Eat breakfast – We’ve all heard it’s best to eat breakfast for both weight loss/maintenance, but it’s also shown to improve performance for the rest of the day. The best breakfast contains eggs, lean proteins and fruit. Avoid processed foods and high fructose corn syrup (goodbye, Aunt Jemima Toaster Waffles and Artificial Syrup). Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and antioxidants that keep cells firing at optimal speed, burn glucose and protect neurons are all found in eggs: the superfood. Of course, cage free, fertile, (and preferably farm fresh) eggs are the best.
9. Teach – Reading and working through material out loud significantly improves the ability to retain the information. It also increases understanding and recall prowess to teach new concepts to someone else.
10. Feed your brain fat – That’s right. Skim milk, fat-free yogurt, low-fat, non-fat, 2% fat, -2% fat, fat-less, no-fat diets are actually detrimental to your brain’s functionality, not to mention tastebuds. 50-60% of the brain’s overall weight is pure fat, which insulates billions of nerve cells. Skimming on fats is devastating, as the better a cell is insulated by fat, the faster it sends messages and the quicker you’ll think. Of course, avoid bad fatty foods like deep-fried twinkies, but do seek out dark, leafy greens (*see below*) and fish for optimal good nutritional brain-feeding fat.
11. Drink water – And enough water. The average height/weight person should drink 7-8 glasses of water per day. Not only does this help regulate your weight, keep you hydrated, help your skin and energy, and boost your immune system and sleep cycles, enough water flushes sodium out of your kidneys. Too much sodium build-up in your kidneys, your blood becomes thick and succumbs to high pressure. High pressure in your bloodstream chokes out the oxygen that flows to your brain. What kills brain cells? Suffocated cells (no oxygen). Water is invaluable.
*Dark Green Leafy Vegetables*
Kale typically brings a wrinkled nose, but it is absolutely one of the best gifts to your body you can get. There are more nutrients in a bowl of Kale than in 12 bowls of oatmeal. A friend sautes Kale in a saucepan with garlic, olive oil, and onion, then adds kalamata olives and feta cheese.
Frugal, Naturally! with Liz Darnell 