Real Simple Project #8

#8 Do the stupid quiz (Do you really know the words to that song?, page 64)

I didn't do it. I started, but it was really stupid. I decided that I'd rather spend 10 minutes doing just about anything else. It did make me a little nostalgic for riding in the back seat of my mom's car (as a little girl, as a teenager, yesterday, whatever) and thinking I totally knew the words to the songs on the radio. I didn't.

Real Simple Project #22

#22 Read article on losing job (tuck away, just in case!) (page 175-181)

I love my job (and I'm not just saying that because I think my boss might be reading this- I'm sure she isn't!). I work with amazing women who are intelligent (I'm the only one without fancy letters after my name) and creative and just overall lovely. They are all extremely supportive and flexible with me. I don't even mind the content of my job (mostly crunching numbers and all those little things that come up). What I really love? It looks to be secure. So, I'm thankful that I don't need to read "After losing a job... what comes next?" for pointers. I can just read it. If I do ever lose my job, I hope I'm like the "unexpected optimist" in the article.

Real Simple Project #11 UPDATE

I finally found the friction block. It was kind of expensive ($8, and it easily fits in my closed palm). But it works great!! Saved my feet in Vegas. Highly recommended!

Real Simple Project #29

image from realsimple.com

#29 Try one of the vegetable sides (pages 221-226)

I wanted to make this side (corn salad with feta and walnuts), but I didn't have any walnuts or lime. I made it anyway and it was tasty! And VERY SIMPLE!

Real Simple Project #10

#10 Buy recommended self-tanner product

Confession: I'm not going to do this one. I hate self tanners. I've tried a couple, but I don't like the looks of them. So, I just went the old fashioned route. I laid out in the sun. By a pool. With a cocktail (margarita on the rocks, with salt!!). Ok, a few cocktails. I like my way better.

Real Simple Project #20

#20 Savor every moment of the first few moments of my trip (Vegas!)

This task was a nice reminder to enjoy the feeling of being in a new place. Although the first few moments of Vegas aren't really the best (airport, long taxi line, long check in, etc.), I choose to really savor those first few moments AND the moments of the highlights of my trip.

I spend most of my time either working or taking care of my children. I love my children. I love my work. But it gets tiring taking care of people all the time! I savored being able to do whatever I wanted. I had no one waiting for me, no one with me, no one even really knew exactly where I was. Sigh.

Father's Day

Father's Day is on SUNDAY. It sneaks up on my every year. Here's my round up of great father's day ideas and projects (Dad- in the unlikely event you are reading this. Stop.)

Folded-Shirt Card (from Martha Stewart) - this would also be great for a first day of work card for a new professional.



Cutout Frame Card (again, Martha) - I've made this, it is pretty easy and turns out great!

Weather Station (via amazon.com)

I bought my dad a weather station for Christmas one year. It is the best gift I've ever gotten him. He immediately started sending an email weather report to several family members. Years later (has it been 4, 5?), every Monday through Friday I get a handy-dandy report in my inbox. Details include current weather conditions for my hometown, forecast, a daily quote and sometimes a quiz. It has really been a fun way for our family to keep in touch. Sometimes we respond to the quote. Sometimes someone has a weather event to report (photographic evidence required!). Lively conversation ensues. The weather station I bought my dad has been replaced by a fancier model, but the weather report lives on.

Book from blurb

Ok, you don't have time to get this made by Sunday, but maybe you can give him a raincheck? I would make a book with old photos, quotes and stories from growing up. For my dad I'd try to recount the great ghost stories he used to tell on our camping trips. I've had to pull some of that storytelling talent out of my back pocket at bedtime. It's harder that you might think. He did a great job!

photobooth photo

Use the photobooth locator at photobooth.net to take some photos with a sign that says "world's best dad", then have the photos copied to a larger size (6x6 square would be cool). Frame. Voila! Bonus points if you wear a fake mustache in the photo.

Real Simple Project #12

#12 Real Steals- Nautical coverup

So, I looked for this one and couldn't find it. So I bought a this one instead. On sale. At Target. Still a steal!

Real Simple Project #19

#19 Make sure my Frequent Flier miles will stay active (if you do one thing this month... pg 154)

Easy-peasy. Travel about to commence, miles about to be added, still active!

Real Simple Project #3

#3 Learn how to pack (on-line tutorial, pg 22)

This tutorial actually had some great tips and was only a few minutes long. I was able to get all my clothes and shoes in! Some good tips if you have time to check it out. Score for Real Simple!

Awesome Mom

My awesome creative mom started a blog of her artwork. Check out anothercreativefrenzy.

What great inspiration! Now you need to keep it updated!

Real Simple Project #16

#16 RTA Furniture- Use advice to build something (get ready to assemble pages 119-133)

I used their advice to put together a little tray from Ikea. It is a little bit of a stretch to call it "furniture", but I did have to put it together and I did use their advice. Check it off my list! What the kind folks at RS didn't tell me is how helpful toddlers are when putting things together!

Real Simple Project #9

#9 Buy recommended skin protection product (the sun doctor pages 71-77)

I already have skin products that I like, so I chose an easy one here, the Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment for Lips SPF 20. Super easy to find. Super inexpensive (less than $3). Super yummy on my lips. It smells nice, too. Winner!

Real Simple Project #5

#5 Muse about best things money can't buy (page 35-40)

It's totally cliche, but I would have to say the best thing that money can't buy me is the laughter of my children. They are still very small and have that unselfconscious baby belly giggle. Neither one is really quick to laugh, you have to earn it. The best is when they make each other laugh. Last week in our lovely heat wave, Hank could not stop cracking up at Atticus in the kiddie pool. In turn, I couldn't stop laughing. It was, truly, the best thing that money can't buy.

Of course, they are also friends, family, good conversation, a good debate, homemade cookies (which, I guess, money sort of buys), growing your own vegetables, a peaceful house at night (even if it doesn't reliably become peaceful until after 10 p.m.), borrowing clothes from a very stylish BFF, sleeping, kissing, hugging, high fives, knuckles, laying in the hot sun like a cat. I could go on and on. Really, there are much more 'best things' that money can't buy than that money can. (This coming from a woman who really likes nice things!)

Real Simple Project #6

6. Buy bird candle as go-to gift (solutions; gifts under $25 page 45)

I went to Anthropologie so excited to buy my adorable bird candle. I even thought I might buy one for me and one as a hostess gift to have on hand. I could feel the candle in my hand. It's warmth. Fresh scent. Adorableness when the wax is gone and it reveals the adorable dish that I will put my jewelry in just as they suggest. The lucky hostess would shriek with glee at the adorable gift and think I am the most thoughtful guest ever. Invitations to fabulous parties would start pouring in.

They did not have the dish. I was disappointed. Definitely NOT simple and easy. More heartbreak (see Real Simple Project #11 post). And I can't find it online, either.

Real Simple Project #11

11. Take good care of my feet- buy Band-Aid Friction Block Stick (best feet forward pages 83-88)

Ok, I have tried 3 different stores to find this handy-dandy product. It would be perfect for walking all around Vegas in cute shoes (which I can't help but do, even if it kills me). I can't find this product anywhere! So, Target, Safeway, Bartell Drugs- get with the program!

This task definitely did not make my life easier as I'm not obsessed with it and can't seem to find it. I will keep looking, but am considering it off my list.

Bedroom inspiration

I've been dying to redo my bedroom. Not a ton, just a mini-makeover. I'm loving this paper by Snow & Graham, available at Luxe Paperie.



I also love this flor.

This is why it is so hard to just pick something and go with it. So many ways to go! I have total commitment issues.

Real Simple Project #21

21. Organize something per their handy well-organized alphabetical list (pages165-173)

There were several "organize me" things that caught my eye. I like the cute towels rolled up, but I'm obsessive about my towels already. I need to put away some sweaters and think freezing them to make sure no moths snack on them is brilliant, but my freezer is full. Of food. Like it's supposed to be. So I chose to organize my batteries. Now, per Real Simple's instruction, my batteries are all stored with the proper poles facing the proper way.

Very simple task, indeed! And it got my loose batteries out of my junk drawer.

Real Simple Project #1

Elsie deWolfe from Encyclopedia Britannica

1. Put June quote on blog and muse about it.

"Be pretty if you can,
be witty if you must, but
be gracious if it kills you."
- attributed to Elsie deWolfe

Very good advice. The past year and a half have been heck for me, but the thing I've tried to do is weather the storm with grace. Not sure I've managed that, but it has been my goal.

No need to worry about me, though. Life is finally falling back into place and I'm happy and at peace.

Real Simple Project

OK. I'm going to let you all in on my craziness. I've had an idea for quite awhile to "follow" a chosen magazine for a month and see if it really delivers on it's promise. Obvious ideas are "Real Simple" (does it really make your life easier and simpler?), Living (obviously not simple, but is your life richer and fuller if you live like Martha?) and Oprah (but I don't read it and I'm afraid that I'd have to read and follow that scary book about laws of attraction).

I chose to try Real Simple because it's simpler AND because I hate the new Living layout and, while I love her, Oprah frightens me.

Here is my "Real Simple" to do list for June. I chose one thing for each article/feature. Check back periodically to see how it changes my life in June!

1. Put June quote on blog and muse about it.
2. Make a lemonade cocktail.
3. Learn how to pack (on-line tutorial)
4. Picnic!
5. Muse on "Best Things Money Can't Buy"
6. Buy bird candle as a go-to gift
7. Use clever quote on wedding or father's day card
8. Do the stupid quiz
9. Buy recommended skin protection product
10. Buy recommended self-tanner product
11. Take good care of my feet- buy Band-Aid Friction Block Stick
12. Real Steals- Nautical coverup
13. No shop wardrobe- alter a piece of clothing
14. Buy a "goof proof" plant
15. Buy a garden tool
16. RTA Furniture- use advice to build something
17. Read, digest and file away 'Worst 2 minutes' advice
18. Follow "cheap eats" advice for eating out
19. Make sure my Frequent Flier miles will stay active
20. Savor every moment of the first few moments of my trip (Vegas!)
21. Organize something per their handy well-organized alphabetical list
22. Read article on losing job (tuck away, just in case!)
    
23. Make the perfect burger
24. Read Anna Karenina (in progress, page 509 of 976)
    
25. Stretch- try to do this each day, but at least a couple of times!
26. Try one of the 5 dinners
    
27. Make some yummy green beans
28. Try one of the marinades
29. Try one of the vegetable sides
30. Wines under $10. Try one. Or all of them. You know, depends on how hard the rest of the list is!
31. Oops! Forgot bartering. I need to barter something
    

Current Projects- Stay Tuned

So, I've been a little busy. It's not easy raising two boys, taking care of a house, working, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine.

So, here's what I'm working on now:

New logo/look for the blog (50% done)

Real Simple Project (a complete waste of time, but fun!)

Big Yard Sale this Friday

Spring Cleaning (hey! It's still Spring. I've got a week and a half to go!)

Trip to Vegas to hang out with my favorite FB Girlfriends!