tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78904663644993246372024-03-13T08:22:32.036-04:00Single.Simple.StudioUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-83107717191805955442014-09-18T11:50:00.000-04:002014-09-18T11:50:40.642-04:00Wacky Wall Lighting - Need Ideas!<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My studio apartment has some amazing natural light - during the day, anyway! But it <b>lacks overhead lights of any kind in the main room</b>. I currently have three lamps that do a good job of keeping most of the apartment well-lit. But as we are getting closer to darkness descending at 5 pm and not 7 or 8 pm,<b> I need to find a solution to having very little light in this section of the apartment:</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ZyXpJRRPQ/U3Iharx5WHI/AAAAAAAABXc/nChk_41MFmY/s1600/diningfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ZyXpJRRPQ/U3Iharx5WHI/AAAAAAAABXc/nChk_41MFmY/s1600/diningfinal.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See - no lamps in sight!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don't want the bulk of a floor lamp, nor do I want a huge wall sconce. So I'm thinking outside the box on this one and <b>exploring some wacky wall lighting</b>! Here are a few of my ideas:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kk58Y-iscDM/VBr2lg1vVrI/AAAAAAAABe4/AqiZ9BZalQE/s1600/gld_160106722.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kk58Y-iscDM/VBr2lg1vVrI/AAAAAAAABe4/AqiZ9BZalQE/s1600/gld_160106722.gif" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.poppytalk.com/2011/08/cool-decorating-trick.html" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5ou41L32Y/VBr4oGAZDGI/AAAAAAAABfE/0Xb2kaSKV7g/s1600/tea%2Blights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5ou41L32Y/VBr4oGAZDGI/AAAAAAAABfE/0Xb2kaSKV7g/s1600/tea%2Blights.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/closeup-maggie-masons-wall-of-67642" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AP4EXMkcyl8/VBr9W0URaFI/AAAAAAAABfU/UO0qVRoYric/s1600/outdoor%2Blights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AP4EXMkcyl8/VBr9W0URaFI/AAAAAAAABfU/UO0qVRoYric/s1600/outdoor%2Blights.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/43/40/a6/4340a68cc04b896a00fdf5d6c5d8be1e.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSRyi30wmtg/VBr93cKOqlI/AAAAAAAABfc/wZiOM91qcz0/s1600/fairy%2Blights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSRyi30wmtg/VBr93cKOqlI/AAAAAAAABfc/wZiOM91qcz0/s1600/fairy%2Blights.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mommo-design.blogspot.it/2013/10/fairy-lights-crafts.html" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phWRO1iROI4/VBr-sdnyEAI/AAAAAAAABfk/as-Ns77GuHg/s1600/hanging%2Blanterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phWRO1iROI4/VBr-sdnyEAI/AAAAAAAABfk/as-Ns77GuHg/s1600/hanging%2Blanterns.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://noperfectdayforbananafish.tumblr.com/post/72525021118" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Have you come across any lighting techniques that might solve my problem? Space-saving is key, of course!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-66280019053255715152014-09-11T15:13:00.000-04:002014-09-11T15:13:05.319-04:00The Project to End All Projects<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call me crazy, but I want matching hangers. But I don't want to go out and buy them. Instead, I want to <b>make</b> them. Why would anyone in their right mind do that? Well, sometimes I'm not in my right mind. Ha ha!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or....I just want a brainless project that won't take a lot of skill, but it <b>will</b> take a lot of time. Why? Because it involves making crocheted covers for <b>all</b> of my wire hangers! Let's just visualize this. I'm going to turn this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAQIokkJsaM/VBHyqtOowgI/AAAAAAAABeg/4Jw3OkScIuQ/s1600/hanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nAQIokkJsaM/VBHyqtOowgI/AAAAAAAABeg/4Jw3OkScIuQ/s1600/hanger.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Into something resembling this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3JJfGmcvUA/VBHyq2Z7pCI/AAAAAAAABek/UhvorV1dbU8/s1600/crochet%2Betsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3JJfGmcvUA/VBHyq2Z7pCI/AAAAAAAABek/UhvorV1dbU8/s1600/crochet%2Betsy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can buy these on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/181422518/yarn-covered-hangers-clothing-hangers?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=crochet+hanger&ga_page=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery" target="_blank">Etsy</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>And almost 70 times!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what else am I going to do at 9 pm on a dark and cold winter weeknight? Nothing, except watch an episode of some TV show on Netflix. Might as well be semi-productive as I wind down for the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I call this the "project to end all projects" because it will finally take this mess and make it pretty:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYEhYUbwfYk/U2gVThM-TJI/AAAAAAAABWc/FQEQakaWxvo/s1600/closetfinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYEhYUbwfYk/U2gVThM-TJI/AAAAAAAABWc/FQEQakaWxvo/s1600/closetfinished.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>For the record, I'll be using all wire hangers and navy blue yarn. This matches the color scheme I've got going on in the closet quite nicely. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'll get back to you all in several months when the hangers are done!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-87149934609802940842014-09-02T09:58:00.000-04:002014-09-02T09:58:25.667-04:002014 Goals Update<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIZ244FGc2Y/U_4_K65Lp9I/AAAAAAAABd0/FPQgN1wQNBs/s1600/file9951335028194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIZ244FGc2Y/U_4_K65Lp9I/AAAAAAAABd0/FPQgN1wQNBs/s1600/file9951335028194.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago I gave you all an update on my <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/07/pre-tax-savings-is-awesome-and-other.html" target="_blank">2014 financial goals</a>, but not on the <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-goals.html" target="_blank">other goals</a> I've set for myself this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's refresh our memory:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><i>Health Goals</i></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. Swim twice a week.</b> Swimming is my new love. I've been good about swimming once a week, but would really like to get to the pool twice a week. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. Do yoga twice a week.</b> At least once a week at a yoga studio. I know, I know…I've touted the "you don't need to pay to do yoga" thing a lot on this blog. But I really have missed yoga classes with an instructor. Now that I'm out of debt, I've decided it is worth it to me to put some money into going to actual classes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3. Learn to cook more veggie-based meals.</b> I ate so much meat over the holidays that all I can think about is eating veggies for the rest of time! But seriously, I need to learn how to make more soups and veggie-based dishes. My rice-plus-veggie staple is getting a bit old.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>How am I doing with these? Not too shabby, but not as good as I wanted.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Swimming</i></b>. I've stopped swimming in favor of outdoor activities like biking, walking, and running. I'll go back to swimming when it gets colder. That sounds strange, I'm sure, but since I swim at an indoor pool I'd rather spend the warm months exercising outdoors and the cold months exercising indoors.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Yoga</i></b>. Doing well here, but only going to class once a week, on average.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Veggie Meals</i></b>. I've been trying lots of new recipes, thank you Pinterest! My favorite veggie right now is eggplant. Some great varieties at the farmer's market these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><i>Random Goals</i></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. Improve my guitar skills.</b> Putting this on the list again for 2014 because I just really love playing the guitar!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. Solve my closet problem.</b> My closet isn't a mess, but it just looks so "ugh." Especially since you have to walk through it to get to the bathroom. Time to tackle this one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3. Can or preserve seasonal fruits or vegetables once a month.</b> I recently got a canner and food processor. I'm ready to start making jams, salsa, and maybe even sauerkraut!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Guitar</i></b>. Getting better slowly but surely. I've learned a few new songs since December, and my latest goal is to learn some finger-picking styles so I can play more songs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Closet</i></b>. Again, slowly but surely getting there. I've used some <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/05/closet-craft-project.html" target="_blank">wallpaper</a> to make my craft drawer look better and I've added in <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/03/closet-improvements.html" target="_blank">matching baskets</a> on the top shelf to keep me more organized and hide random items. Next up: solve the hanger issue!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Can/Preserve</i></b>. I haven't done this every month, but I have canned or frozen beets, <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/01/adventures-in-canning.html" target="_blank">jam</a>, and <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/08/you-say-tomato.html" target="_blank">tomato sauce</a>. One item a month was probably way too ambitious to begin with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>There it is - progress!</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-89721932065083954672014-08-26T11:16:00.002-04:002014-08-26T11:16:39.227-04:00You Say Tomato...<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I say I have too many tomatoes!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last week I went to my local farmer's market and bought this huge box of plum and heirloom tomatoes:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KN8i1mxeaU8/U_yir5AHPgI/AAAAAAAABdE/gQ_touGlUo0/s1600/boxotomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KN8i1mxeaU8/U_yir5AHPgI/AAAAAAAABdE/gQ_touGlUo0/s1600/boxotomatoes.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">At $12 a box, this was a bargain. Especially since I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, which did not involved eating them all before they went bad. <b>I decided to make and freeze tomato sauce!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I figured it would take me an hour or two to get everything done. Nope. It took the better part of a day. <b>8 hours over two days when all was said and done.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, I washed the tomatoes.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XojYbrxCAk/U_yisQ5nNBI/AAAAAAAABdI/QwQukvIFi5U/s1600/tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0XojYbrxCAk/U_yisQ5nNBI/AAAAAAAABdI/QwQukvIFi5U/s1600/tomatoes.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I cut off the bad parts and stuck the good parts of the tomatoes in the food processor. This took what seemed like forever, and my hands, feet, arms, and floor were covered in tomato juice.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5guyLF0V7k/U_yitNmxb9I/AAAAAAAABdo/BtvsG3nV924/s1600/tomatoesfp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5guyLF0V7k/U_yitNmxb9I/AAAAAAAABdo/BtvsG3nV924/s1600/tomatoesfp.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After blending all the tomatoes, the next step was to cook the sauce for about an hour on the stove.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZW_0ajuHIAI/U_yit9yuumI/AAAAAAAABdc/0f6xGgMqfNE/s1600/tomatoesstove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZW_0ajuHIAI/U_yit9yuumI/AAAAAAAABdc/0f6xGgMqfNE/s1600/tomatoesstove.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I had so much sauce that I couldn't do it all in one pot!</b> In addition to the batch on the stove, I had these two containers full of blended tomatoes: </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXhrxebSG1c/U_yis-HIinI/AAAAAAAABdg/cmTYaUi6_4I/s1600/tomatoesblended.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXhrxebSG1c/U_yis-HIinI/AAAAAAAABdg/cmTYaUi6_4I/s1600/tomatoesblended.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It also didn't take an hour to cook the sauce. It took two! I wanted to get the sauce to a sort-of thick consistency, which I don't think I really achieved in the end, but oh well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the first batch was cooked I had no idea what to do with it, since I needed the pot to continue cooking the second batch. My solution was to pull out my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Including-Chrome-Plated-4-Piece-Utensil/dp/B00212IHBY" target="_blank">canning pot</a> and pour the cooked sauce into it to cool. Then I put the second batch on and cooked that for two hours. I let it cool, then poured it into the canning pot along with the first batch.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I stuck the canning pot into the fridge over night and the next morning I bagged the sauce and placed the bags in the freezer. <b>Now I have 8 bags (quart size) of tomato sauce in the freezer, plus one mason jar-full in the fridge!</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxZlC-tHks8/U_yir3OAAkI/AAAAAAAABdY/tNh-zMoKWeY/s1600/frozentomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxZlC-tHks8/U_yir3OAAkI/AAAAAAAABdY/tNh-zMoKWeY/s1600/frozentomatoes.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is a lot of tomato sauce! It took me from 3 pm - 9 pm on a Saturday to do all of this. The most time-consuming part was cutting out the rotten parts of the tomatoes, slicing, and processing. The cooking part wasn't so bad. I let the sauce simmer and went about doing other things around the apartment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I'm not sure if I would do this again. But I really won't have to, because I'll have tomato sauce for what seems like eternity!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-65342451401911131002014-08-18T10:41:00.001-04:002014-08-18T10:41:52.293-04:00How Does Your Garden Grow?<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Mary, Mary, quite contrary..."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My garden is growing!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last weekend I picked up some <b>sage</b> and <b>rosemary</b> to add to my window garden:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyiPtCsAHWc/U_IQMnh24lI/AAAAAAAABbs/CMOwaOvirvo/s1600/newplants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyiPtCsAHWc/U_IQMnh24lI/AAAAAAAABbs/CMOwaOvirvo/s1600/newplants.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sage and Rosemary in the pots.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rRhyz_p4RQ/U_IQM0L6hhI/AAAAAAAABbw/q0tVP4kxJ1I/s1600/IMG_2773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rRhyz_p4RQ/U_IQM0L6hhI/AAAAAAAABbw/q0tVP4kxJ1I/s1600/IMG_2773.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love that I have fresh herbs available to me all the time! Hopefully, these new ones survive as well as my lemon balm and lemon thyme have. Crossing fingers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Anyone have great recipes using sage and rosemary? I'm always looking for new suggestions.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-52557773150178905882014-07-29T09:00:00.000-04:002014-07-29T09:00:01.879-04:00Update: Kitchen Garden<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been meaning to write a post about this for about a month! I <b>finally bought some plants for my kitchen garden</b> back in June and I can say this endeavor has been a success so far!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might remember that I intended to do an Ikea run and get some pots and hooks from the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/21592/" target="_blank">Fintorp</a> series:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELkAt6hVKvI/U3PPyvMtDQI/AAAAAAAABYM/ZXGZVqVL7SM/s1600/fintorp-flatware-caddy__0119157_PE275324_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELkAt6hVKvI/U3PPyvMtDQI/AAAAAAAABYM/ZXGZVqVL7SM/s1600/fintorp-flatware-caddy__0119157_PE275324_S4.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpzZad0Ybvc/U3PQqe5jUYI/AAAAAAAABYU/wBamlOaKI-4/s1600/fintorp-condiment-stand__0119158_PE275325_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpzZad0Ybvc/U3PQqe5jUYI/AAAAAAAABYU/wBamlOaKI-4/s1600/fintorp-condiment-stand__0119158_PE275325_S4.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you also might remember that I wanted to do something like this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktdK7e-__1Q/U3PPyrPIj7I/AAAAAAAABYI/GfJHvqhyD8I/s1600/fintorp+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktdK7e-__1Q/U3PPyrPIj7I/AAAAAAAABYI/GfJHvqhyD8I/s1600/fintorp+garden.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/331225747564716856/" target="_blank">Via Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well folks, I did it! I only have two plants in the window right now. But hey, they aren't dead, so this is already a success!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nseD39xArgU/U9bnJ788seI/AAAAAAAABbU/_sAxwBQFXis/s1600/kitchen-garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nseD39xArgU/U9bnJ788seI/AAAAAAAABbU/_sAxwBQFXis/s1600/kitchen-garden.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBlc9BZ57EE/U9bnJ7yyMpI/AAAAAAAABbg/t3ztUZX6Zl4/s1600/kitchen-garden-close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBlc9BZ57EE/U9bnJ7yyMpI/AAAAAAAABbg/t3ztUZX6Zl4/s1600/kitchen-garden-close.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the left is<b> lemon balm</b> and on the right is<b> lemon thyme</b>. The lemon balm is delicious in water and the lemon thyme has been a wonderful addition to various dishes I've made. I'm hoping to get a few more plants before the summer is over. Maybe some basil or oregano? Yum!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-86206034137748706302014-07-21T13:54:00.000-04:002014-07-21T13:54:00.608-04:00Homemade Products: Laundry Detergent<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I've mentioned <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2013/10/cost-breakdown-homemade-deodorant.html" target="_blank">several</a> <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/05/homemade-products-shampoo-conditioner.html" target="_blank">times</a>, I've been <b>replacing some store-bought items with homemade versions</b>. My latest homemade product attempt is laundry detergent. I followed a recipe from the blog <a href="http://stephmakesstuff.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/homemade-laundry-soap/" target="_blank">Steph Makes Stuff</a> almost exactly. Her recipe calls for Downy Unstoppables, but I didn't see the point in adding those in, so I skipped that ingredient. Here are the ingredients that I used:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXG-4PN2c0/U8Vp_jCnVJI/AAAAAAAABaY/wGHuJiOOjog/s1600/homemade-detergent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXG-4PN2c0/U8Vp_jCnVJI/AAAAAAAABaY/wGHuJiOOjog/s1600/homemade-detergent.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 cups borax</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 cups washing soda</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 bars fels naptha soap</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drops of essential oil (optional)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The whole thing took me about 15 minutes to put together, and that was because I had to grate the two bars of soap. I followed Steph's instructions to <b>only use two teaspoons</b>, and after my first load of laundry, that amount seemed to do the trick. I might add a tiny bit more, but no more than a few tablespoons at the most. This laundry detergent packs a big punch in small quantities!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYAzd9D0O0c/U8Vp_uS4TLI/AAAAAAAABak/-AOO3eS0bkQ/s1600/homemade-detergent-done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYAzd9D0O0c/U8Vp_uS4TLI/AAAAAAAABak/-AOO3eS0bkQ/s1600/homemade-detergent-done.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have also made <b>hair gel</b> recently, which has turned out well. That will likely be my next "homemade product" update, and perhaps another foray into homemade shampoo and conditioner eventually. The <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/05/homemade-products-shampoo-conditioner.html" target="_blank">first one</a> I tried made my hair very greasy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-73001011469652796612014-07-14T10:46:00.000-04:002014-07-14T10:46:53.624-04:00Room for Wine<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would love my very own wine cellar. But since I don't even have a basement, I take what I can get! The "what I can get" is a <b>small wine rack on my kitchen buffet</b>. I haven't been making full use of it, though. As you can see, the wine rack houses one bottle plus lots of other stuff:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdQw-ipVBRg/UpJOzqEXbrI/AAAAAAAABCo/jL012IkFuFk/s1600/nomicrowave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HdQw-ipVBRg/UpJOzqEXbrI/AAAAAAAABCo/jL012IkFuFk/s1600/nomicrowave.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago I saw this photo from <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/offbeat-registry-items-204433?crlt.pid=camp.oGxPCm0Q3J3Q" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy</a>, which was the first time I encountered a photo of my <b>exact</b> buffet!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sw2FQC2pW-4/U8Psg3hdaCI/AAAAAAAABaI/UFI8fvpz3xg/s1600/dd9b7f53acad240cf088cfeadaea79f8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sw2FQC2pW-4/U8Psg3hdaCI/AAAAAAAABaI/UFI8fvpz3xg/s1600/dd9b7f53acad240cf088cfeadaea79f8.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/offbeat-registry-items-204433?crlt.pid=camp.oGxPCm0Q3J3Q" target="_blank">Via Apartment Therapy</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I inherited the buffet from someone when they moved out of an apartment, so I still have no idea where it came from. <b>I knew you could adjust the shelves, but I was too scared to do it myself</b>. Until I saw this picture and became majorly motivated to use the wine rack in all its glory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>It really was easy</b>. I thought I'd have to take the whole thing apart, which was not appealing. Before I started, though, I consulted my dad, the master carpenter and <b>Solver of All Building-Related Problems</b>. He said I could just hammer the shelves loose, move the friction-fit pieces that hold the shelves in place, and then hammer the shelves into their new settings. That's exactly what I did. Moving the shelves took all of five minutes. Cleaning them took much longer, so the project turned out to take about an hour. Check out my full wine rack now! The sun was quite bright when I took this picture - I'll have to get a better shot some other time.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6qrK_ORo9M/U8PrnZEGCxI/AAAAAAAABZ8/EVhtQ2sfHYc/s1600/buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6qrK_ORo9M/U8PrnZEGCxI/AAAAAAAABZ8/EVhtQ2sfHYc/s1600/buffet.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It might seem like a tiny project, but I'm very proud of myself. And happy that <b>now I can display my lovely wines in their proper place</b>!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-30528846863376160442014-07-02T14:25:00.000-04:002014-07-02T14:25:50.259-04:00Pre-Tax Savings is Awesome (And Other Financial Updates)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdTcuKSr5iI/U7ROasSZqAI/AAAAAAAABZs/6y83vZZRyGc/s1600/file0001755351339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdTcuKSr5iI/U7ROasSZqAI/AAAAAAAABZs/6y83vZZRyGc/s1600/file0001755351339.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sooo...it’s been a while. Hello again! June was an unusually busy month. But busy in a good way. I’ve been living life, which means <b>I’ve been doing things that don’t involve sitting at a computer</b> and writing blog entries. And that’s okay :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But now that things have calmed down a bit, I want to get back to blogging. Maybe not as often as I was in my peak - I’m aiming for once a week right now as opposed to 2-3 times a week. Why is that? Well, for starters, I don’t have that many projects lined up for my apartment. I like the way it is now, and aside from a few tweaks here and there, I don’t have any major projects planned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That doesn’t mean I’ve shied away from my goals, <b>I’ve just been focusing on my financial goals for a while</b>. I started off 2014 with a <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/01/2014-goals.html" target="_blank">post about my goals</a>, and the financial ones I laid out for myself were as follows:</span><br />
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<li><b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get my emergency fund up to 6 months worth of expenses.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> By my calculations, I need to save about $9,000 more than I currently have saved up.</span></li>
<li><b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase my 403b retirement contributions.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I'm currently contributing 10% of my salary to this account (pre-tax) every month. My employer also contributes a very nice 12%! After I meet my first goal, I'm going to shoot for increasing my contribution to 15% by the end of 2014. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Contribute to my Roth IRA or start saving for home down payment.</b> I put these two together because I'm not sure if I'll get to them this year. If it looks like I will, then I'll start researching which is the best course of action</span><i style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span> </i></li>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And wouldn't you know it, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>I’ve met ALL THREE and it is only July</u></span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">! I even exceeded some! Holy crappola!</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I <b>filled the emergency fund</b> last month, which led to a chain reaction. It allowed me to stop using post-tax money from my paycheck and instead gave me the ability to send roughly the same amount I was contributing to the e-fund into my <b>pre-tax work retirement account (403b)</b>. When I did the math, I discovered that I could actually contribute 20% of my paycheck instead of the 15% I thought I would do. Amazing! And when I went from 10% to 20%, I saw a reduction in take-home pay of about $350/month. Now that I don’t need the post-tax money to put in my emergency fund, I get to pay less taxes because I have less take-home pay. Ah, the beauty of pre-tax investing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My third goal of the year was to <b>contribute to my Roth IRA</b> or <b>start saving for a down payment</b>. <u>I’ve already done both!</u> Thanks to a windfall, I was able to <b>max out</b> my Roth IRA for the first time EVER. Boy, does that feel good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So...with all of the above out of the way, I figured it was a <b>perfect time to start saving for a down payment</b>. I decided to go for it notwithstanding the following: I live in a high cost of living area, thus housing prices are high; it is a renters market here; and based on the amount I can currently put towards this goal, I might not be able to buy for another 5-7 years. Those were all reasons for me to say “no, don’t start this account.” But in the end, I figured that I have to start somewhere, and if in 5 years I have $30,000 saved up and I decide not to buy a place, then I can either keep on saving or take some out of the account to max out some retirement accounts. <u>Saving money is never a bad decision</u>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Next came the question of where to put this money.</b> Luckily, I found a decent online savings account for this purpose: Barclay’s ‘Dream Fund.’ What enticed me to this particular account is that it has a decently high interest rate (0.95%) and comes with a few bonus interest deals as long as you make consistent payments and don’t withdraw money for a certain amount of time. I don’t plan on touching this fund for at least 5 years, so no problem there! I will also be making regular contributions every month, set up in the form of an online transfer that happens automatically. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Financially, I’ve never been in better shape!</b> Barring any major disaster, my financial situation is only going to get better. Even if there is a disaster, I have all my ducks in a row so I know I’ll be able to weather the storm, come what may. What a change compared to when I started this blog two years ago: in debt and hardly any savings to speak of. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-65269151727568008572014-06-05T19:20:00.000-04:002014-06-05T19:37:17.624-04:00Vote! Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest <span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you all wonder where I've been? Busy with work and travel, of course. But wow, do I have a great returning post for you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABVE/yM01bmWvxfE/s1600/currentliving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABVE/yM01bmWvxfE/s1600/currentliving.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/katies-designing-diying-small-cool-contest-204249?utm_source=contest_badge&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=smallcool_2014"><img src="http://p-ec1.pixstatic.com/53723bf8697ab07a6a0014fd.jpeg" /></a>
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<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I entered <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/katies-designing-diying-small-cool-contest-204249" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest</a> and was selected! </b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are unfamiliar with the way this contest works, all entries are categorized based on square footage. Mine, at over 400 feet but under 600 feet, made it into the "Tiny" division. The others are: Teeny Tiny (under 400 sq. ft.), Little (under 600 sq. ft.), Small (under 1,000 sq. ft.) and International (under 1,000 sq. ft.). Apartment Therapy posts the entries during the course of a few weeks and let's readers select their favorites. The ones "favorited" the most go on to the actual round of judging by the Apartment Therapy panel. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm so excited to be featured in this year's contest! I've been wanting to enter the last two years, but just didn't feel my apartment was up to snuff. Of course, there are still projects and things to be done, but I'm happy with how my place is right now and I'm glad it is being featured at this stage.</span><br />
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<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/katies-designing-diying-small-cool-contest-204249" target="_blank">Check out my entry and add it to your favorites</a></b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If I get enough "favorites" I move on to the final round!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-3615447840626858832014-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-17T09:00:06.918-04:00Best of the Blogosphere: 5/17/14 Edition<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Saturday I feature a blog post in the following categories: Simple Living, Financial, DIY, Before & After, and Random. Here are this week's picks:</span></b></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Simple Living: </b>My solution to organizing my Twitter account is simply not having an account. But I do have to tweet for work, sadly, so I can't opt out all the time. This article from <a href="http://unclutterer.com/2014/05/12/organizing-my-twitter-stream/" target="_blank">Unclutterer</a> offers some helpful tips on organizing your Twitter feed. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Best Financial:</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2014/05/16/ask-the-readers-what-is-your-most-pressing-financial-issue-this-year/" target="_blank">Get Rich Slowly</a> asked its readers what their most pressing financial issues are this year. The answers remind me that we are all working towards something, so not to stress too much that I'm not done with my current goal of fully-funding my emergency fund yet. I've come a long way from being massively in debt!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best DIY: </b>I love my pseudo-canopy in the bedroom, and here's a tutorial on how to do another version! Via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2014/05/diy-bed-canopy.html" target="_blank">Design Sponge</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;" /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Before & After: </b> This is such a great house flip! Via <a href="http://www.betterafter.net/2014/05/rafterhousemakeover.html" target="_blank">Better After</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Random:</b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It is time for us small-space dwellers to enter <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/smallcool/2014" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest</a>. I might even do it this year. Who's with me?</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-44988448814602478542014-05-15T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-15T09:00:08.104-04:00Kitchen Garden<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I mentioned in my <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/05/sprucing-up-for-spring.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, I'm moving my herb garden. <b>My poor herbs weren't getting enough light in the wall garden, sadly.</b> I was upset about it, of course, but sometimes experiments don't go as planned! I'm hopeful that my next idea will be more successful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And on to the new idea! You'll notice that in this picture of my kitchen, you can see there is a window with no curtains.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUAAAYpif8Q/UQiJirbwV-I/AAAAAAAAAX0/WGE9n7X8CAk/s1600/shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUAAAYpif8Q/UQiJirbwV-I/AAAAAAAAAX0/WGE9n7X8CAk/s1600/shelf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly outdated photo - the microwave is gone now!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been debating for a while on what I should do with the window. At first I thought I would buy a curtain to match the kitchen color scheme. I even had my dad hang the curtain rod when I moved in, just in case I wanted to get a curtain. It's been well over a year since he did that and still no curtain. As these things normally go, an idea struck me as I was browsing various DIY and design websites: <b>create a hanging window garden using rods and attachable hanging pots!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktdK7e-__1Q/U3PPyrPIj7I/AAAAAAAABYA/TgQ88GSOUKw/s1600/fintorp+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktdK7e-__1Q/U3PPyrPIj7I/AAAAAAAABYA/TgQ88GSOUKw/s1600/fintorp+garden.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/331225747564716856/" target="_blank">Via RyE McE on Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What a fantastic idea, and it seems pretty straightforward as well! All I need to do is get the right equipment and hang another rod or two across the window. I think this will work because I don't close the blinds, so they can remain open and allow sun to hit the herbs full-on for a good 6-7 hours a day. Plus, the blinds are hidden away by the window sill, meaning they won't get in the way of hanging anything across the framing. This window also does not serve as any sort of fire escape, so I'm not violating code by hang a few bars over it. The windows in the next room function the same way and if push comes to shove I could crawl out those (wow, let's hope I never have to do that!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's some of the equipment that can make this happen, all part of the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/21592/" target="_blank">Fintorp series at Ikea</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELkAt6hVKvI/U3PPyvMtDQI/AAAAAAAABYM/ZXGZVqVL7SM/s1600/fintorp-flatware-caddy__0119157_PE275324_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ELkAt6hVKvI/U3PPyvMtDQI/AAAAAAAABYM/ZXGZVqVL7SM/s1600/fintorp-flatware-caddy__0119157_PE275324_S4.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00202079/" target="_blank">Ikea</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpzZad0Ybvc/U3PQqe5jUYI/AAAAAAAABYQ/GpNj_d87COM/s1600/fintorp-condiment-stand__0119158_PE275325_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpzZad0Ybvc/U3PQqe5jUYI/AAAAAAAABYQ/GpNj_d87COM/s1600/fintorp-condiment-stand__0119158_PE275325_S4.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60202081/" target="_blank">Ikea</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm planning an Ikea trip this weekend, so I could possibly have this done in a week's time! My one concern is that the bars won't be long enough to stretch across my window. I'll have to take measurements. But even if they don't work, <b>I like this idea enough that I'll find a way to make it work! Wish me luck!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-42998421809243436032014-05-13T10:02:00.000-04:002014-05-13T10:02:01.456-04:00Sprucing Up for Spring!<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spring fever has hit! That means it is <b>time for some sprucing up around the apartment</b>. A perfect place to do this is my small dining room table. You might recall that around Christmas it looked like this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTY0WZKnOHs/UqSK9hs_BAI/AAAAAAAABGA/ypqm8sBSqh0/s1600/xmastable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTY0WZKnOHs/UqSK9hs_BAI/AAAAAAAABGA/ypqm8sBSqh0/s1600/xmastable.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6OvFk8ifqk/UqSK882O2KI/AAAAAAAABFw/Oa-i5osxqE0/s1600/grandmaxmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6OvFk8ifqk/UqSK882O2KI/AAAAAAAABFw/Oa-i5osxqE0/s1600/grandmaxmas.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then after the holidays it looked like this:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13RfCKLDhgw/U3Ihafvm1II/AAAAAAAABXw/e1HLpGdUnR8/s1600/diningbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13RfCKLDhgw/U3Ihafvm1II/AAAAAAAABXw/e1HLpGdUnR8/s1600/diningbefore.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bland browns of the corks and pine cones are a tad too depressing for spring, so <b>on a recent trip to the farmer's market, I bought some beautiful flowers</b> and rearranged the whole ensemble:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxpwAL6Gqfo/U3IhbHqx0bI/AAAAAAAABXo/fefmN64b1sU/s1600/diningmid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxpwAL6Gqfo/U3IhbHqx0bI/AAAAAAAABXo/fefmN64b1sU/s1600/diningmid.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNeSiLhF54/U3IhadHuS2I/AAAAAAAABXk/kzcUrZGv_i4/s1600/closeupdining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNeSiLhF54/U3IhadHuS2I/AAAAAAAABXk/kzcUrZGv_i4/s1600/closeupdining.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love the flowers, which are called "bachelor's buttons" (I think!). <b>I was quite satisfied with this arrangement and had no plans to change anything.</b> As luck would have it, though, I went on a fun outing last weekend to an art studio. It is the kind of place open to the public, where you paint whatever you want on a small canvas while enjoying music, friends, and some adult beverages. I created a work that turned out decent, and when I finished it I thought that it might go really well sitting next to the flowers. I was right!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mfhOSk7Tv2k/U3IhbCEk_kI/AAAAAAAABXs/4700XgTfS-I/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mfhOSk7Tv2k/U3IhbCEk_kI/AAAAAAAABXs/4700XgTfS-I/s1600/painting.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you spot the other tiny change in this picture? See it? <b>The frame on the wall has moved to the right!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ZyXpJRRPQ/U3Iharx5WHI/AAAAAAAABXc/nChk_41MFmY/s1600/diningfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k3ZyXpJRRPQ/U3Iharx5WHI/AAAAAAAABXc/nChk_41MFmY/s1600/diningfinal.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yep, I decided to <b>remove my wall herb garden</b> (sad face) because the plants weren't getting enough light. Don't worry, I have plans for a future herb garden! Stay tuned for more on that in the coming weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you can see, I moved the door series frame to the right and now there is a ton of space (and some nails) above the table. I'm thinking of getting some sort of lamp to hang there, but I'm open to other suggestions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>After a pretty long winter, I'm so happy to be bringing in some spring to my place!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-20748162102388035352014-05-08T12:28:00.001-04:002014-05-08T12:28:50.793-04:00Homemade Products: Shampoo & Conditioner<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last fall I decided to try<b> </b></span><a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2013/10/cost-breakdown-homemade-deodorant.html" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><b>making deodorant</b></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>.</b> Over the past year, I've been reading up on all the chemicals that enter my body, either topically or via ingesting food, and have decided it is worth it to try and "go natural" in as many ways as I can. My first real foray was deodorant. I was scared at first, but now I am so happy I made the effort. The deodorant works great and has lasted quite a while, too. I estimate I'll have to make a batch of it every 10-12 months or so. Whether this averages out to be more cost effective in the long run, I don't know. What I do know is that I'm not wasting the packaging of store-bought deodorant, nor am I putting crazy chemicals whose names I can't even pronounce in my body. All good things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the homemade deodorant experiment went well, I was ready to give the homemade thing another shot. This time I've tackled my hair products. <b>First up, shampoo and conditioner.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First the shampoo. Here is the recipe, which I got from my cousin:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4/5 coconut milk</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/5 castille soap</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shake together in a reusable bottle. THAT IS ALL. Super-simple.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V9C2bsSsl9A/U2uuMXTgEpI/AAAAAAAABW4/umXrkrfpTs0/s1600/shampooingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V9C2bsSsl9A/U2uuMXTgEpI/AAAAAAAABW4/umXrkrfpTs0/s1600/shampooingredients.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFkDN2rzIls/U2uuMMwin3I/AAAAAAAABWo/lTzOApFL4i0/s1600/shampoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFkDN2rzIls/U2uuMMwin3I/AAAAAAAABWo/lTzOApFL4i0/s1600/shampoo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All mixed together!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next the conditioner, which is actually a conditioning rinse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 cups water or cooled tea (tea optional)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 tblsp. raw apple cider vinegar (Bragg's)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few drops of essential oil (optional)</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcctrVLz-rE/U2uuMfJWYzI/AAAAAAAABW0/Of0vIwOg8js/s1600/conditioningrinse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcctrVLz-rE/U2uuMfJWYzI/AAAAAAAABW0/Of0vIwOg8js/s1600/conditioningrinse.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are using the tea option, which I did, then boil the 2 cups water and let it steep for 20 minutes with 2 black tea bags and 2 rooibos bags. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gd7gHf2JZNI/U2uuONkaniI/AAAAAAAABXE/EfGHCUYAUgE/s1600/steep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gd7gHf2JZNI/U2uuONkaniI/AAAAAAAABXE/EfGHCUYAUgE/s1600/steep.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have dark hair, so the rooibos tea will give it a red tint, apparently. If you have light hair, go with a chamomile tea. I ended up making a double batch so that I would enough to last me a while. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After letting it steep and cool, I poured it into the empty bottle and that was it! Easy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've used this shampoo and conditioner for the last few days, and there is definitely a difference. My hair appears to be a bit greasier as well as a tad lighter. I'm going to give it time and let my hair adjust to the new routine.</span><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, I'll try making a conditioning treatment (a must for anyone in a four-season climate) and styling gel. Stay tuned!</b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-64865590862619311412014-05-06T09:00:00.001-04:002014-05-06T09:00:10.418-04:00Closet Craft Project<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember a few weeks ago I talked about <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/04/camera-problem-closet-idea.html" target="_blank">decorating</a> this little white set of drawers in my closet?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, I did!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided on this print:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RBXnjtPHZE/Uzm2Os1uAlI/AAAAAAAABT4/n82gxDlKDzg/s1600/Navy_White_Lattice_2_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RBXnjtPHZE/Uzm2Os1uAlI/AAAAAAAABT4/n82gxDlKDzg/s1600/Navy_White_Lattice_2_1024x1024.jpg" height="400" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/products/lovely-lattice" target="_blank">Chasing Paper</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is how I did it. These were the drawers at the beginning:</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRUGbpV9LVA/U2gVUR3ArdI/AAAAAAAABVs/Qr5cXAKVcT0/s1600/drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRUGbpV9LVA/U2gVUR3ArdI/AAAAAAAABVs/Qr5cXAKVcT0/s1600/drawers.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, I had to wash them. This took forever. I have come to really despise labels. After a solid hour of elbow grease, I finally had a clean surface to work with:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-Zxrt1T3Ug/U2gVTm5pcUI/AAAAAAAABWU/XMSRiLGHt30/s1600/cleaned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-Zxrt1T3Ug/U2gVTm5pcUI/AAAAAAAABWU/XMSRiLGHt30/s1600/cleaned.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, I took measurements of the surfaces I wanted to cover and began tracing the patterns on the back of the wallpaper:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_RYMtNMpDM/U2gVVdNwYdI/AAAAAAAABWA/0y2vMaMtOxU/s1600/tracings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_RYMtNMpDM/U2gVVdNwYdI/AAAAAAAABWA/0y2vMaMtOxU/s1600/tracings.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I carefully cut out each piece. Here are the front and top pieces:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAdRoC-Nytc/U2gVUGKudMI/AAAAAAAABV0/jht-rBPQaD0/s1600/cutouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAdRoC-Nytc/U2gVUGKudMI/AAAAAAAABV0/jht-rBPQaD0/s1600/cutouts.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After that part was done, I adhered the wallpaper to the surface of the drawers. This took a while as I had to make sure I got out all the air bubbles that accumulated between the wallpaper and the surface. But it was worth it! Here is the finished product:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LcfBJfcMT8/U2gVUk8lVkI/AAAAAAAABV8/mnAyG-f2vw4/s1600/drawersdone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LcfBJfcMT8/U2gVUk8lVkI/AAAAAAAABV8/mnAyG-f2vw4/s1600/drawersdone1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_Lh3up8Zv0/U2gVVIWtzYI/AAAAAAAABWM/KA99mzgyfw4/s1600/drawersdone2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_Lh3up8Zv0/U2gVVIWtzYI/AAAAAAAABWM/KA99mzgyfw4/s1600/drawersdone2.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, in its spot in the closet:</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ili1oSqlDfU/U2gVTlsvloI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Ls56lzKuCPA/s1600/closetfinished2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ili1oSqlDfU/U2gVTlsvloI/AAAAAAAABWQ/Ls56lzKuCPA/s1600/closetfinished2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before:</b><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYEhYUbwfYk/U2gVThM-TJI/AAAAAAAABWc/FQEQakaWxvo/s1600/closetfinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYEhYUbwfYk/U2gVThM-TJI/AAAAAAAABWc/FQEQakaWxvo/s1600/closetfinished.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much improved!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-83163474973407159842014-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-03T09:00:06.181-04:00Best of the Blogosphere: 5/3/14 Edition<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Saturday I feature a blog post in the following categories: Simple Living, Financial, DIY, Before & After, and Random. Here are this week's picks:</span></b></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Simple Living: </b></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Best Financial:</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am happy to see a post about income inequality that isn't full of anger, frustration, and political vitriol. Instead, this article says "Outrage doesn't put food on the table, though. A more sensible option is to do something." Via <a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2014/04/29/the-new-way-to-get-rich-slowly/" target="_blank">Get Rich Slowly</a>. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best DIY: </b> I've been investigating making my kitchen window area into a pseudo-garden. This <a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/04/window-herb-garden.html" target="_blank">Ikea Hack</a> is a great source of inspiration!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;" /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Before & After: </b> An odd-shaped room turned into a beautiful closet. <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/before-amp-after-ikea-to-the-rescue-for-a-slopedceiling-closet-202672" target="_blank">Via Apartment Therapy</a>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Random:</b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Who knew some companies had grants for home-buying if you leave near where you work?! Check out <a href="http://web.jhu.edu/lnyw/neighborhoods.html" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins' program</a>. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-32779311529589412422014-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:002014-04-29T10:12:30.075-04:00Small Change = Big Impact<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a long time away from blogging, I'm back! Today is a pretty simple update. A few weeks ago I was browsing <b>TJ Maxx, my favorite place for budget home decor</b>, and I came across these two pillows:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKSuRjHrd44/U1-y06yODiI/AAAAAAAABVM/yN2Ju8_Dt7Q/s1600/living+pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKSuRjHrd44/U1-y06yODiI/AAAAAAAABVM/yN2Ju8_Dt7Q/s1600/living+pillows.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I immediately thought of my Ikea rug that's in the living room:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqro8fgMvl8/U1qfYdNTGtI/AAAAAAAABUo/RlMXD1PONts/s1600/eivor-cirkel-rug-high-pile__0142863_PE303657_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqro8fgMvl8/U1qfYdNTGtI/AAAAAAAABUo/RlMXD1PONts/s1600/eivor-cirkel-rug-high-pile__0142863_PE303657_S4.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20210356/" target="_blank">Ikea</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made an impulse buy and grabbed the pillows! And now they rest here:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABU8/h8re0EoIQhA/s1600/currentliving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABU8/h8re0EoIQhA/s1600/currentliving.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think they tie the living room together much better than the old ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Before:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bOJQQBI6iU/UZzw9CLYakI/AAAAAAAAAn4/ZE8UdF8-bjA/s1600/living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bOJQQBI6iU/UZzw9CLYakI/AAAAAAAAAn4/ZE8UdF8-bjA/s1600/living+room.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>After:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABVE/yM01bmWvxfE/s1600/currentliving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mO0GCtnvu7s/U1-xhthVJxI/AAAAAAAABVE/yM01bmWvxfE/s1600/currentliving.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-25632616138624027692014-04-08T09:00:00.000-04:002014-04-08T09:00:07.845-04:00Trips and Weddings and Bears, Oh My!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s7KxLRlFz-8/U0LzrnAaYgI/AAAAAAAABUQ/V_ZzIuf-Mcg/s1600/IMG_9010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s7KxLRlFz-8/U0LzrnAaYgI/AAAAAAAABUQ/V_ZzIuf-Mcg/s1600/IMG_9010.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, there are no bears, but there are a bunch of trips and family weddings in my future!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This means I've hit a peak travel season and will be out of town for a big chunk of the next two weeks. If I get an occasional blog post in there consider yourself lucky! I'm not making any promises.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I'm gone and you don't have this little blog to read, get outside. Spring is here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-91519210258934297742014-04-05T09:00:00.000-04:002014-04-05T09:00:09.789-04:00Best of the Blogosphere: 4/5/2014 Edition<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Saturday I feature a blog post in the following categories: Simple Living, Financial, DIY, Before & After, and Random. Here are this week's picks:</span></b></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3535357383079827"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Simple Living: </b>Can we all just agree not to waste each others' time? It will be really great, I promise. Via <a href="http://www.everydayminimalist.com/?p=3465" target="_blank">The Everyday Minimalist</a>. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Best Financial:</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 habits of financially successful people. Via </span><a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2014/04/03/the-10-habits-of-financially-successful-people/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Get Rich Slowly</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best DIY: </b>This homemade jewelry wall hanging sure beats my two nails in the all holding my necklaces! Via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2014/04/diy-project-jewelry-display-wall-hanging.html" target="_blank">Design Sponge</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;" /></i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Best Before & After: </b>The "before" is so horrid that the "after" could only be an improvement. Via <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/small-space-inspiration-a-manhattan-makeover-maximizes-its-space-lonny-202004" target="_blank">Apartment Therapy</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Random:</b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hindsight is always 20/20, as they say. I wish I would have known about these colleges that offer jobs that go straight towards paying off tuition. Via <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/30/student-jobs-tuition_n_5060480.html?utm_hp_ref=college" target="_blank">The Huffington Post</a>. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-81385582159474140032014-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:002014-04-01T09:00:00.822-04:00Camera Problem & Closet Idea<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made a little change in my living room over the weekend, but when I went to photograph it, my camera didn't work! I identified the problem, which is actually in the lens. I'll likely have to send it in to get fixed, so<b> I won't be able to take pictures for a while</b>. We'll see what posts I can come up with sans camera! This is a try at that - an idea for a quick fix in my closet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a look at this picture. <b>Is there something that stands out?</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To me there are <b>a few things, but one in particular</b>. That would be the<b> plastic set of drawers</b> that my boots are standing on. I bought this one a few years ago from Target, and as you can see, I've never quite succeeded in getting the labels off! I need to bite the bullet and sit down with some soapy water and get that stuff scraped off!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But then what? It is still white and awkward amid the navy/green color scheme I have going on. Same goes for the shoe rack, but I'm not ready to tackle that project just yet (nor do I have a solution!). But for the little two-drawered storage bin, I think I have a remedy. <b>Removable wallpaper!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been eyeing removable wallpaper for about a year now, but have never taken the plunge in getting any. The great thing about removable wallpaper is that you don't have to use it just for your walls. You can put it on your <a href="http://www.auntpeaches.com/2013/05/i-wallpapered-fridge.html" target="_blank">refrigerator</a>, a <a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/collections/geometry-101/products/dot" target="_blank">tray</a>, <a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/products/squiggle-pop" target="_blank">radiator</a>, or even <a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/products/diamond-tiles" target="_blank">frame it</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are two of my favorite patterns that I'm thinking of sticking on the drawers.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPbhwXGCHhM/Uzm2OQjxxNI/AAAAAAAABTw/ZlJGCagLi9g/s1600/Chasing_Paper_Product_019_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPbhwXGCHhM/Uzm2OQjxxNI/AAAAAAAABTw/ZlJGCagLi9g/s1600/Chasing_Paper_Product_019_1024x1024.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/products/diamond-tiles" target="_blank">Chasing Paper</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RBXnjtPHZE/Uzm2Os1uAlI/AAAAAAAABT0/-My0hMF7iag/s1600/Navy_White_Lattice_2_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RBXnjtPHZE/Uzm2Os1uAlI/AAAAAAAABT0/-My0hMF7iag/s1600/Navy_White_Lattice_2_1024x1024.jpg" height="400" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chasingpaper.com/products/lovely-lattice" target="_blank">Chasing Paper</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is also the option of ordering adhesive stripes and designing it all myself!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZHiWgcA-wM/Uzm2VSOtvaI/AAAAAAAABUA/_QdkUU6ezmA/s1600/d32cstm_5__CustomEasyStripe_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZHiWgcA-wM/Uzm2VSOtvaI/AAAAAAAABUA/_QdkUU6ezmA/s1600/d32cstm_5__CustomEasyStripe_large.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wallsneedlove.com/products/custom-easy-stripe" target="_blank">Walls Need Love</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What do you think would look best in the closet? DIY-ing my own design out of the adhesive stripes or ordering one of the patterned designs?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-70004385682608715362014-03-28T14:17:00.000-04:002014-03-28T14:17:38.823-04:00Sunshine Award - Thanks Waffling Blog!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GleUIAL1Piw/UzW8bVkJ5tI/AAAAAAAABTQ/Fhi8yf-9BD4/s1600/sunshine-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GleUIAL1Piw/UzW8bVkJ5tI/AAAAAAAABTQ/Fhi8yf-9BD4/s1600/sunshine-award.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Casey over at <a href="http://wafflingdesign.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-sunshine-award.html" target="_blank">Waffling</a> was kind enough to nominate me for <b>The Sunshine Award</b>. It is given to a blogger that "brightens your day." Casey, you certainly brighten mine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm taking a break from regular scheduled programming to complete this task, which is sort of like a chain letter or email that you then pass on. Casey asked me the following questions, and then I'm supposed to pose new ones of my own to different bloggers who brighten MY day! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here we go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. Cheeseburger or hot dog?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cheeseburger - only the homemade variety that come straight from the farm to my dad's grill.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. What is the best vacation you ever took and why?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tie between Ireland last summer and San Diego Fun Fest 2007.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3. Do you work outside of blogging and if so, why do you do (don't need specifics, I ain't looking to stalk you)?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I work at an educational non-profit.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>4. What is your opinion on socks?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love them!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>5. Do you like Pina Coladas? Getting caught in the rain?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yes, I like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not much into health food, I am into champagne</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon, and cut through all this red tape</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">At a bar called O'Malley's, where we'll plan our escape"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>6. Have you ever tried something way out of your comfort zone? How did it go?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, it usually goes 50% well and 50% horribly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>7. Favorite restaurant? What do you usually order?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whitey's Ice Cream store. I order Graham Central Station. It is amaz-a-balls!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>8. Are you a dog person or a cat person? (or an iguana person?)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love both cats and dogs!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>9. What are you craving right at this moment?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that I mentioned it above, Graham Central Station!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>10. How many roads must a man walk down, before you can call him a man?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now to pose the questions to a blogger! I would like Misty at <a href="http://tmmeverydaylady.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Everyday Lady</a> to answer the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. If you could go anywhere right now, where would you go?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. If you could have one super power, what would it be?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Do you have a favorite show?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. If you weren't a full-time mom/blogger/teacher at home, what would you want to be doing?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. What do you miss the most about our hometown? :)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. What part of Outlander are you most looking forward to seeing on screen this summer?!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. What's your least favorite food?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">8. Ocean or lake?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. What's your favorite part about being a mom?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">10. What's your LEAST favorite part about being a mom?!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Have a lovely weekend, everyone!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-12118436335953290062014-03-27T18:55:00.000-04:002014-03-27T18:55:08.626-04:00Closet Improvements<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little by little, <b>I'm making improvements to my closet</b>. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon these navy blue baskets at TJ Maxx:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FVUntlN4Bg/UzSqofaH2fI/AAAAAAAABSw/ts9mKKNwUJQ/s1600/navy-baskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FVUntlN4Bg/UzSqofaH2fI/AAAAAAAABSw/ts9mKKNwUJQ/s1600/navy-baskets.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A perfect find, it turns out! I already had a <b>theme of navy blue and green</b> going in the closet anyway, so this was a welcome addition.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fun part about decorating and organizing my closet is that it has really <b>come together over a period of time longer than any other room</b>. The first part of the color theme to emerge was when I bought the hamper liners from the Container Store well over a year ago. I remember standing in the store for a good 10 minutes looking at colors. I knew I'd be able to see the liners, so I didn't want to regret my choice later on. I ended up going with the navy blue/green ones because I knew I had a lot of blue, but I also knew that I didn't have any green anywhere in apartment decorations. I thought I might as well change that!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oi-PFZMTrE/UzSqoA2_W0I/AAAAAAAABS4/KAN6tmhGJzI/s1600/hampers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oi-PFZMTrE/UzSqoA2_W0I/AAAAAAAABS4/KAN6tmhGJzI/s1600/hampers.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went a few more months without doing anything to the closet and it looked pretty forlorn. Then I purchased new curtains for the living room, which left me with a perfect navy blue curtain panel to use as a "door" over the shelves in the closet. They match the hamper liners perfectly!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dH85VULM2jQ/UzSqnKMagAI/AAAAAAAABSk/qRMGDAc8dy0/s1600/curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dH85VULM2jQ/UzSqnKMagAI/AAAAAAAABSk/qRMGDAc8dy0/s1600/curtain.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The closet went untouched again for about 6 months, then I purchased a new stand for my entryway, which allowed me to repurpose this black stand as a shelf in the closet:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRE-Fmofsv8/UzSrZHgHrGI/AAAAAAAABTA/DQ48QuLef9I/s1600/blackstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRE-Fmofsv8/UzSrZHgHrGI/AAAAAAAABTA/DQ48QuLef9I/s1600/blackstand.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">About a month after that my parents were in town for a visit and we went to Michael's (I just found one that is metro-accessible. I fear for my finances now! So many craft projects, so little money/time). There, I found these different-sized green baskets:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyyFn9FVN00/UzSqoDdM6KI/AAAAAAAABSo/jvFpWNudkkM/s1600/green-baskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyyFn9FVN00/UzSqoDdM6KI/AAAAAAAABSo/jvFpWNudkkM/s1600/green-baskets.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, another few months after finding the green baskets, I found the navy ones! <b>These random finds have helped my closet go from this:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvb3YxKO21g/UzSqneHmsRI/AAAAAAAABSs/bUdB9xmo8Bg/s1600/closet-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvb3YxKO21g/UzSqneHmsRI/AAAAAAAABSs/bUdB9xmo8Bg/s1600/closet-before.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>To this:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMaRkRU7sNk/UzSqnYWV6xI/AAAAAAAABSg/wqjmFjC4lwY/s1600/closetafter.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>My closet is still a work in progress, but it is much improved!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-80298920068441884782014-03-25T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-09T13:37:26.516-04:00My Precious! (New Bike!)<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invoking </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhF060VmS1g" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Golum</a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for this one, because I'm so excited about my new bike!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbXumaRDfnE/Uy775qS8iOI/AAAAAAAABR0/_NEKgZgofD8/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbXumaRDfnE/Uy775qS8iOI/AAAAAAAABR0/_NEKgZgofD8/s1600/bike.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent a solid day going to three different bike shops, waiting until I found the perfect fit. This was it! My bike is a </span><a href="http://www.schwinnbikes.com/usa/bikes/hybrid" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Schwinn Searcher</a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and it was even on sale! I had a budget of no more than $500 for the bike, not including accessories. The total for the bike was $350. Score! I had $600 saved for the total bike purchase, figuring that it would cost around $100 to get some basic accessories. I totally under budgeted for the accessories, which means it was a good thing that I saved as much as I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I determined that I needed <b>five key items</b> in addition to the bike itself:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Women's seat (soooo much more comfortable than the standard seat)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Bell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Rack</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Panniers (aka saddlebags)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Tire pump</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bell, rack, and panniers are mandatory for commuting to work in the city. In addition to these items, I already had a helmet and clip-on light from when I owned a bike a few years ago (it got stolen, but these items weren't on the bike at the time, thankfully!).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the future I might go back and have some fenders installed, and perhaps grab a pair of gloves. Otherwise, I'm pretty set with equipment and clothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm looking forward to starting my daily commute to work!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-87820178794651247332014-03-20T09:00:00.000-04:002014-03-20T09:00:13.221-04:00Preparing for a Financial Windfall - Revisited<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6efuTw29qT0/UyIM6juL8vI/AAAAAAAABRk/mLXJtea7r6Q/s1600/file4111294493612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6efuTw29qT0/UyIM6juL8vI/AAAAAAAABRk/mLXJtea7r6Q/s1600/file4111294493612.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a><a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2013/05/preparing-for-financial-windfall.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last May, I wrote about </span><b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">financial windfalls</b></a><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I did a little exercise where I determined how I would allocate a sudden influx of money. Back then, I still had $12k in student loan debt. Now that I'm debt-free, my financial goals are wide-open. So <b>what if I were to come into a financial windfall now, post-debt?</b> Here's how I would handle each of the following windfall ranges:</span><br />
<br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u></u></b>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>1k-10k</u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Get emergency fund up to 6 months of expenses ~ $7k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Take a trip to a country I've never been to ~$2-3k</span><br />
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</div>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u></u></b><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u></u></b>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>10k-25k</u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Get emergency fund up to 6 months of expenses ~$7k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Take a trip to a country I've never been to ~2-3k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Invest the rest (Max out Roth IRA and start a Traditional IRA) ~$11k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Start a "house fund" - money for when I want to buy my own place - $3k</span><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></b>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>25k-50k</u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get emergency fund up to 6 months of expenses ~$7k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a trip to a country I've never been to ~2-3k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invest the rest (Max out Roth IRA and start a Traditional IRA) ~$11k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start a "house fund" - money for when I want to buy my own place - $29k</span><br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><br /></u></b>
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>50k-100k</u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get emergency fund up to 6 months of expenses ~$7k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a trip to a country I've never been to ~2-3k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invest the rest (Max out Roth IRA and start a Traditional IRA) ~$11k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start a "house fund" - money for when I want to buy my own place - $79k</span><br />
<br />
<b style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>100k and above</u></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get emergency fund up to 6 months of expenses ~$7k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a trip to a country I've never been to ~2-3k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invest the rest (Max out Roth IRA and start a Traditional IRA) ~$11k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Buy a house or condo <u>with cash</u>!~</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> $200k</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The rest is pie in the sky!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put half of the remaining amount towards helping my parents</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contribute the rest to charity. Ideas: Give a loan via kiva.org; Gift an endowment to my alma mater; Set up a study abroad or language scholarship at my high school; Donate to a local nursing home, assisted living, or hospice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Now that I've paid off my debt, the answers really haven't changed that much from when I did this exercise almost a year ago. </b>I care about building up my emergency fund and building my assets, both by socking away money in my investments and by purchasing a home of some kind. Any excess would go to helping my family and to charity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Again, I'm not splurging on fancy cars or high-end clothes. I did make room for a vacation to a different country. And if I'm completely honest with myself, I'd probably take $500 of a windfall and buy a new lens for my camera!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>It has been fun to revisit this concept of a windfall now that I'm out of debt. It seems like the possibilities are so much more fun now!</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7890466364499324637.post-47532205555038186732014-03-18T09:00:00.000-04:002014-03-18T09:00:07.170-04:00DIY Army Vest<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my effort to minimize my wardrobe and <b>re-use pieces I already have</b>, I've pretty much been following <a href="http://www.puttingmetogether.com/" target="_blank">Putting Me Together's</a> recommendations. One of the items I love in her collection is the <a href="http://www.puttingmetogether.com/search/label/cargo%20vest" target="_blank">army vest</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you saw in <a href="http://singlesimplestudio.blogspot.com/2014/03/new-items-for-remixable-wardrobe.html" target="_blank">last Tuesday's post</a>, I went on a little shopping trip a few weeks ago and I purchased several items that greatly enhanced the versatility of my wardrobe. One of the items I couldn't find, though, was the army vest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I got home from the shopping spree (aka only 3 hours of actual shopping - I can't stomach more than that!), I was sorting through my "give away" pile of clothes I had cleared out of my closet. In the pile, I found a shirt that looked exactly like an army vest, but it had sleeves. I knew I had this piece, but when I put it in the "give away" pile, I didn't think of how I could turn this into the army vest I needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I'm sifting through the pile, a light bulb went off in my head. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had the amazing idea that I could turn a shirt like this...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHFlhGw5uxg/Uw-o3yGmIEI/AAAAAAAABPI/z9NadlfRsfY/s1600/jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHFlhGw5uxg/Uw-o3yGmIEI/AAAAAAAABPI/z9NadlfRsfY/s1600/jacket.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=938467002&tid=onpl000000&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=j98nN5fy_dc&adid=Cebqhpg+Nqf&pcrid=29466129575" target="_blank">Old Navy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">...into a vest like this!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbx10k6u7dw/Uw-o34Wa7PI/AAAAAAAABPM/7D7aG0m0OIs/s1600/vest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbx10k6u7dw/Uw-o34Wa7PI/AAAAAAAABPM/7D7aG0m0OIs/s1600/vest.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=922258002&vid=8&tid=onsp1r&kwid=1&ap=14" target="_blank">Old Navy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my excitement, I didn't even bother taking a picture of the actual shirt before I started ripping out seams. I went directly for the sewing kit, got my seam ripper, and went to town on the sleeves! After a good 30 minutes of ripping, I ended up with this amazing vest:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Mjo4i1Ubg/UxN2BoHPAzI/AAAAAAAABP4/9y60wp4nuEc/s1600/navyvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9Mjo4i1Ubg/UxN2BoHPAzI/AAAAAAAABP4/9y60wp4nuEc/s1600/navyvest.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was so proud of myself for thinking to <b>make the item I wanted instead of buying it new</b>. Yay for repurposing!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of repurposing, I recently tore up a stained white tank-top and made it into dish towels. Not as exciting, obviously, but still fun to get the most out of your stuff!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>What have been your latest "light bulb" moments? Any repurposing tricks/tips?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2