Fabulous Finds: Free for the Taking

My first time using the new blogger interface and I do not like it!!!! But I suppose we'll grow accustomed to one another as time goes by.

Many moons ago I frequented a pretty little decorating blog, which shall not be named. I enjoyed the beautiful photos she shared of all her decorating and staging. She would often show her thrift-store finds and brag about the wonderful deals she got here-and-there. She had quite a following in blog-land, which has grown more and more. But at one point, a couple of people had left comments regarding what they deemed her incessant shopping and called into question IF she had an addiction. Naturally, she became incensed!, left a rebuttal via a blog post and closed comments (for awhile) on her blog.

But it got me thinking: thrift-store shopping is STILL shopping! Discount store shopping is STILL shopping! Dollar-Store shopping is STILL shopping. Yard-sale shopping is STILL shopping. Saying that it's not as bad as "regular" shopping because you're saving money is like saying "I'm not a real addict because I only do a "little" cocaine". It reminds me of that old saying: "He who buys what he does not need; steals from himself".

My brother lost his job a little while ago and although he's in the process of interviewing for another he's at a loss as to what to do with himself so he's taken up scrapping as a way of keeping busy and earning a little money at the same time. Driving around in his pick-up truck and picking up things from people's garbage that he can take to the recycle center. He does pretty good at it. As an added benefit, he's found some things for free that have really come in handy around the ol' homestead. He found a garden hose on a wheeled caddy. He found a digital TV antenna in the box that has greatly improved our TV reception.

From time-to-time, I thought I might share some of his "Fabulous Finds: Free for the taking" on my blog so that you can see the perfectly good things that are being tossed out that could be used by someone else.

First, here's my new (new to me) beside lamp. I had a brass lamp that always made me think it should be sitting on a male attorney's desk but now I have a girly pink ceramic sculptured lamp with a linen shade. It's kind of '80's--but I like it!

Here's another great find! This shelving unit is 3 pieces. A large baker's rack surrounded by towers on either side. I use the side on the left for canned good and the side on the right for some extra dishes. He picked it up to be scrapped for the metal. He thinks it would have gotten him about $15.00 but I interceded on it's behalf and brought it into the kitchen where my stained glass rooster lamp and potted plant now have a home.

We butt heads though on some of the stuff he finds. His thought process is "Hey, it's free!". Mine is "Free or not--there's still a limit as to how much stuff can fit into this house. Stop dragging STUFF in here!"

Keep your eyes open for interesting, useful, and free stuff just sitting on the curbside--but if you don't have a place for it--pass it by!

Happy Hunting!

Starting out right

So I spent the first day of the New Year in cleaning out my closet. What is it about this simple chore that makes you think you can tackle the entire world? It's not as if anyone else ever sees my closet--it's just a little something to make my life easier.

If you start off with all your hangers facing the same direction, wear an item, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the opposite direction, at the end of the year (or whatever period of length you choose) you will know in an instant which clothes you wear and which ones haven't seen the light of day in a while and can probably be donated.

So day one of 2012 was productive, just 364 to go!

Welcome 2012

Happy New Year! Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012.

Last night was just a little discomforting to realize just how many of our neighbors had guns and thought it was O.K. to unload one in celebrating the New Year. Thankfully, most settled down after about 10 minutes; but it was like being in a war zone there for a few minutes.

It's funny how I've had this pesky cold for over 2 weeks now and the eternal optimist in me believed that I would wake up this morning cold-free simply because it was the start of the new year. Apparently my body didn't get the memo! lol

This poor little blog has been so neglected for so long! I've deleted it 3 times and started over 3 times but never whole-heartedly. I finally gave into the pressure to establish a Facebook account and I post a little something there every once-in-awhile and I've created a Tumblr account just for those things that don't really require a board of their own on Pinterest (which is where I spend way-too-much time). The Tumblr blog is cool because it's only images that speak to me and there's no text whatsoever so it's quick and easy. It reminds me so very much of a digital format of the inspiration board collages I used to make from pictures I'd cut out of magazines. I'll post the links for these accounts soon. I actually have a few ideas for how to proceed with this blog to make it a little more interesting and a lot more user friendly for 2012. Wish me well.

Help for Dry cuticles

So today was Spa Day on the ol' homestead. Worries simply cannot swim around in your head when it's tented over a pot of steaming water! After my steam facial, I sat myself down at the computer to search for a cuticle cream product but was distracted by "treat your dry cuticles at home" sites. Most weren't worth looking at--but then I found one with several at home treatments--and it just so happened that I had the stuff right in the kitchen. I mixed a teaspoon of granulated sugar (right out of the canister) with Olive Oil. It makes a paste which you rub into your nail bed area. The sugar acts as an exfoliant to rub away some of the overgrowth of cuticle, while the olive oil acts as a moisturizer. You spend about 30 seconds per nail, so each nail also receives a little mini-massage which encourages blood flow to the nail bed. When I was finished, I used the remainder of the scrub on my hands. Rinse with warm water (not hot) and pat dry. The site said to use hand lotion when nails are dry but the olive oil did such a great job and my hands felt so soft afterwards that I decided to wait until bedtime for the lotion.

So, if you are prone to dry cuticles in the winter as I am, I highly recommend this sugar and olive oil cuticle scrub. My cuticles really look so much better after only 1 application and my hands feel beautifully soft. Try it! You probably already have everything you need--it won't cost a cent.

We are Blessed

We are blessed, this Veteran's Day, and everyday.

http://youtu.be/DkkQ64gzUZ8

I couldn't embed this video to my blog, sorry. I encourage you to follow the link, as the song is truly beautiful!

BOO 2011

Thought I'd share my most recent scrapbook page showcasing my grandson's Ninja costume for Trick-or-Treat night, 2011. Page created in My Memories Suite using elements from a FREE kit from Raspberry Road Designs. Just Boo-tiful!

Overdue

When I was a young girl I think the thing I did that aggravated/disappointed my parents, especially my mother, the most was to constantly have overdue library books. She complained about it all the time!--every time I had a school project and needed a reference book from the library. I grew up very aware of how bad I was about having overdue library books. It was a serious point of shame. As I became a young adult the same problem manifested itself in overdue video rentals! Aaarrgghh!

At some point in my life I decided that I wasn't an irresponsible person who couldn't return library books or video rentals on time. NOT having a library fine in years, in decades, became a source of pride. Until today. Today I received an overdue notice from the library and I actually felt like a junior-high school girl covered in shame!!!! I had my library account tied to an e-mail account so that I would receive an e-mail message 1 or 2 days BEFORE the due-date letting me know it was time to return or renew my books. I had closed that e-mail account and didn't realize it was tied to my library card. Oh well....I feel like a recovering alcoholic who fell off the wagon...just have to start over again.

I'm so ashamed!! Vowing to never be overdue again!

Driving Ms. Crazy

You don't have to drive me crazy, I'm close enough that I can walk!

My precious grandson was referred to a therapist because his teachers think he's ADHD. He met his therapist for the first time yesterday and they got along swimmingly. His therapist told him that people like him were OK, just fine, and able to cope but that for whatever reason they drove other people crazy; together they would have to find a way not to drive others crazy. My grandson thought this was hilarious and agreed that he often drove others crazy.

I like this guy! He has a good way of reassuring my grandson that he's OK, he'll get along in life just fine. That's how I feel about him as well. Best of all, his first solution wasn't to offer meds!

Product Review: Colgate Optic White

I must admit that I have serious issues with people's obsession with WHITE teeth. Oftentimes, I want to say "those don't even look like teeth--you've got a mouth full of fluorescent chiclets, perfectly shaped, freakishly white objects all lined up in a row instead of natural looking, God-given, unique to each individual teeth. I could go on......but why? I'm sure you get the idea. It's gotten so bad that whenever I watch American Idol now, I always point out who will get a tooth whiting job when the stylists get ahold of them.

Now I admit that I've tried those Crest White Strips before. They probably work just fine for anyone else--but I'm not an everyday kind of girl. I couldn't stand to leave them on, I couldn't stand to not be able to talk for however long they were on, and I couldn't stand having to use them for days for any sort of noticeable change. So I gave up on them, which is a little unlike me because I usually demand that something I paid that much for live up to it's promises.

Now my teeth weren't disgusting; but I do drink iced-tea (quite a bit of tea, actually) and cola and eat dark chocolate--all the things that are bad for your teeth. And I am a woman of a certain age, so my teeth weren't shockingly, unnaturally white. But I was basically content with the off-white color of my teeth until I got a free coupon for the new Optic White toothpaste. "I'll try it!", I said, afterall, it was free.

I didn't really hold out much hope, didn't really have high expectations--but hold on to your hats--this stuff works!! Now I'm not blindingly, supernaturally white--but I'm no longer dingy. My teeth look natural--just clean--and my smile seems a little younger, as if that were possible. And I've only used it 3 days. I couldn't read the small print on the box and didn't know it was recommended to be used at least 2 times per day, so I've only been using it once and it still worked!

I'll probably continue to use it twice a day (as recommended) for the rest of the week and see just how bright my teeth become--I'm not going for the glow-in-the-dark look that is so popular. Then I'll probably only use it once a week or so to maintain the new color.

I'm just tinkled pink when something actually works, aren't you?

Life Without Photoshop

We had a version of Adobe Photoshop on the computer and I had learned that program pretty well. But then we upgraded computers and somehow Photoshop didn't get transferred over, couldn't find the registration material and so I've been without Photoshop for awhile now. I thought my days of digital scrapbooking and photo editing were over. Turns out life is pretty good without Photoshop. I downloaded Picnik for photo editing (it's a free program) and I really like it! It couldn't possibly be easier to use! I was never too great at using the Unsharp Mask in Photoshop but Picnik uses sliders to sharpen and clarify and they really do a good job.
After photo editing, I usually apply one of their effects. I'm a real fan of vignette and matte. I knew how to create these effects in Photoshop; but in Picnik, it's just a click of a button!

I'm also thrilled to have found a digital scrapbooking program. I'm playing with it right now and will write more about it in a future post. So, life goes on....with or without Photoshop....seems there is more than one way of doing things.

Find a way to do what you want to do!

No Cook Summer Recipe

Today was hot, hot, hot! Far too hot to use the stove. Too hot to fire-up the grill. So what to do?

I pulled out a bag of frozen mixed berries from the freezer (combination of raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries with no added sugar). I defrosted about 3/4 of the way and added to yogurt--YUMMY!

Lunch was just simple tuna-salad. I didn't even bother to toast the bread. Too hot!

I had made bruschetta the other evening for a party and loved it so much that I wanted to make it again along with dinner. I cut up the tomatoes, onions, garlic, and parsley; added the olive oil and just couldn't bring myself to plug in the griddle to toast the bread. Then I was hit by a bolt of inspiration! I had a package of garlic seasoned croutons in the kitchen cupboard. I'd throw those in with the tomato concoction and have a "Bruschetta Salad", if there is such a thing.

Oh my, it was delicious!! Try it when you're trying to avoid the stove this summer. Hope you like it as much as we did.

Starting Over

I had deleted my blog (although I've done it before) and learned that Google will be doing some sort of re-vamp of Blogger, reportedly by the end of the month. I didn't want to miss all the fun--so I un-deleted my blog. Only problem is I deleted all posts and side bar elements and now I'm starting over from scratch.

We'll see how things go. If things will be as they had been before I got bored and gave it all up--or I'll find a new enthusiasm for blogging and it will look different, sound different than before.

It's nice to be back.