Stich-witchery

Well, seeing as how I planned ahead. I'm finding myself with spare time, but never in very large doses. So I'm finishing a lot of my mother's projects. Most of those projects involve the serger and sewing machine. It's actually quite relaxing to take scraps of cloth and put them together into a beautiful quilt. I will always prefer tying over piecing though- because tying is a social activity.

I would like a sewing machine of my own eventually. Besides, then I can make shirts that actually fit Paul's lanky frame.

A good night's sleep is worth it.

I have trouble sleeping. Always have. But one semester I borrowed a twin size piece of memory foam from my dad and stuck it on top of my bed. I slept incredibly well, and only woke up to a) remind my future cousin-in-law that it was midnight, or b) because the pain from my sprained ankle was really bad. I felt more refreshed with 6 hours of sleep on that memory foam than I did for 9 hours on any other bed I've owned.

So that's why I decided that one of my top-priority presents is a queen-size memory foam mattress topper.

Oh yes, Paul wants it too.

Now where did I put that?

It's that time again! Time to renew your driver's license, fafsa, or other important HR paperwork. The problem is, you can't remember WHERE your birth certificate, last year's tax return, et cetera is.

That's what got me thnking, what if I had a safe box to deposit all those things in. And what if it was also fire resistant, water resistant, and generally emergency proof. It would make my life a wee bit easier, not to mention that I won't have to worry about my husband moving documents around when I'm not looking.

So, for a simple example (prices range from about $20 to several hundred dollars)- lookee here.

Presents versus Presence

In times of economic uncertainty and the tightening of the belts, going to a lot of birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, etc... can really strain the budget. Just to make things simple though- I'll make it clear here, once and for all.

For each occasion (ie, wedding, birthday, Christmas, etc.), even if there are numerous parties, I don't need a present each time. Because if I invite you to more than one party, it's because I like your 'presence' not your 'presents.' Presents are nice, but knowing I have a good friend that I can talk to is even better.

So please, when you feel obligated to, but don't have the money; remember what is really important in life: the friends we make and the times we share.

Cleaning supplies

Life is messy, but a clean house is a happy, healthy house.

Vacuum
Mop & Bucket
Broom
Dustpan & Brush
Trash cans
Toilet brushes
Plunger
Sponges/scrubbers

Humidifier/Air purifier

Kitchen

Most of my mother's kitchen supplies came as wedding presents. Unlike the china, which was broken by the time I was born (less than a year later), the waffle iron, knives, and other kitchen supplies my mother was given are still in use today.

We have stove pots and pans, knives, a glass baking dish, and a few other odds and ends.

cookie sheets
muffin pans (regular and mini)
bundt cake pan
mini loaf pans
cooling rack
measuring spoons and cups (because you can never have too many of these)
can opener
vegetable peeler
grater
whisks
cutting boards
strainer
mixers (I like my mother's)- Bosch, kitchenaid, the good kinds.
waffle iron
toaster


and let us not forget my favorites:
Spring-loaded scoopers
Tupperware containers (because Tupperware is cool).

Fine Dining

Our scene opens upon an elegant dining room, lushly paneled with rosewood and teak. Light drifts down from the chandelier, glinting off the fine silver cutlery and gold trimmed china, prisming through the goblets, casting sparkles over the starched linen.
A single red rose sets on the table, the only color in a golden world.

Bah, who am I kidding? It's not me!
Besides, I already have a nice set of china, currenly residing under my brother's bed. It was given to me by a very dear friend, and is her wedding gift to me.

So for fine dining, all I'm missing is the food.