When Minnesota weather isn't "Minnesota Nice" it's best to escape

Oh, Poor Sad Neglected Blog....

I had such grand ideas for you. However, they have fallen to the wayside with the plague of death I have been battling for many, many months now. One would think that being home way too often would give one cause for blogging more often. However, one would be so very wrong about that.

But, little blog, I haven't forgotten about you! Someday I will return again stronger and over the plague of death. Which I am hoping conicides with spring and Patio Season '11, thus giving way to more stories and pictures.

Let's go fly a kite

Taken at the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival, January 8, 2011, Minneapolis.

What to do with those childhood dreams?

I wish I could remember who gave me my first journal.

I can remember it clear as day. My brothers and sisters circled the kitchen table, working on their homework. I was three-years-old, maybe four. I had a journal and a pen and the ability to "write" loop after loop after loop.

I said I was doing my homework.

I said I was writing.

I wanted to be like them.

I wanted to be a true original.

That journal book is lost, and hardly missed. I started writing in journals, in earnest, on July 9. 1990.

I bought a fabric covered journal at The Bookmark, the bookstore at Gustavus Adolphus, while I was at the St. Peter campus for writing camp. It was the summer before twelfth grade and I defined myself by my ability to write. I filled those pages, and pages of many more similar books for years.

I wrote about what made me happy, what made me angry, what made me sad. I wrote about first loves and college stress and arguments and friends getting pregnant, sisters coming to visit, holidays, I wrote about all of it.

Then, one day, I didn't.

Columns, editorials, articles, blogs, newsletters, Tweets, web copy, e-blasts and status updates have filled the gap, satiated my thirst to get it all out. Somehow I went from needing to write for only myself (No one has ever been invited to read my journals.) and to write for anyone curious enough to spend the time inhaling my words.

But here I am, with this stack of books, nearly 20 in all. Books I filled with every thought, feeling, hope and dream of my young life and I'm contemplating throwing them away. But what else to do with them? Do we toss it all away and immerse ourselves in the new way of self expression? Do we stick them in a closet to take up space? Do we dare share our words of youth?

Saving Money, But Not Looking Like A Hobo Doing It

So, today, Heather and I went bargain hunting. It was so fun, I forgot how much I love the thrill of finding a good deal! It was even better because she had coupons for the thrift shops we went to. So, no only were we saving because we were thrifting, we saved even more on top of that! One store had a 20% off of your purchase, the other was 25% off of your purchase. Can't beat those deals!

One of the reasons I thought of blogging again was, to share tips and tricks about saving, and seeing if anyone else had any ideas to share.

The biggest thing I noticed while out today, was the holiday decorations. For pennies on the dollar, you can decorate your home with cute stuff. People are re-decorating all of the time and donating so many nice things. I estimated, today, if I would have purchased holiday decor, I probably could have more than enough for my apartment (all stuff that is my style as well) for about $ 50.00, this would not be including a tree or lights / ornaments.

Finding coupons for additional percentages off is always an added bonus.

I love going shopping at second hand stores, one of my favorites for clothing is Plato's Closet. If you sign up for their mailing list, you will receive coupons for $ 5.00 off your purchase, they also have a 'punch' card. For every $ 200.00 you spend, you will receive 20% off of a future purchase. I almost always find something here, the clothes are always in EXCELLENT condition, name brand, and in style. The prices are also very reasonable.

Another way Heather and I have found to save money is taking advantage of Sonic's happy hour. We both LOVE the limeaides, between 2 - 4 you can get them 1/2 price. Can't beat $ 2.50 for a 44 ounce glass of happiness!

These are just a couple of the ways I like to save some money, I will have more posts on this subject in the future.

Young, Wild & Free!

Yesterday a man seven years my senior commented on my age and my upcoming birthday and said "Wow, your biological clock must be ticking."

Did I punch him in the throat?
No.

Did I ask him how Viagra is working for him?
Should have.

Did I agree with him and flash a smile?
Oh hell no.

I simply said, "You know, that's kind of a mean comment" and went on my merry way.


Today, I went to the liquor store. I handed over my check card to pay and then she said something wonderful:

"MAY I SEE YOUR ID?"

"Sure can!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, it's just that your signature is worn off...." she said.

"Really? You had to go there? You couldn't let me enjoy it for a minute?" I asked.

She tried to make it better.

"It's just that you're a regular."

I laughed. Apparently not only do I look much older than drinking age, but my love of Blue Moon, Corona and Mike's Hard Lemonade is no secret.

I will be celebrating my birthday with Bret Michaels because he "rocks my world" and I used to love driving around in my 1980 Oldsmobile Starfire listening to my Poison cassette tapes. I only wish I still had my long hair so I truly could rock the 80s.

I imagine I'll be back to drinking Blue Moon and loving goat cheese and pine nuts again by Tuesday—but for this weekend, I'll drink light beer and swear a little bit. Ok, perhaps more than a little bit.

Holiday Craftiness

I'm sure you've seen scented pine cones for sale at Michael's, Target, Home Depot and a number of other places. They smell like Christmas, and look wonderful and rustic simply piled into a bowl. I can tell you from my own experience that the ones from Home Depot lose their scent in about a week, while the ones from Michael's last past New Year's Day. So, so if you must buy them, I recommend Michael's. But the question I'd ask is...why buy them at all, when pine cones are free? They literally fall from trees, people!

You can either refresh the pine cones you purchased last year (this is what I'm doing), or you can go gather them fresh from beneath your nearest pine tree. Look for different sizes and shades. To scent about 2 pounds of cones, all you need is:

• 3 ounces of cinnamon oil, or nutmeg oil, or BOTH
  
• 1/2 pound of cinnamon sticks
  
• a small paint or pastry brush (preferably an old one, as you won't be able to use it for pastry again)
  
• a heavy duty plastic garbage bag

Brush the pine cones with your essential oil and place them in the garbage bag with your cinnamon sticks. If you have any leftover oil, just sprinkle the rest around in the bag. Then seal the bag tightly, gently toss, and let it sit! Leave it sealed for at least a week, or better yet, for a few weeks, gently tossing now and then.

I'm going also going to add dried orange peels to my mix. You can experiment with different essential oils, too - like allspice, orange, vanilla or clove. I like how they look in a big glass jar with a few colored ornaments.

There you have it - an easy and virtually FREE centerpiece for your table that smells yummy to boot! Let me know if you like this idea.