I realized that there have been a few things going in my life that people may or may not be updated on. Not the most compelling post but sometimes a little housekeeping is in order!
Last week, I got a promotion and a raise.
I was really debating whether or not to write about this. We live in crazy times and I didn't want it to seem like I was rubbing my good fortune in anyone's face. The more I think about it though, the more I thought most everyone would be happy for me.
I've been promoted to the editor position on the new website our newspaper is launching in April. That means less copying and pasting what other people write and more editing and writing my own stuff. My boss thinks it would be a better use of my talents.
Interestingly, when he called me to the back room on last Friday afternoon to tell me this, I thought I might be getting fired. You can read my play by play account of the situation here on my Myspace blog.
My new website is actually happening, and soon!
Part of my job these last six months was selling the commercial web design services of our company. Since I've been doing a pretty good job selling (who knew I could sell stuff?), guess whose website got put on the backburner? Mine.
I now have a logo and the template is getting put together. It looks sharp but for those who want a little inside look, I'm including the logo in this post. You may remember I do like hot pink but hopefully it's not too in-your-face. I'm working on transferring the content off Typepad and onto this new site. What a pain, but I know in the end I'll be glad I have it all on my own site.
My dog had surgery on a possibly cancerous growth.
Some noticed Sadie's absence from the Too Cute Tuesday party this week (and me cozying up to another dog). I love that people were concerned enough to email me about it!
I took Sadie to the vet last week to have a weird growth examined. The vet said it is a 50/50 chance it is cancer (given her age and the growth's location) so I decided to get it removed and find out. Her surgery was on Tuesday and she was a little too zonked to hang out with three other dogs and craft so I left her home.
She now seems to be feeling fine but the growth is being biopsied so I won't know for a couple more days whether I have to make a difficult decision or not. To be honest, I knew what I was getting into adopting an older dog (Sadie was 11 four years ago when I got her) but it's still hard. Keep her in your thoughts!
I've lost 15 pounds...and am still going.
I got a little fat a couple years ago and have been fighting to get back to a healthy weight for awhile. It helps to go to the gym with friends and do a little Wii Fit too.
I stepped on the scale at the gym yesterday and had to slide the pointer down further then I was expecting...I don't want to get into numbers but let's say I haven't been in that "decade" in awhile! I'm down 15 pounds from my highest weight last December, and I feel good!
So consider yourselves updated on pretty much everything in my life unrelated to money. How are you doing?
Every Friday, I tackle an affordable idea of fashion or style in a fun segment I call Fashion Forward Friday.
That's right, I'm about to blog about soap. But since personal care falls in the realm of being fashionable and stylish, I figure I'm allowed. Now let me preach to you...
I bought some Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap initially to go on a camping trip (wash me and my dishes with one bottle? Yes please!). I ended up, of course, with a mostly full bottle when I got back so I stuck it in my shower.
This $5 has been working for me since August and I'd like to make multiple cases for this lovely product:
1) Certified fair trade an organic. That's always good because normally there's all kinds of crazy stuff in your cosmetics.
2) Multi-use. This product has 18 uses according to the bottle including pet wash, mouthwash, body cleanser, foot soak, dish detergent and dentures. (Yeah, I know, I finally write something for you denture wearers out there! About time I'm sure.)
3) Clean minty smell. If this doesn't wake you up in the morning, I don't know what will.
4) Good for boys and girls. You don't have to put up with her girly flowery stuff or his boy musky stuff. One bottle for everyone!
5) A little goes a long way. I've had my bottle since August and yes, I do take regular showers. A dab will do you in this case.
6) Fun writing on the bottle. Read Biblical verses while you're hanging out in the shower. You know, because why not?
So if you are looking for a natural cleaner that'll leave you smelling nice at a great price, may I recommend this little bottle of fantasticness. Want to know more? Check out Dr. Bronner's website.
Happy Friday! Did I mention you smell fantastic today?
Other Fashion Forward Friday posts:
Fondue Makes For Cheap And Easy Entertainment
Finding Workable Vintage
So yesterday I noticed that one of the seagrass totes that I have kept movies in has been vandalized by one of the animals. No one has fessed up yet but in any case, I've got a slowly unwinding mess on my hands. Ah, the joys of pet ownership.
Duct tape as a substance has always fascinated me. Maybe it's because I'm from a hardware family of maybe it's that it's just so darn useful but I've always liked the stuff. I used to cover my notebooks with it in high school and I always carry a roll of it in my car. So when life gave me a broken storage container, I whipped out the duct tape.
If you do this project, you may not like the old school look of silver duct tape so try out one of the many colors the stuff comes in. I like the cool, industrial feel of the grey stuff myself.
Materials:
Broken storage containter (could be a basket or even plastic, a smooth surface will mean less coats of tape... I'll explain in a moment)
A roll of duct tape ($5 for a big roll... bargain! The colored tape will run you a little more but a roll of it should be fine for this project)
Scissors
Mojito (because it is summer and what else are you going to do with all that fresh mint...try this recipe from Cheap Healthy Good. yum!)
1. You might as well make a whole pitcher of mojitos for a couple reasons 1) This is a project best done in small steps over a couple of days so if you like to craft and cocktail, you'll drink multiple rounds and 2) even if you have a brown thumb like me, no doubt the mint you planted this summer is growing like crazy. How else are you going to use it all? Making the pitcher of beverage is the hardest part of this craft.
2. Find something to watch like Will and Grace DVDs or listen to like the Satellite Sisters podcast. You will need some outside entertainment for this less-brain-intensive-than-usual craft. Gather crafting supplies and pour a mojito. Take items out of the container you are crafting, if applicable.
3. Cut big strips of duct tape and attach them to the outside of the container. Try to keep lines straight, using the scissors to also trim excess. If you are good at wrapping gifts, channel your abilities for this craft to make defined corners and non-bumpy layers. If you don't have talent, just take your time and overlap strips so no layers on the previous form of your container are showing. If you have a more bumpy material, you will need to go over the area with layers of duct tape two or three times. Sift mojito beverage to stay refreshed.
4. When you begin tiring of this task. Take a break. Return to the task at a later time, adding smooth strips of tape until the outside is covered. If you feel really motivated, do the inside and/or bottom the container. (I only did the inside of the container where most people can see in.) Drink mojitos enough to make you happy but still able to put on a straight line of tape.
5. Continue tweaking your bin until you are satisfied with its looks and water/pet repellent abilities. Say no to flaps or sticky edges.
So for five dollars and some work, you saved yourself from having to trash a perfectly useable storage container and also discourage your animals (if applicable) from messing with your stuff. Aren't you crafty!
Stay tuned next Tuesday for another edition of Too Cute Tuesday for another craft and cocktail. Cheers!
So for awhile now, I've had several projects going. Good for me (right?) but it probably left you wondering, "Hey, what ever happened to that?" I'd like to update you on a couple of fronts.
First of all, you may remember how I decided to become a total stagemom and use Sadie as a meal ticket. Well guess what?!? Cutestpetcontest has come through for us, at least so far...
I'll keep you all posted as to Sadie's winnings. This may be come tease, as half the email is spent telling me how I could go about buying this book that Sadie is apparently in.
Secondly, remember my trying out of The Grocery Game web site? I finally stopped procrastinating last week (the weekly "Guess what you're missing" email from the company in my instance is actually kind of helpful). Sean and I did some of our shopping at "the other store" also known as Shaws since the Grocery Game does not price compare with Hannaford, where we normally shop. One trip saved us $10.91, more than paying for our month membership. (You can also try it for a month for $1.) I'll do this a few more weeks to let you know if it ends up being worth it or not. So far, I get it and I'm a total Grocery Game convert... plus they have coupons you can print off their site. We saved $1 on Sean's contact lens solution last week!
I'd love to compare these with other coupon sites. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?
Sean and I are going away overnight on Saturday to visit friends. They have a baby and a dog already so I figured if at all possible, I'd try to leave Sadie behind (I know, look at that face. It's amazing I get to work every morning!)
Rather than spend 45 minutes driving her to my aunt's house (which is in the wrong direction anyway), I'm paying the neighbor's kid to watch her. $25 will allow Sadie to stay in her own house and put some money in a kid's pocket. It's what I'd pay to leave her at a kennel anyway.
I'm hoping that he likes doing this so that whenever I want to leave, I don't have to start going through my address book desperate for a puppy sitter. And knowing I have someone I can count on, I may actually leave a little more often. Sorry Sadie, momma needs a life.
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