tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47254506853559024452024-03-05T12:47:09.769-08:00gumption and tales of secondhand livingDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-57778122703871606642016-04-22T08:28:00.004-07:002016-04-22T10:37:53.022-07:00Earth Day Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a mom of a one-year-old, wife of a husband, nursing a
full-time nursing career, and trying to keep up with the hair balls that roll
away when I walk down the hallway (thanks dogs!), I am finding myself not spending
much time writing on this blog (or shaving my legs, really). Time is such a
precious thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just yesterday I told my
husband that our daughter is no longer a baby. She is a straight-up sassy
toddler! She has perfected her fake cry, learned how to body slam herself on the
floor when she’s upset, and jibber-jabbers like it’s no one’s business. Man,
she is growing fast and I love her so much, my heart could just burst out of my
chest!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, over the past several months, I’ve been thinking hard
about unnecessary consumption and (almost always) this comes back to clothing
for me. I feel like there are a hundred ways I can be more responsible in my
consumption, but the area that interests me most is clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be due to the fact that my closet
seems to be quite full, and yet I am constantly wanting new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think I may not be alone in this, as
our culture is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">constantly</i> trying to
tell us to wear the newest trends and colors. This steady demand for new and
lower cost clothing means that someone somewhere is paying a high cost (low
wages, questionable work conditions, etc).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to clarify that there is always a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">balance </b>(one of my mantra words for life right now).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not intending to put a guilt trip on
anyone here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I say, find balance. Buy
that new dress for the upcoming wedding, but see if you can find an
accessory or shoes at a consignment shop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">With all that said, I have found a way to harness some of
this energy on this subject into a fun hobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 4 months ago, I purchased a screen, some
ink, an x-acto knife, and a self-healing cutting board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started cutting out some of my doodles, and
with the first print, was hooked. And side note here, if you have a chance, read <em>Big Magic</em> by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book was not only enjoyable to read, but also such a great encouragement to grasp any artistic inspiration and run with it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here a few samples of some of the prints below. I am
constantly thinking up new ‘messages’ or designs, and am open to suggestions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And due to some mild interest, I am going to
be selling these prints on a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">custom</i>
basis for $15.00 each, meaning I will find a secondhand shirt in good condition
(or item of your choice), print using eco-friendly, solvent-free ink, in a
color of your choosing. Please comment below if you are interested!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlTT4lh0u_8jwHFoBeHfISOTJ9snLmtkfQEeIBv851J5rscjOIxg0uG7mLyLBrLHmPRVhu7zV6qRdsZwFf4ReALOZZiLgpkkoZbu8T2t9eiCoZ91htyt1-TKcekU3qhcd32kydkKCnOM/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlTT4lh0u_8jwHFoBeHfISOTJ9snLmtkfQEeIBv851J5rscjOIxg0uG7mLyLBrLHmPRVhu7zV6qRdsZwFf4ReALOZZiLgpkkoZbu8T2t9eiCoZ91htyt1-TKcekU3qhcd32kydkKCnOM/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDke6pIcHz1Oa0zRxWhGNNwQQqKbc75NhDUYT_L5-Fdz3_GtU1QljamvZfy_-2mQ9sWull1YRjQSvGXFqlRk8cEkvgotaRhjgdOxHij93JhNI4Ao9aCDkE0t_s8L2FkVUBXvw0vm0MkyE/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDke6pIcHz1Oa0zRxWhGNNwQQqKbc75NhDUYT_L5-Fdz3_GtU1QljamvZfy_-2mQ9sWull1YRjQSvGXFqlRk8cEkvgotaRhjgdOxHij93JhNI4Ao9aCDkE0t_s8L2FkVUBXvw0vm0MkyE/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">First project, 'mug of steaming liquid' on tea towel. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEUSxyz2OkWHF-HdtEcWAlry4LKO9APp753nnJIh4UdE08RtBTaJ_G2zALMNMASIfTWDa6vxlK-_lgRzTzcMRsX9HJc6ubLUB8m9jXANB4_88XRQTv-0XQh53Sjk7-f5o66YJWUqDzGI/s1600/IMG_5092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEUSxyz2OkWHF-HdtEcWAlry4LKO9APp753nnJIh4UdE08RtBTaJ_G2zALMNMASIfTWDa6vxlK-_lgRzTzcMRsX9HJc6ubLUB8m9jXANB4_88XRQTv-0XQh53Sjk7-f5o66YJWUqDzGI/s320/IMG_5092.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxsNftWI2js4yqRZLh0FUU01ehE_QN_AfqZ4Mj2mTE2BZ4Ds6rWfCTp_FVEODVwayAJGUcSQFa7eWtmQRDd5mNVhJV6GLARuwpI8eA9f1Xa7rjXVKs3bBFZSqwnYFGqkfbcXA07eMtiw/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxsNftWI2js4yqRZLh0FUU01ehE_QN_AfqZ4Mj2mTE2BZ4Ds6rWfCTp_FVEODVwayAJGUcSQFa7eWtmQRDd5mNVhJV6GLARuwpI8eA9f1Xa7rjXVKs3bBFZSqwnYFGqkfbcXA07eMtiw/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6u8pFFFQsSXYk261T_zdFQ3QYDnPeeMl8AxTr-p-iUOQDHz4SidK74tK-t0IMFRMkq8QfTCaAX-IBi_ffM2mJNGtDBSyTOwyX9_IRNDhSyGPd4E0RDIZu8uyuP4wS_bxHEM4zD8Is3s/s1600/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6u8pFFFQsSXYk261T_zdFQ3QYDnPeeMl8AxTr-p-iUOQDHz4SidK74tK-t0IMFRMkq8QfTCaAX-IBi_ffM2mJNGtDBSyTOwyX9_IRNDhSyGPd4E0RDIZu8uyuP4wS_bxHEM4zD8Is3s/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> A logo and shirt to support my sister's new personal training business, 'creative energy wellness'</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUdy9SzqAuLxIqJln8ff6XDoUp_4NdTCcEq8tfy8bLWMsv-IfrFmMAvPEco-qZxx7ChnsNWA11zLQPv3KSRiWnYG0-2NgckJROeQm4f7uFBI-i0q5-TDQG4Rmnvb_06dS7c8ANcOEG9E/s1600/IMG_5009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUdy9SzqAuLxIqJln8ff6XDoUp_4NdTCcEq8tfy8bLWMsv-IfrFmMAvPEco-qZxx7ChnsNWA11zLQPv3KSRiWnYG0-2NgckJROeQm4f7uFBI-i0q5-TDQG4Rmnvb_06dS7c8ANcOEG9E/s320/IMG_5009.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDYTSjVcqvFRlOhUTegZW3meEPyH0VGYcTsF90JoPqyTf6BAxzg5p2_dVRh2pGeRQBM1ODqvOOAgzWk9NgyC-wbUsmheKlI1zvU-o-0krLwnp0-sHYVSznz-Bumi1i3q9hslUD43GFA4/s1600/IMG_5291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDYTSjVcqvFRlOhUTegZW3meEPyH0VGYcTsF90JoPqyTf6BAxzg5p2_dVRh2pGeRQBM1ODqvOOAgzWk9NgyC-wbUsmheKlI1zvU-o-0krLwnp0-sHYVSznz-Bumi1i3q9hslUD43GFA4/s320/IMG_5291.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">'dreamcatcher'</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHOwL2INmCIpXvY-zgb3u6C7EFHJB4USMqcSze8aCweFrR6CAf12o0OjfLxTXwpEKCeyNqFyEOfx2eHzDbb__nQK8qLKQhkC0d0rzcBxcvhyphenhyphenmtQN82GVM7pcJ19TNUJfpjTa5zFb0tSQ/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHOwL2INmCIpXvY-zgb3u6C7EFHJB4USMqcSze8aCweFrR6CAf12o0OjfLxTXwpEKCeyNqFyEOfx2eHzDbb__nQK8qLKQhkC0d0rzcBxcvhyphenhyphenmtQN82GVM7pcJ19TNUJfpjTa5zFb0tSQ/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U669cm65ssvFP5k-Bte_NesrTph8g01JDG_1p72TZzB0wJ_ChSYmgrxkvobFXc8SsBtMsNl47KFah96hIcz54mleG5u-CP1mKFtYAk1oxIqwuG8n5z20sXR0lcPKW6sU_Z_zh2rrd2g/s1600/IMG_5286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U669cm65ssvFP5k-Bte_NesrTph8g01JDG_1p72TZzB0wJ_ChSYmgrxkvobFXc8SsBtMsNl47KFah96hIcz54mleG5u-CP1mKFtYAk1oxIqwuG8n5z20sXR0lcPKW6sU_Z_zh2rrd2g/s320/IMG_5286.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">'there is art in the earth'</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZvw58gFGPVCiqQxdOtgQ3_MdrTnG7MxeZuYt_J0QKfaRs3Ed2IoIbCWswTZHYpEnECncdZpxuk6QEE-hAVwRvR7JAn204AUKfGyvxVOlA2Ft4GbXLhOKAnDI6LQz_gdewUDdv4k8Fc0/s1600/micah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZvw58gFGPVCiqQxdOtgQ3_MdrTnG7MxeZuYt_J0QKfaRs3Ed2IoIbCWswTZHYpEnECncdZpxuk6QEE-hAVwRvR7JAn204AUKfGyvxVOlA2Ft4GbXLhOKAnDI6LQz_gdewUDdv4k8Fc0/s320/micah.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNYsNUfFVE8mb1q_tuxgJ4iGHZw-AmWw59CgNhmZo2CJFG9MUFh89TK8Wfo40WFaU5SawPgOgPeBB_tHQTfpovj0JpJS9AmFTq8GHkaNjtdIbHuM-gOjyzYQsofkm-AbYlQ5DZZq13N8/s1600/IMG_5287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNYsNUfFVE8mb1q_tuxgJ4iGHZw-AmWw59CgNhmZo2CJFG9MUFh89TK8Wfo40WFaU5SawPgOgPeBB_tHQTfpovj0JpJS9AmFTq8GHkaNjtdIbHuM-gOjyzYQsofkm-AbYlQ5DZZq13N8/s320/IMG_5287.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">'Micah 6:8'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> 'downward dog recycle sign'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As always, thanks for stopping by my little world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I am hoping to spread some secondhand love on this earth day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-86833959007231793222016-01-19T19:24:00.004-08:002016-01-19T19:24:39.884-08:00Christmas recap<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there! I hope this past Christmas season was a time of joyous celebration and peace with your loved ones. I find it hard to believe it is already the start of another year, a time to reflect on the past and prepare and dream of what may come in this new year. </div>
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I recently posted about alternatives to big box Black Friday Christmas shopping for gifting this season and was challenged by a friend to write about which, if any, of these I actually ended up using, so hence, a recap tonight. And I want to be clear that I don't intend to write this recap in a "look at what I did" way, it is more an intention of personal accountability to the purpose of this blog. </div>
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For starters, I didn't actually end up participating in small business Saturday this year. Truthfully, I didn't even go as far as looking at the local businesses participating. Later in the season, I did check out a local kids' consignment shop for some fun gifts for our nieces and nephews and a Christmas dress for Beatrice. </div>
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Etsy is an amazing hub for hundreds of small businesses selling artsy, unique gifts. This year, I found several gifts on Etsy, some that were able to be monogrammed for a personal touch. Just make sure gifts like this are thought out ahead of time, to account for personalization and shipping time. </div>
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Pura Vida Bracelets were given to a few people this year. It is nice supporting a company that also gives proceeds to various charities. </div>
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A few of my favorite gifts to give this year were paintings for two of my nieces. Partly because their family is in the midst of moving, so they have been planning new colorful bedrooms, but also because painting is such a luxurious activity. </div>
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Lastly, I bombed the original "experience" gift my hubby (story for another day), but we are hoping to get out on the slopes for a day this winter instead. Experience gifts are so fun, especially knowing it is something that will feed a relationship well. </div>
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What fun gifts have you given or gotten this year?</div>
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Any from the list of alternative ideas?</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-48129717534403849312015-11-25T05:57:00.001-08:002015-11-25T05:57:25.072-08:00black friday alternatives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> ^photo credit to pinterest^</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The end of this week marks one of the heaviest shopping days
of the year in this country. This week on Thursday night or Friday morning,
stores will fill, credit cards will swipe, and Christmas shopping will be
underway. Oddly enough, I don’t have a huge problem with Black Friday
shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe people can have a
great time being off work, spending the day with loved ones, getting gifts for one another, and
finding great deals doing it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
lot of fun in the tradition of gift giving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is bothersome to me is the unnecessary
spending, the violence that occurs when there are too many people going after
a small amount of products, and the attitude of buying new just because it may be a good
deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that said, I want to offer alternative
suggestions to you for your Black Friday and holiday shopping. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Small Business Saturday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is fantastic! To
follow the day of the big box store deals, this Saturday has turned in “small
business Saturday” for the 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> year running (thanks for heading this
up Amex)! If we can support our local businesses and industries, studies show
that “with every $100 that is spent at a local retailer, $68 will return to the
community in taxes and payroll”. See more <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites#/sites/deborahsweeney/2011/11/22/5-benefits-to-shopping-on-small-business-saturday/2/" target="_blank">here</a>. Some retailers even have a lot of incentives and deals going on as well. Get out there and support the local economy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">^photo credit to pinterest^</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Secondhand, secondhand, secondhand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Writing a
blog about living secondhand and having/wearing used, I cannot encourage this
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that there are times when
shopping secondhand is unpredictable, inconvenient, and you certainly don’t
always know what you will find. But, it never hurts to look and see if there is
the perfect gift to be thrifted of upcycled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disclaimer: this one is tough sometimes with
giving a gift- see my thoughts on that more <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/06/secondhand-giving.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Serrv or other Fair Trade products</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Serrv is a
company that sells all fair trade products from around the world. Their
products range from jewelry to home decorations, and they feature a lot of
products made by women, encouraging further education and sustainable income
for their families and communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check
them out at <a href="http://serrv.org/">Serrv.org</a>. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Etsy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Etsy is a huge resource for finding
products made by small businesses around the world. This website offers links to a wide variety
of products for almost anything you are searching for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out <a href="http://etsy.com/">Etsy.com</a> for more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Heifer Project International<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For a super alternative gift (but so
meaningful to the world), try donating an animal in a loved one’s name. This
company connects communities that need sustainable income or food with animals
donated! I feel especially attached to this cause because my Grandfather
helped work with this company when it started after WWII, delivering horses to
help repair a destroyed Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> <a href="http://heifer.org./">heifer.org.</a></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pura Vida Bracelets</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> This past year, I came
across PVB online and ended up buying a bracelet with some birthday money from
my sisters. I can’t say enough about how fun it is to have colorful bracelets
on my wrists that remind me that our world is small and I am a part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This company sells bracelets that help
support the economy in Costa Rica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of their charity bracelets also give procedes to a specific cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or check out Woman at Risk International that
helps raise money to stop human trafficking and support women who have survived. check them out here: <a href="http://puravidabracelets.com/">puravidabracelets.com</a> or <a href="http://warinternational.org/">warinternational.org</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Make something!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Lastly, but certainly not least, try making
something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know homemade isn’t always
loved by everyone, but if time and your creativity allow, try it. Some of my favorite
gifts in the world are homemade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may
find you have more skill than you thought too! Another idea is thinking about an experience you can gift someone, such as tickets to a show, a day out at an amusement park, lessons of an activity they want to try, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-66989505637448707282015-11-01T08:11:00.002-08:002015-11-01T08:11:53.624-08:00being a working out of the house mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently had an expectant friend ask me about what it is like to work
full time and be a mom, as she is deliberating her options of work and soon-to-be motherhood. I had a hard time
answering her on the spot and articulating my thoughts, let alone turning anything into advice worth
listening to. So, over the past several weeks, I thought hard about working
full time as a mom and, in a cathartic way, have compiled a bit of advice that
I follow to maybe make the expectations manageable and balance easier. And I want to stress that I think being a
mom, whether working or staying at home requires an impossible amount of love, hard work, and organization. And one of my sisters is days away
from returning to work after her beautiful son was born, and I also was thinking of her
and any thoughts I’d have to offer her. </div>
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<b>1. Make time with your child a priority during the evening hours.</b></div>
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One of the first steps I took to finding any type of balance in my work and
home life was to make evening time with Beatrice an absolute priority. When I leave work at the end of the day,
I <i>leave</i> work mentally. Once I’m home,
I make no plans or huge ambitions other than to be with Beatrice. I try not to
plan many activities, or more importantly, expect a lot of tasks to get done
during that time, even if that means dust bunnies hang out longer than they should. That is time to
spend <i>intentionally</i> with her. Some days we go for a walk or run, sometimes it’s
prepping dinner, or other days we just hang out and play. I want her to know that I value that time with
her and want to spend time learning about what she learned that day, helping
her develop new skills, and just enjoying her.</div>
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<b>2. Have something for yourself- make it a priority. </b></div>
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I definitely struggle to <s>find time</s> make time to do something just for
me, as many of us do. There are 101 other tasks to do before I spend time doing something fun for
me, but when I don’t get time for myself, I have a hard time feeling like I have
anything to offer the world, especially my family. When I'm an empty cup, what kind of mom does that make me? Whether it’s working out,
reading, doing something crafty, spending time with friends, do it. Make time
for yourself, even if it happens only once a week and the only opportunity to be alone is at 5:00 am when the
house is quiet and the coffee is fresh. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>3. Sleep.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We’ve all read about the importance of getting sleep, so this is a no-brainer. Every single day is go-go-go from 5:30 am to about 10 or 11 pm. If I
don’t sleep at least 6-7 hours a night, I turn into an angry bear. I am not willing to
be a bear on a daily basis- it's not fair to my family- so I choose to sleep. Sometimes this looks like a
good 8-9 hour night of sleep one night, and a shorter night of sleep another night to do some
other things (see #2).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4. Be flexible, willing to compromise some expectations you may have had for yourself.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had grand ambitions before I had Beatrice of making all of her food and using cloth diapers exclusively. But as I went back to work and started to juggle it all, I felt unable to keep up and had to compromise. I beat myself up (see #5), feeling like I wasn't doing enough (see #6). It helps to just recognize I can’t do it all, and go easy on myself for this, even if it means giving up on some expectations I may have had before going back to work. Be realistic and stick to what is most important to you and what works for your family.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>5. Talk to yourself as you would a good friend.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cue Chris Farley in SNL’s skit when he interviews Paul McCartney,
“Idiot”! I heard a podcast recently on
the ramifications of negative self- talk. Without sounding like a self-help
book here, let me just say the advice given to combat negative self-talk
is to speak to yourself as you would a very good friend. I would never tell one of my sisters that
because they didn't have time to workout, they are disgusting and lazy, so why in the
world would I say that to myself?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>6. Reassure yourself the grass may not be greener on the other side.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lastly, I must say that almost every day I wish I could stay home with
Beatrice. Almost every day I feel a bit
jealous of stay at home moms. But I need to remind myself that being a nurse is
a big part of who I am. I get to be with people all day and continue to
practice my nursing skills. I am challenged
intellectually. The job gives me routine
each day and helps shape who I am, so I
can’t help but recognize I may be a different person if I were home every day. To help me get in the car and drive to work
every day, I remind myself that Beatrice is in a great situation
with her caretaker and the other kids she watches. She is experiencing a lot of
great things that I probably wouldn’t expose her to if I were home. And she wouldn’t have the socialization that
she has now. I had a good friend remind
me of that the day I started back to work and it is advice that has helped me
EVERY day since. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also want to recognize my husband in this parenting adventure we are on. He is incredibly hands-on and supportive of me as a working mom, from driving Beatrice to and from "school", to making dinner most evenings while I bathe and put Bea to bed. I couldn't do this life or role without him, and want to recognize and thank him for that. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, I know this has nothing to do with living or buying secondhand and being resourceful, but
writing this has been really helpful to me these past few weeks and maybe can help someone else. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy November!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-74184759926432555712015-09-22T09:25:00.002-07:002015-09-23T07:30:06.410-07:00thrifting for babies<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since Beatrice was born, life has become a bit busier and
convenience is often the trump card in decision making and buying power. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in an effort to not only keep my bank
account happy but also consume less and teach my daughter about secondhand
living, I have found there are still ways where thrifting is totally possible
and can be convenient. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, the key to
avoid high costs and buying new is to plan ahead and strike while the iron is hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is, stop at the thrift store when I have
an extra 20 minutes without Beatrice, or plan a Saturday morning to hit up
garage sales and stock up on clothes for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
don’t get me wrong, I have had my (many!) times of frantically running to the
store to buy a new pacifier, swaddler, sound machine or nightlight- anything to help her
sleep through the night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course I
am certainly not advocating not providing well for your child’s needs, nor do I
want anyone to feel judged by buying new, I am just offering areas where it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is </i>possible if you are into the
secondhand thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here goes!</span> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Clothes!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Growing. Does. Not. Stop! My
daughter has been swiftly moving up in sizes proving that clothing I have for
her doesn’t fit for too long! This is the greatest area where thrifting has
been relatively easy and successful, and after comparing price tags on new baby
clothes, it is worth it to the bank account. Check local thrift stores or
websites like ThredUp.com. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check your
local newspaper or Facebook page for events happening in your area too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Westmoreland County is having a HUGE
thrifting event for children’s items next weekend at our local fairground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clothes are easily washable and because kids
grow out of them so quickly, thrifted clothes are often in good shape too. Secondhand stores often provide a rewards
program as well that adds incentive to keep going back. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tip: For the sake of saving time
later and planning ahead, look through entire sections of kids’ clothing in
thrift store. I’ve found a few outfits that we won’t need for 2 more years for
25 cents each!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This only works if you
can predict the general size of your child during the season they’ll need the
clothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Toys</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Much like clothing, kids’ interests and
activities change so often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been
lucky enough to have friends and family gift us a lot of their old toys so we
haven’t had to buy much for Beatrice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She will eventually start to want specific toys, but for now, we are
keeping her well entertained by rotating many of the toys that were handed down
to us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve combed craigslist often for
good toys/activities that she may be interested in as well, especially with the
upcoming holidays and a first birthday around the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best thing about kids stuff: IT’S ALL
WASHABLE! There has not been a toy yet that I haven’t been able to clean
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a little elbow grease, they’re
as good as new!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Furniture</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Furniture is one of those things that
everyone may disagree on. When you have a baby, you need a crib.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newer cribs are obviously the most up-to-date
on safety features.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on how
comfortable you are with having an older crib and mattress (assuming it still
meets the safety recommendations), receiving/buying a used one is totally worth
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were fortunate to have been
pregnant right when friends of ours were getting rid of their nursery
furniture, so it worked out well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
even if you don’t know someone getting rid of furniture, search garage sales, Craigslist,
or newspaper ads for gently used ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can also use or upcycle a dresser to be used as a changing table, or paint an
old set of shelves for the nursery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<div align="center">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Books</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is one of my favorite things for
Beatrice to have a full stock of! She loves books and reading with children is
so important. We were given stacks of books from friends and family, and a
local Goodwill is usually stocked with mounds of children’s books for 25 cents
each. And those little teeth marks from strange children? Don’t worry- germs
don’t live that long on the edges of books, and especially if they are board
books, they can be wiped down pretty easily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the other suggestions I can offer here
is to check out the local library or used book store. Often there is a section
of used books they are giving away for free. </span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Pay it forward!</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know a lot of parents, and I bet many of
you are already doing a lot of the above tips for the basic purpose of saving
money! That is certainly enough motivation to buy secondhand, but cutting down
on consumption is definitely an added bonus. So my last piece of advice today
is to take care of the kids’ items you have and save what you can to give away
to someone who needs it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And really this
goes for everything! Take care of your things so that if you find you don’t
need it anymore, someone else may benefit. Use local secondhand shops. Sell on
Craigslist. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">**thanks for stopping by**</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-62083101819194776762015-09-12T07:21:00.001-07:002015-09-12T07:21:28.352-07:00thredUP: a review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few weeks ago, while researching secondhand living options online, I stumbled across a company called thredUP. It is an online consignment shop, featuring all secondhand items! It eliminates one of the greatest difficulties of shopping secondhand- finding what you need in your size, when you need it. The website features easy to navigate categories, including shops for children and women, that can be narrowed down into sizes, brands, relevance, and newest listed. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The shop works out of San Francisco, CA, accepting clothing and accessories from people all over the country. They send people who would like to clean out their closets a clean out kit, allowing you to send your gently used clothing and accessories to them to be listed and sold on the website. Best part is, they pay for the shipping! If they can't list an item to sell, they will either donate it or send it back to you with a small shipping charge. You can receive payment for your items, based on the listed price once the item is processed, adding a great incentive. Your payout can be transferred to store credit, donated to a charity, or transferred to cash. Win win!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And buying? Well, that is the easiest part! I looked for an item that I really needed, jeans that are long (I'm almost 6' tall!) and fit well. I knew what brand I liked, what size, and was able to easily add the item to my cart and pay for it securely. The website is so easy to navigate! The jeans came in less than a week, were true to size, color, and the description of being very gently used (I truly cannot tell they are secondhand). And the best part is, if they hadn't worked out, I still could have returned them within 30 days. But they fit like a charm, so they are staying!</div>
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One of my favorite things is that the company also sent a little booklet along with the jeans that features the staff members and the company's vision and purpose. I loved some of the quotes, so I couldn't help but feature them on the blog today because they jive with exactly what I believe in and why I write this blog.</div>
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<i>"I fear we are becoming a throwaway culture, where everything is disposable. I want my son to live in a more thoughtful, considerate world." </i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Kristy Atkins-Kirshtner, merchandising</span></div>
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<i>"how do we want to live today?"</i></div>
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<i>"We know shopping secondhand helps the world in some small way, </i></div>
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<i>and we're proud to be a part of that."</i></div>
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Guys, check this website out! </div>
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It is an awesome way to live consciously buying secondhand, but still be able to shop for what you really need and brands that best represent you! </div>
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Here is the link: <a href="http://www.thredup.com/r/NWYIQW" target="_blank">thredUP</a>.</div>
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enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-16248783762917989562015-09-06T18:54:00.002-07:002015-09-06T18:54:48.969-07:00an old frame<div style="text-align: center;">
A few years ago, I posted a review of a sweet secondhand shop in Winston Salem (see it <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/04/retale.html" target="_blank">here</a>). This place was one of my favorites! Against a wall in the shop, a gold picture frame that was tucked away, between other frames and artwork, caught my eye. I can't describe exactly what it was that attracted me to it, but because I liked it and felt inspired, I bought it. </div>
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I haven't touched the frame at all in about two years, except to pack it in a box for two moves (my husband loves that! Ha!) </div>
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This spring I decided to unpack and dust the ol' gal off and finally do something with it. I found the project on pinterest, so I can't take any credit for the idea, but I love how it turned out. I decided to transform it into a framed "clothes line" to hang pictures and cards from. The frame is in our kitchen and already has already been put to use. A can of glossy white spray paint, twine, nails, and a few small clothes pins created the finished project! </div>
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I'm happy that in the name of secondhand living, something old that caught my eye a few years ago, turned out to be a great and useful accent in the house today.</div>
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^^Before, in 2013^^</div>
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^^during^^</div>
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^^the after photos- located in a corner of our kitchen^^</div>
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thank you for stopping by</div>
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-happy sunday-</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-32830808729063160772015-04-15T10:48:00.000-07:002015-04-15T10:52:46.313-07:00a new set of napkins and a blogiversary<div style="text-align: center;">
this week marks the 2 year anniversary for the blog! I'd like to think that writing this blog over the past 24 months, I think a little more about what I buy and why I buy it. that is after all the original reason for <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/04/introduction.html" target="_blank">starting the blog</a>. </div>
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as I've shared briefly over the past several months, we bought a foreclosed house and are in the process (still!) of renovating it. even after being here for eight months, there are still boxes to be unpacked and closets to be organized. and we've already taken a load to goodwill to donate a bunch of unnecessary things. my husband and I joke (hopefully!) that we should move every couple of years to simplify and prevent the build-up of "stuff".</div>
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with that said, I was going through my scraps of fabric box and decided it was time to carry out some project ideas, one of which is to make cloth napkins for the kitchen. and whether or not this is gross to you, i had some old pillow cases (whose sheets are stained and turned into drop cloths for painting) that would match our plates well. and now they are a lovely little set of napkins!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcCzCyjGRpWBRBKyec3ihDHXO3hOx-z1RYsE5nQ9hzon2rISQhszqyQyyH95Rp7Ocs2f0NobdX-KO8YZ2azIzYioKrBJFcUmzEJchBM_fIymEjSufNnyLvLQPN7FYcIuAiibNAdU6XdY/s1600/FullSizeRender(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcCzCyjGRpWBRBKyec3ihDHXO3hOx-z1RYsE5nQ9hzon2rISQhszqyQyyH95Rp7Ocs2f0NobdX-KO8YZ2azIzYioKrBJFcUmzEJchBM_fIymEjSufNnyLvLQPN7FYcIuAiibNAdU6XdY/s1600/FullSizeRender(6).jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qIP3ijJNcSpCGioiHS1pQSQ7l2gg9l_y_5DG7ZosVM2f_ce_rE5lQw-VUy_kQxB-IbnZmUkQuspoP7t2s7xuDYW1aXXNrCLC5YHYTW23F46Cm2Qhgal0xu8F0Yhtz8-saGL44uaeiG4/s1600/FullSizeRender(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qIP3ijJNcSpCGioiHS1pQSQ7l2gg9l_y_5DG7ZosVM2f_ce_rE5lQw-VUy_kQxB-IbnZmUkQuspoP7t2s7xuDYW1aXXNrCLC5YHYTW23F46Cm2Qhgal0xu8F0Yhtz8-saGL44uaeiG4/s1600/FullSizeRender(5).jpg" /></a></div>
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^^rough estimate of size comparing to a rather wrinkled napkin- clearly not aiming for exact size!^^</div>
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^^simple hem on all four sides^^</div>
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^^we aren't this formal, but they look pretty nice with our plates^^</div>
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^^put into action! here I am this afternoon enjoying some breastfeeding cookies and tea while Beatrice naps^^</div>
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<truth be told, the oatmeal is the only reason these are sort of breast milk producing cookies, otherwise, they are basic chocolate chip! and the tea is actually Earth Mama Angel Baby organic milkmaid tea (found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Milkmaid/dp/B0032AM8JG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429119264&sr=8-1&keywords=milkmaid+tea" target="_blank">here</a> if you are interested)></div>
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**do you have any fun repurposing projects going on?**</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-42089440323747948902015-04-01T14:14:00.000-07:002015-04-01T14:14:07.362-07:00top 5 nursing apparel items you already own<div style="text-align: center;">
These days sitting down at the computer to write feels like I am stealing a piece of my pre-motherhood self. Now my days are mostly filled with the tasks of the early weeks of motherhood- nursing, diapers, and constant worries of every sound my baby makes. </div>
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We had our daughter on her due date, February 14- she was the best little valentine! Her name is Beatrice Rose. She is a sweet baby, slowly learning how things work around here, while slowly teaching us about who she is. I love that. God has created this very special person that we are getting to know!</div>
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Well, my thoughts today are on breastfeeding clothing- and I apologize to those of you who aren't mothers or don't care about breastfeeding apparel. Bare with me, my mind is consumed with Beatrice and any topic related to her. Most of our time together is spent breastfeeding. And if you've done it, you understand that what you wear makes a big difference in your comfort while feeding, particularly in public.</div>
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In the vein of living secondhand and consuming less, what I've realized in the past 6 weeks is that pieces that I already own are convenient for nursing. Not only does that mean I'm not spending money on new pieces, but I'll wear what I have long after I'm done breastfeeding. You don't have to spend much (or anything!) on the tops specifically made for nursing that cost an arm and a leg. And you can still feel good, which is essential to any woman postpartum.</div>
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Here are essentials that I already own that are staples in my nursing wardrobe:</div>
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1. Spagetti strap tank tops. These are key for quick easy access- loosen the straps so you can quickly pull down the shirt for access. (Note: this works specifically with nursing bras that can be unsnapped from the top.) I also recommend <a href="http://www.target.com/p/long-lean-tank-mossimo-supply-co/-/A-15442646#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=long+and+lean+tank" target="_blank">these</a> tank tops from Target.</div>
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2. Long sweaters or cardigans that open in the front. I can't tell you how wonderful they are for not only warmth and easy access, but they are a great source of added material to help conceal if you are in a crowd. Plus, they cover parts of your body that may be "softer" after pregnancy.</div>
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3. Scarves. These are fabulous to wear for added coverage. I do have a nursing cover that I absolutely love, but scarves are a fantastic way to add a little flash of color or pop to your outfit, and can also be used for additional coverage on the spot.</div>
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4. Easy access dresses. There are a few cotton dresses I have that are perfect for easy access, particularly v-neck styles. </div>
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5. Cowl neck shirts. I have 2 of these style shirts and they are absolutely wonderful in creating a dressy look with easy access due to excess stretch and material around the neck line.</div>
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Pregnancy and birth are probably the most drastic changes your body will go through! The last piece of advice I will leave with you is to wear <i>anything</i> that makes you feel good. Your body is doing amazing things. Hopefully this list will inspire you to look at what you already own and not feel like you have to buy a completely new wardrobe or spend a lot to feel good postpartum, especially while breastfeeding.</div>
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*have a great day*</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-20733186080729835462015-02-03T17:35:00.000-08:002015-02-03T17:35:56.262-08:00a kitchen reborn<div style="text-align: center;">
In the pending birth of our first child, I am spending my evenings being large and slow on the couch, eating pretty much everything in sight, and cruising through <i>Friends</i> seasons on Netflix. </div>
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I thought I'd finally share some photos of the house, namely my favorite room so far, the <b>kitchen</b>!! This remodel has been taking place since September, and our dear little kitchen has been reborn in 5 months!</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">BEFORE:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">DURING:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">AFTER:</span></div>
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I cannot say how thankful I am for my husband who has put countless hours into make this space so amazing! (Even as I am typing this, he is working on another project until dinner is ready!) </div>
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It has been such a fun transformation to see an outdated and cramped kitchen turn into a modern, open, and functional space for cooking/eating! </div>
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There are other fun projects happening right now, including redoing the addition with the fireplace, putting in baseboards, and adding french doors. </div>
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Until those are projects get posted, I imagine we'll have a new little family member to take up just <i>some</i> of our time! </div>
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Anyone else have some fun projects going on they'd like to share?</div>
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happy tuesday</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-84070042797036353852015-01-16T15:02:00.001-08:002015-01-16T15:02:44.362-08:00the one with the onesies<div style="text-align: center;">
My sisters and mom threw a great baby shower over the holidays in honor of the baby. I've actually been honored and very blessed to have three baby showers with various groups of people that mean so much to me! Each one was special and perfect in their own way and I couldn't feel more supported going into this parenthood thing.</div>
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In honor of this project that I call the blog, the hosts of this particular shower decided to have some craft time, making something for the baby. It was AWESOME! Various sizes of the much-needed (so I've heard) white onesies were spread across the kitchen table along with stencils, paints, and iron on patches. It will be so fun to see the baby wearing clothes hand-painted by some of my favorite people!</div>
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^one of my faves created by my 8-year-old niece^</div>
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^my sister, Jennie, and friend, Amanda^</div>
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^my cousin's baby, Molly, thought it was pretty cool^</div>
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Can't wait to see the baby sporting all these cool onesies!</div>
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Thanks!</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-9674675249310592132015-01-15T19:12:00.001-08:002015-01-15T19:13:04.236-08:004 weeks and counting<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello all!</div>
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It has been such a long time since I've spent any time working on the blog. But while I've not been writing, life has been filled with many changes and times requiring much gumptious living! We've gone from living in the basement apartment at my husband's parents' house, to remodeling (still!) a house with our bare hands, while growing a child, and preparing for life as parents. It's been busy to say the least.</div>
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As the days are speeding past at neck-jarring speeds, I am finding myself about 4 weeks away from holding my child in my arms, knowing if it's a son or a daughter, and probably learning how to keep a little one alive in a "baby-horse-standing-up-for-the-first-time" kind of way. I can't wait and yet I'm terrified all at once. I'm sure (hoping) that these are normal feelings to be having at this point in the pregnancy.</div>
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Well, tonight I'd like to share some of my favorite moments of creativity or gumption over the past few months during this time of craziness. I will of course make the blanket statement that the house has been one of my favorite transformations/projects that I have poured my energy into and there will be many pictures to come, I just need to sort through them. But here are some of the other, smaller ways that some gumption has been in my life.</div>
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1. homemade forks.</div>
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Our first meal in the house was take out from a local Italian restaurant. After I was sure to ask for utensils, they of course did not come with our meals. So, Seth decided to create our own homemade utensils so we could eat our salads.</div>
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2. The hardwood floors!! </div>
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Huck and Brody agree that they like the hardwoods better now that they are sanded and restained. We spent a long weekend sanding and sanding and sanding. These pictures don't do the floors total justice, but I promise, they make the entire upstairs floor of our house lovely (especially with Huck's fur pile for a rug).</div>
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3. the griddle</div>
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We have lived here about 4 months using a griddle and microwave- no stove, no oven, and no counter tops until recently.... This has forced some great creativity in the "kitchen" and truthfully I've surprised myself with some decent meals. anyway, this little kitchen device called a griddle has sparked some great culinary creativity for a very necessary part of life. </div>
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4. rocking chair</div>
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call me old fashioned, but I love hand-me-downs and family heirlooms. We adopted this sweet little number from my grandmother's house and it is wonderful! I love that classic creaking sound it makes while rocking. As we have unpacked our boxes of our belongings that we haven't seen in over a year, I am so thankful for the generous and amazing hand-me-downs that have been gifted to us over the years. Not only am I nostalgic, but it totally supports what I believe in and why I write this blog!</div>
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5. library for the baby</div>
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Lastly, I am in complete nesting phase. Even though we don't have a working washer and dryer, we don't have a stove, no pictures on the walls, no photographs in frames sitting around reflecting our lives, I am nesting in that little room that we call the baby's. It is painted. It has a few pieces of furniture. My mother and father-in-law got us an amazing gliding rocking chair in the corner. As I sit in that chair and look around and picture being a mama, I look at the shelf on the opposite wall with a small row of books stacked up neatly against one another. They are collected from our childhoods, and a handful have been given by friends and family over the past few months. I can't wait to read to this little one. This is one of my favorite parts of the baby's room. </div>
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Hope you are all having a great week. </div>
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thanks for stopping by!</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-86489773957246240472014-10-09T15:44:00.000-07:002014-10-09T15:45:34.716-07:00House update and some news!<div style="text-align: center;">
I am sitting in a Panera right now, trying to purposely take a break from working on the house. It is slowly morphing into a dwelling that we call home.... We've taken all of our ideas (that seemed so simple) from the past few months and started to actually make them happen- its a slow go, but it's going! </div>
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I've taken a stab at patching drywall holes. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My selfie here truly represents how this whole process feels.</span></div>
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The whole process of patching one hole was much more timely than I expected. I thought if I just slap some drywall mud in there, it would dry and could be sanded to smoothness. But of course nothing goes like I think, and the hole had the braced by supports (2x4's), patched with a small piece of drywall, and then coated with several. SEVERAL. coats of mud. I thought the bathroom would be painted weeks ago, and it's still currently all spotted up. But man, those walls are smooth, and a fresh coat of paint will hopefully hide all the evidence of my work!</div>
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Next onto carpet. I don't know about you, but moving into a new house, especially one that hasn't had some good TLC in a few years, I daydream/nightmare about the disgustingness of the carpet. I picture skin flakes and cut toenails from the previous owner's feet positioned in the fibers, like a defense left from him for the new owners. Gross. So, in one grand attempt, with a hearty meal in my belly, I pulled up the carpet in the hall way and 2 bedrooms. Here is the glorious outcome! </div>
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The carpet was the easy part. these little rascals ^see tack strips above^ were a <i>bear </i>to remove from the hardwood under the carpet. There were many a grunts and a swear words thrown around during the process of prying these up along the perimeters of the rooms. </div>
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I'll throw in Seth's main project because, let's be real, what I'm doing has <i>nothing</i> on his work!</div>
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Seth is in charge of the kitchen. I'll give you a little taste of the work so far, which I'm sure later I'll highlight this amazing project in greater detail. </div>
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Before...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">^^not sure what happened to the lens of the camera here, but oh well, I guess it rightly captures that everything is covered in sawdust these days!</span></div>
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Seth has been doing an awesome job of opening up this whole space for our vision of an open floor plan concept. We are both so excited to see how this comes together as we start putting in cupboards and counter tops soon! </div>
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We have been so blessed by this house, And of course as I sit here in Panera, sort of not wanting to go back and be surrounded/annoyed by the mess, I am reminded what a gift we have to have a house and to really make it our own. And I'll share one of my favorite and most grounding bible verses for this past year since it popped into my head while sitting here. </div>
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<i>"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how
the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently
waiting for the autumn and spring rains."<span class="p"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i>James 5:7</i></div>
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This verse reminds me that bit by bit, we will get our home put together, It won't happen overnight. Anything this big is totally worth the wait and worth taking our time to do it right.</div>
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AND</div>
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Announcing our biggest alteration....</div>
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We are happy to be bringing a new baby into the world into February 2015! </div>
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^the Gamechanger^</div>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-36528085276508608122014-09-13T16:32:00.000-07:002014-09-13T16:32:10.628-07:00A new dwelling<div style="text-align: center;">
Good news here! We have officially bought a new (to us) house!! Life lately has been consumed with planning, projects, buying, take out, working, and then sitting to recover.</div>
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Our home search was an eight month endeavor, and we are happy it is over. Back at the end of May, Seth found this house online and insisted to our realtor that we look at it. It was a foreclosure and one that needs a bit of work, but we both started to get excited about the idea of "flipping" another house and making it cool again (at least cool in our eyes). See the first house that we flipped <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-small-home-with-few-changes.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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So, without further ado, here is our new child- a split level on a quiet neighborhood street. We've had a contractor get some work done already (per the bank's requirements) and now is our turn to make some big changes prior to moving in.</div>
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The exterior- needs a new shutter(s), some paint on the trim, and a little landscaping love. </div>
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Welcome! This is the view from walking in the front door, heading up to the kitchen. </div>
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Left: View to the bedroom side of the house.</div>
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Right: View from bedrooms to the living area side of house. </div>
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Oh, the colors!</div>
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Dining room, with a window that looks out into the fireplace room (that's what we are calling it, but it is a second living room.)</div>
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Bedroom #1</div>
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Bedroom #2</div>
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Bedroom #3- The Master</div>
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This picture is self-explanatory. </div>
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Backyard/Jungle</div>
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Back porch</div>
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YES! A basketball hoop in the driveway! Soooo suburbia!</div>
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So, there she is. I didn't include the garage, basement living space, 2nd bathroom, or laundry room. I'm sure I'll add more pictures later. </div>
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For now, I'm spending almost all of my free time on projects, of which I'm hoping to share on here.</div>
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Anyone doing some home projects this fall?</div>
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<span id="goog_1762864037"></span><span id="goog_1762864038"></span><br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-27027168521890959772014-09-01T15:50:00.001-07:002014-09-01T15:50:38.294-07:00Time<div style="text-align: center;">
I am having a hard time wrapping around the fact that it is September. It's September! </div>
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I have had this topic of time on my mind lately. Time in relation to daily tasks, as well as the big dates in the near future that seem to get here faster and faster. And because there are too many daily tasks to fit into a day and too many of these big life happenings, like buying a fixer-upper house, thrown into the mix, it seems that I have been living life lately attached to lists and my day planner. </div>
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I don't know if you live like this, but I need to find some kind of reprieve. I know that organization and lists are important, but they don't leave room for the possibility of spontaneity or life's unexpectedness. </div>
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So here are some ways that I have tried to change the list-living.</div>
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1. PRIORITIZE. Spend some time figuring out what exactly you want to do on a daily basis, then weekly, monthly, etc. For example, I need to work out daily (or at least several times a week) for my sanity, not to mention health. Or taking time to make real food for dinner in the evenings- it is a priority for me not be eating out (often), buying boxed dinners, or eating overly processed foods. My only caution here is to be realistic, don't make too many daily priorities. Really, just make it the absolute priorities!<br />
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2. Schedule time for yourself. I often find in the middle of a workweek that I need time to be alone- even if it's a 20 minute nap. And I miss writing, or blogging/thinking/doing things that are related to this blog, so here I am making time for it. </div>
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3. Pay attention to "time wasting". This is a biggie for me. And one area specifically I can identify is TV in the evenings. I can somehow get transfixed for over an hour of doing nothing else but sitting and watching. Don't get me wrong, being able to relax is important too, but do I really need an hour every evening? </div>
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4. Be present. While at work, be there. While with your loved ones, be there. This is far better easier said that done, but is always a good reminder.</div>
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5. Get sleep! I am the most unproductive when I am tired. I'm cranky, slow, and can't put together complete sentences. This is probably the most difficult one for me. I can always cut back on a half hour of sleep- that's what coffees for! But being chronically tired really does impact your health, your immunity, and down the road, it will add up! Shoot for at least 7 hours. And if it means going to bed 15 minutes earlier to start making sure you get that, do it, and then add to that 15 minutes to increase your sleep.</div>
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I hope you are all off to a great September. Happy Labor Day!</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-75224673305121448522014-06-16T15:58:00.001-07:002014-06-16T15:58:38.310-07:00thrift shop SCORE!<div style="text-align: center;">
In honor of the World Cup going on right now, let me share with you my "hat trick" of finds at the thrift store that are great for the kitchen. </div>
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Originally, on this journey towards living more secondhand, I was so against thrifting anything for the kitchen! I was nervous about picking up some bacteria, or just the thought of someone else's food or mouth being anywhere on something just grossed me out. But hey, it all gets washed and maybe it would do me good to expand my mind a bit and check out what sweet finds the kitchen section may have.</div>
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Here are the 3 great finds I've scored this month for the kitchen!</div>
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1. A small non-stick skillet, perfect for making scrambled eggs ($1) which we desperately needed!</div>
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2. Set of six napkin holders that are real wood and look to be in great condition ($1)!</div>
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3. A set of four cutting mats, each with a cute picture to show you what food you should cut on it ($1.50)! They also have a nonstick backing to stick to the counter when you're cutting away!</div>
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^^aren't they fun? The other 2 are for fish and beef and </div>
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since I've gotten these mats, I haven't made fish or beef.^^</div>
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I will admit that these cutting boards would have been especially questionable had they not been in pretty great (most-likely unused from what I can tell) condition. But I definitely have learned that there can be some really nice finds, even in the kitchen section of Goodwill.</div>
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*have a good monday and thanks for reading*</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-16909511822658379132014-06-04T18:52:00.003-07:002014-06-04T18:52:51.881-07:00olfaction satisfaction<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things about a kitchen is the smells. I love the smells of chocolate chip cookies in the oven, a savory casserole baking, or fresh coffee brewing first thing in the morning. And in the same vein, the kitchen can produce some HORRENDOUS smells- think food scraps in the sink drain, meat packages in the trashcan... the trashcan in general.</div>
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I recently had the pleasure of trying my hand at homemade soap. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but turned out that my sister's bridal shower favors were a great place to start.</div>
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I started with organic goats' milk soap base (found on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BZWBR90/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">here</a>). (I may still try my hand at working with lye, but having been in a time crunch, already made base was great!) After melting the base in the microwave, I added dried lavender and about 20 drops of pure essential lavender oil (this was mixed in the amount of soap base to fill a 9x13 brownie pan with 1/2 inch thick soap). I also made a lemongrass/ginger tea soap, and eucalyptus/sugar scrub soap. All three flavors(?) have an exfoliating element that are great for your hands, too.</div>
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I will say over the past several weeks, the essential oils have been keeping the <i>freshest</i> smell in my kitchen. And that wonderful soap base is pretty soft on my hands and makes them smell good too! Aaaaand of course you can choose the smell of your choice by getting creative (coffee, lemon, etc.)</div>
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^ looks like butter^</div>
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^^sorry for the poor quality photos- after I can prove I won't break a nice digital camera, </div>
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the pictures may improve!^^</div>
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The other great idea that I've heard of involves filling a small container (mason jar or smaller) 1/4 full with baking soda and about 10-15 drops of essential oil. Let the container be open to the space you want it to fill and it will slowly emit the lovely smell for your satisfaction! I haven't tried this yet, but came across it recently and loved the idea. <span id="goog_155987330"><br /></span></div>
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**thanks for stopping by**</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-32668261960968329362014-06-02T18:51:00.001-07:002014-06-02T18:56:59.935-07:00June and a theme.<br />
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I am happy to announce that this month I am working on a themed project, the first of a few, focused on one room in the house and/or one aspect of life that could be more gumptious. This month we are starting in kitchen! Over the next 4 weeks, projects and posts will be focused on ways to be more thoughtful, less consumptive, and more resourceful in the kitchen. </div>
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To kick start the month, I am going to go brew a pot of coffee from a local roaster in Pittsburgh. One of my favorite grocery stores features primarily local products, from veggies to candy, to pickles and coffee. And I am going to make a commitment to shop there on a weekly basis for our food needs. </div>
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What are you doing in the kitchen that is gumptious?</div>
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**happy june**<br />
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-46067724540826016542014-04-16T08:17:00.002-07:002014-04-16T08:17:48.278-07:001 year blogiversary<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't believe it's been about a year since I started this blog! Whew! Time sure flies!</div>
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I had originally planned on doing something HUGE this month, like giveaways and cool projects I have tucked away in my brain, but alas, life hasn't provided much unused time lately. Check that, I haven't taken the time. Between my husband starting a new job (YAY!), me interviewing and accepting a new job (YAY!), house hunting (YAY!), and continuing to live out of boxes in my in-law's basement, trying to make life as normal as possible, it's been hard finding much time for myself that doesn't involve a glass of wine and zoning out on the couch.</div>
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But what I will share with you today as I reflect on the past year are the ways in which I was changed by starting this blog! I have definitely changed my consumption practices and habits when shopping for stuff, and for that, I'm grateful for this place that I can share my thoughts and be inspired.</div>
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1. I have learned that thrifting is so fun if you have time to peruse through the store and shop around! There are deals to be had, not to mention a great way to reuse what's already out there. Someone else's trash is my treasure!<br />
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^^thrifted^^<br />
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2. I can be creative when it comes to my wardrobe. I have made more items to wear this past year than ever before. If I see something I really like in a catalog or store, I like to think of ways to be able to either create it myself or thrift it.</div>
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^^scarf project with Emily (<a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/09/accessories-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and my favorite project of the year (<a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-bicycle-shirt.html" target="_blank">here</a>)^^<br />
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3. It is fun to work for something that you really want. I don't think I've blogged about this before, but Seth and I have "workout jars" that we add to every time we workout. It is our spending money, good for anything we may have our eyes on. This is total motivation to save for something important, rather than just buy on a whim. It helps keep spontaneous shopping at bay. </div>
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4. I love small business. This may sound totally rediculous, but having a blog has made me appreciate small businesses all the more! I know my blog isn't necessarily a business, but it is something that I pour myself into (even if it's just dribbling right now!), and I appreciate when others comment or visit the blog. Similarly, small businesses are providing either products or services that they are passionate about and want to be recognized for that and appreciated for that product/service.</div>
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^^my sister's wreath business (<a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/12/small-business-saturday-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and the local thrift shops^^<br />
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5. We are responsible for the earth and our country is the top consumer of resources in the world! Let's change that by being a little more globally minded. Buy less, create more, and be mindful of how we use our resources!</div>
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Thank you for reading!<br />
More blog celebrating and fun to come!<br />
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the forty hour workweek and ten hour weekly commute has been taking up much of my time lately. which of course is fine because work is a very necessary part of life and i like being a nurse. but because i spend much of my time in the car, the ads of the radio stations and ke$ha on repeat don't always cut it in entertaining and stimulating my mind. how about some books on CD, i thought to myself. and instead of going to barnes n' noble and spending money on a book i'll only listen to once, i headed to the library to check out their selection and see what i can listen to for FREE. </div>
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thus far, i've listened to seven books and my commute is much more enjoyable, especially in the company of characters like Lisbeth Salander of <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i> series. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdYnOB1_W-Sja4KShFVKXUgPlmFcjyuTO4M8KsWWVImePAwBYgNmTbR1kpZb7NRD3VdBZPBDqw17JD49Bx_21OQS1pTAKXymXoceQKMTur8DxFvB7wEl4ikx-Jm4LP77IH-IDZGp8tHo/s1600/library+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdYnOB1_W-Sja4KShFVKXUgPlmFcjyuTO4M8KsWWVImePAwBYgNmTbR1kpZb7NRD3VdBZPBDqw17JD49Bx_21OQS1pTAKXymXoceQKMTur8DxFvB7wEl4ikx-Jm4LP77IH-IDZGp8tHo/s1600/library+3.jpg" /></a></div>
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and today i was thinking about what "gumptious" things i've been doing or thinking about lately that would be worth writing and putting out there. and as simple as it is, the library has been an incredible resource for me during this time in my life of being in the car alone for two hours a day. it doesn't require spending money unnecessarily or consuming any new resources.</div>
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so if it's possible for you to utilize a local library for your reading or listening list, go for it! not only is it free, but you may find a book that you have never heard of. and as an added bonus, libraries and their plastic-covered books always have that awesome aged smell that instantly makes you feel like learning, at least for me it does. </div>
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that is my encouragement for today and my <i>gumptious</i> advice.</div>
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**be resourceful**</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-56181428227339981322014-03-13T07:16:00.000-07:002014-03-13T07:16:09.736-07:00an attempt be more natural<div style="text-align: center;">
Over the past several years, I have had increasing interest in the presence and influence of chemicals that are in products we use daily, that may (or may not) be doing us harm. Given that everyday I age, I notice an increasing amount of sunspots, gray hair (posts on that <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/07/hair-and-thoughts-on-hair.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://gumptiousliving.blogspot.com/2013/05/embracing.html" target="_blank">here</a>), acne, wrinkles, aches, pains, you name it. And as I have noticed these changes, the amount of products in my arsenal to fight these aging processes grows. But when reading about what actually goes into each product, the chemical used to keep the product from growing bacteria, or the chemical used to turn your skin a darker hue, I am beginning to get skeptical. Especially given the increasing rates of cancer and other allergies and diseases that are running wild now.<br />
Disclaimer: I'm not a researcher and I don't believe that household products are solely responsible for cancer, I just have read enough to believe that the food we eat (processed) and the products we use daily <i>do</i> influence the way our body functions as it breaks it down and metabolizes it. </div>
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It is overwhelming to try to cut out chemicals in our everyday life, so I've compiled a little list of the small ways that I have been able to make changes by <i>adding</i> natural habits, that are manageable and have made a difference. </div>
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1. Face mask. Ingredients: Organic honey and lemon juice. Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. Lemon juice is acidic (great for acne prone skin) and brightens skin tones. Mix about 2-3 tbsp of honey and the juice from 1/2 lemon. Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes and then wash off and moisturize as usual afterwards. I only use this about once a week.</div>
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2. Coconut oil for EVERYTHING! Coconut oil (unpressed and organic) is an amazing moisturizer, whether used on skin or hair! I tried a natural shampoo and conditioner regimen that my hair protested to greatly, but I continue to occasionally use a coconut oil spray (1 tsp. coconut oil mixed with water in a spray bottle) in the shower for a little boost of moisture. </div>
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3. Apple Cider Vinegar. This is one that I have such a love/hate relationship with. When we first moved here, Seth and I read an article about the benefits of ACV on your digestive tract first thing in the morning. We started drinking little "shots" before we even had coffee, and it is the most bitter way to wake up, hence the "hate". ACV has antibiotic properties, is great for the intestinal tract, plus it contains pectin, which soothes intestinal spasms, fighting indigestion, and can even alleviate hiccups. It can also boost energy acting as an antidote against the buildup of lactic acid caused by exercise or extreme stress. (One article with more on that <a href="http://www.rd.com/slideshows/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits/#slideshow=slide10" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
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4. Essential Oils. The only one that I've been head over heels for is eucalyptus oil. I've been sick with respiratory infections so much this past year (thanks to working in an ER), that I keep a little bottle of this in my purse for times when I am congested and can't breath. Rubbing this oil below your nose or on your chest provides immediate relief for congestion and also smells pretty nice!</div>
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Anyone else trying some new ways to live more naturally?</div>
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**happy thursday**</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-72293780437338088562014-02-18T15:43:00.002-08:002014-02-18T15:43:27.557-08:00"drumroll...." (visualize clark griswald)<div style="text-align: center;">
My hubby helped pick the winner from a number in a hat and the winner is.....</div>
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EMILY!! </div>
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Congratulations!!! </div>
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I'll be in touch with you about a product of your choice from Lulu's Mimi!!!</div>
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Thank you for participating and supporting local and small business!</div>
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-70456730911386405952014-02-10T07:41:00.000-08:002014-02-10T07:41:12.580-08:00lulu's mimi and a giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello from snowy Pennsylvania! We got yet another snow storm yesterday- but it's gorgeous and after spending an afternoon this weekend reigniting my ski love, I am thankful that it's still winter.</div>
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Today I am happy to be writing about another small business from a friend of mine, Lindsay Gaines, from <a href="http://www.juniata.edu/" target="_blank">Juniata College</a>. We were basketball teammates there and after college both happened to moved to the great state of North Carolina, where she now resides. Lindsay is a fellow blogger, new mom to a precious little boy, and starter of a business called Lulu's Mimi, an out-of-home business that features things "homemade with love". </div>
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Part of my intention to introducing a small business is not only to feature great products, but also to capture a bit about the person behind it. By getting to know these people a little better, the item bought from that business is a little more meaningful, and in our culture, isn't it great to put a face behind a product? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioS40gfWcCZd5ukZbxv5vL4SU2SEIwlnt5hGbUHLmeHS_NHQI1PLNy6tiQ2X8NjzlOSLYco7Hvdzn7pQy_wKgZQPskVdQ8JHkqNc3cSxYWelESOuPYmRPGrs-Bs8XjIuxZZ6-ApYrGgYo/s1600/Lindsay+Scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioS40gfWcCZd5ukZbxv5vL4SU2SEIwlnt5hGbUHLmeHS_NHQI1PLNy6tiQ2X8NjzlOSLYco7Hvdzn7pQy_wKgZQPskVdQ8JHkqNc3cSxYWelESOuPYmRPGrs-Bs8XjIuxZZ6-ApYrGgYo/s1600/Lindsay+Scarf.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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^^Lindsay sporting one of her most popular items, a chevron scarf^^</div>
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So, here's a bit of the email interview:</div>
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<b>1. What inspired you to start making items to sell?</b></div>
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My inspiration actually stemmed from blogging. I started reading
blogs consistently and noticed that many of the blogs I was reading were
primarily sewing/tutorial type posts. Once I started navigating
Pinterest, I decided I could do those things. So, on Black Friday two
years ago my mother talked me into buying a sewing machine and here I
am. I have to add that I sewed with my grandmother as a child/teen so I
had some experience with it prior to this, but hadn't done anything in
over a decade before becoming inspired by what I saw out there.
Coincidentally, this also inspired my blog.
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<b>2. What has been your most popular item(s)?</b></div>
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My most popular items are definitely baby items: car seat covers, burp
cloths, bibs, and diaper clutches. Many people like to give them as
gifts and everyone loves receiving them. My scarves are really popular
as well, particularly the chevron pattern. My favorite thing though is
when people contact me asking me if I can make something. That's how I
started making car seat covers! </div>
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<b>3. Do you sell at local craft fairs or just out of your home?</b></div>
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I do sell at local craft fairs. I even had my crafts in a store
front here in town for a little over a year. I sell a lot through my
Facebook page. I really enjoy doing craft fairs because it allows me to
connect with other vendors and I've always been a small business/craft
fair junkie so I love the atmosphere.</div>
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<b>4. What has been the hardest thing about having a small business?</b></div>
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Right now the hardest thing about having a small business is finding the
time to sew with a little one in the house. However, I also have the
hardest time getting to the post office. I don't know what it is about
that place! </div>
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<b>5. What other thoughts do you have on buying locally/small businesses? </b></div>
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I try very hard to buy local/small as often as I can. If I can't do
that, I at least try to purchase goods made in America. At one point in
my life I had a hard time paying the extra you might pay for locally
made goods, but then I started making my own things and realized the
time, effort, and love that goes into creating. That's the best part of
shopping small; each item is unique and created with someone's hands
quite possibly while they were balancing life with a new baby or raising
money for a dream vacation... I love that everything has a story. </div>
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<b>6. Where did the name "Lulu's Mimi" come from?</b></div>
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My grandmother is the one that taught me the basics of sewing. Growing
up she and I made aprons, duffel bags, blankets, even prom dresses
together. She is a very talented woman who happens to be my grandmother
and, more importantly, one of my very best friends. It is really
important to me that I keep this legacy alive in my family (I'm
extremely sentimental) so I'm so proud to carry on the tradition of
creating clothing and gifts. One of my nicknames is Lulu and I call my
grandmother Mimi hence the name: Lulu's Mimi. I'm considering changing
my blog to the same name so that everything flows cohesively in the
event that this small business could become more than a hobby at some
point in my life.</div>
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So, without further ado, there are a couple different ways to see Lindsay's products:</div>
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Blog: <a href="http://www.domesticatedworkingwoman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Here</a></div>
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Blog FB page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Domesticated-Working-Woman/800283633319253?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Here</a></div>
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Lulu's Mimi FB page:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lulusmimi" target="_blank"> Here</a></div>
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She does take custom orders through her facebook page, and also said that she has some things already made, ready to send out. So check it out!</div>
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Annnnd one of you lucky readers </div>
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will win any item of your choice from Lulu's Mimi (free shipping too!). </div>
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So, if you have a baby, an upcoming baby shower, or need a stylish scarf, just enter a comment below listing a small business that you patron and why you go there. Enter by next Monday, February 17, where the winner will be chosen at random. </div>
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**Good luck and thanks for supporting small businesses!!**</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-77093012026665409212014-02-03T09:08:00.000-08:002014-02-03T09:08:06.094-08:00thoughts on pinterest<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the third day I've woken up feeling the fresh beating of a head cold, combined with fever, the occassional aches and chills, and the dread of just being awake today. It. is. miserable.</div>
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Since I can sleep no longer, and I sound like a bulldog when I breath, I am confined to the couch today, checking email and hopefully getting into a Twilight movie marathon later....(fingers crossed!)</div>
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On my web roaming this morning, I've found myself over on Pinterest (surprise, surprise) and started to wonder why my page of home ideas and style ideas differs so much from my actual closet and home? </div>
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(or what I imagine our future home to be, since we are in this state of transition). </div>
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I found myself wondering: </div>
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Is it that Pinterest is this "safe place" for me to pin things that I like, but in reality would never actually wear/display/show off?</div>
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Does this mean that my digital personality is different from the real life me?</div>
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Or is it just a place that we put things we like, but can't afford in real life, so that's why my real clothing and home don't look that way?</div>
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Probably a good combination of all of these questions. I am not rich. And I don't intend to spend unnecessary boatloads of money on myself or my home. And of course I probably pin things that look great on a skinny model, but on me, maybe not so great. </div>
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But, I do know that I pin things that I am attracted to. I pin "my style" for sure. And while these may be bolder looks that I wear or different looks that I would normally have in the home, they are all pictures of things that I do, in fact, like looking at and enjoy. They do describe me in some way.</div>
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And my guess is that maybe I'm a little reserved when it comes to wearing those fake glasses that I pinned, just because I don't need glasses and I'm embarrassed to purchase them and then tell people they are fake (truth be told, I already own fake glasses!), but good riddence to being reserved- I'm about to enter my fourth decade in this world (30?!), isn't it time I stop worrying about feeling embarrassed?</div>
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Life is too short to not express yourself, or to be too concerned with what others think, or even caging yourself into what you think you <i>should</i> be. </div>
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Cheers to YOU!</div>
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*have a great week*</div>
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<br />Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725450685355902445.post-88391542092615714272014-01-31T12:28:00.000-08:002014-01-31T12:28:47.615-08:00it's christmas in january!<div style="text-align: center;">
This past December, my sister-in-law got me a thrifted sweater, with the intent that I would be able to create whatever I could out of it's cable-knitted goodness. So with a good friend's 30th coming up in a couple of days, I felt inspired to repurpose this sweater into a warm scarf for her. And so commences the cutting and hemming....pressure is on since this is a gift for someone else!</div>
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^^not only do I hate my appearance in this picture, but the sweater has GOT to go...^^</div>
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^^a blue sweater project deserves a blue moon^^ </div>
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^^the bottom was cut off in one straight line, leaving one edge already "hemmed" and the other needing a good hemming, of which the sewing machine was used to do.^^</div>
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^^I cut one cuff off the sleeve of the sweater to add a little character to the otherwise simple infinity scarf. A flower from the clearance section at Michaels was added for more pizzazz! It was just hand sewn into the cuff piece and the scarf itself to hold it all in place.^^</div>
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^^once again, don't mind the makeup-less me here, but I am glad the scarf can be doubled for more warmth!^^</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">A few notes on sewing a hem in a sweater:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- I did have a hard time keeping the lines straight with the cable-knit texture, so I was thankful to have thread that matched perfectly to the color of the scarf, for those times when my "line" was not exactly even.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">-I would have planned to double over the hem. Originally, I had only folded it once, meaning that the "raw" edge was still exposed, spewing little bits of blue sweater everywhere....so I had to double fold the hem...should have done that from the start. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">-pay close attention when using a sewing machine on cable-knit material...the foot gets tripped often.</span></div>
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Overall, this was a very quick and easy project, created and enjoyed over a beer and is now being sent through the post to a friend on the other side of the state.</div>
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**have a great weekend all**</div>
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<span id="goog_2024218055"></span><span id="goog_2024218056"><span id="goog_1787266152"></span><span id="goog_1787266153"></span><br /></span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227850458603590257noreply@blogger.com1