I think it may be working. Day one was lousy. I wore every bright color in my closet and still spent most of the rainy day contemplating how to get out of doing things that need to be done and sleeping. Horrible. The weather doesn't help ye olde fibromyalgia one whit either, so it was a day of aches, pains and feeling like I must weigh over 500 pounds. It's the strangest phenomenon. I feel like there's a very heavy blanket pinned down over me and movement is difficult.
Day two was better. I managed to get out of the house and get some fruits and veggies. A colleague of my husband's was over during the weekend and explained how he lost around 50 pounds with juicing. Now my husband is back on his juicing kick. This meant a mid-week grocery run for more fruits and veggies because by Sunday evening, we were out of everything. Sigh. But at least the coral sweater and blue scarf with little coral flowers on it seemed to help. I even put on some earrings. I know! Tres chic!
The worst part of yesterday was that, not only did it rain all day, there were moments of snow. That dirty, four-letter word. Tomorrow is May first. Get your poop in a group, Mother Nature.
Forcing myself out into the sleet also seemed to help my mood a bit. I made a stop at Goodwill, since it's smack dab in between my new grocery store and my house (I checked the GPS, "smack dab" is very accurate).
I have a new rule when thrifting for myself. I won't spend over $20 and I will only buy things in the colors of the sun. At least for the Summer. That may change in the fall when I'm looking at sweaters, but for now, I'm going for bright. I'm going for bold. I'm also going for skirts. I wear pants every single day. Usually jeans, but sometimes I actually change back into my pajama pants after a while. Don't worry, the pair I'm wearing today are neon orange. Oh, yes, the are a color of the sun!
Anyway, with Summer creeping ever slower upon the horizon, I'm thinking about how I'm going to be too hot unless I wear the dreaded shorts. I hate shorts. I don't really care for short skirts, either. I've always had a love/hate relationship with my legs anyway, but I really hate the idea of exposing them in the Summer. I'm kinda weird, I guess. But I'm going to be in school over the Summer months, at least three days a week. I'll want to be comfortable. I'm also hoping to go for walks on my Tuesday/Thursday lunch breaks.
I used to belly dance and I still have a great love for the style of clothes I wore when dancing, so that's what I'm currently hunting for when I thrift. I found an orange, floor-length tiered skirt yesterday. It's exactly what I'm hunting for - I could totally belly dance in it. I found two other skirts and an Indonesian carved book rack for my cookbooks and spent $17. Boom. That made me feel even better than the earrings!
So now we're on Day Three. Three days in a row of rain, cold, mist, and wind. I spent my wad yesterday, have no real errands out of the home today and I really think that's what made me feel the best yesterday - getting out of the house. It's such a First World Problem, having nowt to do. Not that I have nothing to do, just nothing that takes me out of the house and into the world of the living. People who have very stressful, busy, full lives don't understand why someone who doesn't have to do anything should feel depressed. Well, I'll tell you. Everyone needs a purpose. When you don't feel like you have one, you lose yourself. You lose yourself, and that brings on a host of depression related illnesses.
Tomorrow night I have the orientation meeting at the massage school. I'm really looking forward to that. It's actually one of the reasons I'm having a hard time picking out what to do around the house. I'm so excited about going back to school that everything else seems so much more boring than usual. I've finally found something that feels like a true "calling", if you will. I've found a purpose. I'm going to be helping people feel better, healthier and more relaxed. What could be better than that? When you feel like you have a purpose, even if it may seem unimportant or even frivolous to some, everything else seems to work itself out. The pieces fall into place and if one's not quite in the right place, you're more capable of getting it into its place.
When I was in college I had a wonderful professor, Dr. Robert S. Joyce. About 14 years ago, he passed away. After his memorial, a bunch of us were sharing our stories about him and one woman was explaining how she had called Doc recently, explaining that she really wanted to go back to her old job because she had really loved the company and the job itself even though the money wasn't as great and she had just bought a house.... all sorts of excuses for not going back to what she loved doing, even though her new job left her empty and miserable. Bob said to her, "If you don't love it, don't do it." She took that advice and went back to her old job (which was a fortunate situation that happened to work out) and never looked back. There may have been financial issues with her mortgage and all, but she was able to handle them better because she was in a place where she could think and be productive, not only in her job, but in the rest of her life because she wasn't always worried about how much she disliked what she was doing.
During all of those years since I heard this story, I've been searching for the job I will love. I do believe I've finally found it, and going to massage therapy school will get me there. At long last, I'm on my way, are you? Have you even thought about what your way is? Where are you going? Are you in the right place...really? What would have to change in order for you to love what you do? Sometimes we spend so much energy trying to be what we think we're supposed to be that we miss the thing we're actually supposed to be. I spent a great majority of my life doing just that. If you are exactly where you're meant to be then, woohooo! You have what everyone deserves in life. If you feel a bit off, try to figure out why that is. Change is scary, but when you are following your path to your truth, you know it, and it'll be the best thing you ever did.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Dress in the colors of the sun... Special edition
The last time I went to my talk therapist I was wearing a coral t-shirt and fuchsia cardigan with my jeans. Yes, yes I was. This is a fairly normal thing for me to do though some people would snub me for it. My therapist has come to expect me to wear vivid colors, since that's what I do, but that day, I reminded her of a cult leader from Antelope, Oregon in the 1980s. He has a very long Indian name, not unlike Rajesh Koothrapali, only not that. My therapist remembered it after I don't know how many years, but I frankly can't be bothered to remember it. IF you're interested, Google Antelope, OR and you'll find the guy.
Anyway, he had a ton of women (like cult leaders do) and they were instructed to "dress in the colors of the sun." Often this was red, orange, and popular cult color saffron, but included pinks, corals, and purples, too.
Now, I don't hold any truck with cults and their misogynistic leaders, but dressing in the colors of the sun doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. This week our weather forecast is nothing but cold and rain, thunder and fog. Sounds to me like the perfect week to dress in the colors of the sun! So I got my laundry done, making sure to have plenty of sunny options for the next several days. I have layers (since temps will be below normal aaallll week), t-shirts, sweaters, cardigans, sweatshirts; pinks, purples, coral and orange; solids, stripes, patterns and textures. I even have some sky blues thrown in for variety.
The color I shan't be wearing in any variation will be black. No muted shades, no muddy browns, no drab colors of any kind. Well, I may have to wear black jeans, but nothing dark on top. At all. Anything near my face will be bright, sunny and spring-like. I don't have a lot of pastels, but I'll layer them in there. I'll mix colors in unexpected ways and clash like a field of riotous wild flowers.
Something about being bold in color makes me bold in action and attitude. Everyone has something that does it for them. For some people it's a single, signature item or color. For others it's a variety of a type of item. I have a friend who collects very unusual and colorful eyeglasses that go with anything he wears. That's his thing.
Do you have a thing? Do you know if you have a thing? I think it's entirely possibly to have a thing and not really be aware of it. The people you are around will know what it is. They're going to notice, "Hey, when Ralph wears his navy blue suit, he exudes confidence, not so much in the grey one." "Penelope is really take-charge when she wears that emerald green blouse that matches her eyes." For some its a pattern, for others, a scent.
It's weird, isn't it, how we attach power to these things. People and their respective institutions have spent major coin, probably millions of dollars to study the effects of colors, aromas, patterns, and textures on people, but it's so subjective. You have as many reactions to stimuli as there are people. For me, bright colors have boldness and power in them. I love prints and brocades. I'm fascinated by tapestries and the textiles of a wide variety of cultures, though I have to say Indian paisleys are a favorite and Indonesian batiks. I have a few Kurti that I love to wear and they're all (surprise) brightly colored. With the exception of one green one, they are all colors of the sun. I also just made a cotton top best described as a short caftan that is a diamond print in orange, purple, red, black and marigold. The fabric screamed at me from across the store. I swear I only went in to buy thread.
I think it's tempting to look out the window at the rain and pull on some dark, dreary shroud to blend with the clouds. I'm guilty of it. But I've been veiled for a long time and not living my truth. I'm not saying that everyone needs to look like they stepped off the train with the rest of the circus, as I'm sure people must think I sometimes do, but everyone should find their thing. Go find yours.
Anyway, he had a ton of women (like cult leaders do) and they were instructed to "dress in the colors of the sun." Often this was red, orange, and popular cult color saffron, but included pinks, corals, and purples, too.
Now, I don't hold any truck with cults and their misogynistic leaders, but dressing in the colors of the sun doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. This week our weather forecast is nothing but cold and rain, thunder and fog. Sounds to me like the perfect week to dress in the colors of the sun! So I got my laundry done, making sure to have plenty of sunny options for the next several days. I have layers (since temps will be below normal aaallll week), t-shirts, sweaters, cardigans, sweatshirts; pinks, purples, coral and orange; solids, stripes, patterns and textures. I even have some sky blues thrown in for variety.
The color I shan't be wearing in any variation will be black. No muted shades, no muddy browns, no drab colors of any kind. Well, I may have to wear black jeans, but nothing dark on top. At all. Anything near my face will be bright, sunny and spring-like. I don't have a lot of pastels, but I'll layer them in there. I'll mix colors in unexpected ways and clash like a field of riotous wild flowers.
Something about being bold in color makes me bold in action and attitude. Everyone has something that does it for them. For some people it's a single, signature item or color. For others it's a variety of a type of item. I have a friend who collects very unusual and colorful eyeglasses that go with anything he wears. That's his thing.
Do you have a thing? Do you know if you have a thing? I think it's entirely possibly to have a thing and not really be aware of it. The people you are around will know what it is. They're going to notice, "Hey, when Ralph wears his navy blue suit, he exudes confidence, not so much in the grey one." "Penelope is really take-charge when she wears that emerald green blouse that matches her eyes." For some its a pattern, for others, a scent.
It's weird, isn't it, how we attach power to these things. People and their respective institutions have spent major coin, probably millions of dollars to study the effects of colors, aromas, patterns, and textures on people, but it's so subjective. You have as many reactions to stimuli as there are people. For me, bright colors have boldness and power in them. I love prints and brocades. I'm fascinated by tapestries and the textiles of a wide variety of cultures, though I have to say Indian paisleys are a favorite and Indonesian batiks. I have a few Kurti that I love to wear and they're all (surprise) brightly colored. With the exception of one green one, they are all colors of the sun. I also just made a cotton top best described as a short caftan that is a diamond print in orange, purple, red, black and marigold. The fabric screamed at me from across the store. I swear I only went in to buy thread.
I think it's tempting to look out the window at the rain and pull on some dark, dreary shroud to blend with the clouds. I'm guilty of it. But I've been veiled for a long time and not living my truth. I'm not saying that everyone needs to look like they stepped off the train with the rest of the circus, as I'm sure people must think I sometimes do, but everyone should find their thing. Go find yours.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
In the details...
Two years ago I began working on a baby quilt for my great-niece. She's a year and a half old now, and I'm still working on it. Why is is taking so long? I've pieced it all by hand. That's right, I'm stitching over 400 hand-cut, English paper pieced hexagons together for the top of this bad boy.
I've often said I must've been on a special brand of crack when I decided to take on this project. I had to set it aside for several months while I worked on other projects and for my own sanity. It's piddly work, I'm not going to lie. To top it off, my other niece had a baby a few months later. I haven't even bought fabric for his quilt yet. They're killing me, these girls.
Anyway, I brought it out from its box to work on it yesterday - for the first time in months - and realized why I did it. The work may be tedious and repetitive, but it's also meditative. I decided long ago that it would be larger than a crib blanket so that Claire could have it with her for many years, take it with her on sleep overs, wrap herself in it as she sits by the fire pit at my sister's log home.
As I make tiny stitches I think about the adventures this quilt will have, making forts, being a princess cape, picnics, laying out on the beach. I want this blanket to have a life, not just be some sort of heirloom stashed away in a box, which is why I'm making the stitches smaller than they probably need to be. This blanket is made for the long haul.
Which reminds me, I should probably get back to work on it.
I've often said I must've been on a special brand of crack when I decided to take on this project. I had to set it aside for several months while I worked on other projects and for my own sanity. It's piddly work, I'm not going to lie. To top it off, my other niece had a baby a few months later. I haven't even bought fabric for his quilt yet. They're killing me, these girls.
Anyway, I brought it out from its box to work on it yesterday - for the first time in months - and realized why I did it. The work may be tedious and repetitive, but it's also meditative. I decided long ago that it would be larger than a crib blanket so that Claire could have it with her for many years, take it with her on sleep overs, wrap herself in it as she sits by the fire pit at my sister's log home.
As I make tiny stitches I think about the adventures this quilt will have, making forts, being a princess cape, picnics, laying out on the beach. I want this blanket to have a life, not just be some sort of heirloom stashed away in a box, which is why I'm making the stitches smaller than they probably need to be. This blanket is made for the long haul.
Which reminds me, I should probably get back to work on it.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Spring cleaning - Mid-week Edition
Aaahhh... It's finally feeling like Spring in the Minneapolis 'burbs. I'm on a cleaning jag. This never happens, so I have to write about it. It's a pretty big deal.
Today, since it's finally going to be warm and not rainy, I'm going to rake the yard, if for no other reason than to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. I may only get the front yard done, but you know, that's something.
I'm also looking forward to going through my kids' clothes. I know they've grown out of a lot of stuff. My problem is that my younger son is fairly small framed compared to my older son. I don't know if I should hang on to clothes for him or donate them. It'll be at least 3 years before he'll be able to wear them. Do I really want to hang on to that stuff? Boys clothes are very much lacking in the thrift stores. Perhaps boys are simply harder on their stuff or they just don't get as many clothes as little girls do. I'm not sure. There's a very large part of me that wants to donate them.
Yesterday, I not only worked on Rachel's quilt, but I finished (or almost finished) three other projects that have been sitting around and cut fabric for a table runner and place mats. Yeah, the creative version of cleaning is slow going. I know that and I'm just going to make peace with it.
I even did some data entry on my pattern spread sheet. I had started out looking for a tunic pattern for some really fun fabric I found the other day. You know me. I can't go to the fabric store and only buy thread. Sadly, all the tunic patterns I have are not what I want to use for this fabric. I guess I'll have to make my own pattern. What I really want is something sort of peasant-y. Hmmm... you know what? I was searching tunics, not peasant. Duh. Well, to be fair, I really did start out wanting to make a tunic.
It wasn't until I got online to look at pattern inspiration that the peasant thing really popped up. I haven't had a peasant-style top or dress in ages. Since I was in the Society for Creative Anachronism and being a serving wench for feasts. This print is nowhere near "period" though. I have decided however, that my own personal authentic style has very little to do with things that are specifically "right".
How is your Spring cleaning progressing? Is it? Have you even started? Have you even thought about it? It's not something I've really thought about in the past. No need to beat yourself up if you haven't. But perhaps it's time...
Today, since it's finally going to be warm and not rainy, I'm going to rake the yard, if for no other reason than to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. I may only get the front yard done, but you know, that's something.
I'm also looking forward to going through my kids' clothes. I know they've grown out of a lot of stuff. My problem is that my younger son is fairly small framed compared to my older son. I don't know if I should hang on to clothes for him or donate them. It'll be at least 3 years before he'll be able to wear them. Do I really want to hang on to that stuff? Boys clothes are very much lacking in the thrift stores. Perhaps boys are simply harder on their stuff or they just don't get as many clothes as little girls do. I'm not sure. There's a very large part of me that wants to donate them.
Yesterday, I not only worked on Rachel's quilt, but I finished (or almost finished) three other projects that have been sitting around and cut fabric for a table runner and place mats. Yeah, the creative version of cleaning is slow going. I know that and I'm just going to make peace with it.
I even did some data entry on my pattern spread sheet. I had started out looking for a tunic pattern for some really fun fabric I found the other day. You know me. I can't go to the fabric store and only buy thread. Sadly, all the tunic patterns I have are not what I want to use for this fabric. I guess I'll have to make my own pattern. What I really want is something sort of peasant-y. Hmmm... you know what? I was searching tunics, not peasant. Duh. Well, to be fair, I really did start out wanting to make a tunic.
It wasn't until I got online to look at pattern inspiration that the peasant thing really popped up. I haven't had a peasant-style top or dress in ages. Since I was in the Society for Creative Anachronism and being a serving wench for feasts. This print is nowhere near "period" though. I have decided however, that my own personal authentic style has very little to do with things that are specifically "right".
How is your Spring cleaning progressing? Is it? Have you even started? Have you even thought about it? It's not something I've really thought about in the past. No need to beat yourself up if you haven't. But perhaps it's time...
Sunday, April 20, 2014
There they go...
In my last "Thrifty Thrusday" post I mentioned that I'd be getting rid of a few things soon. Done and done!
Over the past two weeks I've managed to take about a dozen grocery bags of clothes and some other miscellaneous stuff to the thrift store. However, there were a few things I just couldn't bear to part with in such an impersonal way. Clothes that mean something to me, but I no longer wear for various reasons. I had a lot of vintage things and really nice evening gowns I probably won't be wearing any time in the near future. I had more coats than any one person should have including some lovely vintage pieces. I had some men's suit jackets and a tuxedo that belonged to my step-dad, who passed away in 2008. They don't fit my husband, and he doesn't need to wear a suit very often, anyway.
I thought about some of the theatres I've worked with over the past several years and decided that Morris Park Players in Minneapolis needed some stock for their costume closet. The other night, Sue, one of the board members and frequent costume coordinator came by and picked up 14 bags of really amazing stuff. I'm hoping to go see a show and find my clothes being used in a new life, perhaps I'll even get to wear some of it again when I go back to performing after I get my massage certification.
I also finished the quilted wall hanging for my friend's son's band fundraiser. Her sister came to pick it up the same night the theatre clothes left. I suddenly have a great deal of room - in my living room, in my closets, in my brain, and in my life.
I'm not going to say that I don't also feel a bit empty. I put a lot of work into some of the things I gave up. I figured that between the actual value of some of the clothes - some I never even wore, some I altered in some way, some I made myself - and the time involved in basically curating, caring for and building them, that's a donation of somewhere between $2000 - 3000. I'm going to write up some sort of paper which states that and then the theatre can sign off on it and I estimated the value of the quilt to be around $250. I'll use it for my taxes next year.
Of course, that's not the real reason I did all the culling. You get to a certain point in your life when you just want to pare down and simplify. I'm there. I'm not ready to give up my fabric stash yet, I still want to make stuff, but I'm making room for it. I'm also having a hard time parting with my books. But, the more room and less clutter there is in my life, the more I can do. Maybe I can actually read those books. What a concept.
Now, to finish Rachel's quilt. I've assured her that I am working on it, true enough, but my decision to hand stitch the binding down on the back side was a bit much for my fibro to handle. I have to take a lot of breaks. As for my ADHD, I sometimes just have to set the quilt aside and not think about it for a while. Luckily, my friend is more than understanding and is patiently awaiting her hand-made treasure.
Sometimes you're not ready for a cull. I get that. I wasn't ready to cull for years. When I decided it was time, holy crud-monkeys was I ready! Now to see if I can lose that 20 pounds I gained over the past year.
Over the past two weeks I've managed to take about a dozen grocery bags of clothes and some other miscellaneous stuff to the thrift store. However, there were a few things I just couldn't bear to part with in such an impersonal way. Clothes that mean something to me, but I no longer wear for various reasons. I had a lot of vintage things and really nice evening gowns I probably won't be wearing any time in the near future. I had more coats than any one person should have including some lovely vintage pieces. I had some men's suit jackets and a tuxedo that belonged to my step-dad, who passed away in 2008. They don't fit my husband, and he doesn't need to wear a suit very often, anyway.
I thought about some of the theatres I've worked with over the past several years and decided that Morris Park Players in Minneapolis needed some stock for their costume closet. The other night, Sue, one of the board members and frequent costume coordinator came by and picked up 14 bags of really amazing stuff. I'm hoping to go see a show and find my clothes being used in a new life, perhaps I'll even get to wear some of it again when I go back to performing after I get my massage certification.
I also finished the quilted wall hanging for my friend's son's band fundraiser. Her sister came to pick it up the same night the theatre clothes left. I suddenly have a great deal of room - in my living room, in my closets, in my brain, and in my life.
I'm not going to say that I don't also feel a bit empty. I put a lot of work into some of the things I gave up. I figured that between the actual value of some of the clothes - some I never even wore, some I altered in some way, some I made myself - and the time involved in basically curating, caring for and building them, that's a donation of somewhere between $2000 - 3000. I'm going to write up some sort of paper which states that and then the theatre can sign off on it and I estimated the value of the quilt to be around $250. I'll use it for my taxes next year.
Of course, that's not the real reason I did all the culling. You get to a certain point in your life when you just want to pare down and simplify. I'm there. I'm not ready to give up my fabric stash yet, I still want to make stuff, but I'm making room for it. I'm also having a hard time parting with my books. But, the more room and less clutter there is in my life, the more I can do. Maybe I can actually read those books. What a concept.
Now, to finish Rachel's quilt. I've assured her that I am working on it, true enough, but my decision to hand stitch the binding down on the back side was a bit much for my fibro to handle. I have to take a lot of breaks. As for my ADHD, I sometimes just have to set the quilt aside and not think about it for a while. Luckily, my friend is more than understanding and is patiently awaiting her hand-made treasure.
Sometimes you're not ready for a cull. I get that. I wasn't ready to cull for years. When I decided it was time, holy crud-monkeys was I ready! Now to see if I can lose that 20 pounds I gained over the past year.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Thrifty Thursday
I couldn't help myself. I went thrifting today. I paid my Target bill down, arranged for my son's dentistry work, scheduled my other son into an after school activity, completed my financial aid paperwork and had spent the last week and a half repainting our living room and kitchen while my husband worked on the tiling and trimming. I deserved a little something. Besides, I'm working on finding my authentic style. Of course this means I'll be getting rid of a few things soon, too.
First of all, the most deadly thing about my going to school is that there's a Goodwill right across the street. It doesn't help that it borders several good neighborhoods and they have really good stuff there (on my first trip in I found an Armani Xchange denim blazer in my size for $14 - yeah). So I've decided I'm setting out to discover my personal style. I love jackets and blazers, but I also really like bohemian skirts and dresses. I like going to thrift stores because that's where people take the stuff they liked but never had the balls to wear. You know how you buy an ethnic outfit while traveling abroad and then you get home and are like, "This makes sense in Mexico/India/Japan/wherever, but not in Minnesota. Not on me." Those are the clothes I like. Stuff that the thrift stores put out for Hallowe'en? That's where I find the stuff I actually want to wear. Saris and Kurtis, harem pants and peasant skirts, vintage dresses and military jackets, brightly colored blouses and scarves. I must look like a bit of a magpie when I leave the house, but I'm colorful and joyful, so what's the big deal?
So anyway, I went to the Goodwill after my meeting with the financial aid guy at the school. I found one thing I was for sure looking for, a frame to replace the very kitsch-y 80s frame my husband had a family picture in. But the clothes were a different story. No Armani today. However, I found a beautiful pink dip-dyed full skirt and a very bohemian maxi dress that I can't wait to wear this Summer. I also found a broken, bejeweled bow brooch for a sewing project. I had settled for something else when I couldn't find a brooch like this one. I should've waited. That's alright. I'll find a use for the other stuff I got.
On my way home I decided to have a look at a junk shop called Hunt & Gather. I could've laid out a lot of coin for some cool stuff, but nothing leapt out at me as necessary. That in itself is a pretty big deal. There were vintage buttons and beautiful linens, fascinating books and posters. There was a fuchsia disco dress that almost came home with me, but it was at a vintage price instead of a thrift store price, so I didn't get it. I can't believe I actually walked out of there with nothing, but I went in looking for something that would go in our newly painted living room with nomadic flavor. I found nothing that suited me or my house. Or my budget.
Then I stopped at the Assistance League Thrift Store near my house. This place is a little gem. It's rare for me to find stuff I love and I really have to hunt for it when I'm there. That's what I like about it. Today was a jackpot day. A reversible, silk wrap skirt from India, $6; A white eyelet Summer top by Eddie Bauer, $3; a red-satin-lined black flocked blazer, $4. I also found a set of woven place mats and coasters that go with our fun new interior, $3. The ladies at the shop gave me a little button that says "I Heart Thrifting" because I made such a good deal. Last year I found Armani at this store, too. A beautiful rose brocade blazer for $36.
The best part about my latest purchase was the silk skirt. I've been looking at them online, very longingly, but they were a bit more than I wanted to spend. Anywhere from $50 - 70. I was becoming quite discouraged. To find one for $6 in vivid purple and turquoise, well, I couldn't say no to that!
Now, as I mentioned, I'm going to have to start getting rid of the stuff I just don't wear. I'm torn between sending it to a thrift store and having a yard sale. I could use the extra money for school, but it wouldn't be that much. Yard sales usually end up costing more than they profit. Well, I wouldn't have to advertise in the paper, just put a few posters out. That's what costs so much! My goodness. $45 to advertise your yard sale? Come on. It's cheaper to get sticks, poster board and a few balloons.
I sound really cheap, don't I? I don't mean to. I'm not some sort of Eugene Krabs. But I don't like to spend a lot of money for something if I don't have to, and I'd much rather reuse something someone else has discarded that still has life in it. So much of what is on the market today is cheaply made and sold for really disgusting prices. The people that do the really hard work behind the manufacturing of this stuff are so often working under deplorable conditions. If I'm going to spend a lot for something, it's because it was hand made by artisans not exploiting or exploited. Don't get me wrong. I've seen plenty of things I'd love to have, but won't purchase and I have bought clothes at Target that I know are being made at some factory in China. I'm not perfect. But I do try to keep those things to a minimum, especially lately. I look for things locally made, but if I see a wool sweater from Ireland, that's not going to deter me from getting it (usually it's the price that'll do that) because it was - probably - manufactured from field to product with very few middle men involved.
Here's your assignment, flowerpots: Take a look at what you own. Where was it made? Was any of it made locally? Was it even made in the United States? Set aside everything that you own that was made someplace other than your home country. Is it very balanced? Do you know where your stuff is coming from? We're very complacent as consumers. We go idly by, purchasing things we think we need or want, but do you really know the journey it has travelled? Think this isn't important? Don't think you should waste your time looking at the process? Think again. If you're not part of the solution, you're the problem. I'm not claiming that I'll never shop at Target again, however, a change needs to be made and I'm going to do my best to make it. Can you?
First of all, the most deadly thing about my going to school is that there's a Goodwill right across the street. It doesn't help that it borders several good neighborhoods and they have really good stuff there (on my first trip in I found an Armani Xchange denim blazer in my size for $14 - yeah). So I've decided I'm setting out to discover my personal style. I love jackets and blazers, but I also really like bohemian skirts and dresses. I like going to thrift stores because that's where people take the stuff they liked but never had the balls to wear. You know how you buy an ethnic outfit while traveling abroad and then you get home and are like, "This makes sense in Mexico/India/Japan/wherever, but not in Minnesota. Not on me." Those are the clothes I like. Stuff that the thrift stores put out for Hallowe'en? That's where I find the stuff I actually want to wear. Saris and Kurtis, harem pants and peasant skirts, vintage dresses and military jackets, brightly colored blouses and scarves. I must look like a bit of a magpie when I leave the house, but I'm colorful and joyful, so what's the big deal?
So anyway, I went to the Goodwill after my meeting with the financial aid guy at the school. I found one thing I was for sure looking for, a frame to replace the very kitsch-y 80s frame my husband had a family picture in. But the clothes were a different story. No Armani today. However, I found a beautiful pink dip-dyed full skirt and a very bohemian maxi dress that I can't wait to wear this Summer. I also found a broken, bejeweled bow brooch for a sewing project. I had settled for something else when I couldn't find a brooch like this one. I should've waited. That's alright. I'll find a use for the other stuff I got.
On my way home I decided to have a look at a junk shop called Hunt & Gather. I could've laid out a lot of coin for some cool stuff, but nothing leapt out at me as necessary. That in itself is a pretty big deal. There were vintage buttons and beautiful linens, fascinating books and posters. There was a fuchsia disco dress that almost came home with me, but it was at a vintage price instead of a thrift store price, so I didn't get it. I can't believe I actually walked out of there with nothing, but I went in looking for something that would go in our newly painted living room with nomadic flavor. I found nothing that suited me or my house. Or my budget.
Then I stopped at the Assistance League Thrift Store near my house. This place is a little gem. It's rare for me to find stuff I love and I really have to hunt for it when I'm there. That's what I like about it. Today was a jackpot day. A reversible, silk wrap skirt from India, $6; A white eyelet Summer top by Eddie Bauer, $3; a red-satin-lined black flocked blazer, $4. I also found a set of woven place mats and coasters that go with our fun new interior, $3. The ladies at the shop gave me a little button that says "I Heart Thrifting" because I made such a good deal. Last year I found Armani at this store, too. A beautiful rose brocade blazer for $36.
The best part about my latest purchase was the silk skirt. I've been looking at them online, very longingly, but they were a bit more than I wanted to spend. Anywhere from $50 - 70. I was becoming quite discouraged. To find one for $6 in vivid purple and turquoise, well, I couldn't say no to that!
Now, as I mentioned, I'm going to have to start getting rid of the stuff I just don't wear. I'm torn between sending it to a thrift store and having a yard sale. I could use the extra money for school, but it wouldn't be that much. Yard sales usually end up costing more than they profit. Well, I wouldn't have to advertise in the paper, just put a few posters out. That's what costs so much! My goodness. $45 to advertise your yard sale? Come on. It's cheaper to get sticks, poster board and a few balloons.
I sound really cheap, don't I? I don't mean to. I'm not some sort of Eugene Krabs. But I don't like to spend a lot of money for something if I don't have to, and I'd much rather reuse something someone else has discarded that still has life in it. So much of what is on the market today is cheaply made and sold for really disgusting prices. The people that do the really hard work behind the manufacturing of this stuff are so often working under deplorable conditions. If I'm going to spend a lot for something, it's because it was hand made by artisans not exploiting or exploited. Don't get me wrong. I've seen plenty of things I'd love to have, but won't purchase and I have bought clothes at Target that I know are being made at some factory in China. I'm not perfect. But I do try to keep those things to a minimum, especially lately. I look for things locally made, but if I see a wool sweater from Ireland, that's not going to deter me from getting it (usually it's the price that'll do that) because it was - probably - manufactured from field to product with very few middle men involved.
Here's your assignment, flowerpots: Take a look at what you own. Where was it made? Was any of it made locally? Was it even made in the United States? Set aside everything that you own that was made someplace other than your home country. Is it very balanced? Do you know where your stuff is coming from? We're very complacent as consumers. We go idly by, purchasing things we think we need or want, but do you really know the journey it has travelled? Think this isn't important? Don't think you should waste your time looking at the process? Think again. If you're not part of the solution, you're the problem. I'm not claiming that I'll never shop at Target again, however, a change needs to be made and I'm going to do my best to make it. Can you?
Sunday, April 13, 2014
A Fresh Coat of Paint
A couple of weeks ago my husband decided it was time to freshen up our abode with new paint, trim around the doors and kitchen counter. He did the tiling of the counter and the trimming and I painted. I began to reflect on Spring, new beginnings, fresh starts and do-overs. (Hey, we finally had temperatures over 40* F, can ya blame me?)
The paint I chose wasn't too different from what we already had. I didn't want a total overhaul of everything. However, the living room paint is a bit brighter and the kitchen is a bit pinker. To be honest, though, if I didn't tell you I had painted, you probably wouldn't notice the difference. I was a bit worried at first, but it grew on me pretty quickly when I found a marble tile that coordinated with it so well that I really couldn't complain.
I did feel, however, that my living room would need new curtains. I have a table cloth that's about 10 years old that was my inspiration for the curtains. It's an Indian floral paisley print in yellows, greens and oranges on a white background. (Our new paint is orange - Fire Ant, specifically - and the trim is white) I knew I'd never find the same table cloth and I was thinking of adding even more or different colors, so I figured I'd start where I had found the previous cloth, World Market. I looked though every curtain they had. I found a few I liked but they weren't quite right and I just didn't want to settle for something that didn't speak to me on a very primal level. I wanted color, pattern, boldness, vibrance. I wanted something that would leap out of the dark recesses of winter and hurtle into Spring with abandon!
As I began to shuffle out of the store I passed the bath department and there they were - my perfect curtains! Technically an unlined shower curtain, I found color - every color! Pattern - paisley! Boldness and vibrance in abundance! So I bought two shower curtains and hung them from the bamboo rod over our front window. They were also a good $10 less each than any of the window curtains I kinda sorta liked and I only needed two of them instead of four. Oh, yeah. They were on sale and I had a coupon, too.
You never know where you're going to find just the right thing, do ya? I look at my new curtains and I'm filled with joy. The colors and pattern are better than I could've hoped.
So now I look to myself. I was officially accepted into the East West program at CenterPoint Massage and Shiatsu Therapy school. I have a whole new chapter in my life to look forward to living out. I'm going to sally forth with promise and hope, never being afraid to look for what I seek in places selcouth.
The paint I chose wasn't too different from what we already had. I didn't want a total overhaul of everything. However, the living room paint is a bit brighter and the kitchen is a bit pinker. To be honest, though, if I didn't tell you I had painted, you probably wouldn't notice the difference. I was a bit worried at first, but it grew on me pretty quickly when I found a marble tile that coordinated with it so well that I really couldn't complain.
I did feel, however, that my living room would need new curtains. I have a table cloth that's about 10 years old that was my inspiration for the curtains. It's an Indian floral paisley print in yellows, greens and oranges on a white background. (Our new paint is orange - Fire Ant, specifically - and the trim is white) I knew I'd never find the same table cloth and I was thinking of adding even more or different colors, so I figured I'd start where I had found the previous cloth, World Market. I looked though every curtain they had. I found a few I liked but they weren't quite right and I just didn't want to settle for something that didn't speak to me on a very primal level. I wanted color, pattern, boldness, vibrance. I wanted something that would leap out of the dark recesses of winter and hurtle into Spring with abandon!
As I began to shuffle out of the store I passed the bath department and there they were - my perfect curtains! Technically an unlined shower curtain, I found color - every color! Pattern - paisley! Boldness and vibrance in abundance! So I bought two shower curtains and hung them from the bamboo rod over our front window. They were also a good $10 less each than any of the window curtains I kinda sorta liked and I only needed two of them instead of four. Oh, yeah. They were on sale and I had a coupon, too.
You never know where you're going to find just the right thing, do ya? I look at my new curtains and I'm filled with joy. The colors and pattern are better than I could've hoped.
So now I look to myself. I was officially accepted into the East West program at CenterPoint Massage and Shiatsu Therapy school. I have a whole new chapter in my life to look forward to living out. I'm going to sally forth with promise and hope, never being afraid to look for what I seek in places selcouth.
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