a black paint pen

do you remember.... from "way back when"....
where they put colorful paint into a tube and attached a pen tip.
Paint pens where in all sorts of colors.. and had the infamous scent of highly toxic paint fumes.
Even now, I am sure you can hear the ticking taps as you shook the pen vigorously.
It was a mini paint can of joy... that every teenage girl would use to decorate their finger nails, their lockers, and even a few BFF notes passed in class.  If you had pink, purple and blue... you knew you could create anything your heart desired!

as a surprise to me.... they still make these pens.... and in my need to fix up a sink cabinet... I bought one.
As I sat on the floor, ready to paint a cupboard door.... I smiled, remembering the good ol' days.
~ I began to touch up a little black here, and bit of black there.

With half of the chore done... I wanted to share the difference a paint pen makes!

can you tell what half is done?

 lets all say it together now 

WOW!

up close... see.... what a difference!

now, off to paint the other door before I forget what I was doing.

ONE SMALL CHANGE- ONE BIG HEART

UPDATE

January Challenge~ NOTHING NEW

this month has gone very well. I stayed at a $75-80 food budget weekly.... including Easter dinner and a birthday party this month. The only thing I bought new was a mylar balloon and a birthday cake ( yes, I know, I bought the cake- but after making 15 guitar pillows and a guitar shirt.... the cake was a justified purchase.... my sanity was on the line!)....

We still are having things break (Murphy's law at large) but we are just not replenishing, and are doing without. My crock pot (the staple in my slow cooking kitchen) cracked and cant be used~ but my mother in law has a brand new one in her garage she won at a drawing.... so when she visits next week~ she is bringing it with her (Yea for amazing blessings!)

February Update~ UNPLUGGING

We are still keeping a technology sabbatical once (sometimes twice) a week. Everything remains unplugged/ or off unless it is being used at that moment. The biggest thing has been the computer..... I am on it much less, and am actually crafting and gardening more (thank goodness the sun is starting to peek out more!) This change has actually been pretty easy and has become more of a habit!

March Update~ GET INVOLVED

This month has been the one that changed my life! Getting involved with the school and community about "greener" living has been amazing. Yes, we have hit some glitches (welcome to the school district business), but I have really felt that simple changes have begun to be pursued. I start teaching a gardening class this week to 15 kids.... and another parent has stepped along side me and is now Co-teaching it with me. We have decided to make this after school teaching class an on going ECO CLUB for the kids. There is now a NO WASTE campaign started at the school. There is a the building of a parent ECO team meeting tomorrow.... with 15 parents so far...... Our school is really beginning to start thinking more sustainable and about the carbon footprint it is leaving.... and I was able to be at the root of it..... that is (for me) something that makes me smile.

April Update~ ONE TANK

this challenge was the more taxing on me..... I am usually able to go 14 days on one tank, and I have made it to 24~ But I REALLY do need to refuel this weekend.....

so I didn't make it a whole month... but I did go 10 days longer on one tank (which isn't to bad!). I have walked more. I have carpooled a few times. I even cut out trips all together..... It also has helped that some of Bjorn's appointments have been cancelled. I have found out that it takes much more planning than just putting on shoes, and venturing out on a walking trip. With kids, you have to think... water jugs, a much slower pace, stopping to not only smell flowers but to pick them and throw rocks in running gutters. You also have to think~ "less!" . Walking to the market to pick up a few things... means "only a few things" because bags get pretty heavy after a while.

the One Small Change Challenge is over.....

its ended.....

but what have I learned?

in all honesty I have learned more about myself in these past 3 1/2 months, than I had expected.

::One thing I learned::

is that once I made the change, I didnt want to go back to the way I was doing things before..... so each month's challenge remains practiced today.

:: One thing I learned::

is that it may be small in retrospect, but is sure is huge in making a difference.

::One thing I learned::

is that there is always room to learn more.

::One thing I learned::

is that others feel the same way, they just need someone to help support them to get started.

::One thing I learned::

is that doing without~ in not being without.

::One thing I learned::

is once change is made, it's much easier to accept more change.

The One Small Change Challenge may have ended.... but in our house, it will still continue! ALWAYS.

EARTH DAY

I will post more about Earth day tomorrow....

today we will...

not drive,

not use computers (except for this quick post...)

not throw anything away (anything!)

plant a tree

and give thanks for the planet that we have been given to live on....

may our footprints get smaller, so that our future feet can live on it as well!

Updates~ Nothing New and One Small Change

Nothing New

:: I tighten my lips a bit as I write this......

we did "okay" in not buying anything new, as well as Murphy's Law still applies in all ways. Murphy this month had another broken lamp and a destroyed wool rug (thanks to a dog who was sick~ yes, gack!). But.... and it is a small "but" ...I did buy two things.... I bought some really cute re-purposed mittens from a local artisan (originally priced at $40~ for only $6.50) made from old sweater sleeves (how can one pass that up!) ...and if you think about (here comes the justification) they are not really new.

and I bought a new basket for our shoes.... the other shoe basket was having thick dangerous wires hang out of it ( and basket are super cheap this week~ for $9)

~ So if I wanted to I could put this under the health and safety exception (but I wonder if that is a justification!~ I mean, I could easily justify chocolate as a health and safety measure.... every woman needs chocolate, right?!?)

so, three months in to our Nothing New and even with these two purchases~ I feel that we have really done our best to stick to the plan.... now lets see what April will bring!

One Small Change

The Electricity and computer commitment has gone well (from February) we still have a technology sabbatical once a week and the computer is only on twice and then shut down. TV is rarely on~ although Netflix sent me my Glee this week (and I love My Glee!)..... but a movie here and there is still within the limits (smile!).

This March's change was one that has really impacted me.... and has already created a huge change in our local school. After meeting with the staff at school we have many plans underway and progress is being created each day. A garden is planned (and I am starting afterschool "green kids" program where the kids will help in making the garden and compost); a silverware donations program is started~ to replace plastic forks in the cafeteria; a "No Idle Zone" is being considered in front of the school; an Earth day Assembly is planned (they are collecting milk cartons and plastic waste that the school puts out... and setting up on a stage for all to see what we could be recycling... and are not); Parents have been asked to join in an ECO TEAM- where we will educate and give other options to what is done in school and at home...

it is all so exciting~ this could really take off!

swap

entering the world of nothing new- opened my eyes to the world of swap.

of course there are some great resources and web sites relating to trading and giving away ( ie. craigslist or freecycle) but swapping is actually a creative way of meeting certain needs.

some creative swaps I have done among friend....

~I swapped a LOVE MONSTER for Valentines and Birthday Invites designs with a graphic designer friend.

~I swapped Dinner for childcare (and vice versa)

~I swapped clothing for seeds.

~and even some homemade cookies for some masking tape (we needed it really bad!).

But the funnest swaps are craft swaps.

there is a theme, a recipient, and a craft exchanged....

A new friend and blogger UrbanCraft had gone to the Olympics in Vancouver and she decided to have a swap with MEOMI characters ~the same designers of the 2010 Olympic mascots (which are the most adorable mascots ever!)

What fun! the hardest part so far is figuring out what to make.... the creative juices are on overflow- and I cant make up my mind.......

I just love so many parts of this creative artwork....

the thoughts have been narrowed down to~

the teacup and monkey.

the narwhal.

and that cute little squirrel ( with acorns).

and that is just the beginning of all the cuteness... not only the characters had to choose, next is what to make.

a stuffie

a decorated applique bag

a painted dish....

endless options.

who knew a swap would involved so much thinking....

but I do like thinking about it!

time has come.... updates

yes, I have been out.... out of computer world... and into the quilting.

my two project Linus Blankets are off to be donated today and I am so proud of all the work and love that went into making these~ it will be hard to part from them.

But they will go to a sweet little child who needs warmth, not just physical but the warmth of love that comes from a blanket like this....

they will go to a great child, a fighter, a survivor. It is the least I could do.

the pink one is "cupcakes" and the blue one is "baseball"

both are 42"x 60"

also it is the end of February. I have updates.

Nothing New~ it is amazing what I have learned with this life change two months in. Mail order books get instantly put into recycling, even coupon books and all that stuff you get sent to you. I have had the opportunity to really free up a great deal of time and stress~ not thinking about where to go, what to get, and how it will be paid for..... the freedom as well as the creativity that comes from thinking outside of the consumer box is quite fun! Another thing that we have seen happen is sort of a Murphy's Law type of scenario..... of course. Once you decide to not buy anything- everything begins to break, blow up, and disappear. Two of my stone dishes (my loaf pan for breads, and my daily use large measure cup) were both dropped and broken. A floor lamp, and only light in the living room literally blew up at the socket and melted the cord. And I have searched high and low for a bra of mine ( one of only two) that is what I wear with light colors~ and it is MIA. The greatest thing is that I have laughed it off, said "oh well" and moved forward.... knowing that one day the perfect lamp will visit Goodwill while I am there, stoneware is not the only options, and a bra is over rated. So, in the Nothing New Camp- we are still on board and moving forward.

One Small Step Challenge~ UnPlugging~

This February challenge has opened my eyes to how we communicate, or to how little we communicate.... with everyone.

I have done well unplugging lights from sockets... that was actually pretty easy.

Having the computer on once a day was interesting. I did it the first week, but then started getting into a bit of communication trouble with some parents at the Co-op preschool... all communication was done by email- and instant replies were desired... well for one who does not check email but once a day.... it wasn't quick enough for some. Tempers were flared and feathers were ruffled.... whatever happened to using the phone? I am just as guilty .... but it was eye opening.

So the computer was turned one once in the AM and once in the PM- a small adjustment to the original plan. As to a sabbatical for one day without technology- some days were on Sunday, and some were on Saturday... but a full day was achieved once a week. Which in turn felt good.

and Finally- the negative.

The TV. totally forgot about the Olympics..... and our family (especially me!) loves Winter Olympics. This was a horrible month to have the TV off.... really it was. I learned to record the shows, watch things in fast forward, and shrug off not knowing some events..... The TV was on. Not as much as it would have been..... but it WAS on. Next month- the TV has no idea how little it will be used. Tomorrow's post.... March Challenge.

my ship came in!

or should I say my shipment.

I got a chunk of change for my bday- and began to tackle the long list of books that I wanted for our home library... as opposed to checking out books over and over from our local library. I am beginning to think they have red flagged some books from me checking out them out because I get them so often.

All of these are all titles that I have seen from our library.... except for two....

and just have loved them.

so, yes... my ship came in....

and this girl is a happy reader for a while.

if you ask how this fits into my nothing new..... it was a stretch. I first checked books that were used, but with the shipping costs they were about $2 more than buying new from amazon and the free shipping. so, yes these books are new. but if you think about it... I didn't buy them, someone else did (as a gift to me) and I did try and buy used ( in fact one is a used library book)..... is that a justification? or fair enough?

bulking up at the market

everyone wonders how my budget can stay so low with 4 mouths to feet (three of them boys)... well, I shop bulk (that being grains, rices, beans, etc... not IN bulk, like COSTCO), with a focus on tons of veggies, minimals on meats, and do it all from scratch.

Remember back to when someone once told you to really shop wisely is to shop on the outsides of the markets (staying out of the aisles).... that is what I do~ stay to the outsides of your market. It is in the middle that they have all the prepackaged, pre-made, loaded with preservatives and additives~ not good for you stuff (not to mention much more expensive).

I usually only buy like 1 or 2 things in the aisle ( and only during the winter months).

If you have a grocery store that has bulk bins- that is the way to go. It is not only cheaper- but you buy- just what you need.... decantering them as you get home. I also DO NOT use plastics. NO BAGS AT ALL!!! Some markets weigh your container as you enter and mark it for check out (I have a friend who brings a large bag of mason jars into the markets). What I do is make what I call "bulk bags" with scrap fabrics that I have around (even made some from scrap shirts, and old pj pants) just fold in half, sew up the sides and hem the top. All sizes work- because bulk bins have spices, and every things you can imagine...

I go to the market on Mondays, while shopping for the whole week. I have a list of my "almost" empty containers (this week was kidney beans, white beans, oats and brown rice) and go shopping with all my little bags.

When it comes to veggies- if they are wrapped in plastic- I DO NOT BUY THEM. I put the "naked" produce straight in the cart, or in a grocery canvas sack and I pay for them that way too. I lay them by grouping like foods together in the turn-style. The market knows about my bulk bags that they give me not only a discount for using my own canvas bags... but also a discount for each bulk bag ( yippee and little bonus!) This week I finally got the closest to my budget of spending $70 a week (since my challenge in Nothing New). I still have to cut a few things- but I was only $5 over this week. Here's my little pat on the back ( Pat,Pat,).

a photo of my pantry with nuts, grains, beans and dried fruits- its a mason jar parade.

birthday weekendings....

I turned 30-something-ish this weekend. oh, ok. I will embrace my exterior age, interior age is much younger (much, much)... I am 38. The boys around here made me feel like the princess in the castle by throwing kisses, loves and "beeps" all day long. Friday night we ate together, and shared a small cake together- the kids were giddy with the idea of cake! (wouldnt you be?) They even brought me flowers (all together now... awwww!)

We stuck with our Nothing New and the dad is repainting and refinishing some banisters, and distressing a HUGE old window that will hang on the wall above the piano. These are the things that I have wanted to get to... but never seem to get that far.... so I cant wait to see how lovely they turn out.

Saturday was a day of "nothing" (I didnt even have diaper duty! all together now....whooowhooo!) where pancakes, sausage and fresh OJ started the inactivity.... I was able to knit a cowl (all day!) and the day ended with me getting out of my pj's at 4, to go hang out with some friends for the evening. ~it really was just right!~

O and I made some cardboard creations ( a TV and radio, complete with batteries and remote) and played a few games of checkers.... and B sang random "Happy Birthday's" all day long. I was treated like the special birthday girl of the house.

project linus- blanket 1

I made a commitment to make two quilts for Project Linus, the Portland Chapter. These thoughts began to brew after we had a sweet little friend at Dornbecker this earlier this year. I saw firsthand how the hospital really focused on the children and in making them feel special and cared for.... so when I saw an option for "Give a day, Get a day" to work with Project Linus- I jumped at it.

I wanted to make the blankets with great pride and use my new skills, as well as use fabrics that I already had ( keeping with my Nothing New idea). I didn't want to just quickly whip up a fleece blanket and call it a go- I wanted to really apply my heart and soul into this commitment as an act of gratitude.

So here is a sneak peek at what my first blanket will look like.....

I hope to work on it today and tomorrow, get the top done and then apply the backings next week. The red, and baseball fabrics are from my personal stash... I purchased the brown and the blue dots- using a coupon, and 1/2 yard totaling a bit over $5.00.

I still have to purchase the batting....I am waiting for a coupon (part of the crafting guidelines in nothing new) but I am excited, thrilled and ready to sew!

a happy heart

what do you get when you mix an old red T-shirt with some scrap music note fabric?

a special valentines day t-shirt for a little musician

made with love.

nothing new was purchased in this craft- and I am proud of that....

keeping up with my commitment, and continuing to create.

happiness all around.

well aint he cute

Valentines day is around the corner, and with us not buying anything, I decided to make a little something-something. I have some great sources to free tutorials and started to hunt.

and then my heart stopped at this site.

and so I am gonna make a LOVE MONSTER!

for the boys to hug, snug, tug and love well.

3 weeks in, and reports are good:: not great (yet)

::UPDATE::

when the idea of nothing new was embraced in our home this month I thought- this wont be hard.... I dont buy much out of the ordinary in things, and so I am here to report:: this is harder than I thought::

• the first things I found are markets are full of "crap" that is really not necessary.
• birthdays need to be thought of differently (mine is at the end of the month... and there are some books that I really want on my bookshelf, that I dont really need, but want).
• walking away is easier said than done

even within these struggles I have started to define a deeper meaning within me... and it has been three weeks. As a human raised in America the needs vs. wants is so twisted and tangled into advertising and what others perceive. Life begins to be formed around things than relationship and family and giving of your self. These things I have known, these things I have practiced.... but, my heart still wanders. This is "nothing new" to me- but still changing and challenging just the same.

I learned something today!

We are planning a trip to California when O gets out of school this year. Over the past two years we have had to save more and plan more for trips like this. Even though we stay with friends and family the cost of the trip still is pretty high....

in planning for this trip, this year, and trying hard to keep our "nothing new" going strong during this time..... we figured- one theme park, no souvenirs. (the usual is 3-4 theme parks and one souvenir).

One of the reasons we are wanting to do this Nothing New, is so that our money that we do acquire during this time- can be used to help others. Both Bryan and I are passionate about giving- giving of ourselves, our time, and our all.... and so we wanted to just keep that as one of our main reasons for doing the "nothing new" year. We want our children to learn that life is about relations, about sharing, about giving of ourselves- its not about acquiring, taking, or spending.... its not about things.

if you know my kids- you know they love Mickey Mouse. (and that should be LOVE, not love)!

so, as I was flipping through an article I read an ad.

An ad about service in the community.

An ad about Disneyland.

It was called Give a day, Get a Disney day.

Basically if you give a day of community service- they will give you a free day at Disneyland.

I had to take a second look at the story.

what? I volunteer a day, and I can go to Disneyland for free!

oh my goodness- its true!

well..... this nothing new year has gotten off to quite the nice start.

Community Service is something we love to do- and Disneyland is something we love to do.

and we were thinking that Disney would have to be cut from the vacation plan....

on the contrary.

and it is free! Even better!

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

so here we are.

we are off!

after discussing THE COMPACT ideas together, and figuring out what that looks like in our family... we are ready and going.

2010- this house is going with a simple form of "nothing new" for a year.

These exceptions are subject to change- we reserve that right....

What are the exceptions?

~anything that is necessary for health or safety reasons (Therapies, ingredients for homemade cleaners, hygiene or safety) As a rule there must be a few attempts at freecycle, craigslist or thrifting first.

ie. carseats, helmets, athletic shoes. (things that you CAN buy new- undergarments.)

~foods! (that is obvious.... but we will keep our food purchases to under $70 a week (including our Noris Dairy, CSA and the basics/ this also includes seeds for our garden) I will keep making breads, butters, condiments, cheeses, etc. to keep the waste and cost at minimum. This is cutting our weekly costs another $25-30 from what we are currently spending.

~house repairs or improvements ( we are in the middle of some replacements, and our deck is rotted out.... plans to be replaced this spring)

~Bryan's hockey dues/ and replacement of overly warn sticks, wheels, and gear. (Bryan has played hockey for years- and he needs this athletic outlet.

~Family activities- limited to no more than two a month, and must be active! (ie. bowling, ice skating, golfing range, camping) These activities are fairly cheep and the boys need that outlet- especially in winter.

~California vacation- one theme park, no souvenirs.... no hotels.

~one date night expense a month (this is important to our relational status as a married couple, trust me on this.)

~my crafting. the only exception is for specialized gift (and I must have a coupon). ie. a themed quilt, or a special request. other than that- I have plenty of yarns, fabrics, papers, pastels etc. to keep me going for a while.

After talking for hours last night, this is all we came up with..... I cant think of anything other areas to cover? Did I miss anything?

OUR "nothing new" New Year!

we have some friends who have really been an inspiration to us.... they are very like minded and similar to our family, and we genuinely adore them.... these friends have over the past year done a "nothing new new year"- and have shared some wonderful experiences and wisdom with us. They have had such a positive experience that they have decided to go another year.

well, the hubby and I have been conversing, and wondering what that would look like for us.... could we do it? Is it possible with two young and growing boys? What would our experience be like? We have come a long way... but still have much further to go.

first things first for us- was research. The Internet is full of Blogs, Groups and Information that we have tapped into the past few days. The wealth of information and support is remarkable. There is also a wide range of interpretation that need to be defined....

so, in these past few days we have done the research and we feel that our family could really learn from something like this.....

it would be interesting to see what life may teach us in this change.

(to be honest,I'm even a bit giddy about it)

so the next step- What does this look like for our family?

what are our guidelines/exceptions/parameters and reasons.

As with anything in a family, the forums must be set.... the "same page" has to be applied. That, my friends, will be worked over tonight.....

I will keep you posted.