I wrote this time last year:
This time, though, I actually think that the dream is going to realise itself. I firmly intend at this time in a year to be wending my way through northern British Columbia, testing the weather, and plotting my route across the Yukon border. I am making a promise to myself to celebrate Litha next year right at the arctic circle, pulling off from the Dempster to to celebrate a sunny Esbat.
I celebrated Litha this year 300km shy of the Arctic Circle, at the southern limit of the tundra.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Modern Furniture
The more I settle in Miranda, the more I itch to redecorate her according to my tastes. I won't be using Go Modern for inspiration, that's for sure!
My tastes run to non-cluttered 'cottagey shabby chic French provençal' and I have a serious disdain for contemporary furniture. I like wicker and antiques!
If you like black furniture, a site like that might be useful to you. I prefer cream. In fact, I'm actually dabbling with the idea of one day painting Miranda's oak cabinets cream!
They also promote glass tables. I can just imagine the paw prints on one of those (plus the breakage factor in an RV!).
But if your tastes favour sleek lines and stark minimalism, I'm sure you'll find something to fall in love with at Go Modern.
My tastes run to non-cluttered 'cottagey shabby chic French provençal' and I have a serious disdain for contemporary furniture. I like wicker and antiques!
If you like black furniture, a site like that might be useful to you. I prefer cream. In fact, I'm actually dabbling with the idea of one day painting Miranda's oak cabinets cream!
They also promote glass tables. I can just imagine the paw prints on one of those (plus the breakage factor in an RV!).
But if your tastes favour sleek lines and stark minimalism, I'm sure you'll find something to fall in love with at Go Modern.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Mailboxes
In the market for a commercial mailbox? Mailboxixchange offers some very nice ones, as well as mailboxes for residential use and other related products.
Since I'm someone who feels that everything she touches should be both useful and beautiful, if I were ever to start a business, such as a rental property, I would probably start with them in my search for a commercial mailbox with an 'antiquey' feel to it.
In addition to commercial mailboxes, they sell house numbers, curbside decor items, and assorted sundries, for a total of about 2,500 different products for both commercial and residential use. They also have an affiliate program.
Since I'm someone who feels that everything she touches should be both useful and beautiful, if I were ever to start a business, such as a rental property, I would probably start with them in my search for a commercial mailbox with an 'antiquey' feel to it.
In addition to commercial mailboxes, they sell house numbers, curbside decor items, and assorted sundries, for a total of about 2,500 different products for both commercial and residential use. They also have an affiliate program.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Starbucks Redux
This morning, I got a late start and grabbed my Thermos as I headed out the door, planning to fill it at Starbucks on the way to work. I can get about 2.5 cups of coffee in it. I figured that Starbucks would charge me for a 'Venti', their largest size.
So imagine my shock, and joy, when I was charged 1.63$! This comes out to 65.2 cents per 'tall size' coffee.
Needless to say, I'm not even going to bother having my first cup at home anymore.
I was very impressed that the cashier rinsed out my very cold Thermos with hot water before adding the coffee. The contents were still hot an hour later.
So imagine my shock, and joy, when I was charged 1.63$! This comes out to 65.2 cents per 'tall size' coffee.
Needless to say, I'm not even going to bother having my first cup at home anymore.
I was very impressed that the cashier rinsed out my very cold Thermos with hot water before adding the coffee. The contents were still hot an hour later.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Assumptions
I started a new (temporary) job last week and made the decision very quickly that I was going to allow myself one store bought coffee per day for two reasons:
1) I need to be at the office for 8:30, but do not have keys. My colleagues are not always punctual. Rather than get annoyed, I give them till 8:40 then I go down to the Starbucks two blocks away. My Starbucks cup serves as evidence, when I waltz in the door after them, that I was in at 8:30;
but more commonly
2) The office is tiny and does not have any lounge space. If I want a break, I need to leave the office. The only obvious place in the immediate vicinity to sit down and read the paper for fifteen minutes is the Starbucks.
Where do assumptions come in?
There is a convenience store in our building that sells coffee and the next nearest place is the Starbucks. My colleagues always go to the convenience store and gasp when they see my Starbucks cup. My boss finally commented on the fact saying "The coffee downstairs is okay and a lot cheaper than Starbucks." She was surprised by my answer. A cup of truly disgusting coffee from that convenience store in a size equivalent to a 'tall' size of Starbucks brewed coffee is 1.79. That tall size of Starbucks brewed coffee will set you back... 1.72$. Go for a 'short' and you're at 1.52$.
Starbucks gets a bad rap for having expensive drinks. Yes, the fancy drinks are very expensive (I once paid 6$ for most 2nd most amazing latté of my life (my mother makes the best!)!), but the price of brewed coffee is extremely comparable to what you'd get at a coffee bar in a convenience store and Tim Hortons... and tastes MUCH better. Amusingly enough, I remember the days when I couldn't appreciate Starbucks coffee, finding it too strong for my taste. Then, I started to drink it with two inches of milk in it and four packets of sugar. Now, I don't put sugar in my coffee ever (something that shocks me!) and I never ask Starbucks to leave me a couple of inches of space for milk, ergo practically drinking their coffee black. And I now get their dark roast.
I'll be working at this new job about 75 days which comes out to 130$ for coffee, which was earned my first day on the job. So, to those who make snarky comments about the kerchief sporting gal's ridiculous 'latté factor', check your assumptions. :)
1) I need to be at the office for 8:30, but do not have keys. My colleagues are not always punctual. Rather than get annoyed, I give them till 8:40 then I go down to the Starbucks two blocks away. My Starbucks cup serves as evidence, when I waltz in the door after them, that I was in at 8:30;
but more commonly
2) The office is tiny and does not have any lounge space. If I want a break, I need to leave the office. The only obvious place in the immediate vicinity to sit down and read the paper for fifteen minutes is the Starbucks.
Where do assumptions come in?
There is a convenience store in our building that sells coffee and the next nearest place is the Starbucks. My colleagues always go to the convenience store and gasp when they see my Starbucks cup. My boss finally commented on the fact saying "The coffee downstairs is okay and a lot cheaper than Starbucks." She was surprised by my answer. A cup of truly disgusting coffee from that convenience store in a size equivalent to a 'tall' size of Starbucks brewed coffee is 1.79. That tall size of Starbucks brewed coffee will set you back... 1.72$. Go for a 'short' and you're at 1.52$.
Starbucks gets a bad rap for having expensive drinks. Yes, the fancy drinks are very expensive (I once paid 6$ for most 2nd most amazing latté of my life (my mother makes the best!)!), but the price of brewed coffee is extremely comparable to what you'd get at a coffee bar in a convenience store and Tim Hortons... and tastes MUCH better. Amusingly enough, I remember the days when I couldn't appreciate Starbucks coffee, finding it too strong for my taste. Then, I started to drink it with two inches of milk in it and four packets of sugar. Now, I don't put sugar in my coffee ever (something that shocks me!) and I never ask Starbucks to leave me a couple of inches of space for milk, ergo practically drinking their coffee black. And I now get their dark roast.
I'll be working at this new job about 75 days which comes out to 130$ for coffee, which was earned my first day on the job. So, to those who make snarky comments about the kerchief sporting gal's ridiculous 'latté factor', check your assumptions. :)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Value Village Deals
Wow, that job at the nursery wound up costing me a bundle! I lost so much weight there that all the 'work appropriate' attire I've been lugging for four months no longer fits!
Thankfully, the work culture here is fairly casual, so I know that just a few pieces will help me stretch my casual wardrobe. I went to Value Village with a list of several things and, to my surprise, I found all of it! This never happens when I go shopping! I should go buy a lottery ticket!
On my list were:
-A black kerchief in a dressy material. I found a black and white satin one that's perfect!
-A pair of medium-weight black slacks. First pair I put my hands on was perfect!
-A few blouses. Found three that weren't too... huge. *laughs* I can't believe that I can wear blouses now!
-Several pairs of jeans (for off work hours). After all my hard work looking for jeans at the end of the summer, all that was needed was losing a few inches of fat around the middle. I found three comfy and nice pairs of jeans today... and only tried on four!
I added two books to my pile and the amount for everything was 77$. The lady at the cash told me that I could buy a 3$ Value Village calendar which has coupons for every month and which would give me a rebate on my purchase today. How much of a rebate, I wondered. A whole 25$!!! So, my 75$ total came to 55$ after buying the calendar and getting the rebate!
I've complained before that VV isn't always a good bargain, but today I totally scored!
Thankfully, the work culture here is fairly casual, so I know that just a few pieces will help me stretch my casual wardrobe. I went to Value Village with a list of several things and, to my surprise, I found all of it! This never happens when I go shopping! I should go buy a lottery ticket!
On my list were:
-A black kerchief in a dressy material. I found a black and white satin one that's perfect!
-A pair of medium-weight black slacks. First pair I put my hands on was perfect!
-A few blouses. Found three that weren't too... huge. *laughs* I can't believe that I can wear blouses now!
-Several pairs of jeans (for off work hours). After all my hard work looking for jeans at the end of the summer, all that was needed was losing a few inches of fat around the middle. I found three comfy and nice pairs of jeans today... and only tried on four!
I added two books to my pile and the amount for everything was 77$. The lady at the cash told me that I could buy a 3$ Value Village calendar which has coupons for every month and which would give me a rebate on my purchase today. How much of a rebate, I wondered. A whole 25$!!! So, my 75$ total came to 55$ after buying the calendar and getting the rebate!
I've complained before that VV isn't always a good bargain, but today I totally scored!
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