Babushka Baking

A little while ago, I made a pledge to myself that I was going to stop always looking for the "cheapest" deals around when purchasing for my home. I realized that with two children, I spend a lot of time in my house, and I want to be surrounded by beautiful things. I'm not talking crystal chandeliers, or diamond-encrusted toilet paper, but just items that inspire creativity, or even a little giggle.

As a teenager I attended art-school where I was engulfed by friends of artistic brilliance, and showered with meaningful homemade items. Paintings, purses and jewelry all made by hand and handed to me. Everything I owned and loved best had a story behind it. Some might say that this is a typical Aquarian trait but I think it's just that creativity brings me joy. It reminds me I am loved by lovely people, and of the hidden quiet beauty inside people's brains.

So when I noticed that my home was becoming filled with "boring, normal" items that didn't appeal much to my senses, I decided to only bring in items that I absolutely love or have sentimental value.

First stop was my mother's house, where I salvaged pieces she was throwing out: a wooden, antique letter holder that my grandmother brought over from Ireland, A Delft vase, a weird Italian sculpture that always fascinated me as a child and some silver curio boxes from my other grandma. Next was some thrift-storing where I found some vintage photos of american market places, a 50's Italian ad print already mounted on a frame, and some tins for my teas. I added all these to my kitchen and threw in a little Eiffel tower ornament from out trip to France.

Slowly I began adding little personality-infused pieces back into my home. Then I started a running list of things that need replacing and now one-by-one I buy something off this list, but by finding the most attractive version of it.

For example I recently purchased some Babushka measuring cups that I ADORE!

They look like dainty little ornaments but are utilitarian, and so gosh-darnit- cute, they make my heart sing a little every time I bake.

Then when my tea kettle went on the fritz I went out and purchased a red retro-style one, which I have wanted forever.

For cheaper artistic incorporations, I also began printing more photos that I have taken and still plan on canvasing a few. My daughter and I have started a painting together to add to her bedroom too. Paint any old furniture with new colors for modern bold splashes, and don't be afraid to add fabric prints you love in small, unique ways, such as placemats, magnets or in picture frames.


So remember that beauty is not only for artwork, but also in the mundane details that make up a home. Functional art is my new passion. One can bring  personal taste to salt a bland home with the tiniest bit of effort and it makes the day-to-day  so much more colorful.

Love and artistry,
Kerry the Momster

 

Project Organize: Step 3

Clean my Closet!

Mark Twain hit the nail on the head when he said "The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this."
This is my excuse for having a disgusting number of garments piled in complicated towers in my closet, all in various stages of disorganization. As part of my Project Organization 2011, this was the next stressor in my life that I tackled. I deemed it a most important one as I get dressed every day (well...MOST days) and thus have to look on this craziness constantly. Not a very fun start to a fresh, gleaming day.

Keeping the Neurotic's Notebook's thought in mind, that woman "usually love what they buy, yet hate two-thirds of what is in their closets." I set about trying to first eliminate as many items as I could bear parting with. So after a few hours ( stretched out by constant stops to feed, dress, and entertain my baby) I was left with bags filled and ready for drop offs and pick ups and give aways and sell aways. I posted some on craigslist, donated some to friends and organizations and tossed the rest. Sigh, cathartic!

Next, I decided what would be stored in my closet. We don't have much storage in our condo, so our huge closets end up being the gathering stone for all the various moss around the place. I narrowed my storage decisions down to: out of season clothes, sewing items, fabrics, blankets, and travel gear.

So here is one big organizing project, that you can obviously tell was put off for a VERY long time!

BEFORE:

Beginning the big clean out: I tossed everything out onto the bed and sorted through piles. I found my daughter in the closet too! Didn't even know she was missing...

  

And AFTER: 

Before

 

And After: I purchased boxes according to what I needed, sewing, past season, fabrics, blankets, etc.

My perfumes and scarves on display. The jars were too pretty to hide away.

Hope I inspire you to do the same... and if I don't, go watch an episode of hoarders.. it always gets me cleaning!

Love and labels,
Kerry the Momster

Web: It's whats for dinner!

It's 6:15, you're tired, and starving, the children's witching hour has begun, and Daddy is late from work. The phone rings for the third time with a telemarketer asking if you have life insurance, while you jiggle your screaming baby in the other hand. "Mommy, I'm hungry" Dinner! What to make? You meant to get groceries today! Solution: Supercook.com
In a few seconds you type in whatever ingredients you have and you are directed to recipes containing those items.

Only have ketchup, cheese and cans of tuna? No problem:
Choose, cook, eat!
Perfect for those times when your brain won't think for you. The personal shopper of recipes. Yay, internet!

Love and full bellies,
Kerry the Momster

Fall card tutorial

Click here to view these pictures larger

I made these cards for a mommy craft group. The theme was Fall Thank you's.
Steps:

1. Choose some blank cards.
2. Cut out brown felt tree trunks.
3. Cut out circles in various colored paper.
4. Glue the circles behind and on top of the trunk using liquid glue.
5. I then stamped a Thank you in Gold on cut pieces of papers (using scrapbook scissors for the paper)
6. I darkened the letters with a black gel pen as it wasn't very visible.
7. Bask under your forest of creativity.

 Love and thank yous,
Kerry, the Momster

Project Organize: Step 1

As many of us do, I have decided to become more organized this year. Especially with regards to my finances and paperwork.

Today I finally wrestled all my important docs into well-labeled files. If you are interested in sorting through yours, here's some inspiration as to how to do it.

I used 5 separate 3-ring binders:

1. Important:
Sub sections:

•  Identity: Passports and Social security cards
• Certificates: Birth, Marriage and Citizenship Papers
• Work and Education: Degrees, Certifications, Letters of Recommendation, and leave paperwork.

2. Taxes
Sub sections:

• Tax returns filed by years (You need to keep at least 5 years of personal taxes, 7 for business)
• Tax deductible sections- medical, donations, childcare

3. Insurance
Sub Sections:

• Life Insurance
• Car Insurance
• Home/ Content
• Medical (The most stressful area of my life, if you remember from my post yesterday)

4. Finances
Sub Sections:

• Cover Page listing all credit cards and numbers, and a page listing bank accounts and numbers.
• Retirement
• Investments (this is empty, but I plan on investing in SOMEthing other than shoes this year!)

5. Daily

• Quick Reference: This includes pages for important numbers like SS, Drivers license, Doctors, Billers numbers. etc
• To do: Items that need to be addressed immediately, to do lists of things around the house that need fixing/replacement/etc, things to send
• Ideas and Inspiration: Areas for recipes to try, projects to make, general goals, etc

Then of course I have my handy, would-be-lost-without daily planner for setting appointments, dates and it even has a section for to-do lists and shopping lists in the back that can be torn out.

Some other interesting things I encountered regarding finances is that unpaid medical bills DO affect your credit, so don't let anyone tell you they don't. Also be sure to go to the Social security Website and use their calculator to determine how much SS you will get when you retire. It will be a shocking wake up call, as you will probably be unable to even afford a place to live. for instance, if you make $30,000 a year and are  paying in to SS for 30 years, you would be paid out the equivalent of today's $800 a month. Who could survive as a family on that? Especially if you only have one person paying in! It's scary so make sure you have a plan. I'm calling someone NOW to schedule an appointment regarding retirement.

So hopefully all this will help me stay  on track of everything this year...starting with sorting out the insurance  and retirement messes!

Love and colored post-its,
Kerry, the Momster

End it the easy way.

Pregnancy that is...
I just went back to the new school year, and being on my feet, setting up my classroom, in a school that has an optionally working air-conditioning in this 92+ degree weather, left me dreading the weeks to come. So I am investing in some items to help ease my pained little body's woes in this, the last trimester.

My biggest complaints have been back pain (which now includes sciatic nerve pain added to my bulging spine discs. Yeeuck! ), sore feet which start swelling about half way through my day, and stress (I tend to harbor stress terribly, which results in lots of braxton hicks).

$1.99 for 8 at Walgreens.

Earth Therapeutics Sleep Mask, $8 at Sears.

Homedics Lumbar support $14.99 at Amazon

1. I first decided that stress is the most detrimental, and can be combatted by resting more, getting more sleep and exercising. Thus I have covered my bed in pillows of all shapes and sizes to make my night times more comfortable, and also invested in a night shade mask and ear plugs to dull out the sounds of my upstairs neighbor on her treadmill at 7am on weekends, and her dog barking throughout the night.
2. Back pain issues need more support while sitting. So I purchased lumbar support cushions for my chair at work and also my car. I also took two cushions to work to sit on and added a box under my desk to raise my feet a little bit.
3. Then I got some shoe inserts to help ease both back pain and foot pain whilst on my feet all day. As I CANNOT and will NEVER wear orthopedic shoes, I just got some inserts for arch and back support to wear in my regular flats. According to mommyfeet.com, these are great ones. They also have a little list of foot exercises which I will add to my yoga workout.
4. Finally- I am using an item I purchased for pilates- the big ball. It is FABulous to sit on whilst teaching and eases all kids of back pain. I also do some stretches over the back of it during my break time. But I do miss it at home and as it is too cumbersome to lug back and forth I may have to invest in  another one, or just bring it back home.

I am also trying to maintain eating healthy, drinking loads of water at work, and taking "real" breaks- not working breaks as I usually do. If you have any of your own working preggo tips, please do share.

Love and lightness,
Kerry, the Momster

Delicious Dates

There are many quotes out there that try to epitomize the essence of love and the lessons people who have "been there-done that" have learned. I am using some of these quotes to inspire creative date ideas for me and my hubby. Feel free to steal some for stolen moments with your special other.

1. True love is not gazing into each others'  eyes, but gazing together towards the same future. Go to the top of a lighthouse...and gaze out. Bring a picnic.
2. The love game is never called off on account of darkness. Go to Boomers or Dave and Busters and get your love game on. 
3. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Have a board game night, and test your love's ability to stay true to these little nuggets. (Warning: board games can be dangerous for fragile relationships. If this is you, save this for when you two are on more solid ground. I have seen too many relationships ripped at the seams thanks to a hotel on Boardwalk)
4. "We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. " Let the moonlight help you see your spouse in a more perfect light by going on a wonderful nighttime kayak. Moonlight kayaking atlanticcoastkayak.com $45
5. Love is a game that two can play and both win. Play a game of laser tag or paintball together. You can work up some friendly competition by playing against each other, or on the same team where your love can be your "hero", or you can show him how much but you kick.
6. "I'm so in love, every time I look at you my soul gets dizzy." Get your head's as dizzy as your heart by skating round and round in circles (roller-rink or ice-rink). If you go to an ice-rink you can bundle up, have some hot chocolate and even if you live in a warm climate, partake in a good old- fashioned snow fight behind the rink with ice shavings. My hubby and I did this on one of our first dates and even built a mini-igloo.
7. "Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own." Keep this in mind as you set up a treasure hunt for your other part. Have it end with a special gift (my husband's favorite are video games, but a naked wife at the end works wonders too) . Make your clues romantic or provocative, they can be through the house or through your city. Write clues on index cards with bows or frills on them.
8. "We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us."  Reach a place of rest together- high up on a rock climbing wall. Encourage each other, and feel that amazing rush as you achieve something great together.
9. The most eloquent silence; that of two mouths meeting in a kiss." Take a bottle of wine, a delicious take out dinner and head to a drive in movie. Kiss, snuggle, eat and be entertained on the cheap-ish.Extra points for romantic movies.
10. "Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. " Go out and leave your relationship's footprints in the sand with some hooves... horse hooves. Horseback riding is adventurous and romantic, and I plan to do this the moment I'm not pregnant anymore. I am especially eager to go horse riding on a beach. Maybe followed by a picnic (have you noticed yet how much I love romantic picnics?). 

I hope you and yours can utilize some of these ideas to romance each other. Time is short, love is precious, so be sure to cultivate it whenever you can.

Love and more love,
Kerry the Momster