Sweet Memories and Too Much Stuff

As I was getting out the Christmas decorations this year, I decided to thin the herd a bit. I have some lovely things, some things that are dear to me, and other things that I've just accumulated. This bell makes a pretty sound, but the Santa and reindeer design isn't really my "cup of tea." There was a note inside the box, though, and that made me smile. "To the best Head Speech Coach ever! Carrie Smisek"

Carrie is an adult, an ordained Lutheran pastor, nowadays. But once upon a time, she was one of my "speechies," going to tournaments for New Prague High School and bringing a joyful spirit and a delightful sense of humor with her. I am so thankful to have had Carrie Smisek in my life!

Even so, this bell is moving on to a new home. I just have too much stuff in my life. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting rid of some of the excess.

Bridal Shower Candy Vow Game

 We had fun with this game at my niece's bridal shower. I've posted the "rules" and the results. I ended up keeping the bride with the "youngsters" instead of making her own poster for her groom. It was fun!


Rules:

Candy Bar Vow Game

Creativity is the object of this game! Work with your team to come up with the best possible wedding vows for the couple. You don’t have to use all the candies, but have fun trying. You may add text with the Sharpie, but need to make all of the vows fit on the “page.” Brainstorming paper and pen provided . . . the bride’s reaction to the vows as they’re read will determine the “winner.”

(The bride will create her own letter of love to her groom.)

Supplies:

·        Bowls with candies (1 bowl per team; same options in each bowl)

·        Tagboard or butcher paper per team

·        Sharpie per team

·        Paper, pens, tape

The "youngsters'" version:
Be[Twix]t you and me, I think you are a [Mr. Goodbar] guy. You're better than [100 Grand]. You make me [Laffy Taffy] and have given me lots of [Snickers]. I vow to not go [Pop Rocks] on you when you are being an [Airhead], both [Now and Later]. With this [Ring Pop] I vow to always be your [Sugar Babies] even if I don't make [Whoppers] of money. We're closer than the [3 Musketeers], so we'll never need to have our own [Junior Mints]. I'll never [Charleston Chew] you out when your [Lemonhead] is up in the [Milky Way]. When we're being [Nerds] and playing video games, I will help you connect the [Dots] to solve the puzzles. I vow to love you even when your joints [Krackle] and [Crunch]. I love how you are so [Smarties], and love me even though I am sometimes a [Butterfinger] and I vow to love you until the [Cow Tails] come home.

The "oldsters'" version:

In this [Heath], [Twix] friends and family, with this [Ring Pop]d on your [Butterfinger], as a symbol of our love [Now and Later], you are my [KitKat] and I am your [Mr. Goodbar]. We aren't [Lemonheads] or [Airheads], but there will be no [Sugar Babies] or [Junior Mints] . . . [Dots] We may be [Nerds] but we sure are [Smarties]. I will tell you no [Whoppers], nor [Cow Tails], no [Krackles] or [Snickers]. If I had [100 Grand], I would take you to the [Milky Way] on [Pop Rocks]. We will [Laffy Taffy] to [Charleston Chew] and [Hershey] PA. Hey [Tootsie roll], we can [Rolo] like [Reeses][3 Musketeers] and [Crunch] the night away. Love you!

Crime Watch

In the interest of decluttering, I want to make a note here about a cool online tool that was in a local newsletter (over a year ago!) . . . the website http://communitycrimemap.com is pretty cool. I entered Jordan, MN for the address. Then I clicked on some of the icons on the left for different types of crimes. I also changed the date range to cover the past year. Super interesting! I could definitely see using this if I wanted to buy a home. It reminds me of the crime report maps for different neighborhoods in Minneapolis. When my oldest son bought a home in Northeast Minneapolis, I was concerned. Then he showed me the statistics for crime in his new neighborhood vs. in North Minneapolis. I was shocked at the difference! It made me feel better for my son's safety, but sad for the people who live in North Mpls.

Christianity at the U of M

I just saw this message in an old email to a former colleague and (current) friend when she wanted a recommendation for a church for her daughter at the University of Minnesota:

http://sojourncampuschurch.net/

Alex went to church here for the two years that he lived at the U. Nick went there for a little while, too. It is definitely geared to young people! I worshiped one Sunday with Alex and was really glad I went. It made me glad to know he was going to a church that was so "on target" with what the Bible says.


This is from 2014, I think. I had forgotten about this. I don't think her daughter ever checked it out, but I wanted to hang onto this info (while striving to clear out some of my old emails).

Random Notes from Months Ago

I'm not sure why I had this on my computer's desktop for so long . . .or if I already wrote about it. But I initially started this blog entry over a month ago! Here it is, August 16, 2018, and I'll go ahead and do some more writing (since I just posted about the caulk / grout issue moments ago).

The ceiling in our basement bathroom had some unpleasant color on it. Mold? Dirt? Not sure, I tried cleaning it gently. Then more vigorously. I tried spraying bleach water on it. I asked Louie if we could remove the entire popcorn ceiling (since I don't like that look anyhow). Sure, as long as I was willing to do the work.

After watching YouTube videos and reading articles about it, I thought I was ready. Tools in hand, I sprayed a mixture of soapy water, waited ten minutes, and started scraping. Hmmm. I sprayed again, waited a half hour, and scraped. I went back to the internet and read some more. I tried again.

When Louie got home from work and we talked about it, I learned that he had applied that ceiling himself. He had purchased a product that was ceiling paint with texture . . . and one of the stipulations in the directions I was reading was that the ceiling had NOT been painted! I knew that we hadn't painted the ceiling since we finished the bathroom, but was ignorant about the fact that it had initially been applied with paint!

I knocked down the biggest bumps and Louie used a sander (huge mess!). Then he decided to just use sheetrock mud to even out the ceiling. That took many, many applications. As long as he was priming and painting the ceiling, he touched up the walls and painted them too. This took some time, what with the other busy stuff of life and waiting for coats of stuff to dry.


The other note - about Titus eating poop. Again, I read articles online. He seemed to mostly be trying to clean up messes(?) I worked with him on "Leave it!" and "Drop it!" It hasn't been as much of an issue this summer, so I hope it was just a phase that we're past!

Bathroom Remodel

I had no idea when I wanted to remove the popcorn ceiling in our basement bathroom what I was getting into! I've learned a lot . . . and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today's revelation is about removing the old caulk . . . now that I've spent hours at it in my own clumsy fashion. I'm not going to go out and buy products and tools, but if I ever need to do this again, this will be my first stop:

www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-remove-caulk/

Sigh. I'm going to grab the rubbing alcohol to try to remove the last bits of residue so Louie can apply new caulk on Saturday. Then it's time to clean the grout of the flooring tile. I wish I had some house elves . . .

Earn More, Spend Less, or Both

Here are some of the things I jotted on a slip of paper:

• less driving
• fewer groceries
• homemade gifts
• no toys for Titus (one year old dog)
• make do with current clothing
• use spending money more carefully ($20 / week . . . use it for non-splurge things)
• stop eating out / only drink water in restaurants

If I register for the MQ show, I can use my spending money for three weeks to cover the cost of registration.

I have NO idea what to get Louie for his birthday.

This is becoming a bit too stream-of-consciousness and my scrap of paper can be recycled. Moving on!

Focus on the Positive #12

Honestly, I'm just too lazy to take a photo of my white board and add it to this entry . . .

For March 18-24: "Bday gift to Angela!"
I took her to lunch on March 22 (her birthday was the next day, but Louie and I went up to the lake for a long weekend). It was very nice to visit with her and she liked her gift, even though Louie said it needed something "fun" instead of just pragmatic stuff.

For March 25-31: "Wash fabric for Morgan and Angela wedding quilt."
Even though they got married a year and a half ago, I do not spend enough time in my studio! (It's all the puppy's fault.) I was hesitant to do this, because I dislike ironing and there are several yards of fabric! Yesterday (April 3) I finally washed, dried, and carefully folded it all! I may have a One Thing goal of ironing it sometime soon. . . . I know I got this thing done later than planned, but I did spend time last week working on the basement bathroom ceiling.

It is much easier to focus on positives these days. Quitting my job has been tremendous for reducing my stress level and helping me keep a smile on my face. I am so blessed!

Focus on the Positive #11

My goodness! It's harder than I expected to get back into helpful habits! I had this sign on my door for at least two months:
BOM stands for Block of the Month.

 I've been doing a terrible job of updating info in our binder at Minnesota Quilters. I haven't been spending much time in my studio since Titus came into our lives. (Yeah, blame the puppy!)

After looking at it for so long and just feeling bad, I decided to move on. Since I want to spend time in my studio and get some sewing done, I decided to make my focus be something I truly wanted to do instead of something I thought I ought to do.

What a difference that makes!

I put this on my board just over a week ago:

Although I only got into my studio on three out of seven days, I spent enough time to experience a sense of accomplishment. Hooray!

The 2017 Mystery Quilt was a huge deal for me last year, but I couldn't keep up when May hit with all its end-of-the-year busy-ness. I did some catching up in October when I spent a week at the lake, but I was stalled since then.

I finished the July clue! I cut out the August pieces. I sewed 36 half-square triangles. Woohoo! It feels good to focus on accomplishments and not be stalled on a "should" goal.