Hobbies = Sanity

When you move to a new location, finding balance in your life can be difficult. I was going to stay sometimes, but to be honest, it's always. In my adventures as a yearling stud colt trainer, dairy cattle sales rep, corporate affairs intern, and most recently student affairs professional, I've realized that no matter what you do or who you work with, you still need life outside of work to keep you balanced. Some golf, some run, and I ride horses.It's nothing against the wonderful people you work with or the type of work you do.

Work is Work and you can't allow it to overtake your life.

So how do you find the balance? The question is what do you like to do? Once you have established what you like to do in your free time, you've found your hobby."Freetime?" you might be asking. Yes, freetime, and you have to create it! Even movie watching can be classified as a hobby. Now all you have to do is set aside time for it!

Personally, I try to ride once a weekend but that doesn't happen often, so I also substitute for cooking classes and reading, other hobbies of mine. However, no matter what your hobby (or hobbies) is - take some time away from work. Find your balance and I promise you, you'll be more productive at work and a happier person! What's the twist you ask? - actually set aside time in your calendar or planner for you to commit to your hobby!! You could even try to make a hobby out of some of the suggestions from past posts - knitting, gardening, or home decorating!

Happy Homemaking!

The Art of Giftgiving - On a budget

How many hours have you pondered over the right gift for your friend, special someone, or family member? Don't sit and calculate this - it would be another waste of time...

Let's face it. Unless you are picking out a gift off a wedding or baby registry, where the most important decisions you need to make are how much money are you willing to spend and what options are still available (be quick on selecting the gifts off registries people - the good ones go fast), gift giving can be pretty tough! Sometimes the perfect gift is way too expensive and sometimes you can't find that perfect gift at all - how dare Home Depot, Macy's, or Bed Bath and Beyond not come through for you! So what's the quick fix?

The best way to to go about finding the perfect gift is to sit down and make a list of things that you know your friend has mentioned they like, they have saught out and couldn't find, or that they admire about you. For example, one of my best friend's is a little deficient in the cooking department. She'll readily admit it, so I don't feel bad in outing her. She always enjoys hearing about the latest dish I'm cooking and has no problem sitting down to a good meal that I've prepared. So when considering a gift for her, I thought why not a cookbook?

Now with an option such as a cookbook - you can make this as elaborate or as cheap or as easy as possible. You could go out and purchase a cookbook or you could make one yourself. I chose the later for the reason that I knew I could even buy her a notebook and handwrite my recipes that I wanted to give her! I chose a more elaborate version (I picked up a blank scrapbook from my nearby Michael's craft store) and decorated it and wrote my recipes and left her space to add more. Needles to say she loved it! A good notebook is only $10! You could easily make it personal with scraps from magazines that you cut out, pictures of you and a friend, and home recipes that you use on a regular basis!

Additionally, I find that the home made gift is one of the best kinds. I recently picked up knitting. Though it seems very domestic, I find it very relaxing, since I don't really have to focus or think while doing it. It's easy to watch tv and knit a few rows. So for my most recent gift, I gave my time. Another of my friends is expecting. Knowing that I'm on a lower budget, I knew that I would be limited in the gifts I could give her. So I headed to Walmart, picked up some good yarn (a total of $15 worth) and knitted a baby blanket that in total only took me about 20 hours. Now you may be asking, " 20 HOURS?!" Consider this - how much time do you waste just sitting in front of the tv - snacking or staring blankely into space? You could be knitting and could knock out a scarf for a holiday gift for Mom! Consider it!

The twist this week - Consider your hobbies and your talents. What options do you have to cut down on the large budget normally associated with gifts? You'll be surprised with what you come up with and your friends and family will be so impressed and so grateful.

The Rollercoaster Ride.... of Plants

My mother can tell you that I've never had a plant. Nor would she ever trust me with one, except for maybe watering her outside flowers, with the garden house, when she's away on vacation - which isn't often. So when I embarked on my own personal garden earlier this summer, with encouragement from my favorite cooking blogger, I was a little skeptical.

My biggest problem with shopping is that I have no terminal amount that if reached, stops the spending. Therefore, I make sure to bring a valued friend with me to make sure I do. In this case, my favorite cooking blogger took me to Home Depot (as you can tell one of my favorite stores - just under Macy's and Williams Sonoma) and we went plant shopping. I decided that I wanted a hanging basket and a few plants for some pots. This is where it started and it didn't end.

Noting that I don't have a lot of sunlight on my patio, I purchased some rainbow and peperomia plants, an ivy plant, a hanging basket full of guinea impatients (more to come on this plant), a roma tomato plant, and some red and green bell peppers. I also purchased some rosemary, chives, italian parsley, and some basil.

My first adventures with THE hanging basket turned into some very testing ones. One morning I woke up to realize that my plant was completely sucicidal, that or very much asking for attention, and had it been able to, I think it would have thrown itself off the plant hook. See picture here. The best thing about this impatient was if I watered it - it immediately came back to life! A very good plant for someone who is a little forgetful about watering.

Overall, the plant adventure has been very rewarding. I've had a few bell peppers in my meals, and my tomatoes are flourishing and the herbs have been a great addition to my cooking! More importantly, I've kept the plants alive!! What a confidence booster. The twist this week: Challenge yourself to go outside your comfort zone and get a plant, just make sure its one that will be forgiving and will let you know when it needs some TLC - like my very patient impatient :)

Happy Homemaking!

The pillows that turned into paint samples

I've found it very easy to turn around a space that has just become tired with only a few items and not a lot of money. For someone who doesn't have a large budget, I'm always excited to find new ways to update my apartment within the legal realms of the lease, which includes painting rights and leads to our next story. Exciting!

Today was one of those really relaxing "Sundays" thanks to the Labor Day weekend, and after a fun weekend with family in the city to go see Mama Mia and eat some great food, I made it back to the apartment and the dog.On my way home, when I was actually knitting on I-95 because of stand-still traffic, I decided that I needed to clean my apartment and attempt to simplify my life. Those who know me are now laughing at me because simple really isn't in my vocabulary. Well maybe it is, but only when I'm saying "it's simple" followed by how i think i can do something easily or better than someone else (usually followed by something not so simple). Hence - simple and I are not synonymous.

The Heaven-sent To DO List (on a post-it)

Many of my friends say that the to-do list is not needed, and that they can manage all of their grocery lists, house-chores, and work items in their head.

They're liars.

The most important thing I've learned so far this past year is the importance of the to-do list. Those so-called "mind-listers" usually manage to forget a couple of things, and they end up having to run out and do something last minute because "they forgot". However, with your to-do list, you can make clean work of anything that you have scheduled for the day.

I like the post-it note route. My work desk is currently covered in about 20 of them. You may think that's clutter (very colorful clutter I might add) but it's really rather helpful. I don't have to go sorting through a book, I don't have to wait on my blackberry to load, and I don't have to depend on my computer. I can just lift the note right off my desk and stick it to my planner and it goes with me where I need it to!

I have lists for everything - my work list, my different organizations that I volunteer for each have a list, and of course the staple - the grocery list! You may think I'm tasky and a little overzealous, but when you're managing this many things - sometimes it helps to get it out of your head and on to a piece of sticky paper.

Which brings me to my quick twist: If you're having trouble sleeping at night because work is extra-stressful or you have a lot on that "to-do list", get an old notebook and lay it by your bed. I'm not a journal-er by any means, and lately I haven't touched my notebook, but when I have something that I am so worried that I'll forget, I just write it down on the notebook before I go to sleep. It's a little reassurance for me, and then I can get my needed rest!

Happy Homemaking!

Adventures with a Blog

Recently, I've finally found my stride in living single (with a dog) on the East Coast, at least a day's drive from family and friends. Working long hours and with a limited budget can be hard for a first time, new professional to be able to handle when trying to get the hang of cooking for yourself and making your apartment (or loft) a home. A number of my friends are going through the same stages now, some even embarking on their next steps in life which include marriage and motherhood. It is my hope, through this blog, that I can share some of the tips and quick fixes that I've learned along the way, so I can assist other new professionals in their day-to-day!

Please keep checking back for recipes, tips, and hot new ideas to keep you busy in your free time, which may only be about 15 minutes! :)

Happy Homemaking!