view outside

I haven't left the house much in the last 60 hours.

scarf

I just got this scarf for Christmas - gorgeous isn't it?! I've left it draped over my sofa so I can look at it every day for when I'm not wearing it.

another day at the beach

I love how the beach looks a little different each day

then a few days later

that first day

the other day

swimsuit season

Sure, it's a dreaded word met with an inner montage of beautifully skinny girls in bikinis frolicking on the beach and your own self image or perhaps unwanted photos of your butt bulging out from the lycra you bought last season too big to be displayed from under a wrap.

Don't despair.

Gwyneth Paltrow sent me a video today from her personal trainer. That's right.. She teaches 8 basic leg moves that engage your core and really work your butt and quad muscles. At least that's what's burning on me right now. Watch the video for your visual memory and print these steps to use everyday (or just visit me here at A Day In The Life).

All using a chair that is padded and one you can lift you leg over the back of.. do all 8 motions for a predetermined rep set on one leg, then switch to the other. I'm starting at ten, the trainer-chick says we should be doing 50 each. I'm starting at ten.

1. Standing behind the chair, swing leg @ hip up to chair, then back straight behind you so that the foot is up to hip level in front, then behind you.

2. Straighten leg behind with foot level with hip, pulse up, pulse diagonally to side

3. Plié feet facing outward, then kick leg back behind you so the foot is raised to hip level

4. Kneel on top of chair sideways and bend down to touch your hands to the floor. Swing leg up to the ceiling and back to kneeling position

5. Keep kneeling on chair, but take that same leg and point touch the floor, then side leg lift to ceiling.

6. Stand behind chair to your side. Lift leg straight behind you and pull/swing forward at hip level then kick back. Use back of chair as a guide to keep the leg/knee high when you pull it forward.

7. Facing back of chair, lift leg up and over so that foot rests on seat. Lift to the side and kick to side.

8. Kneel again, but on floor in front of the chair, with the chair behind you. Rest your leg on the top of the back of the chair. Pulse up to the ceiling.

a walk in the dunes

one more bag

I love this French toule

more bags

More bags, more hours of sewing.

a quick peek inside the bags shows cute little pockets tied with ribbon.. of course this idea was dreamt up when I ran out of zippers but still wanted to provide a little coupon/goodie pouch.

Of course I'm saving these two for me :) Had this been an official stitch gift I would have felt morally obliged to give Sara to match her birthday bag.. sorry Sara, but I love the fabric too! :~j

I've got a little more fabric, so we'll see if I'm still inspired in 2009.

presents

Sometimes Christmas on a budget can be nice, for those on the receiving end especially. I enjoyed picking out these fabrics from my stash and creating the pattern using my Trader Joe's bags as a reference.

I used to be a part of a group of very creative women and we'd exchange presents each year along with a fabulous coordinated potluck dinner where the ground rules dictated that we spend only $6 or less on our gifts to each other; there once being 13 in our group! These were my favorite Christmases and gifts. I'd come home with 8 to 12 handmade gifts made especially for me. We'd each spend hours deciding what to make, often contemplating prototypes, then sometimes choosing colors specifically for each friend.

Alas, our group has fallen a part and though we all stay in touch, we don't celebrate like we used to. Note these photos were excitedly published prior to any ironing. These are round bags with 4 panel sides.

My cost?
Fabric: Free (paid long ago and hopefully on sale)
Zippers: $2.30 each
Handle cording: $0.80/yard I think.. each bag: $0.30

Bag costs:
$ 2.60 -my bank account cost this Christmas
$18.60 -had I purchased fabric & thread also
$ 1.99 -Trader Joe bag sale price
$ 1.49 -local grocery store reusable bag sale price

Fabricating tips:

• Create pattern with newspaper for size desired

• Use different color threads to match fabrics as desired. (note I didn't swap out my threads going for that rough hewn look.. but if your recipient wishes to use the bag for more than groceries, you might consider this.

• Use as many panels around the bag as desired.. the more the merrier. Note that my original Trader Joe's bag had two.

• Adjust circular bottom for final bag/tube shape when pinning

• Sew the handle cording right with the fabric handle tube to save time. Granted it won't look as pretty, but remember.. this is a grocery bag.

• Line the bag if you're so inclined, especially if recipient will use for alternative uses.

lake effect

Air temps 35 degrees less than the lake temperature = water vapor escaping into the air

Water vapor escaping in the air = lake effect snow

lake effect snow =

Merry Christmas!

or as they say in France, 'Mer-rie Krist-mous'!

almost a new house

You know how you know you should do the 'right thing' yet you are tempted to do exactly the 'wrong' thing? No, me neither. Yet as I talked with my insurance company, over and over again it became obvious that doing the 'wrong' thing would actually work in my benefit. Seriously, I need a new roof. I'd like a new kitchen, I could use a 2nd stall in my garage. and frankly I'd save a boatload in heating costs if my residence had to be temporarily moved to a hotel while my house was repaired. What the heck am I talking about? Let me recap with data:

$1,000.00 - my out of pocket cost to remove a split tree limb

$40,000.00 - minimum cost to rebuild shattered home structure, replace roof, kitchen, and other details destroyed from multiple heavy tree limbs falling on the house due to crack at base of branch. Cost may or may not include hotel stay due to not being able to inhabitant the house after incident and during the reconstruction.

$500.00 - my out of pocket cost for such a calamity as the above would be covered by my house insurance.

Of course being a good citizen, I removed the limb. Financially it would have been better for me to just let it fall. Why does it have to be this way?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shoulda woulda coulda

I've been freezing ever since the sleet started on the weekend hardly leaving my house except when a meeting required it and trying to put off the meetings to boot. I think I'll run out of food in 5 days, but could probably stretch it to seven.

Things to do:

• Drop off snow-blower to get tuned for the winter (12 inches of snow has already fallen and I've already almost got stuck in the driveway)
  

Things I wish I had done while it was still summer:

• Replace my 1950 windows with double pane insulated newbies

• Insulate my basement perimeter

• Fix the loose tiles on my roof

• Fix the 4WD on my car

• Fix the fan (that blows the heat) on my car

• Plan a winter vacation away from here

• Dug my composting hole a little closer to the back door

second day of winter

then winter came

like a lion.

Views outside from inside my house.

This is where I spend most of my time:

it's a cake..

great, great car commercial!

purple food

Who knew that purple food could be so good. I just noticed this gem at the farmer's market Wednesday. It's a tad spicier than your typical cauliflower, but the purple is au natural.

Can we name all the purple food?

(this) cauliflower
Eggplant
Grapes
Potatoes
Cabbage


I also learned while looking up purple food that it can prevent breakdown of collagen and slow the wasting of muscles.. I think I'd like to eat more of it. Did you think of more?

Acai berry (maybe)
(Indian) Corn
Lavender (I eat it with goat cheese and honey on crackers..)


Excerpt from bee-young.com:

"Why are some fruits considered power fruits?

Power fruits are higher in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect plant tissue from damage from solar radiation and other environmental stressors. And when we consume that plant tissue, they protect our tissue from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are toxins produced by normal metabolism and present in other toxins such as tobacco smoke or car exhaust. So a diet higher in antioxidants protects us from these toxins and helps us stay healthier."

So, what other purple foods can we eat?

personal carbon footprint, part I

Check this out.. interesting presentation from recent Web summit in CA.

why Republicans have to go

This is only part of the story.

Peter Pumpkin Head

halloweening and the queening..

another night of debauchery..

"I don't think I look very pretty"
"Don't worry, wait 'till we get the boobs and hair on"
"I need the black mascara.. no, I need it"

ok.. so I went a little heavy on the white stuff..

why yes, that is a 'vote Barack Obama' pin on my sash.

two peas in a pod

How much do we like Marie anyway?

..and what will they win?

Let them eat cake and icecream!