Something Blue

I think I am not supposed to write negative things on a blog.  After all, my favorite writers seem to always post positive thoughts and opinions.  Alas, I tried for a couple of  months to be non-negative, it ends today.  The post though is nothing life or death, it is about a film I saw on a plane a couple of weeks ago, "Something Borrowed".  Ugh.  I love film in general but this film just was sad. I mean bad sad.

Promotional Film Poster from "Away We Go"

  I minored in film studies just for the love it. One of my first film professor's  suggested deconstructing popular films such as "Airplane" to see what it says about us as a society.  In "Something Borrowed" I would have to say that film just says as a society we are mean spirited.  Where is the humanity?  The characters were just immoral and downright awful to each other.  I am not saying everything has to be Disney but lord how about some really interesting characters that are human and humane at the same time.  I wanted to see this film because I really liked John Krasinski in "Away We Go".  He was even good in "Something Borrowed" in a much smaller part. Go see "Away We Go" especially if you have young kids.  It is lovely and heartfelt and true. Still love Maggie Gylenhaal's portrayal of a very tightly wound, over bearing mum; a reminder for me personally of how I do not want to mother, but as for "Something Borrowed" skip it.  Do something good for a neighbor, like bake a loaf of bread.  You will feel lovely and good instead of blue.

Enter to Win

My grandmother was a war widow.  My father was 3 or so when his father was listed as M.I.A.  As a young widow, Grandma did not sit at home.  She, my father, and my aunt traveled by car and rail all over the western U.S. and Canada.  The stories my father tells are really fantastic about their adventures and mostly misadventures. When they were at home though in the mid-west, my grandma, being on a some what limited budget, entered sweepstakes to win home items.  And win she did. The story goes, grandma had a room in their house where she kept her loot:  washers, irons you name it.

Truth be told I love to enter sweepstakes.  I am careful  not to enter ones I sense are scams or will put me on every spam list out there.  In fact, I even have an email account set up just to enter contests as I know it will be flooded with email offerings.  I know it is cliche, but you cannot win if you do not enter.  My husband who never enters any sweepstakes is very lucky.  He wins at live drawings and has won the grand prize three times! Two of those times were for the much coveted New Belgium Cruiser bikes.

Image: New Belgium Brewing Blog

Some of the contests I have recently entered have given me projects to do my 4 year old.  Boden's Design a Cover Contest was loads of fun.  Kiddos just have to paint a "wintry" theme.  

Sophia chose holiday gifts....who wouldn't!

We had loads of fun 

Not so sure the doggie did though....

Another fun contest is the yearly Real Simple Essay Contest.  This one is a great creative outlet.  I am still editing my essay.  

There are those sweepstakes that you just "Enter to Win" as well.  Just found this one Beso's $1000 diaper give-away.  It is co-sponsored by one of my favorite blogger's Joanna Goddard. I am not in need of diapers (thankfully so on many levels, personally speaking that is) but if I win, will pass on to a friend.

Anyway, often chances are pretty good at winning.  Another friend of mine won a contest for a 2 week trip to New Zealand from a major magazine. So enter to win, you just may yet.  And besides sometimes the fun is in the process or just the anticipation that you may win that luxury get-away for two to Paris.

Off the Grid: Out of Your Mind or Bliss?

Image One Block Off the Grid

Wow less than 3 acres and you could live off grid.  I am not saying this is the answer for us all but what little things can we do to live a greener life?

 I went to the landfill this week.  That was eye opening as ever.  All of the plastic childrens' toys!  What a waste.  Personally I want to cut down on purchasing things.  That goes for medicine cabinet type stuff especially; do I really need 3 curl enhancer gels?  It is the packaging that I find most prolific at week's end in the trash.  I think the goal this year is to dramatically cut down on the amount of items purchased especially that come with plastic packaging.  At the grocery store, I already stopped using plastic produce bags. I go without (we usually eat produce quickly and we grow a fair amount ourselves) or I use these mesh bags I purchased:

Image: Simple Ecology

K.I.S.S.

Right?! "Keep it Simple Stupid".  I struggle with this in every aspect of my life.  I  tend to over complicate most decisions, meals, house projects, life in general.

When I said I wanted an outdoor clothesline, I envisioned  $200 spent, plus some kind of cement being poured.  Thank god I have a great partner who helps to balance me.

This is what I got.

Brilliant!  I am thrilled.  The total cost around $33.  Time 20 minutes plus the time picking out the hardware.

This is what was used.

How about this for sandbox and swing?!

Who needs plastic?  The sandbox is my favorite.  Large river rock lined up to enclose the circle.  How sweet and simple?!

Slouchy No More

Love this look! So simple dress, cuff, sandals, bag, yet she looks so great.  I am trying not to dress in yoga clothes 24/7 and looks like this are a great alternative.

Image: The Sartorialist

Blue Cup, Red Cup

My neighbor's 6 year old had her first day of school yesterday. I asked her what happened.  She was pretty excited overall.  The biggest change though from kindergarten to first grade for her was the freedom to use the restroom when  needed. "All you have to do is place a red cup if you are a girl on your chair or a blue cup if you are a boy!"  She was pretty much ecstatic over this new development in her educational career.

I am sure the feeling of independence was important for Gillian.  But also just the freedom to go take a break from a controlled environment must be a great feeling for a kid.  I still love to shut myself in the bathroom for 2 minutes just to take a breather from life.  My husband likes to read magazines.  I personally just shut my eyes and meditate.  Where do you go for your personal 2 minute break?

How I would love it if this was my bathroom oasis!

Images French by Design

inability to edit myself!

I can be very self critical and in general I am a pretty good editor of others' works but not when it comes to my writing.  I am unable to see my gaffs and errors.  Sorry readers.  Someone suggested waiting 2 hours and then going back to edit.

 Obviously the BBC cannot see their errors always either!