My downstairs neighbor's incessant smoking finally drove us to switch our bedroom with our daughter's. (A 3 year-old with a smoker's cough tends to get strange looks at the library storytime) I kept procrastinating because part of the switch involved dismantling a large handmade futon frame that was a refugee from a loft we had built in Fort Point. Even though it was an awkward monstrosity of polyurethaned pine and metal reinforcing "bandaids", it was a reminder of days without kids and spontaneous night-life.
Finally, after transferring about 2 metric tons of stuffed animals acrosss the hall and dismantling and re-mantling the crib, I decided to just tackle the damn thing with a Mikita and, two afternoon sessions later, I was triumphant and the former slumber-barge lay in pieces next to our garbage bins.
One of the side effects of being somewhat of a compulsive clutter-buster is that there always seem to be a few random items that constantly turn up in storage bins and closet bags because I just can't bear to toss them for some reason. Take, for instance, a purple and gray nylon floppy hat. If I were to actually use it as a hat, it would only make me look like the nerd I really am. But, it's a hat that was purchased for me by a friend while in Vietnam in order to help me avoid paying the "roundeye-tax" and everytime I see it, I am reminded of: 1) My friend Phong, who was the coolest guide a girl could have, 2) Travelling throughout the Mekong Delta by motorbike with my husband and 3) Touring the Cu Chi tunnels whilst in the early stages of food poisoning.(not fun, but memorable)
Long story short, I can't toss the hat, but I really wanted to get rid of the old crap lumber and recycle the brass l-brackets, so I grabbed the hat by the brim, filled it with about 5 pounds of used woodscrews and l-brackets, added a manual screwdriver and ta-da! Instant toolbag!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Second Life: An old floppy hat
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Salem Trash Services Video
Interesting video of Salem's Trash Service in action. And yes, they do show them flinging a bin or two back in the general direction of the sidewalk, just like our trash guys do.
Just curious, has your trash pickup crew started acting like prima donnas about the new trash rules?
Things have gotten crazy on my street. Last week, someone put a box with an old toaster oven on top of the trash barrel and, instead of lifting the box off to get the barrel's trash, they simply left the entire barrel sitting there, box on top and all. So we were treated to another week with our household trash, left in the barrel. And, everyone's barrels are also completely battered and barely functional since the trash crew doesn't have the more precise aim of the guys in the video and they heave the barrels into the middle of the street half the time.
Does your trash crew leave trash all over the street? Are they being over-eager sticklers for the new trash rules? Vent here!
Salem Trash Services Video
Posted by Jenn M. at 11:39 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Kid's Room Needs a Lift?
Found via crossing paths on Boston Mamas' blog, Cheeky Monkey Murals will do custom murals for kids' bedrooms, playrooms or wherever you wish to put one of their unique works of art. (they also do murals for businesses)
I love the style these murals are done in and the artist, Holly Johnson also does portraits of "loveys" that are a wonderful way to capture your little ones' loved ones.
Kid's Room Needs a Lift?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Should lollipops, m&m's and mini-cupcakes fail...
You could always try the potty-caddy.
I coulda been a contender. While still pregnant, I saw an article in People about mothers who trained their kids in infancy and avoided the whole diaper scene altogether. I was all fired up to try it out with my still-theoretical spawn until I got the book out of the library that showed happy earth mommies holding their infants over porch railings and park benches, beatifically letting nature take its course. I just didn't think that would go over too well at a neighborhood barbecue or on the playground. I don't have a dog, on principle, and I grudgingly change the cat litter, so I didn't want to find myself following my own kid around with a plastic bag.
And of course, it's come to get me in the end. After a great start with the potty chart/sticker technique, I could have sworn Chloe would be trained by Thanksgiving. Then, it became Christmas, and now it's before she goes off to college, hopefully.
Of course, friends all have similar war stories about stonewalling and regression battles. And of course both nanas have started their greek chorus of "Well my kids were all trained by 2 and a half." I'll just keep up the bribery. She's bound to crack soon.
Should lollipops, m&m's and mini-cupcakes fail...
Posted by Jenn M. at 10:58 AM 0 comments
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Second Life: Turn a Picture Frame into a Remote Caddy
I didn't come up with this on my own, but I found it on Lifehacker and it bears repeating. This great if you have a fairly deep 8x10" photo frame lying around and the usual 3 or 4 entertainment center remotes.
Second Life: Turn a Picture Frame into a Remote Caddy
Posted by Jenn M. at 1:36 PM 0 comments
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Spring Cleaning! Book Swap
The Salem Recycling committee is hosting a book swap on Saturday,
Februrary 28th at nearby St. Peters Church from 9:00 am - noon. Folks can bring in any unwanted books, videos, CDs, DVDs etc and choose anything that they like. All leftover materials will be recycled through "Got Books".
Address: 24 Saint Peter St, Salem across the street from the Salem Cinema.
See you there! (I'll be the one trying to unload the interactive Princess Barbie books with the almost-dead batteries)
Also, the above image was found on a great site called Simple Productivity Blog. Check it out!
Spring Cleaning! Book Swap
Posted by Jenn M. at 12:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: books, community, fun, lifehacks, Shop Local, thrifty