A little nugget...

"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up." - Mark Twain

Pay It Forward

I was scanning Netflix the other day for some 'oldies but goodies' and came across "Pay It Forward" with Haley Joel Osment, who to this day still weirds me out. Creep factor aside, I was thinking about the movie and what a novel idea 'paying it forward' really is. If you haven't seen the movie, basically a troubled boy is inspired by a school assignment.

The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Osment's character comes up with the idea of not paying a favor back, but forward. Essentially, repaying good deeds with good deeds. So simple!

This got me thinking, which is sometimes a scary thing, that if it's such a simple concept, why can't I apply this to my everyday life. It was actually harder than I thought because I didn't want it to be something that required a lot of me (something that came naturally and wasn't forced), but that would make a difference in someone else's life... no matter how big or small.

My idea came to me the other day during yet another 100+ degree day. Where I live, there is a lot of wealth and a lot of poverty. So it isn't too shocking when I see people going through our recycling bins for cans and bottles to collect for the refund money. There was a man out collecting, but he practically had to climb into the bins for the few cans in each of them.

Then came my 'ah ha' moment... why not just keep my cans separate so people don't have to dig through the bin?

The plan...

I love recycling, so I already had half of this 'project' in the bag. :) All I did was add a command hook to the side of my personal recycling bin to easily gather my cans.

What makes this whole idea work, is that I have a serious Diet Dr. Pepper/Diet Coke addiction... which means LOTS of cans! Hello, my name is Erin and I have a coke problem (the liquid kind, not the powder). Case in point...

As soon as my 'can bag' is full, I set it outside next to the recycling bin. Easy! I like to think that the 'collectors' might consider it winning the can lottery that day and who doesn't want to win the lottery!?!?

I don't know if this change will make a difference, but it's worth a try. Sure it's a small gesture, but hopefully one that could make someones day a little brighter. What gesture have you made for someone else lately?

007

I LOVE flowers.

Growing up we always had fresh flowers in our house. Even now, when I go home I can always expect to be greeted by loving arms at the door and beautiful flowers in my room. Naturally when I moved into my current apartment, I knew flowers were one thing that would make it feel more like home to me.

So, off I went to buy some impatiens that would greet me at the door and welcome me home. I didn't take a picture, but they looked great and all was right with the world.

Fast forward a few weeks. Things quickly start going downhill. The buds weren't opening, leaves were shriveling and they looked pathetic. Despite my best efforts, I had to let them go to plant heaven. Normally, after a loss like this, people would give up and move on... but not me! I looked at the cold hard facts and determined that it must have been the cheap Wal-Mart soil I bought because, well, it's Wal-Mart.

Lesson learned. This time I decided to go to Ruibals, a well known and experienced nursery in town, to buy good soil and well bred flowers. I. Was. Excited. Once I got home, I braved the heat to plant my happy flowers and probably even watered them with the sweat dripping off of my brow. That's actual love being poured out into these plants! They were so happy and so was I.

Yep, you guessed it. A short time later, I realized James Bond and I more in common than I cared to admit... a license to kill. Here are my plants (Round 2) today:

My once cute, window basket.

My once pretty, stair pots.
(The last one has given me some hope because the greenery is still alive.)

I haven't killed everything though, here is my pride and joy...

My basil!

I really love flowers, but I plan to try more 'hardy" plants next time... probably something similar to the solo survivor above. I like to believe that my 2nd round flowers died of heat exhaustion and not neglect (which wasn't the case... maybe too much love?) I just hope I don't have to face the reality that I might not be cut out to be a plant owner.

I'll post updated pictures of my third attempt as soon as I get back to Ruibals. I need the experts on this one, so I know I'll be in good hands there. Third time's a charm right?!?

Until then, any tips or tricks to keep plants alive? Yes, I know to water them!

Pump Up the Jam...

During this long hot summer, I've been spending plenty of time inside. This inside time has given me lots of time to unpack, despite having moved 5 months ago. Actually, its more like paper purging because I think everything is important so I keep it all. I am improving, I made a big step and stopped getting bank statements... those were the worst! Anyways, music has been keeping me company as I trudge through my paper trail dating back 4 years. Wow, that's an embarrassing confession, but as Usher so eloquently puts it, "These are my confessions..."

Cleaning is my jam and so are solo dance parties. Here are my summer tunes:

Eli Young Band- Crazy Girl

Taylor Swift- Sparks Fly

Coldplay- Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

Mat Kearney- Runaway

Florence and The Machine- Dog Days Are Over

Randy Rogers Band- Too Late For Goodbye

Miranda Lambert- Heart Like Mine

Snow Patrol- Just Say Yes

Tegan and Sara- Fix You Up

Mumford & Sons- Awake My Soul

Some old. Some new. Nothing very crazy, but mostly these are the songs that seem to fit the random moods I've been in this summer. Hope you find some new music to enjoy!

My Thrifty Wall

I've never had my own space to do as I please and this is my first act of rebellion...

It's still a work in progress, but here is my picture frame wall!

It's an awkward wall that needed a little love, so why not do something crazy (yes, making a picture frame wall is crazy for me) and different. After much deliberation, I decide it cant get much more awkward and I have nothing to lose. This wall is a silent 'room separating' indicator between my living room and what is loosely translated as my dining room.

'Dining room' across from the awkward wall.

To complete this project, I have been thrift store shopping for interesting frames which I am (planning on) spray painting white. However, this heat wave doesn't quite lend itself to outside crafting, so the spray painting will commence as soon as the frames won't spontaneously combust into flames. I'm not exaggerating... we are going on 41 days of over 100+ degree weather with no end in sight. Think, the Bad Witch from the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy throws water on her... "I'm mel-ting!". I'm from Kansas City, so that reference is somewhat justified.

As a visual person (as seen in my previous example), its hard for me to look past the taped up grocery store ads and creepy little girl in the oval frame, but I think it could actually turn out pretty well! I'm excited to finish it and then hopefully complete the space by finding a chair for the big empty space next to my trusty friend, the TV.

Shares the wall with my so called dining room.

I think the heat must be getting to me because I kind of sound like a designer or like I know what I'm doing. Either way... I love it!

A Happy Thought

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." -Proverb

Table for... one.

It happens. Everyone has experienced heartbreak before, and after you finally survive the sad, wine nights (note: a bottle isn't meant for one person)... reality kicks in. For me, this harsh reality came in the form of meals. I've never had a problem eating alone and while the thought of that is enough to drive some people to starvation, I relish the time. (Puns make me laugh, so yes, that was intended.) However, I don't eat out very often, so that wasn't actually the hard part.

For me, it was 'cooking for one'.

It's scary just typing it! I have always envied people who can cook, so when I finally snagged someone to cook for, I was more than happy to start learning! The hard thing about cooking is that typically recipes are for 6-8+ servings and I was just lucky to need two. After eating casseroles and soups meant to feed an army, I learned the secret of halving. This usually required twice the number of frantic phone calls to my mother (math isnt my strong suit) with a million and one questions. Bless her. However, as Murphy's law would have it, just as I was getting the hang of it... bam! I dont know if it was the Asparagus Pizza or Pizza cups. Maybe I just liked making pizza too much, but whatever it was, my reservations changed from 2 to 1.

I've found that cooking brings me a lot of joy, so I decided I am just going to have to figure out how to tweak it to fit my new needs. Here is my first venture into this endless and delicious journey.

Pasta Sauce Cubes

Here is a great way to store pasta sauce in individual servings, so it won't go to waste when you don't use the whole jar:

First, I bought ice cube trays and my favorite pasta sauce.

Then I filled the trays with the sauce, just as I would to make ice cubes. Cover them with cling wrap and put them in the freezer.

Then, pop them out and put them in a ziplock bag until you have the taste for a little Italiano!

I dont like tons of sauce, so I only use 2 cubes for a little more than 1 cup of pasta. Put them in a bowl and cover. Heat up for 30 seconds, then take a fork and mush them up a bit, recover and heat up again for about 30-45 seconds (depending on your microwave) or until hot. Pour your pasta into the bowl and dinner is ready!

Even better than that, there was also an added bonus to this project. I have a deep love for Mason Jars. What can't you use one for?!? It honestly never ceases to amaze me. Anyways, the Classico sauce I bought came in a cool Mason Jar! I imagine it gracing my table with some fresh flowers the next time friends come over for a little vino.

All I did is run the jar under hot water to loosen up the label and peeled it off. Some of the glue was still on the jar, so I used the other end of my scrubber and scrapped it right off.

Now all I need are some flowers. :)

Back to School!

Back to school has always been one of my favorite times. New pencils, notebooks, and school supplies somehow bring a renewed sense of hope. Hope to make new friends, make better grades... the hope for a new start. Recently, I have been experiencing a new start and while it doesn't include freshly sharpened pencils, the sense of excitement (and dread) is all the same.

Today, I did one of my favorite things... school supply shopping! I always liked getting the supplies, but the actual school part quickly took the wind out of my sails. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to help out a child in need and give them the fresh start everyone deserves. I had so much fun doing it and while I'm very glad I'm not the one going back to school (I know my mom is thankful too), decorating notebooks never gets old. :) People always say, "Giving is better than receiving" and I was reminded of that today.

Surprise Spring...

I am feeling refreshed & renewed about a few things in my life right now:

New blog
New planner refills
The re-focus in my life
Rekindled friendships
A sense of excitement
Hope for what the future holds


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11