I Heart Melville Dewey

Okay, I just need to put this out there: If you are not using your public library, you are a chump! Sorry, but it is true. Do you even know what they have in that place?

First of all, and obviously, books. Buying books is for chumps. Well, mostly. Some books that you will reference over and over (cookbook, home improvement, etc.), and maybe a couple of favorite novels make sense. But-- think about it-- why do you need to own any others? All it is doing it taking up space in your life, yo. And, trust me, if you ever do decide that you want to read Sons and Lovers again (unlikely), I promise you can check it out from the library.

Um, oh by the way- you can get pretty much any movie you wanna watch or CD you wanna listen to from the library, too. FOR FREE. Some also have video games and even stuff like framed art to hang on your wall. You could have a rotating museum!

Don't forget programs. The library is one of the best places to entertain little ones. Not only do they have the materials to check out, a lot of them have programs for kids like story time and classes. Plus, many libraries have play rooms full of toys!

Seriously folks- JUST GO TO THE LIBRARY. It rocks. Really.

2012

So I have all the usual self-improvement ideas knocking around in my brain for this year. Got a membership to the YMCA...actively working toward being more optimistic...etc., but I have just decided tonight that my major goal for 2012 will be to reduce our household food waste. We throw out so. much. food.

Okay, so this is probably easier said than done with a two year old in the house, but there are some big ideas that I can think of right now:

1. EAT THE LEFTOVERS. Just freakin' eat them. Don't tell me there's nothing in the fridge because there are definitely leftovers. (That's a chastisement to myself, by the way.) I need to learn how to repurpose leftovers. That stir-fry that didn't quite turn out surely can be turned into something more edible. Leftover potatoes could be used in a new dish and not just as a sad, late-afternoon microwave affair.

2. Buy what we will eat, not what we think we should eat. I am so guilty of this. At Wegmans, I am totally going to snack on carrot stick and unsalted cashews. When that stuff comes home, suddenly it's a different story.

3. This is a bit of a tangent, but why aren't we ALL bringing our own containers for restaurant leftovers? It would be at least as easy to do as reusable grocery bags, and would result in lest waste when eating out.

Any other good tips for reducing food waste at home? Anybody want to join me in this goal?

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Today is Murphy's second birthday.
He is becoming, like, a real person or something.

Right now he loves:
Count von Count
matchbox cars
the Jeopardy theme song
giants
peanut butter sandwiches
reading letters (of the alphabet)
puppets

He says "Hey Mommy!" about 50 times a day.
When I ask if he wants, say, a banana, his response will be a shake of his head and something like, "Mm, just blueberries."

Corny Christmas Card Video!

Open letter to December.

Dear December,

Listen. Can we start over? For your benefit, really. I feel like you might be thinking that with all the bells and whistles you have planned for later that you could just kind of sneak in and build up gradual like. This is not true-- first impressions matter. And frankly when you start off with:

- Wasting the morning on stressful errands
- An hour trying to make tissue paper flowers that end up looking totally busted
- General crankiness and the desire to gobacktobed

it kinda just makes you look like an asshole.

So I guess what I'm saying is, if you wanted to ply me with wine and cookies that might be a good move.

Yours 'til Santa claws,

Maren

Tips for staying upbeat on a gloomy day.

1. Turn on the Christmas tree lights even though it is only noon.

2. Avoid online window shopping as much as possible.

3. india.arie

4. It helps if there is a good-mood toddler around to say things like "Mommy-- giants knock on the door!" (Murphy is currently OBSESSED with giants thank to a huge movable one that lives at our local children's museum. He tells me that there are giants in the kitchen and on the phone like 20 times a day...awesome!)

5. Walk around the block and splash in the tiny puddles on the sidewalk.


fin.

Answering the call

I felt a slight breeze and heard a whisper that seemed to come from far away and from inside myself simultaneously. You vintage junkies know what I'm talking about the CALL OF THE THRIFT. It always pays off to heed the call, even if I am actually insane. This time it even told me which thrift store would grant me three wishes. And three wishes I was granted.

One and Two:


The book on the right is a classic picture dictionary that includes such gems as "My handkerchief has my name written on it" and "These are my long pants. I feel grown-up now." It was also illustrated by my boyfriend, Richard Scarry, although it is a very different style from the busy world we know and love.

The book on the left is pretty pbbfflliitt content wise, but has a wonderful twist. The whole thing is based on an old ad campaign for Health-tex, so all the illustrations feature the raddest health-tex clothes you ever did see. Like, yessssssss:


Three:

I saw it peaking out from between a bunch of boring Carter's onesies from several feet away. I knew, even before I saw the applique, that I was in for a treat. Boo- freakin- ya. Unfortunately I do not currently have any babbies this size. (No tags, the thrift store's estimate was 6-9 months). If anyone out there is itching for this one, drop me a line, we'll talk Paypal. This is the kind of find that makes me rethink that idea about opening an etsy vintage shop, whatcha think?

Thank you thrift muses. What rewards have you reaped by answering the creepy, zealous call of the thrift?