“We can do it!” Rosie the Riveter

School is starting! I thought this was appropriate as we are moving into the thick of things. I always liked to start school, I was done with summer. About two weeks later it wasn't quite as fun- it would be nice to have a day off. Labor Day was great for that! Like one last reminicence of summer even after it is over. So start up the BBQ- we can make it through another school year! And we can do it well.

“Grown ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them” The Little Prince

I want to start doing daily quotes and a little comment with them. I love being able to arrange things online as well as finding good quotes, so now I have an outlet.
I read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery in French in high school and then in English and loved it. I think this quote is funny since there is so much we can learn from children. Mostly what is important in life and what isn't. Like taking time to enjoy fun moments over and over instead of worrying about what is next.

One of my favorite things is to be in the middle of a great book and really feel a part of it, and then set it down to go make dinner or answer the phone or some other present-day distraction. The book sits there, waiting for me to come back. All the events have just been paused, ready for whenever I have time to become entranced again. When I was younger and had to leave my book to join the family for an activity, I pictured all the characters in the book frozen until my return. Which also reminds me of a Friends episode where Joey reads Little Women and puts it in the freezer when it starts to get sad so that he wouldn't have to deal with it. The story was frozen and couldn't progress as long as it was safely tucked away in the freezer!

SALE!

What is it about the word 'SALE!' that draws us in? Even if it's not a good sale it seems like human (or at least female) nature to see what is on sale and how good of a price you can get for something. Almost a contest to see who can get the best stuff for the cheapest.
To win the my-stuff-is-cheaper-than-yours contest you have to be able to go the distance. Back of the store off-season clearance, anniversary sales, and (my favorite) craig's list if you don't mind getting something used.
There is an urge in our household to tell people how little we spent on everything we get. Someone comments on how great our table is- Guess what? Got it from my parents' move cause it didn't fit their house. The frames? Craig's list. Pillows? Made them out of some fancy fabric found in the clearance bin. You get the idea.
Part of this has to do with the fact that we are students and while some cultures try to out do their neighbors by bragging about prices, our culture is more about bragging about getting Pottery Barn stuff at an outlet store for 60% off. (I know you're jealous of that one.)
To predict the future, I think we have this bargain-finding gene in us. I don't think the amazement of having an income will deter us much from always living for the sales.
P.S. Nordstrom is having their huge anniversary sale right now. Maybe in a few years we can afford that sale!

Find of the day: This ABC chair! Not the most comfortable chair I've ever seen, but I love it. Very modern with the bronze, yet cutsie with the 'font' they used. Too cool.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper. Must say, not a big fan. I am a minimalist in my design, starting from when I started babysitting at age 12. Young married couples would put all their possessions out in the front room...maybe so they didn't look poor? It always bugged me so I started paying attention to design right around then.

As for wallpaper, I think there are some nice patterns out there if you really search. Being a minimalist, I think one wall in wallpaper is great but no more. It's too overwhelming if you surround yourself in one pattern! In our condo I have 3 of the 5 rooms with an accent wall that is painted a totally different color than the rest of the room. Everyone loves the look and most don't notice how it is done- just that they love the feeling. That's my goal...and hopefully will help for resale next year...

Speaking of wallpaper always reminds me of the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper". A story about a woman suffering from post-pardum depression during a time when it was not tollerated (then again some would say that could be now) and what happens to her. I think if any of us look at some wallpaper patterns that might surround us long enough we might start seeing things in them too...

A New Chapter

I have a blog mostly dedicated to pictures of our family, along with some comments about the events in our lives. That is more an account or a calendar of what is going on in our lives, but more profitable than recording in a journal since each of the pictures tell a thousand words which sure saves me a lot of time.
I think this is more for my writing need. Much like my reading need, there just isn't time for it. I like to share thoughts (just ask my husband who is often the only other adult I interact with in a day) so I figured, why not write them here. I am a minimalist- I might as well archive to a computer rather than to a journal so I don't have to tote the journal around with me. I do like a good journal (one that stays open on it's own) when traveling somewhere thoughtful. Being able to whip out my laptop in the middle of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome isn't very easy...
I like to organize thoughts as well as things around me, so I am excited for this. If no one reads, that's fine- this is for me.