A Ruined American (part 1)

Haiti ruined me.

Ruined my worldview, my perspective, my thoughts, my colored glasses ... my life.

I need to publicly apologize to my husband and my child and any other family and friends. I'm ruined - it makes living (American) life a little more complicated.

I was reading Simpler Living, Compassionate Life the other day and the thought struck me. I make a horrible American. I hardly can throw plastic packaging or the lids of plastic containers in the trash without thinking about it. I mean thinking about it. Thinking about the implications of where it will go, why I have to throw it away (do I?) and how a billion of those little things will add up really quickly. I find myself feeling guilty that I don't live in more sustainable ways, and I can't help but think of the the many faceless, underpaid factory workers who made the clothes in my closet. And having 15 pairs of shoes isn't many by American standards but is beyond excessive for others.

I'm ruined.

I still hold an American passport. I don't believe that war is the best answer, but I absolutely respect the sacrifice that men and women in our Armed Forces have made. I can still sing the national anthem with pride - albeit tempered. But, I am a ruined American.

I'm not sure I would care beyond consuming if I hadn't left for Haiti ten years ago. Going there has played a huge part in the change of my worldview.

There's the crazy consumerism end.

And then the zero-waste people.

I'd like to fall somewhere in between the extremes. But, I really would like the continuum to lean to the latter.

Yeah. I know, my husband is snorting and raising his eyebrows right now. "You would like to what?!"

(to be continued... )

First world problems.

I was bored the other day. I even hate saying that I was bored, because you might say, "Well, what's your problem?! Use your time wisely. Make the most of what you have, for heaven's sake!"

And I'd say, "Well, it was a bored/restless feeling." I was stressed out about the job situation (lack thereof), feeling a little down, needing a pick-me-up or something. There were still several hours before Jeremy would make it home (in fact, I think he'd just left) and I needed to get the girl and myself out of the house.

So. I went shopping.

Before I even left the house, I knew going shopping wouldn't make me happy. I knew it wouldn't make me feel better. I knew it wouldn't satisfy me. But, knowing all of this, I still charged right through - ignoring my feelings - for some retail therapy. Knowing I really should sit with it and relax and maybe go for a walk, I went ahead, hopped in the car, and drove away to look at furniture, rugs and vases.

It didn't help.

Funny, how I did it anyway. Funny how I shop instead of think. Shop instead of feel. This is so ... "consumeristic" of me. So typically female. So American.

I normally avoid this, but I fell right back into the easy way and old habits die hard.

I ask myself, "Is this the example I want to be setting for my child?" (No.) "Is this what I want her to turn to when she's feeling down?" (No.) "Is stuff really going to make anything better?" (No.)

Is this how I want to live my life?

No.

******

Hop on over to Rage Against the Minivan and read this funny and insightful post about raising kids in the first world. It's something I think about quite often and have no idea how I am going to accomplish raising my children in our world of stuff and more and more stuff, but I'm going to try. More on this to come.

Progress reports (3): more antiques

The grandparents have sweetly let us borrow their antique highchair for her to use. (I wanted one just like this to use and they had one already). However, it is very slippery and she is a tiny bit short for it yet. We are using a borrowed Bumbo chair to feed her for now and when I get a little cushion made for the seat, we'll be able to sit her in it without her sliding too far. I need to make a pattern for the cushion. Any suggestions how to go about pattern making?

here's a little antique school chair, graciously given to me from the teens at church (it didn't sell at their garage sale fundraiser) via an older couple whose grandchildren used to play with it. isn't it cute? until Ladybug can use it, i'm thinking of fun and practical ways to put it to use!

finally, this one is from Jeremy. his grandma used to have a black rotary phone just like this and he was even excited to pick this up from an antique store going out-of-business sale. the cord may need to be replaced, but we might even get a landline and use it! can you still use these old guys? hope so!

that's all for now, folks. come back soon for more antique/vintage love!

Progress reports (2): garden!

(click here to compare: my first garden post of 2011)

the pole beans are growing beautifully!
one pepper plant has died (still needs to be replaced).
the garlic finally flowered. 
my flowers are slightly wilty from this heat (hope to revive them with more frequent watering and a little love)
and I can't wait to harvest something. so excited!

pole beans

slightly wilty flowers

beans and tomatoes! so yummy!

Progress reports (1): record player

this week is the week for PROGRESS REPORTS! so, I've been out of school for 5 years and now that it's summer I'm getting my progress reports in.

*****

remember my 25 cent gem?  i have been slowly chipping away at it (literally) and finally drug it outside to see how it would sand down.

my Google detective husband tracked down that it's from 1946 and some of these Bendix record players are collectibles. ours may be too water damaged to be worth much but we connected a wire, plugged it in, and it spins! (it also gives off an electrical fence-like shock when you touch the metal parts and gets really hot and smelly. so we quickly turned it off and unplugged it.)

but, we both think there is hope for our little record player.

here's the progress. definitely has some work still, but it's coming along!

took the door off for sanding.

looking better!

trim: not sanded vs. sanded

I'm still considering paint colors but leaning towards a golden yellow. Bright shiny red did go through my head, but I think it might hang around our living room for awhile and red wouldn't match... what do you think?

What I've been sewing...

Isn't this little skirt fun??

And I've wanted to make a bow-tie ever since I came across THIS tutorial. Ohmygoodness! So cute. Makes me want a little boy ... Well, only-in-a-million-years type of wish after last year's pregnancy trials. I'll keep my little girl sewing going and just make things like this for sweet little boys (to come)!

This one's on its way to Korea. :-)

What you get when you run a lawn mower over it.

Don't forget your leash in the yard while the mowers are mowing.

Otherwise you'll go from this:

Image credit

to this:

Happy Anniversary!

To the One and Only.

:-) I love you, Jeremy! Happy #3!

wedding 1

wedding 2

honeymoon - Orcas Island

#1! (happy and vintage)

#2! (sick and pregnant)

And here's to many more!!! (49+ to be exact)

fun vintage finds - 5/16/11 edition

It's GARAGE SALE season!! Thrifters, rejoice! The number of Saturday sales in my neighborhood increase exponentially every week. Now, I just need to get out there and hunt!

Here are some finds from the last week. If you missed my other 25-cent gem, click here.

Did any other of you thrifters find treasures over the weekend?

two sets of 3 plates. odd. :-)

a few finds. candelabra on the right will be painted. I'm thinking glossy white.

Mom, what do you think abt these plates for your kitchen shelves?

totally vintage. i think my gramma had dishes like this.

china pedestal 

white vintage stud earrings

isn't this magazine rack amazing!?

it's in such great condition and it's staying just like it is.

a 25-cent gem

I love deals. And, to be honest, I am fairly shy. So working up the courage to stop at garage sales is a challenge for me. (Yes, I know, make fun of me if you will.) But, this week, I found some great buys, one of which was a 25-cent 1940s cabinet record player! The outside is in bad shape, but potential is in the eye of the beholder.

I got it home and asked Jeremy how much he thought I paid for it. He said, "I hope FREE!" Well, 25-cents is almost free.We haven't seen if it works (I highly doubt it) but the player arm still has its needle. Sweet!

Stay tuned for its transformation! I'm so excited about this one. What color do you think I should paint it???

wood paneling finish peeling off

peeling

I've already peeled the whole top off!

back ruined from water damage

front view

front also damaged by water

the inside actually looks fairly decent!

so cool.

inside cabinet

our Garden 2011

As of yesterday, my garden is planted. (Last year's was kind of a bust because I was too sick to enjoy it.)

Thanks to my in-laws and my parents for the seeds, plants, pole-bean creation and help. I decided I wanted to finish up my garden before I was left to do it alone (with a baby) and despite the very warm weather, everyone was game. Woo hoo! Let it grow!

I love watching things grow, the curled beans sprout into leafy goodness, little strawberries maturing into sweet delights. Plus, "shopping" in your backyard - can't beat that! I can't wait to teach my girl in the next few years... it's educational, sustainable and just plain fun.

tomatoes.

sweet peppers!

george's pole bean creation

garlic and a little jalapeno

parsley

cute little flower basket - don't you love the curly cue? I do!

strawberries.

a scarf

I made this scarf for my MIL's birthday. Unfortunately, the pictures do not 1) give it justice and 2) don't capture the real color.

Next time, I'll really try to get better pictures AND step-by-step pictures. But, I snatched the tutorial anyway from a great crafting blog. For the real tutorial, go to MADE.

(Love that site thanks to my friend and fellow sewing machine lover, Sharla, who introduced us just a few short weeks ago. I didn't know what I was missing! If you haven't been there, go check it out!)

Instead of turning and sewing all of the seams, I decided to just scallop the edges with my machine and trim the excess off. It probably would've been easier had I just turned the edges because with my gargantuan fabric scissors, the edging took HOURS. But, in the end, it turned out lovely.

(Note to self: next time, buy edging scissors. It'd be worth it.)

I finished it up with some elastic thread - also a new love! - and sent it off.

Woo hoo! What should I make next? One of these?

The Royal Wedding (?)

Could someone clue me in ... why all the American fuss over Britain's royal wedding?

Photo Credit here

I mean, yeah, I'm interested in her secret dress. (But I'm not getting up at 4 a.m. for that - I'll be able to find it almost everywhere and anywhere after I get a good night's sleep.) They make a cute couple. I'm glad he found a seemingly sweet small town girl. But that's just about it.

Can someone help me out here? What's the deal with all of the buzz?

(for an interesting perspective of all the money being spent, click HERE).