"Creativity isn't a mythical creature to be caught and tamed. It's a habit...a way of life that's built over time."
Jane Porter writes thought-provoking ideas in her article, "How to Cultivate a Creative Thinking Habit," that both the inspiration-seekers and practiced imaginatives alike can benefit from.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3026816/dialed/how-to-cultivate-a-creative-thinking-habit
Monday, April 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Thrifty Cleaning Tip: Savings on Spray.
Before I even share this nugget of creative frugality I feel the need to first justify my use of the product.
My use of disposable cleansing wipes started slowly because I find them expensive and environmentally unsound. When my siblings began having children I began to understand the obvious hygienic diapering needs of parents and caregivers and loosened my rules to accept bathroom wipes. Then I discovered that window cleaning wipes left far less lint and foggy residue than a spray with towels (whether cloth or paper) and began using those, especially on photo frame glass. Now I live in a house with white tile floors and white, rubbery caulking sealing every imaginable edge that shows every little fuzz, hair, or who-knows-what that touches it. Add to that a cat who throws up and leaves trails of little kitty paw prints through the house and you get a woman who uses cleaning wipes.
The selection of cleansing wipes is minuscule here, we can choose between Clorox and Lysol brands. I choose the type of Clorox wipe that cleans up grease also, making it perfect for the entire house because, as I forgot to mention, our kitchen has ultra-white counter tops and all white appliances. When we moved in I bought a two-pack to keep under the kitchen sink containing a total of 150 wet wipes. I noticed a fair amount of liquid left in the bottom once the first container was empty so I dumped it into the second container; it seemed wrong to discard it.
A couple weeks ago that second tub of wipes was running low and there was a considerable amount of liquid left. I tried pouring some on paper towels but it didn't seem to have adequate cleansing ability and I concluded that a spray bottle was my best solution. Today I stopped by a decent ¥100 store and bought one then filled it up with excess liquid and now I have over 300 ml of perfectly good cleaning spray.
What a Thrifty Cleaning Tip! Pour excess cleaning solution remaining in a disposable wet wipe container into a spray bottle to reuse. For safety, please label the spray bottle with the contents, especially the chemical components. Simply cut the paper label and tape it to the spray bottle.
My use of disposable cleansing wipes started slowly because I find them expensive and environmentally unsound. When my siblings began having children I began to understand the obvious hygienic diapering needs of parents and caregivers and loosened my rules to accept bathroom wipes. Then I discovered that window cleaning wipes left far less lint and foggy residue than a spray with towels (whether cloth or paper) and began using those, especially on photo frame glass. Now I live in a house with white tile floors and white, rubbery caulking sealing every imaginable edge that shows every little fuzz, hair, or who-knows-what that touches it. Add to that a cat who throws up and leaves trails of little kitty paw prints through the house and you get a woman who uses cleaning wipes.
The selection of cleansing wipes is minuscule here, we can choose between Clorox and Lysol brands. I choose the type of Clorox wipe that cleans up grease also, making it perfect for the entire house because, as I forgot to mention, our kitchen has ultra-white counter tops and all white appliances. When we moved in I bought a two-pack to keep under the kitchen sink containing a total of 150 wet wipes. I noticed a fair amount of liquid left in the bottom once the first container was empty so I dumped it into the second container; it seemed wrong to discard it.
A couple weeks ago that second tub of wipes was running low and there was a considerable amount of liquid left. I tried pouring some on paper towels but it didn't seem to have adequate cleansing ability and I concluded that a spray bottle was my best solution. Today I stopped by a decent ¥100 store and bought one then filled it up with excess liquid and now I have over 300 ml of perfectly good cleaning spray.
What a Thrifty Cleaning Tip! Pour excess cleaning solution remaining in a disposable wet wipe container into a spray bottle to reuse. For safety, please label the spray bottle with the contents, especially the chemical components. Simply cut the paper label and tape it to the spray bottle.
 |
| Please, be safe and label and bottle. |
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Dirty Sensor, No More.
February 23, 2010
After receiving, depositing, and saving all my Christmas, birthday, and holiday checks I placed my long-desired order for my first digital SLR camera. The debate between new and used camera bodies and lenses required hours of online research, from professional guides to enthusiast forums, settling with the most weight on new. The new vs.used price differences among entry level DSLRs was minimal at the time, whereas the technology advancements between emerging models was moving at a much quicker rate. I decided to buy a new camera body and lens knowing I would likely not replace it for many years and wanting the longest life-span I could achieve.
I bought a new Canon 450D/XSi camera body literally the day before the 550D/T2i was released, hence getting a good price at $485. Usually this camera body was sold in a set with a kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6, but I decided against that option for two reasons; first, I saw how saturated the used lens market was with these kit lenses and assumed there was good reason; second, I vaguely knew what style of photography I was leaning toward and took my brother's lens advice. The same day I ordered the camera body I also ordered the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, otherwise known as the "nifty-fifty", for $89.
March 29, 2014
Now, 24,969 shutter actuations later, I am still using the same camera body. The 50mm lens is upgraded to the lovely f/1.4 USM version, with heart-warming gratitude towards my Canon brother. I have two other lenses in the bullpen that fulfill specific needs (and a third I forget about) but the 50 is my favorite.
Now lets talk about the sensor, the four year-old, 12.2-megapixel, APS-C, CMOS sensor. I will not write in detail about the sensor because I do not know all the technical details; but you can compare a digital camera's sensor to traditional film -- it collects image information. I do know that I have a crop sensor, meaning it is smaller than the standard of 35mm, capturing less light and information than a full frame sensor. That is also why is costs significantly less, but that is not my point.
My point is that everything, over time, gets dirty. Just how dirty does a camera sensor get? Well, I performed a test, provided by the Photography Club I belong to, and discovered. Without even zooming in dark specks were plainly visible in the photo, specks not from a dusty lens either because I made sure to clean that beforehand. My sensor needed a good scrub.
Regardless of how carefully you change lenses, when the camera body is open the sensor is exposed. A sensor is, well, sensitive, and not something you simply wipe off with cloth. It should be cared for in a cleanroom with no dust, a rare environment. Members in the photography club, both Nikon and Canon users, knew the respective service centers that provided camera repairs and cleaning. Living between Tokyo and Yokohama puts us right in the center of multiple locations, the most convenient being in Shinjuku. I recall somebody saying it costs around ¥3500, or $35, and is done same day, within a few hours. Sign me up.
Saturday was a beautiful spring day in the Kanto Plain, breezy, mostly sunny, and about 20° C (70°F) -- perfect for a day in the city. We found our way to the Mitsui Building where the Canon Service Center is and received the efficient and professional attention Japanese businesses are known for. The gentleman helping us knew enough English to give us the pertinent information and answer our questions. My only disappointment was that they do not clean lens interiors, only the outer glass, but my sensor was really the priority anyway. The great news: it only cost ¥1000! With tax that comes to $10.50! $3,390 less than the dreamy 5D MK3.
The only difficulty of filling hours in Shinjuku, or any other ward of Tokyo for that matter, is time management. I prepared a short list of craft brewpubs in the area (thank you Craft Beer Japan!) and made it to two of them, Little Delirium and Watering Hole, sampling some great beer and tasty food. In no time at all it was time to pick up my camera and head home.
Today I replicated the sensor test, using the same clean lens and settings. Spotless. I'm not sure if the clean sensor will make a noticeable difference in my photos but I am thrilled nonetheless. I cannot afford to upgrade to a higher quality, full-frame camera but I can certainly continue to care for my Rebel, the Little Camera that Could.
~40% crop of upper right corner BEFORE:
~40% crop of upper right corner AFTER:
After receiving, depositing, and saving all my Christmas, birthday, and holiday checks I placed my long-desired order for my first digital SLR camera. The debate between new and used camera bodies and lenses required hours of online research, from professional guides to enthusiast forums, settling with the most weight on new. The new vs.used price differences among entry level DSLRs was minimal at the time, whereas the technology advancements between emerging models was moving at a much quicker rate. I decided to buy a new camera body and lens knowing I would likely not replace it for many years and wanting the longest life-span I could achieve.
I bought a new Canon 450D/XSi camera body literally the day before the 550D/T2i was released, hence getting a good price at $485. Usually this camera body was sold in a set with a kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6, but I decided against that option for two reasons; first, I saw how saturated the used lens market was with these kit lenses and assumed there was good reason; second, I vaguely knew what style of photography I was leaning toward and took my brother's lens advice. The same day I ordered the camera body I also ordered the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, otherwise known as the "nifty-fifty", for $89.
March 29, 2014
Now, 24,969 shutter actuations later, I am still using the same camera body. The 50mm lens is upgraded to the lovely f/1.4 USM version, with heart-warming gratitude towards my Canon brother. I have two other lenses in the bullpen that fulfill specific needs (and a third I forget about) but the 50 is my favorite.
Now lets talk about the sensor, the four year-old, 12.2-megapixel, APS-C, CMOS sensor. I will not write in detail about the sensor because I do not know all the technical details; but you can compare a digital camera's sensor to traditional film -- it collects image information. I do know that I have a crop sensor, meaning it is smaller than the standard of 35mm, capturing less light and information than a full frame sensor. That is also why is costs significantly less, but that is not my point.
My point is that everything, over time, gets dirty. Just how dirty does a camera sensor get? Well, I performed a test, provided by the Photography Club I belong to, and discovered. Without even zooming in dark specks were plainly visible in the photo, specks not from a dusty lens either because I made sure to clean that beforehand. My sensor needed a good scrub.
Regardless of how carefully you change lenses, when the camera body is open the sensor is exposed. A sensor is, well, sensitive, and not something you simply wipe off with cloth. It should be cared for in a cleanroom with no dust, a rare environment. Members in the photography club, both Nikon and Canon users, knew the respective service centers that provided camera repairs and cleaning. Living between Tokyo and Yokohama puts us right in the center of multiple locations, the most convenient being in Shinjuku. I recall somebody saying it costs around ¥3500, or $35, and is done same day, within a few hours. Sign me up.
Saturday was a beautiful spring day in the Kanto Plain, breezy, mostly sunny, and about 20° C (70°F) -- perfect for a day in the city. We found our way to the Mitsui Building where the Canon Service Center is and received the efficient and professional attention Japanese businesses are known for. The gentleman helping us knew enough English to give us the pertinent information and answer our questions. My only disappointment was that they do not clean lens interiors, only the outer glass, but my sensor was really the priority anyway. The great news: it only cost ¥1000! With tax that comes to $10.50! $3,390 less than the dreamy 5D MK3.
The only difficulty of filling hours in Shinjuku, or any other ward of Tokyo for that matter, is time management. I prepared a short list of craft brewpubs in the area (thank you Craft Beer Japan!) and made it to two of them, Little Delirium and Watering Hole, sampling some great beer and tasty food. In no time at all it was time to pick up my camera and head home.
Today I replicated the sensor test, using the same clean lens and settings. Spotless. I'm not sure if the clean sensor will make a noticeable difference in my photos but I am thrilled nonetheless. I cannot afford to upgrade to a higher quality, full-frame camera but I can certainly continue to care for my Rebel, the Little Camera that Could.
~40% crop of upper right corner BEFORE:
~40% crop of upper right corner AFTER:
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Finally, My Chair.
One rainy evening in Washington State my husband and I went out together for dinner and a movie. The restaurant was adjacent to the theater on one end and a furniture store was at the other. On a whim we decided to visit the Recliner Land and look at their selection of sofas. Having only been married a couple years we still had his old futon in the living room as our primary seating. We basically knew the style we wanted, a mutually acceptable black leather sofa with three seats and nap-worthy without being obnoxiously over-stuffed. We found it, rather easily, and within a half hour we purchased it and scheduled delivery.
We still use and dearly love our sofa, with its dual recliners and soft leather, and it has survived two moves with minimal damage (the thing is beastly heavy and awkward). Yet often when I sit back on that sofa and rest my head I think about the chair that got away. Yes, the ladies'-size, straight-back reclining chair tautly covered in a smooth, rich, red leather that I fell in love with at the Recliner Land. (Similar to this.) At the time, our apartment was too small for any additional furniture so I had to walk away. But I have not forgotten.
Finally now we have a living room large enough for a television viewing area with the sofa and a sitting area for armchairs, so I made sure to request a chair when selecting our temporary furniture. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered the armchair was incredibly uncomfortable and unsuitable for curling up with a book. So shortly after we settled in I began a low-level search for an armchair, not actively looking but paying attention.
Last week, while planning some free or cheap local activities, I decided to go back to the Yamato station area and browse a craft store I had come across last summer. When Google mapping my route I saw a little star on the map, without a description, that I did not remember placing. I figured it was some place I read about and wanted to check out, so I added it to my itinerary. Boy, was I ever happy I did.
It turned out that little gold star was Smile Company, a three-story recycle shop, the largest second-hand store I have found here so far. I slowly looked around the first floor, with clothing and accessories; then the second floor, with housewares and electronics; and finally the third floor, with furniture. At the far end of the large room, among tightly-packed rows of chairs, I found my armchair.
Everything about this chair was perfect, the (surprisingly neutral) versatile teal leather, the low arm rests, deep seat, and a style resembling mid-century modern but with softer lines. It is almost timeless and can safely be placed the styles of many past decades without strictly adhering to one. On top of all this the price was unbeatable, ¥4800 less 10% because of a sale. That works out to be about $42. Wow! I had to have it.
Since I was travelling on foot that Monday I planned on returning the following morning with our car hoping the chair would fit. I had not measured it at the store so I prepared best I could and measured the hatch opening at the back of the car. At one meter wide inside I had hopes of it fitting but realistically knew it was doubtful because the opening itself was not that wide and or tall.
The drive to Smile Company on Tuesday morning was a bit stressful -- I do not drive on local Japanese roads very often and especially not very far. The transit system here is incredible and I love it, why drive? Using Google navigation I arrived successfully in about 40 minutes and as soon as the doors opened at 10:30 I was skipping up those steps, yen in hand, for my chair. It was still there! I found a store employee nearby to help me. He spoke very little English, matching my extremely limited Japanese, but with photos on my phone and metric measurements written down we concluded that the chair would not fit. I was sad but still hopeful that I could find someone with a bigger vehicle to help me. So I left the store with a few small items I had seen the previous day and crossed my fingers on the ride home.
By evening it was obvious that I, alone, would have to accomplish the mission and I was motivated. I scheduled a rental van for the following morning for two hours at $10 an hour with no fuel charge. The timing was tight, no doubt. I arrived on Wednesday morning to pick up the van a little ahead of my scheduled time so I could take advantage of every minute. First off, I measured and took a photo of the rear opening of the van.
Oh, it was going to fit all right but was I ever nervous about driving a van on the tiny roads in Japan. I have driven large vehicles before, full-size vans and moving trucks included, but on wide roads in the States. Local roads here are entirely different and don't forget that in Japan the driver's seat is on the right and we use the left side of the road. But I figured if other people could do it, I certainly could too, and I did. In order to not totally freak out I divided the mission into manageable parts. First was to drive there, which I did successfully and safely with lots of deep breathing. Then I had to purchase the chair, which included showing photos and measurements, and asking for help getting it to the van. This was all accomplished with some flipping through an English-Japanese translation book and many smiles and arrigatos. Step two done, the chair was mine!
At this point I had only an hour remaining and time was more nerve-wracking than driving. After making it though many traffic slow-downs (local "Utility Repair Day"?) I finally made it to the house. Step three done. I backed the van right up to the front porch, which required jumping the curb and driving over a lot of grass, and hefted the chair onto the porch. Step four done. Then I got back in the van, and drove to return it. Step five done!
At this point I relaxed a little, knowing the hard part was over. Once I drove back home in our car I struggled a bit getting the big chair to angle through the doorway, at one point thinking it wasn't going to fit. But I did it, all by myself. You should have seen my happy dance after I shut the front door.
Since it was barely after noon I had plenty of time to enjoy the set-up process. Aided by some loud music, I cleared the living room, cleaned the floors, and put it all back together, making some adjustments for the new chair, which I also cleaned and conditioned. By the time I was done, pleased with the results, it was time to leave for a meeting.
It wasn't until Thursday morning that I first got to really use the chair and it was fabulous! I am so lucky that I found it and so happy that I overcame every obstacle to get it. I will use it every day I live in this house and I will be thankful that this wasn't another chair that got away.
We still use and dearly love our sofa, with its dual recliners and soft leather, and it has survived two moves with minimal damage (the thing is beastly heavy and awkward). Yet often when I sit back on that sofa and rest my head I think about the chair that got away. Yes, the ladies'-size, straight-back reclining chair tautly covered in a smooth, rich, red leather that I fell in love with at the Recliner Land. (Similar to this.) At the time, our apartment was too small for any additional furniture so I had to walk away. But I have not forgotten.
Finally now we have a living room large enough for a television viewing area with the sofa and a sitting area for armchairs, so I made sure to request a chair when selecting our temporary furniture. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered the armchair was incredibly uncomfortable and unsuitable for curling up with a book. So shortly after we settled in I began a low-level search for an armchair, not actively looking but paying attention.
Last week, while planning some free or cheap local activities, I decided to go back to the Yamato station area and browse a craft store I had come across last summer. When Google mapping my route I saw a little star on the map, without a description, that I did not remember placing. I figured it was some place I read about and wanted to check out, so I added it to my itinerary. Boy, was I ever happy I did.
It turned out that little gold star was Smile Company, a three-story recycle shop, the largest second-hand store I have found here so far. I slowly looked around the first floor, with clothing and accessories; then the second floor, with housewares and electronics; and finally the third floor, with furniture. At the far end of the large room, among tightly-packed rows of chairs, I found my armchair.
Everything about this chair was perfect, the (surprisingly neutral) versatile teal leather, the low arm rests, deep seat, and a style resembling mid-century modern but with softer lines. It is almost timeless and can safely be placed the styles of many past decades without strictly adhering to one. On top of all this the price was unbeatable, ¥4800 less 10% because of a sale. That works out to be about $42. Wow! I had to have it.
Since I was travelling on foot that Monday I planned on returning the following morning with our car hoping the chair would fit. I had not measured it at the store so I prepared best I could and measured the hatch opening at the back of the car. At one meter wide inside I had hopes of it fitting but realistically knew it was doubtful because the opening itself was not that wide and or tall.
The drive to Smile Company on Tuesday morning was a bit stressful -- I do not drive on local Japanese roads very often and especially not very far. The transit system here is incredible and I love it, why drive? Using Google navigation I arrived successfully in about 40 minutes and as soon as the doors opened at 10:30 I was skipping up those steps, yen in hand, for my chair. It was still there! I found a store employee nearby to help me. He spoke very little English, matching my extremely limited Japanese, but with photos on my phone and metric measurements written down we concluded that the chair would not fit. I was sad but still hopeful that I could find someone with a bigger vehicle to help me. So I left the store with a few small items I had seen the previous day and crossed my fingers on the ride home.
By evening it was obvious that I, alone, would have to accomplish the mission and I was motivated. I scheduled a rental van for the following morning for two hours at $10 an hour with no fuel charge. The timing was tight, no doubt. I arrived on Wednesday morning to pick up the van a little ahead of my scheduled time so I could take advantage of every minute. First off, I measured and took a photo of the rear opening of the van.
Oh, it was going to fit all right but was I ever nervous about driving a van on the tiny roads in Japan. I have driven large vehicles before, full-size vans and moving trucks included, but on wide roads in the States. Local roads here are entirely different and don't forget that in Japan the driver's seat is on the right and we use the left side of the road. But I figured if other people could do it, I certainly could too, and I did. In order to not totally freak out I divided the mission into manageable parts. First was to drive there, which I did successfully and safely with lots of deep breathing. Then I had to purchase the chair, which included showing photos and measurements, and asking for help getting it to the van. This was all accomplished with some flipping through an English-Japanese translation book and many smiles and arrigatos. Step two done, the chair was mine!
At this point I had only an hour remaining and time was more nerve-wracking than driving. After making it though many traffic slow-downs (local "Utility Repair Day"?) I finally made it to the house. Step three done. I backed the van right up to the front porch, which required jumping the curb and driving over a lot of grass, and hefted the chair onto the porch. Step four done. Then I got back in the van, and drove to return it. Step five done!
At this point I relaxed a little, knowing the hard part was over. Once I drove back home in our car I struggled a bit getting the big chair to angle through the doorway, at one point thinking it wasn't going to fit. But I did it, all by myself. You should have seen my happy dance after I shut the front door.
Since it was barely after noon I had plenty of time to enjoy the set-up process. Aided by some loud music, I cleared the living room, cleaned the floors, and put it all back together, making some adjustments for the new chair, which I also cleaned and conditioned. By the time I was done, pleased with the results, it was time to leave for a meeting.
It wasn't until Thursday morning that I first got to really use the chair and it was fabulous! I am so lucky that I found it and so happy that I overcame every obstacle to get it. I will use it every day I live in this house and I will be thankful that this wasn't another chair that got away.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
To the Produce Stand.
Returning home from a long vacation usually involves greeting an empty refrigerator.
Instead of immediately rushing to the grocery store to randomly select whatever
looks good I am finally attempting to form a meal plan. So far I’m still in the
thinking and researching stage. Until pen hits paper, though, we need to eat.
My pantry is well stocked with canned food and dry goods and the
freezer contains meats and leftover meals so there is no need to rush, except
for the produce. My Tuesday focus was fresh produce.
Empty fruit and vegetable drawers are a sad sight, so I pulled them out
for some loving cleaning and figured I might as well wipe out the inside of the
fridge while I’m at it. Then I stepped out into the beautiful, sunny, fifty
degree day for my favorite errand, walking to the local produce market.
I’m not sure the name of this particular produce market, but it’s tiny,
with an open storefront, and all the prices are written in marker on pieces of
cardboard. The prices are good, the quality is great, and, as is customary in
Japan, the customer service is warm and friendly. There is usually one person near
the front packaging and stocking, one person near the back manning the cash
register, and a couple others are in the back room (from what I can tell).
Not having a plan at the produce stand is perfectly acceptable, as long
as you keep your purchases to one bag so you have time to use everything while
still fresh. I generally choose various items that are easy to use along with one
unfamiliar vegetable.
When my arms are full the woman near the back helps me to the register.
Even though I can’t yet speak more than the basic handful of frequently used
Japanese words, she smiles and talks to me as if I understand everything, which
I like because she is treating me as she would every other customer. I’m still
working on Fukuro kekko des which I
was told means “No bag thank you” because I usually carry my own. This time I had my awesome, new Whole Foods
bag that my sister lovingly gave me; it is big and sturdy and shows a dinosaur loving
up on a giant beet.
After paying for my produce with ample arigatou gozaimasu (thank you) I walked up a couple stores to the
Family Mart, a konbini (convenience
store). Whenever I go out locally I like to stop at more than one place just
for the interaction and the experience and I sometimes combine that with a
small snack purchase of something new and unfamiliar.
Curious about what I came home with?
Broccoli/Burokori – I tossed
the florets in olive oil, roasted them in the oven, then sprinkled sel gris
French sea salt on them and ate almost all of them while standing at the stove
finishing the main course. Yum!
Carrots/Ninjin – One of these
is cut up the slow cooker right now.
Ginger/Shoga – This is the
package at center bottom with the panda face. It is not a dry root but two
knots that are moist; the taste is the same because I used it to fancy-up
leftover beef guydon last night.
Potatoes/Jagaimo – Just simple
white potatoes.
Apples/Ringo – Local apples
are delicious, which comes at a price, ¥398 for 5 apples ($3.90 with today’s exchange rate)
but so worth it. These particular apples are crisp and juicy without a single
flaw or blemish.
Mushrooms/Kinoko – I love
mushrooms and frequently buy these three types (from top to bottom of photo): Bunashimeji, Maitake, Shiitake.
Garlic Chives/Nira – This was
my mystery vegetable. (Well, a mystery to me). I assumed correctly it was a
type of green onion but the flat leaves threw me off. With the help of Google
Images I learned about it and used it last night in the guydon, this morning
with eggs, and tonight in an experiment.
All that produce came to ¥1458 ($14.28), a deal here because the price
of produce certainly gave me sticker shock right after we moved, it still does
actually. Notice that nothing was over
Now, what treats did I find at the Family Mart?
Gokuri Ume – I knew ume
is “plum” so it had to be good, and it was. The bottle reads 1% of something, I
assume juice (?) because I didn't see kanji for “alcohol”. Fruity- and soda-like alcoholic beverages are
popular here and are sometimes difficult to distinguish. Gokuri seems to be a line of juice drinks produced by Suntory, a
leading beverage company in Japan. It cost ¥158.
Sweet Potato-something – This was 100% sweet deliciousness with a
smooth, slightly chewy outer layer and silky-cream sweet potato interior. I highly recommend it even though it seems
rather small for the ¥115 price.
This small excursion took a little under an hour in time and just under
two miles in distance. I am so happy and thankful that such a short journey
provides so much fulfillment.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Travel Pillow Trick.
Packing for a trip always involves space conservation so finding room in unconventional places is key.
Neck roll pillows are a luxury when attempting to relax or sleep on an airplane or train but they are bulky and not always worth the hassle of carrying. Recently, I had a genius idea though.
When traveling in cold weather I wear a scarf, hat, and gloves, but once I'm settled into my seat they are no longer needed. At that point I take them off and pull out the travel pillow, so why not merge the two?
Good travel neck pillows have a removable cover for easy washing. My simple solution: take out the inner pillow and replace it with your winter accessories. It may be a little lumpy and not as firm but it still functions and it certainly saves space.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Supply Drawer Dividers.
You may have just finished reading about my lovely Supply Drawer Reface project. If yes, thank you and please continue reading to see where the story leads. If you have not, may I suggest following this link to do so in order to catch up.
When filling up all my newly refaced drawers I took care to maintain a comfortable level of organization that would enhance function yet not force rigid guidelines on precisely where items must be put back. Let’s face it, sometimes we just dump things in drawers. Even you.
The two deep bottom drawers mainly store bulky and less used items like stationary, old label makers and extra boxes of safety pins, tape, and the like. They stay fairly organized on their own and are comfortably sitting this round out.
The three shallow drawers on top are used constantly because they hold the writing instruments, scissors, tape, rulers, sticky notes, and etcetera. Now that the supply drawers live in a shared space (i.e. not my own separate office) my husband uses it almost as often as I do andI must learn how to share it needs to function for both of us.
Most used of all five drawers is the top one. I wish I took a “before” photo but surely you can picture a 10x12 inch drawer filled with a mixture of pens, pencils, markers, and miscellaneous writing utensils. The thing is, it’s always been that way; any attempted organization eventually failed, reverting it back to a single dumping drawer. Though not ideal, it worked. But when I began dumping them in this time, after fixing it up, I stopped and said, “No, there must be a better way.”
Those who know me are aware of my obsession making and using organizers out of old boxes. (I’m actually in the middle of yet another said project). Sometimes I fear this may lean towards the hoarding spectrum. At any time you can visit and see a couple small groupings of small and medium-sized empty boxes, but at the same time you can also see where and how I've used them in practical manners. Here is one of those stories…
I began with a large, clean work surface; the empty drawer, freshly cleaned and refurbished; and all the needed supplies for the project. The boxes I used came with a popular Scotch and are made of a great cardboard that is quite sturdy for its relative thinness with a smooth, white interior.
Using a ruler that is exactly 12 inches (30.48cm) end-to-end I measured the length of the drawer. The ruler actually fit at exactly that length at the shortest part so if I made the drawer dividers 30cm long they would fit at any point across the drawer comfortably. The drawer height is 8.5 cm so I decided on 7cm for the divider height so it would be deep enough to hold a lot but not tall enough to impede opening the drawer (obviously).
The original box is 33.5cm x 9-9.5cm (the sides have small size discrepancies common for mass-produced consumer product boxes) so I needed to trim it down. Using the side with the longest end as the bottom of the divider (in this case, the side with the lid flap) I measured 7cm up from there on both sides. I cut the small lid flaps off because they are not needed and just get in the way. Then using a very sharp box cutter I very carefully cut along the 7cm marked line all the way around. The excess just cut off is not needed in this project, I put it into recycling.
Now the divider is taking shape. I measured 30cm along the bottom, marking a line there indicating where I wanted the end of the divider. I then cut along the corners up to that line creating small flaps and folded them to the inside. Holding them there I mustered all the dexterity I could and pulled the box up on its end in order to fold the bottom (roughly shown in the photo). I marked a new line on the end where the side flaps came up and cut that extra part off. At this point I pulled out the tape and started holding and taping everything together until I had the finished organizers that fit perfectly in the drawer.
When I started sorting the markers and pens into their new dividers I didn't like how items looked or felt in the middle space. I worried that smaller objects may slide under the boxes and decided to make another, smaller box, to put in the middle. Of course.
Often when my husband finishes a box of cereal he will thoughtfully leave the empty box at the bottom of the pantry, next to the paper recycling, in case I want to use it. So when I opened the pantry door that afternoon an empty box awaited me. Destiny, it was, when I tested the size of the box and it fit absolutely perfect in that empty space. I was so excited; it took me only a couple minutes to measure, cut, and tape the box for the middle as well as a slightly smaller one to put inside. I was giddy at this point and couldn't wait to begin filling them.
The resulting drawer organizers are exactly what I wanted. If the outside designs on the boxes bother me I can easily trim them down more or cover them with white paper to unify the look. I’ll wait and see.
To satisfy your curiosity, the second drawer holds scissors, rulers, tapes, and few other things. In the center is a clear divider cut from a large Q-Tip box.
The third drawer utilizes some plastic dividers I found at a thrift store many years ago and contain various things that don’t categorize well.
Sharing this project seems a bit personal, as if you are pilfering through my drawers and fingering my eclectic mixture of pens (which all work well, by the way). At least you know who you can always borrow a pen from though.
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| After refacing. |
When filling up all my newly refaced drawers I took care to maintain a comfortable level of organization that would enhance function yet not force rigid guidelines on precisely where items must be put back. Let’s face it, sometimes we just dump things in drawers. Even you.
The two deep bottom drawers mainly store bulky and less used items like stationary, old label makers and extra boxes of safety pins, tape, and the like. They stay fairly organized on their own and are comfortably sitting this round out.
The three shallow drawers on top are used constantly because they hold the writing instruments, scissors, tape, rulers, sticky notes, and etcetera. Now that the supply drawers live in a shared space (i.e. not my own separate office) my husband uses it almost as often as I do and
Most used of all five drawers is the top one. I wish I took a “before” photo but surely you can picture a 10x12 inch drawer filled with a mixture of pens, pencils, markers, and miscellaneous writing utensils. The thing is, it’s always been that way; any attempted organization eventually failed, reverting it back to a single dumping drawer. Though not ideal, it worked. But when I began dumping them in this time, after fixing it up, I stopped and said, “No, there must be a better way.”
Those who know me are aware of my obsession making and using organizers out of old boxes. (I’m actually in the middle of yet another said project). Sometimes I fear this may lean towards the hoarding spectrum. At any time you can visit and see a couple small groupings of small and medium-sized empty boxes, but at the same time you can also see where and how I've used them in practical manners. Here is one of those stories…
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| Stay hydrated. |
I began with a large, clean work surface; the empty drawer, freshly cleaned and refurbished; and all the needed supplies for the project. The boxes I used came with a popular Scotch and are made of a great cardboard that is quite sturdy for its relative thinness with a smooth, white interior.
 |
| Length. |
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| Depth. |
Using a ruler that is exactly 12 inches (30.48cm) end-to-end I measured the length of the drawer. The ruler actually fit at exactly that length at the shortest part so if I made the drawer dividers 30cm long they would fit at any point across the drawer comfortably. The drawer height is 8.5 cm so I decided on 7cm for the divider height so it would be deep enough to hold a lot but not tall enough to impede opening the drawer (obviously).
 |
| Please be very careful using your cutting instrument of choice. |
The original box is 33.5cm x 9-9.5cm (the sides have small size discrepancies common for mass-produced consumer product boxes) so I needed to trim it down. Using the side with the longest end as the bottom of the divider (in this case, the side with the lid flap) I measured 7cm up from there on both sides. I cut the small lid flaps off because they are not needed and just get in the way. Then using a very sharp box cutter I very carefully cut along the 7cm marked line all the way around. The excess just cut off is not needed in this project, I put it into recycling.
 |
| Snipping the bottom edge to make the flaps. |
 |
| A confusing photo for a confusing step. |
 |
When I started sorting the markers and pens into their new dividers I didn't like how items looked or felt in the middle space. I worried that smaller objects may slide under the boxes and decided to make another, smaller box, to put in the middle. Of course.
 |
| Oh, she's at it again. |
Often when my husband finishes a box of cereal he will thoughtfully leave the empty box at the bottom of the pantry, next to the paper recycling, in case I want to use it. So when I opened the pantry door that afternoon an empty box awaited me. Destiny, it was, when I tested the size of the box and it fit absolutely perfect in that empty space. I was so excited; it took me only a couple minutes to measure, cut, and tape the box for the middle as well as a slightly smaller one to put inside. I was giddy at this point and couldn't wait to begin filling them.
 |
| Markers, pencils and miscellaneous, and pens. |
The resulting drawer organizers are exactly what I wanted. If the outside designs on the boxes bother me I can easily trim them down more or cover them with white paper to unify the look. I’ll wait and see.
 |
| Top drawer. |
To satisfy your curiosity, the second drawer holds scissors, rulers, tapes, and few other things. In the center is a clear divider cut from a large Q-Tip box.
 |
| Second drawer. |
The third drawer utilizes some plastic dividers I found at a thrift store many years ago and contain various things that don’t categorize well.
 |
| Third drawer. |
Sharing this project seems a bit personal, as if you are pilfering through my drawers and fingering my eclectic mixture of pens (which all work well, by the way). At least you know who you can always borrow a pen from though.
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