Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

Take a stroll around the house with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I PROMISE you it will be the most satisfying part of your weekend.

I had scuffs, dirt, and stains I thought I would be living with forever. And poof, they're gone!

This is how they work.

And here are a bazillion uses.

Vinegar + Anne = New BFF

In my quest for environmentally friendly cleaning products I have often come across vinegar as a suggested cleanser - and have always pooh-poohed it due to its very unpleasant smell.

But I finally gave in and tried it today. Um, wow! My kitchen sink has never been so happy and shiny! The dirt willingly jumps right off and all of my hard water spots are gone (poof, magic).

I have no doubt that I can now conquer the world armed with a bottle of vinegar and an old toothbrush.

1001 Uses for Vinegar

Summer, summer, summer-time...

:)

http://isiticedcoffeeweather.com/

Sunsets

This is the worst time of year. March in Minnesota is yucky: cold, dreary, dirty. The newness of winter and the freshness of the snow are gone. It drags.

What makes it even harder is that two years ago at this time I was in beautiful Coffee Bay, South Africa. It holds my heart more than I ever imagined a geographic location could. I spent my days on those hills above the ocean, watching the waves roll in, sitting still in the warm sun; exploring rocks and shells, pools of water and sea life.

I'm watching the sun set outside my window at work just now and it is gorgeous - reminds me very much of this Coffee Bay sunset, two years ago. Something about the hues are just right.

And I have been thinking a lot these last few weeks about why exactly it is that I choose to be where I am - when there are so many other more desirable locations in the world. Then I am remembering how lonely South Africa was for those three months.

My friends and family are here. That's what makes Minnesota energizing, breath-taking, and ultimately fulfilling. I take you all for granted far too often. Sarah, you are the ocean waves. Abby, you are the sea shells. Shannon, you are the goats and cows (not so flattering, I realize, but they make me laugh just as you are always able to do). And Mom, you are the sun - keeping my heart warm.

Aww.

I ♥... - The February 25th, 2009 Edition

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

Jamaican and Zambian coffee

Happy hour sushi at Nami

Afternoon sun through my window at work

My new bromeliad, about to bloom


(it's from the pineapple family!)

Valentine's Day

Oh, the number one is not my favorite number (why?)
'Cause one means only me and there's no you (aw, Ernie)
But one plus one you see
Makes two, that's you and me
And it's more fun when one and one make two

Oh, one and one make two
At least I'm pretty sure they do
Oh yes it's true
One and one make two

Now, everyone needs somebody to share with
A pal to help and care for through and through
And there's no one that I've known
Who can do those things alone
It's a lot nicer when one and one make two

Oh, one and one make two
At least I'm pretty sure they do
Oh yes it's true
One and one make two

-One and One Make Two, sung by Bert & Ernie

From my kitchen window this morning...

The sun is rising upon a beautiful new day.

You know it's cold when...

You wake up in the morning to find a pillow frozen to the window by your bed.

Christmas is a Feeling in Your Heart

I generally complain about how long the Christmas season is - I think most of us do. But doesn't it always seem like Christmas is here too soon? I never feel I have fully celebrated. I wish I had a full week for decking the halls, figgy pudding, and one-horse-open-sleigh rides.

I have, however, come up with some small, everyday (okay, somewhat kitschy) ways to celebrate that have become cherished traditions.


Gaudy Christmas Pins
Wear one on your winter coat. Pins with jingle bells or flashing lights get extra points.


Green and Red InkUsing green and red pens will feel particularly festive in cubicalville.


Nog in Coffee
Use egg nog, soy nog, whatever nog best suits you.


Pandora
Holiday Music on Pandora


Christmas Socks
Again, jingle bells are a nice touch here (your coworkers will love them, I promise).


Merry Christmas!

Fake Empire

On my playlist these days: Fake Empire by The National. It was used in Obama's Signs of Hope & Change video sans lyrics - but I'm thinking it might have been chosen because of the lyrics. Hmm... (Good work Obama campaign.)

Stay out super late tonight
picking apples, making pies
put a little something in our lemonade and take it with us
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Tiptoe through our shiny city
with our diamond slippers on
do our gay ballet on ice
bluebirds on our shoulders
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Turn the light out say goodnight
no thinking for a little while
let’s not try to figure out everything at once
It’s hard to keep track of you falling through the sky
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

"Is how we have been really how we want to be?"

Ailing economy a chance to teach kids something they'll have forever

I will definitely want to be reminded of this article when I am doing Christmas shopping for my own future children.

Things I Love About Life - Part I

Yes, they're called Crispy Hexagons. I would love to meet the marketing people who came up with the name.

Our New First Lady

I'm not sure I have ever in my life been more excited for the next four years. Is it okay that I adore everything about the Obamas? Or am I just setting myself up to be disappointed?

I ♥ this article - hopefully every member of the news media will read it. Well done, Vanity Fair.

Welcome to the White House, Mrs. Obama!

Given all the other things Mrs. Obama stands for, do we really need to critique every dress, hairstyle, and daily make up job as if she were some teenage contestant on America’s Next Top Model? She is smart, hard-working, dignified, well-intentioned—and human.
. . .
Let’s let our new First Lady be a fully dimensional grown-up woman, with strengths and weaknesses and idiosyncrasies and unconventional quirks and adult sexuality and cranky moods and even—oh, the horror!—opinions that sometimes diverge from those of her husband. We accept all those things in the women we know in everyday life, but it’s still a radical idea to stop imposing absurdly hypocritical, quasi-Victorian standards on our First Lady.

Signs of Hope & Change: Election Night

Vote Smart on November 4th

Of course we should all vote. It's part of the responsibility of being in a democratic society. But I would actually prefer that most people didn't.

We really don't want to elect someone like Rahn V. Workcuff accidentally. He's running for the Hennepin County Soil and Supervisor seat on an anti-gay marriage and affordable healthcare platform. I am definitely not joking.

Yes, I understand how fun it is to fill in all of the little boxes - but please use caution and try to do a little bit of research first.

Eezing My Misery

I get sick a lot. Why? We're not quite sure. But if you have a virus, I promise I will get it - despite having hand sanitizer on my desk at work, in my car, and in my purse - despite taking vitamin C tablets every day.

Echinacea seems to less my symptoms and I have sworn by it for years. But I recently found a new homeopathic treatment that has helped greatly with my three most recent colds. Usually I'm sick for a week, at least. Now I'm sick for three days - and not nearly as miserable.

Cold-Eeze

The medical community has done trial after trial and they're still not convinced. But here's the real reason why I think it works:

"The significant reduction in the duration of common colds with zinc gluconate lozenges may be due to the subjects' belief that anything tasting as bad as zinc and with as much aftertaste as zinc must be good medicine" (Farr and Gwaltney, 1987).

Yes, this stuff is good medicine.

Solidarity

I was a teensy-bit cranky on the drive home today. And then Mr. Blue Honda decided to pull out in front of me on Plymouth Ave. Normally I would lay on the horn in such a situation but I noticed his bumper sticker.
Bad driving forgiven. Let's get it done.

Sarah Palin Makes Me Want to Vomit/I Adore Tina Fey

That's a bit harsh, I guess. Sarah Palin doesn't make me want to vomit. The idea of Sarah Palin as VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES makes me want to vomit. I mean, really. What is going on??

8 More Shocking Revelations About Sarah Palin

RNC Protests

There's a whole lot to read about the protests during the RNC and the unwarranted violence and force used by police - not to mention the many, many illegal arrests. Feel free to check any number of alternative media sites.
http://twincities.indymedia.org/
http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/

But I'm glad to see that even the mainstream media is acknowledging the injustice - the video below is from the Pioneer Press. I'm guessing it's only because so many of their journalists were arrested but that's okay, as long as it's acknowledged.

It all makes me a little sick, really. I understand there's a fine balance between security and honoring the first amendment (and basic human rights, for that matter) but I'd argue that we definitely missed it this past week. I'm disappointed in you, St. Paul.

Families, Love & Summertime

A weekend with my family in Minnesota's beautiful lake country helps to remind me what matters.

I don't need to - earn six figures/end global poverty/travel the world/be CEO - to be happy.

I'll be just fine with-

a yard and some flowers ... kids and then grandkids ... church every Sunday ... birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baptisms ... friends to grow old with ... someone I am in love with forever ...

and a summer day up north at the lake.

______________________________
at a little wooden cabin
up in northern minnesota
we ran together down to the dock
and you jumped right off it
and from out in the water
you called me to join you
and i said baby i cannot swim
if i jump i’ll surely drown you
you said life has no limit
if you’re not afraid to get in it

and oh baby i jumped to you
since then there’s nothing i can’t do

i'm never gonna give you up
what do you got if you ain't got love

If You Ain't Got Love, Mason Jennings
______________________________