With In Arms Reach

As I was making dinner the other night I went to grab a few spices from the pantry.  I was disappointed that I could not find the small jar of curry powder.  At that moment I knew that we needed to do something about our pantry.   The pantry clean up needed to start with a new spice rack.  I have a ton of spices that I use almost daily, and I can't believe how quickly they get unorganized.  I need a few good spice racks that will keep me organized and the spices with in arms reach.  I started looking around for the perfect kitchen spice racks.  I realized that there were so many to choose from.  I don't know if I want a wall spice rack or one for the pantry.  Maybe I need both.  I could keep the spices I use most out on the counter and the others could be tucked away nicely behind a closed door.  Most of my spices come in a glass jar and since I buy all my spices at the same place the jars are nice and uniform.  I am not sure which option would suit me best.  I guess I will have to try a few before the system is perfect.  With so many options for a spice rack how do you choose?  Does anyone have a favorite spice rack that they can't live with out? 

Michael J. Fox: He Still Has "It"

 Guest post of the week by Moises Henderson

For the most part, TV guest cameos are terrible. The actors don't fit in at all with the show's aesthetic or comedic pace. Every now and then, TV shows hit a jackpot. While many Scrubs fans hated Courtney Cox or Elizabeth Banks on the TV show Scrubs, many loved Michael J. Fox's epic performance on the show as a celebrated doctor that everyone respected and went to for advice. While watching the show on http://www.direc4u.com, I fell in love with his performance, too. It felt real. It felt natural. It didn't feel like the producers sat down and said "This is a big star. What can we do with them?" Michael J. Fox didn't feel like he was forced into the show. Rather, he felt like he belonged there all the time. Michael J. Fox effortlessly infiltrated the cast and made it feel like he had been on the show forever. He interacted with every character on their level. He didn't make the show change for his personality or timing. He "fit" within the show cast. I found myself wishing for more Michael J. Fox appearances on the show. He made the perfect quirky mentor for the notably quirky show, and his character's OCD made it easy for the actor to fit in with J.D.'s imagination, Elliot's neurosis, and Dr. Cox's God complex.

Learning to Remodel

Which is harder building a house or a gut rehab?  Well, I don't know about building a house.  I do know that trying to decide on everything for a house is overwhelming.  Just when I thought I knew what I wanted, I saw something new and better.  Building supplies are going green and we want to be on the edge with them.  We want eco-friendly flooring, we want energy star appliances, we want the latest and greatest.  However, the price tag attached is often high.  So where do we go to purchase?  I have been scouring online venders for the perfect flooring.  We want cork, it is resilient, soft on the feet, and best of all can regrow in a short amount of time!  Or maybe we want bamboo flooring, it also can be grown quickly.  At what price, is it a good price? Its hard to tell.  So you can see that I am having a hard time deciding on the interior cosmetics for our gut rehab house.  Once I getting this flooring matter settled, I will be moving on to the kitchen.  I can't even think about that right now!

Future Banking

Online banking is awesome, convenience is key for me.  I find that online banking is convenient.  There are so many things that I enjoy over the traditional brick and mortar banks.  Being able to check my balances on my mobile is just one of the perks.  My bills are paid automatically, and if I do need to transfer money or pay another bill, I can do so from my pajamas in the middle of the night.  There are some pitfalls when it comes to online banking.  You don't have that personal banker that you would get from a brick and mortar, that you would see when you visit your local branch.   You have to worry about the security of the web page that is your bank, and whether or not someone is going to steal your account info.  For me it is worth the worry to continue because online banking is convenient. 
There are many website sources that can help you jump into the world of online banking.  Knowledge is key, and you can find info all over the Internet.  Check out sites with a guide to banking online, that will provide you with a wealth of information.  I love reading all the material out there dedicated to online banking because, after all, it will make managing my finances much easier!

Summer Time=Pool Time

We have been in the pool almost everyday for the last week.  With the temperatures soaring to 100 degrees nearly everyday, we have to get in the pool for some relief.  Not that it is a chore to take a dip in the pool and oh how the baby loves the water.  He can't get enough.  Though it is not all fun and games when it comes to the pool.  We have to maintain the pool to keep it looking its best.  So we do our weekly cleaning and filter changes.  I really do enjoy testing the water with the chemical set. 
To help cut down on the required maintenance we like to us  pool covers.  It keeps out leaves and other debris that is just a pain to vacuum.  While it does cut down on the leaves, it keeps the water nice and warm.  So I think now that the shade has covered the pool I should go on out and take a dip! 

Seeds

So I bought some seeds March 15.  To be specific I bought 5 seed packs.  I think everyone is aware of the size of a seed pack.  Unfortunately I paid 6.95 for shipping of the said seed packs.  At the time I thought it was fine, I figured they would have super fast shipping to justify the cost of shipping.  I placed my order and waited.  Five days past, then six, and seven, no seeds in the mail.  On the 9th day with no seeds I emailed The Cook's Garden, and asked them where my order was.  A few hours later I got an email confirming that the package was sent that day.  Again I waited, and waited, no seeds.  I sent another email, this time I got an email back with all the shipping info and an explanation of how they ship.  They ship via UPS then transfer to USPS.  Maybe they get a bulk rate, but why not just slip those seeds into a priority flat rate envelop for 4 bucks.  So today fully 13 days later, I got my seed packs.  I won't be buying from The Cook's Garden anymore.  That shipping is ridiculous, I guess that is what I get for not buying them on Etsy, like I was going to do.  Lesson learned.

Help Me Find a Hobby!

Guest post written by Jan Marion

I'm in need of a new hobby. Anyone got any suggestions? The ones I've tried just don't seem to be any good! I've tried gardening, but that's seasonal...so you know, even if I didn't have the black thumb (opposite of green thumb!) I have it wouldn't fulfill me year-round. I've tried cooking, but I'm just not loving that, either. I'm thinking that crochet might be the best thing for me. It's something I can do with my hands (which I love!) but it's also something you actually get a permanent reward from.

See, with cooking, it's all fun and delicious...but once you've dug into it, it's gone. But if I crochet something, like a pillow or a wall ! hanging, I'll have it for life. Yeah, I think that may be for me, the more I think of it. I'm going to check around for someDomainNames Hosting sites and see if I can get a site going for patterns. We'll see how this goes!

Birds of a Feather

It's that time of year again.  The Great Backyard Bird Count.  I did a fifteen minute count this morning and got 7 species.  It is easy, and you can get the kids involved with this great scientific project.  Check out the website for all the details!  Http://www.birdcount.org

The more people that participate the better.  This weekend get outside for a bit and count some birds for a good cause.  You can count for as little as 15 minutes.  Of course you can count for a longer time if you desire, just make sure you record the time and for how long.  You don't have to be an expert birder to participate, just grab a identification book, and you are all set.  I use a field guide to help me determine which birds I am looking at.  Fun, educational and free, can't beat that for a weekend activity!

Set Sail!

Sailing is a great vacation.  We take a trip annually to the British Virgin Islands, and we charter a sailboat and have some fun in the sun.  It is a ton of fun, and a great family reunion.  We spend months planning the trip, and we love the anticipation leading up to the trip.  This year I think we are going to have even more fun planning.  We found an app for the iphone called Come Sailing.    It is a great way to track your adventure.  The price is right!  For $1.99 you get a lot of bang for your buck!  I really like the information on the Points of Sail, I will get a lot of use from that.  Not only does the app let you track the dates in the log book, but it also gives you some great information, and the all important checklists!  I know for me I love lists, and these checklists are helpful to keep you on track.  I am excited about our trip, and with this app we will have more fun planning and keeping all the info in one place.  My iPhone!

Looking Young

Feeling young is no problem, with a 1 year running circles around I have to be fast, entertaining, and fun.  Keeping the outside looking young is harder.  Using lotions and cosmetics is one way to keep your skin looking good for years.  Make sure you check the labels so you are not inadvertently doing damage.  Not all skin care products are created equal.  Sometimes it is hard to find just the right product for your skin.  Is it dry, is it oily, or a combination.  Yes!  There are great lotions out there that can help.  From acne products to treatments for age spots, you can search the web to find an overwhelming amount of info and products that you might not find at your local shops.  I love to be outside as much as possible, so for me a everyday lotion with SPF is ver important.  Every skin has needs, and you have to be choosy when you pick out your products.  When you take care of yourself, you feel better!  Buy the best you can and you will surely be happy with the results.