Years ago, I discovered that there's just enough space between the glass and the frame of my dresser-top mirror to hold a sheet of paper in the corner of the mirror. I've placed many things there (a few at a time) for inspiration that I see every morning and evening: the Girl Scout Law , … Continue reading 7 Scriptures from My Mirror
Wisdom
7 Favorite Songs of 2010
I must be getting old. None of the songs I liked best and played most in 2010 were new songs released in 2010! Some of them are decades old. But they're all really good songs, and none of them ever was a big popular hit, so you might have missed them. For the thrifty music … Continue reading 7 Favorite Songs of 2010
How to Make Christmas Morning Last Longer
My family has a tradition for opening our Christmas gifts that makes the fun last longer, reduces chaos, increases our appreciation of each gift, helps us remember to thank gift-givers who are present, improves our ability to make an accurate list of who got what from whom (as a reference for thanking givers who aren't present), calms down that "Gimme gimme! What's next?" feeling, and helps us share each other's joy. It works wonders, and it's really simple!
Practical Stocking Stuffers
In my family, Christmas stockings are not just for children! Everybody has a stocking, and we play Santa to each other by stuffing the stockings with little treats when nobody's looking. It's no fair to peek into your stocking before Christmas morning--when we open stocking gifts first thing, before breakfast or even coffee! For the … Continue reading Practical Stocking Stuffers
How to Do Everything!
This article is linked to the greatest tips edition of Works-for-Me Wednesday, where the hostess explains how to get a human on the phone when you call customer service, and more than 178 people have linked to their own helpful tips on how to do all sorts of things. Here are my own greatest tips: … Continue reading How to Do Everything!
Important tip for Liquid Paper users
If you need to use a lot of Liquid Paper (or other brand of white-out or correction fluid) in a short time, particularly if it is the variety that says FAST DRY on the label, you will soon find that it is all gummy and impossible to spread and it seems like there isn't any … Continue reading Important tip for Liquid Paper users
The Time-to-Go-Home Clock
It's Works-for-Me Wednesday, and I'm very busy at work today with not much time for writing, but I've been thinking about a simple thing here in my office that really works for me: I have a small digital clock-radio plugged into the same power-strip with my computer and monitor. At the end of the day, … Continue reading The Time-to-Go-Home Clock
Balancing on the Ball
We've had an exercise ball for a couple of years now--one of those large, inflatable balls strong enough to hold an adult's weight, which can be used for lots of exercises. Daniel and I both love it. (Our five-year-old son loves it, too, but less for exercising than for rolling recklessly around the room and … Continue reading Balancing on the Ball
7 Lessons from Lent
It's 7 Quick Takes Friday at my favorite religious blog, and while my takes might not be quick, I'd like to share 7 things I recently learned: 1. I really, really hate flossing my teeth, and I do not get used to it. The reason I decided that my Lenten discipline would be flossing my … Continue reading 7 Lessons from Lent
It’s Only Monday.
I was invited by my pastor to present a "reflection" on the scripture readings for tonight's church service, like a short sermon. Our Episcopal parish has a service every day in this week before Easter, and we have a tradition of laypeople giving the reflections on the Monday and Tuesday--probably partly so that our pastor … Continue reading It’s Only Monday.
The Bluest Blue
A year or so ago, my church's assistant pastor began a sermon by saying, "You may never have really noticed our stained-glass windows." My jaw dropped. How could anyone not notice our stained-glass windows?! They're beautiful! They're very colorful, they depict a variety of Biblical characters and saints and symbols from obvious to obscure, and … Continue reading The Bluest Blue
The Value of Eleven Cents
Find a penny, pick it up; All the day you'll have good luck. I've enjoyed this superstition since I was a child and taught it to my child, but I never seriously believed it was true. The real reason I pick up coins I find on the ground is that they're money, and I figure … Continue reading The Value of Eleven Cents
Silk Underlayers
I'm an easily chilled person who hates feeling cold; I live in a place where winter lasts at least 4 months; I commute by bus, which means standing around outdoors for a while each day; I have a desk job, so I sit mostly still all day, and my office isn't always as warm as … Continue reading Silk Underlayers
How Credit Cards Work for Me
One of the good things about this economic depression is that it seems to be getting a larger number of people to put some real thought and effort into living within their means. I've been reading a lot of newspaper and magazine articles on the subject and finding that, although most of the tips are … Continue reading How Credit Cards Work for Me
The Path at the End of the Road
I wanted to be an architect. From the moment I first learned what architects do, when I was about ten years old, I knew that's what I wanted to be: a person who designs buildings that make people comfortable and happy. Right away, I started reading architecture books and magazines. I was fascinated by floorplans … Continue reading The Path at the End of the Road
Swinging for Fitness
How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do! Those are the opening lines of a poem from one of the My Book House books that I loved when I was a little girl. It … Continue reading Swinging for Fitness
Menstrual Cup Mania!!!
WARNING: People who are offended by graphic discussion of menstruation should go read something else. One of the very first things we put into The Earthling's Handbook was an article about alternatives to disposable pads and tampons. I've often been tempted to write a newer article with even more details about just how fabulous these … Continue reading Menstrual Cup Mania!!!
Treasuring Each Day
Last Thursday was a tough day for me. Yes, it was even harder than the previous Thursday. It was the day we were supposed to be on our way to Origins, a huge game convention where we see a bunch of our best friends, but instead I was sick in bed. That "coming down with … Continue reading Treasuring Each Day
Tie-dyed Socks!
My son, who is officially four-and-a-half years old today, loves colors and enjoys wearing a variety of colors. He was quite annoyed last fall when we went shopping for new socks and found that the choices offered were white, white with gray toes, black (but only thin dress socks), brown (same), and a variety pack of … Continue reading Tie-dyed Socks!
7 Product Recommendations
Here are some things I really like that I don't think I've mentioned before (I'm not affiliated with nor paid off by any of these companies): 1. Maggie's Organics cotton crew socks. At first I bought a few pairs because organic cotton is better for the environment, but then I found them so comfortable that … Continue reading 7 Product Recommendations
The Earthling's Handbook 