The Crazy Suburban Mom

Organ!zed: Pyrex

2012-01-27T08:17:00.000-05:00

Over the last few years some okay, a lot of Pyrex has come into my home. At first my family didn't mind, we didn't have enough serving bowls.

But the bowls continued to show up.

I loved my concentric stacks of colorful love. My family didn't understand the obsession and resented their circular glass rivals that now covered all horizontal surfaces. The second to the last straw were the fridgies.

"Who wants little square bowls?" they asked.

This tall, red tower was the last straw.

They didn't get my "performance art"explanation.

"They came with the lids", knowing that had to be a tipping point for any rational being. "Who would not buy them, tell me. Who?" The blank stares told me all I needed to know but they continued, "Get rid of those stupid things."

Faced with Pyrex annihilation I started using them.

And it was the perfect solution. They make great salad bowls.

Marinating in zip bags is perfect but I still need to put the bag in something; leaking poultry sets my OCD's teeth on edge. A big Pyrex bowl is the perfect size for marinating an entire chicken (in the fridge,please).

Next, I starting organizing with them. I store things that need to be out; shallots, onions...nanners...

But the best thing happened the day I almost dewormed myself.

It was obvious I had to find a way to separate the dog meds from my meds and everything from my vitamins.

Voilà y'all!

All of a sudden my family was oh! So happy with me! There was nothing on the counters, everyone could find what they needed and I got to keep most of my Pyrex.

And okay, I still have a few pieces considered fine art that my family can only admire from afar.

But at least I've stopped buying lamps. They have to give me that...

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Putting myself first on my own list

2012-01-26T06:35:00.000-05:00

Found something interesting a few weeks ago when I was surfing about clutter; according to The Riley Group: "Did you know clutter actually impacts your health? In addition to stress, clutter leads to weight gain, fatigue, and depression."

Weight gain really got my attention, not that stress, fatigue and depression don't interest me but when my jeans won't zip it's all downhill.

They went on to say, "The reason clutter affects so much is simple. Clutter causes stress; stress causes increased cortisol production and excess cortisol impacts health. When your body makes extra cortisol, you tire quickly and crave sugar. You also store more fat. Combine these factors and clutter actually makes us gain weight."

Okay. Wow.

I have been stressed; very, very stressed (and cluttered). Reading this didn't make me happy, who wants to hear "Oh yeah and another thing, it's not just eating making you fat!"

It does explain a thing or two, or should I say a pound or two that's still hanging around.

About a week ago there was a Nutrisystem Daily Dose, I faved it because it was great.

January 15, 2012

Postpone Procrastination

This week, we're going to talk about something that no one wants to admit to doing, but that a huge amount of people get caught up in: procrastination.

We don't mean to (well, actually we do "mean to"), but somehow we just never quite get around to making the move. And the longer we go without getting started, the less likely it is that we'll ever take the leap.

So why do we do it? And how do we stop it? Well, that's what we're going to talk about this week.

You've been busy, you don't like to exercise, etc.—there are so many excuses for why you haven't gotten started. But this week, we're going to try to focus on the real reasons.

So pencil in sometime this week. It's time to get our affairs in order and prepare ourselves to do those things we've been meaning to do but haven't quite gotten around to yet.

And weight loss is at the very top of that list.

This morning it all clicked. Sometimes I intend to do quite a lot -- Some gets done, some doesn't and some who even knows? I think my unfinished life is hanging around (my hips) as pounds of procrastination.

I've never thought of it that way before but between the cortisol thing, the clutter thing and the procrastination thing I better get the lead out or I'll never get the lead out .. of me.

Everyday I make a to-do list, you've all seen them...They have colored pens, stickers - highlighter. The works. I add everything... Well, I thought I did.

I don't log my Daily 3 and I don't track my meals here. I don't track Nutrisystem on my list or a better way to say it is, I don't track myself on my own list.

It's not that I have to track it here but why ever not -- I track everything else in the known Universe in my Filofax and Nutrisystem is something important I'm doing for myself. Why is it woman put themselves last on the list?

Starting today I will add a section and call it ... Hm, I'm going to call my new section something - I'll give this some thought.

Stand by for pictures of my Nutrisystem section.

Go check out Daily Dose and check out the 50 Click Reward today!

It's a new way to learn something valuable every day and say money. Win/Win!

If you want to lost weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem click HERE! or call 1-888-853-4689

If you want to have your steak and lose weight too; click the picture.

*This post was sponsored by Nutrisystem who is providing me with the food and apparently great labwork! and program materials in exchange for blogging.

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It's National Handwriting Day so...

2012-01-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

Go write something!

Every January 23rd the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association sponsors National Handwriting Day in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday. "Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his large, bold signature,"according to the WIMA.

Go right out and celebrate the day by buying a pen (and, for reals.... a Filofax couldn't hurt either).

You remember pens don't you? They are styluses with colorful, liquid centers.

Here's my wish list:

Pilot Fountain Pen 18K Gold Fine Nib in Dark Green

Pilot Capless Fountain in (swoon) Champagne Pink

The Lamy Dialog 3 in Palladium...

Although when it comes to the Yard-O-Led stuff... I'm kinda jonesing for them all...

Right?

Now go write someone a letter instead of texting. It will freak the bejebbers out of them but they will love it... Everyone loves mail without the e-

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Wool Gathering....

2012-01-22T10:44:00.003-05:00

If you have a wool sweater laying around gathering mothballs, cold hands, and the sewing skills of a five year old I've got a great project.

They are called many things; wrist warmers, fingerless gloves and more recently texting gloves. I didn't have a wool sweater but the thrift shop had a truly unfortunate one in need of a home. For five bucks I couldn't resist. It was thick and cheap, and most important, wool.

You can't do this project without a felt-able fiber and only animal fibers felt. When you're out and about thrifting look for wool, alpaca, cashmere (Don't scoff, I got a cashmere sweater the same day. Five dollars, crazy right?), or a combination.

Some people felt their pet's hair. Ginger's been laying low since I told her that. She doesn't have much to spare.

Plant fibers (like cotton) don't felt. Acrylic being neither plant nor animal, won't either. I've felted things that had a lot of animal and a little of something else, sometimes it's works. Felting isn't a science, you just never know.

Use a pair of SHARP! scissors and cut across the sleeve at whatever length you want. Leave the cuff intact; that will be one end.

I felt in my top-loading washing machine. Put the amputated sleeves (Note: I felted the entire sweater once before cutting) in a pillow case, twist the open end and rubber-band it closed. You do not want that pillow case to open (zippered pillow protectors are best but I don't have one).

Felting wool throws off a lot of washer-annihilating fibers (Think: big, expensive repair bill). So unless you want to open the top and find a woolly crime scene, close that pillow case well, my friend.

Set washer on the hottest, least amount of water and the heaviest cycle, add a little soap and a few pairs of jeans (to increase friction) and the rest happens naturally.

I felt things down very far. I don't want to see stitches in my felt. You don't have to run things through the washer more then once or twice to make felt but I do; five or six times is normal for me.

I run my projects through the dryer, you don't have to do that either. It doesn't speed up the felting process; just the process in general.

These were very institutional looking; bulky and concrete grey, so I embroidered a simple design using wool yarn. Adding a design can be done any time but if you do it in-between felting washes it becomes part of the fabric.

I like them much better with dark teal and gold accents.

I added a few stitches between the thumb and forefinger areas mid- washes so the gloves would 'felt to themselves' at the stitches. You can leave the stitches out. Many things called wrist warmers don't have stitches. Think: tubes.

I ♥ my fingerless gloves

Now onto some coasters.

P.S. There are books with far superior directions for sweater projects then I wrote up. You won't believe the possibilities!

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Tickle me, Filo

2012-01-20T12:05:00.001-05:00

The Year On One Page insert is a very important part of my Filofax though my main calendar is a WO2P (I talked about my main set up here). I started using the YO1P in 2011 and it followed me though several binders; I even taped it to my Midori Traveler's Notebook

Terri at Filofax Fixation posted about nearly missing a deadline because of the way the page folds and I hear you, Terri; been there, did that, and had to pay the doctor even though I missed the appointment.

I made this (Yo1P) insert efficient using color and tabs. The color-coding and stickers form a tickler system and one glance gives you an overview.

Terri seems very organized but for me, AaaDeeDee is my middle name. If my grey matter doesn't see it, it's not part of the known Universe.

The days run vertically with a (very) narrow line for info; the week ends are gray because Filofax has something against weekends. There isn't room for multiple lines of information; it almost functions as an overview... or index of the year.

As you can see from the picture I use post-its and that's what makes this work so well; without them (for me) it doesn't work at all.

I use these...

These...

And these...

It's the combination of tabs, flags, arrows with the insert that works.

I have two top tabs; Find Out and Remember. If what I need to find out or remember is buried behind a fold the tabs acts as a tickler. These top tabs could be dated as well for crucial dates.

The small tabs I use over individual dates and they have a clear section. I can write on or under them; depending on whether I think an appointment will change.

Sometimes I write on the colored section but really, do whatever you need to do with these. There are many versions of tabs you can read through and that's the important part, you need to see through them. But beyond that use what ever kind of sticky cherry makes your Filo Sundae complete.

*FYI not all pens are ideal for tab writing but most work.

The arrows - in the top photo - and their use varies, usually something I need refer to again, long-term. For example, I had a physical this month and I'll put an arrow over that date so I can find it for next years scheduling.

I use the Filofax clear sheets for sticker storage. Wouldn't want to be in need of a post-it and not have one, I mean pass the Xanax, right?

As a sort of aside, but still on topic enough not to be a non sequitur; I notice a lot of people use top tabs. Once I started doing this it was hard to find my Filofax ruler. I found a solution.

I added a top tab ON TOP of my ruler and since the thing was stickered to within an inch of it's straight little life already you don't notice that I added even more stickers to secure the top tab.

Now the ruler keeps my place and it's is a breeze to find because there's a little birdie sitting way, way up above all the other top tabs, saying hiya!

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Organ!zed: Bangles

2012-01-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

Bangles are hard to find places for but I've found something that works for me; whenever I use up some wide-mouthed jar thing I give it a new purpose. Upcycling in PC verbage.

I don't like the way the 'threads' look on the top so I cover those puppies with washi tape and Voilà! Bracelet storage and I keep something out of the landfill.

There are a few pieces I don't want banging around in a bottle so I loop those over something with a skinny neck. All my ahem, priceless jewels sit on a shelf and are out of the way but I can easily see what I have.

To keep the French thing going... Il n'est pas parfait?

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Reasons to adopt a greyhound

2012-01-17T08:27:00.004-05:00

Because sometimes life happens when you have other plans it took twelve years before I got my sweet Vee.

If you are thinking of adopting an ex-racing Greyhound realize they are a bit different from other dogs and you should read up. They were raised on a track so they've never seen things you'd consider mundane and it takes some adjustment on their part and patience on yours.

Things like tile floors, plate glass windows, stairs (especially stairs) and any breed of dog (besides a greyhound) are all new to them. Most things in a home they've never seen. And if you think oh no, too active a dog they aren't really. Some sleep most of the day, some are more active but when I meet people on the street they assume he's constantly in motion; being a greyhound.

I'd say Ventura is more in the middle, he'd love to run around more then he can because of his injury. If he could have one or two nice runs a day he'd be very happy. But by runs I mean sprints, greyhounds are sprinters - He would run a minute and a half and then lay down. Literally lay down on the lawn.

He has to be satisfied with walks and he loves to go in the car. I take him somewhere at least once a day.

They also lived a very regimented existence on the track and they like knowing when things will happen, it makes them feel secure. When all of a sudden everything is new and different, it's stressful.

There are a thousand reasons to adopt a greyhound but here's a top couple o' few.

A Greyhound will sit quietly while you read; just happy to be near you.

And they can love the most challenging among us to even like...

Sometimes on a walk Ventura will just stop because he doesn't know what I want him to do. He's afraid of garbage cans, my grill, and loud noises. I don't know what the track was like but I don't think there was a lot of hugging, comforting or comfort.

He loves to hug, I think he's making up for lost hugs.

There is something sweetly, peaceful about the greyhound countenance that eases my ragged edges.

And when all else fails...

A greyhound can make you laugh just being himself.

According to website How to adopt a greyhound Every year, over 26,000 greyhounds are registered with the National Greyhound Association. Many don't race, the one's that race don't normally race for more then two or three years.

It's likely more then 26,ooo greyhounds a year are looking for homes. There are organizations in all states and many countries; my sweet Vee came from Greyhound Friends of New Jersey. The adoption page is here but if you go...You may not be able to help yourself, just sayin'...

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Pinch me, I'm dreaming ... And it's Aqualicious!

2012-01-16T09:09:00.001-05:00

I'm speechless.

On Saturday I found a Blue Heaven Square Casserole, an Aqua Snowflake divided dish and something I never saw before but after surfing around at Pyrexlove I've decided is called Blowing Leaves and was a promotional bowl by Pyrex.

And it came with the lid, I mean. Couldja die?

I paid nineteen and change for all three and I kept pinching myself; I was sure I was having one of those Pyrex SCORE! dreams again!

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Prepare to be Krispy Kremed

2012-01-15T14:30:00.001-05:00

Be forewarned! Those of you who glaze like a doughnut when I wax on about Filofaxes, pens, to do notes and flipping adorable stickers; prepare to be Krispy Kremed.

All addictions have unintended consequences; branches off the main compulsion, I guess. Filofax addiction sprouts it's own little baby obsessions. Of course, everyone isn't jonessing for the same baby.

Some Filofolk can't get enough (quality) paper, others get weak kneed and giggle like a six year old girl over pens; for some it's the stickers. Some people want a little (or a metric poop ton) of everything.

While most people contemplate a new year by asking, "How should I diversify my financial portfolio?" Oh no, not me. Starting in October I was in a chicken with my head cut off panic over Wo2P? Wo1P? Something better? Something -- Custom?

Even though I know that falls into the category of Get a life, I can't help it.

But something else has reared it's ugly head and in addition to the benign pen/paper/sticker/ thing, I have developed a more sinister addiction; fine leather goods.

Around the time I began cavorting with Miss Finch and Mr. Malden I inexplicably developed an irrational obsession with a Gustto fold over clutch wallet. I goggled it daily looking for a better price ($315 retail, I mean. Really?).

Two hundred ginormous bucks was the best I found and I wasn't going there; clearly I wasn't totally off the leathery deep end but I couldn't let my dream go. I visited Miss Gustto often and we had tea and chatted. Well, okay I had tea and she promised to be a good little wallet if I'd order her.

Around the holidays, armed with gift money, I made a search and this time she was on sale with free shipping. I got the whole beautiful, leathery shebang for one-oh-seven which is um - Pretty insane for a wallet. But there are worse things to love then fine leather goods.

Plus Mr. Malden made me do it. He loves her you see...

Cute as a leather button, aren't they?

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What's in your planner?

2012-01-15T06:33:00.001-05:00

A while back I started a group on Flicker called, What's in your planner?
It's like the What's in your purse groups. There are groups showing the
inside of journals but they are planner specific; Midori only, Filofax,
handmade beauties, etc. But I couldn't find a catch-all group
and a lot of people have more then one kind of planner.

And in truth after years of trying to make a binder perfect the thing ends up
being a conglomeration; a Frankenbinder if you will. So I just created a group.

I added stuff and when I ran across something way too cool for school I
sent an invite.

This is a randomly generated sample, clicking any picture will take
you to the image.

To go to What's in your planner click here.

There's now 388 pictures and it's a lot of fun.

I was looking at it this morning and thought I'd link to it since I hadn't done that.

Give it a check out if the insides of binders blow your skirt up!

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You can't beat good cholesterol with a stick

2012-01-13T12:09:00.003-05:00

When I joined Nutrisystem I thought my weight was about the food... but not all about the food and I was right. As an emotional eater; Nutrisystem was an adjustment. Food was what I used to take my mind off anything I didn't want to think about. I'd while away hours looking at cookbooks, watching cooking shows, planning meals, and writing shopping lists. I'd read the newest diet books and plan to start the following week; while eating what I couldn't ever, never, have again.

And there was the more damaging grazing when troubling thoughts arose, eating if I was out and passed a drive-thru that yummy smells were wafting from, and circling hors d'oeuvres tables at parties as soon as no one was around so I could take all I wanted with no one seeing.

The funny thing about all these strange behaviors is they take huge amount of time and I was using that time as a buffer; something that cushioned me against anything I considered painful or uncomfortable. When I began Nutrisystem it was like my mind started twiddling it's thumbs and it was anxiety producing. When you are used to eating every time you have a twinge of, What do I do? What do I say? What next? Not eating in those circumstances produces some anxiety.

I've learned to fill those spaces. I'm filling them slowly, but I'm filling them. An example is last week I went through my clothes and got rid of anything I was wearing that didn't make me feel good and I even mean ratty things no one sees. I got rid of some truly horrific underpants last week, y'all...

I also let go of some pajamas that, sad to say, all of my son's friends have seen. Other things that are no longer with us are a denim skirt that should have left this world two years ago and a pair of pants that fit but looked a fright. When I go to dress for the day several shirts (that I wore a lot) are no longer there and it's a good thing because even though I always meant to work on those stains and sew on those buttons, I never did.

I got rid of two pairs of boots that made my feet look like the QE 2 and half a drawer of socks that had many things wrong with them.

I did some replacement shopping too. I was able to find 5 shirts, not one over $16 - all on clearance and I love them all to pieces. I have plenty of room for them because I got rid of what wasn't working.

This was all very time consuming and I accomplished it over several days which works for me because if you're used to thinking about food all time, face it - You need another hobby!

Nutrisystem is always there if you're looking for something to keep you out of the fridge. They have a very active forum on their website here, blogs and their facebook page is very active and SO supportive.

Oh, I almost forgot Twitter, they are very active on Twitter!

Nutrisystem made a lot of positive things happen for me and I'm not just talking about getting rid of all that truly awful underwear although for everyone who has to look at me on the days when I vacuum but am too lazy to get dressed -- That is truly a gift and they thank you too.

I had a physical last week. My triglycerides are down to normal (108) and that cholesterol ratio doctors lecture about endlessly till your eyes glaze over and you finally say, What?

Well, no one is haranguing moi; my brand new ratio is 3:1 and my LDL is 65.

I believe she used the word - "Great!" I understood why after googling it and thinking back I can't remember the last time I heard that word at a physical...

My weight loss is slow but weight loss is only one benefit of Nutrisystem. Besides some new clothes that make me smile each morning, and some rockin' new underpants... I will never tire of hearing my Doctor call me great and face it, you can't beat good cholesterol with a stick.

If you want to lost weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem click HERE! or call 1-888-853-4689

If you want to have your steak and lose weight too; click the picture.

*This post was sponsored by Nutrisystem who is providing me with the food and apparently great labwork! and program materials in exchange for blogging.

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Guess who won the Julep Maven box?

2012-01-13T10:38:00.002-05:00

I had so many responses to the Julep giveaway but the winner is... The Nail Files! Go check her out. You will love her.

The random comment that won her the package was this one and I'm posting it because she left a tip and I totally agree, moisturize.

1. I follow Julep Maven on Facebook: The Nail Files

2. I follow Julep Maven on Twitter: @follownailfiles

3. My favorite Julep color is now Vanessa! ;)

TIP: For fabulous nails in the winter.. MOISTURIZE! ;)

Email me honey! I need your contact info so I can send it off to Julep and they can get your box of nailicilous wonderousness out to you.

If you didn't win and want to try out your first box for

$5 use the code CRAZYSUBURBANMOM at checkout.

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Filofaxes, clutter and no wonder my cortisol level was through the roof

2012-01-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

Because it's the New Year I'm decluttering; not that I don't declutter at other times -- But this is a big one. I took a break from my dusty falala to surf around and found something interesting about clutter from The Riley Group: "Did you know clutter actually impacts your health? In addition to stress, clutter leads to weight gain, fatigue, and depression."

Weight gain really got my attention, not that stress, fatigue and depression don't interest me but when my jeans won't zip nothing good will come of that day anyway.

They went on to say, "The reason clutter affects so much is simple. Clutter causes stress; stress causes increased cortisol production and excess cortisol impacts health. When your body makes extra cortisol, you tire quickly and crave sugar. You also store more fat. Combine these factors and clutter actually makes us gain weight."

Okay. Wow.

Visual clutter is a huge issue for me. It bother's me. It bothers me a lot but.. It works for me too, as a tool. I'm not on par with a hoarder; I don't have tons of junk packed away in drawers and a back yard full of stuff waiting to go to a storage bin but I leave things out and I've been giving that (flaw) some thought.

I think I do that because I can't (won't, don't) depend on my memory. I keep everything out like a trail of bread crumbs. An effective and concrete, albeit messy, to do list...

If I put things away I'm afraid I won't remember to go, and do, to cook, and buy, to mend, call, pay, look up, schedule, and generally care for the details of my life.

Here's where my Filofax comes in...

I've had a personal sized Filofax for decades. I've tried to make it work but it never did. Once I got an A5 everything clicked; my todo lists got long and random; artsy, fun and colorful. They include everything from things I need to do and schedule to things I'm just tossing around and even things that I need to do days away.

Today I included things I need to do on Sunday, I'll add it to tomorrow's list and then Sunday's list because I advance what isn't done. This works for me so well because when I remember something randomly days away I just tack it in and move it up until it's the day.

What I've noticed is I used a Wo2P as a calendar but my primary way of keeping daily track is these todo sheets.

They remain in the Filofax as reference and I love the squares and title box at the top. For a while it seemed I was going to have to order them from Sweden but then I found (what I thought was) them at Fahrney's Pens. These are the one's I just got from Fahrney's.

They are almost identical to the ones I got from Sweden.

You can't tell from the picture but the Swedish ones have elongated holes and I think the paper is thicker which means I can play with ink without major drama or damage.

The sheets I received today feel like the weight of the Filofax planner pages.

I ordered two packs of the US version ($13.95 inclusive of shipping) and I'm going to try and work with them because it will be so much easier and cheaper if I can deal with these but if not -- 275 Swedish Krona ($37 with shipping), here I come.

Yes, it's expensive but if it keeps my counters clear of junk and my cortisol down and lets me draw pretty pictures in what ever ink I want... I'm thinking it's a bargain at twice the Kronas.

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For Auntie Lin

2012-01-04T10:10:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted about my dogs in a while so this one's for you, Lin.

We met Ventura in August of this year at his Foster-home.

He was wearing a muzzle.

Ben fell hard and fast.

Inexplicably, Ginger liked him and he came home with us that day.

Like all Fairy Tales a little evil must befall a Prince and Princess...

In this story evil takes the form of florescent casts... Day-glo green.

White, and PS he hates that coat. I think I'd have to put him on Prozac to get him to keep it on.

Sky blue. Here he is groggy from a surgery and Ginger is checking him out. There was a red cast somewhere in this mix but he hated that one and chewed at it so much I took it off and a Christmas green one I lost track of.

And last, and I hope it is last, sea-foam. This surgery was the worst one; they called in an orthopedic vet to do it and it was a complicated surgery, besides.

This picture was taken after I got him home, he was really ooogy and in pain.

When the cast came off his leg was very red, still is a week later and swollen. He's lost considerable muscle too and is just starting to put the leg down when he walks and stands.

He was doing so well with the PT exercises we got at North Star Vets and I think he's not where he was at that initial (Halloween) appointment.

Plus I don't know if that joint is stable, it's now just his bones. All the rods are gone.

But Miss Ginger here loves him rods or no rods.

My old girl can't find enough pillows to suit her.

But at nineteen I mean, can you blame her.

Ventura's only four and he's got the pillow thing down already.

They are a funny team. When he's not around she sleeps on his bed and when she's not around...

He curls up on hers.

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Filofaxes and Pens, you can point and laugh if you want...

2012-01-02T18:35:00.000-05:00

I'm not getting very far in my set up for 2012. I'm still waiting for my year on a page calendar from Pens and Leather (I've been waiting since November).

I don't use the year on a page as my main-main calendar, I use it as an overview; the cherry on my organizational Sundae. One look tells me everything I need to know.

I had one last year and no matter what planner I used; Portland personal, Midori Traveler's, Moleskine... The list is pathetically endless -- I moved the year on a page with me. I didn't know what kind of planner I'd use in 2012 but I knew I had to have another one of those puppies.

My basic daily calendar set up is a week on two pages with # 250186 pages in between as to do sheets. They are available in Europe although I found one US seller and ordered. Hopefully they are the same.

It's working like a dream. Perhaps a page per day could work but I don't need that much room most days and these sheets are sturdier, thicker (then dated pages), and I like that.

As far as the sections go I don't have that much set up; the Filofax being kinda-sorta new. Plus, I don't have tons of extra inserts since I just got an A5. Most of the (few) inserts I have are personal sized but you know...

There's something to be said for using personal sized stuff in an A5. It's not bad seeing behind them, all 'stepped' and everything.

I did add one new section; crafts I must try.

My Filofax obsessing seems to have escalated my general stationary zeal (Washi tape post upcoming) and this week I've spent an excessive amount of some time with my pens to the amusement of my family.

Since they glaze over when I try to discuss the merits of ink with them and point and laugh at me while I'm deep into pen thoughts, I'll just talk about my forays into ink here and save myself some self-esteem.

Ah! The Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Ink Pen in 0.4 mm ( a mouthful) is available in lots of colors and widths; $2.2o at Jetpens.

They write almost as smooth as a baby's butt (although the thinner the less smooth, I think) and the colors are a tutti-frutti fest! There are no issues on the back side of pages (at least with the colors I've tried) and they are just -- fun.

I've not had any problems with skipping or dragging. I tend to highlight with colored pencils and it works well with these. Sansara pens are great for people who love skinny, skinny lines and they have pens that go as small as 0.1 mm which must produce crazy-teeny migraine inducing print but what ever floats your boat!

The Bic 4 color runs about $4; it can be found at a lot of drug stores and many places online. It's a fair all around low-cost ball point but it drags on paper for me. The ink is pretty, no doubt about it --all easter eggy and girly and the writing looks nice but the act of writing is kind of 'meh'...

As something fun and portable to carry with you I think it works but there are pens that make the act of writing much nicer. Every time I use this I find I want to like this a lot more then I do.

The Cross Edge is $40 (from cross) and is a sleek pen, really polished looking. It feels solid too; like it will last forever. The edge writes smooth as a martini and is as cool as someone who drinks them. The Edge would make a great gift, FYI.

It has a nice weight and balance. My hands are small and it fits well but it might be awkwardly sized for people with large hands. You might want to hold this before buying.

My Lamy Safari in Aquamarine with a 1.1 nib is a peach . With the Lamy ink cartridge I've done fine using Filofax paper; no problems with bleed through. The pen runs around $30 ($28 from Goulet pens). It's sveltely ergonomic and lightweight.

I ♥ Lamy pens. They write well beyond their dollars and make putting pen to paper worthwhile. Your handwriting will love you for it.

As you can see there is very little of anything coming through the backside of the Filofax paper with any of the inks...

Since I use my pens mostly on a Filofax the big question is do they fit in the pen loop?

Nope, none of them. But I seem to carry the two Lamy's anyway. The Lamy safari and Lamy joy (a calligraphy pen) which improves my handwriting like nobodies business. I clip them somewhere or toss them in my purse (and hope for the best).

It would be nice if I could find pen-loop sized inky love but for now Lamy seems to be the pen I reach for most often.

Point and laugh if you must... I'm kind of used to it.

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Nutrisystem Zag

2012-01-01T12:07:00.000-05:00

Seems over the holidays I had a mindless zig when I should have had a Nutrisystem zag.

Thinking back it might have been those two pounds of Christmas cookies... but that's just a guess...

I also did a lot of tasting.

I can't say why I glommed cookies and tasted stuff I really didn't want...Or when. It's all kind of a bloated sprinkled-covered blur. I don't even know what kind of cookies, or what I was eating -- I don't even like cookies. It's a bit baffling to me.

I guess that's how I got fat in the first place; mindless eating.

But I'm putting a period there, ending my brief encounter with some evil gingerbread folk and getting back to life because... I feel very good on Nutrisystem and it's not just the food but the accomplishment of committing (and sticking) to my plan, not binging and doing something healthy for myself.

Nutrisystem has always been about more then the food... People forget that. But the Nutrisystem Success goes even farther. I'm still working my way through the information but the The Daily Dose has great hints and tips (and discounts).

They added The Daily 3 ; a new way to get you moving and help make living active an easy and enjoyable part of your life.

• Personalized plans to fit your individual fitness level and preferences
• Based on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
• Get fit by incorporating just 10 minutes of activity, 3 times a day
• Hundreds of activities to choose from.

Walking my dogs so fits in, it's on the list! And I totally do that three times a day... Perfect!

And the new Chef's Table Entrees are amazing. Amazing. I am going to do a separate post about them but it's a really great time to check them out because look...

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICING

+ CHEF'S TABLE™ ENTRÉES FREE†

with Auto-Delivery†

The ricotta crepes are the best things I've eaten in about twenty five years.

So despite the cookie blip when I hung my 2012 calendar on the wall I was greatful to open my pantry on January first, 2012 and take out a Nutrisystem breakfast...

They have new menu options and, ohhh baby! This was the best breakfast ever. I ordered the chocolate frosted donut because it was new but next month I want one every day.

So. Good. And the strawberry shake is delish. Flat out. DELISH. 15 grams of berry flavored hunger busting protein.

I'm so happy they added the shakes, they really help keep the hunger monster from rearing her ugly frizzy head.

Between the shakes and the donuts and the crepes it's just a matter of time before me and Janet will be sharing clothes, and we can't wait.

Well, I can't anyway.

If you want to lost weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem click HERE! or call 1-888-853-4689

Click the yummy donut for more info!

*This post was sponsored by Nutrisystem who is providing me with the food and program materials in exchange for blogging. PS - Love your donunts! !*

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Favorite Presents this year!

2011-12-31T20:25:00.000-05:00

I finally got sea glass jewelry and I was floored, who knew my family read my blog??? I've wanted a ring made by Tara at Scarborough Seashells for oh, years now. And this year I got it, and it's the most beautiful tiffany blue.

Look, I did my nails to match. I got a pendant to match and pictures of that will be forthcoming! Check out her etsy shop and her blog. She does amazing work, beautifully finished. I couldn't be happier! Thank you, Tara!

And Ventura's favorite was this...

It's called 'The Dog Brick' by Nina Ottossen. There are other toys to choose from but this one looked like something he'd enjoy and he does!

And I gave my son the Universe...

Slooh is a subscription website where you can witness eclipses, transits, comets, and newly discovered supernovas... And control robotic space cameras which AMAZED HIM TO NO END! It's very cool. Ben is very into astronomy and ALL things like this, he is forever watching one science channel or another. This was a way fun thing for him.

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Ms. Finch and I take umbrage to the word chunky

2011-12-30T16:49:00.000-05:00

I found something unexpected today. While doing a look-surf for new posts by my favorite Filobloggers; a news story goggled into my lap . Petula Dvorak, a columnist, published Gadgets got your schedule scattered? Maybe it’s time to go back to paper in The Washington Post.

While the slant of the story is Pro-Filo (et al) there is the sarcastic giggle of paper-prejudice bubbling just below the surface: "It isn’t the fear of technology that is driving us back to the chunky Filofaxes we stored away in a box also marked “shoulder pads” and “beepers,” writes Petula Dvorak.

FYI Washington Post.... The word 'chunky' is never flattering and neither were/are/or will be at any time in the future, shoulder pads.

Ms. Dvorak's goes on to theorize that paper planners, or to use her term, "a brick of calendar filler papers" "...could be a woman thing." Ouch, Ms. Dvorak. Just ouch.

The " A woman thing" is a nod to an article in The Telegraph she references that described the Filofax as among other things " the latest relic of the 1980s to enjoy a resurgence, following big hair [...] shoulder pads," categorizes smart phones as "quite masculine" and ends with "Taking out a Filofax is quite a fashion statement [for women]."

The all but buried point of the article is that paper planners work, and work well -- But this positive message runs chaotically through a maze of shoulder pads, big 80's hair, and the cringe-worthy phrase, a woman thing.

I wish this story articulated the positive points about Filofaxes and followed up with a period before it got to shoulder pads (no one needs to revisit those). To quote the article on using paper, "It is simply the way some people are wired organizationally. The way we understand the order of our lives."

Yes, Washington Post... Yes It's not a woman thing, it's a brain thing. We girls have them you know.

Brains, I mean ...

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Julep Maven Giveaway and get your first box for $5

2011-12-29T11:37:00.000-05:00

I recently tried two Julep Maven Polishes. They call it Nail Vernis which works for me because seriously -- You can't describe it's wonderfulness with only one language. They are, wow! Great! And in French, Julep Maven est fabuleux!

Julep Maven boxes arrive monthly as a subscription ( $19.99) but if you want to try it out you can get the first box of Nailicious Love for only $5 using the code CRAZYSUBURBANMOM at checkout.

Whitney

In person Whitney's a schoochy bit warmer (but just a schoochy bit), she rides the neutral fence like a champ. Whitney's described as "mushroom grey-beige," and I think she's a year-round choice and appropriate for any occasion. The little black dress of nail color as it were.

I have similar colors to Whitney and trying to do a quick one coat with any of them would be a streak-fest.

This is ONE magical coat.

I can't think of another cream with coverage like that.

Now, say "Hi!" to Nicole...

Hi! Nicole, you coppery-red darling, you!

Can you see the depth of the shimmering shebang that is Nicole? I love this color (in fact, I have it on again). I'm a total sucker for Ruby-Red Slipper nail colors because they remind me of an endorphin-inducing pair of Mary Jane's my mother wouldn't buy me when I was eight.

Childhood trauma and polish color aside, the Julep Maven formula is impressive. I'm very hard on my nails (I use them as tools) and my polish can look beastly before it's dry.

I wore Nicole for five days before I took these pictures. I did have a chip.

One. Single. Small....

...hardly noticeable chip after almost a week is, well, crazy talk! And I'm sure I tried to take a screw out of a wall or something with that nail... There are times in like a day and a half I have to redo everything; here I was almost a week-in wearing a deep, saturated red and it still looked good.

You really should try this polish.... It goes on like a dream and you have a bit of play time; the polish takes to reworking. I really liked that. Seems with many polishes I get one shot with the brush and that's it.

The consistency is great and the drying time was fine. I like the square bottles, I know some people don't but they look beautiful and the shape makes storing them SO much easier.

Score: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ out of five hearts

Oh, besides the polish...

Another thing that came in my "Classic with a Twist" box was the Facial for Hands Glycolic Scrub . It's the middle of winter and my hands feel baby-butt soft and did after one use, which is why me and my scrub are going steady. I love instant gratification.

In the monthly boxes you get over $40 worth of Nailicious Love in the form of trendsetting polish colors and cutting-edge treatment products.

Julep takes pride in the fact that they offer the most exciting runway colors and the most effective (For real, wow!) and innovative hand, nail and foot care products. Unlike many traditional brands, all of our polishes are free of DBP, toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin- but beautiful and long lasting nonetheless.

Julep Maven is “Powered By Girlfriends“ meaning they value and support all the girlfriends in their lives and they are proud to donate $1 from every Julep Nail Vernis sale to organizations that empower women.

For the giveaway, one reader will win a Julep Maven box to love for ever and ever.

Open to US and Canada.

There are TWO Mandatory entries : comment here and like Julep on Facebook.

Let me know if you follow Julep Maven on Twitter, that will be another entry.

....And if you'd like you can comment once a day.

Please include your email address in your comment so I can find you and maybe tell me your favorite Julep Maven Color, too... Or pass along your best nail tip. Or how about what you do for dry winter feet?

I'm always working on those awful feety things.

Giveaway will end January 12, 2012 at 9:00 pm eastern time.

And don't forget, if you want to try your first box of Nailicious Love for only $5 use the coupon code CRAZYSUBURBANMOM at checkout.

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*Julep Maven provided me the products for me to review.*

Two pens straight from the penmanship gods

2011-12-27T12:03:00.001-05:00

Recently Philofaxy inquired "...which gel pens and roller ball pens work with ordinary Filofax paper?" (And the supplemental question of, which ones fit the pen loop?)

It's at 28 comments and still getting responses because it's a great question ( The number of paper/pen combinations alone are kinda dazzling and best left to the mathematical).

Now, to people who don't give a day-glo patootie about writing in a Filofax to begin with, the question of which pen to use is as a bit like asking, Prior to shredding papers should they be face up or face down? And I get that.... But to someone who writes in one everyday, and more importantly, intends to go back and reference it, the pen and paper combo is critical.

The pen slash paper choice will either produce a zen-like experience or a giant pain in your day-glo patootie.

The wrong ink can ruin an important list (and the page behind it). Pick the wrong pen to set the date for a critical meeting and the next time you look for it you may find it had dissolved in a (n) erasable poof. Ink can be temperamental that way.

And rail against the penmanship God's all you want but it's hard to match a fountain pen with a Filofax; many leave you not with sentences but a Rorschach test.

Writing with a lousy pen is as much fun as texting on an iPhone.

Check out the ' What's in my purse' photo below.

Mid-rightish-bottomish are the pens I had high hopes for: The Pilot precise zing, Pilot parallel calligraphy, Pilot G2, Lamy aqua Safari, and the Cross Edge.

I thought I'd love them all, I only love two and really only use one.

Plus one more.

The Lamy Joy.

So aptly named. I have a thing for calligraphy pens because it makes my sub-par handwriting prettier and Joy does a great job for around $30 (At Goulet it's $28 Check them out if you haven't). The ink doesn't bleed and feather on Filofax paper.

Look.

As you can see from the back side of that page, the shadowing in non-intrusive.

Here's a close up of a calendar page.

and the back.

Not much aggravation coming through the back.

The Pilot G-2 07 is the one I reach for most often.

That page has Joy words on top G-2 words on bottom.

The Lamy words are more flowery, the G-2 words more practical. If I want to highlight the Lamy words I need to give it an excessive amount of some time or I have all manner of smearage. With the G-2 I can highlight willy-nilly. I also have about six colors for the G2, with the Lamy I'm a bit stuck till I'm done with that color.

The G2 fits in the pen loop (A5) the Joy doesn't. They both shadow on the back about the same.

Both are really fun to write with. The Joy is a great pen and it's doesn't feel scratchy or obnoxious. The G2 is smooth, it writes like a dream on some pretty darned pedestrian paper.

I've tried a lot of pens but keep coming back to these two. I love them both and no, the Lamy doesn't fit into the pen loops but I still find a way to schlep it around with me.

Now that's love.

P.S. The pen that comes in third is the $40 Cross Edge, and it writes very nice and feels very nice. It just doesn't write quite as nice as the G2 which is much cheaper.

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Merry, Merry

2011-12-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

From my family to yours, love and best wishes!

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Stuck on my Filofax

2011-12-23T10:43:00.003-05:00

All you really need to plan your day is a pen and a Filofax...

... but...

...a Filofax, pen, colored pencils, highlighters, and an obscene amount of stickers makes mundane chores tolerable. Perhaps dare I say, fun?

The girly falala and bits of glitter make me happy.

I've always needed an Office-Supply 12-step program but getting a Filofax kicked that chestnut into orbit.

I've seen a similar obsessiveness about Filofaxes and stickers slash pens slash office supplies slash ad infinitum amongst others who do Filoblogging so figure I'll do my part and show a little sticker porn for the Stationary Addicted.

The urgent sticker is from this little booklet.

The stickers are graphic and attractive (no glitter or tiaras or anything), functional I'd call them. I got them locally but they are available online from See Jane Work. They cost $7.50 for 288 stickers

These reinforcements are by Girl Of All Work, in Frolic. They are called page dots and you get 144 cheerful ooops-fixing cuties in a little box, 3 designs. They cost $5.25, a total bargain.

Recently, I changed my top tabs from words to puffy stickers. The tabs were small and hard to write on; I did it anyway and then it was unreadable. The stickers work really well for me and it's fun. These stickers...

came from Kawaii Tokyo. She's in Japan, is so nice, and the shipping is really reasonable! And QUICK! The shop doesn't have those exact stickers but similar ones are $4.50

These came from here too, I ordered three sets of those. I'm obsessed with them. She doesn't have these up at the moment, I think I cleaned her out!

These stickers (and the one's in the next two pictures) came from Sugar B. Supplies. Love her stuff too and she ships from the US so it's even quicker! Sugar B. has a lot of items to choose from!

Cute! 9 sheets of adorableness, seven bucks! And she sells the Masking sticker set (below) too.

I got my washi tape at Le Box Boutique

What I love about that seller is you can pick lots of different small samples instead of paying a lot for one large roll. I'm going back for more very soon.

And the tape comes on these adorable, teeny wood spools.

The first step in recovery is admitting you're powerless over Filofaxes and stickers; the second is buying more.

At least that's my theory and I'm going with it.

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Nutrisystem SUCCESS Yum. Just yum!

2011-12-22T08:30:00.002-05:00

I've been on Nutrisystem for a while now and it's been the most wonderful thing I've done for my body in ages but no kidding...

It just got better!

Janet Jackson is the new face of Nutrisystem and no, I'll never sing as good as her but now maybe someday we can share clothes?

The Nutrisystem ® SUCCESS™ approach is designed to help take the weight off and keep it off through frequent, portion-controlled, balanced nutrition and low Glycemic Index eating. The SUCCESS program offers the Company’s largest ever assortment of signature artisanal fresh-frozen meals including new Chef’s Table™ dinner entrees, developed by Nutrisystem’s Celebrity Chef Culinary Council using revolutionary advanced steamer technology; new chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and coffee advanced protein shakes; the introduction of a personalized “My Daily 3™” physical activity program; and increased personalization and flexibility through transition and maintenance plans that help consumers manage their weight on their own.

I've tried some of the new food and the Chef's Table™ Whole Wheat Ricotta Crepes are the best thing I've eaten in, wow. I don't even know. And I'm including the food I had at the she-she Christmas Party I went to last week.

It's funny how after dieting you expect an elegant buffet to be an exciting even sensuous experience. Nope, it wasn't.

The food was definitely not sensuous okay. Some good, most very standard and not nearly hot enough.

While I was in line I considered all my options and came to the conclusion there is nothing about slopping piles of lukewarm Fettuccine Alfredo on my plate that makes me feel good. I did good and was happy with my selections.

Being on Nutrisystem has given me a new perspective on buffets and I realized it was the VOLUME of food that got to me in the past; how much I could eat and how many times I could go back. I was never oh! How delicious everything is!

That night I picked carefully what I thought I really wanted and as I tasted (something I've never done before). The food was - Like I said, okay.

Back at my table, I stared at my plate for a while just thinking, How many times in the past have I stuffed myself to busting at a buffet because I was trying to get my money's worth? Lots of times. Lots and lots of times.

People around me were eating, chatting and laughing - Some were dancing. The Christmas party was in full swing and there I sat staring at the choices I made, deep in thought and reflection; asking myself rhetorical questions about buffets and consumed with party-pooperism about my plate of food.

Now that I think of it, this might explain why I don't get invited out much...

Check out Janet's Nutrisystem commercial here, it's fabulous!

If you want to lost weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem click HERE! or call 1-888-853-4689

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*This post was sponsored by Nutrisystem who is providing me with the food and program materials in exchange for blogging.!*

Dragging out my Filofax

2011-12-18T13:20:00.003-05:00

A Filofax is perfect sitting untouched in the box, surrounded by tissue.

But like Marilyn Monroe said,

"Diamonds are a girls best friends and glittery stickers are bangin' on a Filo."

Okay well, Marilyn said the thing about diamonds and I added the sticker part but it's all good because Miss Finch without bling is like Marilyn without tons of the big D.

Not wanting to deface Miss Finch I defaced the ruler instead.

My recent Filoquisitions netted me three rulers; not one being a nice clear one. Those are pretty great the way the are but the black ones are pure cheese so I didn't mind bejeweling it to within an inch of it's flimsy life.

I have lots to choose from.

And chose lots.

How perfect are the tiaras?

Were the tiaras.

Follow me to my notebook shelf.

I listed them for you and you can see Miss Finch is up there because her rings were too dainty to carry the kitchen sink that is my life. I'll finish the shelf tour for you.

My craft, button, and zakka books. And vintage buttons, oh! I love those things...

The bottom shelf has a container with random papers. My dog sleeps below the shelves.

Pardon his package...

Remember I changed to Mr. Malden recently?

Mr. Malden is working out great but now my Filostud is studded with glitter, sparkly girlyphernalia, and housing random Hello Kitty erasers.

I do confess to feeling guilty about turning him into the betiared, drag queen version of a Filofax but I hope one day he comes to accept it and who knows perhaps one day he will even suggest we go shoe shopping together....

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