Ronald: well, I haven't known her as long as you have [my parents], but I do know, a sure fire way to get Maike to do something is to tell her she can't..... Even better, tell her it's because she's a girl.
...
...
...
He's right.
I hate when someone tells me I can't do something.
...
I can do anything I want to.
-mrp-
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
respect
I'm coming to realize more and more that I not only have high standards for people, but also have a low threshold for lack of respect. If I text you, you should text me back.... texting is easy... take half a second and reply.
(Sigh).
High standards = bigger let downs
But manners matter! You should return phone calls and texts, you should write thank you notes, you should be greatful when people help you/change their schedule for you/make you dinner/etc.
How do some people forget that? If you get a gift, freaking send a thank you! Even if it's only through a text!
Meh... end.of.rant.
-mrp-
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
#trainride
The husband and I are headed to New Mexico! The first question, after we tell pleople that is usually, "are you driving or flying?"...
To which I usually smirk a bit and excitedly say, "We're taking the train!"
We have about 25 hours left.
BUT... I'm so excited to see my family! I haven't seen the rents for a year and a half, and I haven't seen my grandma for almost three years.
It's going to be great :).... and we don't have to drive or navigate or worry about traffic.
We did have to carry our big ass backpacker packs a bit through Chicago (like a mile). But all in all, not to shabby of a set up.
We're going to make dinner reservations on the dinning car, and maybe check out the lounge...
So far, the only things I forgot that I wad planning on bringing were my knitting and travel scrabble (Ronald says I have words with friends so.I should be fine).
I'm glad we got out of town :). Sometimes I feel couped up staying in one city too long.
-mrp-
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
shoot.
"if we had more guns, then this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we had more gun control and less guns on the street this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we had better mental health coverage this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we were a more loving people, this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we didn't allow our kids to play violent video games, this wouldn't have happened!"
"if there were two parents in that household raising that boy, this wouldn't have happened!"
and to take the cake, I just read this morning:
"if there were more men in that school.... this wouldn't have happened!"
Here's the thing... you.just.can't.prove.that.
There are thousands of people who have guns, and have never shot up a school/theater/etc.
There are thousands of people who don't have guns, and have never had a time where a gun would have been a useful form of defense.
There are thousands of people who have mental illnesses, who have never gone on a killing rampage.
And I could go on, and on....
I've been following along, and thinking and wondering and thinking some more about this whole Sandy Hook shooting [which is tragic and so sad and wrong].... but the thing I've come to realize is that no one knows.
No.One.Knows.
This isn't like the common cold [remedy = drink plenty of fluids and take some DayQuil/NyQuil]
I think it might be a bit more like cancer [remedy = do something, even if it kills part of your body, 'cause we're just hoping this works!]
I'm probably a bit of downer, because I don't believe that there is a quick fix to any of this. I really think though that pointing fingers at EVERYTHING, and ANYONE associated with this is not helpful [*maybe it was the layout of the school! if the architect had designed it better, then this wouldn't have happened!* [okay, no one has actually said that, but I wouldn't be surprised].
I read somewhere a thing that said something like, "Now is too LATE to be taking about gun control"... and while this may be true, I believe two things when it comes to talking about how to fix this problem right after it was announced... 1. People just lost their people. Grief is hard enough to go through. Why would you push them into anger right away? Why can't you let them be sad for some time, and then move into anger? and 2. What huge big messy problem have you really solved in a couple of hours? You want to band-aid it, okay, go ahead... a band aid is temporary though. You can't put a band aid over a broken bone and hope that it heals. It just covers up a bigger problem.
I really think this is something that does need some thought, and research, and more thought, and more research, because I don't think this sort of stuff should happen!... but causation and correlation have to be considered. And research has to be done so that we're talking about facts.
So, all that to say, I'm tired of getting angry at people who are heartless, and who think, "if we had just, blah, blah blah, this wouldn't have happened"....
You.Don't.Know.That.
-mrp-
"if we had more gun control and less guns on the street this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we had better mental health coverage this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we were a more loving people, this wouldn't have happened!"
"if we didn't allow our kids to play violent video games, this wouldn't have happened!"
"if there were two parents in that household raising that boy, this wouldn't have happened!"
and to take the cake, I just read this morning:
"if there were more men in that school.... this wouldn't have happened!"
Here's the thing... you.just.can't.prove.that.
There are thousands of people who have guns, and have never shot up a school/theater/etc.
There are thousands of people who don't have guns, and have never had a time where a gun would have been a useful form of defense.
There are thousands of people who have mental illnesses, who have never gone on a killing rampage.
And I could go on, and on....
I've been following along, and thinking and wondering and thinking some more about this whole Sandy Hook shooting [which is tragic and so sad and wrong].... but the thing I've come to realize is that no one knows.
No.One.Knows.
This isn't like the common cold [remedy = drink plenty of fluids and take some DayQuil/NyQuil]
I think it might be a bit more like cancer [remedy = do something, even if it kills part of your body, 'cause we're just hoping this works!]
I'm probably a bit of downer, because I don't believe that there is a quick fix to any of this. I really think though that pointing fingers at EVERYTHING, and ANYONE associated with this is not helpful [*maybe it was the layout of the school! if the architect had designed it better, then this wouldn't have happened!* [okay, no one has actually said that, but I wouldn't be surprised].
I read somewhere a thing that said something like, "Now is too LATE to be taking about gun control"... and while this may be true, I believe two things when it comes to talking about how to fix this problem right after it was announced... 1. People just lost their people. Grief is hard enough to go through. Why would you push them into anger right away? Why can't you let them be sad for some time, and then move into anger? and 2. What huge big messy problem have you really solved in a couple of hours? You want to band-aid it, okay, go ahead... a band aid is temporary though. You can't put a band aid over a broken bone and hope that it heals. It just covers up a bigger problem.
I really think this is something that does need some thought, and research, and more thought, and more research, because I don't think this sort of stuff should happen!... but causation and correlation have to be considered. And research has to be done so that we're talking about facts.
So, all that to say, I'm tired of getting angry at people who are heartless, and who think, "if we had just, blah, blah blah, this wouldn't have happened"....
You.Don't.Know.That.
-mrp-
Saturday, December 15, 2012
holidays...
Just stayed in the car a bit longer to finish the song on the radio.... Ave Maria by Celine Dion. So beautiful.
-mrp-
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
grinchy blog post....
"Grinchy" might be a little to strong of a word [shut up, "grinchy" IS a word!]. But pretty much I keep having to talk myself down from freaking out... cause my stupid computer has gone ape shit!
Seriously. I move my mouse around to wake it up this morning, to find it completely different than I left it. My desktop background, replaced with some colorful swirlish thing that comes with new computers.
Initially I thought, well, maybe Ronald hooked up his computer to mine, or something... so I look around... nope.
Then I'm like, okay, well, maybe it updated it, and this is not all bad... and as I hold my breath I click open the C drive... whew, still there.
Okay, so it's there, and I've got shit to do! So I open up indesign, get my book exporting, and realize I need to do some photoshop-ing of a few images before I send it off... okay, open up photogshop [ha ha, funny typo that I'm totally leaving in], drag my photo in, and then hit my quick key to run an action... ... ... nothing.happens.oh.shit.
I realize all my actions are missing... [not a huge deal, I can re-load, whatever]... so then I open lightroom... all my presets are missing, and all my catalogues of past work... what.the.hell!
Okay, so for most of you, you have no idea what all that means. It means, that if this happened at any other time, I would be super duper freaking out, but luckily, I've been kickin out all my projects earlier this week, and don't have anything that's REALLY pressing.
Unluckily though, what the hell happened?!?!
I look into my Documents folder. Everything's gone. My Pictures folder, same story.
Right now I'm approaching it with a "I'm gonna go ahead and work on crafts instead until Ronald get's home. Then he can take a look at it and either we fix it or I'll start over again... and look into investing in the cloud backup.
Meh.
-mrp-
ps: it would be some work, but I assure you, as a professional photog, all my picture files are backed up multiple times, so my clients have nothing to worry about. Random documents, and advertising files, not quite as well backed up unfortunately :(.
CRISIS AVERTED: turns out my crazy computer decided that it didn't like me as a user anymore, so created a temporary user... all I had to do was restart it and it started in as user Maike... [sigh]... I sometimes hate technology...
Seriously. I move my mouse around to wake it up this morning, to find it completely different than I left it. My desktop background, replaced with some colorful swirlish thing that comes with new computers.
Initially I thought, well, maybe Ronald hooked up his computer to mine, or something... so I look around... nope.
Then I'm like, okay, well, maybe it updated it, and this is not all bad... and as I hold my breath I click open the C drive... whew, still there.
Okay, so it's there, and I've got shit to do! So I open up indesign, get my book exporting, and realize I need to do some photoshop-ing of a few images before I send it off... okay, open up photogshop [ha ha, funny typo that I'm totally leaving in], drag my photo in, and then hit my quick key to run an action... ... ... nothing.happens.oh.shit.
I realize all my actions are missing... [not a huge deal, I can re-load, whatever]... so then I open lightroom... all my presets are missing, and all my catalogues of past work... what.the.hell!
Okay, so for most of you, you have no idea what all that means. It means, that if this happened at any other time, I would be super duper freaking out, but luckily, I've been kickin out all my projects earlier this week, and don't have anything that's REALLY pressing.
Unluckily though, what the hell happened?!?!
I look into my Documents folder. Everything's gone. My Pictures folder, same story.
Right now I'm approaching it with a "I'm gonna go ahead and work on crafts instead until Ronald get's home. Then he can take a look at it and either we fix it or I'll start over again... and look into investing in the cloud backup.
Meh.
-mrp-
ps: it would be some work, but I assure you, as a professional photog, all my picture files are backed up multiple times, so my clients have nothing to worry about. Random documents, and advertising files, not quite as well backed up unfortunately :(.
CRISIS AVERTED: turns out my crazy computer decided that it didn't like me as a user anymore, so created a temporary user... all I had to do was restart it and it started in as user Maike... [sigh]... I sometimes hate technology...
Friday, December 07, 2012
too many numbers!!!!!
I'm trying to figure out what I owe for my annual sales tax... too.many.numbers.
I need to hire someone to do this crap.
-mrp-
ps: suggestions on accountants are welcome.
I need to hire someone to do this crap.
-mrp-
ps: suggestions on accountants are welcome.
sometimes...
Sometimes it's hard owning your own business... especially when you think you're good, but not getting a TON of business, so wondering what you're doing wrong.
And it's easy to get disheartened. And discouraged. And to start to believe you should get another day job cause some day you would like to be debt free.
And then something like this is sent:
******************
Maike,
This is from the boy's Mom:
XXOO CSL
I was looking at the pictures again and I just can't thank you enough--there are so many great shots of the boys!!! I really like her style of photography, it's like the pictures tell a story, really cool!
***************
How sweet, and awesome, right? And this lady that wrote this, I've met her once before. Which in my mind just means... she truly likes my stuff, not just because she knows me, or whatnot. She likes it. Which is awesome. I hope she puts images all over her house, and sends many clients my way :).
Hopefully :).
-mrp-
And it's easy to get disheartened. And discouraged. And to start to believe you should get another day job cause some day you would like to be debt free.
And then something like this is sent:
******************
Maike,
This is from the boy's Mom:
Mom,
I absolutely LOVE them!!!!! The are awesome! I am going to show them to Chris, he will be so excited, can I order directly from her site?
I was looking at the pictures again and I just can't thank you enough--there are so many great shots of the boys!!! I really like her style of photography, it's like the pictures tell a story, really cool!
***************
How sweet, and awesome, right? And this lady that wrote this, I've met her once before. Which in my mind just means... she truly likes my stuff, not just because she knows me, or whatnot. She likes it. Which is awesome. I hope she puts images all over her house, and sends many clients my way :).
Hopefully :).
-mrp-
Monday, December 03, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Mushroom Soup for the Soul
I'm a bit sick [recovering.. how awful, right, to be sick through a holiday weekend!]. Luckily, it wasn't too bad, I suffered through most of it with only a few wrong turns [ya, I totally took nyquil, and a minute later was drinking an awesome glass of wine... I have short term memory for do's and do not's together... whoops :)].
In any case, Ronald left yesterday on business for the week, so I'm solo... and being solo and sick, I decided I was going to make some soup. Mushroom soup.
Ronald and Whitney both think it's weird that I eat mushroom soup, just as soup.
But what I think is weird, is thinking something that is called soup wouldn't be used just as soup.
That's all.
Back to coughing, blowing my nose and rubbing my aching muscles.
-mrp-
ps: for those of you wondering, yes, I had a GREAT nights sleep after the nyquil and wine cocktail :).
EDIT: pps: I wrote this as I was making the soup... freakin boiled over.... I suck at soup. [shakes head].
In any case, Ronald left yesterday on business for the week, so I'm solo... and being solo and sick, I decided I was going to make some soup. Mushroom soup.
Ronald and Whitney both think it's weird that I eat mushroom soup, just as soup.
But what I think is weird, is thinking something that is called soup wouldn't be used just as soup.
That's all.
Back to coughing, blowing my nose and rubbing my aching muscles.
-mrp-
ps: for those of you wondering, yes, I had a GREAT nights sleep after the nyquil and wine cocktail :).
EDIT: pps: I wrote this as I was making the soup... freakin boiled over.... I suck at soup. [shakes head].
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
tday 2012 = Creole food
This is the fifth year we've done non-traditional thanksgivings... as a result of our new tradition, thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. So much anticipation and newness and excitement and learning.
I also think it reflects America well. We are a melting pot of cultures, religions, race, and many more differences. Today, I am thankful for those differences and the freedom we have here to live them.
2011 = Thai food
2010 = Greek food
2009 = steak
2008 = Chinese food
-mrp-
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Thursday, November 15, 2012
a lot..... A LOT....
Although I am a passionate person occasionally, I don't too often get really worked up/annoyed by things, especially posts on the internet..... except for one thing. A lot.
I'll self proclaim that this was one of those things that I had to learn the hard way too, I thought it was just a tiny small word meaning many, or a plethora... alot..... It didn't really sink in the meaning of it until probably I was in 4th grade.
Every time I see it on a facebook status, I have to restrain myself from correcting the offender... and then I have to restrain myself from making my own status update on the fact that it's freakin two words.
How ridiculous, right? Of all the things to get worked up about. I think though, I find myself reading posts and status' of people that I look up to/think are educated and know a lot, and I just wonder... wtf?... We learned a lot in elementary school, where were you?!
So, although there aren't A LOT of things that piss me off, when you don't listen to the auto correct in your blog post, or on your facebook status, I have to wonder about you...
two words people, just like the following:
a bunch
a bunch
a crowd
a bushel
a gaggle
a group
a gathering
a lot
-mrp-
ps: I would like to officially thank my mother for beating a few of these grammar things into my head when I was in elementary school. I am thankful to know that alot is not a word... even though people use it a lot.
pps: I am far from the grammar police; I did misuse loose, or lose in a facebook status a few months ago... and was corrected.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
this never happens... but it is....
I hate saying I'm addicted to facebook, but it's probably the closest to the truth. I realize it's ridiculous, and [shakes head], pointless, but I just can't help myself [shrug].
I was actually one of those that were happy when facebook stopped showing me everything from everyone. I know I miss things, but I'm sort of anal when it comes to checking my news feed and making sure I scan down to the last thing that I read the previous time. So by not showing me every little detail, my brain is happier to not have to read through that many posts, status updates, links, photo's, etc.
I think it has to do with not wanting to miss anything. Wanting to be included and not excluded.
In any case, I'm off facebook for a couple days. It never happens, but it is... totally giving up fb this week. I read through the news feed this morning, and I just cringed... the.entire.news.feed.... it was awful!... things like "Great, let's get another 5.7 gazillion dollars in debt!", to "America has disappointed me", to "It's a sad day for Christians today"...
I hate all the hate... it's horrible.
Hate is one of the reasons I don't like politics. So much of it is about slandering the opponent. Coming up with all the things he failed at in life. Is it so hard to instead focus on what one has done good. During Obama's last four years, the US's unemployment rate has fallen... he's put a plan into effect to get more of our troops out of the middle east... and his wife has pushed to educate children on how to be healthy.
I didn't want Romney to be our president, but I hope he goes on to do really great things, like Al Gore did after he lost.
I think, all in all... we ALL make up America... it's not just a president. It's not just the Senate or the House of Representatives. It's all of us.
-mrp-
I was actually one of those that were happy when facebook stopped showing me everything from everyone. I know I miss things, but I'm sort of anal when it comes to checking my news feed and making sure I scan down to the last thing that I read the previous time. So by not showing me every little detail, my brain is happier to not have to read through that many posts, status updates, links, photo's, etc.
I think it has to do with not wanting to miss anything. Wanting to be included and not excluded.
In any case, I'm off facebook for a couple days. It never happens, but it is... totally giving up fb this week. I read through the news feed this morning, and I just cringed... the.entire.news.feed.... it was awful!... things like "Great, let's get another 5.7 gazillion dollars in debt!", to "America has disappointed me", to "It's a sad day for Christians today"...
I hate all the hate... it's horrible.
Hate is one of the reasons I don't like politics. So much of it is about slandering the opponent. Coming up with all the things he failed at in life. Is it so hard to instead focus on what one has done good. During Obama's last four years, the US's unemployment rate has fallen... he's put a plan into effect to get more of our troops out of the middle east... and his wife has pushed to educate children on how to be healthy.
I didn't want Romney to be our president, but I hope he goes on to do really great things, like Al Gore did after he lost.
I think, all in all... we ALL make up America... it's not just a president. It's not just the Senate or the House of Representatives. It's all of us.
-mrp-
Friday, October 26, 2012
backwards
The other day one of the blogs that I watch was like, "Hey, want a free sample to try this new brand/product?"... and I was like, "Yes!... actually, I do!".
...
...
... then it turns out you have to like the companies fb page to request a free sample.
...
...
[squinty eyes/shaking head]...
..
..
see this is NOT how it should work. I should not have to like your page, and then get the sample... I should be able to get the sample, like it so much that I THEN decide to like the fb page...
gah.
I have loved fb since I got addicted 8 years ago in college, but seriously? Lately all my newfeed gives me is info on the shit that I have liked... where are my friends, why aren't they up there, and newsflash, I have no money to spend on your junk!
Grr...
-mrp-
...
...
... then it turns out you have to like the companies fb page to request a free sample.
...
...
[squinty eyes/shaking head]...
..
..
see this is NOT how it should work. I should not have to like your page, and then get the sample... I should be able to get the sample, like it so much that I THEN decide to like the fb page...
gah.
I have loved fb since I got addicted 8 years ago in college, but seriously? Lately all my newfeed gives me is info on the shit that I have liked... where are my friends, why aren't they up there, and newsflash, I have no money to spend on your junk!
Grr...
-mrp-
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
also this
... I took this at the last wedding we were at up in St. Joe, Michigan... it was freezing, but so pretty!
and ya know... since I'm already wasting time, I figured I'd go ahead and add this :).
-mrp-
and ya know... since I'm already wasting time, I figured I'd go ahead and add this :).
productivity of the self employed
I am most productive when I am avoiding something...
Example:
yesterday I
-vaccumed
-gave the dog a bath
-stripped the bed and laundered the sheets
-washed some other pillows
-went to the farmers market
-uploaded a senior session
-check fb a million times
what I was avoiding was working on editing a wedding
today I have
-painted a few papers for a future project
-made bread in the bread maker [okay, this only took like 10 minutes tops :)]
-did a load of laundry
-opened and inspected an album that was delivered [yay!]
-took a shower
-cleaned a little bit off my dinning table
-wrote a quick blog
-checked groupon
-checked fb a million times
still avoiding culling and editing that wedding
Although today I did get a few hours of the wedding in... so that's good. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job.... I LOVE photographing weddings, and I even LOVE editing those images! [you get to see so many details that you missed because I doing the job takes precedence over getting emotional at the groom crying/bride blushing etc.].
BUT, it doesn't have that short task instant gratification. It will probably take me 8+ hours to fully edit, color correct and enhance a wedding. So... not a quick job... oh well...
Must.get.back.to.wedding....
-mrp-
Example:
yesterday I
-vaccumed
-gave the dog a bath
-stripped the bed and laundered the sheets
-washed some other pillows
-went to the farmers market
-uploaded a senior session
-check fb a million times
what I was avoiding was working on editing a wedding
today I have
-painted a few papers for a future project
-made bread in the bread maker [okay, this only took like 10 minutes tops :)]
-did a load of laundry
-opened and inspected an album that was delivered [yay!]
-took a shower
-cleaned a little bit off my dinning table
-wrote a quick blog
-checked groupon
-checked fb a million times
still avoiding culling and editing that wedding
Although today I did get a few hours of the wedding in... so that's good. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job.... I LOVE photographing weddings, and I even LOVE editing those images! [you get to see so many details that you missed because I doing the job takes precedence over getting emotional at the groom crying/bride blushing etc.].
BUT, it doesn't have that short task instant gratification. It will probably take me 8+ hours to fully edit, color correct and enhance a wedding. So... not a quick job... oh well...
Must.get.back.to.wedding....
-mrp-
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
m + r = 2
And despite what the crazies on facebook are saying, that does not mean that we're pregnant with twins... [thank the Lord].
But we have survived being married for 2 whole years... :).
I'm a lucky girl.
But we have survived being married for 2 whole years... :).
I'm a lucky girl.
Friday, October 05, 2012
“The human body is the best work of art.” ― Jess C. Scott
As a portrait photographer, I often encounter people who don't like this or that about their bodies.
And although I know there is always room for improvement, it really makes me sad. I recently came across this website: http://www.bodyheart.com/
And although I didn't read a ton on the site, I did come across one woman, who makes a conscious effort to say how she likes her body in front of her little girl. She talks about how that was never said in front of her, and about how when it isn't said, we sometimes start to believe we should never be happy with our bodies. We should always hate our hips, or think our feet are too big, or our cheeks are too fat, etc.
I was thinking back to how I grew up, and I thought... damn, my mother was soo, sooo good at teaching me to love myself.
When she was young, my mom had surgery on her leg to remove a cantaloupe sized tumor [I think]. It left a scar all down her left calf, and although I noticed when I was young that she rarely wore shorts outside our house, she never once said anything about how she "hated her scar". As I grew older, and tried to convince her to wear a knee length skirt, she explained that she didn't really like showing off the scar, but it was never in a "I hate this part of my body" type way.
And I think the way she went about that while we were growing up, really shaped how I love my body. I love my nose, and my cheeks, and my chin, and my thighs, and my butt, and my fat calf's [although, that does pose a bit of a problem for buying skinny jeans, and taller boots].
I can remember being in high school and saying something along the effect of being dissatisfied with my hair, or something else, and my mother telling me I was fine, and perfect.
As long as you are living a healthy life style and taking care of your body... I really do think that it's okay to not hate any part of your body. To love it all. To be satisfied with how God made you. He created your nose, your hips, your feet... he created you, and could you really say, "God, my nose, what the hell were you thinking?"... he would say to you, I created you just the way I wanted you to be and I love you that way.
-mrp-
Edit: HA!, the woman who's story I read about [one sentence actually], was Kate Winslet... she's so cool. http://www.bodyheart.com/2012/09/28/are-you-proud-of-your-body/
And although I know there is always room for improvement, it really makes me sad. I recently came across this website: http://www.bodyheart.com/
And although I didn't read a ton on the site, I did come across one woman, who makes a conscious effort to say how she likes her body in front of her little girl. She talks about how that was never said in front of her, and about how when it isn't said, we sometimes start to believe we should never be happy with our bodies. We should always hate our hips, or think our feet are too big, or our cheeks are too fat, etc.
I was thinking back to how I grew up, and I thought... damn, my mother was soo, sooo good at teaching me to love myself.
When she was young, my mom had surgery on her leg to remove a cantaloupe sized tumor [I think]. It left a scar all down her left calf, and although I noticed when I was young that she rarely wore shorts outside our house, she never once said anything about how she "hated her scar". As I grew older, and tried to convince her to wear a knee length skirt, she explained that she didn't really like showing off the scar, but it was never in a "I hate this part of my body" type way.
And I think the way she went about that while we were growing up, really shaped how I love my body. I love my nose, and my cheeks, and my chin, and my thighs, and my butt, and my fat calf's [although, that does pose a bit of a problem for buying skinny jeans, and taller boots].
I can remember being in high school and saying something along the effect of being dissatisfied with my hair, or something else, and my mother telling me I was fine, and perfect.
As long as you are living a healthy life style and taking care of your body... I really do think that it's okay to not hate any part of your body. To love it all. To be satisfied with how God made you. He created your nose, your hips, your feet... he created you, and could you really say, "God, my nose, what the hell were you thinking?"... he would say to you, I created you just the way I wanted you to be and I love you that way.
-mrp-
Edit: HA!, the woman who's story I read about [one sentence actually], was Kate Winslet... she's so cool. http://www.bodyheart.com/2012/09/28/are-you-proud-of-your-body/
Saturday, September 22, 2012
ten
Ten years ago I had just completed high school, traveled to Germany/Sicely by myself for a month, and moved into Smith hall at Drury University.
I can't believe it was that long ago.
Marahall class of 2012 had their 10 year reunion last night and just the fb updates and whatnot have got me thinking about high school, insecurities, growth and contentment... as well as jealousy, and general feeling of unimportantness... and classifications in school, etc.
Perhaps there will be a better thought out post sometime later.
-mrp-
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Monday, September 17, 2012
a bit political... just a tiny bit
Whit and I had a discussion the other day about how some people put political posts up on fb... and while in general, I'm okay with people sharing their political beliefs and voicing what they believe to be true/good on facebook, I HATE when that's the only thing they EVER post.
Because that's not all there is about life. While that might be REALLY important to some people, there are SO many other things to post and share that will encourage others and just make for a better, happier world. Why not mix a few of those posts in too?!
In any case... since I have had this talk with Whit, I have decided that I'm not posting anything political on there... but here, well... you came here to see what I was thinking! So you get to see it :).
This is great:
http://front.moveon.org/five-guys-took-a-boy-band-anthem-and-created-one-of-the-best-romney-parodies-hands-down/
-maike rinaye-
ps: I don't like Romney... okay, sure... but I also know that I don't know a TON about him... so there... I still like this though.
Because that's not all there is about life. While that might be REALLY important to some people, there are SO many other things to post and share that will encourage others and just make for a better, happier world. Why not mix a few of those posts in too?!
In any case... since I have had this talk with Whit, I have decided that I'm not posting anything political on there... but here, well... you came here to see what I was thinking! So you get to see it :).
This is great:
http://front.moveon.org/five-guys-took-a-boy-band-anthem-and-created-one-of-the-best-romney-parodies-hands-down/
-maike rinaye-
ps: I don't like Romney... okay, sure... but I also know that I don't know a TON about him... so there... I still like this though.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
“People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black.” ― Henry Ford
Back in 2007, I went from this:
to this:
to this:
It was the first adult purchase I REALLY made... all.by.my.self.
I remember driving it off the lot for the first time, and listening to Colbie Caillat.... I also might have teared up driving it off the lot... how bizarre, right? I'm not sure exactly why, but it was such a cool feeling to feel like I was making this huge decision, and I had gotten through it, and I had a brand new car. That's right, 2007, 600 miles on it [they drove it in from like, Pennsalvania or something], first owner of it... not my best financial decision, but I don't regret it. I was single in a city with not a lot of friends and no family. I needed to have security in my car not breaking down.
The first year I had it, someone not only broke the drivers side mirror off of it, but it was also walked over; literally someone [with huge feet], stepped on the hood of the car, up the windshield and over the top of it... who does that?!].... [that's what we get for living in the sketchy part of town], and miraculously my sunroof didn't break.
The first year I had it, someone not only broke the drivers side mirror off of it, but it was also walked over; literally someone [with huge feet], stepped on the hood of the car, up the windshield and over the top of it... who does that?!].... [that's what we get for living in the sketchy part of town], and miraculously my sunroof didn't break.
In any case, I love my car. And now, it is no longer owned by the bank :). COMPLETELY PAID OFF!
I'm so excited; you have no idea. I know we still have a long way to being debt free, but this big monthly payment is no longer on my list.
Yay.
*maike rinaye*
*maike rinaye*
Thursday, August 30, 2012
dirty
I don't take a shower immediately after I complete a run. I think it's because I fear I might accidentally drown by attempting to gulp air but only getting water.
-mrp-
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Monday, August 27, 2012
Hmmm...
This morning I was thinking about art.. well, more or less.
I was designing a t-shirt in my head and thinking that I could make it for so-and-so, and I like the idea, but I couldn't actually sell/make money from it because of the likeness to a certain Disney character....
But then I thought... damn, tattoos do it all the time: make money from Disney characters/trademarked logo's, etc... what's the difference? Each artists sells his/her work on a canvas of sorts, each artist creates it with their own hand, each get's paid for the end results. So why do tattoo artists get to tattoo trade marked characters and other artists don't?
Hmm....
I think the world might be a better more creative place if tattoo artists weren't allowed to tattoo trademark characters on their clients.
But I suppose that's another conversation in general.
-mrp-
I was designing a t-shirt in my head and thinking that I could make it for so-and-so, and I like the idea, but I couldn't actually sell/make money from it because of the likeness to a certain Disney character....
But then I thought... damn, tattoos do it all the time: make money from Disney characters/trademarked logo's, etc... what's the difference? Each artists sells his/her work on a canvas of sorts, each artist creates it with their own hand, each get's paid for the end results. So why do tattoo artists get to tattoo trade marked characters and other artists don't?
Hmm....
I think the world might be a better more creative place if tattoo artists weren't allowed to tattoo trademark characters on their clients.
But I suppose that's another conversation in general.
-mrp-
Monday, August 20, 2012
Potatoes...
"Do you have potatoes in your ears? How many times do I have to say it!?!?"
No, who would have potatoes in their ear? What a ridiculous phrase.
My mother use to say this to us, exasperated from repeating whatever it was two or three... or [God-forbid], four times. But every time, it sounded completely absurd.
I have been watching my niece and nephew this summer (9 and 12). And throughout the summer there are certain things that I've been noticing about myself. Most recently, for example, the kids have been saying "what?" and "huh?", what seems like constantly..... And my response (after grinding my teeth and taking a breath to not be as annoyed) was, "you need to clear out the potatoes out of your ears!" .... Ridiculous.
So a few weeks ago the question/prompt was to talk about one way you are like your mother (my question actually). Jenkins and I both agreed we could write a book about this, and picking one was a bit of a challenge. But I think really, every day I am realizing more and more ways I am like my mom.
Besides the potatoes, there are quite a few embarrassing ways that I'm like my mother. For example, we both like stuff, and coupons. And because of that, clutter is a constant battle to keep at bay. We also always have a to-do list as long as our arms, which we have a problem focusing our efforts on to check things off the list. We also are pretty good at loosing track of time/being late for things because we thought maybe we could get one more thing into the time before we were meant to be somewhere.
But there are pretty awesome ways I'm like my mom too. We both have dreams of all the things we want to do some day [go back to Europe, hike/camp certain places, etc], we like to volunteer to make the world a better place and to love people in ways the world doesn't always. We like to talk. We, for the most part, don't care what the world does think about us [see my mom's crazy cowboy hat that she wears EVERYWHERE], we both have a bachelors degree, and we both like dressing up in general :).
My mom has always been so supportive of me, of my adventuring, of my not exactly job-secure degree choice, of my moving to other states, and the list goes on.
My mom's a bad ass. I hope to someday achieve her bad-ass-ness [smile].
-maike rinaye-
No, who would have potatoes in their ear? What a ridiculous phrase.
My mother use to say this to us, exasperated from repeating whatever it was two or three... or [God-forbid], four times. But every time, it sounded completely absurd.
I have been watching my niece and nephew this summer (9 and 12). And throughout the summer there are certain things that I've been noticing about myself. Most recently, for example, the kids have been saying "what?" and "huh?", what seems like constantly..... And my response (after grinding my teeth and taking a breath to not be as annoyed) was, "you need to clear out the potatoes out of your ears!" .... Ridiculous.
So a few weeks ago the question/prompt was to talk about one way you are like your mother (my question actually). Jenkins and I both agreed we could write a book about this, and picking one was a bit of a challenge. But I think really, every day I am realizing more and more ways I am like my mom.
Besides the potatoes, there are quite a few embarrassing ways that I'm like my mother. For example, we both like stuff, and coupons. And because of that, clutter is a constant battle to keep at bay. We also always have a to-do list as long as our arms, which we have a problem focusing our efforts on to check things off the list. We also are pretty good at loosing track of time/being late for things because we thought maybe we could get one more thing into the time before we were meant to be somewhere.
But there are pretty awesome ways I'm like my mom too. We both have dreams of all the things we want to do some day [go back to Europe, hike/camp certain places, etc], we like to volunteer to make the world a better place and to love people in ways the world doesn't always. We like to talk. We, for the most part, don't care what the world does think about us [see my mom's crazy cowboy hat that she wears EVERYWHERE], we both have a bachelors degree, and we both like dressing up in general :).
My mom has always been so supportive of me, of my adventuring, of my not exactly job-secure degree choice, of my moving to other states, and the list goes on.
My mom's a bad ass. I hope to someday achieve her bad-ass-ness [smile].
-maike rinaye-
Oh, I also look like my mom, I think I might have failed to mention that part of likeness :)
better
In 8th grade they made us run the mile.... and timed us.... I KNOW I walked for a lot [if not most] of it, but I have no idea what my time was [unfortunately]. I'm pretty sure it wasn't pretty.
This morning I ran the mile in 12 minutes.
Not awesome, I realize this... BUT, I ran it all... one total mile :). Someday I'll actually run like, on a track and see what kind of time, when I push myself, I can do the mile in [hopefully less than 10 minutes].
But, I believe I'm more fit now than when I was in 8th grade.
Go me.
-maike rinaye-
This morning I ran the mile in 12 minutes.
Not awesome, I realize this... BUT, I ran it all... one total mile :). Someday I'll actually run like, on a track and see what kind of time, when I push myself, I can do the mile in [hopefully less than 10 minutes].
But, I believe I'm more fit now than when I was in 8th grade.
Go me.
-maike rinaye-
Sunday, August 12, 2012
darn...
So, while running in California this week, I have figured out that there is only about half my rout that I can get Pandora on (we're a little bit out in bfe).... so now I'm trying to make the decision of Pandora for half my run, or Christmas music that's already loaded on my phone...
Decisions decisions...
-mrp-
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Saturday, August 04, 2012
day 2
Day 2 of running = successful.
I ran for 10 MIN, walked 5 MIN then ran 10 MIN and walked 5.... the gym I go to has individual tvs and when I was walking my final 5 MIN out, the Olympic runners started their run.
It was enough to get me to run another 10 MIN.
So, all together, 45 MIN on the treadmill and just over 3 miles all together.
All that to say, I think I'm signing up for the RAD run... :).
-mrp-
Ps: I have more thoughts on running, but I'll save them for another entry.
I ran for 10 MIN, walked 5 MIN then ran 10 MIN and walked 5.... the gym I go to has individual tvs and when I was walking my final 5 MIN out, the Olympic runners started their run.
It was enough to get me to run another 10 MIN.
So, all together, 45 MIN on the treadmill and just over 3 miles all together.
All that to say, I think I'm signing up for the RAD run... :).
-mrp-
Ps: I have more thoughts on running, but I'll save them for another entry.
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Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Also, it might be the end of the world
... cause last night, I ran... right?!.. RUNNING, on a treadmill!... no one was even chasing me!
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm pretty physically fit, but running has always been one of those things for me that I have despised. Probably something to do with middle school/high school, when we had to endure running a mile and being timed, and I was always at the end.
Not to mention that running has always been a bit boring for me. I like classes a lot, and if I'm not doing a yoga/zumba/belly dancing class, then I'm probably going to do the eliptical for as long as it takes me to read a magazine, and then do weights... 'cause I want to be strong and toned.
Anyway, if I'm on a treadmill, I'm doing a quick walk.. not running.
But then one of the blogs I read featured this:http://www.colormerad.com/races/indianapolis.html
Right!?... and I thought, THIS I could run for. How fun does it look!!!! And it's in Indy on a weekend that I currently do not have anything booked.
BUT seeing that I have not run before, I thought, I need to make sure I can do this before I embarrass myself :).
And it turns out, Ikinda liked running.. liked how I felt after running. So I'm gonna try to do it again a few times this week and see how it turns out.
-mrp-
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm pretty physically fit, but running has always been one of those things for me that I have despised. Probably something to do with middle school/high school, when we had to endure running a mile and being timed, and I was always at the end.
Not to mention that running has always been a bit boring for me. I like classes a lot, and if I'm not doing a yoga/zumba/belly dancing class, then I'm probably going to do the eliptical for as long as it takes me to read a magazine, and then do weights... 'cause I want to be strong and toned.
Anyway, if I'm on a treadmill, I'm doing a quick walk.. not running.
But then one of the blogs I read featured this:http://www.colormerad.com/races/indianapolis.html
Right!?... and I thought, THIS I could run for. How fun does it look!!!! And it's in Indy on a weekend that I currently do not have anything booked.
BUT seeing that I have not run before, I thought, I need to make sure I can do this before I embarrass myself :).
And it turns out, I
-mrp-
Storms...
Woke up this morning to CRAZY storms, that felt like the lightning and thunder were erupting from right out side our window, and then pelting small stones (hail) against the window.
My first thought, "I should find some pants to put on, 'cause when the tree falls on our house, and we have to run out, there's no chance I'll be able to find them quickly enough".
But then I decided it was too hot in our room to put pants on.
-mrp-
My first thought, "I should find some pants to put on, 'cause when the tree falls on our house, and we have to run out, there's no chance I'll be able to find them quickly enough".
But then I decided it was too hot in our room to put pants on.
-mrp-
Sunday, July 22, 2012
“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” ― Laurie Colwin
This past weeks blog challengers question:
If you could acquire a talent (without any extra effort), what would it be? Why?
So, a few years ago [three actually], my bff, my boyfriend, and one of his friends packed into the G6 and headed up to Canada... to celebrate July 4th :).
While we were up there one night, all in my little tent, the boyfriends friend posed a similar question to the group as well. My answer: Cooking.
If you could acquire a talent (without any extra effort), what would it be? Why?
So, a few years ago [three actually], my bff, my boyfriend, and one of his friends packed into the G6 and headed up to Canada... to celebrate July 4th :).
While we were up there one night, all in my little tent, the boyfriends friend posed a similar question to the group as well. My answer: Cooking.
They all laughed because their answers were like, flying or becoming invincible, but I'm totally serious. I want to be able to cook better, without having to learn anything. The main reason, I think, is because it's such a good thing to know, how to cook, how to make something taste great, how to make it healthy. But we're so inundated with ways to not cook [I seriously didn't know one could make mac-n-cheese from scratch until I was in middle school and we made it for Home Ec Class]. Not to mention that knowledge about cooking is SOOO wide. Like, cooking steak vs making an awesome salad vs making a casserole. And then the different genres all have different seasons and ways to cook, and things to combine. It's just so much knowledge to absorb to be good at cooking!
I think also, I want to be good at it, but I haven't really cared about it all that much. For me it isn't a fun thing to know about or how to do. Fun is showing off that I can juggle [which I can], or that I can draw a pretty good sketch of your butt [also which I can], or being able to sing the entire song to Baby Got Back. That's fun and weird and cool.
All that to say, I want to be good at it, so slowly but surely I've been learning more about it, from all sorts of people [Beth and Jill in Columbus each took a night to walk me through some of their favorite dishes a year and a half ago when I visited in the winter].... [and Ronalds Grandma Leota taught me how to make a peacan pie (Ronald's favorite), last winter as well].
And honestly, since we've been trying to pay down debt, cooking has seemed the best entertainment. When you aren't trying to spend money there are a few things you have to have, and food falls into that category, so why not try to make it fun, right? So it functions as a necessity and entertainment!
I'm always looking for a new recipe to try, so if you have any, feel free to pass them on :).
-maike rinaye-
Saturday, July 21, 2012
X-mas... and money
We have 22 weeks until X-mas, after today, there will be 156 full days until X-mas, and 22 paydays between then and now [if you get paid everyweek]... if I want to spend $500 on Christmas gifts this year, I need to save $23/week starting now.
Ya, it's July and I sure did start thinking about X-mas now.
-mrp-
Ya, it's July and I sure did start thinking about X-mas now.
-mrp-
“I want to write a book about shoes that’s full of footnotes.” ― Jarod Kintz
I love shoes. Almost everyone knows this :).
And since April, I have had a gift card to Zappos stuck away in my desk drawer waiting to be used.
Now, since April, I have probably gone to Zappos 8-10 times to look through all the shoes in my size; and to choose a few, and think, and then take a few off the list, and add others and think... in any case. I currently have it narrowed down to three different pairs. And I can't freakin decide.
Damn having so many options to choose from! [sigh].
Thoughts? Anyone think that one of these screams Maike more than the others?
If we had more money, I would most likely be walking [ha ha], home with more than one.
*maike rinaye*
And since April, I have had a gift card to Zappos stuck away in my desk drawer waiting to be used.
Now, since April, I have probably gone to Zappos 8-10 times to look through all the shoes in my size; and to choose a few, and think, and then take a few off the list, and add others and think... in any case. I currently have it narrowed down to three different pairs. And I can't freakin decide.
Damn having so many options to choose from! [sigh].
Thoughts? Anyone think that one of these screams Maike more than the others?
If we had more money, I would most likely be walking [ha ha], home with more than one.
*maike rinaye*
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012
the lawn of relationships
Last night I was sitting very still on my back porch ('cause if I moved much the stupid motion sensor light would turn on). I found myself thinking about fireflys, grass and the neighbors.
I came to this conclusion:
Relationships are like lawns.
So my green grass in the back yard is, well... not so green. And while I was outside sitting still I had put the sprinkler on and was watering the very dry brown patch of yard that we call grass. Normally in Indiana one does not have to ever water their grass. There's enough rain it stays green and grows more than you think it possibly can.
But this year is different, because something like 70% of the country is experiencing a drought. Which means I water the grass occasionally.
In regards to relationships, sometimes a realationship starts out green and full of life and healthy because there is so much love being poured into it. But then, for whatever reason, when the love stops being poured in, the grass starts to change colors and die. Sometimes if there is no love being poured in, people give up and call it dead.
But other times, we can start to water it and revive it from that dry brown unhealthy mess! Now, it can't be just one or two random showers of love, but intentional and routine and different love than what normally falls from the sky. It has to be nurtured and cared for and noticed.
And I think, 90% of the time, when there are people who step up and choose to water that grass, it will turn green again.
*maike rinaye*
I came to this conclusion:
Relationships are like lawns.
So my green grass in the back yard is, well... not so green. And while I was outside sitting still I had put the sprinkler on and was watering the very dry brown patch of yard that we call grass. Normally in Indiana one does not have to ever water their grass. There's enough rain it stays green and grows more than you think it possibly can.
But this year is different, because something like 70% of the country is experiencing a drought. Which means I water the grass occasionally.
In regards to relationships, sometimes a realationship starts out green and full of life and healthy because there is so much love being poured into it. But then, for whatever reason, when the love stops being poured in, the grass starts to change colors and die. Sometimes if there is no love being poured in, people give up and call it dead.
But other times, we can start to water it and revive it from that dry brown unhealthy mess! Now, it can't be just one or two random showers of love, but intentional and routine and different love than what normally falls from the sky. It has to be nurtured and cared for and noticed.
And I think, 90% of the time, when there are people who step up and choose to water that grass, it will turn green again.
*maike rinaye*
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
“All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God” Voltaire
Yesterday we did drinks with another couple... and after some non-classy remarks, I told him that occasionally I felt like punching him in the nose... he asked why, and I said that the things he said made me think of an annoying 13 year old... who I also wanted to punch in the nose...
Later during the night, after I might have made a penis innuendo joke, he laughed and said, "That makes me want to punch you in the nose"...
Which made me wonder, why did I add nose onto it? Why not just punch you in the face? When he said it back to me, all I could think of was puppets... and him as a puppet... like this puppet, but with a giant nose.
Because if you punched that puppet in the face, you would really only be punching him in the nose...
I don't actually want to punch anyone in the nose. If I were going to punch someone I think the jaw/cheek/belly/arm/chest would be better. Noses are just too awkward to punch.
Also, if my Uncle George was a Muppet, he would be Rowlf .
Lastly, Miss Piggy is still my favorite... she is so amazing.
*maike rinaye*
Later during the night, after I might have made a penis innuendo joke, he laughed and said, "That makes me want to punch you in the nose"...
Which made me wonder, why did I add nose onto it? Why not just punch you in the face? When he said it back to me, all I could think of was puppets... and him as a puppet... like this puppet, but with a giant nose.
like this maybe:
Because if you punched that puppet in the face, you would really only be punching him in the nose...
I don't actually want to punch anyone in the nose. If I were going to punch someone I think the jaw/cheek/belly/arm/chest would be better. Noses are just too awkward to punch.
Also, if my Uncle George was a Muppet, he would be Rowlf .
Lastly, Miss Piggy is still my favorite... she is so amazing.
*maike rinaye*
"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." -- James Michener
Current Blog Challengers Question:
What's one of your favorite family vacation memories?
This one is hard for me. Because quite honestly, I have SO many great vacation memories. My mother once explained to me that we didn't get a plethora of new clothes and new toys because for her, the family vacation was more important than those things.
I also read just the other day about how experiences make people more happy than stuff.
So because of that, almost every summer, all 5 of my family members would pack into the Pontiac Wagon, or later the Jeep Grand Cherokee, tow our pop up camper, and head off to spend the 2 week vacation time Dad had off of work.
We traveled all over the USA. And living in New Mexico, this was a LONG drive to just about anywhere.
What's one of your favorite family vacation memories?
This one is hard for me. Because quite honestly, I have SO many great vacation memories. My mother once explained to me that we didn't get a plethora of new clothes and new toys because for her, the family vacation was more important than those things.
I also read just the other day about how experiences make people more happy than stuff.
So because of that, almost every summer, all 5 of my family members would pack into the Pontiac Wagon, or later the Jeep Grand Cherokee, tow our pop up camper, and head off to spend the 2 week vacation time Dad had off of work.
We traveled all over the USA. And living in New Mexico, this was a LONG drive to just about anywhere.
... back to the initial question though...
Gosh... to pick one of my favorite vacation memories is so hard.... I've literally been sitting here staring at the screen thinking of vacation moments the past five minutes.
I guess I'll go with a Michigan one.
The first LONG trip we took with the Jeep and the pop-up was for a family reunion in Michigan. Uncle Fred owned the family farm [dad's side/grandma Tillen's side]. And for probably 10 years, every 2-3 years they would host the family reunion.
So this was a time when most of our Michigan family drove in, and then a few from Indiana, and then us from New Mexico. And. it. was. awesome.
Every time it was awesome. The farm is on about 60 acres [I think] of land right off of Lake Huron [which was always FREEZING cold].
Every morning Dad would walk down to the lake in his swim suit, with a bar of soap, and do his bathing there... in the freezing water. And every morning he would try to convince us to go with him... which I occassionally did, but SURE didn't get into that cold water.
The days were spent lounging around, wandering in the woods, playing with the numerous dogs that people brought with them, and then the evenings were spent by a big old fire pit that people would just hang out around, and smoke, and eat, and drink [of course].
It was lovely, and of course the fire pit time was probably my FAVORITE. 'Cause this was the time the old stories come out. Especially if my aunts and uncles were there. They would talk about old houses they lived in, and trouble they got into, and one would make an accusation about the other, and the other would deny it completely. It was great. And the years that my grandmother went to the farm, were awesome.
She was so happy on the farm. Happy to be with family, happy to be in Michigan, just happy. It was great.
So there you have it. I LOVE memories of our old family vacations. Vacations and traveling are the best.
*maike rinaye*
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 09, 2012
bikinis
Swimming breast stroke in a triangle top bikini = fine
Swimming free style in triangle top bikini = not good
Monday advice.
-mrp-
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Friday, July 06, 2012
"All that you accomplish or fail to accomplish with your life is the direct result of your thoughts." - James Allen
ac·com·plish/əˈkämpliSH/
| Verb: |
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| Synonyms: | achieve - fulfil - perform - execute - fulfill | |
What did you accomplish in the last year?
I'm not gonna lie, I'm having trouble answering this question. This is the current question for the blog challengers.
It's not that I haven't accomplished anything this year, I know I have. It just feels like all those accomplishments are baby accomplishments.
So how about what I have accomplished yesterday:
1. dishes
2. making 'shampoo' [from baking soda and water], as well as 'conditioner' [from vinegar and water]. [this also serves as a warning to anyone who is going to stay with me in the next few weeks, if the bottles are liquidy, they are not what they are labeled!]... [perhaps I should just label them... ]... [but what would I label them without looking weird?]... [maybe I'll just add "ish" to the end of conditioner and shampoo :)].
3. tennis playing with the husband
4. making an ipad pillow
5. sweating
6. laundry [although I probably shouldn't count this since I haven't folded it up and put it away yet].
It's interesting, I'm a list girl, I like to have a to-do list to check off, and a life list of goals to accomplish. But I feel like I look back on this year, and ya, I did some kick ass stuff, but I don't really feel like it's an accomplishment. It's an accomplishment to, quit smoking, or to refinish a kitchen table. The things I have accomplished seem small. Maybe it's also that I want to do the big accomplishment things.
So I'll keep working on figuring out what I've accomplished this last year [feel free to help a sister out].
But I'll end with things I want to accomplish in, hmm, the next 5 years or so:
1. hike/camp/do a part of the AT
2. buy a house
3. go to Europe with the husband
4. travel the California coast
5. make more art
6. go to more museums [hello, Chicago is a train ride away, why do I not do that more often?!]
7. build a head board
8. grow a garden [I tried this year, but it's pathetic, only the tomato plant and the green beans are up]
9. photograph a wedding in a different country
10. learn German better/more legitimately
*maike rinaye*
*****Wait!****
I came up with a few
1. gone more green, eating, and just day to day life [thank you awesome farmers market, awesome blog world, etc].
2. Ronald and I have paid off a LOT of debt. We're still working, but this past year we paid off 4 different credit cards, that's bad ass, and an accomplishment!
3. traveled to/photographed 3 out of state weddings... also bad ass
4. became a full time photographer [woah].
Also, here is the ipad pillow, it's for when you are laying down in bed, but need it propped up :).... and it's so way cuter than those black cases, right?
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
things I take for granted:
American citizenship.
Thanks npr for the reminder.
-mrp-
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Money Pt 2
Okay, so maybe I should sub-title this "poor vs frugal"
I found a new blog this week [http://thepeacefulmom.com]
Catching up on some of her past blogs, I came across this list:
Did you know that most people who look “wealthy” really aren’t? In the book The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, author Thomas J. Stanley reveals that most Millionaires drive older used cars or trucks, wear non-designer clothes and aren’t really that noticeable in society. Why? They are putting their money where it counts, not spending money to impress people they don’t even know.
You should pick up the book, it's crazy the statistics on what cars millionaires drive, and what houses they live in, and what kind of wine they drink... it's all not typical on what you think of when you hear "Millionaire".
Anyway, I like what she had to say about being poor versus being frugal. The past few years I've grown accustomed to changing the phrase, "I can't afford that", to "I choose not to afford that". And because I'm choosing to not afford certain things, I get to travel like a madwoman, pay off debt, own my own business and live more fully into who I am, not what designer label I'm wearing, or how expensive my jewelry or my car are... I get to just be me and take care of the things that I already posses.
Additionally, I think I might have already mentioned this before on the blog, BUT.. a few years ago, a friend and I read this blog about how to spend less, and love your closet more; I think it was in Glamour or something. In any case, the author looked at her own spending habits, and came up with 7 rules to shop by [I of course, can't remember all of them].
One of them, however, was: Do you LOVE it?... simply put, if you don't love it, why buy it, why not wait until you find something you do love? If you buy things that you love, you will wear them more often. Buy things that you think are just okay, and you won't.
Another one was: If it's a clearance item, does it fit and DO YOU LOVE IT?... which I think was a good one for me specifically. In this part, she talked about how some of us are conditioned to think "this shirt is only $5, and okay, it's a little tight, but it's only $5, I'm totally going to get it!"... I admit, that was me... [shamefully shakes head]. If it's a bit too tight, or too big, or too short, or too bright, or too whatever... most likely it will see the goodwill bag in the next year. And I will have worn it once.
I really wish I still had the article. It was good, especially for a Glamour article :). I think the main point being, that it's okay to spend money, but make sure what you are buying, is good, because after purchasing 10, $5 clearance shirts you will wear once and donate, you could have had a nice dinner out instead.... okay, a nice dinner for one person, but whateve [smile].
****ALSO****
We're starting a new blog challenge... hopefully this one catches on :). One blogger will pose a question, and the rest of us will blog our answers. Should be interesting :).
-maike rinaye-
ps: in my frugality today, I was talking with the niece and nephew that I'm watching this summer, about doing a special 4th of July cake... so we looked some up on-line, found one... and then tried to see if we could make it without going to the store.. which we could... except for frosting... so we found a recipe for that as well... also can make it without going to the store... so then we decided we needed sprinkles... and shit... did you know that you can home make sprinkles!!!!... how freakin awesome is that?!... so then, in order to do all this, we will need food coloring... me, thinking there is no way we could do this at home, tells as much to the 12 year old boy... who says, google it!... so we do... and ho.ly.shit.... you can make home made food coloring... we're not going to [too many ingredients we probably wouldn't eat]... but still... sorta awesome.
I found a new blog this week [http://thepeacefulmom.com]
Catching up on some of her past blogs, I came across this list:
Poverty Vs. Frugality
“We can’t afford that.” vs. “We choose not to buy that because we have other priorities.”She also mentioned this other book, that I took a gander at earlier this year called "The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy":
“There is never enough.” vs. “We have more than we need.”
“Doing without.” vs. “Making do.”
“We can’t make it.” vs. “Let’s do everything in our power to make this work.”
“We have to eat macaroni and cheese because we can’t afford good food.” vs. “We choose to eat macaroni and cheese once a week in order to save money for something more important.”
Did you know that most people who look “wealthy” really aren’t? In the book The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, author Thomas J. Stanley reveals that most Millionaires drive older used cars or trucks, wear non-designer clothes and aren’t really that noticeable in society. Why? They are putting their money where it counts, not spending money to impress people they don’t even know.
You should pick up the book, it's crazy the statistics on what cars millionaires drive, and what houses they live in, and what kind of wine they drink... it's all not typical on what you think of when you hear "Millionaire".
Anyway, I like what she had to say about being poor versus being frugal. The past few years I've grown accustomed to changing the phrase, "I can't afford that", to "I choose not to afford that". And because I'm choosing to not afford certain things, I get to travel like a madwoman, pay off debt, own my own business and live more fully into who I am, not what designer label I'm wearing, or how expensive my jewelry or my car are... I get to just be me and take care of the things that I already posses.
Additionally, I think I might have already mentioned this before on the blog, BUT.. a few years ago, a friend and I read this blog about how to spend less, and love your closet more; I think it was in Glamour or something. In any case, the author looked at her own spending habits, and came up with 7 rules to shop by [I of course, can't remember all of them].
One of them, however, was: Do you LOVE it?... simply put, if you don't love it, why buy it, why not wait until you find something you do love? If you buy things that you love, you will wear them more often. Buy things that you think are just okay, and you won't.
Another one was: If it's a clearance item, does it fit and DO YOU LOVE IT?... which I think was a good one for me specifically. In this part, she talked about how some of us are conditioned to think "this shirt is only $5, and okay, it's a little tight, but it's only $5, I'm totally going to get it!"... I admit, that was me... [shamefully shakes head]. If it's a bit too tight, or too big, or too short, or too bright, or too whatever... most likely it will see the goodwill bag in the next year. And I will have worn it once.
I really wish I still had the article. It was good, especially for a Glamour article :). I think the main point being, that it's okay to spend money, but make sure what you are buying, is good, because after purchasing 10, $5 clearance shirts you will wear once and donate, you could have had a nice dinner out instead.... okay, a nice dinner for one person, but whateve [smile].
****ALSO****
We're starting a new blog challenge... hopefully this one catches on :). One blogger will pose a question, and the rest of us will blog our answers. Should be interesting :).
-maike rinaye-
ps: in my frugality today, I was talking with the niece and nephew that I'm watching this summer, about doing a special 4th of July cake... so we looked some up on-line, found one... and then tried to see if we could make it without going to the store.. which we could... except for frosting... so we found a recipe for that as well... also can make it without going to the store... so then we decided we needed sprinkles... and shit... did you know that you can home make sprinkles!!!!... how freakin awesome is that?!... so then, in order to do all this, we will need food coloring... me, thinking there is no way we could do this at home, tells as much to the 12 year old boy... who says, google it!... so we do... and ho.ly.shit.... you can make home made food coloring... we're not going to [too many ingredients we probably wouldn't eat]... but still... sorta awesome.
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