“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:

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.

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*

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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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-

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-

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-

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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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.

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In other news...

... happy baby pose is THE most embarrassing yoga pose EVER... sheesh.

-mrp-

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, I kinda 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-

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-

“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.

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-

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-

“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*

CURRENTLY IN YOUR SHOPPING CART

YOUR ITEMS	ITEM PRICE	QUANTITY	PRICE
SUBTOTAL (3 ITEMS):			$143.97
STANDARD GROUND SHIPPING:			FREE
* ESTIMATED TAX TO BE COLLECTED:			$0.00
GRAND TOTAL:			$143.97
Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim SKU: #7723529 COLOR: BEAT/TIN GREY/ROSETTE/WHITE/BLACK/PURE SILVER SIZE: 9.5 WIDTH: B - MEDIUM	$43.99 SALE! $54.99	Remove Move to Favorites	$43.99
Reebok Lifestyle Classic Nylon Slim SKU: #7723529 COLOR: BLACK PLUM/AUBERGINE/CHARGED GREEN/WHITE SIZE: 9.5 WIDTH: B - MEDIUM	$54.99	Remove Move to Favorites	$54.99
KangaROOS Combat Racer SKU: #7610940 COLOR: TURQUOISE/GREY/NAVY SIZE: 9.5 WIDTH: B - MEDIUM	$44.99 SALE! $55.00	Remove Move to Favorites	$44.99

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*

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“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.

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.

... 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*

genesis 16:13

".... You are the God who sees me."

-mrp-

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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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"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:	Achieve or complete successfully.
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?

things I take for granted:

American citizenship.

Thanks npr for the reminder.

-mrp-

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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:

Poverty Vs. Frugality

 “We can’t afford that.” vs. “We choose not to buy that because we have other priorities.”
“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.”

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":

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.

Money

This past week I realized something.  I'm sort of obsessed with money.  Okay, so that really doesn't sound great... sounds like I'm sort of crazy person who is after as much money as possible... and that's not at ALL what I mean by it.

I realized though, that in addition to scrolling through the headlines on the huffington post, I'll also click over to the money tab.  I do this more than I click over to fashion, or culture, or world news... I'm obsessed.

There's so many portals to why this is...
1. I have been learning a lot about how to deal with money, budget, save, pay off debt, etc.
2. Ronald and I have paid of a lot of debt this past year, and it.is.so.freeing.  Seriously.  If you have debt, you don't really realize until it's gone how much it truly weighs on you!  Now don't get me wrong, we still have massive loads of debt to pay off [majority of people with some sort of university diploma do, right?].  And we're working on that, but the snowball debt payoff has been so great.
3. I want to live greener, and less reliant on consumer goods to make me happy.
4. I have crazy plans for the future, and we can't make that happen unless we are smart in our day to day life with our finances [trip to Germany, trip to hike a portion of the AT, trip to London, etc].
5. I own my own business, so I NEED to be smart about money.  Not only personally, but to make my business grow and thrive.
6. I'm passionate about helping others also find financial freedom.  Because it is possible to go through life without debt.  It's possible to not have a car payment [dude, we're so freakin close to this!], and it's possible to pay off your house in 15 years instead of 30.

In any case, I'm just learning all these things that we've been taught were normal in life that don't actually have to be normal!  And it's wicked.  Dave's phrase is live like no one else today so that you can live like no one else tomorrow... I'm on that bandwagon.

So that's all.  I'm obsessed with learning about money, and making it do what I want it to do.  Here's to being debt free in a few years!

-maike rinaye-

Judgey Judgey... [tsk, tsk].

I figured out how to be not as judgey about others....

.... surround myself with people like me.

Problem: this is boring, and I learn less, and is just altogether not as fun as surrounding yourself with people not like you...

Therefor: I will continue to surround myself with people who are both like and not like me... and probably also continue to be judgey [but I'm working on that].

-maike rinaye-

husband + puppies = awesome

I love my husband.... he's so supportive, and cute, and strong... and... well, just look at these photos!  It makes you like him a bit more, right? [smile].

-maike rinaye-

ps: see more here, or eventually here :)
pps: he did tell me not to put these on the internet [which I didn't actually agree to], so don't rat me out, k!

"Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter." ~Terri Guillemets

To most of you, this is just a bottle.  A tiny bottle.  Maybe you can see that it's a victoria secret body wash... it was nice, but I'm so excited to say that it is empty.

I know, sorta bizarre, right.  Why should I post a picture of an EMPTY bottle... dumb.

But it's not.  I've sort of been on a journey the past few years about learning to simplify, and to live and be happy with the things that I already have and more over the EXPERIENCES I get to have, because I'm conscious about how I'm spending my hard earned dough [and consequently, how I'm paying off debt].

So one way I have been doing this, is through products [sometimes it's not about buying new things, but more about better using the things you have].

Ya'all, I have SO MANY bathroom products.  How does it even happen!  My husband [okay, and whatever, he's a dude, so he automatically has less stuff, but still], he has a toothbrush, tooth paste, shampoo, body wash and mouth wash... that's it.

Me?... well, there's not enough blogspace to write every bathroom product I have, but even if we just look in the shower, I have a straight hair shampoo and a straight hair conditioner, then I have some other shampoo, and curly hair conditioner, shaving shower gel, soap bar, face wash, and two other things of small shower gel... well, now only 1 [smile].

But that's not including products I have in the cabinets or under the sink.  Ugg.

It's so much!  And I've spent some time wondering how I got this way.  It's not necessarily that I go and buy a new bottle of lotion, gel, shower stuff, or hair product every time I go to the store [I don't, I swear], but it's more that I have accumulated these items and don't use the majority of them.  For whatever reason [sale, buy something get something free, get it as a gift, etc], I get stuck with these things that aren't part of my daily routine.  And then they sit.

I've had this little bottle of shower gel in my possession for years.  Literally.  And that's ridiculous.

So, in an effort to simplify, and live a better, less cluttered, cleaner life; I'm trying to use all these items up, and then having the self control not to buy any more, 'cause there are certain things I use, and there are certain things I don't.  And I know what they are, I just need to be disciplined in that and not suckered into believing that my life will mimic that of a beach goddess if I buy the coconut smelling shower gel.  Or I'll automatically be so much happier if I have this special shampoo.

Simplification.  You would think that living simpler would also be easier.  And maybe some day it will.  Until then, here's one bottle toward using/giving away all the rest of my random products that I've had for way too long.

-maike rinaye-

ps: Don't know if you all have ever heard of this, but I'm going to attempt [when my current bottles of shampoo and conditioner run out], to shampoo my hair with the suggested baking soda and apple cider vinegar solutions instead.  I'll try to let you know how it goes [but I also probably have a good month left of my current shampoo and conditioner :)].

pps: Also, I've been encouraged by this blog post about simple living: http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/05/the-simple-life-2/

"Ch..Ch..Ch... Changes..."

I have a secret love for Biggest Loser. Which really, I think, comes from a love of seeing transformation; in myself, in others, in the earth, in businesses, etc.

Which is why I choose this image this week. Winter is transforming to Spring! Hallelujah!

And so many other things are transitioning too.

I've watched more of the Biggest Loser this week, because Ronald has been out of town for a few days, AND, because I no longer have a day job. That's right, me and framing = no longer happening. And I am SO happy right now.

The frame place I was working at has had a lot of ups and downs between its employees for a while now, but with the new ownership, I wasn't re-hired. Simple as that. And I seriously, could not be any more thankful. If this would have happened six months ago I would have been freaking out about bills, and what I was going to do, and everything. And although I know there are things that I'll need to get together, and try harder at etc... I'm not freaking out. I am so happy that I don't have to work weekends, and that I don't have to freakin fight for a day off, only to feel guilty about it later. And I'm happy for the little things too, like being able to wear my nose ring again :).

So changes. The people on the Biggest Loser are inspirational. In more than just losing weight. They're inspirational because they found something they don't like about themselves and something they can make better, and they are choosing to go out there and do it. And to fight towards the end that they see ahead!

For me, in this transitional period of life, I have a few goals.
1. Eat healthier/garden/make better meals
2. Work REALLY hard at photography :); I have both the professional portraiture website up [www.mrinaye.com], and I also have an etsy site with my awesome assistant Ashley [http://www.etsy.com/shop/MRinayeModish]
3. Make time for people/ladies/fellowship
4. Make time for God

Are you guys working on any goals right now?

-maike rinaye-

PS: the last episode I watched was the Newman's Own Episode... holy crap, I had no idea they were such a wickedly awesome company! Look what they did :).

"And I gave to you my ugly brown coat, You made it pretty when you put it on...

....Warmth in the early morning chill my girl
Warmth in the early April"

This weeks choice is from HB:

I have been thinking about what to write about the Avett Brothers, for FOR.EV.ER!

Okay, so not quite that long, but even before we started this blog challenge, I had thought about trying to write something about some of their lyrics [they have such great, inspiring, sweet, awesome lyrics].

But here's the thing, with the Avetts, there are so many different directions I can go! I can talk about my first concert [I'm pretty sure it was Jars of Clay, with an opening act from The W's]. Or I can talk about inspirational stuff, and where my life is now, and how I need to hear and believe some of those inspirational words [see Avetts song Head Full of Doubt: "When nothing is owed or deserved or expected, And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected, If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected, Decide what to be and go be it"], or I can talk about the moments that I sort of feel like I share with the Avetts.... which is what I've settled on.... for tonight anyway.

The first Avetts song I ever heard was January Wedding. I.fell.in.love... partially, because when I heard it, I was also falling in love at the same time. For a very short period [maybe a total of two minutes], I even considered January as a possible month to get married in... but then I remembered January... icky January. When things are ugly outside unless the snow is covering it all up, in which case it's COLD... and you're just left waiting for freaking February, March and half of April to pass to see the sun again!

But back to the story! Ronald's [now husband, but I'm pretty sure nothing at the time] friends were singing January Wedding one night when they were all drunk [that's what they "do" when it reaches a certain time of the night and they've had enough alcohol to liven their spirits]. And it was just great. All the drunk boys singing, "And she was sick like Audrey Hepburn, when I met her"... [what does that even mean?! No one knows!], this sweet hillbilly-ish song [smile]. Even better, when we did get married in October, some very awesome friends of ours re-wrote the song and then had our entire friend group sing it to us at our sing-a-long the night before we got hitched.

Another strong memory I have, is Ronald belting out Colorshow. This isn't what I would call one of their most popular songs; but it's his FAVORITE [even though, he doesn't admit to having "favorites"]. He loves how loud he can sing/scream it, and how passionate it is. At first, I was like, "this is a bizarre song, and it's just scream yelling, I don't think I like it". But it's funny how things change when one of your close people loves something, right? [*for those of you who have never heard Ronald belt this out, we need to arrange this sometime].

Lastly, the first time I saw the Avetts in concert was when I bought tickets for Ronald and I's first anniversary. It was a Thursday night, and we had to drive an hour and a half in the rain, but when we got there, there performance was more stage presence than I have EVER seen of any other band. Even though I didn't know every song, I couldn't help being absolutely fascinated by their sheer passion for music [PLEASE, check out how bad ass the cellist is!].

So really, looking back at these memories, and the things that I tie into the Avetts, perhaps I love them so much, because they remind me of my own love.

"And always remember, there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name."

*maike rinaye*

ps: yes, I just spent the last hour adding you tube clips all over this blog post... I LOVE their music [sigh]... so great...

pps: they will be in Indianapolis, on September 30, 2012. Anyone want to go?

Blog Club....

It's sort of like a book club... well, in that it's a club :).... other than that maybe it's not really like a book club.

In any case, I'm not great with words, or summarizing things [shrug]. BUT I can link to others in the club who are great at those things, and can explain this blog challenge much better than I can.

So here they are:

Jenkins

HB

Megan

Whitney G

Liz

Aimee

Whitney M

-maike rinaye-

Dadadadadadadada.... dadaism

This painting makes me think of Modern Art.

Which makes me think of Tom Parker.

Which makes me think of Dada.

Which makes me scratch my head and think, "what?"

Which is perhaps exactly what they wanted.

"I'm really optimistic in the mornings." -Kary Mullis

Award for MORNINGS!

Goes to my little dog :). When I wake up, he's so happy to see I'm awake, and just that perfect mix of cuddly, lovey, and excited.

-maike rinaye-

ps: I'm not really a writer, but I think I can probably handle short and sweet, maybe a few long/more meaningful posts in there too.

pps: I'm going to eventually finish the damn alphabet drawings... so close.

U... Umbrella

*mrp*

T... troll

And I'm back! Better late than never [rolls eyes] :). And with a troll, which Ronald rescued from the basement for me ["a troll? like something you find under a bridge", "no, like one of those little guys with crazy hair and a gem in their belly button"].

*mrp*

ps: Troll drawing, actual Troll... and Bentley :)

S... is for Santa...

So instead of drawing a Santa today, I'm going to tell a story :).

My brother, sister and I growing up were believers. My parents never let Santa outshine Jesus, but we did believe in Santa.

Christmas started the first weekend of December [NOT Thanksgiving weekend], when we would head out to the woods an hour and a half away or so, and do the first Christmasey thing of the year: find a tree to cut down. Of course this tree was VERY much like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, but we never knew any better [no one actually ever made fun of it until we moved to Missouri and one of my friends was looking at photographs of years past].

Then on December 6th we would leave our shoes out our front door for when St. Nicholas dropped by. I'm not sure what other people got when St. Nicholas came [I did now that not everyone got a visit from St. Nicholas], but we received [in our shoes :)], a piece of fruit, a toothbrush and a special tooth paste.

Unlike some people, I don't remember when exactly I stopped believing there was a Santa. But on Christmas, I might have been 5 or 6 [?], and I woke up in the middle of the night, with bad dreams or something. So like most kids do with this problem, I wandered out to the family area to find my parents to fix the problem.

I remember walking down our LONG long hallway, and out to find my Dad at the dinning room table maybe drinking coffee. I went up to him, rubbing my eyes, trying to tell him about my dream, and asking where Mom was, and he pointed behind me and said, "Look Maike, look who's here", and so I turned around, and sure enough... there was Santa. Who I looked up at shocked, somewhat still asleep, and a bit confused toward [he did, after all, come from our front door not the chimney]. He took my hand and led me back to bed.

I don't remember much after that, if we woke up the siblings, or not, but it is just a fun memory. Especially because at some point after that, I realized that the person who had dressed up as Santa... was my Mother :).

-maike rinaye-

PS: I think I should also try to re-do the blog-the-abc's-in-a-month during a slow month... maybe February :).

R... Ronald

Sorta :)

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