One frustrating thing about cooking for just one or two people is that most prepackaged food items come in 4 to 6 person serving packets. Although I try to minimize the amount of prepackaged or processed food that I eat, sometimes it’s just easier to cook from a mix- ESPECIALLY when it comes to baking.…
It’s always been a challenge to find shoes that comfortably fit my wide foot, but when it comes to finding heels, it’s nearly impossible. I’ve always resorted to ankle straps or various other designs to keep a shoe in place on my foot as I walk, but recently I came up with a new idea.…
Cleaning a pan can be challenging, especially when the pan has burnt bits deeply embedded in the non-stick surface. In this tutorial, I will be showing you my method for cleaning my Scanpan Skillet. “Scanpan” is a high-end line of cooking cookware with a non-stick finish that has a lifetime guarantee. I realized after I downsized…
While tickets to go up in the recently renovated Space Needle continue to rise, this out-of-the-way art installment remains a cool reprieve with iconic views. This year a newly updated Space Needle was unveiled to visitors- visitors willing to pay $30 per person for access, at least. If you are planning a visit to Seattle, you…
After I sold my business in 2015, I had the opportunity to do some traveling. Even though I’d dreamed of travel… I didn’t go. I did not have a travel companion and was afraid to go by myself, so I did not go. Fast forward 2 years and a cross-country move, and in 2017 I…
I’m not a typical crystal collector. Neither geologist or a believer in healing crystals, I just like things that are pretty and sparkle- and crystals definitely fit the bill. I also love a good treasure hunt, as evidenced by the many posts on this blog about garage sales, gardening, and chicken-keeping (because what is…
A few years ago I raised a flock of meat birds. I accompanied these birds from brooder to butcher and along the way, I shared with readers how I made a collapsable chicken tractor, how I got a broody hen to adopt all my hatchery chicks so I didn’t have to use artificial heat lamps and…
South Lake Union is a neighborhood in Seattle. While it’s not the hottest tourist destination, South Lake Union is only a few steps from iconic Pike Place market and, as the neighborhood that is home to Amazon’s headquarters, is a fascinating part of Seattle to include on your itinerary for visiting Seattle. In this post,…
Last winter in Seattle was colder and wetter than most, and with my social media feeds filling with the comfort-loving aesthetic of Hygge, I decided I needed more cozy throws in my life. Unsatisfied with cheap throws and fleece blankets, I wanted a very substantial blankie- and I found it in an unlikely place. Bainbridge…
In this post, I’ll be showing you how to personalize a blank award ribbon rosette with a custom design, message, or personalization. This method is perfect for creating custom gifts, awards, or to celebrate unique celebration that would be hard to celebrate or find a card for. Using just about any vinyl cutting system such…
Seattle is an amazing place to visit, but with basic hotel rooms starting at $130 per night, budgeting for a low-cost trip to Seattle can be a huge challenge. As a graduate student, I and my friends have discovered some fun, free ways to get the full Seattle experience, so today’s blog post is all…
On the return trip from Croatia in July 2017, I sailed from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Bari, Italy aboard the Jadrolinija Ferry “Dubrovnik”. On this return trip, unlike my first Adriatic crossing with Jadrolinija, I traveled on a daytime passage. This crossing made my first Jadrolinja ferry seem like a cakewalk! Ferry Check In Passengers…
Before downsizing, I purchased a light box for my art studio. It was handy and worked great for finessing my art, but it was also expensive, bulky and difficult to use due to the electrical cord. I sold my light box in an estate sale when I moved to Seattle, but as I do more…
Graduate school is an odd season of life. While many work full time during graduate studies, often others, like me, discover their graduate program isn’t a good complement to a standard full-time job and, like me, seek alternate ways to maintain an income while working towards the next career goal. For me, during even the…
DIY dying cement is a tough job. Cement is often a dark media (my favorite crafting variety, Rockite, however, is already light, making dying easier) and the chemical processes and heating that take place during the curing process seem to destroy most pigments. In my initial attempts, I used a professional grade high pigment fluid…
Did you know that you can make your own naturally freeze-resistant water buckets, troughs, or ponds using natural materials you already have on your farm? This might sound a little crazy, but compost is a surprizingly effective way to insulate buckets. Everyone knows compost heats up- it’s part of the decomposition process and the reason that…
