Late Spring Garden

I am so pleased with my garden this year; with all the rain that we have gotten here everything is doing so well! Last year, we built a raised garden out of cedar, but the summer was so hot we never filled it with soil or planted. This year we will have thousands of tomatoes to eat (due to the fact that the plants were so small when I planted them, I over crowded the bed! Oops!) We also have carrots, hot peppers, cucumber, basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary and strawberries. I can't wait until everything is ready to eat!

Also, we started a real compost pile this year and so far it is going well. We picked it up for free from our local landscape supplier. It is actually a container that large landscaping rocks comes in (or a pallet with a metal fence fastened to it). Every morning I dump the coffee grounds into a stainless steel bowl on the counter and collect other compostable items through out the day--then dump it in the pile. Also, I add all of the weeds and other yard waste to it and turn it periodically. I have many other failed attempts at composting, but I am happy that this is going well. Maybe I will even get to use some of the compost in our garden next year!

I hope that this summer doesn't get too hot and dry, I am looking forward to a nice summer of flowers and veggies!

Day Lilies

Primrose

Iris

Lavender

Clematis and Roses

Clematis

Compost pile

Raised garden

Shasta daisies

Trying to get a grip on things!

I am probably the poster child for organized chaos or as a former co-worker of mine once put it, "you are a piler--not a filer!" That is the truth, I could probably win an award for avoiding putting things away--from laundry to paperwork my life is organized chaos!! The crazy thing is, sometimes once I put things away, then I can't find them--go figure. Anyhow, I am trying to be more proactive about getting things done before they pile up and to encourage my children to do likewise. Generally, they come home and shed their coats, hats, gloves, shoes, etc and it is in a giant pile near the front door. I don't do that, but I come in with the mail and other items and just set them on the counter. The next thing I know, I can't even see the surface of the counter! I really like to be organized, but their is some inherent part of my nature that tends towards mess. I let things pile up and then I have a crazy spell and have an intervention and try to get things back into shape. This habit is very cyclical, mess, mess, mess clean up, mess again.

SO, I am trying to get a grip and take care of things as they come along. Sort mail and file as it comes in, put away thing and generally be more organized and less chaotic. I am not trying to go to extremes here, but I am just trying to spend a little bit more time now to avoid big messes later. This approach has worked well for the front half of my car. I no longer have tons of bank receipts, mail, papers and junk in the front seat. The backseat (IE: child-zone) is a whole other story as my children tend to bring toys and books and things into the car, but "forget" to get them out. I think we are going to have to have a little clean up time this weekend to address this...

As part of getting a grip on things, I am trying to improve my morning routine and avoid feeling like a crazy person in the morning. Here's my new regime: wake up after only 2 sleep timers (around 6:35 instead of 6:45), set ten minute timer for my shower, have coffee prepared the night before and on automatic mode, make sure my children have their school stuff ready the night before (so there is less "where's my backpack?" or "I can't find my shoes!", so far (and I mean for the past 3 days) this has worked and I have been 10 minutes early to work and far less stressed when I get there! So, yea for me! Let's see if I can keep this up?

Wish me luck!

A Not So Good Night's Sleep

Although the pictures are self explanatory, here is the letter I just send to Select Comfort about our Sleep Number bed:

My husband and I purchased our Sleep Number bed in early 2005 and have recently been experiencing problems with air bladder inflation. We both have always had our settings set at 35, but recently the bladders began loosing air, I would either end up rolling on to his side because mine had lost air or visa versa. We would try to adjust the bladder with the remote, but could not get the firmness to feel right. So, we decided to take apart the bed, let the air out, unplug the pump and start over. Well, that's when things got ugly!! My husband found that both air bladders and the foam topper are covered in black mold spots. Also, the foam topper has broken down to the point that the thing has nearly ripped into two pieces. Totally appalled, but in need of sleep, we vacuumed the bed and put it back together. I am reluctant to even write this email as I am so angry and frustrated about this that I would just assume to go to the nearest mattress store and buy a conventional mattress. But, then I am reminded that I paid $2000 for this bed and was told that I would love it for 20 years or my money back. Right now, I don't love it and I am really ticked off. What started as an uncomfortable night sleep has turned into a health hazard. I would like to know what Sleep Number recommends that I do with this bed. I would like answers, I feel that the money we paid for this bed was an utter waste and at this point I would not recommend your product to anyone! Please contact me immediately regarding this.

Yvette Paris

An update on my Sleep Number story!! Sleep Number is replacing the air chambers and foam topper in my bed at no cost, no questions asked! I did have to wait on hold for about 10 min, but other than that their customer service was fantastic! Pretty good deal since I bought the bed in 2004, as it turns out they do stand behind their products. Now, I am happy!  

Demystifying the NCIDQ Exam - Part 1

In 2011, I took and passed the LEED exam and became a card carrying LEED AP ID+C (okay, there really is no card, but there is a nifty certificate you can download!). So, after a lackluster list of accomplishments last year, I have decided to stop procrastinating and register for the NCIDQ exam and get to studying!!! (For those of you not in the field of Interior Design, the NCIDQ exam is the professional exam for Interior Designers and is required to be registered with the state as a professional interior designer AND it's really hard!) Last year, I jumped through all the hoops and got three letters of recommendations, a sealed copy of my college transcripts, filled out several forms and mailed it all to NCIDQ headquarters with my $180 check. Since then, I have been approved as a qualified applicant to take the exam, but I have done absolutely nothing else. I am sort of a master of procrastination and when something isn't fun or easy I generally ignore it. I realize that this is an important step in my professional life, so I have decided to get on it. I have been trying to figure out where to start with the study process... and thus far, I have found almost nothing about how to really go about studying for this monumental and expensive exam! There is one paid website that you can subscribe to and get access to study guides, etc. But, I have not yet found any real life accounts of this process.

You might say, why not join a study group? Well, most study groups meet right after work and are approximately 45 minutes away with traffic. Unfortunately, my current life does not allow for extracurricular activities. My husband works about 45 minutes from home and does not get off work until 5:45 or 6pm and our children must be picked up from daycare/latchkey by 6pm, this leaves me as the designated parent for pick up. Anyhow, you can see that I am pretty much on my own as far as studying goes, which is fine with me--I studied for the LEED exam solo, I can do this too.

My first step has been to purchase Ken Ballast's Interior Design Reference Manual: Everything You Need to Know to Pass the NCIDQ Exam which from what I can tell is the best comprehensive reference guide for studying. I have scoured the internet and found that Amazon.com has the best price on this book for about $98 new. It's a lot of money to invest, but it does appear that these books hold their value and can be sold for nearly the same price as new copies.

My next step is to register for the exam. For those unfamiliar with this exam, it is only given on a bi-annual basis in the Spring and in the Fall. Registration for the Spring 2013 exam opens on January 7th, 2013 and the exam is held in April 2013 is the inaugural year that the NCIDQ exam will be given in a digital format at Prometric testing centers. It will also be given in the traditional pencil and scantron format, but I am going to opt for the digital method since this is how I took the LEED exam and I am familiar with the testing environment and process. Also, the test will be given over a 9 day period which means that I will have a choice as far as the date and time on which I can take the exam.

Well, that's about all I have for now on this process. I am waiting for my book to arrive in the mail and will continue my quest for valuable information in regards to how to study for this exam. I plan to share more information that I find and provide updates on my progress throughout this process! So, stay tuned!

If anyone reading this blog has taken and passed the NCIDQ, please feel free to comment on your experiences, things that worked for you (or did not work!) and other key information that might help others preparing for the exam! Thanks!

Wow, it has been nearly a year since I have written a post on this blog! I guess I kind of fell off the wagon, or couldn't come up with much to say. Since today is January 2nd, perhaps it it appropriate to approach the new year by reflecting on 2012.

It's hard to think of many personal accomplishments that I achieved in 2012...

One thing that I was more successful at was maintaining a fairly consistent inventory on my Etsy shop Living Simply (by design). However, even that remained on the proverbial back burner for much of the year as it is a lot of work to photograph, describe and list items. I do it as a hobby more than a money making endeavour as I really just like to find unique vintage items, polish them up and find them a loving home and get them out of a dark attic or basement! I guess as long as I am not loosing money and I am still having fun, I will keep it up!

Last year, I totally failed at going to the gym. I faithfully started my gym membership on January 1st, 2012 and then seriously probably went about ten times all year. I have been able to come up with the best excuses not to go--I don't feel like it, I am tired, I don't have time, I don't feel good... but, somehow I have not been able to bring myself to cancel the damn membership! I guess I am trying to get myself convinced to go, but at the same time not being very motivated at all. Somehow, I need to get motivated and go or just stop paying for it!

As far as my garden goes,  it was an awfully hot summer and my garden pretty much looked horrific, so I never really spent a whole lot of effort in that regard. I sure have a lot of work to do in the spring to get the yard in shape again! I have 2 acres, so keeping it up is pretty much a part time job--like I really have the time. But, when the weather is nice I really like to garden.

Well, I am afraid that this post was somewhat rambling, but I tried. So, until next time!

Yvette

Instagram Garden

A mild Winter for the Midwest, ended unseasonably early this year bringing temperatures in the mid eighties as early as February! Now, it's only April 1st, and we have already seen the daffodils, forsythia, tulips, cherry blossoms, dogwoods, magnolias and many others bloom! I have been spending a great deal of time in my garden trying to gain control of the weeds that didn't die (and seemed to thrive) over the winter. I still have a long road ahead to get my yard in shape, but I thought that I would share some of my favorite photos of this Spring.

A New Chapter Begins

I have been looking for a definitive sign to determine in which direction to go. Yesterday, I was struggling with what to do regarding the house and I found the sign. I logged into our bank and realized that after the last property tax check cleared that our balance has gotten dangerously low compared to what it once was. I realized at that moment that it would be incredibly irresponsible to buy the house. I contacted my real estate agent and let her know that we would like to terminate the contract on the house. While this was hard to do since we have spent the past several months preparing to sell this house and buy the other house, I had to come to terms with the fact that I need to take a hard look at our finances. I need to go back to "squirrel mode" and cut unnecessary expenses and begin to build our savings again.

You might wonder why this is such a big surprise to me... however, it's not like we have made any big purchase lately or have been frivolously spending money. In fact, other than one car payment and a mortgage, I have no debt. We spent four years living on one income and I had made many cuts in our lifestyle in order to get by, I guess once we had a dual income, I felt like I could afford luxuries I had denied myself for so long. Simple things like increasing our grocery budget, going out to dinner or lunch on weekends.

Now, I am motivated to get our finances back in shape. I don't feel like the past several months have been a waste of time or energy; there have been positive results. One, many of the improvements that have been on our To-Do list for the house have been completed after five years. On the other hand, this financial reality check is a side effect that I can't help but to believe is a positive effect. It is time to be more lean, to save and not to waste, to plan, and to make good choices.

Even though I am angry with myself for not realizing sooner that we haven't been making wise choices, I am glad to have figured out that trading this house for a much bigger house and much bigger expenses would be irresponsible at this point in time.