making it happen

I love it when people talk about starting a business that can make the world better--and then actually do it. Which is why I really couldn't be happier to tell you about Om Goods, which is a San Diego based business selling a wonderful variety of stainless steel goods. They have 2, 3, and 4 tier tiffins, gorgeous carry bags and matching napkins for the tiffins, childrens' dinner sets, and more.

So, here's the situation: I like to feed Nina three meals a day, but if you know kids, and especially my kid, you know that they are always asking for food, all times of the day. I did set up a snack cabinet for Nina but it's in one of the kitchen cabinets so the variety of foods is restricted to non-refrigerated foods. And then I saw this on the Om Goods site. It's made for spices, but from the first time I laid eyes on it, I knew it would be perfect for little snacks that a child could help themselves to, without being waited on hand and foot.

Here's what I came up with the first time I filled it: beef salami, mixed nuts, cheese, almonds, grapes, dried bananas, and in the middle, raisins and dried mango. I keep it in the fridge, and when I hear "I'm hungry" any time of the day, I feel comfortable telling Nina to go and help herself. And she loves having a little more independence.

It went over pretty well, I think. I'm really glad to have it and I'm even more glad this company is out there.

If you're local you can check them out every other Sunday at the Hillcrest farmer's market.

happiness is a warm (hot, actually) iron

If you're my friend on Facebook, you know that I really enjoy ironing. This was not always the case, however. What tipped the scales for me was getting an easy to use ironing board. I have one that goes over the door of my office and only comes down from the back of the door when I'm using it. No hauling it out of a closet and trying to find a place for it--it's just always there and easy to use. However, I have used it so much that I wore a hole in the cover, which means that I had to buy a new one. I know, I know, boring subject for a blog post--why would you even bother reading it? Well, all I know is that I'm really enjoying my new ironing board cover with its cheerful blue circles.

6 loads of laundry folded today, everything that needed to be ironed has been--now to put it all away, my least favorite part.

why I love my job

I love CSAs. Have loved them ever since I heard about the idea for the first time over 10 years ago.

So, how thrilled was I that the lovely Elaine suggested me for a job with the one she works for--Garden of Eden.

Sometimes I pack boxes, sometimes I work at the pickups. Either way, I love it.

What could be better than being surrounded by lovely organic produce?

It gets hot sometimes, but it's worth it.

wherein the little one chooses her own bed

Nina didn't sleep well last night, which of course meant that we didn't either. And she has been going to school until 3 on her two days a week there. Apparently the combo makes a little girl tired.

After I picked her up I decided to do some gardening, which she opted out of to play in a box I left in the kitchen. I have to admit I was skeptical when she asked if she could get some blankets and pillows from her room to take a nap in the box. When I came in a half an hour later, though, there she was still and silent in the box. Even then I was still suspicious, being familiar as I have become to her possum-like ways when it comes to sleep. Then I saw the drool and realized that possum sleep had turned into real sleep.

So,what did I do? Grabbed the camera, of course! I absolutely had to preserve for posterity and share these adorable pics of her stuffed into a little box asleep.

Larry came home eventually and we decided to let her sleep and delay dinner.

Then half an hour before bedtime I decided to try to move her to bed.

That was an hour and a half ago, she seems to be out. She smiled when I kissed her goodnight and told her that I love her, but we haven't heard from her yet.

what have I gotten myself into?

Nina has been wanting a dollhouse for a while--my mom got her a nice one but it wasn't realistic enough for her--it was a lot like this, really nice. So we gave it to a friend and I recently bought a kit for a real victorian dollhouse on Craig's List. And now I have to figure out how to make this:

look like this:

Only I'll make some more interesting choices with the colors (this is one someone is selling online for 400$).

The one problem (besides the fact that I'm pretty scared to screw it up or that I won't get it done in time for her 5th birthday in November) is that I don't really have a place to work on it where she won't see it. Oh, and I'll be asking for advice on colors to paint the trim soon.