Week 51

I feel like I should I stop commenting on the fact that I'm late again. Especially since it's my own game, and I'm setting the rules, but I can't help it, I hate being late. Luckily I am close to the end, and I'm going to make it!

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: Last week's item was a full bag of clothes that Miss J had outgrown -- it was passed on to her cousin.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 50

Hey! Late again! But once again completed on time.

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: I loved this past week, it was so easy. Do you decorate for a holiday, any holiday? Christmas, Hanukkah, St. Patrick's Day -- whatever. If you're anything like me, there are certain items that stay in the box, because you don't like them enough to put them out. So you look at them every year, and every year leave them in the bottom of the box. Ridiculous. So this year there was an armful of reject Christmas items that were promptly donated.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Sunday Stuff

I shared a picture of myself in a corset. I expect to break the internet any minute now.

(Seriously though, it's really a piece about cookies and my grandparents, and it's very near and dear to my heart.)

I also wrote about radicchio (that's rah-dee-key-oh) and bok choy.

Shut up and eat. via Orangette

Facial Massage.

What an amazing teacher. This one too.

My great-great aunt discovered francium. And it killed her. via Go Fug Yourself

Companies to avoid if you support equality in America.

Ben Mims on Sweet Tea in the Shade.

Week 49

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: What's this? More clothes? Yes -- but this was a more productive week than it appears. As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I had a tub of "work clothes" in the attic, and I decided that it was silly to keep storing clothes best suited for a job I might never have again (and don't actually want). I decided that items needed to work into my closet/life as it is now, or they needed to go.

A number of items went back into my closet, some of which I know will be easy to work into my wardrobe, others I'll need to give some time to see if they actually get into rotation, but thanks to this project, it will always be in my mind to consciously cull the unworn ones. Other items went into the bag for the annual clothes swap, and a couple items were shared with my mom. (If you're keeping track of bag status, I have one full bag for the clothing swap, one partial bag for donation, and one full bag of my daughter's clothes for my niece.)
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 48

Oops, really late again!

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: Daughter's clothing that she's outgrown -- some into a bag to donate once filled, and some into a bag to give to her cousin.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Sunday Stuff (on a Monday)

ahahaha. 

image via GOCOMICS

Gate A-4.

What food banks need most (and what they get too much of).

As a nation, we choose subsidizing corn syrup over child care. via Design Mom

Compassion is painful. That's how you know it's working via Design Mom

Required reading.

I wrote about purple sweet potatoes and daikon, and I shared a family recipe for aebleskivers.

Giving Tuesday

You're likely very familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Perhaps you even decided to opt out of them.) But are you familiar with Giving Tuesday?

#GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2nd, people around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. This initiative was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation and has already engaged more than 10,000 organizations worldwide.

In a recent InStyle magazine, Usher (Yup, that Usher) was quoted as saying: "Charity is the rent we pay to occupy this space on the planet."

Pretty powerful. And if, like me, you found it resonated with you, you might want to consider participating in Giving Tuesday.

If you already have charitable organizations that you like to volunteer with or support financially, by all means, donate to them! If not, please consider making a donation to the Junior League of Ann Arbor (JLAA). 

The Junior League is a non-profit organization, and it's one of the oldest, largest, and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world, encompassing more than 150,000 women in 292 Leagues in four countries. 

On Dec. 2, there will be a “Give” button on the JLAA homepage (www.jlaa.org) that will walk you through making a tax-deductible contribution to the Junior League of Ann Arbor. Any amount you can give is appreciated and will help the Junior League of Ann Arbor fulfill its mission of developing the potential of women, improving our community, and promoting volunteerism.

The JLAA's current initiative is Healthy Living -- which has the goal of decreasing hunger and increasing the quality of life and the lifespan of the most vulnerable women and children in in our community.

These are few of the programs that the JLAA is currently focusing its attention and resources on:

• Produce Distribution partnership with Food Gatherers, helping to provide the neediest families in the Ypsilanti and Lincoln school districts with free, healthy foods as well as nutrition education. We also volunteer as box packers at the Food Gatherers warehouse and serve meals at the Delonis Center Community Kitchen in Ann Arbor.
• Kids in the Kitchen programming, teaching children across Washtenaw and western Wayne counties about the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity in a fun and relaxed setting.
• Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor, providing and serving meals at least four times a year. The Junior League of Ann Arbor’s funding helped open RMH of Ann Arbor in 1985.
• Warm the Children, helping needy families from southeastern Michigan shop for clothes and winter outerwear for their children.

Thank you for giving back.

Week 47

Look! Lots of stuff. Three big things full of stuff! (Ignore the cruddy photo and scary ghost dog.) Last week really lit a fire underneath my bum, and I'm going to make up for my half-hearted weeks of purging only an item or two of clothing -- starting now.

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: Loads of stuff. A pot with a rusted pot, a Cocomotion machine (RIP frothy hot chocolate -- oh wait, no, I have a whisk!), napkins, some clothes, a coat that's better left in the 80's (sorry Mom), a bird feeder, lots of mismatched miscellaneous glasses, serving pieces that aren't my style. Etc etc. All packed up and dropped off at the Salvation Army.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 46

Are you reading The Mimimalists yet? There was a great post recently on the minimalism paradox:

"Minimalists don’t avoid material possessions; we avoid excess. Paradoxically, by owning less, the things we own bring greater joy to our lives.
In other words, all of our things are our favorite things. Otherwise they are in the way."

So good, right? I immediately thought about how we don't have a ton of knick-knacks lying around the house, and the ones that we do, I really love. I don't know why I haven't fully applied this theory to other areas of my house.

I've purged a lot of clothes, but I certainly have kept a great deal of items that I don't really love, and thus rarely wear. I have a big plastic bin full of "work" clothes in the attic. Does it make sense to keep a bunch of things for an office-type job that I don't have (or want)? Especially if they don't work into my everyday style at all? Do I really need 5 winter hats that I don't like enough to actually wear?

I love books. I love the feel of crisp pages, I love the smell of them, I love the weight of a hardcover book in my hands. I look forward to having space for more of our books to be out and enjoyed like artwork someday. But do I need all of the books we have in the basement? All of the mediocre paperbacks that I won't want to read again or cradle in my hands?

I love to cook. I have large collection of kitchen and dining things -- probably more than average -- and I put the vast majority of them to good use. But do I use everything?

The answer to most of these questions is "No." I have more work to do than I thought.

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: Clothing. Some clothing of my daughter's that she'd outgrown -- some went into a bag to donate once the bag fills up and some went into a bag to share with her cousin once it fills up. Also a handful of items of mine went into my first (nearly full!) bag of clothing for my annual clothing swap.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Sunday Stuff (on a Monday)

Image of sticker from Zazzle, found via Design Mom

Don't ask how to feed the 9 billion. Bittman rules.

No, you are not ‘running late,’ you are rude and selfish. (Mike, you're going to love the dentist part of this.)

A Single Infographic Reveals Just How Insane the Gender Gap Is. via Sassy Radish

Inequality really is rising, no matter how you fuss with the data. via Sassy Radish

How Billionaire Oligarchs Are Becoming Their Own Political Parties. via Sassy Radish

Old masters at the top of their game. via Design Mom

Rehearsing for death: A pre-K teacher on the trouble with lockdown drills. via Design Mom

Sunday Stuff

Photo by Alpha Smoot, from Food52

I wrote about sage.

First date snacks.

The 6 biggest mistakes of managing an introvert. Oh my gosh this is so good. Anyone who manages anyone should read this.

17 things to know about people who like to be alone.

19 things every over-analyzer can relate to. Sadly, yes. via How Sweet It Is

Women Rejecting Marriage Proposals in Western Art History.

Stop Making Excuses and Finish That Book. via Ann Friedman

Is a Less Rooted Life Inherently Less Deep. via Ann Friedman

Week 45

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: A small bag of clothing. These were items that my daughter had outgrown, so we passed them on to her younger cousin.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 44

And I'm almost an entire week late with sharing! But last week was completed!

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: A book. It's a favorite, but I had a duplicate copy, so I mailed it off to a friend who I thought might enjoy it.
Monetary impact: $0 (okay, technically it's a negative number since I paid to mail it, but I shipped it off along with something else that was heavier, and I have no idea how much just the book would have cost to ship, so we're just going to stick with $0.)
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 43

Still slowly dragging myself to the finish line!

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: Last week I finally gathered enough clothing items from all three of our closets to fill up the donation bag the rest of the way and drop it in a donation bin.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 42

Hm. Was determined to to better last week, but it's Wednesday again.

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: 3 pairs of shoes. 2 pairs set aside for the clothing swap, and one pair in the donation bag
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Sunday Stuff

Photo by Alpha Smoot, via Food52

I wrote about celtuce. You should read about it. And while you're at it, read about what to pick up at the market this week.

Rise and shine. via 101 Cookbooks

Crowd-funding a free cancer drug. via Design Mom

No, seriously, how contagious is Ebola? via Dooce

Drunk J. Crew via Dooce

Threats to Americans, ranked (by actual threat instead of media hype) via Dooce

Find your beach. via Ann Friedman

Common MythConceptions: The World's Most Contagious Falsehoods.

How to get your kids to eat (or at least try) everything.

Whaaat? It's okay to refrigerate tomatoes? My whole world has been turned upside down.

Martha Mocks Gwyneth's 'Conscious Uncoupling' with Six-Page Pie Spread.

A memoir of Princess Bride lore? Yup, probably going to have to read that. 

I've probably posted this before, but I just stumbled across it again. So one more time: Lateness.

And another oldie: Brian Williams poking fun at the New York Times for 'Discovering Brooklyn.'

Understanding introverts.

Week 41

Oof. Even later post for last week! I put a whopping 2 items of clothing in a bag for an annual late winter clothing swap. So if you're keeping track, I have a bag started for the clothing swap and a partial bag of clothing to be donated.

I think I'm pokey in posting these in part because I'm having more trouble finding things to purge. I feel pretty good that I got through 30-odd weeks without much trouble, but I'm going to have to push myself to make it through until the end of the year with this project.

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: 2 items of clothing set aside for a clothing swap
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 40

Extremely late post for last week. I was out of town all week, and didn't plan ahead for proper purging, so it was a bit of a weak week. But nevertheless...

The items, backstory, and method of expulsion: 

• We (my husband) got rid of dated salmon-colored tiles in one of our bathrooms (Yes, we had/have salmon colored tiles in 2 bathrooms) -- they went into the trash.
• I got a new laptop, so I got rid of my old one (by passing it on to my husband).
• I switched over my closet for the winter, and pulled out enough items to fill up half of a bag. It's set aside to donate once I completely fill it up.

Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Sunday Stuff

12 ways to be the meanest mom in the world and 13 ways to be the most annoying dad on the planet. via Shutterbean

Being a Stay-at-Home Parent is a Luxury -- For Your Spouse.

"When we frame women’s choices in terms of extreme work or extreme mothering, women think they have to define themselves in terms of a single goal, everything else be damned."

The spiritual art of saying no. via Design Mom

The countries in the world that don't use the metric system. via A Cup of Jo

Elizabeth Gilbert on your elusive creative genius.

Emma Watson on feminism and why it is not "man-hating."

Yeah, I could stay here.

How Madewell bought and sold my family's history.

Learning to love criticism.

Week 39

The items: Folding fabric sling chair.
The backstory: I picked this chair up at a resale shop years ago, and dyed it from dingy to purple. But not well enough, because too much time in the sun, and it became dingy purple. I didn't like it enough to try and redye it and fix it back up again, and it weren't using it much anyway.
Method of expulsion: Set on the side of the road, and someone picked it up and took it home with them.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 38

The items: Baby stuff! A baby gate and 2 bags of baby/toddler clothes.
The backstory: Outgrown and no longer used.
Method of expulsion: Given to 2 different families.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Kickstart Your Week

These are my favorite projects that I've seen on Kickstarter lately. What are yours?



A butter spreader that works with the heat of your hand.




Sticky page markers that let you build a scene as you add more to your book.



A portable shape changing doll house/playscape.

(All photos via Kickstarter)

Sunday Stuff

Photo by James Ransom, via Food52

I wrote about shallots and what to pick up at the farmers market this week.

Don't ever be afraid to change. via How Sweet It Is

"if you want to share a particularly inspiring item, you literally share it." via My Name is Yeh
Every comment on recipe blogs.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom via Dooce

Why we should abolish zoos.

What writers can learn from Goodnight Moon.

I know, I know, who needs more in their inbox, right? But these 8 newsletters might change your mind.

Open your mouth and you're dead. (Competitive freediving)

Female Photographer Imagines Her Life with Dozens of Different Partners in ‘Self Portraits with Men’ via Shutterbean



Teachers are awesome. See #22 and #28. via Shutterbean

Wall pockets.

Week 37

The items: Chairs.
The backstory: These were given to us by a friend who was moving and couldn't take them with her. I loved them, but the rust I found charming was taking over to a point that made them less than appealing to sit in. So I tried to strip the paint and clean up the rust, with the intention of repainting them. But after 2 tedious (and unsuccessful) rounds of paint stripper and scraping, I threw in the towel.
Method of expulsion: Set on the side of the road -- a truck picked them up within an hour.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 36

The items: Baby stuff. Changing pad, covers, travel highchair, travel placemat.
The backstory: As with previously sold/donated baby stuff, these were no longer being used.
Method of expulsion: Given to friends.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Kickstart Your Week

Happy Monday! People are doing such cool things on Kickstarter that I decided to start sharing some of my favorites on a regular basis. (Just because I am pairing down the crud in our house does not mean I'm against shopping or purchasing new things that will be put to good use or add value to our lives.)

First up, Hedge by Cora Neil Design. How gorgeous are these? If you'd like to get me an expensive Christmas present, you can be done with your shopping right now. These planters (check out the wall options too) are awesome.

 

Next, the Less Mess Happy Mat by Lindsey Laurain. Simplify the mealtime experience for kids and parents with an integrated placemat and plate that self-seals to the table. So smart. "The mats are FDA approved and BPA, PVC, lead and Phthalate-free (so they're safe for growing bodies). They are made from the best quality silicone available and pass the most rigid food safety testing standards (CPSIA Certified). Additionally, Happy Mats are dishwasher and microwave safe."

Sunday Stuff

When your house is dirty and your kids are screaming, why care about Ferguson via Dooce

What Black Parents Tell Their Sons About the Police  via Dooce

Dear White Mom. via Dooce

Ten Things White People Can Do About Ferguson Besides Tweet via Dooce

"Much as water can be taken for granted by a fish." 

Spanking the gray matter out of our kids. via Design Mom

And on a lighter note....

                                 Photos by James Ransom, via Food52

I wrote about what to pick up at the farmers market, cucumbers, and more cucumbers.

40 years of birthday self-portraits. One woman, from age 30 to 70. (She’s bare-chested, so don’t click if you're bothered by boobs.) via Design Mom

I shared The Minimalists with you last week, but if you haven't watched their TEDx talk, take 15 minutes to do so. And then go clear some clutter. Also interesting, their 3 tips to improve your writing.

What level of introvert are you? Functional! Whew. via Shutterbean

Party-leaving etiquette: do you say goodbye or leave quietly? (Chocolate and Zucchini says in French, leaving quietly is called filer à l’anglaise, "making an English exit.")

10 things you should never serve at a dinner party. #7. Yes! Nothing gets me like asparagus out of season. I know. I have issues.

Week 35

The items: Clothes! I know, I know, but a serious purge this time.
The backstory: I attacked my closet this week. Guess how many pairs of jeans I purged? Seven. (And two additional pairs got turned into cutoffs.) I mean, I live in jeans, but still, that's kind of ridiculous. Being able to wear a different pair every day for 3 weeks might be a tad excessive. Eight belts. Shirts, dresses, shoes etc etc.

Do you bargain with yourself about clothes? I do. I keep things that are horrible condition -- sandals that are falling apart, favorite t-shirts with pit stains -- and tell myself that I'm just keeping them until I can replace them. But do I ever replace them? No, because I have the cruddy item to tide me over. No more!
Method of expulsion: Donated to Planet Aid.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Week 34

The items: Curtain rods, planters, humidifier, lamp shades, tree stand, clock, etc.
The backstory: I felt like I needed to do a big purge to make up for last week, and pulled a lot of items to donate. My daughter wanted in on the action, and picked out a bunch of stuffed animals that she wanted to donate too!
Method of expulsion: Donated to Salvation Army
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

In 1925, Ernest Hemingway wrote in a letter: "Writing is the only thing worth a damn. Unless you're a painter. Then it's painting."

A free new cookbook aimed at helping America’s 47 million food stamp users create healthy meals on $4 per day.

I haaaaate being late. So I frequently look like this. #8 might be my favorite. via Shutterbean

Beauty product names make no sense. via Shutterbean


Christina Hendrick's letter to men is pretty spot on, but I'm with Tracy -- NOT down with the word "panties." via Shutterbean

Thinking about the moment before. via Design Mom

The Minimalists.

Week 33

Late again, but completed on time!

The items: Clothes -- a couple items.
The backstory: I listed some household items to sell online this week, but nothing sold, and the end of the week crept up before I knew it, so I pulled a couple more items from my closet!
Method of expulsion: Added to a bag in the basement to donate once it's filled up.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Links I Loved

Photo by James Ransom via Food52

On Food52, the 3 things to pick up at the market this week and everything you need to know about blackberries.

An open letter to Hillary Clinton from Marianne Williamson.

Are you raising nice kids? 5 ways to help them learn to be kind. So we can see more examples like this.

What a son. I totally teared up. Parenthood makes me weepy. via Shutterbean

This NPR segment on the link between play and brain development.  “Countries where they actually have more recess tend to have higher academic performance than countries where recess is less.” via The Mom Edit

Two if by Sea's bird designs make me want wallpaper. Or maybe just gift wrap.

Design for MiniKind: "I live in my head, where my thoughts churn like slow ice cream, folding over and over into one another until something deliciously insightful forms, a tasty dessert for my soul to dine on." Yes.

Week 32

A little late getting posted, but was completed on time!

The items: Curtain rods, a glass fish, and a creamer bowl.
The backstory: The curtain rods were all removed from our windows after getting new window shades, and the other two items were kick-knacks living in the basement.
Method of expulsion: The curtain rods were sold online, the other two were sold at a consignment shop with a friend's help.
Monetary impact: $50
YTD monetary impact: $469.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 31

 

The items: Clothes! 
The backstory: Some clothing that wasn't in super great shape (not good enough to try and sell online), and a couple of items that were mine from when I was little that Josephine has outgrown.
Method of expulsion: Donation bin and given to a friend.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $419.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 30

The items: A giant box full of stuff. Lampshades, ceiling light, mixing bowls, tree stand, shower curtains, vases, and more!
The backstory: I'd tried unsuccessfully to sell some of the items online, and other items had just been hanging out in the basement. My folks were planning a garage sale, and we hoped on the bandwagon.
Method of expulsion: A few items sold in the garage sale, the items that didn't were donated or went back in the basement.
Monetary impact: $25.25
YTD monetary impact: $419.13

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

Photos by James Ransom

This week on Food52, I wrote about 3 things to pick up at the market and figs.

How a password changed my life. Smart.

Totes amazeballs.

A new to me berry.

The first Weird Al song I've really enjoyed.

21 things you didn't know your iPhone could do.

We tell kids to "Go to Sleep!" We need to tell them why.

Uh, this cooler is the coolest. via Shutterbean

Emoji Nation via Shutterbean

10 tricks to appear smart during meetings. Bwahaha. via Shutterbean

Week 29

The items: Clothes!
The backstory: I'm trying to be very conscious every time I look in my closet, and ask myself if every item I'm looking at is something I'm really wearing; or if I'm not wearing it, figuring out which one of 3 spots it needs to be moved to -- my "work clothes" storage bin, my "not-currently-in-style-but-will-probably-come-back-around" storage bin, or the donation pile. Lately, brutal assessments of items that will never be good on my body type have filled up another bag ready to be donated.
Method of expulsion: Donated -- but I recently learned about the app Vinted (thanks Brittany!), so my next closet purge might net me a profit.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 28

The items: A small box full of stuff. More lights, outlet covers, curtain hooks, etc.
The backstory: This is all stuff that was in the house that got swapped out at some point, and has -- you guessed it -- been hanging out in the basement for years. 
Method of expulsion: Donated to a re-use center
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Tuesday Things

Stunning Truths Your Facebook 'Likes' Really Reveal About You.

Not too long ago was National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. In America, one out of three homes with children has a gun, and nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun. Every year thousands of kids are killed and injured as a result. Those statistics stunned me, and personal accounts never cease to take my breath away. The ASK Campaign promotes a simple idea with the potential to help keep kids safe. It encourages parents to ASK if there are unlocked guns in the homes where their children play.

Vegetables can hear themselves being bitten. 

Aw man. Don't spray sunscreen on kids. via Design Mom

Parenting (extroverted children) as an introvert. A lot of this resonated with me. Being "on" all of the time can be hard for me, and most of the time, "off" time actually means work time, not recharge time, which means I'm not doing a great job of prioritizing. Or scheduling. Or something. (Does it feel like the topic of being an introvert/extrovert is having a bit of a moment? I don't mind, as I find it interesting, but I wonder, are you sick of it?)

Is this all too much of a downer this week? How about the idea of having one adventure a month?

The importance of kindness in a relationship. via Design Mom

Amanda Hesser's final meal. Well played.

ASK TOOLKIT 2014

WWW.ASKINGSAVESKIDS.ORG

Week 27

The items: A big box full of stuff. Lights, kitchen tools, etc.
The backstory: Mike was lobbying for this to be saved for a garage sale, but since most of it has been sitting in the basement for 4 years, and isn't worth all that much anyway, donating seemed like the better option.
Method of expulsion: Donated to a re-use center
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 26

The items: A side table/plant stand.
The backstory: I liked this little guy, but didn't have the perfect spot for it, and didn't want to put the effort into refinishing another piece of furniture right now.
Method of expulsion: Sold online.
Monetary impact: $10
YTD monetary impact: $393.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 25

The items: A lounge chair.
The backstory: After a party, we discovered that one of our lounge chairs had a crack all the way through a slat (in a key location). Luckily no one's derriere hit the patio, but we figured we shouldn't push our luck.
Method of expulsion: Set on the side of the road and was carted away within a half an hour.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $383.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

I am wiggling with glee. I'll be participating in ArtPrize this fall, and my work will be showing at the Women's City Club.

Shonda Rhimes' commencement speech is too good for you not to read in its entirety.

I thought I'd heard of all of the ideas for beating jetlag. (None of them work.) But this one is new to me, and I just might give it a shot.

Are You Serious? Marianne Williamson's response to reasons why people said they didn't vote for her in last week's House of Representatives District 33 primary election.

Ramona at Forty. I cannot wait to reread all of these books with Miss J. via Go Fug Yourself

Time has a political memoir generator. Mine shall be called The Dictum to Agitate. via Go Fug Yourself

Week 24

The items: More clothes! 
The backstory: I thought I sold the same item on Craigslist twice this week, but both sales fell through, and I had to scramble to get rid of something else. So another bag of clothing was purged from my closet. 
Method of expulsion: Donated.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $383.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

W3

"Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home." ― Anna Quindlen

Sunday Stuff

This week on Food52 I wrote about garlic chives and how to cook adventurously without spending a fortune.

Bill Murray's champagne drinking secrets.

The best job application ever.

New York City Offices -- Map of the Stars

37 Things I've Learned by 33

Parenting skill: always find a way to say yes.

The day I left my son in the car. Really interesting read. via Shutterbean

Anthony Bourdain: How to travel. Going to adopt his choice of reading material. via Shutterbean

Everything you don't know about tipping.

9 Beach Reads for Ambitious People. via Sassy Radish

Week 23

The items: A mirror and glass shelf.

The backstory: These guys were in the upstairs bathroom when we bought the house, and it was another case of -- don't love it, but it's not horribly offensive. So it stayed up -- just like the light fixture sold in Week 20 -- for almost 4 full years, until finally they were booted in favor of a medicine cabinet.

Method of expulsion: Sold online.
Monetary impact: $10
YTD monetary impact: $383.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 22

{a completely unrelated photo, because posts without photos are boring}

The items: Baby stuff! High chair, muslin swaddles, etc.

The backstory: I've been loving being able to pass on a few things that Josephine doesn't need any more to one of my pregnant friends, and now she's finally at the point of being able to tell people about it -- yay! And if you ever need a mood-lifter, it doesn't get much better than seeing a little kid talk to a belly. 

Method of expulsion: Gift.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $373.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Week 21

Oops! This past week was completed on time, but I neglected to post it due to traveling:

The items: More clothes. Well, coats and accessories -- purses and shoes. I had another sale lined up, but the person had something come up and wasn't able to meet me. For the third time. Pretty sure I've learned my lesson there. So, I needed to purge something else, and I turned back to my closet.

The backstory: Coats, shoes, and purses are some of my favorite things, but when I know I haven't worn or used them in years...well, it's probably time for them to get out of my closet.
Method of expulsion: Donated.
Monetary impact: $0
YTD monetary impact: $373.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

Dreaming about wearing this suit on a sunny beach. Right now.

I want to swim in a lake with millions of golden jellyfish.

19 lies parents tell their children. This made me feel like it was okay, so I used #4, and my week was better. Totally justifies it, right?

6 things introverted women do right.

Being the unseen. via Shutterbean

Week 20

The items: Wall shelf and bathroom vanity light.

The backstory: The wall shelf wasn't extremely well made, I was always nervous it was going to fall off of the wall (it did once), and it didn't really serve the purpose I wanted it to either -- clearly an all-around great purchase. The vanity light was here when we bought the house, I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either, so it stayed until a new medicine cabinet went up in the bathroom and it no longer fit in the space. 
Method of expulsion: Sold online.
Monetary impact: $30
YTD monetary impact: $373.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff (on a Tuesday)

Random internet quiz of the week: What career should you actually have? Moral of the story: It doesn't matter if you're not sure what you want to do with your life. You'll figure it out eventually, and the internet will validate your decision.

Loved Martha Rose Shulman's response to this question: "There are a lot of politics and emotional weight that comes along with vegetarianism. How do you manage to write about it without feeling preachy or pushy?"

Enjoying summer-like warm weather.  This might call for new sandals. It's cool if I pick some that match my toddler's, right?

A plethora of parenting-related links:

16 Things I Want My Daughters to Know should really be titled: 16 Things All Humans Should Know.

Touched by Rob Lowe's thoughts on sending his son off to college.

Amused at Deb at Smitten Kitchen's description of an unexpected day all to herself for the first time in 5 years: "I realize this is probably the dullest story ever told, but I honestly couldn’t believe the lap of limitless luxury my life had become. I can’t believe there are people that live like this every single day; I can’t believe I was once one of them. This is probably how having kids turns you into one of those fuddy-duddies you remember your parents being."

Week 19

[imagine photos of basic white curtains and another stack of clothing.]

The items:

1. Four set of window curtains
2. Clothes -- yes, more clothes!

The backstory:

1. As with the last set of curtains sold, these were no longer needed thanks to our change to cellular shades. They actually were solely being used at Halloween time to hold spooky window silhouettes, a la Martha Stewart, but I won't be able to make them work anymore with the current window coverings. Time for a new Halloween tradition.
2. Josephine has outgrown loads of clothing, that will all be getting hand-delivered to her little cousin, but of course that doesn't really count towards my weekly expulsion, so one of the bags is packed with items from my closet for my sister.

Method of expulsion: Sold online and given to family.
Monetary impact: $20
YTD monetary impact: $343.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

Left: Yes, I'm a little biased in my love for Provisions, but honestly, any company that truly cares about its customers, rewards loyalty, and has kick-a$$ customer service earns my dedication for life.

Right: If you aren't on Food52 all day every day, you might not know about the Instagram of the Week. Every Friday a new theme is chosen (currently the theme is Cinco de Mayo), and to participate, you just need to tag your Instagram photos with #F52Grams, and then check back on Thursday for the round-up of the best photos to see if your photo was selected. It's a little something fun I look forward to every week, and I try really hard to take photos that will earn a spot in the line-up, and this past week I made it for the first time -- success! Come play along!

Singing: The key to a long life. via Orangette

Stepwells via 101 Cookbooks

Ask a Sensible Midwesterner via 101 Cookbooks

To get help from a little kid, ask the right way.

Week 18

The item: Hand weights, a pot rack, and a few miscellaneous items given to a friend.
The backstory: I found the hand weights in the garage. Clearly they were being well-used. The pot rack was in our kitchen when we moved in, was promptly removed and relegated to the basement, where it's been living for almost four whopping years.
Method of expulsion: Sold online.
Monetary impact: $15
YTD monetary impact: $323.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.

Sunday Stuff

We've been focused on retirement planning lately, and for about 30 seconds I thought that Mike and I could plan to refinish and resell furniture together. And then I thought about how sore I am right now, and realized that was a bad plan.

Why I took my kids' toys away and the 40 hanger closet are both pretty inspiring to me.

Sarah Silverman on Jesus, money, and her in-progress musical.

ArtPrize 2014. Calendar marked. I think I'm going to apply. You should too.

I want a tart pan stat so I can make this insanely beautiful rhubarb tart.

Why online retailers mail so many catalogs.
"Williams-Sonoma maintains a database of 2,000 privately owned houses that serve as locations for catalog photo shoots. More than half the company's marketing budget goes to catalog production and mailing." Wowza.

10 brilliant books -- my to-read list is out of control.

How to drink beer all night and not get drunk. 

Obama Gets A Taste Of Jiro's 'Dream' Sushi In Name Of Diplomacy. Still want to see that movie.

37 people reveal the most WTF thing they ever saw at a friend's house. If these are all true, I'm seriously disturbed. via Shutterbean

Week 17

The item: Baby gate
The backstory: This prevented our daughter from tumbling down our steep set of wooden stairs when she was a wee babe. Now she's old enough that we don't need it -- although I still wouldn't be surprised if she thought it would be fun to fling herself down them.
Method of expulsion: Sold online.
Monetary impact: $20
YTD monetary impact: $308.88

Confused? Here's what's going on.