Every so often, I feel like blasting off a list of little odds and ends I’ve been doing, buying, and appreciating around the house. Not everything’s DIY-focused, and not everything would necessarily warrant a whole post, but may be interesting nonetheless. March edition strikes… now:
1. We be slingin’.
With the addition of an iPad to our little family this month, we decided to splurge on a sling adaptor for Dish Network. The $30 hardware investment was a one-time fee (it won’t cost us anything additional on our monthly bill) and will allow us to watch programming, both live and DVRed, from anywhere we happen to be traveling (or sitting). Yes, I mean like when I’m getting my oil changed or when my flight is delayed. Right now we’ve only been using it on free wi-fi, but it would work if we buy into the iPad’s 4G data plan too, aw yeah; it’s great using the iPad, our iPhones, and on the computer. That’s my dream fulfilled. Technology is cool, geeks unite.
2. I had some extra Sugru.
Even though each little pack of Sugru contains 5g of the maleable fix-all product, I still find myself with leftovers whenever I need to break into a pack for a project. This time, I had quite a bit leftover, and I didn’t want it to go to waste because it was still perfectly soft and usable, so I covered a leftover raw magnet with it. Because Sugru acts like modeling clay, curing around whatever it’s used on, I also rolled it around in transparent-silvery beads for a little bit of glammy pop. It’s darling.
3. I paid off my student loans.
Easily the most expensive DIY project I’ve completed to date, I paid off the balance of my student loans in full last week. That’s almost 5.5 years since I first started making payments, and about 4.5 years ahead of the lender’s projected payoff schedule. I whipped myself into a major loan-payoff frenzy last spring when I was still working at my 9-5, first paying off the loan for my scooter, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to maintain that momentum after I left to carve my own path. There was happy-dancing. There were celebratory margaritas. There’s suddenly going to be extra moolah in my wallet every month. Take that. Fist pumps!
4. I kicked out the tenants.
Buh-bye, Robins. I know you were really happy being perched in your little nest on the pergola last summer, but I don’t want you back, and I don’t want my dog to eat your babies for lunch if they fall out. Do not trespass, find another place to live.
Side note: Is it not the prettiest, most perfectly round nest you’ve ever seen (maybe not at this angle, take my word for it)? I love bird architecture. This thing has withstood storms that my own garage roof could not. And I think that piece of paper was something that Cody ate and, uh, passed in the backyard. Sorry, but the circle of life is fascinating.
Additional note: It looks like someone might be moving into the little mid-century mod home that I installed on the fence last summer. Welcome!
5. I witnessed an explosion.
The explosion of stairwell closet contents, that is.
Serious organization must take place. More to come on this.
What odds and ends have you been tackling? Anyone spring cleaning? Anyone ignoring spring cleaning?
8 Comments
Congrats on paying off your student loans!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
Hint: Lollypop, Verona St. and other animal shelters always need junky towels.
Also: I put an old nest from near our gutter out in the yard as decoration one spring, it took just a few weeks for the neighborhood birds to reclaim the materials. Pretty cool I think.
Clearly, I’m under the impression that my access to ragged out towels will run out, and then I’ll have nothing to cut up into smaller rags. Or that the dog will get so muddy in the yard that it’ll require 14 towels to clean him off. Delivering half of them to the pound would be a good first step at getting past that hurdle. And then they’ll be their storage problem. Thanks for that reminder, Heather!
great post! your junky towel note is so true…i have towels in my linen closet that r probably older than you! tx for the spring cleaning inspiration :)
congrats on paying off the student loans!!! That’s awesome and soooo freeing!
Congrats on the loan! Here’s something that is totally good for the soul: donate old towels to rescues! Dog and cat rescues are always in need of old towels. We adopted two siberian huskies and later the rescue asked us to help with and emergency foster, we went to a temporary shelter set up in a old department store. Over five hundred animals rescued from a 2 acre property! 30 siberians, 100 cats, etc even a horse and a llama! There was a section of supplies and donations for foster people to visit and take what they needed. There were huge stacks of donated food, collars, leashes, etc. The largest pile was of old stained and used towels and people headed for it like it was free gold! I saw people stuffing armfuls into their cars. I took a few and people called out to me and said, you need more! I laughed and drove away with two starved siberians and about thirty old towels. I needed every one of them! They are used for bedding, comfort, bathing, drying, cleaning up accidents, etc. So if you ever have a second thought about replacing old towels -do! and donate the old ones to a shelter or rescue, trust me! You’ll be embarrassed by their enthusiasm over the towels you hide when company comes! LOL Your site is great and such an inspiration! I need to repair the many things my 4 (they are like potato chips!) siberians have destroyed!
Thanks Cris! I’m definitely going to drop off a bunch of towels for the animals; it’s a great solution and a great cause. Four huskies, WOW!