My consumerism diet: The first three days!

So far, everything seems to be going pretty well.  Thinking about it, this isn't really a drastic lifestyle change for me.  I live in such a small town that most of the commerce is locally owned.  My grocery store is family owned, and there is a farmer's market every Friday evening.  I did receive a Forever21 order in the mail on day one, but I had forgotten about it and only made the order because my friend is getting married and I am a bridesmaid.  I got my dress through them a few days before the "diet" began.  On Friday at the farmer's market, I bought some spice blends from a man who lives in my town.  So far, nothing really exciting or new.  No real new thoughts or intrigues...but hey, it's only the first weekend so we'll see!

The Challenge guidelines for "My year of NON-CONSUMERISM"

Okay, how am I going to do this thing?  I would like to really do my best NOT to consume (aka buy) anything wasteful or un-needed.  I am making myself two exceptions for now (do not judge, these are judgement free exceptions which could change should my willpower increase...it's gonna be hard enough dammit!).  Exception #1-Pepsi (I will switch to throwbacks only as I do not agree with high fructose corn syrup and would like to give it up entirely).  Exception #2- Cigarettes.  For now I am still a smoker.  I am working on it and would like to quit soon.  I do smoke American Spirits, which have no chemical additives, but it's still smoking.  I could find local herbs to make cigs, but we will be touching on that as it comes about so I am still considering it an exception.  Deal with it.  Now...as for the rules.  My point is to "vote" with my dollars against the evil ties of corporate consumerism!  So how can I do that and still live a decent life???  EASY!  At least it will be once the opposite isn't familiar anymore.   As the owner of a blog called "Oxymorons", I should try not to be one myself.  I can't care about the environment and spend money on industry that promotes the destruction of our finite resources!  So here we go...the rules.

1. I will not buy any items which are not essential to the health or wellbeing of my family from any corporate entity.  AKA- Toilet paper, food and or feminine products.  I am not trying to be a complete gross savage hippy, just trying to lower my intake drastically and see how it sticks.
2. I will buy any of the above mentioned items locally or by way of barter BEFORE attempting to get them from a corporation.
3. Yard Sales and thrift stores with a direct local benefit/charitable donation are fair game. 
4. Bartering is fair.  If goods or services are traded for goods or services that doesn't constitute market or monitary exchange.
5. If any "needed" items can be made I will take them off the purchase list.
6. EMERGENCIES:  If I need a bandaid or something...you know, I can be clumsy.
7. Does not include items I must buy for work or a client.
8. I can earn money as I must still pay my bills (I know, the ultimate paradigm or...oxymoron if you will)
9. I will document all days truthfully and candidly 

Well, here we go!  Since it is after midnight, I suppose this is technically day 1's beginning!  Wish me luck!

My impact on the environment and what I can do about it.

I have heard that by the year 2030, there will be twice as much demand as supply as far as natural resources go.  That is very scary.  I will most likely be alive to witness this and surely my children will. What sort of world will that be for them?  What sort of lessons and values will I have taught them to prepare for such a change?  I suppose that it would be wise to start now!  I must teach them that the earth was given to us by God to cherish and be grateful for.  Teach them that the earth is to be respected and treated with dignity and love.  That STUFF does not lead to happiness, but action does.  I would like to challenge myself over the next year.  I would like to come up with ways, tips and challenges to condition my own heart, mind and body to cherish only love.  Love for myself and my kids, love for my God, and love for my home...the planet earth.  I would like my children to know that their mother was a warrior for Love.  That she was not afraid to have no money, no fancy things, no "creature comforts" in order to be rich and abundant in love!  I am not sure what my challenge will be.  I suppose it would be smart to start small and work my way up.  I would like to not buy anything that I do not absolutely need for one year.  Now this is going to be difficult, but I would like to do it.  I will be back soon with more detail once I set up my own set of rules.  I would like to see what it is like NOT to contribute to the evil economic system.  To be a part of the solution.  To make a poignant vote with my only real democratic tool, my dollar.  In doing this I hope that I will be less wasteful, more thoughtful and far more aware.  Now, being a smoker this will be even more of a challenge as that is something that I feel I need sometimes although that is not really the case.  I DO need to feed my family, keep my home and lights, I do use the internet for school, so that might be considered a "need"...Wow, just thinking about this is making me more aware in an instant than I have been my entire life!  Tomorrow, I will assess my impact both environmentally and economically...and then, set the rules for my challenge.  Stay tuned!

Why have you done me wrong Google??

I wanted to formally apologize to any readers that I may have for being away from the blog for so long.  Recently Google shut down my Adsense account siting "Invalid activity" as the only reason.  No explanation, no remorse, and no chance for reinstatement.  I appealed this action and was simply told no, again with no reasoning or explanation.  Now, I didn't really make any money on this blog, nor am I a "for profit" writer, but it really offended me and made me swear off my blog for a time.  I mean, Google wants to protect the privacy of it's affiliates it says, but to punish innocent bloggers and then not explain why (not to mention after you appeal Google won't even read or consider future appeals) is just bullying!  Cyber bullying.  I thought about moving my blog altogether and even canceling my gmail account and google plus.  I mean, facebook would never do such a thing...Come on Google!  This is just unfair!

Martha Monday!

Let's see what our good ole' friend Martha Stewart is up to today....

Seems she is making a lovely magnetic collage board.  Shall we try it?  We shall.  Here is the scoop on how to recreate this lovely masterpiece.  I wonder if Tori McDermott will have something that compares tomorrow on "Tori Tuesday"?

Tools and Materials24-by-18-inch sheet of galvanized metal
Campus map
Spray adhesive
Utility knife
Frame
Foam board
Glazier points
Magnets and decorations

Magnetic College-Campus Board How-To1. Download and print a college-campus map from the school's website.

2. Turn map upside down on a protected surface and apply spray adhesive to the sheet of galvanized metal and the back of the map.

3. Lay your magnetic sheet on top of the portion of the map that will cover the board. Trim away excess paper around the edges with a utility knife.

4. Place map in frame, add foam board, and use 4 glazier points to secure.

5. Flip over and add magnets and decorations.

ResourcesSheets of galvanized metal can be found at home-supply stores. Frames, foam board, glazier points, magnets, and decorations are available at art-supply stores.

another lovely poem from my poet friend John

Pretty Bird

Pretty bird little bird
sitting on a limb
Pretty bird little bird
singing to the wind
Pretty bird little bird
singing to the sky
Here for a little while
then away they fly

Flying away
flying away
Flying away
flying away
Here for a little while
Then they fly away

Springtime's the fine time
everything is green
Days are warm life is new
with the smell of dreams
Winter is so long
It wears a person down
Waiting for the spring when
The pretty birds come around

Flying away
flying away
Flying away
flying away
Here for a little while
then they fly away

dear fleet foxes, this song changed my life....Love Nicole

and may all your christmas' be white

Did you know... that Bing Crosby's rendition of White Christmas, is the top selling single of all time...In any genre.  Now that's pretty cool.

I listen to this song over ten times a day! seriously.

It is from the movie "Crazy Stupid Love" and I am crazy stupid in love with it.  Smiley face.

Gratitude. Thank you very much.

I haven't been posting a lot.  Really busy this December.  But I just wanted to say that I am grateful for my readers and that I will be back soon.  Please stop by again.

Disorganization, A case study

I have done it again.  I am not sure what it is that sends me into a flurry of flightyness, but I can't seem to get anything in my life in order!  I don't know if any of you out there have this problem, but it seems to creep up in all avenues of my life.  Let me begin by telling you that the main reason for my distraction is my one year old son, who requires a TON of attention.  I love giving it, but I think I am creating a monster.  You see, I have grandiose dreams of living out some sort of "Martha Stewart" scenario complete with labels for everything and a Jadeite collection that would have the vintage world in awe.  A table setting made of twigs I gathered from my back yard for the dinner party I am throwing for a few swanky friends.  I might even want to make my children some adorable little outfits to wear.  Ah, these dreams flood my head as I turn every page of my Real Simple magazine and imagine my life...Or should I say, someone else's life.  

You see, I can barely find the time to start a project over the seemingly never-ending pile of dishes.  And for some reason I swear clothing bombs have gone off in my house.  I had to laugh at myself today for reading a post I wrote a few weeks ago about my "30 day clean-up challenge", I didn't even make it to day 1!  Between the two children I have (the other is ten, and a girl) and the daily challenges I face as a rugged mountain pedestrian, I rarely find the time to maintain all of the creative ventures I have embarked on.  In fact, there is a very good chance that I won't finish this blog post.  I don't know if it's genes, perhaps some adult ADD, but I am truly ready for a change!  

I have decided that first and foremost, I will write.  I will write all of the things that I want to write, when I want to write them.  I have spent far too much time thinking about things and never putting them down and much too much too much time regretting that.  I am also going to stop letting discouragement stop my flow.  I will now ride out the waves of discouragement like a surfer tasting the first salty swell of the day.  As for my house, it will always be a battle on the brink of hoarder-dom, until I finally find a way to make sense of the endless ebb and flow of human life that occurs inside of it's walls.  I hope that as readers and friends you will come to love my quirky, unscheduled spontaneity.  Please do not get upset with me if I miss a deadline or never get around to doing things in a timely fashion.  I promise that every day I will get a little better.  

In life there are so many ways that we express ourselves,  I hope to use each avenue equally.  I know that to some it is chaos, but at least I am consistently inconsistent.  See you on...Soon.

The Ugly Sweater PARTAY!

sorry to have been spending so much time without a post.  I am working my butt off to get this "Party" started!  I am almost there and will have up the first of the sweater selections tomorrow!  So please check out my etsy store to see how you can help support the cause.  Let's make a big impact as bloggers and readers...We might make 20 dollars, might make 1000's, that's all up to you!!  Sweaters go on sale tomorrow at NOON!  aww yeah boyee!!

Northern California has an earthquake!

I was just sitting here on my computer a moment ago thinking about what to write and all of the sudden the screen started to shake.  I have not felt an earthquake since the big one in ...whas it '86?  Living up here in the hills we don't usually feel them at all, much less to the point where they are shaking objects in the house.  And we had just been talking about what happened in Oakland with the police after the occupation protests.  This is some apocalyptic stuff going on here in California!

You've heard of the Take Away Show...Here is the "Dine-In Theater".

Coming at you straight from my dining room, please enjoy episode one of Dine-In Theater.  This week, my most talented children and I perform a sing-along to our favorite Fleet Foxes song, Mykonos.  Notice the little guy singing, he isn't even 1 yet!  I love them!  Tune in every week for another amazing episode of your new favorite web music show that you didn't even know you always dreamed of, haha.

claiming for bloglovin! oh yeah, hells yeah!!

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The top ten reasons that I love my little town!

I used to imagine living in a big city.  One full of lights and excitement.  Finally, at age 23 I had gotten my chance.  It was 2005 and I moved to Seattle with big plans to bring my daughter out there and start a new life in the big city...That only lasted a few months!  I moved back to my little town in California, where my daughter was waiting for me in the care of my parents, so that I could give her something that the big city could never offer.  Now, at age 30 and with another child, I have come to appreciate the little town that raised me.  So I decided to list the top ten reasons that I left my big city dreams behind.

1. Everyone knows who I am here:  Once, my daughter was walking downtown with her dad who rarely comes up.  Before the day was through I had received over ten phone calls about my daughter being seen in town with a man they didn't recognize.  I felt so safe!
2. There is only one stop light.
3. I am surrounded by trees and the beauty of nature.  I rarely worry about air quality (unless there is a fluke forest fire.)
4. I leave my car unlocked, with the keys on the floorboard and my purse on the seat, and it is all there when I return to it.
5. My garage is open right now and I never have to lock my door...ever.
6. The newspaper police reports typically contain headlines like "Man knocks over trash cans, police are called."  
7. I can get free coffee, free meals, personal credit at boutiques and I have never ever paid to park anywhere.
8. Three times a year the main street is closed off for street fairs, and wine drinking is encouraged.
9. I pay 1000 dollars a month for a four bedroom house with a rose garden in the back yard.
10. My children are safe here.  It's like 1955 but with better cars! 

I could never imagine leaving now.  Sure, the taste of the city still whets my palate.  The idea of having more than one option for nightlife can be appealing at times.  I have to drive over an hour to get to the nearest in and out burger...But I wouldn't trade the sound of frogs and crickets at night for the sound of sirens for all the money, fun or food in the world.  I will grow where I was planted, and what a lovely little garden it is!

How to score big at the thrift store

Go often. Keep your eyes peeled!  These little angels were only fifty cents each!  I am sooo amped.  And they kicked off the quiet launch of the old brown shoe's blog!

My Blog is what a kid with ADD's brain looks like, and my house is it's bi-polar cousin Melvin.

I have been attempting to clean my house.  I border on the fine line between collector, and hoarder.  I have accumulated many items over the years to "sell" and have fallen in love with many of them.  My love affair is an abusive one though, I leave these wonderful items in boxes and I have converted my home decor to "vintage, pile-chic".  I seem to get caught up on the needy rooms which always need attention or they start to cry an odorous rant.  The rest, well, neglect comes to mind.  I am now selling many of the pieces on my little etsy store, The old Brown Shoe.  I will be posting about my progress, and offering up some tasty finds and tips.  First though, I must show you a glimpse of what I am working with.  I am going to be extremely candid in these before shots...I am not proud.  In a life-long attempt to clean up my head, blog and business, I will first attempt to clean up the root of all of this chaos. My living environment.  Wish me luck! (Disclaimer:  All items seen here are MY mess, laundry,etc.  They are not the items for sale in my store which are neatly tucked in a closet ready to ship or awaiting my discovery of them in the neatly sealed box they currently reside in, in which case, you will see them soon.)

This is mad man!

I just sold an item from my etsy vintage shop, the old brown shoe.  Here is the clincher... I sold it to the prop master for the TV show Mad Men!  I am so flattered that one of my items is authentic and quintessential enough to that time period to make it to the show!  I feel famous by default.  I can now safely say that I knew those old Columbia records recording tapes when they were just sitting, collecting dust in a box in my garage...Now they've hit the big time!  I hope they remember the little people.  How exciting!

Operation Clean House!!

I am sick and tired of my house being so cluttered and messy.  I need to get organized once and for all!  Does anyone else have this problem?  I am trying to get my mind clear enough to be productive, but all that I want to do in my spare time is clean up a mess that has been building my entire life.  I have decided to write what I know, and messes, messes I know.  So the next thirty days will be devoted to tips, strategies and stories about the struggles to get this ole house ship-shape!  Maybe it'll set the rest into motion!