Alex's Shoe Hospital

Due to my status as a graduate student working several jobs to pay for tuition along the way rather than taking out a lot of loans, Steve and I continue to look for ways to clip coupons, cut corners, and save. Even former reality star Kate Gosselin is hitting the coupon circuit with her new blog gig on CouponCabin.com.

My favorite black leather boots and a pair of Mary Jane style shoes needed desperate repair. The soles were worn out on both pairs and my boots needed a zipper replaced on the left side.
Instead of tossing them out and buying new pairs (as I probably would have in my pre-graduate school days), I took them to a place called Alex's Shoe Hospital. It's a boot and shoe repair store.
When I picked up the items, I receieved the bill for around $56.00. It's not bad considering all they had to do with the pairs. In addition, the store shined them so they look brand new. And it's a drag to break in a new pair, only to have them fall apart when they are the most comfortable.
The cost of the new boots and shoes would have been over $200, so I saved over $100 . Plus, I feel like I am contributing to the environment by reusing rather than tossing.

I have another pair of suede boots in the shop right now. Unfortunately, the flats were beyond repair, so I'll have to invest in a new pair. Of course, I'll make sure there is a coupond or they are on sale.

On Being Weird

I enjoy quotes; I am a quote collector. Facebook provides a lot of interesting quotes in late, so I borrowed this one that George Takei of the Star Trek series. Fortunately, I met my weird counterpart nearly twenty years ago. We call it nerd love. All nerdiness and weirdness aside, it's an off- the -vine concept to embrace who you are. I am weird. I like to prefer the term "eccentric", but weird will work. I think the world needs a little more weird, but in the best weirdly worldly way. :)

Start Something that Matters

The death of Steve Jobs this week and his inspirational commencement speech from 2005 inspired me to check out this book at the library: Start Something that Matters by Blake Mycoskie. So far, I've only glossed the cover, but it looks like a meaningful tome by a visionary named Blake MyCoskie. I am hoping this blog will inspire the 40 and better crowd. (I know, need to post more.) I am hoping to do something more with writing to help others. Anyhow, hopefully this book will help achieve my dreams and life purpose. I'm still figuring it out.

Kip and Nuts

I love wordsmith.org. The word of the day on the website was kip, which means to nap. At the bottom of the website is a quote: "Everyone, in some sanctuary of the self, is nuts." -Leo Rosten, author (1908-1997)

Love it.

No-Cook Recipes

September 28, 2011

I found these no-cook recipes on notebook paper. I thought it would be good to bring this to the blog:

1.) Raspberries and Cool Whip. Blueberries and Strawberries can be substituted. Raspberries and cream are one of my "madeleine" moments. Reminds me of my grandmother.

2.) Oranges, walnuts, and honey. My mother brought back this recipe after a trip from Hawaii.
Laney honey from North Liberty is one of the best.

3.) Celery, cream cheese, and green olives. Another recipe passed down from my mother.

4.) From the spa: cucumber water. Add cucumber slices to water. You can also use lemons for the same effect.

5.) Avocados and bananas: mix them together. It makes a tasty pudding. I learned this in a no-cook cooking class.

6.) Red and green apples in a bowl. Great for a holiday treat.

Yoga

September 26, 2011

I checked out two yoga DVDs from the library. Now I just need to check them out at home. I took a yoga class while attending Manchester College. I loved it and do not know why I never went back to it. I think 40 is a good time to start again. Time to get my OHM on! :)

An Off the Vine Poem for a Friend

September 10, 2011

Last night, Steve and I celebrated a friend's birthday. She is off-the-vine sixty, amazing,beautiful, and vibrant. We are so fortunate to have a friend like her (and we love her husband, too!) I was trying to write a poem proir to her birthday, but was inspired at the actual event. It started to rain, so I found the craft markers and paper and started to write.

Here is the finished poem:

Candles in the Clouds
-for Marci

September Saturday evening
Droplets of soft summer rain
adorn the white wine in my glass,
creating ripples like candles
like the lights and candles that
continue to flicker in the
curl-enhancing-hairy-rainy night,
As we stand in your fairy garden
Under your magic tree-- and absorb
The light created from the candles
of your love light that you light
for everyone.
Light in the clouds, light in the hearts
of family and friends and the angels
who bestow peace and love into your
Heart--and into ours.

lcs/2011