Search Results for: blog living out of a box

Should Pets Be Kept Inside or Outside?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much our views on owning pets have changed. I grew up keeping all pets in the house. Everyone I knew did the same; the most they had were indoor-outdoor cats. Since moving down here, I’ve encountered other takes on pet ownership. A lot of people in my area keep their dogs outside 90% of the time. They might only bring them inside during extreme weather: storms, particularly hot or cold days, etc. A lot of people also keep their cats outside all of the time, which is a more accepted practice. What’s … Continue reading →

What Your Dog Says About You

I don’t know if this is a new trend or an old one experiencing a revival, but lately I’ve seen a lot of “what does your dog’s breed say about you?” style articles. I’ve even seen a few ones related to romance: what does your boyfriend’s dog say about him, or about his sex life? While I find the latter a bit of a stretch, I think maybe there might be some truth in the former. The breed of one’s dog might say a bit more about one’s living situation than personality, so that two vastly different people might both … Continue reading →

Getting Out of Debt: Does That Extra Payment Go to the Principal or the Interest?

There is only one way to get out of debt on a loan: pay down the principal of it. Are those extra payments you are making actually going toward the principal of the loan or toward the interest or next payment. It is important to know the difference, or you may not making as big a dent in your loan as you think. What Is Principal Versus Interest? When you take out a loan the specific amount of the loan is the principal. Whether this is a $300,000 mortgage or a $2,000 student loan makes no difference. When you use … Continue reading →

Deep-Clean Outside

According to NBC News, the death toll for the tornadoes that ravaged seven states earlier this week now stands at 340 people. However, authorities say that number is expected to rise, as members of the National Guard dig through untouched piles of debris in hard hit Alabama. The televised scenes of devastation are horrific and it makes me feel guilty about complaining about the mile-long list of outdoor spring cleaning that I have yet to complete. At least my home is still standing. I’m pretty sure the tornado survivors would be more than happy to spend their Saturday cleaning out … Continue reading →

Tips for Outdoor Clean-Up

Hear ye! Hear ye! Now that Easter is over, if you still have Christmas lights up on your home, it’s time to take them down. And while you are out there you might consider sprucing up your home’s exterior. Spring cleaning lists should include chores that need to done to the outside of your home as well as the inside. Start with these basics: Siding: If your siding needs deep cleaning, then rent a pressure washer to remove dirt and grime that have built-up over time. Just remember to start at the top of your house and work your way … Continue reading →

Does Your Family Have Stories About Halloween?

Halloween is a time of year that brings back memories for some people. This is a great time of year to collect and record some really funny family stories. Ask your relatives what they dressed up as for Halloween when they were children. This is a good way to connect with living relatives, and to get a glimpse of what they were like as children. It is also a great way to get someone to tell you a story from their past. My family enjoys Halloween, and there are many family stories connected with Halloween that are fun to share. … Continue reading →

The Shoe Box

Today I’m sitting in my customary location (in front of a computer screen at my desk covered in half-read books in preparation for my qualifying exams) and every so often I shift my body to see around the screen. I’m not certain about what I truly expect to find beyond the screen. Could he be eating another highlighter? Might he be trying to dig into the garbage again? Has he found something of questionable edibility to consume from the floor? All of these possibilities are likely (especially when he’s being quiet) but none of them are correct today. Today our … Continue reading →

Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Quinoa

I’ve developed a fairly active social life with other young mothers living near me. During our get-togethers, our conversations generally center around all things baby: breastfeeding, solid feeding, diapers, spit-up, sleep. You name it, we talk about it. A word that frequently came up during our discussions about solids was one I had never heard before: quinoa. One friend and my sister were both feeding quinoa to their infant sons. I was intrigued, but because we were in the process of moving, I never took the time to investigate this so-called superfood. I ran across a box of quinoa in … Continue reading →

Why Plymouth Rocks

Whether you can trace your ancestry back to the Mayflower or you are simply interested in exploring a very important place in American history, you may wish to plan a trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts. This quaint seaside community is home to Plymouth Rock, the most famous rock in New England and the monument to the Pilgrims’ landing on American shores in 1620. There is much more to Plymouth than just the Rock, though. It’s been a while since I visited Plymouth with my parents, as part of a family visit to Cape Cod, but I remember that there was a … Continue reading →

Boxes for Organization

There are two schools of thought on whether or not boxes are good organizational tools. On one hand, they can help with organization, and on the other, they can be a source of chaos. It really all depends on how you use them. Do this Boxes can help with organization when they have a clear purpose. When using them for storage, make sure the boxes will stack will and are clearly labeled. Having “to go” boxes will help you keep your specific tasks organized. For example, establish a box for bill paying. Into it will go your checkbook, address labels, … Continue reading →