Simplify Sunday- My Craigslist Coffee Table Turned Low Dining Table

August 23, 2015 17 Comments

 table 
I just moved a few months ago, so it is kind of soon to be redecorating. However, I didn’t have the money to get everything I wanted right away. Also, while I’m fine with my apartment, it’s not exactly huge. 

All this to say, a dining table was not a priority. I figured this was an opportunity to simplify. I put my rowing machine in the dining room, which was already small for a table. I planned to just use the two barstools I got and the counter for eating. 

Life got in the way. I found myself eating at my coffee table. I liked having more room than a counter top. Then, I got a television last weekend! When I put it in the living room, I rearranged everything so many times. No matter how I did it, the coffee table didn’t fit. 

I thought I would get rid of it, and just put it in the dining room for the time being. I got the living room fixed up (these rooms are really an open floor plan, it’s more like a miniature great room) and then took another look at the table. 

Suddenly, I actually liked it there. I put an empty vase in the middle and threw some pillows on the floor. I loved it! I could use the coffee table I got cheap off Craigslist as a dining table! 

I found four chair cushions at Cost Plus and cut the ties off. Now they are the perfect size cushions to store under the table, then pull out for floor pillows for eating! Combined with the pretty dahlias my friend K gave me- perfect! I love it! 

What do you think? I got some feedback that no one wants to sit on the floor, but I like it. I guess I can just sit there by myself… 🙂 I love the simplicity, bright colors, and small footprint. 

❤️ Jillian 

Filed Under: DIY, Minimalism, Simplify Sunday Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Sinplify Sunday- Packing Party

April 5, 2015 9 Comments

 sunshine and my princessAnne is having a packing party, and I’m kind of jealous. I don’t really want to go to all the trouble, but I love getting rid of things! 

So, instead… What would I do if I were completely starting over? What things would I actually need? Here’s what I got rid of:

  • Two pairs of tights 
  • Three pairs of socks
  • One shirt
  • A Packers foam finger that is just always in the way (sorry, Packers, I still love you very much!)
  • Two pairs of too small leggings
  • Three books
  • An old messenger bag 
  • Small decorative dish 

That’s it. I lost steam. Still, I think that’s pretty good (for someone that recently went through the entire house, and has been doing constant stalking of anything that might be useless!). 

On a related note, while thinking about starting over- how much do we really need, space wise? We are two people and two dogs, and we live in a four bedroom house. Kind of crazy, right? 

A few years ago I lived in a studio, and I loved it. Everything was super organized, and I hardly had to buy anything. Sure, I would have loved to have a closet (there wasn’t even one) for storage, but it made life feel so simple. I know that’s extreme and not for everyone, but it’s something to think about. How much do I really need? How much is just excess? How much good could these things I don’t even use be doing for someone in need? 

Just more of my ramblings 🙂 Happy Sunday, friends!

Jillian  

Filed Under: Minimalism, Riley Annabelle, Shibas, Simplify Sunday Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

What Do You Do When Your Coworker Is Sick? 

March 26, 2015 23 Comments

not messing aroundI am not screwing around. I will not fall victim to the office plague that is about to start. I won’t!

The girl that shares my cube wall, the one that’s closest to my face, has an awful sounding cold. I totally get why she’s at work. We have no paid sick time- if you want to stay home, you have to either take it unpaid or use a vacation day. Even if you have the vacation time, you’re still going to have to do all the work the next day when you return. You will also get calls at home. It’s really not worth it. She even has a big project this week she has to pull off. It makes the most sense to power through it.

HOWEVER. I do not want any part of sounding and feeling like she does, and I have the weakest immune system around. I talk to someone on the phone who is sick and I get it (practically!). Another coworker brought me this ridiculous Disney mask, and I totally wore it.

I know it looks like I have a diaper on my face.

Everyone time someone walked by my desk, they laughed.

I also was mean enough to not let the sick girl play with my puppy, I chugged Emergen-C, and had her scan me papers instead of touching them and handing them to me.

I didn’t touch anything in the office.

Now my ears and throat hurt. I feel like this is the beginning of the end.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I acted like an insane person for no reason and I still somehow caught it!! What would you have done? What else could I have done to be safe?

Jillian 

Filed Under: Health and Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Weigh In Wednesday- Starting Over

March 25, 2015 26 Comments

ugh This is my “I know how ridiculous I am, I just don’t know what to do about it- so sue me” face.

I have no motivation to lose weight. Last week I pre-empted Weigh In Wednesday for the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge. I wasn’t exactly sad, as I had no real update.

What I do have, is buckets of body shaming that I pour upon myself.

Here is the only step I can truly say I have taken and kept up on the last few weeks- walking more. I have a fitbit, and I have been getting more motivated to step it up 🙂 Anyone else who has a fitbit should let me know so we can compete!

Riley got out of the house the other day and I had to run after her. I absolutely could not hack it. I am so out of shape. I never got the personal trainer that I swore I needed, but I did research it last night.

The community center that is half a mile from my house offers six sessions for $210! I am definitely calling today on my lunch break, and I will post an update once I do- since I clearly can’t get myself together!

I know that is the first step and I’m so mad at myself for not taking it. Today is the day that I will stop apologizing and start doing.

Jillian

Filed Under: Annual Goals, Health and Fitness, Weigh In Wednesday Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

April Fool’s Day Came Early 

March 22, 2015 20 Comments

  

So, I’m going to be honest. I’m not known for being the greatest driver in the world (to put it mildly). However, my family is all basically terrible at driving, so a) I come by it honestly and b) who are they to criticize?! 

Literally my sister once hit my car while it was parked (with her car). She’s going to get mad at me for saying that, but you’ll see in a minute why she deserves it… 

Yesterday J, Riley, and I went to my sister’s house for lunch with my family. My two grandmas had decided they wanted to see each other, so we had a grandma party! 

  

My little brother is rocking my world in this picture. Just sayin’. 

Anyway, so we have the party and then head back to Portland. I haven’t been sleeping much, and after about 45 minutes I pull over to walk Riley- hoping that the walk will wake me up because I’m starting to feel cloudy and sleepy. I take her out (she’s in a car carrier on my side of the car), and walk around the front of my car to get to the grass. We walk for a bit and I feel much better. 

For some reason, when I go back to the car I walk around the back. 

That offensive magnet is on my car!!!!!!!!

  

At first I think it’s a sticker and I’m outraged. Then I realize it’s a magnet and pull it off and am a little less outraged. Still, I have been driving with this on my car for 45 minutes!! Lol! 

I get back in the car and tell my husband that he and my siblings are a bunch of ***holes. He tries to act all innocent. 

Later, my sister tries to act all innocent too but cracks quickly, as she’s dying to know how long it took me to find it. 

My brother hasn’t admitted to anything yet, but he just graduated driver’s ed so I KNOW he’s involved. 

They’re a bunch of little punks. 

Still, I’m jealous of their general hilarity and am now trying to decide who’s car I will put the magnet on… 

What’s the best practical joke someone has played on you?

Jillian

Filed Under: Random Chaos Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

‘Five Photos, Five Stories’ Challenge Day 2: Shiba Inu Wedding

March 17, 2015 18 Comments

Alex nominated me to participate in the ‘Five Photos, Five Stories’ Challenge. I like Alex’s blog, Only Bad Chi, because it’s awesomely funny. I probably also like it because I relate to almost everything she says, which I guess is a lot of what drives us to read blogs, right?! I’m hoping this shameless flattery will help her not be mad that I’m just cutting and pasting the next part from her blog 🙂

For the challenge, I have to post a different photo for five consecutive days, and include an accompanying story (fiction or non-fiction) along with each. I also have to nominate a new blogger each day to keep the challenge going! If I nominate you, it’s completely up to you whether you participate. The only other rules are to mention the person who nominated you in your first post, and keep nominating others.

Jewel's weddingSo, umm, this one time I went to a dog’s wedding. And it wasn’t even a dog that I am close and personal friends with. But, we were invited, and we drove an hour to get there, and brought gifts 🙂 It was as beautiful as weddings for people that I’ve ever been to. Maybe I should back up?

As I have mentioned before (Kuma’s story and Riley’s story), my dogs came from a local rescue, Northwest Shibas4Life. We adopted Kuma in 2007, and we have been in touch with the rescue ever since. They are a wonderful resource, and we also try to support them whenever we can. Shiba Inus aren’t that common, so it’s hard to find people that can really help with them.

Northwest Shibas4Life is run out of a private home, but they have a huge piece of property and so many safe places for the dogs to play. Every year they host a picnic in the summer for both humans and Shibas. I get made fun of a little when I say I’m going to a dog picnic, but it’s so much fun! They have guest speakers, an auction, a dog park for all the Shibas, food, and more. It’s really cute to see them all play together.

So, a couple of years ago I started to see posts about how Jewel (the spokes-dog of Shibas4Life) was getting married.

I thought they were joking.

They were not joking.

Obviously, this was the most amazing thing I had ever heard. There was absolutely no way I was going to miss this. Guys, it was a real wedding (I mean, obviously not legally binding…). They had outfits, a wedding party, the father of the bride gave her away, there were vows… I have no words. The bride and groom were both rescues, and their stories were told. It was so touching to hear about how much their lives have changed. It was also unbelievably precious seeing them playing along so nicely. If you want to see the invitation, one version is still online here.

There was also a purpose behind it, besides playing dress up and cooing over the cuteness. It was part of the annual picnic, and a fundraiser for Shiba Inu rescue. Gifts involved donations to help pay for dog food, vet bills, things like that. It was even written up in the Oregonian!

I know it sounds like I’m making this up, but it really happened ❤

What do y’all think? Would you go to a dog’s wedding?

I want to nominate Khalkinised at The Buddha Sutra to do the challenge next (no pressure if you don’t want to!)!

Jillian

Filed Under: Blogging, Shibas Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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