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Category Archives: Travel

Parisian Café Tray

16 Sunday Jan 2011

Posted by Young Wifey in Creating, Travel

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

bed tray, breakfast, breakfast in bed, brunch, café, café tray, craft, decoupage, France, Paris, postaday2011, relax, relaxation, relaxing, tea tray, tray, tray table

My personal goal over my Christmas break was to take one day for myself. I’ve been back to work for two weeks and it still hasn’t happened. We spent an extra day over break in the Philadelphia area; a few days our plans were snowed out and we extended our trip to include some of the traditional holiday activities. My expat sister was home from Scotland, so it was good to spend a little extra time with her. It’s always hard to say goodbye and I was looking forward to a day of relaxation… but we were busier than we thought we’d be when we returned. I wanted our place to have a clean start before the New Year, at least I was successful at that.

Now, with Hubster working late nights, you’d think I’d have a moment for myself, but our schedule is just jam-packed. Back from a hectic weekend… I need a little relaxation. So while Hubster is busy watching football, I’m going to slip into the other room for a few hours… (which also means tomorrow’s post will be later). I’m going to load my new Parisian Café Tray with macaroons, petite fours, thé au lait, a bottle of Evian, a few fresh-cut flowers and a good book. My iPod loaded with Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. For me to truly have a relaxing moment, all my senses need to be submersed.

Parisian Café Tray

Parisian Café Tray

 

I purchased an unfinished bed tray at the craft store and quickly turned it into my Parisian Café Tray. I stained the wood in a dark finish and allowed it to dry overnight. I applied Mod Podge to decoupage scrapbook paper, black & white photos (from a calendar), and ribbon on the surface. I allowed it to dry in between coats and then sprayed it with a sealer.

This tray is great and I look forward to using it often (hopefully). It’s great for working on small crafts while I’m sitting in the living room or bedroom… Maybe Hubster will take the hint and serve me brunch in bed one weekend… that is if I ever get to sleep in…

How do you relax?

 

Advertisement

Where Has Your Glamour Been?

08 Tuesday Sep 2009

Posted by Young Wifey in Life, Travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Glamour Magazine, Scotland, Stirling Castle

Glamour magazine has a small feature on the editorial page called “Where has your Glamour been? When In Scotland this past July, I took a shot to send into the editors. Of course with women taking theirs on missionary trips to third world countries and sky diving, I didn’t think they’d actually publish mine. So here’s my picture.

Glamour Shot

Glamour Shot

My Glamour has been to Stirling Castle, Scotland and well as 7 other castles and ruins throughout the beautiful landscape.

Travel Tips

01 Saturday Aug 2009

Posted by Young Wifey in Home Maintenance, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

get ready for vacation, get your house ready for vacation, Home Maintenance, home security, vacation, vacation check list

From My Home to Yours
While getting ready for another vacation (one week this time), I decided my to do list might be helpful for fellow vacationers. Whether  you’re headed to the beach or the mountains, cross-country or out of the country, here are a few tips to keep your home safe while you’re away.

Lights – Put lamps on a timer in at least two room, set them to come on a few hours at night and in the morning while it’s dark. If you don’t own a motion sensor on your porch lights, consider putting them on a timer as well.

Windows – Make sure they’re all locked and your blinds are down or curtains are pulled close.

Lawn – Mow your lawn, trim your hedges, weed your landscaping just before you leave, so your house appears well-kept. If you’re going to be gone a week or longer, considering hiring a trusted high-school student to mow your lawn for you.

Driveway – Leave a car parked in your driveway. If you don’t have an extra car, ask a neighbor to use your driveway while you’re away.

Thermostat – Check your thermostat before you leave and make sure it’s turned off or set at an appropriate temperature while you’re away.

Water – Turn off the water where it come into the house. However if you have someone coming over the check on pets/plants, turn off the valves to the washing machine, dishwasher, or any other appliance, you never know what might happen and don’t want to come home to a flooded home and a huge water bill.

Bills – Pay all bills before you leave and contact your utility companies if you’re going away longer than a week.

Unplug It – Unplug any unnecessary appliances to avoid wasting electricity, your appliances from getting zapped during a storm or from a possible house fire.

Bank – Deposit any checks or cash you have on hand, don’t leave it sitting in your home. Inform your bank of your vacation of there are no holds on any check/debt card transactions.

Mail – Have the post office hold your mail while you’re away, you can have them deliver all of your mail the day you return or opt to pick it up at the post office (I prefer the previous).  If you live in the States, this is the easiest thing to do, just go to the USPS website and fill out the information.

Plants– Use Aquaglobes for your plants or ask a close friend to stop over to water your indoor plants while you’re away.

Pets – If you’re leaving pets at home, then you’ll obviously have someone come over to check on them. Keep a list of instructions, extra food/snacks, vet numbers, medications, etc.. on the kitchen counter or somewhere previously agreed upon. I suggest getting a 10 lb. dry food dispenser and a 3 gallon water dispenser for cats and/or dogs (although I’d rather board my dog then leave her home alone). If you have a cat set out extra litter pans and make it easy for someone else to clean and dispose.

Cleaning – I inherited this from my mother. Make sure your house is completely straightened and cleaned before you leave. Run the vacuüm, empty the dish washer, dust, wipe the floors, make the beds, etc.. It’s so much nicer to come back from vacation and relax. Most people don’t allow enough time after vacation before jumping back into their busy schedules, so get it done ahead of time.

Hide-A-Key – Remove your hidden key before you leave, no matter where it’s hidden, they may be found easily. If you must have an extra key, leave it in the glove box of your car. If you have a friend checking on your house, have them keep the key at their house (they probably already have one).

Notify the Neighbor – Have a close neighbor keep an eye on your house and call the police if they noticed anything suspicious. Also let them know of your plans, when you’ll be back, where you’re headed and a number to reach you.

Valuables – Lock all valuables and important documents in a fireproof safe. It’s good to keep an up to date list of all your possessions in the safe, as well as send a backup copy to your email. Photograph your home, all angles of each room and outside to help documents your possessions, keep copies in your safe and email yourself copies.

Lock the Doors – Make sure you check both storm and screen doors for your front door, side door, back door and garage door. Make sure any bilco or basement doors are closed and locked. Lock the ladder to the pool deck, gate to the pool fence, tool shed and any other accesses you have.

Pack your family and luggage in the car and double-check everything, get in the car, leave for your vacation (hopefully you don’t have to turn around a few minutes later for any missing items) and enjoy.

What other things do you do to prep your house for your vacation?

Charity Shop Hop

28 Sunday Jun 2009

Posted by Young Wifey in Preloved, Travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

charity shop, thrift, thrift shop, thrift store, thrifty

We’ve been in Scotland for 5 days now, visiting my sister and finally seeing all the projects she tells me (and blogs) about. I’ve been seeing her life here, and listening to the famous question we hear a lot, “Are you two twins?” The answer is no and yes; we’re not biologically twins, but we’re siblings two years, three months and twenty days apart that just happen to be very close. When we were younger, we’d dress ourselves in matching outfits, talk in our secret language, and finish each others sentences very much the way that some twins did.

A few days ago, we went on a charity shop hop (finally, I got a chance to see where she gets her preloved clothing). Hubster found a nice short sleeve button up shirt for himself. My sister found some football (soccer for the Americans…) jerseys for Pumpkin. I found a cute blue shirt for myself, and my sister (she says “jokingly“) asked for it. I also purchased a new shopping bags during the trip. In the next shop, I found a cute blue/teal patterned tunic shirt and a 3/4 length aqua shirt for myself. I immediately imagined myself hemming the bottom of the tunic style shirt and using the remaining fabric to make a headband, bag, scarf, use it to line… She then asked if I was giving this tunic shirt to her, since I kept the last one for myself. We used to dress as twins, so it shouldn’t surprise me that we would both want the same finds. I thought to myself, “I found it first… but maybe if I do give it to her, she’ll leave it at my house at Christmas…” So with a deep slow breath I detached myself with my favorite find of the day and let her try it on (still somewhat hoping it wouldn’t fit her, so I wouldn’t feel guilty for buying it for myself); it fit her, and she purchased it.

New Shopping Bag

New Shopping Bag

Charity Shop Hop

Charity Shop Hop

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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