September 11, 2014

Easy Magnets

A fun, super-easy, inexpensive craft that can be thoughtful, goofy, or useful depending on what images you choose There are different ways to make unique magnets, including: using homemade clay and imprinting words; hot-glueing jewels, old broo… — A fun, super-easy, inexpensive craft that can be thoughtful, goofy, or useful depending on what images you choose
There are different ways to make unique magnets, including: using homemade clay and imprinting words; hot-glueing jewels, old brooches, earrings that have lost their mate, and the like, to make fancy, girly magnets; and there are even websites where you can simply pick some of your Instagram photos and they'll be made into mini refrigerator magnets *for* you - but this has to be the easiest way. And it produces something functional (who doesn't need more refrigerator magnets?) that, while I'm biased having made them, doesn't look sloppily cobbled together.
Here are the easy steps and the, very few and inexpensive, things you need:

The part that I think makes this magnet-making method easiest is: I chose some images I wanted to use, sized them down and put some fun frames around them (faux bois, leather, houndstooth), then put them all on one page and printed them out on shipping paper, so they were already on something adhesive. If you wanted the magnets to be glossier, you could print on photo paper or simply use photos you have around, but then you'd need to adhere them to something sturdier, which adds an extra step to these super easy magnets.

Cut the images out of the shipping label paper they were printed on and adhere them to cardboard.

Paint the images with a thin layer of Mod Podge to add some shine and make them a little more substantial. And also because all projects call for Mod Podge!

I have a tendency to go a little Mod Podge crazy, but I exercised restraint and only used two thin layers and it worked out well. Also, painting the images with Mod Podge while they are all on one sheet of cardboard is way easier than cutting them out first then Mod Podge-ing them.

I made these for my friend, Liz, and because I had bought the roll of magnetic tape for something else and never ended up using it. She and I are both fans of Andy Samberg, so I enjoyed scouring the internet for just the right photo I thought she (and her husband) would want to see on their fridge everyday. The other photos are of where they live in Hawaii, their dog Reese, and a graphic I made that says "Dirty/Clean" to put on a dishwasher. I can't imagine anyone having quite the same amazing taste in funny men and German Shepherds that she and I have, but here are the original images I used if anyone is curious and must have a Shy Ronnie magnet for herself.

Once Mod Podge layer is dry, cut out the images from the cardboard. I went over the sides with a layer of Mod Podge after I cut out the images (then laid them on wax paper to dry), but it wouldn't be noticeable if this step wasn't done.

Cut up the magnetic tape into the right sizes for your images, adhere them to the back, and you're done!

The magnetic tape works well but if you really wanted your magnets to be sturdy and long-lasting, you could use additional glue to make doubly sure the magnetic tape stays affixed to the cardboard.

These turned out cute and deciding on the images was fun. Black and white pictures or cut out flowers would make pretty magnets if one didn't want to go the goofy route, and these could be a cool, and easy, inexpensive, housewarming present, too.

June 24, 2014

Things I Thought I'd Know By Now

by Rachael in List, Text

I turned 30 last week. I like to think I'm a pretty smart person, but there are a few things I definitely thought I'd have figured out by now. . .

Things I Thought I Would Know By Now

The amount of time any food should be microwaved for. I just set the time for what seems like too long, then take it out when I hear popping noises.

How to crochet, apparently. Every few years since I was 15, I say I want to learn how to crochet and go out and buy, like, $30 worth of yarn and needles. I don't know how to crochet and haven't gone through a trying-to-learn phase for a few years now, so perhaps I've come to terms with my limited craftiness. I mostly just liked picking out the yarns anyway.

How to take a compliment. I didn't grow up in a braggy family. If you tell me I look pretty, I'm probably gonna say, "thanks - it's makeup (or Spanx or deceptive lighting. . .)." This may not be empowering or conducive to high self-esteem, but I'm ok with that. I'd rather be the person who makes everyone laugh by saying "I may look decent now, but you should have seen me before . . " and launches into a story about streaky self-tanner or wonky false eyelashes than the graceful, put-together person who says "thank you" and smiles graciously (actually, that lady sounds nice; maybe I would like to be her one day).

How to care less about things, be less emotional. I think it's an important and attractive quality when people don't need validation from others. But, uhh, we are humans, on a planet, and we do need validation from others. Whenever people, both supportively or accusatorially, ask me or others, "why do you care what other people think anyway?" so many answers run through my head: I don't know, I just do; because I'm a person who lives in a society; because when I tripped I think my skirt came up and I need to know the exact number of people who were in that room so that when I replay the moment over and over again in my head for the rest of my life I will have set the scene accurately. . . So, I do wish I cared less what people thought of me, but when people say they don't care, it makes me wonder what they do care about. Interactions with others are what makes up life, so it's just common sense to be concerned with how others see you. I guess the ideal is to only be concerned with meaningful interactions and to know the people whose opinions you should care about are the people who care about you.

Things I'm Pretty Sure About

That girls and women unnecessarily add modifiers to declarative statements; this was originally titled "Things I Know."

Know how to do things for yourself. Or at least how to contact the right professional. I live in a state with windy roads, crappy roads, mountains, hollers, and spotty cell coverage, and haven't found a place yet AAA can't get to you, eventually. But if you chose the second route and do the contact-a-professional-thing instead of taking care of a problem entirely on your own, don't be offended at the tone of voice used by said professional as he is telling you, for example, "Ma'am, are you aware you're parked on a hill? Have you gotten gas recently?" when you call to have your car jumped because it "broke down."

Don't text and drive. I definitely don't think I'm better than anyone who does (because that would be almost everyone - almost everyone texts while they drive), I'm just not coordinated enough to do it - and we're all safer for that.

Be nice to people. Whether you know them or not. As quotes set to moody stock photography posted on social media tell me: everyone is fighting their own battle. And they are. You hear people say things like "everyone should be required by law to wait tables (or work retail, etc.) at some point in their life so they learn to tip well (or say please and thank-you or what have you)". Fortunately, I like to believe I was raised to know this; unfortunately, I dropped out of college several times and thus have years of experience in service industry jobs. There are some people for whom the customer service industry is a calling and they are great at it. I like helping people, but there are only so many Christmas seasons working a Macy's perfume counter an average person (and her olfactory system) can take. You shouldn't have to have once worked in every patience-testing service profession to know how to treat people. Just do that Golden Rule thing they teach you in kindergarten. Besides, there's a little secret service industry veterans and nice people are in on: if you show a little respect and courtesy to the people in those jobs, you'll find that a whole new world of free drinks, extra breadsticks, and seat upgrades may await.

I just realized there are two Tina Fey-related quotes on here, so I better round that out.

Here's to learning tons more stuff in the coming years - or at least how to heat up leftovers.

May 30, 2014

Cheers!

by Rachael in List, Text, Drinks

For my birthday, I asked my drinktress, Pumpkin, if she could invent a special Rachael drink. She told me to give her a list of alcohols, flavors, and mixers I like, and she'd go from there. This will either turn out gloriously with a new, amazing, original cocktail; with a toxic concoction of rum and Mr. Sketch markers; or she'll give up and buy me a six pack of MillerLite.

I'm adding the condition that no component of the drink should be too expensive. For while I do, for example, prefer Patron to any other tequila, I'm nothing if not a woman of the people, and obviously my drink should reflect that.

Here's what I've got:

Booze: Rum; (cheap) Champagne; Peach Wine from Heston Farms; Vodka; the moonshine in my refrigerator (that was either from Owen or Pumpkin's neighbor. These are the problems that arise when multiple people keep moonshine in the trunk of their car*. Oh, West Virginia. . . ); Ramona Singer wine (just kidding); Skinny Girl Margarita (not kidding)

*Did I just invent Moonshine Charms?? Like those charms you put around wine glasses, only, you know, jar-sized.

Flavors: Apple; Pineapple; Altoids (she sort of refused to acknowledge that one); Rhubarb (I like rhubarb pie. . . and it's time vegetables got more share of the cocktail game); Tiramisu; Green Tea; Peach; Strawberry; Ice Cream Sandwich

Mixers: Ginger Ale; Sprite; Cranberry Juice

Suggestions?

My favorite wine glasses, made by a WVU alum - Wine Me?

April 4, 2014

Life Lessons I Learned From My Dog

by Rachael in List, Text

In no particular order,

1. My dog thinks anything can be obtained (from bread crumb to t-bone) by sitting patiently and staring longingly at the object. She thinks as long as she lines up her white paw and gold paw in perfect, adorable sitting position (the doggy version of sorority t-feet), she will eventually get what she wants - and she usually does. Politeness and good manners will take you far in life.

2. In the same vein of polite begging, I've noticed if you're eating chips, or something that could easily fall on the floor, my dog will stare at the floor instead of at the food in your hand, and then dash across the floor for the food when you drop it. There's probably some football analogy about how tacklers watch people's feet instead of face or something, but yeah, figure out the best way to achieve your goal and stay focused.

3. Floor kibbles (those are kibble pieces that, for whatever reason, have ended up outside the dog bowl) are not to be eaten; it's just uncivilized. A discarded chicken wing found in a bush during a walk, however, is a culinary treasure to be savored (. . .or snatched up and swallowed whole). Don't waste calories on food that's not tasty; save them for something delicious.

4. Loud noises are serious threats and are to be treated as such. The best course of action is to find a human and sit ON TOP of them. Don't be afraid to ask for help (your human will replace the smoke alarm batteries and it will stop beeping, promise).

4. My dog has a permanent ruffled fur spot at the top of her tail from constantly wagging it. Like smile and laugh lines, physical reminders of a life well spent are something to be proud of.

5. My dog hates other dogs (she's been kicked out of doggy daycare for only hanging out with the owner and not playing with the dogs, and from dog parks for overly aggressive butt sniffing). It's. . . inconvenient, to say the least. Try to get along with your species; it makes everything easier.

6. Rain is ok; snow is the best.

7. Good dental health is not to be overlooked. If you don't know a dog's age, one of the only ways you can tell is by how clean their teeth are. Abnormally clean teeth are the botox of the dog world, and a lady never reveals her age.

8. Ice cream is a food group and home is where the Frosty Paws are.

9. If a human is not petting you correctly it is your responsibility to nudge them with your nose until they get the hang of it. As Oprah says, we teach people how to treat us.

10. Always best to err on the side of caution. Everyday my dog barks at people who stomp up the stairs, and I haven't been robbed once.

11. And finally, just because you're not a "breed" doesn't mean you're not fantastic. Just because you don't fit a mold doesn't mean you're not as good as everyone else - it probably means you're better.