strangejen's Profile

Display Name: strangejen
Personal URL: http://www.jenjen.typepad.com
Member Since: 5/14/10

Latest Comments...

I'm considering my New Year's intention an experiment - sounds so much nicer than "diet." :) And not so much "diet" as a determination to stop drinking soda. Soooo bad for you!


Resolution Revolution: Setting Intentions for a New Year
1/3/12 1:54 PM

I had a tutoring student cancel on me yesterday, so I took that time to take down my Halloween decorations! I still have the ghosties tied to the tree by my driveway, though - I'm quite determined to get them down today!!!


Do You Remove Decorations Right Away Or Are You A Procrastinator?
11/4/11 2:06 PM

"Perhaps an industry of 'book cover trading cards' (signed by the author, much like baseball cards) will supplant signing the title page on the physical book."

Umm, that's kind of genius. :)


Bye Bye Books: Mourning the Loss of Real Live Books
10/21/11 12:47 PM

I tried to watch some favorite movies on Netflix the other day - Ella Enchanted and Princess Bride - and they weren't available!!! REALLY, Netflix, PRINCESS BRIDE? The best movie like, ever? So screw it, I'm going to continue buying my favorite movies and TV shows.


Have You Purged Your DVD Collection Yet?
7/31/11 5:31 PM

I'm still waiting on the technology to get better with e-readers (and the price to go down) - I'm not jumping in early! I still have a ton of unread books at home anyway.

I have two major objections at the moment to e-books:

1. I buy used books at Goodwill for $1-$3. Very often I find books that are on my Amazon wish-list. You just have to be patient and be a good searcher. (Also, I often buy used books at Amazon for a penny + $3.99 shipping - still better than $9.99 for the e-version. P.S. I still go to B&N once a month with my son and let him pick out whatever he wants.)

2. I like setting aside my read books to pass on to my sister the next time I see her, or if a friend expresses a fondness for one book, I'll give/loan her one of my books that I think she would also like.


5 Reasons Why eBooks are Here Now
7/1/11 1:25 PM

I started reading books in the public domain on my lunch breaks at work a few years ago, and that motivated me to give away a lot of my Dover classics collection to people who I thought would enjoy them. (For example, a teenage cousin of mine who mentioned she had never read Pride & Prejudice got a fun surprise in the mail!)

I've found that typing "read [book] online" is the fastest way to find if the book in question is available online. www.literaturepage.com is my favorite.


5 Tips to Organize Your Bookshelves
Simply Stated
1/19/11 1:29 PM

yup, genre for me too. after genre, it's grouping like sub-sections, or whichever books fit well on the shelf space available. :)


9 Ways to Organize Books: Which Is Your Style?
1/14/11 12:42 PM

I absolutely love this room! That pom waterfall is AMAZING.


My Room: Bella
Napa Valley, CA
1/7/11 11:51 AM

I've had a lot of luck with area Goodwills. The secret is go to when you have plenty of time to stand there and look through all the children's books (hint: kids with you doesn't help LOL.) And go often - about 2 months between visits is enough for lots of new books to show up. I have built up my children's book library slowly over several years, getting at least 5-10 winners from each visit. It also helps that I have 6 Goodwills within my 30 mile daily commute so I stop off at different ones and always find something new. :)


Sources for Affordable Books Besides the Library
Good Questions
1/4/11 2:31 PM

I did have to buy a lot of new materials when I started painting, but as I was gradually painting my entire interior (have been in my house 7 years and it's just time!), it has made sense for me to go at my own pace. I've also told pretty much all of my friends that when it comes time for them to paint, they can use all my stuff. So maybe it wasn't completely un-green to buy those tools if they're going to be used and re-used by many families. :)

The only thing I have left is my stairway that goes all the way up to the 2nd floor. I'm painting as high as I can reach for the time being, and saving my money to hire someone for the rest LOL.


When DIY Isn't the Greenest Option
10/15/10 1:48 PM

I make a point to not even go to that side of our Super-Target - if I don't browse the dollar spot (OR the clothes), I won't be tempted to buy anything! However, I did just buy a Halloween-y decorative metal mini-bucket there - but went with the sole purpose of finding one. :)


Re-Nest On... Avoiding the Dollar Bin
10/15/10 1:38 PM

kinda weird and creepy, yet cute and cool at the same time.


Halloween Folk Art Sculptures by Indigo Twin
Designer Profile
10/15/10 1:33 PM

"the first one is an overhead shot"

THANK YOU for posting that. It's been hurting my brain to figure those out LOL.

I'm going to have weird dreams about these, I just know it.


Inspirational Small Spaces: Alternating Tread Stairs
Roundup
10/15/10 1:14 PM

My 8 year old son has so many free website memberships, I couldn't keep up - so I made him a book.

http://jenjen.typepad.com/layouts/2009/03/computer-passwords-book.html

(scrapbook nerd alert.)


How Do You Store Your Passwords?
10/15/10 12:09 PM

*swoons*

My son is obsessed with the 4x4 size Beatrice Potter stories my church carries in their library. He brings them home every time!


Little Libraries
9/17/10 12:45 PM

my 8 year old has the Star Wars Legos Dictionary - it's the PERFECT book to keep him busy whenever we're in the car, or going into a sit-down restaurant (which he hates.) There's so many details, you could flip through this book 100 times and still notice something new!


10 Rad Reference Books For Curious Kids
9/17/10 12:43 PM

P.S. most of the OTHER books on this list are my favorites!!!


The 15 Most Ridiculously Challenged Children's Books
9/15/10 1:24 PM

ok, the "Where Did I Come From" book - my mom rented the related video when I was in 2nd grade and started asking questions . . . TRAUMATIZED me. LOL. Of course, at that age, I would have been traumatized regardless of how the information was presented . . .


The 15 Most Ridiculously Challenged Children's Books
9/15/10 1:23 PM

I tried using one of those special applicators, and the sponge kept falling off and I got paint all over my hands and on the drop cloth. I quit after the 3rd time it fell. :( I've had a lot of luck with the 3M blue tape - but my house was built in 2003. :)


Cutting In: What's Your Preference?
8/12/10 12:16 PM

I learned a long time ago to just learn to do things both ways. Especially with computer mouses - when I was in college and sat down at a computer in a classroom, I couldn't exactly get up each time and rearrange the cords so I could use the mouse left-handed. I just adjusted.

The biggest issue (non-technology) I ever had was in basketball in 8th grade - during our warm-ups before a game we'd do lay-ups, and I'd be the only one missing right-handed lay-ups. This bothered me so much I spent a week practicing and practicing until I could do it. :)


Technology And Being A South Paw | Apartment Therapy Unplggd
7/15/10 9:57 AM