For The HolidaysIt just doesn’t feel like the holidays without one!!
In the neighborhood, Jim prefers the tree spot on McGuinness and Greenpoint Ave where there are Germans and hippies to help you as opposed to the “vagabonds” on Manhattan and Calyer. We went all out at the Big D (one of the largest local dime stores) for decorations on the cheap.
No More Bare WallsIf you’re like me you have at least one bin filled with photos and an even larger digital library. As one last big chore while awaiting baby we decided to finally frame a few. There’s no need to go to a framer (though I can recommend a good one in Greenpoint). With just a little bit of creativity we managed to get several up on our walls on the cheap.
We started with Ikea, home to cheap everything and picked up a cart full of frames. Right now they are carrying some really fun brightly colored ones as well as deep set neutrals and woods. Unfortunately many, the brights included, aren’t quite to American sizes, so we had to improvise. We found some equally fun colored art paper at Artists and Craftsman Supply in Brooklyn, which we used as a faux matte.
We just cut out a square of colored paper to the size of the frame window, using the back as a template and centered the photo before reassembling. Getting photos centered took a little practice but is quite easy. The result is pretty great and adds a nice shock off color to our walls. We started with some of our favorite actual photographs, but didn’t want to ignore some digital favorites.
Canon Pixma Photo Paper Pro Platinum delivered the best results for printing. I have a new Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mark II for work that did an incredible job with the prints. Printing our own photos also allowed us to re-size images to fit the awkward frames without faux matting.
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Green, Non-Toxic, Holistic Cleaning ServicesI’m not one for paying people to do things for me – even a manicure can sometimes make me uneasy (I’m getting over it), so even though I probably need some help in the cleaning department more than most, I’ve never looked into cleaning services. Lucky for me, the stars aligned – Jim and I were asked to design a website for the new All Natural and Biodegradable cleaning service, Team Clean in exchange for a few sessions. This was a god send at nine months pregnant.
Run by Candace Mills, who ran a successful Memphis cleaning service called 2 Chicks and A Broom along with college friend Megan Pflug and J Penry, Team Clean is a great, environmentally sound company that is pet friendly and super speedy.
Two people, including Candice came over for an initial 2 hour session and were like cleaning machines. From the floor to the stove, everything smelt clean and fresh and even all the cat hair (the amount of which you can’t even begin to imagine) was gone. They require a two hour minimum per session and can meet with you to assess price and cleaning style. I highly recommend contacting them!
Fun Color CombosIt’s certainly not a revolutionary one, but the idea of mixing up my nail polishes just occurred to me and makes for an easy way to all dazzle to my razzle. First go I tried neon pink and true red (colors I have always loved together) next it might be grey and florescent yellow, what do you say to that?
A Big JobWell technically, this should be in a new category called “things to do with a couple weeks or months”. Like most home improvements, this bathroom remodeling has taken much, much longer with much more inconvenience than expected.. but it’s truly all worth it. Some people scoffed at the idea of an all black bathroom (inspired by this photo) but I knew it was going to turn out divine!
We have Jim’s friend from High School and current contractor to thank for coordinating the job and were especially impressed with the tub reglazing (a cheaper option to getting a new tub) courtesy of The Painted Otter. Tiles came from Nemo and we used build.com for the fixtures – an extremely easy and affordable site for all your building needs. We had some hiccups at the Home Depot for paint (we rejected cans of paint that were meant to be grey but were green) and decided to pay the extra cash for Sherwin Williams. Our ceiling fixture was a refurbished art nouveau light that I found on ebay and spray painted white.
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592 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, BrooklynI am not a regular manicure pedicure customer. I treat it as an indulgence so am always open to other’s opinions and reviews for the service. Honey Spa received glowing reviews compared to the many slightly cheaper nail spots that dot my neighborhood, so I gave them a call. Cleanliness was a particular concern (especially while pregnant) and Honey is spotless, pleasant and relaxing. It fits someplace between a super high end (and high priced experience – I spent as much on just a pedicure in the city) and those hole in the wall cheap spots, which makes it just right for so many local girls, myself included. The staff is friendly and very professional. Natalia, an expert with the polish, was even kind enough to fix a toe smear before I left. They also offer other spa services like facials, messages, and waxing. Be sure to book ahead of time. They were getting phone calls all day and booked until closing.
The Aroma of Tiny BurgersWhether it’s reservation only candle lit red rose Valentine Dinners or vampire claims, I like the style of White Castle’s stunts as much as I like their little square sliders (by which I mean, quite a bit). The newest pr oddity is their candle that promises the aroma of hamburgers (but according to this article doesn’t quite succeed). Still, like all the crazies that snagged these up right away (they are totally sold out online), I’d love to have one of these.
For FreelancersWhile I am mostly excited about my new career path which is sure to be better for my little one, I was a bit intimidated by the whole freelance taxes stuff. I found a woman named Susan Lee through her extremely informative website Freelance Taxation that is full of information that any freelance artist can learn from. She also has a radio show called You and Your Money that you can listen to on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City and is available for private consultation. I went to see her last week and had all my questions answered. Money and money related issues can be confusing and obnoxious to creative business people, so a specialist who can help you along your way (and is available to do your taxes too) is a god send. Tell her I sent you if you make an appointment.
To Reduce TearsI’m not sure if I am new to this trick or getting in on the big secret way late, but blogs have started circulating the simple solution to onion cutting tears. Simply soak the onion in water first. I tried the method and it worked though I hope to test it a few more times to become a truly convinced believer. Why don’t you give it a whirl and see if you’re as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Egg Plant PetThis little guy, purchased on a whim at Sprout, is downright adorable. Called Nyokki! (which means “grow!” in Japanese) he sprouts green “hair” that you can style or cut. The shop only had the froggie, but the company also makes a rabbit, a cat, monkey, duck, and bear as well as special holiday ones like a skeleton, black cat, jack-o-lantern and snowman. Too cute!