The Things We Remember

I was randomly reminiscing. And somehow I remembered things from my past which have been hidden away in files in my brain. Not forgotten, but not brought back often. I can't remember how we became friends. I don't actually remember talking to her at all in seventh grade, and then somehow in eighth grade, we became really good friends. 

We had first period health together. It was our most dreaded and most "entertaining" class. The boys were very immature and the girls were probably a little, if not more than a little, uncomfortable the entire semester. I remember we were learning about family units in the textbook, and she pointed to the picture of the blended family and then pointed her finger back at herself. 

My job lets me relive my middle school memories every now and then....

We became really close that year. I asked her if she and her mom would go bra shopping with me because it was probably time for me to "upgrade" from the ones my mom had gotten me in 6th grade so I could make it through changing in the locker rooms during gym without being half naked. Her mom drove us to the mall and then went off to shop on her own while my friend and I walked around ourselves. That wasn't how I imagined it, but it was all right. (As an adult being so far removed, thinking back on how I survived adolescence without my mother is unfathomable. I don't know how I made it to present day, but I know I don't want to do it again.)

We talked on the phone when she could sneak in a call. There were many calls which ended abruptly to avoid getting caught. There were a few times I went over to her house and we actually got to hang out. I was her piano accompanist that year. It was one way to get to her house and hang out after our rehearsal. We signed each other's yearbooks at the end of the year and said we'd be friends forever. 

In high school, we slowly began to drift apart. She had other friends she became closer to and I had mine. I do remember she helped me track down the locker combination of the guy I was dating at the time so I could put something in it to surprise him. He told me later he figured that's what she was doing because she stood by his locker for so long. She moved a few years later so we didn't graduate together. I don't think I've spoken to her in nearly 15 years. 

Friendship is special in how it evolves over time. We are not truly friends anymore given we do not know each other's lives beyond what is posted on social media. But I still cherish what we had. Seeing that these memories randomly come back to me and I can still remember exactly which classroom we had health class and the approximate locations of where we sat in reference to the room, it can't mean nothing. I wouldn't have made it through eighth grade without her.

Converted

I am known for my practicality and frugality. Over the years, my habits have morphed a bit to adapt to changing life stages and needs, but for the most part, these two words still describe me very well. Whenever I text my husband after a shopping trip whether for groceries or fun, he never seems too shocked. Apparently I'm not capable of spending an absurd amount of money that would actually scare him. 😂 I'll take it as a compliment. 

My husband bought me flowers this year for my birthday. Flowers have never been my "thing" because I always viewed them as spending money on something I'd throw away. So why bother? While there is truth to that, I failed to factor in a lot of other points. Fresh flowers add to the overall ambiance. They bring joy when you look at them. And they actually last a long time when you take care of them properly.

This photo was taken on day 17 of displaying this bouquet. Not bad, right? You can definitely tell they're not fresh flowers by any means, but they still bring a bright cheeriness. On the flip side, keeping fresh flowers for 17 days is no easy task. You need to cut the stems regularly, change the water regularly, and remove dying foliage to prolong the life of the blooms. It's like owning a temporary pet. 

But they do still contrast nicely to the mess spread out around the table. I've just come to accept that our kitchen table and counters have stuff on them. I've tried cleaning, really. But when there's two other people living in the same house as me who aren't nearly as responsible or careful and like to bring things from one room to the next and have no sense of putting things in their place, it makes keeping spaces neat and tidy impossible. Yes, that was a run-on sentence and I'm well aware of that. The awkwardness of that sentence further accentuates the futileness and energy-sucking-tendencies of trying to keep a neat house with little people running around. 

I still wouldn't purchase fresh flowers on a normal basis, but every now and then, I could see myself buying a bouquet, bringing out our vases from hibernation, and setting out a display for a short while. 💐

Household Helpers

Yesterday, I took my children out spontaneously for lunch to meet a friend. Because it was spontaneous, my friend was already at the restaurant so I asked her to order for us so the food would be ready when I arrived with my kids. I sent her our order, she ordered for us, I drove to the restaurant, and I Venmo-ed her the money after. I didn't even know how much the entrees were when I told her to order them. 

It wasn't absurdly high, but it was indeed more than eating at McDonald's or Chick-fil-A. While driving there, I was thinking to myself, I've made it in life. I can order food without looking at the price first. Just kidding. But only half kidding. 

The older I get the more I notice myself wanting specific items of a certain quality. Growing up, I was not taught this. We bought the cheapest items possible only when necessary and did without if we could. This mentality, although beneficial in certain circumstances, was also very unhealthy in others. I never learned to appreciate the value of quality, and I didn't discover the value of saving my sanity until I grew up and became an adult. 

Around the house, there are a lot of things we own which I appreciate and am glad we purchased. For this post specifically, I wanted to share a few items which have been very useful for us but are not considered big ticket items.

1. Stainless Steel Straws

We purchased stainless steel straws last year because our kids love using straws. Is it more work than plastic? Yes, it is. But in the long run, it is both eco-friendly and cost effective. The pack of straws we purchased came with a cleaning brush. This is a must have. Without it, I would completely nix this item because that is the only way I can clean them. Because they are stainless steel, I have on occasion put them into the dishwasher. I haven't gotten to the point where I carry a reusable straw with me wherever we go, but when we are at home, these are the ones my kids use. 

2. Handheld Bug Zapper

I can't tell you what a difference these have made in our lives. Mosquitoes get into our house 95% of the time during the summer. It's almost more than a one to one ratio of one mosquito entering the house per day in the summer. I feel much more equipped to kill them and less annoyed when they enter the house because I know if I see one, chances are, I can get it. I've also gotten better at maneuvering the amount of air the zapper disturbs as I zero in on the mosquito to zap. Those little buggers are quite sensitive and if they feel air movement, they will start to fly away. I had many opportunities this summer to hone my technique. 

3. Nice Bath Mats

Years ago when I was shopping at Ross, we picked up some bath mats pretty inexpensively. We've used them for a good number of years, but I was starting to get annoyed because the pile was worn down and less plush than it should have been. You see, we have other bath mats in the house which were more expensive and better quality, and with comparable use, they have remained plush and comfortable to step onto when exiting the bath/shower. So one day, I decided I wanted a new bath mat. At first, we went to Home Goods to see what they had. Believe it or not, they did not have a bath mat which met my expectations, and their prices were not very discounted from any other department store. Then I went to Costco and found a foam bath mat with fur on top. My husband did not like the fur on top, and it was quite expensive. A few days later, we went to Sam's and I found the perfect foam bath mat at the perfect price. For the rest of my life, I think I will only purchase quality foam bath mats because they are the easiest to clean and feel the most comfortable. 

4. Squeegee 

We've only suctioned it once and it's been on ever since! Impressive. 

We renovated our bathroom over five years ago now. After installing frameless shower glass, we needed a way to keep it clean. My husband was the one who introduced me to squeegeeing a shower to keep it clean longer. We had an old squeegee we bought when we first got married and were using. However, after we installed a brand new beautiful bathroom with a new large glass door, we needed to upgrade. Squeegees can be found for as low as $2 and they can range up to about $20. Check the material of the blade. It makes a huge difference. The most expensive one I found was $133! Insane. Ours was just under $20 and it has been worth every dollar. I can't tell you the last time I cleaned our shower glass, but I can tell you the last time we squeegeed it! 

I still wouldn't consider myself someone who would spend money willy-nilly, but I'm definitely realizing moments in life when I think to myself, "I really wish I had a ____________."

I think that's one of the reasons why I'm so glad I tracked my small appliance usage this year (still going!) because I've learned a lot about my cooking habits and which kitchen gadgets have paid themselves off in time and efficiency. I'm even allowing myself to buy some new ones. 😇. Stay tuned!