Things that every adult should know how to do

It's funny, there are times when I sit back and think "there is no way that I'm actually an adult yet," but then I take a longer look at my life and think, "oh wait... yeah, I've been here a while" especially when I realized that I cut my hair off because I was too busy to deal with it anymore when in my "younger days" my long, flowing hair was a HUGE priority.

I was scanning Pinterest today and I kept seeing really inane tutorials for things that most adults should know by the time they are off living on their own. I had to stop and wonder "are there people in their early 20's running around that have no clue how to do these things? Then I thought about my peer group and I realized... "yep... there are..."

This does tie in to home improvement, decorating and that sort of deal. I promise. So here is the list of things that adults should know how to do (not listed in order of importance, but really off the top of my head).

1. Write a resume and cover letter. I was very fortunate that a required class for my major was dedicated toward learning this skill. I can't even tell you how helpful it was. Dr. Sharon Carrish, if you're reading this blog, I am truly, eternally thankful. There are many great tutorials out there on the web. There are a few main points when writing your resume: 
1. Don't be super artsy or fancy (unless of course you're applying for a graphic arts position or something of that ilk), the easier your resume is to read, the more likely it will actually be read.
2. Use a professional email with your contact info. Usually this is something that is just your name or your initials and some numbers - nothing silly like dragonhunter21 or hanzsololuvr... or whatever. It just looks bad. 
3. ALWAYS include the job title that you're applying for. Most companies have multiple jobs they are looking to fill and if you don't tell them which one you are applying for, chances are they won't even read your resume. 
4. List (in bullet point form) your relevant experience (use the job description as a guide) using past-tense for each job you've had in the last 10 years (more than that is considered "out of date" in most situations. Ex: Wrote and edited articles for school newspaper. Would be great if you're right out of college, but if you're 30, you probably shouldn't include that. If you're right out of college, listing experience that you have in the form of individual and class projects, internships or club activities is also acceptable. 
5. This is going to sound harsh, but don't bother putting on there that you're a "team player" or "outgoing." They assume that you have the necessary characteristics that are required to function in the workplace. If you are really hell-bent on letting them know you're just a Perky Patsy, then find a way to let your experience show that. Ex: Planned and MC'd annual company picnic.
6. Experience (most of the time) is going to be more important than your actual degree (although there are circumstances where that doesn't apply). Usually it's wise to list your educational experience at the end of your relevant work experience. More often than not, the folks looking to hire someone are concerned with the fact that you just have a degree and not as much with what it is, so long as you have relevant work experience to back up that you can do the job. 
7. Cover letters should tell the reader why you are a good match for their company. This will require you to do some research. Look up the company's mission statement. Is there something that they do that you're really passionate about? Let them know why and how you will be a good asset to the company. Also, make sure to use spell-check and proof-read your work. If you're not the best editor, find a friend who will be willing to look it over.
2. Manage your bank account & household budgeting. This is something that a lot of folks, regardless of generation or age group have trouble with. I'm definitely not perfect when it comes to this, but I've recognized that the bills need to be paid on time and to not live above my means. It also meant that I couldn't spend money willy-nilly on whatever whim. What I did to get my budget in line is use an Excel spreadsheet and utilized equations on the sheet to keep a running ledger of my monthly expenses. I always have at least 6 months of bills planned and put in the system. This way, I know exactly how much is available in my bank account at any given time. Different methods work for different people, but if you are looking for a long-term way to save money (for something like, a down-payment on a house or a large renovation project) this method really helps. It also gives you flexibility in case an unexpected expense comes up because you can see where you can move money around without causing issues in making payments on time. An important thing to remember is to always try to put money into savings. Even if it's $10 a month, it's better than nothing. Credit cards can be great for emergencies and all, but don't spend above what you can pay back in a month or two. The interest rates on credit cards are a nightmare! If you do fall into the credit card trap (I have before, it's not fun) try to pay as much as you can every month, otherwise it will take forever to pay off. 
3. Cooking. I don't expect people to be gourmet chefs, but it's also a good idea to know how to prepare good, healthy food. It's amazing how so many people live off of frozen/box dinners! Cooking doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. A few things to keep in mind when cooking: 
1. Buy fresh fruits and veggies that are in season. This means they had less of a distance to travel to your store and will stay good longer. 
2. Make a menu. If you know what you want to eat before going to the store and make a list of ingredients, you will spend less. Also, you can plan for left-overs nights and meals with the same ingredients (but cooked a different way or with different spices) and that will save you some money as well. 
3. Cook proper portions. So many of us don't know what a "proper" portion looks like. Grocery stores aren't necessarily helping us out either by packaging meat in larger increments (it's nearly impossible to get just one pound of lean ground beef). A serving of meat is generally the size of a deck of cards or 3oz. I explained that to my husband and he thought I was kidding. The restaurants you go to and can get 16oz steaks... do people realize that's an ENTIRE pound of meat? Gross. Also, proper portions are not only healthier for you, but you will save money.
4. Buy only what you need, try to buy on sale. Lots of grocery stores have "club cards" that allow you to save some money here and there on groceries. Sign up. 
5. There are tons of easy recipes online. My favorite website is Allrecipes.com. You can find anything on there. Another favorite is Great British Kitchen, but that's because I like to try and cook food that corresponds with my British lineage. 
6. Practice, practice, practice. Folks, I was not always the best cook. Actually, I used to be terrible. I even burned jello once. But, I decided that I was going to learn how to cook and started with really simple things like baked chicken breast and stir-frys. After years of practice I've come to really love cooking and enjoy making interesting and new meals for Garry and I and friends that come over to visit. 
4. Sewing/clothing care. Again, you don't have to know complicated stuff here - I'm not saying everyone should know how to make a boned bodice with a peplum and shoulder rolls - but knowing how to hem your own pants, fix a ripped seam or sew on a button is important to know as these are things that most folks come across. Also, knowing how to launder and care for your own clothes properly is important. 
5. Deal with conflict in a responsible and respectable way. I won't even get into the number of times I see adults out and about acting incredibly childish when they don't "get their way" or are involved in some level of conflict. I just don't get it. My thought is that if you're involved in a conflict the best thing to do is to stay calm and communicate. Chances are the conflict has something to do with a mis-communication. If someone is upset at you for something you know you did - own up to it. Blaming something/someone else isn't going to make things better, but apologizing for making someone upset will help. If someone upset you, let them know what action made you upset and why it upsets you. Ex: I feel irritated when you leave your underwear in a pile instead of putting them in the hamper because it makes the bedroom look messy. Or something to that kind of tone. Keep in mind that you need to respect the feelings of the other party, even if they aren't respecting yours. Don't lose your integrity or cool, chances are these conflicts aren't life-or-death and in the grand scheme of things "aren't a big deal." Sure there are many exceptions to that, but even then, keep your cool and remember to respect other parties. 
6. Cleaning. It's my absolute least favorite chore. I can't tell you how many times I would have rather sat on my butt and watched a movie than clean up. But, cleaning is necessary unless you want to end up on an episode of "How Clean is Your House." BTW - that website has TONS of great cleaning tips! If you sometimes have the issue with getting off your bum to clean, just watch a few episodes of this show... it will motivate you. Not only does cleaning your home burn calories, but it helps keep you  and any guests or pets healthier too. Also, there's nothing like waking up on your day off to a clean house. It's actually quite blissful to have my morning cup of coffee, some toast and enjoy being in a clean, uncluttered room. Also, as a part of cleaning, every once in a great while it's good to go through your closet, storage boxes or "decorative items" and purge what isn't necessary anymore. Part of the problem is people collect clutter and before you know it - there's so much stuff that no matter how much you clean your home never feels "clean." Either corral the clutter with some multi-functional storage, or get rid of it. Remember - they are just "things" no matter how sentimental they are. 
7. Do basic home repairs. Knowing how to hang a picture frame, put plastic sheeting on your windows (if you have older ones that are drafty), change a light bulb, paint your walls and unclog a drain are really important to know how to do. There are some great books out there - one of them being "Decorating Your First Apartment: From Moving In To Making It Your Own." I bought this book when I moved out of my parents house and it was really helpful. In the book there are lists of what to have on hand in case of emergencies, basic tools everyone should own, and how to decorate a small space on an even smaller budget. I'm still going back to this book even though I'm a homeowner because there is some really great fundamental stuff in there. 

So those are my Things Every Adult Should Know How To Do. I'm sure I'm missing a few things, feel free to add anything in the comments section that I've missed.  

Clean all the things - Day 3

Day 3's progress was laughable at best.

I had all the best intentions in the world, but managed to get side-tracked again. I was vacuuming our sunroom after throwing a load of laundry in the wash and was feeling all sorts of productive when the vacuum cleaner just stopped working. Like "oh, yep, I'm done now."

Of course, this sent me into a wee bit of a panic as I really didn't want to buy a new vacuum cleaner right now.

So, instead of completely freaking out, I just moved on to something else, like wandering around my house aimlessly because vacuuming the sunroom and doing laundry was on my agenda for the day and even though there was a LOT more that needed to get done, I was too thrown off to continue with the list.

Then Garry came home and it started to work again. Stupid vacuum.

Oh, I did manage to dust the ottoman and wipe down the counter top. Not a huge feat really.

My dear friends Raine and Kal came over for dinner and wine and we had a grand time. Garry and I were working on writing songs after they left and that, my friends, is where my evening went. Eventually we went to bed (after I had a little teensy-weensy bit more wine that I probably should have) around 11:30. At least the laundry made it into the dryer at some point.

I'm really hoping today Garry remembers to clean the bathroom. It's pretty bad folks. See, we didn't have a vent in there until February and while it was summer/fall we could keep the window open in our bathroom to let all the shower steam out, but when it got to be winter and cold, not so much. So we have some mildew that needs to be addressed. Yuck!

The fridge also needs to be tended to along with organizing and packing all of Garry's military uniforms (as they're laying on the guest bed right now). I have a feeling that it's going to be a long night - luckily I have tomorrow off so I can sleep in get more done tomorrow morning before I go pick up Tavis and Conrad.

I had some crazy dreams last night too. Usually when that happens I'm pretty exhausted the next day. Yeah, that happened today too. Augh. Accomplishing anything today will be a feat. I should probably have some more coffee as apparently one cup isn't going to do me any good.

Clean all the things - Day 2

Day 2 brought us the "organizing of the sunroom" event. We went through everything and ended up being able to get rid of a bunch of stuff. There were a few small items AJ left behind that we'll have to get to him, but now our sunroom is pretty much free of 8 million boxes of stuff.

The trash collectors are going to HATE us this week.

Now the room just needs to be vacuumed and some decorative things added.

We also found out that we need a new bookshelf. It was just a little cheap one from who-knows-where that Garry had before we moved in together. I think at some point this summer we'll build a decent-sized sturdy bookshelf to put in there. That would be really nice.

Right now we just have a small wicker loveseat and a coffee table. Not particularly conducive to having people over. This is supposed to be a "fun" room where we can hang out, have coffee wine, play our instruments or whatever. Eventually it will become a playroom for when we have a kiddo, but that's far enough away from now that we can use it as our adult playroom!

Here's what I'm thinking.

I haven't decided if I want to get a bench and two papasan chairs or get the double papasan chair and two slipper chairs. Hmmm... decisions decisions...

Granted it will be a while before this happens. For now we'll just have to make do with the folding chairs we have. Boo... so not comfy!

The other piece of gorgeous we'll have to wait for are the star sconces. I haven't been able to find something like that anywhere for very cheap. :( I love the idea of something shiny like that on the wall. I also want to include some decorative elements here and there too. The biggest problem is that the floor is on a slope, so sometimes that proves to be difficult. I'd love some hanging baskets, but with a drop ceiling, sometimes that can look kind of ugly, so we'll go with a few sturdy plant stands at various heights.

The fabric squares on there I already have. I made 4 panels (now in the bedroom) in the yellow/blue fabric (we can put them on either end of the sunroom for privacy and leave the windows facing the yard open) and the other fabric I haven't done anything with yet, but it will probably turn into throw pillows.

I'm also not  sure on the candle-screen either. We'll have to see. The room is fairly narrow and long, so it will depend on how we style the room overall. I'd like to have a nice oval-shaped coffee table made out of a tree stump and a slice of tree. That might be a while too, as I don't know when Raine will be clearing trees at Nemeton.

Oh sunroom... I have so many good ideas for you and yet so little money with which to do them with...

But back to Clean All the Things Week. Today we're going to finish up the laundry, vacuum (and fuss with) the sunroom dust the bedrom and clean the fridge. Tomorrow we're going to go ALL out and clean the floors/baseboard/windows/cabinets along with Garry scrubbing the bathroom within an inch of its' life.

Friday morning will be some last-minute decorating before I go and get Tavis and Conrad.

OH - our puppy is coming a day earlier! We'll be saying hello to our sweet little Auron on Monday!

He's already getting so big!!!

Pillow Talk

I'm running into a bit of a problem here folks...

I know the throw pillows on my couch need to be replaced. But, the question is - with what? I'm not really sure if I want to go bright, neutral, or somewhere in between...

When I was at the store yesterday I found a really cute rug and some pillows that coordinated nicely.

But the question is: do I want to go that way. It's a little paralyzing once I get to this stage of the game. Things like throw pillows and little bits are what really "make" a room in my opinion and I thought that i'd take a cue from what we already have in there:

It's very small, but on the lower shelf there is a little green owl-shaped lantern that a friend of mine gave me for my birthday last year. It's a fairly vibrant green and really stands out on the shelf (which is why I love it there). I also have my white ceramic flying pig, Ferdinand, the gold "&" a copper and jade wire tree sculpture and a tan paper apple (it might get painted... I'm not sure). I am also thinking of hanging a metal star in that area too. Not too sure yet, as we already have two metal stars in the bedroom.

So I'm not sure what I should do here folks. Should I keep everything neutral? Should I try to add some color with the pillows? I mean there are a lot of ways I could go with this. I could do neutral pillows but with interesting textures and patterns (and maybe do a few embroidered or screen printed - I definitely want to do one with the monogram I made for our wedding)

Here's one idea I cooked up on Kaboodle. It's very neutral - at least for me. The swatches of fabric on there are possibilities for throw pillows. I've been noticing that a lot of what I'm gravitating toward is more neutral. I'm not sure if it's because it's "safe" or what. Either way - that's where I'm being pulled.

I also want it to flow from the kitchen which is this:

Any thoughts, input would be awesome.

Clean all the things - Day 1

After work I stopped by the store and grabbed some cleaning supplies along with a few other bits to help with organization - and of course - groceries.

Oh, I also picked up a small trash can to put next to the litter box. Why? Well, let's just say that scooping the cat box is not on the "favorite chore" list for either of us and sometimes it can go... well... without attention for a few days. I know, it's gross. So I figured by having the trash can right there every time someone goes in there to use the bathroom they can scoop the litter box too. Might as well right? And that will help keep it nice and clean (and less likely that Auron will have litter box crunchies to eat).

I was also thinking of making a sign to go in that area that says:

"If you're here to pee or poop, lend a hand and give the litter a scoop."

It's a little weird... but then again, so are Garry and I.

On the agenda last night was to pick up and sort all the laundry, move the dresser we were letting AJ borrow back into our room and put Garry's clothes in it (we have been sharing a dresser for the last 6 months). I also rummaged around and found some artwork for one of the wall shelves. It's by no means complete, but after I get a chance to really go through everything this week, I'll have some more items up on the walls in that room.

Garry also thought it would be a good idea (and it was) to organize the garage and get rid of all the garbage that's been piling up in there (not "gross" garbage, but things like empty paint cans, boxes, scraps from projects etc.)

We also have a brand-shiny new stainless Kenmore vent that we'll be putting on craigslist. The way our kitchen is built doesn't necessarily work well for a vent and even if we *do* decide to install one later on, it will be quite some time before that happens.

Tonight we'll be getting through the laundry extravaganza and hopefully I can convince Garry that the back splash really needs to be tended to. Also, moving the small tv and stand to the basement so I can watch tv and start using my elliptical. Now that I'm not sick anymore, I don't really have an excuse to not workout.

Also on the agenda for tonight is cleaning off my dresser and making the bedroom look a little more "presentable," this also includes finding a new spot to put Auron's dog crate. There will be some decorating mojo tonight!

Tomorrow we'll be moving items in the attic (or basement) that are currently piled up in the sunroom. I'm also hoping that Garry will take some time to pick up all his models and what not in the basement area. Eventually we need to really scrub down there, but not until we're ready to install the sub-floor. I'm also hoping he'll be the dear and loving husband I know he is and clean the fridge.

Thursday will be the BIG CLEAN - oh yes... there will be mopping, cleaning baseboard, dusting and scrubbing the bathroom within an inch of its' life. It will be... interesting.

Friday morning will be mostly "primping" the house and then Friday afternoon will begin our crazy weekend and spring break! We're so excited!

Spring cleaning

The last time our house had a good "scrub down" was probably before we moved in. Seriously folks, it's pretty bad. So this week is officially "Clean all the things" week. 

Funny enough, I can totally see my blog looking very similar to Hyperbole and a Half. Oh... it would be hilarious. 

Anyway, all the things must be cleaned. We're talking scrubbing the floor with an actual mop (and not just a steam mop) wiping down the baseboards... you know, that kind of stuff. 

I have a fairly decent arsenal of cleaning supplies at the house too along with a thing of baking soda and a few gallon jugs of vinegar. Vinegar is awesome. You can use it on anything... and it reminds me of being at the fish and chips shop in London. 

So today I'll be stopping by the store to grab the mop, bucket, a small trash can (to scoop cat "crunchies" into so our bathroom doesn't smell and the dog doesn't try to get a "snack" out of the litter box) and some odor neutralizing candles and what-nots. 

Our house doesn't smell, but having something like that in the bathroom is kind of nice - because sometimes for brief periods - the bathroom can be a smelly place. 

Also, we have to wipe down all of that extra grout. Yeah, still haven't gotten to that yet and I'm not so sure it's going to actually come off now. We also need to caulk that edge and de-grease the cabinet faces really well. 

AJ has officially moved out of the house. I'll admit it's a little weird. Yesterday I made the bed and pulled a few decorative little things out from hiding and put them on the shelves. I also opened the curtains and blinds (which were always drawn... what is it with men and wanting to live in a cave?) to let some sunlight in. 

Garry will be moving the boxes in the sunroom back up to the attic so we can actually use that room (yay!) and put our musical instruments in there. The room is great for when Garry and I want to practice our violins or have folks over to jam. We finally have lighting in there and we are planning on moving our little electric fireplace out there so we can stay warm. 

It's going to take ALL week to get the cleaning done that needs to happen... maybe even longer. I'm not really sure. We're trying to get it all done before Tavis comes to visit. That will kick of a whirlwind of events from visiting with family and friends out of town our puppy's arrival! 

Isn't he the cutest thing EVER?!

Garry and I went shopping on Saturday with my friend Judy to grab some more puppy stuff for Auron. $250 later and we arrived home with a good haul of toys, treats, food and other necessities like a poop scoop, bins on casters for dry food (for the dogs and kitties), a bed (which the cats have claimed) and a nice, new scratching post for the kitties so they don't feel left out. We actually got a pretty good deal considering the haul and the very high-quality dog food my mom feeds him is pretty expensive. 

The kitties also celebrated their 6th birthday yesterday! Well, we're not entirely sure when their birthdays actually are, but we figured April 1 is as good of a day as any - and it's easy to remember.

Hanging, cleaning and a break from major DIY

We finally got the items on the accent wall (that we have now - I have plans to add more down the line though) and after the major cleaning extravaganza on Monday, the house is looking pretty good.

The floors need a major mop and polish though... eeep!

And while we're loving how open the room feels, it almost feels a little "too" open. Well, more like unbalanced. When you walk in the house you immediately see our massive sectional couch. Even though it's just Garry and I (and AJ until Sunday), we use the heck out of that thing. So, even though it's probably a little too big for the room, until we get the basement rec room squared away (which will probably be a few years, much to Garry's dismay) this will be the flow of the room.

As you can see, the couch is just shoved to the corner. I'm thinking if we pull it out like we did when we first moved in...

Ack! Crazy mirrors!!!!

...maybe it will look a little better and more "centered." We could also build a sofa table to go on the chaise side of the couch with a built-in little nook. Maybe?

I haven't made any decisions yet...

I also think once we get the bright white crown and baseboard up it will look really nice. Although, that may mean moving the curtain rods and the shelves down a bit to balance it out... haha... Garry will NOT be thrilled as hanging things on walls is one of the "banes of his existence."