Thursday, September 29, 2011

Give of Yourself

One of the most rewarding things you can do with your time is to give it to someone who needs it.

I participate in Community Restorative Boards for the Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program.  Adult Redeploy is a "second chance" program for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be on their way to prison.  It is an intensive probation program where participants must participate in "Moral Reconation Therapy" which is a 12 step programs to change decision making and thought processes for the better.  Community Restorative Boards are small community circles which seek to hold offenders accountable for their actions and the harm they caused the community, while acting as a support group for offenders who, all too often, do not have a strong support system in place.  

Today, one of my Community Restorative Board participants sat down with those of us from her Community Restorative Board and seven other community members to tell her story and to apologize for the harm she had caused the community.  This participant, a Registered Nurse, was in the program because of years of driving on suspended and revoked license (initially caused by  DUI).  She is a mother of two wonderful teenage daughters and has an incredibly supportive family.  She continued to drive on a revoked license for so long because she was so embarrassed to tell her family that she had lost her license.  She eventually spent 41 days in jail and, if she had not have entered the ARI program, would have spent time in prison.

What she did today was so brave and inspiring.  She sat in front of all those strangers and told them what she had done wrong.  Her tears were genuine, as was her remorse. Through this experience, she has learned not to hide things from her family and to trust that they will love and support her through anything.  

When she hugged me at the end, she smelled like my mom.  She is younger than my mom, but her hug was so heartfelt that for a second, I forgot that it wasn't my mom.  It felt really wonderful to be able to sit with her and support her as she told this room full of strangers all about what she has gone through (including strangers who represent law enforcement and the States Attorney's Office).

I love volunteering.  I volunteer on top of my full-time volunteer job.  As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to the Old King's Orchard After School Program right now!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Internet Gets Me All Hot and Bothered

As a crafter, I get a lot of my inspiration from the interwebs.  I use Stumbleupon and Pinterest to find new ideas for crafts and ways to use all of the junk I buy at garage sales and thrift shops. 

Here are some of my own versions of crafts I've found, along with the link to the original inspiration.

I've made this headband with this flower on top.



I've made this garland, but with scraps from the t-shirts I use to make these rugs.


I've taken this idea to make a similar picture out of colored paper.

I made these paper flowers with old book pages.  Gorgeous.


I saved up toilet paper rolls for this project, too!

I've tried these magnets, with glass beads from Dollar Tree and magazine clippings. 
Total cost: ~13 cents each.


I've made this wreath from scraps and thrift-shop finds.

My stuff generally looks a little folksy, but I'm getting better!  Really, I just love creating things and being able to say "I made this."

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Photo Fiend


Rich with the borrowed puppy, Nala.
Tonight I decided to deal with some old photos.  I haven't uploaded pictures to Facebook in several months, except for one album from my trip to Des Moines.  I bet I have tens of thousands of pictures on my computer.  You could say I'm addicted to taking pictures.  My camera goes with me everywhere I go, and when I don't have it, I usually regret it.  I've included a random sampling of memories from my new facebook album "Forgotten Photos"....

Alexa and Greer, the first time we met Greer <3

 
I LOVE taking pictures.  I actually took 2 photography classes in college, but you would never guess that from looking at my photos!! I'm still not very good at candid photos.  The best photographs of mine are of nature and other things that sit still.



The thing I love the most about photography is that, not only can you remember a memory forever, but you can also see what you did not catch before.  Life looks a little different in freeze frame than it did when you were busy living it.



Ellie being terrifying! (All she did was meow!!)
My mother always says, "Life looks so fun in pictures!"  It does.  Usually because it is!  I don't take pictures to make my life SEEM fun.  I take pictures because I am HAVING fun.  For me, part of the fun IS taking the pictures.

People seem to act a bit differently when there is a camera around.  They want to act in a way that they want to be remembered.  At parties, the action is ramped up when the camera comes out.  People start smiling more at all times, for fear of being caught on camera with a nasty look on their face.  A camera is an instant smile machine.


Hanging out with Jonathan and Doris

Thursday, September 15, 2011

me and my woes

I am pretty extroverted, in general.  However, when it comes to my sadness and my insecurities, I tend to be intensely introverted.  Because I am generally confident in myself as a person and outspoken, no one seems to notice that I'm not really that confident physically.  It's not that anyone ever makes fun of me or makes me feel bad about my appearance.  I am my own worst enemy, I know.

I used to be able to see my eyes and my smile and good things about myself.  Lately I'm wondering how much a new face would cost.

Last weekend when I was hanging out with one of my mentoring girls, she asked why I didn't like her cousin.  I told her that he made fun of my acne and made me feel bad about myself.  She said "I don't think your acne looks bad on you.  Your acne looks good with your skin color."  I about DIED laughing at her sweet comment.  I know that she cares about me and wanted to make me feel better.  I'm not sure anyone else has ever been told that their acne looks good.  I've heard so many people say stupid things like "I don't even notice," that only make me think then you weren't looking at me.

I even feel self-conscious at home by myself sometimes.  But Ellie won't judge me, so I should at least relax when I'm on my couch!

Love and Learn

I believe that when someone comes in to your life, it's because you are supposed to learn something from them. They come at just the right time and offer you just what you need.

After getting out of two relationships in a row that left me emotionally drained and damaged, I found someone who was good to me and appreciated me for who I was.  He was certainly not perfect- but I thought so.  I met him just when I needed someone to bring me back to life.  When he left, I thought that eventually he might come back after we both did some growing up.  But now I don't hope for that any more.  Him walking away was also what I needed.  When I was with him, I was able to hold on to my life at college and didn't need to fully immerse myself in my new life.  Since then, I've become a part of my new community and moved on to a new phase in my life.  

Every new place, every new job, every new group of friends is a new phase.  Sometimes a few people come along into the new phase, but there is no reason to mourn those who stay a part of the past.  Take pictures to remember the past and look back to appreciate what it was.  Keep in contact with friends (thank goodness for Facebook!) and visit if you can.

Learn what you can while friends are here and be thankful for them after they are gone.  Keep on loving and learning.  <3

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Decatur: The Friendliest Town in Illinois

I swear to goodness, I cannot go ANYWHERE in this town without getting in to a conversation with someone.  I can't tell if I just look very approachable, but whether I'm in line at the grocery store, pumping gas or sifting through piles of junk at the thrift store- someone always makes a comment in my direction.

Today, when I came out of DMH Thrift Shop, I got on my bike.  A nice older black woman said something about me wearing high heels while riding.  We ended up talking for a few moments and were promptly joined by another woman who had come out of the store.  It was a pleasant conversation, as most of these random encounters are.

I think that Decatur is just small enough that man people feel neighborly enough to chat, but large enough that you don't know everyone and everyone's business.  I haven't been that many places in my life, but of the places I have been, Decatur is by far the friendliest.

Only in Decatur!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Benefits of Bicycling

A few months ago, I purchased a bike for $30 at a thrift store.  When I rode away from the store, I was wobbly and nervous, this having been the first time in about 10 years since I had ridden a bike.  I was sure that I would fall in to traffic and die, or even worse- live and be incredibly embarrassed.

But I made it home and have been riding that bike to work on a pretty regular basis. I only live 12 blocks from work, so it is the perfect commute.

Here are a few reasons I LOVE riding to work.

1.  MONEY!  I save $.70+ a day on parking.  Not to mention gas money and the wear and tear of city driving.


2. Exercise!  My ride is about 5-10 minutes, depending on how late I am.  You can burn about 50 calories for every 10 minutes of riding.  So- in riding to work, home for lunch, back from lunch and home again- I can burn up to 200 calories! 

3.  Toning!  Since riding my bike to work, I've noticed that my butt is perkier!

4.  Cardio!  I haven't been exercising much lately, but my commute give me just enough cardio to help keep my metabolism going and my heart pumping.


5. Its good for the environment!  It's hard to call myself much of an environmentalist if I drive my car 12 blocks out of laziness. 

6. Greeting the morning!  Morning is the most beautiful time of the day.  There is nothing better than a brisk morning ride on a sunny day.  Today's ride was perfect. I love waving to people and saying good morning.  Beautiful.

7. Endorphines!  Bicycling work is the best way to get a natural high that helps keep away "The Mondays" and help to stay positive throughout the day.

8. Bragging Rights! I love to tell people that I ride my bike to work.  And it feels good to hear people say "Good for you!" or "I wish I could do that."  Hopefully I will inspire people to start commuting my bicycle as well.

I cannot lie- sometimes there are some downsides to biking to work.

Downsides:

1. Sweat.  Its a bit gross to ride your bike in 95 degree weather and arrive at work all sweaty.

2. Rain.  Sometimes it rains unexpectedly.

3.  Drivers.  Drivers have bicyclists. Bicyclists hate drivers.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Second Hand Sally

My name is Alli Williams and I am an addict.  I refer to it as a hobby, but really its gone past that point.  I find it hard to drive past a resale shop or a garage sale without stopping. I hoard books and craft supplies and strange knick knacks and wall hangings.  I find it difficult to pay full price, even when shopping at the dollar store.  When I look at items in my home that I paid full price for in my past life before thrifting, I feel disgusted at myself.  I pride myself on how LITTLE I paid for something.  I refer to myself as a professional thrifter, an expert bargain hunter and a second hand slut.

And here is how I am so good at it:

 1.  Find 'em.  Locate thrift stores in your area.  It is pretty easy to search "thrift stores in ..." or try "resale."  Go to them all to see which ones you like the best and which ones have the kind of things you are looking for.  Many focus on clothes, others have large home sections, some have furniture, etc. 

2. Get to know the pricing system.  If you buy books, learn which stores have the best book deals.  Some places price items individually.  You are likely to find the best steals at stores that have general prices, like T-shirts for $1, Long-sleeves $1.50, etc.

3. Learn their regular sales.  Some shops have monthly sales, others weekly.  Some have sales on all items tagged with a certain color- these are the sales where you find deals on a great variety of items.  Others have sales on certain items such as children's clothes, housewares, accessories, or books.  Some shops create monthly calendars that list all of their special sales.

4.  Be on the lookout for special sales.  Often, shops will give out flyers for their upcoming blowout sales.  Others will put adds in the newspapers or put up large signs in their windows.

5. Know what you want.  Make a list of items that you want before you go.  Keep a running list of items that you would buy if ever you found them at a decent price.  I keep this list on my cell phone with the "notes" function.

6. Get past your apprehensions.  Having trouble buying things that others have used?  Start off small.  Dishes can be washed.  Buy a coffee cup or a utensil that you are missing.  Used books are no big deal!  You buy "pre-viewed" movies from movie store, why not the thrift store?  You don't have to buy clothes from the thrift shop, but don't close yourself off to the idea.  Some of my favorite clothes have been second hand finds.  Make sure to wash everything first.
7.  Don't be afraid to ask!  Looking for something specific?  Ask them if they have it.  If they don't- see if they will call you if they DO get it in.  Example:  I found a thrift shop that sold bikes, but none of the ones they had were my size.  I told them I've been looking for one and they wrote my name down and the approximate size I'd need.  About 2 weeks later I got the call and ran down to pick up my $30 mountain bike that was in perfect condition (and its pink!). I've heard of people doing this with music instruments, exercise equipment or furniture.

8.  Get by with a little help from your friends.  Don't go alone!  Its more fun to go with others.  Keep your friends in mind, even if they can't come along.  Do you hear your friend say "I wish I had a copy of The Grapes of Wrath"  or "I should buy a wine rack"?  Be on the look out for things your friends might like.  It makes for a cheap gift and an easy way to say "I was thinking of you."

9. Know when to fold 'em.  I tend to go overboard on my thrifting.  I've bought more books than I could ever read and more craft supplies than I could ever use.  There comes a point when you need to stop buying just because it is available, and start holding out for really special items.


10.  Use your resources.  Look on your local craigslist to find garage sales in your area! Or you can use this to find specific items you are looking for.  Try freecycling.  Shop in your grandmother's basement.

I am a thrifter!  Say it loud, say it proud.  Thrifting has helped me create a unique style and my home is certainly one-of-a-kind.  

Words I Live By, in no particular order

I read a lot of self-improvement stuff that I come across as I travel through the wonderful world wide web.  But in my (almost) 24 years, I've collected some knowledge of my own.  I stopped at twenty, but I bet I could have made it to One HUNDRED and twenty!

1. Take the saying "You learn something new every day" to heart.  Don't think you've learned anything yet today?  I like to stumble until I do.  Or Wiki-surf: go to Wikipedia and read the featured article (or as much of it as you are interested in) and click on one of the links in the article.  Do this several times over until you find yourself on a completely different topic.

2. Don't let clutter take over your life.  Every time you notice that your living/work space has become messy, pick up 3 things.  Sometimes this game turns in to 5 or 10 things, or an hour's worth of scrubbing when the mood hits.

3. Set small goals frequently.  For example:  do yoga every morning for a week, read 2 books this month, save $100 this month.  Even if you never reach them, it helps to motivate you for a while.

4. Be shamelessly thrifty.  Shop at yard sales, thrift stores and clearance racks. Why pay full price?  Here is my own guide to thrifting.

5. Volunteer Regularly.  When you volunteer with one organization on a regular basis, you form relationships that are just as rewarding as the work itself.  Volunteer for a cause you believe in and the experience will be so much more than a "resume builder".

6. Cancel your cable TV for a year.  Read a book. Cook a nice dinner for someone you love. Play board games with your family or friends.  Cross something off the honey-do list. Go for a night walk. Learn an instrument.  Pick up a hobby.  Do a puzzle. Get that regular volunteering in.   If there are shows you just can't miss, you can usually find them on Hulu.  Once you've learned to survive without it, I doubt you'll be in a hurry to get the cable hooked back up.

7. Don't waste time worrying.  Most of the time we worry about things that will never happen.  Don't think about problems that haven't arisen yet, and spend your time solving the problems that do arise.

8. Be your own best friend.  If you don't like yourself, how do you expect others to like you?  Do what you can to improve yourself, but accept yourself for who you are, not who you'd like to be.  Spend time alone to find out who you are when no one else is looking, for that is your truest self.

9. If you think you can't, you can't.  Approach every task optimistically.  Its amazing what you can do just by saying, "I can." You can run a mile.  You can learn to knit.  You can read War and Peace.  But you can't if you never try.

10. Be good to others.  We're all in it together.  When someone is rude to you, try to think of what they may be going through that would make them act in such a manner.

11. Take pictures often.  My mother always says "Life looks so fun in pictures."  I always reply "My life IS fun.  I take pictures to remember."  It's always a treat to look through old Facebook photo albums and think about how I felt at that moment.  Always be making memories, but don't forget to take a look at old ones every once in a while.

12. Try new things!  Don't box yourself in and settle in to the life you have.  Always reach for new things.  Take a different route to work.  Prepare a meal you've never tried before.  Shake up your Saturday Night routine.  Try on that skirt you think looks so great on the mannequin.  Even if it doesn't work out, at least you will have learned something about yourself.

13. Spend big bucks on experiences, not things.  Things break, get used up or get lost.  Spend your money making memories.  THINGS to invest in: a camera, a nice big bed and good walking shoes.

14. Stay humble and be grateful for what you have.  In Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, Suzanne is always saying "Aren't we lucky?"  This is a saying I've taken to heart.  Be thankful for everything you have and everyone in your life.

15. People come in to your life for a reason.  People come in and out of your life- some people stay longer than others.  Learn what you can from them while they are there.  Don't mourn lost relationships, but cherish the lessons learned from them.

16. Trust your gut.  There are so many examples of this that I'm having trouble choosing.  This works as good test advice, moral advice or dating advice.  When you know, you know.

17. Call your mom.  On Hwy 20, there used to be a sign right outside Rockford that said "Call your mom."  I never understood what the advertisement was for, but I always called my mom.  I think it was good advice.  You should tell her you love her too.  Which reminds me....

18.  Say "I love you" as often as you mean it.  Love makes the world go 'round.  All you need is love.  Love conquers all.  Cliche, cliche, cliche.  But seriously.  Don't YOU love it when someone says "I love you?" Doesn't it just make ya feel good?  Well, others like to hear it too.  There isn't enough in the love in the world.  I bet terrorists would think twice if a few more people told them "I love you" every once in a while! HA!

19. Know what is going on in the world.  You don't have to read the newspaper every day or watch the 6 o'clock news every night, but you should have some clue about major events happening locally, nationally and globally.

20. Wake up before you want to.  Get plenty of sleep, but don't miss the best part of the day.  Mornings are magical.  Sunrise is the most peaceful time of day.  Hitting snooze feels good for 10 minutes, but 10 minutes of yoga will wake you up better than a whole pot of coffee.  Use extra morning time to relax before you start your day.  Don't start your day in a hurry.

Crafting 'Cause I Can

I was flipping through a Real Simple Magazine, again. I was inspired by this door organizer from the Container Store that sells for $12.

You must understand that I am a craft supply hoarder.  From my many trips to local thrift shops, I've collected quite a nice collection of fabrics, yarns and assorted odds and ends.  (See:  Alli's guide to thrifting). I dug through my toy chest full of supplies (the chest itself also a thrift shop find!).

Some felt, leftover cardboard and some embroidery thread did the job.  I also found a nice tapestry needle so I could hand stitch my project easily.  I didn't make a pattern, but this one is simple enough to wing it.

This version certainly looks a bit more folksy than the $12 version, but this one was probably a total of.... $.60!  If I made a few more of these, I could sell them for $2 and still make a nice little profit.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Choc-ana Cupcakes with Nutella

I love baking cupcakes!  In fact, one year for Christmas, my boyfriend-at-the-time's mother bought me 500 Cupcakes, a cupcake pan/ 2 tier carrier, a cupcake rack and other assorted cupcake tools.

I have modified a recipe from 500 cupcakes to make chocolate-banana cupcakes!


2 sticks butter/margarine (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Nutella (for frosting)

Preheat oven to 350F

Grease muffin tin (batter could yield 18-24 muffins) or use paper baking cups.

TIP:  Grease the top of the pan, not only the cups.  This helps the muffins slip out even if they grow above the rim of the cup.

Combine butter, sugar, flour and eggs until smooth.  Stir in Banana.  Add cocoa to taste.  I estimate that I put about 1/3-1/2 cup in the batter.

Bake 15-20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.  Don't have toothpicks?  I use a knife to the same purpose.

TIP:  I've been known to burn my cupcakes by walking away and forgetting about them until I smell them burning.  I found a great tip in Real Simple Magazine.  Allow the muffins to cool, then use a grater to gently scrape off the burnt outer edger.

Frost with Nutella!!

TIP:  Kroger Brand Hazelnut Spread also comes in a crunch version and it is DELICIOUS!


Chai the Way I Like It

Tazo Chai mix
Vanilla Silk Almond Milk

1:1 + ice

Tazo Chai Concentrate is more of a spiced Chai. Oregon Chai is more sweet- also delicious.

Almond Milk makes the drink a bit thick.  Sometimes I like to dilute it a bit by doing 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 skim milk.

One of these days I'll get around to mixing my own chai, but I'm not that ambitious.  However, I'm sure it would save me some money!  Dang this stuff is expensive!!!