Some of you might remember that I am participating in a shopping ban inspired by The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. Based on the first month, I would say that I am merely attempting a shopping ban. To refresh your memory, these are the guidelines: The Essentials List The Nonessentials List The Approved Shopping List Groceries and basic kitchen supplies Personal care and cleaning supplies (but only when I run out) Gifts for others Items on the approved shopping list Clothes and shoes Home Decor — just make it. You’ll probably like it better that … [Read more...] about Shopping Ban Update: Month 1
Archives for May 2018
Dairy Free Strawberry “Ice Cream”
Ice Cream: A Life Full of Memories Ladies and gentlemen, when writing this post I couldn't even think of a way to start professing my love for ice cream. It came out as just a list of childhood memories and locations: Walking down to Carol’s Dairy Bar after school with mom in Fitchburg, Massachusetts THE BIGGEST “large vanilla” I have ever seen at Kay’s Dairy Bar in Gardner, Massachusetts Cherry Hill Farm Ice Cream in Lunenburg, MA Trips with Dad through the Dairy Queen drive-thru window in Saco, Maine and driving to Camp Ellis to sit and eat our treats Orange soft serve in … [Read more...] about Dairy Free Strawberry “Ice Cream”
Why I Paint With Chalk Paint and You Should Too!
Weekend plans: Chalk Paint! Okay, so I know I'm a bit behind the trend and chalk paint has been a thing for a while--but I had never used it up until now. I thought a weekend alone was the perfect time to give it a try. Mr. Geek started renovating our bathroom at home and told me to stay at camp for a few days. Well, he did not have to tell me twice! Gronk and I hit the road early Saturday morning. I had ordered Rust-Oleum Matte Interior Chalked Paint in Serenity Blue through Amazon and was so excited to try it for the first time! My eyes were on a bench for the entry area to … [Read more...] about Why I Paint With Chalk Paint and You Should Too!
Flippin’ Friday: Campsite Updates — Our First Season
It's FLIPPIN' FRIDAY! A series on Creating Chrissy featuring some of our DIY and renovation projects! This week is about our first season of improvements at our seasonal campsite in Old Orchard Beach, Maine! Labor Day Weekend 2016 was the first weekend we spent at our campsite. The campground closed mid-October of that year, so we only got to use it for the last 2 months of the season--but it was still exciting nonetheless to have our own place at the beach! A week or so after closing up our site, Mr. Geek proposed! Now it was time to plan our small wedding at the … [Read more...] about Flippin’ Friday: Campsite Updates — Our First Season
What NOT To Do When Purchasing a Seasonal Campsite
A Life Long Love: Old Orchard Beach, Maine Over 30 years ago, my father and a group of his buddies bought a tow-behind camper. As legend goes, they towed that thing from Massachusetts up the eastern coast looking for a campground to park it for a seasonal campsite. Many places refused a group of single guys claiming they were a “family” campground. My life-long memories of seasonal campground life began when a small family-owned campground in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, agreed to accept this group of bachelors. My father married my mother and took over the seasonal site from his … [Read more...] about What NOT To Do When Purchasing a Seasonal Campsite
11 Activities for Stress Relief TODAY
Everyone experiences stress. With less than 30 days left in the school year (but who’s counting?), everyone is scrambling to all the events and completing those projects before the long awaited summer vacation. This can lead to feeling burnt out. Yesterday was one of those days where I just could not turn my terrible mood into a more positive mindset. I pulled into the driveway gritting my teeth and very tense. That’s the signal--it’s time to take a break. Although I had a presentation and a portfolio to complete yesterday, I hit the pause button and took the time to give myself … [Read more...] about 11 Activities for Stress Relief TODAY
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas 2018
Can you believe Mother's Day is just next week?! I love my mother, but my goodness is she a complex creature when it comes to getting her gifts! Honestly, how do you find the perfect gift for someone that has done so much for you? My mom is not actually a fan of Mother's Day--or at least in the traditional sense that many think of. She hates crowds and would not want to go out to eat for Mother's Day. She hates fuss and would bow out if she realized the day falls on a particularly busy weekend--and just pick another day to hang out. Her "love language" is not about … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day Gift Ideas 2018
Flippin’ Friday: Our Kitchen Makeover
When we first moved into our home, we had no intention of “flipping” it. However, Mr. Geek and I have come to recognize that it’s time to move on and plan on selling after a few more projects. This July, we will have lived in this house for three years. Looking back, the transformation has been pretty incredible. Although it wasn’t always easy, we’ve learned a lot for our next home. Before Blast from the past! I was very excited to have our vintage cooktop and 1960 Westinghouse wall oven when we first moved in--until we started actually cooking and baking with it. Good … [Read more...] about Flippin’ Friday: Our Kitchen Makeover
5 Questions to Get Rid of Clutter
When I was a child, I had many interactions with death and the belongings dead people left behind. Wow. That got your attention. One of my father’s side jobs was to clean out foreclosed homes or prepare homes for estate sales. I used to see trailer-loads of items that were pulled out of homes and placed into dumpsters. SO MUCH STUFF! When I was in middle school after my parents’ divorce, my mom rented a small cape--but the house was not move-in ready. The occupant had passed away leaving all her possessions in that house. She lived alone and the house was FILLED to the brim with … [Read more...] about 5 Questions to Get Rid of Clutter