End Paper Clutter, Save a Tree

During the first few weeks of each year I am busy.

The new year is a time to start fresh.
Change.
Get rid of clutter.
Organize.

Because you know as the year goes on it will all pile up again.

In the next few weeks I will be changing my email address.
I've been stuck using AOL for the past 20 years and it's time.
I'm moving to gmail.

I have also been migrating thousands and thousands of photos
off my desktop computer to external hard drives.

And downsizing my Downloads folder.

But thing that irks me the most is filing paper, receipts, etc.
We have boxes of them that I drag out periodically throughout
the year to file importants stuff away where I can put my
hands on it if need be.

Until now.

THIS YEAR, THE THING I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT
is a new app I downloaded from the app store called

                 PAPERLESS

In just a day,  I have scanned sooooo many papers,
receipts, and documents into my computer using my
scanner and this software.

And I have thrown away a HUGE amount of paper.

Once everything is scanned into Paperless,
you can label, categorize, and create folders to easily
organize your "papers" and make them extremely
easy to find.

For instance,

Under "Appliances" I have receipts for things we have purchased along with the date and place they were purchased.  Just click on an entry and up pops the receipt which can be printed if needed.

In the Medical section are receipts, but also Lab results, immunization records, etc.

In the "Pets" section are rabies certificates, receipts for office visits, microchip info, membership info.

AND I HAVE DISCOVERED A WAY TO SAVE ON PAPER that you can use even if you don't go all the way by using this software.

When you place online orders, do you print a copy of the receipt?  If not, do you keep it hanging around in your email just in case you may need it?

You don't need to do either! (click on the picture to view larger)

When you get to the print box, instead of pressing the PRINT button,
go the the bottom left corner and click on PDF.
A dropdown menu will appear.
Select "Save PDF to Web Receipts Folder".

Whatever you were going to print will go to a folder called "Web Receipts"
On a MAC, it is in the Documents folder.

If you ever need to print it, it will be there.
Most likely, though, you have just saved a piece of paper and ink.

And if you are organizing your papers with Paperless software,
your receipt is ready to be put in a folder.

I have to go now.
I have more organizing to do!

I will be scanning my business receipts, warranties, etc. today.
And the IRS does allow digital copies of receipts!

Happy New Year!

Unth-INK-able

I am not a lover of body art.
I'm not a hater of body art.

Tattoos.

Sometimes I like them on other people.
Sometimes I think they are ugly.

For me, the idea of getting tattooed is unth-INK-able.

When my daughter Kerry and I were visiting my sister
in Alaska, I knew the idea of tattoos was bound
to come up.  My nieces all have tattoos and Kerry
has been wanting to get one for a few years now.

When my sister and I got home one afternoon and
the girls asked my opinion of a certain design for a
tattoo, I wasn't surprised.  And I really didn't like
the design either.

Kerry and my nieces wanted to all get the same tattoo
as a symbol of their close bond.

Nice sentiment, but why not just buy the same necklace
or something instead of permanently marring your
body?

Nonetheless, on the final day of our visit, we headed
into Anchorage to do some shopping and for them
to get inked.

Even my sister had decided to get a tattoo (her first one) - not the same one as the girls,
but one that had a special meaning to her.

The order for the proceedings : Lori, Kerry, Mikey, Hali, and Emily.

It wasn't even Kerry's turn and she had begun to sweat!

Lori sat in the chair to get her tattoo done on her back.
She was very still with her eyes closed the entire time.

On that day, tattooing was a spectator sport!  Friend came to watch!

Lori had chosen a father/daughter celtic knot symbolizing the
never-ending bond between father and daughter, but also taking
into account the Irish heritage of my mother.

Kerry was up next.

She chose to get her tattoo on her side, so she had to lay down on the table.

At first she appeared to be relaxed about it.

Then her expression became...

more and more

pained.

She tried to joke around, but it didn't last long.

Her hand began to grip the side of the table more tightly.

When it was over, she admitted if it had taken much longer
she would have been crying.  It hurt much more than she imagined.

But it was finished. A compass!

She was officially a bad-ass!

Mikey was next in line.

She was a veteran, though.

Same tattoo.  Same place.

And touch-ups on others that had faded.

Hali got the same design on her arm.

As did Emily...

Later that night at dinner I was asked if I was mad that Kerry
got a tattoo.

I had already thought about this during the hours I spent watching and
taking pictures of the process, so while my answer was quick it was
made with much consideration.

I was not mad at all.

The emotion I felt was sadness.

As she was laying on the table in pain,  I was picturing my beautiful
little baby girl with soft, flawless skin.

I was remembering all of the boo-boos she had gotten as a child,
and how I painstakingly tended her wounds, hoping there would
not be a scar.

For me, it was the same as I feel when a beautiful stone wall is
marred by a graffiti artist.

I don't think it was the answer they expected - or wanted.

But it wasn't about me.

Kerry is an adult and can make her own choices.
Not everything she chooses is the same as what I would choose.
Nor should it be.

She didn't make this decision hastily.
I'm sure getting this tattoo satisfied some kind of need or
desire in her.

If it makes her happy - I am happy that she's happy.

But as a mom, it still makes me sad.

Let's Party!

My sister Lori and I have lots of things in common.

In the past year or so, though, we have embarked on
similar but very different adventures.

I started my own photography business.

Lori started a business named "Cooking Sense" with her friend Terri.
They offer cooking classes in your home for you and a group of friends.
Pick a menu.  They teach you how to make everything - hands on.
Then they leave and you enjoy a dinner party with your friends.

In addition, many people have been asking them to cater events
such as parties, wedding showers, and even weddings.

While I was visiting before Christmas, they were preparing to cater
a Christmas party, so I was happy to help out in any way I could.
After days of shopping and detailed prep work, the party began.

It couldn't have been a more perfect place for a Christmas party -
a beautiful log house on the hillside above Anchorage.

 The family had built the Anchorage airport out of gingerbread on the
island in the kitchen.  It was fabulous!

 They even made the Northern Lights and hung them from the ceiling...

As the sun was setting outside,

 the party began with appetizers...

There were skewers of tomatoes, salami, and olives drizzled with balsamic dressing...

and a cheese fondue with plenty of options for dipping!

 While the appetizers were being served, we were busy in the kitchen getting the dinner ready.

 Lori chopped lettuce for the salad.

There were many toppings for the salad and scrumptious scones.

Carrots...

 Terri was the one slaving over the stove and oven getting the hot dishes ready.

 Chicken marsala - so yummy!

 Hasselback potatoes - a Swedish recipe.

 And something special for the vegetarians in the group.

After the dinner buffet was set out for the guests to eat,
we were once again busy in the kitchen preparing for dessert.

White chocolate covered strawberries...

Home baked chocolate donuts and home-made peppermint bark.

 White chocolate mousse in home-made waffle cups.

But the hit of the dessert table, especially with the kids,
were the mini milkshakes!

Terri and Lori pulled off a VERY successful party with MANY compliments
on the delicious menu, from start to finish!

Congrats to Lori and Terri!

I'm glad I had to opportunity to see them at work and experience the work
that goes into catering a party.  I'm also glad I was just the worker bee who
did the easy stuff and had time to take pictures!