it's 2011 - let's celebrate February!

Well it's a new month and as promised here is a new desktop wallpaper to commemorate the month. February is National Boost Your Self Esteem Month! So look in the mirror and say "damn you look good" at least once a day. Also don't forget that this month is also Dental Month, Pudding Snack Month, and Typewriter Appreciation month. Sounds like a party.

P.S. I have to be honest, I'm not totally jazzed with this wallpaper, BUT I'm trying to stick with the plan and keep making one of the suckers every month. Time sort of slipped away and I made this on the fly. However, it's all yours for the low, low, low price of free. Size options are below. Just follow the link...

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it's 2011- let's celebrate january!

One day last year I was marveling at all of the various "National Month of _______" pseudo holidays. Just as there seem to be reality shows covering every inane trade/celebrity/business venture there too are days/months deemed to commemorate everything under the sun. I find it fascinating and hilarious. Example, January is also "Mailorder Gardening Month". Where they come from and just who observes them, I have no idea.

I have been wanting to make a calendar of some sort for a while now and somehow I paired my absurd new findings with a desktop wallpaper project. You can expect/fear more at the beginning of each month. I'm sure it will be very educational. Links for January options are below.

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recipe card

I made a recipe card. It's nothing complicated, and I guess doesn't really need to be. I can't resist an opportunity to make a list of some sort and the timing seemed right. You can download it for free like all of my other lists. The actual image is black on plain white... background color is added just for this post. It measures 4"x6" and the file is a PDF. Link for download is below. If for some reason it doesn't work give me a shout and I'll fix it.

[ download recipe card ]

when greatness collides

Do you like felt? Do you like fonts? Do you have Photoshop? Here is a little piece of heaven. Download for free here.

[ Font Soup via How Magazine ]

aiming high and higher

Now here is a list I could really use. Not an everyday sort of list but one that could certainly get me focused for some long term life changes. Right now this gal can fill up both sides easily... getting it all done will be the harder part. As always you can download your own copy (black and white version) from my website.

[ download dreams and goals list ]

quick pick message

The line between laziness and convenience is sometimes a blurry one. With this list I'm not sure if I have come any closer in clearing up the debate. I give you the Quick Pick Message ("When you don't have time to write it all out"), for those brief thoughts you've got to pass along. My head tells me this is straight up lazy but my heart says it's not, after all lists are the cornerstone of recovery.

This list can be yours in two ways: as an 8 x 10 free pdf download (white background) or you can buy a bunch of printed mini versions in my shop, which includes a small pencil and is enclosed in a customized prescription bottle and bag (and if you ask nicely I will throw in some extra sheets). So go tell it like it is and enjoy!

[ download quick pick message ]
[ buy quick pick messages ]

more mark weaver

I have not met a design of Mark Weaver's that I did not like. The above is one of his latest and is no exception. In other exciting news he has just released free iphone and desktop wallpapers. Both available through Kistune Noir.

weekly prescription

Let me preface this by saying I had intended to start a weekly feature prescribing a few things to do with your week... a helpful recovery nudge if you will. I'm still going to do it, but in light of Michael Jackson's death I figured I'd change up my list and offer an all-MJ offering. Once I got started I was surprised to find how hard it is to narrow down, but hopefully this will do.


I'll say it again for good measure -- Michael Jackson was mysterious to put it most vaguely, but dang if the guy wasn't full of talent and churned out a bunch of genius in his prime.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:
Read -- [ Amazon.com ]
Watch -- [ YouTube Midnight Special ]
Listen -- [ Off the Wall MP3 FREE DOWNLOAD ]
Do -- [ Dance Moves & YouTube Pepsi commercial ]
Austin Event -- [ Alamo Drafthouse ]

BONUS: Just because I STILL adore this song. It's fun, ridiculous, and gets me out of a funk (and it's very golden and satiny and that is never bad).

feeling 90's

This weekend I went to my parent's house for Father's Day. During this excursion I decided that cleaning out my old bedroom closet was in order. I moved out over a decade ago and this is the only place that is still cluttered with my past. I sort of relished the opportunity to dig through some old things and see what treasures I could discover but I also wanted to allow my parents some extra space. Being a pack rat runs in the family and they need all the room they can get (sorry Mom and Dad, you know it's true).

For the most part I knew what I might find... dolls, old school work, left over clothes, and trinkets. What was a surprise, was happening upon a bunch of old magazines. I remember the act of saving them but figured they made there way to the trash at some point. Oh silly me, current me should know that past me would never let go of any sort of collecting. And it is with this that I realize that I am really an 80 year hoarder living in a decades younger body.

Strangely enough I am tickled to be the owner of a stash of Sassy, YM, Mademoiselle, Spin, Model, TV Guide (I have several early 80's as well), US, and People magazines, all from the late 80's to mostly early 90's. Why I saved them I'm not completely sure. There are a few funny "Best Of The Year" issues and semi-newsworthy examples (1990 Time with Dan Quayle on the cover). I have never felt especially nostalgic about the 90's for whatever reason... until now. So with that I give you a special 90's music mix which you can download (hopefully... maybe... it's large). It consists of mostly early 90's stuff, and it's a bit of a grab bag, but they're some of my favorites. Hope you enjoy. And keep an eye out for some more silly scans from my pointless mess of magazines.

Click here to download mix. Titles are listed below.

FEELING 90'S TRACKS:
1. Ren & Stimpy -- I'm Gonna Be a Monkey
2. Pixies -- Head On
3. Teenage Fanclub -- Alcoholiday
4. Right Said Fred -- I'm Too Sexy
5. My Bloody Valentine -- Soon
6. Black Sheep -- Strobelite Honey
7. Depeche Mode -- Enjoy the Silence
8. Tribe Called Quest -- Excursions
9. Liz Phair -- Flower
10. Nirvana -- Milk It
11. Superchunk -- My Noise
12. The Rentals -- My Summer Girl
13. Afghan Whigs -- Debonair
14. Man or Astroman -- Evil Plans of Planet Spectra
15. Magnapop -- Lay it Down
16. Codeine -- Broken Hearted Wine
17. Butthole Surfers -- The Wooden Song
18. Melvins -- Hooch
19. Hole -- Violet
20. Jane's Addiction -- Stop!

gripe sheet

Sometimes I get grouchy. Sometimes I get grouchy and have no real good reason. And sometimes I do but I don't feel like talking about it is worth the trouble. For such situations I've created a gripe sheet for myself. I can write down my beef, get it out of my system and then burn it. Hopefully it will be that easy. If you need the same kind of help, and scrap paper just won't cut it, you can download it. It's nothing fancy but it's all yours.

[ download gripe sheet ]

to buy

I am a very conflicted person, constantly considering purchases, asking myself "do you REALLY need this and will life be pretty crappy if you don't have it, or will you get by?". What makes things a little easier these days is the lack of funds in which to splurge on fleeting desires. Even still I have to resort to a sorting method in order to justify a few wants (yes, holes in your shoes is a good reason to get a new pair). Maybe this list will help. Maybe it will help you too if you have the same problem. As with the other OCD lists you can download it for free if you want it.

[ download to-buy list ]

to do list

I made another list. This is a to-do list for the week. Again you can download it for free if you want and size it however you like for printing. It's divided into the things you want to do and the things you have to do. The days of the week are listed and you just fill in the day and month (if you so choose).

[ download to do list ]

groceries

As most people may know already I am obsessed with making lists. Add to that, an almost equal obsession with making forms/using basic graphics. Sadly one of my favorite things about my former job was developing templates (really living on the edge!). Anyway, I have been developing some printables, marrying my two loves, to possibly sell (along with some other things) in my Etsy shop. Here is one that I have been working on. It's a grocery list template. Of course I'm sure I've omitted some staple items or have not allowed enough room for certain categories, but this is the best I could come up with without it becoming totally impractical and never ending.

If you happen to want it (or see the full view) you can download it for free. You can print as one large sheet (regular print paper) or print 2-up or 4-up. I like making them small, but you have to be able to write (and see) tiny.

Sorry the file is kinda big. I got too lazy to resize. Wow, I AM lazy.

[ download grocery list ]