I loved hearing all about how you organize your recipes. I think the binder idea is fantastic for all those great recipes we print off the Internet. Allrecipes.com, epicurious.com, tastebook.com, Tasty Kitchen, and many wonderful food blogs are terrific sources for new cooking ideas and inspiration. You can print off a recipe in an 8.5 by 11 inch format and if it works out for you, put it in a sheet protector in a binder that you can access any time you like. And of course, we mustn't forget about those terrific little Post It flags that can be used to mark a recipe you love that is in a cookbook!
Today was a puttery sort of day around the house. My husband installed all new towel bars in our bathroom, which nudged the look up considerably. He also recently put in some new light fixtures, replacing our old and outdated shiny brass ones. This is the one in our foyer, which I think is pretty classy.
Not sure exactly why we continue to update the look of the house. It seems that we will be putting off our move for at least a year. Due to the combined facts that my husband got laid off his job again, and the miserable real estate market in our area, we have lost the opportunity to move nearer to our kids in Angels Camp. For now anyway. And we lost the house on which we put the deposit. Very sad news for sure, but better times will come. Meanwhile, we sit in a very spiffily updated home near Monterey, CA. (Where the temperatures have barely gotten above 65 all summer). There is always something positive in every situation.
So, here's what I did today. I had purchased two cute necklaces on sale recently, but felt that a shorter length would be more flattering on me. With the idea that I could purchase some jewelry making implements and "findings" to alter my necklaces, I ventured off to Michael's.
Now, I am going to admit something, and many of you gasp in shock and horror at this revelation, but.... I do not care for Michael's. At all. In all the dozens of times I have either phoned them up with a question, or gone into the store in search of something, I have found the place to be extremely confusing, and the staff to be not only unknowledgeable about the merchandise, but flat out unhelpful. So there.
After standing in some confusion for ten minutes or so in the jewelry section, I approached the girl at the cash register and asked if any help was available for that area. Shortly, a pleasant enough woman approached me. I explained that I wanted to buy a tool to use to shorten a metal chain and then to pry open those little circle thingies to add on a new clasp to the chain. She knew even less than I did, and was only able to suggest that I read the labels on all the tools to get a clue. That pretty much sums up my typical Michael's experience. If anyone associated with Michael's reads this blog, let me suggest that you might want to try to be more like an Orchard Supply Hardware experience for your customers. Hire or train your employees to actually understand the merchandise they are selling.
Well, I got off on a little tangent there didn't I? Go on, go get a refill on your coffee or tea. I'll move on.
I couldn't decide what tool or tools would do the job for me, so I ended up buying a little tool box for beaders that contained four different implements. Surely that would do the trick.
The good news is, that using a combination of two of these implements indeed did work, and I was able to cut the chain and install a new clasp. Ta da. I did all by my ritty self. Cutting the chain was hard work, and I didn't get it quite short enough. That's why you see the little tail there on the circle end of the clasp.
Mission accomplished, but, I should mention, that when I opened the plastic cover of my new tool box this happened:
Ooops. Another note to Michael's: maybe consider carrying better quality merchandise? The bad news is, I have to go back to Michael's again for my refund.
I knew there was a reason I don't go to Michaels!!
I love your new light fixture. When the time is right things wil fall together for you to move. Hang in there and enjoy your updated digs:)
Posted by: LoriD | July 28, 2010 at 06:23 AM
I agree with Lori, at least you are getting to enjoy the fruits of your labour in the current house.
Regarding Michael's - I've never been one, we don't have them in Québec - don't know about the rest of Canada - I guess you get what you pay for - low prices = shoddy goods.
Posted by: CarlaHR | July 28, 2010 at 07:00 AM
We don't have a local Michaels, so only go when I get to the 'big' city. Having said that, I usually don't go unless I really need to, because it is so junky.
Posted by: YTS Mom | July 28, 2010 at 07:07 AM
Nicole, the lighting is beautiful. One thing I regret from when I staged my house for sale was that I lived with a horrible kitchen for 8 years and fixed it for someone else. I said I would not do that again. I would make sure my house was always ready to sell so I could enjoy it too. I'm sorry to hear you lost your new house but on the other hand you get to enjoy your old home with the outstanding repairs you made. BTW: I might hate Marshall's but I do love Michael's! LOL!
Posted by: Sandy | July 28, 2010 at 07:14 AM
Beautiful lighting! I'm sorry you won't be moving closer to Sara right now but I'm sure it'll happen soon. Everything in it's time and season.
Michael's serve a simple purpose for me - embroidery floss, rotary cutter blades, etc. It's changed so much over the years.
Posted by: Darlene | July 28, 2010 at 07:32 AM
Michaels is the only store where you go in, spend a bunch of money and have nothing to show for it! I rarely go into the one in my area, it's newer, but you are right. The staff has the "over there" customer service mentality. Not where I choose to spend my dollars. Power to the purse holder.
Posted by: Sharon | July 28, 2010 at 07:36 AM
I have to agree about Michaels. I try to not go there at all. I went there a couple of weeks ago looking for a particular item. Asked the girl if they carried it, she didn't even know what I was talking about, but was sure they did not. Roamed the store for awhile and found it.
Posted by: Dawn Heese | July 28, 2010 at 08:17 AM
Hi Nicole,
I'm so sorry your house move fell through - but I'm also glad that you will get to enjoy your newly updated house! It always seemed a shame to me that someone else would get the fruits of your labours and not you!
By the way, I think the Monterey Bay area is gorgeous! (But then I come from NE England where it's always cold and windy and live in Switzerland where it rains - a lot!!)
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | July 28, 2010 at 09:00 AM
I agree with you about Michaels. And the one near me is the worst I've even been in. If you go there, you have add at least 20 mins to stand in line to check out - and really, I'm not kidding. I goes there only when I feel there is really no other choice.
Posted by: MichelleB | July 28, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Love your new light fixture and hope you can look at living in your spiffy updated home in lovely, temperate Monterey as a gift. An even more perfect home in Angel's Camp will surely be yours when the time is right.
I agree about Michaels but miss Hobby Lobby since we don't have one here.
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | July 28, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I'm with you on the Michael's thing. Actually our Joanne's is really no better. I only go there if I have to. Does discounted merchandise really have to be sold in dirty, messy locations?
Posted by: Diane | July 28, 2010 at 10:08 AM
What has happened to customer service. I hate it when you go into a store and ask where something is and they point, "it's over there." Get up and walk me over to it1!!!!!!!!
Check out my blog post! We're having a party!!
Posted by: Jean | July 28, 2010 at 10:59 AM
I agree with your Michael's comment. Our town use to have one but it closed. I always thought it was a fire trap, you couldn't get through the aisles with all the merchandize sitting around.
Posted by: Cindy Emerson | July 28, 2010 at 11:01 AM
I am sorry about your move. However, your chandelier is lovely and now you get to enjoy the updated look!
I completely understand about Michael's. I do not go unless I know exactly what I want and don't have time to drive to another craft store. Basically, I try to avoid it.
Posted by: Monika | July 28, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Sorry that your move right now fell through. Hopefully the market will "turn around" and you will be able to eventually. I discovered a wonderful little local bead shop where the two owners (mother/daughter) are absolutely delightful and will fix the jewelry right there on the spot, and for no charge! No need for a trip to Michael's. But I would trade all that to be able to live in your close-to-Monterey area with temps in the 60's!
Posted by: sillysally | July 28, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Hi Nicole I am sorry the house fell through But dont worry things will turn out right in the end Hubby will get another job and you will be on top of the world again I lowe your new lamp it is beautiful.
Hugs Mary.
Posted by: nannamary | July 28, 2010 at 01:52 PM
You aren't alone. I love craft stores but detest Michael's. My pet peeve is how they will put a sale price up on a bin or along a shelf and you think it's a great deal. Then you go to check out and find it only meant the pink ones or it was for the ones next to the bin where the sign was, not the bin directly on top of the sign or some other bull. I think they deceptively advertise on purpose. Our local one is no longer worth going into - it is 90% Martha Stewart scrapbooking. I hate MS and I hate scrapbooking. Give me a Hobby Lobby any day.
Posted by: Debi | July 28, 2010 at 02:14 PM
I feel your pain. Totally agree.
Posted by: Pam | July 28, 2010 at 04:56 PM
Hi Nicole...Even though I don't comment, I am a long time reader of yours and love your tales of woe, humor, and frustration and I cry, laugh and beat my fists right along with you and LOVE your quilts!...I have to tell you that I used to work for Michael's and was disappointed at how they treat their employees on every level...I was aghast to find myself being continually reprimanded for helping the customers find and use products!...I was actually told not to do that anymore!...I quit that job...I do so wish they had a Hobby Lobby in my town!...Blessings to you and yours! Annie
Posted by: LuAnn Briggs | July 28, 2010 at 10:26 PM
I honestly really like Michaels... But I don't care for anyone talking to me while I shop. And I like to wander the aisles, it's more of a shopping experience then running an errand. So, for a gal who wants to be ignored and spend an hour circling the same 4 aisles looking for something, it's my kinda place! But I can see how frustrating it would be to not have help when you need it. At least they have so many coupons out there, it softens the poor service blow.
Posted by: lizz embry | July 29, 2010 at 01:15 PM
I guess the good news is that you'll be able to enjoy all the updates y'all have been working on, but it stinks that the details just aren't lining up for you. Oh, Michael's. I go in there sometimes, hoping to find a good deal, and as soon as I walk in the door, I always think, "There's NOTHING in this store that sings to me."
Posted by: Megan | July 29, 2010 at 01:53 PM