the dreaded iron

Part of my de-cluttering process involves ironing my pile of growing wrinkly clothes.  To me and maybe some of you, ironing is difficult and time consuming.  It's no wonder that dry cleaning places charge $1.50+/piece for ironing services.

To avoid ironing, I generally:

1) Hang up the clothes while they are still warm from the dryer, and if the items are still wrinkled...

2) Use a steamer

If the above still doesn't get out those stubborn wrinkles, I hang up the items in the "to be ironed" section of the closet.  When the population of the wrinkled items gets out of hand, then out comes the...

IRON!!!

Since there are so many how-tos online, I decided to google to see if there are any easy way out in ironing.  My search return was not what I was hoping for.  But here are some ironing tips!

- Before diving right in and slave away ironing, check the tag to see if the piece can be ironed.  I've learned this lesson even before I was allowed to touch an iron when my mother ironed and melted one of my favorite windbreaker jacket.

- Fill the iron with water (use distill water to avoid mineral buildup).  The steam helps get the wrinkles out easier.

- Invest in an ironing board.  Once as a child I ironed on the carpeted floor and the carpet melted...

- Flip the article of clothing inside out and iron the inside first.  Then flip it right side out and iron the outside.  If the material is delicate, you may only want to iron the inside.

- Hang or fold the garment immediately after ironing!  You've spent way too much effort on it to start over.

And if ironing still doesn't get the wrinkles out, I would probably just donate it.

How are you guys doing on your new years resolution?

<3tingtinging


I would like to delicate this post to my parents, because they used to iron everything. Although they made me the weird kid with perfectly crisp wrinkle-free gym clothes, I really appreciate the effort they put into always making me presentable, most of the time.

happy holidays 2012

donations. check.

tree. check.

Happy holidays everyone!

Year End Tax Tips

Gosh another year flew by already.  Instead of working on new years resolution, you might want to take this time to get some things wrapped up and get ready for 2013.

Are there items on your to do list that you've been avoiding to complete?  Just do it.  Sometimes it's more stressful having the tasks hanging on your shoulder. (three more hours of classes to go...)  This leads me to my next item to be completed before year end:

If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, it's a great time to clean out the wardrobe and donate things you no longer wear or use to a qualified 503(c)(3) organization, such as Goodwill. For tax record keeping purposes, it's also good to get into the habit of making a list and note the condition of the items. Since digital cameras or cell phone cameras are so handy these days, I suggest taking photos of the items as well.  Be sure to ask for a receipt for your records!  Click here for more details about charitable contributions.

Once your itemized deductions are ready and projects wrapped up, don't forget to kick back, relax, have some hot coco, enjoy the cold weather and reunions with friends and family. <3t

***

All information provided here are intended as a convenient source of tax information. This information is general in nature, is not complete, and may not apply to your specific situation. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your tax needs.

DIY: diaper cake

Diaper cakes make great presents for expecting parents and it makes a fun weekend project.

I purchased three boxes of diapers, which is actually more than I needed.  I could make two 5-tier cakes or three/four 3-tier cakes.

Rolling diapers take a long time,
so I folded the diapers in half for the bottom 3 tiers.

Stuff the inside of the cake with baby blankets,
baby products, or more diapers.

The fun part is when all the layers are in place,
 you get to decorate the cake!

<3tingtinging

sneak peek

DIY baby shower present project sneak peek :)

<3tingtinging

mission peak

For my second hike, I decided to step it up a notch.  Or two, or three, or ten...

Mission Peak - Fremont, California

Peak Trail.  This looks like a piece of cake...
but trust me, it gets really steep towards the last part of the hike.
I couldn't take any photos to show you,
because I was too busy trying to keep my balance!

Interesting footsteps along the way.

Made it to the top!
The hike to the top took about two hours with some stops here and there.
It is WINDY up at the top.  I recommend wearing layers.

I had to leave my mark.
The hike really was an accomplishment.
<3 tingtinging

Of course we can't forget the wild life along the way...

Cattle drinking water.

Wild turkeys. They ran away from me. =T
They can probably sense that Thanksgiving is near.

Cattle family. <3

Spotted a lizard.

Action shot.

Overall, the weather was great for hiking!
I think it'll take me a few days to recover,
but it feels great to have completed the trail.

till next time! <3T

in touch with nature

I went on my first hike this Columbus Day weekend in Point Reyes, California.  The sun was shining, but the temperature was not too hot and the trail we went on had a good amount of shade so it was a good experience overall.

Muddy Hollow Trail is about 1.5 miles one way and it takes us to the beach.

The view on the way...

Pinecone for souvenir?

On our way back, we spotted a deer!  I'm glad I brought my new zoom lens with me. :)

Tips for hiking:

- Bring water and stay hydrated.
- To prevent sunburn, wear sunscreen and reapply every few hours, and wear long sleeves!
- In case the hike takes longer than planned, bring snacks (energy bars are great).
- Do some research online on the trail you plan to take.  Print out maps and familiarize yourself with the resources available.
- Let someone know where and when you'll be hiking.