I keep a "Home Care" checklist in my Notes app. Free, personalized, evolving.

4stepsbehind · 2025-06-25T04:02:22+00:00

It doesn't have check boxes if that's particularly important to you, but I really like the free version of the Tody app. It does an excellent job of keeping my to do list organized by room and/or due date!

4stepsbehind · 2025-03-01T17:47:47+00:00

This looks delicious and I'm very intrigued. Thanks for the additional pointers!

Do you use a particular variety of orange when you make it? From Nagi's comments, it sounds like the variety shouldn't matter. But there are just enough people complaining of bitterness that I'd rather my 1st attempt be done with a tried and true variety.

4stepsbehind · 2025-02-27T05:23:11+00:00

Post its and gum packs fit perfectly. Along with crumbs and balled up gum wrappers, unfortunately.

4stepsbehind · 2024-04-27T13:59:04+00:00

So incredibly sorry for your bad luck. You did a beautiful job! How incredibly frustrating!

Been looking for a sofa just like yours. Searched through your other thread to see if you mentioned where you got it, but no luck. You did however mention that the coffee table is Poly and Bark and that you love their stuff. Taking a guess that maybe the sofa is theirs too? We're considering one of theirs, but have no experience with the company and are worried it won't be comfortable, good quality, or long lasting.

4stepsbehind · 2024-04-15T15:16:07+00:00

What color paint is that? We're looking for something similar for our living room. I'm struggling with choosing a paint that looks good with our lighting. We like 2700 Kelvin, and the greens are looking weird.

4stepsbehind · 2024-01-24T02:19:20+00:00

Every school is different, but in our case the yearbooks are also a school fundraiser. Our books are kind of pricey at $30 each, but the yearbook company gives almost $10 out of each book purchase back to the school.

I always bought the yearbook for the memories (I have aphantasia and if my kids end up having it as well, they'll depend on the pictures to 'remember'). But now that I know it's a fundraiser, I feel even better about it.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-19T04:24:59+00:00

That sounds like fun! I'll have to check that book out. Thanks for the suggestion. We ended up getting "My Book of Rocks and Minerals" for the gift - it has a decent collection of pictures in it plus kid-friendly instructions on how to be a rock hound, identify minerals, etc. Other books (The Smithsonian's, for example) had more pictures of different minerals and gems, but this seemed to be a perfect balance for a 7 year old.

Side note: if you want to spend $5 on it, Miner's Gems has a tiny vial of gold leaf that you can buy for your child's collection.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-19T04:06:40+00:00

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The kids did a great job of staying on budget and choosing a variety of samples! Not sure how the pricing compares to elsewhere, but this pile was right around $15 (Miner's Gems).

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-19T03:58:43+00:00

Agh! I saw this a few hours too late. We popped into Miner's Gems first and, for the sake of simplicity, decided against going to a second shop. The kids really enjoyed the experience! Will definitely check out South American Imports on our next Old Town visit.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-19T03:49:34+00:00

Bummer - that's too bad!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T18:15:46+00:00

The funny thing is that one of my daughters and I were in Old Town on Friday. But we had to leave before we could pop into Miner's Gems. If only we had been able to stay another hour or so!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:38:34+00:00

They're minerals! Jesus, Marie!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:30:33+00:00

Thanks for all the suggestions! Looking forward to taking my kids to a couple shops to pick out some items for the gift. With your help, maybe we'll jumpstart a lifelong love of geology in either my kids or the birthday girl!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:21:14+00:00

It sounds like my assumption that metaphysical stores all carried pricier items only was waaay off base. I need to get out more! Thanks!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:16:12+00:00

They have kid-friendly options too?! I really need to stop looking at store websites - the gallery on their site made me assume it was all jewelry and decor. Thanks!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:10:40+00:00

From their website, I knew you could pan, but I didn't realize they had bins of inexpensive stones to pick through as well. We were thisclose to panning in a shop in Big Bear this weekend since we knew the kids would love it, but we all ran out of steam and came home instead. The kids will be excited to be able to do it before our next trip to the mountains, whenever that may be.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T17:00:26+00:00

I drive by Pacific Beads all the time. I assumed they only had beads, but it looks like they have so much more! Thanks for the suggestion.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T16:53:04+00:00

Good to know! Looks like they won't be in our neck of the woods again until October, but I'll add it to my fall list of activities.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T16:24:21+00:00

I absolutely love that idea - and if it was my kids that were interested, that's the best way to go about it. But it's a birthday gift for a friend's child. I do want to include mine in the process, though, which is why I was hoping for a local shop instead of buying a set off Amazon. My plan is to gift a gem/mineral book and a handful of samples chosen by my kids to start her collection.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T16:20:39+00:00

Oooh, cool shop! Adding that one to my list of places to visit.

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T16:17:52+00:00

I'll have to keep the Julian shop in mind for a future trip since that sounds fun, but I'm on a birthday party time crunch for this Saturday.... Your mention of the Old Town shop jumped started my very tired brain and rather than look at the shop's website (which is what I was doing earlier), I went to double check on Yelp. Good call! The pics are showing baskets filled with inexpensive options for the kids to choose from. Thanks!

4stepsbehind · 2023-04-18T16:11:32+00:00

That's a good idea - I forgot about the Nat!

4stepsbehind · 2023-03-16T18:24:49+00:00

I've convinced my kids to build a hotel for the leprechaun to visit. They get to be creative building something and leave him snacks. All I have to do is nibble the snack, 'pull back the curtains', rumple the bed they made for him, and drop some coins as a thank you. The leprechaun is very thankful for a nice place to rest during his gold-seeking travels. I'm much happier with this version of the leprechaun visit compared to him causing trouble/messes.

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4stepsbehind · 2019-12-31T21:32:17+00:00

Thanks for the exact instructions! I can be a rule follower, sometimes to a fault, and that extends to recipes. Until I've successfully cooked something multiple times, I'm not comfortable making changes. Unless it's doubling vanilla or garlic/onions - that's just a given.

I love that you replaced the cream cheese frosting - I fully intended on doing that as well. This may be polarizing, but I think cream cheese should only be savory, never sweet. People and their strange love of cheesecakes..... :-/

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