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Archives for June 2019

How are you doing this summer?

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

No really.  How are you doing this summer?

Are you relaxing on vacation? How about spending time with friends and family? Are you spending long afternoons with Bourbon Lemonades in your hammock with a book?

Or are you running around to picnics, gatherings, and playdates without enjoying any of it?  Aniouxous because we are almost halfway through the summertime and your summer bucket list is full of uncompleted tasks?  Are you feeling like a failure that the garden is dry, weedy and not producing much?

Let’s all take a deep breath.  And look at this ice cream cone.

How is your summer going? Remember whatever you are doing (or not doing) is perfect. Let's all take a deep breath and look at this ice cream cone. | cassierauk.com #summer #releax

Whatever you are doing right now is fine.  Whatever you didn’t get done this summer probably didn’t need to be done anyhow.

I just wanted to pop in here and tell you that you are doing a great job.  And you should treat yourself to an ice cream cone.

PS I am going to take next week off from posting.  Don’t be thinking I am heading out from some epic vacation or camping trip over the holiday week.  I just finished a 12-week course for work, and I need a break from computer stuff for a while!  I will be back on your screens on July 9th.  In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram.

Chimney, Exposed!

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

A few weeks ago on a Sunday, after breakfast, Jesse and I decided to get rid of the corner hutch in the dining room. That lead to us finding a beautiful brick chimney in the center of our house.

At first glance, the china cabinet looks like one of those sturdy, been around for 100 years kind of things.  But in reality shelves were super thin, the doors didn’t close, and the whole thing was in rough shape.  Because of the openness of our house, you could see it from most of the downstairs.

The hutch came out pretty easy, two screws and it was separated from the wall and with a small amount of team shuffling we had carried it out to the garage.

man removing cabinet

Behind the china cabinet is the old chimney, wrapped in faux brick paneling.  It was not a good look.  And I have been itching to see what the old chimney looked like.  It was on my to-do list.

Since the cabinet came out so easy, we figured this would be as good a time as any to see what we were dealing with.  Underneath the faux brick was plaster.  The plaster wasn’t a shocker; the walls of our house are mostly plaster and lath.

Then we got a couple of hammers and went to town on the plaster, and underneath we found this.

brick chimney covered in plaster

I was beyond thrilled by how the chimney looked.  This project was the first time since we started working on this house that we found something better under what we were replacing.  I am sure you have heard the same stories that I have, that a homeowner rips up the old shag carpeting in the living room to find beautiful hardwood.

Not us.

It is usually something worse.  So I hope for something spectacular and, at the same time, make plans for what we can do it cover up the weird thing we find.  So this was a very welcome surprise.

old brick chimney

What is next for our brick chimney?

There are large cracks in some of the bricks (you can see it in the above picture) so we are going to have a mason come over and look at it for us.  Hopefully, it is still structurally sound and we can leave it as is.

The bricks have a fair amount of plaster dust on them.  I am doing some research to see if there is a way to clean them simply.  Most of the instructions I find are for outdoor bricks so the suggestions of going at it with a pressure washer or a hose and brush really won’t work well for this job.

Now that the dust has settled (literally) and we have lived with the chimney for a while, I might just leave it as is.  The white patina of the brick is starting to grow on me.

Mistakes that we made that you can learn from:

Plaster is a mess and dusty bitch.  We thew down drop cloths to catch the chunks as they fell from the brick.  But the plaster dust goes everywhere.  There was so much dust in the air that at one point the smoke detector started to chirp.

It took me two solid weeks to get rid of all of the dust from the floors and furniture.  I think I cleaned the floor every day during that time, and every time it dried it left a residue.

If you are removing plaster, cover every damn thing with a drop cloth.  Trust me.

brick chimney and a dusty floor

What do you think of the chimney? Are you an exposed brick fan? And do you hate plaster as much as I do?

Yes, Mediation is Weird. But it is so worth it.

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

dandelion fluff blowing the breeze

I knew that mindfulness had hit the peak of pop culture when I got an email at the day job from Corporate about their newest mediation program.

When mindfulness moves from Startup to Fortune 500, that means shit got real.

I am not a bandwagon jumper.  Out of sheer stubbornness, I will do the exact opposite or will knuckle under and refuse to try something out if everyone else likes it.  (Example:  I have never seen and refuse to watch A Christmas Story.)

But there was something about meditation that spoke to me.  While my middle school friends were planning their future wedding and naming their children, I was thinking about moving into a cabin in the woods and not talking to people for months at a time.

So sitting quietly with my thoughts is something I could get behind.  But I was surprised at how much I struggled with it at the beginning (and still do, sometimes).

It can be hard but mediation is so very worth it.

There is so much going on all of the time: family, friends, hobbies, errands, work.  And we all know how easy it is to get sucked into the social media comparison ring of doom.  Taking 10 minutes to sit quietly and breathe has helped with lower my stress, made me more content and helped with my productivity.

via GIPHY

As LaVar says, don’t take my word for it. You need to try it your own damn self.  Here is how to get started:

Read: 10% Happier and Mediation for Fidgety Skeptics both by Dan Harris.  Dan Harris goes through a whole journey in 10% Happier from being a stressed out, drug-doing journalist to, well, 10% Happier.  I think it was more than that, but that would ruin the title. His book on meditation is more of a practical guide, but they are great companion books.

Download:  Headspace or Calm.  I have tried both and ended up settling on Calm.  It is one of the thing saving my life right now. I love it so much that this winter during a holiday sale, I bought lifetime access.  They both have free trials and hand-holding guided sessions to get you started.

I know what you are thinking, this whole thing might seem kind whoo-whoo and a little ridiculous what do you have to lose?  It just takes 10 minutes a day to get all of the benefits and that is doable for everyone.

Especially since mediation can help you manage daily stress, help you stay focused, and might make you more compassionate.

Yes, meditation is weird. But it is so worth it. #selfcare #mediation #mindfulness

Now What? Garden Maintenance 101

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Did you plant your first small garden this year?  Exciting right?!?!  I hate to break it to you (since I was the one that talked you into this mess) but now the hard work starts.

It is easy actually, but not exactly fun.  There are four chores that you need to do on a regular basis to keep the plants healthy and happy and soon the veggies will be there for the taking.

close up shot of strawberries

Chore 1:  Watering

This chore is best done daily.  The gardening books always say that your garden needs an inch of water a week or some damn thing like that.  That is not super helpful unless you religiously follow that weather reports.  So my recommendation for you, dear friend, is to water every day unless it is actually raining or you are having a streak of gloomy and rainy weather.

If you have just a few plants, go the watering can or hose route.  If you have an already installed irrigation system for the lawn, you may already be set, just keep an eye on the watering patterns to make sure your plants are getting enough.  I love these AquaCones, and you can set a cheap sprinkler system with a timer attachment and a hose (with a sprinkler or added drip lines).

Can you water too much?  Yes, but it is hard with garden plants.  The wind and sun usually dry up plants faster than you can water them, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  If you are doing container gardens it is possible to waterlog the pots, but if you have drainage holes in the bottom of your pot you should be fine.

Pro tip: If you are using sprinklers (for anything other than running through) run them early in the day.  If they are on during the hottest most of the water is evaporating.

Chore 2: Weeding

Weeding is probably the worst of the gardening chores, but when your plants are small, it super important.  When you are doing your daily watering, pull any weeds nearby.  Try to get the little buggers out by the roots if all possible.

Weeds are not bad, exactly, but any plant that is stealing the water and nutrients away from your veggie needs to go.

Pro tip: To minimize this task, mulch the shit out of your plants.  Use whatever natural materials you have available (grass clippings, straw, bark mulch).  Don’t pile them right up on the plants.  You will need to give them a few inches of breathing room.

Chore 3: Feeding

If we lived in a perfect world the plants would be able to get all of the food that they need from the soil.  Since we live on planet earth you will need to feed your plants.  There are a few ways you can do this.

First up is a slow release fertilizer that you put in the soil around the plants.  This comes in a pellet form that will slowly break down and release the good stuff in the soil.  Ideally, this should be done before you plant the garden, but it really doesn’t matter.  Just sprinkle it around the plants and throw some mulch on top.

Another option is concentred liquid fertilizer.  Add the recommended amount to the water can when you are watering and you are all set.  If you got a bit behind on watering and your plants are super dry, skip the feeding.

How often should you do this?  Once a month for slow release and every two weeks for liquid.

Can you overfeed?  Yes, but it will probably not harm the plants.  The veggies will take what they need and leave the rest, then water and rain will wash the rest away.

Pro tip:  if you are growing plants that are considered ‘heavy feeders’ you can do both.  Think corn, tomatoes, beets, broccoli, cabbage.

Chore 4: Supporting

I know what you are thinking – ‘My plants are tiny, why should I worry about supports now?’  Because it is far, far easier to get a cage around a tomato when they are a foot high.  Trust me on this, the struggle is real.

If you don’t have cages or supports for your bigger plants, get some and install them now.  If you are growing any type of vine-like plant, get the support set up and as you do your watering and weeding chores secure any new growth to the supports.

Pro tip: I love Gardener’s Supply selection or supports and tools. But you can also get them at your local gardening center and many big box stores.

basket of veggies

Water, Weed, Feed, and Support.  See friends,  there are just four things you need to do to keep those newbie plants going on for the summer.  You can do this!

Like what you read? Pin this post for later!

How to Simplify your Summer Travel

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through a link and buy something, I get a small commission and it doesn’t cost you any extra. Awesome, right?!

Not long after we got married, Jesse and I vowed to take a trip each year. It is kind of an anniversary present to ourselves. We had done lots of overnight or long weekend road trips, but we wanted to get a little more further afield.

We spent one long weekend in the Black Hills of South Dakota and ventured up the Superior coast to Duluth.  The year after that we jumped in with both feet when Jesse tagged along on a work trip to Arizona.  Then a few months later we hopped a plain to California.

An expert traveler I am not, there are whole blogs written by those people.  But I am practical and I like to plan. I have learned a few things that make trip prep and the trip itself run smooth.  Or as smooth as any trip can.

Rethink the amount of clothing that you bring.

This one is hard.  Especially for all of the planners out there, like myself, who think through every type of contingency and weather pattern.  But let’s be real here for a minute.  You know damn well that you don’t need 5 shirts for an overnight trip. Or that cute dress when you are camping.

I am not going to tell you what to bring, but check the weather of your destination and think, practically, about what you will wear on this trip.  I know that I will keep grabbing for those awesome pair of skinny jeans that have a bit of stretch and I will wear yoga pants on the long days in the car.  So I really just need to pack them, with some t-shirts, a hoodie and I am all set.

Keep in mind that you can wash clothes while you are gone.  I bring along one of these on all trips, just in case.

Keep your toiletry bag stocked.

While prepping for the work trip to Arizona, I stocked up on all of the essential in 3 oz or less packaging and since most of the items came in multi-packs I kept all of the extras in a large bin in our closet.   When we returned home of the trip, I wiped down any spills on the bottles, ran our soap container through the dishwasher and packed everything back up in the clear plastic bags and put everything in the bin.

When I am starting to pack for another trip.  I can pull the bags out and they are ready to go.  There is no searching around for a little shampoo and toothpaste container.  It is one thing from the pre-trip checklist that I don’t have to worry about.

Have spare power cords for all of the things.

I have a cord for every electronic we bring on a trip in a bag, ready to go.  In a little pouch that goes in my carry on I have a cord for both our phones and my laptop.  I also have at least two pairs of headphones and a rechargeable battery pack.

This is the only way I make sure that we have all of the cords before we leave.  There is not climbing behind the nightstand to unplug a charger, or buying a cord at a kiosk in the terminal.

The key is to make sure they all get back in the bag when you get back from your last trip.

Get yourself some nice luggage or duffels.

Before we went on that Arizona trip I did some research (lots and lots of research) and bought Jesse and I each a convertible bag that is carry on size.  Jesse has the eBags Mother Lode Weekender and I have the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45.

They are both amazing.

The hold everything we need for a 5-day trip (probably longer too, we just haven’t tried it yet).  The fit in all overhead bins (and probably under the seat) of planes.  The even fit in the overheads of those little regional gets that we end up on for the last leg of our flights.

My favorite part is the back pocket that holds straps that can be clipped in place to use the bag as a backpack.  When we are moving through the airport, we wear them as backpacks can easily move through even super crowded airports.  Then when we get to our gate, we unclip the straps and slide them back in the pockets and then the bags slide into the overhead bins like a dream.

These bags (especially mine) was not cheap.   But they have gone through security, shoved in overhead bins, thrown in the corner of AirBnBs, and used as both footrest and pillows in airports.  And they still look as good as the day they came out of the box.

Travel is stressful, but it is supposed to be fun.  Right?!  When you keep your clothing to the basics, keep your toiletries and power cords stocked and invest in some nice gear these will be fewer things for you to stress about.

You read my tips, what are ours?

PS. When we are doing a road trip, staying somewhere overnight, or going camping throw all of our clothes in a weekender bag.  I don’t take the time to pack everything in pouches, but I still use our toiletry and cord bags.  I got my second hand a few years ago, but this one is similar.

Don’t Let a Summer Bucket List Run Your Life.

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Don't Let a Summer Bucket List Run Your Life | CassieRauk.com

Right around Memorial Day weekend, my blog reader and Instagram feed fill up with beautiful pictures of picnics at the beach and glamping trips in the woods. The images are beautiful, and the people in them are gorgeous, and they all focus on making this the ‘best summer ever!’

These posts end with a call to create a summer bucket list (and many of them have a cute printable). The idea is so that you can put down all of the fun things that you would like to do this summer to make sure you take advantage of the fleeting days of summer.

I am a list maker and planner by nature so summer bucket lists should be right up my alley, but dear Lord do they ever create an impending source of doom and a considerable amount of FOMO.

I hate that shit.

For the majority of us, the summer does not change our work schedule. Summers, at my day job, do not consist of Taco Truck Tuesdays and Early-Out-Fridays. We slow down a bit, but a Wednesday in July and Wednesday in February are usually pretty similar.

Gang, I want you to have the best summer ever, but if you are running around desperate to check things off your summer bucket list, you are not going to enjoy any of it.

This summer, I want you to try something different:

  • Take some extra time off of work (if you are able).
  • Go on a spontaneous road trip.
  • Plant something.
  • Go camping/hiking/biking at a state park near you.
  • Sit outside in the sunshine with a book or magazine.
  • Invite friends over for a super low key dinner.

Basically, I want you to make no plans. Accept invites if they sound fun, say no if they don’t.

And love it.

Marie’s Super Simple Poppy Seed Bread

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

My mom ran an in-home daycare for 30-ish years.  Along with making money to support us and the farm she did this, in part, so that she would be there when we got home from school.  I didn’t realize what a privilege this was, until many, many years later.

We would get off the school bus (with a gaggle of daycare kids) and have cookies, muffins, popcorn, and homemade bread with fresh jam for afterschool snacks.  Yes, yes this was as amazing as it sounds.

This poppy seed bread recipe was a staple in those days.

She kept the pantry stocked with the ingredients and would whip up something during nap time.  And when I dug her recipe box out of the cupboard a few months back, I was happy to find the recipe written in my mom’s super vague style.

handwritten recipe card for poppy seed bread on wooden table

As you can see this is semi-homemade baking at it’s finest.  But when you have 3 daughters and who knows how many daycare kids at your house at any given time, you gotta do you.

No shame here.  Especially ’cause it’s good!

Here is the recipe, written out all fancy-like.

Print Recipe

Marie’s Super Simple Poppy Seed Bread

My mom made this simple poppy seed bread recipe on the regular for my sisters and I growing up. It is a semi-homemade sensation!

Ingredients

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 1 box vanilla pudding
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup grapeseed oil
  • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
  • 1 cup warm water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350.  Butter two loaf pans set aside.
  • Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Beat until smooth.
  • Divide the batter between the prepared loaf pans.  Place in preheated oven and bake for about an hour (or until knife inserted in center of the loaf comes out clean).  
  • Let the loaf cool until they are able to be handled easily.  Remove from pans and let cool completely.  

PS.  The recipe is at it’s best when it is completely cool.  The cooled bread has a wonderful crust.

Pin the recipe for later!

Things I Learned in May (and a few books I read)

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through a link and buy something, I get a small commission and it doesn’t cost you any extra. Awesome, right?!

Instead of a gratitude journal, I keep a list of things that I learned in my planner with my to-do list. Paraphrasing Emily P. Freeman this list is a way of purposely looking back before moving forward.

Quote by Kahil Gibrand

You can get a lot accomplished if I turn off the podcasts/audiobooks and focus.

In April, I started taking two classes through the local Community College.  This is something that my job offers to train people for more ‘in demand’ positions within the company.  For me, that means more pay and the possibility to work from home sometime within the near future.

This was something that I applied and interviewed for, so I was in it for the long (12 weeks) haul.  Like most things, it was much more work than I was expecting.  I am not sure what I was expecting.  Something easy(er) I guess?

I struggled with homework, work work, blog work, and home-work.  But once I sat down and turned off my phone and conccentrated I was shocked by the amount of work I could get done.  Who knew?!

Apple’s Trade-in Program is pretty lucrative.

I upgraded my MacBook a few years back. I set up my new computer, wiped my old one, and set it aside. Completely forgetting about it. Right until I was moving office stuff to a new room and I found it, full of dust, on a high shelf.

I found out through The Digital Organizer’s Newsletter that Apple recycles its products, and you usually get the best price by using them directly. I filled out the form and found out I am getting more than $250 for that old dusty laptop. The money is technically an apple store gift card, but I am alright with that.

It is just easier to pay someone to wash your dog

Every spring as the snow melts, our dog finds every bone we have given him over the course of the winter. These aren’t the dried out ones that you buy at the pet store, these are beef bones that came out of the freezer so there is usually some meat left on them. So at this point, they are rancid AF.

The nasty bones wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t roll on them. And then come into the house smelling of death.

After one such incident, I grabbed some dog shampoo, a brush and brought Dru out to a sunny part of the yard were we have an outdoor faucet with the intention to give him a quick bath.

After 45 minutes and soaking wet legs I remembered why we pay someone to groom him. It is pain in the ass.

Some of the books I Read

I am a voracious reader and library user. Libby is my BFF.

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport made me feel validated for thinking that FB is the worst; Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt made me feel validated for carrying my planner around with me everywhere; Burnout by Emily Nagoski gave me some great ideas for dealing with overwhelm; and the delightful Flavia solved another murder in As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust.

What things did you learn last month?