DIY or DIFM

Sometimes there is a fine line between a project that is a DIY or a DIFM (do it for me). If you aren't quite sure which category your project falls into, hopefully this article will help. 

So you were watching HGTV and you were inspired to attempt some project they beautifully executed, which is admirable. However, there are a few basic questions you should ask yourself before you get started because while for some it may be a DIY for you it may not be. For instance, there are some people who can DIY a house extension, like physically build an extension onto their houses (gasp). For me, that would be a DIFM, which leads me to our first question:

1. What's my skill level/expertise?

If you have no experience with what you are attempting, start small. Don't try to upholster an entire sofa if you have no sewing or upholstery experience. Maybe start with a dining room chair seat or an ottoman and as you become aware of the challenges with smaller projects you will be better prepared and more knowledgable for the larger ones. 

The second question is:

2. Do I have the time required to Do It Myself?

Often people will set unrealistic completion goals in the name of saving a buck. Sure you can save on the labor costs of demolishing your own kitchen and reinstalling it yourself, but how long will it take you to complete when you have to go to work for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? Doing it on evenings and weekends is certainly possible but not very likely. If it takes you twice or even three times as long to complete with the added cost of eating out and rental equipment, it may just pay to hire a professional. 

The final question to ask yourself is:

3. Is it really less expensive to DIY?

We've all been there right? You come across this great project only to find that it requires a million materials and or tools that you need to purchase. So now that you've purchased $150 worth of materials, maybe it would've been worth it to buy that silver leaf table for the $180 it costs online. And God forbid if you make a mistake and have to pour in more money to correct it. 

These are just some guidelines for determining whether you should do it yourself or hire some help. Happy decorating!

Dream Sequence

Have you always wanted that designer bedding look? Well it isn't all that complicated. Here is an easy way to achieve that look. Choose a single color and for each layer of bedding (sheets, quilt, shams, throw) use a different texture. For example: sheets = smooth, quilt = linear pattern, shams = boucle type texture. Mix and match! There is no wrong answer. Play with different combinations. Your inner designer won't lie to you. Sweet dreams!

Yummy!

Wonderful, candy coated, fun summer colors! What can you do with these?

Last Stop On The A Train: Inwood

Inwood is one of Manhattan’s best kept secrets! This little jewel has a rich history and what’s shaping up to be an even brighter future. Mostly occupied by people of Dominican decent, it is still a very diverse community, with many young families occupying the area.  I lived there for 3 years after I got married,  and I began my family there so it definitely holds a special place in my heart. Being from the suburbs myself, the city was definitely an adjustment, but Inwood was the perfect transition for me.  It felt suburban but with the convenience of the city at my fingertips. It’s really the best of both worlds! So let’s dig in!

 

Brief History

Inwood is named for the marble that was once prevalent on the island. It’s a very soft marble which is easily eroded, hence the reason so much of it is gone today. However, you can still find traces of it in Inwood today. Inwood is also said to be the site where the island was originally purchased from the Lenape Indians.  I find this interesting because this is where it all began yet the area is so often forgotten.



 

 

Inwood Hill Park

Inwood Hill Park is the only natural forest in Manhattan (No, Central Park isn't a natural forest). It’s such a vast space that consists of multiple playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, a baseball field, walking paths, a boat house, you get the idea.  You can even sit on the water and gaze at the Henry Hudson Bridge, which we've done on ocassion. The park is neverending!  When I had my first son, we enjoyed the snow during the winter months and the "Froggie Sprinkler" during the summer. Oh, and the Ice Cream truck is a permanent fixture for frozen treats. It helps  take the edge off those humid NY Summer days.

 

Isham Street Farmer’s Market

Across from Inwood Hill Park, on Saturdays from 8a-3p, is the Isham Street Farmer’s Market. It’s located on Isham Street between Cooper Street and Seaman Avenue. There’s wonderful produce, organic meat, fish, and yummy baked goods too! My oldest son loved this apple cake I used to buy there. The vendors are very personable and helpful. Strolling past the stands amongst the people is really a blissful experience. I loved watching the other parents let their children sample the fresh berries on display. It truly reminded me of a simpler time and it's quite serene on that self contained little strip. I'd easily forget that I was still in Manhattan.

 
 

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

This museum, located on the corner of 204th Street and Broadway, was once a working farmhouse, and currently sits on about a half acre of land. It is the only 18th Century Dutch Colonial style farmhouse left on the island. It’s survived the revolution, housed indentured servants, and lasted through the industrialization of the area long enough for two relatives to present it to the city for preservation in 1916. I don't know how many times I walked past this place before I realized it was a museum.  It is open to the public Friday-Sunday from  11a-5p.





New York Central Railroad Substation No. 10

Art Deco Building-Seaman Avenue

Art Deco Buildings
Inwood also has many architectural treasures from the Art Deco period. The geometrically adorn facades can be seen sprinkled throughout the area. The most popular one is the New York Central Railroad Substation No. 10, which was built in the 1930s to provide electrical service to trains on the Hudson River Line. Though the structure is currently abandoned it was supposed to be undergoing renovation by The Department of Parks and Recreation.  Work on the project halted in 2010, and a determination of what exactly it was supposed to become was never reached. Whatever it becomes, renovating this buliding would do a great deal to enrichen the area that much more. Cross your fingers that work will resume. Any Art Deco relic you stumble upon is a nice piece of nostalgia from an era gone by. Look closely though because you can easily miss them.

 

 

Yummy Thai

If you’re hungry after your tour de Inwood, and are in the mood for some home-cooked Thai, Yummy Thai  has great, affordable lunch specials starting at $7.25! (including an appetizer). Anything from Spring rolls to Pad Thai to Tamarind duck! Try their Mussamun Curry. It’s a mildly spicy, smooth dish that will please any palate. The interior is modern with a colorful graphic palette. Not short on ambiance at all. Yummy Thai is a nice little spot to sit and have lunch or dinner if you like. And kudos to them for having highchairs for infants! I was pleasantly surprised.  If you're a Thai food afficianado like myself, it is quite a joy to have a Thai place to eat or order from this far north. It’s located on Broadway between 207th and Isham.

 

 

 

 

Mamajuana Café

Mamajuana Café is another great place to eat. It’s a hot night spot; very lively. During the fair weather seasons there is outdoor dining on the sidewalk. Their menu consists of Spanish dishes including Coca, a Spanish free-form pizza. They also offer a prix fix Saturday and Sunday Brunch from 11a-3p.  And trust me, it’s hard to find a Saturday Brunch nowadays! It is located on Dyckman between Seaman Avenue and Payson Avenue.

 

So if you've never heard of Inwood, now you have and I hope you'll check it out. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

Pint-sized Picasso



The Original. "Bee Street"

 So how often is it that you see a refrigerator completely covered in papers with children's artwork or accomplishments? I'd say it is a pretty common image. I know I've done it, only for a drawing to fade or get wet or disappear altogether.

Well, recently my 3 yr. old has been creating digital artwork with the coloring apps on my phone and maybe I'm biased, but I think they're great. And like so many parents, I want to display them! But not on the fridge. In my home, on the walls. Maybe it'll be the playroom, the living room, or even the kitchen. Framing anything of your child's makes your home that much more personal and special.

 

 

My baby's latest creation! "Splatt"

 (The extra "T" is for flare LOL)

So here's the idea. If it's a hand drawing, make a color copy or scan of the original, file it away (in a box, folder, etc.), *have it printed in different sizes (some 8x10, some 4x6, etc.- as long as the composition still works), and frame them collage style in your home. A nice exercise might be to have the child write a blurb on the back of the copy before hanging to describe it or the story behind it. And there you have it! A clear refrigerator and inexpensive, yet meaningful, artwork.

*If Artwork is already in digital format like mine, just print at different sizes to fit your frames.

 

 

 

 

 

Calm: The Gentle Giant

 

 

My recent self-examination of my own child rearing style has opened me up to so many possibilities as a parent. I had to change my thinking. In all my self-assessing, and reading, and researching I found one consistent theme, calmness. Any act of discipline or correction or simple communication requires calmness. It seems like such a simple idea, which it is. It's executing this constant calm that becomes complicated. There is always some situation that comes up that causes me to almost lose it. One child hits another, someone shoves paperclips in a USB port, someone puts their hands in their diaper and uses whatever is in there as finger paint (all real incidents by the way), and sometimes in rapid succession. But my belief is, if I am going to handle this effectively, I must be calm. Definitely easier said than done.
 

 

Recently I came across this blog post from another mom who wrote "Calm equals power". Wow! That was so profound to me. You see, for me, yelling is a reactionary response and completely ineffective. But to address negative behaviors with calm, reason, thoughtfulness, and intention requires a lot more from me. But I find that when I handle any given situation with calm and reason, the outcome is much better. My position as the authority is secured when I am calm (not passive, calm). If I jump up and down and scream like they do, we all look like children. But as far as I know, I am the adult and you should be able to tell the difference between the two.  As much as I would like to end on that note, I had another "Aha" moment. Being calm works with unreasonable adults as well! I recently found myself in a situation with an unreasonable vendor who not only provided an inconsistent product but had an attitude about me challenging it. Well everything in me wanted to curse her out! But I didn't because I knew that wouldn't be right and wouldn't fix my problem either. So I prayed. What I ultimately ended up doing was CALMLY stating my problem, suggesting what I thought was a fair reasonable solution, and CALMLY expressing my displeasure of the way it was handled. And you know what? After all was said and done, we reached a reasonable solution. So there you have it. Calmness equals Power!! What a gentle giant.