DIY

The Lost Art of Shoebox Dioramas

Jeanna G6 Comments

I recently bought a pair of running shoes, and I kept them in their shoebox in my car for when I go to the gym. My dogs like to go for rides whenever possible, and the last time they jumped into the car, they both managed to trample the shoebox. My immediate thought was, “Darn it! I could’ve used that for something.” But then, when I was carrying the empty box to the recycling bin, I asked myself, “What would I use this for?” And then the answer came to me: A shoebox diorama! Growing up, at least once a year in elementary school, we had to make some kind of shoebox diorama. One year it was a farm yard, another was a scene from the Jurassic period, then outer space, symbols from one of the 50 states, and then the Wild West. I’m sure it’s no mystery what happened to these 3-D assignments that required more than just a swipe and tap of a finger.

My daughter has an app in which she designs rooms in houses, stores, restaurants, and other hangouts in a virtual world. When I was a kid, I built a dollhouse, painted the walls, and filled it with upcycled furniture, before upcycling was a trend. (Remember those little round pieces of plastic with three legs that kept the pizza box lids from sticking to the cheese? They made perfect end tables for my Barbies.) My brother builds pirate ships out of Legos, and my dad built one in a bottle out of wood, wire, and glue. All of these are dioramas, and perfect for hobbyists. Even so, I think building a shoebox diorama is an elementary school rite of passage that every child should experience.

When I walked back inside after recycling my shoebox, I saw my daughter was watching “Night at the Museum.” It occurred to me that the natural history museum is filled with giant dioramas.

The app my daughter uses is very cool, and she’s definitely learning and using her imagination, bu maybe we can think inside the box, instead. We can visit a museum, maybe one that exhibits interior design marvels. Or, we could go on a Parade of Homes to see how our contemporaries are decorating their spaces. And then, after some research, we design our dream space… inside a shoebox. I wonder, will she think my idea is a shoe-in, or will she tell me to put a lid on it?

Mother’s Day

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I hope you have a great day! You deserve it. You should relax. You should be celebrated! Put your feet up. Go to brunch! Get pampered! Oh, and try not to think about all the crap you have to do.

Know what I did today for Mother’s Day? I cleaned my house. And it made me so happy.

When I was a kid, on Mother’s Day, I decided to “do my mom a favor” and make her breakfast in bed. I put Cheerios and milk in a bowl, set it on a tray, and carried it upstairs to her bedroom. The door was shut, so I had to set the tray down in order to open the door. But little did I know that one leg of the tray was not locked open, so when I set it down, the bowl of Cheerios promptly spilled all over the hallway rug. Don’t cry over spilled milk? I guarantee you a mom is not who coined that phrase. I cried…a lot. But I cried because I was a kid and I had limited options when it came to gift-giving, and my one gift was ruined. Thinking back on it, I still cry, but now I cry for my mom. My poor mom. I mean, it’s not like I cleaned up the Cheerios. Cook, clean, repeat.

Now that I’m a mom, the greatest gift I could ask for on Mother’s Day (or any day) is a clean house. I wish for every to-do list to be checked off. I wish for no one to ask me to do anything or go anywhere. Just let me clean, so that tomorrow, when it’s ‘not’ Mother’s Day, I have one less thing to do.

*Clang* *Splash*

“What was that?”

“Mommmm. I just spilled my juice all over the table and now it’s dripping on the floor.”

Coffeehouse Fill

Jeanna G3 Comments

Many themes cross my mind when I think of high school, but one of the more prominent ones is what I consider the heyday of coffeehouses. Of course it was not the most popular time in the existence of coffeehouses, but in my world, it was.

The shows I watched were Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. Each of those shows featured a coffeehouse, cafe, or coffeeshop. And yes, there’s a difference between the three. But what they all have in common is, they weren’t the kind of place you’d drive up to and get your order from a window. Instead, you’d saunter in, order, and hangout.

What was also popular in my circle in high school was learning to play the guitar, or some other instrument that was good for a band. This went hand-in-hand with the popularity of coffeehouses when it came to open-mic nights. The two, together, were a match made in heaven. It helps that my high school sweetheart is who I’d go watch sing and play.

I loved the atmosphere of a coffeehouse back then. The aromas, the lighting, the local artwork. People sat to chat…together. They’d order their giant mugs of cafe au lait, and talk, face-to-face in a non-virtual realm, about whatever came to mind. There weren’t any zooms or smart phones getting in the way of genuine, 3-D interaction. I loved the sounds of the milk steamer, cups to saucers, quiet conversations, and coffeehouse music.

The ironic aspect of this story is that I didn’t drink coffee when I frequented coffeehouses. Now I can’t seem to live without it, and I haven’t been to coffeehouses in decades. When I was in college, I literally rolled pennies to be able to afford what I needed. That had a huge impact on how I spend money these days. Buying a cup of coffee is a treat, not a daily expense. I didn’t actually start drinking coffee until I was 27, and my job as an office manager involved making coffee for the staff. The hazelnut smelled too good to not try. And try again. And try a few more times after that. A couple of stints later, I was a barista for Seattle’s Best at a Borders Bookstore. I loved it, mainly for the organic, fair trade no. 4 with caramel, and my lovely co-worker, Katie. I also loved being immersed in the scents of fresh-brewed coffee and brand new books. Since the bookstore closed, I haven’t had my coffeehouse fill. Maybe I should open my own coffeehouse? That’s probably an idea I should let steep for awhile. In the meantime, I can play pretend at home.

My Coffeehouse

To create my own coffeehouse, I ordered an espresso maker to add to my two drip pots. I buy espresso ground coffee from a local company, and use different flavors of Torani syrup to add sweetness. I’ve learned how tasty honey is in a cold brew, so I buy local liquid gold from the general store. My eclectic mug collection adds some personality. To top it all off, I made myself a Spotify playlist with artists like Natalie Merchant, Des’ree, Indigo Girls, U2, and Putomayo to help set the mood. Now I just need to learn the guitar and gather an audience. For now I think I’ll just sip on my brews and type out my thoughts.