Working with dogs.

Rucky at her lookout post.

One of my favorite things about my job: I have furry co-workers.

Rucky is a "designer", she barks like a muppet, loves treats, will follow you into a meeting if you aren't watching, and has a habit of staring. I once saw her staring at a wall: a blank, white wall. I came back 15 minutes later, she was still staring at the wall. My co-worker calls her the love loaf.

I must warn you though, if you work with dogs expect to get crop dusted. I won't name names, but a certain little dog has the habit of slinking past desks, dropping a bomb, and escaping without fessing up. Just hope that you aren't with someone you don't know well and can't point out the dog's offense....leaving you wondering, do they think I did it?!

Gassiness aside, working with dogs is a delight and a treat - of the Milk-Bone variety of course!

Peace and Rest.

 "Finally, I want to teach you the way of peace and true liberty. There are four things you must do. First, strive to do another's will rather than your own. Second, choose always to have less than more. Third, seek the lower places in life, dying to the need to be recognized and important. Fourth, always and in everything desire that the will of God may be completely fulfilled in you. The person who tries this will be treading the frontiers of peace and rest." -Thomas a Kempis

Music free for all.

1) Love & War & the Sea in Between

I stumbled across Josh Garrels in a quest to find some new music to listen to at my 9-5. I went to Garrels's website and to my happy surprise found that he is offering a free download of his current album! I've only listened to it twice, but I like it already. He is a christian musician that creates music that is lyrically deep and creative, but not saccharine. I don't mean to be a hater on popular christian music...but we need more artists like him. At first listen I especially enjoy: Farther Along, Ulysses (a lovely mythological tie-in), and Beyond the Blue. 

For the download go to: http://joshgarrels.com/. 

2) Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR

Here is how it goes: NPR invites musicians to come in to their office and play a few songs, fun ensues. And bonus!, on most you can download the audio for free (or just subscribe to their live concert podcast on iTunes). 

Might I recommend a few for you to check out?

The Tallest Man on Earth (one of my favorite folk artists)

Hilary Hahn (Beautiful violin music)

James Vincent McMorrow 

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch (Especially "Sweet tooth", it may put a smile on your face like it did mine)

A moist and thrifty winter.

Winter brings us many a wonderful things - the perfect time of year for fireplaces & fantastic holidays - but with it comes dry air that chaps and cracks the skin. Ouch. I had a little electric humidifier in college that worked fine enough, but it is no more. I didn't want to go out and buy a new one...my room is already full enough with stuff and it costs dollas. Instead, I have found a few thrifty moist makers:

Put a container filled with water on your radiator.

Same principle as boiling water on the stove, but here you are using heat you are already paying for AND it is sustained 24/7. Sweet! Just make sure to use metal or glass, no one wants a melted plastic winter. If you don't have radiators placing water next to your heat source works well too.

The best affordable lotion I've found:

I've used better lotions in my lifetime, but Neutrogena's Norwegian hand cream is the best thrifty choice I've found. Admittedly, it can feel a bit sticky, but it really does seal moisture in.

Add a plant to your home decor. 

These visually appealing buddies not only add moisture (and oxygen!) into the air, they also provide Minnesotans like me the joy of nature in an otherwise barren season.

That my friends is a total of $7 ($4 for the lotion, $3 for the plant), assuming you own a radiator friendly container. A few other ideas I've come across: dry your laundry in your room or shower with the door open.

Does anyone else have any winter survival tips, moisture or otherwise?