I’m finally uploading (downloading? I think it’s up.) three computers worth of pictures to a Dropbox account with a whopping terabyte of storage. How specific should these folder names get? Computers 1 through 3? By year? By season??! I need a Supernanny (was she the British one who had the TV show? Or did that go by a different name?) for my technological life. One who will come in like a Mary Poppins–In every job that must be done there is an element of fun, you find the fun and snap! The job’s a game–sweeping through the front door, straight to my computer closet, and click-click-click, a snap of the fingers, and poof! Years of pictures are colorfully scrolling through in slideshow form while we all sit around the computer in a circle formation pondering our old memories. It’s not a game and it’s not that fun but getting them loaded to an accessible place is one of those things that’s remained high-priority on my checklist for… ever. (Side note: photos have been backed up on hard drives, but what good are they to me? They’re there, and they’re virtually no good to me. Just collecting dust in a closet.) I’ll be so glad when it’s done.
Netflix has a really impressive collection of documentaries. I’ve added several to “my list”. Cooked is a really good one–a five (or four?) part series–and, solidifies my opinion that Michael Pollan is one of the best things that happened to the clean, whole food movement. He boils the whole thing down to something that feels tangible to those intimidated by the whole thing. “Eat what you want, just cook it yourself.” If I’ve had a recent dose of Michael Pollan, I always feel really good about spending a large chunk of my day in the kitchen–something that’s pretty much inevitable with a big family. It no longer feels like a waste of time, but more like a tangible way I can show love to my family. Fed Up is another one that’s worth watching. And I’m hoping to watch The True Cost soon too. Any to add?
I would wear chambray every day. Or denim? What’s really the difference between a chambray and a denim shirt anyway? My last chambray/denim shirt was from Old Navy and now has actual holes in it. I’ll still wear it until those holes are so big they make me indecent because it falls and fits just right and somehow doesn’t require ironing out of the washer. It was time to have a backup though, and this one (I’m wearing above) is more than doing the trick. It’s thicker (and more expensive) than its Old Navy predecessor but is so great. It’s got the looseness of your husband’s shirt without being terribly baggy, or boxy (I got one from the tall section) and also (!!) doesn’t require ironing out of the wash. And just the slightest slits up the side, but not so high that any skin is showing. It’s basically perfect and I’m reaching for it every day. Cost per wear will end up being like 52 cents because I will wear it to death. If that one’s not in the budget, this one looks pretty awesome as well.
I recently watched on Netflix "Finding Vivian Maier" which was an amazing documentary and I also enjoyed "The Barkley Marathons". ENJOY I was kinda hoping you had an easy solution for the backup problem, as I am waiting for the Supernanny as well who just snapped her fingers and my photos are properly backed up.
Once I get ALL THREE COMPUTERS into Dropbox for good, then I will do it piecemeal whenever I upload a bunch of new photos–thus, it will never be this big a job again! (As long as I stay on top of it anyway!)
YES to all of the above. Our mothers had shoeboxes of photos, we have hard drives. Both inaccessible. Cooked had exactly the same effect on me – cue hours of cooking salmon cakes last night, and no energy to clean up afterwards and a disaster kitchen this morning. And my Old Navy chambray is also perfect, holes and all, and I cannot boast of your lovely, tall figure. Recently bought the new ON shirt you linked, and sad to report that it will do the job, but just doesn't live up to my old Holey Grail of chambray.
Disaster kitchens in the morning are the worst!!!
We watched the first 3 episodes of Cooked yesterday before our friends showed up for dinner. My husband ended up really enjoying it, he doesn't usually get into food documentaries. There was a quote about eat all the cookies, cakes and pies you want – just make them all yourself. He said most people wouldn't do it. I yelled from the kitchen "Unless you are in MY house!" I love baking and would make that stuff all the time. I would just be the only one to eat it and would weigh 500 pounds.
Some good documentaries – "180 Degrees South" and "Touching the Void" are great adventure docs. A friend was telling us "Jumbo Wild" is really good, but we haven't watched it yet. If you like sports (or if you don't) the 30 for 30 series is amazing. Specifically "The U" and "The 16th Man". "Happy" and "Tiny – A story about living small" are good light documentaries too.
I heard about Tiny — I want to see that one! And Happy is on my list too!
See, I mostly hate baking. So if I did have to make it all myself, it'd be sparing!! I guess Michael Pollan's advice isn't universal 🙂
I really liked Happy. So many surprising and interesting things I learned!
Chef's Table if you haven't already seen them!! They're on Netflix and they're so. good.
I've been so into chambray/denim the past year (what is the difference, actually??). I have a chambray blouse that I love to wear open-front like a cardigan, a longer (more denim) shirt with just a slit of opening at the top (like a v-neck), and a 3/4 sleeve chambray dress. I want more dresses (Old Navy has great ones right now!) and more shirts. Yikes.
Here's how I organize my pictures – it's been easiest for me in terms of quick to organize when I upload, and quick to find. Put every photo in a year folder (2016), then a month (March), then a category (event – like Longwood Gardens, or type – like Around the House). It's been working well for me for like 5 years!
You're organized. Help me.
"The Mind of a Chef"–particularly season 1 with David Chang (of Momofuku)–is excellent!
Do you like Dropbox for your photos?? We have all of ours on external hard drives too but such a pain in the butt. If you like Dropbox I'll have to try it!
So far yes!
I LOVE that chambray shirt, it's such a workhorse. Now I kind of want a Tencel one, love the way that fabric flows, but my credit card does not agree.
Such a workhorse–dress up, dress down. I love mine.
Also, I have a short sleeve Tencel one from Gap that I wore A TON in Italy. Never wrinkled. Love it.
Documentary Recs: Twinsters, Meet the Patels, Barkley Marathon, Bill Cunningham and Iris. I'm always looking for ones that aren't so depressing and these fit the bill.
Noted – thank you!
Ok I just have to tell you, in regards to pictires, I just took my computer to a computer repair shop (a little hole in the wall) and they organized all my billions of pictires by month and year into neat little folders for…. Wait for it…. $100!!! I literally ran to their shop with my cash! So worth it!!
I'd have smooched each one of them ON THE LIPS. Money well spent!
Leonardo dicaprio produced a version of "cowspiracy" for Netflix. Its an eye opening doc on why animal agriculture is the most destructive industry on the planet and why leading environmental organizations won't talk about it. It's a heavy topic but there are many funny moments in the film! Best documentary I've seen since food inc.
I'm dreading going through all of my photos and videos, but it has to be done! I had to take a break from Netflix. Almost forgot I have a family that needs feeding, laundry etc etc 😉 so darn addicting.