Under Construction!

Hey everyone! Well, its been about 18 months since I started TDM and I’ve really enjoyed it.  On that same token, I feel like it needs an update – so over the next several weeks I will be changing things around a little bit….or a lot a bit. I’m no pro with CSS and/or WordPress so I don’t see the process going super smoothly, but I want to attempt it.  You can check back periodically to see the progress I am making and after I am finished I will write a new welcoming post.

In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the beginnings of summer.  Check out my new music post for some great new tunes to get it started off on the right foot!

- Andrew

Like everything about it

I’m not sure what it is exactly, but I’ve been really into furniture over the past year or so.  It probably has something to do with the fact that my girlfriend is an interior designer so she’s always pointing out great stuff.  I usually defer to her brilliant taste, but I’m happy to say that I found this guy on my own (she approved, so I have that going for me).  To give credit where credit is due, I stumbled upon it over at ACL, which I think is a fantastic blog.  I’m interested in almost every single post and it’s just chalk full of cool content.  Anyways, I immediately fell in love with this table and decided to head over to the manufacturer’s website to check out what else they made.  Someday I will grow up…someday…and when that day comes I’d love to buy from this place.  An entire room may be a bit much as it is very industrial, but I think a piece here and there wouldn’t be too bad – and that is my complete amateur opinion – I actually have no idea what I’m talking about it!  I think just about everything Get Back, Inc. produces is really cool.  Here a few of my favorites.

Over/Under on how much it weighs?

Factory Cart Coffee Table

Toledo Chair

Bindery Rolling Cart

In short, Evernote just keeps me more organized.  How many times a day does something run through your head and you think you’ll remember or want to remember, but after the fact….never do.  Well, this happens to me ALL the time.  Whether it’s a blog post idea, an errand I need to run, or music I want to buy – if I don’t write it down, I will forget.  This just seems to be a fact of life.  Evernote has solved this problem for me….and solved it for me in a way that is fast, easy, and useful.  I used to keep spreadsheets or little notebooks, but it never really worked.  I couldn’t carry a notebook around with me and accessing my spreadsheet wherever I was, was not always easy (e.g., opening and updating it up on my WinMo phone was kind of a chore).  With the Windows application and the Windows Mobile application I am never more than a few clicks away from jotting something down with ease.  Here are a few lists that I use all the time:

• Music, Movies, and Books: I’m always keeping my eye out for new music, movies, and books.  I used to try and keep spreadsheets, but remembering band names or book titles to write them down at the end of the day is impossible.  Updating these lists is a snap with Evernote and now I never miss out on a good read or a good album.
• Gifts: The best gift ideas are the ones that pop into your head on mundane Thursday afternoon or when your significant other quickly mentions something he or she likes.  Trying to remember gift ideas for all of the people you buy gifts for (including yourself!) can be quite difficult.  I now have a gift list that solves this issue.  Need a gift?  Go to this list and something will be there.  It reduces my stress level around gift giving A LOT.
• Online Usernames: How many websites do you belong to that you need a username?  For me, it’s about 4,819.  And of course, my preferred username is not available on half of them.  I use Evernote to keep track of all my usernames and if the website requires some oddities in the password (it needs to have symbol!  But why?  Why does it need to have a symbol), I keep these there too.
• Due Dates: I am a student so due dates are important.  I never liked putting them in a calendar because they are not really in the same place, especially if the calendar is electronic.  You have to click from day to day…blah blah blah…to see everything.  With this list I have everything I need to do in once quick snapshot.  It’s great.

Those are just a few of the many lists I keep with Evernote.  There are also a few things I really like about the Windows Mobile application:

• You can take audio notes.  So if your in a pinch and can’t write something, just record it.  Super easy, super quick.
• You can take a picture and add notes about it.  See something fun?  Take a snapshot, then write down the details about it so you won’t forget.
• Uploading files is easy too.  I don’t use this as much because I use Live Mesh, but it’s an easy way to access a file that you use all the time.
• Also, as a long time user on Windows Mobile I can say without doubt that the Evernote app is one of the most stable I’ve used….which is nice.

And last, but certainly not least, your updates occur automatically and are universal.  So when I update something from my phone, I can hop on my computer 10 minutes later and it’s updated there too.  No syncing, no wires, no bluetooth….it just works.  So all in all, I love Evernote.  I use it on almost a daily basis and it keeps me so much more organized and reduces my general stress levels.  If you’re looking for something to organize your life a little don’t look much further than Evernote.

Next couple of days – my top music of 2009. Look for it.

Otter Creek Beer Mustards

I love mustard.  It goes hand-in-hand with the fact that I eat A LOT of sandwiches.  Because of this I have tried almost every mustard imaginable.  I’m always picking up a different brand or type at the supermarket every time I go (at this point, it’s usually brand because I’ve tried most types).  Well, thanks to my friend Zach and his wedding golf tournament gift this summer, I received some of the best mustard I’ve had in awhile.  Otter Creek beer mustard is fantastic.  I currently have the Hickory Smoked in my refrigerator and can’t get enough of it.  The flavoring is delicious, probably in part due to their phenomenal beer – this mustard is made with their Hickory Switch Smoked Amber Ale.  I can’t say I’ve had this, but would love to try it (if I could find it somewhere).  The mustard also has a nice spice too it, but is not over the top, where it becomes overwhelming.  I’ve had it on sandwiches and as a dipper for pretzels or crackers.  I’m too the point now where I’m using it conservatively because I don’t want to run out.  If you like mustard, you owe yourself this treat.