A Sprinkle a Day

Godness

2010-06-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

There may be some kind of God out there after all. I think he's a she.

I think she made us able to create cupcakes so that we can truly see the face of god.

I do not think she made us in the image of her.

I think she made cupcakes in the image of her.

Let's bow our heads and pray(well, no, don't actually bow your head or you won't be able to see the cupey-cakes!)

For Heaven's Sake indeed.

Are your teeth hurting yet?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!! These are a part of your daily nutritional values. They just have to be.

This one...oh but this one...

*AMEN*

I have a secret.

2010-02-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

A very, very good secret.

But I cannot tell you yet. Not yet. But I will!

I shall give you some clues.

a.) I am happy, way down deep inside of my soul. And this is making me feel confident. Which is making my soul even happier.

b.) I've been waiting for a very long time for this to happen. My whole life practically.

c.) I am not pregnant.

d.) It involves being something in a very real sense. Actually, it definitely IS something. I can officially say I am something now.

e.) At some point I would like for this to be not only who I am but a way of being. I'm pondering how to make that happen.

f.) This has nothing to do with the job I just got. The job I sorta wish I didn't have because it's making me feel like I have to choose. But the money...what about the money?

g.) Just to be clear; I AM NOT PREGNANT.

h.) It is making me wish my friend Dawn was right here with me because she is so genius, she'd be a great catalyst*crutch* while I figure out my beginner's path.

But that's all I'm telling you! For now. Just for now.

My neice is a tree hugger. She is 3. You might want to know that, too.

Hello My Chickies!

2010-02-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

I am back!

Phew, that was a longish few days. Chickie Chloe is still coughing but off to school she went. Yesterday actually. She had to. Not because she needed to learn, according to her she already knows eVerYthING and she's just fulfilling the letter of the law. I'd believe her if I was you or beware the 9 year old 'tude!

The other reason she had to go back was because I had a job interview yesterday. *faint*

I got the job.

*faint*

And today is super important. I have to tell you about this really cute giveaway over at my friend Meg's. And by tell, I mean show:

SEEE? Cute, cute, cute. I picked the red one. Because I like red very much. And I'm feeling red at the moment. Go, now, throw your name in the pile, pick a pillow...win something cool!

But if you win and I don't? Remember who loves you best...(that would be me)

I haven't made anything to show you. I haven't cooked anything worth posting. I haven't even done the dishes yet. So let's just call this a welcome back post. And just for fun, how about you tell me something cool you've done or made this week so far. Let's call it a Kick Start Heather's Creative Genius effort. You know you want to be helpful, so here's your opportunity.

Bye Y'all!

Sick daughter

2010-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

So sorry I haven't been responding to your comments or making any new posts....My daughter has been home sick. While she's pretty close to good during the day, she's requiring a LOT of my attention. You know how that goes.

I will be back on to posting and looking for the beauty of life just as soon as I can.

Sure hope one of people is on the stick with baking a batch of Supportive Brownies!!

A new place to Breathe...Creatively

2010-01-30T02:38:00.000-08:00

*each hyperlink is to a different post within Creative Breathing.

Please treat yourself by clicking each one.*

You must go here. Please promise me that you will! Her blog is astounding in it's creativity. Luscious and delicious and reminiscent in ways that lift your heart up.

JUST LOOK at what she's made for spring. JUST LOOK I tell you! And to be even sweeter, she's told us how to make them for ourselves....Bliss.

Her creative space is so yummy and sweet and fun and playful and wonderful.

And this is just the closet she repurposed in the room itself!

Beauty by the bucket full. Shared tutorials and patterns. A positive look on life. And another way to view creativity. That's Creative Breathing if I ever saw it.

Becca, what's for dinner? Part Two

2010-01-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

Last night was chicken marinaded in Raspberry Chipotle sauce for a good 24 hours, served over couscous made with chicken stock and a seasoning blend, along with roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower.

When you marinade your chicken, prick it with a fork all over. I mean, a lot. The meat really gets a chance to absorb those flavors...and let it sit in that sauce for a good bit. 1 hour isn't going to do you much good. If you don't have the time to marinade, I'd suggest pan cooking with the sauce so you can get a good caramelization on the outside.

Preheat your oven to 350, line your baking sheet with a Silpat Mat or wax paper. If you don't, you'll be sorry when you have to stand over your sink getting that sucker clean! You've been warned!! Like the fajita's, put your chicken in and let it be. Don't turn it, don't mess with it, let it do it's thing in there. At least a half hour. Then let it rest. No poking, no prodding, no digging around in there to see if it's done. It'll be fine.

While your chicken is cooking, get out your 1lb(is good for a family of 4) container or bag of sprouts. Wash, trim the bottom and halve. Lay them out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. That's it. Brussel sprouts are low maintenance. Don't fuss over them, they get cranky.

Get yourself a good head of cauliflower and just break it down. Then slice it up so you have generally the same size pieces. Bigger is fine, smaller is fine too. Just generally, is all I'm sayin'. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, pepper and any seasoning you like. Maybe garlic. But don't go overboard. Your raspberry chipotle is the star here.

Once the chicken is out, wrap it in foil and leave it alone. I mean it. If you have to reuse the sheet from the chicken, you go on ahead and do a quick rinse up at this point. We'll wait for you.

Slide your veggies in the oven, still at 350, and let them cook until caramelized. About 40 minutes. Check on them at 30 and see how they are doing. Likely your sprouts will be done first. That's fine. Take them out and cover them with foil or a dishtowel while the cauliflower finishes up. While that's happening, make your couscous according to the package. I use stock instead of water for more flavor. And really, to be honest, rice would be better. But couscous is so darned easy, I am forgiving of the slightly discordant texture matching with the rest of the meal.

If you want, and I do, throw your chicken back in the oven, in the foil packets for the last 5-10 of veggie cook time to warm it back up. When it's all out and done, slice the chicken lengthwise and plate up!

Now for the pictures!! YUM! (you aren't going to believe how good your kitchen smells)

This is from Costco but I'm sure you can find similar elsewhere

Keeping a bowl handy saves my sanity while I'm working...

And that, Becca, is what's for dinner, Part Two...

This is a Public Service Announcement

2010-01-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Gangsta's Paradise done in a smooth jazz rendition is so not coolio.

If there were a real emergency, this broadcast would have been followed by free ear plugs for everyone.

That is all.

Cream Scones

2010-01-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

OF COURSE I didn't take pictures. Why would I do that? It was a Saturday Morning and I was HUNGRY. But I do have the weblink. And I do have my good word.

And my good word is that these scones were deLiciOUS!!! Mine turned out rather flat. I think my two mistakes were baking powder that was no longer fresh and using a glass to cut them out and the rim must have been too thick.

So next time I will; Use fresh baking powder and use either a thin rimmed glass(and twist as I push down) or go buy a simple circle cutter for heavens sake! Oh, and I'll also turn in some chocolate chips. Saturday Morning Hunger is best cured with an addition of chocolate chips. I'm serious.

The flavor of these is just like you'd imagine. Creamy without being cloying. Light, yet very true to a scone experience. Dry without being irritating. Moist without leaving the realm of scones. And the recipe is unbelievably simple to execute. If you have fresh baking powder and good cutting implement.

Ok, Ok, Ok! Here is the darned recipe already! HOLY COW PEOPLE, simma down!

Scone Recipe:

2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

2 teaspoons (10 grams)baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup (76 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 large egg,lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (120 ml)whipping cream or milk

Glaze:

Cream

And here is the article:

Cream Scones are lovely when cut in half and spread with clotted cream and jam. The perfect cream scone has a crisp exterior with an interior that is light and fluffy with a rich buttery flavor. Because so many find scone making a challenge, I have turned to a few experts to see what advise they can give us. First, from the U.K., Tamasin Day-Lewis in her excellent book "Tamasin's Kitchen Bible" gives us a few tips. She tells us it is best if all the ingredients are cold, to add the liquid to the dry ingredients all at once, and then to mix everything together quickly and lightly. Next, Australian Stephanie Alexander in "The Cook's Companion" gives us good advise when cutting the scones. She says if we twist the cutter through the scone dough, rather than cutting straight down, the scones will rise higher during baking. So with this information in mind, let's get baking.

As I said above, cream scones are lovely with clotted cream and jam. But there are other ways to serve these scones. For example, if you don't have clotted cream, these scones are delicious with softly whipped cream and jam, or butter and jam. Other times you may want to spread them with a tangy lemon curd. Cream scones can also be used to make a Strawberry Shortcake. When strawberries are in season, split these scones in half and fill them with the lightly sweetened strawberries and cream.

If you are unfamiliar with Devonshire (or Devon) Cream, it is a thick, rich, yellowish cream with a lovely sweet flavor that contains about 60% butterfat. This clotted cream is produced commercially in Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset England. At one time it was quite difficult to find in North America but that is not the case today. You can find it not only in specialty food stores but also in a lot of regular grocery stores (in the deli section). But even if you cannot find it or it is too expensive, an excellent alternative is make the 'mock' Devonshire Cream recipe on the site or just whip some heavy cream with a little sugar and vanilla extract.

Baking Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and place the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar,baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

In a small measuring cup combine the whipping cream, beaten egg and vanilla. Add this mixture to the flour mixture. Stir just until combined. Do not over mix.

Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches (18 cm) round. Then, using a 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) round cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds. Place the rounds on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing a few inches apart. Brush the tops of the scones with a little cream.This helps to brown the tops of the scones during baking.

Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve with Devon cream or softly whipped cream and your favorite jam.

These scones freeze very well. Makes about 10 - 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) round scones.

I can attest to the softly whipped cream part! Mmmmm, even if my scones were rather flatish. If you would like to have the actual website for this recipe, here ya go! http://www.joyofbaking.com/scones.html

(Pssst, I didn't know this! "You can substitute baking powder in place of baking soda (you'll need more baking powder and it may affect the taste), but you can't use baking soda when a recipe calls for baking powder. Baking soda by itself lacks the acidity to make a cake rise. However, you can make your own baking powder if you have baking soda and cream of tartar. Simply mix two parts cream of tartar with one part baking soda.")

Becca, what's for dinner?

2010-01-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

BAKED FAJITA'S! Really cuts down on the oil use(even if it is Olive) and the mess(thank the stars for Silpat Mats!) by baking in the oven rather that stove top.

The only ingredients I used in this whole meal, apart from the actual food itself, was olive oil, salt, pepper and 21 Seasoning Salute! from Trader Joe's.(use your favorite seasoning blend or make your own, or fresh. I LOVE cilantro.) That's it. Fresh ingredients deserve to be tasted. And if they are a little boring, I roast them for caramelization. (Or if your children otherwise hate them. And mine do. Hate them, otherwise.)

This is easy folks, set your oven to 350, drizzled your chicken breasts with Olive Oil, and season generously with above mentioned. Put them in and let them be for about a half hour. Don't turn them, don't mess with them. Just let them go. When they are done, LET THEM REST for a good 10 minutes before slicing.

*As an aside, I LOVE garlic. LOVE. So I cut the top off a garlic head, drizzled that with OO and salt and put that on the pan with the chicken to start roasting...*

While the chicken is doing it's merry thing, slice up 4-6 bell peppers, I like red and yellow. Much sweeter. Don't go too thin or they will wither to nothing in the cooking process. Also go ahead and do one LARGE onion, on the thinner side but not paper. First lay the peppers on one side of the pan, toss with OO, salt and pepper. Then do the same with the onions on the other side of the pan. (I keep them separated but you don't have to).

When the chicken is done and out, put the garlic head onto the pan with the peppers and onions so it can finish cooking. Go ahead and put your veggies in the oven and let it go. For a good long while. Let them be happy in there, caramelizing away. Those sugars will develop and develop and make the most wonderful flavor.

If you have jalapeno's, go ahead and put those on the baking sheet as well. Might as well make good use of your oven while it's on!

For tortilla's, I ALWAYS turn on the cooktop and toast them up directly on the cooktop. Turn the dial to 5(medium), and let them go for about 20 seconds a side. Wrap them up in a towel or napkin to keep them warm.

Chopping tomato is pretty usual, but I don't like the cubed shape of them in a tortilla, so I slice them into thin strips. Grab a few leaves of lettuce and make ribbons or shred it. Roll out a lime to get the juices going, then cut it into eighth's. Arrange all of this onto a pretty plate, set your table and enjoy!

Now, I'm not a cheese/sour cream user for fajita's, generally. I like the flavors of the vegetables and meats. But you go on ahead and use what you like. Salsa, guacamole, tomatillo, whatever you like. Sub in other veggies too like potato,carrot, or corn. Fajita's are all about personalization. And healthful eating too, if you do it right.

And that, Becca, is what's for dinner.

Now for some pictures!

I forgot to take a picture of the platter before we all dove into it! Not as pretty half empty...

And this is Chloe's picture of her plate, budding photographer that she is(she's 9)

CHEF'S NOTE: Husband ended up home later than I had planned. No problem! I just put the peppers and onions in the oven at 200 to keep warm. You could do the same with the chicken if room temp will bother you. But cover it with foil so it doesn't get dried out. Hold off on the tortilla's until just before you sit down.

January Rain In Phoenix, in Black and White

2010-01-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

A simple ribbon is all I need (and a Mclinky party!)

2010-01-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

My Christmas decorations weren't down and packed but 2 days before I was at the craft store looking for the next round of sparklie embellishments to warm my home. I found a fairly inexpensive pack of styrofoam hearts covered in red glitter. To be honest, they were intended for Chloe's desk...clearly that didn't happen!

As cute as they are, they need that little extra something. And since a little extra is all I can afford at the moment, it was a cozy solution for all involved!

So I purchased 2 spools of red ribbon. One in "satin" and one thin grosgrain.

Cutting a length of satin ribbon....

I tied a loose-ish knot in the center....

Trimming and fray checking the ends....

Placement to show relative size/proportion

Picking up the ribbon, fold one tail over to the side of the other, right sides up

Using a pair of small scissors, or chopstick, or similar, push the left tail into the heart, close to the knot. Working it in so that it lays nicely.

Bring the right tail over, push it into the heart the same way, only this time be sure to force the knot to the top/front so that it becomes a part of the overall design. It's kind of a twist and push action.

The knot ends up looking rather like a rosebud.

Using the thin grosgrain, I tied a very tiny loop to the gold thread on the heart. This way, when I strung them to the chandelier, they faced forward rather than sideways. The large heart also came from the craft store, on sale for only $6! I added a length of the satin ribbon to that as well. The chandelier doesn't look finished to me but that is all the budget would allow so I'm going to be happy with it and enjoy it.

Sometimes a little ribbon really is all I need.

*A song to listen to while you craft, Anita Baker's My Funny Valentine from her Rhythm of Love album*

(if you need further inspiration for the coming Valentine's holiday, here is a wonderful linking party at Somewhat Simple, hosted by Steph. There are gobs of projects....)

Let's take an accounting of the day shall we?

2010-01-20T15:35:00.000-08:00

I washed my make-up brushes.

What? It's your own fault for expecting more. Expectations will get you nowhere my friend.

Especially around here..

Angels around my home

2010-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

(this isn't where this platter usually sits but the light was better)

My angels are like me. Varied, colorful, attempting grace and not in the least stuffy or confined. My personal views on religion and spirituality are captured not nearly so much in the obvious statement of finding angels in my home, and yet...perhaps so. If you look closely enough with your eyes just out of focus.

My husband is very deliberate in his spirituality. While I am not. I find my own way through this world and I find my own peace. Fleeting as it at times. So many times I've wondered if that means there is something wrong with me. Some disconnect inside that keeps me from feeling drawn and captured by a religion or a practice or a theory.

I've come to conclude there is nothing at all wrong with me. I've decided I'm perfectly fine on the path that I'm on. How can I not be? I am where I should be, otherwise I'd be somewhere else entirely. And I'm going to be happy with that. No apologies, no dancing around the issue.

Right now, I am going to say it out loud, for myself, once again: I am Heather, and I am trying each day to be happy and content. To do well by my family and those that know me, and those that do not. I care about my world and the suffering of others. It matters to me that I think about my growth but it doesn't matter to me that I "fit in". Each day I hope it will matter less what others think of me but that what they think of me is in line with what I try to impart with authenticity. This is my religion.

And today I am going to try to be exactly deliberate about it.

(Huh, that isn't at all where I thought this post was going to go. Sometimes you just don't know what you are going to get!)

I just found a SUPER CUTE website!

2010-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

And I wanted to share. It's Friday, we can be frivolous on Friday, can't we? I apologize, the website home page didn't have anything comprehensive by way of a logo to grab and drop in here. The banner is linked to their website but I'm also showing you a sample of what they carry. So, you know, you may not NEED anything from tiny things are cute, but you may very well need something from tiny things are cute.

(Store front banner)

Die cut paper strips, measured in yards, at only .55 a yard!

Um, yeah, I need this.

One sheet of 30 1" seals for 2.75. That is 9 cents a sticker!

Yeah, um, I need these.

6 yards of crepe paper ribbon. Crepe ribbon? I didn't know I needed that! And it comes several colors, too?! Sign me up! Think of all the pretty little flowers you could make. Or dollhouses that can have birthday parties!

Ok, so I don't need a jumbo orange pendant. Admittedly there is a lot of stuff I really don't need, or want, from tiny things are cute.

But you just gotta admit, on a Friday, tiny things really are cute!

Create a beautiful, inexpensive, birthday party

2010-01-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

If you have a spring birthday for your daughter coming up, you may have already started putting some thought into "what's it gonna be this year". I know I do....March 7th comes up quick! And if your daughter is anything like my daughter, she has at least a general idea of American Girl. Luckily for us, American Girl provides a huge platform to jump off of for ideas.

2 years ago(ACK! Almost 3!) I put together a simple but really beautiful birthday party and this is what it looked like.

Of course, almost 3 years ago, I didn't know I'd be blogging about this party so I didn't take "how to" pictures but I can run through it for you and you'll be able to see in the pictures what I'm describing:

The invitations were all handmade with scrapbook materials. Naturally I don't have a picture of them but they were CUTE! So let's just skip this part and you can just take my word for it. You are all very creative, talented people, I trust you can come up with something wonderful! Or store bought...whatever makes your life happy!

For the decor, I spent about 2 weeks making tissue paper flowers in our color palette. Not that it took that long, just that I spaced out the project so that I wouldn't go insane. Just by using cheap tissue that was on sale at Target, and layering in the colors in different patterns, I was able to create a really festive backdrop. Each girl got to pick a flower to bring home with her. I mean really, what in the world was I going to do with all of those afterwards?

The table scape was so simple. I just took 2 paper tablecloths and taped them together down the middle. In the center, I bunched up a smaller tablecloth that I already had, for texture. On top of that I placed a silk plant I found at the craft store, on sale for a few bucks. Into the plant I stuck a couple of those aluminum picks with stars and strands that you can find in myriad colors at the party store, they are only a couple of dollars each. To really pull the theme together, I used Chloe's dolls as anchors for each side of the table. Each setting had a mini potted silk plant(also on sale at the craft store. A frivolous expense but I kept them to use as place settings there after, a decent rationalization) with a little square tucked into the raffia bow around the pot. This had the girls' names on it...why not go for a small touch of customization? Sprinkle 2 kinds of confetti, left over from another occassion, all around and called it done.

From the chandelier, I strung up, with ribbon I already had at home, tiny chinese lanterns from Cost Plus World Market that I found in the clearance bin for something like a quarter each.

In addition, using coordinating papers, I cut out stars for each place setting, the girls used those to write a wish on. When Chloe blew out her candle, each girl got to make their wish.

For the cake, I baked a simple white mix inside cake cones. This was so unbelievably simple!!! I didn't change a thing, just baked the mix as if it was muffins. The girls were in charge of decorating their own cones and each girl got their own candle to blow out. They LOVED this! This could be done in any style, funky to feminine, bright or pastel.

Our main activity was a doll's fashion show. Of course, each girl arrived dressed to the nines and with her best dollie in hand. The girls used whatever clips and bows Chloe had in her room to doll up the dolls. Putting down a towel for a runway, and turning on some music, and I as the announcer, a great time was had by all. Awards were handed to the winners. Which was every single participant. Tiny little 1st place medals fashioned out of circles of paper, glued to picot edged ribbon that I made long enough to fit over the doll's heads. I'm sad to report that the one example I kept of that is missing.

To fill in the time, I had photocopied activities out of Chloe's American Girl books. You can use anything. This got the girls all talking and laughing and comparing their work. At the end of the party, I stapled each girls papers together and slipped it into envelopes. The rest of the time was spent jumping rope and opening presents.

I hope this gives you some new ideas for a low tech, high quality birthday party for your daughter this coming season. Happy Birthday Girls!

WHAT NOT TO DO:

Blow money on American Girl Mini dolls. This was not cheap. In fact, it doubled my budget. So don't do that part. Pretend you don't see it! Use paper dolls instead...

Chloe REALLY wanted them. And her Daddy caved. Don't let Daddy cave. See Doubling Of Budget comment above.

If it makes you feel pretty~

2010-01-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Aren't these darling little clips enough to make you feel pretty? My daughter, Chloe, gave me the white clip with turquoise stones in a row. I loved it so much I had to go back to Anthropologie (the online shop has only three, the store has many) another one! I find them to be just the perfect little touch to add that little je ne sais quoi to your maybe not so perfectly styled, or impeccably coifed, hair. I'm considering completely filling this bowl... I'm worth $10 of happy, right?

Here's another way to help you feel pretty....a fun little blog to help you speak the language of amour. And if not love? At least sound pretty saying something mundane. That's worth 10 minutes of happy, right? (Quand le gros bœuf est fâché, ne reste pas devant.) *Leave a comment as to the translation when you've figured it out! I think you'll agree..

Here is another way to learn some important Franco phraseology...About French. Page two is where the fun really begins. I may just have to invest some additional time with this amazing language. Not sure where these odd tangents of interest are coming from these days?! Share your new favorite phrase!

Still not feeling pretty enough to consider yourself spotlight ready? How about something for your soul. I've been absolutely obsessed with Allsorts. I leave her blog page open on my desktop just so I can get a tiny little gift, all wrapped in polka dotted ribbon, of inspiration as I go about my day. Jenny is SUPER talented as an illustrator but she's also creative with crafts and digital art.

Her home is gorgeous and her studio is my personal definition of heaven. Allow yourself time to wander through her blog. You heart is sure to be beautified for the experience.

And lastly, what would my blog be without a plug for something luscious from Sephora? My new love for this coming season...Nars eyeliner in Kaliste. The pencil is a smooth one, easily blended but stays pretty much where you put it. And the pigment is very saturated, what you see is what you get! This a blue green teal. Slip this on, smudge it out, and talk about feeling pretty! This liner gets me there every time! And that is worth everything. ~Comme il faute~

(This is not my image. I took it from a blog, Kana's Karte, that is entirely in Japanese)

SOOO Sorry. Deeply.

2009-12-18T15:42:00.000-08:00

I've been MIA. I know, it's been very bad. I am so sorry. I am feeling the bug to be back though and I can only apologize for my abrupt disappearance.

Please know you've all been in my heart. And I feel bad for just leaving.

And Meg, thank you so much for nominating me for the creative blog award! What a doll you are, always, and always, and always...thank you! I appreciate your friendship very much.

May I beg to get through the holiday and my Mom's visit? Then I promise to be back. I have a lot of ideas in mind. Let's have fun together again!

Please continue to leave comments. They inspire me, and I do read them!

While you wait on me, please visit the blogs I follow by reading my Blog Role in my profile page or by clicking on the few buttons on my side bar.

MERRY MERRY!!

SMOOOOOOOOCH!

Santa and his merry ways

2009-11-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

Well, really, it's about Meg. And her merry ways.

Well, really, it's about Becca and her merry way's with Meg doing her merry waying with Becca.

Wait. What?

I'm so loopy because I'm so over this week. It's been so lame and boring. But look! Just look what's happening over at the BCD!!!! Meg from Megity's Homemade is doing a giveaway at Blue Cricket for Blue Cricket's big giveaway extravaganza orhoweveryouspellthatword!

LOOK AT HOW CUTE MEG'S TREASURE IS!!!

Seriously, cute, seriously. That Meg.....she's a keeper.

One snazzy chandelier

2009-10-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

For Chloe's birthday one year, I just couldn't do a big party. It was just going to be family. I knew she was disappointed and I felt REALLY bad about that. So while she was in school I put myself to work so when she came home she would know her day was still very special.

~click on picture for a full size image~

Not sure why I took these pictures before I was done. Each candy necklace had a glittery butterfly clipped to it just like the pink one. In the middle is a rainbow ombre bow that really brightened up the display, especially looking up from the chairs. Pictures just can't capture depth and dimension!

I know it's hard to see, but I glued colorful crystals to the lengths of ribbons the stars are hanging from and then one more on the top point of the star. They twinkled as the sunlight caught them.

That boa is still around! 2 years later and it is STILL fluffy! There fluffy rainbow ombre lengths of ribbon just out of view as well to lighten up the table. It was very ethereal and yummy looking. I just need to be a better picture taker.

You don't have to spend a lot or have a big party in order to make the birthday girl or boy feel special. Make a tradition by decorating your chandelier for the birthday occasion. Or the front door. Or a bar top, coffee table or seat at the table. You can use Party City paper plates but by adding in textures, layers, and colors and a loving tradition, you turn those same plates from "Oh, it's your birthday" to "Oh what a day to be you!"

SUPER giveaway(s)

2009-10-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

The amazing giveaway is almost here! Run a press release, pass out flyers in the school parking lot, dream about it every night!

Becca is hosting yet another great event over at Blue Cricket Design. It runs for 4 days and there is cool stuff given away each day! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! Becca just rocks.

Run over there, grab the button, leave a comment that you posted it so you can win free stuff too!

Not that I ever win anything....but still, you might!

How to give a special gift bag

2009-10-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

So the secret is out, I love to gift wrap. I have done many that I should have taken a picture of and didn't. Isn't that sad? I could have a whole blog just about how to wrap a pretty gift! Bother. You know what that means right? Yes, you are right. Now I have to go out and buy stuff to wrap and take pictures of to show you. Guess I'm going to be my own secret admirer leaving lovely parcels for myself on my pillow to find each day.

I'll never tell myself, I swear!

However, if you could just do me a weensy favor and let my husband know it's for R&D, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

Now about these bags I did. They were for a set of quads that really, REALLY want to be their own person but yet are fiercely competitive about who got what and who's was better. I struggled with how I should tackle this one, go different? Go the same? In the end I did a little of both. I didn't take pictures of the process because you all weren't even a glimmer in my mind yet but here's what the end result was. I thought they were beautiful.

~double click photos for full size images~

This one took me forever to do. I played with the layout of the Swarovski(read plastic) crystals(read shiny plastic) for each bag on the floor until I liked how each looked and I was sure I would have enough crystals(shiny plastic) to go around. At that point I started glueing those suckers down. I'm like Meg, a lazy crafter, and didn't have the right glue medium. So I used hot glue. Which made my job harder of course but I wasn't about to go buy the right stuff.

Once I had the bags bedazzled I went ahead and customized each gift tag with a letter sticker, additional crystals, and a cute little purse sticker in a different color for each.

It's sort of my trademark, making a customized gift tag with the recipients initial. I figure if someone is paying attention, it can double as a tiny souvenir of their special day to tuck into a memory board, a scrapbook or the side of a mirror. That hasn't happened yet though. I've watched many a gift tag get thrown away...sigh.

Instead of tissue I used some tulle and then tied them up with ribbon I hoped the girls would reuse as hair bows...I think it's adorable!

To the tulle, I glued on little pink crystals to give extra sparkle.

I think it's fun to use unexpected materials in unusual ways. The next time you choose to use a gift bag, think a little outside of the box(no pun intended!) and see if you can't make even a simple gift bag a treasure to receive.

Being a toddler, being an adult

2009-10-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today my niece is here for the morning. She's three.

And busy.

We call her Busy B.

Because her name is Isabella. But Bella. And she's BUSY.

And I'm not three.

So far we've done playdough, we've played outside in the courtyard, we've played American Girl,

we've drawn pictures, we've had donut holes, we've watch Playhouse Disney, we've danced, we've played with the dog and said goodbye to Chase and Chloe as they went to school and now we are drawing pictures.

All in an hour and a half.

So, what I'm saying here is, she's busy. And I love her with every fiber of my being, COMPLETELY in love.

But, can I ask you a question?

Is it bedtime yet?

I wish it was MY birthday

2009-10-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

It's a little know fact here, but in my real life everyone knows I love to wrap a present. LOVE it. I don't profess to be the best, I just profess my love of it.

Sometimes a gift idea is readily at hand and I know just how I'm going to wrap it. But more often than not, I agonize over every detail. This particular gift was 2 hours of shopping for the gift wrap, which I did first because it's my favorite part, and only 20 minutes to choose the gift. And that was a good day.

Then the real fun begins. As soon as I get home, I lay everything out so that I can see it all together. Get a sense for the colors and the patterns. I don't usually know what's going to happen with the wrap until I just begin...

So let's do that, shall we?

As you can see, I have two gifts to wrap. One is symmetrical, one is not.

With symmetrical packages, always line up your folds for a nice clean finish. (The stripes were not going to line up and I just made myself be ok with that. If this is a detail that will matter, use a solid or an allover pattern instead) This was a gift for a nine year old so I used invisible tape and rubbed it until it really was almost invisible. If this was for an adult I may have used double sided tape or even decorative tape or elegant stickers of some sort. The devil's in the details.

Speaking of details, run your fingers along the package for crisp edges.

This is how I manage tape. I always sit on the floor when wrapping. So I pull up this tiny chair and put it use with tabs of tape along the rung and scissors on the seat so I am not constantly looking for them.

Now on to the odd shaped package....I should mention that I always fold over the leading edge of the paper

so that I end up with a straight, crisp edge on the back of the package.

Houston, we have a problem! OOPS! Miss Measurement at her finest. Not to worry, this can be fixed.

As you can see, I slipped in a piece of gift wrap to cover the gap. Then I tightly taped down the edges that were never going to meet. After that I cut out and neatly creased another panel to cover the entire bottom of the package. The reason I couldn't and didn't start over with a fresh piece of wrap was because it was a small roll and I just had to use what was at hand, and it wasn't a critical gift. If had been a very important gift, I would have gone back to the store for a new roll and started over.

See? Not too bad!

I tend to stack gifts quite a bit. I am mortified to even think about how long it took me struggling with moving parts before I finally figured out to apply some tape rolls to the back! Now I can flip the stack around and play with the ribbon till the cows come home. I've even used scrapbook adhesive if I really need it to stay put. Like for a wedding gift that may be moved from place to place over the course of the event.

Ribbons and embellishments make me swoon.

I found these darling mini chalkboards at Cost Plus World Market as well. Perfect gift tag!

While darling, they are boring just as they are. So I dabbed a thick layer of glue around the frame...

And sprinkled on a generous layer of turquoise colored glitter.

Using pink chalk I wrote my message and laced black ribbon through the two top holes.

I also dotted on tiny spots of glue onto the gift wrap itself and sprinkled with glitter.

I didn't care for that so much in the end. Bearing in mind who it was intended for,

I figured it couldn't hurt!

Have a gift that needs to be presented? I'm your girl...

What's for dinner?

2009-10-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Chicken Masala with Coconut Rice, oven roasted corn on the cob and Naan bread.

If you could only but sniff my kitchen. Wouldn't that be so amazing? If we could make our monitors like a scratch'n'sniff sticker? Remember those?!

All of my ingredients were purchased at Trader Joe's. They have delectable Indian spiced simmer sauces that are as good as any restaurant I've been to. The Naan comes frozen in packs of 4 and take literally 3 minutes in the oven to thaw. Coconut Rice is like having dessert with dinner. It's the perfect balance to the Masala's savory sensibilities.

Give this a try sometime. I think you'll love it!

First, cook your chicken 90%.

Add your simmer sauce and cover. The longer you simmer, the better.

You could certainly cut your chicken into bite sized pieces or serve whole.

Using Basmati or Jasmine rice and coconut milk and toasted coconut flakes, try the recipe below as a wonderful base for the chicken.

Coconut Jasmine Rice

serves 4-6 as side dish

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar 

1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt) 

2 cups jasmine(or basmati) rice, washed and drained well 

1 1/2 cups good, thick coconut milk (shake can to mix) 

1 1/2 cups water 

1/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Heat butter a medium sized, heavy saucepan over medium heat. When butter is melted, add brown sugar and salt, stir until dissolved. Turn heat to high, add rice and stir until all grains coated evenly. Add coconut milk and water. Stir.

When boiling, immediately cover with tight fitting lid, turn heat to medium-low and simmer undisturbed for 20 minutes. Remove pot from heat but do not open lid. Really, no peeking! Let sit for 10 minutes.

While rice is cooking, toast coconut flakes on a dry skillet over medium high heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning, remove from pan as soon as coconut is golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Recipe from: SteamyKitchen

Don't Forget the Naan Bread!

I have to make myself a note every time!

And lastly I made oven roasted corn on the cob. It just couldn't be more simple and it's the only way I cook corn now! Simply take your corn, husk and silks and all, and put it in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes. The taste is so wonderful and the silk practically falls off the cob.

Not because I'm lazy

2009-10-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

But because this gal has already blogged(linked to what you see below as to give proper credit without confusion) this perfume so very well, how could I do it better?

Especially since I haven't tried it.

But after reading this review? I not only have to try it, I may have to wear it like a costume, eat like a dessert, dream of it like a hot fantasy.

Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté

...a poised heartbreaker with curves in all the right places.

My friend Georgie calls me “the checker”. This is in reference to my compulsively methodical style of shopping. If I spy a darling frock that begs closer examination, I will try on all 3...or 5...or 10 available in my size to determine which one fits most exactly. And then I won’t buy it.

“But you’ve been out for hours!” Georgie will screech when I swing by with a dinky shopping bag containing a single hair clip. “What have you been doing?”

Trouble is, I’m never really sure. I go into a trance as I become one with all merchandise. I’m like a forest nymph melding with nature - but with harsher lighting and less actual nature. As I try to piece together the day’s tour of clothes, makeup, perfume, books, whatever, Georgie interrupts.

“You’re a checker! You check things. You need to start leaving tags on everything you look at: ‘Checked by Katie’!”

Very amusing.

I was doing my checking gig the other day at Nordstrom, when I happened upon the new Laura Mercier limited edition, Minuit Enchanté parfum. The SA gave me the spiel: a limited edition flanker to Nuit Enchantées eau de parfum, with deep incense and wood accords.

Deep incense and wood accords? As my redneck husband likes to say, “Words to my ears!” I never met an incense I didn’t like, and after I sniffed the blotter, I turned to ask the SA for a sample. She had vanished.

As I waited for her to reappear, I slipped into a checking trance. I knew it was bad when another SA returned from a lunch break and said, “You’re still here?" Less a question than an accusation, it seemed to me. But before she had a chance to call Security, the Laura Mercier lady reappeared and made me a sample.

After checking Minuit Enchanté extensively in the privacy of my own home, I can report the following:

This is a retro-fab oriental, rich but dry, with spicy woods sounding a Lauren Bacall low whistle into the space above your skin. There’s an aromatic Coca Cola accord that links it to what I think of as “brunette orientals” like Estée Lauder Youth Dew and Ralph Lauren Notorious.

Pine-y juniper, along with the hot sweetness of allspice and ginger, put the snap in Minuit Enchanté’s bra strap. A mild nutmegginess foreshadows the woods that lay ahead. Full-bodied florals - rose, tuberose and jasmine with a dash of peach - remind you that this dame is still a lady.

There’s a suggestion of cream, but not in an overt, “lick the froth from my smoky thighs”Shalimar kind of way. The milkiness here is subtler, playing Miss Congeniality to the spices and woods, encouraging the more masculine elements to pull together and make a pretty picture with the flowers. A just-sweet-enough vanilla steers the composition towards gourmand territory.

All my favorite “nummy notes” really put the grrr in ME’s purr: animalic labdanum, musks and oud, syrup-y benzoin, amber and myrrh, and the likeable Jonas Brothers of woods: cedarwood, sandalwood and guaiacwood.

This is a pure parfum, with the emphasis on plushness as it languidly lifts off the skin. As is often the case with parfum, the ride is well upholstered, with no sharp springs to jab you in the bum, and no clunky gear shifts along the way. It occurs to me that ME is what I wanted the pleasant-but-tepid Ralph Lauren Notorious to be: a poised heartbreaker with curves in all the right places.

Minuit Enchanté: “Checked by Katie”

Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté parfum is available from Nordstrom at $90 for 50ml

And is the flacon not beautiful? I NEED this. I too need curves in all the right places. Desperately.

How EVER will I spend my fortune?

2009-10-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is now published and in circulation.

SUPER!

Here are the two items that I'm hot for:

The 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition for $150K

Or, OR, OR

I could have this sweet ride;

Customized Cupcake Car for $25K

(But the best part is the description. Oh my goodness, whomever input this type must have been DYING of laughter!!! Seriously, I'd be a menace if this was my To Do for the day.)

"Put on your matching hat, slip under the muffin top of your Cupcake Car, and let the world figure itself out for awhile. Get (or give) the sheer, joyful chaos of a gift that is mind-blowing, triple-dog-dare, double-infinity forever cool. Make the kids or grandkids literally squeal with joy. Bring it to work and buzz the breakroom. Crash parades! Putter about the ‘hood. Ever had a crowd of kids chasing after you just for the crazy gleeful heck of it? (No worries, the top speed is a comfy-safe 7 mph.) What’s it made of? A 24-volt electric motor, a heavy-duty battery, sheet metal, wire, fabric, wood…and mad genius. Launched at Burning ManSM as a cooperative art car project, the Cupcake Car sprang from the fevered mind of Bay Area artist Lisa Pongrace and her less-rules-more-laughs posse of artists and techno geeks. Yours will be tricked out with your favorite topping, so start thinking flavors."

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I can hardly wait to take my kids to school in this getup. I'll be stylin' cruising up the I-17 in my muffin top and matching hat. Oh, yeah, every single truck driver is going to be slamming his hand on his steering wheel wishing he'd picked up this rig instead. Especially if I turn on my favorite double-infinity forever cool song and crank the hyper bass. I'd be all; "Don't be hatin', man! Just don't"

Picture it, let it soak in. Yeah, it's good, right?

But can I just ask you? What in thee heck makes someone call an MPH limit "Comfy-Safe"? What happens if you go, say, 9.34 mph? What kind of safety level would you be at then? Or comfy factor for that matter?

And also, whomever is doing whatever after sliding under my muffin top is entirely up to me and shall remain private, thank you.

.....crash parades....honestly.....like, who doesn't dream about doing that...."I wish I could crash a parade. If only I had a cupcake car. My life sucks!!"

If I was smart, I'd let Kristina at Pulsipher Predilections have a go at this one. She's so brilliant, she'd do it justice. Laugh at me like you'd laugh like her. It'll only cost ya nothin'!

Somebody please help me!

2009-10-11T05:31:00.003-07:00

I heard the new Britney song on the radio today. I didn't mean to. But there it was.

And now? This is what I hear, in my head, perpetually.

Singin' 1, 2, 3

Not only you and me...

Are - you in...

Singin' 1, 2, 3

*something akin to sensual surprised gasping sound here*

Not even in order. Not even full sentences. Just a sick loop of exactly what you see above.

Madness.

I'm a good person. I only curse at people on the inside. I even occasionally use hair product....why me?

Give me the friggin' "it's a small world" deal any day of the week. I mean it.

Oh to be young again. Or not.

2009-10-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

So most afternoons I drive home a friends daughter from school. Which is only a couple of blocks away from my home. Sometimes my daughter, Chloe, likes to run or walk home from there. Fine by me, she's 9. It's not like I have to do it with her.

Yesterday was one of those Chloe walks/runs home days. She did great, running at a good pace, easy breathing, long strides. She was in running club last year so she takes it pretty seriously when she's running. Form and function, Ms. Shannon would be proud. I would be too but let's just agree that form and function don't exist in my repertoire, much less running. I leave that stuff to more qualified individuals. I don't need that kind of glory, I just don't.

She arrived at the house to find that I had not pulled the car into the garage. I rolled down the window and said hop in! I was surprising them with a quick run down to Krispy Kreme(doughnuts) at the front of the neighborhood. Yeah, how's that for a mixed message; encourage exercise and reward with doughnuts. High five!

As we make our way down there(3.5 minutes) she's going on and on about how she tries to keep good form, breathe properly so she won't get a side stitch, how it's important to cool down properly, blahbadeeblahblah....(see form/function/glory statement above)

So we get to the shop and she goes: You know, Mommy, it's a good thing for kids to run but adults shouldn't do it as much because it would probably just hurt.

YOU SAID IT SISTER! Let the truth be known! Cast it wide!

Pass the damn Boston Creme...

If I was a banner

2009-10-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

I'd look something like this:

How cute is that? Almost like you could eat it. Not that I'd want you nibbling on my knee cap or shoulder blade but you get my point. I'd be adorable if I was a banner and I looked liked this. Now, if Brad P. wanted to nibble on my inner forearm, that would be ok. I suppose.

The best part is that you can have this banner FOR FREE! If you surf on over to EverythingEtsy.com and post up to 3 comments that satisfy the requirements(leave a comment about your favorite Meg creation, subscribe to EE and either comment about the giveaway on Twitter/Facebook or a blog post).

The giveaway ends Monday, October 12th. Make you sure you get in on this!!

Scoot! Go! Shooo!

*Be sure to take some time to explore both EverythingEtsy.com and Meg's blog . I am so certain you will need a bowl of popcorn to keep you company...ENJOY!*

It's the weirdest thing

2009-10-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have a good two handfuls of blogs that I like to read. A few that I comment on. And I have my own blog, obviously....

When I read other people's blogs, and I feel compelled to comment, I find I have something to say. I find it energizing and soothing both to compose or just let 'er rip. Either way, I end feeling like I've done something for myself. Something for someone else, with my heart, with my words.

But then I come home, here. And it's just weird! Bizarre! I just scratch my head because I don't have anything to say of real meat. No daily special. No patents pending. Like my "arts and crafts" skillz, I don't feel like I have original genius.

Boy I sure wish I did.

Maybe I'm not meant to have my own blog. Maybe I'm just supposed to be like a blog fairy, alighting here and there and leaving a bit of me behind as I move on to the next creative spot. Let me be clear, alighting amongst the blogs that abound surely fills me up, makes me think, sparks my heart and soul. I surely gain more than I give. But it's also clear that my Sprinkle A Day is more like a Molecule a Few Times a Week....

So, help a girl out, share with me your most favoritist blogs. I've got my wings on and I'm ready to go a-Fairying.

My view on life is forever altered

2009-10-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Tragedies seem a dime a dozen these days. So that sometimes we don't even register them into our deeper consciousness. We ration out our empathy so that there is enough to make it through the evening's news cycle-local, national and global.

But now I have it heard it all. Now my life is completely altered and I don't know if I'll ever feel safe enough to read or watch the news again. One more bad story and I'll have to go buy that Bubble I keep thinking about cloistering myself into.

Just this very morning, as reported by a very astute and up and coming news person here in Phoenix, a woman's house was broken into. This poor woman worked hard all day(I assume, didn't say, but we'll give her the benefit of my guess) and rewarded herself with a mid-week slumber party at her girlfriends house. I mean, we all deserve a pillow fight on a Wednesday night, right? I think in some states snack foods are tax deductible if purchased and consumed on a Wednesday night under these circumstances. Check your local statutes....

ANYWAY, she arrives home at a respectable 6:45 am so she can get ready for another day of nose to the grind(I guess) to find both her front and back doors open, kitchen cabinets open and her dresser drawers opened and semi-tossed. As anyone would, she called the police to report this invasive and scary incident. Can you imagine? I would be like: AND WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO CLEAN THIS MESS? Me, I suppose. It's always me....

After doing a thorough inspection of her belongings, you'll NEVER guess what was taken from her. I mean, of all things, what monster would come into a woman's house and take something so sacred? Something so precious and necessary to meaningful life?

I'm still reeling....

the b@$&rd!

There is no rationing of the empathy for this tragedy. It's straight to full on outrage and complete sympathy. Can you imagine her life now, this poor woman? From now on, every package of life sustaining goodness will be marred by the memory of the callousness of one man's selfish, and illegal, swiping of her Ho Ho's one peaceful Wednesday night.

Let this be a lesson to us all...guard your goodies. (and beware your local news)

It's a week gone by

2009-09-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

And I'm cleaning again. The same things I cleaned last week, as a matter of fact!

I'm wrestling with how I feel about that. I feel happy to have my house to the point where I can just up and reclean it. Not have to plow through the piles and reorganize everything before I even get to the cleaning part. But boy oh man and sakes alive, is it hard work! Exhausting and sweaty and tiring work. Oh, sure the end result is a clean house that leaves me feeling grateful to be spending time in it rather than unsettled and stressed and resentful at the mess. It's a good thing.

Except that I hate to do it so very much.

I know I should just make peace with it. I don't have to be happy with my chores, but I don't need to keep myself company with mental chatter that just eggs the other me on with feelings of angst and disdain. I don't need to keep repeating how much I don't want to be doing this, again. And I certainly don't need to keep reminding myself that I've been doing this whole Stay At Home And Clean Up the Mess gig for the better part of 13 years.

Maybe I'm just in karmic payback part of the cycle because of the past 2 years or so that I basically said to hell with it. I'd get the kids off to school and come home and look around and just give up, emotionally. Find any reason or no reason at all to not do what I should. Let the housekeepers come and clean the house, yes, but I beyond that I didn't do much of anything. It was a tough 2 years, watching the kids grow and not need me anymore, admitting I am who I've made myself. Finding out that I didn't know what my destiny was, is. Is this all I am? A cleaning, shopping, cooking machine?

Now the housekeepers don't come and I have to decide. What kind of machine am I? And am I ok with being a machine? I read a blog yesterday that helped me to say yes, I am ok with being home doing the things that need to be done.

But I still hate to do it. I know, I know, that makes no sense, contradicting myself like that. But it's true. I guess it means I'm still trying to find the grace to say what I am.

I am a mom that stays home while her older kids go to school and her husband goes to work. My job really is, now, to clean the house and feed the family and attend to the schedule. My job is not find excuses anymore, I'm not under the gun of toddlerhood or helping with homework or volunteering for snack time. I don't wear an apron, my hair is not shiny and the neighbors do not feel compelled to feel jealous. And I most certainly would NOT make a good TV sitcom. But this is who I am, defined not by my character so much as by my character letting me be defined by the things I do or help everyone else do.

Anybody have any helpful hints or tips as to make peace with what needs to be done? Have you found a way to face the reality that there is no avoiding housework with a modicum of grace?

While you leave me wonderful comments, I'm going to go be mortified that I don't even have the proper tools at home to clean the toilets. And then find another way to clean them. Because they need to be.

A book is a beautiful thing

2009-09-29T02:37:00.000-07:00

Especially when it looks like this:

Simple Joys Paperie is a darling Etsy shop filled with beautiful paper goods like this, handcrafted from antique books and crepe paper, by Lana.

I want to do darling stuff, too! I look at creations like this and it just dumbfounds me how so many people are so originally creative. It really does. I'm a copy cat creator and trust me, most often, it ain't darling!

She also has a website where she sells all kinds of other great, I mean darling, creations like dolls and cards and original artwork. Please pop on over and take a look. Even if for nothing else than to appreciate someone else's vision....

I just love finding super people, living their dream of being an artist of their own making. So inspiring.

If I could be an artist I think I would like be a party/event planner type of artist. What would your heart most like to create?

Another April Addition

2009-09-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

~That was good alliteration! Yay me!~

has a new designer working for her thusly expanding the whole April Awesomeness factor by the power of 2. For this week only, to celebrate Jessica's arrival into April's orbit as a designer, April is offering a whopping 50% off all products she offers! Yeah, honey, that's what I said,(said a la Karen from Will & Grace)! 50%!!!

Feeling blah? Feeling blue? Feeling like you need a kick in the pants(blog layout wise, I mean)? Scoot over to April and fill out a new client form. I guarantee nothing.

But they will... ;)

If you're going to do it, do it Ultimate

2009-09-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

A car wash, that is.

There is something about this experience that just soothes me.

Being surrounded by pink and purple and blue suds. Especially if I'm alone. As in, ALONE. No kids, no music, nothin'. There are just times when my brain, my whole being, just craves being desensitized. For some reason, this experience really works! I am fairly anal about keeping Baby clean(ish), as a result this car wash and I have a very special working relationship.

Ok, ok, so it's not special. And it's not particularly a relationship. But it does work.

What is your version of Relaxation Oddities?

You HAVE to read this blog~

2009-09-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

This blog is hilarious! I mean, really and truly funny. FUNNY. She's very creative in her thinking, I hope you love her as much as I do!

Pee before you sit down to read it. Promise me you will!

She didn't have a blog button so I just grabbed the header graphic and so it looks a little funny(I started to type phunny to go with the P thing she has going on!!!! hee!).

I love to read funny blogs. What is your favorite kind to read?

Look what happens when I'm in charge

2009-09-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

of cleaning.....whooo weeee! Holy Mess Batman!

You can't see them but there are four clerestory windows on that far wall, and I DID climb up there and wipe out the sills and windexed the windows. AND I have the slip cover for the chair in the washer. AND I vacuumed the liner on the chair and all of the pillows. AND I dusted off the lamp shades. AND I moved the dried mesquite tree out of the corner so I can take it outside to dust it(good times).

I am going to sit here and believe that all the world operates this way. To clean properly you must make a righteous mess first. And if that cliche about godliness holds true, after today I am going to be a saint above all saints for sure!

And just to make sure I get good and cocky, I am going to take these:

down to shake them out. (The lighting is for crap in this picture. I changed a setting in some deep menu on the camera and I can't find it to fix it. Saints don't typically have to deal with menus.)

Now, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking "I smell alcohol on my breath, you're drunk!".

True.

A really fun giveaway from:

2009-09-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Rebecca lives in Salt Lake City and she is very creative. Artful. Stylish. If you were in high school you might just have to be all jealous of her. But since you aren't(and neither am I), you have to love her. I insist.

Anyway, she came upon a really great resource in her area called: Orson Gygi . They are working together to do a really fun giveaway through Rebecca's blog. 2 actually. If you live in Salt Lake City, you could win cooking classes. And if you don't? A fun bundle of cooking tools and goodies. Scoot your toosh on over to Blue Cricket (click on her logo above) to see for yourself!

Then scoot on over to Orson Gygi to see if you need to buy something. I'm pretty sure you do.

1 Afternoon. 4 Ideas of Fun.

2009-09-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Typical idea of fun

Chase is far less conventional

No one should be surprised by his idea

NEW SHOES! I win!

One way to say goodbye

2009-09-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

A super neat friend is leaving Phoenix for California tomorrow. Yesterday was our goodbye day and it hurt. A lot. The only thing constant about life is change and I've learned that lesson well. But that learning does not make the letting go any easier, for me.

I spent yesterday making a card to give her as a token. I'm no scrapping genius, by far. But I followed my heart, allowed for imperfections and was happy with the results in the end. Although looking at the image of the card now, the swallow just looks blue and blobby!

Using my creativity to express my love for Shannon was cathartic. I felt meditative while I allowed the card to come together. Then spent afterwards. I've felt energized upon completion of some projects and empty after others. Maybe it just depends for what purpose I'm opening myself up.

I think I need to do more of this kind of meditation. Mr. Gelbaugh likes to literally meditate, I like to have a good project.

I don't even mind that my handwriting is all funky. I was shaky while I was writing it, from emotion.

And that was ok with me. Learning to be imperfect and authentic is important.

Being short is funny

2009-09-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

This is my doggie, our doggie, Flower:

Oh my gosh, she is so cute.

She does this thing, because she always goes fast wherever she's going (unless it's 9pm and it's her bedtime, which is when she drags her exhausted behind to her bed without being asked. I can relate. Totally.), and her little legs are, uh, little. As she scoots around corners, to whatever destination of her choosing, she hitches and skips the inside back leg to help navigate the angle! It cracks me up every single time. I'd take a picture for you, but I can't. She's too fast!

I should try and video it, it's that funny. To me. Which, by extension, makes it valuable. To you.

She's actually nearly wiped out a couple of times because she's tearing into the laundry room so fast to get to the garage door to help me go collect the children from school. Her favorite responsibility. See?

~Please ignore the granny circle mirror on the side mirror. I did actually need it on that vehicle.~

I'm back. Pass the green chili.

2009-09-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe is NOT for nonstretchable waistbands....is all I'm sayin....

There was a whole lot of this sort of thing going on for a full week.

Also? If Billy EVER takes a picture like this:

of me? Yeah, let's hope he doesn't.

(Above picture is not of me. I do not know how to blow glass, despite what you've heard)

My favorite picture of the week in Santa Fe

And it's not even of the kids! Huh...

So long, fair well...

2009-09-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

Off to Santa Fe we go!

Miss me just a little while I'm gone?

If I practice, I could hit a High B

2009-09-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, another new show to have a guilty pleasure for. AWESOMENESS!

Is it truly pathetic to wish I was in high school again? Only this time I'd have boobs that count, hair that shines and a voice that rocks so I can sing with the hot football star? Yeah, I think it is.

Don't care.

I wonder if Mr. Gelbaugh would wear a football uniform on Saturday night (This would work okay, I guess)

Brilliant is my new favorite word.

2009-09-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Heather and I am addicted to jewelry. I require significant daydream and window shopping time in order to function. I admit that I gain great joy from looking at pretty things on my fingers, wrists, neck and ears. I also admit that I am never satisfied and that if I could buy a new piece of jewelry every day I wouldn't say no.

What about giving money back to those that need it? What about using my resources for good eco practices and making a smaller carbon footprint? What about all of that you ask? Does not my superficial addiction stand in stark contrast to these things?

All of those things do matter. They matter a lot. And it finally matters a lot to me, too. The way I see it? Today's post and I are a match made in heaven.

Do I need platinum and diamonds every day? No. But for those that days that I do? Brilliant Earth is the place I will choose to shop from now on. (or someplace similar)

Check it out, get ready to go NO WAY! (you may not, in fact, say NO WAY! But I hope you'll a least go; Coooooooool. I didn't say NO WAY! I said Cooooooooool. Exclamations are individual and will vary.)

Brilliant Earth is this really awesome company that sources gold and platinum from RECYCLED materials...old jewelry, electronics and industrial metals. Recycled metals do not degrade in the process so it's perfect! Gold mining is one of the most destructive processes to the earth and surrounding water sources, so that makes this jewelry company, in a word, brilliant!

The diamonds and sapphires used by Brilliant Earth are mined in environmentally responsible processes and in fair trade, as well as BE maintaining an uninterrupted chain of custody from mine to retail so that there is no question as to where the stones come from and what those stones actually are. Their website does an EXCELLENT job of educating you without making your eyes roll back in your head. (seriously, who actually likes their eyes to roll back into their heads? Do you? I do not.) They also make you feel inspired to make these kinds of choices...which is sort of self-serving if you tend to be cynical. I do not.

If I'm not buying cottage industry, it should be from a company doing something worthwhile, right? (On top of all the other goodness, they donate 5% of their profits to Africa.)

You may wonder, well that is all well and good, but their stuff must be ugly. I mean, you can't have good practices and good design, right? WRONG! Here's what I would buy tomorrow if I could:

~Mr. Gelbaugh will be thrilled. Mr. Gelbaugh also says I type too much into my posts. he can kiss it while he buys me something sprinklie. I mean sparklie!

Sparklies you can feel good about. I like it.

~now, if we could only come up with baked goods that leave such an important legacy (on my) behind~

I feel blucky

2009-09-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

I don't feel like posting today.

I have gremlins in my mind and they are running all amuck and getting their muddy feet all over the place.

I also have a tummy ache because my bank balance appears to be waaaaaaaaay off to where it should be and not to the richer! So, you know, that's a bummer.

It's a shame my clock says it still Too Far Away From Five O'clock.

Better luck tomorrow! Ciao y'all

Something else I have to love, I don't have a choice

2009-09-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Brazilets is a company out of Denver, Colorado. They sell strips of brightly colored ribbons marked with the words Senhor do Bonfim means Our Lord of a Good End.

(From Brazilets blog) ‘must style green wear,’ Brazilets are ancient bracelets from Bahia, Brazil that are stylishly worn through Latin America, yet have retained their spiritual significance. It is believed that when the material wears down and the Brazilets fall off naturally, your wish will come true.

Brazilets are committed to protecting the Amazon Rainforest, and so far, they have planted a couple thousand trees and are working toward 1,000,000 trees by 2010. As Kael explains, “I was inspired even more as the economy and environment keeps affecting everyone's life. I thought it would be great to bring something unique and special that are known for their miraculous healing powers.”

For each bracelet they sell 20%(I believe) of the proceeds goes to replanting trees in the Amazon. Awesome!

If you want to read a more indepth article of why these bracelets are SO COOL, read here.

I can't wait to buy a bunch of these in many colors. Wouldn't this be a really super New Years Eve tradition? I believe that is exactly what I'm going to do with my family this year.

They are available for purchase from other vendors but I'll be buying mine from Brazilets as I love to stand behind a company that is affecting positive change by the sale of a meaningful products. If you ever purchase some for yourself, please share a photo of you wearing them with me!

Rings around your collar, only fancier

2009-08-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

I wish it was my birthday today because I would surely want a trinket from this website! This one specifically, or this one.

I saw a necklace posted on a blog I follow and breathed that breathy sigh we do when we see something we love and very possibly have to have. Of course, when you do that sigh, that means you have to instantly research it and find out how much it costs and how you can finagle a bagel with cream cheese to get it.

I can think of a few things off the top of my head that I could, and likely would, do to increase my chances. Hey, you do what you feel is best. I won't judge. Or snicker! I might even be impressed. No, seriously, I would be, I'm not that creative.

I've been staring at women's necks for at least a year now, oggling those precious little mini necklaces that sit right at the hollow of your neck with dainty little charms. I think women everywhere would appreciate it greatly if my husband would just buy me my own already.

Only, I need mine longer. If I had a necklace strangling me all day I might have to go on ahead and lose my mind.

~like that's anything unusual~

P.S.
If you like the website I've linked for you, would you go on ahead and spread the word? I think it's super important to support cottage industry. If you tell 3 people and those three people tell three people and those three....this artsy lady would have a nice little way to help support her family. And imagine how fulfilled she would feel as an artist having all those orders to fill? (Her blog has a button you could put on your page)

I need a cottage industry.

I learned something new!

2009-08-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

All by myself! I'm so excited!!

That post down there, see it? With April in her sunny trench coat? The first time I posted the graphic, it was just an image copy. But I wanted you to be able to click on it and go directly to her blog instead of having to go over to my sidebar and click on her button.

So I copied the html code for the active button and edited the HTML for the blog post to contain the active button!

ALL BY MYSELF!

I actually said, outloud, I DID IT! And then turned around to see if anyone noticed my accomplishment.

I'm home alone.

April Showers in the middle of summer!

2009-08-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

April has such a darling website. And she's very, very funny. Take a moment to skip on over to her blog and see why I love visiting her daily! Aren't her graphics adorable? I love them.

I want a Button for people to grab and put on their blog too!

I wonder if she really wears a yellow trench coat....

I want a yellow trench coat too!

On a MUCH lighter, and more positive note:

2009-08-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

I had another RAOK moment last night. Hang on....

{I just had a thought(gasp, oh my, I did!!), I don't know if I necessarily believe the new "thing" of being nice, of being thoughtful, of being polite, of being considerate, of being more aware of the world beyond your own personal bubble, of taking the time to extend yourself, should really be quantified as Random Acts of Kindness. It's trendy, sure. It's catchy, yes. And it does provide a buzz to create a more positive world, which is desperately needed, I concur. But why is being or doing all of the things above something we need to celebrate? Shouldn't this just be a normal way of living? Do we really need to be applauded for things we should be doing anyway? Should we be applauded for them? We should be aware of them so that we continue to do them, I think. But maybe we should push harder, stretch further, and move RAOK into a new realm. If you have to really get out of yourself to be or do kind, I think then it's cause for celebration. Not for yourself, personally, but that as humans we are still able and willing to do those things. Hope and happiness lives on! Maybe it shouldn't be RAOK but perhaps FHFA, Furthering Happiness For All. Because we should, because it's the right thing to do. We all live with enough pain or are reminded of others pain enough that we should try harder, get a little dirty, a bit uncomfortable. Maybe then we'll know we are really affecting change. Bringing hope, happiness, a hand in ways that really stick.

But we can surely start with RAOK. But let's not stop there. }

ANYWAY, (boy, she's in a mood today, folks, ain't she!) I got to go on a mini-date to Starbuck's last night with Billy. Just he and I. A quiet 2 hours with a cup each and room to talk. Or not.

Last night, when the sun went down, it wasn't that especially hot out for a change. A little tiny breeze, just enough to remind you that air does exist for more than just breathing. So we sat outside. There were only just a couple of people scattered around the patio, altogether a very quiet atmosphere. So I picked the big table. It was just the two of us but it was really that quiet that I didn't feel like I was being selfish in the choosing of the table.

ANYWAY, after some time a larger group, 5 or 6, entered the shop. And they came out. They went over to Pizza Hut, and they came out. And came back to Starbuck's to sit down with a few pizza boxes. It didn't occur to me exactly right away but after a moment or two I noticed that they were trying to fit around one of the smaller tables by dragging up some chairs, but they were also eyeing our big table and the two of us sitting there.

Now, I could have pretended not to notice. We were there first. Who's to say who can sit at what table and who cannot? And they are grown adults, if they wanted our table, they can Use Their Words. But still, it was just the two of us. So without a hesitation, I asked them to please come sit at our table and we would move. They did the perfunctory, "Oh, no. We couldn't" and I did the customary: "I insist! It's really no bother at all" (and it wasn't). But was so nice was that they were very thankful for the moment of shared happiness. And so was I. And table exchange we did.

In the interest of honesty, if they hadn't been able to acknowledge our willingness to be fair in switching tables, I don't think it would have bothered me. I don't know what the difference was between last night and the other day at the chocolate store. Maybe it was because I had Chloe with me then and it matters to me that she sees adults modeling good behavior and good adults validating her modeling adult(which is to say, less childish) behavior.

Either way, it was a pleasant moment for all of us. Let's all try to remember today that cliché: It is better to give than to receive. It almost always is.

Jane Nelson spoke wisely of parenting when she said:

2009-08-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse? Think of the last time you felt humiliated or treated unfairly. Did you feel like cooperating or doing better?

I would like to share an article I read today with you. It touched a core nerve in me. Please comment below if you have something to share or add or enlighten.

Arizona panel: Ban paddling of school kids/by Emily Gersema /The Arizona Republic

I've condensed the article to show the main points, the original is much too lengthy for a blog post...

Arizona should forbid corporal punishment in schools, a state education task force has recommended. "The reason for this is that it is punitive and does not redirect the (student's) behavior to something more positive," Remus said. "The student does not learn the appropriate behavior through this method of punishment."

Remus added that the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act urges school staff to manage bad behaviors through positive techniques that inspire student to act respectfully and appropriately in class.

Arizona is among 20 states that allow school districts to mete out corporal punishment, usually paddling, to control children. About 15% of the districts in Arizona allow corporal punishment.

The frequency of corporal punishment in Arizona is difficult to gauge; schools aren't required to report it to any state or federal agency or auditor. However, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights conducts a survey of programs and practices every few years, calling upon districts to volunteer the information. The agency found 13 students were paddled in Arizona in 2006, according to its most recent survey.

The international group Human Rights Watch has issued two reports in the past year examining the agency's data and comparing state counts. A lead researcher on both reports, Alice Farmer, said Arizona's corporal-punishment rate is small, especially compared with other states such as Texas, where more than 49,000 students were punished with paddling in 2006, or Mississippi, which reported 38,000 students were paddled. (HOLY COW!)

Farmer said the human-rights organization believes the numbers underrepresent the true scope of how often and how many children receive corporal punishment. The Office for Civil Rights reports the number of students who receive corporal punishment per year, she said, but "if a student receives 10 incidents of corporal punishment in a year, that is only listed as one time." Through interviews with students, Human Rights Watch found several students were paddled or swatted multiple times during the school year.

This punishment often only made the students angrier and more likely to misbehave, Farmer said.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said: "I've always felt corporal punishment is inappropriate in schools. Only parents should be able to do that."(Please don't even get me started about this guy. This is the most thoughtful quip he could come up with to be quoted on the subject? Really? I'd sure like his salary to say that!)

And this is the currrent resutls of the poll azcentral.com posted to go along with the article:

Do you think use of corporal punishment is an effective means of discipline in schools?

C.) In some cases. It depends on the child and the offense being punished.

50.11%

A.) Yes. Kids that don’t learn respect at home need to learn it somewhere!

28.98%

B.) No. It just breeds fear and intimidation inside the classroom.

20.91%

Total Votes: 942

I have to say, I was completely astonished to learn that Arizona is a corporal punishment state. In this day and age! When the ability to become evolved and enlightened is available to each and every person with a mind to think and a heart to choose. While it really saddens and concerns me to see the results of the poll, it doesn't surprise me. I don't feel much, if any, real connection with my fellow AZ constituents. To clarify why I feel that; I am by far and away not in the leading demographic here in terms of political and religious views.

For a long time I've just been quiet about voicing how I really feel about issues because of the disconnect one feels when not a part of the dominant belief system. However, after reading this article, I no longer feel compelled to keep quiet for the sake of polite society. (To be more precise, the results of the poll is what I am emotionally connecting with more so than the article itself.) After all, I live here too. My children go to school here too. And our family's views and core values and beliefs are just as valid as anyone else's. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to pick a fight. But if I'm faced with a conversation with a parent that believes that their child deserves physical punishment at the hands of anyone outside of the home, if at all, you can bet your cute behind I won't hold back just what I think.

My heart is very much alive with the interest of my children and what they need and require to grow into successful, by their own measure, loving, creative, generous, thoughtful and enlightened adults. I won't stand by for some archaic notion of Paddling to create new, and unneccessary, pain and barriers for my children. I acknowledge my faults in parenting and undue pain I've caused my children from time to time resulting from my own lack of wisdom or courage to be my very best for them at all times. But that is my burden to bear, and my children's as well, and with time I hope we can grow through that burden of pain towards healing together. I would NEVER stand for someone else, that does not have the emotional investment in my children, to interfere with them in that way.

And if I may mention, if my children ever did something so bad as to warrant a teacher to think that sort of punishment at school would be appropriate, call me. I will come and pick them up immediately. And it will be handled with utmost care and gravity at home. The way I see it? If they feel so emboldened to do something like that at school, it's because I've missed something at home. And believe me, I'll be sure to find what was missing. In the way I see fit for our family.

What do you think about this topic? Not looking for anything other than intelligent thoughts and exchange...I may become agitated and riled upon occasion but I don't relish animosity or negativity. If you feel differently than I do, I would love to hear your thoughts and why you feel that way.

*One final note, there is clearly a sense of agitation in my post. It doesn't come singularly from the article and the related poll. There was a whole long list of comments posted by local readers at the bottom of the article stating their thoughts on the matter. It wasn't pretty in so far as I couldn't have disagreed with the arrogance and righteousness poring through my screen more..so I apologize for bringing it in here with me.

What does it say about me? If anything...

2009-08-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

But there is something about turning on an up Jennifer Lopez while I'm home alone. It just gets me there...I have no idea why. I just love when the playlist gets to Loving You from the This is Me...Then. I love the track and her voice all sweet and girly.

Then, some days, it's 50 cent.

I may have an indentity problem when it comes to music.

I may have an identity problem over all.

Eh, who the hell cares. I can be whatever I want, whenever I want. I'm happy with who I am and the path I'm on. I'm happy that I can be varied and versatile.

Sporty Spice one day.

Glamour Girl the next.

(If I could share my Loving You track with you here, I would! If you want it, I'll email you the file. I think I can do that.)

Blinded by your beauty....a tricky look to pull off.

2009-08-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

A photo that was posted online for an entertainment news website was brought to my attention today by a very dear friend that knows me completely. This friend was so thoughtful that when she viewed the article and photos, she instantly thought of me. Wasn't that so sweet of her? As a matter of fact, her exact words were: "This has you written ALL OVER IT!" Isn't that darling?
MK, you are a true friend!

Here's the picture:

Unfortunately, this poor soul isn't wearing a minimizer bra. Which I would. I am tasteful, you see.

Cookies are medicine

2009-08-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

So it's another Monday! Just for fun last night I made healthy cookies for the children's lunchboxes for the week.

They are oatmeal with mixed dried berries and some chocolate chips for good measure. I'd share the recipe with you but to be honest, they weren't that good. I'll have to futz with the ingredients a bit and when I get it just right, I'll be more than happy to share them with you!

I did find this recipe though. And I can't wait to try it! Maybe you should try them first and tell me what you think. Here's a picture of the cookie...

As I sit here, ruminating on the not so good good cookies in my pantry, I'm struck that maybe the proof is in the pudding. As it were. I mean, they ARE healthy, which is good for the kids. And they AREN'T that great, which keeps me from eating them, which is good for me. So maybe I'll share that recipe with you after all. If this is a recipe that suits a similar need for you!

Now what should I do? The dishes? The floors? The laundry? Oh, all the choices, what's a girl to do?! How about I choose the one that will diminish a body part faster. I could use some diminishing. Which would be easier, really, if all this domesticating didn't make me so hungry...

Why oh why....

2009-08-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Do I never remember my camera? I might actually have stuff to document in this placie-poo if I did!

Like this morning, after I slept for literally 10 minutes, I got up to go get my fruits and veggies from the Bountiful Basket food coop pick up spot in Anthem. I noticed through the lines and waves in my vision that it was actually gray outside! I mean for reals clouds....EVERYWHERE! And the gauge only read 82 degrees on the dashboard! (Usually it reads, by nearly 7 am, Why Do You Even Bother To Look, It Only Makes You Cranky?) So I pull the car out and turn on to Cloud Rd and head west to the freeway, as I came to the top of a little "hill" (which in Phoenix speak means a slight rise, more than bump, less than an incline) and see the "mountains" (which in Phoenix speak means more than "hill" but less than anything you'd need boots to tackle. Which is great because I hate wearing boots. Not that I'd attempt anything that required boots anyway but I'm just sayin', so you have a clear idea of what I'm looking at here.) So the view across to the "mountain" from the top of the "hill" is so pretty, all gray like that and it would have been such a moment to capture on my camera to share here with you all. And by you all I mean mostly just me at the moment but that's never stopped me before....

Now, I know most folks get all bunched up over gorgeous, sunny, colorful sunrises. But to me? I am so sick to pieces with sunny sunrises I could vomit. Like, over it. So this gray morning was absolutely heaven and wonder to my eyes. You could actually see the detail in the "mountainside", the wild grasses yet left alive up there were so green and the cacti looked almost relieved. A picture I tell you!

Then I thought, well, wouldn't these lovely folks love to see what booty I collected this morning for a mere $16.50? I mean, I could tell you about it, but, you know, what would be the fun in that? And it's such a cute site! The tiny little pocket park, with it's little token patch of grass, with a swooping arc of white laundry baskets lined up filled with colorful things to eat, the little stakes sticking up from each one, labeled with numbers to assign those goodies to their new owners.

Next Saturday Morning After I Don't Sleep? I'm bringing my camera.

You may have to remind me.

A take on Millie's Quest

2009-08-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

So Millie is giving herself a challenge to complete five random acts of kindess in a week. (read about it here: http://myrandomactsofkindness.blogspot.com/ ) In the spirit of that quest, I sorta had a RAOK myself just yesterday.

Now, I know that one should live life from a place of authenticity and altruism just as much as possible. But, you know, the Ego is quite vain and if you are anything like myself, your Ego is also a bit stubborn. Not liking to be put under a bushel and all that.

So this is how my RAOK sorta went yesterday.

As you have read, I took my daughter pottery painting after school. I was feeling all happy, happy, joy, joy...the afternoon panned out quite nicely, I must say. After we were done with painting we walked a few store fronts down to Cold Stone Creamery which is sharing a space with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory(all sorts of heavenly evil in the place). Two stores, one register. Not the same line. You order the chocolate in front, the ice cream behind, with the register in between. Just pretend you can visualize that...

So we get our goods and it's really our turn next to pay and get thee heck out of there before one more piece of evilness jumps into my bag and directly onto my rear. But this nice older lady has just finished her ice cream order and slides up to the register. So I tell the gal behind the counter to just go on ahead and ring up the nice older lady first as she has ice cream(it's hot, even inside, it's Phoenix after all). I'm not looking for anything here, just being nice.

But this lady, who clearly should know better, doesn't even glance over to me to acknowledge that I've done a thing in the vicinity of neighborly. She just pays and puts her wallet in her purse. And then walks away! Still not even throwing a small smile to my daughter or myself much less offering thanks to the nice young girl behind the counter.

I just thought; "Well, I'll be..." Truly, that is the all I could think of!

It just makes me wonder, it makes me sad for my daughter and it makes me empathetic to the young girl behind the counter. It was still a nice thing to do, it was considerate and polite and helpful. All things I want my daughter to grow up thinking about as she moves through her world. But the lady surely didn't help out by showing that good things are worth doing. She surely didn't show the young lady behind the counter that giving good customer service are worth the extra effort.

I mean, ultimately, good things are always worth doing. And being good to your customers, in whatever form they present themselves, is always worth the effort. But we are all still human. And we need to show each other we care because when we do that, we fill each other back up again so that we may continue to be and do good. If that doesn't happen, if we are not really and truly enlightened and evolved yet, we get tired. Tapped out. Hurt even, from time to time. We become less likely to want to continue to extend ourselves.

So I had to wonder....what's happened to that older lady, who, really, looked quite pleasant by all accounts, has so forgotten her manners as not even be willing to smile just a little. Especially when there is a 9 year old girl in front of her ready and able to accept a small life lesson in the chocolate/ice cream shop?

(and between you and me, I had an ugly thought. But I let it go and apologized internally right away. Clearly I have some evolving to do....maybe tomorrow. After I do something domestic. Heck, I may even do it before something domestic!)

Wow, that was boring

2009-08-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so yesterday, Friday, was pretty much a bust! What did I do? Well, I got all caught up on my TV watching. Aaaaand, let's see....I ate some healthy stuff. Then I took my daughter, after school, to go pottery painting with my sister and my three year old niece. That was fun! Then I ate some bad stuff.

After that, my daughter and I spent HOURS looking at Halloween costumes for her and dollhouses for Santa to possibly bring this year. (Who the heck knew that after 3 years of being a tomboy, BAM , out of the blue, she likes pink again, wants to be a fairy or an angel for Halloween and wants a dollhouse for Christmas? Obviously I didn't! Not that I'm not thrilled. I am! Completely! Just wary. Because she's also at the age that if I look at something, the whatever I looked at is instantly thrown into the Mom, You Must Be Joking pile. I hate that pile. All the stuff I love ends up there! Kids these days...I swear I never did that. Pipe down back there. I hear you snickering. Be careful or I'll look at you!)

Sometime during all that looking but not looking I Skyped with my Mom, made her laugh. Drank some really mediocre wine (OK! OK! It was 3 glasses. But I drank them fast so it really doesn't count). Chatted with a friend on iChat.

And now I'm here. Doing this. Instead of sleeping.

Did you know that this is the third Friday night in a row that I'm not sleeping? Totally and completely stinks. Mostly because I LOOOOOVE sleeping. But in almost 4 hours I have to get up again to get ready to go get my Bountiful Baskets...so....it's like, why bother? I'll just be really pissed off that I have to wake up again anyway. You know what I'm talking about. When you think you can just squeeze in some sleep, just for the hell of it? Like you think it's going to help you in the long run. Then when you get up because you have to, you feel beyond awful. Wretched even. You've hit the sweet spot in your dreams, the blankets are perfectly warmed and your pillow is situated just the right way. And you can't even stick around to enjoy it. So I'm awake. Because who really wants that kind of anger at 6 am. I do not.

So that was my lovely day. LOTS of domestic stuff not happening like I promised I would. Would not? Whatever.

Happy Friggin' Friday Night!

Nope, still no mental chatter! Isn't that great?

2009-08-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I haven't ACTUALLY cleaned anything yet. It's 1:26, it's early yet. But what I have been doing is making dinner since 10:30! It's French Onion soup, so, you know, that takes a while. Right now the soup is actually done and it smells delicious(said in a very sing songy way, ending on the required high note). I'm boiling up some potato to add to the soup. Oh, I know, so not traditional. But I have another Bountiful Baskets to pick up on Saturday morning. There were so very many potatoes in last Saturday's basket and I just refuse to let them go to waste. So in the pot they go! I'm also roasting up the last 5 or 6. Not sure how or when I'll use them but use them I will! Anyway, my point is, I've been domestic type stuff! Isn't that great?

~shake your head yes, I'm fragile still~

I promise to post a picture of the resulting feast later on tonight when we plate up for dinner.

UPDATE: So, let's see if we can all guess what I didn't do. That's right, class, I didn't post a picture of dinner! I didn't even take the damn picture. I just ate my food. It was pretty though.

I still love me when...and that's a good thing.

2009-08-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Whoa. This whole blogging thing is HUGE! Who knew so many people had so much to say? Further more, who knew that what I had to say might count as interesting? Although I believe I ought not clap for myself just yet and see if you all find me to be all that. I hope you do.(Unnaturally so. I think I need to get out more.)But if not? Well, I guess I can just go do something else.

Like laundry.

~snicker~

Did you know that I am sinfully glad that my kids are back in school? I also crave them like air while they are gone. At least the idealized and romanticized versions of them...the loudish, oft cantankerous, and perpetually hungry versions of them that enter my car at 3:13 each afternoon? Maybe not quite so craved. The poor dears.

~let's have a moment of sympathy for them shall we?~

That's enough talk about them. Let's talk about ME!!!! I love me. Even when I am cantankerous. Or maybe even especially then. I mean, that's when we all need love the most, right?

~let's agree that you are agreeing with me ~

And I HAVE been cantankerous lately, let me assure you. For a few reasons. I won't be so presumptuous about our burgeoning relationship as to share them all with you. What I will share is one the leading reason for my charming self of late. My house. Which is to say, The State of Undoneness Of My House. If I'm going to get deep on you, I would tell you that the current state of my home and the correlative feelings of angst, nay cantankerousness, is/are really just a symptom and not necessarily the cause of said "mood". The real source of my "mood" would be springing from other places. But I won't go there. Not on our first date.

Be that as it may, the undoneness of my home makes as good a scapegoat as any... It's just not at all pretty and perky these days. I have been so completely over housekeeping as to actually be angry about it. Cantankerous. Spiteful. And not least of all, neglectful.

However, and this is such good news(Quick, pour me my traditional, celebratory Rum and Coke!), I noticed today, FINALLY, that I do not have that constant mental chatter of resentment while working in my house. For that I am much relieved. That damn vapid voice has been causing such a raucous in my head for months now. What a pain! {Who invited her anyway?} Resentment is not a key ingredient in a well kept house. I think tomorrow I shall put that freed up space in my brain to good use and begin to get my act together and make house my home once again.

I'd post Before and After pictures for you but I am waaaay too prideful to do anything foolish like actually SHOW you!

HEY! Here's a thought! If I actually cleaned my house properly, I could plan early for the holidays like I say I'm gonna do every year! And actually do it!

~Huh, a plan! Who knew?~

So here's to me! And here's to you! And here's to quieter, less vapid, mental chatter! Let's raise a glass(It can be plastic, I don't care) while I wish you a day of Uncantankerified(It's a word! I just said it, didn't I?!) Moods. And if you are cantankerous anyway? Well, I'll still love you. Because you need me to. And because I want to.

Love and hugs,

Heather