Saturday, May 31, 2008

How Can This Be Comfortable?

Last night, I walked upstairs to find Merlin on a glider:

His hips were COMPLETELY OFF the edge of the glider. How can that be comfortable?




Peace & Blessings!

(Please excuse the photo quality, I didn't want to disturb Merlin, so I didn't turn up the lighting in the room)

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

New Jewelry

My latest matching anklet and bracelet:

Peace & Blessings!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Mini Purse

Remember The Daily Window?

And how I freaked out over how wonderful their products are?

Well.....

I just love The Very Necessary Mini! I was inspired to do this with it:


I did a brayered embossing technique using foil tape and alcohol inks. It looks so fabulous in person!

THANKS DAILY WINDOW!

Peace & Blessings!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Jellyfish Soup?

Adam and I were invited to a special dinner in Albany.

Chinese - but not American Chinese food- REAL Chinese food.

It was amazing, and slightly scary (when the wait staff doesn't speak the best English, and when you ask "What's that?" and they say "Fish".... well......) , but overall AMAZING! Adam will try almost anything - and when I say almost - it's close to he'll try anything. So I just took a deep breath and dove right in.

Oh, and before I forget - the chef - from China - picked up our ingredients from New York City - this morning!

We started off with jellyfish soup.

I cannot even begin to describe the texture and flavor of jellyfish. You just have to try it.
It was AWESOME!

Then came out the chicken and duck (with the head still on).
A cold plate of pork, squid, and beef.
2 different types of fish (with the head still on).
Squid - I have no idea how it was prepared.
Fried squid - YUM-O!
Noodles
And eggplant something...
clams
Lobster
I know I'm forgetting a few things
(The food just kept coming and coming!)
Finished off with orange slices and a sweet red bean soup.


I just love that I can now say - "I've had jellyfish!"

Peace & Blessings!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Nintendo Wii Fit

(Please see the end of this post for an edit.....)

Yesterday I picked up our Wii Fit.


The Bad:

Ok, so I get the fact that it’s a fitness gadget – but it weighs you – daily. At least you can password protect your Mii, so that your numbers aren’t flashing on the screen for the world to see. I mean, seriously, just by looking at someone, you KNOW what they look like, but there’s something sacred about that number on the scale. At least for women.

Cardio – not so much. Well, sort of. Take the running in place – you run for 2 minutes, then it stops, and gives you your score, where you place in comparison to previous times, etc… so you run for 2 minutes, then stop for about a minute, then you choose what you want to do next. I wish it had a cardio activity for 20 or 30 minutes – with no stopping – now THAT would be CARDIO!

Some of the games, (that come with the balance board unit) are lame.

The Good:

Some of the games, (that come with the balance board unit) are really FUN! There’s a balance game where the screen has a board, and a ball. You move the ball by tilting the board – with the goal of getting the ball into the hole. You tilt the board by shifting your weight as you are standing on the balance board. I was blown away by how sensitive the board is – and just how challenging this game is! When Adam watched me, he was also amazed. So, I can tell, we’ll be doing that one a lot!

Because it weighs you, and reminds you of your BMI... well.. for me anyway; I'm now seriously aware - and driven to change my numbers! I can see how this would be a useful tool in losing weight/gaining weight.

You get to pick your personal trainer – male or female.

You can password protect your data.

My abs and quads are sore today. This is surprising to me – so, I really did work muscles yesterday!

I was totally into it for almost an hour, without getting bored. So, that’s almost an hour of light exercise. (I really wouldn’t qualify it as “vigorous”)

Overall:

I'm happy we have it. It's amazingly sensitive, and fun to work with.

Peace & Blessings!

PS – when I picked up the unit, I asked an employee at Game Stop what other games will be coming out that use the Balance Board – and he told me some skiing, skateboarding…. And…. Drum roll…. Wii Cheer! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! I don’t think we’ll be investing in a cheerleading game!


EDIT: I found a review of the Wii fit - that is my experience, almost exactly! I agree with the cardio issues - there's waaaaaaaaaay too much fluff between exercises to really keep your heart rate in the target zone.

Monday, May 19, 2008

My NEW beautiful, FABULOUS, BAG!!!!!!

I found a new bag company: Daily Window.

My bag, Eight Days A Week, came Friday. I LOVE THIS BAG! It's so well made! It has adjustable straps! It has pockets inside and out! It's bigger than I thought it would be! AND.... where you put your artwork for display, is completely protected from the elements (which is more than I can say about other bags I've used).

My verdict: IT'S A KEEPER!

Here's what I did with it:


Peace & Blessings!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Evidence of my parents visiting....

My parents are ROCK STARS!

I made a wise crack to a friend last week, when she was asking me what my mother is like - that this weekend my mom would jack the house up in stilts and vacuum underneath.

And you wonder where I get my energy from?

HA!

My mother planted – we’ve got sugar snap peas, flowers, zucchini, cilantro, stevia, lettuce (multiple different kinds) lavender, and I know I’m leaving out a few things.

I don’t think she really stopped moving and doing….. She weeded the front flower bed (with no flowers… I really dislike that kind of thing! Any volunteers?)

Dad gave me a lesson on our generator. Looooooooong story – don’t ask.

He also helped with the tractor’s trailer.

We pulled out the fence in the front yard – totally rotted out, needed to go!

Transplanted a tree into the front yard.

We played Wii.

We ate reeeeeeeeeally good food.

All in all, the trip was too quick, and I’m sure I’ll be finding random things mom accomplished when I wasn’t looking for weeks to come.

My parents are ROCK STARS!

Peace & Blessings!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Parental Visit

My parents are coming out today for a weekend visit.

I am stoked!

Seriously, they never stay long enough.

Really. (it's not often you say that about overnighters)

And, we always get lots done around the house when they are here. I think it's that old school Maine work ethic.

I'll be posting Monday what all happened.

Until then.....



Lately hypothetical questions have been on my mind.

A few of my favorites:

1. If you wanted to confuse someone when they ask what you do for a living, how would you respond (the truth is not required)? (earthworm wrangler)

2. If you were given $1,000 with the stipulations that you cannot donate a penny, save it, invest it, or use it in anyway other than spending in on something PHYSICAL for yourself (so travel is not included - I'm talking good ol' STUFF) - what would you buy? (PMC supplies, clay supplies, art supplies)

3. You have won a contest where you have 5 minutes to run through ANY store of your choosing and you can grab ANYTHING you want - what store would you choose? (Best Buy. At first I thought a craft store, but I think it'd rather get the larger ticket items.)

4. If money is no issue, and you have no responsibility - what do you do with your life?


Peace & Blessings!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Skunk!

This is a stamp set from The Angel Company - it's just too cute!

I needed to make a thank you card - and I wanted to challenge myself to use patterned paper.

It is only a VERY RARE occasion that I use patterned paper - and I was looking at all the patterned paper I have in my studio - and thought: I REALLY need to start using this!

I hope you like what I came up with:





Peace & Blessings!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Look At What I Found.....

If you know me at all, you KNOW I have a thing for bags.... (see my post: Painted Bags for more details on that)

My latest stamped bag/purse - I've been using for about 6 months - ish - and I discovered that where the strap connects to the bag/purse is pulling apart, and any moment, it's going to rip completely, and...... well.... time for a new bag.

You would think - "goodie, goodie, time to shop" - but really, for me... not so much.

I've been disappointed. I've burned through 2 bags in the past year - 2 different companies. I WANT a bag that I can decorate, that will LAST.

When I thought about it, I said to myself: I want to find a bag that I can decorate, that is WELL MADE, stylish, fun, flirty, with long straps, or adjustable straps, and is affordable.

Fast forward a few hours... yes HOURS....

I came across this company:

Daily Window

I FREAKED OUT!

AAAAANNNNNNNNNDDDDDDD... yes.. this gets better....

COUPON!!!!!!

I'll be sure to post a photo of my bag when it arrives, and then after I've decorated it!

YAY!

(Oh, and this is a perfect reminder of one of my favorite phrases: "Disappointment is just taking score too soon")

Peace & Blessings!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day!

Aaaahhh, Mother's Day! The day to celebrate not only my mother, but women in my life that have made a difference.

What did I make this year?

Gratitude Journals! - With my Bind-It-All, of course!

(can I let you in on a secret?...... sssshhhhhh..... I loved these SOOOOO much, I had a really hard time giving them away........)

Here's a picture of 1 of them:


Happy Mother's Day!


Peace & Blessings!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Are you kidding me?

Seriously?:


I didn't think Snapple was New Age.....

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Good Clean Fun!

For a while, myself, and a good friend have wanted this stamp set:


I was surprised and THRILLED when she gave it to me recently. We just think it's the funniest thing! So, watch out people.... I may have to go on a binge using this set!

Here's my first go at a card with it:


Peace & Blessings!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Planet Earth

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Painted Bag

I have a thing for bags.

Not designer purses. Not designer anything...

I have a thing for obtaining a bag wherever I go.

Mexico - had to get a bag.
Disney - had to get a bag.
Jamaica - had to get a bag.
Universal Studios - had to get a bag.

Beach bags, tote bags, shoulder bags... (they came in HANDY when we moved!)

So, when my painting instructor was offering a class where students would be painting BAGS... you bet I signed myself up!


Peace & Blessings!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Polymer Clay Gifts

Can you tell... I'm having lots of fun with Polymer Clay - specifically Studio by Sculpey:





Peace & Blessings!

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Girls Weekend!!!!

And I'm off.......

One of my closest girlfriends, Michele, and I are meeting halfway - in Erie, PA for a quick girls weekend! YAY!!!!!!

This weekend promises to be full of giggles....

See you Monday!

Peace & Blessings!

Studio Home Dimensions Certification

Last weekend I completed my certification with Studio Home Dimensions - and the Studio by Sculpey line. I just need to tell you - I LOVE POLYMER CLAY!!!! There is sooooooo much you can do with it.

A couple of the graded projects I had to complete in order to obtain certification:





I don't see myself teaching in a retail location - which is what certification allows - I am now certified to teach the techniques. I really did the certification for me; I wanted a boot camp of ALL the techniques - fire hose style, instead of taking a class here, a class there. All that said; if you want a private class, I'll absolutely do that! (Christmas ornaments - hhhhmmmm......)


Peace & Blessings!

Friday, May 2, 2008

72

To answer a previous blog post ("What's In My Mind"): 72.

"I read a couple books this weekend (I read really fast – naturally). Adam and I place HIGH VALUE on reading. We go through fits and spurts where we will read every night, and other times where it seems like we just can’t pick up a book because it’s too late, we’re too busy, whatever. This week – we’re trying to be in bed by 9 so we can read for at least an hour. Honestly, we EACH probably have 30 to 40 books stacked up next to the bed. If I remember, I’ll count them, and give the real number."

72 - That's how many books are on MY SIDE of the bed.

That number does NOT include Adam's side.

72... that number is slightly shocking to me ... OK, MORE than shocking.... especially after going back to my original blog post about reading a lot of books - and I thought I had 30 or 40.

72!



Peace & Blessings!

Polymer Clay & Painting..... BRILLIANT

My One Stroke Painting Instructor, Annette, held a class combining Polymer Clay & One Stroke Painting. (This was BEFORE I completed my polymer clay certification.


Peace & Blessings!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

More Lattice Cards

With butterflies... of course!



Peace & Blessings!