So Hard to Blog When........

your hands are cramping and your shoulders are numb from.......

Crocheting your little heart out for your favorite niece,

.......a baby shower tomorrow

and

the nice lady at work who just delivered her first daughter!

Thanks you!

MonPetitViolon

for the creative patterns that have been keping me busy.......

With this....

and this.....

and this......

and this.....

and this......

wait, wait....

there is one more.....

Enjoy!

Homemade Lipbalm

I tend to collect all things crafty. What I end up with a nice stash of supplies with very little to show for it. A basket of beautiful wool yarn, dozens of knitting pattern books and magazines, cooking light cook books, jewelry making supplies, sewing fabric and patterns. I could go on and on, so I will. My latest collection, homemade beauty product supplies and not one beauty product to show for it. Yet!

I have all of this coconut oil (see previous post about homemade deodorant). I gaze at it on the shelve in the bathroom and think "what the heck am I going to do with all of this coconut oil". Spreading on toast is not an option at this point.

While browsing my favorite DIY Beauty Blog http://bathbodysupply.blogspot.com/ I found the exciting world of homemade lip balm. Totally non toxic and super easy and fun. So everyone on the blog-o-sphere is raving.

I set out to pick up a few supplies to fill in the blanks after the coconut oil. What I ended up with was four orders from four different on-line vender's and a stop of at the discount vitamin store. A bushel of supplies and not one balm to show for it. Yet!

Homemade Lip Balm

3 tsp. Beeswax

3 tsp. Shea Butter (or coconut oil)

3 tsp. cocoa Butter

2-3 drops Essential Oil

3 tsp. Sweet Almond Oil

1 Vi.t E Capsule

Melt butters in microwave of double boiler.

Add oils and stir well until it starts to cool and pour into a clean container.

Fills about four 1/2 oz tins.

(notice, no coconut oil. oh, well)

Martha Stewart crafts has an easy recipe for lip balm but what I really liked was the delicious flavor options she has put together.

Star Anise/ Mint

Rosemary/ Lemon

Tangerine/ Mint

Tangerine/ Star Anise

Geranium/ Lemon

Grapefruit/ Mint

Find the best deal on organic essential oils here.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/aroma/q-z.html

Martha also has a cute free download able label template for your own tins.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/natural-beauties-lip-balms

Find super cool water proof labels for your inkjet printer here.

http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/Inkjet-Waterproof-Labels-c-120.html

There are many online sources for cosmetic jars and tins. I choose to use a plastic free option and decided the tins were the best option. I sure was excited to find those vintage slider tins from my childhood.

When you are buying your water proof labels get your slide tins also.

http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/25-oz-Slide-Tin-pr-688.html

This sight offers tins by the each. I purchased the screw top tins and my Hex jars here.

http://www.specialtybottle.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=55

A little better prices but you have to buy by the dozen or more.

http://www.papermart.com/Product%20Pages/Product.aspx?GroupID=19037&ParentGroupID=34790

Can't wait for my orders to arrive to give these a try. In the mean time I am gong to make my favorite LUSH dupe for Buffy Bar. I add ground coffee to mine. So delicious.

Daddy, Why he got no hair?

One time we were in Trader Joe's shopping for some healthful snacks. We didn't pay much attention to the young dad pushing his little girl in his cart until we heard her ask her dad this.

Daddy, Why he got no hair?

We all looked up and locked eyes at the exact same moment. While we are giggling a little, the embarrassed dad mutters something about "some people don't have hair" and wheeled out of there as fast as he could. The little girl just kept chatting away and asking questions. Another woman made a comment about how talkative she was. The dad said she was always like that and that her older sister was not as talkative at her age, but she sure was. It was a very cute a touching moment and we still laugh about it to this day.

We saw my parent off this morning after a yummy breakfast and headed to the thrift stores for a quick look. I got my eye out for BPA free food storage containers and vintage cosmetic jars for my homemade cosmetics (that I have never made before but have big dreams will work out just fine). How would you like to receive some delicious hand, face or cold cream in one of these beauties?

Or, how would you like to kiss this when he came to check to see if you "are ready to go yet?"

After the initial shock we laughed and laughed out loud until we could not stand it any more. His new hair even coordinated with his new shirt quite well. In case you are wondering about the sunglasses. He was trying to look cool.

Killer Bees!

My obsession for anything "Hive" related has not waned. In fact I have become even more obsessed. I went to Freddie's and picked up the hive drink dispenser as seen in a previous post. It was on sale, but I have no where to store it and will probably tuck in the attic until there is a time in my life to dispense large quantities of ice tea or lemonade. Maybe I need to plan a BBQ and invite all our friends. Sounds great! Now, if would just stop raining!

Look what I found. Actually I did not find it. The Ecco Diva fond it http://theecodiva.com/. I have loved this blog and I love it even more now that I found two things I love while reading it. Wool Dryer Balls and Hive inspired Spice Magnetic Spice Jars.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpiceConnection

I am all about making things myself at a bargain price but for the life of me I can not figure out the magnetic lid thing. Maybe the magnet is just clued to the inside of the lid. Any Ideas? You could all be getting these for gift if I figure it out.

Well I'll be. I have figured it out. Turns out it is impossible to find BPA free metal one piece lids and I am sure the gorilla glue I will use to adhere the magnet has poisonous gas that will not die. I think that I am willing to risk certain contamination for these totally cool spice jars. Poison anyone?

Have you ever seen these?

Wool Dryer Balls

I guess these are an old fashioned answer to dryer sheets to help with drying time and static electricity. They have been around forever. I have seen those plastic rubbery dryer balls while watching as seen on TV programming. This is one item I have never been tempted to purchase though.

Natural wool dryer balls instantly attracted me. Besides the fact they are totally gorgeous and cool looking. I new I could make these myself. I am always doing that. If you search Etsy.com you will see people selling these at a whopping $15.00 a pair.

I grabbed my bin from the top of my closet and low and behold I had a beautiful array of neutral and natural color wool scrap balls. Not quite enough to make a hat or anything really useful. The only reason I kept these scraps was because of the beautiful colors and they were 100% wool. Too nice to just donate. I am sure glad I kept them. Another bonus, these were a thrift store find some time ago. Almost free!

I quick internet search found numerous tutorials. So wrap, warp, wash, dry, wash, dry. Some laughing about the tangled mess of knee highs full of these balls that appeared from the washer. Low and behold I had my very own natural wool dryer balls. Do they really work? Who knows, but they sure are cool looking.

Olivia, I made some little ones just for you. You can play with them or your mom can use them when drying your diapers. One or the other. Not both! It is up to you.

You've Been Duped- Victoria Secret

I woke up this morning to my husband whispering in my ear. "Honey can I treat you to breakfast this morning". Before I could fully comprehend what he was saying I grumbled, "No"!

Fortunately I came to my senses, and said "That would be great" then rolled out of bed.

I had motivation other than a free meal. I was armed with my 25% off coupon for lingerie at Freddie's. I fell in love with Victoria Secrets Body Invisible Lace Bra some time ago. Besides the fact that Victoria Secret rarely had my size bra, they are expensive. I like to replace my bras ever six months or so and it really adds up. Actually becomes a burden if you ask me. (Please, trust me that even though you may be tempted by the Vitoria Secret bra you will not in fact look like the model after your purchase.)

Victoria Secret Body Invisible Lace $48.00

Vanity Fair Body Shine Flora $15.00

(on sale with a coupon)

There is a chance that you good look like this cute model though, but it has noting to do with the bra.

Vanity Fair has a nice variety of bras but the Body Shine Flora is by far the best bra I have tried.

• This bra has the nice wide sewn fabric straps (not elastic).


• By far the most supportive bra


• Does not stretch out (I hate that)


• Full coverage that looks great under clothes


• Comes in cute colors

You can get these bras at any where, Freddie's, J.C. Penny or Kohl's. Just by them on sale and preferable with a coupon. You won't be disappointed.

Oil Cleansing Method

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

I found this interesting way people are washing there face while browsing some of the crunchy blogs I visit. I new right away I wanted to give this method a try. I read the whole article and thought it seems perfectly logical, except for the positive affirmation part. In the back of my mind I new I would skip that part.

I read all the reviews and must say people are crazy. Use a little common sense people. If the recipe calls for 10, 20 or 30% why are you surprised you are having problems using a 50% solution. With that in mind I did my own research. Here is where it get interesting.

Dry Skin: (that's me) Try a blend of 10% Caster Oil to 90% Sunflower Oil Did you read that? Caster Oil? Who has Caster Oil just sitting around any more? I googled Caster Oil. I mean, is it even safe to use. I have seen those old movies and anyone who is force to down some when they are sick is real unhappy about it. Let me say that I don't think a person should ever ingest Caster Oil ever. It is poisonous!

The befits of applying it externally though are another story. Do a quick google search for the history of Castor Oil and you will also be amazed at the power of the Caster Oil. Besides relieving all sorts of aliments like warts, skin tags, wrinkles, stretch marks, bursitis, ringworm, athletes foot, age spots and maybe relieving symptoms of Aids. I found this hysterical actually. Thanks Wiki

In Fascist Italy under the regime of Benito Mussolini, castor oil was one of the tools of the blackshirts.^[46][47][48] Political dissidents were force-fed large quantities of castor oil by Fascist squads. This technique was said to have been originated by Gabriele D'Annunzio. Victims of this treatment did sometimes die, as the dehydrating effects of the oil-induced diarrhea often complicated the recovery from the nightstick beating they also received along with the castor oil; however even those victims who survived had to bear the humiliation of the laxative effects resulting from excessive consumption of the oil.^[49]

It is said Mussolini's power was backed by "the bludgeon and castor oil". In lesser quantities, castor oil was also used as an instrument of intimidation, for example, to discourage civilians or soldiers who would call in sick either in the factory or in the military. Since its healing properties were widely exaggerated, abuse could be easily masked under pretense of a doctor's prescription. It took decades after Mussolini's death before the myth of castor oil as a panacea for a wide range of diseases and medical conditions was totally demystified, as it was also widely administered to pregnant women, elderly or mentally-ill patients in hospitals in the false belief it had no negative side effects.

P.S. I use EVOO. Sunflower oil is no were to be found at my one stop shopping center. I did find Castor Oil though. It is the the laxative isle. I guess people still ingest this at times. Yuk!

Project Finished!

I really took this Slow Sewing thing to heart. When Destry asked me if he could store my craft table and I was not even close to being finished yet. I new I needed to start Fast Sewing. I kicked it in gear and finished things up in a jiffy.

I don't think it matters how slow you sew. My projects did not turn out as well as I could have hoped. The linings just don't lay rite. I will do things different next time. (If there is a next time). I did enjoy my sewing time though and think that is the point.

I am super proud that I learned how to install a kick a** magnetic snap and my hand made adjustable purse strap. I have to give credit to You SEW, Girl! blog http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/ that I follow for the inspiration to tackle this challenging project. Her bags are awesome.

How cool is it that I used the table runner fabric from our wedding to line these bags. A great way to create usable mementos for us girls.

I can't wait to give my mom her hand bag when I see her in April. Which one should I giver her?


Marie will have to wait until July for hers. Which one should I give her?


Should I fill them with samples of homemade beauty supplies and cleaning products?


Next sewing project.....Framed clutches for the girls! Yikes, I am a little scared about this one. I guess that means there will be a next time. Lol

Wish me luck!

Cooking School- Butternut Squash Fries

Have you seen me?

Anything with the word squash in it is a challenge to get excited about. When I started reading how excited Hungry Girl gets when it comes to anything Butternut Squash I just thought I had to give it a try. So I sneaked one into the grocery cart one week and we ate it mixed with some other roasted veggies for dinner one evening. I loved it.

Imagine my surprise when Destry actually bought another one. So, when I saw that Weight Watchers recipes of the week was Spicy Butternut Fries I new we had to try it. This recipe is a winner. Give it a try.

Butternut Squash is very versatile. Try using it make hash browns or a yummy soup.

Butternut Squash Fries

3 spays of olive oil cooking spray

1 lb Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded, long "neck" cut into sixteen 3/4- inch-thick sticks

1 tsp table salt, or to taste

1/2 tsp chili powder, or to taste

Preheat oven to 450 F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Arrange squash fries on prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and chili powder, liberally coat with cooking spray.

Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 14 to 18 minutes. Yields 4 fries per serving.

Obsessed- The Hive

It was love at first sight. Just one click on my Etsy.com bookmark and what was presented to me was the best Handpicked Items display ever. I call items in this style The Hive. I am sure that my choice of honeycomb print fabric for the lining of my handmade purse was a subliminal response to this new trend.

The Hive- Love it or Not?

http://www.joeldewberry.com/GinsengIndex.html

Found: Fred Meyer

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CADIjewelry

http://www.etsy.com/shop/biodidactic

http://www.etsy.com/shop/modernSCRAPYARD

Love it or Hate it?

Cooking School- Jerk Chili w/ fried Okra

Have you checked it out yet? Julia's blog, http://www.blogger.com/juliascreativemind This blog is seriously inspirational.

Now, Julia has asked her dad and I to try her famously delicious Jerk Chili with fried Okra recipe before but we never seemed to get around to it. She even offered to come over and make us chili dinner, that is how much she loves this recipe. Not until her recent blog post titled "Dinner Time!! Please Try This" did I feel a craving deep inside for Jerk Chili with fried Okra.


I don't even know what Okra is and could not locate fresh Okra at the grocery store. The produce man guided us to the frozen vegetable isle and assured us it is a very popular item. That being said Destry hates Okra. He remembers this clearly from childhood and even though Julia assured us that when fried in peanut oil Okra tasted just like french fries this has done nothing to sway him.


To quote him "I hate Okra" or "I new this was not going to turn out, slimy" or "How's the Okra?" and "Not my favorite." Being the good sport that he is, he gladly made this recipe for us. See the title of this post? I fully intended of making this for him all the while taking great blog worthy photos while practicing my cooking skills.


Then he said "Do you want me to make it? I said YES! and ran from the kitchen. I am bad like that.


Final Review: Great flavor, A little spicy but that can be adjusted, Way better than canned chili, Super easy (it looked that way from the living room anyways). I don't hate Okra


Note: Okra frying on the stove next to the chili in the Le Creuset dutch oven (super thrift store find by the way)

Jerk Turkey Chili w/ Fried Okra

http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2128

Cooking School- The Amber

Did you watch Fringe recently, Episode 6B? The one where Walter breaks out the old formula for "amber" so he can encase the entire block to stop the breach in to our world from becoming a vortex. It was tense for a moment when he prompted Broyles to flip the switch on the amber machine and Peter and Olivia had not made it safely out of the apartment complex yet.

It reminded me of a tense moment on the back porch recently. I am no whiz in the kitchen, yet I can whip up a batch of homemade laundry soap like no other. I really like making it also. It doesn't take long and has been tested to work great.

I used a Fels Naptha bar this time as opposed to my favorite Kirk's Castile original formula laundry bar soap. The fact that Fels Naptha is yellow seemed to the only obvious difference at first. I always double the ingredients for my laundry soap. It creates a thicker formula that is more gelled and not as egg flower soupy as the directions described. Then we just use half the recommended measure and it works great.

I poured my warm melted soapy mix into my little white buck and added the recommended amount of water and instantly new something was different. This mixture jelled immediately. I was stirring a concoction that was like wet cement. A usual batch may not fully gel for one to two days. As this bucket sat and cooled on the table I checked on it. I carefully opened the lid and tapped with with my finger. That is rite, I tapped it and a substance like Jell-O responded. That is when I rushed it to the back porch where it belonged. This amber mixture was either going to encase the back porch along with all of it's contents or is was not.

I eagerly check on my bucket of amber the next day to find it still where I placed it. I could not help to peak around the corner when Destry decided to use it to start a load. I watched him as he muscled a scoop of amber out of the bucket a plopped into the wash machine. Then in a second thought reached into the machine and broke the chunk of amber up with his hands just to make sure it dissolved all the way.

Here is the recipe for Homemade Laundry Soap; http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

Project Overcome Me

An article in my new Threads magazine (March 2011 # 153) caught my attention. The article was about the art of Slow Sewing. I had actually been pondering this theory with my new sewing project and was surprised there is any actual term for it. The idea of slow sewing goes something like this....

• Slowing down is a reward, it's about adding quality to your life.
• Slow sewing is a metal health break, it resets your pressure gauge.
• You step into an environment where you are in control.

If you decide to join the new, old-fashioned way of sewing. Savor the creative experience by .....

• Testing samples and experimenting with new techniques.

With time on your side you will become more confident and competent.

With these ideas in mind I pulled the sewing machine out of the closet and gave it a go. Destry made my a nice craft table out of a piece of plywood and an old ironing board. Now I don't have to "hunch" over the kitchen table while cutting my fabric. I tend to go, go and go until I simply burned out on a project then I move on to my next project and never look back. With my new slow sewing mentality I have given myself permission to stop when I "start" to get tired. This has left me with unfinished projects sitting on my craft table to the past two weeks. The good side is I am not burned out and still really excited to finish my projects.

What new technique am experimenting with you may be wondering? I am excited to announce that I have mastered the Magnetic Snap. These are the easiest and coolest sewing accessory and I fully recommend Googling installation techniques and giving them a go yourself. Easy!

So, What do you think?

As Seen on TV

Have you seen those bumper stickers that read "Kill Your TV" or "TV Sucks Ride Your Bike". When I see those bumper stickers I always get a little emotional. I have been known to actually holler out loud while driving, "Yeah right! You know you are watching "Fringe" at night with the rest of us".

I love TV and have no problem telling everyone I know that I love TV. If it is bad TV, the kind of TV that nobody else is watching then I love it even more. Am I watching Grey's Anatomy? Nope! Am I watching Hoarder Buried Alive? You know it! And I love it! Am I searching Google rite now for a bumper sticker that reads " I Love TV" Oh ya!

I wonder sometimes if my love of TV stems from the time spent with out during my formative younger years. You have to picture a young family of five growing up out in the country with no neighbor kids to play with. When one blustery evening the antenna was blown loose from the roof top. I remember very clearly my mother stating we would not be fixing the TV. Just like that, no more I Love Lucy, Mork and Mindy or hears the heart breaker MASH. My mom remembers those years as the best years of our childhood, we read books from the library and played games with each other. You guys remember UNO?

I remember asking my mom for rainbow suspender and having to tell my teacher that I could not be able to do my home work assignment because we did not have a TV.

Then one day my dad brought home a used TV and somehow we were able to get PBS and it was on. Oh, I love you Reading Rainbow and Mr. Rogers and pranking calling PBS telethon call takers.

Seriously though, what really gets me is the As Seen on TV commercials. I could watch them for hours and am convinced all of those products could save my life. Steam Shark, InStyler Rotating curling iron, Wen Hair Care system, Bare Minerals, I could go on. I never actually buy these products.

This is usually how it goes. Honey, I am thinking of buying the Wen Hair Care system.

Destry, Do you mind if I change the channel?

There are the occasional slip up of course. Like that time of weakness in Walgreen's looking for some last minute stocking stuffers I found my self in the As Seen on TV isle. You know if this don't you? The Emery Cat caught my eye and I just new that Scruffee would love it and I new that he would file his nails just so. I gave Scruffee his new gift for Christmas and was surprised that he did not give it a second look. I thought maybe it had something to do with the fact that I had not place the provided cat nip in the Emery Cat. So I located the suspicious looking baggy and sprinkled the cat nip just so. Well that was all he needed. Now he uses the Emery Cat as a BED! That is rite. I looked over and there he was laying on his new gift like it was a chase lounge. I even took his little paws and pawed at it to help him out. And there you have it. Next up for review The Furminator! Stay tuned.

How to Get to Sesame Meat!

One of our favorite places to eat is Wong's Garden on Woodstock. We often call in our favorite order on the way home from work and swing in to pick it up. The gals in there actually recognize Destry and our regular order by now. What is our favorite thing to eat at Wong's Garden you ask. Well simply, the Spicy Sesame Chicken and Green Beans with Black Bean Sauce. Delicious! If you ever have the urge to try it, watch for the spicy peppers in the chicken. Pick them out, do NOT eat them.

The thing about regular meals at Wong's Garden are the very apparent effect they have on my waist line. Seriously, one can not eat deep fried fairs on a regular basis with out notice. Since I am a regular subscriber the Hungry Girl e-mails I decided after about two years to finally try one of her fabulous recipes. That is right! You heard correctly. "I" tries on of her recipes. I made a grocery list. I went to grocery store. I bought raw chicken breast for the first time. I cut open that package of chicken breast placed it on the "meat" cutting board. Gave it a whack with a meat tenderizer because that is what I have seen on T.V. before. Then I cut that raw chicken with a knife into bite size pieces just like the recipe called for. What recipies did I dare today. HG Sweet and Spicy Sesame Chicken.

http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/show/1838

I also found a recipe for Green Beans in Black Bean Sauce. http://www.recipesource.com/ethnic/asia/chinese/blackbean-greenbeans02.html

Would I say the Sesame Chicken was a hit. No! I was mortified to serve it to my loving husband. The only reason I did was the hope he may be able to discern exactly what was wrong with it. I think the chicken was a little dry and I possible put to much flour coating on it. I actually saw the raw flour on the pieces when I took it out of the oven. I promptly poured the sauce on it in hopes it would hide the flour and hide the taste of the flour. My hopes were dashed of course. The green beans taste better than the smelled though. Yummm

Destry did not finish his plate because he was still so full from lunch.....Hummmmmm But I did get a big thanks for giving him a break in the kitchen today. Yahhhhhh!

Dessert is in the oven. Yam Flan... Hee Hee Did you know that Pumpkin is seasonal and is not available the super market all year round. Like this time of year. Weird!

Where do you go from here?

A funny thing is happening to me now that I have been married for a few months. Actually I notice it long before now. Now that I am not consumed with wedding planning and the like. I am searching and searching for a project. I am having these wild urges to accomplish something big. Some of project that have crossed my mind are....

• I should become a Master Knitter.
• I can't wait for the weather to break so I can repaint all the eaves of the house and re-glaze all the window glass.
• Read more. By more I mean read all the best seller that I have not read for the past five years. Such a daunting task I don't even know where to start.
• I am convinced that I am an extremely talented jewelry maker and that I can sell my wares on Etsy.com and become famous. Well $300.00 and five bracelets later I am over it.
• Start managing my own blog.

See what I mean. Something is going on here. Before I ordered the Master Knitting program materials I came to my senses and ordered $300.00 worth of jewelery making supplies.

How do I use my creative energy in a productive way that contributes and doesn't take away from the family and home?

That is the question?

1-11-11

January 11, 2011 came and went and I could not help but think of all of the couples that certainly choose this day to get married. There is a sweetness about love and marriage that I feel so luck to be part of at this time in my life. I had an urge to visit my abandoned wedding blog Limoncello and was delighted to be reminded of all the hard work that went in to planning our wedding. As you can see from th pictures it all came together as planned, except for one little surprise. Surprise! Welcome little Olivia to the world. So glad you could make it.

• Meet Olivia, 4 weeks old and international traveler. Likes warm milk and naps. Favorite colors include silver and yellow. Hobbies include shoe shopping and dancing to Michael Jackson music.

• Italian silver leather metallic shoes, check. Sliver rosette handbag, check. Vintage crystal necklace and earrings, check. Lets get married!

• The most delicious Lemon cake with homemade lemon curd filling with fresh blueberries. We got to take home a whole tier for ourselves. Thank you Judie from "Dream Cakes". On top of the coolest vintage amber glass cake plate ever.

• I am truly delighted with how the girls dresses turned out. The pop of color in the photos really works.

• I have to thank everyone for working so hard to make my vision for the reception come together. Looks just like the picture in a previous post doesn't it?

• Elaine made the perfect pocket invited that I had dreamed of.

• Teresa from Teresa Kohl photograph captures the day beautifully all while charming our guest to no end. Special thanks to my cousin Sam Dussel for his photographic contributions. Your talents amaze me.