Moo!

I started this jolly little cow while my folks were here a few weeks ago.  For some reason I just got it in my head that there needed to be a jolly cow to go along with the happy lamb in my shop.  This little guy is gracing the front of a business card holder!  

Time and daylight have not been on my side, so please forgive me for the picture quality.

Hopefully you get the idea anyway.

And of course, my hand-made cards do not fit in a normal-sized card holder.

Just gives me an excuse to plug another crafty lady!  If you haven't already, you should make a trip over to Dottie's shop: rainbeauxart  I think you'll be pretty happy you did!

Fun and functional for you this Thursday!

$2

I debated about sharing this with you all today (whoever "you all" are, of course).  I debated because it's not something I'm particularly happy with myself about and it's not always comfortable/a good idea to share your shortcomings with the world.  BUT - it is also difficult to hold yourself accountable to things when excuses and reasonings are so much easier.  So, without further ado:

As I was about to get on the bus this morning, the bus driver said something and a gentleman ahead of me in line turned and began to ask people if they had a quarter he could use.  I said, "Sorry, I don't have any change".  Thinking I didn't have any change (once I got on the bus I realized I did have change...).  By that point a young man ahead of me said, "I've gotcha man" and gave him what he needed.  The bus driver asked those of us behind this gentleman to come on board if we had passes, while he straightened out his dollar bills.  He couldn't get the last one to go through the machine so he turned to all of us seated and asked if anyone had a dollar he could use.  

This is where I don't want to tell you what I did.

Grrrrr.

I said I didn't have any cash.

But I did.

Why?  Why did I do that?  All he needed was a different bill.  He wasn't asking for money (and even if he had been - I had a dollar to spare!)  At the time I think I was worried he would be upset for some reason that I had not had change but now all of a sudden I had cash.  Which doesn't really make sense...but at the same time, I knew I had cash earlier.  Why not just give him a dollar bill then (instead of a quarter)?  And now, when he needed the dollar, why not just give him two, to make sure he could get back?  By this point he had been "talked to" by the bus driver (who is not the nicest bus driver, by the way), he was carrying a manila folder full of papers (where was he headed - did he have a meeting to get to, maybe a job interview?) and had the scare of not having the right fare to get to where he needed to go.  That can be kinda stressful.  Again, another young man came forward and used his bus card to put a dollar in the machine for him.  

The gentleman reached his destination.  With no help from me.  I didn't even pretend to try.

All this made me realize something.

I'm not one for regrets, I never really have been.  At least, not about the big stuff.  Not major life decisions like marriage or luggage.  But I do regret what I didn't do today.  That is what I realized.  I can remember a whole lot of little things that I have not done that I sorely regret.  All those times when I could have done something to help; to perhaps make someone's day brighter; to give just a little.  All those opportunities - and I said "no".

I'm sharing this with you all today because I don't want to have any more little regrets.  I have a 'sign' on my cubicle wall that says "Do All the Good You Can".  I'm sharing all this to give you (and myself) a boost - if you have the same regrets I do.  You know, that whole, learn from the mistakes of others thing... let's all get out there and Do All the Good We Can.

I'm still not entirely comfortable with this post, so it might not be here for long...

-blessings-

Goldilocks and washing machines

Mollie over at Wild Olive, has a great post today with all of her sponsors "thoughts" on Goldilocks and The Three Bears.  You can check it out here.

While you're at it, check out Mrs. Sundberg's monologue for the week here.  She always sneaks in a life lesson or two and rarely disappoints with her pearls of wisdom.

Taco Tuesday!

Sort of...

My parents were in town last week (we had a lovely visit!).  

Among other tid bits, they brought delicious tortillas from a restaurant we used to frequent growing up.

There were 36 in the pack (notice my use of past tense...).  Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of a good taco, but I wasn't sure we could eat 36 tortillas and I certainly didn't want these wonderful things to go to waste!

Enter the Delicious and Probably Nutritious Tortilla Chip recipe!

(just in case you have 36 extra tortillas laying around too...)

(oh, and I used corn tortillas)

You'll need:

tortillas

olive oil

sea salt (optional)

friends to share your delicious creation with!

To start, set your oven to 400 degrees:

Then, slice your tortillas into small wedges (I use a handy dandy pizza cutter!)

Once your slices are laid out in a single layer on a cookie sheet (or two or three), spray or drizzle with olive oil (the Misto is an awesome invention!).  If you'd like some salt, add that now.

Bake for about 10 minutes.  Be sure to check on them around the 10 minute mark though and stay near the oven.  Once they start to brown, they go quick!

Ta Da!  

You've just created a delicious snack that is great with hummus, guacamole, salsa, you name it!

Enjoy and Blessings on this Taco Tuesday

A few pictures

Family is in town this week, so here are a few pictures of what has been going on crafty-wise.

-notebook refashion-

(no, I did not eat all that candy myself, it was in the candy jar on my desk at work...)

-new over-the-door hooks to hold the aprons-

(my mom found this awesome hook at Ross.  thanks mom!)

-Maine collage-

(I've been meaning to do this for a friend forever...finally got it finished!)

-first attempt at making my own stamps-

(okay, so I had some of the chocolate...)

-probably should try something bigger and less intricate-

(trial and error, right?)

And "after"

The "after" picture of my (un)altered jeans.

I decided that I just wasn't up to the task (boo me!).

But, the jeans have found a new home in the maternity clothes pile.

So the next time I need them, they will be ready.

(and no, I am not pregnant...that's why I'm not wearing these now!)

Coming soon...pictures and stories of things I have been doing.

Thanks for keeping me honest Ooh Leela!

"like June Cleaver amid teenage angst"...and other stories

This was going to be post about how I successfully (or not so successfully) completed alterations on my jeans.  Because, well, the thing is, after I had the baby, my size fluctuated a bit and I got several different sizes on the way back down to my normal.  Now I'm back to my normal weight, but normal size???  Not sure that that will ever happen.  The last pair of jeans are still a bit big and I had great plans to take them in and make them my own.  

See, I even took a "before" picture.  I'm thinking this will be the "after" picture.  

Which reminds me: If you are getting rid of clothes that are still in pretty good shape consider taking them by a shelter or thrift store - go green/helpful!  Or, turn them into something else...it's not such a new idea, you know.  Our Grandmothers and beyond used every scrap they could.  And what a great way to exercise your talents and creative ways!

But where was I.... Oh yes!  Alterations.  So the plan was: I employ my fabulous (yet non-existent) alteration skills to my saggy jeans and transform them into bottom hugging things of wonder - or - I mess them up and end up going out and buying a new pair that actually fit.  I figured it was win-win!  It still is, once I get around to finding a pair that fit.

How about style?  That is one thing I'd like to work on this year.  Cultivating my own style.  I'm sure I have one now, but it's not one I'd like to be known for (randomness/sometimes kind of frumpy/blah?).  I'd like to wear more aprons and I'm pretty sure I need a pair of cowboy boots.  A waitress at a local burrito joint has become a huge inspiration for me.  For one, her outfit was adorable (description in a second), but a big part of it was how absolutely different her 'style' was from all the other waitresses and quite a few of the patrons in the place.  It was kind of like a cute little June Cleaver amid teenage angst.  Tiny cut-off shorts with fishnet stockings, lots of piercings and tattoos, dyed and crazy cut hair.  All fine and dandy, just not exactly "me".  Then, there was this outfit - plain white long sleeve shirt, jeans with the cuffs folded up about 4 inches, cowboy boots, a beautiful vintage half apron in a pink floral print and .... pearls.  Seriously, a small string of pearls around her neck!  I mean, come on!  Something to aspire to for sure.

What are you aspiring to, these days?  And while you're at it, check out this post http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/apronevangelism.htm.  I found it enjoyably worth the read.

"let's start the New Year right..."

Why has this storytelling been so elusive to me?  That is what I've been pondering of late.  (Along with the scary thought that I've committed to myself and a few others that I will be using this space to tell stories - what a great idea! I thought as I jumped head first)  And once I'd gone clear over the edge, I realized I don't have any stories to tell.

Or so I thought...

Because well, lets go through a typical day:

Early - wake up.  tend to the baby.  get ready for work.  (have you ever tended to a baby without walking away with a few stories to tell???)

A bit later - ride the bus to work. (oh yes, the bus is full of interesting characters)

Daytime - lots of interaction with lots of different folks...from my cubicle and sometimes beyond (fortunately for you, I probably won't be sharing work stories here)

Later daytime - ride the bus home. (different characters!)

Evening - tend to baby.  make and eat dinner.  all while hanging out with the hubby.  hopefully some crafting in there somewhere. (crafting.  ah ha!  so many stories not only of how things are created, but the material themselves have such a history.  I've been using up-cycled and vintage linens and clothes and I can just see the houses they lived in before they came to me, and the people who used them.  oh yes, so many stories...)

So my challenge (let's not bother with resolutions, shall we?) to you in this New Year, is to discover the stories you have to tell.  And then tell them!  Start a blog, start a journal/scrapbook, write a letter, leave a comment, paint a picture, sew a quilt, embroider a tapestry.  Find something you're excited about and go do it!  

And let's all take these words to heart in our new endeavors: "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."  anyone know who said this?

Looking forward to hearing yours in 2011.