Thanks Kim!

OK, for those of you who don't know, Kim at Today's Creative Blog searches the internet for us finding the coolest blogs to showcase. She blogs about Blogs... isn't that nice of her! I don't have ages to poke around finding new stuff everyday, so when I'm looking for a bit of inspiration, or just something new to look at, I just go to Kim. She has never lead me wrong, and is always finding the best stuff!

Today her posting is about The Style Sisters Blog. They seem to have common interests to my own... crafting, thrifting, decorating, cooking, etc. But the post that REALLY caught my attention was their posting on making these two stinkin cute serving pieces. I've been eyeing cake plates for a while now... they just seemed too expensive, so I never picked one up. I have the usual pressed glass one that everyone who got married around the time I did, usually got as a gift. Don't get me wrong. It's basic. Just clear glass. And I've used it a lot. But the cute ones.... those tend to be beyond my cake plate budget. But the Style Sisters have shown me the light! Next trip to Patina, and I'm searching for a few plates and bowls to make my own!!! I poked around on ebay and found these two bowls...



But I'm starting to see the sense of buying local to be "Greener", so I'll keep my eye out at garage sales and thrift stores.

On the Green note... I never really thought much about this stuff... My husband is a petroleum engineer who works for an oil company for peets sake... So basically the high demand for oil has provided my family with a comfortable living for some 10 years now. However, we have to buy gas for our cars too, so lately we've been feeling the same pinch as everyone else. And NO, for those wondering... we DON'T get a discount! That being said, while looking at ways to trim our budget, we've been trying to find ways to be more "Green" too. Just small trades really, that may actually add up one day to help make a difference.... here's what we've come up with...

.... buy veggies at the local farmers market... organic, local, so less shipping and packaging impact (I didn't know that styrofoam and plastic wrap was petroleum based, did you?), cheaper than the grocery store, in season so it tastes fantastic

... carpool...I know, a big DUH! ... but instead of running around aimlessly after drop off, I come home. That's what I'm decorating this sanctuary for, I may as well enjoy it!

.... turn off lights that we don't need, and open up the blinds to brighten our home

...unplugging stuff at night that we don't need, like the coffee pot, sewing machines, etc.

... using what we have (eh... like fabric that I have stacked to the ceiling, instead of buying new stuff every day... which saves the UPS guy's gas too)

... the list goes on, but you get the idea. I guess you can say that we're making a deliberate effort to grow up :-) and quit being so consumer minded. It's a better example for the girls too. Just because we have it, doesn't mean we need to spend it. I've even put myself on an allowance. Sounds weird I KNOW, but come on... 2K in one month from PayPal really IS a bit stupid.

Blogging off for now... Have a lovely Green Spring day and remember... thrifting is the oldest form of recycling!

One Day at a Time

OK, so I don't really think of myself as a Liberal...
nor do I think it to be truthful to call myself a conservative .

I don't vote along party lines... and I don't do something just because someone tells me so. I guess I've always been that way... sorry mom... So needless to say, here in the South, that makes me somewhat of a mystery. Because if there's one thing we do down here, it's discuss politics and religion... good or bad... and why everyone else is wrong! So I guess that's why I've been watching the primary races with a bit of humor... Because honestly, if we can't laugh at these people, why watch. The funniest people are the guys over on Fox News and MSNBC who analyse everything after the day is done. They are so passionate, and so obstinate, that the awkwardness that arises when they agree makes for the best late night comedy!

So, all of that nonsense being said, I've decided that I will take each day as it comes... and make small changes for myself and my family to help us be a better wife/husband, parent, sister, daughter, friend, person, steward of the Earth.

I've decided to:

• drink more water, and offer less sugary drinks to the girls.
• add 5 minutes a day to my jaunt on the new elliptical (because after 9 months of sitting on my behind for my sewing business, my behind is not thanking me for the few bucks I made!

• twice a week, we will eat a completely vegetarian meal. b/c dried beans are cheap
• put myself on an allowance and not keep charging up the Disney Rewards card on silly stuff like craft supplies. Seriously, those buttons probably cost $50 more after the interest!
• Grow veggies and eat them... again... cheaper... have you seen how much those English cucumbers cost?!?
• Stop getting take out food b/c again... it's expensive to eat out all of the time, and we'll save the gas from the trip... and my behind will stop growing exponentially!
• Do something fun with the girls each week. Yesterday we saw Nim's Island... just us girls.
• Go to bed a bit earlier
• Do laundry twice a week, so our piles don't get so high, and our weekends aren't spent doing chores
• Floss every day.... I KNOW.... I try!
• Stop living off of caffeine.... just one cup a day! Sorry Tassimo!!!
• replace each burned out light bulb with the energy saving CFLs
• and the list goes on...

You get the idea.... Just taking each day for what it is... a blessing from God... and live it to the fullest that we can THAT day. And in the evening, I'm watching the news... because everyone needs a good belly laugh each day.

La Dolce Vita!

Tales from the OB/GYN

OK, so THAT title should reel in some strange google searches! But, never the less, I had my wonderful annual visit to the OB/GYN.... of whom I actually haven't seen since giving birth 4 years ago... I seem to always be on the nurse practitioner's schedule. Which, honestly, I don't mind... She's young, a newly wed actually, and we seem to get along. While waiting patiently for her in the lovely paper robe, I started scanning the pages of the March Country Living magazine... I was pretty into my reading when she came in, and she commented on how much she loves vintage things..... So, with my feet up, I continued to read and tell her about my adventure to The Royal Standard... and while "The Sista's" were being checked, we both gabbed over this amazing article on a Petite Department store called McMaster & Storm. They do not yet have their e-shop going, but it's on the way! And let me be the 1000th person to say, they will do VERY VERY well. It looks like you've stepped into the pages of Country Living itself! I could spend hours looking in all of their nooks and crannies.... if I weren't having all of my nooks and crannies looked in.

OK, so while we're all trying to rid ourselves of THAT visual, let me just say that you never really know who you'll run into in blog-world... But when we find those gems of people, who are honest and good, you should add them to your favorites list quickly. In this harried and crazy world, it's nice to have access to something so lovely and someone so inspiring at the click of a button. And dare I say.... I hope that I'm that gem for someone.

You all have a great weekend with your family and friends... Enjoy the renewing Spring weather while you can!

Whipped

OK, so this may date myself a bit.... but I am a HUGE Indiana Jones Fan... Harrison Ford is just about the hottest older actor out there.... Sorry Sean Connery... I'm so thrilled that the new movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will be released May 22nd!!!!! And, if you don't mind my saying.... Indie is a Hottie!!!!! He's just a rugged, Manly Man.... and boy oh boy....... do you suppose he wears that hat home?..... ...... ...... Sorry, I was in fantasy land there... Now, I know that the kid from Holes will probably be a big draw for you Youngin's out there, but trust me.... Indie is the real attraction here.... mmmmm.... like a fine wine..... ;-)
Go see the movie site!.... I'm going to go dream about Indie!