Its a wonderful day in our neighborhood...

Break in the weather...It was picture time

Promise!

I made a promise and I'm keeping it...here are the photos of the craziness that occurred over the weekend. I'm still waiting on BT to help me take better photos for etsy but they will be up soon

Lap top bag. Made for a 15 inch screen lap top has firm stabilizer to keep you cargo safe
Headband covers. Why have one headband with one look when you can trade the look out for something new. The added bonus these headband don't cause migraines (or at least for me)



Water Bottle Covers...yes I'm at it again this time for those regular size water bottles

It also doubles as a beer/soda cover as well
Did I mention I'm in a headband phase?

Work Work Work

Yes I've been working my little fingers to the bones! Lots of projects for Etsy and possibly Sacramento Indie Craft if I can get my act together and get some paperwork done for it. It was an extremely productive weekend 2 bags and about 15 headbands later it was OVER (Pictures up later I promise!). I still have more to work on with b-days coming up and other misc holidays. This weekend though I'm officially on Vacation going up to the snow with some friends and skiing my little booty off! BT said no super pipe since last year this time I kinda sorta bounced my head off the side of it and tore up my shoulder, which has yet to heal (and I have yet to go to the doctor for it as well). It should be a fun weekend with friends and just kinda hanging out. It will be good to take a break from the crafting and work and life. I'm sure I'll be busy though with projects this week! I also go this little/big gift from my mom at Xmas which I still need to figure out how to use but I will persevere.

It's not really about persevering it's about a promise I made to the UCDavis Water Ski team to embroider some towels for a tournament. So I will probably be reading directions and watching You Tube video's that will guide me through the process!

Too Much on the Brain

My brain is spinning quite literally. I haven't been sleeping at night and Ive narrowed it down to the fact I told BT that I "might be done with crafting". I of course said this out of frustration its not true I swear. Ive run into a few bumps in the road when it comes to crafting and making things work. Well they haven't been working prototype after prototype and no luck! GRRR...So at night I think of new ways to do the projects and then I cant stop thinking. I cant stop my mental creativity which hops from project to project that I want to make. And then when I finally fall asleep I awake and start to think again and I'm up! So thanks to 4 days of little sleep and a flurry of creative thinking. I have more projects I want to make and not enough time! I'm exhausted just thinking about everything.

Thank GOD I can Bake

There are days when I Thank God for giving me the skills to bake. And today was one of them. My office co-workers know its Monday when they walk in the office and see a batch of my newest and finest creations sitting on the front counter. I really think its the only reason they show up early on Monday. This week I made cookies but not just any cookies and for not just any reason. Our New Gal hinted to me that she was looking forward to Monday. So I knew it was time to break out an oldie but goodie. Sugar Cookies. But not just any Sugar Cookie my Mom's recipe which who knows where she got it but I'm pretty sure its from Great Grandma Betsy but I could be wrong. These cookies have the perfect texture are flaky and crisp will drive you made because you cant stop eating them! Best of all they are quick and easy to make and throwing the dough in the fridge wont kill the cookie!


So here I present to you the Sugar Cookie

Ingredients
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
1 cube margarine
1 c. cooking oil canola veggie whatever you like but NO Olive Oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
4 c. plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar (buy it its worth every penny)

Devices
1 spoon
2 mixing bowls
1 drinking glass

Special
1 small bowl of sugar


How too...

Preheat oven to 350-375

Melt margarine, blend with powdered sugar and granulated sugar. Add cooking oil vanilla and eggs. In the 2nd bowl mix together flour baking soda salt and Cream of Tartar. Mix together dry and wet ingredients you have dough!

Make a ball with dough that is about the size of a Walnut and place on cookie sheet. Take drinking glass and dip in bowl of sugar and flatten the dough ball on the cookie sheet you want to leave about 1/2 an inch between each cookie. Place in oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Happy Holiday

Happy Holiday!

Well for most of us that is! My routine though hasn't changed much since I couldn't sleep last night and I've already been to the gym lifted and cardio'd. I even got in some ever so important sewing time. Ive got to think up some more creative things to make! Well back to the drawing board...

Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures well all got them! I myself have more than just a few some of which place me in a category all my own when it comes to weirdness. Boy Toy even has a few one of which is the Peanut Butter and Pickle (yes Pickle) Sandwich. I was a skeptic at first, but then I had a bite and I was hooked. So here is a list of a few of my Guilty Pleasures.

1. Avril Lavigne

I can not resist listening to her music and singing it out at the top of my lungs. When I've had a bad day or a good day she is my go to girl. In fact her CD is ALWAYS in my CD player in the car.

2. Peanut Butter on Hot Dogs

Don't give me that look. Have you tried it? I didn't think so. This guilty pleasure is full of fat and unknowns. Its a sodium overload but its oooooh so good! My father of all people introduced me to this at a young age it was his version of feeding the kids when mom was away.

3. Watching M*A*S*H*

This series ended in 1983 I wasn't even born yet! But somehow I got hooked.

4. Blue Crush

Now my roommates from college will attest to the fact that I would put this movie in about 2 times a month and sit and watch from start to finish. I'm a girl what can I say and I wish I was a true surfer girl. Yes I can paddle out and ride a wave but not like these girls.

5. Spanish TV Channels

I speak very little Spanish but I still enjoy there shows. I especially enjoy tele novellas and soccer.

6. Cheeze-it's and a can of Coke

I'm really into that salty sweet stuff. Good old Coca-Cola and a handful of Cheeze-its hits the spot every time!

7. Popping zits

Its gross and I should stop, but I love to do this.

8. Plucking BT's eyebrows

He has "Strays" and I believe in a well manicured man. So about every 2-3 weeks its eyebrow plucking time as he sits and screams at me about how much it hurts (I enjoy every minute of it)

9. Dipping pretzels in a can of icing

Again I'm into that salty sweet thing. And the can of icing MUST be vanilla and have a picture of the Pillsbury dough boy on it otherwise its not worth my time

10. Eating and or Drinking while taking a shower!

My roommates always knew that when I took a longer than normal shower it was because I was having a beer. Well this still hasn't stopped in fact it has evolved into eating certain foods in the shower like those card board bar granola bars or fudgesicles (why because i get the best of both worlds warm and cold at the same time!)
Photo courtesy of LCJ


Okay so I'm a little off but who cares I'm sure you have some guilty pleasures as well!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!

Of course I had to make myself a t-shirt for myself. Love birds and tattoo Hearts. I have to say I already got my gift a new bike. And by new I mean an old used cruiser type bike. Its a lovely shade of brown and rides like a dream! Once i get it all decked out ill post some pictures.

V-Day Cup Cakes

Today is Valentines Day, Okay I lied. Really were celebrating V-day at work today and what better to have than cup cakes!

These were actually fairly easy to make but give yourself 2 days to do this why? because the hearts are made of gum paste (the stuff they use to make flowers for wedding cakes). You first have to make the gum paste and then let it set for at least 8 hours. Now don't be scared it does make a lot of gum paste but you can freeze whatever you don't use. Once you have made your shapes you then have to let them set for about 24 hours. Yes its a lot of time so don't expect to go out and do this today. I got the idea for Craft Magazine Vol 10 but you don't have to go out and buy it do learn how to use gum paste the Wilton website has lots of information on it on how to use decorating products.

I did however go out and buy the decorating tips for the icing because I didn't have any. This is something that is very easy to learn it just takes practice. I had about 5 years of practice decorating cakes for an ice cream store I worked for in High School and in College. Don't get frustrated with the writing practice on anything cookies the table top you will get used to it and better at it. It took me 5 years to get my chicken scratch readable. Another hint is to make the icing that is suggested by Wilton to use with the bags and tips. Once you get an idea of what different kinds of icing do you will have a better idea of what kind works for you ( you don't want it to runny but you don't want it super stiff its a balancing act). Other than that have fun and don't worry about the mess its just sugar!

Exiled to the Great White North

So it has become apparent through BT’s numerous comments about being “exiled from the southland” and “away from the comfort of my fandom” that he misses Los Angeles more importantly the bruins. His “relocation away from the sports landscape that (he) has been raised in” has obviously affected him mentally and physically as his new team colors are green and yellow instead of the majestic primary colors of blue and gold. And his new mascot can only sting you while the old one had the ability to eat you alive. What’s a Home Ec Teachers Daughter to do? Well I got some inspiration and made his day by recovering his couch pillows in the colors of his favorite team the UCLA Bruins.


This took me about 3 hours and lots of fabric but it was worth it! What was once a tan couch is now full of color and team spirited for the weekend match ups (which he no longer gets to watch but I’m trying okay!). The tutorial I used is from here! It works great my only suggestion is if you have big pillows like these to add a little extra fabric maybe an extra inch on each side. Next I’ve got to spruce up the smaller pillows with some color…

Internet

I have no Internet. I'm changing my provider and it has turned into a nightmare. I swear they never came out to turn the phone line on but they say they have done everything (yeah okay). So hopefully today my Internet will be resolved and order will be restored. It shouldn't be a big deal to not be connected to the world but as I learned the other day I rely on the Internet a lot especially for maps and addresses. Besides that I no longer have Cable TV as well (they were charging to much and I can watch TV online) so now I'm officially unconnected from the world. Did I mention I don't even have text messaging on my phone because it was gonna cost another $50 a month because to text on my phone you have to have Internet. I'm frustrated can you tell?

Valentine Tree

Well its February so its time to change the tree...Now its a Tree of Love

The Button Ornaments can be found for sale on the Etsy Site or you can do them yourself from this tutorial!