Perchance to sleep- - -

If there is one thing that I am good at, even great at, it is sleeping!
I can fall asleep almost anywhere any time of day. I never (well almost) never have a problem sleeping through the night.
until
last night. 2:30, 2:58, 3:20, 3:44, 4:11 until I finally lost it and really really had to concentrate on slowing my mind down so I could sleep.
I should also mention that as good as a sleeper as I am, I HAVE to have my 8-9 hours to function!
so here in the middle of the night thinking and thinking and thinking..
I'm so sad for the family in Visalia, and that strange evil man that came in the church and shot the Bishop.
I have so much to do for these craft fairs and I'm planing the next item to work on.
I am still thinking of a name, Dizzy Miss Lizzy's Designs, that's what came to me last night.
I have to get everything done in advance at work so I can be off half of Friday and next Tuesday.
I am so excited to leave and go to AZ and see Carson and Lauren and Kieri.
I have to pack some of their things because there is room in the moving truck.

It's going to be a LONG, LONG day (be happy you don't have to work with me)

I feel like I'm running a race and I'm dead last.

I'm trying to get ready for the Bazaar season...I haven't done this for several years. Usually I start in July, this year I only started in August... so I feel like I'm running a race, that I started late!
These first two weeks (although I'm still not finished..) I've been making flowers.. I had some left over so I sewed them onto my purse.. and It looks like a new purse! pretty nice.
This is the after:
This is the before.. pretty good for a $7.00 purse.

The upstairs looks like a fabric store barrfed up! I am not too neat when working on projects. These are all the flower pins I'm working on:

and these

and then I'm also working on more Christmas wreaths.

but now off to work.. the REAL job.. but come 4pm, I'll be back at the craft factory. and HOPEFULLY I can finalize a name for this business. All my blog friends offered up some great choices and ideas that made me stop and think. There were some great ideas and they are still dancing around my head. dance dance dance.

Mallory's Birthday

Just a quick PICTURE HEAVY post about... Mallory's 7th Birthday. (aka The Whirly-gig)
The birthday girl and her Mexican Fiesta Themed Birthday.

She was in her glory. Because she was THE BIRTHDAY GIRL.

proud Mom

Proud Dad

she had quite a time with the chili pepper Pinata'

she hit it and hit it.. didn't wear her out a bit!!!

Nothing says Happy Birthday like a card full of money!

Saturday musings

Look who I'll be playing with a week from today...
I can't wait

Food Fun Friday-Raspberry&Roasted Garlic Grilled Chicken

So what's a person to do when they think they are making a really cool thing for her food fun Friday, and it turns out YUCKY, and drippy and gooey.. well
you find another recipe with a beautiful picture.

It is the end of summer. We haven't used our grill EVEN ONE TIME this summer. (possibly because it is broken?) Now that summer is coming to a close.. I am longing for the summer days when we wouldn't have used the grill.
This recipe caught my eye so I'll keep it for later!

Raspberry & Roasted Garlic Grilled Chicken

Light and fresh, this simple marinade works beautifully as a salad dressing, too. As a marinade, it's delicious on chicken breast, but utterly divine on the dark meat of thighs. The meat cooks up deliciously flavored, with the sweet, rich tang of citrus and raspberry, and the earthy flavor of garlic. Set a bit of the marinade aside for drizzling over greens and rice.

2 lemons, freshly squeezed

1 orange, freshly squeezed

1/4 c. fresh raspberries

1/2 T. horseradish mustard

1/2 T. Worcestershire sauce

4 cloves roasted garlic

1/4 c. honey

1/4 c. oil

1/2 T. salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender until very well blended. Drizzle over 1-3 pounds of uncooked chicken, cover, and refrigerate until ready to grill (up to 12 hours).

This was found over at Cheeky Kitchen:

http://www.cheekykitchen.com/2010/08/raspberry-roasted-garlic-grilled.html

A Word from the older generation!

It takes a minute to watch, but this is oh so funny. I found myself nodding in agreement and laughing at her comic timing!! I can only hope I am this funny at her age!
" this is the first time I've ever been old, and it just sort of crept up on me... there were signs....... random hair growth.. thats special!"

Wednesday Wisdom

(and don't forget to help me choose-think of-pick-find- a business name..see yesterdays post)

What's in a NAME? HELP me pick a name

I am busy making things for the upcoming holiday season.
I've done many craft fairs in the past and at one time even had a store in Half Moon Bay, The Charmed Rose. Up here in this little town there are a couple of small (small) shows. But I also think I am ready to enter the world of... ESTY

The first thing that I need to get is a catchy name!!! I used to be The Holiday Hutch (last name was hutchins) and then when the girls and I did dominoes we were: The Domino Duet. I still like that name.. but I don't only make domino items.
I'm also working on flowers:

and for the shows here some wreaths

and some chalk boards:

and maybe even bulletin boards

I have a few other things up my sleeves (aprons, ornaments, name plaques) and more in the future. ok here's the scoop

I NEED A CATCHY NAME H*E*L*P

So far I've been given:

The Queen of Cute

The Blue Star

Tangello Surprise

Domino Duet

Lisa's Lovelies

So please -hit me with your best shot(s)

Give me lots to work with... and if your 'company' name is chosen YOU win BIG BIG BIG

I'll shower you with lots of my crafty goodness!

AND of course my undying gratitude.

*Hey this worked for a blog friend Karyn, (hi Karyn) so I thought I'd try it.

thanks in advance..... I love all my blog friends and am enjoy (need) all the ideas and advice I can get.

A new week and new projects

It's a new week and I'm off and running with new projects.
This candle holder is one of the crafts for our Super Saturday. Using chalk board paint you can change the message out.... with an orange candle it can be for Halloween but with a red candle you can write JOY or HO-HO-HO and for Valentines you can write LOVE or whatever you want. Also a THANK YOU gift.... I pick up these glass holders at thrift store, they are all different and unique.
The next one is a 'bowl' and I'm sure it will get a lot of use ANY time of year!!! (as long as I can keep it filled. I even thought about putting a turtle in it, ha, can you see me with a turtle???
Here they are my cute little crafts.

Now pay attention because tomorrow I'll be asking for help...

It's my Go-Do-It-All day

Let me tell you that working for a living stinks! Work is a four letter word. Hey, it's my cranky week remember!!!
Yep stinky stink stink.

ok, now that I've got that off my chest... I can move on...

BECAUSE it is Saturday... MY day. My day to Clean the house, do all the laundry, Water and pick up the yard, cook for the week, grocery shop,

AND THEN hit a couple of garage sales and then try and MAKE stuff!!

This week the highlight was having lunch with a fun - fun - fun - blog friend and her sister-in-law and another blog friend and her sister!!!

I met them for lunch because.. that's right I was working! I felt immediately at home, and was totally enthralled with all the energy and enthusiasm and creativity AND knowledge these ladies have and did I mention CrAzY fUn ensued! and with so much talking and ideas and shared knowledge flowing... the time went so quickly! They went shopping and I went back to work..

YEA NO WONDER I'm CrAnKy

Me, Mary sister-in-law that lives in the next town over and shopper extraordinaire, Peggy who just retired (YEA! .. now that's the way to GO!!! Retired and Lovin' it!!) Debbie who has THE most WONDERFUL job as she is an Antiques dealer and is so creative and LOVES people and creates so many beautiful displays for her shows and has the most beautiful items and ideas on her blog.. and then there is the famous Snohomish Shelly- a onewoman show of excitement*love*craziness*beautiful crowns*ideas AND a great blog full of ideas and party's she's been to and all her creative ventures (and believe me there are many) and caring information. Can you tell I enjoyed myself? yep, so great

ok, we're burning daylight folks..... and .. I'm off

my rocker

Food Fun Friday- Cranky Night Pasta

So, yeah, my Cranky Night..(Wednesday) My Pitty Party day..
I had this recipe and figured out I had all the ingredients and it didn't look too hard, and most (WORST) of all it was really healthy....
it tasted pretty good, Healthy... not all saucy and fatty like we like our pasta

1 lb (box) of pasta noodles, whole wheat is the best
2 cups grilled chicken, diced (just pick up a rotisserie one on the way home!)
4 slices turkey bacon, chopped
1 15oz can tomatoes
1 box frozen spinach
fresh basil, oregano, thyme
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese to taste

Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
Cook the spinach according to package instructions.
Cook bacon and chicken, if necessary
In the pan you cooked the bacon, or chicken, warm up the tomatoes, drain and add the pasta, add the spinach, top with your fresh spices and add a little Parmesan cheese.

pretty good
and filling
and HEALTHY

blogville- Mod Podge Rocks

yes, I know ANOTHER craft blog... but my oh my
I guess I have that Super (craft) Saturday on my mind.
I had heard of this... but never been. and
wow-ee-zow-eeeeee
Let me say here and now.
Mod Podge Rocks go here

They have E=V=E=R=Y=T=H=I=N=G

from easy:

to, ummm, yea, HARD

and so cute

and so sweet

and fun, ring a ding ding

and funky
and useful (well so she says)
yep, I love these modge podge pictures... ok going back for more

Wednesday Wisdom

Enemies will see through you;

friends will see you through.

Author unknown

thank you for being my friend and coming to visit me

let's just skip today

or at least go to work in the fishing industry...
yeah, like that sounds exciting.

Yuck points for today:
*computer still broken and Mr. fixer hasn't called in a week and a half.
*haven't lost any weight (oh broke my #1 rule about not talking about being on a _ _ _ _)
*I can't think of two more classes for Super Saturday.
*I waste a lot of time on the computer when I should be finishing up items to OPEN AN ESTY shop.. (Not really a YUCK, more of a GULP)

re-habing some free items

I found a couple of great items in the free pile, this one just needed to be washed off and spray painted.
A little white paint (after a base of free spray paint) and VOILA... you have a great: Stand.

A great 4 post stand that you can use for: plants:

or what my mind saw when I first put eyes on this poor thing on the free pile.... a CUPCAKE HOLDER... a FOUR PLATED CUPCAKE HOLDER... or what ever little goodies you could come up with holder... or you could make 'Cards' saying Happy. 50th. Birthday. Wendy. or whomever you are making all those cupcakes for!! anyway I can't wait to use this on my serving table.

Another find on the freebie pile: a broken, rusted plant holder.

again a free can of spray paint as a base and a can of turquoise.. and it is made Bbautiful.

a couple of months ago my sister-in-law gave me her precious Orchid Cactus plant. It was sitting on top of their fridge, and the plant was all the way to the ground. I had nothing to put it on (my fridge is not near a window) and..... looky here!

It looks great, AND by a window. I only hope I can have it bloom like this one:

Just goes to show that you never know what you will find on the free pile and with a little work it can become PERFECT. perfectly beautiful!