Thursday Top Pick

Today I have chosen to feature an Etsy shop owned by Joanna Goldman. Here is where to go to see more of her creative artistry. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6735925

Card Switch Plate Cover

Scrabble Tile Pendant

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO OPEN AN ETSY SHOP?

I randomly came across Etsy a few years ago and fell in love. I had some switch covers and cards already made, so I decided to try and sell them on Etsy.

WHAT KIND OF ITEMS TO YOU SELL IN YOUR ETSY SHOP?

I specialize in all things cute!! I have greetings cards, light switch covers, posters, pins, magnets and more.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ETSY SHOP (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN)?

One of my favorite Etsy shops is “Fionachapman”. I recently got her to make me a custom pair of earrings that I wore to my brother’s wedding. They were beautiful. Check out her shop here. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5857865

Thank you Joanna for sharing your shop with us. Make sure and take a peek at all her cute items up for sale in her shop.

I have had a request to share the recipe for the “Cauliflower Potato Salad” that I mentioned yesterday. I will be posting that recipe tomorrow (Friday) so be sure to check back. :o)

A Visit from Megan

We are very much looking forward to having Megan (our oldest daughter) drive down from Canada for the day.  She should get here around noon and stay until after dinner.

Oh, I am very pleased to report that I weighed in this morning and have lost another 2 pounds and have dropped into the next category .  I figure slow and steady wins the race.  I think that keeping our bread or pasta meals to one per day is a big key, and of course lots of vegetables.  I love zucchini squash and we have found that if you cut them in half, and then slice them the long way they are very easy to grill.  About an hour or two before grilling we slice them up and put them in a ziplock bag with Chavetta’s  Italian Dressing to marinate.  They are out of this world and very low in calories and very high in fiber.   I tried a new “Weight Watchers” recipe my daughter just shared with me.  The recipe is for a “potato” salad that is actually made with a fresh cauliflower.  It looked exactly like potato salad and tasted wonderful.Steve and Bradly loved it too.  We had it with a grilled ground round burger that was loaded with onions and green peppers .  We eat our burger with no bread, but this seemed like a picnic meal.  I am so glad to have this “potato” salad recipe because my family loves potato salad and this will help complete some summer meals and we won’t feel deprived. 

Last week I was so surprised to discover I had won a blog giveaway.  I will be receiving a photo I chose from this artists selection.  Amazingly, I was notified yesterday that I had won another blog giveaway.  I won a necklace from “Wire Dream Designs” . My husband thinks I better run out and buy a lottery ticket since I seem to be having a lucky streak.  Here is a picture of the necklace I won.  This gorgeous piece of jewelry is one of many beautiful pieces sold here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5902534

Tuesday Top Pick

It is that day again…the day I get the pleasure of featuring another Etsy shop here on my blog.  Today’s featured artist is Patricia Barrett.  She has a beautiful shop on Etsy called, “Gladraggz”.  You can find her shop here:    http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6352491

Patricia sells handmade, one-of-a kind jewelry, as well as purses and accessories.  Many are funky crochet purses that are adorned with ribbons and vintage jewelry.  Here are Pat’s two favorite items in her shop.                                             

Heart Pendant

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Pony Purse”

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO OPEN AN ETSY SHOP?

I have always loved to create, but realized that more than just friends and family loved my creations.  After making up some of my purses and hats, I sold them at a local boutique and began to realize that people actually liked my creations enough to buy them.  I love the experience of creating, from the hatching of a design to the final product.  Somehow the item guides me into what it wants to be—sort of like “feeling” my way through the process.

WHAT IS THE NAME AND LINK TO YOUR FAVORITE ETSY SHOP (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN)?

Gosh, I have so many favorite shops, it’s really hard to choose just one, and actually that wouldn't seem fair.  I have been running a series of features on my blog, showcasing my blog followers.  It has been a tremendous experience, and I have discovered not only gifted artists, but wonderful, loving and generous human beings.  Each person has their own story and each is unique and gifted in a very special way!!  You can read about some of my favorite shop owners here:     http://carpetbaggercreations.blogspot.com/

Thank you Pat for sharing your shop and your thoughts with us.  I hope everyone will go and take a peek at Pat’s shop and encourage her…we all need that on a daily basis.  :o)

Made a Dog Collar

I am very pleased to announce that I finally made a collar for our dog, Chloe.  I found that it really isn’t that hard….especially if you don’t get ahead of yourself and think you know how to attach the hardware without the directions.  Naturally that is just what I did, but once I picked out the seams I had sewn and actually followed the directions for attaching the hardware, it was quite easy and I could have had it done in half the the time if I hadn’t thought I was so smart.  LOL

 

 

 

 

Chloe

 

What  a nice day  we had yesterday.  We did take firewood to our camper and Steve de-winterized the camper (got the anti freeze out of the pipes ect.).  The slideout and the awning are open and the grill and most of the deck furniture are out.  The kids picked up lots of sticks and we raked the foot of leaves off the hostas so they can come up.  Brad and Nick played in the woods and walked Karli (who had a ball).  We were there for a couple of hours and then we stopped on the way home and saw Rachel at “SMILES” (the ice cream shop she works at).  Naturally we partook of the delicious frozen custard that they sell there.  Mmm..it was yummy!!

Oh, I wanted to include a picture of my finished nautical beach bag.  I realized after I blogged yesterday that I had not shared the finished product.  :o)

Karli Won Round 1

Ok, I promised an update on Karli’s housebreaking. I have to admit defeat concerning yesterday mornings skirmish.  As you know I had grabbed her within 5 minutes of eating breakfast and waited with her outside for a good 45 minutes freezing my backside off, and nothing.  So we came in and I kept her on her leash so I would know if she had to go.  After I blogged I took her back out.  She ALWAYS poops within 5 or 10 minutes of eating, so we went out for the second time.  We had been outside about 20 minutes when my hubby got up and came outside with us.  I explained how determined I was that Karli was going to get housebroke, and how weird it was that after all this time she still hadn’t pooped.  I couldn’t believe when he said, “Um, before I came out I cleaned up Karli poop out in the  laundry room.  I am ashamed to say that I came in the house and shed tears over the frustration of it all.  How in the world she had slipped out in the laundry room and pooped without me knowing is beyond me.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel…we got her after lunch and she pooped outside.  We made a huge deal and we are hoping we are on out way to a housebroke Karlil.

I am really psyched because I sold the “Doggie Travel Bag” yesterday.  A customer bought it for her mother-in-law for Mother’s Day.  It is really a great feeling when you have an idea for something new in your head and you manage to create it.  But it is even better  when someone else sees its potential and you make a sale.  I want to make another one with the new fabric I got at Joann Fabrics, but I promised myself I was going to make Chloe and Karli their new dog collars first.  I don’t know why I feel so inadequate about making these collars, but I do feel nervous.  I will probably find that they are really easy to make and love making them.  Chloe’s dog groomer would like me to make some matching collars and leashes for her to sell in her shop.  If these go well, I just may do that.

“Doggie Travel Bag”. Today’s agenda involves my Brother-in-law and his pickup truck.  Ernie and Steve  are going to my parents house and picking up the firewood from a tree my dad cut down.  The kids and I will go along in our van when they go up to our campsite to unload the wood.  We thought maybe we could get a few things done while we are there, and the kids will be thrilled to get to play in the woods directly across from the camper and in easy site of us.  Steve checked yesterday and the water at the campground has been turned on, so we will have bathroom facilities.   It feels good to have an outing planned for the day.  :o)

“Marley and Me”

Bet you can’t guess what movie we watched last night…Yup, you guessed it, “Marley and Me”.  Wow, it was a really good movie and there were parts that were so funny we just laughed and laughed.  I think it was easy for me to connect to the movie because so many of Marley’s antics when he was a puppy, made me think of the things we are going through with Karli.  Towards the end, when Marley was getting older and slower, it made me think so much of our older dog, Chloe.  Chloe will be 11 years old in July, and she has definitely slowed down and it is getting harder for her to get up and down the stairs (I can relate  LOL).  If you are an animal lover and have a soft heart, you will want to watch this movie…but be warned…it is a tear jerker.

I could have croaked when Nick came dashing into our room raring to go at 6:30 am on this gorgeous Saturday morning.  Anyway, potty training Karli is not going well, so I have made up my mind that today is the day she is going to actually poop outside!!  Now, every morning without fail, she poops within 10 minutes of eating her breakfast.  I had combed my hair and tamed it down a bit  because I wouldn’t want to scare the folks driving by at 7 am. and I had Karli out the door and on her chain within 5 minutes of eating. I don’t dare leave her out without supervision because her chain is out front and I am afraid someone might steal her (although they would probably bring her back when they found out how many times a day she poops.lol). I waited for 45 minutes, while freezing to death.  She never pooped.!! She explored, sat and shook, and chewed and ate God only knows what (sometimes I think she is part goat). Finally I gave up this skirmish but not the battle.  I brought her inside but put her on her leash which I have now been holding for about 40 minutes.  I figure the minute she tries to poop I am going to rush her back outside.  She has played with the cats, tipped over the wastepaper basket several times and yanked my arm….but I am hanging in there…today will be the day she actually poops outside.  Can you sense my determination?   I would love to hear from anyone who has conquered this battle and survived.. LOL

This is my little angel looking at me and trying to figure out why she has to be on her leash.  Don’t be fooled by those soulful eyes…if I let her off the leash, I can guarantee she will be pooping on the rug within minutes.  Be sure and read tomorrows blog update to see whether Karli or I win this battle.  :o)

Parenting is Frustrating

Nicholas has had two pretty good weeks, which has been a nice reprieve.  Bradly on the other hand has been lying left and right.  His class is going on a camping trip later this month.  About a month ago we told him that in order to go, he had to try to be honest and trustworthy.  Did we expect that that meant he wouldn’t lie at all…NO!!!  We know better.  The truth of the matter is that he hasn’t been really trying at all.  Finally last week we told him he was not going.  His teacher sent home a note yesterday offering that the school would cover the $50 cost because Bradly had told her we couldn’t afford the $50 which is why he isn’t going.  Needless to say we were not very pleased about yet another lie.  He swore up hill and down that he never told her that.  This morning I called his teacher and guess what?  Not only did he tell her that, but he wrote it on a note to her, which she still has.  Ugh.  She is going to show him the note and tell him she told me about it and see what he comes up with next.  It is extremely hard to live with a kid that you cannot trust.  The dishonesty seems to be escalating even though we have consequences in place and follow through with them  Bradly and I actually have a contract we came up with together.  Each time he lies, he loses 2 hours of t.v. time.  He can still earn his tickets for the “Ticket Game”, but he is not allowed to spend them on days that he has lost t.v. time for lying.  If anyone has a plan that worked with their children or know of something that has worked, please leave me a comment, as I would love to hear any ideas you may have.

Maybe I will get the blue and white striped beach bag I have been working on, finished today.  Last night I hand appliquéd the white anchor onto the navy blue pocket with red embroidery floss and I am please with the result.  After that I really need to get working on the dog collars for our two dogs.  I don’t remember if I told you that I bought a PDF pattern that contained different sized collar patterns as well as a leash pattern.  I also purchased the hardware needed for the collars. I want to make Chloe and Karli matching collars and I admit to being a bit nervous as I have never made a collar.  I decided however, that if I can make purses I should be able to make a couple of collars..LOL

I relisted this “Tweety Bird” tote/diaper bag this morning.  Hopefully by tonight I will have the beach bag ready to list.  Here is a pic of the “Tweety Bird” bag. :o)