Ramblings from the Animal House

Weekend Fun

2012-02-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe the weekend is nearly over. Sadness. I think I am really in need of a vacation because I am feeling so burnt out. I want time to just focus on my needs...on being creative...on organizing my home...on getting in some kitchen time. But alas, it's not to be! At least not for now. So I will continue to make my weekends count! :)

Friday evening I got caught up reading The Forest Of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I simply could not put this book down! I finished it in one evening. I'm excited to read her other books and I'm hoping they are just as good!

link

Last night I read The Hunger Games. In under 5 hours. That's how good it was! I was exhausted and wanted to sleep but I just couldn't do it. Now I'm on the library waiting list for the next two books. Sadly I'm like #500! :( I may break down and buy the books before then!

link

After staying up til 3 a.m reading, I actually managed to sleep in for a change! That was nice. I worked on some more things for my Etsy shop including these unicorn bean bags:

and this Goddess Doll:

I tried out a new cookie recipe too. NYC Black & White Cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. I didn't take a picture because mine didn't turn out as pretty as hers (but they taste just fine).

link

Oh! Exciting news for me...I sold my first item on Etsy today! Woo-hoo! :) It's a thrilling feeling, knowing someone was willing to pay money for something you made.

How was your weekend?

Kitties In Bed

2012-02-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in a fun activity with Cameron over at PaintMyselfPretty.

She suggested we all do the lessons from this book and then link what we come up with!

The first lesson instructed us to draw 30 cats while lying in bed! I haven't drawn much since high school so I was a little intimidated at first. But then I stopped being so judgemental of myself and just went to work! It was so much fun! Here are some of the kitties I came up with.

Then I stopped following directions and made a happy little cat couple! :)

This book is a super fun way to get back into drawing! I've been doodling every single day for the past week. Thanks Cameron for suggesting this awesome book! :)

Winning

2012-02-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

I have been a very lucky girl this week! I am always entering blog giveaways and this week it certainly paid off! :)

I won this hemp and coral ring over at Violetbella's giveaway. Her sponser, Perpetual Sunshine is the designer of this lovely little ring. I can't wait to try it on! :)

oh so pretty

Today when I checked my email, I was informed that I had won this adorable prize from KittyPinkStars!

It consists of a set of hampster stickers (inspired by her new pet, Walter) and a cute little puff snowball!

You can't help but smile looking at these cuties! :)

My Day

2012-02-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to pop in with a quick hello! It's been a very busy week and I haven't had the chance to do much crafting or cooking or any of the things I enjoy doing. Therefore I only have some random photos from the past few days to share with you.

1. I love the tree photo. She's a huge old maple that lives in my front yard (one of two actually). She gives me shade in the summer and many lovely little squirrels call her branches home.

2. Random photo of me in my dork glasses. ;)

3. Old truck in my "garage".

4. Yummy plate of veggies. I've been eating veggie and hummus plates for lunch all week. Being too lazy to cook and all...

5. Zoe eating grass. She had an upset tummy that day. :(

6. Some bibs all cut out and ready to sew!

7. Vintage bread tin. I store old cookbooks in it...

8. Hummus.

9. Dog yoga.

10. Fabric pile. I love trips to the fabric store. I'm like a kid in a candy shop! ;)

Happy Wednesday!

Chana Saag

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Why is it that when you are able to sleep in, you can't? That's what happened to me over the weekend. Even though I stayed up 'til 2 a.m. I was up at 7! My espresso maker got quite the workout on Saturday. I love making lattes and cappuccinos. I found that So Delicious Coconut Milk froths up quite nicely...as seen in this picture.

Yum.

Zoe sleeps at the foot of my bed every night. Here she is wondering why on earth I'm up so early! :)

Waking early does have it's perks. I put my slow cooker to use Saturday morning. I decided to try a new recipe from The Vegan Slow Cooker. This is Chana Saag...which translates to chickpeas with greens. I used spinach for mine!

I have to admit that it was a bit difficult for me to eat this. The color just threw me off. This is why I don't do those green juices! Once I got past the color, I really enjoyed this dish. :)

Here's the recipe, if you'd like to give it a go!

Slow Cooker Indian Greens with Chickpeas - Chana Saag

Recipe By    :
Serving Size : 6    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : LowFat (Less than 25%) Vegan

Amount Measure    Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion -- minced
2    cloves garlic -- minced
1    tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 pound assorted greens -- washed, and torn into bite-size
pieces, and spun dry (you can also buy a prewashed mix in a bag)
zest of 1/2 lime
1    teaspoon cumin powder
   1/2 teaspoon turmeric
   1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
   1/2 teaspoon garam masala -- or to taste
1 1/2    cups water
2 tablespoons vegan chicken-flavored bouillon -- or 4 tablespoons
Chickeny Bouillon
15 ounces chickpeas -- drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked
homemade
   1/2    cup plain nondairy creamer -- or nondairy milk
salt -- to taste
To serve: -- rice

The Night Before: heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onion
until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and saute for 2 minutes
longer. Store the sauteed onion, grated ginger, and prepared greens in an
airtight container in the refrigerator. Store the lime zest separately in the
fridge.

In the Morning: oil the crock of your slow cooker. Combine the sauteed onion,
ginger, greens, spices, water, and bouillon in the slow cooker. Cook on low for
6 to 8 hours.

About 30 minutes before serving, puree the soup with an immersion blender or in
batches in a countertop blender, being careful of splatters of hot soup, until
smooth. add the chickpeas, nondairy creamer, lime zest, and salt to the slow
cooker. Cook on high for 30 more minutes, until the beans are heated through.
Taste and adjust the seasonings. Serve over rice.

Yield: 6 servings
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 6 to 8 hours

AuthorNote: you can use any combination of greens here, such as spinach, Swiss
chard, turnip greens, and collards, or anything that's plentiful where you live.

Variations:
Add 1 or 2 chopped mild chiles during the last 30 minutes of cooking to give it
more heat.

Don't like chickpeas? Substitute 1/2 package (15 ounces) soft, firm or
extra-firm tofu, pressed and then cut into cubes. It will mimic a popular dish
called saag paneer.

Source:
"Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester, 2011"

Beauty All Around

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

I took the baby to the Columbus Museum of Art last week. He was so adorable! As we walked through looking at all the awe inspiring art he kept making comments like "how beautiful" and "wow". Really cute, especially coming from a two year old! We got to see so many impressive works as well as some amusing ones...like The Flea Hunt by Gerrit Van Honthorst:

image

We ended our day in the "kid's section" where the baby got to have some hands on fun. He made a fort, put together puzzles, played with dough, and even got to sit in these super sized bean bag chairs!

As we were leaving I came across this quote from Joseph Chilton:

"To lead a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong".

Love it! Do you have a favorite quote or thought about creativity?

February Makes Part Two

2012-02-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

I've been waking up every morning feeling inspired and so excited to craft! I love this feeling! :)

This morning I put the remnants of yesterday's baby bib to work in this embroidery hoop wall art. I think it would be super cute hanging in a child's bedroom or playroom!

February Makes

2012-02-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

I joined in the February Makes hosted by HungryHippie. I thought it looked like a fun way to stay creatively inspired this month! Here is my first finished project for the month. A cute sock monkey bib! I adore this playful fabric and the lining is so lush. I would love to have a blanket made out of the stuff!

You can check out the flickr group here.

Happy Saturday! :)

Reflections

2012-01-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

Attempting to keep up with my New Year's resolutions I've been reading a book called "Book of Hours: Prayers To The Goddess" by Galen Gillote It's beautifully written and touches something within me. I remember as a child saying the same prayer every night before bed. I think as an adult, I've missed that routine. I know that we can speak to God/Goddess/Deity of choice at anytime and that memorized words aren't necessary...however occasionally it's nice to have another option. What I really love about this book is that it divides the prayers into morning/afternoon/evening for each day of the week. There are also prayers for life events (both big and small). This one really touched home with me so I thought I'd share it here.

To Find My Life's Path

May the Lady of the Crossroads and the
Hunter of the moon
reveal my life's path to me.
May They give me the strength, courage, and creativity to pursue it.
In embracing it, may
I be blessed and at peace.
Blessed Be.

This morning upon waking I read the prayer and meditation for the day. I took a few minutes to reflect before starting my day. Each section comes with an affirmation. Today it was "...I will choose joy today".

I often find myself dwelling on the negative aspects in my life so I knew that this affirmation was going to be difficult for me but I was determined to give it a try!

Choosing to focus on joy. Choosing. Every morning is a clean slate and we get to choose how we're going to face our day. I actively decided to find joy in the small moments and my entire day was so much brighter!

It started at the gas station this morning. While impatiently waiting for my gas to pump, I looked up into the sky. Perched above me on the telephone wire were at least sixty birds. So simple. So beautiful. And it brought a smile to my face and a reminder to my heart to not get so caught up in the mundane parts of my day that I forget to appreciate the wonders around me.

It was an important lesson. One I plan on remembering!

I wanted to share other things that made me happy today...

This delicate infinity scarf.

I love the versatility!

Soy yogurt. I never enjoyed yogurt back in my pre-vegan days...but now? I adore it!

Knitting. So relaxing...

Happy child. He is a little sweetie and he truly has my heart! I love him so much. I will be sad when he's no longer in my day to day life...

Now I'm sitting here at Starbucks, drinking a (free!) cup of coffee and thinking about all of my friends both near and far, friends that I have spent time with in the real world and those that I know only from the internet....and I am feeling incredibly happy for all those connections.

I love you all!

flowerchildeforever

2012-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I'm a huge procrastinator. I've always been ok with it because when push comes to shove and I'm up against a deadline, I always pull it off without a hitch. However this year I decided that it's time I finally start crossing off things on my bucket list. One of those items? To open an Etsy shop! I've talked about it for years now and now I have done it. You can see a nifty widget on my sidebar if you'd like to take a look (thanks Cameron! I used the same one you have on your blog!). Please keep in mind that this is just the start. I will be adding more items in the next week!

Lovely Day

2012-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

I just love the weekends, don't you? Friday nights are the best part in my opinion. I get to unwind at Starbucks for a few hours and then head home, knowing I have the next two days to do whatever I want. Bliss!

Last night I tidied up my sewing area. This handmade shelf (I use the term lightly...it's just two old crates stacked) sits at the back of my sewing table. It's always changing, evolving. Whatever I find inspiring finds its way here! Right now there is a postcard from Violetbella (I've always adored this photo), an interesting stone (my friend said it's called a lightening rock but I don't know if that's true or not), and a hand knitted washcloth...

I finished up several orders I've been working on. I decided to utilize my vintage typewriter in making this tag...

I love how it turned out...very rustic!

Made a few more coordinating snack packs!

It was a busy night! :)

Here's my soul mate, Tibet. This is the purse that cats love! I don't know why....but for some reason it makes them happier than catnip! :)

What are you up to this weekend?

For My Valentine...

2012-01-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

I came across this adorable retro valentine fabric and knew I had to do something special with it!

I found a tutorial on making fabric envelopes and cards here...

So cute! I couldn't resist! So perfect for the Valentine Swap I'm doing with an old friend. :) Hope she doesn't sneek a peak at my blog or it will ruin the surprise!

Love this craft!

Yarn Lovers Dreamcatcher

2012-01-23T16:19:00.000-08:00

I came across a lovely dreamcatcher on Etsy that I would love to own but sadly it was way out of my price range. So I did the next best thing...I created my own version of it. Lets give credit where credits due here...take a look at the original. The etsy one is simply a work of art! Here is my much smaller version...

I used a combo of ribbon, yarn and lace to create this. It's now hanging over my bed. I love it! So does my kitten Ruby...I'm a little worried she's going to tear it up! ;)

Maybe I should just call it a cat toy?

Sunday slump

2012-01-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a rather slow weekend, craft-wise. I haven't been feeling inspired to make anything new. Instead I started a few more sets of rice filled hand warmers. Here they are, not quite finished!

I also tried out my fabric wrapping on wire hangers as opposed to the plastic I used last time (seen here) I think I like it better this way. What do you think?

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel all your energy has mysteriously disappeared? That's how I've felt since Friday. I have no desire to do anything but lounge in my warm bed watching movies. Sometimes I feel that my home is responsible for my lethargy...especially when it needs cleaned! I know I always feel refreshed and creative when surrounded with order and beauty so I guess it makes sense to feel the opposite when surrounded with mess. I managed to tidy up a bit this morning and I'm thinking I need to smudge too. Do you smudge your space on a regular basis? I feel that it clears the air of any negative vibes that have accumulated over time. I typically use sage first to dispel the negative energy and then follow it up with sweetgrass to attract the positive...

This bundle is made from rosemary and lavender...I think it's beautiful...the woman who makes them says it's cleansing and purifying...

image

What do you do to help yourself get out of a creative slump?

Violet

2012-01-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

My parents welcomed a new pet into their home recently. She's an 11 week old mutt who was living as a "barn dog". My Mom met her and fell in love. I finally got to see Violet this week and I fell head over heels! She came to my house and was so calm and loving. She met my dogs and cats and seemed a bit shy but interested.

Look at her cute little face!

I love her little pink sweater. Mom wants me to knit her something!

Puppy teeth!

I wanted to keep her but Mom wouldn't let me! ;)

Baby Bib and Burpcloth

2012-01-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

I whipped up a last minute birthday gift for a cute little girl I know! A baby bib and burp cloth...I just love this "bubble" fabric!

I lined both with super soft terry.

Packaged it up with some cotton yarn and a cute "monster" tag!

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but making a gift really brings me so much more pleasure than buying some mass produced junk from the store! :)

Craftin' Overload

2012-01-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Last night proved to be a good one for crafting! I popped Dr. Quinn in the dvd player and went to work. I finally finished this washcloth I've been knitting all week...I'm such a slooooowwww knitter!

I love it! I used the moss stitch...

I whipped up a few new handwarmers in a bright yellow bumblebee fabric!

A simple felt and button hair clip to pretty up any hairstyle.

A rice filled heating pad to soothe away aches and pains...

And a reusable "ziplock" bag to brighten up your lunchbox!

Ruby and Zoe spent most of the night snuggled up just like this! Ahhh...the cuteness!

My sister got me this cute Lucky Cat (aka maneki neko) while she was in Seattle. I've been wanting one for years! Thanks Kelly! :)

May the Lucky Cat bless you and yours with good luck and fortune!

Goodies!

2012-01-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

Today has been a "me" day. After not sleeping well at all I decided to treat myself to a trip to my favorite salon for a bang trim and brow wax. For some reason I find waxing really relaxing. I swear I could just fall asleep in that chair!

I've received so many compliments today. It's been a nice little self-esteem booster. Thanks to all you lovelies who brightened my day!

After that I stopped off for a little retail therapy at my favorite craft store. I scored this adorable hand crocheted hat!

It's super comfy and it's such a great color...

I'm a sucker for cute or unusual magnets. I got this one to add to my collection. :)

This weird little guy is actually a rubber stamp. I thought it would be cute to add to my little "handmade" tags that I put on my creations...

It's been such a lovely day! I plan on continuing the fun this evening with a little crafting! What are you doing with your Saturday?

Laptop Lunch

2012-01-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't used my laptop lunchbox in ages! I love this box and all the little compartments. Last night I packed up leftovers for my lunch today. I had vegan taco salad...yum. :)

Something about opening this adorable pink box after a difficult morning, really made my day a bit brighter!

I've been doing my best to cut back on my Starbucks addiction. This little guy is going to help me with that! ;) I am now the proud owner of an espresso maker. Not that I drink espresso...but I will drink lattes and cappuccinos!

Happy Friday!

Cat Quilt

2012-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the lovely Laura over at Violet Bella, I decided to make a "cat quilt" for a friend of mine. It's a bit owl crazy (like me)! I used up scraps of old fabric as well as sheet remnants from my closet curtain project.

Before I even finished stitching it up, someone decided it looked like a comfy place to lounge!

She was really unhappy with me when I packaged the quilt up! Poor Ruby, guess I'll have to make one for her! :)

Pay It Forward 2012

2012-01-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

You may have seen this floating around Facebook or perhaps on someone's blog. It's such a fun idea! Basically the first 5 people to leave a comment along with their email address will receive a handmade gift from me sometime this year. *Note: You must be a follower of this blog.* In return you must make the same offer to 5 others (either on your blog or facebook). I've already participated in this on FB and it was a blast!

Fabric Wrapped Hangers

2012-01-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

It's been such a lazy day! That's what Sundays are for though, right? I spent most of the morning in bed watching tv and working on a simple craft...

fabric wrapped hangers!

These are so easy to make. You start off with a plastic hanger, fabric strips (let it fray), and some tape.

Tape one end of a fabric strip and then began wrapping the fabric down the hanger (overlapping the fabric as you go). When you run out of a strip, simply tape it down and start a new one!

Finish it up with a jaunty bow!

There you have it! A fun project to brighten up any closet!

Enjoy!

Wish List

2012-01-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

I'm loving all things embroidered lately. Especially those kitschy vintage finds! I always keep my eye out when I'm thrifting but so far no luck!

I think this friendship picture is precious. I especially like that it has "Berlin, 1985" stitched at the bottom!

friends

This patchwork pup is beyond cute! Wouldn't he look adorable in a child's room?

dog

These birds on a branch are so pretty...

birds

Saved the best for last! Of course, it's an owl. ;)

Owl

What's In My Bag?

2012-01-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

I always complain about how heavy my purse is. After going through it last night, it's no wonder! Look at all of this stuff!

Snacks: Fiji water and an orange, for those moments when I have to eat NOW!

Knitting needles and yarn: for when the mood strikes!

Journal: I like to keep it close at hand for writing down thoughts, feelings, ideas and more.

Camera: for snapping pictures for my blog! ;)

Starbucks Freebie Card: I love when these babies show up in my mailbox! Free is great...especially when it comes to $5 coffee drinks!

Laptop: for those visits to Starbucks where I can check email, facebook, and blogger.

Book: I'm a reader and I don't like being caught without a book!

Wallet: this one's obvious. :)

Other: Pocket mirror (hard to spot...it's under the pack of gum) but it's my fave mirror. It has a pin up girl on the back...super cute! Glasses case, gum, hand sanitizer, and a hair clip.

So what's in your bag?

Saturday Love

2012-01-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

Ahhh Saturdays, how I love you! I get to sleep in, lounge around the house, spend time with the fur-kids, and even craft. What's not to love, right?

This morning I decided to finally make some of these super cute hand warmers. I used some sleepy owl fabric, stitched them up on my White, and filled them with rice. Now all I have to do it pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds and I will have toasty warm hands!

Ruby made it very difficult for me to sew. She thought it was great fun to attack my foot as I was pressing the foot pedal! Silly kitten.

I distracted her with Tibet's tail. She had a blast attacking it (Tibby didn't enjoy it quite as much). :)

This is the hat I knitted last week. Sadly, due to my extreme knitting laziness, it doesn't fit right. It's all about the gauge and I didn't bother...Oh well...live and learn!

Random shot of my vanity. I adore the cat (one of a set) and the owl ashtray (re-purposed as a jewelry holder).

I love my dream catcher. I finally moved it to over my bed last weekend.

A very sweet friend, Nick, sent me this adorable solar owl for Christmas/Birthday. She looks super cute in my flower bed!

I love starting my day with a Starbucks coffee. It's even nicer when they include a cute message!

I love love love lighting candles in the evening. Don't you?

It was so pretty last night. I had to go out and snap a picture of the view from my yard. The full moon is nearly upon us! :)

Have a great Saturday!

Etsy Love!

2012-01-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

The cold weather seems to be here to stay and I am trying my best to stay toasty! I've found so many beautiful hand knit and crocheted options on Etsy to help make winter a little warmer. :)

These beautiful fingerless gloves from Cookieletta simply take my breath away. She offers them in many different color combos!

Cookieletta

This delicate scarf is pure perfection! I am definitely a scarf girl. I have one to suit every mood! :)

CRBCubby

This beautiful hat is simply delightful! I think that lace flower just adds to the charm.

tvkstyle

Don't forget your four legged friends when the temperatures plummet! My little Lola would looks so adorable in this dress!

myknitt

What's your favorite wintertime accessory?

Cat Nap & More

2012-01-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

I think I must have way too much time on my hands because I can't stop taking pictures of my baby Ruby! Here she is taking a cat nap...so sweet!

Ruby is all ready to play...watch out!

With a quick break for grooming! :)

...and back to playing!

"Pet my tummy. I wont bite you, I promise!"

Hehehe...I fall for that sweet face every time!

Proof that I can still talk about things other than my kitten! I was chatting with a friend last night telling him how I want to find a 1940's era bookcase...the kind that stands up on splayed legs. He surprised me by saying he had one in storage that I could have! So here she is...in need of a little TLC...but all mine (and free)!

She's got a bum leg (as you can see in the pic) but I've been assured that it's an easy fix. Now to clean off all that dust and dig my books out of storage! ;)

This Day

2012-01-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

It's been super lovely to wake up every morning to a clean room! I actually want to hang out at home rather than leave just to escape the energy-sucking mess! :) Here's one of my favorite pieces...my vintage vanity that I inherited from my great grandmother, Mimi. I can remember playing at this vanity as a little girl. Mimi always knew how much I loved it so she left it to me! I will treasure it always and hopefully one day pass it on to my own child.

Another view of my much neater room. I finally ditched the over-the-door shoe bag that I have always hated and replaced it with a rack for hanging my jackets and coats. For some reason my 1940's home didn't come with a coat closet...lol.

Weird picture of my twinkle lights at night...I enjoyed watching movies under these sparklies Friday night!

Today I woke up to birthday kisses from my sweet baby Persephone! She woke me up with her cold little nose on my face. Silly kitten! I know I'm biased but I think my little girl is the most beautiful kitty ever! ;)

Zoe snuck into bed with me last night. She's so adorable...I couldn't be mad at her!

My family couldn't be here for my birthday so they sent gifts. My sister got me the Hello Kitty lunch box (which will definitely come in handy) and my Mom surprised me with a vintage mixing bowl and some pot holders. Thanks guys!

I had invited a bunch of friends to join me for a birthday brunch but sadly no one showed up (except for Pat...he's always with me on my bday). I took it kind of hard even though I know not to get my hopes up. Having a New Year's birthday means that you typically end up spending it alone. Everyone is sleeping off their hangovers, I guess? Well...at least I had my Pat to hang with.

I did a little shopping with my gift cards yesterday. I didn't see too much that I liked but I did end up with this cute yellow top. I'm really gravitating towards shades of yellow this winter. It certainly is nice to see such a pop of color on a grey winter day!

Happy New Years Day!

New Years Resolutions

2011-12-31T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'm notoriously bad at keeping resolutions. Yet every year I find myself making a new list and when I don't accomplish it, I beat myself up. What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment. ;)

So this year maybe I should attempt to set smaller, more realistic goals. Things that I have a chance of actually completing.

1. Be gentle with myself.

My Mother gave me a framed copy of Desiderata one year. I've always liked the last two paragraphs the most:

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

I have this sitting on my personal alter where I can see it daily and be reminded.

2. Craft more.

Tuning into my inner crafty chica really helps me to relax. I tend to get all caught up in the day to day struggles that sometimes I don't make the time to do the things I love. I plan to remedy this!

3. Become more organized.

It's in my nature to be messy. I've accepted this about myself and perhaps have gotten a bit too comfortable with it. This really hit home this week when I spent 8 hours cleaning my bedroom. That is just crazy! So in order to accomplish this, I think I need to concentrate on putting things back in their proper place as soon as I'm done with it. I always toss things down with the intention of putting it away later. Yeah....that never happens!

google image

4. Dedicate more time to my spirituality.

Again, this is something that gets pushed aside because I'm so busy with my daily routine. I used to be so in tune with my spirituality and I felt better, more connected because of it. So my resolution here is to spend a small amount of time daily either reading books that pertain, meditating, etc.

There are many other things I could add to this list but I don't want to overwhelm myself!

What is your most important resolution for the upcoming year?

Saying Goodbye To The Old

2011-12-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

I know every other blogger out there is doing a year in review post, so I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon too!

This year has been fairly uneventful for me...other than all my car drama...and pet drama...lol. I lost my precious Outback in a car wreck (this still stings) and gained a newer Subaru (not as awesome as Suki but no car ever will be).

Drove all the way Illinois to go camping with my friend Ashley. I was super excited because I had a brand new HUGE tent among other camping goodies. :)

While we were there I got a beautiful henna tattoo...

I spent much time with good friends like Channon! We grew up across the street from each other and have been close since we were kids.

I also spent a lot of time with family...especially my sister!

I enjoyed a Labor Day picnic with my parents....

Went wading in the creek...

My sweet sister gave me a bicycle...which was later stolen.

I took the boys to the zoo many, many times over the summer!

Bought my very first Violet Bella dress!

Scored a free sewing machine on freecycle.com.

Participated in yarn bombing...

Crafted many things...

Spent lots of time whipping up new recipes!

Started a garden...

Enjoyed the "wildlife" on my porch!

Spent way too much time (and money) at my home away from home...

Purchased a new kitchen floor! Thanks again P for all your help with that!

Said goodbye to some precious pets...

Enjoyed my skunk's antics!

Said hello to a new friend...Ingrid.

Took the plunge and FINALLY cut my bangs short!

Cleaned and organized...

Watched my little sister get married...

Joined Weight Watchers and actually lost weight...until I became too poor to continue the program!

How was your year?

My Week

2011-12-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

I'm simply amazed how quickly this week has gone by. I don't want it to end! If only I could set this week on repeat. I've spent time with family and friends (both new and old). It's been lovely.

I ordered glasses a few weeks ago and they finally arrived yesterday! I was a little nervous purchasing glasses online (without being able to try them on) but it worked out well. Despite being on the large side, I love these glasses! I have my eye on several more but that will have to wait a bit! I want to share this website with you all because you can't beat glasses for as low as $6.95!

Zennioptical.com

I freely admit I have a problem. It's called kittenitis! I can't seem to stop taking pictures of cute little Ruby! :)

Yarn: the ultimate kitten toy!

All tuckered out!

Oh yes...the little pink kitten tongue! So cute!

Tibet has always been a "mother hen". He takes care of every creature that comes into my life. Be it a pet rat, bird, or another kitty...he will groom it and love it and sometimes even NURSE it. I've tried telling him that he's a boy but that doesn't seem to phase him! So here he is nursing Bast!

It's been a busy week and I have kept myself well fortified with coffee!

I made some festive sugar cookies just for fun!

I finally tackled a project that has been weighing on my mind since June. My BEDROOM! Yes, it was bad enough to earn that capitalized bold font. I briefly considered posting pictures of the mess but then decided it would be far too embarrassing! It took a total of eight hours but it is at long last, done! Here are just a few snapshots...I will try to post more another time.

I also worked on my living room. I took the tree down this week so I was able to rearrange the furniture again. Whew! Went a whole month without doing that. It was tough on me. ;)

I hope you all have had an awesome week! New Year's is fast approaching...which means that I will be another year older this Sunday! :)

Bits of Home

2011-12-28T10:37:00.000-08:00

I've been a homebody this week...well in between trips to Starbucks to use my gift cards! I may not leave the house again after today. I feel something coming on...maybe a cold...maybe the flu. I think a day in bed is in order! Like everyone else this time of year I have been running around like mad trying to accomplish way too much. I think that takes its toll on a body.

I've been snapping random photos of my house/things in my house. Here's a super cute owl cookie jar my sister gave me. My family knows I've had my eye on a 1970's owl cookie jar for years now...it's just a bit out of my price range at the moment. So this is an awesome gift to help me over that "I want want want" moment! Thanks Kel!

I have a thing for fabric calenders. Not really sure why I like them so much!

I'm not really sure what this was used for (well I imagine bread went on the bottom) but I store my cookbooks in there! In the top drawers I stash vitamins/supplements and quick snacks (like banana chips)!

This little fairy was intended for the garden but I keep her in my living room where I can see her every day! She's cast iron so my cats can't break her! ;)

Let me leave you with a cute kitty photo. Persephone certainly is photogenic!

The Bravest Girl

2011-12-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

Last night Ruby stopped hissing at Zoe and started looking at her with curiosity.

After a few minutes of the stare down Ruby discovered that a doggy tail is a wonderful play toy!

Zoe was quite the sport...she put up with pesky little Ruby like a pro!

I think they are going to be great friends!

Destructo Kitties!

2011-12-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

You may think that kittens are sugar and spice and everything nice, but I know better!

They try to fool you into believing that everything is fine...just fine...

"Look Mom...we're just napping in the tree...aren't we cute?"

But then the little monsters wake...and before you know it you are sweeping up broken ornaments and putting branches back on the tree!

And your tree goes from looking like this:

To looking like this!

Naughty kittens! No wonder Santa didn't bring you anything!

;)

Jersey Knit Bracelet

2011-12-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Last night I was perusing the internet trying to find something simple to make using materials I had lying around the house. I stumbled upon this blog and knew immediately that I wanted to try one of these cute bracelets. I went home and searched for an old t-shirt that I could cut up...I didn't find one but I did find a skirt made from t-shirt material which worked nicely. I had a bit of trouble following the steps in the tutorial but that's just how I am...I always catch on quicker if someone shows me in person. After some trial and error I figured it out! This is my very first jersey knit bracelet! It was so fun to make I plan on doing more (after a thrift store trip for some old t-shirts). :)

What do you think?

Meet Ruby!

2011-12-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

My Mother's "gift" to me was a tiny kitten. This little gal is named Ruby and she's only six weeks old. Mom likes to say that Ruby "picked" me. There may be some truth to that. She started crying whenever she would hear my voice and wouldn't stop until I held her. She followed me around and was content to lie in my arms while her siblings played kitten games. Even now that we are settled in back home, she still follows me around the house. She loves to fall asleep curled up on my chest or on my shoulder. It's really just too cute for words!

She's a very curious kitten. She loves exploring her surroundings!

She also enjoys the biting and kicking game. It's great fun for her! Not so much for me...I've got the scratches to prove it! ;)

But being a kitten means that she gets tired quite easily. So she takes many naps snuggled up next to me.

I'm in love.

Holiday Retrospective

2011-12-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

How was your holiday? I got to travel home and spend it with friends and family. I arrived in WV on Saturday and got to hang out with my sister and parents before everyone else arrived. It was good to just have some immediate family time. We are so spread out now that it's difficult to get together. Sadness! I was surprised to see my lovely sister in glasses...she rarely wears them. I think she looks gorgeous!

My cousin and her family showed up for a quick hello. Mandy and I were inseparable when we were younger. We spent summers together as kids and later on when we were teens we became best friends. We shared everything, including clothes. Lol.

The men folk chatting it up...

My sister and her husband opening gifts...

My cousin's son, Cole. Isn't he a cutie! We took a picture together but Zoe felt left out! Crazy dog. :)

Cousins...

My Uncle Mike...he was like my second Dad when I was growing up...

My Aunt Carol with my Mom and little Cole...

My Mom always has a beautiful tree. This year my crazy mutt Zoe ate the popcorn off the bottom half of the tree!

Later that day, I visited with my friend Channon and her two children. Aren't they super cute?

Little Katie-bug had fun opening the gift I brought her. Of course the wrapping paper is always more fun then the actual gift! :)

BFF's...

My sister's cat Maya. She's not a huge fan of mine. She prefers to hiss and growl at me for some reason...even though I'm the one who saved her from a life on the streets! Maybe she doesn't enjoy being reminded of her ghetto beginnings? ;) Silly girl!

I ended up with an unexpected gift...the little grey fluffball in the background. Her name is Ruby (named after the demon Ruby on Supernatural). She's a sweet little purr-girl who loves to follow me about the house! I'm terrified I'm going to step on her! She blends into the carpet!

More kitten loveliness....

How did you spend your weekend?

Make Merry!

2011-12-23T16:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all my friends!

Pretty Gifts

2011-12-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Santa's elves have nothing on me! I was up til the wee hours wrapping festive gifts last night. I started off by making these uber cute felt pompom bows that I saw over at Delightfully Tacky.

These were so fun and easy to make! First you cut a fringe in the felt...

Roll it up and use a dot of fabric glue at the end to hold it together...

Voila! Beautiful felt bows!

I also made some gift tags using letter stamps and tie on label tags. I like how you can customize each tag!

For the ladies on my list, I prettied up their packages with crocheted doilies!

I'm not a big fan of gift wrapping but I have to admit that doing it this way was fun. :) Sure beats the store bought paper and bows!

Glorious Food!

2011-12-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Ever since I got Vegan Pie In The Sky from the library, I have had my eye on the Strawberry Field Hand Pie recipe. This morning I finally made them! They came together fairly quickly (apart from chilling the dough for 45 minutes). I can't even begin to tell you how heavenly the house smelled as these were baking!

Being single and time challenged, I rarely make anything other than one pot meals. Last night was an exception. I baked Chili-Lime Rubbed Tofu, Peas, Mashed Potatoes and Punk Rock Chickpea Gravy. So so so good! I've got tons of gravy left over so I plan on throwing it over some biscuits for breakfast tomorrow.

Wrap A Little Love

2011-12-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

I will be spending the weekend wrapping up my handmade and thrifted gifts. I despise normal wrapping paper and ribbons so this year I plan to get my craft on! I found so many inspirational pictures online. Like these rainbow yarn wrapped gifts...so colorful and quirky!

yarn

This is simply breathtaking. I don't think I'd even want to unwrap it! :)

roses

I adore the little pop of color these gifts provide! I think my favorite is the one that utilizes the tape measure as a ribbon. So crafty!

yellow

If you're going to go to all the trouble of wrapping fantastic gifts you should probably make your own tags too, right? I like how this blogger used pictures from vintage books to spiffy up her tags!

tag

So many creative ideas! How will you be wrapping your gifts this year?

Day to Day...

2011-12-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

I spend the majority of my week tending to this little guy. Isn't he a handsome fellow? If I ever am lucky enough to have a little one of my own, I can only hope that he or she would be as wonderful as little R. He makes my soul smile.

I went thrifting with a friend of mine last weekend. I picked up a new (to me) brown cardigan. I've developed a thing for brown cardigans. I'm calling it my Mr. Rogers phase.

My Zoe is a special girl. She's got a new admirer...my brand new next door neighbor. He just loves her. It's so cute. :)

I've been experimenting with some new recipes in the kitchen. This one is a Tamarind BBQ Tempeh and Yams dish from Isa Chandra Moskowitz. I served it over brown basmati and it was divine! I prepped it the night before and popped it in the oven when I got home. An hour later I had dinner on the table. I love easy meals like this!

This is my new comfort food. It's a Asparagus and Sun-dried Tomato Frittata...made with tofu (not yucky eggs)! It's the perfect meal...and I often eat it for dinner. Breakfast for dinner is the best, isn't it?

Holiday Ornaments

2011-12-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by a Violetbella post (here) to make some adorable felt holiday tree ornaments! Here are my little knock-off mushrooms:

I also made a peace sign for my hippie mother! :) The bird and the feather were of my own design...

Do you ever make any of your own ornaments?

Hang Your Stocking With Care...

2011-12-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was a busy little elf over the weekend! I came across an idea to make stockings from old sweaters. Here are my attempts...let me warn you...once you make one you wont want to stop! I lined all of mine with various things from cotton flannel to old t-shirt material. All said and done, you only spend about 30 minutes or so on each. Not bad for such a cute outcome!

I used a variety of trims...ball fringe here...

Buttons....

Peace sign....

On this one I just utilized the existing buttons on the cardigan sweater. Easy peasy! ;)

I also made this little catnip mouse. I want to do more for all the kitties in my life (mine of course and my friends and family).

I had to say goodbye to the last of the rat girls, Violet. She just wasn't the same after her sister died a few weeks ago. She grew lethargic and just really began to act her age. Then for some reason she developed mastitis. She stopped eating Monday evening and I knew it was time to end her suffering. I took her in to the vet yesterday and stayed with her til the end. After the vet gave her the injection she nestled her little nose into my palm until she breathed her last. It was very peaceful for her (I managed to not start sobbing until after it was all over and I was back home). She was such a funny little rat. I'd go so far as to call her the "class clown" of the bunch!

Here is a picture of a young Violet. I believe this was taken shortly after bringing her home for the first time.

She loved exploring!

She had no fear of cats. Tibet loved Violet (and not in a "I'm going to eat you later" kind of way). They were fast friends.

This was Violet the day before I put her to sleep. She spent much of the day curled in the fetal position. I'm so glad she's at rest now.

I snapped a few cute happy pictures this week of the cats. I love this one of Freya. I like when I accidentally catch a yawn photo!

Bast in the Christmas tree. Where she likes to knock ornaments to the ground...and nap...but mostly just knock ornaments to the ground! ;)

Every year I try to add one new ornament to the tree. This year I supported my favorite craft store by purchasing this adorable one!

Random shot of my living room. I had to rearrange everything to make room for the tree...so it's a bit cramped but still looks cute, I think. :)

Kittens!

2011-12-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

I didn't know Whole Foods sold kittens, did you? ;)

Persephone enjoying a typical kitten activity!

She's finally had enough...

Don't let this innocent face fool you. Bast is the destroyer of Christmas trees!

I just wanted to give my friend Cameron from Paint Myself Pretty a shout out. She sent me this lovely little gift last week. Just to let me know she was thinking of me during my sad days. Thanks sweetie! Your kindness means more than you'll ever know! :)

It's beginning to SMELL a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Some weeks I get bit by the baking bug. This was one of those weeks! I ended up creating everything from cinnamon rolls to english muffins to biscuits.

On Thursday I spent nearly 3 hours making these delish cinnamon rolls from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's book "Vegan Brunch".

It sounds like a very time consuming project but half of the time is simply spent waiting for the dough to rise. When I actually got down to assembling them, it went quickly. It was incredibly fun too!

The finished product turned out well. Very pretty! The scent of cinnamon sugar filled the house. They were a big hit with the kids I watch too! :)

Surprise your family with a special holiday treat!

You've Got To Be Kidding Me!

2011-11-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

Do you all remember the pictures I posted of this guy a few months ago? I adopted Ichime from a friend of mine who could no longer keep him. For some reason Ichi had a really difficult time adjusting to his new life with me. He stopped eating and I had to began force feeding him. He hated every minute of it! I wasn't too fond of doing it either...but I did what I had to. Sadly it wasn't enough and poor Ichime passed away last night. :(

He was such a sweet guy with a fondness for my purses. I guess they made a good napping spot! He loved to be held and he would give little kitty hugs! I'm sad that I had such a short time with this sweetheart. :(

This is Gideon Freaktoe (Freaks for short). He's been with me for many years....he's an outside kitty that rarely leaves the porch (and if he does it's only to go into the front yard).

He's been missing since Saturday morning...so I'm assuming the worst here. :( My guess is he crawled off into the woods to die...poor old man.

It's really been a bad couple of weeks at the animal house. I'm hoping that things look up soon!

A Very Good Day

2011-11-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

I got quite the surprise Saturday morning. My best friend from childhood came for a spur of the moment visit! She brought her little girl, Kate, too!

We had such a great time! We went for Indian food for lunch, did a little shopping, and wrapped up our day with coffee.

Little Katie-bug is a real charmer. She's one of the most pleasant, happy-go-lucky girls I've ever met. She loved our girl time!

This visit is just what I needed to cheer me up after all the sadness I've experienced lately. Thank you so much for giving me the best weekend I've had in a really long time! I love you Chan!

After they went home I decided to get down to business. I rearranged my entire living room to make room for the holiday tree. This year I put my artificial tree to use. I typically alternate between a real and artificial tree. I do prefer the real thing but the mess of pine needles discourages me from having one every time! I so hope to find a silver tree one year. It's my dream. Until then, the white one will do!

Some of my favorite (cat proof) ornaments...

I try to use non-breakable ones, just in case. My Mom has so many beautiful antique bulbs...I know she would give me some...but I'm afraid they would get broken in my house! You can see what I mean in this next photo!

Miss Camille loves to perch in the tree! It's her favorite place. She's so cute that I don't have the heart to reprimand her! I decided long ago (since I don't really have a choice anyway) that the tree exists solely for the cats pleasure. :)

Zoo Fun

2011-11-25T16:57:00.000-08:00

I took the boys to the zoo today. It was a bit chilly but fun because we practically had the entire zoo to ourselves! We got to see so many animals actually being active. Whenever we went in the summer the majority of the critters were sleeping! My favorite of the day was this beautiful cheetah. She posed for us! What a beauty!

The Mandrills were just hanging around...

The tiger was pacing back and forth, right in front of us. Kind of made me sad...

The lions were sleeping in the sun. The little guy looked at the lions and said "Simba and Nala"! Lol. He had just seen The Lion King for the first time yesterday. :)

The polar bears were so fun today! One of them was splashing and playing in the water with a big barrel. He kept kicking it up in the air and trying to climb on top of it. At one point he jumped out of the water and slapped the glass where we were standing! It was pretty amazing!

So this is how I spent my Black Friday... making two little boys happy and enjoying the wildlife. Sure beats the shopping madness!

Loss

2011-11-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving morning I slept in the tiniest bit and then got busy taking care of the fur-kids. When I walked Sadie I noticed she seemed a bit unsteady at one point but chalked it up to her advanced age. She ate, drank, and otherwise acted normal after that one tipsy moment. I left shortly after to get some coffee and when I returned 30 minutes later I found little Sadie dead on the bathroom floor. No idea why. No warning signs (except in retrospect perhaps that tipsy moment was something)...

Not really the best way to start any day, let alone a holiday! Poor Sadie-bug! :(

Wildlights

2011-11-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to those of you who left sweet messages on my last post concerning my kitty. I appreciate you all! I started my day off on a bit of a sad note as I had to pick up Gabriel's cremains from the vet. Although it does feel good to have him home again, even if it isn't the way I had hoped. Does that sound weird?

Pat came for a weekend visit so we've been quite busy today! We saw Breaking Dawn this afternoon, had a yummy Mediterranean lunch, and went to Columbus Zoo for Wildlights. Fun stuff! It was my first visit to see Wildlights. I really enjoyed the millions of lights and the festive holiday music. We didn't see very many animals though...either the exhibits were closed or the animals were sleeping.

It was the perfect weather for this! Lovely 50 degree evening! :)

Beautiful lights!

I always stop by the petting farm when I visit the zoo. These two cuties were so precious!

The polar bears were quite active. The one on the left kept playing with a toy and the one on the right was very entertaining!

Overall it was a great Saturday. It was nice to end the week on a good note after all the sadness.

What did you do with your Saturday?

Bad day...

2011-11-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

Following so soon on the heels of Petunia's death, another tragedy has struck my home. Monday morning as I was backing out of my driveway I somehow managed to run over my kitty Gabriel's leg. I'm not even sure how it happened. I always look around the car for cats and I back out so slowly. I'm guessing he must have darted behind me at the last second. I heard a terrible *crunch* and then I saw him trying to run off. When I caught up with him I saw that his leg was hanging loosely and I immediately knew that it was broken. :(

I took him to my vet where they felt his leg and told me that both bones were broken in his right leg. They didn't take his temp or x-rays or anything. The doctor said they would keep him overnight and attempt to put a cast on him the next morning. I watched as they gave him a shot for pain and then I kissed him goodbye and left with instructions to call the vet office at 2 pm the next day.

Tuesday at ten I got a call from the doctor saying that Gabriel had really gone downhill overnight. His temp was at 90 degrees (which for a cat is hypothermia). The vet was very negative...told me that he wasn't going to attempt to fix the bone until he figured out why Gabriel's temp was so low. He immediately suggested testing for feline leukemia. At that point I was wondering why he would be running that test when Gabes was in such bad condition...but I let him do what he felt was needed. Of course the test came back negative. At that point the doctor said all he could do was give Gabes a warm IV and a heating pad. I told him to do so immediately and then the vet advised me to call back at 2 to check on his condition.

That was the longest four hours of my life! Finally I called and was put on hold for ten minutes! The vet couldn't even be bothered to speak with me at that point...the receptionist told me that Gabriel had passed away. I started sobbing immediately...even the poor receptionist was crying. After I had calmed down I started asking questions. When I asked why he had died the answer was "it's hard to say". Really??? I asked her about the care Gabriel had received after I had left. He was put in a cage with a little canned food. He was not give fluids or a heating pad. He was left for over 17 hours with no one monitoring his condition. Now I'm no vet but this leads me to believe that my poor cat died because he was in shock...his body temp dropped drastically...and death resulted. I don't think it's just me looking to pin his death on someone....I honestly think that my vet was negligent. I am so upset and angry and yes, even guilty. I mean I was the one who broke his leg. I was the one who entrusted my injured cat to someone who did not have his best interests at heart. This is the second cat that has spent the night at my vets office and died.

After I pick up Gabriel's ashes this weekend, I will never return to that particular vet. Now I have to live with the guilt of this for the rest of my life.

Gabriel was nicknamed "sunshine" or "sun" for short because he was such a happy fellow. He loved me more than any cat should love a human. He used to do this adorable trick where he would sit at my feet and then suddenly leap straight up into my arms. It was adorable and he would then curl himself around my neck like a living fur stole. He loved going for walks with me and the dogs. He'd stay with us the whole time and when we'd head home he would be right at my heels. He was truly a special boy. I am so sad that he died alone in a cage...

I'm sorry Gabriel.

Sunday

2011-11-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

It has been such a lazy day. I stayed in my jammies til early afternoon! I love days when I get to do that...they are too rare.

I'm out of quick and easy breakfast foods (cereal!) so I tied on my festive Hoot-n-Annie apron...

and whipped up some old fashioned baking powder biscuits. There's something so satisfying about kneading dough and rolling it out to create something so tasty!

Later I looked through some of my old childhood books: Socks, Jo's Boys and Nancy Drew...

I adore the old illustrations in these books!

I managed to get a lot done this weekend. My sister came for a short visit yesterday...so we got to spend some much needed time together. I hate how my whole family is so spread out. It doesn't seem right that I can't walk in the next room and see my sister any time I want. Being an adult isn't all that it's cracked up to be!

I spent several hours last night cleaning my messy bedroom. This is something I've put off for many many months! Not a pretty sight, I can tell you! I think I've tamed the savage beast for now. Whew!

Something really sad happened yesterday. I lost my little rat girl Petunia. She'd been sick for about a week or so...she had a gross infection that did her in despite antibiotics. She's finally at rest now and no longer in pain, thank goodness. Her sister, Violet, has been acting very sad all day. I don't think she likes being alone. Poor girl. :(

This is the hardest part of loving animals. Of loving any living creature, really.

American Pie

2011-11-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

I was feeling Martha Stewart-y this week so I tried my hand at baking a pie from scratch. This was inspired by a new cookbook called Vegan Pie In The Sky by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. For my first attempt I made the Cosmos Apple Pie. Now I've made pies before but I always used a store bought crust. This time I made one myself. If I had had any idea that this was what I've been missing, I would've whipped out my rolling pin sooner! The crust is perfect...light and flaky and vegan buttery tasting. Divine...sigh. Visually I don't think my crust looks that great but I figure with practice, I will get better results. :)

What's your favorite pie?

What's Cookin'?

2011-11-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

I felt inspired to use the sewing machine this weekend. I didn't know what to make, so I made another apron! I'm not a big fan of patterns so I came up with this one on my own. What do you think? I love the retro looking fabric. :)

Bits + Pieces

2011-11-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Autumn Cat

Craft my Mom made her Mom many years ago...

Tin Sign

Old Maple

Sweetgrass braid

A kitten makes a house a HOME! :)

Cute Patches!

2011-11-07T15:53:00.001-08:00

I came across this tutorial yesterday and decided to give it a try! I gathered my supplies and got started. I used an old navy cardigan and some retro floral fabric for my patches.

A couple of cute heart elbow patches!

Stitched with embroidery floss.

Quick and easy craft to spiffy up your wardrobe. What's not to love? ;)

Knit One

2011-11-05T14:58:00.001-07:00

Hello lovelies! How is your weekend going? I got to spend several hours babysitting two adorable little girls this morning. We had lots of fun reading books and parading around in Halloween costumes. :) Thanks Megan for giving me my "baby fix" for the day! :)

I can't believe it's already November. The thought that I have to put up holiday decorations soon took me by surprise yesterday. Not to mention that I haven't even started thinking about gifts! I'm planning on crafting some gifts this year. In the past I've often knitted scarves and hats for friends and family. However I typically started making those in June. This year I'm lazy I guess. I haven't knitted anything for anyone (except this scarf which is all MINE). I'm thinking I will be utilizing my sewing machine this year for the majority of my gifts. I'm not feeling too inspired yet so I guess it's good that I thrive under pressure! ;)

So here is the little number I'm making for myself. I've made other variations of this pattern over the years. I like this one because it's knitted from bamboo yarn, making it extra soft. I also like the bright pop of color. Lime green is not usually on my list of favorite colors but for some reason it works with this scarf...perhaps due to it's playful nature?

Are you having a crafty Christmas this year?

Polka Dot Mermaid

2011-11-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

I recently felt inspired to make something for a certain little girl (check out her mom's artistic blog here ). I remembered that she likes under the sea things so I thought a mermaid would be perfect!

She's made from a super soft cotton flannel and has hot pink yarn hair. Very huggable! I hope Miss Maggie enjoys her. :)

Kitty Love

2011-11-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling the need for a kitty post! I think there is no animal as purr-fect as a cat. My babies are loving and sweet and quick to pick up on my emotions. They know how to cheer me up after a particularly bad day.

This baby, Persephone always wants to be held and carried around. I joke that I'm going to make a baby sling just so I can get some work done! She purrs all the time. It's cute.

Sweet one eyed boy getting cozy on the quilt. I love special kitties like this!

Adorable cat piles always makes me smile!

It's been a rough start to my week. I was involved in a car accident yesterday. For my readers who've been around awhile you will remember that exactly two months ago I was in another accident with an uninsured driver. You can read more about that here.Turns out the lady that hit me yesterday is also uninsured!!! Ugh. I'm ok and the kids I had with me are fine as well. So that's the plus side. I wish if I had to get hit it would be with someone who has insurance. Is that too much to ask???

Bits + Pieces

2011-10-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

More "bits + pieces" inspired by Miss James!

1. Regal looking Spike

2. The last harvest

3. Homemade biscuits with Amish Pumpkin Butter Spread

4. Cat Love

5. Vintage Owl Ashtray

6. Dotty Shower Curtain

7. Halloween Cat

8. Playful Kitten

9. October sunset

Etsy Owl Love!

2011-10-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

I inherited my love of owls from my mother. She collected them from the time I was a small child. Recently I inherited several of her prized owls! I thought I'd dedicate this post to etsy owls!

This Blue Owl from Unitedthread is breathtaking!

link

Adorable Headphones Owl Tee from GnomeEnterprises.

hoot

Super cute Owl Tile Coasters from Paizelypolkadot.

Whooo?

Hoot Owl Pillow from Momsbabypooh.

Zzzzz

Enjoy!

Octobers Past

2011-10-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Two years ago I went apple picking with my sister and one of my best friends.

Not many apples were left on the trees! We managed to collect ten pounds worth though. Boy that made some delicious apple cobbler!

We went to a festive Halloween party. K went dressed as a "naughty fairy"!

We were smurfs. Never again! That blue paint was killer! :)

I took the boys on a hayride and pumpkin picking outing. Despite the babies grumpy face in this picture, they did enjoy themselves!

Spike and Drusilla came to live with me. Sadly Dru wasn't a multi-cat household kind of gal so she went to live with P! Now she's a spoiled princess! :)

Last year we went as hippies. Costume shopping is really interesting. Most of the women's (and even girls) costumes were so slutty! When did it become ok to parade around looking like a streetwalker on Halloween? Hhmmm..... to each her own I guess! :)

2011-10-29T09:31:00.001-07:00

dreamhost coupon

Patches The Upcycled Kitten

2011-10-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Patches. Mommy says I'm upcycled...I think that means she made me from an old sweater. :)

Do I look a little wistful? That's because I'm looking for my forever home!

Small adoption fee: $10 plus s+h.

Spooky Fun!

2011-10-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

I surprised the boys with an after school Halloween Party today. I made these yummy iced sugar cookies for snack...

Decorated old school. Don't you love paper chains?

Bats flying overhead! Watch out!

We made some fun art projects...

Spooky paper ghosts fly by the window!

I've always preferred treats to tricks!

The boys had never heard of bobbing for apples! They had so much fun with it!

The baby thought he was supposed to lick the water up out of the bowl. He didn't understand the point of this game! Lol.

Kids just make every holiday better...don't you think?

Happy Howloween!

2011-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Yes. I am one of those people who put costumes on their pets. Click on the picture for more! Enjoy! ;)

Under The Big Top

2011-10-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

I don't have children (but wish I did). I spend inordinate amounts of time fantasizing about children's rooms. I'm currently stuck on circus themes...even though I find clowns creepy. ;)

I really enjoy old posters such as this one:

here

Blythe dolls...ahhh...the kid in me totally wants one! This little girl is all dressed up for her trip to the circus! :)

here

I think this is the cutest toy box I've ever seen!

here

Of course a circus themed room would not be complete without some fun toys to liven things up a bit, right? Check out this adorable one!

here

This is the beginning of my personal collection. I found this at a thrift shop for next to nothing. Too cute to pass up!

Autumn Bliss

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was a little camera happy the other day. Here are some random autumn inspired photos!

Hibernating

2011-10-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

Winter is coming and I can feel myself starting to withdraw from the world. Every Autumn it starts. I bail on plans with my friends so I can lounge in my warm bed with a cozy cat or two. Do any of you get this way?

Persephone is a little cuddly lovebug. Perfect for cuddling up to on those cold winter nights!

Just a random shot of my living room. I rearrange it monthly. I can't stand for my house to be stagnant!

I may not drink milk but I do appreciate this cute tin sign hanging in my kitchen!

I love the view out my kitchen window. Makes doing dishes a little more tolerable! :)

Happy Autumn Friends!!!

Sumptuous Sunday!

2011-10-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

I admit it. Sometimes I knit stupid things just to say I did it! This is one such exercise in futility. I made a rat house. That's right...a house for rats. Violet and Petunia thought it was great fun...

but that didn't stop them from chewing it to bits in one evening!

My boy BFF came for a weekend visit. We went to PF Changs for dinner last night.

We started with the oh so yummy vegetarian lettuce wraps! I had the tasty coconut curry vegetables for my meal. Divine!

This morning he surprised me with a trip to my favorite place: Whole World Natural Restaurant in Clintonville. I had the super delish Big Breakfast. Eggless scramble (tofu), oven roasted potatoes, vegan sausage patties and black bread.

We spent some time wandering in vintage stores too...which is fun but torture when you can't buy! I'm not a big fan of window shopping. Lol. Still, we had a good time and it was so nice to get to spend some time with Pat!

Happy Sunday Friends!!!

Saturday Bliss

2011-10-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday Friends! I woke up early and cleaned the house. It always feels good to get that out of the way! :) I made some Indian food and worked on my latest knitting project. Here is a sneak peak. Bet you can't guess what this is going to be!

My sister has had one of these colanders for years. And for years I have coveted it! I finally came across one at the thrift store for two bucks. Score!

I am so taken with my sofa. It is unique and fun! I love its quirkiness. I mean just look at it! :)

Reusable shopping bags are such fun. Especially ones with kittens on them!

What are you all up to this beautiful day?