10 More Ways to Use Essential Oils

1. For aromatherapy scented towels, sheets, etc, place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a small piece of terry cloth and toss into the clothes dryer while drying. Or, add 5 drops of essential oil to 1/4 cup fabric softener or water and place in center cup of washer.
2. Add a few drops of oil to water in a spray bottle and use as an air freshener.
3. Add a few drops of essential oil to a pan of water and simmer on stove or in potpourri pot.
4. To blend your own massage oil, add 3-5 drops of your favorite (skin safe) essential oil to 1 oz Jojoba oil.
5. Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag.
6. To dispel household cooking odors, add a few drops of Clove oil to a simmering pan.
7. Potpourri which has lost its scent can be revived by adding a few drops of essential oil.
8. Unscented candle? Place a drop or 2 of essential oil into the melted wax as the candle burns. Use caution, please.
9. Smelly shoes can be remedied by placing a cotton ball dabbed with a few drops of lemon oil into the shoes.
10. For a relaxing bath, add to your warm water 4 drops chamomile oil and 2 drops lavender.

Season's Greetings

Soap Rehab will be closed from December 24-December 29. Wishing you all peace and hope during this holiday season. And lots of pie.

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Crinkles

A great Christmas cookie recipe from the "I Love Peanut Butter Cookbook":

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Sift flour with baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix peanut butter with shortening in a separate bowl. Add both sugars to peanut butter mixture, and cream the mixture until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. Chill for 10 minutes. Shoot from cookie gun or shape into balls onto cookie sheet (2 inches apart). Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic

Create Christmas Ornament at Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic on Saturday December 12, 2009 , from 10am – 11am. This does require registration online, which also shows you which stores are participating. What a fun way to spend an hour with the kids!
https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/default.asp

Here’s an example of the project:

Tea Tree Oil

*Editor’s Note: This article does not replace medical advise.

20 Great Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil

For Health

1. Use a dab to treat acne.
2. An anti-fungal for treating Athlete’s Foot, eczema, various yeast infections, etc.
3. An antiseptic to be used on cuts and burns.
4. An anti-viral: it may lessen the symptoms of colds and flu. Try using a few drops in the bath.
5. Add to a vaporizer to loosen chest congestion.
6. Add a small amount to shampoo to destroy head lice.
7. A small amount added to your bath can help with persistent body odor.
8. Treating sinus infection.
9. For dandruff and dry scalp.
10. In the form of aromatherapy, tea tree oil is used to treat colds, persistent coughs, acne, toothaches, and sunburn.

For Cleaning

11. To create an all-purpose cleaner, combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
12. Another version would be 14 ounces of water with 1 ounce of Murphy’s oil soap and 10 drops of tea tree oil.
13. Mix the above solution with kosher salt to scrub bathtub and bathroom tiles.
14. Add a few drops to dishwasher dispenser, then fill with a green dishwashing soap.
15. A few drops added to each load of laundry leave your clothes smelling cleaner.
16. Control mold with a tea tree oil/water spray.
17. Remove mustiness with that same tea tree oil/water spray.
18. To keep germs at bay, spray it on high chairs, car seats, and other high traffic spots.
19. 15 drops in a quart of water can be an effective insect repellent.
20. Be sure to take some with you when hiking and camping to put directly on insect bites or blisters.

Sunrise over Lake Huron

Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

FREE worldwide shipping in my Etsy shop on all orders placed between Thursday November 26 and Monday November 30. Get your holiday shopping done now! Stop by at http://soaprehab.etsy.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cool Etsy Tool~cr8tivity

http://cr8tivity.com/

Check your Etsy hearts, stats, get an inventory spreadsheet helper, see a breakdown of views by category, create fun blog and website gadgets (like the one I just added on the left!) and create product flyers for advertising. A very cool tool!!

Feliz Navidad Soap Bar

New, limited edition holiday soap~ Feliz Navidad is a festive blend of crisp fir trees, citrus-y fruit punch, and sparkling cider. The greens and fruits are based around the Mexican celebration of the holiday: revoltijo de romeritos (wild greens), Ensalada de noche Buena (Christmas Fruit Salad with lots of oranges), Ponche (a hot fruit punch), sidra (sparkling cider) and Flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Flower). All the warm, cozy smells of the season wrapped up in a cute soap!

Wordless Wednesday

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Jenco13

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Jenco13
Visiting Jenco13 is a sure way to feel a serious need for something warm. Multi-colored shawls, scarves (with pockets!), cup cozies, cuddly baby blankets and more fill this Etsy store.

Jen freely admits that most of her items narrowly miss being kept. "I love each item I make and sometimes find them very hard to part with! I spend anywhere between 6-8 hours on a scarf to make sure my stitches are even and consistent. If it's not up to my standards, I rip out the stitches until I'm satisfied. I only sell things that I would use myself. When I'm done making things, my husband, Joe, normally has to remind me I already have a million scarves and cup cozies of my own!"

Jen credits her mom, a graphic designer and artist herself, with inspiring her. "She is amazing with colors! We try to get together at least once every 6 months to do an art day for the girls."

Husband Joe is also supportive. "He is an amazing supporter of my art work and never says to me, 'You're crocheting again?' He helps me pick out what my next projects are going to be."

Jen ships her work internationally and is happy to do custom items. "I love to take custom orders from people when they see something new that I have not thought about making before."

As head of the Etsy Twitter Team's PR Committee, Jen is an avid user of Twitter and has a few tricks of the trade to share.

"Each month I go on to friendorfollow.com to see who has been following me, who are my friends, and who is not following me. I first figure out who is no longer using their accounts and get rid of those friends, so that I have room to add those who are following me. I only spend about 30 minutes or so, because you can really get caught up doing things on Twitter!"

She also makes it a point to respond. "I ALWAYS respond to those who RT my information, recommend me for #followfridays or DM me. I feel its important to make those connections on Twitter."

Jen credits persistence and determination for helping her get her store going. "I am the little engine that could! I never give up on things. When times are tough, I stick to my goal and keep on trucking."

Become a fan of Jen on Facebook : http://tinyurl.com/ygnf96e or Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenco13

Jenco13 is offering a two deals this week:

CUP COZIES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!
SCARVES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE 1/2 PRICED!
USE THE COUPON CODE -ETTROCKS!

Please note these deals are for the the lesser or equal amount of the second item chosen. Custom orders are welcome. It will be refunded through paypal within 24 hours of purchase. Buyer is responsible for shipping and handling of all items purchased (please see special rates for second items). Priority mail rates are available for US customers only.

Wii Fit and Me

I recently decided to commit to myself to getting in better shape. I'm not really overweight, but I noticed that I'm not in the best physical shape I could be in. So, with the help of Wii Fit, I've been trying to change that. For endurance, I'll stick with the cardio from my elliptical machine, but cardio alone doesn't build muscle tone. I tried going to a boot camp class at a gym, but it was too far away and I couldn't stay motivated to keep it up. So everyday for 1 hour I workout in the comfort of my living room with my Mii. I've developed quite an affection for my workout time. The way the exercises are designed, they are really fun to do, so getting in shape doesn't feel like such a chore. Yet often I wake up the next morning with a few sore muscles, so I know that I'm getting a good workout. And after exercising with Wii Fit, I get a good boost of 'feel good' energy. This is something that I've heard plenty about but rarely experienced. Regular cardio just makes me worn out, and boot camp made me sweaty, tired, and sore. So, if you've been thinking about jump starting a little exercise routine, I highly recommend you commandeer the kiddo's Wii for a little bit each day and give your Mii a workout with Wii Fit.

New Shea Body Butters

Now reformulated! With even more shea butter and now with aloe juice, this body butter has been amped up! The whipped texture is thicker and richer to soothe that dried out winter skin. Apply to your entire body as needed to hydrate and nourish your skin. Especially helpful to apply right after showering. Pay special attention to hands, feet, elbows, and other areas that are prone to dryness. Keeps them soft all day. Also great to use as a night cream.

Veggie Cheese Enchiladas

• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
• Salt
• 12 ounces mushrooms, quartered
• 3 cups salsa, store-bought or home-made
• 6 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• Sour cream and avocado for serving (optional)
  

Directions

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and season well with salt. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring rarely until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 1/2 cup of the salsa and mix until well combined.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Wrap the tortillas in damp paper towels or in a microwave-safe plastic bag and microwave until soft and heated through, about 45 seconds.

Spread half of the remaining salsa in the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. To make an enchilada, put 2 tablespoons of the mushroom mixture and 1 tablespoon cheese in the middle of a tortilla. Roll up and arrange, seam side down, in the prepared dish. Repeat to make 12 enchiladas.

Cover the enchiladas with the remaining salsa and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until the filling is heated through, cheese is melted and starts to brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with sour cream and avocado.

My son is not a big mushroom fan, but he loved these! A great way to get your kids to eat their veggies. I'm thinking about trying green peppers next time, maybe a little garlic for fun. I topped mine and my husband's with some jalapeno peppers but left those off the kiddo's. Super delish!

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Cape Cod Jewels and Things

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Cape Cod Jewels and Things

Cape Cod Jewels and Things overflows with shiny, glittery, happy creations.

Vintage and new jewels wink back at you from rings, funky puzzle piece earrings, spooky Halloweeen-ready amber chandelier pendants and more. Owner Linda Stranger embraces both her inner magpie, and her sense of fun in her one-of-a kind designs.

"My best inspiration comes when I sit at my work desk and play with my beads and wire and findings... I love it when a piece of jewelry just seems to make itself while I'm playing!"

A perfectionist, Linda takes great care over each piece she creates,

and admits that some pieces never make it to the shop. "It takes me a long time to pick out components and assemble my jewelry. I want everything to be just perfect, and sometimes I have to just let something be, 'cause I'm never going to be happy with it. You should see all the stuff I DON'T list. ;)."

In addition to her jewelry, Linda recently debuted a line of adorable handcrafted paper products in her shop and loves giving customers a little something extra with each order. Jewelry purchases come in a box ready for gifting, and she strives to be as "green" as possible by reusing packaging.

As a member of the Etsy Twitter Team as well as Unique Women in Business, Linda shares new creations on Twitter, as well as satisfying her window shopping urge following the links of others.

"I just tweet my stuff, re-tweet or reply to interesting tweets... I have fun with it. :) I've gotten to know more about my fellow etsytwitter'ers, and I think they're getting to know more about me... and I LOVE to follow their links and check out their newest creations and finds. I'm a professional window shopper and twitter has been a great outlet for that!"

Visit Cape Cod Jewels and Things at http://capecodjewel.etsy.com/ or follow Linda on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/capecodjewel

All Halloween Items at Cape Cod Jewel

Are Marked Down to $6.66 This Week!

No Crust Mini Quiche

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped, cooked broccoli
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
butter for greasing tins
5 eggs
8 ounces milk

Divide veggies and cheese into two buttered 12 cup nonstick mini muffin tins. Combine eggs and milk, season with salt and pepper, then pour mixture into tins. Bake at 350 degrees until browned and puffy, about 15 minutes

Etsy Twitter Team: Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week: MindyG Jewelry Boutique

Etsy Twitter Team: Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week: MindyG Jewelry Boutique

Visiting MindyG's Jewelry Boutique is like getting a glimpse into Aladdin's treasure cave! Glowing freshwater pearls, colorful gemstones, gold, and sterling silver are all hallmarks of this shop's exquisitely designed jewelry.

Owner Mindy Greenville finds inspiration for her work in nature, fashion, music, and traveling with her family. "Its a great outlet for my creative side," she says." In addition to her online boutique, Mindy also designs custom bridal/bridesmaids jewelry locally in the San Diego area.

Introduced to Twitter when she joined the Etsy Twitter Team, she discovered a whole new way to connect. "I started using Twitter as a way to help promote my business and other artists that have amazing products to offer to the public. The power of online networking is a huge tool and a great way to meet others of like mind, those in the same trade who can offer advice, or just find some neat art!"

The shop happily offers flat rate domestic and international shipping as well as custom designs. "I offer something for just about everyone-birthdays, anniversarys, for moms, sisters, and teacher gifts. "

You can discover Mindy's many treasures in her etsy shop: http://mindyg.etsy.com/ or on her blog. On Twitter, www.twitter.com/mindyg.

Weekend Deals

FREE worldwide shipping in my Etsy shop on all orders placed between Friday October 9 and Sunday October 11th. Include "weekend deals" in message to seller. Stop by at http://soaprehab.etsy.com

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There's lots of great information on their website including: patient assistance, disease information, and breast cancer in the news. You can also find a mammography center near you. Some of the info from their site:
Did you know?
~Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer.
~According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year.
~Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.
~Not all breast cancers are alike - there are different stages of breast cancer based on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread.

For more info and resources, check out the site here: http://www.nbcam.org/

Aloha Friday #2

From An Island Life blog, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is a day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. Today is Homecoming at the high school, and my son's birthday party is this weekend, so I'm not sure how easy I will be taking it as I cart around kids here and there. However, for right now, I'm thinking Aloha!! Following the tradition, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at http://islandlife808.com/ . And have a Happy Friday!

My question is: What is your favorite fall activity?

I love going to the apple orchard in the fall. Picking delicious apples in the brisk sunshine...

Tips For Visiting our National Parks

Great tips from the Sierra Club:

* Visit the parks on Fee-Free Weekends to avoid paying entrance and parking fees

* Many national parks never charge an entrance fee.

* If you are planning to visit multiple parks within a year, look into National Park Passes. Not only do you save money on park entrance fees but, at many of the busiest parks, the pass lets you join a shorter line at the entrance station.

* Travel with senior citizens. Anyone over age 62 can pay a one-time $10 fee to get an America the Beautiful Senior Pass (previously called the Golden Age pass), which gets your entire carload in for free to every park.

~Transportation

* If you belong to an organizations such AAA, Better World Club, or AARP, you can get discounts on transportation and accommodation services.

* Look for travel deals and vacation packages on websites like Travel Muse or Budget Travel.

* Conserve fuel and avoid parking hassles by using the free, eco-friendly park shuttles.

* Fill up your gas tank before arriving in the parks, where gas stations are expensive, hard to find, and sometimes completely sold out.

~Lodging

* Plan ahead, especially if you're going to one of the popular, big-ticket parks. Campground reservations and wilderness permits for parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone can fill up months ahead of time. Reserve here.

* All parks offer first-come, first-served campgrounds, but you still might be disappointed when you arrive, so have a backup plan. Be sure to show up at first-come, first-served campgrounds between 10 am and noon, just as last night's campers are vacating sites. Campgrounds in less-popular areas of the park, especially those accessible only by dirt roads, tend to fill up last and be more peaceful. If all else fails, camping may be allowed on national forest lands outside a few parks.

* Look out for early-bird specials! Frequently, the parks and towns nearby offer discounts to travelers willing to visit in the early months of the year.

~Gear

* Bring everything you need. Necessities like batteries, sunscreen, and bug spray are more expensive in and around national parks.

* Look for used-gear sales in the spring and fall, when larger outdoor gear companies sell returned and rental gear.

* Try renting gear, especially if you are new to camping/hiking and aren't sure if you're ready to invest a lot of money in the activity yet.

* Sign up on Freecycle in your area (it's all free!) and watch for folks giving away outdoor gear -- or, post a request for what you need.

~Activities

* Get the biggest bang for your buck by going for a hike with a ranger. Campfire programs and nature walks are a great way to learn some history and science about what you're seeing.

* If hiking or camping aren't for you, try having a picnic, painting, or photographing the park, having a scavenger hunt with a guidebook, doing yoga or meditation, or reading a book while enjoying your beautiful surroundings.

~Avoiding Crowds

* Visit in the off-season (fall through early spring) or visit on business days rather than weekends. Like now!

* Consider visiting second-tier parks that share some of the same natural features as the most popular parks. For example, instead of fighting the crowds in Yosemite Valley, visit nearby Kings Canyon. If you do visit a superstar park, base yourself in a less-popular area -- for example, the north rim of the Grand Canyon instead of the busy south rim.

* Travel against the grain by driving a park's popular scenic loops in reverse. Start your day early or late so that you miss most of the day-tripper crowds, which peak between 10 am and 4 pm. Remember that getting from place to place may take longer than you think, especially with summer road-construction delays.

reference: http://www.sierraclub.org/parks/tips.aspx

Organic Foods

Sometimes it's difficult to know whether you should really spend the extra dollars for organic produce, especially when the selection is poor. But according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) there are 12 foods that should be purchased as organic because they are prone to contamination with pesticides. These are: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.
They also have a list of 12 other foods that are not so necessary to purchase organics because they regularly don't have any detectable pesticide residues. These are: onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya. Good info to keep in mind if your market doesn't have a large selection of organic produce, or if you're trying to keep your bill down. I recently found an organic head of lettuce that was hydroponically grown, and came in a cool package that included the roots for longer lettuce life. Aside from how cool it looked, though, it didn't taste very good and was very limp. So, I guess that's another consideration!! :)

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Joslin Jewels

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Joslin Jewels

Sheridan Joslin, of JoslinJewels.etsy.com, creates, in her words, “fine wire wrapped and gemstone jewelry”. But if you take one look at her shop you can see that it involves so much more than that. Just saying “fine wire wrapped and gemstone jewelry” about her shop is like saying the sculpture David was just sculpted out of plain old marble and is no big deal! Her work is intricate. Her work is simple. Her work is the kind of art that the artist makes the infinitely complex look like it took no effort at all to make and that, my friend, is the hallmark of a great artist.

“Whether simple or intricate, I meticulously craft each piece of jewelry I create. I use only fine metals and carefully selected gemstones. Each piece is original and most are one of a kind. I love gemstones as much as I love a good puzzle. Making intricate wire jewelry is like a challenging puzzle. It involves shaping and forging straight wire into intricate designs with no soldering -- only wrapped connections. It's an art that dates back thousands of years, and many of the techniques used today are the same as those used in ancient times. With only a few simple tools and careful manipulation, a skilled jewelry artist can sculpt wire into beautiful works of wearable art.”

And that is exactly what Sheridan does with her work. Check out her shop and be amazed!

Follow her on Twitter @joslinjewels
Blog: joslinjewels.blogspot.com
Become her Fan on Facebook: facebook.com/JoslinJewels
Second Etsy Shop: BijouxRomantique.etsy.com
Second Facebook Fan Page: facebook.com/BijouxRomantique

Indie Find--BDK Signature

BDK Signature: Providing 100% Satisfaction With Cute Products! A very accurate tag line. BDK Signature is the dream of Brie, a college student looking for a means to make money to help pay her college expenses. Pretty glass pendants, crocheted scrubbies and beanies adorn this cute Etsy shop.
"While I'm using the profit to pay for college, sharing the joy of handmade and knowing that I am making customers happy is the bigger priority for me." Brie puts great care into her products, and it shows. I recently purchased a glass pendant and a set of little round face scrubbies. The items were not only beautiful and made well, but also packaged with care. Check out everything in her shop here: http://Beegrl88.etsy.com

The truth about failure...

The truth about failure...

Shared via AddThis
Truth About Failure (from www.berro.com) via Tumblr justbesplendid

* Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure… …it does mean you haven’t succeeded yet.
* Failure doesn’t mean you don’t have it… …it does mean you have to do something in a different way.
* Failure doesn’t mean you are inferior… …it does mean you are not perfect.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ve wasted your life… …it does mean you’ve a reason to start afresh.
* Failure doesn’t mean you should give up… …it does mean you should try harder.
* Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never make it… …it does mean it will take a little longer.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been a fool… …it does mean you had a lot of faith.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have been disgraced… …it does mean you were willing to try.
* Failure doesn’t mean you have accomplished nothing… …it does mean you have learned something.

New Fall Soaps!

New fall soaps are ready! Punk'in Pie Soap is back and now a new fall soap, Hot Apple Cider is available. Made with a scoop of real pumpkin, Punk'in Pie Soap smells freshly baked! Delicious notes of warm, creamy pumpkin, spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, topped off with whipped cream.

Tart, juicy harvest apples combined with the warm, spicy scent of cinnamon and a hint of orange peel = yummy Hot Apple Cider in the shower!

One a Day Challenge

I took the One a Day Craft Challenge for September posted here: http://peacocksanddragonflies.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-day-craft-challenge.html

Here is how it goes...
Create 1 item per day in September. These items can then go into your Etsy Shop, Craft fairs, used for Christmas prezzies or just for your personal enjoyment. This means at the end of September you should have 30 separate handcrafted items. They can be as small as you like or as ambitious as you please...... just make sure that you can do it in a day!

So I have done pretty well at the creating part, not so good at the pictures and posting part. So far I've made little thank you cards, several new soaps, a new perfume oil, and whipped up a really nice hair conditioner that my sister is going to receive.
This challenge has been a great motivator for me to express my creativity. Sometimes creativity can get really stifled as you get bogged down in the drill of day to day. I've realized how important it is for me to stay creating for my own happiness.

Peach Salsa

Chop one peach, one tomato, and one small onion in small pieces. Add tsp.
chopped cilantro if desired. Dress with 1 tablespoon balsalmic vinegar and 1
tablespoon olive oil.

Serve over pork chops or chicken breasts. Easy, colorful, and delicious!

Today's Cool Tool: Tag Finder

I just found out about this Tag Finder:
http://craftweasel.com/TagToolQuery.do

What it does: "Tag finder helps you choose the best set of tags for your
items. Enter one or two tags that describe your item. Tag Finder will
generate graphs showing the price & views/day of items with your query, and
also show you the price and views/day of related tags. This lets you see
which tags might be suitable for your item, and which ones are likely to
bring the highest number of views."

It's a very cool tool to use to change up your tagging or help you pick out tags to use on new items.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted & cooled slightly
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 12 muffin tin openings with paper liners. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves,and ginger into a medium bowl & set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on med-low, beat the melted butter, sugar, and pumpkin until smoothly blended. Mix in the eggs. On low speed, mix in the flour mixture until it's incorporated. The batter will be thick.
Fill each paper liner with a generous 1/4 cup of batter, to about 1/2 in. below the top. Bake until toothpick comes clean, about 25 mins. Cool completely before frosting.
These turned out sooo yummy!!

Labor Day Body Butter Sale

Extended Labor Day weekend special: 15% off all body butters in my Etsy shop. Enter "Weekend Deals" in Message to Seller section during checkout and discount will be refunded via Paypal. Special is good September 3 through September 7.

Wordless Wednesday

Indie Find--Fresh Metal

Fresh Metal is a great name for this Etsy shop! Beautiful handmade jewelry with a very fun, fresh feel. Lush colors, beautiful Earthy and water-y stones, playful use of silver and copper, the whole shop is a feast for the eyes. Designed by Jill, a fellow Michigander and working mom of a little boy and 3 playful kitty cats! She made some lovely custom earrings for me a few weeks ago that turned out even prettier than I had imagined, and I highly recommend her work. Check out her jewelry at http://freshmetal.etsy.com and read more about Jill and her adventures in life and art at:
http://freshmetaljewelry.blogspot.com

SUCCESS for Teens

SUCCESS for Teens

I think this is a great video to share with your teens. Several teenagers talk about setting goals, working toward those goals, making the right decisions, and overcoming obstacles to those goals. Very inspirational.

New-Bohemian Soap Bar

My new soap, Bohemian, is a blend of earthy patchouli, refreshing citrus, spicy & woodsy elemi, and sensual sandalwood. A super sexy blend, especially for patchouli lovers! This soap has no added coloring, just the yummy buttery color of the essential oils. It was a big hit at the craft show this past weekend and my son's new fav!

Polenta Recipe

3/4 Cup corn meal
3 Cups water
pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425 F. Stir corn meal and salt into water with a whisk in a covered casserole dish. Or into an 8X8" pan, which you then cover with aluminum foil.

Bake 15 minutes. Stir with that whisk. Bake 15 minutes more, add a bit of milk if you need to loosen it up.

At this point you can serve it up or add some goodies such as:
Fresh, chopped parsley or other herbs
Diced tomatoes and oregano and/or basil
Garlic
Sun-dried tomatoes
Cheese
Mushrooms and peppers
Onions

Beached

I'm heading over to Lake Michigan today for a craft show in Grand Haven, MI. I'm really looking forward to having a little time at the beach, too. Coincidentally, I just checked out the NRDC's annual survey of water quality for 200 US Beaches. Some interesting findings here. I know that Michigan specifically has worked on water quality and beach clean up and safety, and I'm sure that other states have as well. How does your local beach or favorite vacation spot measure up? Check out the survey results here: http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/ttwmap.asp

50 FABulous Ways to Save Money!

50 FABulous Ways to Save Money!

And, the environment too in some cases!

1. Balance your checkbook… avoid bank fees.
2. Empty your spare change in to a jar.
3. Bring your own popcorn to the movies… forgive yourself for sneaking it in.
4. Make coffee at home.
5. Eat out less often.
6. Shop the sale sections.
7. Purchase gifts throughout the year and store them.
8. Wash your car at home.
9. Turn off the water when not in use.
10. Take a picnic to the park vs. eating in a restaurant.
11. Distinguish between your wants and needs.
12. Water your lawn in the evenings.
13. Purchase fewer “trendy” items that need to be replaced each year.
14. Carry a calculator in your purse.
15. Mow your lawn less often.
16. Pay your bills on time… avoid late fees.
17. Run your dishwasher only when full.
18. Track your spending.
19. Use Coupons.
20. Do your nails at home.
21. Only get the occasional manicure.
22. Maintain your car well.
23. Wash your clothes less often.
24. Pay off your credit cards… avoid interest fees.
25. Empty your fridge before shopping again.
26. Stick to a budget.
27. Turn off unused lights.
28. Purchase vehicles used.
29. Use your local pet store shot clinic for pets.
30. Increase your insurance deductibles.
31. Visit your state’s controller office and claim any of your unclaimed property.
32. Grocery shop on a full stomach.
33. Maintain excellent credit… avoid higher interest rates.
34. Carpool.
35. Pay ahead on your mortgage.
36. Shop craig’s list! www.craigslist.com
37. Exercise outside vs. the gym.
38. Avoid shopping when feeling emotional.
39. Complete your returns!
40. Grocery shop with a list and stick to it!
41. Simplify! Need or want less…
42. Use the mail in rebates!
43. Purchase store brands or generics.
44. Sport a low maintenance hair style.
45. Get facials at your local beauty college vs. spa.
46. Make conscious spending decisions vs. autopilot choices.
47. Shop the Internet.
48. Pay your savings first.
49. Accept “hand me downs”.
50. Organize your receipts and warranties so you can find them.

NOTE: These suggestions are meant to inspire women, age 18 and over, to think creatively. The choice to do anything suggested is your personal decision and ought to be based upon your own research, use of proper gear and guidance from applicable professionals.

Fabulous content of this post ©2009 Susan Liddy, AspireLifeCoaching.org

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Firebirdhouse Designs

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Firebirdhouse Designs

Kristen Evans, the owner of Firebirdhouse Designs, loves creating unique jewelry designs and textiles from vintage and new components, as well as recycled/repurposed vintage pieces and fabrics. Originally a fine artist, Kristen says " I love turning beautiful things with history into useable and wearable art and that really began to be the core of my inspiration. I like the challenges that come with recycling and reusing in new ways." Original patinas, embroidered and hand needlefelted details, and high quality components are some of the things which set Firebirdhouse pieces apart from the crowd.

Her colorful shop is an everchanging display of pieces that "hold onto the charm of vintage while still having a modern or quirky edge."
The shop offers free shipping to the US and Canada and ships worldwide, as well as now offering a wholesale catalog.

An avid user of Twitter under the name @Firebirdhouse as well as co-leader of the EtsyTwitter Team, she says "I love the people I meet on twitter, and I try to talk, comment, and share just like I would if they were hanging out with me in my studio. I try to always be genuine and be myself. A lot of my sales come from Twitter but I don't ever make that my goal."

Firebirdhouse Designs is offering 25% off on purchases over $25 from August 17 - August 23rd. Use Code SOTW in notes to seller and your refund will be issued via Paypal. Excludes Joyce Richardson Benefit items

World's Largest Cupcake

Yesterday I discovered that http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com is baking the World's Largest Cupcake right here in Southeast Michigan. When their creation comes out of the oven early this morning, is frosted and pumped with custard, it should weigh approximately 7,000 pounds. By comparison, the current record for the largest cupcake according to the Guinness Book of World Records is 150 pounds. It will be certified by a Guinness judge. Then it will appear at Saturday’s Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit and people will have a chance to have their picture taken with it as well as eat a chunk of it for a donation to Susan G. Komen’s Passionately Pink For The Cure to benefit breast cancer research. Read about the process here: http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com/Guinness-World-Record-Cupcake.asp and check out the video of the cupcake being whipped up:

Pistachio Ice Cream (No Ice Cream Maker Required!)

What You Need:

1/2 C sugar

1/4 t salt

1 C of milk

3 egg yolks, beaten

1 T vanilla

2 C whipping cream, chilled

1/2 C pistachios, chopped

1/2 t almond extract

1/2 t green food coloring

How to Make It:

Dump the sugar into a heavy duty saucepan.
Sprinkle the salt over the sugar.

Pour the milk into the saucepan and stir to combine. Add the egg yolks and stir until all the ingredients are combined together well.

Place the pan over medium heat and stirring constantly cook 3 minutes or until bubbles begin to appear around the edges.

Remove the pan from the stove and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

Stir the vanilla into the cooled mixture.

Pour the ice cream into a refrigerator try and place in the freezer 45 minutes or until mushy.

Place 2 bowls in the refrigerator to chill.

Add the whipping cream to the chilled bowl and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks begin to form.

Spoon the partially frozen ice cream mixture into the second chilled bowl.

Beat with the mixer on medium speed until smooth.

Fold the whipped cream into the mixture well.

Add the pistachios, the almond extract and the food coloring blending well.

Pour the ice cream evenly into 2 refrigerator trays and cover with wax paper.

Freeze at least 3 hours or until firm stirring the ice cream mixture about every 10 minutes for the first hour of freezing time.

Makes 1 quart of ice cream

To make this ice cream in a crank style ice cream maker, follow the above directions to where you add the vanilla. Add the vanilla, whipping cream, pistachios, extract and food coloring blending them in well. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the freezer can of ice cream maker. Fill the freezer tub 1/3 full of ice and then add the remaining ice cream. Crank until it becomes too difficult to turn. Drain off water, replace the lid and allow the ice cream to ripen for at least 4 hours.

Sustainable Palm Oil

Why do I use palm oil in my soaps? A solid oil at room temperature, and high in saturated fatty acids, palm oil helps make a harder, longer lasting soap bar. Why do I use only sustainable organic palm oil? The clear cutting of palm forests in Indonesia and Malaysia are threatening the rain forest ecosystem, people, and the natural habitats of the orangutans. Using palm oil that is certified as sustainable by the RSPO(Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) ensures that the palm oil I'm using is contributing to the economic development of the producing countries and to the diets of millions of people around the world instead of doing harm. Production is done on a smallholder level, providing opportunities to improve livelihoods and incomes for the poor in those regions.

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Uber Art

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Uber Art


If you are in the market for a stunning hand-bound journal or guest book, look no further than UberArt.etsy.com. Beth’s work is to die for! Any paper lover would agree that her work would be a pleasure to create an art journal with. Your guests will also love to sign their names in her guest books, and these would make a great addition to any event, not just weddings. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a guest book from that backyard BBQ that was so fun last summer? You can have blank pages added to the back of Beth’s guest books for photos and mementos. A book like that would be cherished for years to come!
Follow her on Twitter @UberArt
Read her blog: uberartshop.blogspot.com

Back to School Preparation

It's already that time...time to get ready for the back to school rush. I can't hardly believe it. Fortunately for my son, he doesn't go back to school until after labor day, but next week starts band camp, so the preparations begin. He's also going to be in high school this year, so we're in for some changes. He'll have to get up quite a bit earlier, since high school starts an hour earlier. That should make for some fun mornings soon. I've been thinking of ways to make the mornings smoother. For starters, I decided to make up some waffles and freeze them for quick and easy toasting. Homemade waffles are always better than the boxed kind. And we're stocked up on syrup I got from a local farm. His chosen alarm is a harsh ring, but that's his choice and it does seem to get him right out of bed, so I guess we'll stick with that. I'm thinking showers and shaving will have to be done at night. That will save considerable time in the morning. He likes to get up half an hour earlier than necessary just so he can sit and watch TV to help him wake up after he's all ready. I think we'll have to forgo that tradition and just leave a few extra minutes to linger over breakfast a little. The bus comes at 6:30 am this year, and I don't think he's going to want to get up at 5:30. Though I remember doing that myself in high school when it took me 20 minutes just to do my hair. At least he doesn't worry much about that. :) Also, I plan to have him pack up his backpack and get lunch money ready at night to avoid mad dashes at the door. Any other tips for smoother early mornings?

Wordless Friday

Central Park

New York Bound!

I'm heading to New York City to see my dear sister and take in the sights for some mental R&R. So far on the agenda is 'South Pacific' on Broadway. And a muffin from Pret A Manger. I've never tried them, but my husband is obsessed, so I'll get my chance this weekend. We checked out a guide to Manhattan at the library that we plan to use to find restaurants and activities. I've been to NYC twice, both quick trips, but between those trips I've been to the top of the Empire State Building, shopped on 5th Avenue, walked around Rockefeller Center, went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and ate dinner in Times Square. Oh, and I did go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and walked through Central Park. So I have a few bases covered, but there is just so much to see and do there. Anything recommended as a "must see"or "must eat" that I haven't already mentioned?

Lake Erie Beach Glass

Sea Beach Glass is glass that was once a beautiful piece of tableware, a bottle, or a dish that once served a purpose. For one reason or another it was discarded and found its way into the water where nature refined this piece of trash by tumbling it into a beautiful, smooth, gem. It has been given back us by nature where we can find these beautiful pieces laying on the shores of our Lake! Headed up by Jodie, Lake Erie Beach Glass creates beautiful jewelry designs and art from the pieces that they pick up off the shore of Great Lake Erie. LEbg™ is a family business, enjoying their days beachcombing several beaches along the coast. In addition to sea glass they collect found objects and like to help our environment by picking up the "flotsam and jetsam" trash that is harmful to our wildlife and by properly disposing of it. LEbg™ is proud to be helping in hosting the 2009 North American Sea Glass Festival in Erie, Pa. Visit them October 17th & 18th as a vendor or attendee! Visit http://www.seaglassassociation.org for more details.
I love the colors of beach glass. Pale blues to vivid greens, warm amber and pristine white. They are fitting of the name beach glass! You can get some beautiful one of a kind pieces from Jodie's shop. I recently purchased this adorable pair of earrings in an emerald green color. So sweet, and they dress up my everyday wear, bringing lots of compliments. ;) Visit her shop at http://lakeeriebeachglass.etsy.com and check out the great selection of beach glass jewelry.

Hair Rehab Conditioner- New Product

New at Soap Rehab--Rehab for your hair! Revitalizes out of shape hair, leaving it tangle-free and silky smooth without weighing it down. A great conditioner for all hair types. Formulated with excellent conditioners as well as jojoba oil for dry ends, sweet almond oil for happy hair vitamins A, B, and E, and wheat protein providing amino acids to strengthen hair. Just work thoroughly through damp hair and rinse. Leave in 3-5 minutes for extra conditioning. The hair softening properties also make this great to use as a shaving cream. I give this product double duty in my shower as both conditioner and shaving cream. It works great on my fine hair, and on my testers' thicker hair...straight and curly alike.

Choosing Wall Paint Colors

Sometimes choosing paint colors is very difficult. We moved into a house that needed a lot of updating, including painting every room. We just finished choosing a color for the room my husband and I use as our shared home office. Hopefully we finished choosing, we'll know for sure after we've completely finished painting it! Sometimes paint color comes easily to me, like our dining room that we color matched to a Tiffany shopping bag. And my son's room, whose only request was that it be "blue". Then there are the room colors that involve getting a bunch of paint chips from every paint carrying store in the tri-county vicinity, all taped up to the wall together...a mass of lonely rectangles of color waiting to be the lucky winner. None seemingly representing it's true nature. And now that so many places offer sample sizes, we had sample splotches painted all over one wall of the office. This is very helpful, by the way, and probably kept us from re-painting. Finally I called "time" and we chose one. I never would have thought that "orange" would prove to be so difficult. We decided on an orange color scheme to spark excitement, creativity, and motivation. Perfect for an office, right? But there are yellow oranges, rusts, brown oranges, red oranges, pink oranges, peachy buff oranges.....whew! How do you pick out paint colors? Any tips?

Grandma's Rhubarb Jelly

This jelly is so good, easy, and makes great use of rhubarb! I'm a little rhubarb crazy, because it's such a unique vegetable that we sweeten and use as a fruit! And it's easy to grow. And I have lots and lots of it. I just got the recipe from my Grandma because I wanted new ways to make use of my rhubarb and have always loved her jelly! So here it is:

5 cups rhubarb, chopped
5 cups sugar
1 large (20 oz) can crushed pineapple with juice (this is the secret ingredient!!)

Cook above ingredients for about 20 minutes. Stir until dissolved a 6 oz package of Strawberry gelatin into the mixture. Seal into jars while still hot.

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: LM Creation

I've blogged about LM Creation before, since buying one of her business card holders that I love so much. But here's a little more info from the artist herself, Lisa:

Lisa's aim is to make "the best quality piece that I can in my own style and with fabrics that really appeal to me. I also aim to provide the best customer service that I can, the same kind of service that I would like to receive as a customer." Inspired by the beautiful variety of fabrics available, Lisa, like many textile artists, often feels that the fabric "tells me what to do, so when I see the right fabric I just know that it will make a special bag or wristlet or whatever." Her tip for using Twitter? "Get involved with other people on Twitter, respond to their tweets, re-tweet something that is interesting or good for a new twitter member who might need some help. I might tell people what I'm working on, but I only post links to items in my shop once or twice a day, no more than that. People get to know me and the things that I make and I've had sales and custom orders from twitter contacts, as well as being featured in blogs and treasuries."

Special Deal Offered : 10% discount offered to Twitter customers until July 12. Use code "EtsyTwitter" in the Message to Seller and 10% of purchase price will be refunded.

Check out all of Lisa's lovely card holders, wristlets, iPod cases, and more at http://lmcreation.etsy.com

Ingredient Spotlight-Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil is a remarkable topical healing agent with skin healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and antioxidant properties. The Tamanu tree is indigenous to tropical Southeast Asia; it is found in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, South India, Sri Lanka, and the Melanesian and Polynesian islands. The Tamanu tree blooms twice annually with fragrant, white flowers, which later yield clusters of yellow-skinned spherical fruit. The fruit's pulp tastes similar to an apple, within which a large nut is embedded. The nut contains an odorless pale kernel, called punnai in some Pacific areas. This kernel is dried in the sun for two months until it becomes sticky with a dark, thick, rich oil; it must be protected from humidity and rain during drying. This sticky oil is cold-pressed to make a greenish yellow oil similar to olive oil. To put this spectacular oil into perspective, and to further justify its relatively high cost, It takes 100 kilograms of Tamanu fruit, the amount that one tree produces annually, to yield just 5 kilograms of cold pressed oil! Natives believed the Tamanu tree was a sacred gift of nature and that gods hid in its branches. It was their answer to skin protection from hot sun, high humidity and ocean wind. Tamanu oil possesses significant antimicrobial qualities, as proven in antibacterial and antifungal tests. It also works miracles on scar tissue, making scars look less unsightly. It's also said to be helpful for acne and sunburn.
I pulled this info from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com --a great resource for oils and herbs.
Given how wonderful Tamanu oil is for the skin, I recently added it to my shea butter formula, making it even more luxurious and soothing. This addition also makes the Pure Rehab unscented version awesome as a face cream.

Independence Day

Happy July 4th! I recently re-read the Declaration of Independence and found it so inspiring. Well thought out, clearly stated, and so impassioned yet uplifting. Here is an excerpt, but you can read the entire document and brush up on our Nation's infancy here: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

Home Depot Kid's Workshops

Home Depot has FREE "How To Clinics" for Kids at all locations the first Saturday of every month from 9am to Noon. They are designed for kids age 5- 12 . This Saturday's workshop is this sweet picnic caddy. This would be great for your 4th of July and other summer parties and celebrations! Even though I'm in Home Depot frequently, I actually learned about these workshops through http://bargainbriana.com, a great source for grocery bargains, giveaways and all things thrifty.

In addition to bringing home the newly constructed project, your child will all receive a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin.

What a fun way to get your kids crafting this summer, build something the whole family can enjoy, while building their self esteem. And it's FREE! You can't beat that for summer fun. Check on upcoming workshops at their website: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId=&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051

Watermelon Salad Recipe

Watermelon has always been the quintessential food for 4th of July weekend for me. Every year, we go to my grandparents' house and always have watermelon. Sunshine, family, and watermelon. Here's a recipe that has an interesting blend of sweet and salty. Very easy and very refreshing. Super fun salad for the 4th of July. What do you think?

• 1 (5 ounce) package salad greens
• 8 cups watermelon cubes (I used a melon baller)
• 1 (7 ounce) package feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Toss together, add some freshly cracked pepper if desired. Enjoy!

Sun Protection Factor

Protecting yourself from UVA and UVB radiation is very important during these hot sunny summer months. UVB rays are the rays responsible for tans and sunburns. UVA rays are sneakier because they don't cause reddening but do contribute to cell damage and aging. SPF (sun protection factor) of sunscreens only measure your protection from UVB rays. Zinc oxide is considered one of the better protectors against UVA rays. The SPF tells you how much longer you can stay out in the sun without getting burned. So, if you apply SPF 10 before going outside, you can in theory stay out 10 times longer before burning. If you normally begin to get pinkish or red after say 15 minutes, then SPF 10 allows you 150 minutes of exposure before reddening. This is not a perfect system, however, and depends somewhat upon your skin type, the amount applied, frequency of re-application, activities which might involve sweating or rubbing the sunscreen off, and the time of day/angle of exposure.
In addition to skin cancer concerns, the sun is responsible for many signs of aging, and protecting your skin from its rays helps keep your skin looking younger. Some foundations and facial moisturizers contain sunscreen to help you protect your face daily. I have very fair skin, so in addition to makeup with SPF 15, I also apply a separate sunscreen to my face daily. In the summer, I also apply sunscreen to my arms daily as part of my morning routine. This has helped me on many occasions when I ended up out in the sun longer than anticipated.
Tanning yourself does not give you a "healthy glow", it is a sign of sun damage. Glowing skin comes from taking good care of your skin, and also your "inner glow" shining through! If you are blessed with naturally darker skin, your natural skin color provides a little more protection. For those of us with lighter skin...protect your skin and stay out of the tanning beds! Pale (think porcelain or dewy) can be beautiful, too.

The Positive Effects of Youth Sports

Sometimes finding the activity or activities that really connect with your child can take a few tries. I remember when my son was 4 years old, I took him to a preschool soccer camp at the YMCA. He had a good time, but no interest in doing it again the next year. The next summer I enrolled him in karate classes. At first he was psyched, then the excitement wore off for him after a month or so and he was done with it. Wasn't his thing he told me. I took him to swimming classes and while he was glad to know how to swim better he wasn't into it was a sport. When he was almost 6, I signed him up for tee ball. And BINGO. He *loved* it. Every summer since then, he's played little league baseball. Now at 14, when he ran on his school's track team this year, he was still dedicated to playing baseball and endured the hectic schedule that occurred from slightly overlapping seasons. He's a real team player in this game, and it seems to fit him like a glove. He coaches his teammates (some who have never played or have only played a couple of seasons), he encourages them from the sidelines or from the field, and he is showing himself to have the capacity of a good leader. He has no idea, of course, since when I mentioned to him what a great inspiration he was to his team he shrugged it off as just something that he should do...something he said he seemed to only be able to do on the ball field. Watching him grow into a young man, I have seen how being involved in team sports has helped him flourish. It has taught him what it means to be part of a team, to encourage each other, to lead when called upon, and to work toward a common goal. Through the twittermoms site (http://www.twittermoms.com), I just learned of Liberty Mutual's Responsible Sports program. This program helps educates parents and coaches of the positive effects of sports in the lives of children. There's lots of good information on their website for parents including tips for helping your kids get the most out of their sports experience, and help with issues that sometimes arise. You can check out this great resource here: http://responsiblesports.com/
Have you found sports helpful to your child's development? How did you encourage them to find the activity that "clicks" for them?

Wordless Wednesday

The Crochet Hamburger Dress

Browsing around some of my favorite sites and blogs looking for some crafty crochet type things for a certain yarn loving sister of mine, I came across this Crochet Hamburger Dress. I love this! So creative and fun! Joy Kampia O'Shell is the artist behind this dress. She also has an Ice Cream Cone dress and a Sundae dress in her line up of fantastic wearable art. Check out all of her delicious and fun creations at her website: http://joykampia.com/

Easy Pasta Salad

This is the recipe from the Salad Supreme container. I've made it so many times over the years, and always love it. Great for summer picnics, Fourth of July Barbecues, anytime you want to add a bit of punch to your meal. Add whatever vegetables you have on hand. I especially like to use the tricolor pasta, but didn't have any this time.

Mix together:
1 lb. cooked pasta
8 oz. Italian dressing
4 TB McCormick Salad Supreme
Assorted chopped fresh vegetables

Store in refrigerator. Gets even better overnight as the flavors have time to fully integrate.

The Feminine Mystique 2009 Style

Lately, I've been reading the fascinating book "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan. Written in 1963, Betty broke the silence about the "problem with no name". That is, the problem of a culture filled with bored housewives discouraged to use their minds and trapped at home for a lifetime of cooking, dishes, and diapers. Though womens' roles for years had certainly been dominated by the role of homemaker, it was specifically during the post-WWII era of the 1950's and early 60's that "career woman" became a dirty word and a growing media culture through television and magazines more severely limited what it meant to be a woman. Not only at work, but things like politics and world affairs were deemed far too much for American women to handle. In fact, there were many articles and at least one book dedicated to the notion that too much education was making American women frustrated in their roles as women. Along similar lines to this book, I just watched a movie called "The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio". A great movie based on a true story about a 1950's mother of 10 (yes, 10 kids!!) who earned extra money for the family by entering literary contests. At the time there were lots of contesting opportunities that involved jingle writing. Brilliant on the part of the advertisers, and also very beneficial to those bored housewives who could finally get an outlet for their creativity and flex their mental muscles. So, after getting a pretty good picture of the plight of women in post-war America, I started thinking about how much progress we've made...and yet, how much still needs to be done. I think as women today, we are still struggling with our roles...what do you think?

Herbs Glorious Herbs

I love plants. I love having them around the house and yard, I enjoy them for their greenness, their prettiness, their usefulness. But my family members consider me famously bad at tending to them. My biggest weakness is forgetting to water. Some plants even with regular watering still die at my hand, and I really don't know what's up with that. But my sister-in-law knows how badly I want to be able to have plants and keep them growing, so for my birthday she got me a pot of herbs she carefully got started for me in a "self-watering" type pot. It has a reservoir at the bottom you fill with water and it keeps them happy for a week or so. I've done well so far! And I'm really enjoying having the fresh herbs around. We've used them for cooking a lot already, and so far even my trimming hasn't hurt them. Here's a picture of my herb pot on the deck...placed front and center so I can't look outside without seeing it and remembering to keep it watered. In the pot is some lavender, dill, rosemary, basil, and lemon thyme. Do you have any tips for helping me keep my herbs lovely and alive?