Creative Bubbles: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Another Reason to Hate Homeowners Associations!

I mean... everyone deserves the right to display their red and purple rhinos on their roof!!

clipped from burbia.com

12 Rules for Life

Sometimes we just need to remember what the 12 Rules of Life really are:

1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.

2. You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.

3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are "I apologize" and "you are right."

4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

5. Never pass up an opportunity to pee.

6. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her - believe them.

7. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, "Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?"

8. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.

9. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!

10. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.

11. Work is good, but it's not that important. Money is nice, but you can't take it with you. Statistics show most people don't live to spend all they saved; some die even before they retire. Anything we have isn't really ours; It's on loan to us while we're here ...even our kids.

12. And finally...Be really good to your family and/or friends. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan.

Friday, May 29, 2009

I think I am in love!! Introducing Baby Bloomers!

I am always looking for pretty and unique clothes for Gabby and AJ and of course I turn to Etsy for a lot of inspiration and finds. Tonight I think I found my new true love in the vast world of children's clothing:

clipped from www.etsy.com

I love the perfect Japanese style, the prints, and the variety of styles. I can easily picture Gabby sporting one of the pretty tunics with some of her slim black pants and AJ in the beautiful dresses. Sigh.... love love love them! The owner of this wonderful shop is indeed an artist with the needle and thread and deserves a lot of recognition for her unique and eye catching work! Here are some of my favorite pieces:

clipped from www.etsy.com

Thursday, May 28, 2009

and just because...

Etsy Finds: Buddhism Funness

I have been reading a lot of Buddhist stories and such lately so I went onto Etsy to see what cool images, jewelry, and other trinkets I could find for myself and Klint. With Father's Day coming up I am planning on giving Klint a basket of Japanese/meditation/kung fu inspired things so this was a good time to scope out some unique items for him!

clipped from www.etsy.com

This miniature Zen garden is perfect for travel -- whether you're heading far away, or just into the office.

Dreading that meeting? A few quiet minutes of contemplative sand raking should sooth the nerves.

Facing a major deadline? Take a moment to rearrange these tiny stone "mountains" while you reorganize your thoughts.

This tiny Zen garden would be perfect on your desk, windowsill, or stashed in a pocket or purse. It comes with fine-grain sand, two tiny pebbles and a miniature rake.

Entire container measures 1.5" across and .5" high.

clipped from www.etsy.com

This meditation bead bracelet consists of 21 8mm gemstone beads - red jasper, aventurine, tiger's eye, moss agate, chrysocolla, lapis lazuli, and amethyst, as well as a carnelian bead etched with the mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' in Tibetan script. They glow with saturated colour.

clipped from www.etsy.com

Essential oils of lavender, peppermint, rosemary, tangerine, juniper berry, cedarwood, marjoram combine in Zen, the ultimate relaxation soaking salts. This synergistic blend of essential are deeply relaxing for your sore & tired muscles. Zen works to clear your mind & auric field of stresses to create an environment of calm & serenity.

clipped from www.etsy.com

These handmade bowl features two holes and a resting divot to hold your chopsticks. I created them on my pottery wheel out of porcelain clay, cutting in the two chopstick holes and the semi-circular resting area across from the holes while the clay was soft.

They are glazed glazed in a beautiful glossy robin's egg blue that complement most any food you want to serve in this bowl. Each will hold 2-3 cups of rice (or cereal, soup, ice cream, veggies, berries, etc.) and are 3.5" high x 5.25" across. The chopsticks are included with this bowl.

I signed it on the bottom rim. Microwave and dishwasher safe.

clipped from www.etsy.com

The length and sound of this bamboo flute is inspired by the flutes of the ancient Shaolin Kung Fu masters who used their instruments as walking sticks, martial arts practice tools, and as simple bamboo flutes.

This 3 foot bamboo flute has a gentle, meditative, oriental voice with 1-2 octaves. Great for inner peace journeying, meditation or studio recording work. Experience nada yoga, with this design. This bamboo flute features the 4 tone hole east Orient tuning.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Bank FAIL!

Oye, what a day!

We start each day with checking out bank account, just to make sure where we stand before we head out into the world and do our part to stimulate the economy. Today, like any other day, we looked at our to do list and planned accordingly. Our first stop, World Market, went off without a hitch, and so we continued to my new love- Trader Joes.

We walked around, put in our few items that we had to get (like our dog food which is the other thing I will feed her nowadays) and waited in line at the checkout. Scan the items, and swipe the debit card as usual, no credit cards for us.... and DECLINE. Huh?! Wha???!!! Ok, take a deep breathe and try again.... DECLINE!!! WTF???!!!

So we shrug our shoulders, ask the guy at the register to hold our cart, and proceed to call our bank- Key Bank. Lovely.... here is where the fun begins.

First we establish that indeed we do have money in the bank, actually, more than what we usually have this close to pay day. (yay!) Then we get a lovely little message that Key's system is down... huh? How the heck are we supposed to get our money?? So I proceed to get an actual person on the line to explain why we were declined when we have money in our account.

Key Bank does not have a good track record with us with their customer service... these people need customer service training 101. The winner who hopped on the line was no different... basically the whole system is down, there is nothing anyone can do, you are SOL, try back in a few hours. Never mind that we were buying groceries, never mind that this bank has ALL of our money since we rarely carry cash. AH! Not one apology was uttered, no explanation, nada. Just deal with it and try again later.

Well, we went to an ATM, pulled out enough to pay for the groceries and lunch, and went on our way. Definitely made us think harder though about where our money is and if it is safe and accesible.

to be continued....

Monday, May 25, 2009

Tea for Two

I have always been a tea drinker. I remember as a child my grandparents making me a cup of Lipton with a little bit of milk and a while lot of sugar. Klint is also a tea drinker as even the smell of coffee disgusts him, let alone the taste of it. We keep a wide variety of tea in the house but only recently discovered loose leaf teas. Now that we have begun appreciating the finer teas that stores around us have to offer we have begun searching for the perfect tea kettle, serving set, and other things that you have to have in order to brew a good cup of tea. Here are some of our finds!