Wonderful Children's Products on the brink of Extinction

Thanks to the new laws mandated by the CPSIA here is just a taste of the wonderful handmade products that will dissapear once the legislation takes effect on Feb 10th. There is still action that can be taken. Go here for more information now!!!!
Most people think that this just affects toys, but these new laws will take down ANYONE who sells ANYTHING geared toward kids 12 and younger. That includes vintage books like Curious George, gently used clothes on Ebay, even clothing donations to charities.
There is not much time, and something needs to be done and fast. I have included a list of things you can do to help on the side. If you don't want to have to buy your kids mass produced, plastic, foreign made EVERYTHING than please do something and let your opinions be heard!!!

Surf's Up Saturday- Only Skin Deep

Sone of my resolutions is to keep up the efforts to "greenify" my life I figured that one of the first places to start is my beauty routine. I am wear mostly Clinique makeup, I use Savannah Bee Company products on my skin or Burts Bees, but I know that there are several things that I use from my toothpaste to my deoderant that are more than likely not good for me.

So first I want to share with you a great site to determine whether or not the product you are using is hazardous or not- Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. This site is supported by the Environmental Working Group and has tons of information to back up their findings on more products out there that I can name. But the nice thing is that they can als give you an alternate to your product that is a lot safer. Go give it a try but try not to freak out when they tell you that the "all natural" product you have been using isn't so good for you.

Next is for all you gals who use a ton of conditioner- a DIY Organic Hair Mask

You will need: small jar of real mayo and 1 small avacado

To Make: Squish the two together in a bowl until the mix turns light minty green. Cover your hair with the mix from scalp to tips. Cover your head with a shower cap and chill for 30 mins. Rinse REALLY well! And viola! beautiful hair that is soft and touchable!

This and more DIY beauty tips at http://www.planetgreen.com/

And finally I searched on Etsy to find some Bath and Body product makers who are organic and make things that are both good for you and look great! Just click on the pics and they will link you to the great sellers!

New Year's Resolutions

Everybody makes them, very few of us actually keep them. I accomplished mine from last year (yay!) and plan on doing it again this year. The secret to my success is not having an iron will or self control rivaling that of Gandhi.It is by making goals that are realistic, achievable, and to the point.

Here are my goals this year:
1. Exercise every day for at least 10 mins, no matter what.
2. Continue to "greenify" our house and lifestyle.
3. Make at least 2 sales on Etsy every month.
4. Have a giveaway every month on the blog. =)
5. Go on a vacation this summer
6. Go on a date night once a month.

What are your resolutions this year?

Happy New Year!!!!!

Happy New Year to all!!!! Feel free to take copies of these cute calendars for the kids to color. They are 4.75 x 5 and look super cute mounted on cardstock, created by yours truly! (For a more grownup version check my Etsy store!)

It's a Craft Explosion!

So in the last three days I have discovered two fun, simple, and oh so cute crafts that anyone and everyone should do- baby legwarmers and covered button hair bands!!

The legwarmers are easy enough that since I don't yet have a sewing machine I just sewed them by hand and they still look super cute. The tutorial that I found on Flickr does a great job of explaining the process and helped me with the initial directions. Just go buy yourself some cute knee high socks at Target and in about 20 mins (by hand) you should have a great pair of legwarmers for your little one! The tutorial is here.

And next we have a very cute, banish those bad hair days away, craft- Covered button hair bands and bobby pins! First go get the kit from Jo-Ann's- super cheap. Then gather some of your scrap fabric. Follow the directions on the back of the kit and voila! Then either tie a rubber band onto the finished button or add a blank bobby pin. Here is the tutorial for these and other cute ideas for what to do with covered buttons.

Where do I get all my supplies to make all these fun things you ask? Etsy sellers for the most part (unless I am feeling impatient, then I go to Jo-Ann's). Here is a list of some of my suppliers:

Wunderkind - kokeshi dolls to paint

Gemmielou - Tons of Kokeshi dolls and families- SUPER cheapo!
Uberstitch - fabric galore, I love their fat quarter sets

BigFish - buttons galore and other sewing materials
Beads2u - my alligator clips for making cute hair clippies

SupplyRiot - all kinds of fabric, covered button supplies, art supplies
Tobysmom - covered button blanks and kits- VERY cheap prices!!
ReductionNation - blank bobby pins, perfect for covered buttons!
SunandMoonCraftKits - everything you need to make scrabble tile pendants, glass magnets, bottle cap crafts, and tons more. Browse but beware that there is a good chance you will leave with your wallet a little lighter!

I am sure that there are more, but these sellers have been the best! Try them out and make some fun things for your and your little ones!

Things to do when it is 67 degrees in the middle of winter...in Cleveland, OH

First of all turn off the heaters, heated blankets, and bed warmers.... then...
1. Find a pair of shorts, capris, a bikini- whatever! As long as it isn't winter weather attire.
2. Wash the car off for the first time in 2 months
3. Take the dog for a walk that is longer than 5 minutes... in shorts!
4. Drive with the heat off and the sunroof open
5. Watch the weather channel to see when the snow will be back!

Kokeshi Mania

Somedays I really think that I was of Asian decent in a former life, there are just too many things that I am drawn to about the various cultures for it to be a coincidence. Aside from turning our lunches into a contest of art and taste through my overworked Bento, I just discovered a kind of doll that appeals to both my natural nature and my artistic spirit- the Kokeshi doll!! This unique doll is very simple, a plain trunk with a larger head, painted with a few lines to indicate facial features, and then the body is painted in a variety of ways. One thing that all Kokeshi have in common is no arms or legs.

Of course I discovered these on Etsy thanks to a search for gifts for my husband so here are some shops that sell finished Kokeshi as well as a great shop that sells the plain wood for you to paint your own Kokeshi dolls (at a VERY cheap price). Just click on the pic and it will take you to the shop.

Whether one believes in a religion or not,

and whether one believes in rebirth or not,

there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.

~Dalai Lama

Giving Back to the Cats

Well tonight Gabby, AJ, and I went and delivered our gifts to this year's charity- the Berea Animal Shelter. We made tons of catnip birdies for the cats and baked peanut butter treats for all the dogs. Before we went to the shelter I made it very clear to Gabby that we were just there to give presents to the animals and that they were waiting for their families to come get them since whenever we enter a shelter we come out with a pet, Spooky being the last find about 2 1/2 months ago. (Gabby agreed with me that if we brought home another kitty Daddy would scream and run away!)

The volunteers who were taking care of the cat were so nice and helped Gabby distribute the birds to different cats. I just wish that we could have made birds for all the cats... there were so many there. One of the things that I really like about this shelter is that if the cats get along with each other they can roam free of the cages. Gabby got to let a couple of the kitties out, helped fill a few waterbowls and just had fun chatting with the other helpers. I know that it made her feel really good when the cats were playing with the birds she helped stuff and even AJ had fun petting different cats.

The volunteers are going to pass the dog treats to the dogs later and I know that they will enjoy them as much as Spooky does. If anyone out there in the Cleveland area is looking for a pet please consider adopting from this wonderful shelter. Some of those cats have been there for almost 2 years. Even if you can't adopt, the shelter is always in need of supplies like cat little, canned food, hand soap, and leashes.

Craft of the day: Pin Cushion Bracelet

Now that I am dabbling in sewing I have discovered a few things that I need for the process to go smoothly, like a pin cushion. Of course me being me it can't be just any pin cushion! So I looked around and came up with this to aid me with my couch sewing. Now I don't have to use one of my little stuffed birds for the job!!

Materials:
Snapple bottle Cap or cap of similar size
3x3 square of fabric
poly-fil
glue gun
ribbon
button
needle and thread
elastic cut to fit around your wrist comfortably but snug enough to not slide.

How To:
1. Using a running stitch gather the fabric into a ball leaving enough room to stuff the ball with poly-fil.
2. Close the ball tight and roll it to shape it.
3. Using a glue gun attach ribbon to the outside rim of the bottle cap.
4. Attach a button to the place where the ribbon overlaps.
5. Use a generous amount of hot glue in the inside of the bottle cap, making sure to also get the inside rim.
6. Press your fabric ball firmly in the bottle cap, hold for a few seconds
7. Using the glue gun attach the elastic to the top of the bottle cap, creating a bracelet.

Voila! An instant pin cushion that even protects your wrist from pokes with the bottle cap, and you are doing a bit of good for the environment by recycling!!

You can even make a pin cushion ring using a smaller bottle cap like this found on Etsy and the source of my inspiration!!