Gimme Your Stuff!!!

I have come across two different websites this past week with really interesting concepts. One is called Gimme Your Stuff.

It is basically a cultural exchange where you put together a package of items that are unique to your area, it can be food items, clothing items, anything really. And then you send it to someone in another part of the world who will send something similar to you. It is fascinating to me and I love looking at all the pics of swaps that have gone on. Once we move and I get my life in order I am going to definitely do this!

I think even a regional swap between bloggers is cool. Being originally from the Buffalo, NY area there are a couple things I can think of right off that are unique to that area- Frank's Red Hot Sauce, Aunt Rosie's Loganberry drink, buffalo wings... I will have to get some feedback for some Cleveland ideas! But I would love to see what is unique to other areas of the US, what brands are common, what magazines everyone reads, etc. This is maybe something I will do here, once we are organized again in my house.

Here is what I would send:
Malley's Chocolate - fabulous local chocolate!!!
CD of Rock and Roll music, true American tunes!
some bath and body stuffs
American design magazine or fashion magazine
some cute fabric
and of course some Buckeyes since Ohio is the Buckeye state! (for those who don't know a Buckeye is a chunk of peanut butter wrapped in chocolate-yum!)
and anything else that the swapper is interested in!

Anyone else find this so interesting?? If you are reading this from outside the US and want to try a swap with me then let me know... could be lots of fun!!!

DIY Project: Altoid Tin Travel Candle

Isn't this so pretty? (You can find the original post here....another great find from Stumble!)

What You’ll Need:

1. altoids tins
2. candle wicks
3. wax (i used microwaveable soy wax from a craft store)
4. mod podge (a glue/sealant available at craft stores. it is non-toxic and nonflammable
5. decorative paper
6. pencil
7. scissors
8. paint brush
9. wax coloring or scents (optional)

Instructions:
1. clean the altoids tin thoroughly.
2. trace the top and bottom on your paper and carefully cut out shapes.

3. measure the width of the sides for the top and bottom. for the bottom, measure to the bumps on the front side where the top and bottom connect. (my altoids tin is .25 in and .5 in thick) and cut a long strip in each width.
4. separate the top and bottom of the tin. spread a layer of mod podge around the rim of the bottom tin and wrap the strip around. press down and cut off any excess paper. smooth down the edges with your fingers to wipe off any extra glue.

5. spread mod podge on the flat base of the tin and place the paper over it. smooth out any bumps and snip around the sides to clean the edges.
6. repeat with the top of the tin. you can cover the holes and bumps and then cut them off later.
7. when the papers are all attached, paint a thin layer of mod podge over all of the papered part of the the tins. this smooths the edges and seals the paper to protect it.
8. let dry completely and reattach the two pieces. clean any glue off the inside of the tin with a paper towel and soap.
9. glue the wicks onto the base.
10. heat the wax and pour to directly below the hinges in the back.
11. let the wax dry. trim the wicks.
12. if you want, you can attach a small pack of matches to the inside of the top lid so you always have a light!

YOU’RE DONE!

Another Missed Connection on Craigslist

Just when you thought that the first date couldn't get any worse:

To the woman that crapped in my car.

We met on Craigslist so I am hoping that this post finds you. I know that it could quite possibly be the most humiliating first date that you have ever been on, but I am willing to look past that.

I thought we had chemistry sitting at McFadden's sharing that basket of jalapeno poppers while drinking Guiness. I really felt like there was a connection there. I found you to be intelligent and witty and looked forward to further conversation with you.

At some point in life, everyone has gambled on a fart and lost. It just happened to be on a first date in the passenger seat of my car. Please don't feel bad. The package I sent you with Pepto the next day and the note that said "First dates are always a crap shoot. Call me" was meant to be funny, not offensive.

I have gambled on a fart and lost on multiple occasions. The first time I did it was very memorable. It happened when I was five and sitting on my uncle's lap. I am lactose intolerant, but love cheese. I probably win 95% of the time, but I don't think anyone wins 100% of the time. That's why they call it "gambling". I'm the last person to judge you for crapping your pants. In fact, I am impressed by your boldness. The timing on the other hand, could have been a tad bit better...like when you're not sitting on a heated leather seat...

What I am trying to say is that if you want to go out again, I would be more than happy to take you someplace where we can get a meal that is high in fiber and less taxing on the digestive tract.

I await your call,
Tad

P.S. - If you shat yourself on purpose to end the evening early.Touché.

I can already imagine telling the kids about how mommy and daddy met...hahaha!

#1 Worst Food in America

****************

Yes, it is one of those days....

So yesterday, after a very frustrating afternoon with my children, I get a phone call from our Realtor. He tells me that he is pleased with all those showings, yada yada yada, but that the feedback he is getting from potential buyers is that our house isn't "showing well". Aka our house isn't picture perfect Pottery Barn and people can't see past the boxes stacked up or the cup on the sink to realize that they would be getting a hell of a deal here.
He told me in a very polite manner that basically it would speed up the selling process if we either get rid of our kids and animals and hire a maid or move sooner than planned. Being rather fond of my cat Tuck I opted to move a week earlier than planned. =)
So now we are scheduled to move in a little over two weeks. WTF? I have to pack up our two bath/four bedroom house in a little over two weeks?? YIKES!
Top it off with the fact that I still have to care for two other children along with my own, keep our house "showable" for the Realtor, AND try to maintain some normal schedule and you got yourself one stressed out mama.
So I am going to sit here, drink my coffee, and try to form a gameplan...on a good note: today we have someone coming who wants to walkthru a second time... wish us luck!

Inspiration Tuesday

I am always looking for inspiration. I love looking at a blog design or a logo and thinking about how I would change it, what would make it more appealing to me, or what the designer did that is so eye catching.

I just registered with a site called StumbleUpon, which is a very cool site that allows you to rate site, blogs, photos, everything. Then they will send you weekly emails with site that they think you will enjoy. Today I got a list of some awesome sites and wanted to share a few with you, because maybe if they appeal to me they will appeal to you!!

I highly recommend Stumble for any of you that love just wandering about the web in search of your own inspiration. Think of it as a compass pointing you in the right direction, but not telling you exactly what you will find when you get there!

Here are some of my finds:
1. Ultimate One Color Logos- Fabulous site for logo inspiration, just great design, no bells and whistles. This one is my favorite.

2. How Long Could You Last On a Gay Pirate Ship- funny quiz....'nuff said!

3. TypeNow- tons of free fonts...I love the famous ones like the Adams Family font!

4. How to Make a Branch of Paper Cherry Blossoms- super cute, super easy. I love crafts like this...minimal supplies and a very cute outcome!

5. Wedding Favors: How I Gave the Entire Wedding Party Diarrhea- the entire store made me giggle from start to finish!

6. DontClick.it- Ok, this is my personal favorite today....human psych has always intrigued me and this website challenges one of the most basic of human habits, the Click. Everyone who uses a computer frequently know that to navigate around a website you have to Click around, that is, press on buttons to go to different places and see different information. BUT, what if you didn't have to Click??? Go check out this site and find out!!!

Oh and please don't forget to answer my poll on the sidebar under my friend's links.... VERY important! =) Ok, not really but I am curious about what everyone will say!

Back to My Shop

Here are some new products that I have just listed on my sorely neglected Etsy store. I am on Etsy almost every day, but mostly it has been all about promoting my blog and my design work as a whole. Thanks to a couple new sales I have a renewed excitement about my shop though and am working on more ideas daily.


I just did some new posters for a friend and that got me thinking I should add them to my store, I also have done some new baby announcement layouts, as well as started a series of birthday party invites.
I am trying to get this done now, before we move, since I am packing all my material craft supplies up. If anyone has any ideas on new products jot them down for me, I always look for new item ideas!!

Only 24 days till we move...yikes!

Desktop Inspiration- another desktop wallpaper!

I love keeping little pieces of inspiration on the cork boards above my desk.
Fabric swatches, ribbon, photos, paint samples, and of course, important dates to remember.

If you click here you can see this desktop wallpaper in different sizes and there are two versions:
a clean version and a messier (more realistic) version of my cork board.
Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

(Here and here are my other posts with more FREE desktop wallpapers!)

Whore-Out Weds...ummm Friday!

Ok, I know I am late on this...but oh well, my life is nuts- deal with it!!
This is a new thing that I picked up from Sex Education's Perfect Example...
and it is hilarious to do.
Try it, you may like it too!

Today I would like to whore out my friend/sister/confidant Carena. She doesn't blog or Facebook... it took forever and a day to get her on Myspace (and then we all left...hahah). But without this wonderful sorority sister my life would be tea-less, my kids would be "auntie-less", and I definitely wouldn't have a dog. She is that skinny bitch that everyone would love to hate if she wasn't so nice, I mean really... we used to leave Whoppers on her doorstep with notes that read "EAT ME". (Ah those were the days!) She is selfless when it comes to her dogs and her foster dogs, and even more importantly she has the patience of Job when it comes to working with special needs kids. Seriously, everyone needs a "Carena" in their lives!!

So here's to you sista! You can now tell all the gals I whored you out!

Eat This, Not That Thursday

Here ya go all my margarita-loving friends, the awful truth!
(Now you know to ask the bartender to make you a fresh one!)

And what is better that a nice hot plate of Chinese food to go along with your Margarita-induced buzz?
Well don't pick P.F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein... it is the worst for you!
Go with some nice Moo Goo Gai Pan!
See the dirty details below...

And above all....
stay away from the local Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood
where all the cats are disappearing! =)

(that picture just makes me giggle every time I see it!!)