Brrrrrrrrr!

Walking through the ice and snow up to grab the paper this morning made me realize I need some warmer accessories. Checking out the Handmade Highway, I found Valerie's Gallery on etsy full of these luscious scarves and scarflettes:

Birthdays...

In my family, presentation of a birthday present is half of the present itself. Even for the young kids make sure a gift, whether it was from the Dollar Tree or created out of a toilet paper roll, is nicely wrapped complete with homemade bow.

I'm not exactly sure how my husband took it the first year he met my family, but now he loves to join in the fun. Although he cares more about wrapping the gift such that you have no idea what could be inside...

Like this rocket here...It contained a necklace from Linda Searcy Jewelry Design, a member of the Handmade Highway.

100 Mile Fitness Challenge... Week 4

Week 4 actually had me hitting all of my goals:
Fri - 2 mile walk = 2
Sat - none

Sun - 1 mile walk, 5 min elliptical, 15 min Strength (Jillian Micheals Circuit from Self) = 2
Mon - 2 mile walk, 20 min Yoga (Steve Ross on Oxygen TV) = 3
Tue - 2.5 mile walk, 10 min Pilates (Pilates Complete for Everyone) = 3
Wed - 2.6 mile hike, .5 mile walk = 3
Thu - 2.25 mile walk, 15 min Yoga (15-Minute Results: Yoga), 10 min elliptical, 30 min Strength (Bikini Body Workout from Shape), 20 min Boxing Drills = 7

Total: 20 (Overall Total: 57)
Want to join in? Check out the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge Blog!

Dreaming of snowflakes...

In honor of the snow forecast for the weekend, I thought I'd browse etsy for some interesting snowflakes. If the previous snow forecasts are any pattern, this is as close as I'll get to snow :)

This pointy snowflake tile is from Gretchen Kramp Ceramic Tiles, a shop full of handmade ceramic art tiles.
These snowflake earrings look so dainty and are from Sweeter Than Me handmade designs by Kristen Friesen.I could send some greetings to Florida in these handembroidered snowflake notecards from June at Noon. This woodland snowflake ornament looks almost warm to me and are from Green Rose Designs.And I'm always hungry when I am cold (along with the ever present sweet tooth), so I thought I'd finish with this tasty-looking snowflake treat. This Winter Wonderland Snowflake Cookie Giftset is from Holiday Candy Lane.

I do love a good dip!

I really like inviting the neighbors over for dinner - actually, I'm always looking for a reason to throw a party! And my foods always seem to revert back to my old favorites.

This is my dill veggie dip. It is a family recipe and I grew up on no other - thus do not particularly like any other dips :)

1 cup Mayo

1 cup Sour Cream

3 Tbsp Parsley Flakes

3 Tbsp Minced Onion

3 tsp Seasoned Salt

3 tsp Dill Weed

2 tsp garic powder

Mix together and Chill for at least 4 hours before serving (to ensure flavor soaks through).

This week's favorite... Porcelain Beads

I love looking a handmade beads online and the procelain ones from Beadfreaky are definitely some of my favorites...

This shop is just full of beads buttons and pendants that I'd just love to have in my collection :)

And we now have a guest room!

So, I've been recently putting effort into ridding our home of the college dorm feel and now we even have somewhere for guests to stay.... (complete with omnipresent watch dog)

Changes in 2010 for Shore Debris

I've never been one to make a new year's resolution, but I do believe in goals - and the constant process of stepping back, reevaluating, and readjusting as necessary.

1. Organize my craft space (a.k.a.) bonus room by creating storage and work spaces. I've got a good plan in mind for shelving and kitchen cabinets... 2. Create a new program to track inventory of completed items and materials so that I am not stuck sorting through a shoe box of little scraps of paper, receipts, etc when tax time comes around.

3. Create my holiday stock throughout the year so that I am not playing catch-up for the entire fall. I've already been good about using the wire scraps to make make these ornament hooks. 4. Prepare and submit my ads to Carolina Living and Coastal Living (as I've been planning for months...)

5. Update my blog at least 4 times per week (with an ultimate goal of posting daily).

Writing them all out makes my next big tasks seem not so far fetched...

100 Mile Fitness Challenge... Week 3

And here's to a slow start for week 3:
Fri - 1 mile walk = 1
Sat - 1 mile walk = 1
Sun - 1 mile walk, 15 min Yoga (Cardio Burn Yoga DVD) = 2
Mon - 2.6 mile hike = 2
Tue - 2 mile walk, 10 min Yoga (Steve Ross on Oxygen TV) = 2
Wed - 2 mile walk, 10 min Yoga (Steve Ross on Oxygen TV) = 2
Thu - 1 mile walk = 1


Total: 11 (Overall Total: 37)
Want to join in? Check out the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge Blog!

A Box of Nostalgia

Those boxes hiding in the closet that you only go through every few years when you are on a big cleaning/get rid of unnecessary stuff...

Here's what I found in mine today that made me smile with memories :)

This week's favorite... a record table!

Every once in awhile I come across something and begin to think, too cool! That's what I thought when I came across this LP Record End Table: From Paper Leaves, a shop full of decor, cards, clothing, and jewelry - just a little bit of everything, I'd say!

Rings, rings and more rings

The week before last, Linda (Linda Searcy Jewelry Designs) showed us how to make wire rings (specifically the button and heart ones)
I liked it so much I spent the entire weekend making a few too many... this picture just shows about a third of them. Guess I don't know where to stop when I am having fun :)

100 Mile Fitness Challenge... Week 2

Well, so much for variety in week 2:
Fri - 1.75 mile walk = 1
Sat - 2 mile walk = 2
Sun - 2 mile walk = 2
Mon - 2 mile walk, 23 min Cardio DVD (YBB Cardio Cabaret) = 3
Tue - 2 mile walk = 2
Wed - 2 mile walk = 2
Thu - 1 mile walk = 1

Total: 13
Want to join in? Check out the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge Blog!

Nico Designs - EtsyBlogger of the Month!

Nico Designs

This Texan SAHM creates some of the cutest little crib shoes:

And don't you just love the blue and brown in this classic tote bag? Just my colors!

Don't forget to stop by the Nico Designs Blog, too!

She recently posted a great tutorial on leg warmers and has an interesting 2-part article on using Japanese sewing patterns.

This week's favorite... fine embroidery

Check out this beautiful art emboidery piece from Fine Embroidery on etsy:And here is a close up of the mask:

In addition to the one of a kind art work, Fine Embroidery has 3-dimensional brooches that are just stunning.

Fortune Cookie...

Hmmm... I think I should keep this one...

Check out the new loot!

While visiting my parents last week in Rotonda, Florida, I was able to stop in the Rotonda Rock Shop and came out with all sorts of new treasures! I have these beautiful ammonites:
And some new hematite ammonites:

a fossilized sand dollar:

Shark's teeth:

And this beautiful Blood Stone:

I can't wait to get out the wire and start playing with these!

100 Mile Fitness Challenge... Week 1

So here's week 1's progress report:
Fri - 15 min Yoga DVD (15-minute results: Yoga) - 1
Sat - N/A = 0
Sun - .5 mile walk = 0
Mon - 1.5 mile walk, 15 min Yoga DVD (15-min results: Yoga) = 2
Tue - 1.3 miles walk, 45 min Yoga (Steve Ross on Oxygen TV), = 4
Wed - 1 mile walk, 30 min Pilates (The Method Standing Pilates Blend), 20 min Cardio (10 Minute Solution Carb Burner) = 4
Thu - 1 mile walk, 20 min Cardio (YBB Light and Easy DVD) = 2

Total: 13

Want to join in? Check out the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge Blog!

100 Mile Fitness Challenge Take 2!

Well, now that I just finished the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge, it is starting up again for a second iteration. Are you interested in getting 100 miles before 31 March 2010? Head on over to the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge Blog and sign up!

2009 100 Mile Fitness Challenge... Final Post

So wrapping up for 2009, Week 12 added 3 more miles and Week 13 added 6 getting me to exactly 150 miles! Not sure exactly how that happened, but I am happy anyway :)

Wall Hanging Choices for charnymar

Good Afternoon,

Here are the two completed wall hangings for your review and choice:

Option 1 (one full picture and a close up of each, top and bottom):

Option 2 (one full picture and a close up of each, top and bottom):

Best regards,
Vicky