TiLT: It's Been a Month

Lately I've been feeling like I have no energy for even the smallest things. Well, some days I do, other days I don't, and today is one of those low energy days. I know part of it is worry and depression, and part of it is the weather (April showers), and part of it is health related, but sometimes you just have to decide to do things, to decide they are important enough to do, that they have value... And this is one of them.

I find it amazing that nearly the whole month has gone by; so many things I was starting at the beginning of the month, and set aside *for the moment* because of the energy issue, are still not done... Some little part of me says, Well you just have to get organized! But I know that's not entirely true... What I need to do is Just Do It.

And truly, TiLT helps. Looking back each week through the sites & videos I've favorited, the pictures I've taken, the things I've blogged about... it really helps me see just how great things are, and how wonderful and spectacular my life is... So here it is...


♥ My family: Jacqueline, who makes everything run 100 million trillion times smoother for me and who loves me like no one ever has before; the kids, who make me laugh and do so much to help me and their mom; and my mom, who inspires me to greatness with her selfless love and giving...


♥ Spring flowers that remind me of lollipops and cotton candy, the spreading of the green green grass, sun-shiny bright blue skies...


♥ Rainbows in my eyes, which are only there because the sun is shining through the sparking prettiful things in my windows...


♥ Honorable mentions: Sweet liqueurs and red wine; Sesame bread and sweet buns; Walks in the woods and by the lake; Dorky daughters & a silly son; New toothbrushes; Bunny ears on my fish; Cleaning and rearranging and organizing... when it's finished...

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

International Charm Day

I was going to join in the fun of International Charm Day yesterday, but found myself asleep before I could even comment! But I can see this morning that it's not too late to enter some of the give aways!

Look at all these gorgeous charms you could win from lilibulle:

Click to enter!

I love these little altered bottles from bulles dorees:


Click to enter!

And this is just one (my fave!) of the beautiful charms you could win from Deb:

Click to enter!

And these nest charms from Pat Winter are adorable:


Click to enter!

And these too, from Addicted to ATCs:

Click to enter!

So click and enter if it's not too late!

A Small Green Island

There is a small green Island
where one white cow lives alone, a meadow of an island.

The cow grazes till nightfall, full and fat,
but during the night she panics
and grows thin as a single hair.
What shall I eat tomorrow? There is nothing left.
By dawn the grass has grown up again, waist-high.
The cow starts eating and by dark
the meadow is clipped short.

She is full of strength and energy, but she panics
in the dark as before and grows abnormally thin overnight.
The cow does this over and over,
and this is all she does.

She never thinks, This meadow has never failed
to grow back. Why should I be afraid every night
that it won't. The cow is the bodily soul.
The island field is this world where that grows
lean with fear and fat with blessing, lean and fat.

White cow, don't make yourself miserable
with what's to come, or not to come.

~Rumi

Mosaic Monday Bunday

1. purple bunnies 1, 2. purple bunny card, 3. Luella, 4. Framed bunny ghost purple, 5. felt bunnies - so cute!, 6. Chocolate Bunny Journal, 7. Zora in the sun, 8. Purple bunnies earmuffs, 9. Porcelian2

Etsy Blogger of the Month: Two Zany Zebras

I can't believe I let nearly the whole month slip by without mentioning April's Blogger of the Month!



She makes me wish I was a baby again just so I could wear some of her Zany Zarkles or even better... one of these:



Don't forget to check her out and see what she has that might be calling to you...

• Two Zany Zebras' Blog


• Two Zany Zebras' Etsy Shop

Scrapbooking Quiz

What color scrapper are you? Me? I'm an orange...

Orange Scrapbooker
Scrapbooking is pure joy to you. You are imaginative and probably don't mind getting messy in the pursuit of your art. Your pages reflect your playful personality. You enjoy celebrations and may have many photos of happy gatherings. You see inspiration everywhere you look.

Go here to find out your color, and make sure you have a pencil and paper ready; there's no clicky for this one! o_O

ETA: Or if you are too lazy to deal with paper and pen, you can now take it here: Color Me Quiz

Take my bunny quiz too while you're at it! ^-^ What kind of bunny are you?

Photo Friday: Brown

Brown

New Art Journal

I've decided to take up the challenge offered by Jennifer at Artistically Designed Diversions and although I bought this little journal a few weeks ago, I just *arted up* the cover tonight, as she challenged everyone way back in November. Yeah, I am way behind, but I'll catch up eventually! ^-^ No rush, right?

Back

Front

The purple spot near the top on the front will be for the title when I figure it out...

Earth Day

Quand on a terminé sa toilette du matin, il faut faire soigneusement la toilette de la planète.

"When you've finished washing and dressing each morning, you must tend your planet."

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943, translated from French by Richard Howard

What are your plans for the day?

Tasty Tuesday!

I must share this recipe I just whipped up! Oh man was it tasty! I wish I had made 2 so there would be more for me & the family...

California Squares:

• 1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 package of cream cheese
• 1 envelope of powdered ranch dressing mix (I used about 1/2, because it was all we had left after using it as popcorn topping several times)
• To taste: dill, garlic powder, onion powder, minced onion, pepper...
• 1 avocado (I used about 3/4 of one)
• 1 tomato
• 8 strips of pre-cooked bacon (I only used 6)

1. Take your crescent rolls out of the package and press them together in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. (I have a small cookie sheet that size, but you could use the more common kind with higher sides.) Make sure you press it together enough or you'll have problems cutting it later...
2. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, soften your cream cheese in the microwave. (I did it in 3 10-second intervals stirring it in between.) Then mix in the ranch dressing powder and the other spices to taste, and slice your avocado & tomato.
4. When your crescent roll dough comes out of the oven, let it cool to room temperature, or even pop it in the fridge for an hour or so. (I was impatient and had a hard time with the next step.)
5. Spread the cream cheese mix on the pre-baked dough; top with the avocado, then the tomato, then the bacon. (I added more pepper on top of that.)
6. Then pop under the broiler for a few moments just to warm up the bacon.
7. Cut into 8 pieces and enjoy!

I could also see separating each of the rolls and making 8 individual triangles or even cutting them smaller for appetizers... Oh, maybe shredded cheddar on the top? That might be going too far...

A Contest

One of my favorite artists, and fellow FAE team member, is having a give-away contest to win a giftcard to her shop!

There are several ways to enter and you do *not* have to sign up with ArtFire to win.

But HURRY! The contest ends Wednesday, April 22nd at 3pm EST.

Mosaic Monday Bunday

Click any pic to see its Etsy listing!

You are a child of the Universe...

No less than the trees & the stars. You Have A Right To Be Here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding As It Should...

...from a poem by Max Ehrmann?

Under the Sea

I have joined my very first art doll swap! ^-^ I am so excited! Ever since the Summer of the Mermaid ended, I've been eagerly anticipating this coming summer, and what a better way to kick it off than joining this fantastic swap!

Click to read the details!

I'm going to make a beautiful magical mermaid for my partner... I can't wait to see what I get in return! ^-^

DreamScapes

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the qualities that I want in my dream home. I am hoping it is near the ocean, preferably with a view of that ocean, or even better, right on the beach, of course, with year-round temps appropriate for swimming in said ocean. I want the house to be spacious and light, with lots of windows and high ceilings in some rooms, and enough rooms for everyone to have their own space even if they choose to share bedrooms. Surrounded by beautiful gardens. And of course, I want my own little studio.

I picture it on the second floor, or maybe a separate little playhouse not far from the house. I want my studio to have big windows; so I can see the ocean and the sunset everyday. I'd like to have a small sitting area with 2 big comfy chairs and a coffee table in between right near the windows. Perhaps some of those *windows* are actually French doors, or sliding glass doors, that open onto a small balcony or patio with more chairs and a table, where I can work outside, or have lunch, while enjoying the view and the garden.

Inside there would be a corner desk/table/counter with my computer in the corner. One side would have a clear space for working on that was right in front of a window, and the other would have shelving over it and places to store all my scrapping and crafting supplies. There would be cupboards for hiding messy things, bookshelves for inspirational books and my scrapbooks, and drawers for more storage. I also want room and seating so the whole family can join me in there if they want, for crafting or watching TV, or just hanging out.

Specific tools and things, other than the computer (which would include the printer and scanner big enough for 12x12, excellent speakers for music playing (surround sound?), and a big wall-mounted flat screen for movie watching maybe!), would include a wall-mounted TV/DVD/VCR? combo (not using valuable crafting space!), a toaster oven & pasta maker for my polymer clay things, a light box and really awesome digital camera, an artists table that I can tilt with a lip so things don't go rolling off, a better place for my paints, all kinds of colored pencils, papers... anything for being creative!

I think I'll draw some sketches of what I want... How about you? What would be in your dream studio? Would you have one? If not, what would be your dream room? Tell me!

ETA: Yes, I would want a TV *and* the computer for movie watching because sometimes I like to look things up, etc. mid-movie, and it's annoying to have to pause...

AmazonFail Update

After much hullaballoo, to which I was a late-comer, Amazon has corrected an error in coding, made at an international division, that resulted in not only books with a GLBT theme, but also thousands of others. You can read more at SeattlePi:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166384.asp
http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166329.asp

Thank you Amazon for correcting the situation.

Amazon is Anti-Gay?

In a time when gays and lesbians are making strides toward equal rights, Amazon.com has taken a step back. A step back to a time when you didn't ask and didn't tell, a time when you hid your love for fear of persecution, a time when even the suspicion of homosexuality was enough to get beaten or even killed. Amazon.com has reclassified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender books and movies as an adult product which blocks them from their sales rankings.

However, like Mark Probst said, "if they are really going to try and exclude so-called “adult” material, then how come this has an Amazon ranking?" And there are plenty of other *adult* themed books still ranked as well, as shown by this list. Curiously, if you put "homosexuality" into a search of their site, and you'll find books on "preventing" and "curing" homosexuality, but you won't find Brokeback Mountain or Tipping the Velvet or other previously high ranking books or movies.

Today, Amazon.com claims this was just a glitch that they are fixing now, but some authors lost their ranking way back in February, and only now is it getting any attention. And if it's just a glitch then why tell authors their books have been "classified as an Adult product" and "In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature." Obviously that's not just a glitch.

Like so many others are twittering, AmazonFAIL! Please sign the petition.

My First Award!

I've been given a blogging award! I'm so excited! I've never gotten one!


“This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.”

Thank you so much Crochet Cultist!

I'd like to pass this award on to the following bloggers:

• Lisa Lectura of Lisa Lectura Creations
• Kali, Just Another Frugal Pixie
• Jennifer of Artistically Designed Diversions
• Lissa, The Untamed Scrapper
• Mykel of Many Random Anecdotes

You guys are all great and definitely deserving of this award...

The only criteria for accepting the award is that you must post the picture and the meaning of the award on your blog (see above); no need to even pass it on to other people...

Hoppy Easter!

Wishing those who celebrate a lovely Easter Sunday! ^-^

And to those who don't, have a hoppy first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox! ^o^

Mosaic Monday Bunday

I had so much fun doing this last week, that I think I might make this a regular occurrence! ^-^

Click any pic to see its Etsy listing!

Today's Art

I know I said I'd post pics from April Fool's Day, and I have a review for you all too, but today I ignored everything I thought I *should* do and painted. I bought a little 2.75" square canvas a few weeks ago for some small amount of money; I thought it would make a great trial & error piece for me to play around on before I put more money down on a bigger canvas. I've never worked with one and had no idea how I'd like it...

Anyway, a couple of years ago, I got an idea in my head for a painting and wrote it all down. Last year, I made a little sketch of it. Today, I thought I'd paint it on this little canvas.

Well, canvas doesn't work like I thought. And it doesn't do detail too well - an important factor when painting a 2.75" square. However, I am please with how she came out and am wondering what to do with her now. Do I seal the painting some how? Do I use mod podge? The acrylic spray sealer? Or should I use some thing else? What do my experienced canvas using friends out there use? Your recommendations?

Oh, I suppose you'd like to see this tiny painting, eh? Well, my bunny looks a little too cartoon-y and the bird not so joyful as I sketched. It's also hard to see the egg she's offering, and the scan is really bad. She's smiling when you see it in person, not that weird scrunchy face she's got there, but you get the idea...

Ostara Dawn's Gift


And while you're at it, check out the new stuff at Faerie Garden Fancies...

Etsy Buy Handmade BunnyKissd

Don't forget to leave me your advice!

Love

I love you. <3

And we have a winner!

Sorry for not getting to this first thing this morning, but we've been busy pulling pranks on the kids all day! ^o^ But this folks is NOT a prank!

Now is the time to determine who wins this great little package of goodies!



First let's print out a sheet with everyone's entries (email for the first, following and/or a link for any others), then cut them up....


Then we'll fold them all up tiny...

and stuff them in a box!

Then let's have the joyous JoAnn draw a slip to see who won...

The jovial JFargo! Congratulations!

I'll be shipping your package out as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone for playing and keep your eyes open for more games soon! ^-^

P.S. Post about pranks on kids coming next! ^o^