Little Chic-a-dee

Ugh. Ugh. Double Ugh.

I've been waiting to post with a great video craft blog, or cool project. But lately it's been difficult enough just getting the kids dressed and the Little Mermaid's hair brushed.

I did manage to finish the mural in the kiddies room. Well, it's not TOTALLY finished, but it's complete enough for them to move in.

I have 20 days until my 10 year college reunion. hmmm..... Not sure what to think abou that. I need a hair cut. And I was going to start running 5ks this spring. Well, maybe I'll pick up the 5k in the fall.

I'm going to start a series of v-blogs on crafting techniques. I'm open to ideas. Future how-to blogs will include: paper envelopes, recycled paper beads, finishing beads with wire... various jewelry techniques....

So keep an eye out.

ALSO! I am getting healthy. I'd like to drop 50# and I'm already down 2! woo-hoo!

And I want to slow down and enjoy life more. For example, right now I'm in the backyard with my kids. The Little Kahuna has stripped himself down to his birthday suit after getting soaked with water.

It's a perfect day here. Hope it's rockin' where you are!

Wedding Recovery

Well, we are back. I am almost fully recovered from the whirl-wind wedding weekend! It was amazing to see all the friends and family that I've been missing. Surfer Girl's new hubby's fam is cool too.

I'm adding pics to flickr and the happy couple is still on their cruise. I'm trying not to be jealous. But it is hard...

I'm just about fully unpacked. There are a few odds and ends that haven't found a home yet but I'm working on it.

Not one to sit still, I'm onto the next project! The kid room! I only got a couple of hours painting in this last week, but as soon as I finish this blog I'm getting back to it! My Little Mermaid and her bro are itching for their 'space' back. I'll take some pics today while I'm in there painting the mural. In the meantime - don't forget to order your super cool cookbook!

cheers!

The Recipe Shower Cook Book!

Here is a fuzzy preview. I've been unable to get the resolution just right, but you get the idea...

Recipe for LOVE

It's taken me weeks...

But I finally finished it!

For those of you who DON'T know, my dear sister - SurferGirl - is getting married next weekend. SurferGirl lives in Hot-lanta and I am a couple states north. My mom and I decided to have a recipe shower for her, since we and all our friends and family live in different states!

It's been months of collecting recipes and photos. Then editing them and designing the coolest most kick-ass cookbook EVER. Ok, well, I think that the Joy of Cooking officially has that title, but my little cookbook is way cuter.

You can find it here:

So cute and cool. I hope they love it and I hope the famn-damily loves it too. Feel free to buy your copy today!

I should have one copy at the wedding, and would LOVE it if contributors partying with us in the islands would sign their pages for the happy couple!

The little dude is asleep, so I should get some work done. I'll get back to my cute crafts etc... soon. This book has taken all my time and now I have to pack for the tropics and get ready for

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY! Go GIANTS! man i hate the pats. i hate them so much!!!

cheers!

BeachMama

Skinny Bitch and Kashi

Well, I've done it. I've taken the PLUNGE!
I
am now
vegan.

I've been a veg for a week and a half now. And despite an upset stomach last night, I've never felt better.

For all you who are thinking, VEGAN? WHAT THE HECK IS A VEGAN?!

A vegan commonly refers to a person who does not eat any animal by products of any kind. Period. No milk, no cheese, no meat.

WHY IN ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY WOULD SOMEONE DO THIS???!

Well, quite frankly, this has been a long time coming for me. I've never been a big meat eater in the first place. And over the last year or so I've come across some pretty startling research. Don't worry I'm not going to try to convert you. This is my journey, you can look up the info for yourself if you feel so led. I will just say this, buy organic and if possible, from a local butcher who does the dirty work himself. AND FOR THE LOVE OF BESSIE, AVOID FACTORY FARM PRODUCTS LIKE THE PLAGUE!

Ok, so now you know this, you should also know that I'm human. Not perfect. And I didn't sign my meat eating rights away and join some strange religion or cult. So if you see me eating sushi, or animal products, don't hate. This is a process. But I've been vegan for almost 2 weeks and honestly don't feel like I'm missing anything or craving non-vegan stuff. I'll keep you abreast of my food discoveries.

EBAY IS A PAIN!

For those of you who found my blog via ebay. I will no longer be selling on Ebay. It should be known as FEE-bay. Talk about double dipping!

Let's charge you for listing something. Then, we'll charge you for "extra" stuff in your listings. And hey, wait a minute, your listing actually SOLD? Well, we want a piece of that too. Whoa Nellie! You used PayPal... We own that and we'll gladly take a nice chunk of that. What's that you say? They paid with a direct transfer from their PayPal account to yours? No, that USED to be free. But we got wise to that, yes, well, we're taking an extra piece of that pie too.

If you know me, then you know I rebel. I can't help it. Blame my parents. They raised strong women who won't be caged in. So let me enlighten you to wonders of ETSY!

Since watching the AMAZING documentary called The Corporation, I've rebelled against corporate america. I try to buy things that are crafted by people. For example, My son's shoes are hand made in Minnesota by Bambino's. A stay at home mom who makes the most beautiful shoes EVER.

See. I TOLD you. Don't you wish your little bambino had turtle toes too?

Etsy is wonderful. You pay 20 cents to list and sell an item. Period. No funny business. No catch.

I will still be using PayPal. It's just too darn easy and universally accessible.

Ok, now on to my FAVOURITE THINGS and BeachMama's latest happenings...


Fav thing #1
Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal.
Yum crunch and wild blueberries. Need i say more?!?!

Fav thing #2
MY ELECTRIC BLANKET
I am a cold weather wimp. I admit it. I loathe winter weather. My dear husband, Moon Doggie, in his infinite wisdom got me an electric blanket for Christmas. Oh how i love to snuggle up in bed with the blanket on HIGH!


Fav thing #3
THE MOVIE: ONCE
If you love british movies, and even if you don't, you'll love this one. The write up on the box makes it seem like a Music & Lyrics movie, (which I also love) but this is NOTHING like Music and Lyrics. trust me. Watch this movie and you'll be hooked. The music is awesome.


Now to answer some of your questions from my fan mail!!!


1. What is the last book you read?
Technically, it was Junie B Jones and Meanie Jim's Birthday.
But MY last book was Skinny Bitch and Jerome Bettis' biograhy "The Bus: My Life in and Out of the Helmet"


2. What was the last movie you saw?
I can't remember the last movie I saw in a theatre. But we watched Balls of Fury last night. Not my fav movie. The night before we watched Operation Dumbo Drop. Pretty good.


3. What song are you listening to a lot these days?
Hmmmm.... I guess technically it is John Denver's Annie's Song. I'm singing it at my sister's wedding next weekend, and I've been practicing b/c my voice has been really scratchy and messed up for like a month. I just hope I don't croak it out and ruin the ceremony.

Ok ciao for now my little conch shell lovlies!

Beach Mama's Craft Corner!

Here it is, the very first video craft!



Sorry I've been MIA for so long! I promise not to neglect you any more!

More soon!
xo
Beach Mama

No Thrift Store Thursday...

Well, we, the Groovy Family, shot our wad at the local fair last weekend, so there is no shopping today... But I can show you something that I got last week.

But, first things first!
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FABRIC PUMPKIN!!!

You will need:

1. Fabric (any type will do - but not felt)
2. Embroidery Needle
3. Sheers
4. Pen
5. Embroidery Floss
6. Batting/ Stuffing
7. Felt
8. Something round (Plate, bowl, etc...)

Place your round object on your fabric
Trace & Cut

Thread your needle with a long length of embroidery floss.
Fold over the raw edge of your circle &
sew and running stitch all the way around your fabric circle edge.

Pull the thread ends together slightly to gather the circle edges up forming a bowl.

Stuff with batting. Use more for a firmer pumpkin, less for a squishy pillow.

Pull the threads taut & tie closed securing with a double knot.

Thread your needle with a REALLY LONG length of embroidery floss (at least 3 feet)
Knot the end of your floss and thread needle through puckered opening.
Push all the way through pumpkin to the center bottom.
Pull thread all they way through.
Pull thread around pumpkin, over the top and back around to the bottom.

Push needle through bottom to top opening.

Keep feeding needle from bottom to top creating the pumpkin segments.

You will make 8 segments in your pumpkin.

Pull thread through top opening and tie off thread by securing to fabric edge and knotting off.

Cut a piece of felt large enough to fully cover puckered opening.

Stitch felt piece to top of pumpkin.
The felt should be larger than the puckered opening
and when secured, felt to the fabric,
you will want to have loose "extra" felt in the middle for the stem.

Knot off your thread but don't cut it yet.
Instead, thread needle under felt towards middle of felt top.

Feed needle through middle of felt pulling the extra loose felt up.
You will need to repeat this about 5-6 times to get a nice little stem.

Knot thread and cut near needle.
Knot loose thread ends together to make a loop for hanging

ISN'T IT TOO CUTE!

I told you you'd love it!

Now get to work making more super cute pumpkins!

But before you go - let me show you my prize find from last week's thrift store run!

Vintage glass ornaments! Woo-hoo!

'tis the season at the thrift stores!!!

Ciao for now!