Moogly CAL #5

Finally Finished #5, I was not happy with the pattern, too much counting and skipping so I modified it. I think I made it too big, I hope not. If so I will find another alternate to make to replace this.

I really have been wanting to go back to my old crafts. Beaded flowers, Trees and Polymer clay eggs.... Oh how I miss those.
Right now with life as it is I have no where to live that is truly ,my own and I am moving again. The wrinkled old gnome I live with has told me I have to move. No reason other then he wants a change, but I personally think it has to do with hos cancer coming back AND HIS OCD... OMG I never want to live with someone who has OCD issues like this. To the point he will scurry out of his room like a lil mouse to straighteb out whatever after I leave the kitchen,  First it was the dish detergent and now it is the sponge, and Oh the hand soap bottle in the bathroom...SMDH!

Moogly CAL #4

I just finished Moogly"s CAL block #4. Called a Cathedral  Window. I liked this Pattern. It whipped up nicely. I started with a lil hot pink, then white and then Mauve ( or Dusty Rose).

The Original Pattern can be found Here: Cre8tion crochet

Food blog is up

Finally got the Food Blog up....

http://feedmeeeedamnit.blogspot.com/

Moogly CAL #3

Finished Block #3 in the Moogly CAL.

I'm a Foodie Too

My Crafting is extended to the kitchen. I used to love baking good foods and did a lot for the school when I was volunteering before my daughter graduated. Now that I eat healthy I love to try New recipes.

My current eating plan is 6 week body makeover ( 6WBM). But I am not Perfectly on plan.  I was keto eating but fell into a bad stall and decided if it aint broke don't fix it, so I went back to this plan which I had success on many yrs ago. However I am finding it hard to give up certain things like my Bulletproof Coffee (BPC) which contains coconut oil and a tbs of butter as well as coffee flavored SF syrup ( I like Torani SF Smores and white chocolate and caramel). I whip up some Bustello Expresso ( during the day, decaf at night) in a blender with said ingredients and some stevia blend sweetner and I make a Latte. Sooooo Good.

 I really want a food blog. I have the name picked out but it is not available on blogger so I want to get a stand alone blog, but I need to find the money to pay for the domain name. I know it aint much but I don't have extra for luxuries.
In the meantime, until I create that blog, I will share here what I am doing.

Last night I made some guilt free chicken wings. They look dreadful but tasted pretty good. I put a lil too much cayenne in and ending up needing to use the Mexican Crema ( Like a sour cream) to cool things off.

Then I made some homemade spanish Rice which turned out really really good.

I have to add that Michael Thurmond The creator of this plan  Died in a car accident a few yrs ago. Provida the company who published his plan took the forums down as well as the recipes and have replaced it with the food lovers eating plan.
I managed to snag a bunch of recipes before they were gone forever. This is not My recipe and hold no ownership to it .

Guilt Free Buffalo Wings

• 1 lb skinless chicken wings
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 375º F.  Put wings in shallow baking pan, pour vinegar over wings, sprinkle seasoning mixture over wings, turn to coat both sides. Roast for 45 -50 minutes. These are so good! 

Compatible with Body Type:

Breakfast A-B-C-D-E

Morning Snack A-B-C-D-E

Lunch A-B-C-D-E

Afternoon Snack  A-B-C-D-E

Dinner A-B-C-D-E

PM Snack  A-D-E

KCs Spanish Rice

This IS MY own recipe.

• 2 Tabspn Olive Oil
• 2 cups cooked brown rice ( one cup dry is 2 cups cooked)
• 1 Jalapeno desEeded , diced
• 1/2 yellow and orange peppers , diced ( You can use whatever color you have on hand)
• 1/4 xtra large onion diced ( I wanted to add more but this was all I had)
• 1 4oz can NSA tomato sauce
• 1 12 oz can NSA petite diced tomatoes
• S&P, cayenne, onion and garlic powder

Put oil in hot pan quickly saute onion and peppers, add rice, stir fry quickly, added tomatoes and sauce, heat, add spices to taste.

SALT is not allowed on this plan but I don't do bland very well. I usually use a salt sub ( No-Salt). Since I used a NSA ( No salt added) tomato product I thought a lil salt would be OK.

I have  enough food for the next few days so i dont have to worry about cooking. Its the end of the month and I am just about out of everything. So not having to worry about dinners for the  next 5 days or so is a good thing.

NICU Blankies

I over the passed 3 months in an attempt to use up some stash pastel and baby yarns made some afghans and booties and caps.  My SIL ( EX) had a baby girl last Febuary , baby Olivia wasn't due until June, she was a Micro Preemie just over a pound. My SIL also works as a Nurse in a NICU in NYS.

This is for Miss Olivia. I nice soft carriage blanket done in pink and white shells.

After I finally finished the blanket I was working on for Olivia I decided to make a bunch of things for the NICU . Today I was weaving in ends of the afghans. I am about to start o n the booties and caps as well and get everything all packaged up to mail up North.

I found a few of my patterns on Bevs Country Cottage. She has tons of patterns in both newborn and preemie sized.

Moogly CAL #2

Just finished my second Block.  Much easier then the first.

FLORIDA!

     Since landing in the Armpit of Fla I haven't an apt. and just renting a room in someones house. This is the second one since leaving my kids place which I was at way too long. I thought for sure I would be able to get a place cheaper then in NY and normally if one is working a half decent job you can get one relatively cheap, but for someone on a fixed income ?   FORGETABOUTIT!  The homeless population down here is over flowing. They shut down the govt center in Volusia county because the homeless being forced from parks now have no where to go so they sleep outside the govt center.  Someone got their panties in a twist and said "Im scared of the homeless " and now the govt is in a panic. Maybe now they will do something to change the low income situation. Like build more affordable housing.  I am on several waiting lists here but the list are 3-5 yrs long. And housing for  55+ is even harder. These ppl don't leave unless by ambulance or coroner. ( don't blame them).

Anyway I live with this older guy who is living with cancer but has a major case of OCD!!! His OCD is giving me OCD.  First it was moving the soap off the sink and now it is moving the soap to the side and moving my fry pan which I keep on top of the fridge to the center of the fridge, to the point where he slams it If I leave it where I want it which is next to my magic bullet on the fridge!!!  I am no longer allowed to use the rack in the laundry room and he wants to remove my shower scrubbie ( Nylon poof) from the tub, to the point where We had words. STOP Touching my stuff.  Its bad enough I have to share the bathroom with this guy ( YUCK) but damn, I don't leave cosmetics in the bathroom, or hair stuff, or even a blow dryer , My shampoo and soap is removed and kept in the closet but I want my scrubbie in the tub and not the closet where the critters live!!!( UGH).

Speaking of Critters.....

I swear when GOD created critters he gave the ones south of the mason dixon line Steroids!  Palmettos are like giant cockroaches on steroids and the lil  *(((*(**RS  FLY!  I now sleep with a towel under the bedroom door to keep them out. And then SPIDERS! Not normal spiders , we are talking big black long legged creepy spiders!   Mosquito's here love me, I am a veritable smorgasbord. I have scars on my legs from all the bites. Then there is big ugly Locusts!!!!   Oh and the FLEAS! My poor animals are suffering.. I am constantly waging battle. It is Now a huge bucket of  Diatemaceous Earth , a natural spray made from cedar which is safe for my cat as well as the dog and those nasty pesticide spot treatments that I really hate using.... Yea it IS that bad.....

Did I tell you  I HATE FLORIDA?!!!

ANYWAY...........

I am in process of revamping this old dusty blog. Some of my side links are no longer active so I am slowly going thru them and deleting. I don't work with Polymer Clay but I still love it and would like to get back to it one day, so I will save any working links there.

I miss crafting.  I really would like to get back to beading and making Bonsai Trees.

For now however I have crocheting to keep me busy and I have dusted off this old blog for my writing.

My First Crochet Challenge

I am finally doing a  Crochet Along ( CAL) Moogly on Ravelry has their 2016 CAL up and running. I completed my first block called Flame Square GO HERE . The stitches drove me crazy at first since I am not good at BP stitches. I can do FP no problem. Now however I can do BP in my sleep.

Self Discovery

Well I had  Date  Wednesday  night.  He was not my type physically  but we spent hours on the phone. I was sure  we could  have made a go of it.  I also discovered  I am not ready for relationships or dating. 

I told  myself  that  2016 would  be my breakout  yr. ,but I have  work  to  do  on me. 
In addition  to getting  my  health  under  better  control  and my weight  I really  need  to figure out why I am just not Happy.  I am working on  rising  above  ppl and their  idiosyncrasies and bad attitudes. 
I have been  alone  13 yrs but I am not ready to take on another until I get where I  need to be.

Happy New Year 2016

Its been a few years. But I am gonna go back to my Love... Blogging. I have Officially Left FB ( Thank GOD) . It was my biggest distraction. A lot has changed in life since I have been here last. I moved to Fla ( I hate it) I live in the armpit of Fla.~ Clermont,~ just outside Orlando and b/c it is outside Orlando it is very expensive. I am renting a room in a house with a curmudgeonly old man. No more craft room or supplies but I do have my yarn and and Plarn. I have closed my etsy shop for the time being until I get my own place and go back to crafting. The family dynamic has changed as well. ( Not me but my kids) I wont go into too many details b/c of privacy reasons and also b/c I am trying to take on a more Positive attitude towards things... I am distancing myself from drama.

My Baby is almost 21 and now living with her BF in Tampa~ 2 hrs from me. I am still dealing with the empty nest thing.

Well I will be posting pics of some of the things I am making. A lot  of preemie things I plan to send to my Ex- sis in law who is a NICU nurse.

For now. Welcome Home ME.  :-P

LOL

Christmas is Almost Here *SIGH*

How sad is it that I want it over with? I get so stressed. I cry that I lost the magic of Christmas and I am trying so hard to remember it is not about trees, gifts and money but rather it is about Jesus coming back to give us life and forgiveness. But the world, esp. TV kills that. I was filled more with the spirit on Thanksgiving then now. I am frustrated by the lack of space I have to decorate. I have a little charlie brown tree with no decorations except a few cursory ornaments and the lights that the tree came with. I had a few strands of beads I thru up on it. My youngest didn't seem to be in the mood to decorate it either. *SIGH* Ya know I thought I was done with Christmas Depression a few yrs ago but it seems it is back.

Well I made this Ball Wreathe I found on Pinterest. I love it.
I just need to fix the ribbon. I cannot find my glue gun! It was brand new. *GRRR* I had to glue the ornaments shut with E-6000. Same with the ribbon. I tried to use it to hold the ribbon in place since it keeps slipping between the cracks (* balls*).

Here are the coasters I made, now in my shop.




I also made a few more earrings, I had a request to make some for a woman I volunteer with for her daughter. No Pics. I also Just finished another wrap bracelet. This one wraps 4 times, Nice.

Coupon Code for My Shop

I just created a coupon for my shop for now thru December 31. Enter code CHR11 at checkout and receive 10% off the purchase of any item.

Will have some more pictures soon. I created some coasters, and Feather earrings. I have also been playing with my Polymer clay. Something I have NOT done in a long time. Trying to make some pretty red and white beads for Christmas.

Someone wanna tell Santa I want/ NEED a new camera, PLZZZZZ. I will even take a point and shoot for less then 100.00 I just need a camera to take pics of my work. I really want a good one the 400.00 + dollar cameras. However I don't think I have a rich santa in my family so I will settle for a decent P&S.

Wrap Bracelet Done!

It is only a single bracelet technically NOT a wrap, but I wanted to learn the stitch and I ran short of the thread I was using. My Kiddo wants one for her ankle.. Go Figure. Now that I know how to do it I want to make a real wrap.

ANOTHER Pinterest Success!

More earrings. And Pet Peeves.

Before I go there I want to ask, Is there NOT a song that katy perry sings that has no Sexual Overtones? Was just in my daughters room and she had the radio on. There was a song playing and I knew the voice was familiar although I could not remember it. The beat was funky and I thought maybe I could like it. Then I started listening to lyrics...ACK! REALLY? Having sex with an alien or something like that. I inquired of my kiddo who the singer was and she said it was perry. I think every song I have ever heard of hers has something to do with sex. UGH

Ok Now that I have that off my chest I have another pet peeve.... CHRISTMAS Commercial and music on halloween / long before thanksgiving! JUST STOP IT, OK! Wally world has those commercials for xmas layaway, one of them featuring some perky and annoying blond woman singing, ring, ring ring, ring a ding ring me up! UGH I have dropped a few F*Bombs on her already. I am telling you by the time Christmas gets here I am like scrooge. It is getting earlier every year!

OK Onto the earrings. I made a few more the red and white ( clear) I made for me. the other 2 I made for Christine's consideration. I just need to put on the ear wires.

Addicted To Pinterest

I left FB and got Addicted to Pinterest...HAHA! So much for getting off the web! I have found some yummy recipes on there. I have a "I came I pinned I tried" Board. I spend so much time there and I am trying all the new things I see. I Learned the Bullion Stitch in crochet, and that blue braided necklace I recently posted I got from Pinterest as well.

I recently added this to my board of tries-- Oatmeal can TP Holder...Did you know one can of rolled oats holds 2 rolls of tp? Me either until I tried it. I wrapped it in scrapbook paper and put ribbon around the top and bottom....And it matches my ugly green bathroom ( happy accident, I didn't consider the color)


Here is another pair of earrings I made for Chris. Tomorrow I bring them all to skool to see which ones she likes. Tonight I do my final pricing...*SIGH* I have gone back and forth on the prices so many times My poly bags are full of blue scribbles...LOL



I also made a pair of blue drop earrings from the same color beads. 2 chains hung from a fishhook wire with the beads on the ends. Very simple but very pretty. I gave them to a friend for her birthday, I hope she likes them.

If you want to see what I am Pinning go to the Button @ Left <<<< and Follow Me.

How Do You Determine the price on your work?

So I have not done the wrap bracelets yet. Maybe tomorrow. I have , However been making earrings. I was asked to make some for one of the teachers at skool. Chris wanted earth tones, greens, browns, corals, and Blue. I am struggling with how much to charge. I was told I under appreciate myself and sell things to cheaply.

I browse all over the net. I check other peoples works, see whats trending, get inspired, etc and one thing I notice is alot of ppl seem to charge so much for handmade things. The idea of handmade is you can get better then mass produced, and you can usually, but some things are so over priced that I wonder if it is worth it to purchase things. I look at what I made from a consumers point of view. I ask myself what I would be willing to pay for this item.

The problem with that is, I undercut myself. I know how I made it , how difficult it was, etc I take the cost of supplies into account and try to find a compromise. Right now the cost of silver is high so I am not making pure silver, I basically make everyday ( what we used to call costume ) jewelry. I try to find highly polished anti tarnish findings & wires. I do love Swarovski Crystals. I try to buy nice quality beads. Glass over plastic

Here are some earrings and a necklace I made. What would YOU pay?

Polymer clay Beads.
Coral Gem chips
Swarovski Crystals Wire wrapped.

Dichroic Crosses

I LOVE these. Green Wire wrapped dangles. ( I didnt wrap them I bought them that way.) I just attached them to the chains.

Austrian Crystals





I love this necklace. It is beaded and braided. Attached to a heavy silver overlapping link chain ( I don't know what the proper name for it is but each link is made of 2 links that overlap)
I WILL be getting a Bead spinner ( a real one) next time I try this. I did the scoop method out of a bowl . It is made of 3 strands doubled for a total of 6. Talk about work. I restarted several times because I either Had the wrong size needle or thread etc...

I LOVE THESE! Each bead was wire wrapped by me. They are green fractured glass. Very Pretty.

These are MY Faves! If she doesn't want them I will wear them. And if she does I might make another pair for MEEEEE. :-)

Retail Therapy

I been feeling down. I decided some retail therapy might work ( Of course I dont have happy cash, I have to borrow from peter to pay paul). I have been seeing how to's everywhere for those chan luu wrap bracelets. I wanted to make one. ( Remember I volunteer at skool so wearing my own creation is advertisements CHA CHING). Michaels is having a 60% off sale on beads. I go and get some pretty pearls. I already have the suede cording. I gather up my supplies and pull up a video. WAIT I need a beading needle. I have several packages, the problem is............I CAN'T find any!!!!!!!!!!

I re-organized and I remember gathering them up so they were all in one place. I CAN'T remember where! GRRRRRRRRRR.

Hobby Lobby Just had their grand opening Monday. I am NOT impressed. They are a huge store and have a lot of "Home Goods"/ "Christmas Tree Shop" home decor stuff. Their jewelry dept is 2 half aisles. I was disappointed. Michaels has a huge jewelry/ beading dept. I love that H.L. carries a lot of different things but I was so hoping they would be cheaper then AC Moore or Michaels and have things they don't but so far, NO! Oh well Maybe it is for the better since they are within walking distance I might be there more often ( Like I can really afford that).

SO Now tomorrow I am going to have to go back to H.L. to get some more beading needles...Grrrrr.

SNOW! PINTEREST! And other things!

So it really snowed. Not sure of "our" totals. One part of my county got 8 inches, and another got 12. I'm not sure of us but I can say it was a really wet and heavy snow. Tree limbs down, some areas without lights ( not us thankfully). I was sitting this morning listening to the snow fall from the trees and wires . Love that sound. It was really pretty as the sun came up and glistened off the pond.

Some pics of the carnage..... Click on each to enlarge.







Say Cheese Louis!







I spent a lot of time yesterday ( and today) on Pinterest, which is like the new FB for me..SO Addicting. I do a lot of my crafterbating there.

One idea I seen was offsetting the cost of wreaths. I have to say, " WHEN THE HECK DID FOAM GET SO EXPENSIVE?" I went to AC Moore and the price of styrofoam cones and wreath forms were outrageous! I saw this on a blog linked to pinterest today. Getting foam from Home Depot or Lowes for 97 cents ( not sure if it is that cheap now) But it still must be cheaper then the craft store.

I also seen where you can do the same with a pool noodle from the dollar store.I will be so there this summer.

For Dinner today: YUMM-O!

Sweet Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin {Slow Cooker}