Just a few things Friday

I have a very good friend whom I love very much.  The only thing that drives me nuts about her is that she has a birthday in December. So, every year I rack my brains for a cool birthday gift AND then a cool Christmas gift.  But, 2 years ago she went and had a little bundle of joy (whom I also love very much).  This bundle of joy came... can you guess when?  Yes, in December! 

Poor December babies.  Their birthdays come during the busiest time of the year.

With that said and done I hope you enjoy some of these web goodies I've been eyeing as gifts. Thank goodness my friend doesn't read my blog!

Jane Austen Tarot cards.  How cool are these?!

Jane Austen bandages

Jane Austen puzzle book.  Can you tell I like themed gifts?

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na.  The illustrations are the sweetest.

Handmade knitted owl hat.  You can get the pattern at Knit Culture.

These cute boot slippers at Amazon.  They are only $7.56 right now!

And, this old school Pearl Jam jam because it reminds me of my friend and driving around town on a Friday night screaming this song and feeling very much alive.

Just a few things Friday

... my response to this article about stay-at-home-moms was "YES!!"

... you must acquaint yourself with Hazel and Gus.  They are two fictional characters I would love to meet.  Read The Fault in Our Stars now!

... this is currently on netflix.  

... this song replaces gangham style and you're welcome

Just a few things keeping me going this winter

Every winter my hands become super dry and ONLY this bee bar has saved me from "human sandpaper syndrome". I was introduced to it years ago by my best friend it's my go-to lotion when regular lotion won't work. It's natural healing powers are amazing! I always get the vanilla scent because it smells so pretty.

Honey House Naturals Bee Bar



This Feng Shui CD has lulled me to sleep many a night. It is peaceful and soothing. I toss it in the CD player for that spa-like feeling when I indulge in hot bath. The combination of music flows and it is perfect background music when you take a trip to that "happy place" inside yourself.

Have you heard of Smash yet? It's a line of scrapbook products. I love the design and the fun-ness. I went a little cuckoo and bought a bunch of their stickies, tape, pens and bookmarks. My particular favorite is the Glue Pen that has a pen and glue (duh!). I don't know why it appeals to me, but when I'm paper crafting I always need glue and a pen and this tool makes it handy. I have yet to purchase a Smash Folio which is their journal/scrapbook (right now I have too many of my own), but I am getting one for my daughter for her birthday.

Christmas in July?

The kids were silly this afternoon. They decided it would be fun to celebrate Christmas. They pretended they were the parents of a family of stuffed animal children. They also gathered a bunch of their own toys and pretended to unwrap each one all the while commenting on how shiny or cute or cool each thing was. They even blasted some Christmas tunes. So, Christmas in July? I guess anything is possible with a little imagination.

And if you could have Christmas in July why wouldn't you be able to throw in a little Halloween too? A few days ago I ventured into Home Goods with my parents and the kids. This store always has the cutest stuff for your home. As we walked in my mom and I were surprised to see a whole display devoted to Halloween stuff. Can you believe that?! Every year the holidays creep up on us before we even start thinking about them. Apparently, some marketing genius had Halloween on the brain. And, GoshDarnIt, that marketing worked. I ended up walking out of the store with this little jack-o-lantern in the box:


and this funkadelic family portrait wreath:



It seems I have money to burn. Shhh, don't tell the hubby. I don't think he's had time to read the blog yet. Happy Chrismoweenummer!

Green Clean

This year I decided to start cleaning more naturally. It just seems right for me, my family and my house. Plus, I'm a little less lazy and a little more organized which has helped motivate me to get into action. I found these nifty household cleaners recipes over at Women and Environment. Women and Environment is a wonderful site that helps makes us aware of "the connection between human health and the health of the environment."

So, I gathered my supplies and made some non-toxic household cleaners. I made these sweet little labels too.
Here's what I used to make the All-Purpose Cleaner (recipe found via Women and Environment):
2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
20-30 or more drops of essential oil (I used Lemon Grass)

Try it out! I think it worked as well as some store bought brands. Plus, you can't beat the fact that you can customize your own scent.

And while we are on the subject of "green" you'll have to check out Ecobunga! It's a pretty awesome site that gives you links to giveaways and coupons for "green" products. Happy "green"ing!

Where is it when I need it?

Print from Papayalicious

Summer TV Blows

As much as I love summer, summer TV sucks the big one. The only thing I am currently enjoying is Last Comic Standing. It's still pretty early in the comics race, but my hopes stand with Heath Hyche. I nearly busted a gut with his audition routine. It's too hard to describe but it involved a football suit and a dummy. Good times were had in my little world of geekdom.

The one show I keep twirling my thumbs for is the lovely, creative, smart, quirky, easy on the eyes, Pushing Daisies. Where, oh where, has my Pushing Daisies gone? Thanks to the friggin' writer's strike it's been too long since I've seen Chuck and Ned.


Gad, how I miss that show. The latest rumor is that they will return and I hope it's true. For now I bide my TV time with Spongebob (always a pleaser), The Mighty B (weird and strange but I'm oddly drawn to it) and Last Comic Standing (go Heath!). Any summer TV suggestions?

Wouldn't it be nice

Long before the hubby and I were married and long before we starting adding kids to our family mixture I had this very vivid and specific image of myself as "Mom". This image had me riding around in a VW Westfalia(pop top) with the kids in the back and be-bopping to some kid tune blaring on the radio. We'd go camping on the beach and make s'mores by the campfire. When we looked around for a new "family" car last year I immediately wanted a Westfalia, but we came up empty-handed since the hubby wasn't ready to buy used. What would of been so wrong with something like this:



Okay. I guess getting a used European car could have been a bad idea. I know it's expensive to get them repaired. So after much thought and letting go, we decided on a Honda Odyssey which is a very cool family vehicle and, hey, their commercials are pretty funky too.

I do have to admit that every now and then I cruise the internet for Westfalia pics just to get my fill. Plus, as much as I love our Odyssey I'm still always on the lookout for VW's newest version of a beloved oldie. Well, to my absolute surprise and delight I stumbled upon Alexandre Verdier's most awesome concept idea for the Westfalia. I was beyond stoked. Feast your eyes on this bad boy:



And he's a hybrid and hydraulic and has solar panels! How cool is that??! I could do without the wood grain exterior, but what a beauty nonetheless. Now, all I have to do is come up with $60K(asking price). A girl can dream, can't she?

A Fairy Good Day

And as the seasons come and go, here's something you might like to know.
There are fairies everywhere: under bushes, in the air,
Playing games just like you play, singing through their busy day.
So listen, touch, and look around - in the air and on the ground.
And if you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wing.

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that fairies are among us even if we don't see them day to day. And as I've gotten older it seems I have to look a little extra harder for them. But, what if you were given the opportunity to have them visit you often? What if you gave them a dwelling where they could feel safe and free enough to roam? Well, we hope to be able to do that with our very own Fairy Houses. I found the cutest little Fairy House Kit at My Paradise Cottage.


The Fairy House (image from My Paradise Cottage)

The houses shipped today and I can't begin to describe my excitement. The kids won't be as excited until the kits are sitting right in front of them. My Paradise Cottage also has some tips on attracting fairies to your garden by giving you examples of favorite fairy flowers like lovely lavender. Take a looksie today. Your inner child will thank you.

May + Movies = Good Times

Things I'm super excited about right now, this minute, this second:

1.Speed Racer

I am expecting so much from this movie that I hope it doesn't let me down. The colors... the graphics... the music... they all seem awesome.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The last Chronicles movie was so good that I can't help but think this one will be just as good. I need another magical journey.

3. Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

It's Indy. Can't go wrong with Indy.