a sheer metric ton of cute 1" vegan buttons (see picture there are way more styles than that but you'll just have to come see for yourself! when we open!) came this week by teeny tiny tantrums. i spaced on making buttons for the shop to giveaway but that's next on my ever growing list of things to do/buy/pick-up. some very cute coffee cozies and aprons came via flapper girl and also some awesome recycled tee shirt crocheted scrubbies that are hands down the best i have ever seen.
in the home front, we went to the fair on thursday and are going one more time just the mr. and me before it closes so we can go on the rides lyric was too chicken to go on as my ride buddy lol. the girls had a blast and we ate way too much greasy food. yay! shawn and i saw inception earlier in the week {one of the best movies of modern history! i can't say enough great things about it, so go see if for yourself to find out what all the buzz is about}.
today we are making vegan tamales and enchiladas. shawn and i were a well-oiled kitchen machine busting out both items in record time. whoever says tamales are too much work needs a punch in the throat. they are SO worth it, and come on...it's not that much work sheesh! it's called "cooking" lol. {slow food movement--- pbbbbbltttttt someone just made that up and is trying to sell a book and make a mint!}
happy saturday and i will blog about the tamales tomorrow, letting you know how they turned out. {i can tell you right now...delicious!}
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
*never a dumb question*
here, in q&a format are a few questions asked recently in real life and via the internet about what the hell we are doing. :)
{for those just tuning in shawn and me are going to open an all vegan shop above sugar plum vegan cafe in midtown sacramento. the name is never felt better {vegan shop}. the website will be redirected to a new url and is getting a spruce job to reflect the new direction . i am really excited and distracted so i am going to try extra hard to keep blogging through the process! it ought to be fun!}
Q: you are going to have a store with all your handmade stuff in it?
A: no, my personal line of accessories will be available {i still gotta craft, yo!}, but i am so lucky to know so many talented people filling a store up with cruelty free and cute as hell stuff won't be too hard. not only will we carry handmade one of a kind goods for men and women, we will also do some vegan grocery staples, cookbooks and other household things that every self-respecting vegan should have ;p
Q: do you buy from only vegans?
A: i wish, but of course not silly. some are, some aren't. some of my good friends are omni's. and most of the crafters and artists are personal friends of mine so if i could turn out just one of them who isn't already i would consider that a personal triumph. HINT HINT HINT, personal friends!
Q: you called yourself the "vegan gift shop". are you kidding me?
A: no. i kid you not. i predict when you are done snarfing up some sugar plum vegan food you will come up the stairs and buy yourself a commemorative herbivore clothing company tee shirt, lollibomb "me so honey" vegan massage oil and a bag of eco-planet cheezy crackers because that's how you roll.
Q: what will i find in your store, really?
A: awesomeness. pure awesomeness. but keep in mind that the awesomeness you will find at my shop will be devoid of animal cruelty and suffering making it awesomeX10. so, vegan women's and mens clothing, accessories like buttons, belts and hair stuff, animal and AR related jewelry, animal companion accessories and v-dog food. bath and body stuff such as soaps, lotions and fragrance, vegan cookbooks-books-zines, paper goods and grocery and snaky items.
Q: will vegetarians be welcome?
A: everyone is welcome. especially veggies! although they will have to sign an enforceable promissory note to fully convert to veganism or they can only look through the window. LOL JUST KIDDIN'. {or am i? mwahahahahaha} putting all seriousness aside, these items are 100% vegan and 100% suitable for EVERYONE.
Q: i thought you were going to change your name?
A: i thought so, too. i think we are going to keep the other name we were tossing around for shawn's sustainable vegan skateboard company LOL. {our next business venture!}
Q: you have been saying you were going to get the vegan cookzine done for the past two years. what's the hold up?
A: life, laziness, shawn going gluten free and us having to redo some of our family classics. but don't think we have forgotten it, and it will come out in print soon. oh yes, it will be. no excuses...
Q: what's the new website info?
A: that is TBA. check back for more info, and like i said i will be photo documenting our process of before and after to the shop and sneak peak merchandise here on this blog. check back for more info soon.
so, that concludes the question and answer portion of the blog. :) i am certain i forgot some important information, but for a gal who is writing through a class 3 migraine i think got what i need out.
happy tuesday!
{for those just tuning in shawn and me are going to open an all vegan shop above sugar plum vegan cafe in midtown sacramento. the name is never felt better {vegan shop}. the website will be redirected to a new url and is getting a spruce job to reflect the new direction . i am really excited and distracted so i am going to try extra hard to keep blogging through the process! it ought to be fun!}
Q: you are going to have a store with all your handmade stuff in it?
A: no, my personal line of accessories will be available {i still gotta craft, yo!}, but i am so lucky to know so many talented people filling a store up with cruelty free and cute as hell stuff won't be too hard. not only will we carry handmade one of a kind goods for men and women, we will also do some vegan grocery staples, cookbooks and other household things that every self-respecting vegan should have ;p
Q: do you buy from only vegans?
A: i wish, but of course not silly. some are, some aren't. some of my good friends are omni's. and most of the crafters and artists are personal friends of mine so if i could turn out just one of them who isn't already i would consider that a personal triumph. HINT HINT HINT, personal friends!
Q: you called yourself the "vegan gift shop". are you kidding me?
A: no. i kid you not. i predict when you are done snarfing up some sugar plum vegan food you will come up the stairs and buy yourself a commemorative herbivore clothing company tee shirt, lollibomb "me so honey" vegan massage oil and a bag of eco-planet cheezy crackers because that's how you roll.
Q: what will i find in your store, really?
A: awesomeness. pure awesomeness. but keep in mind that the awesomeness you will find at my shop will be devoid of animal cruelty and suffering making it awesomeX10. so, vegan women's and mens clothing, accessories like buttons, belts and hair stuff, animal and AR related jewelry, animal companion accessories and v-dog food. bath and body stuff such as soaps, lotions and fragrance, vegan cookbooks-books-zines, paper goods and grocery and snaky items.
Q: will vegetarians be welcome?
A: everyone is welcome. especially veggies! although they will have to sign an enforceable promissory note to fully convert to veganism or they can only look through the window. LOL JUST KIDDIN'. {or am i? mwahahahahaha} putting all seriousness aside, these items are 100% vegan and 100% suitable for EVERYONE.
Q: i thought you were going to change your name?
A: i thought so, too. i think we are going to keep the other name we were tossing around for shawn's sustainable vegan skateboard company LOL. {our next business venture!}
Q: you have been saying you were going to get the vegan cookzine done for the past two years. what's the hold up?
A: life, laziness, shawn going gluten free and us having to redo some of our family classics. but don't think we have forgotten it, and it will come out in print soon. oh yes, it will be. no excuses...
Q: what's the new website info?
A: that is TBA. check back for more info, and like i said i will be photo documenting our process of before and after to the shop and sneak peak merchandise here on this blog. check back for more info soon.
so, that concludes the question and answer portion of the blog. :) i am certain i forgot some important information, but for a gal who is writing through a class 3 migraine i think got what i need out.
happy tuesday!
Monday, July 19, 2010
*lost weekend, found workweek*
this lost weekend (some me time with my sister exploring n. california back roads, casinos and the yuba river, pictured above) gave way to a BUSY found work week. this is the week of the three bigger distribution entities needed to get some of the grocery, vegan dog food and cook books in the store. the v-dog people are local: a sacramento company which sells all over the US--and our three dogs are thriving on it. awesome stuff...pick a bag up with me when you stop by the store.
oh! and orders have started rolling in, like amazing vinyl bags and wallets on saturday, and another today of herbivore clothing co tee shirts, with two email confirmations others were on the way! i have a running vendor list that makes me very excited, i am hoping everyone else gets excited too lol! over the next couple weeks of painting and feathering my retail nest, as it were, and the more orders that come in i will be doing previews of what to expect from never felt better {vegan shop}. there is still really so much to get done in a relatively short amount of time but i have shawn, more help from friends that i know what to do with, and a vision so i feel half-way there in my mind :) but for right now it is in a corner of my living room until the space is ready.
oh! and orders have started rolling in, like amazing vinyl bags and wallets on saturday, and another today of herbivore clothing co tee shirts, with two email confirmations others were on the way! i have a running vendor list that makes me very excited, i am hoping everyone else gets excited too lol! over the next couple weeks of painting and feathering my retail nest, as it were, and the more orders that come in i will be doing previews of what to expect from never felt better {vegan shop}. there is still really so much to get done in a relatively short amount of time but i have shawn, more help from friends that i know what to do with, and a vision so i feel half-way there in my mind :) but for right now it is in a corner of my living room until the space is ready.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
*sweet holy cucumber*
{warning this is the post in which i drone on and on about a cucumber.}
today is double digits, and i kind of spaced on the garden thinking the soaking last night would last. {it didn't i had wilty everything...tsk tsk tsk on me.} when usually the cucumber leaves are like huge umbrellas and i have to hunt for the cuc's which is part of the fun, some extra wilty leaves led this *thing* to catch my eye. tucked among the vines of the watermelon plants, it's gotta be the biggest cucumber i have ever seen, and i thought the others harvested were big ones already!
man, i should have known and entered this bad boy in our fair--i think i would have a ribbon winner on my hands--literally.
enjoy my cucumber freakazoid. i know i am TOTALLY tickled pink over the mere sight...but i think i am 75% 12 yr. old boy. ha!
{you were warned about the prattling about a cucumber, so i don't wanna hear it!}
in NFB news, i am totally stoked to have a GANG of herbivore tee shirts en route. also, there will be held vegan belts, lollibomb bath and body, bread and badger {etched with vegan logos} pint glasses, and so so so much more. it's crazy! CRAZY i tell you! that was just a sneaky peek. {there will be many, many more of those...that i can promise.}
happy thursday and i hope you have some crazy weekend plans that will make me jealous as all hell. enjoy :)
today is double digits, and i kind of spaced on the garden thinking the soaking last night would last. {it didn't i had wilty everything...tsk tsk tsk on me.} when usually the cucumber leaves are like huge umbrellas and i have to hunt for the cuc's which is part of the fun, some extra wilty leaves led this *thing* to catch my eye. tucked among the vines of the watermelon plants, it's gotta be the biggest cucumber i have ever seen, and i thought the others harvested were big ones already!
man, i should have known and entered this bad boy in our fair--i think i would have a ribbon winner on my hands--literally.
enjoy my cucumber freakazoid. i know i am TOTALLY tickled pink over the mere sight...but i think i am 75% 12 yr. old boy. ha!
{you were warned about the prattling about a cucumber, so i don't wanna hear it!}
in NFB news, i am totally stoked to have a GANG of herbivore tee shirts en route. also, there will be held vegan belts, lollibomb bath and body, bread and badger {etched with vegan logos} pint glasses, and so so so much more. it's crazy! CRAZY i tell you! that was just a sneaky peek. {there will be many, many more of those...that i can promise.}
happy thursday and i hope you have some crazy weekend plans that will make me jealous as all hell. enjoy :)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
*garden fresh quinoa pilaf*
in urban gardening news: today we had a cornucopia of harvesting goodness! we got chard, squash, yellow cherry tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. shawn was craving quinoa so he made a quick pilaf using everything but the cucumber in it, with an addition of garbanzos, garlic and onion. i feel like a million bucks eating such rich, colorful and nutritious vegan food. it was like a bowl of vitamins! {this is a perfect warm or cold weather meal as it can be served fresh off the stove, or chilled. it's delicious in any form!}
in never felt better {vegan shop} news: for the past two days i have focused on following up on emails, placing orders and taking care of invoices. our printer is on the fritz and i need to print and fax two of the bigger distribution companies {like for the food and books}. so, if we get a replacement printer so it can be done by weeks end. {some stuff has even shipped already (!!!) and i am freaking out and can't wait to have them in my hot little hands.}
so happy tuesday, all...hope your week is shaping up good {and busy}!
in never felt better {vegan shop} news: for the past two days i have focused on following up on emails, placing orders and taking care of invoices. our printer is on the fritz and i need to print and fax two of the bigger distribution companies {like for the food and books}. so, if we get a replacement printer so it can be done by weeks end. {some stuff has even shipped already (!!!) and i am freaking out and can't wait to have them in my hot little hands.}
so happy tuesday, all...hope your week is shaping up good {and busy}!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
*mental health day*
i am so ditching vending at 2nd saturday so i can experience some 2nd saturday with the family. it's all good--i called in and everything and some lucky bastard on the waiting list is going to have their day made. it's a win-win situation in my book. {i do what i can...}
along with sleeping in, so far this day has consisted of flax pancakes, fresh flowers, farmers market produce, fresh-from-my-own-garden produce, vegan tamales, swimming and family time. {i can't really complain. it's my kind of mental health day.}
behind the scenes it's trying to decide on two colors that will compliment the rooms, the dark wood floors and brightening factors of the new space. this takes more time than i thought. {actually that is a lie, i know exactly how long it takes. i can't make up my mind on the two rooms that need painting here at our house, never getting past the staring at paint chips stage. but, since painting the new spot is mandatory i think i will coordinate the two with the leftover paint from the shop IN the house as well and cut two carrots with one knife. GENIUS.} so far i have narrowed it down to a couple, three combos. plus i need an accent color or two for other things that need to be painted, like shelves. somehow i have to spruce up a standing vintage brass spinner that would perfect for the vegan held belts i am going to carry. i can't decide to paint or bring back the brass color, it's pretty rusted. {oh, if all my decisions were this hard: do i PAINT the display spinner or leave it natural? haha}
i can't wait to start previewing what's to come! the few things i have bought for the shop are nothing less than AWESOME and i feel like things are coming together, which is welcome. {this is really happening!}
happy saturday! i hope you are having your own version of a mental health day, whatever that may be. {peace}
along with sleeping in, so far this day has consisted of flax pancakes, fresh flowers, farmers market produce, fresh-from-my-own-garden produce, vegan tamales, swimming and family time. {i can't really complain. it's my kind of mental health day.}
behind the scenes it's trying to decide on two colors that will compliment the rooms, the dark wood floors and brightening factors of the new space. this takes more time than i thought. {actually that is a lie, i know exactly how long it takes. i can't make up my mind on the two rooms that need painting here at our house, never getting past the staring at paint chips stage. but, since painting the new spot is mandatory i think i will coordinate the two with the leftover paint from the shop IN the house as well and cut two carrots with one knife. GENIUS.} so far i have narrowed it down to a couple, three combos. plus i need an accent color or two for other things that need to be painted, like shelves. somehow i have to spruce up a standing vintage brass spinner that would perfect for the vegan held belts i am going to carry. i can't decide to paint or bring back the brass color, it's pretty rusted. {oh, if all my decisions were this hard: do i PAINT the display spinner or leave it natural? haha}
i can't wait to start previewing what's to come! the few things i have bought for the shop are nothing less than AWESOME and i feel like things are coming together, which is welcome. {this is really happening!}
happy saturday! i hope you are having your own version of a mental health day, whatever that may be. {peace}
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
*vegan food is love*
they say compassion begins on your plate, and they would be correct. but i will say the passion and love that got someone to go get the ingredients needed for what another someone is craving, come home and make & serve it to said craving person....well....that is really special.
yesterday it was biscuits and gravy. after hearing me grumble about not having the things to make what i was craving, the mr. ran down to the coop and grabbed some ingredients. then shawn quietly whipped up some daiya cheesy biscuits and a delicious tempeh gravy with a side of mixed greens. gimme a heavy plate of home-made down-home grub any day over anything. my breakfast turned into a delicious brunch and afternoon snack, too :)
now if i can get melissa to offer biscuits and gravy as a staple on her menu i would truly be in vegan heaven when we open in the fall. crisp mornings with a heapin' bowl of B-n-G is totally what i am talking about. {working above a vegan cafe will have it's total advantages. there is nothing worse than working out where there is NO FOOD. all i will have to do is sashay downstairs for vegan-goodness and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. should i pinch myself? am i dreaming? lol}
speaking of never felt better, i have made my first orders for stock! sneaky peaks coming later on...really cute stuff for sure. it's a lot of work, kinda like a full time job LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL i crack me up. everyone has been so nice, and positive for us. that is what matters, at the end of the day. i also am working on a website revamp from the same gals over at aeolidia. if i can pull off the cost, it will be a very, VERY nice upgrade. {i am in the wrong business...web design is crazy expensive!}
happy weds and i hope you are working toward some of your goals today too. it's supposed to be a cooler day, only lower 90's at best so right there it's working out for me big time. {my sympathies to my east coast friends...this heat wave is no laughing matter. and imagine wearing a fur coat during it all! don't forget about the animals, too. everyone hydrate!}
yesterday it was biscuits and gravy. after hearing me grumble about not having the things to make what i was craving, the mr. ran down to the coop and grabbed some ingredients. then shawn quietly whipped up some daiya cheesy biscuits and a delicious tempeh gravy with a side of mixed greens. gimme a heavy plate of home-made down-home grub any day over anything. my breakfast turned into a delicious brunch and afternoon snack, too :)
now if i can get melissa to offer biscuits and gravy as a staple on her menu i would truly be in vegan heaven when we open in the fall. crisp mornings with a heapin' bowl of B-n-G is totally what i am talking about. {working above a vegan cafe will have it's total advantages. there is nothing worse than working out where there is NO FOOD. all i will have to do is sashay downstairs for vegan-goodness and coffee. lots and lots of coffee. should i pinch myself? am i dreaming? lol}
speaking of never felt better, i have made my first orders for stock! sneaky peaks coming later on...really cute stuff for sure. it's a lot of work, kinda like a full time job LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL i crack me up. everyone has been so nice, and positive for us. that is what matters, at the end of the day. i also am working on a website revamp from the same gals over at aeolidia. if i can pull off the cost, it will be a very, VERY nice upgrade. {i am in the wrong business...web design is crazy expensive!}
happy weds and i hope you are working toward some of your goals today too. it's supposed to be a cooler day, only lower 90's at best so right there it's working out for me big time. {my sympathies to my east coast friends...this heat wave is no laughing matter. and imagine wearing a fur coat during it all! don't forget about the animals, too. everyone hydrate!}
Monday, July 05, 2010
*happy 4th!*
it's the same every year: i am a 4th of july hater until later in the afternoon when the grill gets fired up, and then i cave and go get a few key fireworks for the girls. who can resist some sparklers and some fountains, hmmmm? i guess it's like that for most holidays and me, i disassociate the meaning of the holiday with all the bells and whistles and get sucked in. {who doesn't like lighting shit on fire and watching it blow up and burn?}
yesterday, shawn went on a mini-skate tour of northern california with some friends and the girls and i cleaned up and swam leisurely all day until he got back. {he can't swim he just got a new tattoo, which i love btw.}
i had some time to clear out my head and when i did my dream team vendor list grew by a few names. i mentally flipped through the pantone catalog and picked out some colors for the walls and featured where the furniture and fixtures are going to go. if you can visualize it, you can do it, right? :) we did some business scoping on saturday night: ducked out to check out the non-2nd saturday night scene at the cafe and there was quite bit of foot traffic, happily. the golden bear was bumping before 10 and rick's desert diner {for the over 50 set, apparently. for as long as i have lived in sacramento i have never known a soul who ate there. unless you needed a place to take your out of town elderly gramma or something...} was busy, which is a good sign. i saw groups of touristy folks leave there, cross the street and look intrigued by the cozy outside and warm glow of the fairy lights of sugar plum vegan cafe...maybe we can turn some ricks-folks out to veganism with some good ol' fashioned outreach. people don't know what they are eating, you know? :) information is power! cruelty is not delicious, creamy or sweet. ahimsa IS.
happy monday!
yesterday, shawn went on a mini-skate tour of northern california with some friends and the girls and i cleaned up and swam leisurely all day until he got back. {he can't swim he just got a new tattoo, which i love btw.}
i had some time to clear out my head and when i did my dream team vendor list grew by a few names. i mentally flipped through the pantone catalog and picked out some colors for the walls and featured where the furniture and fixtures are going to go. if you can visualize it, you can do it, right? :) we did some business scoping on saturday night: ducked out to check out the non-2nd saturday night scene at the cafe and there was quite bit of foot traffic, happily. the golden bear was bumping before 10 and rick's desert diner {for the over 50 set, apparently. for as long as i have lived in sacramento i have never known a soul who ate there. unless you needed a place to take your out of town elderly gramma or something...} was busy, which is a good sign. i saw groups of touristy folks leave there, cross the street and look intrigued by the cozy outside and warm glow of the fairy lights of sugar plum vegan cafe...maybe we can turn some ricks-folks out to veganism with some good ol' fashioned outreach. people don't know what they are eating, you know? :) information is power! cruelty is not delicious, creamy or sweet. ahimsa IS.
happy monday!
Thursday, July 01, 2010
*can see clearly now...*
wow got my new glasses {love them in their cute shape, red color and little blingbling happening...} and everything is just so much crisper. lol.
so i say to myself, "self, let's start cracking on the business plan. you know the one you need to produce to the landlord? you know, the one you need to have handy for a legitimate business if you ever need to borrow more money etc etc? yeah. THAT ONE. get going and get it done!"
now that i have no more excuses {my wrist aches, my head aches, my shoulder aches...} and am feeling good i compiled what info i had up to now in the first draft. sent it to a few people to review to see if i make any lick of sense {or not}. waiting for feedback.
shawn is home helping me with getting stuff done again--i love his swing shifts when he works them. so far he has run to the post office, target and entertained jasper while i tip-type out our potential future on paper. gotta love him for being supportive. {whadda guy. any help is appreciated, even at the smallest level! seriously. extracting what's in my head onto paper with this thyroid induced brain fog is some kind of feat, but i think the last med change is working because i *feel* better than a few months ago. huzzah for little victories!}
so i say to myself, "self, let's start cracking on the business plan. you know the one you need to produce to the landlord? you know, the one you need to have handy for a legitimate business if you ever need to borrow more money etc etc? yeah. THAT ONE. get going and get it done!"
now that i have no more excuses {my wrist aches, my head aches, my shoulder aches...} and am feeling good i compiled what info i had up to now in the first draft. sent it to a few people to review to see if i make any lick of sense {or not}. waiting for feedback.
shawn is home helping me with getting stuff done again--i love his swing shifts when he works them. so far he has run to the post office, target and entertained jasper while i tip-type out our potential future on paper. gotta love him for being supportive. {whadda guy. any help is appreciated, even at the smallest level! seriously. extracting what's in my head onto paper with this thyroid induced brain fog is some kind of feat, but i think the last med change is working because i *feel* better than a few months ago. huzzah for little victories!}
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
*life's a garden. dig it!*
lessons learned from this years gardening adventures:
*get a backhoe and dig up your grassy yard. kiss that wasteful water hog bye-bye. if you wish, get a rain barrel for when the infrastructure breaks down and you have no running water.
*triple your efforts and grow many more plants, different varieties and don't shy away from more uncommon types of vegetables and grains. a couple of each kind IS NOT ENOUGH, plain and simple. i am talkin' you need rows and rows full of what you need.
*learn to can and your family will never starve during the apocalypse or just a harsh snowed-in winter with no electricity.
supporting and feeding my family aside, an ideal backyard for me would be half garden deluxe, and the other half would be a in-ground saltwater lap pool. maybe a gazebo with the hot tub would round out my garden shangri-la. mmmmmm. even thinking about it makes me smile, relaxed, calm. it's my happy place.
i feel i will be going here in my mind quite a bit over the next few months. every waking moment i am trying to project positive thinking about opening our vegan business...trying to believe in myself as much as others around me do so i don't let anyone down. i want to do right for the animals, my family...my mom. i feel like i am going from 0 to 60 and i haven't even qualified for the race! yikes!
and it's only wednesday! let's see what the rest of the week will bring. :)
*get a backhoe and dig up your grassy yard. kiss that wasteful water hog bye-bye. if you wish, get a rain barrel for when the infrastructure breaks down and you have no running water.
*triple your efforts and grow many more plants, different varieties and don't shy away from more uncommon types of vegetables and grains. a couple of each kind IS NOT ENOUGH, plain and simple. i am talkin' you need rows and rows full of what you need.
*learn to can and your family will never starve during the apocalypse or just a harsh snowed-in winter with no electricity.
supporting and feeding my family aside, an ideal backyard for me would be half garden deluxe, and the other half would be a in-ground saltwater lap pool. maybe a gazebo with the hot tub would round out my garden shangri-la. mmmmmm. even thinking about it makes me smile, relaxed, calm. it's my happy place.
i feel i will be going here in my mind quite a bit over the next few months. every waking moment i am trying to project positive thinking about opening our vegan business...trying to believe in myself as much as others around me do so i don't let anyone down. i want to do right for the animals, my family...my mom. i feel like i am going from 0 to 60 and i haven't even qualified for the race! yikes!
and it's only wednesday! let's see what the rest of the week will bring. :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
*TCB baby*
so do i keep the name 'never felt better' or what?* :)
so far today, i am having a heaping sense of accomplishment from
a) making a pot of coffee,
b) getting my youngest out the door for her movie playdate and
c) getting my credit report (not free by the way, fuck those commercials) and rectifying some of the more fubar/old/stupid negatives. there are not as many as i thought (didn't know what to expect), and i actually found one i have no knowledge of what it *is* (looking into that one, lol).
now, if i wanted to get all CRAZY i would finish up my business plan to show to the landlord at the space. i would be subletting from melissa but still the guy needs to know what's going in his property. i think i can give him a pretty good idea from what i have so far. but it needs a lot of tweaking and to actually be typed. ha.
i suppose in the spirit of "taking care of business" i will allow some time in the afternoon to work on the plan. it's kinda important, afterall. and in the spirit of summer, i will also allow for some swimming time for myself. booyah!
*so. seriously. do i keep the name, or change it up? what to do? WHAT TO DO? :))
Monday, June 28, 2010
*don't dream it, be it*
it's one thing to labor and over-think something in your mind, while it's a whole separate ball game to speak it out loud and make it real.
i have been presented with a wonderful business opportunity, and frankly the ability to live the dream: our dream. shawn and i are going to take the plunge into running our own vegan accessories shop above sugarplum vegan on kst in midtown. i am lovingly calling it the "vegan gift shop" because well, it will have what you need and what your friends and family want to get you :) i have had the opportunity to shop at portland's vegan mini-mall and sacramento needs a vegan one stop destination to support the vegan community here. the location is perfect, the clientele is perfect, the timing is perfect.
lovingly, we will offer vegan cookbooks, accessories such as belts, wallets, bags, dog treats and food, handmade goods from vegan artists/crafters, soaps, AR related goods (tee's, buttons etc). we have a covered patio and band area for speakers, music, craft shows, fundraisers and more. the possibilities are endless :) everyone is pretty much over the moon with excitement but i am nervous as fuck! yikes! there is also space i would like to rent for studio space perfect for silk screening/soap making or some other art/craft.
we are tossing around names and have a couple we like more than others. more to come there, as it all happens. i am taking suggestions of course!
if all goes well i am shooting for a soft late sept. opening. just in time for the holidaze...
*rolling up my sleeves--this is going to be a labor of love. and i am ready to get this love-fest GOING!*
i have been presented with a wonderful business opportunity, and frankly the ability to live the dream: our dream. shawn and i are going to take the plunge into running our own vegan accessories shop above sugarplum vegan on kst in midtown. i am lovingly calling it the "vegan gift shop" because well, it will have what you need and what your friends and family want to get you :) i have had the opportunity to shop at portland's vegan mini-mall and sacramento needs a vegan one stop destination to support the vegan community here. the location is perfect, the clientele is perfect, the timing is perfect.
lovingly, we will offer vegan cookbooks, accessories such as belts, wallets, bags, dog treats and food, handmade goods from vegan artists/crafters, soaps, AR related goods (tee's, buttons etc). we have a covered patio and band area for speakers, music, craft shows, fundraisers and more. the possibilities are endless :) everyone is pretty much over the moon with excitement but i am nervous as fuck! yikes! there is also space i would like to rent for studio space perfect for silk screening/soap making or some other art/craft.
we are tossing around names and have a couple we like more than others. more to come there, as it all happens. i am taking suggestions of course!
if all goes well i am shooting for a soft late sept. opening. just in time for the holidaze...
*rolling up my sleeves--this is going to be a labor of love. and i am ready to get this love-fest GOING!*
Monday, June 21, 2010
*fathers day weekend wrap-up*
happy first day of summer! maybe today will be warm enough for an adult swim :) {the kids get in that water at sub arctic temps like little polar bears}.
saturday was the midtown bazaar which was so. very. early. in the morning, it gave me pause for my aspirations to be a farmer. that would never work out for me and my sleep schedule! the event was early, it was unseasonable cold and the cover band hurt my ears but i sold some and it was worth my while. i am not sure if i will be doing that again but if i do i will bring more than just NFB things--it was very flea-marketish with the mix of goods available.
sunday shawn and i took lucy to see toy story 3 which was adorable. lyric was with her family in woodland so we are going to try and go again to the drive-in while it is still in theaters for her. lucy wore her cowgirl hat and took jessie and woody with her to watch the movie. it was very cute to see her excited! i think he had a nice daddy's day, i think he is #1 dad, just like the tee shirt says LOL. then before dinner he and lucy did some skating at their new skate spot near our house of which i got some super cute pictures. lucy did some new tricks!
the whole weekend was a good one, i spent a lot of time with the garden, scooping bugs from the pool and getting things mentally in order. we have two separate families coming down from portland staying with us this week and weekend, so the general frenzied housecleaning will commence. also i have to go down to merced for business on weds, possibly thursday so things could not be more hectic this week. {yay? though it is always nice to see friends from stumptown...goddamn i miss pdx!}
happy monday!
saturday was the midtown bazaar which was so. very. early. in the morning, it gave me pause for my aspirations to be a farmer. that would never work out for me and my sleep schedule! the event was early, it was unseasonable cold and the cover band hurt my ears but i sold some and it was worth my while. i am not sure if i will be doing that again but if i do i will bring more than just NFB things--it was very flea-marketish with the mix of goods available.
sunday shawn and i took lucy to see toy story 3 which was adorable. lyric was with her family in woodland so we are going to try and go again to the drive-in while it is still in theaters for her. lucy wore her cowgirl hat and took jessie and woody with her to watch the movie. it was very cute to see her excited! i think he had a nice daddy's day, i think he is #1 dad, just like the tee shirt says LOL. then before dinner he and lucy did some skating at their new skate spot near our house of which i got some super cute pictures. lucy did some new tricks!
the whole weekend was a good one, i spent a lot of time with the garden, scooping bugs from the pool and getting things mentally in order. we have two separate families coming down from portland staying with us this week and weekend, so the general frenzied housecleaning will commence. also i have to go down to merced for business on weds, possibly thursday so things could not be more hectic this week. {yay? though it is always nice to see friends from stumptown...goddamn i miss pdx!}
happy monday!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
*garden zen*
every morning i stroll in the backyard, making rounds making sure everything is in tact from over the evening {you never know, there are critters who roam the neighborhood who may want a midnight snack of my carrots or lettuce. not to mention the snail fiasco of earlier in the season...}. the one bed is dappled in sunlight even at 7, where the other is shady and cool and won't receive it's sun until about 10ish when it clears the roof of the house. the containers receive their sun about 9am. their location is the best in the yard, as seen by the jillion squash flowers and now bean flowers! {who knew they made flowers?}
even though i didn't have TOO much to do with everything {things seem to grow whether i am there or not haha}, i have a sense of pride that it's my loving tending to them that helps them grow. i am no master gardener, more like a humble novice. it's one thing to keep hearty plants alive in the yard but it's another joy to plot and plan a vegetable garden and watch them produce for you to share with your family. {even though today that one new red ripe strawberry was all mine!} i might even have enough to gift friends or do the crop swap this year, which makes me even more excited for the harvesting.
i have to read up on the swiss chard, like how and when to clip and harvest...when the carrots will truly be ready...how to keep the tomatoes producing through the summer. there is so much to learn! when we are own our own home i believe i will try a year-round garden then canning. my aunt on my mom's side lived into her late 90's and when my mom asked her how she stayed so spry, she said that she got up early to bake bread every day, she had her own garden and she canned her fruits and veggies. that sounds like heaven to me...
so: how does YOUR garden grow? :)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
*2nd saturday wrap-up*
yesterday was an amazing day. lucy was invited to a classmates birthday party and we went to a park we had never been too out in rancho cordova to attend. it was wonderful to see her with her friends from school and all the kids had a great time :) i also got to speak with other parents of children with varying levels of autism and compare a bit of notes. the park was...nice...but nothing to write home about, nor travel to rancho for on a regular basis. strangely we saw a HUGE gathering of muslim people (we saw a full burka clad woman--don't see that everyday.) who were doing a bbq. then here comes a goat led to the group on a rope. i said a big AWWWWW (goats are awesome) but then shawn let me know it was about to be slaughtered. literally, they were loading in hella bbq's and butcher blocks. is that even legal at a community park? NOT COOL if you ask me, i don't care who you are. if there wasn't at least 400 people in the party i would have considered a liberation maneuver. we were sorely outnumbered! {rip cute goat, i am really trying to convince myself you were the "family pet" but it's not working.}
then we had a brief respite before we had to load up and be down to set up for 2nd saturday. this month's was the best so far--the music was great and it was VERY busy! i have to say i had a honest organically good time i have had in a while. geared me right up for next saturdays new midtown bizaar. :)
for the better part of the afternoon we have all set up the pool. we got the girls scrubbing it clean and helping daddy with the poles of the pool construction. {i am seeing the value of the newer pools that have no poles, but this pool has served us well. it may be kind of a pain to put together, for the most part is a work horse. no holes yet, knock on wood!} hopefully the pump holds out another season...but it may have to be replaced. it's a small price to pay for the kids (ahem, my) fun in the summer sun.
happy saturday!
then we had a brief respite before we had to load up and be down to set up for 2nd saturday. this month's was the best so far--the music was great and it was VERY busy! i have to say i had a honest organically good time i have had in a while. geared me right up for next saturdays new midtown bizaar. :)
for the better part of the afternoon we have all set up the pool. we got the girls scrubbing it clean and helping daddy with the poles of the pool construction. {i am seeing the value of the newer pools that have no poles, but this pool has served us well. it may be kind of a pain to put together, for the most part is a work horse. no holes yet, knock on wood!} hopefully the pump holds out another season...but it may have to be replaced. it's a small price to pay for the kids (ahem, my) fun in the summer sun.
happy saturday!
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
*purdy burdys*
i am loving these epic-style naps mr. j has been taking. as i did yesterday, i made actual progress again today! not virtual progress, but actual 90% finished product progress. these birds are going to be affixed to their respective headbands tomorrow {then after saturday hopefully respectfully affixed to a cute girl's head lol}. now i turn my eye to making more pint/coffee cozies--a trial item that i have not offered before but heck...i use one that i made every day when i drink my morning pint of coffee. you need one too, i'm sure. they are pretty cute. so, then i feel very VERY prepared for saturday's craft show. not just a little but VERY VERY VERY prepared. all i need is some customers and great weather, and i'll be set. :)
{i am easy to please.}
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
*busy naptime*
i got to clean/organize my craft studio {how does it get so messy when i haven't been back there for some time?}, and sew 5 birds for headbands. everything is set up for me to jump back any time after jasper goes home for the night...but there is no telling if i am going to have any energy to do so. i am feeling out of gas for the day unless i get a second wind.
i am happy with what i did do so far, it's pretty awesome to be sewing and doing stuff again and feeling on-schedule. i am going to be able to crank out everything i need too before 2nd saturday's craft show. i am happy, but physically i feel drained. some people i have been in contact with have been viral recently: i REALLY HOPE I AM NOT GETTING SICK AGAIN. {sorry for the shouting, i am just so adamant about that, it's not even funny.} getting sick on average of every 6 weeks is not really working for me and my active lifestyle lol. no, seriously it's not working for me. at all.
cheers to more productivity! after all, tomorrow IS another day. {said in my very best scarlett o'hara impression}
i am happy with what i did do so far, it's pretty awesome to be sewing and doing stuff again and feeling on-schedule. i am going to be able to crank out everything i need too before 2nd saturday's craft show. i am happy, but physically i feel drained. some people i have been in contact with have been viral recently: i REALLY HOPE I AM NOT GETTING SICK AGAIN. {sorry for the shouting, i am just so adamant about that, it's not even funny.} getting sick on average of every 6 weeks is not really working for me and my active lifestyle lol. no, seriously it's not working for me. at all.
cheers to more productivity! after all, tomorrow IS another day. {said in my very best scarlett o'hara impression}
Monday, June 07, 2010
*happy anniversary to us*
june 7th, 2004
shawn and i were married 6 years ago today. he proposed to me in december, a few months later and just a little bit pregnant we gave our vows in tahoe. we semi-eloped (his mom and gramma ambushed us there lol) and had a wonderful time with a lovely romantic honeymoon with the sierra nevada wilderness as a backdrop. we like being married so much so that we hope to renew our vows at the 10 year anniversary mark near where we tied the knot the first time. it was so gorgeous up among the trees...i would love to go back very soon. and gamble my ass off lol.
cheers to fate: it's the captain of this ship.
Friday, June 04, 2010
*vegan fascinators*
this weekend is all about sewing. making more vegan bird fascinator/headbands and i am going to try to have at least 10-15 pint cozies to choose from. that's a lot for me lately, but i am a clutch crafter and one week is not a lot of time from tomorrow until 2nd saturday. i need to grab a couple new camping chairs and one of those spray bottle misters with the fan...the temps are making me uber-miserable (i spent half the day in a sweater, then half the day in a pool of sweat. temperature intolerance is something new thank you thyroid*, although i always bitched about being hot or how hot it is in sacramento before...this time i really mean it!). i am excited about new items...i am interested to see if the pint cozies move at all. i would buy one! ha!
heat and bitchiness aside, i am really looking forward to this month's show...the sacramento gay men's choir is going to be there! i have always wanted to see them :) come down if you are local and check it out. 21st and k st in sunny midtown sacramento from 6-10pm. it's very kid friendly!
*speaking of my thyroid it's giving me trouble... the dr. called just today on my labs and my meds are being adjusted {again}. hopefully i can find some relief in the next month and a half until the next labs. it's a certain kind of misery, having thyroid disease. i don't wish it upon my worst enemy. lucky for me i seem to have found a dr. who is caring and has a handle on the new ranges of "normal" etc. she is really open to hearing me out and that 's cool with me. feel free to reiki me some healthy vibes. i could use them!
happy friday night!
heat and bitchiness aside, i am really looking forward to this month's show...the sacramento gay men's choir is going to be there! i have always wanted to see them :) come down if you are local and check it out. 21st and k st in sunny midtown sacramento from 6-10pm. it's very kid friendly!
*speaking of my thyroid it's giving me trouble... the dr. called just today on my labs and my meds are being adjusted {again}. hopefully i can find some relief in the next month and a half until the next labs. it's a certain kind of misery, having thyroid disease. i don't wish it upon my worst enemy. lucky for me i seem to have found a dr. who is caring and has a handle on the new ranges of "normal" etc. she is really open to hearing me out and that 's cool with me. feel free to reiki me some healthy vibes. i could use them!
happy friday night!
Thursday, June 03, 2010
*mmmwaaaaaah*
that's not a wail or cry "mwaaaah" that's a CHECK OUT MY NEW PYREX MWAAAAAAHHHHH {the clouds are parting and the hand of god is pointing down at this in a shimmery shower of love} sound.
i am constantly on the red hot hunt for pyrex. i have a collection in case you didn't know. we found a great new little thrift store off the beaten path and this is where i found this baby. you never find these little fridgies with the lid anymore! yesterday was my lucky day. i also found a cute little pair of vintage shorts & swimsuit.
these are the things that make me happy. then later on in the day (i had the day off from jasper) i went and chilled out in my friends garden. she gave me some morning glories and also a new green bell pepper start, along with some pots. it was a really nice and relaxing day.
i have a list of things to do for neverfeltbetterbyjen as long as my arm. and i am a procrastinator so it is just growing while i take pictures of my pyrex and chase jasper :)
ps: today i tried the vegan tiramisu from sugar plum vegan, and it kicks your ovo/lacto desserts ass.
i am constantly on the red hot hunt for pyrex. i have a collection in case you didn't know. we found a great new little thrift store off the beaten path and this is where i found this baby. you never find these little fridgies with the lid anymore! yesterday was my lucky day. i also found a cute little pair of vintage shorts & swimsuit.
these are the things that make me happy. then later on in the day (i had the day off from jasper) i went and chilled out in my friends garden. she gave me some morning glories and also a new green bell pepper start, along with some pots. it was a really nice and relaxing day.
i have a list of things to do for neverfeltbetterbyjen as long as my arm. and i am a procrastinator so it is just growing while i take pictures of my pyrex and chase jasper :)
ps: today i tried the vegan tiramisu from sugar plum vegan, and it kicks your ovo/lacto desserts ass.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
*what's goin' on?*
i feel like i have not updated much information on what's going on over here at neverfeltbetter headquarters. {that's because i haven't, but this is my attempt at putting things in balance.}
first of all HAPPY JUNE! it's a busy month. on a personal front, it's shawn's 20 year veganversary TODAY! thank you shawn for all that you have done for the cause, the animals and for our family. it's also our wedding anniversary on the 7th--six years SOLID. then, and selfishly most importantly, it's my birthday on the 10th. i am turning 38, uh...again.
now for business: june 12th is 2nd saturday at mcmartin realtors parking lot at the corner of 21st and kst in sunny midtown sacramento! it's 6-10pm and always a lot of fun. bring yourself, some friends and some cash!
june 19th is the new midtown bazaar that's has a whole lot of promise for sellers/vendors of all kinds. more info to come but please check out the facebook page for more info. the location is fantastic at 16th and jst & it's in the morning so you can do this and the farmers market too (although the word is there will be food vendors/farmers at this venue). either way EAT YOUR VEGGIES and come support your local handmade businesses. :) like me!
in the meantime i am making more bird headbands (my best seller!) and i have a whole new collection of soldered pendants (my other best seller!) to check out. i am also making up a ton of my "vegan" linocut patches (see pic above!). i am getting excited for these shows {check out all my exclamation points! see? lol}-- it's about TIME.
first of all HAPPY JUNE! it's a busy month. on a personal front, it's shawn's 20 year veganversary TODAY! thank you shawn for all that you have done for the cause, the animals and for our family. it's also our wedding anniversary on the 7th--six years SOLID. then, and selfishly most importantly, it's my birthday on the 10th. i am turning 38, uh...again.
now for business: june 12th is 2nd saturday at mcmartin realtors parking lot at the corner of 21st and kst in sunny midtown sacramento! it's 6-10pm and always a lot of fun. bring yourself, some friends and some cash!
june 19th is the new midtown bazaar that's has a whole lot of promise for sellers/vendors of all kinds. more info to come but please check out the facebook page for more info. the location is fantastic at 16th and jst & it's in the morning so you can do this and the farmers market too (although the word is there will be food vendors/farmers at this venue). either way EAT YOUR VEGGIES and come support your local handmade businesses. :) like me!
in the meantime i am making more bird headbands (my best seller!) and i have a whole new collection of soldered pendants (my other best seller!) to check out. i am also making up a ton of my "vegan" linocut patches (see pic above!). i am getting excited for these shows {check out all my exclamation points! see? lol}-- it's about TIME.
Monday, May 31, 2010
*beans-n-potato salad*
i used to be so gross...i would eat cold pork & beans cold, straight out of the can, although i avoided the little white "thing". *shudders* now that i am happily free of weirdo animal ingredients i am also happy at the selection of vegetarian baked beans you can find now. nothing is better than my own (veganized from the way mom would make it. nothing low fat about her version with all that mayo!) potato salad paired with a can o' beans. the two side dishes must be touching and mixing on my plate for the ultimate picnic/bbq/summer meal experience. i think it would be very easy and delicious to make the baked beans from scratch but there is something about the canned version...reminds me of opening cans with the automatic opener as a kid trying to be a helper in the kitchen with mom. her from the hip, working class dinners were always delicious, if not always the most healthy in our 70's and 80's dolly madison and wonder bread influenced world. i think she would approve of my potato salad and of all of the other things she taught me unknowingly in the kitchen. :)
happy memorial day, i hope yours was as relaxing and interesting start to summer just as it was for us!
happy memorial day, i hope yours was as relaxing and interesting start to summer just as it was for us!
Friday, May 28, 2010
*the BIG salad*
i don't want your puny side salad...i am with elaine from seinfeld and i want the BIG salad. i want it to have quinoa AND tofu...edamame, tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, shredded {insert any kind of misc veggie here. i figure if it's a veggie, can be cut up or shredded and eaten raw it belongs in ma face} and a really good dressing like either goddess or a good miso flavored one. if the croutons are vegan i will take some of those {if not i will have some crunchy chinese noodles} and those fake bac-o bits, too. and you know what else i would like is some daiya vegan cheese and cut up tofurkey, too. yes, you read that right. all of it...in my salad.
if i can get all this at an all you can eat salad bar, that would be just fantastic. over in the arden area there is fresh choice which is pretty good. it has everything labeled with allergy information and had veg and vegan labels, too. did i mention it was all you can eat? i want to go back for thirds, is that bad? there is also the coop, which has a decent salad bar {not all you can eat, though and it ends up being pricey, it's by the pound and it's easy to pile up on your plate and it's the dressing that weighs it down so much anyway!}
clearly i am having a salad deficiency even though i make then on a regular basis for myself. i never have all those ingredients at my fingertips for viola the big-assed all you can eat vat of salad i want to be having right now. the deficiency may be perceived, and not actual but this what is known: sometime in my near future a honkin' big salad is going down the hatch. :)
if i can get all this at an all you can eat salad bar, that would be just fantastic. over in the arden area there is fresh choice which is pretty good. it has everything labeled with allergy information and had veg and vegan labels, too. did i mention it was all you can eat? i want to go back for thirds, is that bad? there is also the coop, which has a decent salad bar {not all you can eat, though and it ends up being pricey, it's by the pound and it's easy to pile up on your plate and it's the dressing that weighs it down so much anyway!}
clearly i am having a salad deficiency even though i make then on a regular basis for myself. i never have all those ingredients at my fingertips for viola the big-assed all you can eat vat of salad i want to be having right now. the deficiency may be perceived, and not actual but this what is known: sometime in my near future a honkin' big salad is going down the hatch. :)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
*cadet lucy*
in the vegan police academy, that is. see her little name on one of the "no" faces? she may be on the autism spectrum, but she definitely knows her stuff. last night was her open house, and all day long she was excited up until two feet from the classroom door. this is where she realized a hole from our universe was about to be punctured into hers and she was not so happy to share her world with her family. fair enough, but we still stayed for a while and collected all her work, chit-chatting with other parents and her teacher. she has made us all proud this year with her progress and i am scared and excited for her kindergarten next year...she is going to regular class with pull-outs for speech. yay!
we were lucky enough this year to have a classroom staff that supported lucy's veganism, i pray next year we are as lucky. lucy is pretty good at 5.5 yrs at knowing the inherent vegan-ness of most things ("marshmallows have cow" and "gummy worms are NOT VEGAN" haha she's funny. i end up sending a box of annies vegan gummies, and hope for the best. apparently gummy-chewy treats are great for speech therapy, not so great for their teeth!) and she loves her laptop lunchbox bento system for the lunches i send. she tells people about being vegan and says "some people eat animals but we don't...no." *aw my little vegan warrior-in-training!*
as for other vegan warrior...our soon to be 6th grader, if the school district gods smile upon us there will be room (at the school lucy attends now for her special ed) for both her and her sister (the school is k-8). lyric's independent study is going ok, but this 6-8 program is right up her alley. i won't know for the next month or two...so the indecision and uncertainty is KILLING me. even the contact at the school district said our home school "would probably not meet lucy's needs", and just so happens to be the SAME school i pulled my gifted girl out of. it certainly didn't meet our needs then, and i don't think lucy's will be addressed with satisfaction.
the whole intra-district procedure is making me a crazy lady. let's hope hard it works out...i don't have a plan b! DOH!
we were lucky enough this year to have a classroom staff that supported lucy's veganism, i pray next year we are as lucky. lucy is pretty good at 5.5 yrs at knowing the inherent vegan-ness of most things ("marshmallows have cow" and "gummy worms are NOT VEGAN" haha she's funny. i end up sending a box of annies vegan gummies, and hope for the best. apparently gummy-chewy treats are great for speech therapy, not so great for their teeth!) and she loves her laptop lunchbox bento system for the lunches i send. she tells people about being vegan and says "some people eat animals but we don't...no." *aw my little vegan warrior-in-training!*
as for other vegan warrior...our soon to be 6th grader, if the school district gods smile upon us there will be room (at the school lucy attends now for her special ed) for both her and her sister (the school is k-8). lyric's independent study is going ok, but this 6-8 program is right up her alley. i won't know for the next month or two...so the indecision and uncertainty is KILLING me. even the contact at the school district said our home school "would probably not meet lucy's needs", and just so happens to be the SAME school i pulled my gifted girl out of. it certainly didn't meet our needs then, and i don't think lucy's will be addressed with satisfaction.
the whole intra-district procedure is making me a crazy lady. let's hope hard it works out...i don't have a plan b! DOH!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
*snailpocolypse 2010 part deux*
this light warm rain has brought out hundreds of snails. my front porch and back stoop, both lawns, and even up the sides of the house itself is being overrun by the slimy little guys. what they think they are going to find up the siding, i will never know.
guess where they aren't? that's right: my garden! the penny trick is holding up...i have been on my usual vigils to pluck them from the bed but i have come up empty since the very first night. {thank you mother nature, seriously. thank you.}
i am torn about this weather system. on the one hand it's very spring like and quite pleasant if you get right down to it. on the OTHER hand, it's gray, chilly and generally depressing. i don't want to drive anywhere, go anywhere or do anything really. however, i did quite a bit of organizing and cleaning in the girls rooms so not going anywhere worked in my favor. i got stuff done and i got to think about stuff that needed thinking about.
just two days ago i was by the edge of the creek, sitting in the sand, relaxing and getting some major sun. i am going to summon that feeling now to get me through this week of drippy dreariness. it will be sunny {and too hot} soon enough!
guess where they aren't? that's right: my garden! the penny trick is holding up...i have been on my usual vigils to pluck them from the bed but i have come up empty since the very first night. {thank you mother nature, seriously. thank you.}
i am torn about this weather system. on the one hand it's very spring like and quite pleasant if you get right down to it. on the OTHER hand, it's gray, chilly and generally depressing. i don't want to drive anywhere, go anywhere or do anything really. however, i did quite a bit of organizing and cleaning in the girls rooms so not going anywhere worked in my favor. i got stuff done and i got to think about stuff that needed thinking about.
just two days ago i was by the edge of the creek, sitting in the sand, relaxing and getting some major sun. i am going to summon that feeling now to get me through this week of drippy dreariness. it will be sunny {and too hot} soon enough!
Monday, May 24, 2010
*cache creek*
when i lived in woodland, the best thing about the whole experience was being so close to the foothills and being about to explore all the county back roads and day trip spots.
taking woodland's main st. through and follow the signs to highway 16...cache creek is probably my favorite little drive through the area. you roll out of the back of woodland to BAM! hills, vinyards, pastoral scenes, mountain cliffs and rushing creeks. really really pretty. i have driven all my good friends out to check it out over the years and even been to a wedding held there eons ago. it's really very pretty this time of year. i always make the same lame joke about pulling over at the casino for an hour and i'll be right back...it never gets old. yesterday i sweet talked the camp ground host and he let us play without the day-use fee. {sorry i didn't feel like paying the $6 but you probably won't be so lucky so come with some cash lol}. just be sure to choose the middle campsite to access the "beach" and there is a playground for the little ones. there is also some great hiking but i would do that with adults only, personally. with kids it's just the right amount of time in the car with a great payoff at the end. plus we stopped at sonic for tater tots and a cherry slush...we don't have a sonic in sacramento and apparently i needed that sugar water and horrible brain freeze. :)
happy monday and go on a sunday drive with some people you love soon!
taking woodland's main st. through and follow the signs to highway 16...cache creek is probably my favorite little drive through the area. you roll out of the back of woodland to BAM! hills, vinyards, pastoral scenes, mountain cliffs and rushing creeks. really really pretty. i have driven all my good friends out to check it out over the years and even been to a wedding held there eons ago. it's really very pretty this time of year. i always make the same lame joke about pulling over at the casino for an hour and i'll be right back...it never gets old. yesterday i sweet talked the camp ground host and he let us play without the day-use fee. {sorry i didn't feel like paying the $6 but you probably won't be so lucky so come with some cash lol}. just be sure to choose the middle campsite to access the "beach" and there is a playground for the little ones. there is also some great hiking but i would do that with adults only, personally. with kids it's just the right amount of time in the car with a great payoff at the end. plus we stopped at sonic for tater tots and a cherry slush...we don't have a sonic in sacramento and apparently i needed that sugar water and horrible brain freeze. :)
happy monday and go on a sunday drive with some people you love soon!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
*busy saturday*
today i really wanted to sleep in longer, but i am glad we got up on the earlier side to walk down to the farmers market again. we got more fava beans, dill, beets, onions, lettuce, garlic, chard and bok choy. we had one helluva salad for lunch! shawn made the dressing, and it was delicious. <3
then we packed up the girls and went to our friend jessica's grad party, and she always has the best parties. kid friendly, fully stocked, bands...i knew only a handful of people but it was nice meeting new folks. my proudest moment when lyric started talking about what it might feel like *when* she graduated. not if, not maybe...but *when*. i told her i would throw her the biggest party on the planet i would be so proud of her. and i would, too.
we came early and left at just the right time, and i am so happy for my friends and family. things are just feeling right, just like spring should feel. happy, hopeful, harmonious.
happy saturday and something tells me tomorrow is going to be another good one.
Friday, May 21, 2010
*week-end*
it's friday. so, happy friday to you. i hope you are out doing something fun (why would you be reading this if you were!), or just relaxing at home. i am doing the latter on this fine friday evening. we did an old person early-bird dinner tonight since jasper is here late. with a toddler, it's just not worth it to risk the indigestion if they are not having it and decide to ruin the meal for everyone--it can happen even to the most well behaved. so we went to our favorite chinese place that offers a veggie menu who just happens to be lightening fast, too. doubling my chances for a successful meal, and quite possibly not irritating a whole restaurant full of people. most importantly, not irritating me :)
happy to say it was just the right amount of time to actually enjoy the food and have the toddler not incite a riot. everyone did great, as i was half-assed predicting they would. (on their own my girls are great, but sometimes the lucy-jasper combo can be explosivo and i am having flashbacks from earlier in the week when a fun trip to the car wash turned into a nightmare of doom with those two. yikes!)
tomorrow we are looking forward to the oak park farmers market in the AM, and in the afternoon we have a graduation party to attend. i think i will pick up some fresh flowers her from the market. that would be a nice gift, i think! mostly i am going to enjoy my days off, my girls and shawn's company. this was a long and winding week and the month's not over yet...
TGIF
happy to say it was just the right amount of time to actually enjoy the food and have the toddler not incite a riot. everyone did great, as i was half-assed predicting they would. (on their own my girls are great, but sometimes the lucy-jasper combo can be explosivo and i am having flashbacks from earlier in the week when a fun trip to the car wash turned into a nightmare of doom with those two. yikes!)
tomorrow we are looking forward to the oak park farmers market in the AM, and in the afternoon we have a graduation party to attend. i think i will pick up some fresh flowers her from the market. that would be a nice gift, i think! mostly i am going to enjoy my days off, my girls and shawn's company. this was a long and winding week and the month's not over yet...
TGIF
Thursday, May 20, 2010
*soldering WIPS*
my current work-in-progress is wrapping and preparing these cool tiles to be soldered (possibly patina-ed black) pendants. i got a box full of these from elisabeth who got them from god knows who. perhaps she was going to tile a table or something...but i talked her into passing them on to me :) i like the leaf shaped ones with the agate, and the black tear drops are really cool too. they are light enough to be perfect for earrings...nice!
on an unrelated note, where in the world is my lip balm?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
*snailpocolypse 2010*
i know you were totally on pins and needles to find out if the penny trick worked. (ok, perhaps i am just speaking for myself here.)
i think it did! let me tell you why i think so. i put pennies around all plants except one. it was the control plant lol. i went out to do my usual rounds of snail patrol. first of all i see the BIGGEST GRANDDADDY OF ALL SNAILS OF ALL TIME's snail trail...up and over the lip of the raised bed. i follow it up to my basil plant, it touches the pennies and then makes a complete 180 and banks straight to the plant with NO pennies (happened to be my cilantro). i caught that bad boy totally munching and going to town. i am not kidding when i say this snail was the biggest snail i have ever seen. bigger than a silver dollar. and tall, too.
anyways, my snail adventures continue. i will put pennies around the control cilantro, to ward off the slimy intruders. i suspect more will come out tonight if it does sprinkle like the forecast says...and i will be out in the garden plucking them out...rain or shine!
now my next venture is to get some praying mantis to eat the little leaf miner type bugs that i suspect are winged, plus they look damn cool and i want to look at them closely. to be continued!
i think it did! let me tell you why i think so. i put pennies around all plants except one. it was the control plant lol. i went out to do my usual rounds of snail patrol. first of all i see the BIGGEST GRANDDADDY OF ALL SNAILS OF ALL TIME's snail trail...up and over the lip of the raised bed. i follow it up to my basil plant, it touches the pennies and then makes a complete 180 and banks straight to the plant with NO pennies (happened to be my cilantro). i caught that bad boy totally munching and going to town. i am not kidding when i say this snail was the biggest snail i have ever seen. bigger than a silver dollar. and tall, too.
anyways, my snail adventures continue. i will put pennies around the control cilantro, to ward off the slimy intruders. i suspect more will come out tonight if it does sprinkle like the forecast says...and i will be out in the garden plucking them out...rain or shine!
now my next venture is to get some praying mantis to eat the little leaf miner type bugs that i suspect are winged, plus they look damn cool and i want to look at them closely. to be continued!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
*snail patrol*
the internet told me that copper repels snails. hmmm. my quest for organic gardening while practicing ahimsa has been a challenge due to our apparent snail infestation. my cantaloupe plant gave up the ghost today due to the slimy little buggers. i know they are natures custodians, but they need to slime right on by my crop if you know what i am saying. you should see my patio and front walk after it rains. i mean it's kinda...gross. and these aren't just wee little lads--i have never seen such sizes on regular garden/yard snails in my life. EW.
so i made little copper fairy rings around the smaller plants that are getting the brunt and said a little prayer. however, my night time vigil of going out and stalking them in the act will continue until i actually see this penny thing working or they seem to go just away. i said today i could use one of those hands-free little miner hat lights so i can tweak around my garden efficiently in the dark night, and i am kinda not kidding. i really could use one :)
so i made little copper fairy rings around the smaller plants that are getting the brunt and said a little prayer. however, my night time vigil of going out and stalking them in the act will continue until i actually see this penny thing working or they seem to go just away. i said today i could use one of those hands-free little miner hat lights so i can tweak around my garden efficiently in the dark night, and i am kinda not kidding. i really could use one :)
Monday, May 17, 2010
*lovin' in my oven*
mondays need baked goods. chilly over-cast mondays need daiya vegan cheese baked goods! :)
basically i have a thing against perfect circle biscuits, so in our house we do "lazy drop biscuits" that take less time to mix, bake and snarf up in my face until all gone. i used the recipe from the new farm cookbook (four pantry staple ingredients thank you for simple cooking) plus a heaping handful of daiya chedder shreds mixed in at the end. literally 15 minutes later i am rubbing my food baby and hella happy on a food high.*
*i feel kinda bad, these weren't GF so shawn just tasted them. but he gave the thumbs up and reminded me we were out of gluten free flour for the 10th time today. :)
HAPPY MONDAY!
basically i have a thing against perfect circle biscuits, so in our house we do "lazy drop biscuits" that take less time to mix, bake and snarf up in my face until all gone. i used the recipe from the new farm cookbook (four pantry staple ingredients thank you for simple cooking) plus a heaping handful of daiya chedder shreds mixed in at the end. literally 15 minutes later i am rubbing my food baby and hella happy on a food high.*
*i feel kinda bad, these weren't GF so shawn just tasted them. but he gave the thumbs up and reminded me we were out of gluten free flour for the 10th time today. :)
HAPPY MONDAY!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
*soldered pendants*
i think hell just froze over, or perhaps i just am sick of not feeling well and not feeling like doing any WORK. or maybe it's that i just can't stand myself moping around here AND/OR hating myself for not creating anything and neglecting my websites.
whatever it was i finished up most of these pendants outside under my patio umbrella. and i feel great. i hope that i get these listed and sold soon :) that would make me feel even better.
UPDATE: i went ahead and listed them so i could feel even more accomplished to the max. i bet one would tickle your fabric fancy if you check them out! neverfeltbetterbyjen.com
whatever it was i finished up most of these pendants outside under my patio umbrella. and i feel great. i hope that i get these listed and sold soon :) that would make me feel even better.
UPDATE: i went ahead and listed them so i could feel even more accomplished to the max. i bet one would tickle your fabric fancy if you check them out! neverfeltbetterbyjen.com
*lazy sunday*
these flowers from yesterday are really helping things around here. i spruced up my kitchen and fondled my pyrex collection...rearranged a bit to make room for the growing numbers. making coffee, refereeing between the girls, tucking shawn back in for a late morning nap since he let me sleep in. these are the things that make for a lazy sunday around our ranch. i am working the back of the house today, which includes my craft space. i have half-finished works-in-progress up the wazoo and i am so over it all. i need to set up my sewing machine and do some soldering. just like the last four or five weeks...*le sigh*.
bad news: the cantaloupe plant isn't going to make it. i think i have to give up the ghost. the snails won that one, but i am beefing up my efforts around the basil because now that the bugs got the cantaloupe they are turning their jaws (or radula, as it were) on my sweet basil. noooooo!
good news: elisabeth is swinging by some more empty cat litter containers for some more starts we have sprouted. i thought i was going to till up and plant along the fence line, but under the circumstances i think containers will be the better way to go. the pole bean starts are huge! i have little mini-trellises for them to climb and i think i will need to rig something for the squash plants too. vertical is the way to go in our world. there is only one way to go, and that's UP! :) i will pick up some soil and we will be ready to go. seriously, this garden is one of the things that is keeping me keeping on there is so much fucking stress and negativity i am battling. see me now: *OM*.
friday's court got pushed back (again) until july with some efforts from the "other side" to "settle" but they are weak and for show. probate is a bitch much like my experience with family court X10, and people never cease to amaze me with their greed and selfishness. i will keep a chin up and toward the sunshine, though. that makes the shadows fall behind me. everything is going to work itself out, i have faith. justice is real. it happens, just very very slowly.
so for today i feel blessed for the girls, their health, shawn and his true love, the animals and their silly ways, the garden and it's growth and zen, the sunny warm weather and simple joys.
happy sunday all, and i hope you are gearing up for a great week...what are your plans?
bad news: the cantaloupe plant isn't going to make it. i think i have to give up the ghost. the snails won that one, but i am beefing up my efforts around the basil because now that the bugs got the cantaloupe they are turning their jaws (or radula, as it were) on my sweet basil. noooooo!
good news: elisabeth is swinging by some more empty cat litter containers for some more starts we have sprouted. i thought i was going to till up and plant along the fence line, but under the circumstances i think containers will be the better way to go. the pole bean starts are huge! i have little mini-trellises for them to climb and i think i will need to rig something for the squash plants too. vertical is the way to go in our world. there is only one way to go, and that's UP! :) i will pick up some soil and we will be ready to go. seriously, this garden is one of the things that is keeping me keeping on there is so much fucking stress and negativity i am battling. see me now: *OM*.
friday's court got pushed back (again) until july with some efforts from the "other side" to "settle" but they are weak and for show. probate is a bitch much like my experience with family court X10, and people never cease to amaze me with their greed and selfishness. i will keep a chin up and toward the sunshine, though. that makes the shadows fall behind me. everything is going to work itself out, i have faith. justice is real. it happens, just very very slowly.
so for today i feel blessed for the girls, their health, shawn and his true love, the animals and their silly ways, the garden and it's growth and zen, the sunny warm weather and simple joys.
happy sunday all, and i hope you are gearing up for a great week...what are your plans?
Saturday, May 15, 2010
*oak park famers market*
our neighborhood farmers market is up and running on saturdays at broadway and 35th from 9-1. i cannot tell you how happy we are to have a farmers market within walking distance! shawn and i strolled up with the girls who ate their fill of cherries and strawberries, while we got some cauliflower, fava beans, snap peas, daikon radish, and cucumber. if i hadn't just got some bread i would have picked up some up, but i didn't feel like freezing any. i also got some beautiful happy sunny flowers for the house, because well, i deserve them :)
go to your local farmers market, here's a guide if you are in the sacramento area :)
happy saturday!
go to your local farmers market, here's a guide if you are in the sacramento area :)
happy saturday!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
*want*
if there is any kind of superior being she would allow for me to get one of these to eat to my fill sometime in the next few hours. i may even get the 3 scooper just because i am feeling needy like that. it's just been one of those afternoons where you find out the those pesky wheels of justice aren't exactly at a grinding halt, just moving less than a slugs pace. it gets old.
you can read more about here's the scoop on my vegan eating guide for sacramento, sackoftomatoes. please check it out and tell a vegan sacto-friend :)
you can read more about here's the scoop on my vegan eating guide for sacramento, sackoftomatoes. please check it out and tell a vegan sacto-friend :)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
*magical fruit*
and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.-anais nin
in this case, it's pole beans. i don't know why they are so squiggly, but i think they are going to straighten out. i have a place in the second garden bed for these with a trellis for them to climb and i am feeling pretty good about them. i also have corn started from seed--but for those and the sunflowers i need to till up some hard-as hell clay by the fence and fix the soil. perhaps this weekend? perhaps. it's supposed to be gorgeous and hot for both days.
last night i was like a crazy person with a flashlight out in my garden at two different times trying to catch the slugs and snails in the act of trying to eat my cantaloupe. i found a few--unceremoniously tossed them in the yard to go eat something else--just not my vegetable garden. i have been doing lots of coffee grinds and i got some bark/mulch to bar them out from around the plants but i read yesterday that they do not like ginger so i plan to get some fresh and dried to see how that works. i don't want to kill the little buggers, just ward them off my bounty! i have worked too hard on this little garden, it's my zen.
have a wonderful weds! friday is somewhat of a personal D-day for me, hopefully i will have wonderful news to report on a personal front. here's to hoping!
in this case, it's pole beans. i don't know why they are so squiggly, but i think they are going to straighten out. i have a place in the second garden bed for these with a trellis for them to climb and i am feeling pretty good about them. i also have corn started from seed--but for those and the sunflowers i need to till up some hard-as hell clay by the fence and fix the soil. perhaps this weekend? perhaps. it's supposed to be gorgeous and hot for both days.
last night i was like a crazy person with a flashlight out in my garden at two different times trying to catch the slugs and snails in the act of trying to eat my cantaloupe. i found a few--unceremoniously tossed them in the yard to go eat something else--just not my vegetable garden. i have been doing lots of coffee grinds and i got some bark/mulch to bar them out from around the plants but i read yesterday that they do not like ginger so i plan to get some fresh and dried to see how that works. i don't want to kill the little buggers, just ward them off my bounty! i have worked too hard on this little garden, it's my zen.
have a wonderful weds! friday is somewhat of a personal D-day for me, hopefully i will have wonderful news to report on a personal front. here's to hoping!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
*i heart carbs*
i ate a lot of pizza this weekend. i mean, i was depressed-sick-blue and after all it WAS mother's day. it's my party and i will eat like a pig if i want to, right?
i am working on a blog for sackoftomatoes vegan eating guide for sacramento, but we need to get the GF pie first before i can post it. i think that will happen sooner than later because the "berkeley" vegan pizza from zpizza did not disappoint. in fact, to quote lyric--this was the best pizza she has ever eaten in her life. she asked if this one was so delicious, why would anyone opt to eat abused dead animal? good question, my little vegan warrior. good question.
doesn't the tomato look like a little angry man? we thought so. with a little seed tear, even. like "i'm mad--don't eat me!" (but don't vegetables have feelings? aren't you killing them, too? NO ASSHOLE, they don't and no, i am not. next!) if this tomato man with the most delicious "sausage" eyes could talk he would say I DARE YOU TO EAT ME ALL IN ONE BITE. which i would gladly have done, that was one fine pizza pie my friends.
shawn gets home from his vacay tonight, there will be some kind of joyful reunion at the airport just like out of the movies, i'm sure. i missed his face because their ain't no sunshine when he's gone :)
i am working on a blog for sackoftomatoes vegan eating guide for sacramento, but we need to get the GF pie first before i can post it. i think that will happen sooner than later because the "berkeley" vegan pizza from zpizza did not disappoint. in fact, to quote lyric--this was the best pizza she has ever eaten in her life. she asked if this one was so delicious, why would anyone opt to eat abused dead animal? good question, my little vegan warrior. good question.
doesn't the tomato look like a little angry man? we thought so. with a little seed tear, even. like "i'm mad--don't eat me!" (but don't vegetables have feelings? aren't you killing them, too? NO ASSHOLE, they don't and no, i am not. next!) if this tomato man with the most delicious "sausage" eyes could talk he would say I DARE YOU TO EAT ME ALL IN ONE BITE. which i would gladly have done, that was one fine pizza pie my friends.
shawn gets home from his vacay tonight, there will be some kind of joyful reunion at the airport just like out of the movies, i'm sure. i missed his face because their ain't no sunshine when he's gone :)
Monday, May 10, 2010
*made it through*
i made it through this week, the weekend, mother's day...all in somewhat of one piece. huzzah! both lucy and i were too sick on saturday to really even think about vending at 2nd saturday, so i look forward to next months installment to get me back on track.
shawn is coming back from visiting family back in ohio tomorrow--i can't wait to pick him up at the airport! he is not allowed to leave me for so long, especially when i am tripping on what's going down at the moment! i am a strong woman but i am not an island--i need my support system in tact. he is a huge part of it. he tells me how strong i am even when i don't want to hear that shit and feel like punching him in his handsome face for daring to believe in me. now, that's true love :)
happy monday! enjoy the little may showers if you are local.
*my thyroid looks swollen in that picture, along with my regular gobble and neckula situation going on. i pray i feel some benefits from my new thyroid med dosage. it's a slow going process for sure. stupid thyroid! die out already and leave me alone.
shawn is coming back from visiting family back in ohio tomorrow--i can't wait to pick him up at the airport! he is not allowed to leave me for so long, especially when i am tripping on what's going down at the moment! i am a strong woman but i am not an island--i need my support system in tact. he is a huge part of it. he tells me how strong i am even when i don't want to hear that shit and feel like punching him in his handsome face for daring to believe in me. now, that's true love :)
happy monday! enjoy the little may showers if you are local.
*my thyroid looks swollen in that picture, along with my regular gobble and neckula situation going on. i pray i feel some benefits from my new thyroid med dosage. it's a slow going process for sure. stupid thyroid! die out already and leave me alone.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
*mom*
happy mother's day to all the mothers. every day is a type of mother's day when you have lost your mom, not a day goes by without me wishing i could talk to her on the phone and dish about the goings on in the world, just like we did for so many years. as a young teenager i had a rocky relationship with my mother, i viewed her as too strict and out of touch, stogy and up-tight. i could not wait to get out of my parents house to live my own life and that was fine and good. it happened without a hitch. but as i married, divorced, had children, married again with more kids...became older myself we became closer. i could view her for who she was with respect. her perceptive nature often astounded me, her advice was sound and solid. i miss it dearly. sometimes she bordered on telepathic and psychic all at one, and has more than once predicted an outcome of a situation so far down the road i thought she was crazy. not crazy, just right. you wouldn't believe what that woman called years before that turned out to be true!
we had our ups and downs, times where we didn't speak for months. i know i disappointed her from time to time, but at the end of the day she was my mom and i know she loved me and my kids up very much until the very end. on her deathbed she told me how good a man shawn was and with my track record (and her forewarning about my other marriage of which she didn't approve. she said a person could change their behavior but they can't change who they are--the leopard can't change it's spots kinda thing--she is right. i trust her word!) that means the world to me. she loved my children unconditionally. i wish she was alive to give me advice about what's going on in the family now but i hear her voice, i know what she would be saying. so in essence she IS here with me now. and for her struggles and joys in life i can only salute her and reflect on how much she endured in her life.
happy mother's day mom! and to all the other mothers and strong women out there, too. it's your day as well. enjoy.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
*family affair*
i just got confirmation i got in to the june 6th inde mart in SF. i can't tell you how excited i am...it's just what i need to get me going. i have plans for the whole weekend and it coincides with shawn and my 6th wedding anniversary and my (muffledcoughlalala) birthday. look, i am staying 38 forever, just like patsy stone. just so you know. anyway if i can swing the get a way for us i would be the happiest camper ever.
today was a hard one, i was weepy, mopey and a general sad sack. shawn is with family in ohio, i miss him. mothers day is coming and i thought i would be ok with it and i am not. but getting good news like about the indie mart approval made the day's stock really go up. i got to talk to shawn on the phone and got counseling from two good and dear friends. i have tomorrow to myself (well, some of it anyway!). it hasn't turned out to be a bad day after all, even if i do miss my mommy. :) that will never change.
hmmm now, what to bring to the june show? :))
today was a hard one, i was weepy, mopey and a general sad sack. shawn is with family in ohio, i miss him. mothers day is coming and i thought i would be ok with it and i am not. but getting good news like about the indie mart approval made the day's stock really go up. i got to talk to shawn on the phone and got counseling from two good and dear friends. i have tomorrow to myself (well, some of it anyway!). it hasn't turned out to be a bad day after all, even if i do miss my mommy. :) that will never change.
hmmm now, what to bring to the june show? :))
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
*humpday*
after a loverly night with the mr. we said our short-term goodbyes this morning at sacramento internation airport where he is leaving on a jet plane back to OHio for the big skate jam/mothers day. when he went last year he got a days long lay-over and was asked to give up his seat the new flight out, so they gave him a voucher (that paid for this trip) plus they upgraded him to first class. (and he didn't even take all the free stuff they had laying around...he just grabbed me the skymall magazine. don't get me wrong he will be bringing me home the new one this trip too, but they had all kinds of shwag he should have nabbed last year. hello!) so, he is off to OHio for the week and i am left to fend for myself. it's ok, i will miss the hell out of him but i will live! i am an independent woman, after all...i just have to remember he is lucky to see all his friends and family. i am happy for him, it means a lot for him to get to do so :)
in neverfeltbetterbyjen.com news: i did finally finish the hand-sewing of the pin backs to the back of the mini-bows. i covered the silver and sewn part with eco-felt and they are just sweet/cute/little. i hope they do well at this weekend's 2nd saturday. i also posted them on the site...take a look won't you?
happy wednesday!
in neverfeltbetterbyjen.com news: i did finally finish the hand-sewing of the pin backs to the back of the mini-bows. i covered the silver and sewn part with eco-felt and they are just sweet/cute/little. i hope they do well at this weekend's 2nd saturday. i also posted them on the site...take a look won't you?
happy wednesday!
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
*snoochie-broochies*
it is decided. the little crocheted bows are becoming brooches, sewing the pin backs on as we speak. er, read. whatever, they will be available at second saturday's in the usual spot at park your art, in a few cute colors to choose from.
(still snickering at the title of this post...)
(still snickering at the title of this post...)
*OM*
ahem. if i don't get a little of *see picture above* in my life soon you are really going to start hearing about it. that is all.
Monday, May 03, 2010
*here comes the sun...tea*
i love a glass of strong brewed sun tea*, with lots of ice cubes and a sprig of mint. frankly between this and my growing garden i am having a hard time coming up with things to complain about. (today. thank you for noticing.)
*here, it's easy! grab a handful of tea bags, preferably the cheapo lipton-y kinds. then a few of your better tea bags or a full infuser and have a bit of both to mix up flavors: it's your tea, make whatever flavors you want. fill up your glass jars with lids with good water. (plastic jugs just seems wrong for this. don't do it!) i love STRONG iced tea, so when you think you are over-doing it with the bags, you are probably not even close. close them up, let the jars sit in some direct sunlight for as long as you can. at least 4 hours, preferably the full 6. sweeten to your liking (SWEET TEA OH YES PLEASE), pour yourself a glass, over a bunch of ice cubes. garnish with fresh mint, because that churches it right up, real nice. feel free to add some lemons or limes. if you do a half iced tea half lemonade, an arnold palmer, i would shake your hand. that is some fine beverage choice right there. you sly dog. (you know what this post has me in the mind for? mint juleps. mmmmm.)
enjoy!
*here, it's easy! grab a handful of tea bags, preferably the cheapo lipton-y kinds. then a few of your better tea bags or a full infuser and have a bit of both to mix up flavors: it's your tea, make whatever flavors you want. fill up your glass jars with lids with good water. (plastic jugs just seems wrong for this. don't do it!) i love STRONG iced tea, so when you think you are over-doing it with the bags, you are probably not even close. close them up, let the jars sit in some direct sunlight for as long as you can. at least 4 hours, preferably the full 6. sweeten to your liking (SWEET TEA OH YES PLEASE), pour yourself a glass, over a bunch of ice cubes. garnish with fresh mint, because that churches it right up, real nice. feel free to add some lemons or limes. if you do a half iced tea half lemonade, an arnold palmer, i would shake your hand. that is some fine beverage choice right there. you sly dog. (you know what this post has me in the mind for? mint juleps. mmmmm.)
enjoy!
Saturday, May 01, 2010
*dream about cloudy skies*
everywhere i looked up from today looked something like this. blue skies and tree lined streets. it was an amazing day, filled with bike riding, friendship, drinks, and posi anti-depressive living :)
i was bestowed a bunch of succulent starts that luckily i have some pots for, and exactly three huge plastic containers (up-cycled cat litter buckets!) for the three squash starts i was gifted this week (coincidence? i think not.) . it might be a bumper crop for yellow crooknecks this year! i just need some good soil for everything and i can start seeds for the corn as well with the peat post she gave me. it should be really amazing and it's just what i need.
i also helped her organize her belongings in the basement, and get a kick-ass yard sale pile going. she has been wanting to do one for a while and it was nice to help her get everything busted out. we kept singing "that's what friends are for" and "thank you for being a friend" LOL.*
*this post was brought to you by the letters PMA or Positive Mental Attitude. and the numbers 5, 6, and 7.
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