Stayed Tuned!

Between now and next Wednesday stay tuned for the follow:

1. Eden Fantasys review.

2. Savor Soap review.

3. Introduction to the Biographer's Club.

4. Craft updates.

5. Several book reviews.

Updates

I have spent most of the week packing, yet I’m still not done. I hope to be finished before the holiday weekend is over. I’m done to just a few boxes and odds and ends, so I’m hopeful.

I have a million things to do before I leave, and I just can’t seem to get them all in. I really need to take my sewing machine in to be repaired, because I have a feeling it will be more expensive where I’m moving. I just don’t see that getting done in time. In between packing and errands I’m trying to spend as much time as possible with my friends, family, and those people that are important to me.

My mom was making me crazy earlier in the week. I was ready to snap. Then she left for appointments, and I went to run errands, and it kind of started to sink in that pretty soon I’m not going to see my mom every day. Not every week. Not every month. I will be lucky to get back home once a year. On one hand, I know it will be really good for me to get that kind of independence. On the other hand, it terrifies me to be so far away from everyone I know and love. So far away from my safety net.

“Go go go go now
Out of the nest
It's time
Go go go now
Circus girl without a safety net
Here here now
Don't cry
You raised your hand for the assignment” ~ Tori Amos

Mom and I have been watching movies at night while we work on packing. We watched PS I Love You. It was a really good movie. My mom is in love with Gerald Butler since he was in Phantom of the Opera. It was really romantic, what his character did in the movie. I want to be loved like that. All the sexy Irish accents weren’t bad either. Another night we watched 27 Dresses. It was cute. I’m not usually into chick flicks but it wasn’t bad. Lastly we watched The Golden Compass. I haven’t finished the book yet. It’s hard for me to get into, but the movie strayed from the part of the book I have read. I hate when movies do that. I also don’t see what all the fuss was about. Maybe it’s in the next movie, but she didn’t kill God. But I could see the from some of the things said where Christians would upset.

I finished the green baby blanket that I have been making for my sister. I started on a second one. This one is a new pattern – the zig zag. I really like doing this one, and I can’t tell if it’s the pattern that’s fun or if I’m just so bored with the old one. My mom is also supposed to teach me the shell pattern before I leave.

I have bought a ton of yarn recently. I’m kind of soaped out, until my niece comes, so I’ve been using the Michael’s and Joann’s coupons for yarn. That and there have been some really amazing sales. How can you not buy yarn when it’s marked down from $5.99 to $1.97 and even $0.99? I’m not buying just anything, but if it looks like something I could use I pick it up.

I didn't buy this because I don't know what I want to do with it yet, but I like it - and the one below.

These were on sale for $1.97. I can either make a scarf from each or make some kind of blanket.

These are for scarves.

I'm going to make a throw blanket out of these. Rotating colors. Probably a shell pattern.

The dark ones were on sale for $1.97 and I'm making a scarf out of them. They are fuzzy. The angel hair one I'm making a scarf from too.

These are for scarves.

Scarves for my two future stepdaughters

Wednesday night I went out for Thai with Emily. We had a really nice time. We got desert too, which is something I don’t usually do. Afterwards we went for a walk on the beach. We took my car so we could ride with the top down. The Scrabble title charms that I had ordered from Pieces of Me Pendants came in, so I gave her the one I bought for her, and Helen’s as well. She surprised me with a bath tea that she had picked up a tearoom. I’m really going to miss Emily when I go. It sucks that we didn’t start getting so close until now.

We are going to make these now. I have a ton of Scrabble tiles and Helen said she can figure out the rest.

Friday I whipped up 3 dozen cupcakes for mom’s bookstudy group. I made a dozen each of cookies and cream, chocolate mint, and chocolate orange. All are adaptations of the chocolate cupcake recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I had wanted to make the rose pistachio cupcakes but quickly changed my mind after I saw that cardamom costs $11.99 a bottle. Ouch! The rose water isn’t cheap either, but I already have that. I’m pretty sure pistachios aren’t cheap either. I guess I won’t be making those any time soon. Not unless one of the health food stores sells cardamom bulk and I can buy just the small amount I need.

I spent the rest of Friday with Steve’s grandma. We went out for Thai, and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening talking. I really love her. I don’t usually talk a lot but she is so easy to talk to. We really have a nice time together. I’m going to miss her when I move.

John took off last week for vacation at Disney. It was hell answering the phone, the door, and doing both our jobs - but it's paybacks when I go out west for two weeks. And he brought me back this cute coffee mug.

Saturday I went out with Josh for a little bit. We went to Target where I got these cute crab salt and pepper shakers. I couldn't resist. They are just so happy and friendly and bright. They have Dinosaurs and Fraggle Rock on DVD! I'd love to watch them. I used to love those shows. "Not the Mama!" And now I have the Fraggle Rock theme song stuck in my head on repeat...

Look how cute they are!

I finally used the last of my Revolution Money bonus. I ordered a lilac candle and solid perfume for Steve's grandma. I gave her that with a lavender eye pillow I made, a lilac soap I made, a lilac soap from Magic Hands Workshop that came in grab bag, and some breast cancer awareness charms and pins. Oh and hand cream from Bathed and Infused. I used the rest of my RME at Daisy Cake Soap. I ordered violet soap (my favorite flower scent) and since I had extra money to use in the account I made an arrangment with her and she sent me expresso soap and mint soap as well.

I finally finished reading Lolita. I hated it when I started, and it’s taken me over a year to finish it – reading a little at a time. But in the end I kind of liked it. Liked the remorse felt.

Today I'm taking a break from packing to go to the beach with my parents. It is a holiday weekend and beautiful outside afterall. And I am really going to miss the ocean. But tonight it will be back to packing again. I'm almost there, so I'm not too worried.

Horns and Tails

The last weekend in March, I went to Renaissance Festival with Isaac. I kept seeing people with these horns. I had to have some. At of everything there, that is what I wanted most. Mine are glittery and pink (we all know how much I love pink that glitters) but they also had sparkly purple ones and blue ones... and red is always nice too. I mentioned them at the last crafty girls night, and Helen knows how to make them. She is my new hero! Every time Emily or I mention something, Helen knows how to do it. We're going to try to make some of our own the next time we get together. I'm just wondering if the Fimo expands when you bake it, or if we have to buy huge blocks of the stuff. If that's the case, I may want to get it in advance online. I also wonder if we need to paint them or just buy the colored Fimo. I'm so excited!!!

The other thing at Ren Fest that I saw and really wanted was a fox tail. People had them attached to their belts and were walking around with tails. I wanted one, until I found out they were real. And then I was horrified. I've looked online to try to find faux fox tails but I can't find any. Isaac suggested getting a stuffed animal and cutting it's tail off, but I couldn't live with myself if I did that. Poor stuffed animal. Anyway... I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on making one - that doesn't involve maiming an animal real or stuffed?

Lavender Eye Pillows

Friday night Emily, Helen and I got together for another crafty girls session. We went to Helen's this time. Our main project of the night was making lavender eye pillows. They are surprisingly easy to make. Helen thought it would be a good idea to make the pillows with a light white material, and then to make the cases removable so they could be washed if they get dirty. I thought this was a brilliant idea as every lavender pillow I've ever purchased could not be washed. We each made two and I still have lavender and flax seed left. We used about 5 parts flax seed to 2 parts lavender for the really heavily scented pillows. We used Helen's sewing machine, but Emily showed us they can be hand stitched too.

Other projects included more soap making. I had purchased seashore, blueberry, honeysuckle, violet, spicey carnation, and (synthetic) musk oils at Great American. I love the carnation and violet. They smell amazing. Seashore is wonderful as well.

We also worked on the crocheting a little. I've almost made it through my first roll of yarn on the blanket I'm making. I'm excited to get it done so I can start working on arm warmers and animals (which I will blog about later).

Thai food, soap making and puppet sex

Friday was a good day. I took Steve's grandma out to lunch. We went for Thai food on St. Pete Beach. She let me order for her, and likes my panang curry. She even got it with the tofu. We had a lovely time. I was nervous because it's been so long since I've seen her, but she made me feel comfortable immediately. I brought her the framed photo of Steve and I that I had made back in December. We ended talking before we went to lunch and then had a very long lunch. After lunch we wandered the little shops in the plaza and she bought us cute, kissing, monkey salt and pepper shakers. It was nice spending time with her. I really like her. She is nice to talk to and has a lot of spunk.

The only down side to my Friday is that someone scraped my car in the parking lot. They left a note, so that was nice. Pat, in a rare helpful mood, called for me, and made arrangements to take my car to a body shop, and the lady who hit my car will take care of it.

Friday night I was at Emily's until somewhere around 2:30 a.m. She invited her friend, Helen, as well. We had a girl's night making soap. We stopped at Michael's first to get some glycerin and odds and ends. I needed more yarn for the blanket that I'm making and when they heard I could crochet they both wanted to learn too and bought hooks and yarn. It's been almost five years since I've made any soap. I was mostly just getting the hang of it again, and expirementing with scent combinations. I made a really yummy smelling bar for Steve with Colombian coffee, chocolate, vanilla, coconut and a little peppermint. And I made a Monkey Farts bar with banana, honeydew, raspberry and coconut.


We are supposed to get together at Helen's next. I really like her. It was fun having a girl's night. It's so sad that I'm leaving when I finally have some girl friends that live close by and are into the same kinds of things that I am. Helen is going to teach us how to make lavender eye pillows. I had been wanting to make them and when I mentioned it, I discovered Helen used to make them and could teach us. Yay!

When my parents are in Ohio for my sister's operation we will have girl's night at my house. My parent's counters are ideal for spreading out all the scents and molds and other supplies. I had at least 100 scents and Emily has a bunch of her own. We have a ton of molds too. I forgot how much fun soap making was.

Saturday I ran around to a bunch of stores with mom. She is looking for throw rugs and placematts. We stopped by the house of one of our clients that just closed. She gave me a whole bunch of boxes. Boxes are good! Then I can pack. The time is both dragging on and flying by at the same time. I can't wait to be with Steve every day, with our own place. I'm terrified of the whole new job experience, but I know it will all be ok.

Sunday was a bad day. My stepdad was being a jerk - more than usual. I won't go into all the details but I had a margarita for breakfast if that tells you anything. I ended up working most of the day to try to get my desk caught up some. Did some Spanish home work. We had a play that night. "Avenue Q." It's the one I was looking forward to all season. I wasn't that impressed. The acting and singing was incredible.... I just feel some of the content was lacking and in some places unneccessary. It was definately a one-timer for me - but I think my brother would really like it.

There was a whole song with full on puppet sex. It was mildly disturbing. Puppets having sex. Hardcore puppet sex. The song had something to do with you have to be quiet in the library, church, and the ballet, but you should be as loud as you want when you're having sex. It wasn't put quite that delicately though. And then there is a monster that is kind of like Cookie Monster (the whole thing is kind of like an adult Sesame Street) who is addicted to internet porn. He actually says something about how he "whips out his dick and starts to click". Also disturbing. There is a very Bert and Ernie like set of puppets and one of them is Gay and Republican and having issues coming out of the closet. The Ernie like puppet sings a song about how it's ok to be gay and he would still be his friend. There is a song that says we are all a little bit racist (as in telling racial jokes) and if we all just realized that we would get along. Another song had to do with the fact that people get happy when they see homeless people and people struggling or in pain because it makes them feel better about themselves. Another song had to do with the fact that the more you love someone the more you want to kill them - that hate and love are just two sides of the same song. Overall the play had a very strong statement and it had several very good statements. There were just a few things, and I can't think of them off the top of my head (other than the puppet 69) that made my jaw drop and made me feel a little uncomfortable to be sitting next to my parents while it was being said.

GRR!

We all know I don't have a temper - so I guess that should be more of a little grr - no exclamation. Anyway... Today isn't really that bad. I took Steve's grandma out to lunch. Well I guess, she took me. I picked her up and planned to pay, but she was not having it! We went out for Thai food close to her house. It was pretty good, and very prettily decorated. It was fun chatting with her and hearing stories about when Steve was little. She also bought us these cute little monkey salt and pepper shakers. They have magnets in them so they are kissing.

The grr comes from the fact that someone scraped my car in the parking lot. No body damage but they scraped up the paint pretty bad. They did leave a note and their phone number. I'm hoping Pat will be nice enough to call and take care of it for me so that I don't get ripped off.

Tonight I'm going to make soap with Emily. It's been in the works a long time. Finally! Yay! I hope it turns out as pretty as all the ones I see on websites and fiend after. I'll try to post some pictures of it later.