The Snarky Stalker...

The next step....

2011-11-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

So what's new in this journey? Well, I finally pulled on my big girl panties and left my husband. I tried to do the living as friends things but it became clear very quickly, that was not going to work. So I rented a piece of crap apartment, got my old job back and I'm currently searching for a second job. Yep, life is good. OK, so maybe not perfect but it's my life again. I am no longer the wife who just sits back and takes the crap. No more. I have a new life and it's all mine. And my kids. The kids are doing OK. I know they want mommy and daddy to have worked things out but I think someday they will understand. I hope so anyway. So I've learned a few things the past couple of months.

Ramen noodles are cheap and easy. They also taste like crap.
Cheap apartments, are cheap for a reason.
Eating healthy, is freaking expensive.
Hand me down clothes are a blessing.
"Gently used" doesn't mean much of anything.
Super glue can fix almost anything.
Kids are pretty strong. Sometimes stronger than adults.
Friends don't always have YOUR best interest at heart.
Love can happen again.
You can live with out 230 channels of crap. (I do miss HBO though)

I wonder what I will learn next month. The holidays are coming and I am frankly dreading them. My first holiday season as a single mom. Oh joy! I hope the super glue can put me back together if I crack.

Sing me the blues, then drown me in happiness.

2011-08-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

So it's been a couple of weeks since my last post and I have somehow pulled myself off the floor and crawled back into my skin. I won't lie, it hurt. But now it's left me with a new perspective on my life, and where I'm going. I think it should have been a wake up call that for most of my marriage, I've been on anti-depressants with NO or little success. Or that every page in my journal speaks volumes of my loneliness for years. You would have thought that the fact he slept in the basement for almost 6 years would also have been a wake up call. Not to mention his addictions that were never quite under control. But I think we don't see these things. We don't want too or we convince ourselves that they will get better. Well, they didn't. At first I regretted speaking up months ago about all this, because I thought it caused his affair. I thought if I had just kept my mouth shut and kept trying by myself, we would've been OK. That of course would be a lie. One I could no longer live.
His girlfriend left him by the way. Perhaps I should have felt some happiness for that but I didn't. What was the point? I feel no need for revenge or vindictiveness. Honestly. We are still a long way from being friends but I am trying to focus on myself and my future. A future with hope for love and happiness again. Maybe my old friend loneliness will finally take a back seat to fulfillment and self-sufficiency. Who knows. So back to work, and back to the world of being single. Or separated and soon to be single anyway.

Heartbreak and darkness an end of a marriage...

2011-07-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

So it's been awhile since I last posted. Things in my life have taken a dramatic change. My husband of 12 years, has fallen in love with another woman and I am trying to pick up the pieces of my broken heart and be happy for him. You see, it's my fault. I wasn't happy with a long history of addiction on his part, loneliness and feelings of abandonment on mine, I wanted..... I needed change. So in my brilliance I told him I just wanted to try and live as friends for now. It was my hope that as friends, we would once again see the things we once liked in each other and start getting along again. Also, keep our family together. He didn't agree and fought me tooth and nail. He was heartbroken and didn't understand. He cried for weeks. So finally last week, I decided to give him another chance. And he was happy again. Within 3 days, on my home from a day at the pool with the kids he calls me to tell me, hes going on a date. BAM! What!!??? Seriously? Ouch.
Yep, that's right. He has fallen in love with an old friend he met on facebook just this past week. My heart, to my surprise, shattered. I had to pull over the car on the side of the road, get out and throw up and cry. My poor children watched from the back seat in confusion. I called a friend to come talk me down enough for me to get home.
Its been 3 days since that day. He is so happy. Giddy even. And I am trying to be happy for him. I am trying to not break down completely. To not curl up in a corner and give into the heartbreak and darkness I feel inside. And it hurts. It hurts because I realize what I've lost. It hurts because I have never felt so alone in my life. He keeps telling me how great she is and how much I'm going to like her. He keeps telling me how the kids are going to like her. And I keep feeling more and more of whats left of my heart break off and disintegrate. Getting out of bed is my greatest challenge. Trying not to let the kids or him see me break down is my second daily challenge.

And where do I go from here? How do I go on from here? I know that the pain will eventually start to heal, but for now, it hurts so much I can't breathe. But I smile and quietly tell everyone, I'm ok and walk away before they see the truth in my eyes.

Beware the rising dead people!

2011-05-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so if you haven't heard (how can you not) the world is ending on October 21st. The rapture is tomorrow at 6:00 pm. What that means is people like me will be staying behind to fight it out in a post-apocalyptic sort of world. Really, no different than everyday, right?? So I won't bother writing anymore as I am going to start a lottery with my neighbors to divvy up the goods and hot tub of those lucky christians who will be leaving us tomorrow. (What? Someone has to use it, I hate waste)

Read this article just in case you get left behind. For those of you who won't be around anymore... I never really liked you anyway.

Endless spring

2011-04-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Another cold rainy day in this endless spring. Normally I love spring. It comes with a mix of warm sunshine and some rainy days but this is ridiculous. I don't know if what I am feeling lately is a mirror of the rain or the other way around. It seems to all be the same. Ugh!

So I've been perusing youtube a lot lately, sort of looking for some of the old songs to hear again and I came across a beautiful version of "Send me an Angel". Orginally sung by the scorpions. In this version they are joined by a singer named Liel Kolet. Very pretty voice.

The diary of a mental breakdown.

2011-04-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

I am having one of those years where I have finally fallen to my knees and yelled to the universe "What the Hell?!?!!" Am I not deserving of some sort of love? Does everything have to be a challenge on me? I wish I could say that I have lived as much as I have dreamed. I wish I could say that my life brings me joy and happiness and that being a mother is the best thing ever. I wish I could say my marriage was fine and I am happily in love. I wish I could say that I knew who I was and could stride forward in confidence without fear. I can't. I won't.

Does anybody? Does anybody really truly live without fear. Live ever flowing with the changes and still come out as the same person? If life is change then shouldn't change be second nature to us? Why does it also have to destroy as it builds? So I am stuck, asking more questions then willing to look for the answers. Because I know the answers. I'm just not ready to face them. Instead, I will probably just scream at the universe some more.

A little bit of sugar

2011-03-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

If you read my blogs then you know for certain one thing about me. I HATE the news. I HATE the fear-mongering over inflated and frankly stupid FOX news and other "news" channels. They are not news. News would be reporting what is actually going on, you know "facts". Not the opinions of a biased and frankly ignorant group of people who talk before they think.

So how do I keep up with what's going on in the world? Sometimes I read the Huffington Post. Sometimes I read what comes up on Latest Headlines or what is posted in the local news. But my favorite is Satirical news. Its news with a dose of sugar in the form of humor to make it go down a little better. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or The Colbert Report, make news fun and you still get some facts mixed in. Frankly, it makes me not want to go jump off a bridge. I recently came across a great blog, One Nation Under Mom that really had me rolling and I highly recommend. Yes, it's satire and opinion but it's funny. Best of both worlds. Check it out, and enjoy it. Life is too damn short for anything else.

I was Sucker Punched..

2011-03-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

So, went to see the movie Sucker Punch last night with my BFF. It looked cool. I mean, come on, girls in cool and sexy costumes fighting and kicking ass. Well, it's now been 12 hours since I saw it and I still don't get it. I have no idea what the movie was trying to say. Maybe, I just expect movies to have a point of or even a plot. But this movie, well, I must be missing something. The costumes WERE awesome. The violence was abundant. The music rocked. (going to get the soundtrack for the gym) But the story line was so damn confusing. I can't wrap my head around what was real and wasn't. Perhaps, I'm not supposed to. Perhaps they wanted to make it so people who don't really get it will say it was artistic and you have to be of a certain kind of person to understand the subtle (or not so subtle) nuance of this movie. To sum it up, Baby Doll the blonde is sent to a mental institution where her dirty stepfather pays secretly to have her lobotomized. She goes from a dreary institution to suddenly a club of "dancers". She discovers that when she dances she can enter another fantasy completely where she has a sword and is fighting to survive. The people around her are almost hypnotized by the fantasy. Soon, the other girls become part of it and they are trying to find items in order to escape. Basically its a fantasy on top of another fantasy and you're not really sure who is in on it and who isn't. The ending, well I won't spoil it but did not bring it all together like I was hoping.

Perhaps, I'm just too old to understand it.

Ask, question and evolve.

2011-03-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Believe nothing on the faith of traditions,
even though they have been held in honor
for many generations and in diverse places.
Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.
Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.
Do not believe what you yourself have imagined,
persuading yourself that a God inspires you.
Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.
After examination, believe what you yourself have tested
and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
~Buddha

News as you should hear it!

2011-02-15T08:44:00.000-08:00

I don't watch the news anymore. In fact, it's been almost a year since I actually sat and watched the news. It didn't matter what station I watched. To me it was all depressing, overly inflated, politicized fear mongering and rhetoric that made me feel like strangling someone or throwing a brick through a window. It may be that I am just overly empathetic to feelings but trust me, it was not a good combination for me. The only news I do watch anymore is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert. It's news in small pieces and mix of humor and opinion that doesn't leave me feeling like killing someone. (I do read the news but typically the Huffington post.)

So in true Jon Stewart Style, Here is your moment of Zen...

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

On you next walk, watch out for giant reptiles!

2011-02-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

Imagine taking fluffy out for a walk and passing a 5 foot monitor lizard. Or better yet, your neighbors escaped pet tiger. I'm starting to wonder if maybe the US needs to rethink the whole "what is a pet" policy. (before my kids get eaten) I suppose I could always use it as a threat... "Clean your room or I will feed you to the smiths pet monitor lizard!"

Godzilla in the Burbs!

A book review of sorts...

2011-01-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

I just finished the Hunger Games trilogy, and all I can say is... WOW. No series has had such a profound effect on how I feel and how I view my day to day life. I had no idea why. For some reason I identified so strongly with the main character Katniss. No, I've never had to live in such a state or had to kill others in a game of sport for the wealthy elite, but in my own personal way, I lived my own hunger games. My childhood was anything but nice and cozy. In fact I can honestly say that everyday was a fight for me and younger siblings. From the time we woke up to the time we went to bed it was a fight to survive.

It would be a really long blog if I went into the specifics of the series and no one wants to here me drone on in book report fashion. But I do highly recommend these books. From the moment I picked it up I could not put them down. They put you into a world of fear and abuse by a government on it's people that can only be challenged by extreme change and rebellion of the people. Triggered by a 16 year old girl (Katniss) simply trying to stay alive, the rebellion takes off and leaves a wake of pain and tragedy for everyone involved but especially for Katniss. The choices she has to make in order to survive kept me at the edge of my seat.

The Hunger Games

Peace to everyone and I hope the winter is treating you all kindly.

Who is that Incredibly hot, calm and sophisticated woman???

2010-12-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

This year, I'm copying a friend who wrote a list of the person she would be if she could create herself with Simms. (Video game for those who are not familiar) So here goes....

If I could recreate Chandra she would be...

Calm even in the most stressful times. (never raises her voice to her kids)
Strong, graceful and in kick butt shape.
Always perfectly dressed even when lounging at home

She could..

Bake
Sew awesome and beautiful things
Be a better mother. Maybe even close to the PERFECT mother.
Make friends with everyone
Speak fluent Spanish

She would..

Do Yoga on top of a mountain
Travel to Europe
Visit Hawaii again with her husband
Finally take riding lessons and someday, own a horse
Have a farm with goats, ponies, chickens and cows.
Study Greek and Roman Mythology

But you know when I look at who I am now, the list isn't important. I like myself despite not being the ideal person I have in my mind. I am sarcastic, smart, funny and different. I am not the ideal mom but I adore my kids and they are my world. I still might travel or own farm animals. I can do Yoga on a mountain if so inclined. I am a jeans and t-shirt sort of gal. (sometimes even a big sweater or flannel shirt) I don't have a big circle of friends. Only one or two very good friends but for the most part, I am a loner. All in all, I'm pretty damn awesome. And who needs to bake? I mean the grocery stores do a pretty damn good job at it and no clean up for me!

I am what I am. Now pass me some spinach!

2010-12-26T17:49:00.000-08:00

I am a vegetarian. GASP! I don't eat meat for my own personal reasons and beliefs. I don't preach or judge others. I don't belong to PETA and I don't glare at you as you chomp on your hamburger. (unless you are a noisy and messy eater) I never insist you make me something without meat, I just eat sides or politely pass and eat later. If you invite me to dinner at your house, I will tell you so that there is no embarrassment later. I just don't eat meat. So why on earth am I not able to eat in peace? Why am I being judged, looked down on and questioned every time I say, "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian." ? Why? I understand curiosity. I will gladly answer your questions. But if I already have answered them many times then your questions become simple harassment. Especially if you are a family member who insists on questioning me loudly every single time we sit down to eat. Frankly, it's rude. I know you don't care or you would have heard and accepted my answer the last twenty times you asked me.

I am not an alien so please don't look at me like I have 3 eyes or antenna growing from my head. I am not a zealot who is trying to convert you. I am not a snob who thinks I am better than you. (unless I am) So please, just let me eat my tofu and veggies in peace.

Peace to All!

2010-12-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

I put together another collection for the holidays. I wanted to display items from different cultural holidays this time of year. It was more difficult than I thought because of how little there is yet on artfire that represents these holidays. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Peace to all

Curated By: wickfulthings

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Here's hoping!

2010-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. Candy canes, Santa, decorations and shopping, of course. And, as it has for a couple of years, the fight to keep "christ" in christmas. It's exhausting. You would think that as a society we have advanced to a state of enlightenment where we don't feel the need to force ourselves and beliefs on others. Where we can accept each other for who we are and fight for causes that would bring peace to earth and food to the starving. Where we can raise a glass and toast each other and not turn into a war of theology.

It's turned a time of happiness and joy into tension and disgust. If you wish someone happy holidays instead of merry christmas, you have to worry about being boycotted. Where is all the love of the season gone? Is it possible that peoples egos and need to make everyone the same taken front seat to the real spirit of the holidays? Can christians not celebrate the christ in their holidays without worrying about people not doing so? Can all of the other religions of this country not celebrate their way without trying to force the rest of the country and schools to be "politically correct"?

We teach our children to share with others and to not fight. We teach them about getting along with others and accepting each other for who they are. Have the adults forgotten the simple golden rule of treating others the way we wish to be treated? And to go out on a limb here (I hope) are we destined for another war in this country because of religion? Will we become like the middle east, bombing each other in the name of our theology when peace is really just a matter of letting go of our ego?

Here is hoping that we can all just grow up this holiday and learn to just get along. After all, if our children can do it, so can we!

Sneaky bear on the loose.

2010-11-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

I went out this morning to feed my kids pet rabbit rockstar who resides in a hutch in our fenced in back yard. To my horror, I found the hutch flipped over and turned around and the door laying wide open. No sign of rockstar the rabbit. I did however discover large tracks heading into the woods nearby. We combed the neighborhood in hopes he may have just gotten free and run for the hills but no sign of him.

So if you see a black bear, looking guilty and sneaky, he is wanted by the victims family in connection to this tragedy.

Shopping, shopping and more shopping..

2010-11-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! Trying to find the perfect gifts for every one. I was persuing artfire this morning and found some really cute things for my friends and myself.

True Blood fans? Especially eric? This one is perfect:-)
Hot eric

For those with little girls...
Cute Outfit

And for some of my single cat loving friends:-) Crazy Cat Ladys

I know my friends are going to love some of their christmas gifts this year!!!

Artfire Sale.

2010-11-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

I have a new coupon for my artfire store. For christmas shopping at my shoppe!

Visit wickfulthings's Studio

SAVE 15.00 % On
All Items

Use Coupon Code:

MAGICCRAFTSHOW

during checkout.

Floral Gifts

The first week..

2010-11-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

So my first week of being a full time work at home mom did not go as well as planned. For some reason I found myself floundering about. I woke up each morning with a sense of trepidation. I felt kind of lost and confused. I though perhaps at first it was because I just hadn't fully accepted my new position. As the week ended I realized that I couldn't go forward until I got rid of my anxiety. So what was causing my anxiety? I felt like I couldn't go forward until I had cleaned up my space and made it less stressful. My house was a mess. My organization was all over the place and I couldn't stop feeling overwhelmed. SO this weekend, I cleaned my bedroom. It wasn't the whole house but if you had seen it you would understand. For three years, my bedroom was no longer mine. My kids have turned it into a dirty, messy and disgusting toy room. Candy wrappers, food, cups, plates and broken toys all over the place. It caused me great distress every night as I climbed into bed.

Well, no longer. I swept, cleaned, scrubbed and shampooed. I rearranged the furniture and reorganized until it no longer looked like the same room. Then I sat the kids down and told them the new rules. No more using mommies room as a playroom. Last night I crawled into bed and took a deep breath and realized, I could think once more. It was more than just cleaning a room. It was decluttering my life and my thoughts. It felt really good and I think I may have even giggled a little. It was liberating. I am looking forward to this next week.

Samhain Blessings, Happy New Year to all Witches.

2010-10-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

And what a beautiful night it is! Crisp, clear and cool. So my feast this year has turned into pizza because of unexpected guests but it's all OK. Every year on this day, we place a plate outside for the spirits as an honoring or gift. It's a time to honor those who have passed. To remember the good things and honor those memories.

It's also the best time to make new changes to your life, to start new projects or to set new goals. That's why I chose this weekend to end my job and start anew as a work at home mom. I am dedicating myself full time to my candles and products. I'm also dedicating this next year to fixing all of the broken things in my life. Sadly, they've been broken by unintentional neglect.

So, to my ancestors and visiting spirits I give you, pizza and wine. Not the most traditional offering but I most certainly am not a traditional witch. Samhain Blessings. May all of your endeavors be fruitful ones.

So does it make me a Toob head?

2010-10-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit, I like TV. I have my shows I watch religiously every week. Usually while I am working online or making candles. They let me get lost in another world. Sometimes, depending on the show, it makes me like my own life just a little more.

NCIS- it's an awesome team of people I love to watch
True Blood- only on HBO but I LOOOOOVE this show. Addicted actually.
Dog the Bounty Hunter- C'mon, they hunt bad guys. Love it.
Bridezillas- A bunch of bratty, badly behaving women throwing public tantrums. Laughable.
Desperate Housewives- If only being a housewife was this interesting.
Amazing Wedding Cakes- Never thought I would enjoy watching people create dessert as much as I love eating it.
Charmed- Witches with abilities we all wish we had.
Bones- Gross and educational all at the same time. Great cast of likable characters.
Pit Boss- Shorty and his crew, rescuing pit bulls. I just love all of the trouble they seem to get into.
Greys Anatomy- Hot doctors and all of the drama, what's not to love.

Needless to say, the DVR is my best friend. I love it and want to marry it. Am I unstable? Or perhaps, I don't have a life.

Ah, so very true!

2010-10-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Why a Blend?

2010-09-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of questions lately as to why I make my containers with a soy blend instead of just straight soy or paraffin. Well, my answer is very simple. I like them better blended. No, really, I do!

I've tested many waxes over the past couple of years. Straight soy and straight paraffin. I loved the look of the soy. Creamy and smooth. (Kind of like Butter!) Paraffin has it's own unique look and the scent throw is awesome. Soy is a fickle beast to work with. It frosts, it cracks and sometimes it just doesn't work well with a particular fragrance. for larger containers, you have to double wick. Paraffin seemed to throw each fragrance very well, but it had too much soot. It also required re-pours and I simply do not have the patience for re-pours. So in an effort to find the best of both worlds, I blended them. I blend 80% pure soy with 20% paraffin. Voila! After some tweaking and patience I've come up with the perfect blend. They have the creamy appearance of soy without a lot of the fickleness. The paraffin smooths them out and and shortens the cure time. You then have a Wickful Things candle!

So what do you get from a Wickful Things candle? You get a strong smelling, beautiful candle that has little to no soot and lasts a long time. They burn all the way out to the edge with little to no hangup and wasted wax.

I may not be good at a lot of things but I make an AWESOME candle. I also make awesome soy tarts and melts for those who prefer pure soy. I like to think of my candles as mostly pure with a little bit of wicked. Just like me:-)

Certified Handmade Proud!

2010-09-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

I finally received my certified handmade artifact. It only took 3 weeks but I'm happy all the same! On a different note, with fall here, I find myself sad because there is no Trueblood on Sunday nights. Oh, how I loved my Trueblood. I will just have to start endlessly at the HBO reruns for glimpses of Eric Northman. How sad am I???

wickfulthings

Handmade Unique Gifts

Woofstock 2010, Paws for the animals.

2010-09-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

I'm working at Woofstock tomorrow in Riverfront Park, Harrisburg. It's gonna be a great time. There is supposed to be a lot of great animal friendly vendors, music, food and entertainment. If you are in the harrisburg area, stop by and enjoy.

It should be a beautiful day also. The weather is going to be sunny and warm. All proceeds go to benefit the animals and the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance. You can check them out here:

http://www.cpaa.info/

Gratuitous pic of my puppy!

I bit the bullet...

2010-09-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

I signed up for my first craft show. Alas, I'm biting the bullet so to speak. So, in three weeks, I make the big craft show leap. A friend from work is helping the boyscouts with there harvest festival and she happens to love my candles so she asked me to do this. I agreed. We will see how it goes. I'm doing a lot of research to make sure I'm prepared to make this a fun and economical weekend. I've been making lists of things I will need and how much stock to bring. Any recommendation, let me know.

Really cool opportunity.

2010-09-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Artfire has announced a new group deal . With the sign up of 20,000 new pro accounts you will only have to pay $5.95 a month. That's a 10.00 savings. SO if you've been contemplating opening a pro-account, now is the time. If you don't have a current account just sign up for a free basic then do the upgrade to pro. It really is easy.

The tools on artfire are really awesome and easy to use. I think one of the best things is the fact you can link to your outside studios and websites. Buyers don't need an account to sign up.

Seriously, give it a try, you have nothing to lose!

The Modern Witches Tools for Success!

2010-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

The Modern Witche...

Curated By: wickfulthings

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

I've been working very hard lately at revamping my website trying to make it more user friendly. Instead of links leading to etsy or artfire, I decided to keep everything on my website. At night, I've been putting together collections. It soothes me. Check out my latest. Make sure you give it 5 stars:-)

Doing less to do more.

2010-09-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

This was posted on the Etsy reading list and I found it to be really good advice.

What are you going to do less of?

Not only is it really good advice for business but in our personal lives also. What in our lives are we spending perhaps too much of our energy on and need to scale back? When we are stressed and feel like there is too much going on, maybe we need to stop and think of ways we can lighten our load a little. Even if it's just cutting back and not giving up completely.

I thought, maybe I should give up my weekly obsession with chocolate and then thought, nah. I'll give up work before I do that.

Visit my studio at Wickful Things

Something wicked..

2010-09-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I am so darn excited, I created my first collection on Artfire. I have to admire my handy work. Seriously cool collection.

Something wicked....

Curated By: wickfulthings

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

The perfect gift.

2010-08-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

My 6 year old daughter has a knack for making first impressions. For her first day of kindergarten she told her teacher that "he was a good teacher and she had a great day but didn't know if she was coming back tomorrow, she would have to ask her mom." It was his first day of teaching and this little girl was putting him in his place in a matter of fact way. He told me he will always remember that moment, not so much the words, but how this little girl said it. So very sure of herself and happy.

A couple days before first grade started, Quinn and her daddy, made a necklace together. It was a snail shell they found together and put on a string. Honestly, it was quite ugly, and it smelled. So she decided the morning of school that it was the perfect gift for her new teacher. I tried to protest but my daughter, true to form, could not be persuaded to do otherwise. So she marched off to school with her "gift" and a sense of contentment that I can only wistfully dream of feeling. To her that necklace was special and it was obviously the perfect gift for any teacher of hers. I know it will make an impression. How could it not?

It's not the gift itself that she is giving her teacher, it's a little piece of her. Her wonder and curiosity that she feels everyone (even teachers) should have. To Quinn that snail shell is a part of nature that is beautiful and mysterious. Ugly and stinky though it may be, viewing nature to her is special and something to be shared. I don't think anyone at the receiving end of these gifts will ever be able to truly appreciate it the same way she does. Not the way I do watching her give these gifts.

Well meant schedules and Caramel apples...

2010-08-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

Can you feel it? Fall is slowly creeping up on us like a ghost in the night. I love it. Nothing makes me feel more alive than the cooler days and the beautiful colors en robing the trees before they sleep. The geese honking across the sky towards the south for winter. Hot cocoa and pumpkins. How can you not feel alive?

My daughter is starting first grade on Monday. Another sign of fall. She is excited. I should be too because it saves me a lot of money on summer camp fees! I decided that this year I will try something a little different. This year, I made a schedule. An honest to goodness schedule. It lists everything from wake up, work, free time etc. I even went a step further and started planning all of the meals for the week on Friday night and shopping on Saturday. No more daily trips to the grocery store. I figure it will help save money and time. In particular, MY time. I feel like I'm starting a new school year. Of course, when I was a kid I always started the year gun ho and ready to get my act together only to fizzle out less than half-way through the year. So we shall see!

I listed my Autumn Magic Soap on artfire today. I also poured a whole bunch of caramel apple soy tarts. Did I mention that fall is my favorite time of year??

Marketing frenzy and wishful thinking.

2010-08-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Fall is on the way and I've been on listing and marketing frenzy. I've started listing more items on my artfire store. Check it out http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1771823

I think I've read more blogs and threads on selling and marketing than I will ever be able to remember. It seems so simple in the beginning. Stay at home mom, needing some extra income. So you think, turn my hobby into a business and just list some items on Ebay. Simple. No, no it's not. Between SEO and photo's it is more like a full time job with overtime. I honestly wonder at times, is this what I really want to do? I even took some time off this summer to rethink and reorganize. But I love making candles and soap and this IS what I want. So it's time to buckle down and stop treating this like just a hobby and more like a small business that I love.

I'm still short on time as a mom of two needy little ones, but time will help. Right? I mean eventually they get less needy, they have to. Right????? Perhaps it's just wishful thinking but it's MY imaginary world and I want to keep it!

The Luna Moth

2010-08-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

We've seen a couple rare glimpses of these beautiful giant moths this year. I've lived here for 15 years and this year was the first time I've actually seen one. They are a really cool species of moth.

Not all of it was bad...

2010-07-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me also knows that my childhood stories are scary nightmares. My stories usually consist of my fond memories of the simply bizarre. An adopted mother who acted bipolar and an alcoholic adopted father who did his best to drown himself. But I know deep down, I have some good memories. I think what usually happens is that the bad outweigh the good. So, my mission is to try and remember some of the good.

So some good memories of my childhood:

My dad had a big garden. Something I can only appreciate now. To have had fresh vegetables every day and not go to the grocery store.

My mother, made the best taco salads.

When my dad would take my brothers fishing, my mom would rent musicals and get pizza we'd have a girls night with my little sister and I.

One christmas a family in the church treated my family to a "secret friend" themed with the 12 days of christmas. Each of the 12 days of christmas a new gift was left at our mailbox or front lawn with a poem. It was exciting to see what would come next. It was very special and really made that christmas a cherished memory.

It's good to know that there are some good memories of childhood. It hurts to relive some of them because they make me sad. But they exist, and that is a start.

I don't raise the dead! Have you seen Pet Semetary?

2010-06-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

I received one of the weirdest calls at work today. It's one that had me confused and laughing my butt off at the same time. At work, when a pet is put to sleep, we make a paw print impression for the owner. It's of there own pet, right after euthanasia. It doesn't matter if they have private cremation or not, it's just something we do for the owner. No charge.

Me: ACME Animal Hospital, How can I help you?

Caller: Yes, I picked up my pet's paw print this weekend and it broke. Can I get another?

Me: Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, the bodies have all gone off for cremation.

Caller: Well I have her ashes already. I picked them up on Saturday with her Paw print.

Me: < Looking around for the hidden camera> I'm so sorry, we really do need your pets body in order to make a new paw print for you.........

Caller: I'm sorry too! CLICK!!!

I have no idea what I was missing! I felt really bad for the owner and even worse that there was no way to make that call a happy ending. It's not like we could rehydrate the ashes. I thought about saying "Listen, I don't raise the dead. Have you ever seen pet sematary? It didn't end well for them!" but I know that would have been really rude.

The Bad Moms Club.

2010-06-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

I found the perfect club for me!

The Bad Moms Club

Perfect mommy soldiers.

2010-06-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

I sit here contemplating how on earth I could possibly have thought I could be a mother. How do other women do this? I am ready to literally rip my hair out and scream. My three year old son will not give me a moments peace and my six year old has the attitude of a sixteen year old. So I think about the mothers I do know and wonder how could I have this so wrong? What is wrong with me? Why am I ready to just collapse and give up?

To listen to all of the other moms, life is so sweet and slow. They laugh everything off like it is just another tickle in there perfect lives. "Ha ha, she spilled red paint everywhere including the dog and then proceeded to run away and slam the door in my face, isn't that just adorable? I am so blessed!" They are never tired and never lose their temper. Perfect mommy robots. And I envy them. Oh how I wish I could just get through one day and feel that perfect and that blessed. Instead, I go to bed and lie awake and wonder how I can possibly do this. I tell myself tomorrow, I won't lose my patience. Tomorrow, I will be a great mom. Needless to say, I always let myself down.

Do these women have some drug I don't know about that makes them mellow and yet full of energy? I want that drug! Give it to me!!! I want to be part of the drugged up mommy revolution!

Giddy with Joy.

2010-05-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

Holiday weekend! And even better my wonderful SIL will be taking my kids to her nieces Birthday party over night. That means me, hubby and the house to ourselves. Perhaps we will frolic around and go crazy by watching grown up movies, eating sweets and just basking in the silence. Maybe, I'll read a book and suck on M&M's without constant distraction? I might even go to the bathroom by myself! I can't tell you how giddy I am.

On the biz end of things, I'm testing new waxes for my container candles. The manufacture of my wax seems to have changed something. No one except a fellow candle maker will understand the frustration of testing hundreds of wicks/wax combos in search of the perfect candle only to have the manufacturer change it up without telling you. So the search begins yet again.

I'm also starting to think fall. It's never too early to start planning for new holiday and fall scents to add to the line up. Gods, I love fall.

Vegan Banana Mango smoothies! Simply divine.

2010-05-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

It's starting to feel like summer already. Very Hot. SO I broke out the blender and started making my Vegan fruit smoothies. Not only are the healthy for you, they are low calorie, low fat and the kids love them. Even better, they are incredibly easy.

Rice Milk- I usually pour in about 1/3 full into into the blender. You can use almond milk also but I prefer rice milk.

1 Large banana (peeled obviously)

A handful of frozen mango. You can buy bags of frozen fruit at your grocer. The tropical blends are my favorite.

Ice

1 packet of Truvia or splenda if you want to sweeten it. I like the truvia because not only is it 0 calorie but it is also aspartame free. You can also use agave nectar.

Blend till smooth. Enjoy!!! No yogurt, sugary syrups or cream. Delicious. Don't be afraid to experiment either. My husband loves to use his chocolate protein powder with banana and mango. It's yummy. Add peanut butter instead of fruit along with some wheat germ for a protein rich treat.

And some more useless but funny laws..

2010-05-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

In New York, the penalty for jumping off a building, is death.

In Iowa, a one armed piano players must play for free and it's illegal to dance between the hours of 2 am and 6 am.

In Pennsylvania, there is no singing in the bathtub. (someone must have heard me:-)

In Missouri, you can not drive down a road with a caged bear inside.

In Florida, it is illegal to have sexual relations with a porcupine. (I wonder if not shaving ones legs count?)

In Colorado, it is illegal to fire a catapult at a building.

In Louisiana it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at a teller with a water pistol.

In Mississippi, a man may not seduce a woman by lying to her or promising to marry her. (wow can you imagine how crowded the jails would be if they enforced this one?)

In Massachusetts, a mourner at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches.

In Utah, it is illegal NOT to drink milk. (does rice milk count, cause I won't drink cows milk)

In Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk. (ummm.....k?)

In New Jersey, it is illegal to wear a bullet proof vest while committing a murder. (be polite and don't make it harder for someone to shoot you!)

Absolutely useless!

2010-05-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

The elephant is the only animal with 4 knees.
Every human has spent half an hour as a single cell.
If you plug your nose, you can't hum. I tried, did you?
Kissing is healthier than shaking hands.
India never invaded any country in it's history.
In the average lifetime a human will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.
When you die, your hair continues to grow for weeks.
Coca-cola was originally green.
In texas it is illegal to carry a concealed ice cream cone.
In california, animals are banned from publicly mating within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school or place of worship.

So there you go...... useless.

Mothers day monsters.

2010-05-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

So mothers day is soon shifting into the past. It was wonderful and I've never felt so loved. My hubby and I took the kids to Inner Harbor, MD for our annual trip. We explored the National aquarium (alec's first time) and had a blast. We visited the science museum and ate lots of seafood at all the nearby restaurants. It was truly a relaxing and fun event. The kids had an awesome time and were so well behaved I could cry.

However, A big BOO to my mother-in-law for pulling one of "woe is me" stunts that I will never forget. On our way to the aquarium on Saturday I received a call from the florist in Tunkhannock. They had tried to deliver the flowers we had picked out to my MIL and she refused delivery. So confused, I called her. At first she said that she just wanted us to save our money which is ridiculous. We already paid for the flowers and they already tried to deliver. So I asked her again and she told me "you were just trying to pacify me." Huh? I was confused because this seemed to come out of nowhere. Then she said "if you really want to make me happy, you would let me see my grandkids". Now she's stomped on my last nerve. Every time she calls she mentions she misses the kids. Well, I have visited whenever I could. My life is busy and I do the best I can. We were just there for easter! I haven't seem my own mother in months!!!

So, this was her way of emotionally blackmailing me. I don't go for blackmail. If you have something you want to say, say it, but don't play games with me. I can't stand these stupid games. Worse yet, she was ruining MY weekend also. I'm a mom also and was trying to have fun with the kids. So I told her she needed to grow up and hung up on her.

Mean? Perhaps. Am I taking it back or calling to apologize? No way. I am done with the games. I am done with the effort that always falls short. I am sick of feeling I can never do enough for her. I put a considerable amount of time into picking out those flowers. (not to mention money) The guilt trips are over. And oh, yes, she is the queen of the guilt trips. I hope she is happy with herself. Gotta love family.

Inspired by you...

2010-04-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a website of a friend of mine. I ordered a necklace and bracelet with tiger eye stone. I'd love to get an astro necklace but I have no idea what time I was born. I'm hoping to find that out eventually (when I'm not so darn lazy)

"Inspired by the universe and the day you were born. You become the designer; choose handcrafted art prints and design jewelry with the intension of inspiring inner wisdom and personal truth; using gemstones and crystals that have the power to heal, protect and transform energy"

Check it out here: Wisdom Art

What is wrong with people?

2010-04-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

4 Year old beaten to death after having an accident on the couch.

When I read this, all I can think about is my 3 year old son. I think of how innocent and playful his blue eyes are. I think of how he makes me laugh and sometimes even cry. I also think of how that other little boy must have felt that morning. How he must have been embarrassed about having an accident on the couch. I think of the fear and the pain he must have felt when the abuse started. I think of his tears and how he must have cried when his heart broke.

I hope that precious little boy is now at peace. I hope that where ever he is that he no longer remembers the pain and is no longer afraid. I hope the those responsible have to relive his pain for the rest of there miserable little lives.

Love my job, just hate people

2010-04-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Look at this face! Kind of a fuzzy picture but he is precious. I found him a couple of weeks ago at work. The poor baby was hiding under the bench outside the front of the hospital and was so still I almost didn't see him. He was tied to the bench with an electrical cord. The cord was tied so short the poor thing was not able to move to go potty or even stand up. So here he sat, shaking cold and sitting in his own poo and vomit. After getting him inside and cleaned up, I had one of our doctors check him out. He is a perfectly healthy 12 week old, pit bull (possibly mix) puppy. Gorgeous and more well behaved then most any 12 week puppy. So why on earth did someone abandon him like that? I will go on the assumption that they thought they were doing the best thing for him. I have to because the alternatives leave me hating people in general.

Well, he has finally found a home with one of my coworkers. A happy ending thankfully. Of course now I have a mini lop bunny that was found on the city streets. His poor teeth were badly over grown and he is un-neutered. I love my job. I just hate people.

Idiots and more Idiots.

2010-03-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

A hospital here in PA has decided that as part of there hiring policy, perspective employees will have to be tested for nicotine. If they are smokers, they will not be hired. Now, I think this makes sense. If you are a hospital trying to keep people healthy and preaching healthcare then it seems hypocritical to have employees who smoke. It's also bad on a business perspective because it raises the costs of health insurance. Why wouldn't they want people to be as healthy as possible? Truly, it only sucks if you are a smoker.
Hospital Policy on Nicotine

Now here is the part that gets me. The comments from all the readers. Everyone blaming Obama and the democrats. Huh? This is a private institution that made the decision not Obama, democrats or anyone else. In fact if you read enough articles you see the same dumb idiots making the same comments on articles time after time. They are starting to sound like parrots. "squawk....Obama's fault.....squawk...damn freedom stealing democrats!" So when do these people take time to breath and pull there heads out of there asses and actually look at the facts? I don't really care which side you are on in the political perspective just look at the facts and make intelligent decisions or comments based on the facts. It had nothing to do with Obama or politics. How hard is that? If you go by the readers and there comments, we are truly doomed by stupidity.

(I apologize to any parrots I may have offended. Of course they are smarter, I am just trying to make a point about how they sound.)

Of lemonade and old age....

2010-03-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Just an observation, drinking lemonade after brushing your teeth is almost as bad as drinking orange juice, Eww.

As my 34th birthday quickly approaches I am reminded that time does not slow down. It just gets faster and faster as our minds and bodies get slower and slower. Is that fair? Seriously, who developed this system anyway? Yes, perhaps you get wiser but what good does it do you when you are quickly fading from this existence? Does this sound like a crisis? It better not, I'm only 33 and have a lot of life ahead of me. I plan to live to 11o even if that means I become so senile I can hide my own easter eggs! I will however still be snarky and a trouble maker. The nurses at my home will be chasing me down the halls begging me to put my clothes on as I giggle like a school girl. What would I have to lose?

Besides, I like birthdays. Especially when they fall on mothers day. I get a double whammy day.

Pink and fabulous!

2010-03-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

I think by far one of the best performers ever is Pink. Not only, is she an incredible singer she has a body that rocks and an attitude to match. Her performance at the grammys was spectactular and still gives me goose bumps. She shows that she is also a great artist and athlete to have pulled off this performance and never even break stride while singing. Kudos to a fantastic woman and someone I look up to.

Spring Cleaning and kicking the can!

2010-03-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

Spring Cleaning is here again. I have been an imperfect vegan for two months and I feel awesome. I am actually loving food now. I would actually say, I'm in love with food. Real food. Very slowly I have been replacing the food in my pantry with whole grains, nuts, seeds and organic goodies. You see, despite not wanting to turn into one of those nazi vegans, my kids are eating crap and that had to change. Junk food to the max people! And they ARE my kids. I know that the foods they are eating are junk and yet I buy them so it makes me the guilty one. I won't force them or hubby to be vegan. I will however offer them the best snacks and foods. By virtue of my being the only one who shops or cooks they are already eating more vegan foods.

It's not like I'm not giving something up! In fact, today I will be drinking my last diet coke in my fridge. That's right, I will no longer be held prisoner to my addiction. No matter how bubbly and sweet it is. I will no longer be going out in a snow storm to get it. I will no longer be stopping after work to restock. I will be a free woman. Bye bye sweet bubbly, caffeinated, aspartame ridden addiction. (I will miss you.........please remember me..... sniff...)

Back to the grind, after the grind.

2010-03-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

I'm back from vacation and ready to roll! Ok, well, I'm ready to sleep. But after I sleep, I'm sure I'll be ready to roll. We went to Disney world with the kiddos. Seriously, if I see that mouse again I might just puke. I will give it a few more days for the illness to wear off. I blogged about it for my friends on myspace here: Mickey or Bust

Overpriced, crowded and simply exhausting. Disney everything! It was nice to have a week off from life though and the kids had a good time. On the other hand, a whole week with my hubby was trying. He's like another child. Our house gives us some breathing room from each other. I missed my house. We get along so much better when we don't have to see each other 24/7. So back to work and life and I plan to do it with a lighter heart and step.

Save the Moose!

2010-02-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

Pete the Moose is in trouble. Saved from attacking dogs and separated from his mother he was saved by a kind hearted man. Now, the state of Vermont wants him put to death because he is a "wild' animal. Apparently there are no exceptions to this rule. I think it is sad that as a society we have become so hard hearted that we can't make exceptions. Life has become disposable. It is no longer sacred in any form. Instead of trying to find an alternative it is simply easier to just destroy. Thankfully, I know in my heart that not all people are simple minded idiots. I know that some people are good and truly decent human beings. If Pete dies because of simple politics then what does that say about our society in general? Let's stop killing and save one damn moose!

Pete The Moose

No flowers or chocolate for me!

2010-02-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

For valentines this year, my hubby took care of the kids while I was sick in bed. That may not sound very romantic but it meant the world to me. He's not the most romantic or thoughtful guy. Today when he came home and found me curled up on the couch, almost in tears because my head hurt so bad he insisted on me going to bed and letting him take care of the kids. He did a really good job too. The kids were fed and put to bed happy. No fighting or crying or carrying on . I got to sleep off my headache and wake up to peace and quiet. It's rare.

It was nice. It was just what I needed. No chocolates or flowers. Just a little thoughtfulness. It made me think of him a little softer than before. It was a good valentines gift.

Super-mom, I am not.

2010-02-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

One mom wrote on facebook how because of the storm and the fact she was ill, she let her 1 year old watch three baby einstein DVD's and now she is upset that she did something wrong. All of the other moms rushed to tell her how they did something similar and it was Ok if it was just this one time or told there own horror stories. Huh?

Ok, so it got me thinking and thinking. While all of the moms are timing the amount of TV there kids are watching, going to mommy and me classes, playing games and doing crafts for hours on end, chatting with other mommies online about everything from what there kids are eating to the color of their poop....... I'm not.

In fact, I hate playing kids games. I don't participate in mommy and me classes or chat online about my kids constantly. I just can't. The TV is on all of the time because I like to watch TV while I work. My kids eat sugar. Unless my kids have diarrhea, I'm not interested in their poop. I work outside the home three days a week because I love my job. And when I'm home, I'm working on candles or soap and studying for my vet assistant program. My kids go to public school and I'm Ok with that. I don't wake up every morning with plans and programs to keep my kids on a schedule, stimulated and educated.

I contemplated on whether or not this made me a bad mom. Do I have to like doing those things to be a good mom? Does that fact I don't mean there is something wrong with me? Growing up, my life was a living hell. One I would never wish on anyone else due to my mentally ill adopted mother. My kids are smart. They eat well and they are very active. They have great imaginations and they have parents who love them with all of our hearts. Is that enough or am I letting them down by not being one of the super-moms? Will I know before it's too late? And what about my sanity, is having a sane and happy mom not also a good thing? Is there a real answer to this timeless question?

Newest Pet Peeve.

2010-02-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Do you have anyone on your email list who has a "foward compulsion"? These people forward every email that says "Forward". They don't even check the validity of the email information. This is my new pet peeve. The list is a long one and it just keeps getting longer.

It's not that hard people, go to snopes.com and look it up. Google it and see what you find out. It's the responsible thing to do. Don't just take everything you get for truth and forward it. This drives me crazy and the worst thing about it, it's family. I've tried telling them politely that it's incorrect and they get angry and call me arrogant or bitchy.

I'm thinking of making my own forward email that is absolutely outrageous and passing it on to be forwarded. I bet you my mother-in-law will.

Disney World here we come!

2010-01-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Things have started picking up as Valentines day and Easter are now in site. I've updated my website with new "spring only, limited scents" and so far, they are a hit. I've also gotten a lot of great feedback on my scrubs from my testers. As soon as my labels come in I'll be posting the scrubs in my etsy store.

On a personal note, my family and I are finally going on vacation! We've never been on a vacation with both kids. Now that my son is 3 we've decided it's time. So we are embarking to Disney World this spring. My six year old is fit to bust and simply can't wait to meet her favorite princess's. I wanted to go to Hawaii but we decided that would not be as nice with two kids in tow so we compromised and we're staying at the Polynesian! Yeah for me!

Smacked with a bible while I wasn't looking.

2010-01-24T06:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while I was perusing the mall with my friend Dana, we came across a vendor that had some spectacular looking sweets. I'm simply not one to pass up sweets so of course we stopped. Dipped rice crispy treats, yummy caramel pretzels, s'mores it was wonderful. I made my purchases and as I was leaving the gentleman who was running the booth insisted I get a bag for my purchases. Ok, fine. Away we went. Later that night as I was unpacking my purchases I discover a little book in with my sweets. It was "The Way, a pocket testament". That's right, I was bible slammed and I didn't even know it.
Does that actually work? Do people suddenly find the lord because a bible is thrown in with there purchase? Well, it does the opposite to me. I detest people trying to convert me every time my back is turned. I detest people coming to my house to tell me, I'm wrong and they are right. I simply despise the concept that people must harass others in order to 'spread the word'. I don't try to convert you so leave me the hell alone!
From a business perspective, that is not a good way to run a business. You will turn away a lot of good paying customers because of it. People are buying your product not your religion. Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-christian or anti-any religion. We live in a world of thousands of religions and spiritualities as individual as the people who believe in them. I just don't like feeling that everyone has an ulterior motive to try and harass me out of my beliefs, you can't. My beliefs are personal, they are mine. My way is not the only way or the right way, it's just my way.
By the way, my friend dana, did NOT receive one. Apparently, I'm special. I won't be buying from them again and that's sad, they had some good treats.

One really cool website!!!!

2010-01-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

I am subscribed to The Kind Life blog (Alicia Silverstone) and today she featured a vegan pastry chef who sells in Pennsylvania and New York. I've never had her food so I have no idea if they are good or not (they look awesome) but the website is AWESOME! I seriously thought it was so cool. The designer should be given an award because it is one of the coolest designs I've ever seen. I highly recommend you check it out and if you are nearby one of the places she services check them out and let me know how they are.

Vegan T reats

Old books and great memories.

2010-01-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

My daughter found an old copy of "Charlottes Web" today so we've started reading it. It got me thinking of all the books I read and loved as a kid.

A Wrinkle in Time
Black Beauty
National Velvet
The Chronicles of Narnia
Nancy Drew series
The Great Brain
The Mouse and Motorcycle
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nihm
Where the Red Fern Grows
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Watership Downs
The Cricket in Times Square

I could go on and on. I have an urge to go out and buy them all. They were really great books. Full of adventure and imagination. If it wasn't for my love of reading I have no idea how I would have survived my childhood. It was a way of escaping my life. I quite literally got lost in those books. I wish I could remember more of them! I'll have to start a list on amazon to make sure I remember these.

Another year and another set of resolutions.

2010-01-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

So here it is, my list of resolutions for 2010.

I resolve to have NO resolutions because I never keep them anyway. I refuse to start my year with that on my head. And then to have the feeling of disappointment when 2011 comes round and I realize, I don't even remember what I resolved to do! I will however try very hard to

finish my vet assistant program before November.
try to learn to like myself and maybe even love myself.
try to be a better wife and friend.

Phew! Sounds tough. Thankfully, they're not actual resolutions so there is no pressure to actually do them. Except the vet assistant program. I don't want to have to ask for an extension. That would be embarrassing.

A shout out to a great pastry chef!

2009-12-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

At a recent baby shower I attended I experienced some truly awesome and decadent cupcakes. They disappeared really fast. Not only were they simple and elegant they actually tasted really good. Something I have found disappointing in some cakes. They look really good, but the taste is a disappointment. Not with these.

At Your Bake And Call!

For my next party I am definitely going to order from her. I can't wait.

Yuletide Blessing.

2009-12-25T18:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone! May it be a silent night full of peace and love. May our homes be warm and our families safe. May we look forward to the new year ahead with promise and hope that we can do it better than the passing year.

Blessed be.

The Merry Death Rush.....ho ho ho!

2009-12-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

Every year at this time there is a phenomenon that seems to occur at most veterinary hospitals. I call it the great christmas death rush. Morbid? Indeed, but still very true. Every single year a couple of days before christmas we get an enormous number of calls from clients to have their pets put to sleep. We don't know why it happens it just does. There are so many reasons. Most of the time people who have been watching there pets suffer slowly decide it's time. We also get the occasional a**hole who wants to put an old dog down because they are getting a new puppy. Of course we turn those people away but they still call. A psychiatric student should do a study about it.

Today before I left at 1:30, we had 5 euthanasia's scheduled. Tomorrow will be worse. Nothing makes you feel worse then feeling like there is death all around you. I work at a very busy hospital and we do about 2 to 3 a week at most. 5 in one day, depressing.

Etsy professionals

2009-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

I found this thought, I should post it. Very interesting.

Etsy-Quit your day job, literally.

A handmade hippy christmas

2009-12-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

So my goal to have a handmade christmas is successfully on it's way. So far, except for the kiddos I have managed to buy handmade gifts for all of the other family members. I am really thankful for etsy and artfire for making it so easy. While shopping I found a few really cool sellers.

I love the dark and unique. Not real creepy disgusting stuff but I've always been drawn to the mystical side. Check out the products and descriptions of this one: TheBubblingCauldron

Of course I had to buy some zombie scrub for this dull and lifeless skin of mine. I can't wait to try it out.

I found some really awesome stuff here: foreverandaday Really awesome jewelry and just my type. Of course, I'm also a twilight fan to boot, so it's all good.

And for the pretty, chic cheerleader in all of us: MyBeautyAddiction . This one reminds me of a fancy boutique and lots of pink. My mother will love what I got her but Shhhh...don't tell her.

I don't get it. I just don't care.

2009-12-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

I'm a little shocked to see that at the top of the news is ...... Tiger Woods. My question is why? The man plays golf. Yes, he is damn good at playing golf. Is that not what he's famous for? Being good at playing golf? SO why the hell do I care if he was having affairs on his wife? I suppose one could say that he was a role model or people looked up to him and thought he was a good person and they are now disappointed. However, does it not sound reasonable that if you put someone too high on a pedestal that they will eventually disappoint you? Isn't that how this fame game works?

The fact is, they are all human. No matter how famous. No matter how funny or seemingly wholesome, they all have human lives with human mistakes and human flaws. They really are no better than you and me. The only thing that makes them different (besides lots of money) is that they have cameras in their faces constantly. All eyes are upon them and those eyes are extra critical. So when they do the same damn thing as Uncle Mike or your Aunt susie, they are the monsters. Do we really believe that money and fame puts them above us?

I don't get it. I don't care how many people he has slept with because, I'm not his wife. Does this change how good he is at playing golf? No.

People are dying as we speak because they don't have the money to pay for the needed meds or treatments. We have people freezing to death on the streets because they have no homes. Soldiers are dying in other countries. Children are starving and being abused everyday.

But Tiger Woods had multiple affairs. Stop the presses! How dare he disappoint us.

Sweet and Sour Lentils

2009-12-08T15:29:00.001-08:00

Two weeks as a Vegan and going strong. I am actually enjoying this. Tonight I made Sweet and sour lentils and it was delicious!

Sweet and Sour Lentils

Posted using ShareThis

Oh cheese!

2009-12-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I finished the book "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. I have to admit it was really good. Alicia is obviously well informed and has done a lot of research. Her way of approaching the subject of veganism and making changes to better yourself through what you eat is very intriguing. She challenges you without you knowing you're being challenged. It's sort of like the "double dog dare you" that you have to try just to prove you can

So I am intrigued to see if I can do it. To see if I indeed can live my life vegan. I must admit that as a vegetarian I figured it would not be all that different. Boy, was I wrong! I had no idea just how much dairy and egg products were in EVERYTHING. When you actually stop to look in the ingredients it would shock you. No wonder the dairy and egg industry is so huge. Or should I say the Cattle and Chicken industry. Milk and eggs seem to be in everything.

So today is my third day trying to eat vegan. I feel good. I feel lighter. I have no idea if it's just the thrill of trying a new challenge or if I'm already feeling the effects of no animal products. Time will tell, right?

The shirt off my back..... literally.

2009-11-30T15:03:00.000-08:00

For my daughters last day of break, I took her out to breakfast and went to the stores to do a little shopping. She really enjoys the mommy-daughter time. Now when I say "stores" and "shopping" I mean we went to the Community Aid store and bought mommy some cheap shirts because my dog has eaten all of my other clothes. I am quite literally sick to death of finding all of my clothes and sweaters eaten. And it's not just mine, my kids and husband are fighting the same battle.

It sounds easy to fix, just don't leave clothes for her to eat. But for some reason, she still gets them. Last night she got up on the table into a gift bag and pulled out my daughters brand new shirt from her birthday and ate 1/4 of the sleeve before I saw her!!!! Brand NEW. My army green cardigan and my sons steelers jersey also got destroyed this week. We've tried medicating her with prozac, training her according to a behaviorist, extra attention, exercise and Nada. My husband wants her gone, but she's been with us for 11 years. She is family and you just can't get rid of family for nasty habits.

So, I'm at a loss as to what to do. It's obviously dangerous for her because eventually she will bite off more than she can chew and it's literally costing us thousands. What to do?

The Kind Diet

2009-11-26T12:14:00.000-08:00

First I would like to say, I am not a vegan. I am not a member of PETA and I never will. However, I am a vegetarian by choice. Meat, disgusts me and my stomach always has a hard time with it. Not to mention everytime I ate chicken, I always got that stringy black vein that would hang out and make me gag. I've been a vegetarian for awhile and would like to try being vegan. I just don't know if I can give up my dairy or eggs. Cheese is awesome. Goats milk makes great soap. So how do I go about changing my diet to improve my health? Frankly, I'm not sure I can. I give kudos to those who can be vegan but I have no idea how to do it myself. I've started reading "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. I like Alicia and I find her attitude about life and her dedication to the environment compelling. So I'm going to read her book and find out more about the vegan lifestyle and I'll let you know if I decide to go vegan. A book review of sorts.

But that would mean giving up Blizzards from DQ and that is a scary prospect. Of course the fact I'm lactose intolerant should be a deterrent, but it's not. They're just that good!

Oh so thankful...

2009-11-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

So I've been seeing a lot of the "I am thankful" routines and status's on facebook and as much as some of it kind of makes me gag, I thought I would compile a list of my own. I have a lot to be thankful for.

I am thankful...

that I didn't strangle anyone today.

for cheesecake.

for the invention of the DVR. Where would I be without it.

for coffee, the drink of the gods.

that I'm not a sheep. I would look really bad with a wool coat.

For tylenol for my aches and pains.

for really hot guys.

for my really comfortable bed. If only I could sleep in again.

for the Harry Potter movies. My favorite rainy weekend getaway.

for lemon bars. How can anyone not like them?

for my kids and hubby whom I love more than life itself. For my best friend Dana who I swear is actually my sister. For my sisters who make me question everything. For my hair-brained brother who lives life on the edge.

Happy Thanksgiving! Eat tofurkey!

Candle making 1-2-3

2009-11-23T18:41:00.000-08:00

I read an article in a popular magazine about how to make your own candles cheap and easy. You buy some wax, wick material and fragrance from your local craft store, find a container or glass you like, melt the wax, add fragrance and dye, pour and voila, a perfect candle.

Ummm......not quite. Boy are people going to be in for a big surprise. Anyone can do that for sure. And with some luck, your candle will look really good. And then you light it and find that you have a flame thrower or a wick that stays lit for a short period of time or tunnels down quickly leaving a huge amount of wax on the sides or one that does not smell at all. There is a lot more to making a good candle that smells awesome and lasts a long time than making one that just looks nice. I found that out the hard way when I first started.

It took months and lots of money for me to make one really awesome candle and then many more months and money to perfect it. Even then, things are always changing and you have to continue testing your products to make sure that they safe and still the quality you pride yourself in making. Just like anything, you can do it the easy way or do it the right way.

Of Grammar and Vampire Candles, Oh My!

2009-11-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

In order to bring more traffic to my site I have been using Link Referral. It's a site that requires actual participation in order to get more traffic to your own site. You review a number of sites a day. I actually enjoy it. One thing I have noticed is how important the name of your website is when it comes to attracting people to your site.
I can't even begin to tell you how many sites I pass by without checking them out because of the name of their site. The name has to stand out and pull people in. It has to make them want to check you out.

A good example I found today is http://www.chickscratch.etsy.com/ This sites name made me want to see more. I'm glad I did too because they have the coolest massage candle. I love the unusual and dark and this candle is simply too cool looking for words.
Check out this candle: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29064344

Another thing, spelling and grammar. It really is important when trying to attract buyers and looking professional. I know it is a PITA but it is worth it to check your spelling and grammar. An occasional error is fine but when your spelling and grammar is so bad that an English teacher would have a hay day with the red marker, it's a turn off.

Oatmeal Spice soap- Natural

2009-11-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here is my receipe for my basic Oatmeal Spice soap. I make it for me and my kids because we all have sensitive skin. It's also a favorite of some of my friends.

1 lb of either Natural Oatmeal glycerin (or you can use Natural White base and add Collidal Oatmeal)
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 tsp powdered clove
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 tbsp toasted oatmeal, ground

Melt your base, glycerin and olive oil in a double boiler until fully melted. DO NOT BOIL. Stir frequently. Remove from heat and add cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Pour into molds. Let cool for about 2-3 minutes and then sprinkle toasted oatmeal over soap.

It has a great bubbly lather and is very gentle to the skin.

To vice, or not to vice....

2009-11-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

I always thought it was funny when hubby would say "we all need a vice, it's a gauge of how we are coping" . Suddenly I realize how very true that is. I don't believe we NEED a vice but most of do have them. Some obviously worse than others. My hubby unfortunately has a few but the biggest is his drinking. Coming from a long history of alcoholics but not having been raised by one, anyone can see that there is something to the genetic factor when it comes to addiction and alcoholism. That's another blog.

So what are my vices? I eat. That of course is the American way. I drink Diet coke. You should see how antsy I get when we are out. I watch Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean a lot. Probably more than what is healthy but I really like watching them when I am down. Hey, Johnny Depp is hilarious and Orlando Bloom is incredibly hot.

So because they are vices, should I be trying to stop them? I can see if I was a drinker or smoker and it was hurting me physically or my family but if my vices are simply self gratifying is there a need to overcome them just for the sake of not having a vice. Is it a sign of moral weakness to not want to conquer them?

Hmmm...food for thought. So I'm going to go have a diet coke and a candy bar and think this over.

You know you're a mom when....

2009-10-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

(I found this in an email and had to share. It's funny but it's true)

You automatically double-knot everything you tie.

You find yourself humming the Barney song as you do the dishes.
(I always find myself singing elmos world.)

You hear a baby cry in the grocery store, and you start to gently sway back and forth, back and forth. However, your children are at school!
(I've also found myself swaying back and forth when I'm stressed.)

You actually start to like the smell of strained carrots mixed with applesauce.

You weep through the scene in Dumbo when his mom is taken away, not to mention what Bambi does to you.
(Bawl my eyes out!)

You get soooo into crafts you contemplate writing a book called 101 Fun Crafts to do with Dryer Lint and Eggshells.
(That's how I got into candles and soap:-)

You spend a half hour searching for your sunglasses only to have your teenager say, "Mom, why don't you wear the ones you pushed up on your head?"

You are out for a nice romantic meal with your husband, enjoying some real adult conversation, when suddenly you realize that you've reached over and started to cut up his steak!

Well, La-ti-da!

2009-10-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

My office recently switched to a new phone system with new phones included. We are moving up in the world. Unfortunately it has not gone too smoothly with some of my older coworkers. One in particular who wears hearing aides. She is great person but she has always been a little lacking on the good communication side of the receptionist job. She can't hear well and at times when she doesn't understand something she can get very frustrated. You can't help her either! She gets very defensive if you try to help her. So I've taken to listening and trying not to let my embarrassment show.

Yesterday while I was checking a client out this receptionist answered the phone and in a very, VERY loud voice:

HELLO, THIS IS JUDY, HOW CAN I HELP YOU!

HELLO!

PARDON?

I'M SORRY?

WHY ARE YOU CALLING?

DO YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY??? HELLOOOOO?

WHAT THE????

I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU, YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP!!!!

Apparently at this point the poor caller had enough of the yelling and just hung up. Judy slams down the phone.

WELL, LA-TI-DA, I GUESS WHATEVER THEY WANTED WASN'T IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HUNG UP ON ME! I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE THESE DAYS!

The phone starts ringing again and I pick it up and ask them to hold. A voice on the other line says "Sure but PLEASE don't pass me over to Judy, I think there is something wrong with her!"

I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

The Oregon Trail! Hi Ho?

2009-10-28T19:12:00.001-07:00

So, hubby has lost his mind again. Not that it's a huge surprise but all the same, what now! So he's decided he does not like his job anymore and in fact, does not like Pennsylvania. This is his 5th job in the past 5 years. That's one a year. So I'm hoping that we can find him another before he just walks out on this one. Our last plan was for him to get his Oregon Pharmacist license and then plan our move to the west coast. It's what we've always wanted and as the clock ticks by I've started to get the itch.

This is the longest I've been in one place. There is actually very little to keep us here. So perhaps this time we can use his momentum to actually follow through and hit the Oregon trail!

I'm also happy to report feeling a little bit of Halloween spirit tonight as we carved pumpkins. It was that or when I put on a pair of monster fangs and scared the daylights out of my 5 year old. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. I think I've started a tradition.

A blue Halloween

2009-10-24T17:36:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that Halloween is next Saturday. Despite it being my favorite holiday and also a sacred one for us heathens, I just can't seem to work up any excitement this year. Between trick or treat night, school parties and then Samhain dinner on Saturday I just feel overwhelmed. In fact I can attest to the fact that I am overwhelmed a lot lately. I think my depression is sneaking up on me in spite of being on meds. At night when the lights go out and everything is quiet I find myself with an overwhelming sense of sadness and worry. Money, time and my childhood memories come floating to the surface. It's like drowning.

My kids are running on high octane as of late and I'm trying to find more interactive things to do with them to keep their interest piqued. Is that even possible with a three year old? I'm unable to work in both of my kids school halloween parties so I have to come up with something special for my 5 year old. Maybe a mommy daughter day is in order?

Run, stop, run again...stop!

2009-10-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact I am running in all directions I have taken it upon myself to add in "Best mom" into the mix. For some reason I was under the impression that with my 5 year old being in Kindergarten now that there would be more time for me to concentrate on my biz. So not true. In fact, with school sales, parent teacher conferences, bake sales and holiday parties I feel like I have less time. What the heck?

By the way, DQ has brought back the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard! Yum. I love fall.

The fall scents are selling like crazy at the clinic. I have a small section set up just for my candles and tarts. (It's one of the bonus's of working at an animal hospital) I can't keep them in stock.

Check them out http://www.wickfulthings.com/newholidayscents.htm

Did I mention I love fall?

2009-10-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

I forgot, my candles and tarts were featured in the October edition of the Out of the Box sampler. You can find the website here: http://www.outoftheboxsampler.com/

I also decided to buy a box and was pleasantly surprised at all of the wonderful samples from all of the different handmade business's. I will probably list some in the near future. Stay tuned.

Back to the grind.

2009-10-12T17:49:00.000-07:00

After taking a much needed break I'm back to rambling. Of course, my last blog was deleted in a fit of rage due to hormones and frustration at the world. I'm known for being snarky and temperamental. Oh well, blogger did warn me not to be rash as I hit that delete button, alas, I defied them.

So I'm still selling on Etsy and through my private website as I am trying to finish up all my legal paperwork and taxes that are required to sell in stores here in Pennsylvania. Oi! Talk about a headache. They seem to get a kick out of confusing people by making it as hard as possible to figure this stuff out. I can't help but wonder if it has anything to do with trying to scare most people off.

So onward and forward I go...