Raise a toast to the New Year!

2012 has been good to me and I can't wait to see what the new year brings!  I've rekindled old friendships, developed new ones and now have a new found hatred respect for fitness.  This year my Husband and I joined a gym specializing in Israeli self defense (check out my first impression of Krav Maga)  and high intensity strength / plyometrics training. It has become a great stress reliever, has given me more confidence and is something we can experience together.

Jennifer Lopez studied Krav Maga in the movie "Enough"

I'm not one to make resolutions but I look forward to what 2013 brings us!

Here are a few toasts-in-pictures made with friends and family over the years :)

"Here's to the bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old;  
Here's to the things that are yet to come and the memories that we hold."

"May all your troubles during the coming year be as short-lived as your New Year's resolutions."

"Here's to you and here's to me,  Friends may we always be! But, if by chance we disagree, Up yours! Here's to me!"

"Here's to heat!
Not the kind that ignites and burns down shanties...but the kind that excites...and slides down the panties!"

"As you slide down the banisters 
of life, may the splinters never 

point the wrong way."

 Happy New Year !!!

Spam...

It's pretty typical to receive spam.  Completely annoying but I've come to terms.  Do you ever take the time to read some of these things?

I fall for it just about every time.  

• First, the disappointment settles in because they start out so promising - I'm convinced someone actually left me a comment!  

• Then, annoyance shows its ugly face - I could put the comment moderation / verification back on but I'd rather not annoy others.

• Finally, humor comes to save the day as I vigorously click delete. 

It never dawned on me that I would write about this non sense otherwise I would have saved some of the real good ones.  

What's the most ridiculous spam comment you've received?  Do you ever, for a split second, think they are real?

Spam update 12/29/12:  It just keeps getting better :)

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Blog Crawl Volume 1

I generally stumble upon new (to me) blogs by spending way too many hours on the Internet or checking out a variety of link parties.  

So, I thought what better way to find all the hidden wonders out there then for you (the experts) to refer them to me.  

Big, or small, new or old...who/what are your all time FAVORITE sites to visit?

Food  Craft   Beauty News

D.I.Y.   Funny   Fashion  
 

Books  Writing   Health
 
Music Tutorials   etc.

If someone submitted your favorite then let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for your suggestions!

*** Please include your active link party HERE or refer one of your favorites.  We removed our old link party directory due to most parties being out of date.

...and the Liebster Blog Award goes to...

We've been nominated by Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof for the Liebster Blog Award.  What is that you ask?  I had no idea either until I went over to check out her cute blog and read the description where she had been nominated.  I borrowed her description below:

"The Liebster Blog Award is an award given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers, most of whom have less than 200 followers (or have been blogging for less than 6 months). It is to show newer bloggers that they are appreciated, and to help spread the word about new blogs. It was created to promote appreciation and recognition among the blog world. Liebster translates to “dearest” (or favorite/best) in German. It is also known as the Love Blog Award."

What an honor to be nominated - Thank you Jenna for thinking of us!

Guidelines:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 11 new blogs you love and link them in your post.
5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you.

My 11 Random Things:

1. I absolutely love the smell of campfire.
2. I'm a sucker for romantic comedies and anything including Jennifer Aniston. 
3. I went to bar tending school which was a complete waste of time and money.
4. I love 80s music and 80s movies and even had an 80s Themed Party for my 30th birthday.
5. My Husband and I rescued 2 Great Danes and they have turned out to be the best "kids" we could ask for! 
6. I love to watch HGTV and the Food Network Channel!
7. My Husband and I enjoy learning Israeli self defense called Krav Maga.
8. I love the color green 
9. My favorite Holiday is Halloween - no question.  
10. I was a very picky eater as a child.  I've come a long way but I still can't understand how people enjoy to eat peas and beets...
11. I try to avoid confrontation at all costs.   

#5 - our kids

Questions set by my Nominator:

1. What is your dream home?

I'm drawn to cozy, log cabin, cottage type homes (I've never lived in one but always look twice when driving by).  Nothing too dark and stuffy though - lots of natural light with fresh and clean colors and accessories.

2. What is your favorite song and why?

Just one?!  I guess it would have to be "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green.  It makes me smile every time I hear it and I can't help but sing along - tone deaf and all!  I had the pleasure of seeing Al Green in concert about 10 years ago and it was amazing!

3. What's your family like?

Very small and very mighty.  We love hard, fight hard and are extremely protective of one another.

4. What is your favorite blog post you have ever done and why?

For the most part my posts are craft related but a year ago I posted something a little off topic.  I have a knack for pairing my friends up with their celebrity look-alikes which is why the Doppelganger post came to be.  I'm thinking of including a part 2 soon.... do you have a celeb look-alike?

My celeb look-a-like...as close as it gets anyway.

5. What are your favorite blogs and why do you love them?

• C.R.A.F.T. is one of the first blogs I stumbled upon and I continue to follow her to this day.  Her content is easy to follow and entertaining and I love the pictures she takes - everything is so crisp, fresh and airy over there.  Check it out if you haven't already!
• Polish the Stars is a great blog all around but I especially LOVE her Halloween posts!
• Halloween Crafts is an excellent Halloween resource and she has another blog called Truebluemeandyou that's packed with all the latest crafty and diy trends!

6. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

Initially I started blogging 3 or 4 years ago - It started as a personal diary but truth be told I wasn't committed and had no idea how to navigate through blogger so I walked away and didn't know how to log back into my ideas.  They are now lost in space.  September of 2011 I decided to give it another try mainly to share with my friends and family back home (I now live in AZ while they all are back home in Ohio).  

7. Who is your hero?

Hands down - My Grandpa is my Hero.  I remember having to write about my Hero as a child and it was always my Grandpa.  

8. What is your favorite memory of all time?

I don't have anything specific but in general my favorite memories always include family trips to Twilight Isle on Manitoulin Island (Ontario, Canada).  Great times!

9. How do you want to be remembered?

Selfless and Hilarious

10. Who is your favorite author?

It depends on the day really.  I just like books in general - it isn't always about the Author for me.  I enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels right now if I had to pick one.

11. If you could meet anyone in the world, who and why?

Yikes - this one is tough.  I choose this person because I'm stumped and I just can't sit here any longer thinking about this question.  Kandee Johnson - she reminds me of one of my sisters and she's extremely entertaining.  

11 Blogs I nominate:

• Self Discovery
• The Frugal Vegetarian
• My Life With Three Boys
• Happy Misadventures
• A Bit O Whimsy
• Uglyduckling Transformations
• The Quirky Crafting Shmooglebean
• Hot Eats and Cool Reads
• Artsy Chicks Rule
• How I Keep Sane
• Brown Eyed Girls Boutique

*** Nominating 11 blogs for this award was a bit challenging for me 

1. It seems that most blogs I follow have been around quite some time and or have over 200 followers
2. I fear that those I chose may have more than 200 followers and or have been around longer than 2011.  Will this upset someone?   

11 questions for the nominees to answer:

1. What is your least favorite food?

2. What do you want to be when you "grow up"?

3. If you won the lottery (leg mega millions ), what would be the first thing you would do?

4. What is your favorite blog post you have ever done and why?

5. What are your favorite blogs and why do you love them?

6. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

7. Are you a dog or cat person?

8. Scents trigger so many memories, what scent sends you down memory lane and why?

9. What was the last book you read and was it worth recommending?

10. Where is your dream vacation spot?

11. What is your favorite song and why?

Nominees: Please leave me a comment below with your Liebster post, so I can read up on you! Also, please leave a link back to this post on your blog.

Looking forward to seeing your answers  and checking out new blogs!! :)

Mardi gras bead necklace turned DIY bracelet

Stacking different styles of bracelets "Mr. T style" has become a huge trend these days so I wanted to create a few different styles and send them as Christmas gifts.  Pinterest offered a variety of different ideas - one of which I attempted (it didn't turn out as beautiful as the original) that later spawned into something I can call my own.  The original inspiration came from a great site called Honestly...WTF.  Her tutorial is clear and easy to follow but I didn't find my completed piece to be as cool as hers.

Directions below are to make the bracelet next to the red arrow.

Supplies

• I used 1.5 mm leather cord ( I wrapped it around my wrist once leaving a few extra inches on each end then doubled it by folding the cord in half).
• Brass ball chain a little shy of the diameter of your wrist.
• Waxed cord 4-5 feet (I think? I didn't really measure but basically you are wrapping this around the leather cord and ball chain - in between each ball)
• Hex nut or large button or bead

Step 1
Create a loop by folding the leather cord in half  (this will loop around your bead to clasp your finished bracelet). 

Step 2
Getting this started is the hardest part - place the ball chain on top of the folded cord and wrap the waxed cord around everything several times (just under the desired loop size). 

Step 3
Continue to wrap the waxed cord around every brass ball and leather cord.
Step 4
Once the waxed cord is completely wrapped around each ball, wrap it around the other end of the leather cord several times (replicating part of step 2).

Step 5
Thread the bead through the leather cord and tie a knot.

Ok, so the bracelet isn't so terrible but I thought it would be larger (I should have purchased larger brass ball chain). 

The bracelet I'm much more proud of consists of...

Supplies

• 1.5 mm leather cord ( I wrapped it around my wrist once leaving a few extra inches on each end then doubled it by folding the cord in half).
• Waxed cord 4-5 feet (I think? I didn't really measure but basically you are wrapping this around the leather cord and Mardi Gras beads - in between each ball on either side).
• Hex nut or large button or bead
• Mardi Gras beads (you should be able to make 2 bracelets out of one strand of beads.  Cut 2 strands of beads the length of your wrist).

Step 1
Create a loop by folding the leather cord in half (this will loop around your bead to clasp your finished bracelet). 

Step 2 Place 1 strand of beads on top of the folded cord and wrap the waxed cord around everything several times (just under the desired loop size).

Step 3
Continue to wrap the waxed cord around every Mardi Gras bead and leather cord.

Step 4 Once the waxed cord is completely wrapped around each bead, take the other half of Mardi Gras beads and place them on the other side of the leather cord.  Continue wrapping the waxed cord around both strands of beads and the leather cord.

Step 5 Wrap the waxed cord around the other end of the leather cord several times (replicating part of step 2).

Step 6
Thread the bead through the leather cord and tie a knot.
*Tip:  I used hot glue every so often to secure the string wrapped around the beads.

 I'm a huge fan of these Mardi Gras bead bracelets!!

Alderberry Hill 

craft-o-maniac 

The Girl Creative

Simply Designing

Flamingo Toes

My Repurposed Life 

DIY by Design

Crafty Confessions

carolynshomework

733blog 

I Gotta Create

Craft Junkie Too 

Back for Seconds 

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home 

Becoming Martha 

Chase the Star 

Create.Craft.Love 

Truly Lovely Blog

Nifty Thrifty Things

Artsy Fartsy Mama 

 

Ugly Sweater - My Ugly Attempt

Ugly Sweater parties have taken over and I'm a huge fan.  I'll take any excuse to dress in "costume"! 

Work puts on an annual "ugly sweater" day so I seized the day and took my opportunity.  I assumed finding the perfectly hideous top would be a simple task.  So I waited until the night before and raided the local thrift store. 

Apparently you can no longer find ugly sweaters these days.  I went to 2 Savers and a Goodwill before I gave up and decided to make my own.  While at my final Savers I walked through the doors and took about 5 steps before seeing the ugly sweater Mecca.  Holy marketing genius!  Savers hand crafted ugly sweaters of all sorts and slapped a $20 price tag on each!  Unless I'm purchasing furniture at a thrift store I have a very hard time spending much more than $6 on anything.  This gave me many ideas though!  (also, I don't know that I could have worn one of these sweaters without washing it first).

Supplies: Christmas decor, sweater and hot glue

Step 1: Wash thrift store sweater

Step 2:  Map out desired ugliness and glue to sweater

Step 3: Proudly wear Ugly sweater

Cost: $10

• Thrift store sweater: $6 (this could be free if you have an old one you don't mind globing on the hot glue)
• Christmas decor: $4 (easily free if you have Christmas decor you don't mind parting with) - anything Christmas was 50% off!
• Hot glue: on hand

I got so many compliments on my sweater so I guess it wasn't as ugly as I thought!

Linked with:
funky polkadot giraffe
my simple.homelife
chic on a shoestring decorating
Its a Hodgepodge Friday
504 Main
the thriftiness miss
my repurposed life
the answer is chocolate
liz marie blog
wait till your father gets home