:: kraftykym ::

Owls : toilet paper DIY

2012-02-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

Add some bright paint, feathers and some doodled sharpie lines. waaa-laaa! They are all over my house. Our three year thinks they are the BOMB.

color changes everything

2012-02-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com} I need these guys to stop by my house. It's like the helpful squirrels, bunnies and birds in Snow White only way better.

valentines

2012-02-12T10:55:00.001-08:00

Cupcake wrapper award ribbons, ninja valentines, cakepops, cookie decorating kid playdates, sprinkles, and sugar highs. Happy Valentine's day!

cat lot

2012-02-12T10:53:00.001-08:00

from the Ridgedale parking lot in Minnesota.

JCP FEB book

2012-02-12T10:36:00.001-08:00

{calendar.jcp.com} I find the new JCP books to be a HUGE departure from previous catalogs. Amen to change. If you are going to strike out in a new direction, strike out! I also like how jcp.com now has a calendar page, highlighting special dates of the month. I am a crazy busy mom of the three. I love seeing thing simplified and pretty to boot!

JCP

2012-02-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com}

{businessinsider.com} From what I have found online, it appears that MOTHER did the new JCP TV spots. Quite a few people have said the TV spots are quite similar to Target TV spots. Bottomline, the JCP stores have to change if they want to increase sales. I stopped by my nearby JCP, it was moving along. I like the new price tags, merchandising was a little more cleaned up and product assortment was arranged better by color. There might be hope.

I think this will be fun to watch. I love it when things start anew.

lana del ray

2012-02-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

Watch the first video "video games" then watch "hunger games". If you have read the "hunger games" book series you will love this!!

{thehungergamesmovie.com} The movie is coming soon. Tickets go on sale Feb 22. Opens in theaters March 23 2012. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Read the book, you still have time!

jason wu

2012-02-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

{wantandafford.com}

{fashionologie.com} {target.com}

I will snap some photos of instore signing this week. The Target store I went to, did not have the signing up! I did get one dress. A few of my friends went to multiple Targets in Minnesota to get the items they were pining for. The white dress with the black belt is perfect.

{thelook.today.msnbc.msn.com}

Jason Wu items went on sale at midnight on Sunday, by Monday morning the collection was nearly sold out online.

pull through

2012-01-31T19:21:00.001-08:00

{google}

{pinterest.com}

{pinterest.com}

{ohhellofriendblog.com}

valentine's cupcake liner awards

2012-01-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

{urbancomfort.typepad.com}

{bakeitpretty.com} {fancyflours.com}

Valentine DIY from MerMag

2012-01-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

{mermag.blogspot.com} I love this! My kids are 7 and 8 years old. So they don't like the "mushy" stuff anymore. You could make this with sweetheart candies too! Free download. Click the site link.

summer loving

2012-01-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} delicious with colors everywhere

Jin Dui : sesame balls

2012-01-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

{hungerhunger.blogspot.com}

Jin Dui Sesame Seeds Balls

300 g glutinous rice flour

40g cooked wheat dough

1 1/2 T veg oil

30g sugar (original amount was 75 g)

220 ml water (warm)

Cooked Wheat Dough

13g wheat starch (I would conveniently up this to 15g)

7g glutinous rice flour (n this to 10g)

20g or ml boiling water (n a few drops more)

Filling: 300g lotus or red bean paste or peanut butter

Coating: 200g uncooked sesame seeds

The directions look pretty simple. I think it would be easy enough to try.

giant heart cross stitch

2012-01-26T17:01:00.001-08:00

{blog.craftzine.com} giant heart cross stitch canvas. Oh, why not?

think about it

2012-01-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com}

KIMONO

2012-01-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} Agh wanted this, from HM and it is now sold out!

the national : slow show

2012-01-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

I may have posted this before? No matter, I want post it again.

"I wanna hurry home to you

put on a slow, dumb show for you

and crack you up

so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain

god I'm very very frightening

I'll overdo it"

you're next

2012-01-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

{grainedit.com}

push it real good

2012-01-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

{images.piccsy.com}

go for it : mondays

2012-01-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com}

{etsy.com}

{pinterest.com}

{pinterest.com}

{pinterest.com}

My two big kids are starting a new Chinese immersion school today. I worked with them over the holiday break to learn 9 lessons of Chinese and nearly 400+ characters each. Their new school uses different text books, so we had to bridge the gaps. I think we are all exhausted from each other. Two full time jobs-- work and kid work.

Chinese New year cake

2012-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

{moomama.com} It is nearly Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon. The Dragon is considered the most powerful of the Chinese zodiac. Parents strive to have children born the year of the Dragon. I know this only because I am part Chinese. I was born the year of the snake (which is consider under par). My Chinese relatives say "why you mother have you year of snake? Don't she know better?"

I am guessing she was not paying attention... Any ways, this cake looks pretty sweet.

big simple paintings

2012-01-07T19:50:00.001-08:00

{etsy.com}

{michellearmas.bigcartel.com}

{sketch42blog.com}

{thedesignfilesopenhouse.com}

{pinterest.com}

I have three large blank canvases waiting for me. I want to do something along these lines. I should just pick up a brush and go for it.

shaking my head : did I really just do that?

2012-01-01T23:44:00.000-08:00

I am just shaking my head back and forth. I cannot believe it. I just deleted a nearly completed iphoto book that I was making for my middle son for his Kindergarten year. Why? So totally annoyed with myself. I tried every trick to bring it back. This is what I get for working till nearly 2am on this. But honestly, it is the ONLY time I have to work on it. Three kids scampering around me at all times and a full time job, I can never find the time to do this stuff.

Deep breath. It always goes faster the second time you do it, right? I can't wait to tell my hubby in the morning. He is totally going to shake his head at me. Things could be worse, it's just a iphoto book. breath in... breath out.

Seriously, I could punch something right now. So annoyed.

ikea hack : asian modern

2012-01-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

{designmanifest.blogspot.com} I really want a narrow Asian modern piece of furniture for my hallway. Every place I look, they are priced $300+. I could do this, if I had some time!

Rast cabinets from ikea $34.99

corner brackets $2.65 4/pkg (need six)

six Chinese pulls various prices

Lindsey Wixson for H&M Versace

2011-12-31T23:15:00.001-08:00

Lindsey Wixson for H&M by Versace from Marilyn Agency on Vimeo.

gold cake

2011-12-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} so delicious

Target Holiday 2011

2011-12-30T15:11:00.001-08:00

{youtube.com} I was the design director on Target's Holiday instore campaign for 2011. Click the video to see the work that KNOCK inc did for this years campaign.

layered jello

2011-12-30T06:04:00.000-08:00

{foodlibrarian.blogspot.com} I made this variety of layered jello this week. It looks pretty good. I will load some photos later on. The kids didn't love it (of course). I think it would be very impactful to bring to a party.
{zupas.com} This jello has layers of coolwhip + cream cheese. Yum!
Yes, expensive cherries but it would be fun for a special party.
{jelly-shot-test-kitchen.blogspot.com} for the cherries and the molds.

{glorioustreats.blogspot.com}

growth ruler

2011-12-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

{517creations.blogspot.com} Only $7 instead of cha-ching at PBkids (BTW- they don't sell this ruler any longer).

the indigo bunting : love you

2011-12-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

{theindigobunting.bigcartel.com} I love you like a fat kid loves cake.

TREAT AND COMPANY : PRINTSOURCE 2012

2011-12-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Treat and Company from TREAT AND COMPANY on Vimeo.

{treatandcompany.com} TREAT AND COMPANY will be at Print Source January 9-11 2012, booth F#1.

"We excite, elevate, and keep you relevant.Continually craving innovation. Ahead of the trend.We refine. We never rewind. We always look forward.

Continuing to deliver the unexpected while capturing the attention of your customers, we bring you our portfolio, a compilation of designs incorporating current trends, appealing patterns, and inspiring prints.

We also collaborate to create custom work - how refreshing!"

I used to sleep

2011-12-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

{ffffound.com}

Some interesting information from {webmd.com}. Maybe your New Years Resolution should be simply to get 7.5 hours of sleep a night. Seems simple enough!

"On average, we need about 7.5 hours of quality sleep per night, he says. “If you are getting this already, another half hour will not help you lose 10 pounds, but if you are a five-hour sleeper and start to sleep for seven hours a night, you will start dropping weight.”

Exactly how lack of sleep affects our ability to lose weight has a lot to do with our nightly hormones, explains Breus.

The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. “Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin,” Breus says. “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.”

More ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain."

UO : printshop iphone cases

2011-12-25T10:17:00.001-08:00

{printshop.urbanoutfitters.com} whoo hoo, I finally got my very first iphone yesterday. I know, that is totally shameful. I am a designer, I should have had one back in 2006. Urban Outfitters has some fun iphone cases.

custom witty pencils

2011-12-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

{etsy.com}

then & now : 100 years of chevrolet

2011-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com}

{youtube.com} Oh and here is the extended story about the boys finding their dads car, thirty years later.

The tv spot with the Dad getting his old car makes me makes tear up a little. When I was little, I went with my Dad to car shows quite often. He owned a DeLorean. It was so awesome to drive around in that car during the 80's. He still has it and loves just as much as the first day he got it.

glistening melody bolero

2011-12-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

{shopruche.com} Brilliant beading and sequin detailing add a dose of shimmer an texture to this golden bolero cardigan in a soft sheer mesh. $79.99. bella!

Mod white wreath

2011-12-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} mod white wreath!

cookie type

2011-12-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

{bloesem.blogs.com} I am big fan of cookie type. I happy to see a few more examples this year making the rounds on blogs and pinterest.

Target Holiday commercials 2011

2011-12-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com} Good stuff...

walmart holiday commercials 2011

2011-12-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com} Two clever commercials from Walmarts Holiday Advertising.

paperbag wreath

2011-12-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

{bkids.typepad.com} Love it! I already have cardboard, paper bags and acrylic paints in the house.

Fun Modern DYI ornaments

2011-12-01T20:29:00.001-08:00

{younghouselove.com} I think we are going to have to make some of these modern ornaments this weekend. We have a white tree, which I love because the ornaments pop of so brilliantly.

hyundai 2011 sing a long : Jorge + Alexa Narvaez

2011-11-28T19:58:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com} I love this trio... Jorge, Alexa and Eli. A single dad from California recording songs with his little girls. This season they also made a commercial for Hyundai.

peartree greetings holiday 2011

2011-11-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

{peartreegreetings.com} I love peartreegreetings because of their fun designs, great prices and nice paper stock. Most of the cards shown above are under $1.50 each. They are running a Black Friday Special till midnight tonight. Spend $75 and save 20% off your total order.

jolly in a jiff

2011-11-27T11:31:00.001-08:00

{modcloth.com} Perfect! An inflatable holiday wreath. Such bright colors and no need to worry about pine needles.

Hyundai 2011 sing a long : jessica frech

2011-11-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

All weekend I was seeing the top video, the spot from Hyundai's Holiday 2011 campaign. As my daughter said, she is really cute but her voice isn't my favorite. Of course, I had to look it up. The singer, Jessica Frech has a collection of 49 videos on youtube. Her most popular "The People of Walmart" has had over 4.6 million hits. She reminds me a bit of Weird Al only 2011 style.

DJ at Scratch turntable

2011-11-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

{fredflare.com} Your cat has a choice. It can A) Destroy your couch, or B) mix some hot tracks. Those are literally the two things a cat wants to do most. Give it the chance with this cardboard scratching post. The arm swings around, and the top spins and you get to watch Mr. Cuddlemittens and laugh in that "OMG THE CAT THINKS HE'S PEOPLE" way. Made of highly durable cardboard, it comes flat packed and is easy to assemble. Measures about 15"x14"x5.5"

paper bon bon

2011-11-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

{thehappyhomeblog.com} Sorry, I have become bit obsessed with all the potential of a toilet paper roll. I think I have four postings with craft ideas involving a toilet paper roll. I like this one, paper bon bon.

doily snowflake

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

{thehappyhomeblog} To make a doily paper snowflake you need three doilers per star and some double sided tape. Simple!

paper bauble garland

2011-11-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

{kidspot.com.au} click the link to make your own paper bauble garland. You will need: paper, string, glue circle punch and a bit of time. Something easy to do when you are watching tv/movie at home, sitting with your kids as they finish homework or listening to your mother on the phone...

book page wreath

2011-11-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

{thehappyhomeblog.com} Super easy... old book, spray adhesive, glitter, hot glue gun, foam wreath. This would be an awesome gift for someone too! Make it something they could keep up all year long... or add extra elements that make it personal, old photos, movie tickets, trinkets?

wax paper flowers

2011-11-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

{nicepackageblog.com} click the link for exact directions. It is super easy!

toilet paper wreath

2011-11-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

{seeyoutheredesign.com} Okay, this is the best toilet paper wreath I have seen yet! Very nice shape and I love the wax paper flowers, gold ornaments and ribbon. Click the link for exact directions on how to make your own.

lantern ornaments

2011-11-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} Lantern ornaments from Toilet Paper tubes. I love this because it is so simple. This would be a fun activity for kids and a good "filler" ornament on the tree. I know at our house the fragile ornaments go to the top and the breakable ones are at "kid level". Plus they love to make ornaments.

owl ornaments

2011-11-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com}

{flickr.com} These owl ornaments are made from toilet paper rolls. SO obvious! We will be making some at our house. I think with gold paint! You could even add some real feathers to them for texture and zing!

Gotye- Somebody that I used to know

2011-11-17T19:19:00.000-08:00

{youtube.com} featuring Kimbra. I love the painted facets of color. The song is addicting.

every day I'm hustling

2011-11-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

{hermodernromance.tumblr.com}

live

2011-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

{pinterest.com} most days, I wish things could be simple... but there is always some ankle biter waiting to attack me.

pie hole

2011-11-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

{tasteologie.notcot.org} nice branding.

what's stopping you

2011-11-09T20:52:00.001-08:00

{katespadeny.tumblr.com}

lattice cookies

2011-11-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

{camillestyles.com} lattice cookies... I love the styling of this shot!

sharpie tie dye

2011-11-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

{solovelydecoration.blogspot.com} choose an area of the shirt, secure to the top of a plastic cup with a rubber band, draw with a sharpie pen, drop some rubbing alcohol with a medicine dropper and watch the colors blur. Be sure to heat set the colors by tossing the shirt in the dryer for a while before wearing.

reused tennis racket

2011-11-05T18:22:00.001-07:00

{solovelydecoration.blogspot.com} Simple and brilliant. You could easily pick up a used tennis racket at Salvation Army or Goodwill.

ice balloons

2011-11-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

{hurrayic.blogspot.com} Winter is soon upon us in Minnesota. Check out this cool idea. Place one drop of food coloring in an empty balloon. Then carefully fill it with water, tie it shut. Place them in plastic bags and freeze in freezer. Next day, bring the frozen balloons outside. Cut off the balloons. Then you are free to have some colorful fun!

harajuku mini by Gwen Stefani for Target

2011-11-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

{target.com}

{lilsugar.com} Harajuka mini by Gwen Stefani for Target debuts November 13th!

glow stick fun

2011-10-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

{playathomemom3.blogspot.com} Try glow sticks inside balloons or in cups of water. Did you know that if you store glowsticks in the freezer after "starting" them, they will last a few more nights? Try it.

{homedesign.marthastewart.com}

I saw this a few weeks ago, glow sticks in the bathtub. I tried it last night with my three kids. They loved it!

the happiness project

2011-10-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have three kids, a career, husband and dreams of my own... so this book is a good read for my soul. Maybe you would pull something from it as well?

{happiness-project.com} to buy the book click here

Rubin is not an unhappy woman: she has a loving husband, two great kids and a writing career in New York City. Still, she could-and, arguably, should-be happier. Thus, her methodical (and bizarre) happiness project: spend one year achieving careful, measurable goals in different areas of life (marriage, work, parenting, self-fulfillment) and build on them cumulatively, using concrete steps (such as, in January, going to bed earlier, exercising better, getting organized, and "acting more energetic"). By December, she's striving bemusedly to keep increasing happiness in every aspect of her life. The outcome is good, not perfect (in accordance with one of her "Secrets of Adulthood": "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good"), but Rubin's funny, perceptive account is both inspirational and forgiving, and sprinkled with just enough wise tips, concrete advice and timely research (including all those other recent books on happiness) to qualify as self-help. Defying self-help expectations, however, Rubin writes with keen senses of self and narrative, balancing the personal and the universal with a light touch. Rubin's project makes curiously compulsive reading, which is enough to make any reader happy.

peace out benches

2011-10-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} Our 2.5 year old son can't say "benches". Instead he says "b*tches". This causes some trouble when we walk into our local Target and some older ladies are sitting on the "benches". He turns 3 today! Time moves so fast...

webcam for seniors

2011-10-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com}

Bruce and Esther Huffman from McMinnville, OR. Very funny. Their grand-daughter found it and posted it to youtube.

{youtube.com}

Pavel Eekra : pinecone lamp

2011-10-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

{style-files.com}

Check out this gorgeous pendant by Russian designer Pavel Eekra. The lamp consists of 56 plates and screws, without an internal skeleton due to rounding forms plaques form gaps through which light passes. Boards themselves are also slightly transparent, this creates a particular pattern of light from the outside and downward bright light. More information about the lamp can be found on Pavel’s website.

Action Pencil

2011-10-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

{wearewhatwedo.org}

Each lead pencil in this set has an Action on it - including Action 035: Write to someone who inspired you and Action 046: Use both sides of every piece of paper.

John & Kira's : Ladybug and Bee chocolates

2011-10-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today at work, a client sent us two boxes of Jogn & Kira's chocolates. Goodness! The packaging was very thoughtful, the chocolates heavenly and the hand painting delightful. What I really loved was the glossy sheen on each chocolate. I think this would be the perfect little food accent to have for a baby shower. You know for the "birds and the bees".

{gilttaste.com}

John & Kira's charming chocolate assortment has more than cuteness working in its favor. Each adorable hand-painted ladybug is filled with sustainably sourced local fresh raspberries, garden mint or honey.

Philadelphia-based husband-wife duo John and Kira Doyle source the best seasonal ingredients throughout the country to accompany their chocolate, from biodynamic Hawaiian ginger to local Pennsylvania honey

terrarium pendant light

2011-10-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

{re-nest.com} The pendant light glass terrariums from the glass design studio of the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague.

modern geisha

2011-10-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

I have a masquerade work party coming up soon. I am doing a modern Geisha/Vintage Chinese Calendar girl. My hubby is going to be the Monkey king.

Here are my mood boards.. I found an inexpensive mandarin Cheongsam dress online and made a floral headdress. I am still tweaking the makeup and experimenting with some "mask" ideas. More to come next week.

think different

2011-10-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com}

Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones,
We see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world,
Are the ones who do.

My heart is heavy with the passing of Steve Jobs tonight. The Apple computer is the reason for my career choice. I remember playing on my friend, Martina's family mac computer in the 1980's. Her dad would only let us play on it for a half hour but we could draw with the programs. I could not do that at home on my Dad's PC with the lotus notes program and annoying key commands (remember shift + F1).

Even back then my creative spark flipped on. It lead me to taking classes on the weekend at Minneapolis College of Art and Design when I was twelve. I went on to follow a career in design during my college years. And now I am on an Apple computer nearly ten hours a day. I blog, create photo album for my kids, connect with friends around the world and to make my own vision to share with others.

Steve was only 56 years old, makes me wonder what other amazing things he could have created for the world. Carry forward with the words that kept Steve moving "stay hungry, stay foolish".

dispatch work : lego fix-ups

2011-09-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

{dispatchwork.info} found on {lulus.com/blog}

This project, called Dispatchwork, has taken the German artist all over the world, "repairing" (as he calls it) crumbling buildings, monuments, and more with hundreds of LEGOs and the assistance of eager helpers. His inspiration?

"The Lego brick has a nostalgic value amongst different generations worldwide, but at the same time it is all up to date. The combination of stone bricks and plastic bricks creates all kind(s) of different contrasts that, in my eyes, illuminate(s) relationships between aesthetics and functionality."

fake empire

2011-09-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} As of late, so many of my friend are going through some very serious life changing issues. It's making me think more than I would like, leaving me wishing life could be a bit more simple.

Stay out super late tonight
picking apples, making pies
put a little something in our lemonade and take it with us
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Tiptoe through our shiny city
with our diamond slippers on
do our gay ballet on ice
bluebirds on our shoulders
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Turn the light out say goodnight
no thinking for a little while
lets not try to figure out everything at once
It’s hard to keep track of you falling through the sky
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

a little sunshine : rainbow party

2011-09-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

{skycrusher.com} My friend, Melanie had the most wonderful rainbow themed party for her one year old daughter. Guests wore their favorite color, the food was arranged in rainbow order, rainbow cake, lovely streamers and a perfect little sunshine birthday gal. Delightful!

Lindsey Wixson : teased, too

2011-09-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

Today I had around 200 hits to my blog looking for Lindsey Wixson. So I googled to see what was striking this interest. I found this three minute video where she discusses her path before her career and what keeps her grounded now.

{thefrisky.com}

Seventeen-year-old Lindsey Wixson is one of the modeling world’s biggest sensations, but life wasn’t always Gucci, Prada, and miles of stark white runways. Before she broke big on the pages of W magazine, Wixson says she was bullied by girls in her class, who made fun of her for her gap teeth and height. “I actually had a group of girls who made a list of things they didn’t like about me,” she claims. But despite the early taunts, Wixson says she’d still like to return home to her native Kansas sometime soon because she misses her parents. “They keep me grounded,” she says. [Telegraph]

2011-09-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

{familyfun.go.com} super cute little owl cupcakes.

Lowe's commercial : don't stop

2011-09-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Song: Don't Stop by Gin Wigmore from her Holy Smoke Album

{youtube.com}

Twinkle toes, I think I found the soul
To make me happily ever-after
Twinkle toes, I'm glad you shot your bowl
Into the arms of my savior
Can I say that I am somebody's world?
How do I live alone with nowhere to go?

I say I love you
And I say it more
My one and only
I can't lose

So don't stop doing what you're doing
Have I paid my dues just to be with you?
Don't stop doing what you're doing
I will be your something when you're bottled and blue
Don't stop doing what you're doing
'Cause that makes you my man...

tatertot hotdish

2011-09-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

{houseofbrinson.com}

Tatertot Hotdish Recipe

1 (24 ounce) bag frozen tater tots

1 lb ground turkey burger

1 (12 ounce) can tomatoes with chilis (Rotel)

1 (12 ounce) can condensed cheddar or nacho cheese soup

1 (12 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken (or celery) soup

1 (12 ounce) can sweet corn (drained) or 1.5 cups frozen

1 (12 ounce) can black beans (drained and rinsed

1 (12 ounce) bag four-cheese Mexican blend cheese

1 cup diced onion

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1/2 chopped red pepper

1 diced jalepeno pepper (seeded)

Heat onions and olive oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until they start to soften. Add chopped garlic, jalepeno and red pepper to onions and let cook for 2-3 minutes before adding turkey burger. Cook until browned, 6-8 minutes.

Drain the tomatoes, beans and corn and mix with the cans of condensed soup in a casserole dish. Note, you add the soup straight out of the can. Do not add water or milk. After the meat is browned and the grease is drained, stir it in with the veggie/soup mixture. Cover with shredded cheese and top with frozen tater tots.

Bake in the oven at 375°F until the tots are browned. About 35-40 minutes.

dreamcatcher

2011-09-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

{etsy.com} 19" handmade dreamcatcher from etsy. I used to make these at summer camp in Northern Minnesota. It has been at least 20 years since I made one. I tried the other night. It was not nearly as beautiful as this one.

Here is a link of how to make your own. For more history of the dreamcatcher click here.

make patterns from your own clothes

2011-09-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

{sweet-verbena.blogspot.com} Great tutorial of how to make clothing patterns from clothes you already own.

a Facebook love story

2011-09-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

I found this story on {shopruche.blogspot.com} and thought it was so sweet that I had to share.

"In January of 2010, I reconnected on Facebook with my very first boyfriend, James (Jimmy, as I used to call him). We were high school sweethearts who spent 3 years together, on and off, broke up in 1988, and hadn’t been in contact since.

For months, we exchanged emails sharing what we’d each been up to for the past two-plus decades. I hadn't been feeling well, and as I became progressively more sick, he and I became closer and closer. We chatted online, staying up way too late many nights because neither of us wanted to sign off and say good-bye. I had recently gone through a bad break up and James was very supportive and non-judgmental, even when I made ridiculous statements such as, "I will never love again."

Despite professing to the contrary, I made a list of all the qualities a potential future boyfriend must possess. When I read him the list, including such attributes as, "Must make me laugh", "Must be honest", "Must have Celiac, like me", and "Must live nearby", he good-naturedly suggested that no one is perfect and I may have to give a little leeway here or there.

That summer, I became very ill and was put on medical disability and bed-rest. James continued to check in on me daily, and our online chats turned into phone conversations because I was too weak to sit at the computer.

In August of 2010, at the height of my illness (I was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, hypertension, and thyroid disease) when I was frighteningly skinny and weak, and eight months after we had reconnected, he drove 3 hours from his home in a neighboring state to visit me.

My friend Leslie told me to wear my hair down for our “date”, but I insisted it wasn’t a “date”; besides, it was hot out, so I put my hair up.

We spent the day watching movies, me lying down, my legs over his lap. We never ran out of things to say. I felt extremely comfortable being near him, but I didn’t think I felt a love connection, which greatly disappointed me. I'd become so fond of him and he'd become a wonderful friend, with a soul like no one I had met before. I could tell he really liked me, but he was a perfect gentleman who made it clear that he was happy just to have reconnected with his old friend.

About 7 pm I unpinned my hair – one of my medications makes my scalp ache and I needed a bit of relief. As my very long hair came down, he smiled and said, “Look at your hair!” (Thanks, Leslie!) and in that moment something hit me, (perhaps Cupid’s Arrow, or hormones) and I kissed him. I'm not sure who was more surprised at my behavior, but he certainly didn't protest.

One thing led to another...yada yada yada…and we’ve been inseparable since. I'm convinced that his love and support literally helped saved my life and continues to help me negotiate my new "normal" with positivity and strength. We recently celebrated our one-year anniversary and plan to marry. I asked him when he knew for sure that he wanted to marry me and he replied, “25 years ago”. It may have taken me a bit longer to figure it out, and he doesn't have Celiac, but oh how wonderful to realize that when my high school crush asked me out on April 28th, 1985, decades later we'd be blessed to end up together for good."

sportscenter : abby wambach

2011-09-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} SportsCenter has so funny tv spots. This one is making fun of the Worldcup Soccer competition.

Monday Night Football

2011-09-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

I actually really love these tv spots for Monday Night Football on ESPN. Good stuff. It always makes me laugh.

staples back to school 2011

2011-09-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} Rico Rodriguez (from Modern Family) & Haley Pullos star in a Staples Back to school commercial. I also love the one with Alice Cooper. Daughter "I thought schools out forever?" Alice retorts "no no no, the song goes school's out for summer. Nice try though".

SportsCenter: Landon Donovan

2011-09-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} clever!

NLF.com commericial : there's no place like home

2011-09-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} I love this tv spot (and I don't really like football--shhh don't tell my hubby).

missoni for Target

2011-09-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

This bike is now selling for $1000 or more on ebay!

I totally forgot that Missoni hit the Target stores today. I heard that the downtown Minneapolis Target store was sold out in under an hour. I went to a Target near my house after work. Just a few things were left. I think guests would have taken the signing if they could. Many items are now listed on ebay! $1500 for the bike! I am kicking myself for not getting out there sooner.

The designers Margherita Maccapani Missoni, left, and Angela Missoni greeted guests last week at Target store in New York.
Margherita Maccapani Missoni in an ad for the Missoni for Target line of clothing. The tv spot is pretty cute. It reminded me of the one Target did a while back for "Swell" back in 2002?

{nytimes.com}

Target’s Web site came crashing down on Tuesday as Missoni-loving fashion devotées invaded, scrambling to buy the high-end Italian designer’s clothes for a song.

With its limited-edition Missoni for Target line, introduced on Tuesday, and other low-price designer collections, Target has been trying to position itself as the chicest of the discount stores. Missoni’s clothing usually costs in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, but it had designed a number of cheaper items for Target, like a $40 skirt in its signature zigzag design and a $600 patio set. However, the limited-edition fashions were more limited than Target might have wanted.

In an unusual fumble for the large retailer, Target was unprepared for online shoppers’ hunger for the items. TheTarget.com site was wiped out for most of the day; the company said that demand for items was higher than it was on a typical day after Thanksgiving, and that is usually the biggest shopping day of the year.

Target’s physical stores had long lines on Tuesday, and many sold out of their Missoni assortments in minutes

Gas Powered Everything

2011-09-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

opinions and such

"Renault-Nissan has kicked off a massive advertising campaign intended to highlight the advanced technology of electric vehicles with the debut of a pair of videos that bang home the point that consumers depend upon electricity to power items used everyday and that using gasoline is, in some instances, utterly ridiculous.

In one spot, a middle-aged man wakes up for work to the burning whistle of his gas-powered alarm clock and with a few fierce tugs at his coffee maker's rip cord, manages to fire up the gas-gulping machine. That same man, while at the office, walks up to a miniature gas pump to refuel his laptop computer.

Oh, and the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, while standing at the gas pump refueling his plug-in hybrid, watches in envy as another man across the street unplugs his Nissan Leaf and drives off as onlookers watch in amazement. Yep, that's how Nissan sees the world if "Gas Powered Everything."

From Green.autoblog.com

egg crate DIY accessory container

2011-09-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

My daughter is a huge fan of the color, orange. We just took an egg crate and painted it orange to sort out all of her barrettes and such.

I can't help falling in love with you

2011-09-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

{youtube.com} I have always loved this song. My mom was a huge Elvis fan, when I was little this song was often playing in the background. I get teary-eyed every time I hear this song. It is magical. I wish I could bottle it up and spritz it when moments get tough for couples. Why can't relationships be as simple as a song?

day in the life of a graphic designer

2011-09-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

{thedesignbureauofamerika.com} made me laugh a little. . .

marisol spoon

2011-09-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

{etsy.com} Illustrations by Marisol Spoon.

What would honey Badger do

2011-09-05T18:42:00.001-07:00

{etsy.com} I actually do think "what would honey badger do" sometimes....

watch the honey badger on youtube.

2011-09-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

{ohdeedoh.com} I love this room! So Sweet!

Chinese coconut sweet buns

2011-09-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

{kokken69.blogspot.com} One of my favorite foods!

7 layer finger jello

2011-09-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

{foodlibrarian.blogspot.com} I have never made this but I would like to try! I bet my kids would love to have it in their school lunch. All their friends would be talking about it. If it was up to my daughter, it would be pink and orange!