Random, I know. I'm sitting here eating my breakfast (at 1:30 pm), and it's the same breakfast I have almost every day. I LOVE eggs. My body craves protein in the morning...eggs, meat, cheese...but mostly eggs. It's very rare for me to not want eggs for breakfast (or some other time of the day, if I missed my eggs for breakfast), and it usually involves being sick or needing some other nutrients badly enough that it overrides my desire for eggs. If I could own a few chickens, I would be a happy camper.
That's all...just eggs...that's one of my favorite things. :-)
Friday, March 9, 2012
Etsy
(I'd apologize for the long absence, but I wouldn't mean it...I've been busy being in love...party on.)
So I recently discovered etsy. I had heard of it, but never really explored it. But my crocheting has picked up tremendously, and I've been getting really brave...and I'm impressed enough with what I've been producing that I figured it was about time to stop playing around and start selling my stuff. This blog post isn't about pimping myself out (although, if you want to check me out, please do...I'm really proud of my stuff!). It's about one of my (new) favorite things...etsy!
I think my first real experience with etsy was just hearing so many people talk about it. It sounded like SUCH a better deal than ebay (it is...way), and I was excited that it was specifically for crafters like me. I learned later that it's not just for crafters, but that was the BIG pull for me. I saw some of my friends selling their handcrafted items on etsy, and it sounded like fun...not just money. THAT appealed to me hugely.
I think the final draw for me was a friend on facebook who also crochets, who was making insanely creative zombie dolls and selling them. I LOVED her stuff. And I realized that I have skills that might one day match hers, if I put in a little effort. Here's her shop (although it's currently closed).
My partner and I both have etsy shops now, and I'm so excited about how well they're going! What have been your experiences with etsy?
So I recently discovered etsy. I had heard of it, but never really explored it. But my crocheting has picked up tremendously, and I've been getting really brave...and I'm impressed enough with what I've been producing that I figured it was about time to stop playing around and start selling my stuff. This blog post isn't about pimping myself out (although, if you want to check me out, please do...I'm really proud of my stuff!). It's about one of my (new) favorite things...etsy!
I think my first real experience with etsy was just hearing so many people talk about it. It sounded like SUCH a better deal than ebay (it is...way), and I was excited that it was specifically for crafters like me. I learned later that it's not just for crafters, but that was the BIG pull for me. I saw some of my friends selling their handcrafted items on etsy, and it sounded like fun...not just money. THAT appealed to me hugely.
I think the final draw for me was a friend on facebook who also crochets, who was making insanely creative zombie dolls and selling them. I LOVED her stuff. And I realized that I have skills that might one day match hers, if I put in a little effort. Here's her shop (although it's currently closed).
My partner and I both have etsy shops now, and I'm so excited about how well they're going! What have been your experiences with etsy?
Friday, December 3, 2010
Crochet!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Grief
Yes, it's true. One of my favorite things is grief. This is a rather new development, in the grand scheme of things. I didn't even know HOW to grieve until recently (well, it was a couple years ago now, but out of 34 years, a couple isn't much).
I don't think I understood that I had a right to grieve when I was little. My grandpa died when I was 8 (or maybe almost 8)...and I had to hold it together because my dad needed to be taken care of, and my mom was pregnant and couldn't handle any stress. (Apparently I wasn't good at keeping my mom stress-free because not long after this, she beat my head into a brick wall for fighting over a comic book with my cousin...what a naughty little girl I was.)
When my grandma (dad's mom) died, I worried only about everyone else. I didn't start crying until I was told that my brother was able to hear my grandma begging to die because she was in so much pain. I don't know that I've ever grieved her death.
I began to learn about this grieving thing when my cat died...about 2 1/2 years ago. I had quit smoking, and had no way to stop the tears anymore (oh my, what a fantabulous coping skill that was...start crying, no problem! Just light up a smoke, and viola, the tears were gone...on with the show). So, when I found out my cat was going to die, the floodgates opened...and didn't stop for days. She died that night. My husband and I both cried so much that we had nonstop headaches for days. That was when I learned about staying hydrated because crying takes all that moisture right out of you!
Since then, I have slowly begun to tackle grief in little pieces. I joined a suicide support forum to discuss my grandma's suicide. I didn't do much with that group, but it was a step forward. I have revisited the topic of my grandma's death several times since then. It's a huge one. After she died, my grades in college dropped from a steady, solid 4.0 to somewhere around a C average. I dropped a class 2 weeks before the final because I didn't have the emotional resources to deal with my teacher, who was a horrid wench. I have spent probably 75% of my waking hours dissociated since my grandma's death (this was 9 years ago, y'all...that's a pretty huge chunk of time to be "out of it").
I recently stopped seeing my therapist in preparation for a move to my new town. Upon my last visit, I told her that I wanted to go back to school, but couldn't see how it was possible given my inability to focus since my grandma's suicide. She told me I needed to grieve...like for reals...not this "every once in awhile, when I can't hold it inside" shit anymore. Real, honest, messy, soul-emptying grief...I had to actually put in some effort.
Oh lordy...it has been a challenge. One I haven't met very well so far. But my love and I have been processing much lately. The recent deaths of a close friend and a beloved Aunt have my love spinning, unsure of how to tackle the coming holidays without them. And the anniversary of my grandma's death is hovering around this time. The actual date was the 17th, but I always thought of it as "the Saturday before Thanksgiving"...which makes "my" anniversary tomorrow.
It is wild to me to have someone who I can grieve with. This is entirely new to me. When I cry, she cries, too. Not always...it's not a requirement. And she's not trying to "steal my thunder" or make it about her. She's just getting in touch with her own grief. She can be there for me, support me 100% in my own horrible space, while also acknowledging her own pain. How amazing is that?
With or without my wife for support, it is AMAZING to me that I'm able to cry, to touch my grief and allow it to show its face. For most of my life, the only place/time I have been able to cry in front of others has been in spiritual situations. The only other time I shed tears has been on the bathroom floor, safely hidden away from prying eyes...even those of my partner(s), closest friends...and let's not even bother speaking of family.
I still hold the feelings in from time to time, when I can't handle it. I've held the tears at bay all day today, for instance (it's my anniversary, dammit! I should be enjoying today, not crying about tomorrow!). But the fact that I can shed tears in front of others when tears are called for, the fact that I can allow myself to even THINK about the people I've lost, and allow the sadness to wash over me, instead of holding it back...even SOMETIMES...that's huge.
I don't like the sadness...I don't like missing my grandma...I don't like missing out on other parts of life because I'm crying...I don't like recognizing that I will never get to hold my loved ones again or tell them I love them, or share those special moments...but the idea that I can embrace the REALITY of the situation...and let go of the fantasy that it's not real, or that I can ignore it til it goes away...the act of accepting grief as a necessary fact rather than something to be avoided at all costs...this, THIS is what makes grief one of my favorite things.
Because it's real. It's here. It's a part of me. If I'm going to accept myself as I am, I ought to be accepting my grief as a part of this whole being that is me.
I don't think I understood that I had a right to grieve when I was little. My grandpa died when I was 8 (or maybe almost 8)...and I had to hold it together because my dad needed to be taken care of, and my mom was pregnant and couldn't handle any stress. (Apparently I wasn't good at keeping my mom stress-free because not long after this, she beat my head into a brick wall for fighting over a comic book with my cousin...what a naughty little girl I was.)
When my grandma (dad's mom) died, I worried only about everyone else. I didn't start crying until I was told that my brother was able to hear my grandma begging to die because she was in so much pain. I don't know that I've ever grieved her death.
I began to learn about this grieving thing when my cat died...about 2 1/2 years ago. I had quit smoking, and had no way to stop the tears anymore (oh my, what a fantabulous coping skill that was...start crying, no problem! Just light up a smoke, and viola, the tears were gone...on with the show). So, when I found out my cat was going to die, the floodgates opened...and didn't stop for days. She died that night. My husband and I both cried so much that we had nonstop headaches for days. That was when I learned about staying hydrated because crying takes all that moisture right out of you!
Since then, I have slowly begun to tackle grief in little pieces. I joined a suicide support forum to discuss my grandma's suicide. I didn't do much with that group, but it was a step forward. I have revisited the topic of my grandma's death several times since then. It's a huge one. After she died, my grades in college dropped from a steady, solid 4.0 to somewhere around a C average. I dropped a class 2 weeks before the final because I didn't have the emotional resources to deal with my teacher, who was a horrid wench. I have spent probably 75% of my waking hours dissociated since my grandma's death (this was 9 years ago, y'all...that's a pretty huge chunk of time to be "out of it").
I recently stopped seeing my therapist in preparation for a move to my new town. Upon my last visit, I told her that I wanted to go back to school, but couldn't see how it was possible given my inability to focus since my grandma's suicide. She told me I needed to grieve...like for reals...not this "every once in awhile, when I can't hold it inside" shit anymore. Real, honest, messy, soul-emptying grief...I had to actually put in some effort.
Oh lordy...it has been a challenge. One I haven't met very well so far. But my love and I have been processing much lately. The recent deaths of a close friend and a beloved Aunt have my love spinning, unsure of how to tackle the coming holidays without them. And the anniversary of my grandma's death is hovering around this time. The actual date was the 17th, but I always thought of it as "the Saturday before Thanksgiving"...which makes "my" anniversary tomorrow.
It is wild to me to have someone who I can grieve with. This is entirely new to me. When I cry, she cries, too. Not always...it's not a requirement. And she's not trying to "steal my thunder" or make it about her. She's just getting in touch with her own grief. She can be there for me, support me 100% in my own horrible space, while also acknowledging her own pain. How amazing is that?
With or without my wife for support, it is AMAZING to me that I'm able to cry, to touch my grief and allow it to show its face. For most of my life, the only place/time I have been able to cry in front of others has been in spiritual situations. The only other time I shed tears has been on the bathroom floor, safely hidden away from prying eyes...even those of my partner(s), closest friends...and let's not even bother speaking of family.
I still hold the feelings in from time to time, when I can't handle it. I've held the tears at bay all day today, for instance (it's my anniversary, dammit! I should be enjoying today, not crying about tomorrow!). But the fact that I can shed tears in front of others when tears are called for, the fact that I can allow myself to even THINK about the people I've lost, and allow the sadness to wash over me, instead of holding it back...even SOMETIMES...that's huge.
I don't like the sadness...I don't like missing my grandma...I don't like missing out on other parts of life because I'm crying...I don't like recognizing that I will never get to hold my loved ones again or tell them I love them, or share those special moments...but the idea that I can embrace the REALITY of the situation...and let go of the fantasy that it's not real, or that I can ignore it til it goes away...the act of accepting grief as a necessary fact rather than something to be avoided at all costs...this, THIS is what makes grief one of my favorite things.
Because it's real. It's here. It's a part of me. If I'm going to accept myself as I am, I ought to be accepting my grief as a part of this whole being that is me.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Online Alarm Clock
I sit in front of this computer way too much. I know what you're thinking. "Why don't you post more often then?!?" I know, I know... But my point is that I need to spend LESS time in front of this box. So I was going to start setting my kitchen timer for 15 minutes at a time to remind me to get up and do stuff. We have THREE kitchen timers. Two of them are really nifty...they have magnets so they'll stick to the fridge, and little stands in the back so that you can stand them up and watch the time, and all kinds of nifty features. Do you think either one of these were ON the fridge? Nope. Neither was the regular kitchen timer on the shelf, where it belongs. I know, nice, right? Ugh!
But I'm determined to set some kind of alarm. I hate using the timer on the stove (I don't know why), the one on my phone is annoying and my hearing isn't good enough to use the one in my bedroom. So, I decided to look online to see if I could find some kind of alarm. Viola! Here it is, an online alarm clock! It even has different ringers. I personally prefer the guitar. :-D
But I'm determined to set some kind of alarm. I hate using the timer on the stove (I don't know why), the one on my phone is annoying and my hearing isn't good enough to use the one in my bedroom. So, I decided to look online to see if I could find some kind of alarm. Viola! Here it is, an online alarm clock! It even has different ringers. I personally prefer the guitar. :-D
Monday, October 26, 2009
Delicious Black Bean Stew
I threw this stew together the other night, and I'm in love. Remember Steup? Well, this is kind of the same concept, but a bit heartier, and with lots of different flavors. It's going to seem like there are a LOT of ingredients in this stew, but there are really only a few main ingredients...the rest was just a bunch of stuff I had hanging around (which was how I came up with this stew in the first place, just trying to use up the perishable food I knew would go bad if I didn't do something fast). The main ingredients are black beans, tomato, taco seasoning, and some type of grain. Once you have those ingredients, just throw in what you have available.
I made this stew twice (once for dinner, and once to freeze and eat later), and I had different ingredients each time, so I'll tell you about both versions. One thing's for sure...this is not a recipe for those who have to stick to a recipe! Be creative and have fun with it!
Black Bean Stew
Black beans - 1 pound for a medium crock pot, 2 pounds for a large crock pot - soaked overnight
"Grandma's Grain" or barley, or whatever you have on hand
Tomatoes - I used at least 10 tomatoes in each batch. You can probably use canned stewed tomatoes or whatever you have available.
Taco Seasoning - 1 packet for a medium crock pot, 2 packets for a large crock pot
Additional stuff:
Dried veggie soup mix
Carrots
Onions
Bouillon cubes (about 5 - if you want a vegetarian soup, use veggie bouillon)
Parsley
Garlic (in one batch, I used whole cloves of garlic, and in the other batch, granulated garlic)
Bell Peppers (I didn't have these for the first batch)
For my next batch, I plan to use pumpkin. I wish I had a big get-together planned sometime soon, because I have a great big pumpkin that I could use to serve my black bean soup in! Here's what I really want to do:
Disclaimer: This isn't my soup. I stole this picture from a friend who served this soup at a pumpkin carving party the other day.
And here's how I put it together (this is the second batch I made):
I gathered up all my veggies
Soaked the beans overnight, then rinsed and drained them
Gathered my spices
Dumped in about a half a jar of my Grandma's Grains
Cut up my veggies - bell peppers
tomatoes
carrots
aaaand onions.
And then I mixed it all together, and added water just to the point where you could tell I added water:
(Isn't it gorgeous?) And then cooked it all day, and here's the result:
Delicious!
I made this stew twice (once for dinner, and once to freeze and eat later), and I had different ingredients each time, so I'll tell you about both versions. One thing's for sure...this is not a recipe for those who have to stick to a recipe! Be creative and have fun with it!
Black Bean Stew
Black beans - 1 pound for a medium crock pot, 2 pounds for a large crock pot - soaked overnight
"Grandma's Grain" or barley, or whatever you have on hand
Tomatoes - I used at least 10 tomatoes in each batch. You can probably use canned stewed tomatoes or whatever you have available.
Taco Seasoning - 1 packet for a medium crock pot, 2 packets for a large crock pot
Additional stuff:
Dried veggie soup mix
Carrots
Onions
Bouillon cubes (about 5 - if you want a vegetarian soup, use veggie bouillon)
Parsley
Garlic (in one batch, I used whole cloves of garlic, and in the other batch, granulated garlic)
Bell Peppers (I didn't have these for the first batch)
For my next batch, I plan to use pumpkin. I wish I had a big get-together planned sometime soon, because I have a great big pumpkin that I could use to serve my black bean soup in! Here's what I really want to do:
Disclaimer: This isn't my soup. I stole this picture from a friend who served this soup at a pumpkin carving party the other day.
And here's how I put it together (this is the second batch I made):
I gathered up all my veggies
Soaked the beans overnight, then rinsed and drained them
Gathered my spices
Dumped in about a half a jar of my Grandma's Grains
Cut up my veggies - bell peppers
tomatoes
carrots
aaaand onions.
And then I mixed it all together, and added water just to the point where you could tell I added water:
(Isn't it gorgeous?) And then cooked it all day, and here's the result:
Delicious!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Super Quick Crochet Curtain Holders
Oh my, two blogs in one day! Nobody have a heart attack, ok? You'd think that blogging would KEEP me from doing stuff, but it's exactly the opposite. When I'm working and getting things done, I want to share! The thought of blogging about all the fun stuff I'm doing actually gets me excited to do more. I'm going to have to remember that for future reference.
Anyway, so about these curtain holders (I haven't a clue if that's what they're called, but they hold the curtains, so that's good enough for me). I decided the other day to put my plants in my bedroom. Until now, they've had two very bad options...either getting torn up by excited dogs in the living room, or getting very little sun in the dining room. So, I got furniture moved around, cleaned off my dresser, and laid down this nifty runner I got from my friend Jenna (thanks, Jenna!). Then I realized that I have no way to keep the curtains back. It won't do me much good to bring the plants into my room if they get no sun. I've been crocheting a lot lately (maybe I'll do a couple more posts to show my other projects over the last few days), so I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I'm not even going to attempt to write this like a crochet pattern, I'm just going to explain what I did.
I used an N hook, because I wanted these to be done quick (and it worked...it's going to take me longer to write the blog than it took to make these). I grabbed some scrap yarn (there's a lot of green in my room, so I grabbed green yarn...it looks nice!) For the first one, I just made a chain until I figured it was about the right length (I don't even know how many stitches I did, I didn't bother to count). For the second one, I chained until I had about the same length (minus the end loops):
Then, I added another 5 chains. I turned, skipped those five chains to make a loop:
...and single crocheted back to the other end. Uh oh, I think I'm missing some pictures. Oh well. When I got to the other end, I chained five again, and single crocheted down the other side (the bottom of the original chain). I doubt it would matter if you crocheted across the top, it would just be a little crooked (when you lay them out, one loop will be higher than the other). But heck, it's not like anyone's ever going to inspect them, right? (Well, unless you have a mom like mine who has to criticize everything you're proud of...in that case, just don't tell her! LOL)
Now, the first one I did, I didn't slip stitch the last stitch to the loop on the end. It left a little "pimple" thing sticking out, so with the second one I made sure to slip stitch, and it looks much better. Again, no one's ever going to inspect these things, so I'm leaving it.
All told, these curtain holders took me maybe 10 minutes. Rock on! I got my plants moved in, and I am a happy girl!
Perfect Iced Coffee
I love iced coffee in the summer. It's super easy to put together, and yummy. I have a lot of fun with it. This is how I make my iced coffee.
Now, y'all know I'm not a photographer, but even with my lacking skill, this picture is just sad. Please ignore my messy desk. I just want to share the coffee love. ;-)
Make a pot of coffee twice as strong as you normally like it.
Grab a pitcher or sun tea dispenser (I use a pitcher...I make my coffee in a french press, so it's the perfect size for my pitcher. If you use a coffee pot, a sun tea dispenser would probably work better). Put all your "goodies" into the pitcher. I use creamer, cocoa, coffee syrups, and/or extracts(my favorite is coconut).
Pour the hot coffee in and stir.
Then add a couple trays of ice and stir. Let this sit while you get glasses ready with more ice (or if you've got a bucket of ice for guests, just keep stirring the coffee until it's chilled). Pour your coffee, embellish with mint sprigs, or whatever you like (I use my crazy straws...heehee! I like to let out my inner child often).
Keep the extra coffee in the fridge. I don't usually share mine (it's a "cleaning day" treat for me), so the pitcher lasts all day.
Enjoy!
Now, y'all know I'm not a photographer, but even with my lacking skill, this picture is just sad. Please ignore my messy desk. I just want to share the coffee love. ;-)Make a pot of coffee twice as strong as you normally like it.
Grab a pitcher or sun tea dispenser (I use a pitcher...I make my coffee in a french press, so it's the perfect size for my pitcher. If you use a coffee pot, a sun tea dispenser would probably work better). Put all your "goodies" into the pitcher. I use creamer, cocoa, coffee syrups, and/or extracts(my favorite is coconut).
Pour the hot coffee in and stir.
Then add a couple trays of ice and stir. Let this sit while you get glasses ready with more ice (or if you've got a bucket of ice for guests, just keep stirring the coffee until it's chilled). Pour your coffee, embellish with mint sprigs, or whatever you like (I use my crazy straws...heehee! I like to let out my inner child often).
Keep the extra coffee in the fridge. I don't usually share mine (it's a "cleaning day" treat for me), so the pitcher lasts all day.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Adoptee Rights Video
I know I've been slacking on my blog, and especially on talking about adoptee rights (totally missed the 50 day letter writing campaign, and didn't write a single post during the protest). My apologies. BUT, I thought it would be awesome to share this video with you - created by a 13 year old, the daughter of an adoptee. Enjoy!
Monday, July 20, 2009
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