2008's most helpful blogs for selling online

Every day my inbox is chock full of not very helpful, never gonna visit sales pitchy newsletters that I MIGHT glance at before deleting. Luckily, I glanced at this one from Etsy today, because it was actually pretty nifty. So, here's to you, Etsy bloggers, cause without you, we might actually have some free time...

Give your Etsy Shop a PageRank Boost
I've seen the question so many times on the Etsy forums, "Why isn't my Etsy shop showing up in Google when I search for XYZ?" While that is actually a very . . .
Etsy Seller: timothyadamdesigns
Blog: timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com

HOW TO: Offer Multiple Shipping Options on Etsy.com
Here is how I am offering multiple shipping options without the whole “convo me” and paypal invoice thing. . .
Etsy Seller: clevergirl
Blog: BeClever.Wordpress.Com

How to get the Etsy Sales you want
Improve your shop and learn to promote it. Every bit of information you need is already out there, and most of it is right there on Etsy. . .
Etsy Seller: houseofmouse
Blog: lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com

Promoting your shop within Etsy: Lessons Learned
When I opened my online shop, I thought that I would just list some jewelry and people would come by and buy. How difficult could it be? After all, look at all the successful. . .
Etsy Seller: contrariwise
Blog: akacontrariwise.blogspot.com

Free Spreadsheet for Pricing Your Work
One of the hardest things for a crafter to do , is to get to grips with pricing their work. I have attempted to create an easy to use spreadsheet, that will give you your . . .
Etsy Seller: chrisparry
Blog: chris-parry.blogspot.com

Secrets of a Camera Novice - TUTORIAL
Well, maybe I'm not a novice, but I'm definitely an amateur. I'm Renovia from Endless Whimsy, I teach music and love photography. . .
Etsy Seller: Sellers Assisting Sellers Team
Blog: etsymentors.blogspot.com

Building Repeat Business
When I opened my online shop, I thought that I would just list some jewelry and people would come by and buy. How difficult could it be? After all, look at all the successful. . .
Etsy Seller: kreatedbykarina
Blog: kbyk.blogspot.com

Etsy Helpful Links - Not Found Via Etsy
Lots of helpful links and hidden gems!
Etsy Seller: loosewirestudio
Blog: loosewirestudio.blogspot.com

The 5 P's of Successful Blogging
I actually get a lot of questions about this, and I'm not sure I'm an expert but I'm certainly willing to share what I've learned. I'm just a fumbling blogger who somehow fell in ...
Etsy Seller: pamperingbeki
Blog: pamperingbeki.blogspot.com

Tips for Blogging Success (100,000 views)
I have had a blog for just over 20 months, and I have reached and passed 100,000 views. . . I want to share with you a few steps I have take to reach this goal. . .
Etsy Seller: timothyadamdesigns
Blog: timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com

The Weather Outside is Frightful..

But winning is so delightful! I woke up to a rare sight of snow! yes, snow, all over the ground and shivered at the thought. Since we don't even own a shovel or scrapers or anything else, I had nothing else to do but check my email and get caught up online, and discovered today that I won (by popular vote) the holiday ornament contest hosted by the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team with this ornament:
Thanks to everyone who voted for me and visited my store and my teammates wonderful shops as well! I am honored to be on such a cool team with talented Etsians from all over Kentucky. You can visit their blog here.

Now I can go back to watching the neighbor kids use an old tire and broken skateboard as a sled and sled down the middle of the street, er, I mean hill. Cause that's how we do it in Kentucky!

the perfect gift...

often is the one thing the person recieving it doesn't know they want until they get it. Which is why I had this sweet jacket made for Josh for Christmas, because after all this talk about wanting to be one of those guys that wears blazers and sips on scotch, I knew what he REALLY needed.

This is definately more his speed, and made by an awesome Etsy artist that also makes stage clothing for musicians, rockfabricscissors. She made what was in my head without me having to even be too crazy specific. That's right, not only is she talented, she is apparently a frickin' mind reader. Amazing, right?

sometimes you just need to laugh...

As fun as the holidays can be, I am reminded that they can be lonely for those that feel alone, stressful for those already struggling to make ends meet and have children, and sad for those who have lost someone. In the past few years, I have had at least one of each of these Christmases, and know the pain, the heartache, and the grief. This year I have been incredibly thankful for all my blessings, and for my family and friends. My life may not be perfect, but it is quite blessed.

So once in awhile, I get something in my inbox that gives me a much needed laugh. It occurred to me I may not be the only one thankful for a good giggle:
So now it is your turn! Go do something nice for someone, dammit. Even if its just saying "hi" to a stranger. You never know, that may be the person who one minute before felt like noone noticed they were alive.

Homemade Candy for the Holidays- DIY

Its been awhile since I posted a drink recipe here, but thought in the spirit of the season, it was more appropriate to put sugary sweets recipes on here. I have been itching to bake my traditional cookies, but my oven heating element snapped in half while baking last week- tragic! So while the new part is on the way, I am all about searching for stovetop sweets I can make. Usually I only think of making fudge, but then I found this recipe for caramels from Ready Made Magazine (which is, by the way, one of the coolest mags ever, if anyone wants to renew my subscription, haha).


SOFT CARAMELS
(makes about 100 1” squares)

INGREDIENTS
Vegetable oil spray
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
2 tbsps unsalted butter
2 cups cream
1 ½ tsps Kosher salt
2 tsps vanilla extract

1. Prepare an 11” x 7” pan with at least 1” sides with a light coating of vegetable oil or spray, and set aside.
2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup; mix until there are no dry spots, and use a pastry brush to push down any sugar crystals from the sides of the pan.
3. Cook the mixture over high heat until it starts to turn golden. Immediately whisk in butter, one tablespoon at a time. Gradually pour in cream, a few tablespoons at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition.
4. Clip the candy thermometer to the side of the pan and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture reaches precisely 248 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Remove from heat and whisk in salt and vanilla.
6. Pour caramel into prepared pan and let sit for several hours or overnight.
7. Turn the sheet of caramel onto a cutting board and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
8. With a knife or rotary cutter, cut the caramel into 1” square pieces, and individually wrap them in parchment or wax paper.

Enjoy! I know I can't wait to try these! Being a firm believer that giving well thought out, handmade holiday gifts is far more heartfelt and meaningful than store bought gifts, I can't wait to give them either. Nothing makes me happier than to think for months about what the people on my list would like (but never think to get for themselves), and if I, or somebody else for that matter, can make it, all the better. When I discovered Etsy, I realized far more could be handmade than even I dreamed! Considering Walmart already gets probably the equivelent of a mortgage payment from us every month, out of necessity and no other choice, I shudder at the thought of them getting even more this time of year. And why, when instead our hard earned money can go to crafty stay at home moms like myself, other artists trying to make a success, and other people who truly appreciate each sale. That makes my gift giving make a difference twice, and isn't that truly amazing?

Happy shopping!

Handmade Holiday Gift Guide

I don't just sell on Etsy, I love to shop there also. This year, I have tried on every gift giving occasion to buy handmade as much as possible. In my search for the perfect gifts, I have found some things I never would have thought of giving. Everyone knows buying handmade gifts for women is easy, especially with all the great jewelry out there. My shop is full of pendants and necklaces in every shape, size, and color. At around $10, they make perfect gifts for any women or teen. But what about those others on your list? Here are some of the most interesting gift ideas that you may have never thought of. All are handmade, and unique, and guaranteed to make your loved ones and friends feel truly special. Recieving handmade gifts make anyone feel like you went to a lot of thought and trouble to find that perfect gift. Isn't that what gift giving is truly about? Making someone feel truly special? The thought? Here are my favorite finds, all from shops on Etsy.

For the man on your list, how about this duct tape wallet? JDuct not only has this one, but tons of other one of a kind wallets in all kinds of designs: Another cool gift for men is a screenprinted by hand, direct from the artist t-shirt, also in many designs, by DBK Apparel: For those little boys (or even girls!), how about a marshmallow shooter? They shoot pom-poms too, for moms who don't have dogs to eat the ammo off the floor. These even come in two packs to avoid arguments, from BoysToys:

For little girly girls, there is everything from mom approved, adorable handmade winter hats, also handmade with love and one of a kind. This one is from MoMos Bows, who also makes tons of adorable hair bows:

Perhaps you have one of those American Girl doll-obsessed little girls. Get some gorgeous, one of a kind clothes for them at much more reasonable prices. I had several custom made to match ideas in my head from RetroReesa, like this Totally 80's one custom made for $15:

For those teen girls, these earrings are really popular, from Daydream Art Studios:

Maybe there's a woman on your list who doesn't wear a lot of jewelry. Try some fabulous, natural, highly fragranced handmade perfume purse misters available in dozens of high end scents, from Flameworks: You can also get goat milk soap, fresh from the farm in Kentucky. This one, Yuzu, smells good enough to eat. Move over Bath and Body Works, for Wilmoth Farms: For a fashionista on your list, how about the latest French fashions, direct from the French designer herself? I love this gorgeous silk top from Malam:

She may also love these very well made (I know, I own one!) and very beautiful designer handbags, straight from the designer in Switzerland, Novita Julien. She has all kinds of bags in all kinds of fabrics:
What about Grandma, though, who already has what she wants. Does she knit? How about indulging her like she does for everyone else? Here is some super soft and high end, hand spun and hand dyed yarn, from LunaBud Knits: Is there a baby, new mom, or soon to be mom on your list? Get them something noone else will, like these onesies that will get giggles everywhere. Bambinamia has giggle worthy onesies for everybody. My favorite: What about that person who has it all? At a loss? How about these super cute mice? The House of Mouse has one available in just about every occupation and even "famous mice" modeled after just about anyone. I like this little chef:
Last but not least, don't forget that even those cards that need to be sent can be handmade! Oh, don't make them yourself, just make them think you did, with great ones like these from Macaroni and Glue: Don't forget, almost every shop on Etsy LOVES custom orders, and is happy to accomodate even "crazy" requests! Often these custom orders do not cost any more than buying the item already made, a fear that often keeps people from asking. Remember, these are handmade items, made by artists just trying to make it. They truly appreciate your business and will go out of their way to show you. Just like your mother always said, it never hurts to ask! Happy Shopping!

Rad Things to do in Springfield, Illinois

For Thanksgiving this weekend, Sierra and I traveled (by bus, mind you, the longest trip EVER) to Springfield, Illinois to see my dad. While we were there, we had a lot of fun getting our homeschooling on, and visiting some local sites. First, after battling early Black Friday shopping crowds, we went to Lincoln's Tomb:
I told Sierra it was lucky to rub Lincoln's nose, not thinking how hard it would be to lift her up high enough to do it:

We also went inside the tomb to see the actual deal, where no flash photography is allowed. Nothing about cell phones though:
Perhaps one of the most undiscovered museums and wierd but cool sites to see is the Museum of Funeral Customs, where you learn about the difference between coffins and caskets, and the history of embalming and the evolution of funeral traditions. Here's some cast iron caskets. My favorite is the one with the window that is finished to look like wood:

The only thing cooler than the exhibits here is the gift shop, where you can buy the most awesome Christmas ornaments ever (if you appreciate irony, that is), and these sweet shirts:
Or you can go across the street to the unofficial Lincoln gift shop, where you can buy all things Abe Lincoln, or a stuffed and mounted Jackalope, with his lady love:On the last full day of our trip we went to the The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where no photography is allowed, save these freaky, all too real wax sculptures of the First Family in front of the White House:
Hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving weekend too!!

I've been awarded!

I've been awarded (my very first!) the Marie Antoinette Award for blogging by Tilt Creations. In the giving spirit of the holidays, I am awarding the following blogs with this same honor:

Kentucky Lake Views

Laura K Finds Her Way

Aurora's Garden

Bad Kitty Art Studio

Ramblings of an ADD Jewelry Designer

Whimsy by Mari

Miya!

Official RULES:
1) Please add the Marie Antoinette award photo on your blog

2) Place a link to the person from whom you received the award

3) nominate 7 exceptional blogs to receive the award

4) put the links to those blogs on your blog

5) leave a message on their blogs to tell them they are the chosen ones

I am not much of a rule follower, so it's gonna take me a few days to let everyone know, but I will!! Eventually. In the meantime, I had alot of trouble picking only seven since I have an unhealthy addiction to reading blogs (call it internet voyeurism, whatever), so check out the blogs on the side too, while you're at it!

Congrats to everyone! Including me! Thanks Tilt!

All I want for Christmas is whirled peas...

Save yourself the headaches and fights of battling crowds and 4 am shopping in those big box brick and mortar stores, and give yourself some peace for Black Friday! From now unitl Cyber Monday, buy anything $10 or up in my shop and recieve a free pendant (like the one above, pictures may vary but will be similarly styled to your order)! Just put "black friday" in the notes to seller in checkout. With many necklaces priced at only $10, this is a great chance to get those stocking stuffers and gifts for coworkers done and save big! Happy Holidays!

I'm thankful for...

family, and that I am getting to go see my dad this Thanksgiving for the whole weekend. I'm also thankful and excited that my little brother is having a baby (well, his wife is) in March!! But most of all, I'm thankful I finally mastered my techno-stupidity this year, proved not by the fact that I have set up a website and Etsy shop, MySpace page or Flickr account, or even by the fact that I have fixed my computer (ok, I called tech support a few times, I confess) not once but three times from major farts. No, my triumph in the battle of Corinne vs. her gadgets is proven in finally getting her pics off her cell phone and onto the computer. Even though they're both Bluetooth and are supposed to just magically go back and forth-somehow-that never worked. I did finally realize, though, that I could send all my pics to HP's Snapfish, which I never normally use, but is the photo to computer for dummies, if you are ever wondering. Laugh all you want, I know I'm not the only web-tarded one out there.

At least I can finally show off great pictures formerly trapped on my phone like these:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Crazy Crafty Madness

Apparently craftiness is contagious around here! Josh and Sierra spent all day Sunday last week making a cat house for Tramp. Since he can't be an inside kitty, but we still love him, we all decided he needed a warm place out of the winter rain and wind to rest his head. He seemed to know right away it was for him, too, because he jumped in as soon as it was put on the porch, and has loved it ever since:

Sure, he is dirty (I don't want to give him a bath and put him out in the cold), but he's certainly warmer than before! Now its my turn to paint and decorate the house. Thank goodness I have a stockpile of leftover paint from painting the house. I can't wait to pretty it up!

The next day Sierra finally got her cast off. Can you tell how happy she is about it?

Her scars are fading fast, thanks to the unrefined shea butter that Libby from Maylee's Garden sent us! Thanks again, Libby! There's a chick that knows her stuff, and anyone who knows me knows I love my natural cures, which she is also all about.

OMG!!!

Come get a start on your Christmas Shopping at the CCA HOLIDAY CHEER BAZAAR. Saturday, November 22nd from 9:00-3:00 p.m. held at the Community Christian Academy High School, located at the corner of Highway 45 and Lebanon Church Rd across from Paducah Athletic Club.

Lots of booths including Jewelry, Fabulous Bags and Purses, Crafts, Home Decor, Christmas Decor, Children's Books, Candles, Skin Care, and all sorts of fabulous vendors in between - even Baked Goods and Cookware!!

Register for a FREE basket full of GREAT gifts from many of our Vendors!! Including this super fun pendant (and matching necklace) and from Daydream Art Studios:

FaLaLaLa

Available online at http://daydreamartstudios.etsy.com and at the Holiday Cheer Bazaar at Community Christian Academy in Paducah, KY this Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. Proceeds from the Bazaar benefit Hungarian missions and the CCA Cheerleaders.

More Snow...

flakes, that is! Every day this week I'm going to show off a different handmade ornament using my snowflake drawings I showed you before. It's finally been sunny enough (even though its very chilly! Brrr!) to finally photograph all my glittery delights. I completely glittered the house putting glitter on the inside and outside, and then added even more sparkle and bling with genuine Swarovski crystals! The snowflake design floats on the inside and is transparent, and then has a matching transluscent snowflake charm on the outside. Pretty, right? I love how they turned out, but then I am sort of hypnotized by shiny objects.

All are available at the Holiday Cheer Bazaar at Community Christian Academy in Paducah, KY this Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm, or in my online shop.

Shoppin' Around the Christmas Tree...

is fabulous fun when you can stay warm and cozy INSIDE shopping over 20 vendors and take the tree home when you're done! Well, maybe. Featuring a gorgeous, fully decorated tree from the talented Beverly at Grand Rivers Florist that will be for sale/ auctioned off, and of course, I will be there selling my collection of 2008 ornaments (in a snowflake theme this year) along with jewelry, fine art, and vases. Snowflakes like this one, that I painstakenly drew with "hidden" images (ok, so they aren't really hidden well, I'm not MC Escher for crying out loud), which proved to be harder than it looks or sounds:

Not to mention 20 some other vendors from Mary Kay and Tupperware to Silver Chics and other local artisans, it promises to be a great show! Great for early holiday shopping and getting in the holiday mood.



As long as we're getting in the holiday mood, while you're in town be sure to walk through Patti's and enjoy all the holiday lights. It gets more beautiful every year, with more and more lights. The elves (and by elves I mean my friend Kim and other volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce) have been hard at work decorating town, and the staff at Patti's has been workin since October getting all the lights up. Tonight they get lit at 6 pm, and I am very excited. It is just too beautiful to describe, and almost makes up for the fact it's too cold to go out on the lake for a few months. Almost.



You can read about it all here. I have been nagging Kim to get bloggin', and now she is showing me up! Seriously, she has a great blog about all the happenings here in our awesome tiny town. Check it out!

Pomegranates and Winter

Persephone was the Greek goddess of spring. She was forced to marry Hades, the god of the underworld, and while she was gone in the underworld, her mother Demeter, goddess of the Earth, refused to let anything grow or flourish until her daughter was found and returned. Hades finally relented and let Persephone return to her mother, but on her way back, she ate some pomegranate seeds- the forbidden fruit of Hades- thus sealing her fate. For punishment, Persephone was forced to return to the underworld to be with Hades once a year, one month for every seed eaten. During this time, myth has it, Demeter mourns her daughter's absence by again refusing to let anything grow, or as we know it, winter. When she returns, Demeter allows regrowth, making Persephone the goddess of spring and regrowth. Her true name, Corinne, come from the Greek word Kore, meaning maiden.





No wonder I find this story so fascinating, huh? Not only was I named for her, I think pomegranates are the coolest, most interesting fruit ever. That's why I made this new pendant:



Available now in my shop.

It's Snowing in the Amazon!

Ok, so not really, but this week has been a wierd mix of Amazon, Brazil, and snowflakes. Amazon.com, that is. If you don't already know, this is the place to shop for anything not handmade. Toys and DVDs are always cheaper than even sale prices anywhere else, shipping is free half the time, and you can find what friends and family really want by searching for anyone's wish list. Oh, and my brother works for Amazon.com designing the website or software or something like that, and he just got married and is expecting baby number one! So I'm doing my part to make sure his job is safe from budget cuts. This week I got half of my Christmas shopping done, saved a ton of money, and got free shipping! Now to start making all those handmade with love gifts!

A lot of the gifts I love to give are different ornaments every year. This year I decided to make snowflake ornaments, which I also sell at holiday crafts shows locally and in my online store. Here's a peek of the designs before I turn them into ornaments next week. I am pretty excited to design some for a contest in a few weeks for Bluegrass Etsy.

Oh, and speaking of Amazon, this week has been Brazil week in homeschool. I have learned a lot about the culture, government, wildlife, and of course, food! In this house projects usually have either art or food in them (or both). So here's the drink of the week, not alcoholic but jacked up with caffeine instead.

Brazilian Iced Chocolate

2 oz bakers (unsweetened) chocolate

1/4 cup pure cane sugar

1 cup double strength coffee, hot

2 1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cup Coke, chilled

Whipped cream to top

Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Stir sugar into melted chocolate, and gradually add hot coffee while stirring constantly. Add milk and continue to stir until mixture is creamy and smooth. Cover and chill until cold, then stir in Coke. Serve over ice, and top with whipped cream if desired.

Enjoy!

A short story by Sierra

We have been very blessed with gorgeous weather, high 70's and a light breeze, the kind that gently blows the faint smell of burning leaves in the windows and makes even the cat and dog happy. The leaves have all started to change colors and fall this week and it is too pretty too rake. It has just been postitively inspirational.
While I have been busy painting and finishing up some custom orders before I start cranking out ornaments next week for holiday craft shows, Sierra has been hard at work with some creative writing in homeschool. I liked her newest story so much I wanted to share it with you all! The assignment was to write about a day as a frog.

I was running throught the forest from the evil witch. I didn't realize that she had stolen a fairy's wand, and that I should be hiding, not running. Suddenly I felt a blast of energy all through my body. After that, everything went black. When I woke up, I realized that I was back at the witch's cabin. I saw that I was tied up on the floor of a hamster cage. I suddenly saw the witch step in the door, with a small pet carrier. In the pet carrier there were two fairies, five rats, and three squirrels. The witch walked up to the cage I was in and dumped them all into the cage. Then the witch left taking the pet carrier with her. The fairies quickly became friends with me, and they untied me. They told me that if I could use my long frog tongue to get their wands, that they could get me and everyone else out before sunset. After hearing that, I happily hopped to the side of the cage. While I was there I saw many more cages. Many with creatures I've always thought weren't real. When I got the wands I felt myself beginning to change. By the time I got back to the fairies I was a small person. I saw through a window that it was sunset. In no time at all I was back in my home, as a person- not a frog.

dressing up!

Its been a fun weekend starting with Halloween on Friday, where Sierra had either the cheapest costume as a "bloody patient," which cost only an old pair of pajamas and $2 worth of fake blood from Walmart:

Or the most expensive, if you count the over $600 cast on her arm, which was what inspired the costume in the first place. Also, in our house, even the dog dresses up, much to Lady's dismay:

But it calms her down, albeit from shame I think, so she can be around the neighbor boys without jumping or barking. They came over dressed as Ghost Rider and Spiderman. It just proves no matter how dangerous the costume is supposed to be, when they're little, it's cute no matter what!

Even P-O, the exchange student I placed in Lone Oak from Belgium had fun on his first American Halloween! He was very excited to carve pumpkins for the first time ever, and dress up for the day, which he told me only young children do back home.

Now that its all over, its time to start thinking about the holiday season that is fast approaching! I am hard at work designing holiday ornaments and finishing three custom paintings that have to be in the mail this week. Stay tuned for pics this week of my newest work!! In the meantime, happy fall!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Today Sierra and I will trick or treat after she puts on her "bloody" costume. She has decided to make the most of her cast and her not quite healed face by being a bloody patient, so $2 of fake blood and some old pajamas later, (and the cast that probably cost much much more- the bill hasn't come for that one yet, LOL!) we have the world's easiest costume ever! Luckily she likes to be scary things for Halloween!

After trick or treating, have some friends over for some spooky Halloween witches brew! A little dry ice will not only scare up some attention, but keep your punch cold as well! You can buy dry ice at any ice cream shop, just ask.

Witches Brew

In a punch bowl, combine:

2- 2 Liters of Mountain Dew, Sundrop, or similar soda
1 tub lime sherbet
1/2 fifth of clear rum- my favorite cheap rum that is super yum is Heaven Hill, but use any!
dry ice

Now the only problem will be making sure the kids don't see this punch and want some! You can make them some of their own with 2 cups pineapple juice instead of the rum, and Lime Kool-Aid or Sprite instead of the Mountain Dew if you don't want them up all night-but don't confuse them!

Have a safe, spooky, and happy Halloween!

Dreams

My online friend Michelle asked recently on her blog, Michabella Creations, what people's unfulfilled dreams are. Dreams are a funny thing, since really, they are only dreams while they are unfulfilled. But if they all came true, it takes the fun out of DREAMING for something. If I had nothing left to hope for, no matter how great life was, I would get bored and feel unfulfilled. Ah, what a vicious cycle! Anyway, its a lovely sentiment, wanting to hear other's dreams, so I'll continue it. Tell us all some of your dreams. Some of mine:

1. I want my daughter to grow up to be happy and thankful for the childhood she had, hardships and all. I dream of her becoming the vet she wants to be, or anything else she decides that will complete her.

2. I have this ongoing dream of finally remodeling the outbuilding/ detached garage/ whatever you call it into an art studio I can have classes for children and affordable workshops for grown ups in, not to mention space to actually be able to work and organize my art supplies. It would be so much easier than teaching out of my home like I do now, and so many more could enjoy it.

3. I used to dream of moving the NYC in some artsy loft apartment where my yard would be my lone potted flower on the windowsill and I would be surrounded by the art world everywhere I went. Now, as an adult, I know how crazy expensive New York is, and after having slum lords in much smaller cities, I have NO desire to find out how that would work out for me there! Oh, and I like my neighbors actually knowing my name, even if small town life means they know all my business too.

4. I also used to dream of being a ballerina and model, for most of my childhood in fact. Until I learned food is my friend. Especially cheese and ice cream.

5. I dream of never hearing another bigotted or racially slanderous word again, where ignorant, prejudiced people see the error of their ways and how silly they have been, and stops using words that make me cringe. I tell everyone I hear saying anything rascist how I feel and that it is not ok to act and talk like that, and I honestly believe if everyone did this, the world would be a better place.

These are just my dreams off the top of my head. What are yours?

fly away...

So after a long weekend of hanging out with good friends, between a dinner party catching up with old friends and celebrating Josh's birthday, I was very tired, but in a good, loved way. Then yesterday evening, we went to get new tires on my car and an alignment, which I was happy about considering its needed both badly since I was hit from behind like 2 years ago. I was even getting some performance tires (hey, the guy at Sears said they were the only ones on sale) that Josh kept singing some rap song for- something about Sumitomo tires-but whatever, I just wanted to have it all done and not have my car go crooked on the road. I did decide I love the way autoshops smell, with the new tires and all that- is that totally wierd? Anyway, we ended up finding out the car was worse than we thought and had to pay twice as much for some wheel bearing thingie, argg, but hey, at least now it is finally all done and I will be safe...

So in the meantime, I just figured I would list something in my shop that wasn't car related since I'm over it. I'd rather fly like a bird...

Both sparrows are cool hand cut pendants that come with a necklace and are way cool. I love 'em anyway!

Irish Car Bomb and Tag!

This week for my drink of the week, I'm giving everyone an Irish Car Bomb! So there!

Irish Car Bomb

1 pint Guinness

1/2 shot Irish Cream liqueur

1/2 shot Jameson Irish whiskey

Pour the Irish Cream into the shot glass first, followed by the Jameson. If you pour the whiskey over a spoon, it won't interrupt the denser cream liqueur and have that cool layered look. Pour the Guinness into a beer mug maybe 3/4 of the way full, and let the foam settle. Drop the shot glass into the beer mug and drink fast! Trust me on this.

I have also been tagged by my friend Annette on her blog, so I am supposed to tell you 7 random facts you don't know, and then tag 7 more people. Here goes:

1. I was in the Army for a whole 2 months.

2. I have a secret desire to be a showgirl. Even though I'm pretty sure you need to be larger than a B cup for that.

3. I also secretly want to be a roller derby girl. Even though I'd get hurt-badly-for sure.

4. I have always been sort of an entrepreneur. I went door to door singing Whitney Houston with a friend when I was 7 or 8 for tips, I made extra money in middle school selling leather keychains I stamped people's names in, and I sold condoms for $1 a piece in high school to shy kids.

5. My first dance recital was to "Thriller" and when they turned on the strobe light, which we weren't warned about by the way, every one of the girls froze up on stage, except me, who thought it was so cool I was doing anything just to see my hands move.

6. I have a secret love of OLD songs that I think are just heartbreakingly beautiful. You know the ones, the Moon River-esque songs they play in nursing homes and old movies.

7. I once figured out it takes 265 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Seriously.

Tag you're it! I'm tagging these people cause they all live in Kentucky too, and also cause they make me laugh and I want to see what they say:

1. Miya

2. Libby

3. Laura K

4. Mari

5. Jama

6. Bad Kitty! Heather

7. Creative Eye Kim