Finally Friday Fun – An Apron Giveaway

I’ll admit it, I am addicted to aprons now. I LOVE them. I like looking at them, shopping for them, and even creating easy ones myself. Since sewing my own a few weeks back, I can’t look at a bandana anymore without seeing it stitched up as an adorable apron. I wonder if this is a sickness, and from where did I catch it?

Over at Grosgrain they are giving away an apron! It is one from the Boojiboo etsy shop, and WOW does she ever have some fantanstic aprons for sale!  I like hers almost as much as I LOVE the pattern on the Pretty Ditty Apron site.  So many aprons. . .so little time!

Finally Friday Fun – Random Info and Links

It is a beautiful Friday morning, and I am recovering from a wine and cheese party last night (it is not what you think, my allergies had me fighting a HUGE headache after only one small glass of red wine) so I thought I would just post some links to some fun things I have been checking out around the blog world this week.  But first, here is a picture from the party, my friends are so cute!

On to the links.  First, I have been reading the Grosgrain Fabulous blog all week and am amazed by the ideas and giveaways there.  Today is a giveaway of a beautiful dress from the Shabby Apple, check it out.

I am getting ready to make the homemade deoderant that the Angry Chicken posted about since her going pooless is going so well.  Wait, backup, reverse that, poo what you ask?  The Angry Chicken has also gone shampoo less (whatever did you think I meant, hee hee) and I have joined her.  I have only done one washing in the baking soda mix, but my hair honestly looks better than it has in quite a while.   I was really worried about not using conditioner, as I have really dry and curly hair, but what do you know, it is soft and tame and I am just happy as can be with this.  And DH is going to do a happy dance when he sees the money I am saving him in costly shampoos and conditioners!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Finally Friday Fun – A New Apron For Me

Well, it isn’t as pretty as I had hoped, but it isn’t as ugly as I   feared either.  I have only been wanting a pretty new apron for about a year now, but each time I have gone to buy one I have felt like the money could really be better used elsewhere so I  haven’t ordered one yet.  I am glad I waited though.

I ordered some new goodies from Mary Jane’s Farm a couple of weeks ago and one of the items that I ordered was a copy of her 9th issue, the Artists in Aprons Magazine.  In that issue she gave instructions for making an apron out of hankies.  Well, my DH has never worn hankies that I am aware of, but I have a ton of bandanas lying around the house due to our frequent motorcycle rides and I thought they may just work.  And they would have, but a trip to JoAnn Fabric for some supplies for DD had me looking at new bandanas and since they were cheap, I decided to buy a couple of new ones for my apron project.  I think in total, with ribbon, bandanas, and new sewing needles I spent under $10 for my apron.  Now in my mind, that is a deal, as most of the aprons online that I was looking at were at least $30 or $40!

Two things I will change about this apron when I make my next  one (yes, now I need one in every color and seasonal design).  First, the bandanas that I purchased were large, I didn’t note the size, but they are not hankie size and so my apron is too big.  So secondly, if I use this size in the future, I will not include the side flaps that the pattern calls for.

She sure isn’t sell worthy, but this new  apron that I made with my own two hands makes me smile every time I look at it.  And while DD is sure it is a fire hazard, I will be careful and wear my apron with great pride.  I can do it!

Finally Friday Fun – Food and First Editions

Food First

I mentioned in my last post that I was searching the web last week for  places in my home state of Michigan that sold organic food and how much fun I was having finding and testing food.  I found another little gem.  I received my first order from a store called Food For Thought on Wednesday and was quite pleased with my purchases.  Not only is their site and packaging adorable, their food is delicious.  Of the few things I ordered, my favorite item hands down was the Organic Cherry Salsa Atento, I could honestly eat it by the buckets!

First Editions

I ate this wonderful salsa while I did some research online to determine if I accidentally own a first edition, first print book.  I LOVE books, and love reading them even more.  I have been seriously considering starting a collection that would second as an investment and so I have been doing some reading up on buying first edition books.  I randomly picked up a book that I got mailed to me by a friend and as I was trying to determine its edition, realized I had a first edition.  So my collection has officially started.  This particular book is not very well known and my book isn’t worth much. . .but everyone has to start somewhere.

Finally Friday Fun – Paper Craft Fun

I have been working on some new content for the site, I just haven’t organized myself quite enough yet to actually get the new content up and viewable.  I hope to remedy that this weekend.  I have been working on some natural recipes and sampling some new organic foods from my home state of Michigan that I will be highlighting in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, let me suggest this little paperstore for some really fun videos on how to beautify your home and life with easy to watch and copy video paper crafts.   If you are looking to a weekend with nothing planned yet, definitely stop by this site for some ideas.  I spent hours here putting together ideas for some ways to spruce up the house this spring.

Finally Friday Fun – SNOW

As I sit here in the snow and feel my tires spin beneath me
I am reminded of my life, which also spins beneath me.

Like the cold and falling snow which ruins my commute today
but is soon forgotten once it melts and runs away,

So too is my one small life which fills my hours with silly busy tasks
but will soon not be remembered once it stops and ceases being.

What remains when the warmth of sun returns and life comes to an end,
is only those few memories of things done with the snow and life we’re given.

Finally Friday Fun – With the Flu?

I have the flu today, and it is really kicking my behind!  I got it last night after I got home from work and it had me in my bed by 6:30 pm.  I felt like a truck hit me!  I did not have any stomache trouble, it just started with a scratchy throat and by 6:30 had progressed to full body aches and a pounding head and feeling like I needed an ice shower.

I quickly took some medicine and went to bed.  One dose didn’t do it, but after taking another dose this morning and a nap I am much better.  I feel like I have a head cold now, but the debilitating body aches are gone.    What medicine did I use?  The one that always seems to cure me within 24 hours, Vicks NiQuel Cold and Flu.  I have been using it for years and it has never let me down.

A friend of mine wanted me to try some of her Colloidal Silver, but I was a bit skeptical.  Even more so after reading about Paul Karason, you know, the blue guy, on some news sites.

How about you?  How do you fight colds and the flu?

Finally Friday Fun – Snow Day!

I made it.  I am alive and the car is in one piece.

Today in Chicago the weather is treacherous, and the snow is coming down too fast for the plows to keep the roads clear.  On a normal day I have a 30 minute commute to work, however, today that commute took 90 minutes.  Luckily, I came in early to work on some computers so when I was slipping and sliding all over the road I was all by myself.  But, I was all by myself on the road so I was mighty thankful when I got to work without getting stuck anywhere.

I will be heading on out early this afternoon, in hopes that I can get home before the rest of the people get on the road.  I am also headed home early to enjoy a snow day with the kids.  If you are going to live in Chicago, you may as well enjoy the weather when it is as crazy as this.  Know any good hills?

Finally Friday Fun – All About Wine

I can’t even remember why I ended up on this site, I think I was looking for a gift for a friend. But this site is really a lot of fun. It is an educational wine site by a guy that may live next door to you.

Wine Library TV is hosted by Gary Vaynerchuk who is a typical Jersey guy. If you don’t know any Jersey guys, he is loud, opinionated, but somehow endearing. He is the Director of Operations at a wine store in New Jersey, which seems to be a family owned business. He has gotten som nice press recently, and been on Conon O’Brien and the Ellen Degeneres Show.

The best part about his site is that it is a video cast, instead of being a bunch of writing I have to try and make time for. He does a daily show, and I have only seen a few, but they are pretty good, and I have found that the information is worthwhile.

If you are looking for a gift and need some wine advice, or you just wish you knew more, check out this great site. I recommend starting with the link on the right under “things to check out” called “New to wine?” Enjoy!

Finally Friday Fun: YouTube Style

This has been a really long week. Lots of ups and downs with the kids, snow here in Chitown and we are in the midst of Christmas craziness. So, it is no great surprise to me that I somehow ended up over on YouTube watching videos this morning.

I started watching a StarWars Helpdesk parody, mostly because I am very familiar with what is known as “Helpdesk Hell.” I watched a few of these StarWars shorts, but ended up stuck on this Muppets video that I remember all too well from when I was younger. This is just plain fun, now if I just had one of those cocktails from yesterday’s posting . . .

Enjoy!