Mayday Mayday my love life needs reviving!

Mayday Mayday My love life needs reviving!

Since it's May Day (May 1st),  I figured today is a great day to jump back in the dating game with both feet.

I haven't been in the mood or right frame of mind to date for a while lately.  I had more pressing issues; my health, not feeling well, stress, you know, Life.  The "Struggle is Real" is for reals. If any of you are going through it, I feel ya. I was there and it wasn't pretty.

Now for the good news; I've made it past Life's current crappy challenge (Yay!) I'm feeling great and ready to get out there and meet some new people and make some new friends!

I've read lots of dating advice, what to do and not to do. I went to a wonderful class by a friend of mine called, How to meet your Husband and she had great tips and pointers. Another acquaintance of mine shared tips she learned from her dating coach (I love free advice). This will be my journey of putting all their advice to work. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and advice. I'll take all the dating advice you got

which right now feels like everything

I've gone this long doing my own thing, dating-wise, and apparently it's not working. I might as well try something new.

So.. sit back, give thanks if you have a Significant Other, and enjoy my real life bachelorette show!

If it's like anything from my past, there will be lots of horrifically funny first date stories. Hopefully some second dates, and if we're lucky, some real contenders.

Happy 2016! and New Years Resolutions

Well, Hello there friends! It's been a while since I've posted anything. Life in 2015 was crazy busy. Hopefully I'll fill you in, tell you all about it, as we go along :)
For starters, I hope you've had a wonderful New Years!
Did you make any new years resolutions or goals? I've been slow making mine. I of course have the ones that seem to roll over from last year (and the year before that): Lose weight, Save money, Get organized. Sound familiar? lol

Are we gonna do some if it for real this year? YES WE ARE!

 Here's a couple things that I do every January:

1. Get a year supply of birthday cards.

random pile of cards

Ok, I know this sounds silly, but in the years I do do it, it totally helps out and I feel organized, like I can do it all! What a great feeling to have. And sometimes, when things are hectic, just getting one thing accomplished really is a big deal!

So here's what I do:  I count up all the immediate family and friends, or whoever I think I'll send cards to, and go to my local dollar store and buy Birthday cards for everyone. I threw in 10 extra Birthday cards, along with a few Wedding, Sympathy, Get Well, and Anniversary cards just for fun.(Just in case I miss someone throughout the year)  My local Dollar Tree has their cards priced at 2 for $1!** Really cute cards too, if you ask me!

I put them into a cute little organizer book, similar to this one. It has pockets for each month and room to write in everyone's birthday.

When I used my old book (it was technically a re-purposed bill organizer), it already had everyone's birthdays written in it from the year before. This old thing finally died/ tore thru the tape holding it together one to many times, so I decided to splurge and get a new one. (YAY! I'm getting the exact one in the picture. Isn't it cute!?)

In this new book, I'll take a moment and write in the birthdays on each month. I put the corresponding cards in the pocket of that month. For example, I put an Anniversary card for my sister in December, and her birthday card in September's pocket. On the 1st Sunday of the month, I take this little organizer book out, which is stuffed silly with cards, and sit down and fill out and address all my cards for that particular month. I'll also stash some stamps in this organizer, along with some address labels, then everything's right there.

And there you have it! Just a little bit of time at the beginning of the year, followed by a few minutes at the beginning of each month, and you're on top of your game all year long on sending out cards on time!  Just think, no more running to the store for a $4 or more card at the last  minute.
Hopefully this idea will help you.

**Yeah, I know my friend Susan S, who works at Hallmark will give me the stink-eye for not "sending the very best" Sorry. My thought on this is; 1. They're lucky I"m even sending these out, and 2. Its mostly a vehicle to hold cash anyway.
and it's not just at the dollar store. Walmart has a .99 cent card section too, if not cheaper. Let me know if you find cute cheap cards somewhere. I'm always on the lookout!

2. Get 6 months supply of soap

Yeah, another weird thing, huh. My family used to laugh at me 'cause for a while there, I seemed to be saying I was going to the store for soap way to many times. Enough that they noticed that I kept going to the store for soap. Now, in my defense, it was different types of soap. Laundry detergent, dish washing detergent, liquid hand soap, shower gel, etc, Since it obviously bugs me that I'm out of any type of soap, I decided to make things easier and stock up on the stuff. I mostly get worried about running out of hand soap. random, I don't know why.  I make sure I have at least 6 bottles of the stuff under the sink/nearby. I'm thinking 6 bottles is 6 months worth. It's a reasonable number. 12 is just silly :)

Guess what?! I just got a email that there's a sale on all the cute smelly stuff at Bath and Body Works ! You might see me there, loading up on soap :)

I'm working on my other soap stashes. Not quite there yet. I'm also working on other goals for the year. Haven't really sat down to think about them. Soon..

So here's to a fabulous 2016! And may we set and achieve some easy goals and other goals that'll stretch us.
(Yay me! I finished a blog post. one goal to cross off! I'm totally counting this!)

Hugs!
Caroline

Oscar Night Party Ideas

Hi!
It's that time of year again, when I entertain the idea of throwing a big fancy Oscar watching party complete with sparkly drinks, fancy dresses, lots of pictures, bingo, and fun prizes for those who picked the most winners. Doesn't that sound like fun? 

Here's my top five favorite ideas I've found so far:

The cute food at Party Pinching 

Oscar Night Bingo Cards at hgtv.

An official Oscar 2015 Ballot from  Fandango. I love how this one is all on one page.

I can't wait to make my own gold statues, from Twig and Thistle.

Check out Kara's Domestic Life she has the cutest party ideas perfect for the Oscars. Look at the photo background! I'm in love!

How will you watch the Oscars? 
February 22nd is 5 days away.... I'm pretty sure we'll wind up just laying around in our pajamas with the family, dining on nachos and root beer, playing Oscar bingo, and taking bets with m&m's on who wins. I had you at pajamas, didn't I?  :)
However you go, fancy or plain, may you have a wonderful night at the movies!
Hugs!
Caroline

Zion National Park, you gotta go!

Hi! The other Saturday we went on a spontaneous trip to Zion National Park. We had originally driven out to Mesquite NV for a Hot Air Balloon Festival, but it was cancelled at the last minute due to high, unsafe winds. So we thought, it's 7:30am, we don't have anything planned for the rest of the day and we're half way there. Plus, we've never been, So why not?
Zion National Park is beautiful. Check out the official website and photos here National Park Service, Zion National Park 

We took lots of pictures. Here's a couple so you can get a feel of the place.

Virgin River

my sister on the trail. It's still January, so nothing's green

view of the trickle of a waterfall at Emerald Pool Trail

walking under the waterfall at Emerald Pool

stairs to the middle level of Emerald Pools.

Then I was messing around on the internet, and found a fantastic website,   Joe's Guide to Zion National Park. He has some amazing photographs! Check it out! Just from looking at his pictures, I totally want to go again. It would be a completely different experience from the trip we just went on. I think going a couple months later in the year makes a huge difference. January is still beautiful, but look how green and lush it is in the spring!

Look at that waterfall! Doesn't that make you want to go right now? :) Joe has some amazing photos. If you get a chance, check out his site. He has all sorts of info about the park and hiking. It's really informative.
So.. to sum up, we had a great time on our last minute trip to Zion National Park. It's beautiful no matter what time of year.

Here's to many more road trips this year!
Hugs!
Caroline

Pink Lemonade Pie!

Today's National Pie Day!!

In honor of today, I made Pink Lemonade Pie, just like my mom used to.

The recipe is really easy:

1 small can of frozen pink lemonade concentrate (6 oz) (thawed)
1 tub whipped topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cookie crumb pie crust

Mix the pink lemonade with the condensed milk. You can add some red or pink food coloring if you want it really pink. Fold in the whipped topping. Pour all of it into the pie crust then put in fridge and wait for it to be ready!! (it'll firm up in the fridge)  That's it!

Since the recipe calls for the small can (6 oz) of frozen pink lemonade, and I could only find the 12 oz can. I had 6 oz of the stuff left over. Can't let that go to waste now, can we. Why I didn't just mix it up and drink it...?  but I decided the best thing was to
make another pie!

Now here's where things could go horribly wrong.:)
I didn't have another can of the sweetened condensed milk. Hmm.. what to do? So I turned to Pinterest. (Don't you? I look there for inspiration all the time)

Did you know that the original  pink-lemonade-pie by Eagle Brand has a block of cream cheese in it?? Apparently we've been making this pie wrong my entire life!

Well, since I  was in the pie making mode, I had to improvise. Nothing like making up your own recipe by using whatever you have in the house as ingredient replacements, right? Just praying it'll taste good. How hard is it to mess up dessert, anyway?

my New Pink Lemonade Pie!

1 small can of frozen pink lemonade (or half of a 12oz)
1 tub whipped topping
1 block (8oz) cream cheese
1 jar marshmallow fluff.

1 cookie crumb pie crust

I warmed up the block of cream cheese then mixed it up/beat it smooth in the same bowl as the previous pie. (I didn't wash it out, so any remaining lumps of the first's pie goodness will be in this one too) I then poured in the pink lemonade, and mixed in the entire jar of marshmallow fluff. Once that looked reasonably mixed together, I folded in the whipped topping, then folded/poured it all into the prepared pie crust.!

I waited about 20 min and cut a small slice of each.

Let's just say they totally aren't anywhere near being done. They are still really mushy, and not set up yet. but they will be. They just need more time.

But taste? The important stuff?
The pinker one is our traditional family recipe, and the lighter one is the new marshmallow fluff version. I like the marshmallow fluff one better!!
My sister is really happy. She's not that fond of sweetened condensed milk. It has a weird bitter taste to her.  So.. if you are looking for an alternative, try the cream cheese + marshmallow fluff version. It's yummy!!
See, you really can't mess up dessert. :)
(taking bad pictures, yes. dessert, no)

Striped Christmas Tree Throw Pillows

Well, I'm proud to say that I finally made some Christmas pillows for the couch! Yes, I know I did it on Dec 31st. but guess what? I finished a project!! so Go Me! :) Here they are outside on the patio getting some sun. Kinda crazy and silly looking, but I love them.

 I've been thinking about this project for a while, I wanted pillows or something to would go with my white and pink tree, and to match the cute Christmas stockings I found a while back.

This is my inspiration stocking. I wanted to make something just like this:

aren't these just fun and adorable?

So.. of course they don't sell white and pink striped crushed velvet at the local fabric shop. That would have been too easy. Since it was conveniently on sale (yay!) I bought 2 yards of each color.  That would be plenty for two 20 inch square pillows. I can work on making something with any leftover fabric later. 

I cut a piece that was 23 inches in length, of both white and pink.  I then cut the white and pink into strips.  I used my cell phone as a measuring tool, of how wide I wanted each stripe. 

The white and pink fabric is kinda stretchy. I decided to use some scrap white fabric I found in my stash as a base, and sew the stripes on to that, so there wouldn't be any worries about stretching or looking wonky later. 

I'm sewing on the last pink stripe, there's a white muslin square as the base to keep things from getting to wiggly

After completing 2 striped pieces, it was time to do the fun stuff! Making the tree.

I eyeballed drawing the tree onto a green piece of felt. I totally messed it up and went off the side of the felt piece. Now that I've done this, there's no reason to use green felt, if your just going to cover it with other fabric. I for sure had to cover this mess! lol.

I think it would have been cute, and way easier and faster, to use two different colors of felt for the tree. But I only had one color of green. That's not a good reason to drive across town for a 25 cent piece of felt. I was pretty positive I could find something in the house that would work. 

never fear! that corner piece got sewn on and completely covered. You'd never know by looking at it now 

I pulled out my box of ribbons and found a couple different shades of green. Now to decide on which ones to use...

I started out with the dark forest green and then added the polka dotted one. I cut the edge of the ribbon here and there to get the right curve of the tree branch. I used the tree on the stocking as my guide.

Here's what it looked like from the back. I'd cut off the ribbon overhang as I would go along.

Here's my two silly trees! The darker one is just the forest green and polka dot ribbons. I think it's a bit too dark to the other tree has just the green felt in the middle and some lighter green ribbon on the top. I think the lighter colors go a bit better on the white and pink.

For the star, I cut chunks out of gold rick rack. Why I have this, I have no idea. I'm sure I was going to make a crazy euro-trash Italian flavor type of 60's tunic top with this gold rick rack as the trim..... Dang it. Now I gotta go find the material for that. It sounds like something I need to make, and soon!

I pinned 2 pieces of the rick rack down with the points touching, and sewed down the middle.  I then pinned the last 2 pieces on either side, the pointed touching the other points in the middle,and sewed carefully down the middle,without catching the top or bottom pieces in the seam. Then I fluffed it up and it looks like this. A gold 3D star. 

Now onto the tree trunk. I didn't have brown ribbon or dark brown fabric, but I do have this brown satin cording stuff. I cut 3 short strands for each tree. and sewed them down next to each other to make one bigger tree trunk. It's not perfect, but it works.  I used a piece of red ribbon for the base of the tree. My niece pointed out it the shape looks like a stocking. I was just looking at the example and wasn't paying attention. I think a flower pot shape would be good too. 

and here we go... all the sewing has been done on the tree! Yay!!  It's pretty cute!

I was looking at the example on the original Christmas stocking, and the mini decorations are red sequins. I don't have any of those, but I do have a seemingly endless bucket of jewels. I even found the multicolored  jewels! I'm so glad I saved the leftovers from some old forgotten art/craft project.

I just took a handful of the gems and scattered them over the tree. Then i went back to turned them over, and thinned it out a bit. I glued everything in place with a hot glue gun. I might have to hand wash these, but we'll deal with that when it happens. If they do go through the washing machine, I have a ton more jewels if anything falls off, so I'm not too worried.

Here's a quick shot of the other lighter colored tree next to the sample Christmas stocking. I have less gems than the darker tree. I think it's better with less.  Yes, I don't say that very often, but in this case it's true. :)




 
Here's another shot of the finished pillows. After all the sewing, then gluing of the gems, I then sewed backs onto the pillows, and added a zipper. (the backs are stripes as well, in case you wanted to know)


Yesterday was a very productive day. Besides finishing these two pillows, I made a dark brown fur throw blanket for the couch. The picture was too dark and didn't come out right. but lets just say it looks like mink. It's beautiful. It's fur that's been in the closet stash for a very long time. I was told by the family I was not allowed to make a fur vest, and I didn't want to make it into a rug, so a blanket it is! I found a dark grey knit fabric, and laid the grey onto the fut and cut the grey to the exact length of the fur. I then pinned, or actually safety pinned the 2 fabrics together, and then sewed everything together, except for a small opening. I turned it right side out, and then sewed shut the hole. Looks fantastic! It's really warm and cozy on the couch too.  Speaking of..I think it's time for me to have some hot cocoa all snuggled up with my new fur blanket!

Happy New Years everyone! May we all finish the projects we love, and know and love ourselves enough to realize it's okay to donate/give away the ones we don't love or have time for anymore.  (there's someone out there who will love it!!)

Hugs!
Caroline

End of year 2014, Hello 2015!

Hi kids!
Welcome back! Whew! I've been gone for a while, huh? Life's been crazy wonderful and super busy. I'm sure yours has been too. I've made a couple fun crafty things here and there, between all the holiday activities, out of town travel and all the "Girl, I gotta tell you what happened" type of dates I've been on these past couple months. Here's some of the highlights of the past couple months. And No, no juicy gossip about some truly horrible first dates. sorry.

Most recently, we went out of town for Christmas. We went to my sister's house in Utah. It snowed for Christmas. So beautiful.

The family taking a pause at the bottom of the sledding hill

My Las Vegas wardrobe wasn't quite prepared for over a foot of snow. Or any amount of snow, if you want to get technical. My sister and I stopped at the store after our fun sledding and snow angel making adventure and bought real legit snow boots and later we found real ski pants. Wearing two or three yoga pants wasn't quite cutting it. The snow just seemed to stick to me and not want to be brushed off. So, a tip for all those who don't live with snow, the outer layer needs to be made out of that noisy, slick material. I'm not sure what it's called, but it's like the polyester some exercise or track suits are made of. That way the snow wont' stick to you and make your seat wet and cold.

Then moving backwards, for Thanksgiving. I made homemade cranberry sauce for the very first time!! I was really proud of myself. I scoured for hours through Pinterest, and wound up using the recipe on the back of the bag of cranberries. They all seem to be basically the same, with varying amounts of sugar or orange juice. Did you know that if you forget and leave the crock pot on high for 6 hours, it'll turn the cranberry sauce into jam? Yep. Not only did I make the tastiest orange cranberry sauce, I made jam! It was so good my sister who doesn't care for cranberry sauce at all, took a container of it home. (And kept piling it on her plate, and had to put a bit of cranberry sauce with every bite she took. Then sang little songs while she ate, it was that good!) To bad I didn't get a picture of the cranberry sauce/jam. I was kinda busy eating turkey and mashed potatoes :) all with a huge side of cranberry sauce, of course!

So.. since it's January 1st. I'm cleaning house and finally posting some of the crafty stuff that's just been sitting out there in draft land.

What are your goals for the new year? Some of my are: save money and really stick to a budget this year, exercise more, be and get healthier, go out on more dates, meet better quality of men, you know, the basics. :)

now for something cute:

Happy New Year to you all, and may 2015 be the best year ever!
Hugs!
Caroline