Feverish and Falling Behind

What does it mean when you wake up Monday morning with a fever? Does that mean you had a good weekend or not? I'm going to go with GOOD weekend, or at least with heck-a-busy weekend. Sooooo crazy busy that Pat and I were both sick on Valentine's Day. That's not too big of a deal since we were planning on celebrating V-Day this coming weekend anyway.

So, what kept us so busy this weekend? Port Trio (Pat's band) played Friday, Saturday was consumed with my Mardi Gras Ball (decorating and hosting it), and Sunday was a day at the beach (literally).

Of course, as I've already stated, I woke up with a fever yesterday and spent all day battling it. I'm feeling a bit better today. However, this week is just going to be a bit off. There will  be no meal plan (sorry) and I have no Valentine post for you. . .oh well. Instead, there will most likely just be randomness. (Hurray?)

First random topic - when not sleeping yesterday, I spent my time trying to decrease the amount of blogs in my feed reader. I stumbled upon a Valentine giveaway for some Industrial Chic pieces and found out this morning I had won. Check out Kristen Robinson's blog  and her Valentine post to see the goodies I'll be getting.

Secondly, I was featured in another treasury. This time the treasury is made of Etsians from the Red Dirt Crafters Team.

From the Red Dirt of Alabama

There's also a new collage bangle in the shop.

French Blaze Bangle

Since I'm going with random today, here's a few links that fit that description.

•  Some tips for getting a home office organized. I really like these neat and different ideas.
• If you've been reading me long enough you should know I like anything Harry Potter, so here's an amazing Harry Potter birthday gingerbread cake - it's Hogwarts!!

And, a few general Crafty Links

• How to make cold porcelain 
• Water balloon candle holders 
• Contemporary pom pom flowers 
• Top 100 tutorials of 2008  - Oh yes, I've been saving links for a LONG time!!
• Duct tape, no sew tote bag

Now, I'm off to get a few more tasks complete and maybe even FINALLY start on my Valentine Project(s) for Pat. Here's hoping your week is going much better than mine started off!

Knocking it Out

If you read my post yesterday, you  know I was delaying the inevitable. Basically, I was putting off cleaning. I'm working to remedy that burden today with my "timer method".  This method involves me setting a timer (on my phone or iPad) for 30 minutes. I work (as I am now, writing this post) until the timer sounds and then make myself do something on my chore list. So far today, I've gotten the kitchen cleaned and most of the laundry done via this method. When the timer sounds next, I'll have to go clean the bathrooms. (Booooooo!!) I use this method all the time to help motivate me to get up from the craft I'm absorbed in or to pull myself away from the internet in order to complete some of my more despised tasks (i.e. anything related to cleaning). It really does help. Just thought I'd share and let you know that I do, indeed, clean my house.

Other than cleaning, I have been busy getting some work done also.
To prove this, I took some shots of my craft desk this morning for Bead Table Wednesday.

Check out some of the other Busy Beaders on the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group

Bead Table Wednesday

I also listed a new set of earrings

Royal Affair Earrings

The dang timer just went off. . .let me go ahead and share some Valentine links before I go all scrubby in the tubby.

• I found another great printable coupon book.
• I have a real affinity for paper, button, and/or felt flowers so these no-fuss paper roses are right up my alley.
• These printable made with love baggie tags are perfect for those yummy snacks for your loved ones.
• I'm a sucker for anything owl, so there's no doubt I think this Who Loves You Baby Owl is so stinking cute!

Alright, I'm off for my long overdue appointment with a toilet brush!

Delaying the Inevitable

This was YESTERDAY'S Craft Desk, but I really liked the organized chaos of it!

I was just thinking how much I got accomplished today (delivered a custom piece, made breakfast, grocery shopped, etc) when I spotted a WiiMote in the floor, a few cups on the side table, and an article of clothing or two strewn about the living room. Let's just say I've been busy with other tasks. And, well, I'm not a 'cleaner.' I love to organize, but cleaning. . .not so much. Oh well, you can't win them all. I'll get to it, eventually.

For now, let's focus on the fun!
Like. . .  .

This new necklace in the shop.

Glass and Glam Necklace

And, another treasury that I'm featured in. I love the shade of purple that she has for this list. Luscious!

I Feel Like a Queen Treasury

Somehow, it took me until today to realize that Valentine's Day is on Monday. I kept thinking it was on a Tuesday. Doesn't matter, I don't think Pat and I will be celebrating it on either day anyway. (no worries, It WILL be celebrated) Of course, I do need to get a jump on my gift to him so I can share it with all of you, hopefully!
Until then, here are some other fantastic V-Day Ideas

• These felt fortune cookie valentines are cute!
• The sentiment on this valentine day printable is absolutely perfect.
• An easy paper valentine mailbox would be a great presentation for you gift.
• Check out this love rocks project. It just makes me giggle!
• Like ninjas? Here are some ninja printable valentine cards.
• Here's a tutorial from craft sanity to make some really adorable beaded heart pins.

I've got plans to bust out some earrings today before I head to Mobile this evening. So I best get to it!

Going Through The Motions

I said on my Facebook Page on Friday (I think that's right) that I knew it was going to be a low craft weekend because of the busy-ness I had planned. Unfortunately, it ended up being a NO craft weekend. Booooo!!!

The entire weekend was focused on some parties in preparation for my society's Mardi Gras Ball (which is this upcoming weekend.) After prepping and partying all weekend (though the parties were tame), I'm EXHAUSTED. I feel like I'm just going through the motions this morning. For some reason, the components for this post were fairly easy to gather, now let's see how they come together. Please forgive me for the lack of cohesion and smooth transitions.

There's a new soldered necklace in the shop.

Unique Inspiration Necklace

And some earrings went on sale.

Purple Power Earrings - Now 25% OFF

Last week I said that the Alabama Accents team has been busy with Treasuries. Here are two more I'm featured in!!

True Love Stories Never Have Endings

what was I saying about TURQUOISE?

Since it is Monday, I've got my meal plan all ready for you. Please note that last week most of the plan did not get executed, so it just got slung over to this week. Exciting aye? Please, please check out the other, most likely more inventive Menu Plan Monday posts over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

MONDAY
B: Cereal
L: Ham sandwiches
D: Turkey filets, mac-n-cheese, green beans

TUESDAY
B: Muffins
L: Tuna noodles
D: Crockpot Curried Chicken, rice

WEDNESDAY
B: Bagels w/cream cheese
L: Soup and grilled cheese
D: Tacos, corn

THURSDAY
B: Cereal
L: Leftovers
D: Hope at a Pot Luck, Pat on own

FRIDAY
B: Eggs, bacon, toast
L: Bagel pizzas
D: Pat gig, Hope on own

SATURDAY
B: Cereal
L: Lunch with room members
D: Mardi Gras BALL

SUNDAY
B: Out, brunch?
L: Bean burritos
D: Chili, with rice


Finally, a few more Valentine crafts, cards, ideas, and more

• Check out these decorative yarn hearts.
• Here are some neat vintage stamps valentine heart printables.
• How about some free printables for valentines treats
• Beeping robot valentine printable cards and envelopes in pink and blue for boys and girls
• These lovely bubbles seem a bit labor intensive, but except for the glass bottle (which could be replaced with plastic) is a really cute idea for kids (nieces in my case).
• Coupon books are a great fallback valentine gift. I've made many variations, but this printable coupon book is super cute and may be a contender for one of my gifts this year!

I've got a few custom orders in the works and really should get back to them before I can start on anything new to show. It's going to be another busy-preparing-for-the-ball week, so here's hoping I can get my craft on! What does your week look like?

A Little of This and a Dash of That

My e-mail inbox has been full of all kids of fun the last day or so; treasuries, conversations, custom orders, and so on.

However, since it is Thrifty Thursday let me start with that.
Last week while shopping at Michael's I followed my usual path: beads, wood, paint, as is, clearance, scrapbooking. While looking over the "As Is" bin, I found a broken thread spool organized marked significantly down from $15 to $3.75. I snatched it up, knowing I could work with the flaw.
Basically the only thing wrong was that one of the bars was unglued/undone on one side.

So, I ripped it off the broken bar

and hammered down the pointy staples.

Then, I screwed in some of the enclosed hooks into the top of the vertical pieces before hammering some nails into the wall and and hanging the organizer.

What did I do with it once it was hung? Well, added wire of course.

Granted this is not all of my wire and it's not very well organized, but I've been too busy to finish. In any case, it's great having my wire so easily accessible.

The Alabama Accents Etsy Team (of which I am a member) has been VERY active the last few days in making treasuries. As such, let me share two of the treasuries I've been included in.

Spring is in the Air

Beat the Winter Blues

In addition, there are a new pair of earrings in the shop.

Drops of Sunshine Earrings

Now, for some more Valentine ideas.

• I love the v-day conversation hearts, here's how you can make your own!
• Unique v-day idea, a flip book!
• Use cupcake liners to make lollipop flower valentines. I think this is a great idea for kids valentines.
• Check it, another subway art valentine printable. 

That's all for now. I've got more to do than I really have time for, so it's back to work for me!

It Only Looks Like I've Been Busy

This'll be a picture heavy post.
Since I was playing catch-up yesterday I didn't get to spend as much time creating as I would have liked. Oh, don't get me wrong; I always make a little time to spend in the craft room. But, yesterday was mainly focused on food, laundry, and cleaning.
The main crafty task I accomplished was one I had been putting off for a while. See, several years back I gifted my cousin with this fun, fuzzy necklace.

Here's a closer look at the fabric beads wrapped in fun yarn and wire.

A few months back, my cousin (who lives MANY hours away, but visits often) requested that I make some matching earrings. Since I made the necklace so VERY long ago, I wasn't sure of the process I had used to make the fabric for the beads. [I could tell there was some metallic paint and a particular stamp, but have NO IDEA how I went about getting those onto the fabric.] In any case, I broke down this week and just did it. Hopefully, they're close enough and Cindy will like them.

I'm just glad I got a chance to get some pictures of the necklace before I give it back to her. I guess I made it before I was documenting my creations.

On another note, today is Bead Table Wednesday (BTW) and a chance for me to share with you some of my work in progress.

Bead Table Wednesday

The remnants of working on my Bead Soup Blog Party piece.

Random unfinished projects I picked up to work on during a limited amount of craft time.

My living room project. I'm calling them "Shabby Rings"

In addition, I listed a new bracelet in the shop yesterday. I just love the metallic sheen of the shrink plastic focal. You can almost tell in the pictures that this piece seems to glow from within.

Retro Rectangles Bracelet

Speaking of Etsy, yesterday I was featured in a beautiful treasury. All of the Etsians included in this treasury are from the Alabama Accents Team. Very Cool!

'Color Pops' by atutudes

Featuring Items with pops of turquoise, yellow and hot pink

Silk lavender sache... laurldesigns $8.00	Atutudes Ice Cream ... atutudes $31.95	Octeal 6x9 Original... MadShiny $25.00
Sunny Days Earrings JennP1751 $17.00	Hot Pink Mum Post E... Crandalian $7.00	Nina top and swing ... lululanedesign... $40.00
Yellow Elephant Pil... elephantstitch... $32.00	Heart Topknot Dog B... ChocolateKenne... $3.50	Love Necklace hollyberry1617 $14.00
Bright Beauty Neckl... CraftyHope $25.00	Pink Lotus Flower S... thehappycactus $20.00	2 Yellow Grosgrain ... luckycloverbou... $2.00
SALE SALE embellish... laurl $5.80	Hot Pink, Turquoise... SunshineSister... $18.00	Blue Skies Necklace... JennP1751 $15.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Since Valentine's Day is fast approaching I figured I'd share some Valentine crafts with you.

• Here's the first of MANY Valentine's Day printables. I love the 1st one on this link with the homemade crayon heart!
•  Heart shaped bird feeder 
• Scratch-off Valentine cards - these are so very cool, I might actually make some of these.
• Download and print these super cute Valentines
• Printable Valentine poster and some suggestions on how to use it.
• How do I love thee? Printable cards 

I still haven't had my lightbulb moment about what to make Pat yet for V-day, so if you've got any projects or ideas you're working on, feel free to share them with all of us!!

I'm Behind Again

My dear friend Kate contacted me yesterday morning about having lunch. We went back and forth via Facebook trying to decide where and when to eat. By the time we decided, it was time for me to head out to see her. We gorged ourselves (at least I did) on seafood and a few beers while chatting the afternoon away. It was pure loveliness. 

This sign in the ladies room cracked me up!

I returned home mid-afternoon with a swimming belly and head and simply wanted to take a nap. Instead I forced myself into the the craft room where I worked on my bead soup project and piddled around on a few other tasks.
Thankfully, I had made my menu while Kate and I were going back and forth, and I knew what was for dinner.
Unfortunately, that's about all I accomplished yesterday. As such, I'm hoping to play catch up today, starting with this post.

Let me quickly share with you some info about the shop.
A new item has been added

Lost and Found, Blue Junk Necklace

Another item has been placed on sale.

Buttons in Black Necklace

 

Since I DID go to the trouble of getting the meal plan made, I want to share it whether it's still Menu Plan Monday or not. If you're running behind like me, there are ton of other great menu ideas over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.


MONDAY
B: Bagels and cream cheese w/bananas
L: Hope out, Pat leftovers
D:Ham steaks, cauliflower, yellow rice

TUESDAY
B: Nutella on toast, fruit
L: Tuna noodle
D:Turkey filets, mac-n-cheese, green beans

WEDNESDAY
B: Cereal
L: BBQ sandwiches
D: Crockpot curried chicken

THURSDAY
B: Breakfast burritos
L: Bagel pizzas
D: Pasta with bacon and mushrooms, salad

FRIDAY
B: Cereal
L: Jambalaya (from freezer)
D: Hope out, Pat on own

SATURDAY
B: Hope out, Pat on own
L: Hope out, Pat on own
D: Tacos, corn

SUNDAY
B: Muffins
L: Soup and grilled cheese
D: Hope out, Pat gig

My weeks are getting busier and busier leading up to the Mardi Gras ball in a few short weeks. And then, it'll  be back to usual. . . whatever that is.