Flip-flops in NY (Babytease)

Soap "putting-together"

It's been a while, but I used to enjoy making soap so much.  I am not really "making" soap because I am buying the soap already made and just dressing it up with scents, colors and textures.  It's an odd thing for me, because I am allergic to so many different things.  But this way I can control what I am breathing in and what is on my skin.  I know I am not allergic to the base soap they sell at the craft shops, at least not the last one I bought.  I make a batch and then give out a few left over bars.  I would really like to make up nice packaging for what I give out.  I've seen some real nice packaging from so many people that make soap at home.  I wouldn't want it to look commercial.  That might be my next project.

This last batch I made was Honey-Almond with Apricot for exfoliation.  Unfortunately the apricot settled, but I like the look.  I also smells divine.  It poured some in a dipping bowl to keep by the kitchen sink, instead of using detergent.

Vantage Point

Tonight we went to see Vantage Point.  What an incredibly exciting movie!  It doesn't seem like it from the trailer, but even in an action-packed movie like this Sigourney Weaver was amazing.  I would even say moving.  There are so many great actors playing very active, fast talking roles.  Also, so much of it has to be filmed on location in Salamanca, Spain.  We were so impressed.  That part of it was gorgeous.

This was the first film that I experienced the entire audience needing someone to discuss what was happening while it was happening, through the entire movie.  No one was upset, everyone was whispering.  They took a three or four second break between each point of view and that was where you got to take a deep breath for the next one.  It was such a different experience. At one point I lifted my jacket sleeve because I didn't want to watch something that I knew was going to happen and a total stranger sitting next to me lowered my sleeve and told me "you have to watch everything, or you'll miss something".  And he was right.

GO SEE THIS MOVIE.  IT'S SO MUCH FUN!!!

Thank you notes, for my son

I've had a very hard time getting Scott to send "Thank you" notes through the years.  I was at Old Navy after Christmas and found these for about 96 cents, or something like that.  I bought a box for him, and one for me.  Mine are a mustard color, or maybe more like Orange.  I went back to get more and they were gone, of course.  I thought they looked kind of nice for a 15 year old.  Also, when I was buying my Christmas stamps I found these Star Wars stamps.  What better stamps for a 15 year old that likes Star Wars?  I bought him a sheet back then and little did I know I would find these great note cards.  I would love the time to make cards myself, but in the meantime, I'll take a sale where I can find it.

Storage

I live in NYC.  Need I say more?  I just closed out my storage space for various personal reasons.   Did I tell you after all these years I've never lost the key and in two weeks I lost the key to the lock twice?  But it was so satisfying to get all of it out of there and to know that I won't have to pay them another dime.  The problem is - about half of the stuff is in my apartment now.  Today I've been going through it again, and again, and again.  I am going to go through some of Scott's baby clothes (three of those boxes worth) and keep about one box worth and give some to a pregnant friend (having twins) and maybe make stuff with the other and the rest to Goodwill. 

I have a collection that most of you will think is silly, but I LOVE.  You will see that soon.  There were crafting supplies I didn't remember I had.  The list goes on.  That was another reason to get rid of the space.  There were unnecessary items in there.  I didn't NEED this space.  I wanted it.  I wanted it for Xmas and summer stuff.  I had to get rid of a lot of Christmas items I didn't want to part with, but I can't keep allowing myself to accumulate all of this any longer.  For the past few years I have learned to understand my limits, spacewise.

My New Year Goal has been achieved! 

      

       

Pirate party on Saturday

Yesterday was Joel's Pirate Birthday Party (#8).  What a ball!  My friend Wendy takes the time to play all these games with the kids.  I don't know anyone who spends so much time with the kids at parties like she does.  They played games for like three hours.  I know I never did.  I had activities, but not like that.  She goes all out with decor and food and everything.  She's amazing when it comes to parties.  Also, the adults that help like to dress up with her, and our teenagers enjoy it too.  As you can see, Pirates of the Carribean (3) was playing on the TV for a while.

Her cakes:

Only one shot of some of the decor, above the cake table:

Her daughter and my son who have grown up together:

Sick boy

He only gets sick about once per year, and it usually lasts a day and a half at the most, but here it is.  He's covered with an afgan my grandmother made many, many years ago.  He had his head on the cushion and his dog decided to squeeze himself in there somehow.  I knew if I moved, Boha would too.  So I had someone else take the shot.  What a pair, huh?

 

New collages

I started these projects this weekend.  My problem is, I never know when to stop.  It never looks "finished" to me.  I want to keep adding and adding and adding.  But with this one, I know it's done:

This one is in the making:

 

      

 

Then I started a few other panels while I waited for these projects to dry in stages.  I can't wait to see what will come out of those.

Nigella's Fudge

I made this recipe back around Christmas week and my family really enjoyed it.  I like to dress things up.  It's just my way.  The first time I added honey roasted peanuts, marichino cherries and marshmallows because that was what I had in the apartment at the time.  I can't remember which chocolate I used that day, but it wasn't bittersweet.  I have a sweet-tooth, and that wouldn't have been in the here.  Here is Nigella's recipe: Pistachio Fudge. 

Today I used the cherries again, toasted-unsalted almonds that were real cheap at the supermarket for snaking, and I cut up large marshmallows.  It looks more homemade that way.  I put the fudge into two bread loaves so I can take one to work tomorrow.  Kind of Rocky Road?  I didn't put in too many of the extras and I'll cut the pieces up pretty small because it is so rich.  I did use a milk chocolate this time.  Maybe next time I'll try a darker chocolate and see which tastes better. So much for a SUGAR FREE DAY today.

I can say this, there cannot be a simpler recipe for FUDGE.

Tee Shirt painting

On Saturday my son and his friends decided they wanted to try their hand at painting some tee shirts.  He knows I used to paint them and sell them a few years back.  I have plenty of supplies, which I offered them.  Paint, stamps, brushes, palets, and so on.  They bought the shirts and some supplies of their own.  I set them up in my apartment and left them alone so they wouldn't feel any pressure.  I was only able to take one photo, and they wouln't let me take any pics of the final tees.  Maybe next time.  Who would have thought that they would be shy?  Not these fifteen year olds...  They started on paper first to test out the blotter brush and the spray paint.  They were spray painting on a black shirt, then stenciling words on top of the spray when it dried.  It turned out sort of the way they wanted, but you know kids these days, they want instant gratification.  It wasn't perfect and my son's friend was not happy.  I told them how it takes practice.  "A technique takes practice."  I can't make the others listen, but I can patiently explain it to my son.  He understands and will practice because (1) he wants it more than the others do and (2) he has art running through his veins.  And I don't mean me.  It's all through my family and he has those hands and haven't put them to good use yet.  I will encourage them all I can, with every cent I can afford to.  I can't draw a straight line to save my life, but he can draw and has an eye for art and color, thank goodness.  I ended up with more paint on the table than on the finished tee, but it was well worth it.  I love to see them doing anything other than on their Sidekick or video games!

Busy last few days

I saw "Over her Dead Body" and "Spiderwick Chronicles" last week.  One of the things I love about living in NYC is attending free advanced movie screenings.  The first one needed a lot of help, but the second one opens February 14th?  Go see it, even without a kid.  We had so much fun watching this movie.

 

So I decided to give in my storage unit where I keep my summer/winter clothes and beach and Christmas stuff.  My son's baby clothes are there and other similar things.  My NYC apt just can't hold it all.  But then I realized it just made more reason for me to have other stuff in my apartment, not to mention it's one more bill.  I was willing to pay it, until they raised my rent $94.00 last September.  I do not know where I am going to put it all, but I made a promise to myself that I have to do this.  I've signed the papers, so there is no going back.  We went over there to do some cleaning and emptying and I've lost the key.  Thank goodness they only charge $10.00 to pop the lock, but I have to be out by the 19th, and didn't have the energy to do anything else after stressing about it that afternoon. 

Then while watching the Superbowl I started feeling bad, thinking it was a migraine, and ended up with a stomach virus in the middle of the night.  So here I am on Monday, while my boss is on vacation, sleeping the entire day through because I was up all night.  At least the game was real good.  I didn't care who won.  New Yorkers are pretty much split down the middle about rooting for our teams.  I'm just a football fan.  We had our Tampa Bay tee shirts on in this house.  I feel better now, but I haven't eaten anything but some white rice and saltines.  The only good thing about this is that I had another SUGAR FREE DAY!

I have a couple of pics of my son and his friend paint on tees, wanting to start a little business.  I'll have to post those tomorrow.