I Don't Like Mondays or I will be back in 168 hours


If life were a dog race that would be me way in the back there trying to catch up.

(I do look kind of cute, though, don't I?)

So, as I try to get my website finished and my linesheets finished and get Olive's butt into our first tradeshow, I am going to avoid posting here for 168 hours

(or 7 days or 1176 hours in dog years)

to get some things done.

I have extended last week's giveaway for one more week and everyone who entered last week will get double entries! It's a good one, so if you haven't entered and like to eat actual food that was prepared by a real person and not a machine- check it out.

This no posting thing is going to be hard though because I really want to whine about discuss the marketing 'guru' who ripped me a new one, what my Crest white-strippiest smile has done for me lately and Olive's stunning genetic history ... and I will .... in 168 hours

(or 7 days or 1176 hours in dog years)

well, I'm off now to watch the Wife Swap marathon get alot of work done and I need to play with Olive for a bit because she is really pissed about that random pug picture ...

Friday Finds or this week's roundup of some goodies to inspire the creative genius inside of you!



Lovin' what Foulard Threads is doing with these oxfords!



This ad campaign by Marithé and François Girbaud S/S 2010 line with the tagline "This is a Crazy World" can't help but make you smile!



The amazing artist collaboration of metalsmith 3Squares and fabric designer Daisy Janie has resulted in some totally stunning work you don't want to miss!



The fascinating magic lanterns created by Victor Vague of GhostHaus.


Namolio's gorgeous crochet pin cushions!



Brittany Harriman's fun petpeeve hangtag series.


Designed by Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr as part of the Green Garden Exhibition, this giant birdnest is all about breeding new ideas!


Have something to say? Check out Life Tokens.


This little cookie cutter from William Sonoma can pop a little message into your cookies- just the ticket for those of us with too much to say!



Great packaging idea for these little notebooks- don't you think?


Adorable hand-painted drawer pulls from Sweet Mix Creations.


A collection of 30 retro cereals- I don't remember most of these- where's Quisp?




The gorgeous illustrations of French artist Christelle Huet-Gomez and yes, she has a locket!

Thoughtful Thursday - time to JUMP into the unknown

Old American/World Dream:

K eep your head down
Follow instructions
Show up on time
Work hard
Suck it up ... and you will be rewarded fired


New American/World Dream:

B e remarkable
Be generous
Create art
Make judgement calls (not judgements)
Connect people and ideas ... and you will be rewarded
(I promise)

Words from "Linchpin" by Seth Godin, amazing print by the equally amazing Jess Gonacha Swift, promise from life to everyone

Whining Wednesday or a junk tv confessional, I get my black belt and Olive prepares for the Dog Show

W hine 1 - So, I finally got a new cable cord for the tv in my studio and since I have been almost television-less for quite a while now

(listening to the radio or books on tape while I work)

I was like a dieter on a chocolate binge last week ....

First, I watched two episodes of What Not to Wear.

The premise of this show is that the hosts take unsuspecting women and, over the course of a week, teach them how to dress like gay men.

The women get a new wardrobe

(not anything they are ever going to wear again, of course)

out of it and I guess this is why they allow their flaws to be catalogued and closets plundered on national television. I know I'm not that strong. The second Stacy tried to wrench the Joan Jett t-shirt from my fingers, I would probably set myself on fire.

(confidential to producers- if this is something you would be interested in, please contact me through my agent, ie Olive)

Then I watched 3 episodes of Wife Swap, 2 episodes of Montel Williams, 2 days of Court TV, 2 episodes of Deadly Women, 2 episodes of Ghost Hunters, 2 episodes of I Shouldn't Be Alive, 1 episode of Dirty Jobs- the list goes on.

As you can imagine my head is about to explode. I think it is time to go junk tv cold turkey.

I will now be watching the Olympics and the Dog Show

(which has Olive practicing walking very fast with her tail in the air- I haven't the heart to tell her that her own breed- the four letter word that starts with M isn't on the AKC's radar)

so I can refocus and get myself off the tv smack.

Actually, I just remembered that on tomorrow's Montel they will be talking to women who were impregnated by devilish spirits

(which I think is code for Kevin Federline)

and some lady named Zelva (Zelva?) who is afraid of eggplant.

Hmm. I may hold off on my junk tv cold turkey for one more day.

Whine 2 - Now I promised hubby I would cut back on my posts with his name in them, so to protect his privacy and my blog's future involvement in a marital lawsuit I will just call him Mr. Mystery.

So anyhoo, I went to the movies on Sunday

(yes, we rocked Valentine's Day with the Wolfman, which is a film I totally do not recommend by the way - Whine 3)

with Mr. Mystery and - after the movie I went into the restroom in the mall.

(this is where it gets a little gross)

GIVEAWAY-licious $25.00 Gift Certificate to FOODZIE CLOSED


And the winner is chosen by True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 211
Result:
55 = HOLLY! Holly chose foods from
DolceNonna as her winning picks!

Foodzie is the most amazing site for foodies; the place where you'll find the most fantabulous food and beverages made by small food companies!

Foodzie is an online marketplace where you can discover and buy food directly from small passionate food producers and growers. They are helping change the way people eat by helping the small food producers across the country find customers and grow their businesses!



Foodzie believes that instead of a small number of large food companies there should be a large number of small food companies (yay for that!).

They are obsessed with good food and passionate about connecting those that like to eat it with the people who make it!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive a $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to use in any shops on Foodzie!

(I received one, too, and still can't decide where to spend it!)




HOW TO WIN:

Visit Foodzie and take a look around - then pop back here and leave a comment with your contact info!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, February 28! Good luck!! CLOSED

Small Things = Big Difference or the bitter truth about your Valentine's Day chocolate

I don't want to be a stick in the mud

(although what is wrong with being a stick in the mud anyway other than the fact you are getting .. well .. muddy..)

and ruin your Valentine's Day chocolate binge .... but ....

much of the world's cocoa (chocolate's main ingredient) is grown in developing nations by very poor farmers.

70% of the world’s cocoa production is grown in West Africa employing more than half the country. Most of the world’s cocoa production includes child slave labor and starvation level wages for farmers.

U.S. chocolate manufacturers have deflected responsibility for the conditions on cocoa plantations, citing lack of ownership of the plantations although 4/5 of the chocolate candy market is controlled by three major American firms — Hershey's, M&M/Mars and Nestle.

Now, I know you need your chocolate fix now and then. I need mine, too and I have to admit I have not always been so mindful of the brand I was buying (I am now), but one small thing we can do that would make a big difference is to choose chocolate with meaningful eco-labels.

This can help make a real difference in the lives of the people who grow cocoa and this can also benefit the environment.

Organic certification means that:

• Farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality

• Crops are grown without using synthetic fertilizer or the most persistent pesticides

• Crops are produced without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation

Fair trade certified means that:

• Farmers and workers receive a fair price for their product

• Trade is done directly between farmer-owned cooperatives and buyers

• Crops are grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict the use of agrochemicals

There are alot of fair trade chocolate choices these days and they can be found at your local grocery store. We can stop buying what the major candy companies provide us on the backs of impoverished farmers, children forced into slave labor and the environment.

It may cost a bit more, but good chocolate really is a luxury, was never intended to be a daily treat, and can be one pleasure you do not have to feel the least bit guilty about.

(the dark kind is even good for us)

Whining Wednesday or another snowpocalypse and breakfast for dinner

I'm living the dream, folks.

It is 8:30 a.m.

I am snowed in (sort of).

I am listening to Shawn Colvin and my hubby's audible intestinal noises - he used to try to cover it up with a fake cough ... not anymore

... we may be losing some of the magic ...

(I have to whisper-type this because he is starting to complain about me blogging about him)

Actually, it could be my tummy rumbling- hard to tell when we lie this close.

(more whisper typing) - looks like hubby is headed downstairs to make us all breakfast ... he must have forgotten we only have breakfast for dinner now ...

We started breakfast for dinner with a couple trips to the IHOP when we were renovating (term used loosely here) our kitchen a few years ago.

(yes, IHOP for dinner ... I know this is making you jealous, but we can't all be living the dream folks)

I have tried to recreate this experience at home. Many dinners have been trashed after my version of the Rooty Tooty Fresh & Fruity failed to reach the standards set by the International House.

Apparently, it just doesn't taste right unless it's being served by a toothless woman with a tattoo of Dale, Jr. on her forearm and a dirty apron.

(actually I take that all back, I, too, see my apron as an essential culinary tool, much like a cast iron skillet, and rarely wash it, lest it lose some of its 'flavor' and based on family history and lack of dental insurance should be toothless in 6.7 years)

(more whisper-typing) Sounds like hubby is starting the coffee. He is making alot of noise down there now. The man just can't relax and enjoy a snowday.

(sigh)

Seems like I have to get up and lend a hand.

Hard to whine with a snowpocalypse and something that tastes kind of like a Rooty Tooty in my future - it's all good.

Hope you are all living the dream today, too.
1. Wonderful tea cozy from KnitStorm
2. Amazing Beakfast in Bed print by Mutrux
3. Paint your own eggs by GooseGreaseUndone
4. Adorable felt short stack by LittlePicklepotamus
5. The perfect muffin unbleached tshirt by NottyPouch

Time Out Tuesday or some stuff to check out while the kids trash the house and you sip your double mocha and convince yourself they are napping



I think Riot Siren's cupcake skirts "put on your party skirt and roll in the dirt" are sssooo adorable!



I am obsessed with Osusowake (means sharing in Japanese) - the little cake slice planters that make sharing your favorite cuttings so easy peasy.



Olive is in love with Lucy Snowe's urban art for nature lovers and in particular this little snapshot.



Your kids don't need a clubhouse - you do, especially something as awesome as this Happy Loves Rosie Caravan!





Kella made my 2009 blog posts into a book for me at Blurb for my birthday last week- make books, not war!



I heart Haddock (do you?) mug from Black Ink.



I am head over heels for this little smiling frog! Is this not the cutest little frog you have ever seen - like, if I didn't have George I would totally kiss this little guy and am almost certain he would turn into Daniel Day-Lewis or Paul Newman or someone equally fabulous.



Beautiful little brooches from Caroline Dulko.



The amazing installation art "Chemical Balance" by Jean Shin created from thousands of prescription bottles recycled from nursing homes.





If you are going to be in Brooklyn and love insect art as much as I do Entomologia is a must-see ... am wondering if there will be any stinkbug art ...



Bits of brutality smothered in a rich, creamy marshamallow sauce - the adorable world of Cuddly Rigor Mortis artist (and Jersey girl) Kristin Tercek.




And, yes, she has a locket!