short girl, long island.

Chemical Imbalance.

2013-03-16T17:30:00.000-04:00

I haven't been posting as frequently as I used to. I attempted to remedy that, but I just wasn't into it. I've been feeling a bit off lately + I know it has to do with the medicine I have been prescribed. No, I didn't catch anything creepy or have something insanely wrong with me. I can't remember if I mentioned it on here, but a few months back, I was having panic attacks up to three times a day. It was a culmination of many things + was frustrating. So, although I didn't want to do it, I went on medication.

Now, I am the girl who lives through headaches + only takes Advil gel caps when I get some serious dental work done. The only time I would take Valium was to get on a plane, which was rare + hasn't happened in years. In order to "make it stop," I went on Zoloft. I got nauseous, felt like crap + couldn't function for a week. After awhile, the side effects subsided + my panic attacks stopped.

About a month ago, I got a sinus infection. I was holed up in bed, feeling like crap, taking over the counter stuff I haven't touched in years. While I was sick, I totally forgot about taking my Zoloft. After my sinuses cleared up, I was still feeling gross. Bad headaches, pressure, nausea, blurry vision, etc. Then, I went to crack my neck, like I always do. It felt like a jolt of electricity had gone from my brain down my spine. Needless to say, I freaked out. Long story short, I was having withdrawals from not taking the Zoloft.

Wonderful.

So, back on it I went. Nausea lasted another week. Started feeling normal, but still in a strange fog. My sleep schedule was thrown off, but eventually I got it regulated. Of course, the night that I actually fell asleep at a normal time is the night I missed a dose. I know, I know, I know - baaaaaaad move. But of course, I didn't think missing one day would throw me off.

Boy, was I wrong. I had insane withdrawal symptoms again, which is totally disturbing. I feel like a drug addict, like I can't survive without this stupid blue little pill. I'm caught between a rock + a hard place: take the medicine + don't have panic attacks, or get off the medicine, withdraw like a monster + suffer consequences, plus have my panic attacks back?

In a way, I feel defeated. Like I lost to the medicine. Sure, I'm happier, but there is a price to pay for this, of course. I can tell I think differently, which is good + bad. I feel that I am still creative, but my drive has diminished. Its as if I sold my soul for sanity.

Welcome to the wonderful world of chemical imbalance.

Cara Box Goes Club Sexy?

2013-03-05T19:39:00.001-05:00

The theme of February's Cara Box was Club Sexy. Uhhhhh, I know, it sounds weird, but I swear, it was really rad! Basically, Kaitlyn says Club Sexy is basically your ultimate date night - with your significant other, your friends, kids, or pets. Everyone's ideal date is different + Erich + I prefer to relax with a snack + a flick. This month, I sent a Cara Box to Jessica + received my Cara Box from Charity.

Charity, like myself, is a nerd girl, so this was a match made in heaven! I was super stoked to see what goodies she put together for a perfect date night. The first thing I noticed was this little mailbox, which reminded me of one of my favorite movies, You've Got Mail. Inside, was a note, folded up how I used to pass off notes between classes in high school. There was also another piece of paper, which had a note, saying "read this to each other." I opened it up, read it to myself + cracked up. All of my Cara Boxes have had something Star Wars in it, which is awesome!

I walked over to Erich + showed him the note on the outside. He was nervous at first, but I read it to him + he thought it was pretty cool. As I unwrapped my gifts, I was super stoked to see that Charity picked stuff that was so US. My favorite was the mini Darth Vader candy jar. Erich was actually pretty excited about this Cara Box, because it had stuff for the both of us. It was awesome getting to know Charity + I can't wait to see who I'm paired up with this month!

Iron Craft '13, Challenge #4: "… and the Winner is…"

2013-02-28T23:55:00.000-05:00

This challenge was inspired by television or film [or the red carpet], due to the award season that has sprung up. I don't watch them, but if there is a clip of something awesome [usually a performance], i'll YouTube it later on. Since Sarina is the craftier of the two of us, she decided that making headbands with some awesome fabric she had would be perfect. She snagged some Star Wars, Star Trek + Marvel Comics prints a few weeks ago, so that is what we used. This is also the first time I used a sewing machine to sew fabric - the only other time I used it was to make paper streamers for Halloween.

Believe it or not, this was not as hard as I imagined it to be, although the bobbin decided to go apeshit on me at one point [I swear, it wasn't my fault]. I definitely feel more comfortable sewing + would love to create some cute pouches + headbands with the awesome fabric I picked up a couple months ago.

For our crafting adventure, I wore my old school E.T. shirt + donned my Black Milk The Last Judgment leggings, which is actually taken from a piece created by Jan van Eyck, created back in the 1400s. Pretty cool, huh?

I looked at Challenge #5 + its Green or "Green," which means we can use the color green, or create something that is earth-friendly. I'm thinking earth-friendly would be more up my alley, but who knows what I'll come up with!

Life As of Late.

2013-02-26T13:59:00.001-05:00

Life has been crazy, but in the best way possible. I have been relaxing, crafting, working, finding Nemo in my backyard + found a sinus infection that I was eager to get rid of. But, the positives have kicked the negatives in the butt, which rules. I figured I'd post some pictures of what has been going on lately!

I've been disgustingly creative lately - even moreso than normal. I have always told everyone that I could only draw stick figures, which is true. But, when some of the little ladies I watch wanted me to create fun things for them, I decided to actually sit down + give it a shot. I sketched first, had a picture nearby for a general reference + gave it my best shot. I impressed myself! The boys created butterfly valentine cards for their younger cousins + last night was an experiment with ice cream sandwiches filled with vanilla ice cream + chocolate pudding.

On Friday night, I was supposed to go see Lady Gaga at Madison Square Garden, but due to the announcement last week that her entire tour was cancelled, I didn't go. Since I won a contest two years ago, which included tickets, a hotel + car service to the show, I was told that I needed to take the hotel + the car service, because that was the agreement I had signed two summers ago. I was pretty pissed, until a friend suggested I come into Brooklyn for dinner. I convinced them to pick up another friend en route + take us into Brooklyn, to feast at TRAIF.

I can honestly say it was one of the best meals I have ever enjoyed. This place is not vegetarian friendly, but its a bacon lover's BFF. We enjoyed twelve small dishes between the five of us. Their site has a menu from last Spring available here, but many of the items we feasted on are staples of TRAIF. My favorite dishes were the bacon wrapped bleu cheese stuffed dates + strawberry cinnamon glazed baby back ribs, but it was all amazingly delicious.

Dessert was also stellar. Nutella mousse with pistachio ice cream, panna cotta drizzled with fruit + the best dessert ever - bacon doughnuts with dulce de leche + coffee ice cream. I am still drooling over those bad boys. Amazing, amazing, amazing. To help us gluttons digest, we were brought a plate with pineapple, which hit the spot. I can't wait to go back again; I'm really hoping this can become a monthly venture.

Now that I'm done talking about stuffing my face, I am pretty stoked about this month's Whimseybox. All the supplies can help you create a few memo boards/notepads, with tons leftover. I'm pretty stoked about the fun washi tape, neon rubber bands + those ultra cute pins! Whimseybox is only $15 a month [cheaper + cooler than most subscription boxes] + when you use the link above, your first box is only $10. Trust me, if you've ever gone into a store to buy crafts, its a miracle if your bill is under $25.

If you haven't noticed yet, the blog was revamped by the super talented Justine, who blogs over at Pirates and Mermaids. She is a fellow Long Islander, so who better to create something for my space? Both she + her boyfriend, Steve, are insanely creative [he's actually done one of my tattoos for me + I plan on going back for more] + they have the cutest little dude, Benjamin. Make sure to swing by + say hi!

That's all for now. Hopefully with my schedule starting to become more consistent, my posts will be more as well. Enjoy your day!

Teach Me Something Thursday: Hiatus, Scheduling + Iron Craft '13.

2013-02-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

Some of you might have noticed that TMST has been absent this month. I decided to take a break for the month of February, then bring it back bi-weekly, because I will be showcasing my Iron Craft Challenge projects on those off-weeks.

So, TMST will return March 7, 2013. If you are interested, feel free to submit a tutorial to be showcased on the blog. Next week, Iron Craft '13 Challenge #4 will be showcased. Since I didn't get around to posting what I created for Challenge #3, here it is, in all its sappy glory:

The theme was hearts + stars - you could choose to use one aspect, or both. I chose to stick to hearts, since Valentine's Day was around the corner.

Stepping Up My Snail Mail Game.

2013-02-11T19:33:00.002-05:00

I have a bunch of pen pals + love sending ultra-cute stationary to them [although i've been slacking as of late]. I always handwrite my return address on the envelope, because most return address stickers are cheesy or just bland. My letters were cute, adorned with stickers, but I wanted to make them look even nicer; more polished.

Thanks to Laura, the gal behind the Etsy shop lauriebreaker, I now have a fancy pants return address stamp to adorn my letters + parcels with! In December, Laura contributed a custom made stamp as a giveaway item + also offered to create one for me as well! I told her to surprise me with the design she would use. I had to proof the design before it was sent + realized she was using her new design, The Elliott! I was super stoked for it to arrive + wanted to show you all how awesome it is!

I used my awesome Kaleidacolor inkpad to test out a variety of fun color schemes shown in the photo + obviously had way too much fun with it. Laura, being super awesome, is offering a 10% discount to my readers - use the coupon code SHORT10 during checkout. Don't forget to check out the other designs + cards Laura has in the shop. These stamps make really awesome gifts - this would be the perfect addition to a housewarming gift, or to send to one of your pen pals!

Gift Guide: Valentine's Day.

2013-02-08T22:51:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I like marching to the beat of my own drum. When it comes to the holidays, I like to find unique gifts that won't collect dust [or even worse, be re-gifted]. I got my Sherlock Holmes on + found gifts that would be great for guys + gals, young + those who are young at heart!

01. Lionel Richie - The Definitive Collection [$8.49] For under $9, you get a hard copy containing 20 hits, plus a free MP3 download of the album. One for them, one for you. Everybody wins!

02. Hello Apparel Kids Neon Raglan 3/4 Sleeve [~~$28-30~~ $22.40-24 with coupon code makingitlovely] I love Hello Apparel! I own half a dozen items from the company + really love these unisex kids baseball tees, which are available in sizes 2 - 12.

03. Fringe - Beyond the Fringe [$10.19] Erich + I have recently become obsessed with Fringe - this is actually one of the presents I got him for Valentine's Day. Graphic novels make great gifts, plus Joshua Jackson, who portrays Peter Bishop on the FOX series, helped pen this as well.

04. Plush Unicorn Bouquet [$49.99] Instead of spending an arm + a leg on roses that won't last more than a week, opt for a bouquet of plush unicorns. Sounds strange, but I promise you, this rules.

05. Hearts + Flowers Paper Tape [$10.67] This is a great gift for your crafty pals, teachers + even little ones. This paper tape [also known as washi tape] has multiple uses + looks super cute.

06. Weekdāzed Date Art [$10] The gentlemen of Weekdāzed came up with the genius idea to create customizable works of art with the days that are important in your life. Births, engagements, wedding day, house closing date, the date of your final student loan payment, you get the idea.

07. Giant Microbes - Heart Warming Mini Microbe Box [$19.95] Want a unique gift for the med professional or scientist in your life? These mini microbes are a surefire way to make them smile.

08. Happy Valentine's Day 4-flavor Popcorn Tin [$29.99] The Popcorn Factory has made a two gallon tin with four flavors - butter, caramel, cheese + white cheddar. It sounds like a lot of popcorn, but once you start digging in, you'll see how fast it disappears. I'm trying to figure out how to drop the hint to Erich that I want this instead of chocolate this year.

09. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown [$9.96] Holidays aren't the same without Charlie Brown + the gang. If you have Amazon Prime, you can actually stream this for free!

10. POPRAGEOUS Girl Saves Boy Leggings [$65] Inspired by a piece created by street artist Banksy, these leggings would be a really fun piece to wear for your Valentine's Day date!

What are some fun items you have come across for Valentine's Day? Include links if you'd like, so other readers can check out your finds as well.

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Michael Kors Watch.

2013-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I really dig Michael Kors watches. My friend Kaitlyn is always talking about how much she loves her MK watch + in honor of Valentine's Day, she decided that a few of us should get together + give one away.

I've teamed up with these lovely ladies below to bring you this killer giveaway. We all voted + the watches above are our top choices - if you win, you get to pick which one you like the best!

1// Kaitlyn 2// Shanna 3// Emily 4// Stephanie 5// Robin 6// Kalyn

7// Samantha 8// Lisette 9// Kristyn 10// Jami 11// Courtney 12// Ashley

13// Erin 14// Hallie 15// Jessica 16// Kim 17// Michele 18// Rebekah

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. This contest is open to US Residents only. The giveaway will run from February 7 - February 13, 11:59pm EST + the winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

***All entries WILL be verified to make sure the winner has completed the entry.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Twenty-Two.

2013-01-31T22:48:00.001-05:00

According to the cheesy 80s flick, The Allnighter, "A babe in the kitchen is worth two on the beach." While some might disagree [especially if said babe in the kitchen burns water], you can't deny that a significant other who can cook is a plus. My mom whipped up a quick sweet treat that anyone can toss together!

Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter [I love Wilton cookie cutters]

Marble Pound Cake [or whichever type of loaf cake you prefer]

Whipped Cream [fresh, canned, or Cool Whip - your call]

Heart-Shaped Marshmallows [if you can't find them, order them]

1. Cut cake into three slices, about one inch thick;

2. Use cookie cutter to cut into heart shape; place cake on plate;

3. Put whipped cream on cake + spread to form a nice layer;

4. Put another piece of cake on top of whipped cream;

5. Repeat steps 3 + 4;

6. Put a dollop of whipped cream on top + place heart-shaped marshmallow on top;

7. Stuff your face like there is no tomorrow!

Super simple + delicious. Now you don't have an excuse to toss together dessert on Valentine's Day! If you have a fun Valentine's Day recipe or craft you'd like to share, contact me - I'd love to feature you.

Iron Craft '13 Challenge #2: Orange.

2013-01-30T00:32:00.001-05:00

Orange you glad I didn't say banana? Although that would be a fun creation, I'm glad I wasn't given anything too difficult to create just yet. Sarina + I both chose orange paint for this project, but went in two entirely different directions. Sarina went the route of spray paint on shoes, while I stared at the insane amount of paint chips I snagged at Home Depot, trying to figure out what the hell I should make.

Once we were in Sarina's craft room/dungeon/lair, I was trying to associate the colors to something. I had picked up a frame earlier at Wal-Mart + knew I'd be making some sort of wall art, but was still undecided. Then, it hit me. These reminded me of Harry Potter for some reason. So, we looked up HP quotes + decided on one that would be perfect for any mischievous person - HP lover or not!

Behold, a work of art. Total project cost under $5 + is insanely awesome. :)

Let's Be Friends, Week 3.

2013-01-29T18:40:00.000-05:00

To say that I've been behind on blogging is an understatement. I've been trying to get back into it [I told you that giveaway a day madness broke my blog bone]. I missed the second week of the Let's Be Friends link-up, but I'm back for week 3.

1. What is your favorite season?
I'm a fan of Autumn. The air is crisp, I can unpack my sweaters + take a walk with hot tea. Sounds weird, but its so soothing.

2. Favorite holiday?
Its a tie between Halloween + Christmas Eve. The build-up to both holidays is amazing. The decorations, the excitement in the air - not to mention the holiday treats.

3. Favorite type of weather?
Sun shining, with just a hint of a breeze. Cool enough to toss on a sweater, dress + a fun pair of leggings. Perfect for afternoon adventures!

If you decide to participate in Let's Be Friends, send me a link + don't forget to link-up over at Forward from the Heart!

January Cara Box Reveal.

2013-01-28T19:02:00.000-05:00

Last month, I posted about how I finally jumped on the Cara Box bandwagon. I loved it so much, I decided to participate in January as well! This month I was paired with Jody + Jennifer. While I did a bit of research to decide what to send Jody, Jennifer did her own digging to figure out what to get the girl who doesn't make resolutions for the new year.

I was super stoked to get my package in the mail + couldn't wait to see what Jennifer chose for me. The card was perfect, as I adore animals. As soon as I saw a Star Wars reference, I knew she had done her homework.

Erich was next to me when I was opening it + even HE got into it, which is surprising. Probably because he wanted some of the goodies she included. I had mentioned to Jennifer that although I wasn't making resolutions, I wanted to make a conscious effort to eat healthier. She sent me yummy snack mix + chocolate tea [a girl after my own heart]. She also sent me one of my favorite Burt's Bee's tinted lip balm, which is perfect, as my last one was in a hoodie + made friends with the washer + dryer [whoops]. She also snagged some awesome Star Wars goodies for me, too!

There was a small comic-themed Vader notebook [perfect to stash in my bag], a fun puzzle + my favorite piece of all - a LEGO Star Wars Yoda light key chain! She went above + beyond to pack my Cara Box full of goodies, which was the highlight of my week.

Make sure you swing by + say hi to all of these lovely ladies + don't forget to swing by Wifessionals to sign up for the February Cara Box!

Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Twenty One.

2013-01-24T21:00:00.000-05:00

Since Valentine's Day is only weeks away, I reached out to some of my blogger buds to see if they had anything up their sleeve for Cupid's celebration. Sally had an awesome idea + even gives you alternate creations for the rosettes you make. Enjoy!

When Michele asked if I would do a TMST for Valentines Day I was super excited and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I have the heart of a crafter but the skills of, well...not a crafter. I can't sew, crochet or knit, so I am pretty much limited to cutting and gluing. My FAVORITE craft to make are felt rosettes. I love the way felt looks and the rosette looks difficult to make but is so easy! Today I will show you how to make a felt rosette garland that combines my two favorite materials: felt and jute!

You will need:

2 sheets (at least) of felt

Jute

Crafters glue

Hot glue

Felt hearts (pictured but not used in the end product. I was going to add them with the rosettes but ended up liking the organic look of just the jute and flowers.)

How to make a rosette:

1) Cut your felt in half and then in 6 squares. To make smaller rosettes take one of those squares and cut in to 4 more squares.

2) Cut a circle from the square. SAVE the scrap(s), you will need them for the banner.

3) Cut a spiral into the center of the circle, about a half-inch wide. Leave a nickel-sized circle in the center. Snip the pointed tip that will be the inside of your rosette.

4) Starting with the outside of the circle begin to wind/roll the felt. When you reach the end the nickel-sized circle will magically fold over the back of the rosette. Use a generous amount of crafters glue to secure the circle in place. Make sure the glue has dried completely.

Boom! You have a felt rosette for a banner, wreath, hair clip or any where else you like!

Time to use your scraps! Cut circles (they don't have to be perfect) that are about the size of the back of your rosette. You will want this extra back for the banner project.

How to make the banner:

1) Measure the space that you would like to fill and cut a string of jute to size.

2) Lay the jute out and place your rosettes along the line where you would like them.

3) Squeeze a generous amount of hot glue on the back of your rosette. Carefully place the jute in the center of the hot glue and then top it with the circle piece of felt. Make sure it is fully attached.

4) Continue down the line until all of the rosettes are glued in place. Make sure the hot glue is cool and dry.

Hang your garland!

For more creative projects, recipes + fantastic fitness tips, head over to Sally's blog, Forward From The Heart.

Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Twenty.

2013-01-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Fellow blogger + sponsor, Melissa, brought to my attention that in Canada, January is Alzheimer Awareness Month. She asked if she could put together a TMST about the disease + I thought it was a fantastic idea!

As an advocate of Alzheimer’s Disease, I thought Teach Me Something Thursday would be a great opportunity to share some Alzheimer’s knowledge.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is essentially a brain disease where brain cells progressively degenerate. This irreversible disease results in the deterioration of thinking ability and memory.

Some important info:

There is currently no known cause or cure for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging
Alzheimer’s disease is not an ‘old persons’ disease - people in their 40’s and 50’s have been diagnosed
Memory loss is not the only sign of Alzheimer’s disease

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Memory loss that affects day-to-day abilities
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with language
Disorientation in time and space
Impaired judgement
Problems with abstract thinking
Misplacing things
Changes in mood and behavior
Changes in personality
Loss of initiative

More information and explanation on the warning signs can be found at The Alzheimer Society.

What can you do?

There is nothing you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease but you can do things to lower your risk, such as:

Challenge your brain. This would include playing games (ex. word puzzles, cards), learning a new language or instrument and even things like brushing your teeth with your left hand instead of right hand.
Be socially active. Engage with coworkers, volunteer or join a social group/club (ex. Rotary International, book club).
Healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy, exercising, reducing stress (ex. meditation, yoga) and regular visits to your doctor will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For more information, check out Brain Health and BrainBooster.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, please visit www.alzheimer.ca or your local Alzheimer Society/Association. Thanks to Michele for letting me guest post and teach you all a little bit more about Alzheimer's Disease.

Don't forget to swing by Melissa's blog, Dreams + Colour!

Iron Craft '13 Challenge #1: Cotton.

2013-01-16T20:39:00.001-05:00

I mentioned on one of the various social networks I utilize that I was taking part in Iron Craft '13 with Sarina. Since the first of the twenty-six challenges was cotton, I realized this one would be easier than I had anticipated. I had a slew of cotton bags lying around, so I brought some to Sarina's craft lair [she has a craft room - so jealous] + we decided to use the freezer paper stencil technique on the bags.

I was trying to figure out what to make + decided to make something seasonal + musical. Ummmm, what? It makes sense, I promise!

These bags = best craft store find of 2012. They're great for creating gifts for friends + family.

Sarina's assortment of paints. I bought a few to include in the box, as I'm always using her supplies.

So, I decided since Valentine's Day is soon approaching, I would make something that would be useful + cute! I used metallic red paint + iridescent paint, to keep it cute + simple. This is a natural cotton bag + I wanted to keep it simple, seeing as the other side had a bit more color.

My inner Beatlemaniac decided that using a simple line from "All You Need Is Love" would be perfect. Even those who aren't Beatles fans can enjoy this simple, yet beautiful message. I made the O's into hearts + added an extra one off to the side. I drew all of my stencils for this freehand, including all of the hearts.

The next week, we thought that we had start the next challenge, but realized that challenges are every two weeks. So, we decided to just have fun with the extra bags! I Didn't finish this bag, as I only did one side + still don't know what I'd like to add to it. Next time I'm in the craft lair, I'll figure something out!

Are any of you participating in Iron Craft? If you are, let me know - I'd love to see your creations!

Fashionable Frames for Free = Firmoo!

2013-01-13T20:47:00.003-05:00

Last month, I was contacted by Firmoo to see if I'd like to give their product a test run. At first, I had no clue what they were all about, but upon clicking the link to Firmoo.com, I realized that this was a site that sells glasses for reasonable prices, cutting out the middleman [eye doctor's office showroom with fancypants frames that cost more than you'd like to admit]. Since I've been wearing glasses since I'm three [which is 90% of my life], I'm used to the dog + pony show. I am also that girl who tries on twenty different frames + gets that look from the tech.

With Firmoo, I could try on as many frames as I wished with their Virtual Try-On System, without having to deal with a pushy salesperson. PLUS I had my glasses on while looking at the frames, which helps loads since I have a tricky prescription. So, for about an hour, I virtually tried on frames. Here are the four I narrowed it down to.

1 2 3 4

Note: I tried to keep a straight face while taking the picture without my glasses for the Virtual Try-On, to see how the shape would fare with my face. Sorry if I look weird, ha!

I decided to get the dark woodgrain frames [bottom right]. Seeing as the glasses were free, thanks to the first pair free program, I wasn't sure how long it would take to ship them, due to my pesky prescription. A few days later, I got an email stating that my frames were ready to ship. Ten days later, a padded envelope arrived with my frames!

As I opened the package, I noticed that there were two cases included - one hard + one soft. An eyeglass screwdriver + extra screws were also included, which is always great to have on hand. A fun, green soft cloth with the Firmoo logo was also in the hard case.

Before I tried them on, I was nervous that the prescription would be off. I don't know how many times I've had to go back to the optometrist to have them fix my lenses or the frames. Its super frustrating + its the reason why I only go there when necessary. Granted, Firmoo offers free exchanges + returns, so I had nothing to lose. When I put my new glasses on, I was amazed - prescription was perfect + they look fantastic! I've been wearing them non-stop since Thursday + have even shelved my beloved red Fendi frames [yes, I love them that much] I didn't even get that pesky headache I always get with new glasses - it was a miracle. I don't think I'll ever buy frames in-store again. The frames Firmoo offers are reasonably priced + fashionable, plus they also have sunglasses [yes, I already have my eye on a few].

If you have more questions regarding Firmoo's policies, the company itself or frequently asked questions, make sure to swing by the Help Center page - it has lots of useful links which answered many of my questions. Or, shoot me an email + ask away!

As I mentioned above, I received the frames free via the first pair free program, but this did not sway my opinion in any way, shape or form.

Lets Be Friends!

2013-01-10T21:33:00.000-05:00

My friend, Sally, decided to start a really cool link-up, called Lets Be Friends. I think its a great way to learn more about other bloggers + make some new friends along the way. This is the first week, so its an introduction of sorts, which is great, seeing as I have a bunch of new followers who probably want to know a bit about the girl behind the blog.

Age
I just turned thirty at the end of last year. So far, so good. I don't look my age + I'm often mistaken for a teenager, which is fine by me - it means that I'm aging well! ;)

Location
Long Island, New York. I was born here, but moved to Florida once I was in elementary school. After high school, I moved back for good. There is so much rich history here + so much to do. Plus, there's nothing like a summer drive on the island.

Fun Fact
During Summer 2007, I spent a month studying abroad in Italy! When I wasn't in class or relying on gelato as sustenance [rice gelato = best dessert ever], I was busy exploring + having a blast! We stayed in Rome for most of the trip, but adventured to Assissi, Capri, Florence, Tivoli + Venice.

Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Nineteen.

2013-01-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

The nineteenth installment of TMST comes from Allie, over at Little Mouse's House. She teaches us how to transform an outfit two ways: a peter pan collar, + a lace collar/pocket.

I've had a few pieces in my (and Norah's) closet that I've been trying to find the perfect sprucing-up project for. I liked this dress before, but i LOVE it with it's new doily peter pan collar! One of Norah's plain black t-shirts got a matching lacy collar as well. This is a super easy and cheap way to make old clothes new!

you will need:

a dress, shirt, sweater etc. in need of some sprucing up

doily and/or lace

needle and thread

straight pins

scissors

If using a doily, first cut it directly in half. Then, using straight pins, pin the doily or lace onto the collar as you please. I also added some lace detail onto the pocket of Norah's shirt.

Sew around the edges of the doily or lace. After I stitched the curved part of the doily, I folded over the flat edge to the underside of the dress and then stitch through both layers. Make sure you trim any stray threads or extra pieces!

And Finished! Now enjoy your new-to-you item of clothing!

Make sure to head over to Little Mouse's House for more fun projects [many are kid-friendly].

If you would like to contribute to Teach Me Something Thursday, please contact me. I take holiday submissions year-round + am currently booking for Spring 2013.

Currently.

2013-01-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

I haven't done a currently post in awhile, so I figured go a little picture crazy for this one!

Loving: my fun new Shwings! They're fun wings to accessorize your sneakers for some extra oomph. While I usually prefer to get my wings from a can of Red Bull, these pink sparkly beasts definitely dressed up my Nike Dunk Sky Highs rather nicely! I can't wait to test them out on my Neon Yellow Litas!

Making me smile: The awesome Lionel Richie Valentine's day coloring sheet I found! While bebesitting for my two of my favorite littles, I was looking for a holiday themed craft. I couldn't find the craft bin, so I decided to print out some fun coloring pages. I don't remember what I searched for, but when I saw this, I gasped + one of the cutest two-year-olds on the planet toddled over + asked what I was doing. I showed him, but he didn't understand it. I already gave it to Erich, because its amazing. You can find this gem over at Creative-Type Dad, because this dude seems to love Lionel just as much as I do [there are pages of Lionel goodness].

Patiently waiting for: the Wildfox SS '13 lineup, which is based on Clueless, which is one of my favorite movies ever. The collection launches sometime this month + I've been obsessively checking the site to see if its up yet.

Reading: Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby. I snagged a first edition hardcover, because I really dig finding the original books, because I feel that is truly the author's creation. Levin captured my attention when I read The Stepford Wives years ago + this has been on my reading list for years now. Better late than never, right?

Rockin' out to: Rooney's self-titled album. I have been in a hard-core nostalgia music mode as of late, so I revisited one of my favorite albums from ten years ago. Somewhere in my old room I have the old demos burned on a CD, along with a few of the old EPs.

Thinking about: what the next Iron Craft challenge will be. Week 1 was cotton, so Sarina + I used cotton totes I had lying around + made some fun stencils with freezer paper [Sarina created a freezer paper stencil tutorial, so make sure to check it out].

Watching: H2, which is essentially what the History Channel used to air - actual shows about history [instead of stupid reality shows that make me want to cry]. I pray that they don't pull an MTV2 + decide to switch from awesome programming to more heinous reality shows.

A big thank you to Danielle from Sometimes Sweet for passing on the idea for these fun "Currently" posts!

So This Is The New Year...

2013-01-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

... and I don't feel any different. - Death Cab for Cutie, New Year

For the last ten New Years, I have always played this song a few times the first week in January - its like New Year holiday music, if you will. I love older DCFC + Transatlanticism is my favorite album (you can snag a copy for under ten bucks from Amazon), so its often in rotation throughout the year as well. The opening lyrics stand true, though. I don't feel any different because the year has changed. If anything, I'm stuck in the previous year - it takes me a week or two to get into the habit of writing the new date on documents - I can't tell you how many times I would sign off on things at the beginning of 2012 + date them 2011 - I wouldn't realize it until someone pointed it out, either.

Same thing goes for birthdays. I never feel any different + it usually takes me a few months to start saying the correct age when people ask me how old I am. Since I recently turned thirty, this one was easier for me to remember, but I can't tell you how many times I would tell people I was 27 or 28, when I was actually 29. If I didn't realize what I said right away, Erich would joke that I was lying about my age.

I didn't make any resolutions (they're doomed from the start), but I did decide that over the course of the winter, I would attempt to drink less coffee, eat healthier, craft more + dress up more. So far, I have only been drinking tea, I have been eating healthier than normal (less candy now that my Haribo advent calendar has been demolished, but I just ate a slice of pizza that was leftover from dinner last night), I went to Sarina's last night to work on fun crafty stuff + I am attempting to break free of my usual winter attire - sweatpants, sweatshirt, Uggs + no makeup. As you can tell, its baby steps, but its better than nothing.

What Is Influenster?

2013-01-03T17:21:00.002-05:00

Recently, I have read many bloggers talking about Influenster. I decided to see what the big deal was. After waiting to receive an invitation [if you want one, comment with your email address + i'll send it over], I logged in + saw what the deal was.

Basically, you review products + based on your choices, Influenster sends you a VoxBox full of goodies [sample size + full-size] for you to review, or to pass onto friends or readers to review. Its totally free, which is awesome. I have seen VoxBox samples on other blogs, + to be honest, the goodies inside look better than Birchbox samples, which cost $20 a month. I was a faithful Birchbox girl for quite some time, but after I was sent expired products twice, with a generic email response back from the girl I was told to speak with, I decided that I wasn't going to give them any more of my cash. Plus, the last few boxes I got were crappy anyway.

Whats awesome is that Influenster doesn't want you to write a review praising the product if you think it sucks - they want to know why you're not a fan + why! Its also a great way to find out about a variety of items from folks that aren't being sponsored [some bloggers don't like speaking poorly of a product that they don't like - I, on the other hand, will tell you if I'm not a fan, because being honest is key]. As soon as I receive my VoxBox, I will share it with you all on here + yes, I will also be sending items to my readers, because sharing is caring!

If you are on Influenster, what do you think of it? If you're interested in joining, let me know + I will send you an invite!

Teach Me Something Thursday, Volume Eighteen.

2013-01-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the first TMST of the new year! The eighteenth installment is from Amber, the blogger behind My Three Bittles. Amber teaches us how to make play dough from ingredients sitting in your pantry! This is an excellent activity to develop fine motor skills in little ones [the teacher in me HAD to tell you that].

Hey guys, I'm Amber of My Three Bittles and today I'm going to teach you how to make play dough! YAY!!!!My kids got so super excited about this and spent FOREVER playing with it. So, let's make some play dough, shall we?! Yes. I think we shall. It's QUITE simple really, but I've been in such a "let's share" mood lately, that I thought I'd photograph the process and share with y'all.

So here we go:

You'll need:

1 c. flour

1/2 c. salt

1 tbsp. cooking oil

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 pkg. unsweetened Kool-Aid

1 c. water

Go on and mix up your dry ingredients into your pot. Then add the oil and water.

Cook over medium heat until mixture forms a ball.

Dump onto counter or wax paper and knead, knead, knead the Kool-Aid into it.

Then watch little hands play.

And sometimes your kid will be so grateful that he'll make you a play dough heart and melt your heart.

Visit My Three Bittles for recipes, crafts + everything else in between!

Peace Out, 2012!

2012-12-31T16:23:00.000-05:00

I have had mixed emotions regarding 2012. While a lot of pretty crappy things occurred [losing my job, death of my cousin, death of my aunt, flooded apartment, etc.], a lot of awesome things happened as well. I started this blog, made awesome new blog + pen pals, ran my first 5K, turned thirty, finished grad school + became a bit craftier. There is much more to be thankful for that I am forgetting, but if you stop by often + check out my Instagram, you know there has been lots for me to be thankful for this year, even through the hard times.

I'm not making any resolutions, but I plan on doing things throughout the year that will help make all areas of my life a bit sweeter. Thank you all for coming on this crazy journey with me! Here is to a happy + healthy 2013 for everyone on the planet.

Giveaway, Day 31: lauriebreaker.

2012-12-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

I can't believe the very last giveaway of 2012 is here! While I loved giving fun treats away to all of you, I am happy that this is over. I never realized how time-consuming this would be. Setting up the Rafflecopter, copying + pasting links, emailing people more than normal, tweeting like a beast, etc. It felt kindof spammy, but I wasn't going to go back on my word. The final giveaway comes from Laura, a reader + brand spankin' new sponsor of the blog. She's a graphic designer who has her own Etsy shop, stocked with fun cards + stamps, which are perfect for those of you who love snail mail [or have decided to send more in 2013].

One lucky winner will snag a rubber return address hand stamp - you can choose your design [Homestead, Nelson or Olson] - the Homestead stamp has additional options, which are shown in the lower portion of the photo below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway, Day 30: Bracelets by Cindi.

2012-12-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

This is the second to last giveaway, I can't believe it! This is the last giveaway from my pal Cindi for this year, but I'm sure she will be seen around here in 2013. This giveaway is fun, because YOU are going to have input on designing your two bracelets!

The winner will receive one of each style bracelet, but you get to choose the colors. Color choices are oatmeal, lavender, turquoise, ecru, pink [which are shown in the above picture, in order], along with black. You can choose the same colors for each piece, or go with two different ones - its totally up to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway