Still alive

Well, I haven't died yet. I'm still not enjoying being a single woman, but I'm surviving.

I've got tomorrow (Friday!) and one more week left of my job. So that's a BIG relief. Plus, I talked to a fellow editor today of a few of the local magazines and she wanted to be sure I'd still be available for some free lance writing! Yeah, side money.

Anywho, my biggest news of late is that a lady at my work and I have been working on getting all my old college-era t-shirts into a more-easily-movable format rather than a giant duffel bag full of wadded up shirts. So I culled through many of them and cut out the screens and she artfully and skillfully made them into a beautiful quilt.

It looks FAR better than any attempt at sewing I could have done and she's just so proud of it and has another piece for her portfolio of fine work.

Here's a few pics of how it turned out:






Plus, I've got some shirts we're going to turn into pillows to go along with it. I'm super excited. Let me know what you think!

And the winner is...

So, since no one seriously wanted recommend what to give up for Lent, I decided to consult my husband and we collectively decided to...

Ditch the TV!

That's right... 53 days of no television. No news TV, no reality TV, no primetime TV, and no sports TV. Nada.

We've agree video games are not included in the TV ban. However, we can't decide if DVD's are considered TV.

So, here's another chance to voice YOUR opinions. A poll, if you will... Is watching a movie on DVD considered watching television?

What's a girl to do?

It's that time again. Next Tuesday is Mardi Gras, which means Wednesday begins the season of Lent.

Despite being from a more Protestant background, I've give up something for Lent for probably about 12 or so years now. It all started when I did it to support a friend, but now I enjoy doing it for personal reasons.

In years past, I've given up things like fried foods, caffeine, ice cream, beef, and sodas.

So for this year, I'm wondering what could give up. Something I haven't done before. A possible list:

• All sweets
• TV
• All meats (minus fish - I need SOMETHING to balance out the diet)
• All drinks but water or milk

Any other suggestions? Any one you'd like to see me try to live without until Easter, March 23? (That's 53 whole days for you keeping count.)

Alas, I don't smoke - so I can't swear that off. Personal hygiene things like bathing, deodorant and teeth cleaning are nonnegotiable. Sleep is also a must. But I'm open to most other things. Feedback, please!

Holiday fun.

Okay, I know it's been awhile and all that jazz, but this will totally make up for it.

It's a video of the whole crew (minus the cat) doing a little holiday jig.

Watch it. PLEASE - it's great!!!

Just click here!

To be a kid again...

To commemorate the nation’s most beloved modeling compound, today has been named National PLAY-DOH Day. Yep, you read that right.

And while I don't get off work or get a bonus for National PLAY-DOH Day, it's one I thought I could celebrate and really enjoy. I LOVED Play-Doh as a kid, much to mother's dismay as it always seemed to end up ground into the carpet, gumming up the kitchen table and caked onto every single cookie cutter she owned. Oh well. It was fun.

Anyway, last year the beloved colored compound celebrated its 50th birthday.

According to Hasbro:

PLAY-DOH, the modeling compound that has been a childhood rite of passage since 1956, is responsible for ‘molding’ millions of young artists, sculptors and creative minds. National PLAY-DOH Day was created to honor the childhood staple that continues to captivate the imaginations of millions of children across the globe.

The story of PLAY-DOH modeling compound begins in 1956 when scientists at Rainbow Crafts, a Cincinnati soap and cleaning compound company, stumbled upon a new use for the unique dough-like cleaning product. The company realized this product’s potential as a child’s modeling compound; and thus, the original, reusable PLAY-DOH compound was born. Throughout the ensuing decades, the new toy celebrated many milestones.

One year after its introduction, three colors – blue, yellow and red – were added to the PLAY-DOH line. Later in 1958, the three colors and the original white were packaged as a 4-Pack. The 4-Pack still remains one of the brand’s best sellers today.

PLAY-DOH compound made additional strides in the 1960s and 1970s. In the ‘60s, two-ounce mini PLAY-DOH cans and the Fun Factory playset were introduced. Also in the ‘60s, PLAY-DOH compound expanded its distribution overseas. Then, in the 1970s, the all-time favorite Fuzzy PUMPER BARBER and Beauty Shop playset was added to the line, while the brand hit a milestone with the 500th millionth can of PLAY-DOH compound sold.

The next two decades brought even more PLAY-DOH compound fun. The Rainbow 8-Pack, that included four bright colors and the original four, hit shelves in the 1980s. In 1986, the packaging changed from a cardboard container to a tightly sealed, easy-to-open plastic container. The new container ensured a longer life span for the product. The ‘90s gave kids Sparkling PLAY-DOH compound and Glow-in-the-Dark modeling clay. Also, gold- and silver-colored PLAY-DOH compound, along with PLAY-DOH moldable soap were introduced for the 40th birthday of the brand in 1996.

:::WHEW::: That's a lot of PLAY-DOH info there for you. And the newest PLAY-DOH must have? How about some PLAY-DOH perfume. I guess it's to take you back to your childhood or attract your mate who can't resist the smell of the molding material goodness.

Now, my ultimate favorite thing about playing with the stuff - that would be the most awesomest set of Star Wars figures and molds, complete with Rebel fighter jet and a R2D2 mold. Now THAT is the ultimate PLAY-DOH fun.

Does anyone else remember that set? Or do you have another fond PLAY-DOH memory?

Choppity Chop

For those who've seen me - oh, let's say in the past two to three years - know my hair hasn't changed much.

It's been blond and the length has hovered right around the middle of my back.

Well, Saturday I did the deed and went and had it chopped.

No worries, this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment-let's-tick-off-the-husband thing. I'd discussed this with him a week or so ago, got plenty of hair magazines to dig through and found a cut I thought would be okay for my face shape and hair type.

I also had it dyed to my original color and added some blond highlights back in, but overall it's darker than it's been in a long time.

SO, all that to say, here's the end result. (I apologize for the fuzziness, but taking a self shot at my office is kinda tricky and the camera didn't focus all that well on me...)



Feedback please.

Double darn

So, this whole Blue photo thing... it's not just any photo... apparently, it has to be local.

Here's the contest verbatim... "Is there something blue in your city? How about your neighborhood? Your school? Maybe you own something blue? Whatever your blue is, it could win you tickets to see the Blue Man Group in the "Paint the Town Blue" contest! All you have to do is take a photo of yourself with, holding or wearing the most creative blue item you can find and submit your photo. Include your name and what the blue item is in the photo"

SO - no Jamaica pictures or my aquarium pictures... DARN.

So let's keep thinking and let me know what's something I can grab locally or make that's blue - without painting any of my pets.

And to just to show you some photos of non-local things I've taken that would have won, I'll post a few...

Thinking blue

"The sky was of the deepest blue, with a few white, fleecy clouds drifting lazily across it..." ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I need your help.

Our local paper is running a photo contest and I want to enter. Why? The prize is tickets to go see the Blue Man Group. And while you may not care, I'd LOVE to go see the group.

The catch? The photo naturally must be something blue. Preferably me or a person with the something blue.

So, what's out there that strikes your mind as photo-worthy and is blue? I need some creativity here.

And to help get you started, here's a couple blue things I've found...











I know, they're all very nice. But now it's your turn. What's something blue you know of or can think of that you know would make a great photo? Please, PLEASE leave me some feedback folks. I really am wanting to do this and see what I can come up with.

Think blue!