CraftyHope

Feel Good Friday

Hello, hello everyone out there in the blogosphere. I am about to head out on a road trip, but I couldn't leave you hanging. No, not on "Feel Good Friday".

I've got some other items that have been on hold for FGF, but yesterday I found a few things I couldn't wait to share.

It turns out that beer IS good for you. And all this time, I was drinking it just because it got me drunk!
And heck, if you're gonna drinks some beers, you might as well go on out to eat. Here are some tips on eating smart when dining out.
Lastly, if you just want a laid-back, easy-going kind of weekend. Get started with some calming, meditation sounds of the forest. There you go, breathe deeply.

Alright, I need to hit the road to go see my good friend Graystar in Oxford. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with good friends and fun too!

Thrifty Thursday

It's another “Thrifty Thursday.” Yet, I haven’t been able to get back to the thrift store since last week, so no new purchases to show today.

On a happier note, I have been in the craft room quite a bit more since I got the new table last week. While I really like the stools that came with the table, LOML* says that he wants to buy me an actual drafting chair that will be better for my back while working at the computer or crafting for long periods of time at that high of a table. That would be fantastic; he’s so sweet. I think he also wants to use the new stools at the bar in our kitchen, because the ones that came with the house are comfortable, but awful ugly, white metal stools that look straight out of an early 80s sitcom. Lovely!

Alright, for some thrifty goodness, since it is (after all) Thrifty Thursday. While I am apparently stuck on the subject of furniture, I’ll share this link to some very cool recycled urban furniture. This chair made from a grocery store buggy is my favorite in the set. What’s yours?

Oh drool! Anyway, that's about all the thrifty goodness I'm up for today. Later!

Crafty Obsessions - Watercolors

Have I ever mentioned how eclectic of a crafter I am? If I haven't, here's fair warning. I tend to jump from one medium to another fairly rapidly. The majority of the time, my pursuits come back 'round to jewelry-making. However, there are those few-odd crafts that I just can't seem to tie-in to jewelry. I become almost obsessed with that medium. I now plan on alerting you all when these interests shift (which could be on a daily basis, you never know.) In any case, I have been doodling on shrink plastic for a few weeks (jewelry -related) and suddenly, last night I switched to watercolors.

As a kid, I actually took a watercolor class. I remember nothing from it (other than it was at my eventual High School, in the biology building.) I bought a set of travel watercolors a few weeks ago and haven't really done anything with them. Last night, I got the fever. And today, during "thinking breaks", I've doodled and colored-in my doodles with watercolors. The flow of the paint has somehow ignited my flow of thoughts and I've been able to get some of the copy written that has had me stuck for a few days. CRAFTING sets my spirit free - or some such proclamation. Ah well, back to work.

Wild Wild Web Wednesday

I've still got a lot on my plate right now but do NOT want to neglect my blog obligations. As such, today's "Wild Wild Web Wednesday" is not completely thought out, but rather a simple list of the first several items I have saved for this topic. They are still completely awesome, and I hope you enjoy!

Gentlemen, did you know that more than being the 'freshmaker', mentos can boost your confidence with the ladies. Excellent!
Just so you know, this is how NOT to pull down a palm tree.
You could totally see that coming, right?
Check out this neat online jigsaw puzzle. It's not what you expect. I haven't had time to really try to solve it, but had fun messing around with it the other day.
I've never been into long distance relationships, but the kiss phone might make one a little more bearable. Can you imagine?
Lastly, check out these memorable movie scenes in legos. Wow!

Alrighty - that's all for now. Enjoy your 'hump day'!!

Lunch in Foley

I know, I know. . . I missed Made Me Smile Monday - I was reeeaaaalllly busy. Promise! I wouldn't let all my devoted fans down like that without a good reason. I still have my list of fun for you and may post it this evening if I have time. We'll see. I'm trying t get my house in order - it's a verifiable disaster.

I just want to (real quick like) share with you a picture from the Stacey Rexall Drugs in Foley, AL where I had lunch today. It's a cute little pharmacy and old time soda fountain. I had a chicken salad sandwich and a chocolate milkshake, AT the counter. How nostalgic. This is the sign above the milkshake machine (in front of the toy train that runs the circumference of the store's ceiling). If you can't see it, it says FIZZSICIAN. Ha!

Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER!!

Here are a few funnies for your Easter day!

Thrifty Thursday - Thrift Store E.S.P.

I know this is a late post for "Thrifty Thursday", but I've been busy.

See... Yesterday, I was directed to (and darnit if I can't remember from where) to the Art Studio Makeover group in Flickr. Looking at those amazing craft rooms and art studios reminded me of what bad shape my craft room is in. I've been crafting on a card table from a plushy armchair. The chair is about two - three feet lower than the table, making working there difficult. After looking through that Flickr group, I began to envision some of the changes I want to make and was compelled to check and see if Goodwill had any tables and chairs that would be useful. I've been really wanting a high table with a stool. So, as soon as I got off work, I headed to Goodwill. There, in all it's glory was the EXACT set I've been wanting. I will not mention the price (it was a bit steep for Goodwill), but the set is brand new and just what I've been picturing for my creative space. This is a picture of it in my living room.

I wasn't able to pick it up until this morning, so I've been antsy all day to get home and get it set up. That's why this post is late, I had to set it up first and foremost before my head exploded. Now, it (and I) are in my craft room, just soaking up the loveliness that is a table and chair that are the right height for each other. Whoopee for thrift store ESP!!

Now if I could only decide what I want my first project to be on it....sigh, decisions, decisions. Oh well, I hope all your thrifty visions came true too!!

Wild Wild Web Wednesday

I was slammed at work yesterday then had to help with my nieces in the evening, so I ran out of time to post. However, today is different - I just can't miss posting on a "Wild Wild Web Wednesday"

I've got another collection of randomness for you this Wednesday:

I'm hoping that when I eventually have kids, they are as amazing as this one-year-old reader.
Allow this 'online-looking store' page to load and you will be entertained. Of course, I am easily amused. I hope you like it too.
I've always thought candle scents were a little biased towards women. One company apparently thought the same thing when they came out with Manterns, the candles for men with scents like Hot Wings, Beer, and Sawdust. ~AWESOME!~
If that wasn't weird, check out these oddities that can be found only in Russia.
Lastly, can you recognize major cities just by their skyline? Take this quiz and guess the city to find out. I actually did better than I thought. You'll probably do better.

That's all for now. Let me know if you ever find any wild web pages that I can share. Now, go BE WILD!!

Made Me Smile Monday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

This is the four leaf clover pin I quickly made this morning

so I would have something green to wear.

I have SO MUCH for this "Made Me Smile Monday" post, I hope it's not overwhelming.

I've collected quite a few humorous pictures and since it's a holiday - I'm going to share them (for easy reading, you know!)

I was e-mailed a collection of funny bum signs, here are my favorites
Just a step above is this redneck mansion
This warning sign is pretty funny, but you'll have to go to the original post to fully understand of what you are being warned.
I just bought some girl scout cookies, but I would also buy from this seller
If I saw this sign, I would NOT know what to do.

Lastly, I smiled when I saw this post entitled Rainbows for Hope. It is St Patrick's Day and those rainbows can totally lead me to some leprechaun gold!!

Have fun, be safe!

100th Post

100th Post
Originally uploaded by CraftyHope

For my hundredth post (yes really 100-I can't believe it), I decided it was time you got to put a face to these random posts. So, here I am! Blah!

A Rundown of our Camping Adventure

Yes, that is the infamous LOML* on a little bridge
in the park where we camped.

I really wanted to post yesterday about my camping trip, but my cable was down and thus the internet at my house. By the time it was probably back up, I was in the middle of other things and couldn't get to it. As such, I am posting today. We had a really nice time with the RV and enjoyed it immensely. It was my first night EVER spent in a camper-trailer. The campsite was not that great but there were some great areas in the park.

We tried to hike, but the hiking trails were not clearly marked so we ended up traversing through a swamp. Later, we went canoing. I love to be on the water.

Then, we just sat around talking, eating, and drinking some beers.

LOML* and I ended up getting much more sun than we expected. Yet, I love to have a little tan on my face. It was a nice way to spend a weekend.

LOML*=Love of My Life