Lucky Find Designs

Help Music Save Lives

2010-05-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Music Saves Lives is a non-profit that is close to my heart. Even if I didn't work there it would still be something I back completely. The need for blood donations in our country is astounding.

- Evey 2 seconds someone in the US needs blood
- 1 blood donation can save up to 3 lives
- 40% of the US population is able to donate blood, yet only 2% do

Music Saves Lives has a goal of collecting 100,000 units of blood this summer. This will help them save up to 300,000 lives. We need tents in order to reach out to the youth of North America who will help us obtain this goal. We simply cannot afford the tents and are asking for your help getting them. As little as $5 can help us reach our goal. Can you help?

Please help us spread the word and put this on your blog too!

Tasty Tuesday - When life gives you lemons

2010-04-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

A friend gave us a bag full of lemons she picked from her back yard that screamed to be turned into fresh lemonade. They were so big and juicy I couldn't wait to cut them open!

This recipe is tart and tasty and would be perfect on a warm summer day, especially mixed with vodka...just saying :). Plus, since it uses Splenda instead of regular sugar it's basically guilt free!

1 serving = 2 cups

2.5 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup hot water
2 cups Splenda or Sugar (recipe is made with Splenda)
1 Gallon cold Water
1 lemon sliced thin. Cut slices in half

1. In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves.

2. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed.

3. Place cut lemon in pitcher. Pour into glasses filled with ice.

In the name of the Father

2010-04-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

My niece was baptized this past Saturday at our Church's Easter Vigil Service. A family friend let Deanna use her family's baptism gown from the 1840's.

10 Little Secrets

2010-04-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by my Cousin, so here goes...10 little secrets/possibly unknown facts about me.

1. I love reading other people's little secrets. There is something I find intreging about how truthful and genuine people are with these posts. I actually miss all of the "Getting to know you" posts people would put on Myspace.

2. I fell off a 40 ft cliff when I was 19, landed on sand a couple feet from a rock that could have killed me. I was put on a back brace, floated into the water, put on a boat, taken to harbor patrol, put on an ambulance and then taken to the hospital. I fractured my 5th lumbar, hairline fractured my breastbone and popped my pelvis like I had given birth to a large baby. I spent 3 days in the hospital, had to relearn how to walk, and used a walker for about 1 month.

3. I have been to every state except Alaska, the one I have wanted to go to the most since I was a little girl.

4. My nieces, Izabella and Abigail, hold a special place in my heart like no one else ever has.

5. The busier I am, the more often my keys get lost.

6. I love my job at Music Saves Lives and can't imagine working anywhere else.

7. I would rather read than watch TV, but never seem to have much time for either.

8. Playing card/boardgames with my friends is one of my favorite things to do.

9. I love being outside Bike rides and hiking are among my favorite activities

10. My friends often tell me I follow direction like a man. I'd rather try to figure something out myself than read directions.

If you read this and feel like playing along, please do so and leave a link in the comments so I can read yours.

A Little Delayed

2010-03-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

With all of the other fun things going on I've kind of become behind on posts. I meant to post this one a few weeks ago (when I took the pictures) but never did. So here goes...

I knew that when our seeds started to grow in their egg crates, Izabella and I would need to put them in something else before the ground. While eating my breakfast the idea hit me...Yoplait yogurt cups! They were just the right size and since I eat yogurt for breakfast every morning they would be pretty easy to get a hold of. So, I starting saving them, and saving them, and saving them...until I had about 20. I was even eating the desert flavored one's at night (not that I really mind with light flavors like Key Lime Pie and Red Velvet Cake). I also thought I would turn them in to an art project for Izabella and have her paint/decorate them.

After Izabella painted them, I poked 3 holes into the bottom of each for draining.

The reason we used newspaper under our paint area :)

After they were dry we filled them with dirt

We used dirt from our backyard and found some fun bugs along the way

We also put sticky backed felt stars on each one. On the stars I put the first letter of each veggie so we would know which was which.

Since this picture our plants have become HUGE and we will be transplanting them into the ground tomorrow. I will post about that soon...

Monsters for Friends

2010-03-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

While flipping through the JoAnn's mailer that came in a few weeks I ago I spotted ADORABLE monsters made out of fleece. I asked Izabella if we should make them, of course she said yes. We decided we would also make one for our friend, Hannah, and my Niece, Abigail, so we headed to the store. We weren't able to find the pattern at the store so I decided to do draw them.

Izabella picked out the fabric (Popsicle for her friends and princess for hers), face parts and what each monster would look like. She also helped me stuff each of the monsters with "snow".

Monsters in a Tree

Monsters in a bush

Hannah with her monster

Abigail with her monster

Izabella with all the monsters (her's is in the front)

Tasty Tuesday - Sweet and Savory Roasted Almonds with a Little Spice

2010-03-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make my own fuel giving snack for all of the hiking my family did this past weekend in Joshua Tree and this is what I came up with. I ended up adding some raisins to give it a little bit more sweet. It was a huge hit!

1/4 cup = 1 serving

2 cups whole almonds
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp Splenda brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Spread on a baking sheet and place in oven for 10 minutes.

4. Wait until cool, and mix together once more.

Separate into 8 individual bags, or leave in 1 big bag, and store for a great snack all week long.

*Don't want the heat? Just take out the cayenne pepper :)

**Want a little something more? Add raisins after the almonds are done cooling. (these are not added in the nut. into)

4th Annual trip to Josuha Tree

2010-03-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

Every year my family takes a weekend trip to Joshua Tree to enjoy some of the beauty Southern California has to offer. This year was our 4th year. 22 people came - our biggest group so far. We're already planning how to make next year bigger and better!

At one of our favorite restaurants in 29 Palms, The Carousel

Barker Dam. We had NEVER seen this much water there before!

Petroglyphs near Barker Dam

My Dad and me on our way through Rattlesnake Canyon to the waterfalls

Family friends, Jon and Jennifer, and the first set of falls

The second set of falls

The whole groups for dinner at Edcahadas in 29 Palms

My crazy family

There's more pics of our trip here

Over The Weekend

2010-03-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

I remember spending hours and hours and hours and hours at Irvine Park when I was younger. Hiking, paddle boat rides, birthday parties, bike rides, the little zoo, feeding ducks...We went this past weekend for a quick little trip. While most of the "attractions" were already closing down for the day, Izabella had a great time learning about peacocks and playing at one of the many jungle gyms.

How Does You Garden Grow?

2010-03-10T10:16:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the garden we had every year growing up and my cousin, Stephinie at Gypsy Forest, Izabella and I have started a backyard garden. Nothing too big or fancy since we don't have a lot of room. Our little area (that already has a trellis behind it!) will have cherry tomatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, cucumbers and maybe some watermelon.

We started our seeds out in cardboard egg crates using soil that was already in our backyard.

Since we didn't have a way to do type markers, I marked the top of eat crate with the first letter from the veggie's name and an arrow pointing to the side it was planted on.

She kept wanting to pour the ENTIRE packet of seeds into each little cup :)

Pushing the seeds in

A completed tray!

We water them with a spray bottle a couple times a day.

They're starting to grow!!

Since it's been really chilly here at night we are currently taking the seeds in and out of the house each morning and night. Izabella loves checking on them. When we had our first sign of life she was SO excited! She loves petting the leaves and talking to her plants, telling them how pretty they are. She started doing this all on her own. I love the kind hearted nature of this kid!

We will be transplanting them into empty, painted and decorated yogurt cups soon. I can't wait to show you those!

Tasty Tuesday - Mini Egg Frittatas

2010-03-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

While messing around on Twitter this week I came across this recipe created by What's Gabby Cooking. As someone who spends a lot of time on the go I truly appreciate the Grab-And-Go breakfast. I made a few changes to the original recipe to fit my taste. They came out super tasty and were perfect for my dash out the door this morning. I hope you grab one some morning soon!

Happy eating!

I used the BIG HUGE muffin pan that we have which means

1 Frittata - 1 serving

1/2 red bell paper, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
4 oz zucchini, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
9 eggs (I used egg whites)
5 large mushrooms
1.5 tbsp olive oil for drizzling (I used spray)
Salt and pepper to taste

Spray Oil
Muffin Pan
Wax Paper

This recipe entails a lot of dicing (something I'm not very good at/fond of). To make it easier and faster I love using one of these choppers. It's by far my favorite kitchen gadget we have and I use it every time I can for almost every veggie I eat.

It makes everything perfect, evenly cut squares that my OCD self just loves

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large 10 inch skillet heat the olive oil on medium high. Saute the zucchini, onion, mushrooms, and red and yellow peppers for about 5 minutes until they are slightly soft. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Add the sauted vegetables to individual, lined muffin molds. I also sprayed mine with a little olive oil to help prevent them from sticking.

5. In a seperate bowl wisk the egg whites and salt and pepper. Add equal amounts to each mold.

6. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until eggs are completely set.

Great served Hot or Cold. Microwave for a few seconds to reheat if desired.

Tasty Tuesday - Tons o' Veggie Vegetable Alphabet Soup

2010-03-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

I missed the past few weeks with recipes because the things I was making didn't turn out very good. But I have a good one this week that I'm really happy about it. Plus, I really like the sounds of "Tasty Tuesday" over "Recipe Wednesday" so I'll be posting new recipes on Tuesday now.

The website that I'm using for weightloss, SparkPeople.com has a recipe website as well called SparkRecipes.com. I've really been wanting a hearty veggie soup lately so I started looking on there. While I found some REALLY good one's I decided that I wanted to make my own, picking and pulling from the things I liked in those. I also added some few things too, which makes this recipe pretty much my own!! As I've said before I'm not really good at coming up with my own recipes so this is great! I'm starting to feel more courageous with me cooking :).

This recipe made a TON of food and totally overflowed my crock pot so I had to transfer it to a big pot!

One of the things I really like about using SparkRecipes is that they calculate all of the nutritional info and give the per serving breakdown (which is what I post with each recipe on here).

Here's my recipe for Vegetable Soup! Happy eating!

1 serving = 2 cups (recipe will make 8 servings)

- 28oz can diced tomatoes

- 32oz vegetable/chicken/beef broth (recipe uses veg)

- 3 cups water

- 3 large carrots, diced

- 2 stalks celery, diced

- 1 medium onion, diced

- 1.5 lb red potatoes, diced

- 1 leek, sliced (white part only)

- 1 tsp fresh thyme

- 5 cloves garlic

- 3 tsp Mrs. Dash Table Blend (or your favorite seasoning)

- 1 zucchini, chopped

- 2 cups peas

- 2 cups corn

- 2 cups green beans

- 1 bay leaf (1/2 tsp crushed)

- ½ cup alphabet pasta (or similar small pasta/rice)

1. Combine broth, water, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, leek, onion, thyme, garlic, Mrs. Dash, and bay leaf in a large crock pot. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.

2. Add corn, zucchini, peas, and green beans. Stir well, recover and continue cooking on high for 1.5 hours. (This is when I had to move mine to the bigger pot. I cooked it on a medium/high level)

(OVERFLOW!!!)

3. Add pasta, cover and cook for another 15mins.

Serve in a bowl and enjoy! Perfect for warming tummies on a cold day!

*If you used a full bay leaf remember to remove it before serving.

**I served with french bread that I sprinkled some freshly grated Parmesan cheese on and toasted.

Don't Just Eat Them!

2010-02-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

Having a 3 year old living in with me has brought out a very silly, crazy, and creative side I haven't seen in myself for a while. I have found myself trying to think of ways for her to express and nurture her creativity...not that she needs much help.

Here's the first one...I will be posting more of our projects as they manifest.

The other day my Mom came home with Girl Scout Cookies. Something I love (so yummy!!) and truly are a part of who I am (I sold about 350 boxes every year for about 11 years). As my Mom was flattening the boxes to throw them away I found myself getting an idea and yelling, "Don't throw those away yet!" She looked at me with a "What the heck" expression and very hesitantly asked, "Why?" to which I stated very matter-of-factly, like there was nothing bizarre about what I was about to say, "I'm going to turn them into shoes for Izabella." Once again I get the "What the heck" look to which I replied, "Trust me. It'll be rad and she'll love it!"

As the night went on I kept thinking about how I was going to do this. The first idea was to cut a hole the size of her shoe and then put string across it like a strap to keep them on. I didn't like that idea, so I thought about just cutting a slit the width of her shoe. That didn't work because she couldn't get her foot all the way in. So I cut the back part of the slit into something that looked like a capitol D and it worked!

Make sure you take the cookies out and tape the opening of the box closed before cutting!

To get the shaped I basically cut around the back half of her shoe leaving a little extra room. They fit perfect and she was off! Laughing the entire time!

They were a little difficult to walk in and definitely slippery on the tile floor, but she got the hang of it pretty quickly. We are taking her ice skating for the first time on Saturday and told her it would be slippery like her cookie shoes. She's been wearing them around the house working on her skills and telling us she's "Practicing her ice skates."

Upside Down Girl

2010-02-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

When you're three years old having someone hang you upside down might possibly one of the best things in the whole wide world. When that person is your Auntie and she also pretends you've disappeared while swinging you around the room looking for you, it might make it that much better.

Etsy Finds and a Lost Wallet

2010-02-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

This past Friday I cleaned out my purse while waiting for a friend to get a delicious mid-afternoon ice cream treat. When she got there I got up and threw all the trash away. I distinctly telling myself NOT to throw away my wallet and put it in my purse. The next morning I woke up with a ~~terribly~~ ~~nasty~~ horrendous cold (that I still have) and didn't leave my house. Sunday I picked up my purse to go grocery shopping and it feels surprisingly light. I looked inside and my wallet is GONE! I searched the entire house, my room, car, bathroom (hey, you never know), and anywhere else I could think of. It's no where to be found! I called the ice cream shop and they didn't have it either! I quickly checked my credit/bank card accounts and none of them have been used (thank goodness!).

It's now Wednesday and I still have no idea where the darn thing went! I ~~may be~~ am most definitely losing my mind...sigh.

Anyhow, all of my cards have been turned off and replacements have been ordered. It was the best wallet I've ever had...simple, classic and, well, perfect.

The plus side - losing it means I get to go shopping for a new one! I decided to support handmade, naturally, and will be buying my new wallet on Etsy. After spending most of the morning looking, I have decided to go with this one from LBaccessories. She is even going to do a little customizing for me (making the leaves all the darker green color)! I can't wait to get it in the mail!!!

How I Spent My 4 Day Vacation Part 2 - Elephant Seals in San Simeon

2010-02-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

As briefly talked about in this post, here's the pictures/info from visiting the Elephant Seals in San Simeon, CA last weekend.

First, I had no idea there were Elephant Seals anywhere close to California. For some reason I have always thought of them as mammals that would only live in the Antartic, Alaska or somewhere super cold like that. So when I found out from a work friend that we could see these giant beasts up close I was really excited to make it part of our Pismo Beach trip.

For those of you not familiar with the area, Pismo Beach is about 15 minutes south of San Luis Obispo, and San Simeon is near Hearst Castle and about a 45 minute drive north along the coast of California. Due to all the rain we've been having, the hills are lush and green which truly made for a gorgeous site! Unfortunately I was driving so I wasn't able to take pictures of the beauty.

The different sizes of Elephant Seals. The largest is a full grown male, middle is a full grown female, and smallest is a juvenile/sub-adult.

We happened to be there are one of the best times!We were able to see them in all stages, feeding and even some mating!

There were SO many, almost every inch of sand was taken!

A lot of them had what seemed like a cold. They kept sneezing which would make their entire body jiggle.

The full grown males are HUGE! About 7-8 feet! The smaller one's surrounding this one were sub-adults.

This guy was really talkative! Did you know their noises sound like a human burping/farting? Izabella found this hilariou...OK, OK so did I haha.

They get itches on their flippers

And flip sand on their backs. We aren't sure why, maybe to help keep them warm?

Nursing

A little tiff

This guy was chasing after one of the females and started mating with her. It sure was a site! With all the "yelling" and biting it was interesting trying to explain to a 3 year old what was happening. Oh the questions she asked!

Kisses for the mama :)

And a BIGGGGG stretch

We had a great time checking out the Elephant Seals. If you ever find yourself in the area I definitely recommend making the trip to check them out!

Recipe Wednesday - Fast and Easy Chicken Teriyaki Burgers

2010-02-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to order when I go to Red Robin or Island's is their Teriyaki Burger. I love the tang of teriyaki with the tart of pineapple together. A year or so ago I was really craving one but didn't have the money to go out to eat so I decided to see if I could make one myself and it came out darn good! I have since played with the recipe a little bit and have it pretty much perfect (I think).

One of the things I have played with is the bread. I started out using just regular wheat bread, then moved to wheat burger buns. However, since Oroweat has come out with their new 100% Whole Wheat Sanwhich Thins they are the only thing I've been using. They are super tasty and only 100 calories! We have started using them in our house for everything from burgers to sandwiches to mini pizzas. Happy cooking!

1 serving = 1 burger (recipe will make 2)

* 2 Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins
* 1 8oz chicken breast
* 1/2 cup chopped romaine lettuce (or lettuce of choice)
* 2 canned Pineapple slices
* 2 tbsp Light Miracle Whip or Mayonaise
* Teriyaki Sauce
* 1/4 cup shredded low moisture part skim mozzarella

1. Poke the chicken a couple of times on each side and marinate in 1 cup teriyaki sauce for about 30 minutes. (This is optional. If you choose not to marinate then put some sauce in the pan while cooking chicken)

2. Lightly coat a frying pan with spray oil and cook chicken. To get extra moist chicken, cook at high temp for about 3 minutes on each side. Then reduce to medium heat, cover and cook on eat side for 5 minutes or until done)

3. While cooking chicken toast your buns (this is optional). Once they are done lightly apply 1tbsp to each bun (this is for the whole burger so split the 1tbsp between the two sides of each bun). Pour about 1tsp of teriyaki sauce onto each side of bun.

4. Place pineapple ring on 1 bun and romaine on the other.

5. Cut the chicken breast in half horizontally. (You can either put the cheese on top of the breast while in the pan, recover and let melt and then move to bun OR put the chicken on the lettuce side of the bun and then cover with cheese.)

6. Place one bun on top of the other and enjoy!

*** To mix it up try adding some red onion or avocado. These two ingredients are not included in Nutritional Information

How I Spent My 4 Day Vacation Part 1 - Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach

2010-02-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

Every year from November - February the monarchs migrate and make the Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove a stopping point. We have visited at times were tree branches were almost falling off the trees from the weight of all the monarchs! My Mom, Sue, Izabella, and myself decided to make the trip this weekend to check it out. Unfortunately, due to weather, most of the butterflies have moved on from area already and there weren't too many left. We did learn that the best time to go is in Dec. and are already planning our trip!

Pismo Beach is known for their clams. All around the city there are GIANT clams that are painted/decorated by local artists for each major holiday/event in the area.

Flooding from the rain that made it difficult to see the monarchs that were still there.

(can you see it?)

(Oh look! There's TWO!)

(If you click on this one you can tell it's a monarch)

There is a trail you can follow out to the ocean. Near the end of the trail there were a bunch of really cool trees so we stopped for a little photo shoot and to play in the water.

The water was SO cold!

Popping seaweed pods

Izabella used my "big girl camera" to take her first "big girl camera" picture

Later in the day we drove an hour north, to the San Simeon area, to check out the Elephant Seals and I'll be posting more on that later this week.

Have You Ever Seen A 3 Year Old Run??

2010-02-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

Especially when she...

Is trying to keep her unzipped jacket on

Has been cooped inside for 2 days due to traveling and rain

And is REALLY excited to "see" butterflies for the first time?

This is something what it looks like. A video would do it better justice but hopefully this gets the picture across pretty well. She wasn't just running, she was doing this weird booty wiggle/gallop thing that had Sue and I almost falling over in laughter.

More on the butterflies and the other adventures we had this past weekend coming soon.

Recipe Wednesday - Deanna's Banana Raisin Bread

2010-02-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

With all the people in my life that love to cook I think it would be fun to showcase them, and their recipes, once a month. This one comes from my step-sister Deanna, also known as my niece's Mom. She is a very creative cook who isn't afraid to try new things and have fun with what she makes.

This is one of those recipes that is never made the same way twice, yet is always super moist and delicious...you can add nuts, take out the raisins, not put the brown sugar on top...however you like it! After the recipe check out a quick interview with Deanna. Happy cooking!

Deanna's Banana Raisin Bread

1 serving = 1 slice

* 2 cups flour

* 5-6 medium bananas (about 2 1/3 cups mashed)
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1 tsp nutmeg
* 1 tsp allspice
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup raisins (optional)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350degress. Mix flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice in a large bowl.

2. Cream butter and 3/4 cup brown sugar in a small bowl

3. Beat 2 eggs in a separate small dish

4. Peel and mash bananas in their own dish as well (it helps if you have the best banana masher ever help you)

5. Add the eggs, butter mixture, vanilla, bananas, and raisins to the dry ingredients and mix well.

6. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 9x5 bread pan and crumble remaining brown sugar on top.

7. Place in oven and back for 60 - 65 minutes.

8. Slice into 12 pieces and serve.

***For an added bonus, try toasting your piece before eating it...soooooo tasty!

Meet Deanna

1. Tell us about yourself:

I am a single mom and a part time student. I love being a mom and all the hard stuff that comes with it. I love food. I love to cook and make yummy meals.

2. Why do you like to cook?

I love to create. The best thing about cooking is you get to eat what you create. I love to experiment with recipes. It is so much fun. The more I cook the better I become at it.

3. Your favorite thing to cook:

I love to bake, but my favorite thing to make is meatloaf. Using my hands is the best part; getting it all in the perfect texture. I wouldn't be able to tell if I was mixing it with a spoon.

4. Your favorite type of food?

Mac and cheese for sure. I love homemade mac and cheese. I have not found the perfect recipe yet but I am working on perfecting one! (Side note: I can't wait to try it when she does...and I'll make sure you share it with you all!)

5. Anything else you'd like to add?

You won't know if you are a good cook unless you try. So get up and try sometime. Also taste something before you serve it to other people; sometimes it just needs a little something else that was not on a recipe.

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial

2010-01-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago while wondering around LA waiting for an event to start my friend Marie and I stumbled upon a really cool statue of firemen that was near a firehouse (I forgot to take a picture of it, of course!). While talking to a lady outside we learned the it was actually a museum dedicated to the firemen of Los Angeles with a 9/11 exhibit upstairs. We did have time to go through the 9/11 part, but these are some of the things we saw inside. For more information on the museum, click here.

(This was from the kitchen of the original firehouse. Click for it to get bigger)

(The first suit used in LA. It reminded us of the Haz Mat guys in Monsters Inc. )

(Who knew these things were SO big??)

Recipe Wednesday - Chicken Pasta Bake

2010-01-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Chicken Pasta Bake is a recipe that my friends and family love. I'm really proud of this one because I came up with it all on my own! Not that that difficult of a recipe, but I'm not very good at "winging it" when it comes to cooking. It's pretty easy for a fast week night meal when the kids are screaming and there just isn't enough time.

This recipe will easily serve 4 people and leave them feeling nice and full.

* 8oz Penne Rigate Pasta (you can use any kind you like)
* 2.5 cups Prego Marinara (you can use any kind you like)
* 2 thawed boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 1 cup shredded Mozzarella
* Your fave seasoning salt

1. Preheat oven to 350degress

2. Cook pasta as directed on packaging.

3. Pound chicken breasts until about 1/2" thick. I've found that pounding my chicken it look bigger, in turn making people (including myself) think they are eating more than they really are...oh the tricks we can play on our minds :)

4. Lightly season your chicken with the seasoning of your choice and place it off to the side.

(sorry this one's blurry)

5. When your pasta is ready, strain it and rinse if desired. Dump pasta into a medium size baking dish and add sauce. Mix together well. You want to make sure your pasta is well coated with sauce since it will absorb some while baking. Place your chicken breasts on top of the pasta/sauce mixture.

6. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Covering the dish will keep the pasta from drying out and make your chicken extra moist.

7. Once the chicken is cooked, turn the oven off, remove the dish from the oven and remove the aluminum foil. Cover the chicken with mozzarella and place it back in the oven. Keep the oven turned OFF.

8. Once the cheese is melted (about 5 minutes) take the dish back out of the oven, serve and enjoy! (I forgot to take a picture of my finished product...oops!)

New Bike Basket Liners!

2010-01-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because of allllll the rain we've had lately...maybe it's because spring/summer are my favorite season...or it could just be the fact that I really like making them...

Whatever it is, I have added 5 new bike basket liners to my Etsy store this week. Head on over, check 'em out...maye even pick one up for you or a friend if you feel the urge ;).

A Basket of Cherries

El Corazon

Fiesta Skulls - Green

A Watermelon Kind of Day

Fiesta Skulls - Purple

Life's A Beach

Oh Baxter, My Baxter

2010-01-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

Meet Baxter; the 4th dog my family has had during my life time. We got him from the OC Animal Shelter in June 2006. He's a Pitbull/Beagle mix and the funniest dog we've ever had.

When it comes to toys, Baxter's favorite is a rope toy by far. He likes to pounce on it like he's a cat. He has "upstairs toys" and "downstairs toys" and he decides which goes where. If he's downstairs and done playing with a toy, he will take it upstairs and bring a new one down to play with. He also loves taking naps in front of our living room space heater trying to get warm.

However, Baxter's arch nemesis is loud noises. Firetrucks...fireworks..rain storms...he hates them all. He hates them so much he tries to get out of our backyard. As many of you know we had some CRAZY rainstorms in So. Cal. this week. Tuesday was the worst with tornado warnings and flooding. When we got home from work that night we found out exactly just how much Baxter hates rain storms. This lovely hole leads to our neighbor's backyard and while it isn't big enough for him to get through, it sure is ~~lovely~~ ~~pretty~~ amazing.

We will be getting the fence fixed this weekend. In the mean Baxter will continue hate the rain that's beating down on So. Cal. (as I type) keeping him from smelling the sidewalk.

Recipe Wednesday - Herb Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables

2010-01-19T23:31:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh chicken; my favorite meat by far. There was a brief 6 month period of my life where I was a vegetarian and chicken was the thing I missed most. In fact, it was practically the only meat I ate for 10(ish) years of my life! Through eating all of that chicken I had never cooked a whole chicken until this recipe and I am quite pleased with how it came out. Just like last week's recipe, this one is from "Cook This, Not That. Kitchen Survival Guide".

* 2 clovers garlic, minced
* 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano, basil OR sage (you only need one of these. If you do dried, use 1 tsp instead. I used thyme)
* 1 lemon
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 1 whole 4lb chicken (make sure it's completely defrosted)
* salt and black pepper
* 1 large russet potato, sliced into 1/8" rounds
* 2 onions, quartered
* 4 large carrots cut into large chunks (I did 2 BIG handfuls of baby carrots)

1. Preheat oven to 450degrees. Mix garlic, selected herb, lemon zest, juice of lemon, and half the olive oil in a bowl.

2. Working on the chicken, gently separate the skin from the flesh at the bottom of the breast and spoon in half the herb mixture; use your hands to spread it around as thoroughly as possible. Spread the remaining half over the top of the chicken and season it with plenty of salt and pepper.

3. Mix the potato, onions, carrots, remaining olive oil, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange the vegetables in the bottom of a roasting pan and place the chicken on top, breast side up. Roast 20 - 30 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned.

4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350degress and roast for another 30 minutes or so. The chicken is done when the juices between the breast and the leg run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted deep into the thigh reads 155degrees.

5. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve with the vegetables.

Overall, I am very happy with how this came out. However, next time (to save some cals/fat) I might try this with 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken.

Here's the nutritional info (provided by the book)

Servings per recipe = 4

Cal = 420
Fat = 10g

Saturated Fat = 2g

Sodium = 610mg

I introduce to you...Mr. & Mrs. Ken Welle

2010-01-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

This past Friday my step-brother got married to the love of his life...and someone I am pleased to now call part of my family, Adeena! The two of them met while working on Fantasmic at Disneyland about 3 years ago (I think) and are definitely well suited for each other. The way they laugh and play together is something that needs to be seen with your own eyes.

I couldn't be happier for the both of them and wish them MANY years of fun, laughter and success.

I love you guys!

For more pictures and a video of the garter toss, click here

Recipe Wednesday - Dr. Pepper Ribs

2010-01-12T23:52:00.000-08:00

On my quest to a healthier lifestyle/losing weight, and becoming a better cook, I took some of the money I received as Christmas presents and I bought myself a couple of cookbook type books. Two of books I purchased were from the Eat This, Not That! series. The first being a guide that helps with what to buy purchase/stay away from in the grocery store "Eat This Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide" and the second "Cook This, Not That! Kitchen Survival Guide". The following recipe is from the "Cook This, Not That" book and while it probably wasn't the healthiest thing I could have eaten for dinner, it was a heck of a lot healthier than the Outback Steakhouse Ribs it is compared to and well, I feel every diet should have a "Free Day". Plus, they were REALLY good!

So here it is, the recipe for Dr. Pepper Ribs:

* 2 racks baby back ribs (I don't like pork so I used beef instead)
* 1 bottle (2 liter) Dr. Pepper (you need to use regular, not diet. The sugar will help caramalize the meat plus, you aren't really going to consume the Dr. Pepper; it's more for flavor and even though you use it in the sauce it takes the place of brown sugar and maple syrup)
* salt and black pepper
* chili powder
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 tbsp canola or veggie oil
* 1/2 onion, minced
* 1 clove garlic, minced
*1/2 cup ketchup
* 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
* 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
* 1/8 tbsp cayenne pepper

1. Place the ribs in baking dish large enough to hold them comfortably. Pour in enough soda to cover, saving at least 1/2 a cup for the barbecue sauce. Add 1/4 cup salt and soak for 2-24 hours in the fridge. (I did mine for 24 hours).

2. Preheat your oven to 350degrees. Remove the ribs from the liquid and pat dry; discard the liquid. Place 1 cup of water in the baking dish. Sprinkle the ribs with chili powder and return to the baking dish. Cover the dish lightly with foil and bake for 2 hours until the meat is tender and nearly falling off the bone.

(I made A LOT of ribs since friends were coming over and the oven wouldn't close! I came up with the idea of covering the open area with aluminum foil and it worked! Scotch tape was used on the sides to keep the foil in place.)

3. While the ribs are in the oven, make the barbecue sauce. Heat the oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic until they are soft and fragrant, then add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, cayenne and reserved 1/2 cup of Dr. Pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce thickens.

4. Heat a grill until hot. Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and grill for 15-20 minutes rib (less meaty) side down on a cooler part of the grates. Flip over and cook on the other side until lightly charred and smoky.

(Justin helped me with this part and I think he cooked them a little too long :). It's OK though, we like 'em charred 'round here)

5. Remove from the grill, brush with more sauce and serve.

I served mine with a potato dish (from the same book that didn't come out right...oops!) and a mixed veggie salad. The ribs were definitely the BEST part of the meal and I can't wait for them to come up on the "Free Day" schedule again!

Here's the nutritional info (provided by the book) if you make these with pork. I made mine with beef and wasn't able to figure that one out.

Servings per recipe = 4

Serving Size = 1/2 rack of ribs

Cal = 490

Fat = 19g

Sat Fat = 3.5g

Sodium = 900mg

Resolutions...

2010-01-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone posts their resolutions this time of year. While I know what my resolutions/goals for 2010 are it took me a bit to be ready to post them on the internet for the whole world to have access to. I have a problem with making long term goals and feeling let down if I don't keep them. So by posting them here it makes me feel like I have to keep them or I will be letting someone down besides myself...which a lot of "people" say is a good thing to do. I've decided to try it and see what happens. So, here they are (in no particular order):

1. Continue being the best me I can be (this is something I started in 2009 and plan to continue).
     a. This year this will include losing weight. I want/need to lost about 60lbs. About a 2 years I joined www.sparkpeople.com and lost close to 20lbs on their program with diet and exercise. Then, I met a guy, fell off track and gained it all back. Well, I know I can do it and I plan to complete my goal this time! I have bought "The Spark" and a few "light cookbooks" and already started reading/using them. If you are looking to get healthy, I fully recommend SparkPeople and the great program they have set up.
    b. Exercise 3 times a week (rather it's walking, swimming, pilaties class, or a full workout at the gym I need to get this butt moving)
   c. One soda a day. I NEVER drink "whole"soda, only diet. However, I know that still isn't good for me but it's the only way I get caffine so I'm thinking 1 day isn't really going to be all that bad. I might just drop it all together. We'll see what happens.

2. Be more open to new people, ideas and things.
   a. I have found that as I get older I get more close minded and quicker to judge to others. For me, this is part of the American society...where if it isn't "inside our norm" we automatically reject it.

3. Cook more/better
   a. Cooking is something I truly enjoy...especially cooking for the people that are close to me. I want to start having Sunday night dinner at my house with friends and loved ones...plus, then I can share the things I make with you my, dear reader :). Which also keeps me blogging, which is #4 on this list.

4. Blog more
   a. Life is exciting and needs to be shared, whether it's with people you know, or have never met.

So that's it. That's my list. Now let's see what happens!

Recipe Wednesday - Super Easy - 5 Step - Chicken Tortilla Soup

2010-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

I was trying to think of something I could do this year to keep me blogging regularly...and have it be something I enjoy. I came up with posting a weekly recipe! Cooking is something I have been getting more and more into recently and I thought it might be fun to share some of the things I like making (and eating). So, here it is, the first recipe...

Remember this post when I was craving Chicken Tortilla Soup (which is one of my favorites)? Well, I decided to make the recipe I found here (with a few additions):

1 serving = 4 cups
(this info does not include toppings)

* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 4 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 medium jalapeno pepper, chopped
* 1/2 medium green pepper
* 4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
* 2 cups frozen corn
* 1 cup water
* 3 tbsp corn starch
* 2 teaspoons cumin
* 1 teaspoon chili powder
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (this wasn't spicy enough for me so I did 3/4 teaspoon and it still wasn't that hot)
* 4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
* 2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
* 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
* 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans (strained and rinsed)

Topping
* shredded mexican blend cheese
* avocado, sliced
* tortilla chips, crushed

(This recipe makes A LOT of soup so make sure you use a BIG pot)

1. In your big pot saute the garlic, onion, jalapeno, and green pepper in the oil until soft

2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot (mix the corn starch and water together before adding) (minus the toppings) and bring to a boil...I had to partially cover mine with a lid to get it to boil.

3. After 15 minutes take the chicken out and shred (I used 2 forks and pulled the chicken apart in chunks).

4. Put the chicken back in the soup and simmer for an additional 45 minutes.

5. Serve in a bowl, topped with cheese, avocado and chips if desired.

This really did make A LOT of soup! I served it to 4 adults, we each had 2 bowls and there were left overs for the next day.

Happy cooking!

Izabella's Hoodie

2010-01-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Remember this post where I made a hoodie for my friend's 3 year old, Izabella? Well, she FINALLY came over last night to open gifts and I was able to snap a few pics of here wearing her new hoodie (sorry in advance for the blurry, she didn't feel like holding still).

Front

Back

I also made her an apron so she can help Mommy cook and clean. As with most 3 year old little girls, she is obsessed with princesses (Cinderella is her favorite) so when I found this fabric I knew it was PERFECT!

The pose Cinderella taught her at her 3rd birthday party

What kind of handmade goodness happened at your house this Holiday season? I'd love to see it!

2010 Rose Parade Floats

2010-01-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

Having lived in Southern California my entire life, the Rose Parade is something that was watched (over AND over) every New Year's Day while I was growing up. When I was in Jr. High my Dad took my brother and I to see the floats a few days after the parade. When I was in High School my Mom took my brother, a friend and I to spend the nights on the street and see the parade in person.

This year I thought it would be fun to go to Pasadena and see the floats up close once again (no, I didn't spend the night on the streets). So I gathered up a couple friends and some family and we headed out...things sure have changed since I was in Jr. High! (Please don't take this as a complaint, it's merely a show of how things change). I remember parking down the street, walking a couple blocks to a grass field and seeing the floats up close with just a couple people. This year, we parked at the Rose Bowl, waited in line for 1.5 hours to get on a shuttle, rode for about 15 minutes to the streets the floats were parked on then viewed the floats with THOUSANDS of people.

All in all, we had a great day filled with some fun memories AND got to see the bulldogs ride down their ski slope (which is probably my favorite float EVER). The following are some of my favorite pictures from the day. You can click on them to make them bigger and if you want to see more, click on the link under the last picture.

I love all of the tiny details on some floats

Early morning birds

How a lion gets a curly mane

My Dad's favorite

I like this guy's tongue

My favorite, after the bulldogs

Bulldogs!!!

My ADORABLE 3 month old niecel

More pictures available here

I hope your 2010 is going great so far!

A Great Find

2010-01-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

While driving around during the holidays I found a sign for a home boutique and decided to stop by and see what they had. I was really hoping to find some new crafty people to be friends with but instead found a house full of new/vintage pieces that a group of ladies had put together.

As I was walking around I saw a beautiful green glass cake plate sitting on a table. It immediately caught my eye and I made a beeline to it. Not knowing too much about vintage/antique glass I called my boyfriend's Mom (who does) and asked if she knew/could find anything (all the owner could tell me was that it's Indiana Glass). After spending some time with her on the phone we still couldn't really find anything; but that didn't matter. I was already in love. So, even though I was looking for gifts to give, I decided that this would be my gift to myself (everybody does that...right?).

I love all the little details and how dainty the plate is. It truly feels like something unique and I can't wait to make a cake to use it with!

View from the top

Close up of the details

The bottom

Survey Time!

2009-12-30T10:21:00.000-08:00

I picked this up from Kaylah over at The Dainty Squid and since I have some free time, thought I would do my own...

1. Where is your cell phone:

Next to my right arm.

2. Your hair:

Still damp from my shower, unbrushed and some color of brown.

3. Your mother:

Is at work and hopefully having hip replacement surgery soon!

4. Your father:

Is my rock. He helps me find the balance in my life.

5. Your favorite food:

Hmmmmmmm this is a tough one. I am a lover of pizza, cheap Chinese food, Greek Food and, well, pretty much every other food. Right now, I'm totally craving chicken tortilla soup:

(credit A Recipe A Day)

6. Your dream from last night:

A recurring dream...with all of my friends...the Log Ride at Knott's Berry farm, but instead of riding the log through the entire thing you walk...there were different Disney themed rooms...then we got to the part where you ride the log down a big drop and one of my friend's and I get in the log together. On our way down the drop, she starts to fly out (like a kite) but I catch her. Then I woke up....

7. Your favorite drink:

8. Your dream/goal:
To move out of my Mom's, get married, start a family, live in an old house that has tons of character and charm.

9. What room are you in:

The office where I work.

10. What is your hobby:
Photography, sewing, cooking, watching movies, playing board/card games, bike rides

11. What is your fear:

Bridges that cross over big bodies of water (think the Bay Bridge in San Fran) and heights in general

(credit SF Photorama)

12. Where were you last night:

Went to dinner with Justin and Sue and Spaghetti Factory, took Justin to pick up his car, watched Paper Heart with Sue (it was really cute)

(Credit NetFlix)

13. Something you are not:

Filthy

14. Muffins:

Will never be as good as pie.

15. Wish list items:

Bullet Express

A new laptop

16. Where did you grow up:
Orange County, CA.

17. Last thing you did:

Types these words

18. What are you wearing:

A maroon sweater, jeans and brown shoes

19. Your TV:

Is at home and waiting to tune into The Middle tonight.

20. Your pets:

Oh Baxter, my Baxter

21. Your friends:

are all at work. I will most likely spend tomorrow night with them.

22. Your life:
Is fan-diddly-tastic!

23. Your mood:

Tired and fighting a cold.

24. Missing someone:

family far away that I haven't seen in years.

25. Vehicle:

Is in the shop because of freeway debris (see photo). Currently driving a black Dodge Charger that I have named Stealth since I feel like a mobster.

26. Something you’re not wearing:

Socks

27. Your favorite store:

Hmmmm M&L Fabrics in Buena Park or Target

28. Your favorite color:

Blue/Green/Brown

29. When’s the last time you laughed:

Last night

30. When’s the last time you cried:

Christmas Eve

31. Your best friend:

they are all working right now.

32. One place you go over and over:

Work :)

33. One person who emails me regularly:

Russel

34. Favorite place to eat:

Hmmmm probably Rutabaegorz

(Credit: Their website)

35. Where do you want to be in 6 years:

Married with a couple kids living in an old house with tons of character.

Now it's your turn!!!!

A Hoodie For Izabella

2009-12-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

A couple years ago I made a popsicle hoodie for Izabella.

Being that she was just over 1 at the time, she has since grown out of it. So this holiday season I decided to make her a new one...with owls! It came out super cute and here's how to make one for the little one in your life if you are interested. These can be made for adults too!

Supplies:
+ 1 hoodie (I try to get it at least 1 size too big so it lasts longer)
+ 3/4 yard of fabric (1yd for adults)
+ Thread (matching or contrasting and as many colors as you like)
+ Sharpie or Chalk
+ Iron set on cotton
+ Scissors
+ Cookie Cutters (or something to trace in desired shape)
**Please note that this is shown with a size 4-6 hoodie.
***Click on the pictures for a bigger version

1. Fold your hoodie in half length wise and lay your fabric out flat. Lay hoodie on top of fabric. Trace around just the hoodie with about 1 inch extra fabric for seam. (I used a Sharpie so you can see my lines, but you can use whatever works for you). I also try to place the hoodie at least 2 inches from the cut edge.

2. Cut along the line you have created and follow all the way to end of the fabric. Stitch the top and backside of the hoodie leaving the front open.

3. Open the hood sewn hood and press all edges in approx. 1/2 an inch.

4. If there is a draw string in your hoodie, remove it at this time.

5. Line up center seam of created hood and hoodie's hood. Make sure the backside of your fabric is facing the hoodie so your fabric shows. Pin the created hood in place.

6. When you get to the flat/bottom of the hoodie you can either fold the extra fabric up or trim it so there is just a little folded under. Pin this as well (Sorry! I forgot to take a picture of this part)

7. Sew along the entire edge of the hoodie and the bottom. You will want to sew pretty close to the edge. You can do either a decorative stitch with 2 different thread colors, or a straight stitch with 1 color...the choice is yours!

8. With the remaining fabric you will need to cut out "patches". I'm not very good at free-handing these types of things so I use cookie cutters or simple shapes I find online. You will need to cut out 4 shapes for a kid's hoodie and 6 for an adult's. I try to line my shapes up so the patch is a little different and features the fabric well...I also make the one for the front of the hoodie a little different from the rest.

9. Pin 3 of the patches to the back of the hoodie. I like to stagger them and turn them in different directions.

10. Pin 1 patch on the front of the hoodie. I like to do the left side, right where the heart would be.

11. Last, sew around the edge of each patch. You can do the same color stitch and color combo as before or completely switch it up! For this one I chose the same color combo, but since I'm working with flannel I decided to go with a zigzag stitch to protect the edges from fraying as much.

12. Clip all of your extra threads at this time. You can also try to thread the hood's string back in at this time (it depends on how precise you were sewing your fabric into the hood)

13. You're done! I haven't given Izabella her hoodie yet but when I do, I'll be sure to post some adorable pictures of her wearing it for you guys to see.

I introduce to you...Mr. & Mrs. Lonie Fink

2009-11-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday one of my best friends got married to one of my really good friends. To say these people were born to be together would be an understatement.

I've known Mahria for about 6 years and Lonie for about 3. The two of them met when I was asked to go to dinner for a friend's birthday. Being the girl that I am, I didn't want to go by myself so I asked (see begged and dragged) Mahria with me. The two of them pretty much made an instant connection and evidently Lonie called people after dinner and told them he had met the girl he was going to marry (I know, I know stop with the cheese).

The two of them dated for 3 years and 2, 3 or 4 days before tieing the knot this past weekend and I couldn't be happier for both of them. I wish both of you all the best in the world!

Vampire Weekend at Pappy and Harriet's

2009-11-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

When the new boyfriend and I (more on him later) found out that one of our most liked bands, Vampire Weekend, was playing near Joshua Tree we decided to make a short day trip out of it and head to the concert. They played in a small off-the-beaten-path restaurant/venue called Pappy & Harriet's.

After researching Pappy & Harriet's a few days before the show I started getting excited. I love going to dive type places and this one seemed like it would be a lot of fun! We left around 3:30 and barely hit any traffic. We made a pit stop at Morongo on our way there, Justin won $50 and I won $40 (yay us!) and then were back on the road.

By the time we got to the windy, 2 way road that leads you to Pappy & Harriet's it was already dark. This made for an exciting drive since you literally are in the middle of no where and there aren't any lights but your headlights to guide you. It was so dark that arriving at Pappy and Harriet's felt like an oasis of light welcoming us in.

Before leaving home we had already decided that we would eat dinner and Pappy & Harriets (mainly because there wasn't much else around to choose from). This proved to be a great choice! This place should be on Diner's, Drive-In's and Dives. From the country saloon feel to the DELICIOUS hamburgers this place gets a A+ in my book. Their food prices were really reasonable and with beers being between $2-$4 and liquor between $3-$5 I don't see where you could really go wrong. All of their drinks are served in mason jars and the walls had old glass bottles built into them, which really helped add to the old saloon feel.

(The lighting is really dim so it was hard to get a good shot of the walls and other decor)

After eating we decided to walk around and check out the venue/restaurant some. There was an ADORABLE picnic area outside that had vines growing over it. I wish there had been better lighting so I could have taken a photo to share it with you. Since it was chilly and there wasn't much to see, we decided to head back inside. They were 3 pool tables and then I found the bathrooms! The doors to the bathroom had been painted to match the feel of Pappy and Harriet's...they even painted the stall doors!

The next thing we knew the first band was taking the stage so we headed in over to the stage are to catch them and get a good spot for Vampire Weekend. I don't remember what the opening band was called, but they were pretty good. Finally it was time for the main event...Vampire Weekend! The room filled up really fast and since we were upfront I could feel my claustrophobia setting in and I headed to the back (shortly followed by Justin). Vampire Weekend was really good. They played some older songs as well as some new one's and everybody was loving it. Since we had a 2 hour drive home we headed out as soon as they were done playing, but both know that we will be back the next time a band we like plays there.

If you ever find yourself in the Joshua Tree area, make sure you head to Pappy & Harriet's. Most nights they have live music and with the drinks the price they are, this place is a sure hit!

Silverado Country Fair

2009-10-05T15:01:00.001-07:00

I found out about a country fair a few months ago from my next door neighbor Nick who has his own business selling different flavored teas and beautiful tea pots. It's set back in the Santa Ana Hills/Canyons in a town called Silverado and evidently this was their 39th year having the event. When I decided to sell at the event I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into, but upon arrival it soon became clear that Marie and I were in for a weekend of down home fun.

The people that attended the Silverado Country Fair were mainly locals or people from near by towns in the canyon. To say they were welcoming would be an understatement. Everyone was so happy, accepting and cheerful all weekend long it felt like we had escaped to a different land.

The event raises money for the community and the organizers, volunteers from the Community Center, went out of their way to give everything a country feel. There was a blacksmith making things on site, a pretend jail where you could have your friend "arrested" for $6 and a picture with their warrant printed out, rock stacking, a stage where local bands/musicians played bluegrass, western and country music, and various food eating contests were some of the highlights for us.

Here's some pictures from our weekend and I will definitely be going back next year!

My booth

A closer view of my new sign and plates

The corn and scarecrow in front of my booth were
VERY popular with the carnival goers

Saturday morning Marie notice a hummingbird who stopped by
and tried to "feed" off my fake flowers and bright colors.
Can you see him?

Rock stacking. The more you stack the more points you get.
The size and shape of each rock determines how many points it's worth.

Country Legend Rusty Richards
stopped by to preform Saturday morning

Saturday's Watermelon Eating Contest (she was 2nd)

Watermelon Eating Contest (she was 3rd)

Watermelon winners! The girl in blue won!

The blacksmith hard at work

One of his fantastic pieces

Sunday's Pie Eating Contest

This little girl was ADORABLE! She was sitting on her
Dad's lap and they were eating the pie together.

The guy on the top left ended up being the winner.

Through out the 2 days there was a raffle.
This is Wendy; she won the apron I donated.

Like I said, Marie and I had a great time at this country fair. If you are ever in the area, we definitely recommend a drive through the beautiful Santa Ana Hills/Canyons.

Team Tough Titties

2009-09-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure in Orange County. My friends over at www.DiNGLIFE.com put together a team called Team Tough Titties and threw a fundraising ball Friday night for it. While I wasn't able to attend the race, I did attend the ball and supplied one of my cherry purses for auction. If you aren't familiar with the Susan G. Koman Foundation I highly suggest you check them out. Last year they raised over $3million for breast cancer research and support. 75% of the money either went to research or people fighting the battling.

Here are some pictures of my friends and I getting ready for the First Annual Tough Titties Ball. Silly me forgot my camera at home so I don't have pictures from while we were at the ball. We danced the night away and had a great time supporting such an amazing cause.

Bri and Jessica

Sue and myself

All of us...so fancy!

One of the reasons this event was so important for the 4 of us to attend is because Jessica's Mom is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in Oct. 2007 and has been done with treatment for a year and a half! While I have never met this women (she lives in Delaware), Jessica speaks very fondly of her and I can tell she is an amazing Mom, friend and an all around great human being. We truly are lucky that Susan Pelillo-Smith is still around to fill us all with laughter.

Jessica and her Mom (Susan)

Ode To The Weird

2009-09-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

There are some creative people on Etsy, there's no denying it. But what about the creative people with a sense of humor? These people are probably some of my favorites! I've been perusing Etsy for the past few days trying to find the Best of the Best and these are some of the items that make me laugh so hard I think my sides might split open.

Doody Pops believe it or not, these are actually TREATS for your dog!
They are made with fresh meat and other simple ingredients that dogs go nuts for.

A Breath Of French Air creates these mervelous soaps...that's right, these teeth are actually made of SOAP! Even though they are peppermint "flavored" don't eat try eating a delicious treat with them unless you want a mouth full of bubbles!

These parking notes from Wry and Ginger are absolutely hilarious and were a big hit with my friends when included with their gifts this year. They are PERFECT to leave on the widshield of the driver that decides they are important enough to take two parking spots.

There's a ton more great stuff on Etsy so head on over there and take a look...go on, what are you waiting for?!

The Last Weekend of Summer

2009-09-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

The last weekend of summer, AKA Labor Day, arrived just over a week ago. I celebrated it in a way that my family has for a little over 20 years; a trip to my Grandma's house in Pismo Beach. If you remember my last blog I talked about how my Grandma passed away this year on July 20th. This was the first Holiday weekend we have been up there that she hasn't and to say it was difficult would be an understatement. Luckily, we brought my best friend Sue and her daughter Izabella with us and they really helped "lighten the load".

It was the first time either of them had been to the area so we decided to start off the Saturday of our trip with one of our favorite places to have lunch, The Apple Farm in San Louis Obispo. If you have never been to The Apple Farm it's an adorable shabby sheik hotel and restaurant nestled a little of Highway 101. The Apple Farm also features an old millhouse that is a replica of one from the turn of the century. When my brother and I were younger you could watch them make apple juice and ice cream here. Unfortunately when we visited this weekend the mill was broken and so was the ice cream maker. None the less we still had a great time sampling (and buying) the apple juice they make. It's 100% apple with no added sugar or preservatives and probably the best apple juice ever. Here's a couple shots from our visit:

Where would you like to go?

Stopping to smell the flowers

Sue and Izabella waiting for lunch

Izabella and Nanny Sue

The Old Millhouse

Behind the millhouse there is a quiet little waterfall and the perfect place for a photo opportunity

Sue and Izabella

Izabella and Me

Watching the waterfall

Sunday we took Izabella to the beach for the first time. What a trip that was!! The water in Pismo is MUCH colder than it is down here in Orange County and felt like ice water. However, she LOVED it and we had a good time running in and out of the waves and playing in the sand. Those pictures are on Sue's camera but hopefully I will have them soon to post in another blog :).

After the beach we headed back to the house to give Izabella a nice warm bath. There is a rather large bath tub at my Grandma's that I have many fond memories of soaking in for hours at a time as a child. Naturally when Izabella saw it she was impressed with it's size and turned to me and in her almost 3 sweet and innocent voice said, "Auntie, you take a baff wiff me?" What was I supposed to do? Say no? What kind of Best Auntie Ever would I be? So, I (kind or reluctantly) said yes and bathing suit and all climbed into the bath tub with her and we had a great time playing, washing and laughing.

Armpits! Armpits! Armpits!

I hope all of you out there had a fun "last weekend of summer" and an all around GREAT summer!

Once Again...

2009-08-21T11:01:00.001-07:00

It's been a while. I apologize for my absence. Life got crazy there for a few months with everything from shows to loved one's passing away. Well, I'm back! And I promise, I'm really really going to try to keep updating this more often...hopefully I can make good on that!

I hit a rather large milestone this month...100 sales in my Etsy shop! I'm so excited! Bike basket liners have been keeping me VERY busy this year...the request for custom orders has been very fun and it's great to see how unique each person truly is. One of the most popular pre-made liners is the "Fiesta Skull". He's so fun and bright I can see why he's well liked.

This summer also included a few trips to the Orange County Fair...something that has been a favorite of mine for many, many years. This year I decided to try more of the fried treats than I have in the past. I wasn't a big fan of the friend Reese's or avocados. But, the fried pizza bits and s'mores have become a favorite and I can't wait for them to come back next year! I was so busy taking in all the sites, smells, sounds and food that I forgot to use my camera a lot but here's some shots from when I did remember.

Izabella in foam Pork and Beans

Have you seen my pig?

Sue, Strawberry Shortcake and Izabella

Izabella and Auntie (Me)

I hope you are all having a great summer and enjoying what's left of it!

A Day at the Zoo

2009-02-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

Today, while Sue was at school, my Mom (Nanny Sue) and I took Izabella to the Santa Ana Zoo. If you aren't familiar with this zoo, it's a little one that houses mainly monkeys and birds. The elephant was available to ride but Izabella didn't want to, "Him too big Auntie". Here's a racap of our fun.

This bird was so bright, and so orange. His wings were beautiful when he spread them.

The Emu was sleeping. Who knew them slept with their legs stretched out behind them?

Izabella gave him "thumps up"

This guy was swinging ALL over the place. She thought he wasn't the funniest thing since Elmo.

Then, we were off to see the elephant. We waited...

And waited...

And waited...

FINALLY it was time to see the elephant!

Then we went to play on the slides. While we were playing Nanny Sue decided to put Izabella's sunglasses on...silly Nanny Sue!

While we were by a bird exhibit there was a really intricate sculpture carved out of wood.

Sometimes I like taking pictures of flowers more than anything else.

Handmade District benefiting Music Saves Lives March 14th!

2009-02-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

That's right! The next Handmade District event will be held on March 14th and it will benefit Music Saves Lives!! So come on out and support some local crafters (and a great cause) for a day of fun.

Vendors include: Abyssal gems, AJz Delights, AM-PM Creations, Annie Rexic, Artwistic Creations, By Belinda, Chantal deFelice, Cherry Tree Lane, Clippity Do Dah, Delightful Trinkets, Designs By Steppies, Double-Sided Tape, Forest Nymphs, Funkie Fresh, Handamade, Hearts and Laserbeams, Honey Child Designs, Jam Baby, Jane Clothing, Jewelera, KD Kreations, Kelso Doesn't Dance, Kristen Craft, LT Creations, Lucky Find Designs, Melissa Hill, Mini Maniacs, My Friend Roze, Namaste Designs, Nancy's Threads, Natural Lathers, Nina Gibson Deisgns, OCHSA, Roscata, South Wind Design, Spun By Ver, Tangent Designs, Twinkle Berry, Voz Clothing and Art, WhatAKaracter, Wolves and Willows, Yolandas Clay

See you there!

What to Bring to a Craft Show / Fair

2009-01-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

The craft show season will be here again before we know it. I always see people asking what they should bring to a craft show. I have searched high a low and came up with a HUGE list(sorted alphabetically) of the most common items mentioned.

Some of these ideas are location specific so feel free to take out what you don't need. I usually go over my list the day before and set everything in one spot by the door. I also have a small box that I have put all my "tools"/small things in so they can be located easily.

Happy selling!

- 2-3 projects to work on during slow periods
- Allergy Medicine
- Baby Wipes / Wet Ones
- Bags for purchases (I reuse grocery shopping bags for mine and have never had a complaint)
- Banner or sign
- Binder clips
- Book/Magazine (for the slow times)
- Bug Spray
- Bungee Cord
- Business Cards/Promos to give away
- Calculator
- Camera (who knows who you may see at your show, plus you can upload them to the craft fair groups in flickr)
- Cash box/Apron with change (Don't forget 1's, 5's and maybe even a few 20' I usually bring $50-$60 total)
- Cell Phone
- Chairs
- Clothesline
- Clothespins
- Cooler with lots of water and easy-to-sneak snacks (some shows don’t provide food or water)
- Credit Card Imprinter
- Deoderant
- Displays (baskets, stationery racks, card spinner, coat rack/purse display)
- Duct tape
- Extension cords
- Extension plugs
- Feminine hygiene products
- Gridwall / hooks / shelves
- Gum/Mints
- Hairbrush and ponytail holders (especially if you are outdoors and it might get windy)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hangers
- Inventory (Don't forget to bring all of the fantastic items you have made!)
- Jacket/Sweater (if weather may call for it)
- Lighting (if inside)
- Lip balm/ Chapstick
- Lotion
- Mailing list sign-ups (great to offer a raffle prize to entice people to give up their information)
- Makeup for touch-ups
- Mannequins / Dress Form
- Markers
- Mirror (for customers and yourself to use)
- Nail clipper, for loose threads on clothing or in case you break/rip a nail.
- Needle and Thread
- Paper (in case extra signs are needed)
- Paper towels/Napkins
- Pens (I usually bring a couple, I always seem to lose at least one)
- Photo Album (for examples of sold pieces)
- Poles for improvising clothing racks between gridwall
- Price tags or cards (don't forget to make signs/price things before hand, a lot of people are too scared to ask)
- Receipts - the carbon copy type so you can keep one and give one to the customer
- Scissors
- Scotch tape
- Seasonal décor
- Sign saying you accept credit cards
- Small Toolbox (hammer, screwdriver, nails, screws, wrench)
- Small trash can (or something to keep trash in)
- Someone to help you (you never know how busy/slow you will be. They can help you keep an eye on customers and pass the time)
- Stapler
- Sticky lint roller
- String
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Supplies and tools for custom orders/resizing items
- Tablecloths
- Tables
- Tax information / Business license
- Tent / Tent Walls / Stakes / Hammer / Weights for the legs (if outdoors)
- Tissue or newspaper to wrap your items in if they are fragile
- Tissues
- Tylenol/Advil/Ibuprofen

Also, if you need to set up for an account to process credit cards click this link. It will take you to Propay (which seems to be the most widely used service) and there is a discount! http://www.propay.com/?refid=ETSYOLCM

Special thanks to http://www.joyfulabode.com, http://ycmt.wordpress.com, http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/, http://omglia.blogspot.com for helping me with this list.

A Day of Fun

2009-01-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

It was my boyfriend's birthday about 1 week ago. He hates birthday's and didn't want to do anything on his birthday so I planned a "day together day" a few days before. We both took the day off from life to hang out and had fun together.

He loves the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach so we went there to look at the fishies and feed the birds.

After seeing the movie Seven Pounds we have both decided it would be really cool to have a jellyfish for a pet, although we never will.

We also came across this guy. I know he's some sort of ray, but for the life of me I can't remember what kind. He was HUGE though! I wanted to sit on his back and go for a ride but Chris said I couldn't :(. Hehehe

Next if was off to feed the birds. These guys were nuts! One of the sneak attacked me from the back and landed on my shoulder. Another landed on Chris, pooped on him and the proceeded to use it's beak to climb around on Chris' shirt collar. There was another one that drank most of the nector we bought and after each drink would wipe his tongue off on Chris' thumb.

This octopus tried to eat me through the glass. I thought I was a goner for sure! At the last second Chris saved me and pulled me away to safety. My hero!

Then we found this guy. Most of you don't know, but I LOVE turtles. We had a desert tourtise named Lightening when I was little. He is my favorite pet that we've ever had. Anyhow, I tried to keep this guy too. I think he would go nicely with the jellyfish and the ray. Once again I was told, "No". He never let's me have any fun I swear! hahaha

After the aquarium we decided to walk around and see what else was in the area. Did you know that Long Beach has a pier? Either did we! Granted, it wasn't like the one in Huntington Beach or Santa Monica, but still. There were pirates (tour guides dressed like pirates) out on the pier teaching each other how to tie knots and throw ropes properly. We stopped and watched for a bit and continued on our walk to explore other near buy businesses. Unfortunately I didn't take anymore pictures.

After our walk we decided to head back to avoid some traffic. All in all it was a fantastic day and I'm glad we were able to spend the day together. We both had a great time and were able to take much needed break.

What a crazy life!

2009-01-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

It's been a few weeks since I've updated my blog...OK, almost a month. Life has been crazy, but fun, lately. Each week seems to get better and better lately.

I'm organizing another Handmade District event on March 14th in Tustin. If you are a crafter and would like more information, please check out www.HandmadeDistrict.com. We'd love to have you join us!

As always, I've been searching for future gift ideas on Etsy. Why is it always easier to find something I like? Anyhow, check out the great stuff I've found!

This card is for my Mom. It's from NeatThings and has to be one of the funniest cards I've ever seen! Make sure you check out both pictures and read what the inside says. Even though I do have a point of reference (my Step-mom) it'll still be great to give her!

I also found this totally perfect seller's apron from RedPaperRecord. I believe it will be my next purchase as soon as I have some extra cash. I can't wait to wear it!

What else?....Oh! This dress made out of ties from Glamarita is ABSOLUTELY crazy and I wish I had the body to wear it!

These Valentine's Day card will be absolutely PERFECT to give my friends! They're from JeanFrancisBean and I need to remember to hurry up and order them before it's to late!

Then, there's this awesome hand painted vintage purse from VozClothingAndArt. I love the way the umbrellas look like they are blowing away and the rain drops are "sliding" down the purse.

What are some of the fun things you've found lately? I'd love to see them!

Look where I showed up in Google today!

2008-12-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

I added my store to Google Base a couple of weeks ago. Today I went to search for bike basket liners and look where I showed up!! I'm SO excited!!!!

(If you click on the picture it will get bigger)

The Gift of Giving

2008-12-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Less than 1 week 'til Christmas and I've been a busy little bee! This holiday season I tried to buy as many handmade gifts as possible. Also, when people asked me what I wanted I gave them links to things on Etsy. We'll see how well that works out :).

One of the reasons I really like buying handmade is because you know that purchase really matters to the person you are buying it from and it could actually keep them eating for another day.

Here are some of the goodies I bought for friends this year. I wish I had bought more handmade gifts, but some people are just incredibly hard to shop for!

This first little necklace is for my friend Linda. It's one of a kind (which makes it even better in my book!) and made by Envisage. I've already given it to her and she absolutely loved it!

Next on the list is my brother, David. He's one of those guys that loves all things manly...fishing, hunting, off-roading and so on. You are probably thinking to yourself, "What the heck do you get someone like that and still have it be handmade?" Well, dear reader, you get him soap made from beer, of course! David will be getting soaps made from PBR, Guiness, Newcastle and Sam Adams. They are all from Dennis Anderson and I have a feeling he's going to laugh his ass off when he opens his gift.

Last on the list is my friend Michelle. Michelle is one of those girls that's "a dude's dude". She loves riding her fixed gear bike, kid robot, listening to any music she can get her hands on and the majority of the year she lives in a van full of guys. What do you get someone like this? You get them a zipper pouch that's made from recycled bike tire innertubes that also has a sweet print to it, naturally. This pouch is made by Urchin Bags and is sick as, well, (insert obsene adjective here). I was so excited when I found this I couldn't wait to order it!

What are some of the handmade gifts you are giving this year?

Carried Away: Promote A Sister!

2008-11-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today is "Promote A Sister Day" in the Carried Away: Bag Makers of Etsy Team that I belong to. I have chosen Sew Artsy to be my sister :). SewArtsy's real name is Amy. She just had a baby girl and I can't wait to see pictures!

Anyhow, here are some of the amazing items you will find her her shop. I highly recommend that you scoot on over there and check it out.

Twice in one week! Say it isn't so!

2008-11-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

But it is!!

I'm starting to get into the Holiday spirit and looking for presents to buy the people in my life. I'm trying to keep all gifts handmade. This will get tricky for me because I like to see and touch something before I buy it. I've already got some great ideas for my brother and the family gift exchange.

For my brother, I think I'm going to get him a set of the beer soaps that Dennis Anderson makes. My brother is a pretty big beer drinker so I think this will be perfect for him. Click here to see what I'm talking about.

For the family gift exchange, I'm almost positive I'm going to get this handmade candy/jelly bean dispenser from Stump Pond Toy. The family is pretty big on sweets so I think it will be big hit. Click here to see what I'm talking about.

Other than that, I have no idea what I'm getting anyone yet. I need to do some more looking around first.

On a different note, I joined Twitter today. If you are on there, let's follow each other! Find me at Twitter.com/LuckyFindDesign.

Don't forget! I have a sale starting on Sunday! Visit LuckyFindDesigns.com on Sunday for more information!

Green and Brown and Green and Brown

2008-11-06T22:49:00.000-08:00

I've been OBSESSED with greens and browns the past few months. Since about August, actually. I'm working on redoing my bedroom/creating space and found the raddest "rack" to hang my keys, purse and other things from that is in the same green and brown theme.

It comes from Shauniel and is the absolute PERFECT color match. The packaging was phenomenal. Shredded paper, a cloth sack, bubble wrap, a set of 3 matching magnets and a thank you card. I could go on and on :).

Over the past weekend I found out that our local Linen's & Things was closing so I headed over to see if there was anything that matched. And there was! I found a great green and brown stripped shower curtain (yes, shower curtain) that is made out of a cotton fabric and decided to use it as a window curtain. There was only 1 left, so to get the curtain look I was going for I cut it up the middle and stitched up the raw edges. I also bought some chocolate brown satin ribbon and attached it so the curtains can be held back when I want. I also bought some shower curtain hooks that have white ceramic flowers on one end. They look perfect against the curtain and add the perfect touch of "girl".

In the world of Lucky Find Designs, things have been pretty steady. I haven't felt like sewing much the past few weeks so I've been working on getting more products photographed and up online. I've also been doing more marketing and getting ready for the holiday season. My 1 year "etsyversary" is coming up in a few weeks and I'm going to have a sale for it so make sure you check back for more details on that. Oh and don't forget to check in now to see all of the new things I've posted lately. www.LuckyFindDesigns.com

Until then, thanks for stopping in. I hope you have a great day!

I'm really bad at this...

2008-10-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

So I've decided I'm really bad at this whole blogging thing. I would like to be good at it and post more often, but it seems like there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want.

What's been going on lately? Well.....

www.LuckyFindDesigns.com is now up and running! YAY! Make sure you stop by and check it out.

I've been selling at a lot of craft shows and derby bouts. I've met some great fellow Etsian's and other people.

I've been putting new things up in my shop a lot lately (finally!) and posting them in Flickr. Speaking of Flickr, it really does work for marketing purposes! Rachel over at Cupcakes Take the Cake found my cupcake purses on Flickr and bought one! AND! She posted about them in her blog which means I sold a bunch more! Two even went to Norway! I'm so excited! I don't think I will ever be able to thank Rachel enough for this. By the way, Rachel, if you ever read this THANK YOU!!!! (again :) ).

I think that's all for me this time. I've got tons to do to get ready for the Holiday Season (AHH!!!) By the way, make sure you stop by my shop Nov. 16-22nd for a special suprise. It will be my 1 year aniversary on Etsy and selling things I make!

As promised...pictures from the Glass House Swap Meet

2008-09-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

In the blog I posted yesterday I said I would post pictures from the Glass House Swap Meet this past weekend. There were about 50 vendors total, 25 of which were handmade.

The list of vendors was as follows: Kid Robot, Obey, Paul Frank, To Die For, MUNKY KING, Japan LA, Dim Mak Collection, Alphacult, Hooligan Skate, Kung Fu Records, London Calling, The Militia Group, Rockett, Soulful Commandoe, Viper Black Clothing, SP Radio 1, Trey Q, Anenberg, The Meltdown Toy Store, Poseur Ink, Krypta Kustoms, Artillary Clothing, Notion Clothing, Loud and Obnoxious, The Illionaires, Gallery Onelove Deluxe!, Abyssal Gems, Amanda K. Lockrow Jewelry, Annie Rexic, Armas, Cutthroat Designs, Every Little Counts, Freshly Baked, Jane Clothing, LA Art Glass, Lean Dog Pottery, Lucky Find Designs, MJPartetc, My Friend Roze, New Socks, Ones and Zeros Fashions, Skull Flower, Spitting Image, Spun By Ver, Susuten, Voz Clothing, Windchime, Zombie Factory

There were about 2,000 people that showed up! Most of them were there for the Kid Robot stuff, but most of them did stick around and check out all of the other vendors too. It was a lot of fun to put this together and I can't wait until March for the next one!

On a completely separate topic, a couple of friends and I went on a bike
ride on Sunday from the HB Pier to The Queen Mary (just about). We couldn't have asked for a better day to go. I have never rode that far North on PCH in the past. Along the way, we found the Long Beach dog park and they had this hilarious crossing sign painted on the ground. It pretty much represents how I feel when I take our dog, Baxter, on a walk so I couldn't help but stop and take a picture. Maybe all of us will get our dogs together soon and take them for a walk on the beach. I wonder how Baxter would do?

Wow! It's been a while! / How to Run A Craft Show

2008-09-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a few months to be exact. So what have I been up to? Lots of crafting, selling at lots of different events and lots on working my real job. I've even started running my own events! The first one took place last weekend at the Glass House in Pomona. More information will come on that tomorrow, I need to get the pics off my camera. The reason for my post tonight is because people have started asking me, "How do you run a craft show?" so I thought I would put some information online for people to access.

Please note that this is how I do it, it doesn't mean it's the right way, it's just the way that works for me. Also, notice that the title DOESN'T say "How to Run a SUCCESSFUL Craft Show". The success your show has will result in how much you put into it.

I recommend trying to run a few really small one's first (that's what I did) before you run a really big one. Try getting a couple (maybe 5) local people together at one person's house and have each person set up a table in the front/back yard. We had a meeting before hand to discuss ideas and show everyone our products, and that way we could all meet once before :). Everyone does their help with the promotion and on the day of you post signs (like a garage sale) on busy streets directing people to the house. The group I did this with did it a few times and we traded houses each time. They are a lot of fun and a great way to get your feet wet. Just remember, location is key. You don't want to make people drive too far out of the way to get to you.

For running a bigger craft show (some of these will work for smaller one's too):

1. Select your date and times. Make sure you are flexible on this, just in case it doesn't work for the venue.

2. Secure a venue. Same thing as the small one, location is key. You want somewhere easily accessible with LOTS of parking. Try local Churches/schools. A lot of time they will rent large rooms at a low cost. Use the connections that you have to help with this.

3. Figure out how many vendors you can fit and how big each person's space will be.

4. Figure out what your space fee is going to be. I have added a little extra to mine for "just in case" reasons and to help with future events.

5. Do you want the event to be juried or not? I suggest juried. It's how all of the big shows are done and that way you can limit the amount of one type of product you have. Ex: You don't want 10 jewelry vendors and only 2 with purses. You want a good mix of all the products you can offer.

6. Do you want to have a raffle? What about goody bags for the first so many people that come in the doors? What are you going to do for promotion to help people get there? Can people only sell items that are handmade or is mass produced OK too? Ask around in the Etsy forums for what people have/haven't liked about one's they have sold at.

6. Get your application together. I copied mine off of past events I have been apart of and added/subtracted as necessary to make it the way I wanted.

7. Start getting your vendors. I post in the Etsy forums, in my local Etsy team, on Craigslist and I find other local vendors by the "Shop Local" feature on Etsy. You can also go to other craft shows and talk to vendors that are set up there.

8. Go through all of the applications you have received and select the vendors you would like to have participate and contact all of them to let them know.

9. Make sure you stay in contact with your vendors for the duration of the time before the show. This is really important. How much would you trust someone that you never heard from and had given money to?

10. Work on all of your promotion/advertising.

11. Try going in the night before and marking off the space that each person is going to set up in. If not, go in super early the morning of the show.

12. Make sure everything you can is taken care of before your vendors start arriving so that all they have to do is load in and set up.

13. Have a great time! If you aren't having fun, you can't expect that everyone else will too. Remember to be prepared, it will cut back on your stress level and make things easier for you in the long run.

I think that covers everything. If there is something I forget, or realize as I go along I will leave it in a comment below.

People on Etsy you should check out

2008-07-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

For starters, check out mymy. She makes some GREAT buttons this one is my favorite
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13044009

Also check out onesandzerosfashions. I have one of her fantastic lunch monsters and it's probably one of the best things I have ever bought on Etsy.

I love customecouturelabelco and the labels they sell for all the goodies I make.

Onama is great if you need anything graphically designed. She did my business cards and they are quite cute.

I crack up every time I see the "hand soaps" that foliage makes.

Father's Day, The Support of Other People...and more!

2008-06-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Since I'm really into making people's gifts lately I decided to make a BBQ plate for my Dad to carry all the stuff he BBQ's into the house. I got it at Color Me Mine and it took me 3 hours to complete! He says he really really liked it but it's too heavy for him to carry into the house with food on it. I told him to suck it up :). My step-brother Ken got him at change jar that counts the change for you as you put it in. I'm totally jealous and need to go to Linen's and Things and get my own!

People have really been liking the basket liner's I've made lately...probably because it's summer time :). Tammy of Ivonnardona's Creations featured them in her blog, check it out here. Evidently you can also find them when searching for Bike Basket Liner's on Google and I have had some people contact me because of that. I just finished making the one on the right the other day. Annie Rexic sent me some of her fabric and I made a custom liner for her and got to meet her at Warped Tour in Pomona this past Friday. She's great and a real sweet heart!

Other than that I'm just getting ready for the Derby Dolls Tournament this weekend. I'm super excited and have quite a bit left to do...I can't wait!

Ch Ch Ch Changes and Tiiiiiiiiiiiiii i i ime is not on my side

2008-06-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get a feeling like something is going to change in your life soon but you aren't sure what it is, but you know something is coming? I have this feeling right now and I have no idea what it is.

I feel like redecorating my room. Painting the walls a light green, new pictures of poppies, taking the flower border down, new curtains for my closet, a new dresser (since I haven't had one since Jr. High)...basically everything but the comforter because I just bought it last fall.

Maybe it's because I need more room for all of the sewing I'm doing. I have recently outgrown the limited space available in my bedroom and took over our family room. That didn't go over so well and after 3ish weeks I just got all of that cleaned up the other day. Now it's taking over my entire room. I need to clean out, clean up and reorganize. There's no other way to do it! I HAVE to make the time.

Ahhhh yes, time. Next to money you are my worst enemy. I currently need more of you in the day/week. I am having a really hard time balancing work, friends and crafting. There is just so much that needs to be done every day. Maybe when the craft shows and derby's slow down things will get better. I hope so!

Bike basket liners are really starting to take off! Probably because it's summer, but I'm getting a ton of requests for them and it's really fun!

Time for work!

Today's Bike Ride

2008-06-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

Today's bike ride with Annel, Marie and Michelle was great! We started out at a near by friend's house and rode down to the Huntington Beach Pier area for lunch. The place we ate at was a bust! Our waitress sucked and it took about 2 hours!

Anyhow, we made our way down the the bike/walk path that is near the sand and headed left (South) to an unknown destination. It was the perfect day for a ride! The sun was shining, and there was a nice breeze. As we made our way down PCH we came up on Balboa Island and decided to go see if there was anything going on. We soon found that bike riding was not a good idea in this area and stopped to regroup and figure out were we wanted to go.

Some one suggested the always popular cupcake place Sprinkles that is located near Fashion Island. A quick look on mapquest to see how far away it was and we were on our way (gotta love phones with the internet!). We soon came up on the biggest hill of the day and it was a big one! Michelle made it all the way up, Marie and Annel made it about 3/4's of the way and I made it about 1/2. Walking can be a good thing :). We took a quick break and were on our way again. We could see the tall buildings near our destination and this was the motivation we really needed to make it all the way.

Sooner than we could have imagined we were at Sprinkles. I've never been there before. The like was amazingly HUGE and down the sidewalk. While Michelle and Annel waited for their cupcakes Maire and I got a table and gelato from a near by store. It was GREAT and the perfect afternoon treat. After everyone's sugar tooth was satisfied we went back to our bikes to start our journey back. When we got to the bikes Annel noticed that her front tire was flat! A thorn in her tire was the evil doer! Since there were no bike shops near by we decided to walk to a near by gas station and see if they could help us. The closest one had fix a flat and we were set to head back to a bike shop we had seen a few miles back.

On or way to the bike shop we got to go down the big hill we went up earlier and it was soooooo much fun to feel the wind zipping past us!

When we got to the bike shop we were greeted by one of the most energetic people I have ever met in my life! He was pretty much nuts and gave all of us tune ups on our bikes and rambled about everything and nothing. While someone that works for him fixed Annel's tire I noticed that there was a REALLY old rusted bike in the front of the shop. It was soooo cool and I got some great pictures! The shop owner said he had pulled it out of a river but who knows.

After Annel's tire was fixed we started on the road again and only had a few miles left to go.

We made it back to our starting point about an hour later and were all happy to be done riding. All in all we rode some where between 25-27 miles. It's the longest bike ride I have ever gone one and I think Marie and Annel are in the same boat. It will be interesting to see how our bodies feel tomorrow!

Roller Derby

2008-06-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

I sold at/went to my first roller derby last weekend. It was incredible! I loved watching the few minutes of the derby I saw and how aggressive the girls were. I wish I could be like it but I'm pretty happy I'm not haha. The match was for the L.A. Derby Dolls teams the Sirens and the Touch Cookies. The Tough Cookies were the favorite since they were undefeated for the season, but the Sirens ended up winning!

It was my first time selling at anything like this and I think it went pretty well. I made enough to cover my booth space, gas to and from L.A, dinner and have a little bit left over. You aren't really allowed to take cameras into the roller but I was able to pull of taking a picture of my booth. I need to get some better lighting to string through my tent but other than that I think it looks pretty good.

Everyone there was really nice and I can't wait to sell at the 2 day tournament on June 28th and 29th. If you want to go you can get tickets at http://brownpapertickets.com/event/35418. It should be great fun times and I hope you can make it!

What else has been going on...Oh! On Sunday I woke up and found that our dog, who totally knows better, had peed on AND ruined my favorite sewing machine. I cleaned it out to no end and no matter what I do the thread still smells like urine. So, I had to buy a new sewing machine...sigh! I picked up this one at the local Wally-world since I didn't like any of the one's at Joann's and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I've made a purse and 2 fleece Angel's blankets and haven't had any problems.

This weekend will be filled with sewing and bike rides at the beach. I can't wait!

What a busy life!

2008-05-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

I've been sooooo busy lately between working, crafting, buying a new car, craft shows and just life it seems like everything is going in fast forward.

I sold at the "biggest" craft show in Orange County, Patchwork, a few weeks ago.I did pretty good. It wasn't really my crowd but that's OK, it was a great experience and I had tons of fun. Plus, I started selling my new line of Music Saves Lives purses. There were tons of people there and lots of really great crafters. I'll be adding a TON of new product to my Etsy account over the next few weeks so make sure you check in often.

I also got a new car!!! A Nissan Versa hatchback! I've needed a new car for at least a year now and I'm really excited about it. It's perfect for my busy life and lugging all of my stuff to craft shows and my bike to the beach for road trips. He doesn't have a name yet, but maybe you can help me think of one. My last car's name was Casper and with all of the electrical problems he ended up having it fit him very well. We were together for almost 7 years and had many great adventures together. He will be missed and I hope his new owner loves him as much as I did.

Hmmmm, what else? OH! This morning when I woke up our complex was flooded! Someone hit a fire extinguisher in the shopping center on the other side of the wall. I think there might be damage to our garage because there was SO much water. I got some rad pics though.

The other night my best friend Marie and I went to see Brett Dennen in Santa Moncia. What a treat that was! I had never seen him before, only heard him talk about him. He was GREAT! Such and original voice. He also made funny faces and dance while he played/sang. It was very entertaining and I highly recommend that everyone checks him out.

I'm selling at a roller derby on May 31st. It's a LA Derby Dolls event. I've always wanted to go to a roller derby and now I have my chance! If you want tickets go here.

OK time to get back to sewing. Hope you are having a great day!

I've been tagged!

2008-04-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

By Elite Art. She makes some great jewelry pieces and is extremely nice. Here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
_________________________________________________-

1. I have been to every state except Alaska

2. I fell off a 40ft cliff when I was 19.

3. I've had more than 30 jobs in 12 years (there were times when I had more than 1 job).

4. I work for a non-profit that helps save the lives of thousands of people every year.

5. I love Diet Coke and Cherry Coke Zero. Oh, and Dr. Pepper.

6. I am happier with my life right now than I have been in a long time.

7. I love riding my bike.

I don't really know anyone else that blogs besides my friend Michelle.

Wow. It's been a while

2008-03-30T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's been over a month since I've posted anything. I've been super busy creating blankets and purses for craft shows.

Here are some of my favorite blankets I made

There are a bunch of different styles and some I made more than one of. All in all there are around 18 of them and the "patch" is hand sewn on.

I sold at my very first craft show this past Saturday. It was a really fun day and I can't wait for the super big one I'm doing this coming Saturday in Huntington Beach. The 4 other ladies that I sold with this past weekend and I are going to meet in April and possibly June again as well.

I also created a purse out of a skirt that no longer fits me anymore (which is a great feeling). It's really cute and I will post pics soon. I was going to try to sell the purse, but my mom loved it SO much that I gave it to her.

I haven't been getting a ton of sleep lately so I'm gonna call it a night and write more soon.

To all you out there reading, goodnight Neverland!

The past few weeks...

2008-02-10T21:06:00.001-08:00

The past few weeks I haven't really felt like creating anything. I think I burnt myself out on sewing. I need to make some Valentine's/Birthday Day presents for my friends and I just can't get the motivation to do it. I made two of them yesterday and only have 2 left. Maybe tomorrow night after I go to the gym with some friends?

In honor of Single Awareness day, I'm having a sale through Feb. 15th, pretty much everything is Name Your Own Price. See my shop announcements for details. LuckyFindDesigns.Etsy.Com.

I've been asked to be a part of a pre-school's boutique/craft fair on April. I'm really excited and honored! This will be my very first one! I don't really have items for kids besides my bike basket linings. Purses for the mom's are good too, right? Maybe I'll check out some fabric shops and get some stuff to make blankets with :).

I logged into my Etsy.com account today and one of my apron's http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9351341 has sky rocketed to over 2,000 views. I have no idea how this happened. It must have been featured on the front page or someone posted it somewhere...no matter what, it is kinda cool!

I bought some stuff these weekend that I'm really excited about! I highly recommend you check each one, and their creator out. The first one was the first sale for the shop!
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7353349
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7357700
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7357701
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7344268

What else do people write about in these things? haha going to go check out other people's.

Until next time!
Kayte

The first one...

2008-02-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

People have been telling me I need to get one of these to talk about my creations and help with getting some more publicity to my shop. We'll see if it works. I'm usually pretty bag about this kind of stuff haha.

Check it, LuckyFindDesigns.Etsy.Com