HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Photo: ma's famous popcorn balls

A family tradition in our house growing up was ma's popcorn balls. We'd make them for Halloween treats, placing each in a sandwich bag tied with a twisty until they were gobbled up. Since my sister shared the recipe on her facebook page, I figured it was fair that I share it with the blog world as well:

Mix -

1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup water
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

Bring to a boil (approx. 2 minutes). To ensure the mixture is ready, you can also place a little in a glass of cold water. If the mixture forms a hard ball, it is done. Take off of the heat and add 3/4 tsp of vanilla.

Pop approximately 3 cups of Orville Redenbacher (ma swears this tastes better) popcorn, sift out all the left over seeds, and place popcorn in a large bowl. Pour mixture over the popcorn and mix well. When it is cool enough to touch (but the warmer the better because they stick together better and easier), take a handful of popcorn and squeeze into ball of desired size. Allow to completely cool then place in container or plastic sandwich baggies.

ENJOY!!!

Prayer (meditation) Bead Making

I have a short attention span when it comes to crafting, this is why I don't do needle point or scrap booking (anymore). I don't own a sewing machine, and I can barely hand sew on a button to much disgrace from my mother, whom has been a seamstress for the last 40+ years. I would like, however, to learn how to knit. It's one of those things I wish I had paid more attention to when my g'ma was doing it when growing up. I attempted to learn via a "how to" book but couldn't figure out how to make the loop back around so gave up. I may sign up for a class at the local crafting store at some point? I hope they are good with teaching lefty techniques and have a whole lotta patience!

I usually just stick to less time consuming crafts. For one Christmas, I hand stamped then embossed stationary tied in a ribbon for family. Another I did prayer beads. Beading is fun, but can be very expensive especially for the more unique looking beads, which of coarse I love! I purchased a book: A String & A Prayer by Eleanor Wiley and Maggie Oman Shannon that has oodles of information in it including; the history of prayer beads (also used for meditation), importance of the number of beads, the importance of the color of the beads, and how-to's. If I ever got a serious collection of beads going, I feel pretty confident I could start making jewelry as well, because I already have the crimpers, needle nose, and wire cutter tools, but then there are other projects that distract me (like my photo alphabet).



P.S. If you are a crafter as well, check out The Girl Indie Blog!!

ABC'S AND 123'S

ABC's............

I recently started working on a "photo alphabet" series that included shapes of letters that I found in various places such as the beach, playgrounds, and objects around the house. This one, DREAM, is one I did for myself in my bedroom. The D was seaweed that was laying on the beach, the R was a half dead palm tree, the E was part of an arm on a iron chair, the A was the bottom part of a lifeguard chair, and the M was a bicycle rack. I also did a LOVE for my mom (L was a boot, O was the red ball you find outside Target, V was written in the sand at the beach, and the E was part of a wooden fence), and a HOPE for my sister. Happy letter hunting!!

and 1,2,3's.............

Photo Credit: UGGS/world wide web

I'm broke. And broke does not allow you to purchase truly selfish items such as these. But if I were to get a Christmas bonus (usually a gift card to a local department store which we sometimes get a couple days before Black Friday) this year, I would get these stylish UGGS, and I would not feel one ounce of guilt either. I am not necessarily impressed with the name brand, that is very unlike me, I would be all over a knockoff brand that no doubt would be much cheaper as well, rather I just think they are so cute and look my style. But to make me feel even better, I wish they be on sale when/if I can get them because then I can get some other smaller items to place in the goodwill box. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!

What's in your wallet?





PS: my new favorite website is etsy.com ( handmade marketplace from sellers in more than 150 countries.) - here are some of my favorite pages/sellers -

Batcakes Couture

Branda

Change Purses for Change

Simply Sweet

HAPPY PLACE

I recently redecorated my patio. I figured since it had just been painted and looked SO much better then before, I should rid the rusty outdoor chairs & table and replace it with something more "me". I had been eyeing a Crackle Barrel rocker for many years, but thought they were too pricey (130.00), that was until I was at a CB and noticed that this white slatted rocker had been marked down to 97.00. I looked it over and sure it had a few scuffs on the rockers, but nothing that I couldn't paint over. The only catch was that it was a no return policy, but since I had sat in it and looked it over, I didn't think much of it.

I was so giddy with my "savings" that the next day I went to Lowe's to see if I could find a pillow and rubber mat (sometimes the flooring gets wet when it rains diagonally). I found both clearanced out since it is now technically "winter" in some parts of this country (not here as it is 92 degrees today!), and as I was making my way out of the store, I looked over and what do I see? White slatted rockers! Not only were they identical to my Crackle Barrel rocker (minus the CB medallion), they were 70.00!!!! I really didn't care if I had an "official" CB rocker rather just a nice rocker for my porch, but it is what it is, as I never go to Lowe's so I would have never had known they sell them.

I love it out there now. It's my happy place where I can read, meditate, or just simply relax without the buzz of the tv or radio. I can watch canoer's move up and down the river through the opening of trees while rocking back n' forth. The only thing I am missing is a wind chime, then it should be complete.

Where is your happy place?

If I were President

In no particular order:

1. I'd make it mandatory that everyone works part time hours but gets full time pay & benefits. We'd all have jobs and be happier!
2. Pharmaceutical companies would not be allowed to give money towards funding political races, rather towards medical research to rid diseases. Oh wait, they don't want that because that would put them out of business. Fair is fair. So then they must put their millions towards bettering ones community with illegal gun buybacks, feeding the homeless, education, building skating parks & after school programs. Can you imagine how much greatness could come from that!?!?
3. If there is DNA evidence in a murder case and the person is found guilty, they are really striped of all their rights and be put to death. Save the money on appeals and "life in prison" and put that money towards rehabilitation programs for other prisoners.
4. Strict laws on willfully employing illegal immigrants. Shame on you for enabling such behavior! We have a process to work in the US/become a US citizen, my grandfather did it, and if a person is not willing to it the correct way go back to your homeland until you are.
5. Stop tattoo discrimination.
6. Any expecting parent must attend a parenting course.
7. If you don't graduate from high school/achieve a GED you cannot collect government assistance.
8. Prisoners must learn how to take care of themselves. No meals that are not produced from the garden/animals they tend to everyday.
9. If you are on government assistance, you must volunteer a certain amount of your time & services to a charity/organization. Whether it be at a after school program or helping the Red Cross during disasters....this is more meant for the under educated baby makers of the country rather someone who has a legitimate health issue or someone who needs a hand up not a handout.
10. Everyone qualifies for health care.

.......that is if I were President.

Enjoy your FRIDAY!!!!!!

This N' That & That N' This

1. I tend to put the wrong cd in the cover when I am changing out music in the car.
2. Lately, I have found myself somewhat addicted to Emerald's Breakfast Blend Trail Mix.
3. I rarely have the tv/radio on when I am home.
   
4. I am a optimist.
5. I experience anxiety when something on my car breaks down.
6. I work too much but it's gotta get me somewhere one day right?
7. If a large sum of money dropped from the sky my guilty purchase would be a Toyota Tacoma OR a Jeep Wrangler.
8. I miss having a dog. Sometimes I walk past the dog park just to watch other people's dogs play fetch and frolic with other dogs.
9. I am fascinated with old school vintage. I think it oozes a classiness that in this day & age seems misplaced?
10. I am looking forward to spending many a time on my patio reading during these winter months. Summer was too long this year!