So many cool crafts to share!!! May 28, 2008
I am so excited about all the ideas I am finding on the internet for crafts!
I have reclaimed my garage from my son and his friends. I have a workbench and a drafting desk to work at! Everything is out there! I just need more rubbermaid containers to sort things out.
I have made some cool things with empty paint cans purchased from Lowes. The pint size and the gallon size. I have also made some cool photo holders with the 2″ large black clips. Very inexpensive little gifts!!!
And I have discovered vinly with adhesive backing at Joannes that is the absolute bomb on the cricut cutter!!!! I used the cricut cutter for the letters and flowers on the paint can. I also used it for the letters and words on the painted wood plaques.
I have ideas coming out my ears!!! I saw a tutorial for tiles that you stamp. You can see it too at splitcoaststampers.com. That is a wonderful site!!!
This week will pass soon! It will be a very busy summer for my family and I. I start massage therapy classes on June 5th, my son starts football in July and my daughter starts volleyball practice for Delta College in June.
Won’t leave much time for my crafts! But I will figure someting out 
Might even try to sneak in a long weekend in Santa Cruz or Monterey over the summer.
New phases in life May 17, 2008
I have worked at my clerical ”day” job for nearly 26 years. During that time I have been married, adopted a daughter, had a son via in vitro, (the adoption and in vitro are a huge story in themselves, the most wonderful experiences I have had in my life) been divorced and have been through many changes in my life.
Because I am divorced I know I have to keep my day job to pay the bills. But I have been restless for some time now. Needing a change, needing to learn something new.
So last October I took a 2nd job as a receptionist at a skin and body care salon on the saturdays when my kids were at their dads. I love the atmosphere and was hoping to go to school to obtain an estethicians license at some point.
After several months, the answer became crysal clear to me how to move on creatively and preprare for the next phase of my life. I am going to school to learn massage therapy. Everything is just falling into place.
I can go to school 2 evenings a week and on weekends when my kids are at their dads. I can’t cut into too much of my kids time. It will be tough for a couple of months, but then I can network with other massage therapists for tips and techniques. I can go back to the skin and hair care salon as a massage therapist rather than a receptionist.
I am very excited about this! I thought I would have to wait to go to school until I retired. But now I will be prepared to do something I love and enjoy when my full time career is over.
I am a creative person at heart and my clerical job of nearly 26 years was not the place I could express that.
I think that with the crafts I do for therapy and now with the new skills I will learn, my restlessness will be replaced with peace.
So did I tell you I am 46 years young? See, it is never too late to try something new. I am investing in myself and that is a good thing!
Beautiful Jeweled Candle Holder May 13, 2008
I had to have this candle holder. I love silver and sparklies! The picture doesn’t do it justice. And I want to put a white or pale pink candle in it. But for now the vanilla caramel custard candle will have to do! (This is $27.98 in the Gold Canyon Summer catalog)
Trash to Treasure May 13, 2008
An old wood frame found by my favorite trash to treasure finder Eddie (or as I like to call him Ed Sanford, or Ed the junk man Taylor). I painted it with some old leftover interior paint. I used my handy sharpie to draw the lines and dots. I purchased a piece of heavy black board from Longs. Cut to size with a box cutter. I used my Cricut to cut the letters. I glued them with a gluestick. I also added a line of polka dot ribbon on the bottom and top of the board to cover up a couple of boo boos.
This was a really inexpensive project if you don’t count the Cricut cutter 
It is rough, but it is only my first one! And they can only get better!!!
Any ideas or special requests?? Email me.
Time at home May 7, 2008
I find that I am pretty busy most of the time. If I don’t have a few hours to piddle around at home now and then I get very stressed out. I love to be on the go. But… I need some time to water the plants, and that type of thing. So luckily tonight there was no baseball game, meeting or anywhere else I needed to be but home!
I was able to water my plants, pull weeds, make dinner and clean the kitchen. Woohoo! I said it was the little things that are important and being home an evening or two during the week is very important to me. And I am sure my family appreciated the spaghetti and a calmer mom!
Great Sunblock May 7, 2008
My son hates lotion, so he really hates sunblock. Says it feels slimy. Colorscience has a SPF 30 powder sunblock that is applied like mineral makeup. It doesn’t feel like a heavy lotion. It is also very good for sensitive skin. A small orbit is $20.00 at Complexions Skin Care in Stockton. (not just a plug for them, this stuff is good for picky kids)
Sweet little treats May 2, 2008
Hershey Hugs and
Hershey Nuggets were used in these containers. I love the mini Chinese take out containers and the clear lid hinged tins. 12 nuggets fit perfectly in the tins. And a handful of hugs fits nicely in the other container with a little bit of shredded paper on the bottom.
Candles May 2, 2008
Display for my first Gold
Canyon open house. Bad side view due to glare. But I need to make perfect for the next event. It’s all in the “small details”
