Been a While

'Member how I used to blog? Yeah, then I just stopped for months! Lame, I know. I've been doing a lot of thinking about making, but just not getting around to the actual making part. Some things I've been thinking about making...

Bakerella's Pillow Cookies (brownie and chocolate chip cookie all in one? Yes, Please!)

Home made basil pesto, with my home grown basil, which hasn't died! I'm not the best at keeping plants alive, but the Rock Star pretty much tends the garden, so this stuff is thriving.

I am in LOVE with these overalls. The print, the bow, the ruffles on the bottom? C'mon! I want to try and copy them. Mom, you may be getting some sewing related phone calls soon.

I'm also feeling so inspired by all the upcycling people are doing in the blog world, turning old and boring clothes into new and fabulous clothes. I have a few pieces set aside that will hopefully get a make-over soon. In the mean time, here are links to some of my favorites

1. Katies Scandalous to Fabulous Skirt

2. Ashley's Stained Shirt turned Shrug

3. Katie's Liberty Shirt Turned Skirt

4. Jess's Floral Refashion

5. Nancy's T-shirt Skirt

What I Can Do

As a new mother, I spend a fair bit of time nursing my baby. And to keep myself entertained while doing so, I'll read, surf the Internet, or watch TV. I don't know if you've watched much TV lately, but if you've turned on CNN, it's pretty much constant coverage of the Haiti earthquake and ensuing spiral into chaos. Here I sit on my big comfy couch, in my nice, temperature-regulated, structurally-sound home, feeding my baby, while watching Soledad O'Brien report about orphaned babies in Haiti with no formula.

Que the tears and feelings of helplessness.

It was a familiar feeling. I remembered feeling that way when I read about NieNie's accident. But that familiarity reminded me that I am, in fact, not helpless. DesignMom empowered me to know that even if my talents cannot directly contribute to the cause, there is some way to help. I may not be able to, quite literally, rescue a child from imminent danger like Anderson Cooper, but I have the ability to help in my own small way. And if Larry King can auction off his suspenders for the cause, I can sell my jewelry, and donate all proceeds to the relief effort. So that's what I'm doing. For any jewelry sold in my etsy shop by January 31st, I will be donating 100% of the proceeds. I'll be posting a couple of new items in the shop this coming week as well, so check back regularly.

Make a purchase if you have the means, and please help spread the word through your own blogs, and we can all help those in such desperate need.

Thank you-

Angela

And They're Off!

I shipped out my auction items today! I've been so inspired and touched by the generosity of so many people throughout this whole experience. The auctions at A Room Somewhere alone raised nearly $3,000! I know it's a small contribution to what will be astronomical medical bills, but I also know that every bit helps lift the burden now placed on this lovely family, and I know it is appreciated. A special thanks to Leslie and DesignMom for enabling my participation. And a special thanks to Fran and Laura who bought my items. I hope you love them!

Nie Nie Day

I've been reading everywhere, as I'm sure a lot of you have, about tragic plane crash that left this couple in critical condition. I have a tendency to feel so helpless when I hear about things like this. Fortunately, there are people in this world who don't flounder like me. They act. And they encourage the rest of us to join in. Leslie, who's blog I've loved ever since she was a guest mom on Design Mom, has invited any interested to participate in a blog auction on her site, and since I'm certain she has more readers in a week than I get in a year, I figured I'd participate in hers. She will be auctioning off the below necklace, as well as a pair of earrings. Please tell your friends and of course, bid away, because you've been wanting those earrings for a while now anyways, and this time it's all going to the worthiest of causes. Auctioning begins this Thursday and goes all weekend. Spread the word, and by all means, auction off your own items. Every little bit helps.

Make Sure it's Really Good...

This post may sound a little like an Austin style rant, but as a caveat, I would like to say that I enjoy Ina Garten. She seems like a very nice lady, and the food she makes generally sounds appealing, otherwise I'd stop watching her show. That being said, she has some eccentricities that crack me up. Today she was making Asian Marinated Salmon, and the marinade had three ingredients. I kid you not, as she was adding each ingredient she said the words "really good".

"Start out with three tablespoons of really good Dijon mustard. Add one tablespoon of really good soy sauce, and as you whisk those together, gradually add one cup of really good olive oil."

The mustard and the oil I could maybe justify, but really good soy sauce? Is there such a thing as really bad soy sauce? Does the distinction need to be made?

I've also decided that they must have some really interesting hardware stores in the Hampton's, because she manages to buy everything under the sun at the hardware store. Today she was using a food mill, talking about how it was one of her favorite kitchen tools, and she said "And the best part is, you can just pick them up at the hardware store." Really? I'm pretty sure they don't carry food mill's at Home Depot or Lowe's.

The other day I was watching an episode where she was making something with mozzarella in it, and she said "And make sure it's really good mozzarella, not that rubber stuff you buy at the grocery store". Huh? Where else am I supposed to buy mozzarella? Probably the hardware store.