Where Are You, Christmas?

We are in Asheville for the big Alvaro/Gaines Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad took me to this bead store and this fabric store a few days ago. I'm so impatient to get cracking and fill the store. There's so much to do...so we had a family meeting and John Jay suggested forgoing Christmas decorations this year. I was hesitant at first, but I think it's the only way to get all the Etsy stuff and our gifts made in time. All he requested was Russian Tea. I can do that. So we are going to soak up all the festivities at Gran and Mimi's houses and stop at that. 

I'll let you know if I give in and put together a last-minute Charlie Brown tree!

Happy Thanksgiving!

More Monster Paraphernalia

I made this a few weeks ago for Judah - sometime around Halloween. Monster stuff seems to suit him best. And it doesn't hurt that "hi" is one of his new favorite words. It's always drawn out - southern style and said with a smile..."hiiiiieeeeeee!"






























*Love the suggestions for vintage, by the way. You guys are funny.

I Need Your Help!

With the surplus of items to describe, I've found myself in need of some synonyms for the word "vintage." According to Etsy, it means "things that are at least 20 years old." A lot of my jewelry has vintage components and I find myself typing it over and over and over.




I need some suggestions! Here are a few that have been offered so far:

- earrings from yesteryear...
- the chain from a necklace older than your granny's panties...
- a pendant from days of yore...
- made with elderly beads...
- this bracelet is no spring chicken...
- just plain old.

Got any more?

New Stuff Is In!

Click HERE to shop.

Free Time?...What's That?

First of all, thanks. I can't keep jewelry in the store!
Secondly, keep checking. There are so many fun ideas bouncing around in my head right now! And this weekend mom and I get to hit up all the bead stores in Nashville...YEAH!

I wish I had more time. Isn't that everyone's deal? But honestly, if I could get an extra hour, this is what I would be doing:














Only there would be a John Jay in the picture too. But I should check with him before I cash in my extra hour. I'm sure he needs an extra week at this point. I don't know how he does what he does.
He's our hero.
Oh, also, I love how I'm the one watching the Baby Einstein in this picture...

Side Note: Go buy some of this and put it in your coffee. This eggnog is so thick and good. I just threw back my morning cup of joe in record time.

Pumpkiny Goodness

Thanks for all the encouragement about the blog. I'm definitely planning on more asymmetrical necklaces, as well as a few more bibs/burp cloths. But Christmas presents are competing right now for my attention. The season is moving quickly!
Remember these? I try to keep a batch of them in the freezer for quick breakfasts. This week I had some pumpkin on hand...I added golden raisins, cloves and nutmeg. Judah's been gobbling them up. The pumpkin was left over from this recipe:

Pumpkin Loaf With Cream Cheese Ribbon:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup veggie oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Cream Cheese Mixture:
6-8 oz. cream cheese, softened
a little butter, softened
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. grated orange rind (this was good!)

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda. Also cream together the cream cheese mixture.

2 Mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, but do not mix too thoroughly.

3 Pour half the batter into a well-buttered 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Top with a layer of the cream cheese mixture. Pour remaining pumpkin batter on top. Bake 50-60 minutes until a thin skewer poked in the very center of the loaf comes out clean.

It's Here! It's Here!

Finally!

www.corrieberrypie.etsy.com

I'm just getting started...there's more to come. But go check it out and let me know what you think!

The Visitor

It was about 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning and I woke up to a clankity-clank coming from somewhere in our bedroom. I nudged John Jay, who very groggily informed me that it was probably just the wind. I tried to go back to sleep, and heard it again. But every time I turned the lights on....nothing. Fine. I'll just get up and drink my coffee - it was probably this old house creaking anyway. Five minutes later, I hear it again! John Jay couldn't ignore it this time. Plus, I told him that whatever it was would eat all of his books. That got him up. Then I heard him...."ooooOOOOOOooohhh.......my........GOSH!"

A rat/squirrel had jumped down our chimney and was walking along the top of the laundry basket that I left on the hearth. (He left little soot prints along the edge!) It was too dark and early to tell which critter it was, so we officially went with squirrel, since they are cute, crazy and a lot less gross than rats.
John Jay manned his post (from up on the bed with a broom in hand) for over an hour until our maintenance people could come board it up. Unfortunately, that is their long-term solution since the bricks around the chimney are crumbling and would have to be completely replaced to avoid more intrusions.

Ew. Plywood boards over the fireplaces? It looks like we live in an abandoned gas station.
Well, not anymore! My solution?











Why bother with messy, hot fires when you can have this beautiful, lukewarm addition year round!? Complete with hand-painted crown molding!



















The bedroom fireplace serves as a memento to our special visitor.



















Good-bye fireplaces, hello cheeky art.