Craft Stores and My Addiction

Addiction.  Yeah it's something we don't want to admit to.  I admit I love food.  We have a pretty damned amazing relationship.  So much so, if it turns on me, I truly feel betrayed.

Anyway, today, we're going to talk about another form of addiction.  

*stands*  My name is Pixie, And I'm addicted to craft supplies. *waits for the "Hi Pixie"*  

This really is on the hard side for me to admit.  Or should I say USED to be.  But now, I embrace my addiction, because Honestly?  I refuse to pay full price.  I'm also addicted to Sale Prices/ Clearance and Coupons.  

Let's take yesterday.  Yesterday was Sunday.  Now, if you know me, you know that I do not leave my house on Sunday.  That is truly my lay in bed, relax and recoup before a work week day.  I was up and at Joann's before they opened.  Why you may ask?  Well, they had McCall's patterns on sale for $.70 a pattern!  ALL of them!  Not like the spring and summers let's get rid of them for the fall and winter type of thing.  ALL OF THEM!  So, I got 10 patterns for me.  Then on a second order I got 6 for Mummy Dahling.  (Limit 10 per order, hence the 2 orders.(Yup, just used Hence correctly in a sentence.  HELLO SAT points!))  So, my total with tax was $ 7.49.  The total for mom's was $4.50.  For a total of $ 11.95.

Checking the math   $7.49

                             +$4.50

                              $11.95

Ya ever go to a store and they have the "You Saved" line on the bottom of the receipt   Sometimes it will be "Total Savings"?  Well which ever, That's my favorite part of the receipt.  I LOVE to see how much I saved.  Well, on Mummy Dahling's patterns, I Saved $98.80.  And on my patterns....Drum Roll Please....I saved....$125.75!!!!!! Let's check that math! 

   $ 98.80

+ $125.75

   $ 224.55

OMG, I think I had an O!  Better than sex I tell ya.  

I like to think of it as "Extreme Couponing"  without the cutting and the saving and the crap.  The very best, absolute, most AMAZING part?  I didn't use a single coupon!  NOT ONE!  And I had some good ones let me tell ya!    

So those of you who know me, now know why I have 2 two drawer and 1 three drawer filing cabinets full of patterns.  Because when I need them, I have them.  

So what do you buy en mass when you can?  

I luh me some eBay!

     Well hello again Fans.  Or Fan...Whichever...I'm ok with both.  If I can bring you a little bit of joy and humor while trying to clear the cobwebs out of my brain , well, that's pretty darned ok too.

     I have a confession to make...I love eBay.  No, really.  It's a little sick. 

     Here's the thing.  I like to craft right?  So, in my crafting enjoyment, I need to buy supplies right? 

See where the thinking is going now?

 

     So let's say I go to the two major local craft stores in my area.  I go when stuff is on clearance or on a major sale (Like 5 for $5 patterns).  I also only buy bigger stuff when I have a 40% or 50% off coupon. 

 

     As some of you may know, I've been wanting to put together an act again.  Just something we can do locally, maybe at a few of the Period Festivals.  I got to thinking.  I want something sparkly.  NO really like super duper OMG WTF type of sparkly.  So I ordered some really lovely rhinestones on eBay.  I guess the worst part about eBay is the fact that you can't really get a good look.  Meaning, I can't touch and judge and feel.  Does that make sense?  Had I been able to compare, I would have realized that 2mm stones are MINISCULE!  OMG these things are tiny!  I can use them on my nails...That's about it.  So I've ordered more.  Bigger this time thank Badness.  I also ordered specialty pencils, yes for crafting.  Ordered 4 then saw a deal for a package of ten so I have ten more heading my way.  I plan on everyone coming to my house to craft.  What FUN!!!!  I also bought some adorable ribbon for anklets and more rhinestones.  Whoever said you could have too many?  SO while digging through the craft room the other night I stumbled across a small plasticware container...FULL OF BIG RHINESTONES!  Like I said...never too many!  The thing with these stone is they are acrylic.  Which is a fancy name for plastic.  VERY pretty, not really crystal.  So those will get glued on.  Probably to props and the like. 

 

    The second lesson I learned from buying stones on eBay.  Mixed will usually mean not only a mix of colors, but they basically toss all the colors into a baggie and ship it to you.  I wanted to CRY when I saw two bags of those tiny stones all tossed in together.  I can't even with those things at the moment.  They are set aside til I can get my brain wrapped about the fact that I'm going to eventually separate them out so I can use them.  So, what did I do?  I bought another mixed lot!  BUT, before you die laughing, I ordered them larger as well so they will be much easier to separate. 

 

     While I was surfing eBay for crafting things...I came upon some light work out videos.  Now, I'm not sure how many of you know, but I'm not exactly thin.  Ok, Ok, I'm down right Ruebenesque.  So I want to get back into shape but because I have the flattest feet in the entire existence of humans ever so it seems, I have to start off with something that is not going to kill me....I bought 4 different dvd's.   I'm going to do this if it KILLS me.   Besides, in the price that I paid for 4 DVD's and shipping and handling, I still paid less that I would have if I had gone somewhere and bought one DVD.  So BONUS!!!!

 

     Annnnd while looking at the jewelry findings and stones (I want to make some kick butt custom stuff) I came across......feathers.  Not like the feathers you buy in a bag at the craft stores.  Feathers, Long and beautiful, soft and fluffy just begging to be made into something fun.  I ordered black and white ones....Shut Up I needed them!  They are ostrich plumes and LOVELY!  WAIT til you see what I have planned for these. 

 

     My next acquisition (as soon as I can get them to a price I am willing to pay) will be a lot (50 to 100) of peacock feathers.  They will be the finishing touches to my...OOPS  nope, can't tell you just yet.  Have to wait to I can make it happen.

 

WOW!  I had a lot to say today.  Must have had too much coffee LOL.  Send help I'm trapped by eBay! 

 

With All My Love,

 

Pixie

HAPPY....Third of July.

Cause Badness knows if I'm even going to make it on here at any point this weekend.

So I've decided I want to learn to belly dance.  I know, sounds a little weird but I've always loved it.  And for the weight loss aspect.  Ya see,  I'm what we call Ruebenesque.  The problem with that is it's very difficult what with the boobers and the flat feet to do anything too terribly strenuous.  So I figured belly dancing would be a nice gentle way to build up my strength to possibly move on to something harder. 

And now I wait for my videos to show up.  I luuuuuuuuuuuv me some Ebay. 

Friday I'll be out with a bunch of my HoS peeps supporting WIT Improv. 

I've decided not to let negative things be they events, situations, or people, hold me down anymore.  I mean, everything happens for a reason right?  Well here's the thing, I'm sure I will still have moments of anger, self doubt and frustration.  But maybe if I can use that energy to work towards my goals, things will work out the way I would like them to.  It's solid in theory anyway.

So, in closing, I'm hoping to be much more active on here.  We'll See!

With Love

Hello and Welcome to 40.....

Oye!  Ya know, this whole getting older thing, it's for the birds!  I;m not sure who decided at 40 that they suddenly wanted to start playing with the thermostat in my body, but they need to knock it off!  This hot then cold flash dance suuuuuuuuuucks!

Of course, someone suggested I go to a dr and get hormones.  Uh, No thank you, I'll pass.  Ya see, menopause is like puberty...in reverse.  Can you imagine having to deal with that crap over years?!?!  Not to mention, Hello?  I'm Latin.  I'm hairy enough!!!  If I took hormones Jaxie Boo would be able to braid the GD hair on my back!!!  And Jinxie Boo would like put beads and bows in it!!!!  Told you my friends are hysterical! 

So, in closing, allow me to regale you with what happened at the salon today.  So, I went to get my eyebrows and lip done (or get de-yetified as Hubby Bubby (that's Frank to the rest of you) and I so affectionately call it.)  I did mention I was Latin right?   I lay down on the little bed thing and the girl is looking at my face and we have the following conversation.....

Her -  Oh...I be right back....

Me - Uh...Ok

Her- (calls out from the little room in Vietnamese)

In comes the owner of the salon, they talk the owner comes over and looks at my face.

Owner - Oh Honey (She couldn't remember my name if her life depended on it...Just sayin)  you have red on you face by you eye.  Like rash o irritation.  (hands me a mirror)

Me-  WHAT?!  (grabs mirror and looks) Uh...no...that's eyeshadow! 

Yup..that just happened about an hour again.  My life I tell ya.  And it wasn't even red eyeshadow, it was dark pink! 

I mean really?  Is it me?!

And Welcome Back to you too...

PHEW!  Ya ever been so busy you don't know whether to wind your ass or scratch your watch?  Yup that me lately...ALL the TIME.  I saw on FB somewhere about  "If you want to know what a creative person's mind is like, just picture a browser with 2857 windows open, all at once all the time."  Truer words were never spoken!  I feel like that 24/7.  Half the time the reason I can't sleep is because my brain won't shut up long enough for me to fall down the rabbit hole.

Things that have happened lately?  Well Jaxie Boo's youngest lil Sweetheart turned a year old.  AH MAZING!  Can't wait to see the mini Boo's I love so very much.  *waves* Titi loves you!

My other Bestie Boo. We'll call her Jinxie Boo for the sake of anonymity she is doing amazing and is finished with the Festival so I finally get Jinxie Boo time!  VERY IMPORTANT.

OH And Gramma is coming into town for Mother's day.  VERY exciting!  It's been two years and I'm trying to get all the time I can with her.  And of course Mother's Day with the most amazing MAMI in the entire world the rest of you can suck it!   Just sayin...

OH I almost forgot!!!!  My temporary job?  Yeah...it became permanent on the 29th of April.  Not even here a month and they decided to keep me!  I am thrilled!!!

My pal, we'll call him Jimmy here, had what he calls an "incident".  I had no idea "incident" translated into MILD STROKE.  I am happy to report Jimmy is feeling much better and doing AWESOME!

Spring/Summer is doing it;s thing here in St. Petersburg, FL.  That means several things...
1)  My pollen allergies are kicking my BUTT!
2) We'll be getting into the rain pattern here which means it will pour from 2-4 and then be steamy.  Time to make sure all the A/C's in the cars have freon or what have you.
3) The Costuming bug is eating me alive!  I have to get my sewing room cleaned up so I can start working on stuff.  I have all kinds of ideas.  Everything from the evil snobby McSpiffy piratical era family, to the burlesque troupe (Yet unnamed) to the Saloon girls in the Old West and the Pub girls of the Renissamce period.  LOTS of sewing!!!!

What are you guys up to?

My Friends are hysterical

So, one of my dearest besties, We'll call her Jaxie Boo here for annimity purposes,  made a joke a few months ago about me falling into my purse and finding a new world....Smartass.

I countered with, At least we would never starve and always have make up!  So today, While thinking about that one my lunch break and digging through my purse I made the following realizations.

1)  I was right.  We would not starve for at least 2 days...possibly three is we ration it out.
2)  I was right about the make-up.  We could literally go from day look to evening and then special occasion with JUST what's in my emergency make up bag.
3)  We would be able to defend ourselves.
4)   We'd stay warm and be able to cook over an open flame.
5)  Our hair would be fabulous.
6) We'd have accessories.
7)  I could hand sew up any holes in any clothing...any color!
8) "Lady" troubles would be no trouble for us for at least a few days.
9)  We would be clean...(Baby wipes work wonders)
10) Our hands would be so sanitized!
11) We would not be ashy.
12) We could write last will and testiments in different colors in an actual mini notebook.
13)  If fish magically jumped out of a river and wrapped themselves in rice and seaweed, we'd be ready to eat them with the proper utensils.
14) And we'd have pictures to prove to people how we survived.  Off a GD camera!

Jaxie Boo you stop laughing!

Am I alone in this problem?

Let me hear from you!!!!

Endings...and New Beginnings

So, as many of you know, last Friday, March 29th 2013 was my last day at work for a major corporation where I was employed for 9 years.  It was surreal and there were so many mixed emotions.  I mean the people who were left in my department weren't co workers.  They were friends I was just lucky enough to work with.  So much to tell but not enough time at the moment.  I'll revisit this again.

Started the new job on Monday.  Small company, total of 6 employees including me.  The office is quiet....too quiet.  It's a little disconcerting for me.  SO far I like everyone.  I mean they all pretty much keep to themselves but yeah they're pretty cool.  More on this again later.

Still a lot of stuff going on in my head.

XO  for now darlings.

Pixie

So you wanna make a video huh ?

OMG!  What a crazy weekend!

     So I  filmed the first Episode of Cooking Con Chicas.  Wow the amount of editing will be phenomenal! BUT, on the plus side, the bread turned out perfect and it was delicious! Wednesday we will work on editing and see if I can post it.  We'll also be deciding  what we want to make on the next episode of Cooking Con Chicas and gather ingredients.  So, Is it gauche to tell people they can donate to keep the show going?

     Sunday night, Hubby Bubby (that's Frank to the rest of you) surprised me by renting The Awakening.  I LOVED IT!  I was so completely impressed, I went back to the first scene when the credits were rolling and watched it again from the beginning.  GREAT couple of twists in the ending.  Totally did not see it coming.

     Here's the thing.  I love movies.  NO REALLY, I love movies.  And I can usually guess what's going to happen (especially in suspense horror movies) pretty quickly.  My record?  Ten minutes into Secret Window, I knew what was going on.  Not because it was a bad movie.  In fact exactly the opposite.  It really is another one of my favorite movies.  But something just told me the ending.  I, of course, blurt it out and ruined the movie for Hubby Bubby.  So, now, if I know an ending, I am not allowed to tell!

     What types of movies do you like?  Are you pretty good about figuring them out?

Adieu for Now Bebes!!!!

E-MAIL ME!

Back...Back in the St. Pete Groove!

Ok so the actual title of the KISS song is Back in the New York Groove!  And I love the song, I love the band and I love Gene Simmons....Don't Judge me!!!!!!! 

So, Things have been a roller coaster of emotion and trials and tribulations.   But here I am!  Living, Kicking Butt and taking names!!!! 

Things going here are going to be amazing soon.  Mumsy and I are starting a cooking vlog.  Yup, Cooking Con Chicas will be going live in the next week or so.  I'm gonna be cross blogging I think.  I'm also hoping to self publish a cookbook.  About stories and recipes my mom shares with me so they are not lost to our younger generations.  I want my nieces and their babies to have these recipes and prepare them for their own families.  

I should have done one at Christmas for Pastelles.  Mom says that was the last time she's ever making them but this year we will be making them again so I can do a Noche Buena (Christmas Eve for you non Latins out there)  version of the show/cookbook.  

 Right now, we will be concentrating on artisan breads as we've found e-books with LOTS of recipes.  

So tell me fans!  What would you like to see on Cooking Con Chicas?   Let me know here or through my e-mail and maybe....JUST maybe, we'll mention you in a taping.  At some point...Maybe we'll have guests on the show...

Let me get this started and we'll go from there. 

Adios bebes and MUCH love!