The shirt off my back..... literally.

 For my daughters last day of break, I took her out to breakfast and went to the stores to do a little shopping. She really enjoys the mommy-daughter time. Now when I say "stores" and "shopping" I mean we went to the Community Aid store and bought mommy some cheap shirts because my dog has eaten all of my other clothes. I am quite literally sick to death of finding all of my clothes and sweaters eaten. And it's not just mine, my kids and husband are fighting the same battle. 


It sounds easy to fix, just don't leave clothes for her to eat. But for some reason, she still gets them. Last night she got up on the table into a gift bag and pulled out my daughters brand new shirt from her birthday and ate 1/4 of the sleeve before I saw her!!!! Brand NEW. My army green cardigan and my sons steelers jersey also got destroyed this week. We've tried medicating her with prozac, training her according to a behaviorist, extra attention, exercise and Nada. My husband wants her gone, but she's been with us for 11 years. She is family and you just can't get rid of family for nasty habits. 

So, I'm at a loss as to what to do. It's obviously dangerous for her because eventually she will bite off more than she can chew and it's literally costing us thousands. What to do?

The Kind Diet

First I would like to say, I am not a vegan. I am not a member of PETA and I never will. However, I am a vegetarian by choice. Meat, disgusts me and my stomach always has a hard time with it. Not to mention everytime I ate chicken, I always got that stringy black vein that would hang out and make me gag.  I've been a vegetarian for awhile and would like to try being vegan. I just don't know if I can give up my dairy or eggs. Cheese is awesome. Goats milk makes great soap. So how do I go about changing my diet to improve my health? Frankly, I'm not sure I can. I give kudos to those who can be vegan but I have no idea how to do it myself. I've started reading "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. I like Alicia and I find her attitude about life and her dedication to the environment compelling. So I'm going to read her book and find out more about the vegan lifestyle and I'll let you know if I decide to go vegan. A book review of sorts.


But that would mean giving up Blizzards from DQ and that is a scary prospect. Of course the fact I'm lactose intolerant should be a deterrent, but it's not. They're just that good!

Oh so thankful...

So I've been seeing a lot of the "I am thankful" routines and status's on facebook and as much as some of  it kind of makes me gag, I thought I would compile a list of my own. I have a lot to be thankful for.

I am thankful...

that I didn't strangle anyone today.

for cheesecake.

for the invention of the DVR. Where would I be without it.

for coffee, the drink of the gods.

that I'm not a sheep. I would look really bad with a wool coat. 

For tylenol for my aches and pains.

for really hot guys. 

for my really comfortable bed. If only I could sleep in again.

for the Harry Potter movies. My favorite rainy weekend getaway.

for lemon bars. How can anyone not like them?

for my kids and hubby whom I love more than life itself.  For my best friend Dana who I swear is actually my sister. For my sisters who make me question everything. For my hair-brained brother who lives life on the edge. 

Happy Thanksgiving! Eat tofurkey!

Candle making 1-2-3

I read an article in a popular magazine about how to make your own candles cheap and easy. You buy some wax, wick material and fragrance from your local craft store, find a container or glass you like, melt the wax, add fragrance and dye, pour and voila, a perfect candle. 


Ummm......not quite. Boy are people going to be in for a big surprise. Anyone can do that for sure. And with some luck, your candle will look really good. And then you light it and find that you have a flame thrower or a wick that stays lit for a short period of time or tunnels down quickly leaving a huge amount of wax on the sides or one that does not smell at all. There is a lot more to making a good candle that smells awesome and lasts a long time than making one that just looks nice. I found that out the hard way when I first started. 


It took months and lots of money for me to make one really awesome candle and then many more months and money to perfect it. Even then, things are always changing and you have to continue testing your products to make sure that they safe and still the quality you pride yourself in making.  Just like anything, you can do it the easy way or do it the right way.

Of Grammar and Vampire Candles, Oh My!

In order to bring more traffic to my site I have been using Link Referral. It's a site that requires actual participation in order to get more traffic to your own site. You review a number of sites a day. I actually enjoy it.  One thing I have noticed is how important the name of your website is when it comes to attracting people to your site.
I can't even begin to tell you how many sites I pass by without checking them out because of the name of their site. The name has to stand out and pull people in. It has to make them want to check you out.

A good example I found today is http://www.chickscratch.etsy.com/  This sites name made me want to see more. I'm glad I did too because they have the coolest massage candle. I love the unusual and dark and this candle is simply too cool looking for words. 
Check out this candle: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29064344

Another thing, spelling and grammar. It really is important when trying to attract buyers and looking professional. I know it is a PITA but it is worth it to check your spelling and grammar. An occasional error is fine but when your spelling and grammar is so bad that an English teacher would have a hay day with the red marker, it's a turn off.

Oatmeal Spice soap- Natural

Here is my receipe for my basic Oatmeal Spice soap. I make it for me and my kids because we all have sensitive skin. It's also a favorite of some of my friends.

1 lb of either Natural Oatmeal glycerin (or you can use Natural White base and add Collidal Oatmeal)
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 tsp powdered clove
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 tbsp toasted oatmeal, ground

Melt your base, glycerin and olive oil in a double boiler until fully melted. DO NOT BOIL. Stir frequently. Remove from heat and add cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Pour into molds. Let cool for about 2-3 minutes and then sprinkle toasted oatmeal over soap.

It has a great bubbly lather and is very gentle to the skin.

To vice, or not to vice....

I always thought it was funny when hubby would say "we all need a vice, it's a gauge of how we are coping" . Suddenly I realize how very true that is. I don't believe we NEED a vice but most of do have them. Some obviously worse than others. My hubby unfortunately has a few but the biggest is his drinking. Coming from a long history of alcoholics but not having been raised by one, anyone can see that there is something to the genetic factor when it comes to addiction and alcoholism. That's another blog.

So what are my vices? I eat. That of course is the American way. I drink Diet coke. You should see how antsy I get when we are out. I watch Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean a lot. Probably more than what is healthy but I really like watching them when I am down. Hey, Johnny Depp is hilarious and Orlando Bloom is incredibly hot.

So because they are vices, should I be trying to stop them? I can see if I was a drinker or smoker and it was hurting me physically or my family but if my vices are simply self gratifying is there a need to overcome them just for the sake of not having a vice. Is it a sign of moral weakness to not want to conquer them?

Hmmm...food for thought. So I'm going to go have a diet coke and a candy bar and think this over.