May 1st is SPACE DAY!

Tomorrow, MAY 1st, is Space Day and International Space Day
which is always the first Thursday in May

According to Holiday Insights... "Space Day gives you the opportunity participate in the excitement and fascination of space. It's a topic of interest to millions, old and young alike. It's a topic as broad as the universe. "

Originally started to get America's youth interested in math and science, Space Day focuses upon creating an interest and awareness of all kinds of topics and issues related to space. This holiday caught on quickly, and became wildly popular.

So how will you celebrate Space Day???

Find an event near you and ...go!

Visit a science center, or observatory.

Buy a "Man in the Moon" necklace from monaco designs!

Get out your telescope and view the heavens.

Buy a "Man in the Moon" necklace from monaco designs!

Watch television documentaries on space.

Buy a "Man in the Moon" necklace from monaco designs!

hmmm... I see a trend here.....

Quote of the Day

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. "
-Herm Albright

It's FREE CONE day!

It's free cone day today at Ben and Jerry's!!!

click here to find out where there is one near you.

I wanna know...

How do you write zero in Roman numerals?

One of my favorite people....

I've never met Carol Emma... yet she has become one of my very favorite people. Just in brief emails and through reading her blog I've realized that we are kindred spirits. I admire her greatly and have a great admiration for her views on life and for her work.

To get a glimpse into her life... check out her blog... carolemma.blogspot.com
A glimpse into her work can be found in her etsy shop (although she does not list all of her work here) Carol Emma Handcrafted Jewelry
Here are a few of my favorite things! (I feel like breaking into song!!!)

...raindrops on roses and.....





just click on the images to be taken to that page in her shop....

She has a unique sense of style... and I love it! Just slightly off the beaten path... a little more 'zen' than the typical jewelry designer...

I originally met Carol Emma because of her cards (that she used to sell at Highwood Studio)... they are fabulous! Very insightful quotes that I have framed and hung on my wall. I hope she starts selling them again.
They are simply inspirational!

Quote of the Day

"Either I will find a way, or I will make one. "
-Philip Sidney, writer

Got tattoos? Got regret?

About 50 percent of those who get tattoos later regret them.

For many, they are a way of expression.... an important rite, and a source of deep pride among other things. Just think twice before you do something stupid, no matter how good it may sound at the time.

And perhaps more importantly think twice about who you have perform this permanent work of art (?) on you.

sidenote: Yes... I have a tattoo... and maybe one that I should have thought twice about - but I think I'm ok with mine..... especially after hearing this! This post, however, is not about my tattoo.... it's about a friend of mine.

She has a few tattoos that she's really happy with, but a couple that she's not. So she's having them surgically removed............ OUCH!!!


To quote her....

"unreal
i started to remove one of two tattoos i want to go bye-bye
oh my god
it is about 974x as painful as getting the work done
this is serious pain people: serious
and it's nasty looking and apparently it can form
into one, big 'ol nasty blister!
oh my god - seriously the pain is unreal"

here are some photos of her very first (out of 8 to 10 visits!!!)

8-10 times of this!! Plus the insane cost! Anywhere from $150-$350 per session!!!!

You know the feeling you have when hot bacon grease splashes on you? Imagine that.... non-stop for 5-15 minutes.... and then constant pain for 2-5 days!

her advice:
"i love tattoos - really....but
go to a person that is personally recommended (the two i'm having removed were done by someone other than my regular guy. my regular guy tried to fix 'em but they never looked right)..."

Remember... the removal process is painful, expensive and time-consuming... think twice, maybe even 3x before getting that tattoo.

Quote of the Day

"Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. "
-Norman Cousins

Million Blog List

I'm number 1026

I just added my site! Come on... add yours too. They started this project on April 14th... at this rate it will take 38 years to get to a million....

If you'd like to participate too, just click on the link below!

Quote of the Day

"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
-Hugh Downs

The Cat in the Hat? Nope... the DOG in the hat....

Ok... so I knew this would happen. My daughter bought me a sewing machine for my birthday and now every time an occasion comes up everyone I know asks me to sew something! I'm not really complaining... I love to sew and I need the practice.

This latest request was a hoot though!

My mom's littlest dog (she has three... a St Bernard, a German Shephard, and this little Sheltie) was going to a doggie birthday... hmmmm... yep.. she needed a birthday hat. This is what I came up with (bear in mind I only had 2 days notice) Luckily I keep all my scraps from other projects.

the hat.....

the dog in the hat....

Quote of the Day

"Youth is a circumstance you can't do anything about.
The trick is to grow up without getting old."
- Frank Lloyd Wright

Blogger in draft...

Maybe I'm the last one to know about this but - just in case - I thought I'd share. This is great news!

Frequently, I have time to write but don't want to post it all in one day... and there are other days that I simply don't have the time to post at all.

TaDa! This handy tool lets you write whenever you'd like and then you schedule when you'd like something to be posted automatically!!

Scheduled Post Publishing on Blogger in draft

FABULOUS!

Quote of the Day

"Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege."
- unknown

Almost famous....

Ok... so maybe not famous ... but I'm in a magazine!

A local magazine - but a magazine just the same! YAY!

CBC - which stands for Cleveland Business Connects - is a magazine that

"understands that your business success depends on making connections. As a monthly publication featuring the latest in networking, special events and
corporate trends, CBC™ helps network you to savvy decision-makers and trendsetters impacting Northern Ohio's development, keeps you connected with
cutting-edge events for learning and networking and provides tools to grow businesses..."

This is the necklace they featured....

which can be found in my Esty shop!

Quote of the Day

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
- Allan K. Chalmers

What makes 100%?

my mom emailed this to me and I thought it was too good not to share...

This is SOOOOO true.

This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:

What Makes 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%?

What makes up 100% in life? Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96% but,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100% and,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103% and,

look how far ass kissing will take you!

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G 1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

Quote of the Day

“Art is nothing more than a refinement of everyday feeling”
– Oscar Córdoba

National Pecan Day!

... feeling a little NuTty???
Maybe it's because today is National Pecan Day!

Now I usually don't like sweets... and rarely eat them... but in honor of this nutty day, I thought I'd make an exception.

little tidbit: Did you know that the pecan tree is the only nut tree native to North America?? ok..neither did I until I looked it up...

Check out some of these fabulous ways to celebrate pecans~! (thanks to tastespotting)

click on the photo to be taken to the site with the recipes!

Bourbon Pecan Tart

Pecan Roulade with praline mousse and caramel sauce.

Chocolate Chunk and Pecan Cookies..... (fresh from the oven)

Now go out and EAT PECANS!!!

Quote of the Day

"We learn something every day, and lots of times it's that what we learned the day before was wrong."
- Bill Vaughan

What tree did YOU fall from??

Once again.. my fabulous neighbor sent me this! She's a Cedar.. I'm a Hazelnut! What are you?

Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is really cool and somewhat accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology.

Come on! Leave a comment and tell me what tree you fell from!

Dec 23 to Jan 01 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree

YOUR TREE (in alphabetical order)
Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.
Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive,demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented,likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.
Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).
Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.
Cedar Tree (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love,physically fit.
Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.
Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.
Fig Tree (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic talent and great intelligence.
Fir tree (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.
Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humor, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.
Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.
Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.
Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting,independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.
Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy,loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.
Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.
Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.
Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.
Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.
Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh.

more things that make you go "hmmm"

After eating, do amphibians have to wait one hour before getting out of the water?

Are there any unguided missiles?

What do people in China call their good plates?

What do you call a male ladybug?

What is "Soft Liquor"?

What is the speed of dark?

When people lose weight, where does it go?

hmmmm.... comfort food

I don't know if any of you check out the links to the other blogs I read frequently but here's one you won't want to miss.

Tastespotting has mouthwatering photos and up until now, all I've done is drool over the photos.

Today, however, I tried to make something... taking a quick inventory of my almost bare cupboards and refrigerator I decided on the Leek and potato gratin - according to Tastespotting, it's "lovely comfort food with minimal cooking."

Sounded perfect... and I only needed to buy a couple things - so I walked up to my local Nature's Bin (I love that store)... got the leek and cream... and couldn't wait to try this!

Every amazing photo on Tastespotting is a link to where the recipe can be found.. this one in particular is on Soy and Pepper which now, of course, is another blog I'll be stalking!

So.. how did my creation turn out?? (if you're expecting a photo here, forget it)

OMG! Fabulous!!

I cooked mine a little longer... because I like the top to be browned nicely and a little crispy. hmmmmm so good. I didn't take a photo of mine... I dug into it too fast! And to be totally truthful, it didn't look nearly as nice as the one in the photo but it tasted (yes, past tense... this was my lunch and my dinner) amazing.

I think this weekend I'll try this...

Crispy sage and brown butter pasta from Technicolor Kitchen

Quote of the Day

"Leaders make things possible.
Exceptional leaders make them inevitable. "
- Lance Morrow

(this one passed on to me by my fabulous neighbor! - thanks Leah!)

Today is... NO HOUSEWORK DAY!

The trouble with living alone is that it's always your turn to do the dishes! But today, I'm letting any dishes I may have wait until tomorrow!

Today, April 7th , is No Housework Day!!!! YAY!!!

I have one of these days at least 2-3 times each week - but today it "guilt-free" because it's official!

According to holidayinsights.com....

No Housework Day is your chance to do anything, except housework.

Better still, if you have that luxury.... have someone else do the chores for a day.

Housework is a daily, seemingly endless and repetitive groups of tasks. It often goes unrecognized and worst of all..... taken for granted.

There's two ways to celebrate this day: If you normally do the housework around the house, cease and desist for this day. Instead, kick back and enjoy the day. Relax and do anything, except housework.

If you are a spouse or significant other, do the housework for your mate. It gives her (or him) a break from the housework. And, you just might get an appreciation of how much work it takes to keep up the house.

Free Food and Inspiring Info in Cleveland Hts.

SAVE THE DATE!!
Free Vegetarian Dinner & Being a Joyful Vegetarian in a Non-Veg World Talk
Monday, April 14, 2008

Cleveland Heights Library, 2345 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Join Mercy For Animals for a delicious, free vegan dinner and an inspiring talk by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of The Joy of Vegan Baking and founder of Compassionate Cooks (http://www.compassionatecooks.org/). She will give advice on coping with the painful awareness of how cruelly animals are treated, offer survival tips for dealing with the social and emotional pressures to eat animals, and empower you to live as a joyful vegetarian.

(If you need more information about this event, please contact Mercy For Animals at info@mercyforanimals.org)

About Colleen Patrick-Goudreau:
A long-time vegan and animal activist, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau focuses her energies primarily on animals raised for food, though she came to be a voice for animals first through working on behalf of those in shelters, puppy mills, and research laboratories.
Having been raised on a typical American diet of meat, dairy, and eggs, it was when she read John Robbins Diet for a New America that she could no longer justify eating mammals. Eventually she included fish in her circle of compassion, and after reading Slaughterhouse, it became clear to her that no animal raised for human consumption - whether for their flesh, milk, or eggs - escapes the horrors and cruelties of slaughter.

Having earned a master's degree in English Literature, Colleen uses her writing and communication skills to raise awareness of the animal issues about which so many people are ignorant - both as the result of brilliant and careful marketing by the meat/dairy/egg industries and because of people's desire to avoid the pain of knowing the truth. She founded Compassionate Cooks to focus on the bottom line for most people: eating. She founded Compassionate Cooks because over 45 billion land and sea animals are killed in the U.S. every year for human consumption. Her work is dedicated to them.

Quote of the Day

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. "
-Gilda Radner

Window Washer's New Uniforms

...saw this on a web site called BIG FUN... and just had to share..

What Day is it??

Well today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day!!

A favorite lunchtime sandwich for most kids and some adults! So indulge in your favorite PB and J today!!!

and just to get you prepared..... tomorrow is

Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day !
According to holidayinsights.com..

Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day might be your day to sleep in. If this
day falls on a Saturday or Sunday when you are normally off of work, it's an
easy day to participate in.

Otherwise, make sure you get your boss' approval prior to participating.

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up in the morning and decide whether you
will go to work? If it is going to be fun at work, you get up and go. Otherwise,
you turn over and go back to sleep.