Holly&Sage

It's a New Year - What're You Gonna Do With It? My Goals for 2012

2012-01-04T16:59:00.007-05:00

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions or start any big changes with the new year. I don't know why, but this year feels different. Maybe it is the inspiration of several good blogs I have discovered this past year. Anyway, I seriously want to get my act together and start living the life I want to live! It seems like a good time to do it...

My 12 Goals for 2012

Goal 1: Simplify my life

This is a big one! I have been yearning to simplify my life for several years now, but I never seem to make much progress in that direction. It seemed so overwhelming that I never know where to start. Every 'simplifying' project that I undertook seemed to make my life even more complicated... probably because I always ended up trying to do everything at once and not finishing anything.

Tsh Oxenreider must have been reading my mind when she wrote One Bite at a Time because she presents a list of 52 changes that you can easily make one at a time. It seems like a no-brainer, but anyone can make one change - it is easy and do-able. I have always said I can do anything if I have a list in front of me. Now I do! (My task this week is #45, Set annual goals.)

(I also plan to break down my yearly goals so that I tackle one each month instead of all at once. That is why I choose 12 goals.)

Goal 2: Learn to use Nook and Springpad

I got a Nook for Christmas :-) I like it a lot, but I am really feeling my age - it is taking me a while to learn to use certain features of it. One of the main reasons I wanted to get one was so that I can consolidate all my lists. I am a list-maker, and I always seem to have lists all over the house. I spend a lot of time looking for missing lists.

My goal is to get all my lists onto the Nook so I will always know where they are. But first, I have to learn how to use it effectively.

Goal 3: Get up earlier and establish a morning routine

I have found that I have a happier and more productive day when I get up and take a shower and get dressed right away. If I don't do it right away I end up in my pajamas at 2:00 in the afternoon and I feel really lazy.

Goal 4: Get organized

This is another big one. Kinda like simplifying, but not exactly. Getting organized, to me, has more to do with my physical space - finding a place for everything and making my home a sanctuary instead of a temple of chaos...

Stephanie O'Dea of Totally Together Journal is one of my favorite blogger friends. Organization is her thing. I will use many of her tips to accomplish this one.

Goal 5: Quit coffee

Ann Marie of Cheeseslave is another favorite that I discovered very recently. I agree wholeheartedly with her food philosophy and she gives great nutritional advice in easy-to-understand language.

She gave up coffee a while back and she tells her reasons for doing it in 30 Reasons to Quit Coffee. I believe that if I give up drinking coffee I will sleep better (a big problem for me), digest my food better, have more energy, and just generally feel better.

Goal 6: Find out what my food allergies are and alter my diet accordingly

I have read a lot about going gluten-free, and I suspect that I might be allergic to wheat and/or gluten. I don't think I am allergic to dairy, but I want to test for that too, just so I know for sure. You can find an easy method for testing yourself at home in The Mood Cure by Julia Ross.

The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Take Charge of Your Emotions--Today

Goal 7: Clean out the attic

Our attic is a mess. There are things up there that have been in boxes for the whole 3 1/2 years we have lived in this house. Occasionally one of us will go up there to look for something and rummage around in the chaos which makes it even worse (and even harder to find something the next time).

My goal is to remove everything that we don't need and get rid of it. The rest of it needs to be organized so that we know where things are when we need them. (This goes for that closet in the garage, too.)

Note: This project needs to be done in the spring or fall. It is too hot in the attic in the summer and too cold in the winter. Better do it in the spring, or it may never get done!

Goal 8: Connect with the Earth

A little while back I came across an article on "earthing". I had never heard of it before, so I did some research and it really piqued my interest. Many experts believe that there are a lot of benefits to one's health and well-being from physical connection with the earth. I won't try to explain it; for information check out Earthing.com.

I hope to spend a bit of time each day (as weather allows) with my bare feet on the ground. The fresh air and sunshine won't do me any harm, either!

Goal 9: Unclutter my wardrobe - FINALLY!

I dream of looking in my closet and seeing only things that I love and that fit me well and look good on me. I think can make this happen if I set sentiment aside and clear out about half of what I own.

I feel stressed out when I see things in my closet or drawers that I don't really want to wear but I can't part with. If those things were gone, I would probably never miss them and I could avoid that stress!

There is a section in One Bite at a Time about this that should inspire me. Also, Frugal Living Now has suggestions for general decluttering.

Goal 10: Get some exercise

This is no surprise. Like just about everyone I know I would feel better if I exercised - I have experienced it in the past. I don't know why I fight so hard to keep from doing it, but I do. This year I want to finally stop talking about it, planning it, and researching equipment and just take the plunge and DO it!

Goal 11: Create an essential papers and information file

This includes passwords for my husband so he can have access to my accounts, etc. if something happens to me. He is going to do the same for me. We really should do a will, too - maybe I can convince him to stop procrastinating and do that too.

Goal 12: Make annual goals for 2013

Do this for next year. Hopefully BEFORE the new year next time. It is the 4th already and I am still planning. Oh, well - better late than never I guess!

Next week I am going to write about how I am customizing Tsh's 52 projects into a plan that works for me.

Real Food Recipe: Holiday Eggnog

2011-12-09T16:08:00.002-05:00

I always loved eggnog as a kid - it was one of my favorite holiday traditions. When I got older, though, it didn't taste as good. I eventually realized that it wasn't me that had changed, but the eggnog.

The eggnog I had as a child was homemade by my mother from real eggs and milk. The eggnog I had later came in a carton from the store. I haven't read the ingredients on these cartons of 'eggnog', but I am certain that I wouldn't be happy with what I saw if I did!

So, I have always made my own eggnog. Now that I am buying pastured eggs and raw milk from local farmers I feel especially good about drinking and serving this real food homemade eggnog!

If you would like to make some yourself, here is my recipe. Don't worry - it is really easy!

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 cup of whole, raw milk
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
dash of nutmeg (optional)

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend for 1 - 2 minutes to mix thoroughly. Pour into glasses or mugs and sprinkle a bit of nutmeg on top.

Serves 2

What Exactly is Real Food?

Why Raw Milk?

Cheers! And Happy Holidays!

Is Skim Milk Making You Fat?

2011-11-01T12:37:00.002-04:00

I received this article today and thought it was worth sharing.

Is Skim Milk Making You Fat?
By Paul John Scott

You probably spend all of one second deciding what kind of milk to put in your coffee. What's to debate? If you want to keep the pounds off and avoid heart disease, choose skim. This is gospel, after all: It's recommended by the USDA and has so permeated our thinking that you can't even find reduced-fat (2%) milk at places like Subway—and forget about whole.

But is it true? Let's start with the question of what's fattening. Whole milk contains more calories and, obviously, more fat. A cup has 146 calories and almost 8 grams of fat, reduced-fat (2%) has 122 calories and almost 5 grams of fat, low-fat (1%) has 103 calories and 2.5 grams of fat, and nonfat (skim) has 83 calories and virtually no fat.

But when it comes to losing weight, restricting calories has a poor track record. Evidence gleaned from numerous scientific studies says that if you starve yourself for lunch, you typically compensate at dinner. And according to a 2007 report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, telling overweight and obese patients to cut calories led to only "transient" weight loss—it didn't stay off. The same goes for cutting saturated fat. In 2003, the Cochrane Collaboration, a respected source for unbiased reviews of research, compared low-fat diets with low-calorie diets and found that "fat-restricted diets are no better than calorie-restricted diets in achieving long-term weight loss." As Walt Willet of the Harvard School of Public Health wrote in theAmerican Journal of Medicine, "Diets high in fat do not appear to be the primary cause of the high prevalence of excess body fat in our society, and reductions in fat will not be a solution."

It's becoming widely accepted that fats actually curb your appetite, by triggering the release of the hormone cholecystokinin, which causes fullness. Fats also slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream, reducing the amount that can be stored as fat. In other words, the more fat in your milk, the less fat around your waist. Not only will low-fat milk fail to trim your gut, it might even make you fatter than if you were to drink whole, according to one large study. In 2005, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and other institutions studied the weight and milk consumption of 12,829 kids ages 9 to 14 from across the country. "Contrary to our hypothesis," they reported, "skim and 1% milk were associated with weight gain, but dairy fat was not."

But surely low-fat milk is better for your heart? We are often told to watch our consumption of dairy because it raises our bad cholesterol, the kind known as LDL. But LDL comes in at least four varieties, and only the smallest and densest of them are linked with heart disease. Dairy fat, it turns out, affects only the large, fluffy kind of LDL—the benign kind.

And here's a final thought: How would you feel if you opened a carton and poured a chalky, bluish-white liquid into your coffee? That's the color many nonfat milks are before powdered milk is added to whiten them—a process that brings its own problems. Any way you look at it, there's been a lot of whitewashing of skim milk's image.

THE SKINNY ON NONFAT MILK
To turn skim milk white, "some companies fortify their product with powdered skim," says Bob Roberts, a dairy scientist at Penn State. Powdered skim (which is also added to organic low-fat milks) is produced by spraying the liquid under heat and high pressure, a process that oxidizes the cholesterol. In animal studies, oxidized cholesterol triggers a host of biological changes, leading to plaque formation in the arteries and heart disease, Spanish researchers reported in 1996. "OCs are mutagenic and carcinogenic," they wrote. In 1998, Australian researchers studied rabbits fed OC and found that the animals "had a 64% increase in total aortic cholesterol" despite having less cholesterol in their blood than rabbits fed natural sources of the substance. (A 2008 Chinese study with hamsters confirmed these findings.) Roberts says the amount of OC created by adding powdered skim is "not very much," but until the effects on humans are known, it's impossible to say what's a safe level.

Also of interest:

What is Real Food?

I Drink Raw Milk: Fresh, raw, local, and full of fat

2011-08-20T19:08:00.000-04:00

Are these not the coolest nails?! Imagine wearing your gray flannel pants with a pink blouse to work this fall with these nails - awesome!

Looks difficult, doesn't it? Would you be surprised if I told you you could do it yourself at home quite easily? You can!

This is what you need:

light opaque nail polish (this photo shows gray; I used a pale pink)
rubbing alcohol
newspaper
clear top coat polish

Now, polish your nails with the opaque polish. You can use one coat or two. Let it dry.
Cut newspaper into 1/2 inch squares.

Press one square of newsprint onto the dipped nail. Press it on and peel it off slowly to leave a clean image of the type on your nail.
Wait a couple of seconds to make sure the alcohol has evaporated, and then quickly add a clear top co
Pour some rubbing.alcohol in a small dish and dip one fingertip into the alcohol for 5 seconds.
at. (Don't go over it too much, or it may smear the ink.)
You are done! Aren't you amazing!

My daughter's nails done with Sinful Colors Easy Going

What Exactly is REAL FOOD?

2011-07-11T19:54:00.005-04:00

I am reading a book that might very well change my life! That is a strong statement, but I feel strongly that eating 'real food' will have an incredibly positive impact on my life.

In Real Food: What to Eat and Why Nina Planck does an excellent job of explaining complex scientific nutritional information so that a layman (me) can understand it.

I am a long-time fan of Michael Pollan. He presents the problem of eating industrial food (as opposed to real food) in a very readable way, but doesn't solve the problem, so to speak, as well as Ms. Planck does. Reading this book has prompted me to TAKE ACTION to change the foods I eat.

(This is where my husband and some of my friends roll their eyes and say, 'There she goes again...') time will tell if this is truly a life-long change or a short-lived fad. Time will tell. I am betting my health on it! (Okay, that was a bit dramatic! Sorry!)

So, what exactly IS real food?

Real food is traditional foods that humans have been eating for millenia:

Unprocessed traditional oils and fats: butter, coconut oil, olive oil, chicken fat and lard. NEVER hydrogenated!
Meat (chickens, cows, sheep, etc) raised the old-fashioned way - on farm pastures. Eating grass, bugs, etc - what they were meant by nature to eat.
Eggs from pastured chickens, ducks, or geese.
Fresh fruits and vegetables. Ideally locally grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Wild fish and seafood
Minimally processed whole grains
Full fat dairy foods, ideally raw from grass-fed cows
Wild game (rabbit, deer, etc.)
Traditional cultured and fermented foods: yogurt, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread
Unrefined sweeteners: honey, maple syrup, evaporated cane juice (in moderation!)

NOT real food:

Processed foods of any kind - cereals, industrial breads, etc.

Imitation anything - soy "meat" products, margarine (fake butter), non-dairy creamer or 'dessert topping', processed cheese, etc.
Light or low-fat products. Sugar is often added and these are without exception highly processed foods.
Powdered eggs
Bleached white flour and sugar

This list is probably not complete - I am a only a student of this and still learning. I encourage you to read the book for yourself. You will never look at food the same way again!

(See all Health, Mind & Body Books at Amazon.com)

Michael Pollan

Introductory Offer - New Beaded Wrap Bracelets only $15!

2011-07-01T00:00:00.003-04:00

My newest designs are these colorful wrap cuff bracelets. Made with memory wire, these bracelets are easy to put on because no clasp is necessary - they just wrap right around fitting any size wrist.

Elegant enough to go with your dressier outfits, but still light-weight, easy to wear, and affordable enough for every day! Try one with a sun dress for a casual summer party!

I have put them on sale for $15 for one week only - don't miss out! (Regular price will be $18.)

Send me a message if you would like a color combination other than the ones I have listed - I am happy to do special orders!

Not in the market for a wrap bracelet right now? Good news - All my other bracelets are $3.00 off this week, too! Sale ends at 11:00 pm Thursday, July 7.

Find me at:
Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollynsage
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/HollySage
Twitter -http://twitter.com/hollynsage
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/hollynsage/

Artist Collaboration with Petrillo Pottery

2011-06-16T11:47:00.001-04:00

I am excited to announce the collaboration of Holly&Sage and Petrillo Pottery! Rachel Petrillo is a sculptor and potter; she makes unique and beautiful porcelain creations including these adorable fruit and flower pendants.

She has made some especially for me, and I am busy making some new Mommy necklaces with them.

Now, not only are these necklaces lovingly handmade in the US, the beads are handmade in the US, too!

These are adjustable so that they can be worn long or short. Though Mommy necklaces can be worn by anyone, they are simple and sturdy pieces that can withstand pulling by the young hands of babies and toddlers, so they are ideal for caregivers of small children.

Note: Porcelain ceramic beads are fired and glazed to resist breakage, but they are breakable and should not be dropped.

Mommy necklaces are sold as jewelry for adults, not toys, and should not be given to unsupervised children.

Stay tuned to Holly&Sage or follow me on Facebook for news of new necklaces to be listed soon!

Meet Blaze Riley Beck!

2011-06-02T18:12:00.001-04:00

We picked up our new baby today! I am naming him "Blaze Riley". Blaze because of the blaze on this nose (I guess that is what those in the business call that white streak - isn't it cool!?) and Riley because I know he will have the life of Riley!

He is very sweet - I just love his sweet little face! He is only 10 weeks old - he is going to be a big boy!

June 19 is Father's Day - Great Handmade & Vintage Items for Dad!

2011-05-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

What will you get for Dad this Father's Day? The same old tired bottle of after shave or tie that he will never wear?

Why don't you surprise him this year with something truly unique - it is easy when you explore the world of awesome handmade and vintage items available on Etsy!

Washer Necklace Leather w/Recycled

Button 'Life Savers'

ReClaimed Wooden Soap Dish

This is an inventive way to recycle buttons! These 'washers' were in a bunch of buttons that I acquired - they are buttons with the middles drilled out to form a circular life saver shape. I have arranged them on a 2mm black leather cord and it makes an awesome necklace for a guy or a girl!
The colors are neutral - black, tan, and shades of brown, so it can be worn with anything. The necklace is a short choker length.

$18.00

Keep your handmade soaps from turning mushy by using one of these well draining soap dishes from PS Products.
Each soap dish is made out of reclaimed Cedar, finished with linseed oil and is cut to allow water to drain through the dish and away from your soap, so your soap will last longer.

$5.00

Vintage Hazel Atlas Gay Nineties Shot

Glasses-Set of 6

I love this fantastic set of shot glasses/small tumblers for that mid century vintage collector! Made by Hazel Atlas(marked on the bottom) in the 1940s-50s, they show a fabulous bar scene with a lady and her pooch, a man and the bartender.
From InMyIgloo

$29.00

Hand Formed Copper Money Clip Favorite Guy

He's going to love the way this simple copper money clip helps him hold on to his bills or all those receipts that seem to accumulate in his pockets! More than that, he will love the fact that you were thinking of him! (And he will think of YOU every time he sees it!)

$9.50

Pair of Antique Folding Pocket Knifes -

Signed Richards Sheffield England

Pair of antique folding pocket knifes. Each knife features two different sized blades. These unique items from Grey Squirrel Antiques are sure to bring back many old memories for Dad!

$19.50

Skeleton Key Boro Glass Beaded Keychain For Him

This lampwork glass beaded skeleton key will make a great Father's Day or anniversary gift for the man in your life. The brass tag can be customized to say the love note of your choice. The bead is dark purple and measures 3/4 inch in diameter and 8 mm. It was handmade in the flame of my torch from borosilicate or boro glass directly on the shaft of a vintage steel skeleton key that measures 2 3/4 inches in length. $38.00

Hollow Book Safe - Contract Bridge

Complete with Two Decks of Cards Cut-Out

These vintage book safes from Conduit Press are sure to please a collector of any kind! They can be used as they're intended (as safes hidden on a book shelf to hide your treasures, or your vices) or as a jewelry box on your dresser, or perhaps a conversation piece on your coffee table.

$50.00

Safari Print- illustration reproduction drawing artwork wall decor

5" x 7" Signed Reproduction of original artwork printed on professional photo paper. Striking, intense colors, and exceptional sharpness. This artwork by YuliyaArt is unique in that the artist does not use pencil or sketch at all - artwork is alive, developing in the moment I am drawing it and sometimes final result is surprise even for me.

Mid-Century Vintage Leather Jewelry Box

This mall square leather men's jewelry or nick-knack box from Restashable would be a perfect Father's Day gift! Smooth warm medium brown cowhide leather with tan suede interior. There are slots on the inside of the box lid for holding tie bars or something. Lid is attached and closes with a snap.

$18.00

There are way too many more excellent choices on Etsy for me to list them all here. Take a look for yourself and you will see what I mean!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Why I Do Not Do Business with WalMart

2011-05-15T10:28:00.000-04:00

This does a pretty good job of summing it up. Even if you can't stand to watch the whole sickening thing you will get the picture.

For a more civilized explanation, read What Price Those $5 Sweatpants?

Related post: What Price Those $5 Sweatpants?

Are you a Liberal or a Conservative?

2011-05-08T18:55:00.000-04:00

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words
redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to "Be the Truth" and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends, because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked , "How is your friend Audrey doing?"

She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's Office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA, and Certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA." The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.

If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat..
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

Historic Gold Hill Strawberry Festival

2011-05-05T10:50:00.001-04:00

Historic Gold Hill Strawberry Festival & Art & Crafts Walk

On Saturday, May 14 I will be at Gold Hill Village for the Annual Strawberry Festival!

I will have a selection of my jewelry available for sale, and will be accompanied by my mother, artist Barbara 'Jake' Carter of Watercolors by Jake!

Come on out and see us - we would love to meet you!
(And there will be locally grown strawberries for sale- YUM!)

My Office/Studio: A Work in Progress

2011-05-03T10:58:00.000-04:00

My Office/Studio: A Work in Progress

I have been working on creating a space where I can do all my work. My husband moved his home office out to his shop behind our house, so I was left with a whole room for myself! I needed it, really - I had things scattered all over the house. When I had an order to send out I had to go back and forth between 3 rooms to put it all together. That is just crazy!

Now I have most everything in one room, but it still needs work. I am very obessive compulsive about organization (though you would never know it to see my house!) and it takes me forever to get things just the way I want them. In the meantime, this is what I have so far.

This (above) is my desk where I work on the computer, print invoices, etc. Below is my jewelry area where I make jewelry and keep all of my supplies.

There are some changes that I want to make. I would like to cover those cords up; I need to hag the cork board (when I decide where to put it...). I want to replace Steve's poster with something that speaks to ME and move those plants off of my work table. My storage containers are a hodge-podge, I know. I would welcome any suggestions for making this a more beautiful and functional space!

By the way, that is dog food in the container in the lower right corner. I don't actually have the room all to myself - I share it with our dog, Molly!

Getting Rid of That Bloated and Sluggish Feeling with a Cleansing Diet

2011-04-27T13:55:00.000-04:00

I have been feeling old, sluggish and fat for the past few months. I have reached an age where I can't eat whatever I want any more (sadly) and still stay in good shape. I don't mind the weight gain so much as the constant bloated feeling! It makes me feel lethargic and slow and OLD! I hate that.

So, I am doing a colon cleanse this week. A friend suggested the Fat Flush diet and did some reading about it, but it seemed too strict for me. I was going to do the 7-Days Sugar Free again, but I was dreading it - I did it in December '09 and and had good results, but I remember eating a lot of yucky cabbage soups and things and to do it properly you really need to have a juicer, which I don't. I just don't feel I have the willpower to do that right now. I came across another one that sounded easier, so I am doing that one.

It is Dr. Group's 7-Day Oxygen Colon Cleanse. Basically it involves grouping foods (no meat with milk, etc.) and having no caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, sugar, etc. It is going pretty well no far - this is the third day. I have already gotten rid of my bloat-y feeling, but I have a lot less energy than I am used to. And I am not a high energy person to begin with! I have decided that some people just have more energy than others, and I am not one of them. (sigh)

I am expecting to feel more energetic in a couple of days, though. I know it is just my body getting rid of toxins.

I am nibbling on raw nuts and seeds right now and dreaming of Cheez-Its! Haha!

New Listing at Holly&Sage Teal & Khaki Mother-of-Pearl Necklace

2011-04-26T13:12:00.001-04:00

I sell more button bracelets and Mommy Necklaces than anything in my shop, but I love making other jewelry.

This is my newest piece just listed in my shop yesterday. I made a necklace like this for myself a while back, and I have enjoyed it so much I decided to make one available to my customers. It is made with mother-of-pearl beads in a variety of shapes in pretty, neutral spring colors.

Great Wedding Favors on a Budget

2011-04-22T16:02:00.000-04:00

When you're planning your wedding, one of the things you'll want to remember to budget for are the wedding favors. These are the souvenirs that your guests will take home from your wedding as a thank you for participating in your special day. So, this is not an area where you want to scrimp. You hope that your guests will enjoy your gift to them, and see it as a token of your appreciation. However, you don't want to blow your budget on buying wedding favors either. Here are some ideas for great wedding favors on a budget and homemade wedding favors.

Bulk gifts. Items like candy and potpourri can make lovely wedding favors. You can buy them pre-packaged from bridal shops, but it is smarter to buy them in bulk and package them yourself. Instead of shopping at an expensive wedding store, visit a grocery or hobby shop for discount pricing. To create your own gift wrapped packages, wrap bundles of the bulk item in tulle and tie with a ribbon.

Make homemade treats. For a personal touch, make homemade treats to give to your guests. Special cookies are always welcome. If you make homemade candy, that can also be a nice gift. When you wrap them up, add a handwritten note thanking your guests for sharing your day with you. It will be an extra special touch that will make your favour all the more meaningful.

Candles and votives. Candles and votives can be beautiful reminders of your wedding day. Look for candles in the same colors as your wedding decorations. Almost everyone enjoys candles so it is a practical gift as well. These are also very affordable when purchased at discount or bulk stores.

Bubbles. For a fun twist and lots of laughs, give each guest a small bottle of bubbles as a thank you. Tie a note with the date of your wedding around the neck of the bottle. These will provide entertainment during the reception too, as most guests won't wait until they get home to blow their bubbles.

Make Music. Another idea is to burn a CD of music to commemorate your special day and give a copy to each guest. Be sure to follow copyright laws. Whenever they play your CD, your guests will think of you.

Flowers and Plants. If you're having a spring or summer wedding, consider giving out packets of seeds as a wedding favor. These will be a long-lasting fragrant reminder of your nuptials. Alternatively, you can give out tiny potted plants for a spring garden. These are very inexpensive, and if you buy in bulk, you may be able to get further discounts.

Scented soaps. These are another item you might want to consider giving out as a favor. They have an attractive scent, and often come in pretty shapes and wrappings. They are another practical gift that is pretty to look at as well.

Check Frugal Living Now for more homemade wedding favors and lots more ways to save on all aspects of your wedding!

Beautiful and Chic Wedding Invitations on a Budget

2011-04-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

When you're planning a wedding on a budget you still want everything to be beautiful and chic. Wedding invitations can be pricey, which cuts into the cash you've set aside for other items on your bridal shopping list.

Fortunately, with a little creativity, it is possible to send chic wedding invitations to your friends and family, without spending a lot of money on them. Here are some cheap, but still very attractive, wedding invitation ideas you can use.

Make your own homemade wedding invitations. Card-making is a very popular hobby and you can buy everything you need at a local craft shop or online. You can buy beautiful card stock and embellishments like ribbonsand bows. Your invitations will do justice do your big day, while still keeping expenses low.You can handwrite your special message inside with a calligraphy pen, or silver or gold ink, or ask a friend with lovely handwriting to do that for you.

Free printable invitations. Some websites are even offering free printable wedding invitations.They aren't that pretty on their own, but if you have a professional printer print them for you on quality paper, and add a pretty embellishment, these can be very chic as well.

Make your own printable invitations. If you have some design talent, or have a friend who does,and access to a design program, you can create your own printable invitations. All you will have is the printing cost when you take them to a professional printers and have them printed on quality card stock. And you will have a card that reflects your personality, and shares your special message. You can even purchase a kit to help you make your own printable wedding invitations.

Use a different printing technique. If you decide to purchase your wedding invitations from a stationery or wedding store instead of making your own, there are still some easy ways to cut down the cost without losing any of the appeal. Engraved wedding invitations are very beautiful but expensive. Instead of having yours engraved, have your invitations printed using a process called thermography. This will give your invitations the same raised look as engraving, but for less money.

The RSVP cards. It's not only the wedding invitation you'll be paying for, but the card used to RSVP to your wedding as well. One way to cut back on the expense of the RSVP cards is to use pretty postcards instead.

Shop online. Instead of just shopping in your local stationery shops, remember to shop online as well. You may find some great discounts on quality and chic wedding invitations. If you shop online, make sure you read all the store's policies, so you aren't caught off guard by something unexpected.

Shop at discount places. Don't restrict yourself to shopping at the expensive stationery stores. You might be able to find a great deal on your wedding invitations at a store like Kinko's or Staples.

Your wedding invitations don't have to be expensive to be beautiful and chic. By following these suggestions, you will be able to send out the lovely invitations you dreamed of, while keeping your budget in tact.

Help Us Name Our New Baby!

2011-04-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

Our new kitten - what should we name her?

Lucky us, we are getting a new kitten next week!

She is a beautiful Ragdoll kitten from Soulmates Ragdolls. They have been calling her Mona, but hubby says we have to change it because our 5-month old puppy's name is Molly, and he thinks the two names are too similar.

So,I am trying to come up with the perfect name for her and I want your help. Please leave a comment with your name idea. On Saturday I will compile the names I like the best and have a "run off" contest for the best kitty name.

Molly, our Rottweiler puppy

What is Organic Gardening and How to Get Started

2011-04-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

Organic Gardening is essentially gardening the way nature would. Too often non-organic gardeners attempt to force a garden to comply with their wishes, contaminate the soil, vegetables and water table with pesticides and fertilizers, and spend a hefty amount for expensive soil treatments and exotic or hybrid plants. All of these might result in a pretty garden and big produce, but at a dangerous price.

Organic Gardening, on the other hand, is a basic method of gardening that was used for thousands of years prior to the invention of chemical treatments. It protects people and animals from the dangers of chemicals leeched into drinking water and sprayed on vegetables, it reuses kitchen and yard waste, and it maintains the natural diversity of native wildlife.

The keys to organic gardening include staying away from chemical pesticides and fertilizer, using organic compost, and gardening with plants suited to your local environment.

The basics steps to start organic gardening are:

Create Natural Compost. Building a compost heap is a basic step that you can take at any time. It basically turns your kitchen and yard waste into a pile of nutrient rich soil which you can separate out and spread around your garden plants.

You will need to start with some loose dirt, a bunch of worms, grass clipping, fall leaves, and kitchen waste. Simply pile all of these together and using a shovel or other turning device, mix the items up on a regular basis. Do not add meat or animal fat to the pile. Speed up the process by making sure large leaves and vegetables are chopped into smaller pieces first.

Use Natural Pest Control. There are natural ways to avoid the damage caused by garden pests. The solutions will vary based upon the problems you are encountering. Some natural solutions include the introduction of insects that prey upon insect pests, complete removal of roots of plant pests, and using fencing or certain edging plants to repel animal pests.

Since the problems and solutions vary greatly by location, soil type, amount of sun or shade, and types of plants, you will need to research your specific situation for the right type of pest control. A great place to start is OrganicGardening.com or your state agricultural outreach agency.

Buy Natural Fertilizer. The compost you are creating is one of the best fertilizers you can use on your plants. If you haven’t had time to develop any compost yet, you can purchase quality organic fertilizers. Many of these are specific to the type of plants you are growing. There is also the natural fertilizer that has been used for hundreds of years — manure. It is not a pleasant smelling fertilizer, and can increase the presence of mosquitos and flies, but it will help certainly help your garden grow if used appropriately.

Plant Native Plants. Plants that grow wild in your area are considered native plants. These have been a part of your local eco-system longer than people, they have not been brought from another region, and they will grow happily with little or no assistance.

These often are the wildflowers you see growing in unplowed fields or along the sides of country roads. They will reproduce themselves every year, either from seed or from root. Native plants are also suited to the local wildlife, and often are the food or shelter of choice for native birds and butterflies.
Time and effort are just about all that is needed to begin gardening organically. Making the switch will save you money and increase the health and environmental factors of your garden.

Highlight Your Tan with a Sexy Ankle Bracelet!

2011-04-14T16:00:00.001-04:00

Summer is just around the corner and young women everywhere are heading to the tanning bed or the beach to get a summer tan. Show off that gorgeous tan and your new bikini with a flirty ankle bracelet!

I have listed three new anklets in my shop this week and will be adding more in the next few weeks. Stop by and take a look!

Cheap and Cheerful Wedding Venues to Explore

2011-04-12T16:13:00.002-04:00

When planning a wedding, one of the first things you need to think about is where you want to get married. As you check around, you may be surprised to see the high cost of the most popular wedding venues - especially during peak wedding months! With prices like these, you might be wondering if you'll be able to have the wedding you have been dreaming of without blowing your budget.

Try taking a more creative approach and explore these cheap wedding venues; you will find that there are several cheerful and cheap wedding venues to choose from and one of them is sure to suit your dream wedding!

Need more frugal wedding ideas?

You might also like:
Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget

Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget

2011-04-10T07:00:00.001-04:00

You have dreamed about your wedding day since you were a child. You might have envisioned fairy tale dresses, plush limousines, hundreds of your closest friends and family members, and dancing until dawn. After all, this is your special day and you want to give your new life the best start you can.

Now that it's approaching, reality is setting in. You know you deserve all of your dreams, but perhaps you're not sure just how you'll pay for them. You could max out your credit cards, but starting your married life deeply in debt doesn't sound so romantic. You need to set a budget.

Setting a realistic wedding budget doesn't mean you need to forget the fairy tale. It simply means you need to prioritize and plan how you will spend your money. That way you will be able to afford the things that are most important to you. And you will be able to start your married life without unnecessary, burdensome debt.

Begin setting your budget by setting your priorities. You have a vision of what you want your wedding to look like. But it's time to take a more realistic approach. Decide which of the items you want to include are must haves, which are optional, and which would just be nice to have, but you could do without if you needed to.

Determine how much you can spend. How much money do you have saved for your wedding? How much will you be able to save before the big day? It's important to be honest about how much you really can afford. That will help you avoid a lot of problems and conflicts as you plan your wedding, and ensure that you don't create additional stress by running out of money too soon.

Decide how much you will spend on each area. Now that you know your priorities, and you know how much you have to spend, you can decide how much money you will spend on each area of your wedding. One way to organize this is to create a notebook sheet for each expense, such as dress, flowers, invitations, and write down your budget for that area.

Budget for the unexpected. As carefully as you plan, you may still have some unexpected expenses. If you overspend in one area, remember you'll have to make up for it by spending less on something else.

Be creative. There are many ways you can cut down on the high cost of a beautiful wedding. Perhaps you can make homemade wedding invitations so you can spend more money on your wedding dress. Do you have a friend who loves to cook for a crowd? Maybe she would like to help prepare the wedding feast. You can even rent your wedding dress, if you need to cut down in that area and spend more on others.

Setting a realistic wedding budget doesn't mean you can't have the wedding you always dreamed of. It is only a means of making it affordable so you can enjoy your day, without worrying about how much it cost.

Get the Holly&Sage News!

2011-04-05T17:31:00.000-04:00

My first newsletter is going out tomorrow! If you still haven't signed up for it, it's not too late!

Why do you want it?

Once a month (no more - I don't want to wear out my welcome!) you will get:

news of what is going on at my Etsy shops, Holly&Sage and Restashable
insights into my creative process and my studio
tutorials for recycling old stuff into awesome handmade things (like button bracelets and felted wool coasters)
news of shop sales and promotional coupon codes for discounts or free shipping on orders

New Buttons Galore!

2011-04-04T09:57:00.002-04:00

I have acquired a lot of great new buttons and am now in the process of listing many new button bracelets at Holly&Sage!

These bracelets are a unique finishing touch for casual outfits - light-weight, and fun to wear! They are even washable!

In celebration of Spring, I have made bracelets in pretty spring colors: sweet pastels and natural earth and flower tones.

Want to make a button bracelet yourself?

If you are feeling creative and have some unused buttons laying around in a drawer somewhere (who doesnt!) learn how to make your very own button bracelet here! (If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.)

DIY Handmade Envelopes From Recycled Paper

2011-04-03T11:51:00.000-04:00

When my Etsy shop started generating sales, I wanted to find a unique and clever way to package my items.

I also wanted to include an invoice, business card, and a jewelry care sheet. I thought that a sweet little envelope would be just the ticket for enclosing these things.

I considered (for about a minute) looking for some on Etsy to buy, and then I stopped myself, thinking: "Wait a minute! I can make envelopes! Why would I buy them from someone else!!??"

So I did.

At first I used some scrapbook paper that I had laying around (I don't scrapbook - that is one more expensive and time-consuming hobby I don't need to start!!)

Then I started noticing beautiful pictures in catalogs and magazines that would make pretty envelopes, so I started using those, too.

That led me to the realization that pages from old children's books and road atlases would make wonderful envelopes, too, so I made some of those!

This concept of using something that would otherwise be thrown away or sit in an attic box getting dusty is a common theme in my life. I have always prided myself on my quirky creativeness. I have more ideas of things to repurpose lots of things at Frugal Living Now.

You can make these, too - it is not very hard if you know how.

All you need is:

paper - something pretty with a nice 'heft' to it (not too thin); at least 8 x 11 inches
scissors
permanent glue stick
marker or pen
an envelope to use as a pattern

Steps:

open your pattern envelope at the seams carefully
lay it on a piece of paper and trace around it with the pen or marker
cut out your envelope
fold it up and glue it
let it dry thoroughly before using

That's it! You have transformed what was once waste into a cute envelope!

Here are some ideas for using it:

Send a note to a friend that hasn't heard from you in a while
Use your computer to make a birthday card for a family member and send it in your handmade envelope
Put a sweet little note in your kid's lunchbox to brighten his/her day
Write a love note to your sweetheart and leave it in his briefcase/car/underwear drawer

Have fun!!

Leftovers Recipe: Introducing The Leftovers Gourmet!!

2011-04-01T19:58:00.002-04:00

The last thing I need is another project, I know this, but...

I just can't help myself - I love coming up with mouth-watering ways to use leftovers! And of course I want to share them. This is the age of sharing our lives on the internet, you know? So I am going to share them here. I am not going to promise on a specific schedule, but I am going to aim for weekly.

My first recipe is stuffed peppers from leftover spaghetti sauce. I had about 2 cups of spaghetti sauce with meat left over from two days ago, and this is what I came up with for it:

Ingredients:

2 or 3 large bell peppers - green, red, orange or yellow (I used one each red, green and yellow)
2 or more cups of spaghetti sauce, leftover or not
1 cup cous cous or rice
Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)

Cook the cous cous or rice according to package directions.

Meanwhile, wash the peppers, cut them in half longways and remove the seeds and membrane.

Rub the peppers with olive oil (I pour a little oil in my hand and rub it all over the peppers with my hands), put them in an oiled baking dish, cover with foil and make at 350 for about 10 minutes until they are partially cooked.

When the cous cous or rice is done, add the spaghetti sauce into the pan with it and mix them well. Let it remain on the stove until it is heated through, stirring occasionally. The sauce I used was chunky with lots of ground beef, tomatoes and carrots. You can use any kind, though.

Take the peppers out of the oven and fill them with the sauce and cous cous mixture. Top each one with Parmesan cheese, if you like.

Re-cover and cook for 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer to brown.

Take them out and let them cook for 5 minutes or so before serving.

Add salad and bread to make a scrumptious dinner!!

(Dang! I forgot to take a picture of them! Well, next time!)

I have lots more ideas for using leftovers at my site, Frugal Living Now. Check it out!
Or leave a comment about it here.

You might also like:
Quick and Easy Chicken Pasta Salad

Newsletter Update

2011-03-31T19:17:00.000-04:00

I am still working on my first newsletter, due out in April. If you are a fan of Holly&Sage and would like to be notified of upcoming events and special offers, sign up at http://eepurl.com/c55JM

Since I could use some input about the content of my newsletter (this is a totally new endeavor for me!), I am going to do an impromptu GIVEAWAY!

Sign up to receive the newsletter and leave a comment on this blog telling me what you would like to see included in the newsletter. I will take every response into consideration when planning my newsletter content, and I will pick the most helpful/useful suggestion as the winner. The winner will get a gift certificate good for $25. at Holly&Sage or Restashable!

What I Wore Monday, March 28

2011-03-28T16:38:00.000-04:00

I consider it a fun creative challenge to come up with new outfit combinations from my existing wardrobe. It is a good way to stretch your clothing budget and express your individuality!

Weather: Drab, dreary, cloudy, 45 degrees

Business: Running errands; Trader Joe's

Levi's flare jeans from 2003

Black t-shirt, Lands' End

Tie dye infinity scarf, gift

Gray wool Gap sweater, $5. at consignment shop
(not shown)

Converse sneakers, hand-me-ups from my daughter

Belt, Chico's

Button bracelets and earrings, Holly&Sage

Want more Frugal Fashion ideas?

P.S. I don't think I will be doing this type of post very often - it took a heck of a lot of time!!

Cheers, ya'll!!

~Holly

If you had a year to spend any way you wanted to (without the need to earn money, etc.) what would you do?

2011-03-27T14:01:00.001-04:00

If you had a year to spend any way you wanted to (without the need to earn money, etc.) what would you do?

Answer here

The Quest for Foamy Coffee

2011-03-26T13:55:00.001-04:00

I have this thing about frothy coffee. I don't know why, but I just love to have foam or froth of some kind on my coffee.

The more the better!

A hotel we stayed at in Puerto Rico, at the breakfast buffet, had a big urn of coffee and right beside it was a big urn of steamed milk. I don't know if coffee with steamed milk is a popular way to drink coffee there, or if it was there for people that drink steamed milk by itself, but I think it sparked my love for foamy coffee!

In Canada, I got an espresso in a cafe and it had a slight foam on top just from the coffee itself and the way it was brewed. I love that, too!

In my quest to have 'foamy coffee' at home I have tried all sorts of things with varying degrees of success. My most recent discovery is the best one yet - this is how I do it:

I started with an empty caramel topping bottle (well, it might have had just a teeny bit of caramel left...) and put roughly equal amounts of 2% milk and cream in it. Don't fill it up - it needs to be less than half full to allow room for lots of sloshing around.

Put the top on securely and shake like mad! For a couple of seconds - it doesn't take long. Take the top off and use a long handled spoon to scoop the foam off and put it on your coffee! Yum!

Yes, I'm crazy.

I know. :-)

New Monthly Newsletter - Starting April 2011

2011-03-22T19:39:00.001-04:00

I am going to start sending a newsletter out each month starting in April! If you are interested in hearing about what's new at Holly&Sage, be one of the first to sign up!!

Recently I have been trying to de-clutter and organize my life. It is an uphill battle, let me tell you! I have put my Etsy shops on vacation for two weeks so I can get my life together. One of the things I have set out to do is to set up a mailing list so that I can send out a monthly newsletter to my loyal customers and fans. So, here we go! Sign up if you want to find out what happens next!

The form didn't work, so let's try this link:
Subscribe to our newsletter

Pure Gifts Grand Opening! Saturday, January 22

2011-01-18T11:55:00.002-05:00

I am happy to announce that a selection of my Mommy Necklaces will be available soon at Pure Gifts in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina! Read on to find out about their grand opening this Saturday, Jan. 22.

There is a great new gift shop in the Charleston area! Pure Gifts, located at The Shoppes at Seaside Farms, features a wide selection of artisan-crafted, eco-friendly products from local and regional designers.

Pure Gifts specializes in organic or recycled items made with natural materials by artists and crafters in the United States, especially in the Southeast region.

During the grand opening on Saturday, they will be having giveaways, refreshments and a trunk show. Visitors will also receive 10% off all purchases!

For more information about Pure Gifts and available products, call 843.654.5151.

For company news and information, subscribe to their e-newsletter or follow the store blog.

Blog

Facebook

The Shoppes at Seaside Farms

1956 Long Grove Rd., Ste. 5

Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464

Twiddletoes: Not Your Ordinary Sock!

2010-12-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

NOT your ordinary socks, Twiddletoes are handmade toe socks with a twist! Like mittens for your feet, they have a separate 'toe' for the big toe.

Stacy started making what she calls 'tabi socks' because she was tired of seeing people wear flop flops with regular socks. She started out small, first making them for family members; now she sells her handmade socks at craft shows and festivals as well as in her online shop and her Etsy store.

She uses fine natural wools and her own pattern that features a ribbed cuff and reinforced toes and heels for superior wear and comfort. Her Simple Luxury line includes socks made from alpaca and cashmere! Those are truly luxury socks that would make a wonderful gift (especially for someone that likes to wear socks with their flip flops!).

When you're talking socks like this, anyone would be thrilled with socks for Christmas!

May Your Holidays be Cuddly, Cozy, and Soft!

2010-12-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

Isn't this the cutest little guy? Can you believe he's handmade? (And only $20!! Amazing!)

Sandi at IKnitQuiltSew makes bears like this and and lots of other great stuff - all of it cuddly and cozy! Here are a few other samples:

Hot Air Balloon Baby Quilt

Handmade Knit Baby Gift Set

Popcorn Knit Receiving Blanket

Find her on:

Facebook
Etsy
Handmade Artists Forum
Blogger

Cyber Monday Sale at Reef Botanicals!

2010-11-27T10:37:00.001-05:00

Did you brave the mad fray to go shopping yesterday on Black Friday? Uggg! I guess some people like the excitement of it, but not me. I don't like crowds, anyway, and if I had my choice I would probably just avoid retail shopping of any kind for the whole month between Thanksgiving and Christmas! And driving, too, for that matter....

For those of you that agree and don't like the mob scene of retail shopping this time of year, Cyber Monday is your answer! I love online shopping, anyway, and you can get a lot of great deals online and your purchases will be delivered directly to your door instead of the ordeal of:

Driving in crazy traffic (and crazy weather, too, in some parts of the country)
Getting elbowed, shoved and stepped on by strangers
Walking for hours from store to store in search of the perfect item(s)

Cyber Monday is the perfect time to shop online and save on great holiday gift items. Reef Botanicals has something for everyone on your list - no kidding! From beautiful candles to shaving kits for men.

The husband and wife team of Larissa and Eric make every batch of soap, every candle, and every other item they sell by hand. They use only natural ingredients; no synthetic oils or colorants. Many of their products are also suitable for vegans and/or vegetarians.

On Monday, November 29, you can save 10% on every order from Reef Botanicals. Also, shipping is free on every order over $30! Check out their wonderful items - you won't be able to resist!

Happy Cyber Shopping!

Don't Miss This Fantastic Giveaway! Fair Trade Hemp Items

2010-10-14T14:13:00.009-04:00

I am so glad that today I discovered a company called Earth Divas. In honor of Fair Trade Month this month they are giving away a $100. credit to their fabulous store! That is great in itself, but I am more excited about what the company does.

Earth Divas works directly with small groups of people in Nepal and India to produce fair trade bags and other handmade items. The company exists to help families in Nepal and India rather than to make a profit for the company. All profits are returned to the artisans.

Visit the site at Earth Divas to read more about them or the blog to enter the giveaway.

This Week's Featured Artist: Sarah of Mama's Milk Money

2010-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome to our weekly series on Holly&Sage!

Each week we feature a different artist or artisan of handmade items. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Today we are talking with Sarah of Mama's Milk Money!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Sarah from Southern California

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I crochet hats, toys, and hair bows; do custom embroidery; make custom clothing and baby blankets; and make custom onesies and tutus.

I have crafting ADHD! I started with embroidery when I saw a cool embroidery machine demonstration. I was a stay at home mom trying to earn a little extra cash. I taught myself to crochet (left handed) and have since experimented with tutus, hair bows, crayon cases, etc.

My mother taught be to sew as a little girl.

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

I have an eBay store. I have also sold to friends and at craft shows. I have been selling for approximately 5 years.

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

This is a hobby for me. I love the create things and love to see the recipient's face. I would love to do it full time, but I don't have the time right now.

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

I love a challenge. I have crafting ADHD so I have tried almost everything. I put my heart and soul into my creations. I want them to be perfect and I want every customer to be completely happy with their purchase. I love to do custom work.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

At the moment I am really enjoying crochet, but that could all change tomorrow. I love a challenge and new ideas.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

What I love the most is positive feedback. I love it when people love my work. What I dislike is that handmade items are often undervalued and not seen as 'real gifts'.

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

I have a 7-year old boy and a 4-year-old girl. Both of my kids love to model my creations as long as they get one for them too! My daughter has an insane number of requests; my son has just discovered my crazy crochet hats. I just made him a Pikachu and a Jack Skellington crochet hat.

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself, Sarah! And I can attest to the quality of her work - she made a crocheted hat last year that I gave my step-daughter for Christmas, and I swear it was perfect! I was amazed at the workmanship!

To see and learn more about Sarah's work, visit her at her eBay Store

This Week's Featured Artist: Jenelle of TNT: TrashN2Tees!

2010-09-29T19:15:00.010-04:00

Welcome to our weekly series on Holly&Sage!

Each week we feature a different artist or artisan of handmade items. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Today we are talking with Jenelle of TrashN2Tees.

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Hi, I'm Jenelle and I call Kentucky home.

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

Maybe I have an odd sense of fashion, but it seems like year after year I can not seem to find cool kids clothes for my boys!? Sure, you have tons of basketballs and footballs, cheesy looking monster trucks, cute bears, and lame dinosaurs… but can you really blame me for wanting something different?

I appliqued my first t-shirt for my son using old clothing I had around the house- an outgrown onesie, a holey thermal, and a pair of (unworn) boxers!

Now I am not only creating awesome one of a kind appliqued tees, but I also make and sell pantalones (kids lounge pants), skirts, dresses, tee totes, purses, and reusable produce bags!

I only use reclaimed materials, most often ole' discarded t shirts!

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

My products can be found at TNT:TrashN2Tees on Facebook and TNT TrashN2Tees on Etsy. I also B/S/T (buy, sell and trade) on forums like ClothDiaperNation.

Still hatching, TNT is 6 months new. But don't let that fool you- I've been sewing off and on for 15 years if you count the home ec class I took in 8th grade! (more off then on)

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

Sincerely, my hope for TNT is to inspire and encourage others to consume less and recycle more! Did you know? If each person in the world bought one recycled garment each year, it would save an average of 371 million gallons of water and 480 tons of chemical dyestuffs!

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

My designs are each unique and original. Everything is hand drawn and cut by me. Materials are hand picked. No two items will ever be the same.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

Anything discarded, trashed, worn.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

I love seeing little ones rocking recycled threads! Not only are they mini walking advertisements for TNT but they are also advocating a Green Earth and not even knowing it!
Least, hmm... I can't say I have one.

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

WAHM to 2 rascal boys and soul mate to a hunky washed up BMXer turned metal fabricator. My 4 year old loves to help design new tees and my hubby just wants me to mend his jeans. :) The little guy can't talk yet but I am pretty sure he thinks I'm pretty cool!

Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself, Jenelle!

To see and learn more about Jenelle's work, visit her at:

TNT TrashN2Tees

Facebook

Etsy

Announcing My New Line of Fingerless Gloves/Mittens/Wristwarmers!

2010-09-26T19:49:00.011-04:00

I have been working on a new product line for a while now, and I am excited to say that the time has come to reveal it to my loyal fans!

I am making fingerless gloves/mittens/wrist warmers from recycled felted wool! Whatever you call them, they are awesomely cute and completely practical. Wool is very warm and the uses for these great gloves are nearly endless: keep your hands warm while retaining the use of your fingers for: typing, taking photographs, painting, texting, using your iPhone, or even hunting!

I will be adding these to my Etsy shop this week. I have seen first-hand how popular these are on Etsy and how quickly they sell, so if you have your eye on a particular pair, don't wait - they will go fast! I plan to continue to make and add more, but each one is one of a kind; there won't be any repeats.

I have a variety of styles in sizes for men as well as women. Each one is entirely hand sewn with tender loving care by yours truly!

The pair at the right will fit a man or woman size medium through extra large (modeled here by my handsome husband!)

This gray pair is my favorite! They are super soft finely woven felted wool with a mustard yellow heart and flower applique on each one. The length is long - almost up to the elbow. These will fit women small - medium.

Visit my shop this week to see more!

Here's to Handmade Holiday Success!

2010-09-24T23:08:00.003-04:00

Etsy is sponsoring a Holiday Boot Camp to help promote handmade and vintage gift-giving this holiday season. With so many unemployed and financially troubled, it makes more sense than ever to support independent artists and craftspeople.

We at Holly&Sage pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

To learn more about the Boot Camp, visit Etsy's blog.

Consignment and Thrift Store Shopping is Cool!

2010-09-18T11:30:00.005-04:00

I recently saw an article talking about movie star Drew Barrymore attending a gala event in a dress that she bought for $25. at a thrift shop! That is pretty amazing when she can afford any designer dress she wants!

I have a theory that not only is there a definite trend toward a more frugal way of living, but there is also a new appreciation of all things vintage and old style. Drew's choice of dress supports both of these ideas.

Do you shop at consignment or thrift shops? If you never have, or have found it too overwhelming, find some tips at Frugal Living Now on how to make the most of your resale shopping trip. Give it a try and don't be surprised if you come home with some wonderful bargains!

This Week's Featured Artist: Audrey of Retrograndma A Blast From the Past!

2010-09-16T12:57:00.010-04:00

Welcome to our series on handmade artists. This is my first interview in a while! I think everyone was on vacation for the summer, but this week we are back in business with Audrey of Retrograndma!

I regularly feature artists or artisans of handmade items to help promote the handmade industry. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Hi, Audrey! Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing a bit about your creative work!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

- Audrey from Sunny Saskatchewan in Canada!

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

- I recycle books and records and create unique handbags, wallets, clocks, earring holders, hollow book safes and containers. I've been crafting for many years now...I used to do A LOT of sewing, crocheting, and plastic canvas crafts and decided I needed a change.

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

- I started my Etsy shop, Retrograndma in 2007

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

- I would love it to be my main source of income. I can call it a hobby as I love creating these items - I never tire of it as each piece is unique - it's my relaxation therapy away from my daytime job. I dream of retiring soon, crafting all day and making many sales :-)

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

- I think it's unique to be able to recycle books and records and create handbags and other accessories.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

- I mostly love making the book handbags - especially out of vintage books.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

- I enjoy creating my product and then mailing it away for someone to use and enjoy. I feel good that someone is carrying my purse and leaves me awesome feedback of my craftsmanship. I do a lot of custom work and that also is a good feeling. One sale was creating custom handbags for a bride's bridesmaids !
The least thing I enjoy? I don't think there's anything that I like the least about creating and selling my products.

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

- When I show my family and friends - they just are amazed at what I can create out of a book or record.

Audrey, thank you for taking the time for this interview! We wish you all the greatest success.

If you’d like to learn more about Audrey or her work visit her shop, Retrograndma or her blog.

How Arabic Numbers Got Their Shape

2010-09-15T12:10:00.004-04:00

Ever wonder how numbers got their shape? No, neither did I! But my brother sent this to me and I thought it was interesting enough to pass along.

I don't know if this is fact=based, or urban legend, but it is food for thought anyway.

Happy Wednesday!

10 Things Men Should Know about a Woman's Brain

2010-09-05T12:38:00.004-04:00

What makes women tick? What do women want? Understanding women has been the (futile) lifelong quest of many men! If they only knew that the female brain is simply not like theirs! (It would do women good to remember these, too!)

- Women are programmed to avoid aggression and conflict

- Women's intuition is NOT a myth

- Women's appetite for adventure and risk blossoms in their later years

Read the full article at Live Science

Leftovers Recipe: Quick & Easy Chicken Pasta Salad

2010-08-29T10:46:00.007-04:00

I love making use of leftovers to create a delicious lunch! This one is a real winner - easy to prepare; portable if you need something to take along; versatile so that you can use whatever you happen to have on hand.

If you want more ideas for using leftovers, visit my website, Frugal Living Now.

What I used:

- 1 cup leftover cooked pasta (I used Trader Joe's colorful Vegetable Radiatore, but any will work)

- 1/2 leftover cooked chicken breast, diced (mine was leftover from Chicken Parmesan, but you can use baked, fried, lemon-pepper chicken, etc. - whatever you have)

- 1/2 stalk celery, diced

- 1 small carrot, shredded

- 1/2 leftover tomato, diced

- 2 Tsp. creamy dressing (any type will work; I used Caesar)

Put everything in a mixing bowl and stir it up - that's it!

Makes 2 generous servings

Digital Scavenger Hunt- Summer 2010 - My Results!

2010-08-28T21:06:00.021-04:00

I am participating in a digital scavenger hunt sponsored by Pink Dandy. What fun! Here is what I came up with for:

NATURE

I took this picture earlier this month while picking blueberries with my mother at a farm far out in the country in Tennessee. I thought it was an interesting aspect of nature.

BROKEN

This is what remained of my old Camry after my daughter was hit by a logging truck. Luckily, she was not seriously hurt! Seeing that car on the side of the road surrounded by emergency vehicles was probably the scariest moment of my life!

COLORFUL

Produce in the grocery store. What is more colorful than that?

TALL

This is a photo I took of the Space Needle in Seattle several years ago when we were there. I think it looks lovely with the blue sky and clouds behind it.

LOVE

This is my dad playing with my daughter when she was about 2 years old. He died last year and she is now 20, but they loved each other fiercely - I think it shows in this photo.

HEAT

This is our bearded dragon, Simon, looking out the window at the Utah landscape when we were driving across the country. My daughter thought he looked like he liked what he saw and wanted to be out there!

ORGANIC

This is a photo of some peppers that we bought at the farmer's market earlier this summer. I thought they looked pretty laying on the green plate, so I took a picture. My family thinks I'm weird, but I am always taking pictures of things like this - you never know when you might need them for your blog or your website (or for a digital scavenger hunt!)

CRIME

Yes, this one is lame, I know. I just couldn't come up with anything more original! I thought of photographing litter or graffiti, but I waited until too late in the game and didn't see any when I had my camera with me. So this is my dirty oven. It is a crime, but I do not clean ovens, and that is just how it is. We all have our dirty little secrets, don't we? Now you know mine!

Check out these blogs for their scavenger hunt entries, too!

Blog Links that are participating in the Hunt:

http://caseymcardle.blogspot.com
http://mynameismichael-wrangler.blogspot.com
http://opheliaclairemaxwell.blogspot.com
http://soulenergyjewelry.blogspot.com
http://jodibee.blogspot.com
http://liftingmeup.com
http://pinkdandychatter.blogspot.com

My Delicious, Healthy, Non-Dairy Milkshake!

2010-08-28T13:41:00.005-04:00

I just made the best milkshake; it was refreshing and delicious! But that's not all! It also:

- is all natural

- has only 140 calories

- contains no dairy products

- has no sugar (except what is in the banana)

- has only 3 ingredients and is super easy to make

Here's how you can make it:

- Peel a ripe banana and break it into 1-inch chunks

- Freeze the banana for an hour or more

- Pour 1 cup of almond milk into a blender (you could use soy milk also, but I like the flavor of the almond milk)

- Add the frozen banana and 1/4 tsp. of vanilla

- You can add a dash of cinnamon if you want

Blend it up until there are no chunks of banana left. Pour it into a glass and drink it!

Yummy-licious! Enjoy!

(I think you could make it chocolate, too, by adding some unsweetened cocoa powder. I may try that next time!)

Giveaway on Fashion Momma!

2010-08-25T08:12:00.003-04:00

I wanted to let you all know that one of my button bracelets is being given away on a great blog called Fashion Momma this week. Please stop by and take a look at this fun blog - Kim has so much energy and humor, I am sure you will fall in love with her like I did! AND you can enter to win the bracelet! If nothing else, you can see what I am doing with all those buttons I am constantly begging for - lol!

Thanks! Have a great rest-of-the-week!

Babies at the Beach

2010-08-07T09:26:00.005-04:00

I love this quote: I borrowed it from Stephanie at Totally Together Journal.

Babies don’t need a vacation but I still see them at the beach. I’ll go over to them and say, “What are you doing here, you’ve never worked a day in your life!” –Stephen Wright

I get her updates every day in email and they always brighten my day. She is such a fun person! We are going to the beach in two weeks - I have not been in YEARS, so it should be fun! I think I will take lots of pictures to post.

Have a great weekend!

Join in the Digital Scavenger Hunt!

2010-07-16T19:43:00.004-04:00

Have you ever heard of a digital scavenger hunt? I hadn't until today. Pink Dandy Chatter is having one in August and you are invited to join in the fun!

Below is an excerpt from the blog explaining the basics. Go to Pink Dandy Chatter for details and to sign up to participate!

"I will ... email everyone on Monday, August 9th with 8 scavenger hunt words and a list of all the web addresses for all the blogs that are participating. You will then take one picture per scavenger hunt word with your digital camera. On Monday, August 30th, everyone will post their own pictures on their blogs (including the scavenger hunt word below each picture). And, you must include links of all the blogs that are participating in the digital scavenger hunt (below your last picture)."

I can't wait - it sounds like lots of fun!

We Have a Winner!! Is it YOU?!?

2010-07-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

I want to thank everyone that entered the giveaway for the copper necklace - it was a great success! We had 97 entries - not bad for a first giveaway!

I used a random number generator to choose a winner, and the winner is...
...
...
...

Kelli Lee!

Congratulations, Kelli - I have contacted you about getting your address so I can mail the necklace to you.

Everyone else - thank you so much for participating! I will be sending an email to each of you (if you provided me with an email address) with a discount code good on any purchase from Holly&Sage through August 31.

Also, a friend of mine will be doing a giveaway of another one of my items in August - check back for more details later!

Introducing My New Line of Button Jewelry!

2010-07-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have created a new line of jewelry made from recycled vintage buttons. I never thought I would use buttons in my jewelry, until I saw a button bracelet that was delicate and feminine. I dug out my stash of old buttons and tried making a couple of bracelets and I was hooked! The color and texture combinations are endless!

These bracelets are so fun, easy to wear, and affordable, and they look even better when you stack two or three together! (At Holly&Sage shipping is always free for a second item!)

Made from buttons and cotton or hemp woven cord, these bracelets don’t have the limitations of metal or pearl jewelry – they can be worn while swimming or playing sports and can be hand washed if they get dirty! (Please don’t put them in a clothes dryer, though!)

Many of the buttons I am using are truly antiques! The craftsmanship of these very old buttons is a wonder to behold! Today's mass-produced plastic buttons simply do not have the delicate etching and carving or interesting swirls and textures that so many of these old ones have. In some styles, I have only one button - as a result of this, every bracelet I make is one-of-a-kind. Some may be similar to others, but no two will be exactly the same .

*************************************************
Down to earth and simple - like friendship bracelets - these affordable bracelets let you add some personality to even the most casual outfits or wardrobes!
*************************************************

If you are interested in button jewelry of a color combination or size other than those I have listed, send me a message. I am very open to conversations about my work and will be glad to work with you to create just what you are looking for!

Giveaway! Win this 30-inch Handmade Copper Necklace from Holly&Sage!

2010-06-30T19:43:00.000-04:00

Want to win? Now through Saturday, July 10, you can enter to win this Handmade Double Strand Copper necklace valued at $50!

This one-of-a-kind necklace would look great with your favorite jeans or dressed up with a skirt or suit for work or out on the town - you can wear it just about anywhere! It is wonderfully neutral in copper chain and beads with a few jasper and aventurine beads here and there. The longest strand is 30 inches long. The beautiful clasp is completely handmade from 14 gauge copper wire.

To enter visit Holly&Sage Designs at http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollynsage and pick out your favorite item. Then leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite item.

Extra entries are available for each of the following:

- Post a link to my Etsy shop on YOUR Facebook or My Space page (comment here and include a link to your page)

- Blog about this contest. Comment with a link to your blog post.

- Tweet this contest. Comment with your tweet.

- Link to giveaway or Etsy shop from your personal blog or website (comment here with a link to the page).

- Become a fan of Holly&Sage on Facebook and leave a comment.

- Follow this blog

This contest is open to residents of the US, the UK, and Canada; ages 18 and up. Please remember to leave a way for me to contact you if you win. (Your contact information will only be used for acquiring your address information should you win the contest.)

Contest will run through Saturday, July 10, 2010 11:59pm EST

The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced here on Tuesday, July 13.

Good luck!

This is why you need to have kids when you are young...

2010-06-28T18:35:00.000-04:00

I think nature intended for us to have children early in our reproductive years. That is why teens and young adults in their 20s are so into reproductive-type activities. When you have children at 25, by the time you hit menopause and all the craziness that goes along with it, your kids will be out of the house and on their own (hopefully!).

When you have kids when you are older (like I did...), you run the risk of them still being at home (and always WANTING things from you!) when you become menopausal.

When you are having hot flashes and feeling stressed out and it is 103 outside and you are trying to do 6 things at once, you do not take kindly to two teenagers sitting on their butts in front of the TV and asking you what's for dinner!

And when the hummus falls out of the refrigerator (because one of them did a sloppy job of putting it away) and spills all over that floor and onto your shoe, you just might explode at them!

That could cause irreparable damage to the relationship.

So have kids when you are young. :-/

This Week's Featured Artist: Aki of Oktak!

2010-06-24T10:33:00.000-04:00

Today we are honored to have Aki of Oktak. She makes the most beautiful things from vintage fabrics!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

My name is Aki, and I'm from Japan.

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I make bags & pouches of all shapes & sizes as well as baby items such as bibs and smocks. I think I'm best known for my frame pouches though.

I had always been interested in arts & crafts, but it wasn't until I had my first child that I decided to pursue handbag making.

I took a course in handbag design and construction at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY from 2003 to 2004, and started creating my own line in 2005.

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

My main source of income is my Etsy shop at the moment. However, I do sell wholesale as well, and am in the process of reopening my own shop. (I had my own shop, which I temporarily closed in early 2009.) I've been selling my work since 2005.

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

I started this business with the hope of making a living out of it. In 2008, I reached a point where I could probably live on my income if I weren't in NYC, but in an expensive city like this, I still can't say I make a living with my craft.

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

(1) I try to come up with designs that no one else is making. When I started selling on Etsy in 2006, there was only one other frame purse maker, and it was easy to be 'unique'. Since then, the number of people selling the same types of purses has increased exponentially, but I constantly try to be the trailblazer. Before I produce a new design, I do a thorough search to check that no one else is making the same style. So I came up with frame purses with frills, with corsages, with hand embroidery, with patchwork etc. - but new designs quickly become old and ubiquitous, so I feel like it's a rat race, but I do try to be original. I make it a point not to copy other people's ideas/designs.

(2) I only use high-quality frames made in Japan. I know I could get much cheaper frames manufactured in China, and I did try a few of them when I started out - but I wasn't happy with the quality, and I decided only to use those made in Japan.

(3) Even when I am making plain bags/pouches, my choice of materials will always be different from other people's choices. I only use materials that I love.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

I love working with medium to heavy-weight cotton, especially vintage fabrics from the 1960s to 1970s which have bold designs & colors.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

The favorite part is thinking of new designs. I have a book full of sketches.
The least favorite is packing. I wish someone did that for me!

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

My husband has always supported my business. In fact, he was the one who encouraged me to dive into the world of design & craft! My kids, ages 10 and 5, are equally supportive. They are my cheerleaders and I am extremely grateful!

You can see more of Aki's work at her website, her Etsy shop or her shop for kids' items, oktakmini.

5 Easy Ways to Look Younger

2010-06-19T12:29:00.000-04:00

Most of us would like to look and feel younger - at least on some days! Here are five no-nonsense tips for looking and feeling your best all the time:

Water: Water is required by every cell in our bodies. When you keep your body hydrated it functions better in every way! You may be surprised at the number of headaches and sleepy afternoon slumps that can be cured simply by drinking a large glass of water!

Sufficient water will also insure that your kidneys and digestive system work efficiently to clear toxins from your body regularly.

Sleep: Everyone's sleep needs vary, but most of us need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night to look and feel our best. Many nights of too little sleep will take it's toll on your energy level and leave you feeling and looking dull and slow. Getting enough sleep gives your body the opportunity to repair itself and maintain good health.

Vegetables: Experts agree that it is important to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day; eight or nine is better. Fresh fruits and vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals plus healthy natural fiber for digestive health and good carbohydrates for lasting energy.

Omega 3: Taking an Omega 3 supplement and/or eating a diet rich in the healthy fats found in salmon, mackerel, and sardines will help keep oxygen free-radical molecules from damaging your cells. You will be able to see the difference in your skin tone, too.

Posture: You can take years off of your appearance instantly by standing up straight! Pull your shoulders back, suck in your tummy and hold your head high. You will feel better, too!

Now go out and tackle the world feeling your best every day!!

This Week's Featured Artist: Christina of Natural Indulgence

2010-06-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our weekly series on Holly&Sage. Each week we feature a different artist or artisan of handmade items. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Today we are talking with Christina of Natural Indulgence Bath & Body.

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

- Christina, from California

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

- I'm not sure it counts as an art. :-) I create handcrafted, all natural, vegan, spa quality bath and body products, under the label "Natural Indulgence".

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

- I sell my products on HyenaCart, and through a local spa. I also trade them on SwapMamas!

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

- At the moment, it's more of a hobby, but I'd like to work from home and have it be a supplemental income for my family.

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

- My products are always all natural, vegan, and organic where possible. They don't contain any ingredients known to be harmful (many spa products do - check your labels, folks!). I only use essential oils, not fragrance oils, so there are always added benefits - emotional and physical!

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

- Right now I'm working on creating both a body butter and an aftershave... so I guess you could say whatever I'm developing is my favorite!

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

- Developing and testing something new is my favorite part. Least?... Hm. Labeling. Ensuring that my labels meet federal guidelines, actually printing and cutting and applying... I have to deal with it, but it's just a chore.

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

- My husband and I have one child, who is just over a year. My husband's take on it is, "Just make sure you make as much as you spend." He likes to try the new products, though :-) My son loves to smell the new scents, and he tries out baby bath products for me!

Christina, thank you for taking the time for this interview! We wish you all the greatest success.

If you’d like to learn more about Christina, visit her shop, Natural Indulgence or her Facebook page.

A Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea

2010-06-14T13:01:00.000-04:00

A really unique idea for a baby shower gift is a nursing necklace. Whether the new mom is planning on nursing or not, she will be holding the baby a lot, and babies like to grab things! A nursing necklace is made stronger than a regular necklace with no little parts that can easily pull off or break - perfect for a mom or anyone that holds a baby a lot!

I have an extensive selection for sale at my Etsy shop (all under $20.) There is also going to be one given away on Girly Girl Giveaways later this week! Be sure to watch for it and enter to win this reversible turquoise and lavender one:

Or visit Holly&Sage to see many more!

This Week's Featured Artist: Amanda of Amanda Sews!

2010-06-10T04:00:00.000-04:00

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Amanda, AZ

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I sew. My business mostly started by accident. My mom liked sewing things for me when I was a child, and I learned to sew from her and some of her friends and family members.

As an adult, I’ve often sewn things for myself and even made a few things for friends. After I had my daughter, I started making things for her. I had people approach me about some of the things I’d made for her, so I decided to open an Etsy shop selling some of my creations.

Through local boutiques, I’ve had the opportunity to make some custom adult things too. There are always more projects than there is time for and I always seem to have at least half a dozen projects in various stages of completion (not counting the list of ideas I haven’t even started yet).

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

I’ve been a seller on Etsy for just over 2 years. I also have shops on CosaVerde, Artfire, and ShopHandmade, as well as participating in local boutiques.

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

At the moment, it is mainly a hobby and I would love for it to grow to being a greater source of income.

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

I often design my own patterns, so you will not find the exact same item anywhere else. I work hard to make beautiful, well-crafted things, but also keep them affordable for the average person.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

I’ve really gotten to love eco-friendly fabrics over the last few years. I especially love bamboo
fabrics. I just love the way they feel, as well as knowing that they’re from a sustainable source.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

I love seeing the finished product (especially when it’s something new that I’m trying for the first time). I also really love seeing my things in action - I love it when my customers send me photos.

My least favorite part is when I run into problems – whether it’s problems with my machine or problems with my pattern, they can really make me grumpy. I also not fond of the shoulder/neck aches that I sometimes get when I’ve been working too hard.

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

My husband has always been very supportive. He never complains about my sewing area slowly taking over our master bedroom or when I order or come home with yet more fabric to add to my stash.

My mother has also been a great support – she’s always willing to help me brainstorm, give me feedback, and listen to me rant or gush about my projects.

I am a wife and mother first and a seamstress second, so I do most of my sewing while my daughter takes her daily nap (along with everything else we moms have to do during naps). When I get really busy, I also end up sewing at night after she’s gone to bed or on Saturdays when my husband is home.

You can find Amanda and her work at:

Etsy shop: http://www.amandasews.etsy.com

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Sews/120165531334304

Online portfolio: http://picasaweb.google.com/amandasews

THANK YOU AMANDA!

This Week's Featured Artist: Caroline of Creations for Amalie!

2010-06-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

This is the first of a new weekly series on Holly&Sage. Each week we will feature a different artist or artisan of handmade items. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Our first featured artisan is Caroline of Creations for Amalie!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Hello, my name is Caroline, and I am from Northern California!

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I love to sew, and I am currently making "Pillowcase" Dresses, shopping cart covers, and Mei Tai wraps. I got started with this when my husband and I ran up on hard times, and having a little one in diapers was tough! So, I decided to save some money, and make her cloth diapers! Now I am making her everything. It is a great way to be green, and save money for my family. :)

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

I have tried to sell my work on Facebook, Craigslist, and even an ad in my local paper. The only one I got a few hits from, was Craigslist. I have sooo many mamas interested in my work on Swap Mamas as well, but as we all know the rules there, you cannot sell. But it is an amazing site to get my name out there! ;-)

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

I would like to make some money from this, but it's not something that is a must. My dream for this, is that I can help mamas save some money, and make their daughters be different from their friends, because they have something unique.

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

My items are different because I put love into every stitch, and I pay attention to detail. Most others just whip out their products, and don't sit back and think, "how would this look on me/my child?" I want everyone to be happy and satified with their orders.

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

My absolute favorite item I make would be my Pillowcase Dresses. When I first got a request to make one, I wasn't looking forward to making it. I thought it was going to look frumpy or not so cute. So I practiced making a few before I made her order, and when I tried them on my daughter, I fell in love! She looked so cute in it, and she got so many compliments when I took her to the store later that day. So I have been hooked on them ever since. I have since then modified and improved my dresses to make them even more precious than my original design.

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

My favorite part about creating/selling my designs is knowing that I am going to make other little Princesses happy, and I am keeping them safe and healthy (shopping cart covers). Also, that I can help families save money instead of buying boutique items at high boutique prices. The part I like least about my work, is when I am finished working on them, and have to send them to the customer. But, then I think about how cute they are going to look, or how many compliments they are going to get, and that makes me happy again! :)

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

My family is VERY supportive of my work! My grandmother is the one who taught me how to sew, so I have to give a bunch of credit to her. My husband loves that I am saving us money by making our daughter her clothes, diapers, blankets, and some toys on my own. We do save a lot of money, so we can go have some family adventures together. My whole family tries to promote my name, and help my business grow. Everytime they see a little one, they tell the parents about me and my work, and send them to my site.

Caroline, thank you for taking the time for this interview! We wish you all the greatest success.

If you’d like to learn more about Caroline, visit her blog, Creations For Amalie!

Check it out - I'm a celebrity!

2010-05-31T11:57:00.001-04:00

My interview on Cecil Bobby's blog is airing today! Don't miss it!

Cecil Bobby's blog "Live, Love, Laugh, Be Indie" features a different Etsy artisan each Monday to help promote handmade items and fellow 'Etsyians'. My interview is running today, and I feel so special!

If you are interested in being featured on the blog you can find details on the interview page. You may also be interested in being featured on this blog. For details on that, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist. These interviews will begin airing on Thursday of this week (June 3).

I Love the Farmer's Market!

2010-05-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

I love the farmer's market! Last night with dinner we had zucchini (so fresh and tender!) sauteed with a wonderful sweet onion. We also had a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber all from the farmer's market. Please excuse my gushing, but eating fresh local produce makes me feel good on so many levels!

It's good for the local economy. Instead of giving my money to a mega-chain retailer, I am helping to support a local farmer who lives, works, and pays taxes in my county.

I feel good about doing my part to help small business enterprises. They make the world a better place, but they can't survive unless we support their efforts. I like to buy from individuals, even if they are not local. I buy from Etsy when I can and I like to buy furniture from a man that makes it by hand in the small town in Tennessee where my mother lives.

I feel like I am giving my family healthier foods. I won't go into the multitude of reasons why I believe this to be true - that would turn this blog into an entire book! (For the long version read any of Michael Pollan's books or watch the movie Food, Inc. - see the trailer at the end of this post)

Lastly, it tastes better. Produce that was picked less than 24 hours ago and traveled 25 miles HAS to be better than produce that was picked 3 weeks ago 3000 miles away. It is fresher, and fresher is just better!

SEE YOU AT THE FARMER'S MARKET!

Regina Brett's Life Lessons

2010-05-16T10:05:00.000-04:00

To celebrate growing older, Regina Brett wrote the 45 lessons life had taught her. Her wise words are worth passing on:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

This content was originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, May 28, 2006

Handmade Artists Forum

2010-05-06T19:05:00.000-04:00

I have just joined the Handmade Artists Forum! - Supporting Handmade Artists

Handmade Artists’ Forum encourages all creative people that work with their hands to make decorative, functional, and FUN items to join. Everyone learns from everyone else and we all help to promote each other's work!

This is the place to:
- Share creations
- Seek advice
- Learn how to make your creations better
- Take better pictures
- Offer help to others
- Support other artists and crafters
- Have fun
- Share our love for art
- Make friends

Come and join us!

Would you like to be a featured artist?

2010-04-28T23:23:00.000-04:00

I believe in handmade items and cottage industry. I would rather buy an item from a fellow artisan or crafts person than to buy it from a mega-store at half the price!

In order to do my part in promoting the handmade industry, I am going to feature a different artist or crafts person each week – the offer is open to any artist or crafts person who creates handmade items and sells them.

These posts will appear one day each week (not sure which day, yet – I will let you know when we get ready to roll!). If you would like to be featured, simply email me at hollylu16@gmail.com and include the following information in interview form:

1. What is your first name and where are you from? (State or country only)

2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

Please also provide:
• A link to your shop, website or blog

• A photograph of one of your items or a link to the photograph with permission to use it in this post

• A photo of yourself or your work space if you wish (optional)

Once you’ve sent your information, we’ll schedule a date for you to “go live” on this blog. I will send you a reminder email the day before your feature goes live so you can tell all your friends to watch for it!

All I ask in return for this is a link back to my blog (to your feature) and that you spread the word among any other artists or crafts people you feel may be interested in a bit of free advertising and promotion.

Thank you to Cher at cecilbobby.com for the idea to do this. I am kinda copying her! I don’t think she will mind – it is all for the good of the handcrafted community!

2010-04-27T13:28:00.001-04:00

I have decided to formally promote the handmade and artisan items of my friends and fans of Holly&Sage! This decision was influenced partly by Heather of Studio FM and partly by the weekly FEATURED FELLOW ETSIAN feature on Cecil Bobby's blog.

Heather's generosity to all of her friends that sell handmade products inspired me to do more sharing of my own resources with my friends. It can only help all of us if we spread the word about each others work! I am all for buying everything I can from a cottage industry rather than a mega corporation!

Cecil Bobby's blog gave me an example to follow. She features a fellow Etsy seller each week and in order to be included you only have to have an Etsy shop and answer a few simple "interview" questions. She only asks that each participant links back to her site and that they "spread the word among any Etsians [they] feel may be interested in a bit of free advertising and promotion." (If you have an Etsy shop you can find the information for being featured on her blog at )

I am going to do a similar feature here on my blog. This blog started out as just a place for me to ramble on occasionally about things that were on my mind (like whether buying sweat pants at Walmart was a good deal... ( )

Anyway, I am working on improving it and using it to promote my handmade products as well as those of my friends (including my Facebook friends and fans of Holly&Sage). I reserve the right to publish the occasional rant about Walmart, but I will try to keep it professional! ;- D

This is the plan: I will make a list of questions and anyone wishing to participate can send the answered questions to me and I will schedule a date for their 'interview' on my blog. I will, of course, link to your site or Etsy shop (I don't require that you have an Etsy shop, only that you make a handcrafted product that you sell). In return I ask that you link back to the blog - from Facebook, Twitter, your site, I don't care where! The idea is to get incoming links. That will make the whole endeavor work. The more people that see the blog, the more it will help YOU, ME, and EVERYONE else! I think it is a win-win situation!

I will come up with the questions and post them in a day or two. I welcome any advice or suggestions, and please spread the word!!

Thank you!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

holly&sagewelcomepage
Originally uploaded by Steve & Holly2008

I am spending the day updating Holly&Sage fan page on Facebook! (I was expecting to spend an hour or two on it, not all day! But alas... I guess I am more tech-impaired than I realized!)

This is my Welcome page to new fans, what do you think?

Frugal and Green Avocado Facial Mask

2010-04-24T14:53:00.000-04:00

Clair Boone from Mummy Deals talks about making a simple and inexpensive face mask out of avocado. Mmmm - feels so nice!

Visit Frugal Living Now for more homemade beauty products that you can make easily with things you already have around the house.

Frugal Weddings Part 1 - Save on Your Wedding Flowers

2010-04-13T11:45:00.000-04:00

If you are planning a wedding and trying to stick to a budget, flowers are going to be one of your main considerations. The prices that couples pay for their wedding flowers is highly variable. For example, if you choose to use expensive out-of-season orchids flown in from Hawaii, you are going to spend a LOT of money!

On the other end of the spectrum, my mom and I gathered wild flowers from the side of the road for my wedding and arranged them ourselves in vases that she already had! You may not want to go that far, but you can save a substantial amount on flowers if you know what you are doing.

Try to stick with local and in-season flowers. You will spend a lot less this way whether you hire a florist or do it yourself. If you are not getting married in the spring or summer, you may have to think outside the box. For example, if you are getting married in December, holly and evergreen boughs make lovely arrangements.

If you choose to use a florist, be honest with them about your budget. They can help to steer you to choices that you can afford.

If you are planning a church wedding, consider scheduling it right after Easter or another occasion when the church will already be decorated.

More and more brides are arranging their own wedding flowers. For a step-by-step guide to creating your own wedding flowers Click Here!

2010-02-25T15:23:00.000-05:00

Our culture has changed so much in the last 50 years that so-called timeless parables may no longer apply. Case in point: consider the classic story of the ant and the grasshopper.

The OLD VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY : Be responsible for yourself!
________________________________

NEW VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green...'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopperdoesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

What Price Those $5 Sweatpants?

2010-01-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

I was recently involved in a discussion about the evils and the virtues of shopping at Walmart. One person said, "I just bought $5 sweatpants from Walmart today, I'm pretty darn happy." For me that sums up the problem with Walmart right there!

If you think about it, how can anyone expect to buy sweatpants for $5? We couldn't buy sweatpants for $5 twenty years ago! How is it possible now? Think of the people involved in making those pants (cutting, sewing, packaging, labeling), shipping them to the store, stocking the store and selling them. How much money did each of those people earn?

A lot of our economic problems have been caused by this mindset that we need to have EVERYTHING and have it NOW and have it as CHEAPLY as possible. Walmart has convinced us that we need $5 sweatpants! US companies can't provide them for that price (they have minimum wage standards to follow), so Walmart gets them from another country (China, India) and there goes another US manufacturing company out of business. Then people lose their jobs - not just those that work for that manufacturer, but support people that provided services for those people - local stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. Unemployment goes up and the cycle continues. Who is the winner in this scenario? I don't think there is one unless it's the corporation of Walmart. They are laughing all the way to the bank.

I would rather pay $20. for a pair of sweatpants and live in a town where people can earn a living by doing an honest day's work. I would rather pay $20. for a pair of sweatpants and wear them for five years instead of getting them from Walmart and replacing them in three months because they fell apart. And I would rather buy only what I need (do we really need 6 pairs of sweatpants in every color of the rainbow to do our daily jog? or will one good, well-made pair suffice?) and pay a fair price for it and know that I am supporting our economy in the only way I know how to.

Low-Cost Bookends

2010-01-08T17:25:00.001-05:00

This is such a brilliant idea! I love unique and quirky decorating ideas, and I am always on the lookout for bookends that are heavy enough. (A light-weight bookend is useless for holding up a stack of books!) I saw this on HGTV and couldn't believe the ingenious simplicity of it!
Use classic Campbell's tomato soup cans (or other attractive cans) as book ends! I am not as fond of the bag of sugar on the next shelf up, but to each his own!

Taking Pictures for Selling or Swapping Items Online

2009-10-30T15:35:00.000-04:00

I have learned a lot about taking pictures to post online from my experience with eBay and my jewelry website. Taking pictures of jewelry is especially hard, and the part of making and selling jewelry that I hate the most! But I have learned a few tips that I thought I should share.

When taking pictures of small items, use the Macro mode on your camera. If you don't know how to change the setting, look it up in the manual that came with your camera. It helps that camera to focus on a small item close-up.

Don't always use the flash. Experiment with turning it off and on with the same photo and see which one works better. I have found that it is better to have the flash turned off when taking jewelry photos because the flash always makes a glare on the shiny surfaces of the jewelry and makes the picture almost useless for showing any detail.

When taking pictures of clothing, it is usually best to lay it out flat. Try to show the whole item so people will know how it looks. When you take a picture of a pair of pants folded up, no one can tell how they really look! Try to use a contrasting background, too, so that the item shows up. A solid colored bedspread is a good background for clothing.

Last, but not least, don't forget to describe your item! If you put a picture up with no description, some potential buyers will ask you the details, but some will just move on to the next item. It is less trouble for you and them if the information is available to them right then! Some details that might need to be included are: size (of clothing or most anything else), brand, condition, materials (is is silver, cotton, wood, etc.). Sometimes you need to explain what it is or what it is for.

Have a Drink of Water!

2009-10-26T18:12:00.000-04:00

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Asparagus: A Miracle Cure??

2009-10-10T12:19:00.000-04:00

I received an email about the benefits and nutritional qualities of asparagus. This is what it said:

"My Mom had been taking the full-stalk canned style asparagus that she pureed and she took 4 tablespoons in the morning and 4 tablespoons later in the day. She did this for over a month. She is on chemo pills for Stage 3 lung cancer in the pleural area and her cancer cell count went from 386 down to 125 as of this past week. Her oncologist said she does not need to see him for 3 months."

Her evidence included an article entitled, 'Asparagus for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979 which stated:

"I am a biochemist,and have specialized in the relation of diet to health for over 50 years..Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer.

Since then, I have worked with him on his project. We have accumulated a number of favorable case histories. Here are a few examples:

Case No. 1, A man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous exercise.

Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, examinations revealed that his bladder tumor had disappeared and that his kidneys were normal.

Case No.. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971, he was put on the operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On April 5th he heard about the asparagus therapy and immediately started taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer had disappeared... He is back at his regular business routine.

Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin cancer. She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by the acting specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after starting on asparagus, her skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble entirely to the asparagus.

I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of materia medica', edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. Note the dates!

For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh. I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives.

Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree, and store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink.

This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases. As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that 'what cures can prevent'. Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my wife prefers hers cold.

For years we have made it a practice to have blood surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specializes in the nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to nothing but the asparagus drink.

Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I believe asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth normalizer that accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a general body tonic.

In any event, regardless of theory, asparagus used as we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using it and it may do you much good. It has been reported by the US National Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most potent anticarcinogens and antioxidants."

I know that there are many tonics and teas and foods that are supposed to cure or prevent cancer, so it is hard to know whether to believe any of them. I thought it was an interesting theory, though, and one worth trying!

Need a new title

2009-10-07T06:46:00.000-04:00

I have decided that I need a snappier title for my blog. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Are you a stay-at-home-mom looking for a way to make some extra income?

2009-09-23T23:09:00.000-04:00

Are you a stay-at-home mom looking for an income opportunity that will allow you to:

Spend quality time on something you care about away from the responsibilities of kids and home?
Do something that gives you an opportunity to use your talents and gain a sense of accomplishment and extra income for your family?
Enjoy the flexibility of working at your own pace and in your own way without the burdens of a boss or a schedule?
Own a real business that requires only basic computer skills and provides an in-depth training and support system to help you succeed?

Starting your own website with Site Build It may be your answer. Managing a website is a very effective and fun way to earn money at home. When I was looking for extra income ideas my sister recommended using Site Build It to me. I knew nothing about writing or creating a website, but she told me that SBI offers a unique opportunity to create a website about a topic that you know and care about and earn money from home on a part-time basis. There are no large investments required, and no special expertise is necessary. I now know first-hand that SBI does truly provide a unique experience in website development.

National Health Care? A doctor's point of view

2009-09-18T16:35:00.000-04:00

This is a letter written Zane Pollard, MD, an ophthalmologist at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, GA.

Friends:

I have been sitting quietly on the sidelines watching all of this national debate on health care. It is time for me to bring some clarity to the table and as your friend by explaining many of the problems from the aspect of a doctor.

First off the government has involved very few of us physicians in the healthcare debate. While the American Medical Association has come out in favor of the plan, it is vital to remember that the AMA only represents 17% of the American physician workforce. I have taken care of medicaid patients for 35 years while representing the only pediatric group in an opthalmology group left in Atlanta, Georgia that accepts Medicaid. Why is this? For example, in the past 6 months I have cared for three young children on Medicaid who had corneal ulcers. This is a potentially blinding situation because if the cornea perforates from the infection, almost surely blindness will occur. In all three cases the antibiotic needed for the eradication of the infection was not on the approved Medicaid list. Each time I was told to fax Medicaid for the approval forms which I did. Within 48 hours the form came back to me which was mailed in immediately via fax and I was told that I would have my answer in 10 days. Of course by then each child would have been blind in the eye. Each time the request came back denied. All three times I personally provided the antibiotic for each patient which was not on the Medicaid approved list. Get the point- rationing of care. Over the past 35 years I have cared for over 1000 children born with congenital cataracts. In older children and in adults, the vision is rehabilitated with an intraocular lens. In newborns we use contact lenses which are very expensive. It takes Medicaid over one year to approve a contact lens post cataract surgery. By that time a successful anatomical operation is wasted as the child will be close to blind from a lack of focusing for so long a period of time. Again extreme rationing. Solution- I have a foundation here in Atlanta supported 100% by private funds which supplies all of these contact lenses for my Medicaid and illegal immigrants children for free. Again waiting for the government would be disastrous.

Last week I had a lady bring her child to me.They are Americans, but live in Sweden as the father has a job with a big corporation. The child had the onset of double vision 3 months ago and has been unable to function normally because of this. They are people of means but are waiting 8 months to see the ophthalmologist in Sweden. Then if the child needed surgery they would be put on a 6 month waiting list. She called me and I saw her that day. It turned out that the child had accommodative esotropia (crossing of the eyes treated with glasses that correct for
farsightedness) and responded to glasses within 4 days, no surgery was needed. Again rationing of care.

Last month I operated on a 70 year old lady with double vision present for 3 years. She responded quite nicely to her surgery and now is symptom free. I also operated on a 69 year old judge with vertical double vision. His surgery went very well and now he is happy as a lark. I have been told, but of course, there is no healthcare bill that has been passed yet that these 2 people because of their age would have been denied surgery and just told to wear a patch over one eye to alleviate the symptoms of double vision. Obviously cheaper than surgery.

I spent two years in the US Navy during the Vietnam war and was well treated by the military. There was tremendous rationing of care and we were told specifically what things the military personnel and their dependents could have and which things they could not have. While in Vietnam, my wife Nancy got sick and got essentially no care at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. She went home and went to her family's private internist in Beverly Hills. While it was expensive, she received an immediate work up. Again rationing of care.

For those of you who are over 65, this bill in its present form might be lethal for you. People in England over 59 cannot receive stents for their coronary arteries. The government wants to mimic the British plan. For those of you younger,it will still mean restriction of the care that you and your children receive.

While 99% of physicians went into medicine because of the love of medicine and the challenge of helping our fellow man, economics are still important. My rent goes up 2% each year and the salaries of my employees goes up 2% each year. Twenty years ago ophthalmologists were paid $1800 for a cataract surgery and today $500. This is a 73% decrease in our fees. I do not know of many jobs in America that have seen this lowering of fees.

But there is more to the story that just the lower fees. When I came to Atlanta there was a well known ophthalmologist that charged $2500 for a cataract surgery as he felt he was the best. He had a terrific reputation and in fact, I had my mother's bilateral cataracts operated on by him with a wonderful result. She is now 94 and has 20/20 vision in both eyes. People would pay his $2500 fee. However then the government came in and said that any doctor that does medicare work cannot accept more than the going rate (now $500) or he or she would be severely fined. This put an end to his charging $2500. The government said it was illegal to accept more than the government allowed rate. What I am driving at is that those of you well off will not be able to go to the head of the line under this new healthcare plan just because you have money, as no physician will be willing to go against the law to treat you.

I am a pediatric ophthalmologist and trained for 10 years post college to become a pediatric ophthalmologist (add two years of my service in the Navy and that comes to 12 years). A neurosurgeon spends 14 years post college and if he or she has to do the military that would be 16 years. I am not entitled to make what a neurosurgeon makes but the new plan calls for all physicians to make the same amount of payment. I assure you that medical students will not go into neurosurgery and we will have a tremendous shortage of neurosurgeons. Already the top neurosurgeon at my hospital, who is in good health and only 52 years old, has just quit because he can't stand working with the government anymore. Forty-nine percent of children under the age of 16 in the state of Georgia are on medicaid so he felt he just could not stand working with the bureaucracy anymore.

We are being lied to about the uninsured. They are getting care. I operate on at least 2 illegal immigrants each month who pay me nothing and the children's hospital at which I operate charges them nothing also. This is true not only on Atlanta, but of every community in America. The bottom line is that I urge all of you to contact your congresswomen and congressmen and senators to defeat this bill. I promise you that you will not like rationing of your own health.

Furthermore, how can you trust a physician that works under these conditions knowing that he is controlled by the state. I certainly could not trust any doctor that would work under these conditions.

One last thing, with this new healthcare plan there will be a tremendous shortage of physicians. It has been estimated that approximately 5% of the current physician work force will quit under this new system. Also it is estimated that another 5% shortage will occur because of decreased men and women wanting to go into medicine. At the present time the US government has mandated gender equity in admissions to medical schools. That means that for the past 15 years that somewhere between 49 and 51% of each entering class are females. This is true of private schools also because all private schools receive federal fundings. The average career of a woman in medicine now is only 8-10 years and the average work week for a female in medicine is only 3-4 days. I have now trained 35 fellows in pediatric ophthalmology. Hands down, the best was a female that I trained 4 years ago, she was head and heels above all others I have trained. She now practices only 3 days a week.

Zane Pollard, MD

Ragdoll Kitties

2009-09-12T18:32:00.000-04:00

Quite by accident I have discovered a breed of cat that I don't think I can live without! lol! I went to the dentist the other day, and the hygienist had pictures of cats on the wall. She explained that she had four-legged children instead of two-legged ones and these were her two children. They were Ragdoll cats, she told me. I had never heard of them before, but one of them was so beautiful and its fur looked so soft! I did a little research later that day and read about them. From what I read, it seems that they are just about the perfect cat... they get very large (I love big cats!), their fur is very soft, they don't jump up on things a lot (I hate that!), and they are gentle and friendly. One site said that they act like puppies. I stumbled on a breeder's website and it just so happens that they are located about 30 miles from our home.

Of course, my son is all for getting a cat. He has been trying to get us to get one since we moved here; he loves cats. I thought my husband would flip out when I mentioned it, because we have been saying for a while "no more pets". But guess what he said? "OK!" oh, dear! When he got home he said, "Where's my kitty?" So, I guess we are considering getting a cat!

Healthy Chocolate Banana Smoothie

2009-08-14T11:26:00.000-04:00

Here is a recipe for a healthy low-fat milkshake-like smoothie that is not too sweet and full of nutrition!

Ingredients

1 cup milk (your choice of whole or low-fat milk; soy milk, rice milk or almond milk)
1 banana, chopped and frozen
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon protein powder
ice cubes, handful

Directions

Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

That's it! Enjoy a creamy, frosty treat without any guilt!

Fresh herbs are expensive to buy but simple to grow

2009-06-22T15:39:00.000-04:00

Why should you grow your own herbs?

Fresh herbs add life to a variety of salads, vegetables, dressings, and meats, but many of us find it hard to keep fresh herbs on hand for several reasons. First of all, it is expensive and inconvenient to buy a whole package or bunch of an herb when you only need a small amount for a recipe. Then there is the freshness factor: they are already several days or weeks old when you buy them from the store and always seem to spoil before you can possibly use them up. Wouldn't it be great to pick just the amount you need when you need it without having to go to the store or pay for an entire bunch? You can! Even if you have no gardening skills, growing herbs inside or outside is easy and fun!

How to grow your own herbs

Decide where you want to put them. You can grow herbs in containers indoors or out or in an outdoor garden. Most herbs will grow in partial shade, but they will do better with at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight each day.

If you plant your herbs in pots, they can be terra cotta, plastic, metal, or the foam pots that look like terra cotta but are light and less expensive. Be sure that your pots have adequate drainage at the bottom since you don't want the roots to sit in water. Pot shapes range from round to rectangular, so use whatever will work for your space. Choose pots at least twelve inches in diameter - smaller pots can't hold enough moisture on hot summer days.

Choose which herbs to grow. If you are not an experienced gardener, you may want to stick to just three or four herbs so you don't get overwhelmed all at once. You can always add more later. Several easy to grow, low maintenance herbs are available, so personal preference is the deciding factor. Some herbs that are recommended for the beginning gardener are: basil, parsley, mint, thyme, dill, chives, and sage.

Buy at AllPosters.com

Planting your herbs. You can plant seeds, or buy small plants to re-pot into your garden. The cost of a small plant is usually about the same as a packet of seeds, which will grow many plants. If you only want one basil plant and it is the right season to find plants to buy it is probably smarter to just buy the plant - it is less work then planting seeds. If you want a lot of plants or if there are no plants for sale in your area at the time, you will want to plant seeds.

Planting seeds. One of the easiest ways to plant seeds is to push a drinking straw into the soil about ½”, remove the dirt and then slide the seed right down the straw and cover it up. Leave a 1 ½ to 2” space between each seed, add some water, and set the container in an area with some direct sunlight.

If it is cold out and you plant your herbs indoors, you might want to create a mini-greenhouse for them.To do this insert a long straw in the middle of the container and measure enough clear plastic wrap to cover the circumference of the pot. Wrap it around and secure it to the top of the straw with a small rubber band or some tape. This will help to keep the plants warm and speed up their growth.

Check your plants every day as they grow. Keep them in good light and water as necessary - when soil is dry to the touch. In hot climates, they will need to be watered every day unless it rains.

Harvesting your herbs. Once they’ve reached maturity, you can harvest leaves as needed. Simply snip off what you need with scissors. At the end of the season, you may want to harvest all the herbs for preserving for the winter.

For more frugal food ideas, see http://www.frugal-living-now.com/frugal-food.html

Planning a wedding? Make it a frugal wedding!

2009-06-15T19:47:00.000-04:00

The average cost of a wedding in the United States last year was $20,398. If you are unable or unwilling to spend that kind of money on your wedding, there are many ways to cut your expenses and still have the wedding of your dreams. Start with checking out my Frugal Wedding Ideas page, and unleash your creativity with frugal ideas of your own!

http://www.frugal-living-now.com

Cure Most Ailments With Two Things You Have at Home

2009-04-18T22:44:00.000-04:00

The following was taken from an article that I read. Some of these claims are pretty fantastic (unbelievable), but I am intrigued, so I plan to give it a try and see for myself.

Facts: It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'am Ban' TB (very effective) medicine or all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES:

Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:

Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research Conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors Treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast. Within a week, of the 200 people treated, 73 were totally relieved of pain. Within a month, most of the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:

Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. This destroys germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:

Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured.

COLDS:

Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:

Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS:

According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:

Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:

Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:

A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:

Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

PIMPLES:

Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:

Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:

Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach And at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER:

Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

FATIGUE:

Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. When the vitality of the body starts to decrease increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH:

People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Fighting the Wintertime Bulge

2009-04-12T13:15:00.000-04:00

A winter of laziness and eating whatever I wanted has caught up with me... Now that spring is here, I decided to get some of my summer clothes out yesterday. I was not surprised, but was still dismayed that every single pair of summer pants that I own is too tight for me! Here they are - all stacked up - ten pairs of capri pants - a reminder of my chubbiness!

Something has to be done. I have to get into these pants again this year for a couple of reasons: first, I tried buying new pants in the next size up a couple of years ago when this happened. I looked like a clown - the next size simply doesn't work for me. Secondly, I can't afford new pants since I am unemployed and money is tight and I am feeding a 15-year-old boy! I guess I will be modifying my diet and making a renewed effort to exercise more regularly.

In the meantime, I plan to leave the stack of pants sitting out so I can see them every day and be reminded of what laziness and eating whatever you want will get you!

A new (old) way to view older women

2009-03-30T12:56:00.000-04:00

Modern Western culture has developed a way of edging older women out. So much of one's worth as a person in our culture is based on either youth and beauty, or social status based on occupation or title. This does not leave a lot to look forward to for women who have finished with or are nearing the end of their careers and whose youthful looks have changed into a different type of beauty - a look of calm wisdom, perhaps. A look that is not always viewed as beauty in our culture.

I have been one of those women - torn between trying to look as young and attractive as possible, and looking "my age" - which pretty much to me meant just giving up. Not giving up on life, but giving up on trying to look my best, and also trying to make myself useful. (Somehow, the two of them seem connected to me.)

Then I read something recently that made me change my way of thinking and caused me to feel excited about my future as an older woman. I read a chapter in a book* that talked about this pushing out of older women in our culture, and compared this with examples of other societies that honor post-menopausal women and hold them in high regard for their experience and knowledge. Some women use the mythological term 'crone' to describe this role.

Part of the leadership of the Iroquois was a "Grandmother Council" which was the backbone of tribal decision making throughout Native American culture. In Japan, when a woman reaches the age of 61, she is considered to be at the highest and most venerated stage of maturity. Special respect, status and privileges are awarded to the elder women of Chinese and Native American Indian cultures of both North and South America, too.

The elder women in early matrilineal cultures of the Middle East and Egypt performed the society's most important and challenging roles: physicians, surgeons, scribes, and librarians. These older women were vital parts of their societies, and it is possible for each of us to become that type of vibrant older woman - if we can adjust our mindset.

Fairy tales and legends are full of crones - some evil and some benevolent: witches, step mothers, fairy godmothers... Most often in recent years, though, the word "Crone" has had a negative connotation. Webster's Illustrated Contemporary Dictionary defines it as "a withered old women". Wikipedia says, "The crone is a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman who is usually disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing."

In spite of the negative perception that modern times have, some women are beginning to use the term crone as a label for themselves and their new role as an important and vital part of the community.

Maybe the timing was just right - I don't know, but for some reason this information really resonated with me and made me re-evaluate how I see myself. Instead of feeling all washed up, I now see myself as on the brink of a new and exciting part of my life: A time when I can be free of the daily obligations of motherhood and able to focus on adult relationships (with my partner, my grown children and other adults) and personal growth.

To me, being a crone means freedom to be my real self and to be proud of my age; and relief from the fear of aging and from unreasonable expectations and demands that I had put upon myself.

Are you a crone? What does being a crone mean to you?

*Women's Sexual Passages by Elizabeth Davis

Spring is here!

2009-03-19T17:43:00.000-04:00

The trees have been blooming for a week or more, we have had a lot of rain and now the green leaves are really popping out!

This is our plum tree - we thought it might be dead because last year it didn't even have any leaves on it - what a nice surprise when I looked out a couple of weeks ago and it was covered with white flowers! It was planted two years ago, so it probably won't bear fruit until next year, but we will see!

Where's The Outrage?

2009-03-12T15:06:00.000-04:00

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Of Beverly Hills , CA . On July 31, 2008 the Wall Street Journal had an article titled

“Where’s The Outrage?”

Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, ell-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice.

The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement.

I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates.

I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.

The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don’t know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change.

Why am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what’s fair.

Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure? Why shouldn’t these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we could not afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.

I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler’s Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants.

I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally. That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it incumbent to send my child to private school, that every time I go to the ATM, I see “do you want to continue in English or Spanish?”, that every time I call the bank, the phone company , or similar business, I hear “press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish”. WHY? This is America , our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalizes those who cannot communicate in English.

I am outraged at our country’s weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson’s Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson’s plant in Tennessee . Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history.

In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed’s wife, Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are trying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do. Have we so lost our moral compass and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran ’s nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews - one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?

As if the battle for good and evil isn’t enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a Bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment: I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit.

But when and where does the lunacy stop? Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong, good from evil. So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.

So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless to do anything about it. I don’t even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.

Alisa Wilson, Ph.D.
Beverly Hills , California

Starting the Garden - Part 1

2009-03-09T17:29:00.000-04:00

We started our garden today! The weather has been so beautiful - 70's and 80's for the past
three or four days. It really puts one in the mood for growing things! We didn't plant anything outside, though - we know it will get cold again before spring arrives for real.

Steve bought some little starter greenhouses that had pellets of soil in them that were as flat as coins. We added water and they got huge! So now we have these little towers of soil (they are wrapped in some kind of mesh to keep them from falling apart) that we planted the seeds in. With luck, we will have strong, healthy plants to put out into the garden (that we still have to get ready) in about 6 weeks. I haven't had a garden since I was 24; I am pretty excited! (I tried a couple of times in Florida, but never could grow anything but jalapeno peppers, there...)

We planted:

Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge, an heirloom tomato from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Red Grape tomatoes
Rutgers tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes
Cucumbers
Watermelon
Yellow Star hot peppers (a free trial seed from Baker Creek)
Sweet Chocolate sweet pepper (brownish-purple heirloom pepper)

We will be planting more things directly outside when the time comes - beets, squash, okra, etc.

Night Sky

2009-03-07T18:47:00.001-05:00

It was such a gorgeous day today! I am sure it will get cold again before it's all said and done, but today was truly a promise of spring!

When I stepped outside this evening, I saw such a pretty sky that I had to take a picture! That is the moon up there, looking tiny... It was just a perfect day.... :-)