tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72796186492606091882011-08-02T14:06:06.988-04:00Silly stories and sparkly things. Wanna join me? <br>This blog looks best in Mozilla Firefox. Things just get freaky in Internet Explorer.chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.comBlogger1061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-11773357485969251882010-03-08T14:03:00.003-05:002010-03-08T14:27:05.080-05:00

FO is knitter-speak for "Finished Object." That's a funny term, but it's the next logical step from something being a UFO (unfinished object). Don't some internet/forum abbreviations make you giggle? UFO does that to me.Anyway, I finished my first real knitting project. I've already made a couple of hats, and have a couple of scarves on needles. But this is my first thing that took a bunch of

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-6666324258232962762010-02-07T20:05:00.003-05:002010-02-07T20:14:26.868-05:00

Some random thoughts...My life is so boring, I honestly haven't had anything interesting to say in 6 months.As the USA network commercial says, there hasn't been anything this good on at 10 o'clock in ages.When learning a new craft skill, the world is a wonderful place of new projects and patterns to try. At least until you have the realization that you'll need a lot of new (and expensive) tools

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-70800742854972781222009-08-21T13:30:00.005-04:002009-08-21T14:02:25.076-04:00

Oops! I guess it helps to actually pull my food pics off the camera, huh? So here's the latest week or so of dinners from here. There aren't 7 because we've been out with the in-laws, had scrambled eggs one night, and tuna melts last night. So nothing exciting on those evenings.Salisbury SteakNot fantastic, but the recipe was a place to start. I think Car Guy and I just aren't fans of Salisbury

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-36266919511844895182009-08-12T12:54:00.002-04:002009-08-12T12:55:58.733-04:00

I've been thinking about the nature of olfactory memory lately. Not just remembering what things smell like, or being able to identify something through smell alone (although that's kinda fun) - the smells that take you back to another time and place, or that are forever associated with a specific person or place.My great-grandmother (technically my step-GGM) lived in Vermont. We'd visit every

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-36325432675847208792009-08-11T16:24:00.003-04:002009-08-11T16:29:21.785-04:00

Two dinners pictured tonight, because I didn't bother to get yesterday's off the camera until just now.Today's dinner - Rush Hour Chicken Fajitas (incomplete). Car Guy and I are going to my parents' house for dinner, and I'm taking these. The accoutrements are in a bag - this is just the chicken and veggie mixture. The chicken was seasoned with a Chipotle Rub, so it's all smoky-tasting. Yesterday

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-7686357732884301012009-08-09T19:35:00.002-04:002009-08-09T19:47:31.856-04:00

mmm...I almost forgot to take a picture! Car Guy was looking in the freezer for orange juice this morning, and realized that we had a lot of sausages that needed to be consumed. So that's what we had for dinner tonight. Clockwise from top of plate: bread and butter pickle spear, steamed and buttered broccoli, grilled Johnsonville bratwurst with sauteed onions and oven-roasted potatoes with

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-50673365809002449062009-08-09T10:52:00.003-04:002009-08-09T11:13:48.185-04:00

In an attempt to have things to post more regularly, I think I'm going to branch into what's commonly known as "food porn." What's that? In a nutshell, pictures of food. Funny things don't happen to me every day, but I sure as heck eat every day. (It takes many calories to maintain this figure.)So my inaugural food porn post is my dinner from last night. Behold...Just what is that? A small beef

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-74950204290001010232009-08-09T10:43:00.006-04:002009-08-09T10:51:47.558-04:00

Oops! Guess I forgot to post these when I took them. They are from the Polish festival at which I had a booth last month.What's so funny about this one? Last I checked, there weren't any palm trees in Poland. So why would they put them on the signs for the bar tent?Just say no to crack.Seriously, who doesn't notice that half of their rear is exposed in the hot July sun? I sure hope she didn't end

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-89476240415168676242009-07-04T11:05:00.003-04:002009-07-04T11:16:07.929-04:00

Even if you're not in the US, celebrate your independence today. That could be independence from debt, from tyrrany, or even just the independence to color your hair whatever color you want. I choose to celebrate today with a little snippet of one of the many things that makes America great - the Muppets. One of my favorite blogs, Cake Wrecks, posted this today and I just have to share it. Pay

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-72676739953073515982009-06-24T13:07:00.003-04:002009-06-24T13:23:52.696-04:00

Or, "Expedition vs. Escalade"Let's first talk about the elephant in the room. I haven't updated in 2 months. Yikes! Where does the time go? It's either flying by, or there's nothing interesting happening with me. The most accurate explanation is probably both.Now on to the story...I had a couple of Etsy sales to ship out this morning, and one was an international purchase so I had to take it to

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-70931204366458113202009-04-17T13:16:00.000-04:002009-04-17T13:16:01.720-04:00

I haven't even thought about updating this blog in a while - things have just been so busy. But when I created my item of the week listing, I thought I'd better update on what's happening, especially since the last post had no closure (about the water in the basement).The water is gone. We had a sump pump installed, and that's doing a bang-up job of keeping the workroom dry. Things are still

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-13384659740012070752009-04-17T07:05:00.003-04:002009-04-17T07:15:33.953-04:00

This week's item, (and, yes, I know it's more like "this month's item") is a sparkly yet restrained crystal jewelry set. There's a necklace and matching earrings. They're made from Swarovski crystals, in a relatively new color called Cantaloupe. And this color is gorgeous, because it changes in different light, going from grey in natural light to pink to green. Grey sounds boring, but it has a

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-13820776751698500392009-03-13T07:37:00.002-04:002009-03-13T08:00:15.588-04:00

But not "on" in the traditional lakeside property sense of "next to" or "shore side." "On" as in "immediately above," "stacked," or "vertically adjacent."And not technically a real lake. It's just the nickname I've given the basement this week. It's been a very snowy winter, in case you hadn't noticed. In drier climes, like Colorado, the snow sublimates - it evaporates into the air instead of

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-28723693141465589632009-03-10T07:53:00.002-04:002009-03-10T08:12:21.526-04:00

I really hate thinking of things to serve for dinner. Not that I don't have some great recipes at my disposal, but the whole process of planning, shopping, prepping... and then not being in the mood for whatever it was I planned. And on top of that, dinners have to generate reheatable leftovers for Car Guy's lunch. We're trying to save some money, so I'm currently trying to cook from the pantry,

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-42142959871758411862009-03-05T13:55:00.003-05:002009-03-05T13:59:35.969-05:00

Car Guy's birfday, um... birthday cake.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-51310616888491915092009-02-27T06:55:00.003-05:002009-02-27T07:02:53.979-05:00

Car Guy's birthday is next week, and this year he remembered to sign up for birthday freebies. Last year, he changed his email address, and the old address is where all the offers were sent. Oops! But last week, he remembered that if he wanted any free goodness, he'd better sign up right away. The offers started arriving yesterday.So where will we be dining in the next week or so?Bellacino's

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-26205171529836576822009-02-25T07:33:00.006-05:002009-04-17T07:04:56.173-04:00

I figured it was time to get back into the habit of featuring something from my Etsy shop on a regular basis. Especially now that I've been listing some new things.This week's item, in honor of Ash Wednesday, is a handmade rosary made with jet black fire-polished beads and sterling silver crucifix and center. The color and Sacred Heart center are fairly masculine, but this rosary is small enough

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-35050119938994030202009-02-23T06:42:00.005-05:002009-02-23T06:56:40.531-05:00

I've heard from other Etsy sellers that the way to stay visible, and therefore make more sales, is to list items often. Newly listed items are shown on the Etsy homepage, and will also show up in their really cool feature known as "Time Machine." Many Etsy browsers will click on the newly listed items that catch their eye. That's a whole new group, separate from the people who know what they want

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-79522416291518851882009-02-19T13:18:00.003-05:002009-02-19T13:30:36.516-05:00

So, Car Guy has been home from work this week, part of an unpaid shutdown to cut costs. Well, it's throwing off my schedule! I wanted to get some things made and posted on my Etsy shop, and feel like he resents the time I spend beading. I did manage to get a few things made, but they're not finished (I'm working on earrings to match the necklaces that are done), and then I have to haul out the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-52978419945416750762009-02-15T10:57:00.006-05:002009-02-15T15:41:23.494-05:00

I'm so happy! I not only got the 3-column layout to work (it's not a Blogger standard), but I created my own background that looks good, and lines up with my columns. Not bad, considering I don't have a decent graphics program on my computer and have to fudge things. (It's amazing what you can do in Powerpoint of all things when you need to.)The colors are a little weird right now. So over the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-81039751380424678782009-02-11T16:51:00.005-05:002009-02-14T21:46:00.575-05:00

I was getting, not exactly bored with my old layout, but wanted to jazz things up. I do think I'm going to stick with a 3-column layout, but expect the colors to change several times over the next several days as I play with things.Thanks for your patience!Feb. 14: Still working on a new background, but I'm giving up for the evening.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-52105077490527092302009-02-09T06:17:00.003-05:002009-02-09T06:44:59.184-05:00

I don't usually follow through on memes. They remind me of those junk emails that come around, requiring you to send them to 47 of your closest friends within 32 seconds. You've seen them. I don't forward those, either.But within the past couple of months, I've been tagged for memes by a couple of friends, in an attempt to get me to post. So I guess I'll respond. (Insert eye rolling smilie here)

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-78137596732106601552009-01-28T12:20:00.003-05:002009-01-28T12:34:12.436-05:00

Beware!Beware of rude service on the phone.Not when calling to make a complaint (although that's entirely possible). I'm referring to receiving unsolicited sales calls. Specifically from a company that claims to be able to help you when you have a lot of credit card debt.Last summer, I finally got around to placing my home phone number on the national do not call list. It did help reduce the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-39606880564179968762009-01-18T20:15:00.004-05:002009-01-18T20:19:07.225-05:00

To put tuna in the snack box for a major airline?Tuna? Really?When people are stuck in an enclosed metal tube for hours at a time, and opening the cans of tuna will just make it smell like cat food?Besides, there's no way that 2 small pieces of cheese, a single serving each of crackers, pretzels and cookies, and a small can of lemon-pepper tuna is worth $5.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-78899346063376910552008-11-18T07:14:00.004-05:002008-11-18T07:27:50.932-05:00

Has it really been a month and a half since I updated? Alas, 'tis true! It's not that I don't care, really! My life is just extremely boring right now. I haven't even left the house since Saturday. And that was just a trip to Costco with Car Guy to get eggs and a few other groceries. I've been trying to think of topics and themes that I can use to keep this blog updated, and they all sound so

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-83108543863997217912008-09-30T15:00:00.001-04:002008-09-30T15:02:49.573-04:00

In case you've been living in a cave, or haven't seen the plethora of pink items on store shelves, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So? So I'm doing a few things this year to help raise funds for this cause.I'm walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on the 18th in Detroit. If you're interested in walking with me, click the "Join my team" link to the right. Not near

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-91561796308686754982008-09-03T12:15:00.004-04:002008-09-03T12:49:43.894-04:00

Uh-oh. I was just linked from The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks, and I figured I'd better post something so I don't look like a total slacker. I will admit that since adding Quotes and Crummy Church Signs to my regular reading list, Car Guy and I have more fun when we drive around town. Because now we look for bad signs. Even if they don't qualify for submission on either of those 2

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-61511078693544758602008-08-05T07:38:00.003-04:002008-08-05T07:43:00.114-04:00

Well, not really, but it's still pretty funny.These two signs are on a front lawn about a half-mile from my house. It's in a different city, so their candidates for city council are different than those in my city.I thought it would be the perfect post for today, since it is a primary day in many area of the country.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-74900202753691679562008-07-29T09:59:00.004-04:002008-07-29T10:11:51.122-04:00

Do you ever catch inconsistencies in commercials, or is that just me? Car Guy and I had the TV on Sunday morning, and for some reason we stopped on a channel that was showing an infomercial for a paint stripper. It was soy-based, and claimed to be safe for skin and fumeless. Of course, it also claimed to do an awesome job pulling paint off whatever home/furniture restoration project one had.As

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-92136342530993419362008-07-26T07:06:00.002-04:002008-07-26T07:10:08.572-04:00

I'll update soon, I swear!I've been busy in waves with jewelry biz, festivals and conference for my other biz. This weekend is particularly rough: 3 days of working a booth at a festival (9:30 am to 10:30 pm), then a home party on Sunday. Plus trying to follow up on leads from the last festival I worked, which is impossible once the crowd picks up and music starts.Anyhoo, I've got some great

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-9707693723470187122008-06-06T07:18:00.002-04:002008-06-06T07:30:32.518-04:00

Hi, everybody!(psst... Now you're supposed to respond with, "Hi, Dr. Nick!")It's been a while, but there hasn't been much happening with me. Same ol', same ol'. When you don't leave your house most days, it's hard to find interesting things going on without just pointing to other web sources.Car Guy has been helping a buddy with his collector car. Thin Man (the buddy) bought a mid-60s Lincoln

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-14698587862936233342008-05-31T08:02:00.002-04:002008-05-31T08:07:54.171-04:00

Another Etsyian from Michigan has included one of my items in a treasury of things made in Michigan. Check it out!I'm constantly amazed by some of the creative things that my fellow mitten-dwellers come up with. I've seen handmade jewelry, beads, dolls, and candles. Silk ties, soap, and incense. There are so many talented people living here, all with a unique point of view.Today is errand day,

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-45774211593710898922008-05-30T10:11:00.002-04:002008-05-30T10:13:32.251-04:00

Cool! I got another treasury on Etsy. Check it out: Treasury. The treasury will only be available until 1:20 am on Monday, June 2.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-5356068754942555672008-05-15T06:54:00.002-04:002008-05-15T09:19:37.758-04:00

I saw two things on TV yesterday that not only bookended the day, but were a perfect illustration of irony.Since I'm not working full time any more, I've got free time in the morning. I get up and make Car Guy's lunch, and don't have to worry about getting myself out of the house. That's when I usually read my marked blogs, check if my Etsy shop had any sales that need to go out in the mail, etc.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-14780114608220754422008-05-12T09:01:00.003-04:002008-05-12T09:10:22.872-04:00

*giggle* Sorry about that title, folks. I just had a little fun with the vowel alliteration.I do a fair amount of electronic funds transfer, between my Etsy shop, occasional eBay sales, and selling things to other Cheffers from Chef Success. I've got a premier PayPal account, which allows me to accept credit card payments with lower fees than doing so through a standard account. But there's a

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-68648899037003113002008-05-09T06:58:00.003-04:002008-05-09T07:03:09.521-04:00

So cool! I got a treasury on Etsy. Treasuries are groupings of items that someone, known as the curator, puts together. They can be a theme, like earrings, or a color story, or things that include a specific word in their titles. Etsy has a limited number of them available, so the competition to grab one when they're available can be pretty fierce.The one I put together is full of items for

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-60734848901563279132008-05-01T13:01:00.001-04:002008-05-01T13:02:46.700-04:00

I had the TV on today while I ate lunch. And rather than leave it on the local news. I turned to something trashy. A daytime talk show. I’ll admit it. I love trashy talk shows. Not quite as trashy as Springer (I don’t like the fighting), but Maury is usually just about right. And today he had one of his top-10 topics: cheating spouses take lie detector tests. Where do they get these people? Are

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-84108274702271449912008-04-15T08:03:00.002-04:002008-12-11T12:16:15.430-05:00

It's a sale at my Etsy shop!Frankly, I don't feel like storing scarves until the fall, so I've marked them down by 25%. You can get a great handmade scarf (or two!) at a great price.If you do decide to get one, put a note in the comments when you check out that you read my blog, and I'll toss a free gift into the package with the scarf. Or whatever else you decide to purchase.You can find the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-11613378539964553522008-03-13T07:24:00.003-04:002008-03-13T07:26:36.374-04:00

Enter the ICHC online Poker Cats Contest!That's my parrot, featured on I Can Has Cheezburger. Car Guy uploaded her pic there, and captioned it. Someone else created this caption. Which is funny, but would be better if it had been a feather from our other bird instead of her own.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-32872336172639680422008-03-02T07:51:00.004-05:002008-03-02T08:00:37.066-05:00

So I'm looking through the circulars and coupons in the Sunday paper, and a title on one ad in the coupon booklet strikes me as particularly funny. It says:NEW Cat and Dog Recipes from Company*I know what they meant, which is that they have new flavors, or recipes, of their cat and dog foods. But that's sure not how it sounds. Especially when Car Guy and I have a saying about cats: So many cats,

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-62302478585822812772008-02-15T15:13:00.002-05:002008-02-15T15:34:43.825-05:00

Thunk-a thunk-a thunk-a BANG!That's the sound of Michigan roads this time of year. And it's going to get worse before it gets better.Michigan's not a bad place to live, if you're looking for someplace with 4 seasons. Unfortunately, one of those 4 is Pothole Season. (The other 3 are hockey, fishfly, and contruction.) Our weather this winter has fluctuated from record lows to record highs. Nice to

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-38634026198888686262008-02-13T15:47:00.003-05:002008-02-13T15:52:51.666-05:00

Things have been kinda weird at home the past couple of weeks. Many changes, all related to one big item: I lost my job. I choosing to view it as a positive. I really loathed my job, all aspects of it. Information Technology was never a dream job of mine; I just fell into it. And I was sick of dealing with clients who had businesses that I didn't agree with. So I don't have to deal with that any

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-6628007265813971062008-01-24T08:29:00.000-05:002008-01-24T10:15:00.494-05:00

Faux FurIt looks like fur, but isn't. Keep yourself toasty warm and fashionable at the same time with this crocheted scarf. It's made from easy-care acrylic yarn, so you can toss it in the washing machine. Some Fun Fur scarves are thin and wimpy, but I made this one with Fun Fur and a worsted-weight yarn held together, so it's dense and warm.The eyelash yarn that makes it look like fur (Fun Fur

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-21829244137899508902008-01-19T09:59:00.000-05:002008-01-19T10:03:23.399-05:00

This is fun! I got to level 9 of 12, with a traveler IQ of 104 and a score of 297,303. I'll admit that my knowledge of African geography needs some work.Edited to add: well, crud. The widget is too wide for the post area. Click to go to the site and take the quiz. Quiz

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-28201965377979741522008-01-17T06:29:00.000-05:002008-01-17T06:40:31.790-05:00

I swear, I haven't been sick this frequently, EVER. Until I started my new assignment in November. Wish I could prove that something in that building was causing all this illness, so I could quit.Because I spent the last 2 days holed up at home, I have no real interesting stories. Unless you're into stories about towering piles of used tissues. Which grosses me out, so you'll have to go elsewhere

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-90840012399500098542008-01-10T06:30:00.000-05:002008-01-10T06:33:30.408-05:00

Nothing major to report. I'm not at home, I'm in Cincinnati for a conference for my home-based business. There was a chance that I wouldn't be allowed to go, but thankfully it all worked out. I sprung for the internet access at the hotel, but won't have a lot of time to update. More stories when I get home.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-70945532506922553482008-01-05T12:12:00.000-05:002008-01-05T12:15:05.621-05:00

This Overheard Everywhere is from the town where I attended college! And knowing how big the town and the college are, the exchange MUST have been between a couple of collegians. Unless the town has changed drastically since I matriculated.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-13396954572132938892008-01-04T08:16:00.002-05:002008-01-04T08:25:21.919-05:00

Did you know that Murphy has a law for just about every situation? I'm assuming that you know the general one: Anything that can go wrong, will. It's been my experience, however, that there's some sort of related axiom for most common situations.Like elevators. There are 2 rules that apply. The more commonly-encountered one is, "In a crowded elevator, the person who needs to get out first is the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-54228545757654326572008-01-01T08:14:00.000-05:002008-01-01T08:41:35.120-05:00

No need to pinch me, I KNOW this is happening!I am so excited about my kitchen remodel this year, and it's actually going to happen! How do I know? Because of this: And this:What is that bunch of stuff? That's several thousand dollars of kitchen cabinets from Ikea. It took Car Guy, our friend GasMan, my parents and myself over an hour to carry them into the house. The piles are HUGE!Car Guy and I

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-39279902027073563862007-12-25T16:34:00.000-05:002007-12-25T16:44:35.221-05:00

If you don't celebrate Christmas, please know that I use the phrase as the wrapping for the sentiment. I wish you and yours a joyous midwinter season and a happy new year.Today is day 4 of my laze-a-thon. :-) I've made cobbler for family dinners, wrapped some gifts, and that's about it. Car Guy and I had dinner at my parents' on Sunday, and his family Christmas Eve dinner yesterday. Today we're

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-81424746889942242762007-12-21T09:21:00.000-05:002007-12-21T09:26:49.518-05:00

A friend passed this along to me in an email, and I thought I'd share. It seems to sum up my philosophy of holiday eating pretty well, except for #9. I make a delicious fruitcake, if I do say so myself. Enjoy! Holiday Eating TipsAvoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-22829563196970172602007-12-21T09:12:00.001-05:002007-12-21T09:20:30.746-05:00

Today's the last day I work until 2008. Wa-hoo! And I'm new enough to my work team that I'm not included in the list of people checking the month-end and year-end processing. Word is we're going to be dismissed early today, too. I've got $5 in store coupons to use at a bookstore and will be heading there if we do get out early.What do I have planned during the break? A little of this, a little of

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-75006817298909102162007-12-19T09:10:00.000-05:002007-12-19T09:26:24.368-05:00

Just a rant today, people. Please bear with me.One of my "friends I haven't met" from the internet, Angie (from Take Your Shoes Off and Chef Success) had an unfortunate incident with a credit card company this week.A little background... Angie and I are both consultants for a kitchenwares company ("Spoiled Cook," rhymes with "Hampered Jeff"). There has been an affiliated credit card that

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-54636486037653027602007-12-16T09:32:00.000-05:002007-12-16T09:43:33.934-05:00

I love bacon. So does Car Guy. In fact, while Car Guy hates reality TV shows, one of his oft-used quotes is from Top Chef. While critiquing an entry, one of the judges commented, "Two words: Ba con. If you want to make people happy, give them bacon." Last night, we were at a local restaurant having dinner. I ordered an omelet that had bacon in it, and I commented on how much bacon there was, and

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-14287631445402407192007-12-14T08:44:00.000-05:002007-12-14T08:51:57.764-05:00

Jester CrystalsThese earrings came about as a way to put together some crystals that I got on variety strings. Buying them that way is great for me, in that I'm not stuck with 50 that are all the same color. But I have to get a little creative to use the colors that come on each string. These came out so well. In fact, if they don't sell, they'll probably end up in my own jewelry box.Each earring

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-24375065396955240632007-12-12T10:28:00.000-05:002007-12-12T10:30:48.955-05:00

I'm always amazed at the ways everyone is connected. Have you ever met someone who, unbeknownst to you, already had some sort of connection to you? Whether that was a mutual friend, a common interest, or a coworker in common, those little connections make life interesting. Blogging seems to create those connections, as people click on linked blogs and add them to their own favorites, but the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-34505717540532472012007-12-10T10:04:00.000-05:002007-12-10T10:15:45.369-05:00

We're into that busy stretch of the Christmas season. Not quite time to go to the big parties, but some smaller ones to attend already. There's a stack of presents to wrap sitting behind my couch, and I haven't even done any holiday baking except for a single batch of fruitcake. Friday I worked a craft fair for my kitchen tools business, and I have a show tomorrow and a vendor fair Saturday (the

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-88325101659675437792007-12-09T09:51:00.000-05:002007-12-09T09:58:14.236-05:00

Sorry about that, folks. I've been fighting off that pesky sinus infection for more than a week, and just haven't felt like coming up with anything interesting to post. Today's not much different, but I thought I should indicate that I'm still alive at least.Today is the day I have to get Christmas presents wrapped and boxed to ship to my out of town family. I think I did pretty well this year.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-15533623288486715812007-12-03T09:24:00.001-05:002007-12-03T09:30:43.800-05:00

Urgh. Two days off work sick, plus a weekend, and I still don't feel like being here today. And we lost power yesterday evening because of freezing rain and high winds coming through the area. Had it not been back on this morning, I'd be home again today. Trust me, the world does not need to see me with air-dried hair.Only 22 days until Christmas. How are your plans coming? Car Guy and I still

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-30543561755817263902007-11-30T09:15:00.000-05:002007-11-30T14:11:11.298-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 30How out of it was I yesterday? I completely forgot to post my item of the week.Gypsy EarringsI've got these in my shop in both gold and silver versions. Each one has an intricately cut plated shape with tiny crystal beads dangling from the bottom. They look bold, but are very lightweight.To purchase or for details: Gold, Silver.Through the end of 2007, get free gift wrapping on

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-4378394822756111782007-11-29T08:44:00.000-05:002007-11-29T08:48:12.538-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 29Called in sick today. Car Guy has a sinus infection or something, and I'm not feeling too hot, either. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, and had a fever by the end of the day. Things are looking up now, but I decided to call in anyway. I've got a fundraiser expo this evening for my kitchenwares business, and the better I feel when I arrive, the better off I'll be. I do need

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-28099263097152648302007-11-28T07:54:00.000-05:002007-11-28T08:11:39.031-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 28Gee, anyone would think I don't have a life. At least when the quality of my posts is considered. Honestly, I'm trying to stay away from the boring minutae, like what I had for lunch (a kid-size organic energy bar). Problem is, there's not usually anything interesting that happens to or around me.Last night, Car Guy and I went to a local family restaurant for dinner. It's one of

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-3891839841848953942007-11-27T08:43:00.000-05:002007-11-27T08:47:52.217-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 27I swear, I'd lose my head if it weren't attached. I completely forgot to get the deer pics from Car Guy so I could post them. About the only thing I did remember to do is mail a pair of earrings I sold. Now I need to stop on the way home from work to get a gift card for SteffieScissorhands, mail it, get milk, etc etc etc.On the positive side, I had an email yesterday from a past

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-34866853071096266312007-11-26T09:19:00.000-05:002007-11-26T09:35:33.127-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 26Back to work. Car Guy says that I can't complain about my new placement at work for a month, so I'm trying not to be whiney about it. I don't have access to the mainframe there yet, so I can't investigate the programs. Of course, it also means that I don't have any problems assigned to me yet, either. That's good - it gives me more time during the day to update my Etsy shop.The

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-7652111011561491512007-11-25T08:41:00.000-05:002007-11-25T09:02:57.219-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 25It's been a good Thanksgiving weekend so far. My sister and her family were in town for the holiday, Car Guy's family hasn't disowned me (as far as I know) for serving a weird T'giving meal, and I made a couple of sales at my Etsy shop. Today's the day to get back into routine for Monday. I've got a couple of things to take to the bank (hooray for Sunday hours!) and I need to hit

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-39044259700728545952007-11-24T11:53:00.000-05:002007-11-24T11:55:21.373-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 24I've got family in town for Thanksgiving, so I can't take a lot of time to chat. We're making kielbasa at my Mom's house today. Actually, it starts in 5 minutes, so I should have left 15 minutes ago.Where's that time machine when you need it?

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-49755852056425854992007-11-23T07:11:00.000-05:002007-11-23T07:50:40.667-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 23Thanksgiving was a big success! Hooray! Car Guy's family seemed slightly confused by the non traditional dinner at first, but soon got into the hang of it. I've got one whole dish of crab dip prepped that wasn't baked and eaten, but I'll take it to my mom's today.There is one thing that happened yesterday that just boggles my mind. Diesel, our 4-year-old nephew, brought DVDs with

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-81906894540971857822007-11-22T08:31:00.001-05:002007-11-22T08:46:16.500-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 22Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. There's no gifts, which means no shopping nightmares nor greedy relatives. It's just a time to reflect on things for which we are grateful, something we should do more often.It would be nice if everyone had the day off today to enjoy it as they want to, whether that's with friends, family or

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-81233171917492156142007-11-21T08:30:00.001-05:002007-11-21T08:44:34.159-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 21Now's the time of year when we start seeing gift guides to help us select gifts for the hard to buy for. There's usually something outrageous on the lists. Something that makes you wonder a) why anyone made it in the first place; b) why someone thinks anyone would buy it; and c) just what's the target market again? The knife pictured to the left is just such an item.It was

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-84941896421742048372007-11-20T09:12:00.000-05:002007-11-20T09:17:34.150-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 20I just hate the feeling of drifting along with no way to control things. It's pretty common at the beginning of a new work assignment. I have no phone at my desk, no access to common documents, and no idea what the system does. And I'm supposed to be working with this system, doing updates and support. Once I get into it, and have some things explained, no problem. But right now I

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-24132976277144495662007-11-19T05:54:00.000-05:002007-11-19T06:01:00.811-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 19I start a new job today. Not a completely new one, but for a new client. I don't know whether to be excited or scared. At least it's not my old client - their projects were so poorly run and it was such a terrible place to work that it completely turned me off health care completely. And wouldn't you know, I was sent on an interview there about 2 months ago. I'm just glad they

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-82070677312041436422007-11-18T11:47:00.000-05:002007-11-18T11:50:11.061-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 18It's one of those days when I wish I had a time machine, so I could go back to yesterday morning and tell myself not to waste so much time during the day. I got my little things done yesterday, and fruitcake just went into the oven, but the biggies are staring me in the face.How much stuff can I stash in the Florida room? That's easier than finding places for everything that's in

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-22113987056669615782007-11-17T10:05:00.000-05:002007-11-17T10:17:39.815-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 17There's way too much on my "to do" list today, and what am I doing? Sitting on the couch writing this so that I don't miss a day of NaBloPoMo. I know you don't actually care, but what's on my list today?Unearth the dining room table, which is currently buried under business materials for my home business and craft suppliesClear off the buffet, currently home to serving dishes that

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-50611463426344035062007-11-16T09:41:00.000-05:002007-11-16T09:49:14.561-05:00

NABloPoMo day 16I got a placement at work! Finally!That probably needs a little explanation. I work for a computer software and services company. They "pimp" me out to other companies that need programmers. Luckily, they have a bench policy, wherein we receive our full salary when we're between clients, unlike many other contract services companies. I was placed with a client in May, but that was

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-75868823493585422092007-11-15T08:54:00.000-05:002007-11-15T08:58:23.330-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 15Beaded Kitchen Tools Charm BraceletThis one was just too fun to make, and it's a blast to wear (I had to try it on to make sure it wasn't too heavy or too big). It's a silver-tone chain with 30 two-tone crackle glass beads and 13 pewter charms (lead-free!). The charms are miniature representations of kitchen items: a box grater, colander, muffin pan, etc. They are just the cutest

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-12261997247840459082007-11-14T09:19:00.001-05:002007-11-14T09:28:56.157-05:00

NaBloPoMo Day 14Sometimes I run across things that can't possibly be serious, but are. I mentally file those away in the "WTF File." (WTF = What the, um... fudge)Yesterday afternoon I encountered something that made it right to the top of the list. I was driving to a business appointment, and right off the freeway was a billboard for tires. The WTF-factor was called into play because it was for

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-84813796976059686942007-11-13T08:17:00.000-05:002007-11-13T08:58:09.415-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 13Last night I went out shopping with my mom. We headed to the Ikea that's in the area. Whoo! I don't know why, but that place is just so cool! I can do without the cheap (not just inexpensive, but cheap) kitchenware. After all, I make money selling good quality stuff. But it's so much fun to walk through the store and get great ideas.Car Guy and I are redoing our kitchen in 2008.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-48081465190436569572007-11-12T10:42:00.000-05:002007-11-12T10:48:47.988-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 12OK, I know I'm a day late. Actual Veterans Day was yesterday. But today is the observation - post offices and banks will be closed.Whatever your feelings about today's military (and if there's one thing this blog is NOT, that's a political forum), make sure you thank a veteran or several for protecting this country. If you don't see any today, go to Let's Say Thanks to send a card

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-89943006829581337322007-11-11T13:48:00.000-05:002007-11-11T13:53:19.784-05:00

NaBloPoMo Day 11mmm... lazy Sunday today. Well, to be truthful, it's been a lazy weekend. I've reread several Discworld novels this week. Every time I start to think about maybe doing a little writing myself, I think of that series and how fantastically well-written it is, and it brings me back to earth.It's off to the store now, then a little cleanup around the house. Then Sunday night

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-42451614680747009872007-11-10T15:52:00.001-05:002007-11-10T15:52:54.686-05:00

NaBloPoMo Day 10Car Guy and I went out to dinner the other night to a local Chinese buffet. Yum! We always enjoy doing buffet for dinner because we can each get what we want and can try new things. Car Guy always takes the opportunity to fill up on sushi and assorted seafood dishes, while I usually get some of the appetizery things that we don't order from non-buffet Chinese restaurants.As usual,

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-79806157287623088992007-11-09T08:05:00.000-05:002007-11-09T08:12:03.830-05:00

NaBLoPoMo day 9I had a good topic to blog about today, and I forgot to bring it with me to work. *sigh* Rather than try to remember what the quotes were, I'll use it as my topic for tomorrow.I started carpooling to work yesterday. Yuck. Don't get me wrong, I like being able to save on gasoline, and help reduce emissions. But I absolutely hate losing the flexibility. I can't stop at the bank,

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-7000167327476138342007-11-08T07:56:00.000-05:002007-11-08T07:59:13.578-05:00

Topaz Crystal Drop EarringsI love topaz. It's such a rich-looking stone. These earrings are made from topaz colored crystals, for some sparkle. They're just right for this time of year. And mustard yellow/gold is hot right now! Dress up your earlobes for fall.To purchase or for details: Etsy.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-83438332508830043132007-11-07T08:47:00.000-05:002007-11-07T10:05:45.380-05:00

NaBloPoMo Day 7A friend of mine passed this along to me yesterday. Please pass it to your friends - it's an easy way to make a difference.===When you click this link, you'll feed a hungry person for a whole day! It's free. All it takes is a click.A generous group of supporters has agreed to make a donation for every click we receive, up to $11,000, to rescue food and help hungry families. This is

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-2631607433314532652007-11-06T07:15:00.001-05:002007-11-06T07:31:00.390-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 6It'sELECTION DAYI'm usually in line when the polls open, but had to get to work early today so that I can get to a meeting tonight. I'll vote on the way home from work.It may not be a presidential election year, but you can help change your locale by voting today if there's a local election where you live. Unfortunately, these odd-year (non-presidential, non-gubernatorial)

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-50919296956325925962007-11-05T12:24:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:42:19.556-05:00

NaBloPoMo Day 5If you've been active on the internet or with email for more than a week, you've almost certainly come across one or more "Forward this" type messages. They're usually about free money, good luck, or a missing person. Somehow, when they show up in Inboxes, normally intelligent people lose 20 or more IQ points and think they're legitimate.Just last week I got one, forwarded by

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-21123216032754973882007-11-04T17:29:00.001-05:002007-11-04T17:33:36.863-05:00

NaBloPoMo day 4After today's car club meeting, I have come to the conclusion that adults today just don't follow directions, nor do they use common sense. I got a few more incorrect renewal forms, one member of the board didn't put together a report with enough detail, and another one ordered $300 of merchandise without getting board approval beforehand.Good grief.See you tomorrow!

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-35166955148268259022007-11-03T13:37:00.000-04:002007-11-03T13:44:13.737-04:00

Nothin' much going on this weekend, except car club annual meeting. Urg. The monthly meetings are bad enough, but the annual is more so. Members who only show up to one event are there, and feel the need to put their two cents in, with no regard for the agenda or whether someone else is talking at the moment. And they all have an opinion about what should be done, but don't volunteer to do it.And

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-30745311364111558062007-11-02T11:45:00.000-04:002007-11-02T14:28:48.560-04:00

Just gotta vent for a minute on this one, folks.One of the supposed requirements my employer has for people in its services division is that we maintain a current resume, in the corporate standard. I've mentioned before that I'm currently assigned to the team that reviews and validates those internal resumes.Unfortunately, there's no consequences for not updating one's resume. And some people who

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-64677006092712316002007-11-02T08:10:00.000-04:002007-11-02T08:37:07.896-04:00

NaBloPoMo, Day 2There are less than 3 weeks to Thanksgiving. I've got to clean house (urgent!!) and finalize menus for our holiday meal. Car Guy and I are hosting Car Guy's family, which is always a real trip.Car Guy's older sister, Bossy Sis, comes by that "nom de blog" for a reason. She's a real control freak, often taking over family functions that aren't hers to run. Last year she took over 2

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-64653769976736182052007-11-01T18:21:00.000-04:002007-11-01T18:23:31.565-04:00

I got my second treasury on Etsy this morning. It was so exciting! I went into the treasury to browse, and the little box was there, indicating that I could create one.Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=13807

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-54891983752114267232007-11-01T12:17:00.000-04:002007-11-01T12:27:37.256-04:00

Sorry about that, folks. I had the best intentions of keeping this blog updated, but you know how that goes. Best laid plans and all that...I also wanted this to be a place for me to make notes to myself about my jewelry and crafting, but it seems like my very little crafting time the past couple weeks has been filled with working on a Christmas gift for my Grandmother-in-Law. She very generously

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-76064268137955151912007-11-01T12:14:00.000-04:002007-11-01T12:17:31.540-04:00

Sunshine and BubblegumGet ready for winter with this soft and bright scarf. Made of acrylic, it's machine washable, so you don't need to worry about getting it dirty. I just love the bright colors of this, and think it would look stellar with a dark or neutral coat.To purchase or for details: Etsy.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-25975213572488503152007-10-26T09:27:00.000-04:002007-10-26T09:32:28.231-04:00

Rather than have another rant about the idiot drivers on the roads today (what is wrong with people?), I decided to pose a question, to get you, my gentle readers, to come out of the woodwork.The backgroundDetroit has 3 casinos. When they opened, several years ago, they were all in "temporary" locations, and were supposed to have permanent casinos with attached hotels built in time for the Super

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-13443615388638763992007-10-25T19:30:00.000-04:002007-10-25T19:43:05.761-04:00

There's a section of roadway that I take on my way in to work that's under construction. In the short construction zone, there are 2 traffic signals. They are fully functional, not covered up like signals frequently are in work zones. Because they're hanging properly and actually cycling through the lights, I obey them. Unless I read differently in the Michigan traffic code, any functioning

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-84496174852292608252007-10-25T11:08:00.001-04:002007-10-25T12:50:15.345-04:00

Pink Awareness Ribbon Chandelier EarringsI thought I'd post these for the last Item of the Week in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.These are fun and dangly, and will show your support. Each earring features several glass beads in assorted shades of pink and clear, swinging from silver-plated chandelier frames. As a finishing touch, each one also has one opaque white heart-shaped bead with a pink

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-19771970275156652692007-10-24T16:44:00.000-04:002007-10-24T19:09:29.560-04:00

I was going to post something silly today, but then something that someone said at my cooking show last night struck a chord with me. We'll get back to silly tomorrow.One of the great fringe benefits to being a consultant with "Spoiled Cook" (rhymes with "Hampered Jeff") is the opportunity we have as consultants to make a difference in the world. Not just by getting families together over

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-89407251953721436842007-10-23T08:51:00.000-04:002007-10-23T09:15:34.422-04:00

Ick ick ick. Another day, another 50 cents (we're in a bad economic place, here in Michigan). I've got things to work on, but just don't feel like doing them. Why can't people follow directions, so I don't have to send their resume back to them 3 or 4 times to get corrections?And to make things even worse, I almost hit 3 separate pedestrians with my car on my way in this morning. I was a few

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-44025412848507055332007-10-21T11:44:00.000-04:002007-10-21T11:53:18.334-04:00

Ever wonder what marketers are thinking? Or "not thinking," as the case may be.Yesterday I went out shopping for a few things to round out my wardrobe. You know, to fill in the holes from items that have been discarded due to wear, stains, etc. It's a good thing I didn't go last weekend, because I got a coupon via email from my favorite store, good for both money off, AND a percentage off when

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-57221693879969019362007-10-18T11:32:00.000-04:002007-10-25T11:01:57.750-04:00

Rose and Purple Drop EarringsThey're sparkly and lightweight, and they won't empty your wallet. Made with genuine crystal, these earrings will dress up any pierced earlobes. On each, purple and pink crystal beads hang from silver-plated earwires. Perfect for yourself or a gift!To purchase or for details: Etsy.

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279618649260609188.post-16990595555202750322007-10-18T09:06:00.000-04:002007-10-19T06:45:38.313-04:00

I feel I must clarify something from yesterday's post. The last line includes a reference to "Post Slut." That's a term from the Chef Success forum (AKA my main time-gobbler). It refers to someone who either a) posts a lot; or b) posts a lot to get their post count up. Many internet sites use an R-rated version of the term, in which the word "Slut" is represented by another word, starting with a

chefannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02865422480232266703noreply@blogger.com1