Just Say No!

Do you have negative people in your life? The people who aren't necessarily nasty but just kind of always negative. If you say it's sunny and nice, they will complain about the heat or if you give them a piece of chocolate, they wonder why it's milk instead of dark. Do you know these kind of people? They don't break us down completely, but they chip away, each day, draining us of our happiness.

The problem with me is that I have tried in the past to fix these types of people. I have tried to make them happy and nothing ever worked. It was killing me! I tried jokes with them, moral support and even going to their pity part and you know what-nothing worked. I ended up equally as angry and sad. 

Finally, one day, I just gave up. I threw in the towel. I decided that their negativity was not for me to fix. It wasn't my job to show them my world. I had to love my life, enjoy my sunshine and be happy. See, I realized that in order to make the world a better place, I need to make me and my bubble a better place. I couldn't MAKE those negative nellies  happy, they needed to find it on their own. 

I had to decide at what level I wanted to be a part of the negative fan club. Did I want to be an active member or a visiting guest? I could be there for a shoulder to cry on, for an uplifting thought or two but I couldn't fix their outlook on life. Negative nellies have to fix their outlook themselves. No amount of cute baby animals, dirty jokes or uplifting motivational phrases are going to help them unless they really want it.

Once I let go of my notion to fix everything and make everyone happy, the weight on my shoulders disappeared. I knew that my smile was my own and if it made them smile too, great, if not, it's their problem, not mine. 

What I put out there is what I want to see in the world and I surround myself with others who feel the same way. Every day I give thanks to the happiness surrounding me. Some of those Debbie Downers may fall to the wayside and some may decide to see the world, even if for 5 minutes, through rose colored glasses, but I do know that it is their decision and not mine on how they view the world. 

How you see the world is how the world sees you. If you are always negative, then the world is a negative place, if you see the world as uplifting, inspirational and pretty damn great, then it will be. It is up to you.

Summer Invasion

Are you ready for SUMMER! I know I am! I need some heat and sunshine! I also need a totally over the top summer blockbuster movie. I don't care what you say, a good mindless movies is just what the doctor ordered for the summertime.

The Avengers have taken the lead in the summer blockbuster race. The great thing about The Avengers, besides Robert Downey Jr., is that the movies is fun, well written and you don't have to be a total comic book geek to enjoy it.

Next out of the gate is Men in Black III. I don't care what you say, the first two were fun. Completely mindless fun! I am a huge Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin fan so I'm excited to see how Josh plays a younger version of Tommy's character K.

I don't care what OMP says, we are going to see Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunger. Based on the book (although I am not sure how much) it has honest Abe fighting vampires. How can you go wrong with this movie? That's right, you can't.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what's out there this summer. There are a ton of indie movies just waiting to be discovered as well as fun kids' movies. Get out there, support your local theater, sneak in some giant size candy or for more fun, some fireflies and let them go after the previews...not that I would know anything about those last two...

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I recently had a chance to be a part of another Master Craftster Series over at Craftster. This time I had the chance to demo a Bernina sewing machine. I know, right? I was totally in sewing heaven!

If you checked out yesterday's post, you saw the awesome tie I made Pete. Here are a few of the other projects I made.


This cowgirl pillow is my favorite! It is a picture of my mom when she was a little girl. This pillow makes me so happy.

Next, I made a bicycle caddy with pockets. It goes perfect with my pink bike, Roxie.


I decided to make a tea cozy with this super cute doggy fabric.

Last but not least, I made some adorable paper party favors. I think these would be great for all different holiday themes.

There were some seriously crafty people stitching up some yummy treats! Check out MissingWillow's cupcake tote (which I am totally stealing!).  Abbeeroad is killing me with this super cute roll up dragon road play mat . Rylnn's luggage tags are to die for-they are so adorable. Last but certainly not least-leslieshappyheart's reusable notebook cover, which I decided needs to come live with me. These ladies blew me away with their talent! 

I have caught the sewing bug! I've decided that my entire family is in need of capes! Must get sewing! 

Dog For Hire

Dog for hire, willing to work for kisses, treats and ear scratches. Prefers treats over the other two but will take what I can get. Skill set includes, but is not limited to: Barking, eating, sleeping, barking, chasing squirrels, barking, looking cute, barking, hogging the bed and barking. I am fluent in stuffed monkey chasing and have a keen ability to hear someone from 100 miles away sneeze and as an added bonus, I will alert you to said sneeze. If you are seeking a cute, black and tan little dog for all of your pooch needs, look no further, I am your man. Removing the tie is not optional. No windows and no weekends-that Pete's time.

Tie One On Tuesday

I can't believe it was hot in the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. I actually broke out in a sweat! I ran down to my local all purpose store, grabbed an ice cream maker and went behind the bar to mix up an ice cream cocktail.

I love me a good banana split! How can you go wrong with bananas and booze?

Banana Split (via BarNoneDrinks.com)

1/2 oz. Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz. Banana Creme Liqueur
1/2 oz. Strawberry Schnapps
1 splash Pineapple Juice
1 scoop Ice Cream 
Combine ingredients in a blender and mix to milkshake consistency.. Top with whipped cream and a cherry…also good with a bit of chocolate liqueur drizzled over the top of the whipped cream. I think I need one of these RIGHT NOW!

 In my part of the world, we get a lot of mudslides. They are kind of freaky! It's not okay to see the ground sliding in your direction. This mudslide will just make you feel like you are sliding down, down, down...

Mudslide Milkshake
1 oz. white rum

2 oz. coffee liqueur
1 splash chocolate syrup
1 cup vanilla ice cream

Blend all ingredients together with chocolate syrup to taste. Pour into a glass and serve with a little drizzle of chocolate syrup on top. 

 

Wake up people! WAKE UP! Am I losing you in my summer ice cream fun? Well then, drink this and be WIRE-D!

 

 Tipsy Affogato

1 pint vanilla-bean ice cream
1/4 cup espresso
1 oz. hazelnut liqueur

Divide ice cream among four tumblers. Pour coffee and Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur over ice cream in each glass and serve.

 

There ya go my little rays of sunshine! 3 yummy ice cream cocktails to get your motor running and cool you off at the same time. I'm off to go check on my homemade ice cream-I'm so happy! 

 

 

Scrappy Mom Sunday

It's Mother's Day and you have two choices, I could get all sweet and sentimental and make you cry or, in my true fashion, I could show you cute pictures of dogs with hysterical comments. Which do you choose? The cute doggy pictures with hysterical comments-wise choice. 

This is Lola, she is the mother of Jujube. I sometimes refer to the mother and daughter duo as a functional Grey Gardens. Neither one of them like that too much. 

Lola has a problem with instant gratification (as most of us do), She wants her toy now! I like to take my own mother's view point about instant gratification: Instant gratification is like peeing on yourself in the middle of winter. Sure, you are warm for a few seconds but then after that, you are wet, cold and peed on. Is that what you want? Well, that's what instant gratification is, wet, cold and peed on, now get back to work and work hard for what you want.

Lola is a dog and doesn't care about my instant gratification story.

Did I mention that she really wanted that toy?

We now have three toys buried, unburied and buried in the backyard. None of this has anything to do with Mother's Day except for my pee story. 

Winner Winner! Chicken Dinner!

(yes, that is a chicken lollipop, yes I have tasted them and yes, they are disgusting. picture via foodhoe's foraging)

Eeep! Are you just dying to know who won the fabulous clock and wreath? The winner is.....CHARITY! Yahoo! Way to go Charity!

But wait all you sad faces. Cause you guys are so awesome and entered, I couldn't let you just go away sad, so....I will be contacted each of you and sending a cute little surprise gift to you. Will it be vintage embroidery? Will it be one stationery? Who knows, but you guys deserve a little prize for being the most awesome peeps ever!

Now on to more fun stuff! I am obsessed with subway art! The wonderful ladies over at Craftster said to me, "Pam-if you are so crazy about it, how about making a video so others can share in your madness." Well, that's just what I did!

Of course you know the three minions inspired this one.


I want to finish this one with pictures of our family.


I treated this one so it can go on my garden gate.


Check out the video!