No Shave November Preview!!!!

SO very excited about this! I was lamenting the fact that I can't really tweeze my chin hairs because of the goings on with my neck and the pinched nerves. My dear friend Maureen Matz invited me to the No Shave November event that was created on Facebook to make me laugh. BOY did it make me laugh! Well, we both posted on the Facebook wall of this event that we were attending, and a little while later, a gentleman named Rich Germain posted that women were to be excluded from participating! As you can imagine, Them's fightin' words to someone like yours truly! I decided to run with it and state that I would indeed be participating, and not only would I be participating, I would be blogging about it as well!  In the meantime, I am inviting all the women I know to "attend" this event . Why can't we not shave too?

Today, a gentleman named Boyd Tracy posted on that event page stating that he was one of Facebook's legal council, and that if I wanted to make any blog posts about other body parts, I "may do so independently" but that the page was for facial hair only. To this, I guffawed. Yes, you read that right...guffawed. Not only will I be blogging about not shaving WHATEVER I DECIDE NOT TO SHAVE, but every day, I will be mentioning BOTH of these gentleman by name as well as linking back to the Facebook event. What began as a funny with one friend trying to cheer the other one up has now become a crusade of sorts.

Again, for all who want to "attend" this event, please do so here and click "attending" . Participation is purely optional, but I sure would love the support in giving mysogyny the what for!!!! Besides, they have over 300 men who haven't even answered their "invitation" to the event. We can build the ranks!!!

Oh...I would also like to personally thank Mr. Rich Germain and Mr.  Boyd Tracy  for the impetus for my November Blogging Exercise!!

Treasure Your Chest!!! I HEART Mine, and You Should Heart Yours!!!

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Handmade Toy Alliance Blog: Press Release: The HTA Reaffirms Commitment to Buy Handmade and Local

Handmade Toy Alliance Blog: Press Release: The HTA Reaffirms Commitment to Buy Handmade and Local

Mix Pup Palooza!!!!!!

Meant to blog about this sooner, but time has been slipping away from me this month, BUSY BUSY BUSY!

I was fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to host a party to introduce the Mix Pups line by Jazwares.  Aren't they supercute!?!?!?!?!
In attendance at this red carpet event were Miss Sedona Hess, Mr, Alexander Hess, and a few of their closest friends (Brianna,Robyn,Maddie,Genna,Alika,Heather,Jaymee,and RaeAnn). The Pawty van was a HOOT for the kids!! We help them set it up to take a picture, but this cute little scene lasted all of 47 seconds after the camera flashed!

In keeping with the spirit of mixing and matching, what I decided to do was to place all the rest of the pups and accessories into a bin and let the kids do some mixing and matching of their own! Here, Alex is ready for some Pawty cake!

And Sedona is trying to take over...

THIS is where we we began seeing the slight problems with some of the Pups. They are designed to have their legs pop off to be able to change costumes, and pop back on. What we FOUND on several of them was a small defect that prevented some of the legs from staying attached to the Pups (I and the other two moms were kept pretty busy taking care of this. Here is a picture of what a "normal" Mix Pup looks like when you pop off their legs...the little nubs are both the same size and are extended far enough from the body to keep the leg in place when it is popped back on.

Here is a pic of an example of a pup with an "abnormal"nub set up...see how they are close to the body and one of them doesn't even extend enough to hold the leg on! In fact, this gal came out of the package with the back left leg unattached, and you can see why-the nub is barely visible...

This next gal came out of the package with BOTH legs unattached, and neither would reattach...BOTH nubs were barely there....

BUT...that doesn't keep her from displaying a WONDERFUL "can-do" attitude on her cute little puppy face!! I think we should make one of those little carts to attach to her hind quarters!

This NEXT gal....well, it just freaked the girls out...but Alexander LOVED it. It came out of the package with it's "neckbone" showing! We tried to push it back in, but the "bone" itself would just not go any further either into the body OR into the head. 

Interesting, yes, but it made the head just keep coming off. BUT....at least the "neckbone" was in the shape of a cute little heart!

Now, this one's actually being set aside--seems like Alexander thinks it's an awesome Halloween decoration!

All in all, though, most of the Mix Pups we received in our party pack were perfect, and the kids had a WONDERFUL time with their Pawty! 

In addition to their Mix Pup set that each child got to play with, one lucky child (Genna) received this small "doorprize", but unfortunately, she had to leave before her name was drawn due to a rather heinous potty emergency--I had to give the goods to her mother a few days later...

I definitely love the concept of these SUPER CUTE toys, and am REALLY hoping that they can work out the manufacturing kinks so more of the Mix Pups can keep their limbs! The kids all want more!!!

Kinderville Divided Plates: A GIVEAWAY! | MightyNest

Kinderville Divided Plates: A GIVEAWAY! | MightyNest

October is here! 31 days of crochet!!!!!!

I have deemed October as the month I begin posting some of my crochet projects and project updates (with perhaps an article of jewelry or two thrown in for good measure...). Since I have been having problems with my connectivity for the last several days, I will summarize the last few days' worth of projects.

Baby Starghan Coverlet  made from a SUPER soft Angora Rabbit/ Lamb's Wool blend harvested from a thrift store sweater using this pattern .

Starghan made for Alex using this pattern ... BOTH of these were begun using the pattern, and then I crocheted as many rounds as I needed for the size I wanted.

Earflap hat  made for Sedona from some very soft blue boucle acrylic yarn harvested from a thrift store sweater and pink fuzzy yarn from my stash.

Today, working on some gifts (beginning another couple starghans and some kitchen towels), and also in the tedious process of deconstructing another GORGEOUS Angora Rabbit/Lamb's Wool blend sweater (cream color).

ShoestringMuse: American Craft Week!!!

ShoestringMuse: American Craft Week!!!: "American Craft Week is upon us!!!!! Why the excitement? I'll tell you why--from Oct.1-Oct 10, individuals, small businesses, and organizati..."