Wednesday Thoughts

I'm going to keep it simple today. Here are my thoughts:

1. Tuuuuurkkkkkeeyyyyyyy! Last night I had fun making some chocolate caramel dipped pretzels for my coworkers:

2. I've been really T.O.ed about a couple injustices lately and I have been having a hard time holding back. One of them I've kept unwritten, social media wise, but I feel like it's gonna come out. You guys ready for some venting coming your way? Not now. But maybe some day. Liz Lemon summarized my issue perfectly in an episode of 30 Rock:

Liz: This whole thing is unfair. You're juggling two beautiful women while I have to pay to have kickballs whipped at me. This is genderinequity out the yang.  Jack: This has nothing to do with the slight difference in our genders.
Liz: Yes, it does. The older you get, the more distinguished you are. Meanwhile, I'm reading a book called Hiding Your Arms, Hiding YourAnger: Dating Over 35.  
3. Moving on. Are you guys watching The Grinder? If not, you should be. It's my favorite new show this season. Fred Savage is perfect. And Rob Lowe is playing a Chris Traeger type charactor (in the best way possible). It's hilarious. Please watch it and then talk to me about it.

4. In case you're wondering how things went at the tire place last week, here's an update: I have four new tires now. I don't want to talk about it.
5. But the timing was just right because we got a bunch of snow Saturday! New tires are good for snow.  

 

6. I'm plant-sitting for a coworker while he is temporarily displaced. His plant is thriving while mine increasingly looks like a decoration from the Nightmare Before Christmas. ShouldI give up on it?

One of these plants is terrifying.

Happy Wednesday.

Wednesday Thoughts

Monday morning I walked out to my car and found an unpleasant surprise.

Flat tires are totally out of my wheelhouse, pun intended. Thankfully I have family who will save me at times like this. But today, I have to go to the tire place and I am absolutely filled with dread.

Two things I abhor dealing with: cars and computers. I love them and need them but understand NOTHING about their inner workings and therefore feel very vulnerable about getting them fixed.

You're probably thinking: "you should learn something about them so you don't feel that way."

No. Not gonna.

Anyway. I've been playing out in my head the various scenarios that could happen today at the tire place. This is how I picture myself in all these situations:

I go in defensive. Friendly on the outside but really angry on the inside. I picture something like this happening:

Tire person (thinking): Uh oh, this one has crazy eyes.
Tire person (saying): How can I help you today?
Me: HOW DARE YOU!

So I've been doing research online this week. I have all kinds of print outs with various sections and prices highlighted. I'm ready to prove them wrong and get the best deal at every turn. But it's all pointless because I know that I know very little and can (and will) be coerced into getting whatever they tell me to get.

I'm afraid they're going to notice I'm a woman when they see me. And movies and tv have taught me that all mechanics and service representatives think that women are dummies and will take full advantage. The funny thing is, that hasn't actually been my real life experience 99% of the time but I still believe it's true. Because tv.

So anyway, if you see something on the news tonight about a woman in Ann Arbor going bananas in a tire repair place and having to be sedated....

...it wasn't me.

Happy Wednesday.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Wow, it feels nice to be back in this space. I can't believe I've been such a terrible blogger this year. I was so consistent for so long, but now I straight up stink at blogging. And I don't know if this is a comeback but I've been thinking about this space a lot lately, and I miss it. So maybe I'm back. Ish. Kinda like:

Microsoft Paint for the win.

 So, what have I been up to? Hmmm....

• Working
• Crafting
• Dabbling at dieting
• Crafting
• Watching tv
• Dealing with seasonal dry skin***
• Christmas shopping
• Adjusting to a new season. No idea where my ice scraper is. None, whatsoever. 

And lots o' other stuff.

***But back to the seasonal dry skin. My back gets so dry in the winter. And it's a real problem. Like, most of the time I'm fine with being single, but in the winter I start thinking, "maybe it's time to settle down. Find someone to put lotion on my back in the winter spend my life with."

 And NOT someone like this:

I'm not really looking for someone who wants to wear my skin, just to be clear. Someone whose intentions are simply to eliminate winter dryness.

This post kind of went off the rails and now I'm not sure where to go with it. I guess I'll just conclude with:

Been busy. Back is dry. Don't want to get murdered.

So, not much has changed.

June 30th!!

Oh my word - it's June 30th and I haven't updated my blerg a single time this month! My poor blog - so abandoned! It's going to be on one of those Mental Floss articles titled, "Check out spooky pictures of these abandoned blogs" and attached will be something like this:

I've just had a very, very busy month. I went to my phone to find photographic evidence of what I've been up to lately, but all I found was screen shots from tv shows I've been watching on my phone to send to my sister. Not exactly compelling evidence of a busy life. But can you blame me for having to capture this classic Jessica Fletcher look from an episode of Murder, She Wrote?

Or this hilarious shirt Tracey is wearing in an episode of 30 Rock:

Did I tell ever you about the time I accidentally referred to George W. Bush as George W. Smith? It happened on New Year's Eve, 2014, if that means anything, and I don't think it does.  Also (and this is important), I said the name with conviction. George W. Smith. What happened to my brain that day remains a scientific mystery.

But really, things have been very busy at work this month. And then suddenly last week, I got really sick! In the summer time!! I was outraged.

Anyway, here's my June post. I've saved my blog for one more month. Hopefully next month I'll have at least two posts.

Happy June 30th.

Violent Earth

Back in high school, we had an eclectic group of substitute teachers. Some were "normal" and some were anything but. One of them, who I'll call Mr. Mob, would try to convince us that he used to work for the goon squad. We all figured it was just an attempt to scare us into staying in line. And this wouldn't have worked except that he was actually a pretty cool guy. He was laid back, quirky, and the whole goon squad thing was probably a joke, but just in case it wasn't....

Anyway, one day I walked into my earth science class to see Mr. Mob writing on the chalkboard. In true substitute teacher fashion, the agenda for the day was to watch a video. If memory serves me, the video was called "Violent Earth" and was about earthquakes. Since Mr. Mob was no ordinary substitute teacher, he had illustrated the name of the video on the chalkboard in a colorful fashion:

It was at that moment that I learned something valuable: The earth could be violent. And class would be easy that day. And Mr. Mob wasn't that great of an artist. But mostly, the earth could be violent.

Fast forward to the present.

Last Saturday after the farmers market, my sister, Katherine, was helping me load up my car. On the grass by the curb, there was a trench where some pipe or wires had been laid and the soil hadn't been filled back in. After almost tripping in it, I warned Katherine to watch out.

About 7 seconds later, my foot got caught in the trench, and I fell to my knees:

Ok, at this point, here's what normally would have happened: I would have laughed at my clumsiness and stood up. But no. That happened to be when the violent earth struck and Michigan experienced a very rare phenomenon: an earthquake.

It was 12:22. Confused about what was happening, I hit the ground then I started rolling. I was out of control! I couldn't stop myself! I rolled right down into the street, where I lay, laughing hysterically at the ridiculousness of it all.

I was also a bit confused. Why couldn't I stop myself from falling? It was strange.

A little bit later, I started seeing updates on social media, "Did anyone feel that earthquake?" At first I thought I hadn't felt it but then it all started to add up! The timing of it was exactly right. I hit the ground, THE EARTH SHOOK, and I fell to my death. Or rather, I rolled over the curb.

Katherine, who witnessed the whole thing, said that it had nothing to do with the earthquake, but what would she know?

Here's the evidence: 

1. The timing - I tumbled into the road at the exact same time the earthquake hit (I think)

2. WHY would I fall so much if the earth wasn't being cray-cray?
3. That's all. I just felt like two points weren't enough. 

So, while everyone else was sharing memes like this...:

...I'm remembering laying in the gutter like a drunken Edgar Allen Poe that fateful day... the day the Violent Earth took me down.

On why it's hard to have a political opinion

I'm scared. We're in the season of a presidential election already. Goodbye, friendships! Goodbye, Facebook news feed! Goodbye calm, rational group conversations!

You know what's also scary? Forming an opinion about a candidate and telling someone. I mean, it's one thing to be an observer. It's another to express participation in the process. Here's a terribly drawn comic I made to demonstrate what often seems to happen:

Or it might go like this:

Person A: You know who I like?
Person B: Who?
A: So-and-so
B: What!?! What about that time they ____________?
A: Oh.. Well, I'm not sure about that. I know that I like this, this, and that about them though.
B: But what about this, this, and that? 
A: Well, from what I heard, they had a reason for that (and the reason was)...
B: But what about the fact that they hate Mexicans?
A: WHAT?
B: Well, they hate tacos. Or at least, they hate Taco Bell. Well, they hate Taco's Bell's Mexican pizza. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?
A: Well... it is kind of soggy.
B: HOW DARE YOU!!

Or maybe, heaven forbid, you know ten things you like about the person, and three things you don't really like. How do you answer for those three things? Because if you tell anyone you like that candidate and they disagree, they WILL bring those three things up and because you said you liked that person, you may as well have done those things yourself.

Or you have to defend your patriotism.

B: You like that candidate? You must hate America. Have you never read the Constitution!? 
A: No, have you?
B: No, but I've heard things.

Another possibility is that you'll have to defend the candidate's character.

A: I think I'm going to vote for __________.
B: But he/she cut in line for the slide when he/she was in third grade!
A: Oh. I guess I was just voting based on their voting records and social changes. I didn't realize I had to go so far back.
B: Idiot.(Walks off humming "Proud to be an American.")

It seems to me that there are three ways to avoid the scrutiny of having an opinion about a candidate:

1. Know everything about that person and be prepared to defend everything they've ever done.
2. Only know one thing about that person but care SO much about it that everyone knows there's no point arguing with you.
3. Know almost nothing about politics but be so passionate about politics people realize there's no point arguing with you.

I'm thinking of voting for Bernie Sanders because I think he might be related to Colonel Sanders and could possibly get our national bird changed to the chicken. Is that a good enough reason? TRY arguing with me about chicken. Just try. (Just demonstrating points 2 and 3.)

The thing is, most conversations with people who you strongly disagree with are pointless. This past week's episode of This American Life is called, "The Incredible Rarity of Changing Your Mind," and it talks about this very subject. If you want to vote for Hillary, and someone else wants to vote for Mitt (I know he's not running but I don't know any other Republicans)... is there any point in having a conversation? I mean, the point of the conversation will be to either defend your opinion or try to change theirs, right? Will either person come out with good feelings at the end?

Am I getting too jaded, or is this everyones experience?

I'll just be hiding in a tepee for the next year or so, keeping my opinions to myself until it's all over. Or at least, I'll try.

In the meantime, let's listen to a patriotic tune we can all get behind:

iPod Confessions

Like most humans with the ability to hear, I love music. I have a wide variety of tastes in music, and have a really hard time categorizing my taste. If I had to, I'd say, "All, but only a little country."

I was looking at my iPod and saw some wild inconsistencies in my tastes. I have something like eight or nine hundred songs downloaded, so there's no way I could go over the list that closely - no one has time for that. But I scrolled through my ipod (phone) and made some lists in case you are REALLY bored today!

Please especially take note of the second group if you're looking for new music.

Top 7 most embarrassing finds:
1. Boyfriend - Justin Bieber
2. AN ENTIRE HANSON ALBUM
3. Several songs by Miley Cyrus... and.....
4. Some One Direction and even worse.....
5. Several more songs by Justin Bieber (other than the one already listed)
6. We built this city - Starship (I should be more embarrassed about this song than I am)
7. Several Britney Spears songs

Top songs I most recommend you listen to (my favorites) (if I made you a mix tape, this is what would be on it):
1. All the girls are complicated -Laura Cantrell
2. Dance me to the end of love - Madeleine Peyroux
3. Don't stop me now - Queen
4. Hands in pockets - Laura Gibson
5. Hey Brother - Avicii
6. Horchata - Vampire Weekend
7. Lily (Con Estrella Morente) - Chico & Rita New York Band & Orchestra
8. Little things - Pomplamoose
9. Love of mine - Nickel Creek
10. Out in the Twilight - Tally Hall
11. Simple Girl - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
12. Space Oddity - David Bowie
13. Scarecrow - Counting Crows
14. Still - Gretchen Parlato
15. Surrey with the fringe on top - Blossom Deary
16. Tapioca Tundra - the Monkees
17. Truckstop gospel - Parker Millsap
18. Wild child - Brett Dennen
19. Domino Man - The Beautiful South

Top UGH I AM SO OVER THIS SONG songs:
1. Fancy - Iggy Azalea
2. All about that bass - whatshername
3. Happy - Pharrell
4. Royals - Lorde (make it stop)
5. Take me to church - Hozier

Top 3 most random songs:
1. The Courtship of Eddie's Father (theme song)
2. Hail to the chief - US marine band
3. Snowbird - Anne Murray

Top what was I thinking when I downloaded this song??
1. Bed intruder song - Antoine Dodson
2. Down - Jay Sean (what the!?)
3. I gotta a feeling - Black Eyed Peas (omg)
4. Lollipop - Lil Wayne (ew - don't listen to this song. What was I thinking!?!)
5. My style - Black Eyed Peas (oh my gosh, I have two songs by them on my ipod?? who am i?!)

Top 12 nostalgia (school days) songs:
1. All I want - Toad the Wet Sprocket
2. Cornflake girl - Tori Amos
3. Eternal flame - The Bangles
4. Fall on me - REM
5. Find the river - REM
6. ALL THE REM SONGS
7. Hole hearted - Extreme
8. To be with you - Mr. Big (still love this song so, so much - just TRY to listen to it without singing along. Can't be done. Physically impossible.)
9. I'd die without you - PM Dawn
10. Shake the disease - Depeche Mode
11. Spoonman - Soundgarden
12. All songs by Jellyfish

Top TURN IT UP songs:
1. Back in black - AC/DC
2. Houses of the holy - Led Zeppelin
2. Closer to the Heart - Rush
4. Doctor Feelgood - Motley Crue
5. It's tricky - Run DMC
6. Sabatoge - Beastie Boys
7. E-pro - Beck
8. ALL Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Rush songs - too many to list

Random iPod observation:
There's a lot of music by: Counting Crows, They Might be Giants, Disney movies, boy bands, Jellyfish, Led Zeppelin, Metalica, John Mayer, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Billy Idol, Simon and Garfunkel, and Kanye West (?!). And even some Eminem.

I would love to hear about some of your iPod confessions if you feel like sharing.

Facial Blindness

The other day at Target, I found a yummy looking bag of jelly beans. Figuring one bag wouldn't be enough for Easter, I looked for a second bag of the same kind. However, it seemed that this bag was in the wrong place, so I had to search all over to find its family of yummy jelly beans.

A woman who works there saw me searching and offered to help. I thanked her and she said, "It's no big deal - I see you here all the time and we went to school together!"

I have no memory of this person, but believed her. She went on and on about how she likes seeing me there because I'm a familiar face. The next day when I went back to get something I'd forgotten the day before, she came out of the back room saying, "Hi, friend!" I said, "oh gosh, I'm so embarrassed - yes, I'm here again." She said, "It's ok! I feel like we grew up together!"

Hm. Who is this person?

The next day I told this story to a guy who also has a booth at the farmers market. I told him the story hoping he would be able to help me identify her because he went to the same high school as me. I described her to him and told him her first name.

He asked, "was she in band or orchestra?" I said, "oh, good question. That would help a lot." Then I asked, "Which were you in in?" He said, "Band. I played the trombone. With you."

Oops. I have no memory of him in band. In my defense, however, he is several years younger than me which in high school is a lifetime.

Overhearing our conversation, several venders at booths near us went, "ooooooooh! You were 'that' kind of girl!" Indicating a snob, I think. But I was in no way a snob! I was a fake grunge person. It was the 90's and Nirvana and Pearl Jam were big and I was trying to be grunge, but was such a poser in retrospect.

I think the main reason I don't remember these people is because high school was 100 years ago. Or maybe I have facial blindness.

Have any of you had similar experiences?

Wednesday Thoughts

Let's go back to the old style of sharing random thoughts on a Wednesday, shall we? Here we go:

1. Is buying baskets ever a good idea? A friend and I were talking the other day about how you always find baskets at garage sales. It's the one thing you can count on. Yet, I am always tempted to buy them. "Oh, this would look so cute with apples or cloth or something in it..." Stop tempting me, baskets!!!

Just walk away.

2. I went to an ear, nose, and throat specialist this morning. Yesterday I filled out all the paperwork online about my health history. This is a new one:

Finally a doctor who gets me.

3. My general feelings about today:

4. So, I've been watching a show called Supernatural on Netflix. Have you guys seen it? It appeals to me because it's about scary stuff like ghosts and monsters and mysteries. Also, the main characters are ok on the eyes. However, I think it's a show for dudes. The two brothers always have the same looks on their faces and they're always yelling about how they don't want to talk about their feelings. One of them occasionally talks about his feelings and tries to get the other brother to as well, but it always ends up like this:

Sam: Dude, I know you're hurting about so and so.
Dean: We're not going to do this right now.
Sam: It's not going to go away! You need to talk about it!
Dean: Don't do this, man! I'm fine!
Sam: You're not fine. I can tell. I'm your brother.
Dean: Look, I don't know what you're talking about. 
Sam: Ok, but (heartfelt look), when you're ready to talk, I'm here for you.
Dean: Whatever, dude.

We're both pretty.

Happy Wednesday.

Nope-ril Fools

I'm anxious today. April Fools' Day can be unbearable in some ways. Mainly when it comes to social media. Here are two pranks I BEG of you to not lie about on social media tomorrow:

1. Fake pregnancy
2. Fake engagement

Every year on April Fool's Day, I quickly scroll past so many of these on Facebook, rolling my eyes and cringing at the comments, "SO happy for you!!" "You two are so cute together!!" "Wonderful news! - grandma"

I am not a total April Fools' Day Scrooge. I think some pranks are funny. My kind of April Fools' joke is when the victim is laughing and not humiliated or damaged in any way.

Here are some examples of big NO'S!

Here are some I think are funny:

 

Here's one I can't decide if I like or not:

Everyone has a different idea of what's funny and acceptable for April Fool's Day. Personally, I tend to gravitate toward the googly eyed variety of pranking, which won't surprise a single one of you. No one is hurt. Everyone is a little amused. No damage done.

What's the best prank you've ever done? How do you feel about April Fools' Day?

Stab-worthy

Every now and then I try to take a good, hard look at myself and the things I could improve about myself. I think about my annoying quirks and I try to improve and do better. I'm sure I'm not aware of everything I do that rubs people the wrong way, but I do my best to be a good person.

However. You can't please everyone, and that's something I've learned to accept. Just by being yourself, some people aren't going to like you. No matter how much you try to be a good person. And really, that's fine. I know I'm not perfect, but I try to be genuine and nice and for that reason, I don't think I'm exactly stab-worthy or anything.

Someone I know is mad at me right now. This person doesn't read this blog, so I'm not being passive aggressive by writing about this. He/she won't see this post. I can tell this person is mad at me - it's very obvious based on the limited interaction we have with each other. I have no idea why they're mad at me. I thought things were totally fine between us. But this person has a history of getting angry at the drop of a hat over every little thing. So, I've just decided that I don't care. When I was younger (in my 20's or younger), it would have really bothered me to know someone was mad at me. But at this point in my life, I don't have time for that kind of nonsense.

This next bit of information is going to make you think I'm some kind of monster, but I promise I'm not! A month or so ago, one of my sisters mentioned to me that it was someone's birthday. She had seen it on Facebook. I thought, "hmm. That's weird. I didn't see that on Facebook! In fact... I haven't seen any posts from that person in awhile...." So I went to look them up and not only had they unfriended me, they had BLOCKED me!

Honestly, my only reaction was to laugh. As far as I know, this person has no obvious reason to be mad at me. Meaning, we haven't seen each other in years, have had minimal Facebook interactions, and no interactions outside of Facebook in a years. Did one of the Onion articles I post offend her? Did I forget to "poke" her back on Facebook? I have no idea. And because I have no idea, I can't bring myself to care.

Don't get me wrong, if it was someone I was close to - in either case- I would care. I would try to make amends and find out what was going on. But I'm at an age now when I can't be bothered to worry about people making up fights in their heads.

Have any of you had things like this happen? What is your attitude towards it?

Spring!

What the what? I haven't blogged since March 2nd? I swear I have never neglected this blog like I have in the last six months or so. I know why - it's because I've been stressed. When I'm really stressed, I have a hard time finding lighter things to blog about. I'm able to be calm in my day to day life, but when I start digging deeper, it ends up something like this:

So I end up shutting down the browser with my blog on it and going back to what I was previously doing.

But now that spring is here, I'm feeling like I can peek out from my hole like that evil Punxutawney Phil, and maybe clear my head a little bit. We all hate Punxutawney Phil, right? Just want to make sure we're all on the same page with that.

I've been working a lot in the last few months on ways to relieve stress. Here are some of the things that work best for me:

1. Crafting. A friend told me recently that people who craft more live longer - that crafting puts you in a meditative state. Obviously that depends on the kind of crafting you're doing, but I can definitely state that when I'm in the crafting zone, it really is like meditating.

2. The occasional massage. My work offers seated massage for a discounted price twice a month and you better believe I take advantage of that. The massage therapist, Grace, is amazing. Picture this:



Except even better. (Here's a link to her website if you're looking for an amazing massage therapist.)

3. Farmers Market. Every Saturday for the past couple months, I've been selling baked goods and small crafts at the local indoor farmers market. I LOVE it. It's been so fun to not only try out new recipes and share them with others, but the thing I love the most is the social aspect. Friends and family have come by to support me and I've loved seeing them and catching up. I also love meeting new people at the market. It's been a blast and helps pull me out of the winter yucks. And fingers crossed, I'll be able to get a spot at the summer market and the fun will continue!

4. Keeping very, very busy. Every night when I get home from work, I have at least two projects I have to work on. It hasn't been great for my social life, but it is nice to be busy. It's my preferred state of being.

Well, I'm getting bored reflecting on myself. I'm sure you are getting bored too. I'm making no commitments to blog more often but I sure hope I will. I miss interacting with you all! Because goshdarnit, you guys are pretty a-ok. One more gif for the road:

Please tell me you're watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt!

Hi, guys

I haven't written in a long time because I've been hibernating.

Here are some things I've been up to lately, in case you're bored enough to wonder.

1. Sleeping whenever I can. Like I said, hibernating.
2. Watching Netflix but feeling dissatisfied with everything I watch. I'm ready to spend time outside again and Netflix is starting to make my eyes blur.
3. Working at the local farmers market. I opened a booth selling cookies and other sweets and little yarn animals. It's been a blast. Even when I had to load up my car this past Saturday in negative fifteen temperatures. I have been really enjoying it.
4. Working for the man.
5. Working with the girls at church.
6. Thinking about how sweater season is ending soon so I better start exercising more.
7. Reintroducing fruits and vegetables into my diet (kidding, it's not that bad - - just sorta that bad).
8. Watched the series premiere of Last Man on Earth last night and thought it was really funny. Is it really funny, or am I just bored? Really not sure.

I was going to try to make that list ten items long but I ran out of steam. Or maybe that's all I've been up to?

Oh wait:

9. Crafting. So much.

And:

10. Shopping on Amazon.

There we go. Now we're all up to date on the goings on of my life the last month or two.

I'm optimistic now because it's March. Winter will be over soonish. Last night the weatherman said we're done with sub zero temperatures. I had a nightmare last night that I woke up and it was negative six degrees outside. But it was just a dream. Just a dream.

Ok, now we're up to speed. Except I didn't tell you the most important thing. I found a funny gif to share with you.

Now we're up to speed.

A Thought on Valentine's Day

As someone who loves love (as a friend), I've always had a good relationship with Valentine's Day. Bigger holidays like this are hard for a lot of people though because they put a microscope over your life and make you examine the part of your life the holiday is focusing on. Which in this case, of course, is love.

Honestly, Christmas is the hardest one for me - the holiday that makes me feel the most lonely and most critical of my life. But Valentine's Day doesn't make me lonely because while I might not have the life I thought I'd have at this point, I do have plenty of love.

Yesterday I took part in a medical survey for the county I live in. The woman giving the survey asked questions about every aspect of my health - physical, mental, emotional. She asked very personal questions and for the most part showed no reaction to any of my answers, but just moved swiftly to the next question.

But when we got to one question, she softened for a just a couple seconds. The question was:

How often do you get the emotional support you need?

Always
Sometimes
Neutral
Rarely
Never

I thought about it for a second and I pictured my family, my friends, and my church group, then I answered "Always." She said in a sincere voice, "That's really nice."

And it is nice - I'm very lucky.

But before you think I'm being too mushy, I don't only love humans and God and stuff like that. I also love these gifs:

(My love life)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Little Valentines

I love Valentine's Day - as I've said before, I think it's the burst of red in the bleak winter that makes me love it so much. I've been making some Valentines crafts for the young women I work with at church, and per the request of a commenter on a previous post, I thought I'd share some of the little things I've been making.

I think basically all of these are ideas I got from Pinterest - so don't even bother calling me creative. I mean, unless you insist. Oh, and most of them involve googly eyes, of course.

1. Supplies: one inch punch, one inch googly eyes, card stock, sharpie, colored paper, glue, and scissors: 

outside

inside

another inside option

2. "Love Bugs" - I sold a bunch of these at the farmers market on Saturday to girls between the ages of 6 and 12. They were CRAZY for them. A huge hit with the little kid crowd. And me. I love them - they are just cheerful!

Supplies: yarn to make into pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, heart stickers (JoAnns), hot glue.

Just be careful because puppies love them too.....

Then this happens:

And that's no good! Make extra love bugs just in case this happens. No one should be this sad on Valentine's Day.

3. Arrows and ribbons - these are easy! Supplies: sticks (JoAnns in the wood supplies section), hot glue, paper, scissors, washi tape, cupcake liners. (I just realized I'm really not telling you how to do it - but that's because you're smart and I know you can figure it out!)

Oh, and you can't forget cookies - sugar is the thing that makes you forget you're alone on Valentine's Day.

So there you go. I hope that helps you out this week. Just whatever you do, don't sign your Valentine cards with the word "from."

Love,
Elizabeth