~A Skele-Spider Hair Flower from Jammerz Designs
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fly Over to Mrs. B's For Giveaway Fun!
~A Skele-Spider Hair Flower from Jammerz Designs
Monday, October 19, 2009
Today's Give Away Fun
~A Pendant featuring The Eternal Embrace from Agony's Decay Creepy Crafts
~a set of felt Runes from The Caricoa Witch
~a pair of Spider & Hematite Earrings from The Gypsy Eye Studio
And don't forget to check out the Guest Blog post, Mrs. B Get's Crafty, The Haunted Blog Tour Host (with more GiveAways to be found!) and also Mrs' B's newest article over at the Examiner.com! Plenty of good stuff to keep you busy.
Have a Spooktacular Day!
~Danae <(:o) aka 'Crafty'
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Some 'Don't Miss' Halloween Blog Fun!
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~a set of porcelain clay Runes from Marie Segal
~a batch of handmade Saffron Insence from Lavanah
~Wintra the Witch of Warren Hall Wall Hanging from Michele with A Single L Designs
~a Halloween Neckalace from Shadow of The Goddess Designs
~an amazing Bag Of Goodies from Salem, given by Jaz of October Farm
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Then, be sure to read the Guest Blog Post, and Mrs. B's Halloween Craft Post. Then hurry on over to today's Haunted Blog Hop Stop!
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There are many, many more wonderful bloggy fun places to visit...but as I am already late for my own fun...I must be off! Have a Spooktacular Day today! Bwa ha ha ha haaa!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sharing Mrs. B's Giveaway & Some More Vintage Halloween Images
Hey Guys, Good Morning! I am sitting here enjoying our first Autumn rain- which is quickly becoming a downpour. I am all cozy, drinking a cup of Pumpkin Chai, curled up with my kitties.
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I have some happy news to share with you all! In the past week I have won two awesome Hallloween Giveaway Prizes! YAY! (I have never won anything in the Blogworld untill now.)
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My first lucky prize was to win Artful Alice- an adorable little polymer Witch from Mrs. B's 31 Days Of Halloween Giveaway. She is absolutely perfect for me, because she has red hair- and I have my own little red-headed daughter who is a Witch-In-Training!
And then yesterday I discovered that I won The Tome Of Ill Wonder from GrimVisions Ghastly 2009 Halloween Giveaway. Woohoo! This is cool for me on two levels...The first is because of me being stuck at home healing from my broken knee, I have not been able pick up any new Halloween Goodies for my house this year. (Also, due to the injury, moneys been a little tight.) So winning these prizes is a happy surprise!
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The second reason this is a neat prize for me- is that I have been trying to add some creepier type decorations to my collecton. Up untill now, my Halloween Decor has been mostly on the happy & cute side. Now that my kids are getting a bit older- I am finally able to add some decorations on the ghoulish side. This handmade peice of Creep Art comes from GrimVisions- a master of Haunting Halloween Horror!
The Tome Of Ill Wonder is a spooky old book with a ghastly grin. When you open up the book, you find a skull. So cool! I just cannot wait to see it in person.
I also wanted to share with you all the awesome prizes being given away today at Mrs. B's- so hop on over & check them out! There are 5 prizes today, and several chances to win each one. There will be new pirizes and guest bloggers every day until Halloween!
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Vintage Halloween Images For You
These images are early twentieth century, prior to 1920. (The top and bottom images were circa 1910 I think.)
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At that time Halloween was primarily an adult holiday, and decorations and party favors were made for their use, and subsequent disposal. (Whereas Christmas decorations of the day were intende to be saved and reused throughout the years.)
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It wasn't untill after WWII, and the Baby Boom after the war, that Halloween became a children's holiday. Over time, Halloween decor became increasingly cuter, and less spooky. Many times you can discern the age of a peice by the clothing style and expressions on the characters faces. Because of the disposable nature of the older products, to find them these days, and in good condition, is a valuable find.
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Unfortunately for me, I haven't been able to start my 'real life' Vintage Halloween collection; so I satisfy my Vintage Halloween jones wth newer vintage inspired peices, my own art, and my online Vintage Photo addiction!
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Hey... at least it keeps the costs down! LOL.
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If any of you all are interested in seeing how I decorated my tiny little Living Room- I did a post this weekend over at my other blog, Crafty's Cup. You can find it here.
And be sure to go back and check the other late September & early October posts for all kinds of Hallween inspiration. There are Arts & Crafts, Home Decor projects and idea, recipes and plenty of other Halloween goodies! You will find them all at Crafty's Cuppa Coffee. (Please excuse all of the 'Giveaway' posts lately- there have been a ton of awesome contests & of course you get extra entries if you blog & tweet about them.)
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Have a fabulous day!
~Danae
Friday, September 25, 2009
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dinner & Drinks? Ok Just Drinks...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Those Were The Days...
"Why don't ya come up and see me sometime?"
Friday, June 26, 2009
LARD??? I Dunno Honey. Do I Have To?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Can You IMAGINE???
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Russian Vodka...Russian Bride...
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Guaranteed 3 Day Diet...
I have quite a few of these beauties stashed away, and I was trying to think of a good purpose for them...well, this seems to be it. So for the next few posts, these are all the Ads that I cannot believe are for real. (And maybe some that I wish were!) As far as I know, these Ads are in their real, and unaltered state. ~Enjoy!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Good Things In Life...
Sometimes we just have to relax a bit, and take the time to truly enjoy them.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Just One Of Those Days...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Oy! I Feel Like I've Been Stuck In The 1950's!
Boy am I ever glad that's over with!
For those of you who already know...so sorry for the recap- I'll be brief. For those of you who didn't know why I've been neglecting my blog for a month now...it's because I've been stuck in the Dark Ages for the past few weeks. I've had me a real good run of 'bad techno juju'.
First my wireless Internet card busted.
I thought- "No big deal, at least I still have my cell phone's Internet. I can pick up my e-mail, read my blogs, go to a friend's house to post & send in my homework,etc.."
Then- the very next day my cell phone's Internet went out too!
So, I did what I was supposed to, called the tech support folks...and whad'ya think happened next?
Yup... In the process of trying to 'fix' my computer problem, the tech support people locked up
(ie: broke!) my cell phone. The whole damn thing- not just the computer!
After a few more 'major communication breakdowns' and other electronical setbacks, thankfully things started looking up for me. About 5 calls and 2 e-mails later, and they said that they are going to be sending me a new phone- "after their supervisor approves it!"
So cross your fingers for me, PLEASE! :)
And thankfully, last week I was able to get a new Internet card. So I am back in blogging action!
There were a few perks about not having such easy access to the Internet. One, it made me slow down and take the time to work on some offline projects that I have going on; which was very nice. I also was able to focus better on my school work, and I ended up getting not one, but 2 100%'s on my Research Papers (!) and a 98% on a test! Super Woo Hoo!
(Now, before anyone goes and thinks I am a genius or a rocket scientist (hee hee), let me tell you- I am not. These are just some extra-curricular classes that I am taking, and I am sure they are graded as such. (Not that I don't work my butt off to earn those grades- because I do; they just aren't in Biology, or Calculus. So now you know!
Also, I was able to get a bit of art work done, and work on some projects with the Kidlets. We are busy finishing up the school year and getting ready for Summer!
I LOVE Summer! I love spending the days at the pool or Lagoon, BBQ'ing each night, Sunday concerts on the cliffs overlooking the ocean...and whatever other fun stuff this Summer has in store for us! Hopefully a great 6th Birthday Party for Jeremiah, some camping, and maybe a trip to the Lake or to Catalina Island. (Or both if we are super lucky!)
So...I will close up this post with I am super glad to be back online- and Thanks to the Folks who still took the time to email me or comment on the blog while I was gone. You Guys are awesome! You are what makes blogging so much fun! Take care Ya'll- and have a nice weekend! ~Danae
Monday, May 18, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
An Awesome Anti-Hate Video To Share With You...
***DISCLAIMER***This video contains the F-Bomb, so if any of you cannot handle colorful language, have kids in the room, or are a kid yourself; then this message is not fo you! Otherwise...ENJOY!
A Little Retro Recreation Funny 4 U...
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I have been studying hard & doing my homework & projects for my new classes that I started last month. I'm doing well too! I got a 90% on my first test, another 90%, an 82% and a whopping 100% on this last one!!! Woo Hoo!
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Time to celebrate! Of course not too much...because still have a long way to go; and many more tests to pass before I can get too excited. But hey, if they all go half as good as these ones, I will be happy.
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Take it easy guys, and I hope all is well with each of you, your families & your lives.
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~Danae, aka 'Crafty' :)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday Madness ~ Welcome To My World...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
A Little Retro Photo Humor For Your Veiwing Enjoyment ! & A Note To My Readers...
Friday, April 24, 2009
A Crafty Chick Update~ A New Avatar Photo
The Domestic Goddess Files: More Creative Tips For You And Your Family
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The First Edition Of The Domestic Goddess Files~ Tips Tricks & IdeasTo Make Life Easier
The Eternal Struggle Of The Domestic Goddess!
...Our Work Is Never Done.
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When I became a Mother, I knew that life would get busy and everything would change. (It is funny because I refer to everything in my life before children as My Life B.C. It is quite fitting actually.) I have always been an artsy kind of girl, and I always loved kids, animals, and plants, and worked very well with them, but I was never really what you would refer to as domestic, and certainly not organizational! I never struggled with the childcare part of being a Mother, and I love the homemaking part of my life; but even today, I still have a hard time with the “domestic duty” portion of homemaking, and child raising.
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I am the kind of Mom who would rather spend the afternoon in the park, or doing craft projects with the kids and their friends than sweeping, mopping and dusting. I am rather laizze faire about my house cleaning duties. As long as things are presentable, the kids are fed a well rounded diet and we all have clean clothing to wear, I am a happy Mom. My biggest priority is raising healthy, happy loving little humans, and creating a warm, safe environment for us all. Most of the time I hit that mark pretty well, but as with all things in life, there is always room for improvement. (Kind of a theme with me!)
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[Also, just so everyone knows…these are ideas and tips that I have read, learned, heard, tried and want to share with others. But by no means do I do all of these things, all at once, all the time. No matter how much I wish that I did. I am a work in progress just like anyone else. I am by no means perfect, or even anywhere close. I wouldn’t want to give that impression. God forbid I might invite you over to my house someday and it be in a disaray, because that is just as likely to happen as it looking nice!
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I just am an idea girl. And I like to share. If I can pass something along to others, and someone enjoys it and it’s useful, I am happy. I don’t think that housekeeping is anywhere close to the most important thing in the world; it is just one way of making life a little easier. If done efficiently, we may possibly have more time to do the truly important things. Like enjoying that warm, welcoming happy home! ]
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We all have unwanted chores, jobs and tasks that must be completed before we can get on to the business of living life. Here are some tips and quick ideas that can help you with just that. They can keep you from backtracking and wasting valuable time that could be spent truly actualizing your goals. If you do a little each day and you will be amazed at what happens in your home. I have gathered some of my favorite, and most useful organizational homemaking sayings, tips and ideas, that have made sense, or helped me. Also, many new ones I hope to use and implement in my life.
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I hope to make this a regular addition to Crafty Chick’s Retro Fantasy, called The Domestic Goddess Files. I hope you find as much use and value in these ideas as I have. As always, take and use what makes sense to you and fits with your life…and leave the rest. No two people organize their homes or their lives in the same way. What may not work for me or you, may be
exactly what makes the difference in someone else’s life.
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SOME WAYS TO PUT IT ALL IN MOTION
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~Work with the rhythms of your body. Try to plan high priority tasks around the way your body naturally works, whether you are a morning or a night person. Do routine work during your “low” times.
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~The key is to start NOW. No matter how small the job. Do you have a letter to write? A call to make? As Nike so eloquently coined the phrase…Just do it!
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~Keep a daily to do list and assign each task with a priority number, 1-4. Do all of the high priority stuff, (the 1’s) first; and get to the rest as you can.
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~Provide yourself with a notebook, either loose leaf or spiral bound, and small enough to carry around with you. This notebook will become your “Master List”- a single continuous list that replaces all of the small slips of paper you may be used to. Use this notebook to keep track of all errands, things to buy, to do and any other general notes you may have, and things that require action.
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~Another even better system, is to have a 4 or 5 tab divided notebook, (again, small enough to carry). In this book, you keep your 4 sets of lists. In the first section you have your to-do, to-buy, to-go, to-call, to-mail, and to-send on the computer. A calendar in the second section, an address book in the third, budget and expenditures in the fourth, and maybe a blank miscellaneous notes section in there is room. These can be bought or made. They can also be obtained on-line from various sources. That is the super supremo organized way!
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~Keep your list with you at all times. A list is worse than useless if you can’t refer to it because you left it behind!
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*And, because I have always strived to fit somewhere between these to ways to get the lists organized, and come close to what I wanted, but never just right…I recently switched to a whole new method, and have found that I like it much better!
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~Now I use an online calendar and list system by Better Homes and Gardens. It is fairly new, and called COZI. I can enter all of my appointments, errands, etc. for my family and myself, all phone numbers, shopping and to do lists, even driving directions, and it will call me and/or leave me emails or texts to my phone if I choose. I can read it and change it from my phone. I can color code my whole family’s year, and it will automatically update items that happen more than once, when I program it that way. For years to come. This system has pretty much replaced my wall calendar, to do notebook, and much else. It even has a journal/blog where I can put photos and journal entries for special occaisions. If you are already using Microsoft Office, it will interface with that, and combine the two. It automatically updates the whole family’s calendars, so your husband or kids can enter something, and even if they forget to tell you, you will still know. You can even send messages through it to family members. Another big bonus for parents who have school age kids, is that COZI automatically uploads the school information and calander from most of the school districts, with more being added each month. You don’t have to worry about your kids forgetting to bring home the note from school about their minimum day…the calendar gets an automatic update and loads it in! Yeah! It is a truly invaluable tool. I love telling people about it.
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~Beware of the tail wagging the dog syndrome where your appointment book, budget records, filing system and master list take more time to maintain than working out the problems they are supposed to solve.
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~ Use separate notebooks or folders for bigger, long term individualized projects, like party or holiday planning, home repairs and decorating, or enrolling a child in college, retirement, etc.
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~I keep an extra large 3 ring binder with 2 smaller paper folders inside, (on for each kid), to hold important papers and info for the kids. This is not their ‘schoolwork to keep folder‘- this is for yearly things like the school schedule, school & class info, baseball, dance and karate schedules, I keep their current report card for easy reference, recent or pending medical info. Basically it’s all that stuff for the kids, that I am not using daily and weekly. I don’t need to be carrying all that stuff in my notebook, but I still need it close at hand, and not in storage.
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~Don’t be in a hurry to throw out notebook pages that have been completed. That stove part you ordered 2 months ago could be all wrong when it arrives, and you may have to call the same people all over again. (For instance, I keep all of my notes on parties that I have planned and hosted. That way I can look back to see who came, what we ate, who liked what, the number of the table and chair people, etc.)
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~Set up an area for yourself to keep all of your home management items, notebooks and tools together. Even if it just a notebook, and a basket on a shelf. Use it to keep pens, paper, stamps, envelopes and everything you will need to organize yourself.
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I have about a gazillion more of these quick helpful tips and ideas to share, but I think I will stop now, and leave some for future posts. I hope that you find some of this helpful for your life whether you have kids or not. I also have plenty of tips for makeup and purses, parties and holidays, travel, cooking, and a whole lot more. So be sure to check back once in awhile to see if there is something new; in addition to the usual retro awesomeness!
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
THE DOMESTIC GODDESS FILES...Even More Ways To Put It All Into Practice
~Have a ‘home’ for everything. Don’t let stuff ooze. Herd your belongings like stray sheep; back to their ‘homes’. It is actually kind of fun to see how many logical 'homes' you can find for your stuff, and if one doesn't work, and you still find yourself leaving something out, or putting it elsewhere...then find a better spot for it. This needs to be a flexible, workin system. One that makes sense and works for the people using it.
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~Go through the mail over a wastebasket and DUMP THE JUNKMAIL! Don’t even bother to read it. And for God’s sake, don’t keep it around to “read” later. It is called “Junk Mail” for a reason!
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~If you are making coffee, don’t get it out, spoon, sugar, cup, etc. with out swooping it up and putting away. All at once. Take it out, pour, put away, stir, wash spoon; and by the time it is made, it is put away. THEN, you drink in peace. When you are done, and get up, grab the paper, the cup, etc. Don’t leave it all there.
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THE DOMESTIC GODDESS FILES...The 15 Minute Organizer
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Take a job such as cleaning out the fridge. While I may not have a whole afternoon to clean the fridge, (assuming it would even take as long as I originally anticipate). Now, if I try to wait until I have a whole afternoon to do the job, it would probably not get done for a while. However, if I use the little bits of time that I have, and break the job up shelf by shelf, I will have it done in no time.
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5 Minute Tasks
~cutting up veges for a later meal
~loading the dishwasher
~sorting laundry
~putting in a load of laundry
~looking up directions for something on the internet
~Filling out a form
~Handling a phone call
~Ironing an article of clothing
~Wiping down the counters (Kitchen or Bathroom)
~Making a bed
~Signing a card and putting it in the mail
~Making a list for shopping or errands
~Writing a journal entry or blog post
~Folding a load of laundry
~Sweeping the floor
~Keeping up with a pile of things to file
~Picking up a room, putting away odds & ends
~Dusting
~Washing dishes by hand
~Writing a letter to a friend or family member
~Filing or painting your finger nails
~Making a list of goals
~Cleaning off a desk or table, (sometimes less)
~Mending a piece of clothing
~Cleaning out your purse
~Making a lunch for the next day (Yourself, Kids, Husband, etc.)
~Cleaning a shelf, or drawer
~Mopping the floor
~Cleaning out the car
~Making a party schedule plan and to do list
~Making a trip schedule or plan, and packing list
~Going thru the closet to get rid of outgrown or unwanted items
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~Pulling weeds in an area of the yard or garden (or even less time depending on the area)
~Planting or transplanting some flowers
~Washing the car
~Balancing a checkbook
~Organizing photos