Tag Archives: vacation

Busy Past Few Weeks!

 

The last few weeks have been CrAzY busy!  I apologize for not keeping up-to-date with any of my projects or showing off my latest jewelry!  But never fear, I am in the process of several different projects:

  • Moving craft rooms- used to be downstairs, now in a bedroom upstairs, SO MUCH to organize
  • I painted a shelf, then had difficulty assembling it.  Will post that photo of a cool decoupage idea, now unfortunately unseen
  • General crafts organization – piles of stuff everywhere that needs a home
  • Jewelry – hemp bracelets + matching earrings, jewelry sets – all need to be made asap to sell to stores
  • Creating the bridesmaid jewelry for my cousin’s wedding: earrings, bracelets, necklaces
  • My cousin’s wedding gift is also in the works- but incase she reads this, I can’t show/tell you!  I will however share her bridal shower gift + favors
  • I’m rearranging all my Pinterest boards, when I started this project last week I had 1500+ pins in my DIY Projects board, now at about 1k!
  • Refashioning clothes (as seen on my 30 Before 30 List), I made a tshirt into a tube top, will post photos and my inspiration this week

I’m sure there are more projects, thats just the list I really really want to finish!

Then on September 2nd, my brother was deployed to Afghanistan.  From August 29th thru September 2nd I was in Fayetteville, NC (which is where Ft. Bragg Army Base is), spending time with the family before he left.  I have a few photos from that to share.  I still need to share my PIB vacation photos- and that was in July!  I hope to get all that done this week!  As well as, as much jewelry making as possible!

 

080112vacayPIB

Back to work!

Its so hard coming back from vacation!  All last week I enjoyed a lovely vacation with my boyfriend, first at Put-in-Bay, then back for a day, then headed up into Michigan to spend the weekend with a friend’s family, on a lake!  It was such a nice and relaxing vacation!  Plus I was able to secure some really cool items that I hope to use in future jewelry-making!

I still have to load all my photos to my computer, so I can only include the one photo I have on my phone!  This is my boyfriend, Dave, looking like a cute high school boy!  We were enjoying some afternoon drinkies, him beer me strawberry daiquiri, at the outdoor sand bar Mojito Bay!  The bar had swinging seats!  It was super fun, we spent 2 nights there, both nights with a great singer to enjoy!

080112vacayPIB

080112vacayPIB

And then of course I come back from vacay to reality, which for me is jewelry-making!  So here are a few of the beads I am working with today, what fun stuff might I be making??

20 Things Happy People Do Everyday

20 Things Happy People Do Every Day

1. Smile—a lot (pass on that happiness).
2. Say “yes” to something that makes you uncomfortable—because you know it’s actually good for you.
3. Practice kindness.
4. Love enthusiastically and with your entire being.
5. Re-commit to goals.
6. Talk to a friend—even if it’s just on the phone.
7. Be your own best friend (practice self-love).
8. Live your beliefs and convictions.
9. Take care of your body.
10. Do something indulgent (this could be a lot of things—a square of dark chocolate, a glass of wine, treating yourself to a yoga class or reading a few pages of a new book).
11. Remember tomorrow’s another day.
12. Let go of the little things.
13. Laugh out loud and from your soul.
14. Enjoy your alone time—even if it’s just in the shower or on the drive to work.
15. Spend time with people you enjoy.
16. Don’t let the people that you must encounter, and don’t enjoy, affect your mood for too long—let them help you grow as a person instead.
17. Grow a little bit closer to your higher self.
18. Let go of ego.
19. Do something you know you need to do but don’t want to.
20. Find the benefits in obstacles.

 

 

 

The Grill

Crowdtap: McCormick Grill Mates Party

Similar to my Old Navy parties, I participated in a McCormick’s Grill Mates party.  I received a package in the mail including:
Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce
Grill Mates Molasses Bacon Seasoning
Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning
Grill Mates Spiced Brandy & Herb Marinade
Grill Mates Slow & Low Memphis Pit BBQ Rub

Connect with McCormick’s on Facebook!

A few weekends ago I had a BBQ and Pool party to incorporate both the McCormick line and the Old Navy Beach Bum party!  My other post includes my Pool Party photos.  Here is a summary of what Crowdtap is and the parties:

“I belong to an online group called Crowdtap.  Please read more information about it here: Crowdtap  One of the great things about it, you give your opinion, answer questions, participate in discussions, and then you raise money for charities.  I picked the Nature Conservatory.  There are about 5 options, all good choices of course!  :)
 
Another perk is participating in targeted discussions, some of my faves are to talk about Old Navy products.  I was recently approved to join an Old Navy Sample Share, basically I was mailed a coupon, 1 for me 1 for a friend, for a FREE pair of JEANS!!!”
Check below at the footer and click on my link to join me at Crowdtap and participate and hopefully qualify for Samples Shares and Parties as well!  On to the review!
Preparing Kebobs

Preparing Kebobs

This party worked differently then the Old Navy parties, I was sent all the samples and had a party using the marinades and seasonings with food that I

Marinade + Chicken
bought, and then grilled and ate with my family.
The food was good for this party!  We made a ton of food- 4 people and we had food for the week!  I wanted to try out the marinades and rubs on different foods to see how they tasted with different flavors.  I used the Spiced Brandy & Herb Marinade and added Mango Preserves like I saw on the recipe on the back.  I thought that sounded so yummy!  Directions to mix the marinade are clear and easy to do.  We marinaded our chicken a few hours and then used the rest as a glaze for the chicken and kebobs.
Our kebobs consisted of red peppers, chicken, zucchini, and potatoes.  It all tasted great!  The Spiced Brandy & Herb Marinade seemed a little spicy to me- but I’m not a good judge, I have to eat mild sauces at places like BW3’s because I can’t take the spiciness!  My family all loved the marinade, my sister and brother-in-law ate up all the chicken!  I used the Mango Preserves as a “dip” on my chicken and it gave it a sweet sugary flavor that really complimented the spice!  The kebob veggies tasted really good!  That was such a good choice on my part 🙂
The Grill

The Grill

We also made hamburgers with the Montreal Steak Seasoning.  I loved the seasoning!  It gave it just enough flavor without being overpowering.  Of course it depends how much you add to your burgers.  We added the seasoning a few hours before to let the flavors mix and set in the meat a bit before grilling.
As you can see, the grill is jam-packed with grilling goods!  We also were making corn-on-the-cob on the grill, it was good.  Cooked thoroughly but not charred inside the husk.  I found several ways by Googling to figure out how to cook it, most said 5mins on direct heat, 20mins off, then eat!  Next time I want to add some flavor during cooking.  Then we’ve got chicken alone that we were making for later in the week, yummy!
So, do I recommend McCormick’s Grill Mates?  Yep!  My Dad loves Pork Ribs and he will be using the Memphis Pit BBQ Rub in the future with that, hopefully I will be able to grab photos when he does and can update this post or post again with those photos.  No doubt next time we grill chicken I’ll be whipping out the Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ sauce!
Bro-in-Law Rockin the Apron!

Bro-in-Law Rockin the Apron!

Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken

Party not complete without Sangria!

Party not complete without Sangria!

ON Beach Bum Party

Crowdtap: Old Navy Beach Bum Party

I used to have a blog over on Blogspot, Me and My Crafts, however it pretty much fizzled out.  I couldn’t keep up with the way I wanted it, so now I have a whole different outlook for how I want this particular blog to work!  At the same time, I’m still going to post my reviews of products here as well as other DIYs that I like to make!  I’m a slow crafter tho (a bit of a perfectionist at times) so it takes awhile for me to start and finish a project!

Eventually I will move my posts over here, possibly even rewrite some of them, but until then here are the links to past Crowdtap experiences so you know whats happening!

Old Navy Jeans Sample Share
Old Navy ActiveWear Party
Old Navy Summer Shorts Sample Share

“I belong to an online group called Crowdtap.  Please read more information about it here: Crowdtap  One of the great things about it, you give your opinion, answer questions, participate in discussions, and then you raise money for charities.  I picked the Nature Conservatory.  There are about 5 options, all good choices of course!  🙂
 
Another perk is participating in targeted discussions, some of my faves are to talk about Old Navy products.  I was recently approved to join an Old Navy Sample Share, basically I was mailed a coupon, 1 for me 1 for a friend, for a FREE pair of JEANS!!!”
Check below at the footer and click on my link to join me at Crowdtap and participate and hopefully qualify for Samples Shares and Parties as well!  On to the review!
This Crowdtap party with for Old Navy Beachwear.  The website (not anymore) shows a lot of different products to choose from, my family and I were really excited to hit up the store and check everything out!  The party consisted of my sister, her friend, my Mom, and myself.  The coupons were for 1 pair of ANY flip flops, 1 beach towel, 1 beach bag, and 1 pair of sunglasses.  That’s EACH of us gets one of those things!  How awesome right?  My sister has a pool, installed last spring so I was so excited to score a beach towel and of course you need a beach bag to head to the pool!  Sunglasses and flip flops….can you ever have too many?  I don’t think so.
Before I get to the photos, let me just tell you how disappointing this Beach Bum Party was.  The inventory was either GONE or on CLEARANCE.  The coupon clearly states clearance items may not be used with the coupon.  The only stuff left?  Beach bags that looked cheap and so not durable, beach towels that I guess nobody liked, sunglasses were all on clearance but they overrode it (I wasn’t leaving without all my free stuff), and flip flops ended up being this huge fiasco!
ON Beach Bum Party

ON Beach Bum Party

First of all, the webpage they sent us to talk about included beach coverups, swimsuits, ALL of the different flip flop and sandal options, hoodies, pants, etc.  So I was really hoping the coupon was going to include a coverup or swimsuit, I really really need one!  Not so much, that was my first disappointment.  We arrived at the store only to find so many items on clearance.  Luckily we went 2 days before they clearanced thousands of items, however because of schedules and time conflicts, I had 2 parties.  On Saturday there were many options, I got my first picks of things and the manager was very friendly.  On Monday more than half the store was clearanced (the manager said the day before they clearanced thousands of summer items), I had to pick other items that I didn’t really want, and the manager was unhelpful and kinda condescending at times.  Also, for mid-June it was so odd that I didn’t see ANY dresses in store.  WTF

ON Beach Bags

ON Beach Bags and Fancy Flip Flops

ON Fancy Flip Flops

ON Fancy Flip Flops

Saturday I was able to get the fancier flip flops that I love and wear EVERYDAY; the sunglasses even though they may have been on sale- still are great; the beach towels were pretty; my Mom wanted the Straw Bag and I picked a canvas bag.  The straw bag is so great, its big and fits so much, plus it looks to be well made.  My bag was canvas, and while I like it, I haven’t used it at all.  I really wanted the Bucket Bags but they were on clearance and only had one left.

 

 

The fancy flip flops were a problem the second day on Monday, the manager decided that “ANY FLIP FLOPS” only meant the basic ones.  I was HIGHLY disappointed.  Thats not what my sister wanted, and its not what her friend wanted.  I am still very upset, all the signage in the store said the sandals were flip flops, if you label something “flip flop” then thats what it is.  False advertising is NOT COOL with your consumers!  I was/am so upset I wrote a complaint about my ON store and how they handled this.  Their response?  “sorry”  If anything, I’ve told everyone I know how bad this was, I wrote what I could in my survey on the receipt.  I’m sure nothing has happened but it saddens me that ON had such a flippant response and the manager wasn’t as accommodating as he could have been.

Pool Time!

Pool Time!

Pool Time!

Pool Time!

 

In other news: the sunglasses are nice, not very dark, but they do the job.  The beach towels are SO PRETTY, they are soft, a normal thickness, still bright after a few washes.  The flip flops, basic and fancy, are still great quality.  I wear the fancy ones everyday, I absolutely LOVE the strap behind my ankle, better yet, LOL, I haven’t slipped on anything yet!  (knock knock)

 

 

All in all, I think next party/sample share I will choose a different Old Navy, there are 2 within 30mins of where I live.  And I will go as soon as I get my coupon, not going to put this off again.  Hopefully there won’t be any work scheduling conflicts to work around next time.  I still recommend Old Navy, but maybe I will do more online shopping, try on in the store, and shop online.