A Basset's Sister

I realized that I don't have a face picture of Jeni, the Basset's sister, up here. I love her too much for this travesty to continue!

I present, Jeni! (She loves it when I put stuff on her, I promise. lol)

Basset Boil

While working towards my goal of cooking more, I realized one thing. Boils are easy. You boil some water, add some spices and chopped up food, and that's it! Enter, my first shrimp boil.

The picture isn't that descriptive as I didn't think to take one until I was putting away the leftovers but it was very easy to do and tasted phenomenal. 

Ingredients:

1 pound thawed shrimp

1 pound Andouille sausage, chopped up into 2 inch segments

3 corn cobs broken into three pieces

About 7 miniature potatoes in approximately 1 inch segments

Boil spices (can be found at the store, I used a shrimp/crab one) 

The next step is to boil a large pot of water with the spices and everything but the shrimp in it. Then, when it's all about cooked (test the potatoes) you throw in the shrimp and let it boil for 2 to 5 minutes. Don't add them too early or else they'll be chewy.

The second thing tonight is a miniature craft project. I have some masses growing in my right forearm and they cause swelling and a lot of pain with pressure so I've been wimping out about exercise. No more, I say!

My solution? The workout jar.

Components:

Empty candle jar (one of my DC's)

Washi tape

Letter stickers (if desired)

Without the lid.

With the lid, and a dollar for today's workout!

I'm not sure what my reward will be when I reach $100, but I will be sure to let you know.

And now, for the Basset picture, one that could melt an icecap.

I think she was about 2 months old for in this picture

Stinky Bassets!

Hi, I'm Patty, and I'm addicted to buying candles.

It wouldn't be so bad if they were cheap candles from Walmart, but they're not. They're soy candles from two different companies, Diamond Candles and Hidden Treasures Candles. Both have a hook that many ladies, including me, find irresistible when paired with great scents. They have jewelry.

I'm a late bloomer as far as girly things go so my love for jewelry came late in life. I've always worn earrings but I've never quite been enthusiastic about the rest. Boy, has that changed.

I first happened upon Diamond Candles when a friend on FB bought one and I was intrigued. Since then, I have bought a total of 8 (one was an accidental double order) and have loved them all. Here are the rings that I have gotten out of them. 

I will be selling a few, probably both of the greens, the 3 clear stones, the pink one, and the purple one. I doubt that any of them have real stones, but it is sort of what is holding me back, especially with the purple. The gold ones I will keep for costume jewelry but they only fit my thumb and pinkie. 

Which brings up why Hidden Treasures Candles is so great. Necklaces fit everyone. You don't get the option of picking what size ring comes in your candle.

These are the two candles that I bought and the necklaces that came in them.

Both of the scents are fruity and smell great!

I guess that I should mention the prices. Full price for them is $25 for the candle and at least $5 for the shipping. You can almost always find a $5 off coupon for Diamond Candles and there are also some other great deals for coupons that float around.

And yes, I burn a lot of candles because the dogs get that outdoor dog smell after a long romp outside and in case you didn't know, Bassets shouldn't be bathed often. It strips their skin of the oils that keep their wrinkles moisturized.

Addie actually shared the couch with Kabir! She doesn't like anyone on the same cushion as her.

Bassets don't get pizza!

Funny enough, with my down tick in physical activity, my attention has become diverted by...food!

GG loves pizza while I'm not so crazy about it. Call it overindulgence in my youth or my brain trying to save me from unhealthy choices, but traditional pizza just doesn't do it for me anymore. Digiorno's new meatball pizza isn't bad every once in a while, but once a week (although great for the budget) is just not my cup of tea.

Enter, eeeeeeasy pizza. Okay, slightly harder than popping a frozen already configured pizza in the oven, but not by much. 

I have two choices with my "homemade pizza," pizza or quesadilla style. Tonight was pizza style.

Ingredients:

Naan (garlic adds a zing)

Pepperoni 

Marinara sauce (Lucini is recommended as the taste is phenomenal!)

Mozzarella cheese (always grate/shred your own, the pre-shredded stuff is coated with flour making it lousy for melting)

With the naan being pre-baked, it only takes 8 minutes on the "pizza" setting in the toaster oven to get the crispiness that we like. Of course it can be made in an oven, where it can also be set right on the rack (fewer dishes!) but when it's just GG and I, we like to save electricity. 

You know that a Basset is right off the side of this picture, begging her little heart out

While the healthiness of this dinner (there is a side of heated frozen veggies out of the picture) is debatable, at the moment I am going towards less frozen and boxed entrees and more "homemade" dinners. It's a work in progress, but it is progressing.

I also had a great day today as far as helping animals. Someone in town decided to give up their Basset and while we can't take another (it still hurts me to walk sometimes and I don't know what I'd do if he was a jumper) I decided to post him on my FB. Right away, a friend let her sister know, who has actually been looking for a Basset! This handsome guy could have met a horrible end (he was ftgh) but luckily, the good part of CL came out and he is headed to his new home this weekend!

End note, a friend of mine has asked me to design a card for her to use for her craft swaps.  I'm very curious to see what I come up with. She has great taste so I will be working my butt off to make it happen!

~And as always, a few goodnight pictures~

Jeni and Lil' Bit Kabir sharing a Basset's bed

The Bassetting Master

Bassets don't like to study

Just like the average Basset, I don't like to study. Unfortunately, I have to. This last week and a half has been spent doing so and so will the next few weeks so my craftiness is on hold.

I also have had a lot of time taken up by my newest addition to the family. His name, at the moment, is Lil' Bit Kabir Mr. Kitty Butters (it keeps getting added to) and he has had quite a few medical problems. I knew it was a possibility due to his age and probable poor nutrition for most of his life (10 years or so with his prior owner, a hoarder) but he has had it rough. He had to have 3 teeth pulled last week (he only has FOUR left) and has been so picky about what he ingests the last week that I've had to give him chicken broth to ensure that he is drinking fluids (really low sodium stuff). He may be more expensive, but my little guy is going to have the best retirement that I can give him!

Speaking of him, I entered him in a contest. I doubt that he'll win, especially with the poor quality photo, but I just had to do it to let others see his handsome smile! Please check out the link below the picture!

Click here!

If I ever do win a contest, it will definitely be put back into local animal rescues. I've gotten two of my loves from rescues and while they may have been "damaged" (not my choice of word) by having hard life experiences, so have I. I think that we're all better for it.

May showers bring Basset flowers?

As I surf the ideas pinned on Pinterest, I am always drawn to the multiple piece crafts. This particular picture caught my eye some time ago but I don't really feel up to finding a bunch of fabrics and really meshing it into the room's decor. Then I saw this post by CraftSnob (the picture leads back to a Flickr as well) and decided to mesh them into a nature scene. I have done the majority of the first piece, a hoop of a cloud, during my precious minutes while all of the fur babies were asleep, some snoring right next to me.

3 inch hoop

They will be a collection of 3 and 6 inch hoops, with different nature scenes constructed from buttons and various thread. My focus will be on the buttons and I will be trying not to use thread as anything but accents.

Below is wordy and not craft related, just fyi :)

Today, after I got home from a taxing time at physical therapy, I read a touching post by Oh the lovely things. She lists several things about herself, many of which I identify with. So here goes my attempt, as my reason for this blog is to share all parts of my life, not just the crafting ones.


Blah insights:
1. I am afraid of failure to the point that I cause it just to be able to say that it is intentional. Self sabotage has been the name of my game for several years now, with anywhere from skipping out on attending meetings so that my results won't be called into question to stubbornly refusing to study for extremely important tests, not the least is one for promotion.

2. I dig up the pasts of others and judge them for it. Some people may change, some may not, but I feel that the past is an indicator and sadly have allowed it to affect my relationships. I am working towards being able to forget the pasts of others.

3. I am so unhappy sometimes that I attempt to make up for it with volunteering. The problem is that sometimes, in the course of animal rescue, the dog or cat is euthanized while you are attempting to save it and it opens the floodgates of feeling inadequate. A life is lost and I feel that is my duty to mourn it since in my mind, I failed it.

4. I have been diagnosed with a condition in my knee that means that I may never be without pain. Main days, bending or straightening it causes extreme pain but I am forced to act as if it doesn't to be able to mend my ankle. I frequently get depressed about this small deficiency and am ashamed of that fact.

5.  I am afraid that I'll never be in a lifelong happy relationship with a committed spouse.

6. I get nervous to the point of small panic attacks but I won't go and get it diagnosed as the idea makes me nervous enough to have a panic attack. It's slightly funny when it's not happening.

7. My sense of humor is frequently off putting to other people. It makes the amount of true friends few and far between.

8. I cry when I strongly experience any emotion, including anger.


 Happy/silly insights:

1. I let the house get messy because I like the feeling of organizing things. My mom always teased me for it but I like organizing items into piles and then putting them away. GG hates it :)

2. More times than naught, I feel a burst of pride when I put on my uniform to go to work. 

3. Seeing a dog smile always makes me smile.

4. I drink certain energy drinks for their taste alone and sometimes I actually dislike that they have caffeine.

5. I like ordering different hand made soaps and trying out different artisans.

6. I am attempting to not get addicted to Diamond Candles, but I've already ordered my second one (the green apple one smells great!).

7. I like people watching.

8. If it is a choice between chocolate and another flavor, chocolate is the eternal winner.

Last but not least, I alluded to a new family member so I present to you Lil' Bit Kabir Butters!!!

This sweet guy is estimated to be at least 11 years old, is blind in one eye, is partially lame due to knee problems, has very few teeth left, and bless his little soul loves to mark everything that he can. The first day that we had him was spent correcting this behavior inside and watching him mark the entire backyard twice (took a few hours each time).

We have decided to belly band him while we're training that little habit out but love his stinky butt to death already. He is such a grumpy old man that the first few days were filled with snarls and attempts at biting but he has now settled down and only gets grouchy when it's late at night. 

More on him later as I am just in love with this little old senior. Poor guy had a hard life with a hoarder but GG and I are happy that we can give him a retirement home filled with love and happiness.

Last but not least, Addie's sad face about the fact that three begging dogs STILL doesn't get them table scraps.

May savings, Basset style (which means, the lazy way)

In my quest to lose this extra weight that I've gained from my lack of exercise and HORRIBLE eating habits (I don't do all caps lightly, people), I am implementing a series of changes. This first, to begin cooking again. I also want to incorporate more salads and fruit into our lives, which can be rinsed in the colander. Sad thing is, I highly prefer a spinner but haven't had one for quite some time. Enter, the Kohl's coupons!

When I was younger, I learned the value of sales/clearance shopping. Stocking up with holiday essentials is cheap and easy with after holiday sales, always ensuring the ability to always participate fully without exorbitant spending. So far, I am fully stocked for next Christmas and Valentine's Day (I can take pictures but it's not pretty...yet).

Back to shopping for every day things. I love Kohl's (I'm not getting paid to say this, either). Mostly because I love the Vera Wang line that they carry, but I do love the rest of it. And the best part is that I spend enough money there (my wardrobe is split between there and Target) that I get extra coupons in the mail. I almost always have a 20 or 30 percent off coupon in my coupon book, just waiting to be spent.

The thing about Kohl's is to never, ever, ever, buy anything at full price. They have so many sales that you will almost always get what you want at a lower price. Combine one of their sales for 20% off and a coupon for 20% or 30% off and you have a deal! And on top of that, if you wait and buy those large ticket items during certain promotion times, they will give you a coupon for a certain amount of money ($10 for every $50 spent on your purchase).

Today, the GG and I realized that we had Kohl's cash that was to expire on a busy night of mine so off we went to the store. We were originally going to buy a Dyson, but found the same model on Amazon for a lot cheaper. We decided to peruse the kitchen section, my favorite part of the store.

Voila! Our booty for the night.

Full price~$49.99

Full price~$39.99

What was our final price for both including tax? $11.11!

GG has been asking to get more food storage containers (helps with leftovers and healthy snacks) forever and when we saw the ones with air tight sealed snapping lids, he went for them. 

$11.11. That's a savings of about $79 all gained by paying attention to the dates on the coupons (20% off), catching a little sale (I don't remember how much it was, sorry!), and using some Kohl's cash from a previous purchase ($50). Sure, they do it to encourage shopping at their stores, but quality wares at cheap prices always makes me a return customer. I don't coupon in the least, besides what stores send me so when I get those types of savings, I get excited :D

The Basset and Mutt wonder if their mom will ever stop taking pictures of them

Side note...the newest member of the family is almost here! I can't wait!