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!

This Basset mama loves washi

As you may or may not know, this Basset mama volunteers with a local animal rescue, doing online networking as well as volunteering at adoption events (all breeds rescue). Today, we had an amazing couple drive three hours to just meet one of our puppies, a wire haired terrier mix. Well, long story short, they were so amazing and completely blew away one of our seasoned volunteers that they were able to take her home with them today. During all of this, a piece of paperwork was separated by a cashier and so we now need to mail it to them. What? Excuse to make a "dog" themed card? Don't mind if I do.

Mmmm, washi tape (and a few decorative)

Now, I'd seen plenty of cards using washi tape as banners, and I soooo have wanted to emulate them. So I gathered my meager supply and came up with a plan...

And got to work. I attempted to make them all different lengths and shapes at the ends...

 But I am neither extremely clever nor inventive so I ended up with this. I attempted to cut the triangle out of the bottom but I couldn't find quite the right template.

 For the look, try and lay the edges of the tape plush to each other so that the white of the card stock does not create a white space between them.

For the front accenting piece, I worked on and messed up a few concepts. I again used my scalloped edged circle punchout to make a white cutout to layer over a brown bigger one. I attempted to use a square thank you stamp and it just never lined up right with the rectangle edging so I scrapped that idea.

Enter, the adorable way too cheap stamp from China. 

 

I used dark blue ink for the stamp, using it as a safe color for her fathers and to match the tape.

I then glued it to a brown scallop edged cutout and plopped that on top, finishing up the simple card.

Next time, I think that I'll add some twine and maybe a few buttons but I didn't want to go too over the top on a "here's your paperwork" note.

A healthy Basset is a happy Basset

Today's post is a food post. I love food. I love the taste, smell, and sometimes, appearance of food. That being said, I dislike cooking. I like baking, but as I am attempting to eat better to help my weight loss goals, I have put baking on the back burner. Enter the EASIEST meal ever. It tastes amazing!

Chicken Caesar salad with a twist

Ingredients:

Skinless boneless chicken breast (at least 1/2 per person)

Lettuce/Spinach

Tony Chachere's original Creole seasoning

Low fat Caesar dressing (compare the nutritional information among those in the aisle and pick the best one)

Croutons (optional, again, compare the nutritional information)

Mozzarella (optional)

Equipment needed:

Grill (I use my 2 person George Forman's grill)

Colander

Cheese grater

First, plug in the grill and allow it to heat up for about 7 minutes. While this is being done, rinse the chicken breast and remove any fat. Then, sprinkle the chicken with Tony's seasoning. The amount is up to you. If you have never had it before, tread lightly and just sprinkle. I like to put a good deal on as I put it in everything. 

After the grill has heated up, place the chicken in it and grill for at least 6 minutes, until it is cooked all the way through and there is no pink in the middle. 

While the chicken is grilling, rinse the lettuce or spinach in a colander and arrange on plates. Add croutons if desired. 

When the chicken is done (remember, no pink in the middle) take it off of the grill and cut into strips or bite sized cubes. As I try to reduce the amount of dishes that I use, I cut it on one plate while all of the greens are on another one and then switch them out for half and half.

After the chicken is cut, place on top of the greens and add the desired amount of croutons (watch the serving amount!) and grate Mozzarella on top. 

Dressing can be added on top of everything or put into a side container to dip forkfuls in. 

I forgot to take a picture before I ate most of it and GG's was completely gone :D hehe

This salad is bursting with flavor due to the Tony's seasoning and the combination of ingredients never sits heavy on the stomach. 

Bassets help others

The last few days have been quiet due to stress from work obligations. But what are the best ways to de-stress? Volunteering and crafting! So what's the best way? Combining them into one.


Enter, the opportunity. I have had a few items in an auction before for Rowdy to the Rescue animal rescue, and two sets of cards (pictured below) raised $40. Granted, they have some of the biggest hearted contributors but it was phenomenal to help in some way.

So when a friend suggested that I help with an online auction for Cystic Fibrosis, I said why not? It also is giving me an opportunity to test out the newer designs in a card sampler.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.263731130383719.61523.109816222441878&type=1

 

I'm not quite sure if I want to continue along the same thread or if I should invest in a Cricut. I've seen great example of paper crafts using it on Pinterest but I have yet to be able to justify buying one since I don't know how much I'd be able to use it.

One last note, the GG and I may be adding a new member to the family. No, it is not a mini GG, but it is super adorable! Stay tuned, I am hoping that it happens this week.

A little love for some Basset grandmas

I actually did it! I completed a task that I set for myself in a timely manner. I have actually made two Mother's Day cards just like I wanted to. Well, not exactly as I wanted to. The first one I made for my mother and I messed up on it several times, but we'll get into that.

For these cards, you will need:

• Cardstock of desired color and size (I cut mine to 6 1/4 by 8)
• Scrap booking paper
• Paper doily
• Buttons of desired colors
• Liquid and stick glue
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ink
• Sentiment stamp (I used a "make your own sentiment" set by Martha Stewart)
• Shape punchout (I really would have loved to use banners, but alas, I don't have any) 

 I'm not quite sure of the cost for each card as I had all of the materials at home already.

First is the doily. I was originally going to stamp directly onto the doily but I smeared it :( So I tried to cover it up with another doily.

If you look closely, you can see the second doily/the messup :(

 And you could still see the blue ink. So my final solution ended up being to stamp the sentiment (Happy Morther's Day) onto a white card stock punchout and then gluing that to a brown kraft paper punchout that I had in my supplies. Whew, crisis averted!

The blue paper that was used already had the lace pattern along the edges, making it extremely ideal!

Notice how my two themes, the doily and buttons, were both integrated into it exactly as I wanted it to be.

The second thing that I did today was make a weight loss tracker using decorative glass pebbles and a few clear cups in different shapes. I kept it simple and didn't put any lettering on the cups as to their purpose since both the GG and I know what they are for and this way they look a bit more decorative on our kitchen counter.

 This one is GG's

Instead of each having our own glass to put in our lost weight, we each are putting it into the same one as a sort of act of unity. We're in this together!! (So cheesy, I know) The clear pebbles each represent one pound, the blue/purple ones get moved over at 5 pounds, and the flower bead is the end weight!

My weight loss goal is to get rid of 20 pounds and his is for 16. I feel like the shorty is going to have to work harder *wink* It looks like we may start going to the lake sometime next week so we definitely are behind in getting back to our beach bods. Hehe

 

The view of mine from the top...so many pebbles!

As for where I got the materials, I just went to Marshall's after searching through Ross and Target and got the three cups for $2.99 each and the pebbles for $3.00 for about $13.00 (with tax) for this little reminder. I could have used my normal cups, but I don't like to run out as it is, so I figured the little decorative ones would do better.

And while I'm typing all of this up, check out who kept me company.

Jeni's paw is in the top right