It's Never Too Warm For Hot Cocoa

Over the past month, I have been very busy helping out various family members who needed an extra pair of hands. Needless to say, my hands have been very full. Now, I am back and focusing on preparing for summer. It has been very warm here, which has enabled me to complete many tasks that needed some tlc. 

Now that the temperature is warmer, I can finally open a window and let some clean air circulate throughout my room. It is nice to feel a little night chill, especially with a nice mug of hot cocoa sitting on my desk. Ever since childhood, I have been a big fan of hot cocoa. I enjoy the richness of the drink and the various flavors that one can add to it. Up until last year, I always added a lot of sugar to my mixture. I like my cocoa nice and sweet, maybe almost too sweet.

One snowy winter day, I made hot cocoa for myself and my nephews. Being that my nephews were so young, I figured that they would appreciate a sweet cocoa. My nephew couldn't finish my cocoa, because it was too sweet. That was a wake-up call to me. When a child thinks that something is too sweet, it's certainly too sweet. Now, I don't add any sugar to my hot cocoa. I just add cocoa powder to warm milk and whisk it into a frenzy. Oddly enough, I like it better that way...who knew? Now, I am experimenting with various cocoa concoctions, and developing my own wacky methods of hot cocoa preparation. I've even figured out a way to make hot cocoa with a banana! Wacky, wacky stuff! When I have perfected my technique, I shall share it. Until then...~Toodahloo!

Spring Confessions

Sooooooo, like many women today, I have discovered Pinterest. To say that it was a life changing experience, would be a HUGE understatement! I have discovered so many crafts, recipes, a love of pallets, and that I am not alone in a deep love affair with chocolate hazelnut spread. I do what so many do, I think that I will sit down for a mere 15 minutes, searching for ideas. Before I know it, an hour has passed and I have no idea what just happened on "Being Human." Luckily, I can always catch the show, again, later. However, it has been an extremely useful resource and it has opened my eyes to blogs that I would, otherwise, never see! So, I am happy for it.

Which brings me to my crafting and cooking. I have been very busy, over the winter, and I have crafted and baked like never before. Unfortunately, it rarely occurs to me to capture my projects on camera, and they go undocumented. :( I do hope this will change soon. It is Spring now, and I find myself transitioning into the cleaning and de-cluttering mode. Over the winter, I have gathered many supplies, which I wish to dedicate to crafts. This is where the clutter lies. I will be spending the weekend, gathering all of the clutter and organizing it for each craft. Then, I will set a date for each craft on a calender to complete. I always have more success with projects if I write it down on a "To Do" list. The more crafts that I complete, the more clutter will be removed from my space. This will be a good thing to accomplish. With any luck, I will remember to put fresh batteries in my camera and blog about my crafts and my culinary adventures.

Finally, I have also discovered fantastic beauty gurus on Youtube. These makeup artists not only have taught me so much about make-up, but have re-awakened something within me that was long lost. I will share these fantastic vloggers with you in another blog, because I think they more attention than just a simple mention in a craft post.

Oh, sigh Spring is here, the weather is better and great things are to come! Until next time!~ Toodaloo!

I Completed The Doggy Jacket!

The Autumnal Equinox has passed, bringing forward colder nights and chilly mornings. My canine baby requires a jacket; due to low body fat and short hair. I decided to repurpose an old tweed jacket into a lovely doggy jacket. First, allow me to explain that a) I never wore the jacket b) I bought it during the tweed fashion craze a few fall seasons ago and c) I obtained it at a local church rummage sale for, about, $3.00.

The jacket, lovely as it was, felt too masculine to me and I could never bring myself wear to it. So, it sat, unloved in my bedroom closet for a long while. The great thing about the use of the jacket, is that, I still have plenty of material left over to use to repurpose into a handbag project for another day!

I used a fleece doggy jacket that I already had to trace into a pattern. This way, I would be certain that the jacket fit properly. I also traced the pattern of the jacket onto an old flannel shirt that I bought at the rummage same rummage sale as where I purchased the tweed jacket. I used the flannel as a liner.

 


I placed the layers with their right sides facing each other. I had to use a no. 16 size needle and a large stitch, because the tweed was so thick. I finished the belly straps with the addition of green felt and Velcro. I added a collar on the back of the neck line and for the breast strap, I added a wine colored bow tie. For an added touch, a sewed a button from the jacket on each side of the collar, which helped to keep the collar pinned down.

Here is a side view of the jacket.

 

 

Overall, I think that this jacket will keep my pooch nice and toasty once November comes along. Also, my doggy not only looks very stylish, but he's ready any time he wishes to go to a Doctor Who theme party! I look forward to what my next project will be. Until next~ Toodaloo!

 

Woohoo, Crafting Has Resumed!

It is that time of year, again, where I begin to get in touch with my crafty side. Over the summer, I have begun work on various crafts, but I never finished them; because summer is such a busy time. I fully intend to complete these crafts and will post them as I go. Today, I began working on a tweed jacket, for my dog. I used a fleece jacket that he already has to trace, so that I could make a pattern. I have been taking photos as I work on the project and will write a post detailing the construction of the jacket as soon as I am done with the project. I only need to sew it, at this point, and that can be time consuming.
As I was looking for fabric to use to make the jacket and a purse that I wish to make, I found many bits of material, from past projects, that I'd completely forgotten about. Seeing this fabric made me think of all new things that I can make and it is very exciting. I look forward to jumping back into making fun crafts and sharing them with you. With any luck, the more I craft, the more I'll post, and that would be great to do again! Until next time ~Toodaloo!

Ladytoesocks Is Back!

I finally have a topic to write about! I know that it has been a long time and I have posted many, many letters promising my return. So, here I am, finally. I was watching a movie, last week, and one of the characters made sweet potato biscuits. I had never heard of such a thing, but I was intrigued. I love biscuits and the idea of trying a new type of biscuit was a very exciting idea. I went in search for the perfect recipe on the Internet. What I found was as true as any other recipe that I use; which is, tweak it and it will be as you like it. Where the recipe called for milk, I used sour milk and I used more baking powder and shortening than the recipe used, and I added herbs de Provence. The end result was a dense biscuit, similar to a yeasty biscuit, with a savory sweetness that is unparallelled. They were even better, this morning with a cup of coffee. If you have the opportunity to make biscuits, search for a sweet potato biscuit recipe, make it yours and enjoy! Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Ahhhhh, I'm still here! I, actually, did an awesome project, the other day, revamping old lamps. Lighting can be very expensive. Lamps tend to cost between $20.00 - $60.00; the reasonably priced ones, that is. When you start purchasing lamps for multiple rooms, it can get to be very expensive. So, I decided to use what I could find already existing in the house and buy inexpensive, second hand, lamps with the idea of giving them a make over. I found two lamps that looks like they were purchased in the1980's. I removed the shades and taped plastic bags over the base and the bulb area and then I spray painted the lamps. Then, I took an old prom gown and used the fabric to cover the lampshades. It didn't cost anything to do this, because the spray paint was already in supply at the house. Even though the lamps are different shapes, they still work well together. Both of the lamps were painted the same color, I used the same fabric for the shades, and the lampshades are the same shape. The differences between the two will make for visual interest when they are put in the same room. I wish that I had taken a before photograph of the lamps to show the difference. Since I did not, I will not post a picture. The next time that I do this, I will document the process and post a follow up to this post. I really liked the results and I like saving money even more! I have so many repurposing projects that I wish to do, so I'll post those as I work on them. Until then~Toodaloo!

I'm Still Here!

So, it is now an entirely new year and I've experienced a few major holidays without a single post. The fact is, I have been away. I've been randomly reading the blogs that I follow. However, I have been going through some changes. I have relocated and I am trying to settle into things. Also, I am trying to figure out what my next step is. So, in all of this, what would I have to actually blog about? Once I am settled, I'll be very excited to blog again. Until then, know that I do exist and I look forward to starting this endeavor again. Until next time~ Toodahloo!

Another Post About Catching Up

It's nearly fall again, and it's alarming to see that this is my third Fall with this blog. When I began this blog, I was in a very different place in my life and it was easy to post regularly. In fact, I really looked forward to posting all of the fun things that I was working on. Lately, though, I've barely been posting. The fact is, I've neglected doing all of the fun things that I was doing two years ago. Lately, I've been doing my best just to keep things in order and that leaves very little time to be crafty.

Over the weekend, I traveled southward and along the way I was seeing more and more trees that had began the autumnal change from green to orange- red. The other day, while walking my dog, it was so chilly that I could actually see my breath. Things are changing, and the changes are inspiring me to change with it.

I've discovered that I need to stop focusing on the chaos around me, and to work to simply organize my own discord. If a plate is left on a coffee table, that plate was not left by me and it isn't up to me to put it away. As long as I am around to tidy up my surroundings for everyone else, those people never learn to do it for themselves. They won't even learn to appreciate the desire to have order if it is always done for them. I'm learning that, if disorder suddenly surrounds others, they'll begin to be unhappy about it and take the initiative to take control of it on their own.

I believe that, by allowing others to grow on their own, in their own way, it liberates me from chasing around clutter, allowing me to pursue the things that I enjoy. This being said, my creative wheels have been turning. I recently obtained an old window and stained glass. I have many crafty things in mind for these items. Also, with fall soon approaching, there are many crafts that I can do, now that it's cooler and not too hot to function in a craft environment. I look forward to tackling these crafts and other hobbies and sharing them, in color, on this blog. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Summer Goals

So, summer will officially begin tomorrow with the arrival of the solstice. I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately and I've decided on what my summer goals will be this year. Every year, a lot of us try to decide on what to do to maximize the summer weather. Some of us want tans, others want to shed a few pounds. Others hope to spend more time with their families and maybe have a nap, once in a while.

I think that all of the above options are great. I love the beginning of a new season, because with each new beginning is a sense of hope. Well, at the end of summer, when we look back on how we spent our time, we often think about all the stuff we wished to get done, but didn't. Then, we look forward to what the fall will bring.

I've learned that it doesn't really matter if we don't get everything accomplished. Most of us get eager and make our lists too long. As long as we have achieved, at least, some of our goals how can we be down on ourselves? As long as we take time to appreciate the summer, even just once, it won't be wasted.

So, this brings me to my summer goals. Today, while out with my dog walking, I enjoyed smelling the buttercup's scent wafting in the air and I took in the view of the green trees, the flowers, and the lake; observing how lucky I am. I have seen the same view for decades; and every summer when I see the green trees, or in the fall when I enjoy the crimson and bright orange leaves, it's as though I'm seeing it for the first time and I'm grateful every time.

I was grateful, today, to enjoy the summer experience with a new doggy family member, to be blessed with a new friend to love and to start anew.

Then I began to think about gratitude and blessings and what I wanted my summer goals to be. So, aside from wanting to read great books, having as much fun as I can, and being successful in the garden.. my biggest goal this summer is to do kind things for those whom I love. Random acts of kindness, in a way. I am one of those who believe that if God blessed you with a gift it's best to share it. So, I am going to use my crafty gifts and I'm going to make gifts throughout the summer for friends and family whom I feel very lucky to be blessed to know. Sometimes, I think I don't deserve such awesome friends or family and to thank them for their friendship, I'm going to do something random for them that will make them smile. It will be fun to surprise people too. I'll keep you updated on the process, and when I get new batteries in my camera, I'll post on the garden too. Until then~ Toodahloo!

It's June! I've Done A Craft!

So, in my previous post, I stated that I was working on a project. I am still working on the project, but so far, it has not come out the way I hoped it would. However, I did do another project, which I'm excited about. I made a handbag! I joined the Better Homes and Gardens website last year, and I love it. I get e-mails from them showing craft projects and gardening projects and recipes. It is really inspirational to look at some of the home decorating projects that they do, and the e-mails keep my creative energy flowing. Needless to say, I am a big fan and very thankful for this website! So, the other day, they showed how to make different handbags and they provided the instructions on how to make it. I went to the store, and I got cheap fabric and I made it, so here it is!

I added a pocket on the inside for money, and I took the advice from another who wrote that they added a button closure. I love it! It has six pockets on the outside; so, I can have my phone, my player, my sunglasses, etc. free and easy to find. This will be a great summer bag. The kicker is, it was so darn easy to make!

I'll post my other project once it's completed. Until then~Toodahloo!

Face, too Face

So, this weekend, I began a craft which I am still in the middle of completing. In an effort to be a better blogger, I remembered to take pictures of my progress. When I finally complete the craft, I'll post on that.

Lately, I have been feeling pressured by my loved ones to join a social network. Many have detailed the virtues of being able to get into touch with old friends past and to keep far away family updated on the goings on of my life. Many have gone into great detail explaining how to set my levels to extra private and that I can even block people from trying to find me and/or contacting me.

So, I'm on the fence. I'm not exactly one to post about my deep thoughts; and even though this is a private blog, I am still fairly vague when it comes to most things that I post about. I say vague meaning, that my posts could come from, pretty much, anyone.

One reason why I don't join other sites is because it is too open. You make it very easy for complete strangers to know more about you than they should. A lot of people don't mind that though, in fact, they sort of embrace it. A lot of people love sharing their thoughts on a public blog and have feedback from followers and in many cases friendships have developed.

As for myself, I've had to deal, in the past, with negative people who I ejected out of my life attempting to get information about me from friends that we have in common. Fortunately, my friends know better and they don't play along, because like me, they see how unhealthy it is.

So, the question is this, do I cave and join my friends, or do I stick to my guns? I'm still on the fence with this personal debate. I'll let you know how it all works out. Until then~ Toodaloo!