time to step up.

Hurricanes. They're no joke. Period.

I know a lot of people were poking fun at those who went to the store to stock up on basic provisions like food, water and batteries to prepare for the storm. I sat by those conversations, but tuned them out and refused to contribute in any way. You know why? Because the people who prepared for the worst, but hoped for the best were smart. Sure, forecasters can hype up storms, and media coverage is completely redonk: They can cause a sense of panic, which is an unnecessary douchey-move. But to think that some of those people, the ones who did prepare, are still in the dark while their supplies quickly dwindle... how funny is that now, huh? It's not, and it never was.

I consider myself to be insanely lucky that no harm came to myself, my boyfriend future husband, or our home. We didn't even loose power, which is remarkable when thinking back to how the wind was howling, bending trees at odd angles and sending the rain down the road in cascading sheets. My family is unharmed. Some still without electricity, heat or running water. There were some lost trees and some scattered damages. But all are alive and healthy. What more could I ask for? Not too damn much.

You begin to think of everything that you take for granted on a daily basis, and it's overwhelming to think about how lucky you really are. Going to the grocery store. Filling up your gas tank. Making a cup of coffee. Sometimes I think I should not be this fortunate, and guilt slowly begins to bear down on my shoulders. Why did I come out unscathed, while my sister, who is nine months pregnant, has a cold, dark house without running water? How is that f***ing fair, I ask? It's not. Life isn't fair.

My sense guilt has turned into determination to help. We can all help. Disasters happen in this country and in this world every day. You can make donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Program by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by texting REDCROSS to 90999. You can lend a hand to your neighbors. Do you have an extra blanket, jacket or gloves to give to someone who doesn't have heat? How about inviting them over for a hot meal and a chance to warm up? Are you going to the store? You can buy an extra gallon of water, some toothpaste or some canned goods for your community relief shelter. Do you know anyone who was evacuated? How about asking them if they'd like to stay at your house, even if it's just for a night or two? In short, anything can help. Kindness and consideration for others, no matter how small, might mean the world to someone who is in need. 

Homes? They can be repaired. Material possessions? They can be replaced. But saying those things cannot and will not fix the pain that so many thousands, dare I say, millions of people are bearing, and will bear in the weeks and months to come. Especially not to those who have lost everything, including loved ones. They need us.

finally, some new etsy s***!

I added seven, yes SEVEN! new wine bags to Etsy today! I finished three a little earlier in the week as you may have read, but I finally was able to take pictures and post them. Somehow, I then got another rush of craft-fever, and finished sewing another four bags! I figured, HEY! Why not take a couple more pictures and post those, too?

The last four I finished were the new design I created, which is basically four ties on the outside, and a thick liner fabric for the inside. I used the zig-zag stitch to secure the four ties to one another, which adds some cool contrast to the exterior, if you don't mind me sayin'!

poofballs and flurricanes.

I really wanted to get outside and do some yard work yesterday, partially because of the upcoming Frankenf***er mega-douche storm, but mostly because I wanted soak up nature and spend some time in the yard.

In addition to raking up oodles of leaves, another important thing I wanted to do was to cut back the MASSIVE butterfly bush we have on the right side of the yard. We literally cut it down to a stump TWICE in the past year. But it's a beast, and it's all like YOU CAN'T HOLD ME BACK MUTHAF***ER! I GROW WHENS I WANTS! I was knee deep in lopping off branches when I had a yard work epiphany: The branches were the exact thickness I would need to finish my poof flowers! YARD WORK WIN!

Instead of hacking all the branches to bits, I removed all the greenery and cut them down to to sizes between 6-10". Last night with pumpkin beer and corn puffs in hand, I plugged in the ol' glue gun and went to town on the poofs. And yes, I stayed in on Saturday night like a looser. But after running around for weeks, it was a welcome break to spend a night in.


This morning when I woke up, I came downstairs and saw my awesome poof flowers on the kitchen table... and then looked outside and realized that my sparkling clean patio was now covered once again in wet heavy leaves. Yard work fail? Nah, not at all. I still spent a gloriously cloudy afternoon listening to music and spending time outside. That's always a win! The tree is laughing at me though.

new design + 150 sqaures.

Do you like my new design?  I'll keep tweaking it here and there until I... don't... well, until I like it I guess.  But I like the new header I did.  See what an extra free twenty minutes at work and an old magazine can do?  I took a photo of my cutout letters and manipulated some of the brightness and contrast in Photoshop. 

In other exciting news...

I tried to make myself look nice, but that doesn't work at 9am.

I finished a total of 150 squares!  Only ONLY 74 to go. I couldn't be more excited!  Actually I could, if I had 210 done and only 14 to go.  But I'll get there!  And I could this weekend, seeing that the Philajerseynewyorkeverywhere area is supposed to get pounded with a Nor-Easter like whoa.  I don't think it'll be too bad here, but it'll be enough to keep me productive and warm inside the confines of my home. 

Different hair!  And... braaaaaaaaaainssssss...

It's Halloween weekend too.  I had high hopes that this year would be the year that I got off of my crafting butt and created a bitchin' costume.  Alas, my quilt making and zombie run made it a daunting task.  So this year... I go again as a zombie (like I'm complaining).  I'm banking on my liquid latex and makeup to make it look good this year, better than my zombie from three years ago.

Here were my awesome ideas that didn't materialize:
The "morning after" girl, present on every Saturday and Sunday morning Septa route
A #2 pencil
A box of Summers Eve
Lucile Bluth
It's Pat from SNL

schnitzel, stained glass and hurricanes.

Holy schnitzel Batman!  I fell off my blogging wagon for a couple of days.  Many apologies.  I figured I'd do a brief recap of my extravagant filled birthday weekend.  And by extravagant, I mean hurricane/tornado induced hysteria.  Onwards!

Thursday was my 28th birthday.  It was also the 10 year anniversary of my first day of college.  It was also the 28th anniversary of my mom's c-section.  I thought I'd throw that in there since she's always asking me if I want to see her scar.  I find myself getting off track of this recap in mammoth proportions.  Onwards, once more!

My day was spent yelling at stained glass and crafting with my good friend Lauren.  After telling the stained glass to go f*** itself numerous times, we carried on to Michael and made a quick stop at the Salvation Army.  I got some supplies at both places for my next project... secrets, secrets!!  I spent the rest of the weekend tracking the hurricane, succumbing to tornado warning instructions, and riding my bike taking videos of the flooding and damage.  I also watching numerous episodes of gypsy weddings.  That s*** is ridiculous.

I realize that I haven't set a goal for myself to actually finish cutting and foiling The Beast... I'll say by Sunday, September 3rd.  The design has changed slightly, but I still think it embodies much of what I want it to.  Look at me, using big words!   This post also feels naked, so I think I'll just upload a picture of myself.  Your welcome.

PS... the cucumber soup tasted like glorified vomit.