Blogger of the Month:MemoriesForLife

As one who loves to write and keep journals and save pictures and mementos, I found this shop very intriguing. What better way to describe your thoughts and saved pictures, but to put them into a scrapbook called “MemoriesForLife.

This Etsy shop, http://www.memoriesforlifesb.blogspot.com, is the creation of Edi, who has been creating handmade card and scrapbooks for over 12 years. Edi refers to her “papercrafting” as her “true passion”. Besides working on her “true passion”, Edi is also working towards her MBA

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Edi truly has some different and unique styles featured in her “one of a kind” albums. I love the Baby’s First album, a perfect keepsake for any mother to keep those special mementos of your baby’s first year in. Another great idea is her scrapbook in which she can create any name, using decorated card stock for each letter of the child’s name. I also enjoyed the “flip-flop” scrapbooks Edi has designed.

Other custom made albums are created and decorated with various flowers, stickers, and other embellishments which one can choose themselves. Another one of “Memoriesforlife” special creations are her “wedding albums”, which she will assemble with your own wedding photo’s for a special keepsake.

For those of you who love to keep fond memories of photos or journal entry’s (and who doesn’t) this shop is one I would definitely recommend!

Wordless Wednesday

Jada Showing off her new Coach collar!

Carnival: Hot Summer Shops

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy”

Although the “dog days of Summer” are upon us, it was quite difficult to choose one particular shop that had some really HOT summer items. So I decided to honor a few shops that I frequent, always finding such different and interesting items, they did not let me down when it came to finding some beautiful and “HOT” pieces from their shops.

I love Mystic Wynd’s “Pale Pink Crystal Earrings”. As one who loves to wear jewelry all the time, these earrings struck me as something I would love wearing on a very hot day. They look so refreshing; they reminded me of an “ice cold” lemonade.

The next shop that caught my summer fancy was Roseworks Jewelry. Her “Wind Dancer” Necklace would be just perfect while sitting on a patio with friends enjoying a warm summer evening ocean breeze, and sipping my Cosmopolitan. As Ruthie describes her necklace, “the crystal gentle waves”. What could be better than that for a beautiful summer evening?"

The next shop that truly had some HOT summer items, was Beaded Tail’s. Appropriately named “Summer”, these Pink Polymer Clay earrings would be just perfect for any summer or garden party. Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave Sharla’s shop just yet. Her Purple Polymer Clay earrings called “Iris” look like they were just picked fresh from her garden. For those of you who are not familiar with Sharla’s shop, for every item purchased a portion is always donated to benefit our little furry friends who need shelter.

Another favorite that I found to add to my “summer showcase” was this beautiful Pink & Blue Antique Brass Necklace and Earring set from Storybeader’s shop. Deb’s description, which is so perfect “babies and baskets – full of flowers pink and blue”. With turquoise, pink crystals, and glass beads this would truly be a perfect summer gift for any young mother, or mother-to-be.

Ok, so as you can all tell, I do love jewelry; but that didn’t stop me from finding other items in various shops, that would cool anyone on a “HOT” summer day!

One shop that I am very familiar with is YankeeGirl’s Watercolors. Although, Yankee is from New Jersey, she, like myself is a true “Yankee” fan! What else screams of summer but “baseball?” So when Carol is not busy sitting watching the Yankee’s play, she is busy painting her “realistic” watercolor’s. The “Lonely Seagull” flying over the crashing waves of the Ocean is a brilliant mixture of blues, beiges and purples. I would just love to be sitting on the beach right at that moment. Those familiar with Yankee’s work, know of her

many painting of flowers, as this painting of "Sunflowers", which you can envision the beauty of each stroke. Her shop is also filled with her many photograph of flowers.

One way to cool off on a hot summer evening would be to take a nice walk along the beach. Nothing would be more beautiful flowing in the breeze that this “HOT” scarf; which is "Hand-Painted Silk with Lotus Blossoms" by AltheaP.


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One last stop on my shopping trip, I just couldn’t forget a little summer something for the little ones. I found the most adorable items in this shop by Knittybittyapparel like this "Little Pink Cap" (sorry, baby doesn’t come with the cap), and the little "Onsie" would be perfect on a “HOT”summer day for your little one.

Carnival Blog: July the Month of the HotDog!

"The noblest of all dogs is the hot-dog; it feeds the hand that bites it." … Lawrence J. Peter

What would NY be without it’s famous Hot Dogs. Since July has been designated the “Hot Dog Month” what better way to celebrate this tasty little sausage but with the famous “Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest.” For those of you who are not familiar with this yearly fest, every July, Nathan’s of Coney Island, NY sponsors a hot dog eating contest. If you have never scene this event it is surely something missed. For almost 7 years in a row, a slight looking man from Japan, Takeru Kobayashi has won the contest by devouring close to 60 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The past 3 years, a new comer to the contest has been Joey (also quite thin), has won the coveted “Mustard Belt”! (See the pictures above)! This year as thousands of people and fans crowded into Coney Island to watch this event, the contest almost ended in a tie, with both Joey and Takeru eating 60+ hot dogs each. The judges final decision went again this year to Joey Chestnut, who managed to eat 68 hotdogs in 10 minutes.
The Legend of the Coney Island Hot Dog began as far back as 1867 when a German butcher, Charles Feltman opened up the very first hot dog stand in Coney Island. Actually, back then they were sausages, and being from Germany, where which in Germany were referred to as Frankfurters, hence the name “franks.” Since Feltman’s stand was so small, he decided to sell these small sausages in a roll, charging 10 cents for each. It wasn’t until 1916, when Feltman’s partner, Nathan decided to open his own stand calling it “Nathan’s Famous” and with a touch of mustard and some secret spices, Nathan’s hotdogs became known as the world’s famous hotdog. He also sold his “franks” for only a nickel. And it is this exact spot where the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July “Hot Dog Eating Contest” became a legend, when in 1916, Nathan’s first year of opening, a few people had the first contest with the winner eating 13 hotdogs in 10 minutes.
Of course, one also cannot rule out summer’s favorite pastime, Baseball! What would Yankee Stadium be without those famous Nathan’s hotdogs (with an ice cold beer)!

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, it's Wednesday again! Ava and Jada (kitty)

Carnival: Summer Treats

I was quite excited when I saw this topic for our July 6 Carnival Blog! Something I surely didn’t have to give much thought to either. Each year as summer approaches we are all fortunate to have an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables to choose from. When the first signs of summer approaches, each year my children request this reciepe: Blueberry Cobbler.
I was fortunate many years ago, long before I even had children, I was invited to a friend’s house to dinner. His girlfriend who came from Georgia, cooked a most delicious dinner of Southern cooking, but it wasn’t until she brought out the dessert that we were completely taken. Annette (her name) was sweet enough to share this receipe for Blueberry Cobbler that had been in her family for years; and, although we are not Southern up here in NY, I do admit that this has become a “Summer Favorite”. So I am happy to share it with all of you! This will definitely feed your whole family, unless you have a few like my boys who sneak in during the evening and take a little extra taste here and there!
Southern Blueberry Cobbler:
 2/3 cups Sugar
 2 tbsp Cornstarch
 ¾ cups water
 3 cups fresh Blueberries (washed, of course)
 1 tsp melted butter
 1 tsp ground cinnamon
 2 tsp juice of freshly squeezed lemon
 1 cup sifted flour
 1 ½ tsp baking powder
 ½ tsp salt
 1/3 cup milk
 3 tsp melted butter
In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch, slowly add water. Bring to boil for about 1 min until it starts to thicken. Add Blueberries and mix. Pour mixture into lightly buttered 13x9” baking dish. Sprinkle blueberries with cinnamon, 1 tsp melted butter and lemon juice. Let stand a few minutes while making topping.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl add milk and 3 tsp melted butter. Stir mixture until moistened and forms a ball. Drop spoonfuls onto the blueberries, sprinkle topping with a small mixture of sugar and cinnamon (to your own taste!) Bake 425 degrees for 25-30 min. Serve warm.
In our family, we like to top each serving of the cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy! Can’t wait to read all the other delicious summer recipes that I can include to our summer feasts.

Blogger of the Month: LazyTCrochet

Tricia, know to us as “Lazy T” for her shop on Etsy: http://www.LazyTCrochet@etsy.com has been promoted as our June “Blogger of the Month”! As one who does a lot of crochet work myself for the past 40+ yrs, I am also in awe when I see some of her pieces that she displays in her shop. Her love of creating modern and original designs in crocheting and knitting, as well as some “old-world’’ styles in her shop. Besides just using yarns and wools, Tricia can proudly display her sign “Hand-made” as she likes to also used recycled fabrics and fibers, which allows her to sell some of her pieces as affordable to the comsumer.
Well, now one can add TV star to Tricia’s list of credits. Not only belonging to our “Blogger” team, but she is also a member of Etsy’s Cleveland Handmade Team. They will be making an appearance on Fox 8 News in the Morning tomorrow! They will be showcasing the many talents of “Lazy T” and her Handmade friends . If you miss her on TV, you can find “LazyT” at her following sites. It was hard to chose just a few pieces to show from her shop, as there are so many wonderful items – but you will have to find those yourself!

http://lazytcrochet.blogspot.com/
my destash shop at http://LazyStuff.Etsy.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/LazyTcrochet/32716500715
and Twitter at http://twitter.com/LazyTcrochet

Wordless Wednesday: A Father's Love

Little Ava's Christening Day