Giving feels good

The other day I discovered PIFs on etsy. What a wonderful idea! PIF is Pay It Forward. On Etsy that means you can list an item and all the customer has to pay for is the listing and for the shipping. Sometimes someone doesn't even charge that. I first found out about this idea in Sharon Foster's shop SharonFosterArt. (The artist who painted the images on the buttons, sticker, and magnets in my post for AWBAR.)

In return for the pif you are asked to list a PIF in your shop or do a random act of kindess for someone in your community. I love love love this idea.

I have a ton of earrings just sitting around so I listed one as a pif in my shop. It also inspired me to do something for others. I know when someone, annonymous or not, does something for me it can really brighten my day.

I hate laundry day. I have the hardest time searching the house for enough quarters and I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem. Nothing is more frustrating then only needing one more quarter to do a load and not finding one. So I crocheted a little coin purse using this pattern. I put enough quarters in it for one load of laundry and set it on top of the washer in our apartment complex. It's nothing great but sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference. I hope it brightens the day of whoever finds it.

Etsy Finds - Cardinals

This week's etsy finds is inspired by the pair of cardinals that sit in the tree right outside my window. I think cardinals are beautiful birds!

Winter Garden - $20 by krisblues

Soft Hearted Scarflette - $30 by phydeaux

Companion Collection- Rockin' Robin Red Bird Studs Earrings - $4.25 by veryvintage

Little Red Bird Felt Hair Accessory - $6.50 by OrdinaryMommy

Cute Original Collage - singing red bird - $25 by Cabin

AWBAR

Yesterday I recieved my order from AWBAR! I bought this little fox figurine for my terrarium. He is perfect for it!

I was also pleasantly surprised when a sticker, 2 magnets, and 3 pins were also in the package! Thank you AWBAR for the extras!

AWBAR stands for Abandoned Wild Babies Animal Rescue. They raise and release orphaned, injured, or sick animals. 100% of their sales go to the organization. So check out their shop at http://awbar.etsy.com

Etsy Feature - Pink Dawn

I love the idea of helping other etsy sellers so I have decided to feature an etsy seller every once in awhile on here. The first shop I am featuring is Pink Dawn. I am in love with her jewelry! I love everything from the different designs and colors of every piece of jewelry! I asked Dawn to answer a couple questions about her shop...

Please introduce yourself and your shop.

"My name is Dawn and I live in the gorgeous Swan Valley region of Perth Western Australia. I count myself very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. I am a wife and a mum to 2 beautiful girls aged 8 and 4. They are my biggest fans and love to see what I have made. They always ask if I can make them one too.We live with our grumpy cat who likes to bite my mother in law and our cocker spaniel, who has eyelashes that would make any female jealous.My shop is Pinkdawn. I make jewelry for all occasions plus bridal jewelry and tiaras from my home studio."

What is your favorite item from your shop?

"My Favourite item in my shop right now is my newly listed Spiced Berry Bracelet. I love the mixture of seasonal rich colours. It was inspired by the multitude of grape colours found in this wine region."

What influenced you to get into jewelry making?

"I found jewelry making quite by accident. I have always had the need to be creative and I am at my most happiest when I am making something. I have run out of rooms to make over at home.I used to make bridal gowns and was taught how to hand bead the dresses. I discovered that I really enjoyed the delicate and at times fiddly nature of beading. After a trip to my local craft store I wandered down the bead aisle, somewhere I hadnt bothered about before. I was amazed at the colours and variety of beads on offer and my mind was racing with possible designs. Pinkdawn came from there.True to my bridal roots, I offer a range of elegant bridal jewelry and tiaras for the classic bride, I adore the look of Swarovski pearl and crystal. I have though recently started to make more and more 'any occasion' jewelry. I find I am drawn to amazing materials and beautiful colours that seem to morph in to slightly vintage inspired pieces."

And of course I have to throw in a random off topic question haha!

Do you prefer your toilet paper to roll over or under?

"Toliet roll has to be over the top. If i go to a house where the toliet roll is under then I have to change it first. Im fussy like that. If its under you have to waste time searching for the end. If its on top then the end is always where you want it :)"

These are a few of my favorite pieces in Dawn's shop...

Swirling Hearts - Pink Glass Beaded Necklace with Brass Heart - $24

Swarovski Pearl and Golden Crystal Necklace - $60

Ruby Rose - Red Rosebud and Antique Brass Earrings - $14

Thank you Dawn for sharing your shop! Make sure you go check out her shop at pinkdawn.etsy.com

Delicious!

Since we moved into our new apartment I haven't had the motivation to cook much but last night I walked past another apartment and could smell something wonderful cooking inside. It inspired me to cook up something. So I picked out one of my favorite meals that I randomly came across on the internet and tried. It is so delicious that I wanted to share it with you all. I found it on Cooks.com.

Chicken Cacciatore
1/2 cup olive oil
1 medium onion
1 medium clove minced garlic

1/2 cup of a 6 oz. can of tomato paste
1/4 cup port wine
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 large fresh basil leaves (optional)
8 chicken tenders
pasta (any kind)

Finely chop the onion and saute in oil for 15 minutes over low heat. Add garlic, tomato paste, salt, wine, and basil.
Bring sauce slowly to a boil while stirring then reduce heat to a simmer (low heat).

Bake chicken in oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Shred chicken into bite sized pieces and stir into sauce. Cook pasta according to package directions.

Enjoy!!

Etsy - Manly

This week for my Etsy finds is inspired by my husband. Since he started his shop - A Man's World - this week I wanted to find some things on etsy that would make great gifts for the men!

I Wanna Meet That Pug - mens large - bamboo/organic cotton blend tshirt - $25 by SquidInkKollective

Black and Green Crocheted Hat - $28 by raghousenternational

Rust Wrap - suede leather journal - $32 by AwakenJournaling

Chenille Case Handmade for iPod iPhone Blackberry- Modern Orange - $32 by SeaSideSew

Monopoly car cufflinks cuff links vintage - $20 by lizzybleu

Those cuff links are so my husband! He could play monopoly all day on the wii!

A Man's World

I'm excited to let you know that Seth is now on Etsy! His shop is called "A Man's World." He wants to sell manly vintage things. I'm sure he will throw in a little bit of handmade as well. Right now he only has one thing up but it is pretty cool! It is a Dr. Pepper Serving Tray. He will be adding more frequently so check out his shop at http://amansworld.etsy.com/

Fierce Vintage Lion Dr. Pepper Metal Tray - $15

Just listed!

I just listed some more earrings in my shop! I'm really excited people are liking the earrings! I think they are fun!

Green Flower Bouquet Clip On Earrings - $2

Hot Pink Clip On Earrings - $2

Faux Pearl & Rhinestone Clip On Earrings - $2

Black Clip On Earrings - $2

Etsy - Wedding

As I wrote a few days ago my friends Sarah & Matt were married this past weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony and Sarah was gorgeous! Because of that today's inspiration is weddings. Here are some of my favorite wedding items I found on Etsy!

Set of two Ivory Flower Hair Pins with Swarovski pearls and feather - $38 by VirginiaGeigerJewels

Signature Dish- I Do - $13 by thebrickkiln

Petals and Sparkles - 8 inch - Silk lined Frame Clutch Bag - $95 by DavieandChiyo

Light Blue and White Heirloom Wedding Garter with Vintage Jewel 111 - $24.99 by
GartersByKristi

Two Peas in a Pod - $9 by jeanherman

I made a similar "two peas in a pod" for Matt & Sarah and they loved it! I think they are cute!

Owl Business Card Holder

I just added an owl business card holder and a couple earrings to my shop.

Vintage Owl Business Card Holder - $12
Is this not the coolest card holder ever!?

Vintage Black with Rhinestone Earrings - $2

Seth just came home with a Twilight book for me... he's so awesome...
Every time I go to the library it is gone so when he saw it in the bookstore he bought it for me... *sigh* what a great husband!

My first Etsy sale!

Friday morning I was excited to see that I had sold the 3 pair of earrings I put up in my etsy shop the night before! So as soon as I got the chance (today) I added some more earrings in my shop! Please take a look at them here!

Green Screw Back Earrings - $2

Red Clip On Earrings - $2

Mint Green Clip On Earrings - $2

To see more go to my shop! - That Is Charming

Matt & Sarah

Tomorrow (or technically today I suppose) my good friends Matt & Sarah are getting married! I'm so happy for them! Tonight was rehersal and bowling. Here are a couple pictures from the evening that I played around with in paintshop.

This still makes me laugh

This commerical always made me laugh and I just remembered about it today so I had to look it up and yes... I still laughed out loud!

Life is a Garden, Dig it

Seth wanted a hobby for the summer while school was out. He decided on starting a little garden on our balcony. We just picked our first tomato a couple weeks ago and have been enjoying the new vegetables since!

Here are some garden inspired items from Etsy sellers!

to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow - $38 by livingstonandporter

Vine Ripended Tomato Earrings - $3 by beadediris

Custom Copper Garden Label Plant Markers Set of 10 - $30 by MakeThyme

Blue Gnome - Felt Finger Puppet - $6 by stayawake

Vintage owl planter - $26 by jawaddel

I love this planter! I always find myself gravitating towards the figurine planters in antique shops!

Sara Lov - A Thousand Bees

Sorry for the lack of updates. It has been a busy week/weekend but hopefully this next week I will have more time to update. For now enjoy this music video by Sara Lov...