thought I would give a shout out to all my fellow blogsters to check out my TeamFEST blog
http://etsyfest.blogspot.com/
and see if you all think my submission to this months "Sweet" challenge merits a vote.
Mine are the His And Hers Bailey's Cups.....perfectly sweet for a hot chocolate in this chilly weather ;)

Makes Me Smile....

Stuck in a Rut

yup. can't get my mojo going. i can get online and interact but that's about it. between losing my baby kitty and starting a new job within 2 days two weeks ago i am just not feeling it and if i do i don't have time or the energy. i know this will pass, thought it would sooner but in the mean time you guys are stuck with my silly postings. i thank you all for your kind words and for your understanding : ) in the meantime i will rock back and forth in this rut till i get enough energy to push out and carry on

HAPPY HOODIE-HOO DAY!!!!!!!!!!

On this winter day, people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo".
It is a day to chase away winter and bring in spring. After all, everyone in the northern hemisphere are sick and tired of winter at this point and a little crazy being cooped up inside all winter and not seeing the sun.

sO, Happy Hoodie-Hoo to You!!

Makes Me Smile....

Auguri di Carnevale!

Venice is home to one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world, in addition to one of the oldest. The Carnevale di Venezia) was first recorded in 1268. The subversive nature of the festival is reflected in the many laws created over the centuries attempting to restrict celebrations and often banning the wearing of masks.
Masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival; traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano, at the start of the Carnival season, and midnight of Shrove Tuesday. As masks were also allowed during Ascension and from October 5 to Christmas, people could spend a large proportion of the year in disguise and hide their behavior from being known.
Mascherari, or Mask Makers, enjoyed a special position in society, with their own laws and their own guild. In 1797 Venice became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio. After the Austrians took control of the city on January 18, 1798, it fell into a decline that effectively brought Carnival celebrations to a halt for almost two centuries. Carnival was outlawed by Mussolini's Fascist government in the 1930s and 1940s. The founding of a modern mask shop in the 1980s helped bring about the revival of Carnival in Venice..................... and the celebrations continue!

Happy Valentines Day !!
taking a break? Search in the picture above for the hearts...how many can you find?

Makes Me Smile....

Saying 'goodbye'

It's been a very hard week for me. My 'baby' has passed along. Mimi, a.k.a. Sushi, came to me as a kitten so tiny that I held her in the palm of my hand while I feed her baby formula from a bottle. She stayed with me all the time, even sitting on the bathtub ledge while I showered. She grew into a feisty young lady that, much like me, did not like being told what to do. We had a mutual understanding, she and I: she was boss and I was O.K. with that. And the other night I came home to chaos as everyone struggled with how to tell me what had happened - horrible. I could not understand why all this had happened. surreal. no. must be a bad dream. and now only 3 days later I am still having a very difficult time coming to grips with it all. I still see her in everything - her toys are here and there, her scratch box in the middle of the room and her hair is everywhere. She had a Buddy, and Buddy is still here: wondering where she went and what is wrong. Buddy and I are coping. I am positive that everyone else around think that I am exaggerating over a silly cat, a cat that no one else much liked but myself (even Buddy wasn't sure). This immense feelings of hurt will pass - I know this, I have been through this before. Only this time she was my baby, and saying goodbye just won't do.

Makes Me Smile....