Hoopla!

So, I've recently participated in several craft swaps on the amazing Craftster.org website. I've tried to branch out in my crafting abilities, and have learned several new things.

First of all, I've started to hoopla! Now, for those of you who don't know what hoopla! is, here it is in a pinch: using an embroidery hoop to create a piece of art for yourself or another. That is all.

The "I will cut you" hoop is what I made for craftster member Britters25, and was taken pretty much straight off her wists. I got many compliments from people who saw this as a WIP, and am pretty proud of it. The other two were also inspired from my partners' wists and were a blast to make. I'm particularly proud of the button tree, as it's bright, cheerful and one of a kind!

I hope to showcase some more fabulous Hoopla! in the future.

Hey, guess what!!!

I apparently have a blog! I've been really really lazy, what with having an extremely more-than-full-time job (gotta love the theatre), three kids and a hubby, so um, yeah. I neglected my little piece o' the 'webz.

A lot of time has passed - the last time i "posted" was to enter a contest and just said "check out this site." I won the contest and yes, those soaps were amazing. the strawberry+cream was yummy, but i think i like her tequila sour best. You should check her out!

My time with the Civic is done, so now I contemplate what happens next. First - get a job. Working on that, check. Second, get a life - nope, don't need one. I can live vicariously through my television shows/movies/books. Which is pretty much what I've done since puberty, when my siblings went nutz and my parents divorced. Sandy kinda got royally screwed in that deal. I think I was the only child to not end up on drugs - prescription or illegal, take your pic.

I'm hoping to go to school and get my teaching certificate. Then I'll have a real job, and be able to warp other peoples' kids like I'm warping my own. A steady paycheck, the opportunity to know when and where I will be for the entire year, leading to a real house, and stuff for the kids when they ask. Do you know how it kills a mother to tell a four year old that "we don't have the money for that?" when all she's asking for is a candy bar? I hate it.

well, I think I'm done rambling. I hope to have a point for this sucker soon, and maybe be more committed to doing such things. who knows?

Handmade soap with whimsy!

There is this amazing soap seller on etsy. Her store is Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen and you can find the link below! Check it out, you two!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/soapdeli

My search for new books (and the oddly sad results)

So, I'm one of those people who like to learn new things. I once went up to everyone I worked with in a busy restaurant and asked them to give me one song that they thought was most awesome, and went and listened to them. I found several bands I enjoyed and several I didn't, but hey - I tried to widen my own library.

The point? I want to read more books. At the moment, I'm sort of in love the the teen/youth sci-fi/fantasy world and am searching for new series, authors, characters, etc. I tried googling - and this is where I got stuck. The few blogs I found with lists of authors and/or books/series were all ones I had read before, or were already on my to-do list. This gave me a big sad face. :(

So, I'm making a resolution. I'm going to start reviewing the books I have found on my search for new people to add to my fantasy friends. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Not that there are many of you reading my blog (sharayn, jake, Lol).

I'll start when I finish my current book, the first in a series. It's called A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bay.

Onward and Upward, Friends!

When did Hollywood become the influential voice?

So, let's think about this for a second. Since September, the "world" has been turned upside down because of a few entertainment - centered people. The death of the Prince of Pop. Tiger Woods' "surprising" behavior. The death of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, and the following b.s. that was the media frenzy following their not-so-surprising announcement. Ricky Martin is gay? And the cavalcade of men who were discovered to be cheating on their famous spouses. Ummm - did you guys really think you were going to get away with it? EVERYONE knows who you are - and who your wife is. Butthead.

However, we did learn something (if we were actually paying attention). Celebrities CAN keep secrets IF THEY REALLY WANT TO. Look at Sandra Bullock. Four years after starting the adoption process, she has a baby. AND NO ONE KNEW. How'd she do that?

Jon and Kate. Get REAL jobs, move to Europe, and leave the intelligent people alone. No one cares. We just want to watch you fail. Big time. Kate, the only reason Dancing's ratings were so high was that we all wanted to watch you fall on your ass and get booted off. Not that I watch it. That's the time of the evening I allow my hubby to watch ESPN. I do watch Castle, though, which is on right after. P.S. Fire whoever told you to wear what you wore on that show. Horrible.

Tiger Woods - why the hell were you people surprised? The guy has been worshiped since he arrived on the damn golf circuit - he was going to become a little power-crazy. You tell a guy he's perfect, and he can do no wrong, and he believes you and does what he wants and you get upset? Good for his wife for attacking him with his own golf clubs. Rock on, sister! (and remember, don't get mad - GET EVERYTHING!)

Michael Jackson - okay, so his personal life was seriously screwed up. Was he a dirty old man? I don't know. Was he an influential part of my life? Hell, yes. I was born in 1980, so his music had been with me since I was born. Was I a superfreak fanatic? Not really. But when Billy Jean, or Beat It ends up on my Pandora playlist, I turn up the volume and dance with my kids. You almost have to. He was an artist, and deserves to be missed.

A few quick thoughts. Oprah is not a deity - make your own opinions on things people. Martha Stewart does not come up with 100% of what is in her magazines/books/television shows. She owns people. A lot of people. I'm not saying she's Satan - but she's got to be up there. If it's on a fictional television show - IT'S NOT REAL. stop threatening people because you don't like what's on t.v. TURN IT OFF, MORON. Steroids and sports -I don't care. I suffer with ESPN because I love my husband and he needs his tv time too. Without Buffy, there really is much to watch these days.

Oh, and you networks execs - STOP CANCELLING MY SHOWS!!!

This is all. Carry on.

Oh, and you stupid network execs - STOP CANCELLING MY SHOWS!

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

Okay, here are my thoughts.

It is 12:25a.m. March 24, 2010, and my copy of Fablehaven #5 is due to be delivered later today. I have googled a few things, and have found them seriously wanting. Such as: clues to Gavin’s identiy and the popular thought as to what is going to happen in the final novel.

And so I enter my thoughts here.

Final artifact:

If you’ve read the novels, you’ve entered the Fablehaven mansion, and most likely, Stan’s study. The kids, Kendra and Seth always seem to make not of one particular piece of curiosity – a small skull in a dome, most likely a fairy skull. However, as you can only see fairies when you’ve imbibed the “magic milk,” how is it possible that they see a fairy’s skull before they have knowledge of exactly what Fablehaven is? And I have recognized this same artifact in books 1, 2 and 3, so far. Mr. Mull – are you trying to tell us something?

Gavin:

Holy freaking crap – I had to read those chapters like three times before I realized what was going on. I had to use Google – well, let’s face it, I google everything – and could not find anything! What? How? Where were the Fablehaven geeks that chronicle EVERYTHING about the books? So I started re-reading the series, starting with book 2, as my book 1 mysteriously disappeared (my 3 year old is behind it, I tell you), and am still confused. Mr. Mull – you are a genius.

My big point about Gavin: In book 4 Seth questions him as they both have the lie-proof collar on about his intentions with his sister. Gavin’s response (not in his words, as I’m exhausted and don’t really want to look it up) was along the lines of “I’m going to know you’re sister a LOT better.” Predetermined? Or did Gavin not truly understand his role as a villain? I have to look this up, but I wanted to get these thoughts down before I read the final book.

Seth’s Destiny:

It’s nice to see the troublemaker come in to his own. Seth is not inherently bad – he’s just curious, and wants adventure, just like every adolescent boy. I hope that in this final book, he shows that having a connection to the darker part of Fablehaven’s world is not the bad thing that’s been foretold. There’s this tingly part of me that is waiting for Seth and his abilities to save the day more than once in the final novel.

Major plot point- the bag and who left it:

I believe Vanessa had a hand in it. However, there is the suspicion about the old man left behind. He knew he was going to be in more trouble, yet chose to stay behind. So, either he’s a Society spy, or he’s a Knight’s spy. I’m confused. But this question leads me to the next.

Warren and the bag:

They will get Warren out. See how the library/aquarium is explained. It exists in two different dimensions. I’m not going to conjecture on how he gets out, where he gets out, or who even helps him get out, but I believe that Warren will get out. Kendra’s crush on him is too important.

The Sphinx:

Once again, Mr. Mull, I did not see the man’s defection coming. But then again, I am the first to admit that I throw myself into my novels/movies/series. I believe that characters are inherently good, until that final reveal, when I am totally, WTF? Lots of these moments in the past few years when the “WTF moment” is what everything is all about. Of course, our heroes shall defeat the Society – possibly leaving room for a sequel series – not that I’m complaining. I so can’t wait to read these books to my children (now 5, 3, and 5 months) and have hilarious discussions about what happens and why.

Kendra and Seth’s parents:

Again, I did not see this coming. So, when I re-read the series, I took note on their parents’ responses. I believe the Sorensens know a lot more than they’re saying they do. If they’re not active in the Knights of the Dawn – which we are told they know absolutely nothing of Fablehaven and its secrets, so to be active in a secret society to protect such secrets is most likely out of the question – then they could be part of the Society of the Evening Dawn – somewhat of a revenge thing? I don’t know. My theory is very exciting, but would probably require at least one more novel to delve into why, when and how such things could happen. But both sets of grandparents were involved with the Knights – I don’t see how both parents could be that completely oblivious. (although I admit, it’s been known to happen.)

All in all, I can hardly wait to read the final installment of Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series. It’s an incredibly well thought out tale that draws the reader in, and pulls at every human fiber of your being. If you read these books and do not envy Seth and Kendra the chance to be a part of Fablehaven – there is something wrong with you.

3 year old helper

My 3 year old has deemed herself a "big girl." Which, in her humble opinion, means she is able to help with many difficult chores around the home. For example, this past week, she endeavored to help with the laundry, the dishes and the vacuuming.

In reality, this mean a brand new bottle of laundry detergent (the jumbo size, about 90 loads' worth) got dumped into the washing machine, as did two gifted bottle of liquid fabric softener. She neglected to turn the washing machine on.

While "helping" with the dishes, she somehow dumped the contents of a half-full bottle of dish soap on the coffee table part of our sectional sofa. She then tried to clean it up by hiding it in the cubby in the table.

And then there was the vacuuming. She's not quite strong enough to push and pull the vacuum, but she sure can figure out how to removed the bagless canister! So dirt, dust, old cat hair, and whatever else we had vacuumed up this week was once again on the hallway floor. (Before i could vacuum it up again, I had to clean out the clogged hose - long haired cats and 3 kids are hell on a vacuum!)

But she does make me laugh. After witnessing the aftermath of all of these messes, I was understandably frustrated. So I ask her, "Honey, are you good or are you evil?" I mean, honestly, the child is like the female version of Stewie from "Family Guy". . . without the matricide - obsession - or the overt homosexual teases.

Her answer : "Evil."

That's my girl!