Face Book Schmace Book

Oh it's all the rage, isn't it? So I got a Face Book page for my little business and now sit here wondering A) did I do it right? B) how will anyone know it's there? and C) can I run away and hide as it is now going to be very obvious I have no techno prowess at all? I'm feeling very sheepish. That's a nice way of saying I feel like a moronic dolt.

Being the recluse I am, social networking just isn't my thing so I haven't been paying attention to all the instructions on how to Tweet and Friend and all that other jazz. Just call me Wilma Flintstone.

So if anyone out there is reading this post, please leave a comment and let me know if I'm doing anything right, wrong, or at least visible. Apparently you can find the page here.

HELP!

Magnet Mania

Right now, as you're reading this post, there are twenty-one very fun magnets sitting in my shop. They want a home on your refrigerator, keeping put that recipe you're making for the picnic this weekend. Maybe your locker door at the gym would suite them, to give you motivation, or to make you smile after an especially gruling session with your personal trainer Thor.

Twenty-one magnets, and so many more in the East Wing where I've been storing them. They'll be making their appearances soon.

And here's the best part: I like making these magnets so much that I'll make a bunch just for you, if you want. Say you go to the shop and see only one Someday magnet for sale and you want thirty-five of them to hand out at your Procrastinators Anonymous meeting, I can make those up special, just for you.

And you know what else? All of these magnets are also available as a pin. Instead of the bottle cap being secured to a button magnet, it's secured to a bar pin. How cool is that? Get the same image as a button and a magnet if you like.

The best thing about owning your own Etsy shop is being able to come up with all sorts of solutions. Keep an eye on Auntie B Online for additional magnets/pins to come.

Floating With The Ghosts

Things are weird. Creepy and weird. A bad moon is rising. The high sun, high heat, and high humidity are making everything just plain weird. It's stifling and it makes me jumpy and sedated at the same time.

Lack of sleep could also have something to do with the static in my mood. Excessive heat and inadequate sleep. Those are two things I try to avoid at all cost and yet they're both becoming the ordinary.

I feel like I should be in New Orleans. The oppressive humidity does wonders for the ferns but throws juju way out of whack. The people of New Orleans deal with this sort of thing every day. It puts everyone on the line between sanity and insanity. They say it's not the heat, it's the humidity. 100% humidity and it's not raining. Insomnia comes with the heat. Insanity comes with insomnia. Craziness in the French Quarter. Weird, hot and humid, zombie-like craziness. That's how I feel these days. Just sort of itchy and crazy.

There's a death in the air. Ghosts appear to those who don't sleep. Everything seems sad and lonely. I should be down there, in the French Quarter, wandering around in the dark, watching, and waiting for it all to lift.

The Pulp Vamps

The Pulp Vamps are here. Auntie B has created the very sassy and retro drink charms that are The Pulp Vamps. The great thing about these drink charms is they bear an uncanny resemblance to your friends. Get together for a little Cosmo party and slip these babies on the martini glass stems. You'll have a blast!

The Pulp Vamps can now be found in my shop. I've given each vamp a name of her own, but if you're really nice to me, I can make these personalized. All you need to do is let me know in the Notes To Seller section what you would like the names of these ladies to be. The label on the box will reflect your choices. These would make great favors at a bachelorette party. Use them throughout the night and let the girls take their charm home with them.

Below is the Pulp Vamps I set. Included in this set are Randi Redhead, Smoking Selina, Dreamy Daphne, Carefree Carol, Come Hither Connie, and Voluptuous Velma.

Next is the Pulp Vamps II set. It includes Sultry Susan, Screaming Mimi, Worried Wilma, Sad Sally, Nicotine Nancy, and Terrified Tami.

Finally is the Pulp Vamps III set. It includes Smoldering Samantha, Blissful Beulah, Coy Katrina, Innocent Ina, Chatty Cathy, and Dangerous Darcy.

Visit Auntie B Online today and order yourself a set or three of these fun charms.

Note: Sorry, but there is no mixing and matching with orders of less than ten (10) sets.

A Slow Start To Spring Cleaning

There's nothing better than the smell of amonia and Murphy's Oil Soap in the Spring.

I schedule my spring cleaning regimen to begin in April. This year, however, I was busy making hundreds of votives for the Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener for the majority of the month. Thrown off the schedule, I've had a hard time catching up.

So I take the chores one at a time. They're not chores I hate doing. In fact, I'm pretty sure I get the same dose of endorphins washing walls as those skinny girls get jogging all over the neighborhood without getting as sweaty.

Once a year the scrubbing commences. Room by room the stagnant air of winter is freshened with open windows and more-than-usual attention to detail. Everything from windows to heating vents get special attention during the ritual. The little nooks and crannies that are ignored during regular weekly cleaning stand up and cry out, "GET THIS DUST OFF OF ME!"

Alas, summer is sneaking up on me and I'm less than halfway through what is needed for total satisfaction. No matter, it's like prolonging bliss.

One thing I really love about spring and summer is my clothesline. Nothing feels better than crawling into a bed with sheets fresh from the line. That freshness is also now a part of my lace and sheer curtains. Downy fresh is good, but sunshine fresh is the best.


If you haven't participated in the marathon that is spring cleaning, I highly recommend it. Not ready to tackle the whole house? Try just one of the many chores - washing the woodwork or cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. Or just take one room and detail it from top to bottom.

This weekend I'm washing the bannisters and cleaning out my closet. The closet will be interesting. There's about a foot of dust under the dresser. I'm also going to start a donation bag for everything I've outgrown or don't wear anymore. I can hardly wait to see how much space I'll have to store the new wardrobe I've been dreaming of.

And don't worry, a little spring cleaning has never turned anyone into Martha Stewart. Except Martha Stewart.

Lovely Bloggers

Today I was complimented on a simple beeswax candle. I say simple when it is indeed the most superior of all candles (in my opinion after being a chandler for over a decade) in that it is 100% pure. No fragrance oils. No dyes. Just sweet, pure beeswax and a cotton wick. Heaven! It's hard to convince the world these are indeed superior when the delicious fragrances and wonderful colors of alternate waxes brighten and freshen up a room so effectively. And truly, there's nothing wrong with paraffin, soy, and palm waxes. But beeswax is the Queen of Waxes. She smells delectable all on her own and even gives a brighter flame than the other waxes.

Audra, a most talented illustrator and designer, told me she fell in love with my beeswax. Not only that, she featured it on her blog! Go and see what she has to say on her blog. Not only does she have the creative thing going to the Nth degree, she's got some really cute kids and a very handsome husband. Talk about a dream life! Keep up the good work Audra, and thanks so much for featuring me and many other Etsy shop keepers on your fabulous blog.

Here's a sample of Audra's work. How adorable! Her switch plates are made of wood (Yay!) and are all hand-painted. You can find more of her work at Green Meadow Lane.

And here's that little beeswax number Audra liked so much:

Here's to the bloggers who love each other's work!!!

Dive Night ~ Kelly's

Dive Night is a once monthly adventure undertaken by me and Husby, along with our friends Ruthie and Ray. Each couple alternates choosing a restaurant, one which must come under the category of "dive." Our definition of dive: a neighborhood gathering spot hiding under the radar. Casual atmosphere and good food. We're out to find the best food in the Minneapolis/St Paul area without having to pay a fortune or dress up. A sip of beer or wine doesn't hurt either.  See a list and links to the previous dive night posts here.

Ruthie and Ray outdid themselves this time. It was their turn to choose the dive at which we were to dine this month. A blast from the past and some very delicious meals.

The place: Kelly’s in Centerville, MN.




Kelly’s has been around for a long time. I remember back in 1980 (or so) a couple of friends and I went to Kelly’s where I had my first shot of tequila. Then my second. Moments later I found myself dancing to The Commodores' Brick House on the pool table. That was the last time I had tequila and I never danced on a pool table again.

Fast forward (thankfully) to 2009 when we visit Kelly’s once again. Now, unlike the pool table dancing days, they serve food. Ray warned us, however, not to look toward the kitchen as we might catch a glimpse of the cook preparing our food. Apparently he was enough to lose our appetites. So with my back to the kitchen I kept my eyes on the menu.

We started out with an appetizer platter consisting of some chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and what seemed like deep fried hash brown potato nuggets. The platter came with various dips to accompany the different tastes provided.




The four of us all ordered differently from each other. Ruthie and I both ordered a chicken sandwich, but of different varieties. I can’t recall what hers was, but mine was a Southwest chicken sandwich that was wonderfully zesty and came with a great Southwest sauce. Ray got the fish fry, very popular at Kelly’s. The serving was gigantic. Husby ordered the French dip sandwich. He said it was fine, but a little chewy.



I’d recommend Kelly’s food. The atmosphere isn’t much to speak of as it is simply a working class bar. They still have the pool tables and now have a stage. The evening we were there crowds started gathering for a rousing night of karaoke.


Interestingly, Ruthie and I both noticed how the majority of the women coming for karaoke, as participants or spectators, looked mean and/or angry.

Also, I eventually got a look at the cook. Take Ray’s advice, don’t be curious.

As we exited I was teased by some of the guys at the bar, including the bartender. I was wearing a plaid wool logger’s jacket and they noticed I was taking pictures. They believed me to be visiting the big city (Centerville?) from up north somewhere. I chuckled along with them, and quickly put them in their place by saying I was from the cities, and I was doing a review on the place.

At my age, I’d recommend Kelly’s for a good meal. But don’t stick around too long (after 7:00 p.m.) unless you’re under thirty. The crowd is young and the older regulars are blue collar snobs. Guess I’ve come a long way from dancing on the pool table.

Living In The Moment

It seems this time of year is even more hectic than the Christmas holiday season. There are weddings, graduations, birthdays, mother's and father's day...the activities never end.

I want to give a special congratulations out to Fojo, the resident graduate of the family. He's graduating from the 8th grade on Wednesday and will move on to bigger and better academic challenges next year. High school!

End of school year activities also included two very wonderful band concerts, one at Fojo's school and one at Peanney's school. Not being much of a team player when it comes to athletics (not much of an athlete, period) I think it would be so much fun to be part of a school band. I was a pianist in those days. The closest I got to being in a band or orchestra was when I played at Northrup Auditorium, a duet with six grand pianos playing one part and another six playing the other part. Many instruments playing at once makes such a wonderful noise. I really loved hearing the school band concerts and am happy to see my nephews can be a part of such great art. It was also very inspiring to see the band directors - such passion for their art and such enthusiasm for their students.

My friend Ruthie has two graduations in her family this summer, as well as a wedding. Her eldest is getting married and I can't wait to see what kind of mother-in-law she'll make. I'm also looking forward to her becoming a grandmother. Yikes.

So much to do and so much to celebrate. It's hard to be organized with so much going on, but organization is the key to living in the moment. This is my new mantra.