byob.

That's 'b' for b-a-g.

Some speculate that the average person gets 500 plastic bags per year. YIKES. While I was visiting my mom, I read about how California law may require retailers to sell reusable bags soon. She had one at her house, but forgot it on our grocery store trip!

I figured I'd do my part too, so when McAllister and I went grocery shopping 2nite - I planned on buying some reusable bags from Wegmans. I'm already off to a pretty forgetful start (and they wonder where I get it from ;-). After checking out, I realized I FORGOT to buy them. So I had to stand in line again. My plan is to keep a couple in each vehicle, hopefully in plain sight. Not that we're not environmentally conscious - we already reuse all our plastic bags for doggie duty.

hungry.

Question of the day:
How can one resist hunger pains when there is a HUGE bus wrapped in a cheeseburger next to you at a stoplight?

The stoplight seems to be taking much longer than usual. Go figure.

I'm on my way into work. Happy Friday folks!

easel frame.

easel frame front
Originally uploaded by cunhatuna.

Remember when I talked about the Junk ladies? Well I stole another neat-o project idea from their book. It is a photo frame easel, made from an old folding ruler. We made 2 of them but I like the small one best. You can check out my project page for pics.

yes, that's me. contrary to popular belief - I once was a blond...

spiderettes.

I've had various unsuccessful attempts at keeping houseplants alive over the last couple years. I usually buy them b/c they look cool and then pray like MAD they'll be able to fight my inconsistent, indoor-watering patterns.

The only plant I've managed to not-kill is my spider plant. I got it from an old friend many years ago. Wikipedia notes it is very easy to propogate and I agree wholeheartedly. I've spawned many little spider plants from what I've always called 'my lil spiderettes', although I noticed the wiki calls them 'plantlets'. It must be spiderette season now, b/c my spider plants are COVERED with little ones. Perhaps I'll plant some babies for my friends!

Does anyone know of any pills you can take to grow GREEN THUMBS?!

luau.

Last weekend, we celebrated Justine's 20th bday with a luau-style party! It was filled with SUNSHINE, family, friends, water balloons, a pinata, some grass skirts, great food and good times.

Pics can be found here!

off 2 the 'cuse.

Lucy and I are heading on a road trip! We're off to Syracuse for the weekend to visit the FAM and celebrate little sis' 20th bday party Sun. Tonite - we're all heading to the Carrier Dome to watch SU battle Albany in what will be a great lax game.

Go Danes!

sunshine.

Sunshine is good for your soul. Today I enjoyed a LOT of it while spending quality-time with Lucy.

Lucy and I celebrated the 58 degree SUNSHINE by going to our favorite place, Ellison Park. We went running, swimming (ok - just Lucy), played fetch, and she played with other dogs while I mingled with doggie parents. Ellison is a gem for dog-owners!

Later, I spent some time soaking up the sun while cleaning out my car. As you can see below - Lucy spent the rest of her afternoon sunbathing. I captured several degrees of 'Lazy Lucy'!

Check out our trip!

vintage art.

Easter weekend, I scored a pile of old magazines from the 40s and 50s at a household sale I attended with McAllister's mother Sue. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them at the time but for a whopping $5.00 - I knew I wouldn't be sorry.

The magazine titles were Today's Woman, Better Living, Women's Day, the Post and McCall's. Their years in print ranged from 1941 through the late 50s. I've spent some time going through them all and they are so interesting to read. The articles are not only humorous to me, but still very informative. (don't get me wrong, I HEART my Martha subscription) My FAVE part are the advertisements, they are hysterical.

Then it hit me! At the same sale, I bought NINE photo frames for $5 (the photo junkie in me couldn't resist). I'm going to cut out old ads and hang them in the frames in my open kitchen shelves for a VINTAGE art feel. Some ads from back then are still big-name brands that I use. Coca Cola, Quaker Oats, Life cereal, Spam, Flavor-aid! (ok, so maybe not spam - but it still has a place in my heart given my love of email!) It will be just perfect. It also got me thinking, I found the ads suited for perhaps the BATHROOM to be the most hilarious (boy were times different back then)... I MUST have empty wall space in the bathroom awaiting a lovely soap or toiletry ad.

I've started earmarking pages to make cards and gift tags out of. Their recipients will surely be impressed. Some of the issues were holiday months, so perhaps I'll update my Christmas decor with some vintage art as well! SOOO many ideas. How fun.

Stay tuned for the before/after details!

happy 20th bday justine.

twenty-one.

...is the number of inches of hair on top my head.

Why is that significant one might ask?! Well it is significant to me, because it is 11 more inches than the number required to donate to Locks of Love. That is 11 inches that can potentially stay on top my head after I CHOP it for CHARITY.

One may recall me talking about my hair back in Nov - when it was 17.5 inches long. My hair grows FAST - I even had an inch taken off in December before our trip.

I'm getting close - I'll be chopping it off SOON.

vintage drying rack

ever since i read Decorating Junk Market Style - I've been on the lookout for a cheap-o drying rack. Here's an easy-peasey project once you find one:

1. Purchase small binder clips, screws, beaded chain (I got mine @ Home Depot)
2. mark off 3 rows of even screw holes. I measured down from the top of the rack pieces so they had a nice flow to them once they were spread out.
3. screw small binder clips into the holes
4. measure/mark/drill 2 rows of even screw holes horizontally in the rack to thread the beaded chain through.
5. cut/thread/cut beaded chain through the two rows.
6. go back to home depot to pick up more beaded chain CLOSURES. (i didn't need the beaded chain, just the closures - where do you buy those?!)
7. attach the rest of the chain and spread the wings.
8. Add photos, notes, etc.

i love stealing ideas from the junk ladies - they are so CREATIVE! More pics of the final product are on my Project Pics Page.

racket press frames.

I enjoy challenging the notion of what a photo frame should be. On a recent junking trip, I scored a vintage tennis racket and press. At first glance, I instantly saw a FRAME!

All it took was a little stain, some acrylic plastic, a plastic cutter and some photos. I'm still looking for a nifty mat board, possibly made out of fabric or contact paper, but for now - using plain file folders from the home office will do. Sue, my future mother-in-law, gave me two other OLD rackets and now I have a TRIO! The photo theme (there is always a theme) is 'Lucy takes the field'

Check out how to make them on my projects page!

easter decor.

Easter really snuck up on me this year, I've been busy busy busy. I usually don't decorate for Easter. It's just not a holiday that I've managed to acquire decorations for in my recent years of homeownership. That CHANGED this year when I discovered the Christmas Tree Shop.

The store is HUGE and everything in it is 'el CHEAPO'. I managed to spend next to nothing getting some fun Easter decorations. Like a deviled egg tray for $1.99! I can already tell it's going to be one of those stores that I will just keep throwing stuff into my cart. Before you know it, those cheap gadgets can add up fast. I'll to spend some time before I checkout rummaging through it to decide what I REALLY need.

I did notice some fun garden stuff which I'll have to go back for!

happy easter.

happy easter to everyone!

paul frank.

Today I wore my NEW pink, Paul Frank t-shirt while my fam and I colored Easter eggs. Today was a good day!

cheesecake bites.

Mmmmmm.... DESSERT!

McAllister made our dinner crowd these bite-size, deep-fried cheesecakes.

There is something about deep-fried that makes me drool.

They were a little too bite-size for me. I forgot how many I was popping in my mouth. The belly ache told me to stop.

1000 words.

Today, I'm featured on kodak's BLOG.

It's called 1000words. Take a peek and comment over there if you'd like!!

Happy Wednesday!

creative memories.

Two weekends ago, I went to Albany for a festive, Irish crafty weekend visiting my two friends Allison and Katie.

I HEART scrapbooking with friends, however I think I enjoy the social aspect more than the actual output. I especially like scrapping with THOSE friends - because they have amazing TOOLS and loads of supplies.

That weekend, they introduced me to Creative Memories. It's the AVON of crafting supplies and I didn't even know it existed! My two friends have a CM consultant who they can call on at a moment's notice when they run out of necessities - like 7x7 page protectors!

It's a good thing I went out there! These chicas introduced me to supplies I did not even know I needed! Like this personal trimmer, or as I dubbed it for the technical crowd - the slicing doo-hickie. I simply MUST own this tool; it will fix my sloppy scissor skills!