Between full days at work, the never-ending Holiday to-do list, festive parties, and the family day-to-day responsibilities, is there any chance that you’ve been getting all of your required beauty sleep lately?  Yeah, me neither.  So I figured I needed to do something that looks like I am — fake it ’til you make it, right?  Here’s a quick guide on how to look fabulously bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when this...

I’m always looking for ways to think outside-the-box when it comes to accessorizing.  Honestly, most of my crafting skills have come about merely because I just couldn’t find exactly what I wanted in the stores.  So yes, I’m a beader, a knitter, a very casual sewing machine user, and I wield one mean glue gun.  I like projects that are easy, quick, and cheap, but in no way can they look like that! With a little help...

I had every intention of my next blog post being all kinds of fun craftiness, and then I had a strange experience last week.   So strange I thought I would make a great blog topic, one of warnings, realizations, and advice for others.  Let me set the stage for you…. I had been struggling with a series of  strange, recurrent eye issues since July, and after jumping through all of my HMO’s hoops,  I finally ended up with a...

Ever been inspired by your dreams?  I realize this probably happens frequently to others, but I’m clearly a process-your-day type of dreamer instead of a mad-creative-genius sleeper.  It’s okay though, without the planners and organizers of the world, you creative types would never be able to find your stuff!  Anyway, one night, about a year ago, I had a dream about finding the most perfect blue-black glitter eyeliner....

I can already hear the collective groans now….  ”Come on!  We just got summer weather — what do you MEAN I have to start thinking about fall already?!?!” I realize that Oregon may be seasonally 2-3 months behind everywhere else, but that doesn’t mean that our summers are extended by that amount — you and I both  know that chilly Fall mornings and Autumn Starbucks beverages are just a few short weeks...

This past Fourth of July one of my oldest friends accompanied myself and my family to our annual Independence Day ritual: come to a local park that has a substantial firework show about 10 hours too early and then hog up (and fiercely protect) as much space as 6 people, 4 blankets, and 10 chairs can.  We fondly refer to this activity as “4-J’ing it.”  Yes, I’m aware this is not good role modeling for the kids, yet...