A Handmade Holiday

It seems that this year's big thing is "handmade" things for the holidays.

Crafts it seems to have come full circle since the 1960's/1970's (or at least that's what it seems to me).

Granted non-handmade things are still selling, but everywhere I turn, I keep hearing on the radio, reading online, and seeing on TV (not so much on TV - but still there) the buzz is all about crafts and handmade.

This has inspired me to put a couple things up on Etsy.com. I do have my own "store" on Etsy but havent put anything up just yet. You can check my store out here to see if anything has been put up yet. But right now, nothing is up.

Yeah me!

So, I got up early this "Black Friday" to make sure I got what I wanted. A digital camera!

Now only if my computer cooperates and installs the software.

Drinking Baby!

So, I was out to lunch the other day with a couple of girl friends at an organic restaurant (which happened to be tied into the local organic grocery store a couple doors down from it in one direction and an organic-ishy boutique store a couple doors down in the other direction - I think there is also a pet grooming/store in that same shopping mall as well tied into with them as well).

Afterwards, we ended up at the boutique shop looking around, and I bought something called a "Clean Canteen" (something along that line). The concept is that it's made out of metal and not plastic, because regardless of how you make it, plastic still leaches into the contents it's holding and metal not as much. And that is bar none for all plastic bottles (disposable and reusable). (The plastic bottles leach toxins into the food/liquid if exposed to heat in particular - the fattier the contents the higher the toxin count apparently). But who's really to say what's 100% truthful and if what's said is anything near the truth.

Well, I got myself a clean canteen and have been impressed with it so far. I also own a Nalgene bottle and have enjoyed it as well. But I will say I enjoy my Sigg water bottle a little more. I don't know if it's my intention or if it's actually the bottle, but I feel better after drinking out of the Sigg bottle than the Nalgene. I've also noticed with the Nalgene, the water starts to taste more and more funky, the longer you leave it in the bottle. And that's at room temp.

So far the Sigg bottle hasn't done that. (I've been using it for the last week and a half).

The bottle I got is this lovely matte gold Indian/70's-ish inspired pattern on a blue back ground (the stopper is black on mine and not blue). I like it and it's suppose to be good for a really long time, lasting anywhere from 10 - 20 years depending on how much you abuse ..... hem, use it.

If you're curious about the Sigg products click here to check out their website.

They are running a special now through Dec 15th, 2008 where any order $30 or more gets FREE shipping with either FedEx or UPS using the code FREEFEDEX or FREEUPS. It's pretty easy to get $30 worth of stuff from Sigg. Yes, the products are pricy, but then metal bottles like this have always been on the expensive side. (It's worth the little extra money if it means you're healthier for drinking out of it, right? Sure beats possible medical bills).

Great Nation of Isolation.

Ok. So, I've heard about cuddle parties a while back (maybe going on a couple years now).

I've been intrigued since I first found out about it, but haven't been comfortable enough or confident enough to actually attend one.

I finally gave in, figuring if it was too weird or too whatever, there was nothing to stop me from just leaving. I'll be attending one up near Baltimore at the beginning of December.

Some of the stuff on their site (www.cuddleparty.com) makes sense on how today as a society has morphed/warped what acceptable touch is.

This is what the website has to say:

What a Cuddle Party Is: A structured, safe workshop on boundaries, communication, intimacy and affection. A drug and alcohol-free way to meet fascinating people in a relaxing environment. A laboratory where you can experiment with what makes you feel safe and feel good.

This playful, fun workshop has been a place for people to rediscover non-sexual touch and affection, a space to reframe assumptions about men and women, and a great networking event to meet new friends, roommates, business partners and significant others.

Can Cuddle Party restore your faith in humanity? It just might. But at the very least, you'll have a great time, and leave feeling relaxed and inspired.

In today's world, many of us aren't getting our Recommended Daily Allowance of Welcomed Touch. Cuddle Parties seek to change that and change it in a way that's conscious, healthy and nutritious. Many of us grew up taught that a pull-out couch full of puppy-piled kids all camped-out in front of the TV was okay, but somewhere between ages 11 and 31 things changed. Now it's only okay for kids to do that. The only places for grown-up puppy-piles are in football and the occasional game of drunken Twister. Touch in groups only occurs in packed elevators, rush-hour subway cars or crowded movie theaters, but that kind of touch is usually accidental and not necessarily welcomed. For some of us, permitted touch only occurs when we pay for a massage or when we give the okay to get patted down by an airport security guard.

Our society has gotten weird about groups of people touching one another and it's taking its toll on us. Sure it's okay to touch the one you're dating or married to (that is, if you're still touching each other), but what about the single people? If you're single and touching too many other single people, you're a slut, and even then, how healthy and nutritious is all that touching when most of us have to get drunk to give ourselves permission to do it? Drunken, sexualized touch borders on desensitized groping. Most of us don't pick up somebody at the bar for a one-night cuddle.

We are so touch-and-snuggle deprived. Our need for touch has gotten so packed down and warped and pressurized that we fear its release. These years of "cuddle oppression" have become explosive. The more pressurized the situation, the more the need to suppress it, and the cycle feeds on itself. The symptoms of this "dis-ease" can be seen in the current social and corporate rules, regulations, and stigmas surrounding touch. With today's culture of mixed signals and double standards, the intricate sexual harassment maze, and the echoes of our Puritan foundations still audible, today is a very scary and unsafe place to voice our sensual needs. And one of our primary needs as humans is to touch and be touched!

I think its about time our society rebounds from the desensitised, sexual association of touch (or at least feel it's time to). Granted this isn't giving permission to anyone to go out there and claim bad/wrong touching as healthy/good touch.

In any case, it should be an interesting experience.

Single Ladies

Ok. I saw the music video of Single Ladies by Beyonce (seen below) and then stumbled upon the Justin Timberlake parody (featuring Beyonce - see below as well). It cracked me up seeing Justin dance around.

Edit: there is another video of a guy dancing to Single Girls that I thought was funny.

Procession of Hats.

Now, I've been talking about the hat's I'm knitting for my 100 hat challenge, but so far have failed to show what has been accomplished thus far.

So for this little blog, I'm posting some pics of the hats (or head wear in some cases) I've knitted for this challenge.

Cough, Cough.....

Wheezer is all I have to say.

I have heard of them before and I have heard their songs before but until recently, I never put 2 and 2 together.





And now I'm hooked more than a caffeine addict.

Winter Dreams

I love winter. I love how cold it can get. I love how the snow falls. I also love the fact it's more conducive to knitting and snuggling (not to mention hot chocolate and s'mores).

One thing I dont like is how dark it gets so quickly. Pretty much as soon as I get home from work, all I want to do is find my pj's and get into them. Yup. If I go straight home, that means I'm in my pj's by 6pm.

"This is crazy" you say. Heh. When all you want to do is crawl into bed as soon as it's dark outside, it's only the next logical step I say. It's more prevalent when it's yucky outside (as in "It's been overcast for the last week and there has been some sort of precipitation every single hour of single day"). Ugh! Mix that into the bag of "It's dark by 5pm" and you've got your pj's on as soon as you hit your doorstep (they might even be jumping up and down at the door, waiting for you to come in).

Anyway. Random thoughts for now.

Plots of Yarn.

Ok, so I've been noticing that my postings are getting close to 100.

I've been thinking about doing something special for my 100th post. Some sort of contest. Not sure what kind of contest though.

We shall see.

The Hats! The Hats!

Ok. So, I challenged myself to do 100 hats come the new year. Quite the ambitious knitter who wasn't working full time. Quite the challenge for someone who now works full time.

So, what I'm going to do is take the time limit off and just knit the 100 hats. Maybe make it 100 hats by 2010?

We shall see.

Oh the Torture!

After playing for 2 1/2 hours of kickball, I expected my muscles to be a bit sore on Monday.

What I didnt expect was some of my bones/joints to hurt as well. More specifically, my right ankle and my lower back. It feels like both need to be cracked (or popped). My muscles feel fine today, little twingy yesterday, but all's good.

I think drinking more water has helped and sleeping more too.

The Face of Victory

Who's the Cleaver Lil' Monkey Now!!!

YEAH BABY!

If you didnt know, I play kickball. Been playing for the last 2 season (3 if you include this season). The last two seasons, my team came in the bottom rungs of ranking (of games won/lost) and just played the first game of playoffs just to say we did.

This year, the games leading up to play offs were no different (though I think we won two more games than the last two seasons combined?). Low and behold, today was playoffs.

Thank God, someone on our team recruited more people, b/c we wouldn't have been able to play w/o them (they were from Texas). In the rules, you need a certain number of girls (min 3 to play w/ an automatic out every time you go through your kicking roster / 4 to play a standard game), and I was the ONLY girl that showed up from our orig. team (yeah me).

We ended up winning, by default, our first game since the other team didn't have enough players, period (3 total).

Then the remaining 3 games, we some how miraculously won. (The first team was decent enough as players - but the last two teams we played were the top two teams of the league. I think both teams only lost one game a piece).

The adrenaline is still pumping through my body! Hoo-ha!

Lets Sing a Song.....

acapella



I dont know how I find somethings. They just show up at my feet practically. How fun.

Whistful Thoughts

ON this eve of the US elections, I reflect.

Reflect on where we, as a nation have been, and where we could possibly go. Also, I am reflecting on where I am in my life and where I want to end up.

It seems to me that at this moment in time, it is opportune for change for good or for other means. What ever the intention is, I feel it is hope to better ourselves and those around us, regardless of where we stand politically or why we're voting tomorrow.

I think that is essential desire for all of us. Though it may not be expressed the same way all the time, I think, and feel, that this is what we want, the best for ourselves (and for those fortunate enough, for our loved ones as well).

Though we may disagree on what the "best" is for everyone, it is impossible to have such uniformity for everyone and have everyone be satisfied with it 100% of the time. That is the wonder and joy of this life. The diversity of life. Granted, we may not agree on things and somethings may push us out of our comfort zone, it has been these things that has allowed us to know our own boundaries, our limits, and what gives us the most pleasure in life. Whether its joy from certain beliefs to dancing in the rain naked, life is meant to be enjoyed.

So go vote for the person who gives you the most joy to see in office. Go vote and be happy.