how do people do it

I often wonder how people do it. They manage a career yet have the time to sew. I am currently unemployed. Yet I do not find the time to sew. I am constantly cleaning and organizing. Keeping up the household. I do not have any kids, but two kitties that make motherhood feel real to me. When I do find the time to sew, my cats are in constant need of attention, I become distracted and find other "projects" to work on. I have 2 dresses and 4 skirts waiting to be done. I wanted to build up my shop with more clothing. But it seems like eons, waiting for it to be done. Keeping my fingers crossed that these unfinished projects become finished projects.

i am seriously addicted to etsy. here are some cute finds on etsy.

clockwise starting from top left...

cute kitty zip pouch
sock kitty
danish inspired kitties
sweater clips
sweater
i actually got a custom made sweater from dandyrions. i sent in my own cardigan and she lovingly placed a fox wrapped around my shoulders! oh so cute!!!
scarf
teak duck
steampunk owl
tweet

strangely mesmerized...

lanea told me of this girl from japan, i admit i do like my j-pop bands with cute girly vocals...but this one takes the cake with cute visuals too!!!
dancers from kyari pamyu pamyu perform...
from the "eisa" beats...kids eat your veges!!

ok i need to stop lurking the interwebs...thanks lanea for the links...

wonder cats

oops i realized i did not update my etsy shop with my "donations". this time around i would like to make donations to...


a portion of my sales will benefit wonder cat. i have not personally experienced their services...but since i am not able to foster i decided to help out this non profit group with their goals of finding homes for the kitties...

so please stop by

my etsy shop
and shop away! i am trying to build my inventory, so stay tuned for new fabric choices. i update my facebook page or twitter feed when i am uploading new goodies...
"like" me on facebook and get a sweet coupon code!

pinterest: iced coffee

ok i am seriously addicted to pinterest and trying all these pins!!!

click on the "pin" to take you to the pin. the pin, then will take you directly to the original link for the full recipe...

my friend ryoks, sent me an email to make an amazing iced coffee, but never got around to making it since it called for a gallon's worth of water...and totally forgot to try the recipe. she then gets me addicted to pinterest! pinning here and there. celia, calls me out on a recipe! PINNED and challenge accepted!
i had to modify the recipe since i did not have a large container to accommodate the original recipe.

4 ounces of ground coffee
2 quarts of cold water





i poured in the 4 ounces of ground coffee straight into a container large enough to accommodate a little over 2 quarts of water
pour in the cold water and stir. cover the container and let it sit for at least 8 hours on the counter. you can opt to do it overnight if you wish. i was impatient. opted for 9 hours instead.
grab the container you wish to store the concoction in. have your mesh strainer and cheese cloth ready.




slowly pour the mixture with grounds into the strainer.


VOILA! place in fridge. ready to drink!!!
the next day i woke up to an amazing cup of iced coffee to start my day of errands!


a little shot of simple non sugar syrup and a little milk.


two thumbs up!

another pinterest challenge, saving money

this morning i came across this pin...



i have been using cash lately, to monitor my spending. i highly recommend it. it forces you to be aware of what you are buying.
i quickly rushed to my wallet to pull out all my $5 bills. $10 exactly. yay! i hope to report back in about (give or take) three months from now. maybe you should try this challenge and see how much you have saved up! if you do try this pinterest challenge, please do share your progress!

today i decided to try a pin i have been dying to try out.


1 cup arm and hammer washing soda ($5.99 at ACE hardware)
1 cup borax ($3.49 at TARGET)
1 bar of fels naptha ($1.79 at ACE hardware)

i have been using it for the past two weeks now, the verdict, i love it!
it takes all the stubborn stains out. i had a shirt that i was ready to throw out with stubborn wine stains. voila...presto change-o, stain is out. all it took was one tablespoon! yes! one tablespoon! amazing!!! it does not suds up like regular laundry detergents. i used both a regular machine and the high efficiency machines and the soap was fine. for real hard stains, i recommend maybe a tablespoon and a half. or maybe even two.
the scent. it smells like a clean citrus summer day. if you get a chance, grab a bar of fels naptha and smell it. your laundry will come out with that fresh smell. i use bounce fabric sheets in the dryer. my laundry smells like bounce.
oh that reminds me, i hope to take fabric sheets out of the equation too and perhaps save some cash on that! but that will be another post. ;)
the prices here in san francisco, are a bit higher. i went out to mountain view to look at the walmart pricing. amazingly cheaper. you can get a bar of fels naptha for $0.79! you save a whole dollar there! the borax was the same in price but the arm and hammer washing soda was $3.99. $2 savings there too! nonetheless, it is still cheaper to use this home concoction than to buy TIDE again. i am sorry TIDE, i grew up with you, but i am all grown up now with no job at the moment. i need to penny pinch anywhere and everywhere i can...
my next project, taking away the paper towel rolls...
is it possible??