shamelss ebay plug

Listed some Halloween costumes .... just in case you're looking for something fun. http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/3*in*gap

I had to let you all know what I feel is a new scam on ebay. Some of you know that sellers now cannot leave negative or even neutral feedback for a buyer. So if a buyer leaves you negative, you have no recourse. If a buyer says something wasn't delivered and you know it was mailed and delivered, they can still leave you negative feedback. I feel that buyers are taking advantage of this, especially when a seller does not use delivery confirmation with their packages. If you sell on ebay, you have to use delivery confirmation period. No question, have to use it. You have to be able to prove your package was delivered, they don't have to sign for it, but the postal worker scans the package and you can track it on-line. I highly recommend this to anyone. Buyers will claim they didn't receive a package and even though you may have your postal receipt showing you mailed it, if you don't have delivery confirmation, ebay and paypal will rule in favor of the buyer. I have never had problems with buyers until selling my fall/winter items. I've had 3 newer buyers claim they never received my packages. All 3 packages I did not use DC because they were 1st class mail. Do yourself a favor and pay the DC charge, or better yet, purchase your labels through ebay, through paypal and you get free DC with priority mail packages and DC at $.18 for parcel packages (and probably 1st class too).

Etsy love ~ purchases

some of my recent Etsy purchases. This darling art smock is from JessicaLeman for Sophie to use at her easel while I work in my studio.

So it only makes sense that I get her a splash mat from RicRackQueen so she doesn't mess up my new pretty floor.
And does your seatbelt hurt your neck? Well, my does and it makes me not want to wear my seatbelt, that's how bad it hurts. Well, if you have that problem, run over to here pinkdixie and get yourself one.

One more thing I just love. Wanted a neat coaster for my studio in fun colors. If you all know me, I drink lots of iced tea and have lots of glasses with lots of condensation on them. I knew I wanted something fabric and look what I found, not only fabric, but a cute little quilted one. You can find these here rikrak. Guess which one I chose?
~ happy shopping ~

hurricane ike hits us??

well, this is the second day of closed schools from hurricane ike. it's very strange because we are some 5 states away from where the hurricane made land. we had 75 miles per hour winds that hammered us for about 6 hours on Sunday knocking out power/electricity which is still out in many areas. trees ripped down, shingles ripped off, shutters and screen laying all around. our trampoline tried to take flight many times. we worked in my parents' yard yesterday for a couple hours cleaning up debris and branches. my kids only get 5 snow days, so now we have used 2 of our 5 snow days. last year we used all of our snow days. this could be a bad winter. the kids are not excited about the possibility of making up snow days on the weekend. we cannot image what it was like living through this hurricane in Texas.

happy birthday dad

My father turned 70 on September 11, 2001 ~ a day we'll never forget. Today he turns 77. Happy Birthday Dad.

Photo with Sophie (12/07)

Look at Sophie's new backpack .... OWLS

Sophie needed a new backpack before school began, but we never got out to get one. She had the treehouse/owl line backpack last year from Baby Gap, but the bag was too small for Kindergarten. I saw this at Target. Perfect. Just what I wanted .... I mean just what she wanted. This cute backpack was stuffed full of this pop-up tent, sleeping bag, water bottle and flashlight. My girl is in heaven. All for $25. I thought that was a great deal, really. She's a bit big for the tent, has to be on her knees, but she loves a tent.

i love pretty dishes + i love home goods

I just love finding beautiful dishes. I bring them home and wash them and lay them on my counter for a couple weeks until I can finally stop smiling at them and put them away. But my dishes have to be functional too. That pretty burnt orange square dish is dishwasher/microwave/freezer and oven safe --- now that's my kind of dish. My blueberry teacake will look so pretty in there. The other two bowls are just sweet, my favorite shade of green. Can't decide whether to keep them in my kitchen for dips and such, or let my studio have at them. So both green dishes were $2.99 a piece and the square dish was $9.99. Gosh, I love Home Goods (or TJ Maxx or Marshalls).

Recipe Monday ~ Easy Peasy Pot Roast

This is a staple in our house

1 4-5 pound roast (any kind will do)

1 can french onion soup

1 package dry ranch dressing

approximately 4 cups of water (depending on size of your crock pot and roast)

So I add enough water to cover about half of the roast. I mix the dry dressing with 1 cup of hot water and pour over roast. No need to stir, it will mix up on its own. Then pour the can of french onion soup on top of the roast, slowly so the onions sit on top (see photo). I cook on high for 6 hours and then usually turn to low or keep warm depending on how done the meat is after 6 hours. It will literally pull apart and you'll have a nice onion gravy. We will eat this for two days, one just having usual pot roast style and the next shredded into burritos.

Alternatively, you can use a can of golden mushroom soup and a package of dry italian dressing mix. You get a nice mushroom gravy.

And don't worry about the cut of meat. I buy whatever is on sale that week. Sometimes it's 2 for 1 at our market. The longer you let it cook, the more tender it will get. Check it after 6 hours though.