10 Things That Drive Me Nuts!

It’s better to laugh than to get aggravated, right?

blogfromheartSome days, doesn’t it seem as if life is filled with little annoyances? A bit of venting usually makes us feel better and can also help us realize that, in the grand scheme of things, these little stresses are pretty insignificant!

So let’s list some of the things that bug us. Then we can smile for the rest of the week! 😀

I‘ll start. In no particular order, here are things that drive me nuts:

1. In my neck of the woods, the milk we buy comes in plastic bottles with plastic caps. It drives me nuts that no matter how many times I wipe off the bottle after using it, the next time I open it, there will be a mini blizzard of dried milk flakes that fly everywhere. You’ve heard the old saying: “They can send a man to the moon . . .” I’d like to add . . . “so why can’t they engineer a better milk bottle?”

2. Mail-in rebates! I hate ‘em! Just give me the sale price up front, please!

3. Grocery store loyalty cards – See #2

4. People who breeze by, without a word, when you stop to hold a door for them.

5. It drives me nuts when I’m just about to hop into bed at night and I suddenly see a giant spider crawling across the ceiling (or I hear a mosquito buzzing!) Eeks!!! Let me tell ya – there will be no sleeping until we extricate that unwanted visitor from the boudoir!

6. The amount of junk mail and telemarketing that still squeaks through even though you’ve jumped through hoops to remove yourself from the appropriate lists.

7. Trying to pay for a purchase and being asked for a zip code, a phone number, of if I would like to apply for a store charge, the coupon club, or the frequent buyer program. I know it’s not the clerk’s fault, but it gets very, very old – especially when “no thank you” doesn’t seem to suffice and I’m asked: “Why not?” and “Are you sure???”

8. Public restrooms that are in such an awful condition that I ask myself if I really have to go! 😉

9. Watching the weather forecast on TV and having to listen to so much superfluous blah blah blah, that by the time the guy finally gets to the crucial details – like tomorrow’s temperature – I’ve tuned out and I miss that part!!! Grrrrr!

10. Spending time going through sales racks at a department store only to discover at the checkout that the item I’ve selected is one of the few things that is NOT on sale!

What drives you nuts? 🙂

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Candy Corn

This year . . . the very humid days at the end of August had me dreaming of Fall, so I started to work on some autumn-inspired jewelry.

Here’s a pair of earrings that I’m calling “Candy Corn”. 😉

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I think they have sort of a subtle Autumn/Halloween flavor. Wouldn’t they be pretty with a jacket done in earth tones?

The pumpkin-colored teardrops are vintage lucite, and the very unique “candy corn” beads are Czech glass (currently available in my shop).

pumkinx3As a native New Englander, I fell in love with Autumn at a very early age. They say the foliage in this area is more colorful than in other parts of the country. I don’t know if that’s true . . . but it is breath-takingly beautiful here during the Fall.

Of course, there are so many things to love about this time of year, like apples and cider and pumpkins and mums. 😀 It’s sweater weather, and time to make soup!

On crisp Autumn days, the sky’s more blue; the air more refreshing! It’s a magical time – not too hot . . . not too cold . . . when Mother Nature allows us a last little respite before the icy winds blow.

Happy Fall to us all!

(The pretty “Harvest” card that’s shown above is from etsy artist: FrenchCountry)

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Giveaway- Coral Skies Earrings

Hey there! 😀

Welcome to my weekly giveaway. For this week, I have a delicious pair of earrings in a mouth-watering shade of coral. They sparkle like crazy!

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These “Coral Skies” earrings feature bold and beautiful 10mm round Swarovski Padparadscha faceted crystals as focal points. I’ve embellished the rounds with lacy silver-plated beadcaps and sterling silver beads/findings. The elegant earwires are sterling silver.

Measurements: approximately 1-5/8”” long ( including the sterling silver earwires).

Contest Rules and How To Enter

This week, you will have up to three (3) chances to enter the weekly giveaway.

You can choose any or all of the following 3 ways to enter:

1st Chance:

Leave a comment answering the first weekly question:

What is your favorite candy? If you’re not a fan of candy, what food do you consider a “treat”?

2nd Chance:

Leave a comment answering the second weekly question:

When you are shopping for an item that appears to be “on sale” and then you notice that you must send in a rebate form to actually get the “sale”, does it irritate you? Do you still buy the item, and do you actually send in the form?

3rd Chance:

Comment on any other post except this one. You can do it today or another day this week. You do not have to tell me that you left a “comment” on another post. The blog program shows me all of the “comments” as they come in – so I do not miss any of them! 😀

The Boring Stuff . . .
You must be 18 yrs. old. After the completion of the contest, the name of the winner will be listed here. The winner will also be notified by email. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail.

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 09/27/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 09/28/09.

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Friday Favorites – We’re All Artists!

For this week’s Friday Favorites, I have a special little quotation for you!

I often think of this when I’ve made something that didn’t turn out as well as I hoped it would. The words are encouraging and remind me to try again, instead of saying: “I’m just not good at this.” 🙂

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Isn’t that the truth!!! As children, we are sure that our “art” is wonderful. We have that total sense of confidence. So I figure if I was an “artist” once – it’s still in there. All I have to do is keep trying!

Enjoy this last weekend of summer! Meet ya back here on Monday for a new giveaway and new questions!!! 😀

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Pumpkin Spice Bread Recipe

pumpkinteapotTemperatures in our area went down into the 40’s last night!

Autumn is definitely knocking on the door.

I must admit that I am so looking forward to baking again, though!

During the heat of summer, I avoid the oven if at all possible. No sense in adding fuel to the fire, so to speak. Now, with the cooler weather, it will be fun to make some new recipes as well as the old favorites! Here’s one you might enjoy. 🙂

Pumpkin Spice Bread (Makes 3 Mini Loaves)

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup canned pumpkin (or 1 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Cinnamon Sugar Glaze (below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottoms of 3 miniature (5-inch by 3-inch) loaf pans.

In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, oil and water until well combined. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Stir in raisins. Divide batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Cool completely. Drizzle with Cinnamon Sugar Glaze. Makes 3 miniature loaves.

Cinnamon Sugar Glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. Stir in more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until of drizzling consistency.

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