Thursday, December 30, 2010

Atomic Lobster - My Book Review

Atomic Lobster (Serge a. Storms)Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have mixed emotions about this book. When I first started reading I didn't like it. I felt like things were all over the place. I would be reading and all of the sudden it would change to something else and I wouldn't know what was going on.



Example:I was lost during the Greek religious festival. I think if I had known that the young boys standing in their swim suits, the priest officiating, the boys jumping in the water, Serge talking about this being the sponge capital of the world, the boys diving and coming up frustrated, then Serge coming up with a white cross to have his buddy take pictures with, would have made a lot more sense to me if I had known that the boys were looking for something, namely the white cross and not, perhaps, sponges.



As it got further into the book and I figured out the Serge character a little I began enjoying it more. Like when his therapist told him to go to an anger management support group and he gets thrown out for fighting, she sends him to the Non-Confrontationalist Anonymous support group to try and have some sympathy for the other side of the spectrum. The group goes on a field trip to the zoo (staring down lions and tigers in cages to build courage), the bus ride reminds Serge of field trips in Kindergarten and gets everyone on the bus singing "If You're Happy and You Know It".



Then later in the book he gets the group together, puts everyone in masks and starts a "Fight Club" sort of thing to get them expressing themselves.



There are some pretty funny escapades that everyone eventually ends up in the same local and mishaps aplenty ensue. I did actually laugh out loud a couple times.



I take one star off this book, and feel I can't recommend it to most of my friends, because of the very liberal use of the F-bomb.



I won this book from First Reads and am now off to read Nuclear Jellyfish which I also won.



View all my reviews

Thursday, December 23, 2010

BESTeam Feature: Fluttering Flowers

I am so excited to share this Etsy shop with you.   Welcome to Fluttering Flowers.

Everything in this shop is teeny tiny and so cute you just almost can't believe it and the prices are beyond reasonable. This is a polymer clay paradise and since a picture is worth a thousand words I am just going to get to the pictures so you can see for yourself.

bwahahahaha - Squished bug!! - only $1.80!

Small Sleeping Baby - $1.20

Small Bonsai Tree - $2.40

Toadstool Buttons - $4.80

Three Tiered Cake - $2.40

Giraffe - $2.40

Girl and friends - $6.00

I don't know how she does it.  Everything is so detailed and yet so small.  It just makes me happy looking at all this cuteness.  You need to check out the cute bunnies! 

Take a minute and visit Fluttering Flowers and see all the other fun items available. You can also find Fluttering Flowers at her blog Polymer Playtime where you can keep up on her polymer creations and see some pictures of her big fat turkeys!

Thursday, December 09, 2010

BESTeam Feature: Elizabeth MD

Meet Elizabeth of ElizabethMD. No, she isn't an MD she is Elizabeth M Duquette.  A daughter a creative parents who has been drawing and designing jewelry and clothing since she was 15.

She graduated from Fashion Merchandising at Fanshawe College in 2004 and has turned her love of design, into a love of one of a kind handmade jewelry. She started designing jewelry when she wasn't finding the kind of jewelry that made her excited to wear it.


You're one of a kind, so why shouldn't your jewelry be? This is the philosophy behind ElizabethMD.  Come look at a few of my favorite one of a kind pieces.


Red Berry earrings.  ONLY $5!!!
I love these berry earrings.  So festive for the holidays.  Only $5!!



Copper Bouquet necklace, $16
I absolutely love this necklace.  "A bouquet of flowers trickle down from this necklace."


Double Stranded Lampwork and Agate Stone Necklace, $31

This is such a versatile piece that would go with just about any outfit.

Gift Certificate, $10
For that woman who has everything, how about a gift card, available for $10, $15, or $25, so she can choose what she wants!



You can also find Elizabeth at her blog Elizabeth MD Jewelry Designs.  Stop on by for her latest updates and deals.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Request a Tutorial

I would love to put some more tutorials on my blog. I did one in 2006, a cute little tote out of a placemat. and it still gets tons of traffic.  This tells me there are other crafty bloggers wanting to expand their crafty abilities.
So -  I am asking for your input. 


What would you like to see as a tutorial?  

Give me some ideas of what you would like to see demonstrated.

  • Visit my etsy shop.  Is there something there you would like to learn how to do?  
  • Is there a craft or project you want to make after I figure out how to do it first?
  • Have you seen something in a magazine or on a website that you want to try and make?

Leave me a comment with your tutorial wish list. 
Make sure to follow my blog so you know when your tutorial goes up!

If I use your suggestion for a tutorial I will send you a little gift of crafty goodness.  
(maybe even the thing you wanted demonstrated)

Let's get our crafty on and make some stuff!

BESTeam Feature: Our Home To Yours

What could be better than buying handmade goodness from a Mother/Daughter/Daughter etsy shop?  You probably think I am talking about my Etsy store, which is a great place to shop, but this time I'm not.  I found another shop that has that same trio as ours.


You will find things to keep you warm, things to accessorize, things for weddings, home decor and more.

 Debbi (the mom) and Amanda use yarn, thread, beads, paper and paint and Alison uses any and all material she can get her hands on. (sounds like my kind of crafters!)

  Here are a few of my favorite things from "their home".

Crayon Roll, $12


For the person you know with a touch of OCD that loves crayons (and who doesn't). My 19 year old wants one!



Eternity Scarf, $20





 I love this scarf idea.  It is made in the round so their are no seams.  You loop it around your neck one, two, or three times depending on how loose you want it.











2 Rosette Headband, $10






Headbands with adorable wrapped roses.




Crocheted Tam, $10










Something for that man in your life to keep his noggin warm!  No girly colors here!!
Pink and Purple fuzzy scarf, $12













I just loved this picture. We used to wrap things around our girls faces when they were little and pretend they were flowers.  This would be a "scarf flower".



Come on over and visit this fun little shop Our Home To Yours.  You can also find them at their blog under the same name.