Trying out the new Reeses Spreads

I recently joined influenster.  Why not, I'm already on bzzagent and we all know how much I love getting items in the mail to try out.
Yesterday I got my first VoxBox and it contained Reeses Spreads peanut butter/chocolate spread.
I'm a big PB fan and I'm often caught stealing a spoonful out of the container. 
Usually with PB/chocolate spreads I find one flavor overpowers the other.  But the Reeses spreads are delicious. I get both flavors and I really can eat it the same way I eat PB. 

This afternoon I'm going to get some celery to enjoy with it.  Even my 5 year old loves it and he had gotten bored with PB & J sandwiches. 



*I received this product for free to test and review.

Do guns = safety?

The internet is abuzz with news this morning of a shooting at a school in Connecticut.
As a mom with a child in school this is hard to read about. My heart goes out to everyone involved.

Then my feed started to show a new trend.  The "This is why I have a gun" trend.  Now I'm not anti-gun, I'm also not gung-ho pro-gun. I realize I live in the south and just about everyone has one (we will too when we have space for a gun cabinet to keep it safely locked up).

But do guns = safety? Or are they giving people a false sense of security?
Guns can be great for protection, hunting or even for sport. However even with a concealed carry permit there are places you can't take guns. You can't always have it with you.  And...sadly you can never tell how batshit crazy someone is.

One of the biggest things that scares me as a parent is thinking "what if my son had that mentality?" Can you imagine how a child would interpret "gun = safety" growing up? 

Having a gun doesn't suddenly mean you are "safe".  Often being too cocky about guns can lead to quite the opposite. Personally I would worry that someone with that mentality would pull a gun in a situation that didn't warrant it. Or that they would pull a gun and hurt someone else.

Be realistic about it. Know how to shoot the weapon and keep practicing. Just realize you can't take it everywhere (at least not legally) and thinking it automatically makes you safe is a fallacy.  I have found in my years of knowing gun owners that the most effective ones are the ones who don't announce it to the world.  They don't go around saying "I have a gun, I can protect myself." And if you think of it it's like the drunk guy in the bar yelling "I'm good at sex."  which usually indicates he doesn't know what the hell he is doing.

Having a gun can help keep you safe.  But it doesn't ensure your safety.
It's not that I'm freaked out by people having guns.  I'm concerned about the ones who think that having a gun means they are safe from these things.

Turn about is fair play?

I was thinking about all the talk about abortions that come up during an election year.

And I wondered...what if a law was passed saying women had to get pregnant. That it was wrong for them not to be trying to get pregnant. It's the duty of the wife to produce children and we all know how "spilling seed" is wrong.  It doesn't matter if you want children or not, it doesn't matter if the child is a product of rape or incest as long as you are having babies.  Who cares if you can't afford it, the law tells you what you can and can't do with your vagina. It doesn't matter if is a medical danger to you (or even to the child), you must keep having babies.

It's the law right?  Because someone else has the right to tell me what I can do with my reproductive organs?
Are you so naive to think that the laws would end there? What happens when they tell breast cancer patients they can't have mastectomies?
Once you let other people can make these decisions for you they'll make more. Ones you won't be happy about.  What if they made a one child law? People would have a fit. It's the same thing.


Regardless of where you stand on abortion the question is about the rights of women. Rights we've fought so hard for. You don't like abortions, don't support them. But I don't tell you what to do with your vagina, you have no right to tell me what to do with mine.

Wrap it up!

I decided it would be fun to make a small  wreath for our door this year. I found a small foam wreath at Target. For just a dollar you can't beat the price.
I've gotten the first part done and wrapped it with green yarn.

Our newest addition

I've completely forgotten to post about our new addition.
10 days ago we welcomed a cat in to our home.  Her name is Maisy and she's a Siamese/Tabby mix.
Garrett loves her and she is content to let him snuggle her.

She's a great addition to our little nuthouse.

Mini Pincushions

mini pincushions, a photo by teawithfrodo on Flickr.

Love making mini pincushions. So simple and adorable. great way to reuse all those plastic bottle caps.

Name my serger contest/giveaway

My new serger is in, but it doesn't have a name.  You know me, it needs a name.
I had been planning to do some sort of giveaway when I reached 100 followers. Since I reached that milestone while we were in the middle of moving it got pushed back.


So I'm having a contest. Name my serger! 

Name me!!!

This is a Singer Stylist Serger.  I'm open to the strange and unusual names. In case you were wondering here are the names of my other 2 machines:
I have a Singer Stylist Sewing machine named Zoe (Zoh).  Because the first stylist to come to mind was Rachel Zoe.
My sewing/embroidery machine is a Brother machine from the Project Runway line. He's names Mondo, because Mondo was cheated out of a win.

The rules for this contests are really simple:
1: You can enter as many times as you want.  You can have multiple entries in 1 comment.  I'm choosing the winner by the name I like best so feel free to comment with any names you think of.
2: You need to be following me. Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Network Blogs, etc...just let me know how you are following me when you comment.
3: If you don't have an email attached to your name when you comment please include one so I can contact you if you are the winner.


The winner gets to choose their hand made prize (within reason).
Want a lunch bag?
How about a tablet cover?
Even homemade baby legs. 

This contest will be open until Thursday June 7th (which also happens to be my birthday).

Let's give 'em something to chalk about

I've always wanted to do a chalk wall.  Just one problem...we're in an apartment right now.  While I could paint the wall and then paint it back before we move I figure that is just too much work if it isn't going to be permanent.
I leave myself a ton of notes and love the dry erase board we have in the kitchen. But I needed something in my craft room for projects.  I told Ben I wanted to go to Tuesday Morning to look around. If you haven't been to a Tuesday Morning you should check it out. (No, I am not getting any compensation from them, I think it's a great store with some amazing deals)

I came across stick up chalk boards.

Great price

I couldn't decide between the cup and saucer or the teapot. So I got both.

It fits perfectly on the wall

Now I can write my projects on the chalk boards instead of on papers I keep throwing out.  And I promised that shelf is on straight.  I was just at a strange angle getting the shot.

My first NBA game

Last night my awesome friend Michelle of The World According to Michelle (as well as my FORCE Memphis Co-coordinator) treated me to an NBA game.
Not only have I never been to an NBA game but I got to go to a playoff game between the Memphis Grizzles and the LA Clippers.
The atmosphere was great, I had a ton of fun and the Grizzlies won!  I didn't care that we were up in the "nose bleed" section. I was too busy having fun.  All the fans were cheering and everyone put on their free shirt over their regular shirts to cheer for their team. You can see the sea of white shirts.

My voice is half gone but I had so much fun, I can't wait to go again.

I'm bouncing around the apartment and squealing.  I've been lusting after a serger for some time now. It would be great to have with all the clothing I'm making for myself and others.
I know Ben had been setting money aside to get me one, but my mother is visiting and decided to cover the rest of the cost. 

It should be here in a week and I was so excited I started crying.  Now to buy some thread cones.

Bye bye Beaker

My laptop hard drive died this weekend in a spectacular blue screen of death.  Maybe that's what I get for naming it Beaker.
I spent most of the weekend crafting while Ben recovered as much as he could.  (Nightstand facelift tutorial coming soon) I still lost my Firefox bookmarks.  While recently I had been using Pinterest more often I still had a ton of bookmarks. We're trying to recover those as well.

There will be some crafty posts in the future, especially since shirred tops have become my new addiction.

Taxes, Tablets and Crafts

I'm so excited that when our tax refund comes in I'll finally be able to get the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 that I've been saving up for.
I was able to use the Amazon.com gift cards I had to buy some accessories for it.  I was going to buy a cover and then I remembered how many crafted covers I've seen.

I'll be crafting 2 covers for my new tablet computer. I'm waiting for the fabric to come in.  I will be posting a tutorial for a no sew tablet book cover.

I've also been getting sewing work on a regular basis.  Feel free to check out my flickr stream to see what new things I'm adding. 

fundraising for FORCE Memphis

Those who have been reading my blog are aware that I have the BRCA2 mutation. They also know I've been working with Michelle over at http://tatatothegirls.blogspot.com/ to start a Memphis chapter for FORCE- Facing Our Risk Of Cancer Empowered


http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/irenerodda/ireneroddasfundraisingpage
We need to start off by raising some funds for our chapter. I hope you will help or at least share this message. FORCE offers amazing resources and support for women and men who are at risk for breast cancer. 

This is a cause close to my heart. My mother had breast cancer in 2008 and her birth mother died from breast cancer in 1954. I want to make sure I am here for Garrett and able to watch him grow up. Knowing my resources has helped me feel confident that I will have many years with my son.
Being aware and having the knowledge to help with early detection (and in some cases prevention) is important. Please help us share this knowledge and support with others in Memphis.

Yes, I do charge my husband for alterations

This topic came up in discussion with some of my friends. Half of them thought this was brilliant and the other half were rather confused. 
Those who know me in real life know I'm saving up for a tablet computer.  They also know I complain about how Ben wears through clothing like a rabid monkey. I got a bit tired of constantly sewing up holes in his clothing, especially things he had only had a few months and abused. 
After sewing up some holes in the wrist of his 2 month old jacket I said "that will be $3". Ben laughed but agreed to pay. It works for us. I jsut remind him of a few things:

1: I really really really want that tablet.
2: It would be more to go to the tailor or to replace the clothing
3: It will teach him to take better care of his clothing if he doesn't want to pay me for constant repairs.

He's on board with it. I also decided that I'll charge him $5 for every time I shave his head (which isn't that often). It's still cheaper than a barber, I am providing a service and he learns to appreciate all the roles I fill around the house. 

Thomas the Tank Engine Drinking Game

Since my last drinking game to a children's show post was so popular I decided to try my hand at another one.
This time I used Thomas the Tank Engine.

Drink when:
Sir Topham Hatt says a train has caused "confusion and delay"
You hear "really useful engine"
One of the engines does something they shouldn't
You hear "Bust my bumper"
You hear "Cinders and ashes"
Bertie the Bus or Harold the Helicopter make an appearance
Emily tells the other engines what to do
One of the "troublesome trucks" knocks a train off the rails
When Steamies and Diesels insult each other

no I don't condone getting plastered while taking care of your children. But after the 47th time of watching the show even I need a shot of something.

Crafter down

Yesterday I had a large reminder that I am indeed a hobbit.  And by that I mean I am short. 
I recently got a free stability ball (we know my love for free stuff) and it's been a source of lots of fun for Garrett and some good exercise for myself. 
Well...yesterday I got up and instead of kicking the ball out of the way I decided to step over it. I'm not sure exactly why I thought this would be a good idea with my stubby legs.  You see where this is going.  I fell and hurt myself pretty badly. Besides general bruising of my right knee I busted up the big toe on my right foot.  Which means my balance is off.  Worse than that I really badly torqued my left knee.


At least Ben is home to help out with the little guy, who doesn't seem to understand why mommy is now a gimp.
The good news in all of this is I have more time to work on the shawl I have been knitting for the past 2 years.  It's not a particularly difficult pattern, it just isn't easy to do with a toddler.

The nose knows

When I was 7 I had my ears pierced. It looked cute and I had a few pairs of earrings.  Within about 6 months I started to get horrid cysts in my ears, I had to let the holes close up.  10 years later I got them pierced again, same problem.
I've always thought about getting my nose or eyebrow pierced.  I didn't think tweezing or threading would work too well with a piercing.  This past Friday while looking at a webpage for a threading place I noticed they did piercing (place full of Indian women).
I took the plunge and got a nose stud.  I chose the left side for traditional reasons.
"In India the outside of the left is the preferred position of the piercing as this is supposed to make childbirth easier. This is because Ayurvedic medicine associates this location with the female reproductive organs.""

What should I craft?

Lately I'm at a loss for what I should craft.
I was hoping to get some commissions and that would give me things to post...


so my readers, suggest something to me.
Things have been so busy here I know my blog hasn't been getting as much attention.  That isn't always bad because I've been doing so much stuff.  I should start taking pictures of what I'm making for dinner. 


Tuesday night I have an Autism support group and I'll post about that.  Garrett hasn't started with EI services here yet. He's been doing a lot better lately with pointing and letting us know what he wants.

Dreaming of an iPad

A friend showed me her iPad the other day and I'm in love. With all the cooking I've been doing lately it would be so much easier to have an iPad in the kitchen rather than my laptop.
It would also save so much in paper when it comes to sewing patterns. No more printing out patterns because I can just bring the iPad to the sewing machine. Or even with me when it comes to knitting projects.

Sadly with the move and all our expenses $500 is just too much. I'm doing my best to save money, I'm trying to take some commissions whenever I can get them.  I'm also asking family members to just give me money for the holidays.  
For any of you who haven't joined Swagbucks yet if you click my link on the right hand side I get a referral bonus which I can use to get myself some Amazon.com giftcards. 


Working on lots of projects for the holidays so I'm hoping to have some more crafting things up. 

Writer's Workshop - Love Letter to my Keurig

Dear Keurig,
I pass you during the day, but I don't say anything to you. You don't even notice me. Why would you with your sleek and sexy curves. The alluring aroma you produce. I so drawn to you. I can't bear to see anyone else touch you.
I mean it when I say I would leave my husband for you and have your little coffee babies.  You require so little clean up and only ask for water every now and then. 

I know what you want, I know what you need. And I need you. We could be great together.
I mean it when I say I would leave my husband for you and have your little coffee babies.  You require so little clean up and only ask for water every now and then. 

Love,
teawithfrodo

PS: I'm considering changing my name to coffeewithfrodo just for you.



Check out Mama's Losin' It for other awesome writing prompts.