No Hail to Junk Mail

If you're like me, I really dislike junk mail. It's such a waste of so much time and energy. Starting from creating it, mailing it, delivering , sorting and trashing, then have it picked up in the trash. Everything about it is such a waste.

Similar to the 'Do Not Call List', I signed up myself and Mr. Wonderful to be opted out of receiving junk mail. Here's a site where you can be removed from the mailing lists. You can go to www.DMAchoice.org, and on the right hand side of the page, click on 'Get Started' or you can give them a call at 212-768.7277.

I just signed up today and I will give an update to see if our junk mail has reduced.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I found this awesome recipe for homemade laundry detergent from Pinterest, (which I'm totally hooked on.) Here's the original post by Jillee. It was pretty easy in fact. The only thing I found time consuming was grating the soap, but that's it. Just mix everything else and you made really cheap laundry detergent. I'm going to do laundry tonight with the Mr. Wonderful (my husband) and will definitely share our findings. I really hope that it cleans and does a good job because this can save a lot of money in the long run. 

Powdered Laundry Soap: (about 40 loads)
2 cups finely grated Fels Naptha Soap
1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda (Washing soda can be used instead as well)

Directions: Use 1-2 Tbsp per load.

Cost Breakdown. For about the cost of 1 of the name brand laundry detergents ($12 for 45 loads), I bought all the ingredients I needed to make this concoction PLUS a batch of dishwashing soap AND I still have enough of the Borax and Baking soda to make at least 5 more batches. I bought the items from a local grocery store. If I bought it online, I'm sure I could have found it cheaper.


Update: 2/2/2012
Mr. Wonderful and I did laundry last night. According to him, the laundry didn't smell like anything, just neutral, which is a good sign.  I smelled a little of the soap. So, it looked like it worked. The one thing I did notice was that there were no suds at all. I've read up on some of the other blogs and did some of my own research on the net and found that the suds are NOT what cleans, but were put into the brand detergents to say to the consumer - yes look there's suds, so our product must be working- which is untrue. 


Also, since this homemade detergent has low suds, in theory it should be fine for the high efficiency (HE) washers. 


What I would do differently is to use 2 Tbsp for each load next time to satisfy Mr. Wonderful and I do like the smell of the soap. I want to also try using Washing Ash instead of baking soda the next time I need to make another batch and experiment to see if that does anything different.

Update: 6/20/2012

So Mr. Wonderful and I have been noticing that our laundry doesn't stay as fresh and starts to smell dingy a lot sooner now.....yaaack.  I've done more research and found that many people suggest to use Soda Ash opposed to Baking Soda. The Soda Ash is the ingredients that really cleans, while the baking soda is what neutralizes odors. I will be looking for a new recipe and posting soon!


I would love to hear your DIY tips for laundry detergents!

Bruno Mars - It Will Rain

I'm really diggin this song from Bruno Mars. 

It's so catchy and lovey dovey. 

Gotta leave it to Bruno Mars to make another hit! 

You can find the original post here.

C                      Em
If you ever leave me baby
C                         Em
Leave some morphine at my door
Dm                                     Am
Cause it would take a whole lot of medication
Dm                                       G
To realize what we used to have, we don't,

Have it anymore
 
C                              Em
There's no religion that could save me
C                                      Em
No matter how long my knees are on the floor, oh oh
Dm                                     Am
So keep in mind all the sacrifices I'm makin'
Dm                                      G
To keep you by my side to keep you from walking out the door



      F                 G
Cause there'll be no sunlight
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G
There'll be no clear skies 
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G        E7                 Am          
Just like the clouds my eyes will do the same
            Dm
If you walk away
                 G            G-once
Everyday it will rain, rain, ra-AAA-in

C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh
C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh


C -once                     Em -once...then mute    
I'll never be your Mother's favorite
C                                    Em
Your Daddy can't even look me in the eye, oooh
Dm                                       Am
If I was in their shoes I'd be doin' the same thing
        Dm
Sayin' "There goes my little girl
                 G
Walkin' with that troublesome guy"

            C                                   Em
But they're just afraid of something they can't understand, oooh
C                                          Em
But little by little watch me change their minds
                 Dm                              Am
And for you I'll try, I'll try, I'll try, I'll tr---y
                   Dm
I'll pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleedin'
   G
If that'll make it right



      F                 G
Cause there'll be no sunlight
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G
There'll be no clear skies 
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G        E7                 Am          
Just like the clouds my eyes will do the same
            Dm
If you walk away
                 G            G-once
Everyday it will rain, rain, ra-AAA-in

C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh
C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh



              F                       Em
Oh, don't you say (don't you say) goodbye (goodbye)
          F                       Em
Don't you say (don't you say) goodbye (goodbye)
                   Dm
I'll pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleedin'
   G
If that'll make it right


(*Single strum each chord, here on out*)
      F                 G
Cause there'll be no sunlight
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G
There'll be no clear skies 
Em            Am Gsus2
If I lose you baby
F              G        E7                 Am          
Just like the clouds my eyes will do the same
            Dm
If you walk away
                 G            G-once
Everyday it will rain, rain, ra-AAA-in

C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh
C           Em
Oooh, oooh, oooh

Links to Learn Crochet - Beginners Crochet

Here are some links that I've collected for those of you interested in learning to crochet. Pretty soon you'll be crocheting like a pro!

http://learntocrochet.lionbrand.com/

http://crochet.about.com/od/crochetstitches/tp/basic-stitches.htm

http://www.crochetnmore.com/123basics.htm

http://crochet.about.com/od/learntocrochet/tp/crochet-for-beginners.htm

Crochet Owl Beanie

I've been thinking long and hard for a cute gift I can make for my neice and newphews for christmas. So, I've been seeing a lot of beanies with animals on them. They're so adorable! I figure why not try to crochet one, and found a few good free patterns online. This my first attempt at these crochet animal beanies. I adapted the free pattern here from crochetville.org.  

This is my first jotting down a pattern. It is also untested, so if you find any mistakes please let me know!

Materials
I hook
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Worsted Weight Yarn
Colors: Main Color (MC) Tan. A bit of yellow, orange, off white, and black.


Hat
In MC creat (Magic Loop) Chain 3.  slip stich on 2nd chain from hook.
Work 10 dc. Join. (10 st)
RND 2: Ch 1. 2 dc in each st around. Join. (20 st)
RND 3: Ch 1. *1 dc in the same st, 2 dc in the next, repeat around. Join. (30 st)
RND 4: Ch 1. *1 dc in the first 2 st, 2 dc in the next, repeat around. Join. (40 st)
RND 5: Ch 1. *1 dc in the first 3 st, 2 dc in the next, repeat around. Join. (50 st)
RND 6-11: Ch 1. dc around, Join. (50 st)
Finish off. Sew in tail.

Ear flaps
Join to a st on one side of hat, keeping the seem to the back. Repeat for the second earflap on opposite side.
Ch 1.
Hdc in the next 9 st. (9 st)
RND 1: Ch 1, turn. Hdc decrease in the first 2 st. Hdc in the next 5 st. Hdc decrease in the last 2 st. (7 st)
RND 2: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in each st across. (7 st)
RND 3: Ch 1, turn. Hdc decrease in the first 2 st. Hdc in the next 3 st. Hdc decrease in the last 2 st. (5 st)
RND 4: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in each st across. (5 st)
RND 5: Ch 1, turn. Hdc decrease in the first 2 st. Hdc in the next st. Hdc decrease in the last 2 st. (3 st)
RND 6: Ch 1, turn. Hdc in each st across, finish off. Sew in tail. (3 st)

Border
Join MC in the back of hat, ch 1 and hdc around the entire hat. Join, fasten off and sew in tail.

Eyes
(3 parts)  Make 2 of everything.

Off White:
Magic Loop.
ROW 1: Work 6 hdc into loop. Join. (6 st)
ROW 2: Ch 1. 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (12 st)
ROW 3: Ch 1. *1 hdc in the same st, 2 hdc in the next, repeat around. Join. (18 st)
ROW 4: Ch 1. *1 hdc in the first 2 st, 2 hdc in the next, repeat around. Join. (24 st)
ROW 5: Ch 1. *1 hdc in the first 3 st, 2 hdc in the next, repeat around. Join. (35 st)
Finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

In yellow
Magic Loop.
ROW 1: Work 6 hdc into loop. Join. (6 st)
ROW 2: Ch 1. 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (12 st)
ROW 3: Ch 1. *1 hdc in the same st, 2 hdc in the next, repeat around. Join. (18 st)
ROW 4: Ch 1. *1 hdc in the first 2 st, 2 hdc in the next, repeat around. Join. (24 st) Finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

In black
Magic Loop.
ROW 1: Work 6 hdc into loop. Join. (6 st)
ROW 2: Ch 1. 2 hdc in each st around. Join. (12 st)
Finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

Sew the black circles towards the edge of the yellow circles, then sew them both to the off white circles towards the edge.

Beak
Row 1: Chain 9. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 dch in each stitch. Turn.(7 st)
Row 2: Ch 1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (6 st)
Row 3: Ch 1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (5 st)
Row 4: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (4st)
Row 5: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (3st)
Row 6: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (2st)
Row 7: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (1st)
Finish off. Sew in tail.

I pinched the tip of the beak and tied it with some yarn to give it that pointy tip.

Owl Ears
Row 1: Chain 9. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 dch in each stitch. Turn.(7 st)
Row 2: Ch 1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (6 st)
Row 3: Ch 1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (5 st)
Row 4: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (4st)
Row 5: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (3st)
Row 6: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (2st)
Row 7: Cha1. Decrease. 1 hdc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 hdc in each stitch. Turn. (1st)
Finish off. Leave a long tail to sew onto beanie.
Cut 2 pieces each of tan, off white, and black yarn. Pull through the loop of the yarn pieces through the chanin and then pulling the ends of the yarn through the loop.


Sew eyes, beak, and ears onto the front of the hat, use photo for placement.


Ties
Cut 3 pieces of 20" of 3 different colors of yarn. Pull each color through and fold in half to make 6 pieces of yarn per color.

Fold ear flap in half to find the middle of flaps.
Attach yarn by pulling the loop of the yarn pieces through the chain and then pulling the ends of the yarn through the loop. Braid each set, keep length even. Tie off. Trim ends.

I would love to see your creations!! Send me a link! Happy Crocheting!

Long Beach Comic Con - Oct 29, 2011

This was my first experience at a comic con. I wanted to see what the hype was about. No doubt, there were tons of people dressed up in character. I've compiled my own trading cards (above) with some of the characters I got a chance to snap. If you're wondering what who the girl in the middle is supposed to be Amy Winehouse, zombie version. I know she's not part of the comic series, but I needed one more space filled. Next years cards will be much better for sure!

I took a bunch of photos I decided to start with the artists! Can you believe it, I found 3 Filipino and 1 Chamorro artist! Whoot Whoot!

The cute filipina girl, Kamilla Portacio, is the daughter of Whilce Portacio,
a famous artist that draws for DC and Marvel. So amazing how young
she is and already a good artist!

Tone Rodriguez, artist who has drawn for the
Simpson, Zorro, and Ecape from LA just to name a few.

Tone Rodriguez' artwork.

More of Tone Rodriguez' artwork.

Stan Sakai, author and artist of Usagi Yojimo.

Jesse Mesa Toves. I was surprised to find an
islander on the other end of the table. Good Job!!

Jesse Mesa Toves artwork.

It was great to see some female artists in this male dominant field.

Tiffany Ho, artist.

Some of Tiffany Ho Artwork.

Now for the vendors! I found some great handmade items. Something I didn't expect at Comic Con. The first store I found was Apple 8 Store. I couldn't believe what I found. It was a diamond in the rough. Amazing artwork!!

Handmade crochet animal beanies.

More beanies. The one on the right has it's brains coming out! So creative!

The owners of Apple 8 Store!

Wire wrapped handmade jewelry. Love, love, love these!

Amigurumi. Looks like little candy.

Not your average shirt. Most if not all were designed by the owners.

2 headed Curious George, from Carlyfornia.

Owner of Carlyfornia.

Handmade corsets from Miss Carlyfornia.

An assortment of rings from Miss Carlyfornia.

Retro Outlaw Studios, LA California.

Retro Outlaw Studios. Punks not Dead shirt.

Retro Outlaw Studios. More shirts.

 Zombie Walk!

Just a portion of the zombies getting ready to do their walk.

At the end of the Zombie walk was a fair and an attempt to have the Guiness record for the most zombies for a walk.

Mens Crocheted Spiral Beanie

 

This textured beanie was a request from the other half. Ramon wanted something to keep his head warm when he went fishing on those cold mornings at the lake. I was looking for something a little more masculine than a traditional beanie, and the spirals on the pattern turned out great! He seems to be enjoying his new head gear. You can get the free pattern here from Nancy Smith from www.nlsstitches.com.