A few weeks ago when I was suffering from a broken heart, I threw myself into crafts instead of drinking; fancy that! I’m so grown up! So here is a pair of candleholders that I made:

First, I started with candlestick holders and cup-ish things I got at Dollar Tree.

I glued these together using E600 glue. (I hate this glue because it is smelly but it is nice for this because it doesn’t dry right away so you can move the cup around on the base if it’s not centered on your first placement).

I took some tissue paper that I had lying around and decoupaged it to the outside of the cup. Despite its modern flair because of the zebra print, I think it still works with my other non-modern decor because of the neutral colors.

Then I glued a piece of teal ribbon around the top and glued three maroonish buttons to the ribbon. The pictures don’t really do the color justice, I swear they don’t look as jettie-ish as they appear in the photo.

I placed tealights in both holders. The total cost for these candleholders was around $6–you can’t beat that and I don’t think they look cheap.

I was originally going to do this with scrapbook paper but was glad I had tissue paper on hand because the light really shines through on the tissue paper.

Pet Peeve of the Day: The intense jealously I feel for the East Coast right now! I want that much snow in Chicago!!

Quote of the Day: ”She never stumbles, she’s got no place to fall.” –Bob Dylan

OMG, how cute are these?! Anyone wanna take a road trip to ‘Nati??!

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Love this.

see more Lol Celebs

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I know this is an old video but it still makes me laugh:

Pet Peeve of the Day: Hearing thumping bass techno beats coming from my downstairs neighbor

Quote of the Day: “The edge… there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.” –Hunter S. Thompson

What do you think of my new blog layout/design? I was kind of over the old layout and I think this one is easier to read and more user friendly. What do you think??

There are obviously some layout issues with some old posts but other than that the transition has been smooth!

Now, the question is– do any of you computer savvy people know how to make a blog button? Something that other people can put on their blog sidebar to spread the word? If you know how to make one or can let me know how I can do it for free, please let me know! My one attempt at an internet search was fruitless, unless I want a really ghetto looking one. Thanks!

A very special Super Bowl edition!

Trivia is just another form of random shit, so you know I love it.  Useless knowledge can help you impress people, or win shots at a bar.  It’s win-win all around.  So try your hand at these questions… NO GOOGLING!!!  I’ll post the answers in the comments section later today…

1) Who holds the record for most passing yards in Super Bowl history?

2) What team has made the most appearances in a Super Bowl?

3) What team scored the least amount of points in any Super Bowl game? How many points did they score?

4) Name the team that appeared in every Super Bowl from 1991 – 1994.

5) Who was the first black head coach to coach in a Super Bowl?

6) Who won the first Superbowl? When was it played?

7) The Moday after the Super Bowl is often referred to as what?

8 ) What team has won the most Super Bowls?

9) What active teams have never appeared in a Super Bowl?

10) How is a home versus an away team determined in the Super Bowl?

11) What stadium has hosted the most Super Bowls?

12) Bonus Question: What MVP from the Neighborhood Boy’s Club Bee’s has a birthday today??? (Hint: He is also the best brother in the world!)

Things I Live For: the Dollar Store; wearing glasses

Quote of the Day: “I’ve come to know the cold, I think of it as home – When there ain’t enough of me to go around, I’d rather be left alone – But if I call you out of habit, I’m out of love and I gotta have it – Would you give it to me
if I fit you needs – Like when we both knew we had it.” –Guns n’ Roses

PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY!!!!

There appears to be some conspiracy in the automated menu world. Every time I call any sort of business with an automated menu, I am told to “listen carefully, as the menu options have changed.” After hard reflection, I am calling bullshit.

We all know at this point that, as Americans, Americans who speak English, we will inevitably have to press “1″ for English. That’s been a pretty stable fact of life since the turn of the century.

So what could have changed? Because I didn’t know Comcast customer service was so cutting edge that they need to continually update their menu choices. Is it really necessary to go through 15 minutes of automated menus when inevitably the person you finally reach will end up transferring you anyway? And I’m sorry lady in India, did I really ruin your day because I am having trouble with my cable and you only field questions about cable boxes?

Did your menu change because now you have a robot talking who doesn’t understand the English language? Because let me tell you: it’s not progressive and technologically savvy to implement a tool that is slower and more frustrating than MS-DOS.

And doctor’s offices? There’s only been a few options available since the advent of the telephone: if it’s an emergency hang up and call 911 (and by the way you are an idiot); press 1 for prescriptions; press 2 for appointments; press 3 for test results. Is there a magical something else that doctors do that I don’t know about? Because listening carefully certainly doesn’t reveal it.

I am fed up with automated menus and the time spent navigating them. Don’t con me into thinking the options have changed in order to assure I go through a lengthy choose-your-own-adventure. Because I have discovered the ultimate kiss off to these weapons of mass frustration, (and it is not pressing zero because you will just be told “invalid entry”).  Firmly and clearly say “representative” the moment the menu starts, and pray a robot doesn’t answer.

Pet Peeve of the Day: See above.

Quote of the Day: “Why don’t you break my heart one more time just for good luck.” –Bob Dylan

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As I writer, you have to be a reader, so I have found myself with a lot of books– too many for my current bookshelf.  And since I like to keep all the books I read and never give them away or pass on to friends, I knew I needed a solution.  There has been an empty space in my house that I thought would be perfect for a small bookshelf, but again, I lack the funds to spend $80 on one.  So as I was antiquing a few weekends ago, I discovered all these old wooden boxes that were being used to display various antiques.  I thought if I bought 4 or so of them, I could create my own bookshelf.  Awesome.  I found two boxes at a store in Indiana, and two more at a store in Michigan.  The boxes ranged from $3 – $14.  I was very excited to get them home and put my idea to work.  Here it is:

I really got lucky that these fit so perfectly into this spot as I did not have measurements!

The box on the bottom left is my favorite– it is an old ammo box.  It has metal handles on the side and weighs about 20 pounds– it was one of the more expensive ($14).

The vase is a Dollar Tree glass vase that I lined with a piece of scrapbook paper.  The branches I found on the beach in Michigan!

You may have also noticed that I grouped my books on the shelves according to color.  I got this idea from a Real Simple article and I really like the effect it gives.

All in all I am extremely excited about my bookshelves– I absolutely love them and the look they have!  I think they look a lot better than a run-of-the-mill, expensive bookshelf would look!  And we all know I love unique things!!  What do you think??

I am submitting this project to Do It Yourself Day over at A Soft Place to Land.

 Pet Peeve of the Day: Rain in January

Quote of the Day: “Let us be thankful for the fools.  But for them the rest of us could not succeed.” –Mark Twain

Trivia is just another form of random shit, so you know I love it.  Useless knowledge can help you impress people, or win shots at a bar.  It’s win-win all around.  So try your hand at these questions… NO GOOGLING!!!  I’ll post the answers in the comments section later today…

1) What was John Lennon’s middle name?

2) What are the only mammal’s that can fly?

3) How many U.S. states spellings end with the letters “ia”? What is it/are they?

4) What woman was the first playmate when Playboy was released in 1953?

5) In the year 1800, the federal government of the United States moved to its newly constructed capital in Washington, D.C., from what city?

Things I Live For: At the moment, not a damn thing.

Quote of the Day: “Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” –James Baldwin

Cute kitty pictures are a necessity this week:

This kitten looks like I have felt all week (except she/he was able to maintain their cuteness, I don’t think I was able to do that):

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My plans for this weekend:

Exciting, I know.

Pet Peeve of the Day: That lady on the red team on Biggest Loser

Quote of the Day: “When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was.” –Mitch Hedberg