NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS...RESOLUTIONS AND RECIPES!

Hi all my lovelies!  I just wanted to take a moment to let you know my blogging plans for the new year.  I know I have posted a little sporadically as of late, between Christmas and my health issues it has been difficult.  This new year is a new day!  Read on to see my resolutions and to see what our traditions for New Year's we celebrate in my family!

BEAUTY, BRAINS AND BRAWNS GIVEAWAY!

International Giveaway - 5 reasons to be happy this Winter
Giving away 5 great products! Check it out at this link:
http://beautybrainsbrawns.blogspot.com/2011/11/beauty-brains-and-brawns-international.html

Good Luck! Love and Hugs!

Jillie

CHUNKY BLING BRACELET INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY

From the New-Love Make up Blog "About Chunky Bling bracelets:Bead Bracelets: If you haven’t noticed lately, chunky bracelets are the hottest new style. Red carpet celebrities and mommy fashionistas alike are sporting bold, chunky bracelets on their wrist. With our huge selection of chunky bead bracelets, in many colors and styles, there is no excuse for missing this fashion trend!"

Doesnt that sound like something you want to win? Just go here to enter:

http://www.newlove-makeup.com/2011/12/chunky-bling-bead-bracelet.html

Good Luck! Love and Hugs!

Jillie

ANOTHER AWESOME GIVEAWAY!

Keeping the spirit of Christmas alive, here is one more reason to pamper yourself. Leora and Vanity No Apologies are presenting you a chance to win a gorgeous satchel bag! Details are at the link below!

http://www.vanitynoapologies.com/2011/12/win-satchel-handbag-christmas-giveaway.html

Hurry offer ends on Dec 31st!

Good Luck! Love and Hugs!

Jillie

AWESOME GIVEAWAY!

Paradiso- The Style Store and Vanity No Apologies together are giving two lucky people a chance to shop from Paradiso's store for free. The two lucky winners get to pick up anything of their choice from the store.
The link to the site is: http://www.vanitynoapologies.com/2011/12/win-jewelery-accessories-and-more.html

Good Luck!
Love and Hugs!

Jillie

NEEDLEWORK MONDAY: POST CHRISTMAS PLANNING

Whew!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!  Ours was small and family focused, the best kind!  Now that Christmas is over its time to start planning my projects for the coming year.  So...lots of work to do, but I always think the planning is part of the fun!  You get to use your imagination and really think about what you need, want, or are just dying to try your hand at.  For my plans for the next year, read on my lovelies!

THURSDAY FOOD AND RECIPES: QUICK AND YUMMY PUMPKIN BISQUE

Yummy!  A few days ago I was hungry, real hungry.  I didn't want to cook something that would take a long time, this was a serious hunger we are talking about.  It was cold outside and I needed something warm.  I looked through the pantry and saw some cans of various ingredients, and an idea started to come to me.  Read on to see how to make my quick and easy Pumpkin Bisque!

WEDNESDAY CRAFTY TIME: MAGAZINE PURSE AND MAIL SORTER

I love my crafty Wednesdays!  And I did prepare this on Wednesday, even though I am posting it on Thursday.  It was time to put down my crocheting for a moment and just create something fun.  I looked around the net for an idea and I found a lot of people making those bracelets out of candy wrappers.  Hmm...I thought.  That is cool, but I have no candy wrappers and I really, REALLY, don't need to eat that much candy just to get them!  What I do have a ton of is magazines.  So why not cut candy wrapper sized pieces and then have at it?  Sure, we can do this.  I also have a little mail sorting shelf that is terribly ugly and not my style, so I am going to up cycle it.  Let's see just how much fun we can have crafting with old magazines!  Read on my friend, read on...

TUESDAY MAKE UP: CHRISTMAS THEMED NAILS AND REVIEW OF SALON EXPRESS NAIL STAMPING KIT

My dear Hubs got me some things for my nails for my birthday on the 18th.  I generally dislike getting older, but I am having such fun with my blog and crafts and such that this year it was no problem.  I just looked at it as celebrating the 20th anniversary of my 22nd birthday.  That makes me still 22, right?  At any rate Hubs presented me with a box of 12 nail polishes, and the Salon Express Nail Art Stamping Kit you may have seen touted on As Seen On TV.  The following is a review of the stamping kit, as well as my Christmas themed nails I did just for fun!  Read on to see if I liked it, loved it, or left it!

MONDAY NEEDLEWORK: FINGERLESS GLOVES, WRISTIES, ARMWARMERS...

Wow!  Fingerless gloves, wristies, arm-warmers, mitts, whatever you call them, are super popular at the moment!  I have made six pairs in the past few days to give as gifts.  I got to thinking, usually when something becomes popular like this, there is a reason behind it.  Like in the 80's, when legwarmers were all the rage, it was directly related to the fact that we were wearing mini-skirts, and it was cold out!  What is causing the great fingerless glove rush?  I know! I think I have figured it out, if you want to know too, then read on my friend!

GRAB BAG SATURDAY: MORE ABOUT ME

Okay my lovelies...when I left off last Saturday I had just arrived at my first duty station in Yongsan, South Korea.  I didn't mention the day I arrived there.  It was September 11th, 2001.  Yep, you got it...9/11.  THE 9/11.  So what happened.  Did I arrive safely?  Did we get high jacked?  Did the smell of kimchee bowl me over?  Did I ever get used to the crazy signs, packaging and clothing slogans?

If you want to know...read on!

MAKE UP REVIEW: CRUSH COSMETICS

I placed an order from Crush Cosmetics and thought I would let you know how it turned out.  Crush is an Etsy shop, and you can find it here.  I ordered 2 full sized eye shadows, a lip tint, and 20 different eye shadow samples.  Read on to see if I liked them, loved them, or chose to leave them!

NEEDLEWORK: CROCHETING AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS!

I don't know about you, but I am crocheting, crafting, and knitting my behind off!  Don't get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying it, but it seems this time of year I always have a crochet hook, paint brush, or something artsy in my hands!  I have links to several free patterns for crochet and loom knitting to share with you!  There is still lots more to do, and it is a great activity to keep me busy while I am recovering from my injections.  Oh, there is awesome news: I have my camera back!  No more crappy web cam pics!  I thought I would share with you what I have made so far, and what I still have in my queue.  If you wanna hear about my plans and see my progress read on!

GRAB BAG SATURDAY: A LITTLE ABOUT ME!

Okay, I know I already have a snippet of a bio posted.  I thought however, that you might want to know a bit more about the chick who rambles on about make-up, crochet, crafts, etc...I must get around to writing my book one day.  I have started it several times, its just such a daunting task!  Anyway, if you'd like to know a bit more about my crazy life read on!

 

INJECTIONS!

Do you ever get back pain?  I mean really bad, excruciating back pain?  I sure do!  I have a couple of herniated discs in my back and it does not feel too good!  On Friday I am going to the Veteran's Hospital in Richmond, VA.  I will be having a series of injections in the hopes we can restore some normality to my back.  This is my third set of them.  The first two made no difference whatsoever, but I am hoping against hope these will.  If this doesn't work, the next step in surgery and I just don't wanna go there!  So...my apologies for being absent the past 2 days.  It has been a pain in the back to get anything done!  I won't be MIA for long, I promise!  Will be back to my usual by Saturday for sure!  Take care, Love and Hugs!
Jillie

WRISTWARMERS...

All my children are getting wrist warmers for Christmas.  They want them.  I know.  These fingerless gloves are mega popular right now.  I attribute this to the fact that everyone walks around with a cell phone glued to their hand!  Read on for my adventures in wrist warmer making!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

I love winning something, mostly anything will do.  It is awesome when it is actually a really nice item!  Ran across this on the net and thought I would pass it on:

Here's the link!  Good luck!

Giveaway Link: http://www.beautyandblog.com/2011/10/giveaway-sigma-cleansing-polishing-tool.html

Love and hugs!

Jillie

TOMATOES, TOMAHTOES...

That's right!  It's Thursday...at least it's Thursday's post anyway!  Thursday is more than just the fourth day of the week, it's also Cooking and Recipes day here on Makings and Musings!  I wimped out and didn't cook dinner last night so I thought today I would just pick a specific food item that I love and write about it!  So, I picked...

Tomatoes!!!  Read on for some of my favorite ways to take advantage of their tangy, sweet goodness!

BEADS!

Ah, it's crafty Wednesday!  Oh, wait.  Checking the calendar just reminded me that I have skipped a day somewhere.  I hate it when that happens.  So, yes, it is Thursday technically, but I am posting about Wednesday's project...it happens!  So, I was thinking about what crafty thing to get into and it occurred to me...Christmas crafts are everywhere, let's avoid that.  I really like crafts that are functional, or wearable, and I have recently sparked an interest in making jewelry.  I know!  Beads!  Let's make beads!  Read on for my bead making follies!

ADVENTURES IN LIP GLOSS...

I recently started playing around with making my own make up.  I am having a blast, and just yesterday received another package from TKB Trading with more supplies!  So far I have made eye shadows and lip glosses.  Lip glosses?  Yay!  Love them...I love make up in general, eye shadows are my biggest weakness, but I loves me some lip gloss!

So I told you already that I have this problem...I think I can do anything!  So I decided I could make my own lip gloss.  Let me tell you it was fun, but I immediately noticed I was not prepared for this adventure.  I mean what do you mix it in, and with?  How do you get it out of the bowl once you mix it?  And how much of a mess can you make when you try to put it in those little bitty round jars?  Hee hee...
Read on for my adventures in lip gloss!

RECYCLED YARN, PLARN, AND A HAT AND SCARF

Just like everyone else who crochets or knits, I have been needling my little hands off in order to get some projects finished before the big day: Christmas!  I have lots of family members to make things for, and whether they like it or not, they would LOVE to get something homemade from me for Christmas!  I don't know about you, but I love the instant (well, almost) gratification of one skein projects.  They come together quickly and allow you to use up spare yarns from your stash.  I found a cute hat and scarf pattern that fits the bill!  The coolest thing is that I have recently started using recycled yarns and this groovy stuff called Plarn.  Read on for more about recycled yarns, plarn, and grab the hat and scarf pattern for yourself!

FAVORITE ETSY SHOPS: GLORY BE HERBALS

Not long ago I was struggling with my face.  Did I have problems with my skin? Yup! It was the dreaded combination skin, it can be dry as heck on my nose and cheeks, but oily on my chin and in the creases of my nose. I had a moderate amount of blackheads and some large pores that desperately needed to find another home.  If that wasn't bad enough I had adult onset acne!  I searched for some articles on facial care and ran into something called the OCM (Oil Cleansing Method). 

FAVORITE ETSY SHOP: MADISON STREET BEAUTY

I have a confession...I like to shop on Etsy....a lot!  I thought I would share some of my favorite Etsy shops with you, just in time for Christmas shopping!  On Etsy there are lots of great homemade items, and vintage things for sale.  It's fab.  Next confession?  I am addicted to mineral make-up, particularly the eye shadows.  And particularly the ones made by Bridget at Madison Street Beauty. 

OUT OF THE BOX

I just opened my very first "Out of the Box Sampler" box. All I can say is WOW! You can find the company here . According to their website:

"Each month we put together boxes filled to the brim with 16-18 (and sometimes more)different businesses' samples for you to enjoy. The boxes overflow with items like melts, scrubs, bath, body, tarts, candles, gourmet foods, jewelry, coupons, discounts, cards and much more, from some of the best e-tailers on the web."

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

First post!  This blog is going to follow my artful adventures!  I have always loved crafting things, it is just better to make things with your own hands!  I get myself into just about everything, and everything is an adventure!  I hope you will join me on this crazy ride and we can learn a few things from each other!