Update on Etsy sale for Nie Nie

Well, that sale is pratically sold out.  There's 3 items left.  When it was going on, I clicked on a reversible apron to buy as a Christmas gift, but talked myself out of it as it was $43.  A nanosecond later someone scooped it up.  Just out of curiosity, I searched for reversible aprons in Etsy and found an amazing apron with a damask pattern on one side and a solid grey fabric with stitched flowers on the other side.  For only $18 dollars!  I bought it immediately!

From seller DreamState

I'm still going to do something for Nie Nie, that sale was just at too fast of a speed for me!

Buy on Etsy for Nie Nie

I recently found out about this blogger, Stephanie Nielson (aka Nie Nie), who was in a plane crash this August in Arizona. Stephanie suffered burns over 80% of her body and her husband suffered burns over 30%. The flight instructor passed away in the hospital. This story just makes me so sad, especially a blogger who shares her life story in print for everyone to read. Stephanie's sister is posting updates on her own blog, c jane enjoy it, and there is a recovery website too with more information. Today at 10:00 am PST (1:00 pm my time) there is going to be a sale on Etsy where the proceeds will benefit the Nielson's. Check it out, I'm sure the goods will go super fast because their story has spread to and touched so many people. They have even been featured on the Today show and I believe a blurb in People magazine.  I'm definitely gonna buy something and keep up with c jane (Courtney)'s blog as she updates almost daily on their condition and surgeries and whatever else.  Goes to show you how powerful blogging can be to spread the word and help support this amazing family.

Step away from the fast-food!

Danny and I did something that neither of us have done before.  We went to two fast food restaurants in one day!  For lunch Danny met me at a free-standing Chick-Fil-A which opened a couple of months ago.  That was a nice break to my work day since I'm always alone on my lunch break.  It was a little stressful in there though with small kids running around, two disneyesque characters dressed as cows, balloons everywhere and a play land.  And the kids were deathly scared of the cows!  I asked Danny to get me some honey mustard sauce and I guess they wouldn't give it to him unless he hugged the cow character.  Where's my camera at times like these!  

Then in the evening, we decided to go Sonic which was in it's opening week.  I thought it was so unfair to be tempted by those Sonic commercials on cable and not have one around, so when Danny and I found out one was being built in Cleveland we were so excited to go.  He only gets one day off a week so two fast food restaurants in one day it is!  I personally wanted to go not for the food but for those cool slushies.  This place had much of the same as Chick-Fil-A with craziness, kids and this time a Sonic character dancing around.  Danny does this thing he calls "shotgunning it".  Basically he has no idea what he wants to order and when prompted at the speaker orders a crazy combination of food, this time a corn dog, chili dog, double cheeseburger, tater tots and jalapeno poppers (for me).  And we got my beloved slushie, a lemon lime concoction, plus a fried ice cream Sonic Blast that was staring at us the whole time on our personal menu board and loudspeaker.  Yeah, my body felt like I betrayed it for a day.  But it was so much fun!

Kiss My Face Product Giveaway

The economy is BAD and I am really starting to feel it because my paycheck isn't covering the things it used to.  Luckily there's a plethora of "frugal" blogs to give me ideas on how to save money and they all link to one another.  I stumbled upon this blog today, Stretching a Buck.  They are giving away some children's products from a company whose products I have been buying online since 2001, Kiss My Face.  I think that was the first time I used my credit card online!  Anyway, their products are all natural, organic, smell great, etc.  I especially love the Moisture Shaves because they are unlike any other shaving cream I've used with all the natural ingredients and you can feel good about not buying a metal can!  I can only imagine how good their new kid's line is great to be.  Check the contest out! 

Target saves the day!

I've had a bit of writer's block but leave it to me to do something dumb as fodder for new blog material.  I was driving to work today and I look down at my feet and see I'm wearing flip flops! I wear the flip flops to take the dog out and never changed into work shoes.  It was too far for me to turn around so I planned on stopping in the Target I pass every day.  I frantically went to the shoe section and searched for something cheap and most importantly, that fits.  I saw the new fall stuff and everything was so dressy and not my style. Where was the sale section? Finally, 3 aisles down I find the sale section and after almost settling on ugly Cherokee mom shoes I find these:

On sale for $5.74!  And leather, which my feet deal so much better with.  That was some hard-core shopping right there, I was up against the clock and found something cute and on super sale!  

A facial and a concert...

Yesterday I had a long awaited facial appointment at the Brown Aveda Institute. I wanted to get the facial in June and they only had a Saturday opening yesterday so I just booked it. A little background on the Brown Aveda Institute - they are a beauty school that strictly teaches their students the Aveda products and philosophy. All services are performed by students supervised by their teachers, the prices and stupidly cheap and there's a no tipping policy! I went for the essencial facial ($27!) and the girl worked on me for an hour. She put two masks on my face and while the first mask was setting she massaged my feet, the second mask she massaged my arms and hands. Definately very relaxing and worth it! I rebooked for October.

source

My next event of the day was to go to the Rod Stewart/Bryan Adams concert at Blossom Music Center. My aunt had gotten free tickets on the lawn and invited a ton of people. Blossom has a pavillion with assigned seating and then lawn seats which are general seating and far away. When you sit on the lawn you bring your own blankets to sit on. Beach chairs are permitted but they have to be 9 inches from the ground, those low ones. After the facial, I went crazy trying to find a beach chair because I didn't want to sit hours on the ground. ( I had only sat in the pavillion before). I found one at CVS for $11 after 25% off which was great. Bryan Adams opened and sang all of his hit songs. Then the raindrops started. Luckily before the concert, I filled out this survey and "won" a concert emergency kit which included a poncho. Well, I ended up using the poncho along with putting the blanket over my head and was drenched!!!!!!! We had to leave after Rod Stewart sang his 3rd song and lightening boomed in the air. I'm glad I went, I'll probably never see Rod Stewart again. But that soaked, drenched feeling took a little while to go away after I got home in my warm, cuddly bed.

True Life: I'm Deaf

I have been a huge fan of MTV 's True Life series, partly because it first aired in 1998 when I was the same age as the subjects in the documentaries, and also because they touch on really interesting topics.  10 years later and I will still catch an episode and watch it when flipping through the channels.  Yesterday I happened to catch True Life: I'm Deaf, and it was one of the best episodes ever!  The one kid, 16-year old Chris, was born deaf but decided to get a cochlear implant.  There is a scene where they turn the implant on in the doctor's office and Chris hears for the first time ever.  It was so emotional, I cried!  He hears his mother's voice for the first time and all kinds of ambient sounds that we all take for granted.  It is amazing to watch his expressions as he is discovering new sounds. Very inspiring and makes you rethink what you're doing in your own life.