Go green

A couple of weeks ago mom sent me an email saying she thought it was a good idea to start recycling and composting.  WHAT?!  Holy shit! I was totally excited, then thought maybe she was fucking with me...  "mom are you serious?  If you are then let's do this shit!"  She was serious, thanks urbangardensolutions.com.  So that weekend we got online, found some cool ass recycling bins and started researching composters.  The recycling is a piece of cake; finish, rinse, recycle, bam you're done.  This composting thing is a bit trickier but I think we're making head way.  We took Rowen on his "special day out with grandma and aunt tiff" to Sam's, lucky kid, and we came across two composters.  One was 100 bucks and HUGE, maybe a bit too much for us, the other was $40 and perfect for the backyard. "So should I go ahead and put this one in the cart mom?"  Typical mom said, "I think I'll come back for it, I want to read about it some more." Oh for christ's (I'm showing ownership that's why there's a 's) sake.  Then she turned around and said, let's just get it.  YES!!!!  So excited, so excited! Happy happy dance. I pick up the box, wow it's a little heavy but nothing these guns can't handle, and the fucking bottom falls out, hits the floor with a loud crash.  My goodness, that's not the one we want as my face flushed bright red from causing attention.  I gently push the cardboard box back around it's inhabitants and grabbed another one, let's go mom.

I'm hoping today I can set it up and start reading the instructions, I'm a lesbian that reads instructions; if you want it done right, do it yourself AND read the instructions.

Wish us luck!  Go green.  

Queso!

Now I know what queso means!  As a vegan I've had a very difficult time saying good bye to the delicious chips and queso.  So my inner fat girl started thinking today...  and I came up with my very own recipe for vegan queso.  Oooh my --- you know, like Usher.   I used some cashew cream, added some daiya cheddar "cheese", and then threw in a little salsa.  I made a huge plate of nachos using soyrizo and my god, life was good.  My pregnant sister and her unborn daughter were in heaven.  Sari is going to be one huge vegan baby when she's born.  Muhahahahahahaa!  My plan is working!  

These are so cute!  They’re 9/16” peach button plugs with a 5/8” scarlet gum “flare” button on the front.  I’m quite excited about this pair!

Check out my etsy shop to find something you like for yourself or contact me if you have something in mind I can help you with.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BarelySewn?ref=seller_info

Changin'

Hey everyone!
   I just wanted to let you know that I've been doing a lot more of my blogging on tumblr.  It's more interactive and I can really get my plugs out there this way.  Please, please feel free to follow me there if you like.  Get one of your own too!  It's a lot of fun.


http://barelysewn.tumblr.com/


I will come to post here from time to time though.  :)

Colorful Colorado

Rowen turned 2 on Saturday!  Hot damn!  So we pulled out Gabe's birthday decorations from last year, dusted them off and threw us a little party!  Friends and family came to celebrate the day, brought presents, and hung out for birthday brownies and vegan chocolate chip cookies.  Think there were any cookies left?  Of course not!  Vegan rules ALL!  I love love love my nephews.

On Tuesday I had the sisterly responsibility of following Mandy to the mechanic and driving her and the boys back after the new soccer mom van was fixed.  We packed up the boys and headed back to Aurora to wait it out.  Gabe was convinced that he needed a Happy Meal (which he hardly ever gets) just because the last time he was at the car place he got one.  Wow, now that's one hell of a memory for a 3 1/2 year old; we have a boy genius here.  So we stopped and got the boys happy meals; Mandy and I, however, preferred something a little more refined and opted for noodles, mmmm, noodles!  The noodles we were going to I had a little anxiety about.  I feared that a former middle school classmate, who has tried twice to befriend me on facebook and has been politely ignored, was in there. YIKES!  Fuck you Aurora, why is it that everyone who goes to school in Aurora stays in Aurora?!  I avoid places I know people from high school work still, is that terrible?  Well I don't give a fuck, we weren't friends then so why would we be now?  So Mandy went in and got the food while I hung with the boys, she came back and said it was clear, she wasn't in there.  Whew!  But that leaves me with still not knowing where she manages Noodles.  Ugh.  I shall continue to tread lightly. 

Best quote of Tuesday goes to Gabe.  While helping me pick up poop, he runs with the shovel of poop to the trash can, takes the lid off, and says "Bye, go be with your family" to the turds as they roll off into the trash can of "family".

Went out to spend some time with my friend AJ today.  We headed to Barr Lake, the fresh air, the 4 mile walk, and time with AJ were just the cure for the weird mood I had been in the past couple of days.  While out and about at the lake we found and watched 4 bald eagles and a butt ton of deer.  I knew I loved animals but I was filled with genuine excitement at each animal we came across.  I had a really great time.

Today is day one of my cleanse/detox.  Things are good so far, we'll see if it continues that way, as I'm quite afraid my inner fat girl is going to have an objection and soon.

Good day lads and ladesses.

Bad Jew Jew

Hahahahahaha!  That's just a play on words, it's supposed to be 'juju.'  Get it?  Please forgive me for that unless you thought it was funny then laugh on.  

So many people have so much hate in them, really, it's overwhelming the amount of hate and negativity around.  I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I'm a saint and I'm never hateful or negative but I try my hardest to stay in a good, positive space.  For anyone and everyone that knows me, knows that I speak in length about 'the pain body.'  I was introduced to the pain body in Eckhart Tolle's book 'A New Earth.'  In the book he talks at length about it and I want to share a few quotes from his book, "...it thrives on negative thinking as well as drama in relationships.  The pain body is an addiction to unhappiness"  Have that friendship or relationship with someone that is drama filled and you can't seem to get away from it?  Hello! It's your pain body fueling up, staying strong... it's toxic to your life and happiness.  "If there are other people around, preferably your partner or a close family member, the pain body will attempt to provoke them-push their buttons..."  Cut that shit out, do you recognize in yourself that you do this?  You just have to say that one tiny, passive aggressive comment, you just have to make sure you get that one little comment in?  You're giving your pain body strength and in return you are remaining unhappy even if you don't know it.  "Some people carry dense pain bodies that are never completely dormant.  They may be smiling and making polite conversation, but you do not need to be psychic to sense that seething ball of unhappy emotion in them just underneath the surface, waiting for the next event to react to, the next person to blame or confront, the next thing to be unhappy about.  ... They magnify the ego's need for enemies."  Wow, wow.  My point is, everyone has a pain body and everyone can relate to some of this in one way or another.  Either you like to give the pain, receive it, or both.  You can manage your pain body by recognizing it when it shows itself; recognize it everytime.  

Here's to being happy and fighting the pain body within me.  That's her beef, not yours; you're vegan.

The little engine that could...

Last week while farting around on etsy I stumbled across someone's shop and felt instantly inspired.  They make their own buttons with perfectly adorable pictures in them.  They are cast resin buttons...   that's right guys, I'm hopping on that boat! My mind was immediately running wild, I could come up with so many ideas, SO MANY!

So I've done my research, I went out and bought the new things I would need, I was just so excited, I dove in head first.  Instant gratification? Ugh no.  This part of the design process and crafting is incredibly disheartening.  You try so hard to nail it perfectly, you can see the end result in your head and it's just perfect, everything you wanted it to be... it's just a crock of shit kids.  It takes time, patience, and determination to get that end result.  At this point in time I'm still knee deep in it, I'm cautiously optimistic, and I'm going to keep swimming, just keep swimming.  

So these are my little minions so far, and by minions I mean buttons.  Am I taking on too much?  Have I lost my mind?  Am I dreaming too big?  Good god, I'm not sure.  Everyone, please, please, keep your fingers crossed that my process continues to move gayly forward otherwise be prepared for, well I'm not sure about that either.  

A little too Debbie Downer?  I'm reading you loud and clear... I have ordered my business cards and they are on their way!  Hot damn!  Everyone will be getting one and I don't really care if you don't want one.  :)   

I'm off to work a little bit on my 'old fashioned' button plugs.  Keep your eyes out for the new ones posted.  

Signing off,

 The little engine that could

Vocation Inquisition

      That's real smart for "job hunting." * New Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations starts Feb 28th.**

      So that's right everyone, I'm job hunting.  I've been looking around for a few weeks now... and, well, no one has any interest in hiring me.  Bummer. Kind of.   I know that I can learn pretty much anything and be decent at it, if not great.  I have a great work ethic, one I've learned from my mother, and I pride myself in taking whatever task is given to me seriously and doing it right.  Everyone can be taught to do something, I mean everyone, but not everyone works hard and takes pride in what they do.  I enjoy people that take their work seriously, whether it's delivering a baby or sweeping the street; they have their job and they do it right, with pride. Rock on for these people.   Now where's my soapbox? Ah here it is... are you aware that you need a degree for everything?! I mean everything!  EVEN things that monkeys can do. (I don't get this saying, monkeys are really smart) I've applied to a couple of positions that sterilize surgical equipment, clean the ORs after surgery, and help the nurses have everything they need... um hello! I did that in NY, just with animals, but I'll tell you, the equipment is the same, the sterilization process is most likely the same, and to be honest it's probably easier because they don't reuse ANYTHING, so most of it goes to biohazard/trash.  These hospitals have no interest in me because I don't have an associates degree as an "OR technologist." I just want to scream!  You need a degree for that?!  It's ridiculous, honestly.  So I solider on, I don't want those jobs anyways! Giant poop on you.  I applied at Wholefoods!  Awesome, that would be so much fun!  There are a few other things in the works but my lips are sealed for superstitious reasons.

      I had an amazing epiphany (rhymes with Tiffany you know) last night, something that is going to take my button plugs to a whole new level.  I just need a little time to tinker around with the idea, master the process and you guys will see the wonderfulness.  Oh god I'm so excited.  I've got Aubrey on the sidelines, ready to help me this weekend...the deal? She wants to go to Hobby Lobby, shit girl, DEAL!

     Update on my lottery playing: I have not won Powerball or MegaMillions yet, I did however choose my own numbers and by god I'm feeling more optimistic than ever. 

I send you off with a sweet little hello from my lovebug this morning, my main man Willie.

Lucky son of a bitch!

I want to be lucky, really lucky actually.  The truth is I'm the unluckiest person alive.  I never, ever win anything.  With that being said I'm playing to win the Powerball and MegaMillions twice a week.  A wise person once said "you can't win unless you play."  Thanks mom, you're the best.  The thing about trying to be lucky with me is that I take it to an extreme, I second guess what I'm doing, which gas station I've been getting my tickets at.  I think to myself "maybe I should switch this time and go to a different gas station, what if the winning ticket is at the gas station I'm passing right now?!" Then the more reasonable Tiffany says, "no, no, no, it's like a slot machine, just stick with the one you're at, you get up and leave and that's when someone swoops in and cashes in on all your hard work and money. You bitch!"  So today I drive by the different gas station and head to the good ole trusty one I've been getting my tickets at.  I usually do the quick pick but I think from now on I'm going to pick my numbers myself and just stick with them, that's how you win it people.  The very first time I picked up a ticket a few weeks ago I matched 2 numbers! 2 whole numbers! It's only $3, but I had the powerplay so it ended up being $12!  Don't slow me down!  I took my ticket, so excitedly took it to the cashier and said "I think I won a few dollars on this one," a line of people behind me.  She scanned the ticket and in not so nice, loud voice screams at me "Not a winner!"  Oh, oh my, well that's not what I thought I was going to hear...   So I'm in it to win it people.  My friend from NYC, Coney Island actually..barf,  Jason and I were talking and he asked if I'd found a job yet.  I very matter of fact said "Oh yeah, I got a job, I'm playing powerball and megamillions."  He laughed pretty hard about that one but in the end he supports me, just hope that puerto rican doesn't expect any of it when I win.

Come on big money!

Nip/Tuck, Botox, Facelift

My etsy page had a little work done today and she recovered seamlessly! Take a look at her new "details."

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BarelySewn?ga_search_query=barelysewn&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

I made my second pillowcase too.  It's crocheted on one side and has an awesome yellow fabric on the other. Sewn by my own two hands...so precious.

I know the etsy thing gets a little old guys but this is something I'm really crazy about and I'm so happy to actually be putting my ideas out there. Everyone that has supported me thus far, thank you.

Just so you all know, I actually applied for a couple of jobs today! Wahoo! That's a total of 3 I've applied for and really, really would love to have and 2 that would be fun to have but might not pay the bills. Fingers crossed.

The Downside of "Sunny-Side Up"

Did you know:
          "Many vegetarians look to eggs as a source of protein, since no animal has to die to supply the product.  But perhaps there is a fate worse than death, such as the short, miserable existence of "battery" hens.  These naturally active birds are crammed into small cages for life, cruelly debeaked, and starved for periods of time to manipulate egg production.  They become completely stressed-out and often develop diseases such as cancer.  In addition, after being imprisoned for a year or two in this way, they are slaughtered as soon as their egg production stops.  Contrary to popular belief, free-range hens don't have it much better.
          To vegans, therefore, the most compelling reason to give up eggs is often an ethical one, but there are a number of health reasons as well.  Bacteria such as salmonella, poisonous ammonia fumes, and high doses of antibiotics can be passed into the eggs.  In addition, an average egg contains more than 200 milligrams of cholesterol and is about 70% fat.  In fact, the yolk of a chicken egg is one of the densest concentrations of animal fat there is.  At the same time, albumin, which is concentrated animal protein, can leach the calcium out of your bones."
First of all, NOT NICE!
Secondly, eww and what the hell?!
Well thank you 'Vegan Planet' cookbook for that intense piece of information.

With all that being said, Mandy and I wanted to have 'Upside Down Day' for dinner, which to rich, cold lunch kids means, breakfast for dinner, VEGAN STYLE!
We made vegan quiche and a potato recipe Mandy had on hand. Wow, I mean wow, delicious! (In my best trannie voice)
The quiche was made using Ener-G Egg replacer. We layered Daiya cheddar cheese, baked asparagus, roasted red bell peppers, and onions, then topped it off with the egg replacer. Bake until the crust is golden brown. DING! It was so simple and really delicious. We could only find a graham cracker pie crust and although it was rather sweet it oddly enough went fairly well with everything else.

I'm not one of those vegans that wants to push my beliefs on others, I simply just want to show people that you can have really great food, without any harm to animals, and hands down, it's healthier. People always say "Oh, you can't have that can you?" and although very annoying, my response has always been "I actually don't want it."
These animals deserve to live their lives, live without being tortured by cruel, absolutely insane, heartless, and unethical human beings, they deserve to just be.
If you're interested in being vegan but aren't sure you have the tools or the drive to do it, do what I did, watch some of the PETA videos... http://www.peta.org/   Be a part of it! You don't have to be outrageous, do this for you and for the animals. What kind of asshole eats a lamb anyways?
As Ellen always says, Be Kind to One Another.

Think crooked?

I can't think straight these days, well maybe I should just say these past two days.  I saw Black Swan yesterday, man what a really intense movie that was! yikes! I noticed I was tensed up the whole movie, fists clenched, legs flexed, I left feeling worn out.  On my way home from dropping Aubrey off I realized, I'm very stressed out and that movie brought it all out. My body is sore all over from stress, my mind is constantly going, constantly thinking, I started crying uncontrollably.  Ever have that time when your mind just won't stop?  Oh my god, JUST STOP please, pretty please? I'm thinking about jobs, what I want from myself, if I'll actually be able to move out, do I take jobs I don't really want for the money, I should be crocheting, I should be making my button plugs, I should be working towards a bigger goal.... I'm just always thinking. Shit, this would wear anyone out.

So I stopped to think some more, really Tiffany? really? idiot! I need to realize I have only two arms and two legs, I can only do so much. One thing at a time, do what's most important first, and when I'm done with that, do what's next.  I know, this sounds very juvenile, everyone knows that's how it works, so do I.  I just needed the reminder, I needed to remind myself to take it easy on myself.  I tend to be a little too hard on myself.  I knew I was pushing the "real job" hunting to the side because I've NEVER done something like that before, it felt great. But I knew that when it really hit me it would hit me hard, I was just hoping it wouldn't?  haha.  I needed to sacrifice some time with some really important people so I could get some of this clutter cleared out of my mind and start to feel like I was heading in a direction, any direction really, lol, start feeling like myself.

Last night I tried to meditate for a little while, jesus that shit is hard.  I'll try again tonight, I think I will really benefit from the time to quiet my mind, focus my thoughts and really learn to feel and hear myself, to quiet everything else so I can hear all my thoughts clearly, concisely; they all need their chance to be heard in the whirl wind and tornado that is my head.

One day at a time. Today I feel better, except something I ate upset my stomach.  One day at a time.
Hi, my name is Tiffany, and I'm a stress addict.

On another note: on etsy they do 'How-Tuesday'.  Here's a really cute and quick article on how to make your own little mittens... http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-tuesday-quick-mittens-11614/?ref=fp_blog_image
And while you're there, check out my stuff, I listed a few more button plugs today, they're pretty cute and colorful... http://www.etsy.com/people/BarelySewn

I hope everyone is well. Until next time.

Hump Day.

Get your filthy mind out of the gutter... it's Wednesday, Miércoles, Mercredi, 水曜日, Τετάρτη!  You know what's great about Wednesday? Three things... Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Top Chef, and most importantly, Modern Family --- seriously my new favorite show on TV.  Ai ai ai ai.  I suck at life.  


Last night I was telling Aubrey, my gf, about a pretty bizarre dream I had a couple nights earlier...  In the dream Mandy, sis, had her 3rd baby as planned, great! wonderful! All of a sudden I had a baby... huh...and it's my mom's and stepdad's...but it's MY baby, but it's theirs, but it's MINE. I'm so confused. The baby is ugly too; I'm just being honest guys, I've never even seen a baby look like this in real life so stop looking at me like I'm an asshole, k. So Mandy got tons and tons of stuff for her baby, got a baby shower, everything... I got nothing. Nothing, I had no blankets, no clothes, no diapers for my baby and I was very upset, upset at mom for not helping me the way she helped Mandy with her baby. (I knew this sounded crazy when I was telling Aubrey and Mandy about it but now that I'm typing it for others to read I'm really feeling off my rocker.) Well and then it ends. So.... First thing first, there is no sibling rivalry, none what so ever. I consulted with my dream therapist, and Mandy had nothing to offer but laughing. Lovely, thanks babe. Aubrey found a site for me to look at and I could really only search for "baby" ... how was I going to search for 'kind of parent's baby'? What I found is most interesting...  
       Baby

To see a baby in your dream, signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings.  Babies symbolize something in your own inner nature that is pure, vulnerable, helpless and/or uncorrupted. If you find a baby in your dream, then it suggests that you have acknowledged your hidden potential.  The dream may serve as a reminder that it is time for you to pick up that old interest, hobby, or project again.

Slammin! I'm loving what the baby represents and I find it quite fun.  I'm still looking for that hidden potential with these new endeavors and paths.  I'm already diving back into old interests, hobbies and projects...perfect.  :)

So that's that. My weird dream. 

I have an overwhelming want to go shopping, to spend money I don't necessarily have.  Why does it always happen like that?  I'm going anyways!   ¡agarre el día!

Adios,

Tiffany

p.s.-- oh yeah, I'm taking free spanish lessons on a podcast, please share any potentially helpful spanish!

New, Newer, Newest

I'm not sure what that title means... hmmm.

Well hi, I'm Tiffany.  I set this blog up initially so I could sell and market some of the crafty things I make, but the more I thought about it, I thought it would be great to also blog about other aspects of my life.

Allow me to introduce myself and give you a little background.  I just recently moved back home to Colorado after living in NYC for 3 1/2 years.  While in NYC I worked as veterinary technician and loved my job very much. I ALSO got a sewing machine for one of my birthdays from mom.  ahh mom.  I little by little created things for myself but rarely for others, I'd like to say that was my choice, but no one was interested honestly.  AND I decided to go vegan while living there.  So life was good except for one thing...my family was back in Colorado, my nephews were growing up, my family spending quality time together without me, I felt like I was missing out on something great.  I decided to move back but under one condition to myself, that I wouldn't come back and go right back into the same work that although I loved I was very tired of doing.  DONE!  So I'm here and loving every single second of it.  I've been creating and crafting and things are going really well, I use well loosely.

I made that one condition for myself because I look around from time to time at other people, people that actually like their job.  People that don't come home and bitch about it, people that take pride in and are genuinely happy to be doing what they're doing for money.  Why can't that be me? And on top of that why can't I be good at it?  Why can't I make the money I want to make doing what I want to do?  So I'm going for it; if I fail then I fail but I can't say I didn't try.  I'm out there, I'm doing what I want to and I'm loving it, the money is the only part missing.  haha!  Money isn't everything and I do mean that when I say it; I do however want to move out on my own and out of my mom and stepdad's basement in the near future so I'll be heading out to look for a good old fashion job just like everyone else.  BUT my condition still lies and I want to love where I work again.  Wish me luck!
Cheers.