Thought Frosting

Well, I finally gave sewing a try! The last time I’ve used a sewing machine had been back in high school for my home economics class. The only things I can even remember about that class was that at the start of each class the teacher would read a selection from ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff’ by Richard Carlson and that I made one of those hand held bean bags that are used in tossing games a la carnival. Around that time I even managed to hand-stitch a cameo messenger bag which surprisingly got a lot of compliments. For the past four or five years I’ve been on and off about wanting to learn to sew again. I had all of these projects in my head that I convinced myself I wanted to take on and last Christmas my boyfriend surprised me with a brand new sewing machine. That sounds all dandy but I haven’t even used until a few days ago! Why? Maybe I’m intimidated. Maybe I’m lazy. Maybe I’m afraid of trying something I know I won’t be good at immediately. I hope I will start building confidence with it and start working on some of those projects that have been on my mental ‘to do’ list. With that being said, I have successfully threaded the machine, with a good share of cursing and boyfriend assistance, and managed to sew a lumpy little Halloween bandanna for our little pup, Zelda!

Zelda in her Halloween bandanna. She’s not such a fan of the flash!

It’s a little bit rough but I think it was good practice for a “first timer”. Initially I made the actual bandanna a bit too small so I added the little extension pieces that I attached the snaps too. All in all it doesn’t look too bad in person and Zelda seems to not mind wearing it so I’d say it was a success!

One thing I noticed, aside from actually getting both the machine and fabric ready, was the mess that’s involved! I have scraps of fabric, random bits of string, supplies and pins covering my work area. I not only need to be more tidy and develop a sewing work flow but I think I need to invest in a pin cushion! This then brings me to the second half of this post in which I share with you some super cute pin cushions that I’ve been scouting on Etsy. Each of these are adorable and are like mini works of art for your sewing area. Check out a few of my favs:

Needle Felted Wool Snail and Mushroom Pincushion by whimwham

Hand Embroidered Woodland Deer Pincushion by blushful

Hedgehog Pincushion by lifepieces

Redback Spider on Purple Felt Handsewn Pincushion by spincushions

Cupcake Delight Tomato Pincushion by StitchNerd

Tree Stump Pincushion by hitree

Southern Red Velvet Plush Cupcake by cherylasmith

Shabby Chic Pincushion by BelleCoccinelle

Pin Cushion Black and yellow Swirl Print by pworiginals

Big Babushka Pincushion by Beaky

I have to admit that I am a little bit late in the game in regards to the release of the Tic Toc Apocalypse series by Amanda Visell. Regardless, I have to say I’m intrigued with this original series. This mini-figure blind box set is a part of the Kidrobot family and features 14 variously stylized fabled creatures that are both familiar (gnome, centaur, griffin, jackalope) and unfamiliar (giraffagon, pegaphunt, wood dragon) to the curious blind box enthusiast. Perhaps the best creature of all is the Poopicorn and the Evil Poopicorn which are both accompanied by a wee ball o’ poop! Like most blind box series, Tic Toc Apocalypse runs about $9.99 a box and is somewhat tricky to find. What I like most about this series, aside from the awesome pooping unicorns and endearing giraffe-dragon hybrid, is that it seems as though these creatures have been hand-plucked from the pages of a children’s storybook yet there is something quirky, whimsical and adult about it.

I am a 26 year-old woman and I just received my very first Lego set, ever.

As a kid Legos were on the list of toys that I really, really wanted but never, ever received. Aside from being far too expensive, I do remember my mom telling me upon several occasions that Legos were “for boys” to which I would just roll my eyes and sigh. I had realized even then that arguing against her viewpoint would not only prove pointless but wouldn’t successfully land a Lego set in my eager hands. Because of this, I had to live vicariously through family members and friends who received Legos on their birthday or for Christmas. And if I was lucky enough I would get a chance to play with them.

One of the perks of being an adult is the ability to spend your money however you want and the only thing you have to answer to is your own bank account. I still see Legos as being something that is overly expensive but somehow so very alluring in their potential for producing unique creative constructions. I soon found that I had allowed myself to become fully seduced into the notion of purchasing a set for myself around Christmas-time when I had purchased the White House from Lego’s Architecture series for my beloved. I have to say here that I was able to conduct some savvy shopping in order to avoid paying full retail price and shipping costs. When he started putting it together it began to click that I could not only have my own Lego set but be completely free of judgment. You know… the fact that I’m a 26 year-old woman… maybe I shouldn’t be spending money on something like this… it’s just going to take up space…. and so forth. I was not only free to pick out a reasonably priced set but was also not deterred, scolded, or frowned upon for doing so, thanks to my beloved.

Thanks to Christmas I was left with not only a  little bit of pocket money but some “Lego donations” as well,  I immediately decided on Hagrid’s Hut. I felt justified in making this purchasing because it was relatively inexpensive at $39.99 and it was a Harry Potter themed item. I mean, who wouldn’t want a miniature Hagrid’s Hut sitting around on your desk or bookshelf?! Needless to say it has since arrived and has been fully assembled. I worked on it here and there over the course of a Lego-themed weekend and now my first Lego set rests proudly on the mantle over the fireplace next to the White House. I have to say that although they are a rather costly toy, assembling it was rather enjoyable and something I enjoyed regardless of my “big kid” age.

Regretfully, I realize that it has been about six months since I last posted here. Do I have an excusable reason as to why I haven’t posted in so long? You can bet your buttons that I don’t. So, in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve decided that I will jumpstart my blog  by posting a list of goals for 2011. Riveting, I know. But I these are things I really, truly hope to accomplish by the end of the year.
Here we go:

1). Start back up with working out and eating better: This is classic. Last year I did well with working out and dieting for a few months and then it seems like after the cruise and the trip to Las Vegas, things just went downhill after that. Add to that the holidays and all the sweets they bring! I know what I have to do in regards to workouts and food choices, it’s just a matter of actually doing it. Imagine that?

2). Pay off a credit card balance: While I don’t have an outstanding amount of debt, I do struggle with paying off what I owe due to my ever meager paychecks. In December I transferred my balance over to a card that is interest free until November 2011. If I stay the course, I will be able to have it paid off before then. Leaving me free to pay the other card down super quick.

3). SAVE MONEY: This honestly shouldn’t have to be on the list. It should be something that just happens. But this is vital in order to not only do the things I want to do but to have a little nest egg to ease my worries. Without this, the next two goals wouldn’t be able to happen!

4). Go on an awesome trip: I am leaving this one somewhat vague. My boyfriend and I have had the goal of going to Amsterdam and Paris. Hopefully this will be the year we can visit at least one of those places providing I am able to save up and we find a good deal!

5). Get crafty: Sew, paint, craft, take pictures… I need and want to do it all with a vengeance! I have so many ideas of things I want to do, but somehow I just really don’t get around to it. Pretty famous words, eh? With a new sewing machine in tow, I would love to start creating my own plush, purses and doll clothes. I would love to start painting more frequently and hell, I’ve got to get my craft on in order to offer some new items in my Etsy shop… there’s so just many cool projects I can get myself into…

For now I believe this to be a good start. It’s only 6 days into 2011 and I have a gut-feeling that it’s going to be a great year! I’m moving in with my boyfriend of two years and I’ve got two decent jobs that will pay my bills. I’m healthy, happy and have no real worries. I need to remain positive, patient, and kind to myself. If I can do that, then I believe I could tackle anything. Here’s to a great 2011 ahead!

I honestly only became interested in this game when I discovered it was a time management game much like Cake Mania, Diner Dash and Burger Island. Wedding Dash starts out with a brief overview of the each wedding, such as the couple’s name, preferences for their dinner, wedding cake and honeymoon destination. This give you the chance to score $300 before playing. The game features five different themed venues, or locations, that each contain ten different levels, or wedding parties, to attend to with the hopes of meeting Quinn’s financial goal. In each level you play the both the roll of a waitress and the wedding planner herself, Quinn. As the waitress you are responsible for seating the wedding guests according to their preference on which table they want to sit at, which guest they want to sit next to, or which guest they don’t want to sit next to. You must then take each of their gifts to the married couple’s table before you can begin serving them. Then it’s up to you to satisfy each guest so that they receive their fancy, three course meals in a timely manner. It is also important to note here that you must satisfy requests that are beyond dinner service, such as music requests, a glass of wine, or even wanting to switch tables.

While playing waitress, you have to also delegate Quinn’s responsibilities as the overseeing wedding planner by reassuring an angry or weepy guest, preventing a wedding cake from tipping over, shooing a barking dog, ensuring the music keeps playing, fighting bridesmaids, and even preventing a kitchen disaster with the chef. If the wedding guests get too out of control, she may even have to deal with a Bridezilla! Luckily, Quinn has a few tricks up her sleeve to help calm cranky guests; she can make use of her sparkling champagne or party streamers.

Time management and being aware of the wedding guest’s needs is the trick here since some guests have a very short temper and can cost you money. Overall, I would say that this game is amusing and has a nice pace to it. It’s something you can pick up and play just a few levels at a time or you can work your way through in about a day or so. There is some variety to the different levels in reference to Quinn’s profit goal, guests needs, and even the total amount of available seating versus the number of invited guests.

Though Wedding dash proved to be entertaining and fun, the only level I found to be truly challenging was the very last level. It is important to note that the graphics are somewhat small. Once you get going with the hustle and bustle and the screen starts filling up with guests and their requests, it’s somewhat difficult to select specific guests, food selections, and what not. Throughout the game Quinn is able to upgrade various elements such as a faster waitress, faster chef, extra points of every cake slice served, and so forth. These upgrades are only available if you surpass your profit goal and reach an expert goal. It is only on your next level that you can use your upgrade. Your upgrade doesn’t stick with you throughout the entirety of the game, which could be a bit of a disappointment for those who like to accumulate and build up impressive skills or tools that can help get a better handle on the service.

Wedding Dash is a relatively inexpensive way to keep yourself occupied and is perfect for fans of Cake Mania, Diner Dash and Burger Island. It’s also cool to play as Flo from Diner Dash on a few levels, since she has become fast friends with Quinn!

I first discovered LUSH in Mandalay Bay while vacationing in Las Vegas, NV with my boyfriend back in May. It was there that we not only discovered how friendly and helpful the LUSH staff had been but how absolutely fabulous their products were, specifically The Godmother soap and their signature bath bombs. Having recently scrubbed The Godmother soap bar down to her very core, we ventured to our local LUSH store here in Orlando, FL to stock up on some more heavenly smelling goodies. Aside from stocking up on more soaps, I snagged one of their Fresh Face Masks called Oatifix.

Claiming to “soften and moisturize dry and sensitive skin” it is packaged in a 2.1 oz. black container that needs to be refrigerated, since it contains only natural preservatives, and can provide up to five masks or more. Upon first use, my impressions had found the coloring of the Oatifix Face Mask to look a bit like unbaked banana bread and its texture resembled oatmeal which could be a disgusting turnoff for some. I found Oatifix’s smell to be overly delicious and almost tempting to eat. It smelt exactly like bananas, almonds, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, just as its package’s ingredients revealed, all smashed into one divine little mask. Once applied the Oatifix Fresh Face Mask was both refreshing and soothing to put on and wear, thanks to it having to be refrigerated. It is honestly the first facial mask I have ever used that did not burn or crust over and easily washed off to reveal baby-smooth skin and clean, clear pores. It was responsibly priced considering that it had been made up and refrigerated right in the LUSH store from fresh, organic ingredients. All in all, I have to say that purchasing this face mask had been a positive experience and just might be responsible for morphing me into a loyal LUSH shopper. In fact, I am already looking forward to when we run out of our small soap collection and the face mask so that I can venture back to LUSH to get another body-product fix.

It goes without saying that every woman loves the feel of a new bra, especially if it has the right fit. I feel as though I have miraculously re-discovered just how wonderful finding the perfect bra can be and how awesome it has actually made me feel. I have always been a fan of the wonderfully sexy and feminine products of Victoria’s Secret but I must confess to a new-found respect and admiration of their phenomenal Body by Victoria Full Coverage Bra. For the budget conscious shopper such as myself I find it a rare treat to be able to walk in and out with their familiar pink stripe bag in hand filled with nothing more than their 5/$25 panties that they continuously have on sale, much less a fantastic new under-thing that made me not only smile when I tried it on but giddy to be able to begin wearing it.

This past weekend my fabulous boyfriend took me to a V.S. hub with the intent on purchasing a new bra after my trusty Body by Victoria Ipex met its doom in the dryer. I have just recently accepted the fact that throwing it in the dryer right before leaving for work might not have been the best idea but, needless to say, the deed had been done. Usually shopping for clothes and under-things is a hassle that I do not look forward to since it is so very hard and frustrating to find items that fit me perfectly. But somehow, on the particular day of Monday July 5th the stars aligned and the bra-gods answered my prayers of not only finding the perfect, most comfortable bra but doing as much in a timely manner. While the Body by Victoria Full Coverage Bra may lack the typically sought after V.S. sex appeal, it is overly comfortable, feminine, form fitting, supportive, well made and proves to be so very lightweight that it feels like a wonderful cloud of bra mist surrounding my lady bits. I do realize that this post might be a little bit ridiculous but I honestly have to say that I am overly grateful to Victoria’s Secret for making such a wonderful product. I am also overly grateful to my very loving and patient boyfriend who not only put up with the mall madness, the swarming pre-teen girls and oblivious women but for generously making me oh, so comfy underneath it all.

A few years ago I somehow developed this crazy love for miniatures, particularly miniature cakes and sweets, and decided to open my very own jewelry & craft shop on Etsy named Loretta Red that would not only feature all sorts of sweet creations that my mind could imagine but also encourage girls of all ages to “Embrace the Cute!”. With that being said, I had quickly come to find that Loretta Red had been, and continues to be, my own little creative oasis in which I can retreat to in order to relax, unwind and have a little bit of fun. The items featured in my shop range from necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, hair accessories, one of a kind artwork and ACEOs as well as miniature decorated cabinets and cupboards.

The creation of the cabinets and cupboards have to honestly be my most favorite pieces to not only dream-up and collect items for, but to sand, paint and arrange adorably tiny items in order to create a cheerfully themed dollhouse miniature that could be perfect for someone’s own dollhouse collection or workspace. Since I’ve opened my shop I have created about ten or more cabinets and cupboards, with my very first ones being: Messy Pirate Cabinet Full O’ Booty, Sweet Dream Candy Carnival and Enchanted Fairy Themed Cabinet; all of these ones have managed to successfully find loving homes around the world! My very favorite cabinet by far had been the Sweet Dream Candy Carnival. I loved it so much I tried to recreate another version of it that, this time, I most likely won’t part with.

I have a few new items in the works and I am planning to tackle a large, two-story miniature dollhouse that will not only be brightly painted but brilliantly decorated with all sorts of cute odds and ends. This will be my very first attempt at a larger dollhouse piece. At the moment I am thinking of running with a “candy castle” theme; I will be sure to post some pictures once progression gets underway! All in all I really do love creating new jewelry both for my little shop and for myself personally, though I have to say my pride and joy has to be my little decorated minis and it is my hope that one day all my creations find loving, adoring homes and also bring a little decorative sweetness to people’s worlds.

For more photos of these little cabinets, please visit my own personal Flickr page )

Despite a slight shipping mix-up and delay from the folks at Rotofugi, I am pleased to say that I am now a proud owl-parent of three adorable Harley + Boss Owlets, a plush collectible sparked from the collaborative effort of Nathan Jurevicius and Andrea Kang. These miniature little Owl plushies are palm sized, measure close to 3″ in height and arrive to you in a blind box… so you never know which little Owlet you’ll get!

I had originally ordered two blind boxes and was kindly provided with an extra from Rotofugi, because of their shipping mix-up. After carefully opening the packaging, I realized I had been lucky enough to receive three different Owlet babies: Baron (mint green), Baby (yellow) and, my favorite,  Ives (gray). Each are as soft as can be and very well made. Their chunky little bodies are adorable and their pastel coloring and stitch-work help lend to their individualized “little owl” personalities. Although their design is somewhat simplistic and slightly reminiscent of popular 1960s owl inspired figurines and artwork, these little Owlets are fun, cute and a simple little decorative ditty to keep you company.

Aside from my puppy thinking these little guys are her new chew toys, I have to say that I am pleased that I decided to purchase a few, and even more pleased that I was able to snag my favorite little gray one!

Hello, my name is Amanda and I have to be completely honest in saying that this is not my first stab at  journal writing, much less blogging. I don’t have the best record for successfully keeping up and maintaining any sort of  journal or diary. And somewhere along the way from morphing from a teenager to  a 20-something I’ve lost track of all my failed attempts since I’m unsure of how many blank pages I’ve abandoned and how many online accounts I’ve neglected. It always seems as though I start my literary pursuit with good intentions, hoping to finally commit to translating all my wandering thoughts into cohesive words, and somewhere along the lines these intentions slowly fade away for no good reason.

Thought Frosting will be a platform that I can turn to in order to not only share my personal thoughts, opinions and points of interest, but will be a place in which I can finally learn to loosen up and get over this “fear” I hold of publicly writing. I would like to thank my boyfriend, T, in not only helping me bring this blog to life but for being supportive of my many soon-to-be writings. Hopefully, this site will be the perfect place for me to unwind and brush up on my virtual penmanship. Thought Frosting will be the home of a variety of workings from various points of personal interest would most likely range from book reviews, toy reviews, travels, new attempted recipes, crafts and jewelry making, my Etsy shop Loretta Red and photography, just to name a few. It is my intention to faithfully keep up with Thought Frosting as best as I possibly can and I can’t wait to see where my own sweetly frosted thoughts take me…