Here is a quick list of my favorite happy distractions from this last month.
A new way to think about creativity.
Ever want to take your favorite quote or slogan and turn it into a nifty poster, suitable for framing or facebooking? Sure you do.
Thanks to my friend Nicki for telling me about Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary. I am sending off a bunch this week. Update: Per Jillian’s comment below, Sandy Hook is now set for snowflakes but they still need other modes of assistance.
DIY cat loafers. I’m already half-way to a litter.
Where can I get an old dishwasher rack?
Two ingredient pizza dough? I’m on it.
An awesome way to display instagram (or any kind of) photos.
Thanks to Kiwi at Craft Boner for pointing me to this article on the woman behind the Lisa Frank empire. In short: Her name is Lisa Frank. And she is crazy. And I want to crawl under her skin for a day. Don’t you?
The club of self-appointed manners cops is growing. Thank you, bajeebus.
My favorite quote this month: “If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire.” ― George Monbiot
Under the Category of Shameless Self Promotion
If you live in central Europe, next time you are at a news stand, pick up a copy of Couch magazine and turn to page 131. I have no idea what it says (it’s in German) but it looks like a cool magazine with all sorts of nifty business. If they sold it here I would buy it just to picture gawk (and not just because I am in it).
The Huffington Post featured my work in a spread on cooking with Pop Rocks. This says so much about the state of modern culinary trends, not to mention my life in general.
Thanks to my pal Katie at Lemony Jitters for featuring a collection of my old projects.
Have you seen my second baby, I Believe In Strangers? This one, The Lobster, made me a little weepy last week. I’m still looking for submissions, so please chime in the comments over there.
Interesting fact: Every time I post a picture of a cat on Facebook, at least three people unlike me. At this point I have given up and simply consider it a means of separating the wheat from the chaff. Let’s start off the year with another one, shall we?
Lola sends you all the hugs and all the eggy fish breath you can handle in 2013. Happy New Year!
ajp2020
Well, you KNOW I am a cat person, and LOVE your blog, so those who wish to unlike you because you post Lola are just NOT welcome to follow. There are those of us who enjoy her because she is lovely and beautiful and just so part of you. Keep her on your blog. That is my vote (and I see there are others!)
Debra Montague
I LOVE her eyes! And anyone who unfriends you because you like (worship, yes, worship, that’s what we do) cats isn’t a friend. I would never think to unfriends some of the names on my list because they like dogs.
Sarah Pierson
Happy 2013 to you Aunt Peaches! Thanks to your wonderful blog my girls and I have had many a lovely (and squabble-free) afternoons making coffee filter flowers, modge podge fancies and writing Christmas cards to little ladies across the country. We don’t comment very often but know how much we love your blog. And the cat is pretty fine too 🙂
catbee
you’ll need about 1/4 cup more flour than that recipe says, but i can totally vouch for the 2 ingredient pizza dough. we’ve mixed ground flaxseed in with ours as well.
i’ve also been meaning to give it a whirl in the form of breadsticks.
PeachesFreund
Ahhhh, thanks for the tip about the flour. I will try that!
kiwi
I’m a firm believer that the world will never have enough cat pictures. or stories of kindness. so thanks on both counts!
Katerina Bon Vora
OH my goodness, your blog is transformed! aaahh sparkles! brava once again Aunt Peaches. A very happy new year and great success for 2013 and beyond! I am so loving you and your cat right now.
Kathryn Humphreys
That is the best FB stat ever 🙂
PeachesFreund
🙂 Everyone is entitled to their opinions, I guess…
PeachesFreund
How sweet is THAT? Wow. What a great story. I’ll post that on I Believe for sure. Keep an eye out….
Nicki Soller
Thanks so much, Peaches. I’ve a great snowflake anecdote for you: When one of our elementary school teachers brought a humongous box of snowflakes (by the kids, of course!) to UPS to be shipped, the attendant asked about the contents. Upon hearing, she told our teacher, “This one is on us,” and did not charge for shipping. A warm gesture…
Have a Happy, Healthy, Blessed, Crafty and Wordy New Year. xo Nicki
Cheryl Gibbs
I like your links!
I also love your cat (wow, what beautiful green eyes)!
The Lobster story reminded me of a time when I was pregnant with our fourth child, my husband had recently graduated with his Master’s degree. He traveled frequently for his new job and was rarely home. I worked one 12 hour shift a week as an RN. We had recently moved out of my in-laws house (an almost year long stint because of sick kids and trying to get husband done with school) and we hadn’t had a mattress since we moved out (yes, I did say I was pregnant). One evening we got a knock on our door and we were so surprised and touched to see that someone left a brand new mattress with box spring, frame, sheets and a blanket on our front porch.
That was nearly 20 years ago and we still call it our miracle mattress (we’ve had a couple of new mattresses since then–not one as special or as comfy). We think of it often and will be forever grateful for the sweet kindness of an anonymous donor!
Jillian (Birds and Baking)
I was excited about getting involved in the snowflakes for Sandy Hook project, but googling it just now I see they have been buried under a blizzard of paper snowflakes and are requesting no more donations. http://www.ctpta.org/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html
PeachesFreund
Thanks Jillian — I edited above to reflect your comment. I’m glad they are set, but I must admit I am sad about my snowflakes though…they are lookin’ pretty sweet. Next year….next year.
PeachesFreund
What a sweet story 🙂 Glad to hear everyone is chipping in when they see a chance to help. Happy new year!
Stella Dora von Swineburg
If anyone unlikes you because of thiss fabulous photo of the gorgeous Lola, we are glad they are no longer in our ccompany! May 2013 be your best year yet