WITCHY WOMAN

My Moonstone Earrings are featured in a beautiful treasury composed by Artwolf

Raven Hair, Ruby Lips, Sparks fly from her Fingertips....

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Lotion Bars!

I've listed a few in my Esty Shop.

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Lotion Bars

I have had such a fun time over the past couple of weeks creating luxurious solid lotion bars and making a huge mess in my kitchen. These lotion bars are very concentrated lotions made of only natural oils, butters, and beeswax. Unlike a lotion or a cream, lotion bars do not contain water. This means they are more concentrated and far more effective. When applied, the lotion bars will form a thin protective later on your skin that will absorb much slower while forming a barrier against the harsh weather. These lotion bars not only moisturize your skin, but also protect it. They are specially designed to melt at body temperature rather than room temperature. You can rub the bar between your hands and then rub along your skin. The heat created by your hands will melt a small amount of the bar allowing you to apply the melted lotion to your skin.This is a very rich combination of skin-loving butters and oils made especially for dry and rough hands, cuticles, elbows, heels, knees, etc. You can also use the lotion bar after a warm/hot shower or bath. Your skin should be warm enough to melt the lotion bar without rubbing between your hands. I love these things!!! I have one on my bedside table, one in my car, and one in my purse.

I made three different all natural types/formulas:
1) Super Moisturizing
Pure Beeswax, Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Unrefined Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Essential Lavender Oil (very faintly scented with lavender, the rich aroma of Cocoa Butter and Beeswax in the recipe, combined with the slight aroma of Shea Butter creates a subtle, pleasant scent)

2) Super luxurious:
Pure Beeswax, Emu Oil, Organic Coco Butter, Grapeseed Oil, Aloe Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter, Vitamin E, White Grapefruit Essential Oil (very faintly scented with Grapefruit, the rich aroma of Cocoa Butter and Beeswax in the recipe, combined with the slight aroma of Shea Butter creates a subtle, pleasant scent)

3) Vegan:
Candelilla Wax, Kpangnan Butter, Organic Macadamia Nut Oil, Organic Avocado Oil, Mango Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Lemongrass Essential Oil

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Dog Beach

Today the doggies got to enjoy a romp on the beach. They got to playwith a few Bulldogs, some boxers, lots of Labs, and quite a few small dogs (Murphy's favorite).
Waiting for the stick to be thrown....Murphy surfing in with his stick, and Kora anxiously waiting to steal it away from him.And she is successful.Murphy thoroughly enjoys the sand!
They will sleep well tonight :-)

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After the rain comes the rainbow. Political rant

These aren't the best pictures because I was taking them while driving on the freeway (probably not the smartest idea). We have been hit with quite a bit of rain lately. i would rather dwell on that than all of the horrible politics that are going on. BUT I must rant here for a few minutes....

California is a MESS!!!!

California lawmakers have agreed on a budget framework that, if approved, would raise taxes to the tune of $14 billon. Vehicle license fees would nearly double, going from the current rate of 0.65% to 1.15% of the value of a car or truck. The sales tax would increase by 1 cent, raising the rate in Los Angeles County to 9.75%. Gasoline taxes would increase by 12 cents a gallon. And Californians would pay a new surcharge up to 5% on their personal income taxes. That’s right: they’re planning to tax our taxes. This is so frustrating! California already has the highest income taxes and the highest state sales tax.

Not only is California planning to raise taxes, they currently cannot pay back the taxpayers whom have been overcharged (like me). The refunds are in the form of IOU's! The problem is the bloated spending bills we have. This state is all about helping the poor and illegal. STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE! "Cut taxes, cut spending" is a nice slogan, yet these same legislators are taking home $162.50 tax free per diem each day they stonewall the vote.

It is shameful and embarrassing that the elected legislators and Governor cannot resolve the budget crisis in California. California's budget deficit has swollen to $42 Billion. The state also has nearly 3 million illegal immigrants that cost taxpayers approximately $13.1 billion each year. Illegal immigrants are not the sole cause of the state's deficit. But they are a huge drain.

*Educating the children of illegal immigrants is the largest cost, estimated at $7.7 billion each year.
*Free medical care for illegal immigrants (who do not pay taxes) and incarceration of those who have committed crimes are the next two largest expenses.
*The state is spending $775 million on Medi-Cal healthcare for illegal immigrants, according to the legislative analyst.
*There are roughly 19,000 illegal immigrants in state prisons, representing 11% of all inmates. That's costing $970 million during the current fiscal year.
*So-called emergency services are a huge state cost: $536 million. Prenatal care is $59 million. Not counted in the overall total is the cost of baby delivery -- $108 million -- because the newborns aren't illegal immigrants. The state also pays $47 million for programs that Washington does not require: Non-emergency care (breast and cervical cancer treatment), $25 million; long-term nursing home care, $19 million; abortions, $3 million.
*Illegal immigrants aren't entitled to welfare, called CalWORKs. But their citizen children are. Roughly 190,000 kids are receiving welfare checks that pass through their parents. The cost: about $500 million, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

This $9 billion figure does not include other expenses that are difficult to measure, such as special English instruction, school lunch programs, and welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal immigrant workers. I’m sure there is an answer in here somewhere. California state officials need to acknowledge the fiscal impact of illegal immigration and remove the welcome mat to those who are not entitled to residence, employment or most benefits.

To make matters even worse, a big share of the financial burden of raising Octomom's 14 children could fall on the shoulders of California's taxpayers. Even before the 33-year-old single, unemployed mother gave birth to octuplets last month, she had been caring for her six other children with the help of $490 a month in food stamps, plus Social Security disability payments for three of the youngsters (in California, a low-income family can receive Social Security payments of up to $793 a month for each disabled child. Three children would amount to $2,379). The public aid will almost certainly be increased with the new additions to her family. Also, the hospital where the octuplets are expected to spend seven to 12 weeks has requested reimbursement from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, for care of the premature babies, according to the Los Angeles Times. The cost has not been disclosed. This is disgusting! It's my opinion that a woman's right to reproduce should be limited to a number which the parents can pay for.

Sorry, that is way longer than I intended it to be. I guess I have some pent up anger on these issues!

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President's Weekend

To start the long weekend off, we met some friends out for some fun...We took the dogs up to Angeles Crest to play in the snow...And I got to spend some time with the horses.

The first foal of the year was born at the farm where Mazzy lives. The baby is a beautiful filly by Orientate and out of Floatlikeabutterfly. She was born on Monday, February 9. I love the fuzzy whiskers and soft curly manes babies have! She is so sweet and curious.

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February's Featured Etsy Blogger : Donna Pool Designs

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Donna Pool. Check out her great shop which is chock full of handmade buttons, vintage fun and photography. To learn more about Donna and what she is up to check out her blog. Congratulations Donna!

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It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Valentine's Day Cocktails

I am a romantic, I love Valentine's Day, and I am lucky to be able to spend it with my sweetheart this year. Here are some romantic drink recipes to warm the cockles of your little hearts this cold February.

"May you never lie, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in each other's arms. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink with all of us because we love you." Author Unknown

Strawberry Kiss
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. Vanila Vodka
1 splash(es) Cranberry Juice
1 splash(es) Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz. Strawberry Liqueur
Champagne
Instructions: Serve in a champagne flute glass and garnish with a strawberry.











Love Bug Drink
Ingredients:
3 part(s) Ginger Ale
1 1/2 part(s) Dekuyper Pomegranate Liqueur
1 part(s) Absolut Vodka
Instructions: Mix over ice in a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge.














Passionpolitan
Ingredients:
1 oz. Parrot Bay Passion Fruit Rum
.25 oz. triple sec
2 oz. cranberry juice
1 squirt lime juice
1 wedge lime
Instructions: Add Parrot Bay Passion Fruit Rum, triple sec, cranberry juice, and squirt of lime juice in ice-filled glass and stir. Garnish with lime










Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
Shot of espresso
1/2 oz. Three Olives Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz. Godiva dark chocolate liqueur
1/4 oz. Amaretto
1/4 oz. Kahlúa
Baileys to top off
Instructions: Shake ingredients with ice. Rim the glass with shaved chocolate. Strain cocktail and top with Baileys, whipped cream, and cocoa.





Flirtini - as seen on "Sex and the City"
Ingredients:
1 oz. Vodka
2 oz. Champagne
2 oz. Pineapple Juice
Instructions: Combine Vodka, champagne and pineapple juice in a highball or Collins glass (the short kind, not a martini glass) filled with ice.

He’s Just Not That Into You (I had to include this one, because I loved the name!)
Ingredients:
2 oz SKYY Infusions Grape Vodka
½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
½ oz.Cointreau
2 oz. 7-Up
Instructions: Combine all but 7-Up in a tall mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain over fresh ice into a martini glass, and top with 7-Up. Garnish with a lemon twist.







The Godiva Truffletini
Ingredients:
1 oz. Godiva Original Liqueur
1/2 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
Instructions: Stir with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a Godiva truffle or chocolate shaving.











Romeo and Juliet Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. Patron Silver tequila
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
1/4 oz. cherry or Chambord raspberry liquor
2 oz. chilled peach juice
3 maraschino cherries, garnish
Orange spiral, garnish
Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice; add tequila (or Absolut Apeach), Grand Marnier, cherry liquor and peach juice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds and pour into a chilled fluted glass or large martini glass. Place orange spiral on the lip of the glass so it drapes down the side.

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Yippee, I'm featured on another treasury!!!

Black & White and HORSES All Over!

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Slumdog Millionaire

We saw Slumdog Millionaire tonight and really liked it. The poverty and filth was disturbing, but the story was great. A boy growing up in the ghetto basically gets a lucky break on a game show and then questioned and taken in with suspicion of cheating? An uplifting story because the boy only went on the show to get noticed by his one true love. I enjoyed this film thoroughly. A must see indeed! I love happy endings!

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I am featured in a treasury on ETSY!

Check out this beautiful treasury that one of my bracelets is included in! It expires Monday, Feb 9th at 2:43am, so go on over there before then!
BLACK and WHITE HORSES (with a touch of color)
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=38240

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25 Random Things About Me.

Ok I got tagged in Facebook and this is the sort of level my brain can cope with just now. I am supposed to tag 25 more people, but I don't like to do that. If you are reading this and want to give it a try consider yourself tagged.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. If I had more time I would learn how to knit, sew, make soap, and home made candles. I love making things.
2. I can't just sit and watch tv, I must be either making jewelry, going through the mail, updating my website. I hate sitting around doing nothing. I think I have a slight case of OCD.
3. I have insomnia. It drives me crazy that Chad falls asleep 30 seconds after he gets in bed, and I lay awake for hours wishing my mind would calm down.
4. I have no idea how or why I majored in Finance, and then made a career out of it. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up, but this isn't it!
5. I wish I could win the lottery (although I hardly ever play) at least once a week so I can follow my bliss.
6. I had bright red hair in high school. I worked as a hair dresser's assistant and colored and permed people's hair (with no license or training to do this).
7. Sushi is my favorite food.
8. Flavored Vodka and club soda is my drink of choice.
9. I am the worst at remembering people's names, I will forget someone's name as soon as they are introduced, however, I can remember almost every horses' name I have ever met.
10. I broke my sternum in college.
11. I was stuck on the freeway once in a car chase which ended with cops surrounding my car with guns drawn. The guy jumped out of his car ran across the freeway and got away.
12. I cannot understand why I am the only one who wants to leave work at the end of the day. No matter what time it is (or what company I am at), I feel like I am always the first to leave. Do these people have no life outside of work???
13. I am a compulsive note-taker and list maker, even when I have no need to take notes for anything. I find it comforting for some reason — probably because my memory is so bad.
14. I'm from New Jersey and I don't have an accent.
15. I haven't had cable tv for the past 10 years.
16. I think I might be fundamentally incapable of following a recipe. Even when I’m making something for the very first time, I’m drawn to experimentation.
17. I don't want children, never have, I only babysat once as a teenager and I hated it. I'm missing that maternal gene.
18. I have two tattoos
19. Public speaking is one of my worst fears
20. I am SO afraid of heights I don't even like looking down out the window of my fifth floor office building.
21. I'm far from a creature of habit. I like random. I try to do something random every day. Keeps me on my toes.
22. I love living in California, but it’s made me soft when it comes to fluctuations in the temperature. I wear a sweater if it drops below 85 or else I'm cold.
23. I have four step brothers
24. I HATE bell peppers (yes even the red, yellow and orange ones), but love jalapenos
25. I’ve never been hospitalized overnight. I guess that’s a pretty good track record given some of the less than brilliant decisions I’ve made over the course of my life.

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Update: CPSIA Law SUSPENDED for 1 year!

The Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that they are proposing a 1 year suspension of the burden of lead testing and certification while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement!

read more about it on ETSY

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

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Groundhog day predicts longer winter

Happy Groundhog Day!

NEW YORK (AFP) – Don't mothball the overcoats yet: groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, America's favorite, furriest weather forecaster, announced Monday that winter will last another six weeks.

Groundhog.org, official website of the bizarre tradition in a small Pennsylvania town that gets international attention, reported: "Phil Says 'Six More Weeks of Winter!'"

The forecast is based on whether the marmot, after being woken from hibernation each February 2, can see his shadow. If he does, spring is another six weeks away. If not, winter is over.

According to the site, Phil announced to a select group of handlers who wear top hats and are known as the Inner Circle: "A bright sky above me showed my shadow beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be."

Meanwhile, New York's NY1 television reported that a rival groundhog did not see its shadow following unsuccessful attempts by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to lure the creature out of its shelter at a city zoo.

In Punxsutawney, the Inner Circle scornfully dismissed Bloomberg's photo opportunity.

"Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors," groundhog.org said.

The tradition has its roots in an old wives' tale brought by German immigrant farmers.

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s, according to the website. The current spectacle, which has become a tourist attraction and was the subject of a Hollywood comedy with Bill Murray in 1983, first took place on February 2, 1887.

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