Archive for December, 2009
Fairy-Gram
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When you were little what was your favorite activity? Most little girls love to play dress up, I know I sure did. And what little girl doesn’t love to dress up as the princess or fairy? Rachael is already in to dressing up and making herself pretty. I made her a tu-tu a while ago and it looks great but it has a little too much poof to it. We have decorated her room in frills and pink (much to Steve’s chagrin) because I’m hoping she will have a little more of a girlier side to her.
I was given the chance to review a Fairy Gram and it has gone well above my expectations. When opening the box, the little girl in your life is greeted with a beautifully wrapped Fairy Gram. Inside of our purple tissue paper was a set of fairy wings, a fairy tu-tu, fairy halo, fair wand and a pair of barettes. The barettes are so dainty and stunning. We have placed them up for when Rachael gets a little more hair but she is in love with the remainder of her Fairy Gram.
She is often seen prancing around the house all decked out. It’s enough to make anyone’s heart melt when they see her coming. We received the Pink Fairy Gram but there are several other sets in all differing colors.
PROS:
- Varying colors
- Low price for a beautifully set of handcrafted fairy items
- All encompassing gift
CONS:
- Only one size is available. While Rachael’s fit her a little on the loose side she is slightly under the suggested age. I tried the tu-tu on our niece and it was a little snug. So I wish there was a way to order a specific size or a way to give measurements.
BUY IT: Surprise the fairy princess in your life by ordering her a Fairy Gram.
Safeway’s Holiday Leftover Lounge
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With the holidays comes one problem, leftovers galore. For us we have leftover ham from our Christmas dinner and turkey from our Christmas Eve dinner. Soups and sandwiches are always a great start but eventually we all tire from them. Safeway has a great starting place in the Leftover Lounge.
The Leftover Lounge has tons of recipes to use up those leftovers like Turkey Sloppy Joe’s (Healthier than the red meat version,) turkey enchiladas and Chili Turkey Wraps. They are definitely delicious. A quick trip through Safeway (where this week some of the ingredients are even on sale for me) and we were ready to try out the Turkey Sloppy Joe’s. They were a huge hit in our house. Both kids had seconds and there was nothing left in the bowl. In our frantic life I was also able to check out Safeway’s recipe to cook a turkey in only 2 hours. Sounds like a great recipe to try next Thanksgiving and Christmas to reduce our waiting time. (Note to all make sure you start the oven not just put the turkey in the oven.)
As many of us are still recovering from the holidays and some are gearing up for New Years, why not also look into Safeway’s Delivery Service. When you purchase $99 or more (and lets face it if you’re have more than two people in your house you are probably spending more than that) you receive $15 in free groceries and free delivery. If this is your first time trying it out you also receive free delivery.
If you were in the position to not have leftovers, make sure you check out Safeway’s Weekly Specials to see whats on sale this week before you head to the store to make sure you have the best deals on your shopping list.
Safeway provided me with a $50 gift card to help me this season. This however is my own opinion.
The Final Word on Miss Violet
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I have allowed the comments to keep going because I feel that everyone involved should be able to speak without being deleted.
This could have been solved very quickly by talking to us. Some have said we should have done more research before we bought into this yarn club. I sort of agree with you on that. We should have done more research. The problem is that someone as well known in the knitting world you would never think they would run out on you, say you are likened to a drug addict or that we are whiny babies.
I have seen the plurks and comments about starting new projects and good luck to Miss Violet in that. However I would warn any companies thinking of starting a joint project to take a minute and think. Other then a few hits to my site what have I gotten out of writing these posts? Nothing. I did not receive a dime from these posts, I did not get an answer to my questions. I was removed from the message boards BEFORE my membership was sold and I was removed from seeing or being able to respond to any plurks. I’m sure if I had questioned on Ravelry I would have been deleted there as well. So I got nothing out of this other than letting my voice be heard in a space that could not be censored.
I have sold my membership in the yarn club. As promised I did not receive a penny of this money. That was not how this was started. As proof to all of those who have said that I am less than trustworthy I give you some photo proof of the donation. I blocked out the purchasers private information for her protection:

I have found some friends out of this ordeal and I stand beside them as they continue to fight to get answers. I cannot understand how Miss Violet would state that she had no idea that the September packet was not on the site as so many of us asked about it.
I hope that those still in the club and those that have just bought into it actually receive what they are supposed to. I’ll be waiting to hear if you receive a shipment this month. There is supposed to be a shipment before the end of the month which is just 10 days away. Unfortunately I highly doubt it. I have seen the “new shiny” too often now and feel that you’ve probably gone to the side while Miss Violet works on pencils, a different yarn club or something else she’s thought up to side track her from her actual responsibilities.
On a more positive note:
For those looking for something great to watch/listen in on make sure you check out Carin and Round the Twist. Carin (a familiar voice) takes on a videocast about her knitting and spinning. I love to see her projects evolve and her Mother’s Christmas present is just gorgeous. Almost makes me want to knit socks.
I also got some great hints for Indie dyers and I’m in love. I had visited Lisa Souza’s site several times but never could quite decide on an actual skein. The problem was just too many fantastic colors. I am now working on a scarf in the Mardi Gras colorway and I love it. The skein gave me quite a fit while trying to wind it but totally my fault not the yarn. I tried to wind it without the swift. Not a good idea.
I also am the owner of a new skein of Shulk from Dyeabolic Yarns. The greens are perfect for Charlie. I just have to find the perfect hat pattern. I’m in love with her Kettle dyed bubblegum colorway as well.
I have joined the Enchanted Woods Lace Shawl KAL from The Unique Sheep. It doesn’t actually start until January 10th but we did receive a gauge swatch pattern. I’m in love with my Cherry Blossom colorway in Tinsel Toes.
At this point I’m moving on. There is too much negativity in this ordeal and I surely do not want to drag myself to her level. I have my own work to do and projects that need my attention more.
Snowed In
Posted by: | CommentsWe spent all weekend snowed in:

Charlie's tricycle was on the front porch covered in snow Sat a.m.

The patio table

My poor rocker Sat a.m. By Sat p.m. the snow was up to the bottom of the seat

The trees out back
Bake Me A Wish ~~CLOSED~~
Posted by: | Comments~~CONTEST CLOSED~~
Winner is number 9: Laura Deluca

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with uL doing a party to promote safety this holiday season. We had all of our family over and a few friends to celebrate the start of the season. We decorated the Christmas tree, made some holiday wreaths and enjoyed some delicious food. We had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and for dessert an outstanding chocolate mint cake from Bake Me a Wish.
All of our guests sampled a slice and the overwhelming chorus was where in the world did you get this. While a little on the rich side, it completely fulfilled my chocolate cravings. My sister stole the small chocolate plaque that sat on top of the cake that Seasons Greetings.
Bake Me A Wish is also working to help military families celebrate their soldier’s birthdays with Operation: Birthday Cakes. A wonderful program sending cakes to soldiers for their birthdays that are overseas. And their helping doesn’t stop there Angela’s Mortgage Cakes donates 5% of the price to GreenPath Debt Solutions to help fight foreclosure one house at a time.
BUY IT: You can purchase your Chocolate Mint cake or one of the other flavors online at Bake Me a Wish.
WIN IT: Bake Me a Wish is offering one reader their own Chocolate Mint cake.
Here are the rules:
*Visit Bake Me a Wish and let me know which other flavor you would like to try.
The Many Bonus Chances (for extra chances to count you must leave a separate comment for each)
* Follow I Like It Frantic on Twitter and Tweet. Don’t forget to add the @ILikeItFrantic
* Follow this blog. If you already do let me know.
* Grab a button from the sidebar.
*Blog about this contest with links to Bake Me A Wish and I Like It Frantic and receive 5 extra entries. (Leave 5 separate comments.)
Fine Print
*Winners are chosen by Random.Org, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
*winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.
*include your email if it’s not enabled. If I have no way to contact you, your entries will be deleted.
*contest ends January4th . Winner will be posted shortly afterwards.
*open to US Bloggers only.
*rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.
Casio Wave Ceptor Watches
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YEAH Santa came early to my house. What did he deliver you ask? A Casio Wave Ceptor watch for both Steve and I. How many functions can one watch have? The Casio Wave Ceptor watch has more then I can count and all of them useful.
The Casio Wave Ceptor Watch is solar powered and the battery can hold a charge for up to 6 months. There is no winding or replacing of the battery simply step outside in the sun for 8 minutes to recharge. If you are unable to step outside the battery will charge off of a fluoroscent bulb indoors but takes approximately 8 hours to fully recharge.
To make timekeeping easy there is the radio atomic time keeping function. Follow the simple directions to update the watch to your home town and it will receive radio signals throughout the day to keep the time up to date. For someone like Steve who is habitually behind schedule this combined with the three daily alarms will be hopefully be keeping him on schedule in the new year.
If you are a business person that travels to and from different time zones and/or work with others in different time zones you may have the problem I do. While I work a set schedule from our house in the Eastren time zone, my boss works a different schedule from me and she works it in Arizona. There have been a lot of times where I have picked up the phone to call her about a problem only to realize that she is no longer working for the day. Now I can simply press a button and see what the time is in her area and throughout the world. No more frantic calls at the very last minute to try and get an answer because I can plan calls throughout the day more clearly.
PROS:
- Atomic time keeping
- Solar powered
- Stop Watch
- Backlit
- Programmed to 2099
- Water resistant
- Daily alarm
CONS
- My watch is a little snug in the band. That has to do with my thick wrists. It still fits well I just wish I had a little more length to it.
BUY IT: The Casio Wave Ceptor Watch can be purchased at retailers across the nation and online from stores such as Amazon.
Casio Exilim EX-S5 Review
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While I have a digital SLR camera that I love I do have one small problem. It’s bulky. I cannot easily fit it into the diaper bag for trips to the park or for taking a quick picture or two at a birthday party. I have been on the search for a good digital camera that is slim profile so it fits easily in small spaces.
I was lucky enough to find everything I wanted in the Casio Exilim. This little beauty boasts 10.1 megapixels with a 3x optical zoom/4x digital zoom. It is a simple point and shoot that also has some manual functions. It is perfect for all of us in the family. Once I showed Charlie which button to press he was able to take some shots. (He’s no great photographer yet and we got quite a few pics of people’s rear ends.)
We love the anti-shake function. Steve has some mild tremors that he cannot control so many of his pictures come out blurry. That is no longer a worry with the Casio Exilim. It takes wonderful shots including most of the ones you have seen on this site in the past month. I’m beyond impressed with the quality and ease of editing. We’ve recorded a few videos with the Casio Exilim and it’s not only easy to record, it’s easy to upload to Youtube with the software that comes with the camera.
The Casio Exilim comes in 5 colors including pink and blue. And comes with charger and a limited built-in memory. I would add an SD card for extra memory though. Once you start using this camera you won’t want to put it down.
BUY IT: You can purchase the Casio Exilim in retailers across the country or online at stores including Amazon.
PROS
- Slim body
- Colorful
- 10.1 megapixels
- Face detection, best shot and Youtube video capture modes
CONS
- I have looked everywhere and cannot find where there is a charger for the car. Sounds odd but we travel extensively and who hasn’t been in the position to have dead batteries. I would strongly suggest buying an extra battery to have charged and ready.
Them Crooked Vultures
Posted by: | CommentsTHE CRITICS AGREE:
“One the rarest things in rock: a supergroup that not only deserves that appellation, but which actually is greater than the sum of its storied parts… Simply put, Jones has enhanced any musical setting he’s ever graced with his classy and virtuosic presence.”–Jim DeRogatis, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
“Melody isn’t the core strength of this band anyway. That would be rhythm, which in the hands of Mr. Grohl becomes a thunderous force.”–Nate Chinen, NEW YORK TIMES
“Unfortunately, it hasn’t translated nearly as well now that the much-buzzed all-star trio, which expands to a quartet in concert, has finally released its debut album, and much of the blame must rest on the third leg of this glitzy tripod, Queens of the Stone Age bandleader Josh Homme.”–Jim DeRogatis, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut album is in stores now, both physical and digital. The band, a rock supergroup composed of Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), recently sold out a number of live appearances on the West Coast and are currently on tour in the UK and Europe, with January dates in Australia and New Zealand.
For further information and updates from the band, visit themcrookedvultures.com. Check out a video advertisement for the album here.



