A Day in the life of a Dracofly

Microwave Baked Apples - 'nother "no sugar" dessert:)

2012-01-20T17:22:00.001-08:00

BAKED APPLES!

love 'em so much, its unbeliebable! ...yes, i just spelled that wrong on purpose:)

Microwavable Baked Apples Recipe
*One apple cored. (peeled if you like, but i think the peel adds an extra kick of flavor!).
*Honey
*Pumpkin Pie Spice
*Cinnamon

Put apple in a microwavable bowl, pour honey on top, about a teaspoon or so. Sprinkle two pinches of Pumpkin pie spice, and a dash of cinnamon on the apple.
Cover with a microwave safe plate (this, together with the bowl, will act as a steamer). Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Remove plate with potholders-IT WILL BE HOT! Let apple sit for 5 mins. then EAT!

**I like to smash it all up with a knife and fork before eating, but you can eat it any way you like!**

Let me know how it turns out for you!

Fragrant Simmering Pot Recipes

2012-01-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

Picture Source

Mmm....sounds sooo good on a cold winter night..and im sure it smells great!

Imagine: coming home from work, setting a pot of simmering goodness on the stove, sitting down with some cocoa, and reading a book...:)

Your ideal day home from work might sound a little different, but no matter what, these sound amazing!
I just found this link while searching for something to make my home smell cozy and I can't wait to try some of these recipes!
Fragrant Simmering Pot Recipes Click this link here for 15 recipes!

....I think im gonna try one tonight:)

Easy Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Drink!

2012-01-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, my first day without sugar, and I get hit with cold, cloudy, allergy-related weather...ugh....
*All I ever wanted was a mug of hot cocoa*:(

I decided to stop whimpering and get up off my bum and research....sugar free hot cocoa.

BEHOLD-there is such a thing. (and its so simple, i was rolling my eyes thinking, "why didnt I just think of this?".

Sugar Free Hot Cocoa
2 Heaping Tsp. of Baking Cocoa (there shouldnt be any sugar in it).
2 Tsp. of Honey
Pour hot water from a teapot on it and mix it up in your mug.

Makes one mug sized serving.

I absolutly love it and it tastes almost exactly like the sugary types PLUS, its good for you too!

Let me know how it turns out for you!

New Year

2011-12-31T15:44:00.000-08:00

This year has been full of things that I started, and cut out of, in my life.

This next year I will be adding some things and most likely taking out junk again...I am making these resolutions with my sister so we can support each other. Even though she lives two states away, I believe we can do it!

No sugary drinks or foods (birthday parties and major holidays being the only two exceptions).

Workout 5 days a week. Tae-bo M, W, F. and Yoga+15 min Walking T, Th.

BE DILIGENT about both of these.

These will be big changes in my life, but I think with God's help, and my sister's support I can make it!

P.S. there are some people in my life that don't think I can do this...I'm gonna prove you wrong! :)

Update! New items...:)

2011-12-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty busy...here are only a "couple" new items in my shop:)

FREE SAMPLE HOLIDAY CARD!! :)

2011-10-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that you will be able to get a FREE sample holiday card from Indolilly's Designs! (I'm so nice, I know) :)...

All you have to do is go to this LINK to the card (its the free sample), and enter in this code at checkout: HTSXEGCRSLTH .

**This code is for one free card per customer**
***The code will be valid until November 24, 2011***

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hand Knit Pumpkin and Decor Balls:)

2011-10-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've been busy these past two nights! Trying out a new way to make pumpkins-knitting! Also, gathering beautiful scraps of fabric for these decor balls:)

Click on the pictures for the listing and more pictures!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

2011-09-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

Been busy today! Click on the picture to see more pictures of these adorable pumpkins! Perfect for fall home decor! Great little decorations for "next to the computer" cheer!

100% Silk Purple Pumpkin

2011-09-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

I just got done making this beautiful 100% silk fabric pumpkin. Isn't it cute? It is now for sale in my etsy shop!

If you would like a pumpkin in a different color and fabric, feel free to let me know and I will be happy to make it for you!

DIY Upcycle a Pillow and make a Cover for it!

2011-09-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got new pillows for my bed, yet I didn't have the heart to throw out good, old pillows...

This is a simple and easy tutorial to upcycle a pillow into new glory.

PS its the one with lace on the end of it on the left:)

Step one get a pillow.

Step two-cut an opening in the side of the pillow.

Step 3- cut your pillow in half and put one half back in the pillow case.

Step 4- sew your pillow case shut, next to the pillow (ps this is harder than it looks but is possible!).

Step 5- cut some fabric-

Cut 1 of 13.5" x17"-Linen
Cut 2 of 9.25" x17"-Linen
Cut 2 of 2" x17" --Lace AND Linen (1 of each)
Cut 4 of 2" x9.25" --Lace AND Linen (2 of each)

Step 6- take your linen and lace 2 inch widths and put them together.

Step 7- Sew your lace and linen strips to each of your 3 linen pieces.

Step 8- Iron the seams flat towards the linen and lace 2 inch sides.

Step 9- Along the tops of your pieces (excluding the front piece), you will (1) fold over and press a quarter inch, (2) fold over and press another quarter inch, and (3) top stitch along the fold to make a finished edge.

Step 10- Put all your pieces together, right sides facing each other, and sew a quarter inch all around.

Step 11- your finished product should look like this:

Step 12- turn inside out and put your half of a pillow, pillow, into your cover. and tada! your finished!

I used this tutorial over at Cottage Magpie to help me along. :)

Same Idea, Yet Better: Curtains

2011-09-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so about a month ago, I was completely obsessed with these curtain panels from Ballard Designs. Therein lies the problem, they were $179.00 - $229.00 PER PANEL! ...yea right, i said to myself, I can make them for way cheaper and maybe even better! These are burlap and crewel work, but I decided to go with linen since I liked the look better, and a stencil with white fabric paint!

I could not, for the life of me, find a stencil big enough or that I liked, so I bought a "make your own stencil" kit from Michaels, and printed off a design I liked the best, then traced the design onto my stencil, cut it out, and started painting...:) I only sewed the top where the rod will go through because i kind of liked the ragged look.

{Picture Source}

Here are the results! Whaddya think? I personally love them and they only cost me around $80 for the fabric, paint, and stencil! I like them SO much better, yet they still have that certain quality i liked in the Ballard ones.

Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend:)

DIY: How To Make A Fabric Pumpkin

2011-09-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

After seeing all the beautiful fabric pumpkins on Etsy.com, I decided that it was about time I made my own:) (I made 2 others before this, so I had practice by the time I made this). The day started out fine, I found a roll of fabric in the back of Value Village for $0.99...great price for this pumpkin if you ask me!

The stem and leaves were made of an old wool scarf that my brother used to own....

I then cut the roll of fabric into 15" strips. The final fabric piece that you will be working with will be equal in width and length when folded in half-for instance this will be 15"x15."

Then I sewed all the pieces together length-wise and made sure that the dimensions were correct and cut off any stray pieces to make the final piece even all 'round.

I then sewed the two ends together so that all the long sides of the fabric were sewn together forming almost a cylinder.

After the fabric was all sewn together, I toon some twine (you can use any rope or yarn you want, just make sure that it will hold when pulled tight) and a big needle (you will be pricked...).

Once the twine is threaded into the needle, make a quick stitch through one of the ends of the fabric.

Then, pull as tight as you can and tie in a double knot.

Once you have done that, flip it inside out and stuff! Make sure that you stuff till you can't stuff anymore, then add some on top. You don't want a sad looking, deflated pumpkin...lol

Then take some more twine and stitch through the top of the pumpkin.

Once again, pull as tight as you can and knot it. It will look like this:

Tie another LONG piece of twine onto the previous string (make sure it will stay when pulled tight). DO NOT CUT EITHER STRING OFF! (this will be important later).

Then, take your threaded needle with the long string, and pull it through the OTHER end so it goes around the pumpkin.

Pull the string up through the top and pull hard, you want the definition of a pumpkin.

Continue to go around the pumpkin with the string in this manner, and remember to pull tight. Once you get to the end and you have gone around the pumpkin with the string as many times as you want to, tie the string to the first string you had there, into a knot.

Then sew on your stem and leaves with the remaining twine. You can make them out of any material you like. Here I am cutting the leaves.

TA-DA! My $0.99 pumpkin is complete!

The tutorial that I used to help me along, was from Thompson Family Blog. She gives GREAT instructions and pictures:)

New Stuff!

2011-08-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

Want to see more? Click HERE:)

Bath Salts!

2011-07-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Added 4 new scents of bath salts to MistySeaside!

What Have I Been up to These Past Two Nights?

2011-07-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

Come check out the 3 new necklaces HERE! :)

Acorn Heart Layering Necklace

2011-07-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Loving this Acorn Heart Necklace :)

New Shop on Etsy!

2011-07-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Misty Seaside

This just happened.

2011-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Necklace Pendant. Do it. It's fun. :) Check out this link for the step-by-step tutorial.

Before and After: Salvaged Lamp and Shade

2011-05-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is what I had to work with...

I stripped the original lampshade and recovered it with burlap (using hot glue) :)...

For the base of the lamp, I had to work a bit longer. I had to take apart the whole lamp to put on a new lamp harp (this holds up the shade). Then I pre-painted the base white.

To finish it, I just spraypainted the base green and added a brown ribbon to the top.

Finished!!

Before and After: Autumn to Winter-Peace

2011-05-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would show you a before and after challenge from my mother-in-law. I really DID like the original colors on the peace sculpture, but I wanted something more Christmas-y, so I spraypainted it white and sprinkled some white glitter all over it...you can't really tell, the pics don't do it justice, but it looks cool hanging up instead of sitting on a board with candle holders on it:)

Before and After: DIY Paper Twine Decorative Balls

2011-04-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

So, my mother-in-law and I love going to thrift stores and buying random things to "re-do" and make better for our homes! It really is fun:) Anyways, so she got me these quilted (?) styrofoam balls and some paper twine........I gratefully accepted them but was stumped on what to use them for since, honestly, paper bows and those quilted decor balls were...um...well...out of style shall we say...lol

ANYWAYS, so I set them aside for a rainy day...what should come around the corner, but a SUNNY day! That is the day my *inspiration* started. Why couldn't I make those with what I had? The twine and balls only cost $0.99 each.....(thats the best part). Here it is!

1)Original quilted blahness 2)Hot-gluing the paper twine around

3)Finished with the gluing and twine! 4)Stuck skewers in them to spray paint...

Finished! and I love them!

Before and After: DIY Photo Frame

2011-04-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

I was desperate for something to do today...so I found something to do!

I had this really beautiful *although it was silver* picture frame...that didn't really go with my decorating scheme. So....I forced it to.
Originastupid

Mixed 1:1:1 parts of these paints and antiquing glaze

Spraypainted the frame white:) It already looks better!

Painted on the paint and antiquing glaze mixture...AUGH!...no worries its supposed to look like that, then you just wipe it off with a rag or napkin.

The finished product!!

If you like the picture in the frame you can get your own HERE!

DIY Spring Burlap Pennant Banner

2011-04-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would show you all what I was partially up to this weekend...:)

Mine...

Here is my inspiration's version...They are super easy to make and cute too!

Here is the link her version- While My Sailors Aweigh

All you have to do is cut 6 triangles from burlap, paint on the letters (I used black fabric paint), and use mini-clothes pins (can be found wherever scrapbooking supplies are sold), and clip the finished triangles onto a piece of twine!

I'm Finished!

2011-04-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

Your thoughts?! I'm REALLY happy with the finished product! The colors go well with my decor and it gives the corner they are in, a lift:) For the mobile top, I used the top of a lamp and covered it in burlap! Ok...It's sunny out so im gonna go outside...:)

A ton of help, please and thank you:)

2011-04-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

Sooo...here is what I am in a quandary about...I got 8 of these little wicker balls the other day...and I cannot choose whether to keep them their gold/glitter selves OR spray paint them a different color...My plan is to hang them up in a staggered bunch in my living room...

Here are my color choices:

FYI: The Brown/Copper spray paint comes out with texturing.

Any input would be GREAT! I'm planning on doing them tomorrow, so the sooner the better:)

Before and After: My Magic Lamp

2011-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Before After

Just something I did over this past weekend...Went from ugly forest green and gold to blue with burlap shade...not sure I like it yet...any suggestions anyone?

I'll Bet You Want Some...

2011-04-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Just some rainbow cake I made the other day...

DIY Easter Egg Grapevine Wreath

2011-04-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

..I didn't want to spend $20-30 for an egg wreath that I didn't even like...I DID however, want an egg wreath, exactly like the one in my mind...all for under $4. :D

Grapevine Wreath-$1.99

Plastic Easter Eggs-$1.79

Already had-Glitter, Glue, and Fabric

Plain 'ol Grapevine Wreath Spray painted whiteCheap-yet-cute Easter eggsDab on glue with folded napkinPut egg in plastic bag with matching glitterTa-Da!Add Fabric Bow and Glue on eggs...YAY!

A Day of Gifts Baby Shower

2010-10-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Are you or a friend having a baby soon? Do most of your friends live out of state? Here is the perfect baby shower invitation for you! A day of gifts is like a baby shower but no one has to worry about making it to the party or not, they only have to send the gifts! If you would like this in any other colors, let me know!

Zoo Animals Baby Shower Invitation

Save the Dates!

2010-08-26T16:34:00.000-07:00

Save the Date cards are a must if you are planning a wedding. Let people know in advance what date your special day will be! Many different styles and designs to choose from (some even have matching wedding invitations, menus, and more)!
To view all the styles available at Indolilly's Designs, click HERE.

Save the Date Pearl Postcard Extended Version

Envelopes

2010-08-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Brand new envelopes availble! All patterns shown here come in different colors. More styles can be viewed HERE. Want one of these in your custom colors? Let me know!!

Binders on Sale! $8.00 OFF! Come and Get 'Em!

2010-08-11T12:39:00.001-07:00

All binders are $8.00 Off regular price from now until Sunday, August 15th, at 12:00 pm PT.
USE PROMO CODE: BTSRULEAVERY
Come check them out! Great binders for back to school and everyday use! If you would like something you dont see or would like something in different colors let me know! I am more than happy to help you with your request:)
Want to see ALL of Indolilly's Designs' binders? Click Here!

Cow "Moo" Avery Binder by indolilly

Punk Plaid Avery Binder by indolilly

Zebra Wild Pink, Black, and White Avery Binder by indolilly

Cute Stars Black Avery Binder by indolilly

Green Peace Avery Binder by indolilly

Hogwarts Crest Full Color by harrypotter

Swirls Geometrix by giskard

New Baby Shower Invitations!

2010-08-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Been on a hot streak lately, and made a bunch of baby shower invitations. All are available in more than one color and you can even customize the background colors to your choosing! If you would like anything custom-made or anything changed, let me know!
Baby Boy Shower Invitations and more,
Baby Girl Shower Invitations and more,
It's a Suprise Baby Shower Invitations and more.

How to Make More Sales on Zazzle...

2010-07-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to figure out how to make more sales on Zazzle. Now that this is my full time job, it means more to me than ever to make sales steady...but how?

I have been researching (since last night) and found a couple of things. Title, Tags, and Description are all VERY important. Without them, your items may get lost in all the confusion of millions of products.

1)Title is the most important. When people are looking for, say, a Postcard with a red rose on it, they most likely will type in "Red Rose Postcard". So make sure that your title describes exactly what your product is specifically.

2)Tags help a person who is searching for something specific to find it easily. When making a "Red Rose Postcard", don't just put "rose, postcard". Put more specifics into your tags such as "rose, postcard, post, card, red" and whatever else will specifically describe your postcard. Word of warning: do not put tags on your product that don't describe it such as "rose, postcard, post, airplanes, card, red", as this will not only deter the customer away, but it is also considered bad etiquette with the sellers and in the Zazzle marketplace itself.

3)Description is key. When someone sells you something online, they don't just say "hey look a postcard you want to buy it?", they advertise and describe it, "Look at this beautiful red rose postcard, it can be used for weddings, valentines day, and much more. Also if you want I can change the colors for you!" (or something to that extent).
Remember, you want to sell, so make it happen. Put some effort not only into your designs and products, but in letting the customer know what the product is all about and helping her/him find exactly what they need.

More research to come!!!

Resources: ReturnTrue;

Custom Christmas Cards!

2010-07-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

Christmas is a few months away i know, but many people are starting to look for their greeting cards now. Look no further! Three new styles are now available!
More styles and products for Christmas HERE!

...In the Sky with Diamonds...

2010-07-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Brand New! White Flower in the Sky Poster:)
11"x 11" is $11.40 and the
15"x 15" is only $16.00!!!

I think I might just personally get this for my kitchen:)

White Flower in the Sky Poster by indolilly

Hot Nose

2010-07-16T19:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Athena started to chew up my favorite rug under our kitchen sink.

Revenge is sweet-Today I made Cayenne Pepper Spray and sprayed the rug....hopefully it works:)

OK so its not really revenge, but .............whatever:)

Wine Colored Roses

2010-07-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had inspiration!
Here are the fruits (or should I say flowers) of that inspiration:)

Going Nautical

2010-07-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was recently up near Burlington, Wa., and I was able to take alot of pictures that didn't include my usual scenery (which I whole-heartedly enjoyed).
My journey started with a boating trip on the Puget Sound. Although cold, I was able to capture a few shots to remember the trip by. Here are a couple of them. More products with these photos can be seen here: Indolilly's Designs: Nautical

We've Moved! Boat on Water Card by indolilly

Get Well Soon Boat Bouy Card by indolilly

Baby Shower Invitations!

2010-07-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Lots of cute Baby Shower Invitations at: Indolilly's Designs!
Invitations come with envelopes. Matching stickers let people know if it's a boy or girl:)

I am currently working on this section, so more products will be up in the future!
Check them out: Baby Shower Invitations

Blue and Brown Baby Shower Invitation by indolilly

Athena

2010-07-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

We got a new dog!! She's a white german shepherd named Athena. Draco and her get along so well! I am so happy he has a friend now, and she is so sweet:)

It's Been a While...

2010-07-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting in FOREVER but I have been really busy. We just bought our new house 3 months ago! So we have just been getting settled.

I have also been trying to make Zazzle my job...kinda tired of folding clothes for a living. I'm almost there! I predict by September, that I will be a WAHW! yay!

Anyways, I will be posting on a regular basis now, since I want to.
Speaking of Zazzle, here is the link to MY store: Indolilly's Designs

AND, here is an amazing store full of colors! Check it:)

A GREAT Place for Wedding Postage Stamps!

2009-05-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for great wedding postage? Look no further! Here are two great stores filled to the brim with wedding postage!

Susie the Pig-Nosed Girl

2009-01-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

Hey all! A new design in my store is up...! Please meet Susie Piggy:)

Her Nose/ Cheer Up Greeting Card by indolilly

Get Well Soon Postcard by indolilly

December Fads

2008-12-20T23:13:00.000-08:00

Hey all! i know its been a while, but i thought that i would let you all know whats going on in my life lately.
1)my husband and i are officially out of the military...and on to finding new jobs ...yay for frustration! lol
2) living at ones inlaws seems to be the fad these days , so here we are....
3) been working on my zazzle store...:)

wish us luck with our future!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Why, yes dear, it is snowing:)

2008-11-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

You can probably barely see it but yes the first snow of the year has come to where I live! I am so so happy! I'll prob get sick of it halfway through the winter but I have always loved the first!

And here is Draco he loves the snow:):) as you can see the snow isnt sticking very well lol he doesnt look very happy in the pic but trust me he was running around all happy it was snowing:)

Working on my Store

2008-11-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

As many of you know I have a store at Zazzle.com. Lately I have been working on it and have added a few more new items. Feel free to take a look! http://www.zazzle.com/indolilly*

Lavendar Postcard by indolilly

Lavendar Postage by indolilly

Red Flower Postage by indolilly

Red Flower Greeting Card by indolilly

Dont Want to go to the Gym?

2008-10-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

I totally found the coolest site the other day! Its called Workout Routines for Women (although men and children can do the exercises also) and she also has a YouTube Channel.

The girl who puts all the exercises together is awsome! I do her workouts and it deffinitly saves gas money to the gym AND saves money on a gym membership in the first place lol
She also has diet tips if your wanting to go on one....I personally only do the exercises:)

I have been doing her exercises for almost 2 months (wont lie-off and on). But they work so well and each one is such a great workout!

Good Food

2008-10-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when something tastes so good I just cannot stop eating it?

No kidding, today I ate about a quarter of a oven roasted chicken...it was SO good!lol

I just can't help myself sometimes...food is good.:) Now, im off to exercise it all off haha...

I'm Baaack!

2008-10-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

These last two weeks have been really fun! just hanging out with friends and family in my good ol hometown:) More posts to follow soon, but for now here are a few people we met in the mall (who just happen to all be wearing the same shirt and claim to be my husband lol) and our puppy dressed up in a shirt lol

Woop!

2008-09-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

My husband is finally home as of last night!! We will be visiting family and friends in the next couple of weeks so I wont have many posts for you right off...but i will certainly be on the look-out for funny/interesting stories to tell you my readers!

Love out~ :)

Military Style

2008-09-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

I am new to the military in the fact that I got married into it a little more than a year ago.

Trust me...the embarrassing part of the story is coming...

First let me say this; I have never known till tonight what the protocol for anyone is when the national anthem is played randomly on a military base (or at least never thought about it or that it was so mandatory).

Well, common sense right? you stand up with your hand over your heart facing a flag or the direction of the loudspeaker...

now to the embarrassing part...

I was outside watering my lawn...just sitting on our front porch, listening to my MP4 Player (basically an ipod). Anyways, so there i was, listening to music, watering my lawn, staring blankly at the lawn that wouldn't grow. I looked up randomly and saw our neighbors who i do not know, across the street, with their hands over their heart. Even the little kids.

Now, one might imagine that i would immediately stand up, place my hand over my heart, and face a flag or the direction of the loudspeaker....no such luck.

Since i was listening to my music, i couldn't hear anything else...

I sat there looking over at my neighbors thinking "what the heck are they doing? practicing for a play or something?" In my head i was laughing at this absurd idea when it hit me, OH CRAP! I pulled my ear buds out and realized i had just sat through the whole national anthem...

I wondered why the neighbors' kids had looked at me weird..."shes a bad lady" I can just hear them say.

I felt my whole face turn bright red and hot....

at this point in the story, i turned off the water, walked inside, shut the door, and felt the weight of embarrassment...

Then my husband called and explained to me that it was all kinda mandatory to do the common sense "DUH" thing.

Well, one more thing learned...one more embarrassment over...and one more story for you all.

Please laugh at me...i now find this story rather funny myself:) lol

So, I leave you with my backyard...

2008-09-18T21:45:00.001-07:00

I'm tired, have a headache, and have watched way too much "Office"... :D I'm off to finish watching some more "Pushing Daisies" as i speak:) Good night world...till tomorrow:)

PS: I just bought a halter for my dog...maybe that will make him easier to walk ha ha

Amazing...

2008-09-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Brought tears to my eyes literally when i first saw it...Jessica Price is really good!

And Eli Mattson...wow the piano playing...amazing!

Talent...in America:)

2008-09-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

So I have been watching America's Got Talent since like maybe a month ago. Anyways its so much fun to watch! All the different acts and talents people have is really entertaining to watch!

Well, this week the top ten have preformed, and I have to say I love 5 of them so much. they are all good, but 5 of them have captured my heart lol

My fav/top 2 I would have to say are Queen Emily and Donald Braswell. When either of them sing i just get chills! They are really good and if you would like to watch some of their performances go to NBC.com and watch them.

MY fav five are: Queen Emily, Donald Braswell, Jessica Price, Nuttin' But Stringz, and Eli Mattson.

Do you watch America's Got Talent? If so, who are your favs?

Watering the Lawn

2008-09-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was watering my lawn tonight and just realized how much I like the streetlights. I love the way they shine down on the wet grass and concrete. Making the little drops of water glisten and I love the reflection of the streetlight on the wet concrete.

Ahhh.

Fall (which is my fav season) is coming soon, guess I'll enjoy the watered grass while i can:)

Live GPS Tracking System

2008-09-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

So you know how in the movies when a car gets stolen they can see where it is because they put a tracking device in or on it? Well now you can have your own portable GPS tracker! Track employees to make sure they are taking the correct routes, or track your teen or elderly loved one to make sure they are safe. If you are looking into GPS Tracking products, then this product may be the one for you!

I love Etsy

2008-09-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

I love browsing Etsy.com cause you can find so much wonderful handmade stuff! Just thought i would show off these earrings...pretty cute if you ask me! I might just have to get them....:)

Amazing Hoagie Rolls

2008-09-14T19:25:00.001-07:00

Ok, so the other day I really wanted some hoagie rolls but didnt want to go to the store. Well, I use Recipezaar.com all the time for recipies because they actually have comments and ratings on the recipies. So, I tried these hoagie rolls I found on Recipezaar and omg EVERYONE loves them! They are so easy to make and taste so good! Anyways, I just wanted to share this recipie with everyone cause I know i will be making them alot once my husband is home (hes on his way!)

Hope you all enjoy!!

P.S. My mother in law gave me those flowers:)

Afghanny

2008-09-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hubby called at 4am to tell me that they had just left Afghanistan!!! I wasnt expecting him to leave till the 22nd but I guess it was a last minute thing! Im so so excited. In other news, mi madre is up here for the weekend! We went to this Spiritual Hunger conference...pretty fun stuff:)

And as of right now my puppy Draco is glaring at me to get off the computer and play with him lol so off I go!!!

Wackness

2008-09-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

ok so I just got done watching Law and Order SVU (my fav of all time lol). This law and order was a special one though, the one with Robin Williams...anyways he plays this creepy, old, wierd, sick, demented, guy lol and I have to say....he makes the creepiest old guy ever....ok not EVER but close.....well in my mind anyways lol

So if you ever get the chance, watch the Law and Order SVU with Robin Williams in it. fun stuff.

Lap Band

2008-09-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a way to lose weight and yet not have to go through weightloss surgery to remove pieces of you? Well, lap band surgery also known as Bariatric Surgery might just be the thing for you! Basically what happens is, through surgery, a band is placed around your stomach which will then aid in weight loss. There are surgery centers for the Lap Band in Cincinnati, Houston, Tampa, and LA. Visit lap band doctor for more information on the lap-band surgery.

YAYness!

2008-09-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

So I just found out that my husband leaves to come home from Afghanistan on the 18th instead of the 20th! OMG its next week!!!! I am so stoked! He's been gone for four months and let me tell you, that is a LONG time lol (ok well not as long as the last time...he was gone for a year then..)

AH so happy:)

Blog Awards!

2008-09-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Razz who passed this award along to me! And to all I have chosen, you deserve it!

Here are the instructions for the following Brillante Weblog Premio award recipients:
1. Place the logo on your blog.
2. Link to the person who awarded you.
3. You can nominate up to 5 blogs.
4. You can then add their links to your blog
5. Leave a message in the comment section to each nominee on their blog

Here are 5 awesome blogs that I've chosen:

Glasgow Blog

Blog of Eternal Stench

Dose of Design

Design*Sponge

Life-of-Lele.lumz

Money, the Great Mischief Maker.

2008-09-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Money, money, money. It seems now days we are all obsessed with it.
Yes, I agree you need money to survive now days, and money can be a good thing, but it can also be an annoying little mischief maker.

I personally think that yes you can depend on money, in fact we all do. What I don't think is wise, is to totally rely on it and make it your top priority. Make it your top priority, and you will be sure to see the mischief it makes.
For instance, I don't think that money should become a priority over family, friends, or feelings.
If it does, people will get hurt, and if it comes to an extreme, all you have left is money. And I'm sure money wont keep you good company, it wont always be there for you, it is an earthly possession and surely wont be with you after your gone, and you most certainly cant rely on money to make you eternally happy.

Just my thoughts for today and what I have just been through....lol

Cute Little Pepper

2008-09-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the cutest little Dr.Pepper ever?! And thats next to a regular size strawberry! lol I went shopping today and came across them and just had to get a six-pack! I'm know they have been around forever, but today I just really really noticed them:)
And yes I bought strawberries too haha ...didn't consume them together though, but I might just try that someday now that I have thought of it haha

Not Tired

2008-09-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks, I have basically been nocturnal. It all started when I drank a caffinated drink before i went to bed....yea bad idea. As a result of this daring yet stupid action, I have been (for the past two weeks), going to bed around 3-4am and waking up 3-4pm. Yea this sucks big time.

Anyways, this morning i randomly woke up at 8am! I am so happy because i really want to get back to a regular sleeping schedule before my husband gets home from Afghanistan!!! (only 17 days!).

I guess, in a way, this is one of my childhood dreams come true. I used to always wonder what it would be like to be nocturnal and, well, i guess i sorta found out haha:)

Funny Pictures

2008-09-02T16:27:00.001-07:00

HAHA ok I have way too much time on my hands lol. I just went to GnomeYourself and YearbookYourself and had way too much fun I thought that I would share these links with y'all cause they are just too fun!

Autumn and Winter Heat Pack

2008-09-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Winter is coming on quick and sometimes its nice to have something warm. Whether its for sore muscles or just for comfort, heatpacks can be very nice to have:) This heatpack that I made, is lightweight and has a removable sleeve so I can wash it if I want to.

The fabric I used for my heatpack is cotton(both the sleeve and heatpack). You dont want to use anything that could melt or spark in your microwave while heating it.

Here is a picture of the heatpack outside of the sleeve. I basically measured out how big I wanted my heatpack, then I measured an inch larger(1/2 inch on all sides) for the sleeve.

Heatpack dimensions: 17" x 6 and 1/2" (unfinished with seam allowances included).

16" x 6" (finished)

Sleeve dimensions: 19" x 7 and 1/2" (unfinshed with seam allowances included).

18" x 7" (finished)

The Sleeve (as you can probably tell) has one end that I turned under so that it would not fray. (The prospect of random threads from the material didnt sound too good haha).

This is a grid of how I did my heatpack. All the black lines are where I sewed between the rice(filler) so that it was lightweight and the rice didnt move all around. The dark red is where I folded the material under and finished it off.

I used Brown Rice as the filler and it works really well, there are many other fillers out there you can use, but i like the smell of rice and it holds the heat really well. If you choose to use rice as your filler in a heatpack DO NOT use white or minute rice as it will possibly start a fire in your microwave....not fun times lol

For more info on heatpacks (where i got all my info haha) please go to: Rice Heat Pack
If you have any questions for me on this post, just let me know and I will try to answer it!

Colorful Treasures

2008-08-29T21:28:00.001-07:00

I just absolutly love these glass bottles I won at my cousin's bridal shower:) They are so full of color and joy, plus they aren't bad for being free lol
They are among a few things that I have that are really cheery and bright. ...hmmm I should get more brightly colored objects...I like 'em:)

Smelling Sweet

2008-08-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of lavender...it brings back memories of my first "own" bedroom when I turned 13 (I have 4 bros and sisters). My Grandmother gave me some lavender to make my room "smell good" :) ahh beautiful lavender:)

Black Friday Holiday Shopping

2008-08-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever want to know about the best sales ever, before anyone else knows about them? Well now you can!
I am already saving for the holidays in the hopes that I can give good gifts (and get them lol). One of the ways I get good gifts is Black Friday, yes the day after Thanksgiving. Last year, my husband got a REALLY great deal on our 42” LCD HDTV at Best Buy, so I know for a fact that Black Friday is the best time of the year to get awesome deals!

I just found out about this site called Black Friday Scans that gives you a whole list (in pdf and zip files) of stores and their great deals for Black Friday! What is so awesome about them is that they list the deals before they even get to you in the newspaper, which is really cool because then you can plan ahead on what you want to buy and have a whole list ready for Black Friday shopping!
They list stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, Kohls, J.C. Penny, Old Navy, JoAnn Fabrics, Sears, Walmart, and my favorite, Target. Plus many, many more stores.
What is also so great about this site is that they offer email alerts so you know when ads have been posted. This site could be very useful in your holiday shopping!

I think they are just great because knowing about awesome deals in advance is the best ever! I am planning on using them because my husband and I love great deals and since we will now know about them in advance I’m sure everyone will get awesome presents this year…not to mention more clothes for me lol!
So whether you just want good deals for yourself or you are shopping for Christmas items, Black Friday Scans is definitely the way to go! Click here to see Black Friday Scans

"The Holiday" Country Cottage take 2

2008-08-25T20:08:00.001-07:00

Searching for findings...

Right here is a close up of the candle lanterns in Iris' living room. I looked Everywhere for them and found some, after about 5 hours of searching! They are Verdigris Iron Lanterns and are beautiful!

HERE THEY ARE!!! At tracyporter.com, Iron Lamps by Tracy Porter, also, because sometimes items are out of stock, if the lanterns arent there, just let me know and i have plenty more links as to where you can find these lanterns!

(cottage photographs property of http://www.outnow.ch/)

More findings and updates to follow!

"The Holiday" Country Cottage

2008-08-22T20:42:00.001-07:00

Ok, so recently I have been obsessed and i mean COMPLETLY obsessed with trying to figure out the look of Kate Winslet's Character's, Rosehill Cottage in "The Holiday." If you haven't seen this movie by Nancy Meyers, you may want to just for the knowledge of what im talking about haha jk but seriously its a good movie and i love it. Anyways, back to the look of the cottage, I WANT IT!

I found the site that has alot of the set pictures for The Holiday on it, in fact all the pictures of the cottage on here are from that site: http://outnow.ch/Movies/2006/Holiday/Bilder/ . I have to say i prefer the cottage over the house in California.
Another blog i found talks about the look of the cottage and how to get it http://silverscreensurroundings.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Holiday .

My puppy Draco

2008-08-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

OK everyone! I just wanted to let you in to my life a little bit and get to know more about me:) yay! lol

Well, I would like you all to meet my Belgian Shepherd Dog, Draco.

Draco is a little over a year old and is as spunky and full of energy as ever!

He is a, long haired little doggy, and we love him to death!

As of now, he has learned to sit, stay, go to his crate, go to bed, go away, hi-five:), stand(he is REALLY tall lol), shake hands, lay down, and roll over.

I am currently refining those commands with him as well as teaching him some other tricks.

Here are a couple of pictures of him:) Enjoy!

Smiley Draco
Draco and his buddy Scruffy(in-laws' dog), wanting to go upstairs lol

Draco layin around lol yes those are my white legs haha

And yes, he is my inspiration for my blog name:)

Online Photo Editor...

2008-08-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to take two or more pictures and put them together?

Or have you ever wanted to do editing/drawing on your computer but dont have the money for the software? (yep thats me...miss computer lover with no money).

WELL, have i got some news for you! There is a site that i found the other day called Pilxr...Its the BEST! OMG I am so glad for it! I just used it to re-do my Zazzle store banner and I couldnt have done it without Pilxr:) Here is the site: http://www.pixlr.com/

Also, alot of good editing tools are available at photobucket.com and flickr.com -(you have to sign up for those sites to use the tools, but they are free:) )

Alot of times I use two of the editing sites listed here to finish a project. For example, I would upload a picture to flickr.com and edit it then save it to my computer and finish editing it on pixlr.com or vice versa.

I hope you find this post useful as I know the info on here helped me alot when I found it all out!

Breathing Thoughts...

2008-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

I was wondering the other day...why when I breath, does my stomach move out also? Its not like my lungs are down there too...lol. SO I went to do some research and here is what I came up with:

"Some people say proper deep breathing "fills the tummy with air." Of course, really it's your lungs that are filling and it’s your diaphragm pushing all your body parts down and out! That's the proper way to breathe and your body knows it instinctively! (That's a good thing, huh?)"
(By: Lisa B. Marshall at http://publicspeaker.quickanddirtytips.com/How-To-Breathe.aspx)

I had never known this before! I always thought I was wierd...guess Im not wierd afterall lol
Ya learn something new everyday!

The Wierdest Things

2008-08-18T18:16:00.001-07:00

LOL ok so i was watching a movie on my computer this morning when something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention...

I have no idea why it was so funny to me but this little guy made me laugh so hard. :)

He was just walking along minding his own business and all but he looked so cute, I had to take his picture:)

Music of the Movies

2008-08-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just start to daydream while watching a movie and start to think of something totally off track?

Yesterday, I was watching Benny and Joon, which is a really good movie by the way:), and at a certain point in the movie i started to daydream. I was still watching the movie, and don't get me wrong, the movie is not one bit boring in my opinion, but there i was.

What got me thinking was the music. I mean, the type of instrumental music that no one would listen to on a daily basis...the kind that is happy yet will only be played in a movie...like, no one would seriously be walking down the road and all of a sudden out of no where this song starts playing...see what i mean? It just doesn't seem likely. If you watch the first part of this clip of the movie, you will see what i am saying..(from about :30-:45) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYs8cSJNaA4&feature=related

anyways, i don't know why this intrigued me but, what the hey:)

also watched Chocolat (ok ok I'm on a Johnny Depp splurge with all the movies hes been in lol)
anyways Chocolat was a VERY good movie also:) I would give it a 9/10, so if you haven't seen that yet you should.
Benny and Joon was more on the comedic side where as Chocolat was more drama/romance/just very good all round.

Inside the Box

2008-08-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

So, a couple of days ago i got a bunch of flowers from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, and they were so pretty that i never wanted them to die...welll...me being the artist/person who likes to use something to its full advantage and not waste anything, I decided to contribute my flowers to my Zazzle store http://www.zazzle.com/indolilly** .

So, I went out taking pictures of different flowers out of the bunch of them and came up with some amazing pictures (one of them is pictured above). So far as of today i only have one picture up in my store(on different products of course), but am planning on posting some more up later:) This particular picture ^ makes me feel like im back in my moms highschool yearbook of '75 :) I always wanted to venture back into time:D I guess this is one way for me to do it!

Christmas....

2008-08-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

OK, to put it bluntly, I miss Christmas. There, I said it.
I have been listening to Brenda Lee singing her amazing Christmas songs, and thinking on all the old Christmas movies ALL DAY LONG! Oh how i miss it. Memories are good things:)

Do you ever, in the middle of summer, miss Christmas?

Indolilly's Designs at Zazzle

2008-08-07T01:21:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! I have been busy with my Zazzle store so I thought I would show off some of my products:) If you would like to visit my store, please visit: http://www.zazzle.com/indolilly*

I have lots and lots of products so feel free to look around!!

I would also like to say that all of my designs and photographs were taken/made by me and are copyrighted.

There are many different types of products as well as designs. My Shop offers: Keds Shoes, T-Shirts, Profile Cards, Posters, Greeting Cards, Postage, Mugs, Mousepads, Postcards, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, Bags, Buttons, Ties, Keychains, Aprons, and Calendars!

My road to success :D

2008-07-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

The other day, it occurred to me that I can make money online...duh. Anyways, so I searched the web for like a month before i started to find things on how to make money online.

At first I was looking into working at home or "telecommuting," but then I realized all i wanted to do was write. So I started looking into blogging. Which is why I am here.

I also started looking up surveys that are free and yet pay you to be a "survey taker" ha ha i thought that they were all scams...but I was wrong. There are a few out there that actually aren't scams and you do get paid. Haven't gotten paid yet as i am just starting out but i will keep you, my readers, updated. :)

Blogging: I have only started blogging on Blogspot, haven't tried anywhere else yet...just kinda want to get my feet wet before jumping in all the way:)

Surveys: Here are a couple of survey sites that I have tried so far, again, i will keep updating and posting more survey sites as i find and do them:)

http://www.surveysavvy.com/

http://www.surveyspot.com/

http://www.mysurvey.com/

http://www.opinionoutpost.com/

Once again these are the survey sites that i signed up at and they actually have sent me surveys.

Paris Poster

2008-07-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

OK, so I have a cousin who has a birthday coming up. She's one of those people, who are in love with Paris, France. So i figure why not get her a poster? Well i found this AWESOME poster for her. It came today in the mail and was in perfect condition and was exactly the way it was pictured at Zazzle.com. :D I'm so happy!

Here it is!

http://www.zazzle.com/c_est_la_vie_print-228732208129883805

All I have to say about Zazzle is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful job!

Muffins are so good.

2008-07-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted a really good muffin recipe?
I have been cooking since i was a kid, and during all my years of baking, scrambling, mixing, etc. I have found a really good muffin recipe...not too sweet and not too plain...just right:) Well, I took this recipe and edited it and evolved it and changed it to make it my own so you can have wonderful muffins anytime of the day!

Dracofly Muffins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix together:

1 1/3 C. Flour

3/4 C. Rolled Oats

1/3 C. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients after you have mixed them together, and add:

1 Tbs. Sour Cream

1 C. Milk

1/4 C. Cooking Oil

Stir all ingredients together till just moistened...the batter will be slightly lumpy. Grease some muffin cups and fill with muffin mixture 3/4 of the way full.

Put in oven and bake for about 20 minutes.

Makes 9-12

Drizzling honey on the muffins when they are done makes them taste scrumptious!

Happiness

2008-07-19T19:36:00.001-07:00

Happiness...

Alot of people really don't know what true happiness is. I may not even know what it is, but I do know what I believe it is.

True happiness is the feeling that nothing in the world can stop you. One can take happiness in punching a tomato in mid-air. At the same time someone else may define happiness as having the people they love, around them. (Sorry bout the tomato part...just had to get that out in the open lol). I feel that when one is truly happy, the worries and matters of the world are, for a time, out of one's mind. That the person is in the moment and that all that matters to them at that point in time is what makes them smile.

Just my thought for the day.

Love out*~