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It’s all over the web right now – the Humane Society worked undercover at a farm owned by Smithfield Foods, probably the main pork producer in this country. The Yahoo News article can be found here:
Undercover investigation of Smithfield Foods reveals factory farm horrors. If you enjoy eating pork occasionally, you might not want to read any further. But you probably should —
And yes, you probably should. I did. I’m writing to Smithfield Foods to let them know why I’m boycotting all of their products. And am researching right now to find local farmers who sell retail groceries (at farmers markets and such) as well as to stores. I’ve been meaning to do it for a while – now I’ve gotten a kick in the butt.
I’m not a vegan – leaning more that way as time goes by, but not yet. I just don’t want to support companies that torture animals, every day, all year long, because it makes them a little more money.
I’ll pay more. I’ll sleep better. Support local farmers!
I just found the most fun, cool, unique, eco-friendly, fun, and hey, even useful giftie over on Etsy!
It’s a book, it’s recycled, it’s (ta da) a Book Safe – how cool is this!
It’s handmade and available at Conduit Press at Etsy. Here’s how it looks, closed:
She has lots more choices – different books, different shapes inside – but in the text for this one, she even mentions Ayn Rand, whose work I totally loved when I was, er, a lot younger…. and this one has a FLASK included! I mean come on, you can see why I had to pick this one 🙂
She also has some yummy handmade journals, notebooks and cards – you’ve got to go peek.
But the book safe? I mean, you can hide all kinds of goodies in there. Anonymously. Even, dare I say, safely 🙂
And it’s a recycled book. And it’s paper. And it’s just fun 🙂
Now you know I love finding little hidden goodies online – especially when they are unusual, and vintage (yay for reusing and repurposing vintage!) – and when they’re also a great deal, well you know I am impressed.
I stumbled across this lovely Destash Shop – Stoss on Etsy the other day – and look at the pretty Monet vintage trinket box I found!
Wouldn’t that be perfect to hold your own little treasured pair of earrings or ring?
And, completely different – these pink earrings are cute and maybe a little kitschy and fun:
for those days you feel like playing June Cleaver. Or Natasha in disguise 🙂
Little goodies like this are just fun – go, check out the pretty (and even useful!) goodies over at Stoss!
Absolutely I’ll admit it – this is self promotion, because these lovely jewels are available in my Artfire Shop. But they’re also lovely – and it’s easy to turn them into glamorous earrings!
and here’s another view, that shows the tiny variations in these pretty vintage stones:
Simply slip these pretty teardrops onto your earwires of choice – and if you order from my shop, I’ll add a free pair of earwires to your order – in golden or patina brass to match the settings – in your choice of leverbacks, elongated kidney wires, or classic simple earwires.
It’s just that simple to make yourself (or your mom?) a great pair of holiday earrings. 🙂
I found this great example of a folding table – use it when you need it, then fold it back against the wall and use it as a picture frame!
Folding Table – found at Geekgirlfinds Blog
The exact method of how to make the table (it didn’t even occur to me that maybe you could buy it!) isn’t given – but if you look at the pic you can see pretty clearly how it could be done. Use piano hinges on the edge of the table that’s supported by the wide wall cleat, and the two upper hooks could swivel to support the table – or picture frame – when it rests up against the wall. Play around with ideas, you’ll think of easy ways to do it.
It’s the idea that’s super valuable. Make a table (top) that’s just the size you need, sand it, paint it, and use the legs as your picture frame. Graphic, cool, and it wouldn’t cost much. Great for when you just need a table sometimes – and you want to make it work graphically for you, the rest of the time!
Saw this in the news today: Sotheby’s is going to be offering a 24.78 karat, uber rare pink diamond for sale next month:
Just for giggles, let’s compare it to these:
Pink 12mm x 10mm vintage glass diamond jewels I have available in my Etsy shop.
Of course the two are worlds apart, and the cut of the diamond is incomparable.
However – the diamond is expected to fetch up to $38 million dollars at auction. Yes. That was “thirty eight MILLION”.
The vintage glass jewels sell for $3.19 a pair.
So my point is, both are pretty. Yes, absolutely, the diamond is rare and incalculable and like that, but — who buys stuff like that? This isn’t even sour grapes on my part. Why would a person want something like that? Just to show it off? Well, yeah, but — I mean, who cares? It’s simply a cultural / ethnic / socioeconomic gap so wide it’s funny.
I mean – what planet do THEY live on?
I was just looking around for some new (to me) Halloween costume ideas. Something that hasn’t been done to death, something that’s not hard to do, and something FUN.
How about your own Men in Black costume? Like these:
Men in Black Halloween Costume
This link takes you to The Instructables where you’ll find lots of other great costume ideas (makeup too).
And here’s more MiB costumes:
More Men in Black Halloween Costumes
I found this at Coolest Homemade Costumes which has got to be the greatest site ever for costume ideas.
But hey – Men in Black? For one thing, I love the Men in Black movies. And they’re making a new MIB movie right now (or about to start it) so these are going to be “new” again. (and besides, yay, they’re making a new MIB movie!)
This idea works for anybody – men, women, kids. Take a black suit, a white shirt, a tie, the all-important sunglasses and presto: you’re “V”, or “B”, or whatever name you want to use.
Have some fun this Halloween!
I’m trying to learn more about indoor gardening. Partly because plants add a terrific graphic beauty to your home – and partly because it’s healthy. We really do live in a symbiotic ecosystem, you know. Plants remove toxins from the air, and that’s got to be good!
And esthetically, they add a natural beauty that we can probably all use a little more of. Case in point:
Snake Plant
and
Golden Pothos
I found these in a terrific article, “10 Super Easy to Grow Indoor House Plants” over at Garden Mandy. She’s got lots of great tips there for indoor gardening – and a lot of eco friendly tips and news. Go over there and check, it’s totally worth your time.
Did you know that the golden pothos – while bad for your pets, don’t let them eat it – removes formaldahyde from the air? Can we say “poison in new carpeting”?
Get some plants!
PS I’ve actually been able to grow pothos (my “fail safe” plant) and snake plant. And I totally don’t have a green thumb. If I can do it, believe me, you can too!
Take a look at this gorgeous dress!
It’s black, it’s dramatic, it’s gorgeous, and it’s ONLY $16.00. Amazing! and Fabulous!
Do I sound enthusiastic? Well, yeah. Scoot on over to Mr Idaho’s Vintage on Etsy. Even if the dress is gone by the time you see this, they’ve got LOTS more goodies.
Vintage – so it’s recycled – and it’s gorgeous – and it’ll be flattering – and it’s $16.00!
How can you not love this dress!
I have found the most marvelous artist on Etsy. Her medium here is fabric and fiber and a little faery dust, I think.
Her name is Katwise, and her Etsy shop is here.
You can see her work is colorful and fun and gorgeous and filled with LIFE. It’s also made with upcycled sweaters and thrift store goodness and many hours of work and, I suspect, love. I had a hard time selecting which picture to feature here – her work is full of color and each offering is different. I think it was the happy feeling of the picture above that spoke to me.
Here’s just a bit of her story (this is from her Etsy profile stuff):
My name is Kat. I am a crazy-yet-calm hitchhiker girl who has circled the globe too many times to count. I have always found new ways to thrive on my art and costumes. I strive to infuse everything I do with a sense of celebration. It is my hope that you put on something I make and feel some of that spirit coming through.
Go to her store or her website if you’d like to learn more about her art or her time in Tibet or Brazil. Or just go there for fun – you’ll smile and your life will be a little richer. Trust me.
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Coolness
DIY
Eco friendly
Gardening
Home Decor
Indie / Design
Thrifty
vintage
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