Saturday Socializing- Cat Ivins

How do I write about someone who I admire, respect, and yes, study without sounding like a kiss-ass or a stalker? I know that all humans are fallible and most of us are struggling with our own issues or working to grow and be more successful. However, on so many points, I seem to be amazed and impressed by Cat Ivins of Olive Bites blog, Polarity, and Uncorked.

She is young and beautiful (not that that matters) and she is smart, energetic, kind, generous, saavy, creative, talented, friendly, witty, and successful! She seems to have so much going on and she still has time to put out thoughtful, honest, interesting blog posts 5 days a week.

I surf through several blogs but I always read the posts that Cat puts up and I am always either amused, moved, or informed by them. I even enjoy reading the comments under the posts, which are more like conversations.

As someone who is just trying to navigate the internet, blogosphere, and social networking, I am encouraged and inspired by Cat and Olive Bites!! Check her out and let me know what you think!

Saturday Socializing- The Bloggin' o the Green

I am on three etsy teams and each has a blog. They are all fun and interesting in different ways. But one of my favorites is one that I stumbled upon by accident - Etsy Ireland. When ever I go there, it always seems like there is a lot of activity and energy. They have lots of interesting features and the site is visually pleasing as well.

Maybe it is because I have a soft spot for Ireland and all things Irish, but there is no denying the talent and team spirit of this group. I have them on my blogger reading list and I check in about once a week. Give them a visit and if you see something you like, go to their etsy store and buy it!

Saturday Socializing - The Happiness Project

My daughter read about The Happiness Project in a magazine and told me about it. Gretchen Rubin is the force behind it and she has been very successful with it. There is great, inspirational information and some good tips for working on personal growth and happiness. I particularly like the recent post on Saint Theresa. Check out this blog if you haven't already.

Beware, you might get hooked and you might find yourself smiling unexpectedly.

(the mug is from Seaglass Vintage on Etsy.com)

Saturday Socializing - Tree Hugger

One of the first blog/webmags I ever followed was Treehugger.com. I was researching an article on hemp clothing and it came up in a google search. I love this site and could really get lost in it, spending hours clicking and linking from one story to another. I usually try to just go straight to the Fashion and Beauty section because that is where the textile stories are. This week they cover everything from men's underpants to a clothing factory in Peru.

So check it out, bookmark it, and keep abreast of the latest, and widest range of Environmental stories!

The T-shirt is from an etsy seller called Goblin Designs.

The two photos are mine from the Hoh Rainforest in Washington and along a country walk in the Peak District in England. Notice the old "wall" under the roots of the tree in the first photo. Big, old, living trees, breathing air and giving oxygen!

Saturday Socializing - "The English Kitchen"

This is where I share a blog or website that I love. Today I want to tell you about a foodie blog that my daughter found when she was looking for a recipe for Sticky Toffee Pudding. It is called "The English Kitchen". (click on the name to connect to her blog).

Like the author, Marie Rayner, says, she is "debunking the myth" that English food is tasteless and unhealthy. She has a great site with yummy recipes, fun commentary, and beautiful photos.

The photo at the top is from her site and features her Plum and Almond Crumble Cake!

We lived in London for a year and I never saw such variety of foods in grocery stores, markets, restaurants, dinner parties and television cooking shows. My favorite thing was the column by Nigel Slater in the Sunday paper. I knew I loved him when I got his cookbook called "Appetite"

and there was a photo of him wearing a dirty apron. A true cook, in my opinion, gets their apron dirty.

After mulling over this website, my daughter found this Sticky Toffee Cake (in the bottom 2 photos above). She made it and it was delicious. She also made the fish cobbler (which sounds bizarre but tasted like the perfect yummy comfort food for a cold spring night).

You need a kitchen scale or the ability to wing it because the recipes are written in grams etc. But it is worth trying because the food is genuinely the best of what you might see in a creative British kitchen or cafe. Scroll through the photos and the side bar to see past recipes. Enjoy the music while you do so!

Bon Apetit! (Where can I get my hands on some plums??)

Saturday Socializing

I find so many sites that I love and wish I could show to everyone, so I decided to just post links once a week. I will just share as many of my favorite blogs and websites that I can think of.

Today I want to show everyone a superb, stunning and satisfyingly minimalistic site called just three things. It is run by a textile artist and etsian called CricketApollo. (Her shop is closed right now but I will keep my eye out for when it opens again.) I love seeing what amazing things she finds for her blog and I was fortunate enough to be featured one day! Check it out!

The painting is by Jacob van Hulsdonck, and was featured on a recent post.

The sachets are an example of some of Cricket's work.

I like Happy Music!

When iTunes was having their contest for the one billionth song sold, I tried to think of a song that I wanted to hear. I looked up Dave Edmunds and Rockpile. I was first exposed to them in about 1982 when I was working in a pizza place and the manager was a big fan of theirs. I think Cruel To Be Kind was a hit then so I probably knew about that. I studied Hamlet in high school so I loved that rock and roll was being literary and witty.

Anyway, I found this American Bandstand video on youtube. As one of the commenters said, it probably would be criticized now because of "inappropriate" messages, but I love the youthful energy and charm. I can't think of any contemporary comparisons. I guess I would have been a senior in high school when this came out.

I am Featured on Sweeter Than Me Blog

A while ago, I was contacted by Kristin at Sweeter Than Me to do a promotional giveaway. I had been asked to do this several times before and had always declined. I can barely keep my stock up. But, I liked Kristin's note and was so impressed with her blog and her own work that I decided to give it a whirl. Well, it's up now and I am excited to see how much response it gets and what kind of comments people make about my store! This is a picture of the bag I am giving away and one of a sample of her work. Go check out the link to her store, read some of the posts, and have fun!