Plays Well With Others

The thing that caught my attention at alilsumptinsumptin was the fact that so many of the gorgeous pieces available include work by other artisans. I love that this jewelry artist can take beads and focals created by others and combine them into stunning and unique accessories. That she donates the proceeds from some of the items to charity makes this shop perfect--so go have a look!

Classic Poodle Necklace, with black and white beads torched by Sarah Friskey, and a custom made black dog focal by Janet Crosby, $200



Blue Rondo a la Turk bracelet, with lampwork heart bead by Janet Crosby, $175.00


http://alilsumptinsumptin.etsy.com
http://www.alilsumptinsumptin.com

The Best Peanut Butter in the Universe

I'll get back to posting more handcrafted news soon, but for now I'm still spending most waking minutes adjusting to my new surroundings and trying to find things. Today I found my way to a supermarket (no simple feat--I really don't know my way around this area at all) where I discovered what is undeniably the best peanut butter in the universe. This stuff is like a giant spreadable Reese's peanut butter cup. And since studies have shown that peanut butter consumption can lower your risk of diabetes, I figure it's health food. Made by Peanut Butter & Co., who also have a sandwich shop in New York City, Dark Chocolate Dreams contains no cholesterol, no trans-fats, no hydrogenated oils, and no high-fructose corn syrup. It is also gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. Don't worry if your local store doesn't carry it, you can order it from PB&Co.'s website, along with a variety of other PB flavors, jellies and preserves, snacks, and PB&Co. gear. I'm seriously tempted to pick up their cookbook--it looks heavenly!

We Moved and Survived It!

Last week it was warm and sunny, but yesterday--moving day!--it was cold and rainy and miserable. In spite of our best efforts to rid ourselves of excess stuff before the move, we weren't able to come even close to being packed by the time the movers arrived. After spending countless hours and miles on the road helping us try to find the perfect home, my mother-in-law Jeannie came to help; she always knows exactly when to come and rescue us. I'm not promising she'll help you pack, but she will go far above and beyond to help you find the perfect home. My daughter Stephanie volunteered to help pack and ended up working more than 10 hours packing, tossing, and cleaning. I don't think I could find better family anywhere!

The best part of the day was the moving crew. We've had experiences with DIY moving and so-so to unpleasant experiences with professional movers, but the crew from Taylor's Moving, led by Dwayne Taylor, was simply awesome. Although they were cold and wet, they took great pains to make sure our belongings were dry and protected. They packed things that we hadn't managed to put in boxes yet, joked with us, and one cheerful fellow kept breaking into song. And all for a flat pre-arranged rate. If I ever move again, I'll hire them to pack and move me, get a hotel room for a couple of nights, and hide out until they're finished--I'm exhausted and everything hurts.

The Coolest Dragon Ever

Our 9-year-old collects dragon figurines, and we searched and searched for something suitable to give him for his birthday to add to his collection. The dragons we found were either far too expensive or too juvenile for him--but then I discovered LizArt. The most amazing collection of figurines, pins, and magnets I've ever seen, but there was not a single dragon in the shop. A few messages back and forth, and Daniel now owns what he calls "the coolest looking dragon" he's ever seen. This custom-made figurine has also made me the coolest stepmom he's ever had (no matter that I'm the only stepmom he's ever had).

Check out all the amazing creatures at LizArt now!