Just to lighten the mood...

Is it wrong to gush about how darling my own kid is?

Okay. I'll just keep it to myself, then.

:)

Please send job leads this way.

Jason is still looking for a job here in the Sacramento area. The search isn't going well, hasn't been since we've gotten here. I never talk about it because it's depressing and scary. For all of you who live around here, if you would please keep your eyes and ears open for any opportunities that could be good for him, tell whoever's offering (if it's your work or your friend or whatever) that you know someone who would be great (because he will work his tail off at whatever opportunity he gets), and let him or me know so he can jump on it, we'd really appreciate any networking we can get. Anyone you want to tell that he's looking for a job and to keep him in mind, please tell them. Anyone those people want to tell, they can go for it! California is not an easy place to get a decent job right now, and we're stretched pretty thin.

Here are just a few details about Jason:

• Speaks very good Spanish, almost fluent
• Bachelor's degree in psychology
• Very good with people, has leadership experience
• Hard, honest worker
• (I'm not looking at his resume--there's more)

The ideal job would be something in Human Relations, even if it's just as an assistant or something, but anything decent is welcome. We really appreciate your help!

****************************************************

And on a sidenote, can I just say that I hate the pressure I feel from our situation to make money off my silly bows, to put together an adorable website to sell them (trying to compete with all the myriad of adorable websites that ALREADY sell hair accessories), with cute names and fonts and packaging and labels and I don't even know what else...I do enjoy making them, but the prospect of trying to sell them--and everything that goes along with that--just makes me scared and tired. Ideally, I'd rather not deal with it. Or I'd rather have a steady income anyway, and just do it for fun. But I've spent a good deal of money on ribbon and other supplies, and I'm afraid I won't make any of it back...

I've never been the entrepreneur type. I never realized how hard it is to try to put your product, and by extension, yourself, out there and try to get people's patronage. It makes me feel...vulnerable?

Okay, I need to go to bed. Sorry for the complaining, but I needed to get it out.

Life is still really good, and I do believe it will get better, that we'll be able to get back on our feet. I'm just at a point where it kind of feels like it will never happen. (Hey, maybe that means the miracle isn't far off.)

Buy our bows!!! (Why beat around the bush?)

Okay, remember when I showed you pictures of the bows I learned how to make in Idaho? And remember when I told you about Robin's bow site,

http://www.bbnbows.com/?

Well, she is very kindly letting me try my hand at the oh-so-popular bow-making (and selling) business! These are some of the ones I've made that she'll be putting on her website for me. There's one on there so far, the witch korker. There are also a few more varieties that I didn't take pictures of before I took them to her--light pink and turquoise of the pansy flowers in the fourth picture, a pair of mini korkers (like the last picture) made with black and orange-with-black-polka-dots ribbon (for Halloween), etc.

So I just wanted to shamelessly advertise on my blog, because it's free, and let you all know that yes, I've jumped on the bow-making bandwagon. It really is fun. So if you see something here that you like and would want, lemme know and I'll either ask Robin to post it or we can do a shady backroom deal. ;) Also, we're both open to custom orders if you need something that isn't on the site!

I'm a total novice at this. Robin's showing me the ropes, and I'm honored that she's sharing her talent and creativity with me. See Robin's blog to check out her sweet introduction of me on her site. (She knows how to make me blush! :))

Also, I'm going to be selling bows and maybe a few other things at a local craft show in November. More details and subliminal messages about that when it gets closer...

Please feel free to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested. Thanks!

Toofies!

Is that how you spell that?... They're there, on the bottom.

That's just what we call them in my mom's family. Finally got him to open up and show off those pearly whites! And the other pic is when he's being a monkey, using his feet for stuff. So darn cute.

Funnel Cake

See the recipe here.

I did like the commentors (?) suggested and added vanilla. Overall, it was tasty, but so greasy. I'm not a health nut, but sheesh, I just can't eat like that anymore! This will be a "once in a great while" treat. And, thanks to my parents' frying pan where all you had to do was plug it in and turn the knob to the temp you wanted, it was so easy!

I know we're all spoiled in the world of internet tutorials with pictures of each step. Sorry, I'm too lazy for that. Don't worry, it's not hard to figure out. :)