Blog Silence

There's been a lot of intermittent cricket sounds here at "Straddling the Gap."  I guess you could say I'm having some "blogger's block."  As I approach the second anniversary of this blog in June, I'm floundering around for focus.

I think it started during Lent when I gave up blogging for forty days.  I thought it was going to be so difficult and at first, it was.  However, by Easter I was enjoying a bit of freedom of not having to think about what I should write about next.  It's too bad, because right before Lent I think I was somewhat on a roll.

Then came Bloggy Boot Camp right after Easter.  It was intimidating, and very obvious to me that the other bloggers there had a more business perspective for their blogs.  I wasn't sure I was ready to go there.  In hindsight, I don't think I ever want to go there.  I have a career and I don't want this to be work.  Unfortunately, there was so much information overload, I think it really clogged up my writing.  Don't get me wrong - there were so many good ideas and wonderful people, it was interesting content at an inopportune time.

One thing I heard several times at BBC was the importance of planning posts.  I think that would be very helpful for me, especially if I could find a general theme for each day.  At the same time, I don't want this to be a cookie cutter format.  I don't want to be looking over my shoulder for the craft/recipe/Pinterest/Etsy/mommy blog that has already covered the topic.

So if you hear crickets (if a cricket is chirping in the forest and no one hears it, did it chirp?) for a little while, don't be surprised.  I'll get my act together and forge ahead.

Stay tuned.

cindy

The Tooth Fairy and Economies of Scale

What is the going rate for a molar these days?  How about a regular tooth?  If the tooth loser doesn't put the teeth under the pillow, is the Tooth Fairy obligated for "back pay"?  I have been pondering these deep philosophical questions all evening.  I finally did some research with CBS Moneywatch which reported that as of April 2010, the going rate in Manhattan and New Jersey was $5.00 for the first tooth and then $3.00 after that.  In the boonies, the rates are more like $1.00.

My son is currently at a standstill with tooth loss at 12 years old.  It's not that he has all of his permanent teeth, it's because he hasn't lost any molars other than the ones that were pulled for braces.  On the other hand, there is a run on the Tooth Fairy based on my 10 year old daughter's teeth just popping out, including two molars in the last two week.  She hardly thinks about the Tooth Fairy anymore.  I'm not sure whether she gave up after the Tooth Fairy inadvertently left a tooth under the pillow for a day (or two), or whether the Tooth Fairy just doesn't pay enough to make it worth her while.

When I was a kid, the Tooth Fairy paid a standard rate of $0.25 per tooth.  This was an outrageous inflationary rate according to my older siblings, who were lucky to get $0.10.  Cry me a river - gas was $0.32 then too.  Now my kids are not impressed with anything less than $1.00.  Personally, I think the Tooth Fairy's payout is based on her liquidity at the time the tooth is under the pillow.

Tonight I have it on good authority that the Tooth Fairy is feeling both guilty and neglectful for teeth that were left under the pillow or not even offered for her purchase.  Based on that, I think a molar will fetch $5.00 in hard currency (but not gold or silver) this evening.  Lucky for the Tooth Fairy that this kid sleeps so soundly she could use a jack to raise up the pillow, take the tooth and leave $5.00 in singles without interrupting a single snore.

That Tooth Fairy really has a cushy assignment in our house.

cindy

Yo-Yo Sewing

I love the look of a yo-yo.  No, not the toy on a string, but a fabric yo-yo.  Just Google "fabric yo-yo" and check out all of the cool images and uses for yo-yos.  You can also find some great DIY posts on making yo-yos without a form.  I'm going for the easy route - making yo-yos with store bought forms - gasp!

These are plastic yo-yo forms you can find in multiple sizes in most fabric stores.  I'll say it again - you don't need a form to make a yo-yo - but it sure makes things easier.  You take a piece of fabric and snap it between the two sides of the form, like this:

There are two distinct advantages to using plastic forms.  The first one is this: you don't need to cut a perfect circle before you pick up a needle.  In fact, you don't have to cut a perfect circle at all.  Using the plastic form guarantees a uniform size even with odd shaped scraps you see above.  You don't have to cut the circle until after the fabric is firmly held in the form.

Once you snap the fabric into the form, it's time to start sewing.  Here's the second advantage.  You don't have to worry about sewing perfectly spaced uniform stitches.  The plastic forms have little notches in them so you can sew in and out of the notches to get perfect stitches.  It's a great activity for kids.

Once the stitches are all the way around and you cut out the circle, leave the needle in place and remove the plastic form.  You will be left with this:

Pull the thread evenly and watch the circle come together.  Tie off the end and you have your first yo-yo.

I really want to make some of the cool projects you can see if you look at the Google images, but I haven't made nearly enough yo-yos for that.  However, when I was recently making a little dress, I decided to use two different sizes of yo-yos with some little pearls I bought as an embellishment.

Here is the whole bodice.  The dress is coming soon - a short tutorial on Straddling the Gap and the actual dress in my Etsy store, Pretty Pretty Cindy

cindy

I'm Selling Me Some Scentsy!

That's right - I am now a Scentsy Independent Consultant!  Why?  Don't I already have too much to do?? (yes)  There is a simple answer - I LOVE this product!  I originally wrote about Scentsy in this post from December, 2011.  That's when I discovered this awesome scent system for the places you live your life.  The basic Scentsy product is a "warmer" in which scented wax is melted using the heat from a 25 watt bulb.  Scentsy warmers also come in plug in versions.  The scents are amazing and I love the fact that this is a safe product - no candles that can cause fires.  You can leave a warmer on for days without fear of overheating.

If that was the entire Scentsy product line that would be great.  However the company also produces products so you can take the scents wherever you go without a warmer.  Scentsy makes room sprays, scent packets (think sachet), stuffed animals (with scent packets inside), scent circles and travel tins for your car.  Scentsy recently introduced its Layers line of products (sprays, shower gel, perfume, lip balm, body lotion and laundry products) so you can wear your favorite scents.

The key to Scentsy is the scents.  There are more than 80 scents available in "bars."  With a bar, you can break off and use as much or as little as you want, depending on how strong you want the scent to be or based on the size of the space where the warmer is located.  The scents are the things that initially drew me to the products and they keep me coming back.

Scentsy creates products to keep beautiful scents in every part of your life.  Imagine this:  you wake up in the morning to the soft smell of "Quiver" in your bedroom warmer.  You move into the shower to bask in "Sweet Pea and Vanilla" shower gel and body lotion.  Breakfast is cooking in the kitchen with the yummy smell of "French Toast" and you leave your home breathing in the relaxing scent of "White Tea and Cactus."  I work outside of the home, and my commute is better with the fresh smell of "Ocean" in a travel tin or scent circle.  My office has a mid-size warmer with the soothing scent of "Black Raspberry and Vanilla."  A man's office or den might have the deep, manly smell of "My Dear Watson."  You can return home at night to the smells of "Clean Breeze" which smells just like clean laundry (which is great, especially if you are too tired to actually do the laundry).  Or, you can do the laundry and use one of the washer or dryer products to add your favorite scent to your clothes.  The next morning you can wake up and do the whole day again with entirely new scents - you don't have to wait until the previous smells are "used up."  Speaking of "used up," did I mention that Scentsy bars last a LONG time?  A single $5.00 bar can last for months, and if you kept a warmer constantly on for days using only a portion of a bar, you would still have the scent lingering through the room.

                                

Sorry for gushing, but as I said at the beginning, I LOVE these products!  Ready to know more?  Check out the catalog and drop me an email if you would like to order, or better yet, host a party!  You don't have to live close to me in Arizona to host a party and you don't even have to have your "guests" gather in a specific place at a particular time.  You can host a "basket party" by using catalogs I provide and taking orders during a defined period of time.  If your "party" has at least $150 in sales (not very hard to do), you will get free shipping to your location and hostess discounts!

Bring beautiful scents into your life with Scentsy.

cindy

Please note:  although I am a Scentsy Independent Consultant, I have not been compensated in any way for my endorsement of the Scentsy products in this post.  The post is not sponsored by Scentsy and the opinions expressed are my own.  The images above are copyright protected by Scentsy and have been provided for my use.

Tragedy: Don't Say, Just Do

It's been a wild, dizzy week that feels more like a month.  Boston. West, Texas.  Ricin.  The crazy weather in our Midwest hometowns.  Personally, I'm also trying to wrap my head around the sudden death on Monday of a former coworker who was one year younger than me and left two young children and a distraught wife.

What to say?  Nothing.  There are no words to convey the enormity of each situation.  It's best to focus on the phrase "Actions speak louder than words."  Don't talk - do.  Here's what you can do:

1. Pray, pray, pray.  This is great for every situation.  No matter what your faith background is, you can call out each of these tragedies by name.  It's the most powerful tool you have.

2.  Give financially.  The injured in Boston are in for a very long ordeal, especially if they have lost a limb (as so many have).  Prosthetics are very expensive and not always covered by insurance.  Modifying a home is seldom covered by insurance, nor is modifying a car.  There are two established "crowdraising" websites designed to raise money for various causes - Give Forward and Go Fund Me.  On Go Fund Me, Boston victim funds are categorized under Believe in Boston and on Give Forward you can find the individual funds on the Boston Marathon Support Page.  These are legitimate funds - you can read on each site the respective safeguards.  Officials in Massachusetts have also set up a fund - The One Fund.   Thankfully, all of the efforts are proving successful, but there are plenty of costs to cover.

Likewise, the folks in West are in for the long haul.  As of the time this was written, the death toll stands at 14.  The people who lived in the apartment complex probably lost everything and don't have insurance.  There are over 50 homes to rebuild.  Saddest of all, many people will have to bury their loved ones, many who were volunteers but also the main income for their families.  Although God cannot be outdone in generosity, folks in Texas are the first in line.  I found so many places all over Texas that are finding ways to support little West.  It took a while to find information that could be used for people outside of Texas, but I finally found a great list on a local news page.  You can find the list here.  Get your kids involved and do a little fundraising.

3.  Support the Red Cross. They provide disaster relief whenever it is needed, including in Boston and Texas.  The Red Cross does not provide long term medical or housing assistance, but it's great to know they are there, ready at all times to respond immediately.  You can find more information about how you can help the Red Cross in a number of different ways by visiting their website.  Have you ever thought about giving blood?  While the victims in Boston and West don't directly benefit at this point, the local blood banks and Red Cross are somewhat depleted.  You can help even if you are not close by.  If you've never given, it's not that hard - give it a try!

4. Send your best.  Write notes and letters, online and in person.  This is also a great activity for children who might feel powerless (don't we all?).  I heard a volunteer EMT in West say he received so many calls from around the world and it meant so much to him to know even strangers care.

Send a card or note to:  United States Post Office, 301 West Columbus Street, West, Texas 76691-1440
or
One Fund Boston, Inc., 800 Boylston Street #990009, Boston MA  02199

It's always so heartbreaking when tragedy strikes.  We feel so powerless.  Our children are confused.  Our perception of goodness in the world might even be shaken.  Don't wait for someone to ask you directly.  To quote the advertising slogan, "Just do it."

cindy