*tap* *tap* *tap* - Is This Thing On?

It's gotten a little dusty around here, hasn't it?

Oh2122 has been on a self-imposed hiatus for longer than I expected. Best laid plans and all, but the extended absence did clarify an imbalance for me.

Too much blogging, not enough creating.

So I'm still on a mini-hiatus. I'll be quietly working on a few things and will reopen the shop at a later date. In the mean time, I'll be easing back in to blogging in general.

Thanks for dropping by!

Have a wonderful day!

On Hiatus

We're all recovering, but alas the busy season is upon us so Oh2122 will be on hiatus for the remainder of April.

I will return in May (if not sooner).

Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The majority of the Oh2122 household is now firmly lodged under the weather. The lone holdout is Monkey, who's 2 year molars are finally breaking through.

Yay.

I'm slowly trying to creep back into the swing of things, but I wanted to share the Not-Bob's-Garden progress.

Day 1

Day 3
Day 6

(Insert "Lost Week" here...)


By day 18 they needed to be relocated.

These will be planted along an unattractive fence that abuts our property.

These will find their home on either side of our almost never used front door and in window boxes on the back porch They're already sprouting the next length of stem.

Apparently the water in our town makes EVERYTHING grow taller than expected.

Hmm.

I'm off to drink a few gallons... 5'8" here I come!

Ironic Indeed

Sorry about dropping off the radar like that. I'm still here and all is well.

We've had a few colds, Monkey is still teething, and we're knee deep in a Spring Cleaning that must be done before Monkey's birthday party in April.

(The whole town is like one big brush cleaning project. Every day brings the smell of yard waste burns and fresh piles of leaves for compost and mulching. It all has to me done before the rainy season ends, or we'll be in big trouble when brush fire season starts!)

Add to that the feeling like I've been more Blogger than Crafty lately, and you get an impromptu Blogcation.

Which is ironic, given that Liz at Inventing My Life generously graced me with this last week:

I haven't been feeling very crafty, but I am working my way back.

I have to.

Monkey is expecting a giant Handy Dandy Notebook cake, and if I can't find a green striped shirt, I may have to make one...

Subliminal Gardening

Monkey and I started some flowers this week.

Mini sunflowers for our planters, and giant sunflowers to line the ugly fence in our backyard.

I've been fixated on planting sunflowers for weeks, and had no idea why.

It wasn't until I explained to Monkey that not all flowers are called "daises" for the 100th time that I remembered this:


That would be Bob and his crew in Sunflower Valley.

(And yes, I can name the whole crew and sing the theme song too.)

WIP Wednesday

I know it looks like it's done, but trust me.

This is still a WIP.

The hammering did not go quite according to plan, a few of the wraps are wonky, it feels just a tad too wide when worn, and it has a slight lean to it.

And this clasp? Not crazy about it. It needs something more.

All in all it's cute enough for my wrist, but I won't be subjecting anyone else to it until the design is just right.

Also a WIP? My finger.

Close encounters of the pliers kind!

(Side note: Get that girl some moisturizer, STAT!)

Monkey's New BFFs

Monkey and Hubby have been making their hands talk to each other for a while now, much to the delight of Monkey, so I decided it was time for him to make a few new friends.

Friends of the cotton variety.

A quick Googling provided a variety of methods, but I choose the simplest variation.

A little stitching in the corners of the mouths, button eyes, and yarn hair did the trick.

15 minutes later - two new friends!

Flung

And the winner is....SONGBIRDTIFF!

Who has a fab blog, BTW. Check it out!

Happy weekend all!

WIP Wednesday And I Need A Nap!

In between teething toddler fun and Flinging, I have been working on some new additions for the shop.

Not everything has gone according to plan.

For example, this:

Is actually the second, and unfinished full version of a bracelet I have been working on for a while.

That's the 16 gauge copper again, and I have the bruised fingertips to prove it!

Then there's the aftermath of the complete rewiring I did on the bracelet for the fling:I know I left a desk in there somewhere...

You can enter my Fling until midnight EST on Thursday, and some of the SITSers giveaways are still going on. There are over 300 giveaways listed. I've left so many comments, the word verifications are starting to talk to me again...

I'm going to take a nap.

Fling on.

FLING!

Today is the SITS Spring Fling!



The hourly giveaways are happening on the main page, but don't miss the Mr. Linky. It's chock full of individual giveaways. I was on by 8:30 this morning, and I'm #160!

If you haven't been over there to check it out...

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Go! I'll still be here when you get back.

Choosing to ignore the 6ish inches of heavy wet snow we got yesterday, I am giving away a piece of spring bling. It is made from glass beads shaped like leaves, flowers, and flower centers that are individually hand wired and hung on bright silver steel (chosen for strength).

Then length is adjustable, but if you win, and are concerned about the fit, I will gladly adjust it prior to shipping.

All you have to do to win it is to leave a comment by midnight on Thursday March 12th, and answer one question:
What's your favorite part of Spring?

WIP Monday

Spring!

Um....

Spring?

* Waving Meekly *

Just thought I'd poke my head of of my office and announce that I have not disappeared, despite the lack of posting and participation.

I've been fighting some slumping creatively and some sneezing physically. The change of seasons always takes a bite out of me, and I think I'm letting it get the best of me this week.

Hello? Weather? Please stop sending me snow. I'm all stocked up, thanks.

Thankfully Hubby and I have a date planned this weekend, thank CUPCAKES for Aunites!

Next week's SITS Spring Fling is shaping up to be a blast, so mark your calendars.

March 10th!

See you all then!

Mabel's Labels Are The Cupcake

There are times I wish I could break my own rules and swear in a post. This is one of those times and the phrase in question would be:

"Holy **cupcakes!** It stayed on!"

A while back, I entered the Mabel's Labels BlogHer '09 Contest, and while I didn't win, I was sent a very cool consolation prize.

These are Mabel's Sticky Labels.

(Like the... um... artful use of MS Paint?)

I inherited a specific genetic tendency from my father. Let's call it the warranty-voider gene. He told us a story not too long ago about a company that approached the fire department with a tool they proclaimed to be indestructible. Dad said that sounded like a challenge. Add to that my klutziness and my toddler's fascination with disassembling, and you usually have a recipe for disaster.

So upon receiving the labels, I read the directions, grabbed Monkey's oddest shaped sippy, and got to work.

After applying the label, I ran it through the dishwasher.

Then I gave it to the toddler tornado and waited.

One bowl of spaghetti...
And a gratuitous run through the dishwasher later...
It didn't budge.

Not one centimeter.

I'm seriously considering a set with MY name on them.

Memes And Labor Vibes

I was recently tagged for a fun meme by the crafty and fab and OVERDUE Sylvia.

She's reached and passed her due date.

It's her first.

And she's not even complaining!

I can not even imagine. I was 4 days early and I still groused my way through that last week.

Ok, last two weeks.

If she hasn't already had her little one, he will be commanded to appear by the end of the week, so check her out, and wish her a short labor!

Here are the rules ... (She changed them, and I changed them again! DOUBLE HA!)

Step 1: Respond and Rework. Answer the questions on your own blog. Replace one question that you don't like with a question of your own invention.

Step 2: Tag other un-tagged people... Or just open-tag anyone who wants to play!

1. Make a list of things you can see without getting up.
Diplomas, filing cabinet, yarn basket, craft supplies, candle.

2. Favorite Football Team.
The New England Patriots.
Though to answer otherwise would call down the fury of a hundred relatives upon me.

3. What are you wearing now?
White tee, light blue running pants, socks. Hey, It's a snow day!

4. What's the last thing you read/are currently reading?
You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore. LOVE HIM! His best is definitely Lamb, though.

5. Who was the last person you hugged?
Monkey, after retrieving him from time out for trying to flip his chair at the dinner table and laughing about it.

6. What's you current obsession/addiction?
Perpetually my piles of notebooks, but I'm trying to get a system in place for them. And a system for blogging... and a system for Esty... So, systems, apparently.

7. What was the last thing you said aloud?
"Raloo, Monkey. See you soon. Be good for Daddy."
Then I ditched Hubby and hid in my office until bath time!

8. What was the last thing you bought?
Coffee and cookies at Starbucks. Monkey's had "Mem-yahs" in it.
M&Ms to the rest of the world.

9. What are you listening to right now?
Monkey and Hubby horsing around in the other room.

10. What is your favorite type of bath product?
Clean and fresh smelling soaps with matching body lotion. Grapefruit, mint, etc.

11. What is your most challenging goal right now?
Getting myself organized!

12. Say something to the person who tagged you:
Sylvia: Thanks for the tag. This was a hoot! I hope by the time you read this you'll be snug at home with your sweet baby!

13. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Here in MA. If home base was paid for, travelling elsewhere would be a breeze.

14. Favorite vacation spot?
Ireland. I would go back right now if Logan wasn't CLOSED DUE TO SNOW!!!

15. Favorite children's book?
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss.
It was actually rejected 29 times before it was published. Can you even imagine what was like to have been those 29 publishers?
Dude! You passed on Dr. Seuss!

16. What is your most favorite Candy Bar of all time?
Milka Bars, (Made in Germany and hard to find here, dang it!)

17. What was the first tape or CD that you bought for yourself?
You know, I have no idea. Probably something by NKOTB, back when they had a name and not just an acronym.

18. Describe your perfect day.
Sleeping past 8 and waking to mild, 65 degree weather. After a great workout, a leisurely meander through B&N followed by lunch at The Border Cafe. An afternoon of shopping, a quiet dinner at home, then reading until bedtime.

19. What's your favorite sweet treat? (Sylvia's question!)
Jell-O No Bake Cherry Cheesecake. (Oh, the SHAME!)

20. What would you do if you won the Lottery?
Oh, do I have plans for this! To sum up: pay off several houses, college loans, set up college funds for all of my cousins and siblings, donate like it was going out of style, and buy shoes. And books. And a place to store the shoes and books.

21. Aside from blogging, what is your favorite past time?
Reading.

22. How many pairs of shoes do you own, and what's your most prized pair? (My question!)
I love shoes. No, I really love shoes. I have, I'm stunned to say, 37 pairs. And I didn't count flip-flops. (That brings it up to 42.)

I put a pair of heels on my Christmas list a few years ago - black and white spectators with wingtip detailing and corset lacing on the toe. I quite literally did a happy-clappy-squeal-and-bounce when I opened them, and tried them on immediately. I was promptly mocked by the whole family.

They're just jealous!

23. What is your most favorite movie of all time?
Hm. That's hard. I'm not sure I can narrow it down. Anything Harry Potter, Hamlet with Mel Gibson, before he went nuts. Dogma, definitely, and it's much funnier if you went to Catholic school.

24. What is your favorite food to eat?
Rice-a-Roni, Herb and Butter flavor. Might as well just plaster it directly into my arteries, but *drool*

Remember to let me know if you play along!

Flashback Filler, Day 4

If all had gone according to plan, the first wave of my spring shop update should have be ready to go this weekend.

Really, what are the odds of everything going according to plan?

Ever?

(Teething toddler, lingering head cold, and insurance company? I'm looking at you.)

I will be adding things to the shop a little at a time over the next week, plus actual content will return! Someone got a delivery from Mabel's Labels yesterday....

Also, If you had not already heard, the SITS Spring Fling has been moved to March 10th. (Thank GOODNESS! I will be ready, but I am very grateful for the extra time to tweak and adjust.)

Hope everyone has a fab weekend!


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

From The Summer of 2008:

Back Off, Ladies. He's Taken.

TheScene:

Dinner time in our house. We enter upon a discussion involving produce and washing it before consuming it.

Lights up.

Hubby:
I don't know. The FDA is getting a lot better at tracking the problems.

Me:
Yeah, but I'd really like them to prevent the problems before they start. I'd appreciate not having to wonder if my spinach is going to kill me.

Hubby:
Hmm. First it was the spinach. Now it's the tomatoes. What's next? The Parmesan cheese? Oh my GOD! It's THE FLORENTINE CONSPIRACY!

Me:
(rolling eyes)
*snort*

Monkey:
Mummy! Dinn-uh! Dinn-uh! Dinn-uh!

Fade to black.

Flashback Filler, Day 3

*The summer wind, Comes rolling in, From across the sea...*

Thought we could use a change of song...

*hm hm-m-m, hm h-m-m...*

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

From The Summer of 2008:

Dear Barnes And Noble,

I am sorry I have to tell you this, but...

I am seeing someone else.

I never meant to hurt you, really. It's just something I had to do for myself. I'm trying to improve my life. Streamline. Optimize. Living greener and...

Do you really want to hear all of this?

Ok.

It's been going on for about a month now. Sometimes we meet online. Then, only when things are ready, do we meet in person.

I still think about you every day. Really, I do. I think about you there too. I know you don't want to hear that, but it's true.

Your card is in my wallet even now... yes, that card is in there too.

Yes, I do love your discounts.

Of course I love the squishy chairs and panoramic views from the second floor.

You don't understand. There's free Wi-Fi there!

You charge! Who charges anymore?

They are not used! They're just pre-read.

Yes I do miss being the first... the only...

Of course I remember those nights when we stayed up so late. Hazy summer nights filled with Frappucinos and wizards and neon wristbands.

We'll have that again. Someday.

No. I can't stop it now. I want to, but I can't!

We can still see each other. Just not all the time like... before.

And the time we spend apart will make the time we do spend together special.

I have to go.

No, I really have to go. The book I ordered is in.

I'll see you around.

Flashback Filler, Day 2

*Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Impanema goes walking...*

Another flashback today, this time to a NaBloPoMo entry for the theme "Letters."

*And when she passes, hm hmm hm-mm-mm-mm-mm, ahhhh...*

I'm still elbow deep in shiny bits, and there's a whole list of new blogs I need to blogroll and follow. I am WAY behind! I swear I will visit all the new readers and followers as soon as I get this muzak out of my head!

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

From April of 2008:

Parlez Vous Coffee?

So up here in the frozen, but happily defrosting Northeast, we have had a bit of coffee bipartisanship a'brewin for some time now. (Pun intended. Sorry.) There are two very large chains. One has a green logo, and blended, frozen cups of crack-addictive goodness... The other one serves "donuts."

(Can you guess which one I prefer?)

There's also a very funny commercial put out by the bakery-related chain where a group of people sing about the strange names given to the sizes at the green-logoed heaven. Perhaps they are singing in "Fratalian?"

Now you've got it.

I never really got the whole tall, grande, venti, why don't you have an intravenous option thing, but hey, when in Rome, don't piss off the lion making your coffee. So I learned. I have become very adept at chanting out my usual, as well as my husband's favorites.

That's a hoot in and of itself. When the 5'5" chick approaches the counter and asks for what amounts to 5 or 6 shots of espresso in a cup with some foam, eyes do bug. I do usually know what I'm saying, or so I thought.

Then came Saturday afternoon, at a branch location of my house of worship with a small but reasonable facsimile of green-logo land in it.

I approached the counter and the conversation went something like this:

TheCoffeeLady:
"Hi, can I help you?"

Me:
"Hi, yes. Could I please have a grande, low-fat, *copyrighted frozen drink*?"

TheCoffeeLady:
"A large?"

Me:
*Blinking, wondering if anyone else smells burnt rubber from the mental screech marks*

"Um, no, medium? A grande?"

Now, I've been an exchange student and a tourist in countries outside of the US. I am all for speaking the language of the country you are in. It's when you go to Germany and they're speaking Swahili that things get dicey.

So today, G is for large. Deal with it or go get yourself a cruller.

Flashback Filler, Day 1

I am trying very hard to be productive this week, and there are a lot of unfinished projects clamoring for my immediate attention.

Between the Barking Mad giveaway and my impending 1 year Blogiversary, I'm feeling a little introspective. (I know the math looks fuzzy, but I'm counting the anonymous before time too.)

So rather than upload a video of me humming random muzak to pass the time, I thought I'd dig into the archives of my long lost anon-o-blog and share the before with the fine readers of Oh2122.

Enjoy.

Or at least don't point and laugh, m'kay?


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

From March of 2008:

Dear Little Girl in Pink,

I am so glad you had such a good time at my cousins' birthday party this weekend. You seemed to take a special liking to my son. Who could blame you? Monkey is a shameless flirt, and obviously drew you in with his trademark squeals and smiles.

Running at my new little walker full bore and skidding to a stop, unbalancing him each time, looked like a lot of fun for you. You especially seemed to like crawling up next to him and the other children playing with an animatronic toy and whining, "Nooooooooooooo-wuh!" Only when he reached for it, of course, but you really did have to protect someone else's toy from the curious one year old.

And when you came up behind Monkey as he was crawling along after his beloved cousins, and proceeded to push him down to the ground with all of your might... well!

You may have just invented the best party game ever!

Monkey's father and I are glad we could provide you with such an entertaining playmate for the day. We'll be sure to reintroduce the two of you at next year's birthday party, when Monkey will be almost two. I'm sure he will remember you, sweetie.

I know I will.

All my love,

Monkey's Mummy

And The Winner Is:

Tori from The Sweet Jelly Bean!

Congratulations, Tori! These will be heading your way this week!

Thanks again to everyone who entered. Your comments were all so sweet, and will definitely help motivate my where-the-heck-is-spring self to get back to work!

If you're eagerly awaiting the Spring Fling, The SITSers announced this week that it will be moved to March 10th. Remark your calendars!

A Mossy Bit-O-Sunshine

It snowed here this week.

It's supposed to snow again this weekend.

And those cupcakes at the weather channel are talking about more next weekend.

I know Phil saw his shadow and all, but if this keeps up, I'm going to track that furball down and

We. Will. Have. Words.

There was a great surprise in my mailbox this week, though.

My snow covered mailbox... but I'm not bitter...

How fab is this?

I won it, courtesy of Erin At Every Heart Crafts.

I have plans for this yummy hint of spring already, and I can't wait to get to work on it!

Erin has a great Etsy shop, too. My favorite is the Green Bodhi Leaf, but you'll have to judge for yourself!

I'm Barking Mad

And so is Jori.

And you should be too.

Auds at Barking Mad is apparently attempting to prove her blog title.



If the lure of a fresh batch of blogs to check out is not enough, how about a $250 gift card to Target?

Yup. She's mad alright.

Seeing as how I just passed the 100th post mark, it's a nice chance to look back at how I got here.

If you're new to Oh2122, enjoy!

If you've already read all of these and you're thinking, "Hello? How about some new content, slacker?!?"

Smile and nod, then go check out the rest of the entries!


Frosted Friday - A Re-Post

Baby Shower Crafts And A Tutorial

Silliness On A Saturday

Welcome To Mass, Blog Around The World Peeps!

Nuh-UH!

Overheard This Morning

It's Election Day In America

Thankful

Smile And Wave!

Untitled

Frosted Friday - The Commercially Produced Edition

Sometimes The Google Lies

*Names Have Been Changed To Protect The Giggling

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Let It Ride

Wow!

You guys are some of the nicest commenters I have ever met!

It makes me want to get back into my office ASAP and polish up some really amazing listings for the update and Spring Fling.

If you haven't already entered, you can do so until midnight on February 21 at midnight EST.

Don't forget that

will be hosting a major spring giveaway starting March 3rd.

I'm off to tinker with these:

And how fab are those green adventurine beads? This photo totally does not do them justice.

They're like tiny round reminders that the snow will be gone very soon.

100!

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

Comments are now closed, and the winner will be announced on Monday.

Thanks for playing!

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

Today marks my 100th post here at Oh2122.

Woo-hoo!!!

I have been hard at work on the pending shop update I've scheduled for March 1st, so I thought I'd give you all a sneak peek today.

My bead board is looking very springy indeed.

In honor of my 100th post, and because everyone needs a little spring boost, I'm giving these away:They're amethyst and sterling hung on hand embellished sterling earwires.

With a tiny surprise underneath.

To enter, leave a comment on this post. It's as simple as that!

Be sure that your comment contains a way to reach you through your user profile, blog, or email for the non-bloggers. (The AT and DOT format is fine for leaving email addresses.)

Comments will be open until February 21st at midnight, EST. I will pick a winner via Random.Org and announce the winner the following Monday.

GOOD LUCK!

99 ...

It's been very hard to get anything substantial done this week.

Or anything done right, as evidenced by "Double Post Wednesday."

We had two back-to-back days of 50+ weather and I played hooky on the best of them. Though, it's hard to let your guard down when your lawn is still covered in snow.

Earlier this week, I posted my entry for Mabel's Labels BlogHer '09. While I was not chosen as a finalist, 10 fab bloggers were. Check them out here and remember, voting closes at noon EST on February 23, 2009!

Even though they can't send all of us to BlogHer, Mabel's Labels is very generously sending along a set of these:

Their awesome Sticky Labels!

I am so excited to try them out. I have a toddler after all...

Who am I kidding? I should get them with MY name on them!

And just in case you missed the title of today's post...

99...

(Fear not, 100 will go up this weekend, but the giveaway will be open for a week.)

Thoughts? Ideas? Views? Opinions?

Soooo... I have an idea rolling around in my head for a little while, and I'd like to shine a little sunlight on it and see what blooms.

(Or as Hubby is fond of saying, "Quick! Let it out before it starves to death!" How sweet, right?)

Everyone's familiar with CommentLove, right?

I'm contemplating running a monthly event where people can join in and post about their own favorite comment(s) of the month.

I would put up my CommentLove post on, say, the last Friday of the month, and add a Mr. Linky so people can add their own links.

What say you, pixel peeps?

How Many Letters Does YOUR Alphabet Have?

If you answered anything other than 26, this link's for you.




Elizabeth from Thoughts From An Evil Overlord has started a list of New England bloggers.

Though with the crazy weather we've been having, it may be more of a support group!

Doing My Part For The Troubled Economy

One bead at a time.

That bottom strand was actually in the goody bags that Beadles gave away this weekend. It's chock full of semiprecious chips. I was so excited when I saw it, I actually did a fist pump/YES combo.

All alone in my car in a busy parking lot.

Something in that picture will be a part of the SITS Spring Fling.

Something else will be leaving Oh2122 a little earlier than that.

Anyone else notice the post count around here lately?

This is #96.

Which means 100* is rapidly approaching.

In the blog world such an occasion demands a little flair, right?

Right.

*Ok, so technically it's my second 100th post, seeing as how I hit 100 somewhere else too, but is anyone really going to argue with me?

Didn't think so.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Mabel's Labels, makers of the ab-fab Mama Card, is having a contest. They're giving away a trip to BlogHer 09 in Chicago and the amazing opportunity to be their correspondent for the event.

This was my entry.

*****EDITED*****
The finalists have been chosen, and they're fab! Check them out here.


In April of 2007, I gave birth to the most amazing person I have ever met. He was small and sweet and he drove me out of my ever-loving mind.

When they tell you that having children changes everything, it is the understatement of the century. What they should do is sit you down in a chair, slap you across the face, and yell it at you until you get it. Really get it.

Monkey was a pretty mild baby, by all accounts. He was giggly and had personality to spare. He also had jaundice, mixed up days and nights, a major latching issue, a witching hour that happened every day around 6pm, and he spit up regularly until he was over a year old.

For no reason at all.

As a well versed modern mommy, I was already a member of an “Expecting Club” on a well known women’s site. If, of course, by member you mean lurking and not posting because the boobnazis I met on that particular board would not take kindly to my surrender to formula.

Nevermind the fact that I exclusively pumped for almost 4 months, and only fed him half formula mixed with half expressed milk for another 2. I was weak. WEAK, I TELL YOU! And not worthy of posting my weak mommy thoughts lest I poison the rest of the village…

So lurk I did, until one day I came across an article containing a new word in a old blog post. A wonderful word. A word that told me I was not alone.

Sanctimommy.

It said it all. Actually, she said it all.

She was a mom, but not just any mom. She pulled no punches and told it like it was. She was funny, she was real, she spoke my native tongue.

Sarcasm.

Intrigued, I dug deeper.

What I found was a secret world of moms who were not afraid of speaking their minds. They were not about impressing the crowd at the PTA. They were in it for survival.

With a side of snark where appropriate, of course.

The summer of 2008 was a life changing time. Fueled by a handfull of well-rounded blogrolls I began blog hopping. I lurked for quite a while. Then, slowly at first, I tested the waters. I started my own blog and joined NaBloPoMo. I wrote anonymously, still wary of the potential reaction I would garner. Then I got my first comment.

In the beginning, I felt like I was shouting into the Grand Canyon and not even getting the satisfaction of my own echo. My first comment changed that forever. I had spoken and someone spoke back.

If you have never blogged, a word of caution: comments are a gateway drug. They lead you deep into a world of carnivals and giveaways and conferences with hundreds of strangers who can quote your writing to you, but could not pick you out of a police lineup.

For several months, I blogged on the DL. Only Hubby knew. Then Little Sister, followed rapidly by then newly pregnant BFF. Wonder of wonders, I had readers! I even had a small handful of regular commenters, and while I enjoyed blogging for blogging’s sake, I knew there was so much more out there.

A crafty girl to my core, I wanted to try my hand at Etsy. I also knew several women that I wanted to share this amazing secret with. Plus, not having to stop myself mid-sentence at family parties to avoid giving myself away would do wonders for my nerves. When BlogHer announced the reach out tour was coming to Boston, I knew it was time.

I began the transition from an anonymous blog to one I could actually tell people about. I worked for weeks on a name and created my own logos. I started learning a new craft that I would use to launch the shop. I migrated my blogroll to the new email address and disabled all links between the two. Finally, I shut down the blog that had been my home for so long.

Goodbye anonymity, hello every member of my extended family with internet access.

As I clock in at 10 straight months of blogging, I am amazed at all that I have personally experienced. I have “met” so many wonderful people out here among the pixels. I started a business. I have learned to use words like widget and html and analytics without Hubby checking me for delirium. I have stepped way out of my own comfort zone. Sure I was hyperventilating at certain points, but I did it anyway.

What I have witnessed has also been nothing short of amazing. I have watched strangers become friends. I have seen hundreds of people reach out to a family in need. I witnessed the awesome power of a grass roots movement to save a cottage industry.

I have seen the power of one person finding their voice, and the astonishing results when someone listens.

And though Monkey is almost two years old now, and the whole spit-up thing has resolved itself, he remains a constant source of blogging material.

Over the last year blogging has come to mean more to me than I would ever thought possible. It has been a haven and, I will freely admit, at times a curse. Oh2122 has become my creative outlet and soapbox to the world. Each day brings new voices and new experiences. I am learning more about myself and this incredible world with every word I type and every post I read.

And I sincerely thank you from the very bottom of my sarcastic little heart for sharing it with me.

Friday Housekeeping

I am not feeling the Luv.

The CommentLuv, that is.

It is doing very weird things to my little corner of the web. Comments are being eaten. Comment numbers are not matching up. The blog itself has been behaving strangely since I added it, so it has to go.

I apologize if it has done odd things to you and your comments, and rest assured, I am working on it. I have two support emails in, one reply was not very helpful, and I am waiting for the second.

Comment Love, on the other hand, will continue to be a fixture around here.

Providing I can scrub CommentLuv from my template soon!

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On a lighter note:

If you're in the metro-west area of Mass this weekend, my favorite bead shop is having a grand re-opening event!

Beadles, formerly of Westford, is moving to fab new digs in Chelmsford.

I will be the one in the red coat (that, incidentally, matches my car) wandering the aisles counting to myself and muttering about color combinations.

Next week's posts should be chock full of springy goodness!

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Also, today is Very Funny Friday over at Navel Gazing.

My link will just end up taking you back in time to yesterday, when I was much funnier and less distracted by comments borking left and right, but the rest of the links will most assurely be filled with laughs of the "OMG I HAVE TO PEE" variety.

Enjoy, and have a fab weekend!

* Names Have Been Changed To Protect The Giggling

I know I posted this on Thursday, but I've submitted it to Navel Gazing's Very Funny Friday!

If you've already read it, act surprised, then go check out the rest of the giggles.

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My sweet new (to me) ride has finally arrived, so Monkey and I took it out for a spin yesterday.

As we were meandering through the aisles of my local Target, I overheard another mom reaching the ubiquitous parental end point with her preschooler.

"Susie*, get over here now or I will make you sit in the cart."

(pause)

"I am giving you to the count of three."

(pause)

One... Two...

And knowing what was coming, I held my breath and silently begged Monkey not to do it.

Alas, to no avail.

He smiled his megawatt smile and proudly shouted,

"THREE!"

(sigh)

On a side note, it's really hard to admonish your child when you're gasping for air and it's coming out,

"Nuh-uh-oh! St-t-t-t-t-aaaawp! Mon-k-ke-e-e! Sh-sh-sh-uh!"

Deep End, Throwing Of Self In, And More List Making

So by now everyone has heard of SITS, right?



Wait, which one of you said no?

Get to clicking, and come back later.

For everyone else, SITS announced today that the Spring Fling will begin on March 3rd.

If you're doing the math, that would be 28 days frooooom.... NOW!

The asked for volunteers, and in a moment of sheer Chutzpah, I threw myself into the deep end.

Head first.

So all the fab sparkly bits I have been sketching for spring must begin appearing on my desk, ASAP.

This may mean I'm a little light on content this week, but it will be worth it.

Bonus, as if it were a gift sent from on high, my fave bead shop is moving to a bigger and better location this week, so there's a grand opening sale on Saturday. A sale AND a chance for Mommy to peruse, latte in hand, a plethora of beady goodness? Fab.

Plus, we're going to have a high of 45 and my new wheels will be ready this week.

My new RED wheels.

And speaking of RED. This:

(photo credit)

Leaves Boston on Friday.

Destination: Fort Meyers, FL.

It's going to be a nice weekend.

Not-So-Breaking News!

I intend to be knee deep in crafty bits and list making today, but I needed to pop in to join in the revels!

Handmade artisans and crafters have been granted a stay of execution.

The CPSIA has been put on hold for one year while they look into the impact it would have on small businesses.

There are other statutes going into effect, and this is only a temporary hold, but it is amazing progress!

Score one for grassroots movements!

*happy dancing back into my office*

Frosted Friday: Sugar Loaded Toddler Edition

So I finally decided what to do with this:I made these:
I altered the topping, omitting the cream cheese icing all together.

Instead I melted about two tablespoons of butter and mixed it with 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 2 cups of powdered sugar,and just enough water to make it spreadable.

They were just as yummy as you think they would be.As evidenced by the speed at which they were consumed.

Even Monkey approved.

The photo is a little blurry because he didn't want to sit still, but in his defense I had just loaded him up with a huge cinnamon roll.

And then I settled him in with Hubby and high-tailed it out of there for the afternoon.

In my defense, the sugar crash synchronized perfectly with nap time.

The Light At The End Of The Shovel

Yeah.

So it did this yesterday.

Again.

That used to be my backyard, and no, those are not bushes on the left.

Somewhere under there are branches, small-ish though they may be, that fell waaaaaay back during that ice storm.

Because it has pretty much done that once a week since HALLOWEEN.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

This week, these appeared at the grocery store.
In New England, these are a clear sign that Spring is coming.

Ok, mud season is first, then Spring.

The next sign will be the daffodils appearing towards the end of February slash beginning of March.

I'm so giddy, I may start digging for my flip-flops.

Until then, I will busy myself with your fab comments.

It's time for some more

Comment Love

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The new comment system is taking some getting used to, and it retro-fitted all my posts, so today's comments come mostly from one post, but it's a doozy.

On: Sometimes The Google Lies

Nikki: Oh no. I'm sorry, but I totally laughed out loud! Hey, I've been there MANY times. It's so frustrating. I enjoyed your journey anyway!

Susie: That does look like a nightmare craft!

Jori-o: Oh dear...naughty Google!

Lauren: HA! I love it :)I've totally had those experiences. New crafts are nothing if not an adventure :)

Cristina: I also thought I was making a big crafty thing, by making a apron to Nicole, after all, mommy made this, right? Now the time that took me to find fabric, the petrol, the time of cutting, measure, sewing...well at the end I think I spent more money then if I actually ordered from school.

T. Allen-Mercado: Oh no! I would've been NUTS-you waited 3 days?! Sue the Google!

I'm glad everyone got a kick out of this. I posted it for that very reason. When I told Hubby I had started the project, he asked how it was going.

My answer:

Well, let's put it this way: it will make a really good post.

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And lastly, best comment of the month:

On: A Snowy Birthday

Jori-o: Um, will you adopt me? My birthday is in November... =)

Jori-o-darling-o, if you'll come shovel my driveway, I will adopt you, your whole family, and Buck to boot!

Etsy's CPSIA Blog-In

I have posted about CPSIA here before, but time is running out.

If you have kids, you need to know.

If you craft for kids, you need to know.

If you buy for kids, you need to know.

Etsy is having a day long Blog-In today.

Click, read, act.

Sometimes The Google Lies

Last week, while watching Monkey cover himself in washable doodles just before bath time, it occurred to me that he might be ready for soap crayons.

Sure, I could buy them from the nice people at Crayola, but why buy when I can make?

So I did what any self-respecting crafty blogger does.

I Googled.

Google said this was all I needed to provide my darling child with hours of bath time fun.

I set about grating the soap in to flakes.

It stuck.

A lot.

Plus I was left with tiny chunks which could not be grated without losing a significant portion of my fingertips, so I minced them and tossed them in.

(Soap chunks, not fingertips.)

Added a little hot water at a time, constantly stirring.

Don't let the picture fool you. It is not liquid. It is foam.

No amount of stirring would make it liquid. I even tried to microwave it for a few seconds.

That only seemed to make it angry.

Undaunted, I divided the mush into four bowls and added the food coloring.

Then pasted it in to the popsicle molds.

And wondered what all that dye was going to do to my fair skinned child.

I briefly froze the molds to help them firm up, then turned them out to dry.

For three days.

At the end of which, they resembled decaying fruit more than soap crayons.

But it's what's inside that counts, right?

Unless what's inside is air bubbles and mush.

Lessons learned:

1. Sometimes it is better to buy it.

2. Sometimes The Google LIES.