Just some of my latest projects...

It's been awhile since I added pics of my projects, so I thought I would post some of my latest goods.

This is a wine themed magnet board. By special request from a customer. I also made matching magnets to go with it. I thought it turned out very nice. Can't wait to see it in use.

I recently discovered the magic of Fairy Doors and fell in love with them. I wanted to try my hand at painting one and opted for the woodsy look. I am very pleased with the results. Can't wait to make some more as gifts.

After receiving a special request from a customer for a "fun towel hook" for her boy's bathroom, I created this Froggie Hook. He is hand cut and hand painted, and cute as a button. I am currently in the process of making some new designs.

After the frog turned out so well, I had another request for an owl. Since I love owls, I was pretty excited to do this one. This one is also hand cut & hand painted, but it also has silk floral embellishments added. I am so thrilled with the way this one turned out, I am already making another one, but in different colors. I am also working on several new designs, so keep checking in to see them. Also be sure to check out my facebook page. (Berry Favorite Things)

Mysteries of Life

Do you ever wonder why an Easter egg is so much better than a regular hard boiled egg? Or why crayons don't come organized by color? These are just some of the things I think about sometimes. I consider them life's little mysteries. Sure, there are real mysteries out there. Like what really happened to Jimmy Hoffa, and what's the deal with the Bermuda Triangle, and they are fascinating as well. But how often in your daily life do you pause and say to yourself "Hmm... What is with all the sunken ships in Lake Superior?" Probably not often.
The real mysteries of life are the weird, wacky and just plain random things we encounter everyday and have no definitive answer for. Oh sure, some people will try and be all smart and make something up, but we know that those are just opinions and not facts, and that those people are morons. We know that when we ask "Why do old people hate loud music, but need to turn Wheel of Fortune up to the highest volume possible?" we aren't really looking for an answer, we are just stating an odd curiousity. We are the Alices of the world. We see a white rabbit in a suit and wonder where he's headed in such a hurry, where others would wonder why is a rabbit wearing a suit. Curiouser and Curiouser is our motto, we mystery lovers. We may seem (mostly) normal on the outside, but inside these heads is a different story. While you are enjoying a nice snack, we are wondering why you are biting into your string cheese like it's a bat at an Ozzy concert. (Seriously, it's called string cheese because you are supposed to peel it into strings.) While you are sitting at your desk, busy with work, we are staring at our pencil wondering who decided that such a tiny eraser would be sufficient enough. We weren't the kids who asked why the sky was blue, or why grass is green, we just wondered why grass couldn't be hot pink, or the sky neon yellow with puffy orange clouds. We were the kids in school who wondered why it's called math if there are letters involved, and if X = 5, then why not just put the 5 there and save everyone all this time. We are the adults who wonder how someone who clearly has less brains than a pet rock ever got elected into office. Twice. The ones who question how a show like 'Jersey Shore' can make it on TV and millions of kids watch it, but the idea of teaching safe sex in schools is considered an outrage.
Life is filled with little mysteries like these, and it's probably best that there are no solid answers, because we probably wouldn't like them anyway. I think it's better I'm left wondering why hot dogs taste so good when I know that they are literally made with ass...

Heaven's Seamstress

Somewhere up in Heaven, there is a huge, magical sewing room. It is filled with silver and gold threads, and racks of fabrics made from the clouds and sprinkled with shimmering stardust. This is a very special and secret place that not just anyone can see or enter.  This is where angel wings are made.
Not just anyone can make angel wings. Not only do you need to be a gifted seamstress, but you must have a pure and genuine soul. You must be as beautiful inside as out, and you must have a heart as big as the Heavens themselves. You must have a giving spirit, a smile as bright and warm as the sun, and a laugh that would rival the most beautiful music.
This is a very special job. Angel wings must be just right. They are different for every angel, and must fit each one perfectly. Some angels are small, and some are big, but each one needs its own unique set of wings in order to fly to Earth and watch over us.
Every lifetime, God must hand pick someone for this job. It is never an easy decision, and He knows that by selecting this person, He is taking them away from the people that love them. That is why, He also has to consider those people. Are they strong enough to handle it? Can they deal with the loss, and find peace with His decision?  Will they support one another, and find comfort in each other and the memories of their loved one? If He doesn't believe that they can, then He chooses someone else.
Once His decision is made, He calls their soul Home. He gives them a beautiful place in paradise, filled with all the things they loved most, and the opportunity to see their loved ones whom He called before them. Since only a very special person can create magical angel wings, this person is well loved and cared for in Heaven, and held in very high regard. They are given a special place where they can watch over their loved ones, and make sure that they are ok.
I believe that yesterday, God called Home his newest angel wing maker, and as much as it saddens me to lose her, I know that without her, the angels would be without wings, and wouldn't be able to fly to Earth to protect and guard us. I believe that He felt we were all strong enough to survive her loss, and that as long as we had each other, we would make it through. I believe she is looking down from Heaven, with her sister by her side, and she is at peace. She is no longer in any pain and she can run, dance and bowl with the best of them. I believe she is also missing us, but knows that we are in her heart as much as she remains in ours, and I believe that someday, when we are needed in Heaven, she will be waiting for us at the Pearly Gates, with our new set of wings.

Dedicated to Beverly Fratt (Aunt Boo Boo) You will be greatly missed. XOXO

Truth & Lies

From the time we are small, we are told how important it is to tell the truth. How even "little white lies" can lead to bigger and bigger lies, and how these lies can snowball and get out of control. In church we are taught the value and importance of honesty and integrity, and how telling the truth, even if no one believes it, is the most important thing. That all anyone has is their honor, and that the honorable thing to do, is to stand up for what you believe in, and to always hold the truth above all else.
Then at some point in your childhood, you tell a teacher or a parent what someone said or did, just being honest, and you are called a tattle-tale. Then you get even older and you see someone doing something they shouldn't, at your job for example, and you share that information with a boss, and you are called a whistle-blower or a snitch. And let's not forget the time you tell a friend or partner that yes, those jeans do make you look fat, and you are called mean or cruel.
So, are we saying that some lies and dishonesties are ok? Or that the truth is only important when it is convenient or benefits us? Don't get me wrong, we've all fibbed, or withheld little things to protect a person's feelings, or to help ease a situation. But what if those fibs or withholdings aren't protecting anyone? What if those are the very things that someone should hear? What if knowing that tiny bit of information would change the very nature of someone's beliefs or feelings? Is it still ok? How do you know when it is OK to lie? Or when it is OK to tell the truth, for that matter? Is there some rule book, or manual for knowing when to be honest? Because if such a thing does exsist, I think we need to start passing out copies for everyone to read. But since this is my blog, I am going to answer my own question the best way I know how.
It is NEVER OK to lie. Yes, some lies are necessary or even temporarily beneficial, but they are never good. Even the smallest lie can come back and bite you in the ass. Honesty is, and always will be, the BEST policy. It may cost you a job, a friendship, or even your heart & soul, but it will always be the right decision. Because, at the end of the day, the truth will win out, and integrity will stand. It may take days, or weeks, or even years, but eventually, all lies disintegrate and the only thing that remains is the truth. So you just have to decide what side you want to be standing on when it is all said and done.

"Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you. Never apologize for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time. If you're right and you know it, speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."
- -Gandhi

Emotions vs. Emoticons

I often find myself ending a text, email or facebook post with an emoticon. A symbol that represents a smile, a frown, a confused look, etc. But what am I really trying to convey? The answer is an emotion. Words can evoke emotion, but they cannot always accurately express them, so we use combinations of symbols to share our moods and feelings. But does a colon and a bracket really give you the same satisfaction as a genuine smile? Maybe it does.
If you are having a bad day and you get a text from a friend or loved one that says "Thinking of u :)" does it make you feel better? Does it give you the same emotional response that hearing those same words and seeing that person smile would? In some cases, I think it does. I know that when I am having a crappy day and I see a funny pic or read a funny post on facebook, that makes me LOL, it does help improve my mood. Maybe not the same way as a face to face conversation and sharing laughter does, but it still helps. Do reading the words "I love you" in an email or text give you the same warmth as hearing them and looking into the eyes of the speaker? Probably not. But does that mean we shouldn't still text it? Not at all. In some cases, the written word may be all we have to communicate by, and any expression of love and friendship is better than none at all.
The problem arises when emoticons replace real emotions. When we forget what our loved ones smiles and frowns really look like because we no longer see them. It's easy to take a second to send a text, or even comprise an email, or to post on someones wall/timeline. But the real stuff comes from sacrificing our time and responsibilities to make that effort in person. To plan a date, or a visit. To sit down and have a real conversation with someone and see the emotions play out in their faces. To hear their laughter, not just read about it. It's during these interactions that real emotion is felt and created. I'm not saying we should drop everything and go visit everyone we know or love, that isn't logical. But it is possible to make real time for people, we just have to accept that it will require more from us than just a few moments of our time. It might mean leaving work a little early, or not watching that TV show you like. But if you get pleasure from a text, imagine how much you would get from a real touch, or hug or smile. It's priceless.
Technology has made our lives so much easier and it has opened up so many new forms of communication and possibilities for relationships. Just a few short years ago, I wouldn't have been in contact with even 1/3 of the people I am now. I love meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. I love that I can have a completely random chat in the middle of the day with a friend about absolutely nothing. Technology makes these things possible and I am eternally grateful. I always have my phone with me and I rarely go a day without checking my facebook or email. I love the new worlds that these things have opened up for me. They bring me immense pleasure & I do not foresee a future without these things in my life.
That being said, my greatest pleasures in life, my fondest memories, the things I will someday tell my grandchildren about, these things are the real, physical moments. I may show someone a pic of my new baby niece, but I could never express the true joy I get from holding her in my arms and smelling her sweet scent. I may smile as I hang up the phone after a nice chat with a friend, but that smile will never be as big and heartfelt as the one I get from seeing & hugging that person in real life. To hear my son tell me about the new girl he met isn't the same as seeing the look in his eyes as he describes her to me. To read a text from my husband that says "Miss u c u soon" gives me a nice feeling, but it cannot compare to the feeling of seeing him walk through the door and pull me into his arms.
Emoticons are fun, and a great way to show someone you are just teasing, or to add a touch of a flirt, but they are no substitute for emotions. At the end of the day, it is the real smiles or frowns or winks that have the most impact. A sad face at the end of an I'm sorry text can never compare to a genuine tear filled apology.
It may be the thought that counts, but it is the real thing that really adds up. So the next time you are texing a friend, or chatting on facebook, try and make time to get together. Meet for a quick lunch, or have a girls night. Whatever you do, remember that as much as we love our technology, it is not a replacement for real life. So hug your friends, smile at strangers and make time for those face to face conversations, because those are the moments that we truly connect to others, and those are the things that we will remember. People rarely lie in bed at night and fall asleep to the vision of a semi colon and a bracket in their heads...

These are a few of my favorite things...

Well, it is called Berry Favorite Things, so I guess I should share some of my fave things. I will break these down into categories so if you are just scanning this (you should be ashamed of yourself) you can find what you are looking for faster.

Cleaning Products:

Rubbing Alcohol (Works on so many surfaces for a streak free, disenfected shine. Use it on stainless steel with a cotton cloth for a perfect finish.)
Zep Professional Strength Instant Spot & Stain Remover (Works on carpets, upholstery, automotive fabrics and more. Gets out EVERYTHING. Buy it at Home Depot. Seriously, buy it.)
Lysol All Purpose Cleaner (I love all Lysol products, but this stuff is fabulous. It works on counters, toilets, stoves, sinks and even gets soap scum & mildew off of showers. Awesome.)
Febreze (This is my very last step in cleaning. Just spritz all your furniture, curtains, rugs, etc. for a fresh, clean scent. It doesn't disenfect, so use Lysol spray for that, but it just gives everything that "just cleaned" freshness and makes your home smell wonderful.)
Purex Natural Elements Laundry Detergent (I have extremely sensitive skin and most detergents make me an itchy mess. This stuff is wonderful! The Linen & Lilies scent is my fave, but the entire natural line works great. And bonus! It is way cheaper than other natural or sensitive brands.)

Health & Beauty Products:

Suave Professionals Hair (Shampoos, conditioners, hair spray and more. I use many of the products from this line and they work just as good and sometimes better than the more expensive salon brands. I also use Suave lotions and even on my uber sensitive skin, get amazing results.)
Dove Deoderant (With sensitive skin & allergies to many deoderants, it took me a long time to find a brand that not only didn't break me out, but actually kept me fresh all day. This stuff really works.)
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation (I have combination skin, so some areas are so greasy, I could lubricate a car, while other areas are dry & flaky. This is the BEST foundation I have found. It comes in many shades, I even mix them to create my own, and it has a gorgeous finish. Lasts all day & is great on sensitive skin.)
Wet n Wild Waterproof megaplump Mascara (I am super picky about my mascara. I require a good brush, no clumping, and long lasting results. This stuff meets all my demands and is $2.99. Just try it.)
Urban Decay eye make-up (From the Primer Potion to the liners & shadows, UD is the best. The colors are vivid and long lasting, they work wet or dry and they are worth every penny.)

Random Household Items:

Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover spray paint (Hands down the BEST spray paint. It drys crazy fast, covers in virtually one coat, sprays at any angle and works on any surface. Also, it's less than $5 a can. I use a lot of spray paint in my crafting, and this is my #1 go to kind. The gloss is so shiny, you would swear it was still wet. Love, love, love it!)
Little Trees auto air freshners Cotton Candy scent (Greatest scent EVER! Just go buy them, you will not regret it.)
Bic Pens (I do a lot of writing, and am very fussy when it comes to my pens. Bic makes a great, inexpensive pen. Buy a 10 pack and hide them, you will not want to share.)
Colonial Candles (I am a candle addict. I burn them everyday, all day. I love to try new brands and scents and Colonial is the best, hands down. They burn clean and even, they smell amazing and the fun shape of the jar is great for reusing after the candle is gone. Fine Merlot is my fave scent.)

These are just some of the things I use and love. I am getting no money or kickbacks for this, I just like to share good things when I find them. People often ask me what I use or recommend, so I thought I'd share a few. If you try them, let me know what you think, I love to get feedback. Have a great day!

Crazy for Crafts

Hello. My name is Teena and I am a craftaholic. I love to craft. I don't just enjoy it or like it. I LOVE it. I live and breath crafting.
I cannot throw things away without first deciding if I can make something awesome out of it. I love the smell of spray paint and sharpies. I look at fabrics, stickers and ribbon the way a teenage boy looks at porn. I will attempt any craft. Jewelry making, sewing, upcycling... I've done them all.
Thrift shops, garage sales and dollar stores are places of worship. Treasure troves of colorful do-dads and whatnots that have an endless number of uses.
Some people have craft kits or even craft closets. I have a craft room. (Some may call it a laundry room, but I know better.) Baskets, bags and boxes overflowing with supplies just waiting to become something fabulous and useful.
I am a crafter. Crafters look at the world through creative eyes. We don't see twigs and yard debris. We see a nature themed wreath or centerpiece. Everyday household items become new and magnificent things. We thrive on colors and textures. We are artists who's masterpieces are displayed on tables, walls and porches all over the world.
The burn from a high temp glue gun makes us feel alive. We find glitter in our bras and can't explain how it got there. We have at least one glob of paint on every pair of pants we own, but we wear them out to dinner anyway.
We are crafters and we make the world a more colorful, organized place, one Pinterest project at a time.
So yes, I am a Craftaholic. Now give me my glue gun and get out of my way, I have work to do.

The Power of a Good Book

I am a self proclaimed book worm and proud of it. Growing up, I was the skinny, dorky kid with giant glasses and too many books, and I took a lot of crap for it. These days, I'm not so skinny, my glasses fit much better, but I'm still a big dork with a lot of books. (There is no such thing as too many.) The funny thing is, even as an adult, people still want to give me a hard time about reading. I just don't get it...
Books are amazing. They are an adventure, a mini vacation, a magical world and an escape from reality, all wrapped up in one small package that you can hold in your hands. How could you not love that?? When I open a book, I am transported to a different time or place. I meet fascinating people. I learn new things. My imagination gets to run wild, and I get to run away. When life gets stressful, or I get annoyed, my books are my refuge. When I want to be entertained or relaxed, or just for the hell of it, I read. I don't need a reason, I just do it. When people tell me "Oh, I'd love to be able to read, but I just don't have time." I laugh. Those same people spend hours a week in front of a TV and think nothing of it. I don't "make time" to read, I just pick up my book and read. At lunch, on breaks, in the evening, whenever. Yeah, sometimes life gets crazy, and you don't get to read as often as you might like to, but you just keep going. One page, one chapter, one BOOK at a time. I've never regretted reading a book. Even if I didn't like it, I am still glad I read it. Reading keeps the mind sharp, helps improve grammar and vocabulary skills, allows for great conversations and makes me a mean Words with Friends player.
Books are such an important part of my life, and have been for as far back as I can remember. My mother and siblings read to me as a child, and I still treasure those moments. When my son was little, I would spend hours reading to him, and as he got older, we would sit and read together and then talk about it. Even now, at 18, he is a big reader and he and I still share books and discuss them. I love this. I can still quote lines from books I memorized as a child, and sometimes I pull out an old book that I read over & over to my son and read it again and just smile at the memory of him sitting on my lap, begging me to read it again. I have had endless conversations with friends (and strangers) about books we have read, and how they effected us.
I guess some people just don't get it. They would rather see the movie than read the book. (Even though anyone who reads, knows the movie will never do justice to the book.) They would rather spend hours watching mindless television than discover a world they never knew existed. Well, I feel sorry for them. They will never know the joy that a good book can bring. They will never clutch a worn and used old paperback to their chests with tears in their eyes and wish for just one more chapter, or maybe a sequel. They will never start a conversation with a stranger about the book they are carrying and make a lifelong friend. They will never know the adventures, the characters, the stories that live in a world between the pages. Well I do. I know them and I love them, and I cannot imagine life without them.
So here's to a good book, and to all of us proud bookworms out there. Keep reading, my friends.

The Unique Bond of Sisters

I talk a lot about my brothers, because they are a very big and important part of my life, but I should also point out that I have an amazing big sister. She is almost 15 years older than me, so our relationship is different than most.
When I was very little, my big sister was my world. She was my hairstylist, my babysitter, my idol and my buddy. She would take me places with her & her friends and she treated me like I was the coolest thing since sliced bread. She & her friends would make me clothes in Home Ec, buy me toys, and teach me lots of new things. I loved every minute of it.
Unfortunately circumstances beyond my control took her from my life for many years. One day I just woke up and she was gone. I didn't know why, I only knew I missed her like crazy. I won't get into the details, let's just say sometimes things happen in a family, and people react harshly. Those reactions can lead to decisions and actions that snowball and greatly effect the people around them. I was too young to understand these things at the time, I only knew that someone very, very important to me was gone. This has a lasting effect on a person. After awhile, I started to realize she wasn't coming back, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I wrote her letters that I couldn't mail, and I slept with her picture under my pillow. I cried a lot. When you only have one sister, losing her leaves a hole that can never be filled.
Luckily for me, many years later, circumstances allowed us to be reunited. It wasn't easy, and with a big age gap, and so many missing years, it took time to rebuild our relationship. But we never gave up. We saw each other as often as we could, and we built a new kind of bond. We learned about each other, and talked about the things we had missed out on in each other's lives. Eventually, we formed a friendship. As I got older, and we had more in common, that friendship grew & it continues to grow to this day. She is more than just my big sister, she is my best friend. We don't talk every day, or even once a week. Sometimes we allow too much time to pass between visits, but we make up for it when we get together. I always know that no matter what, I can count on her to be there. No questions asked. She may not always understand me, or agree with me, but she always loves me. She often tells me I'm crazy, or bitchy, or a pain in the ass, but she does it with a smile and a laugh that tell me she loves me in spite of those things.
My sister never had it easy, but she always fought for what was important and she never gave up. She has a strength of character that is rare, and I admire it. She is far from perfect, and she doesn't try to be, and that is her best quality. She accepts people for who they are, and sees the best in them. She doesn't judge or criticize, and she's always willing to lend a hand to someone in need. She would give the shirt off her back to help a stranger and not think twice.
 Sometimes I wonder what our relationship would be like if we had never been apart. Would she still like me, or would she have grown tired of having her baby sister around? Would we have the same appreciation for one another as we do, for having been seperated? I don't know, and I never will. All I do know is that I have an amazing big sister, and she means the world to me, and I probably don't tell her that enough. So this one's for you, sis. I love you.

 

I don't have a lot of photos of my sissy and I (she's a *tad* camera shy)

but I've always loved this one of us from many years ago. 

Wedding Planning Advice Part 1

After almost 15 years in the wedding consulting business, I learned a few things. Since wedding season is right around the corner, it seemed like a good time to share some of that knowledge . Since there are a lot of aspects involved in planning a wedding, I am going to do this in a few parts. Today I will cover invitations.
Here are my rules on selecting and ordering your invites.

1. Set a budget and stick to it. It's easy to get sucked in to the elaborate designs and add ons, but more often than not, they aren't worth it. Remember, people just read it and throw it away, so spend that extra money on something more worthwhile, like food or entertainment.
2. Limit your opinions. It is your wedding, so yours is the only opinion that matters. Just like with anything else, people will try to convince you to do this or that, and it only makes it more stressful. You wouldn't let your mother-in-law pick your dress, so don't let her pick your invitations either.
3. Keep in mind that your invitation informs people not only of the time and place, but also the level of formality. If you send them an invitation with a palm tree and a luau look, they will assume it is a casual affair and dress accordingly. If your invitation is very traditional and formal looking, they will show up in suits and dresses. So pick carefully.
4. Be smart when choosing your font. Everyone always thinks you have to select the most decorative styling when it comes to the font, but I recommend the more simple, clean texts. Always look at the complete alphabet in whatever font you are considering. Look at the letters in your names, locations, etc. Does the capital J look like an L? Is the script clear and easy to read? Remember, not everyone has 20/20 vision and older guests especially have a hard time with smaller type, and that's before you add all the curlicues and flare. Also, keep in mind ink color. Yes, pale pink will match your design, but will you be able to read it? Often there is an additional charge for color and black ink is included, so just take that into consideration.
5. Add ons. When it comes to these, I usually say stick with your budget. I do generally recommend response cards, because they are important, but no one likes to open an invitation and have enough paper to write a novel with fall out. Also, the more items you stuff in, the higher the weight, thus added postage costs. So unless they have to choose an entree, skip the menus. Buy your own thank you notes, they are cheaper at the stores and generally offer a wider selection. Maps can be printed at home or Kinkos, Office Max, etc. for much less. Again my advice of keep it simple comes into play.
6. Do your research. If you are ordering online, ask to have a sample mailed to you. Many people describe colors & materiels differently, and you don't want to have a last minute surprise on your hands. Also, be sure to ask about assembly. If your invitation has ribbon, vellum, etc. it may not come complete. This can be a lot of extra work, so make sure to find that out. Also, some stores may have additional charges for shipping, colored inks, extra lines, and more, so be sure to read the fine print and ask questions.
7. Mail them out in time. Standard notice for a wedding invitation is 2 months. If you are having it on a holiday or out of town, where they will need to find a hotel, I recommend adding a month to that, or sending save the dates. Also, some of the new invitation designs are coming with postcards attatched as response cards. These are great, but DO NOT use postcard postage. Postcards are not sent first class mail, and may take weeks or even months to arrive. Use first class postage or skip that design all together.
8. Do what feels right. No two people are the same, so no two weddings should be the same. Keep this in mind when selecting your invites. Maybe you like the traditional design, but prefer a more modern script. Or maybe you want to write your own verse. As long as you include the important information, and stick with your budget, I say go right ahead. This is your guests first peek into your wedding, so don't just settle for ordinary. Be creative, but be smart. And if you have any questions regarding invitaions or anything wedding related, please don't hesitate to ask. I am happy to share my knowledge and experience. Happy Planning!! XOXO