the birthday girl

I'm going to a birthday party for my friend Irene today. She's such a hoot! We call her the Diva, a name she's earned with her style and attitude. I'll bring my camera and take pictures of the party.

For her birthday, I made a tower of gifts. I didn't think to photograph any of the gifts before I wrapped them. The best gift is an extra long necklace with two gold puff hearts and a key. It's so beautiful. (I've requested one for Valentine's Day!) Most of the rest of the gifts are just for fun. I bought a set of body markers for a temporary tattoo (just in case she's always wanted a tattoo!), chocolate covered oreos, those things you put in the water that grow 6 times their original size, some fairy magic dust, a tee shirt that has "birthday girl" written in rhinestones, monogrammed post-it notes, and a few other things I can't remember.

Happy birthday, Diva, my friend!

milkmen and scrubbing floors

Why did the milkman disappear? Why?

Do you know how much I'd love to have milk delivered? A gift of dairy products left on my doorstep on a regular basis?

This was my thought as I poured expensive European yogurt from the milk bottle-like container. And, yes, I did buy it precisely for the container. It's been in my fridge for a week or so unopened. This morning I misread the use by date and nearly, horror of horrors, threw it out! Instead I stirred in a little milk and made it a delicious breakfast drink that I'm sipping with a straw. It's very good, indeed.

Today, I am cleaning the wood floors. It's a daunting task, one that leaves my knees and back aching.

Ever since I read in Cheryl Mendelson's Home Comforts book the correct way to clean a wood floor, I've prescribed to her method. Here's what you do: Fill two plastic wash basins with warm water. Add Murphy's Oil Soap to one, leave the other clear for rinsing water. You'll need at least three different microfibre cloths. Also put a clean cloth under each of the wash basins so that you can slide them with you as you work. Douse one cloth in the soapy water. Ring it until it is just barely damp. Work in small, manageable areas (about 3" x 3") and use a circular motion. Return the soapy cloth to the soapy water. Douse another cloth into the clear rinsing water, ring it until just damp, and wash the same area. With another towel, dry the area you just cleaned. Move to the next area.

The author said in her book that, since you could never ask a housekeeper to clean your floor in such a way, you have to get used to cleaning it yourself. I don't have a housekeeper. All I have is Rich who usually follows behind me with the drying towel. Not today though.

After the floors, I'm going to clean my studio and office. And then, if there's time, I'll work on some projects. Including my item for the Free People Valentine Swap.

Hey, check out Ann's funny post about our adventures on our buying trip.

still busy...

Oh, I hope I can come out to play soon. I'm still so busy getting caught up with orders!

I thought I'd take a teensy break to tease you about some of the things that I bought on my buying trip. I started to just list them but I'm thinking I'd rather do a little unveiling. Maybe I can do a day where I introduce one new thing every hour. Would that be too hard on your heart? I want to space them out so that you can appreciate each new thing in all of its springy glory. But maybe I'm being too cheeky.

Something to think about whilst I tie bows, crumple tissue, tape boxes, affix labels, and send your packages off heavy with good wishes. I hope all the love stays fresh for you so that when you open the package up, the whole room fills with happy thoughts and love. That's my wish.