ick.

I have a cold.  Who gets a cold the week before a holiday week-end?  I do.  ICK.

Because I'm not normal. (I'm never normal, I can't even blame it on the cold medicine or the possibility that "the Momma" dropped me on my head.) I don't go for the chicken noodle... I go for the egg drop soup!  I don't know why.  I've already admitted to not being so normal.  Last night I had some and I thought, "I can make this" (probably never a good thought for me):

Serves 4 (Big Fat Fatty Cat likes it too - I'll share.)
Hands-on Time: 15m
Total Time: 1hr 05m (does this time include the pending arrival of the fire department I wonder?)

Ingredients
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken
6 carrots, peeled
4 celery stalks
1 large yellow onion, quartered
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 lightly beaten eggs
4 scallions (white and light green parts), thinly sliced

Directions
1. Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the chicken in a large pot. (Can I not just buy a can of chicken?)

2. Cut 3 of the carrots and 2 of the celery stalks into 1-inch pieces. Quarter the onion. Add the cut vegetables to the pot with the salt, peppercorns, and enough cold water to cover (about 8 cups). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the top, until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a bowl and let cool.

3. Strain the broth, discarding the vegetables. Return the broth to the pot.

4. Thinly slice the remaining carrots and celery. Add them, along with the rice to the broth and simmer 10 minutes. Slowly stir in the eggs and cook until set.

5. Meanwhile, when the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat. Add it along with the scallions to the soup. Ladle into individual bowls. (One for me... one for Fatty Cat...)

Tip
A hard-boiled egg in its shell will twirl freely when spun on its side. A raw egg will wobble.
(I've GOT to try that!!! Where's my eggs...)

Or... I could just go back through the chinese take-out place.  Or... who's cooking?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (where I have duct tape on my forehead... it's like "the force" ya know? And I'm SURE it's a magical cure-all)...hee-hee

;-D  robelyn

writing on the wall.

Okay - so. You know I drool over Anthropologie's catalogs, I drool IN the store and - I stalk the mail carrier (as in - STALK) when I know it's catalog delivery time, right? I do. I think the mail carrier is skeert of lil ol' me.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd I think we've established that I have a potentially un-healthy addiction to chalkboard paint, right? My name is Robelyn and I have 25 cans (I'm in denial over the other 82 cans.) of chalkboard paint.

Throw in a roll of duct tape and you would have to commit me to the "overly stimulated by most awesome things" ward at the loony farm... but please - instead of padded walls can I have my walls painted with chalkboard paint?  And chalk isn't a pointy object - could I have a box of that too? Thank You - I knew you loved me.

Oh the possibilities!  I already have one matte black wall - the carpet could come up and I can draw - I'm fairly certain I can't have enough windows...

Now. Where's my paintbrush....

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (where it's OHHHHH KAY to write on the walls!)...hee-hee
;-D  robelyn

Vintage Bella Studio

Dutch Peonies are Pink,
Velvet Strawberries are Blue.
My burlap vase is PERFECT,
To hold a vintage mason jar - the perfect shade of Blue!

All tied up with ribbons and bow,
Ruffles and a pretty blue feather too!
What a perfect vase - and fun to show,
AND my first velvet strawberry - so pretty and blue!  (did I say that already?)

Complete with vintage photo,
A few buttons too...
Winning Vintage Bella Studio's giveaway was like winning the lotto,
Andrea, THANK YOU!!!

Andrea's blog (Vintage Bella Studio) is one of my fa.vo.rite spots-o'-beauty!  To quote her: "I love seeing the beauty in all things new and old...", and now I have a little piece of gorgeousness straight from her Studio!  Have you met her yet?  If not, you have to go meet this creator of fantastical fun stuff, you'll be so glad you did!!!

I think I'll hang my gorgeous burlap vase full of pretty, fresh, smell-SOOOOOOOOOOOO-good peonies in my "la.bor.a.tor.y" tonight as I create great things for "the red.neck Taj Mahal" with all the good schtuff I picked up over the last three days!  How was your week-end - did you find great junk and fun stuff at sales, auctions or flea markets?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide... hee-hee
;-D  robelyn

Thank You Andrea!!!

today ends the work week...

I'm gonna go find me one of these!  (A flea market - not a tractor... but I'd take the tractor 'cause I'm a red.neck after all...)

Have a GREAT week-end!!!  Big plans?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
;-D  robelyn

Let's Talk Money!

Here you go!  A post out of the blue - non home-decor, fashion or (good gravy) cooking!

Have you ever pulled away from the drive-thru at your bank with a smile on your face thinking how much you ADORE your bank?  Even though they just took all of your money?  Happens to me all the time. I don't get how they make me love them as I hand over my paycheck for my car payment.  Geesh.

I think it's 'cause I leave my pennies at a Credit Union versus one of the big banks.  Why do I do that?  I just fell into it (literally.... grace is no-where in my vocabulary).  A few years ago I bit the bullet and decided the "if I don't have cash for it, I don't need it" philosophy wasn't such a good one when you didn't have good credit or bad credit... just NO credit!  I needed a car and decided to go semi-new... that required financing.  And - I landed at a Credit Union... with the coolest group of people that took me on with no credit history what-so-ever!  Had I ever thought about a Credit Union vs a traditional bank?  No - have you?  Wanna know the difference?

Is A Credit Union Better Than A Traditional Bank?

If you’re not already a credit union member, you may be wondering what the difference is between your local credit union and your local bank -- or perhaps you’re not really wondering at all and you assume they’re pretty much the same. You may be surprised to find out that there are indeed some very substantial differences between credit unions and banks including the way they operate and who they work for.

The Owners

First and foremost, when you’re looking at which institution to bank at, you should take a look at who owns the establishment. When you bank at your local bank, the institution is owned by investors and the bank works to make those investors money. When you bank at your local credit union, the institution is owned by the members of the credit union and if you’re a member the institution is owned, in part, by you. Therefore, the credit card is, in essence, working for you.

Where Do The Profits Go?

Another big difference between credit unions and banks is where the profits go. When you’re doing business with a bank, the investors of that bank are reaping the profits of the institution. However, credit unions are non-profit entities. When you’re doing business with a credit union the profits of that credit union are being returned to the members of the credit union in the form of lower loan interest rates and higher dividends.

FDIC Insured

Many people are leery of putting their funds in the hands of a credit union because they believe the credit union isn’t FDIC insured. This isn’t necessarily the case. All federal credit unions must be FDIC insured. If you’re interested in banking at your local credit union, simply call them to verify that they are indeed FDIC insured.

Personalized Service

While this isn’t the instance in all cases, I have often heard that people who are members of credit unions receive more personalized service than those who are members of large banks. Because credit unions tend to be smaller and cater to a select group of people, there is more personalization between the staff and the members.

I robbed this bank'n site for all of the above info...... sssshhhhhhhhh.... I'm still sportin' my mask!  When I had to update to my duct tape mobile - I refused to talk finance with the dealership - I made it clear that I would only finance through my Credit Union.  Business and personal accounts, any financing - I moved it all over.  I love my Credit Union - and when I grin they grin back at me!  Even better than that?  They know my name!!!

The next time you're shoppin' the banking market I think you should definitely look into your local Credit Union.  I'm just a normal girl who makes signs by day - purses and various other stuff by night... my name is Robelyn, and I'm a proud member of a Credit Union! Did I mention that they know my name?

And they love me even when I don't have two pennies to rub together but a full roll of duct tape!  Uh huh! Sew... do you have a preference - bank or credit union?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (that does NOT go through the drive-thru - just the duct tape mobile makes that trip)... hee-hee

;-D  robelyn


P.S. You KNEW I wasn't going to be able to post without fashion, home decor and/or cooking, right? ha!

dressin' up!

Happy Wednesday!!!  How's your week been so far?  Mine's been crazy - SEW crazy that I'm just now getting the scoop on "the Mindy's" dress-up partay to you!

Did I have fun? YES!

We changed clothes... then we would sell something and visit with her customers (and each other (David was there too!)...

then we would change again...then we would sell something and visit with her customers (and each other (did I tell you David was there too?))...

and THEN we had to change in to packin' clothes so we could start loadin' up all of the Primitiques fun stuff - (and yes, I had a tub full that I walked away with... I like it when she cleans house!) so Primitiques can be moved to it's

You know, sometimes a girl just has to open her arms wide to welcome the future grand things that are gonna come her way!!!  This'll be fun - just imagine the partay we're gonna have when "the Mindy" gets in her new shop!!!

And..... the minute her shop doors open -

The little stinker snuck a set of (to quote her...) "fun, quilt covered frames" in the back of my duct tape mobile.  I can be just as sneaky - she opened the first shop up with 'em (here's her story), don't you think she needs 'em at her new one? *snicker*

When I was there I also loaded up the "primitiques meets red.neck" line of handbags and some of them have made it in to my Etsy store:

(nice frame, huh?  heeeeee HA!) with more heading that direction!  AND!  Because my "la.bor.a.tor.y" is all spic and span - I have been bizzzzzy making fun new things!  I think I like having walking space - and am in awe of the fact that I can find what I'm looking for... when I'm looking for it!  Have you been to visit all of the wonderful creative spaces over at My Desert Cottage?  Karen is throwing one HECK of a party - you shouldn't miss it!!!

All of this - and it's only Wednesday afternoon... whew!  What have you been up to so far this week?  Fun stuff?  Busy stuff?  Summer stuff?  Give me the scoop!!!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide... hee-hee
;-D  robelyn 

Know what day it is?

It's the first day of summer!!! Well... officially... I think summer started about 2 months ago in Texas.  Or did it ever end?  Hmmmm....

Enjoy your Monday - and the First Day of Summer!!!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (where I have the air set on freezin' cold 'cause it's bake-your-freckles-off-hot outside)...hee-hee
;-)  robelyn

Happy Father's Day!

Enjoy your day!!! Just don't get arrested...

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
;-D robelyn

welcome!

I'm over at the Where Bloggers Create party tonight - and THIS is what I am wearing!!!

Just a word of caution: it's crammed.  It's PACKED.  It's a color explosion such as you have probably not witnessed in a while (if ever):

Whew!  Did you have to look away? It's ORGANIZED. And above all...

This was my Grandmother's machine... a good old STURDY (no plastic yuck machine here!) Montgomery Ward!  The happy flower sticker is one the "resident teen" stuck on there about 8 years ago!

Theeee "la.bor.a.tor.y" is ALL about function.  Remember that when you walk in...

To the left is my cutting table - the cabinet underneath was one my Grandfather built - it's been passed down and around through all family members - used as the chest-o-drawers it's supposed to be, changing table... now cutting table base!  And yes - those are cinder blocks holding up the table top (you might be a red.neck if...)

Organized Chaos - at its best!  No really, it is at its best... I moved in to the building (objects on screen are larger than they appear) three years ago and hit the area rug at a RUN!  Loosely translated that means:  there were piles on top of piles on top of piles - no rhyme or reason - more piles on top of piles... but I knew where everything was!  sorta.

Now?  It's ON!  Let the duct tape ROLL!  You can't keep me out of here - I walk in and I just grin - BIG - then I'm skeert to start something new 'cause I might mess it all up - so I stand and grin some more!

 Even the lamp shade the dress form (she needs a name - any suggestions?) is using for legs has a container hidden inside.

I wasn't going to show you the above picture -but then I decided that you should see the good, the bad and the ugly... as well as the floor space (and the REAL ugly would be when it hits 110 outside and I don't have that air conditioner) - 'cause next time you come visit I can't promise you will be able to see the floor!  HA! I used every available inch - millimeter even - of available real estate in here.  I know you can't tell, but it's true! (snicker)

The majority of the furniture in the lab was built by my Grandfather! Shelves, cabinets - more shelves...

Now - you should know - this is only half of the lab so far!!!  I KNOW - crazy, right?

Lockers full - shelves full - roasters full - bobbins wound - jars are filled - some more lockers are filled - fabric folded... now for my inspiration:

heeee HAW!!  Think Kate Spade knows she's hangin' out in the red.neck Lab?  The straw bag on my cutting table is one of hers that I picked up at a garage sale (complete with card of authenticity!) and the black bag hanging on the back cabinet is an ebay find (complete with card of authenticity) and "the Mama" gifted me my FIRST Kate Spade bag... yep - green and white striped gift bag with some Kate pencils in it (which are on the shelves on the back wall!). hee-hee  I even have one of her store bags hanging behind my desk at my "pay the bills" job. My goal?  To have one of my bags hanging out as inspiration... hung with duct tape of course... on a future designer's inspiration board - in her/his very own "la.bor.a.tor.y".

Now - I can actually get right on that since my home-away-from-the-house is spic and span!

Thank You SEW much for coming to visit me and to Karen for inviting me to the party over at My Desert Cottage!!!  You can go too - just hop on over and say "hi" to Karen - she has SO many of the coolest party-goers headin' over there - tons of inspiration (Jill is one of them - I can't WAIT to visit with her!)!!!  Who will inspire you?

I have LOVED having you here - feel free to browse around and make yourself at home! Or - you can help me finish up all the goodies I'm taking with me to "the Mindy's" tomorrow!!!  It's another "you don't want to miss this!" party at "Primitiques" - and I will be there LIVE (and in a vintage dress or 6)... unless I just can't bring myself to leave "theeee la.bor.a.tor.y"...
(yes - I'm doing my manic - crazy - evil - laugh when I type that each time.)

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide... bwoooo hahaha!
:-D  robelyn

p.s. - didn't get enough of the insanity in "the la.bor.a.tor.y"? There's more here!

I'm a Chef!

Oh - ohhhhhhhhhhkay - you know I'm not a chef... but it was fun to type! I'm such the dreamer!

I may not be able to cook - but I DO own the coolest (or would it be "hottest"?) roaster in red.neckville! I design all of my pocketbooks (luvin' that word! hee-hee) from the very beginning - which usually starts at midnight when I suddenly wake-up with the "next great thing" and go runnin' out to the la.bor.a.tor.y - to the very end... with all of the details in between.  Sew - I use folders to contain my pattern pieces that I make when I have 'em perfected! Because you are coming to visit on Saturday...

... I had to get 'em organized and labeled!  What better place to pile 'em than in my roaster!!!  Fun, right?  The door opens up in the bottom and I have junk important stuff filed away in there!

And - there you have it!  Another piece of cool junk used for organizing!  This is so fun - I love reading all of the fun stuff you rednecks use for storage!
Keep the ideas cookin' because I'm putting the finishing touches on the la.bor.a.tor.y (did you know I had a floor in the lab?  I did NOT know this!) and soaking up your tips like a dry noodle!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
:-D  robelyn

I'm on a roll!

What happens when you have WAY toooooooooooo many piles of home-dec trim?

And you walked off with as many bobbins as you could from "the Mama's" storage room?

You just walk off with some more of "the Mama's" schtuff... a candlestick (or 20), those crazy white glass vases that you know you have 30 extras sitting around (don't try to deny it)...

and you get on a roll!!!  I'm having fun organizing the "la.bor.a.tory" - the pricing just can't be beat at "the Mama's"!

What kind of cool junk do you use for organizing?  I have a whole lab full of interesting containers...

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (where the trim is rolling... not the single-wide) hee-hee

:-D  robelyn

Don't forget about Saturday at "the Mindy's"!  Now... that girl is offering pricing ALMOST equal to "the Mama's"... go see!