Author: KurtzCrafts

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Older, Maybe Wiser?

You know what I’m not good at? Dieting and exercising. (Oh, and consistently blogging. yeah, I’m bad at that too.)  It is against my very nature as someone who must be doing something productive and relatively satisfying at all times.  I’m a late 80’s early 90’s kid, who’s best friend was cable tv.  I was never told no when ice cream was involved, and I only played outside when I felt like it.  The rest of the time you could find me curled up with a book in a bizarre spot.  Besides, I pretty much gave up riding my bike somewhere between needing stitches and an hour of gravel removal and we moved to a place where my parents got lost and decided to buy a piece of property there.  I do not run unless my life depends on it, and that weighs heavily upon what objects around me can be used as a weapon.  

I’ve fallen off the eat right and feel better bandwagon so many times I’m scarred for life.  I don’t feel any better when I eat what I’m told to and exercise as much as I should, so why am I torturing myself again?  

You know what I am good at? Letting go and moving on.  *throws the recumbent bike off the balcony with glee*

I decided fat and happy is much better than thin and angry (okay I never got to the thin part, so I was just angry).  No, I’m not abandoning all self control and eating til I’m 500 lbs.  I am going to stop shaming myself though, and just be me.  The I’m moody so I will feed the beast chocolate, or I rode two miles on the recumbent bike so that deserves ice cream will no longer make me feel guilty.

I go in little waves, and that’s okay.  I don’t have to become a marathon runner.  I don’t have to join a four times a week yoga class.  I can take a class here and there, lift a few weights when I remember and oh, walk a random 5k because my friends want me to.  (The Foam 5k is this Saturday, I will keep you posted… If I survive.) 

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JEWELRY SALE

Hey gang!  This summer is turning out to be a very, very busy one!  Weddings, showers, babies, extra hours at work…
SALE Punta Cana Chandelier EarringsSALE Lightening Bolt Earrings Black and Pink DangleSALE Cream Dahlia Adjustable Ring

BUT! I am putting on a sale on all my jewelry from now until Sunday, June 22.  All pieces will be reduced in price, except for my nose studs, which will be buy one, get one half off!  

I’ve added a few new pairs of earrings, but I will keep adding more as the week progresses!  Thanks for stopping by!

For the jewelry selection, go here!

For nose studs, go here!

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Warm Up America

I know, I know, as we are transitioning into summer all over the US, we don’t want to think about heavy yarn.  But! I have a good cause for you!  Warm Up America! is taking donations for baby blankets to give to preemie babies.  Visit their facebook page for more info and please consider knitting or crocheting a blanket to donate.  If you’re a sewer, visit Project Linus for similar opportunities!

You wouldn’t believe how much comfort you can bring to a little one and their family by your handmade gift! I try to remember to pray over them before I finish, just so God will send a little extra love.  

I promise, I haven’t given up on finishing my Punta Cana story, I am just swamped between work and class.  My final project is due this Thursday and I haven’t even thought about my presentation yet. *hyperventilating*  

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Punta Cana, Home Away From Home

It started with 36+ hours of no sleep.  I’d never flown before and was too keyed up between lack of sleep, anxiety about flying, and anxiety about forgetting something.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn Metro across from DTW airport, arriving after midnight.  Around 3 am, I decided to wander out to the front desk and chat up Josh, the overnight front desk clerk.  He was a very nice guy, and was happy for the company.  Around 4:30, I woke the others for breakfast, joking with Josh that if I didn’t reemerge in five minutes, I had probably been smothered with a pillow.  

We ate, we accepted vouchers for parking and checked out, with a promise from Josh that he HAD to go see his friends in Nevada that he had been telling me about.  We drove around the corner to the airport lot and weaved our way through a few hundred sleeping cars to find a shuttle driver and an empty space.  He loaded our bags and us, then off we went to the airport.  The plane took off close to on time and gave me a pleasant surprise- a new perspective on vistas I had seen previously.  I thanked God for His splendor and asked to conduct us safely to Punta Cana.  We picked up a connecting flight in Atlanta, and were off on our way.  Flying over the ocean and watching little pork chop shaped islands go by is a sight to behold.  Blue green water and beautiful sand.  

We arrived to 80 something degrees and cheery sun.  We were unloaded right on the tarmac and shuttled to the thatched roof airport terminal to wait confused in a stuffy, long line for customs.  After paying our $10 tax to enter Punta Cana, we were bombarded by helpful locals that wanted to carry our bags and take us to our next stop for a few bucks.  I had to turn down a few that were too pushy while waiting for the other couple we went with.  I finally let a smiley man I guessed to be about 40 drag away my luggage with me close on his heels.  He whisked us past a line of waiting foreigners to the Expedia clerk.  She already had our info in hand and confirmed our identities.  Next the nice man whisked off towards the waiting shuttle.  We paid him some US dollars and amid a profusion of thank yous from both parties we were on our way.

Driving in Punta Cana is terrifying.  If we were not on a 20 person shuttle, I swore we would have been crushed by a bigger vehicle.  It is a miracle no mopeds or small vehicles were maimed in our wake.  Stop signs are apparently more like a suggestion, at best, a yield sign.  We almost killed a poor worker who was trying to hold a power line to be installed coming around a corner as a service truck was coming from the opposite direction.  After dropping off other passengers and glimpses of native life and mountains, we arrived at our destination within an hour and a half.  (We picked a resort about an hour away from the airport)

Before this blog post becomes a full on ramble and takes up too much of our time, I am going to stop it here to continue later, and give you a reprieve with a few photos.  There will be many more to come.

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My view from the hammock on our room’s patio

Me, on the beach, with new friends. (He didn’t catch it, but there were birdie kisses to be had)

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The beach just before sunset

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50 Likes Giveaway!

Hello friends!  I am back from vacation (more on that later) and have reached 50 fan likes on my facebook page!  This calls for celebration with a giveaway!  Up for grabs are two pair of earrings (two winners).

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So, without further adeu, here is rafflecopter, helpin me out!

 https://www.facebook.com/KurtzCrafts/app_228910107186452

Giveaway starts 5/4/2014 at 5:30 pm Eastern time and ends 5/9/2014 at 12:00 am Eastern time.  Good luck!

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Busy (Nervous) Bee

With vacation only two weeks away, I am flipping my lid! In an effort to slow myself down I have been very busy project wise.

I finished my nightmare swim suit (no, you aren’t getting me to model it)

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It was really hard for me, I don’t take direction well when creating garments, not to mention portions of the instructions for this were cryptic, even to friends who follow their pattern directions to a tee. It is a little small in the middle, I was not anticipating such a stretchy fabric giving so little, but that is because I have always owned cheap, partially lined suits up til now. I can put it on but it is sort of corset like without the flattering part. lol I am on a diet and rigorous exercise schedule, so I am hoping to shave off that half size in time.

If not, I have a back up, or I can just leave my new cover up on. (See below)

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I am pretty proud of myself on this one, not only did I make it, I also gave it the dye job. It is modified from the same pattern envelope as the swim suit.

I am also about to finish up this jewelry roll below, so I am not worried about lost earrings and tangled necklaces. It just needs its ribbons, batting, and to be quilted.

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Stay tuned for the other half of my projects and the finished jewelry roll, it is time to leave for church.