Time Out Tuesday or some stuff to check out while the kids trash the house and you sip your double mocha and convince yourself they are napping

I think Riot Siren's cupcake skirts "put on your party skirt and roll in the dirt" are sssooo adorable!



I am obsessed with Osusowake (means sharing in Japanese) - the little cake slice planters that make sharing your favorite cuttings so easy peasy.



Olive is in love with Lucy Snowe's urban art for nature lovers and in particular this little snapshot.



Your kids don't need a clubhouse - you do, especially something as awesome as this Happy Loves Rosie Caravan!





Kella made my 2009 blog posts into a book for me at Blurb for my birthday last week- make books, not war!



I heart Haddock (do you?) mug from Black Ink.



I am head over heels for this little smiling frog! Is this not the cutest little frog you have ever seen - like, if I didn't have George I would totally kiss this little guy and am almost certain he would turn into Daniel Day-Lewis or Paul Newman or someone equally fabulous.



Beautiful little brooches from Caroline Dulko.



The amazing installation art "Chemical Balance" by Jean Shin created from thousands of prescription bottles recycled from nursing homes.





If you are going to be in Brooklyn and love insect art as much as I do Entomologia is a must-see ... am wondering if there will be any stinkbug art ...



Bits of brutality smothered in a rich, creamy marshamallow sauce - the adorable world of Cuddly Rigor Mortis artist (and Jersey girl) Kristin Tercek.




And, yes, she has a locket!

GIVEAWAY BTaylorQuilts AMAZING COASTER SET - CLOSED

AND THE WINNER IS: SillyLittleLady!

Chosen By True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 326
Result:
52

BTaylorQuilts is the amazingly multi-talented Briana Taylor. Briana was born and raised in New England, where she still lives and works and creates the most gorgeous quilted table runners and quilts and coasters and pot holders and all kinds of other goodies.

Briana is also a favorite Etsy painter whose series of Vessel paintings always make me think of the hopes and wishes and deepest desires they hold and protect.

Check out both her shops for some absolutely amazing work!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive BTaylorQuilts GORGEOUS Coaster Set!





HOW TO WIN:

Visit either of Briana's shops :BTaylorQuilts or BrianaTaylor and let her know about a favorite piece by leaving a comment below!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, February 14th! Good luck!! CLOSED

If IKEA Was Your Mom .... what would your name be?

After spending a week (give or take a day or two) assembling some Ikea shelving and desks and hanging thingies

(and yes, we are still married - marriage is hard work people!)

I needed to know what hubby and I would be called if the amazing Swedish furniture company decided to name a line after us!

It would be KAT and GEOR

(not a big stretch for us- maybe yours is more fun)

find out your Ikea Name HERE

P.S. I stole this from the amazing How About Orange blog- she finds (and makes) all the best stuff!

P.S.S. It's my birthday!!

Small Things = Big Difference : Using NonToxic Paint

Traditionally, paint has all kinds of nasty stuff in it: petro-chemicals, solvents, mercury, formaldehyde, benzene, lead, cadmium, chromium, dibutyl and diethyl phthalate. This scary chemical cocktail then releases VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air.

You might assume that the VOCS are only a problem with a freshly painted room and that you can 'air it out' after painting. But it turns out that paint and other finishes release low level toxic emissions for years.

We used non-toxic paint for the first time a few years ago. It didn't go on very smoothly and chipped off very fast in areas like over heating ducts. But, we painted a few months ago with some of the newer stuff and it went on perfectly and looks great; no chipping.

Non-toxic paint, along with non-toxic cleaning supplies and air purifiers- we recently got an Advanced Pure Air purifier for our bedroom and noticed a difference almost immediately- are small things that can make a huge difference.

Van Gogh (and other painters) went crazy from the heavy metals and toxins in their paint. The expression "mad as a hatter" refers to all the chemicals used to shape hats, which eventually caused neural damage to the hat makers- who became the town "crazies". Today we have more of a choice about the chemicals we work and live with, so when people call you 'mad as a hatter' you will know it is just because you have been showing up in bunny slippers and metallic blue eye shadow at bus stops and PTA meetings and not because you have been inhaling toxic chemicals.

(or maybe that's just me)


1. Very cool red bicycle with paint by number background by Doecdoe
2. Adorable little paint by number bib by HushBabyCo
3. Awesome vintage paint by number notecard set by Busguss
4. Stunning green paint by numbers plate bracelet by The Broken Plate
5. Beautiful paint by number deer purse by TheSeaWithin
6. Amazing letterpress paint by number bird card by LarkPress