Life is Tough, Nuns are Tougher

I've long been a fan of kitsch.  Religious kitsch has its own special place in my heart since I grew up Catholic and my favorite aunt was a nun.

I found the perfect bracelet from Sister Mary Martha's Etsy shop Heaven Help Us.  You know, I'm pretty sure that Sister Mary Martha isn't really a nun.  I doubt that the Catholic church condones their nuns running a side business.  If they did, I'm sure we'd have far more common sights like nuns on the corner selling Holy Water Lemonade for 5 cents. I would buy that but the pope might frown.  But with a personal motto of "Life is tough.  Nuns are tougher." I don't think I can pass up the lure of the Jobs and Income Set of saints medallions bracelet. 

Sister Mary Martha specifically grouped these saints together for their beneficial effect on for finding a job and keeping a stable income.  Perhaps an unlikely grouping.  You wouldn't see these folks gathering after work for happy hour.  What would they talk about?  There's Pope John Paul II, who had the longest run in history for as a Pope (the stability factor;) St. Expeditus, the patron saint of things that need to get here in a hurry;  the Infant of Prague, the patron of financial stabilty; St. Martin de Caballero, who according to Sister Mary Martha "would give you the shirt off his back; and finally, St. Francis of Assisi, who made a close friend of Lady Poverty, just in case you need little help dealing with the fact that it's hard to make ends meet."

Perhaps an unlikely grouping.  You wouldn't see these folks gathering after work for happy hour.  What would they talk about?  But for a prayer bracelet, heck it just might work.

Can I Come Out Yet?

Now that fall is on its way, its going to be safe to venture outside in Austin without the risk of melting into the sidewalk in a puddle of perspiration (yes, that's alliteration.)  In the Midwest, from whence I hail, your indoor months are normally in the winter where the frigid temps and often ice and snow make it not impossible but certainly uncomfortable to be outdoors.  

Here in the great south, winter is often comfortable but the dog days of July and August are rendered unbearable.  These are the months where you find yourself holed up indoors looking out longingly at the beguiling sunny days calling you like a siren's song.  If I'm not in the AC or in a very chilled pool of water somewhere, I'm a very unpleasant mess of sweat and grumpiness.  (Sadly, I've discovered my apartment pool while looking enticing does not fall into the category of chilled pool since I clocked it at about 90 degrees in the summer.)

But with the thoughts of cooler temperatures on the way, I find myself making a list of things I must see and do and many, if not all of these, fall firmly within the keeping of the motto "Keep Austin Weird." Today, Chicken Shit Bingo at Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon. 


Tomorrow? Next week? Who knows, maybe it will be The Cathedral of Junk, a towering ode to salvaged junk in someones back yard or maybe the Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata.


I might stick to the tried and true and grab a kayak and head out upriver, hit the Zilker Botanical Gardens, peruse the garden shops and look longingly at the bamboo and lush plants for sale that won't fit well on my tiny outhouse sized balcony, cruise the kitsch shops along South Congress and maybe buy that Freemason cape I've been oggling at Uncommon Objects, learn the two step at the Broken Spoke or go see Junior Brown at the Continental Club.  Perhaps I should just keep it "normal" and head out for a day trip to Salado or Fredricksburg.  That's the beauty of Austin.  Even when its sizzlin' hot and you'd sell your grandma for an iced tea, there are always so many things to do before you die of heat exhaustion.

Google Yourself....You Might Just Find a Surprise

Its so uplifting to know that there are folks out there saying nice things about you.  Often times we never find out and we go along with our lives sometimes questioning if we've made an impression, if people like us or hate us, if people like what we make or pass it on by without a thought.  That's why I love google.  I thankfully don't make the tabloids but occasionally I'll find a surprise blog or two where someone has praised my products and it just makes my day.

Today it was from The Handmade Guru's blog.  Ahhhh feel the love for the Moody Mud.

Will Craft For Food Etsy Street Team

I've just started a street team on Etsy called "Will Craft for Food." With so many people unemployed and searching for jobs, its nice to see that the entrepreneur spirit is alive and well and residing on Etsy!

This team is a support group, a resource center and a promotion team dedicated to helping Etsians who have lost their primary job or someone in their household has lost their job and they are using Etsy to try to make ends meet.

Follow the blog for the Will Craft for Food Etsy Street Team!

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble- Bubble Bath Bars

I've been speaking to alot of people lately who haven't tried bubble bars or solid bubble bath in any form not to mention the fact that most people haven't heard of them. Bubble bars, like my Bath Taffy (wrapped to look like old fashioned salt water taffy) are made of very gentle solid ingredients that work a little bit like bath fizzies but instead of just fizzing in your bath, they actually form an incredibly lush bubble bath filled with voluminous bubbles. Bath Taffy is actually formulated to soften skin and moisturize using all natural ingredients. Bath Taffy is scented with premium essential oils and fragrances designed for an overall relaxing and enticing experience.

Many commercial bubble bath formulas are made with harsh agents that will actually dry out your skin (and may not be so kind to your *ahem* girly parts.) Bath Taffy is made to be kind to all of your parts. So, what are you waiting for? Try some!

Moody Girl Aromatherapy

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaccccckkk

Well kids, I've settled in from the move to Austin, Tx and am proud to announce Moody Girl Aromatherapy is back and running on Etsy. I've got some wonderful new products in the testing stage that I can't wait to debut. Look for a new bubbly milk bath called "Moody Milk Suds" and a new bubble bath dough as well as some loofah soaps called "Oompah Loofah." Look for it on my etsy site soon! Moody Girl Aromatherapy

I also found some wonderful coverage at Lovely Safe Mama on the Moody Girl Aromatherapy line and how it can help in the anti aging process.