www.toodleooo.etsy.com

Being an unemployed grad student isn't easy. Just ask one. My friend and fellow grad student, Mandi, and I have been trying to come up with unconventional ways to supplement our lack of incomes. We've both done the food service scene, and we don't like kids enough to be nannies, so we decided to combine our creativity and love of sewing and open an Etsy shop.

What is Etsy? Well, it's an online gathering of sellers who make wares and buyers who are looking for anything unique. It's a great way to support individuals' creativity and talents and a great alternative to buying mass-produced items at commercial stores.

So, what are we selling, you ask? Well, right now, it's a hodgepodge of things, since our interests are so vast. My specialities include stylish wine bags and vintage-inspired aprons. And if you ask me, Mandi's specialties include her awesome placemats and detailed embroidery pieces. However, we're posting items just as fast as we can make them, so there's sure to be more to come.

Have a look for yourself. We're at http://www.toodleooo.etsy.com/

And this one, too.

While I've never thought it possible for me to get through a book within 24 hours, I never thought it would be possible to do it twice in 2 days. I was wrong. The sequel to Twilight, while maybe not quite as good as Twilight, still made me worthless for another day. Good thing I went out and bought the third and fourth book. At this rate....

A good obsession.

When I was little, I was never a big "reader." I liked to read, but it was never something I preferred to do over, say, going outside. As I get older, though, I'm finding a passion to read. I've been frequenting the library a lot (mostly because it's free), and I've been discovering the many books I can't wait to read. My favorites usually include nonfiction. I love reading about history, and I also love project books. But lately (okay, the last 24 hours), I've been reading a fiction series I can't put down. If you are interested in an excellent read (and want to check out of life for 24 hours), I recommend this:

Comfort Food

Nothing better than homemade chicken noodle soup when you're sick. It's one of the first homemade things that I made when I was little. I remember my first attempt at making my great-grandmother's "secret" noodle recipe when I realized that it really was just flour, egg, and water. Gosh, they were good.

homemade noodles drying before boiling

chicken-brothy goodness

The gift that keeps giving...

Yesterday afternoon I noticed that my throat began to feel a bit sore. By the middle of the night, I was sucking down cough drops just to numb the pain of swallowing. Then, the nose starts in. One nostril is running while the other is stuffed up. Tossing and turning pretty much all night. Then, I realize.... I work with children. Children who get sent to school sick and pass it along to unsuspecting victims. Great. Not only do I do my work for free, but I also get all the best benefits of a real school SLP. Tonight's plan: Puff's Plus with lotion and a nice, big bottle of NyQuil.

Tomatoes coming out the wazoo.

In the spring when I planted the tomato plants, I had no idea how much they'd flourish in the clay soil of southern Illinois. So now, we're reaping the benefits of our work. More benefits than I know what to do with. I've frozen three huge containers of tomato juice and bagged more diced tomatoes than I know what to do with. Good thing we invested in a big deep freeze. When winter comes, I guess we'll just be enjoying lots of tomatoey goodness.... chili, homemade tomato sauce, and anything else we can think of.