Missing Person -please share with your networks

Update November 9th - Pat has been found and is getting medical treatment.

My cousin Patrick (Pat) has been missing for over a week. Our family and friends are worried sick! He was last heard from on Tuesday, October 28th. A missing persons report was filed with the South San Francisco, CA Police Department

His truck, a 2011 Silver Dodge Dakota (California Plate #60327A1) was last spotted in San Leandro.

His cell phone has been off since last Tuesday and is untraceable.

He is a diabetic, without meds and AT RISK!

If you have any information please contact his brother, Guy at 415.860.8603 or the SSF PD at 650.877.8900

Chocolate Frogs

In my Halloween Post, I mentioned the Chocolate Frogs. Let me tell you, confectioner, I am not! You would think..Wilton Candy Melts, Mold..easy Peasy..not so much.

First I tried melting them in a ziplock baggy..i thought melt..snip off the end...squeeze into the mold..done..bang! Not so much..they melted ok for the most part..but they didnt really squeeze out well through the baggy..and the baggy and chocolate was hot! If i have finger/hand prints left after that experience, it's  Hogwarts Miracle!

Then I just tried melting in a bowl..and thought i'd scoop it in..I tried melting in the microwave..in a makeshift double boiler...these melts have a fine line between melted and separated and ash...i had a hard time finding it...but I found all those other statuses..easily!!


So much work..and in my trial run the best i got was 7 candy frogs, two bags of wasted chocolate melts, and a Pyrex bowl that just wasn't salvageable with the hardened chocolate ash.

On my next trip to Michaels to get more Candy Melts, i found this great Melt & Decorate Bottle...I needed a thicker pour so just took the top off..but finally found a rhythm where i could melt, mold 4 frogs, melt , mold the other four..put the frogs in the refrigerator and the bottle in the freezer, wait 20 minutes and repeat. I would have to use a spatula to get any melted chocolate out good..but finally...it worked!

Candy Melts - i suggest using light cocoa only..even if you're a dark choclate fan

Frog Mold

Melt & Decorate Bottle

**the links to the products mentioned above, contain affiliate links to Amazon..if you use those links and make purchases, i may make a small commission on those items. You can read more about my affiliate status on my Disclosure page

Hogwarts at Gymboree

"That's so clever, Oh My God look at that!" Yay! People are back on our floor in total awe!! If you're not familiar, Gymboree Corporate in full celebration of childhood, goes all out for Halloween. Competition all out! For many years..those stuffy accountants on the 5th floor (or the 770 building) won the competition..i mean we're accountants..how could we possibly pull that off..and then production pulled out the stop using their creative forces to start planning and creating, in December the year prior! We still pulled off an amazing skit or dance...but lost the coveted trophy..the bragging rights.
this year we decided to pull out the stops and create a Wonderful world of Wizardry with Harry Potter.

Platform 9 3/4

Hogwart's Express

Myrtle

The Sorting Hat

The magical winged keys (thanks to my fabulous Silhouette!)

The Great Hall

Advanced Potions Class

Hogsmeade

The Wampum Tree

Bertie Bott's Sweet Shops

The Chocolate Frogs

The Dementors ( I copied Ashley Phipps/Simply Designing PB Hanging Ghosts Knock Off knock off...took it a step further, painted the balls black and used Rit Dye to dye the cheesecloth.*

The Quiddich Stadium

If you're checking this before the evening of the 30th..check back to see video of our amazing post Harry/Draco duel celebration!
Do we win? That remains to be seen and will be discussed at a a future Town Hall..check back to find out!

*I live in an apartment, so needed to do the Sink Method for dying..I used a bucket. Rit Dye Rit Dye Liquid Fabric Dye, 8-Ounce, Black notes on the bottle you should wear gloves...that's not a suggestion, unless you like dyed hangs..alhtough the black dye came off with a bit of Comet Comet Powder Cleanser with Bleach, 25 Oz and a Ranger Craft Scrubbie
. Rit Dye Color RemoverRit Dye Powdered Fabric Dye, Color Remover, 2-Ounce would probably also work.

**This post contains affiliate links to Amazon and other craft sites..If purchased I amy receive some compensation that goes to power this blog and my crafting/beauty habit.

Girls Eyes Only...a Playtex Review

Hey boys..did you see the title..you may want to take a break from posts today. Still here? I warned you..but maybe you're the guy who does the shopping..and want to know the opinion in case you forget your gals brand.

I received these  Playtex® Sport® Fresh Balance™ Tampons as part of the Influenster #SpringFlingVoxBox program, to give my opinion.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect, they came just as i was leaving on a trip, i put the sample size box in my suitcase and was on my way...mistake #1.

These bad boys are scented..obnoxiously so...and so was everything in the vicinity in my suitcase. And well..you know what happens when cover up bad odor with perfume, dont you? You dont? Geesh..well just get in a cab on a warm summer day...that cab driver will educate you on that fact right away.

But I digress...Mistake #2...not noticing that these are regular size...my first couple of days i need super...maybe even ultra super..thankful i also brought along some feminine napkins after noticing the issue, otherwise it could have been disastrous with my summer clothes and sitting in meetings all day.

For sport..you'd think regular would be just a little more than regular, they're not..i wouldnt even use these when swimming in the bay combined with cold water, for fear of attracting Jaws.

So bottom line...if you're fine with the 'sweet' scent..and dont mind regular or lighter and are active you might want to give these a try...if not..stick with your regular brand.

Amazon link above is an affiliate link..if you care to check these out yourself, or other reviews on amazon and make a purchase i may receive small affiliate compensation, to help fund this blog and/or my bad beauty habit.

Influenster Spring Flig Vox Box

Woot!! I finally got another Vox Box from Influenster..it's been at least a year (see previous blog post). I kept going in and writing reviews answering survey..and nothing..nada..zilch..until now.  Check out my video below as i reveal all that's inside.

Do you PodCast?

Podcasts..they're new to me..i know there not new..my favorite morning group (Sarah & Vinnie) have had their secret show podcast for years..and I've always meant to listen..but i didn't get how to get them..not sure if my original iPod touch had the ability..myriad of reasons why i didn't listen..but wow..I'm addicted. It's what i listen to for a good 4 hours of the day at work.  I've laughed with Alec Baldwin, salivated with Tyler Florence..laughed and cried with Pat Monahan.

The thing i like the most...every one I've listened to, I've learned something new..whether it's as a new fan of a guest, a new restaurant or way of cooking, or a new appreciation for a band or athlete that I was already a fan of.

If you haven't listened to one..check it out...find someone you might want to listen to...and just check them out!

Bloglovin

I've set myself up on Bloglovin' hope you'll follow through there

Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant

Through my friends over at smiley360..i was recently sent a few items to try out. These items were from Arm & Hammer's Truly Radiant line. Both the Truly Radiant Tooth Paste and the Truly Radiant (tm) Battery Powered Tooth Brush.

I've used the toothpaste since being sent the sample along with the tooth brush. Regarding the toothpaste, I have to say i was mildly surprised. I've tried other baking soda tooth pastes from Arm & Hammer previously and was not a fan, I could never get over the baking soda flavor. In this particular toothpaste.  I have not really noticed a different in whitening yet (however i didn't at all in trying a different brand previously), but will continue to use the entire tube to notice the results (and will post a before or after picture when I'm done) Want to try it yourself? I've included a link below where you can try it on Amazon.

The toothbrush however..i was not a fan of. I've been using a sonic toothbrush for over 13 years, it's very gentle, quiet and has the great prompts of when to change quadrants etc...I found the Truly Radiant Toothbrush to be very loud...and very jarring.  Perhaps i'm more sensitive because I've been grinding/clenching my jaw lately..but it even hurt while using it. After a week..i had to go right back to my sonicare and get things going again.



The amazon links included in this post are affiliate links, I receive a very small commission and they help fund this page, as well as my wonderful crafting habit.. Please see my complete disclosure page about my relationships with Amazon as well as smiley360.

Markers? Nail Polish..It's all Good!!!

I love when i can find something that has multiple purposes.  Do you Julep? I love the Julep nail colors..and that you can swatch your color on top to you can find what you're looking for, but what i didn't love, is how i stored them.They along with the rest of my nail polishes are in a little tray i got at the dollar store, in my dark linen closet..inevitably some just get thrown back if i'm polishing in a hurry, or i've polished in the living room and then am just cleaning up for the day, so when it comes time to find a polish I am forever picking out, looking and putting back. I thought to myself i need to find a better system, well, while making some cards one day..it came to me..I thought of the perfect 

My Artbin Marker Satchel. I had to immediately get up and grab a couple of julep polishes..and sure enough it was a perfect fit. Now the satchel itself might be a bit overkill, the marker tray (included or sold separately) is perfect. I ordered one for myself, and have it in my medicine cabinet in the bathroom, it fits perfectly on the shelves that were too narrow for anything else. If you are a nail polish collector like so many are these days, the satchel may be a perfect option because it comes with one marker tray and then open space with dividers for the rest, so you could keep your Essie, OPI, China Glaze etc, in those areas.

How cool is that? What new found uses have you found lately?