Register To Be a Bone Marrow Doner

During the month of January American Express is donating the $100 fee to cover the costs of registration to the bone marrow registry.  You can help patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases. Donors who are between the ages of 18 and 44 are especially needed because younger donors produce more and higher-quality cells than older donors. (But they will gladly accept older donors - they accepted me)!

The process is really easy: You provide the online information about yourself (super simple). Once that is submitted, they will send you a packet in the mail that includes a cotton swab. All you do is take the cheek swab and send back in. Your information will go into the registry, which is available for doctors to review.  Here's some general information about the process:

PBSC donation is a nonsurgical procedure that takes place at a blood center or outpatient hospital unit. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will be given injections of a drug called filgrastim to increase the number of blood-forming cells in your bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. Your blood-forming cells are back to their normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks. To learn more, watch the PBSC donation video.

Marrow donation is a surgical outpatient procedure that takes place at a hospital. You will receive anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. Doctors use a needle to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bone. The marrow replaces itself completely within 4 to 6 weeks. To learn more, watch the marrow donation video.

You are under no obligation to actually donate if you are contacted. If you change your mind, then you don't have to do this (you will also attend an information session and have a full medical exam prior to your commitment).  I know this isn'tfor everyone but I feel it's an important cause that you should at least consider.  I can only speak for myself but if I can help someone, I am very much open to that.

Here's the American Express registration link:  Marrow Registry

Craft a Week #12: Revamped Plant Lamp

What a busy day I've had! I did some major cleaning today: scrubbed floors and cupboards, put all the leftover Christmas stuff away, cleaned up the dining room, etc. In addition to that, I finally painted the floor lamp I have sustaining a lovely plant that lives in my entryway. It's been on my to do list since September so I'm thrilled to cross it off!

I love (need) to have plants growing in the house during the fall/winter. Sadly, my house doesn't have many places that have the right light. During the summer months I grow lovely and lush plants on the deck. When the weather turns cool I bring those plants in the house and try to nurse them along til they can make it back outside again in the spring. Some years they just barely make it so this year I was determined to try something different.

I found this 1950/60's lamp at a yard sale that  think I got for free. While I knew it could serve my purposes, it really didn't fit my house style.  Since it is in my entryway, I knew it needed a revamp.

Here's my finished product:

Amazing what a couple coats of paint will do!  I'm on a mission to use the supplies I have on hand so I used the rust colored paint I already had. You can't tell from this picture but after a few coats of that, I sprayed with a textured tan color that I also had in the cupboard. It really gives the final project a layered look of depth that these pictures don't do justice.

Here's the lamp in action!  And, fyi, you don't need to buy those expensive plant lamp bulbs (I've done that in the past). These are just regular bulbs. Think about it: Plants in offices tend to grow beautifully and thoselights aren't anything special.  I usually turn the lights on when I leave for class in the afternoon (around 2 p.m.) and turn off when I go upstairs to bed. It serves two purposes; gives the plant light and makes it so I don't have to come home to a dark house.

Doesn't the plant look great?! Super happy and healthy.

Craft a Week # 11: Onesies Flowers

I am on a roll!  After making the Diaper Trike for the baby shower, I had ALOT of stuff leftover. I searched the internet and found lots of other projects to make which were adorable. But, lazy me, I didn't want to go out to the store again. So I modified numerous instructions and made my own version of a Onesies Flower Pot.  Here it is:

 I rolled up the onesies (and bibs) in a spiral fashion, with a bamboo skewer in the middle. (I tied them tightly with curling ribbon because I didn't have any floral tape to secure them.  I also made another diaper cake roll and put the skewered "flowers" in, which I wrapped with another receiving blanket. I filled in the empty spots with baby socks.

It doesn't really look like flowers to me but it is cute all the same. Because they are rolled you can't see the designs on the bibs and onesies - I like that when Mom and Dad unroll them they will be pleasantly surprised at how cute they are.

If you want more complex instructions, email or comment and I will share with you.

Happy Crafting!

Craft a Week #10: Diaper Tricycle

My son Zack and his wife Julie are expecting their first baby together. (They have two wonderful kids from a previous marriage of Julie but this is their first together - and Zack's first baby). He's wanted to have a baby for years now so it is really an exciting time.

I am hosting the party at my house and am really getting into it (the party is not til February 18th). I've found a ton of baby shower decorating ideas on Pinterest (isn't that site the best)?! 

I thought about making a diaper cake but it seems like every baby shower I've been to in the past few years features a diaper cake. So I decided to make a diaper trike instead. It was super easy and came out so cute!

I found the instructions here:  Maidendshade.blogspot.com.  These instructions were really straightforward and easy to follow.  Lessons learned: Make sure you have the rubber bands (you need 3 and I recommend the thicker ones) and using the pie tin to help shape the "tires" makes this project super easy.

With the exception of the diapers, I got everything on sale at Rosses. (Gosh, I forgot how pricey diapers are!!!!!  If you are doing this, look for coupons before you go shopping for supplies). 

Now I have 50 diapers, baby blankets, onesies, bottles, bibs, and socks left over. Looking for another project to utilize these!

Happy Crafting!

Craft a Week # 9: Scrap Afghan Pattern

Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. Classes started this week and I've been busy. In additon to prepping for classes, I've been working on yet another scrap blanket (I know this was supposed to be Craft a Week but this is taking me longer than a week)!

I love the multicolored look. Here's my work in progress:

It is so pretty and super simple. I used this pattern:  Scrap Afghan.  But I modified the pattern. The pattern calls for doing 2 rows of half double crochet of any color, followed by one row of single crochet/treble crochet in the main color. But I don't like the idea of it being so predictible. So I make varying rows of the half double, depending on how much of the color I have. Since the main color row (in this case it is white) is raised, just make sure to do that row so it is all raised on the same side. (If you have any questions, please feel free to email or comment me).

This afghan is longer than I intended so I'm only about a quarter done. If I had to do over again, I don't think I would have made it this long. It will probably be big enough to cover the double bed in the spare room. If I make it again, I think I will only make it 3/4 of the length it called for in the foundation chain. That would be a better couch afghan.

Happy Crafting!

New Year's Day Meal With Pea Salad Recipe

For New Year's Day I always make the traditional pork and saurkraut. I usually just dump the saurkraut in the crockpot with a pork roast and cook for hours. This year, I did put the saurkraut in the crockpot but I had a rosemary seasoned pork loin that I browned in a pan first with a little oil. After it was nice and brown, added to the saurkraut. I deglazed the pan with a little white wine and water and added that to the crockpot.  It did give a very different taste....Yum!

I'm also making oven baked rosemary potatoes and crockpot spiced apples.  Super simple and tasty!

I wanted to make a veggie and didn't feel like going to the store yet again this week! I rooted around the freezer and decided to make Pea Salad. I don't remember the last time I had/made this and it really is tasty.  Here's the recipe:


Pea Salad

• 2 lb. bag of frozen peas
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
•  
• ½ cup of chopped bacon (I used the chopped kind in the bag)
• ½ cup of chopped onion (I used sweet yellow but you can use red or green onions if you have them)
• ½ cup of mayo
• 1/8 t of salt and pepper (I used garlic pepper)
• ½ t of ground mustard

Either thaw the bag of peas on the counter for several hours or defrost in the microwave (5 minutes at 50%).  Run cold water over them and drain well in colander.  Add all remaining ingredients mixing well.  Refrigerate for several hours to let the flavors meld.

I think the key to this recipe is the ground mustard. I don’t like the taste of regular mustard but dried, ground mustard has a totally different taste. 

Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  It seems like 2011 was a year that alot of people were ready to see end. I'm not sure why: We all had our own personal reasons and all I know can say is Good Riddance!.  Here's hoping that 2012 is filled with good things for all of us. We deserve that.

I don't like to make resolutions (way too easily broken) but I do have several things I'd like to work on this year. I want to continue to expand my creativity, both in crafting and writing. I plan to use this blog to share my amazingness (yes, I am confident)! I hope you enjoy this journey and I encourage you to share the wonderful things that you are doing. There's plenty of room here on Random Bits of Goodness for us all!

I am ready and open to new and exciting changes. We live our lives and have to decide how we want to do that. I'm a Sociologist and I've always seen change in that perspective. Change is not bad, it just means that something isn't working and alterations are necessary. That's where I'm at. I need to make alterations. Let the changes begin!

The picture below is of some paper cranes I made last year for the Paper Cranes for Japan Project. Mythology says if you make 1,000 paper cranes for someone they will have a wish granted. I'm not sure that I will make 1,000, but I've got a couple hundred so far and probably need another 200 hundred or so. I want to make an art installation in my craft room that has the cranes flying out of a hanging birdhouse. (Did you see the Next Great Artist? One of the contestents did this on that show). This will definately be a work in progress and I will post pictures.