The Amazing American Idol Concert Tour

American Idol . . . love it or hate it? Hubby and I love it! We really enjoyed watching the incredibly talented contestants this past season so we decided to get tickets to the American Idol concert tour. Off to Las Vegas to the Thomas & Mack Center we went this past Saturday and the experience was terrific! The audience consisted of people from all age groups including a sweet group of some retired folks sitting behind us having the time of their life. (And we thought we'd be the oldest...ha!) Young and old, people were enthralled by the unique talents of each performer.

Each of the top 10 contestants performed in the order in which they were voted off, beginning with Chikezie who opened the show. Each had three songs to perform until it came to David Archuleta with 4 songs and David Cook with 5 songs and each gave their own special thanks for the opportunity given them.

Highlights were when David A and his piano were raised up from beneath the floor and a thick mist encompassed him. After his first song, he was given a standing ovation that could only be interrupted by the orchestra starting up the music for his next song. It appeard that was the only way this young performer was going to get out of a situation of repeated, "Thank you...you are all amazing." . . . and many giggles as the admiration of the audience was endless. What a cutie!

David Cook obliged the audience with a fabulous encore and performed his version of Billy Jean which left us knowing without a doubt that it was this kind of incredible talent that soared him to the very top.

Fun stuff!

Look, Maw! . . . No Hands!

California politicians passed a new law that went into affect today. People rushed out to purchase hands-free equipment for their cell phones because this new law states that we can no longer hold a cell phone while driving. We can talk on it...just not hold it. The California politicians seem to think this will reduce distractions, therefore reduce auto accidents. I say, "Poopie dust!" It's not the holding of the cell phone that's a distraction to drivers, it's the conversation itself. This law isn't going to prevent the car in front of you from driving 30 miles an hour on the freeway because they're into their phone conversation. If a difference is to be made, take the phone away completely. Politicians are idiots.

And get this: truck drivers will not be cited if they're talking on their CB radios. Uh...let me think about this. Hello? Did I say, "politicians are idiots"?

Plug In!

I noticed throughout the Internet a cute and clever way of getting one's business name noticed. It's called a Plugboard. They're everywhere! These plugboards are filled with cute little banners that are either static (don't move) or animated and when individually clicked on, take you to the respective websites. Each banner is no bigger than 88x31. The banners remain on the plugboard until they are bumped off, in which case, a person can return and plug their banner again. And the whole advertising concept is free.

So, I wanted one!...a cute little plug banner AND a plugboard. I had bittymoose at Etsy create a plug banner for me and what a great job she did! Then I located a site where just by a simple registration, a plugboard is obtained.

You can scroll down my blog page and see my new plugboard in the right hand column. I added my new plug banner to start things off. If you already have a plug banner, please feel free to plug in! If you don't have a plug banner but will be getting one, I'd love for you to come back and display it on my plugboard. Fun stuff!

Face Lift

Don't I wish! A little tuck here, a little tug there and I might just look like I did 5 years ago. But, I digress. Actually, it's this blog that gets a wee bit of a change. My old blog was green. In case you think you're in the wrong place, I placed a screen shot of the old blog. Recognize me now? Great!

Ah, white. More spacious. Breathing room and all. So what'dya think? Of course, there's a little matter of the blog below that looks like a silly salsa ad. Oh brother.

Spicy Pork Verde

Yesterday was my husband's birthday and I prepared one of his favorite dishes which is my own creation. I love crockpot dishes as they're a wonderful way to have a great meal at the end of a busy day. You only need two things to make this tasty dish and this roast comes out full of flavor, tender and very moist!

Spicy Pork Verde

**Pork Sirloin Tip Roast (go ahead and use it frozen!)
**16oz jar La Victoria Thick 'n Chunkie Salsa Verde

Place pork roast in crockpot. Pour salsa over the top. Cook on high for approximately 6 hours (if meat is frozen). If roast is thawed, reduce cooking time to approximately 4 hours. I always make mine with a frozen pork roast. How easy can it get?!

So easy!

A side of spanish rice and your choice of veggie goes well with this tender, juicy roast.

And An Afghan For Toni

My other daughter saw this afghan in my crochet book and thought it was pretty. So, as soon as I finished crocheting the sunflower afghan (in the post below) I started on this one. Crocheted using an overlay technique, this was fun to do! The master color is done in multiple shades of denim blue and the overlay is winter white. It's quite a large afghan...bigger than what I had expected it to be...but she loves it. She says that she, her hubby and kids like to all bundle up under one blanket on the sofa in the winter while watching movies. Well, this will do the trick...and then some.

Now...I owe my son an afghan.

Crocheted Sunflower Afghan

It's been awhile since I've posted so let me show you one of the projects I've been working on that's kept me away. Isn't this pretty? Other than make fragrant things like the candles and soaps I sell in my Etsy shop, I love to crochet and sew. I crocheted this afghan for my older daughter and gave it to her on her birthday last week. It matches the pretty pots of silk sunflowers that she has in her family room. The center of the sunflower is tan, the flower petals are cornsilk yellow and the master color is hunter green. Fun to make!

Is 'Thin' A Good Thang?

Welcome!...squeeze on in here and pull up a chair (er...small, slender stool). I have a question for you:

Do you feel closed-in while viewing this page? Is the information area of this page too narrow and do you see a lot of wasted space along the right and left margins? Perhaps for those who have smaller computer monitors this format works nifty. But I'm curious as to the size of most people's computer monitors. Please take the poll to the upper right of this page and thanks so much for participating!

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to critize the wonderful designer of this blog site. I am merely in the process of designing my own site and would love to spread out a bit IF it works for my valued viewers. Thanks much!

We Have Lift Off!

I'm am so tickled with the way these palm pillars look and perform! The ambient glow as it burns is so beautiful. The wax feels silky smooth, not greasy or waxy and the pillar consumes itself nice and neat. Look at this lovely glow!!

And so, testing is complete and I'm very proud to be offering this beautiful candle at both my sites:

Aroma Fields Candles & Bath:

http://www.aromafieldscandles.com/AF_Pillars.html

AND

Aroma Fields Candles & Bath at Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9804933

I've been working with palm wax lately and loving it! Palm wax is similar to soy in that it is all natural. It makes the most beautiful candles! Here's a pillar I made using palm wax and scented it with peach fragrance oil. It's fragrance is amazing even as it sits without being lit.

Here's a close-up of this candles beautiful pattern:

I'll be offering these palm pillars in many fragrances soon to my Etsy shop at http://www.aromafields.etsy.com and my website at http://www.aromafieldscandles.com