Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Happy Mother's Day! Make your mom a gift she will remember!

Have you ever wanted to put a picture in a resin charm but have been afraid of the resin mess, and bubbles and more? We have a solution for you. For Mother's Day, Dancing Bear Indian Trader will be doing photo pendants make and takes from Wednesday through Sunday this week. Project kits start at $3.00 and go up from there. Feel free to bring your own image to put in. Must be color copied from copy shop (laser printed), no inkjet or photos (from camera shop printing) Mom will love these! We have many options and any sizes. Small rounds image size 15mm, heart shape 25mm x 25mm, medium square 20mm x 20mm, large square 25mm x 25mm, for crystal size-medium round 23mm, large round 30mm, small oval 17mm x 25mm Address for Dancing Bear is 1118 W Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025 760-747-2323 Here's a link for google maps in case you are driving: Click here These are some samples of charm pendants that are for sale. You could make any of these in the store!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Easter Tutorials!!

Here are some fun springtime/Easter tutorials that are sure to brighten up your your day!

 
This is the cutest bunny cake! The Blossom Bunny Cake tutorial is from SugarEd Productions.






 

Have you ever tried to work with fondant? This bunny fondant tutorial from MyCupKates shows you how to make an adorable bunny. How cute this would look on top of a tasty cupcake!






Here is a versatile tutorial that can be used for cookies or dinner rolls. How to Shape Bunny Cookies or Dinner Rolls comes from DIY Cozy Home.com Bunny shaped rolls would be perfect for the table. Must try this one!




 
Need something to brighten up a front door? Maybe a Spring Baby Grass Wreath is what you need? This tutorial is from Patty Schaffer. No sewing involved. Try this one with the kids!







 
This Easter fascinator would be the perfect finish to your spring outfit! The Thrifty Stitcher has a tutorial that requires no sewing! Get out your glue gun and get to creating this beautiful headdress!

Happy crafting!!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Skincare Regime for Dry and Mature Skin 
My Lucky Dragon

I recently had a birthday and it finally hit me... my skin is changing as I get older, actually my whole body is changing. As we age, we need to take care for our bodies inside and out. We need to make sure that we eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids or you can take a fish oil supplement.

Make sure you get as many antioxidants as you can in your diet. The foods I recommend are blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, spinach, broccoli and kale.

Also its important to exfoliate at least twice a week. If you don't exfoliate, your are basically just sticking dead skin cells back onto yourself with lotions, yuck!

Here is a recipe for an inexpensive scrub made from basic kitchen ingredients.

Gentle Face Scrub

1 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup dry lavender buds
1/2 cup of powdered milk (whole milk works better but nonfat is fine)
2 tsp. cornmeal
Filtered water

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl
2. Now put the dry ingredients in a bowl with a tight fighting lid

How to use: Combine 1 tbsp. of your scrub with enough filtered water to form a thick paste. Now gently massage in circular motions over your face and neck. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

This recipe makes about 16 oz of scrub
I would use this 3 times a week
Store in a glass container with tight lid
Shelf life is 6 months

Thank you for visiting :)
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and visit my Etsy Shop

-Christy

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Chicken Soup for Flu Season

Hi, everyone this is Shienna Mondejar from Miss Finch's Finery.  I noticed that many people are getting sick with that awful cold or flu that is going around.  I know that the flu hit our household a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, it started out with a sore throat, fatigue, and some body aches.  So since I have many allergies I can't take regular over the counter medications because I have a corn allergy and corn syrup is often found in many medications.  So I turn to homeopathic and natural remedies.  I also make sure that I make a large pot of chicken soup.  I used to cook professionally at a fine dining restaurant so you can take my word that I know how to cook.  In addition, I come from a family of many talented cooks who cook with love and passion.  I do use as many organic ingredients as possible to eliminate exposure to pesticides.
Obviously, if one is trying to get better going as natural as possible can be helpful.  I often find these ingredients at local Farmer's Markets or Health Food Stores.  However, all these ingredients can be found at most grocery stores.

 The recipe will yield enough soup to last during the time you are sick.  Otherwise, you can share it with your family as it makes a large batch.  If you are too tired to prepare the Mirepoux and garlic; one can place the mirepoux as well as the garlic in a food processor and use the "pulse," button until the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic are cut up into small diced sized squares.  Additionally, I like to add a good amount of garlic, ginger, and tumeric in my soup as they are known to have healing properties.

Here is my recipe for chicken soup:

Ingredients:

Organic chicken breasts
2 boxes of Organic chicken broth or Organic Vegetable Broth
Mirepoux (4 stalks of Organic Celery [diced], 3 small to medium size Organic Carrots[diced], & 1 Organic Brown Onion[diced])
2 Tablespoons of Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil ( I use coconut oil because it cooks evenly, doesn't break down at molecularly at high temperatures, & has a high smoking point)
2 Tablespoons of minced garlic
1 Tablespoon of dried ginger
1 teaspoon of dried tumeric
1/2 Tablespoon of Dried Parsley
1 Tablespoon of Dried Oregano
2 Tablespoons of Dried Garlic
2 Tablespoons of Ground Coriander
2 Tablespoons of Ground Cumin
1/2 a cup of Lemon Juice (You can used bottled lemon juice or squeeze 3 lemons)
2 Tablespoon of Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
2 Tablespoon of Sea Salt
Optional:  Lemon Zest  (If you use fresh lemon for the lemon juice, zest the lemons first then juice the lemons).
A Large Pot
Cutting Boards
A sharp knife
A large ladle or deep set serving spoon
Optional:  A lemon zester or fork
Optional:  Food Processor
Optional:  If you choose to use fresh lemons then clean, scrub, & dry the lemons.  Zest the lemons using a lemon zester or a fork.  Be careful to not get the pith of the lemon which is white, just zest the peel.  Take the lemon zest and set aside.  Otherwise, if you use bottled lemon juice just measure out a 1/2 cup of lemon juice.

Firstly, dice the organic celery, organic carrots, brown onion, and garlic into small equally sized squares.  If you feel too exhausted or just don't have great knife skills place the previously named vegetables into a food processor and pulse until you get the desired size pieces.  Place all the diced vegetables into a bowl.  Now take a cutting board and place your chicken breasts onto the the cutting board.  Cut up the chicken breasts into equally sized diced pieces.  Now place the diced pieces of chicken into a bowl.  Make sure to wash your hands, the knife, and cutting board thoroughly with dish soap and hot water to avoid cross contamination.  Now take the 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil and place them into the pot.  Place the diced vegetables into the pot and turn on your burner to medium heat.  Place 1 tablespoon of fresh cracked pepper into the pot.  Reserve the second tablespoon for later.  Do the same for 1 tablespoon of sea salt and reserve the second tablespoon for later.  Stir the vegetables and pepper.  Allow the vegetables to cook until the onions are a slightly translucent (this should take 5 to 8 minutes).  Now placed the diced chicken in the pot and stir.  Allow the chicken, pepper, and vegetables to cook for 8 minutes.  Place the 1/2 tablespoon of dried parsley, 1 tablespoon of dried ginger, 1 teaspoon of tumeric, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, 2 tablespoons of dried garlic, 2 tablespoons ground coriander, 2 tablespoons of ground cumin, 2 boxes of organic chicken broth  or organic vegetable broth, 1/2 the cup of lemon juice.  Turn down the burner to low heat.  Add the last tablespoons of pepper and sea salt then stir.  Allow the soup the simmer.  I generally let my soup simmer another 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavor.  Now if you chose to zest your lemons you can throw half the zest into the pot and stir.  Taste your soup.  If you want to add more pepper or salt do so.  Finally, ladle the soup into a bowl and place a pinch of the remaining lemon zest on top.  I hope this soup helps heal any of you who are sick or taking care of others who are sick.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

How to make a Cookie Bath Soak by My Lucky Dragon

This is one of my favorite baths before bed time after a long day of creating, and it also makes a great gift for a friend. Simply pour the mixture into a decorative jar, tie it with a pretty ribbon and include a cute card with instructions. You can also make a gift basket with this soak, some cookies and a good book. Oatmeal is great for softening the skin and oatmeal is also great for dry skin.

I hope you enjoy my video and its easy for you to follow.


What you will need:
1 cup of rolled oats
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Few drops of brown sugar fragrance oil (optional)

Makes 8 ounces


Enjoy!

-Christy
www.myluckydragon.etsy.com

Be my friend and LIKE my Facebook page My Lucky Dragon

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Let’s Get This Year Started!

Hello crafty friends! We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season that was full of crafty fun! Now that our Mafia Members have had a little break after a busy craft show season, it’s time to get this new year started!

So, what’s in store for 2014 you ask? Plenty! We’ll be starting the year with our first "Crafty Conspiracy Craft Night" on January 21st   from 7pm to 9 pm, location TBA. We welcome all crafty types who want to get together for some social crafting time. Just bring something to work on that’s easy to transport. Craft Nights will continue throughout the year on the 4th Tuesday every month. This is a free event.  Let us know you are coming by sending an RSVP to: craftnight@sandiegonorthparkcraftmafia.com

In May we will host our first craft show for this year - the "Spring Line Up" at the North Park Festival of Arts. We are proud to be bringing our own group of vendors to this event for the 6th year in a row! For those who haven't attended this event, the NPFA is an annual street fair in North Park . Unlike other street fairs, this one is completely dedicated to promoting the arts. You won’t find vendor booths selling aluminum siding! What you will find are many local artists and crafters, performance artists, live musical entertainment, hands-on art booths, and much more! Plus, it’s family-friendly and free to attend! For our contribution to this event we will be hosting a special vendor section dedicated to the handcrafted arts. We always have a diverse group of crafts represented and it’s a lot of fun. Visitors can hang out at the Mafia's "Craft Lounge" where we will have “make-and-take” crafting sessions of various crafting techniques. You won’t want to miss this show! Interested vendors should sign up for our Monthly Newsletter.

At the end of the year we'll be hosting our 8th Annual "Holiday Hit List" shopping event. We'll have a lot more info about that later on as well as news about other events we have in the works. Be sure to keep up on the latest Mafia news by getting our newsletter and following us on Facebook. We hope to see you soon!