New Venture!!!!!

I have a new collaboration/venture to tell everyone about. I'm super excited about this and would love your feedback on it. First of all let me give you some websites to check out and then I will tell you about it.

www.reparapy.com
www.reparapy.etsy.com

I have joined up with a startup company that is into wellness and holistic products unlike you have seen before. The first website gives the best background and info about us and our company. We are looking to show people how to deal with stress, anxiety, listlissness, etc. with other than caffeine, junk food, etc. That stuff as we all know only works for a short time and then we crash....lol. We are currently marketing a kit towards students in their finals week. This kit has all they need to keep going (rejuve) or to destress (relax). Since college kids are not used to having to take care of themselves yet, we thought they would be a great group to start with. All the products can be purchased separately also.

Upcoming on the Etsy site will be great little kits to pamper your mom, the graduate, the bride and bridesmaids, the birthday person........ We will be listing those later this week. I'm sooooo excited about these kits! I want someone to send one to me :) We will include a memo from the gift giver and get them right out to the special person from you.

I so hope you will keep track of us this year. We have HUGE plans and I would love for you to be a part of them and join us on our journey down the road. Have a great Monday all!!!!!

Slipper Giveaway!!!!

The wonderful girls at homespunoasis just featured my slippers on their bolg today. We are also giving away a pair to one lucky winner. To see the post and enter the contest go to
http://www.homespunoasis.com/
2009/04/lines-designs-review-and-custom.html.

Eat More Fish

I love fish, but coming up with new ways to make it taste great can be tough. Here's one way I made my fish the other night and it was as good as a restaurant, at least I thought so....lol.

Talapia on the Grill

4 Talapia Fillets
Curry
Seasoning Salt
1 Lime cut in quarters
Butter
Foil

Take the foil and pull off 2 long sections (long enough to hold the 4 fillets). Place one foil section on top of the other (this is to give strength for the grill). Spread the butter all over the top foil sheet. Sprinkle on the seasoning salt and curry all over the buttered area. Place the fillets on the buttered and seasoned area. Squeeze 2 of the lime sections all over the fillets. Place the foil sheets with the fillets on a hot grill and cover. Cook for 5 minutes and then turn the fillets. Finish cooking until they flake apart. Squeeze the other 2 lime sections over the fillets and serve.

I had leftovers since my fillets were very meaty. Here's how I used them up since I don't like reheated fish.

Fish Flautas

Corn tortillas
Leftover cooked fish fillets cut up into small chunks
shredded cheese
oil for cooking

Dipping Sauce

Ranch Dressing
Salsa

Place oil in a deep round skillet and heat. Be careful not to scorch the oil. Warm the tortillas in the microwave a bit so that they will roll up without tearing. Place the tortilla on a flat surface, sprinkle with some shredded cheese. Place some of the fish down the center of the tortilla. Roll up tight and place the folded over side down first in the heated oil. This will seal the tortilla shut so you can turn it without it falling open. Be careful not to splatter yourself while placing the flauta in the oil. I use tongs to do this. Fry until golden brown and flip. This only takes a short amount of time on each side.

Mix the ranch dressing and salsa together and serve with the flautas.

I would love to hear if you tried these recipes and what you thought of them.

Spring Hats :)

My newest adds to linesdesigns.etsy.com. I am in love with these beanies! They are super cute with dresses, jeans, etc. They will be coming in many more colors and types of fibers. More flowers, buttons and whatever else I find to add for interest. I hope you love them too!

CPSIA It's Time to Take Action Against The Way This Law is Written

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades.

I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA. Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it. The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself.

If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too. How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students: Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader: Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all. Article from the American Library Association:

http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade: Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter. To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper: Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur: Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector: Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy: Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy: Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Class Action Lawsuit to Save Handmade

Rachele Dressler-Sweetser, a mother of 3, has filed a class action lawsuit to change the impending CPSIA law. You can read about her and/or if you are interested in joining the class action lawsuit I have included the link below. I'm very proud of her for stepping forward and taking the reins on this!


http://reformcpsia.org/2009/01/class-action-lawsuit/

Save Handmade

Thanks to Jen of Goldtone Designs for designing this graphic.
www.goldtonedesigns.etsy.com

www.shopetsybaby.com/cpsc

Please help us in the fight to change this impending law that goes into effect on Feb. 10, 2009. There are so many small businesses and livelihoods that will be lost if we do not voice our concerns to the those making the laws.

If you wish to write a letter here is a forum link that will give you 4 names and addresses of the Committee leaders for this law. We as a people have a right to let those in charge know that they need to think about the cause AND affect of the laws they pass. Thank you in advance for showing your concern for everyone who is losing choices and wonderful handmade items for the children.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5987456