I have to say, I love my Cutie Cutlery Rolls. Not only do I love making them I also love that they are environmentally responsible. Why? You use your own cutlery from home, and it won't fall out of your lunch bag. Denise had lost a few of my knives from my last set of flatware that way.

I've yet to see a work lunchroom that isn't depressing. My rolls are so cheery that it is the one bright spot of decor in the whole room. Happy lunch.

Be good, make yourself happy. Hug yourself a tree.

- Melina : D

So I have always had a pet theory that my bones are unusually strong. I've never broken a bone, and I've fallen a lot, times when I think I should have broken something I never have.

Once, in my mom's house, I was in the shower, washing my hair, and I hit the window in the shower with my elbow, and broke the window. I cut my elbow to the bone, nearly passed out when I saw bone. No breaky.

I've fallen out of trees ( lots! ), off monkey bars, on skateboards, off skateboards and jumping off roofs. And some of that when I was a kid too.

A few days ago, I thought of my titanium core when I broke my thimble. And the needle broke through and went into my finger. Thread end first. OWWWWW!

Now I'm looking for an extra strong thimbles. Poor me.

-Melina

Victor Meldrew. Crabby. Grumpy. Awesome.

We love Victor Meldrew. If you've ever seen 'One Foot in the Grave', you know who I'm referring to. He is so very cranky, it is inspiring. It makes you feel better and not like an asshole. Mr. Meldrew is the asshole. Iconic asshole. Very much in the fashion of 'Fawlty Towers'.

Victor and his long suffering wife.

If you've worked with the public in any capacity you know how mind-numbing and disheartening it can be. You may even, on rare occasion, pray for sudden death. If the grim reaper tapped you on the shoulder while dealing with a particularly vivid member of society you just may welcome him/her with open arms.

Then you come home and spend time with Victor. He makes it all ok. He says what you cannot. He is the reflection of your inner asshole hidden from the world. He is one of us, he understands and simply will not take it lying down anymore.

In the privacy of your own home Victor Meldrew and you are one. Assholes. Bask in the knowledge that there are those who understand.

A final word on Victor Meldrew, if you do watch 'Father Ted', there was an episode with him in it. 'Father Ted' is also really funny. See photo.

A scene from the terribly funny 'Father Ted'. Denise will pee her pants when she sees this.

-Melina (an asshole) : D

So if you're in the northern hemisphere, you know it's bloody freezing right now. While it is winter and is to be expected, man I've been freezing my arse off.

Denise and I did decide to walk to work earlier this week. We walked to and from. Sunday we walked home, and it was -19 Celsius. That was really cold. But, on the plus side, I felt like a viking warrior chick. Don't mess with me, I'll go berserk. Like a berserker. Grrrr.

For the next two months it will be cold and I might on occasion look like a tool. But that's winter. Embrace the silly hats and the many, many layers and backtracking for your favorite mitts (like the ones Debbie makes us!!!). Winter, learn to love it.

-Melina

Buffy goes stone-aged for beer. Sooooo can relate.'Beer good. Foamy.'

Denise and I tend to work a lot. We work four days a week at our 'real' job, then the three days we have off are spent working on the Etsy store. Making jewellery or sewing, taking photos, sourcing supplies, managing the shop listings, and promotion. On our two short 'real' work days, there is work to be done on the store.

So, in view of this much working, we haven't been going out of the apartment much. Save for groceries, and the odd coffee with Kerry (and her coffee is odd, lol), we never go out.

Beer. Nice.

But a couple of months ago we started going out on occasion. Yes, actually out of the apartment at night to a establishment that serves alcoholic beverages. Ha!

I have to say, I missed going out and drinking and having a good time. Who knew that fun could be so fun? I think we had forgotten, frankly. Being so focused is all well and good, but when you forget how to have a good time and let your hair down, somethings got to give.

Having now remembered to have fun as well as work, we are looking forward to a productive and enjoyable year.

- Melina

Ok, so you know what it's like, we've all been there. Sitting at the doctor/dentist/optician office, you were smart, you don't need to touch the germ-laden waiting room mags. You've got your book.

You pull it out, and crap, everyone is looking at the tackiest/trashiest/bizarre cover on your book. The book is good, or delightfully trashy, but you don't want the creepy guy sitting across from you to comment. Or, do you want people to just butt out.

What do you do?

Get a cute, handy book cover. I make ones with a built in book marker, so handy.

I just finished a bunch, and I'm way proud of them. Check them out!

- Melina

Banshee, Zen Master. Or crazy kitty. Little from column A, a little from.....

This is the time we make changes, think about what we need to change. How did things go last year? What worked, what didn't? What do you really want, how are you going to get it?

Lots of questions, and sometimes not enough answers. Not much for navel gazing generally, this is the time when I do need to stop for a while and think, re-group and look for new ways to fill the well (creatively speaking). Props to Julia Cameron, man. Yes, that means Denise and I are doing our morning pages again. It helps. Like fiber, for your brain. Har, har.

We are planning new exciting things for the Etsy shop, had a great meeting last night with Kerry of Effiehandmade. We kicked some ideas around. Over beans and rice, of course.

So, now I need to get my butt in gear. I've to get organized, energized and caramelized. No wait, that's for the white sauce.

Good luck with your soul searching.

- Melina : D