33

Since few days ago, I've officially been alive for 33 years. The day before my husband and I celebrated at a sweet gastropub in Fishtown, Philadelphia called Kraftwork. Recently I've found out that it's a fave place to several of my clients. I highly suggest this place for a fancy dinner in a laid back atmosphere. If you like beer, there are several to choose from. If you like adventurous food, you will enjoy yourself. We were hooked up with some extra dishes compliments from Chef Brian. He rocked it out of the ballpark - oysters, goat cheese terrine, fried poached egg with frech green garbanzo beans in truffle oil. Only a couple of bites went into my actual entree, a pork belly sandwich on a hearty bread. yowza...

On my birthday, I worked at No Ka Oi for 12 hours. It took so much out of me, and I was toasted and not feeling well on Friday. The last couple of days I worked, but took it easy. The next two days are balls to the wall, and then I get a three day break from tattooing.

Although I have three days off from the shop, there is so much to do. With tax day looming over our heads and a spa party in which I'll be showing off my products, I'm hoping to get some relaxation in there some time.

Speaking of relaxation, I need some sleep. Good night to all, and I'm hoping my son sleeps in tomorrow.

Eco Darling updates

Life is busy as usual here at the compound. The soap wasn't made today due to rain. However, my MIL gave me some base soap from a batch she made that's already cured. It'll be milled into some nice shapes and flavors hopefully next week. Two weeks are needed for it to cure after that process, and then then Eco Darling will have soap available. Woohoo!

Last night many Bath "not" Bombs were crafted. Now you can purchase Serenity scented and tinted with beet powder, Vanilla with Sandalwood, and more Lavender Orange since we sold out of those. Facial grains exfoliating scrub with pink clay was made also. It may also double as a mask once a week. As a mask, this new concoction is for more normal to dry skin as opposed to our other facial grain scrub/mask, which is for normal to oily.

Today I finally got the hang of frosting the Bath Cupcakes, and they'll be ready to go for our first Eco Darling Soiree on Thursday night. They really look good enough to eat.

If you want an Easter basket for your special someone, please your orders in soon since it's right around the corner. I can make the Bath "not" Bombs in egg shapes for an extra charge, and also display them in cartons. Also we can use Easter inspired shapes for the Lotion Bars or soaps too. You'll just have to hurry with the soaps though due to the curing process. Mother's Day is coming up so don't forget about Eco Darling when shopping for your favorite mom.

If you want to host a party, please let me know. Just to let you know what is planned for a party, I'm going to write about it here. It's not all about looking and smelling what we have available, it's a full on audience participation spa party. We'll do a facial cleansing, a facial scrub/mask, toning, and using a cold creme. You can sample the lip conditioner too. Also we will be soak our hands in warm water with a sample Bath "not" Bombs fizzie or bath salts and then testing the body scrubs on our hands to simulate what these will be like for your whole body. Then you will be free to sample lotion bars, whipped body butter, and body butter. I will also bring information about the benefits of the ingredients used in the products. If you enjoy all natural body products, you will love this kind of party.

I'd love to share these great products with you. I assure you they will help create a wonderful bathing experience, and your glowing skin will shine for days after. So email me if you're interested, and we can schedule a time that most convenient for you.

Yesterday

The weather is so beautiful right now. It's sunny, and I'm outside typing away. I wish it would stay this way. My son is napping peacefully inside. We had a fun morning except it was tough to leave the house. As I got ready, he came up completely naked. Why do kids do this?

The other day we had a pretty big scare. T was barely walking because something was wrong with his leg. In fact, he was crawling and avoiding walking. So I had to cancel a day at work just in case, we had to make a trip to the emergency room.

It's crazy how sick he's been for the past couple of months. He's now on his third antibiotic because on Wednesday the Dr said he still had an ear infection. He despises the meds regardless of the flavors added and occasionally pukes up all over the place. This was the scenario last night. Just as I was about to put him to bed, I gave him his medicine and blammo. Puke everywhere. Hopefully this weather will clear the germs.

I loathe the overuse of antibiotics and wish we didn't have to give them to him so much. One would think that a child who drank breast milk for the first 20 months of his life, would have a strong immune system. Not my little guy. Perhaps this bout of illness will kick his immune system into overdrive.

Today I signed up for a Transcendental Meditation seminar in my home town. I'm so excited. Yesterday while I was having some anxiety, I remembered that this was something I'd always wanted to learn. After searching the local TM office, I was happy to find a free class next week. This is certainly meant to be. So many inspiring and creative people, specially David Lynch, uses TM. After reading his book years ago, I'm finally going to learn what it's all about. More often than not, I have anxiety and let stress get to me. Hopefully, this practice will do wonders for me. Well that is if I can afford it. Fingers crossed.

Tomorrow my mother and law and I will be making a soap base while my son naps (knock on wood). In six weeks after it cures, it'll be transformed into other specific soaps such as milk and honey in cute shapes and sizes for the Eco Darling Body Care Line. I'll be sure to make some for flavors for the Eco dudes out there too. I'm especially excited to make a shaving cream bar, but I have some time before it'll be ready.

Mona Lisa

My client is awesome for getting someone ot take an amazing pic of a tattoo for me on the day after. Here's the reference pic. I love doing portraits, animals, humans, whatever. So let me know if you want to book some time at No Ka Oi or Body Graphics. I'm booking a month or more in advance for weekends FYI.

The energizer bunny

Yesterday I was at No Ka Oi Tiki Tattoo in Philly for 12.5 hours. It was a long day without many breaks, but fun work was done. An alien abduction outer half sleeve, owl with a full moon on a gnarly tree half sleeve, and a dog portrait. I can't wait to finish these pieces. Actually the dog is finished, but I need a better pic.

Today was an emotional roller coaster. We decided to bring T back to the Dr since he was unconsolable the other day, not eating for a bit now, and hacking up a lung again since Saturday. Josh actually took him to the office while I attempted to shop at The Kids Consignment weekend event. After filling a bag, I put everything back when I saw the length of the line. Insert sad face. There really are a lot of great deals on used clothing there, but I couldn't wait. Then I hopped over to BJ's to get some bulk items for the family - Amy's bean burritos, All free and clear laundry liquid, and large bags of Organic mixed frozen berries for smoothies amongst other things. After I did all of that, I stopped by the Dr's since they were still there. Can you believe it?! Talon has a respiratory infection again (or just didn't get rid of it) or asthma and a double ear infection. Therefore, he's back on antibiotics, and has to have nebulizer treatments at home. I hate working when he's sick, but at least there were more fun pieces to do today.

After getting 90% of all the drawing done for today at home, I headed to Body Graphics in NJ. I was busy from the moment I got in to the moment I left. One of my clients today brought in a ridiculous amount of meat for my family and I. I'm proud to announce that the freezer is officially full from that and the trek to the Wholesale club this morning. On my way home, I heard some extremely sad news that inspired me to write even though I should be drawing for tomorrow.

Wait it IS tomorrow.... I need to get this out and get to bed. I've decided to wake up extremely early to draw since right now my eyes are getting heavy.

The news reminded me to love your loved ones, family and friends, as much and as often as you can. They need to be put first because one minute they're there and the next minute that could change when you least expect it. It's something I constantly battle with since my blood is scattered about the country, however Josh's family is right here in South Jersey yet I rarely see them because I work so much. This week a big effort was made to see some people I care about. We had dinner with my husband's brother, wife, and kids. Talon and I spent some QT alone and with friends at the Aquarium. Having three days off in a row is something I'm going to try and stick with.

Next week, I'm hoping for more of the same. My happiness can depend on making other people happy. I show my love by expressing myself creatively in hopes to make people happy whether it be by tattooing them, cooking up a healthy yet tasty gourmet meal, and sharing all natural body products. This week I'll be showing off my body products to a group of people for the first time. I'm so grateful to meet such interesting and generous people whether they're in my life for short or long amounts of time. I'm not perfect, maybe I don't always express myself in a loving way every minute of the day. Regardless, I really do care.

Sometimes we fail

Well I think the bath cakes were a fail unless you don't mind relaxing in a multi level plethora of chunkiness. I assumed that these cakes would dissolve completely. Maybe they do in certain conditions? Regardless, I'm giving away the cakes. If anyone wants one, please let me know by commenting on this blog. I will be working at NJ Body Graphics this Friday and Saturday and No Ka Oi in Philly Wed night, Thursday, and Sunday if you want to pick them up. There is a citrus blend and Serenity small french clay cakes up for grabs. You must agree to let me know what you thought honestly. You can send me an email on this one unless you absolutely love them! If some people might like taking a bath in the chunkiness of oils and essential oils, I'd like to know.

Never ever give up. Therefore we try again using alternate ingredients. On this round we even have icing, my friends. They're fizzy, and smell more yummy than the other cakes. We used one this morning with great success. The first batch is not the best looking cupcakes and icing job, since I'm not the greatest with cake decorating. However, we'll be perfecting the technique.

There are also some new additions to the bath fizzy family. Guilt free Chocolate ice cream Fizzies are curing now. Vanilla will be on its way once the Chocolate ice cream's have made it through testing.

Even though the fails get me down, I'm happy with the Body scrubs, lip conditioner, Uplifting Body Butter, Rosewater Jojoba Cold Creme, Almond Grains Facial Scrub/ Mask, regular bath fizzies, and the heart shaped lotion bars. We have two parties coming up starting next week, and I'm pretty excited to show off these products to my friends. My hopes are up for the Guilt free bath desserts, though. We shall see. I know I'll get it eventually,

Appointment only!

"The Noble Duke of York, he had ten thousand men
He marched them all up the hill
And then he marched them down again
And when you're up you're up
And when you're down, you're down
And when you're only half way up
You're neither up nor down"

For many reasons this song is playing in my head today. I've been feeling off since yesterday. The samsara that I'm caught in has got my mind marching in a downward spiral. Therefore my thoughts and mood is going down and down. Hopefully today I can catch up with things, meditate a little, and be on the up and up.

You would think I'd be pretty clear headed since I've been practicing healthful living for the most part. I haven't drank alcohol for nearly two months. My diet is overall healthy and full of Organic food. The only thing I need to catch up on is exercise and rest, and quit those Organic American Spirits. It's a tough life when you have a family (husband, toddler, 2 dogs), work full time, and don't have full time day care. Toddler's get sick too. Our little one has a fever and a cough AGAIN. Last week we thought we were in the clear at least we hoped and prayed for an end to cold season. I've been up since 5am because I had to tend to the sick little one. On top of that I've been catching up on work emails and cleaning. I also need to draw (note it's my so called day off). Someday I will find a balance, and perhaps this will be very soon.

Next week begins my appointment only ventures in tattooing at Body Graphics in Pennsauken, NJ and No Ka Oi in Philadelphia. I will be booking all of my own tattoo appointments, but consult appointments can be done via the shop that you want to get tattooed at. I'm pretty excited about this, although the fear of change always lingers in the back of my mind.

Please note some of the following ways that I work. I prefer to tattoo in NJ since I have a private room there, parking is free, and I live closer to that shop. Please let me know if you have a car and can make it to the NJ shop which is only 5 miles away from the Philly shop so that I can offer the Philadelphia appointments to people without cars. I'm hoping to work 4 days tattooing and have one day dedicated to drawing. At your consultation, we still take a NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT usually $50 - $100 depending on the complexity and size of the drawing. When people are booking time for large work taking more than one session, we'll book all of the planned sessions at the consultation appointment. I won't commit to drawing anything for people unless they book the tattoo sessions at the consultation. Booking many appointments in advance also secures that you will get your tattoo done in a timely manner, and we're covered if a cancellation is in comes up on either end. Having a child has made me accept that things come up in people's lives, and tattoos always don't come first. Not to mention if you get sick, please don't come in and get tattooed. Often people say to "Take your time", however they don't always mean it. The drawing will be ready either a day before or on the day of your appointment emailed to you. Preferably we can go over it at the tattoo appointment, and I can redraw it then and there if you don't approve the drawing. People don't always understand the etiquette of a tattoo shop. After 15 years of being in the business, I still have to remember that part of my job is to educate the public.