Personal Blog of Ashley Cawthra

Every last minute

Things are starting to get back to normal which really means back to crazy! My first full week of school will start next week.  I have been feeling a bit under the weather - slightly concerning with h1n1.  I am in the faculty of health sciences after all. I should be a bit more careful? ha. I'm feeling better. I havent' had too much time for much.  I whipped up this set of embellishments this morning. I've had all the supplies ready I just needed the time to get'er done.  So here they are!

They are officially for sale in the shop.    I really love making embellishments.  I also really love using them in projects. There will be more to come.. both projects and embellishments.

Have a good weekend!

Ashley

swine flu recommendations

Being a health science major I thought I should pass these along..

SYMPTOMS

Swine flu is a strain of the influenza virus that usually affects pigs, but can also make humans ill. The symptoms of swine flu in people can be similar to the symptoms of a regular seasonal flu infection which may include fever, cough, headache, general aches, and fatigue. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

HOW IT SPREADS

The swine flu virus is contagious and is spread person-to-person when germ-bearing droplets enter the eyes, nose and/or throat and are coughed or sneezed into the air. The virus also rests on hard surfaces such as counters and doorknobs. It can be picked up from there by your hands, and transferred to your, eyes, nose and mouth.

PRECAUTIONS

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash immediately after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or arm‹and not into the open air or your hand.

Even if you do use a tissue, wash your hands properly after coughing or sneezing.

Keep fingers away from your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. If you do happen to touch or rub your eyes, nose or mouth with your hand, wash promptly and properly.

Hand-washing is the best defence. Wash your hands several times a day with warm water and soap, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Alcohol-based hand gels are effective as long as your hands are not visibly dirty. To wash your hands properly with an alcohol sanitizer, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you scrub between your fingers, under your fingernails and the backs of your hands.

Wash your hands before meals, after using the toilet,  before feeding children (including breastfeeding), before and after preparing food, after changing diapers or helping a child use the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after shaking hands with anyone, before and after visiting with people who are sick, after handling animals or their waste.  {I know this seems ovbious but I've seen some disgusting things...}
 

Don't share towels.

Avoid close contact with sick people.

Good luck.

A busy day ahead

So far this morning has been productive.  I planned out another gift card holder and its almost all prepped.  Next was a photo shoot for my new page banner *it's going to be GREAT, I can't wait*. The only problem however is that I need good ol' photoshop to edit and resize the photos for the banner.  I have photoshop on my laptop but due to some unforseen events I have lent out my laptop cord to someone in great need.  It will have to wait til Sunday. 

In scholarly news, Dr. Seear the author of one of my texts, came to my lecture on Thursday.  It was an interesting lecture to say the least.  He's an interesting man and after hearing him lecture, it makes some of what he says different somehow.  He's brilliant and honest, something that the world needs more of.  One of the  greatests thing he said though, was that historically speaking, development and aid has been over medicalized and has been far more harmful than helpful.  It filled my heart like a balloon.  Not too long ago, maybe a few weeks back, I was looking into nursing programs.  Part of me felt like I could really do something that way.  After Thursday's lecture I have changed my mind and am commited to the social aspects of development.  More on this lecture later.

Finally, before I skip off to work, I have started a guest book.  Find it {here}.  I don't know why that never crossed my mind until today

TGIF,

Ashley

DO something amazing

www.kiva.org

Check out this website. Really, click on the link, open up the page and check it out. 

"Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world."

What does that mean? It means that instead of making a blind donation to a big organization you can choose who you donate to and see where your money is going.  You can see how much they need, who they are and even how long it will take to repay.  It gets better.  Because kiva is based on micro-credit or micro-lending, you get your money back.  Say what? Where else do you get your donation BACK.  Of course, after the entrepreneur has repaid their loan (part of which you have contributed to in the first place) you have a choice to withdrawl your money, donate it to kiva or contribute it to another entrepreneur. 

Why are there micro-credit loans?  Many people, especially in the developing world do not have credit to get the credit that they need. Moreover the access to banking institutions is often problematic {read more}. 

Just imagine, if you donated $25/month over a year to different entrepreneurs, you would accumulate $300.00.  Anf if you did the same thing the next year, you would have $600.00.  You could then continue donating that money over and over and over.  at the end of 5 years you would have $1500.00.  $1500.00 is more than many loan requests on kiva. That means you could fufill one whole loan yourself.  Just think how many lives we each could change by donating $25.00 per month.  That is actually less than $1.00/day which is what many of these people live on. 

I think that starting December 1, 2008 I am going to donate $25/month to different entrepreneurs and track my progress here for you all to see.  Hopefully it will inspire someone else, even if it is just one person to make change.

Check it out, www.kiva.org

Much love,

Ashley

Fall is here.

    I survived all my midterms.  I can't say the same for fall.  My academic schedule was crazy for the last two weeks, but the good news is that the tough stuff is out of the way.  After next monday it's smooooth sailing until the end of november!

My latest projects include a card set made with paper from Heidi Grace - midnight kisses collection, a card set from Imaginisce - all kinds of happy and a mini album from Basic Grey - romani.  The all kinds of happy card set is not done, well almost, it just needs some scalloped circles.

My brief shopping spree was worthwhile. I picked up a TON of stuff at reasonable prices.  The only downfall is the economy. The day we went the dollar dropped to 0.80. Not SO great.  I also can get killer exchange rates from a family friend and I TOTALLY forgot about it until I got back.  A lesson learned I suppose.  I'm ready to go back, except I need to start using up what I got.

hearts+crafts,

ashley

Berry Sweet

 

I LOVE the new-ish K and Company line Berry Sweet, I just cannot get enough of it.  Now of course with all lines, I don't love ALL of it but almost all of it. I have the paper pack - 24 sheets of double sided goodness (except for the flocked sock monkies - flock = ick).   I've made a few mini cards already which a part of my wants to keep for myself just because I LOVE them.

Its been a stressful weekend (I submited a paper proposal on Thursday and then wrote my first Human Biology exam today) and all I wanted to do was craft.  Now that I've got all that school out of the way I spent a few hours crafting.  Most of my time isn't actually spent crafting it's spent organizing.  I have a mighty craft closet which used to be a working/craft closet space but grew much too small and now just stores all my stuff. The plan is to purchase a few more plastic shelving units and then my organizing days should be over.  I don't actually need that much more storage, just a little. 

That's all the craft that's allowed tonight.
Hearts & Crafts,

Ashley

The usual suspect

As usual its after midnight and I am awake.  Thinking mainly crafty things but much bigger things as well.  Being a Health Science major might be all its cracked up to be. My first week of the semester was painful but things are getting better.  My world view is getting smaller and my heart heavier.  It's up to us to change the world or really there is no point in living in it.

My craft fair jury date is fast approaching.  I have to get so many things done in under a month.  Basically I need one of everything so that I will be allowed to sell it.  Not a big task but not a small one either.  Of all the projects I'd like to have with me I'd say about half are done.  I don't want too much product.. but there needs to be enough.

Until next time,
ashley