USPS Postal Rates are Going Up Again!

I use Stamps.com to generate my postage for all my packages. I'm not sure if this is the best option but it's what I started with and found it easy to use. When I logged in to generate my postage last Thursday it notified me that all the postal rates were getting ready to increase. Didn't we just have an increase? I feel like we have new rates more than once a year. Nothing we can do about it though so time to embrace the change and move forward. Here is a little info I have gathered to give you a little insight. I hope you find it helpful.

At the start of each year, postal providers worldwide announce changes to their rates and services.   Changes to specific postage costs for  the USPS will vary depending on the mail class and destination. 

USPS Shipping Updates

• Changes to USPS postage rates will automatically be reflected on any postage purchased through Stamps.com, Etsy, Ebay or whatever shipping software you use to generate your postage on January 26, 2014.
• USPS customers can expect to see a 5% increase (YIKES) on average for First Class packages, with the most significant change for 1-3 oz packages. This is the largest increase in a decade.
• There will be little to no increase applied to Priority Mail prices. Priority Mail International prices will see an overall decrease of about $0.40.

• The maximum weight for shipments going to Mexico has increased to 70 lbs.

• See the USPS 2014 Rate Comparisons chart for a comprehensive overview.

Photo by Forever September

For additional information, download rate sheets directly from the USPS. Here’s to selling and shipping success in 2014!

San Diego Vintage Flea Market

I had the chance to attend the San Diego Vintage Flea Market. It was back to the original location at the Heartland Masonic Lodge located at 695 Ballantyne St in El Cajon, CA.  Doors opened at 9a and remained open until 3p. This is such an up and coming market. I have attended every one of them and they get better and better. The quality each vendor brings is awesome and everyone is so nice.

The vendors offer such a variety of fun finds ranging from vintage, repurposed vintage, Shabby Chic, vintage inspired, tiki, midcentury modern clothing & furniture, vintage accessories, vintage home goods, lots of vintage jewelry findings, and burlesque.

They encourage responsible owners to bring well-behaved dogs on leashes. I'm always happy to see our four-legged friends out on a beautiful San Diego day.


Artist, designer, and my friend Karen Gregory-Clayton, owns Second Chance Salvage. 

Second Chance Salvage Booth

Her booth is always the unique outlet for a love all things vintage, antique and re-purposed. An old twin sized headboard is re-incarnated into a SPECTACULAR wall piece with a shelf and hooks. (Can't believe I didn't get a picture of it!, It was beautiful) The results of Karen's artistic touch are all one-of-a-kind treasures. You have to check out her booth next time you go and I'm sure you discover what the vintage junkie in you has been searching for....

I just loved these cute metal benches!!! 

The San Diego Vintage Flea Market started in El Cajon, moved to North Park and now will be in both locations. Attendance looked to be a little down compared to the last time I attended the El Cajon one. I'm hoping it picked up as the day moved on because you don't want to miss this!

The San Diego Vintage Flea Market is now accepting applications for their next market Sunday, March 23rd in North Park. This one fills up fast. So if you plan on vending, get your info in ASAP. And for more info on vending, email sdvintagefleamarket@yahoo.com.

Pasta Monsters

My kids love to be in the kitchen and help as much as they can. It usually involves the use of a plastic knife. In many cases I allow them to cut up fruit or slices of cucumber or spreading almond butter on a slice of bread. I think having them participate makes eating their meals much more successful. I hope they will make healthier choices in their futures by understanding what they are eating.

These pasta monsters were so much fun. Sometimes I just need to let the kids play with their food, this was one of those times. I took raw hot dogs and cut them into 1 1/2" pieces and gave them uncooked pasta to stick into the hot dog pieces. After they were loaded, I put them into a pot of boiling salted water. just until the pasta was done. The kids couldn't wait to eat them!!! These were so much fun!!!

Cut the hot dogs into 1"- 1 1/2" pieces and stick the uncooked noodles through the pieces.

Stick them in your pot and as the noodles soften they will fall into the pot.

Add your favorite sauce, cheese, or eat just like this!!!

Cheeseburger Soup

My family loves this soup!!! This soup is good for both warm and cold weather. I hope you enjoy this cheeseburger in a bowl as much as we do. I have made it with ground beef , bison, turkey, and a combo of these. Anything works!!

Cheeseburger Soup

1 lb ground round, sirloin or turkey
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrot, diced
2 tablespoon garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1-1 1/2 cup ketchup
1/2-1 cup mustard
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Brown beef in a large pot over med. heat
2. Cook until the meat begins to brown, then add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic.
3. Saute about 10 minutes or until your veggies are tender.
4. Stir in the broth and potatoes; bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer 10-12 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through.
6. Melt butter in a separate saucepan over med. Whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes or until it has a light brown color and smells a little nutty.
7. Slowly whisk in milk, then add white sauce to the soup and bring to a boil.
8. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir in the cheese, ketchup and mustard. I always add more ketchup and mustard just to taste. I like mine on the tangy side, you choose!!!
9. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Stir until cheese is melted.
11. Serve. with chopped dill pickles, red onion, and potato stix (these are usually found in a can with potato chips.) skinny french fries work good too as well as fritos!!!

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as we do. It also freezes great so why not double the batch!

Finding my Tribe

Hello Friends!!!

Happy 2014. I have always been a blog reader never really thought I'd be a blog author. Almost a year ago I found myself sitting at home with two babies watching lots of sesame Street. Such a vast difference from just 4 years prior. I left a fast paced career of sales and marketing to settle down and have a family. My husband and I have now been together for 14 years and married almost 8. We have two kids Carson (4 1/2) and Madison (2 1/2). Back to last January as I found myself sitting here with the kiddos...I knew I wanted to start a business, I was certain it was going to be jewelry, but I didn't know where to start.

I began browsing Etsy, doing various Google searches, spending hours on Pinterst, all wondering if I could learn how to make these pieces and how was I going to learn? Was it going to be YouTube? No, I tried! I had my husband bring home a soldering iron and some solder from Home Depot. It was a mess, until I came across Terri Brush. She was getting ready to offer a new online class regarding soldering, stamped soldering!!! This was so exciting to me. I signed up. Then I saw that she would be visiting San Diego and offering a class. Oh my goodness, she's coming to San Diego? This is a sign for sure.

I gathered supplies for the upcoming online class that was about to begin the end of January. I had the date the class was to start, I arranged to have my mom come to the house to help watch my kids while I took my class. LOL this is funny now because Terri's classes are a watch when you want too, not a certain time you need to sit down! I was such a newbie but so eager and excited!! It was love at first watch! When I met Terri in person that following March I believe it was, I had taken all of her online classes that she had offered up to that point. It was like meeting a celebrity!

I picked up on creating jewelry so fast. I am certain a huge part of this is from my instructor, Terri Brush whom I will always credit! Along with finding Terri I feel like I have found myself again too!! Back to that January, sitting at home with my two babies, I now have an established business, The Rusty Owl, I have found my new "Tribe" of art friends that I just cherish and can't wait to see, and still can't wait to learn more. I will never claim to know it all. I feel like I have so much to learn and I just love to surround myself with creative friends.

2014 is looking to be an exciting year. I'm heading to Washington in February to Whimsy Blue's Creative Weekend http://whimsybluescreativeweekend.blogspot.com, beginning of April is a big show for me in San Diego at Summers Past Farms, End of April I am headed to the Oregon coast for Terri's Spring Art Camp http://www.terribrushdesigns.com/untitled2.html!!!!!

All this in just one year!!! I cannot wait to see what this year brings. I hope to share my journey here. I will not bore you with long drawn out entries like this one, just photos, my favorite recipes, great diy's, and tid bits of this amazing journey. I hope we all have the opportunity to find the tribe that makes us happy, we all deserve it!!!

Thank you to my husband and family for all your support on this journey and to Terri for your unselfish sharing of knowledge. I am so grateful on so many levels!