Luxe leash for less

Latest dive into Pinterest project waters completed.  For a while now I've been obsessing over the rope dog leashes that are all around online.  I love how they look (no shock here, they are slightly nautical after all) and how they feel.  What I don't love is how much they cost! Here is one of the ones that was my inspiration but averaging $50 is out of my desired price range.

  

Now here's mine:

I am kind of obsessed with mine! I'm totally in love with the hardware and the rich look of the final product. It has weight and a great feel.  The only thing I added that is not in the photo is that I wrapped hemp twine around the top part of the handle loop to create a more visible handle piece. 

Forgive me for not taking photos of the process but I can give you a breakdown of the supplies and what it took to get the finished product which ran me an approx. cost of $13 for the leash and it's parts (though more out of pocket for the total amount of rope I actually purchased)

• The rope is a 1/2" diameter pure cotton rope from KarensWeddingShop on Etsy, it was $16.29 plus shipping for 25' of the rope (so I have a bunch left over!).  She uses hers for nautical decor projects but it is sturdy quality rope. This seller is based in Canada so the shipping was steep and brought the total to $36.00 but if you divide that for the amount of rope I used for the leash (approx. 5 ft) then we're still only talking about $7.20 for the rope used, with some left over for more projects. 
• Next were the rope clamps that hold the rope together where it's looped, which I found on Amazon.  They are most typically used for horse tack and to create lead ropes. I got the solid brass ones because they matched the look I wanted but they come in silver as well for a bit less if you want to go that way. They are about $3.00 each. I think you can probably also find these items at a horse tack shop if you have any of those local to you. 
• The last piece was the hook.  I found mine at a local ACE Hardware (one of my favorite places) and got a couple options, again in the brass/gold color. Remember to get one with a big enough loop on the end to fit your rope through.  These are around $2.00 each.

I love the white but realized the impracticality of it so I have plans to get some gray dye to have on hand if it gets too dingy but right now I'm loving it as is.  

Next I want to make a collar to match for Mabel but thinking I may want a narrower bit of rope because this does have more haft to it than would be ideal for a collar. Also, I need to figure out a better way to clasp/clamp the ropes. I'll keep you posted.

Also a next step is to make more using the rest of the rope and get it up on RadBaby.

I dislike that...

Continuing my early onstage grump rants it seems to me that there are a large number of people who are willfully ignorant of socially acceptable actions and unless they are shamed on social media there are no ramifications that matter.

So I've made a decision to attempt to communicate with those in public in a way that they may understand.  When someone does something inappropriate in public, such as run straight into me in the street because they couldn't be bothered to look up from their phone I will make eye contact and hold up a big thumbs down.  I dislike that.

On the flip side when someone does something that clearly shows they are invested in being part of society in a positive way such as offering up their seat on public transportation to someone who needs it more than they do they get a big thumbs up.  Liked!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Ugh, why does this need to be said

I am now firmly one of those thirty-something year olds who laments when things were good. I get it, that's ridiculous and maybe I'm still too  young for nostalgia but nevertheless I have it. Early onset grump as Portlandia called it.

My friend from college who is now a professor at our alma mater posted this image the other day with a comment that she might actually start putting this with her syllabus because it includes items that actually need addressing on occasion - what?!?!  

We went to a highly competitive liberal arts college it is incredibly upsetting to think that anyone who makes it through high school could possibly thing this is okay when communicating with anyone other than their good friends.

Ugh...

Bikini!

You know when you get a puppy and you swear you won't be that weird person who dresses their dog up. But then you realize you can't help it, at all! And then you put your puppy in a baby bikini and you know she loves  you because she's cool with it...oh how far you've fallen.

That fine line

There is a fine line in online dating messaging where you are nice and enthusiastic about a date prospect and you come off as a weird clinger.

It's a bit fuzzy but the line is definitely there.  Anyone who participates in the ever-evolving mating dance that is online dating knows that there is an art to message writing. Some learned Do's and Don'ts:

• Do have a day or two of light messaging with the high level questions 
• Don't ask me to go camping with you immediately following my response of "Hi"
• Do ask about where I live or about something that you read in my profile.
• Don't ask things that require me to write a novel in response 
• Do understand that everyone has a lot of things going on in their lives that are outside of OkCupid - frankly I hope that you are someone who isn't able to check their profile and messages all the time, I won't be.
• Don't get angry or throw a fit if it takes me a bit of time to get back to you.  This does not bode well for our future interactions and I don't actually owe you anything after some messages online.
• Do check your grammar - I know I said this before but dear god please!
• If you want to, do actually ask me out.  Don't just reference the time that we're going to see each other.  Just ask, it's not like it's even a face to face interaction.

Like I said, a fine line, but a line that can tell you a lot about the people you are "talking" to.

Childhood tastes so good

The title is credited to my good friend and is so true. For some unexplained reason our office is currently stocking Ritz Handi-Snacks!

You remember these beauties, the crumbly crackers, the red stick, and the always bizarrely textured yet always delicious "cheese".

Don't worry I tasted them for you, they are still great.

I love this...all of this