It’s been a while. Hope you are well. After much self-reflection and personal development, I am feeling optimistic about the future. I really do believe we are at a turning point as a society, and even though things seem and are dark right now, my heart is bursting with hope.
I feel that the best way to share my enthusiasm for the future with you is to fire my individual readings back up. I have been working on them behind the scenes to expand and improve them. And I’m finally satisfied with the results, so here we go.
On this page, you can sign up for an Expressive Flow Reading. I have changed the name and focus of the readings slightly to reflect how they are now…and how I am now. The cost has gone up, which was inevitable. But hopefully the price still feels affordable to you.
So let’s do this future thing, shall we? I’m happy to encourage you to become and express your truest self and let this be your guiding compass as we transition into a better world for all.
Okay, so this is a little thank you post for Andi Jenkins of All Put Together. She has a YouTube Channel and an Etsy Shop. I’ve included one of her fun and informative videos above.
She is the person who inspired me to attend Thriftapalooza. I almost missed it but she was going and had a free ticket and I was lucky enough to be the first person to take her up on her offer.
I’ve learned a lot from Andi about reselling in general and selling on Etsy specifically. And now she is about to open her own booth in at Tiny Brambles shop on Morrison in Portland, Oregon.
So, thank you Andi, for helping me come to my senses about going to Thriftapalooza. Andi will also have a booth at the upcoming The Great Junk Hunt at Oregon State Fairgrounds April 12th and 13th. I’ve been to this event in the past and it was a great shopping experience. Be sure to look for Andi’s booth if you decide to go!
Christina Katz is a member of a creative family, where each person is encouraged to be authentic and expressive. She firmly believes that evolving people make the world a better place. Learn more about her on Etsy or Instagram.
So a couple weeks ago, I went to Thriftapalooza in Portland, Oregon. I almost didn’t go because I wasn’t sure it would be a good place to source for my Vintage space and Etsy shop.
I was wrong. I am often wrong when I rely on my mind. I make plenty of mistakes just like everyone else. Usually if I am making mistakes, I am making progress. And if I’m not making mistakes, I’m probably playing it too safe. I prefer to trust my gut and go with the flow because that’s how I usually succeed in my intentions.
Anyway, I have over 20 planters in my Etsy shop, including hanging planters. I will keep replenishing them if folks like and buy them.
Please check them out in my Etsy shop, BlissCraftLife, and follow me there and on Instagram. I appreciate your support!
And also check out Thriftapalooza! It’s a really fun thrifting event that is worth attending. There was one in Portland and one coming up in Puyallup, Washington. The folks running it are super-nice and friendly and really care about sustainability and everyone having a great time.
More on the person who changed my mind about Thriftapalooza soon!
Christina Katz is a member of a creative family, where each person is encouraged to be authentic and expressive. She firmly believes that evolving people make the world a better place. Learn more about her on Etsy or Instagram.
Who has fond memories of Richard Scarry books? I do!
When I saw this collectible mouse driving pencil car from Busy Busy World and other Richard Scary illustrations, I had to get it for my Etsy Shop.
If you are a toy collector or you know any collectors who might love this stuffed and plastic toy in excellent condition, send them on over to my Etsy shop, BlissCraftLife.
This stuffed and plastic toy is a rare find. I scooped him up at a collector’s estate sale. He just makes my heart happy. I know he will make someone else’s heart happy, too.
Christina Katz is a member of a creative family, where each person is encouraged to be authentic and expressive. She firmly believes that evolving people make the world a better place. Learn more about her on Etsy or Instagram.
I really love thrifting. Even if you have known me for a while, you may not know how much I enjoy thrifting. Not shocking, I know, considering how many folks like saving money and preserving the planet by buying used items versus new.
In the past, thrifting has been a hobby — something we have done on family outings. We have especially enjoyed going to new-to-us towns and checking out the vintage and thrift shops. It’s just something we naturally gravitate towards doing. We are creative types and we love visual input and interesting objects. Thrifting almost always involves happy surprises.
I love learning and I am always learning something new whether I share about it or not. There is a lot to learn about thrifting and I live in a area where opportunities are plentiful. I already have an Etsy shop. I originally used it to create and sell digital posters. A few years ago, I started adding some of my dried florals. Then this year, I decided to declutter our empty nest and added a few vintage items to my shop. It’s been fun and a good creative outlet, and after doing it for a little while, I went out and got a space in a local thrift marketplace. I’ve always enjoyed making seasonal vintage and floral vignettes and now I have a fun outlet for those projects.
Along the way, I am learning and growing. There’s always a lot of trial and error in the beginning of trying new things and I find the key is to not give up too easily. You have to be willing to be bad at things initially. You have to be willing to be an individual, who follows the dance of her own creative spark without copying others. You have to get used to people not understanding why you always seem to be trying new things. You have to trust that non-conformity isn’t something you do to be different; it’s something that happens naturally when you are being yourself.
If you are interested in keeping up with me and what I’m up to, you can follow me here, on Etsy and on Instagram. No doubt I’ll be busy learning new things and sharing about the ups and downs of following my bliss. If we want a better tomorrow, we need more bliss today. Bliss orientation may not always be easy but it’s definitely a habit worth practicing.
Christina Katz is a member of a creative family, where each person is encouraged to be authentic and expressive. She firmly believes that evolving people make the world a better place. Learn more about her on Etsy or Instagram.
Well, well, well, I never thought this day would come.
I added vintage items to my Etsy shop, BlissCraftLife. I never thought I would actually let myself do something I enjoy doing so much.
Do you know what I mean? Sometimes it’s just hard to overcome the conditioning that says that real work is serious, hard and grueling. And you’d better have a degree in that or just forget it.
Not that creating an Etsy shop is a piece of cake — it isn’t. Mostly it takes time and surrendering to the step-by-step, trial and error process. But by expanding what I offer to include vintage items, my shop just feels more well-rounded — more like me.
I’m multi-faceted and I like being this way. I know I am not the only person, who enjoys taking a varied approach to life.
So, here it is– my newly updated Etsy shop, Blisscraft Life. I am having fun with it and I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s all about.
Thanks for checking it out and supporting me by following my shop, liking some items and even making a purchase if you feel so moved.
I appreciate your time and I hope you are taking some time to follow your bliss today, too.
Best Sour Cream Banana Bread With Walnuts And Chocolate Chips
Ingredients:
2 cups organic flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c salted butter
3/4 c dark brown sugar (or use sugar subs for baking)
2 large pasture-raised eggs at room temperature
1/3 c sour cream or plain yogurt
2 c ripe mashed organic bananas (about 4)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 c walnuts
3/4 c chocolate chips
No or low sugar substitutes can be subbed in for ingredients. Match texture to texture for best results.
Put oven rack in the lower third position, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in medium bowl.
Use mixer to cream butter and brown sugar for two minutes. Then on medium speed, beat in each egg one at a time. Beat in the sour cream, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract on medium speed until mixed. Switch mixer to low speed, slowly blend in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just mixed. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. Do not overmix.
Spoon batter into greased loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes. Loosely cover the pan with foil after 30 minutes to keep top from getting too brown. A skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf will come out clean when bread is done. Please check. Ovens do vary. Cool bread on wire rack.
Wrap bread in foil and store in the fridge for up to a week. It won’t last that long. Heat slices for 20 seconds in the microwave before eating. Delicious!
Hello World,
