Mask Extenders

The world is so weird right now. I have so many mixed feeling toward this pandemic, quarantines , closings and social distancing.

I still think its 40% contagious and 60% political. None of this makes since to me. I have never seen the world jump so fast on shutting down. 

But that’s just me. Just in case, I still take precautions and urge others to do so too. Rules are rules.

Do you have a mask yet? I purchased a few mask for my household from a neighbor. Each one in different prints just to be fun. I never knew face mask would make a fashion statement.

 

My mom just completed several mask too. They were all donated to healthcare groups. She also made a few for other family members.

I had people contact me about making some mask extenders for the nurses in the ER. The elastic straps on their mask that fit around their ears are becoming irritating and their ears are taking the toll. These little straps fit around the back of their head usually over a pony tail and the elastic can button to it leaving the ears free from strain. 

So, I made a few for the ER nurses here in town. I received a message yesterday that they were very grateful for them as they have been a big help in relief. 

Now I have been working on creating more incase anyone else needs them. Its’s all I could do with the buttons I had. I have resources for more buttons if needed. 

So far I have not been over run by them so it’s been relaxing to sit and crochet. This also gives me something to use up my scraps of cotten yarn. 

What are some things keeping you busy while your staying in?

Vacay Wrap Up

Just wanted to wrap up my beach trip with some show and tell photos. As I said in a previous post. It was one of the best weeks we have had in a long time. I didn’t have any issues with my inner ear problem, no camper problems, there was no rain, and a lot of family and friends came together for a day of fun. But all and all we enjoy our time together. Just the two of us. It was no paradise island, cabana boys (but my husband made a pretty good personal one). We did not stay in no fancy hotel or have room service. We walked mostly barefoot in the sand and the temperatures were in the 90’s during the day and 70's and 80’s at night. We enjoyed our hammocks I purchased before we went. They were new and only 6.00 each from Curt's Outlet store in the mall.

While on our morning walk around the campground, there was a gentleman selling some garden produce. He had the best tomatoes we have had this year. They were perfect. Every day we would eat a tomato sandwich with chips on the beach. I never got tired of them. We also purchased a cantaloupe the was very good. And of course, I had to use the shell for a breakfast bowl one morning. 

A couple nights we stayed in and ate a simple such as this salad and grilled baked potato. We didn’t even miss the meat!

We visited our favorite hamburger place one night called Hamburger Joe's and made a trip to McAllister's Deli one evening. But the place we loved the best was Taco Mundo. We always get Mexican food at least once a week no matter if we are home or on vacation. We absolutely love Mexican food. Taco Mundo sits on the water way in Barefoot Landing. 

We love eating on the patio and enjoying the view. I had the Black Bean Nachos and Nick had a crab taco and a shrimp taco. The nachos plate was huge so he helped me out on that. Just look at that pile! Best ever!

After dinner we walked our meal off in the shopping area of Barefoot Landing. We had a lot of laughs visiting some of the novelty shops. I thought this bubble bath was a hoot (or toot). Luckily I didn’t make my own bubble bath after eating all those black bean nachos!

Here I am barely dressed (sorry). I was sporting this free tank top gifted to me in a give-away by Low Tide Ocean Products. I had a lot of fun wearing this over my bikini or with shorts. 

Ignore the cellulite and baby faces on my knees and focus on how cute this shirt is! But it’s not the shirt that is so great about this company.

Low Tides Ocean Products makes beach chairs from plastic collected from the beaches of Haiti and the Yucatan Peninsula. Wow, talk about trash to treasure! They are the most adorable beach chairs that are stylish durable and people can feel good knowing that when they purchase one of these chairs, they helped clean the ocean.

Shop Low Tide Ocean Products

Read their story HERE

I was not asked or compensated to write about or review this product 

(or restaurants mentioned in this post).

I am not affiliated with Low Tides Ocean Products. 

I just love what they are doing and how darn cute their chairs are. 

Rep Announcement

I'm proud to announce that I am now a PuraVida Bracelet Representative. If you follow me on Instagram, you have noticed a lot of post of me promoting these cute little bracelets.

One day I ordered one and later my sister gave me a little set of them. Before I knew it, I was hooked. Then, in no time, I got an email letting me know I have been approved as a rep.

This is perfect for me as I love the beachy vibe of each bracelet. I also enjoy taking photos and promoting brands I love. I may even make a tiny commission and receive free gifts with sales I make. It's all for fun. It feels good to promote something that has a story behind it. Something that helps make a difference in other lives.

PuraVida bracelets was founded in Costa Rica where two Southern California friends went on a college graduation trip. They met two struggling artisans making colorful string bracelets. The two friends wanted to help so they requested 400 bracelets to take home to with them. After putting the bracelets in a local boutique, they sold out in just a few days. This was a movement that celebrated the simple things in life. This is were the name came from. "Pura Vida" is Spanish for "Pure Life". You can read the whole story HERE.

One size fits most as they adjust from 6 to 11 inches around with a small slip knot.
Each bracelet has a waxy feel and is waterproof and sand proof.
Each purchase includes little drawstring dust bag and a set of their popular fun stickers.

By purchasing one of these bracelets you are creating jobs for artisans.
Puravida also gives to more than 175 charities around the world through purchases made.

If you would like to purchase one of these bracelets 

you can visit my special link to the site HERE and get 20% off 

or just go to Puravidabracelets.com and use code: LISADIMEO20. 

Beach With a Chance of Rain

We enjoyed another long weekend at the beach. The forecast called for rain and storms everyday.
When we arrived on our campsite it was cloudy skies and misty rain.

I started as usual of hanging the close line, putting out the mats and chairs while Nick levels out the camper. Then I get the thumbs up to let out the slide.

Oops, the slide did not come out. We just looked at each other and rolled our eyes. If you have a camper, you know there is always a chance of something going wrong. Nick pulls out the tool bag and crawls underneath to investigate.

He took the slide motor off for a closer look. It seemed to be ok, so he put the motor back in place and the slide finally came out. We think the motor could be weak or just some debris was keeping it from turning. We have a new motor on hand just in case. I love that he thinks ahead like that and is always ready for the unexpected.

We did have rain every day but only in the afternoons. Each morning we woke up to sunshine and blue skies. Nick would go ahead of me on his walks then I would meet up with him after I tidyed up.

Then.....I always make a run for the ocean.

I found some really cool shells. I put them back after I snapped a photo. A couple of them still had hermit crabs inside so I let them live.

I'm really excited to have found a piece of drift wood along the coast. Driftwood is a rare find on these beaches. 

This is pretty much the view each afternoon. It was almost perfect. We did not let the clouds dampen our beach vibes. I love the cool storm breezes. We would sit and watch the black skies move in as long as we could. 

"Life is always better at the beach".

The pineapple bag pictured can be purchased at RiceLovebags. 

Click the link and get 20% off any items. 

Or use my coupon code: LILIDI_MEO at check out. 

Every purchase made helps feed a family. 

Artificial Nest

As soon as my friends on Facebook caught a news story of the local Carolina Waterfowl Rescue needing help from crochet and knitters, they started sending me messages. I sort of felt special that so many people remember that I like to crochet.

As soon as I read the article from the news, I was interested. I contacted them to confirm and make sure they were still needing little nest. I know how places can get an overwhelming amount of support from caring people.

Every year I choose something to donate my talent too. I always feel like God gave me the gift of crochet, so this is my way of giving back. Once, I crocheted fifty tiny baby hats for an orphanage in Haiti. I have also donated crocheted baby hats to local hospitals for their preemies. Last year I donated a box of red hats for "Little Hats, Big Hearts". It's a charity that provides resources and raises awareness about congenital heart defects and hospitals all around give each baby born in February a little red hat to wear. Here is the post.

So I was happy to find something else to donate too. The waterfowl rescue is reaching out to crocheters and knitters to supply them with some artificial nest for tiny birds they rescue. I found some wool yarn at the dollar store and thought it was perfect for this project as it was a natural fiber and natural colors.

I am allergic to wool so I have never made anything with wool fiber but I could not resist. Fortunately, the wool did not irritate me at all while making these. The texture is cotton soft but the structure is hard and stiff. Like a rug. 

They are not made perfect and even have a few flaws, but I think that adds to the nature of the purpose. They only asked that the nest be crocheted using two strands of yarn and stitched tight so the little bird legs would not fall through the holes. I whipped these up in just a few hours and shipped them to their location. I hope they can be of use.

Looking at these make me think of little nesting bowls. Well, that's exactly what they are.

If you crochet and would like to help. Click HERE.

Rice Love Bags

I have been searching of a cute bag to carry on day trips or beach trips. I like the Bohemian look sometimes especially in the summer. There is Just something about the mix of colors and fun natural feel this style has to offer, so when I came across RiceLoveBags I immediately fell in love with the look of these back packs.

I’m a little skeptical about things I find online or social media. When I see something I like, I will dig into it to make sure it’s legit. I want to know where my money is going and what companies I shop from support. RiceLoveBags caught my attention first with the look of the bags and then their cause.

For every bag purchased through RiceLoveBags, a family is fed. How cool is that? 

In India, 37% are below the poverty line and living on just 1.25 a day.  For a low income family, rice is the primary source of calories. 

These bags are made in India by using real recycled rice bags. Every bag they make, 1 kilo of rice goes toward a family. Once they have 20 bags, 20 kilos are then given to a hungry family. 

Once the bags are made, they are shipped to a warehouse in United States. So by the time you get your bag, a family has been fed. Each bag is one of a kind and has a tag attached with a special code to go online and look up the family you fed. You can read their story along with a photo. Though RiceLoveBags focuses on feeding families, they also feed older women, widows, and single mothers. 

When I received my backpack bag, I was amazed at how well it was made and how big it actually was. It was soft, the colors were vibrant and it was lined with a soft cotton fabric. I also worried my bag would have a burlap smell, but it didn’t. I love my bag and it makes me feel good that I was able to put food on the table of a hungary family. Every time I use my bag it remindes me how fortunate I am to be able to purchase this bag while others feel fortunate to just be be fed. 

“Buy a bag. Feed a family”

Shop RiceLoveBags.com.

Use coupon code: LILIDI_MEO at checkout and get 20% off.