Alternate post title: "How Erika had a stroke at Target."

So what you've got here is more proof that when the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around…

First of all, the little girlies buying this shirt at the mall probably weren't even born when the original iconic shirt was popular. Secondly, I guarantee you that they have no idea what it means. (Hint: sex) Thirdly, wtf?, it's "Frankie Say Relax" — who got all persnickety with the grammar and decided to edit history?

Those who don't remember history are DOOMED TO WEAR A T-SHIRT WHICH PROVES TO THE WORLD HOW STUPID THEY ARE. However, I am quite possibly the only one who would think that was a fitting punishment.

OK folks, I'm really excited because it's time to take the wraps off my new baby!

I love love love buying things from real people who make stuff with their own two hands, and I am also a faithful Etsy shopper. Combine these two facts with my terminal case of Compulsive Blogging Personality Disorder (CBPD) and you get my new site:

"Try Handmade"

I am completely enamored of handmade products and I want to share this love with you. I understand that it can initially seem intimidating making a purchase from an individual instead of a faceless yet 'reliable' corporation, and I am here to help you find items which will help change your mind using nothing but the sheer power of their incredibleness.

I find it wonderful and awe-inspiring that there really are people out there making so many things which we can choose instead of mass-produced dreck. I'm certainly not advocating that everyone out there build their own cars, or even that everyone buys a handmade car, but when options for beautiful jewelry, clothing, and household items are out there and affordable, I say why not.

Whether you buy handmade new items, or upcycled / recycled / repurposed, you're doing the planet a favor, and you are helping to support an artisan. What could be better than that? New factories will get built with or without my help, but being able to encourage and support artists, artisans, crafters, and hobbyists is a dream come true for me.

Will you follow along?

I really hope you like it — I am loving writing it. Here are a few of the finds I've featured recently.

If you like seeing beautiful things every day, you can subscribe via RSS, in Bloglines, in email, or just bookmark Try Handmade to come back to later.

Thanks so much for checking it out, and I'm curious to know what you think ;)

Tim Russert 1950 - 2008.

You know of my respect for Tim Russert, and this is a very sad day.

Such a loss to his family, his colleagues, the level of political discourse in our country.

No politics today. Instead I'm blogging about poop like a good little mommyblogger.

My dad shot this on his cell phone in about 2004 when Ed was a little guy with a big musical soul. And a guitar.