house centipedes not welcomed!

Last night, I was just about to serve up some chocolate mousse I saw this GIANT BUG scurry across the kitchen floor and under the fridge!  I, of course, just starred and yelped, "OH MY GOSH, IT'S SO BIG" while Tim was like... "why didn't you kill it... you're even wearing shoes." (Flip flops.  Inside flip flops.)

Tim eventually found it scurrying towards our back door and killededed it!  WHOO!  He said it was probably a house centipede.  I've seen centipedes (apparently only brown centipedes) and was like... those (brown centipedes) are small, this is not the same kind!  So I go and Google "house centipede" and OH MY... they are NASTY (in the "it has too many legs, it's too big, and it frightens me" kind of way).  And it's the same kind that ran across our kitchen floor!  They are so gross, I don't want to post a picture here so you can click here for house centipede to see, or Google "house centipede."

I think I've found smaller versions (babies?) around before.  But this was the big mama!  Eeech.  >_<  It's appearance is most likely due to the fact we've been turning on the heat (or rather, Tim has.  I'm used to arctic temperatures inside the house and being told to just put on a sweater.  Hah!) and we're forcing all residents in the heater vents to relocate.  o_O

This was one New England species (I'm sure they exist in California but not in my house back home!  At least not this big...) I didn't want to discover!  Lets go back to pretty snails that move really slowly...

Have you found any strange bugs in your house?
                                                  

swirly snail: update!

So I believe my swirly snail... whom I've named Andi... is a grove snail!  Also known as a brown lipped snail or a Cepaea nemoralis!  :D

Kinda looks like this yah? (But mine is way prettier.  :oP)

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There aren't too many good pictures of grove snails out there so I'm very happy about my captures, and the swirly pattern is extra gorgeously solid on the one I found.

I also started researching about snails and slugs.  There are SO many cool ones!  :oP  (Who knew I'd like snails and slugs.  They're so slimy and gross.  I was telling Tim that I probably like snails mostly cause they have a shell so you don't have to touch the goopy wiggly part of them.)


Of course there is also the vast world of sea slugs!  Check out this dragon slug!!  SUPER cool huh?

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Totally looks like something from Pokemon or Power Rangers or something.  :oP  It's called a nudibranch, which includes all kinds of other "soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollucks."

I'm so excited about the Living Social coupon thingie we got for the aquarium!!!  :D  Jelly fish are so fun to look at!!!
                       

swirly snail

What a beauty!  And I almost stepped on it.

 A couple weeks ago, I saw this little snail crawling abouts on my way to work

Doesn't it have the prettest shell you've ever sawed?

A slug with a pretty ornament  :oP

Feeeeeelers!  Or rather, those are its eyes.  :]

There were snails in my backyard when I was little and they were pretty ugly.  Boring, brown shells that crunched easily.  (I don't think I killed any on purpose!  They were usually empty when I found out they crunched easily!)  Who knew they came with such beautiful shells!  Kinda wish I kept it for a pet!  Cause who knows what happened to it after I walked on.  Maybe a dog licked it. 

I just googled about snails and there are SO MANY COOL ONES!  Who knew.  I love New England!  :oP  Now I'm on a mission to identify my snail!  Will report back if successful.

                        

"It All Begins with Once Upon a Time"

Umm.... what could possibly be more whimsical, cute, and delightful?  These are drawn by Kit of the Etsy shop, Trafalgars Square.

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Kit also has a blog at LullaLoo.  She of course has no idea who I am and I just wanted to toot about such cuteness!

Hmm.  When is the next gift giving holiday where I can make suggestions for purchases?  :-P  I'm not big on buying art (sorry) but these are just too darling!  So simple, so lovely.  Watercolor  + cute animals = great art.  haha.  Plus, the 5x7 prints are only $8!  Which is an acceptable price for art, right?  :]

The characters and scenes would be perfect gifts for a new baby!  The adorable animals are definitely nursery worthy, especially in a series of white frames.  Can you see it?!

                       

animal cut outs!

How cute are these???  They are magnetic bookmarks from Etsy shop A Paper Playground!

Look at that panda!!!

Especially love the beaver and the bronto!  (Source)

These magnetic bookmarks are sold at $1 a pop!  (Though initial $2.50 shipping).  I was thinking of picking up a few for keeps and a few for gifts.  But then I had a day off and I was like, "Hey, I can make these!"  So I set off to make my own!  I think A Paper Playground uses like a Circut or something that makes nice symmetrical, straight lines.  Or she cuts really well.

Mine was less tidy and neat and has more... character!  :-P  See!  Meet Mr. Froggy:

Each item is a piece of cardstock paper (except for the eyes and mouth).

Hopefully I won't get sued for design plagarism.  I just wanted to play on paper playground too!  I came up with the lilypad all on my own!

Then today when I was browsing at TY stuffed animals and stumbled on this CUTIE!

His name is Arctic.  (Source)

So I used him as my inspiration for today's cut out!  :]

Colored scarf pieces courtesy of the latest Crate&Barrel Bestbuys catalog.  :oP

I'll have to work on my animals.  But they're kind of fun to put together.  :]  I can use the practice, so which animal would you like?

                                 

baby squirrel

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WHAT.  Could possibly be cuter.  Hm?