I tend to get crafty every so often. Beading, cross-stitching, and painting. Beading is probably my favorite since it appeals to my love of costume jewelry, but beading supplies are notoriously expensive.

Foxy Findings buys beading supplies at liquidation prices, and passes those savings on to crafters which a huge selection and super cheap prices. There’s no quantity minimums to buy, they offer beads and beading supplies, including handmade centerpieces and hand sorted design packs from Designer Kay with everything you need to create a beautiful piece of jewelry.

I absolutely love pearls, and they have over 15 pages of different colors, shapes, and sizes of pearls, so I’m in heaven!

Today is the day I’m supposed to put my 2009 resolutions out there and then let everyone watch me break them within the first month, right?

Well not this year. This year I’m playing fast and loose with resolutions and putting together a more general approach to life instead.

• Find out what’s wrong with me and fix it.
• Stick to a diet plan.
• Exert some energy by using Wii Fit regularly.
• Focus on finances.
• Relax. Physically and mentally.

That’s it. That’s my approach to life starting Thursday.

Now, I’m going to ring in the new Year by eating Bagle Bites, drinking cheap Chapagne, and watching Dog the Bounty Hunter with my husband.

I was so swamped at work today that I didn’t even realize it was Friday! After the 5 o’clock bell rang, it was great to realize that I had Four Foods on Friday and two days off to look forward to.

This week is all about parties, because it’s Val’s son’s 9th birthday! I’m not known for my hosting skills (we’re still the youngest married couple in our families, so we still get invited to other people’s house and aren’t expected to host…yet), but I have coordinated quite a few work-related shin-digs, so I might have some party merit.

1. Cake. Buttercream, whipped cream or ice cream?

Buttercream. Cold buttercream. I don’t like whipped cream and I don’t like warm cakes.

2. When entertaining do you use real, paper, plastic or styrofoam dishes?

Usually the heavy duty plastic so we don’t have to worry about anything getting broken, and sometimes we even wash it and reuse it!

3. When hosting a party do you cook, have it catered or go to a restaurant?

A party is any gathering with more than two people in our house, and it usually caps out at four when my parents visit, so there isn’t much need for catering.

4. Share a recipe that you frequently serve when having a party.

Uncork cheap champagne, pour in glass, drink from noon until the guests leave.

Welcome to the 4th of July edition of Four Foods on Friday! Take a break from beer pong and answer the questions on your blog, then leave a comment at Fun, Crafts and Recipes so everyone can stop by. You’ll be a regular in no time, I promise.

1. Name your biggest cooking influence.

The terms of volume of recipes, most can be credited to my mom, but I would like to be able to cook like Paula Dean without gaining 100 pounds.

2. What is your ultimate comfort food?

Mac & Cheese! Mike and I are still on the hunt for the perfect recipe if anyone has one they would like to share.

3. Name one must have tool that you think every kitchen should have.

I’m still in college-mode kitchen-wise, so I can make do with just about any utensils (or lack of). I do really enjoy a good silicone brush for sauces and marinades though.

4. Share a time saving tip.

Buy pre-diced onions in the freezer section! They are cheap, tasty, and you don’t have to cry when making dinner.

I’m a bargin shopper, but I draw the line at fakes. No fake purses, jeans, or freshwater pearls. No matter how good the fake is, it’s not fooling anyone, and more often than not, the fake isn’t that much cheaper than the real thing! Especially when it comes to pearls from PearlParadise.com, where beautiful pearls are up to 80% off retail and come with a 90 day money back guarantee!