A little of this, a little of that
I’ve had all sorts of pictures waiting to be posted, but I’ve been slow getting them going. So today, I’m just going to do a mismatch of photos. Enjoy.
I was so super excited about the response to my Swap Me, Sell Me, Chai Me. I was able to give some fabulous jewelry to new homes, and in return, I received some lovely happies.
Kellie made these amazing matching aprons for me and Eliza, modeled here by Hannah and Eliza.
Bee sent me some of the grooviest cosmetics and fragrances. It was a product junkie’s dream. And she sent so many goodies that I was able to share with friends.
Heather did a doodle for my blog, and I’m so loving it.
How completely beautiful is that?! Once my personal webmaster (my dear friend, Aleece, who designed this blog for me… and you know, everything else I’ve ever had designed) has a few spare minutes, I’m going to ask her to figure out how to add the picture to my blog somewhere.
And I’ve been making some jewelry…
The funky, fun bracelet I made myself but made too big so now it won’t fit.
Mandy’s remade necklace (above) and Olivia bracelet (below) … fixed after Olivia had a bit too much fun with them.
And the yellow piece for the young lady in my section who wears a lot of yellow and doesn’t have a grown up bracelet with an actual clasp.
And now, I’m going to go watch another episode of last season’s “Burn Notice” and try to make another piece of jewelry.
Oh, and there are a few pieces left in the Swap Me swap… let me know if you’re interested in swapping (or sending me a Starbucks card) for anything that’s left.
Filed under Jewelry, Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (2)Tagged with: Jewelry • swap
Odds and ends… or killing time till I can go to bed
Here are a few random things… I’m way too tired to write much. We’re all playing Wii, and I’m essentially waiting for it to get dark enough to send Eliza to bed.
** It’s been a long and tiring week at work, but I feel really good about the work I’ve done. It feels like I’m doing so much better, like I understand things so much better. Of course, I worry that I’m wrong & just misguided. But I find that people ask me questions as if they assume I’ll know the answer. That’s such a big compliment to me, and yet, I worry these people are falsely placing their trust in me. I have to meet with my supervisor tomorrow to discuss all of my claims that I can’t figure out what to do with or have messed up or both. That’ll bring me back to reality, I’m sure. But maybe, just maybe, I really am getting better. Wouldn’t that be cool?
** I’m now loving So You Wanna Be an Old Supermodel on TVLand. I think it’s got a classier name, but come on, that’s what it is. Mike said last night that the women on it are meaner the the women on other reality shows… they don’t seem to bond like they do on Idol or Project Runway. Well, honey, these women are old. They don’t have time to bond. This is their last shot at this thing. They’ve got friends at home. They want to win. I think it should tide me over till Project Runway comes back next month.
** Griff watches too much tv. I know because I love tv. I’m so excited about the summer shows, I can hardly stand it.
** I’ve been praying. I know that if you haven’t been reading my blog for long, that probably sounds odd. But for those of you who’ve been with me through this journey of moving and being angry at God and then thinking God was angry with me and then being a bit ambivalent, well, it’s a good thing to be praying and feeling that warmth and connection that comes from that.
** There was super response to my Swap Me, Sell Me, Chai Me. I have a couple pieces left if anyone didn’t play the first time and wants to jump in now.
Now, I’m thinking I’ll go slather my LUSH Sacred Truth on my face and try to scare Eliza into bed. If it doesn’t work, I’ll at least have smooth skin.
Filed under Faith, Jewelry, Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (4)Tagged with: Jewelry • LUSH • old models • prayer • tv • Work
Menu Plan Monday
I’m posting this on Monday, but I’m working on it on Friday, so you may be looking at a few days of old menus. And they may be a little wacky, given that I’m running on a lack of sleep and taking suggestions from a kid on Valium.
I’m trying to find a reasonable balance between trying to make healthier meals while still being able to afford those meals. I know everyone’s doing the same. In an effort to save a little money, I’m going to start packing my lunch during the workweek, and now that the boys are home all day, I have to plan lunches for them, too.
Friday - We’re eating whatever makes Griff happy today.
Saturday - Chuck and Stacy are bringing Eliza back home, and Mike’s going to grill out for dinner. We’ll have something easy for lunch.
Sunday - Easy whatevers for lunch & wonton soup for dinner. The soup is a mix of this Emeril recipe and this Sandra Lee recipe with a few tweaks of my own. I add shredded carrots and zucchini to the chicken/veggie broth combo and don’t put any shellfish or seafood in the wontons. The veggies are another part of my stealthy healthy living trick on my kids. I cook the wontons in water in another pan & then add them to the broth in each bowl. The leftover broth can be used for Monday night’s chicken and rice… more stealthy veggies.
(lunch…For the boys, I got a variety of sandwich stuff and soup and such. I’ll most likely have to work through lunch this week, so they’re left to their own devices with what I left in the fridge.)
Monday - Chicken and yellow rice for dinner.
Tuesday - Smoked chicken with grilled vegetables.
Wednesday - Chicken alfredo with edamame beans (a sweet gesture from Stacy’s sister… my sister-in-law sister)
Thursday - Turkey burgers with fresh veggie sticks
Friday - Mandy, Josh and Olivia are spending the week at Disney with Mandy’s family’s annual summer vacation week, so we’re meeting all 10 of them at the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. We’ll have to get a wheelchair for Griff, but it’ll be something for him to look forward to this week. And we’ll get to go to Goofy’s Candy Shop and have chocolate dipped pretzels. I love those.
Filed under Jewelry, Most Everything, Recipes | Permalink | Comments (3)Tagged with: Menu Plan Monday • Recipes • won ton soup
Swap me, sell me, chai me.
I closed my Etsy shop (again) because I haven’t sold anything (again). And I’ve got all of the jewelry that’s made and lovely. And I want someone to be wearing it. You know, I can’t wear it all all the time. And I’m pretty sure my friends are about to get sick of getting new jewelry for every gift-giving occasion (and some random Tuesdays in the mail).
Now, I’m not at all sure about how to do this, but I’ve got a bunch of really groovy jewelry that would really like a nice home. I can’t afford to give it all away because I’ve got an investment in the materials. But by that same token, I’m ready to be surrounded by new pieces.
So here goes… I’m going to post pictures of the pieces that I have made and ready. If you see something you like, let me know. I’m not listing any prices.
If you make something, we’ll swap. Jendi and I are already swapping. She’s making a jeans bag for me out of THE cutest pair of Eliza jeans you’ve ever seen. And Kellie and I are swapping. So, come on, now, don’t you wanna play, too?
If you wanna name your price, fine. If you wanna pay me in Starbucks cards, ALL the better. If you wanna give me a really amazing story about why you need groovy jewelry but can’t afford it right now, I’m pretty sure you’re going to end up with groovy jewelry.
That’s the deal. Leave a comment. Tell your friends. Happy Tuesday.
BEE-UTIFUL
Glass beads with a bee charm and a groovy silver toggle. 8 inches
PINKIE TUSCADERO (T’S MOM)
Pink and purple mother of pearl shells. Sterling silver toggle. 7.5 inches
SHELL GAME (VAL)
Brown and cream shells with cream-colored wooden beads. 22 inches.
YOU BETCHA I DO!
Freshwater pearls and Swaroski crystals. 18 inches.
BLUE MONDAY (BEE)
Blue mother of pearl shells. Sterling silver. 8 inches.
Milli Me (T)
Three strands. Millifiori glass beads. Silver hook and eye clasp. 7.5 inches
Saturday Style
Easy, breezy. Sterling silver. Multi-colored beads. 7 inches.
BUBBLE GUM POP (KELLIE)
Some of the first jewelry I made. The two don’t have to go together, but I always thought they did. Both 7.5 inches.
BLUE WATERMELON? (HEATHER)
Turquoise firepolish beads with multi-colored accents. 7.5 inches.
SANDY NIGHTS & SASSY DAYS
Big, dangly earrings. Soft browns. Light plastic beads.
SHHHH… I’M FLIRTING (STACY)
Delicate, dangly earrings. Smokey firepolish beads. Sterling silver.
ORANGE JULIUS
Orange, clear and silver beads. 7.25 inches
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
Sooo groovy. Typewriter keys. Hematite accents. 7.5 inches.
So, now, go. Pick. 
Tagged with: chai • Jewelry • swap
40 or Less… Seriously? Only 40?
Robin over at Pensieve is having a new Carnival…she posts a photo each week & the participants have to write something to describe their reaction to it in 40 words or less. I’m not usually one to use fewer than 40 words for anything, but by Friday night, that’s probably about all I have in me.
So here’s my first attempt. Forty words exactly … who knew?
Spring… ah, glorious spring… the warmth of the sun on my face… the vivid colors, the green, the yellow… oh, thank you, spring… for daffodils and hummingbirds and warm breezes and tulips and puffy white clouds on crystal blue skies…
Filed under Jewelry, Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (10)Tagged with: Carnivals • spring
