Welcome Back to me!

WOW! What can I say-the time has flown. It is fall once again, my favorite time of year. I am spending my time dreaming of Pumpkin Spice latttes and curling up underneath my Snuggie! No seriously, it has been an intense few months since I last wrote. I started a new job as an Independent Sales Rep! I work from home and make my own schedule. I am loving it, but it is a lot of work. It is very rewarding and I am starting to reap those rewards, thakn goodness. My boyfriend, who was out of work for 6 months, got a new job and is loving it! Talk about a load off of my shoulders!
In the meantime, I was not able to keep up with my blog and with my Etsy shop. I am sad to say that my Etsy shop closed because I did not update it and renew my listings. I only ever sold one thing off of it. I need some suggestions from you, my loyal readers. Should I take the time to restart it and try once again? I love what I do, my frames and wreaths, but I have stockpiled a ton of them and quote frankly I can't afford the time or money to continue manufacturing when I am not selling them. Any tips that you all have would be much appreciated.
Hello once again- I hope you all have had a wonderful few months and I look forward to getting back into the blogging as well as hearing about what you all have been up to!

Iced Tea Day

June 10 is Iced Tea Day! That fabulous drink that we southerners enjoy super, super sweet! It is so refreshing in the heat and so addictive once you take sip! Take some time to enjoy a glass today- perhaps while you are in the midst of a creative burst of genius!

Lee Lee's Sweet Ice Tea - a Fine Art Print by Heather L. Young--  FLYoung Studio   @   etsy.com

Alive, Alive, It's Alive!!

Yes! I am still alive! What a busy few weeks it has been. I am hoping that life will start to get back to normal, although I am not sure that will be the case.

I have gotten my studio painted! All we have left to do is paint the trim and hang the new ceiling fan! We had a cookout for Memorial Day with 30 of our closest friends and family. It was a huge success.

I had been on such a high from my first sale on Etsy and since then, it has been downhill. I did not receive any feedback from my customer which I was really hoping for. I need to get back on the ball. I have several new pieces of completed work that have just been sitting there waiting for me to photograph and put online. It is my own lazy fault :(

In good news- I am still going strong on Weight Watchers and I am  19.2 pounds lighter! I am so excited and inspired to keep going and meet my goal. I feel so much better already about myself. I am not uncomfortable all the time which is great! Keeping up the hard work.

I recently also had a job offer which I am strongly considering. It would be a great opportunity for me to go down a new avenue in my career and has the potential to make a lot of money. I also would get to work from home and be my own boss. This is fantastic to me as I tend to work my best and my hardest when I am on my own and working independently. I will definitely let you all know what I decide.

I am also taking up a new hobby. I have always wanted to take a painting class. I mean, I took drawing and art history and 3D art back in college, but none of the emphasis was on painting. So I signed up to  take a class at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. The class is called Introduction to Painting and it starts tonight. Goes every Wed for 8 weeks from 7-10. I am extremely pumped about it and am hoping it will help to relax me.

Thanks for hanging in there with me and reading about my life and all the upas and downs! Please visit again soon.

Hallelujah!

So- life has just been busy and crazy and all that jazz for the past several weeks. I am pleased to say that Jason and I are back in good health and that I am down 9 pounds thanks to Weight Watchers!! Weigh in day again today and hopefully I will make my 5% goal and add some more to that total!

In other goood news- I am pleased to finally announce that I have made my first sale in my Etsy shop! I was really starting to get frustrated and found myself not putting in that extra effort to post my newly created items. Now I want to get up and running again! I am ready to finish my studio- this is the week! And I am going to start back to my photos of new items. I need to get pumped again and hopefully sell some more items!

I spent the weekend cleaning up the house and planting new flowers for our screened in porch. We have a cookout coming up in a few weeks for Memorial Day.We have been busting butt to get so many projects done in time for the cookout. There is so much to be done!

I am just on cloud 9 because of my first sale! Wish me luck please and say some prayers that the streak will continue. We could really use the extra money right now with Jason being out of work. Hoping you all have a wonderful Monday!

World Hypertension Day

April 17 is World Hypertension Day. For those of you who suffer from High Blood Pressure due to those additional pounds or due to your family genes, today is the day to get yourself checked out and make a change to do something about it. For your health and for your future. I have high blood pressure on both sides of my family and have been fighting a battle with my weight for years now. I am on medication for the issue to save my life. It is terrible for your heart to contain the strain from high blood pressure. See your doctor today so that you can continue to be creative and live an amazing life!

Gold and Amethyst Heart Necklace by    TheEarringBoutique @  etsy.com

Back in the land of the living

Good morning Bloggers and welcome to Hump Day. It has been some time since I posted, about a week I believe. What a week it has been. My boyfriend came down with a nasty case of the shingles and then I came down with a horrible head cold and cough. I have been sick since last Thursday and am still fighting to get well. Today I actually feel as though my heads is once again connected to my body, but I am going to head to the doctor this afternoon if I can to make sure there is not something else going on. I have not been this sick for this long in some time.

I certainly hope that the rest of you are having a better week. I can say with a large amount of certainty that I have been re-evaluating several things in my life. I have taken some time off from my crafting mainly because I couldn't hold my head up long enough to create anything and I didn't want to sneeze all over my newly painted projects and make them germ infestations. I hope to get back into my studio tonight after a new haircut and color to jazz me up and refresh me. I can't wait to sit there and have someone wash my hair. I fall asleep every time! Anyway- I will be heading home to an empty house while J goes out for a night with the boys. My studio will be waiting, and no I still have not finished painting it. Started the priming and that is as far as I got.

On another bright note, I started Weight Watchers a week ago and went for my first weigh in this week. I lost 6.4 pounds in my first week! Talk about being pumped up! I am really enjoying writing down all of the things I eat since I am an organizational fiend and this gives me something to fuss over. It helps me to get organized in my new way of eating and living (no it is not a diet!). I am looking forward to the progress that I will make and I can't wait to see what I look like when I meet my goal. I turn 30 this year in November and I am determined to be a hot momma when I reach that milestone!

I will be back to 100% soon I hope and life will get back on track. I hope to get back to posting daily like I was and to keep you all posted on my crazy life.
Hope all is well!

Cinco de Mayo

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo! Who knew or really cared for that matter that today represents the Mexican victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla back in 1862? Apparently this was a very unlikely victory. For most of us, however, this is considered a holiday for drinking la cerveza! Have a ball and celebrate it as you like. Use this festive day as an inspiration, with the bright colors and symbols, to create and design something beautiful. Drink to your hearts content and enjoy this fabulous Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo, Handmade Miniature Talavera Tile Ring, Sterling silver, size 7   by  ShrunkenCatHeads  @  etsy.com

New Endeavors

So I have not recently been doing many updates as I have had much going on in my life! Today is the first day of my new way of eating. I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting last night. I am starting the process with my mom. I have simply allowed myself to get too far out of shape and I turn 30 this year. I certainly do not want to hit that milestone feeling non-confident and like a beached whale! But I have to get it into my mind that this is not a diet, but a change in my way of life. I have to view how I eat differently and change my habits. I am pretty excited about today actually. I am starting out right, went to do my grocery shopping last night and have done my research on recipes and points values. I have my bag packed today full of veggies and fruits. I am tracking the points I eat all day long. It is an entirely new way of looking at food for me and I am not going to set myself up for failure. I want to do this the right way and allow myself every opportunity to succeed. Next Monday when I step on that scale, we will see if what I am doing will work or if I am on the wrong track entirely.
So wish me luck! For those of you who may be attempting Weight Watchers I wish you luck as well and hope that maybe we can inspire one another to be stronger and healthier.

National Teach Your Children to Save Day

April 27 is National Teach Your Children to Save Day! Start your child's future out right by giving them a foundation to build on the rest of their lives. Teach them the skills they will need to be financially stable and independent in their future. It is a great thing that as parents, we have the opportunity to mold and shape the minds of our kids. Of course, we have to be responsible in this endeavor. Good luck to you and may your children be smarter and more successful because of the skills you teach them today.

Hug an Australian Day

April 26 is Hug an Australian Day! Know anybody from Down Under? If you are like me and love to travel, then Australia is one of those places that you hope to visit one day. Take a moment today to show your appreciation for your mates! Interesting day, I know!

Sense of Smell Day

April 24 is Sense of Smell Day! Why don't you all literally wake up and smell the roses! There are so many beautiful scents around us in the air, particularly at this time of year when spring is in bloom and fragrant flowers surround us. Roses, gardenias, honeysuckles, orange blossoms. So today, take some time to pay particular attention to that nose of yours and let it lead the way. Zone in on the smells that you never really notice. The smell of fresh coffee brewing in the morning, the scent of fresh apple pie in the oven or chocolate chip cookies. There are so many things around us that will perk your senses. Celebrate your fabulous nose and let today lead you to your next project!

Nose Job -- by noahwoods  @  etsy.com

What in the World?

So- welcome to the weekend. I have not been able to do much posting on me lately because I have been so busy. So on this rainy weekend here in Virginia, I am planning on doing some new crafts, some cleaning house, and maybe even some painting of my studio! I have to admit I have been terrible and haven't even started on that one! But I have finished 4 new projects in the past 2 days! I am on a roll and I hope that I can keep it coming!
So in the near future, there will be some tutorials hopefully, some photos of new projects, and aome progress on my studio. Stay tuned!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day

April 23 is Talk Like Shakespeare Day! Today would have been William Shakespeare's 446th Birthday. The fun of today is that everyone is encouraged to speak like him! What a fun way to step outside your box or comfort zone and try something different. Here are some tips:

1.Instead of you, say thou or thee(and instead of y’all,say ye).

2.Rhymed couplets are all the rage.

3.Men are Sirrah, ladies are Mistress, and your friends are all called Cousin.

4.Instead of cursing, try calling your tormenters jackanapes or canker-blossoms or poisonous bunch-back’d toads.
 
Are those not hilarious names for your enemies or those who are critical of you? Try this out and perhaps thou shall get inspiration from a different point of view cousins!!
 

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE Spiral Pendant-- by  lpjewelry  @  etsy.com

Fabulous Foodie Fridays

Happy Friday- thank goodness it is here once again!! This week I decided to share one of my favorite things in the world. I have grown up with my mother making a delectable Trifle for dessert on special occasions in the summer time. I even requested that she make it instead of a birthday cake one year! It has angel food cake mixed in with cream cheese and whipped cream and then you layer this mixture with cherry pie filling. OH MY GOODNESS! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Here is another wonderful trifle alternative sure to please-
ENJOY!


Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

14-16 ServingsPrep: 20 min. + chillingIngredients


2 pints fresh strawberries, sliced

1 cup sugar, divided

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons orange juice

3 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

1 loaf (10-3/4 ounces) frozen pound cake, thawed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

3 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated

Chocolate curls and additional strawberries, optional

Directions:

In a bowl, toss strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, orange juice and remaining sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream; set aside.

Drain strawberries, reserving juice; set the berries aside. Gently toss cake cubes with reserved juice. Place half of the cake in a 4-qt. trifle dish or serving bowl. Top with a third of the cream cheese mixture, half of the strawberries and half of the grated chocolate. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture. Garnish with chocolate curls and strawberries if desired. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Yield: 14-16 servings.
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 344 calories, 25 g fat (15 g saturated fat), 104 mg cholesterol, 129 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Earth Day

April 22 is Earth Day! That one day of the year when we are supposed to celebrate the Earth and the preservation of it. Of course, many of us celebrate that every single day by doing our best to practice better habits. This day is about inspiring awareness and appreciation for our environment. This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Take some time today to start a new practice in your home. Start recycling, plant a tree, take public transportation, start a compost pile. There are so many things each of us can do to preserve this planet for our children and grandchildren. Visit: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/ and take the pledge to Pick 5 habits that you can adopt in your household to make a difference.

Green Peace On Earth-- reniebritenbucher  @  etsy.com 

Wacky Weather

Well- it is Wednesday and the good news is that we are coming over the hump to the weekend! I have been fairly busy this week working on some new pieces for my Etsy shop which I hope to get listed in the next few days. Here in Virginia we have been having beautiful weather for a couple of weeks now. Sunshine, bright blue skies and pleasant temperatures. I woke up this morning, however, to a hard rain pelting on my car on the drive to work. I find myself feeling like there is no place I would rather be today than at home, curled up in my big chair reading a good book under my Snuggie with my kitties and doggies at my side. Of course, work is calling. Thank goodness for flexible hours and early clock out times! So, I am in the office but was inspired to do a post dedicated to the weather and the artists and crafters who use this as inspiration.
Check out some of these finds:

Rainy Day Necklace-- by UnnaturalElement  @  etsy.com

Lightning- Silkscreen print-- by alyoisiusspyker  @  etsy.com

Singing in the Rain Necklace-- by lucindascharms  @  etsy.com

Birds in Boots- Giant Stamps-- by psitsinthedetails  @  etsy.com

RED POPPIES in the Rain 24x20 Original Fantasy Oil Flowers Painting on Canvas-- by LUIZAVIZOLI  @   etsy.com

Let it rain -- sweet little umbrellas and rainbow colored rain drops cards-- by teresamariegrandy  @  etsy.com

Kindergarten Day

April 21 is Kindergarten Day! Ever have those moments where you simply want to revert back to your childhood? When there was no responsibility, no worries, no obligations. Simply a naive view of the world, nap time, snack time, and all the play time you could ever want! Take the time today to go back to that time. Let go of your obligations for one day and just have fun. Remember what it was like to simply get the most fun out of your day, not worrying about what bills have to be paid or what deadline is coming up at work. Tap into your inner child and you may be surprised what comes out!

Kindergarten Teacher Necklace in Mixed Metal--  MyBebesBoutique  @  etsy.com

Pineapple Upside Down Day

April 20 is Pineapple Upside Down Day! I know- what the heck does that mean? All I've got is that it must be a celebration of a love of Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Anyone out there in this boat? Regardless, why not make today about celebrating all of the things you love. Take the time to acknowledge these things and take count of them. It will be an eye-opening experience that is sure to get you moving. And while you are at it, enjoy some pineapple upside down cake too!

Pineapple Margarita Chunky Layered Shea Butter Bar Soap 3 - 4 oz-- myotherprincess  @  etsy.com

National Hanging Out Day

April 19 is National Hanging Out Day! That's right folks, it is in fact a Monday and perhaps you thought you got your fill over the weekend. Take an extra day if you have the time. Take it easy today and hang out, relax, and rejuvinate! We don't have to work so hard all of the time although I know for many of us, it is engraved in our brains. But if you work hard, you have to play hard too. Work on your relaxation technique today and come back ready to take on the world again tomorrow! Enjoy yourself and have a ball just Hanging Out!

Happily Hanging Out-- Stilllily  @  etsy.com

Pet Owners Independence Day

April 18 is Pet Owners Independence Day! Everyone that owns a furry friend knows what joy they can bring to your lives. I certainly get a lot of laughs from watching mine. Oddly enough, it is suggested that today, the pet owner gets some independence. How can you do that and who would care for your pet? Personally, I couldn't stand to be away from mine. I enjoy my days so much more with them by my side! So use today to love your animals and show them some extra affection. They can cheer up even the saddest of days and provide inspiration for great works of art!

Its a Dogs Life (Set of 5)-- KatisKards  @  etsy.com