What?? Where have I been???

Yes, it has been quite awhile since I posted.  I just got caught up in a whirlwind of home remodel.  We took everything out of the basement; ripped out the carpet; got rid of so many 'valuable items' that I have been saving.  Yes, I did take pictures and will be posting some soon. 

We redid the bathroom; made a lovely storage room; redid the guest room; and ended up making a roomy Man Cave.  Imagine that!?! 

Still doing more remodel upstairs now and will hopefully be finished with that soon.  I will walk you through the process.  I have been trying to get douched out and reorganized!!  Eek!

Will be back soon.

More Stocking Stuffers!!

The Unique Women in Business has so many wonderful ideas for the holidays.  Don't miss out on a single opportunity to browse their respective shops.  I have been ordering and perusing again today.  Now just wait until you see what I found!!

Kristen Stein Fine Art has some tremendous pieces of work she has made into various treasures.  I love to pick up her calenders when she has them in stock, but check out these great mirrors, what a special treat to slip in the stocking.

Fine Art Mirror

I have some of Kristen's work in my home and I receive so many comments when I have visitors.  Stop by her shop to see what other talents she displays.

I stopped by Grandma's Craft Garden and  fell in love with these candy cane dish towels (hey, I grew up calling them tea towels, anyone else??).  You can have their name on the towels!  How cool is that??

Dish Towels

Whether it is a new home or a more established one, we all need fresh tea towels.  Heh, heh, heh, worked that in now, didn't I??

Oh, I mustn't leave out all our little pets, especially since I have four grandcats, one granddog, and one grandbird; no, you didn't see any human babies mentioned here, but what's a momma to say?  Oh, I digress, anyway, I stopped by Rendachs Chilly Paws and found these:

Fish Bones Catnip Toy

Now won't I be the absolute BEST grandma if I stick some of these in the stockings.  At least the cats will like me!!!

Never, never, never let a stocking slip by without some jewelry stashed in the bottom!!  It is a must!

Love these pretty citrine earrings from Delicate Adornments and citrine is supposed to bring wealth.  I've often thought of sleeping with some.

Citrine Earrings

Audrey Garden Lady has some amazing finds, but I'm drawn to these amethyst earrings.  Amethyst helps with so many things, but one thing is to help with sleep; hmmmm, now I need to add some of this to my bed!

Amethyst Earrings

So lovely and they would fit perfectly into those HUGE stockings you bought thinking they were so pretty.  Really, they seem to grow as you keep sticking goodies in them.

Naughty and Nice got me sidetracked on my trek to filling my stockings . . . but I did think these lingerie bags would be a nice item for the stockings.  I have a couple and use them so much. 

Lingerie Bag

Okay, I think I may be finished for the evening, my selfish and curious side is heading back to the Naughty and Nice shop to peruse a little more! 

Stop by the Unique Women in Business Facebook page  My Unique Gift Guide for more ideas!!

Stocking Stuffers??

Yes, it is time for those ideas for the stockings.  You want something nice, but depending on the size of the stocking the cost could add up dramatically.  Let me help you with some great ideas!!

So many workers must wear a badge, key card, or ID of some sort; but let's make sure they do it with style!

ID Reel with Vintage Creations

Here's a great little recycle, reuse, re-purpose piece for those 'Green' thinkers--utilizing vintage material and a vintage earring to make this little reel badge holder a treasure to wear to work.  This was found at Kady's Pet Couture.  This gives you a chance to match the person with their pet's collar!!

They also some some cute wristlet key chains available in holiday looks, vintage chic, or sports:

Pirate Key Chain Wristlet

Broncos Key Chain

Kady's has many sports teams including College teams!!  Just ask if you don't see what you want.

Now I found this great little wristlet purse in gmPurseanalities and I think it will fit in many of those stockings!  What fun to tuck some chapstick, gift card, or just a little green inside then roll and put it in the stocking.

Piano Keys Wristlet

Oh, perfect item to make your stockings smell nice!!  I found some handmade soaps from Soap Rehab.  You choose four for one price, then split them up for your stockings!!  My husband has been using these soaps and has decided they are the best!!  Now he is strictly a handmade soap man. 

Pick 4 Soaps Your Choice

 

 

Next I found some luscious handmade perfume from Aquarian Bath and I know first hand that these are nice.  I love Patchouli!!  You can choose the perfect smell for your stocking recipients.

Lavender Patchouli Perfume

Check out her shop for more yummy items, all perfect size for tucking into a holiday stocking.  Or just a small, but loving, gift for a co-worker, post person, nurse, babysitter, teacher, ugh, the list is long!

Last year I added one of these microwave bowl holder in all my gifts.  I absolutely love these things and use mine all the time.  My husband and I each have one for those leftover soup nights!!  Works great from HandmadeBits4U and she said it works for ice cream as well.

Bowl Potholder

 

I found these great sprays from ShantiAromatherapy and I know some will think it funny, but if you have ever had hot flashes you will treasure this bottle.  Also, I'm thinking it would be good to take on those holidays to Florida, Mexico, Alabama, or wherever it is hot and stifling at times.  Just a spritz.  What a welcome gift this will be!!

Hot Flash Cooling Body Mist

Great idea for those little cards we need to carry with us and we just don't want to take a purse with us to the library, or wherever we may be heading.  These are recycled comics so that young person will LOVE this and will use it!  Japip has a superb collection of these with bag tags, little wallets, and awesome coasters.

Comic ID Bus Metro Tag

These are just a few of the women artists from Unique Women in Business.  Stop by their sites to get your last minute shopping completed.  I'll try to pick some more fun items tomorrow!!

The Comic Con Wedding

Have you ever heard of the Comic Con Convention? Well, I must admit that I had heard snippets about it, but didn't really check in to it since I thought I wasn't in to that kind of stuff.  

My cousin, Pammie's daughter, Alicia and her fiance, Joel, are not only in to it, but they are an avid comic couple.  They actually have the artistic talent to draw and write their own comic adventures.  

So when they decided on their wedding reception date, they also decided to embrace the entire comic con theme.  Hmmmmm, okay, I say (being the hip cousin that I am), I can make your wedding jewelry around this theme. 

Luckily, Alicia had decided on Lime Green and Purple as her primary colors for the big day. 

She picked out a strapless, tea length, white gown and wanted a lime green sash for it.  No problem, I can do this.  I have been making sashes for other brides in the traditional ivory and white, so this should be a snap, right?  

Honestly, I found all the supplies I wanted/needed and started to design.  I needed to keep her age in mind and her choice of theme.  Anyone who knows me would understand she had me when she mentioned 'Star Wars' since it is one of my favorite movies and I probably have the lines memorized I have seen it so many times.

I came up with the sash utilizing a method of melting satin and creating some flowers to tie everything together.  Let me know what you think.

The Sash

  Here it is on the dress: 

 Oh, yes, I liked the way it turned out.  Okay, now I'm on a roll so I made her garter along the same theme.

The Garter

 

Now I was on a roll.  Made her main garter and one to throw!!

Garter to Throw

So, the hard part was finished then I created a necklace with lime green, purple, and clear crystals.  I needed to keep in mind that this pretty little bride has some awesome ink on her body so I tied it all together with a black sparkling heart as a center pendant.

Her Necklace

While I was creating I made a fascinator for her hair with white feathers, lime green and purple crystals, and topped it off with a lime green feather compliments of Pretty Bird, the Orange-winged Amazon.  She didn't mind, she dropped it any way.  I just risked a few fingers grabbing it out of the cage while it was still clean!

The cake was a combination of the Darth Vader helmet with a Storm Trooper helmet on top--of course, Hans and Princess Leia were on the very top!

  
Oh, I was truly in my element now!  No, I won't be growing up soon, so just give it up.  

The couple endured the agony of cutting the cake and deciding how to feed each other.  They decided on forks--how gentile was that?!?  I do not like it when the bride and groom smears cake on their new spouse's face, so this was awesome to me.

Alicia & Joel

We had a lovely time getting to see friends and family from near and far while we celebrated the union of this adorable couple.

l.-r.; Joel, Alicia, Pammie, Grandma Clella, Cousin Justin (not Bieber)

We got a few family pictures amidst the festivities (no, none of me, although I did clean up well). 

My favorite picture of the night will give you a little insight into the fun these two will have throughout their new life together.

Ta Da!!!

Another batch of memories for us to talk about over a nice cup of tea and a pizzelle.

 

Spending Time with Family

Sooner or later we all realize that spending time with family is so important.  The years drift by and we continue to say we will get together, but we never find the time.  Life has a habit of getting in the way.  My Mother and her two sisters got together again for the first time since 1998!  Now, I know that seems atrocious to many, but they were miles apart and had ailing family to care for among the myriad reasons for just staying home.

Finally, my cousins, Cindy and Julie, in Kansas drove Aunt Lorene out to Canon City, Colorado to Aunt Clella's house.  My mom was in town from Oklahoma so we made the trip down to Canon as well so the three could be together again.

l. to r., Priscilla, Clella, and Lorene

We left those three alone at Aunt Clella's house while the cousins spent a great time together at our Canon City cousin's house, Pammie--oh, pardon me, Pam.  Pam has a very cool job working at the Royal Gorge bridge and arranged for us to spend a day at the gorge.  Oy vey!!!!!  What were they thinking???  Should human beings really build something that high??  And I found out that it is the HIGHEST suspension bridge in the WORLD!!  Remember that Jimmy Stewart movie, Vertigo???  I can relate.  Here's a shot of the tiny train in the gorge from the top.  Really?

Train running on the track.

 We rode a tiny train that we found on the way up the canyon to the bridge and decided we better ride it--seemed like a tourist thing.  We rode it for 30 minutes and it stopped out on an overlook for brave people to get out to look around and perhaps take a photo or two.  Nope, you won't find any of those photos here.  That's right, I got out, walked to the edge and promptly returned to my seat.  No way, not my cup of tea.

Here's where we had our lunch on a nice little picnic table.  I took a shot of my cousin, Julie, with her two little dogs so you could see the bridge in the background.

Here we are on the actual suspension bridge--did I mention the HIGHEST in the world??  And the nut wanted her picture taken by the Kansas flag WITH her two little dogs!!  Come on, can we possible be from the same gene pool??  This girl is nuts!  Of course, I was on a golf cart with a death grip on the wheel smack in the middle of the bridge (sorry folks, you can't pass now) saying get back on we are going.

We did get to see some White Buffalo on the other side so that was a little worth it.  So regal!  No wonder they were viewed as some mystical, great medicine. 

I made this picture extra large so you can see the little black dots hanging in the middle of that big silver H.  Those were three CRAZY people hooked up to some kind of line and then they actually swung them over the gorge.  All I can say is . . . Really??? 

People rode in this little contraption across the gorge as well.  Notice I have pictures from the OUTSIDE!  Nope, no way, you will not see any from the inside.

left, Cindy; right Pammie, oh, sorry, Pam

Sunday we took a ride on that tiny little train we saw and found out it was really a big train.  We took the lunch tour from the Vista Dome car and I must admit that it was spectacular!!  The views were awesome and well worth your time; plus it just seemed much safer to be at the bottom already!

Here's a shot of the bridge from below.  See, much safer, don't you think??  Colorado has some gorgeous country and I will admit that this was such a fun trip for all of us.

Just wait until I show you the shower pictures.  Pammie's daughter, Alicia, is getting married so we were able to attend her bridal shower.  I'll show you some of those later.

Take some much needed time to spend with your family and friends.  After all, that is what is truly important to us, isn't it?

Tomorrow we pack to head to Key West, Florida to spend a week with our girls, Shilo and Tara!!  Can't wait!

Mother's Day Ideas

My friend and I were discussing a little dilemma recently: all our kids have grown up and moved away!  Usually, that is okay with us, but now Mother's Day is approaching and dang it, we don't have anyone to cook for us to celebrate our big day!!  That is just WRONG!!  Or so we see it in our eyes . . . no, we don't want to go out to eat--we like staying home and having some home cooked (with love) food.  Hmmmm, there are always pros and cons to the "Empty Nest" that we keep finding.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest I want to present some new chiffon silk scarves to you for ideas for your mothers.  Now these are special so I only have one of each, but I think they turned out great!

Peacock

 This one is so rich that there is no way to get a good picture of it; it is a must see in person.  The colors are unique and will go with a variety of options, but I keep going back to a pristine white outfit, some layers of chains, and this scarf.  Perfection!

Wild Animal

 Anyone who knows me will not be surprised by this scarf since I am so totally in love with animal prints.  I refuse to give them up and will be the little old lady in animal print and bling at the home when that time comes.  Imagine this with a khaki outfit; oh I know there are plenty of others, but I am stuck on that khaki or perhaps a cream for this season.

Caribbean

 It is summer and many of you are planning the annual vacation; whether it is a cruise, a resort, or just a family reunion, this gorgeous shades of blue chiffon scarf will be perfect for the event.

These three scarves were made with chiffon silk and are oversized so they can be used as a light shawl, a belt, or pareo; well, you get the drift.

Stop by the Momma Goddess Treasures shop to pick up your favorite scarf for your mom--they are going fast!

So, even if you won't be with your mother, have a lovely day and enjoy this gorgeous time of year.

Tax Day, Oy Vey!!

I want to start this out by saying I truly don't mind tax day, and I believe we should all pay our share of taxes, but I absolutely loath getting things ready for this big day in the United States.  I think I may need to hear from the rest of you on some easy organization tips to help prepare for this onslaught of receipts and paperwork.

So, if you have an easier way to control this misery, I am all ears!!  Well, not literally, my ears aren't really that big--other parts, perhaps--but not my ears. 

My husband has his own business and his idea of keeping receipts for me is using plastic baggies filled with all kinds of receipts--this time I am being literal--ALL kinds!! 

Of course, my procrastination does not help me one iota since I wait to the bitter end to do this.  Those of you who know me truly know I ALWAYS file an extension because of this issue.  This year I really didn't want to file another extension.  I thought I might catch the IRS off guard and surprise them with my return.  I imagine they won't be taking bets on this happening, but I like to think I am that important to them.

Come on, everyone, give me some tips on better organization throughout the year to alleviate this paper nightmare!!!  HELP!!!  I am drowning in it!!!  (Not being literal here.)