Chat…Just Because

I mentioned I had a few more things to bring you up to speed on. Remember me going on about my dream puppy a few weeks ago? Within a day of that post, I, with the help of a friend at work, had located a breeder in my area with one puppy to sell. I was so eager to meet this little guy, but Don was heading out of town on that particular weekend and we couldn’t get it arranged right away. But the following weekend, the puppy was still available and … I’m happy and giddy to introduce the newest member of our family, Tucker!

He’s a coton de tulear, all white with champagne colored ears and spot on his side. When we got him, he was just four months old and 7 pounds. So much fun! He’s so smart and playful. His temperament is amazing. He’s about 9.5 pounds now, so he’ll be just a few more pounds full grown. He looks bigger than he really is because of all that amazingly fluffy hair!

He’s a bit shy when meeting new dogs and people, but warms up so quickly. I could gush on about him like I do my children, but I think you can get a good idea of his charm through some of these pictures.

So on top of my fun doggy news, my jewelry studio IS coming along, although with all of the family activity, it is going to take a while longer for me to get everything organized. It currently looks like a small tornado blew through it, leaving beads, boxes and Ziploc bags everywhere!

And on a personal note, I mentioned a while ago that I needed to take some time to do some good things for myself. One of those things was to lose a few pounds and get into better shape. I’m still in the process, but thrilled to report I’ve lost more than 23 pounds in 11 weeks using the Jenny Craig program to get me going. I’m about 14 pounds away from my goal and feelin’ groovy! Not one to fish for a pat on the head, just happy to share my news, so, yay me!

As you can see, I’ve been busy with my kids, my new puppy and taking time for me. Hope you understand the lack of posts for now.

Be back soon!

I’m back, if only for the moment. So much has been going on these past few weeks. Early in May, I chaperoned Madeline’s junior/senior prom. I had so much fun seeing all the young ladies and gentlemen decked out in their finest, completely absorbed in the moment, walking that fine line between teenager and young adult, having not a clue (and probably not giving a second thought) about what awaits them as they make the jump from high school to college or work.

The variety of dresses was mindblowing! It was like watching a designer fashion show right before my eyes. Madeline wore a vintage beaded dress that weighed about 7 pounds!

Believe it or not, my sister found it in a resale shop for $25, and once I had a new zipper put in, we had our original prom dress. It was just the teeniest bit roomy on her, but oh my, I must say, she looked stunning. I know I’m her mom, but still … (Pay no attention to the doorknocker tiara in the photos. Sorry about that!) With all that beadage going on, we decided a simple pair of crystal earrings was all this little number needed. She got so many compliments and had a wonderful time.

She’s basically finished with classes, having taken all of her AP exams and been exempt from the rest for having ‘A’s. Graduation for her is coming up on Memorial Day and then there’s the party in June, plus a quick trip to LA to see where she’ll be living when she attends The American Academy of Dramatic Arts! You’ll see her in films someday, so just remember, you heard it here first.

Elyse is finishing her freshman year and Parker his sophomore year. We’ve attended banquets and awards shows, spring hockey and lacrosse games, and dealt with school projects and activities, and now these two are approaching exams. I know you parents can relate.

I’ve got a few more tidbits to share with you, so please stop on by in the next few days!

It’s that crazy-busy time of year for us: School is winding down, which means end-of year banquets, shows, ceremonies, etc., plus Madeline is graduating (I’ll post some prom pictures of her soon too); summer plans are in the works; outdoor projects need to be addressed. April went by in a blink, and I think May will buzz along quickly too.

Hoping to get back to posting more regularly very soon! Until then, it may be sporadic. I’ll definitely do what I can though!

Is this a busy time for you too?

I finally picked out some items from IKEA for my jewelry studio a few months ago. Remember, I was trying to figure out what to do in my newly finished area? Unfortunately, the closest IKEA to St. Louis is in the Chicago area, and cost of shipping was more than what items cost! So I backburnered the plan for a while, making due with the kitchen table again as the makeshift workbench.

Then we found out a few weeks ago that Don’s ex was traveling to Chicago and would be heading to IKEA. What luck! I told her what I was looking for, and she offered to pick up the items and bring them back to St. Louis. Sweet!

So on Sunday, she dropped off my brand new work table and drawer cabinet. I’ll get to work on the table in the next day or so, but I was able to put together the little cabinet that will house some of my jewelry supplies.

This piece went from this (oh my)

to this, in just under two hours.

AND, I did it by myself!!! Yep. Don is out of town for a few days, so I decided I would just dive right in. Of course I could have used his brawn to help take the box it was packed in to the lower level (this sucker weighs 74 pounds!), but since it was just me and Elyse home with no brawn in sight, I had to take it downstairs myself, basically one piece at a time. That alone took about 10 minutes with all of the up and down! I was already sweating by the time I started.

But it was worth it. Turned out so cute. Of course, IKEA makes it pretty difficult to mess up. Even the directions have only pictures, no words. So unless you can’t interpret a picture, the piece should go together pretty smoothly. Now I just need to clear a space so I can set up the table. I’ll be so organized! … I think.

Keep you posted!

Ok, so I’m dating myself with the Donny Osmond hit, but whatev. The point is, I’m lover of sweet, intelligent loveable doggies, but alas, I am allergic to them. I don’t think I was always allergic, but then again, we didn’t have a dog for any length of time when growing up, so I guess I could have been allergic and just didn’t realize it.  

When I first was married, my husband and I had a beautiful Collie, but the hair everywhere was un-be-lievable. We couldn’t keep up with it! So we decided to find a loving family for her and move on without a canine buddy. But we realized a short time later that we missed having one around, and so we purchased an AKC registered Cocker Spaniel. We named this adorable pup, Lacy. Here is a photo of her right after we got her. Sweeet puppy!

She was such a joy to have around. She was literally our baby until of course Madeline showed up two years later. Sounds like classic ‘Lady and the Tramp’ plot, but really, she was a wonderful part of our family for many years. Loved her!

When we decided we needed a bigger home, we moved to a house without a fenced in yard, and we agreed to let Lacy live with my mother-in-law (who coincidentally bought our old house) because we couldn’t afford a fence and I couldn’t bear the thought of her running away. Once in our new house for a few days without Lacy, I realized there was a dramatic decrease, no … end … to my incessant sneezing, sniffling and congestion issues that had plagued me for the past few years. My sweet Lacy was the source of what I kept telling myself was pesky allergies. Allergies indeed, but to dander! Not pollen or other outdoor plant culprits. Dang!

Since then, nearly 11 years, I’ve not had a dog for fear that I would sneeeze my way through the rest of my life. The would girls ask repeatedly, “Can’t you just get a shot, mom?” But honestly, as much as I loved dogs, I wasn’t willing to subject myself to pills or injections just so I could live with one.

Over the years I have entertained the possbility of getting a smaller breed that has less dander, the bichon, poodle or maltese type, but then other things took priority, and I stopped looking.

Well with Madeline leaving for college in a few short months, I must be in some sort of nesting mode (which I totally realize) because I’m all over it again! Elyse is out of her mind with happiness at the thought that I’m even considering another dog, Parker is all for it, and Don is a dog lover also. So what’s the hold up? Fear. Fear of the allergies mostly.

But I’ve been doing my homework on breeds that are less likely to cause sneezing attacks and swollen, itchy eyes and think I’ve decided that I could live with one of these: A Coton de Tulear. This cutie is a tri-colored, but they also come in pure white or white and black.

Photo from the United States of America Coton de Tulear Club

I’d never heard of this type of dog before, but for the hours of online reading I’ve done, I now think that this little beauty of a breed would be an amazing match for our family. Oh I’d love to rescue a dog, don’t get me wrong, but I just can’t take the chance of me being allergic to a mix.

I could go on and on about the traits of the Coton, but suffice to say that I think I’ve made up my mind, and I’ll keep doing a bit more research. On the other hand, if any of you know of reputable Coton breeders in the Midwest or have firsthand experience with one, I’d love their information. If we do decide to pursue this, I would definitely want to meet the little sweetie before we bring it home. You can do a Google image search on the breed and see some of THE cutest pictures.

A big thank you to Mara for reviewing Just Because Jewelry on the blog, Shes Daily. This is one cool Web site where you can find the latest offerings in beauty, fashion, style, gifts and so much more. Fun site to explore!

I’m honored to have been featured! Please stop over, check it out and bookmark it!

New Just Because Jewelry items are now available here! Please check back too, because we’ll be adding more pieces in the coming weeks.

Thanks for your patience and support!

Just Because Jewelry is having its first sale! In an effort to make room for the new batch of inventory currently taking shape in my studio, we are offering several items at reduced prices during the month of April.

Please take a look at what we have to offer in our April Spring Sale, and if you like something, act quickly. Sale ends April 30, after which time, those sale items will become part of our online viewing gallery. This is a great opportunity to stock up on some beautiful Just Because Jewelry pieces for the summer and fall.

Look fabulous at a great price … just because!

Most of us are probably aware of what our birthstone is for our birthday month. But did you know that there were several variations on that theme depending on if you were referring to the traditional birthstones or modern birthstones? This means you may have more than one choice when it comes to claiming a birthstone. Here’s a little breakdown that shows which months have different stones associated with it.

Birthstones have also been separated into healing and mystical categories, as well as categories that represent the day, hour and season in which you were born. Who knew?

I was excited to be the featured reader on Wickedly Chic, ”independent shopping for the wickedly fashionable.” It was a great opportunity to share some of my indie shopping recommendations. Check it out before it’s gone!

Thank you, Liz!