Thanksgiving traditions

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and for most people, officially marks the beginning of the holiday season (although our neighbors already put up their Christmas lights last weekend. Brother.). I know Thanksgiving means different things to different people, and that we all have our own favorite ways to celebrate.

For example, some people spend time serving Thanksgiving dinners at shelters or helping out in the community; others participate in an annual sporting event; some spend the day cooking for their family and friends; and others spend the day traveling from one home to another visiting and (probably) eating. Sometimes the meal is exactly the same from year to year, and other times, the menu changes.

Families and friends join hands, pray and give thanks before the meal; they toast; they laugh, argue and reminisce. They watch football or a favorite movie. They play video games. They eat too much. Some folks take a walk, hike or swim as part of their Thanksgiving day celebration. Some spend a quiet day reading or meditating.

The list goes on.

Traditions certainly play a large part in the celebration festivities during this time, and while I like to honor the established traditions, I also think it’s fun to start new ones. 

What are the special ways that you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Tagged, take II

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I was tagged again, this time by the lovely Maricel at Sweet Posy Designs. Since I was recently tagged just a few weeks ago (check it out here), I had to enlist the brainpower of my wonderful family to come up with seven more random or weird facts about me. Mind you, having your family tell you what they think is random or weird about you is an eyeopening and potentially uncomfortable experience. Sheesh! Nevertheless, I was able to cull seven printable items about me, and so without further ado, the results appear below, in no particular order. 

1. I luuuv sushi.
2. I love shoes, but CANNOT stand shopping for them, so therefore, I wear what I buy until I am forced to shop for more, at which time, I drag myself out, curse that I have to get them, and thus continue the vicious circle.
3. I don’t like wearing turtlenecks.
4. I have the freakish ability to twist my thumbs into such a position, that I can totally wig people out!
5. I sing all the time while driving in the car (y’know, my inner rock star coming out.)
6. I love the scents of jasmine and gardenia in candles,and during the holidays, I burn candles that smell either like cinnamon, spices or pine (mistletoe).
7. I won a trip to Branson, MO as a ticketholder while attending a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

As part of the tagging deal, I also need to tag seven other bloggers, so here you go ladies. I can’t wait to read all about your weirdness … I mean, all about the weird or random facts about you.

1. Nailah at Beauty Maven
2. Sahar at FatFighter TV
3. Kathleen at Buddhafly
4. Caroline at Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags
5. Melissa at Sea of Glass
6. Kristen at Stuff for Sprouts
7. Lisa at City Living Baby

Life is a cabaret

Monday, November 17, 2008

Looking for a great way to enjoy a few hours of entertainment this weekend? Well if you are in the St. Louis area, I would recommend you make plans to attend Spotlight Theatre’s final show in its cabaret series. Here’s the info:

LOVE SONGS FROM AMERICAN MUSCIAL THEATRE

Starring Pamela Reckamp & John Flack

November 20-23, 2008

Kranzberg Arts Center Studio

Enjoy music from Oklahoma!, South Pacific, A New Brain, Baby, West Side Story, I Do! I Do! and much more. Musical direction by Al Fischer.

Performances are at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. All shows at the Kranzberg Arts Center Studio, located at 501 N. Grand, at the corner of Grand and Olive.

Tickets are $20 and are going fast. They can be purchased in advance through the Web site, which will also get you a reserved table, right up near the action. A full bar and snacks are available through With Love Catering, and service is offered throughout the show!

It promises to be a great night of entertainment. I should know. Pam is my sister, and I’ve been listening to that kid sing and perform since we were babies, and she is good! (ok, so she’s not technically a ‘kid’ anymore, but you know what I mean).

We have a winner!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Thank you all so much for commenting on the bracelet giveaway! I loved, loved, loved reading all of the wonderful ways that you spread holiday cheer.

The winning post was picked by the random integer generator, and drumroll please …. Congratulations to Debbie Tegart! Click here to read what Debbie had to say about how she spreads good cheer during the holiday season.

Thanks again for all of your great comments! I know it’s early, but here is my first wish for you to have a beautiful holiday season.

A giveaway for your holiday pleasure

Sunday, November 9, 2008

I wanted to spread some holiday cheer a little early, so I’m offering a chance to win this gorgeous beaded charm bracelet from Just Because Jewelry. This dangly beauty, which is adjustable to 8 inches, includes charms that are made with combinations of faceted black onyx beads, and Swarovski crystals and pearls, wire wrapped to a sterling silver chain. Festive and fabulous!

Speaking of fabulous, check out the wonderful, free offerings at The Gift Fest, where you can enter to win more products and gift items from some majorly talented women. What a great way to have a little bit of shopping fun!

To enter the bracelet giveaway, simple leave me a comment about how you like to spread holiday cheer and I’ll let a random integer generator do the honors on choosing a winner. Enter your comment by midnight (CST) this Friday, November 14 to get in on the fun.

Cheers!

Random thoughts

Friday, November 7, 2008

Pondering the upcoming holiday season and thinking about all of the goodies I’d love to get for everyone!

Saw my daughters’ high school production of The Outsiders on Thursday and plan to go again Saturday night. Madeline has the part of Cherry and Elyse is in the ensemble. It was very well done, and Madeline did a wonderful job! Then in December, they’re both in DramaRama’s production of RENT – The School Edition. Madeline has the part of Joann in that one and Elyse has several roles. Could there be more drama and singing in my house?!

Thinking about doing another Master Cleanse … It’s quite the commitment, but one I am willing to make.

Thoughts of enjoying a lazy afternoon with Don in front of the fire and drinking a nice glass of wine are dancing in my head.

Wondering how to make an exercise program a regular part of my daily schedule … hmmm. It’s been done before; I just have to remember how.

Hoping my daughters will make some chocolate chip cookies soon (k, that won’t work with the Master Cleanse, but a girl can dream, right?)

That said, trying to talk Don into making a healthier version of his yummy stuffing for Thanksgiving. He’s actually agreed to make less of his sinful stuffing and make a separate, more nutritious (if that’s even possible) stuffing recipe. (Baby steps, people.)

Planning to have another Just Because Jewelry giveaway on Monday, so I need to draft the post and create the item! Stay tuned.

Become a fan on Facebook

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I recently decided to expand my sphere of networking circles and joined Facebook. I realize that in this fast-paced and techno-world we live in, we need to use the most efficient resources at our disposal if we want to be successful. I’ll spare you the Advertising and Marketing 101 lessons, but I’m sure you can appreciate how the social networking sites of today are growing exponentially and why it makes sense for an entrepreneur like me to make great use of them.

That said, I would love for you to pop on over to Facebook to check out my Just Because Jewelry page there, and if you’re a member, decide to ‘become a fan’ on that network also.

To those of you who have already signed on as fans, thank you for your support! It means so much to me.

I would also love to hear whether you’ve experienced any business success stories that occurred as a result of using a social networking site, so please share!

Featured on Cinnamon and Honey

Saturday, November 1, 2008

I am excited to report that Just Because Jewelry was the featured article yesterday for ‘The Handmade’s Tale’ on the blog ‘Cinnamon and Honey.’ Not only does Robin take the time to showcase self-taught, independent artists on her blog, she’s a talented writer and creates and produces her own line of handmade cards.

Please take a few moments to read the feature and check out Robin’s great work.

Thanks so much, Robin!

Been tagged …

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Last week while out of town on business, I was tagged by my fellow blogger and hugely talented artisan, Lisa of Serah’s Soaps, to come up with Six Interesting Things about myself to share with you. While I could argue the degree of ‘interesting’ for each one, I finally stopped analyzing every stinkin’ thing I came up with and just went with it. It didn’t take too long to come up with these, and once I got going, I realized what a fun exercise it was. I now have more than six things, so I threw in a few extras at the end.

1. I have what would likely be considered an unhealthy addiction to … lip balm. Not just any lip balm. I need the kind that leaves you with a little sting for a while, like Burt’s Bees with peppermint, Carmex, etc. I have tubes everywhere: work, purse, my car, Don’s car, the nightstand. It’s a little sickness, but I’ve come to terms with it.

2. I was basically a seasoned professional at being a flowergirl when I was very young. I was in my first wedding, for friends of my parents, at age three (see the vintage pics below); for the next one, a cousin of my mom’s, I was four; then there were two in a row for aunts and uncles when I was six. I was in another one or two as a tween.

3. I am keenly interested in food and nutrition (even though I sometimes struggle to stick to the best eating and exercise plans, dang) and studied the benefits of eating a raw food diet during the 18 months my brother was a raw foodist. More recently, I completed a Master Cleanse in June, and felt great! Plus I lost about 14 pounds during the 10-day cleanse. Whah-hooo!

4. My kids tease me about being “Safety Mom” or “Worst-Case Scenario Mom,” having a ‘small tank,’ (having kids wrecks your bladder, does it not?!), being militant about them wearing sunscreen, and not being able to complete a sentence without occasionally fumbling for the appropriate words (I’m telling you, before children, I had NO trouble forming sentences).

5. Can’t stand cleaning up other people’s food messes. I was the worst dish washer when it came to doing chores as a youngster. Even as a teen working in fast food, a restaurant and a cafeteria, I did NOT enjoy picking up the half eaten, messy plates of strangers. As such, my kids, although not strangers, learned at a very early age to clean up after themselves at the dinner table.

6. Have spent many years studying what is now known as the Law of Attraction, The Secret, the power of positive thinking, you get what you give, spiritual awakening, etc. While I think I was always predisposed to being positive, I now have a better understanding of why I’ve been so blessed and fortunate.

A few bonus tidbits:
1. I like homemade chocolate chip cookies to be break-your-teeth hard.
2. I don’t like to play games.
3. My sister and I were in a pop rock band in college called Shadow Rose (very 80s, I know).
4. I had lasik surgery nine years ago.
5. I fall into the ‘floral’ category for perfumes I like.
6. I make an amazing bison chili.
7. I’ve been told I am very animated when I talk and rely on using various hand gestures (all clean, I assure you) to help illustrate my points.

How’s that, folks?

Your business, this economy

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

This economic funk we’ve been in has certainly taken its toll, hasn’t it? We’re all making adjustments, cutting back, doing without in some cases … whatever it takes. For those reasons, I’ve not been pushing my jewelry business on people too hard, fully realizing that the necessities of life (food, clothing, gasoline, etc.) take priority in everyone’s lives. I respect that and I also believe that once we begin to pull out of this downturn, business will pick up.

Now even though I’m not out there aggressively promoting my business (not that I would be obnoxiously aggressive anyway, but you know what I mean), I’m still trying to make those connections and establish customers and associates using this blog and other networking sites in the hopes that people like me and remember me when they’re experiencing some disposable income and want a fabulous piece of Just Because Jewelry. I like to think that people enjoy looking and reading about jewelry and my take on things, even if they can’t afford to purchase something right now. I’m not trying to get caught up in materialistic issues, but certainly we could all use a l’il pick me up every now and again, right?

I would be interested to hear from those of you with your own businesses or services, if indeed you’ve experienced a reduction in sales or business, and if so, what you’re doing to get through this tough time. Advertising more, holding steady, networking? I’m also interested to hear from those who may not have your own business, but like to DO business with small business owners like myself. (I know: I said ‘business’ three times in that one). What are your thoughts? What are you doing or doing without to get through this, and how do you keep yourself motivated and positive when the economic outlook appears to be bleak?

Not one to dwell on the negative aspects, but I’m more interested in everyone’s positive spin on things. If we can see things from a different perspective, maybe we can all help each other see a bit more sun than we thought was possible?