Chat…Just Because

Again, I’ve been fortunate to have come across some great blogs and sites in my 11 months of blogging (dang, it’ll be one year on Feb. 6 that I published my first entry … good time to celebrate. Ah! topic for another entry. Moving on!). As a believer in the ‘laughter is the best medicine’ adage, I’m always appreciative of a well-written, humorous and best of all, pee-in-your-pants funny article.

Pieces that offer insight, empathy, intelligence and a different point of view resonate best with me, and these two talents below do just that. And when people or other things move me to laugh out loud, giggle uncontrollably, smile broadly or otherwise feel sa-weet in general, I’m all about spreading the love and sharing my good fortune!  So without further ado, let me turn you on some blogs that will hopefully tickle your funnybone like they’ve tickled mine:

Suburban Jungle: It May Be Suburbia, But It’s A Jungle Out There
First up, the hi-larious blog, Suburban Jungle, by fellow Ladies Who Launch-er, Jenny Isenman. She writes about her daily observations on family, raising kids, raising a husband, life and things we (women) all think about, but sometimes don’t have the nerve (or energy, quite frankly) to express. A word of caution: Go to the bathroom before you click over to her site so there’s no chance of you wetting your drawers while reading it. Seriously.

She had me at ‘hello!’ on this one. So true! Are You Stupider After Having Children? I’s Be Too.
Then there was: Can a Nice Jewish Girl Sit on Santa’s Lap Without Being a Ho Ho Ho? and Why Are Men Such Babies?

LA365: Creating My Own L.A. Story
My younger brother, Andy (or ’AJ’ to his LA peeps) is another such writer who can elicit tears, snorts, clicks and the occasional burp from me laughing hard at his blog entries. After living in Minneapolis for many years working as a freelance video writer/producer/director, he moved to Los Angeles in August with no money, no job and no home, to try to make it as a writer there. He’s the epitome of the proverbial Starving Artist right now (he’s still working on it, btw, so if any of you can help, please drop him a line, k? Maybe some money too.).

His blog, LA365, is his way of chronicling his adventures, as well as a way to keep his writing juices flowing. You’ll need an open mind to visit (both blogs, actually), and it would probably be a good idea to keep some tissues nearby to sop up the tears of laughter (and muffle the burp sounds). I’ve linked only a handful of my favorite entries, but as he writes in a daily journal-type style, you may want to take a few days (or weeks) to go back to his first entry so you don’t miss any of his references as he goes along. Happy reading!

Day 84: A Very Brady Bike Ride
Day 82: The USPSWTF
Day 73: Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Day 60: Meet the princess
Day 17: Fake boobs, real friends
Day 4: Hot flubbed Sunday

My friend over at Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags recently ran a blog post that lists 99 possible things to do this year. While I mentioned in my previous post I’m not one for resolutions, this is fun little exercise, the best part of which was that I didn’t need to come up with the 99 things! (I have my own personal list I’d like to focus on for the year, but I’m only on number 42.) So while I continue to expand my list, here is the premade list with the items I’ve completed in bold.

You could do this on your blog, or just have fun comparing notes with your friends and family!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii and danced on a lava cliff with the roar of the Pacific below (I wish!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (not quite; Disneyworld, yes)
8. Climbed a mountain (does a six-mile hike in Colorado Rockies count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (ok, it was a fleeting moment, but it happened)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (nope, just in Las Vegas)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (I did a voiceover for a commercial)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (walked on the edge, but didn’t swim; too smelly)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Ok, so here’s one from my personal list:
Spent a month vacationing in the Mediterranean with my family on a friend’s yacht (preferably, my friend George Clooney)

Can you add one (or more) of your fun things you’d like to do to this list?

A few weeks ago as a team-building effort, our group leader asked that each of our areas come up with the most creative way to decorate … a wreath. Yep, we were given a naked wreath and told to used the power of our creative thought to design it any way we wanted. And it didn’t need to be Christmas related either. The winning team was promised a basket of Christmas goodies. Six teams would compete.

My team set out with a few brainstorming sessions in which we tried to visualize the wreath outside of its traditional use. This is more difficult than you might expect. We did come up with a flying saucer, a bird’s nest, a necklace, a tropical island, a wheel and a few others, but themes kept creeping into the discussion.

We finally narrowed it down to a few ideas: a Redneck wreath (which featured among other things, smashed Schlitz beer cans and a flannel shirt) and a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer wreath (adorned with the beloved Claymation characters, including Rudolph, Clarice, Hermey, Yukon, and the Abominable Snowman) were the frontrunners. Sadly, a Charlie Brown wreath that was decorated to the nines with one broken ornament and a spastic strand of lights didn’t make the cut, nor did the Stress Rewreath wreath becauth of the difficulty in pronounthing ith’s name (thorry).

Ultimately we decided on … ready ….?

A Wreath-a Franklin!

too cool, huh?

We used the following items to bring to life some of the Queen of Soul’s greatest hits, which by the way, we had a medley of playing on two small speakers through a Nano wired on the back of the wreath. So not only did this look fierce (in a totally creative way) and pretty, it sounded fierce. Here are the songs we included on the mix:

- R-e-s-p-e-c-t: we spelled it out, just like Aretha … ahem, I mean, A Wreath-a
- Think (Freedom): lightbulb featuring the word ‘Think’
- Chain of Fools: hard to see, but I attached those silver block letter beads in the word FOOL (three times) to the chains hanging below the disco ball
- Freeway of Love: pink caddie (so it’s a red ‘56 Chevy Hot Wheels, but I used little OPI polish in Strawberry Margarita to make it a pink cadillac, ok?)

Other items we used to drive home our witty play on words: a tiara, for no Queen of Soul (or diva) can be without one; a CD, musical notes and a disco ball, um, obvious ones; stars, because she’s, well, a star; a pink boa, because the lady loves her accessories!

We came in second, but don’t even get me started on why I think we were robbed! We had a fun time though.

Me and my family don’t usually watch television, but we sure do like getting in our traditional Christmas shows and movies this time of year. One of our favorites is Elf, starring Will Ferrell, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel and Bob Newhart. Every time we watch it, we laugh ourselves silly. It’s one of those that gets funnier with every viewing (that, or I’m just more easily tickled as I age). Then of course, we wind up peppering our conversations for the next two weeks with memorable lines from the show.

For example, someone will walk into the bathroom and we’ll hear, “Have you seen these toilets? They’re GINORMOUS!” or we’ll be discussing what we want for dinner, and we’ll get, “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.”  Call our house during the holidays and you might hear, “Buddy the Elf! What’s your favorite color?” Someone having an off day gets, ”Does somebody need a hug?” And of course no one can resist, “Did you HEAR that?!!” after a loud belch. (Y’know. We like to drag the humor out a bit). 

Of course we have our other staples like Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Muppet Christmas Carol, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and White Christmas. We watch other holiday shows and movies too, (and quote from them as well), but these are the definite repeats in our house.

What Christmas shows do you like to settle in to watch that get you into the holiday spirit? (and spill it if you’re line-quoters too).

I think many people have heard of picnik by now. You know, the free photo editing site that you can use to manipulate your uploaded pics? Totally addictive tool, and highly entertaining if you haven’t tried it yet. But I created these a few months ago on a site called PhotoFunia, a variation on the picnik theme.

Too cute! And fun!

ELIZA Magazine. The name alone conjures the familiar, elegant images of Audrey Hepburn in the role she made famous in My Fair Lady. As much attention was given to the fashion and style of the motion pictures of that time, as was given to the look of the starlets who graced the silver screen during that era.

I was first introduced to ELIZA Magazine through a networking site I belong to – a wonderful resource for meeting women entrepreneurs and learning about each of their endeavors. This beautifully designed fashion magazine from Los Angeles editor Summer Bellessa isn’t available in St. Louis, so I’m happy the networking site gave me the exposure to learn about the magazine. I was so enchanted with the title and concept that I ordered myself the latest issue and am happy to report my review.

Look and feel
One of the first things I noticed about the magazine is its weight. The entire publication is printed on heavier paper stock, a departure from what is typically used in your monthly subscription magazines, making it more substantial to hold and therefore creating a feeling of essence and energy. You’re more likely to keep the magazine handy and reference it several times just by the sheer fact that the paper gives it weight and importance. I like that. It makes me feel that I’ve made a worthwhile investment that I can enjoy for a while.

Once inside, let me just say that familiar, elegant images are certainly the standard. Summer has managed to create a visually captivating quarterly magazine that embodies the elements of style, beauty, fashion and grace that its eponymous inspiration sought, and did indeed become. From the lovely fonts and headers on each page, to the stylized fashion spreads, no element has gone unchecked in this publication. It’s obvious that attention to detail is of primary consideration during production and layout.

I’m one of those magazine handlers that tends to flip through, page by page, to get a sense of what is included before I go back and settle in to read the content. In doing so with ELIZA, what is perhaps as notable as the lovely photographs that accompany articles, features and fashion layouts, is the absence of in-your-face advertisements with their garish and sometimes overwhelming messages. The magazine certainly contains advertising, but information is presented in such a way that the ads look more like a fashion spread than a pitch to buy some product or aid. How refreshing!

It’s what’s on the inside that counts
While the pretty packaging is always fun to talk about, ELIZA is no shrinking violet when it comes to delivering relevant information about women’s issues and interests. Its contents range from Fashion, Beauty & Health, to Features and Kids fashions. The Features section alone boasts a variety of short articles that talk about music, art, food and even a Guys Guide (I always appreciate a man’s point of view). The cover story for this particular issue was on CNN.com’s Nicole Lapin, a 24-year old who’s accomplished more in her relatively young life than some 40-year olds I know!

I also learned so much from reading the article, Saving the World One Issue at a Time: Cambodia, which talks about the effects of the deadly regime the Khmer Rouge Guerilla Movement of than 30 years ago and the devastation it left behind. Did you know there are still up to 6 million active land mines in Cambodia, and more than 90,000 women and children have been left widowed and orphaned as a result of this movement? The article goes on to explain how Christa-Taylor.com partnered with the missions group Warm Blankets Orphan Care to help repair damaged orphan homes, pay the volunteer staff and build women’s housing. Inspiring!

Personally, I appreciate that ELIZA features a mix of real women and models in their photo spreads. As the mother of two teen girls, it’s wonderful to see the reinforcement (more for my daughters than for me) that one does not need to be a 22 year old, size 0 to look stylish and attractive. You can actually see how clothing is shaped to fit on the average body. Perhaps this is why I felt comfortable perusing the pages, just taking in the composition and color of the layouts – because I could relate to some of the women that were photographed.

Overall, a very good thing
I’m sure everyone’s ideas about what constitutes a fine piece of art are as varied as snowflakes, but I also  think that many people would agree that ELIZA is a visual and intellectual treat on several levels. If you love fashion or are looking for some artistic stimulation, this may be the perfect gem to fill that need. I’m looking forward to checking out future issues! In the meantime, you can check out the ELIZA site or blog.

ELIZA Magazine: Created for women who want to be stylish, sexy, and engaged in the world while retaining high standards in dress, entertainment, and lifestyle.

I’m not sure what led me to stumble across Lisa Leonard’s blog and hand-stamped jewelry site called “it’s the little things,” but whatever it was, I’m grateful! I love the simplicity of her designs and enjoy spending time reading her entries. She has done some nice photography work on the site too, although humbly explains her skills on her January 14, 2008 entry. Make no mistake, she’s very talented. Please take a look at her site at www.lisaleonard.blogspot.com for inspirational stories, observations and jewelry pieces.

I am so excited to be able to share my observations, philosophy and tidbits with you through this medium, and I look forward to hearing what’s on your mind. While I continue to enhance my Web site and update my inventory frequently, the blog will let me get information to you quickly when there is news or opinions to be shared.

Let’s get started. First let me just say that my passion for creating new jewelry continues to burn as intensely as it did when I first got hooked into this wonderful world of bead jewelry. I cannot adequately express the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment I feel when I finish a brand new piece or resolve a design dilemma that may have slowed me down.

I have been fortunate to have met so many people during the course of my venture, and their support and repeat business keep me motivated to continue my mission of providing quality pieces at a fair price with the type of customer service we ALL wish we could experience more frequently! You know what I mean, right?

Along my journey, I’ve learned and absorbed so much new information about jewelry techniques, materials and gemstones that it’s almost hard to believe for me. I love reading the lore, descriptions and metaphysical properties associated with the stones that I use, and work hard to educate my clients and potential clients about each special piece.

Second, I would like to officially invite you to respond to and participate in my blog whenever the spirit moves you. As we go along, I’m certain you will get to know me better and in this day of high-tech communications, I look forward to expanding my network of friends. I’m new to blogging, but I’ve got many years of writing (and talking, ha!) experience under my belt. Please be patient with me while I get my blog bearings.

Third, I would like to start out updating my blog several times per week, however, with a full time job, I may only be able to update once a week. I’ll need to determine the frequency once I get into the groove of this activity.

And my final thoughts to include on my inaugural blog entry include a formal recognition of and thank you to my beautiful family, Don, Madeline, Elyse, Parker and Adam, for their support and encouragement of my passion. They sweetly indulge me with their positive reinforcement whenever I get a little overexcited by a new type of bead or a necklace design that I just know is going to make my customers go ga-ga. They gingerly tippy-toe around my temporary studio (which also doubles as my kitchen for the moment), and have become master scouts at locating runaway beads that slip from my fingers and roll halfway across the house on the hardwood floor. Not only that, Don moonlights as my Webmaster, and so is on call 24/7 when I need the site adjusted or need a photo taken and downloaded or need to learn how the heck to set up a blog! For his and my kids love, patience and understanding, I am grateful and in their debt.

Thanks for reading! Until next time …

Hey, if you have any questions or topics you’d like me to address in the future, please drop me a note and I’ll see what I can do.