Back to Blogging
I will confess, I have been neglect in blogging here. I can give all the excuses that we have had horrible health luck around here (true) and the kids and school and etc…..that is next time.
While I consider all that I have to accomplish in a day, it blows my mind and makes me want to go back to bed. If you and I actually did everything the “experts” tell us we should get done in a daily/weekly/monthly period, we would never sleep. Think about it: once a day, exercise for an hour. Now, speaking for myself, that does not mean just an hour. Even if I don’t take the time to drive to the gym, if I give an hour to exercise that really means two because I then have to shower and wash my hair. That is a huge production. I have lots and lots of hair, and if I don’t commit an hour to taming it, it might take over the world. Or, I go around funky, which happens a lot. I also have to work, drive kids, get groceries, put three healthy meals in front of my children, run laundry, unload the dishwasher, read emails, have ONE glass of red wine (ha), eat ONE piece of dark chocolate (bleh), get sucked into Facebook… blog….
Then, weekly I am supposed to balance my checking account, pay bills, plan menus, cut up carrots to have at the ready when hungry kids come home, read labels, cheer at baseball games, worry about erupting volcanos, don’t run out of apples and bananas, go to the cleaners….
And then monthly! Check my credit, get my tires rotated, change the oil, change the air conditioning filters, vacuum my car, send birthday cards, worry about money, remember to pre-order supplies for work, plan for retirement, plant a garden, recycle, volunteer, save for college, clean closets, and buy a sassy new springtime outfit.
These are all just the things the Today show recommends. Forget adding Oprah, or then I would have to read a new book every week. And Martha? Please…
And during all of this I am supposed to make my kids feel special and take time with each of them. Oh, and I need to make some time for myself and meditate or something.
Am I complaining? NO WAY! I love it all. My point is just that we make ourselves nuts trying to be everything to everyone and it is impossible. I guess you could if you did not sleep, but I have a strict non-negotiable 9 hrs a night policy. Just wanted to offer some advice to everyone, that we don’t have to get it all done.
I read an excerpt from a book written by a lady who did everything Oprah told her to in a year. Sounds really interesting, but read a whole book?
Feel free to add to the list, I know I missed some really good ones and I would love to hear what you have to say!
Life-Changer
While the in-laws were in town, we decided to check out the fantastic new football stadium here in Dallas. Home to America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, the stadium is a whopping 3 MILLION sf! Around here, folks call it Jerryworld (named for the owner and egomaniac Jerry Jones). For about $15 per person, they take you on a guided tour of the whole place. We went into the player’s locker room, on the field, learned about the giant TV that hangs over the place. It was impressive and a little gross (in it’s opulence). We also got to go into the cheerleader’s locker room. My 4 year old decided then and there that, “when I’m get big, I’m be a cheerleader like dat”. I told her she is officially off french fries and nuggets for life if she wants that. I guess it is time for lessons.
So my Mother in Law and I were sitting down on the turf while my son was tackled for the first time in Cowboys Stadium. I guess in his mind, it will not be the last, but only if he is dressed in a Colts uniform. When we went to stand up, Ginny says to me, “ugh, I hate that my pants are always stretching out and falling down whenever I bend over”. Who doesn’t? I said I had the perfect solution for her. Her birthday is this week and I promised to have one sent to her.
Okay, I would love to be selfish and only include my own products for you to peruse, but I would be remiss to not mention my favorite new acquisition of last year. Earlier this fall, I discovered the Invisibelt. If you are anything like me, wearing a belt ruins the sleek look of wearing a fitted top. But to not wear one means yanking, twisting, lifting, adjusting all day. This belt changed my fashion life. I wear it every day, and, luckily, bought two. My 12 year old has discovered it too and steals one daily. 
Take a visit to their site and read all about Kathy Kramer and what inspired her to come up with the Invisibelt. I wrote to her one day just to tell her I loved her product, and she (Kathy-not some service rep) got right back with me and is really nice. I know (as a fellow online retailer) that feedback from customers is huge, so I try to contact vendors whose service or product I really admire. Take some time to do that occasionally! I love to hear from my customers and potential customers with their suggestions, ideas, glowing rave reviews…. ahhh, good stuff.
Oh Happy Day!
The in-laws are coming! The in-laws are coming! Ohhhh yeah….
I love it when Scott’s parents come to visit. When they come, it is solely for the purpose of playing with my kids. They will sit for hours playing games with them, take them to the park, suffer endless video game sessions… I love that they come and drop everything to hang with the kids.
This year, for the first time in years, they were not here for Halloween. Not only were the kids disappointed, but my neighbors did not know what to do with themselves. They all wanted to know where they were! Also, the neighbors that don’t really know us wondered if we had just moved in, they were sure the house belongs to that nice white-haired older man that gives the coolest treats. That, and it was ME that had to sit out on the front lawn and scoop nasty crud out of the pumpkins. yechhh.
They are a funny pair, Scott’s folks. They have been married for something like 50 years. Bob has been retired for a few years now and they do everything together. Except golf. That is sacred to each of them and they play with their own friends. They bicker like siblings and it always ends with Bob rolling his eyes, leaning in close to the other person in the room and say “she’s wrong but whatever”.
Bob and Ginny moved to Montana full time this year. They used to winter in Houston, but they sold the house out there. I know we have all experienced the cold this year, but it was well below zero out there for long stretches of time. They said no matter what you wear on your feet, they are always cold. And it is one of those burning colds, like when you go outside barefoot and it is 40 degrees. Yikes! That makes me hurt all the way up to my teeth! I have always told my husband I would follow him anywhere. Just as long as it is no further north than Dallas. Luckily, the only move we ever made was to San Diego. Now that is something I can get on board with! It was only for a year, though and we came back to Dallas after.
So, in honor of all great grandparents out there, I would like to present the ultimate grandma bracelet, Grandma’s Pride. Grandmas dig this sort of stuff! Don’t be scrambling for a mother’s day gift this year. Plan ahead and be the shining star at Mother’s Day Brunch. I can make this in silver, copper or bronze and it could be a necklace or a bracelet. And, I guess you could get your siblings and cousins on board and share your great idea. If you are willing to share the limelight!
Dog Tags
Marty is our 75 lb. pound dog. We adopted him about 3 years ago. He is an awesome dog, playful, polite, and has no real bad habits. (no jumping, no digging, no chewing). EXCEPT… He runs out the front door. And he is fast as a bullet despite being 20 pounds overweight. The rule around here is “no chasing him”. Because, really, that is all part of the game for Marty.
With his Chicken Leg Bone
I think pretty much every neighbor in a mile radius has met Marty, sans owner. He means no harm, he just wants to get out and see what is up, who is out, sniff through a fence for a neighbor dog… But the people around here don’t take kindly to a jumbo jet-sized dog running up on them. Especially if they have a dog on a leash that all of the sudden yanks their arm out of socket, trying to get to Marty. Or if a little tot is trying to peacefully cruise in the Cozy Coupe, but is desperately afraid of dogs. You get the picture.
He freaks when the UPS guy comes around. I finally said to the driver, “he HATES you, don’t know why”. The driver responded, “hates me? no, he loves me, he tries to ride in my truck.” So that is what the fit is about, he is mad he cannot be out riding with brown.
I love dogs, and I get a kick out of watching funny videos of dogs on You Tube. I came across this one of a baby dachshund learning to hide a bone. Now, I am sure the digging was cute when he made a little tiny hole. I bet it is not so cute when he digs under the fence to make the great escape. He does not even have any tags! How will he get home?
I have a new line of silly dog ID tags made of pure copper. One says “If I am alone, I am lost”. That really does not suit Marty. He always comes home and sits on the front porch until someone lets him in. He would do well with one that says, “leave me alone, I’ll go home”, because everyone always feels like they should return him to us. Unnecessary. But, I finally settled on this one for him, “If you find me, I am yours.” 
Leave Well Enough Alone
Are you the type of person who cannot just leave well enough alone? Well, I certainly am! It is the only reason I even started making jewelry over two years ago. I had bought a piece of jewelry and received so many compliments on it, I just had to find out how it was made! A friend and I took to the streets and the internet and scoured for information and supplies. A few weeks later, we were in business and having home parties! (By the way, although I am not affiliated any more, check them out, lockitz.com–really cute!!)
Now, with Hold On Girls! jewelry, it all started in much the same way. Two things were happening that caused me to look into how to make certain pieces I saw. First, we were paying out the nose for a long, hand-stamped silver bar with a name on it. We were including it on one of our new designs. Second, I was about to complete my first half-marathon and I wanted a commemorative pendant. Everything I saw online was dog-ugly.
But in looking, I found some jewelry that looked like the little hand-stamped discs I had seen around, but they were more organic in nature. The sides were not perfectly round, looked a little bit rougher, maybe? And, it looked like you could do anything with the silver, make any shape, size, etc… They were s
o unlike the pre-cut stamped pieces I had seen everywhere online. I am sure I could have called this designer up to see if she could make me a pendant, but why would I do that when “I can make that myself”. (sound familiar?)
So, I set out to conquer the method, I would figure it out! What I finally realized is that this is not some distressed piece of pre-made sheet metal. There was a totally new product on the market that is made from recycled silver (from old film, no less!). Not only that, but the one place I found in the Dallas area that carries it was having a class that weekend! Oh I signed up….
After weeks of practice and more than a few dollars invested, I started offering Hold On Girls! jewelry to my friends. They were a huge hit! I sold a ton that first week or so and have been running since. I would love for you to look around and see what you like. Remember, everything is custom-made just for you, so we can design anything you wish. Take a look here at what I consider to be one of our signature pieces: Circle of Love
Oh, and if you look at my pieces and think “I can do that”, before you go crazy
buying everything… If you live nearby, and want to try it out first, give me a call. You can borrow my kiln.