Jewelry

My niece is turning 11 next Saturday.  She is turning into such a young lady and I am loving it, even while I 'm trying to figure out exactly how it is possible for her to already be 11.  Time flies.  With her new found maturity she is starting to like more grown up things so for her birthday I have created her some jewelry.

First two bracelets made with glass beads on Stretch Magic 1 mm jewelry cord.

Then I decided she needed an even more grown up bracelet, so I created another glass bead bracelet, but this time with wrapped loops using 24 gauge non-tarnish silver wire.

I didn't want my sister to be too jealous, so I made her a drop for her neck wire.  It's a large stone bead and a small glass bead on 20 gauge non-tarnish silver wire with a sterling silver bail.

While I was on a roll, I decided to fancy up some pony tail holders; for these I also used stone beads and 20 gauge non-tarnish silver wire.

Nearing the End

I have been scrapbooking events leading up to our wedding, the wedding and honeymoon.  I was very excited to be almost finished when I started arranging the honeymoon photos, but I realized that there were lots of pictures missing!  BOO on my organizing skills!  I thought I had everything all there and cropped and ready to go.  I had to switch gears and order pictures...that was done over a week ago and today after work I am going to pick them up...finally!  Hurray.  Maybe I will be finished with scrapbooking wedding things from two years ago and can actually start filling the book with events since then.  Better late than never though, right?

Some of the pictures I will be picking up!

Then I can move back to jewelry making!  I have gotten back to beading and really loving it.  I posted some pictures on Facebook and my wedding coordinator asked if I was taking orders...uh, yes...sure I am!  This weekend I hope to finish scrapbooking the honeymoon and make some bracelets for Courtney's birthday; my niece is turning 11 on the 18th.  Then everything I ordered for the custom piece should be here and I can get busy on it; I hope to be finished with it in the middle of next week.  The bride's wedding is the 25th!  She had a great idea, she wants her something blue to be one bead hanging from the clasp in the back.  Love it!

Twenty Five Miles

It's twenty five miles from home

Girl, my feet are hurting mighty bad

Now I've been walking for three days, and two lonely nights
You know that I'm mighty mad

But I got a woman waiting for me

That's gonna make this trip worthwhile

Twenty Five Miles by Edwin Starr is a GREAT workout playlist song. I like to put it in my list during the home stretch...before cool down when you can't keep your eyes off the clock counting down. It gives me that energy to keep going.

I listen to the words and realize...I didn't have to walk for three days and two nights, my workout is much shorter, so it helps curb the whining in my head.  AND there is a woman waiting for me...a healthier me...and she definitely makes the trip worthwhile!

Come on feet don't fail me now

The Original Grand Idea

My first blog...it better be good, right?  No pressure.

Honestly I have no idea where my grand idea is going.  I suppose this blog will be a compilation of grand ideas from all areas of my life, so here is a little about me to give you an idea of what types of posts you may see here.

I'm a wife, dog/cat mom, aunt, daughter, sister and friend...so you will probably hear about people that make me who I am today.  I enjoy writing, my undergraduate degree is in communication with a focus in journalism.  I love to cook and find ways to make healthy options out of unhealthy recipes.  I see recipes as idea suggestions more than directions to follow.  I don't think I have ever followed one exaclty unless I have been baking.  I love to decorate, I am constantly rearranging small pieces in my home and office to find new ways to enjoy them.  It is amazing what a little rearranging can do.  I enjoy planting and growing things.  I am constrained right now by space, but my balcony is covered in plants, flowers and herbs.  My cat is a big fan of the chives.  I love taking and looking at pictures...it is fun to document great memories.  One of my best friends is a photographer, I love her work!  I have been on a weight loss journey for a lot of my adult life.  I am not sure I like the term journey in this instance.  I have finally reached a point where I don't consider myself "on a diet"...don't get me wrong I am still actively losing weight and I have goals I would like to achieve in this area of my life, but I have reached a point where I don't see certain foods as forbidden.  Those types of rules set you up for failure.  I think it is human nature to want what you can't have.  I am conscious of what I put into my body and I work out.  My diet is life.

Here are some of those who make me who I am today: