Something Strange Going on With Blogger

I'm sure you noticed my last post where suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, the post moved to the left. Not being a completely slouch in HTML I tried to find the culprit in some misdefined codes but everything is as it should be.

So I apologize for the oddly shaped post, I'm sure that it will be resolved.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 4

It is Friday and time again for my list of favorites on Etsy! Woohoo! This week's list is really great and I'm very excited to share them with you. Not that my past one's haven't been great, they all have been, but I just keep getting excited about all these new and wonderful things I keep finding. ha ha ha

Ok, so crankbunny just is fabulous! What paper can turn into in her hands is remarkable. This pop-up flower card reminds me of a lotus blossom, how about you? If white isn't your thing she has something similar on a vibrant red which is gorgeous!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5049568

Pop up cards, secret decoder cards (they are so great I might have to feature them another week!) and puppets, she has some amazing talent! You MUST take a look at her shop!


How great is this vanity? It's luggage, no, it's a vanity, no it's fabulous! Hang it on your bedroom wall for fun and for conversation. Hey, is that luggage on your wall? No, crazy! That's my vanity cabinet from Vanitycase! While you might want all the fun bits inside you'll have to settle for the lights, the mirror, and the map and fill it with your own personal odds and ends.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6904209

Not only does Vanitycase do, well, vanity cases but they also do a similar styled liquor cabinet!



What a great use for old records! BBBenny&TheJets does some amazing stuff with old vinyl. This lovely is called "Spring Weddings and Dandelion Fluff" They also have some really lovely and funky jewelry too.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5639395

Very nice manadala painting, very detailed. Trying to think if there's a way to incorporate it into my own spring wedding.


Oh BKMHattitude, how I love your hats! This one, called Janie, is a favorite. It's a very useful cloche hat too. Think of how many things you can wear it with! Black and white are so versatile! I might have to have one made for my wedding, something special, something very "Jane Austen/English Countryside"

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=103011

This one is definitely one of my favorites, but you should see "Enchanted", or "QT" or "French Provincial" or "Rose." Oh, just go look at all of them!

What is it you ask? It's is an incredibly unique dress form! It's life-sized, handmade, body form made out of patterned paper. While my picture does not quite do it justice I could definitely see it as a centerpiece for many Etsy shots, Necklaces, shawls, scarves, etc! BettyandMaryJane have some really great ideas!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5767239

They've only made one sale on their Etsy shop, so it might be time to show some support, stop by, and take a look at the rest of their fun dress forms as well as their other crafts! It's also very reasonably priced, if you can believe it! I can only imagine how much work must have gone into making that.


Well, that sums of these past two weeks of my spending WAY too much time on Etsy, as usual. While these are never the only great products I find, they are a decent sampling. Stay tuned for more!

Weddings, Barns, and Caterers. Oh My!

So the date is set, the venue is set, now to find an "approved" caterer. That's right, next summer I will be getting married. No chapel or church wedding for us, though, we're doing it rustic. A historical barn in the middle of an orchard. So pretty! Also very fortuitous as it's going to be held on Beltane. We won't be able to have a bonfire but we will incorporate a little hand fasting in the ceremony. Neither of us are true Pagans but we do enjoy some of the older traditions (her-Italian, mine-Irish).

So now the trick is to find a caterer. Because the barn is a historical site they have a "list" but won't send it to me. They keep teasing me with "tell us what kind of food you want and we'll tell you which caterers we approve can do it." So what do I do? I go the back route. I searched the Internet for caterers that specifically had worked that venue before. After all, if they had done a wedding there before why couldn't they do a wedding there now?

Ok, now I need all of your opinions on this. We are torn...clambake or brunch. Here's the thing:

We love both ideas equally.

If we do a brunch people would have to arrive the Friday night before but would then have the rest of the afternoon to visit the area, drive home, spend time with family, etc. With a brunch we'd also be able to fly out that night for our honeymoon. With a brunch we'd also save a lot of money and not have to worry about a bar (we have friends and family who are alcoholics). It would also keep most of the weekend free for people. (also kids wouldn't be as cranky as they can get at a night-time wedding)

If we were to do a clambake it would be in the early evening and people would have to stay Saturday night. It would leave less time for people to socialize later on, but everyone is really excited about the possibility of having a traditional New England clambake. Doing it later means we'll probably have more people dancing (which is important) and the twinkle-lights in the barn would have more of an effect. Because of the novelty of the event we'd probably get more of our friends to make the long haul for it. Doing it later also means that we'd have to stay the night and go to the honeymoon the next morning or leave really late and get in even later. But we'd also have the opportunity to have a few people over my parent's house for a small post-wedding get together and bonfire which would be super fun! Give others a chance to come and visit who couldn't make it to the wedding but live in the area.

Alright people, I need opinions and thoughts and I need them soon! Help!!!!

Phlebotomist Humor

I didn't know they had any but this one must have.

So my sweet fiance went to get blood drawn this morning. The phlebotomist had obvious not had her morning coffee because she kept missing the vein in her arm. After poking her repeatedly she looked up at her and mumbled "Do you have another arm I can use?"

Wha?????

No, I left it at the dry cleaners. Where is Bill Engvall when you need him?

Zen and the Art of Office Organization

It's amazing how nicknames follow you from place to place, unique names that you'd never think would come up twice seem to pop up in companies hundreds of miles apart.

(My idea of me as File Nazi)

Mine is "The File Nazi." Ok, so it isn't overtly flattering or pleasant but it's not entirely inaccurate either. I find contentment and satisfaction in things in my workplace being organized. Not necessarily my desk, not necessarily my home, but my workplace in general I find it necessary for things to be in good order, organized, and easy to locate. I got this name in college when I worked for my school's financial aid office as a student office assistant. I was in charge of filing as I seemed to have the alphabet down better than any other assistants (I'm not kidding, as sad as that is), and I could not only alphabetize quickly but I could keep documents within files in order and would tend to hang out in the old filing archive closet to make sure those files were organized whenever things were slow and I had run out of work to do.

My slight case of OCD paid off big time when the college went through it's first voluntary surprise audit. All offices failed their first audit except ours. They handed us a list of files they needed and specific documents they wanted and off I went, and within an hour I had it all sitting neatly in front of them, ready to go.

From that day on I always seemed to attack filing systems and workplace organization the same way, as if the auditors were about to decend and I wanted to pass with flying colors. So it was just a matter of time before my current office figured out my passion and skill and put it to good and enormous use. I work for a medium-sized consulting company that has been in business for 25 years. They are tree-killers in the most extreme sort of way. They are also hoarders. In a large closet the size of my old college dorm room sits dozens of file boxes filled with every e-mail, every fax, contract, draft of contract, proposal, draft of proposal, etc, for every client they have ever had in the last 25 years. They also have an electronic filing system that is completely unorganized and similarly stocked full of things they don't need.

So what does that have to do with me? Well, they have put me in charge of organizing it ALL. I'm now in charge of completely reorganizing this company from the inside out. At first I was excited, I was practically drooling, but now that I've reduced 10 file boxes into 2 file boxes, moved over 90,000 electronic files, reogranized their filing system, and put into place a new document strategy I look around and see how much more there is to do and I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

It is time to pull out the File Nazi. No more Mary Poppins, no more spoons full of sugar helping the filing get done, it's time to get into a happy place, let my zen run rampant, and get to some serious organizing before it kills me or I kill them.

Man, I should write a book for admins. Zen and the Art of Office Organization.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Part 3

There are so many wonderful things on Etsy that so rarely get seen or featured, I figured it was high time I did something about it, so I created my own little Featured section and I plan to have one at least every other Friday if not every Friday. So I might be knocking on your Etsy door some day, looking to feature one of your items! Don't be surprised.....



The Mad Hatter Teacup and Saucer by natalyasots is just great! Fun, funky, just like the rest of her pottery. Her skill is just amazing, and what creativity! I only wish I had enough cabinet space to buy sets of this stuff!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15197076

Check out her tea kettles, vases and more, they are all equally as fabulous!

A Steampunk Time-Machine Brass Cuff Bracelet....it is so cool and funky, I want to create a whole new wardrobe just for this piece! The steampunk rage is still going strong, so it's a good idea to get a couple of great, unique pieces now!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22232741


rubyanndesigns has all sorts of other great items if steampunk isn't your thing...lots of gorgeous pendants!



Speaking of great pieces, these gorgeous earrings by HedgelandsGlassLass would go perfectly with that bracelet. These earrings are just the beginning as the Mellow Fruitfullness Necklace and Earring Set contains a necklace made out of similar glass beads.


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19785176

Check out some of her other amazing pieces!



Ok, so I'm a sucker for a really unique pendant, as I'm sure you'll notice in my collections of favorites. This one is no exception. Atlantis Found Necklace no. 70 is a fun and inspiration piece and definitely brings to mind lost pieces of Atlantis washing to shore. sojourncuriosities knows how to create a piece that tells a story!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22341103

This is only the beginning of this little shops amazing collection!


"Amazing collection" doesn't even cut it when talking about this shop. Such an amazing group of handmade boxes, cubbies, treasure chests, that I found it hard picking my favorite. I might have to show off some more of these babies later! Being that I love feathers, My Haute Couture Trinket Box seemed to be a good place to start.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22606575

You have to check out some more of the collection!


So, that's it for Part 3 of my favorites. I love suggestions, so if you have spotted something that you are dying to share, send me a link and let me know and maybe I can feature it in a future blog post. Who says Etsy gets to have all the fun? I personally think that everyone should have their own Etsy Favorites listed on their blogs. Don't you?

The Shift And Why It's Freaking Me Out!

So I listen to a lot of podcasts. I have an hour and a half commute each way, 5 days a week, so when I say "a lot" I mean "A LOT." Many of the podcasts I listen to have something to do with the metaphysical world, mostly because I get enough of the everyday rat race at work, on the news, etc., and I like to stay informed on what's happening in other communities. Well, lately they are talking about this "Shift" a lot.

From what I understand, the Shift is supposed to begin or happen on December 21, 2012. It's the end of the Mayan calendar and somehow that means the end of the world as we know it. Now, that is where they lose me. Not all the people who talk about it think it means the world will "end" but rather there will be an enormous shift in the way we live, think, grow, and it will be caused by something cataclysmic.

Like all "end of days" proclaimers they have lots of scientific proof to back them up, the raising of the earth's energetic harmonics, the melting of the polar ice caps, the increase in catastrophic natural disasters, but they also have a lot of "psychic" proof. That's where I get a little doubtful. Don't get me wrong, I totally believe in the validity of SOME psychics. There are some people out there with enormous gifts and I am completely jealous! But there are also a lot of people out there looking to make a buck and willing to tell people anything if it will sell their next book, get them on that talk show, etc.

What freaks me out is my own spirit guide's reaction to my questions about the Shift. I ask her if it's real and if it's coming when they say, how is it coming, etc. She just says there is no point worrying about it, there is no need for me to know more than I do, and that I should really focus on becoming a healer in every way possible as it will be a very useful tool later on. That's when my head snaps around and my jaw falls open. It's so important for me to become a healer, eh? I know that it is what I am drawn to, it's what I want more than anything, but I'm stuck in a place where I don't have enough money to take the classes I want, the vacation time to take up that three week apprenticeship I want, etc. So I'm learning what I can when I can and soaking it up like a sponge.

In the meantime I'm listening a lot more intently to these Shift predictions and trying really hard to keep an open but practical mind. How many times have people freaked out about the end of the world? Y2K anyone? Don't expect to find me on some mountain top, head shaved, and waiting for that spaceship to come and take us all away...but you may find me watching "The Day After Tomorrow" with a little more reverence.

New Items!

Got in a couple of gorgeous pendulum beads the other week and was able to work them into some very nice pendulums with chains.

This one is a very nice and solid African Jade.

African Jade is a gemstone known for its healing and stress-relieving properties. It has been thought for centuries to be beneficial for those looking to build business relationships. African Jade is associated with the throat Chakra, has been thought to speed response during crisis, and help kidney function and arthritis.

Not too shabby for a rock. ha ha

This one is Blue Tiger's Eye. I know it doesn't look blue, but it does have a small streak at the top. I have a blue blue Tiger's Eye coming in the mail and I can't wait to play with it.

Blue Tiger's Eye is also known as Hawks Eye and is known to enhance communication, understanding, and gives the user the ability to discover creative ideas that will work. Blue Tiger's Eye is also associated with the Throat Chakra, which is also known as the Chakra affiliated with speaking your mind, being fair and being heard, and expressing your ideas to others well.

Considering what I paid for the stones themselves, not to mention the sterling silver chain and added beads, I think the price, $9, is more than fair.

Tonight I bring home some new herbs that just arrived. My craft area is smelling so wonderful these days that it's on my clothes, in my hair, and people keep asking me what perfume I'm wearing. Hah! Maybe I should bottle it? mmmmm So I guess that means that this weekend I'll be doing more playing! Woohoo!