A Hogwarts Halloween

I love Harry Potter and had my heart set on a Harry jack 'o lantern for this Halloween. Three hours after I started, viola! Okay, so master pumpkin carver is not going on my resume anytime soon! Happy Halloween!

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! I had a great day!

My Reflections on Turning 30

*Disclaimer - these are strictly my own opinions and not meant to offend in any way!

1. As the book title says, don't sweat the small stuff. Unless there is some major physical, mental, or emotional wound or a national/international situation - it is not a crisis.
2. Do not lose the magic of Christmas.
3. Along these lines - do not tell anyone that there isn't a Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, et al. because each of these individuals exists in some way.
4. You can't be friends with everyone. Realize this, accept it, and let it go.
5. When on vacation, relax! Enjoy the beauty of the place you are in.
6. Love and appreciate your family and friends.
7. Love and appreciate your home.
8. Love and appreciate your neighbors (within reason!)
9. Don't allow anyone to ever put you down.
10. Stress is simply your reaction to a situation. Don't let it escalate.
11. Take time to talk to God. He just may talk back.
12. If you are unhappy, figure out how to make it better and do it.
13. Don't intentionally hurt some one's feelings.
14. Sometimes we have one or more family members that cause us some sort of harm. It is okay to keep them at arm's length (or further).
15. Forgive. Hanging onto resentment and anger hurts you the most.
16. You do not have to actually tell someone you forgive them as long as you tell your heart.
17. Volunteer (just not to an excess!)
18. If you see someone fall, help them up. Chances are they will return the favor.
19. Love your spouse/significant other. Try to see things from their point of view.
20. Do not judge people -ever. You never know what someone is going through.
21. This does not mean that there aren't bad people out there that deserve to be punished for their crimes.
22. Do not believe everything your elders tell you/you over hear. Form your own opinions.
23. Be kind to animals. They have feelings to.
24. I'm not a mother - but - don't let your kids run wild in someone else's home!
25. Whether or not you are a parent - take the time to make a difference in a child's life.
26. Unless you are rich, your home will most likely not look like Oprah's - work with what you've got.
27. Respect, love, and take care of the elderly. They were/are our teachers and if all goes well, you too will be elderly someday.
28. Do not future - live in the present.
29. When negative thoughts invade your mind, acknowledge them and let them go.
30. You get what you give - put out positive energy and positive will ultimately come back.

And one for good luck!
31. All bad situations are really opening doors - we just have to find the door knob.

Got something to add? Leave me a comment.

Sweet Treats

Gift tag for a friend's new baby girl.

First off I have to say that you all are the best! Thanks so much for all of the kind support you have shown and continue to show and for your kind words and inquiries about my Mom. Her back is feeling much better and she is back to doing most of her normal activities once again. The key is taking care and realizing that sometimes you have to give in and sit down for a bit. Along these lines of wonderful support and friends - I was very much honored to speak with the always lovely Natasha the other day. We spoke on the phone at length and had a wonderful conversation. She is as delightful, caring, and funny as she comes across via her blog and e-mail! During the course of our conversation we discussed how easy it is to connect with so many people out there through this wonderful blogging community. I've recently discovered some wonderful blogs that listed me as a link for which I am very grateful! If you are someone that has linked to me and you do not appear on my blog roll, please do let me know!

This Saturday I will turn the big 3-0. I decided to treat myself to a birthday gift and bought this fabulous fox necklace made by the very talented Annie. If you haven't seen Annie's shop, please stop in and look around. She makes some unique and fun pieces.
My lucky streak in the giveaway department has continued. I received this wonderful package of Heather's favorite things today. She included some yummy wallpaper, tea, yarn, and Diamond Glaze. Thanks Heather!

I've been tagged by Beachy's Cape Cod Cupboard for a list of I Remember When items.

1. I remember when a gallon of gas was under $1.

2. I remember when peanut allergies were virtually non-existent.

3. I remember when my mother would make us dress in many, many layers to keep warm on Halloween night. Totally ruined the costume!

4. I remember when a decent pair of athletic sneakers cost $40 or less.

5. I remember when the TV show Kids Incorporated was the coolest (K-I-D-S!)

Susie Q, I know I just tagged you but you love lists so much, I have to do it again! I'm also tagging Jenn and Jaqui (maybe you can each give us your lists!) and Vicki.

Random moment: While driving home from work today I spotted the best bumper sticker. It read - When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

I would be remiss if I didn't say that my heart and prayers are with the residents of Southern California. May God bless all of you and keep you safe.

Some Good Stuff

Eat, Pray, Love - I've found myself recommending this book to a lot of you lately. If you haven't read this, I highly recommend it. It is all about the author's search for meaning in her life. She has a mental breakdown when she realizes she isn't leading the life she would like to and decides to take a year to sort it all out. She starts by spending four months in Italy and indulging herself, she then moves to India for four months to study meditation and yoga and spiritual fulfillment. Finally she moves to Bali for four months and learns how to combine indulgence with spiritual life. Along the way she runs into some interesting characters who have a lot of insight to give, not only the author, but the reader.

Big hugs to Vicki for the You Make Me Smile Award! I appreciate it more then words can say! So many of you make me smile, well I take that back ALL of you make me smile (esp. you Miss Vicki!). To name a few - Natasha, Susie Q, Fifi, Bristol, Sandy, Heidi, Cammy, Laurie, Mari, Allison, and Mary. Check these gals out and you will be smiling ear to ear!

Lastly, some of you may remember the dog sweaters I posted about a while back. Check out Laura's little angel Bella! She is styling a fabulous pink number handmade by Janice, my mother-in-law.

Have a great day everyone.

A Halloween Treat

My Mom has been struggling with a recent back injury so I decided to make her a little Halloween box to help cheer her up.

This is the top of the box. I used some fun trims that I purchased at a recent Tinsel Trading Company outing and glammed up the flower with a little gold glitter.

I put her completed key necklace inside the box for an extra treat! I ultimately decided to keep the necklace simple. In addition to the rose I showed a few posts ago, I added a pendant featuring my late grandfather. I put some rhinestones around his photo and topped with resin. This was only my second time working with resin and I still have a bit to learn - like securing the rhinestones first! A few floated around a bit but all in all I was happy with the outcome. My Mom really likes it and that is all that matters! Have you heard the old story about smelling roses when there aren't any around? The legend says that the rose scent means a lost loved one is nearby at that moment. I know my Mom and I have both had this experience!

Projects and Purchases

Good Day to all of my fabulous blogging friends. Hope you have all enjoyed a nice weekend. I had a busy one doing a show for my dog treat boutique (I forgot the camera!). Today I was able to relax a bit and get to the flea market. I found some fabulous rhinestone brooches that I'll be recreating into new jewelry pieces. I also found these fabulous metal frames. I'm thinking Christmas decor projects for these - either Christmas or some kind of old family photo project. Still playing with the ideas in my head. I hope to have some time this week to actually create! The vendor had a few more of these frames and now I'm wishing I had purchased them all! I almost always have some sort of buyers remorse after leaving the flea market - always remorse that I didn't buy more things or buy the one or two items that I was unsure of!

I'm a fan of Edgar Allan Poe so I was all over this piece by the very talented Kris Hurst. Perfect for Halloween. I keep moving him around as I want to be able to see him at all times. This piece really puts me in the spirit.

Kris also included some fun tickets and tags. I especially like the Halloween themes!

Mom's Key

A big thank you to everyone for your kind comments on my volunteering post. It is good to know I'm not alone in my overcommitments and I'm certainly not surprised that so many of you in this fabulous community give your time and talents to worthy causes. It all comes down to helping others and that is always a good thing!

I've been going full steam ahead and finally got around to starting the key necklace I promised my mother. Right now I have it on a vintage silver chain but I'm thinking I'll add some crystals to the chain itself for more interest.

Finally got around to putting out Halloween decorations (all one small box of them!). All the pumpkins and mums are out and we are good to go right through Thanksgiving!

When I first started this blog I had intentions of sharing craft projects and ideas but also sharing fun and fabulous products that I find. A year or so ago I started keeping a list of things I like and want to remember. That list is now pages and pages long! So I figured I should spread the wealth and start sharing some things with all of my wonderful blogging friends. First up is this fabulous Lip Scrub. I found this product last year and after falling in love with it, purchased it for all of the gals on my Christmas list. It is a yummy sugary product that you rub onto your lips and wipe off with a tissue and viola! Nice smooth, lips. It is that easy! And it comes in delectable varieties like Almond Creme (my personal favorite), Chocolate, and Cinnamon Sugar. You'll be hooked!

Must Stay Focused

Oh how this image just about sums it up! Are any of you like me? Wanting to save the world? Wanting to help others in some little way? Sometimes I feel like my helpful nature translates to "sucker" tattooed across my forehead. I'm currently involved in way too many volunteer activities but a situation presented itself late last week that I felt I must jump in head first and help out with. Well, that is turning out to not have been the best idea as disorganization, too many people and too many egos get in the way of what is supposed to be a wonderful thing. Not gonna lie, I do include my ego in this statement. When you willingly, happily, gladly volunteer to take on a specific role you run with it and when you have a concrete wall put in your path and people trying to pull more from you then you are willing to give it gets to be a bit much. Right now I'm trying so hard to keep the bigger picture in my head, dangling it in front like a carrot. There was a good reason for volunteering to begin with and that reason still remains.

Fabulous Decor

The mailman has been very good to me of late. The above Bath sign is from Natasha. Look at how well she matched the roses of my Simply Shabby Chic shower curtain!

This adorable petit chandelier is from Mary. I have no idea how she made this. It is so sweet and delicate. It is just stunning in person! So sorry for the blurry photo.

As an added bonus and total surprise, Mary also included this darling Christmas ornament from her holiday line. I love it! I think it will stay out year round.

New swap update!

The ultra fabulous Monica, my Sweet & Sinister Swap partner, is hosting her very own Deck the Halls Ornament Swap. This is going to be a nice and easy swap for those like me who get a tad stressed during the holiday season. This is Monica's first time hosting a swap so let's show her some love and support! Sign ups end Oct. 12.