Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to one and all!
May you have happiness and prosperity now and in the New Year!

BAO - Items of the Week for 12/22

See these items "up close" at the Bead Art Originals Blog and see all the gorgeous Bead Art Original pieces by entering "BAO Team" in the Etsy search!

Thursday Thirteen #9 - COOKIES!

13 Favorite Cookies for Christmas...so, cookies are among my many diet downfalls! Give me warm, homemade cookies and a big glass of milk and I'm one happy camper!

1. Kissmas Cookies: This is an almond flavored dough with maraschino cherry pieces and rolled in nuts and then just before they are done baking, a chocolate kiss is placed in the middle! It's like an cherry almond cordial!

2. "Terminator" Cookies: This is a peanut butter cookie dough that is wrapped around a miniature Dove chocolate piece and then baked. When you bite into it, there is a chocolate center!

3. Almond Press Cookies: These are a family tradition. An almond flavored dough that is used in my grandmother's cookie press and squeezed out into Christmas tree or wreath shapes and decorated with sprinkles.

4. Snickerdoodles: A sugar cookie dough with cinnamon and sugar coating. Perfect with coffee or hot chocolate!

5. Peanut Blossoms: The normal peanut butter dough with a chocolate kiss placed in the middle just before they're done baking!

6. Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies: These cookies can also be frosted for an added jolt of sugar!

7. Nestle Toll House Pan Cookie: This is the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of the Nestle bag, but you press all the dough into a jelly-roll pan, bake for 20-25 minutes then cut into 2" squares.

8. Bonbon Cookies: A sugar cookie dough that is formed into a ball that is wrapped around nuts, dates, dried cranberries or other fruit.

9. Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip Cookies: Yes, I have a thing for chocolate and peanut butter and cookies work for me! You can also just put a Reese's Peanut butter cup in the middle of the Bonbon cookies and get a similar result!

10. Lemon-frosted Sugar Cookies: These work well for summer, too. Lemon is just a great flavor, even in the winter!

11. Spiced Vanilla Cookies: This isn't one I've tried yet, but it's in my Cooking Light cookbook and it looks really good with it's cinnamon and nutmeg spices!

12. Pecan Blondies: Technically not a cookie, but always a good Christmas treat!

13. Buckeyes: Also not a cookie, but since we make these peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate when we make our Christmas cookies, I thought I would add it in!

If anyone's interested in any of these recipes, just leave a comment and I'll email the recipe to you!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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New Piece!

This one is called "Decadence" because it has the beautiful shimmering gold and the rich chocolate brown. I thought it also looked like s'mores, which despite it's fireside and camping reputation is a really rich dessert!

And the Winner Is...

Queen of the Frozen Tundra necklace by Karin of Gypsy Eyes Jewelry! Congratulations to Karin and all the entries!

I've Been Featured!

Lydia of Being Particular has featured me on her blog! She picked a couple of her favorites and asked me several questions about my art and jewelry! Check it out! She was also gracious enough to mention the Etsy Beadweavers Challenge and voting! Thanks so much Lydia!

Thursday Thirteen #8

I had these great plans of getting my T13 done last night and did I do it? No...so here's my 'quick' Thursday Thirteen:

Thirteen favorite verbal exchanges (or lines) from "The Princess Bride" courtesy of IMDB.com

1. Inigo Montoya: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

2. Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE."
Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

3. Inigo Montoya: "I donna suppose you could speed things up?"
Man in Black: "If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope or a tree branch or find something useful to do."
Inigo Montoya: "I could do that. I have some rope up here, but I do not think you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you."
Man in Black: "That does put a damper on our relationship."

4. Inigo Montoya: "You are ready then?"
Man in Black: "Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair."
Inigo Montoya: [drawing his sword] "You seem a decent fellow... I hate to kill you."
Man in Black: "You seem a decent fellow... I hate to die."

5. [fencing] Inigo Montoya: "You are wonderful."
Man in Black: "Thank you; I've worked hard to become so."
Inigo Montoya: "I admit it, you are better than I am."
Man in Black: "Then why are you smiling?"
Inigo Montoya: "Because I know something you don't know."
Man in Black: "And what is that?"
Inigo Montoya: "I... am not left-handed."
[Moves his sword to his right hand and gains an advantage]
Man in Black: "You are amazing."
Inigo Montoya: "I ought to be, after 20 years."
Man in Black: "Oh, there's something I ought to tell you."
Inigo Montoya: "Tell me."
Man in Black: "I'm not left-handed either."
[Moves his sword to his right hand and regains his advantage]

6. Inigo Montoya: "Are you the Miracle Max who worked for the king all those years?"
Miracle Max: "The King's stinking son fired me, and thank you so much for bringing up such a painful subject. While you're at it, why don't you give me a nice paper cut and pour lemon juice on it? We're closed."

7. Count Rugen: "Ah. Are you coming down into the pit? Westley's got his strength back. I'm starting him on the machine tonight."
Prince Humperdinck: [sincerely] "Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work, but I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I'm swamped."
Count Rugen: "Get some rest. If you haven't got your health, then you haven't got anything."

8. Westley: "You warthog-faced buffoon."

9. [after defeating Fezzik, who lays on the ground unconscious] Westley: "I do not envy you the headache you will have when you awake. But for now, rest well and dream of large women."

10. Fezzik: "You just shook your head... doesn't that make you happy?"
Westley: "My brains, his steel, and your strength against sixty men, and you think a little head jiggle is supposed to make me happy?"

11. Miracle Max: "Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world-except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe [smacks his lips]...they're so perky, I love that."

12. The Impressive Clergyman: "Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam..."

13. Prince Humperdink: "I think you're bluffing."
Westley: "It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all." [slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince] "DROP... YOUR... SWORD!"

As you can see, my favorite exchanges occur between Inigo Montoya and Man in Black. That sword-fight scene is my all-time favorite!


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Etsy Beadweavers December Challenge

It's almost time to vote!

A "House" Case Study

I was looking up information on the series "House, M.D." because I wanted to put together a series of trivia questions and I found these fascinating tidbits. Nicole of Inspire Emotion thought I should write a post about it, so here it is...

The character of Gregory House is loosely based on the fictional character Sherlock Holmes (who was loosely based on a doctor Sir Arthur Conan Doyle knew named Dr. Joseph Bell, who was a diagnostician!). Here are their similarities:
1. Both are loners whose fascination/lifework is solving the unsolvable.
2. Both have the ability to deduce clues and information about a person by simply looking at them.
3. Both have addictions. House to Vicadin and Holmes to opium (cocaine).
4. Both only refer to others by their last names, including their best friends.
5. Both are musicians. House plays piano and guitar while Holmes played the violin.
6. Both have one true friend. House has James Wilson, while Holmes had John Watson.
7. Both are considered arrogant and condescending.
8. House lives in apartment 221B while Holmes lived at 221B Baker Street.
9. The first case in the House TV series involved a woman named Rebecca Adler, while Holmes' first case involved Irene Adler.
10. In the last episode of season two, House was shot by a man named Moriarty, while Holmes' archenemy was named Moriarty.

For more trivia and fun facts see Internet Movie Database and House: Guide to the TV Show.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Thursday Thirteen #7

This week's Thursday Thirteen (#7) is about TV shows. These are ones that I enjoy both past and present (in no particular order). I think I'll be expanding on this topic in future T13s.

1. Project Runway - It's the wackiness of some of these designers that brings me back every season!
2. The Tudors - I was able to watch the first two seasons of this when they did a promo weekend or something, but I loved it!
3. CSI:NY - I really like the CSI premise and I love Gary Sinise, not to mention the utterly steriotypical NY cast characters.
4. CSI - The original is always the best. (IMHO - CSI Miami is completely ridiculous due totally to the Horatio Caine character.)
5. Top Chef - How do they do what they do with simple foods?
6. ER - I'll admit I was an avid watcher early on, then lost track of it, but have been catching up on TNT.
7. MadMen - Hooked! The times, the era, the social norms of the time...wonderful!
8. Six Feet Under - We had HBO for a while and we really liked the strangeness of this series.
9. So You Think You Can Dance? - These kids are extremely talented. I love this series much more than any of the other "reality contests" because these kids are the whole package...talent, personality, the works.
10. Carnivale - Another odd series from HBO that we enjoyed a lot.
11. Highlander - Got hooked on this series because of a former co-worker...she was crazy for it and her enthusiasm was contagious.
12. House - He is and does what we wish we could, but he gets away with it!
13. NCIS - Just started watching this series on USA, but I like the cast dynamic and the odd characters.


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Top Droppers for November

Thank you to all my top droppers for November!

Alteredevents	31
Three Fates Design - Beaded Jewelry	30
My gypsygoods	30
Simply Shiny Artisan Handmade Jewelry	27
Unique You	27
512 Apple Memo	26
livelife365.com	26
time2cre8	22
MamaFlo's Place	21
Shopperista	21

Bead Art Originals Open House - Come See!!

SALE SALE SALE -- BEAD ART ORIGINALS OPEN HOUSE!!!

From BLACK FRIDAY to CYBER MONDAY (November 28 through December 1) the Bead Art Originals are having an Open House!!!! Members are offering specials during the weekend (the list of participants is below). (When purchasing from one of these shops during the Open House weekend, be sure to include the code BAO OPEN HOUSE in the Notes to Seller.)

When you visit the blog, don't forget to sign up for the Twelve Days of BAO Holidays drawings. There's a new one every day, and there are some wonderful prizes!!

• Anna (ARoseByName): free shipping
• Heather (Humblebeads): free shipping on all orders and a free gift with purchases of $50 or more
• Carli (Juiceglass): free shipping
• Lisa (LisaP etersArt): free surprise gift (at least $5 value) with any purchase over $30 (note that this special is being offered through the end of the year)
• Mak (MAKUstudio): free shipping + 10% off purchases over $50 and 15% off purchases over $100
• Dee (Malodora): free shipping
• Swanee (MistyRidgeBeads): free shipping
• Janice (Naftali): free shipping
• Melody (SalamanderHouse): free shipping
• Smadar (SmadarsTreasure): free shipping + 10% off the second item purchased
• Sarah (thebeadedlily): free shipping
• Darcy (thejadedog): free shipping
• MaryLou (time2cre8): free shipping on entire order with the purchase of anything with the "bao team" tag
• Lisa (tqbdesigns): free shipping
• Triz (triz): free shipping

Thanksgiving Thursday Thirteen (#6)

I'm sure that a lot of people are putting up Thanksgiving lists, so I'll just join the crowd!

Things I'm thankful for:

1. My husband. He is so wonderful and puts up with a lot from me! I can't believe we've been married over 22 years!

2. My daughters. Our oldest is a sophomore in college and loves it. She would like to study abroad next year...not sure if/how that will happen! Our youngest is a junior in high school and just received her varsity letter for cheerleading. Both girls are loving and beautiful!

3. My furbaby. Sadie is our big baby. She's 7 and I don't know what I would do without her. Here sweet face and loving personality saw me through some really trying times!

4. My family. Though we've lost the moms, we still have the dads, their wives, grandma Trudy, brothers and their families and they are loved.

5. Our home. It's just the right size and our mortgage is fixed.

6. Our neighborhood. We've lived here for almost 10 years and our daughters grew up running around this neighborhood. It's still the type of place where everyone knows everyone and you don't have to worry about your kids walking or riding their bikes out of your sight because the neighbors look out for each other.

7. Our city. It's not too big and still has the small-town feel.

8. Ohio. I was born in California and lived in Washington, but this is my home and I love the parks, the weather (yes, even the snow) and even though it's fairly flat, the trees and landscape is beautiful.

9. Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bead casserole, yams, and of course, the pumpkin pie!

10. Days off with my family. Though I am currently not working, my husband will be home today and tomorrow, our oldest is home from school and we're all together.

11. My senses. Sight to see my loved ones and the beauty all around us, hearing to listen to the music of life, touch to hold my loved ones, smelling the wonderful foods cooking right now and the taste of the feast!

12. Beads. My creative outlet and my therapy.

13. Books. I love reading, especially the banned books! (LOL)

Tell me what you're thankful for...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Finding Recipes

Cooking is not my strong suit. I can cook, I just don't like to, but I need to make dinner for my family and I do occasionally like to bake (one of my dietary downfalls)! Maybe you're the same way and like me, you have the cook books and recipe files, but what happens when you don't have the ingredients or you just don't know what to make at all? Well, there is an answer!

Big Oven.com is a literal smorgasbord of recipes and ideas. There are over 160,000 recipes to choose from and maybe you'll finally be able to find out what that elusive ingredient was in Grandma's "famous" chocolate chip cookies...molasses?

But, I have to say the best feature of Big Oven.com is the Leftover Wizard! You just enter the ingredients you have on hand in your fridge and voila, a recipe comes up for a whole new spin on those leftovers! Now this is definitely something I can use!

So, next time you stuck for something to make for dinner, try out Big Oven.com! You might even find yourself purchasing their software program to make up menus and shopping lists to make your life even easier!

Thursday Thirteen #5

Today's Thirteen Thursday is my Dietary Downfalls! I'm sure many will understand and with the holidays coming up, it's gonna get harder to resist!!

1. Cake: I don't have it often, but when it's around, I have a really hard time keeping away from it!

2. Cookies: I'm okay about leaving the store-bought kind alone, it's the homemade ones that make me want to grab a plate of them and a big glass of milk! (Especially almond press cookies and Kissmas cookies! May have to share these recipes!)

3. Muffins: This one was especially tough when I worked at the donut shop since we carried muffins as well! The coffee cake ones were killer!

4. Coffee cake/Streusel: There is just something about a cinnamon sugar crumbly topping on a moist cake or a creamy cheese filling in a pastry!

5. Buckeyes: For those not from Ohio or haven't heard of these, they are wonderfully creamy peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate and are VERY addictive with their salty/sweet creaminess!

6. Ice Cream: My favorite is Edy's Chocolate Cherry, which I will not buy because I can't stay away from it! Another is Breyer's Chocolate Fudge M&M. Luckily or unluckily, they don't make it the same way anymore. They took out the fudge and added cookie dough, so it's not as good.

7. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: They now have king-sized ones...they are trouble with a capital T!

8. Twice Baked Potatoes: These are from a recipe that my mom used to make and they have butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese and chive! YUM!

9. Mashed Potatoes: The homemade kind, but freezer styles will work if I'm desparate! LOL

10. Chips and Dip: Not the British type chips, but the thin crispy chips with bacon-horseradish dip! This is especially hard to pass up when I'm craving saltiness!

11. Cinnamon Toast: Not only does it taste delicious, it's a comfort food for me! The smell is reminiscent of mornings at my grandparent's house!

12. Most Breakfast Foods: Pancakes, French toast, crepes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and of course, bacon. Denny's Grand Slam breakfast....YUM!

13. Mango Passionfruit Smoothies: Luckily this item was discontinued at the donut shop where I worked, so it's no longer a risk, but I was definitely drinking one of these a day when they had them!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Hmmmm

I don't read People Magazine or any of those. My magazine subscriptions tend towards beads, cooking and such, but I caught this on Yahoo and thought, yea, that's about right...Hugh Jackman: The Sexiest Man Alive

The best part about the article is how much in love he and his wife still are after 12 years of marriage. That's a miracle for actors. Anyway, thought I'd share...

Photo courtesy of People Online

Bead Art Originals Holiday Showcase

Heather a member of Bead Art Originals Etsy Street Team has created a beautiful new website for all our members and it is filled with totally amazing items! Come check out the beauty!


You can also find our work here on Etsy, our blog and our website.

EBW December Challenge "Snow Queen"

Here's my entry for the December Etsy Beadweavers Challenge:I call this "Ice Crystals Holiday Bracelet". Though, I have to say both my daughter and my husband said it looked like rock candy. It's true and I wanted to use that name, but it really didn't fit the theme! :PI was pleasantly surprised at how this turned out. I had been pondering what to do when I finished the initial band. I really had no idea where to go from there. The next morning though, I just started weaving on the Delicas and crystals and this is what happened! I just love it when the piece takes you where it wants to go! So often I am too distracted to listen, but this time it worked out wonderfully!

Etsy Beadweaver November Challenge

And the winner is Triz with her stunning collar "Let My People Go". Congratulations Triz and see more of her gorgeous pieces in her Etsy shop!

The inspiration behind “Let My People Go” came from the story of Pesach (Passover). Pesach commemorates the departure of the nation of Israel from Egypt. It marks the birth of the Jewish people as a nation led by Moses over 3000 years ago. It is as much a celebration of our spiritual freedom as it is the physical liberation from slavery.

Now we'll see what everyone comes up with for the December Challenge "Snow Queen". To see these items just type in EBWC in the search box on Etsy.

New Pieces!

This one I think I'll call "A Case of the Blues". It has five shades/finishes of blue Delica stripes, is one inch wide and is seven inches long. And the other one is called "A Tisket, A Tasket, A Black and White Basket". OK, so I may have to shorten that a bit to list it, but that's what popped into my head! This cuff is just over an inch wide and about 7.5 inches long. I do have a third piece, but I don't want to show it just yet since it's my entry for the EBW December Challenge and I want to list it first.

Thursday Thirteen #4

My Thursday 13 this week is "Top Chef" memorable chefs. Since Season 5 just started, I thought I'd bring back memories of the characters from seasons past.

1. Dave Martin (Season 1) - the crier! Quite the emotional guy, but he did give the line that ended up on the T-shirt for the season. ("I'm not your b!tch, b!tch!")

2. Andrea Beaman (Season 1) - the "crunchy granola" chef. She had a habit of telling people just what her dishes would do for their bowels!

3. Stephen Asprinio (Season 1) - the OCD snooty Sommelier. He always had a 15-minute explanation about his dishes and just what wine would be perfect with it.

4. Sam Talbot (Season 2) - the "cute" one. He had all the girls drooling after him and he did have a way with food!

5. Marcel Vigneron (Season 2) - arrogant, arrogant, arrogant! Nothing else to mention, oh, except that hair-do....oy! And like Stephen, he had to give a long explanation about everything!

6. Elia Aboumrad (Season 2) - fiesty Latin chef with 34 culinary degrees. She lost it one night and shaved her head! (the night Marcel was wrestled to the ground and Cliff was kicked off the show)

7. Dale Levitski (Season 3) - another emotional chef. He reminded me of Baby Huey. He was lovable, though.

8. Hung Huynh (Season 3) - another arrogant little chef, but no wonder, he and Marcel are friends! He did win Season 3, though.

9. Chris (CJ) Jacobsen (Season 3) - the VERY tall chef. He was completely infatuated with Padma and usually had sex on his mind.

10. Erik Hopfinger (Season 4) - the biker chef. He looked like he would have fit right in as a tattoo artist or hard rock band roadie, but he was a softie!

11. Andrew d'Ambrosi (Season 4) - the loud mouth. Though Spike was cocky and arrogant, Andrew was the same, but could actually cook better.

12. Richard Blais (Season 4) - the silly chef. He loved getting into the story of the dish and he was very imaginative with his dishes.

13. Stephanie Izard (Season 4) - the winner of Season 4. She didn't really stand out until later in the season, but she was one that you couldn't help but like.

It'll be interesting to see who wins this season. I'm looking forward to "getting to know" the contestants!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Veterans Day

One day is not enough to truly thank our veterans, but it's a start! Please show your gratitude today to any and all veterans and currently serving military you may see. But don't just make it today, make it every day! Thank you Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, and Navy...we are the land of the free because of the brave!

I published this on my other blogs A Rose By Name Learns and A Rose By Any Other Name as well.

Etsy Beadweaver's November Challenge

It's Challenge time people! Go check out the gorgeous items that were inspired by and created for the November Challenge "Ancestral Expressions". I voted and I am in love with the piece I voted for...what's your favorite? Let your choice be known by voting!

GO HERE!


VOTE NOW!
(6 days left)

Can't wait for the next challenge either..."Snow Queen"!

Thank You!!

Kat from Candles, Crafts and Whatnot has bestowed a lovely award on me! Thank you so much!I am to then pass it along to 10 of my favorite blogs, which will not be easy!! Here are the rules!

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Nominate 10 other blogs.

4. Add links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Here are 10 of my favorite blogs (there are so many to choose from that I just had to close my eyes and pick 10!!):
1. Triz's Beading Mania
2. Amy Lilley Designs
3. Regal Beads (Kim)
4. Unique You (Jo)
5. Inspired Jewelry by Ann Burke
6. Smadar's Treasure
7. Kerrie Slade
8. Tim2cre8 (ML)
9. It Is Nap Time (Toni)
10. The Beaded Lily (Sarah)

Thanks everyone!

Thursday Thirteen #3

Here is my third edition of T13. Thirteen of my favorite movies:

1. The Princess Bride (1987)..."Let me 'splain...no, there is too much. Let me sum up. Buttercup is marry' Humperdinck in a little less than half an hour. So all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, make our escape... after I kill Count Rugen."
"That doesn't leave much time for dilly-dallying."

2. Braveheart (1995)..."It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom!"

3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)..."Our love fern! You let it die!"
"No, honey, it's just sleeping."

4. Gone With The Wind (1939)...the book was much, much better, but Clark Gable (sigh)...well, what can I say?

5. Little Women (1933 or 1994)..."I find it poor logic to say that women should vote because they are good. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country."

6. The Pianist (2002)...did you know that Roman Polanski literally had Adrien Brody starving himself during the filming? He wanted the film and especially Brody's scenes to be completely realistic.

7. Some Like It Hot (1959)..."Story of my life. I always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop."

8. Bringing Up Baby (1938)...I love Katharine Hepburn and this comedy with Cary Grant is so wonderful! The Philadelphia Story was great, too.

9. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)..."I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

10. Independence Day (1996)..."Y'know, this was supposed to be my weekend off, but noooo. You got me out here draggin' your heavy ass through the burnin' desert with your dreadlocks stickin' out the back of my parachute. You gotta come down here with an attitude, actin' all big and bad..."

11. The Patriot (2000)..."Kill me before the war is over, will you? It appears that you are not the better man."
"You're right. My sons were better men." (What can I say, I like Mel Gibson!)

12. The Sixth Sense (1999)...despite knowing the ending, the movie makes me jump every time! This is actually the second movie by M. Night Shyamalan that I had seen. Wide Awake was the first and it really struck a chord...it's another to watch!

13. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)...I love Shakespeare and this was a wonderful version of his play. The chemistry of the cast made it that much more fun to watch!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It's Really Weird How Right A Silly Quiz Can Be!!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Ingrid!

"I am unique"
Ingrids have sensitive feelings and are warm and perceptive.

How to Get Along with Me
* Give me plenty of compliments. They mean a lot to me.
* Be a supportive friend or partner. Help me to learn to love and value myself.
* Respect me for my special gifts of intuition and vision.
* Though I don't always want to be cheered up when I'm feeling melancholy, I sometimes like to have someone lighten me up a little.
* Don't tell me I'm too sensitive or that I'm overreacting!

What I Like About Being an Ingrid
* my ability to find meaning in life and to experience feeling at a deep level.
* my ability to establish warm connections with people
* admiring what is noble, truthful, and beautiful in life
* my creativity, intuition, and sense of humor
* being unique and being seen as unique by others
* having aesthetic sensibilities
* being able to easily pick up the feelings of people around me

What's Hard About Being an Ingrid
* experiencing dark moods of emptiness and despair
* feelings of self-hatred and shame; believing I don't deserve to be loved
* feeling guilty when I disappoint people
* feeling hurt or attacked when someone misundertands me
* expecting too much from myself and life
* fearing being abandoned
* obsessing over resentments
* longing for what I don't have

Ingrids as Children Often
* have active imaginations: play creatively alone or organize playmates in original games
* are very sensitive
* feel that they don't fit in
* believe they are missing something that other people have
* attach themselves to idealized teachers, heroes, artists, etc.
* become antiauthoritarian or rebellious when criticized or not understood
* feel lonely or abandoned (perhaps as a result of a death or their parents' divorce)

Ingrids as Parents
* help their children become who they really are
* support their children's creativity and originality
* are good at helping their children get in touch with their feelings
* are sometimes overly critical or overly protective
* are usually very good with children if not too self-absorbed

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

BAO IOTW 11-3

Here are the beautiful Items of the Week for the Bead Art Originals Group! Please check them out more closely at our blog and find out what special offers are available from the creators!

Top Droppers

Thank you to all my Entrecard droppers and a special thank you to my top droppers for the month of October!

Weather for Headphones 31
Unique You 31
My gypsygoods 30
Alteredevents 29
Designs by Sheila 29
jael's artjewels 28
Thailand Land of Smiles 27
Money Ning 26
Triz's Beading Mania 26
Three Fates Design - Beaded Jewelry 24

Thursday Thirteen #2

Sorry this is late. I actually started it last night and got completely sidetracked! Anyway, seeing as this is the week of Halloween...13 Horror Novels I've Read(in no particular order)!

1. The Shining by Stephen King. This is the first horror novel I read and it was at the age of 14. I "borrowed" my dad's copy and he found out and took it away from me, but my friend loaned me her copy so I could finish it!

2. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons. This is about mind vampires! Very cool!

3. Misery by Stephen King. I've added this one because it is so frightening in it's plausibility!

4. Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. I'll admit as much as I liked the book, I enjoyed the movie version simply for Brad Pitt! :)

5. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Truly be careful what you wish for!

6. Watchers by Dean Koontz. I looked at dogs a bit differently for a while after reading this one!

7. Ghost Story by Peter Straub. Sometimes secrets can kill.

8. Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. Which leads to...

9. Children of the Night by Dan Simmons. I really like Dan Simmons' writing. I've read several of his Sci-fi novels and really enjoyed them.

10. The Stand by Stephen King. I was hooked within pages and read the entire book in two days!

11. Hideaway by Dean Koontz. This really scared me. You always hear about near death experiences, but this one was freaky!

12. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The classic horror novel. The original is always the best.

13. The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber. This book truly gives wolves a bad name!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

BAO IOTW 10/27

It's that time again!
Bead Art Originals Items of the Week for 10/27 to 11/02.

Click on the link and check out all the lovely items up close and see what specials are being offered with them!

A Blog Award With A Meme!

Jojo of Unique You has been so kind and passed this award and meme on to me! Thanks very much!

The Rules for the Award are as follows:
1. Mention the blog that gave you the award & comment on their blog when you post the award.

2. List 6 things you VALUE & 6 things you DON'T VALUE.

3. Then, pass the award onto 6 other blog buddies!

OK, here goes:

Six Things I Value:
1. My dear husband. He is so patient and kind and very supportive. He handles stress really well and believe me, he's been under a lot of stress lately. I know I haven't helped with the job situation and yet he doesn't nag or push me. He knows how much my jewelry means to me and would really like me to succeed.

2. My daughters. Yes, they drive me nuts sometimes, but they are beautiful, talented girls and I am very proud of them both! I can't believe my oldest is going to be 20 in the spring or that my "baby" is 16! Soon we'll have an empty nest (DH and I are actually looking forward to that!)

3. My dog. I know some people go really overboard about their pets, but my dog, Sadie, truly saw me through some of the most difficult days when my mom died. She knew I was upset and would just sit next to me or put her head on my lap. That unconditional love from her was truly a comfort!

4. My art. I can't imagine not being able to bead or at least create in some way! Beading is my therapy. I really think I'd have gone crazy without it! :)

5. My friends. I know that sometimes I'm not the best of communicators, but my friends seem to love me anyway! :)

6. Books!

Six Things I Don't Value:
I'm going to have to copy Jo on a couple of her choices for this section.

1. I too, don't value junk mail or spam. Talk about a waste of paper and killing trees! Does anybody really enjoy junk mail?

2. Hollywood and celebrities. I enjoy a good movie or show just like anyone else, but I don't care what you do or say or believe. You chose to act, so just stick to that!

3. Professional politicians. They'll say anything to get elected. Promise they will fix everything and then once elected they don't do anything except vote themselves a raise every year and get their buddies money and contracts!

4. Liars, cheats and thieves.

5. Shopping malls. I know, what an odd thing for a woman to think, but I really hate shopping and shopping malls are the worst!

6. Telephones. Another odd one for a woman, but I answered phones at a law firm for well over 11 years and I really despise the things. OK, I have a cell, but the majority of communicating I do with it is texting my daughters!

Now, to name six to take this:
Well, I was going to list six people to take this, but it seems like everyone is getting this meme, the "seven" meme and now it seems there's an "eight" meme going around! So, if you want to take part, please do so and let me know so I can check out your sixes!

Thursday Thirteen

I thought I would try this Thursday Thirteen thing that I keep seeing on other blogs. It sounds interesting and seems to be a great networking idea. So, here goes...

Thirteen Things about Anna 1. I'm a bead artist as you can see from my Etsy widget in the right sidebar. I am a member of the Bead Art Originals Street Team and the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team. 2. I'm a wife and I've been married to my dear husband for 22 years! 3. I'm a mother. I have two teenage daughters. One in high school and one in college. 4. I'm a homebody. I'd rather be at home than just about anywhere else. 5. I've lived in three different states: California, Washington and Ohio. 6. I got my creativity from my mom. She tried to teach me to knit and crochet (didn't work), but she was successful with embroidery! When I found my niche (beading), she was my biggest fan, supporter and salesman! 7. I lost my mom to ovarian cancer in 2003 and my mother-in-law to the same in 2007. I miss my mom everyday! 8. I believe everything happens for a reason...even if I don't understand that reason at the time. 9. I leave the TV on for background noise. 10. I love to read and I can't go to sleep unless I've read at least a few pages! 11. I wish there were more hours in the day. 12. I bead for therapy. 13. Baked goods are going to be my downfall!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Ease in Chaos

Well, we have finally gotten Grandma settled into an assisted living facility today. She has been in and out of the hospital and nursing care centers since May, so it's really been a tough summer. It will take a while for her to get used to this situation, but it's a really nice place (brand new facility) with a wonderful staff. It's also very close to our house, which makes it a lot easier for us, especially my husband who has been driving an additional 45 minutes every other day after work to check in on her. I know she would rather be in her own home, but she's just not steady on her feet anymore. There are still many things that need to be taken care of, but having her in her new place is a real ease on all our minds!

There are still many other things going on for us in the real world, but this one has been the toughest, especially on my dear husband. So, for his sake, I'm very glad she's in her new place.

New Pieces

I've created two new bracelets and two pairs of earrings. I like the earrings because they are fairly simple to make, but look lovely! The first bracelet is "A Gilded Lily Cuff" and I named it that because of the Art Deco style button I used as the toggle and because it does remind me of a bracelet a woman of the 30s would wear (like Claudette Colbert in the movie "The Gilded Lily"!!)This next bracelet doesn't have a name yet, but it is one that I've been thinking about for a while. I really like the stark black against the soft rose colors. And as you can see from some of my other pieces, I like geometric patterns! In this bracelet, I've also used opaque, matte and Ceylon style beads which gives more depth to the piece.
The earrings are simple, but I think they will love great with either a little black evening dress or a pair of jeans! I've used Swarovski crystal components which sparkle like crazy! The ear hooks are sterling silver. The beads are metallic silver Delicas in the one and opaque black in the other (which would look lovely with the black and rose bracelet above!). Let me know what you think!

BAO Items of the Week 10/12

To check out all the gorgeous items of the week up close and personal, check out our blog at Bead Art Originals. My piece is the Royal Copper Choker. I love so many of the other artists' pieces this week!

The Seven Meme

I'm supposed to share seven facts about myself, some random and some weird. Then I tag seven more people. Here goes:

1. I'm not a big fan of cooking (I can cook, just don't like to), but one of my favorite shows is "Top Chef" and I have a subscription to "Cooking Light"!

2. Most perfumes and most scented candles give me a headache. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter loves perfume!

3. When I was answering phones at a corporate law firm, we were allowed read while we worked as long as we answered the phones in a timely manner. Well, I read 267 books in one year while I was there! (A book every 1.4 days!) Big fan of the downtown library at that time!

4. I had a similar habit to MaryLou's silly pants, only mine was silly socks! Mostly it was to entertain the little girls I taught gymnastics to, but it was also my "hidden" silliness!

5. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of naps and I don't mean for your toddler! It is amazing what a 20 minute "power nap" can do for you!

6. I hate shopping! Grocery, clothes, shoes...any kind of shopping! OK, fine, put me online with a bead supplier and my money disappears!!

7. Something else like MaryLou...I used to sing all the time. I was in choir from fourth grade though my senior year and even sang with my mom in the Cleveland Metropolitan Choir. Now, it's in the car and no, ML, no one can see you! LOL!!

The rules for tagging are:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Unfortunately, I've had several memes in the last month or so and I don't want anyone getting mad at me, so I'll just say...anyone who would like to do this, link back to me so I can find out your secrets! :P

Entrecard Issues

I've been trying to drop in on my EC droppers, but I am having nothing but slow, slow, slow loading or no loading at all! I apologize for not visiting, but I'm thinking I'm probably not the only one having problems! I'll try again tomorrow!

Reminder!

Please don't forget to visit the Etsy Beadweaver Blog to vote for your favorite "Animal Instincts" piece! There are amazing pieces to choose from!

Copper and Turquoise Bracelet

Here's the latest piece... I used copper lined crystal, galvanized pale copper, lined aqua and opaque turqoise green Delicas in a single-drop peyote diamond pattern. I really like the Southwestern feel these colors and the pattern evoke.

Bead Art Originals First Ever Trunk Show

Come to the Bead Art Originals first ever Trunk Show this Thursday, October 9th from 7:00pm-9:00pm EST. Also, if you join us at The Etsy Treehouse, on Thursday, you will find out some special deals our featured artists are offering!

To learn more about us and our art, sign up for The Official BAO Newsletter (see the sign up block at the top of the left sidebar)...you might just win a prize!

Hmmm, Interesting...

My husband and I went out to dinner last night for our anniversary and it dawned on me, we have been married for half my life! (Yes, we married when I was 16...NOT!) LOL

Though life changes, I think we're as close, if not closer than we were when we got married. I cannot imagine life without him and I love him and our life together!

OK, that's enough mushiness...:P

Frustration

Just a note to say that I am having some "real world" issues (trying to find a new job for one) that has me quite frustrated. I haven't been able to create anything for a week or more and I have things I really need to do and WANT to do! So, bear with me while I work through these issues...

BAO Items of the Week 9/22

Aren't these GORGEOUS! (OK, so Melody's "Moo Bottle" is more adorable than anything, but I love them all!)

Another New One

Here is my latest. I've decided to call it "Dappled Sunlight" since it really reminds me of how the ground looks when you're walking through the woods...all the shadow colors and flashes of bright sunlight. I've obviously done another two-drop but this one is a little more expensive. I've used 22kt light gold plated and iris light bronze Delicas.

Just Something Silly

It's been a really rough week, so I thought I would put something silly on the blog. (#3 is really true for me!!)

You Are Cereal

Playful and lighthearted, breakfast is likely your favorite meal of the day. (In fact, you're probably the type who sneaks cereal as a midnight snack.) Your culinary skills are probably a bit lacking... and you are a sucker for junk food. Some people accuse you of eating like a kid, but you prefer to think of yourself as low maintenance.

What Kind of Breakfast Are You?

More New Bracelets

The green iris and 24k gold plated swirls turned out very nicely, though I really like the simplicity of the silver one. It really shimmers and shines wonderfully and it goes with everything!

Messing Up My Blog

It wasn't intentional, but I've messed up my blog, so bear with me while I try to fix it! I was trying to create a three column template and it wasn't working for me. One thing leads to another and my back-up of my original was overwritten! Grrrr! I know just enough HTML to get myself in trouble apparently!

Did You Vote?

Voting has begun in the Etsy Beadweavers September Challenge "Complimentary Contradictions". Please go to the EBW Blog to cast your vote for your favorite! Polls stay open until Monday, September 15th!


Click Here!

BAO Items of the Week

Here are the gorgeous Bead Art Originals Items of the Week for September 8th to 14th. To see them up close and personal, see the BAO Blog and click on all the links! You can also see what bonus, prize or discount each artist is giving on their item!

EBW September Challenge

It's almost time to vote again for your favorite piece in the Etsy Beadweaver Challenge. The September challenge theme is "Complimentary Contradictions" and there are stunning entries as usual! Good luck with your voting as it's going to be a tough one yet again! Voting begins September 9th (Tuesday) through September 15th (Monday). Cast your vote at the Etsy Beadweaver Blog (http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) starting Tuesday.

New Bracelets

Here are three new bracelets ("Midnight", "Sunshine to Rain" and "Purple Iris and Rose") that I did over the last week and I am also working on another! It's the most productive I've been in a very long time. It's also the first time I've really done two-drop peyote. Now I know why it's a favorite among many of my fellow beadweavers! It's fun, it's fast and I've been able to create several new patterns that I'm going to work on over the coming weeks!

I told my husband that I would love to have a line of bracelets that I could sell at boutiques, but I need to have time to design them and create them and I just don't have that kind of time right now. Maybe I should play the lottery...then I could quit my job and create, create, create!! :)

Ahhh, Love! :)

Vixen over at Vixen's Den Sent me this great award! I've decided to follow her lead and send this out to bloggers I've met through Entrecard! Thanks Vixen!
1. The winner can put the logo on her/his blog.
2. Link the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs nominated.

Passing this along to:
Silver Canyons Happenings, Waterrose, Shiny Adornments, Juliana's Lair, Beads Me, Out of the Pink Sky, Matt Speak

Right Place, Right Time

We didn't realize it when we went to Lake Chautauqua this Labor Day weekend that there would be an amazing event. It was called "Light the Lakes" and it involved fireworks being fired off from seven different locations around the lake to preplanned music played by a local radio station. But what made it even more amazing was that the people and businesses around the lake would also light flares so that the entire lake would be ringed in light (they called it the "Ring of Fire"). But to top it all off, the International Space Station was flying over the area at that exact time and the radio station DJs talked to the crew! They said they could see all the lights of Buffalo and surrounding area and we're pretty sure they said they could see the lake as well, but there were so many people yelling and clapping about the interview that even on the water, you couldn't quite hear it! It was amazing whether they saw the lake or not just to have them flying over while it was all going on.I will admit that we were feeling a bit guilty about enjoying all this when there were so many people fleeing NOLA and the gulf coast as Hurricane Gustav threatened their lives and homes. We hope and pray that they are safe and will be able to return to their homes very soon.