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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

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