Slacker --- AND --- Proud to be an American

Ok, so, I've been a slacker. I really planned to keep up with this blog and make sure that I wrote something regularly. Well... between work and being pregnant, I've been a slacker. Lots of things to say about the pregnancy but I'll save that for another day.

Today, I feel compelled to write about being an American. On Monday night, I ran to the grocery store for a few things. While standing at the deli counter, the workers were discussing voting. The young women (probably 20 years old) were talking about their plans to vote and the one girl was animated in telling the other one how important it was to vote. She was even willing to drive her co-worker to the polls. Then, a young man came up and said he wasn't planning to vote. Well, the young lady got on him too, talking about how Americans have died for his right to vote. She was so passionate about it. She asked my opinion. I told them that it didn't matter to me who they voted for -- but they should vote, their opinion in the election matters.

I was thrilled to see people who traditionally don't vote, talking about the process and willing to consider why it's important. I don't know if they all voted. I hope they did though -- for whatever candidate they believed was best.

Then, on election day, I headed to my polling place. Everyone there was pleasant and positive. The process was smooth. I still find it a little jarring that in PA we vote at churches. (I have this archaic sense that the separation of church and state gets trampled here.) I also dislike having things thrust at me while trying to enter my polling church. I refused all leaflets and was a little agitated about the trek to the door. But then, a local candidate was also there. He didn't try to give me anything. He introduced himself and thanked me for voting. He never told me what office he was running for, he didn't ask for my vote, he didn't try to sway me.

In the end I voted for that local candidate. He didn't win. But I respect the campaign he ran and his integrity.

I get jaded by the judgmental, shallow and narrow minded people that I come into contact with at times in central PA. I long for New England where we at least talked about our differences - but those differences rarely separated us. In a neighborhood with families of many different religions and neighbors of different races, there was understanding and knowledge and kindness. So, to have an election that included candidates of both genders, Caucasian and African American, and locally Hispanic -- it's fabulous.

Kris

I just finished adding another piece to my etsy store. It's a special one to me. It's the Bracelet for Hope and Remembrance. This bracelet was created as a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

I participate in Relay for Life each year to celebrate my father's memory. This weekend, I learned of another tragic loss to cancer. When I was little, my family would visit my Uncle Milt and Aunt Jean. They aren't "really" my aunt and uncle - but that never mattered to any of us. Our families love and care about each other and isn't that really what makes family? My aunt and uncle have two children Kirk and Krissy. We've all grown up and I suppose in many ways we have grown apart - but they have always been a part of my family.

Kris fought a battle with cancer. She had many triumphs and I know her friends and family rejoiced in every minute they had to spend together. Sadly, in August, Kris lost her battle with Cancer.

I'm at a loss to understand why things like this happen. Kris was 39 years old... She was a wonderful loving, caring person and mother. Kris was sweet and kind. Kris was a friend.

It is with sadness that I say goodbye to my friend, my cousin. But her passing reminded me that every day that I do not do something to remember her and my father, another person is taken by cancer. So, today, I have posted this bracelet. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14856932 I hope to sell 10,000 of them in honor of Kris! I hope that the money raised will mean that one fewer family will feel this kind of loss in the future.

Goodbye for now Krissy. Godspeed.

Show Tunes

Well, posting about show tunes running through my head has disasterous results! For the past couple of days, I've had the lyrics from Cats running through my head (it's not even one of my favorite shows...) and now, Into the Woods.

I'm going to try to get this sickness (Showtunolalia - the need for show tunes to run through one's head incessantly throughout the day) to inspire me. So, tonight after work, whatever song/show is running through my head will be my starting point for a new bracelet or necklace... Can you imagine the choker that could come out of Sweeney Todd? The possibilities with Mabel Normand (Mack & Mabel) glitz? Or the carnival atmosphere from Carousel? The pointillism of Sunday in the Park - letting the colors of the beads merge into a new vision....

Do you think anyone would get it if my jewelry had names that evoke the shows that inspired me?

Tagged!!!

Ok, so blogging is new to me. Being TAGGED! I had no idea...

I got tagged by Wezz from World of Wezz. Check her out at: http://cyberwezz.blogspot.com/ Wezz is from Belgium -- which is so exciting! An International tagging! Wezz has some of the most fun stuff at her etsy store. The Cretan Stone Pendants are fabulous. They are just the thing to bring you back to a fabulous beach vacation. Her etsy store is at: http://www.cyberwezz.etsy.com/. Most importantly, Wezz is a great supporter and friend to everyone on the esmartsteam. She's always there with a positive word and a willingness to help. Just the best!


Here are the rules of the tagging game:1) Link to the person who tagged you2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


6 random things about me... well, most things about me a rather random. 1. Carvel Ice Cream cake is my new favorite food (I hadn't had this since I was a child -- but lately, it's calling my name!). 2. There's always a showtune in my head (much to the chagrin of those around me). 3. I've had two of the BEST vacations ever! Costa Rica and Scandinavia. 4. I'm always working on some craft project - and there are atleast 2 projects that aren't complete. 5. The Olympics thrill me! 6. I still consider myself as being from Connecticut even though I've lived in Pennsylvania for more than a decade.

I'm tagging:
http://canyonfirecreations.blogspot.com
http://sassydlite.blogspot.com
http://www.thebeadedsoul.blogspot.com
http://wilmaswhimseys.blogspot.com/
http://simplexities.blogspot.com/
http://dentedhalo.blogspot.com/

Consider yourselves TAGGED!! ~~Kim

Painting...

This weekend, my husband and I are working on my house -- trying to get it ready for sale! Yes, we still have two houses. Aren't we lucky in this market?! Anyway, so, we painted my stairs and they look great. Then, we painted the guest bedroom. What a mess! The primer is soaking through our first layer of paint and the paint is drying a totally different color than we had planned. I have paint on my arms and legs -- and oh, yeah, on my forehead! Oy!

Clearly, my "artistic abilities" have nothing to do with painting!

Well, if i ever get all this painting completed, maybe I can get the house on the market... let's hope that's sooner than later!

My First Royal Wedding

Someone told me a long time ago that creating something for a wedding is the hardest thing you will ever do -- brides have a "vision" for their wedding and living up to that is almost impossible! And to add to the stress, the wedding took place at a CASTLE!

Well, I must have had the best wedding client ever -- or she just did a good job of letting me feel good about everything!

The bride requested a tiara fit for a princess -- including pearls, rubies and diamonds! Ok, Swarovski pearls, Siam Swarovksi crystals, and clear Swarovski crystals. I fretted about this -- knowing that this would truly be a center piece to her bridal ensemble. Thankfully, we worked together to get the right combination of materials and to get the right height and shape.

I think she truly was a princess!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! I've decided to take the plunge and begin blogging. It's been an exciting year of new beginnings already. In April, I married my sweetheart! I loved making my jewelry for the wedding as well as the jewelry for my bridesmaids. I had my own touches throughout the wedding -- from the invitations, to the programs, my mother's purse, the ring bearer pillow, bracelets for the flower girls, dying my shoes, the cake topper... yup, just about everything!

I look forward to blogging about all my creative outlets as well as the craziness in my life -- from selling two house (so that my husband and I can live together!), to our pets (a dog and a cat), to my career, to the special people in my life!