My New Favorite Place

My son turned me onto Etsy and I am now addicted. It's slogan is "your place to buy and sell all things handmade." I have found artists who create clothing, painting, jewelry, knitting, soap, music, glass, furniture...you get the drift...if you want something from someone who created it--go here.

If you find a very cool seller you should click on their "favorites" because as we all know...cool attracts cool. There is feedback on each seller so for those nervous nellies out there that should help calm some nerves. Go, shop, enjoy, and support the arts!

Duck for Cover

Have you heard about this???!!
"1/26/08--A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday" Am I the only one that feels that this sucker is aimed right for me in my town most likely on the day I am assigned crossing guard duties at my school??!!
And more--
"the spacecraft weighs about 20,000 pounds and is the size of a small bus. The satellite would create 10 times less debris than the Columbia space shuttle crash in 2003." I'm not exactly thinking what kind of debris the thing will leave behind...I'm more worried about if I'LL be left behind.
I know, I know...it's like the lottery...you THINK you could win but it never happens. And now, when you least expect it--BOOM! A satellite has got your number. Lucky you.

Revenge Is Mine

I try to do the right thing. I am not a cheat, I am not a liar, and I try to be a straight shooter. If you do the right thing, get it done, then problems should be few and far between. I believe my husband is TOTALLY this way and I hope that we raised our kids in much the same manner. Another thing I am is a lioness. Don't mess with my kids, don't be unjust to my husband, and I won't bite...I'll be one happy furry little lion.
So, here's the deal. If you've done the right thing and for some reason a person finds fault with whatever you may have done ...try to set it right and everyone lives happily ever after. Now there are those in life who are bitter, old, dried up, unhappy people. They will find fault with anything and everything you may do. Such is the case for a client of my husband's...hence this rant and a warning.

Now, to be perfectly honest, I just found out about this client from hell and my husband has been dealing with her for the last two years...he is a brave soul and he really does do the right thing. Revenge would never be in his vocabulary and that's where his wife comes in...just the thought that someone has made a person in my family unhappy and been unfair in business practices towards him makes my blood boil.
When a person will never be happy and will always have something to complain about I feel sorry for them. They are not enjoying life, they are always afraid, and the sun will never shine on their footsteps. I feel disgust toward those that feel that everyone is out to cheat them and feel that their problems are above and beyond all others.

I also feel like I need to show them the error and grossness of their ways, to allow them to feel what others have had to experience when they cross this sad person's so called life. Note that every worker who has tried to attempt to please this woman has come back to my husband vowing never to return.
I know, not a very Christian point of view, but when kindness has been wrung out and good intentions have been slapped aside, I feel as though giving a person a taste of their own medicine is all that may be left. Again, not something my husband would agree to but I am a woman and our minds operate much differently.
The wonderfully wicked thing about this is that I delight in the planning process of my revenge. I would never resort to physical violence (totally illegal and barbaric) but a mental battle of the minds. Hmmm...this person also has a business...I like that angle. Perhaps, give them as much grief as they have given one of my family members... allow them to see their own despicable life and swallow their own bitter medicine. Just writing this gives me a wonderful, warm, feeling inside. Details later...let the battle begin.

Another year, another year older

I just happened to hear this on the local radio station and *whoosh* there I was...back in the 80's once again. This happened to take place in 1985 and it was a really big deal and I believe it made lots of money to help those in Africa and now...well, everything is perfect over there now, isn't it? Um..well, besides the way things are going in other countries...take a look at how things are going for the people involved in this video. Isn't it amazing..sometimes good, sometimes bad amazing how time can really change a person's appearance?!! Look at Michael Jackson..those were the good old days of when we thought he was just "quirky" with the one glove...Billy Joel was skinny and had hair...Cyndi Lauper had a career...Ray Charles was alive...Steve Perry went out in public...who knew Dionne Warwick was psychic...the list goes on and on (and can you believe LaToya Jackson was invited?? snaps to Michael for making that happen)Could this ever happen today? Not so sure with all the egos and production help everyone gets but I would think it would be great to look at in 20+ years.

Happy 100 to me!!!!!!!!!!

One hundred posts before the end of the year...I like the sounds of that.

I realize that I have not been on fire with the posts these last couple of months...but, maybe it's because I'm busy remembering other "one-hundred" mileposts for the year:

1. The obvious...I have eaten, slept, enjoyed bathroom breaks for atleast 100 times this year.

2. I have checked my email atleast 100 times this year.

3. I have driven my car atleast 100 times this year.

4. I have visited the gym...okay, maybe only 30 times this year..but, I am working on obtaining those Kelly Ripa, Madonna, Angie Harmon (insert your favorite cut,defined, carved celebrity here) arms.

5. I have done laundry atleast 100 times this year.

6. The sweet ones...I have told my husband and my kids that I love them more than 100 times this year. You should too (that is...your own husband or wife and kids...not mine...although they would probably be okay with it).

7. I have indulged in chocolate atleast 100 times this year.

8. I have indulged in a good glass of red wine atleast 100 times this year...and which makes me feel like a frickin wino as I'm typing that.

9. I have written over 100 pages of a published book this year (hooray for me!)

10. I have enjoyed over 100 cups of coffee this year.

AND I'm sure I could keep going and going...but it's your turn now. What have you done atleast 100 times this year? I hope you have enjoyed each moment and happy 100 to you!

With Thanksgiving and all

You can't stray away from the knowledge, the thought, the fact, that Christmas and that means Christmas shopping is right around the corner.

I consider myself a year round shopper and feel that those ya-hoos that wake up at 5AM on the day after Thanksgiving run in the same race of people that think New Years Eve is the best night ever to go out and party.

They have no experience...they're just running blind, desperate to get a deal, any kind of deal that Wal-Mart is going to throw at them. Lucky you to be the recipient.

My advice is to really think of your gift. Take a moment to consider what the receiver may truly enjoy rather than what you can afford or get "at a great deal". If you're coming up empty then why not do something personal like baking biscotti (I have a friend who gives this every year and I LOVE it!) and a pound of great coffee. Or, if you know someone new in town then create a journal of great restaurants, savvy hairdressers, or doctors or dentists that you would recommend. A subscription to a magazine you know they would like. A favorite picture of you and he/she in a great frame. Whatever. But think of the person...not just the gift.

A promise is a promise

While giving birth to my much anticipated new book and business, lifestyle website for tweens, and adventures of The Cupcakes Club, I have been faced with the daunting task of legal-ess-ness.
I'm not sure that's actually a word, or if there's a better word, but right now I'm claiming it. It's crazy. This is how frickin lawyers who make lots of money make lots of money. You have to constantly be covering your butt. Trademarks, copyrights, contracts, terms and conditions, privacy policies...it's just so crazy. And I, my friends, am not the kind of girl who likes to haggle over a contract like one does while buying a hand woven blanket in Mexico.
Whatever happened to the days of "a deal is a deal" or "I'll ride this train with you and we'll split everything if we make any money" or "why would somebody take that if it's not theirs?"...color me naive, color me rose-color glasses but how sweet those days must have been.
Have you ever seen the movie "It could happen to You" with Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda? If you have, you know where I'm at. Most favorite and memorable quote...
" A promise is a promise" ...when the cop promises the waitress one half of his unknown lottery ticket in exchange for a tip and it turns out to be a 4 million dollar winner...will he? won't he? Rent it and find out. We all like a happy ending and I suppose you've gotta go through the trials and tribulations to really appreciate it in the end. See you on The Cupcakes Club very soon!