Make a wish....

Positive thoughts for young Natalie....

I just want to write a quick post asking everyone to please think a positive thought for young Natalie today. She is the daughter of my good friend and next door neighbor. She is 14 years old and has a rare form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. Today Natalie is fighting for her young life in an 8 hour surgery while they try to remove this cancer from her pelvis. Natalie is strong. She is a fighter. Go, Natalie, Go! We love you!

My Little Models...

Some of the neighbor girls wanted to model my jewelry pieces. Aren't they sweet!








Then...of course...my little girl wanted in on the action too... :)

Dressing room lights...

Here is the million dollar question. Why in the world do department stores put florescent lights on the ceiling in their dressing rooms? Do they NOT want to sell any clothing?

I go in feeling confident....



I come out feeling...well...something like this.



Combined with this.



I needed a dress to wear to a fancy little function we were going to. Considering I go to one a year I wanted to look nice. This was my big chance to shed the "mommy-look" for a day. I confidently walked into Macy's. Ready to find my dream dress.

Half and hour later my arms are full and I stride, smiling, into the dressing room. My first thought is, "Wow..it is bright in here". I quickly shrug off the thought and begin to undress. This is when horror strikes. There I am. Standing in my underwear. Blotchy, dimply, pale, and disgusting. Suddenly the dresses don't seen so appealing. The harsh lighting is accenting every flaw I have..or maybe even don't have?! Even my eyes look bloodshot. Oy...I almost ran out of the room. 15 minutes later I left the dressing room empty handed. Swearing I would never set foot in that torture chamber disguised as dressing room again!

I wonder....why in the world do stores not invest in proper lighting for their rooms? A little soft white light...dim and lovely. For so many obvious reasons I need not even post them here.

I just may sue Macy's for the therapy I now need to get over the trauma...hee hee

I love pink...

I love pink. I just can't get enough of it. Here's a picture of my newest find. Vintage pink cabs. The color is gorgeous. Ahhh springtime .....

Milky Pink...

I am so in love with this color...it just screams "spring is here!" I made a ring for myself and am wearing it tomorrow night to our pre-school fundraiser.

You asked for it!

Many people have asked how I find the time...as a mom...to do my jewelry making. Here is a photo log of my techniques...

First of all I waste about $40 in bubble envelopes to keep them occupied.



This actually occupied him for quite some time!



And for my daughter...well as you can see...she is quite the little jewelry maker herself..



Pop beads are awesome!



As a matter of fact, his envelope hat was SO popular he continuted to wear it through dinner and until bedtime.

Strange as it sounds...

My next door neighbor coincidentally has boy/girl twins 2 years older than mine. She likes to say that I "copied" her because having multiples is so relaxing. Realistically..it's just a super weird coincidence.

She just started her own mommy blog and it is going to be a real gem. Years of writing experience allows her to tell quite the tale. Please check her blog out at:

http://www.ridiculousreproductivedoubling.blogspot.com

On a side note: Her beautiful 14yr old daughter...My sweet little friend...Natalie...has a rare form of cancer called Ewings Sarcoma. She is a fighter. She is strong. We are all so pround of her. So drop by her blog if you get a chance and show this mom some love and support!

Do people really want to help.....

...or are they just offering because it is the polite thing to do? It has been about 3 years since the event I am about to explain to you took place. I think I may have finally recovered enough to tell it. Let's see how it goes...

Picture this: Me. Alone. 3 month old twin infants. Grocery Store. Baby Bjorn.

As any parent of more than one child knows. Kids are born with their personality built right into them. We, as parents, don't get a choice. Some kids are always harder than others. This, of course, was the case with my twins. My son was (and still is) a harder kid. He's not so easy going...enough said. He was born this way. My daughter on the other hand is a quiet, easy going, little angel. She is content 99.9% of the time. Barely ever cries. You get the picture. Now...let me get on with my story.

I am in the grocery store. I have two babies...one in the car seat on the shopping cart and the other in a baby bjorn carrier. I figure I will put my son in the Bjorn since he (like I explained) is usually the one to cry. My daughter is in the carseat. I am in the store about 2 minutes. While dreamily gazing at the Hostess items all hell breaks loose. My daughter begins to scream. An ear piercing 3 month old, shrill scream. After a brief moment of shock I decide I need to get my son out of the Bjorn and get her in it. Easier said than done.

The Bjorn is like an frigging octopus. All straps and buttons and clips everywhere. I am starting to sweat profusely. I can't get the straps off. If I do get the straps off where do I set him while I put her in the Bjorn? How can I swap them both without having to set one literally on the floor? This is when "he" enters the picture...

He is your typical Orange County, CA kinda guy. Late 40's. Oozing wealth. Expensive suit. Fancy watch. Manicured nails. The whole Deal. He looks up at me and asks...Do you need help? Never thinking, I am sure, that I would say yes. But I did. Surprising the both of us I think.

I grabbed my daughter from her carseat and with perfectly straight arms I held her out to him. He gave me and then her a look that contained both shock and a bit of regret. Maybe even a tiny bit of disgust. He did take her. He held her about 3 feet out away from his body. Her little feet dangling. I finished wrestling with that Bjorn and finally won. Got my son in the seat and took her back. Thanked him for his help and carried on with my Hostess fantasies.

As he walked away I wondered though. How many times do people offer help but don't really want to give it. He was obviously raised well enough to ask. To be polite. But is it polite if the offer is not geniune?

Tell me what you think... Has something similar happened to you?

Twins Top 10 List...

Here is a list of the top 10 stangest, funniest, and all around weird questions/statements total strangers will ask a mother of twins. And yes, they are all true. I could not make stuff up this good...

As a thrilling little side note I also added (marked by the (Me:) the first thought that popped into my head immediately after the question was asked. Thankfully for both parties involved I kept those little gems to mysef.

10. Are they twins? (Me:) No, I have two babies of exactly the same size and weight in a double stroller that are both crying, pooping, and simutaniously spitting up because it is really fun and relaxing)

9. Are they both yours? (Me: No, I stole another baby of exactly the same size and weight and purchased a double stroller for both just before coming to Longs to stand in line next to you)

8. Are they the same age? (This is after she asked me if they are twins and I said, Yes) This one stumps me to this day. Technnically, no. One is a minute older. Did she think they came out side by side at the same time?

7. Did you have a C-Section? They are big. (Me: As much as I would love to talk about my vagina with you here in the grocery store line...I think I will pass this time.)

6. You're not having any more are you? (Me: Why, because my toddlers are tearing apart this frigging candy display they have so kindly put right next to checkout just to make my life hell every time I walk in this place?)

5. Did you do IVF? (Me: Would you like me to sign a waver to all my medical records so you can call my OB and read up on my fasinating medical history?)

4. Are they identical? (This is after she asked if they were a boy & girl and I said Yes) I get this all the time. No people. One has a wiener. One does not.

3. Did they come out at the same time? (Me: WHAT?! What are you talking about. Again: You mean side by side?? I'm stumped)

2. You are so lucky. They have a built in playmate. (Me: Oh yes, because all two 3 year olds do ALL day is play play play. It's just a dream. Seriously?!)

1. Your husband must be very virile. (Me: Hi Ohhhh, wha wha what?!) The man behind us in line literally started laughing. I could not even look the woman in the eye for fear of bursting into hysterics. (BTW my husband thought it was a fantastic question.) Just for a bit more fun here is the dictionary definition of virile (My husband loves this even more. Must be a man thing)

vir·ile (vîrl, -l)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male, especially the ability to perform sexually as a male.
2. Having or showing masculine spirit, strength, vigor, or power.
3. Sexually potent.

The perfect Gift...

Need an inexpensive birthday gift that always fits? I have free shipping on my vintage cabochon flower earrings. They all come attached to a little raffle ticket. Good for one free wish!

Because of this....

I NEED THIS.....

I suppose it's better than this.....

My Wanted Poster....

Target Hates Me....

I swore I would never do this. I can't believe I do it now. I am red faced, ashamed.

My confession...I literally destroyed Target today.

Back over 100 years ago (or so it feels) pre-kids I used to work retail. A few small, super trendy (expensive) little Newport Beach Boutiques. Fancy Schmancy huh? Not really. Moms with strollers make a mess. A disgusting, horrible, "What is the Matter with you?", mess. Crackers all over the floor, clothes pulled down, clothing piled inside out on the floor of the dressing room, dirty diapers in the corner (yes, it happened to me), sticky finger smears everywhere, and much, much more.

I would exclaim: "What is the MATTER with these people?", "This is DISGUSTING!" , and my favorite..."I would NEVER do something like that."

Fast forward to present day. In Target. Destroyed. By me.

It all begain innocently enough. Got the twins popcorn, peanut butter sandwich, and juice. Figure all that food will buy me some time to shop. Within 8 minutes the peanut butter is smeared everywhere, juice is dripping from the cart, and we have left a popcorn trail that would make Hansel and Gretel jealous.

I have no option but to start stashing dirty napkins, wrappers, and peanut butter smeared merchandise all over their shelves. My little girl sat on the remainder of her sandwich so I attempted to "cram" it in the corner of the isle. The twins are whining...I am panicking that the security cameras are picking all this up....the stress was enormous. I was a criminal. I was "THAT" person. That person I swore I would never be..... :(


What is your messiest story?

Make a Wish....

Love these vintage inspired raffle tickets! Good for one free wish....

Every cabochon cutie earring purchase comes attached to one of these darling little tickets. Great for gift giving!

First Ballet...

Our first ballet recital. My little girl with her teacher. So sweet...

Pigatopia Studio's...

A wonderful etsy shop we should all visit is Pigatopia studios. Especially if you have a fondness for Pigs or any of our 4 legged friends. This charitable etsy artist donates time and money to helping animals. Her artwork is really lovely. But please, don't just take my word for it...check her shop out for yourself!


To view her shop click on the permanent link at top left corner!

Cabochon Cuties....

My newest little lovelies! These delicate stud earrings are made from vintage cabochon flowers. Surgical steel posts. Simply elegant...

LuvHandmade....

My item was featured on the from page of LuvHandmade.com

Woohoo...how exciting!

Peeled Apples...

Now don't get me wrong. I love when grandma and grandpa visit. I get time to sleep, grocery shop, list items in my etsy shop, and much more! However, on this visit grandma introduced the twins to "peeled" apples. Before this they never knew such a thing existed. Now...its all they want.
Many moms will understand this immediately. For those of you who wonder, "What is the big deal?" Let me tell you.
Aside from the fact that the peel holds a great deal of the nutrients, the real reason this is so troublesome is that it creates an extra step in an already hectic day. Two toddlers can ask for things an average of 400 times a minute. To add one more request to their list just may send me over the edge.
Today my 3 year old girl asked for her apple peeled. I told her no. She whined. I said No, only grandma does that. She whined louder. I said no for a third time and asked if she wanted the apple or not. She replied, Yes, give me that gross apple if that's how its gonna be, M-O-M. I think she even gave me an eye roll. (I had a flash of what she will be like at 14)
That leads me to the topper of this entire story. I had her in the grocery store with me today. While in the produce section a nice older woman asked her about the fruit we were chosing. My little girl looked at the woman and told her in a very matter-of-fact way..."My mom only feeds us fruit the gross way, she's not nice like grandma."
I'm still speechless...

Featured on home page!

My item was featured on the home page. How exciting!!

The culprits...AKA Twins

I have posted a few pics of the culprits (I mean twins) responsible for my craziness. See sidebar left. Darling little devils aren't they :)

They are, as we speak, at the beach with grandma and grandpa. Which means I am home, ALONE. Yes everyone, alone....jealous?!

The problem is I have so many things I want/need to do I do not know where to begin. Thus I am fooling around on the internet and getting pretty much nothing accomplished. But, its fun....

Cabochon..

I love the color of this cabochon. It is such a gorgeous vintage blue. What a little beauty!

Friday The 13th..

Happy Friday the 13th Everyone!! I have to say I love scary movies. I have not seen the remake of this one yet...but I'm DYING to. Hee hee

I'm having FREE shipping today on everything in my shop! Don't be scared...come take a look.

My newest little lovelies...