And the Parents win!!!

Ever play the board game "Risk". We used to play it back in the early 1980's and I hadn't played it since. Recently a friend of my son's brought his over and he and Aaron challenged Scott and I to team game.
I said "Prepare to get wiped" and the boys laughed....
Laugh on, Scott and I wiped them....bad!
What fun that was!

Love to Cook or Hate to Cook

I love to cook but there are days when I just don't want to have to think about it. Found this great site that even makes a shopping list for you to go with their recipes.
http://www.makedinnereasy.com/

Early Bird vs. Night Owl

Which one are you?
My husband is the definition of "Early Bird". Loves getting up at the crack of dawn and getting stuff done.

Me....I'm almost the definition of "Night Owl". Seems like I get most revved about my art and jewelry design after supper, the dishes are done, son's asleep and all is quiet. After all, so many things I have to get done in a day can only be done when the sun's up...like school, my garden.......

Somehow, we make it work

Lacy Tank Top

Like me, most artists I know dable in many creative pursuits: painting, sculpture, pop art, cards, scrapbooks, jewelry and sewing. To be honest, though, I never thought about ussing a Sizzix machine to cut lace and tulle. Look what lovelies you can make using some of your button and ribbon stash (and you know we have them) and a few of these cut flowers layered together. Romantic, feminine, sexy. Go nuts, make a bunch!!

For yourself, for gifts.......... more ideas at http://www.sizzix.com/blogs

Interesting article

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2010/03/23/how-to-blog-when-youre-not-a-writer/

Wonderful Spring

Now that it finally looks like warm weather is here to stay, I am getting so excited about getting my veggie garden going again. Lots of clean out done from those many winter freezes, still much to do but my sugar snap peas are coming along nicely...even have a few blooms. The lettuce is sprouted and about 2 inches tall.
Flowers of all kinds have started to sprout...I love cornflowers.
The best part is it's all organic. Can't wait to start eating some of it.
Anyone know of an organic way to fight a little Florida mole who just loves to tunnel under my peas? Ugh!

Organic Gardening Magazine Maria Rodale Shares Organic Eating Tips on The Doctors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILe7uCTDjsI

Surviving an Adolescent Meltdown

Surviving an Adolescent Meltdown


Rules of engagement for when your child loses control

by Sally Schrock

I almost slapped him. I was so close it frightened me. My firstborn son — just a few short years ago the delight of my life — stood in the hallway, red-faced, fists clenched, screaming at me. He insisted his bedroom was clean, but I informed him he was not finished.
"That is so not fair!" he raged. "You never think what I do is good enough!"
He continued to shout while I contemplated the soda cans, the dirty dishes, the clothes scattered all over the floor. I stated emphatically, "The condition of this room is not acceptable."
I watched in horror as my 12-year-old lost control. Tears spilled out of his beautiful blue eyes over his distraught face. "You don't know how hard I try," he ranted. "You are asking too much of me!"
His frenzy had intensified to the point that I fully expected his next sentence to be: "Mom, I know you think the sky is blue, but it's green. I know it's green!"
I instinctively raised my hand and said, "Do not say one more word." He opened and closed his mouth. He thought about it for a few seconds then walked into his room and slammed the door. I collapsed into a chair and cried.


This was my first experience with an adolescent meltdown. It was not the last. How was I going to teach him to control himself? With that in mind, I slowly developed some rules of engagement.


Recognizing the tremors

When I knew a meltdown was imminent, the first thing I did was stop talking. Then I required my son to stop talking also. Once it was quiet, I tried to determine whether this was an old issue or a new battlefield.
When it was an old argument wearing a new shirt, I spoke to my son calmly and without emotion: "We have discussed this, and we will not revisit this issue. Not now, perhaps not ever, but certainly not while you are in this frame of mind. So you have two choices. You can stop talking and do what I told you to do, or you can go to your room and stay there until you have a change of attitude."


New eruptions

When it was a new problem, I refused to give him an audience until he became calm and rational and could give me three concise sentences as to what was really bothering him. If emotions started to escalate, I stopped the discussion until we were both composed.
After he stated his concerns, I took a time-out to consider what he had said. Though it was difficult to establish this intentional break in conversation, my husband needed to be included in the discussion. We had to be sure of our position.
Once my words had become our words, I related our conversation to my son in a few concise sentences. Whenever I stooped to lecturing, my son mentally argued with me — I could see it in his eyes! I had to refrain from talking too much to prove my point.
Another hard part was determining appropriate discipline without going overboard. We had to make the correction fit the infraction in order to develop character yet not destroy his spirit. Part of his discipline included writing a synopsis of our discussion, even if he disagreed with the results. I read it over to make sure it was accurate. I then filed the paper for future reference, which came in handy on several occasions.

Calming the outbursts

If we played by the rules, it took a lot of time and effort, but we eventually resolved the conflict. As my son matured, he learned to talk about his frustrations before his resentment built to an exploding point. The outbursts became fewer and farther between — then nonexistent.
Today he is a disciplined, loving husband and father of six lively children who occasionally scream at him, "Dad, the sky is green! I know it's green!"

This article first appeared in the February/March, 2009 issue of Focus on the Family magazine. Copyright © 2009 Sally Schrock. All rights reserved.
for more
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/articles/surviving_an_adolescent_meltdown.aspx

I am posting this to my blog so I can easily find it again when I need it.

Labradorite and Sterling Lace

New in my shop tonight
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43205006

Fresh Veggies from your own small space garden

No matter how small your yard, or even if you don't have one, you can grow some of your own fresh produce and herbs. I have many books on the subject and have been gardening for decades. It's a wonderful thing to do with your kids...they are more likely to try, eat and like something they actually raised.
Here's an awesome on line site:
http://www.sunset.com/garden/fruits-veggies/small-space-vegetable-gardens-00400000044403/

Gone Fishin'

Trying to help my son finish his fishing merit badge today. Learned 2 things: 1. He doesn't have much pateince for fishing and my hubby has zero 2. Not much more than bait stealers in Spring Lake. Oh well, another day...

Did I use it all?

That delightful, wonderful wacky, creative soul Erma Bombeck said this "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me".

Time to Vote

Vote your favorite in the Florida Etsy March Challenge http://etsyfest.blogspot.com/2010/03/time-to-vote-for-march-challenge.html

My Baby Butterfly Earrings are in this contest

Work Less, Earn More...Too Good To be True?

I love being a WAHM (work at home Mom). As much as I love what I do, I don't know a single soul who wants to spend more time working at the expense of spending time with family. Do you?
Here's some great advice from an awesome WAHM, Melissa Ingold

http://www.internetmarketingsweetie.com/blog/work-less-earn-more

So Yesterday I turned 50....................

My wonderful husband threw a surprise birthday lunch for me. Gotta love that man of mine!!
He really put a lot of thought into it too. There were even friends there that I hadn't seen in over a year.
What a wonderful man I'm married to!!!!
I love you Scott  XXOO

The Cutest little creatures at Birdland Creations

Ruth at BirdLand Creations makes the most addorable little creatures out of Silver PMC.
To think it was almost an accident that she discovered her talent!!!!!
Go check out some of her lovies at http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdlandcreations
and
then read her blog at http://www.insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/  to see her inspirations

What's Silver All About?

Silver used in fine jewelry varies in its purity and tarnish resistance. Fine silver is 99.9% silver, Thai Hill Tribe silver is 95-99% silver, and sterling silver is 92.5% silver. As the purity of the silver decreases, the problem of corrosion or tarnishing increases.

Fine silver is very bright and highly tarnish resistant compared to sterling silver. It is softer than sterling silver and, in wire form, is used for crochet work and wire wrapping. Fine silver can also be seen in items made of precious metal clay (PMC) which is shaped and heated to form a solid metal.

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Argentium silver is a variety of sterling that replaces copper with germanium for increased tarnish resistance.

Do you know a Garden Crusader?

Do you know a Garden Crusader?
Every year Gardeners.com asks for nominations for Garden Crusader...people who make a gradening difference in our world and the lives of others. There are $15k in prizes for the winners.You can see the 2009 winners and read about the awesome things they are doing and nominate someone at

http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Page?id=5549

There are some truely inspiring people out there doing amazing things in their communities.

(picture above is from the Victory Garden at Dr. Phillips Elementary school taken 2008)

Free Clicks @ The Breast Cancer Site help fund Mammograms!

Free Clicks @ The Breast Cancer Site help fund Mammograms!
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

The Breast Cancer Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness of breast cancer and provide free mammograms for women in need every day 
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2&link=ctg_bcs_home_from_bcs_thankyou_leftnav_logo
 Please visit their site and click often. It could be important to someone you love!

Front Porch memories

Some of my favorite memories are of sitting on the front porch swing at my grandmother's house, swinging and listening to the birds sing and smelling the azaleas that were blooming all over her yard. She also had lovely little figurines and ceramic planters inside the porch with her beautiful violets blooming in them.

I just happened across Porch Magazine on the net while looking for some planters like Grandmother's. The current issue features the designs from 13 artists. If you like romantic country french
visiting  http://porchmagazine.webs.com/ is especially a must see.
They have a blog link there too.

Giveaway at ArtisticWillsStudio

My friend Joyce is have a giveaway on her blog.
She creates lovely handpainted glitter art pieces
Go see and enter at
http://artisticwillstudios.blogspot.com/2010/03/glitter-giveaway.html

Think Spring! Unique Woman in Business Promotion

I am so glad Spring is on the way! The sun is out a little longer! The birds are out, the sun is shining, even a few flowers are blooming! Some of our UWIB members' Etsy shops and independent businesses are having different promotions inspired by Spring. Qualifying items for each shop vary, so please see each individual shop for their promotion.

Etsy shops participating will have a shop announcement: Unique Women in Business Etsy Team will be having a THINK SPRING event starting Friday, March 5th thru Monday, March 8th. Search using UWIBSPRING to find all shops/items participating.

Here is a link to the UWIB blog for more
http://www.uniquewomeninbusiness.blogspot.com/

Great Advice for Everyone who is Self Employed

Charlie Gilkey posted a fantastic guest article over on Heather's blog "The Mogul Mom"

http://www.themogulmom.com/2010/02/8-ways-to-work-smarter-and-be-happier/

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When will it end?

When will this cold weather end?

Here we are in March and
There are more than a few people asking this question today.....
it will be in the 30's here in Florida again tonight. I know that seems balmy for some of those who live in the north right now, but I just hate being cold.

I ran into an elderly woman in the store who made this remark
"It's so cold, I think I'll move to Florida".."Oh wait, I am in Florida! Guess I'll have to move further south!"

Design Style Guide- "Turquoise is the color of the year 2010"

According to today's article in Design Style Guide- "Turquoise is the color of the year 2010"
http://designstyleguide.net/community/blog/2010/01/13/turquoise-color-of-the-year/
and purple is also popular this year.

Works for me. I do like turquoise and purple!!

Audrey

A Beautiful Find and a Touching Story

Love and inspiration found at Artistic Will Studios. You just have to go see Joyce's blog. She is an Artist/Painter, a creative soul with a passion for sharing an illuminating radiance with glitter art. Joyce is also a Mom and a fulltime caregiver to an elderly Mother with Alzheimer's. Her story and her art will touch you deeply.

http://artisticwillstudios.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/artisticwill

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Make sure you click on the giveaway link on her blog. Joyce has a fantastic piece of her art up for a March giveaway there!
(Picture used with permission of the artist. )

10 ways to maximize your Facebook Fan page

Another awesome article to help to handmade artists
http://meylah.com/blog/203/10-Ways-to-Maximize-Your-Facebook-Fan-Page

15 tips for shipping handmade items

Great information with time saving and money saving tips in Justines article at
http://meylah.com/blog/197/Smooth-Sailing-15-Tips-For-Shipping-Handmade-Products