I'm in the Mood for . . . Copper!

You're being treated to a sneak preview of my new line of necklaces featuring copper ~ bet you didn't know it was your lucky day!

These will be making their way into my shop in the very near future, but I couldn't wait until then to show them off :)

Why copper, you ask?

Well, I always say that I've never met a bead I didn't love, and the same goes for metal. I love them all and I'm not afraid to use them! I think copper works well for all seasons. With the warm weather that’s sure to arrive soon, I thought these necklaces would look especially fabulous when paired with a flouncy top or sundress.

If you’re strictly a silver or gold girl, now is the time to break the mold! Don’t be afraid to mix metals ~ it can be done. The days of sticking to just one are passe’.

Copper is a lower priced alternative to Sterling, which means these pieces will be priced just right so that you can pick up a few. I’ve kept the design simple ~ most of these necklaces feature a wonderful colored gemstone pendant, but each one is unique in its own way. Be sure to check my shop soon for their debut.

Also, here are some super cute summery tops from Anthropologie that you could accessorize with my new necklaces. Have fun!

Stylewatch: Michelle Obama

I’ve got my eye on the new First Lady. In fact, I don’t believe the White House has seen such a maven of style and elegance since the days of Camelot. After seeing Michelle Obama on PBS the other night, I am completely captivated. She looked as stunning as ever in a tea length, emerald green sleeveless dress (pictured).

The dress was designed by Kai Milla, who is the wife of Stevie Wonder and who also previewed her Spring 2008 collection on "Oprah" last year. Michelle “O” is the epitome of good taste, in my opinion. Her wardrobe choices are conservative, yet feminine. She is not afraid to wear bold colors, or to showcase her statuesque and very womanly figure. She can pull off the sleeveless look like no other.

It may seem trite to be evaluating the superficial aspects of such a smart, powerful and highly educated woman. On the other hand, I think it is very refreshing to have this woman as a role model for women and girls. She proves that you can be a mom, a career woman, and a wife and look super fabulous in any of those roles. Yes, I realize she has many resources that most of us do not. Still, I think her look is something most of us could emulate if we choose to, and that gives us all something to strive for.

A Reason to Celebrate

This week marked a special occasion in my life ~ my 34th birthday. Birthdays are cause for celebration in my mind ~ after all, if you don't celebrate the passage into another year of life, then what is the alternative? Besides, with the state of the economy and the negative impact it has had on nearly all facets of our daily existence, it seemed like a little celebration was more than overdue. There's me with my birthday brownie a la mode :) My pal Jenny and her soon-to-be husband came over for an impromptu birthday party. That's Jen and I with our "frou frou" drinks ~ margaritas made with fresh strawberries! Yes, I know those are martini glasses ~ I couldn't find my margarita glasses. I'm sure that I was breaking some cardinal rule of "Cocktail Making 101". My bad!

This beautiful orchid was a gift from my dear friend, Karen. She has made a tradition out of sending flowers to me at work on my birthday. I must say though, that I am always pleasantly surprised when the special delivery shows up. I don't know anyone who doesn't love to receive flowers. I consider myself one lucky chick to have this lady as a friend.

Thanks for sharing in the festivities ~ I hope that when it's your birthday, you will find a way to make the day a little extra special.

Two Thumbs Up for the "Biggest Book of Casseroles"

The most recent addition to my ever-expanding collection of cookbooks was given to me for Christmas from my sister. After owning it for just a few months, I have already made quite a few recipes from it and all have been delicious. So, I thought it was worth raving about a little bit.

Better Homes and Gardens "Biggest Book of Casseroles" is the name and the cover claims that it contains more than 380 "Delicious Comfort Food Favorites". Casseroles are a favorite because they are usually simple to make and extremely satisfying. I grew up eating them too, especially tuna noodle casserole, which was a staple at our house. In fact, I don't think I've made that dish once since moving out on my own (sorry, mom!)

I welcome variety, but never thought it was possible to come up with so many variations. Well, let me tell you, it is! The book features casseroles for breakfast, dessert, main dish and sides. There are ethnic dishes and the good old stand by's. Some with meat, and some without.

I recently made the "Asparagus-Ham Bake" on page 13 (see picture), and it was scrumptious down to the last bite. The ingredient list includes ham, swiss cheese, rice, asparagus (loooove it) and panko bread crumbs.

I won't give away the entire recipe here, but I urge you to go out and snag a copy for yourself. It is well worth the $20!

Pretty New Things . . . Finally!

After promising new items for weeks now, I finally started to list a few new pieces in my shop. I'm posting them as fast as I can, but the fingers do get tired out ;)

I hope you'll take a look!

Donate Your Stuff!

Over the past week or so, I've been on a major cleaning spree. This is totally out of character for me, but it's possible that the sudden change in the weather brought out the urge to do some early Spring cleaning. Sounds pretty lame, I know ~ but who else is going to do it? The maid quit long ago :)

This picture shows about half of the excess "stuff" that we are either going to be donating to charity or sending to a new home. My niece the broke college freshman will inherit some of my old clothes ~ the ones she actually deems "cool" enough to be seen in, that is.

If you live near Cleveland, Detroit, Houston or Indianapolis, you can go to this website and schedule a pick up of your discarded household items. You don't even have to leave your house to take your stuff to a drop off point ~ the agency will come right to you. It doesn't get any easier than that!

Too Good to Forget ~ Smoked Turkey, Broccoli and Gouda Casserole

This dish is an old standby that is especially satisfying on a cold winter day when you're stuck indoors. It was first introduced to me by a friend at work. Whenever we would have office potlucks, she would bring this dish. I loved it so much that I always requested the recipe from her, but she would just laugh and rattle off the list of ingredients, saying that there was no written recipe for it. Eventually, when she left the company, I pinned her down and made her write the recipe down. What I got in return was a grocery list of the ingredients that go into making this wonderful casserole. This is one of the few recipes in my standard rotation that I know by heart. I think it is too good to forget.

Here is what you need to make it:

16 oz. frozen chopped broccoli (thawed)

16 oz. jar of Alfredo sauce

4-5 medium potatoes (any kind you prefer), cubed or sliced thin

4 oz. Smoked Gouda cheese

4 oz. Shredded Parmesan cheese

1 lb. Smoked turkey breast, cut up into cubes

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a lightly greased casserole dish or 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are tender.

The Importance of Packaging

The first line of business for my Etsy shop in 2009 was to revamp the packaging that I use to ship my jewelry creations in. Doing that, while keeping shipping costs at a reasonable level has been a challenge, I'll be the first to admit. All of those cute earring cards, labels, ribbons, and organza bags do add up. It's tempting to go crazy, but one must be realistic, especially in these times of "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle". I think it is safe to assume that most people are not willing to pay exorbitant shipping fees in exchange for a package that looks like it came from Tiffany & Co. (or are they?) I've bought my share of items on Etsy, and I've received packages that have ranged from the simplest packaging ever (wrapped in paper towel and newspaper) to some that have arrived in fancy boxes with personalized labels, business cards and even candy. This leads me to wonder ~ how important is packaging to the Etsy buyer? Are you more impressed by the seller when you receive your purchase wrapped in fancy packaging? Or, does most of that stuff end up in the trash/recycle bin? Even in the early days when my packaging was relatively simple, I wanted the buyer to feel like they were receiving a gift. I've always adorned my packages in some way, just to make the recipient feel special. Some of my customers have expressed their delight at this in my feedback. To others, it doesn't seem to make much difference. My curiosity on this subject has lead me to add a new survey at the right side of this blog. If you would be so kind as to take a second and answer it, I would be very appreciative!

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts!