Monday, Monday...

Well that weekend went quick! DH had off on Friday for a gold tourney that got rained out. I felt bad for him. He did get to do some stuff around the house though, like finish painting the ceilings in the kitchen!!! WHOO HOO, it's been a year since the remodel and it's finally DONE! I am so happy.

Saturday night we went out to eat for my BIL's b-day. We went to a place called Villa Barone's, i Downtown Collingswood. OMG it was SO good. I had Filet Mignon w/ crab & a Gorgonzola cream sauce. Came with Mized Julienne veggies & Polenta which was very good. I never had Polenta before.

Sunday we had my parents over for dinner. I made Chicken Francaise from an 'America's Test Kitchen' recipe. I thought it was OK. Everyone else liked it. It was a lot of work for such a simple recipe. I also made Mixed veggie 'Ribbons'. Yello squash, zucchini & Carrot sliced this w/a peeler then cooked a couple of minutes with butter. Well I overcooked them naturally. BLEH.

Today I have to go get the permit for the pool. I HOPE I have eveything I need. Still have to order that stupid sand.

On the jewelry front:

I listed a lot on eBay yesterday. It took me forever. Here's a summary:

Red Rose Earrings:



Pink Rose Earrings:


Bordeaux Dangles (Rare color only in Europe supposedly)

Olivine Dangles on Sale:

I really do like the way the Roses turned out. I can also get them in a pale yellow. I just might have to... I can picture them with Jonquil Swarovski's oooohhhh, ahhhhhh.

I have an idea to somehow list custom color crystal earrings. To match a specific dress, top, etc. They'd be relatively inexpensive, but completely custom. U pick the colors. I'd offer a couple different styles. I have to work on that one.


'tis all for now, there's errands to run, laundry to do, etc. etc. etc *sigh*

Finally...

Finally I feel better today, Yeah! Right after the last kid got on the bus I went straight to the Inspection station to get my car inspected. OK, I lied, I stopped at McDonald's for an Egg McMuffin & OJ, but I skipped lunch so it's allowed. After getting lost for a bit, as usual, I made it through inspection no line, no problems. Then I had to do registration which I found out DH has to renew since the car is leased in his name. Then Got the oil changed, went grocery shopping and was back by 11 ish. Not too shabby. Fascinating huh? Heah, be happy I spared you the scintillating details about how the lady in front of me in line at the Acme had bad chicken and held me up FOREVER...

Reminder to self: Order 4 tons of sand tomorrow for the pool. We're having an above ground pool installed in May. I hope I don't regret it. I REALLY wanted an in ground, but there's so many other things around here that we would like to do that it wasn't practical. The yard is going to be all pool. I hope I can convince DH to spend the money to deck it all in so it's seamless looking, like this one:

I like that look. The pool we're getting is oval also.
On the jewelry front, I got in my findings for the rosebud earrings. I'll post them tomorrow. I can't wait to make them. I also got in some unusual Swarovski crystal colors. A rich Bordeaux color, one called Sun, which is BRIGHT orange, and some brandy coated ruby. I love them all, of course. I also have a pendant I'm working on. It's the last piece of a Lemon Lime lampwork set I got at a show last year. I think it's the last piece...

Misc ramblings...
Survivor was awesome tonight! God I love the Yau Man. I want him to win. I was glad to see that moron Mookie go home. I have to say Alex was pretty smart, he saved his own arse tonight by stabbing his friend in the back. Karma baby! He'll be gone next week anyway, if he doesn't win immunity that is. Or find the idol. OH I'd love it if he found Yau Man's fake idol and presented it at Tribal Council. Can you imagine?! That would be classic.

GO YAU MAN!

New for this week

Thought I may as well start a blog. Everyone has a blog, right? If not just for showing the things I make, but to also keep in touch with people, use as a diary (sorta) same as everyone else does with a blog I suppose.

Anywho, I went to a bead show a month or so ago and got a lot of silver. I spent a looong time at the Bali & Hill Tribe booth. It was wall to wall people. Had to play do-si-do to be able to see everthing. I hate that it's all sold by the gram. I always go into cardiac arrest when I get my total! But all that silver is SO gorgeous I can't resist.

I got some pretty Hill Tribe Beadcaps that I used for earrings with some Swarovski Teardrops in Parparadsha (MY fave) and Chrystolite:

And in Tanzanite:




I love how they turned out! I have one more set of beadcaps left, same thing only a little larger. I'm thinking Jonquil (light yellow) in round shape for the crystal. Yellow is supposed to be in this summer.

I also got some pretty vine motif Bali Beads , clasps & Earring findings. So far I've only made these earrings:

They are made with the new Swarovski color Dark Coral Red in Cosmic cut (I think, might be Helix?) I really love the color. I think they turned out pretty.

I made a couple of bracelets too. This one is Chunky Amethyst nuggets...they're HUGE. Rustic looking with Bali beads in between:



I want to make on in Citrine too. But that's another day!

I also made another stained glass Bracelet from the links I got from Kathy Lev. She does beautiful stained glass work.

I have more links I should really do earrings & pendants. I always get stuck on pendants for some reason.

OOh I almost forgot. A couple of weeks ago I got some really pretty lampwork roses in red over on Etsy. Well I got some in PINK also. They're SO cute. I know exactly what I'm going to do with them. It involved green glass leaves & crystals. I'm waiting on some findings for them. Hopefully I'll have them done and on eBay next week.


On a side note. Whatever creeping crud DD brought home from school last week has not infected me. It's a given...she gets sick, I get sick. No matter how much Airborne of EmergenC I take. It's hard when they cough in your face by mistake. Grrr. My throat is KILLING me. I hate that. NyQuil helps, but makes me a zombie the next day. I had a lot to do this week too. Get the car inspected, registration, oil change, hair cut/color, etc. Speaking of hair, I think I need to change places. I LOVE the way my stylist cuts and colors my hair but it's just too expensive. Last time I went it was $225. For a cut & color. I do not live in NYC. That is a lot to me. Especially every month. Cripes. I have an appt. Friday, might be my last with them. We'll see.