HappyLife by Zu-Li

BeKind Treasury Team

2011-12-14T18:19:00.000-05:00

Last week I became a proud member of the BeKind Treasury Team on Etsy! This team is not only a great promotional tool for Etsy sellers, but it's also a great way to meet other vegetarians and vegans. We create 4 treasuries a month featuring vegetarian friendly items on Etsy. It's a great feeling to be part of a team that feels strongly about kindness to animals. So, you'll be seeing a lot of treasuries on my blog in the future. It's a great way to find handmade items that are not only cute, but also animal friendly! It's a win win situation!

This is my first BeKind Team treasury.....

To view these great items in more detail, click here!

Every item in this particular treasury is made by a BeKind Team member. If you are a vegetarian Etsy seller and would like to join the team, let me know! We are looking for more animal-friendly members to add to our growing team! Buyers, if you search BeKind Team on Etsy you can view items made by all the members!

Gifts for Dog Lovers

2011-11-08T23:57:00.004-05:00

Christmas is right around the corner! I've been bouncing around Etsy looking for handmade goodies to give as gifts. I came across some really cute finds, perfect for dog lovers!

The Pembroke Corgi Magnet above is made by Outside Peg. Kari creates magnets and art prints of just about any dog you can think of. She captures the personalities of each breed beautifully!

Who could resist cuddling the Chihuahua Pillow above? It's so life-like! Cuore creates a variety of dogs in note cards, baby bibs, ornaments, and zipper pulls too!

Fuzzy Mug makes tea towels, tote bags, t-shirts, and wire bound journals, like the Pug Journal above. Brooke creates items with dogs, cats, roosters, rabbits, you name it! I'll take one of every animal please!

Furry Friends Digital Artwork creates beautiful custom made pet portraits with a really cool painting technique. Just email a picture of your pet and she'll digitally paint a portrait and mail it, complete with an easel frame! You can even purchase gift certificates!

New Magnet Sets!

2010-11-11T20:30:00.002-05:00

This week I posted a few of my new magnet sets in my Etsy shop! These sets are similar to my other ones previously in my shop, but improved! I replaced the big bulky black magnet on the back with a slim silver magnet which is even stronger! I also packaged the bottle cap magnets in a super cute flip top tin with a clear window on the lid! These sets make awesome Christmas or birthday gifts! Here's an example of some of them, with more to come!

Skellys & Hearts, $15

Vintage Photos, $15

Retro Cherries, $15

Fashion with Heart

2010-10-12T20:20:00.002-04:00

Being a vegetarian goes way beyond what we eat. We also try to make shopping as cruel-free as possible, as well. Love the look of leather jackets? Me too! But now I try to find items not made from leather or animal products, like belts, shoes, and gloves. Leather is very rock n roll, I get that. But man-made materials can be very punk, which is just as fun!

Cow Jones Industrials is a vegan boutique based in New York. You can find these and other cute shoes (the "suede" is made from recycled plastic):

One of my favorite online shops is Moo Shoes. They have bags, wallets, shoes, belts, & clothing. I adore this cute little clutch.

Another favorite shop is Alternative Outfitters vegan boutique. They have lots of fashion forward items that will make you stand out in a crowd without the guilt! Check out this cute magenta purple jacket!

There are lots of other shops popping up on the internet that sell items that are animal-free. Just search "Vegan Fashion". Happy Shopping!

Celebrity Vegetarians

2010-10-10T20:16:00.001-04:00

I personally feel that anyone on TV, in the news, or playing sports should be good role models, especially when kids are concerned. I love to hear about famous people doing good deeds. So, it makes me happy to hear that someone that people put on a pedestal are vegetarian. Here are a few people you may not realize are vegetarians:

Adam Ant-this one surprised me! Do you remember him from the 80's? I love me some Adam Ant (preferably in make-up)! I heard he's a little nutty, but I'm down with that!

Other musicians include Avril Lavigne, Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's, Billy Idol, Bonnie Rait, Boy George, Brandy, Bryan Adams, Joan Jett, Phil Collins, Nelly, Prince, & Shania Twain. Have you seen Ruben Stoddard from American Idol lately? He looks fantastic since he became a vegetarian!

Drew Barrymore-she's a cool chic, right? Everyone loves her! Brooke Shields, Demi Moore, Robin Williams, Pamela Anderson, & Pierce Brosnan are just a handful of actors who are also vegetarians.

Curious who else? Check out Happy Cow's list of famous vegetarians! While you're there, type in your zip code and find local vegetarian restaurants!

Vegetarian Awareness Month

2010-10-10T20:11:00.000-04:00

Today I stopped off at Books-a-Million and picked up a copy of VegNews magazine. Upon opening it up to the first page I read that October is Vegetarian Awareness Month! Awesome! This gives me another excuse to talk about the benefits of being a vegetarian!

I'd like to keep things light and upbeat for my first post and tell you about one of my favorite cookbooks. It's called "Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar". Yum-o! I don't know about you, but I love cookies! I've tried several of these recipes and I have not been disappointed! Some of my faves are the Peanut Butter Cookies, Snicker Doodles, Chocolate Chip and the Cowboy Cookies (chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut, and oatmeal).

Chocolate Chip

Snicker Doodles

There are 100 cookies in this cute little book and none of them are made with milk, eggs, or butter. Yet they still taste amazing! Feel like trying something new? Purchase a copy of this book, ask for it for your birthday or Christmas, or see if the library has a copy and make a few cookies!

New Packaging

2010-10-09T20:11:00.000-04:00

I may have been MIA on my blog, but I'm still keeping busy making new items and working on new packaging! I recently designed some cute packaging for my bottle cap pendants. Each pendant is strung on a card and wrapped in a cellophane bag. Here's what they look like:

Now I'm working on my bottle cap magnet sets. They're going to be really cute! Stay tuned for pictures!

Owl Always Love You

2010-06-16T14:58:00.001-04:00

Happy Owl Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

My Happy Owl has made it into another treasury, 2 days in a row! You go owl!

ComeShopPinkLemonade put this adorable treasury together called "Owl Always Love You".

Hootie Hooooo

2010-06-15T21:30:00.000-04:00

BusyBeesCreations made an adorable owl themed treasury, featuring my little Happy Owl Bottle Cap Pendant. Cute!

Happy Owl, $5

Blue Debut

2010-06-06T15:38:00.000-04:00

My Blue Butterfly Bottle Cap Pendant was featured in Kandice in Wonderland's treasury today named Blue Debut!

Blue Butterfly, $5

Cucumber Tomato Salad with Fried Bread

2010-06-01T19:37:00.000-04:00

I whipped up this salad for lunch today and boy, was it good! Here's the recipe:

(serves 1)

olive oil
1 ciabatta roll
about 2 teaspoons minced garlic (jarred minced garlic is a time saver!)
about 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cucumber, peeled and sliced
basil, around 8 pieces, chopped
a sprinkling of capers
salt/ pepper
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
dried Italian seasoning

Heat pan w/ some olive oil on med/high heat. Break up ciabatta & fry till crisp. Careful not to burn and stirring periodically.

Heat olive oil in another pan. Add garlic & saute on med/high heat. Add tomatoes and stir occasionally. While they're cooking slice the cucumber and basil.

In medium bowl add bread when it's finished. Then add cucumber, basil, capers, and tomatoes once they are nice and soft. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar, stir. Add to plate and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Yum, yum! Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T09:26:00.002-04:00

Child Proofed Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the world! I assume that being a mother takes a good sense of humor. These bottle cap pendants are dedicated to you, dear mothers! Hope you have a good laugh and a great day!

That's How I Roll Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

The Maid Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Karma Sucks Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Breakfast in Bed Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Sarcasm Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Sassy Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

Ray of Sunshine Bottle Cap Pendant, $5

It's A Nice Day For a White Wedding

2010-04-30T21:18:00.001-04:00

Flaming Heart Earrings, $7

Remember that kick ass song by Billy Idol? My "Flaming Heart Earrings" were chosen for a kick ass Etsy treasury with the same title. Thanks The Painting Libra for choosing my earrings for your beautiful treasury!

If you want a flash back to the 80's here's a link to Billy Idol's "White Wedding" video. Don't you miss 80's videos? I know I do!

Product Reports

2010-04-23T23:45:00.001-04:00

I previously wrote about the importance of choosing healthy body products. Thanks to www.thekindlife.com I discovered the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, a website that has taken the time to analyze and rate the safety of products, such as, makeup, oral care, sun protection, what we put on our skin, hair, nails, babies, and what we put in our eyes. A 0-2 score and a color of green means that it's a low hazard, 3-6 is yellow and means moderate hazard, 7-10 is red and means high hazard. I *urge* you to search for products you use everyday to see it's rating. If it has a lousy score between 7-10 (red), PLEASE find a healthier alternative. If it's yellow, maybe you can find something that you really like that's in the green, as well. Don't expect major companies out there to give a hoot about you. They are there to make a profit at whatever cost. You owe it to yourself and your family to find healthier products!!

Lemon-Roasted Asparagus

2010-04-22T20:42:00.000-04:00

I LOVE oven-roasted veggies! They're really easy to make. Prep them, let them roast in the oven, and stir them periodically. The oven makes the veggies sweeter. No wonder so many people don't like veggies. Vegetables have gotten a bad, bad name because of soggy, tasteless canned veggies and overcooked broccoli most restaurants serve.

One of my favorite cookbooks is The Roasted Vegetable. I have a handful of recipes I constantly remake. One of them is the Lemon-Roasted Asparagus. Here's the recipe:

Lemon-Roasted Asparagus
1 lb asparagus (12-16 medium-thick spears), bottoms trimmed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly sqeezed lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (if you like it, I don't, so I just add sea salt)

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Arrange asparagus in single layer in large shallow roasting pan or cookie sheet. Drizzle the oil and lemon juice over asparagus & roll to coat evenly. Season with salt & pepper.

3. Roast for about 15 minutes, until asparagus is tender and lightly browned.

4. Serve hot. I like to sprinkle with sesame seeds, too.

Yum! Enjoy!

New Stuff

2010-04-13T20:30:00.001-04:00

"Hello Kitty Says Hello Pendant", $5

I re-organized my shop over the weekend and added some new items. I decided to organize things in a fun way like Animals, Hearts, Butterflies, Flowers, Cherries/ Strawberries, Skulls, Hello Kitty/ Skelanimals, Vintage Pin Ups, Music, and Chains/ Key Rings. Check 'em out!

Mmmmmm, Coconut Bliss!

2010-03-28T20:36:00.002-04:00

I admit, I was skeptical. I've tried soy ice cream and as much as I wanted to like it, I didn't. I decided to pick up a pint of Cherry Amaretto Coconut Bliss this weekend. Oh my, it is good!! It's soy, dairy, and gluten free, vegan, and low glycemic. Sounds like it would be gross, right? It's not, it's yum! You have to pick some up-click here to find it in your area. There's lots of choices-Pineapple Coconut, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla Island, Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge, and more! Even better, coconut milk has heart protecting properites and can boost metabilism (coconut fat doesn't need to be broken down and can be used immediately as energy)! Bring on the Coconut Bliss please!

100th Sale!

2010-03-23T21:33:00.001-04:00

My shop is only one purchase away from hitting 100 sales! I started my business about 5 years ago. My business has changed a lot since then! I've learned to take some risks, try new things, and listen to my heart. I started my Etsy shop June 15, 2006. I had heard about Etsy somewhere-it was still pretty new (it launched in 2005). I posted a few things, but not knowing much about online selling I didn't sell anything! I didn't return to Etsy until June 2008. Sales were off and on until a year ago. I changed my vision and I've been making sales monthly ever since! I'm so grateful and I'd like to say thanks to all my customers and fans-the next sale I make on Etsy will be my 100th! The person who helps me reach my 100th sale will get a free bottle cap necklace! Yeah!

What I Ate Today

2010-03-21T22:01:00.000-04:00

Today was a pretty easy cooking day for me! (yay!) Here's what I had:

Breakfast: oatmeal with fresh blackberries and strawberries (sprinkled maple sugar on them the night before and let them sit in the fridge overnight). Steamed collard greens.

Lunch: Pasta salad (made last night and chilled in fridge) using brown rice elbow noodles, Drew's Italian dressing, sliced olives, jarred red peppers, tomatoes, cucumber. Bruschetta topped with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, dried basil or fresh basil if you've got it.

Snack: pistachios and banana.

Dinner: taco casserole made with crispy taco shells, refried beans, corn, picante, topped with a little Tofutti Sour Supreme. Avacado salad with romaine lettuce, tomato, lemon juice.

Desser: Back to Nature classic creme cookies.

Tip: to add sweetness to your food add some raisins! Great in cereal, salads, rice dishes, and cookies, of course!

Let me know if you want any recipes!

Mmmmmm, Daiya!

2010-03-19T21:47:00.000-04:00

There is a new vegan cheese on the market called Daiya and it's *Amazing!* I first tried it at a local Italian restaurant called Vertori's. The owner surprised me by giving me a sample of her new vegan lasagna. It was to die for! She explained everything she put in there, including this new vegan cheese. Tonight we went back and I ordered veggie multi-grain pizza with this cheese and I was in Heaven!! The owner was nice enough to sell me some so I can made recipes at home with it! Her restaurant is the only one in the whole state of Florida to sell it! I don't think it's even sold in any stores here! Here's a list of places where it's currently for sale. You can also get it at this awesome online store www.veganstore.com. Right now there's an Italian (which is what I tried, great for pasta, quesadillas, pizza) and cheddar (grilled cheese, mac and cheese). If you get the chance to try it, you have to! It's melty, creamy, and oh so super yummy!!

What I Ate Today

2010-03-17T22:12:00.001-04:00

Previously I mentioned that I am blogging about some of the vegetarian meals I make from scratch. Here is what I had today:

Breakfast: oatmeal with raisins and sliced almonds. Steamed collard greens (my doggie loves them too!)

Lunch: Chiabata bread lightly grilled in pan with grilled eggplant and sauteed tomatoes and jarred roasted red pepper. Vegenaise mixed with hot red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning spread onto bread. Potato salad.

Snack: raw unsalted peanuts mixed with hazelnuts

Dinner: same thing as last night (easy night in the kitchen!) Black bean soup (with a dallop of Tofutti Sour Supreme), coucous, and asparagus.

Dessert: fresh blackberries and strawberries.

Let me know if you want any detailed recipes of the food I posted! Just leave a comment which one you'd like to see!

What I Ate Today

2010-03-16T22:26:00.002-04:00

A couple of my friends are trying to be more vegetarian and occasionally ask me for suggestions on what to eat. I decided to blog about it so everyone can see some of the yummy meals I like to make for myself. I was never into cooking before I became a veg-head. I used to eat at home a lot, but whatever was the quickest. Honestly, I didn't feel so well after those quick meals and hungry soon after. Now I cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks from scratch! At times it can be daunting and I'm not thrilled to plan my meals before grocery shopping. But what I am thrilled about is sitting down to a yummy, colorful, and satisfying meal that gives me energy! So, to help everyone plan their meals, here's an example of what I had today:

Breakfast: oatmeal with raisins and sprinkle of cinnamon, steamed collard greens (great for energy!)

Snack: banana

Lunch: whole wheat pita pocket stuffed with romaine lettuce, chick peas, tomatoes, cucumber, jarred roasted red pepper, mild pepper rings, olive oil, white balsamic vinagrette. Potato salad made with celery, Vegenaise, mustard, splash of white balsamic vinaigrette, and pinch of salt. Juicy orange.

Snack: homemade corn muffins

Dinner: yummy homemade black bean soup. Couscous with corn, peas, and carrots. Oven roasted asparagus with olive oil, lemon, and salt.

Dessert: homemade peach crumble.

If any of these recipes sound good to you, leave a comment and I'll be glad to share the recipes on my blog!

Meow!

2010-03-14T17:41:00.001-04:00

I just listed a few of my vintage kitty pendants in my shop. These pendants can be made into either necklaces or keychains (sold separately). Check 'em out! Meow!

Kitty with Blue Bow, $5

Peek a Boo Kitty, $5

Vintage Kitty, $5

Shy Kitty, $5

Purple Kitty, $5

Blue Kitty, $5

Gorgeously Green

2010-03-09T21:35:00.001-05:00

Lately I've been immersed in reading a wonderful book by Sophi Uliano titled "Gorgeously Green". I can't say I'm the greenest, most eco-friendly person in the world. I carry a re-usable water bottle to the gym (as long as I remember it), use re-usable shopping bags at the grocery store (they really rock-you can shove a lot of things in them and they're so much easier to carry than those plastic grocery bags), and I use some products in the house that are eco-friendly like Method dishwasher soap. If it's easy for me to do, I'll give it try it!

Well, Sophie reminded me how harmful most body products are. Most face cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, toothpaste, make-up, etc. are loaded with chemicals! Major companies that advertise on TV about how wonderful their products smell, how beautiful your skin will look, how silky smooth your hair will be-all chemical cocktails that wreck havoc on our bodies inside and out! Just like the food we eat, we need to be careful about the products we use and read the ingredients!

Here's a list of ingredients that we should try to avoid. If your products contain the following, you should really consider finding a better product. Things to look for:

*Coal Tar: based in "FD&C Blue 1" which is used in toothpaste, "FD&C Green 3" used in mouthwash.
*Fragrance: mask chemical smells
*Hydroquinone: found in facial moisturizers
*Aluminum: eye shadow, deodorants
*Triclosan: antibacterial products, soap, toothpaste, cosmetics
*P-Phenylenediamine: also listed as "1,4-Benzenediamine", "p-Phenyldiamine", and "4-Phenylenediamine"
*Lead & Mercury: toothpaste, mercury is also called thimerosol
*Cocamide DEH, Lauramide DEA, Cocamide MEA, Triethanolamine (TEA), Diethanolamine (DEA)
*Mineral Oils: coat skin like plastic
*Parabens (methl-, ethyl-, propyl, butyl, isobutyl-): in lots of products
*Phthalates: banned in the European Union, but not in the US
*Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES): foaming agent used in toothpaste, shampoo, bubble bath, soap and also brake fluid & antifreeze (eek!)
*Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): thickener for skin care products-so toxic that workers are required to wear protective clothing when handling (also look for propylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, & butylene glycol)
*Formaldehyde: can cause chronic fatigue
*Talc: in baby products, deoderants, cosmetic powder
*Acrylates & Methacrylates: nail products
*Alchol, Isopropyl (SD-40): common in cosmetics
*Tocopherol Acetate: synthetic version of Vitamin E
*Phenonip: blend that contains a mixture of chemicals mentioned previously
*Cationic Surfactants (stearalkonium chloride, benzalkodium chloride, cetrimonium chloride, cetalkonium chlroide & lauryl dimonium hydrolyzed collagen): used in hair conditioner and ironically makes hair dry & brittle
*Benzyl Alchol: can irritate your eyes & respiratory system
*Carbomer 934, 940, 941, 960, 961C: thickener in creams, cosmetics, toothpaste

I know you probably feel overwhelmed and maybe a bit shocked. What do you do now? I recommend that you take a look at the ingredients in the products you use now. More than likely you will see a lot of these chemicals. Next, find new products to try. You may find some great products at a whole foods store or online. Then, take note of things that you are going to run out of soon and buy new, healthy products to replace. Lastly, if you are not totally pleased with the new product, try another brand! Believe me, you'll feel great when you use the new products knowing that you are keeping yourself and your family healthy! Here are a few online stores I recommend looking for healthy alternatives:

http://www.aubrey-organics.com
http://www.desertessence.com
http://www.juicebeauty.com
http://www.mionegroup.com
http://kissmyface.com
http://www.artofbeauty.com

Just remember, don't make this a chore, make it fun!

Animals in Art: Dogs!

2010-02-21T17:42:00.003-05:00

There are so many different doggies: big, small, mixed breeds, pure bred, short hair, long hair. But no matter which type of dog is yours, you have to admit that he or she is your best friend. They're eager to see you when you come home, they listen when you need to talk, and they don't judge you for any decisions you make, as crazy as they may be! That's why I decided to feature some very talented Etsy artists who use canines in their works of art.

Welsh Corgi Dog ACEO Signed Art Card Print, $5

Wow! What a talented artist Ron Krajewski from DogArtStudio is! The above picture is a copy of one of his original watercolor paintings. I also love Chihuahua Dog Art Signed Print. His shop is full of prints and original art of practically any type of dog. The way he captures the personality of these dogs in watercolor is so amazing! He also does commissioned work where he'll paint a picture of your very own dog!

Pomeranian Fine Art Print, $12

One of the grooviest artists I've seen on Etsy is DeanRussoArt. I've never seen pet portraits like these! They are so colorful and vibrant, just like our furry friends! You have to check out the rest of this artist's work!

Chihuahua in Poppies Original Art, $25

This little cutie is made by Malthene. She does her dog prints in pastels and has a large variety of different pooches. She will also paint a picture of your own dog. She does a wonderful job and her prices are very reasonable! I love the idea of capturing our own furry friends in art!

Bad Picture Day

2010-02-08T21:59:00.002-05:00

We've all been there. A bad grade school photo in glasses or braces or both. A "what was I thinking?" photo in highschool with crazy hair. Maybe a bad prom photo with an ugly dress. Makes us giggle to look back at those silly pictures! Ellen Degeneres has some funny photos on her website named "Bad Paid For Photos". You have to check them out, they'll make your day!

The Kind Diet

2010-02-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

I'm totally addicted to Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet and her website, The Kind Life. Alicia is vegan, a macrobiotic, animal advocate, and an environmentalist. I first started reading her website, loved it so much that I had to order her book. Both are so down to earth, I feel like I'm reading something a friend wrote. On her website she talks about food, health, house, style, and the environment. She even has a forum where people can talk to others who are eating healthier, to make friends, or ask questions. Just by reading her blog I was inspired to reduce the amount of milk, cheese, butter, and eggs in my diet and it has paid off on the scale! Before reading the book I started "Vegan Mondays" where I didn't eat any animal by products. I now naturally lean more towards vegan foods during the rest of the week and I find myself open to new recipes and foods.

In her book she breaks people down into Flirts, Vegans, and Super Hero's. Flirts are people who want to start reducing their meat intake and animal by products. Vegans don't eat anything from animals and dabble in the Macrobiotic lifestyle. Super Hero's are Macro's and are all about grains, veggies, beans, etc. I now eat like a vegan at lunch and a Macrobiotic at dinner and I feel wonderful! I have so much more energy!

I know this may seam really extreme to a lot of people out there. However, I *highly* recommend everyone read this book for their health. Even if you don't make the leap into anything right off the bat, it will make you think about what you are eatting and how the food industry has us fooled. It will open your eyes.

A lot of people ask, "what do vegan's eat"? There's actually a lot of food out there that are vegan! It takes a little time to figure out what foods are vegan, but you'd be surprised what is (anyone like Frito's or Oreo's?). I find that I'm eating more fruits and veggies and I even prefer soy milk in my coffee rather than cow milk. Earth Balance is yummy too!

For those of you that feel this is way too extreme, that's ok. Maybe you'd be interested in having "Meatless Monday". Lots of families are doing it! The farm animals will thank you, as well as your body!

January Winner!

2010-02-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

Hello, lovely people! Saturday I randomly chose the winner for the bottle cap pendant and chain. The winner is (drum roll please)....Damla from Turkey! Damla chose one of my new pendants, the red and black butterfly and added a black ball chain.

Congratulations Damla!!!!!

Please stay tuned for another giveaway in February!

ArtoMat

2010-01-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

My friend tipped me off to something really cool that's been popping up around the U.S. Art-o-Mats are re-purposed cigarette machines filled with art! For $5 you can purchase original work of art from artists around the world. Currently there are 400 contributing artists from 10 different countries. Right now there are 82 machines in different locations, from an Arizona art gallery to a Wisconsin library. My friend stumbled across one at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. All of the Art-o-mat machines have a cute retro 50's look to them. Are you an artist interested in submitting a sample for review to place in one of the machines? You can read the guidelines here. Are you interested in purchasing art from the Art-o-mat but nowhere near one? Do you know of someone who'd love the gift of art from one of these machines? You can purchase an Art-o-Carton for $99.99 with 10 pieces of art. The cool thing is, you fill out a 10-question questionnaire to help the lovely people at Art-o-mat pick the perfect art just for you or your gift recipient. How cool is that???

January Giveaway: Bottle Cap Necklace

2010-01-16T11:44:00.001-05:00

Hi there! I'm back with another giveaway, this time for a bottle cap pendant and chain necklace of your choice! I have several bottle cap pendant designs to choose from and a variety of chain sizes and colors. If you win, you choose one of each! Click here to see what's available!

How do you win? There's many ways, you get to choose. Here's how (each one counts for 1 entry except the last one):

*Become a follower of my blog, then make a comment below stating you are now a follower. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment below and ask to be put in the drawing. ******If you are following anonymously, I'll need an email address so I can contact you if you win*****

*Tell me one of your New Year's resolutions for 2010.

*Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment below that you are now following me. (www.twitter.com/zulidesigns)

*Sign up for my email newsletter and leave a comment below that you signed up. Sign up here.

*And for an extra 2 entries, post about this giveaway, complete with picture and my blog link, on your own blog! Come back and leave another comment letting me know you've done so, along with your link.

*This giveaway closes on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at noon.

*Thanks for entering & Good Luck!!

Peep Into My Studio

2010-01-10T18:09:00.006-05:00

I took this picture Saturday. I was on my computer and looked behind me to see Miss Roxy snuggled in her bed in front of my newly designed cabinet.

I took all my favorite business cards, images, and photos and taped them onto my craft cabinet. My list of goals are taped up there also. The colorful pictures transformed the white cabinet from "ho hum" to "oooooooh"!

Animals in Art

2010-01-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

One year ago today I became a vegetarian. It was an oath I made to myself because of my love of animals. They are such beautiful and smart creatures with their own personalities. It's a new year and I'd like to try something new-I decided to start a monthly blog called "Animals in Art" where I'll be highlighting art created by Etsy artists.

I've always thought owls were cute little buggers, but I never really understood the obsession that some people seem to have. After watching this video of an adorable Malay Eagle Owl, I totally understand!

The following are some of my favorite finds on Etsy that use owls as their inspiration:

ACEO Owl Art Print - The Dreamer, $4

How cute is this? The artist, Udonchow, captures the sweetness of the owl in the video. The eyes say it all!

Owly Magnifier Necklace, $38

I love items that do double duty! This beautiful owl magnifying glass by Pookeh is also a necklace. It's stylish, and helpful!

Boutique Embroidery Patch, $6.99

I love the colors and retro inspired patterns on this owl applique. This cute patch was designed by Elf Shimmer Designs.

What I'm Working On-Valentine Bottle Caps

2010-01-03T20:33:00.005-05:00

Currently I'm making some new bottle caps, the first batch are Valentine's Day related. New designs include Hello Kitty, Tattoos, Butterflies, and Punk. These still need glazed, then made into pendants or earrings:

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T11:22:00.001-05:00

Happy New Years to everyone!

I love New Years-it's one of my favorite holidays. Why New Years? Because it means a fresh start. It's a chance to analyze the past year and to do things differently in the new year.

Do you run your own business? Did you make goals for your business? If not, I recommend listing 10 goals for 2010 that you'd like to accomplish to increase your income, to try new things, to improve tasks that need improving, and to overall help you enjoy running your business even more!

One of my goals is to blog weekly. *Make your goal measurable.* Determine how often you'll do something. Don't just say "blog more often". Make yourself accountable for your goal. To accomplish blogging weekly, I started writing blog posts already that I'll have ready to publish when the new week arrives. It also assures that I'll accomplish my goal if I'm too tired, sick, or on vacation.

*Writing goals helps you organize your thoughts and your brain starts to create solutions so you can fulfill your goals.*

Another one of my goals is to create new products. I have a few new mediums I'd like to dabble in to see if they're something I'd like to add to my shop. Some of them are shrink art jewelry, resin accessories, and polymer clay pendants.

*Learning new things can help your business succeed.*

One last goal I'd like to share with you is that I want to read 5 books about business, marketing, etc. There's always something to learn in the business world, whether it be from books, forums, or talking to others in your industry.

*Writing a specific goal will help you stay focused on your goals. Ex: 5 books.*

I wish everyone luck in the New Year and I hope everyone stays healthy and happy. If you run your own business I hope you have a very prosperous 2010!

Gothic News

2009-12-30T19:38:00.003-05:00

I accidentally stumbled upon a shout out for my Goth Diva Bracelet on the blog Gothic News dated July 5th, 2009. What a pleasant surprise!

Pictures, News, and More!

2009-12-21T21:41:00.015-05:00

I've been crazy busy lately! I finally put up my tree on Saturday evening and Christmas is this Friday! I cheated the tree because I didn't even decorate it! But I ended up putting up our tiny shiny silver tree with the rainbow lights instead of having the hubby drag the big one down from the attic. Regardless, it looks quite nice and modern looking.

A week ago I had the honor of having a table at the Atomic Holiday Bazaar and I have pictures to prove it! It was a blast! My husband helped me out this year and he did an *awesome* job, helping me make change, reminding me to give people a business card with their purchase, and straightening up the table when we had the chance. He also bought me all the beer and pizza I desired! We had fun listening to the bands and meeting new people. Here are a few pics:

You can find a couple more pictures of the show and of other things at www.flickr.com/zulidesigns.

Colin Panetta created the kick ass mini posters that were handed out to everyone who stopped by the show. I was blown away when I saw that my cute little Kitty Eating an Icecream Cone necklace was illustrated on his poster! (upper left hand corner). He stopped by my booth with his adorable girlfriend and we chatted. Adrien, the woman illustrated in the poster stepping over the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, is the show promoter. She is shown here as the "Attack of the 50 ft Woman".

We sat next to a couple of super cool gals, Erin & Amber, from Like a Fox. And I did a trade with a sweet gal, Julie, from Sew It's for You (check out the cute Super Sushi embroidery pattern and I Love You Deerly Towel.) I also had the chance to meet Nikki, the owner of Rumor Has It, who I am now consigning with! Her shop just opened up in Sarasota in early December. I am so excited about this endevor-her shop is full of clothing and accessories that are very rock n roll! She is also a very talented designer behind her own company that creates clothings, bags, and corsets named Punk Rock Betty.

Whew! I don't know about you, but I'm tired! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! I'd like to give thanks to all of my friends and family who have been supportive of my addiction (jewelry making) and to all of my customers, blog readers, twitter followers, consignees, and fans~*muah!* big kiss to you all!

Atomic is Almost Here!

2009-12-01T20:22:00.007-05:00

I'm sure everyone I know is tired of me yappin' about the Atomic Holiday Bazaar, but I just can't help it! I've been (seriously) planning my jewelry designs and table layout all year long for this show. Here's an article that ran in today's Bradenton Times about the upcoming show.

If you are looking for some deals, I will have 50% off select items in my shop during the holiday season. I'll have 3 featured accessories at the top of my shop that will be reduced.

I've added a lot more bottle cap magnet sets too, and they are now $15 (instead of $20). They all come in a cute tin, great for gift giving!

"Pink Skulls"

"Black & White Bettie"

"Boobie Babes" (with gem boobies)

Glass Heart Earrings Winner!

2009-11-15T09:48:00.008-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my Glass Heart Earrings Giveaway! Today I drew the winner using www.random.org. The winner is......LeeP! Congratulations!!!

Lately I've been busy with lots of projects...getting in shape, getting my finances in shape, learning about Kundalini yoga, and making lots of jewelry for Christmas! Here are a few fun rings I've added to my shop recently:

Yellow Kitty Girl Ring, $10

Vanilla Cupcake with Strawberries Ring, $10

Lavender Flower Cocktail Ring, $10

Barbie Bouquet Ring, $5

Girly Skull Ring, $9

Thanks again to everyone who entered the giveaway! Stay tuned for another cool giveaway soon!!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T12:49:00.021-05:00

Man, we had a *blast* last night! My hubby and I held a "Rockin' Costume, Guitar Hero Playin', Gross Food Eatin'" Halloween Party! Everyone was required to dress as rock stars. The guests varied in ages and everyone dressed! Here's a group photo of some of our guests (I'm the one in pink and black with my hubby "Chris Daughtery" next to me, holding our psycho lookin' doggie):

Here are a few special treats that we made:

"Roaches"
(dates filled with peanut butter & walnuts for crunchiness)

"Deviled Eyeballs"
(deviled eggs w/ blue food coloring, olives, pimentos, red food coloring for veins)

"Boogers"
(cream cheese, shredded cheese, chopped walnuts)

"Spider Web Dip"
(mexican layered dip with sour cream web)

"Mud, dirt, and worms"
(chocolate pudding, crushed oreos, and gummy worms)

"Pukin' Punkin"
(french onion dip with food coloring and toasted pumpkin seeds)

We had a Guitar Hero competition where we paired up and donated $5 each to a pot for the winning team to win.
brother in-law's dad

nephew's girlfriend

brother in-law

my nephew & I

I love how it brought everyone together!

grandson & grandparents hanging out together

Even Roxy dressed up in her spiked Harley Davidson collar, Halloween bows, and "Rock & Roll Princess" t-shirt.

And the winning team is:
*High Five* to my nephew Chance! We won $25 each!

I love Boopsie Daisy!

2009-10-25T22:10:00.006-04:00

I stumbled across Boopsie Daisy's store on Etsy a long time ago and instantly fell head over heels in love with her artwork. Her photographs are quirky, whimsical, funny, funky, colorful and just plain weird....which is exactly why I love them! She mixes food and dolls to make some of the most unique art I've ever seen! Here's a sampling of some of my favorites (I would totally display these in my studio):

"Cotton Candy"

"Marshmallows & Coco"

"Ele Phantasy"

Thank you, Boopsie Daisy for making this world more interesting and colorful!

Tweet Tweet

2009-10-25T21:52:00.005-04:00

I'm now a member of Twitter, so if you live in Twitter Land, find me here. I'd love to see you there!

xoxo,
Billie

Inspirational Quotes

2009-10-19T20:11:00.006-04:00

I always love a good inspirational quote. When I'm feeling weak (when the fridge is calling to me in the evening) a good quote can make me feel strong. When I feel unmotivated, one can make me recharge and get motivated. Here are a few I came across that I really like and I want to share. Hopefully one or more with resonate with you and help you out today! Maybe you'll want to write some of them down and post them in places you'll see them when you need them-on the fridge, at work, on your bathroom mirror, in your car....

"If you want what you've never had before, you must do what you've never done before!"

"Endure the hardship until the burden becomes a blessing."

"A willing heart finds a thousand ways,
An unwilling heart finds a thousand excuses"

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." (Eleanor Roosevelt)

"What would you attempt, if you knew you could not fail?"

"When one approach is not working to reach the desired goal, that's not a reason to abandon the goal. Instead, it is time to devise another approach." (Ralph Marston)

"My life tomorrow will be the result of my attitudes and the choices I make today."

Giveaway: Glass Heart Earrings

2009-10-15T20:23:00.006-04:00

Hi everyone! I have another giveaway, this time for a sweet pair of glass heart earrings! They are clear glass hearts with frosted edges, wire-wrapped onto silver plated ear hooks.

How do you win it? Here's how!

*Become a follower of my blog, then make a comment below stating you are now a follower. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment below and ask to be put in the drawing. (good for 1 entry)******If you are following anonymously, I'll need an email address so I can contact you if you win*****

*Tell me what you like about Thanksgiving (that's good for a 2nd entry)

*And for an extra 2 entries, post about this giveaway, complete with picture and my blog link, on your own blog! Come back and leave another comment letting me know you've done so, along with your link.

*This giveaway closes on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at noon.

*Thanks for entering & Good Luck!!

Skull Keyring Winner

2009-10-11T14:51:00.009-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my first giveaway on my blog! There were 45 entries total for the Skull Keyring.

The winner was chosen in a very technical way. I wrote everyone's name on orange pieces of paper and had my husband draw the winner!

The winner is Khaski! Congrats!

Please come back...I will be doing more giveaways! Please also visit my shop at www.zulidesigns.etsy.com and check out the new items I posted today! See you for the next giveaway!

My Vacation in Pictures

2009-09-16T20:04:00.014-04:00

Currently I'm on vacation with my husband where we are touring some Southern states and visiting friends. Here are some pictures so far of our vacation:

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee

Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee

Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee

Music Valley Wax Museum, Nashville, TN

strange wax museum we stopped at spur of the moment

I'll post more pictures later! In the meantime, enter my "Skull Keyring" Giveaway! Contest ends October 11th.

Skull Keyring Giveaway!

2009-09-09T23:08:00.008-04:00

Hello everyone! I decided to do my *first* giveaway! I want to give everyone the chance to win this super cool skull keyring made by me! It's made with a bottle cap and an image of a skull that's been sealed in a clear glaze.

How do you win it? Here's how!

*Go to my shop, www.zulidesigns.etsy.com.

*Pick out your favorite item(s) from my shop, and then come back here to this blog and leave a comment telling me what you wish was yours! (that's good for 1 entry)

*Tell me what you like about Fall (that's good for a 2nd entry)

*And for an extra 2 entries, post about this giveaway, complete with picture and shop link, on your own blog! Come back and leave another comment letting me know you've done so, along with your link.

*Non-blogger users, please make sure you leave your name and email, otherwise I have no way to get a hold of you, and you'll be disqualified.

*This giveaway closes on Sunday, October 11, 2009, at noon.

*Thanks for entering & Good Luck!!

Creating the Life You Want

2009-09-05T14:34:00.009-04:00

"Follow Your Dreams", $15, Valentina Design

I'm all about lists-I always have a to do list to keep me on track. I always carry a shopping list to the grocery store. I also believe in listing all my goals and dreams to create the life I want.

I began my first dream list by creating a collage years ago. I was stuck in a job I was not happy with. I lived in a place I no longer wanted to live. And I just got out of a relationship that I didn't see a future. A friend I worked with recommended I read a book (sorry, for the life of me, I don't remember the name of the book). She said she knew several people who had read it and it changed their lives. I was willing to try anything!

I read the book and I made a collage of all the things I wanted...I attached a picture of palm trees to represent living in Florida, I had a picture of an engagement ring to signify a happy relationship and eventually getting married, and a picture of a laptop so I could afford to get rid of my old clunky computer for a sleek one. I attached a big picture of a dollar sign so I could one day have enough money to live comfortably and not live paycheck to paycheck (and with credit cards). Anything I wanted. I posted this collage on the wall. All of those things started to come true. I was a believer! I now write down my goals and dreams, as silly or small they may be. It seems that once those words are written on paper the universe takes over and makes my dreams come true.

I came across a blog article that I wanted to share. Gwen Bell shows several ways on How to Create Your Personal Manifesto. I recommend anyone who feels stuck or helpless to check it out and get going on creating the life they want and dream of. I recommend anyone who wants to fine tune their goals to read it. Now go get that life you dream about!!

By the way, if you are looking for some beautiful inspirational art, check out Valentina Designs on Etsy!

Finding Style Through Inspiration Boards

2009-09-04T22:20:00.013-04:00

As you know, I recently purchased a handful of fashion related books to help me find my style. I've been living in jeans, t-shirts, and flip flops for a long time. I live in Florida where it's very casual. I don't have to dress stylish for work, fancy restaurants, or nights on the town. I don't know how to put fashionable outfits together anymore.

One of the first tasks Isacc Mizrahi recommends in his book "How to Have Style" is to create an Inspiration Board. I'm glad I did because it has helped me to narrow down the items and colors I need to purchase for my new wardrobe. The stressful job of finding my own style has been simplified, thanks to Isaac!

It's fun to make an inspiration board-you browse through catalogs, magazines, online stores, photographs, etc., finding pictures that grab your attention. They can be anything fashion related or not. You may see a room you'd love to have in your house, or a painting that makes you stare. Take the pictures you've ripped out of the magazines or printed from the internet and attach them to poster board. You can tape them or use tacks if the board is thick enough. I used one of those boards with the ribbon that criss cross. I just slip the pictures under the ribbon and they stay put. If you see anything at a craft store like fabric, beads, ribbon, etc., attach those also. Anything goes, this is your board!

Here's an example of the board I designed:
I expected to have crazier colors in my board, but I noticed after putting everything together that I basically stuck to gray, black, beige, brown and lime green. Discovering this has helped me stay focused while shopping.

I ended up purchasing two items on this board already. I found these fun cowboy boots which I can wear with jeans or leggings:

Decree 'Jordan' Cowboy Boot, JCPenney, $49.99

And this green purse from Target:

Mossimo Satchel, Target, $24.99

Your inspiration board can change as often as you like. The point is to discover your style. This is a fun way to figure out what colors you love, images you are drawn to, and what inspires you. "The boards reveal how each woman sees herself, how she wishes to appear to others, and what she aspires to when it comes to having style". The trick is to pick visual images that speak to you. I'm already making more stylish decisions. I normally buy the same black purse and use it till I wear it out. How boring! I love my new green purse! And now I want lots of colorful purses! My wardrobe will never be the same! Thank goodness!

Move Over Tassimo!!

2009-08-30T10:26:00.018-04:00

I've had my Tassimo single serve brewer for years and it's worked very very hard...making me lattes, coffee and tea every single day. But the other night, the lights started flickering as if it was saying "No more! I'm tired!"

I have to admit, I was not very sad. There are more brands of single serve coffee makers on the market now with bigger coffee and tea varieties to choose from. For some reason Tassimo has not expanded theirs much.

Move over Tassy!

So, I excitedly took a trip to Target to purchase "The One" to replace Ole' Tassy. Meet my new Keurig Single Serve Brewer......

My new Keurig Elite Gourmet Single Cup Brewer

It's easier to puncture the K-cups than the Tassy's disks. The brew button isn't testy like Tassy's. And......oooohhhh, the varieties of coffees and teas...I don't just get the Green Tea and some sort of Chamomile....I get Green Tea, and Green Tea Decaf, Sleepytime, Chai, Orange Spice, Mango, White, etc, etc, etc. There's an abundance of coffee, as well. There's lists of coffee brands under Extra Bold, Dark, Medium, Light, Flavored, Organic, and Fair Trade. There's even Hot Cocoa for those chilly days! If you have your own favorite coffee that you like to grind yourself, you can buy reusable K-cup filters and brew that!

All the options!

Mmmmmmm!

Needless to say, if you are looking for a coffee/tea/hot cocoa brewer I highly recommend this machine! Yummy!

Where are You Fashion Diva?

2009-08-28T21:02:00.012-04:00

I recently decided to "re-invent" myself. I always have some project I'm working on. This time, it's me! I decided to find my "style". My wardrobe is sad. It's a lot of jeans, some t-shirts, baby doll tops, and flip flops! It's lacking direction and cohesiveness. I need some help. So I went to where I knew I could get help and release the fashion diva deep inside my soul....amazon.com.

I bought 5 books that I'm super excited about.

Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design will help me find the 2-word compass that will help me make more confident choices in life -- from my wardrobe to my relationships, my home decor, and career plans.

It's part workbook, part inspirational narrative, and presents a series of inquiries that will lead me to the personal words that will guide my spirit, and look and feel of my life. The first word that I discover will represent my foundation, my 80%. The second word, my 20%, is what motivates and distinguishes me.

If you are thoroughly confused, please read how Style Statement changed Laura Bray's life. She has an Etsy store called Katydidy. You can read about her transformation in her blog.

Isaac Mizrahi claims that with his book, How to Have Style, he will wake me out of my "jeans coma". This book has a personal fashion questionnaire & instructions on how to make an inspiration board that will unlock the secrets to my individual style. Hundreds of tips on clothing, accessories, makeup, mixing patterns and wearing color. Isaac will also tell me how to become a collector instead of just a shopper.

Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You just sounds like a fun book! Yes! I want to create a more fabulous me! Please tell me how!

The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own will provide me with a tangible style map to follow when planning a shopping trip and stocking my closet. With super cute illustrations from fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo, The One Hundred contains the 100 items that Nina Garcia (fashion director of Marie Claire), believes will never go out of style, and that have become absolutely indispensible for me to reach my eternal fashion look. Just what I need!!

And last, but not least..

The Little Black Book of Style will help me to explore my own fashion voice. Another book by Nina Garcia (you may have seen her on Project Runway). It includes tips on how and when to wear an outfit, occasion-appropriate wear, advice on how to combine colors and textures, and inspiration on how to achieve my own signature look.

I also just watched (2 days in a row!) one of the funniest and most fashionable movies ever. Confessions of a Shopaholic is so hilarious! I highly recommend it! You can watch the trailer below.

My Studio

2009-08-16T21:12:00.010-04:00

I spent most of my Sunday cleaning and organizing my studio. It's not my favorite task in the world, but I love the results: a clean, organized work space! I snapped a few pictures of one side of my studio (the other side isn't completely done yet!)

I love where my studio is in my home. It's by the back door where I have the view of the back yard, squirrels, lizards and birds. Best of all, the big windows bring in lots of natural sunlight which keeps me motivated!

This area is where I mainly create all my jewelry. Sometimes my supplies overflow into the kitchen where it's easier for me to flatten bottle caps and hammer in holes. I don't want anything bouncing off of my craft table! My photography studio is outside on the deck. I only photograph with natural light. It was an overcast day, so no jewelry or bead photographs today!

Here are a few caps that I'm currently working on. They are all sealed, ready to be attached to key rings or necklace chains.

I love this painting! My husband bought it for me from an artist at the Atomic Holiday Bazaar.

Here are a few creatures that help inspire my creations! The small black and purple pony was made by my friend Starr at Starrlight Jewelry. The little black crocheted bat with green eyes is from my friend Taylor at Little Sock Ugghs. The big guy in the back is my Tator Tot Panda from Sonic. My creepy cool tea cup is always watching over me and currently holds some ball chain necklace supplies.

I hope you enjoyed seeing where I work and create!

More Beads!

2009-08-14T22:59:00.007-04:00

I posted a few more beads for sale in my Etsy shop. Remember, they are all HALF off! Stock up now!

Tigereye Regtangle Nuggets, 23 beads, $2.19

Swarovski Rectangles, 17 beads, $3.40

Swarovski Butterflies, 16 beads, $3.20

Turquoise Blue Mother of Pearl, 26 beads, $2.86

Beads for Sale!

2009-08-08T22:11:00.011-04:00

I'm making room for more beads and supplies so I'm now selling beads in my Etsy shop! If you make jewelry yourself, you already know that beads can be very expensive! I'm selling all of my bead stash for half the price I bought them! Why? Because I need to make more room! So, if you or someone you know beads, you'll want to check out what I have for sale and check back often! I have LOTS more to post!

Here are some beads that I'm currently selling:

Swarovski Daisies, 31 beads, $6.20

Purple & White Glass, 26 beads, $1.95

Green Aventurine, 9 beads, $.50

Hand-carved Daisies, 16 beads, $6.16

Blue Glass Drops, 89 beads, $5.79

Autumn Jasper, 26 beads, $4.03

Warm Apple Oatmeal

2009-07-19T23:00:00.004-04:00

I love making this recipe over the weekend. This oatmeal is easy, quick, and has lots of flavor. So yummy!

1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
2 1/3 cups water
Pinch of salt
1 medium apple, coarsely grated
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/3 cup milk (or soy milk)
1/2 teaspoon butter (or Earth Balance)

 Combine oatmeal, water, & salt in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil.
 Add grated apple & lemon juice & cook for 5 minutes on medium. Stir occasionally.
 Add milk & butter. Stir well & cook 1 minute. Serve topped with a sprinkle of brown sugar.

Serves 2.

Enjoy!

How to be a Great House Guest

2009-07-15T21:14:00.006-04:00

Summer is here, which means a lot of us will be traveling. With money being tight, some of us may choose to travel to places where we know people and ask to stay in their home. I always think manners are important, so I put together a small list of things that make a gracious house guest.

One thing to keep in mind is that the host may have anxiety about somebody living in the environment they normally feel comfortable in. It's best to be as helpful and clean as possible to make things easy on the host. The following rules are also important:

♥ Help with chores-cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom.
♥ Clean up after yourself-don't spread your stuff all over the house-keep it contained.
♥ Bring a gift, buy one while visiting, or send one right away after the trip.
♥ Be polite, respect their rules and their routines.
♥ Don't overstay your welcome-3 days maximum is a good rule of thumb.
♥ Give the host some space and quiet time each day-don't wear them out with everything you want to do.
♥Take note of how your hosts act and follow what they do.

And, of course, thank them for sharing their home with you. Pay for a meal out as a nice gesture for their hospitality. ♥

On the way to the Beach

2009-06-21T21:48:00.007-04:00

Today, on my way to the beach, I stopped by one of the places I consign my jewelry at, The Back Alley. The shop is owned by 4 young women and located on beautiful Anna Maria Island. It's in a quaint little area near the Bridge Walk Resort with shops and restaurants. Back Alley only carries handmade items and currently consigns with about 100 local artists. They've even added a coffee shop and offer classes on all sorts of crafts. Click here to view pictures of their store.

By the way, in case you didn't notice yet, I have some bottle cap items in my shop now! Here is a small sampling of what I've made:

Beach Babes magnet set, $20

Cherry earrings, $10
Bettie Page keychain, $10
Skull with Pink Bow necklace, $11

Mameshiba

2009-06-17T21:42:00.007-04:00

I just discovered something super cute that I have to share. They are Japanese cartoons called Mameshiba. Each short cartoon involves someone trying to enjoy their meal or snack when a cute little bean, pea, or nut with a face pops up and says "hello!". This cute little morsel then tells the eater a disgusting little fact which makes them turn gray and lose their appetite. I had a difficult time picking which one I liked best. They all make me giggle. Here are my two favorites:

Treasury on Etsy

2009-05-29T22:40:00.007-04:00

My friend LittleSockUgghs featured one of my necklaces in another treasury! This treasury is called "At The Movies" and is a beautiful combo of black, white, and red. Check it out!

Featured necklace:

"XOXO" (on sale) $25

Below is a new crocheted creature by LittleSockUgghs. I have a bat with green eyes and I love him to pieces!

" Gemma" Vampire Bat with Blue Eyes by LittleSockUgghs $9

Bottle Cap Beauties

2009-05-28T19:18:00.008-04:00

Last night I tried a new jewelry making technique-bottle cap pendants. First, I took a few bottle caps and flattened them with a rubber mallet. This formed a really cool border. I then used a hammer and nail to make a small hole in the frame so I can later attach it to a necklace chain. I cut out 1 inch circles of 1950's calender girl pics and glued them to the inside of the bottle caps. I waited for that to dry then coated the picture with a thick layer of Diamond Glaze. I let it sit over night. They were so much fun to make! I'm now totally addicted and plan to make more tonight.

This is my first batch. I need to do some fine tuning with the process to make them perfect and wait for the ball chain necklaces to come in that I ordered to hang the pendants from. Then they'll be in my shop!

Yes!!!

2009-05-21T22:31:00.005-04:00

I just heard word today that I was 1 out of 30 vendors accepted into the Atomic Holiday Bazaar this December! This is a very special show that will be on a Saturday evening. It will have live music, 1950's calender girl contest, fashion shows, and burlesque dancing! It's for an 18 and over crowd. The theme of every vendor will be rock, punk and rockabilly. I can't wait!

The coordinator of the show, Adrien, does an excellent job running the Bazaar. Thanks to her, Indie artists in the area have a place where we feel like we belong!

Black Flower chain necklace $35

Garnet Glass earrings $7

Idol Week 8-The Finale

2009-05-19T21:16:00.002-04:00

So tonight was the finale for American Idol. Tomorrow the Idol king will be crowned.

Unfortunately, I'm not feeling well this evening. So I'll keep this short & sweet.

I think Adam Lambert will win.

Oh, and *boo hoo* this is Idol's last week. Whaaaa!

Cameo Necklace

2009-05-16T15:34:00.007-04:00

I made a lovely necklace this week that I just posted in my Etsy shop. I wanted to share it with everyone because I'm in love with it!

It has a romantic cameo pendant that's brushed silver with a white figure and black background. It's attached to black faceted acrylic beads, then to an antique silver chain. It has an antique pewter toggle.

I'll be making more chain necklaces, so come back soon!

Thanks!

2009-05-14T21:59:00.004-04:00

I wanted to say "Thanks!" to everyone who entered the Happily Handmade contest! The response from this giveaway was absolutely amazing! I myself had close to 500 entries! The contest officially ended on May 13, 2009. 25 very lucky winners will be picked and notified by email on May 18, 2009. So, be sure to check you email-the winners will have 3 days to claim their awesome gift!

#13
Zu-Li Designs Rockin’ Black Earrings
Christina Maser White Tea Candle
Pink Koala Stocking
Deluxe Junque Checkbook Cover
Casto Creations Cherry Tree Necklace
Red Instead Cosmetics Pouch
TK Jewelry Design Earrings
MAUstudio Notecards & Sticker Set
Bidwell Botanicals Strawberry Frappe Shea Butter Scrub
Midnightsky Fibers Pink Lady Yarn Skein
360 Skin Care Microderbrasion Facial Scrub
Karalee Designs Eden Collection Hairclip
Panopoly Creations Porcelain Poem Pendant
Freshie & Zero Simple Lula Necklace
Pattern & Paw Pink Polka Dot Dog Leash
A Pretty Rock Gift Card
Total Retail Value: $324

Idol Week 8

2009-05-12T20:27:00.011-04:00

Adam Lambert giving "Sexy Eyes"

Ok, so we're down to 3 contestants: Adam, Danny and Kris. I'm really pleased with all of them. Usually there's someone I can't stand in the top (like David Archuleta....yuck-ola!)

Each of them sang 2 songs. First song was the judge's pick and the second was the contestant's own choice. *ding ding* Round one: I think the winner is Danny in the first round of songs. I know the judges went on and on about Adam's version of "One" by U-2, but I thought it was a train wreck! He was all over the place vocally. But, Danny sang Paula's pick "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'arby really well. His voice fit the song perfectly. Kris sang the beautiful song "Apologize" by One Republic, but I think his song fell short. I agree with the judges-I would have liked it better if Kris played his guitar instead of the piano.

*ding ding* Round two: I think the winner in this round was Kris. I was shocked to hear that Kris picked "Heartless" by Kanya West. It was so much better than his first song! It sounded like an interesting acoustic fusion of Spanish and rock. Danny sang a boring version of "You are so Beautiful" by Joe Cochran. Personally, I think he should stick to R&B songs. I couldn't believe he sang that song for one of the final rounds of the competition. He brought the song back to life in the middle, but man, the beginning was rough! The judges loved it for some reason. Adam picked Aerosmith's song "Crying". I swear, sometimes he reminds me of Liza Minelli...

Whoa...again, a complete train wreck. Am I just not understanding his artistic expression this evening?

I tell ya, it's really tough to pick who will be kicked off tomorrow night. I think Kris has done an outstanding job in the competition...but I will stick to my original prediction that Danny and Adam will be in the finale.

Above and below you'll see the Adam Lambert doll I created for my friend Jennifer for her birthday. I gave a Bratz doll a make-over with man-liner and silver eye shadow for those sexy eyes he's always giving, darkened his hair, colored his lips a pretty silver shade, gave him earrings, rings, and bracelet, and put him in an outfit of black. He turned out so cute it was difficult to give him up, but I know he went to a good home! She has a Justin Timberlake doll we found at the thrift store so I know my Adam doll won't be lonely. LOL.

My New Love......Bento!

2009-05-09T21:58:00.007-04:00

In grade school I asked my mom if I could start taking my lunch to school. My best friend, Jennifer, took her lunch to school and I pretty much did everything she did! She also had a cute little Garfield lunch box, so I had to get one too. Mine was yellow with Garfield and Odie. I had to pack my own lunch, so it normally consisted of a peanut butter or bologna sandwich with a side of chips, Ding Dong and a Capri Sun to drink. Not the healthiest lunch! Japanese mommies pack lunches for their kiddies-they're called Bentos. Some Bentos are called Kyaraben, which are more elaborate and decorated to look like people, animals and plants. Examples are above. They are amazing works of art! They contain a certain ratio of carbs, protein, fruits and veggies. They never include candy or unhealthy stuff. But they peak kids' interest and get them to try new things and eat healthfully.

I go home for lunch everyday now, but Bentos have inspired me to be more artistically creative with my food! Maybe one day my lunch will look like this....

My hubby bought me a mini Bento box similar to the one below when he went to Japan a couple years ago. I adore Hello Kitty!

I think the one below is cute also. It's a layered box.

There are so many cute Bento boxes, containers and food prepping tools!! Bento can be great for us adults also! The boxes come in different sizes. A 400 ml box means you can fit about 400 calories into it if you follow the rule of 3 parts grain, 1 part protein, 2 parts veggies/fruits. No junk food, candy, or fatty foods. No empty spaces-you must fill all the gaps in the box. Here's a little more info on the correct size you should use (and now one of my favorite blogs): www.lunchinabox.net. Here's another great blog with recipes and such: www.JustBento.com.

And of course, there's books on the subject also. I haven't read any of them (yet):

I'll be sure to post any cute Bento inspired lunches or dinners I create! Stay tuned!

Idol Week 8

2009-05-05T20:02:00.005-04:00

Last week was a shocker to see Adam in the bottom 2! I was not expecting that one! Luckily he didn't go home because we needed him tonight for Rock night!

Tonight's mentor was Slash! Love it! I'm a huge Guns n' Roses fan so I was especially excited!

Adam sang "A Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. I bet my friend was lovin' his sexy eyes tonight cuz he was givin' 'em! I think he picked the perfect song for his voice. I want to go to an Adam Lambert concert! He rocked the stage! I wanna know what brand of eyeliner he wore cuz I want eyes like that!

Allison sang "Cry Baby" by Joplin. I was disappointed and wish she sang something like Heart. I think Allison sounded "old" and boring.

Kris and Danny then sang "Renegade" as a duet (a new thing AI is doing this season). Together they sounded great, alone they were a little shaky.

Kris Allen decided to do a Beatles song "Come Together". I guess classic rock is more fitting for him and his laid back style, but I was hoping he'd just rock it out! But, I think he did a great job! He sings the Beatles and Michael Jackson really well, which I'm sure is quite difficult.

Danny Gokey tried singing "Dream On" by Aerosmith. I had a big problem with his outfit-a vest, dress shirt and dress slacks is not rock 'n roll what-so-ever! I didn't like his glasses tonight either-I like his retro 50's glasses instead. His scream at the end was way over the top. Uhg. The crowd seemed to like it though. He's the only one not in the bottom 3 so far.....will my original prediction come true? Will Danny win the contest? I think he may, even though tonight was his worst performance.

Allison and Adam sang "Slow Ride" by Fog Hat for their duet. Much better than Kris and Danny's duet.

My favorites tonight from most favorite to least: Adam, Kris, Allison, Danny. Who do I think will go home? I think it will be down to Allison and Kris with Allison going home.

Tomorrow night will be awesome....Chris Daughtry AND No Doubt will be singing! Yay!!

My Evening at the Bookstore

2009-04-29T22:29:00.007-04:00

Tonight I browsed the book shelves of Books-A-Million, one of my favorite past times. I bought 4 books that I'm really excited about that I wanted to share:

The first book I grabbed located by the front door was "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling. I love Tori-she's adorable, she's hilarious, and she seems to have a great soul. If you haven't read her first book, sTori Telling, RUN to the bookstore or Click on over to Amazon and get a copy! I guarantee you'll laugh your socks off and never want to put it down!

After that I cruised on over to one of my favorite sections of the store, the crafty section. I spend the majority of my time here thumbing through books about jewelry making, scrap booking, crocheting, etc. I usually pick at least one book from here! Tonight I chose a book about making jewelry out of buttons! Can't wait to try out the new techniques!

I'm always interested in different theories about weight loss and fitness. I've been wanting to read this book forever and decided to finally buy it:

I'll be sure to pass along any good tips!

And lastly, I picked up and looked through almost every Vegetarian cookbook there. I decided on this one:

Some of you may be thinking, "big whoop, sandwiches" but you don't understand-these sandwiches look and sound yummy. No boring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches here! The basis of a super sandwich is fresh bread (sorry Wonder Bread!), homemade spreads, and fillings made with fresh ingredients and herbs. I can't wait to try these recipes out!!

Idol Week 8

2009-04-28T20:02:00.006-04:00

Danny, Adam (with goofy hair), Allison, Kris & Matt

The theme this week was the Rat Pack with Jamie Foxx as the mentor. Only 5 contestants are left in the competition!

Kris crooned "The Way You Look Tonight". Excellent job, as usual. I wouldn't agree with Randy that it was his best performance to date. I don't know if anyone remembers, but Kris was a "wild card" and not originally picked by the judges. And here he is, the top 5. Simon kept it real-it was good, but not incredible.

Allison, the only girl left in the competition, sang "Someone to Watch Over Me". She did a good job, but honestly, I couldn't understand what she was singing most of the time! I loved hearing her sing a ballad with a piano and horns for a change.

Matt, who studied jazz in college, sang "My Funny Valentine". I felt myself zoning, not a good sign! I think he could have jazzed up his song a lot more!

I was quite mesmerized with Danny's rendition of "Come Rain or Shine". Fan of Danny? Here's his myspace page (it's private, but maybe he'll friend you).

Dressed in a white suit and tie, Adam rocked "Feeling Good". His sleezy cabaret version was very different from the others! I didn't zone out during this one! Some of you may be interested to know that Adam Lambert has a fan site with lots of info and pictures.

Danny was my favorite tonight. He kept to the theme and made the girls swoon. Adam would be my second fave because his was so different. Not sure if there will be a bottom 2 or 3, so I'll pick 3: Kris, Allison, and Matt with Matt going home.

I want to give a shout out to my friend, Jennifer, for keeping up with Idol and giving her opinion each week! Way to go Shaw!

My Second Treasury on Etsy!

2009-04-23T23:01:00.005-04:00

Thanks to LittleSockUgghs, my "Spring Time is Here!" charm bracelet was featured in a treasury! Yeah!!

"Spring Time is Here!" ~ $40

Idol Week 7

2009-04-21T20:04:00.010-04:00

Tonight the theme was Disco, one of my favorite musical eras. How can you not love disco? It's so fun and upbeat! I just want to dance, dance, dance!

I liked Lil tonight, although the judges didn't. She sang "I'm Every Woman" really well and she made the song her own, which is what the judges have been asking her to do the entire season. Regardless, she'll probably get the boot tonight just because 2 people have to leave this week (since they saved Matt last week).

Kris Allen sang Donna Summers, "She Works Hard for the Money". I wondered how he'd pull off disco night, but he worked it out! I loved the acoustic guitar and drums which gave it a Santara feel, like Paula said. I give him props for doing an awesome arrangement!! He'll be around next week, for sure!

I think Danny Gokey can sing just about anything. I love his raspy, R & B voice-that white boy can sing! He's got my vote! I think it will be down to him and Adam in the end (but as you may or may not remember, my first prediction was that Danny would win the competition....)

Adam is original every week. I always look forward to what he'll sing and how he'll sing it. Paula was a little too emotional about it though, but that's no surprise, right? By the way, Ebay has been flooded with handmade American Idol items, with Adam being posted the most often. Want Adam in your bed? Click here. Maybe you want to dress and undress him? Click here.

Allison sure sexed it up tonight! I liked her rockin' version of "Hot Stuff" and her liquid pants-she must have borrowed them from Adam ; D I found this Allison doll on Ebay that I think is cute.

I could tell Matt sang "Stayin' Alive" like he wanted to stay, but, I don't think he's gonna make it past this week. He got lucky last week!

I thought everyone pulled off disco night without sounding cheesy. But then I heard Anoop. I felt like I was at a karoke bar....really bad. Ok, he's going home.

My favorite tonight was Kris. I think the bottom 3 will be Lil, Anoop, and Matt with Lil and Anoop going home. Then we'll be down to 5 contestants. Getting close!

For My Cure Friends

2009-04-18T22:59:00.010-04:00

On Friday, April 17, The Cure played at The Pearl in Las Vegas. Robert Smith will be turning 50 on April 21st so the audience surprised Robert by singing Happy Birthday between the show and the first encore. Here is a video of everyone singing the birthday song and the band singing "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep".

If you're a fan of the band, I recommend following the blog called Chain of Flowers-they always have the inside scoop!

Idol Week 6

2009-04-14T21:05:00.002-04:00

I'm tired, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet!

Tonight's theme on AI was the cinema-songs from movies. I wasn't too impressed. Maybe it's just my mood? Maybe because they all seemed sappy, except Adam? I don't know, but my favorite for the night was Danny Gokey. Even though his song was slow and sappy, he sang it with emotion. I think the bottom 3 will be Lil (why did she sing such an old and boring song??), Matt, and Kris (didn't like his at all). I think Lil will be going home.

My First Treasury on Etsy!

2009-04-12T21:03:00.016-04:00

I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I found out I had an item in my shop featured in a treasury on Etsy! A treasury is 12 hand-picked items chosen by a member on Etsy. Members normally feature their favorite items or items selected based on a theme. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page and occasionally make them to tie into articles or special events and occasions.

This is the necklace in my store that was featured:

"Rainbow" $20

The artist who featured me is LittleSockUgghs. The treasury is called "BNR": buy any item from one of the featured sellers and your store will replace it.

I never thought I'd be selected to be in a treasury! It's such an honor! This particular treasury will run till April 14.

Peanut Butter Bars

2009-04-11T22:19:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope you and your family have a fun day filled with good food, egg hunting, and candy! My favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Even better are the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs because they are bigger and filled with lots of peanut butter. Even better than that, is my own recipe because they taste just like the Reese's cups and I can cut them into squares as big as I want!

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Line a 13x9x2 inch pan w/ foil.

Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar, & graham cracker crumbs in food processor. Process until mixture forms a ball. Press into foil-lined pan using your hands or spatula.

Melt the chocolate chips in double boiler over simmering water or in microwave-safe glass dish in microwave for 1 minute on high (100%). Stir. If chocolate has not completely melted, microwave for 10 seconds more, then stir. Spread evenly over the cookie layer with a spatula. Chill for several hours.

When ready to serve, allow the candy to come to room temperature before cutting into pieces. Store in airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy!

Idol Week 5

2009-04-07T20:39:00.002-04:00

Tonight each contestant sang a song from the year they were born. A lot of them sang slow songs, but they were far from boring! It was difficult for me to narrow it down to 3.

First of all, I can't believe Allison is only 16! She sings so confidently, like a seasoned singer/performer. She sang a Bonnie Raitt song that fit her husky voice perfectly.

I wasn't looking forward Matt singing, but was pleasantly surprised how good he was! He made "Part Time Lover" his own and very jazzy and current.

My favorite tonight was Adam. Honestly, I don't even know what song he sang, but he stomped everyone tonight and even got a standing ovation from Simon. I love how he confessed that he didn't like sports growing up, but he liked dressing up. By the way fans, Adam is on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/adamlambertmusic.

Side notes: I thought Danny sounded goofy, Kris's song was a mess, and Lil was ok (but I loved her rockin' Tina Turner look!)

Bottom 3 tomorrow night will be Anoop, Scott, and Lil with *uhhhhhhh* Anoop going home? Not sure, but I gotta pick someone!

Happily Handmade is Here!!!

2009-04-05T11:13:00.005-04:00

The awesome Happily Handmade contest has begun! 25 totally rockin' gift boxes full of handmade goodies will be given away! Each box is worth over $300!!

What is Happily Handmade? Well, it began in the Spring of 2004 by a handful of indie artists looking for a creative and fun way to promote their businesses and reward their customers. This contest has been running for 5 years with 7 events total.

HH is sponsored by artists, such as myself, who contribute items for the giveaway. All items collected (over 40 artists this year) are separated into gift boxes full of goodies! Here are a couple gift baskets up for grabs:

Gift #9

Daisy Janie Tea Towel
A Pretty Rock Gift Certificate
MAUstudio Sticker Set
Bidwell Botanicals Gogji Berry She Butter Scrub
Panopoly Creations Porcelain Poem Pendant
Jennifer Casady Live Love Laugh Necklace
Zu-Li Designs Rockin’ Black Earrings
360 Skin Care Microderbrasion Facial Scrub
Christina Maser Soy Lavender Citrus Candle
Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff Count Me In Soap
Pretty In Skulls Brooch
Deluxe Junque Wallet
TK Jewelry Design Hoop Earrings
Polyartgirl Designs Coral Yarn Skein
Pattern & Paw Key Fob
Pink Koala Funky Flowers & Swirls Bib
Yokomono Studio Poloplolo Tissue Box Cover
Red Delicious Cosmetics Pouch
Total Retail Value: $316

Gift #18

Panopoly Creations Porcelain Poem Pendant
Pequitobun Jewelry “Gretel” Earrings
Midnightsky Fibers Girlish Flight Handspun Yarn
Gohgirl Malmo Notecards
360 Skin Care Microderabrasion Facial Scrub
Christina Maser Honey, Milk & Oats Soap
Bidwell Botanicals Lime Margharita Shea Butter Scrub
Zu-Li Designs Rockin’ Pink Heart Earrings
Jungle Dread Gift Certificate
MAUstudio Animal Kingdom Notecards Set
Designing-Diva Creations Boutique Turquoise Drop Earrings
Dee-Zigns Sterling Silver Necklace
Pretty In Skulls Brooch
Red Instead Manifesto Art Print
A Pretty Rock Coconut & White Nugget Bracelet
Pattern & Paw Gift Certificate
Funky Utopia Wine Bottle Kimono
Total Retail Value: $313

As you can see, each gift box is different and full of really cool stuff!

This rockin' contest will be running from April 1st through May 13. The winners will be announced May 18. How do you enter? Contestants can enter at my NEW website www.zulidesigns.biz. There will be a list of each shop participating. Every website will feature a separate entry form and you are encouraged to visit all to increase your chances of winning! Good luck, I hope you win!!

Idol Week 4

2009-03-31T21:36:00.007-04:00

American Idol contestants Season 8. Michael (top far left) went home last week.

We are now down to 9 contestants on American Idol. Tonight everyone picked their own musical artist and song. I was most impressed by Kris Allen. Instead of playing his guitar he switched it up & played the keyboard. He sang "Ain't No Sunshine" and I loved it to pieces! He was confident and his singing was smooth and passionate. It was the last performance of the night, but it was the first and only performance that I was excited to watch. I wish they could have replayed the entire song!

Kris Allen

My second favorite tonight was Anoop. Judges didn't care for his Usher song, but I dug it. I think he picked a current song that did his singing justice.

Anoop

Tonight I also started calling in my votes and those are the 2 I picked.

Honorable mention: Danny Gokey for making a country song cool, Allison for singing a No Doubt song (but ruining it), Scott for his new hairdo finally, Lil for belting out the second part of a Celine Dion song and Adam Lambert for being very very flamboyant!

I think bottom 3 tomorrow night will be Megan-man she sucked tonight! It's REALLY time for her to go. Scott because he's not singing current songs and Matt because he really sucked tonight too!! I will say that Megan will be FINALLY going home.

Megan Joy

Scott McIntyre

Matt Giraud

Below is a picture dedicated to one of my friends who is totally in love with Adam Lambert. You know who you are!! ; )

How Charming!

2009-03-29T21:05:00.008-04:00

First of all, I would like to say that I finally won something! I never win any contests or raffles, but last week I won a very cute bag from Grans Corner (bags2impress).

The colors are beautiful! The workmanship is excellent!

The pink polka dots add to its cute personality!

The button clasp is even adorable! Thanks Mary for such a fabulous prize!!

I hear that Spring is here. I live in Florida, so for me, that's bad news! That means it's just going to get really really hot soon! But, I used to live in Illinois, so I totally understand why Spring is so special! I always looked forward to it! In celebration of spring, I made this charm bracelet:

"Spring is Here" charm bracelet, $40

My sister-in-law has a big heart and adopted an abandoned kitty a week or so ago. She lives where it's very cold and brought this beautiful cat into her home so it wouldn't freeze. After a few days she noticed the kitty's belly getting bigger. Took her to the vet and she's pregnant. Now my sis will have a handful of kitties! In celebration, here's a kitty charm bracelet!

"Meow!" charm bracelet, $40

Idol Week 3

2009-03-25T23:04:00.006-04:00

American Idol was all about the Motown songs this evening. And I found that I was quite bored. Bored until Adam Lambert sang! His song was the first to really captivate me. He was completely different from last week, yet absolutely amazing! I was impressed not only by his singing, but the way he transformed his rocker self into a clean cut 50's man in a suit complete with slicked back hair. I have to say, I'm officially an Adam Lambert fan!

My other favorite was Allison. The 16 year old who sings like she's been singing forever! She sang one of my all time favorite songs, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". I can't believe she was in the bottom 3 last week.

It's starting to get tough picking out the bottom 3, but here is my prediction: Scott MacIntyre-outdated, ugly pink pants. Michael-cheesy. Lil-can do better! I will say that Michael is going home tomorrow night.

Why did Paula Abdul have a mustache?

By the way, I made a new "convertible" piece with matching earrings!

Macrobiotics. What's That?

2009-03-21T12:59:00.012-04:00

Somebody wonderful gave me a book for my birthday called "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind & Fabulous Body" by Jessica Porter. I had never heard of Macrobiotics, but was very intrigued that I would have a radiant mind and fabulous body after reading it!

Wow, what an amazing book! Macrobiotics (which means Macro "Large" and Bios "Life") basically involves eating whole grains, along with veggies, beans & legumes, and miso soup. But it's so much more than that! It's more of an approach to life, instead of a diet. It covers the Yin and Yang of everything we eat, people in our relationships, etc. It explains that we need to remove the "sludge" from our diets which will de-sludge our bodies and soul which will, in return, make us more happy, energetic & intuitive. I've given it the nickname the "Spiritual Diet". Macrobiologists claim that eating foods made by nature helps us harmonize with nature-we feel more peaceful, playful, and free. It can lead to a balanced and healthy life and has long been advocated by some as a preventative and cure for cancer. I could go on and on about this book, but if you are even slightly interested, I recommend reading it. Even if you don't plan on following the "diet", I think just adopting some of the recommendations will turn your life into something more positive, creative, and fun!

Idol Week 2

2009-03-17T22:47:00.003-04:00

American Idol is down to 11 contestants. This week's theme was the Grand Ole Opry, or otherwise known as, country music. Country is not my "thing", but I admire Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. I was worried for Adam, since he is the farthest from country you can get. However, he Blew Me Away! I have to say, I love Adam's look, but I'm not normally a fan of his singing. But, his rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" was Hot, Hot, Hot! It had an Indian, hippie sound and I loved it! My next psychic prediction is that Adam will be a top 3 finalist.

My other top pick of the night was the last performance, which was by Matt. I always forget about him, he just kind of blends in with the group. He sang a Carrie Underwood song and rocked it out!

On the flip side, I was disappointed by 3 contestants: Michael singing some Garth Brooks song about a pick up truck, Alexis singing a Dolly Parton song, and Meagan messing up a Patsy Cline song. I think that Alexis will be going home tomorrow night.

Here's an Old Navy commercial I saw during Idol that cracked me up. Enjoy!

More new stuff!

2009-03-17T19:46:00.005-04:00

I made another "Convertible", this one made with polka dot and hot pink beads. Just remove the front part of the necklace and wrap around your wrist to wear as a bracelet! This one is called "Goth Diva" and is available in my shop at www.zulidesigns.etsy.com.

Convertible Jewelry

2009-03-13T21:48:00.006-04:00

Lately I've been busy making some really cool jewelry. I just listed one of them in my Etsy shop.

I call them "Convertibles". It's a bracelet that converts into a necklace! So, you have 2 options with one piece! Having options is always nice!

This piece is called "Emo Love". It's a silver chain bracelet with turquoise glass beads and black heart charms. The necklace extension is made with black and turquoise glass beads.

Stay tuned for more!

Let's Talk Idol - Week 1

2009-03-10T22:06:00.006-04:00

I am a big American Idol fan. Maybe I should be embarrassed about that, but I'm not. I watch every episode and talk idol to friends and family. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the talented top 13 finalists:

Tonight's music theme was Michael Jackson. Although Michael is a bit strange these days, he is a phenomenal musical artist. I prefer his songs from the 80's, of course!

My top pick of the night is Danny Gokey. First of all, he sang one of my all time favorite M.J. songs, "P.Y.T."(Pretty Young Thing). Secondly, he made it very soulful and upbeat. My psychic prediction is that Danny will win the competition.

Although Anoop Desai was not the judges' favorite, I liked his version of "Beat It". I thought he made it fun, gave it life, and sang it really well!

And my third top fave of the night was Alexis Grace. For some reason she was not one of the judges' favorites, but I thought she made her song bluesy, Rock n Roll and sexy.

I think that the bottom 2 to be kicked off tomorrow night is Jorge Nunez & Megan Joy. Although Jorge seems sweet, he's never been one of my favorites. Megan Joy has a great style, but I just don't care for her singing!

So, there you have it. What do you think? (By the way, if you haven't already, check out my article below about Hypnotherapy!)

Hypnotherapy

2009-03-08T20:55:00.005-04:00

Have you ever tried hypnotherapy? Do you have an addictive habit you want to drop? Feelings that need healed? Goals that need accomplished? Hypnotherapy can do all that and more!

I recommend finding a hypnotherapist in your area by searching the phone book or internet. Find one that you feel comfortable with. You may wonder what to expect because this is something new to you. This is what I learned from my experience 2 years ago:

I found my hypnotherapist online at the Integrated Healing Arts in Bradenton. First I had a phone interview with the hypnotherapist to discuss what I personally needed to gain from the therapy. I then scheduled an appointment to meet with the hypnotherapist for the session. I relaxed comfortably in a semi-dark room as my therapist spoke words of healing with beautiful meditative music in the background. I heard every word, yet I was in a different state of mind. I awoke feeling alive and energized after the 45 minute session ended. I was given a tape to listen to whenever I needed to at home. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had which spawned many good habits.

If you can't find a hypnotherapist in your area or if you feel a little strange about going, I would recommend a meditative cd. One I would recommend is Doreen Virtue's "Angel Therapy Meditations".

Doreen Virtue works with archangels to "release old blocks and toxins; cut cords of fear; heal past-life issues; and gain confidence, courage, and clarity about your life’s purpose and relationships".

So, if you are looking to improve your life in a spiritual and positive way, I highly recommend hypnotherapy! It will more than likely improve your life in more ways than you can imagine!

New Banner

2009-02-28T20:42:00.007-05:00

My hubby made me a new banner for my Etsy shop. Isn't it cute?

Talking Dog

2009-02-09T22:25:00.005-05:00

This will make you laugh! Found this video at Yahoo! Video.

A Blog Post About....Nothing

2009-02-08T21:51:00.006-05:00

OK, I can't figure out what to blog about this week! I've been wracking my brain trying to figure it out this whole weekend. Ideas have popped into my head, but not good enough to blog about! So, today I decided to blog about nothing.

P.S. Any ideas on what you'd like me to blog about next weekend?????

I Love Mr. Winkle

2009-01-31T11:39:00.003-05:00

Have you met Mr. Winkle?

Each year I buy a new calender, but not just any calender. It's gotta be cute. I couldn't resist Mr. Winkle's calender when I spotted it at the book store. He's cute, he's quirky and I love him!

Click his picture above to view his website where you can view his photo diary. I guarantee you will chuckle!

Change is in the Air

2009-01-25T13:40:00.008-05:00

I was touched by everyone's response about my article below. Roxy is doing fantastic on her new food. She eats all of her food now, licking the bowl clean (not like her at all) and has not puked in a week which is a record (she was puking almost every day). It is such a relief to see her eating better and feeling better.

The New Year has been very exciting to me. I've changed my look, updated Zu-Li's look, & made some super cute things. I felt my jewelry making techniques were getting boring, so I started making new things. I first started by making something totally unrelated to jewelry making, but something I've wanted to do for a long time. I made a stepping stone for my yard out of marbles, metal letters, and concrete. I first started with a kit I bought from Michaels to use the square plastic mold and concrete. I was not inspired by the little pieces of glass they included in the kit so I bought some colorful marbles. I also found some cute metal letters, butterflies and flowers. Here is the outcome:

I had a lot of fun making it and feel that it helped me become more creative with my jewelry making. Roxy even got in on the fun:

I'm also in the process of making a vegetarian cookbook. I decided to nix the meat and eat all veggies almost 3 weeks ago. I feel like I have more energy and I've had a lot of fun cooking up different things (very unlike Me!). It's a bit of a challenge when I go to restaurants because most of them are not very vegetarian friendly. But, I've had to order things I may not have tried previously and I've been very pleased with the flavors of these foods. So, my plan is to find the best of the best vegetarian recipes and make a book complete with pictures. If you are interested in info about vegetarianism and getting a free "starter kit", visit www.goveg.com.

Healthy Pets

2009-01-17T19:22:00.011-05:00

home from the spa

I had an interesting day today learning about the differences between commercial and holistic pet foods. Our dog, Roxy, doesn't care for her food, itches a lot and vomits often. I decided to take a visit to our local holistic pet store, Holistic for Pets, located in Bradenton, FL. I explained our dog's condition to the knowledgeable lady working there. Although I knew some basic information about dog food and what ingredients are important, Elizabeth helped me decide what was best for Roxy. She also gave me free samples for Roxy and lots of information to read. Some of it I will share with you because I feel it's very important.

Be wary of big commercial companies that say their food is "wholesome" and "balanced". They typically use very low grade meat (including diseased meats) and lots of fillers. These companies put junk in their pet food because it's cheap. A lot of these companies make packaged human food and use the left overs for the pet food, bringing in extra profit from their garbage. They obviously don't care about our pets health. The words "natural" and "organic" can be deceptive also. Some companies really bend the rules. However, "holistic" is rarely used in deceptive product labeling or advertising.

Read the label of your dog or cat food. If any of the first 3 ingredients are corn meal, corn gluten, or wheat gluten then that food is devoid of nutrition. These fillers are hard on your pet's digestive system and can ultimately harm them and cause many health problems.

Dogs and cats are designed to eat meat, cooked veggies (they don't have the ability to breakdown the cell walls of raw veggies) and fresh fruit.

Tainted wheat gluten was the culprit of the pet food recall a couple years ago. Real holistic pet food will not contain wheat gluten. This devastating recall made people think and learn about what they are feeding their pets and shed light on the commercial pet food industry. The tainted food was out-sourced from China. So, don't just read the label, find out about the company making this product and where it's produced and packaged.

Ideally, our pets should be consuming food that contains meat as the top 2 or 3 ingredients. It's also a good idea to mix up your pets exposure to different types of meat, fruits, and veggies (as long as there are no certain allergies. Also be careful not to feed them any vegetables or fruits that are toxic, such as, grapes, raisins, avocados, or onion.) A good example is to feed kibble one meal, canned the next, and raw the next. Adding some fresh cooked vegetables to their food is a good idea also. Since dry and wet foods are processed, a digestive enzyme and an essential fatty acid are important to add to their meal to supplement what is lacking in their packaged food. As your pet gets older add Glucosamine and MSM before joint problems arise. Feeding your furry friend twice a day is best.

Here are some products we purchased today that was recommended by Elizabeth:
Acana Prairie Harvest dry food
Merrick canned food
Natural Balance-treats made with sweet potato & venison
Wholistic Digest -All Plus (Enzyme to help with digestion)
Flying Basset Organics Essential Fatty Acids

Holistic foods are normally packaged in smaller portions and cost a little more than commercial food. However, there are reasons for this. The smaller portions mean it's fresher and doesn't have harmful chemical preservatives. The more expensive price means that it's real meat and nutritious. And since it contains real protein your pet doesn't need to eat as much!

I highly recommend looking for a holistic pet store and asking questions. And if you decide to change your pet's food, please take it slow and add a little of the new food with the old food for the first few days to not cause digestion upsets.

Lookin' sassy!

Just Catching Up

2009-01-05T19:19:00.008-05:00

Hello everyone and Happy 2009! I'm excited to start a new year! I'm working on a new look for Zu-Li and making new things. In the meantime, I'd like to share some holiday pictures.

First of all, please welcome our newest addition to our family. No, it's not the furry barking kind or the crying diaper kind. It's a shiny new dishwasher! I've only had 1 dishwasher in my life, so this is very exciting to me!! I no longer have to slave over the sink and hand wash every freakin' dish and utensil! Thank you Santa! (It's very quiet too!)

I'd also like to introduce everyone to our kid, Roxy. She's tired after going to the spa. Notice she is dressed for Christmas in her red and green plaid bow. She's napping with one of her favorite toys, Frog. She is a 1 year old Shih Tzu.

I thought this was a nice picture of my sis Angee, niece Brianna and our Christmas tree in the background. We went with a blue/ silver/ white theme this year.

Here's a cute picture of my hubby Jeff and little Roxy. Notice that they are both sporting reindeer antlers. Also notice that the cute red and green bow in Roxy's hair did not make it to Christmas! Anyone who knows Roxy understands why (she's very energetic!)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! See you again soon!

Mmmm, Cupcakes!

2008-12-19T20:34:00.006-05:00

I love cupcakes. Love, love, love cupcakes. I think the frosting is the best part. And how cute they are.

My BFF gave a shout out to the Curious Gourmet Cupcake Cafe. Cupcake Cafe...I'm in total and complete love...cupcakes AND coffee? grrrrrrrrrr. Jennifer visited this super chic cupcake heaven while Christmas shopping last week. I'm jealous.

I wanted to give my own shout out to a Smarmy Pants, a very talented artist who makes cupcake pin cushions! I purchased one of these 'oh so cute' cupcakes for my friend Nicole for her birthday. The pin cushion has yellow cake, pink frosting with sprinkles and whipped topping. It was packaged in a real cupcake paper with 2 heart pins. I just wanted to take a bite out of it!

Atomic Holiday Bazaar, Baby!

2008-12-18T21:48:00.007-05:00

I've been anxiously waiting to blog about the fab-u-licious craft show I was lucky enough to be a part of this past Sunday. It was called Atomic Holiday Bazaar and was held in the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. There were 80 tables/booths full of crafty eye candy. People were lined up outside before the doors opened wanting to see the quirky and beautiful items inside. The doors opened at 12PM and it was like a tidal wave of people!

me posing by our table before the flood gates open

I was the featured artist at Funky Utopia's table. We sold items from her shop and a variety of my pieces. We met lots of taleted artists from other booths, including Car City Couture, Fat Orange Cat, 75Rabbit and others. A DJ spun old school records of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. There were retro fashion shows. And best of all, there was a sighting of a woman wearing crochet chaps. I really wish I had taken a picture of those!

awesome display Nicole put together for our table

It was a sea of tatoos, crazy hair, and vintage outfits. And those were the customers! Miss Funky and I can't wait to be a part of it next year. We hope to expand and get a booth. We're already thinking of ideas for the next show. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking it out!

Funky Utopia sign for our table

Funky Utopia-Coolest Shop in Town!

2008-12-09T20:34:00.012-05:00

Hello friends!

I wanted to chat about my friend Nicole's shop located in the Village of the Arts in Bradenton, FL, called Funky Utopia. I took some photos of her super cool shop this past Friday during the Village's Artwalk festivities. Funky Utopia carries handmade clothing, handbags, hair accessories, jewelry, natural bath products and vintage vinyl records.

Funky Utopia lit up for Christmas

Nicole started her online shop in 2003. She and her husband and 3 furry kids recently relocated from Tennessee to Florida where she started her first physical shop. Miss Funky carries handmade goodies from artists around the world and hip vintage records.

Nicole's husband, Taylor

Make sure you check out her online shop at www.shopfunkyutopia.com and her blog at www.funkyutopia.blogspot.com. Still looking for a unique and thoughtful gift for somebody special for Christmas? Nicole is offering Free Shipping AND Gift Wrapping. Now, go get you some awesomely super duper cool gifts!!

Natural and Vegan friendly bath and body products

Jewelry display (and Nicole far right)

Handbags, clothing and jewelry

Holiday Jewelry Shows

2008-11-27T22:01:00.008-05:00

Hello everyone!

It's been a little crazy around here, but good crazy! I've been blessed with many jewelry show opportunities. I've teamed up with Jessica Pendry, my friend and Mary Kay consultant, to spread the joy of easy Christmas shopping. Between her beautiful Mary Kay gift baskets and my handmade jewelry and accessories, we've helped people simplify their busy holiday.Zu-Li Jewelry Display

Jessica's Mary Kay gift baskets

Tracey and Heather at a Christmas show

Ashley having fun at a party

Happy Thanksgiving!

billie

First Giveaway!

2008-11-10T20:12:00.002-05:00

Want to win a pair of earrings made by me? Be sure to visit Christopher and Tia's Blog for rules on how to win my Silver Petal earrings. Also win a pair of cute handmade reindeer cupcake toppers!

"Silver Petal" earrings, ZuliDesigns

"Darla Deer Wants to Rollerskate" 12 handmade cupcake toppers, ThePeach

Good luck!

Billie

Mens Jewelry

2008-11-08T20:37:00.010-05:00

By popular demand, I've now added mens jewelry to my Etsy shop!

Mens Wooden bracelet, $15

Mens Wooden necklace, $30

Looking for a thoughtful gift for your hubby, boyfriend, son, nephew, brother or uncle? Please visit my store at www.zulidesigns.etsy.com for more styles!

Billie

Boobie Mushroom

2008-11-05T20:02:00.003-05:00

If you have something against boobs or mushrooms, please don't proceed!

This gem of a mushroom greeted me on the way to my mailbox this afternoon. I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist running inside and getting my camera to take a picture.

I hope this brightened your day with laughter, as it did mine! Mother Nature has a sense of humor, doesn't she?

What strange things have you found in your yard?

Holy Cr@p!!

2008-11-03T20:10:00.008-05:00

Ok, so this morning I decided to do something crazy and weigh myself. I haven't done such a thing in about 13 weeks, right before I decided to start the Abs Diet. I was quite unsure how this was going to go - I can tell that my fat is slowly melting away, but I'm used to the scale never going anywhere. I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that the scale said I lost 12% body fat! Holy Cr@p!

I know for a fact I owe it to reading that special bright green book titled "The Abs Diet for Women". It has taught me to look at food differently. And I like the way the author thinks: work-out smart, not more, and eat more! And it works! Holy Cr@p! And it's quite painless.

So, I thought about what sort of changes I made after reading the book. Here are some things that I did that I feel has helped me on my healthy journey:

* I switched to mainly whole wheat pasta, bread and rice. This was strange at first since I was raised on the white versions. But I find that I stay full after eating the whole wheat versions and now I enjoy them.

* I've tried eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup. This junk is in A LOT of stuff and our bodies like to hold onto fat because of it. I buy a lot of organic products now because HFCS is a man made ingredient so it's not found in natural organic foods. Consider switching to organic ketchup and fruit spread.

* I eat oatmeal every day. A lot of people don't like it. I love it! I make the organic plain oatmeal (2 packets) and top with organic fat free milk, brown sugar and sliced almonds. Try it! It's yummy!

* I switched to 2% cheese. I love cheese! 2% sharp cheddar has a great flavorful taste.

* Instead of flavored yogurt, I buy low fat vanilla yogurt and add defrosted sliced strawberries and sliced almonds. It's so good, it's like dessert!

* I eat more lean hamburger, chicken, turkey, and natural peanut butter. It all has protein which helps build more muscles which burns more fat (while you are just sitting on your bum bum).

* I eat about every 3 hours which keeps the metabolism up. When you don't refuel, your body stores fat.

* I lift weights 2-3 times a week. Nothing big. Lately I've only had 10 minutes to spare 5 days a week for working out.

* I eat Kashi cookies. My fave right now: Oatmeal Dark Chocolate. I eat Amy's frozen dinners like cheese ravioli and burritos. I also like Ethnic Gourmet Chicken Pad Thai. I eat! And not just salads!

What healthy changes do you recommend?

HappyLife by Zu-Li

BeKind Treasury Team

Gifts for Dog Lovers

New Magnet Sets!

Fashion with Heart

Celebrity Vegetarians

Vegetarian Awareness Month

New Packaging

Owl Always Love You

Hootie Hooooo

Blue Debut

Cucumber Tomato Salad with Fried Bread

Happy Mother's Day!

It's A Nice Day For a White Wedding

Product Reports

Lemon-Roasted Asparagus

New Stuff

Mmmmmm, Coconut Bliss!

100th Sale!

What I Ate Today

Mmmmmm, Daiya!

What I Ate Today

What I Ate Today

Meow!

Gorgeously Green

Animals in Art: Dogs!

Bad Picture Day

The Kind Diet

January Winner!

Art*o*Mat

January Giveaway: Bottle Cap Necklace

Peep Into My Studio

Animals in Art

What I'm Working On-Valentine Bottle Caps

Happy 2010!

Gothic News

Pictures, News, and More!

Atomic is Almost Here!

Glass Heart Earrings Winner!

Halloween 2009

I love Boopsie Daisy!

Tweet Tweet

Inspirational Quotes

Giveaway: Glass Heart Earrings

Skull Keyring Winner

My Vacation in Pictures

Skull Keyring Giveaway!

Creating the Life You Want

Finding Style Through Inspiration Boards

Move Over Tassimo!!

Where are You Fashion Diva?

My Studio

More Beads!

Beads for Sale!

Warm Apple Oatmeal

How to be a Great House Guest

On the way to the Beach

Mameshiba

Treasury on Etsy

Bottle Cap Beauties

Yes!!!

Idol Week 8-The Finale

Cameo Necklace

Thanks!

#13

Total Retail Value: $324

Idol Week 8

My New Love......Bento!

Idol Week 8

My Evening at the Bookstore

Idol Week 8

My Second Treasury on Etsy!

Idol Week 7

For My Cure Friends

Idol Week 6

My First Treasury on Etsy!

Peanut Butter Bars

Idol Week 5

Happily Handmade is Here!!!

Total Retail Value: $316

ArtoMat