Sunday, September 28, 2008

Memories...

Tropical section

While talking with my Mom on the phone this morning she mentioned Marine Land...."Marine Land?  Oh, yeah, I remember that place..."  I said.  Which led me to my next childhood theme park memory, Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, CA.  I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and one year my Dad bought season passes to Busch Gardens. Almost every night after school we would head over there. My Dad would give me a couple of bucks (usually spent on a slice of pizza or some delicious fudge from the old fashioned candy store) and pretty much set me loose in the park, with an hourly check in time, of course. (oh those were the days!) I must have been about 9 years old and it's one of my fondest childhood memories, I'm actually getting a little teary as I write this.
My all time, favorite ride was the Yahoo Flume ride, although I remember it as the "Log Ride". This was a water ride which meandered through the park but also had a thrilling drop at the end. My favorite part was the Tropical section where you would enter a bird aviary filled with beautiful, exotic birds.  It was a truly unique experience.  
By the end of the year Busch Gardens was like my own backyard, I knew every nook and cranny of the place and had free reign.  Oh what I wouldn't give to relive that year of my life!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Quote of the day

available from Plainly Janes on Etsy



available from bustle on Etsy


After being dressed in an adorable, hot pink tank top and super cute pair of tan shorts with flower and button appliques, my 2 1/2 year old daughter looked up at me with her big brown eyes and announced in the saddest little voice:


"But I don't have a dress on...I can't dance"


Looks like I need to do some shopping on Etsy!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Garden Delight

What kind of Caterpillar is this???
Read more and find out!

Just this past weekend, when my husband was out in the backyard trimming our Tangerine tree, he pointed out a very strange looking caterpillar on one of the branch cuttings.  It looked like a lizard at first glance and kind of gave me the creeps...but, I decided it would be fun to keep it in an acrylic box (handy for more than just beads!) and watch it do it's thing, ya know,the whole "metamorphosis thing". My daughter, a big time bug lover, named it Lolly.  After placing Lolly in her (I'll just stick with 'she' since her name is Lolly...) new home with a couple of twigs and some leaves she almost immediately started getting ready to chrysalize.  By the next morning she was in complete chrysalis mode, hanging at a 45 degree angle from one of the twigs. 


Lolly looks just like this right now...
shhh, she's sleeping.

At this point I still had NO idea what Lolly was, a moth, a butterfly?  And what type?    After a little internet research, aka Google, I finally discovered Lolly was a Giant Swallowtail Butterfly!

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Isn't she pretty?

So, now we wait...10-14 days according to my vast "research".  I can't wait to meet Lolly and set her free to start the whole cycle over again.  I plan to take some video of the event and post it here.  Stay tuned!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

New Packaging & Branding!

New packaging v.4
hmmm, I wonder what's inside?...

After many years of the same simple (but beautiful) packaging I decided it was time for an upgrade.  I'd had a new identity package put together a couple of years ago, which included tags, so I wanted to utilize those in the new packaging and branding.  A few prototypes later...and here it is!  I'm now using gloss finish, two part jewelry boxes and wrapping them with a gloriously wide (1.5" or 36mm), double faced, satin ribbon in blue (of course!) and topping that with another gorgeous, double faced, satin ribbon (.25" or 6mm) in a chocolate brown which is threaded through the Something Blue tag and tied with a dainty bow.  I love how these turned out and judging by the reaction from my customers it's a definite success!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Weekly Feature 5: Something Blue

Because everyone needs a little 'Something Blue' in their life...



I came across evesimone on Etsy just the other day and was blown away by her uniquely beautiful photography.  Her keen sense of color and raw compositions are so intriguing, I can't take my eyes off of them.
Eve was kind enough to share what inspires her, among other things:

Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I try to capture moments, my style is basically everyday moments that pass.

Q: What inspires you?
A: Traveling inspires me, new places, fresh faces.

Q: How long have you been selling on Etsy?
A: My Etsy shop opened in March of this year; there is so much amazing work on Etsy it can be a bit overwhelming.

Q: What is your favorite shade of blue?
A: Electric blue is my favorite shade of blue!




Wednesday, September 3, 2008

First Day of School


Well, I did it.  I sent my little sweetheart to school for the first time today, sniff, sniff.  She's barely two and a half and this is the FIRST time I have ever dropped her off somewhere other than with her Grandparents.  She didn't want me to go, she cried a sad little cry and said "No Mommy, you stay here."  Which broke my heart into a million little pieces.
As I turned around to leave I started to cry myself...not because she was crying, I knew she would get over that as soon as I was out of sight, but just thinking about this new chapter in her life (and mine).  She's going to make new friends and come home with new ideas and have new experiences that I am not a part of.  
And I am going to get a  L O T   M O R E   D O N E!  Like blogging, ha,ha,ha...
I can't wait to hear what she has to say about her first day at school.
 
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