Confessions of a Jewelry Designer

Monday, August 29, 2011

Home is Where the Heart Is

I have always felt strongly about being a California girl. Ask me. I will tell you that I am a valley girl from SoCal. And yes, I can totally pick off a valley girl accent. Further to that, I was a valley girl long before it was the thaing to be one. Just sayin.

But I find as life goes on and I, ahem, age.... Home is more where my heart is. There are so many things about Utah that I love. How can you not love this, the amazing skies:

There is so much beauty in the Wasatch, so incredibly majestic.

This is my little Bountiful valley:

And the sunsets....seriously....

Although Utah may not be this:

It certainly is this:

And therein lie my heart.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The HB

So a couple of weekends ago I visited the HB. See - - it really is the HB.

I helped a sista out with an organizational project that seemed a bit daunting. Please note the use of plastic storage containers. I love plastic storage containers. Please see in the closet and note the further use of plastic storage containers.

I love the Harris family. I do live in Utah - - I could be a sister wife, just sayin.

We ate at Dukes, fish and chips to die for….

Another reason I love Huntington Beach?

This…….

This…....

And of course this……..

Did I mention that I love plastic storage containers and the beach? Oh ya, I guess I did.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Lady Bug

When I was a little girl my mother used the name Ladybug when there was a strong admonishment coming. Kinda like this “If you think for one minute Ladybug that you are going to stay out past 11:00 p.m. you can just think again.” Ahem, the preceding is only an example and not anything my mother ever said to me. But for Ashley, it has always been a term of endearment. She has been Ladybug, Bug, Buggie.
From early on she was creative, making hats for the pups for every occasion. Please see photo below. Maggie is the Angel (well duh), and Scooter was really excited that year in the role of the Christmas Tree.

As Ashley grew, so did her hair. This pose depicts “Hurry and focus the camera Mom.”

I know that on August 17, 1987 something absolutely miraculous happened. A perfect little baby girl was born. The angels sang.

We have had our ups and downs, my little Buggy. What mother and daughter hasn’t? But this I know… No mother ever loved a daughter more than this mama loves you. Happy Birthday my little ladybug! Muah!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ism's

The following is a list of my recent favorite Kayla-isms and Maycie-isms:

Kayla

· Mmmm, I-wish-iss! = Mmmmmm delicious!

· Bye I gotta shop (ummm where do you think she gets that from???)

· Whenever she is tattling, her hands go on her hips, and she says No faware = No fair! Mommy, Daddy no sharwing wif me.

· As she steps on Brandon, “sorry bud”.

· I’m a poop maaachine! (my favorite!)

Maycie

· Singing - - “We are in a washing achine, washing achine”

· In a high pitched princess voice “Let me take you to the princess castle where we can see Sweeping Cutie” ummm, that would be Sleeping Beauty. But don’t you dare try and correct her, I always want her to call Sleeping Beauty “Sweeping Cutie”

· Grandma, did you see those futterflies?

· Guess what Mom, Jesus is real. Grandma said so.

· Grandma, I love you the sun, the moon, the stars, fishing, fairy princess castles, gum, the ocean, and Cinderella.

I don’t think that this Grandma can stand too much more than that.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

I Miss Everything

I miss the little things.
I miss everything.

I miss the way your kitchen smelled.
I miss your soft hands.
I miss your sweet chuckle and big radiant smile.
I miss the sound of your voice.

Sometimes I can close my eyes, concentrate, and I can hear you.

I miss the little things.
I miss everything.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

That's The Way She Rolls

Sherwood Schwartz, creator of Gilligan’s Island & Brady Bunch (two of my most favorite sitcoms whilst growing up) passed away last week. My children have long since known that I make up lyrics to the tune of the Brady Bunch song regularly. Here is my latest version. In Sherwood's honor, please sing along with me to the Brady Bunch melody:
Here’s the story of a dog named Maggie
Who was living the perfect dog’s life.
She loved her ball and to chase it…
That’s really all there was.

Here’s the story of a dog named Scooter
Who would laugh at her wild and crazy ways
He would lay down and ignore her
Like any lazy dog should…

Till the one day when Maggie just decided
To be true to her own dog self
She must run and chase her true love
Because that’s the way she rolls.
The way she rolls. The way she rolls.

That’s just the way Magdalena rolls.

Here is the pictorial version of the same song:
Here’s the story of a dog named Maggie

Who was living the perfect dog’s life.
She loved her ball and to chase it…

That’s really all there was.

Here’s the story of a dog named Scooter

Who would laugh at her wild and crazy ways

He would lay down and ignore her

Like any lazy dog should…

Till the one day when Maggie just decided

To be true to her own dog self.
She must run and chase her true love

Because that’s the way she rolls.
The way she rolls. The way she rolls.

That’s just the way Magdalena rolls.

I know, I know....brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? It's a love story, what can I say?

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

4th of July - Huntington Beach Style

This year I was fortunate enough to spend the Fourth with my friend Marika and her family. See look how cute we are:

And look how cute our toes are. Not that you care about our toes, but you know me…. I am all about the toes.

We started off our morning at the Huntington Beach parade. It is the largest 4th of July parade on the west coast, and probably west of the Mississippi, but at least on the west coast. Little children leaned in to see the action.

But the standard attire was this:

Please note the strategically placed star and matching sunglasses, thank you.

Every parade has its fire trucks. But the Huntington Beach parade has the vintage pumper truck with Blaze the mascot dalmation. Here we see Blaze regally riding.

Then we see engineer Bob giving Blaze the two finger signal. I don’t know what the two finger signal is…but Blaze does. He is, after all, a super hero dalmation.