Happy Birthday to Me

I am now one year closer to my BIG birthday bash and I'm so very excited! Today I am 49 on paper and 20 something in life. Obviously, my BIG birthday bash next year will be the BIG 50.

Age truly is just a number and that's it. I feel that if you THINK you're old, then there you go... you're old. Think young and life will be a blast! You know, I don't even know what 49 feels like because I still feel young and will FOREVER be a kid. In fact, I'll be wearing jeans, tank tops and flip flops until the day I die. I've never given much thought about my age as it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Well, wait... okay so when I was just 16 years old, I had a crush on our Crystal bottle water delivery guy - he didn't know it, so I thought. He was probably around 20 something and I always made sure to be the one to answer the door when he dropped off the jugs of water. Oh and let me just say that I've always looked younger than my years (although they are catching up with me). So one day I guess my face said it all and he made the comment that I was probably only 12 years old. OUCH! That was the end of my crush.

Mark teases me about being older than him, robbing the cradle and all that, but come on hon... by 6 months and 10 days? He knows it doesn't bother me at all, but teases me all the same. You know hon, you're right behind me ;) I just love him to pieces! Oh and thank you hon for the hilarious birthday card - TOO FUNNY!

Well, just a short blog about my BIG upcoming birthday. Yes I know, I have a whole year to go, but why waste time? I'll enjoy every second of life and when the BIG day comes, watch out - I'm letting loose!

Happy day everyone!
Rocki

p.s. the picture was taken at the U2 concert in October. I dressed it up a little :) Oh and I have a 'slightly' different pixie hairstyle now more upbeat, funky and sassy with pink only in the front. It's so me.

Long time no blog ;)

Received this text pic from my brother Chris of my little Nephew Ian saying "HELLO FROM FLORIDA!" First time on the Florida beach and he loves it. Yep, he and Tina left Tuesday morning - this was Ian's first plane ride and he had a blast! Chris has been in Tampa for about 2 weeks now and is very happy to have them home - their new home that is. We go to visit them in December and I can hardly wait!

So what has been up? Gosh... where to even start. Obviously I'm not blogging much. Okay, haven't blogged in about a month to be exact. I'll probably only post once per week for the next few months as I'm super busy in all areas of life. Have had some ups and downs, but such is life and life is good.

Went on our 1st 3 day cruise. This is us - well, part of us - as we're leaving port. I'll leave this one alone for the most part as I ended up horrifically sick more than half the cruise due to being served the wrong meal in the dining room. I'm allergic to wheat & dairy and my meals were preplanned (Carnival offers this for food allergies). However they messed up on one of them and I ended up in the Infirmary and spent the rest of the cruise in bed. Now I understand cabin fever.

Mark was really sick for a while and ended up with bronchitis. Luckily he got over it in time for the U2 concert we went to Tuesday night. He still has the nagging cough though. I've been fighting from getting sick, but mine is from lack of sleep and my crud trying to kick in.

My shop has been keeping me real busy and I've been making more finished pieces as well. Like my new Curly Q earrings above. I made me a pair to wear at the concert and decided to make another for my shop. I have other styles coming soon.

Oh and my new Simply Sweet Hoop earrings. Made with Fine Silver and am offering these in an oxidized & bright finish, as well as in Copper.

Well, that's about it for now. Need to get into the studio as I have another busy day. Hope everyone is well and healthy.

Happiness,

Rocki

Friday Funny - Top Ten Country Western Songs

Top Ten Country Western Songs:

10. I Hate Every Bone in Her Body but Mine

9. I Ain't Never Gone to Bed With an Ugly Woman but I've Woke Up With a Few

8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me

7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'

6. I Wouldn't Take Her to a Dogfight Even if I Thought She Could Win

5. I'm so Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here

4. My Wife Ran Off with My Best Friend and I Miss Him

3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger

2. She Gets Better Lookin' with Every Beer

And the Number One Country & Western song is...

1. It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chewed My Ass All Day


Thought a little humor would be a fun way to start the weekend :)
Rocki

Be Pampered by The Ferris Wheels

There are so many fabulous shops on Etsy that every time I come across one that I really love, I must share it! Like The Ferris Wheels : "easing aches and pains with comfort and style."

I came across this shop while in the Etsy Forums one day when I read a marvelous positive thread started by theferriswheels. I ventured over to their shop, which is run Sally and forgive me but I don't know the other gal's name, which is a "sister and sister in-law who named our business in memory of our mother/mother-in-law, Mrs. Ferris." Well, was I ever happy that I landed in their shop!

They create and make just about anything to ease aching muscles, relax and calm your head from painful headaches, sooth aching feet, shoulders, wrists and... oh gosh, the list is endless!

Some of you know that I have Fibromyalgia, I just don't like to broadcast it. Besides, I've learned to manage with it and life has been AWEsome for several months! Anyway, on top of that I have mild arthritis in my wrists - yes, I know I work with wire - go figure! I use my Tiger Balm, Aspercream , Theragesic, etc. along with my plain old cold packs & heating pads. Well, after visiting this shop, I felt like I hit the jackpot!

It was difficult to decide what to buy as I wanted it all! Although I wear wrist braces, I don't have any type of hot/cold pack for them other than my homemade rinky dinky thing. So I purchased two of the Wrist Hot or Cold Pack (matches my hair :) Oh... my... gosh! I no sooner received them in the mail when I heated them up and put them on. Well, actually due to the Arizona sun while sitting in the mail box, they were already heated - LOL!

Let me tell you, from purchase to the excellent handmade quality and customer service, they are AWESOME! I use my wrist wraps just about every evening after a long hard day in the studio. I'm already making a list of what to buy next that matches my wrist wraps. Well, you know... a girl has to look good while sitting around with hot/cold packs on.

So head on over to their shop and have a looksie for yourself - you'll be amazed at the huge selection and wide variety of colors available. Oh and another plus, very affordable!

Hmm? Wonder if they make anything to soothe an aching tush?

Have a pain free day!

Rocki

Tidbits

Yes, it's been a few weeks since I've last posted and I've truly missed blogging and visiting my blog buddies. There is just so much is going on right now that it's been a bit overwhelming and sort of makes me feel like I'm in a daze. Hence the funny little monkey above.

I have a great blog feature to do of a fellow Etsian that I'm SURE everyone will love, but wanted to at least give an update today as I've had some people ask what I've been up to and if I've disappeared. So, I'll be doing the feature tomorrow.

For those who know me and my blog, I do not whine, cry, air dirty laundry, etc. So this post is a little different. Just want to let you know where I've been and that I plan on blogging regular happy blogs soon :) Here is a brief update of what the past 3 weeks has been like for me - in no particular order:

- Mark's beloved grammy passed away 2 months shy of her 95th birthday

- Jason (my youngest son) broke the news to me that he is moving to Portland :( Better schooling for what he's doing. Very sad and I'll miss him terribly, but am happy that he'll be there with Jeremy (my oldest son).

- My baby brother Chris (okay, not such a baby really) received a promotion and is moving to Florida Oct. 9th - he has a lot to do in a short amount of time. Very sad again.

- Another family member (won't mention name as I'm not sure who knows) announced that they will be moving out of state as well. Ugh. More sadness.

- Been extremely busy with my shop, not bad news of course and am very grateful, just very busy on top of the above. This has helped to keep my mind occupied though.

Those are pretty much the main stressor's, for lack of a better term. Why I'm not a complete ball of stress right now is beyond me, but I'm hanging in there. However, I think I own stock now in Kleenex now.

One bit of happier news... this is where I'll be soon! I need some type of break.

Much love, peace and happiness to all!
Rocki

What's new with you?

Where on earth does time go? Last week flew by so fast I didn't have time to blink! I have several more vacation blogs yet to post with some fun and interesting pictures, but since my schedule is kind of wonky this week with appointments and studio time, I'll have to post one later in the week.

In the meantime, thought I would share a few of my new creations that are now in my shop. Above are my Kurly Kites. I really love how they turned out and just like my Go Fly A Kite ear wires, they wear great! Oh and they'll be available in all metals that I offer, as are most of my handmade findings.

My new Swirly Squovals are not only fun to wear, but they are quite lovely as well - if I don't say so myself :) These are interchangeable so you can add your own charms, beaded creations, etc., or wear as is. Also coming soon in all metals.

Okay, yes. These are jump rings - nothing new of course. However, they ARE new to my shop! I've been wanting to make them for months and have FINally done so. More sizes/gauges will be added soon. Currently available in Copper & Sterling - soon to be added in 14k Gold Filled.

Well, that is it for now. I have my ortho appointment in about an hour, so I need to bust'a move here. Tomorrow morning I have my dermo appointment. Fun times I tell ya! ;)

So what's new with you?

Rocki

Huntington Beach & Sea Shells

Some very cool findings from our walking the beach!

We had the most fun & rewarding vacation in a very long time! Instead of trying to cram our entire vacation into one blog, I'm going to do little blogs with pictures of some of our most memorable times.

Yep, that's me above after arriving to Huntington Beach. Oh and yes, that is pink hair you see - I FINally had it done! I still have the blonde and dark look, but had some very cool pink highlights added. Kind of like Neapolitan!

Anyway, this was the day before we returned home and Mark & I agree - it was the BEST way to end our fabulous vacation. The sun broke about an hour after arriving to the beach and the weather was perfect. The water was a bit cool at first, but was nice. I have more pics to share later, but for now these are it.

Mark enjoyed relaxing and watching the waves hit the beach. It wasn't very crowded at all, so it made it even more enjoyable.

This is our shell collection. I was itching to walk the beach and find shells like I did when I was younger. Of course, back then we found a bigger variety of shells, but what we found that day was amazing.

I have another picture of me holding the very cool Sand Dollar I found, but it isn't loading right - keeps turning the pic upside down. So, I'll try to add that one later.

If you go back up to the top picture, not only will you see the Sand Dollar I found, but also a very cool broken shell. The broken piece looks like a heart! I love hearts and even create them in my jewelry findings, so finding that broken shell was a very cool find!

We had so much fun doing many different things. I'm still not sure if the Whale Watching Cruise is #1 or relaxing on the beach is. In either case, this vacation was AWESOME!

More later as it's time to get to work and as one of my customers said "back to the real world!"

Peace, Rocki

Knotts Berry Farm Day

I had a couple pics to use for today's vacation blog, but after several tries to upload it via blogger it did not want to work. So, please imagine the entrance to Knotts and a goofy pic of me & Mark on the little kids train :)

Both of us agree that Knotts Berry Farm is not like we remembered it to be. We were both young children the last time we were there and it's simply not like we remembered. Yes, we know times change and all, but the nostalgia was gone - at least to us.

I can remember my parents and grandparents taking us kids there in the 60's - back when it was still part farm, playing with the farm animals, watching the piano playing chicken, trying to figure out the the old mind shack that when you walked inside you leaned to one side and the big giant turtle you sat on - a real one! Fun times.

Now with the area around Knotts all grown up, buildings, shopping areas and other entertainment venues, guess they had to do something to keep up the pace to keep the locals and other visitors coming.

I'm not saying we had a bad time or anything of that nature, as we did have an enjoyable few hours while there. Although we didn't stay the entire day, it was another good day of our vacation spent.

We sure do miss the old Knotts - and the piano playing chicken!
Rocki

p.s. This morning we are going on the Whale Watching cruise - again. Hopefully this time it will be smooth sailing :)

Today's Whale Watching Cruise

Another sort of quickie post of today's vacation events:

Above is the boat we went on for the 3 1/2 hour whale watching tour. Notice the name of it? It is my youngest brother's name (who lives in Arizona as well). Chris is the one who suggested we go on a whale watching cruise as this is the season for it and lots of whales are seen daily. There are many of these tours around, but how ironic that the one we called happened to have one of their boats named "The Christopher" - too funny!

Okay, not that funny I guess as our 3 1/2 hour cruise was cut down to about an hour due to one of the two engines died about an hour into the trip, but it was still very enjoyable. Plus they did issue us a free pass - so we will be going another day this week - probably Wednesday as tomorrow is Knotts!

Oh yes, we did get to see one small whale called a Minke - about a 20 footer. How did we spot the whale? Whale... er, I mean well, here's the story... The captain explained a few things and one of them was that if you spot a whale then you point and holler "THERE SHE BLOWS" and the direction (12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, etc.) Who was going to be the silly one to holler "THERE SHE BLOWS?" Whale, I mean well - that would be me!

Yep. I was looking off into another direction while everyone else was looking some place else. And there it was. I was a little hesitant at first - in case I was seeing things, but then when it popped up again off I sounded "THERE SHE BLOWS 9 O'CLOCK!" I kind of felt like a celebrity afterwards, but no autographs were given out.

Whale, I mean WELL... time to get some shut eye as tomorrow is another fun filled day. We're having a blast and now thinking about a bigger cruise to take on our next vacation.

Have a whale of a day,
Rocki

Love our hotel room!

Here's a quickie post:

We're loving our vacation in California!
Absolutely adore our Aztec hotel room - it's SO us!
Yes, that is a kitchen in there... and no, I won't be doing any cooking. Oh and I took the picture with my cell phone in excitement, so excuse the look of it.
Love the Azteca Mexican restaurant at the hotel - yum!
We're getting ready to go on our whale watching cruise this morning - fun!
Need to call my pal Deb and set up a time to meet :)

That's it for now. Off to have more fun and I'll blog as I can.
Happy Monday everyone - wish you were here!
Rocki

Larry Winget

The title alone immediately grabs your attention, doesn't' it? "A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life"... what better way to put it than that. Oh and then the picture of Larry Winget, The Pitbull of Personal Development® - okay, I just have to say it - LOVE it!

This book truly grabbed our attention. Mark & I were out shopping the other day and bought it right after reading the inside & outside cover. We were not looking for a book, we were simply browsing. Okay, scratch that. I was browsing while Mark was looking for computer stuff.

We love to read and wish we could read more, but right now the weekends are about the only time we have for it (hmm, maybe after reading this book we WILL read more). Our weekend reading is quite enjoyable. While having our morning coffee, we sit on the couch with our 4-legged kids and I read out loud. We're currently reading another book by Pema Chodron, but our favorite author is Lama Surya Das.

Anyway, on our way to Cali I'll be reading this book, out loud of course since Mark will be doing the driving. Speaking of Cali... I can hardly wait to hit the beach... if I can put the book down that is!

Want to know more about this book and others? More about Larry Winget? Check out his website , plus he also has a Facebook and Twitter. Oh and he lives here in the Valley of the Sun - how cool is that!

Okay, time to make the donuts. Lots to do before leaving for Cali. I'll update you on thoughts about this book, as well as how our vacation is going. I'm not sure if I'm excited more about relaxing on the beach, the whale watching cruise or Knotts... or maybe it's the book?

Peace to you all,
Rocki

A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started."

Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The blonde says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table.

He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says,

"First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster."

He takes her hand and says, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh...

(slowly scroll down)

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

"Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

Okay, now for any blondes out there please forgive me, but hey, I'm blonde! Hair color only that is :) Oh and this very funny joke that made me laugh until I cried was sent to me by my lovely friend Deb.

******

Vacation update: My shop is already in "Vacation Mode" while I finish up a couple more orders and then we leave for California in a couple days. I'm SOOOO excited! I'll have my laptop with me and plan on blogging and/or tweeting while there.

Peace, Love & Happiness,

Rocki

Ketchup - not just for french fries

I finally tried the Ketchup bath to shine up tarnished copper. I read that the acidity of the vinegar in Ketchup removes tarnished copper. Wow. Was I ever surprised! I know this isn't anything new and many of you probably are aware of this, but for those of you who are not, I'm sharing my findings. Please excuse the crud photos, but you'll get the idea.

So above we have our Ketchup (or "catsup" as my grandma used to say), any brand will do, a bowl, tweezers, paper towel and an unfinished copper clasp I made a couple months ago from pure copper wire.

Here is the aged copper clasp. It is a beautiful earthy color, but lets brighten this puppy up a bit.

If the copper piece you are wanting to brighten up is just that - a copper piece, you actually submerge it in the Ketchup. However, if there are beads, stones, etc. included, then I would suggest to not submerge it. I'm only partially submerging the clasp to show the difference after the Ketchup bath.

I only left it submerged for about 30-45 seconds, but you can leave it in longer. When I took it out of the bath it had already removed most of the tarnish on that section! I wiped it off with the paper towel and I was happily surprised with the outcome. Of course you clean it off with water afterwards as I did after the experiment and it was much brighter than the photo. Oh and you can also take a soft toothbrush with the Ketchup to help remove the tarnish.

This was so much fun that I wanted to do more! Although I got the strange urge to eat some french fries. Anyway, I looked around the studio for any other aged copper as I didn't want to waste my Ketchup bath! Nothing. Darn it! Hmm. I wonder if it works on aged skin?

Although Copper looks quite beautiful as it ages, especially that deep earthy brown shade (love it!) some people prefer the bright and shiny look. So if you want to brighten up your copper and want to go about it naturally, give it a Ketchup bath. And hey, while you're at it, toss some french fries in the oven and have a snack at the same time!

Sasha's Ketchup Facts of the Day:

(okay, they are not hers, she got them while surfing the web)

- People other than my grandma call it "catsup"

- 1 tbls has 16 calories and zero fat

- 4 tbls has the nurtional value of a medium ripe tomato

- ketchup originally contained pickled fish (YUCK!)

- is the main ingrediant of barbeque sauce

- you can kill a pickle with a toothpick and ketchup (according to my son when he was younger... very funny story I'll share one day)

"Ding" - ooh, gotta go, french fries are done!

Rocki

The Talented Starless!

Starless : "intricate, colorful, fun polymer clay creations" by the ever so talented Amber.

Amber lives in my stomping grounds... well, sort of anyway. She lives in Flagstaff, Arizona - about a 2 hour drive north from where I live. She has been working with polymer clay since she was 11 years old. Obviously she has quite the talent for it as she has taken polymer clay to a whole new level. I mean, look at the Mini Koi Pond pendant above! The details are amazing and she has several designs of these pendants.

Amber refers to her work and technique as "intricately textured filigree" and all her designs are made by hand. The ornament above is so beautiful and I absolutely love the design. Oh and there is more!

Not only does Amber make beautiful pendants and ornaments, but check out the Ballpoint Pen! Now THAT would make an awesome statement while writing out a check or a letter to a loved one or better yet, as a gift! She even makes polymer clay design jewelry boxes, cigar cutter key rings and more. Oh and this very cool business card holder that I just bought!

If you want to see "intricate, colorful, fun polymer clay creations", hop on over to Amber's Starless shop - you'll love it!

Have a fun & colorful day!

Rocki

Linda G'eez - Peace, Love & Smiles!

I was originally going to blog about my fabulous, adorable, cute, beautifully handmade & packaged Itzy Bitzy cards that I recently purchased from my flower power gal pal, Linda G'eez, but after receiving them - and becoming friends - I have to brag a little more about her!

Linda & I met when she purchased from me the first time about a month ago. We seem to have quite a bit in common, especially since we are both flower children :) Anyway, you can immediately feel the vibes of peace, love and smiles that Linda gives just by looking at her Etsy Shop banner. Her Shop Announcement fills you in on the rest of the vibes.

In Linda's shop you will find lovingly handmade natural gemstone jewelry and the most beautiful handmade floral cards and photos - which were photographed from her actual home garden - how much more handmade can you get?! And hey, the peace, love and smiles that you leave with after visiting her shop are free!

I love how Linda combines leather with the gorgeous Jasper gems above. Very earthy and oh so fabulous!

The Diablo Ninebark above is simply fascinating! Linda's Flower Power with Love cards are full of her many garden flowers as are her as many more flower photographs that she has in her shop.

"Omm Jewelry"... Linda is very expressive with her descriptions and I just love it! You can truly feel the love she put in each and every item she creates. The Sacral Chakra Carnelian earrings above are one of her "Omm Jewelry" pieces. She describes in detail about her creation, as she does with all her listings. Just reading this one brought happy tears to my eyes!

I just love Linda! There - I said it! I have met so many wonderful people on Etsy & Blogger in which I have become friends with that it astounds me. Linda is one of those people that you instantly like. Not because of her talent or her awesome Etsy Shop, but because of the honest to goodness person she is.

"Peace, Love & Smiles",
Rocki

p.s. I REALLY love my Itzy Bitzy cards and may find it difficult to part with them. But hey, I can just buy more!

Wiggles!

Go ahead and giggle

over my new fun & funky Wiggles!

Looks a bit like a wave,

or maybe even a squiggle,

add a little fun to your day

and wear a Wiggle!

My new Wiggle Series Earrings! These came to mind one day while working and I just had to roll with it. The day after I listed my first Wiggle, it sold. I must admit that I was rather excited about that!

I have a few in my shop, but there will be more Wiggles on the way as I create them. There will be a variety of Wiggles in Sterling Silver, 14k Gold Filled and Copper: long, short, interchangeable, funky, fun and well, basically a variety of designs.

You can find more of my Wiggles and other handcrafted metalwork earrings, supplies and findings in my shop.

Have wiggle good day!

Rocki

Summer, gotta' love it!

I love the sun and REALLY love summer time! My body does not like cold weather at all. I love every aspect of the sun, in fact I do believe I have sunshine pouring through my veins.

Although originally from California (until the big Sylmar quake of 71 that took our 2 story house down to a 1 story - I may blog about that sometime), Arizona is and always will be my home. Yes, it's hotter than H.E.L.L. during the summer time... okay, more than just the summer time, but hey... "it's a dry heat."

So what are your plans for the summer? Mine? Well, we were originally going to go to Cali/Knotts Berry Farm in June, but had to change plans due to my wrists and all. So, we are going there for 1 week in August. I am VERY much looking forward to it!

Barbeque's are always fun. See the big burger above? That looks just about like one of my dad's famous burgers, but smaller. Dad makes the BEST burgers ever! Including his own BBQ sauce ranging from root beer, jalapeno, apricot, etc. The man loves his BBQ!

For me, summer time brings out the best in people, just like during the winter holidays. Well, except if you're in Arizona getting into your extremely hot car that has been sitting in the parking lot while shopping, burning your bum on the leather seat, grabbing hold of the steering wheel which has turned into hot magma and then scream in pain.

Camping! LOVE camping! Haven't been in a few years and we really miss going, but that is a fun summer/anytime event. Now I must admit that our tent setup looks NOTHING like the one above. Ours is blue. Naw, really, we camp like real campers... sleeping bags, tents, campfire, make shift kitchen, roast marshmallows, make coffee on the rocks by the campfire, etc. Fun times!

There are many things to do during the summer and no matter if it is simply hanging around the house, going to movies, relaxing at the beach, lake or back yard pool, visiting friends, having BBQ parties, creating for the upcoming holidays, cleaning out the closets (okay, maybe not that one) or simply doing nothing - enjoy it and don't waste it - life is precious so enjoy every moment!

Happy summer!

Rocki

Busy as a BEE!

Yep, I'm still around, just been busier than a one winged bee is all. So, for today just thought I would do a quick post to say HELLO EVERYONE and to show you the view from our bedroom door. Our little piece of solitude we call our Tropical Desert Island - our backyard.

Go ahead, jump in, but no running around the deck, keep the swimsuits on and have fun. I hope to be out there later today.

Enjoy your day!

Rocki

p.s. hope you brought a towel!