It's Not Always About the Shoes

I know...what could I be thinking, making such a statement! I do love shoes and I think most women do! I have quite a collection! This year I bought a pair of gold gladiator sandals (not like the ones that go way up the ankle-just simple ones) from Dillards and they have been my go-to sandals this summer!

I also have another pair of very cute, very pointy, black Anne Klein pumps that I just love! My sister actually just borrowed them for a wedding! I used to wear them quite a lot when I was working in an office-just last year (I do miss the dressing up for work stuff!). My co-workers used to tease me for wearing my pointy shoes, but I didn't care!! They're a great classic, yet sexy pump, with a good heel!

Then of course, I have what I refer to as my "popular black boots". I swear everytime I wear them (in fall and winter) strangers will comment how much they love them! Men and women! They're not to wild, classic yet sexy--I guess that's a theme with me!

But guess what! My new favorite pair of shoes are shoes I would have never bought for myself, and I'm not sure that I'll ever wear them, but they will always be my favorite pair of shoes. If you follow me on twitter you may have heard me mention my elderly neighbor Rea. She is 91 years old, but I'll tell you what, she is sharper and funnier then a lot of the people I know that are half her age!

My relationship with Rea started, well, let's see...it's been about a year and a half I guess. She lives up the street from me and we had said our neighborly "hello's" now and then. But I had started seeing her using her walker, getting her mail and finally decided I just needed to get over there and help her out. So I walked down one day while she was struggling to get her mail out on our busy street and the rest is history. It started out as a neighbor helping a neighbor. Then I got my son, Mark, 16 at the time, involved. I think it's good for teenagers to help others and not get paid for it. So Mark is still going over there every Tuesday and taking her garbage out for her.

Okay-back to the shoes. So...I started helping her more and more. Rea is still full of spunk and such an interesting lady...and now, a truly truly good friend! Rea, as with so many elderly people, is on a very strict budget. But she called me yesterday and said she had something for me and wondered if I could come over. Well, I thought I should go..perhaps she won the lottery and was going to share! So I went over right away. That sweet, sweet, dear, dear friend of mine had bought a pair of shoes for herself from one of these catalog places (I think older people love these catalogs) and she said the 2nd pair was free...so she ordered a pair for me!

Now do you see why my favorite pair of shoes are now these shoes!? She told me I'm always doing things for her and she wanted to do something for me. I really could have cried right then and there! I told her how sweet she was and she said "I'm not sweet, I'm ornery", but she is not ornery-she is sweet!

What a gift...not the shoes as much as my friendship with Rea! I will treasure it forever!

Thank you Rea!!

Jen

Speaking of Featured Blogs

Please check out this fabulous blog that just happens to be featuring little old me right now!!

If you like it-why not follow their blog while you're at it!

http://www.inkwellalley.blogspot.com/

Thanks for taking a peak!!

Happy Friday!

Jen

Featured On My Blog

I'm absolutely thrilled that I will be featured in this wonderful blog tomorrow:

http://inkwellalley.blogspot.com/

If you get a chance, please check it out, Friday July 24th!

I've only done one or two features on my blog, but I'd like to make it a regular part of this blog, so if you want to be featured, please leave me a comment with a place I can contact you, and I'll be happy to get your story out there!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer...I am! We will be going our usual vacation destination in August...Cocoa Beach, Florida (yes-the hottest time of the year-my husband loves that!)! We have a condo there and it's right on the beach, and there's a pool, so it's just perfect! The only thing I really miss is my usual workouts! I swear I gain 4 lbs in those 2 weeks of being a beach bum and going out to dinner everynight...oh the price we must pay!

Get out there and enjoy the sun and remember your sunscreen!

Take care!

Jen

Never Been So Busy

First...I have to tell you...my daughter Katherine (my baby...okay, she's 16, but she's still my baby) called today from Paris, France! She left Wednesday with a group of students, parents, and a french teacher and her husband--the french teacher's husband, not my daughter's husband...okay-anyways...I'm so excited for her! Now I really want to go! She'll be there a total of 14 days...what an wonderful experience for her!

Now, to my blog about how crazy busy I am! So...I've never been busier! I am up most days before 7:00 am and I really don't think I stop all day and well into the night! Even when I'm sleeping I'm thinking about my shops or things I need to do.

But guess what!? I love it!! Okay, so maybe I do need to relax a little, but you know the feeling...when you feel you're on the right track and you just can't stop-won't stop!!? That's where I'm at!

It makes me think about my Dad and when he started his actuarial company-started out with just him...no office..and kids to put through college! But he did it! It grew into a successful company! What I remember is that he would go to work early, leave late...and work weekends. But he loved it, it was his company and his passion! So I believe I got my entrepreneurial spirit from him! He always had that "can do" attitude!

I'm sure plenty of you can relate to where I'm at! Somedays, of course...you're wondering what the heck you're doing...but most days, I think I know what I'm doing!

Good luck with your ventures!!

Jen

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Summertime!

Hi there everyone! Just thought I'd update my blog with a quick hello!! I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer!

It's been slightly on the cool side here, but not going to complain...as long as there's no snow, I'm pretty darn happy!

I've been busy with my two shops http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ and http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ and of course, last week I had the excitement of winning the Etsy contest for my ruby red fenton candholders...thanks so much for your votes!

I am also enjoying the mom-taxi service I am still providing to my youngest daughter, Katherine. Since she is 16 and will soon have her license, I'm guessing I'll loose that job!

I have also just started a new business venture that I will tell you more about in a few weeks. I'm trying different ways to promote it...and it's local thing, but I really feel there's a need for it in our area...I'll fill you in soon!

Enjoy the sun..and even the occasionally rain (I actually think of rainy days as cozy days!)!

Thanks for following my blog! I would absolutely love to feature anyone's shop on my blog anytime, so just comment and I'll get back to you asap!

Best wishes to all!

Jen

I Had A Bad Day

So what's a bad day to you? Bad hair day..or bad traffic trying to get to work? Maybe it was too cold, too hot, too rainy, or...even too sunny!?

In a few days it will be the day we celebrate the 4th of July!

All I can think of is the men and women that fight for our country everyday. They're away from their wives, their husbands, they're children.

Can you imagine being in iraq or iran or wherever you're stationed...without your family? Or perhaps your family has followed you to where you are stationed..do you think that's easy for the family? No...probably not...but they do it. Who are they doing all of this for?

Well...let me think about that...for maybe a 2nd! I know who they are doing all of this for! For all of us! It's not just one person...it's a family..it's the entire family that is sacrificing for us!

So please take time during the fun times this weekend, to remember what this is all about..our freedom..and the people that keep on fighting for our freedom..they are our hero's--I know the word hero mean a lot these days..like movie hero's...whatever hero's you can think of! I know who are true hero's are..

But right now I'm focusing on the hero's that are away from their family's...and the family's that that are away from their hero's..their dads, their moms, their daughters, their sons...

I thank you....you are not forgotten.

Thank you so much for our 4th of July 2009!!

and best to you and your families! for without you,we would not be celebrating this day!

Jen

The Power of Twitter

This blog update is not for non-twitter-people who "don't understand twitter"...this is for the true believers...my friends..my twitter friends! The ones, that no matter what time of day/night it is, are there...and look when I say I listed something new, or when some drama has happened and I just need my friends to chat with...

Here's proof of the power of http://www.twitter.com/ ...I was nominated for an Etsy "award" for my Ruby Red Hobnail Fenton Candleholders, by a twitter friend!! You must check out her absolutely adorable shop http://www.maybeads.etsy.com/ you're sure to find the perfect gift there, or just a fun gift for yourself! Okay...so she was kind enough to nominate me...! During the nomination process others from twitter popped up to lend their support. Here's one http://www.enchantedquilling.etsy.com/ (an Australian darling!!) you must check out her very cool shop also!!

So that's a few of the reasons I love twitter and am on there constantly! Most of my votes-I think just about all of them, came from my twitter friends. I've said this before..I work at home, this is where my office is, my warehouse, etc. I love to talk, that is why I was constantly in trouble at school as a child, and at work as an "adult". So I miss that! I think of twitter friends as my "cubicle friends" --like I'm just workin' away, but chatting over the cubicles until some boss-guy comes along..and the best thing is...there is no boss guy anymore!!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/etc/jenscloset-has-the-spirit-4271/

If you haven't noticed by now from all of my blog updates...I do ramble! This is the actual way I talk...usually very fast, and sometimes I make a little sense, sometimes no sense (nonsense)...and sometimes I surprise even myself, by saying something that truly is unbelievable deep and thoughtful...but not often!

So, what I'm trying to get at is...I love twitter (and even my daughter's boyfriend, Derek www.twitter.com/derekbronish , loves it too! even though Lindsey laughs at us)...and I don't care if you get it or you don't get it-I get it-

So twitter or don't...I will continue and I thank my twitter friends, truly thank them, for all of the times they are really there for me!!

Thank you-you know who you are!!

Love you guys,

Jen

Shopping

Yes...that's a good title! Shopping! Lindsey is home this weekend, and whenever she's home...we are shopping together!

Lindsey was here last weekend too -oh, in case you don't know, Lindsey is my oldest child, and happens to be my best friend too!! anyways--she was here last weekend so we could celebrate her b-day! So of course...we had to go shopping! We went to one of our favorite little places, Francescas ( http://www.francescascollections.com/ ) . They always have the cutest dresses and the prices are so reasonable! Oh--and they're accessories are amazing! Great jewelry-and even better handbags! I have to buy at least one dress everytime I'm there! I love dresses, it's one piece, just add cute shoes and a cute handbag, and you're done! (and they're very comfortable in hot weather!)

Okay-so this weekend was vintage shopping...and since my house is jam-packed-full of vintage china, etc., I focused on looking for jewelry (takes up less space...and it's so darn cute!). Boy...did I hit the jackpot...and I could have bought more, but my little brain finally told me to stop! I am so excited to get some pics of it and get it listed so you can see it all!

I have taken some quick snapshots that I have on flickr www.flickr.com/jenscloset -so take a look and keep watching at http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ as I try to list at least one or two of these great pieces each day!

I must get to spin class tomorrow (not spinning yarn-spinning on a bike)...been bad this week-last workout was Thursday! Too much shopping!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!!

Take care,

Jen

Bribing with Candy

I just found out my ruby red Fenton hobnail candleholders are up for voting on Etsy! I'm so excited...and hoping it's not illegal to beg for votes...and even bribe with gifts of candy!!

On the serious side, I am excited...so if you do happen to love my ruby red Fenton hobnail candleholders...please vote for them!

Thanks--and I will be updated my next step on shipping soon!

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=56

Best to all!

Jen