Featured Etsy Shop - Bloomy Jewelry

Aqua Flower Brooch

Cute Etsy shop alert!  Today I am featuring a lovely Etsy shop called "Bloomy Jewelry"!  

The owners are sisters, and live in Latvia.  Their names our Zane and leva.  They have a huge passion for their jewelry making, and also enjoy felting, beading, and sewing.

Light Purple Stud Earrings

 For the past 4 years, their passion has turned to polymer clay techniques.  I just love the brooches and earrings in their shop!  It's amazing that they can take a piece of raw clay and turn it into something so pretty!

Pretty White & Green Earrings

 They are inspired by nature and "anything else that might stumble across" in their day-to-day life!  They have tremendous support from the family and friends!

Be sure to check out their Etsy shop!  They also have a blog: http://www.bloomyjewelry.blogspot.com.  You can also find them on twitter (under the name bloomyjewelry), and Pinterest (my new favorite place), also under the name bloomyjewelry.

I'm happy to feature more Etsy shops, just drop me a message and let me know about your shop!

Happy weekend!

Jen

Jen's Pasta Primavera

My pasta primavera

One of my favorite Italian restaurants is a little place in Rocky River, Ohio, called "Bucci's"!  We feel like family there!  We've been going there for years, and we're always greeted with a hug!

Lately the only thing I order there is the Pasta Primavera, with blush sauce!  I'm addicted, and it's so good leftover.

Yum!

 I haven't been able to make mine exactly like Bucci's, but I did create this one for lunch today.  Since my Bob and I both work from home, we usually have are larger meal for lunch.  We both love to cook.  Bob's better at following a recipe word for word.  I like to check out a recipe, and make it my own.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't!

I start by heating up butter and olive oil in a pan.  I then add the fresh veggies that will take the longest too cook.  Today I had green beans, wax bean, several colors of peppers, red onion, and white onion.  Saute that for awhile, then add the softer veggies.  I added zucchini and squash, and bit later, the mushrooms.

I then added a bit of white wine and some cream.  Oh, I also added salt & pepper, ground red pepper, and some Italian seasoning.

I then decided it needed a bit of a "kick", so I added about 1/2 can of mexican tomatoes (spicy).  You could always add fresh tomatoes or any other canned tomato that you like.

In the meantime, I started boiling the water for angel hair.  Again, you could use whatever pasta you like.

I "tented" the pan with foil to get everything cooked/steamed, and then added some parmesan cheese.

After the pasta was done, I couldn't help but add a bit of butter to it~!  Then I mixed everything together (so it would be good for leftovers).

We always make enough of whatever we cook, for Bob's Mom, Grace.  She lives alone and it's fun to be able to share our food with her!

Bon apetit!

Jen

Pastel Christmas

I'm dreaming of a pastel Christmas!

I'll need a pink tree!

 

 

I do have a cute smaller pink tree, but I would love to have a large one like this!

I love this mantel decoration!

 Of course I am finding a lot of ideas on Pinterest!  It's so inspiring!

Simple but cute idea!

Even I could do this one!  Just add some vintage Christmas ornaments to a shadow box!

From Etsy

Another simple but cute idea!

Love this idea!  Just take inexpensive candleholders and add pretty vintage Christmas ornaments!

I want this wreath!

 Oh so pretty Christmas wreath with all sorts of shabby chic ornaments and tulle!

Next to come...a classic Christmas!

Happy weekend everyone!

Jen

Never Forget

Never Forget

"They're blowing up the f-ing Pentagon!" Words from my friend Toni. 

I was at work.  We were all in a state of shock.

I knew I wanted my children with me.  I left work and picked up Katherine & Mark from their elementary school.  I know the principal would have preferred they stayed there and kept things as normal as possible.  But I knew what I wanted.  I wanted my kids with me.  I did not panic them.  I took them to the video store and had them get movies and video games.  I kept them close to me, but also watched what was unfolding on television.

I did explain to my kids what was going on.  I did not go into too much detail, because I did not want to scare them.

My older daughter, Lindsey, was at college. I could not wait for her to get home.

Remember what is important to you.

Remember when you're having a bad day, it could be worse.

Don't forget the sacrifices that have been made so we can have our freedom.

Don't forget that tragic date, September 11th, and those that lost their lives for us.

Jen

White and Lacy from Pinterest

Yes, I am totally addicted to pinterest!  If you haven't checked it out, you should!  You can create "boards" with whatever subject your heart so desires, and the add "pins" to your boards!  The pins are stuff that match your boards.  

Pretty things from Pinterest

 For example, one of my boards is "My Fashion Style".  I add cute clothes, accessories, etc, that I would wear.  Who cares if they cost a crazy amount of money, it's fun!

Pinterest inspires me!

 I love my "Funnies" board!  All kinds of funny stuff to make me laugh (and hopefully will make you laugh too!).

I added this on to my "Pretty Things" board

 I also have a "Cottage Chic" board.  That is one of my favorites too! Oh what am I saying!? I love all of my boards!

 This one is on my "If I was Crafty" board!

 

 I'm not too crafty, although I do try on occasion! I love these lamps made with vintage lace!

I love lace!

 

 

This is such a cute idea!

 I have actually tried a few recipes that I found on Pinterest.  I can't remember what the first one was, but it didn't turn out too great.  But, I made a butter cake, and it was soooo good!  My mother-in-law actually asked me for the recipe after she tried mine!

Check out Pinterest and be inspired!

Happy weekend!

Jen

Kat's Got Style!

Kat Wilson

I haven't actually met Kat Wilson in person, but we are twitter friends, and I know if we lived close to each other, we would definitely hang out together!

I love her personality and her style!

I also love her blog, you must check it out!   http://katsmeoww11.blogspot.com/

I LOVE vintage lingerie!

Kat also has a gorgeous vintage clothes/accessory Etsy shop!  Be sure to check it out~!  http://www.katsmeoww.etsy.com .

Vintage Hat

 I have quite a collection of hats, including several vintage ones.  Hats are a great way to add your own style to an outfit!  I love this one that Kat has in her Etsy shop!

Cute vintage dress!

 Most days you'll find me wearing a dress! Dresses are simple, one piece, and they're just so comfortable!  This cute dress in Kat's shop is definitely one that I would wear!  Add some bold jewelry to update the look!

Be sure to check out Kat's blog and Etsy shop!  I'm sure you will be inspired!

Happy Labor Day!

Jen

Rainy Monday

I love rainy mornings!  There is something cozy about it!

Since I can't photograph shop stuff, I thought I'd show you a few of my favorite Etsy items!

Wedding favors

 As you may know, I love pinterest!  When my daughter Lindsey announced her engagement, I started a wedding board for her!  Even though she was married this past June, I still add pins to this board!

I love this pretty Etsy shop, especially the name of the shop:  MyDarlingHeart!

Beautiful Photography

 I am constantly attempting to improve on my photography, so I really appreciate talented photographers!  I love this shop!  Be sure to check it out!

So pretty!

Back to the wedding theme~!  I love this idea for a gift for the bridesmaids!  These would also be great gifts for any lady, bridesmaid or not!

Happy Etsy shopping!

Jen

Good and Bad News

Blue Willow Dinner Plates

The good news:  Adam from the Etsy Press convo'd me from my china shop!  He wanted me to overnight these pretty Blue Willow dinner plates, because they had a chance of being featured in the Rachael Ray magazine!  

The bad news:  I was in Cocoa Beach, Florida, at the time, and would not be able to ship them until the following week.  According to Adam, that would not work, the photo shoot would be happening before that time.

I was partying with this guy while opportunity was knocking

So there you go!  That's what I get for going on vacation!  But my life attitude is things are what they are! You change what you can, and the things you can't change, you can't change and you move on!  

I have been lucky enough to be contacted by Adam on a few other occasions, and they worked out, so hopefully there will be another opportunity soon!

By the way, when my daughter Katherine was taking the photo of me with the statue, these cute ladies went by and said "take his leaf off!".

Happy Wednesday!

Jen

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Katherine and the Mayberry Pickers

I try to have fun wherever I go!  We just returned from our annual August trip to Cocoa Beach!

I will blog more about other adventures soon, but I thought I'd do a quick blog about one of our stops at a West Virginia rest stop!  

That's me gettin' down with the Mayberry Pickers!

 That poor guy on the right is wondering why they let me join them!  When Katherine and I first saw them, my first reaction was, I have to get a picture of this!  Katherine was a bit worried that they wouldn't like that, so I plopped some cash in one of their cases (others had done the same), and asked them if it was alright if I got a picture of them.

It was more than alright, they invited Katherine to join them, and then even let the old broad (moi) try it out!

What a nice group of people, and great music too!!

Smile!

Jen

Beautiful Table Setting

Love this table setting!

I love it when my customers send me a picture of what they've done with something they've purchased from me!

Donna had purchased vintage Royal Quban floral bread and butter plates from   my china shop (you can see one of them on the right).  

I love the gorgeous flower centerpieces!  I also loved that she has an eclectic mix of vintage china and the layer of plates/chargers!

Truly inspiring! Thanks Donna!

Jen