Delayed Christmas share but with a Valentine tie-in

Every Christmas I like to make a handmade ornament of some kind.  I like to switch it up every year...glass balls one year, painted ornaments another, photo frames yet another, etc.  This past year I came upon the House of 3 blog and website and saw a tutorial for the sassiest ornaments that reminded me of "jewelry for your tree"....which I guess is what ornaments are anyhow...LOL!  But anyhow these looked like you could even wear them for jewelry if so inclined.  I downloaded the printable and hit up Michaels for the adornments.  It was a lot of fun. Here are some of my creations...

We delivered these to friends with a little ding-dong-ditch which was even more fun then making them!

The Valentine tie-in....so I see that House of 3 now offers the same set of printables for Valentine's Day.  I wish that I had the time to make them, because they are oh so cute, but this year I unfortunately do not.  I wanted to share because maybe someone out there does.  [And if you do, I'd love to see your finished product!]  Click here to see some of the fun House of 3 Valentine printables

You know on second thought...now that I see them, I may find the time to make them!  :-) 

Where to find me....

Pieces of Me

CONTACT

Feel free to contact me via email for any questions or comments. 

lisajski@sbcglobal.net

You can also find me on these social media sites:

 

Featured...

Happy to be notified a piece of mine was featured on The Curious Pug!  

 

And how curious is the name, considering we have a pug on the way?!

Personal Project - four people twelve times

I just saw this so I don't have mine yet, but I'm going to do this personal project as challenged on Tara's Whitney's blog. 

One self portrait of the family each month along with tidbits from the past month.  Will make a great end of the year book.  Love it. 

Totally Fab Etsy Treasury

One of my pieces was featured in an Etsy Treasury today.  Love what Mitchell & Dent put together!

 

Here's a link to the treasury........for the modern mod...

Derailed by sickness

UPDATE: It is actually strep. Yea me.

So I wasn't going to let the constant rain stop me, but I got interrupted anyhow.    This past weekend I came down with strep like illness.  The last thing on my agenda was getting out and running.  I did go into the weekend with a successful 2.66 mile run on Friday afternoon however.  

Easing back into the routine with some yoga today.  

No more excuses...run on.  

ReddingHandmade

 I recently joined a local team that I am so excited about.  We are just in the beginning stages and I'm so happy to be a part of it from the start.  Chrystal from Chyrstalyn handmade jewelry is the founding member and see's it as a local creative collective for those in Redding with Etsy shops.  It's called ReddingHandmade and we are having our debut Open House on February 6th. 

I met with Chrystal the other night and her enthusiasm is infectious!  It was such fun talking to her and she is even more socially media conscious than me, it was great!  We talked about what we see for the team and what we can offer other team members, as well as Redding.  The initial draw for me, is the opportunity to meet with local like minded people who also make handcrafted items available on Etsy.  So often I'm in my little studio creating alone.  As much as I like being a sole proprietorship, it can get lonely at times.  Chrystal's idea for starting this team is much more generous....it's to share the love of handcrafting with others and to help others grow their own Etsy businesses, so they too can achieve a sort of freedom.  

The possibilities for this team are so great.

 

I hope you can come check us out.  And if you live near or in Redding and either have an Etsy shop or want to start one, please join us!

For more information on ReddingHandmade...
Facebook Fan Page 

Blog

Twitter

Ning site (for Members)

Give me a reason to shop and I'll take it

With our new little one on the way I had to window shop my favorite place for handmade and personalized goods, Etsy of course!  Here are some of my favorites so far....

new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(5120431, 'favorites','gallery',4,3).renderIframe();

A couple of these goodies are on their way to me!

Meet Dexter

We will soon be welcoming a new addition to our family...a puppy pug named Dexter!  We have been talking about adopting another puppy for well over a year and after seriously talking and researching, for probably the last 4 months, we found Dexter.  He was born on December 16th and will be coming to live with us in the next couple of weeks.  The kids are beyond excited! 

 

Dexter's Mom and Dad
 

Favorite Things: David Rio Chai - Triple Play

Tiny running recap--still doing it but missed the last couple of days because of the crazy rain storms we are experiencing all throughout California.  I vow to run outside today rain or no rain however. 

Because of the stormy weather, I have doubled my intake of my absolute favorite cold weather drink chai tea.  And not just any chai tea, I LOVE David Rio Sugar Free Chai Orca Spice.  My Mom and I discovered this powdered version of chai about 5 years ago on a trip to Cambria.  I now purchase 3 pound bags of it regularly on-line and get agitated when I'm out of it.

In addition, it needs to be prepared just so.  My favorite way to make it is with 80% water, 20% non-fat milk, splash of vanilla creamer AND made in my  machine.  If you haven't heard of a Cocomotion it is simply the best way ever to make a hot powdered mix drink.  The machine mixes and heats the drink simultaneously and when it's done it has a bonus yummy frothy top.  Love it. 

And to make this a 'triple play' favorite thing...I prefer to drink my chai out of my "I Wanna Be Sookie" mug!   Aaron gave this to me for Christmas, he purchased it on Etsy from MaidofClay and it's the absolute best mug, such great quality and so unique...I can't help but hear Vampire Bill say "Oh...Sookie" every time I drink out of it.  Cracks me up!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkFtV4oYe-s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1]

Running-End of Week 2

Unbelievably, I'm still at it.  I can honestly say I have NEVER run for 2 weeks consistently in my life.  Ever.  For me it is such a mind thing and I'm proud of myself for keeping at it for this long.  My legs can go much farther than my head will let me.  One thing and one thing only is keeping me running...my iPod Nano with Nike + iPod Sport Kit!  I want to do an ad for this thing.  I'm a gadget girl and the fact that there is a gadget like this for running, I'm in.  I won mine for free from the MommyCast Podcast but I'm buying Aaron one now.  If I could, I'd buy everyone one!  I would think it would be interesting for walkers too.  It's basically a high-tech pedometer...at the push of a button you can hear how far you've run (time and miles) and your current pace.  The best thing ever for making personal goals for yourself.  I just finished a 2 mile run and I did not stop to walk once (that is a MAJOR accomplishment for me).

 

One thing you're 'supposed' to have when using this Nike + Sport Kit is the special Nike running shoes to hold the sensor.  Eh, I'm just not a fan of Nike shoes.  I have never found a pair that fit me comfortably.  Sorry Nike.  Instead I purchased a little velcro pouch to hold the sensor and it's worked out perfect so far. 

Part 2 of my love for the iPod Nano with Nike + Sport Kit is that I HAVE to have music when I run.  And it HAS to be the right music.  I've found that I run better with fast hip/hop music.  The second it slows down, so do I.  I'm still narrowing down the best running playlist but for now here is what I have: 

Any suggestions are very much appreciated! 

Favorite Things - Photography

For fun (and to stop talking about running for the moment), I thought I'd periodically post some of "My Favorite Things" to my blog.  I always love reading other blogs and finding other's favorite things.  My bank account doesn't usually love it but that's another matter entirely!    

Photography is a big love of mine.  It's a hobby that has sadly fallen to the wayside in the last year or so. Well I take that back, my camera has seen a whole lot of action in the way of jewelry photography (which is an entire beast in itself!)...this year I intend to focus more on broadening what I capture with my camera. 

In addition to taking photograph's, I love to look at others work.  Last year we had Heather Armstrong, a local photographer, who's blog I stalk frequently, take our family portraits.  I love, love, love every photo she took!  Here's a video I put together of some of the ones we chose, she took hundreds of photos so it was really hard to narrow down to just these ones.  

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8681911&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Family Portraits from Heather Armstrong June 09 from LISA LEE on Vimeo.

For more info on Heather and her photography, please check here..... Heather Armstrong Photography  

Another one of my favorite family photographers is Tara Whitney.  She is located in Orange County, California and one day I hope we can book a session with her.  Here is her blog...Tara Whitney...Just be blogged...

Week 1

So I did it.  Ran for one week and I'm still alive!  And guess what?  I kinda like it now.  Kinda. One thing is for sure, it has gotten much easier and I also feel like I HAVE to do it.  It feels good, like Debbie wrote in a comment when I started this, something about, "clearing the cobwebs out." Perfect way to describe it.  

I managed to run over 9 miles this past week.  And I'm averaging a 12 minute mile.  Good considering my first run I was running a 14 minute mile.  Bad in that I have yet to run more than a mile and a half at once!  This week my goal is to run no less than 2 miles per day and see if I can keep my average. 

I guess I'll do my weigh-ins on Monday too....today I'm at 166.5. Down 1 pound. 

2010 - My Word

 Word Art made at Wordle

I have been thinking hard about coming up with a word for the year.  A word that would sum up what I would like this year to represent.  I wanted a word that would mean so much that I was tempted to even have it tattooed onto my body.  That way I could never forget it.  No excuse.  A permanent reminder.  Some words that crossed my mind: exercise, health, simplify, save, slow down, self.

The word that I have chosen is the word balance. I want to balance it all this year...fitness, health, family, friends, work, hobbies.  I'm self-diagnosed obsessive-compulsive with some attention deficit disorder thrown in which makes balance a definite challenge!  Ten days into the new year and I'm feeling pretty good about how I've managed to balance it all so far.  "They" say it takes 2 weeks for something to become a habit and a way of life...is balance too lofty of a goal?

Day 3 - Still running!

I still hate it but I'm happy to see improvement already!  I'm a gadget girl so being able to track my runs and really see how I'm doing is a HUGE motivator.  This time I ran around my neighborhood and I'm happy to know that if I go around all the cul-de-sacs it is exactly 1.54 miles. 

Also another huge motivator--a friend and I just made a healthy living contract/pact so that when we both make our goals we will have a day at the spa.  A full day-the whole she-bang!  It's a ways down the road, but I can't wait for that.  

My ultimate goal is to HAPPILY run a 10 minute mile.  I'm not big on making weight goals because it can be so misleading.  I'd rather be healthy and feel good at a higher weight then loose 30 pounds and feel like garbage.  With that being said I will track my weekly weight-loss and just see what happens.  Currently I weigh 167.5 pounds and I am 5'10".  According to various websites my ideal weight would be between 132 and 175.  I'm going to go for 148 and see how I feel. 

My ultimate, end all goal is to just feel good.  Physically AND mentally. 

Embarrassing

This was pathetic.  I gotta admit it felt good to get out though and it was a beautiful day. 

Scratch my last goal.  My new goal is to run a 12 minute mile.

The Challenge

In my previous post I mentioned making this blog a challenge to me.  I have decided to take a cue from a recent movie and some other blogs and do my own version.  A personal journey I will share most at least some of it here.  I vow to make myself a runner.  There I said it. 

For those that know me, I'm not a runner.  I hate it.  I can't do it.  The few times I've tried it, I constantly have, "I hate this.When can I stop?This sucks.Is it over yet?" on constant rotation in my head. Not to mention it is so freaking boring. 

So why am I doing this?  Most sane people don't have the need.  (Though first disclosure--no saying I'm sane.)  I have a multitude of reasons:

1. I want to loose weight and feel fit.


2. I've always admired those we do run.  (However, second disclosure-I have been known to call people I've seen in the rain or on a cold day running, some not very nice names.)  


3. So I can eat what I want.  (Well within reason I suppose.)


4. I won a new Ipod Nano with a Nike Sport Kit right before Christmas (from Mommycast Podcast) and I feel I need to justify it's existence in my home.  (Not to mention the $1000+ treadmill I've had for years that barely gets any action.)


5. I need a goal and a subject to write about. 

So how do I start this journey?  I don't really know.  I will start with a small goal.  Run a mile without stopping to rest.  

Wish me luck.

 

Third disclosure - This is not me.  
 

Blog Decision

OK.  After a LOT of thought, I have come to a decision about this blog. I'm going to keep it, but I'm going to change it.  This blog initially started as a way to post my family happenings to family and friends near and far.  I also used it as an outlet to get out and share some of my wacky obsessions--Rob Thomas being a big one.

I love that I have a place to share 'Pieces of Me' and I don't want to give that up.  I've kept this blog going since October 2005 and I have printed out every single entry and photo. That's also about the time I gave up traditional scrapbooking so in a big way this blog has been my life scrapbook.  Well I shouldn't say that...this blog is only a small portion of my life and my family life, but a lot of the big events have been chronicled.  That is at least something!  Whether many people have read it or not doesn't really matter.  I've read it and I have it documented for me.  That being said, I do love each and every comment I have received.  Blog reading is a favorite past time of mine, yet I'm still amazed people want to read what I write.

So what does the future bring for this blog?  In some ways I plan to simplify it, but in some ways I'm really going to make it challenging to myself to maintain it. Stay tuned....

To blog or not to blog...that is the question....

Debating with myself on whether to keep this up. I may keep it up but switch to private. I may switch it to more of a creative blog, less personal. I may switch blog sites. I may delete and say goodbye. Hmmm....what to do, what to do....

Blog forgiveness

OK, here come the excuses....This is my busiest season with Juella Designs so I haven't been posting much (obviously!).  Speaking of--The last day to place custom orders will be this Friday, December 11th.  

After I finish up with the last of the holiday orders, I have big plans for my blog.  Complete overhaul.  First I'm realizing I need to learn the 'New Typepad'...forever changing.  

Off to make more jewelry....

Thanksgiving

 Wow, Thanksgiving came and went and now we're into the Christmas season.  How in the world did that happen?  This was the first year since the kids were born that we didn't participate in the Turkey Trot and you know what? We didn't miss it...LOL!  It was nice to just sleep in and be lazy.  We made a big breakfast and tried to get the kids excited about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade but it just didn't have as big of a draw as cartoons.  

We had Thanksgiving dinner at home....Grandma Jeanne and Uncle Jeff joined us, as well as Cindy and Noah.  It was so great they could come up and spend a couple days with us!  The kids had a blast having a cousin to play with and they played lots of video games and laser tag.  Molly even had some company, Dharma and Yoda/Pedro, Cindy's dogs.  She wasn't as thrilled as we were to have company!   Aaron went back to work on Friday but we took Cindy and Noah on a mini tour of Redding.  We hit Turtle Bay, the Sundial Bridge (though it started to rain on us), McDonald's (but of course) and Aaron's Fire Station.  

Click here for more photos

Holiday Shows

I've had a busy couple of weeks with Juella Designs!  I've had 2 shows...both which I think were successful and a lot of fun.  The first one was a Holiday Boutique I put together at the Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant (the place where my brother is the chef)...we had 11 different vendors and artists selling their wares and it was a crazy-fun-crowded time!  Here's a quick pic from that show...

 

The second show was one I joined at the last minute...it was in a local hair salon and was only for other local jewelry artists. It was a long day but it was also fun..I don't get to hang around with other jewelry artists very often and that was great.  

 
 

San Francisco Weekend

 

 My Mom and I took the kids away for a fun getaway to San Francisco.  It was a beautiful weekend and we saw some new sights we haven't seen in the Bay before.  We visited some old favorite spots too....Chinatown, beach near the Golden Gate, Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard St and Union Square.  We even took a ride on the world famous trolley car!  

Click here for more photos  

We finished up the weekend at the Bay Area Bead Expo (BABE) show.  It was a successful show and even the kids seemed to enjoy it. I got lots of new products I'm excited to work with.  

Happy Birthday Mom!

Sunday was my Mom's birthday...and I'm not telling her age!  We had a yummy lunch at Red Robin and then back home for banana cream pie and chocolate bon bons...mmmm! 

Beautiful day....I love you Mom!

Halloween 2009

 

October Highlights!

Ella's fall soccer season came to end.  Could have been a better season but she had fun and it allowed us to meet some new friends. 

 

Jacob is now a Cub Scout Wolf and Ella is a first year Daisy!

 

 

Weekend in Reno with friends! Saw Rob Thomas, Carolina Liar and One Republic. Lots of shopping and lots of eating....good times!

 

2nd Annual Guns and Hoses Football Game.  Sadly the Hoses lost.  :-(

Some other highlights:

• Pumpkin Patch visit to Hawes Farm


• School Jogathon


• Jacob's 2nd grade Goin' Buggy performance


• Ingrid Michaelson concert


• End of season soccer parties


• And sickness....ick

Horrible Blogger

I've become horrible at this blogging regularly stuff! Facebook hasn't helped the issue, it's so much easier to just do a quick update through-out the day.  Problem is this is also a scrapbook/journal of sorts because I print out the entries monthly, Facebook I don't do that.  What to do, what to do? 

Well what's been keeping us busy?  Hmmm....Fall is in full effect with school, homework, soccer, scouts, dance, daisy's, blah, blah, blah.  Aaron's been busy at work and with union meetings and budgetary issues. And I've had a great time with Juella Designs and had some great opportunities open up.  I'm gearing up for the holidays as well....never too soon to plan for that.

Jacob is THE MAN on the soccer field.  Click here for more soccer pictures

New approach to after school snacks

I'm always on the lookout for healthier after school snacks. We have 2 plastic bins full of lunch time snacks that I choose from to make the kids lunches but they're not always the healthiest choices (cookies, chips, every type of fruit snack known to man).  I wanted something different for their after school snack...they both come home starving and grabbing at everything in sight.  I saw this idea on another blog recently and after a quick trip to Trader Joe's and raiding my fridge, I came up with this cupcake tin full of more acceptable choices. 

Whether the kids like it or not (today will be the first day they're introduced to it), I know I'll be digging in!  I plan to keep this on a shelf in the fridge for easy grab and go.

It turns out there is an entire Flickr group devoted to "Muffin Tin Meals"....you can really get creative with choices and options, some even do theme tins.  I'm looking forward to constantly adding new healthy snacks to our tin. 

School has started!

Unbelievably I now have a daughter in Kindergarten and a son in 2nd grade.

They both had a great day. Jacob quickly hooked up with old friends and Ella is well on her way to making new ones!

Today was also Aaron's birthday...after dropping the kids at school we went to breakfast and had a great day together. 

We've been celebrating for the past 3 days (date night Friday, pool party with friends Saturday, family party Sunday) so he's had plenty of ice cream, cake and pies-we managed to put this together for him tonight!

Happy Birthday Aaron, I love you!

 

Wrapping up summer