Back To School Sale at BeadedIndulgences.etsy.com

Hey everyone...it is that time of year again...and to celebrate this time honored tradition of the yearly "Back To School" shopping sprees and beating the crowds...I thought this would be a terrific time to have a sale at our new store as well. We all know our girls can't go back to school without the coolest, hippest, funkiest and trendiest fashions...and that includes jewelry...of course!
So from now until the end of August when you visit my new online store at http://beadedindulgences.etsy.com/ and you purchase an item...you get the next item at 50% off *. We can't let them go back without all the coolest looks...I have been adding many new items...and you should see the ones that I am getting ready to list...they will be a sure "must have" for all young ladies...and hey...don't forget to Indulge yourself Mom...I have plenty of terrific looks for us there too. Oh...by the way....when you receive your order...be sure to look inside the package...you will have a surprise waiting inside! See ya there...but until then....
..Go and do what you love.




*50% off item that is of equal or lesser value
*Discount does not apply to shipping charges

Sister in hospital...family devistated(update)

Hello again everyone...it's Taylor...Christine's daughter.
I'm here to update on my sister.
First, I want to thank those of you who read the last post and for those of you who prayed for my sister. She is currently out of the hospital since yesterday after a biopsy ( bone marrow ) and gallbladder surgery. She has gram negative rods in her blood and a low white blood count. Her white blood count is supposed to be at 200,000, and it is at 97,000.
Since she was at the hospital all week, My mother and I were taking care of her currently new husbands two daughters, Samantha and Jasmine. Samantha is two years old, and Jasmine is three. They are both very precious girls, and they mean the world to me. So, since we have been taking care of them, I am ssssoooo exhausted! But, they are my nieces and I will get over it.
Tonight she got to go home, she has been staying at our house, and she is feeling A LOT better.
So, thank you again for those of you who prayed for her. I t really means a lot to our family.
Taylor

Sister in hospital...family devistated

Hi there... It's Christine's daughter Taylor again.
First of all, my sister Kaylen had to be rushed to the hospital this last Monday in Santa Cruz California. She was puking up blood and was having EXTREME pain in her right side. At the hospital, they were telling her that it was a urinary tract infection and they gave her some medicine for the pain. Well, yesterday she was brought to our house so My mom and I could watch her and take care of her. At about 5:30, my mom woke her up to take her pain pills and we were an hour late so of course, the pain was bewildering. She was having muscle spasms and she couldn't breathe, so we rushed her to the hospital.
Right now she is being hospitalized at Northern Nevada. Last night they did a cat scan and an ultra sound and they STILL can't figure out what is going on. In a little while here she has to go in for a bi-op to see if it is bone cancer. She also has gram negative rods + low white blood count. Her white blood count is supposed to be 200,000, and its 97,000.

PLEASE OH PLEASE pray for us and pray that she will get better...she just got married last Saturday, she is a wonderful mother and sister, and she does whatever she can for this family to get us along each and every day...so PLEASE pray for us. She doesn't deserve this.
Thank you,
Taylor.

Marriage...

So... My oldest daughter got married yesterday... It was just in a little chapel. I thought, that since it wasn't a big huge wedding, that I wouldn't get ...well...you know..."the Motherly tears".... but things didn't work that way. It made me realize that this is a big day in any parents life, to see you kids grow up...just seeing the way that her husband was looking at her, made me realize that they are truly, madly in love. You could tell how much he cares about her, and that made me happy. I know that my daughters will be able to find that guy that knows how to treat them right, and love them the way they deserved to be loved... It was an incredible day..

Been a Busy Busy Girl

Hi Everyone...my girls have been helping me out with the blog since I have been busy...thought I would share with you all my newest designs that I have recently listed in my newest etsy store...at http://beadedindulgences.etsy.com/

Here is a new triple strand necklace..."Day in the sand"

It can be worn with all three strands straightened out or you could even twist them for added drama...

This is my newest "Twilight" inspired necklace. My daughters helped me name it. This is "Bellas Heart" They are positive that this is something that Edward would surely have given to her during their love story and their troubled life together.

I really love this piece. I used double link Gunmetal chain and a purple shell heart...there is a vintage dangle that is embellised with crystals. There are also 6 strands of seed beads strung between the two different lenghts of chain hand beaded with

multiple colors of purple and lilac...black...amethyst...lavendar and different finishes on each type of bead varying in rainbow finish to iris finish. This gives this piece an amazing flare about it.

This piece is absolutely one of my favorite necklaces that I have made so far.

Well...time to go and finish up the latest piece on my table...silver chain, crystal butterflies....well....you will see it in a few days. Don't want to completely give it all away just now....but wait till you see it!!!

Have a wonderful day...and don't forget to go and do what you love!

Push

Hello, this is Rebecca again.. Mom is being a busy, busy worker once again... :D. So I get to fill in!
A couple nights ago, we all saw the movie Push as a family. The movie had a very good plot, filled with stradegy, adventure, deception, and the fight for truth. This movie had "super powers" in it, and of course, whenever "super powers" are involved, there are bad and good guys.
This movie was action packed, and filled with guns, screamers, pushers, and watchers. There is a secret case that everyone is hunting for, and the good guys make alot of confusion with cases for the bad guys.
I liked this movie alot. I think that it was very intriguing and it kept my interest the whole time... If you are a person who enjoys watching X-men, then I'm almost positive that you would enjoy this movie. Some people can make others believe whatever they tell them, and others can see the future.
If you are looking for a newer released movie to watch, I would suggest this one to you.

Outta Here For A Few Days....

Ok...well I won't be posting for a few days...we are taking the whole family...all 3 of our daughters....oldest daughters fiance and our two beautiful grandaughters....CAMPING...wooohoooooo!!! We love to go camping. So for the next 4 days I won't be on here....so I need all of you to take over for me. I changed all the controls...(I think) so that you can just post away.
I will be back Thursday the 9th....be bringing pictures....See ya then....

Your Comments on My Etsy Blog

Hi Terri and Amanda
I just wanted to say thank you for both adding to this. I feel the same way about it...I don't feel the need to bad mouth ANYONE. Takes too much energy...and your right Terri...I shouldn't have read that thing...lol.
I would love to hear other perspectives as well...and hey...if you all want to add a photo of something you have up in your shops to this blog...PLEASE DO!! I would love to be able to share with others all the wonderful things people are making these days!!
Thanks again...keep those comments coming everyone...and hey...
go and do what you love....

Etsy...or Not to Etsy...that is the question.

Ok...I have been having quite the dilemma...I have my new store on Etsy...and I love Etsy...we have had another store on Etsy for just about a year now...and I have always enjoyed it...I love making and creating....brainstorming...the whole thing.

So now with the new Etsy store that I started on June 18... http://beadedindulgences.etsy.com/ I have been doing the whole forum chat thing on not just Etsy but a few others that I have found...and I enjoy. Beadingdaily...Craftbuddy...you get the picture. There are a few others that I really like as well. So doing that to get the name of the store out there...and then doing the whole Twitter thing...and yes...added it to my Facebook...ok...so today, I went into the usual Etsy forums and there is a thread that says something about..."Have you all seen this scathing article about Etsy??" So I admit...I read it. I typically don't get into the whole...which is better thing....who is better...blah blah blah. But today...I broke down...I read the stupid article. Don't get me wrong...the person who wrote it seemed very intelligent...the article itself was ummm....it was...well it was well written...but mean spirited. THAT IS MY OPINION....ok...please don't send me email or blog that I am out of line to say that. She had her opinion...now I have mine...ok...enough said.

BLAH.

So here is the point...ya...I have one...this reporter...writer...whatever....she actually made me second guess myself. I am a Libra....this isn't good! I can't be second guessing myself.... I have enough issues with second guessing myself throughout the day, like, which shorts to wear...hair up...hair down...Twitter first...or do Facebook first...so you can see...I have enough to ponder...let alone some nitwit writing about something she was very onesided on and letting it actually effect me.

Here is what I would like from all of you readers....which do you prefer?? Etsy, Artfire, ShopHandmade, or 1000 stores? Or is there more that I don't know of yet. Andddd is it better to have your own website...and an online venue such as mentioned above....or just the venue...or the website??? I want to see what the differences are....No I do not plan on leaving Etsy....I really like it there...love the site...the people....the buyers....the sellers...but what is there that people seem to think they are missing? Why all the drama?

I think this reminds me of when my girls were small...."she got the bigger piece"...or the "hers is better" line. Anyone know what I mean? Why can't everyone just get along....we aren't (we =Etsians) bad mouthing other sites...that I know of...and I am not bashing or bad mouthing any of the others mentioned...please don't mis-understand...I just want to know...why all the hullaballooo???

Ok...enough said...so now...go and do what you love...

Twilight series

Hi, my name is Taylor. I am Christine's youngest daughter and I am going to be blogging for her today. It's my turn to blog today because mom is out in the living room making a new necklace...pretty cool...she came up with a new idea. This one has a light rosey colored stone with those little seed beads. It looks cool together...anyway...it is sure to knock your socks off!!!
SO, I am going to be blogging about the Twilight series. I want to start off with one thing, that is this...I think that these books are great and I can honestly say that I have read each of the books in the Twilight series about six times because I love them so much. Maybe you will like them as much as I have but you will never know if you don't try.
This novels danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Twilight is the number 1 New York times bestseller by Stephanie Meyer. Some teens would call this novel the best book of the year, and others would call it the worst book of the year. My opinion would have to be that twilight is the best book of the DECADE!
Twilight is mostly centered around characters such as Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen. While Bella (her preferable name) is human, Edward is a vampire. His siblings, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme are also vampires. Many of these vampires have special powers. Edward is a mind reader, Alice can see the future, and Jasper can control emotions. They all try(and most of the time succeed) to keep Bella protected. Bella and Edward are both unconditionally and irrevocably in love with each other, and can't live without each other.
As the books continue, new disasters and problems come along. Each of the books in the Twilight series somehow seem to end in a peaceful way.
Thank you,
Taylor

Names of the books:
1st- Twilight
2nd- New Moon
3rd- Eclipse
4th- Breaking Dawn

The House of Night Series

Hello, my name is Rebecca, I am Christine's daughter. I am blogging for her tonight, because she is busy working on this REALLY pretty bracelet that she was inspired by The House of Night Series.
The House of Night series is a new series of books that is sweeping today's youth nation. I believe that this series will have as big of an impact on the youth as the Twilight series did.
These books are similar in some ways to the Twilight series. One of the biggest similarities is the fact that they are both based on the belief of vampires ( or vampyres) as P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast write it.
The House of Night books are written by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. This is a mother/daughter production, and it is written in a way that appeals greatly to teenagers. The books are based mainly around Zoey Redbird, and her close circle of friends at the House of Night.
Zoey Redbird and her friends face many challenges together but somehow always overcome them. They each have very unique abilities, and each character captivates you from the first description of them. This series also shows the reader how growing and changing can be difficult, but it's not always bad.
These books get a grasp on you from the start, and are hard to pull yourself away from after you pick them up. I would highly recommend these books to anyone and everyone. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Names of books
1st- Marked
2nd- Betrayed
3rd- Chosen
4th- Untamed
5th- Haunted

Peach Crisp....The Amish Way

This is a favorite of our family. We go way back with the Amish and the Pennsylvania Dutch...this is a easy...fun and yummy recipe that can be made in small batches...or huge batches. Easy for kids and adults...and quick enough to make large amounts for Church groups or company picnics or family outings.
Ok...now to make it larger or smaller...just add to the basic recipe

Peach Crisp

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup flower
1 large can of peaches or 2-3 small (this too is a preference thing)

Preheat oven to 350

Ok...now...open peaches and pour off the juice. After all the juice is out, well almost all you won't be able to get all of it out...dump peaches into a 13x9 glass dish. Set this aside.
In a large bowl put in the butter (softened) add the sugar and the flour. Now kinda dig in and just mix it all up. Get the kids to help too. This is fun. Just keep mushing it around until it turns into the consistency of lumpy dirt. It will hold together when you pinch it softly.
Now...just start to sprinkle this all over the peaches...just keep putting it everywhere there is peaches showing...get the edges too. It won't cover all of the peaches...but just keep going until your out of the mixture.

Now put this in the oven uncovered for 45-60 minutes. Keep watching it around the 45 minute mark. You want the top to start getting brown all over it. The more brown the better. That is when it is done....
Remove from oven...you can cool it a bit and then serve it over ice cream. Or eat it cold.
We eat this for breakfast the next morning...IT IS SOOOO YUMMY! And see? I told you it was easy.

So now...go do what you love!

Store Update

Ya know...I really love the creative side of this gig...but I have to tell you, all this other stuff...myspace, flickr, twitter, facebook..albeit they are all great social networking sites...and they are a wonderful tool to have...I just wonder with all of these things to do...how do I get back to MAKING the things I need for the store???
So I thought I would enlist the help of my girls. They are 21, 17 and 14. Great idea I thought. Well...it is hard. My oldest...thank GOD for her. She has done the Myspace for me and keeps that running...even when I crashed it on her not even a week later...HEY K...we are even..you broke our scanner the 2nd day...anyway. I have the other two here with my husband and I...and I thought ok...let's get them to help with making things. Maybe even a little creating. HA. that lasted all of about 3 minutes. They drug a bunch of things out to "HELP" and then left them all out...boxes, bins, trays...and went to read more of their new series of vampire books. They are hooked on Twilight of course and have found another series they are resistant to releasing from their noses. Anyway...that is another post...so then...who has to clean it all up. Yup...you guessed it....so between the "help" of things...the networking...and just trying to be someone...when do I get to do what I set out to?
If anyone has any ideas...hey shoot them my way!!! Meanwhile....hey...go and do what you love...

Day Dreaming of Jamaica...Mon'

My amazing husband took me on the most wonderful 2nd honeymoon/vacation I have ever been on in my life. We had the chance to finally go somewhere we had both always dreamt of...and we took it!

We spent a week in an all inclusive resort, I have to tell you...that is THE WAY...to go. It was also for adults only...couples only. I love children...adore ours, but I have to admit, it was sooo outrageously amazing to not hear children screaming at dinner at the other tables or rough housing in the pool. It was so nice to be able to actually get into a pool and just do the whole "chillaxin" thing.

We spent 7 unforgettable days there. I have wanted to go back ever since we had to pack our bags and go to the airport. If you have never done the all inclusive thing...I have to say. It is the way to do your vacation. Everything is paid for in your package. EVERYTHING. Go to dinner...just get up and go. Don't leave a tip...it is frowned upon. I am not kidding. No tips allowed. Want to go snorkeling for the afternoon...go...it's included. Take out a catamaran for a few hours...yup that too. They also include all your drinks...leaded and lead free lol.

The only thing that you will have to of course pay for is the outside day trips. We went to the YS Falls one day with a full group from our resort. The locals hang out there to help you get up this trail and hold your hand to guide you through the rough spots.

I have to tell you though...the drive from the airport to the resort...woahhh. If you do get the chance to go to Jamaica and you have the resort driver transport you from the airport to the resort (also included) have a good stiff drink or take a xanax first. The roads are very very small, and the drivers are very very umm what is the word??? NUTS...CRAZY...well they both fit...but...eh..whatever.

The rooms however...are worth the drive. They even come in and pull down your bed at night and each night they would leave a new note card on our bed. It was always something about LOVE and Marriage. A little quip or qoute. I thought it was so cool. And the view...OHH WOW...the view from our room. Well it speaks for itself...

Every morning, when you first look out your window, everything looks perfect and pristine and new. I couldn't figure out how they did it. Then...one morning...ah ha...there was a kid out there had to be about 15 or 16 and he was just dragging this rake behind him. For as far as your eyes could carry you...he would rake the beach.

I could go on and on and on....but I have more jewelry to go and post to the new etsy store...I will add more later though...so for now...it's time to go and do what you love!

Tell me what you think???

Happy Saturday Everyone!
Well...I thought I would stop in really quick and invite you to go and view my new Etsy store...I only have a few things in there right now ...I HAVE A BUNCH more new stuff to add. My scanner took a clickety clank on me and we had to try to take pictures...FYI...figure out the digital camera first...Grrrr...WHAT A PAIN! So hubby ran out lastnight and bought me a new one...nice and fast...and it does all the cropping and cussing for you...YAYYY!
I am also going to try to get some pictures of a new necklace I am working on to this blog also. I would love some input. Both on my new stuff I will post here and on the things in the store...so please everyone...help me out. Let me know what you think...
Thanks everyone...have a great day...and Hey...Go and do what you love!!!
Christine

My New Etsy Store

Hi There...I just thought I would begin a new blog to tell everyone about my new store on Etsy...and to possibly put some tutorials on here...not just from myself, but from you too. If you are really enjoying a recent craft that you have learned or are mastering, I would love to have your tutorial on here too.
I personally love to learn new crafts all the time. I don't always have the time to try each and every one of them I would like to...but that is what happens when you find one like jewelry making and fall in love with it as much as I have.
Actually, not sure if it is a love for the beading...or the beads. They are sooo cool. Even my little 2 year old grandaughter Sammy May loves to play with my beads. When she comes over to play she spots them out on the table and now she is trained...she goes and sits down all nice and lady like, and puts her little hands together on her lap and then she asks in that sweet little voice of hers... "MiMiMa...can I play pretties?" She absolutely LOVES to just hold them and look at them. I can see beading in someones future.
Well, that's it for now...but please everyone...feel free to send me photos of your current projects or feel free to comment on here. I can't wait to meet people on here...not just beaders...but all crafters. Have a great day!
Now...go do what you love!!!
Christine