All I Want For Christmas

Here is my Christmas List (so far...)

"Practical things I actually REALLY need"
1. Under-clothing (contact me for sizing info.)
2. Money for contact lenses and glasses
3. Intuition Plus Razor cartridge refills (approx. $10-15)
4. Money for medicine in 2010. (Really fun, I know....)
5. Money for a haircut - long overdue!

"More Exciting things I really want"
1. Gift certificate to Bath and Body Works
2. Gift certificate to Target
3. Box of See's Peanut Brittle (not the sugar-free kind.)
4. mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent Mist, found at meetmark.com ($12.00)
5. Scarf made by my roommate Dana with her sweet knitting skills ($25.00, payable to Dana for supplies and time.)
6. Scripture tote, black
7. Gift certificate to Nordstrom

And here is where I made a list of other things I want a lot:
Under the Etsy.com name "WishListRachelle" you can look at my favorites. I love all the items in there. They are not in any particular order. In fact, the cheapest item (approx. $6.00) is what I want most; the Lemon soap from Dennis Anderson. (I need some more soap soon and that kind is good on my skin and smells great!) If you haven't used Etsy, just ask me how and I'll help gladly. ;-)

So, that's my long Christmas list. Hopefully it's helpful and if not, well it was a bit fun to make, so that's okay!

If you could have just one thing for Christmas, what would it be? (More wishes or lots of money does not count!) Comment below. :-)

- Rachelle

It has been a LONG time...

Dear Readers,

It has been a LONG time since I've updated my Blog. This is my justification/apology blog entry.

First things first: I am sorry. When you "follow" a blog, you expect a little bit of writing now and then. I have not been following through with that, which certainly makes a blog much more boring.

So here I am, now faced with two options: 1. Do a quick summary and try to catch everyone up on the last few months of my life, or 2. Move on and do a better job.

I think I am picking option #2. Frankly, it is much easier. And my life hasn't really been exciting/funny/outrageous lately. The only thing that is of note lately is that I have had some health problems. (One of the reasons for not updating...) It is possible that I have (another) chronic pain condition and I have had some tests to determine a diagnosis. In the meantime, I am on medication that makes me drowsy A LOT!

Health problems aside, I am making it a goal to Blog 2-3 times per week. I cannot promise that every entry will be witty, entertaining, or mind-expanding, but I will certainly try! :-)

- Rachelle

P.S. My next entry will be my Christmas List - sweet, eh?

A Shop Blog Giveaway!

Just wanted to do a quick blog to let everyone know that I'm having a Giveaway on my shop blog! I also want to ask ya'll to follow my shop blog too! (It gets you an extra entry into my giveaway, btw!) Once again, here's the link to my shop blog:

http://ShelleAnnesSplendor.blogspot.com

So go on and enter to win a great prize from my shop on Etsy! Good luck everyone. :-)

- Rachelle

A Shop Blog

Several sellers on Etsy that I admire have Blogs. Some of the Blogs are personal Blogs, but many are about their shop and crafting. So, it has been my goal for some time to have a Blog devoted exclusively to my Etsy shop, ShelleAnne's Splendor. Now, the time has arrived!

Here is a link to MY BRAND NEW "SHOP BLOG!!!"

http://ShelleAnnesSplendor.blogspot.com

Please visit it and "Follow" it. (Pretty please!) ;-) I'm going to be having a shop giveaway soon to promote the blog and shop, so you'll definitely want to be following so you're in on the action!

Yet Another REALLY Sweet Jewelry Giveaway!

You'll definitely want to check this website out:

http://sweetirieoriginals.blogspot.com/2009/06/piano-bench-designs-giveaway.html

The necklace pictured above, by Piano Bench Designs of Etsy, is having a sweet Giveaway through the blog of sweetirieoriginals. I love the beauty and simplicity of the necklace and her photos are excellent too! Check the blog for the details about how you too can enter!

I also found one necklace at PianoBenchDesigns called "HOPE" that I am obsessed with. I desperately want it (perhaps for a birthday or Christmas?) as it is my favorite word.

Anyway, check out the giveaway and I'll blog again later this week. That's a promise! :-)

SPA DELIGHTS

Well, I'm sure you will be hearing more about this venture in the future, but right now I just wanted to put a link on my blog for everyone to visit.

Please visit: www.SpaDelights.blogspot.com

You can learn a little bit about what I have been up to with Dana, my roommie. It has been fun!

I will also update in the next few days about going to the KC Art Flea this past Saturday and meeting one of my Etsy idols, but it is deserving of an entire blog, not just a mention. ;-)

- Rachelle

A Digital Camera Surfaces..."Family Pics"

Well, a digital camera surfaced within the last day around this place so here are some photos of my little "family." First, in the middle is my roommate Dana, who is like my sister. All of the animals in the picture belong to her, but I get to help love them (and clean up after them too...) From Left to Right with Dana are Jelly Bean, Bianca, and Mimi.

But the main focus of this picture and blog is Angel. Who is that, you may ask? Angel is the ginormous cat in the right hand corner; the cat that is bigger then all the little doggies...put together.

Oh, yes, you may have seen bigger cats (in a record book, on the news, or perhaps your local zoo, etc.) but none with a bigger attitude then Angel! Don't let her innocent name fool you. In fact, some (read: Dana's brother Andrew) have even gone so far as to call her "God's Wrath." I don't know that I go that far, but she definitely has some attitude to spare, and is a little crazy-scary sometimes.

One time she even bit me right in the face! (To be fair, that was probably my fault and she probably didn't want to cuddle with me at that particular moment, despite my hopes...but who has time for details...)

Angel likes to do annoying things. One of these things is this: if someone leaves a glass of water out - and it really doesn't matter where - Angel will find it - she will tip it over. She sneaks up on the cup and takes her little (read: enormous and hairy) paw and just tap, tap, taps it right over. Neat-o. What a fun trick. Fat cat can spill big puddles. Hurray. However, she is very pleased with herself. I would even go so far as to say she is quite smug much of the time....but perhaps this is because she is a cat!?!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into my family. More later. :-)

Janae is Having a Baby Boy!

My sister Janae just found out today that she is having a baby boy. He is due around the end of September - on my mom's birthday actually; September 23. So congrats to Janae and John, and Danielle, the (soon to be) older sister. You must read Janae's blog about the naming process. Find it at: www.JanaeandJohn.blogspot.com

Some High-larious comedy! Ha ha!

Another Sweet Jewelry Giveaway!

The Jeweler Lara Hart is having a sweet giveaway on her blog. Here's the link:

http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com/2009/04/whod-thunk-it.html

Browse through her awesome Etsy shop, list your favorite, and be entered into the contest to win the necklace she is giving away. Don't you just love the giveaways from these talented Etsy sellers? They are so awesome! Good Luck, ya'll and hope one of us wins!

Chocolate and Steel Necklace Giveaway!

Here's a fun Giveaway! The awesome seller Chocolate and Steel from Etsy is giving away a chance to win the above necklace if you visit her blog: http://www.chocolateandsteel.blogspot.com and enter. Here's what she says about the necklace:

"Who's ready for another little freebie?? I am! I chose this necklace as the giveaway this week because it is Spring and love is in the air. Birds are chirping, babies are being born, couples are making wedding plans, and Mother's day is just around the corner. This would be the perfect piece for celebrating any of those occasions."

Yeah! Good luck everyone! I will be featuring more Giveaways of my own soon!

FruitFlyPie Favorites

Here is a little note from my Etsy seller of the week, Fruitflypie. And check out the picture of the pig planter. It is adorable! Could you imagine one of these planters with your favorite house plants hanging out in it? Fabulous! Well, on to the note:

Hi Rachelle, Yay! Thanks so much for featuring my shop in your blog. I'm so happy you love your new owl and he is your favorite. My favorite item in the shop is the 1960's pig planter, with its pointy legs and round pot belly, I think it is the cutest. If I wasn't selling on Etsy, I would be designing websites and would be selling on Ebay, I was so happy to close my Ebay store. Yay for Etsy and all the wonderful people in the Etsy community. Thanks so much! Wendy

Etsy shop of the week: Fruitflypie

With the perfect combination of a mod style and a homey-vintage feel, this item is definitely a strong contender for the favorite Etsy item I've ever ordered! (Plus, I just like birds too!)

From the FANTASTIC shop Fruitflypie:

Ceramic Owl Figurine Vintage Design White

Ceramic Owl figurine, makes the perfect Desk Decoration

Description:

"Hand made Ceramic Owl. Beautiful solid white color. 5" Tall, 3" wide from the side, and 4 1/2" wide across the front.

I slip cast it using a vintage 70's mold. Then fired it in the kiln to cone 04. I then glazed it and fired again to make the glaze turn to glass.

I have several other ceramic pieces available, some hand molded from raw clay and some poured from vintage molds."
____________________________________________________________________
If I had infinite sources of money (or maybe just an extra $24) I would visit Fruitflypie and get something cool for my Sister-in-law's new cubicle at her new job. Awesome! And congrats to Melissa for having a cool new job working for NuSkin!
____________________________________________________________________

More later on Fruitflypie on Etsy!

That New Car Smell

One of my friends has a black Infiniti. I am not going to lie. I have been envious over that car. Though I am not exactly a "car person," it fulfills all of my "basic requirements" for a car; it is extremely nice to drive and has a great sound system, and I love loud music in the car!

Somehow, in my mind, the car became intertwined with my friend's identity; intelligent, confident, and perhaps a bit arrogant, if it must be admitted.

And then my friend got sick. He had a breakdown, of sorts. For several days, things looked pretty hard, as far as future prognosis was concerned. He spent several days in the hospital.

One of the things he insisted on was that we drove the Infiniti to the hospital the first day we visited him.

I remember sitting in the car, inhaling that "New Car Smell" air freshener tree scent and wondering if my old friend would ever be back, would ever drive with the same confidence again...I cried with his mother and sister and we all missed him.

I forgot how illness works. Unless you fall or have some sudden accident, illnesses and hospital visits are usually slow in coming. For example, most people have a gradual build-up of plaque in their heart before a heart attack, or a gradual downward descent into a depressive illness before a visit for mental health.

But here is the catch; once you get out of the hospital you are not all better. I have had numerous surgeries and hospital stays and should know this. But for some reason I thought it would be different this time. My friend would waltz out, smile, and resume the witty banter he was known for.

Only he didn't. He emerged resembling portions of his former self, but is/was different in so many ways. It is almost like getting to know a new person.

Today we rode together in the Infiniti. We listened to loud music and I sang. And I realized that getting to know "new people" can be a good thing.

The Most Awesome Slug - Wish I could knit!

"With their big mouths, these are the most gregarious garden pests ever! They are attracted to rose bushes, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and good conversation. These little slugs are sure to delight the amigurumi lover and softy knitter."

Dang it, I wish I could knit! I LOVE this slug! It's so quirky! It is featured in the Etsy shop of cheezombie.

A little bit of Inspiration

Inspiration when desperately needed:

Here is a quote that I found really inspiring and Heaven knows I need it right now!

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
--Helen Keller

Helen Keller is a personal hero of mine, due to my episode of blindness for several months.

I hope you find it inspiring too. I'll be back with the "R List" soon. And Janae's new shop will surely make an appearance because it is awesometastic!

Love,
Rachelle

My Latest Etsy Treasury

It's titled "What's Love Got to Do With It?" and the answer is quite simply: EVERYTHING.

Made under my roommate Dana's Etsy ID, but entirely by me. Quite a fun one to do as I LOVE all the hearts and girly things about Valentine's Day. :-)

Here's the link to the treasury, which should be good for about one more day until the treasury expires. I've captured a screen-shot and will try to load it for those who miss out on the live treasury. If you can, please log on and click on all 12 of the seller's boxes and check things out. I can always dream of front page, right?

Love,
Rachelle

It's about time! Rachelle reappears!

Welcome back to the blog....

I haven't written for quite awhile due to a variety of reasons.

1. Working too much at my (old) new job.
2. Participation in the "PHP" at ReDiscover. This program is basically tons of different types of therapy for hours a day.

Perhaps I will write more about the previously mentioned things later, but right now I am going to share with you a CD soundtrack playlist that I just found straightening my room. I made this CD several years ago and titled it, very humbly, "The Ultimate Kissing CD." You could also just call it, "AWESOMETASTIC." Though I would possibly change it up a bit here or there, I stand by it in saying it is pretty sweet if you want to have a Kissing Soundtrack.

Good to keep in mind for Valentine's Day, eh?

The Ultimate Kissing CD
1. Savage Garden - Truly, Madly, Deeply
2. Alanis Morrisette - Head Over Feet
3. Sting - Fields of Gold
4. Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down
5. Sara Evans - I Could Not Ask For More
6. Van Morrison - When the Leaves Come Falling Down
7. Garth Brooks - To Make You Feel My Love
8. Faith Hill - Breathe
9. Dave Matthews Band - Crash
10. Allison Krauss & Union Station - Let Me Touch You
11. Des'ree - Kissing You (Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack)
12. Mandy Moore - Only Hope
13. LeAnne Rimes - I Need You
14. Depeche Mode - Somebody

DISCLAIMER: Now, I caution you when using this CD. First, I release myself from any responsibilities, should something bad, good, or extremely good happen, ha ha. Also, though it is Near Magical, the CD is not Miraculous and can't be forced on someone. Sorry! But all in all, the success rate is 100% for those I have loaned the disc to. Score! ;-)

In the future I will also be featuring links to sweet Etsy sites. Keep an eye out and just be glad:

RACHELLE IS BACK ON THE BLOG FRONT!