Thursday, December 31, 2009

A New Decade


I meant to blog about Christmas but I got too busy. I meant to blog to wish everyone a Happy New Year and talk about my resolutions, but I decided I wasn't going to make any because when I fail I tend to feel bad about myself. And that is NOT how I want to feel. I want to feel enthusiastic about the future, even when the future is scary. I want to make sound decisions and wise choices. I want to be smarter because of the adversity I have been through. I don't want to have weathered a crisis and have nothing to show for it. What gain is there in that? A couple of days ago I read a newspaper article, "Economic Crisis Scars a Generation", by Gail Marks Jarvis, that said, After living through one of the most brutal recessions in U.S. history, many late teens and young adults could be scarred for life, adopting behaviours that could skew everything from their own careers to politics, corporate profits and the stock market. The article went on to say it may have much the same effect as how the Great Depression changed so many of the youths of the 1930s into conservative spenders and investors. OK, but isn't that a good thing? Why do we think that if we endure suffering it must 'scar' us instead of mold us? My parents lived through the Great Depression and WWII. My mother told me stories of how they rationed sugar and meat, and when she was pregnant with her firstborn during wartime, the doctor told her if she didn't follow his instructions to the letter, he would drop her as a patient because he didn't have time to treat undisciplined patients. Harsh? Maybe. But that generation learned to sacrifice and became strong. They were smart with what little money they had, they valued family, and they did what they had to do to hold it together. After WWII, America went on to experience prosperity like it had never known. Maybe this will happen again to this generation of young people who have witnessed their parents struggling to make ends meet. Maybe this recent struggle will create entrepreneurs who will change the world. Maybe it takes a monumental struggle like the one we are experiencing to instill humility into a generation of people who think suffering is having to shop less, ride a bike instead of drive, or eat at home instead of at a fast food restaurant. It makes me wonder who we will be as a nation at the end of the next decade. As a person who has traveled overseas and witnessed suffering firsthand, I can say that we live like kings and queens in America, even when we are lacking what we once enjoyed. My challenge to myself this new year is to treat each struggle as an opportunity to become stronger, to give a hand to someone who needs one, and to always view my glass as half full, rather than half empty.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Team Jacob

I am not a Twilight fan. Nothing against the vampire saga, but I just am not feeling it. Having said that, I did sit in an empty theater last night - empty but for my two friends and I - and had a great time watching New Moon. What made the movie so entertaining, besides the shirtless wolves, the adrenaline-seeking Bella, and the scary looking Voltarians, (not to mention the Junior Mints, Dots and M&Ms) were the reactions from my friends, one of whom is a major fan. She's already seen the movie, but she provided all the reactions to the characters as if it were her first viewing. Of course, because the theater was empty we were able to laugh, scream, talk and howl through the whole thing. In case you are wondering.......................I am definitely on Team Jacob! Here's why: He's alive and his altered state is a wolf. I like wolves. Edward, on the other hand is dead, cold and really pasty white when he takes off his shirt. Can he turn into a bat like Dracula? I don't know.............I only read as far as Twilight.

Monday, December 14, 2009

New Moon

I tried to resist. I pretended I didn't care. I am not even a fan.

But I am going. Tonight. With two of my younger, somewhat obsessed coworkers, to see

New Moon.

I don't even know which team to be on. Maybe I'll decide after tonight. Of course, my co-workers have already been to the movie - on opening night!

As a trend guru I decided I had better see the second installment of this pop culture phenomenon - the Twilight series.

I am prepared to enjoy this flick. All I need are a box of Junior Mints, a ticket, and great friends. Stay tuned........

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

24 Hours in Murphys

Last Friday my friend, Lauren, and I headed up to Murphys to feature my jewelry at Murphys Motorcycle Company, a store owned by our friend, Teri.
It was an evening where all the merchants kept their doors open late and everyone visited all the stores and partied in the streets. Well, it was a crazy evening filled with food, music and an opportunity to meet Teri's local friends who are super friendly! There was a small Christmas parade which we missed because we were inside manning our jewelry table. There were bonfires and cider and lots of wine tasting. Murphys is a big wine tasting town because of all the nearby vineyards.
The evening was successful and when it was time to pack up, we headed across the street to get some refreshments at Grounds. We were there maybe half and hour, when in walked Santa and Mrs. Clause. They were needing a drink after that big parade! Of course, Lauren and I had to have our pictures taken with Santa. The next morning we ended up eating the best breakfast there! Seriously good food! If you go to Murphys you must eat breakfast at Grounds.

It was a fabulous 24 hours in Murphys. And off we go.................home to Fresno.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tie-Dye Still Trendy For 2010

“There’s something about tie-dye that speaks to everyone,” says Tory Burch, adding, “it’s a little nostalgic but also feels modern.” Well, I gotta love Tory Burch. Tie-dye is one of our favorite fashion-transformation products here at iLoveToCreate, and tie-dye is hotter than ever for spring/summer 2010. What's exciting is that the look keeps morphing each season to stay fresh and relevant. So often people think of tie-dye as unsophisticated and Bohemian, or as a messy children's craft on a t-shirt. That is so NOT TRUE! Check out these runway pictures to see what top fashion designers are doing with dye...
And here's a couple of projects from our website that are tie-dye inspired:

Visit our website, iLoveToCreate.com, for more trend and project information!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

December

It's December 1, already! Thanksgiving was wonderful. I had nine days off - IN A ROW! That never happens for me. It was great. The first half of my vacation I reorganized my closet and my pantry, and I cleaned my entire house - I mean, really cleaned it! It felt so good to get this stuff checked off my To Do list. Now I was ready to enjoy Thanksgiving. Luckily, I didn't have to cook. We went to my husband's brother's home and feasted until we were zombies! While we were there in Sacramento we decided to take a drive to Folsom to walk around and check out the antique shops and boutiques. As we were driving through the neighborhoods to get to the main street, a big flock of wild turkeys flew across the road, in front of our car, and landed in a yard! There were about 15 of them. I had never seen wild turkeys before. Of course, my camera was in the trunk!
We came home the next day and enjoyed our clean and well-organized home, relaxed, watched movies and just enjoyed the peace of the day. Monday rolled around and my vacation is over and I am back at work. My husband brought our dog, Gabby, to work to be photographed for an upcoming pet feature for iLoveToCreate. Look at how cute she looks! Her Punk Princess hoodie is all done with Tulip products.
It seems every weekend we will be busy. This Friday I am heading up to Murphys, CA, to sell some of my jewelry in my friend's store during Murphys Open House.
Then on Saturday, we will walk Christmas Tree Lane with friends. By Sunday, we will need a day of rest.

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