Flashback

At the last minute, we decided to go on a date night last night, so we booked a babysitter and took off. We saw Slumdog Millionaire, and I lo-o-OVED it! Loved the music, the story, the actors, everything. I also loved just GOING to a movie, which I have done about 2 times in the last 5 years.

After the movie, Edwin got a page from his friends for us to join them at a restaurant and bar. I sheepishly called the babysitter, who gave us permission. Of course, it took exactly 2 minutes before they were in deep discussion about the hospital, patients' conditions, the house staff, blah, blah, but we were able to eventually steer them away from that topic.

Finally, we adjourned, discharged the babysitter and crashed. A whole 5 hours until little people crawled into bed and demanded chocolate milk.

And they say couples should have a date night every week! Who has energy for that!

Written in the stars

Introducing my new Zodiac Collection featuring natural gemstones and hand stamped zodiac signs!


Zodiac signs can be incorporated into any neckalce design.

Find them in my Etsy shop.

AND, the answer to yesterday's mystery (the grandparents got it right!) - Lila, Ronnie, Ben. Here is the littlest blue eyed Ostrin, an Aries.

Three of a Kind Thursday

For some reason Edwin thought we needed to be responsible humans and buy life insurance today. The guy came to our house to "discuss". Man, this was worse than buying a car! And they even need your blood.

I am mixing up Three of a Kind Thursday this time. I've included three pictures of the kids, BUT, out of their usual chronological order of Ronnie, Ben, and Lila. See if you can guess who's who, and no cheating! You can see their current pictures on the right sidebar, or in previous posts.

Baby Ostrin 1:


Baby Ostrin 2:


Baby Ostrin 3:


Leave your guess in the comments. Answer announced tomorrow!

Art by Ed

The proud Daddy put this picture together, as in desaturated the picture except for her beautiful blue eyes.

Her eyes kind of look like the swarovski crystals embedded in my discs!

Birthstones

Yesterday someone asked if I could embed a birthstone into my discs. I couldn't let that one sit, so I played with it all day, got a little help on the Etsy forums, and I think I figured it out! Here are two discs with swarovski crystals embedded into the bottom.

This is going to be fun.

By the way. . .

Ben gave his new scooter to Ronnie so he could have his paci back at night. I couldn't help letting him trade. He didn't really like the scooter, and it was his own idea to give up the paci, not mine. He gave it a good try.

I don't blame him. I wish I could use a paci sometimes. Ok, all the time.

Party time!

Nothing makes Ronnie happier than parties, friends, making jewelry, and doing art. She got all of that at her friend's art workshop party!
Cupcakes and biscotti weren't bad either. Thanks Shapiros!

I checked the usual places for toys, and didn't love anything, so Ronnie and I put this together for the birthday girl.

I hope she likes it!

Friday fun

On Fridays, Ben's class joins Ronnie's class for storytime. I asked Ronnie if Ben came to sit next to her, and she said, "Yes, and he put his head on my lap." What I would do to witness that!

Ronnie and Ben's favorite after school activities include any kind of art for Ronnie
and digging for buried treasures (or maggots, in this case) for Ben.
We are sure to have an art-filled pirate-filled weekend!

Three of a Kind Thursday

Are you kidding that it's Thursday already? Guess it's time for Three of a Kind Thursday.

Ronnie loved her rocking chair.

Ben didn't love it so much.

Then Ronnie let Lila use the chair, little purple outfit and all.

And in etsy news, I just hit 400 sales. That's a lot of hammering! You can see my little shop here.

Silly, Lila! The sphygmomenometer doesn't go on your neck!

Lila, MD

Little Lila is ridiculously cute. I actually cannot stand her. Unbearable. And so wise. I don't remember even showing her the doctor's kit, but every time she finds the stethoscope, she throws it around her neck, and goes on playing with other things. I keep finding her like this:

Or like this:
So smart:

The cleverness:

Monday-Like Tuesday

I hate it when there is no mail on Mondays (although I am sure my mom is happy to have a day off from the bank!). I had 4 supply packages in the mail today, one of them being my long awaited new sterling discs with gold rims that I had specially made for me. What do you think, gold or silver chain? In either case, are they awesome or what?


If you are wondering what the other three packages were, they included 100 copper jump rings, 10 3/4" stainless steel split rings, 30 sterling silver puffy hearts, 15 15mm sterling silver discs, and 3 sterling dog tags.

Ben was so excited to see his little bald head from Granny grew hair. Man, these things sprouted like crazy!

We trimmed Ben's up and Ronnie gave hers an up-do.

Happy President's Day

What a big boy! Guess who decided he didn't need to sleep with a paci anymore. He earned himself a new scooter. . .

that he didn't want to get on, but was happy to watch me scoot around the neighborhood (ok, that was really fun).

Then, since our plans to visit Amish Country were thwarted (apparently, the markets aren't open on Monday) we decided to go to the mall to eat at Rainforest Cafe, play at the mall "tot spot" and return a shirt to Forever 21.

The Rainforest Cafe was no longer there.

The playground was no longer there.

Forever 21 would not let me return the shirt because my 3 week grace period ended. . . yesterday. I know, I know, why am I shopping at Forever 21 anyway!

But everyone had fun, and we ended the night with taco night at a friend's house. We supplied the dessert.

and SOMEONE got her little fingers into the icing! Who, me?

Poor babies. . .

Yesterday, Ronnie said her "breath" hurt. Then she asked for vegetables for breakfast to help her feel better.

Today, Ben slept two hours later than normal. He came downstairs pouting and said he had the "cough-es" really bad.

At least it's a long weekend (and Edwin is off!!), so they can lounge around all day. Ronnie watched Edwin play the Wii.
And Ben took a nap. Under the table.

Yesterday I put this new necklace together with Ronnie's help. I think it's definitely one of my favorites! You can find it in my etsy shop.

Who might like one with an "S" on it, Mom?

All about chocolate

Valentine's Day was all about chocolate. First, Edwin made a chocolate souffle. It was his first souffle to make, and it rose perfectly.

I made some chocolate earrings. They were my first chocolate earrings to make, and I'm not sure they were so perfect.

Hmm, maybe that's not the right angle.

I also started a new feature on the right sidebar - Countdown to California! Maybe seeing it in writing will encourage me to get on the ball with selling and packing!

Am I Cute or What?

New shoes! For me!
I put together a sweet butterfly necklace for Ronnie. She picked the garnet crystal.


I also hammered down some gold wire, just in time for Valentine's Day, if it was a week ago.
You can get them in my etsy shop.

Three of a Kind Thursday

How is it Thursday already??

First, a plug for my husband's blog! He posted last night, and I can guarantee some interesting medicine, music, and random "stuff". Don't worry, you only need to read the first and last paragraphs of each post. . . Done Fall Out. In Church.

In an attempt to get a match for Lila, Ronnie and Ben tried to join in the picture. OMG, you can't pose a better picture of these little monkeys! Speak no evil, see no evil and hear no evil.

Ok, so first, Ronnie crawled in the can.

Then, Ben was curious.

And lastly, Lila was put in the can, like it or not (and she didn't)!

What a treat! I am featured on applelovesorange's blog today. Check out her shop and blog.

Pretty things

Today I got out 95% of my Valentine's Day orders, so tonight I played around with some new materials and techniques.

First of all, I learned that I can make two bits of metal stick together! How cool is that? Here is a little sterling heart on a gold filled disc. Yes, I still need lots of practice!

Then, I tried fusing. Talk about cool, I felt like a real metalsmither type.

Lastly, I attempted to make some earrings for Olivia that match the bracelet I just gave her. For this one, I need some opinions. One earring is shown with the peridot cz alone, and the other with some freshwater pearls. What do you think? Keep the pearls or lose them?

Etsy Front Page!

I have been working really hard to improve my photographs to show the pieces better and MAYBE getting chosen for a treasury or front page. WELL, my hard work paid off! My sterling guitar pick with it's Valentine's Day backdrop made it to the front page yesterday! I don't know if that is more exciting, or that fact that we realized Lila could "walk"! Last night we stuck a walker in front of her, and she took off. Watch out if you are in her path. And poor Lila - Ronnie is so excited about her tuft of hairs, that she keeps sticking bows on her head.

and to top off the day, I FOUND MY PHONE!! I was so sad that I was stuck with Edwin's old Razr, since I'm not up for renewal or (i)phone upgrade until August. Now, over a week later, my little phone turned up in my green Izod puffer vest. Good thing I was feeling green today!