Have you seen this? Etsy

I'm guessing most of you have seen this site, but I wanted to give it some love by blogging about it.

Etsy.com is a site that sells handmade products of a very wide variety. The handmade products come from around the world as do the buyers. It is a great idea when you think about it. Their mission:

Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.

Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:

Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

My favorite thing on this site is the "Pounce" feature that allows you to visit "shops" (sellers) that have not yet had a sale or just sold something. It is a fun way to see a random selection of items.

And, of course, I am a big fan of the bags and purses category. I am thinking of ordering this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28247124&ref=sc_2

So if you haven't been to this site before, I encourage you to go for a browse.

1 Word

My blogging has been slow lately because life has been busy. I didn't want to go another week without a post so I stole this meme (I wasn't even tagged) from ModernMom.

Here’s how it works: USE ONLY ONE WORD!
It’s not as easy as you might think. Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? brown
3. Your mother? curly
4. Your father? straight
5. Your favorite food? ice cream (it is one of the 5 major food groups)
6. Your dream last night? none
7. Your favorite drink? diet coke
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. What room are you in? bedroom
10. Your hobby? photography
11. Your fear? ill-health
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
13. Where were you last night? pizza
14. Something that you aren’t? blonde
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? car
17. Where did you grow up? Connecticut
18. Last thing you did? dinner
19. What are you wearing? pajamas
20. Your TV? on
21. Your pets? sleeping
22. Friends? excellent
23. Your life? hectic
24. Your mood? concerned (is that a mood?)
25. Missing someone? Rob
26. Vehicle? Jeep
27. Something you’re not wearing? pants
28. Your favorite store? Sephora
29. Your favorite color? blues
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? weeks
32. One place that I go to over and over? Loft
33. One person who emails me regularly? Becky
34. Favorite place to eat? NYC

If you feel like it, consider yourself tagged.

A kid's main goals in life

The other night over dinner Zoe shared with me that a kid has three main goals in life. They are:

1. Be happy
2. Get candy
3. Do everything possible

That's a pretty good set of goals for just about anyone, don't you think?

Swimming buddies

It's been another crazy week and tonight I am sneaking away for a long girls weekend so I don't have too much time to blog this week, but there's always time for pictures.

Here's one of Zoe and Chief enjoying the pool. The first time he saw Zoe in her goggles he barked at her like he didn't know who she was. I wonder if they make goggles for dogs??

Harry Potter Hype

I bet most people reading this know that the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened today. There is tons of media attention on this one so it would be hard to miss. A lot of my friends are quiet excited to see the movie and many have already bought tickets for showings this weekend.

I have to admit I am a little jealous over all the excitement.

I somehow missed the initial Harry Potter train and I've never really been able to catch it since. I saw the first movie, but I was kind of underwhelmed. I imagine that is because I never read the first book. I saw the second movie and had the same reaction. By that point Harry Potter had become like a religion and I was turned off so it was too late for me to turn back to book 1. I made the decision to let the train go by.

After all the hype over all these years, I am more put off than ever on reading the books or seeing any more of the movies, but there is something so delicious about a long-awaited film or book that I am envious of the anticipation that has been everywhere and gratification about to come.

So, for all the Harry Potter fans out there -- I hope the movie is great and worth the wait! Eat some popcorn for me.

Friday's Lessons Learned: Back to the Bullets

I skipped my Friday bullet points in honor of Independence Day last week. Actually, I was too busy over-dosing on Wimbledon tennis to write anything. But today we are back to regularly scheduled programming. It's been an up and down week so let's see...

• One somewhat upsetting incident can really kill my productivity for hours at a time. I was on the receiving end of some rather insulting attitude at work this week and it really killed my day yesterday until I could get myself over it and move on. Thanks to those of you who listened yesterday -- I really appreciate it.
• It is much easier to decide what to wear for "before" pictures than it is for "after." Tomorrow I have my final weigh-in for the contest I have been participating in at my gym and they are also going to take the "after" photos. I spent over an hour working out what to wear. Ridiculous! It has been a tough 8 weeks, but the results are just what I was hoping for. And after the "after" photos, I think I am going to get a cappuccino and a muffin because I deserve it!
• I am so glad summer has decided to come to Connecticut. It could be warmer as far as I'm concerned, but I am just glad to wear the shorts and flip flops and to not need an umbrella EVERY day.
• Dogs and boys are a lot alike. Think about it and you will see what I mean.
• Despite wearing sunblock with an SPF of 50 all day every day, Zoe is completely tan after only 2 weeks of camp. Her hair has gotten lighter from the sun and I think in another 2 weeks her hair and skin will be about the same shades. She is just loving camp. If there was ever a kid made for camp, she is it. It is so nice to see her go off with a smile everyday and come home with it too. Don't worry, I'll post more pictures soon.
  

Have a great weekend everyone!

Meme Award

I'm pleased and flattered to report that I've recieved a Meme/Award from a fellow blogger, ModernMom.

To accept this award, I must list 7 personality traits about myself and I must pass this award onto 7 other blogs that deserve such fine recognition for the personalities that they share with the blogging world.

7 personality traits:

1. I am a planner. I make social plans, I make sure to get driving directions, I buy travel books or read online when I am going someplace new. I generally like to think ahead about most things I do.

2. I am very loyal. Friends to the end kind of loyal. But sometimes beyond reason loyal winding me up quite hurt and disappointed.

3. I am shy. I am not quiet, but I am shy. I don't do well meeting or talking to strangers. I find it quite stressful just to call someone I don't know. I will often try to compensate by pretending to be quite confident, but inside I am all kinds of uncomfortable.

4. I try to find the bright side. I complain yes, but most of the time I try to focus on the good things and be happy for those things. I try to put the bad stuff in perspective.

5. I am not patient. When I want something or I want to know something, I want it NOW.

6. I am not serious. I would almost always rather laugh and joke around than be serious and have serious conversations. I was the kid in class with the smart remarks.

7. I am open to trying new things in just about any area except trying new foods. I have worked at being more open with food over the last several years and have come a long way, but no one would ever call me an adventurous eater.

7 Awards/Tags:
1. Emily
2. Becky
3. Tracie
4. Sara
5. Charlotte
6. Heather
7. Courtney

How I spent my July 4th by Chief the dog

Independence Day

Yesterday I was explaining to Zoe why 4th of July is also called Independence Day and it made me think of all the ways she has become independent lately. I hear "I can do it myself" a lot these days and most of the time I welcome it.

Zoe now can:

• Open the car door, get herself into the car, put on her seatbelt and close the car door without any help. Those of you who don't have kids can't imagine what a relief that is and those of you that do, I am sure you know.
  
• Go to the restroom at restaurants without me.
• Wash her own hair and body in the shower without any help.
• Clear her dishes from the table (not that she does it all the time).
• Pick out clothes and put them on -- and sometimes the clothes even match.
• Find the shows she wants to watch on TV.
• Read her own bedtime story (in truth she goes back and forth on this -- sometimes she reads and sometimes I do).

I wonder what's next?

(I had to use the bullet points because I skipped my usual Friday post.)

The 3/50 Project

I just read this post from traciedesigns and I had to share it too because I think it is a great idea.

I'm sure everyone has noticed lots of local businesses disappearing in the last 6 months to a year. I know I've lost a couple of favorite spots (including my beloved Katzenbergs). The 3/50 Project is simple: pick 3 local, independently owned businesses you really like and commit to spending $50 a month in each.

For more info, background and some great statistics, visit the 3/50 Project website.

I'm on board, how about you? If so, spread the word!