A Personalized Giveaway

In case you didn't already know, I love personalized jewelry - maybe a little something special for yourself, or to give that special someone a gift they'll really treasure.

There are quite a few shops, especially on Etsy, where you can get personalized jewelry - but this one really stands out from the crowd.

Just feast your eyes on these lovelies from Magic Hand Jewelry:

 Personalized Sterling Silver Name Pendant

Sterling Silver Monogrammed Ring

Sterling Silver Heart Monogrammed Necklace

Here's the fun part:

The RikRak Studio Blog is hosting a super giveaway where you can win

the Sterling Silver Monogrammed Necklace!

Click the link below to enter:

http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/2011/05/personalized-giveaway-with-magic-hand.html

Sunny? San Diego

Just a few more days until we head out for our San Diego vacation. It seems to have become an annual event for our family. There is just so much to do there, especially for families with children, and the city (as big cities go) is beautiful.

It's just so suddenly gray and gloomy where we live (about 6 hours north of the big SD) that I'm worried it will be the same once we get down there. And the boys are ready for some serious pool time as well as a visit to Lego Land water park...

So - SUN, please come back...I miss you, I need you...

Either way, I will still thoroughly enjoy the time to relax. Even more so, I'll enjoy sharing adventures with the boys. Experiencing things through their eyes and watching their wonderment and sheer joy is one of the greatest parts of being a parent.

A few of our adventures from last year... 

Shark Attack at the Birch Aquarium

Being serenaded by strolling mariachis at the Coyote Cafe in Old Town.

(Their deep fried ice cream is the best - we are sooo going back!)

Who's smile is bigger - the hippo or Garion's?

Dad gets crushed by a prehistoric elephant.

At the San Diego Zoo's Elepehant Odessey

Our little animal lover...good thing they're friendly!

San Diego Safari Park

Psst - hey moms! - here's an idea for keeping the house tidy...

Touring the USS Midway

Wondering what memories we'll come home with this time...

Hope you all have a terrific week, and get some sunshine...where ever you are...

Brown Paper Packages...

Don't you just love checking the mail and finding a package addressed to you?

I sure do!

Especially when they are so nicely wrapped...even when you know what's inside, it can be so exciting! 

Which is why I was delighted to receive this delivery yesterday from Giant Dwarf. Sue sent an extra free gift, and don't you just love her business card:

I'm so happy to get my hands on this lovely rainbow of fabulous felt:

 

I've developed a recent obsession with fabric flowers, and have been perusing tutorials from all over the blogosphere. While there are some really lovely creations, I have a special affinity for felt.
I love it!

It's easy to see why. Just check out these bright and cheerful creations from some very talented artists:

 Forest Animals Hanging Mobile from lovelyfriend

Molly Headband by ErboRetro

Rainbow Raindrops Cloud Mobile by the rainbow room

Needle Felted Sleeping Baby Fox by Soft Forest

Three Trees Linen Pouch by SeaPinks

Don't they make you smile?

Winners!

Thank you all for participating in the resin ring giveaway, and also for your sweet comments!

5 winners were chosen using Random.org, which selected comments 8, 1, 4, 3, & 10.

Congratulations to Sam, Mali, Christina, Harley & Crystal!

If you gave your email address, I have contacted you about where to mail your goody. If you haven't received an email from me, please contact me at jen_skinner@charter.net and let me know where to send your ring...

Thank you!

A Sweet Recipe for Sunday

For chocolate chip cookies, I've always just used the recipe on the back of the package. It's alright, mainly because it has chocolate, but to me usually takes like an dried out biscuit.

I wanted a bakery style, thin, buttery, crispy cookie. And here it is:

I used this recipe, from The Kitchen Magpie.

Delicious!

There's some really lovely buttery goodness to be tasted, especially on the first few bites before your tongue gets used to it. So yummy - this batch was gone before the day was out!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Unfinished Projects and a Giveaway...

I've sort of been taking a break the last couple of months, but now I'm ready to get back into action. Like most of us, I have all sorts of ideas for new things to try and make...

...but...

I have this growing collection of unfinished resin projects.

A few need to be sanded or drilled, but most of them just need to be hung on a cord or chain to become a finished wearable item.

So - I have made a resolution to FINISH THESE UP! before I make anything new. Ugh, it's hard - but needs to be done.

To start things off, I put together this assortment of little rings:

Originally, I wanted these little resin cabochons to be in a sort of cascading necklace -

but I just couldn't work it out, so they've been sitting in my "unfinished tub" for months.

A simple design...

but they are bright and cute and add a little color pop...

The rings are adjustable, so they can easily be worn on any finger.

I love that, because most of my rings are sized for my ring finger, and well, I only have 2 of those...

And now - wee! a GIVEAWAY!

I'd like to give all these rings to my lovely customers and blog readers.

If you would like to win one, please leave a comment below. For an additional entry (or entries), share this giveaway on facebook, twitter, or your own blog and then come back and leave another comment letting me know.

I'll leave the giveaway open through the weekend,

and then next Monday will do a random drawing for 5 winners!

Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your week!

***Giveaway has ended - thank you all!***