It goes by so fast

My precious little brother is graduating from high school tomorrow. It feels like yesterday that I was singing James Taylor to him to try to get him to go to sleep. Now he's 6'2" and headed off to college. I am insanely proud of the person that he has become. He is smart and funny. He genuinely cares about people and is a great friend, brother, and son.

I was 20 years old when he was born...my mom waited a looooong time for that second child. Just yesterday my mom was saying that she has had a child at home for 39 years. That's crazy! But it's been cool having a brother 20 years younger than me. I think he helps keep me young and he is truly one of my very best friends.

It's about time.

I have been working very, very hard to put together this new line of jewelry. I like to think of myself as a fairly organized person but I'm not terribly patient. Typically when I make something new I am so anxious to get it "out there" that I post it to my website and move on to the next thing. Because my aesthetic is well, my aesthetic most of my work is pretty cohesive I think. But this time I really tried to restrain myself. I worked on necklaces, earrings, and bracelets and yesterday Tom and I had our own little photo shoot. If I was smart I wouldn't post these photos until I had them on my website so that you could hop on over there and buy them up - but I am too anxious to show them off and see what you think. I have posted a couple of items to my etsy shop if you'd like to go check them out. But in the mean time let me know what you think. Happy Monday.

Update on the Big Man

Well, Mr. Stinker Pants here gave us a bit of a scare last week. Anytime anything goes wrong I immediately assume the worst. But I think that's normal when you have been dealing with the big C. Turns out it was a simple kidney infection and after a day of antibiotics he was back to normal. But I tell you, we were in freak out mode for a good four hours or so. The good news: great appetite, goofy, grumpy, normal. I love normal.

my new old bathroom

I've gotta tell you, when I see those design shows where they go into those 1950's bathrooms and rip out the wall to wall tile, the matching porcelain sink, tub, and toilet, the old porcelain soap dish and tooth brush holders I just cringe! I LUV those old bathrooms. And if they are pink that's even better.

So for a few years now Tom and I have been planning the remodels of our two 1978 (not a good year for bathrooms) bathrooms. We wanted the 50's look. But I never thought I would be able to find pink vintage fixtures!!! But just a couple of weeks ago a friend called to tell us about some great pieces at a local architectural salvage place. When I saw this pink sink for $30 I nearly fainted! I wanted to sit on it until we could get it in the car for fear someone else would discover this treasure. I guess I still have not figured out that I tend to like the things that most others have rejected. While I was lusting over the sink my mom comes out to tell me they had a matching toilet. Done and done.
Tom got the project under way much quicker than I thought we would and now the vanity area is complete. My sweet pink rejected sink could not look more perfect. And my amazing husband did an unbelievable job all by himself. I would post before pictures but I'm too embarrassed.
On a recent trip to New Mexico I picked up another reject. My cousin just bought a new house and it had this awesome mirror in the dining room that he thought was just dreadful and he was more than happy for me to take it off his hands. Granted it was gold leaf, pale pink, and green when he gave it to me...but I would have hung it just like that. But for the bathroom I thought a fresh coat of white paint would make it perfect. And this precious little 50's style light came from Lowes for a whopping 12 bucks!
After a trip to Ikea we had plenty of storage with even a little spot for my cutie-pie dog pin cushion from local artist Leslie Bonnell of GlitzKrieg


...and I have been waiting for months to hang these two paintings by my friend and fellow SWT grad Stephanie Nance.

Needless to say I am in love with my bathroom. I would marry my bathroom if I could. Sometimes new and shiny is good and sometimes old with a history is better.

Smile.

It's been a difficult week. But no matter what is going on my dogs can make me smile. And when I REALLY need to smile The Business Man is my go-to guy! He is the silliest, funniest, most outrageous little dog I have ever known. I dare you not to smile when you look at these pictures.

Godspeed Lee.

Being involved in dog rescue and being the "parent" to 12 dogs of my own I am constantly asked questions like "who do you recommend for pet sitting, for vet services, trainers?" We get countless calls on the Blue Dog phone line from people who say they need to give up their dog due to a variety of reasons and we always try to encourage them to get training and keep their dog. And without fail my suggestion is always the same "Go see Lee Mannix." Now what do I say?

When Tom and I found out that Lee had died we just stood completely silent in our kitchen. I know it is always a shock when someone young dies, but the thing about Lee was his bigger than life stature, presence, and personality. My friend Robyn said it best "how does someone so big, so alive just cease to be?"

Lee was widely regarded as THE best dog trainer in Austin and I think, probably, just about anywhere. He had a way with dogs that was almost scary. It seemed like an odd combination of common sense and science. Years ago when Tom and I had just four dogs I signed up for a private session with Lee. I showed up with all four dogs in tow not really knowing what to expect but whatever, it was dog training, right? You teach them to sit, stay, no barking, etc. Umm, no. So we go into this small room that was empty but for two chairs. Lee goes in and sits in one of the chairs saying nothing to me or the dogs. Now if you know me at all you know that I am not one to start asking what he was doing - I don't like confrontation or anything uncomfortable, but I was waaaay uncomfortable! Was I supposed to sit? ask questions? keep the dogs from marking the back of his chair? But I just quietly sat down and endured the nearly 15 minutes of silence. The only thing he did was throw his hat into the middle of the room. After the 15 minutes he says to me "okay, I've got them figured out." huh? "The little one is your pack leader (Clarence), the dingo mix is your protector (Seven), the chow is a nervous wreck (Ozo), and the Great Dane couldn't care less (Preacher)." And that was it. He had them pegged to a tee. That was the beginning of my understanding my dogs.

Over the past few days I have read hundreds of posts from people who say that their dog would not be alive if it were not for Lee. Tom and I both believe that there is little point in being here on this earth if you don't try to leave it better than you found it. As Tom said "whether it's for other people, dogs, oceans, or otherwise." Lee obviously did just that.

"You gotta be more fun than f%&king dirt!"

finger nail polish

It's been almost a year since I lost my Aunt Millie. Earlier this month my mom and I drove to New Mexico to help clean out her house. Well, we actually didn't help too much, it was more of a chance for us to bring home some things of hers to remember her by. I went a little nuts. I tended to want all of the things that no one else wanted and in the process managed to nearly fill the entire back of my mom's suburban. The closer we got to home the more worried I became that Tom was gonna come unglued when he saw all the "stuff" I was bringing into our house. But in the end he was a very good sport about it all. He knows that I am insanely sentimental and I get attached to things. I know it's silly. I know that the person isn't in the "things", but it's just hard to see the things she loved go into a garage sale or be given to someone who didn't know her or love her.
When we were there for her funeral we stayed at her house and I slept in her room. I found her nail polish and thought it would be nice to use it for the service. When I started going through it to decide which one I wanted to use I began to realize that they were all the same color. Almost exactly. All different brands, but still the same color. I imagined her going to the grocery store, walking down the make up isle and looking at the polish, picking up bottles until she found the perfect one, and never noticing that it was the same as all the others she had at home. I don't know why but this made me giggle. As sad as I was for some reason this tickled me so much and fascinated me at the same time. On this recent trip when we cleaned out the space where this nail polish was I grabbed every bottle. I just could not let them be thrown away. I just know she picked out each one, loving the color, thinking it was something a little different and fun. And I really wonder if she ever realized when she brought the new bottle home that it looked a little like the others. I wonder. I would love to ask her...and maybe tease her about it just a little.

Happy Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day I am offering 50% off of all jewelry with herbs set inside, like the necklace above. It's just today so take advantage if you feel so inclined!! Oh, and don't forget to do something kind for the earth today - plant a tree, start recycling, bike to work, just pick something.

Preacher Man

Since completing chemo Preacher's oncologist advised that we get a monthly check up from our regular vet. So we went in on Monday and in Dr. Daigle's words "Everything looked disgustingly normal" including his blood work which was actually better than the last time we did blood work. Every time we go in I think I hold my breath until I hear the good news. Of course we are thrilled.

Tom took a whole slew of new photos of the big man the other day, I'll have to share more of them with you soon. But these two were a couple of my favorites. I kept putting dandelions (yes, my yard is full of dandelions) on his head or tucked in his collar. He and Tom were both getting annoyed with me...he might look like he is smiling in that first photo but he was really giving me the stink eye!

Delta Dawn

It's been several months since Tom and I have been able to foster. When Preacher began chemo we were advised not to foster because of his compromised immune system. Since foster dogs usually come from the shelter and have a questionable vaccine history it was a no brainer for us that we would not take in any new dogs until he finished chemo and we knew he was healthy.

So the other day I got an e-mail from a friend...her brother found this adorable little dog running down the highway. Luckily he was kind enough to stop and pick her up before she was hit. Tom and I brought her home a few days ago. It took her approximately one day for me to fall in love with her! She is a 10 year old Pomeranian with a heart murmur, cataracts, a mouth full of bad teeth, and two bad knees. We got the teeth cleaned, Xrays of the heart, and all of her vaccines...with all of that done our vet feels that she has a lot of years left in her. She has THE most precious little personality, she just makes me giggle at her silly little head rolls and prancing. I missed fostering.

Free Bangles!!

Well, today wraps up the week of goodie discounts and give aways. I hope maybe it helped take the edge of off tax week, even if only a tiny bet. But don't forget about today: Buy one set of sterling silver OR brass bangles and get the second set FREE! I think I may start a contest soon to see who wears the most of my bangles...my friend Ashley wears 50 - she's no joke, she's serious about her bangles!

Happy Friday!

Happy Birthday Daisy.

Our sweet kitty Daisy just turned 17! And I swear she doesn't look a day over 5. Cat's are weird but Daisy takes the cake. She lives in our closet. The door is always open but she chooses to stay in the closet. And before you say it's because of the dogs - it's not. She comes out at night and gets in the bed with us and several of the dogs. She won't drink out of a bowl, she has to have a glass of water...I'm telling you, she's odd.

I got Daisy when she was just 8 weeks old and I was in college. She has literally been through it all with me. I know 17 is getting up there, some might even say old...but I think her odd ball ways have kept her pretty well preserved. She's sticking around for a few more. Happy B-Day my Daisy May!

bleck, it's tax week.

I remember when I was a teenager working retail jobs. Tax time would roll around and I did my taxes right away because I always got money back. oh but times have changed. Now it's wait 'til the last minute to send the check of to the tax man. For those of you that dislike April 15th as much as me I have a put together a week full of Metalsgirl specials to put some fun in tax week.

Tax Week Specials
April 12 - FREE Shipping
April 13 - FREE chain with ANY purchase from the Build Your Own page
April 14 - get a FREE resin and herb charm in your choice of color with ANY purchase from the closeout page (one per order)
April 15 - Buy a gift card in ANY amount and I will add an extra 25% to your gift card! Ex. - $100 would become $125
April 16 - Buy one set of sterling or brass bangles and get a second set FREE!

So, check it out and take advantage of some deals!! Happy April.

cutest dog EVER!

I double dog dare you to show me a cuter dog!! Clarence got a hair cut from his stylist (ie. my mother-in-law) this weekend. I swear he looks 10 years younger. He may look cute and sweet, but he's actually a little gangsta. He definitely thinks he runs things. But I guess when you look like this you can get pretty much what ever you want.

bock, bock Easter Bunny.

So even though Pasqual looks a bit manic in that first photo I still think he makes an awfully cute Easter Bunny! I don't typically dress the dogs up for holidays, but we needed a cute photo for an egg dying party invite.

Religious or not here are my suggestions for a fun, nostalgic Easter: no matter how old you are I recommend that you decorate eggs, hide AND hunt Easter eggs, make an Easter basket for someone, and eat some Peeps! I hope you get to enjoy a three day weekend and possibly some egg salad!! Happy Easter!