If I said you clean beads beautifully,

could I slap a dremel in your hand and put you to work?

The only 3 things I'm seeing this week are the insides of my eyelids and these~

I can't wait to share the details,

but I'm on a deadline

so for now it'll have to wait.

Meet you back here soonish, k?

~~

If you don't know I'm a Bama girl it's only because you're new.

But seeing as how I know people who are Auburn fans blesstheirhearts I also had to throw together some Orange and blue because I'm nice like that.

~~

These are the first 2 flatbacked flowers I made.

Separately they are a bit jankyfied,

but stacked and wired so that they both spin?

Super Adorable.

~~

Flat Backed Sculptcha!

I've made about a gazillion hand formed disk beads over the last few weeks

as form practice for some flat backed focals floating around in my head.

These flowers are the first~ the backs are flat but the petals on top are dimensional.

Wire wrap 'em, bead embroider them,

or slap a jump ring on 'em and call it a day.

Awesome.

Sauce.

on Etsy.

~~

Something Old. Something New. Something Borrowed. Something Blue.

Or ya know, if you're me....

Something Crazy

Like deciding at 11 pm that because while you are sleepy you are also cold and thinking coffee would be yum and finding this in the kitchen and brewing it:

Something Sane

Furkids who stay in bed while you ping off the walls at midnight on an apparently illiterate caffeine high:

Something Cool

Super adorable community house cat with extra fingers that vibrate when he purrs:

Something Vain.

That time of year came around.  Again.  Like here, here,and here.

Roll Tide, Y'all!

~~

But first? A moment of silence.

"You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.  Where they been.  Where they goin.

I've worn alots of shoes....."

I'm pretty sure I've worn these flippies every single day for a year...almost to the exact day of purchase.

And that probably tells y'all way more about me than you ever wanted to know.

~

On the bright side, I now NEED to head down 

to Panama City Beach

so that I may procure a new pair

from the Life is Good store

because trust me when I tell you

that these leather flip flops

are bar none THE

most comfortable

flip flops

ever in the world

beetlejuice!

thus making them

an absolute steal

at $30.

Shall I pick you up a pair, too?

~

Although I probably shouldn't admit that. UPDATED

My "baby" brother is on the other side of 45 today.  He's still a wicked handsome dude, but it is just plain weird that he can be so old while I'm still the same age I was when this picture was taken...ahem...20 years ago.

I sure don't miss those shoulder-muh-pads, but I'm kinda crushing on that bouffant-y spiral perm.

~~

UPDATE:

There are 20 years between these pics.  And 20 or so pounds, too~ all of which we gained TODAY after gorging on the Carbfest Mark requested for his birthday dinner.

He joked that the heat of the kitchen left my hair flat.  I refrained from spewing forth the balding retort that bled when I bit my tongue, and that's probably the best present I gave him all day.

~~

If anyone needs me I'll just be over here making more of these~

MERMAID JEWELS~

TRUE BLOOD~

SWEET SIXTEEN~

PUMPKIN SPICE ~

40 disk bead collections
$55 !

You'll find them all on eBay

~~

Remember there is also a sale going on in my Etsy Shop~

20% off your entire purchase with coupon code HEATWAVE.

sale ends Sunday, August 12th at 9pm.

~~

It is like twinspeak, complete with ghetto jive redneck hippy slang.

I had one or 2 of y'all tell me that you like My Crazy, and it occurred to me just now to introduce you to the person who caused it/nurtures it/inspires it.  If you were to ask him he would say the same is true in reverse, but since this is my blog I win.  Plus he's older.  And funnier.  And more of a joy to be around.  So I win.

Mark is my brother and my best friend.  Sometimes I want to kick him in the shin, but I wouldn't be half the person I am today without his friendship and love.   Also?  It's nice having someone to point the finger at when I get all random.  Even better that he gets it.

These exchanges that appeared on my Facebook wall this morning are perfect examples of how we talk to each other 80% of the time.

In the first he is complimenting my beads~

And in the second we are discussing the birthday dinner we are having for him on Sunday:

(Fried Chicken, chicken n dumplings, garlic mashed potatoes, hull peas, crescent rolls, and peach cobbler)

(the boy knows what he likes, and he specified MY fried chicken & Chicken Dumplings)

(not mama's)

(not nana's)

(mine)

(I'mizalluhsquee!)

He plays a big role in my Happy.

~~

And afterward we'll go out for nachos. My treat.

♥ SUMMER SALE on MY HANDMADE LAMPWORK!

20% OFF ALL LISTINGS IN MY ETSY SHOP
COUPON CODE: HEATWAVE

Ends Sunday, August 12th

Shop HERE!

~~

I'm too sexy for this post.

Remember how I have mentioned recently that I've taken on a part time job in the form of pool floating master?  I may have lied on my application but really?  It's a float, how hard can it be to climb on and fall asleep?  Let's just say I've gotten the falling asleep part down.  Eventually I hope to master the climbing on without falling off at least twice part, but in the meantime the water fairies are affording my friends much laughter at my expense.

In the downsizing of my stuff last month I sold my commercial stainless grill to my pool supplying bestie, so a couple times a week we throw some meat on it under the guise of teaching her how to use it.  You know how some lessons are best learned from the vantage point of flatbacked on a float in the pool?  Uh!  So does she!

Sunday I carried the marinated yummy out, turned the knobs to get the gas a'goin, lifted the lid and clicked the ignition button.

Those of you who are familiar with the use of gas grills have just recoiled at my obvious stupidity, and those of you who are not familiar with the use of gas grills are probably still floating around the pool waiting for your burger. Showoff.

Burning nose hair smells far worse than any other kind, probably because you will still be smelling it 4 days later.  My nostrils are balder than Vin Diesel, y'all, and right about now I bet you're wishing you could unread that.

~~

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

available on eBay

The rest of the recent story that is my life~

Six years ago I told God I wanted to own a home.  A few months (and lots of running and doing and trying) later I signed the paperwork on something that was to be mineminemine all mine gimmemine!  Those of you who have experienced opening your very own door with your very own key to a home of your very own know the excitement and joy I felt that day.

A few years later the economy tanked and took my livelihood with it.  The past 2 years have been a constant daily struggle for me.  A rollercoaster ride of anger and stress and feeling like a failure and whys?~ balanced only by the faith in my purpose, in the knowing that I was gifted with as a teenager that I was without question created to be here for a reason.  Faith is not without stumbling blocks, and even after having lain prostrate on the floor crying and praying until I had no words left I still had no answer.  God was silent, and I found myself in a depression I couldn't break free from.

I've lost my house.  It took a long time for me to be able to say those words out loud, let alone share them with anyone else.  It wasn't a decision I came to easily.  It is never a decision someone comes to easily.  Ultimately it comes down to what matters most and for me that is and will always be the whispering voice that lives inside~ the culmination of the divine gifts God chose to give me.  Whatever else happens, wherever I find myself in this life, I will live honoring those gifts as best as I can for as long as I am able.

When I realized the truth of that, I was filled with peace...and the beautiful relief of somehow knowing the test was over...that the teacher had not left the room but instead had allowed me the time I needed to study.

My life has afforded so many firsts, so many adventures, so many moments of joy, so many moments of sorrow.  So Many Manies.  It is a blessing to be so consumed, sometimes by a will that differs from my own~ a will that has plans for me beyond on my understanding ~ plans that always get me exactly where I didn't know I always wanted to go.  For that, I am immeasurably grateful.

I may not be where I thought I would, but I'm right where I belong~ in my Father's arms.



I hope you are, too.

~~

Because suddenly it is August first again already.

Right now I have a choice between writing a long well thought out blog post or going to get my car tag renewed ~ a day late ~ AGAIN ~ before splashing my way to the top of a float at a friend's pool.

Wish me luck.

Magic Carpet Ride

And from this~

Came this~

Maldives

~~