RED BESS BONNEY - AKA SUSAN

Life in Kansas City

2011-11-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

It's been almost 3 months now since my husband had his aortic dissection. He's doing very well, and has just gone back to work full time. I do think we still have a long road ahead with recovery, but hopefully everything will be grand by next summer.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I also want to send our heartfelt thanks to Regretsy, April and all the CF4L members who have been so awesome to us through this difficult time. YOU ROCK!

The rest of settling in though is not going well. Trying to find a pediatrician for my son seems to be out of the question. We randomly picked Dr. Cowden, who is affiliated with Children's Mercy Hospital. When calling them to make a well child exam yesterday, the conversation went like this:
Receptionist: I'm sorry, you can't make an appointment with Dr. Cowden. He's booked and doesn't have time for new patients til January and that schedule isn't out yet.
Me: ok, so what if he gets sick?
Receptionist: well, we do have an urgent care and an ER.

I was livid.

So I asked at the bus stop for recommendations, and got what I thought was a good one - Dr. Cattaneo with Priority Care Pediatrics. I called them today. Here's how that conversation went:
Receptionist: We aren't taking new patients unless they are newborn or a sibling of a current patient.
Me: (in tears) ok, so can you recommend another doctor? I really need to have a doctor for my son.
Receptionist: No, and I'm hanging up on you now because you're upset.

I am beyond livid now, and want nothing more to do with this seemingly ass backwards city. I can't even get flumist for my son here as no one has it. If anyone in the Kansas City area reads this and can recommend a pediatrician (we're up by Zona Rosa) or knows who has flumist, I'd really love that information!

On the bright side, I'm currently planning a trip to California. Actually, planning 2 trips, one by myself and one with the family. My son really misses his friends and can't wait til summer to visit them. Until then he gets to experience a whole different life than we had in California. He met Father Christmas over the weekend...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Scary times..

2011-08-31T17:51:00.001-07:00

As I stated in my last blog post, this move has not been easy.

It got worse.

Much worse.

On August 21st, my husband and son went to a cub scout info meeting. On the way home, my husband began to experience possible heart attack symptoms. I rushed him to the hospital, where they determined it wasn't a heart attack.

Instead it was something uncommon - a dissected aorta. He had to have immediate surgery, as a dissected aorta can be fatal - in fact it is most of the time. He was very lucky.

He is currently recovering at the hospital. He's had a couple of setbacks this week, but continues to work towards the goal of coming home and getting back to work.

Since he just started work, he has no vacation or sick pay built up, and we have no income for a while. I had planned to reopen my shop when I had time to retake my photos, change up descriptions and play with SEO stuff. I've decided now is a good time, in case I can make gas or grocery money from my shop. Please share this post with others to help me provide for my son during this very stressful time.

And remember to give extra hugs to your loved ones - you never know what's going to happen.

p.s. I apologize if I don't make much sense - I'm in a state of perpetual exhaustion right now.

First Kansas City post!

2011-07-28T11:51:00.001-07:00

We are slowly getting settled in. I won't bore you with details, but it has not been a stress free move nor an easy one...

I am making a few changes to my blog - not only will I talk about my crafting and the happenings of a stay at home mom, but I will be sharing recipes and reviewing local restaurants and activities.

To that end, I'd like to talk about my lunch experience today. I thought it would be nice to have a lunch date with my son. We discussed options, and he decided he wanted Winstead's. They have been around since 1940, and have your typical diner fare.

First of all, they seemed awfully shorthanded. We were brought water, and then we waited for a bit. Colin ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with a side of fries. I ordered the BLT without the cheese. Colin and I chatted about some stuff while I looked around, and hoped he didn't hear all the foul language coming from lawyers at the next table... I spied some fries on the counter - pushed out of the way and forgotten. Soon I saw our sandwiches up there, but no fries. The waitresses kept reaching up over the fries - a couple of times they almost had fries in their armpits! ewwww! In the meantime, a BLT was sent back for not holding the mayo, and a burger was sent back for having cheese... I knew in my gut that this lunch was not going to end well...

So, we finally got our food that had been sitting up there for at least 10 minutes. And guess what fries we got! Yep, the armpit fries!!! eek! I promptly sent them back,and peeked in my sandwich. I had cheese. I opted to scrape it off vs. sending it back, but I did let the waitress know. I personally think it was the kitchen's fault - as it appeared that only one person and the manager were working back there - but the waitress said it was her fault. We ended up getting the fries and BLT of our bill, leaving only the grilled cheese. It was a nice gesture, but I'm not really sure we'll be going back in the near future. There are too many other places around here to eat to have to deal with that.

On the bright side, Colin loved his grilled cheese! And other than being heavy on the mayo and the tomatoes not tasting quite right, mine was ok. The bacon was super crispy, just how I like it. I tasted Colin's new fries and they were pretty tasty. Not greasy and not over salted.

Well, there's my first KC post and first review. I have another review in mind of someplace we went recently - Genghis Khan Mongolian Barbeque. I want to compare it to my favorite Mongolian bbq in Manhattan Beach, CA, Big Wok.

Changes...

2011-05-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

So lots has happened since my last post...

We will be moving back to the Kansas City area in June. Big change for us, since we've been in the Los Angeles area for 11 years now. My son was born here and other than visiting family back there, he has no idea what it will be like. I think he's stressing a bit (not unlike his parents) and I hope I can get him through the last month of school with some sense of normality. Of course, how normal is it to have boxes stacked all over the apartment... ;)

My shop will be deactivated June 1st, so until then I am offering all inventory at half off! Just use coupon code MOVING when you check out. My shop will reopen probably in August, after we get settled. Colin will be starting school mid-August, so I'll have lots of time to create new items! I have lots of ideas.. can't wait to share them with you!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2010-12-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy day! A crazy week, actually! My son's first grade class is doing the Nutcracker (the play, not the ballet) on Friday. Today was dress rehearsal, and they did very well! I need to finish up some hats for the costumes, but it's all coming together...

And as promised, I went to random.org to pick a giveaway winner. I had 14 entries between comments here, on my Facebook fan page and Twitter. The website randomly picked #7, which is Ann! Check out her shops on Etsy... she's very talented! I linked to only one of her shops, but she has 3 others, and they can be found by clicking "read more" on her shop announcement. Congrats, Ann!

Ok, that's it for now. I have a new year's resolution already, and that is to blog at least twice a week. One post will be about what I'm up to in my shops and life in general, and the other post will be featuring some other lovely Etsians. If I don't get back here before the new year, have a Happy Christmas and a terrific new year!

It's the busiest time of the year...

2010-12-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I have so busy lately! Making gifts, trips to the post office, baking, and making costumes and sets for my son's 1st grade play has kept me out of trouble! Downside is there has not been much "me" time...

That changes Wednesday when my birthday rolls around again. The best gift I can give myself this year is a day of down time. :)

You are invited to celebrate my birthday with me by entering to win my giveaway:

This is a stretchy bracelet, in the European 4 in 1 chainmaille weave. It has little silicone rings matched with aluminum rings. It is very lightweight - many people who own this cuff say they don't even notice it's on.

So, how to win? Simply go to my shop at http://RedBessBonney.etsy.com, pick your favorite item and come back here to post it in the comments. Here's how you can get two extra entries. You can follow me on Twitter and RT this giveaway. Be sure to @RedBessBonney so I know to add an entry for you. You can also like Red Bess Bonney Creations on Facebook, and leave a comment for me. On December 15th, I will use random.org to pick the winner. Once your address is confirmed, I will ship the bracelet out.

Ok, so go enter! :)

Zombie Dinner!

2010-10-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures last night...

But I made the most fun dinner!

It was actually a baked ziti with cauliflower. My husband commented it looked like brains. I got to thinking that if you substitute spaghetti for the ziti, that it would be an awesome zombie meal of bloody brains and veins...

Here's the recipe:

8 - 10 oz spaghetti
1 head cauliflower, cut up
1 T olive oil
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
2 T fresh shredded basil, or 2 t dried basil
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1/4 c mozzarella

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan according to the package directions. After draining, return spaghetti to the saucepan.

3. Meanwhile, toss the cauliflower, oil, salt and pepper together on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once, until golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes. Stir basil and tomatoes into cauliflower and bake 10 minutes longer.

4. Add the cauliflower mixture to the spaghetti and stir well. Put the mixture in a casserole or baking dish. Top with mozzarella. Bake until cheese browns and bubbles, about 5 minutes.

This recipe originally came from the Cook Yourself Thin website, and makes 4 servings at 310 calories each. And it's vegetarian!

Tips: Feel free to play around with seasonings - make it to your taste! Add garlic to keep away the vampires.. ;)

Off to a rough start..

2010-09-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

School started a week ago...

My son didn't get the teacher that I thought would be the best fit for him. We tried to switch, but the principal gave us an option that was unacceptable. For now we're going to see how it goes, and document anything unusual. I'm volunteering in class this afternoon, so I can see the dynamics of the class first hand. I'm hoping all will be well, and we won't have to go to the district or transfer schools - unless, of course, hubby gets a new job elsewhere. But that's another story...

I have been taking advantage of longer school hours to create new jewelry. Money has been tight for new supply purchases, so I've been seeing what I have and going from there. So far I've made these necklaces out of vintage belt buckles, and the earrings are from my mom's button stash.

I got to go to the "World of Color" Meet-Up!!!

2010-09-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Disney announced they were doing a meet-up at California Adventure, open to the first 300 people who RSVP'd via e-mail.. I thought I'd try, but never thought I'd get in... but I did - as well as my son, who was my guest.

So last Thursday we got to Disneyland a little early. We met up with some friends at Disneyland and tried to keep cool while going on a few rides. Before we knew it, it was time to head over to the check in table. At check in they gave us wristbands and a packet that contained a photo of "World of Color" and a list of who we would be seeing - Sayre Wiseman, Steve Davison and Mary Niven - who were all involved in the creation of this fabulous show.

We had a bit of time, so after we grabbed a bite to eat, Colin (my train obsessed boy) wanted to see the new trolley tracks. He is waiting very patiently for these to open...

When it was time, we headed over to Stage 17 in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area..

After going inside, we waited a few minutes before they opened a curtain to the stage and seating area.

What followed was a very interesting and entertaining evening, listening to stories of the show by the creators..

followed by a really great viewing spot for "World of Color"! For those of you who haven't had a chance - here's some parts of the show:

Here is the Disney Parks Blog recap of the night as well.

Here is a photo of the swag we all got, including a special apple!

I am so happy I got to experience this! I can't wait for a chance to go to the next meet-up!

Vacation Wrap Up

2010-08-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

So when I last left my vacation adventures, we had 3 days of vacation left...

Colin loves trees. Nebraska City is the home of Arbor Day and the Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure.

It was very nice - it had trails and a tree house.. here's some pics -

At the end of your tree adventure, you get a free tree to take home and plant. Colin and Grandma planted one..

The next day we had tickets to the Omaha Royals game at Rosenblatt Stadium. Many years ago, when I was in college, I worked at Rosenblatt as a concession stand manager. In the years following, I went to several games and knew many of the season ticket holders and ball players. It was a shock to me to find out that this is Rosenblatt's last season - they are tearing it down to make a bigger parking lot for the zoo.

The Royals lost, btw...

The next day we headed back to the Kansas City area. We ran into some flooding on the highway around Nebraska City...

In the second picture, that water is completely covering the right lane..

Once we got to Kansas City, we visited with some old friends before dropping Colin off with the grandparents so Chris and I could have a nice dinner alone. The next morning we headed home.

Our summer adventures didn't end there.. we've managed to have a bit of fun since being home - I'll share some of our fun at a later date..

I hope you've enjoyed our vacation! :)

A New Wardrobe!

2010-08-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a blog called New Dress A Day for a while now. It's very inspiring because A. cash is low for new clothes and B. I hate the styles/colors/fabrics at the stores right now.

I decided to try my own makeover of a thrift store dress. Saturday the local thrift had a 40% off sale, so I got this for $4.60.

Awful, isn't it? Not flattering in the least... Even the camera was disgusted - it didn't even take a good picture!! ;)

So, after thinking about what I wanted to do with it, I decided to turn it into a tunic. I cut off some length, and those awful sleeves. After hemming, here's what it looks like now:

Much better! I love the flutter sleeves! It gives me a whole new silhouette! (of course, it would help if it wasn't laundry day, and I have on some pants that are too baggy..)

I can't wait to hit the thrift stores again... Unfortunately, the local ones here are all so pricey.. I see a trip to Ventura in my future... :)

P.S. I haven't forgotten about finishing up our vacation... I have just a couple of days to go....

Go Big Red!

2010-07-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

One afternoon we decided to go to Elephant Hall at the University of Nebraska. It's officially called Morrill Hall, but it's always been known as Elephant Hall.. It was always a favorite spot of mine when I was a child - and I love the fact my son loves it now too! It's very similar to the Natural History Museum here in LA. It's not really big, but at least you can see everything with a 6 year old in one day without any complaints of being tired.. ;)

After the museum, we took a little walk down the street to Memorial Stadium, home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers! Colin has been to one Nebraska game, but it was when they played USC here. This was his first chance to see the stadium.

To be honest, I don't think he was overly impressed. :)

Insurance Adventures and a Farm..

2010-07-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

What to do when you get sick on vacation and need a doctor? We had two options - emergency room or finding a local provider our insurance would cover. We were staying in Leavenworth, Kansas. The nearest urgent care our insurance would cover was in Shawnee, Kansas. So we packed up the boy and went to the doctor. He was diagnosed with pneumonia - a very mild case, luckily. My husband had it before vacation, so I'm guessing that's how Colin got it, even though we tried to do everything we could to avoid contamination. He got some antibiotics, and the doctor said they would knock it out in two days.

The next day he was better - hardly coughing at all. So we tried to salvage a little bit of fun and went to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. He had a lot of fun there...

Chris, on the other hand, maybe didn't have so much fun...

Colin was doing very well, until we took a hayrack ride that stirred up dust and his coughing. On the way back to Leavenworth, he started vomiting. It was not a good way to end the day for us, as we had to clean out the back of the van. Colin, on the other hand, felt completely fine and spent a few hours playing in the bath.

The next day we headed up to Lincoln, Nebraska to see my parents. Colin proceeded to vomit once or twice a day for the next 4 or 5 days. We ended up going to a different urgent care in Lincoln on the 4th of July, where we got another antibiotic that really did work well and right away, thank goodness. In the meantime, his Kansas grandparents came up to Lincoln, as did his great-aunt so we could have a nice 4th. We bought lots of fireworks, and had a fun shooting them off. Colin watched out the window, as it was too smoky for him to be outside. We kept things low key for a couple more days, with only family visits. Once he got over the vomiting and the coughing stopped, we crammed in a lot of activities in just a few days...

Next up, a trip to the University of Nebraska....

If you want to see more pictures, please visit Flickr.

Etsy-versary Giveaway Winner!

2010-07-19T14:08:00.001-07:00

I went to random.org to pick the winner... and the number was 3, so Andie is the winner! Andie, I will be contacting you via e-mail for your address.

Thanks for playing! :)

p.s. the vacation blog posts will resume soon...

Marceline, MO and Walt Disney

2010-07-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

One of the best days of our vacation we traveled to Marceline, Missouri. Marceline is where Walt Disney lived as a child. He never forgot his time there, and it became a huge influence in his films and Disneyland.

We first visited the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. It resides in a renovated Santa Fe train depot. The trains still whiz past the depot, but none stop there anymore. I loved how the tour guides would patiently pause during the train whistles!

Pictures are not allowed inside the museum, but if you scroll all the way to the bottom of this site, under Missouriland, you can see a couple of pictures. The museum has lots of photos and letters, and an original midget autopia car. We had a wonderful tour guide - unfortunately I can't remember her name! During one of Walt's visits back to Marceline, he stayed at her house because the town hotel was not the best and they had the only air conditioning in town. It was really amazing to meet someone who had known Walt!

Our next stop was Walt Disney Elementary School. It was being worked on, but we still managed to peek inside the door to see some original artwork by Disney legend Bob Moore.

From there we decided to stroll down Main Street. We first stopped at a wonderful ice cream shop, Sweet Tunes. I had a scoop of chocolate marshmallow, and since Chris can't have dairy, he had root beer. Refreshed, we started our walk...

Ever visit "Coke Corner" at Disneyland? It was modeled after this building..

We also stopped in Ripley Park. They were setting up for their 4th of July celebration, so we didn't linger too long.

We also went to Marceline's other park - the Walt Disney Municipal Park. It was home to Midget Autopia. If you're curious about the Disneyland ride, please visit Yesterland.. it has loads of info, including the fact that Walt and Roy donated this ride to Marceline when it closed at Disneyland. All that's left of it now is the neglected track at the park and a single car at the Hometown Museum. Chris walked the entire track...

From there we headed to Walt's dreaming tree and barn, and the house he lived in.

I'll start with the dreaming tree... The poor tree is not in such good shape these days. It was diseased, and hit by lightning. I wanted to sit under it, but just standing under the ground was so soft and spongy - it was a very weird sensation!

They have planted a sapling of the dreaming tree, called son of dreaming tree.

Just past the trees is the replica of Walt's barn.

I didn't get any good shots of the inside, which is covered in names of visitors. Unfortunately, we didn't have a pen, so we were unable to add ours. I'm okay with that, though, as our son opted to spend the day with his grandparents that day. Next time he'll come with us and we'll all get to sign. :) Here's some lovely views from the barn..

On our way back to Leavenworth, we saw a sign for a covered bridge. We decided to check it out since it wasn't far off the highway. But... it did involve a few turns, a few gravel roads, and a hike through an area that had flooded not long before we got there. The bridge was pretty cool, but it was in the middle of nowhere and sits over nothing since the creek moved decades ago.

And that was the end of our fun for a bit. We got back to find out our son had a fever of 102 and had not really been well all day. I felt like the worse mom ever - leaving to gallivanting around the countryside when I should have been with him. But other than a cough that we thought was allergies, he showed no indication of being ill. More on that tomorrow...

If you want to see more of my vacation pictures, please go to my Flickr. :)

Fun in Emporia

2010-07-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

One day on our vacation we went to Emporia, Kansas. It's a halfway point for us to meet up with relatives that we probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. It was a fun afternoon, even though Colin was coughing periodically through the day. We attributed it to allergies.... but more on that later.

Emporia has a small zoo - the David Traylor Zoo. It was nice walking around, and fairly shady, which was good since it was a very hot day.

After the zoo, we went to Peter Pan Park. This was such a lovely park - and huge! it had several playground areas, a lake, and lots of beautiful trees! I just had to take lots of photos!

That's all I have for today... Tomorrow I'll tell you all about Marceline, MO - Walt Disney's hometown! :)

It's my Etsy-versary!!!

2010-07-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

And that means a giveaway! :)

I've been on Etsy for 3 years now... and while it has not done what I intended it to do (to help pay household bills while being a stay at home mom), I have made lots of good friends through my teams. Sometimes that is more valuable than having lots of sales - not that I wouldn't mind my sales going up just a bit... ;)

I am giving away this necklace:

It has a lovely summery feel to it, with shades of blue and turquoise. You can find out more info here. To enter, just pop over to my shop and pick your favorite item. Come back here and leave a comment, with a way I can reach you if you are the winner. Winners will be chosen Monday, July 19th. For additional entries, you can tweet about this giveaway on Twitter or like me on Facebook. Good Luck!

I've also just come back from our vacation. Every year we take our son back to Nebraska and Kansas to see his grandparents. I'll be sharing the trip with you little by little over the next week or so. This trip wasn't the ideal trip, but we did manage to have a little fun. I guess we should have known it wasn't going to be a wonderful vacation when we had to take a commuter plane from Denver to Kansas City... Who knew people didn't want to fly to KC from Denver?

We took Colin to the T-Rex Cafe in Kansas City, KS. They have a Build-A-Dino there, and Colin got a new dino thanks to Grandma and Grandpa. He got one a few years ago that he named Rocky, and he wanted Rocky to have a friend. When it came time to name his new dino, he named it Rocky! Here's Colin giving the new Rocky a bath...

That's all for now... Tomorrow I'll tell you about our trip to Emporia, KS! :)

Total chaos...

2010-06-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

As the 5 days winds down, the kids are getting harder to control. We've had a few time outs today, 3 injuries, lots of tears, a marked increase in whining and the noise level is deafening...

and the wii has been banned since lunchtime...

But we did get the kids to help clean up, so the house looks fairly presentable. They also assisted in decorating the cake and making a sign for their parents - who should be here in about 45 minutes...

Colin will miss all the room here as we head back to our cramped apartment, but he is losing his patience and wants some quiet time. Friday one of the teachers at school asked him how he liked having brothers and sister - he said "uh huh". We asked him that again yesterday - got the same response... ;)

So how much toilet paper can fit in a toilet?

2010-06-12T19:16:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately, we found out the answer today as the "it wasn't me" phrase went around... I'm guessing it was almost a full roll. (a big thank you needs to go out to my hubby for dealing with the toilet... love you, sweetie!)

Tomorrow is the last day with 4 kids. I'm holding up pretty well.. the nap I had this afternoon helped immensely - at least until the toilet fiasco... ;)

Kids were everywhere today - mine was at a social function with his dad til early afternoon. One of the boys went to his baseball closing ceremony, and the girl went and played with neighbors. I'm in trouble with the remaining boy, as I banned all computer games for the rest of the day. He spent a good portion of the morning playing so it was time to quit.

Tomorrow we are baking a cake and decorating it, as well as making a welcome home banner. I hope my friend doesn't cry - but I'm thinking she probably will... :)

So.Very.Tired.

2010-06-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's Friday afternoon...

I haven't posted since yesterday morning.

I have decided the most exhausting things are getting 4 kids to bed on time and getting them up, fed and dressed for school at the same time.

Funny thing is it seems the whole school knows what I'm up to this week... so many have come up to me to tell me I'm very brave or a saint for doing this. I like to look at it as giving my friend a break so she can have a few days of fun with her hubby.

The kids have all been pretty well behaved. Mine is suffering the most, as he's an only child and it's quite a shock to go to having siblings overnight.. He gets a new DS game on Sunday.

This weekend should be a lot easier.. no set times for bedtime, and sleeping in will be encouraged! ;) Tonight we're heading over to school to a cub scout info meeting, and afterwards we're taking them all out for dessert. My hubby and son will be at a party tomorrow morning, then one of the triplets has a party in the afternoon.

Kudos to all the multiple moms out there, as well as those with more than one.. :)

It's not so bad!

2010-06-10T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first night as a mom to 4... It really wasn't bad at all! I was a bit more tired than usual when I went to bed, but other than that all the kids got along and meal time went smoothly.

I was a bit surprised that mine went to sleep first, and he was up first this morning! 3 of the 4 are up; 2 of 4 have eaten breakfast; 1 of 4 are dressed... not a bad start with an hour left before we leave for school!

Tonight for dinner I'm having the kids make their own pizzas... should be fun! Stay tuned for Day 2 of adventures...

UPDATE: 4 of 4 up; 3 of 4 have eaten; 2 of 4 dressed.. half an hour left... :)

Instruction Day...

2010-06-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well, we went over to get instructions for our 5 day journey into being parents to four... The kids played very well together, so that bodes very well for the coming week! Considering that Colin and Ben were butting heads just a few weeks ago, it seems like a miracle that they are friends now!

I am, however, now concerned that my son - an only child - will have some meltdowns. He's so used to having my full attention, as well as alone time... I'm starting to think this will be hard for him. He may surprise me though. We will see...

On the bright side, he's very tired after several hours of non-stop play. :)

Yay! A new post!

2010-06-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted here! So much seems to be going on lately with the end of school and fun extracurricular activities..

We had a lovely Memorial Day with friends at the beach, ending with a bonfire and s'mores.

Next week I will make a point to write about my experiences as a mom to four. Yep, I'm going from one kid to four overnight! We're watching 7 year old triplets while their parents are out of town. I think the biggest challenges will be getting them all up for school on time and having some down time for my son. As an only child, this will definitely be an eye opener for him on what it's like to have brothers and sisters. Wish me luck, and I'll see you next week! :)

A Night in Hollywood..

2010-04-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Last night my friend Dawn and I went to see Devo at the Jimmy Kimmel show. They rock!

Earlier in the day I was so worried because it had been raining all afternoon, and it was an outdoor show. But it quit raining and the clouds went away and it was a great night!

We got to Hollywood & Highland to find out there was a movie premiere at Grauman's Chinese, and parking was difficult, but we finally found a spot! We headed across the street and got in line. Once we got on the lot, they had the studio portion of the show playing on screens so we could watch it. It wasn't too exciting, but it did make the time go by quicker.

Then it was time for Devo! They came out and played their newest and a few others, and then it was over. But I was still very excited to see them as I had never seen them live before.

On our way back to the car, we saw something that just cracked us up. It was Colonel Sanders - you know, the KFC guy - and Jesus. Walking together. What we couldn't figure out is why these guys chose to dress up like them! We tried so hard to get a good picture using our cell phones, but they all ended up blurry. We even stalked them a bit trying to get pictures! If you're ever in Hollywood with a camera and see these two together again, could you please send me a picture? :)

Stretchy!

2010-04-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a new line of stretchy chainmaille bracelets! These bracelets are so lightweight, as they are made with silicone and aluminum rings. The best thing about them is the fact you can just slip them on and not have to worry about any clasps! I have two new designs, diamond and daisy. Where my other stretchy chainmaille bracelets are simple, these have more texture and shape to them. Some should be in my shop hopefully by the end of the month, and will come in yellow, blue, purple and rust. I'm open to any other color suggestions.. if you have one, please leave a comment!

A Thank You...

2010-04-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

There are times when, at 43 years of age, I feel older than dirt. Having an active 6 year old boy doesn't help matters any - sometimes I think he steals all my energy! We have Disneyland annual passes, and last year made a great discovery - The 80'z All Stars - an 80's cover band that plays at Tomorrowland Terrace!

I was a teen and young adult in the 80's - I graduated high school in 1985. I grew up in a college town, and had access to a lot of great live music. I was friends with many bands, and as I grew into adulthood I would spend almost every single night of the week out at bars and clubs to support them, especially during weeknights. I kinda kept up this behavior pretty much til I got married in the mid-90's.. then I think I became dull, LOL!

But now once or twice a month I can go to Disneyland, sometimes with my family, sometimes for a mom's night out, and relive some of the terrific music courtesy of the 80'z All Stars!

My son idolizes them.. he plays air guitar and drums at home, and will copy some of their moves. And the best thing is - he loves the 80's music! He's always after me to listen to my iPod! But I digress...

Last month he got to meet the band members. He was so thrilled! They were all so great with him! When I went to see them last night with a couple of other moms, he begged to go..

I think he's counting down the days just like his mom til the next show.. Thank you, Nigel, Devo 2.0, Jamie Star and the Karate Kid for some great times! :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to randomizer.org, we have a winner for my giveaway!
Set #1:
2, 6, 9, 3, 11, 8, 4, 1, 10, 5, 7, 12 And the winner is.... Susan! Congrats! I'll get these in the mail tomorrow!

Lots of good things going on around here.. I've launched my 6 year old son's Etsy shop - scooterbank. He's going to get a very big ego with all the nice things people are saying about his photography! I have some of his art to put in his shop too - but I need to scan them first. He's also starting an art class after school today - they will be learning about Picasso. How fun!

I get to spend most of my day slaving away in the kitchen. Last night I made some Irish cream brownies, today I need to make soda bread and Irish stew. Luckily I didn't have to look like a lush buying Guinness for the stew at 9 this morning - they had a single pint available.. ;)

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've been going crazy with all our clutter. This past weekend we canceled all plans and went through mainly my son's stuff. Of course, as a 6 year old, he's the main culprit of clutter in the house, with dear old mom coming in a close second! ;) I've got a couple bags of toys ready to donate, and a big bag of clothes for a yard sale! Luckily one of my friends is having one this weekend, so I need to tag them for the sale. Of course, I also have a craft show on Sunday, so I'm not getting much sleep trying to get all of it ready.. by the way, know anyone in the LA area that needs a portable massage table? I have one available... :)

Day of Action

2010-03-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

Today all across California, students, parents, and teachers are having a Day of Action. Many events have been scheduled across the state to bring awareness to the fact that public education is getting the shaft. And that means our kids are too.

My son is in kindergarten at Riviera Elementary in Torrance. This morning we held a protest in front of the school. I was very disappointed not to see any press there whatsoever. As far as I know, most of the protests will be at the high school and college levels, so I would think a grade school participating is kinda interesting. But anyway..

My son and I made shirts to wear today. When we got to school at 8:30, stickers were handed out that said "We are Blue About Cuts to Education! We love our Riviera Staff!"

Many of the kids had made signs, and were shouting "Don't do budget cuts - Save our teachers". Cars would honk as they drove by as well.

The teachers, staff and parents stood in a long line in front of the school. I didn't get a very good picture, because I didn't want to leave the line. At 8:59, as the teachers went in to their classes, they got a big round of applause from the parents.

One thing was very clear today talking with other parents. We are all very angry. We simply cannot ignore such major changes that affect the future of our children. California is now #50 in student spending. Class sizes are going up, the school year will be shortened. None of this is acceptable. The state must not cut education! It is too important to all of our futures, as these kids will be the ones taking care of us in our old age.

Think on that for a while.

New Year's Resolution... and a Giveaway!

2010-03-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

My resolution for the new year was to start blogging on a regular basis. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.. :)

Life has been busier than I thought with my son in kindergarten. I volunteer at school at least once a week, sometimes more. Tomorrow we will be involved in a Day of Action - a day for protests against proposed education cuts by the state of California. I'll hopefully get some pictures and post them tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have added a third shop - scooterbank. This is my son's shop. It's still in the beginning stages, but we hope to get some great art in there soon.. 50% of his sales will go to the PTA to help out schools.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know I did mainly beaded jewelry in the past. I am now focusing on chainmaille and wire wrapped jewelry. Both are very fun to do!

So now for the giveaway.. to celebrate my return to blogland, I will be giving away a lovely pair of purple wire wrapped earrings! To enter, to go my shop and tell me what your favorite item is. For a second entry, retweet the giveaway on Twitter. For a third entry, become a fan on Facebook! Be sure to let me know you've tweeted or become a fan in the comments. The drawing will be held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. What could be luckier?

Our Summer Vacation, Part 1

2009-07-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

This year we didn't do a fun-filled road trip, partially driving Route 66 to our destination... instead, we flew. It was a smooth flight, and other than worrying about the poundage of our single checked bag, all was well...

The next day we headed to see my parents in Nebraska. It was kinda hot, so we got a slip-n-slide and played in the water.

The following day was cooler, and we went crazy with activities! We did the Lincoln Children's Museum in the morning, and Simmons' Wildlife Safari in the afternoon.

The rest of the week we just relaxed and focused on fireworks and s'mores...

Well, that's week one! Stay tuned to read about our more eventful (and stressful) week two... oh, and more pics can be seen on my Flickr.

How cute is this?

2009-06-18T21:40:00.001-07:00

Colin in his gi, ready for karate!

Summer Gift Guide and Giveaway!

2009-06-16T09:32:00.001-07:00

The summer edition of the Handmade in California Gift Guide has launched! Check it out - it's full of beautiful items!

And it's giveaway time... every week look for something new! All you need to do is sign up for the mailing list and you're entered. Only a few emails a year are sent, and the list will never be sold or shared with anyone!

Ups and Downs, Part 2

2009-06-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

In a previous post, I talked about how life has ups and downs.

Well, this week has been a very emotional one. A greatly respected artist on Etsy, Slavko, suddenly passed away this week. For those of you who are not familiar with him, he was always very supportive to fellow Etsians either through his beautiful treasuries or with suggestions and kind words in the forums and convos. I am lucky enough to have several pieces of his artwork that I will cherish. I would probably no longer be selling on Etsy if it hadn't been for his support. Slavko will be greatly missed. To read his tribute, please click here.

On a happier note, my beaded apple has been noticed by Etsy admin and included in the gift guide for teachers! I am very excited about this! Thanks, Slavko, for your encouragement!

We've had a busy week!

2009-05-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

So much going on this past week - I think I'm so tired I could sleep like this guy...

Last Saturday we stood in line for over 3 hours to see Disney's Christmas Carol Train. It wasn't too bad, really. And Colin just loved it! You can see more pictures here.

The next day our plans changed at the last minute, so we headed to Travel Town in Griffith Park to ride the trains and have a picnic. We also rode the other train at Griffith Park, over by the pony rides. Colin also tried out a simulator ride and loved it, so we plotted when we could get him on Star Tours at Disneyland..

And this week was also Colin's last day in preschool. I guess he's officially a kindergartner now.. My baby is growing up! His class went to Wilson Park here in Torrance, for a train ride and playtime.

Yesterday was a very big day for my husband - he received a Civilian Career Service Award from the City of LA. Colin did well through the two ceremonies, even though he was bored silly.

Afterward we headed to Disneyland, where we met up with friends for a few hours of fun. And Colin did indeed ride Star Tours for the first time!

Add to that swim lessons, doctor appointments and physical therapy... am I glad this week is over! I now have a little less than a month to get the house cleaned and get packed for our trip to visit our parents.

But for today, I think we will simply hang out at home. :)

Ups and Downs

2009-05-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Life certainly has it's ups and downs. Right now seems to be a very down time for my family.

I am a SAHM. We have made many sacrifices so that I could be here for my child. And with my husband's work, I have not even been able to get a part time job, as we never know what time he will be off work and home. I don't work full time, as my salary would simply go straight to child care and not help out at all.

But now it seems things will be getting very bad financially. My husband's employer, due to stupid spending practices, have decided on mandatory furlough days. 26 of them. That amounts to our food and gas budget every two weeks.

This will also hurt Red Bess Bonney Creations too. I will not be able to afford new materials or craft show fees. Lucky for everyone else, I guess, as I will be selling most of my supplies in my destash shop. Keep watching for new items to appear.

Sorry this post is such a downer, but I am very upset and I don't have anyone to talk to.

Everything is just beachy...

2009-05-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely day yesterday - we went to Bolsa Chica State Beach! When we left home, it was hot and sunny. Then we got to the beach - chilly and foggy! We didn't even bring jackets, but we had fun anyway!

Colin played in the sand and went for a walk by (and in) the ocean with Daddy. We started our bonfire and some friends joined us. We cooked hot dogs and had s'mores. The kids all had a really good time, and we adults had a very relaxing
evening.

Hope you all have a good week leading up to the long weekend!

Chainmaille - not just for knights!

2009-05-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have been playing around with chainmaille for a while, and I have finally listed my first piece! I know there are some of you out there who hear chainmaille and think of medieval knights.. It is such a versatile craft that you can make just about anything - I'm choosing jewelry for now. Watch my shop closely over the next month for new items!

Be the First!

2009-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

I will be at my first show of the year this Saturday! If you are in the LA area, please stop by to say hello! If you do, you will be the first to see my new line of chainmaille jewelry! Included in the new items are bracelets, earrings, pendants, stretchy cuffs and a necklace. I am very excited about the new line! (so excited, in fact, that last night when I was having issues seeing the little rings to weave them into maille, I realized my contacts were in the wrong eyes!)

Update on my knee: I finally had an MRI this past week, and will find out results tomorrow. I'm hoping it will be something that can be fixed without surgery. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for a good outcome! UPDATED 4/30: No surgery! I will be going to physical therapy instead! :)

Update on my favorite little guy: My son went to Kindergarten Roundup this week. My baby is growing up! He seemed very happy - not sure he'll be so happy at this time next year when he's learning the basics of geometry, algebra and statistics... We definitely did not do anything like that when I went to kindergarten! It's a bit intimidating. On another note, we now have 5 butterflies! Colin has been waiting rather impatiently for his caterpillars to turn into butterflies. We'll take them to preschool Friday, and perhaps release them with his whole class.

Once this show is over I'll be posting a bit more regularly, and I will be starting artist features once a week. If you would like to be featured, please let me know!

So sorry...

2009-03-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

that I haven't blogged in ages! I've been dealing with that pesky thing called life. I've been fighting some knee issues. I am a pretty active person, and this knee thing has really got me down. The doctor feels there is some progress, but as I hobble around, sometimes on crutches, I'm not really seeing it. He has me starting on some physical therapy exercises to see what that does.

Anyway, sorry for being so depressing! In other news, voting will start April 1 in the CCCOE Spring Fling March challenge - I'll post more info when available. The scarf in the picture is my entry.

And have you checked out the Handmade in California Gift Guide? There is a weekly giveaway, artist spotlight, and it's full of gift ideas - and Mother's Day is just around the corner...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-13T13:04:00.001-08:00

Wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day!

It's also my 11th wedding anniversary tomorrow! We are spending the day at Disneyland, then have dinner reservations at my favorite Downtown Disney restaurant, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.

The rest of the three day weekend is busy as well, with the scrapbook expo on Sunday and a birthday party on Monday.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you next week!

mmmm.... Cake!

2009-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm honored that Sue of SignatureSterling passed on this wonderful Marie Antoinette blog award to me! From her blog "our dear Marie did more than wave a cake fork around and perhaps that is the mystery behind this intriguing award. What I take away from all this is, if you are a special woman ~ strong, out-spoken, and willing to stand up and be heard for what you believe in ~ you may see Marie gracing your blog sometime soon."

Now for the rules of this award. The rules are as follows...
1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them. And that's it!

So, I am giving this award to the following:
1. Tiffany of Bam Designs
2. Tara of Combustion Glassworks
3. Angela of Lave-me! Soap Co
4. Carol of Quirky'nBerkeley
5. Marilyn of Cigarboxbeads
6. Kecia of Lemoncholy's flight of fancy
7. Michelle of Faerie Dust Dreams

I'm off to eat my piece of cake now! :)

Handmade in California Spring Gift Guide!

2009-02-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

Looking for some great handmade items? Check out the 2009 Handmade in California Gift Guide! The spring version has a couple changes from the winter version... There is an artisan spotlight, where you can learn a little more about the people who create the incredible items you will find on the guide. There is also a chatterbox feature with news and shop specials. The popular weekly giveaways will be starting soon as well... check it out here!

CPSIA-Get Informed-Get Involved

2009-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react....

You can find the Etsy CPSIA Action Kit here. It has all the contact information you need, plus sample letters. The action kit focuses more on the handmade aspect, but this law definitely reaches into all items for children under 12.

A lovely Sunday..

2009-01-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a beautiful day in Southern California, just a little windy. We decided to head down to Long Beach where the Queen Mary had free admission for SoCal residents. We managed hit most parts of the ship, except the engine room - my son was getting very tired. Took a few pictures - enjoy!

Chris and Colin standing by the middle smokestack.

Colin on the bridge.

Hard to get a good picture here... was trying to show one of the hotel hallways - the hallway dips down in the middle then goes up on either end.

A beautiful art deco clock in the Queen Mary art gallery. The gallery has items that have been removed from the ship during remodeling.

Super Soft!!

2009-01-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

Check out my newest listing! It's a scarf that is so very soft... I wish you could touch it! I just want to cuddle up in bed with it!

Welcome to CPSIA hell...

2009-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Many shops on Etsy and other online venues will be closing shop soon unless the new CPSIA law is amended. Perhaps you don't shop there, that's okay, this law still affects you too. I'm keeping this short and to the point. Feel free to skip to any portion that directly concerns you. You're bound to find at least one.

Here is a recent article from Forbes…
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. But hey, there's always tv right?
Article from the ALA… http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1573

To the Secondhand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for those brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Parents of young students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one of a kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one of a kind items virtually impossible.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase.
“Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to the new law, it's been nice knowing you and supporting your dream. We'd like to take it back now. Perhaps Corporate America will give you a job, oh wait.... Best Wishes, Your Government.

To the American Economy:
Due to this new law, you will be sinking to new lows as only idiots, like Bobby Rush and Henry Waxman, have established.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. They will now know exactly what it's like to be an American. Duped and broke.

"The New Law"
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? Do they know? Perhaps they should. It affects them too.

A big thanks to Winklepots for allowing me to post this. She is one of the shops that will have to close next month. Please pass this on, either on your own blog, or in an e-mail. Maybe if enough of us make noise, we will be heard in DC!

A Magical Birthday...

2009-01-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

Well, my little one is now 5. We had a wonderful birthday celebration for him! He wanted to stay in a hotel, and since we were heading to Disneyland on his birthday, we started checking out hotels around Anaheim. We chose Disneyland Hotel.

When we checked in, we were informed that the hotel picks one family a day to be The Magic Family - and that we had been chosen! We got an upgrade from a standard room to a suite, a certificate and a balloon bouquet.

The rooms were wonderful! Our room was classic Disney decor, while Colin's room was full of Mickey Mouse! We had a very hard time checking out... wish we could have done at least one more night - especially after a long day at Disneyland!

5 years already???

2009-01-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

Monday is my son's 5th birthday. People who told me when he was a baby that time would go quickly weren't kidding! It's a lot of fun, though, to watch him become more creative, smart, inquisitive and independent! Luckily he still loves to cuddle with mommy!

Although we're not having a full on party this year, we are having a little get together with friends tomorrow at the Disneyland Hotel, then Monday we'll celebrate at Disneyland. What a spoiled kid! :)

Happy Birthday, Colin!

New Year's Resolution...

2009-01-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

To actually see one of my items on the front page of Etsy!!! Yes, it happened again... third time on the front page, third time I missed it!!! Crazy!

I'm Exposed!!!

2009-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks to VickiDianeDesigns! She is such a force on Etsy... If you haven't seen her treasuries, you are really missing out! She has artists put photos of themselves in listings so we can see who is behind all the beautiful items on Etsy. For the next couple of days, I get the honor of being featured with my teammates from CCCOE! Thank you, Miss Vicki! xoxo

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-01T09:21:00.001-08:00

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful 2009!!!

We had a lovely New Year's Eve with friends, and today we headed to Pasadena to view the Rose Parade floats. Absolutely gorgeous - we're already making plans to do it again next year!

I have lots of new plans for Red Bess Bonney Creations... including my own web site, with help from a couple of friends... :) Stay tuned!!

Excitement!!!

2008-12-30T17:51:00.001-08:00

By the time you read this, it will be gone, but I have a treasury on the Front Page of Etsy!!! Woot!!

A Very Nice Christmas Gift

2008-12-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

HeyMichelle, Etsy admin, started a thread the other day about posting treasuries that she would put on the front page over Christmas. I posted what I had in my poster sketch, hoping what I created would get to the front page. Guess what - it did! Yesterday morning this was up for a while -

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

2008-12-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

I mostly made all the gifts this year, so avoided the rush at the mall! (thank goodness!) And I finally finished my baking today. (now Santa will have cookies to go with his milk!)

I didn't get as much done as I had planned though, so I'm bummed about that. Christmas just sneaked up on me this year.

Tonight we will be going to early Christmas eve service at church, then home for a yummy beef stew. Tomorrow it will be just me, my husband and son hanging out, as all our relatives are far away. Looking at the gifts under the tree, we may have to get a storage unit to house all the toys! :) And sometime we will be driving around to look at all the lights!

I hope you all have a very merry holiday season!

Missed it AGAIN!!

2008-12-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

Second time on the front page of Etsy, and I missed it again! Why? It was on at 2 AM PST!!! Brenda of phydeaux got a screen shot for me, though! Thanks, Brenda! :)

Last minute shopping ideas...

2008-12-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, Christmas is Thursday!!!

It really snuck up on me this year. Shopping is done, and gifts are wrapped, now I have to concentrate on baking!

For those of you who haven't completed your shopping yet, this weekend I am having a buy one, get one (or more) half off sale! Visit RedBessBonney.etsy.com for details. I am willing to upgrade to priority mail, or if you live near me, I can arrange for pick up or delivery.

Another option for terrific handmade items is the Handmade in California gift guide. Many of the shops listed will also work with you to ensure items are received before the big day.

Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday To Me....

2008-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

and congrats to the winner of my birthday giveaway, Hyla of MyFairyBabies! Hyla gets her choice of a jewelry item from my shop!

My birthday plans had included a special trip to Disneyland, but it's been raining buckets. Sigh. I know I don't have anything to complain about with the more severe weather in other parts of the country. Just an annoyance that I can't play today! :)

The Spreader of Love Award

2008-12-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

I was just given a lovely award by Sue of signaturesterling - "The Spreader of Love" Award ~ a reminder that I'm "loved" and that there are other very special people out there for me to "spread this love" around with! Thank you!

So here are the rules:

(1) Post a copy on your blog

(2) Mention who gave you the award.

(3) Pass the award on to 6 others.

(4) Leave a message on their blog letting them know the honor has been bestowed upon them.

And I would like to pass this on to
Kecia of Lemoncholy's
Tiffany of BAM Designs
Wendy of buttercup
Dawn of Draw and Quartered
Deirdre of Positive Thinking Everyday
Michelle of Faerie Dust Dreams

It's Birthday Giveaway Time!

2008-12-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

Isn't that cake fabulous? It's not edible though - it's made by CrashCanStudio on Etsy!
My 42nd (EEK!) birthday is looming! I want you all to celebrate with me, so I am having a giveaway! From now until December 14, just leave a comment on this post, and I will have my son draw a name on December 15.
The winner will receive a piece of jewelry $25 or under from my shop! I will also send one of my origami frames as well.
Thank you for celebrating with me!

The Fabulous Artistic Moms Holiday Gift Guide Is Here!

2008-12-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of a great team on Etsy - Fabulous Artistic Moms, known as FAM. They have put together a terrific gift guide for the holidays! Please check it out! Each day will feature a new category, and every day brings new specials! Happy Shopping!

ON SALE NOW!!!

2008-11-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Everything at RedBessBonney.etsy.com is 15% off! And everything at RedBessBonneyToo.etsy.com is buy 3 get 1 free! Both sales run through the end of the year! Shop now for the best selection!

Weekly Giveaway!!!

2008-11-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

I know I've mentioned the 2008 Handmade in California Holiday Gift Guide... well, we now have a weekly giveaway on the guide! Different items will be given away each week, and all you have to do is sign up for the mailing list. We will not plague you with constant e-mails, just a few a year. Check it out! Here is the item for this week, by visionquest...

FRONT PAGE!!!

2008-11-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

I was just on the front page of Etsy, and I missed it because I had to pick up a few things at Target!!!! I do have a screen shot, however...

Ornaments!

2008-11-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are my Victorian-inspired ornaments! The front is the young lady in red, and the back is adorned with either a felt red or white poinsettia. What do you think?

Busy Busy Busy

2008-11-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting my poor little blog! So much going on right now.

I had an extremely successful show a couple of weeks ago - hoping for the same success at a show coming up in a couple of weeks... I'll have details on that soon.

Money is tight, so I am making everything this year for Christmas gifts. I'd love to say what I'm making, but some of you readers are on my list... :)

I'm doing a secret Christmas swap with one of my Etsy teams - it's been great fun, but very difficult to keep secrets! I'll put pictures up of what I made after she receives it...

I'm also doing an ornament swap with another Etsy team. I have one more step, then they will be ready to photograph. I'm doing a pseudo Victorian kind of thing. I'm anxious to see what you think of them!

I'm also expanding my web presence, in hopes my sales will increase. You all know about my two Etsy shops, RedBessBonney and RedBessBonneyToo. I've also made my own website, and have opened shops on Big Cartel, 1000 Markets and Art Fire. I'm also wasting way too much time on Twitter!

And getting ready for turkey day. Got my turkey today - an 18 pounder! I plan on having lots of leftovers! No big plans, just me, hubby and son at home. I won't go shopping on Black Friday, unless Michael's has something I really want on sale. We are tossing around the idea of either Sea World or heading up to Big Bear that day. And we have to take Colin for his annual train ride to Santa!

Keep watching for my birthday giveaway... starting December 1 I will post a giveaway here - the drawing will be December 15, my 42nd birthday. (damn I'm getting old)

Well, I've rambled on enough for tonight. I'll be back soon with pics!

Come Visit Me Sunday!

2008-11-06T09:20:00.001-08:00

you're invited to...
PATCHWORK
the premier indie arts & crafts festival in the oc

SHOP: over 80 local vendors featuring handmade goods for you, your family & your home including... amazing clothing for men, women & kids, letterpress stationary, jewelry, rock'n'roll belt buckles, edgy dolls, artsy purses, green & sustainable goods, aprons, refashioned vintage clothing, art & so much more...

EAT & DRINK: memphis, the gypsy den and the crosby serving up barbeque, veggie delights and libations

LISTEN: evocal, kuci and crew dj and dish out live music

GET: harvey's - the original seatbelt bag - will be making purses & buttons on site just for you!

CHECK OUT THE MAP: it's right off the 5 and it's a sunday so if you're headed down from los angeles (only 30 miles!) or up from san diego there shouldn't be any traffic!!!! if you're coming in from out of town it'll be a fun all day event and there's lot's to do around the area... including bowers museum, the beach, the discovery science center, the best antique stores in downtown orange, art galleries bars & restaurants in downtown santa ana... so you can make a day of it!

SEE YOU THERE!!!
help spread the word and forward this email to your pals!

PATCHWORK SHOW
www.patchworkshow.com
2202 1/2 north main street
santa ana, ca 92706
714.836.8727
nov 9th - 11-5pm

VOTE!!

2008-11-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

If you want to practice voting before Tuesday, head over to this forum thread on Etsy. The CCCOE is having their monthly challenge contest again, with the theme of "Give Thanks". If you have an Etsy shop, you will be featured in a treasury just for voting. All who vote are eligible for discounts in some of the CCCOE shops.

Thanks for voting for your favorite item in the thread, and don't forget to vote on Tuesday!!!

CCCOE presents The 2008 Holiday Gift Guide!

2008-10-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

I belong to the street team on Etsy, the California Crafters Club of Etsy, or CCCOE. I am a member of the PR committee, and we created an awesome Gift Guide for the holidays! Check it out!

Nightmare Before Christmas Fun

2008-10-24T12:47:00.001-07:00

Announcement!

2008-10-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

I have created a website for Red Bess Bonney Creations! It's still in progress, but let me know what you think!

SAVE THE DATE!

2008-10-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

I will be there, sharing a booth with Yolanda from Yolanda's Clay. Stop by to say hello!

Busy Weekend

2008-10-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

This has been quite the weekend so far. First off, I listed my CCCOE October challenge entry...

Yesterday we went to the Seaside Highland Games. It was a lot of fun, but extremely windy.

Colin had a great time doing the stone throw and caber toss!

This morning we got woken up by a phone call from Chris' work that there was a fire in the valley. He got ready and went off to work, to help get animals evacuated. Colin and I will be attending a first birthday party for a friend this afternoon.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Time to Vote!

2008-10-01T17:21:00.001-07:00

Nope, not the election, but for your favorite interpretation of Fall Traditions by the CCCOE (California Crafters Club of Etsy)! I did not get my challenge piece finished in time, but there are some really awesome pieces! Go here to vote, and you can see all the entries here. All you need is a free Etsy account to vote, and if you have a shop, your vote = a treasury spot. Also, voting will give you discounts in many of the CCCOE shops, including mine. So go vote! Now! :)

Come See Me!

2008-10-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Experiment

2008-09-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

I have begun to experiment with other e-commerce sites. I created a new shop on bigcartel.com. I have a couple other sites I will be trying out as well, and will announce those when I'm ready!

I WON!!!

2008-09-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

Every month the CCCOE - California Crafters Club of Etsy - has a team challenge. Based on the theme, members create wonderful items and submit them for voting. Voting is done by the Etsy community.

August's theme was Back To School. I decided to bead an apple - and I won! I must give a shout out to Ann for helping me procure beads to finish the project, as I had cleaned out my local stores!

This month's theme is Fall Traditions - Halloween included. I will post here when voting happens, so you can vote for your favorite too!

I will be finally starting my virtual road trip series this week - so check back here soon!

A Trip to the ER...

2008-08-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally had our first visit to the ER with Colin last night. Here's the story...

Daddy came home and Colin was not listening when Daddy said not to do something, so he put him on his bed for a time out and shut the door. I was making dinner, and the reason for the door being shut was to protect me from flying toys being thrown by Colin. Not a minute later, we heard a thud and a scream... He fell out of his bunk bed onto his head...

We got an ice pack on it right away, and called the doctor. They asked some questions about it, and told us he needed to be seen right away.

We got to the ER, where Colin screamed bloody murder while his temp and blood pressure were being taken. We then walked through the main ER, full of people very bad off. After a wait, of course, the doctor came in to see us.

By then, Colin was chatty and more like normal. (On the way to the ER he was quiet, kept trying to go to sleep, and his pupils weren't doing normal things.) After checking his pupil reactions and having Colin perform tasks such as touching his nose, we were released with no further treatment.

We were exhausted by the time we got home. And now I'm back to getting ready for our trip! What a week for this to happen!

And the final winner is....

2008-08-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

YummyMummy! Congratulations!

Thanks again to everyone who played along this summer! Keep visiting for a virtual roadtrip coming up next week...

Blog Feature!

2008-08-15T07:51:00.001-07:00

One of my CCCOE teammates, Shell, has featured my apple in her blog today! Please check out her wonderful shop on Etsy as well!

Giveaway Extravaganza, FINAL WEEK!

2008-08-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone for playing along this summer!

Want to see what you can win this week?

This week I'm giving away a necklace/earring set - Eire.

Just visit my shops, RedBessBonney and RedBessBonneyToo, and then leave a comment about them on this post.

Thanks again for playing!

Winner Announcement, Week 5

2008-08-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

drum roll please....

Beth is this weeks winner! Congrats!

Giveaway Extravaganza, Week 5!

2008-08-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, week 5 already! Only one more giveaway after this...

This week's giveaway is a pretty little bracelet, Sophistication. If you like pearls, this is definitely a bracelet for you!

Just check out either of my shops, RedBessBonney or RedBessBonneyToo and leave a comment.

(if by chance the bracelet sells, another item will be substituted.)

Thanks for playing!

This week's winner...

2008-08-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

is stampinc! Congrats! I'll e-mail you for your address.

Just Listed!

2008-07-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Every month the CCCOE has a challenge. August's theme is Back To School. This is my entry - I finished it last night. What do you think?

Giveaway Extravaganza, Week 4!

2008-07-27T07:50:00.001-07:00

Three weeks down, three weeks to go! This week's prize is a pair of earrings....

Spring Fling!

Just leave a comment about either of my shops, RedBessBonney or RedBessBonneyToo, and my 4 year old will draw the lucky winner next Sunday!

Thanks for playing!

And this week's winner is....

2008-07-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

drum roll please....

rubyclover!

Congrats! :D

Giveaway Extravaganza, Week 3!

2008-07-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, week 3 already! This week you'll be playing for a lovely little bracelet I call Celtic Pearls.

Just check out either of my shops, RedBessBonney or RedBessBonneyToo and leave a comment.

(if by chance the bracelet sells, another item will be substituted.)

Thanks for playing!

Winner Announcement, Week 2

2008-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

This week's prize goes to Michelle P! Congrats, Michelle! Please contact me with your address!

Christmas In July Challenge

2008-07-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

This month's CCCOE challenge theme was Christmas in July. Voting is now open! To view all of the challenge entries, go here. To vote, click here. If you vote and have an Etsy shop, you will automatically be in a treasury! Everyone who votes gets a discount from many participating shops! A great way to start shopping for the holidays! :) Have fun!

Giveaway Extravaganza, Week 2!

2008-07-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Now that we have our winner for week one, time to see what lovely I am giving away this week...

A lovely pair of earrings, Mauve Celt!

Same rules apply... just take a peek at either RedBessBonneyToo.etsy.com or RedBessBonney.etsy.com and make a comment about either shop. The drawing will be done by my 4 year old next Sunday...

(if by some chance this item sells before then, an alternate selection will be made)

Good luck, and thanks for playing! :)

Team Notes...

2008-07-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

I am on some great Etsy street teams... I just wanted to mention a couple of things that we are doing....

CCCOE, or California Crafters Club of Etsy, is now holding a 27 hour sale every Wednesday! Join us in either posting your sale or shopping (or both) on our West Coast Wednesday sale thread! It is started every Tuesday at 9pm PST (that's midnight EST). Hope to see you there!

My newest team, FAM, or Fabulous Artistic Moms, is looking for Etsy recipes for a cookbook! See this post for more info. Deadline for both recipes and ad pages is August 1.

and the winner is...

2008-07-13T08:19:00.001-07:00

Nina of prettycheapjewelry! Congrats Nina!

Giveaway Extravaganza!

2008-07-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

A year ago I heard about Etsy, and decided to set up shop. I started this blog as well...

I want everyone to celebrate with me, so I am doing one giveaway per week through August 17!

That's right - 6 chances to win! The first drawing will be this Sunday on July 13! Just leave a comment about something in either RedBessBonney.etsy.com or RedBessBonneyToo.etsy.com. My son will pick the winning name on Sunday, and I will post next week's item then!

Want to know what you're playing for this week? Shades of Red

(if by some chance this item sells before then, an alternate selection will be made)

Thanks for playing!

It's that time of the month again... :)

2008-07-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Time to vote in the CCCOE Challenge! June's theme was Independence Day. Check out this link to see all the entries! (I'm not thrilled with mine, but I just ran out of time to do my beaded 4th of July mini picnic basket.) To vote, go to the voting thread and post your favorite! Voters receive a discount in many CCCOE shops, and if you have an Etsy shop, you will be featured in a treasury! Happy voting!

From Red Bess Bonney Creations...

2008-06-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

My half off summer sale is still going on! Come visit my Etsy shop to browse over 50 items on sale! And in the coming weeks I will be listing new items in both my shops. Stay tuned for more...

It's summer... shouldn't I be happy?

2008-06-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

WARNING: some venting may lie ahead....

I am so tired of staying at home because of gas prices. I've had to cancel my day off this month, and may have to cancel our plans for the 4th. Just got back from the grocery store, and some items have shot up a lot since the last time I went shopping. And don't even get me started on the recent rent increase.... I wish I could get a part time job, but I have no child care, and I can't do evenings/weekends because of my hubby's schedule.

Sorry for venting about this - I know most everyone is in the same boat.

Unfortunately, I am starting to make myself sick with worrying about where the money will come from to pay for even the most basic items. Well, I've started to cry now, so I better stop writing. Hope everyone is having a better summer than I am!

FIRST ANNUAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER YART SALE ON ETSY!

2008-06-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

FIRST ANNUAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER YART SALE IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS! The sale will run from Wednesday, June 11- Friday, June 20 ~ An Artistic Slant to a traditional Yard Sale. 10 day countdown to the first Day of Summer. Just a few suggestions to all you shoppers. Type "Yart" in the Search area and choose the appropriate category from the NEW Etsy Drop Down Menu - Choose handmade, supplies, vintage or all items to view the specific items you are looking for. You will have so many choices from all the wonderful shops that have chosen to participate in this sale! Click here!

News from Red Bess Bonney Creations!

2008-06-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have opened a new store with my cards and papercraft! Yay! So, here it is... RedBessBonneyToo.etsy.com!

Vote in the CCCOE Wedding Challenge!

2008-06-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

Log into Etsy and vote on this thread for your favorite! If you are a seller on Etsy, you will win a spot in a very hot treasury, plus a discount for everyone just for voting! Go here to see all the entries. Thanks for voting!