Gifts for Her $25.00 and Under

Gifts for Her $25.00 and Under!

Christmas shopping has officially started! With Black Friday behind us and Cyber Monday just around the corner. I have put a little treasury together to feature some wonderful artisans from Etsy.

Looking for that unique gift for Mom, your sister,  girlfriend or even mother-in-law? Etsy is the place to find it.

Here are a few Artisans featured in the Treasury - Gifts Under $25.00:

Cherry Blossom Stud Earrings by Hapa Girls

Chocolate Delight & Sterling Earrings by KSDluxe

                                                                                  

Happy Blossoms Necklace in Chocolate by Allthatweare

To have a look at the other featured Artisans go "Here". 

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Is any one getting ready for Halloween?

Cutest Halloween Inspired Jewelry

Sterling Silver Halloween Boo Pendant

I know that Halloween is about 59 days away but, it's slowly creeping (no pun intended) up on us. I wanted to share the cutest Halloween inspired jewelery - One Of A Kind created by Hapa Girls.

Helix Bat Piercing -Cartilage Earring

Sterling Silver & Copper Pumpkin

Sterling Silver Bat Key with Copper

Sterling Silver Bat Pendant

I'm hoping to start soon on my DIY Halloween projects. I would love to see some finished projects also. My girls have started to think about what to be for Halloween, this year will be interesting :o)

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!

Meatball Night

We had a Meatball Night the other night and had friends over to kick off the school year! It was amazing. I didn't get a picture of the finished garnished meatballs but if you could imagine; Spaghetti noodles with big meatballs sitting on top and sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese, a Cesar Salad, Garlic Bread and dessert of course!

These meatballs were better than Buca and cost alot less also. This was my cheat day, so I'm in the clear with Shaun T. !! :o)                 Ciao!

Has Our Summer Fun Really Ended?

We definitely need a longer summer vacation from school. What happened to those old school days when we had almost three months for summer vacation? Obviously we don't have that anymore. We have been in school for three days now and in California it feels like summer is just beginning! Today we reach a high of 103 degrees - well that's a little too hot! I just wished that school would start in October, which is when we start to cool down a bit and finish school at the end of June, which is when we have our June gloom. Doesn't that make sense.... it does to me :o)

First Day of School

 

 

 

To everyone ~ have a wonderful school year with your children ~ they are growing up too fast!!

Happy Birthday To My Sweet Peanut!

This week we celebrated my sweet daughters birthday! I think it will be a week long celebration, as usual! Today we are going to celebrate it at Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth! Until you're getting pushed and shoved by rude people and all you can do is take a deep breath. But we still have a great time!

She Loves Volleyball

 Happy Birthday my little Peanut! We Love you :o)

Pumpkins and Getting Ready For the Fall

Have you planted your pumpkins? We started our pumpkins in the beginning of July. They are growing a lot of flowers but, no bulbs yet. Every day my daughter goes out to water them and I think they grow an inch every night! It's an amazing plant. We left on vacation for 1 1/2 weeks and look how fast they grew.

July 15th

July 23rd

Big Mac Pumpkins - August 7th

We can't wait to see pumpkins!

Summer Fun

I feel like I have been gone for an eternity! The last month of school for the kids was completely INSANE! Now that the sun is finally here in Southern California, it feels like Summer! We have already taken our Las Vegas trip with the kids last week, because the sun was nowhere to be found this way. I think it had parked itself over Las Vegas and Arizona! We had a blast staying at the Red Rock Casino in Summerlin, Nevada. If you haven't visited The Red Rock Casino Las Vegas, it's a must. It's got everything you need there. There's a bowling alley, a big movie theater, an arcade even a Kids Quest for the kiddos. It's very relaxing and not crowded like the hotels on the Strip. We love it here. My husband and I shall return without the kids which = FUN!

Red Rock Casino Pool

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Summer vacation!

Back from Insanity!

Do You Recognize This Man?

He is the reason I have not been blogging in 9 weeks!!! He is the infamous Shaun T., Fitness Guru of The Beachbody Insanity Program.

I have to say that this program was definitely INSANE!! But, I loved it and every pound that shed off, I love it even more! I started this program because I have been slacking in the workout department. Since March of  2010 my workouts at the gym came to a screeching halt.  We started a kitchen remodel and then I had an injury and of course Summer came. Then came the start of school and volunteering at school, blah blah blah..... I could go on and on!

Finally, in February, my husband and I just about had enough of our weight gain and unhealthy eating habits. With my 20 pounds and his 35 pound weight gain, we decided to try this. Our gym renewal was coming due and instead we decided on the Insanity Program. This is the same company that released P90X. I have tried the P90X and really liked it, but this Insanity Program sounded like a challenge and boy was it!

I would encourage this program even for a beginner. He eases you into these workouts - unlike some of these boot camps out there that just want to destroy you (and that's what usually ends up happening, an injury). I know sometimes we think we don't have time to work out.  But what's 30 minutes and or 45 minutes. We all have the time, we just need to manage it better. Well, on to my next challenge ~ the P90X and Insanity Hybrid Program. This is where they mix the two programs together.

Wish me luck, 10 more pounds to go!

Sunday Special!!

French Toast on a Sunday!

My daughters love French Toast. Has anyone every tried French Toast with Trader Joe's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread? You should try it, at least once. I have always loved using Kings Hawaiian Sweet Bread but this time I thought to give Trader Joe's a chance.

Follow the recipe from Kings Hawaiian Sweet Bread:

4 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. cinnamon (I just put a dash of it in, because the bread has cinnamon in it)

Mix well with a whisk.

I love this double burner pan! I got it for Christmas from my daughters...hmmm, I wonder why they got it for me. Maybe for this reason!

Ready for a Sunday Special? I am. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone :o)

Leaving Las Vegas

Paris Hotel - Las Vegas Strip

This picture was taken on our last night in Las Vegas! We started our day off with a wonderful Hot Stone Massage and relaxed in the dry sauna with cucumbers on our eyes. Then we find out my sister's allergic to cucumbers because her eyes were puffy, red and itchy! What the heck - isn't the cucumbers suppose to take the puffiness away.....(we laughed, and I'm still laughing as I write this :o)~...) and she used half a bottle of Visine!

We had a great dinner at the Belagio Buffet. The food is awesome and the dessert is to die for! Of course we all gorged at the buffet and ate way too much! If you haven't visited the Belagio Hotel, it's a must stop!

I had a great trip with my family and now back to the grind! Till next time Lady Luck - My next trip will definitely be in the Summer time!

40 is the New 30

Happy Birthday Lani

This week I will be celebrating my younger sisters birthday. And yes you've guessed it, she has made it to the Four Zero Club!  Where better to celebrate a birthday other than Las Vegas? So, Las Vegas, here we come!

I sit back and remember the days when we were younger and we would roller skate in the back yard, ride our bikes up and down the driveway, and draw all over our driveway with chalk. Time seems to go by so fast and now we are here at 40! I can still remember my own mothers 40th birthday and then I thought, "Wow, my mom's 40, she's old!"  Well, I was wrong, 40 is the new 30!

I'd like to know ~ did you handle your 40th birthday better than you did your 30th?

Have a great week!

Lucky Vegas Bracelet ~ What's your lucky charm?

Hi Everyone! I have not been blogging in a while and feel like a bad blogger. Anyhow, I have something to Blog about and I have time tonight to do it!


As you can see, I have made a new bracelet. This bracelet is for my sister, Lani, as her birthday is this month. We will be celebrating it in.......Las Vegas! Hence, I have made her a Lucky Vegas Bracelet for her to wear to all of her favorite slot machines and perhaps to the crap table. I personally like to wear my Grandmothers Jade bracelet for luck.

~Lani's Lucky Vegas Bracelet~

I will be selling this style in my shop Urban Corner soon!


I have a question for everyone. What brings you luck? Do you wear jewelry to bring you luck or a specific piece of clothing? This is quirky but, before I go on a run, I must put my left shoe on first. Have a great week everyone - the weekend is almost here! 

Let's Mingle on Monday with "Life of Meg"

Hello Mingle Monday!

For a couple of weeks now I have been blog hopping with "Life of Meg".  I have met some really nice and funny people. I just wanted to give a shout out to Meg! "Hi Meg - thanks for having this Blog Hop!"

Come join us and meet new people and possibly have new followers.

Today's question: What would you do if you got a snow day?

If I had a snow day, I would take my family to the mountains to ski and have hot cocoa. Well, I would have a nice hot cappuccino :o)

Have a great week everyone! Stay warm out there :o)

The Year of the Rabbit

Happy New Year everyone! It's a wrap! While watching The Rose Parade this morning, I was packing away my Christmas decorations. Boy~ does it feel good to have everything in its place again. 

Now it's time to purge, purge, purge for the New Year! I am hoping that I'm not the only person cleaning on New Years day.  Chinese New Year is now approaching us on February 3, 2011.  I have this terrible superstition that my house needs to be clean and uncluttered before  February 3rd or I will not have good luck upon us for the New Year. When does everyone else start their purging? Is it the beginning of the new year or is it in the Spring?

My older daughter is especially excited for this year because she was born under the Year of the Rabbit. This is her 2nd Year of the Rabbit and you've guessed it, she will be twelve this year. The best thing about celebrating Chinese New Year is teaching my girls the importance of culture.

For more information on Chinese New Year click here !