HAPPY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

I want to live my next life backwards.

(ok.. I didn't write this.. it was forwarded to me in an e-mail but I thought it was definitely worth passing along!)

I want to live my next life backwards.
You start out dead and get that out of the way right off the bat.
Then, you wake up in a nursing home feeling better every day.
When you get kicked out of the home for being too healthy, you spend several years enjoying your retirement and collecting benefit checks.
When you start work they give you a gold watch on your very first day.
You work 40 years or so, getting younger every day until pretty soon you're too young to work.
So then you go to college and high school, play sports, date, drink and party.
Then you become a kid, go to elementary school, play and have no responsibilities.
In a few years, you become a baby and everyone runs themselves ragged keeping you happy.
You spend the last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, spa-like conditions: central heating and room service on tap.
Until finally .... you finish off as an orgasm.
I rest my case.

There's still time!

Ok... if anyone out there is anything like me, you probably still have Christmas shopping to do. I'm here to help. Anything ordered from my shop, today, tomorrow, or Thursday (Dec 18, 19 & 20th) I will upgrade the shipping to Priority at no additional charge to you! Priority mail guarantees 2-3 day shipping so you will still receive your items in time for Christmas. So go ahead! Check out my shop and see if there is something for someone on your list!
monaco.etsy.com
original hand-crafted jewelry for your neck, wrists, ears, keys, books and walls!!

Newest Freebies

Who doesn't love getting free stuff?? I've just added more to the list - just scroll down and look to the right column for lots of free stuff - I've tried each and every one of these... no scams... just great free stuff in your mailbox!

Long time no see!

My poor blog has been so neglected! I was without a computer for over two weeks and boy have I been feeling the withdrawal! Finally, I'm back... I can't tell you how good it feels to have a computer again. I'm connected with the world once again! YAY!
So much has been happening with the holidays just around the corner. This Saturday I'll be at a small art show at a fabulous place in Lakewood called Bela Dubby's - it's a coffee shop with BEER! and art! Doesn't get any better than that!
The show will be from 10 a.m. til 7 p.m. - stop in and say hi! Here's the info...
Bela Dubby
13321 Madison Ave.
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-221-4479

Useless information....

ok.. they don't call me the queen of useless information for nothing... here are some odd but interesting facts:

• 40% of McDonald's profits come from Happy Meals.
  
• The "spot" on 7Up comes from it's inventor who had red eyes. He was an albino.
  
• Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.
  
• Celery has negative calories! It takes more calories to consume a stalk of celery than the celery has in it to begin with.
  
• Pearls melt in vinegar.
  
• A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
  
• Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
• Ants always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.
• The average human eats eight spiders in the lifetime at night.
• Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
• Marilyn Monroe had six toes.

New Studio Opening in Cleveland

A friend of mine, Jenn Szalkowski, is opening her own Interactive Art / Glass Studio! YAY!
Fusion Studios, located inside the Lake Erie Artists Gallery in Tower City Center, will host an Open House on Friday, November 30, 2007 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Wine and Appetizers will be served. A Raffle will be held for original Cleveland Artwork, created by local artists! All proceeds will help support Fusion Studios. For more information, call (330) 221-5165.

I've donated a surprise for the raffle and so have these other wonderful artists!

• Paula Atwell http://www.lakeerieartists.com/
  
• Deanne Carroll http://www.dragonstoneglass.com/


• Kerri Frech http://www.frechstudio.etsy.com/


• Designs by Arielle&Pamela arielleandpamela@yahoo.comLutz


• Greenhouse http://www.lutzgreenhouse.com/


• Jesse Mitchell Handknit Treasures


• Kelly O'Toole Scarlett O


• Ramona Pacheco http://www.ramona.etsy.com/
  
• Katherine Robbins http://www.stuffbuykwr.etsy.com/
• Mike & Debbie Szalkowski Szalkowski Vineyards
  
• Jennifer Szalkowski http://www.firetamerglass.etsy.com/
  
• Frances Whited http://www.bebopbeads.etsy.com/


• Yo Mama Beads http://www.yomamabeads.etsy.com/


• Keleigh Zucchero Creative Soap Design

Fusion Studios is home to the personal studios of local glass artists: Jennifer Szalkowski and Kerri Frech. In partnership with the Lake Erie Artists, classes will be offered in a variety of artistic techniques, including:

• Mosaics
• Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
• Stained Glass
• Drawing Fusing & Slumping
• Painting
• Jewelry Design
• Photography

Come check it out over the holiday season!

Monaco Designs in a New Gallery

Hi all! Just thought I'd let you know that kimberlymonacodesigns can now be found at another gallery in Cleveland! I'm excited! Artefino Gallery (originally created by Hector Vega and other local artists) is now carrying my work. Here's the link! Artefino Art Gallery Check it out!

The Law of Abundance

Well tonight is a new moon and I just heard from a fellow Etsian, artgirlx, (who has FABULOUS work by-the-way).... about the Law of Abundance. I've looked it up and the way I understand it is that it's a 2000 year old ancient Chinese tradition to guarantee prosperity - adapted to modern methodology.

Here's what you do.....

• We are to take a blank check.
• Date it with the current date.
• Make the check out to you - using your full legal name.
• Leave the amount box & the amount line blank.
• On the memo line write, "paid in full."
• Sign the check, "Law of Abundance."

Then, keep the check in your purse or wallet at all times. This check will then bring you prosperity.

What the heck?? Can't hurt right? I just made out my check... I'll keep you posted on what happens... :)

FOOD FACTS More Useless Information

Ok.. so now you're beginning to see that I'm the queen (or at least the princess) of totally useless information... but I find it so interesting!!
It seems that everyone I talk to (ok.. I don't really talk to that many people) but I read about how many people are obsessed with dieting, with food, etc... So, here are some interesting FOOD FACTS I thought I'd share...

• During an average person's life, they will consume about 60,000 pounds of food.
• Broccoli is a vegetable with a nervous system. Primitive though it may be, it CAN feel pain. (ok.. that's just creepy!)
• Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.
• The average American will eat about 11.9 pounds of cereal per year.
• Coca-cola was originally green.
• They have square watermelons in Japan. They stack better.
• Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.

Memory Markers

Lately I've been working on a series of bookmarks I lovingly refer to as Memory Markers - because not only do they mark you place in your favorite book but they have little lockets on them to keep your treasured photos!

I think they make great stocking stuffers or gifts for proud grandparents, parents, or teachers!

New freebies!

Just in case you haven't looked in awhile... I've added a bunch of new free samples for you to try! Who doesn't like getting free stuff? Scroll down the right hand side of my blog for all the goodies!!

You've GOT to be kidding me!

Ok.. if you read my post from last week about ridiculous instructions found on household products...you already know that I'm sort of a geek when it comes to finding things like this... and guess what~ I've discovered even more!! Yep! Here's a few....
On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
(Gee, that's the only time I have to work on my hair!)
On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
(The shoplifter special!)
On a bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap.
(and that would be how?)
On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness.
(may cause drowsiness???? One would hope!)

and the best one yet............

On a child's Superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.
(Oh go ahead! That's right, destroy a universal childhood belief!)

Have you taken the Pledge yet?

Wow... Christmas is in less than 8 weeks.... scary! So here's a suggestion on how to make the whole shopping nightmare easier and more meaningful this year.
Make something instead of buying! Yes, you can do it! Trust me, there's something you can make for just about anybody on your list, and people really appreciate the time and thought involved.

No time you say? Well, than you can at least buy handmade. Sure, you can go to the mall, wade through crowds of people, and buy something just to buy it.... or, you could go online to someplace like etsy.com, where everything you see is in stock and hand-crafted, and you can pick out a thoughtful and unique gift for pretty much everyone on your list. One place you could visit (of course) is http://monaco.etsy.com/

Why buy handmade you ask????

When you choose a piece of handmade artisan jewelry, you are purchasing a piece of work directly from the artist's hands. This gives it special meaning and value. Much thought and design knowledge has gone into creating your special jewelry piece. Handmade artisan jewelry makes a very special gift. It shows you've taken the time to select a piece not found in a department store or produced on the mass market. This will be reflected in the beautiful craftsmanship that the individual artist adds to the piece. There's also the option of having a custom design created by the artisan exclusively for your special gift giving needs. You can enjoy developing a handmade jewelry collection for your own needs.When you buy handmade jewelry, you're getting the highest quality components and design because the artist has complete control over each phase of the creative process. You'll have a unique piece of handmade jewelry you can wear with pride. Jewelry is all about expressing yourself the way you see fit! Jewelry can change the way you look and feel. Have fun developing your own signature look!

So check it out, and if you're with me on this, take the pledge at http://www.buyhandmade.org/. And pass the word along to your friends, family, and coworkers - make it a great holiday for them, and for the crafters and artists they'll be helping to support. I'll be posting updates to let you know how my shopping is going - feel free to do the same in the comments section of the posts. Thanks, and happy shopping!

Seriously Folks.....

Ok.. it's official - truth is stranger than fiction. I have this odd habit of reading things to find typographical errors and just silly information. I swear I could write a book on these! Over the past 2 weeks I have been reading ingredients and instructions on things I found in my apartment. Following is a list of some of the most ridiculous things I've found. Remember... these are actual things on actual products... how stupid do these manufacturers think we are? The sad thing is that I'm sure they had to put these on their labels for a reason...

• Energizer AAA 4 Pack "If swallowed, promptly see doctor."
• Domino Pure Cane Granulated Sugar "Ingredient: Sugar"
• Fritos "You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside."
• Hormel Pepperoni "Do not eat packet."
• Dremel Electric Rotary Tool "This product not intended for use as a dental drill."
• Zantac 75 "Do not take if allergic to zantac."
• Nabisco Easy Cheese "For best results, remove cap."
• Fix-a-Flat "WARNING: Do not weld can to rim."
• Heinz Ketchup "Instructions: Put on food"
• Unknown 500-piece puzzle "Some assembly required."
  
  ....and these were just ten items I found in my home!! Stay tuned... I'll be on the lookout for more!

The Front Page of ETSY!!!

YAY!! One of my necklaces (the light blue one called 'icicle') made the front page of Etsy.com !!!

For those of you unfamiliar with Etsy, it's this wonderful place to buy and sell all things handmade. I've been selling there since June and have always wanted for one of my pieces to be on the front page - and today it was!!! YAY again! But, as luck would have it, I missed it! Thank goodness for FABULOUS people like Carol Emma (she has two shops on Etsy - check them out!!)

http://carolemma.etsy.com/ where she sells her gorgeous jewelry, and

http://highwoodstudio.etsy.com/ where she sells her inspirational cards (they're beautiful! I have some framed in my apartment!)

Ok.. without further ado... my appearance on the front page!

and now for the close-up!

Free Stuff!

Have you seen my list of free samples? I've just added some more today!

...just scroll down and look for the list in the right column of this blog and click away! I've tried them all - just love getting free stuff in the mail!! YAY!!

Cleveland ROCKS some more!

I had a request from a wonderful fellow Etsian to create keyrings with my Cleveland Rocks in addition to the necklaces I've been posting! I LOVE when I get feedback like this - because, in fact, I hadn't thought of making keyrings with them before. This is fabulous! Now the Cleveland rocks really get a chance to get around!!

Something new!

I love to make jewelry... don't get me wrong... but for years I've wanted to work with metal. Maybe it's the years I worked in the metal finishing industry, but I love metal! I love the look and feel of the industrial world. At a recent show I met a fabulous local Cleveland sculptor, Jerry Schmidt, and he is teaching me how to weld, and grind, and create all sorts of wonderful things from metal!!! (here's a link to his site http://www.schmidtsculpture.com/)

Here's my first piece.... I'd LOVE to hear your comments... good AND bad (seriously! how will I ever learn if I don't get construstive criticism??)

Win a $65 shopping spree on Etsy!!

Cleveland Handmade, the Cleveland, Ohio etsy Street team I belong to is having a scavenger hunt called:"Show Cleveland Some LOVE!"go to http://clevelandhandmade.com/ to enter for a chance to win $65 to spend in any of the 13 participating shops (one of the shops is mine, of course!)... or you can break it up and spend it any way you like between those shops.

See the entry form for a list of shops! there's something for everyone! :)

Feeling a little low?

Do you perform five acts of kindness in any given day? That's the number of good deeds that boosts your sense of well-being and happiness, according to research by Lyubomirsky. Your karmic acts can be minor and unplanned - giving up your seat on the bus; buying an extra latte to give to a coworker. You'll find that the payback greatly exceeds the effort. "You see how much you're appreciated and liked by others," she says. Be sure to keep up the good work: When Lyubomirsky asked her study subjects to space their five good deeds over the course of a week, the actions started to seem routine and lost some of their therapeutic effects. But don't fret if you can't make the quota daily. "Being spontaneously kind also delivers rewards," she says.
So now you're asking....How can I help others—and help myself?

Incorporating kindness into your daily life isn’t difficult. Here are five easy things you can do to help others—and yourself:
*Volunteer. Research shows that people who volunteer just two hours per week
(about 100 hours per year) have better physical health and are less depressed.
To find volunteer opportunities in your area, visit Volunteer Match or contact your local church or school.
*Informally offer help to family, friends, and neighbors. Lend a needed tool, bring dinner to someone who’s sick, feed pets for neighbors on vacation, or offer a ride to someone who lacks a car (like me!!).
*Donate. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money. Hell... it doesn't have to be money at all! Check out my last blog post! Look for opportunities to give within your means. You’ll help make the world a better place and make yourself feel better too.
*Listen. Sometimes all that's needed is someone to lend a sympathetic ear to make them feel heard, cared for & loved. Make other people (& yourself) smile. The easiest way to make other people happy is to act happy yourself, even if it’s not how you feel.....So like the old song says, 'Put on a happy face.'
Talk as if you have self-esteem and are outgoing and optimistic.
"Going through the motions can awaken the emotions.”

You can help too!

Ok.. so my FABULOUS daughter got me a sewing machine for my birthday! (actually, I think it's a bribe so I'll make cool things for my grandson and for her.. like halloween costumes!) But I LOVE it! and it's also going to allow me to help 16 children in Ethiopia, Africa.

Check out this blog http://www.umbrellachild.blogspot.com/m/

These kids need school supplies, and clothing. Now that I have a sewing machine, I'm going to sew some clothes for these beautiful children. If you'd like to donate materials or even some clothing please let me know! The material does not have to be new... in fact, I'm making them skirts and pants out of some of my old clothes and t-shirts. Recycling is the best!! How about you??? Do you have some old clothes that I could re-purpose??

Let me know! I'll take photos of everything I make and post them here for you to see before I send them off! We need to send these by mid-November. Thanks!

The BEST diet!!

Granted, this weight-loss program won't shed pounds as quickly as plans more firmly rooted in that familiar diet-and-exercise mantra. But hey, there is that "fun factor" to consider. Instead of counting carbs or calories, this math involves kisses...

Published research indicates that each passionate kiss burns between 6 and 12 calories, depending on the level of enthusiasm," says Betty Goldblatt, RD, MPH, publisher and co-founder of Environmental Nutrition newsletter. That's close to what's consumed while jogging for one minute. At three kisses a day, every day, that amounts to burning 9,855 calories a year -- totaling about 3 pounds of weight loss.!

So... looking for a fun way to lose some excess pounds? I would suggest that instead of having a late-night snack that contributes to weight gain, maybe you substitute it with a late-night romp!

Ask A Stupid Question Day

Well, it's official.... September 28th is Ask a Stupid Question Day. It's your opportunity to speak up, and to ask all those questions you were afraid to ask. All those questions that you thought were too stupid or dumb to ask, have been piling up all year long. Today is the day to unload them. C'mon give it a try. Nobody will laugh......we hope. This goes perfectly with my little column to the right --> "Things that make you go hmmmm" So I guess Ask a Stupid Question Day is everyday for me!!!

The roots of this special day goes back to the 1980's. At the time, there was a movement by teachers to try to get kids to ask more questions in the classroom. Kids sometimes hold back, fearing their question is stupid, and asking it will result in ridicule.Teachers created this day on September 28, If it fell on a weekend, they would celebrate it on the last day of the month.

So, okay... I'll start
How do they get a deer to cross at that yellow road sign? *
How do you get off a non-stop flight? *
How do you know when you've run out of invisible ink? *
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? *
If a jogger runs at the speed of sound, can he still hear his Walkman? *
If a pig is sold to the pawn shop, is it considered a ham-hock? *
If blind people wear dark glasses, why don't deaf people wear earmuffs? *
If I save time, when do I get it back? *
If rabbits' feet are so lucky, then what happened to the rabbit? *

I think I'm the queen... of totally useless knowledge.

Did you know that...

• The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.


• When Heinz ketchup leaves the bottle, it travels at a rate of 25 miles per year.


• It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.


• The Bible has been translated into Klingon.


• Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands.


• Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.


• Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.


• On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.


• Elephants can't jump. Every other mammal can.


• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

I'll add 10 "little known facts" each week.... have any to contribute???

Cleveland ROCKS!!

Well, my hand has healed well enough to finally get back on my blog - and to make more jewelry! YEA!
My latest endeavor is a new series I call - Cleveland ROCKS! (ok... maybe not very original, but definitely appropriate....) About three and a half months ago I moved to Lakewood (which, obviously, is by the lake). I'm so happy to live close to the Lake! I visit it often - especially in the evenings. I started picking up rocks, that had been flattened and polished by Lake Erie, so I could skip them happily across the water. But quickly I began to notice their beauty and didn't want to throw them back in!

So I began collecting them, knowing full well that eventually I'd find something wonderful for them to do.

They wanted to become necklaces!! So I started a new series of necklaces with my rocks from Cleveland! There will be quite a few and each one is completely unique and one-of-a-kind. Here's a few examples that I currently have for sale in my Etsy shop.

Miss Scarlet in the Dining Room with the Candlestick?

NOPE! Kim, in the kitchen with a carving knife!! My posts will be a little sporadic for a while... Look what I did!

I was trying to make a pan of bar cookies and I burnt them... so then I was trying to pry them out of the very hardened and burnt pan when.... EOW! Stabbed myself! and actually bent the knife! Chipped the bone in my hand and everything! ...the worst part was pulling the knife back out! Got a few stitches and I have to go back to the doc's in a few days to see if I need surgery on the tendons... so much for making jewelry for a while! I'm SUCH a klutz in the kitchen... oh the stories my family could tell you! So for now, it's a little hard to type..... I'll be back though!

Weird Pearls... Weird Laws

Ok.. so I made this funky necklace out of these really weird shaped freshwater pearls and I was trolling the internet trying to find out how these odd-shaped pearls are formed. I searched "weird pearls" and I ended up finding this site about Weird Laws... some of them are so funny I just had to share!
First... here is my "Weird Pearl" necklace which will be up for sale on my Etsy site soon....








Now.. since I live in Ohio, these laws are for Ohio and some funny ones from particular cities in Ohio...

• It is illegal to mistreat anything of great importance.
• Owners of tigers must notify authorities within one hour if the tiger escapes.
• It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday.
• Women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public.
• It is illegal to get a fish drunk.
• No one may be arrested on Sunday or on the Fourth of July.
• Participating or conducting a duel is prohibited.
• Breast feeding is not allowed in public.
• It is illegal for more than five women to live in a house.
• It is illegal to walk a cow down Lake Road.
• Any person who leans against a public building will be subject to fines.
• It's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license!
• It is illegal for stores to sell corn flakes on Sunday.
• Cross-dressing is against the law.
• You cannot eat a doughnut and walk backwards on a city street.
• It is against the law to roller skate without notifying the police.
• A policeman may bite a dog to quiet him.
• Throwing a snake at anyone is illegal.
• Riding on the roof of a taxi cab is not allowed.
• You may not run out of gas.

Aren't these a hoot??? If you what to check our your area go to http://DumbLaws.com!

My Grandbug!!

I don't know why I call him "bug"... my daughter does too and we didn't even realize that we both did this until recently! She's concerned he'll think that's his real name because he seems to respond to "bug!"

Well I'm fortunate enough to live just 2.1 miles away - 20 minutes walking distance for me - to my adorable bug and I get to watch him at least once or twice a week. Last night we had a sleepover!! Yea! (although there was not much actual sleeping involved). I was able to snap a few photos so here they are!!!!

A little surprised by the camera here! >>

<<<<<<<

I was feeding him organic sweet potatoes... but he seemed to like the washcloth better!

By around 11 p.m. I was trying to tire him out and put him in his "johnny jump-up! He seemed quite happy about it at first...

but then he couldn't even hold his head up much (lol!) so I thought, "yea!" he's getting sleepy!!! (cause Grandma was exhausted by then!)

then finally around 12:30 a.m....... perfect, no?

National Be Late for Something Day!

Well tomorrow (September 5th) is Be Late for Something Day! I tend to celebrate this holiday everyday! Be Late For Something Day is a great day to be a procrastinator. If you are among the millions of us who never seem to be able to stay on schedule, then you will certainly enjoy today.
Being late for something is a very common occurrence, and can be caused by a whole host of reasons. Some are intentional, some are not. Fall behind schedule early in the day, and you will be late for everything that follows. Doctors and lawyers are notoriously late for something....their appointment with you! It's proper to be "fashionably late" for parties. And if you are late for a party (perfect seque here..) bring the hostess a wonderful set of wine glass charms! You can find these on my Etsy shop at http://monaco.etsy.com/om/

Sold to a fellow Cleveland Etsier!

I'm so proud! Not only did I sell this bracelet on Etsy last night - but I sold it to a fellow Cleveland jewelry artist on Etsy! To me, that's very high praise and I'm still glowing! Thank you, thank you. Vintage Brooch Co. has a shop selling really cool (you guessed it) vintage items that she reworks into beautiful new (yet old) jewelry.

Take a look! Here's her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5107804

New Stuff

Today I added another new creation to my Etsy store... I love the juxtaposition of the feminine and masculine... a nice yin/yang sort of thing.

It can be found (for sale) - along with many other fabulous things on my website at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6935971

WD-40 Not so useless information

Ok.. for years I have been considered the queen of useless information. But ha-ha!! I have some little known information that might actually be useful! I bought some WD-40 today to quiet a squeaky cupboard door that has been annoying me since I moved in my apartment 3 months ago. Of course it worked great... then - I was bored and decided to find out more about what WD-40 could do.... I've heard rumors. Guess what? There are so many things this stuff can do! It's like duct tape!! A million uses! Here are a few....

1. Protects silver from tarnishing (tried it... yep!)


2. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings


3. Gets oil spots off concrete driveways


4. Gives floors that 'just waxed' sheen without making it slippery


5. Keeps flies off cows


6. Restores and cleans chalkboards


7. Removes lipstick stains


8. Loosens stubborn zippers


9. Untangles jewelry chains (yep again!!!)


10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks


11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill


12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing


13. Removes tomato stains from clothing


14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots


15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors


16. Keeps scissors working smoothly


17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes


18. Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide


19. Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises


20. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open


21. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close


22. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers


23. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans


24. Removes splattered grease on stove (really works~!!!)


25. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging


26. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)


27. Removes all traces of duct tape


28. I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, knees to relieve arthritis pain


29. One fellow claims spraying it on fishing lures attracts fish.


30. Let me close with one final, wonderful use, the favorite use in theState of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

truly amazing stuff, huh?

Feeling Neglected...

My blog is feeling neglected. I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since I posted last! I'm sorry blog. I'll try not to let it happen again.

Would it help if I showed you the new earrings I made? They're little turquoise ones... quite lovely actually. Turquoise is considered the most efficient healer, providing solace for the spirit and well-being for the body. It dispels negative energy and clears the electro-magnetic smog. Physically, it is excellent for exhaustion, depression or panic attacks.

These can be found in my Etsy shop along with a few other new things I've created.

Where's my shop? How can you find it? Just go to
http://monaco.etsy.com/

Today is National TELL A JOKE day

Let's get serious now... I'm not kidding. Today is National Tell a Joke Day. I hope your day is filled with chuckles and laughs.
No doubt about it. Today, will be a fun-filled day, with lots of laughter. To fully participate and enjoy this day, just tell some jokes. You can do it in person, or pass along a few humorous emails. That's easy enough to do. The more jokes you tell, the more fun this day will be. We also encourage you to listen to many jokes today. Everybody is getting into the act, and in order to "tell a joke", someone has to be present to "listen to a joke".

Here's one to get you started....
One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?".The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug."I can't dear" she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room".A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy".

Changes...

I believe in the healing powers of mother nature & her stones... Today I made this necklace... it's a fabulous stone called mookite (or mookaite) from Western Australia...

Mookaite's main purpose is to promote the acceptance of chance, and to encourage the desire for variety and new experiences. They also believe it promotes inner calm while simultaneously promoting the desire for adventure.

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." ... Andy Warhol

Change can be quite scary and exciting at the same time... I've been going through a lot of changes lately... a divorce, new apartment, making new friends, new grandson, and a new Etsy store (my online shop). I have known for some time that changes needed to be made in my life, but the question had always been: “How do I muster up the courage to make the changes that I so desperately want to make?” Not making changes has always been easier for me... even when I was in a quite painful situation - at least there is comfort in the familiar and I just stuck it out.. hoping for change - but not creating any significant changes myself.

What happens if we don’t heed the wisdom in our hearts that may be telling us it’s time for a change?
We risk getting stuck in a life-long rut and living a “status quo” life, which may remain the same without any change for years, and, worse yet, a life in which, we may never realize our fullest happiness and potential.

Ok... so I made a change... a BIG one and I'm terrified.... Sometimes I sit and wonder what it is that I'm afraid of, and other times I wonder what it is I'm not afraid of. What is running away? Changing? Not changing? Should I have stayed??? I'm 45... been married three times... When does that statute of limitations run out when you can really change your life?

I have no answers yet... but I'm working on it!