Following an urge (eventually) and Meal Plan Monday

I woke this morning full of a vigor for life. . .hahahahahaha!
Actually, I awoke to the hubs almost having to pull me from the bed to go to the gym. I was halfway through my time on the elliptical before I was good and awake. However, once home I had (as I put it on twitter this morning) the "urge to purge." I desperately wanted to do some spring cleaning and organizing, especially in the craft room. Weird! Urges to clean don't usually just rise up in me, so it's best that I hop on them before the feeling fades.

Unfortunately, I knew there were other tasks that required my attention first. Namely, the menu and grocery shopping needed to be taken care of. I mean. . .it IS Menu Plan Monday after all.

Breakfasts: Juice, Yogurt w/granola & fruit, Scrambled eggs w/toast & fruit, Blueberry pancakes

Lunches: Leftovers, Juice, Bean burritos, Grilled cheese w/soup, Tuna noodles, PB&J

Dinners: 

Skinny spaghetti squash alfredo w/steamed broccoli & sauteed mushrooms

Grilled Chicken w/veggie skewers (onion, zucchini, mushrooms, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper) & potatoes

Tao Soup w/tortilla chips

BBQ tofu pizza w/salad

Guiltless cheesy mac w/steamed green beans

There's more Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Once that was all taken care of I was free to. . .make a custom order. Sigh. I am a busy girl!
Eventually I carved out about half an hour to start sorting through the mess. After that, the craft room looked like this.

Taken from the doorway

NOT clean and organized!! Somehow things always get messier before they get organized. PLEASE tell me this the same for you! Since I can't really get in the room well in this state, I'm hoping the urge continues tomorrow and most likely for a few days after that. We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck!

Oh, and do you have any organizing tips?

Focusing on Life Week 17: Color/Colour

Like I said yesterday, I've been trying to get back on track with some of my postings. It's Saturday and that means it's time for Focusing on Life. Sally gave us the prompt "Color/Colour". I won't say that this one was a challenge since I have a soft spot for color, and lots of it.

The first thing I thought of for this prompt was my embroidery floss organization. It HAS to be organized by color. The box below is just my traveling box as I have two more boxes with the bulk of my floss. Unfortunately, I haven't been using these boxes lately. Looking at this awesome spectrum though makes me want to pull out a needle and some fabric though.

I also organize my beads by color ass best as I can. Here's a box of seed beads that I keep around just for fun, though it hardly ever sees any real action.

I also snapped a shot of this great striped wrapping paper just before I wrapped up one of my nieces' birthday presents in it.

Yummy right?

So that's my contribution for this week's photo challenge. I can't wait to see how/where everyone else found their color! Hop over to Sally's blog, The Studio Sublime to check out the other contributors.

And, don't forget. . .today's the 3rd Reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party!!

Year of Jewelry Week 17: Organically Yours

It seems to be taking forever, but I'm desperately trying to get back on my game. You may remember from earlier in the year that I'm participating in the Year of Jewelry Project. Besides the fact that I somehow managed to skip week 5, I'm now six weeks behind on the prompts. For now, I just want to share what I made for this week's project. However, I am hoping to try to go back and make something for the weeks I've missed. That may end up a bit too ambitious for me, but it's at least worth mentioning. Maybe putting it out here like this will make me more accountable.

So. . .as the title states, this week's prompt was "Organically Yours." The prompt can be taken any variety of ways, but I went with my initial impulse to make something using materials from nature.

I chose to pick from items found during one of my latest trips to the beach in order to make the focal for the piece.

A spongy-looking piece of coral and a bit of driftwood worked perfectly. From there, I used some waxed linen cord to attach them together with a mother of pearl bead to tie the beachy theme together.

The rest of the necklace was constructed with other beads made of natural elements: wood, tagua nut, shell, and lava.

 Right now, I'm pretty smitten with the focal but am not sure that the rest of the necklace is doing much for me. It works. . .but I'm not in love with it. What do you think?

Check out the other examples of how "Organically Yours" was interpreted in the Year of Jewelry Facebook Album.

Since I'm all about getting back on my game I should be posting my Focusing on Life photo(s) tomorrow as well. Make sure you check back in for that. As well, tomorrow will be the 3rd and final reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party. I'm still trying to hop the first and second reveals. . .yeah I'm kinda glad Lori made the BSBP only once a year. How are you coming on the hopping?

See y'all tomorrow!! (see what I did? I made this promise so now I HAVE to follow through. ha!)

Menu and the Photoshop Timesuck

I feel like I'm finally coming up for air. I've been working on a particular project for several weeks and then got involved in editing pictures for it. I adore editing pictures. I know. . .weird, sick obsession. There's just something about taking an okay picture and really trying to get the best out of it. I lose track of time while editing pictures. Really. Doesn't everyone have an activity that's a total timesuck for them? Just me?

Anyway. . .in the midst of all that, I was able to get my meals planned for the week along with the shopping done. Thank goodness I started on that BEFORE I opened the Photoshop! So here's what we'll most likely be chowing down on this week.

Breakfasts: Yogurt w/granola, Juice, Eggs w/toast & fruit, Cereal, Muffins

Lunches: Tuna noodles, Ham and cheese quesidillas, Juice, PB&J, Pita pizzas

Dinners: 

Tofu w/corn & rice mix

Mushroom Stroganoff with goat cheese w/green beans

Slow cooker pinto bean stew with jalapeno corn dumplings

Roasted shrimp and veggies (carrots, potatoes, zucchini)

Sounds delish to me! What's on your menu this week? Share it for Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Now to dive back into the Photoshop and get some of my jewelry photos edited so I can list some new stuff soon. Wouldn't that be a miracle?

BTW: Top 3 items most likely found on my craft desk

It's Bead Table Wednesday and I can't show you exactly what I'm working on just yet. Plus, I'm kinda in a holding pattern while waiting for inspiration to strike. So, since I can't show you EXACTLY what's on my craft desk, I decided I'd show you some of the things you are most likely to find on my desk at any time.

1. A beverage of some sort (most often a mug of coffee or glass of water.)

2. My pliers, a must-have for most jewelers

3. A plethora of bead-filled zip-top baggies

Of course, my desk is usually overloaded with an abundance of other supplies and miscellanea, but you really don't want to see that mess. Really.

What three things can most often be found on your Bead Table?

Check out the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group.

Delayed but moving forward

Thank you so much to all of those who stopped by over the last few days to see my Bead Soup reveal. If you are still hopping (like me) and want to see what I created, just click HERE to be taken to the Bead Soup post.

With the chaos of yesterday's Boston Marathon tragedy, I couldn't seem to focus my attention on getting a blog post written. My thoughts and prayers go out to those in Boston and beyond who are suffering both mentally and physically following yesterday's events. I'm attempting to not let the terror of what happened suck the life out of me as I can often become preoccupied with tragedies of this sort. Instead, I want to remind myself to live my life to the fullest each and every day. I hope you do too.

I'm going to move forward and try to catch up. I was delayed in posting my meal plan, so let me get back on a forward moving path by sharing what I have planned for the week in a late attempt at Menu Plan Monday.

Breakfasts: Cereal w/fruit, Juice, Cheese omelets w/fruit, Yogurt w/granola & fruit, Hashbrown Baskets (ham)

Lunches: Grilled ham and cheese w/veggies, Juice, Hummus pitas, Pita pizzas, Tuna noodles

Dinners:

Shrrimp with garlic and parsley w/boiled new potatoes and Best broccoli

Roasted grape tomato sauce over whole wheat penne w/salad

Creamy mushroom soup without the cream w/homemade focaccia bread

Sauteed tofu w/corn & rice mix

You can find additional Menu Plan Monday posts at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

I'm hoping to find my creative groove a little later and focus on that for a while. Here's hoping you find some peace today as well.

7th Bead Soup Blog Party REVEAL!

You've arrived, and I'm so glad you decided to hop by my blog!

I know you've got a lot of blog hopping to do, so I'll try to keep this post as short as possible. Let me start by first and foremost thanking the genius behind the venture that is the Bead Soup Blog Party, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. She's been going through a lot personally yet keeps on trucking. We are hopping a week later than expected because she simply asked us all to give her some time. I didn't see a single person who wasn't willing to give her that extra week to recuperate. She's just that wonderful of a lady. THANK YOU LORI for just being you and for your ability to bring so many of us jewelry artists and bead makers together. You are an inspiration and please don't ever forget it.

About my soup: my partner for this 7th Bead Soup Blog Party is the lovely Cheryl Foiles of Get Your Bead On. She supplied me with a plethora of her amazing enamel work. Here's a reminder of what she sent.

Per the 'rules' of the Bead Soup Blog Party, I really only had to use the focal and clasp that Cheryl provided, but I started a little backwards. While I was letting my soup simmer and trying to work through some of the other goodies that were already on my desk, I happened upon a bracelet focal from Cindy Cima Edwards of Zimaj. I pondered what beads of mine would go well with it and the image of the beads in my soup sprang to mind. Along with some lampwork beads from SueBeads that I've had for ages and some copper bits, this bracelet just fell together.

While those green lampwork glass beads were out, a couple other SueBeads creations caught my attention and again seemed to fit perfectly with the enameled beads in my soup. It wasn't long before these earrings were in my hot little hands.

I knew I needed to focus on my focal and clasp before I used up all the coordinating beads Cheryl had sent. I pondered the focal for a long time before finally deciding to frame it with some copper wire. Once the frame was made, it needed just a tad more. . .something. So, I went a bit bonkers making dangles to hang from it. With all the dangles on there, the focal was a little heavy so a simple chain and the gorgeous toggle was all that was needed to complete the necklace.

I'm not completely pleased with my construction of the frame around the Cheryl's beautifully enameled charm and may re-work it later so it's not so wonky and cumbersome-looking. However, I am quite pleased with the design idea.

I still have the large filigree balls and the cogs that Cheryl sent to play around with and can't wait to come up with some designs for them at a later time.

Thanks again to both Lori and Cheryl. It's been so much fun once again. I'm looking forward to hopping around the other blogs and seeing all there is to see.

Make sure you take the time to hop over to Cheryl's blog and see what she created with the Bead Soup I sent her.

Here's a list of all the other participants for this round so you can get your blog hop on!

Agata Grygiel	http://inny-pamietnik.blogspot.com/
Ali McCarthy	www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com
Alice Craddick	http://www.alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/
Amy Severino	www.amybeads.blogspot.com
Ana Krepel	http://catspajamas-dogstuxedos.blogspot.com/
Andra Weber	www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank	www.heavenlanecreations.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.LeeLuCreations.blogspot.com
Annette Rivers	http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com/
Anu Tuppurainen	http://koti-ilta.blogspot.fi/
April Grinaway	http://brooklynbeadgoddess.blogspot.com/
Audrey Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
B.R.Kuhlman	http://www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Barbara Bechtel	http://secondsurf.com
Barbara Mason	www.Adorninglyyours.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath	www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Billi RS Rothove	http://www.billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty	www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Brandi Burdick	http://www.tofallorstumbleupon.com/
Candida Castleberry	http://spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com/
Carol Dillman	http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Gebert	http://kookykardinal.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Caron Reid	http://www.caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Catherine King	www.Catherines-Musings.blogspot.com
Cathy Jakicic	http://bds.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/
Chandra Merod	www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Charlene Jacka	http://clay-space.com/blog
Cheri Reed	www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Cherrie Fick	www.designsinthelight.co
Cherrie Warzocha	http://colorsofshae.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Brown	www.dragonflybeads.ca/category/blog
Cheryl Dunham	www.Renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Cheryl Foiles	www.getyourbeadon.com
Cheryl Gangle	www.RockCandyJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Chris White	http://dzeyenrstudio.blogspot.com/
Christina Miles	http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/
Christine Hansen	http://intuitivesparks.blogspot.com
Christine Murrow	www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Christine Stonefield	www.sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com
Cindy Ritchie	http://mooseriverglass.blogspot.com
Clare Etheridge	www.catseatdogs.com
Cory Tompkins	www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Cris Peacock	http://crispart.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Abner	http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca/
Debi Levine	http://oneheartsblog.blogspot.co.il/
Deborah Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Deborah Read	www.deborahreadcom.blogspot.com
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Dorota Żerańska	www.gdymamczas.blogspot.com
Elaine Robitaille	http://www.tooaquarius.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Emma Todd	www.apolymerpenchant.com
Erin Guest	http://www.renlish.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Evie and Beth McCord	http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Francy Inman	http://www.8secondstudio.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen	http://gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com
Hajer Waheed	http://mybeadedworld.wordpress.com/
Hope Smitherman	http://CraftyHope.blogspot.com
Ilenia Ruzza	http://ile1974.blogspot.it/
Ilona Hegedűs	http://ilkabeads.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Janine Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Jean Peter	http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jean Wells	http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Steck	http://gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/
Jelveh Jaferian Johnson	www.jelvehdesigns.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cabic	www.jennifercabic.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Jennifer VanBenschoten	http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Jenny Robledo	http://peppasdream.blogspot.com/
Jessica Brower	http://ifcreations.blogspot.com
Jill MacKay	www.jillmackay.com
JJ Jacobs	www.comingabstractions.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	www.itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Joanne Tinley	http://www.daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com/
Johanna Rhodes Nash	http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.co.uk/
Judy Robinson	http://woodbeads.wordpress.com
Juli Cannon	www.beadnik.net
Julia Gerlach	www.beadandbutton.com/beadbuzz
Julie Bowen	http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com
Julie Panusis	http://catsmeowco.blogspot.com
K Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Karen Martinez	http://fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/
Karen Vincent	www.swallowtailjewellery.blogspot.com
Karen Williams	http://www.baublicious.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton	www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Karyn Bonfiglio	http://plussizebangles.com/blog
Kat Douglas	www.Washoekat.blogspot.com
Kate Dufour	http://mixfolios.wordpress.com/
Kate Mulligan	http://mulliganstewjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kate Richbourg	www.katerichbourg.com
Kathleen Gallant	http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Katie Nielsen-Nunez	www.Vikingcraft.blogspot.com
Kay Bolton	http://www.toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega	http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Kelli Jacobson	http://www.CreativeMoonJewelryAndThings.com
Kelly Patterson	http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kelly Ramstack	http://adventureswithkelly.blogspot.com
Kiersten Kern	http://myglassbeadlife.blogspot.com/
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	http://klaudetekoon.blogspot.com/
Klaudia Tóth	http://www.klaudiabizsu.hu/
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristin Oppold	http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com
Kym Hunter	http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lana Kinney	http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca
Laura Guenther	www.blueantiquities.blogspot.com
Lauren Fenty	http://laurenbeads.blogspot.com/
Leah Curtis	http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Lennis Carrier	www.windbent.wordpress.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://whimsyswonders.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson	www.prettythingsblog.com
Lupe Meter	http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com/
Lynn Jobber	http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Mandi Effron	http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/
Marcia Dunne	www.thealternativefoundry.blogspot.com
Margareta Saari	http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.fi/
Megan Milliken	www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Mary Ellen Parker	www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens	http://www.glassbeadart.blogspot.com
Megan Milliken	www.maemaemills.blogspot.com
Melissa Meman	http://melissameman.blogspot.com
Melissa Mesara	http://one-earedpig.blogspot.com/
Michaela Pabeschitz	http://der-lamardebonita.blogspot.co.at/
Michelle Tucker	http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Mimi Gardner	www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Monica Phillips	http://www.monicaglassandjewelry.com/blog
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Nancy Boylan	www.snazzydoodle.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale	www.nedbeads.blogspot.com
Pat Haight	http://wigglebuttblog.blogspot.com/
Patina Queen	www.patinaqueenstudio.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Pia Kaven	http://piakaven.blogspot.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Rose Johnson	http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com
Roxanne Blanc	http://strikesmyfancy-2013.blogspot.com/
Sarah Goode	www.pookledo.blogspot.com
Sarah Singer	http://singingsongsofsixpence.blogspot.co.uk
Sarah Strover	http://beaupepys.blogspot.com
Shalini Austin	http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sherry Baun	http://www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com
Sheryl Stephens	http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Silvia Sernicola	http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Solange Collin	http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Alderson	http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie LaRosa	www.stringaholic.blogspot.com
Sue Burleigh	http://sagebreezes.blogspot.com/
Susan Bowie	http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/
Susan Kelly	http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Susan of Libellula Jewelry	www.libellulajewelry.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Fragiacomo	www.glassymom.blogspot.com
Tammi Sloan	www.mybrownwren.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Tania Hagen	http://pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz/
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Tanya Goodwin	www.pixiloo.blogspot.com
Tanya Wiles	http://studioblog.tenebroushollow.com
Tari Kahrs	http://pearlandpebble.blogspot.com/
Terry Carter	http://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com/
Theresa Buchle	http://www.bead-mused.blogspot.com
Tiffany Smith	http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Tina Holden	http://beadcomber.blogspot.com
Tracey Nanstad	http://abeadifulmess.blogspot.com/
Tracie Dean	http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
Tracy Bell	www.CopperGlassAndRecycledTrash.blogspot.com
Tracy Kruse	http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com/
Veralynne Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom	http://www.clubcreativestudio.wordpress.com

Facebook Participants


D’Arsie Manzella     
Claire Brannigan Hasemeier
Robin Showstack
Melanie Lemen Swope
Beccy Peterson
Kelli Nelson
Chris Schlicht
Shelley Cole-Kuduk 

Thanks again for hopping by!