Monday, November 28, 2016

CyberMonday in My Resparkable Etsy Shop

a smattering of vintage jewelry for sale in my shop
This is my first year to participate (as a seller that is!) in CyberMonday.  All purchases made in my Resparkable Vintage shop today will receive a 20% discount.  Just type in coupon code cybermonday2016 when you check out.  It applies to every item for sale in my shop.  I have vintage holiday brooches and bracelets starting at $8 (and that's before you apply the coupon!)-- but I have a LOT more than just holiday items.  Vintage purses, vintage jewelry, and handmade earrings, bracelets and necklaces made with vintage components.  All of my handmade items are one of a kind.  So if you're looking for something unique for someone special, please take a look at my shop.

Have fun and shop 'til you drop!


Monday, November 21, 2016

Music Monday- Bruno Mars FINESSE

I'm ALL OVER the new Bruno Mars CD, 24K Magic, which just dropped on Friday. Like the name implies... It is magic.  24K Magic.

I listened to this song in my car today over, and over and over.  The second it ended, I'd replay it.  Can not get enough of this one.  It's the song I would most like to do a dance routine to.  Except I don't do dance routines.  But I'm considering hiring a choreography team and making a dance video with this one...It makes EVEN ME feel like dancing with a HUGE smile on my face.

He hasn't done an official video for it yet, but I hope it's coming soon.... For now, it's just audio. Enjoy. Happy Music Monday. ❤️

BRUNO MARS- FINESSE

Friday, November 18, 2016

My #1 Fan

Because was traveling, and then I've been sick most of this week, I haven't been doing much music around here lately.  But since I have a little gig tomorrow night, I thought I might want to run through some stuff.  So tonight, I got out my guitar and started singing in my office/studio which is also Lucy's bedroom where we keep her crate. 

Recently, Lucy has developed a fear of her crate. One day, the pillow in her crate flipped over her bowl of food while she was eating, and it startled her.  Ever since that day, she will only go in there (the room and the crate) for food, and even for that, she just sticks her head in, gobbles up the food and then gets the hell out as fast as she can.
Lucy prefers sleeping on Fermin's neck far more than in her crate. ❤️
Ricky doesn't have the same fear.  He's happy to sleep and eat in his crate.  And today, he snuck in Lucy's crate while I was singing.  I heard a little sigh from the corner of the room.  I looked over and saw that he had snuck in for a free concert.  My sweet boy.  And my #1 fan.
my captive audience for the night

Monday, November 7, 2016

From Boulder To Manitou Springs

The last week we spent in Boulder was glorious!  I loved everything about that area and would love to live there.  You know how sometimes, the moment you arrive at a place it just feels right?  That was how I felt about Boulder. 
Doesn't Ricky look like he belongs in Boulder?

We arrived in Manitou Springs late yesterday afternoon.  Due to the time change that just happened, it gets dark early, so we haven't really had a chance to check out the scene yet.  From what I can tell, it's beautiful.  But it's not Boulder.

I took a couple of walks this morning just to get my bearings straight and here are a few notable things I saw...
A house. Not a dispensary.
This house.  They must have a lot of foot traffic---people looking to buy marijuana.  It certainly looks like a dispensary with those green plus signs.  If they don't want customers knocking on their door, they might consider re-painting the house.  It's just confusing.

I was walking with Lucy when I saw this place.  I often call her "Lu" for short.  So although I haven't gone in this place yet, I'm going to later.  Lu Style.  How can that not be a good thing?

We'll be back.
Although I think this is a shop that sells a variety of nuts, it could be someone's home.  In fact, it could be MY home!  I am nuts about nuts. Totally nuts, as a matter of fact! Anyway, I was walking early and it wasn't opened yet, but I'm hoping it will be later this afternoon.
Totally Nuts & Company
We're always happy when we see one of these Little Free Library stands! This was sitting outside of the local elementary school.
Ricky is an avid reader so he insisted I snap his picture at this Free Little Library
I also saw a lot of homeless people.  One had a very mellow Pit Bull with him, and although I'm sure he was sweet, unleashed dogs make me a little nervous.  Ricky got the stare down, but nothing more than that.  The man held his dog by the neck as we passed by, thank you very much.  I did not get a picture, obviously, as we were trying to just get the hell away, and quickly!

I saw a pet adoption place that looked pretty cool based on signage alone.  I always think about all those strays out there that need loving homes. And it's especially sad when you consider pets that have lost their humans and need to find a person to care for them.
Safe Place for Pets

And of course I found the local bead shop.  I always do.  I've mentioned that before, right?  This one looks promising and I'm heading down there soon, now that it's a little later in the day and I'm sure it will opened.  And I won't have a dog (or a husband) with me, so there will be no rushing me out of there.  HELL YES.
FOR SURE I'll be back!
Lastly, I saw this little sign in a shop window. I love that when you're in a small town, people just close up shop when they need to.  I think hip surgery warrants a few days off, don't you?
Get Well Soon
So there's just a glimpse of what I've seen here in Manitou Springs so far.  Very different from Boulder for sure.  But similarly, a lot of sunshine, and beautiful views!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Beads as Momentos

Whenever I am traveling, I'm also on the hunt for any surrounding bead stores. If there are any, I will find them.  Sometimes, I look on Yelp, and get so excited to check out a place, but once I get there I find that it's gone out of business. And it's a huge disappointment. 

That's what happened on our last two vacations. There were no bead shops to be found. (sigh)

Possibly because of that, it took me an entire day here in Boulder before I even thought about looking for a bead shop.  I didn't know if I could handle that kind of disappointment again.

But once I was in my right mind, I Yelp-ed "bead shop"... and the first one listed had already gone out of business.  However, the next one listed, that actually had gotten better reviews anyway, was very close to the house we are staying in... I'm talking I-CAN-WALK-THERE close.  It would seem this would have been mentioned on the VRBO listing as a huge selling point for renting this house, but it wasn't.  Odd.

Yesterday, while Fermin was taking care of some work stuff (work shmork, I say), I knew a great way to kill the next hour. 
NOMAD bead shop in Boulder
Nomad. Where it says on the door, "Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful".

They had a great selection of beads.  I was even able to find some vintage ones! HELL YES. And they carried a color of wire that I have been needing but unable to find in Dallas, or even online, for the longest time.
vintage beads and more!
Soon to come, I'll make a few things with some of these beads, along with some of my vintage findings back at home.  Some of those new pieces might show up in my Resparkable Vintage online shop, and one will most definitely show up around my own neck! And maybe I'll click the heals of my hiking shoes together 3 times and wish I was back in Boulder...