June 17, 2013

Fun tins that need to be recycled into jewelry.
And I'm just the person to do it!

My last day of being 60-years-young has been busy. Four meetings today, with a unusual amount of time between each. I mean, what do you do when you have a meeting and then 45 minutes to an 1.25 hours before the next meeting?

Speaking of being 60 years young, tomorrow I'll be 60-somthing. I'm happy to say that I'm in a much better place about being in my 60s. Last year at this time I wasn't sure I would ever be able to tell people that I'm 60. But now, I'm wearing age as a badge of honor. As Mr. B's mother used to say, "Aging is better than the alternative." I must say that the second half of my 60th year on planet Earth has been terrific. The problems with my foot and ankle seem to be resolved. I've lost 50 lbs.  My mental state is in a good place. Work is fulfilling and fun. I feel loved and appreciated. Could I ask for anything more!

Today I'm creating a draft of a communications plan for a non-profit organization. I'm also counting down the busy days until Saturday, June 29, when I leave for my vaca in Santa Fe. Hello Pettita Casita. Mama is heading home soon.

June 16, 2013

Really small photo of
my grandfather.

I love all the photos everyone is posting of their dads. My profile picture is of my dad and me. I got a message from one of my grandmother's relatives this morning. (Maybe his father and my grandmother were cousins?) He left me an early birthday wish on Facebook and mentioned how much his father loved to fish with my grandfather. My grandfather loved cars and boats, and I'm not sure in which order. He was a wonderful fisherman and a great grandfather. Today's pic-of-the-day is of the original Truett Bryan Akin as a young man.

As the story has been passed down to me, the picture of was taken during the depression when he worked as a truck driver for a furniture company. He, my grandmother and daddy, lived in an unfinished garage somewhere in the Heights. When he delivered something he would take the cardboard box home and nail it to the inside of the garage to serve as insulation.

Today I'm creating sangria. It's in the fridge now. We're celebrating father's day, #1 son-in-law's birthday and my birthday with family this afternoon. Hope they're ready for some cool sangria on a hot afternoon.

June 14, 2013

Opening both of these bottles to see which
one does the best job of cool me off>

The temperature gauge in my car read 101 degrees around 4 p.m. today. That's way too hot for this early in June. I read that the average temperature in Houston in mid-June is 91 degrees. In just two weeks I'll be escaping the heat and humidity of Houston and heading to the high desert. Granted, it's hot there in July, but never 100+ degrees and never humid. What makes me even cooler when I'm in Santa Fe is that I wear sleeveless linen tops every day.

Since I'm in Houston, I have found a way to cool off during my last weeks in Houston (see the pic of the day). Nothing is better than a glass (or two) of bubbly.

Today I'm creating a postcard mailer for my Tuesday client. I spent most of the morning inside, but then ran around Houston in the afternoon. I love the air conditioner in the Explorer!

July 13, 2013

Let's see. How many bottles of wine would Mr. B and I
have to drink to make this planter?

I'm beginning to worry about my memory. There was a time when I could tell people what I wore and they wore years before at a special event. Now I can't remember what I wore two days ago. When I'm talking people I sometimes have a problem finding the word I want to use. And I often have problems remembering names. Am I getting old?

I caught up on my sleep last night. I went to sleep around 11 p.m. This morning I woke up about 8:30 a.m., but went back to sleep fairly quickly and slept until 11 a.m.

Today I'm creating jewelry. This afternoon I took inventory of my jewelry. I had plenty of bracelets, but the earrings and necklaces were really low. What sells most are the earrings, so I sat at my little lap table and put several earring sets and necklaces together. I'm going to take an outing tomorrow to the The Guild Shop to see if they have any new tins (if I remember).

June 12, 2013

I found this colorful little recipe box last weekend at a
vintage store. You see tin, but I see jewelry! 

My client meeting this morning went better than expected. When I initially met with this organization I suggested that I could call or meet with different people so my initial contact won't have to provide all the information needed. He didn't like that idea (at first), but when I suggested it again today, he liked it. He really liked it! I met a woman who responsible for one of the programs, got tons of information from her, and am moving forward. Make it happen!

Volunteer work has also been part of my day. Sometimes when I'm working with volunteers there can be too many ... what's the expression I'm thinking about? Oh! Sometimes there can be too many cooks in the kitchen. That's what was happening this morning and I had to find a diplomatic way to make it stop. Make it stop!

Today I'm creating a flier. I should be doing more today because I'm still dressed for my meeting. Do you know the expression, "All dressed up and nowhere to go?" But since it's going to rain again this afternoon, I'm going to change my clothes and stay home.

June 11, 2013

As long as I'm awake, I might
as well do some light reading.

At 8:30 p.m. last night I was tired. At 11:30 p.m. I felt exhausted. By 1:30 a.m. this morning I was beginning to wonder if I would go to sleep. It's now 3:19 a.m. and I'm still awake, watching reunions of Burn Notice in the guest room. And so the cycle of not sleeping begins.

Good news to report. I got an email about my trunk show that occurred last Saturday. Jubilee purchases jewelry from me and then marks it up before they sell it. So during the trunk show they displayed what they had just bought from me, as well as other jewelry they hadn't yet purchased. After the sale I was paid for what was mine that sold. The sale was so successful that they have low-stock of my jewelry and want to buy more. LOVE it! I could be making jewelry right now, except banging the heavy hammer on the die cuts would wake up Mr. B and the neighbors. Not a good idea at 3:25 a.m.

Today I'm creating who knows what for my Tuesday client. I hope whatever I'm asked to do doesn't take much brain power because I don't know if mine will be clicking on too many cylinders today. OK. It's now 3:28 a.m. How much longer before breakfast? Are we there yet? Read any good books lately? If so, do you make early morning deliveries?

June 10, 2013

I was sorry to read about the death of
long-time Houston artist Lee Littlefield.
RIP, Lee.

My list of project today keeps growing! I started out with three projects to do finish today and have been adding more to the list all day. I finished the three I had to do, but still have three more to do. I think I can. I think I can.

Who watched Design Star last night besides me? I liked the design of the Abby, who is from Wimberly, TX, but her energy level would be enough to drive a sane person crazy! And what's up with her hair? I try not to be judgmental about what people wear if it's different from what is considered "the norm" (i.e. traditional). Love her room design, but her hair is whacky! Speaking of whacky, I didn't like Brooks crazy room with pink wallpaper or his crazy appearance. But he won last night so it shows you what I know.

Today I'm creating newsletters, articles for a newsletter, invoices and agendas for upcoming meetings. And I still have hours to go!