I'm on Bloggy Giveaways Today!

Go check out Bloggy Giveaways! I'm giving away one of these gorgeous gold cross necklaces over there. I love the blue topaz and the tiny diamond chip accents on this piece, and wish my metal working skills were good enough to make something with this level of detail. In the meantime I'll have to settle for finding beauties like this to stock in my eBay store. If you love this piece as much as I do and don't want to take a chance on the giveaway, I've got a couple of these and you can get your own blue topaz gold cross here.

Pretty in 2009: My New Pillow

I want to show off one of the first things I've purchased as part of my theme for this year. After all those physical therapy appointments last year I knew I needed something to help support my neck. I'm the proud new owner of a pretty pink neck-support pillow. Although this U-shaped pillow was designed to make traveling more comfortable, it's the perfect thing for sitting on the sofa and even in my office chair. I got this pillow from Randumosity Designs, where you'll also find a variety of purses, eyeglass cases, and reusable sandwich bags and personal pads.

Make Something Mondays: Meatball Soup

It's January, it's cold, and we live in what must be the coldest house on the planet. It's perfect for making soup! This meatball soup is easy, filling, and yummy, so if you've never made soup before it's a good recipe to start with.

Ingredients
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup dried parsley
8 cups chicken broth
1 15-oz. can petite diced tomatoes
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 8-oz. package ditalini or large orzo

Put chicken broth and diced tomatoes (with liquid) in a large soup pot and bring to a low boil. Mix ground beef, parmesan cheese, and parsley; shape into tiny meatballs (think canned spaghetti size meatballs).
Drop meatballs into simmering broth and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli.
When soup has resumed boiling, add pasta. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring often, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Happiness reigns.

This post was inspired by Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go!, the ingenious moms behind Make Something Monday. We'd love for you to join us next Monday!

Help Me Decide How To Paint My Workshop

I finally have some good progress to report on my new workshop/studio space! We've got walls now, a big step from this past summer. There's another day or two of finishing work to do, and then I've got to buy paint.

I know I don't want plain white walls. Do I go bold and bright, maybe yellow and green? Do I try to be a little creative and add some stripes or splatters to a solid background? Sponge paint with lavender over purple? Large circles in primary colors? Stencil a few aliens and/or zombies on the walls? Suggestions are welcome. Please!

So many choices, so few walls.