Life on Florida’s West Coast

Basic Boutique Bows

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I like to dedicate a post on this blog from time to time to the free hair bow instructions I offer on my site Girly Things. Of course, now things begin to be confusing, because I also have a blog called Girly Things. In this case I am not talking about my new blog, but rather my website that focuses 100% of hair bows and other accessories.

You can tie a knot a zillion ways, and likewise a bow. I can hardly believe that the last bow to actually make it onto my site is the most popular style out there right now: the Basic Boutique Bow. Right now this is the bow style you seen sold most on eBay and in specialty boutique clothing stores. It is the most requested style when people order M2M (made to match) bows to go with special outfits or to perfectly match the colors in one of the new Gymboree or Baby Lulu lines.

By the way, thanks to Devon Fuentes of Sew Cute Bag for both the bow photo and the original boutique bow instructions.

Meet George Jetson

I used to watch the Jetsons growing up. Remember how whenever they made phone calls it was a full on video exchange? Even Rosie the maid would get into that video phone technology. I remember thinking, how cool! Now that I am an adult, I’m living in a world where this is a reality.

I’m thinking there are both good and bad things about using a video phone…

Pros:

  • No more awkward misunderstandings due to not seeing someone’s facial expressions
  • You can stop trying to describe that cool pair of shows to me and just SHOW me
  • I’ll know when you are lying!

Cons:

  • I have to brush my hair before I use the phone
  • I’ll know when you are lying!
  • You’ll know when I am lying.

Packet8 is a VoIP company that is hitting the communications world with a wallop by putting video phones into he mix. By now most of you know that using VoIP technology for your phone calls means unlimited calls for one monthly fee. Packet 8 has a couple of video phone models available and although I think the Tango rocks the school, I’m rather in love with the DV326. It’s a stand-alone phone that operates so much like a standard push-button that even my mom will feel comfortable using it. As the website says about this model: there is no learning curve. That’s always a plus, because this whole issue about the Jetson’s world happening NOW is kinda’ catching her off guard ;)

I already use a sort of clunky internet phone program with my webcam, so I’m hooked on the concept. I want better results, though, and the DV326 boasts “Smooth full-motion, near-TV quality video” and that’s a definite step up.

Why Doers Win

I was just looking at a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that goes like this:

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

How amazingly deep is that?

We all dream. We all wish. This is just part of human nature. Daydreams, though, can turn into solid reality when you stop just dreaming and actually pout a plan into place to make things happen. That is why the Doers in the is world are the ones who win out in the end.

I’ve got a handful of “wishes” fluttering around in my pretty little head and what I am going to do is take each one on its own and treat it like a business prospect. I am going to make lists and develop a plan. I am going to formulate steps that I can tackle one at a time. I’m going to walk toward my wishes like steps on a staircase, until I finally reach the landing.

Will I accomplish all of my wishes-turned-goals? Perhaps not, but the truth is that there is a zero percent chance if I just sit here and simply dream.

Car Travel Outside the U.S.

I like to travel, but I like to do as much travel as I can while driving my own car. I like being able to take as much luggage as I can pack into the van. I like being on my own time-table. I like the flexibility of being my own boss when it comes to my vacation plans.

I know our trip up to WV was hard, due to the 18-hour drive. Nonetheless, I find sitting in airports and on cramped airplanes a much less desirable option. The speed of flying is appealing, but everything else about flying is just so painfully irritating.

While this might be a simple decision when traveling from U.S. state to state, it becomes a little trickier when you decide to take your car with you when you cross the borders into Canada or Mexico. You can’t expect that things like auto or health insurance will just operate with exactly the same protection when you are not in your home country.

I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about travelers insurance. Well, setting up a little coverage for your vehicle is one form of that.

There are a couple precautions you can take when traveling out of the country in your own vehicle, one of which is to obtain a special car insurance policy specifically applicable in the country to where you are going. You can, for example, get Mexican insurance at the MexicanInsuranceStore.com. The laws in Mexico that apply to driving violations ands accidents are so much different than here in the U.S. That’s why it’s important to know that all of the plans offered through this site are GMAC approved; include legal assistance and bond service; and can be purchased in daily, six month, or annual policies.

Here’s the clincher, and I quote this from the insurance site:

In Mexico, it is considered a felony to have a traffic accident. While the police are concluding their investigation, your vehicle could be impounded and you could be detained by Mexican authorities. With Legal Aid, you have accessibility to an attorney hired specifically for this purpose by your insurer who will assist you and negotiate for you and your car’s release.

So, it’s in the traveler’s best interest to spend the money to be fully prepared for anything that may happen when you are driving your care outside of the country. Since you can buy policies instantly online, there is no hassle. And, the company I use as my example is actually a United States company, so communication is simple.

Drive happy, but stay wise.

Fenton Glass

I completely forgot to write about one of the things I did while I was up in West Virginia. I guess my old blog host pulling my blog access while I was my grandmother’s funeral threw me for a loop. What can I say?

Anyway, those of you who are art glass lovers are probably familiar with the Fenton Glass Company. They are located in Williamstown, WV so they were a regular stop when I visited family in Parkersburg. I’ve been through their factory tour several times and I’ve selectively purchased a few nice pieces over the years. As far as style goes, I am more a fan of the Blenco Glass Company. But, Fenton is classic and high quality and quite simply a part of the region from which my family hails.

Recently Fenton announced they would cease operations in the next few moths. The decision comes on the heels of financial restructuring for the company. They have been in operation since 1905, so it seems nearly unreal to me that they would one day not exist.

So, in light of this, my sister and I decided to go up to the factory and buy something for the kids to have as keepsakes. Unexpectedly, we found ourselves in the store at the same time that Mike Fenton was signing pieces! Talk about good luck. I picked up a lovely little pink butterfly for Gigi and a modern-looking vase for myself. It was not until we got to the front of the line that I realized they were not signing seconds. Since the store sells mostly seconds, both items I had picked up were second quality. I kept the butterfly, because Gigi had her heart set on it, but I quickly put back my own vase and instead picked up a more traditional purple basket with daffodil designs. Mike actually offered to sign both pieces, but I gave into the Angel on my shoulder and just had him sign the first quality piece.


My violet daffodil basket


Gigi’s butterfly (but her’s is pink)

I am thrilled we were in town to take advantage of such an opportunity. I wish the entire Fenton family nothing but the best and also that their reputation will live on indefinitely.

My Search for Champagne (the perfume, that is)

I used to be the girl who had a perfume to match every outfit and every mood. I had a collection that would rival the perfume counter at one of your finer department stores. I kid you not. Then I discovered Champagne by Yves Saint Laurent. We had a short and torrid affair until all of the sudden, YSL stopped making Champagne. Turns out they got sued by the Champagne region of France for using the same. So, YSL put out a perfume that was supposedly the same formula, called Yvresse. I tested both Champagne and Yvresse on my arms at the same time and I am here to tell you they are not identical.

So, I buy Champagne (the perfume, not the alcohol) on auction sites now, but it is usually very expensive. Plus, the auctions are fewer and further between as the years pass. Tonight I used AuctionSHARK to do a search for people listing Champagne perfume across all auction sites, instead of checking each one separately. What a breeze. I put in the term “Champagne perfume” and some actual alcoholic Champagne showered up in my search results, so I just clicked on the link for Perfumes and Colognes within my search results. Viola! My search was narrowed down quite a bit and I was able to find auctions and stores carrying Champagne for prices anywhere from $2.99 (a mostly used bottle) to right about $75 (what I expected to find).

I hadn’t actually thought of using one central search to look for auctions on several systems before. I’m pretty psyched about my find.

Grace

I was just going to go take a shower when I looked down at my shampoo and actually took the time to read what is printed on the front to the bottle. I had never done that before. It’s Amazing Grace by Philosophy and blurb is so beautiful that I just had to post it:

life is a classroom. we are both student and teacher. each day is a test. and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: grace. grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. it’s something money can’t buy and credentials rarely produce. being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can’t help. being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.

Use Your Webcam to Monitor Your Home

I’ve been asked to give a fair and impartial review of a service called Home Camera. I will say up front that I find the product exciting and from here on out, I will simply just fill you in on the concept and the features. I’m interested in making this as informative as possible.

Home Camera is a free Internet home surveillance camera system. Using Home Camera is as simple as download the free software, entering your home camera user ID and connecting. Then, no matter where you are in the world, you can logon to the internet (using a PC, a PDA, or a mobile phone) and take a look at what your webcam is seeing in your home. Home Camera event supports motion detection and time-lapse recording. You just use the webcam you already own. There is no need to purchase new equipment. In fact, you can connect up to four webcams to the system.

The service is 100% while Home Camera is in beta. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. We get free use of a cool system. They get lots of new users to give the system a whirl and report any bugs that might pop up in the software.

I like the idea of having an easy to use system that will also me to use equipment I already own to monitor my home. It’s perfect to use as a “nanny cam” or even just to aim at your front door while you are gone to make sure nobody is trying to get in. Maybe you have problems with your neighbors letting their dog use your yard to do its business. Just aim you r cam out the window and into the yard.

You can even go about your day and let Home Camera send you alerts when the motion detection system is triggered. Set your account to record videos or snapshots using your webcam and you can store all of the information on Home Camera’s servers for up to one month.

You have nothing to lose in testing out the Home Camera service, especially while it is in Beta and costs you nothing. In fact, people who sigh up early in the Beta will receive special pricing once the fee structure does go into place.

You Can’t Please Everyone….

….so you’ve got to please yourself.

If I had….

Someone asked me what I would do if I got my hands on a few million dollars. Of course, the first thing I was wanted to know was where was this hypothetical multi-million dollar windfall coming from? I guess I was having a hard time using my imagination that day. :)

Anyway, we decided the lottery would be the source of said income. Good enough for me.

1. Pay off the houses my dad and sister have. Also, buy my mom a newer, bigger home. Her’s is nice, but the neighbors are not ideal.
2. Buy myself a house! Something tidy and new, just big enough for me and my daughter.
3. Invest in some real estate outside of Florida. I’d fin a market that is still doing nicely, like Las Vegas luxury homes, and get a little investment thing happening.
4. Charity, baby! I’d give to others, but maybe not through recognized networks. I would rather give wealth to someone out and out than have it filter though overhead costs and such.
5. Throw some money at Pfunk so we could have one of our ideas made into a film. OK, so that is a tad self-serving, but you have to play with some of the money.

I could think of more, but I’ll stop at that.

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