Where has B.B. Bellezza been?

(Handmade Rocking Horse from Building Character!)

I know I have been absent.  And I’ve made excuses.  I should be acclimated to my new home, new workspace and new day job hours by now.  But then the Christmas season hit.  Then I got sick, and then my boyfriend was sick.  Then I got sick again….

Today I opened the blinds to let some sun in and they broke. 

It’s easy to look at the negatives in the situation.  I mean, I didn’t actually want to move to begin with, I can’t seem to get going on anything new artistically because I keep getting sick and I’m working longer hours at my day job (more hours are actually a positive in every other way than that), our apartment is much smaller than our old place. 

However, I’m done being a baby and whining now.

The Positives

I'm starting to feel better.  Our home is tiny, but we live right in town which is awesome.  Lititz has a lot going on for it.  It’s adorable and fun and I can walk everywhere.  I don’t have a dedicated studio space, but it makes me keep more organized and cleaner, instead of the tornado aftermath that was always my old studio. 

The New Year

I’m looking forward to the New Year.  I have plans and goals in mind.  I have ideas.  I love fresh starts and I think the New Year is a great time for them.  No, not necessarily for resolutions, but I do actually make them (and break them) each year.  But instead for new goals, reassessing old goals and trying new things.

Next year I hope to bring you lots of new posts and ideas, a new jewelry line (exciting, right?) and more peeks into my life.  I’ve been considering a “one-a-day” thing (i.e. ring a day, creative everyday, crafting 365), but I can’t settle on anything just yet.  Any ideas for me?

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays with the people you love!  (And I hope you’re missing out on all this sickness going around.  I seem to catch everything that anyone has!)

Life Changes

I have been missing from my blog. But with good reason. I have a major announcement.

If you are on twitter with me, you may already know this, but I recently get my notice at my day job! It was a long thought-out and difficult decision, but I did it!

So, in a few weeks I will be launching B.B. Bellezza full-time! I have so many new ideas and lots of fun things coming!! But, I have to get through these last few weeks first!

So, I am asking you to be patient with me for a few weeks as I finish up loose ends at my job and settle into my new life.

Thanks for your support!

I'm Back and I got Stuff!

I am back from a very enjoyable and fun weekend in Charlotte with the girls. It may become a semi-annual trip, which I really love! Fun fun fun. Oh! And I got my hair cut shorter... I like it shorter, but I am not really fond of the actual cut. Perhaps I will grow to like it, or perhaps I will get it cut again. :)

When I got home I found this waiting for me!

From the awesome Naomi at The Glitter Workshop! I can't wait to make stuff with these awesome charms!!I am already planning on visiting their shop and buying some more! In other news, is everyone all ready for tomorrow? You may not know what it is yet, but you can read about it here~! (shhhhh.... don't tell anyone! It is a surprise.) P.S., I still didn't get any takers on the free kit offer! Contact me with your full name and mailing address if you would like it. For anyone who wants one and doesn't win, the kit is now listed on Etsy! Here. I am off from my full time job today to recoup from the weekend. I am trying to get caught back up again, but I may not get my blog rounds in. :) Plus, I am trying to relax and watch lots of the DIY network! Know that I am thinking of everyone, and will get all caught back up as I can!! See you tomorrow for the super special surprise. I love alliteration! Love,Kim

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Oh, my.

Sunday night.

I should go back and look if I ever blog on Sundays and what is my mood. I hate Sunday. Yes, HATE. It's the last day of the weekend. I get depressed. I start to dread Monday. I know it would be so much better if I would just enjoy my Sunday without thinking about Monday, but I just can't help it.

At any rate, I made this necklace yesterday:



I have an auction on eBay for it right now. Woo Hoo!!Well, I am going to go and mope around until its time for the Simpsons. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!Love,Kim

Vacation Day 3: Penn's Cave

DAY THREE: TUESDAY
Today we got up and drove to Penn's Cave. It was this crazy drive getting there and ended on a farm. We were confused, but it ends up that the cave is right on a farm.

We got tickets for the cave and for a wildlife tour that they had. Penn's Cave is the only cave in America that you can see by boat.

We trecked down this steep hill and steps to get to the cave and got on the boat.


View looking out from the edge of the cave.


Boat with tour guide. He was entertaining.


Okay, so I got a bunch of shots from inside of the cave; however, they didn't really turn out that great. My digital camera is pretty crappy and I didn't bring my "good" camera for whatever reason. But, I will share some of the photos with you.Also, this tour was completely by boat. It was truly one of the coolest things I have ever done. Also, it is really really dark inside the cave (obviously), at points they would turn off their spotlight and show us what total darkness is. Really eery!Here are some photos:




































In the back of the cave, the two brothers who took possession of the cave blasted out the back and created a man-made lake. The tour continued out and onto the lake. (The take leads to the creek again. They built the lake in order to generate hydro power. It is no long in use, but the lake is very cool.This photo is from the inside going out.




Swan


Swan again. In the background is where the hydro power plant was and beyond that the creek.


There was a little island in the middle of the lake.


This is the view going back in towards the cave:










Cave entrance from the lake. We had to duck our heads to get back in.


Although the cave was definitely the best feature of the day, and probably my favorite thing on vacation, they had a wildlife tour at Penn's Cave as well. We went on it mainly for my boyfriend's daughter (11 years old) sake. I don't think that I would do it again, though.Elk


Elk with 2 babies


More elk














A bear. I hated the fact that he was in a cage. There were 3 total.


There are deer out there....somewhere....


Albino deer (hidden behind the tree)




Bobcat


Look how beautiful it was!! These are longhorn bulls.





These photos are from a peculiar Africa museum. No, that's rude, it was pretty cool, really. It just seemed kind of out of place.










After Penn's Cave, we decided to take Delissa to State College to see Penn State. She loves the football team, but has never been to the stadium. We also did a short tour through the cute little town, too.


Joe Paterno monument.





After this, we went home and cooked on the grill. Then another night of campfire fun and s'mores. mmmm....s'mores.....I miss s'mores!!Okay folks! More photos another day! I hope you are enjoying my little entries!I will be posting the August newsletter for B.B. Bellezza soon, too!Thanks!Love,Kim

Hunter S. Thompson, the Cat

Hunter S. Thompson, the cat.

Isn't he gorgeous? This picture so doesn't show his gorgeousness.

At the risk of sounding like one of those "cat ladies," I wanted to share my thoughts of my cat.

I am completely smitten with our cat. He has this sweet way about him. And playful. He thinks he is a human sometimes. He's so smart and strong.....I know.....everyone feels this way.

We have had Hunter since September 2006. My friend found him hanging out on her porch. She was so worried because he kept going to sit in the middle of the road, so she ended putting him in her garage to keep him save that first night. Then, she went searching for the owner. When she found them, they didn't want this gorgeous cat, and in fact, tried to get her to take 2 other cats they had.

We had just had this traumatic loss of our sweet kitten Domino. We were actually just starting to talk about adopting a cat. Then, Hunter came into our life.

He was already fixed and had his front claws declawed.

It was love at first sight for me. After Jim realized this cat is really just like him (you know, really laid back most of the time, but fun and playful, understanding and caring), and that this cat is so cool, Jim (my boyfriend) fell for him, too.

Now, he is part of our family. He is completely spoiled, too. He cries sometimes because he wants picked up. I think that's funny. Jim doesn't.

He is in his favorite spot....by the sliding glass door. He's either there or in the window. He loves watching the wildlife - talking to the birds, watching the neighbor's cat walk by, meowing at the neighbor kid who comes to the screen to talk to him.

Do you ever wonder what your cat is thinking? Sometimes I wish he could tell me. For the most part, though, I am pretty sure that I really don't want to know! (LOL!!)

Anyway, that's my cat! Please, feel free to share your favorite pet stories!