My winter must haves, new and old!

I love the winter, and everyone I know around me knows this to be fact. I make no secret of it when I break out the Grinch smile when I see snow in the forecast. 99% of people loathe the winter and I do not blame them, they have to travel in it, work in it, and basically survive in it. I worked for a traveling company in the past and have dealt with blizzards, snowstorms and ice storm madness so if anyone would have a non blind hatred for winter it would be me. But I still love winter and all the snow it brings with it. Even on the worst day and I'm cursing winter out for its plunging temperatures, at the and of that day I open the blinds and stare out the window, mesmerized like a little kid watching the snow fall in the lit up sky.
But to survive in harsh brutal new york winters, I survive with these winter essentials:

1. A long pea coat- as much as I love the original pea coats, they don't really keep your legs or butt warm. I have one that hits above my knees and still looks very stylish.
From: Tre Chic Style Online magazine

2. A fleece scarf, now I love the long knitted scarves(and don't forget the crocheted ones!) but fleece just does the job for me come those harsh winter days. I have several but I tend to use this beaten up brown one that I bought a few years ago at a supermarket when I was stupid and went out without one and was freezing my ass off. Probably not the most stylish but I still use it without hesitation. It doesn't say Fendi but it still keeps me warm.


3. Even though I end up loosing them mid winter (or more like the 1st week of winter) I love those chunky knitted gloves.
I would love to work the mittens, without losing patience and ripping them off within 5 minutes, but I just can not. So these beauties will have to do.
Chunky knitted gloves are from Old Navy, but are currently out of stock online, but still available in stores!)

4. Now we can not go into winter without expressing hatred for our dry and flaky skin uber chapped lips( and for me, red skin..sigh)
I'm late but I finally got on the Rosebud salve bandwagon, ive heard about this products for ages and I finally bought one when i was at Sephora a few weeks ago doing some Christmas shopping. I made a promise to myself that I was in there for christmas gifts and I nothing for me ( bitter agony of course). I almost made it to the cashier, well actully I did, but as I was standing their waiting for my scary total I owed sephora, I snatched up the last strawberry rosebud salve. It smells amazing, the end. I rub some on my cheeks, and lips and I smell divine. (so modest)
5. I'm not sure if this counts but..
I tend to use go shower gel crazy in the winter, and I love snow fairy from Lush. It smells like banana laffy taffy, and has tons of glitter. And.. it's PINK. What's not to like? I've been a huge fan of Lush for a few years now, but I tend to buy my favorites, and snow fairy is definitely a favorite.
6. These Steve Madden boots are very similar to the boots that I wear in the frigid cold temps (with two pairs of socks of course) Brown is one of my favorite colors, and these boots are one of my go to boots when the snow is piling up and the temps are going down.
but, alas, I shall go..xoxo

Yes, yes I do have a problem.

I have been wanting to get a strand of rutilated amethyst for as long as I can remember. I love how it has so many inclusions, but even with that it still is so amazing looking. Just goes to show that having "flaws" isn't always a bad thing. I have so many designs floating around my head with this stone, but I've been so lazy as of late that I haven't made any jewelry which is a bit of a disappointment because I used to make so many pieces and had so much enthusiasm about jewelry making...


OK so its not citrine, but its close enough! This is I believe mandrin hydro quartz. I have them in my possession and ohmylanta they look exactly like that in real life. Gorgeous and will make perfect fall jewelry but knowing me, by the time I do make something it will prolly not be fall anymore(super fail on my part.)

I never see strands like this.. ever. So when I saw these, I was like CLICK, add to basket. Its blue topaz and aquamarine. I don't have any aquamarine, so that also was a reason. Also Blue topaz is just amazing, the end. I think these will make for some gorgeous winter jewels, like cascading earrings, and maybe chandelier earrings.

Last but definitely not least, is the green hydro quartz. I posted about these a few months ago, and by the time I was finally like eff it Im buying those babies... they were gone. But Norah62 was selling another half strand, so I swooped these up fast. The greens like the mandrin ones above are the same quality, just like they are pictured. Insanely clear and beautiful. I have a few ideas for these, but mostly earrings. Id love to start making more than earrings, but I find myself in a jewelry making culdesac. Either its the same design or nothing at all. It just seems that school and my job have taken over, and what is funny is that Im going to art school, and I never have time for anything art related. Its almost like, school has bored me of doing anything remotely related to art and design. Which probably isnt the best thing.. and what its supposed to do. Being a nanny isnt exactly a bed of roses, i find myself going to bed at 10. and that's fighting it. If my favorite shows were on earlier, I would be going to bed a lot earlier, so thank you the office, 30 rock, glee, and the big bang theory for being on past 9, ha ha. Wow.. I watch to much tv. Oh well.

A few people on etsy.. Friendship bracelets

I have come across a ton of amazing artists on etsy, and really nice to boot. But I am so sick of seeing threads on ETC. where people post nothing but insults and sheer stupidity. I am not going to name names, or call out. But it just seems that every time i log onto etsy, someone is just plain mean. I remember when I first joined etsy in 2006.. wow. its been that long? shit. i came across some of the sweetest people who helped me find my way on etsy and didn't mock me for being new and having stupid questions. Now I see people ask the simplest questions and they get pushed out of the way and buried. A few weeks back someone posted a list about things not to do on etsy to get hearted. Well they said that you should never sell friendship bracelets, or something about you know you are new to etsy when you sell friendship bracelets. Fuck you, if you can make some awesome friendship bracelets, go for it. I see the person deleted the post, but it still made me angry. Friendship bracelets were the first piece of jewelry I could make, and it made me feel mocked, like friendship bracelets weren't a real thing. I felt like when you post, perhaps you should think about what you say because there are a lot of young kids out there, still learning and when you say selling or making something like friendship bracelets aren't good enough to get hearted, it makes you look like a bitch, and maybe you are. I do realize they say that it is a joke, but seriously... it wasn't very funny.

Here is are two sellers on etsy who makes AMAZING friendship bracelets, I envy!

LA Native

Acf3326

These are just two of so many amazing artists on Etsy that seller friendship bracelets, and they are having major success, so that goes to show that even if you sell something as meager as friendship bracelets you will still have success.