Many lessons learned

Things I didn’t know going into my Saturday:
- staying in bed for 30 minutes after my alarm clock went off would prove to be a very bad idea
- taking an hour to chop 2 cucumbers, 7 pieces of bacon, 2 avocados, cilantro and about 20 cherry tomatoes while slowly sipping my coffee, would lead to the rest of the morning in chaos.
- thinking I had plenty of time to cook the remaining {big} dishes was foolish
- not thoroughly reading 2 recipes would send me into an insane panic and a frantic call to my mom.
- wearing a thick heavy robe while frantically running around the kitchen only makes things worse.
- pausing to tweet would leave me wondering why I paused to tweet {and waste more time}
- not realizing I had never worked with puff pastry nor know what to do with it, which resulted in another frantic call to my mom. {how was I to know you fold it open!?}
- giving myself only 15 minutes before everyone arrived to do my hair, change out of my pj’s, clean the disaster that was my kitchen, make the drinks, take the breakfast bake out of the oven, and scrape the stuck apple tart off the cookie sheet would darn near do me in.

Then everyone arrived and filled my home. 14 showed. {the most that’s ever been in my home at one time}. I hoped for 15 and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. They had a great time, I had a great time, they loved my food and I gave away a lot of fun prizes and jewelry.

I had grand plans to take photos of everything from the food to my setup before everyone arrived but I left myself no time for it.

Finally after the last 2 guests left, my friend and I jumped in her truck to head south to witness thousands of migrating cranes land for the night in the wetlands. Me armed with Monty and her with her “new” camera that she bought from me just minutes earlier. I’m so happy to see my old camera go to someone I know and can help learn it.

It was the perfect way to relax, sitting out in the middle of a wildlife preserve, listening to the birds fly over, after such an insanely busy morning.

How was your weekend, my friends?

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A thankful me - 44

Monday already! This weekend went by at all sorts of different speeds. Thankfully I didn’t have any repeats of last weekend with getting a flat tire, but it was still crazy. Jam packed busy.

Saturday, I was on my way to do a jewelry party, and I followed my directions to her house just fine until I pulled up to a gated community. She didn’t tell me it was a gated community and I truly didn’t think that’s where she lived, so I texted her…

Yes, all gated communities are hater communities… you didn’t know!?

She bought me a Santa hat (my first Santa hat ever), so I wore it the entire night feeling oh so festive.

Have you ever taken a personality test? Like a really extensive one? G-man and I were to take one years ago and while I was cleaning out the big dresser that’s in my dining room…{you’d have to see it, it totally works in there, promise}, I came across his! I honestly don’t even know if I did mine, but boy, let me tell you, his results are spot on to how he is. I couldn’t believe it!

I called him up and read his results to him and the whole time he would say, yep! that’s exactly how I am. Yeah, I do that probably a little too much…

This almost made me want to see if I really took mine or not, almost. I’m not sure I want to know the truths about me. Voluntary ignorance is bliss.

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Its been awhile since I’ve said what I’m thankful for throughout the week so I feel its high time its picked back up.

- indoor plumbing.. I don’t think I’ll ever take this for granted. Especially in the winter months. And especially ever since my friend who was born and raised in East Germany shared stories of how their toilet was on the landing of the outside stairs for all neighbors to use in their complex. And how inside their apartment, it was so cold, ice would cover her interior bedroom walls…and that they had no running hot water. Her mom would heat it on the stove, and fill the tub up in the kitchen for a bath and my friend would go first, then her husband and the mom would go last, once a week.

I’m blessed with my gas fireplace, electricity, central heat and hot water within seconds.

- extra pillows on my bed. Saturday night, on a whim, I grabbed a pillow and shoved it between my legs to sleep. All night long I slept with that thing firmly in place, and all night long my hips, knees, and ankles had never felt so good. They didn’t hurt once, like they have been…and I feel incredibly old for a) needing a pillow between my legs to not be in pain and b) the sheer fact I’m even bringing it up as a topic of conversation.

- my lia sophia business. It’s going really well and I’m so thankful for it. It’s a little overwhelming with juggling it and my FT job but I’m always so grateful when another person wants me to do their party. Its so fun and I love it!

- and not to mention they’re sending me and G-man on an all expenses paid trip to Riviera Maya Mexico in a few months!!! We’re so flipping excited! They’re sending us here and everything about it is going to be amazing.

I surprised G-man with the news when I was in Hawaii and he was blown away. I worked hard to earn that trip for 2, and its going to make us being there all the sweeter. I cannot WAIT to get pampered!

How did your weekend turn out? Are you finished Christmas shopping or still have a ways to go?

I bought a couple more things over the weekend (that may or may not have included things for myself..) but I’m 50% done..I think.

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My attempt at fashion

I once was a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal. But then I started wearing shorts and I became a huge shorts and t-shirt kind of gal. I prefer those over dresses and skirts and now jeans since jeans can be suffocating. Not to mention oddly tight around my knees… maybe my knees are getting fat.. hard to explain.

On rare occasions I’ll wear maxi dresses or skirts or even go so far as wearing a real dress to work. It’s rare but it happens.

I have a point…stay with me.

Last week I felt all black. I love wearing all black. Some love bright colors where me, I feel awesome in black. Now I have a small confession that I almost didn’t want to admit. When I posted the outfit on instagram everyone thought it was a dress or a skirt. Even G-man thought it was a dress…and I didn’t correct anyone, because well, I didn’t want to kill the happy mood. But I was wearing pants…as you can tell now that its blown up.

Sooo, since I was all deceiving and all, I thought I should redeem myself. Ok…that’s a fib. You all made me feel so good about this outfit (as a dress) that I had to wear the top again over the weekend, only with a skirt, so I could feel that fabulousness AGAIN.

Remember…I like to be complimented often..call it a disease if you will.

So while I was in Las Vegas for a team rally for lia sophia, I jumped into my friend’s closet to find something to wear because this girl has clothes…and shoes..and then more shoes, so I managed to pull it off pretty well, I think.

I feel better now that I’m not steering you all wrong anymore with the pants picture. Obviously the skirt and red heels are hers. But what made the day even greater was I was set to speak in front of all the lovely women and when I went up there I got into what’s being dubbed my “Party Emily” personality. She’s a lot funner (it’s a word) than normal Emily and while talking, I saw a girl in the back stand  up to look at the heels. Well, I couldn’t very well have her crane her neck, so I popped the foot up and one of the ladies happened to take a picture right at that moment.
You guys didn’t know I was so nice...

Wouldn’t you know it, everyone thought I was wearing a dress who complimented me. Naturally I didn’t feel the need to correct them, because it would have meant me lifting up my shirt to show them the skirt and being in public and all I didn’t feel it was the most appropriate of things to do, so I said thank you with a big ol’ grin.

*Moral of the story: Secretly sneak your friend’s pencil skirt into your luggage and wait to see if she notices.

Have a fabulous weekends, my friends!


*kidding…I didn’t steal the skirt

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Lost and gone forever?

I had quite the scare the other night with my old pictures. A long long time ago I used to upload all my pictures onto kodak gallery online. Everything was stored there from the early to mid 2000's. Probably close to 2,000 pictures were saved online that I would email to friends and family and G-man when he was overseas. It was my go to for anything pictures, Christmas cards and photo books.

At the beginning of the year, Kodak said they were closing their website and transferring all the pictures to shutterfly’s site. I didn’t think much of it since the email said everything would be taken care of for me. Come the beginning of July, their site shut down but I didn’t bother checking either site to see where my pictures were.

Fast forward to Monday. I was looking for a particular picture and needed to get it from shutterfly, but after logging in, it showed zero albums. zero pictures. I was freaking out! All those pictures gone! My trips I took, all my work pictures with my co workers from prison, my nieces nephews family, all gone!

It took 4 shutterfly logins (because you know if you keep logging in and out of the same website they’ll magically appear) and 2 kodak gallery logins to finally scroll down and read where it said, ‘to complete transfer of your pictures, log into kodak gallery here.’

Hmmmm, I don’t remember ever doing that….

The moment I do, all the pictures show up in shutterfly. Talk about heaving the biggest sigh of relief!! I started looking through them all and figured I’d share some fun ones…there’s a good chance one person will kill me after this..

Clearly you can see I’ve always been a fan of sunsets. Pier in Cayucos, CA.

Avila Beach, CA

I still have this skirt! I wore it that one time at the wedding and held onto it for 7 years before finally wearing it again.

Remember my story about my close friend who would do anything for me? That’s him. :)

Santa Barbara, CA. Which was absolutely beautiful!

My long time childhood friend, that I’m seeing today, who I’m sure would like to kill me but let’s take the focus off her and on my side 1990’s bangs I’m sporting.

Getting all fancy for my date with G-man in San Francisco where he took me to a fancy shmancy restaurant and a symphony after…all while he ran a 105 temperature! What a guy!!

Hours after chopping my hair off, not to mention coloring it. That cut took entirely too long to grow back.

A little flashback Thursday if you will. I’m heading out to see my friend for the weekend. We’re doing some fun stuff that involves a little place called Vegas. Ok, I’m probably not going to come close to the strip! I’m going for other reasons, but we’re having a slumber party at her house with 3 other women. I’m sure her husband will love all the women taking over the house!



~ ~I just wanted to throw it out there in case anyone’s interested. I’m having a little 24 hour lia sophia sale that starts today, if you want to be included in it, make sure you include your email in your comment and I’ll email you the information and what it’s all about. Anyone that orders (within the US) will get their order shipped to them by me. :)

Since Christmas is coming and the new Special Edition Catalog is rockin’, I figured why not offer it in case you’re interested for yourself or for Christmas gifts.~ ~ Pin It Now!

September photo challenge–week 3

We’re at week three and I’m going for a bit of a different approach for this week. The three to choose from are stranger, family and life.  I went for life but more so what my life has been lately. Beyond the driving everywhere, another thing has been my life lately.

As I’ve mentioned just recently, I sell lia sophia jewelry. Have for just about 2 years now and its pretty fun. I haven’t really talked about it on the blog because mainly, I’m not here to push it or make a sale off anyone. So its not something that needs to come up.

Over the past 7 months, its been pretty consistent at keeping me busy. Kind of too busy (which is good), since having my full time job to work around it. It can keep me up pretty late, like last night especially, with helping customers or with my new girl entering in her first party, walking her through each and every step until after 10pm last night.

But this is what I do. This is pretty much what I am and what’s become a huge part of my life. And truthfully, I rather like it…and even more so, I’m pretty darn good at it.

I like helping my girls learn what they’re doing and I like figuring out how a customer can get 3 things for the price of the one they planned and watching their face go from ‘are you crazy?’ to sheer excitement. …not to mention, all that jewelry being mine sure doesn’t hurt.

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If you really knew me…

YES! I’m jumping on this too. I have no doubt the majority of you have seen this going around, if not done it yourself. I think it’s absolutely a lot of fun, and couldn’t NOT do it, myself.


If you really knew me…

>> you’d know I’ve moved 24 times and foresee many more to come.

>> you’d know I’ve gone on major spending sprees in the past, plunking down $500-$2300 in a day but I no longer do that.

>> you’d know the first pair of designer jeans I bought 8 years ago for $218, are jeans I still own and wear to this day.

>> you’d know my favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip (the green kind).

>> you’d know I hardly ever wore shorts in my 20’s because I thought my legs were too chunky. How stupid was I?!

>> you’d know I now own 9 pair of shorts and the number continues to grow.

>> you’d know I had no intention of staying in my current apartment for more than 6 months and even told my landlord this…but still find myself here almost 3 years later.

>> you’d know I sell lia sophia jewelry and am darn good at it.

>> you’d know that every time I step inside my dark apartment late at night and close the door, I imagine someone coming out of the darkness and attacking me.

>> you’d know that G-man believes I’m addicted to chapstick. And on the off chance I have him hold it for me while we’re out, he won’t give it to me when I ask for it because he thinks it’s “helping me” break the habit.

>> you’d know I used to always be in chat rooms back in the 90’s (when they used to be cool). But only the clean ones. I’d always leave when things got inappropriate.

>> you’d know I’m an open book and have never been good at hiding my emotions.

>> you’d know in college I had a running bet with a guy friend on who would cry first. and that 1 1/2 years later on the phone, he was telling me of his breakup and mentioned he cried, to which I cut him off and yelled, ‘haha you cried, you lose!’ I’ve never been prouder of myself.

>> you’d know I now cry over every little thing. Happy, sad, laughing, depressed, angry. You  name it, I instantly choke up…and that I blame age for this.

>> you’d know I hate to stand and talk to people without some form of support against me, like a wall, a car, a counter. Without it, I’m miserable (physically and mentally).

>> you’d know I have very morbid bathroom dreams that always involve one or more people one way or another watching me go…*cough* number 2. Different settings, different people, different languages (like Russian) but a constant dream for the past 17 years.

I had to end on a good note.. *ahem*




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A thankful me - 21

HI my buddies!! Its been so long, how have you all been?? Are we all enjoying this 3 day weekend as much as possible? I know I am. Lots of sleep. Lots and lots of sleep {and really weird dreams}.

My life has been crazy busy lately, hence the whole blog slacking. When dishes pile up for 4 days straight, you know this girl is busy, cause chica no likey dirty dishes. I’ve been doing my FT job followed by my little business I have at nights and weekends, that equals working 13-14 hour days. Talk about pooped! I haven’t had time for anything else.

But yesterday and today have been nothing but relaxing and its oh so nice.

This week, I’m thankful for:

- all who gave their lives so we can go on doing what we do daily
- my man being willing to sacrifice himself by being in the military
- having today off. It is beyond needed
- my busy schedule. It wears me out but I’m happy to have things to do whereas before, I did nothing
- helpful friends coming to my aide when I need them
- my new favorite necklace-Laguna, please say hi to everyone.

- knowing God is taking care of me and the ones I love. As if I ever should doubt
- a co worker giving me a Starbucks gift card as a thank you for helping them…even if it turned out to be a ‘re gift’

- baking hard ‘boiled’ eggs in the oven. Not sure why they had the brown stuff on them, but they turned out really good!! I did it for 325 for 30 minutes, but I think I’ll do 25 next time since the yoke had a small gray ring around it. This is so much easier than water. I always manage to overcook in water.

I have lots of topics that I look forward to talking with you guys about this week, so stay tuned!

Random question: I saw my neighbor’s front door wide open (as she sometimes keeps it) so I walked in to say hi, and ended up waking her from a nap on the couch…not 10ft. from the open door. I felt bad, she felt bad and I ended up turning around to let her go back to sleep.

My question, could you ever sleep on your couch while your front door is wide open (no screen)??

- me?? No way!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

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