Men don't make passes...

At girls who wear glasses.

At least that's how the song goes.

I beg to differ.

When I wear glasses, the "sexy secretary" and "naughty librarian" comments just don't stop.

Maybe I'm just that irresistible.

Or maybe it's my new glasses from Firmoo.

I have seen a few Firmoo reviews around blogland now, but I had to try it out for myself.  So when I was contacted to receive a free pair of glasses, I was more than excited to participate.

Two things about me:

1:  I love a good deal.

2:  I am blinder than a damn bat.

These two things led me to Firmoo like a moth to flame.  For one thing, I have horrible vision, so for me, glasses and contacts are a necessity.  And do you know how expensive glasses are?  The last (cheap) pair I got from the Walmart vision center cost me about $100.  I don't know about you, but I do not have the money to shell out for glasses, especially around $100 a pair! And those are just the cheap pairs...the frames alone can cost $200, and lenses are even more expensive.  Even without the amazing offer of a free first pair, Firmoo has great pricing, and there aren't hidden costs.  The price for the glasses is for the FULL pair of glasses.  Not the frames alone, leaving you to still spend an ungodly amount on the lenses.

Firmoo's easy to use website also allows you to "try on" glasses by simply uploading your picture to the site, to see if the frames suit your face or not.  Personally, I was too lazy to utilize this feature, but the sample image was of a woman with a similar face shape so I "tried" the glasses on her first, and decided that I liked them enough to choose them.

The other thing that really stood out to me on Firmoo's site, was that I was able to choose two different pupillary distances when inputting my prescription information.  I have a lazy eye, so my two pupils aren't in the same location in both of my eyes.  Coastal.com also has a first pair free deal going on, but their site doesn't allow for this distinction!

After placing my order, I was excited and pleased to find my glasses had arrived within a week!  And not only did I get glasses, the package included a hard eyeglass case with a cleaning cloth, a soft case, and a packet of tools to fix a loose glasses screw.  

Are you interested in getting a new pair of glasses?  Check out Firmoo's first pair free program!  I know I'll be back for more pairs soon!

*these glasses were provided at no charge, for a product review on my blog.  all of these opinions stated are my own. 

February Cara Box Swap Reveal!

In case you haven't heard of it, each month the lovely Kaitlyn at Wifessionals puts together a box swap.  This swap is called Cara Box (cara meaning friend), and is a great way to meet some new wonderful bloggers and begin friendships with these wonderful women across the blogosphere!

I was lucky enough to be a part of the February Cara Box swap, and the theme was #clubsexy.  In other words, it was our mission to create a box full of items to create a fun date night for our partners!  And on top of that, Kaitlyn went out of her way to pair us up so that our partners were from the same state (in case any of us were able to meet up for the exchange!)  Unfortunately my meeting will have to be postponed, but t was so much fun to put together a box of goodies for my partner Laura (she's totally awesome by the way. If you haven't checked out her blog do so immediately!!) I filled her box with some goodies to make herself feel sexy (and to invoke thoughts of warmth, after this brutal winter we've had in WNY!), and a great recipe book (because sometimes just making dinner with your guy is the best date!)  You can see her box reveal here.

My box came from the amazing Janna, at Faith, Love, Hope. I was so excited at the unexpected box that turned up at my place of work!  (She sent it via UPS, and my local UPS driver isn't the best, so I make sure the guys in my shipping/receiving department always snag my packages before they are delivered to the wrong address!)  I was so excited to see she'd packed the box full of supplies for what my fiance and I do best - cuddle on the couch for movie night!  She included a super cozy fleece blanket, loads of yummy candy, movie theater popcorn, and best of all - an old Marilyn Monroe movie!!  One I haven't even seen yet!  I have her films Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but Janna included The Prince and the Showgirl, and I am soooo thrilled to be able to watch this great old film with my man!!  Thank you so much Janna!!

Summer Lovin'

...Had me a blast.

Summer Lovin'

Happened so fast!

Well, I am still sick.  Better than Monday, not as fit and fresh as I want to be.

As in, I do about ten minutes of activity and I am tired again.

Also, still congested, though that is slowly going away too.

On my other couch. Wrapped up attractively in my fiance's hoodie, wearing a sparkly headband from {knotieties} to make myself feel better.

 

But, in between napping and blowing my nose (hah, major attractive thought there), I have managed to get some photos I've been sitting on edited all nice and pretty for my Etsy shop!  I'm finally starting to halt on the whole buying supplies thing, which means I haven't been buying a whole lot of beads lately for a change.  I've actually started using up the loads of pretty beads I've been collecting since I was 19.  Which has led to some designs I would have never dreamed up.  And as always, the simpler, the better.

Here's a peek at more summer designs:
 

 

I love these pieces, as they all contain my favorite summer time element - wooden filigree!  I adore the earthy feeling that wooden elements give to jewelry.  These are all definitely going to be  fixtures in my summer accessory wardrobe :)

Featured: VibrantShadows

  Jordan from VibrantShadows is one of my favorite Etsians.  She's totally adorable and so nice too!  And her art will knock your socks off!

Jordan specializes in papercuttings, which means each thing in her shop is actually painstakingly cut out by hand by Jordan herself!  And, perfect for my upcoming nuptials, or if perhaps you're going to a wedding this summer, she's just added a line of custom wedding cutouts and bridal gown cutouts!

Wedding Shoes

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Definitely the ability to stop time, as long as it's not stopped for me and I can move things around. Alarm clock goes off and you're feeling particularly sleepy? Stop time, sleep until you're rested, start time again and get ready for work. Could be used for good - stop time, pull someone drowning from the water, catch a falling baby, get someone to a hospital in an instant. It would be fantastic for playing practical jokes... move things around right in front of someone's eyes, switch which hand they are holding something in, etc. Haha. However - I would have to be careful because I couldn't be sure if my body would age or not while time is stopped for everyone else. Much thought has gone into this. Haha.

 

Peace PaperCutting

What is the most inspiring advice you've ever received, or want to give?
Hmmm, I have gotten a lot of great advice in my life, but the thing that stands out the most to me is actually a quote. "Live like no one else will, and later you'll live like no one else can." - Dave Ramsey. Work hard in your life and never give up and you'll earn yourself a great life. I'm not a great advice-giver, but that one really touches my heart.

Zombie Arm

What is your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?
I love the feel of it. Every customer comes to Etsy for their own reasons... but for me, it's a place where no matter what it is that I can't find anywhere else, I know I will find it on Etsy. It's a place to shop local, to support the little guy in their quest to make something of themselves and a place to bring joy to others just by doing what you love to do. It's wonderful.

Piano Keys

If you were represented by a color instead of a name, what color would you be and why?
Yellow! It's bright and happy, strong and bright, it stands out from the rest and it's a building block helping other colors come into being!

Starry Night

Of all of your artwork, which one has been your favorite to create?
Definitely my large interpretation of Van Gogh's Starry Night. It's huge and took many, many, many hours to finish. It was so intimidating... what would I do if my knife slipped and ruined it when I was 40 hours in? Or 60 hours in? Or at the last finishing moment? It was very tedious and stressful... but when it was finished, it was breathtaking. Even to me, who stares at these things every day, haha. I love it.

...
So, how BLOWN is your mind?  That Starry Night she cut out?  Holy Macaroni.  Amaziiiing. 
And these are only a few of the wonderful pieces of art she has in her shop.  Jordan, thank you so much for the chance to feature your incredible art.  Much much love!

You can find Jordan here:
Shop
FB
Twitter
Website

These are a few of my favorite things...

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad...I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feeeeeeeeeeeeel so bad!
(Yupp, that's me singing to you. You're welcome.)

Just a quick roundup of my favorite things of the week :)

Noella Beautyworks Foundation
Seriously, the BEST mineral foundation I've ever tried. 

KnotieTies
The cutest hair accessories ever. Legit.

Available in my shop
Yeah, a little self promo there...but I LOVE this.

KTFDesign Thank Yous
I bought some of her lovely stationery back in December, and I NEED to go back for more!

Botny Custom Earrings
Seriously, how CUTE are these??

Featured: ThreeSummerDays

One of my favorite parts about browsing through Etsy, is finding a new shop and getting to stalk  interact with an amazing artist right from the beginning.  Sarah hasn't been around for a very long time, but her artwork is GORGEOUS, and beautifully inspiring.  Her combination of colors, quotes, and meticulous attention to the tiniest details is just astounding.  And she has kindly agreed to be my second Etsy shop feature. 

Good Clean Earth

 
 What inspires you the most?
It would be a combination of words, nature and people. Ever since my childhood, I’ve been inspired by words. Didn’t matter if it was in a book or a song. There’s something so magical about the fact that just the right combination of words can inspire, tell a story or stir your heart.  Aspects of people and nature are typically the focus of my work. Hands, eyes, trees, the sun -- they’re all incredibly inspirational to me for different reasons. Everything has a story. I try to tell it in the best way I can. 

Love is a Smoke

What is your favorite quote?

Oh this is such a hard question. There are so many! My favorite would have to be a tie between these two:

“I must be taken as I have been made. The success is not mine, the failure is not mine, but the two together make me.” -- Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” -- Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

The Portrait

If you had to choose only one color to paint with for the rest of your life, which color would it be?

Definitely blue. I actually have to struggle not to use it all the time in my pieces. I’ll be sketching out ideas and I’ll think, “Oh this would be great with a deep blue or a light blue, etc, etc.” Then I’ll check the shop to see how many blue pieces I have and will usually have to restrain myself. But sometimes I just can’t help it. It’s such a versatile color.

Gossamer Web

 What is your favorite part about being an artist?

I love the emotional and physical freedom it provides. I love that I can be at home with my daughter and not miss anything as she grows. I love working and feeling in my gut, “Yes, this is what I’m supposed to be doing.” It doesn’t really feel like work. Some days, of course, things can get a little tedious, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love being able to show my daughter by example that it is possible to be a mother and have a career that you absolutely love. I’m so thankful that I can show her other sides of me, the ones that come out in my work: I’m her mother, a bookworm, a lover of nature (who would secretly live in a tree if she could), a silent observer, an artist. Being an artist allows me to feel wholly myself. It’s so liberating.

...

How lovely is she?  Even her interview answers are wonderful and inspiring...she makes me want to go do something artistic immediately.  You can check out more of her beautiful artwork at ThreeSummerDays

Thank you Sarah for giving us a wonderful peek into your mind.

Featured: One Stitch Designs

OneStitch has been one of my favorite Etsy shops to browse through for AGES.  She's got it all - cute hats & gloves, coffee cozies, and even adorable matchbook notepads. 

And she's kindly agreed to be my very first shop feature :)

Hot Pink Fingerless Gloves

Why did you decide to open an Etsy shop?

3 reasons

*My house was becoming a disaster zone of fiber goodness (but it's worse now :)

*I was in serious need of more money (you cannot live off of 10 hours a week min wage)

*And I really wanted to eventually throw off the chains of the corporate world - no more jobs where you are called 10 minutes before the end of your day and told you no longer have a job (this is my only income now :)

This thing has grown into 2 shops and a standalone website

Pixie Hat

What is your absolute favorite thing to make & sell?

My favorite thing to make would be clothing, actually. But I never actually sold a piece. My favorite thing to make that I've sold is the gloves- any of them. I've got a glove thing :)

Matchbook Notepads

Who/what is your biggest inspiration?

Pixiebell.etsy.com not in product inspiration, but in a "hey, you can make a living off of yarn" sort of way. Diane is really nice too :)

Purple Heart Gift Tags

In the event of a Zombie apocalypse (or any apocalypse really), which crafty tool or skill would be your greatest weapon?

Well as for weapons, I have several longbows and can make more. Plus many other weapons :) self defense isn't an issue here!

Survival - I can take any fiber, spin it, and then knit or crochet it to make something warm to survive winter :) That's almost as good as a double tap anyday!

.....

Seriously, how AMAZING is she??  Those gloves, to die for.  Everything she makes is just gorgeous.  Not even exaggerating one tiny bit.  Go check out her whole shop at OneStitchDesigns

Thanks so much, Steph, for being my first shop feature :)