My New Team: Project Etsy Embrace

My new team! I am honored and excited to be part of a new team on Etsy: Team Project Etsy Embrace.

Team Project Etsy Embrace  is a Universal Coalition of Artists, Suppliers and Vintage Collectors, who initially were brought together as a way to help a friend and wonderful Etsian, Laura Slocum who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. You can read more about how the group got started in this article:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/teams-spotlight-etsy-pr­oject-embrace-9179/

Today, Team Project Etsy Embrace. not only supports the American Cancer Society (ACS), but also The American Hospice Foundation (AHF).

I do not know what my family would have done without the loving care and guidance of our Hospice Team.

This Treasury features a few of my new wonderful team mates.

'All You Need is Love... and a Bubble Bath' by YourDailyJewels

For my new team members of Team Etsy Project Embrace. I am so happy to be part of this great group!

Heart Sugar Cookie Hair... aisha123 $6.95	BOGO SALE - Love - 8x12... Lori411 $27.00	Ares, Greek Warrior, Ha... sacredsuds $6.00
Birthday Cake Cupcake B... divatreats1 $6.00	Sterling silver stamped... littlebugjewel... $33.00	LOVE Letters Wedding Bo... hoganfe $168.00
what a LOVE-ly heart...... visionquest $32.50	Be My Valentine... Studio1980 $29.99	Surrounded by Love Brea... brefour $3.00
Love and Peace - Porcel... ShebboDesign $20.00	Soothing Spa Soap Saver... Easy123 $15.00	Sage and Pomgranate Loo... 1846housesoaps $6.50
Princess Jasmine - save... BubblesUpByBet... $5.00	love much little dish -... claylicious $15.00	Mountain Dew (type) Moi... LongLeafSoaps $2.00
Heart Couple Pull Out N... 2mommysscrapin $2.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Does Facebook Make You Crazy? 1st in a Series

Easy Peazy Guide to Putting a FaceBook “Like” Button on Your Blogger Blog

 

1. Go to your fan page

2. click on "Edit Info" (upper right)

3. click on "Marketing" on the left side

4. click on "Add a Like Box to your Website"

5. Put your pages link/ address  in the box titled "Facebook Page URL"

6. Tweak the settings ( peek at mine)

• Mine is 175 width, in order to line up with my other widgets
• I chose light because Dark is a black background, too dark for my blog
• I chose not to “show stream” because it looked too busy for my blog
• I chose “show faces” because I like to see my friends
• I chose “show header” because you can click and go to my FB page

7.   Hit:  "get code”

8.  Copy either "iframe" or "xfbml" code.  I used “xfbml” and it worked. 

      That’s all I know about this step. This is the only scary step.

9.   Go to your blog , sign in and click on "design". (I use the new Blogger   Platform, I am not  sure of the steps to get to “design” on the older format.

10.  You will see your boxes with "add a gadget", click on one.

11.   Click on "HTML/JavaScript,” (8 down from top)

12.  Title it (that’s up to you)

13.  Paste the content that you copied in the "content" section and save.

14   Check your blog and see where it ended up. Give it a few seconds to load

16.  You can go back in to design and move it around. You just drag that “widget” to wherever you want it.

see, easy peazy

 

Some New Pretties

I am still ironing out the details of my giveaway. Another huge blog wants to host it!







Wherever it ends up, I will keep you posted as to how to enter.  These are some of the items that may be prizes. I have not picked the final items yet.

Give Away!

Now that I have told you about my handmade, one of a kind bracelets and The pre.rog.ative Collection, I am going to give a bracelet away! Stay connected for details on how to win  this The pre.rog.ative Collection bracelet/necklace.

It is like winning two pieces of jewelry, because you will win the bracelet and the extension chain that converts it into a necklace!

Check back for all the details.

Thanks for reading,
Norah

The Bracelet

For me it has always been difficult to stop at just one bracelet. I like to make a little noise when I walk. Why stop at one?

Those following the spring trends know that piling one of a kind, handmade bracelets on is an easy way to get a statement look that's uniquely you.

Handmade Lampwork Glass Bracelet

Stack them up! Choose from gold or silver bracelets , semi precious gemstones or handmade glass;  wrap bracelets and bracelets full of charms, leather bracelets and hand linked bracelets. At Your Daily Jewels you will  also find handmade bracelets made with Swarovski crystal, fresh water pearls, Czech glass, gold filled and silver charms, and even, found objects! Your options are endless!






What is fantastic about this trend, is that most bracelets in Your Daily Jewels Store, double as necklaces with the purchase of an affordable extension chain!  Two pieces of jewelry in one! 







The pre.rog.ative Collection by Your Daily Jewels gives you the option of changing your mind, and changing your jewelry, instantly! The extension chain is the perfect length to turn your bracelet in to a necklace, or,  if you like, wrap it twice around your wrist

Periwinkle Czech Glass pre.rog.ative Bracelet

Black Lava from the pre.rog.ative collection

I will be back this week with many more handmade  bracelet ideas.
Thank you so much for reading,
Norah

Tuesday, May 10 is International Lupus Awareness Month

May 10th is World Lupus Day. As the Lupus Foundation of America’s (LFA) Global Ambassador, I hope you will join me and make the pledge today to educate others and raise awareness of lupus on behalf of the 5 million people worldwide living with this disease.

I have signed the pledge in honor of my childhood friend, Lucy Vodden, who lost her battle with lupus in 2009. Join me and add your name to the pledge!

(Lucy Vodden is Lucy, of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Julian's kindergarten girlfriend)

Please sign the pledge. Thank you so much

*********I will be donating 100% of my profits to the Lupus Foundation on May 10th. I hope lots of people shop********

Thank you, Julian for getting involve in this fight.

In Memory of My Mom

In memory of my mom I am re-running this post I wrote about my mother's illness and its effect on the final years of our relationship. I still think about her all throughout the day and miss her, endlessly.

It has been two years since Alzheimer's took its final ravage on on my mother's brain and body. I spent eight years, day in and out, with a lot of help, caring for my mom.

My mom on High School Graduation day

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease is like being back in school. Everyday you are learning more, and trying to remember what you have learned in order to apply it to the next lesson. You are constantly being challenged and tested by your loved one. Pop quizzes are the best, and you are often caught unprepared.

Nancy Reagan's quote is very true,"When you have met one person with Alzheimer's disease, you have met one person with Alzheimer's disease". Every patient has a slightly different presentation and every presentation changes by the day.  What I tell people who are fumbling through the early stages of care and feeling like they cannot do anything right to protect their loved one is: "The only plan is to plan for no plan to work".

It will sound odd, but my fondest memories of my mom are during her years with Alzheimer's. She became a kinder, gentler mom. Happy to be helped. Happy when I covered for her in conversation, or told her "I always forget...".Happy to laugh. Happy to have her children there, almost everyday.  She lived in the moment and enjoyed many moments. Yes, she had her battles, especially in the early stages, asking me "Why haven't I slipped away yet, why do I know this is happening?". My mom spent her last eight years with her children. Had she been healthy, we probably would have visited two or three times  a year. Instead, we moved her close to all of us, and few days went by when one of her children was not with her. All four of her children became bonded in the commitment to make her days happy and safe.

My mom had the brightest blue eyes you have ever seen. People would stop just to comment on how beautiful she and her eyes were. They shone bright and sparkled through the disease process, while the eyes of others fell dull. At the moment of her passing, after seeming to be asleep for over a day, she opened her sparkling eyes with her last breath. All four children around her; I believe it was her message that her light shines on in all of us. We became close siblings because of Alzheimer's disease, we became more patient because of Alzheimer's disease, we learned how to selflessly give to others because of Alzheimer's disease, and we learned of the healing power of laughter when you just do not know what to do next.

During the long goodbye to our mom, we became better people in the world. We graduated Alzheimer's University with honors. I thank my mom for living through the long goodbye with graciousness, humor, and trust. I thank my siblings for loving so unconditionally. I thank God that we could all find the positive in a situation that many cannot bear. This was my mom's final lesson to her children.

 My mom and her sisters

Thank you for reading,
Norah

Fruity Fun

 I had so much fun making this, I just have to share

Look for lots more to come, in this style

Happy Mother's Day to everyone.
:)Norah

Never Forget

The Last Day of Autism Awarness Month

Today is the final day of Autism Awareness Month. As promised, 10% of my profits from the month will be donated to the Autism Society. I hope I can add to my final amount today.

May 10th is World Lupus Day. On this day I will be donating 100% of my profits to the Lupus Foundation. I will start promoting  this tomorrow and I will be coming to you, my readers, for help in spreading awareness of Lupus, specifically, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE).

As a physical therapist, every neurological condition is close to my heart. Especially the ones that affect children, because I work with children. However, there are two diseases that have affected my family and changed our lives: Alzheimer's Disease and Lupus. I am dedicated to spreading awareness of these illnesses and raising money for the prevention and cure of these catastrophic, life changing illnesses.

I am no expert, however, if you are or your family are dealing with either of these illnesses and would like access to my world of empirical knowledge, please leave a comment with contact info.

Understanding Lupus from the Lupus Foundation Website

 

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

• Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
• Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
• Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above.
• Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
• Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
• It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
• Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.
• Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
• More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.

Thank you for reading,
Norah

 

Etsy's BEST Weekly: Chasing the Nuns / Cerlandia

 Sarah, from Chasing the Nuns and Cerlandia is a multi talented stay at home mom/artisan. She is skilled in knitting, crocheting and sewing and she has recently added silk screen to her repertoire, resulting in a shop full of unique and distinct items.

 

I know many booklovers who would freak over these totebags!

 With all of Sarah's craftiness, you never know what you will find in her shop. It is the kind of store you want to keep checking back on.

Silk Screened  Bag made of 100% cotton fabric and lined with a laminated cotton that is BPA and PVC free. The lining is also water, stain and mold resistant.

  If Sarah makes it, she can probably make it for you in your favorite color or yarn. Just ask her about your custom ideas

This is the sweetest ever! A crochet necklace.

Sarah also makes  really fun shoulder bags out of recycled t-shirts! They are lined with coordinating fabric to make them sturdy. Sarah will even make a custom bag with your own special t-shirt! If you have a favorite Tee-shirt, Sarah can preserve it for you by turning into a sturdy bag like this.

Sponge Bob Square Pants Tee Shirt Bag

 Keep up with Sarah on her blog

And follow her on Twitter and Facebook

Sarah and I are both members of the BEST of Etsy. The Boosting Etsy Shops Team's goal is to provide marketing support for each others' Etsy shops by writing WEEKLY features on our blogs. For those that have them, we encourage use of Twitter Accounts and Facebook Fanpages to further this goal. Our team also shows support by offering free advertising for each other. We are a very dynamic, active group and we are now accepting new members!

Thanks for reading,

Norah

Easter and Pesach!

 Happy Easter 

and  Chag Sameach

Spring is finally here, and in celebration, 

I am having a store-wide sale. 

 

Everything in Your Daily Jewels is 15% off 

plus free shipping (NO CODE NEEDED)

 Hope your Spring Holidays are filled  love, health, and family