I'm a Funky Find!

I've been missing in action due to the swine flu and pnemonia. Yep, my middle schooler came home several weeks ago with the swine flu, and taking care of her, naturally it got hold of me. Moms should be impervious to these illnesses, because, hello... who's going to take care of the children? So there I was sick as a dog, Erika started getting better, and I was not. Hence, another trip to the doctor, where they informed me I had pnemonia. Now, this is nothing to joke about. Not being able to take a breathe was scary, to say the least. Thank God, my son didn't get sick. Little guy stayed far away from the sickies in the house. Smart, eh?

So last week while trying to recover, I was "discovered" at Funky Finds. Here's the link... and go follow them, you'll discover indie artists, crafters and designers worldwide.

Happy November, ya'll.

Kauai, no its Aloha Friday!

In late 1980, I was fortunate enough to go to Kauai with a former boyfriend and stayed at the Westin Kauai. Fast forward to the early 90's after I married my husband, we went to Kauai, and surprisingly enough stayed at the same property, only this time, it was the Marriott Resort Kauai. It was an incentive trip with his company and I remember thinking, "I've been to Kauai, can't we go somewhere else?" It was so ridiculous of me to feel that way and not realize how incredibly lucky I was to go back to a majestic paradise as Kauai, with my husband! To be younger and foolish again...

Wish I was on the beaches of Kauai today (hell, any beach would be okay by me), but I'm not, so I'm dreaming about it and playing along with in An Island Life's Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and go to An Island Life and leave your link. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!


My question: Do you shop online? If so, what is the one thing that draws you into an online store? i.e. free shipping, a sale, pictures, free gift wrapping, etc.?

My answer: I love to shop online, I can cover a lot of ground and I can do it anytime I want, in the comfort of my home, in my favorite pajamas, drinking a cup of coffee! I did 90% of my Christmas shopping online. For all my out of town relatives and friends, its easier to shop, buy and ship it directly to them. I prefer shopping at other indie artist boutiques like mine (shameless plug for Dee-Zigns Handcrafted Jewelry), because they normally have one of a kind items and offer free gift wrapping, like me! Offering free gift wrapping is not a total deal breaker, though, because I've bought things at toys r us, shipped them to my sister-in-law's house and asked her to wrap them for me for my niece's birthday.

Game on!

Okay, there's no game, really. And this is not an April Fool's joke people! Go to my website and sign up to enter the 2009 Happily Handmade Giveaway (click on the official pretty green badge - each sponsor has one on their home page). All you have to do is sign up with the entry form on each and every website of the Indie Sponsors for the Happily Handmade Giveaway. There are 25 glorious baskets brimming with handmade gifts valued at over $300 each. No kidding! This basket to the right includes a pair of my earrings.



This baskets to the left contains a pair of my earrings! To me, the game is entering through all the Indie Sponsors websites. There are so many talented artists, so I get side tracked looking at all the goodies on their websites.

Let me know what you think of this giveaway.

Going on a Blog Hunt!

I saw this on Scoutie girl and decided to put my list together. I enjoyed visiting blogs that I haven't (I'm sorry to say) visited in a while. Be sure to stop by each one and see for yourself what incredible writing there is to be read out there in cyberspace. And please let me know what you think of my list!


{image + game via marta writes}
play along if you please.
link it up. spread the love.


link a blogger who...

has an online shop: The Pear Project
has flawless taste: just beachy
has admirable qualities: purplepinkandorange
has awesome links to other blogs: scoutie girl
is an artist: Peggy Li Jewelry
is intriguing: Mimi Love 4 ever
is a daily read: youlookfab
is an old favorite: fashionista
is creative: Orange you lucky
is a designer: the material girls
is wildly prolific: indiefixx
features fabulous layouts: modish
features loveliness: MissMalaprop
features fantasticness: Indie Collective
lives far away: Mixed Plate
lives pretty close: Funky utopia
lives pretty far: desire to inspire
takes fantastic photographs: heather bullard
tells great stories: Gaston Studio
crafts up a storm: Craftster
writes about life: blissfully caffeinated
gives fabulous recipes: the pioneer woman
gives fabulous tips: Modish Biz Tips
makes me want to be her best friend: laurenandkellytalk
makes me believe in the goodness of people: dollar philanthropy
makes me laugh: dooce

Gift Guides Galore!

Dee-Zigns Handcrafted Jewelry & Accessories is listed in a few other holiday gift guides. Personally I find while browsing these gift guides it helps me focus on my shopping list and within a few clicks I have found unique gifts that I know I wouldn't have discovered at any big box retailer. And generally, I get better customer service and and friendlier shopping experience.

The Indie Collective Holiday Shopping Guide has a wide array of unique handcrafted items from innovative indie designers in a magazine-inspired format. Indie Collective boasts they provide one of the hippest resources for today's savvy shopper to discover the best of indie fashion & style. Look for incredible savings on shipping and discounts at each of the shops.

The Holiday Gift Guide at PurplePinkandOrange is available and contains over 30 indie designers and artists offering discounts and special savings to make shopping this holiday season a little easier.

Christmas Countdown

Oh my goodness, I just added this Countdown to Christmas on my blog and now I'm panicking at the time ticking away until Christmas. 8 weeks and 1 day! Yikes, I have so much to do because my family will be traveling to Arizona for Christmas. That will put a different spin on things. My kids keep asking if Santa will find them there. Of course he will, he's Santa!

I've already started my holiday shopping. I'm determined to start early so its not so stressful come December.

Which brings me to holiday gift guides. Dee-Zigns will be featured in several Holiday Gift Guides this season and Mixed Plate is the first one. Please take a peek and discover plenty of indie artists and designers showcasing many different gift ideas for friends and family members, including the furry ones! Every shop is offering a coupon code from free shipping to percentages off your order. So visit them today and start shopping.