Excuse Me Please While I Puke

I was rendered speechless. I tried to form words but the only thing that actually left my lips was jibberish. This was completely unbelievable, incomprehensible, unbearable. The words came over the phone, delivered by my Mom but felt more like an incredible blow straight to my gut. I wanted to say, "Excuse me please while I puke."

In case you are just joining me let me take a brief moment to catch you up to speed. In March 2010, I suffered a stroke. I am in my mid 40's and this was a rather unbelievable happening. I have successfully recovered. In March 2011 my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently in the throws of treatment and recovery. Yesterday, we found out my other sister has breast cancer too!!! What the heck????

x 2 is just not right!





To say my family is completely stunned is an understatement of great proportions. I think we are all in a state of shock. We come from a line of really great genes. Our family history has had next to no medical issues, current generation aside. Our parents and grandparents are, and in some cases were, always extremely healthy. Our grandparents lived healthily into their 90s and 100s. We always believed we would follow the same course.

It is hard to put all my thoughts and feelings together right now. There is so much I want to say but the thoughts come and go so quickly.

It is my hope that we, as a family, will find balance and grace. It is my prayer that we will all heal.

Favorite Things Tuesday July 19

Tuesdays are a great day to show off a few of my favorite things. Since we are in the middle of summer let's celebrate today with a summer theme.

I LOVE to drink iced tea all summer long. Even though I'm from the Northeast I visit the south often and have learned that the proper name for iced tea is Sweet Tea. I used to put sugar in my tea and would promptly gain 5 lbs by the end of the summer season. After all sugar water is what hummingbirds survive on, the only problem is I don't burn as many calories as a hummingbird. This summer, instead of using white, processed sugar I am using Agave Nectar. Let me tell you....it is GOOD stuff. I don't notice any difference in flavor, it is even a tad bit sweeter and yummier. So far I have eluded any weight gain. This is a very good thing because I LOVE my sweet tea!!! I think I will be giving agave nectar a try in my baking as well. It is so much better for you than processed sugar. I buy my agave at Costco but I have seen it at my local grocery store too.

I am so into turquoise this summer. Any and all accessories turquoise is right up my alley. I found these perfect summer accessories in dachuksb7196's shop on Etsy. Her crocheted item pieces are simply beautiful. She has some fun, sexy items for the one in your family that loves to be barefoot.

In keeping with the turquoise summer theme I created this bracelet in a style similar to Chan Luu, but ofcourse added my own lampwork beads to it. A wrappable bracelet which creates stackable layers. I will definitely be making more of these. If you have any color suggestions please let me know, I will be happy to put something together for you. I plan to list my leather bracelets on Etsy but it is likely I won't have time to do so until the middle of next week.If you are interested in more info on this bracelet please contact me on my Facebook Page, Ema K Designs. 

As always, thanks for stopping by and visiting with me. I look forward to your comments.

Each Day is New

Hi. Thanks for visiting my blog. My life as a wife, mother, sister, employee and artist has been crazy busy the last for months.

I began a part time job in April. I'm still not sure if I will continue with it. I like the job. Working from home, as an artist can be solitary and I miss seeing people so this job has been great fun. The problem is I haven't had a chance to make any beads or jewelry and I am sorely missing being creative. I am praying on finding a solution to this dilemma. I think if I put as much effort into my own business as I am putting into this part time job I could be successful. The problem is having enough discipline while working from home and being accountable to myself can be tricky.

My sister is successfully waging her own personal battle with breast cancer. She has made it easy for those of us that love her by handling the entire situation proactively with an amazingly positive attitude and an incredible amount of Grace. Yes she found Grace. I tell you she is an inspiration! If you are inclined to pray we would gladly accept your prayers on her behalf.

My second son graduated from high school! Phew!!! I am so pleased he is finally out of public school and will be creating his own direction and making decisions about his life. I think this is a wonderful place to be in life. I am excited to watch where he will go. He is heading off to college in the fall, studying film. Look out Hollywood....he will be storming your doors down some day soon.

Now with summer underway I hope I will be able to find some space to make beads and decide which direction I will take. I have decided I can't manage my family, manage my husbands business, work at a part time job as well as run my own business. Some decisions need to made...NOW if only I could decide.......



In the meantime....you can find my beads for sale in my Etsy and Artfire shoppes.