Once again time has flown by and I have been neglectful in posting. Well new year, new beginnings... what to blog about?? hmmm.. Megan suggested a few ideas for me and one of them was about cooking. I don't know if that's such a great idea because I truly believe that cooking is a personal reflection of the soul. Maybe she's right and I should consider this. I don't want to get all heady about food, but it is a primal need, obviously to survive one needs to consume calories, but for me to cook and experience the act of cooking is almost as basic in my "need-to-survive"list of items.

If you really look at the act of cooking, it really is an amazing thing. I am really hoping that my sons never see this blog because they may hear a few things about me that will freak them out... ok.. I promised to be true to self with blogging this year so here it is.. to me cooking is a very sensual, almost sexual, experience. Hear me out. Think about it. When you are in the kitchen and are in the zone of cooking an amazing meal all your senses are heightened. Your senses of taste and smell and sight with color and texture are at their peek. It's an amazing thing. I love smelling fresh herbs and crushing them between my fingers to release oils and aromas. I love using fresh ingredients and never cook from a box. Scratch cooking is what it's all about. Sifting flour, dicing onions, peeling potatoes (or not), rinsing pasta, making salsas, tempenades, sauces, and glazes, all while experiencing the touch and aroma of it all is almost as good as a good O. If you are enjoying a good glass or two of wine while cooking, it is just as good. It's all about the experience and frame of mind. OK, so enough of this "O" talk, let's talk about what I have been cooking.

I was away for two very long weeks at market and when I came home I had to get in the kitchen to cook. So, what I made was simple. For lunch yesterday I served a delicious salad made from lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, ground beef, a light mayo, and a bag of chili fritos. Last night we had pizza and then I baked peanut butter cookies, and made a hot dish to be served today along with a beautiful leafy green and fruit salad with an amazing Raspberry Hazelnut vinaigrette dressing and fruity rice crispy bars. Now this is not my regular cooking style. Not by a long shot; this is easy-peesy-no-brain cooking. So why did I do it? It's what the kids asked for. Now that I have their little requests out of the way I am going to cook like I like to cook. No more casseroles and frozen pizzas on my watch. Heading back to the grocery store for some Mary ingredients, and....... a good bottle of wine.

Yes... it's been forever since I wrote and updated my blog. Lots of new things going on in my world. We have expanded our company and branched off.. new name, new jewelry, purses, bling, and belts. Fun fun fun.. check it out.. www.ayvahjewelry.com it's named after my beautiful granddaughter. She looks so much like her more than gorgeous mommy, Brande. I am blessed, life is good, and all is right in my world right now.

ps. Rob is graduating.. can you believe that? how time flies.

Love you all!

Mary

Ok so my Chargers didn't win..that's ok. I can survive.... I was telling my best friend that they are always the bridesmaid but never the bride and at that moment I heard my mother's voice which got me to thinking of different sayings we all hear. After thinking of those I was talking to my father on the phone and he mentioned some innocuous saying which got me on a tangent on "Mary Sayings". I am really stepping out here to admit some of the things I have said over the years and it probably sheds a terrible light on my psyche so without belaboring any longer....here goes..

"If you don't have something nice to say, give me a call"
"He who smacks last wins"
"Don't be the early bird, stash what you want the night before"
"I never said I was nice"
"Winners never quit and quitters never win"
"Losers have excuses and I don't want to hear yours'"
"Why Thank You!" I said this after being told I sound just like my mother.
"Wow, I take that as a compliment" After being called a bitch.
"OMG, why did they let your parents breed" I've only thought this one, never vocalized it. Well not yet at any rate. I may someday. hmmmm

these are just a few I remembered in the past two minutes. I had a boyfriend in college, Victor, who used to say to my brothers.."Nice shirt, does it come in your size." Now that was mean. Every time he said it, they fell for it. Funny. Now my brothers are older and Victor is off living who knows or cares where... but whenever I see someone with a new shirt on that stupid saying comes to mind.

Please post any nice or not so nice sayings you have used over the years.

See ya around....well not if I see you first.

Mary

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Unexpected Time..

It's amazing how time plays tricks on us. For me, it's one of those things that you can't quite get a handle on or control. When you are busy it flies, when bored it stands still, when facing life's challenges, it ticks away and does strange things... why am I writing about time? Simply because I just found a few minutes and I am amazed that I even remembered my blog address after not writing for such a long time. Forgiveness is sought and I am sure it will be extended for my negligence.

My last entry mentioned the start of my company, Biah, which has grown and is getting more and more exciting as the days go one. Our catalog is out, we have 33 reps in 8 states and are awaiting the release of our first commercial by the new year. If you would like to check out our company, our website is up and running...still having lots added daily. please check it out...God has been so good to us and we are very thankful for the direction of our business.

Biah Jewelry

hopefully I will be able to squeeze in a few minutes each week to update the blog.

Love you all,
Mary

wow... so many months have passed and as usual, so much has happened during those long months. Lifewise....we are all good.. no.. we are great. Meggie got home from school this past week and the other kids finish up this next week. Really needing the break right now from home schooling. 

Lots of exciting news from the home front. First things first. David and Brandi had their baby, Ayvah, and she's beautiful. She arrived on Leap Year day so she will only have a birthday every four years. Meggie and I were able to spend about two weeks in California with the family there.

I have started a new business, biah... it's so exciting how all this transpired. A part of me is still having a hard time believing the greatness of it all...  After getting several items pubbed in beading magazines Traci and I, Traci is my business partner, were contacted by a company out n Ca to design for them. We were tempted and felt very honored that they felt our designs were good enough for a line....then we were contacted by several gals/other designers asking if they could sell our jewelry for us... 

so we started biah... be inspred at home... we have a full line of jewelry 310 items that are offered at inhome jewelry parties and we have 10 reps out there right now. Our catalog will be out within 10-12 weeks.. what makes biah different from the others is this.... we only have real stuff.. real stones, real pearls, real sterling.... and it's all designed and made by us here in American, South Dakota to be exact. We don't send or buy our supplies from overseas. Traci brings an incredible business mind to the partnership along with amazing designing skills and I bring a lifetime of jewelry insight...My dad is a manufacturing jeweler and I grew up in the business. My dad, Don Palmer, is our mentor and advisor and we are so very fortunate and thankful for all his advice and encouragement. So, If you are wanting a biah rep to contact you or if you are interested in the biah opportunity, please leave a comment and I will personally get more information to you.

Keep us in your thoughts and I will try to keep this blog up to date. 

Love you!

Mary

I am sorry I haven't written in such a long time, but as you can see, I have been so very busy.

Hey there.
OK... lots going on as usual. Some days I just think of all the activities I have juggling about and am at a loss as to how to write about it all.
I didn't send out a "family" letter this year simply because if you are close to my family, you know what's going on anyways so why waste the paper, ink, and postage telling you all things that you already know????? just think of all the paper we could conserve if we didn't send those brag letters. It's just a thought.

So, I broke a tooth last week and just got into the dentist this afternoon. Good thing it wasn't too bad, he will be able to fix it next week without doing the crown thing on it. whew. On the way home we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up an order form for a med bracelet for Meggie. After all her scares with Penecillin and Morophine we figure she needs to have a med bracelet. Then stopped by the cell phone place and got new phones for Meggie and Robby... I know boring ya here.

Meggie came into the store with me today and helped with inventory. She spent three days photographing inventory for reordering purposes. She took over 1400 photos of different beads and supplies. She decided that she didn't want money, but wanted beading supplies...so she went away with a lot of fun beads, stones, tools, and supplies. how fun for her.

I was taken aback at the store when a gal came in and called us celebreties. how funny is that? Beading and submitting is so much easier than doing it in the scrapbooking industry. at least it seems that way for me. Other gals that have been submitting for bead magazines say that it is just the same, so maybe it's just that the jewelry industry likes my style better than the scrapbooking industry. hmm.. the local newspaper ran an article with photos and I have some other fun news.... Bead Trends picked up 12 of my items for the May/June issue. March/April will have four items. It's a lot of fun. I keep going back and forth about the HOF stuff. I did step down from all the design teams and Swap site. The hardest one to step back from was Creativity Unbound. I love the concept, but just don't have the time. I love the ladies on there and on the other sites, but it's just way too much for me right now.

I have also made another good decision..... I am going ahead with having the tumors removed from my jaw. I know this is the right thing to do. I just want it over and done with. So... enough pitty and stupidity.... Life is good.... love what you have,...take time to do more than smell the roses... smush them up and take a hot bath in them....yeah! that sounds good.
Well..I have Meggie home for a few more days and am planning on enjoying each moment I have with her. I am so blessed to have her as my little girl. She is a tremendous joy and blessing. I am also doubly blessed to have Anabelle as well. The boys are all four X blessings... I guess what I am trying to say is that they are all soooooo stinking wonderful. I love them all so much and am so blessed to have a terrific husband, too.

Back to my creating things... I love being creative, I love finding art in everything around me. I love seeing God's thumbprint on it all. So... have fun, look around, and CREATE!

Love you.
Mary