The Original Chex® Party Mix

3 cups Corn Chex® cereal

3 cups Rice Chex® cereal

3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal

1 cup mixed nuts

1 cup bite-size pretzels

1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder



The original recipe includes Corn Chex®, Rice Chex® and Wheat Chex®. You can mix and match to suit your taste—just use a total of 9 cups of cereal.


1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

A Carrot, An Egg and A Cup of Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee (we all fall into one of these categories)



You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.



A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.



Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.



In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.



Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."



"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.



Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.



Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"



Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.



Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.



"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?



Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?



Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?



Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.



When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER

By Maya Angelou



'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ

That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'



When I say.... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'

I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'



When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.



When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.



When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.



When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.



When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.



When I say..... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

LETTING GO

author unknown

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring, It means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. God can use those as I trust him!

To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands -- it's in God's.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another, I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. Learning from our own mistakes is often God's way of working to grow us.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.

To let go is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny, but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and to cherish the moment.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone but to try to become what I dream I can be -- and to ask the Lord what he desires for me.

To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

These are Instructions on how to let go...Perhaps it is letting go of a rebellious child, or a burden of sorrow, losing a loved one or learning to live with a heartache we are struggling to let go of. Read this over...Study it...Pray over it ... and you will find that letting go of your load will release a peace within you which will allow your spirit to soar...to be free...to completely give it to God...and let a work be done within you where the need is anyway.

Free Christmas Gifts!

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Source: shopteamcac.blogspot.com

An Updated and Younger Me

I was blessed with youth tonight!
Thanks so much to http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluecitrusart

I could tell you what she did but instead, I will just let you
look and appreciate my youthfulness!

Thanks so much Irene! You have blessed me!... and made
my heart smile and my wrinkles disappear!

Before:

After:

Decisions! Decisions!

I HATE having my picture taken, but I need to do a press release
this week announcing my graduation from Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology.

I know it will be good for the business for me to do this, plus I have many
wonderful customers who have gone through this whole time of schooling with me
awaiting my graduation. It will be a easy way for them to know I have completed
what I set out to do.

So, do you have a preference as to which pic I should use??

#1
#2
#3
#4
Please leave me a comment and let me know which one you think looks
the best.



This last one is of me kissing the photographer! My #2 daughter, Haleigh!
Thanks Honey!

She is finished and her name is.....

Tessa!
I received this via UPS on Tuesday morning! I could hardly wait to get the package open! I love her, she will become my branding piece of advertisement!


As you see she has no jewelry on at all. What was she thinking?????? Oh well, it
doesn't matter, she is in the right place. We will find her the perfect pieces right here at Hampton House Jewelry!

Thanks so much to those who took this virtual trip with me as she was painted, named and hung on the wall! I will be looking for the perfect frame for her soon.

Now to the advertising part!!!!

Dressed up and ready for Fall!

Fall is my most favorite time of the year! I love the colors and the
smells, and the memories that are associated with it.



I love decorating for the season also!

As you can see, the shoppe is dressed and ready for the season!

If you are ever in the neighborhood, come see me!

p.s. I see where those Christmas lights need to come down today!!!

New Signs!

Wes and Micah took a Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, to put up my
new shoppe signs. The old one had Hampton House Gifts and was getting
quite faded.

We painted the new ones. One for the top of the building and one for
the sidewalk. The one I used to use for the sidewalk would blow over
3-4 times a day. I decided that I wanted one that we could make semi-permanent.

I bartered two custom made sterling silver bracelets for this metal part
of this sign. I feel like I got the better end of the deal, but the man
that I bartered with was very pleased with his end. I like barters like that!

Thanks guys! I appreciate all your muscles and help!

Gushing Happy Heart....

I know it is cheesy, but I got to talk to Josh tonight.
I needed my heart hugged. He did a great job!

I love him and am so proud of him! His parents did
a terrific job of raising him!

Kudos Rick, Joann, and Josh!

June 7, 2010

That is the day my baby is due with her baby. about 10 days after she graduates from high school.

She will turn 18 the first week in November. My heart is a bit sad because the dreams I had for her are no where to be found now. Grief is such a hard emotion to put into words.

She and Bill, her boyfriend have been dating for nine months now. They discussed the pregnancy and had made up their mind about what they wanted to do. Abortion was never an option. Chelsea said seeing what I have gone through with the adoption of Josh was enough to make her not want to give the baby up for adoption, so that leaves them having raising the baby. They are both committed to the relationship and the raising of the baby at this time. I truly hope the situation stays that way for the baby's sake.

Chelsea and Bill both told Wes and I together. That was a good lst step. Needless to say, if you know me, I didn't mince words to well. I feel like I was pretty direct and clearly stating my thoughts so that I was understood. Wes on the other hand, was so much more like the Lord, or how I perceive the Lord to be. He was firm with his words but not nearly as curt as I was.

I am not sure what all is ahead of us with this pregnancy, but we are going to support her and Bill. We are proud of them for choosing life! We are proud of them for making a right decision when a wrong decision would have been so much easier.

So this is a new path I have not taken before, there will be lessons to learn and lots of love to give and a new life to celebrate!

Portrait Finished!

Yay!! I must say that was very very fast to have a portrait painted!
I can hardly wait to get her to her new home and hanging on the wall!
This is the artist's shoppe: JaclynBergantino.etsy.com.


Now, I need to name my lady, do you have a suggestion or two???
Leave it in my comment area! She can't hang on my wall and not have a name!
For those that know me... know that even my cars are named! Soooo :o)...
come on, help me name her!

Portrait Phase 5

This is what she had at the end of the night last night.



We both agreed some minor adjustments needed to be made.
I am still loving it though!

The Portrait Phase 4

I am loving this!

The Portrait Phase 3

I recieved this picture this afternoon after coming in from church.
I am loving every single inch of it! Did I mention it was a 24"x30"
portrait?





Jaclyn said she might finish it today! Wow!

Hampton House Jewelry Branding

The time has come... I need to start advertising for the shoppe. I want to do a branding with my advertisement. My plan is to have my avi painted and a high resolution photograph taken of it so that I might use it for advertising.

I used Alchemy on Etsy to find exactly what I needed. I needed an artist that could work with the blacks, greys, and whites in my avi. I needed one that could do portraits of a body, one that I could afford and one that could get the job done within 10 days.

I found one an artist that is super! At the end of each day, she sends me updates of what she has done. Oooooh I have already gotten spoiled to that excellent customer service. It is like getting a present at the end of each day.

This is what I received yesterday:




This is what I received today:



I am loving it!!!!!

What do you think?

I will update tomorrow!...if she works on it tomorrow...(I hope she does).

Mowing Grass!

Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq , stationed in a big sand box. He asked
his wife to send him dirt ( U.S. soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil.

To the left you see part of a skeleton of a ring that was bought over 27 years ago.I had to cut it off the owner. It was a size five. She needed a size 6-3/4. The ring was so very thin and worn. Once I had it off her finger to resize it, I looked at the prongs that were holding the stone in place.
Well, at least I tried to look at them. Only two of the prongs were holding the stone in place. The other four were non existent when it came to metal on the stone for security purposes.



This is the first "repair" that I did all on my own that consisted of more than soldering and cleaning.
I ordered a new ring shank in a size 6, and a 6 prong head as she had before. Soldered them, and then used part of her old ring, the thickest part on the old ring to size the ring up 3/4 of a size. So basically I married the old ring to the new ring thanks to solder!

Setting the stone was pretty easy! I am so pleased with how nice it turned out!

My client will be in on Tuesday to pick it up!
May she have at least 27 more years of wearing it!

Business Card Preview and Marketing Idea

This is a preview of my business card!
I am so excited! I love this picture.
I am going to have it painted for display
in my shoppe.

Once it is painted, I will have it photographed. From the photographs,
I will have a vinyl sign 2'x5' made to hang in one of my front windows.
Using the same lettering and info that is on my business card.
On another vinyl sign I will have 4 or 5 printed 18"x24" so that I can
cut them out and have a few bags like what is below made out of them.



I am not sure how long this process will take, but... I am hoping to get it
started today!

Crocus in the Snow

I just finished this ring right before leaving the shoppe
today.


When my client came in with her stones, I got so excited.
The diamonds are super duper white.(I know that is not a
jeweler's terminology, but it is definately a layman's
terminolgy so bare with me).

The color of the tanzanite is such a deep rich purple
with a slight hint of blue to it. She wanted a tulip
head to hold the center stone. I had never used a one
before much less set tanzanite so I asked one of my
instructors to help me.

She came into the shoppe as I was doing the final polish
on it. She was so pleased.

Finally finished for Josh !

I started working on this pendant a year and a half ago.I was taking a lapidary class at Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology.We were given our choice of stones to cut and polish. There were a fewsmall pieces of a rock that had small fossilized snail looking designs in it.The stone is called Turritella. I cut the stone and polished it not sure whatI was going to do with it. The stone was extremely hard to polish but once I finished, I was very delighted with how it turned out.


When Josh came to visit last year, he was looking through my collection of
cut stones and really commented how awesome the the Turritella stone was.

My instructor helped to carve the wax for lost wax casting. I had never done
anything free handed like that. I was quite nervous because I wanted it to be
perfect for Josh. I wanted to make something for him that he would like and
hopefully wear. I didn't want it looking girly as my fellas call it. I wanted
it to have a mature look to it since he was in college and no longer in
high school. One thing that I have struggle with is the imperfections in the
metal work. My instructors have reassured me that imperfection is part of hand crafting a piece.


I think that we captured that nicely in this simple design. The stone was chased into the setting. What do you think?

Today I did my final emory, tripoli and polish on it. I crafted a black leather
cord to hang it on. I love the simplicity of this also.

I hope Josh likes it. I have not given him anything but life and pictures. This is the first true gift I have ever given him. I hope that he like. I don't think that if he didn't like it that he would ever tell me. I really don't think I would want to know.

It is the first piece of jewelry that I ever made that was not intended for school use.

My initial response to 911!

Oh Daddy!!!

Hold our hearts...comfort our spirits. Remind us that this did not
take you by surprise. Do not allow our fear to control us in this
situation. Cause your spirit to rise in us so that we may speak love
and comfort to those who do not know you in spite of our own emotions.
I pray Lord that this will be used as a wake up call for our nation.
One that will cause us to search our hearts and cause us to fall on
our face before you seeking your forgiveness and healing in our land.

Cause your children to rise to the occasion in this horrible attack
on our nation. I pray that your spirit will arise in each one of us
and a boldness come upon us to reach out and touch a hurting dying
world.

Lord, I pray comfort for each and every family that is directly
effected by this horrific attack. I pray that they seek you in their
times of anxiety and fear.

Lord, protect each and every person who is putting his/her life on
the line to rescue the hurt.

I pray Lord that any other planned attacks will be aborted.

Keep President Bush safe, give him the wisdom of Solomon and the
courage of David. Thank you Lord that he is a Godly man and we can
depend on him to seek you on behalf of our nation during this time.

You are the King of Kings...
You are the Lord God Almighty!
In you I seek my refuge.

In the name of Jesus I pray.
amen

Chainsaw Granny!

I would like y'all to meet my grandmother. Her name is Mary Aneda. She goes by Anita. She is a true hero of mine. She turned 85 last week. Granny told me a few years back that middle age starts at 75, old age is at 115!
Needless to say, you can see the spunk in her words alone.

Granny doesn't drive anywhere much other than in her little town. In 1983, when she traded in her 1968 Dodge Dart, it had close to 11,000 miles. She bought a Dodge Neon in 2005. When I was visiting with her last July when this picture was taken, it had 3200 miles on the odometer.... back to why you needed to know that. My Aunt Donna normally brings Granny to town. It is about a 5 hour drive,Granny normally stays for 2 weeks when she does come. Someone from our family normally takes her home. Anyway,
they had just arrived and Myra and I started to unload the Granny's suit cases from the trunk. We discovered she had brought a chainsaw. We both looked at each other with great dismay and questions running through our minds. We knew better than to vocally ask why there was a chain saw. We just kept our mouth shut and did what we were suppose to.

The next morning after breakfast, we were cleaning in the kitchen, and all of a sudden the buzz of a chainsaw was heard outside in the back yard. We immediately ran to the windows and doors to see what was going on... and there she was..... my wonderful 72 year old grandmother had climbed a tree and was trimming limbs off of it for my mother! Why couldn't she ask a younger sprout of a son in law to do this??
There were two of them within hollering distance! She said she came with a purpose, that that was part of it! Did I mention she is a very determined and independent woman??

Since that day, we lovingly call her Chainsaw Granny!

Finished!

After three days of working 2-4 hours I have my work area in order.
This is my workbench area. The pic does not show how perfectly clean they are!
I promise they are!



This is my storage area and free work space. You can see my small kiln in this pic.
My larger one is sitting on top of the refrigerator until I am ready to put it into use.


This is my metalworking bench for drawing, rolling and hammering metal!


This is my easy reach storage area. I have all the things that I need to set up a bench for work right there with in reach to my left, since I am left handed.



The wet area. I bought a new faucet that I could stretch to fill up the steamer with.
It is so nice to not have to keep filling up water jugs for that.


This is the polishing area. I love the old polisher. It is an antique, but was just recently rebuilt. I hope it goes for a long long time!


Now tomorrow...oh my is my bead area! Anyone want to come help?? I think my honey is going to hide as I clean and organize that area.

I Need The Help of a Professional!

The Lord has been so good to me, bringing everything I need, or at least I think I need for my jewelry business. I have been storing it in the back room of our shoppe as I have bought it. Now comes the time to put it in place and hope to make sense of it.



I am so overwhelmed by God's generosity. I feel like my store house is full and anything else is going to cause it to overflow. I have got to make some sense of it.
I have got to have it in full operation mode no later than this time next week. I need HELP!



In posting this I am making a challenge to myself to get it all organized, so that I can work efficiently

Finally! & Thank You!

I graduated on Thursday from Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology

with a certificate in Jewelry Technology.

I mainly want to say thank you to my family for being such

a wonderful support to me during the past few years.

I could not have done it without you!

Here is a pic of the whole kit and kaboodle of us at graduation.

Left to right

Haleligh, Jordan, Kara, Me, Chelsea, Wes and Micah.

Happy Birthday My!

Today is my older sister's birthday. Her name is Miriam, Mom calls her Myra, and I just call her My. She is 48 now! For 5 days we were the same age.
It has always been that way. When we were younger she was 12 before me, 16 before me, 18 before me, 21 before me... I always felt like I got the short end of the stick on that deal! But for those 5 days , she always went out of her way to make me feel special. I love that about her. She is not a selfish person at all.

Then...it happened...she turned 30 before me, 40 before me, she will be 50 before me,
I am not as sweet as she is... I am snickering, giggling, gasping, and gulping that she is THAT old! HA!HA!HA! She will be 80 before me, 90 before me...and even 100 before me...she will always be the OLDer sister!

I am so very thankful for that!

I love you My. You are such a precious treasure of my heart.

Hugs and Kisses...
I miss you,
An