Cyber Monday

Black Friday is a day I used to enjoy when I was younger. Much younger. I now realize I need to stay as far away as possible.

Then along came Cyber Monday. While the world and technology is changing faster than I can keep up with it.... I have to think Cyber Monday can't be all that bad.

Just look at these sales:

Sitting around in my jammies without waiting in line? Free shipping?

Priceless!

The only problem is ... as I was trying to avoid the crowds...I finished my Christmas shopping early!

Is it too early to shop for me?

How about you?

Do you shop on "Cyber Monday?" I'd love to hear your take on it.

Turkey Day Prep - Can I Chicken Out?

It's here already! The week of Thanksgiving.



I always think it's going to be easy. But then I realize... it's not!





I'm talking about hosting dinner.



Each year since I've been married I think we've hosted...and even when we were dating we hosted. I actually used to cook but then Dear Hubs started to show a little sign of KCF (kitchen control freak *gasp! not DEAR HUBS!*) and we switched roles. I decided it wasn't worth arguing over a turkey dinner and would visit with my visiting family instead... plus my Step-children liked having food they were used to instead of how I made it.



But this year my Step-son is coming home from being overseas. Yeah! We are all excited to see him. And Dear Hubby is especially excited. So, this year we're all going to pitch in and help cook.



Now, if I could just get my house cleaned in time.

Antique Dealers Need Inspiration, Too

Most of the blogs I visit highlight the crafts talented artists create for their own enjoyment or to sell. I enjoy looking at them all... I just don't have time to craft right now.

The time I do have is spent with my sweet Dear Bebe who demands a lot of my attention. Then when I get a chance, I go antiquing.

And believe it or not, antique dealers need to be inspired too. One of the places I shop is where we have our own antique booth in Hershey, PA.

This dealer ALWAYS has the neatest and most unique little vintage items. We are amazed each week to see what she has found and has on display. Lots of eye candy!

She is what we would consider a "higher end" antique dealer. But sometimes the price is right and I buy something out of her lovely case of treasures to sell on my Bella Rosa website. Just look at those beaded purses! Ahhhhhhh!

I hope you enjoyed a little peek inside my antique world!

It's Beginning to Look Like...

CHRISTMAS! Well, at least on my website.

These are just a few of the vintage holiday items I found recently.
I thought it was great to find little angels with roses on them!

Getting in the mood! But, we wait until at least after Thanksgiving is over. When do you start decorating?

God's Eraser

Years ago my Dear Sister gave me a devotional bible which I've been using ever since. This past week I came across one which had a great story:

A Gramdmother had been standing on a hillside with her Grandaughter watching an airplane while it was skywriting. The little girl wanted to know where the letters disappeared to. While the Grandmother tried to come up with the words to explain to this little four year old, the girl exclaimed... "Ill bet Jesus has an eraser!"

Out of her innocence comes a great piece of wisdom. When we ask God for forgiveness and let Him be the guide of our life, he wipes away all of our mistakes. No one is perfect which is why we all need "God's eraser."

For more inspirational posts check out Charlotte & Ginger's blog...Spiritual Sunday.

Working on the Blog

Slowly but surely I am taking small steps towards combining the two blogs that I have. After getting ideas from you all... (thank you very much by the way for always lifting me up and encouraging me) I think (note I'm not committing to it yet!) I like Bella Rosa Antiques by Jillian for a title.

And I have been playing with new backgrounds and a blog header.

Getting more and more used to the idea all the time. This could be fun!

Twilight ~ Not that Great

After all of the hype and "hullabaloo" surrounding this movie, I finally watched it.



Before you read any further...don't hate me if you LOVED it.


It was kinda weird.


I can appreciate the basic story about girl sees boy, boy sees girl, they meet and fall in love.


Maybe I'm just from a different generation and I really CAN'T appreciate this movie style....the dark dreary color and foreboding tones.

And speaking of tones, I did notice the pale makeup job on Edward's face .... and you know how? It was obviously not done well.

But I think what bothered me most (besides the whole vamp premise) was why they fell for each other. I just wasn't buying it. Edward was you know, moody and dark.... and Bella, well, what made her interesting? I mean, really!



So my rating for this movie is just a mere 3 popcorns. Not sure it was worth all of the hype.





A little late, yes. But just in time for the next movie to come out...which I probably won't get around to seeing until next year. If at all.

Let me know what you thought of it... and what other movies you've seen lately.

Hello, Bella Rosa? I need a job.

Not too long ago I was in the car with Dear Bebe about to leave for the grocery store.

My cell phone rang. I looked at the number and didn't recognize it...and the area code was from another state. (For some reason, I tend to get a lot of wrong number calls.)

Since it is the number I use for my website, I answered it anyway.

The young man's voice on the other end said: "Hello, Bella Rosa? Are you hiring?"

I giggled and said "I'm sorry but this is a one man band."

He sounded desperate ... as though he had been calling a long list of phone numbers and this had just become routine. He sort of laughed and said "OK!" And quickly remembered to ask my name before hanging up. I guess when collecting unemployment you need to show who you called.

I felt bad for him but I also remembered a time when I was fresh out of college and couldn't find a job in my field. I had to work two jobs in retail to pay my bills until the real thing came along. Which took awhile.

If he adopts the same "can do" attitude, he'll be okay too.

In the meantime I'm going to keep my "can do" attitude, as well!

Maybe someday I'll have a big enough business I can hire a caller who says "Hello, Bella Rosa? I need a job!"

Serenity

Often in life I find myself repeating these few lines as a reminder:



God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;


courage to change the things I can;


and wisdom to know the difference.


But I didn't know about the rest of the prayer until recently:

Living one day at a time;


Enjoying one moment at a time;


Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;


Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;


Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;


That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him


Forever in the next.


Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Combining the Blogs

Recently I wrote a post about feeling at a crossroads about blogging. After receiving many AWESOME comments from AWESOME bloggers I came to the conclusion the best scenario would be to combine my two blogs, Jillian's Pages and Bella Rosa Antiques.





Okay. This seems easy enough. But now I need to make a decision. Keep the title Jillian's Pages? This was my original blog.





In order to maintain following on my website I need to somehow keep Bella Rosa in the title as well.





Hmmmm. Bella Pages? Jillian's Bella Pages? Just go with Bella Rosa Antiques and let the readers find out who I am?





These are all possible...and I will be coming up with a plan. It just takes TIME. Maybe by the new year I will have it all figured out.





In the meantime, feel free to leave me your thoughts. I may or may not go with them but I'm up for ideas!





Thanks again for all of the wonderful support and encouraging words. It meant so much!

On Voting

Today was election day. I got up in anticipation, knowing I was going to go exercise my right as an American citizen.

And if felt good.

No. No, it didn't feel good. IT FELT GREAT!

I don't normally vote in "smaller" elections like deciding who our judges are going to be but I did this year. I'm going to make sure I vote in every election I possibly can from now on, too.

It is that important. Now that I have Dear Bebe everything has changed!

How exciting.

Mundane Mommy Tasks

A little more than a year ago I became a stay at home Mommy for the first time. I love my little baby girl and feel blessed I get to stay home and care for her. But some days I miss working. Not just a 9 - 5 job.... but my actual CAREER.

My career as a local TV producer gave me an identity. I was part of something that mattered.

There are days I find myself wondering what happened to that person. Where did she go?

Is the woman I hear saying "where is your blankie?" and "does Bebe want some milky?" the same woman who used to write scripts, draw storyboards, and edit on air promotions? It sure doesn't seem like it. These tasks seem so SIMPLE.

But one day a devotion I read really caught my attention. It was about how mundane tasks are the things that matter.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, Philippians 2:14

Since I have no idea what God's plans are for me, my family, and especially my little girl, who am I to complain about something which may seem mundane when actually this is the biggest, most important task of all!

So could you hand me a blankie and pass the milky? These are my new tools of the trade and I work for a very high authority.

I'd like to thank Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sunday.

What “mundane” things in your life may, in reality, be the “real thing”?