Please Take My Survey!

Happy Presidents' Day! I'm doing a little bit of "market research" to find the best way to expand my blog. I would love if you could take 20 seconds and look at the survey on the right side of my blog and mark the topics that you'd be most interested in reading more about. Thanks!

(As a reward for looking here, you may see a picture of my super cute dog, Radar, both before and after he's been groomed. :)





















If you would like to see more pictures of my dog and hear obnoxiously cute dog stories, make a comment below!

BESTeam Feature

I'll tell you, this is the weirdest winter I've ever had in SD, because it's mid-February, and I swear there's new green in my not-so-snow-covered lawn . So you know what I'm thinking? Spring! And Spring brings us to flowers, and you know how I feel about flowers.

I love flowers! You probably know that already because whenever I have the chance to post pictures of flower hair clips, I do. :) Today, however, I have an actual flower to post, or at least a picture of one, by Vintage Daisy Studio on Etsy.

In a different kind of flower, I found a neat necklace from Patty's Dream Design. The little flower and bird motif enclosed in a glass pendant is just sweet as can be.

On a simpler note, here is another type of handcraftedness featuring a flower. This pretty silver pendant is by Rio Rita and has a carnelian stone at the center.

Are you enjoying reading my features? Would you like to write some of your own, and be included in similar stories? Consider joining the BESTeam on Etsy!

Outliers Book Review

I just finished reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell last night. Wow! The sub-title of the book is "The Story of Success," and it really is. This is non-fiction, and talks primarily about how a lot of successful, famous people have a rags-to-riches story and how people often glamorize the Lone Ranger concept of one person succeeding alone. The concept of this book is that no one can be successful alone, and that a lot of seemingly small events compound to create opportunities that aren't obvious alone.

One of my favorite chapters in the book looks at a study comparing successful concert musicians with regular musicians. There was not a single successful musician who made it on ability alone. All of them, EVERY SINGLE ONE, had practiced at least 10,000 hours over around 10 years to get to the professional level. Lesser musicians practiced 2,000 to 3,000 hours over the same time frame.

Gladwell went on with the 10,000 hour rule to look at other people considered head-and-shoulders above others in different fields, e.g. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. All of them had had some kind opportunity which allowed for this type of practice during important parts of their lives. I think the significance of this, particularly for artists, is incredible.


I encourage everyone to read this book. There is so much more than I've mentioned here. I just checked it out from the library, but I'm now seriously considering buying it. I have another of Gladwell's books, The Tipping Point, which I'm looking forward to reading next.

Has anyone else read this or any other book by Malcolm Gladwell? Did you like it? Let me know!

BESTeam Feature

Ah, nostalgia! They weren't exactly the same, but my grandparents did have a large fork and spoon hanging in their dining room. I don't know why, but does it really matter? ;) Whenever I see something like this, it brings back memories. This fork and spoon is by Redemption Art on Etsy. Redemption Art focuses on Hawaiian curiosities, and that's where my grandma grew up, so I guess I learned a new connection today!


This next item is a necklace from Beader Bubbe - it's not nostalgic, per say, but it give a rather calming feeling, and that's what Hawaii is all about, right? I just love the blue and the subtle design that looks both raised and etched.

Are you enjoying reading my features? Would you like to write some of your own, and be included in similar stories? Consider joining the BESTeam on Etsy!

BESTeam Feature

You can tell Valentine's day is coming up with just a quick peek inside Empty On the Inside's shop this week! Annie has several different cards ready for that sweet red holiday coming up, and below is one of my favorites. First, don't you just love the falling hearts? Second, I really want one of those cookies in the background!


Right after Valentine's Day, I start hoping for spring! A new shop to our Best Team group is Coldham Cuddlies, on Etsy, of course. Isobel comes to us from England and makes all sorts of cute cuddly animals, and her profile invites you to send your own favorite stuffed toy in for a little rejuvenation. I think this bear is just too cute for words, and I just love how this little bear (his name is William) living it up Springtime-style!


In other things that remind me of spring (and from a seller I haven't featured before), these bright applique flowers by Flores del Sur! As soon as I saw them, I immediately thought: Hair Accessory! They're only a little over an inch in size, so how perfect to attach to an alligator clip or something? You can also buy larger sizes in many other colors.

Are you enjoying reading my features? Would you like to write some of your own, and be included in similar stories? Consider joining the BESTeam on Etsy!

BESTeam Feature

Happy New Year, everyone! Okay, okay, so we're almost a week into it...

Looking around for some new things, here's something new from GMaEllenCrochetGifts on Etsy. It can be a bracelet (my favorite option) or looped to be a necklace or anklet! This reminds me of the beach and makes me wish I was there :)


Something else that reminds me of the ocean is the green and white necklace from Blue & White Wear on Etsy. Don't you just love how the clasp in in the front? How easy does this make to put on?


From Chicky D's on Etsy, there's also this neat 12"x12" painting. Can't you just see in on the wall of your vacation home? You know, that place you go to get away from it all? Okay, so right now, my vacation home is in my head, but I still think this painting would look lovely there!


Are you enjoying reading my features? Would you like to write some of your own, and be included in similar stories? Consider joining the BESTeam on Etsy!

BESTeam Feature

Today is purple and black day! I'm looking at four different shops with the color purple running through them all.

To start us off, here's an item for all us cold-weather folks. This hat by Our Home to Yours on Etsy looks just right for the cold upon us.


Next, an absolutely gorgeous hand painted silk scarf from Joyflower, on Etsy. I just love browsing through this shop and seeing all the color.


Here's a pretty little clutch from KC Dragonfly on Etsy. I think the black and purple motif is very pretty, and this clutch matches several other items in her store.


Finally, a neat bracelet by Beader Bubbe on Etsy. The black beads, with just a subtle touch of lavender, would go great with anything.


Are you enjoying reading my features? Would you like to write some of your own, and be included in similar stories? Consider joining the BESTeam on Etsy!