5 Things I Love – Jan 31

1. Great God

We introduced this song to our congregation in worship this weekend, but I fell in love with it last Wednesday at praise team practice and have been walking around singing it ever since. It’s upbeat, fun and has an awesome Middle Eastern sound mixed it. There may have been some dancing reminiscent of ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ at practice, but there are no photographs to prove this concretely…

2. Pocket Frogs

When I had the work Android I will admit to having devoted a good bit of time to Angry Birds, but now that that’s actually being used for *gasp* development work (aka what it was purchased for) I’ve been sucked into Pocket Frogs. The point? I’m pretty certain it is to catalog all several thousand frog variations that you can breed/capture/etc. Simple but oh so addictive. Also, a great game for teaching kids the basics of genetic inheritance traits and it’s free.

3. Baklava

Bachelor night is bad for my overall caloric intake. Thankfully I’m pretty well-behaved the rest of the week. Anyway, my friend’s husband made us some homemade baklava last Monday and reminded me how much I enjoy this sweet treat.

4. Two Sister’s Gourmet Seasoning Blends

While there are a wide variety of ways that these seasoning mixes can be used, ever since I was introduced to them as a Partylite consultant they have become my go-to for quick additions to social gatherings. Stir them up with some sour cream and mayo and you’ve got a great tasting dip on the fly.

5. Betty Crocker Mississippi Mud Supreme Bars

Food must be on the brain this week. I’ll blame it on yesterday’s lunch. Most of the lunch was homemade, but when time crunched and the cookies weren’t baked I grabbed a box of these and they are amazing. Chocolate crumble crust reminiscent of crushed oreos with mini marshmallows and brownie. It’s a good thing there were only two left by the time everyone headed home.

Spotted! on the Bachelor

I know my blog has been very lia sophia centric of late. I really do have some posts on other topics just waiting to get the final edit (or be written…), but I can’t help but share this bit of reality tv lia sophia love.

So as I mentioned in last week’s 5 Things I Love, I am a recent addition to the watchers of The Bachelor. I started watching not because I had a deep abiding interest in the subject, but because it’s fellowship time with the ladies I’m on Praise Team with.

Yes, I do find the fact that it’s the ladies from church who have gotten me to watch The Bachelor humorous.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago Ashley S was looking all dolled up for the Rose ceremony when I noticed something familiar about her necklace. Very familiar. In fact, it looked a lot like a lia sophia past red carpet piece. Then the next week they kept panning across her wrist while she and Brad were talking on the rooftop. There was no denying it.

Ashley S is showing some lia sophia love on The Bachelor. Of course, if I had these pieces I would want to show them off too.

So, here’s the rundown of the first 3 episodes (she wasn’t sporting any lia sophia on this week’s show). All screenshots are, of course, property of ABC.

Episode 1

I couldn’t get a really clear clip of this one, but it appears that Ashley is wearing the Buckle bracelet from the Rue Royale collection.

Episode 2

It took me a bit to figure out which piece this was. I knew it was a Red Carpet necklace and with a bit of digging I finding it to be the Saturn Necklace from the 2020 collection.

Episode 3

This is actually the bracelet that confirmed for me that I was not losing my mind (before realizing that episodes were available on Hulu). The west end collection is one of my favorite Red Carpet collections to date and I spent more than a little time drooling over this bracelet’s colorful friends when they were available.

There you have it. Three of 4 episodes thus far and you may be sure that should such sightings occur again over the course of this season I will report them back here.

Update – January 31: Ashley S went home tonight, so our opportunity to see more of lia sophia on there is past. If anyone else starts sporting it, though, I’ll be sure to mention it.

lia sophia Countdown: Versatile Glitz

2 days and counting… until the new 2011 Spring/Summer lia sophia catalog is available!

Versatile Glitz

sparkle that effortlessly take you from day to night…

Bling lovers – you know who you are – this is your section. In the words of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, frost yourself in something a bit less expensive than diamonds but sure to make you sparkle none the less.

Corsage

This picture does not do this bracelet justice. The black glass beads of this stretch bracelet set off an enamel and crystal flower sure to garner the oohs and aahs of your friends.

Bracelet: $88

Spontaneous

While there is perhaps not quite as much sparkle as Glitterati (which has a hematite companion arriving), this necklace is elegantly modern and sophisticated with it’s interwoven hematite chains intermixed with faceted glass and resin beads.

Necklace: $96

Elude

Simple. Sleek. Sparkly. This circular pendant necklace of cut crystals is a piece that can carry you from day tonight with ease and class.

Necklace: $52

As always with lia sophia, all of these pieces qualify for the Customer Save Plan (Buy 2, Get a 3rd more expensive at 1/2price). Unless marked otherwise, they also all would fall into the $15 hostess bonus range.

Check out the rest of the Spring themes!

These links will be made live as posts continue throughout the month.
Spring Bling
Nautical Looks
Iridescent Shell
Eclectic Metal Mixtures
City Girl
Return to Feminine
2011 Spring/Summer Bling Giveaway

Images are all property of lia sophia.

lia sophia Countdown: Return to Feminine

5 days and counting… until the new 2011 Spring/Summer lia sophia catalog is available!

Return to Feminine

pearls & delicate filigree are now beautifully modern…

Blame Mad Men if you’d like, but embracing the feminine is back in full force on the runway and in accessories. These pieces take classic, vintage styles and add a touch of modern sensibility to them.

Cafe Au Lait

OMG I love this necklace. Strands of coffee colored pearls entwine to create this gorgeous piece. Classically feminine, the choice of mocha brown for the color updates this look for the 21st century.

Necklace: $160 ($30 as a Hostess Bonus item)
Earrings: $32

Buttercup

This bracelet has a great vintage look while still being in keeping with modern trends and the pave style center adds a bit of sparkle without overpowering the bracelet. Perfect with a cute blouse, little black dress or business suit.

Bracelet: $118 ($20 Hostess Bonus item)

Reach, by Paula

Gray and matte silver pair on this lovely necklace featuring glass beads and vintage styled charms.

Necklace: $68

Bonus!Creme de Menthe

Love Deco? Check out this great ring. Mint green and matte gold encircle a gray pearl for a look that is both pop classic and a little unusual.

Ring: $68

As always with lia sophia, all of these pieces qualify for the Customer Save Plan (Buy 2, Get a 3rd more expensive at 1/2price). Unless marked otherwise, they also all would fall into the $15 hostess bonus range.

Check out the rest of the Spring themes!

These links will be made live as posts continue throughout the month.
Spring Bling
Nautical Looks
Iridescent Shell
Eclectic Metal Mixtures
City Girl
Versatile Glitz
2011 Spring/Summer Bling Giveaway

Images are all property of lia sophia.

5 Things I Love – Jan 24

1. lia sophia Sisters

This past weekend was our lia sophia group’s January Workshop which brings together several hundred women for a couple days of sharing and learning. As always I am heartened by the feeling of sisterhood amongst our group. Time and again throughout the weekend stories are told and actions show how this group of women – from all different walks of life, races and locations – truly care for and support each other. To top it off, I got a chance to chat for hours getting to know better one of my lia sophia friends & sisters.

2. Relient K, Five Score & Seven Years Ago

Yes, I realize this album has been out for several years, but on my drive home last night I was reminded of how awesome it is. The home of songs like ‘Forgiven‘, ‘Devestation & Reform‘ and ‘Deathbed‘; this remains a favorite for me still.

3. AJ’s Music Cafe

While we just missed Rhonda Kelley playing on Saturday night (:(), Tai and I were introduced to this great coffee shop& cafe in downtown Ferndale. Their menu looks fabulous, their chai was great and they are home to Assembly Line Concert. The Third Shift: Operation Give Back will run non-stop from March 17-April 2, 2011.

4. Mumford & Sons

As with many recently developed fans, I was introduced to Mumford & Sons when their single ‘Little Lion Man’ hit the airwaves. Grooveshark has helped me to broaden my knowledge of them and turned me from lover of a single to consumer of their music. You can check out ‘Little Lion Man’ along with ‘Winter Winds’, ‘The Cave’ and more in the video section of their website.

5. Weber’s Inn‘s Catering

Don’t get me wrong, the Inn itself is great with friendly staff and I’ve no complaints, but their food? If I gained weight this past week it’s because their food is absolutely delicious. I have as yet to eat a meal there that wasn’t excellent and the desserts are a whole set temptations on their own.

lia sophia Countdown: City Girl

7 days and counting… until the new 2011 Spring/Summer lia sophia catalog is available!

City Girl

sleek or edgy pieces to wear with trendy & sophisticated silhouettes…

Looking for that piece that adds a sophisticated flair for your work day, but you can also rock at night? This may be your section.

Mischief

A smooth mosaic of black, gray and white in free form set against a hematite finish brings the city and nature into beautiful harmony in this bib necklace.

Necklace: $72

Paris Lights

Cut crystals fade from jet to clear in this gorgeous bangle and earrings set. If you’re looking for modern glamor sure to shimmer, this is an excellent choice.

Bracelet: $170 ($30 Hostess Bonus item)
Earrings: $66

Whitewashed

Hematite and white enamel combine to create this modern, sophisticated set great for both the power suit and the little black dress.

Necklace: $88
Bracelet: $78
Earrings: $34

As always with lia sophia, all of these pieces qualify for the Customer Save Plan (Buy 2, Get a 3rd more expensive at 1/2price). Unless marked otherwise, they also all would fall into the $15 hostess bonus range.

Check out the rest of the Spring themes!

These links will be made live as posts continue throughout the month.
Spring Bling
Nautical Looks
Iridescent Shell
Eclectic Metal Mixtures
Return to Feminine
Versatile Glitz
2011 Spring/Summer Bling Giveaway

Images are all property of lia sophia.

Loot Delivery!!!

Okay, so it’s not really loot, but – even after several years as an advisor – opening that box full of lia sophia boxes is like unwrapping a treasure. When that box is full of samples from the newest catalog… well, I get a bit gleeful. Occasionally there may be some happy dancing involved.

Today was such a day.

After hours of poring over my order details and much eager anticipation my sample order from the Spring/Summer catalog has arrived!

My full wishlist is, of course, much larger than the order I received today, but I’ve got a budget to keep to. It would help if I didn’t drool quite so much over the $100+ pieces. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Here are several more pictures of a few of the different pieces.

This weekend I’ll get to see the rest of the new pieces live and in person. It’s going to be glorious :)

5 Things I Love – Jan 17

1. “Winter Skin” by Jars of Clay

When it comes to winter music almost all of it is somehow holiday related (barring “Winter Wonderland”) so I find it very refreshing that Jars of Clay included this and “Hibernation Day” – another favorite of mine – on their Christmas Songs album.

2. Bachelor Night

Tonight shall be my third Bachelor night and also my third ever episode of the Bachelor. While I was an early adopter of ANTM and love fashion reality shows (WNTW, Project Runway, etc) I never got into prime time reality tv, so this is a whole new world for me. More than half the fun is the group with all of our running commentaries, viability discussions and, of course, themed snacks.

3. Rhonda Kelley

I don’t just love Kelley’s music because she’s one of my SAI sisters, but because I really enjoy her folk/acoustic sound and I’m super excited to be able to see her live this weekend in one of her two Michigan shows. You can check out her music here and her upcoming MI shows here.

4. Old Fashioned Photos

This past weekend our community theatre had a Chili Cook-Off fundraiser which included an opportunity for old-fashioned Western photos. I’ve done these several times in the past and the image that come out of them are always both fun and amusing. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, we the ladies of the organizing committee took a moment to don dusters and hats to reinforce that we are the roughest, toughest girl gang in town. Hello new facebook picture ;)

5. Kids Magic Gloves

This love was reinforced yesterday when I purchased adult magic gloves to refurbish my gloves supply. Somehow I never realized that adult magic gloves are actually too large for my hands. Not only that, but kids magic gloves often times have awesome grippy patterns on the palms. Apparently someone decided adults don’t need grippy patterns. I beg to differ. From now on I’m shopping in the kid’s section.

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lia sophia Countdown: Eclectic Metal Mixtures

19 days and counting… until the new 2011 Spring/Summer lia sophia catalog is available!

Eclectic Metal Mixtures

and artistic shapes help create your own personal statement…

One of the great things about metal mixtures is that metals are neutrals – you can mix and match them with pieces throughout your clothing wardrobe. They also come in a variety of styles so you can pick the ones that best match your personal style.

Improv

In every catalog we have one piece that is designated our Dress For Success piece. Whenever that piece is purchased a potion of the purchase goes to support the Dress For Success program. So not only do you get a fun and versatile necklace that combines silver and gold with hot hematite when you purchase this necklace, but you help a great cause as well.

Necklace: $98

Day Dreamer

Joining the Day Dreamer necklace and earrings that are already in the lia sophia collection, this bracelet continues the free-spirited fun with etched hearts in three antique metals proclaiming love to the world.

Bracelet: $68

Tri

Not only are these rings super cute with their crystals set into antiqued metals as well as being totally in line with the stacking trend going on in the jewelry world right now, but they’re a great deal for the budget conscious fashionista.

3 ring set: $48

Bonus! Riventing

In just about every catalog there are one or two items that reflect Red Carpet Collection aesthetic and this is one of those pieces. Echoing some of the pyramid shapes we see in the Lanaya collection only with the enamel that appears in la belle rose II (as well as several previous collections) instead of the black diamond crystals featured so prominently there. It’s also a lot more friendly for your pocketbook being less than half the price of most Red Carpet bracelets and available as a hostess bonus item as well.

Bracelet: $160 ($30 Hostess Bonus item)

As always with lia sophia, all of these pieces qualify for the Customer Save Plan (Buy 2, Get a 3rd more expensive at 1/2price). Unless marked otherwise, they also all would fall into the $15 hostess bonus range.

Check out the rest of the Spring themes!

These links will be made live as posts continue throughout the month.
Spring Bling
Nautical Looks
Iridescent Shell
City Girl
Return to Feminine
Versatile Glitz
2011 Spring/Summer Bling Giveaway

Images are all property of lia sophia.