It's Fantastic Friday...Winner of This Week's Giveaway

This week's giveaway is a phenomenal Mini Suede Journal from Christine Marie Ford (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com/). Christine is a fabulous artist who specializes in Jewelry, Fiber Art, Quilting and Inspiration! Please visit her linked just above for fantastic gifts and treasures!

This week's winner, that I am pleased to announce, is a fellow Etsian who specializes in stuffed toy animals, plush dolls, playsets and handbags.

And the winner is....................WISH WITH ME.....................!!

Please also visit Wish With Me at http://www.wishwithme.etsy.com/.

Congratulations, I do hope you enjoy your Mini Suede Journal.

Thanks for blogging in and I hope you will join me next week. Have a wonderful weekend!!

Cheers and Blessings,

It's Twilight Thursday...Bella & Alice Fragrances

Good Day Twilight fans!! Can you believe it...only 20 more days to the release of Eclipse. I am getting so excited I can hardly keep to my seat. And in honour of the release of the third installment of the Twilight Series I have a special announcement.

I will be releasing two new fragrances in my shop in time for the opening of Eclipse:

BELLA ~ A sweet and spicy formulation consisiting of plum, jasmine & pear melding with lilac cinnamon, clove leaf and peach. Orange flower and musk completes this complex fragrance. A perfect representation of Bella Swan.

ALICE ~ Sensual and Romantic with light floral notes of orange blossoms, citrus and marigold melds together with base notes of carnation, vanilla and musk. Could Alice Cullen be described any better?

These scents are available in all products, (such as; Body Butter, Perfume Oil, Bath Oil, Body Lotion, Body Spritzer and more), through Ethereal Beginnings, http://www.etherealbeginnings.etsy.com/. Please keep an eye out for these fantastic new scents. If you would like to reserve any products in advance please message me through Etsy.

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Also, today is the last day to enter this week's giveaway from Christine Marie Ford (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com/) A fabulous artist who specializes in Jewelry, Fiber Art, Quilting and Inspiration! Christine is giving away this lovely Mini Suede Journal valued at $22.00

How to enter:

1. Follow my blog ~ 1 entry

2. Comment on today's blog post ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave contact link)

3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook Fan Page ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your facebook page link in the comments section so that I may fan you)

4. Twitter about this giveaway ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your twitter link in the comments section so that I may follow you)

5. Purchase from my shop, Ethereal Beginnings ~ 1 entry

6. Purchase from Christine's shop ~ 5 entries (please copy your transaction into the comments section for valid entry)

7. All of the above ~ 10 entries

So...if you do ALL 7 of the above you will have a total of 20 entries to win Christine's Mini Suede Journal/Sketchbook.

Thanks for blogging in and have a happy Thursday.

Cheers and Blessings,

Wedding Wednesday....Shape Up For The Big Day Part 2

Okay, so last week I started a six part series on how to get in shape for your special day. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here: http://etherealbeginnings.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-wedding-wednesdayshape-up-for-big.html

Obviously, it hasn't been a whole month yet but here is what you need to do when you get to Month 2:

Now's the time to get out that measuring tape and scale. Any improvements? You shouldn't focus too much on weight loss yet, but your energy should be higher. Keep writing in your journal, and pay special attention to how you feel, how you're dealing with stress, and what you think you are gaining from your exercise program. Tip: Remember to check your heart rate about 15 minutes into your aerobic exercise to make sure you're hitting your target heart rate. If you need a reminder on how to check your target heart rate, please refer to the above link.

Here is the breakdown of what you should be doing each week during Month 2:

Weeks #5 and #6

• 40 minutes of aerobic activity at least three times a week
• 2 sets of 10 stomach crunches
• 1 set of 10 push-ups

Weeks #7 and #8

• 40 minutes of aerobic activity at least three times a week
• 3 sets of 10 stomach crunches
• 2 sets of 10 push-ups

Please note this is an information only post, if you are experiencing any ill effects from an exercise regime, you should consult with your physician.

Next week, I will be going over Month 3. Have you started working with this program? I would love to hear know how you are doing!!

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Please don't forget that I am hosting a giveaway for Christine Marie Ford (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com/) A fabulous artist who specializes in Jewelry, Fiber Art, Quilting and Inspiration! Christine is giving away this lovely Mini Suede Journal valued at $22.00

How to enter:

1. Follow my blog ~ 1 entry

2. Comment on today's blog post ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave contact link)

3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook Fan Page ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your facebook page link in the comments section so that I may fan you)

4. Twitter about this giveaway ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your twitter link in the comments section so that I may follow you)

5. Purchase from my shop, Ethereal Beginnings ~ 1 entry

6. Purchase from Christine's shop ~ 5 entries (please copy your transaction into the comments section for valid entry)

7. All of the above ~ 10 entries

So...if you do ALL 7 of the above you will have a total of 20 entries to win Christine's Mini Suede Journal/Sketchbook.

Thanks for blogging in and I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.

Cheers and Blessings,

It's Travel Tuesday...Jamaica Mon

A place I have dreamt of visiting since I saw the movie 'Cocktail'. I want to lay on the beach, drink champagne and watch the sunset while listening to steel drums.

Probably one of the most notable things about Jamaica is the music. Thumping, infectious and passionate sounds are the trademarks of Reggae, Jamaica's most internationally recognised music. Although this is Jamaica’s music, its origins are in the villages of Africa where people mourned the passing of an ancestor, heralded the birth of a son or celebrated the end of a harvest with song and dance.



Jamaica's traditional music is heavy with the substance of their collective experiences, struggles for personal freedom and independent nationhood. Music has been a tool for rebellion and for communication, nature and the Divine. It also provides a lyrical voice for their social and political commentary. The fusion of African and European heritage has produced several forms of music that still thrive in many modern communities.

Also, I would love to sit and listen to them talk. Their language is one of simplicity and joy. It is a colourful lingo spoken by a people with a gift for vivid imagery, ridicule and irony, down-to-earth humour and bawdy cuss-words. A creative intermingling of words which that their roots in the English of the colonisers and the African tongues of the majority.

A lot of it is quite easy to adapt to. Jamaicans tend to drop the "r" at the end of words, so that dollar becomes "dolla", and water becomes "wata". Double "t's" within words sometimes become double "k's", changing little to "likkle", and bottle to "bokkle". They often add or subtract "h" at will so that when you "harrive" at your "otel", "heverybody" will tell you "ello".

Where would you love to travel to?
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Please don't forget that I am hosting a giveaway for Christine Marie Ford (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com/) A fabulous artist who specializes in Jewelry, Fiber Art, Quilting and Inspiration! Christine is giving away this lovely Mini Suede Journal valued at $22.00

How to enter:

1. Follow my blog ~ 1 entry
2. Comment on today's blog post ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave contact link)
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook Fan Page ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your facebook page link in the comments section so that I may fan you)
4. Twitter about this giveaway ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your twitter link in the comments section so that I may follow you)
5. Purchase from my shop, Ethereal Beginnings ~ 1 entry
6. Purchase from Christine's shop ~ 5 entries (please copy your transaction into the comments section for valid entry)
7. All of the above ~ 10 entries

So...if you do ALL 7 of the above you will have a total of 20 entries to win Christine's Mini Suede Journal/Sketchbook.

Thanks for blogging.

Cheers and Blessings,

It's Fantastic Feature Friday...Christine Marie Ford and Winner of Weekly Giveaway

TGIF fellow bloggers!! Hope everyone has had a great week.

I'd like to start off by announcing this week's giveaway winner. Gloria of gloriajeanDesigns (http://www.gloriajeandesigns.etsy.com/) and Giggle Rainbow (http://www.gigglerainbow.etsy.com/ ) offered a $20 gift certificate for this week's giveaway. I would like to say thanks to Gloria for letting me host her giveaway and we wish her many happy sales :D

So...the Winner is...................KimNettieDesigns..................!!!
Congratulations Kim, thanks for participating ;D

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Today, on Fantastic Feature Friday, I am featuring an amazingly talented artist who specializes in Jewelry, Fiber Art, Quilting and Inspiration!

Christine Marie Ford (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com) is a full-time artist located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She says "Versatility is my niche." Here's what Christine also has to say about her craft:

"As an artist and craftsperson I love to create rich and colorful contemporary fabric art, quilts and jewellery. My art quilts are often created with an abstract flair inspired by themes of nature and the human spirit. My first quilt was made entirely by hand and took one and a half years to complete."

"Today with the aid of a sewing machine, I create my own designs and specialize in a process called “free motion” quilting in which I can literally draw with the needle! Some of my newest work is completely “improvised” from start to finish. I tend to use 100% cotton commercial prints and batiks as I enjoy the “thrill of the hunt” but am also known to paint on fabric from time to time."

"I’m also known for my innovative fabric vases, textile jewellery and beaded jewellery and have much to share with you! I’m always redefining my personal style and looking to transform my work in new and exciting ways."

"My life before fabric and jewellery making was as a stage and screen actress for over 22 years and this theatrical background greatly influences my bold and dramatic creations. I continue to participate in the performing arts as a singer/songwriter and just about everything in between!"

I must say that I love everything that Christine creates. Her items are exquisite and would lovingly grace anyone's home or personal presence!

Christine is also offering an item from her shop (http://www.christinemarieford.etsy.com) for this coming week's giveaway.

This gorgeous Mini Suede Journal/Sketchbook is created with beautiful high quality medium brown suede leather which Christine hand picked right from the tannery. It als features 160 pages total(both sides); size is approximately 3" x 3.75" (50lb, acid free, 100% recycled) and is hand bound with beige waxed Irish linen thread. The strap is made from a more unusual leather to add visual interest and to hold the book closed when not in use. There can be only one lucky winner! Best of luck to all who enter!!

How to enter:

1. Follow my blog ~ 1 entry
2. Comment on today's blog post ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave contact link)
3. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook Fan Page ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your facebook page link in the comments section so that I may fan you)
4. Twitter about this giveaway ~ 1 entry (be sure to leave your twitter link in the comments section so that I may follow you)
5. Purchase from my shop, Ethereal Beginnings ~ 1 entry
6. Purchase from Christine's shop ~ 5 entries (please copy your transaction into the comments section for valid entry)
7. All of the above ~ 10 entries

So...if you do ALL 7 of the above you will have a total of 20 entries to win Christine's Mini Suede Journal/Sketchbook.

Thanks for blogging in on this fantastic Friday. Hope you have a great weekend.

Cheers and Blessings,