If You Don't Hear From Me, This is Why

I'm having a heart attack. Seriously. Kate says I'm the ultimate worse-case-scenario girl, but I've felt this pain before. I must only be in the early stages since my arm isn't numb and I don't have an elephant on my chest, just a sharp pain.

This has happened before - round one was about four years ago when I was working 14 hour days due to increased regulation in the securities industry (thanks Elliot Spitzer) and my life was crazy. I went to the doctor because I was getting frequent bloody noses, shortness of breath and a tingly arm. Low and behold, my blood pressure was something like 150/90. What's the big deal? It runs in the family. My doctor freaked. "Oh my [heck], you are going to have a stroke!" was basically what he told me. I thought a heart attack, but a stroke...ok, or that. Luckily I got it under control (read: major lifestyle adjustment). I didn't die.

Now I'm in round two. I'm not working 14 hours days yet, but my life at work has turned upside down. Half my department is now searching for greener pastures so I get to pick up the slack. I'm the one freaking out now. Maybe the economy will turn around and we can hire Heidi back. I haven't taken my blood pressure - I don't even want to know.

UPDATE: I stopped by the Wal-Mart blood pressure machine the other day. I took the test four times. I was anywhere between 140/85 (my highest measurment) and 118/73 (my lowest measurement). So, I'm a little hypertense, but probably not going to die.

By-Low Baby has a Blog (say that fast 10 times)

I've decided, thanks to my brilliant friend and BLB partner in crime, AJ, to start a BLOG dedicated to By-Low Baby. Here we can dwell together in magical thinking. Let's talk fabrics and quilts and hemstitch machines. How about fleece hats, silk edges and all things soft? I'll teach you a thing or two and you can offer me advice. It will be fun. Come along with me and we'll get started!

Next Big Step

I have worked for my firm for almost ten years. I have watched it grow during this time period from 30 people (I was about the 30th employee) to nearly 120 employees. Our assets grew from under $1 billion to over $10 billion. Unfortunately, we are a market driven business. When the bear enters the room, things can get ugly. Today was ugly. For the first time in our firm's 30 year history, people were laid off. Nearly 30% of our people, including half my department. Good, hard working people. I am so fortunate to remain standing and employed, but I lost some really dear friends. I worry for them. I cry for them. They wonder, "Why me?" I wonder, "Why not me?" These are extraordinarily talented people. Every one of them. I will miss them dearly. Now is the time for me to refocus and adjust my attitude. There is a lot of work to be done. It is time to rebuild and grow again.

Coming Up at By-Low Baby - - -

By-Low Baby is accessorizing! To go along with the softest, coziest blankets in the world, now your little one can keep warm with our fleece hats! Here is a sneak peek at what's in store for winter. Oh how I wish I were a good photographer so you could see how cute these are in real life! Wait until you see them on a cute kid. I need some models - Clara? Eli?

Dressed in White

Dressed In White claims to sell "stylish" temple clothing. Do you think the dress pictured here is the most stylish dress in the store? I know the temple is not the place to be making fashion statements, but if I were in charge of advertising over there at Dressed In White, I would at least pick something for my model that's not so Little House on the Prairie.

Fall Fling

This weekend marked several "firsts" at the Gold-E house.
1. First snow of the season. Wait, it's not winter yet. This year, instead of getting our usual four seasons, it seems we've gone from winter to summer and directly back to winter.
2. The furnace is officially operating for the first time this season. I had to convince G it was cold enough to turn on the heat (especially since the AC was blowing just a few days ago). I think after this storm and the overnight lows dropping into the 20s he is convinced.
3. By-Low Baby had its first anniversary - one week since its launch! I know you've been searching for a perfect baby gift. What's better than the softest, coziest, not to mention cutest baby blanket sets? Take the handmade pledge. Support your local crafter.

A River Runs Through It

Something within fishermen tries to make fishing into a world perfect and apart - I don't know what it is or where, because sometimes it is in my arms and sometimes in my throat and sometimes nowhere in particular except somewhere deep. Many of us probably would be better fishermen if we did not spend so much time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect. ~Norman Maclean

For G's birthday I got him (us) a fly fishing lesson. We spent the better part of the day learning to cast, getting our lines caught on rocks, wading through high waters, catching, releasing, and losing fish. Although it was a cold and rainy day, the world couldn't have been more perfect.

By-Low Baby has Launched!!

By-Low Baby is officially on Etsy! Here you can buy my hemstitched blankets and burp kits and create your own crocheted edge. OR if you prefer, I will put the edge on for you. You can also buy already finished-edge blanket and burps. There's more! If you are in the Salt Lake area and you have your own fabric you would like me to hemstitch for you, let me know and I will gladly get it done.

By-Low Baby Blankets make great gifts for expecting mothers! Check it out - http://www.bylowbabyblankets.etsy.com/!

Tutorial on Creating a Witching Wreath

Since you asked, I am going to give you a little tutorial on how to make the black feathered wreath.

To begin you will need the following supplies:

One 16" wreath - I used a grapvine wreath.

One 6ft black feather boa

Two yards of thread or wire of some sort to tie the boa to the wreath. I used crochet thread :)

I bought my supplies at Michaels.

Lay the boa around the wreath to get an idea of how it will fit. It should wrap around twice.Once you get an idea of how it will fit, tie your thread or wire to the back of the wreath. You will wrap the thread around the wreath and the boa to hold the boa on the wreath. Continuing wrapping the thread around the wreath and the boa until you have covered the wreath with the feathers.

This picture is me wrapping the boa around the second time. Hard to tell what I'm doing. Sorry.

When the boa has been secured on the wreath, tie a knot in the thread in the back of the wreath.

Your work is done! You may need to make some adjustments, do a little fluffing, etc. to make sure you can not see any of the wreath and to ensure the feathers aren't smushed. Hang on your favorite door or wall and Happy Halloween!

Let me know if you have any questions. I now have an extra wreath. Who wants it??

Witching

One grapevine wreath: $3.99
One feather boa: $5.99
Buy it at Potterybarn: $49
The satisfaction of making it yourself: Priceless