Monday, December 31, 2012

From Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven: The Destiny of Things Story XXXIV, Omega to Alpha, Part 3

From Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven:  The Destiny of Things Story XXXIV, Omega - Alpha, Part3
or Hoarder History Secrets!

My Cloud 9 Native American Bracelet, coincidentally made by Tahe!
This is a series of stories all wrapped up and entwined for a final finale!

Some Hoarder History Secrets!  This was so long ago, I'd have to dig through calendars, old journals, letters and such to find out the mysteries to what was happening in my life at the time, but it must have been stress on top of stress that dragged on for 3-4 years. 

Anyways, back to my hoarder history and hoarded secret!  Don't ask me how I did this all on a miniscule teacher's salary, but I did and I still managed to save a little each month, pay a mortgage and buy myself a daily gift! 
I do remember it was after one of my many hoard purges!  Yes, I had cleaned out and either gave away or donated almost everything and I missed my clutter!  I can sooo relate to Elettra from elettrarossa in the post of Clutter as Visual Noise.  I was going to start out fresh and new... or so I thought, but instead I just got more "old" new stuff, which they used to call antique, but now call vintage.  So basically I bought old things that were new to me.

It's like going on a crash diet and looking good from losing so much weight, but it happens so fast that new eating habits don't set in or it's an impossible diet to sustain, so it's not a realistic life style change and before I know it, something pulls me over the edge of stress and I return to my old eating habits and gain twice the weight!

Same with the hoard purge, like a bad diet I gained twice the hoard on top of hoard!

I had a set limit dollar amount that included shipping (that I followed most of the time) and made sure I had at least one gift for myself on the door step when I returned from work daily and even two on Saturday to tide me over til Monday!  There I said it!  That's my dirty little hoarded hoarding secret!  That wasn't so bad, but I still have my stomach ache!

Did I mention I did this for three or four years!  That's a lot!  I just tallyed that in my head and rounded up.  I could have bought a new car!  I rounded up because after work, I'd go thrifting almost daily too! Another hidden secret!

Okay, back tracking, where was I?  Oh yeah, the original story about my Cloud 9 bracelet.  I had bought a bracelet just like the one above, but had so stuff coming my way, I didn't noticed it never came until this beautiful heavy coiled cuff arrived!

I'm surprised I didn't save the letter that came along with it.  I probably did, but as the years pass my purges get more harsh, but then so does the recollecting!  Talk about repeating history over and over!

I wrote this story in both bracelet listings in June or July of 2012.  The letter's story goes like this:

Eons ago, I had bought a single plain Native American Cloud bracelet on ebay and never received it and quite honestly had forgotten about it.  (Now I know why I had forgotten about it!  My hoard was growing by amounts so vast and fast I wasn't even keeping track of it!)  

Two or more months later this bracelet arrived with a note from a man thanking me for not leaving bad feedback and asked if I would accept this larger bracelet, instead of the one intended.  He explained that his delay was due to his hospital stay and recovery from a heart attack from smoking. He went on to say, the cloud bracelet I had purchased was his first Pow Wow bracelet and he wanted it as a reminder of his renewed health and for all his future Pow Wows.  


Years later I refound this one like his/my cloud pow wow bracelet at the now defunct sister store of the Folk Tree in Pasadena, California. (I wore it often with the listed "dot to dot" bracelet for the comforting jingly sounds). My hope is cloud bracelet brings good health and a cloud 9 feeling to all believers of serendipity and connections without connecting!

This is another "destiny of things" in which someone read the descriptions and bought them both!  The other stories that I can remember--where someone read and liked the descriptions enough to follow it's destiny are "Twin Cross" and "For the Love of Square".  I hope my emotions are in check because that brought another tear to my eye! There may be more of these types of stories like this one, you think?

I didn't know it at the time, until writing this post that both bracelets are made by Tahe, which is a family of Navajo Indian jewelry artists of Northern Arizona.  Talk about all believers of serendity and connections without connecting!  Another little tidbit brings tears to my eyes!

Also, when we went to the Autry, I thought it was an exhibit on the importance of corn to Native Americans, but it was "Kastina in Hopi Life".  It is in this exhibit that I saw some jewelry symbolizing corn and realized that the Tahe coil cuff most likely symbolizes corn on the cob or corn kernels from heaven because it has clouds, the sun or rainbows stamped on it's sides!  I can't even write down all the connections I made at the Autry, although I already tried in my notes and journal.

Note to self:  Write a review about trying the gf corn recipes from the Kastina in Hopi Live exhibit!

WARNING:  Way OFF TOPIC here!

Side Note:  If you are a fan of MJ pre surgury days, and just in case, you live out of Cali or in another country and can't go to the Autry I've included these pics or click on the links below

Side Note:  I wanted to add this Michael Jackson in the original Autry post, but ran out of time.  Click and scroll down towards the bottom to see MJ's cowboy dance from back in the day and keep in mind they have this outfit there to see!  It's so worth watching the MJ's cowboy dance!


Calling Kennedy back to earth!  Hey, Kennedy there's a call from earth for you about some bracelets!

 
December 4 2012 12:30pm EDT
I will purchase the heavier three coiled bracelet next week so please set that aside for me... I will need to wait on other bracelets for now and have bookmarked your site. You have really got me into this look... your photos of the bracelets together are amazing! I may have just started a new "hunt." 
So there it is, "my omega to your alpha" story!



Saying Good-bye:  I rarely wore this coiled corn cuff because it's so heavy, it's like getting a work out!  but when I wore it, I did with a simple one color outfit, usually black stacked with other bracelets.

My other favorite ones to wear with it are/were the turquoise sandcast and coral ones, which one fav is still lost in my hoard or I've lost it!

The turquoise and especially the coral, added the simple pop of color, which I thought was a more subtle look! It sounds silly funny now to me!

And that's when I thought I was dressing up!  Now, I just wear jeans and tees.  That's "if" I go outside!

What I Learned:

1.  My new old stress food is SPAM!!!!!

I didn't buy anything yesterday because I was too busy doo-dahing around you tube and then had to rush and finish my two posts yesterday.  The oldie songs threw me for such a loop that the thought of SPAM was the only comfort!

I know it's not organic, but is it healthier than french fries?  It doesn't have any gluten.  I can keep it on hand and it's cooks faster than going out to get french fries, so I consider that instant enough! (I tried to find an organic SPAM and find it so oxy mornonic funny, that I don't care! until I have a reaction)  It surprisingly has less ingredients than most processed foods.  Okay, so I caved!  Anyways, I can't eat too much of it because it gave me overnight eye gunk this am.

For the Japanese SPAM has an interesting history from Hawaii because back in the day, when the Japanese immigrated from Japan, many first stopped in Hawaii and saved til they could hop to Cali.

SPAM has been another childhood fav.  It's right up there with teriyaki hot dog and top ramen and sleepovers with Granma!  I gave up SPAM over 10-20 years ago, but have hung on to the empty cans as comforting reminders of many camping trips of SPAM and eggs, crunchy spam fry snacks with my brother and Loco Moco but with SPAM! 

I had/have a case of SPAM in my truck, but that's another story pertaining to my hoard!  A few years ago, I have replaced all my vintage McCoy, Bauer, Anchor Hocking and Fire King planters that I used as pencil holders with SPAM cans!  See my SPAM Cat avatar!

Each room has a SPAM can holding something, like scrap papers, pencils, pens, a ruler, solar calculator, maybe a timer, post it notes, scissors and who knows what else!

Note to self:  Explore the idea that SPAM and ff are cravings for oil and salt?  Reminder:  I use salt as an afternoon pick me up sometimes for my lbp.

2.  I've begun to notice that people who do leave me their stories through email have commented on the card I send with it.  I distinctly remember using my last handmade Love card with this order, which was around the end of November right before I kicked in high gear to post all my backdrafts:


I remember it because I wondered if I should even send it because this LP storage box was shipped to a famous painter.

Now that I have found crafting as a good source of stress release, although making washi tape cards doesn't work as well as mending or free hand embroidery.  I have relisted all my washi tape cards for Valentine or anti-Valentiners.  I do hope to at least return to sending homemade cards, after my stash of "bought" cards has run out and/or things slow down around here!

3.  Extreme stress causes me to jump from topic to topic until I'm completely off topic!

4.  I am so happy that my end is someone's beginning!  And it's more likely more than three!  There are so many serprenditpioius coincidental connections in this story it's starting to boggle my mind and I can't keep them all in order!  I'll add them later if I've already forgotten them.

Thanks to the buyer who bought Cloud 9 and bought it with the dot to dot to keep them sounding jingly together.  Thanks to the buyer of Coiled Corn Cuff and the start of her new stacking bracelet collection!

Thank you readers from USA, Serbia, UK, Australia, Germany, Israel, South Korea maybe of Kallery Gallery, Trinidad and Tobago for keeping me company and keeping me going on my last load of backdrafts to start the New Year with a clean slate!

Happy New Year's Eve again to your and yours!

My Louis Vuitton Collection as Omega and Alpha: The Destiny of Things, Story XXXIII

My Louis Vuitton Collection:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXIII, Omega and Alpha, Part 2
started June, 19, 2012, added more on 29dec2012, 30th and complete on 31st.Orginally part 1, but I don't know how it ended up being part 2, revised by adding ms. K and little details on 9Jan2013

The end of my collections have been the beginnings for others.  I know at least three stories of this happening and thought it a good way to end the year and symbolize the new one!
The most practical LV keychain purse in the world went to Ms. K and was my first sale on HoarderRehab, how appropriate I think!  It's her first piece starting her LV collection and quite frankly and hopefully the last of mine.  Although I have the LV and eyeglass case and clutch wallet thingy, I consider this those pieces non chalantly and this LV keychain pouch, well, the halls bells of the mother of all mothers of LV items!

My Louis Vuitton collections is/was extensive for someone who couldn't afford luxury items on a teacher salary, but could later as a real estate investor.  Now that I think about it, most of them were gifts.

I didn't want to count it, but did because it is an eye opener to a more meaningful consciousness of my hoard!  At last count it was 12 and I have two pieces left.

My Louis Vuitton collection began when I was in middle school.  My best friend got luxury gifts from her father on her birthday and Christmas and we would ooh and ahh over them.

One year she got 14k gold matching barrettes with real pearls and diamonds and then the next gift was a Louis Vuitton bag, but we didn't know it was Louis Vuitton and even thought it was plastic!  We laughed so hard when she opened what we thought was such an "ugly" bag!  She swore to never use such and "ugly" thing and we hit K-mart first off to return it!  We lived in two different cities and I can't remember how we got places, except by bike.

This is the Louis Vuitton bag that started it all!
photo from Mitzi Achilles of sashayvintag,on etsy.  This LV bag is up for grabs!

We went to a bunch of other stores looking for it, but never found it and she put it on the top shelf of her closet and we forgot about it.  She used it occasionally, but later when we went to visit her father for the first time for her in a long time and my first ever, she used it more regularly and the matching barrettes.  We still thought it was plastic!

We were the tomboy types and usually didn't even use purses, but stuffed things in our pockets.  Light riders is what we called people who didn't use purses.

A few years later, we took the bus to South Coast Plaza for their after-Christmas sales and the bus let us off right in front of Saks Fifth Ave.  As we were walking through the store, I couldn't believe my eyes!  There was her purse!  I don't remember what the price was, but we were so shocked and surprised that a piece of plastic could cost so much! I remember going home and telling the story about her super expensive plastic purse from Saks at the dinner table!  I have no idea when we learned it was made out of leather.

We still laugh about it today and I remember her using the purse until it's seams were unraveling!  I can still remember us using the front and back pockets of the purse!  It was so practical with an easy access front pocket for lip gloss and a more secure zippered on on the back for cash.  Cell phones were not invented yet and we used dimes and pay phones to call home!
 
 My first Louis Vuitton store bought piece from the LV store in South Coast Plaza.  
The perfect Light Rider piece!  It held id, c/c and money with keys and would fit in most pockets!  I can still remember this being in the back pocket of my Calvin Klein jeans with the keys hanging out!  This broke many times, but the LV store kept fixing it for free.

I've had two more since then, the other two bought thifting, one was a buck and the other a thrift gift from my hoarder enabler thrift shop buddy from back in the day!  So back in the day in fact, that "hoarding" didn't even have a name yet, kinda like when Karen Carpenter died from anorexia.  Eating disorders were unheard of.  The name for "hoarding" would take, what? another 40 years to be discovered/pinned after anorexia?

Also when I was in middle school, during one of our family trips to Tijuana (TJ) for miniatures  I ran across one of these but it was lined with black and white pony. I thought it was too expensive (10 bucks!) and didn't like the idea of a pony being inside it!  Funny now, but I could also kick myself for not getting it!

My first LV thrifting find in almost new condition at a thrift store in Orange for $5, back in the late 70s or early 80s.
By the time, I sold this beauty, it was one of my favorites because it has a divider in it.  I used one side for dollar bills and pennies and the other side for silver coins.  It also held an id and credit cards.  It was all I needed and used for a very long time.

The LV keychain  purse has it beat by a mile if you ask me!


My first LV item I gave away.
photo from STYLE of FannyChanel on etsy.  Get this while it's still hot here!

One like this with a LV leash was given away to a good friend who always wanted one, however I never saw her use it.  Hope she's using it now!

The Speedy, I think was part of the souvenir gifts from Paris and used both all the way through college!  The LV checkbook wallet also came inside it! with Cartier perfume and garnet gold earrings!

Okay, going through my LV list of items is going to take forever, so I'll just post what pics I have of them.  Most of them sold on ebay.

Souvenir gift from another teacher when she returned from France.

Also in college I found a LV trunk for $10 thrifting and first used it as a little vignette corner and hung my Victorian and flapper clothes in it.  The other side had drawers for storing my knick knacks.

Later I used it as a coffee table.  I have no idea what happened to it when I moved, but at that time I also had a 60s teak rocking chair, a set of primary color nesting pyrex bowls from my Aunt.

The rocking chair went to a friend of a friend who was expecting and her name was Roxanna.  I have no idea how I can remember that, but not know about my LV trunk.
LV Hair Baubbles I bought for myself when I had to cut my hair because I was too sick to take care of it  and it was falling out in droves anyway.

I vowed to use it when my hair grew back, which took about three years and now it's back to falling out again.  I think this was a stress buy to help cheer myself up!

I do not miss these, but for some reason, I miss the packaging and the box more! Weird, I know.
 I used these boxes in a trio, layered and stacked on top of each other and used them as a desk organizer.


This pouchet was a gift.  I only used it the day I got it and that was it.

Another gift.  I loved the Zippy and thought it was going to be my new bff in purse accessory wear!  Nope!  It still didn't beat out the LV keychain c/c holder!

I'm still a Light Rider!  Now I use a recycled plastic Target bag turned into a keychain id c/c coin purse I have from etsy, March 12, 2010.

When we go hiking or I go walking, I still use her recycled trash bag crocheted water bottle carrier!

I can't believe we found it!  It's from Some Things BandB on etsy!



I still have my last two next favorite pieces, after the keychain coin purse.  My LV checkbook wallet and eyeglass case are still available.  I used the eyeglass case to hold my glasses from back in the day when one had regular glasses and sunglasses, they didn't have polarized glasses like they do now!  Once I updated and got polarized glasses I loved using it as a cosmetic case!  It holds a stash of mula rolled in the bottom, fem. hygiene products, lip gloss, rice paper face blotters and a small mini perfume, mine was Miss Dior and the eyeglass case still smells just like it!

 My Louis Vuitton checkbook wallet souvenir gift from Paris, France, available here!
I think this may be a rare luxury item from Louis Vuitton. In all the years I've had it I've seen no one else with one, others often would ask me where I got it with the gold corners and back in the day, when I first got it, one of my other friends searched all over for it because the checkbook can can be inserted horizontally, as well as vertically.  If anyone has any information on it, it would be welcomed and appreciated.  Thanks.


My other last LV collection item:  LV eyeglass case/cigarette case buy it here:
This eyeglass case has a soft cloth divider separator in it.  In the old days, you would put your regular glasses in one slot and your sunglasses in the other. It was also sold as a cigarette case, one side for your cigarettes and the other for your lady like lighter. I used it for my sunglasses and also as a small cosmetic bag for girlie stuff, like emergency feminine hygiene products, lipstick, night jewelry, perfume, pen, powder paper and a stash of mula. It holds a lot!

Now I use a zip lock snack bag and put it inside cosmetic bags my mom has made for me.  I have three of them!  And two more that I can think of somewhere and one that my aunt made from when I was a kid!  Most of my purse collection is here and ranges from Antique to vintage from around the world!  I used to arranged them on a wall in each house.  Some of the smaller ones and handmade ones I haven't found yet.  I have one that I can't give up yet for some reason.

Saying Good-bye:  The LV keychain coin purse was exciting because it was the last of the three I had and my first sale on HoarderRehab.  I do not miss it.  My recycled Target keychain wallet actually is more practical, since it has the outside pocket.  I can honestly say that I miss the LV boxes and bags more than the items.  Go figure!

What I Learned:

1.  We saw the Murakami exhibit on it's last day, February 11, 2008.  My LV collection went downhill after I saw what Murakami and Marc Jacobs did to them.  I guess I'm old fashioned and lost heart, which sounds lame to me, but I don't have time to think about it right now.

But if (cross my fingers, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye, knock on wood, don't start it up again!)...IF I started to collect it again, it would be vintage pieces and certain ones I already have envisioned.  However, I doubt it will happen, since I'll remain a Light Rider or just use my backpack.

My backpack(it's from a shop on etsy called mim of maine or something, but I've spent 10 min and can't find it searing on etsy, I'll try google later) holds many books and frees up my hands wherever I go!  I have one vintage Coach bag saved in case, "knock on wood-no way, but just in case", if I ever have a job interview again.

And two hand embroidered bags, one from Africa and the other from Vietnam.  So I still have a hoard of purses!  Which seems ironic for a light rider!  And even worse, in this high time of stress, I've been relooking for this Lay's potato chip backpack I lost at auction on ebay a couple of years ago.

2.  I'm tired now that I've caught up with my backdrafts and after this will go buy some stuff because my new motto is, "better to buy stuff than to stuff my face!"

3.  Definitely will start my HoarderRehab diet, crafting and exercise to see how it helps my stress levels.  Even though, I've tried crafting and exercise before and exercise seems to take more effort and shabazz than I possess most of the time, this time I'd like to keep the experiment going and see if at least the HR diet will help me with my holiday angst next year at this time.

Whatever shabazz or oomph means.  I know I can do the diet and crafting right off.  And out of all three, the HR diet seems to be the most motivating, so keeping with the HR diet may outlast the crafting and exercise, but only time will tell!

Thank you Ms. K for ending one of my collections to start yours!  I hope your LV collection brings you closer to whatever you are searching for and brings you good memories as it has done for me!

Thank you visitors from USA, Serbia, UK, AU, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago for joining me in my HoarderRehab adventure of my omega to your alpha!

Happy New Year's Eve to you and yours!  May destiny as infinity be yours!

Related Louis Vuitton Story:

1.  My Louis Vuitton Collection Update from May 3, 20132nd to the Last of Piece of my LV Collection Good-Bye

Sunday, December 30, 2012

For the Love of Square: The Destiny of Things, Story XXXII, Omega to Alpha, Part 1

For the Love of Square:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXII of Omega to Alpha, Part 1

Here is the story of one of my collections dispersing and ending into someone else's beginnings.  This is the first story of a three part series, I call "My Omega to Your Alpha."  I thought it a good way for me to end 2012 and start 2013 with a circular open ended theme.

tarotfairy
Nov 19, 2012 

Good Evening Kennedy

The cup and saucer arrived a few moments ago; I am so thrilled with them!!! I read about the background story of the Sebring factory and it just really tugged at my heartstrings, that old fashioned American Dream story :) and my imagination just soared picturing housewives in Ohio and beyond in the 30's with their lovely homes, frilly dresses and new (!) dishes....

I also picture a more modern lady somewhere in America who sipped her tea outside during that quiet moment alone when she can just breath a bit and savor her cuppa.

Now the set lands in NY, and will be filled with delicious hot coffee, also by a slightly more modern lady (on the outside) who also believes in that private moment when all the computers and phones are shut off and there is only the quiet music of the heart.  Well, that was nice!

And can you imagine that I found on Etsy a seller who was selling 2 matching salad plates to this teacup and saucer? They arent crazed and seem never to have been used, in stark contrast with this more road weary tea set but it will just add to the charm!  Loving this :)

Blessing to you and your family and bless all your new plans projects and endeavors.
Have a great Thanksgiving too!
Hugs
Nathalie, Life is a butterfly



Nov 19, 2012
Hi Nathalie!

I am so relieved and happy for us! Wow, thank you for the detailed and amazing email. I will use it straight into my blog! Thank you! Your tea cup and saucer by Sebring Ivory has the perfect new home and thank you for the story. It's so much easier for me to let go and not try and replace it, when I know it's gone to such a home with appreciation towards Sebring and it's American history!

I love the description in your story for me. Thank you for taking the time to write it and thanking me! You are a doll! I will imagine you drinking your coffee with the tulip cup and saucer at the most peaceful time listening to the quiet moments of the heart!

ANd you found more to the set!!!!! I love it! Thank you for sharing the news and if you could spare some pics of it with it's new salad dishes in it's new home, I'd love to include them on my Hoarder Rehab Blog, The Destiny of Things! That is the ultimate continuation of , "destiny as infinity"!

If you ever have the time, sip some coffee with the cup over the movie, "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio." You'll love the era. I think it takes place in the 50s with Julian Moore playing a writer of commercial jingles to support herself and her ten children. It's a very uplifting inspiring movie.

Thank you for being the best client ever!
~Kennedy @
VintageToGoetsy
HoarderRehab
The Destiny of Things
hoarderrehab.blogspot.com

Side note:  This was my first package to get lost or stuck and although it had tracking it wouldn't show up for days and then just pop up at it's next destination.  It took 16 days to get from Cali to NY!
  
Saying Good-bye:  This is another example where someone read the description I wrote and decided to become part of it by joining me in what I've started to call "destiny as infinity!"  Read the complete description here, here's the important part:

"I loved using this when I had a moment to myself and could sit quietly on the backyard porch overlooking Los Angeles on a clear day. Hope you find moments with this cup just as I did."

Some people, like Nathalie make it so easy to let go.  She is another person who shared emails with me.  She liked the fact that this was my "get away" cup and it would be hers.  This is her fourth "get away" cup for her early morning cuppa. We talked about this and that and Sebring, Ohio's Pottery Companies.  We still keep in touch here and there and it's always delightful to hear back from her!

Hoarder History:  This was a gift during my collect all things "square" stage, before my Mexican Folk Art phase.  I had 8 square glasbake cups and once saw 12 with the saucers and kicked myself for not buying them because I thought I'd see them again, but now I'm glad I didn't get them.  I bought a lot of blue Azurite Charm cups, saucers and plates, snack plates and even the geometric Akro agate toy plates.  I bought a lot square and geometic textile patterned clothes and jewelry back then too!

I used to have a teapot collection to go along with my tea cup and saucer collection.  I'd guess 20 teapots, so it's probably more.  My aunt has had it for over 20 years now from one of my purges.  I think she might have my salt and pepper shaker collection also, which if I remember correctly, is larger than my teapot collection! 

I used to have several to many different sets of square tea cups, but the Sebring Ivory Tulip was one of my three favorites.  I used it quite often because my all time favorite I saw in a museum, which if I had to guess was the Autry over ten years ago when I visited for a teacher continuing education class and stopped using it.  I found it in my hoard, but I'm not close to parting with it.

I just went to go look for it and it wasn't where I thought it was... hmmm.....uh oh.


What I Learned:

1.  My stress is becoming worse as the first of January comes closer and closer.  Family holiday angst...I do know it will dissipate around 8-9 pm on the first day of the New Year just like it always does.

I've just bought one thing so far, well, three if I count the kumquat trees, but they've been on hold since the summer when we ordered a kumquat, grapefruit tree and two blackberry bushes.  Sadly, they got quarantined, but are now free from it and the berries didn't make it.  The trees are small, one is two feet and the other looks more like a small bush, but both have enough kumquats to last me 1-2 weeks and they are from an organic nursery!

I feel some stress released through buying things I've been eyeing for a couple of months, so I probably should have bought them back then and maybe my stress wouldn't have piled up? 

It wasn't until my stress came to a head, like an unmanageable and painful pimple that turns into a gigantic boil that I even noticed it and even now I have a stomach ache and feel very unnerved from listening to the songs of my early childhood from the last post, New Home for Turquoise and I don't know why other than ---is something blocking me, besides myself from remembering something from back then?

2.  Another layer of the onion has been pulled back, but it's memory less with knotted up stomach and butterflies flickering in a frenzy inside feeling.  Those songs really took me for a loop!  I feel like I'm not going to return, but keep going on in an endless loop spiraling into a dizziness of dazed whackiness!  yikes!

3.  I'm wondering if what I buy in this uncontrollable time of stress is another clue to some hidden memory trying to come forward and show itself!

How are you feeling during this New Year's holiday weekend?

Thank you Natalie for sharing your email story!  Nathalie just opened her etsy shop, Life is a Butterfly! See her artwork!  Today, as I wrote this I noticed she just opened it, on December 21, 2012 and already had a sale!  Congrats Nathalie! She just told me she opened it on a whim.  Yeah!  another newbie like me!  Etsy newbie, not hoarder newbie.

Thank you for being here and supporting me with your good vibes, especially visitors from the USA, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Trinidad & Tobago, Pakistan, Israel, South Korea and Germany.  Special thanks from someone from Germany and South Korea, who seems to support me in spirit almost daily for as long as I can remember!  Thank you you all!

New Home for Turquoise: The Destiny of Things, Story XXXI

New Home for Turquoise:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXI

My Native American collection is vast to massive and probably only half has been listed!
Thankfully many of the listed pieces have sold, mainly bracelets and crosses.  I still have several bracelets to list, barrettes and necklaces.  I can no longer wear metals due to allergies and even the barrettes give me a reaction.

The bracelet below I named "no more tears" and always reminds me of the song, "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head".  I haven't listened to that song, since-I don't know when- so long ago, I can barely remember any of the lyrics and  I thought it was the Andy Williams version, but it's not, it's the Burt Bacharach version with ukele? and the horns, although I've always liked Andy Williams whistling at the end.  It's a toss up between the horns and whistling, but the Bachrarach version has got a more upbeat tempo.

I had to listen to both versions more than ten times before I could stop crying tears of joy and sadness!  That song is my new theme song for my hoard adventure!

Which took me forward to the Carpenter's, "Rainy Days and Mondays", which I learned to play on the piano and loved to play over and over and over again!   I had the album and the 45, but played the 45 on continuous! Close to You...on the piano too, it has such a catching touchy feely opening...that's got to be a classic baby shower song!  Then there's Yesterday Once More -"every melody as they melt the years away all my best memories come back clearly to me some can even make me cry just like before, it's yesterday once more"

Don't even get me started on Peter, Paul and Mary or Simon and Garfunkel!!!!

I almost didn't make it out of "you tube" nostalgia!  Maybe my noise intolerance has gotten better and I can listen to more songs now?  Anyways....where was I?

The Tally:  Who's counting?  I stopped counting the bracelets, but since it's such an eye opener to myself in relation to my hoard I will continue to count my collections within collections!

20 Native American bracelets:  Honestly I thought it was more like 12 and I would wear them stacked, but all 20?  I don't think so!  And this doesn't include my Taxco or bracelets from India!  Yikes!
5+ Native American rings:  This is off the top of my head and does not inlclude my Taxco, religious or stacking band rings.  Oh my!

13+ Native American necklaces, pendants, charms, barrettes and earrings: oh no, this is making me nervous

It's probably safe to say I have 50+ Native American pieces and that doesn't include artifacts, like baskets, dolls and arrowheads!


One of my favorite types of Native American jewelry are the sand cast ones.  I have several.  The twin turquoise ones, I found separately, but wore inseparately, but one has already sold.

They remind me of making rainbow sand candles over and over in kindergarten and first grade happily and tirelessly.

I don't know how they are made, but it's got to be fascinating!


I was so happy to wear these again for pic day! but also apprehensive because I was hoping I wouldn't have a reaction.  No go!  These were all taken on different days until I finally gave up.  I had a reaction each time.

Nothing like I used to get, but uncomfortable enough to not wear them for more than five minutes!

Some buyers said they wished I had polished them before shipping.

I tried polishing them too, no go.  I tried polishing them wearing gloves, better, but too slow.

Finally, I've hired someone to polish them.

Back to the email:

Simple words make me happy!  Just eleven words is all it took! 


 photo courtesy of paintthelight

"Kennedy, I love my pieces, I will wear them often- thanks!" ---paintthelight

September 12, 2012 was my super lucky day because the email came with a pic too!  Too bad I had forgotten the password to that account and got the 48 hour block countless times til I forgot to recheck it and finally this month, I remembered and could also answer my own chosen question for password protection correctly!  But it was worth it because what a surprise to find this emailed story and yesterday's story!

Saying Good-bye:  I love the stacked look!  I used to wear many rings and bracelets stacked!  Sigh, miss it!  I see it them stacked on someone else and want to start collecting all over again. The weirdest part is I can't seem to remember that I'm allergic to them and want to keep them!  Why is that?

What I Learned:

1.  Many of my "things" were/are my coping mechanisms through hard times that I pushed down and swept under the rug until I didn't know what they were or where they were.  Did I unconsciously buy this bracelet and named it "no more tears"? so the song, "Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head" would help me through the years and end up being my HoarderRehab theme song?

2.  I was influenced at an early age by my aunt who wore her bracelets stacked.  The two I remember are a  medium to large intricate yet simple sand cast bracelet and wear it with an old gold bracelet with an evergreen dark jade oval in the middle of it.  The jade looks like it's just been glued on and the gold is dark and looks sand cast too!

Later it was revived and reinforced by pics of Beatrice Wood having tea with someone from a magazine.  I loved the look so much I have the ripped out pages of them somewhere in my hoard!  Yep!  I hoard pics, pages and paper that I like for no reason other than I like it!  (I saw her earthenware being shown at the Autry with other California Designing Women until Jan. 6, 2012 curated by Bill Stern, who emailed his story also)

3.  Movies and TV shows that are now coming back to me too.  I think I've watched them for answers on how to cope with stress.  For instance, yesterday's post reminded me of Amelie and her sad beginnings to the happy ending her adventure of returning the box of secret hidden toys while better connecting with those around her! 

Today's post reminds me of the Biscuit on Ally McBeal and all his silly gimmicky coping mechanism antics that worked for him, which gives me hope that this blog will work to end my hoarding ways this time around for the better!

Let's see who to thank today?  Thank you paintthelight for sending me your email titled, New Home for Turquoise with a pic!  Thank you etsy for another connection!  Thank you "youtube" for having so many oldie old songs!

Thank you for being with me as I walk, stumble, fall, stand and sometimes fly through my HoarderRehab clutziness adventure!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Continuous Virgin Mary Band Ring: The Destiny of Things, Story XXX

Continuous Virgin Mary Band Ring: The Destiny of Things, Story XXX

I'm back to posting stories of my destiny of things!  I haven't recovered fully from blog drama land, but enough to move on.  I feel as though I got hit with a bus and it crushed my heart, but I realize too that more than one thing is going on in my life and I too maybe more sensitive than I realize.

I recovered much faster than I thought, thanks to mr. oz, Roger Casanova, who's timely comment reinforced  mr. oz's cheering up, Renee from "she who lives in trees", who has supported me almost daily when this blog was just a tiny idea and I didn't know how to post pics yet, Karen Anne Glilck, who's banner words, "listen, allow, trust, honor and let go" keep me going.

The best remedy was thinking of those who support me, instead of the one trying to knock me out!  Roger's comment was amaZingly timely and pushed me back up and in different words reinforced what mr. oz tells me everyday, "just hit the 'publish' button already!"

The second continuous Virgin Mary band ring came with an emailed story! 
I found this ring in my religious artifacts and didn't know it was sterling until listing it.  I listed it as "rare" because I couldn't fine another one anywhere to compare it too, but later I found an exactly second one in my hoard!

This was another item that sat around forever on Hoarder Rehab, but after the first one sold the second one sold more quickly and there's someone else waiting for me to find another one, but I really don't think I have a third one, but I didn't think I had a second one, so it's another "hoard" mystery!


December 21, 2012

Hi Kennedy,

I am the buyer of the Virgin Mary continuous band ring. I do love it and I will tell you why. I am 63 years old. Many years ago my husband cleaned out an apartment of an elderly woman who had passed away and had no family. My husband took home a couple of small boxes of costume jewelry. There wasn’t too much that interested me and I tucked it way back in a drawer.

About 5 years ago while cleaning out drawers I came across the little boxes. I did not remember what was in them so I decided to look through them. Again, there was nothing interesting in the first box, but it did remind me about where they had come from. In the second box I found the silver Virgin Mary band ring. I was amazed and delighted! I am sure I hadn’t seen that ring years ago. If I had, I certainly would have been as excited then as I was when finding it. Very mysterious!!!

I started wearing the ring that day. Every time I looked at the ring I said a heart-felt “Hail Mary”. It was a difficult time in my life and I was pleased to have my faith to fall back on.

Then I lost my Virgin Mary band ring. I wore that ring every day, hardly ever taking it off, but it was gone!! I was almost certain that I would never find one like it.

I missed it terribly and wanted to try to replace it. I was amazed, surprise and delighted when I saw an identical ring on your site. Then I saw that it had recently been sold. I was soooooo disappointed!!  I was unable to find one like it anywhere else, so one day, (without much hope), I checked back on your site. Alleluia, you had another one for sale, however, another road-block. The ring was $0 and I had nowhere near that amount to spend on myself, but I knew I had to try to get the money together before it got sold. It took me some time to be able to buy the ring. I was so pleased to have this ring back on my finger even though I need to have it made smaller. I am still wearing with lots duck tape wrapped around it. Only one more road-block …I am now saving money to have the ring correctly sized.

Hoping you enjoyed the story,
MAS

PS: I loved your beautiful stationary and good luck with hoarder-rehab.


Saying Good-bye:  A story like that doesn't get much better!  I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one who stashes little boxes in drawers to find years later, like a little surprise.  And how coincidental was it that she found the same exact ring at the shop, but it was sold and then I listed the second one.  Now that I know her story, it feels like I found it just for her!

Someone had offered to buy it at a lower price too, but since the first one sold, I didn't budge on price, however I am known to budge for a good story!  I know, not very business like am I?  I'm pleased to say I'm glad I didn't budge, since the ring seems to have gone to the perfect person!

Both of these rings were easier to let go, it's the aluminum religious medals, like this heart-shaped Lourdes religious medals, the B. Marguerite medals, flower shaped medals with Mother Frances of Xavier Cabrini, my enameled medals and my plastic religious medals that have a hold on me!

I think it's because I have many of them and won't be able to collect that many of the same ones ever again!  Well, without it costing an arm and leg.  I don't know if I should deactivate their listing or let them go.  I probably should deactivate them and then decide!  Better to deactivate them now, than cry over them with hoarder seller remorse later!

What I learned:

1.  I am flip flopping indecisively all over the place under my -once a year- holiday angst - compounded by other stresses.  So I deactivated four hoarded items at the shops!  My mental health overrides my stress at this moment and it's better than stuffing my face or buying more stuff!  Speaking of which, I haven't bought anything, but I've made my list and am itching to start buying, yet also apprehensive due to the guilt it might cause!  Will most certainly cause!

2.  I've limited my buying spree to $100 with $10 a pop including shipping!  10 pops should relieve a lot of stress!

Tomorrow I plan to buy an organic kumquat tree and grapefruit tree from the Farmer's Market.  I just need three kumquats with a tad bit of honey for a sleeping tea and grapefruits are used in a liver flush drink. 

3.  I really need to start including new destressers like crafting and exercise, but right now they just seem so far away and up close too daunting and time consuming!  Falling back on old habits is so much easier, quick and well, quite frankly, WONDERFUL!

Parting questions:  Does anyone know a quick answer to the difference between, Mother Mary, Holy Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary and Virgin Mary?  I only know from wiki, the Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, is a medal, the design of which was originated by Saint Catherine Labouré following her reported vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary[1][2] and made by goldsmith Adrien Vachette.

Thank you for joining me today, in another adventure of a recovering hoarder's "as the world turns"!

Friday, December 28, 2012

HoarderRehab Review #1: HR Stress, Gluten Free AND Organic Frozen Pizza!

HoarderRehab Review #1:  HoarderRehab Stress, Gluten Free AND 75% Organic Frozen Pizza from Amy's Kitchen!

Yeah!!!  Finally!!! Something store bought and Junk Food that's Gluten Free and Almost all Organic!

I'm under a lot of stress and all I want to do is EAT!  Eating is an instant stress reducer and most of the time it works!  and not healthy eating mind you, but fast food, junky, instant goodness- kind- of -bygone stress eating!

 Notice it says organic rice flour and tomatoes, not cheese!

Yesterday, I had some blog drama that took half a day to resolve, like anyone reads my blog, anyway it did more damage than rain on my parade, blow out my spirit,  ( it was like continuous, but sporadic getting the wind knocked out of me trying to understand and make both parties happy) and the whole ordeal put a whole lot of doubt into if what I'm doing here is worthwhile, so I  decided to take a break from my "destiny of things" and finish some backdraft reviews that I used to wonder how it related to my hoard, but now I think I have a clue.

Also, I let go of five packages this morning and four more are on their way out!  So the stress of things leaving too quickly and then add on my holiday angst that won't be over until the January 2, 2013.  Plus I need some decent sleep from my insomnia.  My list goes on, but I'll spare myself without it.

This is actually Review #3 or 4, but I'm so excited and ecstatic about this FIND and I have pushed it to the top of the list.  Most people probably could careless about gluten free organic foods, but as I've written I am allergic to many things, not just most foods, but to metals, like jewelry and it's the main reason I'm selling mine.

I waited three years to become unallergic to my jewelry and since I gave up jewelry for lent over 10 years ago anyway-I've been trying to be rational with myself and "sell" what I haven't already given away!

My list of allergies may be as long as my list of collections!  Okay, I so exaggerated, it's about one-third as long as my list of collections and most of them are NOT going away!

So instead of making a list of what I'm allergic to food-wise.  I'll tell you what I can eat.  Organic and Gluten-free foods.  I also, eat Soy Free, but that seems to be easier to do, except for soy lechiten seems to be in a lot of stuff.  I've been looking for foods with this combo for over 3 years now with long periods of "giving up" disappointment!


The USUAL Healthy Pizza!

Rawvolutions pizzas are all organic and raw, but at least 45 min. drive without traffic or 1- 2 hours in traffic, one way!  Plus they might be closed by the time we get there!  Even though, we love to eat here, one time we barely made it and got there 20 min before closing!  Plus it's not quite "destressing" food!
 Sorry about the photo RawvolutionsPizza Italiano

Rawvolutions all organic and raw (uncooked)  Italiano Pizza ingreds:  collard green, onion, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut aminos, olive oil, tomato, lemon juice sea salt, garlic, mushrooms, bell pepper, oregano, basil, olives

When I was bed-ridden sick, at one point I could only have filtered water and after a month or so could move on to raw organic foods.  Anyways, that was another long journey, but I learned tons about food, nutrition, diet and organics.

I don't know how many other people "out there" share my eating habits, which I think may be directly or indirectly connected to my hoarding, but that's another story! but if you can relate to my "eating habits" then you know how CHALLENGING it is to find Gluten Free Organic "anything" types of foods!

I can find Gluten Free bread or Organic bread, but not GF organic bread!  Thank Heavens!!!  I have found a Gluten Free mostly Organic pizza!  I have found 100%  GF and Organic cookies and crackers, that are even made in a GF facility, but I don't really eat sweets when stressed.

4jan2103:  I discovered that they make pretzels!  That's one of my old stress foods, instead of potato chips!

My food stress releasers are several to many and none are them are healthy.  Fried foods, especially french fries, potato chips and fried chicken top the list!  If they sold thick slabs of prime rib as fast food then I 'd include it too!

I know how my comfort foods of fried chicken and prime rib evolved into my stress releasers from childhood, but I guess this is getting long enough and is another story too!

Anyways, back to my review, thank heavens for "Amy's Kitchen"!  I haven't eaten dairy in 3-4 years, so I gave it a try  ( I can eat grass fed butter, but that's it for dairy and me)

I haven't had "real" pizza in three years either, if Amy's qualifies as "real" pizza to you! (except for the "real" Pizza Hut I had a week before this, which took away my stress and oddly enough I got some sleep, but it compounded some of my other health issues)

Pizza Hut's Italian Meat Trio Overstuffed Pizza- I went "all out" for my stress!
photo from Brand Eating, Review: Pizza Hut- Italian Meat Trio Overstuffed Pizza.  It seems Pizza Hut no longer sells this pizza, techless me couldn't find a pic on the Pizza Hut site anymore

I'm not even the pizza eater in the family, mr. oz is- and we would drive all the way to Rawvolutions.  Most of the time, it's worth it, although it doesn't taste like "real" pizza to me!  They also have a Big Matt with Cheese, raw zuchinni pasta and tacos!  Everything I've tried there is good  and we've tried almost everything!

When I was overcoming my bed ridden illness, we ate a lot of Rawvolutions, the Box would last a week for both of us and it took some pressure off mr. oz having to do everything and I mean, almost everything!  If you've ever been bed ridden or taken care of someone in that condition, you know what I mean!  Thank you Rawvolutions for being one of my life savers!

Amy's Rice Crust Pizza is delicious compared to Pizza Hut and an emergency one can be stashed in the freezer.  All three were good, but I'm trying to go down the memory lane of foods to release stress without getting more sick!

Mr. oz likes hawaiin style pizza, so to Amy's we added organic pineapple, organic grass fed cheese and organic turkey bacon with only naturally occurring nitrates, nitrites, etc.

It was deliciously delish!  I was in stress relief heaven! and even better- we didn't have to make it from scratch!!!  but the cheese gave us both sinus reactions which was better than my Pizza Hut reactions.  (Pizza Hut was a good reminder of why I can't eat most fast foods, conventional non organic and gluten!)

Oh the day, when gluten free organic can be just a call away and delivered within a half hour!

I don't know if it was the organic cheese or Amy's cheese or too much cheese on cheese that caused the sinus reactions, but we also found a different gluten free organic crust, so we'll have to make our own and find out.  So stay tuned for another review!

What I Learned:

1.  I have a lot to say about food and it's instantness to relieveing my stress!  I usually have uncontrollable stress and sometimes with the blues once a year during the winter holidays.  No blues this year, just the stress, high anxiety, restless nervousness with borderline panic.

2.  Until I find some better stress releasers, is it better to eat or buy stuff?  I just have to make it to Jan. 2, 2013 and then life will return to a more normal state!  Holiday stress begins around Thanksgiving and ends after Jan. 1

Note to self:  Make crafting and exercise a new habit.

3.  Try finding any type of fast food or junk food that's GF and Organic.  Or any "instant, already cooked, to go, instant meal or snack"  It's sometimes feels like a hopeless chore and can add more stress shopping for stress foods, especially while stressed!    Foods are  either GF or organic, but not both! add SF into the mix and complicate the hunt even more!

GF and organic food will one day meet up and be more abundant.  Remember dieting in the early 80s?  I remember looking for and finding "low fat with low sugar" foods almost impossible!  Either it was high fat and low in sugar or low in sugar and high in fat!  Now, it's abundant, so I have hope for GF and Organic.  Anyone else "out there" know what I mean?

Has anyone "out there" found satisfying instant, fast food, junk food, frozen food, just add hot water food that's GF and organic and possibly SF too?  Let me know, I'm be soooo grateful!

Reminder to self:  Gluten may cause me more stress by flattening  my small intestine villi and compromising my nutrient absorbancy and makes my skin peel, which I then touch to no end to release nervous energy.

4.  I guess it's healthier to buy stuff than stuff my face!  Be prepared to see what this recovering hoarder buys under "holiday angst, blog drama and items leaving too fast" until the dust settles and heart felt bruise marks fade away!  Thank heavens, the new year is almost here!

5.  Since I won't be stuffing my face, I'll start incorporating a HoarderRehab diet to see if it remedies my Hoarding Habits and helps control my stress levels!  It's on my New Year's Resolution as a Recovering Hoarder in 2013, but I hadn't made the connection between diet, stress and hoarding until today!

Wish me luck and send some good thoughts my way!

Thank you Roger of CasanovaDesignUSA for leaving me a comment in the nick of time that lifted my spirits and good intentions from a dark level back to light.  What perfect timing!

Thank you for being here and joining me in my aMAZEing HoarderRehab journey of being lost and then finding my way again!

HoarderRehab Reviews: Introduction

 HoarderRehab Reviews: Introduction

Coming soon!  I hope to review many things related to my hoarder ways and health, like organic restaurants I try, other places too and organic health and beauty products.  Right now, especially an organic shampoo!  I can't find one that doesn't give me an allergic reaction like an asthma attack or make my hair fall out or my head itch!

I've talked to a friendly and informative etsyian, Debbie about shampoo of Dancing Gardens, thank you Debbie!  Visit her shop here  I hope you make organic shampoo again with sample or travel size!

I'm so excited I found an etsy shop that sells organic perfume with samples here called Roxana Illuminated Perfumes.  Here is the sample I want to try and review Sierra Solid Gold woven with a chord of Prosperity, which is the aroma of the trees!

Samples are a HoarderRehab's new bff!  Unless of course, you buy the whole entire sample pack, which is still better than ....  Anyways, let me stop myself...samples are good for me because some of the products even if it's 100% organic give me a reaction, but if you are out there like I am looking for organic body care---there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of smelly goodness out there, let alone more than 70% ingredients in the product!

Have you found body products that contain 80%-100% organic ingredients?

Thanks for stopping by.  If you can relate to this or even if you are lucky enough and do not, feel free to connect with me!


HoARderRehab reviews on;

Organic Face and Skin Care:

Tonya Zavasta
Dr. Mercola
Dr. Schulze
David Wolfe
Nadine ARtemis
Dr. Bonner's
Alaffia:  Shea Butter and Cacao butter
Coconut oil
Olive Oil
Honey



Organic shampoo:

Theraneem Organix Neem Shampoo
Tanya Zavasta  Shampoo and Conditioner
Avalon Organics
Shea Moisture Curly Hair Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner
Shea Moisture Organic coconut shampoo
Desert Industries
POMSMOOTH shampoo by Juice
Dr. Bonner's hair products
Most Organic Baby Shampoo

Organic Restuarants:

O Burgers
Tender Greens
Paul Martin
KindKreme

Organic Grocery Stores:

Whole Foods
Trader Joes
Grassroots
Erewhon
Granny's Pantry