and she was an American girl.......

My eyes look funky in this picture because I have red eyes and put blue bic pen dots to make it better......hmm still pretty creepy.  I was so hoping I could find these pictures while I was still blogging.  This is me.  I knew exactly who I was at the age of twelve.  I had watched some amazing things on TV by this time.  One of the most memorable was when the Panda bears arrived in Washington DC.  This picture was taken after I had seen them.  This is a picture with my two favoritesl  One is from my Aunt who was with me when we saw the bears and the other was hand sewn by my neighbor who was also my best friend.  I was so patriotic my room was red white and blue.  I also put my treasured Nixon Agnew pin on the handmade bear.  I am wearing a P.O.W. bracelet that I had bought.  I felt very strongly for how important these bracelets were.  It gave me the power to give HOPE  that these soldiers WOULD come home alive.  I again watched TV that day and watched the name of each soldier come off the plane to see if I could see if my soldier came home.  He did not so I continued to wear the bracelet until it broke in half and then I bought another.  It still rests at the bottom of my jewelry box.

So this was my room.  My grandmother made the curtains and bed spreads for my bunk beds.  Having a grandmother who sewed that for me meant a lot.  There is also a pillow on top with a flower that was sewn by my cousin on my dad's side.  You can see the Walt Disney World pennant that I had after our trip there.  My grandfather got the family tickets for three days there including a tour guide for the first day.  It was about a year after it was open.  We would go to Florida every other year to celebrate Christmas.  My grandfather drove which was a feat in itself.  He told us we were going to Kennedy center which was pretty exciting.  But, as we drove by Walt Disney World I started begging.  Oh, we are so close can't we just drive up to see the castle.  Everyone in the car thought that was the silliest thing they had ever heard.  Oh please I begged.  My grandfather gave in and as we got closer all you could see was the gate to pay for parking.  I was defeated and gave in.  But, he went right to the gate and now I am yelling no you don't have to get any closer I understand.  But, then he said he would pay for the parking so I could see the castle.  I was so excited......really?   You could not see the castle.......my grandfather parked and yelled surprise....we are here for three days.  I couldn't believe it.  I was in heaven!  Some other signs of the times were those clacker things that I can't believe I survived.  Some post cards representing the pop art of the times.  My cherished Barbie and Dawn dolls and a snap shot of my brother's picture from High School.  A huge amount of things happened to our family after this.  I don't have any pictures after this time until about five years later.  It was the early seventies.  Nixon was impeached and as our government and economy swirled out of control so did my world and family life.

Score some Sound Business Advice

http://www.ebay.com/usr/greetingsfromgeralyn13



1.  Set Goals:  I just opened an Ebay shop.  My goal is to sell 10 items a week at $5 an item making my goal for the week $50.

2.  Make it fun!  Couldn't decide where to take pictures and decided to use this vintage skee ball game as my backdrop!

3.  Take Pictures of your item at all angles.  10 items each week is 50 pictures all taken at the same time.

4.  Make it a game.  I put the items by the 50 because I am hoping to get to that goal each week.  I have never listed on ebay before, so when I woke up this morning with my first bid.  I yelled (to myself of course)  Score.......loudly and long like at a soccer game!

5.  Set realistic goals so there are more Scores!  then disappointment

6.  Remember always to win it you have to be in it.  Keep to your goals and write them down, like I am here, so each week you will be accountable for the goals.

7.  Share your joy,  share your heartache.....people can relate and you never know who might read this and want to see what you are selling.......tweet.....facebook....it is so easy to share with the press of a button.

8.   Of course have a blog....you might have people on your team already who might share this information.


Go for the Gold!!!!!  WIN   WIN   WIN!!!!!

You can get to my ebay shop by pressing the picture of the skee ball game!

Lorde - Royals (US Version)

How do write songs like this at a young age?  Get worldwide airplay and a couple of Grammies.  She is from New Zealand.  But, I am listening to her words and feeling inspired.  I am relating to what she writes thinking about how I felt as a teenager.  All those dreams of Disney Princesses, when I got married Lady Diana was married and I actually picked out a bouquet inspired by hers,  all the wants of a young girl.  But, Lorde is saying who needs it?  When I first was out of work I used Marie Antioinette as my muse.  Who would think over a century ago we would behead someone for overspending the tax payers money?  We are so passive and have an attitude of everything will be alright.  Eventually all of this economic mess will be worked out.  We definitely not to the beheading point.  But, do we realize there is a generation out there that is fueling a movement to not buy into what us baby boomers did.  Yeah, they are a force to reckon with.  But, I don't think anyone out there gets it yet?  Because, they are under the radar.  They don't spend money.....how can they?  They are paying off outrageous student loans.  They live in cities and don't drive cars or consume gasoline.  They make do with what they have.  They appreciate the past and are well educated.   In order to live in 2014 I know I had to change a lot of bad habits in order to survive my own body and mind.  I appreciate every moment happening around me.  My favorite this week was Bruce Springsteen singing this song in New Zealand.  After all he is the one that wanted to rich and a king.  There is an irony here.....because rock stars are now royalty.  His daughter is an equestrian competing internationally.  She is headed to the Olympics.  She was pictured with the other international equestrians and they were either daughters of politicians or royalty.   So, why all this conversation?  Because, I myself think it is wierd that I hear Springsteen is in New Zealand and I wonder if he will pay any attention to Lorde.  Well, he comes out and sings her song at a concert and I find it shocking.  I love how the crowd reacts to the words.  There is an understanding of Springsteen that is international and that makes me VERY happy.  Even if I am not the one making a king's ransom, but someone is by doing what they love.  That inspires me.  That makes me feel anyone or everyone should strive for that.

Do What You Love.......Love What You Do

 Well,

this is my place......this is where I can speak my mind.  I have been back to work for the last six months and it is here I will declare I am so proud of myself.  In October of 2008 the store I worked at full time closed.  With twins graduating High School with plans of entering college, a dream home built by my husband with a huge backyard and pool along with the mortgage and property taxes to go along with it.  With obligations for race horses my husband decided to invest in.  Towards the end of that job my vacations were used going on scrapbooking retreats with friends, so my husband could take care of obligations at home and I could create and start to make books with the pictures of our family.  A lot started to change during this time.  The whole country went through an economic downturn and a lot of people were turning to the digital world.  I had some goals towards the end of my career with the department store I worked at.  Every year I would save money to use to buy a Mac laptop.  I would use the money on a vacation instead.  Not a bad decision.  But, when the store closed the liquidator said if I met certain goals I would get a bonus.  I also would be able to collect unemployment which actually meant no vacation could be taken.  My mom had other plans for me and gave my daughter and I a trip to Paris between Christmas and New Years knowing no one would schedule an interview during that time.  That trip really helped me focus of what I needed to do get a job.  I did exactly as I said I would.  I bought a Mac computer, taught myself how to use it.  Within two months I was writing a blog and opened an Etsy shop.  Glen and I went to Omaha Nebraska for Silver Bella and again I had fuel for the fire in me to get started living out the dream I had for myself.  And that was to find income in doing what I was passionate about.  I just didn't know what it was.  I had a love for Victorian die cuts, paper, trading cards, postcards and valentines.  I started making some things and putting them on Etsy.  Some loyal readers of my blog were my best customers and I was off and running.  I have to say having people in your corner cheering you on is my fuel.  Also, the support of my family and watching my children dive head first to any opportunity that came their way is what gave me a lot of drive!  So, why the picture?  Another life changer for me was going back to college in my late twenties before my children were born.  I majored in something I love Art.  Never knew how I could make an income doing this, but I knew I loved it and became aware of what a visual person I am.  I also included this because of the Pieta  being made out of wood and surviving all of this time.  And, I was in the Princeton Museum which is completely free.  How, do  you stay motivated in staying focused in doing what you love.....most things come with a price.  But, the most important lesson I have learned in those years is the choices you make in your day to day life is what makes all the difference in the life you lead and the legacy you leave behind.  What is it that you want to be known for?  There is a fear here also, will I look like an idiot, will I be broke, will I be homeless, am I crazy, am I good enough?????  See, how easy those questions come.  Because, those fears have been there for years.  What makes you finally decide enough!!!!!  What makes you take that leap of faith?  I am going to try and share my lessons learned so you too will feel ready to take your leap of faith!  So you too can learn how to Do What You Love and Love What You Do.  Even if you don't love it so much but, ultimately get you to where you meet your goals again financially.

Never chose my word for 2014.  Finally chose it.  It is KICK.  I am ready to kick this year's ass.  Yesterday I kicked the snow off my license plate and it felt good.  This year is not going to be easy.  I am in a slow gear, but to get this year going and make plans happen......I have to KICK it up a knotch.  I am ready!   London has been calling and I am ready to make it happen!

Bruce Springsteen - 2014-01-29 - Cape Town Bellville Velodrome - This Is...

I haven't written in awhile.....sick and getting over a cold.....working a lot....got through inventory.  So, 2013 my miracle was becoming employed.  By not calling out sick I now have a comp week.  I have a total of three weeks paid vacation....woot woot!!!!! My first vacation will be a cruise won in 2013....miracle!  My second will be to London, which will include seeing my son play with the Billy Walton Band (he started playing with them in 2013....miracle).  My third will be staying in the area to take advantage of all the shore has to offer during the summer.

2014 Light of Day was fantastic as always with a huge amount of local talent and talent and fans from all over the world coming to a birthday party for Bob Benjamin and all of the proceeds going to Parkinson's.  It is a let down when it is all over.

Sometimes all I need is a good song to get me out of a func.  I always say the same thing in January that I feel like a bear.  Just want to hybernate and go to sleep until it is Spring.  But, making plans for vacation can make that all better,  and a good song.  Sometimes songs can be a weapon and make your mood a lot better.  Thought I would share this video if you needed  a good song to sing too!  Especially love Steven and Bruce singing together and all the SMILES!!!!!

2014.....are you ready?

Well only a few more days left to the year.  I haven't written in awhile....not because of lack of time or inspiration, but because of disappointment.  When you write a blog, you can write privately or share.  I was so disappointed after sharing on facebook to see where traffic to my blog was coming from.  The surprise and again disappointment led me to stop writing.  Which in the end left me disappointed in myself because I didn't fulfill a goal and blamed someone other then myself.   Each year I set my goals, and see what happens.  I think 2013 was a miracle.  We as a family have had so much of our hard work come shining through.  My children graduated college....not a small feat!  My mother was so sick when she was treated her heart stopped beating and was put on a respirator.  After a month in the hospital, I think she is better then ever at 80!  Our store was able to open and Glen opened a second location called Covers and he received a patent for a design of a record tree.  Kaylyn went to China and taught kindergarten for a month and a half.  Ian has played with at least 6 different bands and ended up touring with a band  to England and Germany with Glen joining him for a week.  Glen and I really enjoyed this summer following Ian around and enjoying a great band at great locations we would never known about if it wasn't for them.  Like spending a Sunday in the pinelands of New Jersey is my new favorite way to spend a  day off.  I have started back at a job I am very comfortable in.  I am exhausted, but am ready for 2014 to start again and renew some goals and travel!!!!!  Looking forward to picking a word for 2014!!!  Truely grateful for the miracles of 2013!  Wishing you a Happy New Year and may all your dreams and wishes come true!