Mad Men

I'm so glad that a new season of "Mad Men" has started! It's been three episodes so far and I'm totally into it. And the best part is that there aren't a ton of commercials (except for those annoying Apple Face Time commercials that have been playing non-stop lately) and the first commercial isn't until 15 minutes in. This really allows the viewer to get involved with the story rather than cutting to commercial after the first five minutes. But besides that, It's picked up right where the last season left off and you're not left wondering what's going on or where a certain storyline went. The thing I love most, besides watching Don Draper self destruct, is that it takes place in the early 60's, so the sets, the clothes and the whole culture is just fascinating to watch. I can't wait to see what Joanie wears each day! It's great to actually have a real show to watch with talented people and writers rather than the crappy reality shows that make people famous for either being a bitch, drunk, crazy or fat. I do tend to get sucked into watching those shows as well, but if there were more shows like Mad Men on TV the world might be a better place.

In Flux

I titled this post "In Flux" for a few reasons. One is that flux is a substance used in jewelry to solder metal together and so I've named my jewelry business Flux Jewelry. But also because my life is in a state of flux or change at the moment.

I have been creating jewelry since 2002 when I was laid off from a job and decided to pick up a new hobby. I've always wanted to have some part in the fashion business but I knew I didn't have the talent to be a fashion designer. So I thought that jewelry design was a fun, creative outlet for me. I took night classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology for a few years and then started to create jewelry out of my home. It's always been just a hobby where I might make a few earrings one day and then not make anything for months. And I've mostly just made for friends, family and co-workers because I didn't feel like taking the time to turn it into a full blown business. It takes a lot of time and patience but also a lot of tools and materials, so I really just make things when I see something inspiring or a friend's birthday is coming up and I want to make them a gift.

Lately, with more friends and family having kids I've recently had requests for jewelry with kid's names on them. I'm a fan of the name necklace, a la Carrie Bradshaw, and wore one for many years, but never really thought about creating my own until now. I know there are a ton of jewelry designers out there who already do this type of work and do it well, so I've been looking at their work and figuring out what works for me. I don't know where this will take me but here's a look at the evolution of my jewelry over the years...

One of my first designs. I'm really into circles!

My venture into sea glass. This was a challenge.

Getting a little more creative.

2009-2010 "simple & chic" design route.

Name tags of today!

Mom In a Box

Living in a 700 sq ft apartment has presented its challenges almost on a daily basis, but most recently with a baby on the way. I am constantly trying to rearrange furniture, trash or sell things I don't really need, and organize in order to make my apartment a comfortable place to call home. I consider myself to be pretty good at this task and I am able to minimize the clutter in a small two bedroom, one bath with a husband and a cat. But the stakes have been raised now that we're having a baby in 54 days (that is if she comes on time). Although they are small, babies seem to need a whole load of stuff that has dragged me in and convinced me that I actually need these things. They get they're own furniture for just being born, which consists of a crib, dresser, changing table, rug, rocking chair, and toy boxes. But then there are the things to entertain it like a swing or bouncer, plus enormous boxes of diapers and wipes, bottles, monitor, and clothes that they grow out of in a matter of days. And of course the stroller and car seat, which not only takes up room but can cost you a pretty penny. And this is just the bare minimum. Like the wedding industry, this is a billion dollar market that I need to break into - it's a gold mine! But I'm having a constant struggle of need and want, and denying your child versus being smart about raising them. Don't they just want to be loved and to feel safe? Isn't that what we all want?

Photo: The crib! The big addition to the apartment.

I've chosen to live in this apartment and I'm actually glad that I'm forced to be minimal with the amount of baby stuff. The more room I would have, the more stuff for the baby there would be, which means just more stuff for me to eventually trash or sell.

Movie Review: Inception

I was very excited to see Inception based on the compelling trailer and because Facebook friends kept saying things like "Amazing" and "Can't stop thinking about it," even "Perfect 10". I thought it was an interesting story line but a little overrated.

Here's what it's about: Dom Cobb leads a highly skilled team, specializing in stealing secrets from people's minds by entering their dreams.When they are hired by a mysterious businessman, Cobb finally has a shot at redemption, but not before achieving the near impossible. Rather than stealing an idea, they must do the complete opposite: Inception. Planting the seed of an idea.

To me, it had a bit of "The Matrix" feel to it because the characters would essentially plug in and be transported to another world, or dream state, while their bodies were still in the actual world. There was no information on how this was possible or why it came about. At least in The Matrix you know that the machines took over, but with Inception there is little about the past and more about the present.

The actors were all relatively young and hard for me to associate with. Especially Ellen Page as "the architect" because I just kept picturing her as a pregnant teen in "Juno." But overall, the movie did grab my attention and had me wanting to see it through to the end. I don't want to give away too much info because it is worth seeing. But maybe rent it.

In My 30s

With my 32nd birthday approaching next week I can say I'm really in my thirties. I remember just starting out at my first job at age 22 and having my boss say to me that her 30's were her favorite time because she finally new what she was happy doing and felt sure of herself. Of course that was a different time when people usually kept the same job for years working their way up in one company. The ironic thing is that me and my boss had both been laid off at the same time 2 years later. I have no idea what she is doing now but I'm wondering if she feels different about what she said.

At almost 32 I still don't know what I want to do. At 22 I did. But 10 years later as the job market has changed, I'm married, own an apartment, have a baby on the way, "what do you want to do" is still a question for me that is asked of 5 year olds. I think many people my age feel the same way and wonder whether they should quit and start over. Maybe go back to school, move to another state, travel the world, start a family, start their own business, etc. So I thought it was interesting to read the New York magazine cover story from the July 12, 2010 issue called "All Joy And No Fun. Why Parents Hate Parenting." The thing that resonated with me the most was the point that many people feel unhappy with being a parent because they are starting later in life (30's early 40's) and in turn have started living their life the way they want and now need to make sacrifices for their new family and they can't find happiness the same way they did without a child. There are of course moments of happiness with having a child but not the same way you would find happiness with getting recognized with a promotion at work or the freedom of getting last minute drinks with girlfriends. The freedom is gone but does that mean there really is no joy?

I am excited and anxious to see how the next year of my life plays out and welcome all the challenges and changes that come my way. Although I have been thrown curve balls with losing my job, my husband losing his job and then going back to school, having a baby 2 years later than expected, I plan on making the most of it. Maybe when I'm 40 I'll be the same way my boss was and say that my thirties were my favorite time.

Stay Cool

Here are my top 5 ways to stay cool in the stifling heat this summer:

1. Go to a movie theater. It's air conditioned (hopefully) and you are entertained for 2 hours (hopefully again). I'm looking forward to Inception, the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie opening July 16.

2. Swim at a public pool. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation has opened outdoor pools all around the boroughs for you. I haven't gone yet but I plan to check out the one in Red Hook.

3. Go to the beach. New York magazine has made it easy for you with their ultimate beach finder in it's 2010 Summer Issue. They offer destinations an hour, 2 hours or 3 hours away.

4. Check out a water park. There are about eight water parks in New York to bring out the kid in you.

5. Eat an icy! The great thing about NYC is that there is always either an Italian ice cart, ice cream truck, frozen yogurt store or smoothie shop nearby. And many restaurants have put gourmet sorbets or ice creams on their dessert menu this time of year. It's a quick cool down and a yummy treat. I've had one of these about every day so far this summer :)