Monday's Mesmerizer - Catch A Star

"Wonders never cease and possibilities are endless over at Catch A Star Creations. Sara Kay makes the prettiest sun catchers and mobiles. Sara says that sunshine makes her happy and that's evident in all of her designs. These 3D Butterfly sun drop catchers are gorgeous! You can also catch Sara on her blog, twitter and facebook take a visit enjoy a little sunshine with her!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Internet woes....Thursday's Thought

I wonder if big corporate cares anymore.....Apologies for the Station Break in Posts, but my internet service has been down for three days and the provider appeared to be dragging their feet on getting things repaired on their end....again!! So in trying to catch up, things will not be back to normal until Monday's post. I'll try to find some quick fun for the weekend . Happy Friday!!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Monday's Mesmerizer - Chocolate and Champagne

I tumbled across yet another mesmerizer today. I put in a search for holiday glass and this is what popped up! The beads are handmade and simply gorgeous. This was found at a little Etsy shop called Java Beads. Java beads is a collaboration of Lampwork bead artists, Fuser and designers who sell beads, jewelry and findings all in one location. Stop by Java Beads and see what other goodies they have, I'm bookmarking this one as a favorite!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Thursday's Thought...Time To Shop!!

She's a free spirit, she's a rock, she's a survivor, a dreamer, a doer and a listener...she's your girlfriend! And what do girlfriends do? They talk about life, laugh, cry, reflect on the past and they share thoughts. Grab a glass of coffee and leave a comment or two. For today's thought... Dee says..

It's Shopping Time Girls!!

That's right! The Holiday's is just around the corner...literally! Can you believe it's already November? I was at the bookstore today and the lady in front of me was buying Santa Gifts...it really dawned on me at that moment, that I need to get my self in high gear and finish my shopping list.

This year, I'm committed to purchasing handmade gifts or making gifts myself. There are so many unique items available right online, I could probably do it all from the comfort of my desk and computer. The quality is better in most cases, the products are unique and I have so many choices to choose from. The other factor that is swaying my opinion these days is that in most cases, believe it or not....I've found handmade to be less expensive and better made! And if I made my purchase through Artfire and Etsy, I get a deal on shipping.

Join me this weekend on Girls Night Out, I'll be going on a Shopping Spree and sharing my unique finds with you!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Wednesday's Word ....Or Not!

I Just want to know....where... where are they going to wear these?

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Tuesday's Treasure - Why Not Brag About It!

Why not brag about something special, with these sterling silver treasures. I found these great gift ideas over at what else... Brag About It on Etsy. You can have her custom make something special for you or someone else. Why not give something unique and distinct for the holiday's and say it with a memory. My favorite by far is My Family Tree featured below.

Visit this great shop and find something special to brag about, then follow her on Facebook to keep in touch with what's new, make sure you let her know you're a girl friend from GNO!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Monday's Mesmerizer - Blue Highway

I found this mesmerizer over at Piedra Designs on Etsy. The artist Gretchen Simons of Denver, is so talented, that not only does she make beautiful pieces like this "Blue Highway", but she also makes the beads herself...can you say unique designs?
Okay, I deliberately only showed you half the bracelet, you must check out her shop to see the rest, where she has more beautiful eye candy.

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Post Card Winner!!!

We have a winner in the Uprinting Postcard drawing!!! Danielle Caylor of Charcoals by Danielle has won 100 FREE postcards just in time to send holiday greetings to her customers!! Congratulations Danielle!!
Don't miss out on your opportunity to win some great FREE business products during our fun Giveways sponsored by Uprinting.com, and if you can't wait for what you need, please visit their website, they have great offerings at great prices. Nothing but quality for my girls! If I don't believe in it, I won't promote it!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Wednesday's Word ....Or Not!

I choose to remember tonight. One of my favorite songs and a total classic. Each time I hear it I get chills...how about you?

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Tuesday's Treasure - Too Cute for Cute!!!

GI Jo's, wrestling men, footballs, soccer balls, Leggos, dinosaurs, robots and cars! That's what I've been buying for the past 12 years, but boy, what I wouldn't give to be able to purchase a few of these cute little outfits for some little girls cute little doll! Christine Broach over at Lavenderlore on Etsy makes each of these and more little outfits by hand. Christine is a lifelong Crafter with a passion for needlework. She combines her beading and sewing skills sometimes as well. She loves custom orders and as you can see, she does beautiful work!!

So, if you're a doll collector or need some cute ideas for one, two or three little girls this holiday, check out Lavendorlore and see what more she has to offer, at great prices!!!...Too cute!!!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Monday's Mesmerizer - Sunset Dream

I absolutely Love this painting! I could just sit around and look at the colors and movement all day long. This beautiful work of art was created over at Color Blast on Etsy. This artist uses both Eastern and Western patterns to create her stunning work. In her own words, she creates art that connect to the inner soul and change the tone of our living space. I can certainly agree with that!

Please visit Color Blast and check out all of her other works, I'm going to sit here and look at this one a little bit longer!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

100 Free Postcards for One Lucky Winner

I am very excited and happy to announce that I will be sponsoring a giveaway right here for 100 FREE postcards from Uprinting.com. One lucky winner will be drawn on October 28th, just in time to send your order in for holiday postcards. Uprinting offers Eco-friendly printing at affordable prices, and they would like to introduce you to their business by giving away a free set of 4x6 cards. As a sponsor, I will also be receiving 100 Free postcards, just for introducing you to this wonderful company. Their products are wonderful, and I have business cards to prove it!

Uprinting Postcards are a wonderful way to introduce your business to potential clients and/or customers. They also make great invitations, thank you cards, note cards and more!

Giveaway Details

Size: 4x6
Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss
Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US (Canadian residents pay shipping and taxes. Offer not available to residents outside of the US and Canada at this time)

Drawing will be held October 28th, here on this blog.

Giveaway Directions
You can join this giveaway by leaving a comment to this post, along with how you would use the postcards if you win. You must tell me what you plan to do with your winnings for an official entry.

For extra entries, you can tweet this post and include an @runakodesigns so that I can receive a copy each time you do so. If your use of the postcards is really original, your name will be entered an extra time in the drawing.

Good luck!!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

We Have a Brilliant Winner!!!

This weekend I challenged my girlfriends to blog about 5 things you were going to be doing to reignite your genius and find your brilliance. Each entry would be entered into a drawing for a free e-book from Simon T. Bailey and a special brilliant gift from me.

Congratulations to Trish Austin for winning this weekends drawing!!!

special appreciation goes out to Phenessa Jones for participating and posting a blog entry as well. Both ladies wrote great posts, that I encourage each of you to take a minute to read. Trish please contact me with your mailing information and email address for your winnings!

So, I didn't get to post my entry this weekend, but here goes my 5 things below:

1. To get serious about getting some tutorials or jewelry pieces publicized in at least one professional publication. I will submit at least 4 entries before the end of the year.

2. Design one new Signature piece of jewelry before the end of the year.

3. Complete my third Simon Bailey book "Release Your Brilliance" before the end of October..I have to keep thinking brilliantly to make this all work..

4. Sit for my SPHR certification exam in January 2010. This will enhance my professional career as well as complete a personal development goal towards brilliance in my HR profession.

5. Help my son find his brilliance in his first year of Middle School. The start has been a l-i-t-t-l-e bit challenging, but I believe in him and his capabilities. I just have to help him find his genius and allow it to shine!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Make it a Brilliant Weekend!!!

I'm still pumped from Simon T Bailey's conference presentation and I'm going to carry on Thursday's Thought through the weekend with a fun little meme.

I don't know about you, but when I think of brilliant, a big shiny diamond comes to mind. What's more brilliant than a perfectly cut "rock"! Simon Bailey says that the potential for assessing and releasing your brilliance lies in the 4 C's, hence the "rocks"! That my friends would be Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat. You can read more about the 4 C's here.

You can also purchase "Release your Brilliance", Simon's latest 5 star book on Amazon for ONLY $15.56! It's a small book packed with powerful information. Simon is a celebrated author and speaker who went from a career at Disney to build the Brilliance Institute, and has shared his powerful message and system with over a quarter million people around the world.

In the meantime, I'm going to challenge you this weekend to think about 5 things you plan to do to reengage your own genius, reignite the fire that fuels your talent and recharge your desires that will lead to the releasing of your "Brilliance".

Here's the weekend challenge:
Post about your 5 things on your own blog this weekend, then come back here leave a comment and then leave the link to your post. You can post with pictures, words or whatever inspires you, I just want you to begin thinking about releasing your own brilliance! After leaving your own link, visit any other links that are listed and see what they have to say.

On Sunday night, I'll draw a name from the list of comments for a winner for my very own special little Brilliant gift and it just might include a special Rock! The winner will also receive a free email book from Simon himself entitled... "Meditate on Your Professional Brilliance"..now how cool is that for a Brilliant weekned I ask?
I'll be back later to post my 5 things, but don't wait on me to begin...have fun. And if you get a chance, stop by Simon's blog and leave him a message!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Thursday's Thoughts - Be Brilliant

She's a free spirit, she's a rock, she's a survivor, a dreamer, a doer and a listener...she's your girlfriend! And what do girlfriends do? They talk about life, laugh, cry, reflect on the past and they share thoughts. Grab a glass of coffee and leave a comment or two. For today's thought... Simon T. Baily says..

"Be Brilliant"

I recently had the opportunity to hear Simon T. Bailey speak at a conference, and since returning home, I've thought of myself no less than Brilliant. Hey, If I don't who else will? Thinking of yourself as brilliant is a mindset, and becoming brilliant is a process as Mr. Bailey puts it. It's something that happens over time, you polish it, work on it, perfect it here and there, and on and on. If you don't continuously look at yourself as something more AND work towards becoming what you envision, you'll never reach your goal or attain something more for yourself. But if you reengage your genius, and relight those fires that fueled you when you were twenty and follow some of Simon's advice, I bet you'll be introducing yourself as "Hello...I'm Sally the Brilliant One" someday soon!!

Simon has just released his newest book entitled....Release your Brilliance (4 steps to transforming your life and revealing your genius to the world), he also has a blog

and an e zine. Visit Simon's website and learn about releasing your own brilliance, because if you don't...nobody's going to do it for you!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Treasures from my hometown...

I stumbled across a great little Etsy shop this week, called Artistic Creations, and it's owned by a designer right in my own back yard! Andrea lives in Richmond, Virginia and she makes the most adorable designs out of PMC Silver Clay. The thing that caught my eye, other than the fact that her pieces are simply adorable, are her descriptions and the stories behind the designs. Two of my favorites are The Swan and the Beauty Within Necklace as well as her Queen Anne's Lace Trio.
In Andrea's shop you'll find other jewelry designs and more of her PMC work. Now, take a stroll across the street to another little shop on Etsy called Artwork by Andrea , and what you'll discover is that her second talent is painting!
Pair that with taking care of a spouse and two boys, you can easily see that Andrea is one busy lady! Please take the time to visit Andrea's shop, and bookmark some favorites for later when you start your holiday shopping. You can also keep up with her latest happenings on her blog, here.

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Monday's Mesmerizer - Red Bean Chili

I'm back!!! And while I was away I Found this beautiful bracelet over at Risky Beads on Etsy. Lori makes the most beautiful "risky" bracelets! The color selections are to die for. Lori describes her designs as beads + soap opera tucked inside a fortune cookie that's masquerading as a greeting card which is then accidentally run over by the Scooby Doo Mystery Van. Not sure what that means, but it equals beautiful eye candy to me!
Lori is also the mastermind behind Handmade Highway, "a living, dynamic directory of handmade sellers". After visiting Lori in her Etsy shop, stop by Handmade Highway and see what all the talk is about and become one of the hitchhikers. You'll get your own Exit while you're at it. Tell Lori hello and let her know I hitched you a ride!


When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

I Want To Party....But I can't !

A girl can't party when she's down and out with the Flu. Please excuse the lack of posts while I get over this bug I brought back from the beach. Guess it's true in that as careful as you are with your own hygiene, it's the others you come in contact with that you have to worry about.

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Let's Celebrate Pink This Weekend!!

Happy Friday Everyone...Let's Celebrate Pink!

This is the first weekend in October, so I felt it most fitting to celebrate this weekend in Pink, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Many of us, if not all of us have known or know someone who has been affected by this disease. Breast cancer is the most common cancer to American women according to the American Cancer Society. It's probably the most common in most places, but these were the most readily available statistics. While incident rates have been on the decrease, this is still a very wide spread disease that affect thousands of women each year.

In memory of the many women who have lost the battle, are still fighting the battle and those who Celebrate life each year, I would like to Celebrate Pink this weekend on Girls Night Out, by holding an Awareness Party...Blog Style! Is there any other way on GNO?

Here's How:

All you have to do is blog about Breast Cancer awareness this weekend on your blog. It could be a blog about your experience with the disease, offering of statistics, an educational post, an awareness post, an organization or non profit that you support, any past or future expected experience, a link, an online event or even a special awareness product that you have for sale in your store this month. All I ask... is that if you decide to participate, please make it a meaningful post that you link to. And don't post your link, until you're post has been published.

Once your post is up, please leave your name and the direct link to your post (not your blog) below in the Mr. Linky box, then take the time to check out others posts. If you're early, do take the time to stop back by later this weekend to check out other bloggers posts. And don't forget to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by...oh and I love to know my visitors were here, so please leave your comments for me too :).

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

We Have an Expo Winner!!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Expo this past weekend, vendors and guests. It was a great first event, that has opened up the opportunity for bigger and better ones to come. I really enjoyed visiting and learning about the participating shops. We don't get to toot our horns like that too often. I Picked up some fun and interesting blogs to follow and met some very savvy business women!

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit some of the booths to the right, they'll be up at least another week. Please take a stroll and visit when you get a chance.

So, I guess you really dropped by to see if you'd won anything right? well, the door prize goes to (drum roll please.................) Patricia Vener!! Congratulations Patricia. Please contact me with your mailing information and I"ll put your prize in the mail.

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Wednesday's Word...Or Not..

Not.. would be the chosen one for today...I'm still getting organized from the weekend. I'll be publishing a special post tomorrow night for the Expo along with winners. For tonight..........Baby's do it..why can't we do it more often?



Hope you enjoyed the laugh therapy!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Tuesday's Treasure - All Things Bags

I'm sure it goes without saying that I found many wonderful little treasures this past weekend, while surfing the Business Women Online Expo. Tonight's treasures were found over at Gold Crest Bags on Etsy. Miriam makes the cutest bags, pouches, clutches, eye glass cases, and more.
She creates out of Montreal and has been designing and sewing for as long as she can remember. Miriam is also a fellow member of UWIB. Please take a minute or two, or ten to stop by Gold Crest Bags and see all that they have to offer.

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

Monday's Mesmerizer - Copper Eye Candy

As I was quickly scanning over our girlfriends list tonight, this beautiful copper bracelet caught my eye! After searching high and low for this girlfriends shop I finally found her. This beautiful cuff bangle was made by Peggy Whitworth over at Brokenwings2 on Etsy. Peggy makes the most beautiful bangles,earrings and pendants.

Her shop is a must visit when shopping for the holidays!

When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com

The Fall Business Women's Expo has Started!!!

Welcome to the 1st Fall Business Women Expo Online!!

We are so all excited that you've taken the time to join us today in the first of many more Expo's to come. Come right on inside, grab a cup of coffee, tea of beverage of your choice, take a load off and enjoy the many women who have come together this weekend to share a little about themselves and their businesses with you!

The Business Women Expo will introduce you to many great female businesses and get you in the mood for holiday shopping. Not only will you learn about what great female businesses are available to shop from this holiday, but there will be prizes, specials and giveaway's going on all weekend across the blogosphere! This expo isn't about the big retailers, it's about the female entrepreneur's of the world. It's about networking, building your blog followings, sharing your business and a little bit of selfish promoting...BUT most of all it's about having a little fun!! This expo is for everyone, so don't miss out!!

Here's how the Expo works:
After reading this post, register by leaving a comment below. There will be a door prize at the end of the Expo. Once you've left your comment, Vist all the vendors booths listed to the right hand side. You don't have to do it all at once, you have all weekend long!! Leave comments to their posts as you go along, enter any contests that may be going on, and share the experience with your friends. Your visits will be reciprocated all weekend long! What will happen by the end of the weekend is that we'll all be worn out, BUT we will have networked our businesses and built some friendships and followings along the way...and that's what this Expo and Girls Night Out is all about!!

So to that, here's the Girls Night out theme song! "Let's Go GNO!"


Now that you're in the mood...let's check out this Expo one booth at a time and don't forget to register to win this handcrafted necklace made with Amazonite, Quarts, Freshwater pearls and Sterling silver! Drawing to be held Wednesday, September 30th!

Expo Sponsored by Runako Designs. When I'm not hosting Girls Night Out, you can find me creating jewelry at www.runakojewelry.com