Answer Me This!

I love this link-up and am so glad that Kendra @ Catholic All Year brought it back!  It's summer now, and I am hoping that I can get back into more of a blogging groove...there are some exciting things coming up this summer that I can't wait to share.

But first, Answer Me This!  Head over to Catholic All Year to get to know your fellow bloggers a bit more!

1. How long have you lived in your current home?

Well, Chris and I recently moved May 1st, so we've actually only been in our current home for alllmost 2 months.  I wish I had more photos to share of our new home, but things have seriously been a whirlwind since we moved and I feel like boxes are appearing out of nowhere that STILL need to be unpacked.

Pic from the listing

I love our new home though.  It's a 5 bedroom cape in a little town in Baltimore County called Catonsville.  We're in a quiet cul-de-sac with a big fenced backyard (that Buster loves!) and there's a gorgeous stream that runs behind the house.  Catonsville is a super cute town (that we can walk to) with lots of nice restaurants and shops.  People are so incredibly friendly.  We had neighbors come and introduce themselves when we moved in, and even brought us some cake!  And again, there was an antique shop that was going out of business and we bought this beautiful replica of a House of Representatives desk

Looks very similar to this - gorgeous, right?

Anyway, we underestimated how big the desk was and we could not fit it into our car.  I feel like any other place would have said - tough cookies, come back later.  But not these owners!  They brought their own SUV around and drove our desk to our house.  I was shocked at their kindness.

Bottom line, I love our new home and the town we live in.

2. How do you find out about news and current events?

Usually through social media.  The news kind of depresses me so I try to avoid it (which I know is not the right way to view it...).  But thankfully there are many more well informed people on social media who post things that I try to read.  

3. Would you be able to make change for a twenty right now?  For a dollar?

I hardly even carry cash with me.  Which is actually something that I am hoping to change soon.  I think it would help with budgeting to have set cash amounts for items like groceries, clothes, yarn etc.  Change for a dollar though I most likely could do - I hate being in line in a store when I do actually pay with cash and having to search for exact change...so I end up paying with bills only and inevitably end up with even more change, perpetuating the problem of trying to get rid of the change.

4. What's the craziest food you've ever eaten?

To be honest, I don't think I've eaten many "crazy" things.  When we've traveled I do try to eat local cuisine.  When Chris and I were on our cruise for our honeymoon they would have "foods you may never have tried" every night on the menu.  And we tried some every night.  We tried alligator, frog legs, mako shark, escargo.  And it was all delicious.  I also once was tricked into eating rabbit when we were visiting family in Colombia...I wasn't very happy about that one, all I could picture was cute little Thumper.

5. Which of the commonly removed parts have you had removed? (tonsils, wisdom teeth, appendix, etc.)

I've had my wisdom teeth (and a few other teeth) removed and that's about it.  I have been told many times I should have my tonsils out...but never had it done.

6. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!  I love watching football.  I never used to be into any sort of sport growing up but when I got to college, so many of my friends were die hard football fans that I decided to give it a go, and fell in love the with sport (and my team, the Baltimore Ravens).  And I have to say, it's nice sharing this with Chris.  We love our Sundays during the season - mass, brunch, and an afternoon of football

Now, head back over to Catholic All Year and read some other posts!

Oh!  Also...if you used to follow my blog and are now finding that I don't "pop up" anywhere, for continuity between the blog and Etsy I changed the name by one. measely. letter.  So it is now glorydesignbytiffany.blogspot.com (versus glorydesignSby tiffany).  Wasn't sure how and if anyone cared enough to get the word out...but. now you know.  And knowing is half the battle *wink*

Little Gemma Designs - Faith inspired designer jewelry

From the time I was a little girl, I have always looked up to my sister - both literally and figuratively.  Now we're the same height so it's more so figuratively at this point.  She is an incredibly beautiful, faithful, talented woman of God.  She is an amazing mom to my two nieces and a wonderful wife.  Growing up we weren't as close as we could have been (there's not much a 6 and 16 year old have in common) but as I've gotten older, we have gotten a lot closer - I consider my sister to be my best friend, the one person I can go to about anything and the only person who will actually truly tell me like it is.

I know I already mentioned how talented she is, but here, let me give you a few examples.  When she was in high school/college she kept a sketchbook.  I was obsessed with it.  She usually did not want to share, so I often resorted to sneaking in to look at it when she wasn't home (sorry Ness!).  I could look at that book for hours, and still to this day have vivid memories of the drawings in there (especially the Looney Toons characters).  Each drawing looked like an exact replica of the original.  I so greatly admired that talent and felt so proud that MY sister had done it.  Fast forward to her married life.  My sister has a great natural talent for decorating - a talent that I don't ever imagine I will quite have.  Her home looks like the pages of Southern Living or some other home magazine.  She even used this talent to have her own staging business - and boy was she good at it.  To me, decorating takes a certain level of creativity, and her staging business always seems like another expression of her sketchbook.  And these are just 2 examples or her incredible drive and talent.  Don't even get me started on the numerous furniture pieces that she has turned into amazing works of art.  Or her daughters' nursery that looks like a dream.

When my sister begins an endeavor, she throws herself into it 110% and you can be sure to expect nothing less of perfection.  As I am sure you moms know, having children can limit your time and space to express yourself creatively.  I saw that my sister was struggling with this.  Let's be real, my sister is an artist, and when an artist/creative person cannot express themselves creatively it can be a drain on them emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  So I have been encouraging my sister for years to get back into the creative spirit.

Which finally leads me to the point of this post.  My sister has begun her own jewelry making business called Little Gemma Designs (a lovely play on words - Gemma both for St. Gemma Galgani and the word "gemma" also means gem or jewel).  Her tagline is "On-trend expressions of faith inspired by my little gems from Heaven."  You know those super popular Alex and Ani bracelets?  I never knew this, but they are super new-agey and I even heard that they may have been "blessed" by people that we as Catholics do not want items blessed by.  Unfortunately, I found out about all of this AFTER buying my sister a couple bracelets.  Boy was I disappointed - however, I think that partly inspired my sister even more to follow through with her jewelry endeavor (so at least some good came out of that fail of a gift).  She makes Pandora style rosary bracelets and her bangles are called the Ellie and Emmie - and SO much better than the non-Catholic version.  She makes beautiful pendant style necklaces and also has her own version of Origami Owl (hers are called Blessed Butterfly) that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  Check out some of her designs and be sure to head to her Etsy page - and remember, with any purchase you're supporting a stay-at-home mom of 2 beautiful girls.  Plus, like I said before, when my sister does something, she does it 110% so you can be assured that every item you receive is expertly crafted.

Example of the "Blessed Butterfly"

Rosary bracelet

Scarf Pendant

Example of the Ellie and Emmie

The Ellie and Emmie - https://www.etsy.com/listing/235054061/catholic-bangle-unique-design-adjustable?ref=shop_home_active_6

Rosary Bracelet https://www.etsy.com/listing/235445768/st-gerard-rosary-bracelet-european-charm?ref=related-2

See what I mean??  They're beautiful, aren't they?
So, again, please go visit Little Gemma Designs!  And if you don't see a medal you wanted, or if you have a devotion to a particular saint, my sister would be happy to custom make something for you.

God Bless!