Why is this woman NOT the Democratic Party's 2008 nominee for president? Simple. It is because of this man: I cannot think of a single person I've spoken to who disagrees with this fact. I especially have never spoken to a single Democrat who disagrees. Bill Clinton's presidency was NOT one of the greatest in history, despite it having been described as such as he was introduced last night

All She Wears – a clothing and accessories boutique in downtown Hampton – offers an opulent feel with distinctive and unexpected finds. Sheila Fleming says that after 20 years in the corporate world, a longtime love of fashion fueled her to open her own boutique over five years ago.

The shop features everything a woman may need for office apparel and casual or sophisticated (and sexy!) evening wear. There’s a wide selection of beautiful hand-picked pieces of jewelry, Italian handbags and more. My first thought was: It’s refreshing to have a shop that caters to women’s maturity, style and figure. Hence a line of jeans called Not Your Daughter’s Jeans.

And if you’re the kind of girl who can use a little help choosing the right outfit for a wedding, date night or just updating your wardrobe – don’t fear, Sheila is here. She loves to spend one-on-one time helping her customers find that perfect outfit, with just the right accessories. And she knows how to throw in a little glitz into the mix, trust me.

Runway Ready had a chance to drop by the boutique and get the grand tour. Here’s my interview with the very down-to-earth Sheila Fleming, owner of All She Wears.

Runway Ready: Please tell us a little about yourself.

Sheila: I have an associate’s degree in business. I reside at Seabrook Beach, N.H. And I’m married with one son, who lives in Seattle, Wash.

Runway: What’s was the inspiration behind opening All She Wears?

Sheila: After a career as an assistant controller of a big company, I became a buyer and manager of a boutique in Massachusetts. Then, after working six years in the business, I decided that it was time to open my own store. I have always loved fashion. I really wanted to cater to the distinctive woman.

I did not like shopping at chain stores and knew many women like myself who wanted something unique and different. I’m a resident of Seabrook Beach and when I saw the storefront in Hampton became available, I knew that it was the right time.

I’ve just always loved fashion. I am and always will be a clotheshorse. After spending time in a boutique, I knew that this was more than a passion.

Runway: What can customers expect when they walk into All She Wears?

Sheila: When a customer walks into All She Wears, I want him or her to find unique items both in clothing and accessories that he or she will not find anywhere else. I want them to feel comfortable and relaxed, and know that they have walked into a friendly atmosphere.

My goal is to have something for everyone. I am grateful to have many repeat customers. I feel that I know their wants and desires in clothing and accessories. I want my male clientele to feel comfortable that I can help them make a selection for their wives or companions. All She Wears caters to women 40 and over.

Runway: What do you look for when buying clothing for your shop?

Sheila: I always look for something different – a little glitz, a little glamour. Quality is very important and I always try to purchase clothing made in the U.S. or Canada.

Runway: What are some of your bestsellers? What are some of your personal favorites from the boutique?

Sheila: Jewelry and accessories are among my bestsellers. I hand pick all my jewelry from New York City. I make several trips a year because the pieces move so quickly. Also NYDJ and Spanx are great sellers.

Runway: With the always fast-changing fashion trends, how do you stay on top of what’s going to be hot from season to season?

Sheila: I try to purchase items that my customers will want. I cater to the customer who is looking for traditional style with a little flair. They want to be able to wear these clothes for more than one season and I think of that every time I buy for the store. Many times you can achieve the latest fashion, not by purchasing a new wardrobe, but simply by adding “trendy” affordable accessories.

Runway: Fall is just around the corner. What can we expect to see for fall fashion pieces?

Sheila: You will see vibrant colored jackets, sweaters and holiday wear. Animal prints continue to be the rage. Accessories will be bright and dazzling.

Runway: What is a key piece every woman should have in her wardrobe?

Sheila: Every woman should have a classic black skirt and classic black trousers. With those two items, a woman can go anywhere at anytime and be appropriately dressed in style. I prefer the classic, timeless style. I cannot say that I favor one particular era, but I do favor that classic look of Chanel, Lauren or Polo.

Sheila also wants to remind her customers about the terrific sale rack in front of the store that always has great deals – especially this time of year when she’s making room for all the fall stock.

Stop by All She Wears at 461 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH 03842; or call 603-929-0055.

By Debbie Breneman
Fashionista

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales and shopping event

Grab the whole family and head off to the “Front Street Market” this weekend. It features local growers, breakfast, lunch grill, home-made food, vintage clothes, fiber art, paintings, jewelry, and live music, story-telling in the library, kid’s crafts, face painting and many other things.

All the fun starts on Sunday, August 31st, from 9pm – Monday thru September 1, 2008, 3am taking place right in the downtown Rollinsford, NH

If you would like to become an exhibitor or have any questions contact Laurie @743-2228 or visit frontstreetmarket@yahoo.com

No picture today, but I was able to wash my new window--it looks sooo much better!--and thoroughly vacuum one side of the room (under the windows). I also took down the spoon rack (I collect souvenir spoons), and took all the spoons off. I vacuumed and dusted the rack (it was nasty!) and washed all the spoons. The kids helped me dry them, and put them all back on the rack for me. I also used silver polish on the 6 spoons that are silver plated. Not perfect, but they look much better.

After Josiah's checkup, we went to the playground for a few minutes as a special treat. Then we headed to Walmart, where I purchased another 3-drawer cart for more toy storage. Tonight I reorganized some of the toys and was able to get rid of 2 cardboard boxes where I had been storing them. Yay! Things look neater and less junky now. I also was looking through a new Penney's catalog that we got yesterday, and found curtains that I really, really like. We've got to look over the finances this weekend and figure out if we can afford them or not. They are tab tops, like we already have, but they look a lot spiffier. :) I'll let you know what happens--our windows may have a new look in a few weeks!

On the docket for tomorrow: Finish vacuuming, spot clean the rug, and possibly tackle the inside of the hutch! Things are coming along really well.

My little guy turned 4 months old on Sunday. Isn't he handsome? He is like a little clone of his daddy. :) He is so much fun now . . . starting to reach for things, playing with his feet, chewing on his hands, smiling, giggling, and officially rolling over! He had his checkup today and the stats are: 13 lbs. 14 oz. and 25" long! Just like we thought, he is on the tall side! We are figuring that he may be the tallest of all our kids; he has been all along, so far.
He loves to hang out in the bouncy seat, and his feet are the newest attraction. He still nurses tons, which is fine with me, as I love it and find it very relaxing. :) He does sleep longer at night now, though, which is also fine with me. Some nights he goes 7-8 hours, others it's more like 5-6.

I'm really a little sad that he's growing up so fast. I know it's not any faster than the other two kids, but for some reason it seems like it is. I am so thankful for Josiah. Some parts of this summer have been a little rough, and it is such a blessing to snuggle him close and breathe in his wonderful sweet milky smell. :)

Watch the video of Hillary Clinton’s convention speech last night, and you can see Bill Clinton mouthing the words, “I love you.” I didn’t know Bill talked to himself.

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta today endorsed John Stephen. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, and I feel that John Stephen is the one candidate who can best protect the taxpayers of Manchester and New Hampshire,” Guinta said in a statement. “He’s the true fiscal conservative in this race. I know that John will [...]

The video introducing Hillary Clinton at the DNC last night kicked off with The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” This is one of my favorite rock songs of all time. I just hope I don’t think of Hillary now every time I hear it. Anyway, it’s a song about a “girl” — not a woman, [...]

Michael Totten, reporting from Tblisi, gets a briefing as to what really is happening in Georgia. Totten gets the briefing from someone affiliated with the Georgian government, but is joined by an independent expert on the region in order to fact-check the briefer. It makes compelling reading.

Meanwhile, the Russians consolidate their gains by recognizing the independence of the two regions in question.

The Governor of Michigan starts a process for the removal of the Mayor of Detroit.

No Biden bounce for Obama.

A new report on population growth and decline in Europe finds the UK in better shape than Germany.

Dick Armey sees the Four Horsemen of the economic apocalypse on the horizon, while Robert J. Samuelson sees two political campaigns engaged in competing fantasies about Federal taxation and spending policies.

There really are conservatives in Hollywood, and Stephen Hayes managed to talk to a few of them.

Jeff Jacoby found reason for investors to celebrate when Congress is not in session.

Tensions on the rise at MSNBC.

The Taliban growing in strength and confidence in Kandahar.

The Democratic Vice-Presidential nominees for the last two elections are absent from the convention in Denver, and are not missed.

Things have been coming along well in the living room! Yesterday I was able to dust almost everything (just need to do the spoon rack, which I need to take all the spoons out of first), work on reorganizing toys, and wash one window, and all the curtains. Today I washed the other 2 windows. Then Jim came home early and we ended up deciding to change the middle window, which was previously one huge sheet of glass, for a double-hung that we've been intending to put there for ages. Hooray! So I ended up with a bit more of a mess, but at least I hadn't vacuumed yet. :) Now I have another window to wash . . . and oh! how much easier and nicer it is to wash a double-hung. With tilt-in glass!!

Of course one thing led to another, and now we are in the process of replacing the large middle window in our bedroom. Might as well, since we're in the groove, right? In the meantime, a large orange excavator arrived at our house for driveway and yard work. I can see it's going to be a week (or more) of home improvements. :)

So let me get this straight. Barack Obama is supposed to be the man who — finally! — unites the country, who ends the partisan gridlock, crosses party lines and brings Republicans and Democrats together to hold hands, put aside their differences, and make our government work for the people, not the parties or the [...]

Lots of things happening as the Obama people try to manage the Clintons prior to their speaking slots at the convention, with tensions on the rise.

Joe Lieberman's revenge.

Signs of political maturity in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq, while negotiations continue on a Status of Forces Agreement, the Prime Minister now wants to set a firm date for U.S. troop withdrawals. Politically, he needs to be seen as taking a tough line. As a practical matter, the wording of the agreement can be such that it will seem like all U.S. combat troops will be gone by a date certain, but their presence will be maintained through the re-classification of combat troops as "advisers" or "trainers" or the like. They'll work it out. In Afghanistan, government officials now want a Status of Forces Agreement for their country in the wake of several incidents of civilian deaths caused by NATO air strikes. Again, it can be worked out, as long as the people running the Afghan government realize that putting too many restrictions on NATO forces will lead to their own demise at the hands of the Taliban.

Of course, the problem in Afghanistan is that the Taliban has a safe haven in Pakistan, and the government of that country is in disarray.

Concluding today’s editorial about Joe Biden’s selection as Barack Obama’s running mate, we wrote: “What the Biden selection means is that Obama doesn’t really believe all of his own rhetoric. It is an admission that experience matters, that age and wisdom do beat youth and inexperience, and that “change” means not uprooting the culture in [...]

"Bosc Pear" (6x4") Oil on wood panel.
CLICK HERE TO BID

If you would like to see logic put to both good and bad use, then see James Taranto's "The Weisberg Fallacy" in yesterday's Opinion Journal. It will appear too academic to some who are inspired by the sort of fallacious argument Mr. Taranto dismantles; some might consider it pedantic. I find it jolly good fun (though I admit I did not closely check Mr. Taranto's proof). In my opinion, Taranto is

((Sixth in a series about Project Runway, Season 5 by Mary Salmon))

NEXT EPISODE ON BRAVO WED., 8/27, 9:00PM EST
GUEST STARRING CELEBRITY STYLIST RACHEL ZOE

The video posted above is the beginning of the sixth episode of the fifth season of Project Runway - it is absolutely worth watching for the introduction of all the drag queens! (You may want to fast-forward to the 2:45 minute mark.) The challenge was for each designer to create a look for a drag queen - a design that suits their persona. Chris March advises the designers that "fashion is all about putting on a show. So, be as theatrical and over-the-top as you can be."

The three designers who came out on top were Korto, Joe and Terri. I will admit that even though Joe's design did meet the criteria of the challenge more completely than Korto's design, when it came down to the decision between the two of them, I was rooting for Korto; I just don't like Joe, and despite this winning design, will still not be rooting for him... Terri's geisha-on-acid inspired design, I do believe, was the fiercest we have seen yet this season!


(Left - Right: Korto's design, Joe's design, Terri's design)

To his credit, Joe's Love Boat-inspired pink catsuit, with the all-important lifesaver belt that serves a dual-purpose, was a fantastic design, and as you can view in the video below, his model completely worked it on the runway; you could tell Varla loved it. I would have liked to have seen Leanne's design break into the top three - it was futuristic, geometric and certainly appropriate for a drag queen. Sweetie wore Korto’s design down the runway and the detachable skirt was a nice touch. I also loved the crazy, spirally pieces on the shoulder. Korto has experience designing for plus-sized women, and that skill translated well for this challenge. (Sweetie is also a fun one to watch on the runway – next week we’ll be back to the tall, thin girls who are competing for the spread in Elle Magazine.)

Runway show starts at 2:15:

A quick pop in to say happy Monday. Here is a spectacular shot from daughter Grace before she hopped off to college on Sunday. Of course we had to go replace her hard drive on her mac book on the way ... thank goodness for local Apple stores. It gave up the go the night before we were to leave, but they popped another one in and she was 100% by the day's end. Phew.

I will be posting as much as I can over the next two weeks, with some great new works coming into the gallery, new links and lots of fun photos from our trip too.
Just a lot on our plates right now! Squam Arts Workshop is coming up on the 10th and I have a few details to wrap up with our next exhibition too! Did you miss what we have been showing all summer? I hope not! Take a peek over here at the shop to see what we have left of "Pigmentary Portraits"... it's beautiful!
My mother has been ill as well, so perhaps there will be less posts than normal until mid month. Who knows!?
Be good everyone and keep your sunny side up!

Look for an editorial tomorrow on Joe Biden’s selection as Obama’s running mate. Until then, here are a few thoughts on the team: 1. Biden is the 20th longest-serving senator — not in this Congress, but in U.S. history. That kind of undercuts the whole “change Washington” theme Obama’s running on. Reportedly, Obama personally wanted to [...]

I've decided it's time for another housecleaning challenge! This week I'm tackling the living room. Here is my list of things to do in the living room this week, along with approximate time I think it will take to accomplish each job:

DUST: Pictures, walls, hutch, heater, TV, radio, tables, spoon rack, lamps woodstove (20-30 min.)
WASH WINDOWS (20 min.)
CLEAN UNDER COUCH CUSHIONS (10 min.)
VACUUM (10 min.)
SPOT CLEAN RUG (5-10 min.)
TOY ORGANIZATION (30 min.)
MR CLEAN ERASER: table (pen marks from one of my little angels!) (5 min.)
PUT AWAY MOVIES/CDS (5 min.)
WASH CURTAINS (with other laundry)
PUT AWAY BOOKS, ETC. (5-10 min.)

and a bonus challenge, if I have time: ORGANIZE INSIDE HUTCH (30-45 min.)

Adding it all up, if I guesstimated right on the time it will take, I only have a couple hours or so of work to do (excluding the inside of the hutch). Obviously I won't tackle everything in one day, but spread it out over the week. And I'll hope that Josiah takes some good naps!

In the interest of keeping it real (and embarrassing), here are some pictures of how the living room looked this morning (and this was before Julia dumped a bunch more toys on the floor!):



I'm hoping to have time later today to put up another post or two. I have a really neat Works of God testimony that I am wanting to share! But for now, I am off to tackle some of these jobs. Because Josiah just went down for a nap! :)

As the Democrats open their national convention in Denver today, James Carroll writes about breaking the cord with the Clintons.

Amir Taheri believes Joe Biden represents a return to the policies of Jimmy Carter.

Bill Kristol thinks that McCain should respond to the Biden choice by choosing Joe Lieberman as his running mate. I can think of nothing that would so alienate conservatives as that choice, which would cause terrible disruptions at the GOP convention, and would convince many conservatives (who don't care much for McCain, anyway) to sit this one out, hopeful that a disastrous four years of President Obama would put them in a position to repeat the 1980 experience (although I haven't a clue who they think would reprise the role of Reagan).

Some African-Americans wonder if an Obama victory would actually prove harmful to the furtherance of their political, economic and social goals. Interestingly, I think they have a point. If a Black man can become President of the United States, doesn't that mean that we have reached the finish line? Can't we now dispense with Affirmative Action and other discriminatory policies, since Black kids can now dream of growing up to be President?

If I were in charge of the Olympics, here are some improvements I would implement: 1. All swimming and diving events would have an added obstacle: pirates. Sure, you can swim really fast from point A to point B, but how well do you do with bands of buccaneers pursuing you? And divers, you have to [...]

Beneath an oak a rustick clown
 Lay lounging in the shade,
Complaining loud of Fortune's gifts,
 And call'd her -- ...

It is the third sentence that I find amusing, and maybe even bemusing. In this morning's New York Times lead article on Barack Obama's choice of Sen. Joe Biden for his vice president, I read this curiosity: "Over the course of two months, as the dynamics of the presidential campaign and world events shifted quickly, Mr. Biden’s stock rose through one of the most rigorous vice-presidential

I’ve been a fan of the Carlisle fashion collection for a few years now and look forward to each new season’s line. Christy Hobin will be introducing the new Carlisle fall fashion collection this September and of course, it’s fabulous!

The Carlisle collection is crafted for the woman who cares deeply about style and quality, combines the best of enduring and modern designs from Europe and America.

Whether it’s functional or purely for fashion, these are timeless looks that are here to stay. With preppy plaids, stylish blazers, wool A-line skirts, sweater dresses, belted jackets with styles that easily translate you from office apparel to your evening event. And color should make an appearance in every wardrobe with shades mixed with blues, cherry reds, bronze, bright yellows and sophisticated animal prints.

Consultant Christy Hobin gets to know each of her client's needs and preferences, arranges for private showings of the newest designs each season, and helps each client to select beautiful clothing in combinations that reflect that client's personal style. Her focus is on each client and each article of clothing—one person at a time, one piece at a time.

Christy will show from September 6th through September 11th with open house hours on Saturday from 10:00am - 6:00pm and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm. If you miss it, don’t worry you can set up an appointment for a showing.

Christy is located at 1257 Washington Road at Route 1, in Rye on the back side of the Rye Rug Gallery building. Look for the black Carlisle bag hanging outside the door you can’t miss it. Or call Christy for an appointment at 606-988-8833 or email chobin@comcast.net

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In fashion news-

Singer Janet Jackson has partnered with Australian fashion designer Bruno Schiav to launch a line of lingerie called Pleasure Principle. (Her 1987 tune, "Pleasure Principle," inspired the name.)

The under $40 collection — featuring Chantilly lace and satin and rich colors like burgundy — offers various bra styles (demi cups to full coverage), with sizes from 32A to 44G.

"There's something for every woman, and that's very important to us," Jackson said at a press conference. "I've always hated when lingerie is uncomfortable, so the fit and comfort was key."

The singer says she was hands-on during designing — sometimes working until 4 a.m.

Said Jackson, "People have come to me with other ideas, but lingerie is a passion for me, and just like music and acting, I can't do it unless I put 100% into it."

Her line hits mass retailers in November. Source Us Weekly.

[Addendum: Alas, the ever-savvy, tech-omniscient n[ate]vw, has pointed out that I am about 12 hours late in making the observation I've made below. Oiks! But that's OK. At least I try.] Let me be the first among fools, word fools, to note the following: If many pundits and pols have had a difficult time pronouncing Barack Obama's name, often confusing it with that other name, Osama (bin Laden),

Big News: Joe Biden is Barack Obama's running-mate. Very old news: Joe Biden is not change we can believe in. I love the headline over the AP essay written by veteran AP political analyst Ron Fournier: BIDEN PICK SHOWS LACK OF CONFIDENCE Here's a great quote from Fournier's commentary: "For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator [Obama] worried that he couldn't beat

Today the Cubans beat the Americans 10-2 for a trip to the Olympic baseball finals in Beijing. They play South Korea for the gold medal. I’m pulling for Cuba. A Cuban win will enhance the market value of the Cuban athletes, which will give them greater incentive to defect. And when some inevitably do, it [...]

Apparently, some Hillary supporters still believe she can win the nomination for President, even if she isn't being considered for the Vice-Presidential spot on the ticket. Meanwhile, Barack Obama says he has made his pick, and it will be revealed soon.

New Hampshire has the lowest birthrate in the nation. Our neighbors here in the Northeast are in the same boat. If the trend continues, unless offset by immigration, this region will become even less attractive for businesses as finding a workforce will become more difficult.

Here is one man's opinion on why we are losing in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban strikes hard at Pakistan.

The Shiite-dominated Iraqi government continues to consolidate it's control over the country. First, they took Basra, then they gained control over Sadr City (and diminished the influence of Moqtada al Sadr), now they are trying to decapitate the organizations that comprised the Sunni Awakening. When they finally get a Status of Forces Agreement with the U.S. that relinquishes U.S. control they will have achieved full sovereignty over most of the country (though they still have yet to challenge the Kurds in the North).

Peggy Noonan believes John McCain is now in position to win.

Charles Krauthammer thinks NATO is showing its weakness due to its supine response to the Russian aggression in Georgia.

Jeb Bradley’s new TV ad might be the most dishonest political ad I’ve ever seen. I cannot remember one more deceitful. Every single point is deliberately misleading — at best. Let’s break it down. 1. “Big spending bureaucrat John Stephen,” the ad says. Please. No department head in New Hampshire cut more from his budget than [...]

I don't think readers will be disappointed with Daniel Henninger's Wonderland essay, "Saddleback: The Inner Game of Politics", posted at Opinion Journal. I love the guy.

I am so thrilled to share an interview with Amy from the fabulous Pikaland today! I asked her a few questions and her answers are below. Pop over to her Flickr -- it is full of images from the artists packages she puts together and her own world: Pikaland. I participated in her July package, and was thrilled to get my very own version of that month's. So now, sit back, enjoy and do visit her site right here for a wonderful view of some of her lovely packages...

1. Tell us a little bit about your first fond memories of creating something - how old were you and where did it happen?

I remembered drawing all the time when I was young, so I can't really remember the exact moment when I created art. I mostly drew pretty girls on scraps of paper, on my schoolbooks, and sometimes even my desk. My teachers were having quite the headache because I'd rather draw than hear them speak.

2. What experience as an adult was the most significant person or turning point for your creative endeavors?

For the longest time I immersed myself into the online craft world. But I felt something was missing, and I couldn't quite figure out what it was. I just went along with it for 4 years, and during this time, I stopped drawing, mainly because I was working full-time and although I did the usual doodling, I didn't take it all too seriously.

All this changed when I entered Illustration Friday last year. The response to one of my pieces was hugely uplifting, and it stirred something in me. So much that when I came back from work, I only wanted to complete my next IF challenge, even if it took me well into the next morning. And then I discovered Keri Smith, and everything else started to reveal itself to me.

3. What materials are your favorite to work with and why?

I love charcoal and pencils. I also love the irregularities of a brush dipped into ink.

4. How did you come to the idea for creating Pickapackage and why?

It all started with Pikaland. I wanted to gather the things I find that's made by illustrators and artists into a place where I can read up on for inspiration. I find that because I am also learning to mould my style, I look to a lot of people's work to see what makes them tick, and I find that hugely cathartic. So after the site was born, I found that there were a lot of them selling their art, and because of this reason, it's so hard for people to keep up with artists and their work, and it's difficult to decide which to get. I'm starting a small shop of my own to sell my work, and I do realize that it's hard to get your things out there sometimes.

So that's how the PikaPackage Project was born. The idea behind it was a simple premise of encouraging participation into the world of affordable art. It's also a small gallery in way, where select artists get the spotlight for a month. I started it as a small endeavor, and I still can't believe the following it has right now. It's hugely encouraging when I receive notes and emails from readers, participants and buyers about how they loved their packages, and how their shops have benefitted from the exposure.

There's more things to be done, and this is just the beginning. The benefit of being small is that I can easily change and make it better for everyone easily. I am indebted by the support given to me by the participants, who believed in the project and continue to support me by giving me valuable feedback in every step of the way.

5. Are there things specific to where you live which inspire your own work?

For the moment, I would have to say no. My ideas are derived through a lot of reading done when I was young, and thus I didn't have boundaries to creating because was conjuring up images from my imagination. I was also exposed to a lot of artists online for the past few years, and that helped me shape my belief that art is universal. And because right now I don't have an inclination to be more site specific, I find that my mind works harder to create new possibilities.

6. What is your favorite desert?

Oooh. A hot-from-the-oven brownie plus a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Mmmm.

7. What does a really great day look like to you?

A great day would be one that starts off early. I like to clear my work early so that I can have a long lunch, and some time off with a book (I'm now reading The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp). I run in the evenings, and play with my dogs after.

P/S--about my studio:
I have a very small space at the moment (as you can see from my pictures!), but I'm going to move into my own space by the end of the year, so I'm really excited about that.

My how time flies! Chrisrial & Co. Fine Jewelry is celebrating our 5th anniversary and gearing up for the future with great offers and new products. We like to listen to what our customers are looking for, and deliver all of your favorite brands and quality services.

To honor our 5th Anniversay, and thank our most loyal customers, we're featuring our first ever storewide sales event. Now through August 24, 2008 enjoy 10-50% off everything in the store. Yeah, we mean everything! Shop early for the best selction, sale is on instock merchandise only and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Also back by popular demand! You asked for it, and we listened! Chrisrial & Co. will buy your old, broken, or just plain ugly gold jewelry for cash! Visit us Aug. 15th and 16th for an on the spot cash purchase.

We would also like to welcome Donna Bell to our team! You may recognize her as the former manager of Long's Jewelers in Newington, NH. Donna joined the staff at Chrisrial & Co. in May and is delighted to assist you!

Visit Chrisrial & Co. Fine Jewelry | 28 Deer Street | Suite 103 | Portsmouth | NH | 03801

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

If you have not read Ryan T. Anderson's "Huckabee And Social Conservatives" first published at First Things (and then reprinted in the Wall Street Journal's online Federation), then you should. Of course, I know "should" is a strong word these days. Perhaps I should -- there I go again -- say that "If you feel inclined, then you might want to perhaps possibly consider the possibility of reading