JUST LISTED in my Etsy Shop!

Had a chance to catch up on a few things before I run back out the door and wanted to let everyone know that I got a new batch of jewelry up in my etsy shop.  Listed them today and this Aquamarine Moonstone Bird necklace is among them.  It’s my personal favorite!!  Guess I’ve been kinda into the dainty subtle pieces lately. 

Anyway, this necklace features a rhodium plated bird pendant accented by aquamarine and moonstone gemstone beads. It’s very elegant, simple and subtle.  It’s one of those pieces that can be dressed up and dressed down.  It will go with nearly any outfit. It’s just one of those feel good simple pieces that will be sure to get compliments.  Handmade as usual by yours truly.  Find it along with many other pieces in my online jewelry box found at www.LuvAlisa.com.  Feel free to pass along the news to friends and Hope to see you shopping soon!  

Unexpected Surprises for Inspiration in DC

Here's some inspiration for your day. This is a long one but worth the read I promise. This visit has been one of my better ones in a while. Lately in my travels I've been spending time with friends and co-workers and though I enjoy doing that, I'm finding that sometimes I just miss my alone time. It's when I can just spend time reflecting and traveling at my own pace. Not having to worry about keeping up with someone else. It's when I feel like I take my best photos as well because I can take time to stop, focus and just breathe. It's also in those moments I tend to notice the little details about life and I get to thank God for allowing me to live this life he has blessed me with. 

Anyway DC was full of unexpected surprises. I made it my mission this time to get out of Alexandria and make my way to the National Mall. I've never been there, so I knew I was in for a treat even if the weather was forecast to rain. I never realized it until I got to the train station but in my 39 years I have NEVER ridden a metro train system alone. As a teen I did it in Chicago and most recently in Calgary but each time I was with someone who knew what they were doing. I gotta say DC metro wasn't exactly easy to figure out so I count my blessings that a random guy decided to give me a pass to load instead of purchasing a new one so I saved a few dollars. The train ran as scheduled and when I exited the train station and got up to the top of the escalators into the National Mall the biggest surprise of my day was waiting for me. I found myself stuck smack dab in the middle of a MARATHON!!!! Yes a marathon. I didn't have any clue this was even happening. At first I thought it may have been a 5k or something small but as more and more runners came I realized it wasn't ending anytime soon. Started asking questions and learned that it was the Marine Corp Marathon (MCM) and it was a big deal. No qualifier to enter and entries were done on a lottery system so if you were selected you ran. It's more of a privilege to do. Anyway it has to be the journalist in me because when I'm out on my own I seem to always want to find the unexpected or very real and raw to photograph. So I start looking at the world differently. As each runner passed they all started to look the same. But the ones that really stood out were the ones that were unable to run and were either being pushed or were biking their way though it. Then there was this runner that came staggering along. He wasn’t easily overlooked. He had no feet but he was upright and running a 26 mile marathon.  How's that for putting things into perspective? I was curious to know how he did on time since when I saw him he wasn't with the masses that came later so I looked it up. He finished the marathon in a little over 4 hours and if I’m reading the stats right he placed overall #4155. There were close to 30,000 participants in this marathon. Turns out his name is Rob Jones and he's a retired Marine who was wounded when serving overseas. He's attempting to compete in the 2016 Paralympics in the sport of triathlon according to his website. I can't help but be inspired. I got caught up in the marathon for a little longer than planned so I didn't see as much of the National Mall as I hoped. More for the next time I guess. 

The marathon carried over to my flight that night. There were quite a few runners on that flight. One of the gals I met was Angela Tortorice. In conversation she told me she had run over 500 marathons with the MCM included. Then I later found out she at one time held the Guinness Book of World records for the most marathons run in a year and told me she had run 129 marathons that year to get the title. I told her she was crazy. Anyway after this trip I know I need to stop saying things like ‘I can never run a marathon’ but rather tell myself ‘I can do anything I put my mind to. If I want to run a marathon (no desire to just yet, though inspired) I can.’ 

Marine Corp Marathon - Washington DC

This young boy did his part passing out HiFives to any runners who would take one.  

Rob Jones - Marine Corp Marathon - Washington DC

Rob Jones - Marine Crop Marathon - Washington DC

Determination - MCM - Washington DC

Marine Corp Marathon - Washington DC

Marine Crop Marathon - Washington DC

Good Morning LA!

Not a whole lot done at this stop this past week.  Just a few hours of sleep and it was back on the road again.  Just sharing the sunrise I did manage to catch. Oh Los Angeles, how I truly do miss you. Aside from my heart being forever in Hawaii; SoCal is my second home and though I get back often, it’s never often enough....  

Los Angels Sunrise Sky

Sunrise Sky in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA - Sunrise

Oh Philadelphia!

Landing in Philadelphia, PA on the weekend only means one thing - spending time with an old friend from college.  She moved to this city several years ago and in the last couple months I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to see and learn it a little myself.  I haven’t had a chance to see the typical historic sites yet, I’m saving those things for a future visit when she isn’t available to hang out.  Since she is new to the city, she still doesn’t seem to know the good mom & pop restaurants and I’m waiting to discover those. So if you have a tip of a good sit down must visit restaurant, I’d be interested in hearing about it.

Anyway, grabbed these photos of this visit.  I’m always intrigued by boarded up abandoned buildings. The ones I managed to capture were homes.  Some still lived in, others clearly not. When I see them boarded up, all I imagine is what they looked like back in their prime and the lives of those in the neighborhood. How different it must’ve looked.  The building with the mural struck me as most interesting.  The neighborhood around it is clearly not in the best of shape but it seems like the mural is still in tact which is nice to see.  Usually I’d expect to see graffiti covering parts of it but it seems just fine from the angle I caught of it.  Very refreshing to see.  

Aside from the city skyline and the dusk sky capture from downtown, that’s pretty much the round of up this Philly experience. Until next time Philly....  

Early Morning Travel - Orlando, FL

So this past weekend I had a real quick stop into Orlando, Florida.  Landed when it was dark and left when it was still dark.  Didn’t see a drop of the city itself, just the inside of a hotel room and the back of my eyelids as I caught a few hours of sleep.  I have to say though, one of my favorite time of day to travel is those early morning hours.  I know it seems weird being that you have to sometimes wake up in what feels like the middle of the night just to make your flight on time and all you want to do is go right back to sleep, but traveling at that hour has it’s benefits. First off, if you’re living in a large city with rush hour traffic, you will have none getting to the airport at a really early hour, so it’s easy to get there on time if you don’t in fact hit the snooze button and oversleep. Parking is usually easier too. Then there is the airport itself. There is just a quiet peace about it. A place that you can often get lost in during the middle of the day, is suddenly calm and empty. Fellow passengers are half asleep so they too are just in a peaceful quiet state as well. They haven’t been up all day so they aren’t quite crabby and upset yet from the day’s drama, though some do occasionally wake up on the wrong side of the bed.  The plane is likely to be on time because if you’re on the first flight out, it’s just sitting parked at the gate and ready to go. The only downside really is that extra long coffee line you wait in, inside the terminal. Anyway that’s my opinion about early morning travel. Grabbed a few shots of the Orlando airport and early morning travelers to share with you. One of these days I’ll actually see Orlando in the daylight again.  It’s been about 24 years, so it’s about time.   

MCO early morning

Orlando Airport 

VEGAS - PORTLAND Roundup

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right???  Had a little fun on the Las Vegas strip this past week.  Caught some lip locking on the strip in the typical Vegas crazy style that made me laugh. I became obsessed with the High Roller Ferris Wheel.  I must get on it the next time I visit.  I made it my mission to go up to it and take a look. That thing is huge!!!  Saw Sprinkles and had to take a bite.  I’m very familiar with the chain from Los Angeles and suddenly I had a craving for a red velvet cupcake. Caught the Volcano show at the Mirage- it’s a must see.  Hopefully I’ll get front row view next time. Prior to this visit, I hadn’t been to Vegas strip in about 13 years. A lot has changed but the Vegas Crazy still remains the same.  I’m sure I’ll be back sooner than later, so until we meet again Vegas.....

Kissing on the Vegas Strip

High Roller Ferris Wheel

Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcake!!

The Volcano Show - The Mirage

Treasure Island

Second stop of the week was Portland, Oregon.  This stop was so short I could’ve blinked and it was over.  Landed when it was dark and left when it was still dark.  Bummed me out because Portland is certainly a city I would love to explore more.  Hopefully on a future visit.  Either way I grabbed a shot of the airport and some mystery mountains with the morning sunrise on my flight out. Not sure which mountain is which. I assume one is Mount Hood.  Either way the snow capped peak just reminds me that winter is right around the corner and I’m not a fan of snow yet. Must start thinking of repacking my bags for wintertime travel......

PDX Airport - Portland Oregon

Portland Oregon Sunrise.  Not sure what mountain this is..

Orlando, Philadelphia you’re scheduled to be up next.  Let’s see what next week brings.  :)

My Week: Miami - Washington DC - Los Angeles

Miami - Washington DC - Los Angeles

It’s been a busy week on the road.  This is a quick round up of what I’ve seen. Seems like a big bulk of my week went to the birds.  From the ducks at the waterfront park in Miami, to the geese on the waterfront park on my stop in DC, birds were the theme.

Waterfront Park in Miami, FL

Duck showing off at the park - Miami FL

My visit in Miami was a real blur.  Short blip on my clock.  The ducks were really the highlight of that short stay.  Got a shot of one showing of a bit at a waterfront park that I walked to.

Driving through the trees in Mount Vernon

Old Town Alexandria, Alexandria, VA

Waterfront Park in Alexandria, VA

Resident feeding the birds in Alexandria, VA

 Next stop was Washington DC.  Ended up staying out in Alexandria Virginia, so I had lunch with my old college roommate whom I haven’t seen in about 15 years in Old Town Alexandria. It was nice to catch up. Old Town Alexandria actually really reminded me a lot of Fell’s Point out in Baltimore, MD.  Same vibe.  Nice place to visit.  I later wandered down to a waterfront park where I ran into a resident who decided to feed the birds.  It amazed me how quick those birds were to find the food.  It started with a single duck and then the geese were quick to the show; then the seagulls.  It’s amazing what a little bread can do for the birds. It was an amazing treat to get photos off.

Art Mural in Burbank, CA

Driving on the 134 Freeway at Sunset - Burbank, CA

Being photobombed by my BFF!!

After DC, it was off to my old stomping grounds of Los Angeles, CA for a quick personal visit. Call me weird but I actually find driving in LA traffic as therapeutic in a strange way. Had a impromptu lunch with my old bosses in Beverly Hills while I was there and got filled in on all the glamorous entertainment business work I’ve missed since I moved away. It’s amazing what changes happen in a few months time but I guess that’s life.  The highlight of my LA visit has to be seeing my BFF.  He’s my baby; the only creature on this earth that cries with joy when he sees me - His name is Buddy and he’s a German Shepherd dog. I just wish I could see him more often.  I’m so grateful the ex still allows me to spend time with him and I try to make every minute I have with him count. The funny thing about Buddy is that he’s gotten camera shy over the years.  As a puppy he would plop in front of the camera and practically beg to have his photo taken.  These days, it’s not quite the same.  I tried to get him to take a selfie with me the other day and he refused and walked away.  He then proceeded to photobomb all of my selfies (pictured).  I couldn’t help but laugh.  Love him so much.  Was planning to get down into the jewelry district while I was in LA to shop for some beads this go-around but I didn’t quite make it there. Maybe next time....   

Anyway, that’s where I’ve been all week. Gearing up for next week.  Will hopefully be sitting down some time soon and making some jewelry.  I have earrings on the brain so stay tuned!     

FINALLY!!! New Jewelry Designs & a SALE!!!

FINALLY!!!  New jewelry designs & a SALE!!!

I’m so excited to share that I FINALLY have some new designs available in my etsy shop (www.LuvAlisa.com).  It’s been a long time coming and being back feels so good!  To celebrate I’m putting my entire shop on sale for a short time. Save 10% off your order today.  

I’ll admit it.  I sat here for months with what I call “beaders block.” I tried and tried to come up with a new design for my shop (www.LuvAlisa.com) but nothing was flowing. Things that used to come so easily to me in minutes weren’t there anymore. For those who know me personally know the last two years have been a whirlwind of constant change in my life and for a while there I had no choice but to take a break from my jewelry making. Getting back on the horse hasn’t been an easy process and I’m still trying to find my routine with my new work schedule. I’m hoping to be more consistent with it, so bear with me as get my bearing straight.  Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I got REALLY REALLY excited. I actually had a breakthrough.  My beaders block suddenly lifted and this necklace design was born and that is why I am featuring it today. It was the first of several new pieces I’ve added to the store. 

This copper tone lariat style necklace features a single key charm.  The chain runs through the center of the key hole and attached to the end is a single wire wrapped blue crystal.  Accenting one side of the necklace is a line of crystal beads. This necklace doesn’t come apart. It is worn by putting it over your head and adjusting to whatever length you choose.  This is a delicate design. It’s a fun piece that can be dressed up or dressed down, you choose.  

This piece and many other beautiful handmade jewelry pieces are available in my jewelry box and waiting for a good home. I hope you take some time and stop in today!!