These photos are about all there is to tell. These lovely earrings are made of paper — just like a book — and ACTUALLY have paper pages with Sanskrit printed on them. They are positively divine. They were made in Napal and are authentic. Sure to get people asking questions, and DEFINITELY original. The golden artistic covers/embellishments are simply gorgeous, but how unique when they actually OPEN up like a book and reveal pages with a story in-between? These are really special. They are truly something else — a definite conversation piece!

You can purchase them via the Ravin’ Maven Mall on Etsy. They are only $10 and a real steal! They might be a cool addition to an Easter basket, come to think of it! I have about a dozen new items to add to the store, but in the moving mayhem, my Canon camera chord is in one place and the desktop computer is in another one, not to mention Photoshop is on the wrong computer, period! So, SOON, Mavens — I have some really keen & peachy new items for purchase, just gotta find the time (and proper equipment all in one place hanging out together nicely ::tehee::)
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Artwork by Jessica Grundy – www.solocosmo.etsy.com

I have ALWAYS wanted to learn another language. Unfortunately, in high school when it was required that I take 2 years of foreign language, not only was I in my rebellious, fight the system phase of angsty teen hormones, but I wanted the easiest way out of it and decided to take Spanish. No offense to the Spanish language whatsoever, but it’s never been a very auditorily pleasing language to me. This could be because I grew up in South Florida and spent a LOT of time in Miami where hotdog venders, and shady characters trying to sell me huge speakers out of the back of their vans, would scream at me in high-speed Spanish when I told them I was (then) a vegetarian & strange men who drive creepy vans with blacked out windows give me the willies. So, my heart was just not in it and I learned just enough to pass (and possibly say some flavorful 4-letter words like fart, burp, & poop — yeah, those were the ones!). I can remember protesting that above & beyond Spanish, French, & Latin (unfortunately *not* Pig Latin because I am fluent in that and would’ve gotten an A+ report card), all schools should offer ASL — American Sign Language. Of course, I had a personal reason(ing) behind this, but I will get to that in a few…

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Every book-lover’s dream (or *this* book lover’s, that is): a secret library behind a wall of built-in bookshelves! Ooh la laaa…

Guess what, Ravin’ Mavens? It’s MARCH! Even though we’re expecting some snow & ice tonight, spring is marchin’ in! ::SQUEE:: But guess what ELSE, Ravin’ Mavens? Tomorrow we get the keys to our new headquarters! Hyped does not even describe it! Darling Hotbuns & I halt, in whatever it is we’re doing, just about every hour on the hour and say, “Did you know…… we’re getting a new house tomorrow?!” I foresee very little sleeping going on tonight — it already feels like Christmas Eve and it’s only 2:27 in the afternoon. We’re going to be up giggling & whispering all night long. ::beam::

So, of COURSE I am already daydreaming & scheming about our new place. If you could draw up blueprints *just* for decorating, well, I’ve already done that. However, we just dropped a heap on the house, alone, and all our monthly bills have increased quite substantially, so we’re not going to be furnishing the house overnight. This actually excites me because I LOVELOVELOVE the thrill of a good hunt! I enjoy the quest almost as much as the find, and once I find something, I’m pleased as punch if it then becomes a project. Even as much as the bones of the house have me over the moon like the cow (as the dish & the spoon run away to brand-new cabinets with granite countertops!), I am reeeally — and reeling — looking forward to putting some sweat & sentimental tears into making it warm & wondrous for years & years.

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Mini Maven’s retro rockstar bathroom

Our whole little household has been a bit under the weather this week with head & chest colds. I’ve always said that February is the most brutal month. I am NOT a winter person. I grew up in Florida where we wear flip-flops and tank tops to Christmas dinner. Whenever winter comes around, there’s that Winter Wonderland magic that happens for a brief stint, based on never knowing it until my late 20s, but the bottom line is that it is not even second nature to me — it is simply NOT in my nature at all! When I start bemoaning, bewailing, & carping on and on about the cold temps and gray drear, I always say the same thing, “I have reptilian blood.” All native Floridians feel this way. If I were an iguana, I would be falling out of a tree and be kicking a bucket right now.
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Our former retro-modern combo kitchen.

As most of you know, we have bought a new home. We are SO hopped up! This Saturday we get the keys and will be free to start painting, mild renovations, and moving ourselves over. We have just a couple days under a month to do so. SOOO thrilling! And busy. We’re going to be some seriously busy, buzzy bees until April 1st (and after with all the decorating & furnishing)! Whoosh.

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