New favorite thing

Last winter, around Christmas time, I came across a gift idea called Glassybaby. Pretty little multi-colored hand blown glass votives, the "baby" of Lee Rhodes, lung cancer survivor. I immediately tried to visit the website: www.glassybaby.com - only to get the ominous, "this site is blocked message" as it was classified as a gaming site....WHAT? So, with this in the back of my mind through my "winter vacation," I visited the site on another computer (read faster speed internet).

WOW! No really...WOW!!! Remember what it was like to open a new box of crayons at the beginning of the school year? Recall seeing a cluster of Easter Eggs arranged in no particular order, but still artistically in your childhood Easter Basket? Think about the thrill of seeing a mixed bag of jelly beans, all the colors coming together to make a sugary mosaic of bliss... Okay, so maybe that last one was just me, but these are the feelings recreated by the rainbow of colors available. It was one of those cases, HAVE TO HAVE ONE!!! But oh, which one to choose?

Not a surprise to anyone who might know me, I chose a "watery" color called Cabo, an opaque light teal/turquoise blue--along with visiting the ocean for the first time and going to, yep you guessed it Cabo San Lucas, I figured that was the most appropriate. Ordered it, went on the trip, loved the trip, and waited for the votive to arrive. And waited. And waited. A misunderstanding of address was quickly resolved after I contacted them, and within days, my first "baby" arrived, safe and sound and beautiful. In the mean time, I had contacted the people who decide what websites we can and cannot view and why, and they quickly reclassified the site, and made it available.

One of the great things about glassybaby is that besides the beauty, the background, and the energy they posses, is the fact that a number of colors and a percentage of all sales go to cancer research or other charitable organizations.

So, I have gone back to the site, again and again and again. I have since ordered two more singles-- Studio 54, a transparent dark teal green, and Lady Di, a gorgeously regal transparent sapphire blue. AND a Valentine's Day/Easter/Birthday/Christmas/yougetthepicture gift for myself that consists of the "12 month club," one votive a month for 12 months. The first glassybaby of the month to arrive was Pearl, a rich opaque white, with hints of iridescency, true to its namesake. Seasonal colors are available--this month, the month of "love," many of the offerings are various shades and tones of red. With spring on the way, more colors are popping up that are similar to the flowers or animals they are named after.

The price might deter some, but please remember these are HANDMADE IN THE USA!!! And don't forget, the company does donate proceeds to various organizations. Still not convinced...they also have a "seconds sale" twice a year....
http://www.glassybaby.com/