new designs! finally!!

it has been about a year in the making...but my new designs that I dreamed up last December have finally come to life...the 'refined' glitter collection! 

and thanks to the motivation of my super friend Jen, of Yummy & Company fame, I got my stuff together, and tried something new...we soldered, tumbled, polished, resined and came up with a line of products that I am really proud of. 

earrings in a variety of sizes, and delicate pendants are the first round of this collection...stackable sterling rings and free floating earrings and pendants come next!

cap and gown please!

after 5 long years...I did it!  the 7 days a week, 12 months a year, with only a few small breaks...countless hours of homework, and giving up nights out with friends, weekends away and a general sense of overall freedom...through working multiple jobs, starting and running my own business, and attending more weddings then I ever thought possible...

I FINISHED SCHOOL!!  

I am the proud, and accomplished owner of a second bachelor's degree, in Graphic Design. 


whew...I need to lay down :)  no more HW!!  it's a weird, but very wonderful feeling!

Federal Hill Festival

and if I wasn't tired, crazy or busy enough...the day after we got back from Vegas, was the Federal Hill Festival...at least it was local, so I didn't have to travel too far...and I had good company for the day!

let the season of craft shows, continue! 

let the 30th birthday celebrations, begin!

I still have a little over a year, but some of our friends begin to turn the big 3-0 this year...starting off the celebrations in Vegas, we went to have a little fun for Joey, Scott and Karla.

this was pretty much a whirlwind trip...but because of a flight I had to cancel last year, and Brett's Southwest credit card...we flew out for free...and thanks to another good friend letting us use his timeshare (in a FANTASTIC hotel) we stayed for free...now this is the way to start out in Vegas...everything free! 

so good food, a little gambling, and the Beatles LOVE show...not a bad little trip!

a 60th surprise

it's hard to surprise someone like my Mom...she's a planner *most definitely where I got that from!* and since my parents are now retired and live part time in NJ and part time in SC, we had a small window of opportunity to really be able to surprise her for her 60th birthday, quite a milestone!

so, since on her actual birthday, in October, they'd already be back in SC, we used Labor Day weekend, and the annual family picnic as a diversion for the party...the picnic was planned for Sunday, so on Saturday while they were out golfing, Kyle and I snuck home and got the party ready! 

 

needless to say, she was mighty surprised, and thanks to our 30 guests, a great time was had by all!