Penguin Awareness Day

did you know, or I guess more appropriately, were you aware that today, January 19th is Penguin Awareness Day?

I was not aware until I was searching the other day for fun activities for January to do with my after school class, but penguins happen to be my favorite animals (tied with fluffy black cats, of course)...

I also hope to start posting soon, the 365 sketch project I started back on January 1st...365 days of penguins!  if my true love for them wasn't apparent...it should be now!  if you can spend every day of the year drawing something, you must have a soft spot for it ;) 

so for your Penguin Awareness Day enjoyment...these adorable cake toppers by Kikuike on Etsy :)

movie review - Despicable Me

I am such a sucker for cartoon movies...especially ones with cute little yellow minions, who speak a squeaky gibberish language, and wear goggles...

 

but this movie is definitely adorable...the orphans who warm the villain's heart, the dim-witted amateur villain in training...ballet and cookies...what's not to love!?  this is a movie not just for kids, but adults alike...I might go watch it again right now actually...

my first snow day!

well as a teacher, that is...but I have to say, waking up to see just a dusting of snow, covered by a layer of ice was definitely a treat this morning!  now I can get so much more done today...which includes writing some lesson plans, editing photos and hopefully some laundry...

and finishing my application for the Baltimore City Teaching Residency...I am finally doing something to make my teaching dream a reality...it might be a tough process, but I have so much that I want to do, and getting a job is just the first step in accomplishing those goals...

but also, I'm catching up on all the blogs I follow, getting inspired by the creativity and motivation of others!  it's funny how your list of blogs to read can expand so greatly just by what you read...I've got a window full of tabs to get to...

so thank you snow...thanks for the extra "me" time

Item of the Week!

Happy Monday everyone!!

this week's special item is.......the aqua chalcedony drop necklace!!  this bright aqua stone will have you dreaming of warmer days in no time!  so it might be cold and snowy out, but it's summery in your heart!  the color of this chalcedony is just like the water of a Caribbean ocean...put it on and it will warm you right up!

any order placed that contains this necklace until Sunday, January 23rd will receive free shipping*!

*shipping cost will be refunded after the purchase :)

Favorite Etsy Shop - knap

even though I make jewelry, which I typically end up wearing myself as well...I am always tempted by new designs I find on Etsy!  one of my new favorites, Knap is a shop based out of Japan...the pieces in this shop are made of sterling silver and different colored glass, and it is stunning!! 

these beautiful designs are also very reasonably priced, which made me impulse buy them, moments after discovering this shop!  I am now the proud owner of these dark glass drop earrings...and bonus- they shipped and arrived so quickly!!!  go shop Knap!!  you won't be disappointed!

Saturday's Photo

snowy view of the Harbor, after my birthday dinner

quite a nice interview :)

I almost forgot to mention this!  I was so thrilled to be featured by a fabulous local blogger, Paulette on her blog, Ms Charm's Chic- and on my birthday no less! 

you can find a link to our interview here...and while you're at it, take the time to read about other great local artists and designers!!

thanks again Paulette!!!

Friday Finds - Ravens Purple!

okay, I know I already had a Friday Finds for today...but everyone in the city has gone crazy with purple fever for the big game tomorrow (Ravens vs Steelers) and even though my team is out of the running, it's kind of fun to see everyone around you get so excited for the game...so with that being said...here's another set of fun and fabulous friday finds on etsy...you're welcome :)

letting go pendant by BEST's own Block Party Press

super cute and fluffy My Big Monster hoodie by Cute but not Cutesy

and last but not least...a fabulous sparkly "Raven's Purple" ring by yours truly, JerseyGirlDesign :)

Friday Finds - Itsy Bitsy

adorable teeny tiny star ring by PunkyBunnyDesigns

super teeny and super cute heart ring by Yummy&Company

itty bitty skull ring by MichelleChangJewelry




and where better to store your teeny tiny rings, then in teeny tiny ceramic bowls by Tasha McKelvey

takes me back

I was a huge fan of the Muppets when I was growing up, and I still make time, every Christmas season to watch the Muppet Family Christmas, where they all storm into Mrs Bears house, and Miss Piggy braves the snowstorm to be with them by the end...and of course the Fraggles in the basement, the stand up comic snowman and my absolute favorite, the Swedish Chef...

so you can imagine my glee, when I stumbled across this adorable print by Eric Slager...

I need to have this hanging somewhere in my house!  you can find it here!

old photo Thursday

in honor of my birthday...a flashback to 6 years ago- these are actual photographs that we scanned...man, that was a long time ago!

happy 23rd birthday to me!  man we look so young!  good times with good friends...

how appropriate...

I was going through all my bookmarked sites, something I never get to do unless I get to take a sick day...or in this case...a sick week...

how appropriate were this week's cartoon's on Illustrator Natalie Dee's site??

for the rest of "sick week" cartoons...go here :)

a slightly different way to show your team spirit

so the Giants season might be over, but that doesn't mean my team spirit is diminished in any way...and I just saw these...how cute?? 

I just might need to invest in this super cute PINK collection...

what I'm working on - new pendant designs!

something that I've been wanting to do, for a very long time (as per usual), is design my own silver pendants...I've had great success incorporating the designs of others into my work with gemstones, but the true creative inside of me wanted to be able to say, "yes I designed this pendant myself" and not, no...I just put it on the chain...of course it helped me to make my designs better, and get people's attention, which in turned led me to be able to further my business and sales, etc...but it's time to grow...new year, new designs!

my first line that I'm working on is a series of astrological sign pendants...so I'll have 12 new designs, one for each zodiac sign...I hoped to have them ready for my fellow capricorns...but being sick put me back a bit...

anyway, preliminary sketches are done, and now I'm working with companies who will cast the designs in sterling silver for me, so I can start putting them out there to see what reactions I get!  very exciting- I can't wait to see my sketches come to life in beautiful jewelry!

29 years young

I've had a few really memorable birthdays, and coming into this year, I really doubted I'd have anything that would make me want to remember 29...but this year, will always be known as the year of the flu...

thankfully, the 102 fever I managed to cook up over the weekend had died down, and I was able to drag myself out of bed for the first time in several days, to get up, take a shower, dry my hair, put on makeup and get dressed for a nice dinner out in the city...it started out raining, but by the end of dinner, a beautiful fluffy snow had started to fall!  besides not *really* being able to taste my food or wine...it was a fantastic night out, and I think it helped me to start to feel like I was getting over the flu...finally!


it got me thinking of other birthdays that I've had, 29 occasions in all, and I've been pretty lucky to have had quire a few good ones...I'll always remember the 11th birthday party when we were supposed to go ice skating, but a blizzard left us stuck at my house...so we ended up "skating" in the frozen backyard...or my surprise 16th birthday party that Bonnie and Erin threw me in my parent's basement...and I had NO idea it was happening!...then of course there was 21, where we went out late and had dinner at Applebees, where my first legal drink was served to me...and most recently, 25 when we went with Bonnie and Andy to Las Vegas- my first time there- and even though it was a record cold while we were there, it was a great time!

this year was definitely more low-key, but the weather, and the flu contributed to that...I'm sure we'll do a nice big joint celebration when we find a good weekend, and we're all recovered from illnesses and holiday mania :)

last year of my 20's...how did it get here so fast??

and he's 30

a whole new decade, and from what people have been telling us, it's one of the best...of course I'm not quite there yet, so I can see how it goes from afar...but today, Brett turns the big 3-0, and since he's not big on birthdays, we're keeping it low key...so pizza and ice cream cake and football...with some more proper celebrations to be had at a later date- a little further away from all the holiday craziness...

Happy 30th Brett!  Hope it's a great year :)

Hello 2011!

Here's to a great new year! 

Goodbye 2010!

whew...what a year!  2010 has flown by, and I really feel like we were just in South Carolina, celebrating the years beginning...and once again, I'm digging in my closet, looking for something festive and sparkly to wear, that is worthy of drinking champagne, reminiscing about the year, and toasting the future...

this really was quite a year for me...my business really began to take shape, and I learned many new skills, and expanded my line...and even have my work featured in a few shops around the country!  my sales on Etsy have picked up, and my goals for 2011 are even higher!

I finished school, yet again...I don't spend every night doing homework, and I feel like I can work on my portfolio, figuring out my career path and making something of myself...I don't have a dead end job, but rather valuable experience that will push me towards that career that I so desire...

I started a big commitment to making a routine for myself at the gym...and while the end of the year was a bit hectic, and my schedule got a bit neglected, I lost 3 pant sizes, and am now in between the third and fourth...the fourth being my goal size! 

mainly, I feel like I know who I am now, what I want to accomplish, and I have made and reinforced some great friendships...I want 2011 to be a year I can be proud of, be successful in, and most of all, be happy.


so now I'm off to get ready for dinner with Bonnie and Andy, our faithful new years companions of the past 5 years..here's to 2010, and 2011!

I'm dreaming of a white (day after) christmas...

so we missed the white christmas by a day...but the mayhem it would have caused would not have been worth the beauty and magic of waking up on Christmas morning to a crisp white canvas...but we would have spent it alone...because 24 hours and almost two feet later...we were buried in snow on December 26th! 

meaning, we were shoveling snow on December 27th...at least there was four of us...so it only took about 3 hours...

merry christmas to all, and to all a good night :)

I love love love the holidays at home with my family...and this year was no exception...and to make things even better, Brett joined us for the first time in all our years of dating!  flights to Florida were a bit too expensive, so he opted not to go home, and come with me instead...

I got to see all my friends, watch our traditional movies, paint cookies, cook my Christmas Eve lasagna, and finally get some rest!

can't believe another holiday has come and gone!