hello, i love you

Every year since I can remember, my parents and I drive down to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday (yes, I spend 8 hours in the car with my parents). My Grandparents had 4 daughters and all 4 families come together to celebrate, eat, exchange Christmas presents, be thankful, and eat. My cousin and I have also started our own mini tradition of shopping until we drop on Black Friday. It is definitely my favorite holiday.

This year is going to be different because I'm going to spend Turkey day with Dan's family in Palm Springs, CA. While I'm REALLY excited, there are other parts of me that are nervous and sad. Nervous because well, who wouldn't be nervous to spend an entire week with your boyfriend's family! Sad because I am going to be missing my family something fierce. For me to agree whole-heartedly to this trip Dan had to promise that we will be spending New Years in Florida with my family AND we will go to Thanksgiving with my family next year.

Well getting back to the excited part, of course my mind automatically thinks of what should I wear?! Can I just say that the weather will be in the high 70s!!! So, today's Hello, I love you is something to pack for Palm Springs.
1. j. crew cashmere-silk splendid cardigan - I chose this because even though it's going to be warm in Palm Springs, I will be cold!

2. forever 21 soft knit striped tank - going for the nautical look in the desert.

3. christina kober designs 18K bubble necklace - I think gold looks amazing on tanned skin (which I will hopefully have). This necklace can be made custom in sterling silver or a mix of sterling silver and gold, different lengths...the options are endless.

4. anthropologie grand proportions belt - I love the look of a wide belt slung across your hips. Something about it is sexy to me.

5. dvf armor pants in white - even though it's after labor day, I wear white wide-leg pants. I am actually wearing some today! And can I just say...DVF, swoon!

6. kate spade bamboo espadrilles - I love these shoes. I have them in white and wore them so much I broke them and immediately replaced them. So comfortable. I love this color too!

7. calviree extra large poppy tote - I love the jute webbing and canvas handles. It looks like a super sturdy bag for travel. I just discovered CalviRee on Etsy earlier this week. Patty has some great designs. If you haven't already noticed, I love handmade bags.

out of towners

via {ReTLoP-[p.e.t.e.r]}

My friend and one of the many roomates from college is flying in today for the weekend. We have big plans to cheer on the tigers, shop, go to the zoo, and celebrate my birthday! I will be taking lots of photos and sharing them throughout the weekend on my flickr page and blogging about our fun times.

My first blog...

Here I am, finally starting a blog. I have been resistant. Honestly, what do I have to say that isn't already on etsy, facebook, twitter, and flickr. But to be quite honest, I'm pretty bad about keeping up with tweeting, updating my status, uploading photos among other things.

I think almost everyone I know has a blog, so it's high time I jump on that band wagon. Ok enough of that.

I have designed a new line of necklaces that I am very excited about...Mommy and Me Initials. I had been wanting to make "mom" jewelry for a while and have toyed around with a lot of different designs. I started out with a circle design, in which each circle had the child's name and birthstone set, but unfortunately the design turned out to me much more difficult than I had originally expected. So then I started to wrack my brain and one day I had an epiphany: the little alphabet refrigerator magnets most of us had as kids. The letters would be the initial of the child or grandchild. And as the family grows, the necklace can too. Adding more initials with eac h child.

Just a little added note: I haven't given up on the circle design but I have put it on hold for the time being because I have finally come up with one design that I love!