hello, i love you

Holy cow, I can't believe it's already Wednesday! This week is slipping by...and then I'll be in Palm Springs. (tonight I'm going to get my suitcase out and begin the packing process)

I have been dying for some herringbone tights. I think herringbone is the epitome of winter & what better way to wear it than as tights!
1. j. crew dream tori ruffle cardigan: this cardigan has been on my list of things to buy. but unfortunately if you follow the link it has sold out. and it doesn't look like they'll have anymore! what a BUMMER!

2. christina kober designs fortune cookie lariat: ok seriously, who doesn't love getting a fortune cookie at the end of your meal at a chinese restaurant. these little fortune cookies are hand formed and each fortune is hand stamped by myself. you can get pre-made fortunes or create your own! (this one says "you are going to have some new clothes." yes, i really did get that on a fortune.)

3. gap essential featherweight cami: i buy all of my camis, tanks, and tees from gap. they have great quality, they are super soft, last through more than one washing without shrinking and you can usually get great deals (buy 2 get 1 free, 2 for $20, etc).

4. via spiga suri bootie: at first i was very leary of the "bootie." but I have found that they, this style especially, really make your legs look long and shapely.

5. kate spade sparkle herringbone tights: i have yet to find kate spade to do anything wrong? i love the slight sparkle these tights have, great for a holiday party.

6. j. crew wool flannel shorts: why not wear shorts in the winter?

7. i think red lips would really top off this look!

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.

Happy New Month!

When I was in high school, every new month I would bake cookies or cupcakes and decorate them with some seasonable icing. I would bring them to school and pass them out to my classmates and friends (and the boys I thought were super cute). Wishing everyone a "happy new month." These days the months come and go so quickly I barely get a chance to breathe before it's another "new month." Just in September I have:

• 4 days until College Football season officially starts for CLEMSON!
• 14 days until my 28th birthday.
  
• 19 days until my second art festival.
• And 26 days until I have to be moved out of my apartment!

But I have been a busy bee in preparation. After a lot of procrastinating, last night I almost finished the alphabet for my initial pendants! (I have been saying I will do this for about 1 1/2 years now!) I'm so excited that I can't keep them a secret. Here are my new, and some are improved, initials.

please keep in mind these are a work in progress. So they aren't cleaned up yet! also, i have to make w, x, y & z. a, c, d, j, k, & s are already available on my etsy website.

better late than never

I love to read. I love getting immersed in the story and imagining what the characters look like.

But between working at JFF Jeweler Supply from 8 am - 5 pm and then working in my studio at night, I really don't have any free time to read. To deal with this, I have started listening to books. I started with the Twilight series in November and have been flying through books ever since. I really didn't realize how much time I spent in my studio until I went through a 20 hour long book in 1 week!

This past Monday I started Julie & Julia. I have been dying to read it, I have had the actual book sitting on my shelf for almost 2 years! So I decided to break down and buy the audio version. It is a really great story so far. I can't wait to finish! And then go see the movie, of course!


Now, my one complaint with listening to audio books is the background music they play sometimes...it's really cheesy. I can't imagine someone was like, "ooh I think this would really make the story." Next thing you know they are going to have books that when you open them, they play music...like the hallmark cards. Speaking of the Hallmark music cards, every time I pick one up and open it, I know music will play, yet I still jump a little. I don't think my brain is quite ready for this technology. I digress.

every season j. crew has something that i crave. something that i'm not sure if i can live without (although typically my wallet is screaming, "no, no, no.")

this season is no different. these boots are amazing. i already have outfits picked out that would be perfect for these boots. and a little spot in my closet for them.

j. crew, you never cease to amaze me!

hint hint boyfriend...my bday is around the corner!

What a great day!

This weekend had a lot of potential because I had off work on Saturday. Usually when I'm not working on a Saturday it's because I am going out out of town or have a show. So this was super exciting as I had NO plans!

First on the schedule was to hit up to Morningside Farmers Market. This market has local grown organic produce, herbs, flowers, & soaps. My friend, Julia Daniel of Lush Designs, lives in the neighborhood so we walked down to check it out.

The market had a really great vibe. There were a lot of people there, waiting in lines to get fresh tomatoes, rosemary, peppers, you name it! They have demonstrations of how to cook various products also, this week it was using eggplant. I was most excited about the flowers, but I waited too long to get them and ended up only with a photograph! However, I did leave with a huge bag of fresh edamame, rosemary, and some local honey. I have a feeling I'll be going back.

Boyfriend and I spent the afternoon scouting boutiques & then I came home to work in my studio. We decided to go to my favorite mexican restaurant in Atlanta for dinner, Panchos. And I was thrilled to see a mariachi band!

Boyfriend said the fajitas were the best he ever had. Score!

(If you look closely in the photo of me and the mariachi man, you can see a new design I'm perfecting. Hopefully I'll have more information about it later in the week)

We ended the evening at my friend, Miranda's, for her 25th Birthday. I made her a custom fortune cookie lariat. I think she was pretty excited about it! A great day all around!

I'm a little distracted...

After visiting one of my best friends, Malia, in California, I decided to finally start watching Gossip Girl.  I have about 8 friends, Malia included, who can't stop talking about the show and decided that I wanted to know what the big deal was.  I am now hooked!  I have downloaded all the episodes off of iTunes.  And watched the first season, 18 hour long episodes, in 3 days!

Monday and Tuesday I had such a hard time tearing myself away from the show and working in my studio.  Wednesday I decided I had to do SOMETHING to keep me in my jewelry studio.  I downloaded the Gossip Girl audiobooks to listen to as I work, so I'm still getting my fix.  I normally listen to audiobooks in my studio but I think this is becoming a little obsessive!  

But I have to tell you if you haven't watched Gossip Girl beware...it's addicting!  And for those of you who already are addicted...

You know you love me,

xoxo

gossip girl