Giveaway @ Meghan's site

Meghan is nice enough to host a giveaway of one of my 3-Rosie statement necklaces. Head on over to her site and enter to win!

Rosie Rosy Spring Sale

I am soooo excited for Spring, are you? One warm day and I'm ready to put away the coats and boots. To celebrate, we're having a Spring Sale at my shop. Take 25% off everything until the end of day (midnight) on the first day of spring (March 20). Use code SPRING25.

Happy Soon-to-be-Spring!

Valentine's Sale at Silly Happy Sweet

I love Valentine's day--the chocolate, romance, red and pink, and conversation hearts. In celebration of Valentine's, save 30% off your purchase in my shop by using the code VALENTINE30. A sweet Rosie Rosy necklace is the perfect gift.

WIWW--Cowgirl edition

Howdy blog buddies. I'm linking with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday and Allison at Two Thirty Five Designs.

It's been HOT here. Still. I wore this hat to soccer practice because the top of my head get's burnt just waiting for two hours while my the kids practice.

I love this hat. You can sit on it and mess it up and just put it back together with some tugs here and there.

Hat: Sheplers

Shirt: Gap

Cuff: My shop

Have a great day y'all!

Hello Monday

It's been awhile since I've linked up Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday so I'm excited to do so today!

Hello Christmas in July craft fair. The past week I've been consumed with getting ready for this show. I am glad it is over because now I have to focus on Back to School shopping. I can't believe it is already almost August!

Hello black rose. I thought it was so weird when my friend recommended I sell black rose jewelry in my shop. I don't know why since I have gray and brown roses. The black rose is actually a big hit though!

Hello finalist in our town's art festival! So proud of MiniMe and her self portrait. She was one of two in her grade to move on to the art show. The town featured her art this weekend and had a reception for all the contenders.

Hello old school McDonald's. My kids thought this was the weirdest thing to see an old style McDonald's. They asked if that McDonald's was built back when there was no TV. Kids! Too funny.

I hope you have a great week!

My LIfe Lately

I'm linking up with Hayley and Life on Leroy for the Life Lately linky,Lisa Leonard for Hello Monday, Carissa at lowercase letters for Miscellany Monday.

Hello storefront! My shop's Rosie Rosys are being featured at a local store. Unfortunately I could only take this picture of them at a weird angle. I happened to go by the store on July 4th and didn't stop to think it would be closed! Oh well, they look cute there. Can you see my colorful little rosettes?

Hello photo shoot for my shop! I think the photos turned out great. See them here.

Hello getting older! MiniB has actually ventured out to the pool more! It used to be he'd only sit on the steps but he's actually letting his hair get wet. It is very exciting!

Isn't this a cute little gnome door? MiniMe set it up outside of her own door. It is small enough for Pippa! Speaking of Pippa....

Hello spoiled! This dog can't just lie on the bed or couch. She has to find the tallest pillow and knock it down and crunch it up for herself. On this day she happened to discover my pile of blankets from the kids' basement sleepover. As I type she has knocked over Brian's pillows on his side of the bed and has set up a nest of sorts. If she wasn't so cute, I'd make her get right off. I hope you all have a great week.

Don't forget to join the My Favorite Things linky party starting this Thursday. Button is below. Grab the code from my sidebar!

Silly Happy Sweet Photo Shoot

I wanted to share some photos from the product photo shoot for my jewelry. The shop is updated and ready for business! Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the code HAPPYFOURTH for 20% off anything in the shop.

Isn't my model gorgeous? She's my childhood friend. We've been friends since seventh grade. We actually went to kindergarten together but didn't officially hang out until junior high. She is beautiful on the inside too! I'm blessed to have her. I'm trying to talk her into pursuing modeling for real. I think she's a natural.

Our daughters have know eachother their whole lives. They are the best of friends. I love that they have eachother. They wanted to be a part of the shoot too!

I hope you'll visit my shop and see all the other items I have available. I am now selling earrings because you all shared with me that you wished I had Rosie Rosys to match your necklaces. HAPPYFOURTH is the code to remember for 20% off!

What I Wore

Happy Fourth of July!!! I can't believe July is already here and we are getting to where Back to School clothes are out and we're getting emails about school supply lists being posted. Really? It makes me want to stop time.

But it is Wednesday and that means it is time to link with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday and Alison at Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday.

Maxi Dress: Target

Necklace: Yellow Teeny Rosie Rosy from my shop

Shoes: J-41

I hope you and your family have a Happy 4th!

My shop!

I am so excited to officially announced the launch of my shop! It's been a long time coming. Honestly, it is kind of scary to put yourself and your stuff out there and hope for the best.

A little background.....In early 2011 I was working as a project manager for a company that consults with Microsoft. I loved my job. I was good at my job. With the downturn of the economy, it really wasn't shocking that I was going to be let go. You think you're prepared for the news but I was genuinely stunned even though I was told I could come back if things turned around (they haven't). Who was I without my career? I'd always had my career and made pretty decent money. I defined myself by my career, and, in one fell swoop, I had to reassess everything.

It's weird when you aren't bringing in an income. I had never been in that position before so I freaked out a little bit. I reworked our family budget and probably went to some extremes. It's been a learning experience anyway. Luckily Brian has a good job and we are fine and can still meet our financial obligations. Thank you Dave Ramsey! So.....I looked for work but pulled my youngest out of preschool because it didn't make sense to keep paying for it when I was home full-time. I continued to look for work (and still do) but it's like crickets out there for my field. Hello, is anybody there? Nothing. I'd get calls here and there but nothing would pan out. I began to consider the idea it might be quite awhile before I would be able to find anything.

I have to admit that I've had quite a few crying moments. I love my kids. I love my family. I love being a mom and wife. I actually might like it too much. What if something did come along? Could I now give up the precious time I have with my kids? But then who am I if I'm not helping to put money into our 401K? I imagined going back to meetings and conference calls and I know I'd now feel so torn. But I like making money. I like buying what I want at Target. I like having cute clothes. But I love being the one to chauffer my kids around. I love volunteering in my daughter's class. I love being the home where kids can come for playdates. God is working on me. He's giving me perspective. It's all about perspective.

I have always dabbled in all things crafty--knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting, the list goes on and on. I've created my own purse patterns, knitted sock patterns, knitted plush animals. People have always complimented my jewelry. See this post. I had an idea to launch something back then and was the reason I started to blog. It seemed too scary though. It is one thing to make something for friends and family but another to try to sell your wares. What if only I think they're cute? Are they really cute? Is it just me? Will they sell?

Then during a quiet time one day I had an idea. "What is the worst thing that can happen?" I felt God ask me. Huh? Where did that come from? But it stirred in me. What is the worst that can happen? I fail? I've failed at stuff before. I lose my house? No. My family isn't safe. No. Those are really the big things. I succeed? Well only good can come from that. It dawned on me that the only real thing holding me back was, well, me. Dumb! I opened my supply boxes and found this piece of paper I had taped long ago to my Rosie Rosy box that says, "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." (Abe Lincoln) Perspective.

I talked to Brian about going for it. He is so supportive. I overheard him talking to our daughter one afternoon when the UPS man rang the doorbell to deliver supplies. He told her that she better get used to that sound because her mama is going to be very busy with her new endeavor. Wow. He believes in me. Why do I struggle so much in believing in myself?

So today is the official launch of my shop. It's also my birthday--believe me it has crossed my mind that I might be having a mid-life crisis! Carissa at lowercase letters is featuring my shop today. Gulp. Please visit her--she's incredibly kind and inspiring! I love her blog. All purchases that use the code LOWERCASE20 will get 20% off any purchase from now until midnight on Friday.

I don't have any idea that this is my new career. I don't know that it isn't either. I'm on a journey. We'll see what happens. Goal number one is just to give it my best shot. So here's the pitch and now that you know my story, please know this is the part I really stink at but am working on. My jewelry is created individually by my own hands because it makes me happy. Love what you do, do what you love, right? Each piece is unique and special. It is the perfect pop of color for any outfit (brides too!). Stop on by! I hope you will!!!!

Insta-Friday

Hello and happy Friday! Was it just me or did this week D-R-A-G on? I'm ready for the weekend. Linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged for Insta-Friday.

I'm so excited to share that my shop is up and running. It's a very long story that I'll share in another post in the very near future....but.....my adventure is a go! Here is an image of one of two of my products. I love that MiniMe is my biggest advocate. When anyone compliments her hair clip she brags about her mama. Love her!

And....a bracelet....Is it me or are my hands veiny? Ew!

What a week! MiniB ran smack into the door frame because he was turning in circles and was dizzy. In less than a minute his check swelled and bruised. Poor guy, he's actually quite tough. Any excuse to pull out the Angry Bird Band-Aids.

MiniMe takes piano lessons and MiniB takes violin lessons. I'm not above bribery if that is what it takes to get them to practice. Here they are enjoying some gummy worms after a practice. I should clarify that I take violin lessons with MiniB and his teacher because we're learning via the Suzuki method because he's too little to read music or read at all. I think I not only bribe because it works but I need MiniB to want to practice because I don't always want to either.

Brian wakes up every morning and does push ups. This morning MiniB did his push ups. I think it is so cute that he wants to be like his daddy.

Have a great weekend everyone! I just noticed that Aspen's (my dog's) rear seems to always be in photos. I love that guy--he is turning 10 this week.

Rosette Love

I 've been brainstorming for new products for my Etsy shop. Do you like this cutie?