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Busy Busy Busy

Don't you hate it when life interferes with your favorite hobby?  I've been so busy with work, family weddings, and Halloween parties, I haven't made one single necklace in 2 weeks!

Breckenridge Jewelry Collection

My week in Breckenridge was fabulous!  I got some much needed rest and creative inspiration spending time in the gorgeous Colorado mountains.  It was hard stepping back into "real" life and I've spent the last week catching up on everything I put on hold while I was gone.

Here are a few of the pieces I made.

Birthday Getaway

For my birthday I'm having the best present ever:  Tomorrow I leave on a weekend getaway in the mountains with friends!  (Woo hoo, go forty!)

After my friends leave on Sunday, the birthday getaway continues.  I'll have five days all to myself in the gorgeous Colorado mountains.  You know how writers always seem to hole up in a cabin somewhere so they can focus on their work without distractions?  That's what I'll be doing, only I'll be designing jewelry!  No husband, work, kids, phone calls, or housework to distract me.  If I get into a creative block, I'll just walk outside in the crisp fall air and take in the mountain views.  I'm planning on making necklaces and expanding into bracelets and earrings as well.

Stay tuned for some great new jewelry listed in my Etsy shop!

Birthday Goals

Today I celebrated my 40th birthday.  This has been a scary birthday for me.  I've been dreading it for years.  When I turned 38, I decided I was going to go out of my 30's with a bang so I'd be ready to embrace my 40's.  Here are some of the goals I set and which ones I accomplished before my birthday:

• Buy and wear a pair of skinny jeans.  I bought them last Christmas and love them, especially with my fake Uggs.
• Run a half marathon.  I ran two of them last spring, just five weeks apart!
• Dye my hair blonde.  I've always wanted to be blonde, so last spring I went blonde.  I loved it, and it looked amazing with my "tan" (thank you Jergens daily self tanner).
• Start an Etsy shop.  I originally planned on selling knitted and crocheted items.  Much to my surprise, it evolved into jewelry design.  I never thought I'd be good at it, but I love it!
• Run a marathon. I was going to run the Denver Rock n Roll Marathon, but had to postpone it for a family wedding.  I'm now planning on running the Surf City Marathon in February.
• Lose 30 pounds.  I never thought I'd accomplish this one.  After 4 kids and not much success on Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, and Jenny Craig, I finally did it!  I've lost 35 pounds!  Good old healthy eating, no processed foods, and lots of running.

I can't wait to see what's in store for my 40th year.  I've always wanted to have really RED hair, so last night I dyed it a pretty reddish, coppery brown.  Another goal accomplished!

Also Known As Love

I saw an ad for the most amazing jewelry.  At first glance it was a simple necklace with a tiny leaf charm and a little bead.  I looked closer and saw that the bead was actually the bottom of a bullet casing and the leaf says "life".

The name of the website is "AKAWELLE",  AKA for "also known as" and wel'le for "love". I read more and was touched by the story of a young Liberian girl named Lovetta Conto who came up with the idea for these beautiful necklaces. The leaf is made from melted bullet casings collected from the streets of Liberia. That a message of love and hope can come from something so devastating is truly inspiring. Please take a look at her website.  I promise, you'll be inspired, too!

http://www.akawelle.com/

Bead Show Part Two

I couldn't stop thinking about all the gorgeous beads I saw at the show (and such great deals!) so I just had to go back.  This is what I got the second time around.

Endless possibilities for future necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The laser wood cuts are my new favorites!