Run 2 the Wild

THANK YOU and business stress

2015-02-04T02:43:00.001-05:00

I have been crunching numbers all night and preparing for my first official encounter with taxes as a business and I am telling you it is has been so scary. After going through all the receipts I have crunched up in draws that are half faded, collecting scattered material receipts via various email accounts, and calculating my profits via paypal and etsy I feel a bit of relief. I am still scared because I have no clue how all this will crunch when it comes to taxes but I feel a lot better after finally seeing what the numbers actually come to when I minus expenses. You see I am actually really good at math and I have no issues when it comes to calculating things but this tax thing is something I am trying to wrap my head around. I am slowly getting there but tomorrow I will know a lot more when I meet with my new cpa. Basically I know I am making money because I can easily calculate the cost of a project and price accordingly but it worried me that when I finally sat down and actually crunched the numbers I might find a different story.

When you become an entrepreneur and your broke and your doing it alone you encounter a ton of weight in the beginning. It's exciting when you make that first sale and you think oh that was easy but when you start relying on this for your living that measly 20 dollars you thought was profit has to be poured back into more material. You spend crazy amounts of hours working toward this dream without knowing if you will get reimbursed for that time and so much of that time will not be profitable money wise. You have to constantly take risks and you have to deprive yourself from living a life of excess because every penny has to go back in for growth. I alone take care of product design, photography, advertising, social media, production, inventory, accounting, shipping and a ton of other jobs that should have a team to complete them. I want to grow and I know that to do this I have to share the work load but I also want to be sure that the team I create for Run 2 the Wild is as dedicated as me. The reason I am saying this is for you all to understand that this is everything to me. This is my dream. I have no other things going on in my head besides this and my family. I love it no matter how hard I have to work and I love to watch it grow.

So now here is the reason for writing this post and that is to tell every single one of you who have purchased from Run 2 the Wild... THANK YOU.... from the very bottom of my heart. I sit here and think it wouln't be possible with out you all. It makes me want to cry. Your support and your decision to buy from my little business means that I can keep at this dream. It means that I can take that money and use it to keep growing my business and to make it into something great. I only wish I had a way to send each of you something special (this will happen one day). It takes a lot to go out of your way and spend your hard earned cash for small business because you ultimately don't know what your getting into. So THANK YOU for remembering my business and sharing it with your friends. I love you guys sooo much and I want you to know that you are special and you make my world go round.

Love,
Courtney

What I am up to... business and life

2015-01-28T14:13:00.001-05:00

I said I would start blogging more this year and so far it's been a bit challenging for me. Those of you who blog know the time it takes to put a quality post together with exceptional photography and interesting content. Then after all the work to post it to an audience they may not even give a rats... you know. Either way I have to remind myself that this blog is for me personally, to release some inner thoughts and to go over things brewing in my head to see if I am really thinking what I'm thinking... ya know... lol. Ok enough of the nonsense. I thought I would share with you today. What's been going on in my life.

My business has been my #1 concern right now as I am looking for things to switch it up, ways to be more creative and productive. One major thing I have decided to do is to start saying no to other money making opportunities that don't relate to my business. Things I always said yes to to get the chunk of cash I needed to get through the slower months of sales. Instead of draining my creative mind with those types of things I am using that to push myself to increase sales and come up with new ideas. It is a very tough choice but I can see that creating more focus does increase sales... maybe not as much as I was making with the other opportunities but I can see that it will improve.

Another thing I am working on with my business is more behind the scenes. The things that no one sees but overall can effect your business greatly. Things like keeping records, tracking sales, expenses, figuring out routines and creating a expenditure plan. I am all official now and I am excited to see tax time end so I can see how everything works out and figure out how to keep better records for the future. The other thing I am working on is a website which I am excited about. The website will be your go to for all Run 2 the Wild things as well as inspiration, a blog with a group of inspiring writers to motivate you and a shop which will carry not only jewels but limited edition work from some of my favorite artists.

I am also working on upping my wholesale game but this isn't any game for me. I want to be sure that any boutique that carries Run 2 the Wild has specific instructions on displays and up keep of the product. We won't be selling small quantities to boutiques anymore but rather they will be required to purchase packages to show off our brand's unique and professional qualities if they wish to carry our brand. We will be offering a catalog in the future so stay tuned.

Last but not least this time of the year I am working hard building inventory back up which is an insane amount of work after the holidays as well as stocking all our packing supplies back up. We have to prepare for spring festivals that will be here soon as well. Also I am super excited to have one of our most exciting spring collections yet that I am working hard on currently. Last but not least I am looking forward to our first intern that will join us in spring and we are hopeful that when fall rolls around we will be hiring help! Craziness right? Yeah it's got me all fluttered inside but that's a good thing.

I also want to say Thank you to all of the lovelies that write me messages and purchase from the shop. Every single purchase helps my business grow. I can't tell you the last time I bought myself a wardrobe... hense the reason for no wild style posts but it's because lately I have been pouring everything into this. So you all mean everything to me and I consider you all part of this.

Now for life... To be honest I couldn't be happier with my very simple life. Not sure if many of you know but we have 1 vehicle, a Volkswagen yellow bug with daisy rims that we share, we live in a small duplex that we own beside my sister and we have been trying to pinch every penny to save for another vehicle. We both have experienced what it is like to have debt and how it is when you have too many bills coming out and not enough cash coming in. So since moving into our home we decided that we would keep it simple and stay away from debt. It's hard sometimes to be stuck at the house when Justin has to work. A baby who wants to go somewhere and an energetic husky who cries to get out as well but it is nice to not have to worry if the bills will be paid or if we can afford what we need for Juniper.

I couldn't be more thankful for what we have and everyday it makes me happy to have a safe warm place that I can decorate how I please. Once we get through tax time and we see how it effects me and my business we will hopefully be getting another vehicle that we will pay for in cash. I really need a bigger vehicle to carry around my dog and juniper as well as to carry my huge tent and displays for festivals. So this is really my only life dream at the moment besides getting out and meeting new people.

Tonight I get to spend some time with a group of ladies I don't know, book binding, thanks to a good fairly new friend who invited me. I have been praying for god to bring more people into my life that show me new things and give rather than take. I also just want to keep pushing myself out there to meet new people who are creative.

So that will have to wrap it up for now... since my little one just woke up from her nap. :) I would love to hear what you have been up to... leave me a line or two or 3 or whatever... I'll read it all lol

Thoughts: Being a Introvert at heart and an Extrovert in spirit

2015-01-17T00:47:00.001-05:00

I don't get the chance to socialize much since many of my days are spent at home working and taking care of my 1 1/2 year old. So when I do get a chance to get out to setup for a festival or for something social I always talk the entire time to anyone who comes near me. I love it so much that I skip out on eating just to keep talking. I want to say I am a social butterfly which is how it seems but to be honest I am not.

The funny thing is that professors I had in college and even people who worked right next to me in class don't even know who I am at social events or things where I see them because I was always quiet and working unless there was something about you that intrigued me. I always felt like I wasn't as good as anyone else or that my professor might not think of me like an artist because I was an art education major. It really kept me from discovering a lot more about me.

Recently this past year after having the baby I felt like I needed that connection with people so I have been pushing myself to say "hey" and reintroduce myself if I have to with a smile. I am way more confident than I was before I had the baby not sure why but it just happened. I guess squeezing a baby out of you makes you feel like you can do anything. Either way the point is that I went from being introverted when I had a public job/life to extroverted when my life no longer included interacting with other people. I have to say it is strange but I love this shift in my personality and identity.

I am no longer worried about if someone has certain ideas of me. I no longer judge people by their first interaction with me. I have realized that people change constantly. Sometimes it takes a few hellos to get a response and for the 1% of people who just hate happy people I still make sure that they know they can't change my happy nature.

I have found that dropping the preconceived ideas I had about people and genuinely connecting with them by pushing myself out of my comfort zone ends up making the best connections and connections are really what make your life so much more magical.

I think when your constantly interacting with the public whether it's your job or your life it can keep you from appreciating the process of interacting. It can lead some to think that everyone is wanting something from you rather than I might learn something from them. It might lead you to think that you can judge someone within minutes of meeting them when you have no clue that individuals back story. Sometimes it gets to the point where we start judging people through the social media connections they have and from my own life and experiences this doesn't even begin to describe a person. Even if it seems like they live online. You don't know me until you have spent some time with me.

Sometimes I like to think of my life as an experiment in which I like to test things out. I like to observe and listen to people and react in ways that maybe I wouldn't normally do. It's not me being fake it's me discovering different parts of who I could be or who I really am. I don't ever feel or think like I am better than anyone but that could be the pieces in me. While that was what kept me from socializing before now I see it as an asset because I can make people comfortable enough to talk to me genuinely. This builds relationships and connections that can take you further than you ever imagined.

I have to say I love being alone. I love having me time. I love working in my own quiet space. I love that I don't physically have to deal with peoples issues on a daily basis. I see though how filled up I get after forcing myself out there and saying hello, not judging and just let the conversation steer what happens. I learned to appreciate the power of interaction and communication. So am I an introvert or an extrovert or does life just try to balance itself out?

10 Ways to beat the Winter Blues

2015-01-12T03:31:00.004-05:00

Hello lovelies today I want to share with you some ways to shed those winter blues that everyone seems to be experiencing right now. I know I am... Tonight I took a couple hours to do the 1st one which is what inspired this post because after I did it I felt a sense of happiness come over me. I am hoping to do a few more before the week is over and I will let you know how they go.

1. Send a care package or two to a loved one, distant family member, friend or a stranger.
Not only will this make you feel good about yourself but you will make someone else feel great too!

2. Print some photos you love and create a scrapbook or project that you can display and share proudly. Looking back and remembering the good times helps you to see what's really important.

3. Find a place to walk, stretch and observe nature.
Fresh air even if it's cold will break your winter blues and make you feel alive.

4. Collect healthy ingredients to make a meal from scratch.
Focusing on 1 thing and knowing it is good for you will change how you feel from the inside out.

5. Go to a friends or family members house for the day.
Socializing and pushing yourself out of your shell can motivate you to change your thoughts into happyones!

6. Take a drive in a direction you have never been.
Concentration and the thrill of getting lost will help you feel alive while enjoying some fresh air and new sights.

7. Build a fort in your living room, pop some popcorn and have a movie night.
Just Relax and enjoy this moment of being able to snuggle with the ones you love, make it fun!

8. Get out and explore a thrift/ secondhand store.
Seeing things of the past can bring back memories of the past that made you happy. It can inspire you to think in new ways.

9. Go plant shopping or just buy yourself some flowers. Plants put off positive energy and the color green will change your mood instantly. Just the smell of fresh flowers will lift your spirits.

10. Journal your feelings and thoughts. Writing it all out will allow you to release negative thoughts and inspire positive ones.

I hope you enjoyed this post... if you did leave me a comment below!

love and light
Courtney

Recap of Blog Posts from 2014

2015-01-06T02:19:00.000-05:00

Hello strangers it's been a little over a month since I posted on the blog mainly because running my shop keeps me super busy during the holidays not to mention trying to find the time to actually enjoy them too! I have been debating on doing a recap because I felt like I hadn't posted much but once I got into it I actually posted pretty regularly during the year and totally forgot a lot of the fun family things I did. I have also been debating on whether or not to keep blogging, sharing my thoughts and feelings with whoever is reading this along with my family moments.

I recently separated my instagram into two accounts... well more like made a new private one just for pictures of my baby and family and kept the run2thewild account strictly business but then again family occasionally collides with my business from time to time so there is still a bit of it in my biz feed. However I am sooo glad I did it because as my business grows I don't want strangers getting personal information or pictures of my baby. Plus I have been experiencing a couple crazies lately which comes with sharing your life with the world so it works well to have a private account and I enjoy it.

So this leads into the blogging dilemma... I share my candid thoughts on here and I can see where that could lead into problems with my business but then again I feel like my personality/style is what makes my brand and without it I don't think it would be successful. Also looking back for the past hour at my posts from the year has made me tear up and smile. I forgot how great, fun, exciting it is to record, journal and capture my life. I forgot all the wonderful moments and being reminded of them has made me feel much better about the last year. I had been feeling like it was just a waste but it really wasn't!

I actually miss posting style posts it really helped me come out of my shell, explore my wardrobe, and get creative. I also miss the mommy and me posts because I mean those are memories and at the same time reminders of all the little fun things in life. I can't believe how many shows I did this year and how my booth setup progressed as well as my professionalism and my quality of product. I met a lot of creative people this year now I just want to start collaborating. I feel so much more confident with my business and I took it to the next step and made it all official. I moved from my moms into my first home after many tears, headaches and feeling sorry for myself. Last but not least I got to enjoy watching my baby grow and learn a ton of new things which has been the best gift 2014 has given me.

As I head into 2015 I think about how I want to keep succeeding in my business. Own a studio/ shop space, hire help and increase inventory I also think about how much I have enjoyed being at home with my baby girl, enjoying all her precious moments. It's hard thinking about it my eyes are tearing up to think what will change with her and me in 2015. I know it will be good but man 2014 you were good to me even though I thought you were not. You helped me reconnect with my mom, enjoy the last moments I will probably ever have living with my little sister and seeing them care for my Juniper. Watching my dad go from my worst enemy to my new best friend and a pap to my baby. Watching Justin become the best father I could have ever imagined. My hair changed a ton of colors and so did my attitude. All in all I will keep blogging (pst it's one of my resolutions) and I will continue to grow, change, and enjoy the moment. So here's a recap of my blog posts from 2014! Cheers!

Howard's Trail with my little Family

exploring the abandoned with my lover and puppa

gypsy dreams collection and a new friend!

Arts Gala Gatsby Set up and Tour of Old Elmwood Mansion

Recap Walk with the Arts

Recap Spoonbread Festival

project mini album of June's first year

process working in the wild

My 1st Cleanse

Wild Style Ultra Violence

Sweet Summertime Collection

it's her 1st birthday and she can cry if she wants to

insta evolution of Juniper's 1st Year!

celebrating a year of collections

our first home!

baby punk

Clingmans Dome

Mommy and Me Strawberry Patch

Berea First Friday Show

playing quiet mouse

Mommy and Me Hiking the Pinnacles

Recap of Mushroom Festival

9 months oh my!

Recipe Fruit Pizza

Mommy and Me Let's go fly a kite!

wild style sailing winds

wild style dark horse

Juniper's 1st Hike

50 reasons I love my mother

best birthday ever!

pop that wild style with purple hair!

exploring frozen falls

baby book progress!

The Valentine Collection and my 1st time creating the popular Heart Peace Catcher!

mommy and me: sledding for the first time!

6 months of motherhood

baby blizzard wild style

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SALE / PEEK AT WINTER COLLECTION

2014-11-29T02:43:00.002-05:00

We encourage you to shop small this holiday season and if you can shop local. When you shop small with Run 2 the Wild you get an experience and product that is unlike any other one you will get this holiday season. We currently have two people including myself who put together your product by hand to make sure that each one is well crafted and unique to that makers touch. We also take pride in wrapping and including a special note both free of charge to make sure that each gift is as special as the person receiving it. Instead of running around the malls and stores to find a gift that has been mass produced and shipped overseas shop small with us and we will deliver something so special to your door at the same price. We pride ourselves on making memories. Happy Holidays and thank you for your support this holiday season!

SAVE 20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE IN THE SHOP WITH COUPON CODE SHOPSMALL CLICK HERE TO SHOP

Busy busy... after my 3rd year experiencing the realness of christmas rush sometimes I wish I had a real job that allowed me a break. The balance between life and a small business is tough but I can't complain this is what makes me excited about my business. As for the winter collection I am proud that we have several very special well planned pieces that have been slowly rolling into the shop along with a few more tomorrow. Putting a new piece together involves coming up with the idea, investing some cash and then a whole lot of trial and error especially when it comes to wear ability. It looks simple when I roll out a new collection but the behind the scenes are much more complicated. This month and for the past few months I have set higher goals for Run 2 the Wild than I normally do. For me everything must continue to grow or boredom sets in and I am not very good at settling for less.

I am soo happy that tonight I checked my stats and saw that the goal for today's sales was reached and even surpassed. This was a much needed lift of excitement after a early almost meltdown. Why a meltdown? Because I wanted it that bad and it was scary if all my work didn't equal my expectations. Sometimes they don't and sometimes I take that and turn it into more wheel power but it's scary when you don't have the security of knowing that you will get paid for the hours you put in. I can guarantee that I work a lot of overtime without pay but this is my dream. This is what I want. Just wanted to say that. Each and everyone of you who helps supports this dream becomes part of my dream. I am thankful for you!

here is just a bit of the pictures I have taken for the winter collection...

Howard's Trail

2014-11-14T16:24:00.000-05:00

Life for me right now seems so busy. Sometimes it feels like there is no slowing down but in reality there is. One of the hardest things about being a business owner is time management and scheduling. You do the best you can but sometimes things that aren't as important come first and important things come last. This is one of those cases where I realize this and have to run off and do everything I can to change it. In this case a random hike I found on instagram. Strange how that happens but when it does... it feels so good. It is so freeing and so inspiring. I crave these moments and this was one of them.

Same Old Song : The abandoned Piano Keys

2014-10-15T02:04:00.000-04:00

Haunted Houses: Exploring abandoned homes of Kentucky

2014-10-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

It's funny how you forget about the things you love to do. One of those for me was exploring abandoned homes and taking pictures of them even if no one else cares. I think that's why I love this blog because it's still quiet and kinda private around here. People are too busy living there lives to take the time to see what I am up to or maybe they aren't? I am sure with the cool weather coming in we all going to be bundling up next to a glass of wine and our tablets reading the latest blogs. At least that's a favorite thing I love to do when it gets cold. Who knows?

I know that I forgot about the aliveness I feel when I search for a abandoned home, the thrill of figuring out how to get to it without someone noticing and then the excitement of carefully navigating the old floor boards to search for the most inspiring decay of human existence. It's the combination of creepy satisfaction and discovering a lost treasure that I love about it. It's beautiful!

Fall Collection Gypsy Dreams 2014

2014-10-12T01:17:00.003-04:00

I have been so wrapped up in instagram I forget to blog about the things that are most important to me. It takes a lot to put a collection together every season but it's something I really enjoy. If you read my post A year of Collections you will notice that for this new collection I succeeded in my goal to expand my model selection. I have to say it was one of the best experiences I have had in my business thus far and I really loved the idea of collaborating with my local community.

This lovely little lady Jessica Holly has become a good friend of mine even though we have only hung out a handful of times. I met her over the summer at a first friday I was set up at and was shocked that she had actually gone to the same high school as me and was a art class favorite like myself. Strange because I had never met her before but I am so glad I finally did! We took a hike up the pinnacles and chatted all about art and I knew this girl was what I had been searching for. She was the exotic looking brunette open to making beautiful work that I needed for next collection. She hadn't modeled before but I don't consider myself an expert photographer either but it worked out sooo beautifully. I am so in love with the photos from the collection. My finest work yet!

As for the collection I was going for the idea of layering for fall like a gypsy with different materials and textures. Authentic was the word of choice when it came to materials I chose wood, leather, coins, glass, crystals, stones and even 24 kt gold for special one of kind pieces. In fact this collection was full of truly one of kind pieces that couldn't be duplicated exactly. Like I said... I am proud of this collection it is going to take a bit to top it but I am up for the challenge! Winter collection her we come!

Be sure to see what is left of the collection in the shop here...

Photo Dump: Gatsby Gala and a Vintage tour of the Elmwood Mansion

2014-10-06T00:15:00.000-04:00

Last month I got to set up a little booth of my jewels to sell at the Richmond Area Arts Councils annual Gala. It was an extravagant event with all the high society folks of richmond gallivanting about in their gatsby attire. Did I mention the theme of the gala was GATSBY? Yeah it was awesome! I sold some jewels, enjoyed the conversation of smart beautiful ladies and gents, I also got to enjoy a free tour of the Elmwood Mansion which is something I always wanted to do. Plus free fancy treats.

The event was so glamorous and perfect! The ladies that put it together did a great job!

You can read more about the history of the elmwood mansion here.

I am in love with old mansions... if I ever become rich I will purchase one just like this to live in.

Ok now that you have seen the booth lets take a little adventure back in time and pretend were at Gatsby's mansion!

Photo Dump: Walk with the ARTS at Indian fort theater

2014-10-05T22:51:00.002-04:00

I couldn't be more thankful for the people god has brought into my life. One of those being the lovely art teacher in the photo above. I met her through student teaching 3 years ago and she has since been a mentor to me. Although I don't have an art teaching job, she has been there to show me all kinds of opportunities that allow me to get the kind of teaching I want out of my degree. She has also supported me fully with my decision in being a designer (in the process of building a company) which is something not a lot of older people understand.

A couple weekends ago we worked together on the hands on painting booth for over 1000 4th graders from all the schools in the madison county area. Walk with the Arts is a day for all these kids to get their hands dirty with all kinds of material and watch real artists from the area demo their skills. It's really a cool little thing we have in berea and I hope they continue it so that June will get to experience it one day. There was weaving, clay, glass, metal forging, music, dance and all kinds of things that I barely got a glimpse of... we stayed busy getting the kids through our station. Throughout the day we had small groups from each school come into our booth to work on 4 large plywood murals that spelled out WALK WITH THE ARTS. Each child had to fill in a section. Each group had around 15 mins. This was my first year working it so I took the lead of my mentor and learned a lot about working in large groups. I hope I get to do this next year it was a lot of fun!

I will be dumping photos all week from the various events that filled my month of September. Which explains why I haven't been on here very much... so come back for more tomorrow please....

Photo Dump: Spoonbread Festival 2014

2014-09-23T23:02:00.001-04:00

What a busy month I have had! Between photographing and debuting the fall collection and two really good festivals plus a gala that I set up at... I am pooped! I am so proud of myself though because I reached all my goals and this is honestly the hardest I have worked in a long time besides christmas... which is always crazy. I was soooooo impressed by my local community coming out and supporting my biz... it was almost overwhelming but wonderful at the same time!

We were swarmed throughout the festival and I got to meet so many lovely and interesting people who support what I do. I also saw a lot of old familiar faces who supported me as well! It was crazy and for the first time ever we sold out! I even sold my super large terrarium (which really wasn't for sale) to a super sweet lady who told me it reminded her of her son who was killed in Iraq. All my hard work paid off and that was soooo unreal but I couldn't have done it without the help of my family, and all the support and love of my community! I realize how strong my community is now and how important it is to my business.

I could seriously go on for hours about all the wonderful people that I got to chat with during the festival but you would get sick of reading it! I am just sooooo happy and I have a huge list of new goals for the next year to mark off and accomplish! It makes me so happy to know that this is what I was meant to do and to be. Through all the sacrifices and crazy investments I have made I feel way more confident then ever! I know god has to be watching me over his shoulder and is letting me know that through all the heartache I had in the past year that it all lead to this!

I can only hope that those lovely peeps that came into my booth and spread those wonderful vibes come back again and again and that I remember them! I am the worst with names! I love it, I love you all and I love my little town! the end.

Project 1: Quick and Super easy Personalized Instagram Album

2014-09-08T00:35:00.001-04:00

With everything nowadays (yes I can't believe I just said that) being digital it's hard to imagine what the future may hold for physical memories like albums and video tapes. It all seems to be floating in thin air and for some reason it really feels like at any moment those important memories could POOF! vanish to never be seen again. It's scary because I cherish the albums my mom made and kept of when me and my sisters were soooo little. It opens my eyes to a different side of my parents and makes me smile. So I think it's important I do that for Juniper. That's where the idea came from and today I want to show you how quick and simple it is to create a physical memory!

If you make one be sure to share through a blog post or instagram and tag me or let me know I would love to see!

Materials

WE R ALBUM leather instagram album (10.99 at hobby lobby) 40% off coupon from cell $6.59

1 pack of 10 WE R sleeve protectors $2.00

Thickers: $5.00

Pictures printed at walmart... 31 pics for 2.79! see how to do that here

totals: $13.59

Time: not including printing pics at walmart: 25 mins

Just last week over a month after Junipers 1st birthday I took down what was left of her 1st Birthday adecorations. It was sad but at the same time a nice release. It's hard seeing how much she has changed in one year but it's so sweet. I am just ready to put those memories away. I had printed instagrams of the 1st year of Juniper a while back to hang all over the house for her birthday so everyone could see how she has changed and grown! You can see I stuck them on the locker in our living room for her birthday in the last picture.

I found a cool WE R instagram album at hobby lobby which is the first I have seen and used my 40% off coupon it had lots of page protectors in it already but I still bought an extra pack of 10. Each page with technically hold 2 pictures (front/back)

When I go home I simply took some of those cool thickers which are basically thick stickers made from what seems to be a rubbery material and spelled out Juniper Year 1. THen I filled the pages and walaaaaa....

Life gets busy and it can cost a lot to scrapbook! Don't let that get in the way of you keeping memories for years to come!

PROCESS: working in the wild

2014-09-05T01:47:00.000-04:00

Hey friends I have been trying hard to get back into blogging regularly and using my dslr rather than my beloved ipad companion. I actually missed lugging that big thing around with me even with a baby and a dog in tow.

I thought I would share with you a series about what my little job entails. You know the job that I made up for myself. Believe me there is a lot of work that goes into my little made up job... it's not a hobby even though it was before. So here's is a look at a tiny bit of my process.... if you interested in seeing more let me know below. It's been quiet around here for too long and I miss hearing from you all.

Today was all about venturing to my secret spot that is covered in wild glorious things. It's like shopping except what I get is free and there are a few big spiders to keep me company (yikes). So maybe it's nothing like shopping but I do carry a list of several things I need to collect kind of like a scavenger hunt. I also like to keep my eyes open for anything interesting, getting close to the ground moving things and observing. Probably the most valuable thing I get from this is the inspiration. I usually come out with a list of ideas that I can draw from later.

With summer coming to an end I am trying to press and gather as many things as possible before it is too late. So what do you think do you want to see more posts like this?

Project Alianza

2014-09-04T02:13:00.000-04:00

Hey Guys I wanted to share with you a special little challenge for yourself as well as a great way to help out a good cause. Please take the time to watch the video. A beautiful friend of mine, Jessica Holly has created some gorgeous works of art that will be given to those who donate 100 or more.

I absolutely love these originals she created for the cause...

CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE WEBSITE FOR ALL INFORMATION

For the next 24 HOURS, a generous donor has agreed to match the donation of anyone who skips their coffee and instead donates $4
(or more) to Project Alianza!

#myemptymug

Imagine a world where a farmer who once subsisted on an income of less than $2 per day is now on the path to self-sufficiency.

Imagine a world where families earn enough income to no longer be at risk of losing farmland that has nurtured shade-grown coffee for over 30 years.

Consider the joy a farmer feels when he is able to send his daughter to school so she can pursue her dreams.

At Project Alianza, this is not only our vision. It's our business plan.

We are asking for your support in launching Project Alianza, a program that offers agricultural education and access to fair markets for coffee farming families in underserved communities, beginning in Jinotega, Nicaragua.

Enrique is pictured standing on his family-run farm situated in Nicaragua’s most desirable coffee-growing region, referred to as ‘the coffee triangle.’ He has the potential to produce specialty-grade coffee and nearly double his coffee production. Like many farmers, he has not received formal agricultural training and sells his coffee through middlemen who offer only the lowest wholesale prices. As a result, Enrique is not able to invest in his farm to improve his productivity.

Enrique is eager to learn how to improve his coffee farm and begin growing other fruits to diversify his income. With increased sales, he would pay school fees so his three daughters can attend school.

What will we create?

We want every coffee farmer like Enrique to have access to the knowledge and the resources to maximize the productivity of their land, and the opportunity to partner with ethical buyers so they can turn their efforts into income. We want them to reach their own goals: to maintain ownership of their land, educate their children, and control their own futures. To make this possible we will use the $8500 from this campaign to build partnerships with farmers and implement the Project Alianza pilot in Jinotega, Nicaragua.

Here is our plan:

Develop a mobile education program for up to 25 farmers, with a team of agricultural technicians that will visit each individual farm, teaching better ways to plant, tend, and market their coffee.
Improve access to farming technologies and promote bio-construction techniques with structures such as rainwater catchment and compost bins.
Establish a sourcing plan with ecologically and socially conscious coffee companies. We have established a partnership with Ethical Coffee Chain, to connect farmers to international markets that bring our coffee to you, the consumer.
Gather information and disseminate best practices through networking and round-table discussions with industry leaders, cooperatives and experienced farmers, about topics such as new technology, diversification techniques, and strategies for improving quality control.
Continuously measure and evaluate our impact on farming families and communities, and systematically assess our successes and challenges as we move forward.
Document stories of farmers through photo essays and short videos.

Jesus invited us to his home in northwest Nicaragua, where he candidly shared his story of starting his career as a coffee picker, before eventually improving his own coffee farm enough to earn a livable wage from his own land. In 2012, his crop was devastated by a preventable coffee fungus, and as a result, he lost access to credible buyers and returned to life as a coffee picker.

Why invest in Project Alianza?

We change lives:

Alianza will build a community safety net to create access to agricultural knowledge and resources so farmers like Jesus are less vulnerable to environmental threats.

We go further:

While small farmer cooperatives and FairTrade certifications have made good progress in improving access to markets, we recognize the limitations of these programs: they can require expensive investments to join, they may be poorly regulated, and they are difficult to access for many of the smallest farmers. In addition, these efforts generally stop short of providing the knowledge and resources necessary to address the long-term challenges of farming families.That's where Alianza comes in: we partner directly with farmers who are in under-served areas and are the most vulnerable to threats such as pest or weather-related productivity loss, or corrupt microlending practices.

We're innovative:

We build stronger communities by promoting partnerships among small farmers and larger more established farms, who often already have the certifications to appeal to conscientious consumers and the distribution channels to reach them. As small farmers develop the resources and know-how to produce coffee at the highest standards of quality, they are also able to gain access to these preferred markets.

We believe in an evidenced-based approach:

Our program is based on research of what techniques are most likely to succeed within the local contexts of the communities we serve. We don't simply provide a higher price or teach a single skill, like better planting techniques. We provide a multi-faceted approach that improves living standards through education, farming resources and access to better markets.

We recognize the challenges ahead:

Like any new initiative, there can be unpredictable challenges along the way. We will work hard and our farming partners will have to take a leap a faith, putting in more hours and investing a proportion of their incomes to increase their long-term yields. Building local collaborations and listening to the concerns of our partners will be critical to ensuring program engagement.

Kristin, Project Alianza's Cofounder, is pictured above visiting Jesus's coffee and fruit farm in Northern Nicaragua.

Kristin was so inspired by the potential of this project to improve the lives of farming families, she applied for and received a Fulbright Fellowship to support her efforts. She recently left her job at a global policy research institute in Boston, MA to build Alianza from the ground up in Jinotega, Nicaragua.

Project Alianza has sustained our work through the generosity and efforts of a small but passionate army of volunteers, and now we are turning to Indiegogo to take Alianza to the next level.

San Benito flashes a heartwarming smile after a day harvesting coffee.

Your funds put into action.

Your dollar is an investment in education and sustainability efforts facilitated by our on-the-ground partners. 100% of our earnings go directly to our farming partners. The portion of our funds we don’t raise on indiegogo will have to be raised by other means to support critical programming to change the lives of these farmers.

$25 supports a plot of five coffee plants for up to five years. The coffee plant produces an average of 2 lbs of coffee for up to 30 years!
$100 provides a loan in the form of seed and fertilizer to a family who lacks access to the financing needed to support a small-scale farm.
$950 supports a year of tuition for a coffee farming family to participate in an agricultural education program. Farmers learn about sustainability and experiment with growing techniques which allow them to become rooted in their community.

________________________________________________________________

Please feel free to contact us at info@projectalianza.org.

Project Alianza is a pending 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you for your support.

Little Goals for September

2014-09-01T22:04:00.001-04:00

lots of special new crystal rings in the shop

I am so jam packed for September and I won't lie... I set it up that way. I have been so into my business and burning the midnight oil to make this little dream a reality that I haven't really thought about anything else. I take everything I make, turn back around and put it right back into this business so I am broke but that's ok. I do it because to be honest with you I love it! This really is my dream job. Being able to design things for other people to wear and enjoy, building a brand from my own perspective on style, and creating. The perks for me are talking to my customers and meeting with them it's like having a bunch of friends all over the world that I can send special packages too. I have always loved doing things for people and making things special so this job fits me like a glove.

As for personal life I have done something fun every weekend for the past 4 or 5. We went camping to see my gram and gramps grave, we went to dolly wood, kings island and rode every roller coaster, Went 4 wheeling in tn and camped out in a storm, Went to a baseball game, went to an art fair, went to the county fair and... let's just say we made the most of the summer even though it seemed summer wasn't going anywhere we made it go somewhere. I'm also proud to say that I am still involved in my buti fitness class which is a goal I have tried to achieve for way too long.

Even though my calender is covered in permanent marker I still want to make time for other things rather than just business...

1. Work on baby book
2. Enjoy the outdoors
3. Finish my book
4. Finish organizing my finances
5. Cook some meals
6. Work on my studio
7. Put up a Fence
8. Pay my bills

What are some of your goals? Did you enjoy your summer

Sacred Things

2014-08-29T22:51:00.001-04:00

I think it is important to have secrets.
I think that will live in a world today where people think secrets are ways of hiding.
To me secrets are ways we enjoy our time with ourselves.
Secrets are what separate us from being part of everyone else.
Secrets are what make life interesting
Secrets are what make us feel alive.

When I talk about secrets I am not talking about the kind of secrets that could hurt or harm anyone. I am talking about our own secrets our own sacred things that we like to do but we don't want anyone to know about. I think people often feel like a secret is something they should be ashamed of. I think that's wrong because secrets are powerful little moments that allow ourselves to be free. Completely free. I don't think we should consider a secret to be a bad thing. It is a good thing. We shouldn't feel the need to be public and become part of everyone's blur. We need our own little moments that no one knows about, that are just for us.

Don't be ashamed of your secrets
Don't feel like the world demands your secrets be announced so that you can be free.
You are as free as you allow yourself to be.

Goodnight.

What I learned from my first cleanse

2014-08-28T10:51:00.000-04:00

My three day beginners cleanse is over and I couldn't be more thankful. Honestly. I have dark circle around my eyes to prove it! I am not saying I was perfect and diligent but I can say that I understand it's purpose more than I did before. I would do a cleanse again perhaps push myself longer and be sure to prep well before hand.

1. It's not as easy as it looks. OK maybe I come at things with an I can do anything attitude but this one showed me that I could break easily.
2. I eat when I am not hungry. I was never really really hungry it was just my mind leading me to food. I wasn't in pain.
3. I consume way too much food. Food is a pleasurable ritual and I enjoyed every second of it.
4. Food is either a Medicine or a Drug. Your either addicted to what is not good for your body or you prescribe yourself with what helps your body take care of itself.
5. Sometimes you body needs a shock. Doing this cleanse was a shock to my body. period.
6. Your other senses are stronger than you think. Being around smells, sights or ever the texture of food triggered my stomach to twist but as soon as I got away from it I was fine!
7. We spoil ourselves on a everyday basis without ever knowing it. We have easy access to things that weren't so easily available to A LOT of people around the world and throughout history.
8. We are bombarded with food paraphernalia. I couldn't watch tv, or even go get errands done without seeing 3 billion things that told me I needed food or I am hungry. I never noticed it before like I did while on the cleanse.
9. You tend to rethink life when you deprive yourself from physical food. I see how easily I allow myself to have things which are so easily available and than I make myself take them away.... how thought provoking... that's all I can say.
10.

INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY!!! HEART PEACECATCHER

2014-08-21T17:36:00.005-04:00

Hello! Today I wanted to share with you lovelies a giveaway that I am hosting through my instagram @run2thewild for one of my very special heart peace catchers! Each one is special because I use vintage, deadstock trims and crystals along with other special embellishments that make each one completely unique! The price in the shop for one of these customs is $65 and as the price of these hard to find vintage materials goes up so will the price to purchase one of these!

I started making these lovelies almost a year ago when I was pregnant with Juniper and since then have had many requests for them. Before the custom listing I put in the shop I had people message me asking for one and once I told them the price about 1/3 of them said they couldn't afford it. Of course that price can't change and even if I did lower it I wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand or make any money off of it. So that's why I decided to give one away! Depending on how well this giveaway goes depends on if I will ever do it again so we shall see!

Plus the other special thing about these Heart Peacecatchers is that they are an original design by me! You won't find anyone else selling something like this and if so, you know where they got the idea from! The last picture is the first heart peacecatcher I made and pinned to pinterest and I am blown away by the number of repins it has got in less than a year!!! Over 3000!!! How does that even happen?

HOW TO ENTER
First off you must have an instagram account to enter this giveaway... if you don't you should get one anyway... instagram is so much better than facebook!

Then find me and follow me on instagram @run2thewild
Find this image and then you just have to complete 3 easy peasy steps...

1. repost the image and tag me below @run2thewild so I can see it... (hint: take a picture of the screen using your phone)
2. under your repost #runwildgiveaway
3. under your repost tag a friend using the @ symbol before their insta name

This is open internationally and ends 8/26!!!

Also be sure to keep your profile off private so I can see your entry!!!

The Journey Starts here... my first Cleanse

2014-08-19T23:30:00.001-04:00

Hey Guys! I am so excited to share with you something new I am going to try! I have always in the back of my mind wanted to do a cleanse. I drink pop non stop lately because I feel like the caffeine is the only thing that keeps me going throughout the day. I don't drink coffee, I never was the type to force myself into liking something that isn't particularly healthy. To be honest with you I never drink water... I can only stand the taste of it when I am done with a workout.

For the past 2 months I have been going to a workout class called Buti fitness with my sister. Buti fitness is a hardcore yoga mixed with zumba mixed with dirty dancing class just for woman. I really like it because I feel challenged, I pour in sweat and I am noticing muscles I have never had before. I go on a Wednesday and after that I usually have a energy high for 3 days after. It's awesome!

Because I have noticed such a change in my overall outlook on life and my physical body just from pushing myself to do this hardcore workout once a week I figured it would be a great idea to implement or try other natural remedies that would make my body feel even more awesome. I have been a huge advocate of the big smoothie trend, if you have been following my instagram during and after my pregnancy smoothies saved my life when it came to energy. Now I feel a little burnt out on them. I still enjoy them but I am not as excited about making them as I have been in the past so I don't really take the time to do it.

So this leads into my Journey to start a cleanse. I was pleasantly surprised to be invited to try Urban Remedy's Signature Cleanse. Which is a beginners 3 day cleanse. I couldn't be more excited when the large box landed on my doorstep the other morning. I opened it to find the 6 unique juices that I will be having throughout the day... I loved the ingredients I loved the names... example "after party" and "relax". It's exciting but I know it's going to be harder than it looks!

The thing is that 3 days before you begin your cleanse you have to start by eliminating the bad (pop, fast food) and drink 8 glasses of water. You also don't want to do a cleanse during a stressful or chaotic time because you might get grouchy. For example I am headed to see my grandmas grave this weekend in Tennessee so I wont be officially starting the cleanse till Monday.

I am excited to start this journey and to share it with you along the way through my instagram and blogging as well as linking to twitter. I would love if you would follow along and cheer me on as I take this journey and see how my body changes by eliminating toxins. After it's done I may ever have a giveaway for you to try the cleanse depending on if I think it works!

My Goals for this Cleanse
1. to eliminate fast food and pop from my diet
2. to drink more water
3. to eliminate toxins and cleanse my body
4. to complete the cleanse without messing up!
5. to feel a change in my body and overall well being

Have you ever tried a cleanse? I would love to hear about your experience below in the comments.

For those of you who don't know what a cleanse is here are the details Direct for the Urban Remedy website.

What is a Juice Cleanse?

A juice cleanse is a short-term, fresh, raw, all liquid diet intended to cleanse both the mental and physical state. A juice cleanse is often mistakenly referred to as a “juice fast”—an inaccurate and misleading description. A fast implies starvation, which shouldn't ever be the goal. Starving the body is unhealthy and, in fact, has counter-productive effects that include a slowed metabolism.

Instead, a juice cleanse provides plenty of sustenance from wholesome, organic, freshly pressed veggie and fruit juices. The primary physical reason for a juice cleanse is to give the digestive system a break from processing heavy proteins and fat, in addition to filtering the liver, kidneys and gall bladder. The result is clean energy and a full release of toxins. A juice cleanse should leave you energized, balanced and focused. Performing a juice cleanse has also been known to promote improved sleep patterns and curb food cravings.

What is an Urban Remedy Juice Cleanse?

Our juice cleanses not only revitalize the body and mind, but they also repair previous damage with natural, nutritious ingredients. Rich in minerals and active enzymes, each colorful 100% organic certified juice cleanse is rich in the nutrients needed to satisfy cleansing goals with an energizing and delicious program of juices with lower sugar amounts than other brands. Also, our juices are truly delicious, prizing flavor as much as efficacy.

When it comes to a juice cleanse experience, every person’s body detoxifies differently. Depending on factors like diet and metabolism, Urban Remedy has a tailored juice cleanse for everyone. Regardless of a person’s natural proclivity towards detoxification, the point of a juice cleanse is to give the body a break from inflammatory foods like white flour, sugar and alcohol, while allowing the mind to focus on other important elements of life.

Are you ready to try a juice cleanse?

WILD STYLE : ULTRA VIOLENCE

2014-08-15T12:26:00.000-04:00

West Coast by Lana Del Rey on Grooveshark

Guess what?! I am flat broke.... and have been for a while. I don't have money to go splurge on some new clothes so you know what I did... I made it work. I have had all these really cute patches for a while so I decided finally to spruce up my jean jacket with them. I have always envied heavily patched up jackets. I remember going to a party and a guy left his jacket in a bedroom and I stood there and stared at it forever.... it was covered in glorious patches! I even thought about snatching it up or maybe finding this guy and seeing if maybe I might be able to convince him to let me wear it because you know... I was cold (wink wink). Neither of those things happened but sometimes just day dreaming about it is just as exciting lol.

Besides that I also don't have the money to buy some fancy blue lipstick cause you know the 90's are back and crazy colored lipstick is now "cool" again. well maybe. Either way I just dug in my old make up pulled out some blue eyeliner, blue eye shadow and vaseline.... bada bing bada boom blue lips and it worked great! I am not the best at lining my lips but that didn't stop me either. A girl has to get her color pop somewhere and I swear I am on the verge of dying my hair some crazy color again. I don't know whats stopping me... I guess the up keep. It's hard to keep a nice color in your hair when you have a trillion other things you are interested in doing. Maybe soon though.

I have to tell you I am on a positive high... still. I really have to say it has to be the hardcore workout buti class I take once a week. I feel good in my body... I have muscles I have never had before and I am accomplishing a lot. Can you tell... I mean I haven't done a wild style post in forever. I didn't realize it but I was so upset with my body image. I just looked sloppy. I get an outfit on look in the mirror and felt so uncomfortable and it always translated in any photos I took or had taken of me. Thank goodness my sister pushed me to try the hardcore class she has been taking forever. It has made a huge difference in life overall. Just saying if your feeling like I felt push yourself to do workout class that pushes your limits, face your fears and do it. Don't half ass it either. Do it till it burns, till you sweat buckets and you feel like your dying then push past all that and keep doing it! I haven't felt this good since highschool dance team lol! As stupid as that sounds!

As for everything else in life I want to say I am sad about Robin Williams. I understand that depression can be that serious it's just hard to believe coming from such a bright soul. I really don't want to believe it because in my head it's telling me that the disease wins... I question how he died and in the circumstances if he was an alcoholic and or drug user... I would think he would have overdosed if he was trying to commit suicide. That's usually how it goes at least from my perspective. It's just hard to believe that is how he died. I almost wonder if it could have possibly been set up. I know this sounds outrageous but think about it. Most of the time when a respected famous person dies they don't immediately tell you how... they usually keep it private for the sake of the family and his reputation but they just blasted it everywhere. Yeah we could say well it needs to be announced... we need awareness... but is this awareness really the good kind? I saw where kloe kardasian posted an image of genie saying your free... and to me this is horrible. It tells me your free when your dead and that the disease wins. That is sad and I get it the pain the suffering but how are we to know if any of this is true for sure. I just had to say this and I know some of you will disagree but in this world you think you know but reality is a totally different story even if a billion people are telling you otherwise. I hope his family gets some kind of closure I can't imagine how hard it would be to understand this if it is indeed true.

Ok sorry for too much info... good night!

Big Giveaway with a Bunch of great ladies!!

2014-08-13T11:39:00.002-04:00

Hey loves! I am excited to share with you a special giveaway for an awesome canon rebel brought to you by me and a bunch of other special ladies. Hosted by one of my favorite blogs The Freckled Fox who is one of the most inspiring and motivational bloggers I have come across. You have the chance to grab quite a few easy entries if you follow me via social media and stuff so don't miss the chance!!! Hope you enjoy!

Good morning guys, today's post as you can see is another DSLR giveaway brought back by popular demand! My sponsors and I have been excited about doing this for a while, and it's definitely turning into a monthly thing here on The Freckled Fox, so I hope you don't mind! haha Take a look at this fancy thang:

Such a great camera! I know because it's one that I use just about every day:) I know that I speak for most of us when I say that my biggest push in professionalism for my shop and my blog was getting my first really awesome camera, and what could be better than having one delivered to your front door completely free?! Even if you already have a DSLR or maybe photography isn't exactly your thing, you always can use a back-up camera, and think what an amazing gift this would make for that friend or relative that's been saving for one!

Well now on to the ladies and shops that are responsible for bringing you this fabulous prize today: my beautiful and creative sponsors! I love love having this opportunity to introduce them to you guys. They're such a genuine and creative group, and I'm so grateful for their support and for the chance at partnering up! So, please click through and introduce yourselves, and don't forget the rafflecopter at the bottom!

The Freckled Fox | Mommy in Heels | Janelle in Real Life | Princess Burlap

Busy Mom's Helper |Yellow Spot Designs |Anna in Wonderland |Freckled Italian

Rachel The Hat | In Bloom Boutique | Glam Hungry Mom | Run 2 The Wild

Dressing Dallas | Baby Bump Bundle | Poverty Luxe | Designs by Emily F.

Autumn Klair | Brittany Gary | Course Craft | House of Polynesia

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Notes: The giveaway will run for ten days, the winner will be selected at random, contacted, and announced shortly after the giveaway concludes in this post as well as on all Freckled Fox social media channels. Yes this is open internationally! entries will be verified. Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There it is folks! Tons of different ways to enter with this one huh? Remember that the more entries you complete the better your chance of winning this beauty! Also as a special bonus, each entry is a new way to meet and support the bloggers who are bringing you this giveaway, and they're huge supports to me, so it's basically one big support/love fest that you should join in on.haha See what I did there?

5 Easy Motivation Boosters

2014-08-08T23:10:00.003-04:00

I have been super on the ball lately. Getting things done even things that I didn't know if I could do. I haven't been like this in months. I even felt like summer was just waving bye out a taxi cab window while I peered at the blinding sun unable to move. I am noticing that sometimes life will just sweep you under a rug if you don't get up and get moving. The problem is motivation. I need it... I crave it like a cup of coffee at the crack of dawn. Sometimes it can be hard to find motivation because what's the point... your tired, you don't feel good and you would rather lay around in hopes that it would help get you through the day.

Well I am here to tell you there are ways to feel happy, feel good and get things done that don't take but a teensy bit of effort. These teensy things will create a sense of purpose and open your mind to the wheels of motivation. The driving force that allows you to live life to its fullest.

Here are 5 easy motivation boosters that I have personally tried and tested and found work in my own life as well as seen them work in others.... Take a moment to try one today, make it a routine and see how it changes your whole life!

1. TAKE A HIKE.... hey guess what?! You don't have to physically go on a hike... I did say these were easy right? Just take a long walk.... pack some snacks and bring your best friend or an animal. Don't let anything keep you from walking right out your door and exploring what is around you even if it doesn't seem interesting... you will be surprised.

2. SIGN UP... make yourself accountable for something... whether it's a workout/dance/art class, a charity fundraiser, or volunteer. Some other passion that has nothing to do with work. Check out the library bulletin board, or a local coffee shop for flyers of things to do.

3. MEDITATE... I find yoga to be a easy way to trick your body into meditation because you have to think about the moves and focus on the balance aspects which keeps your mind clutter free. You can also meditate by changing the atmosphere of your room with music, lighting ,and a aroma. I love incense because I can focus on the strong smell and clear my head of thoughts.

4. TALK IT OUT... find someone you can talk to... who will genuinely listen and also be a sounding board for them as well. In our busy lives we often think that we are social enough when because of social media but what social media lacks is physical one on one attention. Our bodies need this to feel release to feel that we are important.

5. WRITE IT DOWN... allow yourself to scribble life out anything that stresses you out, that you can't stop thinking about, things that are getting one your nerve. Journal your life and see what you write down. It may surprise you!!

These things have allowed me to focus and to create motivation to achieve things that make life happier. Let me know any easy motivation boosters you would add to the list!

The Sweet Summertime Collection 2014 + pshhhh free shipping!

2014-07-29T12:05:00.000-04:00

Long time no chat but I am sure you all are staying busy enjoying summer! I'm thoroughly enjoying my new home and gearing up for a fun filled weekend that's long over due! Today I wanted to do a photo dump of The Sweet Summertime Collection that is in the shop now!

I am soo proud of this collection because its filled with unique pieces that range in price for every customers budget. Some of the pieces like the under the sea necklace and the free bird necklace I hold dear to my heart! These are my favorites. However I find myself wearing the crescent moon earrings 24/7 they are just perfect with everything and really stand out without being too much!

I also wanted to post these pics of my beautiful model Nicky who is on vacation... missing her soo much right now. This shoot is a bit sentimental because we have new goals for collections and we are looking at expanding our models as well as working more as a team to achieve unique looks for our collections.

Be sure to check out the shop link above to see the full collection! Also as a secret special for my loyal friends and fans here is a coupon code for FREE SHIPPING!!! Use coupon code JEWELS at checkout to get it! This will only be available for a limited time... ps I am not telling!