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1. I am sometimes astonished with the amount of "jewelry designers" out there. My next venture will be something super obscure that hobbyists cannot compare themselves to.

2. Sometimes when you want something so badly, it pales in comparison when you actually get it. This is not the case with my new blender. I haven't eaten solids in two days.

3. You have to eat ALOT of liquid food to feel full.

4. The time off from exercise is not worth the pain and annoyance of getting back on that horse. So much easier to just stick with it. Next time I make lack of time excuses, I need to remember this.

5. Even with a list, when you get home from early morning errands, something will be overlooked. Especially if you run them before coffee.

6. When I'm really busy or am on a deadline, I dream that I am either cross country running or shifting a very fast car into higher hears. Not sure if I'm racing in these, but both happen often. This may be one of the reasons why Adam thinks I will have a stroke from workaholic tendencies.

7. I love work.

8. If all the construction equipment in my neighborhood disappears one night, I don't know what happened to it.

9. I prefer to travel only once or twice a year. This once a month trip cycle is crap.

10. When women are mad at their husbands, they shop. When they team up and do it together, it's incredibly therapeutic.

My coffee grinder broke this morning. If you have talked to me in the last 2 hours that's all I talked about. Its also I have thought about...and am now writing about. I'm obviously obsessed. I also bought this grinder one day with an ex boyfriend of mine who has since passed on so perhaps some of the anxiety is that has been brought up again. Whatever the reason, in my grief I have been weighing the quickest vs. easiest methods of procuring a new grinder before tomorrow morning. My mini cusinart was an ok stand in for today, but not acceptable for more then that. I however have a plan. There should be a shiny new grinder on the counter by tomorrow. All will be well...at least that which I can control.

King For a Day Necklace

It took me a few years to figure out the pacing and release schedule of jewelry on Manic Trout. Until recently, I typically designed 2 large seasonal collections a year with 2 themed collections thrown in the mix. My launch dates were just in time for each season, but I was never making the much ahead of time press deadlines. When I went full time with MT almost 2 years ago, I still was working this way. A year later, when I signed with a new PR firm, I decided that it was time to buckle down and design towards the press cycles.

Disco Science Bracelet

It however took another few months to catch up as when I had that thought, I was starting 6 months behind schedule. I however have finally caught up and adjusted my design schedule to the timeline I want it to be on. (yay!) This means that I am designing waaaaaaay ahead of the launch dates (sometimes by 5 months) and am working a few seasons ahead of what I am releasing. Which is a struggle in itself when I have to promote and share the jewelry I designed months ago as my creative side has issues with this.

Zerrin Do You Know Me Necklace

I worry that this is confusing to you as I am all sorts of sharing about the design process of jewelry coming out at the end of 2013 right now and then, bam! I switch gears and want to show you jewelry that I was talking about 3 months ago again. However, this is much the reality of the life of a designer and technically, that is what this blog is all about. That is also why I'm sure many if you follow MT on FB and other social media sites...you get to see behind the curtain.

Vanoa Girls Like You Necklace

So here I go, switching gears from sharing the design process to sharing the finished work. It however is exciting news, as the Summer '13 Collection from Manic Trout has arrived!

Sanda Fun For Me Earrings

When Adam and I were walking through a deserted 11:30pm airport Sunday night after our 40 hour trip to NYC this past weekend, I looked at him and said "you know, I was never one of those people who wanted to travel for work or spend all of my free time traveling". I wanted to be a designer, dammit. All of this traveling is becoming a pain in the ass and messing up my schedule in doing what I did dream of doing. 5 trips in as many months has left me never wanting to leave the house again. It also has made me ponder how hard it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle when traveling. Forget that once I return, I have missed that weeks farmers market and skipped the day I grocery shop, and have so much to catch up on with Manic Trout, that I have no time to exercise all week. The real problem is what to do while actually gone?

If you fly Jet Blue, the terminals and flights offer at least a bit of health options (there has been much time in airports as Austin airport is not big enough to justify direct flights) but on most of the other airlines, you're SOL. Once you arrive at your destination, the real fun begins...living in hotels, eating only at restaurants and being a guest. I prefer to not make a big deal out of my food allergies, I find it annoying when people are picky as guests. I normally just work around it, and its pretty easy to avoid aged cheese, red wine and good chocolate but being lactose intolerant, always avoiding dairy is not so easy. However, with the last one, its an intolerance, I'll live...so I just suck it up and go with the flow. Except people keep making creamed soups as the main course...what is that all about anyway?

Once we bump allergies and intolerances out of the way...then there is dealing with the preferred way to eat. As I discussed last week, I tend to gravitate to super heathy eating habits, avoid GMO's, buy organic and avoid refined flour and dairy. Traveling makes me understand that there are small pockets of the country where lots of people eat like this, I have been lucky enough to have lived the last decade in these places  because wow, its hard to eat this way in a lot of the US! Again though, as not one to ruffle feathers when I'm a guest, I just go with the flow and work around it...which means I usually feel sick to my stomach or hungry most of the time which results in my fall back crisis mode...eat as much sugar as I can get my hands on. This last trip resulted in my eating a large amount of the most delicious and tiniest cupcakes I have ever laid eyes on.

There are times when I can get to a store and stock up on apples, almonds and other snacks so at least I'm not starving to death, but other than that do you have any suggestions of how to maintain a healthy lifestyle when traveling?

oh and ps, I have not taken one photo of food on any of the 5 trips...except those cupcakes

What ever the reason, I am excited to announce that one lucky winner will receive the Mustang Sally Necklace from the Summer '13 Collection before it is even available to buy online!!

The Mustang Sally Necklace is 21.5" long, features large chunks of Lapis Howlite and a galloping brass horse. The necklace is part of the Summer '13 Collection from Manic Trout and is $80.

To enter to win this awesome necklace so you can flaunt you're amazing style all summer long follow the deets below...

1. Show some love by liking Manic Trout on Facebook, or following Manic Trout on Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. If you already do all of this (you're awesome!) but please tweet or share about Manic Trout or jewelry from manictrout.com.

2. Comment below with what the one thing you hope to do this summer is and where you liked/followed/shared #1.  (this is your entry).

3. Cross your fingers and hope that you're the winner selected at random on Friday, May 10th!

The winner will be announced here on the blog, as well as on facebook and twitter and they will be emailed.  Contest closes at midnight on Thursday May 9th.  Only one entry per person please.

Good luck!

Edited to add that Vanessa is the lucky winner!!! Congrats Vanessa!!

Manic Trout in the June, 2013 Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Thank you Cosmo!!

The ring on the left hand is the Her Royal Highness Zsa Zsa Bling Ring with Fuchsia setting and on the right is the Modest Zsa Zsa Bling Ring with Fuchsia setting.

Earrings from the Summer '13 Collection

WORKING ON: Producing the Summer '13 Collection coming out mid May and getting orders to customers and stores out the door as fast as I can!

THINKING ABOUT: What to do for next weeks vide0 from the studio. Having such a fun time making them!

ANTICIPATING: Flying to NYC tomorrow for my sister Gillians engagement party, which means I get to see all of my sisters!

LISTENING TO: Wild Belle and wishing there was more available.

EATING: I've been cooking up a storm! So much so that there is an instagram # called Manic Trout Lunchtime Adventures to document the lunches I make on the days my assistant is here over lunch.

THANKFUL FOR: The growth of Manic Trout this year.

PLANNING FOR: Designing the Fall Collection...getting there. Need to have it done by the end of the month, so I'm in good shape. Pretty excited with the direction its going!

READING: Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson, just started it last night, so far it's pretty engaging.

WATCHING: I saw Iron Man 3 last night...so amazing, although I think I'd say that if I watched Robert Downey Jr. sit on a bench for 2 hours.

This week I showed you how to style the vintage scarf necklaces...something I have been wanting to do for awhile and glad I finally got around to it. If you have a Mermaid Parade or Fireworks After Midnight...this is for you. If you want one, it's your lucky day as they're all in the last chance sale or sample sale!

Oh also, I have decided to let you choose what the May Giveaway will be...to see the selections from the soon to be released Summer '13 Collection and cast your vote...go to the facebook page.