a plethora of things.

i love using the word 'plethora'. it rolls off the tongue like butta.


first thing i'd like to mention:

i was awarded my very first blog award yesterday :)



it came from the lovely duchess of tea. her blog is called rose tea cottage, "where tea is served at half past four." the duchess is a brit (if you didn't guess) who loves anything and everything british, from the cottages to castles, gardens to the countryside. i love reading her blog (and looking at her lovely photos) because it is, well, lovely and because it causes me to reminisce about when i lived in london for a semester during college :)






in other news, I'VE JOINED TWITTER! i really resisted for quite some time now because i didn't want to get entangled in another social networking site, but it is another free advertising opportunity, after all. i actually quite like it; its simplicity is refreshing. and plus, i can follow celebrities like zooey deschanel (my female crush) along with my favorite radio talk shows like on point. i'm not quite as interesting, but you should still follow me :)


i have just in the last couple of days begun my search for a new place to live (eeeeee!), and today i found a flat in downtown rochester, literally around the corner from where i work. i peeked inside the windows and it looks just perfect for us. the kitchen is pretty teeny, but i can deal. it has a SUNROOM! now i know this can only be enjoyed for like 4 months out of the year since winter lasts most of the year here (i want to start crying when i think about it), but still. during that time, it can be my jewelry-creating space :D i've yet to have one of those (my "space" right now is the end table in our bedroom -- not cool).



hopefully we will be able to snag this cutie up before anyone else gets the chance.. i am already praying hard!!


hmmm, what else.... oh yes, my hubby joel has a big interview tomorrow at OU, and it would be awesome if you could say a little prayer for him :) it would be an amazing opportunity for him.


and, lastly, i might as well throw in some pics of some new jewelry i made over the weekend :)

florence bracelet:



amber earrings:



plum earrings:



venetian necklace:

home sweet home.

i had a very full week. actually, my weeks have frequently been very full as of late. tuesday thru wednesday i went on my very first business trip! i went to nashville with a couple of co-workers to scout out the hotel we are hosting out next convention [in october] and it is GORGEOUS! it's called the hutton.. i'm pretty pumped to stay there for FREE! i'm hoping joel will be able to come because i found out that his dad lives only 30-some miles north of nashville, so we could go pay him a visit. it would be the first time i've ever met him and the first time in years that joel's seen him.

thursday thru just a little while ago, i was in mt. pleasant [where i went to college] for the midwest fest. goodnight house played thursday night and camerata played friday night. so, so, SO much fun!!! i think that's the best time i've ever had playing with camerata. it was fun re-living the college life again for a few days, a.k.a. going out every night and staying up well past 2 AM (one night i even made it till 5!!). but it is also nice to be home... although i am very, VERY ready for a new home consisting solely of me, my hubbs, and my maggers.

soon enough.

some exciting news -- joel has an interview with oakland university for an academic advisor position on august 5. PLEASE send your prayers his way.. this would be an AMAZING opportunity, and it would change everything for us. it is hard to even fathom having money left over after all of the bills are paid.. we could actually start paying off our ridiculous amount of debt!! even if he doesn't get this job or the other one he is applying for, he will definitely have an assistantship that will pay for his Ph.D and provide a stipend. praise God!!

with all that's been going on, it's been hard to find any time to create. i did make a few pair of earrings that i really adore. i think they're my new favorite to make.


agua earrings.





pretty in pink (and green).






i recently made a necklace (which sold instantly!) that matches the above pair of earrings.


lolita necklace.





i will be making more of these very soon :) hopefully, next weekend since i will finally have some free time! :D


have a wonderful week!